The U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and Watercourse Engineering, Inc. are collaborating to develop knowledge and tools to better manage water quality in the Link-Keno reach of the Klamath River and the Lost River.
The Klamath River from Link River to Keno Dam and Lost River experience poor water-quality conditions on a seasonal basis. The water-quality at sites in these reaches has been classified as “Very Poor” by the Oregon Water Quality Index. These problems led the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to release nutrient and water temperature Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plans to bring the river into compliance with water-quality standards. A TMDL is a plan for restoring impaired waters that determines the highest amount of a pollutant a water body can receive and still meet standards.
The nutrient TMDL specifies nutrient and BOD5 load reductions for point and nonpoint sources along the Link-Keno reach. For example, it requires greater than 80-percent reductions in total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and BOD5 for the Lost River Diversion Channel and Klamath Straits Drain. Load allocations in the Lost River TMDL represent 50% reductions in dissolved inorganic nitrogen and carbonaceous BOD (CBOD) and require dissolved oxygen increases for the impoundments.
The U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and Watercourse Engineering, Inc. are collaborating to develop knowledge and tools to better manage water quality in the Link-Keno reach of the Klamath River and the Lost River. This collaboration has led to enhanced water quality datasets, understanding of fundamental water quality processes such as algal decay, and settling, the construction and enhancement of CE-QUAL-W2 water quality and hydrodynamic models, as well as model scenarios that provide insight into how future operations could affect water quality.
Below are data or web applications associated with this project.
USGS Klamath River Basin Water-Quality Mapper
This map interface represents continuous and discrete water-quality data collected by Bureau of Reclamation and USGS at Klamath Basin sites. The USGS and Reclamation data stored in NWIS are accessible using existing tools such as NWIS-Web and the USGS Data Grapher system.
Klamath River Water-Quality Sites
Klamath River water-quality monitoring -- Keno Reach monitors
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Below are publications related to this project.
Modeling a 2- and 4-foot drawdown in the Link River to Keno Dam reach of the upper Klamath River, south-central Oregon
Modeling hydrodynamics, water temperature, and water quality in Klamath Straits Drain, Oregon and California, 2012–15
Characteristics of dissolved organic matter in the Upper Klamath River, Lost River, and Klamath Straits Drain, Oregon and California
Modeling water quality, temperature, and flow in Link River, south-central Oregon
Water-quality modeling of Klamath Straits Drain recirculation, a Klamath River wetland, and 2011 conditions for the Link River to Keno Dam reach of the Klamath River, Oregon
Review of revised Klamath River Total Maximum Daily Load models from Link River Dam to Keno Dam, Oregon
Modeling the Water - Quality Effects of Changes to the Klamath River Upstream of Keno Dam, Oregon
Macrophyte and pH buffering updates to the Klamath River water-quality model upstream of Keno Dam, Oregon
Dissolved oxygen analysis, TMDL model comparison, and particulate matter shunting—Preliminary results from three model scenarios for the Klamath River upstream of Keno Dam, Oregon
Modeling hydrodynamics, water temperature, and water quality in the Klamath River upstream of Keno Dam, Oregon, 2006-09
Controls on biochemical oxygen demand in the upper Klamath River, Oregon
Klamath River Water Quality Data from Link River Dam to Keno Dam, Oregon, 2008
Below are web applications associated with this project.
USGS Klamath River Basin Water-Quality Mapper
The Klamath River Basin Water-Quality Mapper allows users to explore and access water-quality data from the Klamath River Basin that were collected by the USGS and the Bureau of Reclamation. This web-based application provides access to hundreds of time series datasets and thousands of discrete sample results.
USGS Data Grapher
This is a data graphing utility that allows the user to build graphs of data from selected USGS stations. Select the station, the type of graph, the parameter(s) to plot, and the starting and ending dates for the graph.
Below are partners associated with this project.
- Overview
The U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and Watercourse Engineering, Inc. are collaborating to develop knowledge and tools to better manage water quality in the Link-Keno reach of the Klamath River and the Lost River.
The Klamath River from Link River to Keno Dam and Lost River experience poor water-quality conditions on a seasonal basis. The water-quality at sites in these reaches has been classified as “Very Poor” by the Oregon Water Quality Index. These problems led the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to release nutrient and water temperature Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plans to bring the river into compliance with water-quality standards. A TMDL is a plan for restoring impaired waters that determines the highest amount of a pollutant a water body can receive and still meet standards.
The nutrient TMDL specifies nutrient and BOD5 load reductions for point and nonpoint sources along the Link-Keno reach. For example, it requires greater than 80-percent reductions in total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and BOD5 for the Lost River Diversion Channel and Klamath Straits Drain. Load allocations in the Lost River TMDL represent 50% reductions in dissolved inorganic nitrogen and carbonaceous BOD (CBOD) and require dissolved oxygen increases for the impoundments.
The U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and Watercourse Engineering, Inc. are collaborating to develop knowledge and tools to better manage water quality in the Link-Keno reach of the Klamath River and the Lost River. This collaboration has led to enhanced water quality datasets, understanding of fundamental water quality processes such as algal decay, and settling, the construction and enhancement of CE-QUAL-W2 water quality and hydrodynamic models, as well as model scenarios that provide insight into how future operations could affect water quality.
- Data
Below are data or web applications associated with this project.
USGS Klamath River Basin Water-Quality Mapper
This map interface represents continuous and discrete water-quality data collected by Bureau of Reclamation and USGS at Klamath Basin sites. The USGS and Reclamation data stored in NWIS are accessible using existing tools such as NWIS-Web and the USGS Data Grapher system.
Klamath River Water-Quality Sites
Klamath River water-quality monitoring -- Keno Reach monitors
- Multimedia
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
- Publications
Below are publications related to this project.
Filter Total Items: 16Modeling a 2- and 4-foot drawdown in the Link River to Keno Dam reach of the upper Klamath River, south-central Oregon
Executive SummaryThe most upstream, pooled reach of the Klamath River in south-central Oregon, from Link River mouth to Keno Dam (Link-Keno), has a water-surface elevation that remains relatively constant throughout the year. Two model scenarios, using an existing two-dimensional hydrodynamic and water-quality model (CE-QUAL-W2), were constructed to examine the effects of lowering the water-surfacAuthorsAnnett B. Sullivan, Stewart A. RoundsModeling hydrodynamics, water temperature, and water quality in Klamath Straits Drain, Oregon and California, 2012–15
Executive SummaryLocated southwest of Klamath Falls, Oregon, Klamath Straits Drain is a 10.1-mile-long canal that conveys water uphill and northward through the use of pumps before discharging to the Klamath River. Klamath Straits Drain traverses an area that historically encompassed Lower Klamath Lake. Currently, the Drain receives water from farmland and from parts of the Lower Klamath Lake NatiAuthorsAnnett B. Sullivan, Stewart A. RoundsCharacteristics of dissolved organic matter in the Upper Klamath River, Lost River, and Klamath Straits Drain, Oregon and California
Concentrations of particulate organic carbon (POC) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC), which together comprise total organic carbon, were measured in this reconnaissance study at sampling sites in the Upper Klamath River, Lost River, and Klamath Straits Drain in 2013–16. Optical absorbance and fluorescence properties of dissolved organic matter (DOM), which contains DOC, also were analyzed. ParallAuthorsJami H. Goldman, Annett B. SullivanModeling water quality, temperature, and flow in Link River, south-central Oregon
The 2.1-km (1.3-mi) Link River connects Upper Klamath Lake to the Klamath River in south-central Oregon. A CE-QUAL-W2 flow and water-quality model of Link River was developed to provide a connection between an existing model of the upper Klamath River and any existing or future models of Upper Klamath Lake. Water-quality sampling at six locations in Link River was done during 2013–15 to support moAuthorsAnnett B. Sullivan, Stewart A. RoundsWater-quality modeling of Klamath Straits Drain recirculation, a Klamath River wetland, and 2011 conditions for the Link River to Keno Dam reach of the Klamath River, Oregon
The upper Klamath River and adjacent Lost River are interconnected basins in south-central Oregon and northern California. Both basins have impaired water quality with Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) in progress or approved. In cooperation with the Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Watercourse Engineering, Inc., have conducted modeling and research to inform managementAuthorsAnnett B. Sullivan, I. Ertugrul Sogutlugil, Michael L. Deas, Stewart A. RoundsReview of revised Klamath River Total Maximum Daily Load models from Link River Dam to Keno Dam, Oregon
Flow and water-quality models are being used to support the development of Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plans for the Klamath River downstream of Upper Klamath Lake (UKL) in south-central Oregon. For riverine reaches, the RMA-2 and RMA-11 models were used, whereas the CE-QUAL-W2 model was used to simulate pooled reaches. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) was asked to review the most upstream ofAuthorsStewart A. Rounds, Annett B. SullivanModeling the Water - Quality Effects of Changes to the Klamath River Upstream of Keno Dam, Oregon
The Link River to Keno Dam (Link-Keno) reach of the Klamath River, Oregon, generally has periods of water-quality impairment during summer, including low dissolved oxygen, elevated concentrations of ammonia and algae, and high pH. Efforts are underway to improve water quality in this reach through a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) program and other management and operational actions. To assist inAuthorsAnnett B. Sullivan, I. Ertugrul Sogutlugil, Stewart A. Rounds, Michael L. DeasMacrophyte and pH buffering updates to the Klamath River water-quality model upstream of Keno Dam, Oregon
A hydrodynamic, water temperature, and water-quality model of the Link River to Keno Dam reach of the upper Klamath River was updated to account for macrophytes and enhanced pH buffering from dissolved organic matter, ammonia, and orthophosphorus. Macrophytes had been observed in this reach by field personnel, so macrophyte field data were collected in summer and fall (June-October) 2011 to providAuthorsAnnett B. Sullivan, Stewart A. Rounds, Jessica R. Asbill-Case, Michael L. DeasDissolved oxygen analysis, TMDL model comparison, and particulate matter shunting—Preliminary results from three model scenarios for the Klamath River upstream of Keno Dam, Oregon
Efforts are underway to identify actions that would improve water quality in the Link River to Keno Dam reach of the Upper Klamath River in south-central Oregon. To provide further insight into water-quality improvement options, three scenarios were developed, run, and analyzed using previously calibrated CE-QUAL-W2 hydrodynamic and water-quality models. Additional scenarios are under developmentAuthorsAnnett B. Sullivan, Stewart A. Rounds, Michael L. Deas, I. Ertugrul SogutlugilModeling hydrodynamics, water temperature, and water quality in the Klamath River upstream of Keno Dam, Oregon, 2006-09
A hydrodynamic, water temperature, and water-quality model was constructed for a 20-mile reach of the Klamath River downstream of Upper Klamath Lake, from Link River to Keno Dam, for calendar years 2006-09. The two-dimensional, laterally averaged model CE-QUAL-W2 was used to simulate water velocity, ice cover, water temperature, specific conductance, dissolved and suspended solids, dissolved oxygeAuthorsAnnett B. Sullivan, Stewart A. Rounds, Michael L. Deas, Jessica R. Asbill, Roy E. Wellman, Marc A. Stewart, Matthew W. Johnston, I. Ertugrul SogutlugilControls on biochemical oxygen demand in the upper Klamath River, Oregon
A series of 30-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) experiments were conducted on water column samples from a reach of the upper Klamath River that experiences hypoxia and anoxia in summer. Samples were incubated with added nitrification inhibitor to measure carbonaceous BOD (CBOD), untreated to measure total BOD, which included demand from nitrogenous BOD (NBOD), and coarse-filtered to examine theAuthorsAnnett B. Sullivan, Dean M. Snyder, Stewart A. RoundsKlamath River Water Quality Data from Link River Dam to Keno Dam, Oregon, 2008
This report documents sampling and analytical methods and presents field data from a second year of an ongoing study on the Klamath River from Link River Dam to Keno Dam in south central Oregon; this dataset will form the basis of a hydrodynamic and water quality model. Water quality was sampled weekly at six mainstem and two tributary sites from early April through early November, 2008. ConstitueAuthorsAnnett B. Sullivan, Michael L. Deas, Jessica Asbill, Julie D. Kirshtein, Kenna D. Butler, Jennifer Vaughn - Web Tools
Below are web applications associated with this project.
USGS Klamath River Basin Water-Quality Mapper
The Klamath River Basin Water-Quality Mapper allows users to explore and access water-quality data from the Klamath River Basin that were collected by the USGS and the Bureau of Reclamation. This web-based application provides access to hundreds of time series datasets and thousands of discrete sample results.
USGS Data Grapher
This is a data graphing utility that allows the user to build graphs of data from selected USGS stations. Select the station, the type of graph, the parameter(s) to plot, and the starting and ending dates for the graph.
- Partners
Below are partners associated with this project.