Lower Columbia River Sediment Contaminant Database from 1991

Contaminant data from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Columbia River sediment database as of May 1991. The report compiles measurements from Federal dredging projects in the Lower Columbia and Willamette Rivers. Data includes grain size, total organic carbon, ten metals, pesticides, PCBs, and PAHs for surface and core sediment samples.

Use Cases

• Analyze spatial distribution of metal concentrations across estuarine and riverine sampling stations.
• Correlate total organic carbon measurements with pesticide or PCB levels in sediment cores.
• Assess grain size data as a potential predictor for contaminant adsorption in surface sediments.
• Compare contaminant profiles (e.g., PAHs, oil and grease) between the Lower Columbia and Willamette River sites.

Strengths

• Data covers multiple contaminant classes: metals, pesticides, PCBs, and PAHs.
• Includes samples from both surface sediments and sediment cores, providing some depth profile.

Limitations

• Data is from a single snapshot in May 1991, with no apparent updates.
• No information provided on analytical techniques or methods for total DDT/PAH/PCB calculations.
• Sample scope is limited to sites from Federal dredging projects, not a systematic spatial survey.

Provenance

Source

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District's Columbia River sediment database.

Collection Method

Samples collected from Federal dredging projects; compilation printed in a report (Stockton 1991).

Time Range

Data as of May 1991.

Freshness

null

Geography

Lower Columbia River and Willamette River up to the Broadway Bridge in Portland, including stations upstream to Wind River.