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discharged to the river also adversely affect water-contact types of recreation. The aesthetic value of the stream is further deteriorated by biological growths which develop from the nutrients in waste discharges. Initial attempts to control...

page 19

In 1943, Lincoln and Foster (3) completed a seemingly exhaustive study of the slime problem. They concluded: "Waste sulfite liquor, and specifically the carbohydrates contained in the waste liquor, are the cause of the growth of Sphaerotilus in...

page 20

source of nutrients for the slime growths which occur from Camas to Cathlamet in quantities that interfere with fishing operations and other legitimate water uses. Surveillance field studies were conducted by the U. S. Public Health Service from...

page 21

equivalent to 10 ppm based on 10 per cent solids liquor) (0.2 ppm of BOD) within the velocity range. Their laboratory studies indicated that intermittent discharge greatly reduces the slime growth on fixed surfaces. In 1962 the Oregon State...

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Sphaerotilus will grow when the spent sulfite solids concentration is as low as 2 and 5 ppm (based on 100 per cent solids). However, the amount of slime growth with the 2 ppm concentration is less than the amount of growth observed with higher...

page 23

3. Slime will develop when the spent sulfite solids liquor concentration is as low as 1 and 2 ppm (based on 100 per cent solids), but the quantity of slime growth is not as great as at higher concentrations. 4. Low concentrations of phosphates...

page 24

studies would be required for a definitive answer. At various times sport fishermen have complained about tainted fish caught in the lower part of the Willamette River and Multnomah Channel. Investigations in 1965 indicate the problem is related...

Water uses

WATER USES The Lower Columbia River supports a wide variety of water uses and has a considerable influence on the area's economic, recreational, and aesthetic activities. Uses are generally growing at a rate exceeding the rate of population...

page 26

because of the influx of summer tourists, the Lower Columbia is heavily used for water-contact sports and recreation. Other than game fishing, recreational water uses include boating, swimming, skin-diving, water-skiing, and picnicking. Streamside...

page 27

boats. This figure was calculated using the national average of boats per population and is therefore conservative. It is estimated that between 22,000 and 25,000 boats use the Columbia River for at least a part of the year. Swimming Much of...

page 28

counts from the game preserve on Sauvie Island indicate the popularity of the area. In 1964, over 10,000 hunter-days were recorded in this one area. FISHERY RESOURCES One of the outstanding uses of the Columbia River is the sport and...

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commercial value is attributable to the Columbia. Preliminary estimates by the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries indicate gross sales by fishermen in 1964 at about $6,000,000. In 1964, 689 gill net licenses were issued to Columbia River fishermen...

page 30

Bonneville Dam and Cathlamet and is used principally to irrigate vegetable produce. Sauvie Island is the primary section of cropland irrigated from the Lower Columbia. NAVIGATION Portland, Oregon, is the largest fresh water port in the world....

Present waste sources

PRESENT WASTE SOURCES The locations of the waste sources involved in this report are shown in Figure II on page 38. MUNICIPAL All of the following municipalities have sewage treatment plants which provide primary sedimentation and...

page 32

The liquid portions of the wastes are discharged to the river through submerged outfalls. Food Processing Solid and liquid wastes result from processing of fruit and vegetables at California Packing Company and Washington Canners at Vancouver....

page 33

The Weyerhaeuser Timber Company, Longview, operates a 1,160 ton/day pulp mill, of which 725 tons are produced by the sulfate process, 325 tons by the sulfite process, and 110 tons by the semi-chemical pulping process. From this pulping operation,...

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incorporates evaporation and burning of the concentrated cooking liquors for recovery of the base chemicals. Also, a portion of the evaporator condensate is processed and the chemicals are reused. Savealls are utilized to reclaim fibers from the...

page 35

September 1959 except during the times the Columbia River floods and submerges the sampling weir. Reported 1964 average losses to Multnomah Channel were 40,100 pounds/day total suspended matter (TSM) and 23,250 pounds/day of BOD in an average...

page 36

company barges concentrated spent sulfite liquor for discharge into the Columbia River below the junction of the Willamette River. This practice was initiated in 1953. The 1964 average BOD load discharged to the Columbia River between June 29 and...

page 37

effluent loss reports have been submitted to the Washington State Pollution Control Commission since 1956 and include solids losses from the various operations. Reported 1964 VSM losses to the Columbia River averaged 81,000 pounds/day. BOD losses...

Figure II - map showing waste sources

Map details: WATER SUPPLY & WATER QUALITY CONTROL STUDY LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER WASTE SOURCES U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, & WELFARE Public Health Service Region IX Portland, Oregon WEYERHAEUSER TIMBER CO. CONTINENTAL GRAIN CO, CITYof...

Table II - municipal wastes

TABLE II MUNICIPAL WASTES City River Mile Estimated Connected Population 1959 1964Est. Lbs. BOD/day Treatment Plant Effluent 1959 1964Est. Lbs. VSM/day a/ Treatment Plant Effluent 1959 1964Est. Volume MGD 1959 1964...

Table III - industrial wastes

TABLE III INDUSTRIAL WASTES Est. Lbs. BOD Per Day 1959 1964 Est. Population Equivalent a/ for BOD Per Day 1959 1964 Est. Lbs. VSM b/ Per Day 1959 1964 Est. Volume MGD 1959 1964 Total Solids Per Day 1959 1964 Grain...

Table IV - reported pulp and paper production lower Columbia River and Multnomah channel

TABLE IV REPORTED PULP AND PAPER PRODUCTION LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER AND MULTNOMAH CHANNEL Pulp - Tons/Day Paper - Tons/Day Total Pulp Total Bleached Sulfite Sulfate Semi-Chemical Groundwood Production Pulp Production Paper Production Plant...

Progress in pollution abatement since 1958-59 conference

PROGRESS IN POLLUTION ABATEMENT SINCE 1958-59 CONFERENCE STATE ACTION Following the 1959 Conference, the States of Oregon and Washington, with the support of the Technical Coordinating Committee, initiated a cooperative pollution-abatement...