Oregon Water Quality Index Report for Klamath Basin

Water Years 1986-1995

The Klamath Basin is the most intensely managed, with respect to water resources, of Oregon's basins. Uses of Klamath Basin waters is predominated by agriculture, while logging, transportation, hydroelectric, tribal, municipal, and wildlife refuge management interests compete for remaining allocations. The United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) built and maintains an extensive and complex network of diversions, canals, and pump stations to reclaim dry lands from the former wetlands and channelize water for agricultural use. Waters are pumped in various directions depending on need. As examples, the Lost River Diversion Canal carries water in either direction between Klamath and Lost Rivers while the Klamath Strait Drain carries water in either direction between Klamath River and Lower Klamath Lake. The standing water bodies, especially Upper Klamath Lake, are eutrophic, meaning phosphorous and nitrogen are abundantly available for the formation of plankton, algae, and aquatic plants. These conditions pervade the waters of the basin, which subsequently experience wide variations in dissolved oxygen concentration and pH. Comparing minimum seasonal Oregon Water Quality Index (OWQI) values (Table 1), water quality in the Klamath Basin ranges from good (Williamson River site) to very poor (Klamath Strait site). Oregon's Department of Environmental Quality has worked with local water users groups and various federal, state (Oregon and California), and local agencies for several years to develop a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for nutrients in the basin. Due to the complexity of the reclamation project, the variety of competing interests, and the difficulty in establishing background conditions, this TMDL has been particularly difficult to complete. DEQ Laboratory conducted numerous intensive water quality surveys in support of the TMDL effort, and maintained an ambient monitoring network during 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 Klamath 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

Williamson Subbasin

The Williamson Subbasin contributes approximately 50% of the inflow to Upper Klamath Lake. Nearly all of the marshes and other wetlands in the subbasin have had some portion reclaimed for agricultural uses. The major tributaries, the Sycan, Sprague, and Williamson Rivers, are subjected to channelization through the reclamation projects. The headwaters of these rivers and their tributaries lie in the hills of the Winema National Forest. Major wetlands include the Sycan Marsh, drained by the Sycan River, and the Klamath Marsh, drained by the Williamson River. A portion of the Klamath Marsh is protected as the Klamath Forest National Wildlife Refuge. The Sycan River enters the Sprague at river mile seventy. The Sprague River, in turn, converges with the Williamson River at river mile eleven, near the treated discharge of the Chiloquin Sewage Treatment Plant (STP).

DEQ Laboratory monitors ambient water quality in the Williamson River near the Williamson River Store at river mile 4.6. Moderately high concentrations of total phosphates and biochemical oxygen demand are present during various seasons. A high percentage of total phosphates are thought to be caused by natural conditions. As previously mentioned, this availability of phosphorous allows the production of algae, plankton, and aquatic plants. These in turn consume oxygen as they respire or decay, increasing the biochemical oxygen demand. High pH values have been detected during the summer season. Water quality at this site is the best of all sites monitored in the Klamath Basin. On the average, OWQI scores for the Williamson River site are good in the summer and excellent in the fall, winter, and spring (Table 1).

Lost Subbasin

Upper Klamath Lake is certainly the state's most productive lake, in terms of algae harvest. The Williamson Subbasin provides 50% of the inflow to the lake while the remainder is fed directly by tributaries such as Fourmile Creek and indirectly through Agency Lake and its tributaries, including Sevenmile Creek, Wood River, and Annie Creek. Protected areas in the drainage include Crater Lake National Park, Mountain Lakes Wilderness, and Upper Klamath National Wildlife Refuge. Upper Klamath Lake tapers towards the southeast and is drained by Link River. The Link River, flow regulated and diverted by a dam, is a short conduit to Lake Ewauna, which is the headwaters of the Klamath River. The Lost Subbasin includes the waters of Link River, Lake Ewauna, Klamath Strait Drain, Klamath River from the headwaters to Keno Dam, Lost River, and all of the canals and wetlands in between. The subbasin extends into California, including Lower Klamath, Tule, and Clear Lakes. Each of these lakes has a National Wildlife Refuge associated with it.

DEQ Laboratory monitors the Link River at its mouth, which is the entrance to Lake Ewauna. Monitoring results at this site represent background conditions for the Klamath River. The greatest impacts on water quality in the Link River occur during summer, when water temperatures are warm and eutrophication is most active. More so than in the Williamson River, high concentrations of total phosphates and biochemical oxygen demand appear simultaneously. High pH and widely varying dissolved oxygen concentration result from the eutrophic activity. On the average, OWQI scores in the Link River are poor in the fall, winter, and spring and very poor in the summer (Table 1).

Historically, the Lost River system was closed, meaning it had no outlet to the ocean. The Lost River originated from Clear Lake and drained to Tule Lake. Currently, diversions direct water in either direction between Lost River at river mile 25.5 and Klamath River near its headwaters at Lake Ewauna. Lost River flow is augmented by additional releases from Gerber Reservoir. DEQ Laboratory monitored the Lost River at the Anderson-Rose diversion dam from 1986 to 1993. Monitoring was moved upstream in 1993 to the Highway 39 bridge. Impacts to water quality are similar at both sites, and are typical of water quality conditions at DEQ Laboratory's monitoring sites in the subbasin. High concentrations of total phosphates, biochemical oxygen demand, total solids, and ammonia and nitrate nitrogen are present throughout the year. The quality of nitrogen depends on the quantity of dissolved oxygen present. When dissolved oxygen concentration is low, the fraction of ammonia nitrogen increases. When dissolved oxygen concentration is high, the fraction of nitrate nitrogen increases. This is because oxygen is necessary to convert ammonia nitrogen to nitrate nitrogen in the process called nitrification. The presence of large quantities of ammonia nitrogen presents a nitrogenous oxygen demand on the system, in addition to the biochemical oxygen demand already present. Also, when high ammonia concentrations coincide with high pH and temperature, the fraction of ammonia nitrogen that is un-ionized increases. Un-ionized ammonia is toxic to fish as it interferes with the ability of the fish gills to function. This interference occurs simultaneously with nitrogenous oxygen demand, meaning less oxygen is available to the fish during a critical period when they need more oxygen to compensate for the impairment to the respiratory system. The conditions necessary for the formation of un-ionized ammonia are present during the summer when water temperatures are warm, dissolved oxygen concentrations fluctuate between very low and very high, and pH values are high. These conditions are provided by eutrophication. High concentrations of fecal coliform were detected at these monitoring sites. Lands drained by the Lost River are primarily used for agriculture, with logging and wildlife management also influencing water quality conditions. OWQI scores for both sites were generally very poor throughout the year (Table 1).

The Klamath Strait Drain was, historically, a channel that provided for a natural equalization of water levels between Upper and Lower Klamath Lakes. Currently, pump stations direct flow in the drain and associated canals depending on irrigation needs. At times there is no flow in the drain. DEQ Laboratory monitors the Klamath Strait Drain at USBR Pump Station F, adjacent to US Highway 97 and approximately two miles downstream of the drain's confluence with the Klamath River at river mile 239. Water quality in the drain, when it is flowing, is similar to water quality in the Lost River. When flow is stopped, the drain resembles a stagnant pond, complete with fluorescent green patches of mold floating on mats of decaying algae. When flow is resumed, this water is directed towards either Lower Klamath Lake, or Klamath River, adding to poor water quality conditions at either end. Like the Lost River, water quality is impacted by high concentrations of total phosphates, biochemical oxygen demand, total solids, and ammonia and nitrate nitrogen throughout the year. Eutrophication is active in the spring and summer, when water temperatures are high, as evidenced by very low dissolved oxygen concentration and high pH values. As in the Lost River, the conditions in the Klamath Strait Drain are right for the production of significant amounts of un-ionized ammonia. OWQI scores for this site was generally very poor throughout the year (Table 1). Klamath Strait Drain carries the dubious distinction of worst seasonal average OWQI score of all DEQ Laboratory-monitored sites in Oregon.

The Klamath River's headwaters are in Lake Ewauna, which is in turn fed by Upper Klamath Lake and beyond via Link River. Two municipal sewage treatment plants are situated next to Lake Ewauna, while two wood products factories are sited along the uppermost reach of Klamath River. This reach is fed by the Lost River Diversion Channel, the Klamath Strait Drain, and other irrigation returns. The Klamath River is impounded by the Keno Dam at river mile 231.5, approximately eighteen miles downstream of its headwaters. DEQ Laboratory monitors the Klamath River at Highway 66 in Keno, about two miles upstream of Keno Dam. Water quality is impacted by high concentrations of total phosphates, biochemical oxygen demand, total solids, and ammonia and nitrate nitrogen throughout the year. The most severe impacts to water quality occur during summer, when eutrophication is most active. At the end of summer, when flows are lowest, the Klamath River at this site resembles the Klamath Strait Drain, as very low dissolved oxygen concentration, high pH values, and fluorescent green patches of mold feeding on mats of decaying algae are seen. Again, the conditions in the Klamath River are right for the production of significant amounts of un-ionized ammonia. OWQI scores for this site was generally very poor throughout the year (Table 1), although scores were better in the fall, winter, and spring than in summer.

Upper Klamath Subbasin

Upper Klamath Subbasin represents drainage collected by the Klamath River below Keno Dam. At John C. Boyle Dam, eight miles downstream of Keno Dam, a portion of the Klamath River is diverted into an aqueduct high above the floor of the canyon. This aqueduct is routed into a tunnel in Long Point, around which the Klamath River makes its Big Bend. On the other side of the point, the diverted water falls through a conduit to produce hydroelectric power at the Big Bend Powerhouse. DEQ Laboratory monitors the Klamath River at the boat ramp immediately downstream of the powerhouse. Water at this site is a mixture of Klamath River water that had traveled over four miles on a natural river bed and reservoir water that had traveled three miles through a concrete and metal aqueduct. While the river water from the bottom of the dam had ample opportunity to mix and reaerate, the reservoir water from the top of the dam had not. As a result, water quality alternates between periods of poor to fair conditions and periods of very poor conditions. High concentrations of total phosphates, biochemical oxygen demand, total solids, and ammonia and nitrate nitrogen impact water quality at this site. But since flow is swift and aeration is great, temperatures and eutrophication tend to be lower and dissolved oxygen concentrations and pH levels are moderate. The ammonia fraction of ammonia and nitrate nitrogen is low, so the chance of un-ionized ammonia being present is low. On the average, OWQI scores for the Klamath River below Big Bend Powerhouse are poor throughout the year (Table 1).

References

Johnson, D. M., et al., 1985. Atlas of Oregon Lakes. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, Oregon.

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