River and Stream Water Quality Monitoring

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Results that exceed water quality criteria or the usual range of data

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Long-term station
Basin station sampled since 1999
Station (long-term or basin) with result(s) that exceeded water quality standards   

44 stations found with results that exceeded water quality standards  in September of 2009 (water-year 2009) based on preliminary data *

The Department of Ecology places limits on how much pollution is allowed in our rivers to protect public health and enjoyment, and to support fish, shellfish, and wildlife (WAC 173-201A). Individual results for temperature, pH, oxygen, fecal coliform bacteria, and metals (where sampled) that are higher than these criteria are listed below. (The standards do not contain criteria for other types of water quality constituents.) This table includes only results from our monthly monitoring program. Results from other monitoring, such as continuous monitoring for temperature, are not evaluated here.

Exceeding a criterion does not necessarily mean the water quality standard has been violated. Often, other “pollution” conditions must exist for a stream segment to be in violation of water quality standards. In some cases, standards require that the source of pollution be human activities rather than natural causes. Also, more than a single result exceeding a criterion may be required.

* Data are not considered finalized until our annual report is published. This can take as long as nine months from the end of the water year. Until published, data are subject to change without notice.

Stations are listed by Department of Ecology Region

Central Region
 stationstation nameclassdatetimeparameterresultacriterionb
31A070  Columbia R @ Umatilla  A 9/15/2009 13:40 Temperature (deg C) 20.4 20
37G050  Ahtanum Crk @ Fulbright Park  FI 9/16/2009 13:40 Fecal Coliform Bacteria (#/100ml) 610 200
" " " " 9/16/2009 13:40 Temperature (deg C) 17.8 17.5
39A050  Yakima R @ Harrison Bridge  A 9/16/2009 10:40 pH (pH) 8.8 8.5
39A090  Yakima R nr Cle Elum  AA 9/16/2009 08:32 Oxygen (mg/L) 9 9.5
" " " " 9/16/2009 08:32 Temperature (deg C) 14.1 13
45A070  Wenatchee R @ Wenatchee  A 9/14/2009 09:49 Temperature (deg C) 17.8 17.5
45A110  Wenatchee R nr Leavenworth  AA 9/14/2009 08:35 Oxygen (mg/L) 8.9 9.5
" " " " 9/14/2009 08:35 Temperature (deg C) 16.4 16
48A075  Methow River nr Pateros @ Metal Br.  A 9/14/2009 13:15 Temperature (deg C) 18 17.5
48D070  Twisp River nr Mouth  A 9/14/2009 11:50 Oxygen (mg/L) 9.3 9.5
" " " " 9/14/2009 11:50 Temperature (deg C) 15.5 13
49A070  Okanogan R @ Malott  A 9/14/2009 10:50 Temperature (deg C) 19.5 17.5
49A190  Okanogan R @ Oroville  A 9/14/2009 09:00 pH (pH) 9.4 8.5
" " " " 9/14/2009 09:00 Temperature (deg C) 18.2 17.5
49B070  Similkameen R @ Oroville  A 9/14/2009 09:20 Temperature (deg C) 19 17.5
footnotes
a. Data qualifier codes: J - estimated value
b. Criteria are approximate water quality standards for fecal bacteria, oxygen, pH, temperature, and metals (metals criteria are affected by water hardness)
Eastern Region
 stationstation nameclassdatetimeparameterresultacriterionb
32A070  Walla Walla R nr Touchet  B 9/15/2009 09:15 pH (pH) 8.8 8.5
" " " " 9/15/2009 09:15 Temperature (deg C) 18.2 17.5
32B075  Touchet R. @ Cummins Rd.  A 9/15/2009 08:35 Oxygen (mg/L) 7.8 8
" " " " 9/15/2009 08:35 Temperature (deg C) 18.4 17.5
33A050  Snake R nr Pasco  A 9/15/2009 10:25 Oxygen (mg/L) 7.6 8
" " " " 9/15/2009 10:25 Temperature (deg C) 20.3 20
34A070  Palouse R @ Hooper  B 9/16/2009 14:20 Temperature (deg C) 20.9 17.5
" " " " 9/16/2009 14:20 pH (pH) 8.7 8.5
34A170  Palouse R @ Palouse  A 9/16/2009 09:15 Oxygen (mg/L) 7.5 8
34B110  SF Palouse R @ Pullman  A 9/16/2009 09:40 Oxygen (mg/L) 7.8 8
35A150  Snake R @ Interstate Br  A 9/16/2009 10:45 Oxygen (mg/L) 7.9 8
" " " " 9/16/2009 10:45 Temperature (deg C) 21.2 20
35B060  Tucannon R @ Powers  A 9/16/2009 13:20 Temperature (deg C) 18.8 17.5
" " " " 9/16/2009 13:20 pH (pH) 8.6 8.5
36A070  Columbia R nr Vernita  A 9/14/2009 15:35 Temperature (deg C) 21 17.5
41A070  Crab Cr nr Beverly  B 9/14/2009 13:48 Temperature (deg C) 20.4 17.5
53A070  Columbia R @ Grand Coulee  A 9/14/2009 15:30 Oxygen (mg/L) 7.8 8
" " " " 9/14/2009 15:30 Temperature (deg C) 19.2 17.5
53C070  Hawk Creek @ Miles-Creston Rd.  A 9/14/2009 16:45 Oxygen (mg/L) 9 9.5
54A070  Spokane R @ Long Lake  A 9/9/2009 16:09 Oxygen (mg/L) 6.2 8
60A070  Kettle R nr Barstow  AA 9/15/2009 12:50 Temperature (deg C) 18.4 16
" " " " 9/15/2009 12:50 Oxygen (mg/L) 9.4 9.5
61A070  Columbia R @ Northport  AA 9/15/2009 11:45 Temperature (deg C) 18.7 16
" " " " 9/15/2009 11:45 Oxygen (mg/L) 8.6 9.5
footnotes
a. Data qualifier codes: J - estimated value
b. Criteria are approximate water quality standards for fecal bacteria, oxygen, pH, temperature, and metals (metals criteria are affected by water hardness)
Northwest Region
 stationstation nameclassdatetimeparameterresultacriterionb
05A090  SF Stillaguamish @ Arlington  A 9/23/2009 11:00 Oxygen (mg/L) 8.9 9.5
" " " " 9/23/2009 11:00 Temperature (deg C) 14.7 13
05B070  NF Stillaguamish @ Cicero  A 9/23/2009 10:15 Temperature (deg C) 13.7 13
07C070  Skykomish R @ Monroe  A 9/22/2009 10:20 Temperature (deg C) 13.5 13
" " " " 9/22/2009 10:20 Oxygen (mg/L) 9.4 9.5
07D130  Snoqualmie R @ Snoqualmie  A 9/22/2009 08:00 Oxygen (mg/L) 9.2 9.5
08C070  Cedar R @ Logan St/Renton  A 9/21/2009 13:20 pH (pH) 8.6 8.5
" " " " 9/21/2009 13:20 Temperature (deg C) 13.5 13
08N070  Johns Creek @ Gene Coulon Park  AA 9/21/2009 12:30 Oxygen (mg/L) 8.2 9.5
" " " " 9/21/2009 12:30 Temperature (deg C) 16.1 16
09A080  Green R @ Tukwila  A 9/21/2009 14:50 Oxygen (mg/L) 7.4 8
09A190  Green R @ Kanaskat  AA 9/21/2009 08:15 Temperature (deg C) 14 13
09H090  Black R @ Monster Rd SW  A 9/21/2009 13:50 Fecal Coliform Bacteria (#/100ml) 470 200
" " " " 9/21/2009 13:50 Oxygen (mg/L) 3.7 8
09L060  Walker Creek near mouth  AA 9/21/2009 11:00 Fecal Coliform Bacteria (#/100ml) 430 100
09M050  North Creek at Seahurst Pk  AA 9/21/2009 11:45 Fecal Coliform Bacteria (#/100ml) 160 100
15L050  Seabeck Cr. @ mouth  AA 9/9/2009 14:35 Fecal Coliform Bacteria (#/100ml) 240 100
footnotes
a. Data qualifier codes: J - estimated value
b. Criteria are approximate water quality standards for fecal bacteria, oxygen, pH, temperature, and metals (metals criteria are affected by water hardness)
Southwest Region
 stationstation nameclassdatetimeparameterresultacriterionb
11A070  Nisqually R @ Nisqually  A 9/23/2009 13:25 Temperature (deg C) 16.4 13
12F090  Spanaway Cr. @ Old Military Rd.  AA 9/23/2009 12:30 Temperature (deg C) 20.2 17.5
23A160  Chehalis R @ Dryad  A 9/22/2009 13:15 Temperature (deg C) 16.2 13
23A170  Chehalis R. nr Doty  A 9/22/2009 12:47 Temperature (deg C) 16.1 13
23G070  SF Chehalis R @ Beaver Creek Rd.  A 9/22/2009 13:50 Temperature (deg C) 16.6 13
28C070  Burnt Br Cr @ Mouth  A 9/22/2009 08:30 Fecal Coliform Bacteria (#/100ml) 400J 200
footnotes
a. Data qualifier codes: J - estimated value
b. Criteria are approximate water quality standards for fecal bacteria, oxygen, pH, temperature, and metals (metals criteria are affected by water hardness)

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