Total Dissolved Gas and Water Temperature in the Lower Columbia River, Oregon and Washington, Water Year 2009: Quality-Assurance Data and Comparison to Water-Quality Standards

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

Abstract:

Significant Findings When water is released through the spillways of dams, air is entrained in the water, 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 and water-temperature data at eight monitoring stations on the lower Columbia River in Oregon and Washington in 2009. Significant findings from the data include: During the spill season of April through August 2009, hourly values of total dissolved gas (TDG) were occasionally larger than 115-percent saturation for the forebay stations (John Day navigation lock, The Dalles forebay, Bonneville forebay, and Camas). Hourly values of total dissolved gas were occasionally larger than 120-percent saturation for two tailwater stations (John Day Dam tailwater and Cascade Island). From mid- to late July to mid-September 2009, water temperatures were greater than 20 degree(s) C (degrees Celsius) at seven stations on the lower Columbia River. According to the State of Oregon temperature standard, the 7-day average maximum temperature of the lower Columbia River should not exceed 20 degree(s)C; Washington regulations state that the 1-day maximum should not exceed 20 degree(s) C as a re-sult of human activities. All 96 laboratory checks of the TDG sensors with a certified pressure gage were within 0.4 percent saturation after 3 to 4 weeks of deployment in the river. All but 2 of the 73 in situ field checks of TDG sensors with a secondary standard were within + or - (plus or minus) 1.0-percent saturation after 3-4 weeks of deployment in the river. All 74 of the field checks of barometric pressure were within + or - 2.0 millimeters of mercury of a secondary standard, and all 65 water-temperature field checks were within + or - 0.2 degree(s) C. For the eight monitoring stations in water year 2009, a total of 99.2 percent of the TDG data were received in real time by the USGS satellite downlink and were within 1-percent 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 sites. Data received from the individual stations ranged from 97.0 to 100.0 percent complete.

Genre:

USGS Numbered Series

ProdID:

98218

Citation Author:

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

Citation Contributing Office:

Oregon Water Science Center

Citation Datum:

Citation Day:

Citation Edition:

Citation Editor:

Citation End Page:

Citation Issue:

Citation Keywords:

Citation Language:

ENGLISH

Citation Larger Work Title:

Citation LatN:

0464500

Citation LatS:

0445000

Citation LonE:

-1205000

Citation LonW:

-1240000

Citation Month:

Citation No Pagination:

Citation Number Of Pages:

Citation Online Only Flag:

Citation Phsyical Description:

vi, 26 p.

Citation Projection:

Citation Public Comments:

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

Citation Publisher:

U.S. Geological Survey

Citation Series:

Open-File Report

Citation Series Code:

OFR

Citation Series Number:

2009-1288

Citation Search Results Text:

Total Dissolved Gas and Water Temperature in the Lower Columbia River, Oregon and Washington, Water Year 2009: Quality-Assurance Data and Comparison to Water-Quality Standards; 2010; OFR; 2009-1288; Tanner, Dwight Q.; Bragg, Heather M.; and Johnston, Matthew W.