Long-Term Evolution of Columbia River Tides
Publication: Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering
Volume 137, Issue 4
Abstract
A 170 km tidal channel connects the lower Columbia River ports of Portland and Vancouver to the Pacific Ocean. An increasing incidence of low water levels during summer and fall sometimes limits the draft of ships using the channel and can delay transits. Reduced spring freshet water levels have also decreased shallow-water habitat for juvenile salmon. Records from Tongue Point (km-30, 1925-date), and Vancouver (km-175, 1902-date) were used to analyze historic changes. Mean water levels (MWL) at Vancouver have dropped since 1902, depending on flow. Lower low water (LLW) at the lowest river flows has decreased since 1940. Vancouver LLW has dropped more than MWL and higher high water (HHW), increasing tidal range. Tides in the Columbia and many other river ports are evolving because of a combination of changing ocean tides and local alterations, including both harbor development and river-flow modification. Assessments of climate change impacts on harbors need to consider both factors.
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Acknowledgments
This research was supported by the Bonneville Power Administration (contract UNSPECIFIEDCR-105418), NOAA-Fisheries and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District, the Oregon Transportation Research and Education Consortium (OTREC), and the National Science Foundation under grant NSFOCE-0929055.
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Published In
Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering
Volume 137 • Issue 4 • July 2011
Pages: 182 - 191
Copyright
© 2011 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Dec 31, 2009
Accepted: Dec 3, 2010
Published online: Dec 6, 2010
Published in print: Jul 1, 2011
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