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

Water quality monitoring station

36A070 - Columbia R nr Vernita

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
5/12/2009	15:19	pH	8.5	8.6		1
4/14/2009	14:25	pH	8.5	8.6		1
3/4/2009	15:15	pH	8.5	8.6		1
5/5/2008	12:05	pH	8.5	8.6		1
9/8/1998	17:30	pH	8.5	8.7		2
7/14/1998	16:45	pH	8.5	8.6		1
6/16/1998	17:10	pH	8.5	8.7		2
10/14/1997	16:00	pH	8.5	8.6		1
9/16/1997	15:30	pH	8.5	8.6		1
Temperature
date	time	units	criterion	result	remark	% exceed
9/14/2009	15:35	deg C	17.5	21		20
7/7/2009	14:36	deg C	17.5	18.7		7
9/9/2008	12:41	deg C	18	19.8		10
8/12/2008	13:27	deg C	18	20.2		12
9/11/2007	15:20	deg C	18	21		17
8/15/2007	17:54	deg C	18	20.7		15
9/11/2006	15:15	deg C	18	20.2		12
8/14/2006	15:50	deg C	18	20.3		13
7/17/2006	15:10	deg C	18	18.8		4
9/12/2005	16:05	deg C	18	19.3		7
8/1/2005	16:05	deg C	18	19.7		9
10/4/2004	15:45	deg C	18	18.6		3
9/15/2004	11:52	deg C	18	18.8		4
8/4/2004	12:35	deg C	18	20		11
10/8/2003	12:07	deg C	18	18.6		3
8/6/2003	11:18	deg C	20	20.1		1
8/14/2001	09:05	deg C	20	20.8		4
9/8/1998	17:30	deg C	20	22.2		11
8/12/1997	16:20	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
9/15/1999	10:40	mg/L	0.03		0.011	0.002	12
8/11/1999	10:20	mg/L	0.034		0.011	0.002	12
7/14/1999	10:40	mg/L	0.033		0.011	0.002	12
6/9/1999	10:55	mg/L	0.018		0.011	0.002	12
5/5/1999	10:45	mg/L	0.034		0.011	0.002	12
5/13/1997	15:20	mg/L	0.016		0.011	0.002	12
Barometric Pressure
date	time	units	result	remark	QMEAN	QSD	QDP
9/9/2008	12:41	mm/Hg	745.998		753.4116	3.191678	16
4/14/2008	12:37	mm/Hg	745.49		753.5069	3.410252	16
3/10/2004	10:20	mm/Hg	771.906		753.49	6.510366	18
2/11/2004	12:17	mm/Hg	770.128		753.49	6.510366	18
11/6/2002	10:30	mm/Hg	726.186	J	752.6113	8.582413	18
10/9/2002	11:45	mm/Hg	723.9	J	752.6113	8.582413	18
Conductivity
date	time	units	result	remark	QMEAN	QSD	QDP
5/12/2009	15:19	umhos/cm	161		132.625	10.96586	16
4/14/2008	12:37	umhos/cm	160		132.625	10.96586	16
7/9/2003	11:35	umhos/cm	176		118.3333	13.87338	18
12/5/2000	08:45	umhos/cm	114		131.636	6.607	11
12/15/1999	14:05	umhos/cm	116		131.636	6.607	11
10/13/1999	12:35	umhos/cm	112		131.636	6.607	11
8/11/1999	10:20	umhos/cm	98		128.167	11.637	12
7/14/1999	10:40	umhos/cm	85		128.167	11.637	12
4/7/1999	12:25	umhos/cm	171		132	13.045	12
3/10/1999	10:30	umhos/cm	87	J	143.417	22.521	12
10/7/1998	10:40	umhos/cm	117		131.636	6.607	11
6/16/1998	17:10	umhos/cm	102		132	13.045	12
5/12/1998	17:00	umhos/cm	100		132	13.045	12
11/4/1997	14:55	umhos/cm	113		131.636	6.607	11
10/14/1997	16:00	umhos/cm	105		131.636	6.607	11
Fecal Coliform Bacteria
date	time	units	result	remark	QMEAN	QSD	QDP
7/7/2009	14:36	#/100ml	25		2.882353	3.295496	17
6/3/2009	15:20	#/100ml	15	J	1.625	1.147461	16
8/12/2008	13:27	#/100ml	110		2.882353	3.295496	17
7/8/2008	13:00	#/100ml	13		2.882353	3.295496	17
6/3/2008	12:10	#/100ml	6		1.625	1.147461	16
5/5/2008	12:05	#/100ml	8		1.625	1.147461	16
11/13/2007	12:10	#/100ml	15		1.588235	1.371989	17
10/9/2007	12:10	#/100ml	7		1.588235	1.371989	17
9/11/2007	15:20	#/100ml	10		1.888889	1.604732	18
8/15/2007	17:54	#/100ml	11		1.888889	1.604732	18
6/12/2007	15:10	#/100ml	3		1.166667	0.5144957	18
7/17/2006	15:10	#/100ml	6		1.888889	1.604732	18
6/6/2006	15:28	#/100ml	5		1.166667	0.5144957	18
12/6/2004	15:27	#/100ml	4		1.470588	1.230734	17
10/9/2002	11:45	#/100ml	6		1.411765	0.7952062	17
5/13/1997	15:20	#/100ml	13		3.417	3.476	12
Flow
date	time	units	result	remark	QMEAN	QSD	QDP
12/9/1997	15:15	CFS	161600		86000	24320.16	9
10/14/1997	16:00	CFS	150500		86000	24320.16	9
7/15/1997	15:30	CFS	250000		115722.2	60465.3	9
6/10/1997	16:10	CFS	333000		154611.1	55765.82	9
Nitrate+Nitrite-Nitrogen
date	time	units	result	remark	QMEAN	QSD	QDP
5/5/2008	12:05	mg/L	0.246		0.1261875	0.0531441	16
12/3/2007	13:45	mg/L	0.159		9.141176E-02	3.024289E-02	17
9/11/2006	15:15	mg/L	0.127		5.811111E-02	1.564266E-02	18
3/6/2006	13:55	mg/L	0.267		0.1601111	2.144456E-02	18
11/3/2004	06:45	mg/L	0.01	U	0.1134706	2.550029E-02	17
10/4/2004	15:45	mg/L	0.062		0.1134706	2.550029E-02	17
10/8/2003	12:07	mg/L	0.056		0.1235882	2.644584E-02	17
Nitrate-Nitrite
date	time	units	result	remark	QMEAN	QSD	QDP
4/7/1999	12:25	mg/L	0.272		0.109	0.08	12
4/15/1997	16:45	mg/L	0.326		0.109	0.08	12
3/11/1997	15:10	mg/L	0.293		0.156	0.065	12
Oxygen
date	time	units	result	remark	QMEAN	QSD	QDP
12/15/1999	14:05	mg/L	13.5		10.417	0.709	12
pH
date	time	units	result	remark	QMEAN	QSD	QDP
9/14/2009	15:35	pH	8.5		8.265294	9.715436E-02	17
5/12/2009	15:19	pH	8.6		8.235	0.1331666	16
4/14/2009	14:25	pH	8.6		8.235	0.1331666	16
3/4/2009	15:15	pH	8.6		8.099375	0.1631551	16
5/5/2008	12:05	pH	8.6		8.235	0.1331666	16
10/9/2006	15:11	pH	8.4		7.993333	0.2119933	18
8/14/2006	15:50	pH	8.3		8.149445	7.058347E-02	18
7/17/2006	15:10	pH	8.3		8.149445	7.058347E-02	18
9/12/2005	16:05	pH	8.4		8.149445	7.058347E-02	18
8/1/2005	16:05	pH	8.4		8.149445	7.058347E-02	18
7/11/2005	15:50	pH	8.4		8.149445	7.058347E-02	18
12/6/2004	15:27	pH	8.4		7.993333	0.2119933	18
1/9/2002	13:12	pH	7.6		8.167	0.172	12
2/6/2001	08:20	pH	7.8		8.167	0.172	12
1/16/2001	08:50	pH	7.7		8.167	0.172	12
5/10/2000	11:50	pH	6.9		8.15	0.275	12
3/15/2000	12:25	pH	7.8		8.167	0.172	12
1/12/2000	15:40	pH	7.4		8.167	0.172	12
2/10/1999	11:00	pH	7.1		8.167	0.172	12
1/13/1999	10:40	pH	7.8		8.167	0.172	12
Phosphorus, Sol Reactive
date	time	units	result	remark	QMEAN	QSD	QDP
10/3/2005	16:25	mg/L	0.0031		5.358824E-03	9.950243E-04	17
11/5/2003	12:13	mg/L	0.0078		5.211764E-03	7.606595E-04	17
7/9/2003	11:35	mg/L	0.003	U	4.805556E-03	6.672791E-04	18
2/5/2003	11:00	mg/L	0.003	U	4.805556E-03	7.099894E-04	18
9/11/2002	13:50	mg/L	0.0055		0.005	7.529297E-11	18
8/7/2002	15:01	mg/L	0.003	U	0.005	7.529297E-11	18
7/10/2002	14:01	mg/L	0.003	U	0.005	7.529297E-11	18
12/10/1996	16:15	mg/L	0.065	J	0.013	0.018	11
Phosphorus, Total
date	time	units	result	remark	QMEAN	QSD	QDP
12/4/2002	14:15	mg/L	0.011		4.982353E-02	7.316648E-03	16
11/6/2002	10:30	mg/L	0.013		4.982353E-02	7.316648E-03	16
10/9/2002	11:45	mg/L	0.011		4.982353E-02	7.316648E-03	16
9/8/1998	17:30	mg/L	0.032		0.015	0.006	12
12/9/1997	15:15	mg/L	0.024		0.013	0.004	11
11/4/1997	14:55	mg/L	0.032		0.013	0.004	11
10/14/1997	16:00	mg/L	0.029		0.013	0.004	11
9/16/1997	15:30	mg/L	0.03		0.015	0.006	12
6/10/1997	16:10	mg/L	0.085	J	0.026	0.025	12
2/11/1997	16:05	mg/L	0.04		0.017	0.01	12
12/10/1996	16:15	mg/L	0.619		0.013	0.004	11
Suspended Solids
date	time	units	result	remark	QMEAN	QSD	QDP
5/12/2009	15:19	mg/L	5		2.875	1.024695	16
1/13/2009	10:50	mg/L	8		1.8125	2.482438	16
8/12/2008	13:27	mg/L	4		2.058824	0.8269362	17
3/5/2003	11:35	mg/L	11		1.777778	0.8084521	18
9/4/2001	09:05	mg/L	1	J	3.083	0.793	12
7/14/1999	10:40	mg/L	5		3.083	0.793	12
9/8/1998	17:30	mg/L	5		3.083	0.793	12
8/11/1998	15:00	mg/L	5		3.083	0.793	12
7/15/1997	15:30	mg/L	5		3.083	0.793	12
Temperature
date	time	units	result	remark	QMEAN	QSD	QDP
3/4/2009	15:15	deg C	8.8		4.425	1.142804	16
7/8/2008	13:00	deg C	16.6		19.14706	1.254551	17
1/10/2006	15:00	deg C	0		3.95	1.383623	18
12/5/2005	16:00	deg C	0		11.93333	3.773437	18
10/8/2003	12:07	deg C	18.6		11.4	3.562881	18
1/9/2002	13:12	deg C	6.9		3.358	1.142	12
3/15/2000	12:25	deg C	5.8		3.358	1.142	12
9/8/1998	17:30	deg C	22.2		17.817	1.692	12
Total Persulf Nitrogen
date	time	units	result	remark	QMEAN	QSD	QDP
11/18/2008	13:45	mg/L	0.21		0.1554118	1.962479E-02	17
5/5/2008	12:05	mg/L	0.305		0.1923125	5.112693E-02	16
12/3/2007	13:45	mg/L	0.21		0.1554118	1.962479E-02	17
9/11/2006	15:15	mg/L	0.2		0.1281667	2.393926E-02	18
3/6/2006	13:55	mg/L	0.299		0.2007778	3.240834E-02	18
1/10/2006	15:00	mg/L	0.559		0.2007778	3.240834E-02	18
7/9/2003	11:35	mg/L	0.083		0.1333333	1.985536E-02	18
4/7/1999	12:25	mg/L	0.38		0.2	0.087	12
Turbidity
date	time	units	result	remark	QMEAN	QSD	QDP
3/4/2009	15:15	NTU	1.1		0.79375	0.1526161	16
1/13/2009	10:50	NTU	8.7		0.79375	0.1526161	16
6/3/2008	12:10	NTU	4.1		1.64375	0.6622877	16
11/14/2006	15:15	NTU	2.6		0.9529412	0.4487728	17
10/9/2006	15:11	NTU	5.2		0.9529412	0.4487728	17
7/10/2001	08:35	NTU	0.7		1.783	0.539	12
7/14/1998	16:45	NTU	23	J	1.783	0.539	12

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.