Lower Columbia River Dissolved Gas Monitoring Network Active
USGS total dissolved gas (TDG) data help guide spill and discharge management from dams operated along the lower Columbia River.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operates several dams along the Columbia River that fulfill regional needs for flood control, navigation, irrigation, recreation, hydropower production, fish and wildlife habitat, water-quality maintenance, and municipal and industrial water supply. When water is released through the spillways of these dams ambient air becomes entrained in the water, resulting in an increase in the concentration of dissolved gases in the water downstream of the dams. Concentrations of dissolved gases greater than 110 percent saturation can cause gas-bubble trauma in fish and adversely affect other aquatic organisms. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers uses real-time USGS data to regulate streamflow and spill from its dams to minimize the production of excess dissolved gases, while providing fish passage through the spillways.
Eight monitoring stations are operated on the lower Columbia River, from the navigation lock of the John Day Dam to Camas, Washington. Five of the stations (John Day navigation lock, The Dalles forebay, Bonneville forebay, Cascade Island, and Camas) are operated from March to September, encompassing the usual period for dam spill operations. The stations John Day tailwater, The Dalles tailwater, and Warrendale are operated year-round.
Below are publications associated with this project.
Total dissolved gas and water temperature in the lower Columbia River, Oregon and Washington, water year 2014
Total dissolved gas and water temperature in the lower Columbia River, Oregon and Washington, water year 2013: quality-assurance data and comparison to water-quality standards
Total dissolved gas and water temperature in the lower Columbia River, Oregon and Washington, water year 2012: Quality-assurance data and comparison to water-quality standards
Total dissolved gas and water temperature in the lower Columbia River, Oregon and Washington, water year 2011: Quality-assurance data and comparison to water-quality standards
Total dissolved gas and water temperature in the lower Columbia River, Oregon and Washington, water year 2010: Quality-assurance data and comparison to water-quality standards
Total dissolved gas and water temperature in the lower Columbia River, Oregon and Washington, water year 2009: Quality-assurance data and comparison to water-quality standards
Total dissolved gas and water temperature in the lower Columbia River, Oregon and Washington, 2008: Quality-assurance data and comparison to water-quality standards
Total dissolved gas and water temperature in the lower Columbia River, Oregon and Washington, 2007: Quality-assurance data and comparison to water-quality standards
Total dissolved gas and water temperature in the lower Columbia River, Oregon and Washington, 2006: Quality-assurance data and comparison to water-quality standards
Total dissolved gas and water temperature in the lower Columbia River, Oregon and Washington, 2005: quality-assurance data and comparison to water-quality standards
Total dissolved gas and water temperature in the lower Columbia river, Oregon and Washington, 2004: quality-assurance data and comparison to water-quality standards
Total dissolved gas and water temperature in the lower Columbia River, Oregon and Washington, 2003: Quality-assurance data and comparison to water-quality standards
Below are partners associated with this project.
- Overview
USGS total dissolved gas (TDG) data help guide spill and discharge management from dams operated along the lower Columbia River.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operates several dams along the Columbia River that fulfill regional needs for flood control, navigation, irrigation, recreation, hydropower production, fish and wildlife habitat, water-quality maintenance, and municipal and industrial water supply. When water is released through the spillways of these dams ambient air becomes entrained in the water, resulting in an increase in the concentration of dissolved gases in the water downstream of the dams. Concentrations of dissolved gases greater than 110 percent saturation can cause gas-bubble trauma in fish and adversely affect other aquatic organisms. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers uses real-time USGS data to regulate streamflow and spill from its dams to minimize the production of excess dissolved gases, while providing fish passage through the spillways.
Eight monitoring stations are operated on the lower Columbia River, from the navigation lock of the John Day Dam to Camas, Washington. Five of the stations (John Day navigation lock, The Dalles forebay, Bonneville forebay, Cascade Island, and Camas) are operated from March to September, encompassing the usual period for dam spill operations. The stations John Day tailwater, The Dalles tailwater, and Warrendale are operated year-round.
- Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Filter Total Items: 16Total dissolved gas and water temperature in the lower Columbia River, Oregon and Washington, water year 2014
Significant Findings An analysis of total-dissolved-gas (TDG) and water-temperature data collected at eight fixed monitoring stations on the lower Columbia River in Oregon and Washington in water year 2014 indicated the following: All 81 TDG sensor laboratory checks that were performed after field deployment were within plus or minus (±) 0.5-percent saturation of a primary standard. After 3-4 weeAuthorsHeather M. Bragg, Matthew W. JohnstonTotal dissolved gas and water temperature in the lower Columbia River, Oregon and Washington, water year 2013: quality-assurance data and comparison to water-quality standards
Significant Findings An analysis of total-dissolved-gas (TDG) and water-temperature data collected at eight fixed monitoring stations on the lower Columbia River in Oregon and Washington in water year 2013 indicated the following: During the spill season of April–August 2013, the averages of the 12 highest hourly TDG values in a day were periodically greater than 115-percent saturation for the fAuthorsHeather M. Bragg, Matthew W. JohnstonTotal dissolved gas and water temperature in the lower Columbia River, Oregon and Washington, water year 2012: Quality-assurance data and comparison to water-quality standards
Significant Findings Air is entrained in water as it is flows through the spillways of dams, which causes an increase in the concentration of total dissolved gas in the water downstream from the dams. The elevated concentrations of total dissolved gas can adversely affect fish and other freshwater aquatic life. An analysis of total-dissolved-gas and water-temperature data collected at eight monitoAuthorsDwight Q. Tanner, Heather M. Bragg, Matthew W. JohnstonTotal dissolved gas and water temperature in the lower Columbia River, Oregon and Washington, water year 2011: Quality-assurance data and comparison to water-quality standards
Significant Findings Air is entrained in water as it is flows through the spillways of dams, which causes an increase in the concentration of total dissolved gas in the water downstream from the dams. The elevated concentrations of total dissolved gas can adversely affect fish and other freshwater aquatic life. An analysis of total-dissolved-gas and water-temperature data collected at eight monitoAuthorsDwight Q. Tanner, Heather M. Bragg, Matthew W. JohnstonTotal dissolved gas and water temperature in the lower Columbia River, Oregon and Washington, water year 2010: Quality-assurance data and comparison to water-quality standards
Significant Findings When water is released through the spillways of dams, air is entrained in the water, increasing the downstream concentration of dissolved gases. Excess dissolved-gas concentrations can have adverse effects on freshwater aquatic life. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, collected dissolved-gas and water-temperature data at eAuthorsDwight Q. Tanner, Heather M. Bragg, Matthew W. JohnstonTotal dissolved gas and water temperature in the lower Columbia River, Oregon and Washington, water year 2009: Quality-assurance data and comparison to water-quality standards
Significant Findings When water is released through the spillways of dams, air is entrained in the water, increasing the downstream concentration of dissolved gases. Excess dissolved-gas concentrations can have adverse effects on freshwater aquatic life. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, collected dissolved-gas and water-temperature data at eAuthorsDwight Q. Tanner, Heather M. Bragg, Matthew W. JohnstonTotal dissolved gas and water temperature in the lower Columbia River, Oregon and Washington, 2008: Quality-assurance data and comparison to water-quality standards
Significant Findings When water is released through the spillways of dams, air is entrained in the water, increasing the downstream concentration of dissolved gases. Excess dissolved-gas concentrations can have adverse effects on freshwater aquatic life. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, collected dissolved-gas and water-temperature data at eAuthorsDwight Q. Tanner, Heather M. Bragg, Matthew W. JohnstonTotal dissolved gas and water temperature in the lower Columbia River, Oregon and Washington, 2007: Quality-assurance data and comparison to water-quality standards
Significant Findings When water is released through the spillways of dams, air is entrained in the water, increasing the downstream concentration of dissolved gases. Excess dissolved-gas concentrations can have adverse effects on freshwater aquatic life. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, collected dissolved-gas and water-temperature data at eAuthorsDwight Q. Tanner, Heather M. Bragg, Matthew W. JohnstonTotal dissolved gas and water temperature in the lower Columbia River, Oregon and Washington, 2006: Quality-assurance data and comparison to water-quality standards
Significant Findings When water is released through the spillways of dams, air is entrained in the water, increasing the downstream concentration of dissolved gases. Excess dissolved-gas concentrations can have ad-verse effects on freshwater aquatic life. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, collected dissolved-gas concentration and water-temperAuthorsDwight Q. Tanner, Heather M. Bragg, Matthew W. JohnstonTotal dissolved gas and water temperature in the lower Columbia River, Oregon and Washington, 2005: quality-assurance data and comparison to water-quality standards
Significant Findings When water is released through the spillways of dams, air is entrained in the water, increasing the downstream concentration of dissolved gases. Excess dissolved-gas concentrations can have adverse effects on freshwater aquatic life. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, collected dissolved-gas and water-temperature data at eiAuthorsDwight Q. Tanner, Heather M. Bragg, Matthew W. JohnstonTotal dissolved gas and water temperature in the lower Columbia river, Oregon and Washington, 2004: quality-assurance data and comparison to water-quality standards
Significant Findings When water is released through the spillways of dams, air is entrained in the water, increasing the downstream concentration of total dissolved gas. Excess dissolved-gas concentrations can have adverse effects on freshwater aquatic life. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), collected total-dissolved-gas (TDG) and wateAuthorsDwight Q. Tanner, Heather M. Bragg, Matthew JohnstonTotal dissolved gas and water temperature in the lower Columbia River, Oregon and Washington, 2003: Quality-assurance data and comparison to water-quality standards
Significant Findings When water is released through the spillways of dams, air is entrained in the water, increasing the concentration of total dissolved gas. Excess dissolved-gas concentrations can have adverse effects on freshwater aquatic life. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, collected total- dissolved-gas and water-temperature data at seAuthorsDwight Q. Tanner, Heather M. Bragg, Matthew W. Johnston - Partners
Below are partners associated with this project.