Most conventional pollutants meet established standards.
However, the standards for temperature and total dissolved gas are commonly exceeded in the lower Columbia. Bacteria, pH, and dissolved oxygen concentrations occasionally exceed standards. This means that full protection is not currently being provided, at a time when salmon and steelhead populations are under stress and human water contact activities are increasing. In the lower Columbia River and estuary, temperature, turbidity, bacteria, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved gas, and other conventional pollutants are controlled to levels that protect the health of fish, wildlife, and humans. Conventional pollutants from all sources will be prevented or reduced, and the Clean Water Act will be fully implemented with respect to conventional pollutants.