USGS: Science for a Changing World

Water Quality in the Yakima River Basin

USGS NATIONAL WATER-QUALITY ASSESSMENT PROGRAM


Yakima NAWQA Links    

new topic Yakima NAWQA Home

new topic Study Unit Description

current topic Surface Water

current topic Aquatic Ecology

current topic Ground Water

current topic Data

new topic NAWQA Personnel

new topic Liaison Committee

new topic Publications

new topic Other Agencies Active in the Yakima River Basin


Related Links    

new topic U.S. Geological Survey

new topic USGS Water Resources Division

new topic USGS NAWQA Program

new topic USGS: Water Resources of Oregon

new topic USGS: Water Resources of Washington


If you have questions or comments about the Yakima NAWQA study, contact:

Greg Fuhrer
Yakima NAWQA Project Chief
U.S. Geological Survey
10615 SE Cherry Blossom Dr
Portland, OR 97216
gjfuhrer@usgs.gov
(503) 251-3231

Surface-Water Quality      

The NAWQA study design for surface water focuses on water-quality conditions in streams using two interrelated components-water-column studies, and ecological studies. Water-column studies monitor physical and chemical characteristics and their relation to hydrologic conditions, sources, and transport. Water column studies are conducted at sites termed intensive-fixed sites, according to the frequency of sampling and/or constituents analyzed. The sampling sites are selected to determine the quality of water in relation to important environmental setting in the study unit. Intensive fixed sites can be either indicator or integrator sites. Indicator sites represent relatively homogeneous, small basins associated with specific environmental settings, such as a particular land use that substantially affects water quality in the study unit. Integrator sites are established at downstream points in larger relatively heterogeneous drainage basins with complex combinations of land-use setting. Water samples are also collected at other locations as part of (short-term) synoptic studies of specific water-quality conditions or issues during a specific hydrologic period (for example during peak irrigation) to provide greater spatial coverage.

Intensive Fixed Site Network

From May 1999 to January 2000, the Yakima River Basin NAWQA study unit began a water-quality study at three intensive-fixed site locations--Moxee Drain at Birchfield Rd., Granger Drain at Granger, and Yakima River at Kiona (site photos). All sites were sampled for organochlorine pesticides, currently used pesticides, nutrients, trace metals, fecal-indicator bacteria, major ions, dissolved organic carbon, suspended organic carbon, and physical measures of suspended sediment. A continuous record of discharge, specific conductance, and water temperature were measured at all sites. Field measurements recorded at the time of water quality sampling include, turbidity, water temperature, specific conductance, pH, dissolved oxygen, and alkalinity. The sampling frequency was weekly at agricultural drains and twice monthly at Kiona.

Moxee Drain at Birchfield Rd. (USGS station no. 12500420)--This agricultural indicator site is located 2 miles east of Union Gap and covers a drainage area of approximately 41 square miles. Most flow is irrigation return from water imported from the Yakima River at the Selah-Moxee Irrigation Diversion located at river mile 123.6 on the Yakima River and the Roza Diversion located at river mile 127.9 on the Yakima River. Long-term mean discharge is 8.3 cubic feet per second. The upper 68 percent of the drainage is largely rangeland. The lower 32 percent of the drainage is split between cropland (27 percent) pasture (4 percent). The basin is less than 1 percent urban. Twenty five samples were collected from May, 1999, through January, 2000.

Download water-quality data for Moxee Drain at Birchfield Rd. (Available through September 1999; data will be displayed in another window)

Granger Drain at Granger (USGS station no. 12505450)--This agricultural indicator site covers a drainage area of approximately 63 square miles and is located in the lower reach of the Yakima River Basin The mainstem Granger Drain receives water from a agricultural watershed containing a network of both surface and subsurface drainage systems. The Granger Drain discharges into the Yakima River after passing through the Town of Granger. During peak irrigation season, water is diverted from the Yakima River and supplied by both the Sunnyside Valley Irrigation District and Roza Irrigation District canals. Long-term mean discharge is 3.7 cubic feet per second. The major agricultural land-use activities within the Granger basin are irrigated agricultural (cropland), pastures and CAFOs (confined feeding operations). The upper 37 percent of the drainage is largely rangeland. The lower 63 percent of the drainage is split between cropland (55 percent) and pasture (7 percent). Beginning in April, 1999, samples were collected weekly during the irrigation season and monthly during the non irrigation season.

Download water-quality data for Granger Drain at Granger. (Available through September 1999; data will be displayed in another window.)

Yakima River at Kiona (USGS station no. 12510500)--This integrator site is located at river mile 29.9 and has a drainage area of 5,616 square miles. A continuous record of streamflow has been collected at this site since 1933. The flow at Kiona is affected by diversions and by Keechelus, Hachess, Cle Elum, Bumping, and Rimrock Lakes. Long-term mean discharge is 3,569 cubic feet per second. The upper 41 percent of the drainage is largely forested. The lower 59 percent of the drainage is split between rangeland (37 percent), cropland (15 percent), pasture (3 percent) and urban (2 percent). Beginning in April, 1999, samples were collected twice per month during the irrigation season and once per monthly during the non-irrigation season.

Download water-quality data for the Yakima River at Kiona. (Available through September 1999; data will be displayed in another window.)

Download real-time streamflow data for the Yakima River at Kiona.)

Synoptic Sampling-Site Network

Synoptic sampling is sampling that occurs during a short period of time in order to provide a "snapshot" of water quality in the basin, which allows a spatial comparison of water-quality conditions at a particular time of the year. Basinwide sampling of surface-water sites and wastewater discharges for pesticides, nutrients, and trace elements will be conducted in August 1999 and June, July, and October-November 2000. Samples will be collected from many sites throughout the basin that include main-stem sites, tributary sites, wastewater-treatment plants, and drinking-water intakes. To the extent possible, the timing of the collection of the water-quality samples from all sites will be based on the length of time required for water to travel from the upper reaches of the Yakima River to the mouth. This is referred to as Lagrangian sampling, which can be visualized as sampling a distinct parcel of water at multiple locations as it moves downstream. The advantage of this design is that it is possible to account for additions and losses of water elements, as the parcel moves downstream. In addition, some sites will be sampled additional times during the basinwide sampling to assess short-term temporal variations in water quality.

Access synoptic-network data


 
U.S. Geological Survey
http://oregon.usgs.gov/yakima/surface_water.html
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Last updated: 4/4/01