Table 1.  Water Quality Standards and Criteria for Oregon as of 2004

Parameter

Beneficial Uses

Criteria for Compliance

E. coli Bacteria

Water Contact Recreation

Numeric: 30-day log mean of at least 5 samples <=126 E. coli organisms/100 ml.  No single sample >406 E. coli organisms/100 ml.

Narrative:  “Bacterial pollution or other conditions deleterious to waters used for domestic purposes, livestock watering, irrigation, bathing or shellfish propagation, or otherwise injurious to public health shall not be allowed.”

(OAR 340-041-0009)

Dissolved Oxygen (DO)

Resident Fish and Aquatic Life, Salmonid Spawning & Rearing

1.  During times and in waters that support salmonid spawning until fry emergence from the gravels: DO >=11 mg/l; unless intergravel DO > 8 mg/L, then DO >=9; or where conditions of barometric pressure, altitude and naturally occurring temperatures preclude attainment of the 11 or 9 mg/l standard, then DO >= 95% saturation.

2.  “Cool Water”:  DO >=6.5 mg/l.  If DEQ has adequate information and at its discretion, DO may not be < 6.5 mg/L as a 30-day mean minimum, < 5.0 mg/L as a 7-day minimum mean, and < 4.0 mg/L as an absolute minimum.

(OAR 340-041-0016)

Nutrients

Aesthetics or use identified under related parameters

1. Phosphorus:  requirements from TMDLs: 

  May 1 –Nov. 30:  Total P <= 0.08 mg/l

2.  Nitrates: N as NO3 <= 10 mg/l.,

(OAR 340-041-0033)

pH

Resident Fish & Aquatic Life, Water Contact Recreation

Criteria vary by basin.  Usual range is 6.5 through 8.5.  

(OAR 340-041-0021)

Temperature

Fish & Aquatic Life (2004 revision)

1.  7-day average maximum temperature:

- salmon/steelhead spawning <=55.4°F (13° C)

- salmonid rearing and migration <=64.4°F (18° C)

 (OAR 340-041-002)