Methow River Basin

Scientific Topics - Water Quality


	Project Home \| Publications and Products \| Related Links \| News Releases \| Data \| Maps \| Scientific Topics \| Contact Us \| Project Summaries \| Partnerships \|

Photograph of mobile water quality laboratory taking samples of water from a domestic well in the Methow Valley (Photograph taken by Rick Wagner, U.S. Geological Survey, July 2001.)

View of mobile water-quality laboratory taking samples of water from a domestic well in the Methow River Valley (Photograph taken by Rick Wagner, U.S. Geological Survey, July 2001.)

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has been collecting and analyzing ground- and surface-water samples to assess ambient water-quality conditions in the Methow River Basin. Physical properties of temperature, pH, specific conductance, and dissolved oxygen were measured, and samples were collected to analyze for concentrations of nitrate and chloride. A subset of the samples was analyzed for major ions and selected metals. The data will provide a baseline for water-quality conditions that can be referenced in future studies.

Photograph of hydrologic technician analyzing water samples in the mobile water-quality laboratory. (Photograph taken by Jim Ebbert, U.S. Geological Survey, July 2001.)

View of hydrologic technician analyzing water samples in the mobile water-quality laboratory. (Photograph taken by Jim Ebbert, U.S. Geological Survey, July 2001.)

Surface-Water Quality

Nineteen surface-water sites in the Methow River Basin were sampled September 17-21, 2001. Samples were collected from 5 sites on the mainstem of the Methow River, 2 sites on the Twisp River, 6 tributaries to the upper Methow River, 3 sites on the Chewuch River or its tributaries, and 3 tributaries to the lower Methow River.

Ground-Water Quality

Eighty-nine ground-water sites in the Methow River Basin were sampled June 16-20, 2001. Samples were randomly selected from all hydrogeologic locations to assess the general quality of ground water in the basin.