2022-23 Continuing Columbia SWCD Water Quality Monitoring Program

This project characterizes ambient water quality conditions across 6 watersheds in Columbia County. The program monitors and reports on Temperature, turbidity, E.coli bacteria, conductivity, pH and DO in Clatskanie River, Beaver Creek, and Scappoose Bay watersheds, which provide spawning, rearing and refugia habitat for state and federally listed threatened species of salmon and steelhead. With the 2023 report, LCEP updated an online dashboard that
summarizes trends observed from 2017-2023. The program builds on existing data from 2008-2010 (Scappoose/Milton). This report reports on an intensive monitoring effort of Milton Creek watershed to identify sources of stream impairment. Results will be used to analyze watershed status and trends, detect changes, identify water quality issues and potential sources, and determine priority stream reaches for restoration.

The Lower Columbia River Conservation and Recovery Plan (LCRCRP) outlines the limiting factors and strategies associated with the salmon and steelhead species using the Clatskanie/Beaver and Scappoose/Milton watersheds. Impaired water quality, specifically elevated temperatures, and excessive fine sediments are listed as a secondary limiting factors to salmon and steelhead recovery.

This monitoring project and subsequent restoration prioritization, planning and implementation will support the strategies and actions listed in the LCRCRP. Strategies include restoring degraded water quality and maintaining unimpaired water quality, restoring floodplain connectivity and function and restoring riparian conditions and LWD recruitment. Key priority actions listed in the plan, applicable to this focus area and project include:

1. Improve the system for monitoring water quality and quantity and ensure that information is integrated into the existing regulatory framework.
2. Establish a working group to identify priority areas for riparian and instream habitat enhancement and work with landowners to implement projects.
3. Regularly update inventories and maps of instream habitat conditions, water quality, wetlands, and riparian conditions (including restoration projects) to more accurately capture current habitat conditions; incorporate information into action plan prioritization process to improve the likelihood of achieving desired watershed status goals.
4. Conduct sediment source analysis and then implement actions to reduce sediment from identified sources.
5. Protect and restore riparian areas to improve water quality, provide long-term supply of large wood to streams, and reduce impacts that alter other natural processes.

Data and analysis results from this project will support these actions and benefit salmon and steelhead through the identification of the most impaired streams and the coordinated effort to direct restoration to those areas.