Yakima WATERS Field Trip
July 11-12, 2011
Yakima River Basin Field Trip
July 11-July 12, 2011
Day 1 – Overview and upper Yakima raft trip
8:30 – Coffee and introductions
9:00 Overview
Carey Gazis – Geology*
Steve Wagner or Jamie Lamperth – The river continuum*
Carey Gazis – Field trip overview
Stop 1 – new Ellensburg municipal well
Carey Gazis – Ellensburg city water supply
Stop 2 – Roadcut on State Route 10*
Meilani – clast identification mini-lesson
Stop 3 – Rte 10 overlook
Lisa Ely – River terraces*
Begin float trip at Teanaway River crossing of Rte 10
Stop 4 to 6 – points along float
Dale -- Macroinvertebrate surveys
Sarah Healas – Fish mini-lesson
Kelsey Johnson – tree mini-lesson
Stop 7 – West Ellensburg Park
Dinner (5:30 p.m.), recap and questions
* Additional information in packet
Day 2 – Yakima River Canyon and lower Yakima River basin
8:30 – meet at CWU
Stop 8 – Taneum Creek
Tiffany Bishop – Effects of the 100-year flood on Taneum Creek
Renee Holt –nitrate measurement mini-lesson
Stop 9 – Cherry Creek return flow
nitrate measurement
Stop 10 – Beavertail bend
Lisa Ely – debris flows*
Stop 11 – Umtanum Creek, lunch
Steve Wagner – Amphibians
Jon Hegna – beaver mini-lesson
Eric Inions – vegetation mini-lesson
Stop 12 – Mt. Baldy
Carey Gazis – Yakima fold-and-thrust belt
Stop 13 – Roza Dam
Discussion of dams, salmon hatcheries programs
Stop 14 and 15 – Selah stops
Jessica – airphoto mini-lesson
Lisa Ely – Selah stream restoration site, nitrate measurement
* Additional information in packet
Figure 1. The Yakima River Basin, Washington.
From Jones, Vaccaro, and Watkins (2006). Hydrogeologic Framework of Sedimentary Deposits
in Six Structural Basins, Yakima River Basin, Washington U.S.G.S. Scientific Investigations
Report 2006–5116
Figure 2. Land use and land cover, Yakima River Basin, Washington, 1999
(From Fuhrer and others, 2004.)
Fuhrer, G.J., Morace, J.L., Johnson, H.M., Rinella, J.F., Ebbert, J.C., Embrey, S.S., Waite,
I.R., Carpenter, K.D., Wise, D.R., and Hughes, C.A., 2004, Water quality in the Yakima
River Basin, Washington, 1999-2000: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1237, 44 p.
Figure 3. Selected tributaries, diversion canals, return flows, and streamflowgaging stations, Yakima River Basin, Washington. (From Fuhrer and others,
2004.)
Yakima watershed geology in a nutshell
Long, long ago on a continent, not so far away…
 Before 200 million years ago
This area DID NOT EXIST as rocks at all – it was just ocean with sediments quietly collecting on the
basin floor. The coast of North America was over in Montana somewhere.
 ~200 millions years ago
SUBDUCTION starts off the coast of North America. The coast was still somewhere in Idaho or eastern
Washington.
marine sediments get
scraped off the downgoing plate and plastered
onto the continent
Volcanoes at
the surface and
granite cooling
miles below the
surface
Future Yakima Watershed
(metamorphosed ocean
sediments)
 Since 200 million years ago
Through subduction, land has been gradually added by plastering on ocean sediments, building
volcanoes, intruding of granite, and ACCRETED TERRANES (rocks, often islands, that are carried in by
the subducting plate and scrapped off onto the continent).
added land
Land soon to be scrapped off
onto the continent
 65-35 million years ago
SEDIMENTS eroded off the mountains and got deposited into a
valley. Swamps flourished leaving black goop that eventually
became coal (think Roslyn mines!). Basalt lava came up in places
and flowed across the surface. Much of it eventually got folded as
the subduction and compression continued.
Future Yakima Watershed
(river sediments and
swamp muck)
 15-14 million years ago
COLUMBIA FLOOD BASALTS. Massive outpouring of basalt from the Oregon-Idaho boarder spread
across much of what is now Washington and northern Oregon. 175,000 cubic km (for comparison, Mt St
Helens was ~1 cubic km).
A single
flow
 15 million years ago - now
Tectonic forces between the North American plate
and the ocean plates has led to north-south
compression in this area and a series of folds have
developed (Manastash Ridge, Umtamum Ridge,
Selah Ridge, Saddle Mountain, etc). Between the
folds, the valleys have filled with river gravels, mud,
volcanic deposits (Kittitas Valley, Selah Valley,
Yakima Valley)
Agricultural valleys
ridges
 Last 2 million to ~15,000 years ago
ICE AGE – Glaciers draped copiously over the Cascades and carved our valleys in the upper Yakima
watershed (like Lake Cle Elum).
former glaciers’ paths
SUMMARY CROSS-SECTION
Adapted from Field Trip Guidebook to the Natural History of Kittitas County – J. Mabry
4) Ridges and
sedimentary valleys
1) Early subduction
products - metamorphosed
ocean sediments and
granite intrusions
2) Terrestrial sediments
and swamp deposits
3) Flood
basalts
The River Continuum Concept (RCC)
The River Continuum Concept is the idea that the biological components and processes
of rivers show changes along a longitudinal downstream continuum. In general, the headwaters
(low order streams) are small and steep with swift, cool water that is shaded by riparian
vegetation. These streams have mostly allochthonous energy inputs from leaves, needles and
stems that fall into the stream each autumn. The invertebrate community is composed mostly of
shredders and collectors as very little periphyton is available for grazers. The fishes have body
shapes that enable them to move easily in swift water and mouths that are adapted to feeding on
shredders and collectors. The P/R ratios here are usually less than 1.0.
The mid-reaches of rivers have more of the channel exposed to sunlight and substrates
that allow for the growth of periphyton. The invertebrate community is composed of mostly
grazers and collectors as there is less CPOM available for shredders and more of the energy is in
the form of autochthonous inputs. Larger fishes are present as more food is available and larger
pools provide habitat and cover. The P/R ratios are usually greater than 1.0 due to the high level
of photosynthesis from periphyton.
In the lower reaches, the river has a low gradient and substrates are usually composed of
gravel, sand and silt that do not allow for periphyton growth. The energy inputs generally come
from upstream sources of FPOM that support a mostly collector invertebrate community. The
fish are generally more slow-water adapted species that feed on zooplankton in the water column
or bottom-oriented fishes that feed on detritus.
Citation:
Vannote, R. R., G. W. Minshall, K. W. Cummins, J. R. Sedell, and C. E. Cushing. 1980.
The river continuum concept. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 37:
130-137.
Glossary:
Allochthonous inputs - Energy inputs to a stream food chain that come from outside the
stream
Autochthonous inputs- Energy inputs to a stream food chain that come from within the
stream via photosynthesis
Collectors – Aquatic insects that consume FPOM by filtering water
CPOM – Coarse particulate organic material
DOM – Dissolved organic material
FPOM – Fine particulate organic material
Grazers (or Scrapers) – Aquatic insects that have mouthparts used to scrape periphyton from
stream substrates
Lentic – A term referring to standing waters (such as lakes)
Lotic – A term referring to flowing water (such as rivers)
Periphyton – Photosynthetic organisms (usually algae and bacteria) that grow on steam
substrates
P/R Ratio – The ratio of primary production (photosynthesis) to respiration
Shredders – Aquatic insects that use chewing mouthparts to consume CPOM
Stop 2 (Ellensburg Formation) and Stop 3 (Thorp terraces),
The following is an excerpt from Mabry, J.J., 2000. Field Trip Guidebook to the Natural History
of Kittitas County, in Mabry, J.J. The Concept of Place-Centered Education as a Model for
Enviromental Literacy and Natural Resource Management, M.S. Thesis, Central Washington
University, p. 35.36, 45-49. Available from CWU Dept. of Geological Sciences or CWU library.
The Thorp -Teanaway Glacial Features Guided Tour
The North Cascades of Washington extend from Snoqualmie Pass to the
Canadian Border and contain 750 glaciers. The North Cascade Range separates the
state into two separate climatic regions. The glaciers associated with the features in
Kittitas County flowed down three main drainages (rivers) of the eastern slopes of
the North Cascade Range. These drainage areas occupied the areas of Keechelus,
Kachess, and Cle Elum Lakes.
Five stages of alpine glaciation are identified as originating on the high
peaks of the Cascade Crest. The physical evidences of these five glacial stages
remains today and are represented by landscape features of terminal moraines,
graded outwash terraces, and correlating stratigraphic sequences.
Figure 16. Glaciers and their extension into Kittitas County, Modified from Porter,
1969
The illustration above (Figure 16) depicts the positions of glaciers that
created the features seen on the landscape today. Glaciers created and occupied the
basins of lakes Keechelus, Kachess, and Cle Elum and flowed down the river
valleys of the Yakima and Cle Elum Rivers.
The glaciation of this region that occurred during the geologic time period
called the Pleistocene, from about 2 million years ago to 500 years ago. When the
climate of the region became colder the ice accumulated on the peaks of the
Cascades and flowed down the eastern slopes toward the Kittitas Valley. When the
climate warmed the glaciers receded back toward the Cascade crest, but left
outwash deposits and evidence of their existence and positions throughout the
region.
The sharp features seen on the high cascade peeks are cirques, horns, arêtes,
and hanging valleys. The evidence found along the glaciers’ lower routes are Ushaped valleys, basin lakes, and striations in the bedrock. The sediments associated
with the glaciers are called moraines, eratics, till, outwash, and loess.
Scientists use techniques like pollen analysis, carbon dating, radiometric
dating, and weathering and erosional features to determine the age and
relationships between different glacial events in the region. A technique developed
by University of Washington professor Stephen Porter was to measure weathering
rinds.
Weathering rinds are concentric bands of oxidized minerals found in the
basalt rocks moved by the glaciers. The wider the band of oxidation, the older the
sample rock is. When compared to other basalt samples, found on different glacial
moraines, a relative age date can be given to determine when the glacier placed the
rock.
This tour of the glacial features circles the area around Lookout Mountain.
The tour begins outside Ellensburg on the canyon road to Cle Elum, State Route
10. The tour begins at the Wenatchee turn-off sign at U. S. Route 97 then proceeds
toward Cle Elum to the northwest on State route 10 to the junction at State Route
970. At the 970 and 10 junction the tour turns (right) back to the northeast until
meeting up at the north junction of U. S. Route 97 at Virden, which takes you back
to south toward Ellensburg.
SET ODOMETER AT 0.0 AT THE JUNTION OF STATE ROUTE 10 and
U.S. ROUTE N97 (THE TURN-OFF TO WENATCHEE)
Mile As you enter this section of the tour there are numerous
0.0 features to be seen but very few safe parking areas. Where pull-off points are
available a number of features will be pointed out. The first features are the
“Thorp Gravels” seen on the right hand side (north) of S.R. 10. These are the
same gravels found in Craig's Hill in Ellensburg and discussed in the Craig’s
Hill tour. Good exposures of these gravel deposits are visible from about
mile point 0.6, after you pass under the railroad trestle, to mile 3.7 to the first
parking area located on the left side of the road.
This gravel formation is constantly changing and has been for hundreds
of years. If you look along the face of the ridge there is evidence of older slides,
along a similar surface area. The older slumps are now re-vegetated and the ages of
the trees help to determine when the slump occurred. The whole area was cut into
by the Yakima River and exposed both the “Thorp Gravels” and a portion of the
Ellensburg Formation.
Mile The largest slump occurred in June of 1970 when a portion of the
3.2 road was closed due to the massive amount of gravel covering the area. The
mass of gravel blocked the Yakima River for a time and fishermen in the
river witnessed the river “drying up” down stream of the blockage. This
portion of the road was re-built on-top-of the landslide, as the costs to
remove the gravel exceeded the costs to build a new road.
Mile The first stop is located ahead on the left side of the road. Here the
3.7 ”Thorp Gravels,” Figure 17, are exposed best. They are believed to be
between 3 and 4 million years old and were name after of the community of
Thorp. The whole structure is made up of individually layered beds made of
gravel and sand. It is not well consolidated, continually weathers, and is
prone to continuing erosion and landslides.
Figure 17. “Thorp Gravels” along the north side of State Route 10
This whole area has experienced the giant landslides called ‘slumps.’
Slumps are the result of the gravels being saturated by water, primarily from
irrigation run-off. The water enters the gravel formation and percolates through it
causing the whole formation to erode very quickly. The water can often be seen on
the cliff face where it seeps out and discolors the surface.
Figure 18. Ellensburg Formation along the north side of State Route 10
Mile The exposure of the Ellensburg Formation at this location, above,
5.7 is one of the most interesting to geologists. The exposure here is the middle
portion of the Ellensburg Formation, overlain by the “Thorp Gravels.” This
exposure is made up of sandstones, sitlstones, conglomerates, and thick
layers of volcanic ash called lahars.
The lower portion is made up of sandstones, mud, volcanic mud flows
(lahars) and small packets of gravel. The features on the surface are made by the
weathering of the surface by wind and water. This area too is continually eroding
away, and rocks continuously fall from above. A hard hat is a good idea if you plan
to approach the area for a closer look.
From this area on, the most predominant features on the landscape are the
terraces located primarily on the south side of the river. The diagram below Figure
19, from Porter 1976, shows the relationships of the different terraces in the upper
Yakima River Canyon to the location of the river today. Shown in this diagram are
the loess and soils developed on top of the glacial outwash.
Figure 19. Glacial Terraces along the Yakima River, Modified from Porter, 1976
Mile The tour continues by driving onto the top of the Thorp Drift.
6.5 From this stopping point, and for the next half-mile, the road grade steepens.
The elevation change is due to the incline onto the terminal moraine that
marks the furthest advance of the Thorp Glacial stage.
The area ahead is rich with wildlife. Bald Eagles and Osprey make this area
their home. Watch for Eagle nests and pairs of birds fishing for dinner in the
Yakima River. This area is also a crossing point for deer and elk and they can often
be seen at dawn and dusk heading to the river for a drink.
_________________________________________________________________
Stop 3:
Yakima River WATERS Project
Water Quality Handout
by Anne Johansen and Martha Kurtz (small modifications by Dion Rivera)
What is water quality?
Water quality can be thought of as a measure of the suitability of water for a particular use
based on selected physical, chemical, and biological characteristics. To determine water quality,
scientists measure and analyze characteristics of the water that are then compared to numeric
standards and guidelines to decide if the water is suitable for a particular use.
What are water quality standards?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the States are responsible for
establishing the standards for constituents in water that have been shown to pose a risk to
human health, these legally enforceable primary standards for drinking-water quality (National
Primary Drinking Water Regulations, NPDWRs, for a list of regulated contaminants:
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/consumer/pdf/mcl.pdf).
In addition, national recommended water quality criteria are in place to protect aquatic life,
including fish, and fish-eating wildlife such as birds. EPA's compilation of approximately 150
pollutants is available at http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/criteria/nrwqc-2006.pdf.
How do human activities affect water quality?
Urban and industrial development, farming, mining, combustion of fossil fuels, stream-channel
alteration, animal-feeding operations, and other human activities can change the quality of
natural waters. E.g., excess nutrients from nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers that is carried to
streams and lakes encourage abundant growth of algae, which leads to low oxygen in the water
and the possibility of fish kills; lead and copper enter drinking water primarily through plumbing
materials and exposure to lead and copper may cause health problems ranging from stomach
distress to brain damage.
How is water quality measured?
Some aspects of water quality can be determined right in the stream or at the well. These
include temperature, acidity (pH), dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and electrical conductance (an
indirect indicator of dissolved minerals in the water). Analyses of individual chemicals are
typically done in the laboratory, however, CWU owns probes that allow for field determination of
the following compounds: chloride, nitrate, calcium, ammonium, and carbon dioxide. However,
some probes are better than others and all probes require care and correct storage to function
properly. Today we well have the opportunity to learn about some of the challenges of making
measurements in the field and hopefully how to get some meaningful water quality data.
Selected inorganic contaminants of interest to our Yakima River WATERS Project:
Contam
inant
Max. Cont. Level
(MCL) mg/L
US-EPA
WHO
Arsenic
0.01
0.01
Copper
1.3
1.0
0.015
0.01
Fluoride
4.0
1.5
Nitrate
44
50
Nitrite
0.33
3
Lead
Potential Health Effect
Common Source
Skin damage, circulatory problems,
cancerous
Gastrointestinal distress, liver or kidney
damage
Delays
in
physical
and
mental
development
in
children,
kidney
problems, high blood pressure
Bone disease, mottled teeth in children
Erosion of natural deposits, runoff from
orchards
Corrosion of household plumbing, erosion of
natural deposits
Corrosion of household plumbing, erosion of
natural deposits
Blue-baby syndrome, lack of oxygen
delivery to body
Blue-baby syndrome, lack of oxygen
delivery to body
Runoff from fertilizer use, leaching from septic
tanks, sewage
Runoff from fertilizer use, leaching from septic
tanks, sewage
Other useful water quality resources:
http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa
http://www.epa.gov/safewater http://wa.water.usgs.gov/
Erosion of natural deposits, water additive
Yakima River stream flow, natural vs. human-controlled (Flip flop)
irrigation
Stop 10 (debris flows)
The following is an excerpt from Mabry, J.J., 2000. Field Trip Guidebook to the Natural History of
Kittitas County, in Mabry, J.J. The Concept of Place-Centered Education as a Model for Enviromental
Literacy and Natural Resource Management, M.S. Thesis, Central Washington University, p. 35.36, 4549. Available from CWU Dept. of Geological Sciences or CWU library.
Lower Yakima River Canyon Debris Flows
SET ODOMETER ON (0.0) AT DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE SIGN
“ENTERING THE YAKIMA CANYON.”
Mile On the western side of the river, along the route to the next point
2.6
of interest, runs the Northern Pacific Rail line completed in the 1880s. This rail line
has an interesting history, depicted in a book called Gateway to Time referenced to
at the end of this chapter. From this point and for the next four miles, Bighorn sheep
can be seen scattered on the higher slopes and ridges.
Mile As you proceed through the canyon from this area the evidence of
3.0 small landslides can be seen. Throughout the canyon, landslides cause significant
changes in the topography. Several large debris flows occurred in June of 1998
(Figures 9 & 10) that covered the road and closed the canyon for about a month.
Figure 9. Beaver Tail meander and debris flows
Mile
4.2
to
6.7
The largest landslides resulting form the June 1998 rainfall
occurred in the next area for about 2.5 miles. These debris flows (Fig.
10) closed the road and diverted the river. Three new debris fans were
created into the river by the landslides, and are making popular new fishing spots.
Figure 10. Debris fans created by intense rainfall June 1998
Debris flows are gravity caused rapid mass movements of water saturated loose
sediments and soil lying on steep slopes. The sediments include a variety of sizes from,
soil to boulders that mixed with water and flow together. This mass of material scoured
the channel in which it flowed and picked up and carried everything along its path,
including trees.
The walls of the channel now expose the layering of the material blanketing the hill
slope. The channels and walls are interesting to look at, but can be dangerous places to be,
particularly during rainy times. The layers in the walls of these channels are highly
erodible, and falling rocks should be expected. The Department of Transportation has
fenced off the entrances to the debris channels to protect people from entering or being
harmed in one of them.