General instructions on interpretation of mapped data. The colors on the map represent reported temperatures or variation from compliance with the standard at the sites shown with a star. The sites reporting change from day to day throughout the year.
Additional info for the prototype compliance maps. Temperatures in the guidelines are based on temperature standards set by various agencies. The EPA standards are reported in "Scientific Issues Relating to Temperature Criteria for Salmon, Trout, and Char Native to the Pacific Northwest. August 1, 2001 Available from EPA Region10 Water Quality Criteria Guidance project web site. Smoltification standard for smolting chinook is for temperatures to be between 0-15 degrees C. For adults, the standard is 0-22 degrees C. On these maps, the color indicates whether the river temperatures are within the range, within 2 degrees of the range, or more than two degrees out of range. A river is colored if both smolt presence AND temperatures are reported at a location. The compliance coloring is carried downstream until fish presence and temperatures suggest a change. The stars indicate the locations where compliance is evaluated. In cases where temperature recording and fish presence do not coincide, a temperature location is permitted to be upstream 10 km (arbitrary). Other standards are being applied as a part of our ongoing research.
Exposure computations: The combination of the environmental conditions with the fish passage patterns results in significant inter-annual variability in thermal exposure.