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Affiliated Researchers conducts FERC water quality investigations for Consumers Energy utility company

2009

AFFILIATED RESEARCHERS has completed its contract with Consumer Energy of Michigan, to provide monitoring of key water quality indicators at 11 impoundments and 19 riverine stations on the AuSable River, Manistee River, and Muskegon River, Michigan. In support of Consumers Energy's periodic monitoring program, AFFILIATED RESEARCHERS tracked water quality conditions required by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

AFFILIATED RESEARCHERS collected dissolved oxygen and water temperature profiles, pH and conductivity values, and Secchi disk measurements from assigned stations. AFFILIATED RESEARCHERS also collected multiple water samples for laboratory analysis of nitrates, ammonia, phosphorous, chlorophyll, organic carbon, sulfate, and other key water quality indicators.

Under this contract, water velocity, temperature, and dissolved oxygen were also measured at 24 significant tributaries along the Manistee River and the Pine River for data input into a USACE CE-QUAL-W2 water quality computer model. This computer model is part of an investigation by Consumers Energy and State resource agencies to evaluate the feasibility of potential water quality enhancement projects at Hodenply Dam.

AFFILIATED RESEARCHERS also conducted a hydrographic survey of the 1000 acre Tippy Impoundment on the Manistee River. This added service provided an accurate survey of water depths, conditions, obstructions, and volumes of Tippy Pond. When combined with the water temperature and dissolved oxygen profiles, the hydrographic survey data can be used to evaluate the feasibility of enhancing fishery habitat downstream of the impoundment.