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environmental information > river & stream WQ monitoring > state network >

Water quality monitoring station

31A070 - Columbia R @ Umatilla

Results that exceed water quality criteria or the usual range of data (since October, 1996)

Results that exceeded water quality standards criteria

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.

Washington's Water Quality Standards were amended in November, 2006. Data in the tables below are based on the older standards through 2008. Data collected after 2008 are based on the ammended standards, excluding supplemental temperature criteria. We are currently working on incorporating supplemental temperature criteria into our evaluation procedures.

date	time	units	criterion	result	remark	% exceed
pH
4/5/2005	13:12	pH	8.5	8.6		1
6/13/2001	13:20	pH	8.5	8.6		2
11/3/1999	06:55	pH	6.5	5.4		17
9/8/1998	19:00	pH	8.5	8.6		1
Temperature
date	time	units	criterion	result	remark	% exceed
9/15/2009	13:40	deg C	20	20.4		2
8/11/2008	10:30	deg C	20	20.7		3
9/12/2007	16:39	deg C	20	21.4		7
8/13/2007	13:40	deg C	20	21.2		6
7/10/2007	14:52	deg C	20	20.5		2
9/12/2006	14:20	deg C	20	20.6		3
8/15/2006	13:33	deg C	20	21.3		7
7/18/2006	13:30	deg C	20	20.1		1
8/2/2005	14:35	deg C	20	21.4		7
8/4/2004	12:50	deg C	20	21.9		9
8/6/2003	10:05	deg C	20	21.2		6
8/14/2002	13:30	deg C	20	20.5		2
8/8/2001	12:45	deg C	20	21.4		7
7/11/2001	14:45	deg C	20	20.1		1
9/8/1998	19:00	deg C	20	22.4		12
8/12/1998	07:30	deg C	20	20.9		4
8/13/1997	07:00	deg C	20	20.2		1

Results that contrast strongly with historical data

Results exceeding the usual range of data (defined as 2 standard deviations beyond the mean value for a station based on data from the same three-month period over the previous six years) are shown below. A certain percentage of results will always be listed in this report. Inclusion here does not necessarily indicate something unique is occurring in the watershed.

date	time	units	result	remark	QMEAN	QSD	QDP
Ammonia-Nitrogen
12/5/2007	11:50	mg/L	0.024		1.044444E-02	1.464169E-03	18
12/12/2006	14:15	mg/L	0.01	U	2.247059E-02	0.0045	16
10/10/2006	14:25	mg/L	0.01	U	2.247059E-02	0.0045	16
12/6/2005	14:47	mg/L	0.01	U	2.247059E-02	0.0045	16
11/8/2005	15:25	mg/L	0.01	U	2.247059E-02	0.0045	16
10/4/2005	14:40	mg/L	0.01	U	2.247059E-02	0.0045	16
12/7/2004	13:25	mg/L	0.01	U	2.247059E-02	0.0045	16
11/2/2004	12:40	mg/L	0.012		2.247059E-02	0.0045	16
10/5/2004	13:40	mg/L	0.01	U	2.247059E-02	0.0045	16
12/10/2003	12:55	mg/L	0.01	UJ	2.247059E-02	0.0045	16
11/4/2003	12:30	mg/L	0.01	U	2.247059E-02	0.0045	16
10/8/2003	12:50	mg/L	0.01	U	2.247059E-02	0.0045	16
12/18/2002	10:10	mg/L	0.01	U	2.247059E-02	0.0045	16
11/14/2002	09:55	mg/L	0.01	U	2.247059E-02	0.0045	16
10/16/2002	11:00	mg/L	0.01	U	2.247059E-02	0.0045	16
10/6/1999	09:45	mg/L	0.025		0.013	0.005	18
9/8/1999	09:50	mg/L	0.037		0.014	0.007	18
8/4/1999	09:50	mg/L	0.029		0.014	0.007	18
10/14/1998	08:10	mg/L	0.196		0.013	0.005	18
4/16/1997	09:40	mg/L	0.043		0.016	0.009	18
Barometric Pressure
date	time	units	result	remark	QMEAN	QSD	QDP
8/13/2007	13:40	mm/Hg	759.206		743.2349	7.980814	18
7/18/2006	13:30	mm/Hg	761.238		743.2349	7.980814	18
12/6/2005	14:47	mm/Hg	773.176		752.379	9.057885	17
9/13/2005	14:38	mm/Hg	760.476		743.2349	7.980814	18
8/2/2005	14:35	mm/Hg	759.46		743.2349	7.980814	18
12/10/2003	12:55	mm/Hg	738.378		756.8212	8.682718	17
12/18/2002	10:10	mm/Hg	737.108		758.2057	7.519932	17
8/14/2002	13:30	mm/Hg	729.742		749.0941	8.01081	18
6/5/2002	14:00	mm/Hg	732.282		751.7794	7.416036	18
5/15/2002	14:15	mm/Hg	736.092		751.7794	7.416036	18
4/10/2002	14:20	mm/Hg	731.52		751.7794	7.416036	18
2/13/2002	15:45	mm/Hg	735.584		758.759	6.042	17
Conductivity
date	time	units	result	remark	QMEAN	QSD	QDP
4/6/2009	13:32	umhos/cm	202		139.2353	26.70798	17
3/2/2009	12:50	umhos/cm	115		166	21.06241	17
11/12/2007	11:03	umhos/cm	113		158.6111	12.13715	18
9/12/2007	16:39	umhos/cm	157		123.9444	12.52983	18
9/13/2005	14:38	umhos/cm	154		123.9444	12.52983	18
4/10/2002	14:20	umhos/cm	200		138.1111	28.18612	18
2/13/2002	15:45	umhos/cm	108	J	173.278	30.772	18
11/7/2001	13:35	umhos/cm	191		159.294	14.021	17
4/11/2001	13:35	umhos/cm	200		140.333	23.073	18
11/3/1999	06:55	umhos/cm	375		159.294	14.021	17
10/6/1999	09:45	umhos/cm	129		159.294	14.021	17
Fecal Coliform Bacteria
date	time	units	result	remark	QMEAN	QSD	QDP
9/15/2009	13:40	#/100ml	4		1.333333	0.766965	18
1/9/2007	14:53	#/100ml	10	J	2.411765	2.938087	17
11/13/2006	14:05	#/100ml	28		4.705883	3.312188	17
6/7/2006	14:00	#/100ml	13		2.777778	1.986885	18
6/11/1997	10:45	#/100ml	21		6.889	6.305	18
5/14/1997	09:30	#/100ml	20	J?	6.889	6.305	18
Flow
date	time	units	result	remark	QMEAN	QSD	QDP
7/16/1997	07:10	CFS	327000		130533.3	54694.18	15
6/11/1997	10:45	CFS	560000		221780	95919.88	15
5/14/1997	09:30	CFS	481500		221780	95919.88	15
Hardness
date	time	units	result	remark	QMEAN	QSD	QDP
12/5/2007	11:50	mg/L	76.1		67.5	3.645088	4
Nitrate+Nitrite-Nitrogen
date	time	units	result	remark	QMEAN	QSD	QDP
4/6/2009	13:32	mg/L	0.608		0.2182353	0.1466695	17
11/13/2006	14:05	mg/L	0.293		0.1962353	4.792641E-02	17
3/8/2005	13:19	mg/L	0.149		0.3742353	9.707248E-02	17
Nitrate-Nitrite
date	time	units	result	remark	QMEAN	QSD	QDP
4/10/2002	14:20	mg/L	0.646		0.2086111	0.1440772	18
4/11/2001	13:35	mg/L	0.522		0.19	0.153	18
11/5/1997	07:00	mg/L	0.437		0.186	0.084	18
9/17/1997	07:10	mg/L	0.198		0.062	0.052	18
4/16/1997	09:40	mg/L	0.512		0.19	0.153	18
Oxygen
date	time	units	result	remark	QMEAN	QSD	QDP
4/10/2007	13:50	mg/L	13.5		11.81944	0.7176716	18
12/12/2006	14:15	mg/L	12.1		10.4325	0.7442356	16
4/11/2006	14:00	mg/L	14.3		11.81944	0.7176716	18
4/5/2005	13:12	mg/L	13.3		11.81944	0.7176716	18
6/7/2000	18:45	mg/L	10.6		12.417	0.692	18
7/7/1999	10:10	mg/L	11.1		9.778	0.609	18
7/16/1997	07:10	mg/L	11.4		9.778	0.609	18
pH
date	time	units	result	remark	QMEAN	QSD	QDP
4/6/2009	13:32	pH	7.7		8.108824	0.1720059	17
5/6/2008	11:50	pH	8.5		8.108824	0.1720059	17
4/15/2008	11:35	pH	8.5		8.108824	0.1720059	17
8/16/2000	10:45	pH	7.9		8.244	0.138	18
11/3/1999	06:55	pH	5.4		8.117	0.313	18
4/14/1999	09:15	pH	7.2		8.161	0.259	18
1/13/1999	09:00	pH	7.2		7.956	0.331	18
12/16/1998	07:05	pH	6.6		8.117	0.313	18
10/14/1998	08:10	pH	7.4		8.117	0.313	18
9/8/1998	19:00	pH	8.6		8.244	0.138	18
7/15/1998	06:35	pH	7.5		8.244	0.138	18
Phosphorus, Sol Reactive
date	time	units	result	remark	QMEAN	QSD	QDP
9/12/2007	16:39	mg/L	0.0097		5.533333E-03	1.426637E-03	18
11/13/2006	14:05	mg/L	0.027		1.089412E-02	4.568981E-03	17
4/9/2003	10:10	mg/L	0.02		7.888889E-03	4.681991E-03	18
2/5/2003	10:20	mg/L	0.028		0.01305	6.268439E-03	16
9/11/2002	14:10	mg/L	0.0085		5.222222E-03	8.782038E-04	18
4/14/1999	09:15	mg/L	0.023		0.009	0.004	18
Phosphorus, Total
date	time	units	result	remark	QMEAN	QSD	QDP
12/18/2002	10:10	mg/L	0.021		7.164706E-02	1.419492E-02	16
11/14/2002	09:55	mg/L	0.025		7.164706E-02	1.419492E-02	16
10/16/2002	11:00	mg/L	0.024		7.164706E-02	1.419492E-02	16
1/13/1999	09:00	mg/L	0.172		0.041	0.043	18
9/8/1998	19:00	mg/L	0.042		0.021	0.009	18
11/5/1997	07:00	mg/L	0.07		0.024	0.007	17
10/14/1997	17:40	mg/L	0.043		0.024	0.007	17
9/17/1997	07:10	mg/L	0.043		0.021	0.009	18
6/11/1997	10:45	mg/L	0.088	J	0.036	0.023	18
12/11/1996	10:15	mg/L	0.799		0.024	0.007	17
Suspended Solids
date	time	units	result	remark	QMEAN	QSD	QDP
2/5/2003	10:20	mg/L	15		5.625	3.810074	16
4/8/1998	08:10	mg/L	44		8.778	3.507	18
7/16/1997	07:10	mg/L	14		7.167	2.358	18
6/11/1997	10:45	mg/L	16		8.778	3.507	18
5/14/1997	09:30	mg/L	16		8.778	3.507	18
Temperature
date	time	units	result	remark	QMEAN	QSD	QDP
7/7/2008	11:15	deg C	17.7		20.33889	0.8971451	18
12/6/2005	14:47	deg C	0		11.34706	3.618031	17
10/5/2004	13:40	deg C	18.3		11.07059	3.260131	17
10/8/2003	12:50	deg C	18.6		11	3.405877	17
1/8/2003	09:50	deg C	6.1		3.7875	1.145353	16
7/12/2000	13:45	deg C	16.5		19.2	1.208	18
7/7/1999	10:10	deg C	14.8		19.2	1.208	18
9/8/1998	19:00	deg C	22.4		19.2	1.208	18
Total Persulf Nitrogen
date	time	units	result	remark	QMEAN	QSD	QDP
4/6/2009	13:32	mg/L	0.666		0.3015294	0.1534948	17
12/5/2007	11:50	mg/L	0.363		0.2647778	4.490717E-02	18
11/13/2006	14:05	mg/L	0.39		0.2764706	5.287617E-02	17
4/10/2002	14:20	mg/L	0.796		0.3221111	0.1457306	18
4/11/2001	13:35	mg/L	0.618		0.297	0.145	12
11/5/1997	07:00	mg/L	0.491		0.303	0.062	12
7/16/1997	07:10	mg/L	0.488		0.22	0.101	12
4/16/1997	09:40	mg/L	0.639		0.297	0.145	12
Turbidity
date	time	units	result	remark	QMEAN	QSD	QDP
11/13/2006	14:05	NTU	9.6		1.870588	0.6800735	16
7/16/1997	07:10	NTU	6.6		3.656	1.419	18

Note: QMEAN, QSD, and QDP are the quarterly mean, standard deviation, and number of data points for the last six years, where available, for the station shown.

Washington State Department of Ecology

Data users please read disclaimer.

Questions or comments on content may be sent to Dave Hallock
Questions or comments on presentation may be sent to Steve Barrett.