EPA-9IO/9-76-026B
E3NVIBONIVIENTAL QTTAT.TTV PROFILE 1976
technical suppilesiifint
IDAHO
-------
SUPPLEMENT
1976 ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY PROFILE
FOR IDAHO
-------
This report has been reviewed by EPA Region X
and is approved for publication. Approval does
not necessarily signify that the contents reflect
the views or policies of the Environmental
Protection Agency, nor does mention of trade
names or commercial products constitute endorse-
ment or recommendation for use.
-------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
I. INTRODUCTION 1
II. AIR QUALITY PROFILE 3
Regional Air Quality Profile 3
Air Quality In Idaho 5
Pollutants In Excess Of Health Standards 6
Severity Of Pollution 8
Pollutant Sources 10
Air Pollution Trends 12
Near Term Outlook 14
III. WATER QUALITY PROFILE 15
Regional Water Quality Profile 15
Water Quality In Idaho 22
Pollution Sources 24
Suspended Solids 24
Biological Oxygen Demand 26
Total Phosphorus 28
Water Pollution Trends 32
Near Term Outlook 34
-------
LIST OF FIGURES
Number . Page
1 Days Exceeding Health Standards
by Pollutant 7
2 Days Exceeding Health Standards
by Severity 9
3 ' • Point and Area Source Particulate
Emissions 11
4 Attainment Status and Trends in
Air Pollution 13
5 Mainstem Average Water Quality -
Principal Rivers in Region X 16
6 Region X River Water Quality Status 18
7 Mainstem Average Water Quality per ,
River Mile - Principal Rivers
in Idaho ' 23
8 Point Source and Non-Point Source
Loadings - Suspended Solids 25
9 Point Source and Non-Point Source
Loadings - Biological Oxygen Demand 27
10 Point Source and Non-Point Source
Loadings - Total Phosphorus 30
11 Federal Criteria Violations 33
-------
LIST OF TABLES
Number Page
1 Region X States - Concentrations
Exceeding Standard 3
2 Principle Cities - Concentrations
Exceeding Standard ' 3
3 Auto-Related Violation Days 4
. 4 Threshold Pollutant Concentrations 8 •
5 Percent of Regional Rivers Not
Meeting Criteria 19
6 Water Quality Trends of Regional
Rivers ' 19
-------
1976 ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY PROFILE SUPPLEMENT
FOR IDAHO
INTRODUCTION
State, federal, and local environmental quality control agencies
maintain monitoring networks to scientifically measure the quality of
our environment. These monitoring networks are invaluable in deter-
mining where pollution problems exist and to measure the success or
failure of abatement and pollution prevention programs.
The Seattle Regional Office of the Environmental Protection Agency
annually evaluates all data collected by northwest pollution control
agencies and submitted to the EPA computer data storage systems. We
feel the public should be made aware of the results of these evalua-
tions. This document and similar future documents are designed to report
on the present status of northwest air and water quality, trends in that
quality, an analysis of the causes and effects of observed pollution
problems and our view of the near term outlook for solving these problems.
This report is a technical supplement to the 1976 Regional Environmental
Quality Profile and is designed to inform the reader about the general
status of the environment within the state.
The reader may find a few inconsistencies between this supplement
and the 1976 Regional Environmental Quality Profile due to the continual .
profile upgrading process which includes improvement of evaluation and
presentation techniques. - These changes are the result of our readers
comments and suggestions. Formulating useful and accurate indices of
environmental quality is a difficult task. Additional suggestions for
improving the information presented in this document would be appreciated.
Please direct your comments to the Office of the Regional Administrator,
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Seattle,
Washington 98101.
-------
REGIONAL AIR QUALITY PROFILE
OVERVIEW
Air pollution—as pollutant concentrations in excess of those estab-
lished by National health-related air quality standards—occurs in every
State in Federal Administrative Region X. Standards for four of the most
widespread pollutants were exceeded in the State of Washington for the
three year period ending in 1974. Alaska and Idaho exceeded standards for
two of the four. Three standards were exceeded in Oregon. Frequency of
excessive pollutant concentrations, as measured by number of violation-days,
was greatest in sparsely populated Idaho, least in Oregon. (A violation-
day, for the purposes of this report, was established whenever a standard
was exceeded in a county.) More serious "alert level" pollutant concen-
trations were recorded most often in Alaska, least.often in Oregon.
TABLE 1 - REGION X STATES
Concentrations Exceeding Standard
Carbon Photo Particulate Sulfur
Monoxide Oxidants Matter Dioxide
Violation-Days
Standard Alert
Exceeded Level
Alaska
Idaho
Oregon
Washington
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
412
446
301
368
174
149
40
48
Excessive pollutant levels were concentrated in nine Region X com-
munities that together accounted for 72 percent of all violation-days and
74 percent of all alert level violation-days. The core cities of the
Region's seven standard metropolitan statistical areas were responsible
for just under half of all violation-days and just under two-fifths of
all alert level violation-days. But two fairly small communities, Fair-
banks, Alaska and Kellogg-Wallace, Idaho, exceeded any of the larger
cities in numbers of times excessive pollutant concentrations were
recorded, and were responsible for almost half of all recorded pollutant
concentrations above the alert level.
TABLE 2 - PRINCIPAL CITIES •
Concentrations Exceeding Standard
Carbon Photo Particulate Sulfur
Monoxide Oxidants Matter Dioxide
Seattle . X
Portland X
Spokane X
Tacoma X
Anchorage X
Boise
Eugene X
Salem X
Fairbanks X
Kellogg-Wallace
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
•X
X
X
X
Violation-Days
X
Standard
Exceeded
149
165
82
43
142
11
56
23
203
217
Alert
Level
16
'30
3
5
90
6
2
1
73
69
-------
A great deal of Region X's air pollution can be attributed to the
automobile. Just under half of Alaska's violation-days can be traced to
the automobile and the bulk of Oregon's and Washington's problems (in
violation-days) can be traced to the automobile. The bulk of Oregon's
and Washington's standards violation problems were due to carbon monoxide
and photochemical oxidant concentrations that occurred around the largest
cities of the two States. Those pollutants could be traced almost entirely
(i.e., 80 to 90 percent) to automobile exhausts. Because well over half of
the Region's population lives in and around the six cities in which such
pollution occurs, population exposure to risk as a consequence of auto-
mobile emissions is a significant public health problem of the Pacific
Northwest and Alaska.
TABLE 3 - AUTO-RELATED VIOLATION DAYS
Alaska 42.2%
Anchorage 16.9%
Fairbanks 77.8%
Idaho No Data
Oregon 85.0%
Portland 97.6%
Eugene 85.7%
Salem 100.0%
Washington 66.8%'
Seattle 99.3%
Spokane 82.9%
Tacoma 46.5%
Region X 45.1%
-------
AIR QUALITY IN IDAHO
Under the Clean Air Act of 1970, the Environmental Protection Agency
has established National standards that specify maximum permissable levels
of pollutant materials in air.
Standards for the principal and most widespread pollutants—total
suspended particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, photo-
chemical oxidants, and oxides of nitrogen—are divided into two catego-
ries. Primary standards are set at levels intended to protect human
health.Secondary standards are set at levels intended to protect against
other forms of damage caused by air pollution.
The material that follows is an attempt to describe simply what is
known about air quality in the State of Idaho in terms of its adherence
to National primary air quality standards. Those standards have been
established to protect against the following specific health effects that
have been demonstrated to stem from the particular pollutant:
Total suspended particulates—aggravation of asthma and chronic
lung diseases, increased cough, chest discomfort, restricted
activity, aggravation of heart and lung disease symptoms in
the elderly, increased death rate;
Sulfur dioxide—aggravation of asthma, aggravation of heart and
lung disease symptoms in the elderly, increased lung illness,
increased death rate;
Carbon monoxide—interference with mental and physical activity,
reduced capacity in persons suffering from heart and other
circulatory disorders;
Photochemical oxidants—aggravation of asthma and chronic lung
disease, irritation of the eye and of the respiratory tract,
decreased vision, reduced heart and lung capacity;
Oxides of nitrogen—increased chronic bronchitis. •
The material is presented in graphic form. It is intended to depict:
l) where, and how often, primary standards were exceeded in 1974,
2) location and frequency of severe concentrations of health dam-
aging pollutants in 1974,
•3) indicated trend of pollutant concentrations in the period 1972
to 1974, and '
4) sources of the principal pollutants found to be in excess of
the primary standard in 1974.
-------
POLLUTANTS IN EXCESS,OF HEALTH STANDARDS
During the three year period ending in 1974, ten of Idaho's forty-
four counties experienced recorded concentration of pollutants that
exceeded the allowable maxima specified by primary air quality standards.
The counties are ranked in the chart (Figure l) according to the average
number of days per year in which a standard was exceeded.
Standards for two pollutants were not met. Particulate matter (gray
bar) was the most widespread cause of ah exceeded standard. Concentrations
above the primary standard occurred in every county in which the standards
were not met.
The sulfur dioxide standard was exceeded only in Shoshone County,
where it was not met on 164 days—approximately 45/& of the entire year.
Shoshone County, with it's 217 violation-days for particulates and
sulfur dioxide, constituted 77% of the State of Idaho's violation-days and
20% of all violation-days in the three State area.
-------
200- -
150- •
LU
LU
Q-
100- •
50- •
Figure 1
IDAHO
DAYS EXCEEDING HEALTH STANDARD
BY POLLUTANT
164
Z
o
I
1/5
O
I
to
PARTICULATES
:::: CARBON MONOXIDE
jgg PHOTO OXIDANTS
[j] SULFUR DIOXIDE
12
10
PRIMARY (HEALTH) STANDARD NOT EXCEEDED
D
O
CO
U
Z
O
>-
Z
<
u
U
o
U
a:
LU
N
LU
Z
<
U_
z
<
<
<
a
<
to
a:
LU
I
O
o
z
Z
o
CO
-------
SEVERITY OF POLLUTION
Primary air quality standards include three degrees of risk, accord-
ing to level of pollutant concentrations. The nature of potential health
damage is the same at each level, but the probability of damage and the
proportion of the population that is predisposed to health impairment
increases as the amount of pollutants in air increases. There are dis-
tinct thresholds that indicate the degree of risk that is believed to
be associated with certain pollutant concentrations, and these are recog-
nized in the primary air quality standards. As the higher concentrations
occur, the enhanced danger of the consequent pollution is designated by an
air quality standard category. "Alert" level pollutant concentrations are
thought to be significantly more serious than lower concentrations exceeding
the primary standard. "Warning" levels are thought to be significantly
more serious than alert.
TABLE 4
.Threshold Pollutant Concentrations
(per cubic meter of air)
Pollutant . Standard Alert Warning
Particulates (24 hour) 260 micrograms 375 625
Sulfur .dioxide (24 hour) - 365 micrograms 800 1,600
Carbon monoxide (8 hour) 10 milligrams 17 34
Oxidants (l hour) 160 micrograms 200 800
In 1974 (Figure 2), at least 149 of the 446 instances in which health
standards were exceeded, in Idaho involved concentrations at or above the
alert level. Almost half of those more serious conditions occurred in
Shoshone County's mining-smelting area.
-------
250-rr
200- •
150- •
LLJ
Q.
to
100- -
50- -
Figure 2
IDAHO
DAYS EXCEEDING HEALTH STANDARD
••
m
m
m
\ m
p^—
69
748"
LJ 1 «J L. V L. 1X1
[_J ABOVE ALERT
1 | ABOVE PRIMARY
18 r^i
~ rrr r— i
Q. LTL..H R JJ^L
3
PRIMARY (HEALTH) STANDARD NOT EXCEEDED
SHOSHONE
<
<
Z
5
O
2
Z
§
co
O
-------
POLLUTANT SOURCES
The graph in Figure 3 below indicates the estimated.distribution of
particulate matter emissions by source in those Idaho .counties in which
a primary air quality standard was exceeded in 1974. Substantially all
sulfur dioxide emanated from a single complex of point sources.
Such point sources—large, recognizable features such as factories—
accounted for the bulk of particulate production in the State, as well as
in all but two of the total counties in which particulate standards were
exceeded. In total, point'source particulate emissions amounted to about
18,000 tons of the more than 2-4,000 tons of particulate matter produced
in 1974-.
Area sources—space heating, transportation devices, brush and field
burning, wind blown dust: the variety of small, intermittent sources of
pollutants too numerous and insignificant in themselves to be cataloged
—though in combination they may generate large volumes of pollutants—
were responsible for less than 6,000 tons of particulate matter.
A comparison of the volume of particulate emissions with frequency
of violation days does not result in a direct correlation without including
the enormous influence of weather on the occurrence of air pollution.
10
-------
Figure 3
IDAHO
POINT AND AREA SOURCE
PARTICULATE EMISSIONS
25ir
*•:• POINT SOURCES
• AREA SOURCES
20-.
ex
<
LU
>-
Of.
LU
O.
i/>
Z
o
15- •
o
Z
10- •
O
I
5--
-------
AIR POLLUTION TRENDS
The chart in Figure 4 shows indicated trends of pollutant concentra-
tions in Idaho counties, as those trends may be derived from the air
monitoring record for the period 1972 through 1974.
Blue boxes indicate that there is no evidence, that the specified
air quality standard has been exceeded. Where circles occur within the
box, the presumed compliance- with standards is not based on measure-
ments, but is derived from judgment and a knowledge of pollutant sources.
Yellow boxes indicate that a standard has been exceeded, without
concentrations reaching the alert level. An upward pointing arrow indi-
cates that measured concentrations of the specified pollutant appear to
be increasing—that the propensity for pollution to occur is rising. A
.downward pointing arrow indicates that concentrations appear to be receding
Red boxes are used where a pollutant concentration has exceeded the
alert level. Again, the arrow within the box indicates the apparent
direction of the pollutant's concentration.
On balance, there seems to have been some deterioration in Idaho's
air quality conditions between 1972 and 1974. Particulate concentrations
appear to be rising in most of the counties in which the health standard
for particulate matter has been exceeded. More serious, the severe/pol-
lution by sulfur dioxide in Shoshone County does not appear to be improving
It should be noted, however, that fluctuating meteorological conditions
make it unwise to draw more than tentative conclusions about air quality
trends on the basis of a period as short as three years.
12
-------
COUNTY
ADA
ADAMS
BANNOCK
BEAR LAKE
BENEWAH
BINGHAM
BLAINE
BOISE
BONNER
«** c^V%*VVv
o
O
o
0
0
o
o
o
0
BONNEVILLE
BOUNDARY
BUTTE
CAMAS
CANYON
CARIBOU
CASSIA
CLARK
CLEARWATER
o
O
0
O
0
o
CUSTER
ELMORE
FRANKLIN
FREMONT
o
0
o
o
0
0
o
o
o
o
0
o
0
o
0
o
o
0
o
o
o
o
0
o
o
0
o
o
0
o
o
0
o
o
0
o
o
o
o
0
o
o
o
o
0
0
o
0
o
0
o
o
o
0
o
o
o
o
0
o
o
o
0
o
o
o|
Figure 4
ATTAINMENT STATUS
AND
TRENDS
IN
AIR POLLUTION
IDAHO
H
O
:
•
NO EVIDENCE PRIMARY
STANDARD EXCEEDED
EXCEEDS PRIMARY LEVEL
EXCEEDS ALERT LEVEL
DESIGNATION BASED ON JUDGMENT
DECREASING STANDARDS
VIOLATIONS
LEVEL OR NO APPARENT TREND
INCREASING STANDARDS
VIOLATIONS
ptP.-sP^^V
COUNTY
GEM
GOODING
IDAHO
JEFFERSON
JEROME
KOOTENAI
LATAH
LEMHI
LEWIS
LINCOLN
MADISON
MINIDOKA
NEZ PIERCE
ONEIDA
OWYHEE
PAYETTE
POWER
SHOSHONE
TETON
TWIN FALLS
VALLEY
WASHINGTON
£ c*V>y\4C
o
o
o
0
0
0
^
o
o
o
D
0
o
0
o
o
o
o
0
o
o
o
o
0
o
o
o
o
o
0
0
o
o
o
o
0
o
o
o
o
0
0
0
o
o
o
o
0
0
o
0
o
0
o
o
o
0
0
0
0
o
0
o
0
0
o
0
0
o
0
o
o
0
0
o
0
0
0
0
0
o
0
0
0
0
-------
NEAR TERM 'OUTLOOK
With the very significant exception of the severe pollution in the
Kellogg-Wallace area and intermittent particulate concentrations in excess
of air quality standards through much of southern Idaho., the State's air
quality is excellent. Though existing trends are unfavorable on balance,
there is little in a review of the kinds, frequencies, and sources of
pollutant concentrations that exceed the standard to indicate a turn for
the worse. Unfortunately, neither are prospects for major improvement
particularly bright.
Particulates, the most.common form of pollutants in excess of stan-
dards, would appear to offer some opportunities for relief. Point sources
of particulates predominate; and the combination of source identification
with the availability of reliable, relatively inexpensive control technology
indicates that abatement of pollutional conditions is possible. It would
appear that the lesser share of total particulates represented by area
sources is often catalyzed into pollutional levels by meteorological con-
ditions. Natural and wind blown dust is probably responsible for a much
larger share of Idaho's air pollution by particulates than the gross volume
of area source particulates would indicate; so, even though control of
point sources may reduce the frequency or severity of particulate standard
problems, they must be expected to continue to occur.
Sulfur dioxide control prospects are also limited by natural condi-
tions; and these are complicated by institutional difficulties. Control
techniques are available to effect significant additional reductions in
the volume of pollutant emissions; but the cost of such controls and tech-
nical controversy over choice among the several alternative control strat-
egies may result in continuation of the protracted negotiation and litigation
that have postponed remedial action. And though controls can achieve a
major reduction in amount of sulfur dioxide emissions, the winter inversions
of the narrow Coeur d'Alene River Valley are likely to cause continuing
difficulty in meeting standards. Unquestionably, there can be meaningful
reductions in the frequency, duration, and intensity of pollutant excursions
beyond the standard; the feasibility of total elimination of air pollution
remains to be demonstrated.
14
-------
REGIONAL WATER QUALITY PROFILE
OVERVIEW
Relative'pollution of the non-marine waters of major Pacific North-
west rivers is indicated on the accompanying graphs. Figure 5 depicts
the degree of pollution in each major regional river reach and Figure 6
shows the location of the river reaches. Similar determinations are not
available for Alaskan waters due to a lack of necessary data. EPA and
the State of Alaska are currently working together toward the develop-
ment of a water quality monitoring program that will provide' the same
depth of information that is available in other Region X States.
The basis of comparison between waters of the Pacific Northwest is
an eleven part Water Quality Index (WQI) that compares measured water
quality conditions during the last five years with National criteria
recommended by the National Academy of Sciences.2/- Measured water
quality constituents from various Federal, State and local agencies are
stored in EPA's data storage and retrieval system called STORET. The
National water quality criteria are recommended threshold concentrations
in water which are considered suitable for propagation of fish, the use
by wildlife, and for recreation. The eleven criteria groups considered
in the index are listed in Table 5.
The index number for any river segment is calculated by ...multiply ing
the frequency of criteria violations 'for each constituent by a severity
weighting function which is based on the magnitude of violation. Indi-
vidual river segment index numbers are multiplied by a ratio of segment
river miles to total river miles, then summed to obtain average WQI for
the total river. The WQI number spans a scale that may run from 0.0
(no measured evidence of pollution) to 110.0 (severe pollution in all
criteria groups at all times); however, most Pacific Northwest streams
fall into a category below the scale of 20.0. General, national criteria
were employed for the particular index construction rather than the spe-
cific State and Federal water quality standards that apply to the various
waterbodies. State water quality standards reflect local natural condi-
tions whereas federal criteria are based upon field and laboratory
studies which have been shown nationally to correlate with biological,
recreational, and health problems. Federal criteria are in some cases
more stringent than state standards. Index values computed from federal
criteria will therefore tend to present a'more conservative estimate of
water quality than if actual state standards were applied.
The graphs of water quality indices are divided into three segments
that reflect professional judgment as to the significance of the values.
An index number greater than 6.0 is considered to be characteristic of
streams or stream segments that do not meet the goals of the Federal
I/ EPA R3.033 Ecological Research Series, Water Quality Criteria 1972,
U.S. Government Printing Office, March 1973-
15
-------
20-
18-
16-
14
12
10-
8-
6.0--
2-
1.0
FIGURES
MAINSTEM AVERAGE WATER QUALITY PER RIVER MILE
PRINCIPAL RIVERS IN REGION X
O
o
FAILS TO MEET FEDERAL QUALITY
GOALS: POLLUTED
PROVISIONALLY MEETS FEDERAL
QUALITY GOALS
MEETS FEDERAL
QUALITY GOALS
-------
Water Pollution Control Act—bodies of water that are, by Federal stan-
dards, definitely polluted. An index number less than 1.0 is considered
to be equivalent to unpolluted natural conditions. The area between 1.0
and 6.0, where most Pacific Northwest rivers fall, is generally consistent
with the goals of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, but with local
or seasonal deviations.
' The water quality index is used in this report for the purpose of
comparing twenty-six Pacific Northwest rivers within the States of Idaho,
Oregon, and Washington. In each major river discussed in this section, the
WQI is a summation of the significant individual stream segments that make
up each river. The resultant river WQI is the weighted average of .the
individual WQIs within the river and may not reflect local pollution prob-
lems existing in some of the individual segments. For ease of presentation,
colors on Figure 6 represent the average WQI range for the mainstem of each
river; however, the actual WQI could change throughout each river segment.
As Figures 5 and 6 indicate, all but four of the major rivers of the
Pacific Northwest generally meet the goals of the Federal Water. Pollution
Control Act; however, three rivers have index numbers that are. perilously
close to the 6.0 that indicates unequivocal pollution. It is apparent
that the more arid and agriculture oriented parts of the Region- have the
worst pollution. The Upper Snake River and its tributaries—the Boise
and Portneuf Rivers—are three of the four worst polluted rivers in the
Region. The fourth river," Spokane/Coeur d'Alene, is located in an inten-
sive mining and smelting area. Other streams that flow through major
agriculture areas include the Middle Snake, Yakima, and Bear Rivers.
These streams have higher index numbers than most of the remaining rivers
within the Region. Major coastal and Puget Sound rivers, with a few
exceptions, have relatively good water quality. The exceptions, Green/
Duwamish and Chehalis Rivers, flow through major populated areas.
The most prevalent of the eleven classes of pollution (see Table 5
below) that make up the index are excessive bacterial populations which
indicate the possible presence of disease-related bacteria and viruses
(Pathogenic indicators), excessive concentrations of phosphorus and
nitrogen which have been documented to be the major nutrients responsible
for eutrophication in the Region (Trophic potential), and excessive
presence of suspended materials or oil and grease (Aesthetics). Each
of these three classes of pollution was found to occur in half or more
of the twenty-six Pacific Northwest rivers that were analyzed for this
report; and each at this time appears to be associated predominantly
with runoff rather than waste discharges. High concentrations of toxic
organic compounds such as pesticides, dissolved oxygen deficiencies, and
elevated temperatures are also common. (The latter two are associated
predominantly with reservoir conditions. ) Supersaturation of dissolved
gasses.,- heavy metals in toxic concentrations (toxic inorganics), salinity
(dissolved minerals), and excessive acidity are also found, though they
are rarer forms of pollution in the Pacific Northwest. No excessive
concentrations of radioactivity were measured or suspected in the North-
west waters.
17
-------
REGION 10
RIVER WATER QUALITY STATUS
FIGURES
AVERAGE MAINSTEM WATER QUALITY:
« n • a FAILS TO MEET FEDERAL GOALS
t——~^> PROVISIONALLY MEETS FEDERAL GOALS
«M^ MEETS FEDERAL GOALS
NOTE: Colors denote the average water quality index value
for the entire river. In actuality, some stream reaches may be
better or worse than indicated
STREAMS/REACHES
1 BEAR RIVER
2 UPPER SNAKE RIVER
3 PORTNEUF RIVER
4. MIDDLE SNAKE RIVER
5 BOISE RIVER
6 PAYETTE RIVER
7 LOWER SNAKE RIVER
8 ST JOE RIVER
9 COEUR D'ALENE RIVER
10. SPOKANE RIVER
11 UPPER COLUMBIA RIVER
12 YAKIMA RIVER
13 UMATILLA RIVER
14 LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER
15 KUCKITAT RIVF R
16 WILLAMETTE RIVER
17 SANTIAM RIVER
18 COWLITZ RIVER
19 WILLAPA RIVER
20. CHEHALIS RIVER
21 GREEN/DUWAMISH RIVER
22 SNOHOMISH RIVER
23 STILLAGUAMISH RIVER
24 NOOKSACK RIVER
25. UMPQUA RIVER
26 ROGUE RIVER
27 KLAMATH RIVER
Selected stream/reach limits
-------
Table 5 - Percent of Regional Rivers
Not Meeting Water Quality Criteria
Class
Criteria Group
Idaho Oregon Washington Regional Avg.
1 Bacteria
2 Trophic potential
3 Aesthetics
4 Toxic organics
5 Dissolved oxygen
6 Temperature
7 Dissolved gasses
8 Toxic inorganics
9 Dissolved minerals
10 ' Acidity/Alkalinity
11 Radioactivity
86$
71$
71$
38$ 29$
25$ 29$
25%
50%
13%
77%
38%
46$
38%
31%
15%
23%
15%
71%
14$
50$
43$
32$
21$
14$
14$
18$
4$
A pattern of change appears to be evolving in the nature of Pacific .
Northwest water pollution; though variations in flow, climate, and moni-
toring make any conclusions with respect to short term trends provisional.
As seen on Table 6 below, those pollutants that have historically been
associated with waste discharges—bacteria, nutrients, acidity, oxygen
consuming substances, heavy metals from industrial operations—appear to
be progressively less prevalent in Regional rivers. Conversely, pollu-
tants that are associated with runoff, fallout, intense land use, reser-
voirs, and in-stream chemical reactions—toxic organic compounds, dis-
solved gasses, total dissolved solids—would appear to be increasing in
prevalence and concentrations. Some of this apparent deterioration may
be due to improved analytical capability in recent years.
Table 6 - Water Quality Trends of Regional Rivers
Class
1
2
3
4
5
6
.7
8
9
10
Criteria Group
Bacteria
Trophic potential
Aesthetic
Toxic organics
Dissolved oxygen
Temperature
Dissolved gasses
Toxic inorganics
Dissolved minerals
Acidity/Alkalinity
Improving* Deteriorating* Ho Change*
21$
11$
7$
11$
7$
7$
25$
7$
1-1 at
I/O
4$
4$
89$
* Figure represents the precent of streams within the three states which
are improving or deteriorating by criteria group., One stream may be
improving with respect to one criteria group and deteriorating in
another; therefore, it would be included in each listing. If 7$ of the
rivers in one criteria group are improving and 7$ are deteriorating
in the same group, then 86$ experience no change at all.
19
-------
The Impression that may be derived from the.data is that contemporary
water pollution strategies based on waste treatment are proving effective
with traditional pollutant sources but the more complex and resistant
kinds of pollution.that stem from intensive use of land and water may be
offsetting some part of that improvement.
20
-------
WATER QUALITY IN IDAHO
A review of nine major Idaho rivers (Figure 7 )—the mainstem river
proper, not the entire drainage system—reveals a water quality pattern
that diverges sharply from that for all Pacific Northwest drainage basins.
A disproportionate share of the Pacific Northwest's water pollution is
concentrated in the streams of the State of Idaho.
Four of the nine rivers—the Coeur d'Alene, Portneuf, Boise, and .
Upper Snake-—are, by virtue of an index number greater than 6.0, probably
too polluted to meet Federal goals for water quality sufficient for prop-
agation of native fish and for unrestricted recreational use. Each of
the four has a pollution number.greater than that of the basin that it
drains, indicating that the quality of the mainstem river is inferior to
that of its tributaries. Two rivers (the Bear and the middle and lower
reaches of the Snake) reveal an index number consistent with significant
intermittent or local departure from the Federal goals. The St. .Joe and
the Payette are the only major Idaho rivers which presently meet"Federal
goals (Many tributaries, however, are virtually, pristine).
The most common class of pollution of the Idaho rivers that were
analyzed is an excessive presence of bacteria and turbidity, a feature
common to- all of the rivers in the southern portion of the State. Those
southern rivers also display a uniform pattern of phosphorus concentrations
sufficient to result in nuisance growths of algae and water weeds. Dis-
solved oxygen deficiencies are experienced in the Snake River reservoirs .
as well as the Portneuf and Boise Rivers. Excessive mineral salts occur
in the waters of the Bear as a consequence of intense use in irrigation
and natural salt deposits.
More serious water quality conditions that result in direct toxicity
to aquatic life are to be found in the Lower Snake in the form of dissolved
gas supersaturation induced by flow over dam spillways, in the Coeur
d'Alene and Upper Snake^s heavy metals concentrations, and in excessive
pesticides concentrations of the Bear, Upper Snake, and Boise Rivers.
The picture of Idaho water quality that emerges from the index and
from consideration of particular pollutants and stream reaches is not
encouraging. The combination of intense use and management pressures in
the semi-arid southern portion of the State with the effects of the mining
operations heavy metals on its northern waters provides a level of water
quality stress that would appear to be far greater than that encountered
by neighboring Pacific Northwest states.
22
-------
I -
20-
18-
16-
14-
12-
10-
Q
6.0-
4-
0
i:
Figure 7
MAINSTEM AVERAGE WATER QUALITY PER RIVER MILE
PRINCIPAL RIVERS IN IDAHO
O FAILS TO MEET FEDERAL QUALITY
GOALS: POLLUTED
O PROVISIONALLY MEETS FEDERAL
QUALITY GOALS
0 <•
• MEETS FEDERAL
QUALITY GOALS
( i
• )
( <
> J
0
^^
i
<-
s
00
Q.
I
S
I
?
<
J
-------
POLLUTANT SOURCES: SUSPENDED SOLIDS
Suspended solid materials constitute the most abundant pollutant
in the waters of the Pacific Northwest. An average of 260 million pounds
per day—70 million originating in the Snake River system—are carried to
the mouth of the Columbia, though the volume varies enormously with stream-
flow, precipitation, and reservoir operating patterns.
Suspended solids are not a single pollutant, but a general class
of.materials that are characterized by having a specific gravity close
to 1.0. Thus they include both inert materials and organic matter—some
of it, such as algae, living organisms. The specific polluting mechanisms
of suspended solids are reduction of light penetration, discoloration, and
with gradual settling, silting of fish spawning gravels and the other ill
effects of sediments. In addition to the specific effects of this general
category of pollutant, suspended solids are indicators of other potential
for pollution: the organic fraction is degradable, so a source of oxygen
demand; and suspended materials are carriers of both nutrients (primarily
phosphorus) and of toxic materials which may ultimately be released.
There is a pattern to the production of suspended solids in Idaho
rivers. The mean concentration of suspended solids in the rivers studied,
as indicated by average flows and solids weights in Figure 8, is less
than 200 parts per million parts of water. But while the average values
for the northernmost rivers—the Coeur d'Alene, the Payette, and the St.
Joe—are less than half of that value, the values for the components of
the Snake River and its tributaries are somewhat higher. The major solids
loadings to Idaho's waters occur in the more agriculturally developed
portions of the State.
Direct industrial and municipal waste discharges are an insignifi-
cant source of the pollutant. Aggregated.waste discharges of suspended
solids from point sources amounts to only 0.2% of the total suspended
solids for all of the waterbodies studied-—this in spite of an aggre-
gation technique that significantly over estimates discharge-related solids
loading. (No allowance is made for settling or decomposition.) There is,
however, a chain of biological reaction through which the effect of such
discharges with respect to the total quantity of solids may be amplified.
Given the proper conditions, nutrient phosphorus from waste discharges can
promote algal growth that is roughly 120 times the dry weight of the'
available phosphorus, with an even greater expansion of volume. Waste
discharges, then, may be a substantial indirect source of suspended solids
under specialized circumstances.
-------
Figure 8
RIVERS IN IDAHO
POINT SOURCE & NONPOINT 3
56.6C
10,000,000^
9,000,000-
"x
o
~° 8,000,000-
0)
a
-3 7,000,000-
c
3
a 6,000,000-
a>
O)
a
« 5,000,000-
a
en
Q 4,000,000-
^J
O
v>
Q 3,000,000-
IU
o
z
£ 2,000,000-
en
1,000,000-
»
»
•
•
•
•
»
•
»
•
°°^ SOURCE LOADINGS I
:j: *X MEAN FLOW
i': •• TOTAL LOAD
i|i AT MOUTH
£ OSS MUNICIPAL AND
i:i INDUSTRIAL LOADING -
1 1 , '
•:• |ij i|: ... ~_
iii i§ iii ii; iii
*•* •!• X X •!• •••
i:i i:i %: :i' i-i :i: :::
•I" *Z* **" m • •*• *•" Z*. ""
*** **• •!• **J C*I *!• *•* —
• * »a» *•* -", •*• *•" -•-
*!• •!* "•" .". • • *•* !•« 1*1
"*• *•* 1*1 %• •!• !•! -t* •;• ^
*•* *** •*• »^« ••* I*« •*« •*• —
•*• »C* *•* 1*1 •*• ••" !•) *•" —
iji iii iii iii i? iji iii §
|i- jij £ iii iii ii; i-i i-i
••• '•'• :'•: i-i :i: ••; i-i i:i
••• ''• •'•• '.'•'. •:• ••• J*: •••
::: ::; >: y. ;> :;: :;: :;:
**•' *"" **• "•" 1*1 •"• *•* *C" )
•*• •*• **• "•" r** •*• *•* •*•
• • * • • • • • • •*•
:•: x '•.• •:• x :•: •:• ':•
•:• x •:• %; ::: .;. •.• •:•
• • • « • • • » » • • • •»* —
*»*. •*• *** *•* •*# ",* »•» *•* •"
•*•! *I* *•* !•• •*• •!• •*! "•" I*
:•: •:; ::; :;: •:• >; ::: :-: :•
I*: ::Z *:! ? 5 :-: :•: :-: :•
•!• "•" X -t- ••• -I
o i:i ^ i;i 0 * ^ x „ * . = i:
6s- ••« fN '1* ^ ••' 0s- .*• &" "•* H^ •"
— ••• o •.* o^ 1*1 ^ *l* oo .•. H1^ •.
• %• •1^.: "•* • .*. , X *.* .• ,*. ^| • *.
O *•* ^1^ *** ^^Q •*• *•* •"• ^B.^ *•
- 100,000
.10,000
1—
o
^
F
(D
Q
3
n
c
.1,000 27
n
«*
(D
13
(D
^
-------
POLLUTANT SOURCES: BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND .
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)—the rate at which oxygen is consumed
by populations of aquatic bacteria that utilize dissolved organic matter
as nutrients—has been used as the prime measure of a stream's pollution
for the better part of a. century.
When exerted at a rate in excess of the rate of reoxygenation, bio-
chemical oxygen demand may reduce the amount of oxygen that is dissolved
in water sufficiently to change the composition of aquatic life forms in
the area.of the stream that is affected,. as well as to reduce its level
of biologic activity. The pollutant also serves as a measure of the
potential organic enrichment of a stream, enrichment that may support
regrowth of bacterial populations or contribute through decompositon
processes to nuisance proliferation of algae and other water plants.
As the graph in Figure 9 demonstrates, there is a significant vari-
ation in the BOD levels of the nine Idaho streams that were studied.
The average BOD concentration for all>nine rivers was just above three
parts per million at the mouth. But for the Boise River the concentra-
tion was above twenty parts per million; and for the Portneuf, it was
greater than thirty-five parts per million (i.e. somewhat above the
allowable level for treated sewage under the Federal effluent limita-
tions). The Bear River, too, demonstrated elevated BOD concentrations,
about six parts per million. Conversely, the three northern Idaho
rivers—the Coeur d'Alene, St. Joe, and Payette—displayed uniformly
low levels of oxygen demand, below two parts per million in all cases.
These levels are approaching what can be considered background levels
for good quality streams.
It is noteworthy, too,-that there are significant differences in
the sources of biochemical oxygen demand. The Portneuf and Upper Snake
appear to derive the majority of their oxygen demand from point sources
—discharges of municipal and industrial waste. (The analytical method
—sum of discharges over the length of the stream related to gross BOD
exerted at the mouth—undoubtedly'exaggerates the affect of such dis-
charges, since it fails to allow for in-stream stabilization: for BOD
is a reaction rate that is self-eliminating.) That situation is consis-
tent with the conventional wisdom, under which BOD has generally been
viewed largely as a measure of the influence of such wastes. But on the
Middle Snake .and the Bear, waste discharges account for only about 10%
of total BOD at the mouth—just about the average for all nine rivers.
And for the other five rivers studied, point sources can account for
less than 5% of total biochemical oxygen demand. Clearly, at the level
of waste treatment achieved in Idaho, BOD production in at least some
cases is analogous with that of suspended solids, with runoff and other
natural mechanisms outweighing waste discharges in the transport of
degrada'ble organic materials to streams.
26
-------
X
0
k.
a
-o
c
3
O
a.
a>
O)
o
o
o
to Q
-» z
LU
Q
Z
UJ
o
X
o
^
o
o
o
o
CD
1, 000,000 qj
900,000-
800,000-
700,000-
600,000-
500,000- •
400,000- •
300,000- •
200,000- •
100,000- •
•
Figure 9
RIVERS IN IDAHO
POINT SOURCE & NONPOINT
SOURCE LOADINGS
•P. 100,000
MEAN FLOW
TOTAL LOAD
AT MOUTH
MUNICIPAL AND
INDUSTRIAL LOADING
. .10,000
. .1,000
. .100
-------
POLLUTANT SOURCES: TOTAL PHOSPHORUS
Phosphorus is present in Idaho streams in minute 'amounts—an average
load of about 26,000 pounds a day at the mouth of the Snake, as contrasted
to 70 million pounds of suspended solids or the 900,000 pounds of oxygen
demand, created by dissolved organic matter. Yet the amount is sufficient
that phosphorus may be regarded as one of the more significant pollutants
in Idaho waters.
Phosphorus is. not in itself a pollutant. Rather, it is the ability
of phosphorus, as the critical nutrient, to support growth of nuisance
levels of aquatic plants that makes it a potential problem. The approx-
imate balance of the major chemical components of algae and other water
plants is 106 parts carbon, .16 parts nitrogen, 1 part phosphorus. Since
some aquatic plants can draw both carbon and nitrogen from the atmosphere,
the effective limit of plant populations is often dictated by the amount
of phosphorus dissolved in water; and each unit of phosphorus may trigger
more than 120 times its weight in plant growth. The matter is by no means
so simple as the above would make it seem. Trace nutrients and sunlight
are also necessary for plant growth; and the form in which phosphorus
occurs has a prime influence on its nutrient effect. Where dissolved
phosphorus is immediately available as a nutrient, organically bound
phosphorus becomes available gradually through decomposition processes,
and soil bound phosphorus may never be available to plants unless released
into the water column through chemical and bacteriological processes which
occur under anerobic bottom conditions.
The pollutional.aspects of excessive biological activity that stems
from high nutrient levels are diverse. To some degree they may be merely
aesthetic—stream discoloration and presence of clumped, floating water
weeds—but more fundamental ecological alterations may also be involved.
Because of the photosynthetic respiratory cycle (plants give off oxygen
in sunlight, consume it at night) variations in daytime and nighttime
dissolved oxygen concentrations may occur that produce extreme stress
on fish life. Similar diurnal variations in acidity and alkalinity may
occur. Light penetration is reduced. Decay of dead material that settles
out in lakes or reservoirs may produce oxygen deficiencies. The enriched
environment is favorable to regrowth of bacteria that may in some cases
be harmful. Loss of species balance in fish populations follows from the
specialization of the organisms that fish feed upon. The taste and odor
of water may be altered disagreeably, and carrying capacity of pipes and
channels may be reduced.
Most of the Idaho rivers that were evaluated were extremely rich in
phosphorus as can be seen on Figure 10. There is a rule of thumb that
holds that, with the normal distribution of phosphorus forms, a concen-
tration of .05 parts or more per million parts of water can result in
nuisance algae growth. All of the southern Idaho streams as well as the
Coeur d'Alene exceed that level.
28
-------
Municipal and industrial waste discharges are not in the aggregate
a significant source of phosphorus. They account, in total, for about
10$ of the phosphorus loading of the nine streams evaluated. But for
several reasons those discharges are a more significant contributant to
pollution potential than their gross amount would suggest. As Figure 10
demonstrates, waste discharges provide an above average share of phosphorus
in precisely those streams in which concentrations are highest, the Portneuf,
the Bear, and the Boise. Perhaps more significant than the distribution of
waste-originating phosphorus concentrations is their form. The accelerated
decomposition of organic matter that occurs in waste treatment results in a
discharge whose phosphorus content is largely in solution, thus immediately
available as a growth-triggering nutrient; while much, if not most, of the
phosphorus originating with runoff is soil bound and may not be available
to algae. Thus both the form and the distribution of that phosphorus that
occurs in discharged wastes tend to give it a disproportionate pollutional
effect.
29
-------
24,700
Figure 10
RIVERS IN IDAHO
POINT SOURCE & NONPOINT
SOURCE LOADINGS
10,000-ir
_ 9,000
•:•:•: MEAN FLOW
•• TOTAL LOAD
AT MOUTH
QQ& MUNICIPAL AND
INDUSTRIAL LOADING
05
o
D
•D
^
0
a
c
3
O
a.
a>
O)
o
i.
0
>
o
CO
3
O
Of
O
x •
a.
CO
O
X
a.
8,000
7,000
100,000
10,000
JLi.ooo
(D
a
n
C
IT
(D
«0
•o
(D
^
w>
(D
n
O
.
100 -*
z
to
o
z
to
a
a
>-
<
Q.
o
CO
LJJ
CO
a.
a.
a:
D
LLJ
O
u
D
LU
Z
O
a.
-------
. WATER POLLUTION TRENDS
Figure 11 depicts the presence and trends of eleven broad classes
of water pollution as they are revealed by the monitoring record for major
Idaho rivers in the period 1971 through 1975.
A blue box indicates that measurements for the indicated class of
pollutant produced no evidence of a violation of Federal criteria for
water suitable for fish, wildlife, and recreation. Yellow and red boxes
indicate respectively that there were relative minor and major violations
of the criterion. The color determination takes into a'ccount the fre-
quency and magnitude of the violation as well as the water quality sampling
frequency. An upward pointing arrow within the box indicates measurements
that 'show either that the concentration of the particular pollutant is
rising or that the frequency of criterion violation is increasing—that is,
that the propensity for pollution to occur is rising. (A downward pointing
arrow would indicate a decline in the propensity for pollution. ) A circle
within the box indicates a judgment based on knowledge of pollutant sources
rather than actual water quality measurements.
As Figure 11 demonstrates, the most common criteri-a violations in
Idaho are those derived from bacteria counts and excessive.nutrient
concentrations (Trophic). Violation of aesthetic criteria—those for
suspended materials, light penetration, oil and grease—appear to be
common mainly in southern Idaho streams that are put to heavy irrigation
use. Toxic concentrations of heavy metals are present in both the Coeur
d'Alene and the Upper Snake. Supersaturation of dissolved gasses is a
serious source of pollution below Lower Snake River reservior; and dis-
solved oxygen deficiencies occur in reservoirs of the upper river. Toxic
organic compounds appear to be present in the form of pesticides in the
Bear, Upper Snake, and Boise Rivers..
In total, of ninety-nine opportunities for pollution (eleven pollu-
tant classes, nine .evaluated rivers), forty-two are realized. In five
cases the propensity for pollution appears to be increasing.
32
-------
Figure 11
RIVERS IN IDAHO
FEDERAL CRITERIA VIOLATIONS
PRINCIPAL RIVERS
PARAMETERS
O
AAEETS FEDERAL
STANDARDS
PROVISIONALLY
MEETS FEDERAL
STANDARDS
DOES NOT MEET
FEDERAL
STANDARDS
NUMBERS OF
VIOLATIONS
INCREASING
NUMBERS OF
VIOLATIONS
DECREASING
CONDITION
STABLE
CLASSIFICATION
BASED ON
JUDGMENT
SPOKANE/
COEUR D'ALENE
PORTNEUF
BOISE
UPPER SNAKE
BEAR
MIDDLE SNAKE
LOWER SNAKE
PAYETTE
ST. JOE
TROPH
0
O
O
o
o
o
o
£.
0
DO
0
o
D
O
0
O
O
0
O
TEMP
0
O
0
D
_^
O
O
g.
O
PH
O
O
0
0
O
c>
O
O
O
TDG
O
O
O
O
O
o
o
O
O
TDS
O
O
O
O
O
O
ti
O
O
PATH
0
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
c>
AEST
ol
D
O
O
O
D
^J
o
0
RAD
0
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
OTOX
O
o
D
O
O
c>
O
O
O
ITOX
O
D
D
0
0
O
O
O
O
-------
NEAR TERM OUTLOOK
Consideration of the nature, location, sources, and trends of water
pollution in the State of Idaho must lead to the conclusion that little
significant improvement can be anticipated in the major rivers in the
next three to five years.
The assessment is almost inescapable. With exceptions, the current
water quality problems of Idaho do not stem primarily from point source
waste discharges, which in the past were the primary focus of water pol-
lution abatement programs, but from intensive use, from water management
and reservoir conditions, and from runoff. Waste treatment is already
well advanced (though by no means complete) in the State. Measures to
reduce the polluting influence of runoff, stream regulation, and irriga-
tion largely remain to be defined. And as such definitions occur and are
adopted in the State, it must be anticipated that they will be offset
to some degree by sheer growth in the scale of human activities and by
the complications posed by proliferation of toxic organic compounds.
There will, in short, be no convenient technological solution like waste
treatment with which to deal with the bulk of remaining and emerging
water pollution problems of Idaho.
Little aggregate improvement can be anticipated from extension of
municipal and industrial (M&l) waste treatment because (as the review
of pollutant sources indicates) M&I point sources of waste are a minor
factor in Idaho's present water quality situation. It is true that point
sources continue to contribute significantly to BOD in some watercourses;
but as Figure 11 indicates, dissolved oxygen deficiencies (which can be
remedied by BOD reduction) are limited mainly to the Snake River—and
there they are in most cases a function of.reservoir conditions rather
than BOD per se. Similarly, point sources are responsible for significant
amounts of phosphorus in some cases; but the total elimination of such
sources alone would not reduce phosphorus concentrations below the nui-
sance triggering level in every instance. Improvement in the degree of
waste treatment may'help to reduce the magnitude of such problems, as well
as the prevalence of excess bacteria, but it cannot be expected to elim-
inate them.
Recognition of the limited marginal effect of M&I waste treatment,
the significance of non-point sources of pollution, and the difficulties
of of dealing with such sources, then, leads to the conlcusion that no
major change in Idaho's water quality is in the offing in the near term.
That is not, however, a totally pessimistic perception. The fact remains
that, while Idaho accounts for a large share of the Pacific Northwest's
water pollution, that pollution is concentrated on few—and rather small—
stream segments. To sustain the quality of the remaining rivers, and to
effectuate some improvements in the sorely polluted ones, would certainly
constitute a worthwhile achievement—particularly in view of the rapid
rate of population increase the State has experienced since 1970 and
taking into account the major improvements in water quality achieved in
the Snake River system since the early nineteen-sixties.
#GPO 796-202
------- |