Total Dissolved Gas and Water Temperature in the Lower Columbia River, Oregon and Washington, 2006: Quality-Assurance Data and Comparison to Water-Quality Standards

By Dwight Q. Tanner, Heather M. Bragg, and Matthew W. Johnston

U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 235

Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

When water is released through the spillways of dams, air is entrained, increasing the downstream concentration of dissolved gases. Excess dissolved-gas concentrations can have adverse effects on freshwater aquatic life. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, collected dissolved-gas concentration and water-temperature data at eight stations on the lower Columbia River in 2006. Significant findings from the data include:

• Variances to the Oregon and Washington water-quality standards for total dissolved gas were exceeded at all of the monitoring stations: Cascade Island (67 days), Camas (60 days), Bonneville forebay (51 days), The Dalles forebay (36 days), John Day tailwater (35 days), John Day navigation lock (20 days), The Dalles tailwater (8 days), and Warrendale (4 days).

Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River

• From early July to the end of August 2006, water temperature was above 20°C (degrees Celsius) at each of the eight lower Columbia River stations. According to the Oregon temperature standard, the 7-day average maximum temperature of the lower Columbia River should not exceed 20 °C; Washington regulations state that the 1-day maximum should not exceed 20°C due to human activities.

• Most field checks of total-dissolved-gas sensors with a secondary standard were within ± (plus or minus) 1% saturation. All of the field checks of barometric pressure were within ±1 millimeter of mercury of a secondary standard, and water temperature field checks were all within ±0.2°C.

• For the eight monitoring stations in water year 2006, an average of 99.1% of the total-dissolved-gas data were received in real time by the USGS satellite downlink and were within 1% saturation of the expected value on the basis of calibration data, replicate quality-control measurements in the river, and comparison to ambient river conditions at adjacent stations.

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Contents

Introduction
Background
Purpose and Scope
Methods of Data Collection
Summary of Total-Dissolved-Gas Data Completeness and Quality
Quality Assurance Data
Effects of Spill on Total-Dissolved-Gas Concentration
Comparison of Total Dissolved Gas and Temperature to Standards
References Cited

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