The streamflow and water-quality conditions monitored by the USGS in the North Santiam River basin provide valuable information to water resource managers
The North Santiam River is the primary source of drinking water for more than 177,000 people in Salem, Oregon and the surrounding communities. The USGS, in cooperation with the City of Salem, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Forest Service monitors streamflow and water quality in the North Santiam River basin. The information obtained from this monitoring network is used by the City of Salem to determine when conditions might impact its drinking water treatment facility and to inform operational decisions at the Army Corps of Engineers’ Detroit and Big Cliff Dams.
These data provide a detailed picture of hydrologic and water quality conditions in Detroit Lake and the North Santiam River at important temporal scales, which allows us to better understand how the reservoir-river system responds to key drivers such as precipitation, temperature, harmful algal bloom (HAB) events, and other factors. For example, these data provide insights into the evolution, behavior, and decay of the seasonal algal blooms in Detroit Lake. The data collected by the USGS can be used to inform modeling and management strategies in the North Santiam River basin, warn downstream drinking water providers of HAB events, and perhaps to predict harmful algal blooms in the future.
The streamflow and water-quality data that has been collected by the USGS in the North Santiam River basin are available from the National Water Information System and other on-line sources. For example, there are water-quality monitoring stations in Detroit Lake and downstream of Detroit and Big Cliff Dams on the North Santiam River at Niagara.
Profile Analysis Tool - Detroit Lake, OR
Lake profiler used to display water-quality data in Detroit Lake, OR. These data also provide insights into the evolution, behavior, and decay of the seasonal blooms which can inform management strategies, modeling, and perhaps prediction of blooms in the future.
National Water Information System (NWIS) - Oregon
National Water Information System: Mapper (Oregon)
Below are publications associated with this project.
Development of a HEC-RAS temperature model for the North Santiam River, northwestern Oregon
Suspended-Sediment Budget for the North Santiam River Basin, Oregon, Water Years 2005-08
Suspended-Sediment Loads and Yields in the North Santiam River Basin, Oregon, Water Years 1999-2004
Major Turbidity Events in the North Santiam River Basin, Oregon, Water Years 1999-2004
Modeling Hydrodynamics, Water Temperature, and Suspended Sediment in Detroit Lake, Oregon
Monitoring instream turbidity to estimate continuous suspended-sediment loads and yields and clay-water volumes in the upper North Santiam River Basin, Oregon, 1998-2000
The USGS is collaborating with the agencies below to monitor streamflow and water-quality conditions in the North Santiam River basin.
- Overview
The streamflow and water-quality conditions monitored by the USGS in the North Santiam River basin provide valuable information to water resource managers
The North Santiam River is the primary source of drinking water for more than 177,000 people in Salem, Oregon and the surrounding communities. The USGS, in cooperation with the City of Salem, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Forest Service monitors streamflow and water quality in the North Santiam River basin. The information obtained from this monitoring network is used by the City of Salem to determine when conditions might impact its drinking water treatment facility and to inform operational decisions at the Army Corps of Engineers’ Detroit and Big Cliff Dams.
These data provide a detailed picture of hydrologic and water quality conditions in Detroit Lake and the North Santiam River at important temporal scales, which allows us to better understand how the reservoir-river system responds to key drivers such as precipitation, temperature, harmful algal bloom (HAB) events, and other factors. For example, these data provide insights into the evolution, behavior, and decay of the seasonal algal blooms in Detroit Lake. The data collected by the USGS can be used to inform modeling and management strategies in the North Santiam River basin, warn downstream drinking water providers of HAB events, and perhaps to predict harmful algal blooms in the future.
- Data
The streamflow and water-quality data that has been collected by the USGS in the North Santiam River basin are available from the National Water Information System and other on-line sources. For example, there are water-quality monitoring stations in Detroit Lake and downstream of Detroit and Big Cliff Dams on the North Santiam River at Niagara.
Profile Analysis Tool - Detroit Lake, OR
Lake profiler used to display water-quality data in Detroit Lake, OR. These data also provide insights into the evolution, behavior, and decay of the seasonal blooms which can inform management strategies, modeling, and perhaps prediction of blooms in the future.
National Water Information System (NWIS) - Oregon
National Water Information System: Mapper (Oregon)
- Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Development of a HEC-RAS temperature model for the North Santiam River, northwestern Oregon
A one-dimensional, unsteady streamflow and temperature model (HEC-RAS) of the North Santiam and Santiam Rivers was developed by the U.S. Geological Survey to be used in conjunction with previously developed two-dimensional hydrodynamic water-quality models (CE-QUAL-W2) of Detroit and Big Cliff Lakes upstream of the study area. In conjunction with the output from the previously developed models, thSuspended-Sediment Budget for the North Santiam River Basin, Oregon, Water Years 2005-08
Significant Findings An analysis of sediment transport in the North Santiam River basin during water years 2005-08 indicated that: Two-thirds of sediment input to Detroit Lake originated in the upper North Santiam River subbasin. Two-thirds of the sediment transported past Geren Island originated in the Little North Santiam River subbasin. The highest annual suspended-sediment load at anySuspended-Sediment Loads and Yields in the North Santiam River Basin, Oregon, Water Years 1999-2004
The North Santiam River provides drinking water to the residents and businesses of the city of Salem, Oregon, and many surrounding communities. Since 1998, water-quality data, including turbidity, were collected continuously at monitoring stations throughout the basin as part of the North Santiam River Basin Turbidity and Suspended Sediment Study. In addition, sediment samples have been collectedMajor Turbidity Events in the North Santiam River Basin, Oregon, Water Years 1999-2004
Multiple high-turbidity events with values greater than 250 Formazin Nephelometric Units occurred in streams of the North Santiam River basin during water years 1999-2004. By using a combination of field reconnaissance, aerial photography, and geographic information systems, eight of these high-turbidity events were investigated and linked to at least one likely source area and became known as 'maModeling Hydrodynamics, Water Temperature, and Suspended Sediment in Detroit Lake, Oregon
Detroit Lake is a large reservoir on the North Santiam River in west-central Oregon. Water temperature and suspended sediment are issues of concern in the river downstream of the reservoir. A CE-QUAL-W2 model was constructed to simulate hydrodynamics, water temperature, total dissolved solids, and suspended sediment in Detroit Lake. The model was calibrated for calendar years 2002 and 2003, and foMonitoring instream turbidity to estimate continuous suspended-sediment loads and yields and clay-water volumes in the upper North Santiam River Basin, Oregon, 1998-2000
Three real-time, instream water-quality and turbidity-monitoring sites were established in October 1998 in the upper North Santiam River Basin on the North Santiam River, the Breitenbush River, and Blowout Creek, the main tributary inputs to Detroit Lake, a large, controlled reservoir that extends from river mile 61 to 70. Suspended-sediment samples were collected biweekly to monthly at each stati - Partners
The USGS is collaborating with the agencies below to monitor streamflow and water-quality conditions in the North Santiam River basin.