Bioassessment of River Water Quality of the Kamchatka Peninsula by the Composition of Periphyton Algae

A survey of some watercourses in the southeastern part of the Kamchatka Peninsula is carried out. The Kamchatka, Andrianovka, Plotnikova, Avacha, Paratunka, Gavanka, Kirpichnaya, Karamshina, and Mutnushka rivers and the Pervy Spring are studied. Water quality analysis using the Pantle–Buck method modified by Sladechek for the presence of algae species that are indicators of organic pollution shows that the waters of nine surveyed watercourses are in good ecological condition and have a low degree of natural organic pollution. The quality of their waters is assessed as “practically clean” (class II) and “slightly polluted” (class III). The only exception is the Mutnushka River, whose waters are classified as “moderately polluted.” All of the above data have been obtained for the first time for the watercourses of the Kamchatka Peninsula and can serve as a basis for their further monitoring.