EPA-9IO/9-76-026C
ENVTOONME3NTAL QTTAT.TTV PROFILE1976
technical supplement
OREGON
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SUPPLEMENT
1976 ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY PROFILE
FOR OREGON
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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.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
I. INTRODUCTION 1
II. AIR QUALITY PROFILE 3
Regional Air Quality Profile 3
Air Quality In Oregon 5
Pollutants In Excess Of Health Standards 6
Severity Of Pollution 8
Pollutant Sources 10
Carbon Monoxide 10
Total Suspended Particulate Matter 12
Air Pollution Trends 14
Near Term Outlook 16
III. WATER QUALITY PROFILE . 17
Regional Water Quality Profile 17
Water Quality In Oregon 24
Pollution Sources 26
Suspended Solids 26
Biological Oxygen Demand 28
Total Phosphorus 30
Water Pollution Trends 34
Near Term Outlook 36
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LIST OF FIGURES
Number Page
1 Days Exceeding Health Standards
ty Pollutant • 7
'2 Days Exceeding Health Standards
by Severity 9
3 Carbon Monoxide Emissions 11
<4 Point and Area Source Particulate
Emissions 13
5 , Attainment Status and Trends in
Air Pollution 15
6 , Mainstem Average Water Quality -
Principal Rivers in Region X 18
7 Region X River Water Quality Status 20
B Mainstem Average Water Quality per
River Mile - Principal Rivers
in Oregon 25
9 Point Source and Non-Point Source
Loadings - Suspended Solids 27
10 Point Source and Non-Point Source
Loadings - Biological Oxygen Demand 29
11 Point Source and Non-Point Source
Loadings - Total Phosphorus 31
12 Federal Criteria Violations 35
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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 21
6 Water Quality Trends of Regional
Rivers . 21
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1976 ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY PROFILE SUPPLEMENT
FOR OREGON
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.
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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
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 viola'tion-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
Violation-Days
Standard Alert
Exceeded Level
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
X
X
149
165
82
43
142
11
56
23
203
217
16
30
3
5
90
6
2
1
73
69
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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$
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AIR QUALITY IN OREGON
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 stand'ards 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 Oregon in terms of its adher-
ence 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 197<4>
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 197-4.
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.POLLUTANTS IN EXCESS OF HEALTH STANDARDS
During the three year period ending in 1974, eleven of Oregon's
thirty-six counties experienced recorded concentrations of pollutants that
exceeded the allowable maxima specified by primary air quality standards.
The counties are ranked in Figure 1 below according to the average number
of days per year in which a given standard was exceeded.
Particulate matter was.the most widespread cause of an exceeded stan-
dard. Concentrations above the primary standard occurred in ten counties.
Carbon monoxide produced the largest number of days in which a stan-
dard was exceeded. Total days when the standard was not met amounted to
178, as compared to 123 days for the combination of all other primary
standard pollutants. The standard was, however, exceeded only in three
metropolitan area counties.
The photochemical oxidant standard was exceeded in every county that
did not consistently meet the carbon monoxide standard, as well as in-
Clackamas County where the carbon monoxide standard was met.
Pollutant concentrations in excess of health standards occurred
largely in Oregon's metropolitan areas. Two of three Oregon counties
comprising the Portland metropolitan area accounted for 19-4 combined days
in which standards were exceeded. Lane (Eugene) and 'Marion (Salem)
Counties together experienced 79 days in which standards were not met.
All of the rest of the State produced only 28 days in which health stan-
dard levels for pollutants were not met.
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200- •
150- •
Q.
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100- •
50- •
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158
Figure 1
OREGON
DAYS EXCEEDING HEALTH STANDARD
BY POLLUTANT
f PARTICULATES
::£: CARBON MONOXIDE
8&j PHOTO O XID ANTS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
41
8 7
6 6
PRIMARY (HEALTH) STANDARiD NOT iXCEEDED
o
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SEVERITY OF POLLUTION
Primary air quality standards include three degrees of risk, according
to .level of pollutant concentrations. The nature of potential health dam-
age is the same at each level, but the probability of damage and the pro-
portion of the population that is predisposed to health impairment increases
as the amount of pollutants in air increases. There are distinct thresholds
that indicate the degree of risk that is believed to be associated with
certain pollutant concentrations, and these are recognized 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 signifi-
cantly 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
Particulates (24 hour)
Sulfur dioxide (24 hour)
Carbon monoxide (8 hour)
Oxidants (l hour)
Standard Alert Warning
260 micrograms 375 625
365 micrograms 80C 1,600
10 milligrams 17 34
160 micrograms 200 80 C
In 1974 (Figure 2), at least 40 of the 301 instances in which health
standards were exceeded in Oregon involved concentrations at or above the
alert level, a proportion somewhat lower than in other Region X States.
Three quarters of those more serious conditions occurred in Portland.
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200- •
150- •
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50--
30
Figure 2
OREGON
DAYS EXCEEDING HEALTH STANDARD
BY SEVERITY
D
D
ABOVE ALERT
ABOVE PRIMARY
PRIMARY (HEALTH) STANDARD NOT EXCEEDED
u
<
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POLLUTANT SOURCES: CARBON MONOXIDE
The graph in Figure 3 indicates the estimated distribution of sources
of carbon monoxide in those Oregon counties in which a primary air quality
standard was exceeded in 1974.
Mobile sources—automobiles and other transportation equipment—were
responsible for the largest share of carbon monoxide in all of those counties
in which the carbon monoxide standard was exceeded, accounting for almost •
90% of the four counties' gross carbon monoxide production of over 500,000
tons. Thus the predominate source of Oregon's air pollution incidents, and
the source of the pollution that affected the greatest number of persons,
was the automobile, 'with the other mobile sources contributing to its
effect.
Point sources of carbon monoxide were inconsequential, their aggregate
production less than 25,000 tons of almost 800,000 tons (including that of
the counties in which the carbon monoxide standard was not exceeded).
The indicated volume of production of area sources—close to 300,000
tons for the eleven counties—is deceptive, in that no effort was made to
distinguish mobile sources from other area sources in those counties in
which the carbon monoxide standard was not exceeded. It may safely be
assumed that mobile sources dominated carbon monoxide production in those
counties, as well as in the more urbanized areas in which the standard was
not met. And because production of photochemical oxidants and carbon
monoxide "is related, the general distribution of oxidant sources is prob-
ably very similar to that for carbon monoxide.
10
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Figure 3
OREGON
CARBON MONOXIDE EMISSIONS
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350-
300-
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25 250-
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THOUSANDS OF TON:
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POINT SOURCES
AREA SOURCES
MOBILE SOURCES
(ONLY SHOWN IN COUNTIES
EXCEEDING PRIMARY STANDARD)
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POLLUTANT SOURCES: TOTAL SUSPENDED PARTICULATE MATTER
Figure 4 indicates the estimated distribution of sources of partic-
ulate matter in those Oregon counties in which a primary air quality
standard was exceeded in 1974.
Point sources—large, recognizable features such as factories—were
responsible for somewhat more than half of aggregate particulate produc-
tion in the eleven counties that exceeded primary standards. In total,
point source particulate emissions amounted to about 38*000 tons of the
estimated 71,000 tons of particulate material produced in 1974.
Area sources—space heating, transportation devices, brush and field
burning, wind blown dust, etc.: the variety of'small, intermittent sources
of pollutants too numerous, changeable, and insignificant in themselves to
be cataloged, though in combination they may generate large volumes of
pollutants—were responsible for more than 33,000 tons of particulate
matter. In Lane County, where burning of grass stubble is a massive if
limited area source of particulate matter, estimated area source produc-
tion was 8,000 tons of particulates in 1974.
12
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Figure 4
OREGON
POINT AND AREA SOURCE
PARTICULATE EMISSIONS
$•:• POINT SOURCES
• AREA SOURCES
20 • •
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AIR POLLUTION TRENDS
The chart on Figure 5 shows indicated trends of pollutant concentra-
tions in Oregon 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 measurements,
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 the balance, there seems to have been improvement in Oregon's air
quality conditions between 1972 and 1974. Grounds for optimism are pro-
vided by the consistent decline of pollutant concentrations in the Willa-
mette Valley counties that contain the bulk of Oregon's population.
Elsewhere, trends are less clearly defined. 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.
14
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COUNTY
BAKER
BENTON
CLACKAMAS
CLATSOP
COLUMBIA
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Figure 5
ATTAINMENT STATUS
AND
TRENDS
IN
AIR POLLUTION
OREGON
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
COUNTY
MALHEUR
MARION
MORROW
MULTNOMAH
POLK
SHERMAN
TILLAMOOK
UMATILLA
UNION
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NEAR TERM OUTLOOK
With the exception of the Portland Metropolitan Area'-s auto-related
problems and the similar,.lesser'problems in other1 Willamette Valley urban
areas, Oregon's air quality is good. Existing trends are generally favor-
able; and there is nothing in the review of the kinds, frequencies, and
sources of pollutant concentrations that exceed the standards to indicate .
a turn for the,worse. As for existing air pollution, the prognosis varies
according to pollutant.
Particulates, the broadest form of pollutants in excess of the stan-
dards, would appear to offer the best prospects for immediate improvement.
Though excessive particulates.are widespread, the frequency and duration
of concentrations in excess of the primary standard are slight. Point
sources predominate; and the combination of source identification with
the availability of control technology indicates that abatement of pollu-
tional conditions is possible. Indeed, a good deal of the State's partic-
ulates problems had been obviated by precisely that combination of circum-
stances prior to 1972. Total elimination of particulate concentrations
in excess of standards is not considered feasible because of such natural
and man-made sources as wind blown dust—particularly in eastern Oregon
agricultural areas—forest fires, construction, etc. An additional, local
complication is provided by the southern Willamette Valley practice of
burning grass field stubble to control nematodes—a practice that, produces
enormous quantities of particulate matter in a very limited period. Such
complications aside, the bulk of particulate-associated air quality problems
is very likely to be eliminated within the next three to five years.
Carbon monoxide and associated photochemical oxidant excursions beyond
the standard present distinctly less optimistic prospects. The private
automobile"is responsible 'for almost 90% of carbon monoxide production in
those counties where the standard is not met; so that the very number of
sources that must be controlled presents a' formidable obstacle to near
term standards attainment. Carbon monoxide reduction devices are, of
course, an integral component of all recent model year autos. So the
reduction of carbon monoxide concentrations is essentially a matterv of
gradual replacement of the existing stock of autos with new units that
incorporate .the control technology—a long term, probabilistic process
that, is retarded by growth in total automobile usage. This approach
assumes that these devices are operated and maintained properly which
requires an inspection and maintenance program. Modification of trans-
portation practice have the power to accelerate the rate of progress:
reduction in use of high density traffic corridors, smoothing .of peaks
in traffic patterns, greater attention to auto maintenance, and reduction
of total vehicle miles through growth in average numbers of passengers
per vehicle by use of mass transit or other techniques, all offer. marginal
improvements in carbon monoxide production trends. But the. main avenue
of pollution control rat this time is replacing older autos with exhaust-
controlled ones; and that suggests that the advance toward conformity to
the carbon monoxide standard over the next three to five years will be
steady but slow—certainly less than is desirable 'for public health main-
tenance.
16 • .
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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 6 depicts
the degree of pollution in each major regional river reach and Figure 7
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.~^j Measured water
quality constituents from various Federal, State and local agencies are
stored in EPA's data storage and retrieval system called STORE!. 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 multiplying
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.
17
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20-
18-
16-
14-
12-
10-
6-
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FIGURES
MAINSTEM AVERAGE WATER QUALITY PER RIVER MILE
PRINCIPAL RIVERS IN REGION X
O FAILS TO MEET FEDERAL QUALITY
GOALS: POLLUTED
O PROVISIONALLY MEETS FEDERAL
QUALITY GOALS
• MEETS FEDERAL
QUALITY GOALS
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-------
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 used1 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
problems existing in some of the individual segments. For ease of presen-
tation, colors on Figure 7 represent the average WQI range for the main-
stem of each river; however, the actual WQI could change throughout each
river segment.
As Figures 6 and 7 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.
19
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REGION 10
RIVER WATER QUALITY STATUS
FIGURE?
AVERAGE MAINSTEM WATER QUALITY:
fr-——i FAILS TO MEET FEDERAL GOALS
S==y PROVISIONALLY MEETS FEDERAL GOALS
«MM 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 KLICKITAT RIVER
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
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Criteria Group
Bacteria
Trophic potential
Aesthetics
Toxic organic s
Dissolved oxygen
. Temperature
Dissolved gasses
Toxic inorganics
Dissolved minerals
Acidity/Alkalinity
Radioactivity
Idaho
50$
88$
38$
25$
38$
25$
-
25$
50$ -
13$
-
Oregon
86$
86$
71$
71$
29$
29$
14$
-
14$
- -
-
Washington
77$
38$
46$
38$
31$
15$
23$
15$
-
-
-
Regional•Avg.
' 71$
64$
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 inorg'anics
Dissolved minerals
Acidity/Alkalinity
Improving* Deteriorating* No Change*
21$
11$
7$
4$
4$
11$
7$
7$
25$
7$
7$
68$
82$
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.
21
-------
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 cpmplex and resistant
kinds of pollution that stem from intensive use of land and water may be
offsetting some .part of that improvement.
22.
-------
WATER QUALITY IN OREGON
X
A review of eight major Oregon rivers (Figure 8)--the river proper,
not the entire drainage system—reveals a water quality pattern that is
not inconsistent with that for all Pacific Northwest drainage basins..
Marine waters are not included in this evaluation since present WQI
techniques only apply to fresh water streams on a river mile basis.
An attempt will be made to include marine waters in future reports.
Water quality, as reflected by index number, tends to improve pro-
gressively from east to west. Streams east of the Cascade Mountains are
more highly utilized than the western streams. The highest pollution index
number is that of the Columbia. The two coastal streams, the Rogue and the
Umpqua, discharge waters to the Pacific that vary so slightly, or so
infrequently, from the Federal criteria that they may-be considered prac-
tically meeting water quality goals.
Aside from the dissolved gas supersaturation that causes the Columbia
and Lower Snake to reveal the highest degree of pollution among the Oregon
streams, there is a fairly uniform pattern of pollutant characteristics.
Nutrient levels may be greater than are considered desirable in all streams
but the Rogue and Umpquai Bacterial populations rise above criterion con-
centrations in all but the Umpqua and Santiam. Turbididity (aesthetic)
conditions are at times above criteria stipulations in all but the Willa-
mette and Columbia. Organic toxicants occur in toxic concentrations in the
Klamath. The differences that do occur are in the tendency for nutrient
and temperature levels to be higher in eastern Oregon than western Oregon
streams.
Even though the above problems do exist, all of these major Oregon
rivers are well below the pollution index value of 6.0 that indicates an
environment that is probably incapable of meeting the Federal goal of
waters suitable for propagation of suitable species of fish, for the use of
wildlife, and for unrestricted recreational employment. But though none
achieves that unambiguously polluted condition, the Columbia's pollution
index is greater than 4-0—primarily a result of dissolved gas supersat-
uration caused by spilling of flood season high flows over its numerous
dams. The condition is. definitely threatening to Columbia River salmon
runs and must be considered significant. Nor should it be forgotten that
the indicated degree of pollution applies to entire rivers. Isolated
pockets' or seasonal occurrences of pollution are found in almost all
rivers.
Nonetheless, the picture of Oregon's water quality that emerges from
the index and from consideration of particular pollutants and stream
reaches is encouraging. Only the dissolved gas supersaturation of the
Columbia stands out as a serious pollution feature.
-------
20-
18
16
14
12-
10-
Figure 8
MAINSTEM AVERAGE WATER QUALITY PER RIVER MILE
PRINCIPAL RIVERS IN OREGON
o
o
FAILS TO MEET FEDERAL QUALITY
GOALS: POLLUTED
PROVISIONALLY MEETS FEDERAL
QUALITY GOALS
MEETS FEDERAL
QUALITY GOALS
.0--
4-
2-
o
o
'.
T
h
<
<
_j
JL
<
Z
LO
<
-J
£
a.
r
D
O
-------
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 are carried to the mouth of the Columbia, though the volume varies
enormously with streamflow, 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 other ill effects of sediments.
In addition to those specific effects of this general category of pollutant,
suspended solids are indicators of other potentials 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 be released.
There is a pattern to the production of suspended solids in Oregon
rivers. The mean concentration of suspended solids in the rivers studied,
as indicated by the average flows and solids in Figure 9,- is about 125
parts per million parts of water; but the average values for those streams
originating on the west slopes of the Cascades and flowing to the Columbia
or directly to salt water are less than half of that. It is the relatively
arid areas east of the Cascades, then, that are more productive of suspended
solids.
Direct industrial and municipal waste discharges are an insignificant
source of the pollutant. Aggregated waste discharges of suspended solids
from point sources amounts to less than one tenth of one percent of the
total -suspended solids of all of the rivers studied—this in spite of an
aggregation technique that significantly overestimates discharge-related
solids loadings. (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 is ampli-
fied. Given favorable conditions, nutrient phosphorus from waste dis-
charges 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 may, then, be a substantial indirect source of suspended
solids .under some specialized circumstances.
26
-------
147,000,000
5,000,000
4,500,000- •
4,000,000'
o
a
-5 3,500,000'
c
K) 3
^ 2
a 3,000,000'
a
o>
o
« 2,500,000'
O
*/>
O
LU
2,000,000- •
1,500,000-
g I.OOO.OOOtP
«n
500,000-ff
Figure 9
56600000 RIVERS IN OREGON
POINT SOURCE & NONPOINT
SOURCE LOADINGS
17,700,000
• 5,200,000
2.3
o
U
z
<£
LU
o
z
<
O1
a.
Z
z
v>
(J
O
MEAN FLOW
TOTAL LOAD
AT MOUTH
MUNICIPAL AND
INDUSTRIAL LOADINGS
Z
<
: 1,000,000
•100,000
-10,000 a
3
n
c
:l,000
-------
POLLUTANT SOURCES: BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)—the rate at which oxygen is consumed
by populations of aquatic bacteria that utilized dissolved organic mater-
ials 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
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 decomposition processes to nuisance pro-
liferation of algae and other water plants.
As the graph in Figure 10 demonstrates, all of the Oregon streams
that were studied exhibited very similar mean biochemical oxygen demand
levels. The average concentration was about two parts per million at the
mouth for all of the rivers considered as a group; and the range about
that mean was extraordinarily tight. The Santiam, with about 3.5 parts
per million at the mouth, had the highest BOD values; the Rogue, at little
greater than 1.5 parts per million, had the lowest. At the mouth, then,
Oregon rivers uniformly seem to exhibit what are little more than natural
background levels of organic materials. (Which is by no means inconsis-
tent with the possibility of excessive BOD concentrations along the reach
of some of"the streams, since BOD is a reaction rate that is self-elim-
inating. )
What-is extraordinary about the BOD regimens of these streams is the
slight contribution that industrial and municipal wastes make to the total
BOD loading. It has generally been assumed that BOD was essentially a
measure of the strength of such point discharges; but even by a method
that exaggerates their relative influence (sum of discharges over the
length of the stream'related to gross BOD exerted at the mouth) only two
waterbodies—the Willamette and the Umatilla—demonstrate a significant.
contribution from waste discharges, and none derives a majority of its BOD
from such discharges. For the group of waterbodies, little more than 15%
of all BOD at the mouth can be attributed to industrial and municipal
wastes. For half of the eight rivers, less than 1.0% can be attributed to
discharges..- Clearly, at the level of waste treatment achieved in Oregon,
BOD production is analogous to that of suspended solids, with runoff and
other natural mechanisms outweighing waste, discharges in the transport of
degradeable organics to streams.
28
-------
3,600,000
784,000
Figure 10
RIVERS IN OREGON
POINT SOURCE & NONPOINT
SOURCE LOADINGS
586,000
X
o
-o
0
0.
•O
C
3
o
a
0
o>
o
0
o
0
z
LU
0
z
UJ
o
X
0
_i
u
O
BIOLO
DUU,UUU«1
450,000-
400,000-
350,000-
300,000-
250,000-
200,000-
150,000-
100,000-
50,000-
i
MEAN FLOW
TOTAL LOAD
AT MOUTH
MUNICIPAL AND
INDUSTRIAL LOADINGS
- -100,000
• -10,000
1,000,000
o
o
3
n
c
IT
n"
• 'J.OOO
•Q
«
n
O
3
&
-------
POLLUTANT SOURCES: TOTAL PHOSPHORUS
Phosphorus is present in Oregon streams in minute quantities—an
average load of about 90,000 pounds a day at the mouth of the Columbia, as
contrasted to 260 million pounds of suspended solids or the 4 million
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 Oregon 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 approximate
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 not quite so simple as
the above would make it seem. Trace nutrients and sunlight are also neces-
sary for plant growth; and the form in which phosphorus occurs has a prime
influence on its nutrient effect. Where dissolved phosphorus is immedi-
ately available as a nutrient, organically linked phosphorus becomes .
available gradually through decomposition processes, and soil bound phos-
phorus may never be available..to plants unless released into the overlying
water 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 are also involved.
Because of the photosynthitic 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 in lakes
and reservoirs may produce oxygen deficiencies. The enriched environment
is favorable to regrowth of bacteria. Loss of species balance in fish
populations follows from specialization of the organisms that fish feed
upon. The taste and odor of water may be altered disagreeably, and car-
rying capacity of pipes and channels may be reduced.
The phosphorus production regimens of Oregon streams vary with loca- <
tion as can be seen on Figure 11. There is a rule of thumb that holds
that, with the normal distribution of phosphorus, forms, a concentration of
.05 parts or more per million parts of water can result in nuisance algae
growths'. The Willamette and its tributary the Santiam exceed that thresh-
old by a factor of about five. The two coastal streams, the Umpqua and the
Rogue, are well below it, the Columbia moderately below it. The three
eastern Oregon streams, the Lower Snake, Umatilla, and Klamath, are all.
well above it, with the Klamath demonstrating a concentration that is close
to that for the Willamette.
30
-------
Figure 11
RIVERS IN OREGON
POINT SOURCE & NONPOINT
SOURCE LOADINGS
I 17,700
X
0
-o
0
0.
C
3
W 0
>- a
0
o>
D
0
0
3
O
0£
O
a. •
vt
O
X
a.
0
t—
I O.UUU-
13,500-
12,000-
10,500-
4
9,000-
7,500-
6,000-
4,500-
3,000-
1,500-
MEAN FLOW
TOTAL LOAD
AT MOUTH
MUNICIPAL AND
INDUSTRIAL LOADINGS
1,000,000
- • 100,000
. 3
•10,000 o
3
n
C
JT
1,000
•o
«
n
O
-------
Overall, municipal and industrial waste discharges are a minor source
of phosphorus, under 5% of the total for the eight Oregon rivers used in
this analysis. Only the Umatilla derives a significant share of its
phosphorus from such discharges. But those discharges may be a more
significant contributant to pollution potential than their gross amount
would suggest. The accelerated decompositon 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 not available to algae. Thus the form of sewage-
related, and some industrial'waste, phosphorus tends to give it a dispro-
portionate pollutional effect.
-------
WATER POLLUTION TRENDS'
Figure 12 depicts the presence and trends of eleven broad classes of
water pollution as they are revealed by the monitoring record for major
Oregon 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 account 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 judg-
ment based on knowledge of pollutant sources rather, than actual water
quality measurements.
As the graph demonstrates, the most common criteria violations in
Oregon are those derived from temperature, bacteria counts, aesthetics
in the form of suspended solids, and trophic conditions in the form of
nutrients. The most worrisome aspect of the display, perhaps, is the
rising trend for organic toxicants even though the levels are not yet
critical.
Dissolved gas supersaturation is the most serious form of pollution
in Oregon waters because of its catastrophic and widespread effect on
salmon populations, and it appears to be .increasing on the two rivers in
which it is known to occur.
Other pollutant presence seem to be stable or.declining. In fact,
the State's water quality situation"seems to display a static balance.
Of eighty-eight opportunities for pollution (eleven pollution classes,
eight studied rivers) twenty-nine suggest that some degree of pollution
is, in fact, realized. In nine of the eighty-eight the propensity for
pollution seems to be rising; in seven it appears to be declining.
In view -of the generally high water quality that predominates in
Oregon, the static balance may not be unfavorable—though it is clearly
less than ideal. There are, however, disturbing implications in the
distribution of improving and declining pollution indicators. Improve-
ments are concentrated in bacterial factors where current adverse effects
may be considered to be slight. Worsening conditions are dominated by
dissolved gas supersaturation, dissolved solids,, aesthetics, and concen-
trations of toxic organic materials that may have serious and far reach-
ing effects on aquatic ecosystems.
•34
-------
Figure 12
RIVERS IN OREGON
FEDERAL CRITERIA VIOLATIONS
PRINCIPAL RIVERS
PARAMETERS
co
Ul
O
MEETS 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
TDG PDS PATH
-------
NEAR TERM OUTLOOK
Consideration of the nature, location, sources, and trends of water
pollution in the State of Oregon must lead to the conclusidn that little
significant change can be anticipated in the next three to.five years.
The assessment is almost inescapable. With minor exceptions, the
water ^quality problems of Oregon do not stem' from point source waste
discharges, which constitute .the near exclusive fo.cus of contemporary
water pollution abatement programs," but from runoff and reservoir con-
ditions. Man's activities contribute .to the pollution'al aspects'of
natural runoff; but,, for 'the most part, measures to reduce those con-
tributions 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 the proliferation of toxic organic compounds.
There will, in short, be no convenient technical solution like waste
treatment with which to deal with most of Oregon's remaining and emerging
water quality problems.
But if recognition of the limited marginal effects of. waste treat-
ment, the significance of non-point sources of pollution, and the diffi-
culities of dealing with such/sources leads to the conclusion that no
major change in Oregon's water quality is in the offing, that must be
recognized to be an optimistic conclusion. There has been serious water
pollution in Oregon.. It 'has been largely—not entirely—eliminated. The
major task of water quality management in..the State at this time is
protection and preservation of the excellent' water quality, that predom-
inates. So to preserve.existing water•quality would be a major achieve-
ment. To extend it would be quite remarkable.
36
•&GPO 796-202
------- |