Sinclair Inlet Dye Study: Sampling Plan for Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility Dry Dock and Storm Water Outfalls

摘要

This document describes plans for performing a dye release study at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) to determine the amount of dilution that occurs in the adjacent waters of Sinclair Inlet when (1) drainage from dry docks (ground water and floor run-off) is discharged from PSNS & IMF Dry Docks and when (2) storm water is discharged from PSNS & IMF storm water outfalls during storm events. The sampling plan is designed to obtain data that can be used to evaluate mixing dynamics and support the development of mixing models for these two types of discharges in Sinclair Inlet (Figure 1). Dye studies are an effective means of measuring the dilution and mixing of effluents in receiving waters (U.S. EPA 1991). Mixing is very complex in marine and estuarine systems and dye studies are the recommended approach for determining discharge impact zones (U.S. EPA 1991). Dye studies can provide information on the areal extent of mixing, identify the boundary where the effluent is completely mixed with ambient water, and validate computer models of mixing. Data from dye studies can also be used to calculate concentration isopleths for the outfalls under the discharge conditions measured during the study (U.S. EPA 1991).