WATER TEMPERATURES IN THE LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER Water Temperatures in the Lower Columbia River ----------------------------~ GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 551 Washington 196 United States Department of the Interior STEWART L. UDALL, Secretary Geological Survey William T. Pecora, Director Free on application to the U.S. Geological Survey, Washington, D.C. 20242 CONTENTS Page Page Abstract 1 Monthly profiles of water temperature Introduction __________________________________ _ 1 for August 1941 to July 1942 ------------------ 2 General background _______________________ _ 1 Explanation of profiles --------------------- 2 Purpose and scope ------------------------­ 1 Interpretation of profiles ___________________ 10 Acknowledgments -------------------------- 1 Comparison with average conditions ----- 10 Daily water temperatures for 20 sites ____________ _ 2 Comparison with present conditions ----- 10 Conclusions ----------------------------------- 15 References ------------------------------------ 16 ILLUSTRATIONS Page Figure 1. Map showing study area and sites for which water temperatures are reported ________________ 2 2-7. Graphs of water-temperature profiles for lower Columbia River for- 2. August and September 1941 ------------------------------------------------------ 4 3. October and November 1941 ------------------------------------------------------- 5 4. December 1941 and January 1942 ------------------------------------------------- 6 5. February and March 1942 --------------------------------------------------------- 7 6. April and May 1942 ------------------------------------------------------------- 8 7. June and July 1942 -------------------------------------------------------------- 9 8. Graph showing comparison of monthly water temperatures for 1941-42 with those for 1938-56 at Bonneville Dam ___________ ----------------------------------------------- 11 9. Graphs of monthly mean water temperatures at Bonneville Dam, 1938-66 ____________________ 12 10. Graphs showing correlation of water temperature at Bonneville Dam with air tem- perature and rate of flow (July) ------------------------------------------------------ 13 11. Graphs showing correlation of water temperature at Bonneville Dam with air tem- perature and rate of flow (April) ----------------------------------------------------- 14 TABLES Page Table 1-6. Daily water temperatures of Columbia River, August 1941 to July 1942, at-- 1. VVarrendale, Oreg -------------------------------------------------------------- 19 2. Prindle, VVash ------------------------------------------------------------------ 20 3. VVashougal, Wash --------------------------------------------------------------- 21 4. Ellsworth, Wash --------------------------------------------------------------- 22 5. Vancouver, VV ash ---------------------------------------------------------------- 23 6. Kelley Point, Oreg --------------------------------------------------------------- 24 7. Daily water temperatures of Willamette River at Portland, Oreg. (Morrison Bridge), August 1941 to July 1942 ------------------------------------------------------------ 25 8. Daily water temperatures of Willamette River at Portland, Oreg. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers moorings), August 1941 to July 1942 ------------------------------------ 26 9-14. Daily water temperatures of Columbia River, August 1941 to July 1942, at-- 9. VVillow-Bar, Wash -------------------------------------------------------------- 27 10. St. Helens, Oreg ---------------------------------------------------------------- 28 11. Kalama, VVash ------------------------------------------------------------------ 29 12. Longview, VV ash ----------------------------------------------------------------- 30 13. Stella, VVash ------------------------------------------------------------------- 31 14. Eagle Cliff, Wash --------------------------------------------------------------- 32 III Page Table 15. Daily water temperatures of Columbia River at Wauna, Oreg., November 1940 to August 1942 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 33 16. Daily water temperatures of Columbia River at Cathlamet, Wash., September 1940 to July 1942 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 35 17. Daily water temperatures of Columbia River at Skamokawa, Wash., November 1940 to July 1942 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 37 18. Daily water temperatures of Columbia River at Altoona, Wash., September 1940 to June 1942 ----------------------------------------------------------- ______________ 39 19. Daily water temperatures of Columbia River at Astoria (Tongue Point), Oreg., November 1940 to June 1942 __ ______ _____________ _______________ _____________________ 41 20. Daily water temperatures of Columbia River at Fort Stevens, Oreg., August 1941 tc January 1942 and June, July 1942 ---------------------------------------------------- 43 21. Monthly maximum, minimum, and mean water temperatures of Columbia River at Bonneville Dam forebay ------------------------------------------------------------ 44 IV WATER TEMPERATURES IN THE LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER By A. M. MOORE Abstract several plants could have a significant cumula­ Daily observations of water temperature for 20 sites tive effect. in the lower Columbia River are presented in tabular Water-temperature records have he~n col­ form and in profile form by months for the period August 1941 to July 1942. The profiles show minimum, lected at hundreds of sites throughout the basin mean (average), and maximum water temperatures for but very few in the tidal reach of th~ river those months from river mile 142 to river mile 6.7. The below Bonneville Dam. In July 1966, the North­ data indicate that water temperature in the lower river west Water Resources Data Center began re­ trends upward from October to March and has no leasing weekly and monthly profiles of maxi­ marked trend, or trends downward, during April to September. mum and minimum water temperature for the Analysis of the water-temperature records at Bonne­ main-stem Columbia and Snake Rivers to sup­ ville Dam (river mile 146.1) for the 1938-66 period of ply current information on water temperature. record shows that the months from August 1941 to The Columbia River profile includes irforma­ July 1942 are fairly representative of average condi­ tion for one site below Bonneville Dam, namely tions except for August and January, which are about Beaver Army Terminal at river mile 53.5. The 3oF above and 4°F below average, respectively. Analysis of the Bonneville Dam records also indicates Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army, has in their that in the mid-1950's a man-caused change in water­ files daily observations of water temp?.rature temperature regimen occuned that resulted in higher at 18 sites in the main-stem Columbia Rjver be­ temperatures at Bonneville Dam for 10 months of the low Bonneville Dam and at two sites in the year but no change in March and April. The changes extreme lower Willamette River. The-"'8 rec­ for the other months ranged from +0.5° to +2.0°F. This means that average temperatures for the lower ords, collected jointly by the Corps of Engi­ river are now somewhat warmer for most months than neers and the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, temperatures shown in the profiles. cover a period of a year or more in th~ early 1940's. INTRODUCTION PURPOSE AND SCOPE GENERAL BACKGROUND Water-temperature records collected at 20 Water temperatures in the Columbia River sites in the lower Columbia River basin (fig. 1) are becoming a matter of increasing interest by the Corps of Engineers and the Coast and and concern for several reasons. Water-quality Geodetic Survey are presented in both tabular standards are being drafted by the various and profile form. The profiles show C1 ata by States in the Columbia River basin, and a months for the period August 1941 to Jul~r 1942. knowledge of water-temperature regimen The report includes an analysis of the water­ throughout the basin is necessary in consider­ temperature records at Bonneville Dam for the ing this phase of water quality. Furthermore, period 1938-66 to determine the relationship increasing use of the river by industry for of the profiles for 1941-42 to average corditions cooling purposes can affect the water-tempera­ and whether there has been any change in ture regimen as can the many reservoirs that temperature regimen in the lower river since have been or are being constructed. Proposed 1942. nuclear powerplants can affect water tempera­ ACKNOWLEDGMENTS tures if river water is used as the coolant. Ad­ The courtesy and cooperation of the Corps mittedly, a plant with a capacity of a million of Engineers and the Coast and Geodetic Sur­ kilowatts will raise the temperature of the vey in making these records availal~le are Columbia River by only a fraction of 1 oF but gratefully acknowledged. 1 WASHINGTON OREGON .A Water-temperature observation site Figure 1.-Map showing study area and sites for which water temperatures are reported. DAILY WATER TEMPERATURES FOR 20 SITES MONTHLY PROFILES OF WATER TEMPERATURE FOR AUGUST 1941 TO JULY 1942 Tables 1-20 list daily water temperatures for 18 sites in the main-stem Columbia River below Profiles of monthly minimum, rr~an, and max­ Bonneville Dam and two sites in the lower Wil­ imum water temperatures for the period Au­ lamette River. All readings were made once gust 1941 to July 1942 are shown in figures daily with a hand thermometer, and no read­ 2-7. ings were made on some