Washington State Department of Ecology

Publication Summary

Title

River and Stream Ambient Monitoring Report for Water Year 1997

Month-Year Published

August 1999

Online Availability

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Short Description

The Washington State Department of Ecology collected monthly water quality information at 84 river and stream monitoring stations during water year (WY) 1997 (October 1, 1996 through September 30, 1997). The principal goals of this ongoing monitoring program are to characterize the rivers and streams of Washington State and to track changes in water quality. Water quality for WY 1997 was similar to that measured in previous years based on number of results exceeding water quality criteria.

(Also see abstract below)

Publication Number

99-332

Author(s)

Hallock, D. and W. Ehinger

Print Availability

Request from the program.

Number of pages

14 pp. + app (219 total)

Keywords

ambient monitoring, goals, monitoring, Puget Sound, report , river, stream, temperature, water, water quality

Subject Waterbodies

Nooksack River, Sumas Creek, Skagit River, Samish River, Stillaguamish River, Stillaguamish River, S.F., Stillaguamish River, N.F., Snohomish River, Skykomish River, Snoqualmie River, Cedar River, Green River, Puyallup River, Nisqually River, Deschutes River, Skokomish River, Duckabush River, Elwha River, Hoh River, Humptulips River, Chehalis River, Newaukum River, Lincoln Creek, Willapa River, Naselle River, Cowlitz River, Kalama River, Lewis River, E.F., Wind River, Columbia River, Walla Walla River, Touchet River, Snake River, Lake Sacajewea, Palouse River, Palouse River, S.F., Snake River, Tucannon River, Pataha Creek, Yakima River, Crab Creek, Wenatchee River, Entiat River, Methow River, Okanogan River, Similkameen River, Spokane River, WRIA 55 - Little Spokane, Little Spokane, WRIA 56 - Hangman, Hangman, WRIA 57 - Middle spokane, Middle Spokane, Kettle River, Pend Oreille River

Abstract

Long Description

The fecal coliform bacteria geometric mean was by far the most frequently exceeded criterion based on individual samples. The geometric mean criterion was exceeded 159 times and 91 samples exceeded the "10 percent not to exceed" criterion, out of about 1,000 samples collected. Forty-eight of 84 stations had at least one sample that exceeded the geometric mean criterion. Thirty-one stations were west of the Cascades and 16 were stations on streams that drain to Puget Sound.

Temperature and pH standards criteria were exceeded 52 and 39 times, respectively, at 35 and 19 stations, mostly in eastern Washington. The dissolved oxygen standards criterion was exceeded 29 times at 17 stations, on both sides of the Cascades.

A description of this long-term monitoring program and access to historical data can be found on Ecology's internet web site at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/

Link to EIM data for User Study ID AMS001

This page last updated March 10, 2008