Oregon Water Quality Index Report for the John Day Basin

Water Years 1986-1995

Water quality is commonly impacted by the introduction of organic matter to streams. The presence of organic matter increases biochemical oxygen demand, which means less dissolved oxygen is available for aquatic life. The introduction of untreated animal or human waste increases the possibility of bacterial contamination of water, increasing the risk of infection to swimmers. Eutrophication is the process of enrichment of water with nutrients, mainly nitrogen and phosphorous compounds, which results in excessive growth of algae and nuisance aquatic plants. It increases the amount of organic matter in the water and also increases pollution as this matter grows and then decays. Employing the process of photosynthesis for growth, algae and aquatic plants consume carbon dioxide (thus raising pH) and produce an overabundance of oxygen. At night the algae and plants respire, depleting available dissolved oxygen. This results in large variations in water quality conditions that can be harmful to other aquatic life. While natural sources of nutrients can influence eutrophication, the introduction of nutrients strengthens the process. Sources of nutrients include wastewater treatment facility discharge and faulty septic systems, runoff from animal husbandry, fertilizer application, urban sources, and erosion. High water temperatures compound the decline in water quality by causing more oxygen to leave the water and by increasing the rate of eutrophication. Removal of streamside vegetation, among other factors, influences high stream temperature and, via erosion, increases sedimentation of streams.

Table 1. Seasonal Average OWQI Results for John Day Basin (WY 1986 - 1995)

Summer: June - September; FWS ( Fall, Winter, & Spring): October - May
Scores - Very Poor: 0-59, Poor: 60-79, Fair: 80-84, Good: 85-89, Excellent: 90-100

Upper/South Fork John Day Subbasin

The Upper/South Fork John Day Subbasin drains portions of the Blue Mountains, including the Strawberry, Aldrich, and Ochoco Mountains. Logging is the primary land use in the mountains, although the remains of historical mining activity are visible. Dredge tailings can be seen next to streams in the subbasin. The mainstem and South Fork John Day Rivers flow north from their headwaters until entering the Upper John Day Valley. The mainstem John Day River turns west into the valley at Prairie City and flows through the cities of John Day and Mt. Vernon before meeting the South Fork at Dayville. Mt. Vernon's municipal sewage treatment plant (STP) is permitted to discharge treated effluent to the John Day River. Grazing and agriculture are common in the Upper John Day Valley, and most of the basin's stream withdrawals for irrigation are situated along the John Day River above Dayville. Downstream of Dayville, the John Day River turns north as it enters Picture Gorge and continues north until the confluence with the North Fork John Day River at Kimberly. Protected areas in the subbasin include the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness and the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, downstream of Dayville. Between the monument and Kimberly, Long View Ranch has undertaken a voluntary riparian zone restoration project along the John Day River. Summers are hot and dry and base flow in the river is provided by groundwater.

DEQ Laboratory monitors the John Day River at Stewart's Bridge on Highway 26, upstream of Dayville. Results at this site reflect the cumulative effects of all activities along the John Day River and its tributaries upstream of the confluence with the South Fork John Day River. Significant impacts to water quality occurred most frequently in late summer, when flow is lowest and temperature is highest. When flow is low, less water is available for dilution. Therefore, constituents such as total phosphates, total solids, biochemical oxygen demand, and fecal coliform are present in relatively high concentrations. These high concentrations also occur when heavy precipitation erodes stream banks and sends field and street runoff to the river. High concentrations of total phosphates indicates a mixture of background phosphates and runoff from fertilized fields. Fecal coliform indicates the introduction of untreated animal or human waste to the river. The sources include grazing operations and leaky septic systems. High total solids result from erosion of streambanks and uncovered lands. High biochemical oxygen demand results from either the introduction of organic material to the water, as is the case during heavy precipitation and high flow, or the effects of eutrophication. Wide variation in dissolved oxygen concentration and high pH values detected in conjunction with high temperature and total phosphate concentration reflect conditions for and results of eutrophication at this monitoring site. On the average, OWQI scores are poor in the summer and fair during the fall, winter, and spring (Table 1).

South Fork John Day River drains land used primarily for logging. These lands are not as intensively grazed as the Upper John Day Valley and results show that water quality is as severely impacted, relative to the mainstem John Day River. The South Fork John Day River is monitored at Highway 26 in Dayville. High concentrations of total phosphates, total solids, biochemical oxygen demand, and fecal coliform were detected, but not as frequently and of lesser magnitude than in the mainstem. Temperatures were similar in the two rivers, but the effects of eutrophication were not as dramatic in the South Fork as in the mainstem John Day River. Thus, OWQI scores were higher in the South Fork John Day River at Dayville: fair in the summer and good during the fall, winter, and spring (Table 1).

North Fork John Day Subbasin

The North and Middle Forks of the John Day start in the mineral-rich Blue Mountains. Although mining activities are currently minimal, current uses of lands in the subbasin include logging, grazing, agriculture, and recreation. Recreation interests have helped to establish protected areas in the subbasin, including the North Fork John Day Wilderness and the Bridge Creek Wildlife Area, to preserve habitats essential to wildlife populations. Significant tributaries to the North Fork include Camas and Cottonwood Creeks. Significant tributaries to the Middle Fork include Long Creek. The Middle Fork converges with the North Fork at river mile 32, and the North Fork converges with the mainstem John Day River at river mile 185 in Kimberly. DEQ Laboratory monitors water quality conditions in the North Fork John Day River near the mouth of the river in Kimberly. Eutrophication is active during the low-flow summer months when water temperatures are high, as indicated by high levels of pH and dissolved oxygen supersaturation. High concentrations of biochemical oxygen demand during the summer indicate the presence of algae or other organic material. Average OWQI scores at the North Fork John Day River monitoring site are fair in the summer and excellent the rest of the year (Table 1). Perhaps with the aid of improved protection in the upper parts of the watershed, temperature and eutrophication impacts during the summer seasons have lessened over time, and a significant improvement in general water quality has occurred (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Trend Analysis Results for the North Fork John Day River at Kimberly

Lower John Day Subbasin

The Lower John Day Subbasin drains areas downstream of the confluence of the mainstem and North Fork John Day Rivers and includes Bridge, Butte, Thirtymile, and Rock Creeks. Bridge Creek and its tributaries drain a portion of the Ochoco Mountains, where nearly all of the logging in the subbasin occurs. Grazing and dry-land farming predominate other land uses in the subbasin. The popularity of recreational rafting in the Lower John Day River helped to establish the John Day Scenic Waterway from Service Creek at river mile 157 to The Narrows at river mile 10, the limit of the impounded waters of Columbia River at the John Day Dam.

DEQ Laboratory monitors the John Day River at Service Creek. This site is twenty-eight river miles downstream of the confluence with the North Fork John Day River. Water quality at this site is similar to water quality at the North Fork site. Eutrophication is active during the low-flow summer months when water temperatures are high, as indicated by high levels of pH and dissolved oxygen supersaturation. Average OWQI scores for the John Day River at Service Creek are fair in the summer and excellent the rest of the year (Table 1), although values are lower at this site than at the North Fork John Day River site. As previously mentioned, Long View Ranch has undertaken a voluntary riparian zone restoration project along seven miles of both sides of the John Day River upstream of Kimberly. It is likely that this project, as well as the improvements that led to the increase in North Fork John Day River water quality, have significantly improved water quality downstream in the John Day River at Service Creek.

Figure 2. Trend Analysis Results for the John Day River at Service Creek

Downstream of Service Creek, the John Day River flows through the deep Deschutes-Umatilla basalt flows. Steep canyons make this stretch of the river inaccessible except to rafters. Summer temperatures are quite warm and flows are low and groundwater provides base flow to the river. DEQ Laboratory monitors the John Day River at Highway 206 (river mile 39.5). Water quality at this site resembles water quality in the John Day River upstream of Dayville. Significant impacts to water quality occurred most frequently in late summer, when flow is lowest and temperature is highest. When flow is low, less water is available for dilution. Therefore, constituents such as total phosphates, total solids, biochemical oxygen demand, and fecal coliform are present in relatively high concentrations. These high concentrations also occur when heavy precipitation erodes stream banks and sends field runoff to the river. High concentrations of total phosphates indicates a mixture of background phosphates and runoff from fertilized fields. Fecal coliform indicates the introduction of untreated animal or human waste to the river. The sources include grazing operations and leaky septic systems. High total solids result from erosion of streambanks and uncovered lands. High biochemical oxygen demand results from either the introduction of organic material to the water, as is the case during heavy precipitation and high flow, or the effects of eutrophication. Wide variation in dissolved oxygen concentration and high pH values detected in conjunction with high temperature and total phosphate concentration reflect conditions for and results of eutrophication at this monitoring site. On the average, OWQI scores are poor in the summer and fair during the fall, winter, and spring (Table 1).

Acknowledgment:

Software used for trend analysis was the WQHydro package developed by Eric Aroner of WQHydro Consulting.

References

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Water Quality Division, 1988. 1988 Oregon Statewide Assessment of Nonpoint Sources of Water Pollution. Portland, Oregon.

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Water Quality Division, 1988. Oregon's 1988 Water Quality Status Assessment Report (305 (b) Report). Portland, Oregon.

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Water Quality Division, 1990. Oregon's 1990 Water Quality Status Assessment Report (305 (b) Report). Portland, Oregon.

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Water Quality Division, 1992. Oregon's 1992 Water Quality Status Assessment Report (305 (b) Report). Portland, Oregon.

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Water Quality Division, 1994. Oregon's 1994 Water Quality Status Assessment Report (305 (b) Report). Portland, Oregon.

Written by Curtis Cude, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Laboratory Division