Study Partners, Objectives

• 3-way partnership: U.S. Geological Survey, South Yakima Conservation District, and Benton Conservation District.

  • Multi-agency support: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, EPA, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Yakama Nation, Dept. of Ecology, Washington State University, Yakima Joint Board, Roza Irrigation District, Sunnyside Valley Irrigation District, etc.

• 5-year study, objectives include:

  • Characterize pH and dissolved oxygen (DO) conditions, nutrient concentrations, type of substrate, and aquatic plant and algal communities.
  • Assess relationships between nutrient concentrations, plant growth, substrate, stream flow, pH, and DO for the conditions observed.

• Why? Wanted to learn reason for sudden increase in plant growth, was it causing problems, and what could we do about it. Because excess aquatic plants/algae can cause:

  • low DO due to nighttime plant respiration and
  • high pH due to daytime photosynthesis.

Notes: