From 2022 - 2024, the Estuary Partnership worked with USGS and the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission to follow up on previous studies in the Tracking Toxics in the lower Columbia Project. We sampled the same 10 sites previously used for the 2007 Toxic Studies and ConHab Study, and included previously analyzed compounds in both studies, and also included contaminants of emerging concern:
- PAHs
- PBDEs
- PCBs
- pesticides
- wastewater indicators
- Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)*
- cyanotoxins*
*Contaminants of emerging concern new to these data.
These data allow us to assess certain changes over time based on past studies, though we lack funding for ongoing monitoring in the main stem Columbia River.
Sampling took place three times:
- At the beginning of rainy season (e.g., late October to early November) to capture conditions representing the first flush of stormwater runoff
- During the snowmelt, also knowns as the spring freshet (April/May), to capture conditions from the upriver watershed
- During peak summer low flow (August/early September) to capture low flow, warm summer temperature conditions
Sampling locations across the breadth of the lower Columbia River:
- Columbia River at Skamania Boat Dock
- Columbia River downstream of Government Island
- Columbia River downstream of Hayden Island
- Willamette River at Multnomah Channel
- Multnomah Channel near mouth
- Columbia River at Columbia City
- Columbia River between Lewis and Cowlitz Rivers
- Columbia River at Longview
- Columbia River at Beaver Army Terminal RM 53
- Columbia River near Point Adams
Map credit: USGS
This project was funded through a grant from the US EPA Columbia River Basin Restoration Act.