Quality of

Surface Waters in the

Lower Columbia River Baein

By J. F. SANTOS

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1784

A discussion of the chemical quality of 

streams tributary to the lower Columbia 

River basin and of the physical and 

sanitary quality of many of the streams; 

includes data on radioactivity of the 

main stem

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1965
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

STEWART L. UDALL, Secretary

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

Thomas B. Nolan, Director

The U.S. Geological Survey Library has cataloged this publication as follows :

Santos, John Francis 1921-

Quality of surface waters in the lower Columl ia River 

basin. Washington, U.S. Govt. Print. Off., 1965.

iv, 78 p. maps, diagrs., table. 24 cm. (U.S. Geological Survey. 

Water-supply paper 1784)

Bibliography: p. 72-73.

1. Water Analysis. 2. Water-supply Columbia River basin. I. 

Title. (Series)

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office 

Washington, D.C. 20402 - Price 30 cents (paper cover)
CONTENTS

Page

Abstract___ _____________________________________________________ 1

Introduction._ ______________________---_______________----_-_-__-- 2

Purpose and scope of investigation___________-____-_-_-_---__-- 2

Previous investigations.__-_______---______________-----_----_-- 2

Acknowledgments. ____________________________________________ 4

Description of lower Columbia River basin.__ ____________________ 5

Precipitation and runoff.________-___________-_____---___---___- 5

Expression of results.______________________-__-______--_---_._- 8

Streams tributary to the lower Columbia River_____-______--___-_--___ 9

Walla Walla River_________________________________________ 9

Umatilla River and Willow Creek-______________________________ 14

John Day River_______________________________________________ 19

Deschutes River.______________-_____-_-_-__-_-_-_--___--___- 23

Klickitat River__________________________-_-_-_---------__-_ 28

Mount Hood streams._-___-____-_-_-_________-____----_-__---- 30

Willamette River____________________________________________ 32

Lewis River_____-________-_______-----___---_-_-_-_--_----_- 44

Cowlitz River.________________________________________________ 46

Tributaries to the Columbia River below the Cowlitz River___-__--_ 49

Columbia River main stem_________________________________________ 50

Chemical quality____________________---_--_-_____--__-_--____- 51

Salinity of the tidal portion of the Columbia River________________ 56

Pollution. __________________________________________________ 57

Radioactivity _________________________________________________ 58

Water use.___________________________________________________ 61

Conclusions_ _ _---_-_______-_____________----_______--____-----__ 64

Selected references.._______________________________________________ 72

Index_ ___________________________________________________________ 75

ILLUSTRATIONS

Page 

FIGURE 1. Location of sampling stations in the lower Columbia River

basin_______________________________________________ 3

2. Water discharge of major streams in the lower Columbia River

basin. ____________________________________ 6

3. Mean annual discharge characteristics of selected streams in

the lower Columbia River basin______________________ 7

4. Chemical quality of water of the Walla Walla River near

Touchet, Wash_______________________________ 11

5. Relation of salinity to water discharge, Walla Walla River

near Touchet, Wash________________________________ 12

6. Chemical characteristics of water in Willow Creek, Oreg____ 16

7. Chemical characteristics of water in the Umatilla River and

Willow Creek, Oreg_________________________ 18
IV CONTENTS

Page 

FIGURE 8. Relation of hardness to water discharge, John Day River at

Service Creek, Oreg____________________.-_____________ 21

9. Chemical composition of water in the John Day River basin,

Oregon_ ____________________________________________ 22

10. Frequency distribution of dissolved solids, Deschutes RiTT er at

Moody, Oreg________________________________ 26

11. Chemical characteristics of water in the Klickitat River basin,

Washington________________________________________ 29

12. Relation of salinity to water discharge, McKenzie River at

McKenzie Bridge, Oreg.______________________________ 35

13-15. Frequency distribution, Willamette River at Salem, Oreg.:

13. Dissolved solids___________________________ 36

14. Temperature readings_____________________________ 37

15. Hardness________________________________________ 37

16. Annual salt load of the Willamette River at Salem, Ore2;____ 38

17. Comparison of cross-sectional variations in specific conductance in the Willamette River at Portland, Oreg______ 38

18. Cross-sectional variation in specific conductance in the

Willamette River at Portland, Oreg_____________________ 39

19. Chemical composition of water in the Willamette River basin,

Oregon._____________________________________________ 40

20. Bacterial contamination in the main stem of the Willamette

River, Oreg________________________________________ 43

21. Chemical composition of water during periods of different

discharge, Lewis River at Ariel, Wash___________________ 45

22. Chemical composition of water in the Cowlitz River basin,

Washington___ _____________________________________ 47

23. Dissolved solids transported by the Cowlitz River at Castle

Rock, Wash_______________..____________ 49

24. Annual salt load of the Columbia River near The Dalles,

Oreg__________________________________ 53

25-27. Frequency distribution, Columbia River near The Dalles, 

Oreg.:

25. Dissolved solids________________________________ 53

26. Temperature readings_________________-__--_--_-_- 54

27. Hardness________________________________ 54

28. Location of quality-of-water sampling points on the lower

Columbia River______________________________________ 55

29. Variation of radioactivity in the Columbia River___________ 60

TABLE

Page 

TABLE 1. Representative chemical analyses of water________________ 66
QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS IN THE LOWER 

COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN

By J. F. SANTOS

ABSTRACT

This report, made during 1959-60, provides reconnaissance data on the quality 

of waters in the lower Columbia River basin; information on present and future 

water problems in the basin; and data that can be employed both in water-use 

studies and in planning future industrial, municipal, and agricultural expansion 

within this area.

The lower Columbia River basin consists of approximately 46,000 square miles 

downstream from the confluence of the Snake and Columbia Rivers The region 

can be divided into three geographic areas. The first is the heavily forested, 

sparsely populated mountain regions in which quality of water in general is 

related to geologic and climatological factors. The second is a seiriarid plateau 

east of the Cascade Mountains; there differences in geology and precipitation, 

together with more intensive use of available water for irrigation, bring about 

marked differences in water quality. The third is the Willamette-Puget trough 

area in which are concentrated most of the industry and population and in which 

water quality is influenced by sewage and industrial waste disposal.

The majority of the streams in the lower Columbia River basin are calcium 

magnesium bicarbonate waters. In general, the rivers rising in the Coast Range 

and on the west slope of the Cascade Range contain less than 100 parts per million of dissolved solids, and hardness of the water is less than 50 parts per 

million. Headwater reaches of the streams on the east slope of the Cascade 

Range are similar to those on the west slope; but, downstream, irrigation return 

flows cause the dissolved-solids content and hardness to increase. Most of the 

waters, however, remain calcium magnesium bicarbonate in type. The highest 

observed dissolved-solids concentrations and also some changes in chemical composition occur in the streams draining the more arid parts of the area. In these 

parts, irrigation is chiefly responsible for increasing the dissolved-solids concentration and altering the chemical composition of the streams. C?he maximum 

dissolved-solids concentration and hardness of water observed in major irrigation areas were 507 and 262 parts per million, respectively, for the Walla Walla 

River near Touchet, Wash.

In terms of the U.S. Salinity Laboratory Staff classification (1954, p. 80), 

water in most streams in the basin has low salinity and sodium hazards and is 

suitable for irrigation. A salt-balance problem does exist in the HermistonStanfield, Oreg., area of the Umatilla River basin, and because of poor drainage, 

improper irrigation practices could cause salt-balance problems in fre Willamette 

River Valley, Oreg., in which irrigation is rapidly increasing.
2 SURFACE WATERS, LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN

Pollution by sewage disposal has reached undesirable levels in the Walla Walla 

River, in the Willamette River from Eugene to Portland, Oreg., and in the 

Columbia River from Portland to Puget Island. In the lower reaches of the 

Willamette River, the pollution load from sewage and industrial-waste disposal 

at times depletes the dissolved oxygen in the water to concentrations below what 

is considered necessary for aquatic life.

Water in most of the tributaries to the lower Columbia River is of excellent 

quality and after some treatment could be used for industrial and municipal 

supplies. The principal treatment required would be disinfection and turbidity 

removal.

INTRODUCTION

PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF INVESTIGATION

This investigation, made during 1959-60, provides reconnaissance 

data on the quality of waters in the lower Columbia River basin. 

These data show the general quality as it now exists, and they form 

the basis for more intensive local studies on problems that exist or 

that may arise in the future. In addition, the data can be employed 

both in water-use studies and as a guide in planning future industrial, 

municipal, and agricultural expansion in the basin.

The lower Columbia River basin is the drainage area downstream 

from the confluence of the Columbia and Snake Rivers, about 342 

miles from the ocean. Figure 1 is a map of the region slewing the 

location and frequency of quality-of-water sampling. The basin, for 

quality-of-water studies, can be divided into three areas. One is the 

heavily forested, sparsely populated mountain regions in which quality of water in general is related to geologic and climatologi0,al factors. 

The second is the semiarid plateau east of the Cascade Mountains; 

there differences in geology and precipitation, together with more intensive use of the available water for irrigation, bring about marked 

differences in water quality. The third is the Willamette-Puget 

trough area, in which are concentrated most of the industry and population and in which water quality is influenced by sewage and industrial-waste disposal.

PREVIOUS INVESTIGATIONS

The earliest investigation of chemical quality of water in the lower 

Columbia River basin was made by Van Winkle (1914 a, b), during 

the years 1910-12. Chemical-quality data for 15 of the major tributaries were reported. The following period of relative inactivity 

lasted until 1929, at which time a study of pollution in the Willamette 

River was made by Rogers and others (1930). Their report included 

sources and types of pollution and also included measurements of 

dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), B coli index,
INTRODUCTION
4 SURFACE WATERS, LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN

and total and dissolved solids. From 1929 to the present (1961), 

several studies were made of pollution in the Willamette River basin. 

These studies included those by Gleeson (1936), Dimick and Merryfield 

(1945), Merryfield and others (1947), Portland Department of Public 

Works (1949), and Oregon State Sanitary Authority (1950-53). Lincoln and Foster (1943) reported on pollution in the lower Columbia 

River from Bomieville to Puget Island. Jones and others (1951) also 

reported on an investigation of pollution in the lower Columbia 

River. In the summer of 1952 the U.S. Public Health Service (1953) 

made a water-quality study of Bonneville Reservoir. Thir study included radiological measurements of the water, of aquatic plants and 

animals, and of the bottom muds. In 1952 Robeck and others (1954) 

made a rather comprehensive study of water quality in the Columbia 

River from Hanford to Paterson. The principal purpose was to 

evaluate the effects of the low-level radioactive-waste disposal by the 

Atomic Energy Commission installation at Hanford. Burt (1956) 

summarized salinity data for the Columbia River estuary from 1935- 

55. Sylvester (1958) studied the water quality of the Columbia 

River and of many of its tributaries during the period 1954-56. His 

report presented a method for predicting future chemical quality 

of water in relation to irrigation, population, and industrial expansion. The latest reported work in the basin was the salinity study on 

the Columbia River made during 1959 by the U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers (1960). Salinity, velocity, tide stage, flow predominance, 

and composition of bed materials were determined.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Data for the Walla Walla, Lewis, and Cowlitz Rivers and for the 

Columbia River at McNary Dam were collected in cooperation with 

the Department of Conservation and the Pollution Contro1 Commission of the State of Washington. The Oregon State Sanitar^ Authority provided data on the Deschutes and Willamette Rivers. The 

Spokane office of the Bureau of Reclamation furnished additional 

data for the Walla Walla River basin. Data for 11 sampling points 

on the Columbia River were supplied by the Washington Pollution 

Control Commission from a program undertaken in cooperation with 

the Oregon State Sanitary Authority, Crown Zellerbach Corp., 

Columbia River Paper Co., Longview Fibre Co., and Weyerhaeuser 

Co.

The author is grateful for the helpful suggestions provided by Prof. 

Robert O. Sylvester, University of Washington, and Kenneth H. 

Spies, Deputy State Sanitary Engineer, Oregon State Sanitary 

Authority.
INTRODUCTION 5 

DESCRIPTION OF LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN

The lower Columbia Eiver basin, lying wholly within the States of 

Oregon and Washington, has a drainage area of approximately 

46,000 square miles (fig. 1). This region had an estimated population of 1,560,000 people in 1960 or 13 percent more than the population 

reported in the 1950 census. The major cities in the basin in Oregon 

are Portland, Salem, and Eugene; in Washington they are Walla 

Walla, Longview, and Vancouver. The lower Columbia Eiver is 

navigable from its mouth to Pasco, Wash. The U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers maintains a channel of 35 feet from the mouth to Portland, 

Oreg. Portland is the normal terminus for ocean-going vessels, and 

goods are carried by barge from Portland to Pasco.

The principal industries in the basin are lumber, agriculture, tourist 

trade, aluminum reduction, food processing, and pulp and paper. 

Economically, the basin can be divided into three regions The semiarid high plateau in the east is sparsely populated, and irrigated 

farming and cattle raising are the chief occupations. The Cascade 

Range region is heavily forested and provides much of th<5 timber for 

the lumber industry; also, extensive recreational use is made of this 

area. The third region is the Pacific border, in which most of the 

population is concentrated in the Willamette and Cowlitz River 

plains. This region contains the major part of industry, shipping, 

aluminum reduction, and food processing found in the bn,sin.

PRECIPITATION AND RUNOFF

From 1931 to 1955 the average precipitation in the lower Columbia 

River basin ranged from less than 8 inches in the region around 

Umatilla, Oreg., to more than 120 inches at many placer on the west 

slope of the Cascade Range. The normal movement of air masses in 

the basin is from west to east, and the Pacific Ocean provides the 

moisture. The warm moist air releases some of its moisture in passing over the mountains. Astoria, near the mouth of the Columbia 

River, has an average annual precipitation of 80 inches. After moving across the Coast Range, precipitation diminishes on the CowlitzWillamette River plains to a low of 35 inches at the Portland, Oreg., 

airport. The air masses rise again in crossing the Cascade Range, 

and large amounts of precipitation fall on the western slopes and 

summit areas of the range. East of the summit areas, precipitation 

diminishes rapidly and a "rain shadow" is formed behind the Cascades. This eastern area is a semiarid plateau. Along the eastern 

border of the basin, the Blue Mountains exert an orographic influence, 

and precipitation increases to more than 32 inches, most cf which falls 

as snow during the winter months. Most of the precipitation that
6 SURFACE WATERS, LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN

falls on the Coast Range and on the Cowlitz-Willamette River plains 

is in the form of rain, but snow is the predominate form at the higher 

elevations of the Cascade Range and on isolated volcanic peaks. 

Some of the heaviest snowfalls in the United States Inve been 

recorded in these mountains. On Mount Rainier, a years' snowfall 

of 1,000 inches was recorded at an elevation of 5,500 feet. Within 

the basin, elevations range from sea level to 14,408 feet above sea level 

on Mount Rainier. Many of the higher peaks have permanent 

glaciers that supplement streamflow during the dry summer months. 

Most of the Cascade Range is composed of permeable or partly permeable rock; so some of the snowmelt percolates into the ground and 

appears at lower elevations as springs.

The annual discharge of the Columbia River to the Pacific Ocean 

averages 197 million acre-feet (1943-57). Almost one-third of this 

amount is from the lower Columbia River basin (fig. 2). The 

Willamette, Cowlitz, Deschutes, and Lewis Rivers are the largest 

streams in the lower Columbia River basin. Figure 3 shows the

WASHINGTON P' N.

"i ', Drainage basin boundary

.^ ^ I

250,000 350000 

25 0 25 50 75 100 MILES

FIGURE 2. Water discharge of major streams in the lower Columbia River basin.
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8 SURFACE WATERS, LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER BASEST

discharge characteristics of selected streams in the brsin. The 

Umatilla and John Day Rivers show the discharge characteristics 

typical of streams in the eastern part of the basin; periods of highest 

flow occur in the spring. The Metolius River exhibits a very uniform discharge pattern because the flow is largely fron springs. 

Maximum monthly flows of the Columbia River at The Dalles, Oreg., 

occur during June owing to melting snow from the Rocky JRi fountains. 

At the mouth, the Columbia River has its maximum diFcharge in 

May or June. The flow pattern at the mouth is similar to that at 

The Dalles, except during the winter months. During the period 

November through March the diagram for the Columbia River at the 

mouth reveals the influence of the heavy rains during the winter 

in the basin west of the Cascade Range. The two graphs of the 

Cowlitz River show the difference in runoff that can take place in the 

same river basin. The elevation at Packwood, Wash., is 1,048 feet 

above mean sea level, and peak flows occur during May and June 

from melting snow in the Cascade Range. The diagram for the 

Cowlitz River downstream at Castle Rock, showing an elovation of 

20 feet above mean sea level, indicates a leveling effect where the 

winter rains, together with spring snowmelt, produce an 8 month 

period of high discharge. Youngs River near Astoria, Oreg., is about 

12 miles upstream from the mouth of the Columbia River, and it 

has its headwaters in the Coast Range where heavy winter rains 

produce high discharge from November to May. Periods of low 

flow throughout the lower Columbia River basin occur during the 

months of July to October.

EXPRESSION OF RESULTS

Concentrations of dissolved chemical constituents in water are 

commonly reported in units of parts per million (ppm). One part per 

million represents 1 milligram of solute in 1 kilogram of. solution. 

Parts per million do not relate combining weights of ions in solution, so at times it is more convenient to express chemical analyses in 

terms of chemical equivalence or equivalents per million (epm). This 

value is obtained by multiplying parts per million by the reciprocals 

of combining weights of the appropriate ions. For example, the 

sulfate anion SO4~2 has a molecular weight of 96.0616 and a valence 

of 2; therefore, since

-- 48.0808

^

and
WALLA WALLA KIVEK 9

the equivalents per million of sulf ate can be obtained by multiplying 

parts per million of sulf ate by the factor 0.02082.

STREAMS TRIBUTARY TO THE LOWER COLUMBIA

RIVER

WALLA WALLA RIVER

The Walla Walla Eiver and its principal tributary, the Touchet 

River, have their headwaters in the northern Blue Moutains in northeastern Oregon and southeastern Washington. The Blue Mountains 

in the Walla Walla River basin are composed mainly of th^ Columbia 

River Basalt of Miocene and Pliocene(?) age whereas the lower 

reaches of these streams drain sedimentary material of Pliocene and 

Pleistocene age. The basin has a drainage area of 1,660 square miles 

at Touchet and a 7-year average discharge of 440,900 acre-feet (1952- 

59). Mean annual precipitation ranges from more than 40 inches in 

the mountains to less than 10 inches at the mouth. The rolling hill 

country north of the Touchet River is dry-farmed for whQ,at, whereas 

the relatively flat area, roughly bounded by Milton-Freewater to the 

south and Walla Walla to the north, is irrigated. The irrigated lands 

produce peas, beans, beets, and various forage crops.

One daily chemical-quality sampling station was op?.rated until 

1962 on the Walla Walla River near Touchet in addition to a monthly 

station on the Touchet River at Dayton. For daily stations, daily 

samples are collected and specific conductance is determined on the 

individual samples. It is not economically feasible to run a chemical 

analysis on daily samples, so they are composited on an eiual-volume 

basis, chronologically, according to the similarity of their specific conductance. The chemical analysis is then made on th°, composite 

sample. For monthly samples, a 4-liter sample is collected and analyzed. In relating discharge to chemical quality of a daily sample, 

the average discharge for the composite period is used; for a monthly 

sample, the average discharge of the day of collection is used.

The Walla Walla River near Milton-Freewater was sampled on a 

monthly basis 3 miles downstream from the confluence of the North 

and South Forks. The water is a dilute calcium magnesium bicarbonate type. The analyses of water from the Walla Walk. River near 

Milton-Freewater show that the water to that point has a low dissolved-solids content. However, the dissolved-solids concentration 

increases downstream from Milton-Freewater because of return flows 

of irrigation water in the basin and because of the addition of spring 

flow in the alluvial fan of the Walla Walla River.

Fourteen chemical analyses of water from five springs in the alluvial 

fan showed that the spring water contains larger concentrations of
10 SURFACE WATERS, LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER BASTNT

dissolved solids than the water of the Walla Walla Eiver near MiltonFreewater (U.S. Bur. Reclamation unpublished records). The specific conductance of the spring water ranged from 91 to 558 rncromhos, 

and the hardness of the water ranged from 32 to 205 ppm. The chemical composition of water from the five springs was large^ calcium 

magnesium bicarbonate. From May to September 1950 the three 

springs in the inner spring zone (the area near the apex cf the alluvial fan) showed an increase in calcium and magnesium and little 

change in sodium and potassium; the two springs in the outer spring 

zone showed a decrease in calcium and magnesium and a corresponding increase in sodium and potassium during the same period. The 

explanation for this difference may be that in May all the spring water 

represents the characteristics of the natural recharge water received 

near the apex of the alluvial fan. Thus the inner and outer spring 

water is similar in chemical quality to the recharge water, but the 

outer spring water contains more dissolved solids because of longer 

contact time with the sedimentary material of the fan. However, 

owing to irrigation on the inner part of the alluvial fan during June 

to September, the outer springs represent the chemical characteristics 

of irrigation water that has percolated into the inner alluvial fan. 

The above explanation is based on a small amount of chemical-quality 

data from a few springs and it assumes that the alluvial fan has the 

classic geologic stratigraphy.

The greatest variation in dissolved-solids concentration in the basin 

was observed at the daily sampling station on the Walla Walla River 

near Touchet. Dissolved solids ranged from 94 to 507 ppm, and hardness of water from 34 to 262 ppm; the discharge weighted averages 

were 119 ppm and 52 ppm, respectively. The Walla Walla River 

transported 49,000 tons of dissolved solids past the sampling point 

near Touchet during the 1960 water year. The chemical composition 

of the water near Touchet remains reasonably uniform during periods 

of high and medium stages of discharge. At low flow, during the irrigation season, the chemical composition does change: there is a decrease in bicarbonate and an increase in sulfate and chloride. The 

cations are rather uniform during periods of varying discharge. 

Figure 4 is a trilinear plot of three selected samples to show the change 

in chemical composition for different discharges. The increased use 

of ground water to supplement surface supplies for irrigation may be 

the reason for the change in the anion composition of the water. Although the chemical composition of the water does not change appreciably, the dissolved-solids concentration does vary for different water 

discharges. Figure 5 is a plot of the relation of salinity (dissolved 

solids) to discharge.
WALLA WALLA RIVER 11

EXPLANATION 

97 ppm, high flow 

109 ppm,medium flow 

507 ppm, low flo'v

PERCF.NT OF TOTAL EQUIVALENTS PER MILLION

FIGURE 4. Chemical quality of dissolved-solids content of the Walla Walla 

River near Touchet, Wash., at high, medium, and. low flows. Dissolved 

solids, in parts per million, shown for points plotted.
12 SURFACE WATERS, LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER BASIT

LU

2000

1800

1600

1400

1200

o

CO

o 1000

800

600

400

200 \

100 200 300 400 500 

DISSOLVED SOLIDS, IN PARTS PER MILLION

600 700

FIGURE 5. Relation of salinity to water discharge, Walla Walla River near Touchet,

Wash., 1960.

The headwaters of the Touchet River are very dilute. Hardness 

ranged from 20 to 52 ppm during the year (1951) of monthly sampling 

on the East Fork near Dayton. The Touchet River becomes more 

concentrated as it flows downstream to the Walla Walla River, but the 

water remains mainly calcium magnesium bicarbonate in type. 

Monthly samples of the Touchet Eiver that were collected at Dayton 

ranged in dissolved-solids content from 66 to 86 ppm. Dissolved-solids
WALLA WALLA RIVER 13

data are not available for the East Fork Touchet River or for the 

Touchet River near Touchet. The chemical constituents that make up 

the dissolved solids vary somewhat during the year; thus, a correlation 

between specific conductance and dissolved solids was not definite 

enough to project the data for the Touchet River at Dp-yton to the 

East Fork and Touchet River near Touchet.

The cities of Walla Walla and Dayton divert surface water for 

municipal use from Mill Creek and from the East Fork Touchet 

River; however, the largest water use in the Walla Walla River basin 

is irrigation. About 37,000 acres is irrigated, and the net consumption 

was estimated by Simons (1953, p. 109) as 1.9 acre-feet pe^ acre. This 

means that approximately 70,000 acre-feet of water is consumed in 

the Walla Walla Valley during a year. The area is short of irrigation water in some years, and surface storage or ground-v^ater sources 

will have to be developed to fill the additional demand. The surface 

water of the basin is suitable for irrigation. According to the standards of the U.S. Salinity Laboratory Staff (1954, p. 80), the water 

may cause salt-balance problems where drainage is poor and leaching 

of residual salts is not consistently practiced; however, nc salt-balance 

problem currently exists.

The problem of pollution differs in intensity throughout the Walla 

Walla River basin. Bacterial pollution of the Walla Walla River near 

Touchet is variable but often reaches serious levels. Fc^ 11 samples 

collected near Touchet at approximately monthly intervals beginning 

in July 1959, the most probable number of coliform bacteria per 100 

milliliters (MPN) ranged from 430 to more than 15C 5000. These 

values exceed the limit for safe swimming, and the higher values 

represent a potential health hazard to fishermen. The Pollution Control Council of the Pacific Northwest Area (Bowering and others, 

1961, p. 19) recommends that water used for swimming should not 

exceed an MPN value of 240 and that water used for boating and fishing should not contain more than 1,000 MPN coliform organisms. 

The Touchet River at Dayton contains coliform organisms exceeding 

the acceptable limits for recreational use. The MPN of 10 of the 11 

monthly samples collected at Dayton exceeded 300; the maximum 

MPN" was 46,000. For both the Walla Walla and Touchet Rivers, the 

minimum dissolved-oxygen content observed was 7.4 p^rni, which is 

sufficient to maintain aquatic life. The higher levels of bacterial pollution in these streams makes the water unsuitable for many uses. Pollution may be a particular problem in Wallula Lake, which was formed 

on the lower Walla Walla River by the pool behind McNary Dam. 

This lake is a widely used recreational facility, and high levels of pollution may lead to undesirable effects.

728-248 64 2
14 SURFACE WATERS, LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN

Return flows of irrigation water are a form of pollution because of 

their dissolved-solids contribution to the streams. Of specific interest 

is the unusually large range in concentrations of ortho^hosphate 

(0.00 to 28 ppm) in the water of the Walla Walla Eiver. No exact 

breakdown can be made as to what amount of orthophosphate is contributed by sewage and what amount is contributed by irrigation return flow.

Concentrations of inorganic industrial wastes in streams of the 

Walla Walla Eiver basin probably are very low. Semianrual water 

samples collected at Walla Walla Eiver near Touchet and s-t Touchet 

Eiver near Dayton contained 0.00 ppm of arsenic and had maximum 

concentrations of 0.02 ppm and 0.05 ppm for hexavalent chromium 

and copper, respectively.

Surface water in the Walla Walla Eiver basin is generally suitable 

for most industrial purposes. In some areas, however, the water requires treatment for bacterial pollution 'and turbidity. Silica, color, 

hardness, and dissolved solids all exceed, at some time of the year, 

the recommended limits for these constituents. The Touchet Eiver 

is of better quality than the Walla Walla Kiver and is mor«« suitable 

for industry. Its water is soft and contains dissolved solids in concentrations of less than 100 ppm. Silica content of the vTater generally exceeds 25 ppm. At times there is not enough water to satisfy 

existing water rights for irrigation; therefore, any industry that 

consumes water in manufacturing a product would have to obtain 

an existing water right in the Walla Walla Kiver basin.

UMATILLA RIVER AND WILLOW CREEK

The Umatilla River rises on the western slope of the Blue Mountains 

in northeastern Oregon and flows in a westerly direction to Pendleton, 

where it makes a gentle curve toward the north before discharging 

into the Columbia River at Umatilla. Precipitation in the basin 

ranges from less than 8 inches near the mouth to more than 30 inches 

in the mountains. The Umatilla area is the most arid p?-rt of the 

lower Columbia River basin, and the Umatilla River and its tributaries 

supply the irrigation water necessary for growing crops. The 

upper reaches of the basin are underlain by a series of basalt flows 

of Miocene age, and the tops of some of the flows are fairly permeable. 

Snowmelt and rain percolate into these permeable zones an d emerge 

as springs where the flows have been dissected by streams. The 

springs (ground-water inflow) are responsible for most of the dryseason flow in the Umatilla River. The lower reach of the Umatilla 

River is principally in glacio-fluviatile deposits of Pleistocene age. 

Willow Creek is included with the Umatilla River basin because the 

geology and climate of the basins are similar.
UMATILLA RIVER AND WILLOW CREEK 15

Nine sites were sampled in the Umatilla River and V^illow Creek 

basins during periods of high, medium, and low flow. Analyses for 

samples collected at seven points in the Umatilla River basin during 

high-, medium-, and low-flow periods are given in tal le 1. These 

samples show that during high and medium flows the dirsolved-solids 

content and hardness are small and that the water is a calcium magnesium bicarbonate type. The maximum observed dirsolved-solids 

content and hardness of water in samples collected from the Umatilla 

River at Umatilla for these flow periods were 112 and 51 ppm, respectively. During low flows in the summer and fall months, the concentration and character of the water change because of two factors 

spring flow and irrigation return flow. Most of the low-water flow is 

diverted for irrigation, and the small amount of "natural" flow in the 

streams stems from spring flow, which is more highly miii eralized than 

normal surface runoff. This spring flow to the stream channels is 

supplemented by irrigation return flow, which often contains appreciable amounts of dissolved minerals. Thus, these two sources of low 

water flow produce increased mineralization and a change in chemical 

character of the surface water; although calcium bicarbonate usually 

still predominates, sodium and magnesium are increased and their 

combined concentrations often are almost equivalent to the calcium 

concentration. The increase in dissolved-solids content, is not excessive. The maximum dissolved-solids content observed for the Umatilla River was 281 ppm at Umatilla; the maximum observed for a 

tributary stream was 304 ppm for Birch Creek at Rieth.

Surface water in the Willow Creek basin has a larger dissolvedsolids concentration than does surface water in the Umatilla River 

basin, but the samples of water collected in both basins were primarily 

a calcium magnesium bicarbonate type. Figure 6 shows a plot of the 

samples taken in the Willow Creek basin. Samples 129,155, and 389 

were taken at Heppner, and only about 500 acres is irrigated above this 

point; samples 129 and 155, the high- and medium-flow samples, plot 

in the same area in figure 6, whereas number 389 is the low-flow sample 

and shows a decided increase in percent sodium and salinity. Samples 

205, 265, and 479 are high-, medium-, and low-flow samples, respectively, that were collected downstream at Heppner Junction which is 

beyond the irrigated lands. These samples show a further increase 

in percent sodium. The low-flow samples show a small deviation in 

equivalents of anions, and they show a 15 percent increase in equivalents per million of sodium and a corresponding decrease in equivalents 

of calcium and magnesium. The character of the water thus changes 

from a calcium magnesium bicarbonate type to one in which sodium 

and bicarbonate are the principal constituents. Even the high- and
16 SURFACE WATERS, LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER BASIF

EXPLANATION

O At Heppner

D At Heppner Junction

PERCENT OF TOTAL EQUIVALENTS PER MILLION

FIGDKE 6. Chemical characteristics of water in Willow Creek, Oreg. 

Dissolved solids, in parts per million, shown for points plotted.
UMATILLA RIVER AND WILLOW CREEK 17

medium-flow samples show this trend; although the character of water 

in the upper part of the Willow Creek basin is similar to that in the 

Umatilla Kiver basin, the character of water in the lower area of 

the Willow Creek basin below Heppner is different. The trilinear 

diagram of the high- and medium-flow samples for the Umatilla 

Eiver and Willow Creek basins (fig. 7") illustrates the similarity of 

these waters during the season of no irrigation.

Irrigation is the largest consumptive use of water in the Umatilla 

River basin. Simons (1953, p. 110) estimated that during the period 

1921-45 about 23.2 percent of the average annual basin yield was consumed in applications to the 45,000 acres under irrigation in the 

basin. Water for irrigation is provided by McKay Reservoir on 

McKay Creek near Pendleton and by Cold Springs Reservoir east 

of Hermiston; their capacities are 73,830 acre-feet and 44,668 acre-feet, 

respectively. The Cold Springs Reservoir is not in the Umatilla River 

basin, but water from the Umatilla River is diverted during the high 

runoff period to fill the reservoir. Most of this water is used to irrigate lands in the lower Umatilla River basin, but a smell amount is 

diverted to irrigate the benchlands of the Columbia River to the east.

The quality of water for irrigation in the Umatilla River basin can 

be classified as good. In terms of the standards of the U.S. Salinity 

Laboratory Staff (1954, p. 80), water of Birch Creek near Rieth has a 

low sodium hazard and a medium salinity hazard during summer flows. 

The water at the other six sampling points has both low sodium and 

low salinity hazards. Even though the water in the basin is of good 

quality for irrigation, high ground-water levels caused salt-balance 

problems in the Henniston-Stanfield area. A detailed study of the 

hydrology, geology, drainage network, soils, and irrigation practices 

should be made to find a solution to this problem.

In terms of the classification of the U.S. Salinity Laboratory Staff 

(1954, p. 80), the water at the mouth of Willow Creek is a lowsodium, high-salinity water that can be used where drainage is good 

and the soil is not tight. The soils in the Umatilla area are generally 

permeable, but any increase in upstream irrigation would probably 

increase salinity and thereby increase the hazard to the downstream 

user. At present (1961), the stream is used to irrigate less than 4,000 

acres, which is about 60 percent of the water rights existing in the 

basin. During the summer months, the flow in Willow Creek is often 

less than 0.5 cfs (cubic feet per second), and upstream storage would 

be necessary to provide more water for this period of low flow. A 

dam has been proposed for the Willow Creek basin to provide adequate amounts of water for present water rights and to provide some 

flood control.
18 SURFACE WATERS, LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER BASEST

All high-and medium-flow 

samples plot within this area

PERCENT OF TOTAL EQUIVALENTS PER MILLION

FIGURE 7. Chemical characteristics of water in the Umatilla River and 

Willow Creek, Oreg., during high and medium flow.
JOHN DAY RIVER 19

Many of the tributaries are used for trout fishing, and the lake impoundments are areas of boating activity. The lower reaches of the 

Umatilla Eiver and Willow Creek do not support game fish because 

of low flow and high temperatures during the summer months.

JOHN DAY RIVER

The John Day River heads in the Blue Mountains, whop^ maximum 

elevations exceed 8,000 feet, and flows in a westerly direction to the 

western edge of Wheeler County; it then changes its courre to almost 

due north and finally discharges into the Columbia Eiver about 6 miles 

northeast of Rufus, Oreg. The drainage area at McDonald Ferry 

is approximately 7,580 square miles and it has a 54-y^ar average 

discharge (1905-59) of 1,463,000 acre-feet per year (fig. 2).

The John Day River drainage is geologically one of th^ most complex areas in the lower Columbia River basin. The main stem heads 

in younger volcanic rocks and interbedded tuffaceous deposits of 

Pliocene age, intrusive granitic rocks of Late Jurassic or Early Cretaceous age, and low-grade metamorphic rocks of Carboniferous age. 

It then traverses the Columbia River Basalt of Miocene s.nd possibly 

early Pliocene age. In places, it has cut through this formation to 

expose tuffs and other pyroclastic deposits of Oligocene age. The 

South Fork heads in lime silicate rocks of Jurassic and Triassic age 

and then flows over the Columbia River Basalt. Tributaries to the 

South Fork drain the lavas and tuffs of Eocene age and younger lavas 

of Pliocene age. The lower John Dav River drains some limestone C2 «/

shale and conglomerate of Cretaceous age, lavas and tuffs of Eocene 

age, tuffs of Oligocene age, Columbia River Basalt, and alluvium of 

Recent age.

Table 1 lists chemical analyses of samples collected for high, low, 

and medium flows at three reconnaissance locations and also lists an 

analysis of a spot sample from Rock Creek. In addition, a monthly 

sampling station was located on the John Day River r^ar Service 

Creek, Oreg. Examination of the 13 analyses for the John Day basin 

shows that the waters are a calcium magnesium bicarbonate type. The 

combined equivalents per million of calcium and magnesium ranged 

from 68 to 83 percent of the total equivalents per millior of cations; 

the equivalents per million of bicarbonate only varied 30 percent 

from a low of 84 percent to a high of 94 percent. The ratio of calcium 

to magnesium is not consistant but varies with discharge.

The North Fork of the John Day River above Dale, C^g., drains 

an area of 525 square miles. Although this area is only about 7 percent 

of the John Day River basin, it contributes about 20 percent of the 

total basin discharge. The analyses in table 1 show that the water of
20 SURFACE WATERS, LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER BASEST

the North Fork is a dilute calcium magnesium bicarbonate type which 

results from the geology of the drainage basin, for man's influence on 

the quality of water in the upper basin is negligible. The North Fork 

drains older metamorphosed rocks that contain some limestone and 

argillite, which would account for the calcium magnesium bicarbonate 

water. However, the maximum hardness of the three samples collected at varying flows near Dale was only 48 ppm, and the maximum 

dissolved-solids content was 73 ppm.

The quality of water in samples collected from the John Day Eiver 

at Picture Gorge near Dayville is similar to the quality of that in the 

upper John Day and the South Fork John Day Rivers. TH water is 

principally a calcium magnesium type whose sodium content is higher 

during the summer and fall months than during the white**; the dissolved-solids content of the John Day River is about four times that 

of the North Fork. Most of this increase in dissolved solids can be 

attributed to the irrigation return flows from the large irrigated area 

immediately above the sampling station. The area adjacent to the 

river contains the largest part of the irrigated acreage in the John 

Day basin. The irrigation flows largely return to the river by infiltration and percolation to the ground water table and by subsequent 

flow into the stream from the alluvium. The observed extremes in 

dissolved-solids content at this sampling point were 165 and 286 ppm.

At Service Creek, Oreg., about 20 miles downstream from the confluence of the North Fork and the Upper John Day Rivers, the drainage area is 67 percent of the total area but produces mor^ than 90 

percent of the runoff in the basin. The analyses for the John Day 

River at Service Creek show the water to have a smaller dissolvedsolids content than the water at Picture Gorge. This dilution is 

brought about by the entry of the North Fork, which has a low dissolved-solids content, between the two sampling points; also, the average flow of the North Fork is almost three times the average flow of 

the John Day River at their confluence. Figure 8 shows the- variation 

in hardness of water for the John Day River at Service C~eek by a 

plot of hardness, as parts per million of calcium carbonate, versus discharge, as cubic feet per second, for the day the sample was collected. 

Hardness of water of 13 samples taken at approximately monthly 

intervals ranged from 49 to 124 ppm. The dissolved-solids content 

of these samples ranged from 49 to 183 ppm. Streamflow at Service 

Creek during the 1959 water year was only 82 percent of tH 54-year 

average; thus, the maximum and minimum data are higher than 

normally would be expected.

At McDonald Ferry, approximately 20 miles upstream from the 

mouth of John Day River, reconnaissance samples of water indicated
JOHN DAY RIVER 21

4-

.Water discharge

Samples collected about once a month

130

120

110

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

FIGUEB 8. Relation of hardness to water discharge, John Day River at Service Creek,

Oreg., water year 1959.

that except for a small increase in dissolved-solids content, the quality 

of the water is not appreciably different from the quality of water at 

Service Creek. The water in the basin is principally a calcium magnesium bicarbonate type, that shows an increase in its sodium content 

during the summer and fall months. Figure 9 shows the chemical 

composition of the basin waters during the low-flow period.

Increased use of water in the John Day Eiver basin wo^ild probably 

depend on construction of dams in the higher elevations of the headwater forks. The basin has no major dams at the present time (1961). 

Some timber in the Blue Mountains is suitable for manufacture of 

pulp, paper, and fiberboard; however, utilization is mainly as saw 

timber. Chemical analyses of water in the North Fork of the John 

Day River near Dale indicate that the water would probaWy be suitable
22 SURFACE WATERS, LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN

Q a)

_c >

r Lr

Q ^

-5 £

Q

FIGURE 9. Chemical composition of water in the John Day River brsin, Oregon, 

during period of low flow.

for most paper industries, except the manufacture of fine paper. The 

water would require turbidity and color removal to meet the standards 

for this process. The balance of the examined waters in this basin 

would require additional treatment before use by any of the above 

industries.

John Day River water in general is suitable for irrigation of most 

crops and soils. The salinity hazard of the water ranges from low 

to medium (U.S. Salinity Laboratory Staff, 1954, p. 80), and the 

water in general can be used without special practices for controlling 

salinity and the low-sodium hazard. Simons (1953, p. 114) estimated 

that 6 percent of the basin yield is consumed by irrigation.

Recreational use of the John Day River is chiefly fishing, and it is 

confined principally to the upper reaches of the various tributaries.

Cities in the basin obtained their water supplies from springs and 

(or) wells. If developed for public consumption, many of th^ surfacewater supplies in the basin would require softening and, at times, removal of turbidity.
SURFACE WATERS, LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN 23 

DESCHUTES RIVER

The Deschutes River and the majority of its tributaries rise on the 

eastern slopes of the Cascade Range. The major tributary from the 

east is the Crooked River, which has its headwaters in the Ochoco 

Mountains. Precipitation ranges from 9 inches in the Redmond area 

to more than 70 inches in the summit area of the Cascades. The 

Deschutes River at Moody drains about 10,500 square miles and has 

a 55-year (1897, 1906-59) average discharge of 4,248,000 acre-feet.

The Cascade Range consists mainly of volcanic rocks of Miocene to 

Recent age. Continental deposits and associated volcanic rocks of 

Eocene, Oligocene, and Pliocene age constitute a part of the western 

part of the Deschutes River basin and much of the Crooked River 

basin. Cretaceous marine deposits also are exposed in the upper 

Crooked River basin.

Table 1 gives the chemical analyses of the reconnaissance samples of 

water taken in the Deschutes River basin. The dissolved-solids 

content is small in streams originating in the Cascade Range because 

hard, slightly soluble volcanic rocks compose the range. Downstream 

from Wickiup Reservoir in the upper basin, the maximum observed 

dissolved-solids content of the Deschutes River water y^as 53 ppm. 

The Cascade Range streams have calcium magnesium bicarbonate 

water. There is a moderate increase in salinity from the headwaters 

to a point below Bend, Oreg. At Tumalo, for 12 monthly samples, 

the average dissolved-solids content was 78 ppm; the maximum was 

146 ppm. This increase probably was caused by irrigation return 

flow from the large irrigation project upstream and down stream from 

Bend. The maximum observed concentration of dissolved solids at 

Tumalo occurred during the winter months; this delay indicates that 

part of the irrigation return flow may be via ground-water "channels." Downstream from Tumalo, the dissolved-solids content of the 

water decreases somewhat; at Cline Falls, for 12 monthly samples, 

the average was 68 ppm and the maximum was 95 ppm. The decrease 

may be due to the inflow of ground water above Cline Ftflls.

The volcanic formations in the Bend-Tumalo area s,re generally 

very permeable, and the basalt flows in many places contain subterranean tunnels and caverns. A sizeable volume of ground water 

moves through these materials. Just above Cline Falls the John Day 

Formation forms a barrier to the movement of ground water. This 

formation is composed principally of bentonitic tuffs that are late 

Oligocene and early Miocene in age. The ground-water inflow to 

the river at this point is presumed to be partly Deschutee River water 

that infiltrates the very permeable volcanic materials in the Lava 

Butte region about 20 miles upstream. Downstrean, at Lower
24 SURFACE WATERS, LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER BASI>T

Bridge, the Deschutes River increases slightly in salinity to the 

sampling point near Culver. The average dissolved-solids content of 

12 monthly samples collected near Culver was 108 ppm, and the maximum was 164 ppm.

The Crooked River joins the Deschutes River 2y2 miles downstream 

from the sampling point at the Cove State Park. Most of tl ^ streams 

in the Crooked River basin have a much higher dissolved-solids content than do the streams in the Deschutes River basin. The difference 

can be attributed to the generally semiarid nature of much of the 

Crooked River basin and the more soluble metamorphic rocks and 

sedimentary materials in the basin. Samples were collected at high, 

medium, and low flows from the Crooked River above Prineville 

(above the Crooked River damsite). The dissolved-solids content of 

these samples ranged from 119 to 322 ppm. The medium- and lowflow samples were principally sodium bicarbonate type water. At 

high flows calcium exceeds the sodium concentration. However, the 

Crooked River's dissolved-solids content is greatly diluted by inflow 

from springs in the 15-mile reach above the river's mouth. This 

ground-water inflow amounts to almost two-thirds of the average 

flow of the river. The springs flow from the basalt formations, into 

which the Crooked River has cut a deep canyon. Part of the spring 

flow, at least, is produced by the damming effect of the John Day 

Formation on the ground-water flow; this occurrence is similar to that 

in the Deschutes River above Cline Falls (p. 23).

The Bureau of Reclamation has constructed a dam on the Crooked 

River, and irrigation agriculture will greatly increase in the Prineville area. Drainage water from this project will probabl7 increase 

the mineralization in the Crooked River.

The Crooked River transports large quantities of susperded sediments, especially during periods of high runoff. During such periods 

these sediments and associated turbidity are evident in the Deschutes 

River from its confluence with the Crooked River to its mouth. However, the Portland General Electric Co. has obtained a license to 

build a dam on the Deschutes River at the Round Butte site, just 

downstream from the mouth of the Metolius River. The reservoir 

behind this dam would impound water above the mouth of the 

Crooked River. This proposed dam on the Deschutes Rive^ and the 

Prineville Dam on the Crooked River, together with the existing 

Pelton Dam on the Deschutes River, probably would trap most of 

the suspended sediment and remove much of the turbidity of the 

three rivers.

The chemical quality of the Metolius River at Camp SHrman is 

representative of the dilute calcium bicarbonate type water that issues
DESCHUTES RIVER 25

from the many springs that form this river. The dissolved-solids 

content normally ranges from 65 to 85 ppm. However, during some 

summer months it has exceeded 160 ppm; the major increase has been 

in the calcium and bicarbonate concentrations. The rea,son for this 

increase has not been clearly determined; it may be attributable to 

the small amount of irrigation in this headwaters area, the summer 

homes and recreational usage of the area, the natural variations, or 

a combination of all three.

The Deschutes River from its confluence with the Metolius River 

to its mouth receives surface inflow of low salinity from streams draining eastward from the Cascade Range. In addition to tl Q, rivers and 

creeks, numerous springs contribute water to the Deschutes River. 

Chemical-quality data for much of this inflow are not available, but 

because there is a progressive reduction in dissolved-solids content 

of the river water from the confluence with the Metolius River to the 

mouth of the Deschutes River near Moody, Oreg., the dissolved-solids 

content of this inflow must be less than that of the receiving stream.

From December 1952 to February 1954, samples W3re collected 

daily from the Deschutes River 0.9 mile upstream from its mouth. 

The dissolved-solids content of the river for this period ranged from 

86 to 105 ppm. Figure 10 is a frequency distribution graph of dissolved solids for the Deschutes River at Moody, Oreg. This graph is 

based on 38 composite samples for the above period. £'ome caution 

is necessary in making use of the graph because the discharge of the 

Deschutes River for this period ranged from 131 to 133 percent of 

the 54-year average. The relationship between dissolved-solids content and discharge is not well defined for this stream. Although 

periods of low flow show both high and low dissolved-solids contents, 

periods of above-average discharge show the highest content. The 

relationship between specific conductance and discharge was less uniform than that between dissolved-solids content and discharge. The 

reason may be that tributaries from the Cascade Rang?, are usually 

spring flow and snowmelt runoff that are low in dissolved-solids content because they are from areas of slightly soluble rocks. Fluctuation in the dissolved-solids content of the Deschutes River is a function of the discharge of the Crooked River; in general, the Crooked 

River carries a more highly mineralized water than streams in the rest 

of the basin.

Pollution is not a serious problem in the Deschutes River basin. 

The maximum coliform value observed at nine monthly sampling 

stations on the Deschutes River during 1958-59 was 700 MPK This 

concentration occurred in a sample taken immediately downstream 

from Bend, Oreg. The median value for 12 monthly samples taken
26 SURFACE WATERS, LOWER COLUMBIA EIVER BASIN

NomiiAi siavd NI 'sanos a3Aiossia
DESCHUTES RIVER 27

at this sampling station was 62 MPN. Most of the higher MPN 

values observed in the Deschutes River were for the sampling station 

downstream from Bend. However, water pollution throughout the 

Deschutes River basin, as indicated by MPN coliform values, is 

generally low. Dissolved-oxygen content at the above stations ranged 

from 8.6 to 13.3 ppm, which is well above the minimum level considered necessary for aquatic life. Five-day biological oxygen 

demand was less than 4 ppm.

Low levels of pollution are of special significance in the RedmondBend-Sisters area, in which water with little or no treatment is 

diverted from irrigation canals for domestic use. Water diversion is 

a year-round practice because of the high cost of developing wells in 

the area. The many streams, lakes, and reservoirs in th°< Deschutes 

River basin provide great opportunity for water-based recreation. 

The almost uniform low level of pollution is a great asset for water 

sports, and recreational activities are a major economic benefit in the 

basin.

At the present time (1961), there are no large industries in the Deschutes River basin, and the problems of industrial waste disposal are 

practically nil. However, timber suitable for industrial processing 

is available on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Range; and the water 

in the basin, through some treatment, could be made suitable for pulp 

and paper manufacture. At many of the sampling points, silica content exceeds the specified limit for water used in making soda pulp 

and fine paper. Minor treatment probably would make the water 

suitable for unbleached kraft (sulfate) paper manufacture, however.

In any industrial utilization of the surface water, tre^.tment may 

be required to remove algae that are present in the water of some 

streams in the Deschutes River basin. In August 1960 the author 

observed large concentrations of algae in the Little Deschutes River 

near Lapine and in the Deschutes River from Wickiup Reservoir 

downstream to Bend. The quantity and identity of the algae were 

not determined. Additional information about their relationship to 

a particular industry would be needed to determine the smtability of 

the water.

More than 140,000 acres of land is irrigated in the Deschutes River 

basin; and, according to Simons (1953, p. 116), the basin yield of 

water is reduced a little more than 5 percent by irrigatior. The land 

suitable for irrigation is composed of permeable soils, and no saltbalance problem is known to exist in the basin. The high permeability of the lava and pumice that underlie the soil at shallow depths 

requires lined irrigation canals where the canals cross such soils; where 

these canals are not lined, conveyance losses are high.
28 SURFACE WATERS, LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN

Surface water in the basin generally is suitable for irrigation. In 

terms of the U.S. Salinity Laboratory Staff (1954, p. 80) rating system, the water has a medium salinity hazard and a low sodium hazard.

KLICKITAT RIVER

The Klickitat River rises on the eastern slope of the Cascade Range, 

and it has major tributaries on Mount Adams. White Cre^k and the 

Little Klickitat River are the major tributaries from the east. The 

drainage area at Pitt, 7 miles upstream from the mouth of the river, 

is 1,290 square miles and has a 33-year (1909-11, 1928-59) average 

runoff of 1,155,000 acre-feet.

Water from the Klickitat River basin is a dilute calcium magnesium 

bicarbonate type (table 1). In general, the water contains a greater 

percentage of these constituents than the nearby Cowlitz and Lewis 

Rivers.

The Klickitat River drains primarily volcanic rocks of Miocene, 

Pliocene, Pleistocene, and Recent age. These rocks are r-^sistant to 

solution. At Pitt the dissolved-solids content of 14 samples collected 

at monthly intervals ranged from 50 to 85 ppm, and the hardness 

ranged from 20 to 32 ppm. Samples collected at high, low, and 

medium flow of the Klickitat River at Glenwood show th^ chemical 

quality of the water emerging from the forested mountains, on which 

the only activity of man is logging. The water is low in dissolvedsolids content and is soft; therefore, it is suitable for most purposes. 

Water from Hellroaring Creek, a tributary above Glenwood, is diverted to irrigate about 7,000 acres in a broad valley below Glenwood. 

Comparison of the samples of water from the Klickitat River at 

Glenwood with the samples collected at Pitt show no significant alteration in chemical quality that could be attributed to irrigation return 

flows. The samples collected from the Little Klickitat River near 

Wahkiacus during high, low, and medium flow had higher dissolvedsolids contents than did samples from the other two sampling stations 

in the Klickitat River basin. Dissolved-solids content ranged from 

68 to 98 ppm. Continental sedimentary materials of Pleistocene age 

in this subbasin could be responsible for the higher dissolved-solids 

contents. Small diversions are made in the Little Klickitat River 

above Wahkiacus for irrigating forage crops, but irrigation in this 

part of the basin is not extensive enough to cause large seasonal variations in chemical quality. Figure 11 is a trilinear plot of th°, chemical 

characteristics of the 19 samples collected in the Klickitat River basin; 

the figure shows the small amount of chemical-composition variation 

observed in the basin. A study of both Van Winkle's (1914a, p. 79) 

data for this stream and the present data was made to s^e if some
KLICKITAT RIVER 29

All analyses plot within this area

PERCENT OF TOTAL EQUIVALENTS PER MILLION

FIGURE 11.; Chemical characteristics of water in the Klickitat River basin,

Washington.

728-248 64-
30 SURFACE WATERS, LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN

significant change in quality had occurred during this long period 

of time. Comparison of the two sets of data was not feasible because 

the earlier study composited time-weighted samples and the recent 

samples were collected once monthly.

The KLickitat Biver and most of its tributaries flow through rugged, 

steep-walled canyons that are unsuitable as industrial sites. Powersites are present in the Klickitat Eiver basin; however, no dams have 

been constructed or are proposed for construction at this time (1961). 

Water use in the basin will remain about the same as it is now unless 

there is industrial development and (or) significant population increase in the valley downstream from Glen wood. Klickrtat Biver 

water near Glenwood, being low in dissolved-solids content and soft, 

is suitable for most industrial purposes although removal of turbidity 

would be required at some times. Industries such as soda and sulfate 

pulping and fine-paper making, which require water having small 

silica concentrations and low color values, would have to treat the 

water prior to use.

The Glenwood valley has an additional 13,000 acres that could be 

irrigated. A project of lengthening the present canal and also extending it to intercept the West Fork Klickitat Biver has been proposed to provide water for this acreage. Another proposal would 

divert water from the Klickitat Biver into another basin to the east. 

Water of the Klickitat Biver is suitable for irrigation ancV as rated 

by the U.S. Salinity Laboratory Staff (1954, p. 80), has low salinity 

and sodium hazards.

A large proportion of the Klickitat Biver is inaccessible to man; 

consequently, recreational use is confined to small areas.

The extent and degree of pollution in the basin probabl^ is small 

because accessibility is limited and because little water in the basin 

is used.

MOUNT HOOD STREAMS

Mount Hood, elevation 11,245 feet, is the highest point in Oregon. 

It is composed of lavas and tuffs extruded during Pleistocene time 

and its base rests on volcanic rocks of Miocene and possibly Eocene 

age which form the Cascade Bange in this area. The mountain peak 

is snow covered the year round and precipitation exceeds 80 inches 

at Government Camp, Oreg., whose elevation is 4,000 feet.

The largest streams originating on Mount Hood are the Jj^ndy and 

Hood Bivers, and a smaller stream, the White Biver, is a tributary to 

the Deschutes Biver. Bunoff characteristics are similar to the Cowlitz Biver at Packwood (fig. 3).

The chemical quality of the Sandy and Hood Bivers (table 1) is 

similar to the streams heading in the volcanic peaks in the lower
MOUNT HOOD STREAMS 31

Columbia River basin. In both streams the water is soft and is a 

dilute calcium magnesium bicarbonate type that shows little variation 

in quality during the year. The monthly samples from the Sandy 

River near Marmot showed only a 5 percent variation in percent 

sodium, and dissolved-solids content ranged from 29 to 61 ppm. The 

Hood River reconnaissance samples ranged from 24 to 26 percent 

sodium as compared with 28 to 32 percent for the Sandy Piver. The 

chemical quality of the White River is discussed in the section of this 

report dealing with the Deschutes River basin, and the water of the 

White River is similar to that of the Sandy and Hood Rivers. The 

percent-sodium values for the White River samples were between those 

given above. Water of the Bull Run River, a tributary of the Sandy 

River, is a calcium magnesium bicarbonate type that is lower in dissolved-solids content than is the water in other streams discussed above. 

The maximum dissolved-solids content of the four samples from the 

Bull Run River was 24 ppm, and the minimum was 16 ppm.

Water from Mount Hood streams is used for municipal water 

supply, irrigation, and power generation. The largest user of this 

water supply is the city of Portland, which has developed tl ^ Bull Run 

River for a public supply. Bull Run River, whose headwaters are 

near the summit of the Cascade Range, has a drainage area of 102 

square miles and a 52-year average runoff (1907-59) of 545,100 acrefeet per year. The headwaters of the Bull Run River aro separated 

from Mount Hood summit by the deeply incised canyons of the West 

Fork Hood and Sandy Rivers. The flow is mainly from springs fed 

by rain and melting snow. At present (1961), the system serves an 

estimated population of 600,000 people; however, if fully developed, 

the watershed could serve 1,500,000 people. Treatment of the water 

consists only of chlorination and ammoniation. The water is excellent in quality, very soft, and suitable for almost any industrial use. 

The city of Portland diverts a little more than 95,000 acre-feet per 

year to serve the city and 55 water districts in the area. Some electric power is generated on the Bull Run River by a private utility, 

and the city of Portland is constructing an additional storage dam 

which will also generate electricity. The Bull Run River watershed 

is a restricted access area, and pollution is not a problem. The degree 

of pollution in the rest of the Sandy River basin is not known, but 

the numerous summer homes fronting on the main stem and on tributaries have privies or septic tanks which may be a source of bacterial 

pollution. Irrigation is not a factor in the chemical quality of water 

in the Sandy River basin. Neither is it practiced extensively now 

nor are any future projects proposed for the basin.

Water use in the Hood River basin is mainly the irrigation of the
32 SURFACE WATERS, LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN

upper and lower valleys although some water is diverted from this 

basin into the Mill Creek basin for municipal use by The Dalles. 

Some 13,000 acres of land in the Hood Kiver basin is irrigated to 

raise apples, pears, and cherries. No figures are available for net consumption of water in the basin. The reconnaissance samples of the 

Hood Kiver water that were taken near the city of Hood River are 

representative of nearly all the return flow from upstream irrigation, 

though some water diverted from the Hood Kiver return? to Indian 

Creek, which discharges directly to the Columbia River. Chemical 

analyses of the Hood River samples reveal no detectable alteration of 

chemical quality. According to the rating of the U.S. Salinity Laboratory Staff (1954, p. 80), the water has low salinity r.nd sodium 

hazards. Irrigable land in the Hood River valley has been developed 

to nearly a maximum.

WILLAMETTE BIVEB

The Willamette River is the largest tributary in the lower Columbia 

River basin; it flows north and discharges into the ColumHa River in 

the vicinity of Portland. The major part of the population, industry, 

and agriculture of the lower Columbia River basin is in the Willamette 

River valley. The drainage area at the mouth of the Willamette River 

is 11,200 square miles, and the average runoff (1943-59) is about 

27,500,000 acre-feet per year. The Cascade Range forms the eastern 

flank of the Willamette River basin, and the Oregon Coast Range 

forms the western flank. The Calapooya Mountains, a transverse 

spur, connects the Coast Range with the Cascades and form s the southern boundary. Upstream from Oregon City, the Willamette River is 

a sluggish stream that has numerous oxbow lakes. The £ edimentary 

materials that constitute the present valley floor were deported mainly 

during a stage in the Pleistocene Epoch when sea level was higher 

than it is at present. Deposition of older underlying material began 

during middle Tertiary time as a result of uplift and subsequent 

erosion of areas to the east and west. As sea level declined, the river 

eroded its present channel. The bed of the river at present (1961) 

has reached the gravelly materials that underlie the silts that were 

deposited during the Pleistocene Epoch.

The Oregon Coast Range consists principally of sedimentary rocks 

of Tertiary age that have been deformed by folding and are intercalated with basalts. The sedimentary rocks are chiefly shale and 

sandstone of Tertiary age. The basalts are chiefly of Miocene age and 

some are of Eocene age. The general elevation is less than 2,500 feet 

although isolated peaks exceed this. The Oregon Coast Range is 

maturely dissected; the stream valleys are deeply incised and closely
WILLAMETTE RIVER 33

spaced, and their headwater areas are close to the streams draining to 

the west.

In contrast to the Oregon Coast Range, the Middle Cascade Range 

is topographically young; it has V-shaped valleys and steep-gradient 

streams. Its general elevation ranges from 4,000 to 6,000 feet, but 

many isolated volcanic peaks rise to altitudes of 10,000 feet and higher. 

The Middle Cascade Range is composed primarily of volcanic rocks 

that are mainly basalts and andesites ranging in age from Oligocene( ?) to Recent. Lesser amounts of pyroclastic rocks of Eocene to 

Oligocene age, marine sediments of Oligocene age, and continental 

sediments of Miocene to Pliocene age are also present.

The geology of the Calapooya Mountains in the southern part of 

the "Willamette River basin is fairly unknown.

The main stem of the Willamette River north of Eugene flows 

through older alluvium of Pleistocene age and through younger 

alluvium of Recent age. This is also true of the tributaries to the main 

stem in their lower reaches. South of Eugene, poorly sorted terrace 

deposits of Pleistocene age are exposed by many of the tributaries.

One daily-sampling station was operated (1959) in the headwaters 

of the McKenzie River to obtain data on quality fluctuation throughout the year for a stream whose water quality reflects natural environment. Another daily-sampling station on the Willamette River at 

Salem has been operated continuously since February 1951. A 

monthly-sampling station was operated (1960) on the Willamette 

River at Portland to provide data on the chemical quality of water 

discharged to the Columbia River. In addition, sample? were collected at high, low, and medium flow at eight reconnaissance sampling 

points (1959-60) throughout the basin. Table 1 lists chemical analyses of the reconnaissance and miscellaneous samples from the Willamette River basin.

The analyses of the high-, medium-, and low-flow samples taken 

on the Coast Fork and on the Middle Fork of the Willanette River 

show striking similarity in chemical composition. Sodium content 

for the Coast Fork was 25, 27, and 22 percent. For the Middle Fork 

it was 25, 28, and 22 percent. The McKenzie River contains more 

sodium; during the 1959 water year, the sodium content of the river 

ranged from 28 to 36 percent. However, water in all three streams 

is low in dissolved-solids content and is predominately a calcium magnesium bicarbonate type. Perhaps the Recent volcanics in the upper 

McKenzie River account for that river's higher sodium content; 

some of those volcanics are only a few thousand years old. The 

chemical quality of the upper McKenzie River water is similar to 

that of the Deschutes River at Wickiup Reservoir and to that of the 

Metolius River near Grandview, both of which have their headwaters
34 SURFACE WATERS, LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN

on the east slope of the Cascades near the headwaters of the McKenzie 

River.

The dissolved-solids content of the McKenzie River at McKenzie 

Bridge is a function of water discharge. Figure 12 shows the relationship between dissolved-solids content and discharge. This is a 

well-defined, natural relationship, for the activities of man upstream 

from the sampling point can be disregarded. The factors controlling 

this relationship are the quantity of water discharge, the amount of 

time the water is in contact with the rocks of the basin, and the surficial area of rock exposed to the water during the contact time. During periods of high rainfall or snowmelt, the water discharge is high 

and contact time with the rocks is small. These conditions produce 

low dissolved-solids content during high runoff. During the dry summer, flow derived from springs predominates and the longer contact 

time between the rocks and water produces slightly increased dissolved-solids concentrations during low runoff. The dissclved-solids 

content of the McKenzie River at McKenzie Bridge ranged from 40 to 

56 ppm. Maximum hardness of water for the year was only 18 ppm. 

Downstream near Coburg, the McKenzie River still shews no appreciable change either in chemical composition or in dissclved-solids 

content.

Willamette River water at Harrisburg is a mixture of the dilute 

flows from the Coast Fork and Middle Fork Willamette Rivers and 

the McKenzie River. This mixture has a low dissolved-solids content, 

and it is a calcium bicarbonate type water. A sample collected during 

a low-flow period had a dissolved-solids content of 54 ppm and a 

hardness of 19 ppm.

The Santiam River is the largest tributary of the Willamette River. 

Analyses of the North Fork Santiam River at Mehama and the main 

stem at Jefferson show that the water is a dilute calcium magnesium 

bicarbonate type similar to the water of the Coast Fork r.nd Middle 

Fork Willamette Rivers. The maximum dissolved-solids content 

observed was 38 ppm, and the maximum hardness was 20 ppm.

The sampling station at Salem represents a long-term record of 

the chemical quality of the Willamette River. The collection of 

samples was begun in February 1951 and is still being continued 

(1961). Review of the analytical data for the Willamette River at 

Salem reveals no discernible change in either chemical composition or 

dissolved-solids content for the period of record. The minor variations that occur from year to year can be largely attributed to variation in discharge. A plot of dissolved-solids content versus discharge 

did not produce a definite analogy between them, and a plot of dissolved-solids content versus specific conductance also revealed no
WATER DISCHARGE, IN CUBIC FE

O (a
36 SURFACE WATERS, LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER BASE T

discernible relationship. For the many users of water, a ir<>re satisfactory method of presenting the various data is in the form of cumulative frequency-distribution curves. Figure 13 is such a curve for 

dissolved solids. This curve is based on 245 determinations that were 

made on composite samples (p. 9). Ninety-five percent of the values 

for dissolved-solids content were between 42 and 64 ppm. Figure 14 

is a cumulative frequency-distribution curve of temperature readings 

obtained once daily. Ninety percent of the 2,715 once-daily readings 

of temperature were below 70° F. The water of the Willamette 

River at Salem is very soft; the maximum hardness of water observed 

for the period of record was only 28 ppm. Figure 15 is a cumulative 

frequency-distribution curve of hardness. Ninety-nine percent of the 

hardness values were less than 27 ppm.

Although the Willamette River water at Salem is low in dissolvedsolids content, the annual dissolved-solids load (salt load) transported 

by the river is large because of the high discharge. The annual rate 

of salt transport ranged from a low of 1,220,000 tons to a high of 

1,650,000 tons. The 8-year average (1952-59) was 1,287,000 tons per 

year (fig. 16). The Yamhill and Tualatin Rivers herd in the 

Oregon Coast Range. They are slightly higher in dissolved-solids 

content than other streams in the Willamette River basin, but they 

have nearly the same chemical composition. The maxiimm? observed

90

80 

g

=f 70

2

cc

UJ ,__ CL 60

COi 

cc < 50

z. 

w 40

30

20

10

Mean value 53 ppm

95 percent of the dissolvedsolids values were between 42 and 64 ppm

I I I I I I

0 0.1 0.5 1 5 10 20 304050607080 90 95 99 99.9 

PERCENT OF DISSOLVED-SOLIDS DATA EQUAL TO OR LESS THAN INDICATED

FIGURE 13. Frequency distribution of dissolved solids, Willamette River at Salem,

Oreg., 1952-59.
WILLAMETTE RIVER 37

100

90

80

70

40

10

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 

PERCENT OF TEMPERATURE READINGS EQUAL TO OR LESS THAN INDICATED

PIGDBB 14. Frequency distribution of temperature readings, Willamette River at Salem,

Oreg., 1952-59.

dissolved-solids content for a sample from the South Yamhill River 

near Whiteson during low flow in. August was 82 ppm.

Griffin and others (1956) reported on the chemical quality of 

streams in the Portland area, but their study did not include the 

chemical quality of the Willamette River at Portland. Where it enters Portland (Sellwood Bridge), the Willamette Rive" is virtually 

homogeneous in cross-sectional chemical quality, but effluents from 

industries and sewer outfalls alter the cross-sectional chemical quality 

of the river as it flows through the city. Figure 17 is a plot of specific 

conductance of the Willamette River at two cross sections: at the Sellwood Bridge near the south edge of Portland and at the Spokane, 

Portland and Seattle Railway Bridge near the north edge of Portland.

IT T I I 1 I I

__ 95 percent of the hardness 

values were between 15 and 26 ppm

Mean value 20 ppm

0 0.1 0.5 1 5 10 20 3040506070 80 90 95 99 99.9 

PERCENT OF HARDNESS DATA EQUAL TO OR LESS THAN INDICATED

FIGTTBB 15. Frequency distribution of hardness, Willamette River at Salem, Oreg.,

1952-59.
38 SURFACE WATERS, LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN

1.7 

1.6

1.4 

1.3 

1.2 

1.1

o

CO 

CO 

Q 1.0

Number at the top of each column is 

percent of average water discharge

115

126

89

163

99

103

1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959

FIGUEH 16. Annual salt load of the Willamette River at Salem, Oreg., 1952-59.

100

80

60

40

£ 20 _

A- -

Upstream from Portland

_Q At Spokane, Portland and Seattle

Ry bridge 

.A At Sellwood Bridge

.West bank East bank600 400 200 Midstream 200 400 

LATERAL DISTANCE FROM MIDSTREAM, IN FEET

600

FIGURE 17. Comparison of cross-sectional variations in specific conductance in the 

Willamette River upstream and downstream from Portland, Oreg., 1960.
WILLAMETTE RIVER 39

The magnitude of this cross-sectional variation depends on the discharge. Figure 18 is a plot of specific conductance of time cross sections of the Willamette River at the Spokane, Portland and Seattle 

Railway Bridge for periods of different discharge. This same variation was detected in temperature and in chloride and alkalinity content. 

Samples of the cross sections were taken 1 foot below the surface of the 

river, and the extent of nonunif ormity in depth was not determined. 

No specific data for daily discharge of the Willamette River are available for this reach, and the approximate stage is based on estimated 

average monthly flow at Portland correlated with the discharge of 

the Willamette River at the gaging station at Wilsonville.

120

100

o

I

I 80 

o

60

o 

5 20

V)

40

-o Approximately 25 percent of average discharge

A- -&- -A Approximately average discharge

P _o -a Approximately twice average discharge

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 

DISTANCE FROM WEST BANK, IN FEET

FIGURE 18. Cross-sectional variation in specific conductance in the Willamette River 

at the Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway Bridge, Portland, Oreg., 1960.

Analyses of samples collected at monthly intervals at the Spokane, 

Portland and Seattle Railway Bridge in Portland show that the water 

is the same type as that at Salem and is slightly higher in dissolvedsolids content. The maximum observed dissolved-solid« content at 

Salem was 57 ppm; at Portland for the same water year (1960), it was 

65 ppm. The hardness of water in the Willamette River at Portland 

ranged from 18 to 30 ppm, and at Salem it ranged from 15 to 24 ppm.

Surface water in the Willamette River basin is fairly uniform in 

chemical composition. Figure 19 shows the composition of water in 

the basin.
40 SURFACE WATERS, LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN

EXPLANATION 

| | Sodium and potassium pQ Carbonate and bicarbonate

F3 Calcium and magnesium ^ Sulfate, chloride, fluoride,

^"^ and nitrate

Middle Fork Willamette River at Jasper

Coast Fork Willamette River near Cottage Grove

McKenzie River at McKenzie Bridge

McKenzie River near Coburg

Willamette River at Harrisburg

North Santiam River at Mehama

Santiam River at Jefferson

South Yamhill River near Whiteson 'VTTT^.

Willamette River at Salem

Molalla River near Canby

Pudding River at Aurora

Clackamas River at Cazadero Dam

Tualatin River at Farmington

TZZZZZ^^Mm

Willamette River at Portland

IA 1.2 1.0 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 

Equivalent per million

FIGTJBB 19. Chemical composition of water in the WUlamette River basin, Oregon, 

during period of low water discharge.

Water uses in the Willamette River basin include recreation, power 

generation, public supply, industry, irrigation, and waste disposal.

Many communities within the basin divert water from tributaries 

of the Willamette River for their municipal supplies. FQ-cause of
WILLAMETTE RIVER 41

the increase in per-capita use of water and the increase in population, 

many cities in the valley have had to augment their summer supply 

either by building storage facilities or as the city of Corrallis had to 

do by building a treatment plant to utilize the Willarvette River 

water. Future increases in population and per-capita consumption 

will aggravate the problem of insufficient water during the summer 

months. All of the streams examined in the Willamette Eiver basin 

have water suitable for municipal use, but the required water treatment would range from chlorination alone to complete treatment including flocculation, nitration, and disinfection before the water could 

be used as a public supply.

Industrial use of Willamette Eiver water is largely confined to cooling and waste disposal. Principal industries in the basin are saw mills, 

plywood and hardboard plants, pulp-and paper-manufacturing companies, and food processing companies. Most of these industries either 

obtain their water for product manufacture from municipalities or use 

ground-water sources; however, four pulp mills in the basin use Willamette Eiver water. The largest users of water in the basin are those 

industries connected with the timber resources in the basin. Although 

water of the Willamette Eiver basin is suitable for most industrial 

purposes, for some uses it would require treatment for turbidity, iron, 

and color.

The Willamette Eiver from Eugene to Oregon City i<* subject to 

flooding. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has constructed 12 floodcontrol dams in the basin and has proposed 3 more to further reduce 

peak discharges throughout the basin. Power generation and recreation are secondary benefits of these structures. In addition to the 

Federal structures, private and municipal dams either exist, are under 

construction, or are proposed. Ultimate upstream storage facilities in 

the basin will permit a greater degree of flood control and will further 

increase the base flow of the Willamette Eiver by release of stored 

water during low-flow periods.

Surface water of the Willamette Eiver basin is suitable for irrigation ; according to the rating method of the U.S. Salinity Laboratory 

Staff (1954, p. 80), the water has low salinity and sodium hazards. 

The use of surface water for irrigation in the Willamette Eiver basin 

is generally confined to the areas immediately adjacent to the streams. 

These areas are along the tributaries to the main stem and are not very 

extensive. The Willamette Eiver basin has an estimated 650,000 

acres of irrigable land; about 200,000 acres is under irrigation. The 

level land on either side of the Willamette Eiver from Eugene northward has the biggest potential for irrigation. The Burer.u of Eecla-
42 SURFACE WATERS, LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER BASIT

mation studied 21 areas and named 14 as suitable to receive water 

stored for flood control. There are a few non-Federal and ro Federal 

projects in the basin now; however, many individual farmers in the 

valley have developed wells for irrigation. Two areas, one east of Albany and the other north of Salem, have wells that produce about 800 

to 1,000 gallons per minute. The area north of Salem is undergoing 

rapid ground-water development for irrigation, and, according to 

Price (1961, p. 1), "about 500 wells were used for irrigation in 1960 

as compared to about 150 in 1950 and less than 50 in 19*0." The 

return flows to the Willamette Eiver basin may alter the chemical 

quality of the water downstream, for available chemical-quality data 

on the ground water in the area shows it to be more mineralized than 

the surface water. The Willamette Valley contains some 850,000 acres 

of land having poor or impeded drainage, and improper irrigation 

practices could produce a salt-balance problem.

The Willamette Valley contains some of the most productive farm 

land in the State of Oregon, and the Oregon State University estimates 

that irrigation could increase production of the farm crops by 65 percent in addition to increasing the market value of the crops. The 

economic pressure on the farmer has made him search fo^ a means 

to increase the value of his crops and the yield per acre. Irrigation 

in the Willamette Valley probably will increase. Hydrologic data 

should be obtained now to delineate possible problem areae of water 

supply, drainage, water quality, and salt balance. These data would 

help to solve some of the water-supply management problems of the 

Willamette River basin.

Pollution has been a problem in the Willamette River for more than 

30 years. Effluents from industries and cities provide nutrients for 

excessive slime and algae growths. Solid material from wastes coat 

the river bed and prevent certain biota from using it as a habitat. 

Floating solids destroy the aesthetic value of the stream. Surveys 

by the Oregon State Sanitary Authority (1959, p. 30), of th«, Willamette River from Springfield to Portland a distance of about 179 

river miles show that bacterial pollution is excessive for recreational 

use for this entire reach of the river; coliform values rarged from 

240 MPN to more than 70,000 MPN for the period July-K0<?,ptember 

1959. Figure 20 is a diagram of median MPN found at var ous rivermile distances. Dissolved-oxygen content is depleted by the effluents to values below what is considered necessary for aquatic biota. 

The total 5-day BOD of five pulp mills in the basin averag3d 107,760 

pounds per day during the low-flow period (1959). Minimum dissolved-oxygen values occur during the summer months, ard a minimum of 1.5 ppm was observed for the Willamette River at Portland
100,000

50,000

o: 10,000 

o

5000

1000

500

400

300

200

100

Canby Ferry Buena Vista Ferry

Plotted points are median va

for August and Septembe

25 50 75 100 

MILES ABOVE RIVER MOU

FIGURE 20. Bacterial contamination in the main stem of the Willa
44 SURFACE WATERS, LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN

in July 1959; in a few previous years the dissolved-oxyg^n values 

declined to 0.0 ppm. Since those years, stream conditions have improved ; and in 1960, according to the Oregon State Sanitary Authority, a minimum dissolved-oxygen content of 3 ppm was maintained 

in the Willamette Eiver at Portland. This improvement in stream 

conditions was largely due to reduced waste discharges to the Willamette Eiver from pulp mills and to increased flows from releases in 

upstream reservoirs during low-flow periods. Additional improvement of stream pollution will depend largely on three factors: (1) 

reduction of municipal sewage loads by new treatment facilities and 

by repair or expansion of present ones, (2) utilization and treatment 

of industrial wastes before disposal, and (3) increased upstream 

storage to supplement low flow during the summer.

The Willamette River basin provides numerous areas for recreational activities. Impoundments created by dams have provided 

additional areas for recreational use. Federal and State agencies and 

private industries have built shoreline facilities on these impoundments for picnicking, boating, swimming, fishing, water skiing, and 

overnight camping. Many people use these facilities during- the summer. Principal species fished for are trout and salmon, but wannwater fishes such as bass and panfish are also taken. The use of the 

waters for recreation presents a potential health hazard at times. 

The reservoirs and upper reaches of the tributaries can be regarded as 

generally safe, but the main stem and certain parts of the lower 

reaches of some tributaries contain coliform bacteria in concentrations 

above the level considered safe for swimming.

LEWIS RIVER

The Lewis Eiver rises on the western slope of Mount Adams. It 

flows in a southwesterly direction and discharges into the Columbia 

Eiver north of Eidgefield, Wash. The East Fork Lewis River, draining lower elevations, joins the main stem 3.6 miles upstream from the 

mouth. Precipitation in the basin ranges from less than 40 inches 

at the mouth to more than 100 inches in the mountainous headwaters. 

Runoff characteristics are typical of a stream in the western Cascades; 

peak discharge is reached in January during the winter rainy season 

and low flows are prevalent during the summer months.

At a, monthly chemical-quality sampling station at Ariel, Wash., 

about 500 feet downstream from Merwin Dam, the 36-year (1923- 

59) average runoff for the Lewis Eiver is 3,427,000 acre-feet. Chemical analyses show that the water is a calcium magnesium bicarbonate 

type similar to that of many streams that drain the reg: on. The 

dissolved-solids content shows little variation, ranging from 29 to
LEWIS RIVER 45

38 ppm; maximum hardness of water tested was 12 ppm. Three dams 

exist above the sampling point and another is under construction. 

These reservoirs decrease the seasonal variation in chemical quality. 

Even during variations in discharge of 15-240 percent of average flow, 

the dissolved-solids content varied little (fig. 21). The semiannual 

samples for trace metals in Lewis Kiver water at Ariel contained a 

maximum of 0.01 ppm of total chromium, 0.22 ppm of copper, 0.00 

ppm of arsenic, and 0.00 ppm of hexavalent chromium.

Two analyses obtained in 1954 offer a basis for comparing the East 

Fork of the Lewis Kiver at Heissoii with the Lewis Kiver at Ariel. 

They show that although both are calcium magnesium bicarbonate 

waters, the East Fork water contains more sulf ate, more dissolved 

solids, and a larger percentage of silica than does the Lewis Kiver at 

Ariel. These differences probably are due to the difference in rocks. 

The East Fork rises in volcanic rocks mainly of Miocene age, and the 

lower part of the basin is predominately continental sedimentary 

rocks. The main stem upstream from Ariel drains essentially Miocene 

and some Pleistocene to Kecent volcanics.

Upstream from Ariel Dam, activities of man are mainly logging

100

75

50

25

Na + K

Ca

Mg

Cl

S04

HCOa

EXPLANATION

Dissolved solids (except silica)

705 cfs

Number at top of column is wa*er 

discharge,in cubic feet per second

4230 cfs 11,300 cfs

z

o

40

30

20

FIGURE 21. Chemical composition of water during periods of different 

Lewis River at Ariel, Wash.

728-248 64 4

0 ° 

discharge,
46 SURFACE WATERS, LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER BASE T

and recreation. Samples collected downstream from Ariel Dam 

showed a maximum coliform value of 36 MPN, which is v^ell below 

the limit for safe swimming. Minimum dissolved-oxygen. content 

observed was 8.3 ppm. Apparently, the bacterial pollution of the 

Lewis River above Ariel Dam is very low; however, recreation is a 

significant water use in the basin, and the growing recreational use 

of the Lewis River above this point could alter the bacteriological 

quality, especially during the low-flow period in the summer.

Surface water in the Lewis River basin is generally of excellent 

quality. The low dissolved-solids content, hardness of water, and 

bacterial content make this water highly suitable for public and industrial supplies and for irrigation. Iron contents were less than 

0.1 ppm, and maximum color was 5 units. No quantitative determinations of turbidity were made; however, the upstream reservoirs remove 

most of the turbidity except during periods of high flow.

No known industrial or municipal use is made of the streams in 

the Lewis River basin at this time (1961). The water is also little 

used for irrigation. Some small areas along the lower reaches can 

be utilized for irrigation; however, irrigation probably never will be 

a major factor in the chemical quality of the Lewis River. The 

principal use of the water in this area is power generation. The basin 

contains many excellent hydroelectric power sites, four of which have 

been developed.

COWLITZ EIVEB

The Cowlitz River and its main tributaries, the Toutle ard Cispus 

Rivers, have their headwaters in the Cascade Range in an area 

bounded on the north by Mount Rainier, whose elevation is 14,408 

feet; on the south by Mount St. Helens, whose elevatior is 9,671 

feet; and on the southeast by Mount Adams, whose elevation is 12,307 

feet. The Cowlitz River upstream from the confluence with the 

Tilton River drains predominately volcanic rocks of Miocene to 

Recent age; the rocks include the so-called Mount Rainier lavas and 

the Columbia River Basalt; some Mesozoic marine rocks and Eocene 

continental strata are also present in this part of the basin. The 

lower reaches of the Cowlitz River drain the Eocene continental 

strata and continental sediments of Pleistocene age. Much of the 

upper part of the basin is heavily timbered, and loggirg is the 

principal industry.

The Cowlitz River at Castle Rock, Wash., has a 32-year (1927-59) 

average runoff of 6,542,000 acre-feet; it is second to the Willamette 

River in runoff in the lower Columbia River basin. In addition to 

ground-water inflow, Mounts Rainier, St. Helens, and Adams support
COWLITZ RIVER 47

glaciers that supplement streamflow during the dry summers. The 

peak discharge of the Cowlitz River usually occurs during the month 

of December, and a secondary peak occurs during April, I fay, or June 

when the snow melts (fig. 3).

Table 1 gives the results of the analyses for the reconnaissance and 

miscellaneous samples collected in the basin. In general, water in the 

basin has a dissolved-solids content of less than 100 ppm and a hardness of less than 50 ppm. The water is predominately calcium 

magnesium bicarbonate in type. Figure 22 shows the chemicalquality patterns for the low-flow samples in downstream order. The 

chemical composition of low-flow samples for the Cowlitz River at 

Packwood and for the Cispus River near Randle correlate very well. 

The Toutle River near Silver Lake, although it drains geologic terrane 

similar to that of the Cowlitz River, contains more sodium. This 

trend is further magnified downstream near Castle Rook where the 

Toutle River drains the continental sediments. The difference in

EXPLANATION 

| | Sodium and potassium j/%] Carbonate and bicarbonat0

p-;'j Calcium and magnesium Sulfate, chloride, fluoride, 

and nitrate

Cowlitz River at Packwood

Cispus River near Randle

Cowlitz River near Kosmos

Toutle River near Silver Lake

Toutle River near Castle Rock

Cowlitz River at Castle Rock

Cowlitz River at Kelso

1.0 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 

Equivalent per million

FIGURE 22. Chemical composition of water In the Cowlitz B'^er basin, 

Washington, during period of low water discharge.
48 SURFACE WATERS, LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER BASEST

chemical quality of the upper Toutle Kiver as compared to the headwater reaches of the Cowlitz and Cispus Rivers may result from the 

continental sediments in the Toutle River basin significantly altering 

the composition of the water from what could be expected of a stream 

draining predominately volcanic rocks.

Although the composition of water in the basin may vary from subbasin to subbasin, the available data show that the basic geologic 

terrane is one of only slightly soluble rocks, and the water is very 

low in dissolved-solids content. Dissolved-solids content of monthly 

samples of the Cowlitz River at Castle Rock ranged from 33 to 56 

ppm, only. Although the water in the basin is low in dissolved-solids 

content, the salt load carried by a stream is also a function of discharge, 

and the total load of salt removal in the basin can be appreciable. 

Figure 23 shows the salt load carried by the Cowlitz River at Castle 

Rock on the basis of monthly samples.

Water use in the Cowlitz River basin is confined mainly to municipal 

supplies and recreation. The streams support trout, and salmon use 

the streams for spawning. The basin has many excellent powersites, 

particularly on the Cispus and Ohanopecosh Rivers. At present 

(1961) the city of Tacoma is constructing a dam on the Cowlitz River 

at Mayfield for power generation and has proposed another on this 

stream at Mossyrock. Small diversions in the basin are made for 

domestic use and irrigation but, as yet, no large-scale irrigation works 

exist. The small amount of irrigation being done is sprinHer type, 

and more farmers in the lower part of the basin are starting to increase the yield from their lands by irrigating during the dry summer 

months. Large areas of the lower Cowlitz River basin could be irrigated by gravity, as is done from streams east of the Cascade Range. 

The waters in the basin, although not being used extensive! ^ for irrigation at present, are rated as to their suitability for irrigation on 

the assumption that irrigation will increase in the basin. According 

to the rating of the U.S. Salinity Laboratory Staff (1954. p. 80), 

the water has low salinity and sodium hazards.

Water in the basin is chiefly used for domestic purposes, and the 

cities of Kelso and Longview both obtain their supplies from the 

Cowlitz River. Most industrial use of the Cowlitz River T^ould require some treatment of the water, for although its chemical quality 

is excellent, the river often contains appreciable amounts of turbidity 

in the form of glacial flour and suspended sediment. Most a^umnum, 

lumber, pulp, and paper industries in this area use ground water; 

however, one pulp and paper company uses the Cowlitz River water. 

At this one plant, the water is used untreated. The company found 

that shutting down their writing-paper unit whenever turlidity of 

the river water reduces the paper quality below acceptable limits was
TRIBUTARY STREAMS BELOW COWLITZ RIVER 49

2400

O 2000

to 1600

1200

800

400

Each column represents a monthly 

sample collected during the 1959 

water year

FIGURE 23. Dissolved solids transported by the Cowlitz River at Cas+le Rock, Wash.,

1959.

more economical than water treatment. The kraft anrl cardboard 

units operate the year round.

Pollution of the Cowlitz River is from industries s.nd domestic 

sewage. At times the Cowlitz Eiver near Kosmos contains bacterial 

contamination above the limits recommended for safe swimming. The 

coliform values for monthly samples ranged from less tlx an 23 to 430 

MPN\ The higher MPN values occur in the summer \Then streamflow is low. Dissolved-oxygen determinations show tl at the river 

near Kosmos contains sufficient oxygen for aquatic life. The minimum dissolved-oxygen content for the 12 samples was 9.0 ppm. Inorganic pollution of the river is low. Samples taken semiannually 

from the Cowlitz River below Kosmo had arsenic, hexr.valent chromium, and total-chromium concentrations of 0.00 ppm. The maximum 

value observed for copper was 0.15 ppm.

TRIBUTARIES TO THE COLUMBIA RIVER BELOW TP"E COWLITZ

RIVER

Downstream from the Cowlitz River, the Columbia River tributaries are minor streams from the standpoint of flow and use. At the 

present time (1961), little use is made of them, but they may become 

valuable if this part of the basin undergoes industrial and municipal 

expansion.

These tributaries head in the north and south faces of the Coast 

Range where the Columbia River cuts through this range. The Coast 

Range is a broad uplift composed of Tertiary marine sedimentary
50 SURFACE WATERS, LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER BASIT

rocks and intercalated basaltic lavas. The streams have drainage 

areas of less than 100 square miles, and their discharge is very closely 

related to precipitation. Low flow in the dry summer is from groundwater sources (see Youngs River near Astoria, fig. 3).

Six samples from three streams were taken during meiium and 

low flow (see table 1). The chemical analyses show that th°. water is 

a dilute calcium magnesium bicarbonate type. There is no marked 

change in composition between the medium- and low-flow samples, and 

only minor variations occur from basin to basin. This part of the 

Columbia River basin often receives more than 90 inches of precipitation in a year, and most of it is rain; therefore, the soils in the basin 

are well leached, and little easily soluble materials is available for 

streams to transport. The highest dissolved-solids contents probably 

occur when the first rain falls after the exposed rocks have weathered 

during the dry summer. The maximum observed concentration of 

dissolved solids was 54 ppm in the August sample from th?, Elochoman River near Cathlamet. The maximum hardness for the same 

sample was 22 ppm.

Some small diversions are made in almost all these streams for 

domestic use, and a tributary of the Youngs River is u?ed for a 

public supply for the Lewis and Clark Water District tH,t serves 

Astoria, Oreg. Irrigation is not practicable for most of the region 

because of the steep topography. Principal future use of these surface-water supplies would probably be industrial. The few analyses 

available for study indicate that the water is suitable for the pulp and 

paper industry; however, further study is needed to cor firm this 

evaluation, for no data have been collected on iron, manganese, free 

carbon dioxide contents and turbidity. Field observations made by 

the author indicate that turbidity in excess of the limits specified by 

most industries exists in many of these streams, and some treatment 

would be necessary before use either for industrial or public supply. 

Recreational use is mainly fishing for trout, salmon, and steelhead.

COLUMBIA RIVER MAIN STEM

The Columbia River at its confluence with the Snake River is about 

300 feet above sea level; from there to Cascade Locks, Oreg., it has 

eroded almost to its base level. West of Cascade Locks the Columbia 

River is drowned as a result of subsidence during Recent time. The 

Columbia River from the mouth of the Snake River to the Cascade 

Range has eroded its channel in Columbia River Basalt of Miocene and 

Pliocene (?) age, and in many areas it has deposited sedimentary material. A large amount of these sediments were deposited during the 

Spokane Flood, which occurred in late Pleistocene time. In the vicin-
COLUMBIA RIVER MAIN STEM 51

ity of The Dalles, the river traverses the Dalles Syncline, Ortley Anticline, Moiser Syncline, and Bingen Anticline, thereby exposing part of 

a series of basalt flows whose thickness totals at least 2,000 feet. On 

the north side of the river, the Columbia Biver Basalt rests upon older 

Miocene mud flows and tuffs of the Eagle Creek Formation, as it does 

on the south side from Lindsay Creek to Eooster Rock. The geology 

of the Columbia Eiver west of the Cascade Eange is described in the 

sections on the Sandy and Willamette Eiver basins and the tributaries 

west of the Cowlitz Eiver.

CHEMICAL QUALITY

The chemical analyses of monthly samples from the Columbia Eiver 

at McNary Dam show that the water is a calcium magnesium bicarbonate type and generally is softer and lower in dissolved-solids content than water from the Walla Walla Eiver, which enters McNary 

Lake near Wallula. The dissolved-solids content ranged from 84 to 

128 ppm, and the maximum hardness was 90 ppm. Comparison of the 

analytical data at McNary Dam with the data of Eobeck and others 

(1954, p. 33) for the Columbia Eiver above the Walla Walla Eiver 

shows no apparent alteration of chemical quality by the YTalla Walla 

Eiver. The present data show little change in chemical quality as 

compared with the data collected by Sylvester (1958, p. 121) in 1954- 

56. The Columbia Eiver at McNary Dam has an averag3 (1950-59) 

runoff of 139,500,000 acre-feet per year, so a major change in qualityof-water patterns in the upper basin would be necessary to alter the 

chemical quality of the Columbia Eiver at this point. The hexavalent 

chromium concentration of samples collected semi-annually was 0.00 

ppm. Maximum concentrations for arsenic, copper, and total chromium were 0.01 ppm, 0.02 ppm, and 0.02 ppm, respectively.

For water downstream near The Dalles, a long-term record of chemical quality is available. The records from December 1950 to September 1958 were collected at a station about 22 miles upstream from 

The Dalles Dam. The samples for the 1959 water year were collected 

at The Dalles Dam. The data for both stations probably are comparable, and study of the record reveals no short-term tre"id of chemical-quality change that cannot be attributed to variation in discharge.

In 1910, Van Winkle (1914 a, b) studied the chemical quality of 

the Columbia Eiver at Cascade Locks, which is about 60 miles downstream from The Dalles. From August 11, 1911, to August 14,1912, 

the Columbia Eiver transported 17 million tons of dissoVed solids; 

and from August 11, 1957, to August 13, 1958, the Columbia Eiver 

at The Dalles transported 18,190,000 tons of disolved solids. The 

data at Cascade Locks represent a discharge that is 5-6 percent
52 SURFACE WATERS, LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN

greater than the average at the Dalles. The discharge at The Dalles 

for the 1957-58 period was 2 percent greater than the discharge for 

the 1911-12 period; however, the salt load increased 7 percent above 

the 1911-12 salt load. A study of the data collected at TTie Dalles 

for the 8 water years, 1952 through 1959, showed that the dischargesalt-load relationship can vary, but not as it does in the above instance. 

The following tabluation gives the manner of variation.

Percent difference Percent difference

Water Year in discharge in salt load

1952________________________. -6 +2

1953______________________. 9 +4

1954______________________. +6 +6

1955______________________. 10 10

1956______________________. +23 +23

1957______________________. -2 +2

1958______________________. 9 9

1959______________________. +7 -1

The percentage difference in discharge was based on the average for 

the 1952-59 period, and the percentage difference in salt load was 

calculated in the same way. Although part of the increase in salt load 

may be due to natural variation or experimental error, much of the 

increase prdbably is due to increased water use by man. The maximum and minimum dissolved-solids contents for the station near 

The Dalles were 163 and 72 ppm, respectively; whereas during Van 

Winkle's study they were 129 and 62 ppm. The minimum dissolvedsolids content has never been observed to be as low as it T^as during 

the Van Winkle study, even during the 1956 water year when discharge was 25 percent above the 81-year average. The dissolved-solids 

load for the Columbia River near The Dalles has ranged from 

18,140,000 tons per year to 24,740,000 tons per year for the 8-;rear period 

1952-59 (fig. 24). Figure 25 is a cumulative frequency-distribution 

curve of dissolved solids of the Columbia River near The Dalles. Temperature of the water has ranged from 32° to 79 ° F. Figure 26, a cumulative frequency-distribution curve of temperature, shoves that 95 

percent of the temperature readings were equal to or less than 70° F. 

Compare this curve with the frequency-distribution cur^e of temperature for the Willamette River at Salem (fig. 14). The curves are 

very similar to each other. The major difference is that the Columbia 

River is slightly colder during the winter months. Figure 27, a cumulative frequency-distribution curve of hardness, shows that 97 percent 

of the hardness data were less than 100 ppm.

In August 1959 the Washington Pollution Control Commission 

and the Oregon State Sanitary Authority, cooperating with four 

pulp and paper manufacturing companies, began a study c f the quality of water from Bonneville Dam to Puget Island, som.3 102 river
COLTJMBIA RIVER MAIN STEM 53

OR25

23

22

21

» 20

19

>. 18

_ 1-7 ?S 17

Number at the top of each column is 

percent of average water discharge

125

92

99

93

108

1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959

FIGUBH 24. Annual salt load of the Columbia River near The Dalles, Oreg., 1952-59.

miles downstream. Forty-five sampling points at 11 stations were 

used to study cross-sectional and downstream variations in quality 

of water (fig. 28).

The greatest variations, both in cross section and station to station, 

occur during the winter months when flow of the main river is low and

o iuu

d!50 

^140

LU°-130

C/5

cc 120

< CL

z no

w 100

1 9° 

g 80

0 70

CO 

CO

5 60

^

r

^

^

^

^^

^^

^

^ - "

^-^

^- 

^X

D 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 1C

PERCENT OF DISSOLVED-SOLIDS DATA EQUAL TO OR 

LESS THAN A GIVEN VALUE ON THE CURVE

FIGDEB 25. Frequency distribution of dissolved solids, Columbia River near The

Dalles, Oreg., 1952-59.
54 SURFACE WATERS, LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN"

< 70

o:

J 30 

20

o:

i-O 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 

PERCENT OF TEMPERATURE READINGS EQUAL TO OR LESS THAN A GIVEN 

VALUE ON THE CURVE

FIGURE 26. Frequency distribution of temperature readings, Columbia River near 

The Dalles, Oreg., 1952-59.

inflow from local tributaries is high. The February 1960 samples 

ranged in hardness from 13 to 72 ppm. The minimum hardness was 

observed at Coffin Rock station for the sample collected 900 feet from 

the Washington shore; it shows the effect of the Kalamg, River in 

lowering the dissolved-solids content. The maximum hardness 

occurred at the Washougal and Hewlitt Point stations.

From Bonneville Dam to the Portland-Vancouver Interstate Bridge, 

there was no large variation in cross-sectional chemical quality. From 

Mathews Point to Caplis, the trend is for dilute water to be found

d no 

« 100

LU°- 90

CO

a 80 

<

T70

of 60

LU

< 50

O 40 

8 30

LU

a 20 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

PERCENT OF HARDNESS DATA EQUAL TO OR 

LESS THAN A GIVEN VALUE ON THE CURVE

FIGOBB 27. Frequency distribution of hardness, Columbia River near The Dalles, Oreg.,

1952-59.
ColumbiaRive

Cathlamet / - Stella

Ca

St Helens 

,«/ n ^ Warrior Point

R

(s) Water-quality sampling station 

\T) Salinity-range line

FIGURE 28. location of quality-of-water sampling points on 
56 SURFACE WATERS, LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN

on the Oregon side of the Columbia River. This trend reverses at 

Coffin Rock, the more dilute water occurring on the Washington side, 

and this is observable in a lesser degree, at Longview Bridge. The 

two other stations farther downstream do not show an appreciable 

cross-sectional variation in chemical quality. In the spring, the high 

flow from streams above Bonneville Dam have a leveling-out effect on 

the Columbia River downstream from the dam. This reduces the 

cross-sectional variation in chemical quality; nevertheless, it is still 

noticeable at some stations. The most uniform cross sections were 

observed during August when the discharge is low.

SALINITY OF THE TIDAL PORTION OF THE COLUMBIA RIVER

In 1959, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (1960) mach a study 

of salinity, temperature, and velocity of the 52-mile reach of the Columbia River from Beaver Army Terminal to the mouth (fig. 28). 

The data were collected at seven ranges during 9-day period^1 of high, 

medium, and low flow of the Columbia River. Measurements were 

made at the surface, at one-quarter, one-half, and three-quarters 

depths, and at the bottom. As used in this section, a water with a dissolved-solids content of 1,000 ppm or more is called a saline T^ater and 

is referred to as salinity. Salinity was not found at range 4, which 

is about 24 miles from the mouth. At range 3, approximately 16 

miles from the mouth, no salinity was recorded at three of th°* five stations during the high-flow period; for the station nearest the Washington State shore, however, salinity of more than 6,000 ppm vas measured at the one-quarter depth and increased to more than 21,000 ppm 

at the bottom. For the low-flow period, salinity is present in at least 

four of the five stations of range 3; no data were given for the fifth 

station. The degree of salinity varies with the tide; at range 3, station 

A, in the main channel, it varied from less than 1,000 ppm to more 

than 7,000 ppm at the surface, and at the bottom it was in excess of 

24,000 ppm. At the other two ranges downstream from rang^ 3, salinity increases, and at times the surface salinity approaches thg,t of pure 

sea water.

The estimated discharge of the Columbia River at the mouth was 5 

percent above average during the study period, and it can be assumed 

that salt-water intrusion may extend up the river beyond rar ge 3 during years of below-average dicharge. At range 7, 52 miles upstream 

from the mouth, the river is about half a mile wide and flow predominance is downstream during 99 percent of the tidal cycle; therefore, the possibility of salt-water intrusion up to this point is very 

small.
COLUMBIA RIVER MAIN STEM 57 

POLLUTION

Principal types of pollution in the main stem of the Columbia 

River are wastes from industries and municipalities and low-level 

radioactive wastes from the Atomic Energy Commissior installation 

at Hanford, Wash. Other pollutants enter the river from pleasure 

and commercial boats and from irrigation return flows from subbasins.

The Oregon State Sanitary Authority and the Washington Pollution Control Commission have carried on active programs to control 

pollution. During 1958 the largest city in the lower Columbia River 

basin, Portland, Oreg., contributed 97 percent of the bacterial pollution in the lower Columbia River. The electorate of Portland voted 

in 1961 for an increase in sewer-users service charge; this charge increase should enable the city to construct adequate treatm<rnt facilities. 

The smaller communities along the Columbia River have improved 

their existing facilities or have new ones under construction. When 

all treatment facilities are in operation, the bacterial load of the 

Columbia River should be materially reduced. Some problems of 

storm-water separation and of interceptor systems in need of replacement still remain; however, the State agencies are making progiress in 

having the municipalities reduce their bacterial load to the river. 

Coliform counts for the reach from Portland to Puget Island ranged 

from 0 to 240,000 MPN during August 1959 to August I960. Most of 

the coliform values greater than 200 occurred during periods of low 

flow. During this same period, the minimum dissolved-osygen content 

was 7.8 ppm, which indicates the pollution load was no*, sufficient to 

deplete the dissolved-oxygen content below that considered necessary 

for survival of aquatic life.

The release of wastes from pulp and paper mills has long been 

a problem in the lower reaches of the Columbia River. The principal 

waste from this source is sulfite waste liquors. These liquors contain 

lignin, pectin, hemicelluloses, sulfur dioxide, sulfites, polythionates, 

organic acids, calcium or magnesium, and numerous other organic 

and inorganic substances. The principal objections to sulfite waste 

liquors are that the sugars cause high BOD and allegedly provide 

nutrients that allow sphaerotilus slime growths to flourish The sulfite 

waste liquor values ranged from 1 to 320 ppm, and the majority of the 

values were below 100 ppm. For the sample containing 320 ppm of 

sulfite waste liquor, the BOD was 1.1 ppm. The highest BOD observed was 3.0 ppm, and most of the values were below £.0 ppm. The 

pulp and paper industries on the banks of the Columbia River are 

trying to solve the problems of the sulfite waste liquor discharge and 

tlie slime growth.
58 SURFACE WATERS, LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER BASIT

RADIOACTIVITY

In 1944, the Hanford Engineering Works began operations. This 

facility, now under the direction of the Atomic Energy Commission 

as the Hanford (Wash.) Atomic Plant operations, is adjacent to 

the Columbia River 38 miles upstream from its confluence- with the 

Snake River. The plant uses Columbia River water fry cooling. 

The water returned to the river contains a very small amount of 

radionuclides. These radionuclides are short-half-lived beta-particle 

emitters and have been identified as copper-64, manganese-56, 

sodium-24, arsenic-76, silicon-31, and phosphorus-32 by Robeck and 

others (1954, p. 3). Alpha activity is negligible. The study by 

Robeck and others (1954) showed that phosphorus-32 is the principal 

element accumulated by plankton, which absorb the nutrients directly 

from the water. The food chain from plankton to adul*-. resident 

fish shows a progressive decline in radionuclide accumulation. 

Ninety percent or more of the radioactivity in adult fish is due to phosphorus-32 whereas only 2 percent of the gross radioactivity in the 

water is due to this radionuclide. The bones of suckers contained 

an average gross beta activity of 5,000 pc (pico curies) per gram; on 

the other end of the food chain, plankton contained an average gross 

beta activity of 80,000 pc per gram. The average gross beta activity 

of the Columbia River where these organisms were taken was 19 pc 

per milliliter. Average background activities for the w^ter were 

1X10~2 pc per milliliter, and for aquatic organisms they were 1 pc 

per gram. Migratory species of fishes do not accumulate large 

amounts of radionuclides. A maximum gross beta 'activity of 18.6 pc 

per gram was found in the liver of a steelhead. Many of the fishes 

in the Columbia River are used for food, and health authorities are 

concerned about the potential health hazard. However, th^ greatest 

concentrations of radioactivity in the fish are in the scale, bone, and 

viscera, which are not edible; and phosphorus-32, the principal radionuclide ingested by fishes in the Columbia River, has a hr.lf life of 

only 14.3 days. According to Robeck and others (1954), there is no 

appreciable buildup or carryover of the radionuclides from year to 

year.

The radioactivity level in the Columbia River shows a progressive 

decline in the downstream direction. At Paterson it is about onetenth of that just below Hanford. This decrease is due to natural 

radioactive decay, to activity being sorbed on sediments, and to 

incorporation of activity into the physiology of aquatic biota. A 

comparison of the levels of radioactivity during the 1951-53 study 

to data obtained during 1957-59 shows a decrease in extremes. The 

maximum gross beta activity observed in the early study at Pasco was
COLUMBIA RIVER MAIN STEM 59

480 X 10~2 pc per milliliter whereas the more recent data show a maximum of 2,863 X10-3 pc per milliliter. Minimum gross beta activities 

for the 1951-53 study and the 1957-59 study were 46XJ.O-2 pc per 

milliliter and 59 X 10~3 pc per milliliter, respectively.

The maximum total beta activity found downstream at Bonneville, 

Oreg., for the 1957-59 period was 614 X1Q-3 pc per millilite'*. Farther 

downstream at Clatskanie, Oreg., the maximum total beta activity 

for the same period was 463 X 10~3 pc per milliliter. Total bota activity 

as reported by the U.S. Public Health Service for the 1957-59 data 

is the sum of the activity in suspension and activity in solution. Figure 29 shows the seasonal variation of total beta activity at Bonneville 

and Clatskanie. Inspection of the graph reveals several anomalies. 

The January 5 and May 11 samples at Clatskanie show a greater 

activity than the upstream samples at Bonneville. In the January 5 

sample the increase in total activity was due principally to increases 

in the dissolved activity whereas in the May 11 sample the increase 

was due to almost equal increases in both dissolved and suspended 

activities. This anomaly also is shown, to a minor extent, by samples 

taken on December 1,1958, and May 4 and 26, June 1 and 8, July 6, and 

August 9, 1959. The principal reason for these anomalies is that the 

samples for total beta activity are taken near the surface of the Columbia River; consequently, only the finer particles of fluvial sediment include the beta activity attributed to suspended solids. The larger 

particles, which also have sorbed radionuclides, are near the bottom of 

the river and are not measured in the present sampling method except 

when river currents bring them near the surface. Sediments contributed by the tributaries between Bonneville and Clatskanio may have 

sorption characteristics that affect the ratio of suspended to dissolved 

activity. A comparison of the discharge of the Columbia Biver at The 

Dalles with graphs of the total beta activity (fig. 29) indicates that the 

anomaly usually can be correlated with discharge. The month of 

May is a particularly good example. The lack of knowledge concerning the interrelationships between fluvial sediments, discharge, bed 

movement, radioactivity, and ion exchange in the Columbia River 

points out the need for additional work that should be done in the near 

future. Such further studies may well uncover basic hydrologic concepts applicable to many other areas. In addition, mere reliable 

methods of determining low-level radioactivity are needed, as some 

of the above anomalies may well be attributable to discrepancies in 

analytical techniques.

There is some background radiation in the lower Columbia River 

tributaries. The nine miscellaneous measurements made by the U.S.
60 SURFACE WATERS, LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER BARN

QN003S U3d 133d 01800 

QNVSnOHl Nl'SOaVHOSId M31VM 

o Q o o

a) 37

> 02

CCt Q5

S *H

IS

~ >, O «

d3in S3ianoooid NI AIIAIIOV visa wioi
COLUMBIA RIVER MAIN STEM 61

Geological Survey for tributaries showed values that were less than 

23 X 10~ 5 pc per milliliter of beta gamma activity.

A study made at Pasco in 1951 by the General Electric Co. (Robeck 

and others 1954, p. 83), prime contractor at the Hanford facilities of 

the Atomic Energy Commission, showed that the conventional waterplant treatment of the Columbia River water removes 50-95 percent 

of the radionuclides. The largest amount is removed in the coagulation process and is concentrated on the sand filter. Backwash water 

from the filter had a gross beta activity of 1,300 pe per grr.m. Influent 

water had a gross beta activity of 700-800 X10" 2 pc per milliliter 

whereas the effluent activity was reduced to 50X10' 2 pc per milliliter. 

The U.S. Public Health Service Drinking Water Standards (1962, 

p. 9) limits gross beta activity in drinking water to 1,000 pc per liter 

in the absence of strontium-90 and alpha emitters.

The increasing use of radionuclides by government, industry, and 

educational institutions will probably increase the level of radioactivity in the streams of the lower Columbia River basin. Present efforts 

are directed to the determination of the radioactive quality of water 

for streams that have radioactive facilities near their. However, 

very little has been done in gathering radiological data for the many 

streams that may have such facilities in the future. Th?< radioactive 

levels in these streams should be determined now. Thes^ radioactive 

data should be implemented with data of other water-quality parameters and could serve as a guide for locating plant sites and for determining the permissible amount of waste disposal, the size, and the 

design of a facility using radioactive materials.

WATER USE

Water use of the Columbia River main stem is diverre, and often 

one use conflicts with another. The river is used for transportation, 

cooling, recreation, power generation, irrigation, and waste disposal. 

Increases in population, irrigated acreage, and industry will have a 

great impact on water quality because of the increased re^se of water.

Sylvester (1960, p. 47) devised a water-usage factor to compare 

the past with the present and to predict future chemicf 1 quality of 

water hi the Columbia River basin. Predictions were made on the 

broad assumption that a constituent change between the present (1960) 

and the year 2000 would be proportional to the change in usage factors 

and constituent values between 1912 and the present. This factor, 

which takes into consideration population (including industrial waste

728-248 64-
62 SURFACE WATERS, LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER BASIF

equivalent), irrigated acreage, discharge, and drainage arm, is expressed as follows:

__________Population+irrigated acreage__________ 

Discharge in cubic feet per second-}-drainage area in square mi' "is

In applying this factor to the quality of the Columbia River near 

The Dalles, Sylvester used the average discharge and estimated the 

numerator factors. His predictions on quality for the year of 2000 

were compared with the weighted averages for the 1957 water year 

when discharge was within 6 percent of average. Sylvester (1960, 

p. 49) predicted that the weighted average dissolved-solids content 

of the Columbia River near The Dalles would increase to 153 ppm, 

which is about a 50-percent increase compared to the 1957 w^.ter year. 

In the 1957 water year, the Columbia River near The Dalles transported 19,670,000 tons of dissolved salts. Calculations using the discharge figure for the 1957 water year and Sylvester's figure for dissolved solids indicate that the total salt removal will have increased 

to 29,000,000 tons by the year 2000.

Irrigation in the main stem of the lower Columbia River is confined 

to the adjacent low-lying areas, and the quantity of water taken out 

of the river for this purpose is unknown; it can be assumedj however, 

to be small because the acreage suitable for irrigation is sm all. The 

net consumption of water by irrigation in the subbasins above The 

Dalles was estimated by Simons (1953, p. 121) as 5.3 percent of the 

yield for 1946. Since 1946 irrigation above The Dalles has been 

increasing, particularly in the Columbia Basin Project area in Washington. This and future increases will increase the amount of water 

consumed by irrigation and, in turn, will result in further chemical* 

quality deterioration at The Dalles.

The Columbia River main-stem water is generally suitable for 

irrigation. Using the maximum values for the 1950-59 record made 

at The Dalles, the water is rated, according to the standards of the 

U.S. Salinity Laboratory Staff (1954, p. 80), as having a low to 

medium salinity hazard and a low sodium hazard.

The estimated industrial use of surface water in the lower Columbia 

River basin is in excess of 826,000 acre-feet per year. Not ir eluded in 

the above estimate is the unknown amount of water used for cooling 

purposes by industries in the basin. The largest single us> made of 

the Columbia River by industry is waste disposal. In certain reaches 

of the river, this practice has caused problems that are discussed in the 

section on pollution.

From Portland upstream, the water of the Columbia River is suitable for most industrial uses. The dissolved-solids content of the
COLUMBIA RIVER MAIN STEM 63

water generally is less than 175 ppm, and hardness of water ranges 

from soft to moderately hard (fig. 27). The water may require some 

treatment for removal of turbidity and iron. Downstream from Portland, the quality of the water in the Columbia River is variable and 

complex. The effluents from cities and industries on both sides of the 

river alter the quality of the water cross-sectionally for considerable 

distances downstream from their point of discharge. The chemical 

quality is not seriously altered; however, if bacterial quality or organic wastes are particular criteria in a proposed usage, an "on site" 

study of water quality may be necessary to establish suitability.

The Columbia River is used by many people for boating, fishing, 

water skiing, and swimming. Upstream from Portland the river is 

generally suitable for all recreational uses although at times the coliform count has exceeded the limits recommended as being safe for 

swimming. Downstream from Portland the coliform exmnt at all 

seven stations (fig. 28) exceeded the limits for safe swrmming and 

water skiing at some time during August 1959-August 1960. At some 

places below Portland, the coliform count is 100 times tl 3 level considered safe for swimming. Even during periods of high discharge, 

the Columbia's flow is not large enough to dilute coliform counts to 

safe levels at some of these stations. The high coliform counts also 

are a possible health hazard to fishermen when handling fhh caught in 

these areas. At certain times of the year, the combination of nutrients 

from organic wastes, temperature, and steamflow are beneficial to 

the growth of slime, which fouls the lines of sport fishermen and the 

nets of commercial fishermen. The slime that grows in l^.rge quantities below Camas, Vancouver, and Longview, Wash., has been identified as sphaerotilus. It grows attached to objects in the stream, breaks 

off, and drifts down the river.

The water in the Columbia River above Portland is, in general, suitable for public supply, but some treatment would be necessary. Principal treatment required would be disinfection and removal of turbidity and suspended sediment. The water is moderately hard to 

soft and the maximum hardness on record is 104 ppm for a sample 

collected at The Dalles (fig. 27). Downstream from Portland the 

suitability of the water is questionable. Studies have shown that the 

usual methods for treating water can cause the finished water to have 

a bad taste when the raw water contains organic wastes or certain 

species of algae. Organic wastes from paper industries and cities 

are present in the river in addition to the slime growth. A study 

covering selected periods throughout the year would be neeied to deter-
64 SURFACE WATERS, LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN

mine if the raw Columbia River water could be economically treated 

to produce finished water without objectionable taste and odor. Furthermore, the variations in concentrations of the organic waste and 

the growth of slime may introduce operational problems for a watertreatment plant using water from this reach of the Columbia River.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of the streams in the lower Columbia River basin 

contain calcium magnesium bicarbonate type water. In general, the 

rivers rising in the Coast Range and west slope of the Cascade Range 

contained less than 100 ppm dissolved solids and less than 50 ppm 

hardness. Headwater reaches of streams on the east slope of the 

Cascade Range are very similar to those on the west slope; although 

irrigation downstream increases dissolved-solids content and hardness, 

most of the waters remain calcium magnesium bicarbonate in type. 

The maximum dissolved-solids content and some changes in chemical 

composition occur in the streams draining the more arid jart of the 

area. Irrigation in these more arid regions is chiefly responsible 

for increasing the dissolved-solids content and altering the chemical 

composition of the streams. The maximum dissolved-solids content 

and hardness observed in major irrigation areas were 507 and 262 ppm, 

respectively, for the Walla Walla River near Touchet, Wash.

A salt-balance problem exists in the Hermiston-StanfieM, Oreg., 

area of the Umatilla River basin, and because of poor drainage, improper irrigation practices could cause salt-balance problems in the 

Willamette River Valley, Oreg., where irrigation is rapidly increasing. According to the classification of the U.S. Salinity Laboratory 

Staff (1954, p. 80), most of the stream waters in the basin have low 

salinity and sodium hazards, and such waters are very suitable for 

irrigation applications.

Most of the tributary waters to the lower Columbia River are of 

excellent quality and could be used for a municipal supply after some 

treatment. Principal treatment required would be disinfection and 

turbidity removal. The waters also could be used by most industries 

without extensive treatment.

Pollution by sewage disposal has reached undesirable levels in the 

Walla Walla River, the Willamette River from Eugene to Portand, 

Oreg. and the Columbia River from Portland to Puget Islard. In the 

lower reaches of the Willamette River, the pollution load from sewage 

and industrial-waste disposal at times depletes the dissolved oxygen
CONCLUSIONS 65

of the water to a concentration less than that considered necessary for 

aquatic life.

In reviewing previous quality-of-water studies of the lov^er Columbia River basin, the author has noted that one paramete^ of water 

quality has received very little study that of fluvial sediment transport. The small amount of work done on sediment transport has 

been for specific local problems such as gravel-washing op orations or 

road construction. No comprehensive quantitative studies1 have been 

made to evaluate sediment production and transport in the lower 

Columbia River and the majority of its tributaries. A program should 

be undertaken to determine the rate and quantity of sediment being 

contributed to the lower Columbia River. This program should include mineralogic identification and particle-size-distribution determination, and it should consider ion-exchange processes1 and their 

effect on other water-quality parameters. The results of a study such 

as this would aid in planning, developing, and managing the water 

resources of the lower Columbia River basin.
TABLE 1. Representative chemical analyses 

[Results in parts per million except as indicated. Analyses by U

Location

Type of 

flow

Date of 

collection

Silica 

(SiOi)

Calcium 

(Ca)

Magnesium 

(Mg)

Sodium 

(Na)

Potassium 

(K)

Bicarbonate 

(HCOa)

Sulfate 

(SO,)

C

ri

(0

Umatilla River basin, Oregon

Umatilla River:

Do ............

Do... 

Do .. ....... ...

Do ............

Do 

Do 

McKay Creek near

Do - - 

Do 

Do 

Birch Creek at Rieth __ 

Do ..... 

Do. ........ .

Umatilla River at

Do - -

Do 

Do - - 

Butter Creek:

Near Pine City.--... 

Do

Do --- 

Do... ..... ....

S. F. Butter Creek near 

Heppner... . ______

Medium.. 

High 

... -do ..

Medium. . 

High 

Low.._._.

.-..-do... ..

High.....

Medium. . 

High 

High 

Medium. . 

High 

. .do.....

..-.do. .

High 

Medium.. 

High......

.....do.....

 -.do.....

June 17,1958 

Jan. 22,1959 

Apr. 7, 1959 

Sept. 9,1959 

Aug. 28,1956 

Jan. 21,1959 

Apr. 7, 1959 

Sept. 9,1959

June 18,1958 

Jan. 22,1959 

Apr. 7, 1959 

Sept. 9,1959 

Jan. 21,1959 

Apr. 7, 1959 

Sept. 8,1959

Mar. 26, 1951 

Jan. 21,1959 

Apr. 7, 1959 

Sept. 8,1959

Tnne ?S,1<>5?

June 16,1958 

Mar. 26, 1951 

Jan. 21,1959 

Apr. 7, 1959 

Sept. 8,1959 

Aug. 28,1956

June 16,1958

37 

30 

29 

35 

30 

31 

30 

32

43 

33 

34 

37 

38 

36 

39

33 

31 

35

44

36 

32 

34 

34

52

6.4 

4.0 

4.0 

8.0 

7.9 

5.5 

7.5 

10

8.0 

6.5 

6.0 

15 

14 

11 

40

7.5 

8.0 

12

36 

29

20 

21 

45 

44

32

1.0

1.6 

.8 

2.0 

2.6 

1.6 

1.2 

5.1

3.9 

2.9 

2.2 

3.8 

5.6 

4.2 

15

2.7 

1.8 

3.8

It

0.7

5.9 

1.2 

14

14

11

3.6 

2.2 

2.2 

7.7 

5.2 

3.1 

3.4 

9.9

4.2 

3.9 

3.4 

7.4 

10 

6.8 

38

4.8 

4.0

7.7

V, 

16

11 

7.5 

36 

48

32

1.8 

1.3 

1.6 

2.3 

2.4 

1.6 

1.6 

2.8

2.4 

1.7 

1.7 

2.8 

2.6 

2.3 

6.5

2 1 

L7 

3.0

4. 1 

3.8

2.7 

2.1 

5.3 

4.4

4.0

31 

25 

23 

49 

48 

31 

33 

69

51 

38 

36 

78 

81 

62 

222

39 

43 

38 

70

i 301 

164 

84 

103 

79 

242 

285

216

4.5 

1.4 

1.0 

1.6

2~1 

2.6 

4.9

4.9 

2.6 

2.1 

2.8 

6.4 

4.2 

35

4.0 

3.4 

2.8 

3.9

7.0 

7.0 

6.7 

3.6 

22

9.1

2

1
TJmatilla River near 

Umatilla 

Do.....-.. ... _...

Do........ ........

Do - .... .... ...... 

Do--. ......-.....

High--

High......

Mar. 26, 1951

Apr. 7, 1959 

Sept. 8,1959

39

Qyl

32 

42

20

13

12

48

8.0

A. <;

2.7 

12

8.3

6.6 

25

2.5

2.2 

6.2

122

57

73

57 

2254

8.0

5.0

5.0

3.7

12

Willow Creek basin, Oregon

Willow Creek:

Do . ... ....

Do. .. 

Do __

At Heppner Junction. 

Do.... 

Do ... .... -

High--

Medium. . 

High.. 

June 16,1958

Apr. 7, 1959 

Sept. 8,1959

Jan. 21,1959 

Apr. 7, 1959 

Sept. 8,1959

46

36

31 

39

38 

40 

33

37

21

19 

50

26 

35 

50

13

7.5

4.7 

20

10 

13 

18

28

11

7.6 

56

20 

33 

100

3.6

2.2

1.8 

9.4

3.2 

4.2 

5.9

3220

114

89 

338

147 

211 

433

14

5.9

3.7 

26

11 

14 

34

4

2

1

7

9

22

John Day River basin, Oregon

North Fork John Day 

River near Dale. .... 

Do ... .... .... .

Do ... ..... .... .

John Day River at Picture Gorge near Dayville..-. .... .. 

Do ....

Do ... ..... ... .....

Do 

Rock Creek near Condon. 

John Day River at

Do ... .... ......

Do ... . 

Do ....... ...

Do... .... ..... 

High...... 

Medium..

High...... 

Medium..

 do ...

High...... 

Medium. . 

Low_--_ 

Apr. 18, 1960 

June 13, 1960 

Aug. 17, 1960

Apr. 6,1951 

Jan. 22,1959 

Sept. 9,1959 

Aug. 17,1960 

June 28,1957

Mar. 14, 1951

Aug. 28,1959 

Apr. 18,1960 

June 13,1960 

Aug. 17,1960

23 

17 

15

30 

32

17

26 

28 

25 

9.9

7.0 

6.0 

12

26 

50 

50 

25

24 

14 

14 

22

2.0 

1.9 

4.2

13 

18 

20 

8.8

14 

5.5 

6.3 

6.9

2.7 

2.2 

3.9

9.8 

22 

24 

18

23 

6.3 

7.4 

9.6

1.0 

.9 

1.5

1.9 

4.0 

3.2 

3.9

3.3 

1.2 

1.2

1.7

38 

33 

60

132 

148 

274 

280 

150

142

*178 

82 

89 

106

2.8 

2.8 

7.2

12 

11 

23 

23

10 

13 

4.8 

4.8 

13

0

2

4

4

3

4

2

Deschutes River basin, Oregon

Deschutes River at 

Wickiup Reservoir..... 

Do 

Do.. ... ... .

Fall River near Lapine ...

Medium- . 

High...... 

__ do.. ....

Medium 

Apr. 19,1960 

June 14,1960 

Aug. 16,1960 

Apr. 3,1951

23

21 

18

3.5 

4.0 

4.0

1.7 

1.5 

1.6

4.0 

4.0 

4.5

1.4 

1.2 

1.5

34

32 

35 

40

0.2 

.4 

.0 

2.5

0

See footnotes at end of table.
TABLE 1. Representative chemical analyses of wa

Location

Type of 

flow

Date of 

collection

Silica 

(SiOi)

Calcium 

(Ca)

Magnesium 

(Mg)

Sodium 

(Na)

Potassium 

(K)

Bicarbonate 

(HCOs)

Sulfate

(S04)

C

Deschutes River basin, Oregon Continued

Little Deschutes River

Do ................

Do....... ............

Do ......... ......

Do .... 

Deschutes River near

Do ... 

Do..... ..............

Crooked River:

Do. .... . ...... . 

Do ............

Do ........ ... ...

Do....... .........

Metolius River near 

Grand view ............ 

Do.... ...............

Shitike Creek near Warm

White River near Tygh 

Valley..... ....... ..... . 

Do ...... .......

Do. . ......

Deschutes River near 

Moody ................. 

Do ........ ........

Do ......... ......

High.. 

.... doHigh.. 

 doHigh.. 

 do 

.... do 

High......

 do.....

Medium. . 

 do 

High......

High......

Low... ...

Apr. 3,1951

May 11,1956

Apr. 19,1960

June 14,1960

Aug. 16,1960

Apr. 19,1960

June 14,1960 

Aug. 16,1960

May 3,1961

Feb. 27,1951

Apr. 15,1958 

Apr. 19,1960

June 14,1960

Aug. 17,1960

Mar. 31, 1958

Mar. 3,1959 

May 19,1959

Jan. 23,1959 

May 20, 1959

Aug. 27,1959

Apr. 18,1960 

June 13,1960

Aug. 17,1960

26

26

22 

20

32

38

27 

32

27

31

20

30 

29

19

21 

21

25

30

29

31

3.2

3.0

4.0

4.0 

4.0

16

26

16 

16

26

26

6.2

6.5 

5.0

3.6

4.5 

5.0

6.5

8.0 

7.0

7.0

0 9

1.0

1.8

1.6 

1 9

6.6

11

6.1 

6.6

14

18

2.4

2.6 

2.8

.7

1.4 

1.6

2.9

3.6 

4.1

4.9

2.6

5.1

4.9 

5.2

13

7.3 

13

35

59

3.6

6.6 

6.4

3.3

2.9 

3.3

5.4

8.2 

9.4

10

1.0

1.2

1.2 

1.4

1 9

1.9 

2.0

3.6

6.0

.8

1.3 

1.3

g

.9 

.8

1.3

1.6 

1.8

1.8

25

22

22

23

24

36

33 

36

inn

158

87 

102

«226

1280

33

44

44

23

26 

31

44

62 

64

«70

2.6

.7

.4

.4 

.0

T4.8

12

2.8 

5.4

10

24

1.6

1.1 

1.1

.6

1.7 

1.6

3.1

2.0

.8

2.4
Klickitat River basin, Washington

Klickitat Elver near 

Glenwood __ .........

Do ... ... . ... 

Do 

Little Klickitat River 

near Wahkiacus _ . 

Do 

Do ... 

Medium- . 

High 

High......

-_do_-._--

Jan. 13,1959 

June 2, 1959

Jan. 13,1959

Aug. 28,1959

24 

20 

30

28 

28

30

4.5 

5.0 

7.0

8.0

8.5

12

2.3 

.9 

2.2

2.5 

4.7

5.0

2.6 

2.0 

3.5

3.4 

4.2

5.8

1.1 

.9 

1 9

1.4 

1.3

2.0

32 

26 

44

41 

58

79

0.9 

1.6 

1.4

1.5 

.8

.5

Hood River basin, Oregon

Green Point Creek below

Hood River near city of

Do 

Do............ ... .... 

Do ..... ..... ... ...

Do.... ...... ... .

High......

High......

May 12,1956

Nov. 26, 1950

Mar. 13,1951

Jan. 13,1959

Aug. 26,1959

13

21

18 

22

28

3.2

3.5 

5.0

7.0

1.1

1.2 

1.2

2.5

1.7

2.4 

2.8

4.5

0.3

.7 

.9

1.5

20

26

33

22 

27

42

1.3

4.4

1.2 

1.7

3.0

Willamette River basin, Oregon

Middle Fork Willamette 

Eiver at Jasper ____ . 

Do ..... -

Do. ... 

Coast Fork Willamette 

River near Cottage 

Grove... ............... 

Do.. _ ..............

Do ... 

McKenzie River near 

Coberg ...............

Do. __ 

Do 

Willamette River at

Do. _ I "'."'.'.

Do 

North Santiam River at 

Mehama ........._ 

Do .

Do... 

High 

High......

 ..do ..

High 

Medium..

High...... 

Medium. .

High 

Low......

Jan. 14, 1959 

May 12, 1959

Sept. 4,1959

Apr. 21,1960 

June 15,1960

Aug. 16,1960

Jan. 14,1959 

May 12,1959 

Sept. 4,1959

Apr. 21, 1960 

June 15,1960 

Aug. 16,1960

Jan. 14,1959 

May 12,1959

Sept. 4.1959

17 

18

18

15

14

14

16 

18 

23

16 

17 

18

9.6 

11

16

4.5 

5.5

5.0

5.0 

5.0

6.0

3.5 

4.5 

5.0

4.5 

5.0 

5.0

3.0 

3.5

4.0

0.9 

.7

1.3

.8 

1.1

1.7

1.3 

1.1 

1.9

.8 

1.1 

1.6

.3

.4

.7

2.3 

3.1

2.5

2.6 

2.9

3.1

2.3 

2.9

4.4

2.2 

3.1

1.6 

1.6

2.1

0.5 

.5

.9

.8 

.4

.4

.5

.7 

1.2

.7 

.7 

.8

.1 

.3

.6

24 

26

28

24 

27

32

22 

25 

35

23 

28 

31

14 

16

22

1.2 

1.2

1.4

1.2 

1.6

.6

1.1 

1.6 

2.3

1.2 

.6 

1.0

1.1

1.4

1.2

See footnotes at end of table.
TABLE 1. Representative chemical analyses of wa

Location

Type of 

flow

Date of 

collection

Silica 

(SiOj)

Calcium 

(Ca)

Magnesium 

(Mg)

Sodium 

(Na)

Potassium 

(K)

Bicarbonate 

(HC03)

Sulfate 

(S04)

Willamette River basin, Oregon Continued

Santiam River at JefferDo ...

Do _ _.

South Yamhill River

Do..... ..... .........

Do . 

Clackamas River near 

Estacada..-.. ___ 

Do ...... .......

.... _do._ 

High...... 

Low... ...

Apr. 21,1960

Aug. 16,1960

Apr. 21,1960

June 15,1960

Aug. 16,1960

Jan. 29,1959 

Sept. 2,1959

12

13

14

13

15

15

14 

19

4.0

4.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

12

3.0 

6.5

0.2

.8

2.3

.8

2.6

3.8

.9 

1.6

1.8

2.3

2.5

4.0

6.0

8.4

1.8 

4.3

0.4

.5

.5

.8

.5

.7

.5 

1.0

18

22

23

23

40

57

19 

36

1.0

1.2

3.2

4.0

4.0

4.2

.3 

1.2

Cowlitz River basin, Washington

Cowlitz River at Packwood-- 

Do..... ..............

Cispus River near Randle. 

Do ...

Cowlitz River near Mayfleld

South Fork Toutle River

Do .

Toutle River near Silver

Do ..... ..... ....

Do .... ........ ... .

High......

Medium. .

 do.......

...do . ...

...do. ...

...do.......

June 22,1960 

Aug. 24,1960

June 22,1960 

Aug. 24,1960

Oct. 10,1956

Aug. 24,1960

Oct. 10,1956

June 22,1960

Aug. 24,1960

9.1 

10

15 

20

13

16

19

16

17

4.0

5.5

4.0 

6.0

7.5

5.2

4.0

6.4

4.0

6.0

0.9

.8

1.7 

1.2

1.4

.9

1.4

1.6

1.1

1.3

2.0

2.8

2.3 

3.7

3.4

3.7

6.7

4.1

5.0

0.2 

.3

.5 

1.4

.5

.6

.7

.4

.7

20 

24

23 

31

34

26

24

31

23

27

1.4 

2.2

2.2 

2.8

2.6

2.2
Cowlitz River at Castle

Do... ..... ....... ....

Do....... .........

Sept. 30, 1947 

Jan. 7, 1948 

Oct. 10,1956

19 

15 

16

6.8

4.8 

7.9

1.8 

.9 

.5 4.4 0.7

45 

20 

34

4.4 

4.4

Elochoman River basin, Washington

Elochoman River near

Do.... ........ ...... .

Low __

...do.......

June 22,1960 

Aug. 23,1960

14 

14

5.5 

6.5

0.9 

1.3

4.1 

4.6

0.4 

.6

24 

25

2.2 

2.2

Grays River basin, Washington

Grays River near city of

Do. _ ............... ...do.......

June 22,1960 

Aug. 23,1960

11 

11

5.0 

6.0

0.3 

1.2

3.5

4.4

0.1 

.4

22 

25

2.0 

4.2

Youngs River basin, Oregon

Youngs River near AsDo 

June 23,1960 

Aug. 23,1960

13 

13

3.0 

3.0

0.9 

1.7

5.6 

6.5

0.4 

.7

16 

20

2.6 

2.6

1 Contains the equivalent of 4 ppm carbonate.

2 Contains the equivalent of 10 ppm carbonate. 

8 Contains the equivalent of 14 ppm carbonate. 

4 Contains the equivalent of 6 ppm carbonate.

* Contains the equ

« Contains the equ

1 Sample also cont
72 SURFACE WATERS, LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN

SELECTED REFERENCES

American Public Health Association and others, 1960, Standard methods for the 

examination of water, sewage, and industrial waste: llth ed., New York, 

Am. Public Health Assoc., 626 p.

Baldwin, E. M., 1959, Geology of Oregon: Ann Harbor, Mich., Edwards Brothers, 

136 p.

Bowering, Reginald, and others, 1961, Watershed control for water quality management: Pollution Control Council, Pacific Northwest Area, U.S. Public 

Health Service, 36 p.

Burt, W. V., 1956, Hydrography of Oregon estuaries prior to June 1956: Corvallis, Oreg., Oregon State Coll. (now Oregon State Univ.), 22 p.

Dimick, R. E., and Merryfield, F., 1945, The fishes of the Willamette River system in relation to pollution: Oregon State Coll. (now Oregon State Univ.) 

Bull. 20, 58 p.

Flaxman, E. M., 1953, Sedimentation in Cold Springs Reservoir: U.S. Dept 

Agriculture, SCS-TP-117,26 p.

Gleeson, G. W., 1936, A sanitary survey of the Willamette Valley: Oregon State 

Agr. Coll. (now Oregon State Univ.) Bull. 6, 36 p.

Griflin, W. C., Watkins, F. A., Jr., and Swenson, H. A., 1956, Water resources of 

the Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington, area: U.S. Geol. Survey 

Circ. 372, 45 p.

Hem, J. D., 1959, Study and interpretation of the chemical characteristics of 

natural water: U.S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 1473, 2?9 p.

Jones, K. R., and others, 1951, An investigation of pollution in the lower Columbia River: Washington Pollution Control Comm. Tech. Bull. 12, 53 p.

Jones, R. E., and others, 1955, Final report Willamette River Basin Commission: 

State of Oregon, 48 p.

Lincoln, J. H., and Foster, R. F., 1943, Investigation of pollution in the lower 

Columbia River: Washington Pollution Control Comm. and Oregon State 

Sanitary Authority, 143 p.

Merryfield, F., and others, 1947, Industrial and city wastes: Oregon State Coll. 

(Now Orgeon State Univ.) Bull. 22,56 p.

Northcraft, M., and Westgarth, W. C., 1957, Water quality data inventory supplement: Oregon State Water Resources Board, Bull. 2, 71 p.

Oregon State Sanitary Authority, 1951, Stream survey report, Willanette River: 

Oregon State Sanitary Authority, 15 p.

 1952, Stream survey report, Willamette River: Oregon State Sanitary 

Authority, 11 p.

 1953, Stream survey report, Willamette River: Oregon State Sanitary 

Authority, 26 p.

1959, Water pollution control in Oregon, 1959 annual report: Oregon

State Sanitary Authority, 30 p. 

Phillips, E. L., 1960, Climates of the states, Washington: U.S. Dept. Commerce,

Weather Bur. Climatography of the United States, no. 60-45, 23 p. 

Piper, A. M., 1942, Ground water resources of the Willamette R'ver Valley,

Oregon: U.S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 890, 194 p. 

Portland Department of Public Works, 1949, Report on the pollutior analysis in

Willamette and Columbia Rivers at Portland, Oregon: Portlar«l [Oregon]

Dept. Public Works, 294 p. 

Price, D., 1961, Record of wells, water levels, and chemical qualit;7 of ground

water in the French Prairie-Mission Bottom area, northern Willamette

Valley, Oregon: Oregon Ground Water Rept. 1, 314 p.
SELECTED REFERENCES 73

Rainwater, F. H., and Thatcher, L. L., I960, Methods for collectior and analysis

of water samples: U.S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 1454, 301 p. 

Robeck, G. G., and others, 1954, Water quality studies on the Colombia River:

U.S. Public Health Service, 294 p. 

Rogers, H. S., and others, 1930, A sanitary survey of the Willamette Valley:

Oregon State Agr. Coll. (now Oregon State Univ.) Bull. 2, 55 p. 

Sawyer, C. N., and others, 1945, Investigation of the odor nuisance occurring in

the Madison Lakes particularly Monona, Waubesa, Kegonsa f^om July 1943

to July 1944: Wisconsin, Governor's Committee Rept. 

Simons, W. D., 1953, Irrigation and streamflow depletion in Columbia River

basin above The Dalles, Oregon: U.S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper

1220,126 p. 

Stearnes, H. T., 1928, Geology and water resources of the upper McKenzie Valley,

Oregon: U.S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 597-D, p. 171-178. 

Sternes, G. L., 1960, Climate of the States, Oregon: U.S. Dept. Commerce,

Weather Bur. Climatography of the United States, no. 60-35, 20 p. 

Sylvester, R. O., 1958, Water quality studies in the Columbia Riv^r basin: U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Special Scientific Rept Fisheries, no. 239, 134 p.

 1960, Some water quality relationships in the middle faction of the

Columbia River, in Proceedings of the Water Quality Conference: Pullman,

Washington State Univ., p. 45-64. 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1960, Interim report on 1959 current measurement

program Columbia River at mouth Oregon and Washington: v. 4, pis. 1,

195-292. 

U.S. Department of Commerce, 1950, Census of population: Washington, D.C.,

Census Bur., v. 1, chap. 37,47. 

U.S. National Bureau of Standards, 1953, Maximum permissible amounts of

radioisotopes in the human body and maximum permissible concentrations in

air and water: U.S. Natl. Bur. Standards Handb. 52, 45 p. 

U.S. Public Health Service, 1950, Report on water pollution control, Willamette

River basin: U.S. Public Health Service, Water Pollution Ser., no. 19,186 p.

 1953, Report on water-pollution, Columbia River basin 1 Tlow Takima 

River: U.S. Public Health Service, Water pollution ser., no. 45, 132 p.

 1953, Water quality studies Bonneville Reservoir: U.S. Public Health 

Service PHS-CRS-8, 40 p.

 1958, Transcript of conference in the matter of pollution of interstate 

waters, lower Columbia River, Bonneville Dam to Cathlamet, Washington: 

U.S. Public Health Service, 165 p.

 1959, National water quality network annual compilation of, data, Oct. 1, 

1957-Sept. 30, 1958: U.S. Public Health Service pub. 663, 23f> p.

 [no date], National water quality network annual compilation of data, 

Oct. 1, 1958-Sept. 30, 1959: U.S. Public Health Service pub 663, 323 p.

 1962, Drinking Water Standards: U.S. Public Health Service pub. 956,

61 p.

U.S. Salinity Laboratory Staff, 1954, Diagnosis and improvement of saline and 

alkali soil: U.S. Dept. Agriculture Handb. 60, 160 p.

Van Winkle, W., 1914a, Quality of surface waters of Washington: U.S. Geol. 

Survey Water-Supply Paper 339,105 p.

 1914b, Quality of surface waters of Oregon: U.S. Geol. fnrvey WaterSupply Paper 363,137 p.

Westgarth, W. C., and Northcraft, M., [no date], Water quality d-rta inventory: 

Oregon State Water Resources Board Bull. 1,129 p.

INDEX

[Italic numbers indicate major references]

Acknowledgments.. .. _ - _ 

Agriculture, principal industryexpansion.... _ . 

Algae, Deschutes River.. ___ 

Alluvial fan, Walla Walla River

Page

4

5

2

27

9

Aluminum reduction, principal industry. _ _ __ 5

Analysis, chemical, of water samples 9,

15,19,23,28,30,53,44,47,51

Astoria, average precipitation __ 5 

Atomic Energy Commission installation,

Hanford.. ____________ 4, 58

B coli index, Willamette River......____ 2

Bacteria, coliform... -..____ 13,25, 48, 46,49, 57, 63 

Bend, volcanic formations__________ 23 

Beta activity, limits in drinking water....... 61

seasonal variation.....__.. 59

Bibliography.__________________ 72 

Bingen Anticline. _________.. 51 

Biological oxygen demand... __.. 2,27, 4*.49,57 

Blue Mountains, maximum elevations_.... 19

precipitation..--.--______._ 5 

rock types.. 9 

timber. ....__...._._________ 21

Boating-.-.__._ _________ 19,44 

BOD, defined.___ __________._ 2 

Bonneville, water pollution___ - 4 

Bull Run River, water use.._____ SI

Calapooya Mountains, boundary of Willamette River basin. ____...__ 52

Cascade Range, boundary of Willamette River

basin_______________ 52 

Cowlitz River__________... .... 46 

Deschutes River_.____________ 23 

Klickitat River.....____________ 28 

rock types.. 23 

timber____._.________ __ 5

Chemical analyses, water samples.. 9, 

15,19, 23,28,30,55,44,47, 6t

Chemical constituents in water, dissolved.... 9 

dissolved, expression of results.. 8

Chemical quality of water, description_ 9, 

15,23,28,30,5S,44,47,5J,<« 

earliest investigation___________ 2 

for irrigation_________________ 17 

John Day River basin__________ SO 

Klickitat River basin____________ £& 

method for prediction.-- __ 4,62 

Sandy and Hood Rivers_____-___ 30 

Walla Walla River.._________... 14

Cispus River, tributary of Cowlitz River__ 48

Page

Cities, major, in the basin_. 5 

Coast Fork Willamette River.....______ 34 

Coast Range, tributaries of Columbia River 49 

Youngs River,.__ 8 

Cold Springs Reservoir 17 

Coliform bacteria.._______ 13 25, 42, 46,49, 57,63 

Columbia River, confluence vrith Snake

River...______ .__ 2,50

discharge. 6

geology 50

lower, tributary streams.. 9

main stem.. SO

radioactivity-.. 57, 58

sampling points.-.. 2

tributaries below Cowlitz Rivnr... 49

Columbia River Basalt_ 9

Conclusions..-.- 64

Cowlitz River, tributary of Columbia River. 4,6, 46

Cowlitz River plain.- 5

Crooked River, confluence with Deschutes

River__________ __ 24

major tributary of Deschutes River. .. 23

Crops, Walla Waila River basin_______ 9

D

Dalles Syncline.-. . .... .. 51

Dams, Deschutes River... #4

Deschutes River, tributary of Columbia

River...____ .____ _ 4,6,23

Description of the basin.. 5

Discharge, characteristics.. 6 

correlation with beta activity 59 

Cowlitz River... 47 

high, period of._... 8 

John Day River basin.. 19 

relation to salt load 52 

Willamette River, effect on chemical

quality_____ 39

Dissolved-solids content, Columbia River_. SI, 62 

Cowlitz River basin_ 47 

Deschutes River__ S3 

in water. _____ 9 

expression of results.. - - 8 

John Day River__ SO 

Klickitat River.. -_______ __ 28 

Lewis River______ ___. 44 

McKenzie River, relation to d'^harge 34 

Mount Hood streams___ __ 31 

Willamette River_... 4,55

Drainage area of the basin 5

E

East Fork Lewis River._. __ ____ 44

East Fork Touchet River, water diversions.. 13

Eugene, major city in the basin . 5

75
76 INDEX

F

Page

Farming, Willamette Valley____.____ 42

Fishing, John Day River____________ 22

pollution hazard.. . _________ 13

radioactivity... _-_________ 58

trout.. __ __.__________ 19

Willamette River basin..._________ 44

Flooding, Willamette River.._________ 41

Flow, patterns..--_______________ 8

types, effect on character of water.____ 15

Food processing, principal industry._____ 5

G

Geology, John Day River drainage....___ 19

Glaciers______________________ 6

Ground water, development for irrigation-_ 42

industrial use in Cowlitz River basin__ 48

inflow to Crooked River__________ 24

H

Hanford, water quality_ __.._____ 4

Hanford Atomic Plant operations.______ 58

Hardnessof water, Columbia River. ___ 51,54,63

John Day River_______________ SO

Lewis River._______________ 45

springs_ .... . __ 10

Touchet River,....-.___________ 12

Willamette River basin______ -____ 54 

Health hazard, Columbia River___ __._ 58 

Hellroaring Creek, tributary of Klickitat

River......... _ ......... 28

Hood River.,..-.-..______________ SO

Indian Creek, tributary of Columbia River... 32

Industries, Cowlitz River basin___.____ 46

Deschutes River basin____ ____.. 27

expansion.... __ ......____ 2

principal__..____.._________ 5

Walla Walla River basin... ....._ 14

wastes, Columbia River.___._____ 57

Willamette River valley_______. __ 41

Introduction..... ..__ __ ___.. #

Irrigation canals, conveyance losses. 27

proposals. .._ .. .. 30

Irrigation water, alluvial fan..__ - 10

Columbia River.__....._.....__ 62

Cowlitz River basin.. __ __ .. 48 

dissol ved-solids content_______.. 15,23,24

from Hellroaring Creek.._________ 28

Hood River basin......________.. 31

pollution_ _ __....__ 14

shortage . __ ___.___ 13

Willamette River basin..._______ _ 41

John Day Formation___..__ -._.... 23

John Day River, discharge and drainage__.. 19

tributary of Columbia River..... 19

John Day River basin___-_____.__...

Page 

Klickitat River, tributary of Columbia River. S8

Lewis River, tributary of Columbia River... 4,6, 44 

Little Klickitat River, major tributary of

Klickitat River_._ .... 28 

Longview, major city in the basin.. . 5 

Lumber, principal industry__.... . ... 5,46

M

McKay Creek, reservoir. 17 

McKenzie River, dissolved-solids content- SS 

relation of dissolved -solids content to discharge.. . 34 

McNary Dam... . 4 

Metolius River, confluence with Deschutes

River......... ... . ..- i4

discharge characteristics.. . 8 

Middle Fork Willamette River..... . 34

Mill Creek, water diversions.-... . 13 

MosierSyncline..-. - - - 51 

Mount Adams, boundary of Cow'itz River

basin... . - 46 

Lewis River......._.--.--.-.. 44

tributaries to Klickitat River...._._ 28

Mount Hood, elevation, lithology, and

streams_-_.- -..-. ... SO 

Mount Rainier, boundary of Cow'itz River

basin. . 46 

snow___ 6 

Mount St. Helens, boundary of Cowlitz River

basin_ ... . 46 

MPN- .- 13

Municipal expansion.-. 2

N

North and South Forks, Walla WaMa River,

confluence 9 

North Fork John Day River, drainage area 19

Oregon Coast Range, boundary of Willamette

River basin___ . SS

Orthophosphate concentrations, Walla Walla

River..... . 14

Ortley Anticline_~ . 51

Oxygen, dissolved, Willamette Rive". 2

Pacific border... 5

Pasco, Wash.. 5

Paterson, water quality.... 4

Plankton, absorption of radionuclides... 58

Plateau, semi-arid 5
INDEX 77

Page

Pollution, Columbia River. ............... 67

Cowlitz River........ .... ... 49

Klickitat River.....__...... ... 30

Lewis River........ . . 46

low-level, Deschutes River... . &$

Mount Hood streams... 31

studies-- - . - . .-.----. %

Walla Walla River basin_________ IS

Willamette River..._ ...... 42

Population. 5

Portland, major city in the basin.-.-- 5

Powersites, Cowlitz River basin.. ...... 48

Precipitation, Lewis River basin_ 44

lower Columbia River basin_ _ 5, 14

Previous investigations. S

Puget Island, water pollution 2

Pulp and paper, principal industry 5

Purpose and scope of investigation.. 8

Q

Quality of water, chemical... 9, 17, SO, S3,44, 47, SI, 61

chemical, Deschutes River basin.... SS

Klickitat River basin. 28

Sandy and Hood Rivers.. 30

Walla Walla River... .. 14

Radioactivity, Columbia River_______ 57,58

measurements of pollution 4

Rain... 6

............................ 10

Recreation, Deschutes River basin... 27

John Day River___ __________ 22

Klickitat River...... 30

Lewis River.. . 46

water-pollution hazard..-.- 13

Willamette River basin.._ 44

Reservoir, Lewis River. 45

Runoff, Cowlitz River basin-__ _._.. 46

John Day River basin 20

Lewis River basin 44

lower Columbia River basin. _ 5,51

S

Salem, major city in the basin 5

Salinity, Columbia River.. 56,62

Cowlitz River basin _ 48

Deschutes River...- 23, 28 

Hood River...____ 32

John Day River.-__ -. __ 22 

Klickitat River.._____ -__ 30 

study. 4 

Umatilla River basin. _. 17 

Walla Walla River...____.... ___ 10

Willamette River basin.._.__.. 41

Salt load, annual transport rate for Willamette

River.....__-__ ___ . 36 

relation to discharge. _ 52

Sandy River...._____________ - SO, 31

Page

Santiam River, tributary of Willamette River. 34

Sediment, Crooked River.__________ 24

transport, further study needed_____ 65

Sewage. _________________ 44 

Snake River, confluence with Columbia

River..... ... ...__ 2,50

Snow_ ____________________ 5,30

Sodium hazard, Columbia River..._____ 62

Cowlitz River basin____________ 48

Deschutes River basin_______ __ 28

Hood River..________________ 32

Klickitat River...__________.__ 30

Umatilla River basin___________ 17

Willamette River basin__ _____ __ 41

South and North Forks, Walla Walla River,

confluence____________ 9

Specific conductance, Willamette River... _ 37

Spokane Flood, deposition__________ 50

Springs, dissolved-solids content-______ 15

Storage, Willamette River.._________ 41

Streams tributary to lower Columbia River_ 9

Swimming, pollution hazard_________ 13

Willamette River basin__________ 44

Temperature, Columbia River...____.

Willamette River___________. 

Timber, Cascade Range__________. 

Touchet River, dissolved-solids content.. _.

major tributary of Walla Walla River.. 

Tourist trade, principal industry.. ____. 

Toutle River, tributary of Cowlitz RiverTributary streams, lower Columbia River.. 

Tualatin River, dissolved-solids content_. 

Tumalo, volcanic formations......____.

52

27

12

36

23

U

Umatilla, Oreg., average precipitation. _ 5

Umatilla River, dissolved-solids content___ 15

tributary of Columbia River... __. __ 14

Units for expression of results_._.._____ S

Vancouver, major city in the basin. 

W

Walla Walla, major city in the basin......... 5

Walla Walla River, tributary o' Columbia

River....._____._______ 4, 9

Wallula Lake, pollution.-.___________ 13 

Water in Walla Walla River basir....____ 14

Water samples, chemical analyses.. 9,

15,19,23,28,30,33,44

Water storage.... 44

Water supply, Cowlitz River basil 48 

John Day River basin . - 22 

Willamette River basin .. 42
78 INDEX

Water treatment, Columbia River.

removal of radionuclid.es_-_.

Willamette River basin__ _. 

Water use, Columbia River.. _._.

Cowlitz River basin. _ __.

Klickitat River basin_____.

Lewis River.. .

Mount Hood streams..-.. .

Walla Walla River basin. _.. .

Willamette River basin___. 

Water-use studies, future____.. 

Wells, irrigation__ . 

West Fork Hood River..._____.

Page

63

61

41

61

Page

White Creek, major tributary of Klickitat

River__ 28 

White River, tributary to Deschutes River SO 

Willamette River, pollution study . 2 

tributary of Columbia River.... 4,6,5? 

Willamette River plain_ 5 

Willamette River valley, chronology of deposition...__ 32 

Willow Creek, tributary of Columb'a River.. 14, 17

Yamhill River, dissolved-solids content__ 36 

Youngs River, headwaters in 8