Nakatani, Roy E. and Quentin J. Stober. “Water Quality and Biota of the Columbia River System.” Water Quality in North American River Systems. Ed. C. Dale Becker and Duane A. Neitzel. Columbus, OH: Battelle Press, 1992. 53-81.
Summary:
This article explores the water quality and biota of the Columbia River based on studies cited by the authors (Nakatani and Stober). The first half of the article is dedicated to morphometry, hydrology, water quality and resource management. Under the water quality and resource management heading, the authors also discuss temperature, gas supersaturation, dissolved oxygen, salinity, nutrients, suspended sediment and toxic chemicals and how all of those issues are related to the health of the animals (specifically fish) and plant life in the Columbia River. The second half of the article is dedicated to Columbia River biota and ecosystem properties, including aquatic productivity, fish populations, reservoirs and fish production, and specifically, the Hanford Reach. Throughout the article are diagrams and graphs that visually represent the data Nakatani and Stober cite, such as mean monthly water temperatures along the Columbia River and the percentages of dissolved oxygen at 12 different stations along the river.
Critique:
The information is this article sometimes seems dated, which is to be expected because it was written in 1992 The authors cite information from the 1950s and 1960s as though it is the current standard, which it may be true, but it seems unlikely now that we have entered the 21 st century. Yet, this article is well organized and easy to follow despite one's knowledge of scientific terms: the visuals also help one to understand the data. In addition, this article provides a comprehensive history of the Columbia River and how it has changed over time. The second half of the article, which focuses on the river's biota, both animal and plant life, is even easier to understand because the first half of the article gives a history of the river. Overall, despite it's dated feel, this article is informative and instrumental in helping one understand more about the Columbia River.
reviewed by May Dargan
Robert D. Clark Honors College, University of Oregon
HC 441: Science Colloquium, Columbia River Ecology
Fall term, 2005
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