thumbnail

Quality of water, Quillayute River basin, Washington

Water-Resources Investigations Report 83-4162
By:
https://doi.org/10.3133/wri834162

Links

Abstract

Groundwater in Quillayute River basin is generally of the calcium bicarbonate type, although water from some wells is affected by seawater intrusion and is predominantly of the sodium chloride type. The water is generally of excellent quality for most uses. River-water quality was generally excellent, as evaluated against Washington State water-use and water-quality criteria. Fecal coliform concentrations in all major tributaries met State water-quality criteria; water temperatures occasionally exceeded criteria maximum during periods of warm weather and low streamflow. Nutrient concentrations were generally low to very low. The four largest lakes in the basin were temperature-stratified in summer and one had an algal bloom. The Quillayute estuary had salt-wedge mixing characteristics; pollutants entering the salt wedge tended to spread to the toe of the wedge. Upwelling ocean water was the major cause of the low dissolved-oxygen concentrations observed in the estuary; ammonia concentrations in the estuary, however, were increased by the upwelling ocean waters. As in the rivers, total-coliform bacteria concentrations in the estuary were greater than fecal-coliform concentrations, indicating that many of the bacteria were of nonfecal origin and probably originated from soils. (USGS)
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Quality of water, Quillayute River basin, Washington
Series title Water-Resources Investigations Report
Series number 83-4162
DOI 10.3133/wri834162
Edition -
Year Published 1984
Language ENGLISH
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey,
Description viii, 96 p. :ill., maps ;28 cm.
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details