Publication Summary

The Washington State Department of Ecology monitored temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) at two locations on the Puyallup River in the summer and fall of 2004. The White River exceeded the state′s temperature standard (18°C) on 24 days between July 26 and August 31 and met the standard thereafter. Both rivers met the water quality standard for dissolved oxygen (8 mg/L) during their respective study periods, based upon a reasonable interpretation of probe and laboratory data.

The Washington State Department of Ecology monitored temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) at two locations on the Puyallup River in the summer and fall of 2004. The monitoring stations are located on the two major tributaries, the upper Puyallup River and the White River, one to two miles upstream of their confluence.

The White River exceeded the state′s temperature standard (18°C) on 24 days between July 26 and August 31 and met the standard thereafter. The upper Puyallup River did not exceed the temperature standard, but we did not commence monitoring there until late September, when high water temperatures are uncommon. High summer air temperatures, watershed conditions, and water diversions (although greatly reduced relative to historic diversions) all probably contributed to high water temperatures in the White River.

Both rivers met the water quality standard for dissolved oxygen (8 mg/L) during their respective study periods, based upon a reasonable interpretation of probe and laboratory data. However, probe-measured dissolved oxygen data quality is poor and did not meet the project data quality objectives.