2009 Columbia River Water Quality Monitoring Data Report

Transcription

1 2009 Columbia River Water Quality Monitoring Data Report

2 Table of Contents Page Introduction Map of Columbia Basin....4 Maps of Portland and Wenatchee Area Sites..5 Maps or Columbia Gorge East and West Sites...6 Map of Longview Washington Sites...7 Water Quality Data: Temperature Conductivity Dissolved Oxygen Turbidity ph E.coli Acknowledgements and Contact Info. 30 2

3 Introduction Columbia Riverkeeper is a non-profit with the mission to protect and restore the water quality of the Columbia River from the headwaters to the ocean. Our volunteer water quality monitoring program is just one of many programs working towards this goal. Currently, volunteers monitor strategic sites from Wenatchee,WA to the estuary. Volunteers fill out a habitat assessment, collect garbage and record data on key indicators such as temperature, ph, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and E.coli. All samples are collected from the shallow shoreline of the mainstem Columbia or its tributaries. Our volunteers have been collecting data since 2006, however this report only includes data from the 2009 sampling season. This report includes all data points collected throughout the 2009 season and is intended to demonstrate temporal changes and intra- and interspecific variations within the data. Graphically the data are represented by region for each indicator that is measured. For each indicator, data from the Gorge Area tributaries are presented in their own graph. If water quality standards exist for the indicator they are demonstrated with labeled red lines. Pages 4-7 include a map of the Columbia basin with delineated regions and maps of each region with specific sampling sites marked. We hope you find this report useful and informative. CRK Volunteer sampling on the Columbia River 3

4 Wenatchee Area Longview Area Portland Area West Gorge Area East GorgeArea Columbia River Basin with inset maps delineated. 4

5 Portland, OR Area Sites Wenatchee, WA Area Sites 5

6 East Columbia Gorge Area Sites West Columbia Gorge Area Sites 6

7 Longview, WA Area Sites 7

8 Temperature Temperature is the most critical factor influencing biological and chemical conditions in the environment. Water temperature influences the rate of photosynthesis as well as metabolism for organisms. It also affects the sensitivity of organisms to disease, parasites, and pollution. Obviously temperatures change with the seasons, but other factors can influence temperature as well. Air temperature and water flow have a significant effect on water temperatures, as well as channel characteristics, shade, dams and effluent discharges. Thermal pollution is common at municipal and industrial outfalls, and nuclear power plants. In the warmer months, stormwater runoff can increase temperature as rainwater runs over hot pavement and into streams and rivers. On the Columbia, dams are a major source of temperature issues. Deforestation also affects temperature by removing riparian or shoreline trees that shade water, thus exposing it to intense sunlight. Turbidity can also affect temperature as particles suspended in the water column absorb sunlight and increase the temperature. We measure temperature in degrees Celsius ( C). The Oregon DEQ standard for temperature in 20 C. Salmon are happiest in 5-13 C, and 25 C is considered lethal for salmon. Juvenile Coho salmon 8

9 Lethal OR state standard Lethal OR state standard 9

10 Lethal OR state standard Lethal OR state standard 10

11 Lethal OR state standard 11

12 Conductivity Conductivity is the measure of how well water conducts an electrical current and is measured in microsiemens per centimeter (µs/cm). Conductivity is affected by the presence of inorganic compounds (i.e. compounds from minerals) as opposed to organic compounds (compounds derived from organisms). The geology and size of area through which the water flows can significantly affect conductivity levels. As rock and soil erode, minerals dissolve and increase the Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), thus increasing conductivity. The primary dissolved solids that affect conductivity are chloride, nitrate, sulfate, and phosphate anions (ions that carry a negative charge), or sodium magnesium, calcium, iron, aluminum cations (ions that carry a positive charge). The presence of these dissolved solids can be influenced by human impacts such as discharges from industrial and municipal wastewater plants, road runoff (particularly melting salts), agricultural runoff and mine runoff. Freshwater values can range from less than one into the thousands, and typical values for the Columbia River are µs/cm. With an understanding of normal background levels, spikes or drops in conductivity can signify some kind of human induced impacts. For example, the presence of pesticides or fertilizers or a failing sewage system would raise the conductivity, while and oil spill (organic matter) would lower the conductivity. CRK Volunteer John Nelson 12

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16 Dissolved Oxygen Dissolved oxygen is affected by many environmental factors such as temperature, turbulence (waterfalls, riffles, wind, spillover from dams), plant growth, and algae growth. Fertilizers can also affect DO by introducing nutrients that encourage algae growth and result in low DO conditions as the algae dies and decomposes. Temperature has as an inverse relationship with DO. Colder temperatures can dissolve more oxygen (DO drops with increases in temperature). Dissolved oxygen (DO) is measured in milligrams per liter of water (mg/l). Generally, DO does not exceed 15 mg/l, and normal values for streams range from 8-12 mg/l. Salmon cannot live in water with DO less than 6 mg/l, and the Oregon state standard for DO is greater than or equal to 6.5 mg/l. Never doubt that a handful of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. -Margaret Mead Americorps Water Qualtiy Technicians Corie Lahr, Justin Takkunen, and Seth Chicas. 16

17 OR state standard OR state standard 17

18 OR state standard OR state standard 18

19 OR state standard 19

20 Turbidity Turbidity (or water clarity) is measured in nephlometric turbidity units (NTUs) (named after the machine that measures it). Turbidity values can range from less than 1 NTU (very clear water) to over 1000 NTU (very turbid water). In Oregon it is uncommon to measure over 150 NTU, and salmon are happiest in water with <10 NTU. Turbidity is affected by the total amount of suspended material in the water (clay, sand, silt, organic material). Turbidity will naturally increase after rainfall with increased runoff and increased suspension of material. Construction activity, agricultural activity, municipal and industrial wastewater discharges, runoff from roads, dredging, channelization and recreation can all also have affects on turbidity. A certain level of movement of materials is necessary and normal for rebuilding habitat and maintaining normal stream function. However, sediment movement can also be detrimental. Fish eggs can be buried in fine sediment and suffocated. And the spaces between rocks that are home to macroinvertebrates (stream insects) can be filled with sediment. Additionally, fish are visual feeders and very murky water can inhibit their feeding. Turbid water also absorbs more light thereby increasing temperatures. 20

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24 ph ph is a measure of the acidity or basicity of the water. To measure ph we measure the concentration of hydrogen ions in the water. The ph scale ranges from 0-14 with 7 being neutral. Solutions over 7.0 are considered basic while solutions under 7.0 are considered acidic. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality standard range for freshwater streams is Natural variations in ph can come from photosynthesis and respiration. Carbon dioxide forms carbonic acid in water and is a major source of acid in the water. ph can vary throughout the day as CO 2 is absorbed during photosynthesis (occurring during the day) and emitted during respiration (occurring at night). Of course, direct inputs of acids and bases from industrial or municipal sources can have an affect on ph as well. Indirect effects can also influence ph, such as inputs of fertilizers increasing plant production and thus photosynthetic activity. ph is particularly important because it determines the solubility of nutrients and chemicals in the water. Acidic water (low ph) dissolves nutrients and chemicals at a greater rate thereby making them more available for uptake by plants and animals. Too low a ph can dissolve heavy metals, and make pollutants bio-available, and too high a ph can make nutrients insoluble and therefore unavailable to plants and animals. 24

25 OR state standard OR state standard 25

26 OR state standard OR state standard 26

27 OR state standard 27

28 E.coli Escherichia coli (E.coli) is a bacteria (belonging to a group of bacteria known as fecal coliform bacteria) which lives in the lower intestines of warm-blooded mammals. It is necessary for the digestion of food but its presence in rivers indicates fecal contamination. Common sources of high fecal bacteria include overflowing septic fields and sewage systems, and fecal matter from wildlife and pets. While some amount of feces is expected from wildlife, consistently high levels suggest a continuous source such as a leaky sewage pipe or septic system. The presence of E. coli is well correlated with the presence of many waterborne microorganisms and pathogens which can cause diseases such as gastroenteritis, dysentery, typhoid fever, and cholera. E. coli levels are often high after periods of rain. After significant rain events levels can stay high for days as fecal matter from wildlife and pets is flushed downhill into rivers. At what levels does E coli become a concern?: For a single sample Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) uses a standard of 406 mpn which is one of the second highest standards in the nation (for comparison Vermont uses one of the lowest standards in the nation at 77 mpn which predicts that 4 in 1000 swimmers may become ill). However fecal bacteria can fluctuate daily, so there is a second federal and state standard of 126 mpn, which is calculated by taking the mean (geometric) of 5 E coli samples collected within 30 days. 28

29 OR DEQ and EPA standard (Note Different Scales) DEQ and EPA standard 29

30 Acknowledgements A huge thank you goes out to all of our volunteers that dedicated their time and energy to collect and report the data presented in this report. This report represents a collective effort of Columbia Riverkeeper staff and volunteers and Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. How do I Get Involved? For more information on this report or our programs or to get involved please contact our water quality director. Lorri Epstein Lorri@columbiariverkeeper.org 30