Stormwater assessment site on the Moclips River Near Moclips, WA on the Quinault Indian Nation Tribal land.
Andrew Spanjer
Hydrologist for the Washington Water Science Center
Science and Products
Green-Duwamish Watershed 6PPD-q small stream monitoring
Pacific salmon and trout, especially coho, are threatened by a toxic contaminant resulting from tire additives that end up in untreated road runoff. This contaminant, 6PPD-q, has been associated with high rates of coho pre-spawn mortality in streams, including in the Green-Duwamish watershed. Many coho spawning streams in the watershed are predicted to be at high risk for “urban runoff mortality...
Assessing water quality related to stormwater runoff on Quinault Nation Tribal lands
The Issue: Clean and abundant freshwater supports a diverse low-land habitat in the Quinault Indian Nation (QIN). The area supports numerous large mammals, birds, all species of Pacific salmon and trout, and diverse flora. The multiple small to medium-sized streams flowing through the area may be impacted by stormwater runoff related to adjacent land use, roads, recreational activities, and...
Baseline assessment of PAH concentrations in fish from the Stillaguamish River, Washington
The Issue: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a class of oil-derived compounds widely distributed in fresh and marine waters. They pose a significant toxicity risk to fish. It can be challenging to pinpoint the source of PAHs found in wild fish populations. PAHs are widespread and come from many sources, so it is hard to determine whether fish exposure is event-related or consistent with...
Trend and source identification of mercury contamination in Mid-Columbia Basin Pacific lamprey larvae
The Issue: Mercury contamination and toxicity threaten Pacific lamprey recovery in the Columbia River basin. Methylmercury concentrations in larval Pacific lamprey from tributaries in the mid-Columbia were measured to be as high as 4.0 µg/g wet weight. At these concentration levels, injury is predicted to occur in more than 50% of larval and adult fish and more than 90% of early-life stage fish...
Estuaries and large river deltas in the Pacific Northwest
Essential habitat for wild salmon and other wildlife borders river deltas and estuaries in the Pacific Northwest. These estuaries also support industry, agriculture, and a large human population that’s expected to double by the year 2060, but each could suffer from more severe river floods, higher sea level, and storm surges caused by climate change.
White River Bioenergetics
The White River Basin is located in western Washington and drains an area of about 500 square miles. Rivers in the White River Basin are fed by melt water from glaciers on Mt. Rainier, runoff from snowmelt and rain, and groundwater discharge. Beginning in the early to mid-twentieth century, the White River from river mile (RM) 9 to its confluence with the Puyallup River was extensively channelized...
Moclips River Stormwater Assessment Site
Stormwater assessment site on the Moclips River Near Moclips, WA on the Quinault Indian Nation Tribal land.
Pacific Lamprey Habitat
Type 1 Pacific lamprey habitat on the Klickitat River near Glenwood, WA. Type I (preferred) lamprey habitat that consists of a mixed substrate of silt, clay, organic matter, and sand.
Type 1 Pacific lamprey habitat on the Klickitat River near Glenwood, WA. Type I (preferred) lamprey habitat that consists of a mixed substrate of silt, clay, organic matter, and sand.
Water Quality Sampling in the Lower Stillaguamish Estuary
USGS Ecologist Julia David collects water quality data in the lower Stillaguamish Estuary near Stanwood, WA. Data will support a baseline assessment of PAH concentrations in fish in the Stillaguamish River, WA.
USGS Ecologist Julia David collects water quality data in the lower Stillaguamish Estuary near Stanwood, WA. Data will support a baseline assessment of PAH concentrations in fish in the Stillaguamish River, WA.
Pacific Lamprey ammocoetes
Pacific Lamprey ammocoetes in a measurement tank. Tissues collected from the lamprey will be analyzed for mercury as part of a study on mercury contamination in the Columbia River Basin.
Pacific Lamprey ammocoetes in a measurement tank. Tissues collected from the lamprey will be analyzed for mercury as part of a study on mercury contamination in the Columbia River Basin.
Science and Products
Green-Duwamish Watershed 6PPD-q small stream monitoring
Pacific salmon and trout, especially coho, are threatened by a toxic contaminant resulting from tire additives that end up in untreated road runoff. This contaminant, 6PPD-q, has been associated with high rates of coho pre-spawn mortality in streams, including in the Green-Duwamish watershed. Many coho spawning streams in the watershed are predicted to be at high risk for “urban runoff mortality...
Assessing water quality related to stormwater runoff on Quinault Nation Tribal lands
The Issue: Clean and abundant freshwater supports a diverse low-land habitat in the Quinault Indian Nation (QIN). The area supports numerous large mammals, birds, all species of Pacific salmon and trout, and diverse flora. The multiple small to medium-sized streams flowing through the area may be impacted by stormwater runoff related to adjacent land use, roads, recreational activities, and...
Baseline assessment of PAH concentrations in fish from the Stillaguamish River, Washington
The Issue: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a class of oil-derived compounds widely distributed in fresh and marine waters. They pose a significant toxicity risk to fish. It can be challenging to pinpoint the source of PAHs found in wild fish populations. PAHs are widespread and come from many sources, so it is hard to determine whether fish exposure is event-related or consistent with...
Trend and source identification of mercury contamination in Mid-Columbia Basin Pacific lamprey larvae
The Issue: Mercury contamination and toxicity threaten Pacific lamprey recovery in the Columbia River basin. Methylmercury concentrations in larval Pacific lamprey from tributaries in the mid-Columbia were measured to be as high as 4.0 µg/g wet weight. At these concentration levels, injury is predicted to occur in more than 50% of larval and adult fish and more than 90% of early-life stage fish...
Estuaries and large river deltas in the Pacific Northwest
Essential habitat for wild salmon and other wildlife borders river deltas and estuaries in the Pacific Northwest. These estuaries also support industry, agriculture, and a large human population that’s expected to double by the year 2060, but each could suffer from more severe river floods, higher sea level, and storm surges caused by climate change.
White River Bioenergetics
The White River Basin is located in western Washington and drains an area of about 500 square miles. Rivers in the White River Basin are fed by melt water from glaciers on Mt. Rainier, runoff from snowmelt and rain, and groundwater discharge. Beginning in the early to mid-twentieth century, the White River from river mile (RM) 9 to its confluence with the Puyallup River was extensively channelized...
Moclips River Stormwater Assessment Site
Stormwater assessment site on the Moclips River Near Moclips, WA on the Quinault Indian Nation Tribal land.
Stormwater assessment site on the Moclips River Near Moclips, WA on the Quinault Indian Nation Tribal land.
Pacific Lamprey Habitat
Type 1 Pacific lamprey habitat on the Klickitat River near Glenwood, WA. Type I (preferred) lamprey habitat that consists of a mixed substrate of silt, clay, organic matter, and sand.
Type 1 Pacific lamprey habitat on the Klickitat River near Glenwood, WA. Type I (preferred) lamprey habitat that consists of a mixed substrate of silt, clay, organic matter, and sand.
Water Quality Sampling in the Lower Stillaguamish Estuary
USGS Ecologist Julia David collects water quality data in the lower Stillaguamish Estuary near Stanwood, WA. Data will support a baseline assessment of PAH concentrations in fish in the Stillaguamish River, WA.
USGS Ecologist Julia David collects water quality data in the lower Stillaguamish Estuary near Stanwood, WA. Data will support a baseline assessment of PAH concentrations in fish in the Stillaguamish River, WA.
Pacific Lamprey ammocoetes
Pacific Lamprey ammocoetes in a measurement tank. Tissues collected from the lamprey will be analyzed for mercury as part of a study on mercury contamination in the Columbia River Basin.
Pacific Lamprey ammocoetes in a measurement tank. Tissues collected from the lamprey will be analyzed for mercury as part of a study on mercury contamination in the Columbia River Basin.