Algal conditions and the potential for future algal problems in the Willamette River, Oregon

Abstract

FOREWORDThe American public has identified the enhancement and protection of river quality as an important national goal, and recent laws have given this commitment considerable force. As a consequence, a considerable investment has been made in the past few years to improve the quality of the Nation's rivers. Further improvements will require substantial expenditures and the consumption of large amounts of energy. For these reasons, it is important that alternative plans for river-quality management be scientifically assessed in terms of their relative ability to produce environmental benefits. To aid this endeavor, this circular series presents a case history of an intensive river-quality assessment in the Willamette River basin, Oregon.The series examines approaches to and results of critical aspects of riverquality assessment. The first several circulars describe approaches for providing technically sound, timely information for river-basin planning and management. Specific topics include practical approaches to mathematical modeling, analysis of river hydrology, analysis of earth resources-river quality relations, and development of data-collection programs for assessing specific problems. The later circulars describe the application of approaches to existing or potential river-quality problems in the Willamette River basin. Specific topics include maintenance of high-level dissolved oxygen in the river, effects of reservoir release patterns on downstream river quality, algal growth potential, distribution of toxic metals, and the significance of erosion potential to proposed future land and water uses.Each circular is the product of a study devoted to developing resource information for general use. The circulars are written to be informative and useful to informed laymen, resource planners, and resource scientists. This design stems from the recognition that the ultimate success of river-quality assessment depends on the clarity and utility of approaches and results as well as their basic scientific validity.Individual circulars will be published in an alphabetical sequence in the Geological Survey Circular 715 series entitled uRiver-Quality Assessment of the Willamette River Basin, Oregon." Concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, and Lovv-temperature limitation ____________________ 25Major nutrient limitation________________________ 28 August 7, 1973 ----------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------10 6. Hydrograph of the Willamette River at Portland, 1974 ----------------------------------------------11 --------------------------------------------- . Stephanodiscus hantzschii __________________________________________________ ----------------14 10. Achnanthes minutissima _____________________________________________________ -------------__ 14 11. Melosira distans ______________________________________________________________ ------------15 Cymbella uentricosa ------------------------------------------------------------------------15 13. Asterionella formo...

Studies on the primary production of the river Shatt Al-Arab at Basrah, Iraq

“…Unpolluted streams generally have low productivity (Duffer & Dorris, 1966). Primary production in river can be explained as a function of solar radiation, temperature, chlorophyll concentration and euphotic depth (Kowalczewski & Lack, 1971;Takahashi et al, 1973;Naiman, 1976 andRickert et al, 1977). Maximum concentration of chlorophyll have been observed in autumn in the Danube (Ertl et al, 1972), in spring in Kiel Bight (Bodungen et al, 1975) and Bere Stream (Marker, 1976a); in summer in the streams Dockens Water and Ober Water (Marker, 1976a).…”

Project development and data programs for assessing the quality of the Willamette River, Oregon

“…Sufficient insight was attained to determine which factors must be managed in the Willamette to avoid future algal problems (Rickert, Petersen, McKenzie, Hines, and Wille, 1976).…”

Primary productivity of the River Ely, South Wales, U.K.

“…Rivers are usually poor in their productivity and only become productive when enriched with nutrients (Odum 1956;Huq et al 1981), which are either added naturally or artificially through the different activities of man. Several investigators have explained the primary productivity in rivers as a function of solar radiation, temperature, chlorophyll concentration and euphotic depth (Kowalczeski & Lack 1971;Takahashi et al 1973;Naiman 1976;Rickert et al 1977), whereas Blum (1956) pointed out that productivity depends on the speed of the current, the size of the stream and the nature of the bottom. Usually there is a direct relationship between primary productivity and chlorophyll-a content.…”