Columbia River Bi-State Studies 1990-1996

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Lower Columbia River Bi-State Water Quality Program was the precursor to the Estuary Partnership, and completed numerous studies on the health of the river.
 

The Bi-State Water Quality Studies were conducted between 1990 and 1996 and consisted of three phases:

  1. gathering existing data so researchers could start with a clear picture of what was already known about the river and its problems;
  2. reconnaissance surveys – broad preliminary studies about existing environmental conditions and pollutants of concern; and
  3. advanced studies that looked at priority problems based on findings in previous studies.

The Bi-State Program generated over 50 technical reports in six years. As the successor to the Lower Columbia River Bi-State Water Quality Program, the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership maintains copies of all the original Bi-State Studies and they are outlined and linked below.

The reports were summarized in “Health of the River 1990-1996: Integrated Technical Report.”

The six-year public-private partnership was jointly administered by the Washington Department of Ecology and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and advised by a Bi-State Steering Committee. Steering Committee members came from the many groups that take an active interest in the lower Columbia River: environmentalists, Indigenous Tribes, the pulp and paper industry, private citizens, public ports, local governments, commercial and recreational fishing interests, the Northwest Power Planning Council, and federal agencies dealing with environmental issues. The Bi-State Program was paid for by citizens of Washington and Oregon (1/3 each), the pulp and paper industry (1/6), and public ports (1/6).

PDF links to all the Bi-State Reports are provided below.

1.0 Compilation/Characterization of Existing Data

1.1 Compilation of Existing Data

1.2 Inventory and Characterization of Pollutants

1.3 Hydrology and Morphology of the Lower Columbia River

1.4 Recommended Biological Indicators

1.5 Beneficial Uses and Sensitive Areas

2.0 Reconnaissance Surveys

2.1 1991 Reconnaissance Survey

2.2 1991 Reconnaissance Survey Conclusions and Recommendations

  • Tetra Tech. December 1992. Reconnaissance survey of the lower Columbia River. Geographic information system: Maps and file documentation. Prepared for Lower Columbia River Bi-State Committee. Tetra Tech, Inc., Redmond, WA. (TC 8526-07). Report (31 - MISSING)
  • Tetra Tech. May 25, 1993. Reconnaissance survey of the lower Columbia River. Task 7. Conclusions and recommendations. Prepared for Lower Columbia River Bi-State Committee. Tetra Tech, Inc., Redmond, WA. 270 pp. + appendix (TC 8526-07).

2.3 1993 Backwater Reconnaissance Survey

  • Tetra Tech. June 22, 1993. Lower Columbia River backwater reconnaissance survey. Sampling and quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) plan. Prepared for Lower Columbia River Bi-State Committee. Tetra Tech, Inc., Redmond, WA. 69 pp. (TC 9497-01).
  • Tetra Tech. May 26, 1995. Lower Columbia River backwater reconnaissance survey. Volume 1 of 3: report. Prepared for Lower Columbia River Bi-State Committee. Tetra Tech, Inc., Redmond, WA. 422 pp. (TC 9497-06).
  • Tetra Tech. December 1993. Lower Columbia River backwater reconnaissance survey. Volume 2 of 3: Data validation report (Appendix A). Prepared for Lower Columbia River Bi-State Committee. Tetra Tech, Inc., Redmond, WA. (TC 9497-06).
  • Tetra Tech. December 1993. Lower Columbia River backwater reconnaissance survey. Volume 3 of 3: Data appendix. Prepared for Lower Columbia River Bi-State Committee. Tetra Tech, Inc., Redmond, WA. (TC 9497-06).

3.0 Baseline Studies

3.1 Ambient Monitoring Study

3.2 Pollutant Work Assignment Study

3.3 Fish and Wildlife Studies

3.3.1 Fish and Wildlife Literature Review

3.3.2 Fish Health Assessment

  • Tetra Tech. September 16, 1994. Assessing health of fish species and fish communities in the lower Columbia River. Sampling plan. Prepared for Lower Columbia River Bi-State Committee. Tetra Tech, Inc., Redmond, WA. 29 pp. + appendices. (TC 0110-01).
  • Tetra Tech. January 29, 1996. Assessing health of fish species and fish communities in the lower Columbia River. Report. Prepared for Lower Columbia River Bi-State Program. Tetra Tech, Inc., Redmond, WA. 61 pp. (TC 0 1 10-03).
  • Collier, T.K., B.F. Anulacion, J.E. Stein, B. Bill, T. Hom, S. Sol, and S. Spencer. January 19, 1996. Assessment, of exposure to aromatic compounds in fish from the lower Columbia River, by use of appropriate biomarkers. Prepared for Lower Columbia River Bi-State Program. Environmental Conservation Division, Northwest Fisheries Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA. 22 pp.

3.3.3 Mink and River Otter Study

3.3.4 Contaminant Study of Bald Eagle Eggs

3.3.5 GIS and Map of Historical and Existing Habitat

3.3.6 Human Health Screening Risk Assessment

  • Tetra Tech. July 7, 1993. Draft report. Preliminary human health risk screening analysis of contaminant levels in fish from the lower Columbia River. Prepared for Lower Columbia River Bi-State Program. Tetra Tech, Inc., Redmond, WA. 28 pp. + appendices. (TC 9371-02). MISSING

4.0 Advanced Studies

4.1 Assessing Human Health Risks

  • Tetra Tech. May 2, 1994. Assessing human health risks from chemically contaminated fish in the lower Columbia River. List of data sets to be evaluated for assessing fish consumption risks to humans. Prepared for Lower Columbia River Bi-State Program. Tetra Tech, Inc., Redmond, WA. 5 pp. + appendix. (TC 9968-01). MISSING
  • Tetra Tech. September 16, 1994. Assessing human health risks from chemically contaminated fish in the lower Columbia River. Sampling and quality assurance/quality control plan. Prepared for Lower Columbia River Bi-State Committee. Tetra Tech, Inc., Redmond, WA. 41 pp. + appendix. (TC 9968-02).
  • Tetra Tech. August 7, 1995. Assessing human health risks from chemically contaminated fish in the lower Columbia River. Data report. Prepared for Lower Columbia River Bi-State Program. Tetra Tech, Inc., Redmond, WA. 25 pp. + appendices. (TC 9968-04).
  • Tetra Tech. May 1, 1996. Assessing human health risks from chemically contaminated fish in the lower Columbia River. Risk assessment. Prepared for Lower Columbia River Bi-State Program. Tetra Tech, Inc., Redmond, WA. 138 pp. + appendices. (TC 9968-05).

5.0 Database Needs Assessment

Additions