USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2010–5153 - Thermal Effects of Dams in the Willamette River Basin, Oregon

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Scientific Investigations Report 2010–5153

Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Oregon Association of Clean Water Agencies

Thermal Effects of Dams in the Willamette River Basin, Oregon

By Stewart A. Rounds

Figures

Figure 1. The Willamette River basin, Oregon.

Figure 2. Major physiographic regions in the Willamette River basin, Oregon.

Figure 3. Imposed seasonal variation in the estimated correction for evaporative losses from Willamette River basin reservoirs, Oregon.

Figure 4. Flow chart showing process for estimating without-dam water temperatures at dam sites in the Willamette River basin, Oregon.

Figure 5. Measured and estimated streamflow for conditions with and without upstream dams in the Middle Fork Willamette River at Dexter Dam, just downstream of Lookout Point Dam in the Willamette River basin, Oregon, 2001–02.

Figure 6. Measured and estimated water temperatures for conditions with and without upstream dams at the Big Cliff / Detroit, Blue River, and Cottage Grove dam sites in the Willamette River basin, Oregon, 2001–02.

Figure 7. Cumulative frequency curves of measured and estimated water temperatures for conditions with and without upstream dams at the Big Cliff dam site in the Williamette River basin, Oregon, 2001–02.

Figure 8. Correlation of water temperatures for Blue River and Blowout Creek in the Willamette River basin, Oregon, for a period in mid-summer of 2000.

Figure 9. Measured and estimated water temperatures for conditions with and without upstream dams at the Cougar, Dexter / Lookout Point, and Dorena dam sites in the Willamette River basin, Oregon, 2001–02.

Figure 10. Measured and estimated water temperatures for conditions with and without upstream dams at the Fall Creek, Fern Ridge, and Foster dam sites in the Willamette River basin, Oregon, 2001–02.

Figure 11. Measured heating effect of Fern Ridge Lake in the Willamette River basin, based on temperature measurements upstream and downstream of the lake.

Figure 12. Measured and estimated water temperatures for conditions with and without upstream dams at the Green Peter, Hills Creek, and River Mill dam sites in the Willamette River basin, Oregon, 2001–02.

Figure 13. Measured daily mean streamflow at USGS gaging stations on the Willamette River at Albany and at Salem.

Figure 14. Simulated streamflow in the Willamette River at Albany and at Salem for conditions with and without upstream dams in the Willamette River basin, Oregon, April–October 2002.

Figure 15. Modeled downstream thermal effects of dams on the entire Willamette River, Oregon, June–October 2001 and April–October 2002.

Figure 16. Modeled 7dADM temperatures for conditions with and without dams in the Willamette River downstream of the confluence of the Coast Fork and Middle Fork Willamette Rivers, Oregon, June–October 2001–02.

Figure A1. Measured and estimated streamflow for conditions with and without upstream dams at selected dam sites in the Willamette River basin, Oregon, 2001–02.

Figure A2. Measured and estimated streamflow for conditions with and without upstream dams at selected dam sites in the Willamette River basin, Oregon, 2001–02.

Figure A3. Measured and estimated streamflow for conditions with and without upstream dams at selected dam sites in the Willamette River basin, Oregon, 2001–02.

Figure A4. Measured and estimated streamflow for conditions with and without upstream dams at selected dam sites in the Willamette River basin, Oregon, 2001–02.

Figure B1. Time/distance color map showing modeled downstream thermal effects of dams on the entire Willamette River, Oregon, June–October 2001 and April–October 2002.

Figure B2. Time/distance color maps showing modeled downstream thermal effects of dams on the Middle Fork Willamette River, the Coast Fork Willamette River, and the Long Tom River, Oregon, June–October 2001 and April–October 2002.

Figure B3. Time/distance color maps showing modeled downstream thermal effects of dams on the South Fork McKenzie and McKenzie Rivers, and the Clackamas River, Oregon, June–October 2001 and April–October 2002.

Figure B4. Time/distance color maps showing modeled downstream thermal effects of dams on the North Santiam and Santiam Rivers, and the South Santiam River, Oregon, June–October 2001 and April–October 2002.

Figure C1. Cumulative frequency plot and histograms of modeled 7dADM temperatures for conditions with and without dams in the Willamette River downstream of the confluence of the Coast Fork and Middle Fork Willamette Rivers, Oregon, June–October 2001–02.

Figure C2. Cumulative frequency plot and histograms of modeled 7dADM temperatures for conditions with and without dams in the Coast Fork Willamette River downstream of Cottage Grove Dam, Oregon, June–October 2001–02.

Figure C3. Cumulative frequency plot and histograms of modeled 7dADM temperatures for conditions with and without dams in the Middle Fork Willamette River downstream of Dexter Dam, Oregon, June–October 2001–02.

Figure C4. Cumulative frequency plot and histograms of modeled 7dADM temperatures for conditions with and without dams in the South Fork McKenzie and McKenzie Rivers downstream of Cougar Dam, Oregon, June–October 2001–02.

Figure C5. Cumulative frequency plot and histograms of modeled 7dADM temperatures for conditions with and without dams in the Long Tom River downstream of Fern Ridge Dam, Oregon, June–October 2001–02.

Figure C6. Cumulative frequency plot and histograms of modeled 7dADM temperatures for conditions with and without dams in the North Santiam and Santiam Rivers downstream of Big Cliff Dam, Oregon, June–October 2001–02.

Figure C7. Cumulative frequency plot and histograms of modeled 7dADM temperatures for conditions with and without dams in the South Santiam River downstream of Foster Dam, Oregon, June–October 2001–02.

Figure C8. Cumulative frequency plot and histograms of modeled 7dADM temperatures for conditions with and without dams in the Clackamas River downstream of River Mill Dam, Oregon, June–October 2001–02.

First posted August 17, 2010

Report PDF (5.8 MB)

For additional information contact:
Director, Oregon Water Science Center
U.S. Geological Survey
2130 SW 5th Ave.
Portland, Oregon 97201
http://or.water.usgs.gov

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