Purpose and Scope


The purpose of this work was to update the USGS upper Klamath River model by (1) including macrophytes based on data collected in summer and fall (June−October), (2) incorporating dissolved organic matter, phosphoric acid, and ammonia buffering into the simulation of pH, and (3) recalibrating the CE-QUAL-W2 model for 2006–09. The updated model can simulate stage, flow, water velocity, ice cover, water temperature, specific conductance, inorganic suspended sediment, total nitrogen, particulate nitrogen, nitrate, ammonia, total phosphorus, orthophosphorus, particulate carbon, dissolved organic carbon, organic matter in the sediment, three algal groups, three macrophyte groups, dissolved oxygen, and pH.


The model covers the 19.6 mi (31.5 km) reach of the Klamath River from the end of Link River, near site 11507501, to Keno Dam. This reach includes several point sources as well as inflows from the Klamath Strait Drain and seasonal withdrawals or inflows from the Lost River Diversion Channel and withdrawals through the North and Ady Canals. The purpose of this report is to document the changes to the model and illustrate the importance of macrophytes and pH buffering in this reach of the Klamath River.


First posted March 1, 2013