Publication Citation

USGS Series Open-File Report
Report Number 2008-1357
Title Total Dissolved Gas and Water Temperature in the Lower Columbia River, Oregon and Washington, 2008: Quality-Assurance Data and Comparison to Water-Quality Standards
Edition - Online Only
Language ENGLISH
Author(s) Tanner, Dwight Q.; Bragg, Heather M.; Johnston, Matthew W.
Year 2008
Originating office Oregon Water Science Center
USGS Library Call Number
Physical description vi, 25 p.
ISBN
Northernmost latitude 0463000
Southernmost latitude 0450000
Easternmost longitude -1190000
Westernmost longitude -1240000

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Abstract

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 2008. Significant findings from the data include: * During the spill season of April through August 2008, hourly values of total-dissolved-gas (TDG) concentration 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 TDG concentration were occasionally larger than 120-percent saturation for tailwater stations (John Day tailwater, The Dalles tailwater, and Cascade Island). * From late July to September 2008, water temperatures were greater than 20 deg C (degrees Cel-sius) 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 deg C; Washington regulations state that the 1-day maximum should not exceed 20 deg C as a result of human activities. * Each of the in situ field checks of TDG sensors with a secondary standard was within +- (plus or minus) 1-percent saturation after 3 to 4 weeks of deployment in the river. All field checks of barometric pressure were within +-2.0 millimeters of mercury of a secondary stan-dard, and water-temperature field checks were all within +-0.2 deg C. * For the eight monitoring stations in water year 2008, an average of 99.6 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 stations. Data received from the individual stations ranged from 98.8 to 100.0 percent complete.