Wiyot Tribe

The Tribe's water quality monitoring program stretches from the Eel River estuary to Humboldt Bay, presently including five sampling locations:

• McNulty Slough (in the Eel River Estuary)
• a small wetland on the Table Bluff Reservation
• and three sites in Humboldt Bay (Indian Island, the Bay Entrance, and Mad River Slough)

The tribe also intends to begin sampling at Cock Robin Island in the Eel River Estuary, a property it acquired in 2006.

Indian Island: The sampling location for this site is adjacent to one of the old pilings between old industrial site on the Tribe's land and the middle channel of north Humboldt Bay. Up until January 2006, the site was sampled for physical parameters every two weeks during mid tides; the sonde was deployed for approximately fifteen minutes, witha 3-5 minute equilibration period and an 8-10 minute sampling period with four-second intervals. Since January 2006, long-term deployment methods have been used at the site - except for periods of site construction (which pose a hazard to the sonde) and equipment malfunction; during these periods, descrete sampling methods identical to the methods used prior to January 2006 are used. Grab sampling is performed annually. (click here to see data)

Bay Entrance: The sampling location for this site is inside the Bay, just northeast of the east edge of the north jetty. The site is sampled for physical parameters every two weeks during tha last hour of the incoming tide; the sonde is deployed for approximately fifteen minutes, with a 3-5 minute equilibration period and an 8-10 minute sampling period with four-second intervals. Grab sampling is performed annually.(Bay Entrance Graphs) (Bay Entrance Summary)

Mad River Slough: The sampling location for this site is at the Samoa Boulevard Bridge over the Slough. The site is sampled for physical parameters every two weeks during the outging tide; the sonde is deployed for approvimately fifteen minutes, with a 3-5 minute equilibration period and an 8-10 minute sampling period with four-second intervals. Grab sampling is performed annually. (Mad River Slough Graphs) (Mad River Slough Summary)

McNulty Slough: The sampling location for this site is at the seaward side of the tide-gate located just south of McNulty Lane, adjacent to the old Wiyot Rancheria. The site is sampled for physical parameters every two weeks during mid and high tides; the sonde is deployed for approximately fifteen minutes, with a 3-5 minute equilibration period and an 8-10 minute sampling period with four-second intervals. Grab sampling is performed annually. (McNulty Slough Graphs) (McNulty Slough Summary)

Reservation Wetland: The sampling location for this site is at the northeast corner of the Table Bluff Reservation, in a seasonal wetland. Until March 2006, surface wetland waters were collected for samples; in March, two shallow-water monitoring wells were installed in the wetland and serve as the sample collection sites. The original site was sampled for physical parameters every one to two weeks during wet seasons; now the sites are sampled every two weeks throughout the year. The sonde is deployed for approximately fifteen minutes, with a 3-5 minute equilibration period and an 8-10 minute sampling period with four-second intervals. Grab sampling is performed annually. (Wetland Well 1 Graphs) (Wetland Well 1 Summary) (Wetland Well 2 Graphs) (Wetland Well 2 Summary)

To disseminate the data collected from the water quality monitoring program, the tribe collaborates with the local branch of CICORE, the Center for Integrative Coastal Observation, Research, and Education, sited at Humboldt StateUniversity. CICORE is maintaining an internet server that houses water quality data for Humboldt Bay and the surrounding coast.  The sharing of collected data is a powerful tool for those interested in protecting and enhancing local natural resources. The data collected from the tribe's monitoring program are available for review and download on the CICORE website.

The tribe also shares its water quality data with the US Environmental Protection Agency, via the national STORET program.

Every year, the tribe generates a water quality assessment based on the data collected via the water quality monitoring program and other available data.