Sampling and Measurement in the
Aquatic Environment
SURINDER K. BHAGAT, Assistant Head
DONALD E. PROCTOR, Head
WILLIAM H. FUNK, Graduate Student
Department of Sanitary Engineering
Washington State University
Pullman, Washington
INTRODUCTION
There may be a variety of reasons for sampling and measurement in the
environment. Some of these reasons may be: determination of the level of pollutants
in a given environment; evaluation of the effectiveness of pollution control measures,
determination of the sources of pollution; determination of trends in the
environmental quality; determination of the suitability of an environment for a
particular use or multipurpose uses; prediction of an environmental quality before a
resource is developed and many others. Whatever the reason, the environmental
quality evaluation can be achieved through judicious environmental surveillance of
physical, chemical, and biological parameters.
This paper is largely based on our water quality studies of Vancouver Lake,
which in its present condition is polluted and therefore is of very little value to the
nearby communities of Vancouver, Washington and Portland, Oregon. However, this
inland body of water, with approximately four square miles (2620 acres) of surface
area, has a potential of becoming a useful multipurpose resource.
The Vancouver Lake studies are related to the determination of present water
quality conditions, evaluation of the sources of pollution, and the exploration of
ways to improve the usefulness of this resource. The purpose of this paper is to
discuss such sampling and measurements as have been considered necessary in the
attainment of Vancouver Lake project objectives.
Vancouver Lake (Figure 1) lies immediately northwest of the City of
Vancouver, Washington and only four miles across the Columbia River from
Portland, Oregon. A strip of low land, 3000 to 17000 ft wide, separates Vancouver
Lake and Lake River from the main channel of the Columbia River. The main source
of surface water inflow is from Burnt Bridge Creek. This and other small streams
drain from elevated hilly areas north and east of the lake where residential
development is expanding. Except for periods of flooding, Vancouver Lake has an
average depth of only two or three ft.
Vancouver Lake, Lake River, and the separating lowlands constitute a 13,000
acre complex having 12 miles of Columbia River frontage. This complex is being
studied for recreational, industrial, agricultural and navigational development. One or
more interconnecting channels between the lake and the Columbia River and
dredging of Vancouver Lake are being considered as possible methods of both
increasing lake  use  potential and  as a  water quality improvement  measure. A
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