Concentrations of Dissolved Oxygen in the

Lower Puyallup and White Rivers, Washington,

August and September 2000 and 2001

Prepared in cooperation with the

WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY

AND THE PUYALLUP TRIBE OF INDIANS

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Water-Resources Investigations Report 02-4146

Photograph of the White River looking upstream from

the Tacoma Avenue Bridge in Sumner, Washington, May 2002
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Water-Resources Investigations Report 02-4146

Concentrations of Dissolved Oxygen in the 

Lower Puyallup and White Rivers, Washington, 

August and September 2000 and 2001

Prepared in cooperation with the

WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY AND THE 

PUYALLUP TRIBE OF INDIANS

By James C. Ebbert

Tacoma, Washington

2002
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

GALE A. NORTON, Secretary

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Charles G. Groat, Director

For additional information write to:

District Chief

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

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.

District Chief

U.S. Geological Survey

1201 Pacific Avenue – Suite 600

Tacoma, Washington 98402

http://wa.water.usgs.gov

CONTRIBUTING U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY STAFF

Editorial, Graphics, and Text Preparation

J.A. Wayenberg, Technical Editor

C.J. Dean, Illustrator
Contents iii

CONTENTS

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

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

Purpose and Scope ...................................................................................................................................... 2

Description of the Lower Puyallup and White Rivers ................................................................................ 2

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

Data Collection..................................................................................................................................................... 4

August and September 2000 ....................................................................................................................... 4

August and September 2001 ....................................................................................................................... 6

Concentrations of Dissolved Oxygen, August and September 2000, 2001 ......................................................... 10

August and September 2000 ....................................................................................................................... 10

August and September 2001 ....................................................................................................................... 11

Analysis of Factors Affecting Concentrations of Dissolved Oxygen .................................................................. 14

Photosynthesis and Respiration................................................................................................................... 17

Biochemical Oxygen Demand .................................................................................................................... 17

Mixing of River Water With Water Released From Lake Tapps ............................................................... 18

Scour of Bed Sediment and Oxidation of Reduced Iron and Manganese................................................... 19

Probable Cause of Low Concentrations of Dissolved Oxygen Observed September 2000................................. 19

Summary and Conclusions................................................................................................................................... 20

References Cited .................................................................................................................................................. 21

Appendix A. Monitor Inspection and Calibration Sheet...................................................................................... 30

Appendix B. Methods Used to Analyze Water and Sediment Samples............................................................... 31

Appendix C. Summary of data collected for the Puget Sound Energy 2001 

Water Quality Monitoring Program ........................................................................................................ 32
iv Figures

FIGURES

Figure 1. Map showing location of the study area and water-quality monitoring sites on the 

lower Puyallup and White Rivers, Washington, August and September 2000-2001. ....................... 3

Figure 2. Diagram showing placement of water-quality monitors in the lower Puyallup River, 

Washington, August and September 2000......................................................................................... 6

Figure 3. Diagram showing placement of water-quality monitors in the lower Puyallup and 

White Rivers, Washington, August and September 2001 ................................................................. 7

Figure 4. Bar graph showing ratings of dissolved-oxygen monitoring records for the Puyallup and 

White Rivers, August and September 2001....................................................................................... 9

Figure 5. Graph showing concentrations of dissolved oxygen and discharge in the 

Puyallup River, Washington, August 17-25, 2000 ............................................................................ 10

Figure 6. Graph showing concentrations of dissolved oxygen and discharge in the 

Puyallup River, Washington, September 11-22, 2000....................................................................... 11

Figure 7. Graph showing concentrations of dissolved oxygen and discharge in the 

Puyallup River, Washington, September 22-28, 2000....................................................................... 12

Figure 8. Graphs showing concentrations of dissolved oxygen and discharge in the 

Puyallup River at river mile 5.8, August and September 2001 ......................................................... 13

Figure 9. Graphs showing concentrations of dissolved oxygen and specific conductance in the 

Puyallup River at river mile 2.9, August and September 2001 ......................................................... 15

Figure 10. Graphs showing concentrations of dissolved oxygen in the White River at 

river mile 1.8 and discharge in the Lake Tapps tailrace canal, August and September 2001. .......... 16

Figure 11. Graph showing variations in pH and concentrations of dissolved oxygen in the 

Puyallup River at river mile 5.8, August 9-19, 2001......................................................................... 17

Figure 12. Graph showing discharges in the Lake Tapps tailrace canal and in the White River 

at river mile 6.3, with corresponding concentrations of dissolved oxygen in the 

Lake Tapps tailrace canal, the White River at river mile 1.8, and the Puyallup River 

at river mile 5.8, September 12-18, 2001 .......................................................................................... 18
Tables v

TABLES

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

streamflow data were collected during August and September, 2000-2001 .................................... 5

Table 2. Maximum and minimum concentrations of dissolved oxygen and values of 

specific conductance, temperature and pH in the lower White and Puyallup Rivers, 

August and September 2001 ............................................................................................................. 12

Table 3. Cross-section measurements of water temperature, specific conductance, pH, 

and concentrations of dissolved oxygen in the Puyallup River at river mile 2.9 .............................. 23

Table 4. Cross-section measurements of water temperature, specific conductance, pH, and 

concentrations of dissolved oxygen in the Puyallup River at river mile 5.8 .................................... 25

Table 5. Cross-section measurements of water temperature, specific conductance, pH, and 

concentrations of dissolved oxygen in the White River at river mile 1.8 ......................................... 26

Table 6. Hypothetical oxygen demand caused by instantaneous oxidation of all suspended and 

dissolved iron and manganese in water samples from the lower Puyallup River ............................. 27

Table 7. Hypothetical oxygen demand caused by oxidation of anoxic bed sediment .................................... 28
vi Conversion Factors and Vertical Datum

CONVERSION FACTORS AND VERTICAL DATUM

CONVERSION FACTORS

Temperature in degrees Celsius (oC) may be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (oF) as follows:

oF=1.8 oC+32.

Temperature in degrees Fahrenheit (oF) may be converted to degrees Celsius (oC) as follows:

oC=(oF-32)/1.8.

Specific conductance is given microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius (μS/cm at 25oC).

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

micrograms per liter (μg/L). 

VERTICAL DATUM

Sea level: In this report "sea level" refers to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD of

1929)--a geodetic datum derived from a general adjustment of the first-order level nets of both the

United States and Canada, formerly called Sea Level Datum of 1929.

Altitude, as used in this report, refers to distance above or below sea level.

Multiply By To obtain

cubic foot per second (ft3/s) 0.2832 cubic meter per second

foot (ft) 0.3048 meter

inch (in.) 2.54 millimeter

mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer

pound 0.4536 kilogram
Abstract 1

Concentrations of Dissolved Oxygen in the 

Lower Puyallup and White Rivers, Washington, 

August and September 2000 and 2001

By James C. Ebbert

ABSTRACT

The U.S. Geological Survey, Washington State 

Department of Ecology, and Puyallup Tribe of Indians 

conducted a study in August and September 2001 to 

assess factors affecting concentrations of dissolved 

oxygen in the lower Puyallup and White Rivers, 

Washington. The study was initiated because observed 

concentrations of dissolved oxygen in the lower 

Puyallup River fell to levels ranging from less than 1 

milligram per liter (mg/L) to about 6 mg/L on several 

occasions in September 2000. The water-quality 

standard for the concentration of dissolved oxygen in 

the Puyallup River is 8 mg/L.

This study concluded that inundation of the 

sensors with sediment was the most likely cause of the 

low concentrations of dissolved oxygen observed in 

September 2000. The conclusion was based on (1) 

knowledge gained when a dissolved-oxygen sensor 

became covered with sediment in August 2001, (2) the 

fact that, with few exceptions, concentrations of 

dissolved oxygen in the lower Puyallup and White 

Rivers did not fall below 8 mg/L in August and 

September 2001, and (3) an analysis of other 

mechanisms affecting concentrations of dissolved 

oxygen. 

The analysis of other mechanisms indicated that 

they are unlikely to cause steep declines in 

concentrations of dissolved oxygen like those observed 

in September 2000. Five-day biochemical oxygen 

demand ranged from 0.22 to 1.78 mg/L (mean of 0.55 

mg/L), and river water takes only about 24 hours to 

flow through the study reach. Photosynthesis and 

respiration cause concentrations of dissolved oxygen in 

the lower Puyallup River to fluctuate as much as about 

1 mg/L over a 24-hour period in August and 

September. Release of water from Lake Tapps for 

hydropower generation frequently lowered 

concentrations of dissolved oxygen downstream in the 

White River by about 1 mg/L. The effect was smaller 

farther downstream in the Puyallup River at river mile 

5.8, but was still observable as a slight decrease in 

concentrations of dissolved oxygen caused by 

photosynthesis and respiration. The upper limit on 

oxygen demand caused by the scour of anoxic bed 

sediment and subsequent oxidation of reduced iron and 

manganese is less than 1 mg/L. The actual demand, if 

any, is probably negligible.

In August and September 2001, concentrations 

of dissolved oxygen in the lower Puyallup River did not 

fall below the water-quality standard of 8 mg/L, except 

at high tide when the saline water from 

Commencement Bay reached the monitor at river mile 

2.9. The minimum concentration of dissolved oxygen 

(7.6 mg/L) observed at river mile 2.9 coincided with 

the maximum value of specific conductance. Because 

the dissolved-oxygen standard for marine water is 6.0 

mg/L, the standard was not violated at river mile 2.9.

The concentration of dissolved oxygen at river 

mile 1.8 in the White River dropped below the waterquality standard on two occasions in August 2001. The 

minimum concentration of 7.8 mg/L occurred on 

August 23, and a concentration of 7.9 mg/L was 

recorded on August 13. Because there was some 

uncertainty in the monitoring record for those days, it 

cannot be stated with certainty that the actual 

concentration of dissolved oxygen in the river dropped 

below 8 mg/L. However, at other times when the 

quality of the monitoring record was good, 

concentrations as low as 8.2 mg/L were observed at 

river mile 1.8 in the White River.
2 Dissolved Oxygen in the Lower Puyallup and White Rivers, Washington, August and September 2000 and 2001

INTRODUCTION

A Puyallup River Total Maximum Daily Load 

(TMDL) study prepared by the Washington State 

Department of Ecology (Ecology) (Pelletier, 1993, 

1994) set a maximum load for 5-day biochemical 

oxygen demand (BOD5) at 20,322 pounds per day 

(lb/d) and a maximum load for ammonia at 3,350 lb/d 

for the Puyallup River. The TMDL included a reserve 

capacity of 3,670 lb/d of BOD5 and 1,200 lb/d of 

ammonia. In 1996, Ecology initiated a mediation 

process to establish a plan for managing the reserve 

capacity. This resulted in an agreement (Washington 

State Department of Ecology, 1998) that allocated the 

reserve capacity to various parties, including 

municipalities, industry, and Indian Tribes. The 

agreement also outlined a plan for additional 

monitoring to ensure that concentrations of dissolved 

oxygen and ammonia would remain within limits set by 

water-quality standards.

Additional monitoring started in August 2000 

when Ecology and the Puyallup Tribe of Indians 

deployed water-quality monitors at river mile (RM) 2.9 

and RM 5.8 in the lower Puyallup River (fig. 1) for four 

periods during August and September. The monitors 

recorded 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 

milligrams per liter (mg/L) were observed on several 

occasions. Because the water-quality standard for 

dissolved oxygen for the Puyallup River is 8 mg/L, 

Ecology issued a moratorium on allocating the reserve 

capacity of BOD5 and ammonia (Washington State 

Department of Ecology, 2000). 

In May 2001, the U.S. Geological Survey, in 

cooperation with Ecology and the Puyallup Tribe, 

began a study to evaluate the data collected in August 

and September 2000 and collect additional data to 

determine if concentrations of dissolved oxygen in the 

Puyallup River would fall below standards again in 

2001. Water-quality monitors were deployed during 

August and September 2001 at three sites along 

reaches of the Puyallup and White Rivers extending 

from RM 2.9 on the Puyallup River to RM 1.8 on the 

White River (fig. 1). Water and bed-sediment samples 

also were collected and analyzed for various 

constituents and properties that might help with the 

interpretation of the dissolved-oxygen data.

Purpose and Scope

The purposes of this report are to (1) describe the 

results of monitoring dissolved-oxygen concentrations 

in the lower Puyallup and White Rivers during August 

and September 2000-2001, and (2) assess both the 

monitoring results and some of the factors affecting 

concentrations of dissolved oxygen in order to examine 

the probable cause of a dramatic decline in dissolvedoxygen concentration observed in September 2000. 

The report presents graphs of most of the dissolvedoxygen data, as well as temperature, pH, and specific 

conductance as needed to help interpret the dissolvedoxygen data. A table with statistical summaries of all 

monitoring data collected in August and September 

2001 is included.

Description of the Lower Puyallup and 

White Rivers

The lower Puyallup River Valley is a relatively 

flat floodplain. Streambed altitudes in the study area 

range from about 9 feet below sea level at RM 2.9 on 

the Puyallup River to about 25 feet above sea level at 

RM 1.8 on the White River (Prych, 1988). The lower 

Puyallup River is a salt-wedge estuary with deeper 

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

wedge generally extends less than 2.5 miles upstream 

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

however, the monitoring data indicate it sometimes 

reaches RM 2.9. 

Gravel, cobbles, and boulders armor the bottom 

of the monitored reaches of the Puyallup and White 

Rivers. Median particle sizes appear to decrease in the 

downstream direction, and material beneath the armor 

layer contains approximately 20 percent sand (Prych, 

1988). 

Mean monthly flows in the Puyallup River at the 

USGS streamgaging station (station 1210500 at RM 

6.6) during August and September were 2,069 and 

1,665 cubic feet per second (ft3/s) for the period 1943 

through 2000. Although the period of record for this 

station began in 1914, the record prior to 1943 does not 

reflect the present flow conditions because flood flows 

in the White River have been regulated since 1943 

(Kresch and Prych, 1989).
Introduction 3

During summer, operation of the Lake Tapps 

hydropower facility by Puget Sound Energy can have a 

substantial effect on flows in the lower White and 

Puyallup Rivers. Water is diverted from the White 

River at RM 24.3 into Lake Tapps, and water released 

from the lake to produce power is returned to 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 Puyallup 

River to increase by a factor of two and then to fall 

back 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).

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

August and September 2000-2001.

 White River

Tailrace

Canal

Lake 

Tapps

KING COUNTY

PIERCE COUNTY

Puget 

Sound

Tacoma

Puyallup

Sumner

Auburn

WASHINGTON

Study area

47°20'

47°10'

122°30' 122°10'

Puyallup River

0

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 KILOMETERS

1 2 3 4 5 6 MILES

EXPLANATION

Puyallup Indian Reservation boundary

Monitoring sites

 Puyallup River above Clear Creek near Tacoma, river mile 2.9

 Puyallup River, river mile 5.8

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

River mile 3.6

River mile 6.6

River mile 6.3

River mile 4.9

Swa

n

Creek

Clear Cre ek

Clarks Creek
4 Dissolved Oxygen in the Lower Puyallup and White Rivers, Washington, August and September 2000 and 2001

Water in the Puyallup and White Rivers is 

usually turbid during summer because fine sediment 

derived from glacial melting on Mount Rainier is 

transported downstream. Visibility during this study 

was always less than about 4 inches below the water 

surface, and it was often less than 1 inch. Poor light 

penetration reduces biological productivity (Welch, 

1992), which probably moderates 24-hour variations in 

concentrations of dissolved oxygen in the lower 

Puyallup and White Rivers caused by photosynthesis 

and respiration. Diel variations of about 1 mg/L in the 

Puyallup River were measured by Ecology (values 

ranged from 10.1 to 11.2 mg/L) in the Puyallup River 

at RM 5.7 during various times of the day from 

September 18 through October 5, 1990 (Pelletier, 

1993).

Acknowledgments

This study was conducted in close cooperation 

with individuals from the Washington State 

Department of Ecology and the Puyallup Tribe of 

Indians, and the author gratefully acknowledges their 

assistance. Jeannette Barreca, Ecology, and Char 

Naylor, Puyallup Tribe, were partners in designing and 

executing the study. Robert Plotnikoff, Ecology, 

coordinated schedules and laboratory support for 

water-quality sampling conducted by Ecology and the 

USGS. Bill Ward, Ecology, provided training, technical 

advice, and assistance with sampling and servicing the 

water-quality monitors. Anise Ahmed, Ecology, 

provided technical advice and assisted with sampling 

and servicing of the monitors. Assistance with 

servicing the monitors also was provided by Mary 

Brown and Elsie Raymond, Puyallup Tribe, and 

Christina Ricci and Chad Wiseman, Ecology. Jory 

Oppenheimer, HDR Engineering, Inc., provided data 

and other technical information used in this report. 

Richard Wagner, USGS, provided technical advice and 

helped process the monitoring data. Karen Payne and 

Greg Justin, USGS, provided assistance with sampling 

and servicing the monitors. Finally, the author would 

like to thank Ecology and the Puyallup Tribe for the 

use of their water-quality monitors for this study.

DATA COLLECTION

The assessment of dissolved-oxygen 

concentrations in the lower Puyallup and White Rivers 

used (1) data collected by Ecology and the Puyallup 

Tribe during August and September 2000, (2) data 

collected by the USGS, Ecology, and the Puyallup 

Tribe during August and September 2001, and (3) data 

collected by HDR Engineering, Inc., for Puget Sound 

Energy during August, September, and October 2001 

(HDR Engineering Inc., 2002), which are briefly 

summarized here. Streamflow data used in this report 

are from USGS streamgaging stations on the Puyallup 

and White Rivers and on the tailrace canal from Lake 

Tapps (Kimbrough and others, 2001; U.S. Geological 

Survey, 2001). 

Locations where water-quality and streamflow 

data were collected are listed in table 1, and the data are 

available online at URL, http://www.ecy.wa.gov/ 

programs/eap/wrias/tmdl/puyallup_hydrolab/ 

index.html. The streamflow data and the water-quality 

monitoring data for August and September 2001 also 

are stored in the USGS National Water Information 

System (NWIS) database. Daily streamflow data are 

available online at URL, http://water.usgs.gov/ 

wa/nwis/sw.

August and September 2000

Ecology and the Puyallup Tribe used Hydrolab 

DatasondeTM 4a water-quality monitors to measure and 

record water temperature, specific conductance, pH, 

and dissolved-oxygen concentration, and water depth 

at 30-minute intervals in the Puyallup River at RM 2.9 

and RM 5.8 (fig. 1, table 1). A single monitor was 

deployed four times (August 8-10, August 18-24, 

September 11-22, and September 22-28) at each 

location (Washington State Department of Ecology, 

2001a). Each monitor was deployed on the riverbed 

near the center of the channel by placing it inside a 

plastic pipe attached to a concrete anchor. The pipe and 

the enclosed monitor were placed parallel to the 

direction of flow with the sensors, which were 

approximately 6 inches above the riverbed, facing 

downstream (fig. 2).
Data Collection 5

Table 1. Locations on the lower Puyallup and White Rivers where water-quality and streamflow data were collected during 

August and September, 2000-2001

[Abbreviations: USGS, U.S. Geological Survey, Ecology, Washington State Department of Ecology; Puy Tribe, Puyallup Tribe of Indians; HDR, HDR 

Engineering, Inc.; WA, Washington; NWIS, National Water Information System]

USGS 

station 

identification No.

Ecology 

station 

identification No.

USGS station 

name

Ecology station 

name

River mile

Data collected

Type Years By whom

none 10C095 none White River at 

R. Street

8.0 water chemistry 2000, 01 Ecology

12100496 none White River near 

Auburn, WA

none 6.3 streamflow 2000, 01 USGS

none 10C085 none White River near 

Sumner

4.9 water-quality 

monitoring

2001 HDR

water chemistry 2001 HDR

12101100 none Lake Tapps 

Diversion at 

Dieringer, WA1

Lake Tapps 

Tailrace Canal

discharges to 

White 

River at 

river mile 

3.6

streamflow, 

monitoring, 

and water 

chemistry

2001 

(streamflow 

also 2000)

USGS, HDR 

12101104 none White River above 

Tacoma Avenue 

Bridge at 

Sumner, WA

White River at 

River Mile 1.8

1.8 water-quality 

monitoring and 

water 

chemistry

2001 Ecology, Puy 

Tribe, USGS

none 10A070 none Puyallup River at 

Meridian Street

8.3 water chemistry 2000, 01 Ecology

12101500 Puyallup River at 

Puyallup, WA

6.6 streamflow 2000, 01 USGS

none 10A050 Puyallup River at 

River Mile 5.82

Puyallup River at 

Puyallup

5.8 water-quality 

monitoring

2000, 01 Ecology, Puy 

Tribe, USGS3

water chemistry 2001

12102102 none Puyallup River 

above Clear 

Creek near 

Tacoma, WA

Puyallup River at 

River Mile 2.9

2.9 water-quality 

monitoring

2000, 01 Ecology, Puy 

Tribe, USGS3

water chemistry 2001

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

2 Monitoring data collected in August and September 2001 are stored under Station 12101500 in USGS NWIS data base.

3 USGS 2001 only.
6 Dissolved Oxygen in the Lower Puyallup and White Rivers, Washington, August and September 2000 and 2001

The monitors were serviced and calibrated 

according to the manufacturer's specifications prior to 

each deployment, and duplicate measurements of water 

temperature, specific conductance, pH, and dissolvedoxygen concentration were made at the beginning and 

end of each deployment. Duplicate measurements were 

made with separate instruments, except for the 

concentration of dissolved oxygen, which was 

determined using the modified Winkler method 

(American Public Health Association and others, 

1998). The results of the duplicate measurements were 

published online along with the monitoring data 

(Washington State Department of Ecology, 2001a).

August and September 2001

The USGS used Hydrolab DatasondeTM 4 and 4a 

water-quality monitors to measure and record water 

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

Puyallup River at RM 2.9 and 5.8 and in the White 

River at RM 1.8 (fig. 1, table 1). Two monitors, 

approximately 20 feet apart, were installed in the 

Puyallup River at RM 5.8 to provide a duplicate record 

to help with data validation. For continuity with past 

practices, data from the monitors located in the 

Puyallup River at RM 5.8 are stored in the USGS 

NWIS database under USGS streamgaging station 

12101500, Puyallup River at Puyallup, which is the 

USGS streamgaging station located at RM 6.6. There 

are no tributaries to the Puyallup River between RM 

6.6 and RM 5.8. Clarks Creek, which discharges to the 

Puyallup River at RM 5.8 on the opposite side of the 

river from the monitors, did not affect their readings. 

Because the monitors were serviced and 

calibrated in the field, they were deployed almost 

continuously during August and September. Monitors 

were deployed in 20-foot-long sections of plastic pipe 

attached to either trees or boulders on the riverbank 

(fig. 3). The submerged parts of the pipes were 

perforated to expose the sensors, which were 

perpendicular to the direction of flow. The oxygen 

sensors were 1 to 2 feet above the riverbed.

Figure 2. Placement of water-quality monitors in the lower Puyallup River, Washington, August and September 

2000.
Data Collection 7

The water-quality monitors were serviced and 

calibrated, if needed, two times per week during most 

of the 2-month 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). The only 

modifications of their guidelines were the calibration of 

the dissolved-oxygen sensor in a water bath, instead of 

in water-saturated air, and use of the modified Winkler 

method, instead of another instrument, for making 

duplicate measurements of dissolved-oxygen 

concentrations during servicing. 

Monitoring data for August and September 2001 

were corrected and rated using methods based on 

guidelines recommended by Wagner and others (2000). 

Their guidelines for correcting and rating dissolvedoxygen data entail an analysis to determine how sensor 

fouling and instrument drift affect differences between 

Figure 3. Placement of water-quality monitors in the lower Puyallup and White Rivers, Washington, August and 

September 2001.
8 Dissolved Oxygen in the Lower Puyallup and White Rivers, Washington, August and September 2000 and 2001

concentrations of dissolved oxygen in the stream and 

recorded concentrations. In this study, corrections 

applied to the dissolved-oxygen monitoring data, and 

the subsequent rating of those data, were determined by 

differences between recorded concentrations and 

concentrations determined by Winkler. If, for example, 

there was a constant difference between the Winkler 

titration data and the monitoring data, a uniform 

correction equal to that difference was applied to the 

monitoring data. Although the ratings (fig. 4) are based 

largely on the amount of correction applied to the data, 

additional consideration was given to factors such as 

instrument noise. Even though the corrected record is 

considered to be more representative of concentrations 

in the stream, the rating for that record was 

downgraded according to the amount of correction 

applied (fig. 4).

Water samples were collected in August and 

September to provide data that might be needed to help 

interpret the dissolved-oxygen data. Ecology added 

chlorophyll A, biochemical oxygen demand, and total 

iron and manganese concentration to the list of 

constituents and properties (Appendix B) that they 

analyze for in ambient monitoring samples collected 

from the Puyallup River at RM 8.3 (Washington State 

Department of Ecology, 2001b). Ecology also 

increased the frequency of sampling and collected 

samples at RM 5.8 in addition to those collected at RM 

8.3. Samples were collected four times (August 22, 

August 27, September 10, and September 19) at both 

sites. Water samples also were collected from the 

Puyallup River at RM 2.9 and 5.8 and from the White 

River at RM 1.8 by the USGS with help from the 

Puyallup Tribe and Ecology. These samples, which 

were collected September 4-5 and September 17-18, 

were analyzed for the constituents and properties listed 

in Appendix B. The Washington State Department of 

Ecology Manchester Environmental Laboratory 

(Manchester Laboratory) in Port Orchard, Wash., 

analyzed all samples. Information about laboratory 

performance and quality can be obtained online 

(Washington State Department of Ecology, 2001c).

Bed-sediment samples were collected on August 

22 by the USGS and the Puyallup Tribe at six locations 

extending from RM 5.8 in the Puyallup River to about 

RM 1 in the White River. The Manchester Laboratory 

analyzed these samples for total iron and manganese 

concentrations. During bed-sediment sampling, cross 

sections were probed with a rod to make a rough 

determination of the composition of the riverbed. 

Except for near-bank areas, the bed was armored with 

boulders and cobbles, a finding that agrees with Prych 

(1988).

To assess variability laterally and with depth at 

the monitoring sites, cross-section measurements of 

temperature, specific conductance, pH, and 

concentration of dissolved oxygen were made in the 

Puyallup River at RM 2.9 (on August 22, September 4, 

and September 17) and at RM 5.8 (on September 4), 

and in the White River at RM 1.8 (on September 5). 

The results of these measurements are presented in 

tables 3, 4, and 5 (at back of report).

HDR Engineering, Inc., monitored temperature, 

specific conductance, pH, and concentrations of 

dissolved oxygen in the Lake Tapps tailrace canal and 

in the White River at RM 4.9 (fig. 1, table 1). They also 

collected water samples at those locations and recorded 

vertical profiles of temperature, specific conductance, 

pH, and concentrations of dissolved oxygen in the 

powerhouse intake canal of Lake Tapps. See 

Appendix C for a complete listing of data collected by 

HDR Engineering Inc.
Data Collection 9

Excellent: correction less than or equal to +/- 0.3 milligram per literGood: correction greater than +/- 0.3 to 0.5 milligram per literFair: correction greater than +/- 0.5 to 0.8 milligram per literPoor: correction greater than +/- 0.8 milligram per literLost: record lost for all or partial day

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

White River at RM 1.8Puyallup River at RM 5.8 (us)Puyallup River at RM 5.8 (ds)Puyallup River at RM 2.9

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

White River at RM 1.8Puyallup River at RM 5.8 (us)Puyallup River at RM 5.8 (ds)Puyallup River at RM 2.9

[RM, river mile; us, upstream monitor; ds, downstream monitor; +/-, plus or minus value shown]

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

EXPLANATION

2001

Figure 4. Ratings of dissolved-oxygen monitoring records for the Puyallup and White Rivers, August and September 2001.
10 Dissolved Oxygen in the Lower Puyallup and White Rivers, Washington, August and September 2000 and 2001

CONCENTRATIONS OF DISSOLVED 

OXYGEN, AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER 

2000, 2001 

Dissolved-oxygen concentrations were 

monitored by Ecology and the Puyallup Tribe in 2000 

as part of a water-quality monitoring program. The 

USGS, along with Ecology and the Tribe, monitored 

concentrations in 2001 after concentrations in 

September 2000 dropped several times below the limit 

set by water-quality standards.

August and September 2000

In August 2000, concentrations of dissolved 

oxygen in the Puyallup River at RM 5.8 ranged from 

8.7 to 10.6 mg/L. This concentration range was 

consistent with expectations, based on concentrations 

ranging from 9.6 to 11.4 mg/L in samples collected 

during the months of August and September 1995-

2000 by Ecology's ambient monitoring program at RM 

8.3 (Washington State Department of Ecology, 2001b). 

Variations in concentrations at RM 2.9 were similar to 

those at RM 5.8, except for occasional downward 

spikes in concentration (fig. 5), some of which 

occurred when the tide was high enough to force saline 

water upstream to RM 2.9. For a given temperature and 

barometric pressure, saturated concentrations of 

dissolved oxygen are lower in saline water because the 

solubility of oxygen in water decreases with increasing 

salinity. Variations in discharge from a base level of 

about 1,700 ft3/s to about 4,000 ft3/s (fig. 5) were 

caused by releases of water from Lake Tapps.

In September 2000, observed concentrations of 

dissolved oxygen fell far below the water-quality 

standard of 8 mg/L on several occasions at both RM 

5.8 and RM 2.9 (figs. 6 and 7). In a preliminary 

analysis of the data collected September 11-22 

(Jeannette Barreca, Washington State Department of 

Ecology, written commun., May 2001), inundation of 

the dissolved-oxygen sensor with sediment was listed 

as one of several possible causes of the extremely low 

concentrations of dissolved oxygen observed at RM 2.9 

(fig. 6), but environmental factors were not ruled out. 

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

AUGUST 2000

DISSOLVED OXYGEN, IN MILLIGRAMS PER LITER

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

4,500

DISCHARGE, IN CUBIC FEET PER SECOND

Dissolved oxygen, Puyallup River, river mile 2.9

Dissolved oxygen, Puyallup River, river mile 5.8

Discharge, Puyallup River at Puyallup, river mile 6.6

Water-quality standard for dissolved oxygen in fresh water 

Figure 5. Concentrations of dissolved oxygen and discharge in the Puyallup River, Washington, 

August 17-25, 2000.
Concentrations of Dissolved Oxygen, August and September 2000, 2001 11

Data collected September 22-28 (fig. 7) 

suggested that large fluctuations in observed 

concentrations of dissolved oxygen might be linked to 

variations in streamflow caused by release of water 

from Lake Tapps. From September 22 until mid-day 

September 25, little water was released from Lake 

Tapps, flow in the Puyallup River was relatively steady, 

and concentrations of dissolved oxygen ranged from 

about 10 to 11.5 mg/L at RM 5.8. Steep declines in 

concentrations of dissolved oxygen did not occur until 

September 25 (fig. 7), with the resumption of routine 

releases of water from Lake Tapps. Upstream 

movement of the saline water to the monitor caused the 

three downward spikes in concentration occurring on 

September 24 and before noon on September 25 at RM 

2.9 (fig. 7).

August and September 2001

Because two monitors were installed in the 

Puyallup River at RM 5.8, additional information was 

available to assess the quality of the dissolved-oxygen 

record, and gaps in the record of one instrument were 

filled by record from the other (fig. 8). Overall, the 

record produced by the upstream monitor was rated 

higher than that of the downstream monitor (fig. 4). 

Minimum concentrations of dissolved oxygen of 8.4 

mg/L for the upstream monitor and 8.5 mg/L for the 

downstream monitor were in close agreement (table 2). 

Agreement between maximum concentrations, which 

were 10.7 mg/L and 11.2 mg/L for the upstream and 

downstream monitors, was not as good.

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23

DISSOLVED OXYGEN, 

IN MILLIGRAMS PER LITER

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

4,500

5,000

DISCHARGE, IN CUBIC FEET PER SECOND

Dissolved oxygen, Puyallup River, river mile 2.9

Dissolved oxygen, Puyallup River, river mile 5.8

Discharge, Puyallup River at Puyallup, river mile 6.6

Water-quality standard for dissolved oxygen in fresh water

Dissolved oxygen, Puyallup River, river mile 8.3

SEPTEMBER 2000

EXPLANATION

Figure 6. Concentrations of dissolved oxygen and discharge in the Puyallup River, 

Washington, September 11-22, 2000.
12 Dissolved Oxygen in the Lower Puyallup and White Rivers, Washington, August and September 2000 and 2001

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

4,500

SEPTEMBER 2000

DISSOLVED OXYGEN, IN MILLIGRAMS PER LITER

DISCHARGE, IN CUBIC FEET PER SECOND

Dissolved oxygen, Puyallup River, river mile 2.9

Dissolved oxygen, Puyallup River, river mile 5.8

Discharge, Puyallup River at Puyallup, river mile 6.6

Water-quality standard for dissolved oxygen in fresh water

EXPLANATION

Figure 7. Concentrations of dissolved oxygen and discharge in the Puyallup River, Washington, 

September 22-28, 2000.

Table 2. Maximum and minimum concentrations of dissolved oxygen and values of specific conductance, 

temperature and pH in the lower White and Puyallup Rivers, August and September 2001

[Abbreviations: us, upstream monitor; ds, downstream monitor; mg/L, milligrams per liter; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter at 25 oC; oC, 

degrees Celsius]

White River at 

river mile 1.8

Puyallup River 

at river mile 5.8 

(us)

Puyallup River 

at river mile 5.8 

(ds)

Puyallup River at 

river mile 2.9

Dissolved oxygen (mg/L) Maximum 11.2 10.7 11.2 10.5

Minimum 7.8 8.4 8.5 7.6

Specific conductance (μS/cm) Maximum 98 100 102 36,500

Minimum 59 45 47 57

Temperature (oC) Maximum 20.4 17.1 17.8 17.4

Minimum 9.7 9.6 10.0 10.1

pH (units) Maximum 7.6 7.3 7.4 7.8

Minimum 6.8 6.9 7.0 7.1
Concentrations of Dissolved Oxygen, August and September 2000, 2001 13

SEPTEMBER 2001

2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 24 26 30 22 28

7

8

9

10

11

12

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

4,500

DISSOLVED OXYGEN, IN MILLIGRAMS PER LITER

AUGUST 2001

2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30

7

8

9

10

11

12

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

4,500

DISCHARGE, IN CUBIC FEET PER SECOND

Upstream monitor

Downstream monitor

Streamflow at USGS gaging station 12100500, river mile 6.6

Gaps indicate missing record

Upstream monitor

Downstream monitor

Streamflow at USGS gaging station 12100500, river mile 6.6

Figure 8. Concentrations of dissolved oxygen and discharge in the Puyallup River at river mile 5.8, August and 

September 2001.
14 Dissolved Oxygen in the Lower Puyallup and White Rivers, Washington, August and September 2000 and 2001

As mentioned in the discussion of the August 

and September 2000 data, the upstream movement of 

saline water during high tide affects the concentration 

of dissolved oxygen in the Puyallup River at RM 2.9. 

Because of this effect, the minimum concentration of 

dissolved oxygen (7.6 mg/L) coincided with the 

maximum value of specific conductance (fig. 9). 

Because the dissolved-oxygen standard for marine 

water is 6.0 mg/L (Washington State Administrative 

Code, 1997), the standard was not violated at RM 2.9. 

When saline water was not present at RM 2.9, 

concentrations of dissolved oxygen ranged from about 

8.5 to 10.5 mg/L (fig. 9).

The concentration of dissolved oxygen in the 

White River at RM 1.8 dropped below the waterquality standard of 8 mg/L on two occasions in August 

2001 (fig. 10). The minimum concentration of 7.8 

mg/L occurred on August 23rd, and a concentration of 

7.9 mg/L was recorded on August 13th. Because the 

record for both of these days was rated as poor (fig. 4), 

it cannot be stated with certainty that the actual 

concentration of dissolved oxygen in the river dropped 

below 8 mg/L. It can, however, be said with confidence 

that the concentration of dissolved oxygen in the White 

River at RM 1.8 approaches 8 mg/L because a value of 

8.2 mg/L was recorded on September 23rd (fig. 10), 

which is a day that the record was rated as good 

(fig. 4).

ANALYSIS OF FACTORS AFFECTING 

CONCENTRATIONS OF DISSOLVED 

OXYGEN

In addition to monitoring, the types of samples 

collected in August and September 2001 were based 

largely on the need for data to help determine the cause 

of the low concentrations of dissolved oxygen observed 

in September 2000. Three mechanisms (not including 

sensor fouling) were considered as possible causes of 

the low concentrations of dissolved oxygen 

(Washington State Department of Ecology, 2001d), and 

all three were related to the schedule of retention and 

release of water from Lake Tapps. The first mechanism 

was biochemical oxygen demand in the White and 

Puyallup Rivers caused by the release of water that 

may have accumulated algal biomass and organic 

carbon during routine maintenance of the discharge 

flume September 8-14, 2000. Water was not released 

from the lake during flume maintenance, and release of 

water was infrequent until September 25 (figs. 6 and 7). 

Algal biomass and organic carbon may have 

accumulated because there was less flushing of lake 

water while it was impounded. The second mechanism 

was the mixing of released lake water, which may have 

become depleted in dissolved oxygen because of 

increased stratification of the lake during flume 

maintenance, with river water. The third mechanism 

was demand for oxygen caused by the scour of anoxic 

bed sediments containing reduced iron and manganese. 

Scour of bed sediments might occur when water 

released from Lake Tapps increases discharges and 

flow velocities in the White and Puyallup Rivers. 

Because water is not released during the maintenance 

period, bed sediments would remain undisturbed, 

allowing the thickness of the anoxic layer to increase. 

Scour of anoxic bed sediments during releases after the 

maintenance period would expose large amounts of 

reduced iron and manganese compounds, and their 

rapid oxidation would exert an unusually high demand 

for oxygen.

Because any changes in concentrations of 

dissolved oxygen in the Puyallup River caused by 

retention and release of water from Lake Tapps would 

be superimposed on 24-hour variations in 

concentrations caused by photosynthesis and 

respiration, the effects of photosynthesis and 

respiration are described first. 
Analysis of Factors Affecting Concentrations of Dissolved Oxygen 15

AUGUST 2001

2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30

SEPTEMBER 2001

2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30

7

8

9

10

11

7

8

9

10

11

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

40,000

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

40,000

DISSOLVED OXYGEN, IN MILLIGRAMS PER LITER

SPECIFIC CONDUCTANCE, IN MICROMHOS PER CENTIMETER

Dissolved oxygen

Specific conductance

Dissolved oxygen

Specific conductance

Gaps indicate missing record

Figure 9. Concentrations of dissolved oxygen and specific conductance in the Puyallup River at river mile 

2.9, August and September 2001.
16 Dissolved Oxygen in the Lower Puyallup and White Rivers, Washington, August and September 2000 and 2001

AUGUST 2001

2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30

7

8

9

10

11

12

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

SEPTEMBER 2001

2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30

7

8

9

10

11

12

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

DISSOLVED OXYGEN, IN MILLIGRAMS PER LITER

DISCHARGE, IN CUBIC FEET PER SECOND

Dissolved oxygen

Discharge, Lake Tapps tailrace canal

Gaps indicate missing record

Dissolved oxygen

Discharge, Lake Tapps tailrace canal

Gaps indicate missing record

Figure 10. Concentrations of dissolved oxygen in the White River at river mile 1.8 and discharge in the Lake 

Tapps tailrace canal, August and September 2001.
Analysis of Factors Affecting Concentrations of Dissolved Oxygen 17

Photosynthesis and Respiration

From August 1-23, 2001, 24-hour variations in 

concentrations of dissolved oxygen in the Puyallup and 

White Rivers (figs. 8, 9, and 10) were largely in 

response to photosynthesis and respiration, because no 

water was released from Lake Tapps during that time. 

Although variations in discharge in the Puyallup River 

caused by changes in the rate of glacial melting over a 

24-hour cycle may have some influence on 

concentrations of dissolved oxygen (fig. 8), the 

simultaneous variations in pH and concentrations of 

dissolved oxygen (fig. 11) are indicative of the 

photosynthetic activity of aquatic biota (Pogue and 

Anderson, 1995). 

From August 1-23, 2001, concentrations of 

dissolved oxygen in the White River at RM 1.8 varied 

over a range of about 1 to 2 mg/L in 24 hours (fig. 10). 

During the same period, concentrations of dissolved 

oxygen in the lower Puyallup River varied over a range 

of about 1 mg/L in 24 hours (figs. 8 and 9). Variations 

in concentrations of about 1 mg/L over a 24-hour 

period are in general agreement with the concentration 

range of 10.1 to 11.2 mg/L measured by Ecology in the 

Puyallup River at RM 5.7 during various times of the 

day from September 18 through October 5, 1990 

(Pelletier, 1993).

Biochemical Oxygen Demand

Five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) in 

10 water samples collected from the lower Puyallup 

and White Rivers during August and September 2001 

ranged from 0.22 to 1.78 mg/L; the mean value was 

0.55 mg/L. Samples were collected over a range of 

flow regimes including rising stage caused by release 

of water from Lake Tapps. The maximum BOD5 of 

1.78 mg/L was in a sample collected when river 

discharge was increasing rapidly during a rainstorm on 

August 22nd. The range of BOD5 in all other samples 

was from 0.22 to 0.59 mg/L, indicating that release of 

water from Lake Tapps had little effect on biochemical 

oxygen demand in the lower White and Puyallup 

Rivers. Even if release of water from Lake Tapps were 

to cause a slight increase in biochemical oxygen 

demand, time is short for it to exert much effect 

because water released from the lake reaches the mouth 

of the Puyallup River in about 24 hours (Pelletier, 

1993).

8

9

10

11

12

7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21

DISSOLVED OXYGEN, 

IN MILLIGRAMS PER LITER

6.4

6.6

6.8

7.0

7.2

7.4

pH, IN UNITS

Dissolved oxygen

pH

AUGUST 2001

Figure 11. Variations in pH and concentrations of dissolved oxygen in the Puyallup River at 

river mile 5.8, August 9-19, 2001.
18 Dissolved Oxygen in the Lower Puyallup and White Rivers, Washington, August and September 2000 and 2001

Mixing of River Water With Water Released 

From Lake Tapps 

In August and September 2001, sags in 

concentrations of dissolved oxygen in the White River 

coinciding with release of water from Lake Tapps 

(fig. 10) occurred when concentrations of dissolved 

oxygen in water released from Lake Tapps were lower 

than concentrations in the White River. On average, 

concentrations of dissolved oxygen in the Lake Tapps 

tailrace canal, which discharges to the White River at 

RM 3.6, were less than concentrations in the White 

River at RM 4.9 (HDR Engineering Inc., 2002). HDR 

data indicate that from August 22 to October 16, 2001, 

concentrations of dissolved oxygen in the tailrace canal 

ranged from 6.2 to 13.4 mg/L (mean 9.4 mg/L), 

compared with concentrations ranging from 8.6 to 12.3 

mg/L (mean 10.1 mg/L) in the White River at RM 4.9. 

Release of water from Lake Tapps frequently 

lowered concentrations of dissolved oxygen in the 

White River at RM 1.8 by about 1 mg/L (fig. 12). 

Although smaller, sags in concentrations of dissolved 

oxygen associated with release of water from Lake 

Tapps also were observed farther downstream in the 

Puyallup River at RM 5.8 (fig. 12).

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

DISSOLVED OXYGEN, IN MILLIGRAMS PER LITER

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

DISCHARGE, IN CUBIC FEET PER SECOND

SEPTEMBER 2001

Dissolved oxygen, White River, river mile 1.8

Dissolved oxygen, Puyallup River, river mile 5.8

Dissolved oxygen, Lake Tapps tailrace canal

Discharge, White River, river mile 6.3

Discharge, Lake Tapps tailrace canal

EXPLANATION

Figure 12. Discharges in the Lake Tapps tailrace canal and in the White River at river mile 6.3, with corresponding 

concentrations of dissolved oxygen in the Lake Tapps tailrace canal, the White River at river mile 1.8, and the 

Puyallup River at river mile 5.8, September 12-18, 2001.
Probable Cause of Low Concentrations of Dissolved Oxygen Observed September 2000 19

Scour of Bed Sediment and Oxidation of 

Reduced Iron and Manganese

Two methods, both of which are based on highly 

simplified representations of sediment transport in the 

lower Puyallup River, were used to compute an upper 

limit for oxygen demand caused by the scour of anoxic 

bed sediment and the oxidation of associated reduced 

iron and manganese. In the first method, demand for 

oxygen was computed by assuming that all iron and 

manganese dissolved and suspended in water had been 

converted from reduced to oxidized forms within the 

study reach (table 6, at back of report). In the second 

method, oxygen demand was computed by assuming 

that anoxic bed sediment was the sole source of 

suspended solids in the river and that all iron in the bed 

sediment was oxidized upon suspension (table 7, at 

back of report). For both sets of computations, it was 

assumed that iron is oxidized from the +2 to the +3 

oxidation state, and for the first set of computations, it 

was assumed that manganese is oxidized from the +2 to 

the +4 oxidation state. Manganese was not used in the 

second set of computations (table 7) because its 

concentrations were small compared with those of iron. 

Also, the assumption that manganese is oxidized from 

the +2 to the +4 oxidation state is not entirely correct 

because it has three possible valence states (+2, +3, and 

+4) in aquatic systems and can form a wide variety of 

mixed-valence states (Hem, 1985). 

The results from both computational methods 

were similar, in that they indicated an upper limit for 

oxygen demand of less than 1 mg/L. This represents an 

extreme upper limit because the highly simplified 

representation of sediment transport does not agree 

with data (Ebbert and others, 1987) and a modeling 

study (Sikonia, 1990) showing that most of the fine 

suspended sediment in the lower White and Puyallup 

Rivers is transported from upstream and not derived 

solely within the study reach. Data were not available 

to do a more comprehensive evaluation of this 

mechanism.

PROBABLE CAUSE OF LOW 

CONCENTRATIONS OF DISSOLVED 

OXYGEN OBSERVED SEPTEMBER 2000

An initial examination of data collected in 

August and September 2001 and observations made 

while collecting those data were helpful in determining 

that inundation of the sensors with sediment was the 

most likely cause of the steep declines in 

concentrations of dissolved oxygen observed in 

September 2000. Initial examination of the 2001 data 

indicated that variations in concentrations of dissolved 

oxygen were consistent with most available data, 

excluding those collected in September 2000, and with 

a general understanding of controlling processes, as 

previously described. Concentrations in the Puyallup 

River at RM 5.8 did not drop below 8 mg/L, and they 

usually remained above 8 mg/L in the Puyallup River 

at RM 2.9. 

Field observations became important when the 

monitor at RM 2.9, which had been set too far into the 

pipe (fig. 3), became buried with sediment. This was 

discovered when the sensors were found caked with 

sediment when the monitor was retrieved for servicing 

on August 9, 2001. The recovered data indicated that as 

the sensor became buried on August 7, the recorded 

concentration of dissolved oxygen dropped from 9.6 to 

less than 1 mg/L in 3.5 hours and remained below 

1 mg/L until the monitor was retrieved. The rapid 

decline in concentrations was similar to those observed 

in September 2000.

More complete analyses of the 2001 data, as 

presented in the previous sections of this report, 

indicate that natural processes cannot explain the 

extreme variations in concentrations of dissolved 

oxygen observed in September 2000. For example, the 

monitored concentration of dissolved oxygen at RM 

2.9 increased from 0.6 to 10.5 mg/L in 30 minutes on 

September 17, 2000, and it remained above the 

monitored concentration at RM 5.8 by as much as 6 

mg/L until September 21 (fig. 6). On September 20, 

when monitored concentrations of dissolved oxygen 
20 Dissolved Oxygen in the Lower Puyallup and White Rivers, Washington, August and September 2000 and 2001

were 11.1 and 5.8 mg/L at RM 2.9 and 5.8, 

respectively, the concentration at Ecology's ambient 

monitoring site at RM 8.3 was 10.1 mg/L (fig. 6) 

(Washington State Department of Ecology, 2001b). 

Because the time of travel from RM 8.3 to RM 2.9 is 

only about 3 hours, such a rapid and large decrease in 

concentration between RM 8.3 and 5.8, followed by an 

even larger increase in concentration between RM 5.8 

and 2.9, simply is not consistent with a natural process 

controlling concentrations of dissolved oxygen in the 

lower Puyallup River.

Placement of the monitors with the sensors 

facing downstream in August and September 2000 

(fig. 2) probably facilitated sediment buildup around 

the dissolved-oxygen sensors. Similar to the drag that 

causes dust to accumulate on the back of a car or truck, 

the negative pressure differential at the downstream 

end of the monitor housing would cause sediment to 

accumulate around the sensors. 

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

The purpose of this study, which was conducted 

during August and September 2001, was to monitor 

concentrations of dissolved oxygen in the lower 

Puyallup and White Rivers and analyze some of the 

factors affecting concentrations. This study was 

initiated because observed concentrations of dissolved 

oxygen in the lower Puyallup River fell to levels 

ranging from less than 1 to about 6 mg/L on several 

occasions in September 2000. 

This study concluded that inundation of the 

sensors with sediment was the most likely cause of the 

low concentrations of dissolved oxygen observed in 

September 2000. The conclusion was based on (1) 

knowledge gained when a dissolved-oxygen sensor 

became covered with sediment in August 2001, (2) the 

fact that, with few exceptions, concentrations of 

dissolved oxygen in the lower Puyallup and White 

Rivers did not fall below the water-quality standard of 

8 mg/L in August and September 2001, and (3) an 

analysis of other mechanisms affecting concentrations 

of dissolved oxygen. 

The analysis of other mechanisms indicated that 

they are unlikely to cause steep declines in 

concentrations of dissolved oxygen like those observed 

in September 2000. Five-day biochemical oxygen 

demand ranged from 0.22 to 1.78 mg/L (mean of 0.55 

mg/L), and river water takes only about 24 hours to 

flow through the study reach. Photosynthesis and 

respiration cause concentrations of dissolved oxygen in 

the lower Puyallup River to fluctuate as much as about 

1 mg/L over a 24-hour period in August and 

September. Release of water from Lake Tapps often 

lowered concentrations of dissolved oxygen 

downstream in the White River by about 1 mg/L. The 

effect was smaller farther downstream in the Puyallup 

River at river mile 5.8, but was still observable as a 

slight decrease in concentrations of dissolved oxygen 

caused by photosynthesis and respiration. The upper 

limit on oxygen demand caused by the scour of anoxic 

bed sediment and subsequent oxidation of reduced iron 

and manganese is less than 1 mg/L. The actual demand 

is probably negligible.

In August and September 2001, concentrations 

of dissolved oxygen in the lower Puyallup River did not 

fall below the water-quality standard of 8 mg/L, except 

at high tide when the saline water from 

Commencement Bay reached the monitor at river mile 

2.9. The minimum concentration of dissolved oxygen 

(7.6 mg/L) observed at river mile 2.9 coincided with 

the maximum value of specific conductance. Because 

the dissolved-oxygen standard for marine water is 6.0 

mg/L, the standard was not violated at river mile 2.9.

The concentration of dissolved oxygen at river 

mile 1.8 in the White River dropped below the waterquality standard on two occasions in August 2001. The 

minimum concentration of 7.8 mg/L occurred on 

August 23, and a concentration of 7.9 mg/L was 

recorded on August 13. Because there was some 

uncertainty in the monitoring record for those days, it 

cannot be stated with certainty that the actual 

concentration of dissolved oxygen in the river dropped 

below 8 mg/L. However, at other times when the 

quality of the monitoring record was good, 

concentrations as low as 8.2 mg/L were observed at 

river mile 1.8 in the White River.
References Cited 21

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American Public Health Association, American Water 

Works Association, and Water Environment Federation, 

1998, Standard methods for the examination of water 

and wastewater, 20th Edition: Washington, D.C., 

American Public Health Association, p. 4-129.

Ebbert, J.C., Bortleson, G.C., Fusté, 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. 

Hem, J.D., 1985, Study and interpretation of the chemical 

characteristics of natural water: U.S. Geological Survey 

Water-Supply Paper 2254, 263 p.

HDR Engineering, Inc., 2002, Water quality monitoring 

results: Lake Tapps Reservoir Water Right Technical 

Memorandum No. 19 dated March 19, 2002, 19 p. plus 

appendices.

Kimbrough, R.A., Smith, R.R., Ruppert, G.P., Wiggins, 

W.D., Knowles, S.M., and Renslow, V.F., 2001, Water 

resources data for Washington water year 2000: U.S. 

Geological Survey Water-Data Report WA-00-1, 541 p.

Kresch, D.L., and Prych, E.A., 1989, Streamflow statistics 

for streams on the Puyallup Indian Reservation, 

Washington: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources 

Investigations Report 87-4228, 43 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.

Pelletier, G.J., 1994, Addendum to the 1993 Puyallup River 

TMDL Report: Washington State Department of 

Ecology Memorandum dated July 22, 1994.

Pogue, T.R., Jr., and Anderson, C.W., 1995, Processes 

controlling dissolved oxygen in the Upper Willamette 

River Basin, Oregon, 1994: U.S. Geological Survey 

Water-Resources Investigations Report 95-4205, 71 p.

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.

Sikonia, W.G., 1990, Sediment transport in the lower 

Puyallup, White, and Carbon Rivers of Western 

Washington: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources 

Investigations Report 89-4112, 204 p.

U.S. Geological Survey, 2001, Water resources data for 

Washington, surface water, accessed October 2001, at 

URL 

http://wa.water.usgs.gov/realtime/waterdata.sw.html.

Washington State Administrative Code, 1997, Water quality 

standards for surface waters of the State of Washington, 

November 18, 1997, chapters 173-201A, 18 p.

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 URL 

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 URL 

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

uyallup/index.html. 

———2001a, Puyallup River TMDL Hydrolab data, 

accessed October 2001, at URL 

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

up_hydrolab/index.html.

——— 2001b, Six-year water quality data summary for 

station 10A070, accessed October 2001, at URL 

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/fw_riv/data/rv10

a070.html.

———2001c, Manchester Laboratory quality and 

performance, accessed October 2001, at URL 

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/manchester/melq

ual.htm.

———2001d, Summer 2001 sampling plan, accessed 

October 2001, at URL 

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

uyallup/index.html.

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. This report is 

available online at http://water.usgs.gov/owq/pubs.html.

Welch, E.B., 1992, Ecological effects of wastewater-Applied 

limnology and pollutant effects: London, Chapman and 

Hall, 425 p.
Tables 3 through 7
Tables 3 through 7 23

Table 3. Cross-section measurements of water temperature, specific conductance, pH, and concentrations of dissolved 

oxygen in the Puyallup River at river mile 2.9—Continued

Date Time

Distance 

from LB 

(feet) 

00009

Depth to 

bottom 

(feet) 

81903

Depth of 

sample 

(feet) 

00003

Water 

temperature (oC) 

00010

Specific 

Conductance 

(μS/cm) 

00095

pH 

(standard 

units) 

00400

DO 

(mg/L) 

00300

Remarks

8/22/01 12:25 5 5.4 1.1 12.8 106 7.3 10.6

8/22/01 12:26 5 5.4 3.8 12.8 104 7.2 10.3

8/22/01 12:27 33 5 1 12.7 100 7.2 10.7

8/22/01 12:28 33 5 3.5 12.7 97 7.2 10.4

8/22/01 12:29 49 4.8 1 12.7 97 7.2 10.6

8/22/01 12:30 49 4.8 3.5 12.7 99 7.2 10.4

8/22/01 12:31 66 4.8 1 12.8 89 7.2 10.7

8/22/01 12:32 66 4.8 3.5 12.7 91 7.2 10.4

8/22/01 12:33 82 4.5 1 12.8 87 7.2 10.6

8/22/01 12:34 82 4.5 3.5 12.7 87 7.2 10.6

8/22/01 12:35 118 4 1 12.8 86 7.2 10.6

8/22/01 12:36 118 4 2.8 12.7 86 7.2 10.3

8/22/01 12:37 148 3.5 0.7 13 86 7.2 10.7

8/22/01 12:38 148 3.5 2.5 12.8 86 7.2 10.6

8/22/01 12:39 164 3 0.6 12.9 87 7.2 10.5

8/22/01 12:40 164 3 2.1 12.8 86 7.2 10.4

8/22/01 12:45 1 1 0.5 12.8 108 7.2 10.7 adjacent to monitor

Barometric pressure 755 mm Hg

high tide 7:56

low tide 14:06

9/4/01 13:00 10 4 0.8 14.1 111 7.1 10.2

9/4/01 13:01 10 4 3.2 14 110 7.1 10.4

9/4/01 13:02 26 3.7 0.7 14.1 85 7.1 10.5

9/4/01 13:03 26 3.7 3 14.1 87 7.1 10.2

9/4/01 13:04 39 3.8 0.8 14.1 89 7.1 10.3

9/4/01 13:05 39 3.8 3 14.1 88 7.1 9.9

9/4/01 13:06 59 3.7 0.7 14.1 73 7.1 10.3

9/4/01 13:07 59 3.7 3 14.1 70 7.1 10.1

9/4/01 13:08 75 3.2 0.6 14.1 -- 7.1 10.1 Specific conductance 

reading erratic

9/4/01 13:09 75 3.2 2.6 14.1 -- 7.1 10.1 Specific conductance 

reading erratic

9/4/01 13:10 98 2.8 0.6 14.2 -- 7.1 10.2 Specific conductance 

reading erratic

Table 3. Cross-section measurements of water temperature, specific conductance, pH, and concentrations of 

dissolved oxygen in the Puyallup River at river mile 2.9

[Data collected at USGS station 12102102—Puyallup River above Clear Creek near Tacoma; parameter codes are indicated; Abbreviations: LB, 

left bank; oC, degrees Celsius; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter at 25 oC; DO, dissolved oxygen; mg/L, milligrams per liter; mm Hg, millimeters 

of mercury; --, no data]
24 Dissolved Oxygen in the Lower Puyallup and White Rivers, Washington, August and September 2000 and 2001

9/4/01 13:11 98 2.8 2.2 14.2 -- 7.1 10.2 Specific conductance 

reading erratic

9/4/01 13:12 114 2.3 0.5 14.3 70 7.1 10.2

9/4/01 13:13 114 2.3 1.8 14.3 66 7.1 10.6

9/4/01 13:14 137 2 0.4 14.3 71 7.1 10.2

9/4/01 13:15 137 2 1.6 14.3 77 7.1 10.2

9/4/01 13:16 157 1.7 1 14.3 73 7.1 9.9

9/4/01 13:17 173 1.8 1 14.4 72 7.1 9.8

Barometric pressure 762 mm Hg

high tide 6:18

low tide 12:44

9/17/01 12:09 2 4.2 0.8 12.7 89 7.3 10.5

9/17/01 12:10 2 4.2 3.4 12.6 89 7.2 10.2

9/17/01 12:12 10 4.6 0.9 12.6 86 7.2 10.4

9/17/01 12:13 10 4.6 3.7 12.6 86 7.2 10.3

9/17/01 12:15 20 4.4 0.9 12.6 82 7.2 10.4

9/17/01 12:16 20 4.4 3.5 12.6 81 7.1 10.4

9/17/01 12:18 35 4.4 0.9 12.6 77 7.1 10.4

9/17/01 12:19 35 4.4 3.5 12.7 78 7.1 10.3

9/17/01 12:20 55 4.5 0.9 12.7 75 7.1 10.4

9/17/01 12:21 55 4.5 3.6 12.7 75 7.1 10.3

9/17/01 12:22 68 4.4 0.9 12.7 74 7.1 10.4

9/17/01 12:23 68 4.4 3.5 12.7 74 7.1 10.4

9/17/01 12:25 94 4.1 0.8 12.7 73 7 10.5

9/17/01 12:26 94 4.1 3.3 12.7 73 7 10.5

9/17/01 12:27 120 3.6 0.7 12.7 73 7.1 10.6

9/17/01 12:28 120 3.6 2.9 12.7 73 7 10.4

9/17/01 12:29 140 3 0.6 12.7 73 7.1 10.5

9/17/01 12:30 140 3 2.4 12.8 73 7 10.4

9/17/01 12:31 163 2.8 0.6 12.8 73 7 10.6

9/17/01 12:32 163 2.8 2.2 12.8 74 7 10.4

Barometric pressure 766 mm Hg

high tide 4:59

low tide 11:30

Table 3. Cross-section measurements of water temperature, specific conductance, pH, and concentrations of dissolved 

oxygen in the Puyallup River at river mile 2.9—Continued

Date Time

Distance 

from LB 

(feet) 

00009

Depth to 

bottom 

(feet) 

81903

Depth of 

sample 

(feet) 

00003

Water 

temperature (oC) 

00010

Specific 

Conductance 

(μS/cm) 

00095

pH 

(standard 

units) 

00400

DO 

(mg/L) 

00300

Remarks
Tables 3 through 7 25

Table 4. Cross-section measurements of water temperature, specific conductance, pH, and concentrations of dissolved 

oxygen in the Puyallup River at river mile 5.8

[For historical reasons, the data are stored with USGS station 12101500—Puyallup River at Puyallup, which is at mile 6.6; measurements were made 

upstream from Milroy Bridge to avoid inflow from Clarks Creek; parameter codes are indicated; Specific conductance: much of the variation in specific 

conductance is likely due to instrument noise; Abbreviations: LB, left bank; oC, degrees Celsius; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter at 25 oC; DO, 

dissolved oxygen; mg/L, milligrams per liter; mm Hg, millimeters of mercury]

Date Time

Distance 

from LB 

(feet) 

00009

Depth to 

bottom 

(feet) 

81903

Depth of 

sample 

(feet) 

00003

Water 

temperature 

(

oC) 

00010

Specific 

Conductance 

(μS/cm) 

00095

pH 

(standard 

units) 

00400

DO 

(mg/L) 

00300

9/4/01 10:00 148 6 1.2 13.4 72 6.9 10.8

9/4/01 10:01 148 6 4.2 13.3 74 7 10.9

9/4/01 10:02 112 5.5 1.1 13.3 77 7.1 10.3

9/4/01 10:03 112 5.5 3.9 13.3 76 7.1 10.3

9/4/01 10:04 99 4 0.8 13.3 89 7.1 10.8

9/4/01 10:05 99 4 2.8 13.3 90 7.1 10.7

9/4/01 10:06 85 4.5 0.9 13.4 89 7.1 10.8

9/4/01 10:07 85 4.5 3.2 13.3 89 7.1 10.7

9/4/01 10:08 59 3.8 0.8 13.3 73 7.1 10.8

9/4/01 10:09 59 3.8 2.7 13.3 73 7.1 10.4

9/4/01 10:10 43 4 0.8 13.3 73 7.1 10.6

9/4/01 10:11 43 4 2.8 13.3 73 7.1 10.2

9/4/01 10:12 30 3 0.6 13.3 85 7.1 10.2

9/4/01 10:13 30 3 2.1 13.3 85 7.1 10.3

9/4/01 10:14 13 2.5 0.5 13.4 81 7.1 10.4

9/4/01 10:15 13 2.5 1.8 13.3 81 7.1 10.3

9/4/01 10:16 10 2.4 0.5 13.4 80 7.1 10.2

9/4/01 10:17 10 2.4 1.7 13.4 81 7.1 10.1

Barometric pressure 761 mm Hg
26 Dissolved Oxygen in the Lower Puyallup and White Rivers, Washington, August and September 2000 and 2001

Table 5. Cross-section measurements of water temperature, specific conductance, pH, and concentrations of dissolved 

oxygen in the White River at river mile 1.8

[This is USGS station 12101104—White River above Tacoma Avenue Bridge at Sumner; cross-section measurements were made from Tacoma Avenue 

Bridge; parameter codes are indicated; Distance from LB: 64 feet = right edge of water. Stopped at 55 to avoid seepage from storm drain; Specific 

conductance: Specific conductance readings were erratic during cross-section measurements. Specific conductance values shown represent readings from a 

troll of probe from left to right banks at a depth of 1 foot after completion of cross-sectional measurements; Abbreviations: LB, left bank; oC, degrees 

Celsius;μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter at 25 oC; DO, dissolved oxygen; mg/L, milligrams per liter; mm Hg, millimeters of mercury;]

Date Time

Distance 

from LB 

(feet) 

00009

Depth to 

bottom 

(feet) 

81903

Depth of 

sample 

(feet) 

00003

Water 

temperature 

(

oC) 

00010

Specific 

conductance

(μS/cm) 

00095

pH 

(standard 

units) 

00400

DO 

(mg/L) 

00300

9/5/01 9:55 5 2.9 1.8 13.1 92 7.3 10.1

9/5/01 9:54 10 3.7 0.7 13.1 92 7.3 10.1

9/5/01 9:53 10 3.7 3.0 13.1 7.3 10.1

9/5/01 9:52 15 4.3 0.9 13 92 7.3 10.1

9/5/01 9:51 15 4.3 3.4 13 7.3 10.1

9/5/01 9:50 20 4.4 0.9 13 92 7.3 10.1

9/5/01 9:49 20 4.4 3.5 13 7.3 10.1

9/5/01 9:48 25 4.6 0.9 13 92 7.3 10.1

9/5/01 9:47 25 4.6 3.7 13 7.3 10.1

9/5/01 9:46 30 5 1.0 13 92 7.3 10.2

9/5/01 9:45 30 5 4.0 13 7.3 10.1

9/5/01 9:44 35 5.3 1.1 13 92 7.3 10.1

9/5/01 9:43 35 5.3 4.2 13.1 7.3 10.2

9/5/01 9:42 40 5.9 1.2 13 92 7.3 10.2

9/5/01 9:41 40 5.9 4.7 13 7.3 10.1

9/5/01 9:40 45 6 1.2 13.1 92 7.3 10.2

9/5/01 9:39 45 6 4.8 13.1 7.3 10.2

9/5/01 9:38 50 5.9 1.2 13.1 92 7.3 10.4

9/5/01 9:37 50 5.9 4.7 13.1 7.3 10.3

9/5/01 9:36 55 6 1.2 13.1 92 7.3 10.4

9/5/01 9:35 55 6 4.8 13.1 7.2 10.4

Barometric pressure 762 mm Hg
Tables 3 through 7 27

Table 6. Hypothetical oxygen demand caused by instantaneous oxidation of 

all suspended and dissolved iron and manganese in water samples from the 

lower Puyallup River

[Iron: Concentrations in samples collected August and September 2001 (Washington State 

Department of Ecology, 2001a); Oxygen demand: Oxidation of one mole of iron from the +2 to +3 

oxidation state requires 0.25 mole of oxygen (Hem, 1985); oxidation of one mole of manganese 

from the +2 to the +4 oxidation state requires 0.5 mole of oxygen (Hem, 1985); Abbreviations:

μg/L, micrograms per liter; L, liter; μmole/L, micromoles per liter; mg/L, milligrams per liter;]

Iron, total recoverable in water Oxygen demand

(μg/L) (μmole/L) (μmole/L) (mg/L)

5,490 98.3 24.6 0.79

1,570 28.1 7.0 0.22

6,520 116.7 29.2 0.93

5,470 97.9 24.5 0.78

4,360 78.1 19.5 0.62

4,060 72.7 18.2 0.58

6,220 111.4 27.8 0.89

2,430 43.5 10.9 0.35

3,130 56.0 14.0 0.45

Minimum 0.22

Mean 0.62

Maximum 0.93

Manganese, total recoverable 

in water Oxygen demand

(μg/L) (μmole/L) (μmole/L) (mg/L)

121 2.20 1.10 0.035

63.9 1.16 0.58 0.019

127 2.31 1.16 0.037

107 1.95 0.97 0.031

81.9 1.49 0.75 0.024

82.4 1.50 0.75 0.024

110 2.00 1.00 0.032

110 2.00 1.00 0.032

52.2 0.95 0.48 0.015

69.1 1.26 0.63 0.020

Minimum 0.015

Mean 0.026

Maximum 0.037
28 Dissolved Oxygen in the Lower Puyallup and White Rivers, Washington, August and September 2000 and 2001

Table 7. Hypothetical oxygen demand caused by oxidation of anoxic bed sediment

[It is assumed that anoxic bed sediment is the sole source of suspended solids and that all iron associated with the suspended solids is oxidized; 

Total suspended solids: Concentrations in samples collected August and September 2001 (Washington State Department of Ecology, 2001a); Iron, 

total recoverable: Concentration groups represent minimum, mean, and maximum concentrations of iron in 10 bed sediment samples collected 

during August 2001 (Washington State Department of Ecology, 2001a); Iron, total suspended: Assuming that the concentration of iron associated 

with suspended solids equals the concentration in bed sediment; Oxygen demand: Oxidation of one mole of iron from the +2 to +3 oxidation state 

requires 0.25 mole of oxygen (Hem, 1985); Abbreviations: mg/kg, milligrams per kilogram dry weight; mg/L, milligrams per liter; mmole/L, 

millimole per liter]

Total suspended solids, 

in mg/L

Iron, total 

recoverable in 

bed sediment, 

in mg/kg

Iron, total 

suspended, in 

mg/L

Iron, total 

suspended, in 

mmole/L

Oxygen 

demand, in 

mmole/L

Oxygen 

demand, in 

mg/L

Minimum 207 5,830 1.21 0.022 0.005 0.17

Mean 359 5,830 2.09 0.037 0.009 0.30

Maximum 565 5,830 3.29 0.059 0.015 0.47

Minimum 207 7,480 1.55 0.028 0.007 0.22

Mean 359 7,480 2.69 0.048 0.012 0.38

Maximum 565 7,480 4.23 0.076 0.019 0.61

Minimum 207 8,940 1.85 0.033 0.008 0.27

Mean 359 8,940 3.21 0.057 0.014 0.46

Maximum 565 8,940 5.05 0.090 0.023 0.72

Mimimum 0.17

Mean 0.40

Maximum 0.72
Appendixes
30 Dissolved Oxygen in the Lower Puyallup and White Rivers, Washington, August and September 2000 and 2001

Station No. _____________________ Location____________________________________ Date_________________ 

Barometric pressure_________ Turbidity (visibility limit)_____________ Inspected by___________________ 

Step 1: Before retrieving the monitor, take readings with field meter & collect sample for Winkler DO titration on the hour or half-hour. 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: Retrieve the monitor and download data from the previous collection period. Inspect the data. The decision to recalibrate the monitor 

is somewhat subjective and is based on 1) how its readings compared with the field meter & Winkler, 2) its stability as observed in 

step 2, and 3) the data from the previous collection period (In general, DO in the Puyallup and White Rivers does not vary widely.) If 

in doubt, perform a calibration check. Name of file downloaded__________________________________ 

Step 4: Calibration check (perform if indicated by Step 3). 

Parameter Standard or Winkler DO Monitor Reading @ temperature, deg C 

Specific conductance 

Specific conductance 

pH 

pH 

Dissolved oxygen 

Step 5: Recalibrate if calibration check limits fall outside stability limits in Step 2. Always calibrate Specific Conductance first.

DO membrane replaced? ________, If yes, DO must be calibrated 24 hours from time of replacement. Time of replacement ________ 

Parameter Standard or Winkler Reading @ temp, deg C Monitor set to: Calibrated reading 

Specific cond. 

Specific cond. 

pH 

pH 

Dissolved Oxy 

Step 6: Create a new logging file and check file status to make sure it was created, re-deploy the monitor, and take instream readings with 

field meter & collect sample for Winkler DO titration on the hour or half-hour. The readings from the Hydrolab will be added to the 

table after the data are downloaded 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 _____________________ 

APPENDIX A. MONITOR INSPECTION AND CALIBRATION SHEET
Appendix B. Methods Used to Analyze Water and Sediment Samples 31

APPENDIX B. METHODS USED TO ANALYZE WATER AND SEDIMENT SAMPLES

[Abbreviations and symbols: mL, milliliter; NA, not applicable; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; mg/L, milligrams per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; oC, degrees Celsius; EPA, Environmental Protection Agency; APHA, American Public Health Association; poly, polyethylene; HDPE, high-density 

polyethylene; mg/kg, milligrams per kilogram; H2SO4, sulfuric acid; HNO3, nitric acid; <, less than]

Parameter Container 

type

Sample 

volume 

(mL)

Preservation Holding 

time

Analytical/field 

method

Detection 

limit/resolution

Specific conductance NA NA NA NA Electrode 1 μS/cm

Dissolved oxygen NA NA NA NA Titration 0.1 mg/L

pH NA NA NA NA Glass electrode 0.1 unit

Temperature NA NA NA NA Thermistor 0.1oC

Suspended solids poly 1,000 cool to <4oC 7 days Gravimetric (EPA 

160.2)

1 mg/L

Total phosphorus poly 125 adjust pH<2 w 

H2SO4 and cool 

to <4oC

28 days Persulfate digestion, 

ascorbic acid (EPA 

365.3/APHA 4500-

PF)

10 μg/L

Soluble reactive 

phosphorus

brown poly 125 filter in field and 

cool to <4oC

48 hours Ascorbic acid (EPA 

365.3/APHA 4500-

PF)

10 μg/L

Nitrate+nitrite-N poly 125 adjust pH<2 w 

H2SO4 and cool 

to <4oC

28 days Automated cadmium 

reduction (EPA 

353.2/APHA 4500-

NO3F

10 μg/L

Ammonia-N poly 125 adjust pH<2 w 

H2SO4 and cool 

to <4oC

28 days Automated phenate 

(EPA 350.1/APHA 

4500-NH3D

10 μg/L

Total nitrogen poly 125 adjust pH<2 w 

H2SO4 and cool 

to <4oC

28 days Persulfate digestion, 

cadmium reduction

25 μg/L

Biochemical oxygen 

demand

poly 2-L cool <4oC 48 hours EPA 405.1, APHA 

5210B

2 mg/L

Total organic carbon poly 50 cool <4oC 30 hours EPA 415.1 1 mg/L

Chlorophyll A amber poly 500 cool <4oC 30 hours Standard methods 

10200H(3)

0.5 μg/L

Iron, water HDPE 1,000 HNO3 to pH <2 28 days EPA 200.7 20 μg/L

Manganese, water HDPE 1,000 HNO3 to pH <2 28 days EPA 200.7 1 μg/L

Iron, sediment glass 50 grams cool <4oC 28 days EPA 200.7 2 mg/kg

Manganese, sediment glass 50 grams cool <4oC 28 days EPA 200.7 0.1 mg/kg
32 Dissolved Oxygen in the Lower Puyallup and White Rivers, Washington, August and September 2000 and 2001

APPENDIX C. SUMMARY OF DATA COLLECTED FOR THE PUGET 

SOUND ENERGY 2001 WATER QUALITY MONITORING PROGRAM. 

(DATA COLLECTED BY HDR ENGINEERING, INC.)

Monitoring element Sample dates Parameters Stations

1. Continuous monitoring August 22nd

through

October 16th

Temperature, pH,

dissolved oxygen,

conductivity

1. Tailrace canal

2. White River (river 

mile 4.9)

2. Sample collection 1. August 23

2. August 28

3. September 4

4. September 10

5. September 17

6. September 24

7. October 2

8. October 9

9. October 16

Dissolved oxygen,

temperature,

ammonia-N,

nitrate+nitrite-N,

total kjeldahl nitrogen,

total phosphorus,

soluble reactive phosphorus, 

total organic carbon, 

dissolved organic carbon

total biochemical oxygen 

demand (5-day)

dissolved biochemical oxygen 

demand (5-day)

chlorophyll a,

turbidity,

fecal coliform,

total suspended solids

1. Tailrace canal

2. White River (river 

mile 4.9)

3. Lake Tapps intake canal 

profiling

1. August 28

2. September 4

3. September 10

4. October 2

Temperature, pH, dissolved 

oxygen, conductivity

Sumner—Lake Tapps

Highway East Bridge
Concentrations of Dissolved Oxygen in the Lower Puyallup and White Rivers, Washington,

August and September 2000 and 2001

J.C. Ebbert USGS WRIR 02-4146

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