Tribal Water Quality Assessment Report (2005)

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Tribal Water Quality Assessment Report

(October 2005 to September 2006)

Deliverable as Specified in Clean Water Act Section 106

Grant # BG-96005701-0

Prepared By:

Confederated Tribes of

Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians

Department of Natural Resources

1245 Fulton Avenue

Coos Bay, Oregon

December 27, 2006

Background

The Environmental Division is a branch under the Department of Natural Resources with

a mission statement is to research, monitor, assess, manage, use, conserve, protect, and

restore the natural resources of the Confederated Tribes’ Ancestral Territory, consistent

with Tribal values. The Water Quality Program (WQP) was developed to monitor water

quality conditions of tribal waters and monitor the quality of waters pertaining to tribal

lands. The WQP assess the ecological health of the Ancestral Watersheds and develops

plans, best management practices, standards, and ordinances to protect these Tribal

waters for their multiple ecological, cultural, economic, and intrinsic values. In 2002, the

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) agreed to treat the Tribes "in a manner

similar to a state" under the authority of the Clean Water Act. In 2003, the

Tribes completed an EPA approved Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP 1.8) for the

water quality monitoring program. Early in 2004, the Tribes initiated the first ever water

quality monitoring program. Water quality data collection targeted five core parameters:

water temperature, turbidity, salinity, pH, and dissolved oxygen. Data collection was

conducted at spring high-high and low-low tides, requiring sampling to be conducted at

all hours of the day and night. Data collection was expanded in 2006 with the

implementation of an EPA approved QAPP 2.0. The WQP installed YSI continuous data

loggers at estuarine sites to improve and increase tidal data collection. The WQP also

expanded to include chlorophyll and bacteria parameters into the WQP. The WQP is

funded by EPA through Section 106 of the Clean Water Act.

Purpose

EPA’s Guidance on Awards of Grants to Indian Tribes under Section 106 of the Clean

Water Act requires that tribes collect, assess, and report annually on water quality

monitoring data collected using Clean Water Act Section 106 funding. The following

annual Water Quality Assessment Report covers all tribal water quality data collected in

the 2005-2006 water year (October 2005-September 2006). In addition to this report all

water quality data collected by the WQP will be submitted with this report to EPA.

Atlas of Tribal Waters

The following table is an estimate of our tribal waters (as of 1/1/2007) using our most

current GIS data.

Atlas of Tribal Waters

Total Number of Stream Miles

0.03 miles

Total Number of Lake Acres

54.4 acres

Total Number of Wetland Acres

3.34 acres

Total Number of Estuary Frontage

0.69 miles

Parameters

EPA’s Guidance on Awards of Grants to Indian Tribes under Section 106 of the Clean

Water Act for Fiscal Years 2007 and Beyond [EPA 832-R-06-003] requires that Tribes

include and annually report on the following nine water quality parameters:

¾ Dissolved Oxygen

¾ pH

¾ Total phosphorus

¾ Total nitrogen

¾ Water temperature

¾ Turbidity

¾ Macroinvertebrates

¾ E. Coli or fecal coliform

¾ Basic habitat information

The WQP currently collects data on the following five of the nine EPA recommended

parameters.

¾ Dissolved Oxygen

¾ pH

¾ Water Temperature

¾ Turbidity

¾ E. coli and Enterococcus

Efforts are under way by the WQP to update our Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP)

to incorporate all EPA required parameters (Total Phosphorus, Total Nitrogen,

Macroinvertebrate, and Basic Habitat Information).

Monitoring Methods and Frequency

Estuarine Continuous Monitoring

One data logger is deployed at each of the three permanent monitoring stations. Sites are

accessed at high to mid-outgoing tide in a small skiff equipped with an outboard motor.

During transport, each sonde is wrapped in a tap water-soaked white towel and placed

horizontally in a rubber bin for insulation against jarring. To deploy, the data loggers are

lowered by chain into protective cases (constructed from 4"-diameter ABS plumbing

pipe). The ABS cases are drilled out to ensure adequate tidal flushing and exposure of

the probes to ambient water conditions. The ABS cases are affixed vertically to existing

log pilings driven into the channel substrate. A bolt prevents the data logger from

descending beyond the ABS pipe and ensures that the logger monitors at the same depth

on every deployment.

During retrieval, the sondes are again wrapped in a water-saturated white towel and

placed in a rubber bin for transport to the lab. To record post-deployment Dissolved

Oxygen in 100% water-saturated air, at least two data points are recorded after the sonde

reaches ambient temperature and while it is wrapped in the towel. The other postdeployment calibrations are performed in the lab prior to cleaning to determine if

instrument drift has occurred and to evaluate the validity of the data. Sonde cleaning and

calibration of the DO, Conductivity, Depth, pH, Turbidity, and Chlorophyll probes are

performed as outlined in the YSI manual. For Conductivity and Salinity, YSI calibrator

solution (10,000 μS/cm) is used without dilution. For pH calibrations, pH 7 and 10

solutions are used. A two-point calibration is used for Turbidity using 0 NTU and 123

NTU. A one-point (0 NTU) Chlorophyll calibration is performed. The depth sensor is

calibrated in air at sea level. The DO membranes are replaced prior to every deployment,

calibrated, and allowed to stretch for 16-24 hours. The DO probes are re-calibrated before

deployment, if necessary.

As a quality assurance check, field calibrations are recorded during sonde deployment

and retrieval. As close to the 30-minute sonde recording time as possible, a hand-held

YSI 556 records DO, Salinity, Specific Conductivity, and Temperature both at the

surface and at the level of the sonde array. Surface grab samples of water for pH and

turbidity are taken for bench top analysis.

The WQP staff complete data logger retrieval and deployment approximately every two

weeks weather permitting.

Stream Discrete Monitoring

Water temperature, dissolved oxygen, salinity/conductivity, pH, bacteria (e. coli and

Enterococcus), and turbidity data are collected semi-monthly at the Tribes’ freshwater

monitoring site. A combination of handheld meters (YSI 556 multi-probe meter, Hach

2100-P Turbidimeter, and Beckman 450 ionic pH meter) and sample bottles are used to

measure and collect discrete samples. The target time of day for sample collection at the

Tribes’ freshwater site is 2:00 p.m. In addition, a water sample is collected for in house

analysis of e. coli and Enterococcus using IDEXX brand Colilert -18 and enterolert

reagent and the IDEXX QuantiTray 2000 analytical system. Calibrated and audited

Vemco water temperature data loggers are deployed at the site from June thru September

and record data at 30 minute intervals.

Estuarine Discrete Monitoring

The WQP currently monitors estuarine water quality at four sites and has established

three long-term continuous monitoring stations within two estuaries (Siuslaw and Coos

Bay) along the central and south central Oregon coast. These sites were established to

collect essential baseline information and to improve the Tribes’ understanding of tidal

dynamics and watershed inputs occurring within tribal waters. The estuarine sites are

sampled using the discrete sampling methodology described in the previous Stream

Water Quality Monitoring section.

Bacteria Monitoring Research Methods

Water samples for microbiological analysis are collected at all sites semi-monthly for in

house analysis of E. coli and Enterococcus using IDEXX brand Colilert -18 and

Enterolert reagent per the IDEXX QuantiTray 2000 analytical system. Water samples of

approximately 100ml (with adequate head-space for mixing), are collected using

disposable pre-sterilized IDEXX sample bottles. All bacteria and ancillary grab samples

are placed in a cooler on ice while in transport to the lab.

Applied Water Quality Standards

The Tribes are in the process of developing tribal water quality standards applicable to

tribal lands. Until these standards are completed and approved by Tribal Council, the

WQP compares water quality data collected with the numeric standards within the State

of Oregon’s water quality standards. These water quality standards can be found on the

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s website

(http://www.deq.state.or.us/wq/wqrules/Div041/OAR340Div041.pdf).

The following table shows the numeric water quality standards that were applied to the

water quality data collected during this reporting period.

Water Quality Standards Applied to Tribal Water Quality Data

Parameter

Estuarine

Freshwater

Dissolved Oxygen

6.5 mg/L

6.0 mg/L

6.5-8.5

Water Temperature

18°C (64º F)

Turbidity

5 NTU Low Flow-50 3 NTU Low Flow-8

NTU High Flow*

Salinity/Conductivity

None

*Low flow begins June 1st and ends September 30th; high flow begins October 1st and ends May 30th

Oregon Water Quality Standards for Each Parameter

Dissolved Oxygen(Rule No. 340-041-0016)

(2) For water bodies identified by the Department as providing cold-water aquatic life,

the dissolved oxygen may not be less than 8.0 mg/l as an absolute minimum. Where

conditions of barometric pressure, altitude, and temperature preclude attainment of the

8.0 mg/l, dissolved oxygen may not be less than 90 percent of saturation. At the

discretion of the Department, when the Department determines that adequate information

exists, the dissolved oxygen may not fall below 8.0 mg/l as a 30-day mean minimum, 6.5

mg/l as a seven-day minimum mean, and may not fall below 6.0 mg/l as an absolute

minimum.

(5) For estuarine water, the dissolved oxygen concentrations may not be less than 6.5

mg/l (for coastal water bodies);

pH (hydrogen ion concentration)(Rule No. 340-041-0021)

(1) Unless otherwise specified in OAR 340-041-0101 through 340-041-0350, pH values

(Hydrogen ion concentrations) may not fall outside the following ranges:

(b) Estuarine and fresh waters: 6.5-8.5.

Water Temperature(Rule No. 340-041-0028)

(1) Background. Water temperatures affect the biological cycles of aquatic species and

are a critical factor in maintaining and restoring healthy salmonid populations throughout

the State. Water temperatures are influenced by solar radiation, stream shade, ambient air

temperatures, channel morphology, groundwater inflows, and stream velocity, volume,

and flow. Surface water temperatures may also be warmed by anthropogenic activities

such as discharging heated water, changing stream width or depth, reducing stream

shading, and water withdrawals.

(c)The seven-day-average maximum temperature of a stream identified as having salmon

and trout rearing and migration use may not exceed 18°C.

Turbidity(Rule No. 340-041-0036)

The current Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) turbidity standard

specifically states that “[n]o more than a ten percent cumulative increase in natural

stream turbidities may be allowed, as measured relative to a control point immediately

upstream of the turbidity causing activity.”

DNR staff interviewed ODEQ staff to determine whether an alternate turbidity standard

could be applied in the interpretation of our discrete grab sample turbidity data. ODEQ

recommended that DNR apply an ambient background standard of 50 NTU to high flow

and 5 NTU to low flow estuarine turbidity data. ODEQ staff explained that studies of the

short term exposure of fish (e.g. salmon and trout) to these seasonal NTU’s have been

cited by previous studies as impacting fish behavioral response and growth rate – relative

to the fish’s perception of itself as either predator or prey (e.g. impact to juvenile

response time to predator or diminished foraging opportunities). Fresh water analysis of

the Tribes’ Sixes River data was based on median ambient high flow (8 NTU) and low

flow (3NTU) conditions of Oregon’s rivers listed in Table 3.6 of ODEQ’s Oct. 2005

DRAFT ‘Technical Basis for Revising Turbidity Criteria’. Within the “Oregon Water

Quality Index Report: Water Years 1995 – 2004,” ODEQ defines low summer flow as

beginning June 1st and ending September 30th, and high seasonal flow as beginning

October 1st and ending May 30th.

Salinity/ConductivityNo standard exists for this parameter. This parameter is primarily used to detect fresh and

salt water mixing and can be used as an indicator parameter for other pollutants.

Coordination and/or Collaboration with Other Organizations

The WQP works with local watershed associations to share technical expertise, strategies,

and water quality datasets. During this reporting period the WQP provided datasets to the

Coos Watershed Association (www.cooswatershed.org) and the Siuslaw Watershed

Council (www.siuslaw.org) to assist in the development of grant proposals and

restoration projects. Data was also provided to Greene Point Consulting to assist in a

wetland project on the North Fork Siuslaw River.

Outside Lab Support

No outside lab support was utilized during this reporting period.

Data Summarization and Management

Characteristics of Water Quality Monitoring Data – Source: USGS Statistical Methods

in Water Resources, Helsel and Hirsch

Data analyzed by our program have the following characteristics:

•

A lower bound of zero. No negative values are possible.

•

Presence of ‘outliers’, observations considerably higher or lower than most of the

data, which infrequently but regularly occur.

•

Positive skewness. Skewness can be expected when outlying values occur in only

one direction.

•

Non-normal distribution, due to skewness, presence of outliers, and the lower

bound of zero. Symmetry does not guarantee normality. Symmetric data with

more observations at both extremes (heavy tails) that occurs for a normal

distribution are also non-normal.

•

Seasonal patterns. Values tend to be higher or lower in certain seasons of the year.

•

Autocorrelation. Consecutive observations tend to be strongly correlated with

each other. For the most common kind of autocorrelation in water resources

(positive autocorrelation), high values tend to follow high values and low values

tend to follow low values.

•

Dependence on other uncontrolled variables. Values strongly covary with water

discharge, hydraulic conductivity, sediment grain size, or some other variable.

The summarization and graphing methods chosen for the analysis of the WQMP data

presented in this report were selected to recognize these common characteristics while

facilitating a quick and easy to understand visual and tabular reference for potential

trends in water quality captured by our data.

Data Summarization and Analysis Methodology

The following sections describe the methods of data analysis and summarization

presented in this report and attempt to explain why they were chosen over other methods.

Outliers

Outliers, observations whose values are quite different than others in the data set, are not

deleted from our data set unless they fall outside of instrument specifications. For our

purposes, outliers may be the most important points in our data set and are signals for

what parameters should be further investigated. Outliers can have one of three causes:

A measurement or recording error – These data are deleted from the data sets during the

QA/QC procedures.

An observation from a population not similar to that of most of the data, such as an elevated

spike in turbidity caused by a construction project rather than precipitation.

A rare event from a single population that is quite skewed.

Rather than eliminating actual (and possibly very important) data in order to use analysis

procedures requiring symmetry or normality, procedures resistant to outliers have been

employed in analysis of those data presented in this document. Computing the sample

mean alone may be of less value because an outlier observation, either high or low, has a

much greater influence on the overall mean than does a more typical observation. This

sensitivity to the magnitudes of a small number of points in the data set defines why the

mean is not a “resistant” measure of location (Fig. 1). It is not resistant to changes in the

presence of, or changes in the magnitudes of, a few outlying observations. The median,

however, is only minimally affected by the magnitude of a single observation, being

solely determined by the relative order of observations. This resistance to the effect of a

change in value or presence of outlying observations is the main reason we have chosen

to include the median in our summarization. In this case, we have chosen to let the data

guide which analysis procedures are employed, rather than altering the data in order to

implement analysis procedures that may be too restrictive for the informational purposes

of this report.

August 2006 Continuous Data Summary

North Fork Siuslaw Sonde

Stats

Max

Median

Min

Mean

Std Dev

Temp

18.80

21.20

17.60

11.00

16.20

17.37

1.99

SpCond

39.59

50.26

34.62

15.21

28.77

33.99

7.56

Sal

25.30

32.80

21.80

8.90

17.80

21.45

5.20

DO pct

101.03

153.10

85.25

46.70

72.10

88.72

21.38

DO mg/l

8.50

13.20

7.20

4.10

6.10

7.48

1.79

Depth

3.02

4.08

2.50

1.00

1.98

2.49

0.68

7.70

8.40

7.50

6.90

7.20

7.48

0.33

Turb

4.00

522.00

3.00

1.00

3.00

4.05

15.47

Fig.1 Turb and D.O. data summarized in this table reflect the effect of outliers on the

mean and the median

Measure of Skewness

The continuous water quality monitoring data collected by our program tend to be

skewed, meaning that data sets are not symmetrical around the mean or median, with

extreme values extending out longer in one direction. Figures 2-4 illustrate the potential

skewness of our data. When extreme values extend the right tail of distribution, as they

do in figures 1 & 2, the data are said to be skewed to the right, or positively skewed. Left

skewness, when the tail extends to the left as in figure 4, is called negative skew.

Distribution of August 2006 North Fork Siuslaw Sonde Turbidity Data

700

Median: 3.0

Number of Samples Recorded

600

Mean: 4.05

500

400

Total

300

200

100

293

NTU Value

Fig. 2

522

Distribution of August 2006 North Fork Siuslaw Sonde Dissolved Oxygen Concnetration

Data

Median:7.20

Mean: 7.48

Dissolved Oxygen Value (mg/l)

Fig. 3

Distribution of August 2006 North Fork Siuslaw Sonde Temperature Data

Total

Temperature Value

Fig. 4

When the data are skewed the mean is not expected to equal the median, but is pulled

toward the tail of distribution (Fig. 1 & 2). Thus for positive skewness (Fig. 1 & 2) the

mean exceeds more than 50 percent of the data (Fig. 1). The standard deviation is also

inflated by data in the tail (Fig.1). Therefore, tables of summary statistics which include

only the mean and standard deviation may not describe the majority of the data very well

because both will be inflated by outliers. For this reason, summary tables like those

presented in this report, which include the median and other percentiles, have greater

applicability to potentially skewed data sets. Skewed data also call into question the

applicability of hypothesis tests which are based on assumptions that the data have a

normal distribution. These tests, called parametric tests, may be of questionable value

when applied to skewed data sets and it is best to determine sooner rather than later

whether or not these tests apply.

Interquartile Range

The interquartile range (IQR) is a commonly used resistant measure of spread. It

measures the range of the central 50 percent of the data, and is not influenced at all by the

25 percent on the other end. The IQR is defined as the 75th percentile minus the 25th

percentile. The 75th, 50th (median) and 25th percentiles split the data into four equal-sized

quarters. The 75th percentile (also called the upper quartile or Q3) is a value that exceeds

no more than 75 percent of the data and is exceeded by no more than 25 percent of the

data. The 25th percentile (also called the lower quartile or Q1) is a value that exceeds no

more than 25 percent of the data and is exceeded by no more than 75 percent.

Graphical Data Analysis

Continuous Data

Exploratory analysis of our continuous water quality monitoring data has been applied to

these data in the form of box plots. This is an inductive procedure that has been used to

summarize, rather than test, these data. The results of the exploratory analysis of these

data will provide guidance toward the selection of appropriate deductive hypothesis

testing procedures implemented by CTCLUSI for future non-point source pollution

assessments and/or reports. According to USGS Book 4. Hydrologic Analysis and

Interpretation: Statistical Methods in Water Resources, the use of histograms for data

measured on a continuous scale is not the best method for graphical analysis of these

data. The process of forcing continuous data into discrete categories may obscure

important characteristics of the distribution. Histograms are best applied to data that have

natural categories or groupings (e.g., number of individual organisms found at a stream

site grouped by species type, or the number of water-supply wells exceeding some critical

yield grouped by geological unit). It is for this reason that we have chosen to graphically

display our continuous data with boxplots.

Boxplots provide visual summaries of:

The center of the data (the median)

The variation or spread (interquartile range – box height)

The skewness (quartile skew – the relative box halves)

Presence or absence of unusual values (outliers)

Although boxplots do not present all of the data, presenting all of the data is more detail

than is necessary for the purposes of this report. Boxplots presented in this report provide

concise visual summaries of essential data characteristics. The format of the boxplots

presented herein is the ‘box-and-whisker plot’ consisting of a center point (the median)

splitting a rectangle defined by the upper and lower quartiles (Q3 and Q1). Whiskers of

the box are lines drawn from the ends of the box to the maximum and minimum of the

data (Fig. 5). Thus a large amount of information is contained in a very concise

illustration.

Siuslaw River Mainstem Temperature Trend: Water Year 2006

DEQ Upper Limit for Salmon and Trout

Rearing and Migration: 18 ° C

Units Celsius

Max

Median

Min

DEQ

STD

Apr-06

May-06

Jun-06

Jul-06

Aug-06

Sep-06

Date

Fig. 5

Boxplots effectively illustrate the characteristics of data for a single variable, and

accentuate outliers for further inspection.

Discrete Data

In previous reports we have used overlapping histograms to display our discrete sample

data. However, upon reading USGS technical reports, we have learned that overlapping

histograms are not recommended for the display of water quality data such as these

because histograms provide poor visual discrimination among multiple data sets. It is for

this reason that we have chosen to display those discrete water quality monitoring data

collected by our program in a line graph format.

Coded Variable Code Definitions

Sampling Station:

Sampling Site Code

North Fork Siuslaw Sonde

WQE12

Mainstem Siuslaw Sonde

WQE09

BLM Dock Sonde

WQE10

Kentuck Slough Grab

WQE03

Sixes River Grab

WQS07

Station Code

CTCNFWQ

CTCSIWQ

CTCEDWQ

CTCKSWQ

CTCSRWQ

The station code identifier is composed of a three letter code identifying our organization

CTC = CTCLUSI; a two letter code identifying the site NF = North Fork Siuslaw, SI =

Mainstem Siuslaw, ED = BLM Dock, KS = Kentuck Slough, SR = Sixes River; and a

two letter code identifying the type of data WQ = Water Quality.

Sonde Data Review and Editing Protocol

Our WQMP’s general philosophy for data acceptance or rejection is based on absolute

and discretionary factors.

(1) Absolute: In the first phase of data review and editing, values sometimes can be

rejected on the basis of absolute factors via software statements with no detailed analysis

of the study by the CTCLUSI data logger technician.

(2) Discretionary: These are other instances in which the data must be examined before

absolute rejection. In the second phase we are recommending that each deployment study

be evaluated at the site for anomalies prior to submission of data for inclusion in the

CTCLUSI water quality data logger database.

Absolute data rejection (1)

The value recorded in the sonde memory is outside the listed range specifications of the

instrument.

The following criteria are based on the latest YSI 6-Series Environmental Monitoring

Systems Operating Manual sensor specifications in Appendix J and are what the

CTCLUSI error checking criteria are based on.

Temperature: -5 to 45 °C

Specific Conductivity: 0 to 100 mS/cm

Salinity: 0 to 70 ppt

Dissolved Oxygen (% Saturation): 0 to 200 and 200 to 500 % air saturation

Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L): 0 to 20 and 20 to 50 mg/L

Shallow Depth: 0 to 9.1m

pH: 2 to 14 units

Turbidity: 0 to 1000 NTU

Always reject data that are outside of the range of the probes; the only exceptions to

the absolute data rejection for out-of-range values are for the Shallow depth and

Turbidity probes. These exceptions are explained under their respective headings in this

document.

Site Location and Description

The following sections contain general watershed and water quality information for each

of the sites actively monitored by our program. Following each site description are graphs

displaying those data pertaining to current ODEQ standards and/or any 303(d) listings for

waters running through each monitoring location. This has been done in an attempt to

provide a quick identification of impairments potentially recorded in our monitoring data.

Tables summarizing water quality data collected at the site follow the graphical analysis.

1) North Fork Siuslaw River (WQE12) [43.978039, 124.080850 – Siuslaw

Watershed]

In April 2006, CTCLUSI discontinued discrete monitoring at the Hatch Tract Hwy 126

bridge location and established a permanent continuous monitoring station upriver

approximately 600ft from the bridge site.

The North Fork Siuslaw sonde station is located in the Lower North Fork Siuslaw

watershed approximately 6 river miles from the mouth of the Siuslaw River and within

river mile one of the Lower North Fork Siuslaw River. Water quality at this site is both

tidally influenced and watershed driven. The Lower North Fork Siuslaw River is also

considered part of the Siuslaw Estuary. The North Fork Siuslaw River is 303(d) listed for

sedimentation and temperature beginning at river mile 0.4 to 27.3. The sedimentation

listing is based on the criteria of the formation of appreciable bottom sludge deposits or

the formation of any organic or inorganic deposits deleterious to fish or other aquatic life

and the impact to the beneficial use of resident fish and aquatic life. The temperature

listing is based on the salmon and trout rearing and migration beneficial use criteria

temperature not to exceed an 18°C 7-day average maximum. The North Fork Siuslaw has

also been listed as water quality limited for habitat modification. Of the parameters listed,

temperature is the only one cited by ODEQ as impacting the beneficial use of salmon and

trout rearing and migration year round and as a result ODEQ has identified this reach as

requiring a temperature TMDL.

The following graphs and tables display both the discrete and continuous water year 2006

monitoring data collected by our program at these sites. The first set of graphs compare

the discrete high tide and low tide data collected at the Hatch Tract bridge site and relate

these data to state established water quality standards. The second set of graphs and

tables were generated from data collected at the North Fork Siuslaw sonde station.

* Contamination can cause the sonde’s Turbidity Probe zero calibration to be off by +5 to +8 NTUs. So when the probe

really experiences zero turbidity, the values are -5 to -8 NTU. Due to this known small calibration error possibility, small

negative turbidity values are kept in the data file and documented as anomalous due to this small calibration error.

Discrete Monitoring Data Analysis – Hatch Tract Bridge

Hatch Tract High Tide v. Low Tide Temperature Comparison: 10/05 - 03/06

Celsius

HT Temp

LT Temp

DEQ STD 18°C

3/29/2006

3/14/2006

2/28/2006

2/10/2006

1/27/2006

1/12/2006

12/30/2005

12/15/2005

12/3/2005

11/16/2005

11/4/2005

10/19/2005

Date

Hatch Tract High Tide v. Low Tide Dissolved Oxygen Comparison: 10/05 - 03/06

HT DO Conc

LT DO Conc

DEQ STD 6.5 mg/l

3/29/2006

3/14/2006

2/28/2006

2/10/2006

1/27/2006

1/12/2006

12/30/2005

12/15/2005

12/3/2005

11/16/2005

11/4/2005

10/19/2005

mg/l

Date

Hatch Tract High Tide v. Low Tide Turbidity Grab Sample Comparison: 10/05-03/06

NTU

HT Turbidity (Four Averages)

LT Turbidity (Four Averages)

DEQ High Flow NTU: 50

DEQ Low Flow NTU: 5

3/29/2006

3/14/2006

2/28/2006

2/10/2006

1/27/2006

1/12/2006

12/30/2005

12/15/2005

12/3/2005

11/16/2005

11/4/2005

10/19/2005

Date

Hatch Tract High Tide v. Low Tide Salinity Comparison: 10/05-04/06

HT Sal

LT Sal

3/29/2006

3/14/2006

2/28/2006

2/10/2006

1/27/2006

1/12/2006

12/30/2005

12/15/2005

12/3/2005

11/16/2005

11/4/2005

10/19/2005

ppt

Date

North Fork Siuslaw Continuous/Sonde Data Analysis

The following box and whisker plots display sonde temperature, dissolved oxygen, and

pH data collected at this site. The graphs have been produced with the appropriate ODEQ

standards and/or 303(d) listing in an attempt to facilitate rapid visual understanding of the

trends occurring at the site. Those data presented in the temperature boxplot (Boxplot 1)

indicate that the majority of continuous temperature data collected at CTCLUSI’s North

Fork sonde station throughout July and August exceeded the salmon and trout rearing and

migration beneficial use criteria of 18°C 7-day average maximum temperature and

therefore support the 303(d) listing for temperature within the North Fork Siuslaw River.

In addition to supporting the 303(d) listing for the site, dissolved oxygen data collected at

the site indicate an additional impairment to water quality is occurring at the site.

Although the Mainstem Siuslaw River is 303(d) listed from river mile 5.7 to 105.9 as

impacting the designated beneficial use of anadromous fish for dissolved oxygen June 1st

– September 14th (based on the criteria of cold water no less than 8.0 mg/l or 90% of

saturation) and impacting the designated beneficial use of salmonids fish spawning for

dissolved oxygen September 15th to May 31st (based on the spawning criteria not less

than 11.0 mg/l or 95% saturation), the North Fork Siuslaw is not. However, our initial

analysis of the continuous data collected by our program at this site indicate that

impairments to dissolved oxygen similar to those listed for the Mainstem Siuslaw River

are occurring within the North Fork Siuslaw River (Boxplot 2). Because there is an

ODEQ standard for pH in estuaries, we generated a boxplot (Boxplot 3) displaying pH

data collected at the site. No impairments to water quality associated with pH appear to

be occurring at the site.

North Fork Siuslaw Temperature Trend: Water Year 2006

DEQ Upper Limit for Salmon and Trout Rearing

and Migration: 18 ° C

Units Celsius

Max

Median

Min

DEQ STD

Apr-06

May-06

Jun-06

Jul-06

Aug-06

Sep-06

Date

Boxplot 1.

North Fork Siuslaw Dissolved Oxygen Trend: Water Year 2006

Units mg/l

Max

Median

Min

DEQ Lower Dissolved Oxygen Limit for

Estuaries: 6.5 mg/l

DEQ

Estuarine

STD

DEQ Lower Dissolved Oxygen Limit for Cold

Water Anadromous Fish Use: 8.0 mg/l - June 1st

to September 14th

DEQ Cold

Water STD

DEQ Lower Dissolved Oxygen Limit for

Salmonid Fish Spawning: 11.0 mg/l - September

15th - May 31st

DEQ Spawn

STD

Apr-06

May-06

Jun-06

Jul-06

Aug-06

Sep-06

Date

Boxplot 2.

Siuslaw North Fork pH Trend: Water Year 2006

DEQ Upper pH Limit for Estuaries: 8.5

DEQ Lower pH Limit for Estuaries: 6.5

Units pH

Max

Median

Min

DEQ STD:

Upper

Limit

DEQ STD:

Lower

Limit

Apr-06

May-06

Jun-06

Jul-06

Aug-06

Sep-06

Date

Boxplot 3.

Monthly North Fork Temperature °C: 2006

Statistics

Max

Median

Min

Mean

Std Dev

6-Apr

12.7

16.2

12.0

8.4

11.3

12.0

1.27

6-May

16.1

19.9

14.9

11.5

13.9

15.0

1.57

6-Jun

17.3

21.6

16.5

11.3

15.4

16.4

1.75

6-Jul

20.7

22.2

19.3

14.3

17.8

19.2

1.79

6-Aug

18.8

21.2

17.6

11.0

16.2

17.4

1.99

6-Sep

17.0

19.4

16.2

10.7

15.3

16.1

1.42

Monthly North Fork Dissolved Oxygen Concentration mg/l: 2006

Statistics

Max

Median

Min

Mean

Std Dev

6-Apr

10.8

11.8

10.5

8.5

10.2

10.5

0.51

Statistics

Max

Median

Min

Mean

Std Dev

6-Apr

7.5

8.2

7.2

6.7

6.9

7.3

0.38

Statistics

Max

Median

Min

Mean

Std Dev

6-Apr

5.6

27.9

1.6

0.0

0.2

4.1

5.69

6-May

10.3

12.8

9.4

7.2

8.6

9.5

1.12

6-Jun

8.9

10.0

8.4

5.7

8.0

8.4

0.78

6-Jul

9.2

12.3

8.1

5.6

7.0

8.2

1.57

6-Aug

8.5

13.2

7.2

4.1

6.1

7.5

1.79

6-Sep

6.3

9.3

5.9

2.1

5.5

5.9

0.86

6-Aug

7.7

8.4

7.5

6.9

7.2

7.5

0.33

6-Sep

7.4

7.8

7.3

7.0

7.2

7.3

0.17

Monthly North Fork pH: 2006

6-May

7.9

8.5

7.6

6.8

7.2

7.6

0.42

6-Jun

7.6

8.1

7.4

6.7

7.1

7.4

0.34

6-Jul

7.9

8.2

7.7

7.2

7.4

7.7

0.31

Monthly North Fork Salinity ppt: 2006

6-May

16.9

28.2

10.1

0.2

4.6

11.1

7.87

6-Jun

16.2

31.5

9.4

0.1

3.6

10.8

8.36

6-Jul

23.7

29.4

20.2

9.3

16.1

19.7

5.06

6-Aug

25.3

32.8

21.8

8.9

17.8

21.5

5.20

6-Sep

26.1

32.7

23.2

11.0

19.2

22.6

4.88

Monthly North Fork Turbidity NTU: 2006

Statistics

Max

Median

Min

Mean

Std Dev

6-Apr

4.0

330.0

3.0

0.0

2.0

3.8

9.57

6-May

4.0

14.0

3.0

0.0

2.0

2.9

1.83

6-Jun

4.0

218.0

3.0

0.0

2.0

3.0

6.24

6-Jul

4.0

8.0

3.0

2.0

3.0

3.6

1.12

6-Aug

4.0

522.0

3.0

1.0

3.0

4.0

15.47

6-Sep

4.0

743.0

3.0

0.0

2.0

3.9

19.76

North Fork Siuslaw Bacteria Data

CTCLUSI began collecting water samples for microbiological analysis of E.coli and

Enterococcus in May 2006. Because the data set for this parameter is relatively small, no

statistical analysis has been applied to these data. The following tables list all bacteria

data collected by our program for water year 2006. Our program currently compares

single grab samples to ODEQ and EPA established numeric criteria for Freshwaters and

Estuarine Waters of either 1) no single sample exceeding 406 E.coli organisms per 100

milliliters (406 MPN) or 2) The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

recommendation of the safe standard for Enterococcus to be no more than 158 colony

forming units (158 MPN) per 100 milliliters of marine water. No samples collected by

our program during water year 2006 at this site have exceeded either of these criteria.

North Fork Siuslaw E. coli Data: Water Year 2006

Sample

NFLT

NFHT

NFLT

Sample Date

5/18/06

6/16/06

7/28/06

8/11/06

8/24/06

9/7/06

9/27/06

Analyte

E. coli.

MPN/100mL

Undiluted

Sample

40.9

41.3

20.2

< 10.0

North Fork Siuslaw Enterococcus Data: Water Year 2006

Sample Date

5/18/06

7/28/06

8/11/06

8/24/06

9/7/06

9/27/06

Sample ID

NFLT

NFHT

NFLT

Analyte

Enterococci

MPN/100mL

Undiluted

Sample

< 10.0

*NFLT = North Fork Low Tide

*NFHT = North Fork High Tide

2) Siuslaw River Mainstem (WQE09) [43.974167, 124.071111–Siuslaw Watershed]

The Siuslaw River sonde station is located in the Siuslaw River Mainstem approximately

7 river miles from the mouth of the Siuslaw River. Water quality at this site is both tidally

influenced and watershed driven. This sonde station is also located within the Siuslaw

Estuary. The Siuslaw River is 303(d) listed from river mile 5.7 to 105.9 as impacting the

designated beneficial use of anadromous fish for dissolved oxygen June 1st – September

14th. This listing is based on the criteria of cold water no less than 8.0 mg/l or 90% of

saturation. This reach of the Siuslaw River is also 303(d) listed as impacting the

designated beneficial use of salmonids fish spawning for dissolved oxygen September

15th to May 31st. This listing is based on the spawning criteria not less than 11.0 mg/l or

95% saturation. The Siuslaw River is 303(d) listed as impacting the year round (nonspawning) beneficial use for salmon and trout rearing and migration for temperature from

river mile 0 to 106. This listing is based on the salmon and trout rearing and migration

temperature criteria not greater than an 18.0 ° C 7-day average maximum. In addition to

the adverse impacts to water quality associated with low dissolved oxygen and high water

temperature, water quality in the Siuslaw River Mainstem and Estuary is also 303(d)

listed as impacting the year round beneficial use of shellfish for fecal coliform from river

mile 5.7 to 105.9. This listing is based on the criteria for the fecal coliform median of 14

organisms per 100ml or no more than 10% of samples greater than 43 organisms per 100

ml. Of the parameters listed, ODEQ cites the need for fecal coliform and temperature

TMDLs within the Siuslaw River Mainstem and Estuary.

* Contamination can cause the sonde’s Turbidity Probe zero calibration to be off by +5 to +8 NTUs. So when the probe

really experiences zero turbidity, the values are -5 to -8 NTU. Due to this known small calibration error possibility, small

negative turbidity values are kept in the data file and documented as anomalous due to this small calibration error.

Siuslaw River Mainstem Continuous/Sonde Data Analysis

The following box and whisker plots display sonde temperature, dissolved oxygen, and

pH data collected at this site. The graphs have been produced with the appropriate ODEQ

standards and/or 303(d) listing in an attempt to facilitate rapid visual understanding of the

trends occurring at the site. Those data presented in the temperature boxplot (Boxplot 4)

indicate that the majority of continuous temperature data collected at CTCLUSI’s

Siuslaw River Mainstem sonde station throughout July and August exceeded the salmon

and trout rearing and migration beneficial use criteria of 18°C 7-day average maximum

temperature and therefore support the 303(d) listing for temperature within the Siuslaw

River Estuary and Mainstem.

In addition to supporting the 303(d) listing for temperature at the site, dissolved oxygen

data collected at the site support the additional 303(d) listing for dissolved oxygen at this

site. Our initial analysis of continuous data collected by our program at this site supports

the seasonal impairments to water quality associated with dissolved oxygen listed for the

Mainstem Siuslaw River (Boxplot 5). Because there is an ODEQ standard for pH in

estuaries, we generated a boxplot (Boxplot 6) displaying pH data collected at the site. No

impairments to water quality associated with pH appear to be occurring at the site.

Siuslaw River Mainstem Temperature Trend: Water Year 2006

DEQ Upper Limit for Salmon and Trout

Rearing and Migration: 18 ° C

Units Celsius

Max

Median

Min

DEQ

STD

Apr-06

May-06

Jun-06

Jul-06

Aug-06

Sep-06

Date

Boxplot 4

Siuslaw River Mainstem Dissolved Oxygen Trend: Water Year 2006

Max

Median

Units mg/l

Min

DEQ Lower Dissolved Oxygen Limit for Estuaries:

6.5 mg/l

DEQ

Estuarine

STD

DEQ Lower Dissolved Oxygen Limit for Cold Water

Anadromous Fish Use: 8.0 mg/l - June 1st to

September 14th

DEQ Cold

Water STD

DEQ Lower Dissolved Oxygen Limit for Salmonid Fish

Spawning: 11.0 mg/l - September 15th - May 31st

DEQ Spawn

STD

Apr-06

May-06

Jun-06

Jul-06

Aug-06

Sep-06

Dates

Boxplot 5

Mainstem Siuslaw pH Trend: Water Year 2006

DEQ Upper pH Limit for Estuaries: 8.5

DEQ Lower pH Limit for Estuaries: 6.5

Max

Median

Min

DEQ STD: Upper Limit

DEQ STD: Lower Limit

6-Apr

6-May

6-Jun

6-Jul

6-Aug

6-Sep

Date

Boxplot 6

Monthly Siuslaw Mainstem Temperature °C: 2006

Statistics

Max

Median

Min

Mean

Std Dev

6-Apr

12.4

14.6

11.7

8.6

11.1

11.8

1.15

6-May

15.5

18.3

14.6

10.8

13.4

14.5

1.64

6-Jun

17.0

20.7

16.4

10.5

15.0

16.0

2.01

6-Jul

19.6

22.1

17.9

9.7

15.7

17.5

2.71

6-Aug

19.0

21.4

17.4

9.7

15.3

16.9

2.75

6-Sep

16.7

18.3

15.6

9.5

14.5

15.3

1.73

Monthly Siuslaw Mainstem Dissolved Oxygen Concentration mg/l: 2006

Statistics

Max

Median

Min

Mean

Std Dev

6-Apr

11.0

12.2

10.6

8.5

10.2

10.6

0.67

Statistics

Max

Median

Min

Mean

Std Dev

6-Apr

7.9

8.2

7.4

6.9

7.2

7.5

0.37

6-May

10.0

12.5

9.2

6.8

8.4

9.3

1.05

6-Jun

8.4

10.7

8.0

5.4

7.7

8.0

0.67

6-Jul

9.5

13.6

8.25

3.2

7.2

8.5

1.61

6-Aug

9.8

15.8

8.3

5.2

7.3

8.7

1.94

6-Sep

6.6

9.7

6.0

2.2

5.5

5.9

1.22

Monthly Siuslaw Mainstem pH: 2006

6-May

8.0

8.5

7.8

6.8

7.5

7.7

0.36

6-Jun

7.7

8.1

7.4

6.6

7.1

7.4

0.35

6-Jul

7.9

8.3

7.7

6.9

7.4

7.6

0.31

6-Aug

7.8

8.3

7.6

6.9

7.3

7.6

0.33

6-Sep

7.4

7.8

7.3

6.8

7.2

7.3

0.20

Monthly Siuslaw Mainstem Salinity ppt: 2006

Statistics

Max

Median

Min

Mean

Std Dev

6-Apr

12.3

30.6

3.8

0.0

0.3

7.4

8.31

6-May

21.5

30.8

14.2

0.1

7.1

14.4

8.38

6-Jun

21.5

32.8

13.3

0.1

6.5

14.1

8.69

6-Jul

24.9

33.1

19.6

6.9

14.7

19.8

6.65

6-Aug

27.7

34.2

23.0

11.6

18.6

23.2

5.78

6-Sep

27.5

33.9

24.3

16.1

20.6

24.3

4.44

Monthly Siuslaw Mainstem Turbidity NTU: 2006

Statistics

Max

Median

Min

Mean

Std Dev

6-Apr

4.0

15.0

3.0

0.0

2.0

2.9

1.68

6-May

3.0

512.0

2.0

*-2.0

0.0

2.0

13.38

6-Jun

3.0

13.0

2.0

0.0

2.0

2.2

1.10

6-Jul

35.5

1000.0

3.0

0.0

2.0

99.8

213.24

6-Aug

6.0

39.0

6.0

1.0

3.0

4.9

2.26

6-Sep

4.0

498.0

3.0

*-2.0

2.0

3.8

16.21

Siuslaw Mainstem Bacteria Data