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TOWARD-OUNT2AINIER0HOTOGRAPHTAKENBY+AREN0AYNE53'EOLOGICAL3URVEY*UNE	
Water Temperature, Specific Conductance, pH, and 

Dissolved-Oxygen Concentrations in the Lower 

White River and the Puyallup River Estuary, 

Washington, August-October 2002

By James C. Ebbert

Prepared in cooperation with the

WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY AND 

THE PUYALLUP TRIBE OF INDIANS

Tacoma, Washington

2003

Water-Resources Investigations Report 03-4177

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does 

not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

GALE A. NORTON, Secretary

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Charles G. Groat, Director

For additional information write to:

Director, Washington Water Science Center

U.S. Geological Survey

1201 Pacific Avenue – Suite 600

Tacoma, Washington 98402

http://wa.water.usgs.gov

Copies of this report can be purchased from:

U.S. Geological Survey

Information Services

Building 810

Box 25286, Federal Center

Denver, CO 80225-0286

Suggested citation:

Ebbert, J.C., 2003, Water temperature, specific conductance, pH, and dissolved-oxygen concentrations in the 

Lower White River and the Puyallup River estuary, Washington, August-October 2002: U.S. Geological Survey 

Water-Resources Investigations Report 03-4177, 21 p. 
Contents iii

CONTENTS

Abstract ................................................................................................................................................................ 1

Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................... 2

Purpose and Scope ...................................................................................................................................... 4

Description of the Lower Puyallup and White Rivers ................................................................................ 4

Acknowledgments....................................................................................................................................... 4

Data Collection and Data Quality ........................................................................................................................ 5

Data Collection............................................................................................................................................ 5

Data Quality ................................................................................................................................................ 6

Water Temperature, Specific Conductance, pH, and Dissolved-Oxygen Concentrations in 

the Lower White River and the Puyallup River Estuary......................................................................... 8

Lower White River...................................................................................................................................... 8

Factors Affecting Dissolved-Oxygen Concentrations and pH in the Lower White River.......................... 12

Puyallup River Estuary ............................................................................................................................... 12

Summary .............................................................................................................................................................. 19

References Cited .................................................................................................................................................. 20

Appendix A.Protocol used for servicing and calibration of water-quality monitors on the 

Lower White River and Puyallup River estuary, Washington, August–October 2002................... 21
iv Figures

FIGURES

Figure 1. Map showing location of water-quality monitoring sites on the lower Puyallup 

and White Rivers, Washington, for the August-October 2002 study and for 

previous studies in 2000 and 2001..................................................................................................... 3

Figure 2. Hydrograph showing discharge in the White River at river mile 6.3 and in the Lake Tapps 

tailrace canal, Washington, August 2-October 16, 2002 ................................................................... 8

Figure 3. Graphs showing water temperatures, specific conductance, pH, and dissolved-oxygen 

concentrations at two monitoring sites in the lower White River, Washington, 

August 2-October 16, 2002................................................................................................................ 9

Figure 4. Graphs showing relation between dissolved-oxygen concentrations at river mile 4.9 and 

daily mean discharge and at river mile 6.3 and relation between dissolved-oxygen 

concentrations and water temperature at river mile 4.9 in theWhite River, Washington, 

August 2-October 16, 2002................................................................................................................ 13

Figure 5. Graph showing effect of discharge from the Lake Tapps tailrace canal dissolved-oxygen 

concentrations at river mile 1.8 in the lower White River, Washington, August-October 2002....... 14

Figure 6. Graph showing relation between pH and water temperature at river mile 4.9 and turbidity 

upstream from the study area at river mile 23.8 in the White River, Washington, 

August-October 2002......................................................................................................................... 15

Figure 7. Graph showing lateral and vertical variations in specific conductance and dissolved-oxygen 

concentrations during high tide at river mile 1.5 in the Puyallup River, Washington, 

September 12, 2002 ........................................................................................................................... 16
Tables v

TABLES

Table 1. Locations on the lower White River and Puyallup River estuary where water-quality 

and discharge data were collected by the Washington State Department of Ecology, 

Puyallup Tribe of Indians, and U.S. Geological Survey, August-October, 2002.............................. 5

Table 2. Ratings of accuracy of water temperature, specific conductance, pH, and dissolved-oxygen 

monitoring records for two monitoring sites in the lower White River, Washington, 

August-October 2002......................................................................................................................... 7

Table 3. Measurements of water temperature, specific conductance, pH, and dissolved-oxygen 

concentrations near the right and left banks of the White River at river mile 4.9, 

Washington, October 2, 2002 ............................................................................................................ 7

Table 4. Maximum and minimum recorded values of water temperature, specific conductance, 

pH, and dissolved-oxygen concentrations at two monitoring sites in the lower 

White River, Washington, August 2-October 16, 2002..................................................................... 11

Table 5. Lateral and vertical variations in water temperature, specific conductance, pH, and 

concentrations of dissolved oxygen during low and high tides at river mile 1.5 in the 

Puyallup River estuary, Washington, September 2002 ..................................................................... 17
vi Conversion Factors and Datums

CONVERSION FACTORS AND DATUMS

CONVERSION FACTORS

Temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) may be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (°F) as follows:

°F=1.8 × °C+32.

Specific conductance is given in microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius (μS/cm at 

25 °C).

Concentrations of chemical constituents in water are given either in milligrams per liter (mg/L) or 

micrograms per liter (μg/L).

DATUM

Vertical coordinate information was referenced to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 

(NGVD29), referred to in this report as "sea level."

Horizontal coordinate information was referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 

(NAD83).

Multiply By To obtain

cubic foot per second (ft3/s) 0.02832 cubic meter per second

foot (ft) 0.3048 meter

mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer
Abstract 1

ABSTRACT

The U.S. Geological Survey, Washington 

State Department of Ecology, and Puyallup Tribe 

of Indians monitored water temperature, specific 

conductance, pH, and dissolved-oxygen 

concentrations in the White River at river miles 4.9 

and 1.8 from August until mid-October 2002. 

Water diverted from the White River upstream 

from the monitoring sites into Lake Tapps is 

returned to the river at river mile 3.6 between the 

two sites. The same characteristics were measured 

in a cross section of the Puyallup River estuary at 

river mile 1.5 during high and low tides in 

September 2002.

In late August, maximum daily water 

temperatures in the White River of 21.1 oC 

(degrees Celsius) at river mile 4.9 and 19.6 oC at 

river mile 1.8 exceeded the water-quality standard 

of 18 oC at both monitoring sites. In midSeptember, maximum daily water temperatures at 

river mile 4.9 exceeded the standard on 5 days. 

From August 2-25, water temperatures at both 

monitoring sites were similar and little or no water 

was discharged from Lake Tapps to the White 

River. Increases in water temperature at river mile 

1.8 in late September and early October were 

caused by the mixing of warmer water discharged 

from Lake Tapps with cooler water in the White 

River.

Specific conductance in the White River 

usually was lower at river mile 1.8 than at river 

mile 4.9 because of mixing with water from Lake 

Tapps, which has a lower specific conductance. 

Maximum values of pH in the White River 

at river mile 4.9 often exceeded the upper limit of 

the water-quality standard, 8.5 pH units, from 

early September until mid-October, when turbidity 

decreased. The pH standard was not exceeded at 

river mile 1.8.

Dissolved-oxygen concentrations in the 

White River were often lower at river mile 1.8 than 

at river mile 4.9 because of mixing with water 

discharged from Lake Tapps, which has lower 

dissolved-oxygen concentrations. The lowest 

concentration of dissolved oxygen observed was 

7.9 mg/L (milligrams per liter) at river mile 1.8. 

The lower limit allowed by the water-quality 

standard is 8 mg/L.

Concentrations of dissolved oxygen 

measured in a cross section of the Puyallup River 

estuary at high tide on September 12, 2002, ranged 

from 9.9 to 10.2 mg/L in fresh water at the surface 

and from 8.1 to 8.4 mg/L in salt water near the 

riverbed. These values were within limits set by 

Washington State water-quality standards for 

dissolved oxygen of 8 mg/L in fresh water and 6 

mg/L in marine water. 

Water Temperature, Specific Conductance, pH, and 

Dissolved-Oxygen Concentrations in the Lower White 

River and the Puyallup River Estuary, Washington, 

August-October 2002

By James C. Ebbert
2 Water Temperature, Specific Conductance, pH, and Dissolved Oxygen in the Lower White River and the Puyallup River Estuary, WA, 2002

INTRODUCTION

A study of Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) 

for the lower Puyallup River and the lower reaches of 

the tributary White River (Pelletier, 1993, 1994), 

conducted by the Washington State Department of 

Ecology (Ecology), concluded that the Puyallup River 

had the capacity to assimilate more ammonia and 

constituents causing biochemical oxygen demand than 

were being discharged to the river. As part of the 

TMDL process, Ecology determines if the additional 

assimilative capacity, also referred to as reserve 

capacity, is sufficient to permit additional discharges to 

the river. As part of that decision process, Ecology and 

other interested parties, including municipalities, 

industry, and Indian tribes, met in 1996 and developed 

a plan for managing the reserve capacity (Washington 

State Department of Ecology, 1998). Part of the plan 

called for additional monitoring to verify that 

concentrations of dissolved oxygen and ammonia 

would remain within limits set by Washington State 

water-quality standards.

Additional monitoring began in August 2000 

when Ecology and the Puyallup Tribe of Indians 

installed water-quality monitors in the Puyallup River 

at river mile (RM) 2.9 and RM 5.8 (fig. 1) for four 

periods during August and September. The monitors 

recorded water temperature, specific conductance, pH, 

dissolved-oxygen concentration, and water depth at 

30-minute intervals. In September, concentrations of 

dissolved oxygen ranging from less than 1 to about 

6 mg/L were measured on several occasions. Because 

Washington State water-quality standards set the lower 

limit for dissolved-oxygen concentrations in the 

Puyallup River at 8 mg/L (State of Washington, 1997), 

Ecology issued a moratorium on accessing the reserve 

capacity (Washington State Department of Ecology, 

2000). 

In May 2001, the U.S. Geological Survey 

(USGS), in a cooperative study with Ecology and the 

Puyallup Tribe, evaluated the data collected in August 

and September 2000 and collected additional data to 

determine if dissolved-oxygen concentrations in the 

Puyallup River would decrease to less than the waterquality standards again in 2001. Water-quality monitors 

were installed during August and September 2001 in 

the Puyallup River at RM 2.9 and RM 5.8 and in the 

White River at RM 1.8 (fig. 1). Water and bedsediment samples also were collected and were 

analyzed for various constituents and properties to help 

interpret the dissolved-oxygen data.

The joint study concluded that inundation of the 

monitors with sediment, which resulted in false sensor 

readings, was the most likely cause of the low 

dissolved-oxygen concentrations measured in 

September 2000 (Ebbert, 2002). This conclusion was 

based on (1) knowledge gained when a dissolvedoxygen sensor became covered with sediment in 

August 2001, (2) the fact that dissolved-oxygen 

concentrations in the lower Puyallup and White Rivers 

infrequently decreased to less than 8 mg/L and never 

decreased to less than 7.6 mg/L in August and 

September 2001, and (3) an analysis of the effects of 

other mechanisms, such as biochemical oxygen 

demand that govern dissolved-oxygen concentrations 

in the river.

Because dissolved-oxygen concentrations in the 

White River decreased to less than the water-quality 

standard of 8 mg/L on two occasions during August 

2001, the joint study confirmed that there is little or no 

reserve capacity for biochemical oxygen demand in the 

lower White River. There was, however, some 

uncertainty in these results because on both occasions 

when dissolved-oxygen concentrations decreased to 

less than 8 mg/L, the quality of the monitoring record 

was rated as poor (Ebbert, 2002). A poor rating means 

that a correction of more than 0.8 mg/L was applied to 

the original record based on an evaluation of 

calibration data and other factors. To better quantify 

dissolved-oxygen concentrations in the White River, 

Ecology, the Puyallup Tribe, and the USGS decided to 

monitor again in 2002. Monitors were installed at RM 

4.9 and RM 1.8, which are upstream and downstream 

from where water that was routed into Lake Tapps from 

the White River at RM 24.3 to operate a hydropower 

facility is discharged back into the White River through 

the Lake Tapps tailrace canal at RM 3.6 (fig. 1). Water 

temperature, specific conductance, pH, and dissolvedoxygen concentration data were recorded at 30-minute 

intervals from the beginning of August through midOctober 2002.
Introduction 3

The 2002 study also included measuring lateral 

and vertical variations in water temperature, specific 

conductance, pH, and dissolved-oxygen concentrations 

in the Puyallup River estuary at RM 1.5 during high 

and low tides in September. The purpose of these 

measurements was to observe conditions downstream 

from RM 2.9, the location of the monitor in 2001. The 

Puyallup River estuary is of the salt-wedge type, which 

means that it contains a layer of undiluted salt water 

overlain by a layer of river water. It is therefore a 

transitional area where the water-quality standard for 

dissolved oxygen changes from 8 mg/L in fresh water 

to 6 mg/L in marine water (State of Washington, 1997). 

During a previous study (Ebbert and others, 1987), the 

USGS measured the longitudinal distribution of 

salinity in the Puyallup River estuary during various 

phases of the tidal cycle.

Figure 1. Location of water-quality monitoring sites on the lower Puyallup and White Rivers, Washington, for the August-October 2002 study and 

for previous studies in 2000 and 2001.
4 Water Temperature, Specific Conductance, pH, and Dissolved Oxygen in the Lower White River and the Puyallup River Estuary, WA, 2002

Purpose and Scope

The purposes of this report are to (1) summarize 

the water temperature, specific conductance, pH, and 

dissolved-oxygen concentration data collected in the 

lower White River; (2) compare water temperatures, 

dissolved-oxygen concentrations, and pH values for the 

lower White River to State water-quality standards;

(3) discuss some of the factors affecting dissolvedoxygen concentrations and pH values in the lower 

White River; and (4) present and discuss the data 

collected in a cross section of the Puyallup River 

estuary at RM 1.5. The study on the lower White River 

included discharge data collected at two USGS 

streamflow-gaging stations. Results of the 2002 study 

are compared with those of the studies in 2000 and 

2001.

Description of the Lower Puyallup and White 

Rivers

The Puyallup and White Rivers are located in the 

Puget Sound region of western Washington. The White 

River flows into the Puyallup River near the city of 

Puyallup, and the Puyallup River empties into Puget 

Sound at Tacoma (fig. 1). The lower Puyallup River 

Valley is a relatively flat floodplain. Streambed 

altitudes in the study area range from about 18 ft (feet) 

below NGVD 29 at RM 1.5 on the Puyallup River to 

about 50 ft above NGVD 29 at RM 4.9 on the White 

River (Prych, 1988). The lower-most part of the 

Puyallup River is a salt-wedge estuary with deeper salt 

water overlain by a layer of fresh water. The salt wedge 

generally extends less than 2.5 mi upstream from the 

river mouth (Ebbert and others, 1987); however, the 

monitoring data collected in 2001 indicate it sometimes 

reaches RM 2.9 (Ebbert, 2002). 

During summer, operation of the Lake Tapps 

hydropower facility by Puget Sound Energy can have a 

substantial effect on discharge in the lower White and 

Puyallup Rivers. Water is diverted into Lake Tapps 

from the White River at RM 24.3, stored, and then 

released to produce electric power as it passes through 

a powerplant located on the tailrace canal that connects 

with the White River at RM 3.6. Power is generated to 

meet demand during peak usage, and the cycle of 

releasing and then holding water often causes discharge 

in the lower White and Puyallup Rivers to increase by a 

factor of two and then decrease to base levels in about 

12 hours. The capacities of the diversion channel and 

the outlet from the hydropower facility are each about 

2,000 ft3/s (Prych, 1988).

Water in the White and Puyallup Rivers is 

usually turbid during the summer because fine 

sediment derived from glacial melting on Mount 

Rainier is transported downstream. The turbidity limits 

light penetration, which reduces primary productivity 

and moderates 24-hour variations in pH caused by 

photosynthesis and respiration (Stuart, 2002).

Water in the lower White and Puyallup Rivers is 

classified by the State of Washington (1997) as Class A 

(excellent), therefore water-quality standards cited in 

this report are for Class A waters. 

Acknowledgments

The contributions of Jeannette Barreca, 

Washington State Department of Ecology, and Char 

Naylor, Puyallup Tribe of Indians, who helped design, 

execute, and fund this study, are greatly appreciated. 

They also provided the water-quality monitors used in 

the White River. The USGS also thanks George 

Onwumere of Washington State Department of 

Ecology and Char Naylor and Mary Brown of the 

Puyallup Tribe of Indians for sharing the task of 

servicing and calibrating the water-quality monitors.
Data Collection and Data Quality 5

DATA COLLECTION AND DATA QUALITY

Water temperature, specific conductance, pH, 

and dissolved-oxygen concentrations were monitored 

from August 2 through October 16, 2002, in the White 

River at RM 4.9 and 1.8 and were measured in a cross 

section of the Puyallup River at RM 1.5 during high 

and low tides in September 2002 (fig.1, table 1). The 

White River data are available online at URL 

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/wrias/tmdl/puyal

lup_hydrolab/index.html. 

Discharge data at RM 6.3 and RM 3.6 (the 

tailrace canal) that were used in this study were 

collected by the Hydrologic Data Program of the 

USGS. Discharge in the White River at RM 4.9 is 

based on records for the streamflow-gaging station at 

RM 6.3 (table 1), and there are no significant inputs or 

losses of water between the two locations. The sum of 

discharge in the White River at RM 6.3 and discharge 

in the Lake Tapps tailrace canal provides a rough 

estimate of discharge in the White River at RM 1.8. 

The discharge data are available online at URL 

http://water.usgs.gov/wa/nwis/sw. To access the online 

data for a particular site, use the USGS station No. 

listed in table 1.

Data Collection 

Hydrolab DatasondeTM 4 and 4a water-quality 

monitors were used to measure and record water 

temperature, specific conductance, pH, and dissolvedoxygen concentrations at 30-minute intervals in the 

White River at RM 4.9 and 1.8 (fig. 1, table 1). Because 

the monitors were usually serviced and calibrated in 

the field, they were almost continuously deployed. 

Similar to the data collection effort in 2001 

(Ebbert, 2002), the monitors were installed in 20-footlong sections of plastic pipe extending from the 

riverbank into the river. The submerged parts of the 

pipes were perforated to expose the sensors, which 

were placed perpendicular to the direction of flow. The 

sensors were 1 to 2 ft above the riverbed.

The water-quality monitors were serviced, and 

calibrated if needed, every 4 to 5 days during the 

deployment period. The protocol used for servicing and 

calibration (Appendix A) generally took about 1 hour 

and was based on the guidelines specified by Wagner 

and others (2000). In addition, the modified Winkler 

method (American Public Health Association and 

others, 1998) was used to measure dissolved-oxygen 

concentrations in the White River before the monitors 

were removed for servicing and after they were 

replaced. 

Table 1. Locations on the lower White River and Puyallup River estuary where water-quality and discharge data were collected by the 

Washington State Department of Ecology, Puyallup Tribe of Indians, and U.S. Geological Survey, August-October, 2002

[Station No. and name: USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; Ecology, Washington State Department of Ecology. See figure 1 for location of USGS 

station Nos.]

Station No. Station name River 

mile Type of data USGS Ecology USGS Ecology

12100496 None White River near Auburn None 6.3 Discharge

12100500 10C085 White River near Sumner White River near Sumner 4.9 Water-quality monitoring

12101100 None Lake Tapps diversion at 

Dieringer1

Lake Tapps tailrace canal 23.6 Discharge

12101104 None White River above Tacoma 

Avenue bridge at Sumner

White River at river mile 1.8 1.8 Water-quality monitoring

12102400 None Puyallup River at Lincoln 

Avenue Bridge at Tacoma

None 1.5 Water-quality measurements in 

the cross section

1Referred to as the Lake Tapps tailrace canal in this report.

2Point where LakeTapps tailrace canal discharges into White River.
6 Water Temperature, Specific Conductance, pH, and Dissolved Oxygen in the Lower White River and the Puyallup River Estuary, WA, 2002

In the Puyallup River at RM 1.5, cross-section 

measurements during low tide were made at intervals 

about 30 ft apart in the cross section and at depths of 

0.2 and 0.8 times the total depth at each interval. 

During high tide, the intervals ranged from about 40 to 

50 ft apart, and measurements at each interval were 

made near the surface of the water, near the riverbed, 

and at the approximate interface between the salt 

wedge and overlying fresh water.

Data Quality

Monitoring data were corrected and rated for 

accuracy following the guidelines recommended by 

Wagner and others (2000). These guidelines for 

correcting the data entail an analysis to determine how 

sensor fouling and instrument drift affect recorded 

values. Error caused by sensor fouling was determined 

by comparing values recorded just before the monitor 

was removed for servicing with values obtained after 

cleaning the sensors and temporarily returning the 

monitor to the stream. Error caused by instrument drift 

was determined by comparing cleaned instrument 

readings with (1) a calibrated thermometer for water 

temperature, (2) standard solutions for specific 

conductance and pH, and (3) the partial pressure of 

oxygen in water-saturated air for dissolved oxygen 

(Radtke and others, 1998).

Corrections were applied to the monitoring data 

based on an analysis of how the data were affected by 

sensor fouling and instrument drift. In this study, 

dissolved-oxygen concentrations measured by the 

modified Winkler method also were used to help 

determine if corrections needed to be applied to the 

dissolved-oxygen data. 

The accuracy of the monitoring data was 

determined largely by the magnitude of corrections 

applied. Other factors, such as instrument noise, also 

were considered. A fair or poor rating often 

underestimates the quality of the final or published data 

because even though the corrected data are considered 

to be more representative of conditions in the stream, 

the ratings are based on data recorded before any 

corrections are made. With some exceptions, the 

monitoring data were rated excellent or good (table 2).

Cross-section measurements made during the 

2001 study (Ebbert, 2002) indicate that the White River 

is well mixed at RM 1.8. Good agreement between 

measurements made on the right and left banks of the 

river at RM 4.9 (table 3) was used to infer good mixing 

at the upstream monitoring site as well.

Because of a shift in the channel affected 

measurements of the stage of the White River at river 

mile 6.3, discharge was estimated for August 1-2 and 

August 25-October 14. Daily mean discharge at river 

mile 6.3 was estimated using data from the White River 

at Buckley at river mile 23.3 (USGS streamflowgaging station No. 12100000). 
Data Collection and Data Quality 7

Table 2. Ratings of accuracy of water temperature, specific conductance, pH, and dissolved-oxygen monitoring records for two 

monitoring sites in the lower White River, Washington, August-October 2002

[Rating criteria from Wagner and others (2000). Ratings do not apply to periods of missing record. ≤, less than or equal to; <, less than; 

>, greater than; ≥, greater than or equal to; ±, plus or minus value shown; oC, degrees Celsius; pH unit, standard pH unit; mg/L, 

milligram per liter]

Measured physical property

and rating criteria

White River near Sumner,

river mile 4.9

White River above Tacoma Avenue bridge at 

Sumner, river mile 1.8

Temperature (oC) Excellent Excellent

Excellent: ≤ ±0.2 

Good: > ±0.2 to 0.5

Fair: > ±0.5 to 0.8

Poor: > ±0.8

Specific conductance (percent) Good Excellent, except for August 21-30 and 

Excellent: ≤ ±3 October 9-10, which are good

Good: > ±3 to 10

Fair: > ±10 to 15

Poor: > ±15

pH (unit) Good, except for August 8-9,

which are fair

Excellent, except for September 19-23, 

Excellent: ≤ ±0.2 which are good

Good: > ±0.2 to 0.5

Fair: > ±0.5 to 0.8 

Poor: > ±0.8

Dissolved oxygen (mg/L) Good, except for September 23-

October 16, which are poor

Good, except for August 3-9, August 13, 

and October 1-2, which are fair; and 

August 10-12 and August 14-16, which 

are poor

Excellent: ≤ ±0.3

Good: > ±0.3 to 0.5 

Fair: > ±0.5 to 0.8 

Poor: > ±0.8 

Table 3. Measurements of water temperature, specific conductance, pH, and dissolvedoxygen concentrations near the right and left banks of the White River at river mile 4.9, 

Washington, October 2, 2002

[Abbreviations: oC, degrees Celsius; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter at 25 oC; pH unit, 

standard pH unit; mg/L, milligram per liter]

Physical property

Location (time)

Approximately 10 feet

from left bank

(0910)

Approximately 2 feet from 

right bank beside monitor

(0920)

Temperature (oC) 7.6 7.6

Specific conductance (μS/cm) 91 91

pH (units) 7.1 7.2

Dissolved oxygen (mg/L) 12.1 12.2
8 Water Temperature, Specific Conductance, pH, and Dissolved Oxygen in the Lower White River and the Puyallup River Estuary, WA, 2002

WATER TEMPERATURE, SPECIFIC 

CONDUCTANCE, PH, AND DISSOLVEDOXYGEN CONCENTRATIONS IN THE 

LOWER WHITE RIVER AND THE PUYALLUP 

RIVER ESTUARY 

Water temperature, specific conductance, pH, 

and dissolved-oxygen concentrations were monitored 

from August 2 until October 16, 2002, in the White 

River at RM 4.9 and 1.8 and were measured in a cross 

section of the Puyallup River at RM 1.5 during high 

and low tides in September 2002.

Lower White River

From August 2-25, 2002, water was not diverted 

from the White River into Lake Tapps, and daily mean 

discharge in the White River at RM 6.3 ranged from 

about 800 to 1,000 ft3/s. Flow decreased at RM 6.3 

when water was again diverted to Lake Tapps, and in 

September, daily mean discharge at RM 6.3 was 

relatively steady at about 400 ft3/s (fig. 2).

Maximum daily water temperatures in the White 

River exceeded the water-quality standard of 18 oC 

(State of Washington, 1997) at both monitoring sites in 

mid- to late-August (table 4, fig. 3A). The maximum 

value at RM 4.9 was 21.1 oC, and at RM 1.8 was 

19.6 oC. In mid-September, maximum daily water 

temperatures at RM 4.9 exceeded the standard on 5 

days. Minimum temperatures were in mid-October at 

the end of the measurement period (table 4, fig. 3A).

AUGUST SEPTEMBER

2002

OCTOBER

5 55 10 15 15 15 20 25 25 30 10 20 30 10

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

1,800

2,000

White River near Auburn, river mile 6.3

Lake Tapps tailrace canal

DISCHARGE, IN CUBIC FEET PER SECOND

No diversion to Lake Tapps

August 2-25; additional

flow in White River

Figure 2. Discharge in the White River at river mile 6.3 and in the Lake Tapps tailrace canal, Washington, August 2-October 16, 2002. 

Discharge data for the White River are daily mean values and were estimated for August 1-2 and August 25-October 14.
Water Temperature, Specific Conductance, pH, and Dissolved-Oxygen Concentrations in the Lower White River and the Puyallup River Estuary 9

SPECIFIC CONDUCTANCE, IN MICROSIEMENS PER CENTIMETER

AT 25 DEGREES CELSIUS

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

AUGUST SEPTEMBER

2002

OCTOBER

5 10 15 20 25 30 5 10 15 20 25 30 5 10 15

B. Specific conductance

White River near Sumner, river mile 4.9

White River above Tacoma Avenue bridge at Sumner, river mile 1.8

Gaps indicate missing record

Water-quality standard for

temperature in fresh water

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

22

WATER TEMPERATURE, IN DEGREES CELSIUS

A. Water temperature

Figure 3. Water temperatures, specific conductance, pH, and dissolved-oxygen concentrations at two monitoring sites in the lower White River, 

Washington, August 2-October 16, 2002.
10 Water Temperature, Specific Conductance, pH, and Dissolved Oxygen in the Lower White River and the Puyallup River Estuary, WA, 2002

White River near Sumner, river mile 4.9

White River above Tacoma Avenue bridge at Sumner, river mile 1.8

Gaps indicate missing record

Water-quality standard for pH in fresh water within the range 6.5 - 8.5 standard units

C. pH

pH, IN UNITS

6.0

6.5

7.0

7.5

8.0

8.5

9.5

9.0

10.0

Water-quality standard for dissolved oxygen in fresh water

8

7

9

10

11

12

13

DISSOLVED OXYGEN, IN MILLIGRAMS PER LITER

AUGUST SEPTEMBER

2002

OCTOBER

5 10 15 20 25 30 5 10 15 20 25 30 5 10 15

D. Dissolved oxygen

Figure 3.—Continued.
Water Temperature, Specific Conductance, pH, and Dissolved-Oxygen Concentrations in the Lower White River and the Puyallup River Estuary 11

From August 2-25, when little or no water was 

discharged from Lake Tapps to the White River, water 

temperatures at both monitoring sites were similar 

(fig. 3A). In late September and early October, water 

temperatures at RM 1.8 were often higher than those at 

RM 4.9 because of the mixing of warmer water 

discharged from Lake Tapps with cooler water in the 

White River (fig. 3A; see fig. 2 for discharges).

Because specific conductance in the White River 

increases in a downstream direction as a result of 

natural and anthropogenic sources of dissolved 

minerals and other ionic species (Stuart, 2002), water 

diverted from the White River at RM 24.3 into Lake 

Tapps has a lower specific conductance than water in 

the lower White River. When water released from Lake 

Tapps mixes with water in the White River, specific 

conductance decreases, as illustrated by comparing 

specific conductance values at RM 1.8 with those at 

RM 4.9 (fig. 3B; see fig. 2 for discharges). 

Maximum values of pH in the White River at 

RM 4.9 often exceeded 8.5 units (fig. 3C), the upper 

limit of the water-quality standard (State of 

Washington, 1997), from mid-September until the end 

of data collection in mid-October. Some of the 

difference between daily minimum values of pH at 

RM 4.9 and those at RM 1.8 (fig. 3C) is caused by the 

error inherent in comparing data from instruments each 

with an accuracy of ±0.2 pH units. Other factors 

affecting pH in the lower White River are discussed in 

section "Factors Affecting Dissolved-Oxygen 

Concentrations and pH in the Lower White River."

Dissolved-oxygen concentrations in the lower 

White River remained above the water-quality standard 

of 8.0 mg/L (State of Washington, 1997) except for a 

concentration of 7.9 mg/L in the White River at RM 1.8 

and a concentration of 8.0 mg/L at RM 4.9 

(fig. 3D, table 4). The minimum concentration of 

7.9 mg/L was similar to the minimum concentration of 

7.8 mg/L measured at RM 1.8 in 2001 (Ebbert, 2002). 

As mentioned previously, an objective of monitoring in 

2002 was to verify that the minimum dissolved-oxygen 

concentrations measured in 2001 were not the result of 

measurement errors. At the time, the minimum 

concentration of 7.9 mg/L was recorded on September 

3, 2002, the accuracy of the data was considered to be 

good (table 2), therefore, the 2002 data help to verify 

that minimum dissolved-oxygen concentrations at RM 

1.8 decrease to less than 8 mg/L. Other factors 

affecting dissolved-oxygen concentrations in the lower 

White River are discussed in the next section, "Factors 

Affecting Dissolved-Oxygen Concentrations and pH in 

the Lower White River."

Table 4. Maximum and minimum recorded values of water temperature, specific 

conductance, pH, and dissolved-oxygen concentrations at two monitoring sites in the lower 

White River, Washington, August 2-October 16, 2002

[Abbreviations: oC, degrees Celsius; μS/cm, microsiemen per centimeter at 25 oC; pH unit, 

standard pH unit; mg/L, milligram per liter]

Physical property

Maximum and minimum recorded value 

White River

near Sumner, 

river mile 4.9

White River above 

Tacoma Avenue 

bridge at Sumner, 

river mile 1.8

Temperature (oC) Maximum 21.1 19.6

Minimum 6.7 7.4

Specific conductance 

(μS/cm)

Maximum 94 98

Minimum 50 50

pH (units) Maximum 9.1 8.4

Minimum 7.1 6.7

Dissolved oxygen (mg/L) Maximum 12.8 12.5

Minimum 8.0 7.9
12 Water Temperature, Specific Conductance, pH, and Dissolved Oxygen in the Lower White River and the Puyallup River Estuary, WA, 2002

Factors Affecting Dissolved-Oxygen 

Concentrations and pH in the Lower White River

Dissolved-oxygen concentrations at RM 4.9 

were affected very little by the additional flow in the 

White River from August 2-25 (fig. 4A). Water 

temperature, however, did influence dissolved-oxygen 

concentrations in the lower White River, as illustrated 

using data for RM 4.9 that show the increase in water 

temperature and corresponding decrease in dissolvedoxygen concentrations after August 6, and the slow 

increase in average dissolved-oxygen concentrations as 

water temperatures began to decrease in late September 

and early October (fig. 4B).

During the 2001 study, water discharging from 

Lake Tapps tailrace canal into the White River at RM 

3.6 usually decreased dissolved-oxygen concentrations 

downstream at RM 1.8 (Ebbert, 2002). Because data 

collected in 2002 provide a direct comparison between 

dissolved-oxygen concentrations in theWhite River 

upstream and downstream of the tailrace canal, they 

illustrate the decrease in dissolved-oxygen 

concentrations at RM 1.8 associated with discharge 

from Lake Tapps (fig. 5). 

Stuart (2002) described the inverse relation 

between the magnitude of 24-hour variations in pH in 

the White River and concentrations of suspended 

solids. Suspended solids limit light penetration into the 

water column, which in turn limits primary 

productivity, photosynthesis, and corresponding 

24-hour variations in pH and dissolved-oxygen 

concentrations. During summer, most of the suspended 

solids in the White River consist of fine-grained 

sediment derived from glacial melting in its headwaters 

on Mount Rainier. 

Although the 2002 study did not sample for 

suspended solids or measure turbidity, the effect of 

suspended-solids concentrations on 24-hour variations 

in pH and dissolved-oxygen concentrations can be 

assessed using turbidity data provided by the U.S. 

Army Corps of Engineers for the White River at RM 

23.8, upstream of the study area. The turbidity data 

provide a rough estimate of variations in concentrations 

of suspended solids in the lower White River. The data 

generally are consistent with Stuart's findings (Stuart, 

2002) (fig. 6). Daily variations in pH at river mile 4.9 

increased in mid-September when all but one turbidity 

value was less than 200 NTU (nephelometric unit). 

Turbidity values reached as high as 1,000 NTU in 

August. Water temperatures at river mile 4.9 indicate 

that decreasing water temperatures in late September 

and early October, which might limit primary 

productivity, had little effect on 24-hour variations in 

pH. Daily variations in dissolved-oxygen 

concentrations in the White River at RM 4.9, which are 

not affected by discharge from Lake Tapps, also 

increased in mid-September (fig. 4A) after turbidity 

decreased (fig. 6). 

Puyallup River Estuary

In September 2002, lateral and vertical variations 

in water temperature, specific conductance, pH, and 

dissolved-oxygen concentrations were measured along 

a cross section at RM 1.5 in the lower Puyallup River 

estuary during low and high tides (table 5). At low tide, 

on September 5, 2002, the salt wedge did not extend to 

RM 1.5 and the measured concentrations were 

indicative of mostly unaltered Puyallup River water 

(table 5). During high tide on September 12, the salt 

wedge extended to RM 1.5, as indicated by a steep 

increase in specific conductance values starting at 

about 4 feet below the water surface (fig. 7, table 5). 

At high tide, dissolved-oxygen concentrations 

ranged from 9.9 to 10.2 mg/L in fresh water at the 

surface and from 8.1 to 8.4 mg/L in salt water near the 

riverbed (fig. 7). These values were within lower limits 

set by water-quality standards for dissolved oxygen of 

8 mg/L in fresh water and 6 mg/L in marine water 

(State of Washington, 1997). Based on a measurement 

made in the Puyallup River at RM 3.2, the dissolvedoxygen concentrations in water flowing into the estuary 

was 10.4 mg/L (table 5). The dissolved-oxygen 

concentrations near the surface of Commencement Bay 

was 8.3 mg/L, which was similar to concentrations 

measured in the salt wedge (table 5).
Water Temperature, Specific Conductance, pH, and Dissolved-Oxygen Concentrations in the Lower White River and the Puyallup River Estuary 13

Dissolved oxygen, river mile 4.9

Discharge, river mile 6.3

Gaps indicate missing record

WHITE RIVER

No diversion to Lake Tapps

August 2-25; additional

flow in White River

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

OXYGEN, IN MILLIGRAMS PER LITER

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

DAILY MEAN DISCHARGE, IN CUBIC FEET PER SECOND

A. Dissolved oxygen and discharge

Dissolved oxygen

Temperature

Gaps indicate missing record

WHITE RIVER NEAR SUMNER, RIVER MILE 4.9

Water-quality standard for

temperature in fresh water

Water-quality standard for dissolved oxygen in fresh water

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

OXYGEN, IN MILLIGRAMS PER LITER

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

22

WATER TEMPERATURE, IN DEGREES CELSIUS

AUGUST SEPTEMBER

2002

OCTOBER

5 10 15 20 25 30 5 10 15 20 25 30 5 10 15

B. Dissolved oxygen and temperature

Figure 4. Relation between dissolved-oxygen concentrations at river mile 4.9 and daily mean discharge and at river mile 6.3 

and relation between dissolved-oxygen concentrations and water temperature at river mile 4.9 in the White River, 

Washington, August 2-October 16, 2002.
14 Water Temperature, Specific Conductance, pH, and Dissolved Oxygen in the Lower White River and the Puyallup River Estuary, WA, 2002

AUGUST SEPTEMBER

2002

20 25 30 5 10 15 20 6

7

8

9

10

11

12

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

DISSOLVED OXYGEN, IN MILLIGRAMS PER LITER

DISCHARGE, IN CUBIC FEET PER SECOND

Water-quality standard

Dissolved oxygen, White River near Sumner, river mile 4.9

Dissolved oxygen, White River above Tacoma Avenue bridge, river mile 1.8

Discharge, Lake Tapps tailrace canal

Figure 5. Effect of discharge from the Lake Tapps tailrace canal dissolved-oxygen concentrations at river mile 1.8 in the lower White River, 

Washington, August-October 2002.
Water Temperature, Specific Conductance, pH, and Dissolved-Oxygen Concentrations in the Lower White River and the Puyallup River Estuary 15

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

22

TEMPERATURE, IN DEGREES CELSIUS

pH, IN UNITS

TURBIDITY, IN NEPHELOMETRIC UNITS

1,000

800

600

400

200

0

1,200

AUGUST SEPTEMBER

2002

OCTOBER

5 10 15 20 25 30 5 10 15 20 25 30 5 10 15

pH

Water temperature

pH water-quality standard

Gaps indicate missing record

Turbidity (provisional data)

Figure 6. Relation between pH and water temperature at river mile 4.9 and turbidity upstream from the study area at river mile 23.8 in the 

White River, Washington, August-October 2002. 

Turbidity data were provided by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and are provisional.
16 Water Temperature, Specific Conductance, pH, and Dissolved Oxygen in the Lower White River and the Puyallup River Estuary, WA, 2002

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350

-10

-8

-6

-4

-2

0

DISTANCE FROM LEFT BANK, IN FEET

DISTANCE BELOW WATER SURFACE, IN FEET

WATER SURFACE

RIVERBED

Specific conductance: 135-590 μS/cm (microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius)

Dissolved oxygen: 9.9-10.2 milligrams per liter

NEAR-SURFACE MEASUREMENTS

TRANSITION ZONE BETWEEN FRESH WATER AND SALTWATER

Specific conductance: 2,000-4,000 μS/cm

Dissolved oxygen: 9.6-10.0 milligrams per liter

NEAR-BED MEASUREMENTS

Specific conductance: 38,500-40,800 μS/cm

Dissolved oxygen: 8.1-8.4 milligrams per liter

Right edge of water: 370 feet

Figure 7. Lateral and vertical variations in specific conductance and dissolved-oxygen concentrations during high tide at river mile 1.5 in the 

Puyallup River, Washington, September 12, 2002.
Water Temperature, Specific Conductance, pH, and Dissolved-Oxygen Concentrations in the Lower White River and the Puyallup River Estuary 17

Table 5. Lateral and vertical variations in water temperature, specific conductance, pH, and concentrations of dissolved oxygen during low 

and high tides at river mile 1.5 in the Puyallup River estuary, Washington, September 2002

[Data collected at USGS station 12102400 – Puyallup River at Lincoln Avenue at Tacoma, WA; LB, left bank; oC, degrees Celsius; 

μS/cm, microsiemen per centimeter at 25 oC; mg/L, milligram per liter; mm Hg, millimeter of mercury]

Barometric pressure: 752 mm Hg

Stream width: 340 feet

Time of low tide: 1019

Date: September 5, 2002

LOW TIDE

(Parameter and code)

Time

Distance 

from

left bank 

(feet) 

00009

Depth to 

bottom

(feet below 

water surface) 

81903

Depth of

sample

(feet below 

water surface) 

00003

Water 

temperature 

(

oC) 

00010

Specific 

conductance 

(μS/cm) 

00095

pH 

(standard 

units) 

00400

Dissolved 

oxygen

(mg/L) 

00300

0925 20 2.7 .5 11.6 362 7.1 10.3

0927 20 2.7 2.1 11.6 356 7.0 10.4

0930 50 3.0 .6 11.6 284 7.0 10.4

0932 50 3.0 2.4 11.6 284 7.1 10.7

0935 85 2.4 .5 11.5 239 7.2 10.5

0937 85 2.4 1.9 11.5 236 7.1 10.7

1002 120 2.0 .4 11.6 214 7.3 10.8

1003 120 2.0 1.6 11.6 217 7.2 11.0

1005 150 2.4 .5 11.6 203 7.1 10.7

1006 150 2.4 1.9 11.6 203 7.1 10.7

1007 190 2.0 .4 11.7 201 7.1 10.7

1008 190 2.0 1.6 11.7 200 7.1 10.8

1010 220 2.1 .4 11.7 203 7.1 10.6

1011 220 2.1 1.6 11.7 203 7.1 10.7

1012 260 2.0 .4 11.7 231 7.2 10.7

1013 260 2.0 1.6 11.7 229 7.1 10.8

1014 290 2.4 .5 11.8 304 7.2 10.7

1015 290 2.4 1.9 11.8 294 7.1 10.9

1016 320 2.8 .5 11.9 523 7.2 10.6

1017 320 2.8 2.1 11.9 607 7.1 10.6

1018 335 1.6 .3 12.0 750 7.1 10.6

1019 335 1.6 1.3 12.0 738 7.1 10.8
18 Water Temperature, Specific Conductance, pH, and Dissolved Oxygen in the Lower White River and the Puyallup River Estuary, WA, 2002

Table 5. Lateral and vertical variations in temperature, specific conductance, pH, and concentrations of dissolved oxygen in the 

Puyallup River at river mile 1.5—Continued

[Data collected at USGS station 12102400 – Puyallup River at Lincoln Avenue at Tacoma, WA; LB, left bank; deg 0C, degrees Celsius; 

μs/cm, microsiemens per centimeter at 25 deg 0C; mg/L, milligrams per liter; mm Hg, millimeters of mercury; parameter codes are indicated]

Barometric pressure: 759 mm Hg

Stream width: 370 feet

Time of high tide: 1030

Date: September 12, 2002

HIGH TIDE

Time

Distance 

from left 

bank (feet) 

00009

Depth to 

bottom (feet) 

81903

Depth sample 

(feet) 

00003

Water 

temperature 

(deg 0C) 

00010

Specific 

conductance 

(μS/cm) 

00095

pH 

(standard 

units) 

00400

Dissolved 

oxygen

(mg/L) 

00300

1047 19 9.7 0.6 14.1 590 7.5 10.0

1045 19 9.7 3.8 14.2 3,300 7.5 9.7

1044 19 9.7 9.2 13.4 40,100 7.4 8.4

1050 56 9.6 0.6 14.0 408 7.4 10.1

1055 56 9.6 3.9 14.1 3,850 7.6 9.8

1053 56 9.6 9.1 13.3 40,800 7.3 8.3

1058 92 9.4 0.6 14.0 135 7.5 10.1

1102 92 9.4 4.0 13.8 4,000 7.5 9.7

1100 92 9.4 8.9 13.4 40,600 7.5 8.1

1105 130 8.7 0.6 14.1 150 7.5 10.2

1110 130 8.7 3.9 13.7 3,300 7.6 10.0

1107 130 8.7 8.2 13.4 40,600 7.5 8.1

0959 180 9.2 0.6 14.7 160 7.5 9.9

0953 180 9.2 3.7 14.3 3,200 7.7 9.7

0950 180 9.2 8.7 13.5 38,500 7.5 8.1

1009 230 9.4 0.6 14.6 146 7.4 9.9

1005 230 9.4 3.6 14.2 2,700 7.5 9.7

1001 230 9.4 8.9 13.4 39,700 7.5 8.3

1018 280 9.4 0.6 14.6 137 7.4 9.9

1013 280 9.4 3.4 14.2 670 7.8 9.7

1010 280 9.4 8.9 13.4 39,800 7.4 8.2

1030 315 10.1 0.6 14.5 135 7.5 9.9

1025 315 10.1 3.9 14.2 3,000 7.4 9.8

1021 315 10.1 9.6 13.4 40,400 7.6 8.1

1040 352 8.9 0.6 14.3 388 7.4 9.9

1037 352 8.9 3.9 14.5 2,000 7.7 9.9

1033 352 8.9 8.5 13.4 40,300 7.6 8.1

Additional data collected 9/12/02

Puyallup River at river mile 3.2 at 1130 surface 13.8 102 7.1 10.4

Commencement Bay at 1142 surface 13.5 41,300 7.7 8.3
Summary 19

SUMMARY

The U.S. Geological Survey, Washington State 

Department of Ecology, and Puyallup Tribe of Indians 

monitored water temperature, specific conductance, 

pH, and dissolved-oxygen concentrations in the White 

River, a tributary of the Puyallup River, at river miles 

4.9 and 1.8 from August through mid-October 2002. 

During the same period in a similar study in 2001, 

dissolved-oxygen concentrations in the lower White 

River decreased to less than Washington State waterquality standards on two occasions, but the results were 

uncertain because quality of the monitoring record for 

those times was rated as poor. The 2002 study reach 

includes the point where a tailrace canal discharges 

water, diverted from the White River upstream from the 

study area to a hydropower facility on Lake Tapps, 

back into the river. The 2002 study also included 

measuring lateral and vertical variations of the same 

parameters at river mile 1.5 in the Puyallup River 

estuary, in order to measure conditions downstream of 

river mile 2.9, the location of a monitor in the 2001 

study.

In late August, maximum daily temperatures in 

the White River exceeded the water-quality standard of 

18 oC at both monitoring sites. The maximum water 

temperature at river mile 4.9 was 21.1 oC, and at river 

mile 1.8, it was 19.6 oC. In mid-September, maximum 

daily water temperatures at river mile 4.9 exceeded the 

standard on 5 days. Minimum temperatures at both 

sites were in mid-October at the end of the installment 

period. 

From August 2-25, little or no water was 

discharged from Lake Tapps to the White River at river 

mile 3.6, and water temperatures at both monitoring 

sites were similar. In late September and early October, 

increases in water temperature at river mile 1.8 that 

were not observed at river mile 4.9 were caused by the 

mixing of warmer water discharged from Lake Tapps 

with cooler water in the White River.

The mixing of water discharged from Lake 

Tapps with water in the White River usually lowered 

specific conductance in the White River at river mile 

1.8 compared with values measured upstream at river 

mile 4.9. This is because water diverted into Lake 

Tapps has a lower specific conductance than water in 

the lower White River.

In August, turbidity caused by the presence of 

fine-grained sediment derived from glacial melting on 

Mount Rainier limited light penetration, which in turn 

limited primary productivity and moderated 24-hour 

variations in pH and dissolved-oxygen concentrations 

in the lower White River. Turbidity decreased in early 

September, and from mid-September until the end of 

data collection in mid-October, maximum values of pH 

in the White River at river mile 4.9 often exceeded 8.5 

pH units, which is the upper limit of the water-quality 

standard. The pH standard was not exceeded at river 

mile 1.8.

Because dissolved-oxygen concentrations in 

water discharged from Lake Tapps are usually lower 

than concentrations in the White River, mixing of water 

discharged from Lake Tapps with water in the White 

River usually lowered dissolved-oxygen concentrations 

in the White River at river mile 1.8 compared with 

concentrations measured upstream at river mile 4.9. 

The lowest dissolved-oxygen concentrations observed 

was 7.9 mg/L at river mile 1.8. The lower limit allowed 

by the water-quality standard is 8 mg/L. 

Dissolved-oxygen concentrations measured in a 

cross section of the Puyallup River estuary at high tide 

on September 12, 2002, ranged from 9.9 to 10.2 mg/L 

in fresh water at the surface and from 8.1 to 8.4 mg/L 

in salt water near the riverbed. These values were 

within lower limits set by Washington State waterquality standards for dissolved oxygen of 8 mg/L in 

fresh water and 6 mg/L in marine water. 
20 Water Temperature, Specific Conductance, pH, and Dissolved Oxygen in the Lower White River and the Puyallup River Estuary, WA, 2002

REFERENCES CITED

American Public Health Association, American Water 

Works Association, and Water Environment Federation, 

1998, Standard methods for the examination of water 

and wastewater, 20th Edition: American Public Health 

Association, Washington, Washington, D.C., p. 4-129.

Ebbert, J.C., 2002, Concentrations of dissolved oxygen in 

the lower Puyallup and White Rivers, Washington, 

August and September 2000 and 2001: U.S. Geological 

Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 02-

4146, 35 p.

Ebbert, J.C., Bortleson, G.C., Fuste', L.A., and Prych, E.A., 

1987, Water quality in the lower Puyallup River Valley 

and adjacent uplands, Pierce County, Washington: U.S. 

Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations 

Report 86-4154, 199 p.

Pelletier, G.J., 1993, Puyallup River total maximum daily 

load for biochemical oxygen demand, ammonia, and 

residual chlorine: Washington State Department of 

Ecology Publication Number 96-326, 105 p.

———1994, Addendum to the 1993 Puyallup River TMDL 

Report: Washington State Department of Ecology 

Memorandum, dated July 22, 1994.

Prych, E.A., 1988, Flood-carrying capacities and changes in 

channels of the lower Puyallup, White, and Carbon 

Rivers in Western Washington: U.S. Geological Survey 

Water-Resources Investigations Report 87-4129, 69 p.

Radtke, D.B., White, A.F., Davis, J.V., and Wilde, F.D., 

1998, Dissolved 0xygen, in Wilde, F.D., and Radtke, 

D.B., eds., 1998, National field manual for the 

collection of water-quality data: U.S. Geological 

Survey Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, 

book 9, chap. A6.2, 38 p.

State of Washington, 1997, Water quality standards for 

surface waters of the State of Washington: Washington 

Administrative Code, Chapter 173-201A, 18 p.

Stuart, D.L., 2002, A study of periphyton induced pH spikes 

on the White River, Washington: Seattle, Washington, 

University of Washington, M.S. Thesis, 90 p.

Wagner, R.J., Mattraw, H.C., Ritz, G.F., and Smith, B.A., 

2000, Guidelines and standard procedures for 

continuous water-quality monitors: Site selection, field 

operation, calibration, record computation, and 

reporting: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources 

Investigations Report 00-4252, 53 p., accessed October 

2001 at http://water.usgs.gov/owq/pubs.html.

Washington State Department of Ecology, 1998, Agreement 

on the allocation of the Puyallup River TMDL reserve 

capacity of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) and 

ammonia, accessed October 2001, at 

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/tmdl/watershed/p

uyallup/index.html.

———2000, Letter dated December 1, 2000 to Citizens for 

a Healthy Bay describing the moratorium on allocating 

reserve capacity of BOD5 and ammonia, accessed 

October 2001, at 

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/tmdl/watershed/

puyallup/index.html.
Appendix A. 21

Appendix A. Protocol used for servicing and calibration of water-quality monitors on the Lower White River and Puyallup River estuary, Washington, 

August–October 2002

Station No. _____________________ Location____________________________________ Date_________________

Barometric pressure_________ Turbidity (visibility limit)_____________ Inspected by___________________

Step 1: On the hour or half hour and before retrieving the monitor, take readings with the field meter and collect enough sample water to fill

three bottles for Winkler DO titration. Fix and titrate two of the three bottles. If the results agree within 0.3 mg/L, stop. If not, fix and

titrate the third bottle. The corresponding readings from the Hydrolab monitor will be added to the table after the data are

downloaded.

Parameter Time of Measurement Hydrolab Monitor Field Meter Winkler DO

Temperature

Specific conductance

pH

Dissolved oxygen

Step 2: Retrieve the monitor, clean and inspect probes, re-deploy monitor for “after-cleaning” measurements. Take a series of these

measurements until stable (T +/- 0.2 deg C; SC the greater of 5 uS/cm or 3% of measured value; DO +/- 0.3 mg/L; pH +/- 0.2 units)

Important: Record time that monitor was retrieved ____________ Condition of probes_________________________________________

Monitor Field Meter Monitor Field Meter Monitor Field Meter Monitor Field Meter

Time

Temp

SC

pH

DO

Step 3: Download the data from the previous deployment period. Inspect the data to discover potential problems like sedimentation or erratic

readings.

Name of file downloaded__________________________________

Step 4: Calibration check. Recalibrate if difference between reading and standard are more than the limits listed in Step 2. Always calibrate

specific conductance first. Perform calibration check for DO using zero DO solution and the water-saturated air method.

DO membrane replaced? ________, If yes, replace with back-up DO probe.

Parameter Standard, or other

check value

Reading @ Temperature, deg

Celsius

Monitor set to: Calibrated reading

Specific cond. Air

Specific cond.

Specific cond.

pH 7

pH 10

Dissolved Oxy Zero DO solution

Dissolved Oxy Sat. value =

Step 5: Create a new logging file and check file status to make sure it was created. Deploy the monitor. On the hour or half-hour, take

instream readings with field meter, and collect enough sample water to fill three bottles for Winkler DO titration. Fix and titrate two

of the three bottles. If the results agree within 0.3 mg/L, stop. If not, fix and titrate the third bottle. The readings from the Hydrolab

will be added to the table after the data are downloaded during the next visit.

Parameter Time of Measurement Hydrolab Monitor Field Meter Winkler DO

Temperature

Specific conductance

pH

Dissolved oxygen

Important: Record time that monitor was deployed here: ____________ Name of new logging file _____________________
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