This dataset presents cross-sectional measurements of water temperature and specific conductance at varying depths in cross sections located in three oxbow ponds adjacent to the Quillayute River in Washington. Three oxbow ponds in the abandoned meander were identified as having sufficient water depth for conducting water quality cross-section surveys. Each pond name identifier in downstream order is as follows: Gravel Pond (GP), Hockey Pond (HP) and Long Pond (LP). Each pond length was measured and partitioned into equally spaced cross-section locations. A pack raft with one team member equipped with water quality probe recorded data at each cross-section. Data was collected August 29-31, 2022, at a time when surface-water temperatures were near their annual thermal maximum.