U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Water-Quality Assessment of the Sacramento River Basin, California Water Quality of Fixed Sites, 1996-1998
Water-Resources Investigations Report 00-4247
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Water-Quality Assessment of the Sacramento River Basin, California Water Quality of Fixed Sites, 1996-1998
6/Joseph L Domagalskl and Peter D. Dileanis
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Water-Resources Investigations Report 00-4247
NATIONAL WATER-QUALITY ASSESSMENT PROGRAM
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Sacramento, California 2000 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Charles G. Groat, Director
The use of firm, trade, and brand names in this report is for identification purposes only and does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Geological Survey
For additional information write to: Copies of this report can be purchased from:
District Chief U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Geological Survey Branch of Information Services Water Resources Division Box 25286 Placer Hall Denver, CO 80225-0286 6000 J Street Sacramento, California 95819-6129 FOREWORD
The mission of the U.S. Geological Survey Improve understanding of the primary (USGS) is to assess the quantity and quality of the natural and human factors that affect earth resources of the Nation and to provide informa water-quality conditions. tion that will assist resource managers and policymak- This information will help support the development ers at Federal, State, and local levels in making sound and evaluation of management, regulatory, and moni decisions. Assessment of water-quality conditions and toring decisions by other Federal, State, and local trends is an important part of this overall mission. agencies to protect, use, and enhance water resources. One of the greatest challenges faced by water- resources scientists is acquiring reliable information The goals of the NAWQA Program are being that will guide the use and protection of the Nation's achieved through ongoing and proposed investigations water resources. That challenge is being addressed by of 59 of the Nation's most important river basins and Federal, State, interstate, and local water-resource aquifer systems, which are referred to as study units. agencies and by many academic institutions. These These study units are distributed throughout the organizations are collecting water-quality data for a Nation and cover a diversity of hydrogeologic settings. host of purposes that include: compliance with permits More than two-thirds of the Nation's freshwater use and water-supply standards; development of remedia occurs within the 59 study units and more than two- tion plans for specific contamination problems; opera thirds of the people served by public water-supply sys tional decisions on industrial, wastewater, or water- tems live within their boundaries. supply facilities; and research on factors that affect National synthesis of data analysis, based on water quality. An additional need for water-quality aggregation of comparable information obtained from information is to provide a basis on which regional- the study units, is a major component of the program. and national-level policy decisions can be based. Wise This effort focuses on selected water-quality topics decisions must be based on sound information. As a using nationally consistent information. Comparative society we need to know whether certain types of studies will explain differences and similarities in water-quality problems are isolated or ubiquitous, observed water-quality conditions among study areas whether there are significant differences in conditions and will identify changes and trends and their causes. among regions, whether the conditions are changing The first topics addressed by the national synthesis are over time, and why these conditions change from pesticides, nutrients, volatile organic compounds, and place to place and over time. The information can be aquatic biology. Discussions on these and other water- used to help determine the efficacy of existing water- quality topics will be published in periodic summaries quality policies and to help analysts determine the of the quality of the Nation's ground and surface water need for and likely consequences of new policies. as the information becomes available. To address these needs, the U.S. Congress appropri ated funds in 1986 for the USGS to begin a pilot pro This report is an element of the comprehensive gram in seven project areas to develop and refine the body of information developed as part of the NAWQA National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Pro Program. The program depends heavily on the advice, gram. In 1991, the USGS began full implementation of cooperation, and information from many Federal, the program. The NAWQA Program builds upon an State, interstate, Tribal, and local agencies and the existing base of water-quality studies of the USGS, as public. The assistance and suggestions of all are well as those of other Federal, State, and local agencies. greatly appreciated. The objectives of the NAWQA Program are to: Describe current water-quality conditions for a large part of the Nation's freshwater streams, rivers, and aquifers. Describe how water quality is changing Robert M. Hirsch over time. Chief Hydrologist
CONTENTS
Abstract ...... 1 Introduction ...... 1 Purpose and Scope ...... 2 Description of the Sacramento River Basin Study Unit ...... 2 Water-Quality Issues ...... 5 Selection of Fixed Sites ...... 11 Sacramento River above Bend Bridge near Red Bluff ...... 11 Sacramento River at Colusa...... 15 Yuba River at Marysville ...... 15 Feather River near Nicolaus ...... 15 Sacramento Slough near Knights Landing ...... 19 Colusa Basin Drain at Road 99E near Knights Landing ...... 19 Sacramento River at Verona ...... 19 Cache Creek at Rumsey ...... 19 Arcade Creek near Del Paso Heights ...... 19 American River at Sacramento ...... 19 Sacramento River at Freeport...... 25 Yolo Bypass at Interstate 80 near West Sacramento ...... 25 Data Collection ...... 25 Sampling Methods ...... 25 Quality Control ...... 30 Description of Water Quality During 1996-1998 ...... 30 Field Measurements ...... 30 Suspended Sediment...... 34 Nutrients and Dissolved Organic Carbon...... 36 Major-Ion Chemistry ...... 39 Trace Metals ...... 40 Mercury and Methylmercury ...... 49 Summary and Conclusions ...... 58 References Cited ...... 59
FIGURES
1. Map showing location of the Sacramento River Basin, California ...... 3 2. Map showing physiographic provinces of the Sacramento River Basin, California ...... 4 3. Map showing locations of mercury and gold mines in the Sacramento River Basin, California ...... 9 4. Map showing locations of lead, copper, and zinc mines in the Sacramento River Basin, California ...... 10 5. Map showing locations of sampling sites and site numbers in the Sacramento River Basin, California ...... 12 6. GIRAS land use/land cover, land use, drainage basin location, and mean daily discharge for the period of record for the Sacramento River above Bend Bridge near Red Bluff sampling site, California ...... 14 7. GIRAS land use/land cover, land use, drainage basin location, and mean daily discharge for the period of record for the Sacramento River at Colusa sampling site, California ...... 16 8. GIRAS land use/land cover, land use, drainage basin location, and mean daily discharge for the period of record for the Yuba River at Marysville sampling site, California ...... 17
Contents v 9. GIRAS land use/land cover, land use, drainage basin location, and mean daily discharge for the period of record for the Feather River near Nicolaus sampling site, California ...... 18 10. GIRAS land use/land cover, land use, drainage basin location, and mean daily discharge for the period of record for the Sacramento Slough near Knights Landing sampling site, California ...... 20 11. GIRAS land use/land cover, land use, drainage basin location, and mean daily discharge for the period of record for the Colusa Basin Drain at Road 99E near Knights Landing sampling site, California...... 21 12. GIRAS land use/land cover, land use, drainage basin location, and mean daily discharge for the period of record for the Sacramento River at Verona sampling site, California ...... 22 13. GIRAS land use/land cover, land use, drainage basin location, and mean daily discharge for the period of record for the Cache Creek at Rumsey sampling site, California...... 23 14. GIRAS land use/land cover, land use, drainage basin location, and mean daily discharge for the period of record for the Arcade Creek near Del Paso Heights sampling site, California ...... 24 15. GIRAS land use/land cover, land use, drainage basin location, and mean daily discharge for the period of record for the American River at Sacramento sampling site, California ...... 26 16. GIRAS land use/land cover, land use, drainage basin location, and mean daily discharge for the period of record for the Sacramento River at Freeport sampling site, California ...... 27 17. GIRAS land use/land cover, land use, drainage basin location, and mean daily discharge for the period of record for the Yolo Bypass at Interstate 80 near West Sacramento sampling site, California ...... 28 18. Boxplots of sampling sites in the Sacramento River Basin, California: (A) Water temperature. (B) Dissolved oxygen. (C) Specific conductance. (D) pH. (£) Alkalinity...... 31 19. Time series plots of water temperature at four Sacramento River sites, California...... 36 20. Boxplots of suspended sediment concentrations for the sampling sites in the Sacramento River Basin, California...... 37 21. Boxplots of nitrite plus nitrate concentrations for the sampling sites in the Sacramento River Basin, California...... 38 22. Boxplots of dissolved organic carbon concentrations for the sampling sites in the Sacramento River Basin, California...... 39 23. Trilinear diagram of major ion composition in water samples collected during the summer from the basic fixed sites in the Sacramento River Basin, California ...... 41 24. Trilinear diagram of major ion composition in water samples collected during the winter from the basic fixed sites in the Sacramento River Basin, California ...... 42 25. Trilinear diagram of major ion composition in water samples from the Cache Creek at Rumsey site, Sacramento River Basin, California...... 43 26. Trilinear diagram of major ion composition in water samples from the Arcade Creek near Del Paso Heights sampling site, Sacramento River Basin, California...... 44 27. Boxplots of concentrations for the basic fixed sites in the Sacramento River Basin, California: (A) Arsenic. (B) Chromium. (C) Copper. (D) Nickel. (£) Zinc ...... 45 28. Boxplots of water hardness for the basic fixed sites in the Sacramento River Basin, California ...... 50 29. Boxplots of mercury in unfiltered water for the basic fixed sites in the Sacramento River Basin, California...... 51 30. Time series plot of suspended sediment and mercury concentrations in unfiltered water for the Cache Creek at Rumsey site, Sacramento River Basin, California ...... 52 31. Plot of mercury in unfiltered water concentrations and total suspended sediment concentrations aggregated for all 12 sites, Sacramento River Basin, California ...... 53 32. Time series plot of suspended sediment and mercury in unfiltered water concentrations for the Sacramento River at Colusa site, Sacramento River Basin, California ...... 54 33. Boxplots of methylmercury in unfiltered water concentrations at select sites in the Sacramento River Basin, California...... 55 34. Time series plot of methylmercury in unfiltered water concentrations at select sites in the Sacramento River Basin, California...... 57 vi Contents TABLES
1. Impaired water bodies of the Sacramento River Basin, California ...... 6 2. Site name, U.S. Geological survey identification number, drainage area, type of site, and mean streamflow for the period of this study, Sacramento River Basin, California, 1996-1998 ...... 13 3. Annual mean discharge, highest annual mean discharge, lowest annual mean discharge, and instantaneous peak flow for historical streamflow at basic fixed sites, Sacramento River Basin, California, 1996-1998 ...... 13 4. Water-quality constituents measured at the fixed sites and associated detection limits ...... 29
CONVERSION FACTORS, ACRONYMS, AND ABBREVIATIONS
Multiply By To obtain centimeter (cm) 0.3937 inch cubic meter (m3) 0.0008107 acre-foot cubic meter per second (m3/s) 35.31 cubic foot per second gram per day (g/d) 0.03527 ounce per day kilogram (kg) 2.205 pound avoirdupois kilogram per day (kg/d) 2.205 pound per day kilogram per year (kg/yr) 2.205 pound per year kilometer (km) 0.6214 mile liter (L) 1.057 quart square kilometer (km2) 0.3861 square mile meter (m) 1.094 yard meter per second (m/s) 3.281 foot per second milligram per liter (mg/L) 8.345 pound per million gallon
Temperature in degrees Celsius (°C), which can be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (°F) by the following equation:
°F = (1.8x°C) + 32
Specific conductance is given in microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius (}iS/cm at 25°C).
Concentrations of chemical constituents in water are given in milligrams per liter (mg/L), micrograms per liter (|ig/L), or nanograms per liter (ng/L).
Acronyms and Abbreviations
NAWQA, National Water-Quality Assessment (Program) USGS, U.S. Geological Survey ng/L, nanogram per liter ug/L, microgram per liter urn, micrometer uS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter
Contents vii
Water-Quality Assessment of the Sacramento River Basin, California Water Quality of Fixed Sites, 1996-1998 by Joseph L Domagalski and Peter D. Dileanis
ABSTRACT generally low; the formation of trihalomethanes probably does not currently pose a problem when Water-quality samples were collected from water from the Sacramento River and its major 12 sites in the Sacramento River Basin, Cali tributaries is chlorinated for drinking-water fornia, from February 1996 through April 1998. purposes. However, dissolved organic carbon Field measurements (dissolved oxygen, pH, concentrations were higher in the urban stream specific conductance, alkalinity, and water tem and in agricultural drainage canals, but were perature) were completed on all samples, and diluted upon mixing with the Sacramento River. laboratory analyses were done for suspended The only trace element that currently poses a sediments, nutrients, dissolved and particulate water-quality problem in the Sacramento River is organic carbon, major ions, trace elements, and mercury. A federal criterion for the protection of mercury species. Samples were collected at four aquatic life was exceeded during this study, and types of locations on the Sacramento River floodwater concentrations of mercury were large tributaries to the Sacramento River, agricul mostly higher than the criterion. Exceedances of tural drainage canals, an urban stream, and a flood water-quality standards happened most frequently control channel. The samples were collected during winter when suspended-sediment concen across a range of flow conditions representative of trations also were elevated. Most mercury is those sites during the timeframe of the study. The found in association with suspended sediment. water samples from the Sacramento River indi The greatest loading or transport of mercury out cate that specific conductance increases slightly of the Sacramento River Basin to the San downstream but that the water quality is indicative Francisco Bay occurs in the winter and of dilute water. Water temperature of the principally follows storm events. Sacramento River increases below Shasta Lake during the spring and summer irrigation season owing to diversion of water out of the river and INTRODUCTION subsequent lower flow. All 12 sites had generally In 1991, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) low concentrations of nutrients, but chlorophyll began full-scale implementation of the National concentrations were not measured; therefore, the Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program. The actual consequences of nutrient loading could not objectives of the NAWQA Program are to describe the be adequately assessed. Concentrations of dis status of and trends in the quality of a large, repre solved organic carbon in samples from the sentative part of the nation's surface- and ground- Sacramento River and the major tributaries were water resources and to provide a sound scientific
Introduction understanding of the primary natural and human Resources, 1993). The basin includes all or parts of six factors affecting the quality of these resources (Leahy physiographic provinces the Great Basin, the Middle and others, 1990). Water-quality investigations began Cascade Mountains, the Sierra Nevada, the Klamath in a set of 20 study units in 1991. Investigations in a Mountains, the Sacramento Valley, and the Coast second set of study units, including the Sacramento Ranges (fig. 2). The Sacramento Valley physiographic River Basin, began in 1994 (Domagalski and Brown, province is the low-lying part of the basin; all other 1994). physiographic provinces are mountainous. Land cover Fixed sites are an integral element of the of the mountainous parts of the study unit is princi surface-water design of the NAWQA study units pally forest, except in parts of the Coast Ranges and (Gilliom and others, 1995). Fixed sites are located on the Great Basin where land cover is forest land and streams where continuous streamflow is measured and rangeland. More detailed information on the physio samples are collected monthly to assess the broad- graphic provinces of the Sacramento River Basin is scale spatial and temporal character and the transport given in a report by Domagalski and others (1998). of inorganic constituents in stream water in relation to The Sacramento Valley is the northern part of environmental setting and hydrologic conditions. the Central Valley of California and is fully located in Additional samples may be collected, especially the study unit. The Sacramento Valley has the largest following rainfall, so that the sampling represents a population in the study unit and, consequently, the broad range of flow conditions. Twelve sites, which greatest effects or potential effects on surface and were sampled from February 1996 through April ground water are likely to occur there. The Sacra 1998, were selected in the Sacramento River Basin for mento Valley also has the greatest water use in the the NAWQA Program. basin; therefore, most of the fixed sites were selected from that physiographic province. Although most Purpose and Scope adverse effects on water quality in the Sacramento River are likely to occur within the Sacramento Valley This report summarizes water-quality data physiographic province, adverse effects on water collected at the fixed sites in the Sacramento River quality also occur in the other physiographic prov Basin NAWQA study unit from February 1996 inces. Previous mining activities in the Klamath through April 1998, evaluates the effects of land use Mountains have resulted in acid mine drainage into on water quality at the fixed sites, and presents loads Keswick Reservoir, along with the associated metals for mercury and methylmercury transported in the cadmium, copper, and zinc. Mercury, from previous Sacramento River. The report focuses on those water- mining activities in the Coast Ranges, enters the quality constituents collected during regular monthly Sacramento Valley through Cache Creek and Putah sampling and high-flow sampling. The data collected Creek. Although neither creek flows directly into the consist of constituents measured in the field, major Sacramento River during low-flow conditions, inorganic cations and anions, trace elements, mercury, mercury can be transported to downstream receiving dissolved and suspended organic carbon, nutrients, waters, including the San Francisco Bay, during and suspended sediment. The variability of water stormwater runoff conditions. Mercury from histor quality between and within land uses was examined to ical gold mining operations has affected fish popu evaluate the effect of land uses. Load calculations lations in streams and reservoirs immediately were completed for mercury and methylmercury downstream of the mines (May and others, 2000). because of their potential to adversely affect the The Sacramento Valley supports a diverse beneficial uses of water at downstream locations. agricultural economy, much of which depends on the availability of irrigation water. More than 8,090 km ^ is Description of the Sacramento River Basin Study Unit irrigated. The major crops are rice, fruits and nuts, tomatoes, sugar beets, corn, alfalfa, and wheat. Dairy The Sacramento River Basin (fig. 1) covers products also are an important agricultural commod nearly 70,000 km2 in the north-central part of ity. The soils of the Sacramento Valley primarily are California. The Sacramento River is the largest river clay with slow to very slow infiltration rates (Soil in California, with an average annual runoff of Conservation Service, 1993). The largest cities of the 27,126,000,000 m3 (California Department of Water basin are in the Sacramento Valley and include Chico,
2 Water-Quality Assessment of the Sacramento River Basin, California Water Quality of Fixed Sites, 1996-1998 122
41
123'
rolo Kypass Sutler Del Paso Heigh Buttes Sacra Sacramento San River Basin Francisco Bay study unit
Sacrament San Joaquin Delta Region EXPLANATION ^^ Study unit boundary
Figure 1. The Sacramento River Basin, California.
Introduction 20 _J_ 20 40 Kilometers
PHYSIOGRAPHIC PROVINCES
| I Great Basin Sacramento River Basin study unit I_I Middle Cascade Mountains
|i|] Sierra Nevada
|_| Klamath Mountains
I_I Sacramento Valley
I_| Coast Ranges
Figure 2. Physiographic provinces of the Sacramento River Basin, California.
4 Water-Quality Assessment of the Sacramento River Basin, California Water Quality of Fixed Sites, 1996-1998 Red Bluff, Redding, and Sacramento. The population WATER-QUALITY ISSUES of the Sacramento metropolitan area is more than 1 million, which is nearly one-half of the population A liaison committee of federal, state, and local of the study unit (U.S. Department of Commerce, water-management and water-quality agencies and 1992). citizen groups was formed in 1994 to discuss the major water-quality issues affecting the Sacramento The average annual precipitation in the Sacra River Basin and to assist in site selection and deter mento River Basin is 91.4 cm, most of which falls mining sampling frequency. Also in 1994, a watershed during November through March. Because little or no group, the Sacramento River Watershed Program, was rain falls during the summer growing season, irriga formed for the express purpose of managing water tion water is needed for agriculture. Two major quality in the Sacramento River through a stakeholder hydrological events occurred during this study. The process. The Sacramento River Watershed Program first was a large flood, which started about January 1, comprises all or most of the previously mentioned 1997, that affected most of the Sacramento River liaison committee. In 1994, the major water-quality below Shasta Lake and tributaries to the Sacramento issues affecting the basin were (1) trace metals, River, especially the Feather and Yuba rivers. The including mercury, copper, lead, and cadmium; (2) second was the El Nifio southern oscillation, which pesticides from rice farming (molinate, thiobencarb, occurred during the winter of 1997-1998. During El and carbofuran); (3) pesticides used on orchards Nifio winters, wind conditions over the Pacific Ocean (diazinon, chlorpyrifos, methidathion, and other cause warmer than normal water to build along the organophosphate insecticides); and (4) urban runoff of Pacific Coast. An El Nino winter typically results in pesticides, especially diazinon and chlorpyrifos. higher than normal precipitation in northern Cali Although a major problem in the San Joaquin River fornia, as in 1997-1998, because of changes in the Basin to the south, selenium concentrations have not location of the jet stream. affected the water quality of streams or rivers of the All the major rivers of the basin the Sacra Sacramento River Basin. In 1999, the Sacramento mento, the Feather, the American, and the Yuba are River Watershed Program considered mercury, impounded outside the boundary of the Sacramento organophosphate insecticides, and unidentified Valley (fig. 1). The upper Sacramento River, the toxicity to be the most critical water-contaminant McCloud River, and the Pit River supply water to problems affecting this basin (Cooke and Connor, Shasta Lake, which has a capacity of over 5.6 billion 1998). cubic meters. Lake Oroville, on the Feather River, has Further insight into water-quality problems a capacity of over 4.3 billion cubic meters. The reser affecting the streams of the Sacramento River Basin voirs are managed to provide flood protection in the can be obtained from the most recent (1998) 303(d) listing of impaired water bodies provided by the State winter, water for irrigation to farms in the spring and Water Resources Control Board of California (U.S. summer, and water supply for cities throughout the Environmental Protection Agency, accessed year. Snowmelt, which is the water entering most of October 1, 1999). The Clean Water Act requires that the reservoirs, generally is of high quality. However, all states maintain the listing. A listing for impaired water entering reservoirs of the Sierra Nevada is water bodies of the Sacramento River Basin is given in degraded by mercury from past gold mining. table 1. The rocks of the Sacramento River Basin are of The principal water-quality impairments, as a diverse assemblage. The Coast Ranges consist of noted in the 303(d) list, are trace metals, including ocean sediments and volcanic rocks. The Klamath mercury, and organophosphate pesticides such as Mountains include accreted terrains, oceanic crust, diazinon and chlorpyrifos. Only the Pit River and and subduction zone complexes. The Cascade Clear Lake are listed as water-quality impaired Mountains and Great Basin consist predominantly of because of nutrients. Trace metals resulting from volcanic rocks. The Sierra Nevada assemblage previous mining activities in the basin are a source of includes granitic plutons and volcanic, sedimentary, water-quality problems. The locations of historical and metamorphic rocks. The Sacramento Valley is mercury and gold mines are shown on figure 3, and the composed mainly of a thick assemblage of sediments locations of historical copper, lead, and zinc mines are derived from these adjacent highlands. shown on figure 4. Gold mining included the use of
Water-Quality Issues Table 1. Impaired water bodies of the Sacramento River Basin, California [PCBs, polychlorinated biphenyls. Modified from 303(d) list (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, accessed October 1, 1999] Water body Impairment Source of impairment Priority Arcade Creek Chlorpyrifos Urban runoff Medium Diazinon Agriculture Medium Diazinon Urban runoff Medium
Cache Creek Unknown toxicity Unknown Medium Mercury Mining High
Chicken Ranch Slough Chlorpyrifos Urban runoff/storm sewers Medium Diazinon Agriculture Medium Diazinon Urban runoff/storm sewers Medium
Clear Lake Mercury Mining High Nutrients Unknown Low
Colusa Basin Drain Unknown toxicity Agriculture Medium Carbofuran Agriculture Medium Organochlorine pesticides Agriculture Medium Malathion Agriculture Medium Methyl parathion Agriculture Medium
Davis Creek Reservoir Mercury Mining Medium
Dolly Creek Copper Mining Medium Zinc Mining Medium
Elder Creek Chlorpyrifos Urban runoff/storm sewers Medium Diazinon Agriculture Medium Diazinon Urban runoff/storm sewers Medium
Elk Grove Creek Diazinon Agriculture Medium Diazinon Urban runoff/storm sewers Medium
Fall River Sedimentation/siltation Agriculture/grazing Medium Sedimentation/siltation Silviculture Medium Sedimentation/siltation Highway/road/bridge construction Medium
French Ravine Bacteria Land disposal Low
Harley Gulch Mercury Mining Medium
Horse Creek Cadmium Mining Low Copper Mining Low Lead Mining Low Zinc Mining Low
6 Water-Quality Assessment of the Sacramento River Basin, California Water Quality of Fixed Sites, 1996-1998 Table 1. Impaired water bodies of the Sacramento River Basin, California Continued Water body Impairment Source of impairment Priority Humbug Creek Copper Mining Low Mercury Mining Low Zinc Mining Low Sedimentation/siltation Mining Low James Creek Mercury Mining Low Nickel Mining Low
Kanaka Creek Arsenic Mining Low Keswick Reservoir Cadmium Mining Medium Copper Mining Medium Zinc Mining Medium
Lake Berryessa Mercury Mining High
Little Backbone Creek Cadmium Mining Medium Copper Mining Medium Zinc Mining Medium Acid mine drainage Mining Medium
Little Cow Creek Cadmium Mining Low Copper Mining Low Zinc Mining Low
Little Grizzly Creek Copper Mine tailings Medium Zinc Mine tailings Medium
Lower American River Unknown toxicity Unknown Low Mercury Mining Medium Organochlorine pesticides Urban runoff Low
Lower Feather River Unknown toxicity Unknown Medium Mercury Mining Medium Diazinon Agriculture High Diazinon Urban runoff High Organochlorine pesticides Agriculture Low
Morrison Creek Diazinon Agriculture Medium Diazinon Urban runoff Medium
Natomas East Main Drain Diazinon Agriculture Medium Diazinon Urban runoff/storm sewers Medium PCBs Industrial point sources Low PCBs Urban runoff/storm sewers Low
Water-Quality Issues Table 1. Impaired water bodies of the Sacramento River Basin, California Continued Water body Impairment Source of impairment Priority Pit River Nutrients Agriculture Low Nutrients Agriculture/grazing Low Organic enrichment/low dissolved oxygen Agriculture Low Organic enrichment/low dissolved oxygen Agriculture/grazing Low Temperature Agriculture Low Temperature Agriculture/grazing Low
Sacramento River (lower) Unknown toxicity Unknown Medium Mercury Mining High Diazinon Agriculture High
Sacramento River (upper) Cadmium Mining High Copper Mining High Zinc Mining High
Sacramento Slough Mercury Unknown Medium Diazinon Agriculture Medium Diazinon Urban runoff Medium
Shasta Lake Cadmium Mining Low Copper Mining Low Zinc Mining Low
Spring Creek Cadmium Mining High Copper Mining High Zinc Mining High Acid mine drainage Mining High
Strong Ranch Slough Chlorpyrifos Urban runoff/storm sewers Medium Diazinon Agriculture Medium Diazinon Urban runoff/storm sewers Medium
Sulfur Creek Mercury Mining High
Town Creek Cadmium Mining Low Copper Mining Low Lead Mining Low Zinc Mining Low
West Squaw Creek Cadmium Mining Medium Copper Mining Medium Lead Mining Medium Zinc Mining Medium
Willow Creek Copper Mining Low Zinc Mining Low Acid mine drainage Mining Low
8 Water-Quality Assessment of the Sacramento River Basin, California Water Quality of Fixed Sites, 1996-1998 I
41
EXPLANATION ^
|__I Sacramento Valley
H Lakes and reservoirs 40 Miles Yolo Bypass
__ Study area boundary 0 20 40 Kilometers
A Mercury mine
O Gold mine
Figure 3. Locations of mercury and gold mines in the Sacramento River Basin, California.
Water-Quality Issues 9 122' s->f\Ls
41
EXPLANATION
|__| Sacramento Valley
^^| Lakes and reservoirs
i ; Yolo Bypass
Study area boundary 0 20 40 Kilometers
Mines A Lead Copper X Zinc
Figure 4. Locations of lead, copper, and zinc mines in the Sacramento River Basin, California.
10 Water-Quality Assessment of the Sacramento River Basin, California Water Quality of Fixed Sites, 1996-1998 mercury amalgamation to recover the gold from The Yolo Bypass at Interstate 80 near West Sacra ore-bearing minerals. mento is a fixed site during those high-flow conditions (fig. 5). It is necessary to sample both the Sacramento River at Freeport and the Yolo Bypass at Interstate 80 SELECTION OF FIXED SITES near West Sacramento to determine mass loadings and water-quality effects on downstream receiving water The NAWQA study design includes two types bodies during those high flows. Other integrator sites of fixed sites integrator sites and indicator sites are on major tributaries to the Sacramento River the (Gilliom and others, 1995). Integrator sites are Yuba River at Marysville, the Feather River near selected to document water-quality conditions of Nicolaus, and the American River at Sacramento rivers in heterogeneous large basins that are affected (fig. 5). by complex combinations of environmental settings. Four indicator sites were selected for the Indicator sites are selected to document water-quality Sacramento River Basin NAWQA study the Cache conditions of rivers or streams in relatively homogen Creek at Rumsey (mining land use), the Colusa Basin eous areas, which generally are in one physiographic Drain at Road 99E near Knights Landing (agricultural province and are characterized by a continuous type of land use), the Sacramento Slough near Knights land use. Landing (agricultural land use), and the Arcade Creek The study focused on the water quality of the near Del Paso Heights (urban land use) (fig. 5). lower Sacramento River (below Shasta Lake) and the Site name and number, drainage area, and mean major tributaries to that reach of the Sacramento River, streamflow for the period of study of the fixed sites are where the most serious effects on water quality are given in table 2. Historical streamflow information likely or the consequences of degraded water quality (table 3) indicates that 1983 was a year of high are likely acutely felt. The Sacramento River above streamflow in the basin, and 1977 was a year of Shasta Lake generally has good water quality because drought. Highest peak instantaneous flows were the land use, or land cover, is primarily forest land. recorded at three sites during the period of this The same is true for the McCloud River. The other investigation. Streamflow data for all but three sites major river above Shasta Lake, the Pit River, is sus were obtained from USGS gaging stations. Stream- ceptible to degraded water quality because of agricul flow data for the Sacramento Slough near Knights tural and urban land use. A series of dams, built for Landing and the Colusa Basin Drain at Road 99E near hydroelectric power generation, are present along a Knights Landing were obtained from the California major reach of the Pit River. These impoundments Department of Water Resources Northern District have created a series of small reservoirs, making the (California Department of Water Resources, written interpretation of water quality data or the interpre commun., 1999). Streamflow data for the Cache Creek tation of potential water quality impacts on aquatic at Rumsey site were obtained from the California biological communities problematic. For these Department of Water Resources Central District reasons, the Pit River was not selected for sampling. (California Department of Water Resources, written Because of the large size of the Sacramento River and commun., 1999). associated tributaries, most (8 of 12) of the fixed sites are classified as integrator sites. Four of the integrator sites are on the Sacramento River (fig. 5) the Sacramento River Above Bend Bridge Near Red Bluff Sacramento River above Bend Bridge near Red Bluff, the Sacramento River at Colusa, the Sacramento River The Sacramento River above Bend Bridge near at Verona, and the Sacramento River at Freeport (the Red Bluff site (fig. 5, site 1) is located 83.7 km down most downstream location). During high-flow condi stream from the dam on Shasta Lake. This site was tions, such as when the flow of the Sacramento River chosen because it is in the upper part of the basin and at Colusa exceeds 850 m3/s, water is diverted to a below Shasta Lake. Streamflow is greatly influenced channel east of the river to prevent flooding in down by the managed releases from Shasta Lake and, during stream regions, including the city of Sacramento. the rainy season, by stormwater runoff. There are no
When the flow of the Sacramento 3 River at Verona artificial levees at this location, and therefore, the exceeds approximately 1,560 m /s, water is diverted to stream channel is in a natural state at this location. The another flood control channel, the Yolo Bypass (fig. 1). area of the drainage basin at this site is 23,569 km2
Selection of Fixed Sites 11 122
INDICATOR SAMPLING SITES AND SITE NUMBER 5 Sacramento Slough near Knights Landing 6 Colusa Basin Drain at Road 99E near Knights Landing 123' 8 Cache Creek at Rumsey 9 Arcade Creek near Del Paso Heights
INTEGRATOR SAMPLING SITES AND SITE NUMBER Sacramento River above Bend Bridge near Red Bluff 2 Sacramento River at Colusa EXPLANATION 3 Yuba River at Marysville 4 Feather River near Nicolaus Sacramento Valley
7 Sacramento River at Verona Lakes and reservoirs 10 American River at Sacramento Yolo Bypass 11 Sacramento River at Freeport 12 Yolo Bypass at Interstate 80 near West Sacramento Study area boundary
Figure 5. Locations of sampling sites and site numbers in the Sacramento River Basin, California.
12 Water-Quality Assessment of the Sacramento River Basin, California Water Quality of Fixed Sites, 1996-1998 Table 2. Site name, U.S. Geological survey identification number, drainage area, type of site, and mean streamflow for the period of this study, Sacramento River Basin, California, 1996-1998 [USGS, U.S. Geological Survey, na, not available; km , square kilometer; m /s, cubic meter per second] Drainage _. . .. Mean streamflow Site ... USGS Fixed-site . 3. . . Site name area (m/S> number identification no. type (km2) (period of study) Sacramento River above Bend Bridge near Red Bluff 11377100 23,621 Integrator 524.1 Sacramento River at Colusa 11389500 31,728 Integrator 457.2 Yuba River at Marysville 11421500 3,730 Integrator 124.2 Feather River near Nicolaus 11425000 5,776 Integrator 378.3 Sacramento Slough near Knights Landing 11391100 3,370 Indicator 60.6 Colusa Basin Drain at Road 99E near Knights Landing 11390890 4,274 Indicator 7.6 Sacramento River at Verona 11425500 45,817 Integrator 813.4 Cache Creek at Rumsey 11451800 2,950 Indicator 52.9 Arcade Creek near Del Paso Heights 11447360 87 Indicator 1.0 American River at Sacramento 11447000 5,180 Integrator 171.3 Sacramento River at Freeport 11447650 59,570 Integrator 983.3 Yolo Bypass at Interstate 80 near West Sacramento 11453120 59,389 Integrator na
Table 3. Annual mean discharge, highest annual mean discharge, lowest annual mean discharge, and instantaneous peak flow for historical streamflow at basic fixed sites, Sacramento River Basin, California, 1996-1998 [Mean discharge and peak flow are in cubic meters per second. Period of record keeping or dates of peak flow shown in parentheses, na, not available] Site Mean discharge Instantaneous Site name number Annual Highest annual Lowest annual peak flow I Sacramento River above Bend 372(1964-98) 721 (1983) 184(1991) 4,814(12/22/1964) Bridge near Red Bluff 2 Sacramento River at Colusa 330(1946-98) 617(1983) 161 (1977) 1,467(3/04/1983) 3 Yuba River at Marysville 1 71 (1970-98) 164(1982) 6.5 (1977) 4,304(1/02/1997) 4 Feather River near Nicolaus 240 (1943-83) 572 (1983) 48(1977) 10,110(12/23/1955) 5 Sacramento Slough near Knights na na na na Landing 6 Colusa Basin Drain at Road 99E na na na na near Knights Landing 7 Sacramento River at Verona 565 (1946-98) 1,109(1983) 203 (1977) 2,662(1/02/1997) 8 Cache Creek at Rumsey na na na na 9 Arcade Creek near Del Paso 0.5 (1963-98) 1 (1998) 0.075(1977) 94 (2/03/1998) Heights 10 American River at Sacramento 108 (1956-98) 251 (1983) 22(1977) 3,795 (2/19/1986) 11 Sacramento River at Freeport 676 (1949-98) 1,328(1983) 215(1977) 3,313(2/19/1986) 12 Yolo Bypass at Interstate 80 near na na na 7,505(12/25/1964) West Sacramento 'Data from nearby station, Yuba River near Marysville. and includes parts or all of the Great Basin, Middle The land-use/land-cover classifications are from Cascade Mountains, Klamath Mountains, Coast remote sensing data (Fegeas and others, 1983), and the Ranges, and Sacramento Valley physiographic pro system of land-use classification used throughout this vinces (figs. 2 and 6). Land cover in the area above report is described by Anderson and others (1976). this site is mainly forest land (about 72 percent). Although the remote sensing land-use or land-cover Cropland and pasture is 4.3 percent of the land use, data described in this report are from the 1970s, the and range-land covers 20 percent. The areal distribu data have not changed significantly except for the tion and percentage of all land uses are shown on extent of the urbanized regions, especially around figure 6. Sacramento. Mining activities take place or have taken
Selection of Fixed Sites 13 EXPLANATION GIRAS land use/land cover ^B Urban I | Cropland and pasture p"1 Orchards 1 | Rangeland | | Forest land Water Wetland Barren land Tundra Perennial snow or ice Sampling site
< 0.1% Orchards 0.1% Snow < 0.1% Tundra 1.0 % Barren 0.7% Urban 0.5% Wetland 4.3% Cropland 1.1% Water and pasture 20% angeland
72.2% Forest/land
3,500 C - Annual mean discharge OOU-<^ Figures. GIRAS land use/land cover, land use (in percent), drainage basin location, and mean daily discharge forthe period of record for the Sacramento River above Bend Bridge near Red Bluff sampling site, California. Location of site is shown on figure 5. GIRAS data from Fegeas and others (1983). GIRAS, Geographic Information Retrieval and Analysis System. 14 Water-Quality Assessment of the Sacramento River Basin, California Water Quality of Fixed Sites, 1996-1998 place in the Klamath Mountains. However, the indi makes up about 85 percent of the land cover. The vidual mines are too small to be detected by remote forest land in the Yuba River Basin is located in the sensing and, therefore, are not included in the percent- foothills of the Sierra Nevada, which also contains a tage classification or on this (fig. 6) or other land-use substantial amount of gold mining, including placer maps in this report. However, as shown on figures 3 and hard-rock mines. Individual mines are too small to and 4, mining was an important land use within the appear on remote sensing images and are not part of Klamath Mountains, just west of Shasta Lake. One the Anderson and others (1976) classification. The large mining operation, the Iron Mountain mine site, is location of gold mines is shown on figure 3. Mercury located in this region. Iron, as well as copper and zinc, was used in the basin to recover gold from both placer was recovered from ore-bearing minerals. Other trace deposits and ore-bearing minerals. Residual mercury elements in the ore include cadmium and lead. from those operations has been detected in inverte Land-use effects from mining activities are brate and fish communities nearby and downstream likely to be detected at this location. A hydrograph of from the gold mining operations (Slotton and others, daily mean discharge for the period of this study is 1997; May and others, 2000). According to Slotton shown on figure 6. A total of 27 samples were col and others (1997), reservoirs constructed just down lected for water-quality analysis for a range of flow conditions. stream from the gold mining operations act as a sink for mercury. However, mercury transported to the lower Yuba drainage prior to reservoir construction Sacramento River at Colusa probably is still in the streambed sediment. A hydro- The Sacramento River at Colusa site (fig. 5, graph for the period of record of this study is shown on site 2) is located 161 km downstream from the Sacra figure 8. A total of 27 samples were collected for mento River above Bend Bridge near Red Bluff site. water-quality analysis. The stream channel has been modified at and below this location by artificial levees for flood control. Feather River near Nicolaus Owing to the levees, most runoff from adjacent farm land does not reach the river. In addition, a weir has The Feather River near Nicolaus site (fig. 5, been constructed (east of the main channel) to divert site 4) is located near the confluence of the Feather water from the main channel into a flood control and Sacramento rivers. The Feather River is a large channel when flow in the Sacramento River exceeds tributary to the Sacramento River. Flow in the lower about 850 m3/s. Land-use classification (Anderson and Feather River is controlled mainly by releases from others, 1976) at this site is shown on figure 7. Forest Lake Oroville, the second largest reservoir within the land is the predominant land use or land cover (about Sacramento River Basin, and by flow from a major 68 percent). Rangeland is about 22 percent of the total, tributary, the Yuba River. Levees have been con and cropland and pasture plus orchards is only about structed on the lower Feather River for flood control. 7 percent of the total. A hydrograph of daily mean Forest land is the major (about 78 percent of the total) discharge at this site for the period of this study also is land use or land cover (Anderson and others, 1976) for shown on figure 7. A total of 28 samples were the Feather River Basin (fig. 9). Gold mining was also collected for water-quality analysis for a range of flow conditions at this site. an important land use in the Sierra Nevada foothills part of the Feather River Basin, but cannot be detected by remote sensing and is not part of the Anderson and Yuba River at Marysville others (1976) classification. The location of gold The Yuba River is the largest tributary to the mines is shown on figure 3. The Yuba and the Bear Feather River, and the site at Marysville (fig. 5, site 3) rivers both flow into the Feather River above the fixed was selected because of its proximity (3 km) to the site. Both the Yuba River and Bear River basins have confluence. Because levees were constructed on the been affected by past gold mining and are a source of lower Yuba River for flood control, only some of the mercury to the lower Feather and Sacramento rivers runoff from adjacent lands can reach the river. Forest (May and others, 2000). A hydrograph for the period land is the primary land use and land cover (Anderson of record is shown on figure 9. A total of 27 samples and others, 1976) for this basin (fig. 8). Forest land were collected for water-quality analysis. Selection of Fixed Sites 15 0.7% Orchards < 0.1% Snow < 0.1% Tundra 0.9% Barren 0.8% Urban 0.4% Wetland 1.0% Water 6.3% Cropland and pasture 21.6% Rangeland \68.2% Forest/and 0 10 20 Miles 122 0 10 20 Kilometers EXPLANATION GIRAS land use/land cover 41 ^| Urban | j Cropland and pasture ^| Orchards J| Rangeland | | Forest land ^| Water ^B Wetland HI Barren land ^B Tundra | Perennial snow or ice A Sampling site 39°30 1,600 T3 Annual mean discharge C 1,400 o>" 8 Daily mean discharge O) Q) S§ s» 1,200 O Samples collected en °- 1,000 T3 £ 800 C 0) 600 II 400 CD 13 D " 200 c 0 Figure 7. GIRAS land use/land cover, land use (in percent), drainage basin location, and mean daily discharge forthe period of record forthe Sacramento River at Colusa sampling site, California. Location of site is shown on figure 5. GIRAS data from Fegeas and others (1983). GIRAS, Geographic Information Retrieval and Analysis System. 16 Water-Quality Assessment of the Sacramento River Basin, California Water Quality of Fixed Sites, 1996-1998 0.2% Orchards 0.3% Snow 1.0% Tundra 1.0 % Barren 0.8% Urban 0.1% Wetland 0.9% Cropland 1.2% Water and pasture 9.8% Rangeland 84.7% Forest land EXPLANATION GIRAS land use/land cover m Urban | | Croplands and pasture H Orchards ^| Rangeland | | Forest land H Water |B Wetland ^| Barren land A Sampling site 1 I 10 20 Kilometers 4,000 T3 Annual mean discharge 2,000 c 0) II 1,000 CO 13 Q o FigureS. GIRAS land use/land cover, land use (in percent), drainage basin location, and mean daily discharge for the period of record for the Yuba River at Marysville sampling site, California. Location of site is shown on figure 5. GIRAS data from Fegeas and others (1983). GIRAS, Geographic Information Retrieval and Analysis System. Selection of Fixed Sites 17 1.0% Orchards 0.9% Barren 0.6% Wetland 1.3% Urban 1.8% Water 5.8% Cropland and pasture 11%Rangeland 77.6% Forest/land 121 EXPLANATION GIRAS land use/land cover m Urban | | Croplands and pasture ^| Orchards ^| Rangeland | | Forest land H Water ^| Wetland ^| Barren land A Sampling site 0 10 20 Kilometers 10,000 £ ? 9,000 §) § 8,000 Annual mean discharge o Figures. GIRAS land use/land cover, land use (in percent), drainage basin location, and mean daily discharge forthe period of record forthe Feather River near Nicolaus sampling site, California. Location of site is shown on figure 5. GIRAS data from Fegeas and others (1983). GIRAS, Geographic Information Retrieval and Analysis System. 18 Water-Quality Assessment of the Sacramento River Basin, California Water Quality of Fixed Sites, 1996-1998 Sacramento Slough near Knights Landing record is shown on figure 12. A total of 28 samples were collected for water-quality analysis at this site. The Sacramento Slough is part of a system of agricultural drainage and flood control for a large part of the eastern Sacramento Valley. The Sacramento Cache Creek at Rumsey Slough near Knights Landing site (fig. 5, site 5) is located just above the confluence with the Sacramento Cache Creek is the main stream draining Clear River and Sacramento Slough. The principal land use Lake, which is one of the few water bodies in the basin is cropland and pasture (about 54 percent of the total). listed as impaired by nutrients (U.S. Environmental Rice is the main crop of the cropland and pasture land- Protection Agency, accessed October 1, 1999). How use area. A hydrograph for the period of record is ever, Cache Creek, which (as would be expected) is shown on figure 10. A total of 25 samples were elevated in nutrients relative to others in this study, collected for water-quality analysis. was selected because of the occurrence of mercury. Mercury was mined at several locations (fig. 3) in the Cache Creek Basin. The Cache Creek at Rumsey site Colusa Basin Drain at Road 99E near Knights Landing (fig. 5, site 8) is located approximately midway between the outflow from Clear Lake and the point of The Colusa Basin Drain is part of a system of drainage into the Yolo Bypass. Although the creek is agricultural and flood control drainage for a large part not shown connected to the Sacramento River in of the western side of the Sacramento Valley. The figure 1, during the winter (when most of the yearly Colusa Basin Drain at Road 99E near Knights rainfall occurs) increases in flow in Cache Creek enter Landing site is located just above the confluence with the Yolo Bypass, which ultimately reenters the the Sacramento River (fig. 5, site 6). Cropland and Sacramento River. pasture and orchards, the principal land uses in this The principal land uses in the basin are forest basin, constitute about 64 percent of the land use; rice land (about 47 percent of the total) and rangeland is the main crop in this area. A hydrograph for the (about 37 percent) (fig. 13). A hydrograph for the period of this study is shown on figure 11. A total of period of this study also is shown in figure 13. A total 31 samples were collected for water-quality analysis. of 31 samples were collected for water-quality Because a downstream dam affects water levels, analysis. continuous discharge could not be measured at this site. As a result, discharge from an upstream site are plotted on figure 11. Arcade Creek near Del Paso Heights Arcade Creek was selected to determine the Sacramento River at Verona effects of an urban land-use area on water quality. The Arcade Creek near Del Paso Heights site (fig. 5, site 9) The Sacramento River at Verona site (fig. 5, is located near the mouth of the drainage basin. The site 7) is located just downstream from the conflu entire Arcade Creek Basin is located in the urbanized ences of the Sacramento River with the Colusa Basin greater Sacramento metropolitan area. The Anderson Drain, the Feather River, and the Sacramento Slough. land-use classification (Anderson and others, 1976) The Sacramento River potentially can be affected by for this basin is mainly urban land, at about 79 percent agricultural and mine drainage at the Verona site. Flow of the total. The remote sensing data for these land-use in the Sacramento River at this site depends on classifications were collected in 1975. Since that time, upstream conditions of the Sacramento and Feather approximately 100 percent of the Arcade Creek water rivers, and on the amount of agricultural drainage or shed has been urbanized. A hydrograph for the period stormwater runoff from the Colusa Basin Drain and of record for this site is shown on figure 14. A total of Sacramento Slough. The flow is diverted out of the 43 samples were collected for water-quality analysis. Sacramento River at Verona to the Yolo Bypass when the Sacramento River flow exceeds approximately 1,560 m3/s. The land use for this basin is shown on American River at Sacramento figure 12. Forest land is the largest classification of land use or land cover at this site and constitutes about The American River is a large tributary to the 62 percent of the total. A hydrograph for the period of Sacramento River in the lower part of the basin. The Selection of Fixed Sites 19 121°30' EXPLANATION GIRAS land use/land cover Urban 10.8% Orchards > | Cropland and pasture 0.7% Barren \ \ II Orchards 2.5% Wetland ^| Rangeland 0.5% Water | Forest land B Water 16.8% Forestjland H Wetland H Barren land 12.2% Rangeland A Sampling site 10 20 Miles T^ 0 10 20 Kilometers Flooded above 147 cubic meters per second *Source: California Department of Water Resources Daily mean discharge* O Samples collected Figure 10. GIRAS land use/land cover, land use (in percent), drainage basin location, and mean daily discharge forthe period of record for the Sacramento Slough near Knights Landing sampling site, California. Location of site is shown on figure 5. GIRAS data from Fegeas and others (1983). GIRAS, Geographic Information Retrieval and Analysis System. 20 Water-Quality Assessment of the Sacramento River Basin, California Water Quality of Fixed Sites, 1996-1998 3.0% Orchards 0.1% Barren < 0.1% Wetland 1.5% Urban < 0.1% Water 16.0% Fores; 61.4%\Cropland and pasture 17.8% Rangeland GIRAS land use/land cover Urban | Cropland and pasture | Orchards Rangeland 1 Forest land Water | Wetland J Barren land A Sampling site 0 5 10 Miles 0 5 10 Kilometers Source: California Department of Water Resources H Discharge at Road 99E near Knights Landing c £ 8 O Samples collected | &% Discharge at Highway 20* T3 JO CO 13 Q " c Figure 11. GIRAS land use/land cover, land use (in percent), drainage basin location, and mean daily discharge for the period of record for the Colusa Basin Drain at Road 99E near Knights Landing sampling site, California. Location of site is shown on figure 5. GIRAS data from Fegeas and others (1983). GIRAS, Geographic Information Retrieval and Analysis System. Selection of Fixed Sites 21 EXPLANATION GIRAS land use/land cover B| Urban | | Cropland and pasture 122° ^| Orchards ^J Rangeland | | Forest land B Water B Wetland 41 ^| Barren land ^| Tundra j | Perennial snow or ice / A Sampling site 1.6% Orchards- < 0.1% Snow - < 0.1% Tundra ^ 0.8 % Barren -A 1.1% Urban 0.6% Wetland 0 10 20 Miles 1.1% Water 14.4% Cropland 0 10 20 Kilometers 0.4% Other and pasture 62.3% Forest land 17.6% Rangeland 3,000 73 Annual mean discharge c o 8 2,500 ~^"" Daily mean discharge CJ) CD s « O Samples collected 2,000 1,500 1,000 CO 3 500 Q ° -3 < Figure 12. GIRAS land use/land cover, land use (in percent), drainage basin location, and mean daily discharge forthe period of record for the Sacramento River at Verona sampling site, California. Location of site is shown on figure 5. GIRAS data from Fegeas and others (1983). GIRAS, Geographic Information Retrieval and Analysis System. 22 Water-Quality Assessment of the Sacramento River Basin, California Water Quality of Fixed Sites, 1996-1998 5.0% Orchards 0.1% Barren - ^2% Urban 0.1% Wetland - - 2.4% Cropland 6.3% Water - and pasture 37.4% Rangeland EXPLANATION GIRAS Land use/land cover H Urban | | Cropland and pasture H Orchards m Rangeland | | Forest land ^| Water H Wetland ^| Barren land A Sampling site i r 10 20 Kilometers *Source: California Department of Water Resources cj 8 O) 0) Daily mean discharge - CD O Samples collected U) Q. CC Q Figure 13. GIRAS land use/land cover, land use (in percent), drainage basin location, and mean daily discharge for the period of record for the Cache Creek at Rumsey sampling site, California. Location of site is shown on figure 5. GIRAS data from Fegeas and others (1983). GIRAS, Geographic Information Retrieval and Analysis System. Selection of Fixed Sites 23 5 Miles 5 Kilometers 2.3% Barren land 18.6% Cropland 79.1% Urban EXPLANATION and pasture GIRAS land use/land cover Urban | Croplands and pasture Barren land Sampling site 60 Annual mean discharge ~~ Daily mean discharge CD 8 O Samples collected O) CD CO '" Figure 14. GIRAS land use/land cover, land use (in percent), drainage basin location, and mean daily discharge for the period of record for the Arcade Creek near Del Paso Heights sampling site, California. Location of site is shown on figure 5. GIRAS data from Fegeas and others (1983). GIRAS, Geographic Information Retrieval and Analysis System. 24 Water-Quality Assessment of the Sacramento River Basin, California Water Quality of Fixed Sites, 1996-1998 American River at Sacramento site (fig. 5, site 10) is record is shown on figure 17. High discharge was located near the mouth of the river in the city of recorded during two winters of this NAWQA study. A Sacramento. The Anderson land-use classification major flood occurred in January 1997 as a result of a (Anderson and others, 1976) for the American River large tropical storm that produced high rainfall Basin is shown on figure 15. Forest land constitutes amounts in the Sierra Nevada. Rain fell on snow, and the greatest percentage of land use or land cover high discharges were recorded in the Feather, the (about 77 percent). Gold mining also occurred within Yuba, and the American river basins. During the the American River Basin. Placer gold was first winter of 1997-1998, El Nino conditions resulted in discovered in the American River in 1849, triggering higher than normal precipitation over most of the the exploration and mining of gold that followed. The Sacramento River Basin. A total of 10 samples were lower American River is listed as an impaired water collected for water-quality analysis. body owing to mercury lost during gold recovery. A hydrograph for the period of record is shown on figure 15. A total of 27 samples were collected for DATA COLLECTION water-quality analysis. This section describes sampling methods and quality-control activities. As noted earlier in the Sacramento River at Freeport report, data collection was from October 1995 to The Sacramento River at Freeport site (fig. 5, October 1998 at 12 fixed sites, of which 8 are site 11) is the lowermost fixed site on the Sacramento integrator and 4 are indicator sites. River. Therefore, water-quality samples at this site integrate the effects of most land uses or land covers Sampling Methods and physiographic provinces of the entire watershed. The Anderson land-use classification (Anderson and Constituents measured at the fixed sites and others, 1976) for this site is shown on figure 16. their detection limits are shown in table 4. Sampling Forest land is the largest land-use category (about methods for field-measured constituents and prop 63 percent). A hydrograph for the period of record is erties, major ions, nutrients, dissolved and suspended shown on figure 16. A total of 34 samples were organic carbon, and suspended sediment conformed to collected for water-quality analysis. guidelines specified for the NAWQA Program as documented by Shelton (1994). The methodology Yolo Bypass at Interstate 80 near West Sacramento called for the use of Teflon sampling bottles and splitting equipment to minimize errors from contam The Yolo Bypass is a distributary flood control ination or other sampling artifacts. Water samples channel of the Sacramento River. The Yolo Bypass at were collected from either bridges or boats using a Interstate 80 near West Sacramento site is located near procedure designed to collect a sample representative a gaging station just upstream from a bridge, which of the stream channel at each site. The equal-width- facilitates water sample collection. Flow at that station increment sampling method was used at most sites. adequately represents flow at the water quality sam This part of the sampling procedure has been pling site. Water from the Sacramento River is described by Edwards and Glysson (1988) and Ward diverted at the Yolo Bypass at Interstate 80 near West and Hair (1990). When appropriate, water was col Sacramento site (fig. 5, site 12) near Verona (fig. 1) lected with an isokinetic sampling apparatus to ensure when flow in the Sacramento River at that point the collection of a representative sample for suspended exceeds 1,560 m3/s. The Yolo Bypass has reduced the sediment. The isokinetic sampling apparatus requires threat of flooding to downstream communities, stream velocities in excess of 0.61 m/s. When the including the city of Sacramento. Water enters the stream velocities were less, a weighted bottle was used Yolo Bypass only in response to flood-control man to collect the sample. The deepest recommended agement; during relatively dry years, there is no flow. sampling depth for this method is 4.6 m (Shelton, Because of the proximity of the Yolo Bypass to the 1994). Water depths were in excess of 4.6 m at some Sacramento River at Freeport, both sites have similar sites, especially the Sacramento River Sites. In those land-use descriptions. A hydrograph for the period of cases, only the upper 4.6 m of water were sampled. Data Collection 25 0.5% Orchards 0.5% Tundra 3.3% Barren 3.1% Urban < 0.1% Wetland 2.5% Cropland 1.6% Water and pasture 11.9% Rangeland 76.5% Forest/land EXPLANATION 120°30' GIRAS land use/land cover m Urban [ 1 Croplands and pasture | | Orchards m| Rangeland | | Forest land ^| Water 39' ^| Wetland ^| Barren land ^| Tundra A Sampling site 10 20 Kilometers 3,500 Annual mean discharge. Daily mean discharge Figure 15. GIRAS land use/land cover, land use (in percent), drainage basin location, and mean daily discharge forthe period of record for the American River at Sacramento sampling site, California. Location of site is shown on figure 5. GIRAS data from Fegeas and others (1983). GIRAS, Geographic Information Retrieval and Analysis System. 26 Water-Quality Assessment of the Sacramento River Basin, California Water Quality of Fixed Sites, 1996-1998 EXPLANATION GIRAS land use/land cover BB Urban II Croplands and pasture Orchards BB Rangeland II Forest land BB Water BB Wetland 20 40 Miles BB Barren land 0 20 40 Kilometers BB Tundra | | Perennial snow or ice A Sampling site 1.5% Orchards <0.1% Snow < 0.1% Tundra 1.0 % Barren 0.5% Wetland -> 1.1% Water 62.8%\Forest Annual mean discharge Daily mean discharge (D 8 D) OJ - U) Q- T3 W C 0) II 05 ID Q o c Figure 16. GIRAS land use/land cover, land use (in percent), drainage basin location, and mean daily discharge forthe period of record for the Sacramento River at Freeport sampling site, California. Location of site is shown on figure 5. GIRAS data from Fegeas and others (1983). GIRAS, Geographic Information Retrieval and Analysis System. Data Collection 27 1.9% Orchards < 0.1% Snow < 0.1% Tundra - 0.8 % Barren - 1.2% Urban 0.5% Wetland - 1.3% Water- 14.8% Cropland and pasture 18.2% Rangeland GIRAS land use/land cover ^| Urban | | Croplands and pasture [ '""] Orchards |.,,:;,] Rangeland | Forest land ^B Water ^J Wetland ^| Barren land ^B Tundra | | Perennial snow or ice A Sampling site 40 Miles 0 20 40 Kilometers 11,000 c 10,000 9,000 g o 8,000 7,000 6,000 C CD 5,000 >....^^_^^^__^__._^^-.. si 4,000 11 3,000 ______...._..___.___-.... A VD D " 2,000 c 1,000 0 Jv . i ^ d V . 8 & 8 '& Figure 17. GIRAS land use/land cover, land use (in percent), drainage basin location, and mean daily discharge forthe period of record for the Yolo Bypass at Interstate 80 near West Sacramento sampling site, California. Location of site is shown on figure 5. GIRAS data from Fegeas and others (1983). GIRAS, Geographic Information Retrieval and Analysis System. 28 Water-Quality Assessment of the Sacramento River Basin, California Water Quality of Fixed Sites, 1996-1998 Table 4. Water-quality constituents measured at the fixed sites The samples were then split equally with a Teflon and associated detection limits cone splitter (Capel and others, 1995). Some water [All constituents are in milligram per liter unless otherwise noted. quality constituents dissolved organic carbon, total ng/L, microgram per liter; ng/L, nanogram per liter] mercury, and methylmercury required special Water-quality constituent Detection limit sampling procedures. FIELD MEASUREMENTS Dissolved and suspended organic carbon sam Water temperature, degrees Celsius None Dissolved oxygen 0.1 ples were collected separately with a dedicated Teflon Specific conductance, microsiemens per 1 sampling bottle at a single vertical at the center of the centimeter at 25°C stream or the part of the stream with the greatest pH, units 0.1 discharge. Water was sampled from the surface to the Alkalinity 1 deepest part of the channel accessible with the isoki- LABORATORY ANALYSES Suspended sediment 1 netic sampler. A separate sample was collected to Total dissolved solids 1 avoid any potential contamination of the dissolved Nutrients organic carbon sample. For some of the sample- Total organic nitrogen plus ammonia 0.1 collection equipment, such as Teflon bottles and the Dissolved organic nitrogen plus ammonia 0.2 cone splitter, a methanol rinse was included as part of Ammonia 0.015 Nitrite 0.01 the washing procedure. Because residual methanol Nitrite plus nitrate 0.05 might have contaminated the dissolved organic car Total phosphorus 0.01 bon samples, those samples were collected separately Dissolved phosphorus 0.01 with a dedicated Teflon bottle. Another sampling Orthophosphate 0.01 exception was for the mercury and methylmercury in Organic carbon Dissolved organic carbon 0.1 unfiltered water samples. A dedicated 3-L Teflon Paniculate organic carbon 0.2 bottle was used to collect those samples. Samples for Major ions mercury and methylmercury in unfiltered water also Calcium 0.02 were collected from a single vertical near the center of Chloride 0.1 the channel or the part of the stream with the greatest Fluoride 0.1 Iron 10 ng/L discharge. The 3-L Teflon bottle and the Teflon bottles Magnesium 0.01 used to hold the mercury and methylmercury in Potassium 0.1 unfiltered water samples were cleaned by soaking in Silica 0.01 10-percent hydrochloric acid at 65°C for 48 hours Sodium 0.2 prior to sampling. The Teflon bottles were filled with Sulfate 0.1 Trace elements (other than mercury) 1-percent hydrochloric acid for transport to the field Aluminum 1 ng/L site, and the bottle caps were wrench-tightened to Antimony 1 |lg/L avoid contamination from atmospheric mercury. Arsenic 1 ng/L Because the cleaning procedure for the mercury 3-L Barium 1 ng/L Teflon bottle was compatible for dissolved and Beryllium 1 ng/L Cadmium 1 ng/L suspended organic carbon samples, the same bottle Chromium 1 ng/L was used for each type of sample. Cobalt 1 ng/L A 0.45-ujn capsule filter was used to obtain Copper 1 u,g/L filtered samples for alkalinity, major ions, nutrients, Lead 1 ng/L Manganese 1 ng/L and trace metals. Dissolved organic carbon and sus Molybdenum 1 ng/L pended organic carbon samples were filtered with a Nickel 1 ng/L 0.45-|im silver filter. Filtration was completed in the Selenium 1 ng/L field inside a mobile laboratory following the sample- Silver 1 ng/L splitting procedure. Clean conditions were maintained Uranium 1 ng/L Zinc 1 ng/L for splitting, filtration, and preservation (when neces Mercury species sary) by the use of frame-mounted chamber bags to Total mercury in unfiltered water 0.03 ng/L eliminate sampling artifacts caused by dust. All Total methylmercury in unfiltered water 0.02 ng/L samples, except the mercury and methylmercury Data Collection 29 samples, were then placed on ice and shipped to the will be described in detail in a separate report. The USGS National Water Quality Laboratory in results of the blank analyses showed that no system Lakewood, Colo. atic bias from contamination affected the data dis Analyses of pH, specific conductance, and alka cussed in this report. The results of the replicate linity were completed in the field immediately after analyses showed that reproducibility was acceptable, sample collection and splitting according to the proce and consistent with the precision described for the dures described by Shelton (1994). Temperature and analytical methods, for all analyses. dissolved oxygen were measured at a point in the central part of the stream or in that part of the stream with maximum flow. Samples for major ions and DESCRIPTION OF WATER QUALITY nutrients were analyzed according to the methods of DURING 1996-1998 Fishman and Friedman (1989) and Fishman (1993). Trace metals (not including mercury and methyl- This section presents a description of water mercury in unfiltered water) were analyzed by induc quality with respect to inorganic and gross organic tively coupled plasma mass spectrometry according to constituents. the method of Faires (1993) and Jones and Garbarino (1999). Samples for dissolved and suspended organic carbon were analyzed by the method of Brenton and Field Measurements Arnett (1993). Mercury in unfiltered water was ana lyzed by the method of Bloom and Fitzgerald (1987); Boxplots of water temperature, dissolved oxy in this method, bromine monochloride oxidation, two- gen saturation, specific conductance, pH, and alka stage gold amalgamation, and cold-vapor atomic linity shown on figure 18 are based on data collected fluorescence detection are used to achieve a detection during 1996-1998. The site with the smallest annual limit of 0.03 ng/L. Methylmercury in unfiltered water range in temperature is the Sacramento River above was analyzed by the method of Horvat and others Bend Bridge near Red Bluff. Because water is in the (1993) and Liang and others (1993); this method uti Yolo Bypass only during high flows, which generally lizes a distillation and ethylation process to remove occur in the winter, the boxplot for the Yolo Bypass at methylmercury from interfering substances and Interstate 80 near West Sacramento reflects relatively achieves a detection limit of 0.02 ng/L. The mercury cooler temperatures. All other sites show a consid and methylmercury samples were analyzed by the erable range in temperature; the two agricultural sites, USGS Mercury Research Laboratory in Madison, Wis. Sacramento Slough near Knights Landing and Colusa Basin Drain at Road 99E near Knights Landing, have the largest range and the highest temperatures. The Quality Control highest temperatures at those sites can be attributed to the major agricultural land use, rice cultivation, in The design of the quality control program for those two basins. Rice farming requires that fields surface-water sampling of the NAWQA Program has remain flooded throughout the growing season (May been described by Mueller and others (1997). The through September). In past years, farmers operated quality control samples collected for inorganic constit the fields as flow-through systems. However, concern uents, and dissolved and suspended organic carbon, about the levels of rice herbicides and insecticides in consisted of field blanks and replicate samples. Qual the agricultural drains and the Sacramento River ity control samples are collected to evaluate sampling prompted changes in management practices. During bias and variability for surface-water chemical 1996-1998, water was allowed to remain on a field for analyses owing to (1) the extent to which sampling approximately 1 month before it was discharged to a methods and equipment introduce contaminants drain. During this 1-month period, the water tem (positive bias) into water samples and (2) the extent to perature increased. The measured water temperatures which sample collection, processing, and analysis were highest for the Sacramento Slough and Colusa affect the variability of measured constituent concen Basin Drain, which flow into the Sacramento River at trations. Quality control samples for the fixed-site a location near the site on the Sacramento River at monitoring consisted of blank samples and replicate Verona. However, the effect on the Sacramento River samples. The results of the quality control monitoring temperature is only slight because the discharge of 30 Water-Quality Assessment of the Sacramento River Basin, California Water Quality of Fixed Sites, 1996-1998 ^fj 3- w 3- 3" X)v r? > i ft CD Ui c CD CD 3 c7 3 "-I = P' CD o . ON ;ecombine o iperatures] cr O O O O) OB o mainstem! n O DO CD o o 1 CD Water temperature, in degrees Celsius W CD < h CD 3 .,. I 1 1 3 d. CD ff O CD p CO Sacramento River above Bend Bridge < h dd CD 00 ^ CD near Red Bluff ^ZLH^ CD 3 3 CD O ^ H 1 H = 3 CO< * o" g- CD O 3 3 3< s.52- KJ Ln -J >O 2 cS 5 CO CD dd P CD O v> nj l\3 3-5- 5- 3- 3- g. CD CD CD Sacramento River at Colusa 5-' CO < ^ H 1 _Tl 00 T3 T3 T3 "O T3 CD CD r-» CO O CD C& CO CB ^ CD P CD era O d. O CB 140 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 - 27 27 j C 120 O 26 03 - 27 28 -r. i . 26 PR ^ | 100 i | 'lll'azli^ CD O - H « I CD 80 _ Q. IH _ IT B HI CO - cf i I : CD 60 O) _ _ X O T3 n number of samples CD 40 > r 90th percentile O |l|j[ 75th percentile CO - CO 50th percentile b 20 H yjjSill 25th percentile 10th percentile 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 CD^ CO 0} CO CTmOJCO >» CO O tOO O) ^ (/) = 3 .^O).CC CD ^ "^ OCO£ JSm > J5T3 C35T3 2 c ^^ *" cu"^ 115 ^ Scl^ro^ 5 i2 1 2«| ""8 o ro 'z -1 o-<^ DC x 2 ulw2 ?CC 'co ^ *-*2CEj2co «- o o ^ojCj 21 1 I CL co cz v- CD iCO 1jj; f^ ifC^ 1S ?^ ?°5 1CC 1"cCLCO 11 CD C zj ^0^:52 *i co c 5 cCQc rr 2 S-cDrn^J:^^ ii u) CQ COx^vxCOC'-(-J-^ O en O LL o LL3 1-1-1 O CD-= 2 O CO 0 CO CO 0 Jjj o P c W CO § W Q g « > O o OJ < tc CO 120CD "2CO 0 E " CO CO < CO CO 05 Figure 18. Continued. 32 Water-Quality Assessment of the Sacramento River Basin, California Water Quality of Fixed Sites, 1996-1998 nutrients and (or) algae that may be present in Clear conductance values were recorded at the Colusa Basin Lake would be transported to Cache Creek. Excess Drain at Road 99E near Knights Landing and the algal growth is probably responsible for these higher Cache Creek at Rumsey sites. These two sites tend to dissolved oxygen concentrations. have higher specific conductance in comparison with Specific conductance on the Sacramento River other streams in this study. This may be due to natu and the major eastern tributaries is generally low, with rally higher amounts of dissolved solids in water that median values less than 150 uS/cm (fig. 18C). The two drains the Coast Ranges relative to other physio lowest median specific conductances were recorded graphic regions or may be partly due to land-use for the American River at Sacramento (50 u,S/cm) and activities. Water released from rice fields within the the Yuba River at Marysville (70 u,S/cm) sites. Specific Colusa Basin Drain basin has undergone some amount conductance of the mainstem Sacramento River water of evaporation, which would lead to higher specific tends to increase downstream from the site above conductance. Bend Bridge near Red Bluff to the site at Verona, but pH generally was similar at all sites, mostly then slightly decreases at the site at Freeport. The ranging between 7 and 8 (fig.lSD). The highest pH decrease at Freeport can be attributed to dilution of values were at the Cache Creek at Rumsey site. These water from the American River. The highest specific values, similar to the higher dissolved oxygen I I I I I I I 1 1 1 1 g.2 c c/) : 31 0~0 700 - n number of samples I " 90th percentile *?& 27 £0 600 .'X'ld - ~ 0 I, 75th percentile ^j,^ £o> ^^T 50th percentile - C 0 500 ~ ; I o -_ 25th percentile 0~IT) -^ 10th percentile 25 - UCVJ 400 4~ * -i r -r 42 *-j : rq T: 30 300 Sm Tg o E ; 1-3 0'^= 200 7 2? 28 27 0 Q 31 : Jt O 1*1 tiivHj ^ / ^ / ^ ^ 1 0 ^ 100 0 0 1 1 1 , 1 I. ii y~ CLQ. - ^= - CO 0-. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 i 03= CO 0 CO O) HI O) CO 2* CO o c o o O>:3 (0 = 3 C o> c C 0 2 -p O CO 'Q !5 (E 3 '> ^ TJ O> T3 O ^ 0) 0 ^ 0 _ 0 co I O 0 1- w DC w DC gf 0 \v loBypassa We;near 0 0 Q 0 Rivramento "c 0 CO '= 0 ^ 0 if 0 p Q c c CO O) 1 0 X. if > D o 0 o o o CO 0 O c 0 p 0 o < CO E o 0o CO 0 CO E o CO CO o CO CO Figure 18. Continued. Description of Water Quality during 1996-1998 33 saturations at this site (fig. 18B), can be attributed to American River at Sacramento owing to the lower algae. Algal photosynthesis removes carbon dioxide dissolved solids in water that drains the Sierra Nevada. from water, increasing pH. The highest alkalinities were from the agricultural Alkalinity of Sacramento River water was sim sites of the Central Valley (Colusa Basin Drain at Road ilar at all sites. Slight increases were noted down 99E near Knights Landing and Sacramento Slough stream from the site above Bend Bridge near Red near Knights Landing) and the Coast Ranges physio Bluff (fig. 18£), and alkalinity at the Freeport site was graphic province, Cache Creek at Rumsey. slightly less than that at the Verona site owing to dilu tion from the American River. The lowest measured Suspended Sediment alkalinities, similar to the lowest conductivities, were from the large eastern tributary sites of the Sierra Boxplots of suspended sediment are shown on Nevada physiographic province the Yuba River near figure 20. The highest median concentrations, for the Marysville, the Feather River near Nicolaus, and the period of record, were recorded for the two 9.0 I I I I I I I I I 27 8.f 27 8.0 - 27 27 C 27 D CO 7-5 C 7.0 n number of samples 90th percentile 6-5 75th percentile 25th percentile 6.0 10th percentile 5.5 03 Ml O) >» t OO JS 0) O 00 £ om O)~o«.E § > C ^ ° S 5 E o 03 E f Jj cc*- o2 « 2 CO CO mS , v; CO ir1 CD o> o S o if V 0 Q o * CD Q-cO w " c >»CD CO .n CO me O) CO DC b * D CO o £ o 0 CO co o CO CO CO c CO 3 CO CD o o CD "c o ~a co CD CO o E o CO co CO o CO CO Figure 18. Continued. 34 Water-Quality Assessment of the Sacramento River Basin, California Water Quality of Fixed Sites, 1996-1998 agricultural sites the Sacramento Slough near concentration were measured at the Cache Creek at Knights Landing and the Colusa Basin Drain at Road Rumsey site. The higher concentrations in Cache 99E near Knights Landing and the Yolo Bypass at Creek were measured during the winter, especially Interstate 80 near West Sacramento site. The during storm runoff. Suspended-sediment concen concentrations for Yolo Bypass at Interstate 80 near trations for Yolo Bypass at Interstate 80 near West West Sacramento are for the winter high-flow period. Sacramento also are high because the water in that The greatest range in concentration and the highest channel is mainly storm runoff. E 250 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 *CD n number of samples r- 90th percentile C o -* 75th percentile . .Q g 200 _ 50th percentile _JL_ __ _ _P_ 25th percentile E * 10th percentile , - "cO 25 ~~ O - CO 15° 1 f\ +CD * ^_ _ _ 4 i_ i- 0 Q. . _^ | 100 - 40 CO ^ __ ~T O) ^ -L 28 27 I ~ 30 ~ - 50 -^ E: 27 5 B ~ 27 n- m ±c . "cO 5' 27 < . 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 i i i i m *f CO (I) (/) O) 1 1 1 O) (0 >, w o too 0)3 W = 3 C g} C C 1 s 1 « o E £? i E 5» | g- a>o3 CO TO O ^ .9 co § eo CC 0 .> 5 -| £ ^ <1> "m *" .> "CO ^ O Q O ^- w ^ 0 »= .^ 2 co i_ 10 1C.Q£ « I c1 ~Cp?s 1 .c g CC c O-co > « ^ g = « 1 5 ^ i £ 03 c DC i3 ^ |£ i5 CD g Q) ~ 2 o ,5 o co co P 0) O P ~ CO yj to CO 0 E co g si CD < 2i ocO T3co 1 1 o CO CO Figure 18. Continued. Description of Water Quality during 1996-1998 35 Nutrients and Dissolved Organic Carbon concentrations were collected in upper Butte Creek, concentrations in nearby streams of similar land use or Boxplots of nitrite plus nitrate for the fixed sites land cover, such as Deer Creek or Big Chico Creek, are shown on figure 21. The highest median concen have low nutrient concentrations (Domagalski and tration, 0.54 mg/L, was recorded at the urban site, others, 2000). Agricultural runoff into lower Butte Arcade Creek near Del Paso Heights, which could be Creek results in an increase in nitrite plus nitrate attributed to nitrate from lawn and garden fertilizer. concentrations. In contrast, the Colusa Basin Drain is Although the agricultural land use in the Colusa Basin primarily an agricultural drain (the entire drainage Drain and Sacramento Slough basins is similar rice is the major crop median concentrations of nitrite basin is within the Sacramento Valley) and nutrient and nitrate were higher for the Colusa Basin Drain at concentrations are higher. Although the aggregated Road 99E near Knights Landing site than for the data for nitrate plus nitrite (fig. 21) suggest that Sacramento Slough near Knights Landing site. The nitrogen is not a problem in the Sacramento River lower nitrite plus nitrate for the Sacramento Slough Basin, algal population and chlorophyll data were not site might be due to dilution from Butte Creek. Butte available and, therefore, the interpretation of nutrients Creek originates from the Sierra Nevada and Middle such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium is Cascade Mountains where nutrient concentrations tentative. It is possible that the stimulation of algal are expected to be low. Although no nutrient growth by nutrients is causing a water-quality-control 25 \r i r i i i i r 20 oCD CD £ D5 CD 15 T3 CD 10 CD CL 0 CD Sacramento River above Bend Bridge near Red Bluff Sacramento River at Colusa Sacramento River at Verona Sacramento River at Freeport I I I I I I I I I I I _L I I cDCDcDcocDcocococococo^i^r^r^ tttt:'^ 1^^^ 0000000^ COS^^ofi^CSOCOCMCMQOOCMOLncO^ r^cMcSo^coooCT) ^COCNJCOCM^CMCMCMCM^^CMCMCMCOCMCMCM S5 O ^ CM -^ CM CO Date Figure 19. Time series plots of water temperature at four Sacramento River sites, California. 36 Water-Quality Assessment of the Sacramento River Basin, California Water Quality of Fixed Sites, 1996-1998 problem, but until additional information is available, bromodichloromethane, chlorodibromomethane, and further interpretations of nutrient concentrations are tribromomethane (Thurman, 1985). Median dissolved not possible. organic carbon concentrations along the Sacramento Dissolved organic carbon is an important water- River and its major eastern tributaries are similar, quality constituent for the Sacramento River because it about 1.5 mg/L as carbon (fig. 22). When chlorinated, is major source of drinking water in California. Chlo this level of dissolved organic carbon will not produce rinating water (for disinfection purposes) that contains halogenated methane compounds exceeding drinking- dissolved organic carbon can result in the formation of water standards. Dissolved organic carbon concen halogenated methane compounds trichloromethane, trations in excess of 3 mg/L are more likely to produce TT i ,ouu | 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ^ i_ 34 0 Q. (/) E CO " O) ~ n number of samples 1 000 - ~T~ ^* Percent''e - c" -* 75th percentile - O 50th percentile P 25th percentile - - 1 Oth percentile 1c - ± 0 - o c o - o C 500 - _. - 0 E 13 0 _ -r* OQ 37 i 1 i ty OO &.J7 0 . ^b -i- ~T . 23 I oc 1 26 26 -r H ±5 3Q 0 - 27 P Q. ±L \ 1 T ;i: H " rh _I25JL 3 n L=!=J i CO 0) t W 0 W O)UJO)03 >% « O "COO 0)D W = D C C3).9 c ® £ "c O 00 ^ > J5 ^O)^ 2 J2 o) 0 Q. Q) Q) CQ-oS5 o* Ifi s 1 1 1 15 ! I 1 1 ! 11 Q) i_ u. 5 « 1 !E1 2 « | 8 ^5 S r§ «3 §> «o> 9> ^ ,? w £ w ^0 cS oc> >- <1> '? c '¥ - <" °- ni 0 *- 1/5 E o 1 * ! i! £ S i 52 !i OJ C ^^ ^ ^ ^^ ^ C 05 ^~ O frt v i_ 0) CO 2 Q) c 0) d) f CO PT "pQ-CO 5 E 0=£ 5£ ^ i IO r03 COi 1 o Io i{I; iQ tO s | $ o CO | 6 | 5 ^ 00 0 < E c O -o 03 0 03 O OJ E a CO 03 < o OJ CO Figure 20. Boxplots of suspended sediment concentrations for the sampling sites in the Sacramento River Basin, California. Description of Water Quality during 1996-1998 37 trihalomethane concentrations approaching or site; concentrations were higher at the two agricultural exceeding drinking-water standards (Lykins and sites the Sacramento Slough near Knights Landing Clark, 1989). Although the dissolved organic carbon and the Colusa Basin Drain at Road 99E near Knights concentrations of the Sacramento River are low, Landing. Apparently, the agricultural land use of these downstream tributaries within the Sacramento-San basins, primarily rice farming, increases levels of Joaquin River Delta also contribute dissolved organic dissolved organic carbon. The highest measured carbon to the water of the California Aqueduct. concentrations of dissolved organic carbon were at the The lowest measured dissolved organic carbon Arcade Creek near Del Paso Heights site, indicating concentrations were at the Yuba River at Marysville that urban runoff also is a source of dissolved organic p^r\-i. I I I I I I I I I II n number of samples | 90th percentile lib 75th Percentile oc 01cjioc ~ra ' f|i 50th percentile Nitriteplusnitrateconcentrationnitrogen,as ISJI 25th percentile * 10th percentile inmilligramsliterper 29 IK IP : 1 " "I : ^28 ^ IPfif%t 3 26 -i- 111 27 ii 3 ifl ~ ~7~ rib)' 07 ~i |^ 1 |^ 27 ~T~ feg ugss^Bi 1 1®* i i ^ i i i ' i i ^"sH i i 05= CO 0 W O1LLJO)cO >, CO O tOO O)^ CO = ^ Co.CC 0 J± ^ QOO^ "2DQ ^ > 15 T3 ^^ 2 f5 o) 0 o- 00 »-O 21 o CT^CCU E -55 p 0+±c -o^-lz-'o-'^cr^Sui^gCQtJ r \ ^ O (0 (flfO ^ 3 -T- 5 ® *2 5 Cj_ CO ^ ^ ^o QCj2 ^ *- O »J ^_i Q)(rt mS 0 "co 0 §) «"§) | ^ ,? w 2 !lco ^ c 1 0 f c cc | g ?: K % ^to 1 1 i ^ 1 Qfe 1 1 ? § ! 1^ >$ 2x£'§>rn 2o^^E CQc ^LO c03oo>~2 C 00 ^COD^ 6' E $ > ^ 00 0 < | 1 ° "§ o c y co m < CO § < CO CO Figure 21. Boxplots of nitrite plus nitrate concentrations for the sampling sites in the Sacramento River Basin, California. 38 Water-Quality Assessment of the Sacramento River Basin, California Water Quality of Fixed Sites, 1996-1998 carbon. Dissolved organic carbon concentrations of Major-Ion Chemistry the Cache Creek at Rumsey site tend to be higher than A trilinear diagram of fixed-site water chemistry those of the Sacramento River sites, but less than those for the summer is shown on figure 23. The water com of the agricultural sites. Because Cache Creek water is position of the Sacramento River sites is similar at all derived primarily from Clear Lake, which has a known four locations as indicated by the trilinear plot nutrient problem (U.S. Environmental Protection (fig. 23). There are slight differences in the cation Agency, accessed October 1,1999), it is not surprising composition of the three eastern tributary sites the to find relatively high levels of dissolved organic Yuba River at Marysville, the Feather River near carbon at the Cache Creek at Rumsey site. Nicolaus, and the American River at Sacramento. The 10 37 n number of samples T- 90th percentile -*- 75th percentile nn 50th percentile ft c £= o 25th percentile C _Q 7 10th percentile O JO f CJ O CO O CO 6 C *- o & 24 IJ O) 2 o .9) 27 27 "S'l 3 25 O.E CO *p CO OO o>.g o" c CO'0 Q -D® o > rrs §5 CC is <0 CO CCO "5 m - - £ o cc 0 Q 0 CO i_ Q- co CQ>» cCD _3 0) o E o so o o CO CO o CO CO Figure 22. Boxplots of dissolved organic carbon concentrations for the sampling sites in the Sacramento River Basin, California. Description of Water Quality during 1996-1998 39 Yuba River has a greater percentage of calcium, water quality impairments to various rivers and whereas the American River has a greater percentage streams of the Sacramento River Basin, or are of magnesium. The Feather River is very slightly discussed for scientific reasons. Metals with consist enriched in sodium plus potassium. The Colusa Basin ently low or nondetectable concentrations are not Drain at Road 99E near Knights Landing has the discussed. Concentrations of all metals sampled are greatest difference in cation chemistry in relation to available from Domagalski and others (2000). the other sites and has the highest percentage of sod Boxplots of selected metals for the period of study are ium plus potassium. Most sites have similar anion shown on figure 27. Observed metal concentrations chemistry, with bicarbonate as the dominant ion at all are attributable to natural or geological sources, and to sites. The Colusa Basin Drain at Road 99E near anthropogenic factors such as mining, agricultural, or Knights Landing is slightly enriched in chloride and urban runoff. sulfate in relation to the other sites, and the Arcade Arsenic is not a true metal but is classified Creek near Del Paso Heights is enriched in chloride. chemically as a metalloid. The current drinking-water Water composition for the winter high-flow standard (maximum contaminant level) for arsenic is season is shown in the trilinear diagram on figure 24. 50 u,g/L (Marshack, 1995). However, that standard Dilution from higher flows during the winter results in may be lowered to 5 |ig/L (U.S. Environmental some changes in water composition. The cation com Protection Agency, 2000). Boxplots of arsenic concen positions of the Sacramento River sites and large tration are shown on figure 21 A. The concentrations of eastern tributary sites become more similar; the anion arsenic in filtered water are below the current compositions of the Colusa Basin Drain at Road 99E drinking-water standard of 50 |ig/L. At most sites, the near Knights Landing site and of the Arcade Creek median concentrations are near 1 ug/L, which was the near Del Paso Heights site plot closer to the bicar detection limit for the arsenic analyses of this study. bonate composition typical of the other sites. Seasonal The higher concentrations of arsenic at the agricultural changes in cation and anion chemistry are apparent for indicator sites appear to have a minimal effect on the the Cache Creek at Rumsey site (fig. 25). During arsenic concentrations measured at the Sacramento November and December in 2 successive years, the River at Verona site. This can be attributed to dilution composition of the water changed such that a greater by the higher flows in the Sacramento River in relation percentage of cations was sodium plus potassium and to the flows of the agricultural indicator streams. a greater percentage of anions was chloride. Stream- Chromium is enriched in the marine rocks of the flow in Cache Creek tends to be very low during these Coast Ranges physiographic province in relation to the 2 months because the flow from Clear Lake and Indian mixed rock types of the Sierra Nevada and Middle Valley Reservoir is reduced in response to a lower Cascade mountains. As a result, the chromium con need for irrigation water. Bear Creek, a tributary of centrations were highest at the Colusa Basin Drain at Cache Creek, has a naturally high salinity because of Road 99E near Knights Landing and the Cache Creek inflow from Wilbur Hot Springs (Hull, 1984). The at Rumsey sites (fig. 27B). The source or sources of higher sodium and chloride concentrations in Cache chromium to the Sacramento Slough are unknown. All Creek during late autumn can be attributed to the chromium concentrations were less than the drinking- higher salinity from Bear Creek. Slight variations in water standard, 100 ug/L for total chromium (U.S. water composition also are apparent for the Arcade Environmental Protection Agency, 2000). Creek near Del Paso Heights site (fig. 26). These Copper was mined at numerous locations in the changes probably can be attributed to differences in Klamath Mountains west of Shasta Lake (fig. 4). The source water used to irrigate lawns and gardens (for median concentration of copper in filtered water from example, ground water provided by utilities). the Sacramento River at the site above Bend Bridge near Red Bluff and the site at Colusa was about Trace Metals 1.5 |ig/L (fig. 27C). It was not determined whether those concentrations are due to historical upstream Samples of trace metals in filtered water were mining operations or natural background levels. collected to compare measured concentrations with Slightly elevated copper concentrations were water-quality standards. The trace metals discussed in measured at the Sacramento Slough near Knights this section are those which are known to have caused Landing and Colusa Basin Drain at Road 99E near 40 Water-Quality Assessment of the Sacramento River Basin, California Water Quality of Fixed Sites, 1996-1998 Ca so 60 ^ 40 20 Na+K HCOg+CO3 20 40 F- 60 80 Cl Calcium (Ca) Chloride (Cl) Cations Percent milliequivalents per liter Anions EXPLANATION Sacramento River above Bend Bridge near Red Bluff & Sacramento River at Colusa Yuba River at Marysville i) Feather River near Nicolaus ^ Sacramento Slough near Knights Landing V Colusa Basin Drain at Road 99E near Knights Landing Sacramento River at Verona ^ Cache Creek at Rumsey m Arcade Creek near Del Paso Heights I* American River at Sacramento Sacramento River at Freeport Figure 23. Trilinear diagram of major ion composition in water samples collected during the summer from the basic fixed sites in the Sacramento River Basin, California. Description of Water Quality during 1996-1998 41 80 60 ^ 40 20 Na+K HCO3 +CO3 20 40 ^ 60 80 ci Calcium (Ca) Chloride (Cl) Cations Percent milliequivalents per liter Anions EXPLANATION Sacramento River above Bend Bridge near Red Bluff Sacramento River at Colusa Yuba River at Marysville it Feather River near Nicolaus ^- Sacramento Slough near Knights Landing 4" Colusa Basin Drain at Road 99E near Knights Landing Sacramento River at Verona ^ Cache Creek at Rumsey ^ Arcade Creek near Del Paso Heights American River at Sacramento Sacramento River at Freeport Yolo Bypass Figure 24. Trilinear diagram of major ion composition in water samples collected during the winter from the basic fixed sites in the Sacramento River Basin, California. 42 Water-Quality Assessment of the Sacramento River Basin, California Water Quality of Fixed Sites, 1996-1998 Ca 80 60 ^ 40 20 Na+K HCO3 +CO3 20 40 ^ 60 ci Calcium (Ca) Chloride (Cl) Cations Percent milliequivalents per liter Anions EXPLANATION Date of measurement 4, 11/18/96 "" 12/13/96 ^ 11/18/97 Ifj 12/18/97 All other measurements between 2/9/96 and 4/14/98 Figure 25. Trilinear diagram of major ion composition in water samples from the Cache Creek at Rumsey site, Sacramento River Basin, California. Description of Water Quality during 1996-1998 43 Q 80 60 ^ 40 20 Na+K HCO3 +C03 20 40 &- 60 80 Cl Calcium (Ca) Chloride (Cl) Cations Percent milliequivalents per liter Anions EXPLANATION @ Samples collected between 2/6/96 and 4/23/98 Figure 26. Trilinear diagram of major ion composition in water samples from the Arcade Creek near Del Paso Heights sampling site, Sacramento River Basin, California. Knights Landing sites (fig. TIC). Rice is a major Del Paso Heights site and are attributed to urban crop of those two basins, and copper is generally runoff. Copper concentrations at all sites were well added to flooded rice fields to control algae. The below the action level for copper in drinking water, copper concentrations at these sites were highest 1,300 ug/L (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, shortly after the April through May application 2000). season. However, the highest measured copper Concentrations of nickel (fig. 21D} were higher concentrations occurred at the Arcade Creek near at the agricultural sites and the urban site. All nickel 44 Water-Quality Assessment of the Sacramento River Basin, California Water Quality of Fixed Sites, 1996-1998 IU 1 1 1 1 I I I 1 II. CD Method reportirig limit, values below the reporting limit ^^ 9^ are considered nondetections CD - - °" 8 Maximum Contaminant CO "_ Level for drinking water E is 50 micrograms per liter n number of samples I CO _ -r- 90th percentile J O) : -* 75th percentile I S L 25 50th percentile _P 25th percentile ~_ c * 10th percentile '~ 5 27 C .0 28 : 7i5 4 - I C : CD - - 0 3 ^ oC o : 21 27 27 27 6 : 'c0 2 --» 5 I f\ ~ CD $2 1 I J :"Q _L 27 27 Q _ 2? U i: 0 i i i I I i i 1 II" CD't; CO _CD W O) UJ O) CO >> w o -coo O> C C CD "r~ "r~ O ^0 ^ 05 :D 2 J2 O) CD Q- CD CD SB f 1 £ f -D C CD E GO TJ O ^ .2 CO CO ^ > ^ O ' *- DC S 1 I 11 c DC co % w DC £ & *s o o ^ ^ o CD i * CO *- *-£ i_ CO w CO -s jr co CD CO CD "J5 ,_ -^ co a) ® ^ CO CO CCO cr '? - o 0_ .~ CD Z-K > C £ CD .> C -^ CC ^ CD O o DC Q | OC %% « i * CD * QSfl\ 1i «UJ i- O CO k_ 0 CO JP. CD .£ c 0 "^ S3 DC "c Q-CO jj 1 ,^ .1DC io | U-i I¥ CD o 1 § | f« 2 co ° CO CO £ CD 0 P « CO c CO "o " E CO c0 Or> CD < O T3 § 1 CO C-> P O CO ^ *C co o2 co CO Figure 27. Boxplots of concentrations for the basic fixed sites in the Sacramento River Basin, California: (A) Arsenic. (B) Chromium. (C) Copper.(D) Nickel. (£) Zinc . On boxes with no visible 50th percentile mark, the 50th percentile falls on the 25th or 75th percentile as shown by the bolder line. concentrations were less than the California drinking- maximum contaminant level) of 5,000 fig/L (U.S. water standard of 100 |ig/L (Marshack, 1995). Environmental Protection Agency, 2000). Zinc concentrations (fig. 21 E) were low Concentrations of copper and zinc in the upper throughout the Sacramento River Basin, except for the Sacramento River, below Keswick Dam, have been Arcade Creek near Del Paso Heights site. The higher considered problematic in past years because of concentrations at that site were attributed to urban exceedances of water quality standards for protection runoff. Zinc concentrations were less than the of aquatic life and toxicity to fish (CH2M Hill, 1992). (nonenforceable) drinking-water standard (secondary Water quality of the Sacramento River below Keswick Description of Water Quality during 1996-1998 45 B o.u 1 1 1 1 1 1 i i i i _ - ______Method reporting limit, values 1jelow the reporting limit - CD are considered nondetections - 45 _ ^^H "T.^ - Maximum Contaminant - CD Level for drinking water Q. n number of samples ^j ^ is iQO micrograms per liter - ~ CO 4.0 ~ i 90th percentile ~ ~ E -1- 75th percentile 6 -~ CO 0) 3.5 ~ 50th percentile .- -, - 2 25th percentile - o * 10th percentile - E o.wq n ~ _c : 25 I - C 2.5 _ _ . V-,9 - CO 28 £ 2.0 - 0 O : 27 ~ I § 1.5 - O -'- 27 T21 rhT L - --T -L 27 27 E^T i .U i i 1 26 - |? 0.5 iD D 1 1 1 D j - o - 0 i i i i i i i i i i 0 !jz CO 0 co O> LU O) CO >> co O t: o o OiD CO = U C m C C < ' 5z c o 00 ^ 55 > 'O O> 'O 2 r2 o 0 Q- .2 CD m O 55 O C T, C 0 C: 'zi c. 0 m £> 0 £> .2 cc "§ co ;> = ^ ^ o cQ £ -a® *- co z -1 o-1 *- Of co £ CLL co ^ _,__, COQCCO co <-.» o o Jrr u i co co "S *- CO rScooJ ^ 2 1, tsl, « ^ « to ~ .£to > c if 0 .> «5 -i 5 cc p -, « .>"co^ o Q.> CC~^2"^oC) Q 0 CC CO > co c ^ Q coQro-^ ( CO i_ : S if ^ Q.CO co"c 1 iO 1 1LL^ I 1l-1-1 c O0i I £ § ICO ^ O CO O CO CO 2 S o *"o £ CO yj W CO C CO O 5 CO c O "o 0 < T3 1 1 ° oCO (J p CD ?0 CO Figure 27. Continued. Dam can be managed by controlling the amount of for the fixed sites are shown on figure 28. The formula discharge from Shasta Lake and Keswick Reservoir for the 4-day criterion of continuous average copper (CH2M Hill, 1992). The discharges are set to main concentration in filtered water (Marshack, 1995) is tain the Sacramento River concentrations of copper, 4-day copper average = zinc, and other metals below water-quality standards. The aquatic-life standards for metals are written with {0.8545 [ln(hardness)]-lA54} respect to water hardness. Boxplots of water hardness x 0.960 (1) 46 Water-Quality Assessment of the Sacramento River Basin, California Water Quality of Fixed Sites, 1996-1998 ex, o P 31 c dd P CD (5' o excee 5'c/o el* era BLo*_ cr P c c' o C s era era o' CD 3 V) ex, P CD < ^ 3 O 3 dd H 5 p CD o CD Copper concentration, in micrograms per liter P CD f*v CD 3 {J\ i % CX. S r- F cr =3 CD o =3' 1 » ' 3 el' & CD ex, 3 ex. P C c« CD TO 3] P era i O Sacramento River above Bend Bridge CD O near Red Bluff a3 5-3 £ £ r-KP C2 Sacramento River at Colusa CD C^O Pi £3a Yuba River at Marysville &3 OQ X sr « p P 5'N oo - O Feather River at Nicolaus a\ Sacramento Slough near Knights Landing Colusa Basin Drain at Road 99E i-h near Knights Landing P 35 o P 3 O c' cr § cf o O s- 3 CD 3 o 3 Sacramento River at Verona r-f- CL 3* 00 O W o5 CD CD 8 1 s? i-i r-f- l-t P o CL p OQ s- P. "^ Cd 3 Cache Creek at Rumsey CD CD CD 0 V*1 3 t/3 CL 5' <3* h &1§' O OQ c OQ 1I ^ CD CD '2? <' 0 3 EL ection CD Arcade Creek near Del Paso Heights CD O cT P !-1 I CL 3 o' CD R i o P^ CD 00 S- CL American River at Sacramento P CL O1-1 CD I W O 35 e S1 CD cT ff"' a *~n s* CD Po' CL 5CD CD ^ p' 00 < ^ O 00 Sacramento River at Freeport O CD" CD 3- S S S' 09 0 "H- £33 Yolo Bypass at Interstate 80 c 5' o <-/i p* OQ near West Sacramento |i- ^^ o r5 £B Q OQ ID 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 i i i n number of samples - , 90th percentile j_ -' 75th percentile 2.8 - +*CD i_ 50th percentile CD Q. __ 25th percentile * 10th percentile E 2 10 _ _ D) ----- Method reporting limit, values below the O reporting limit are considered nondetections "EO Secondary Maximum Contaminant ._ Level for drinking water is 5,000 c" micrograms per liter o c1 CD 5 O C - 0o o f 26 I c II26 27 1 " N 27 27 T 26 ' n ~~ -r- JL 26 U l_l _ LJ D LJ BD trn S-tr 0 i i i i i i i i i i i o> ;t co CD co o> m cn co >* J2 o -coo O> D CO = D C S C C CD £ ^ o °° c 0) Q- 0 Q) PCD .2 '2; "6 oi'o 2 c ^ CD *^ r (5-n9 >% o 5"D C 05 <1> E Figure 27. Continued. indicator site, had any exceedances of the zinc mercury is attached to particles of suspended sediment standard for the period of this study. (Horowitz, 1995), and current water-quality standards for mercury, with respect to the protection of aquatic health, are written for concentrations in unfiltered Mercury and Methylmercury water (Marshack, 1995). Mercury was measured at all Mercury and methylmercury concentrations fixed sites, but methylmercury was measured at only were measured in unfiltered water samples. Most five sites. Methylmercury sampling was designed to Description of Water Quality during 1996-1998 49 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 "CO . ' O . e n number of samples - 90th percentile 31 27 £s 200 - JJ- 75th percentile _L - 'o 50th percentile '' 0CO bP 25th percentile CO 10th percentile -p- - 150 - 24 CD _r 4 ' n 6 " 1 Q yT 38 irH :- | 100- 1r - .0) - 28 "^ - 27 r 31 ~ 1 : 27 - 50 - F^ g 27 27 27 g _L~ CO ^i ¥ J CO L J "^ T - ^^ cE - CO un i i i i i i i i i i I 0) *= CO 0) CO O) UJO)CO >, _CO O tO o 0) = CO = D C ^ !5 CO .2 '> J5 TJ 05=62 £ "0) C5 S"^ icramer IB? oo jo^ .yo «c *- CO z -J ^«^o-J C cc§ '1^ 21 i22 « = ? co ^ (/) OCW CO <- O O Q)_ cSg «S | 5 | % 2 i<5? CD C i ? » s c5 oc CD > 5 11 = 8 ^ ! | «S .Q 0 -^ CC ^ Q^ 2 0 Q 5 = 8^ CO Sc CB j= -^ Oco^ 1 1 1 1 c°i CD .c 5« DC c Q-to '55 E " ? r- co^^ 1 1 2 tf £ ciE 001^ be 10 1 U_1 D> m b ° -co .y jo o CO o CO CO ( o CO frt i> o o P W CO 3 W CS c co > 0> J t CO o O Figure 28. Boxplots of water hardness for the basic fixed sites in the Sacramento River Basin, California. test the hypothesis that rice cultivation affects the Sacramento River at Colusa are not the result of rice concentrations of methylmercury in water. Wetland cultivation. The Sacramento River at Verona site, environments are ideal for the formation of methyl- which is just downstream from where most of the rice mercury (Zilloux and others, 1993). Artificial wetlands field drainage enters the Sacramento River, also was are created during the rice growing season when each chosen for methylmercury sampling. Finally, the rice field is continually flooded with water. The two Sacramento River at Freeport was chosen for methyl- agricultural sites the Colusa Basin Drain at Road mercury sampling to determine the concentrations at 99E near Knights Landing and the Sacramento Slough the most downstream site on the Sacramento River. near Knights Landing were chosen for Boxplots of mercury concentrations in unfil- methylmercury sampling. The Sacramento River at tered water are shown on figure 29. The two sites with Colusa, which is upstream from most of the rice field the highest concentrations are the Cache Creek at drainage, was chosen as a control site. It is assumed Rumsey and the Yolo Bypass at Interstate 80 near that methylmercury concentrations measured at the West Sacramento. It was expected that the highest 50 Water-Quality Assessment of the Sacramento River Basin, California Water Quality of Fixed Sites, 1996-1998 CD 1,000 . 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ^^J " 108^11"? Fnvirr»nmf»ntal Prntprtirm A opnrv rritprinn (\Axrvhxr\r 1 QQS^ fnr thp 1_ protection of human and aquatic life CD Q. - - - 1999 U.S. Environmental I'rotection Agency (1 999) criterion for the CO protection of human and aquatic life 36 E CO " n number of samples < i_ 0) n, 90th percentile - 75th percentile COi p 10 c 50th percentile .C 100 - _ 25th percentile - c " -1 10th percentile .0 - - ' t f CO - * -- - c o0 27 c o T ^ 27 28 y - o 27 32 1_ 27 -J- ~r~ ~r~ CD ~r~ 1 "CO 10 _ 28 -L n i-L| 1 _ £ : *- L~ N - CD - +-» 1 -r 27 *c x 5 - 3 £ n I f5 1 I ^ i i i i i i i i ^^ i i CO 0 W O) CO ? 5 CO>< CO O t0 0 0 CO = D C 00 ^ J2 '> J5 T3 O)05 T3 - "0 j-W -^O> 0S S-Q. 0 0 s fl o « o c co -o O ^ .2 co *- co 2 ' If * I:5 ^ 21 iT2 1 g f fy~ o-t ro *- o o - 0 1- LL )2 . CO oD U-" *- 0 . 4_« 9>c > 2 0 ~ ) CO > cc v > S - ^5 UL I _ 0 ^ =. QJ o o ~ cc Z 2^ 0 0 Q 0 "- <2^ CO £ DC Jr CO Q co c 0 ^= -^ S co i_ ® S ® c f- 0 0 ^- ro o: c Q. CO c .Q ±= c >< 0 0 CQ C l c 1 3 ! 5 1 O if 0§ > LLs sD CQ o0-^2 o CO O CO CO 0 CD 0 "c | CO ^ W CO "o o | (55 0 O 0 < "c T3 CO 0 O E § CO < CO o CO CO Figure 29. Boxplots of mercury in unfiltered water for the basic fixed sites in the Sacramento River Basin, California. concentrations would be detected at these two sites concentrations were during the winter of 1997-1998 because of the mercury mines in the Cache Creek (fig. 30). Sediment and mercury concentrations Basin and Yolo Bypass carries stormwater runoff from aggregated for all 12 sites are shown on figure 31. A the entire Sacramento River Basin, including the second order equation can be fitted to the data with a Cache Creek Basin. Mercury concentrations correlate resulting coefficient of determination (r ^ ) of 0.96. well with suspended-sediment concentrations Previous studies (for example, Mastrine and others, measured in Cache Creek at Rumsey; the highest 1999) have shown a correlation between mercury in Description of Water Quality during 1996-1998 51 4,000 CD 2,500 CD Q. CD 3,500 CO E CO 2,000 Q_ O) CO ]= 3,000 Suspended sediment CO Mercury in unfiltered water 2,500 1,500 £ § 2,000 CD O C to o o - 1,000 T3 £ 1,500 CD CD CD $ 1,000 3 C -500 CD 500 Q_ CD CO 3 C/) Date Figure 30. Time series plot of suspended sediment and mercury concentrations in unfiltered water for the Cache Creek at Rumsey site, Sacramento River Basin, California. Stormwater runoff samples were collected only in 1998. unfiltered water and suspended sediment winters of 1996-1997 and 1997-1998. A time-series concentrations in precious metals mining areas. plot of mercury and suspended-sediment concentra Mastrine and others (1999) noted a linear relationship tions for the Sacramento River at Colusa site shows between the two variables, but the mercury the same pattern as Cache Creek; the higher mercury concentrations in that study (southeastern United concentrations occur when suspended-sediment con States) were much lower than those reported here. centrations also are elevated. Suspended-sediment and Although the plot on figure 30 shows much higher mercury concentrations are lower in the late spring to concentrations of suspended sediment and mercury autumn because there is little rainfall and suspended during the winter of 1997-1998, no storm-water sediment transport. samples were collected during the winter of 1996- The lowest measured concentrations of mercury 1997. Had storm samples been collected during the in unfiltered water were from the Sacramento River winter of 1996-1997, it is likely that higher con above Bend Bridge near Red Bluff and the American centrations of suspended sediment and mercury would River at Sacramento sites (fig. 29). However, it was have been recorded. Stormwater runoff samples were expected that higher concentrations of mercury in collected at the Sacramento River sites during the unfiltered water would be from samples collected from 52 Water-Quality Assessment of the Sacramento River Basin, California Water Quality of Fixed Sites, 1996-1998 CD 10,000r 0 Q. CO 1,000r CO D) O c CO c 100 r *CD > CO T3 CD CD O 100 1,000 10,000 Suspended sediment, in milligrams per liter Figure 31. Plot of mercury in unfiltered water concentrations and total suspended sediment concentrations aggregated for all 12 sites, Sacramento River Basin, California. the streams of the eastern part of the Sacramento River cluded that an unknown source of mercury must be Basin associated with historical gold mining the present between Red Bluff and Colusa. That source Feather River near Nicolaus, the Yuba River at may be anthropogenic or geologic (possibly both); Marysville, or the American River at Sacramento. features such as hot springs are associated with Further, it was expected that those concentrations volcanic deposits in that region. would significantly increase the loading at down Stormwater runoff and associated high river stream sites. The median concentration of mercury in flows affect the concentration of mercury in unfiltered unfiltered water for the Feather River near Nicolaus water owing to higher suspended-sediment concentra site (5.8 ng/L) is higher than that of the Sacramento tions. Concentrations of mercury can exceed recom River above Bend Bridge near Red Bluff site mended criteria for protection of aquatic or human (2.4 ng/L), and that difference is statistically signifi health during high-river flows. In 1985, the U.S. cant (Mann-Whitney nonparametric test of medians, Environmental Protection Agency set a recommended p = 0.0002). Although the median concentration of criterion of 12 ng/L of total mercury in freshwater for mercury in unfiltered water of the Feather River near the protection of aquatic and human health (Marshack, Nicolaus (5.8 ng/L) is statistically similar to that of the 1995). During the winter of 1996-1997, the 1985 Sacramento River at Colusa (4.5 ng/L) (p = 0.4360), criterion for mercury was exceeded at the Sacramento higher concentrations were measured at the Sacra River at Colusa for 2 months, and at the Sacramento mento River at Colusa site (fig. 29) even though it is River at Freeport for 3 months. During the winter of above the confluence of the Sacramento and Feather 1997-1998, the criterion was exceeded at the rivers. During stormflow in January 1997, loadings of Sacramento River at Colusa for 5 months and at the mercury in unfiltered water were higher at the Sacramento River at Freeport for 3 months. More Sacramento River at Colusa site than at the Feather exceedances of the 12 ng/L criterion occurred at the River near Nicolaus site despite higher rainfall in the Sacramento River at Colusa during the winter of Feather River Basin (Domagalski, 1998); it was con 1997-1998 because of a longer-than-normal period of Description of Water Quality during 1996-1998 53 600 120 n r CD CD CD Q. CD CO Q. 500 100 CO co Suspended sediment O) o D) c Mercury in unfiltered CO C water 1 400 80 -E C c" c ' ga 'TOg "c CD 300 60 O CD C O o O o o "c CD CD 200 40 T3 CD CD CO6 CD CD T3 100 20 C C CD Q. CO CO I CD II I w I I I I I CO O OJ CO CD O C\J tM T- T- T- OJ CO T- OJ OJ 3^ Jg oj co c\i co * iB 1^ CO O> O T- t- OJ CO Date Figure 32. Time series plot of suspended sediment and mercury in unfiltered water concentrations for the Sacramento River at Colusa site, California. rain. As mentioned previously, the winter of Colusa Basin Drain at Road 99E near Knights 1997-1998 was an El Nino winter. In 1999, the U.S. Landing site. As expected, the Sacramento River at Environmental Protection Agency revised that Colusa site had the lowest median methylmercury recommended criterion to 50 ng/L (U.S. Environ concentration (0.102 ng/L). However, the data for the mental Protection Agency, 1999). In contrast, the 1999 Sacramento River at Colusa have high variability, criterion was not exceeded as frequently. Only the especially above the 50th percentile. Although no Cache Creek at Rumsey and the Yolo Bypass at California or federal water quality standard for Interstate 80 near West Sacramento sites had frequent methylmercury has been established, a concentration exceedances. at or below 0.1 ng/L has been suggested as being Boxplots of methylmercury in unfiltered water representative of pristine water (Rudd, 1995). Those for the five sites at which it was measured in this study concentrations are typical of rivers upstream from are shown on figure 33. The highest median concen wetland environments and away from mercury tration of methylmercury (0.191 ng/L) was for the sources. The median methylmercury concentrations 54 Water-Quality Assessment of the Sacramento River Basin, California Water Quality of Fixed Sites, 1996-1998 u.o i 24 ' 1 1 Concentrations at or below this level are indicative of pristine .0 water - c5 0.5 - - *-« n number of samples C , 90th percentile CD 29 cO 27 75th percentile o ^ - Jf ® 0.4 - 5Qth percentile _ 0) ~ 26 __ 25th percentile CO CD 10th percentile -o g 0 £ 1 27 '_ - - = 0) 3 CO - - c c - - '~ C 0.2 - - - o CD - - E £ 0.1 -:.- i » 1 CD 1 * _L - - 1 j 0 i i 1 co o) Ul D) CO c rr QC o O oc c c o Figure 33. Boxplots of methylmercury in unfiltered water concentrations at select sites in the Sacramento River Basin, California. for the Sacramento River sites are close to 0.1 ng/L. statistically different only from the Sacramento River The median methylmercury concentrations for the two at Freeport site (p = 0.036) according to the Mann- agricultural indicator sites were higher than 0.1 ng/L Whitney nonparametric test. It was expected that the (the Sacramento Slough near Knights Landing was median methylmercury concentrations at both 0.152 ng/L, and the Colusa Basin Drain at Road 99E agricultural indicator sites would be significantly near Knights Landing was 0.191 ng/L). Although the higher than those for the Sacramento River because of highest median concentration was recorded for the the effects of rice farming, which is the principal Colusa Basin Drain site, that median value is agricultural land use in those basins. However, the Description of Water Quality during 1996-1998 55 measured concentrations of sulfate were higher at the Mercury in the Sacramento River is transported Colusa Basin Drain site than at the Sacramento Slough to the San Francisco Bay estuary, where further trans site. The environmental synthesis of methylmercury is formations, such as methylation, demethylation, and thought to be linked to sulfate-reducing bacteria bioaccumulation, are possible. The hydrological and (Zilloux and others, 1993), and therefore, it would be biogeochemical environment of the estuary is vastly expected that the concentrations of methylmercury different from that of the Sacramento River and its would be higher at the Colusa Basin Drain site than at tributaries because it is tidally influenced, a gradient of the Sacramento Slough site. Although the median fresh to salt water is present, and it includes extensive concentration of methylmercury at the Colusa Basin wetlands. Mercury transported to the estuary will be Drain site was slightly higher than that of the influenced by the way sediment is redistributed. Some Sacramento Slough site, the difference is not of the fine sediment from the Sacramento River is statistically significant when tested by the Mann- likely to be transported to wetland environments. Whitney nonparametric test of medians. Furthermore, The amount of mercury transported out of the measured concentrations of methylmercury Sacramento River Basin for three winters was calcu occasionally were higher at the Sacramento Slough lated by determining the mass at the Yolo Bypass site site than at the Colusa Basin Drain site. The higher and the mass at the downstream Sacramento River site methylmercury concentrations at the Sacramento at Freeport. The total amount of mercury transported Slough site may be related to a larger land-surface area out of the Sacramento River Basin during the winter of that is flooded during the winter in that basin. In 1996-1997 was calculated to be 487 kg, most of summary, although some methylmercury may be which was associated with the flood of January 1, produced in rice fields and transported to the 1997. Despite the flood, the amount of rainfall in the agricultural drainage canals, such as the Colusa Basin Sacramento River Basin during that winter was less Drain and the Sacramento Slough, the concentrations than average. During the flood, mercury samples were are not sufficiently elevated above those already in the collected along a reach of the Sacramento River from Sacramento River to be cause for concern. below Shasta Lake to the Yolo Bypass site. The sam There appears to be a seasonal component to pling design approximated Lagrangian conditions on methylmercury concentrations for the sites at which the Sacramento River. A Lagrangian sampling requires methylmercury was measured (fig. 34). The magni that samples be collected according to a moving frame tude of the concentrations may also be related to of reference. Once the first water sample is collected, hydrological events. The concentrations were lowest the next sample is collected at the downstream during middle to late summer. Higher concentrations location consistent with the river velocity, such that tend to occur during autumn and winter. The highest the same approximate parcel of water is resampled. measured concentrations for the period of this study Predetermined sites on the Sacramento River were were during January and February 1997. A significant selected for sampling, and thus the time of sample storm occurred on January 1, 1997, with large collection had to be consistent with the approximate amounts of rainfall over much of the Sacramento Lagrangian timeframe. The discharge of mercury from River Basin, especially over the eastern Sierra Nevada. the Sacramento River was on the order of 32 kg/d The high methylmercury concentrations measured during maximum river flow. Of that amount, during January and February 1997 at these sites can be approximately 75 percent of the mercury load was attributed to that storm. During the El Nino winter of attributable to the reach between the Sacramento River 1997-1998, higher than normal amounts of rain were above Bend Bridge near Red Bluff and the Sacra recorded for much of the Sacramento River Basin, mento River at Colusa. That reach is above the although there was no single storm of the magnitude confluence of the Sacramento and Feather rivers and, of the January 1, 1997, storm. As a result, methyl- therefore, the streams draining the gold mining region mercury concentrations increased during the were not the principal source of mercury in spite of the 1997-1998 winter, but not to the level of the previous high precipitation over the gold country region. winter. The effect of these methylmercury concen During the winter of 1997-1998, El Nino con trations and the implications for downstream water ditions resulted in precipitation amounts that were bodies, such as the San Francisco Bay, have yet to be higher throughout much of the Sacramento River determined. Basin in relation to non-El Nino years, and the Yolo 56 Water-Quality Assessment of the Sacramento River Basin, California Water Quality of Fixed Sites, 1996-1998 cE 2.0 Sacramento River at Colusa Sacramento Slough near Knights Landing Colusa Basin Drain at Road 99E near Knights Landing Sacramento River at Verona Sacramento River at Freeport Date Figure 34. Time series plot of methylmercury in unfiltered water concentrations at select sites in the Sacramento River Basin, California. A discontinuous line indicates no samples collected during those months. Bypass was used as a flood control channel for a total amount of mercury transported out of the basin longer period. The total amount of mercury trans during the winter of 1998-1999 was calculated to be ported out of the Sacramento River Basin during that 169 kg. Previous work by Foe and Croyle (1999) has winter was calculated to be 506 kg. The winter of shown that the amount of mercury transported out of 1998-1999 was different from the previous two the Sacramento River Basin can be as high as winters in that precipitation in the Sacramento Valley 800 kg/yr. That measurement was made in the was lower than average, but precipitation in the Sierra timeframe from May 1, 1994, through April 30, 1995, Nevada was higher than average. Because of the lower and most of the mass was transported during the than normal amounts of precipitation in the winter rainy season. Sacramento Valley, the Yolo Bypass was not needed The mass of methylmercury transported out of for flood control and, as a result, much less water was the Sacramento River Basin could not be calculated transported out of the basin through the bypass. The because only a relatively few samples were collected Description of Water Quality during 1996-1998 57 at the Yolo Bypass; therefore, the variability in measured in the Sacramento River and in tributaries to concentrations at that site is unknown. Instantaneous the Sacramento River. The sources of the mercury loads could be calculated for the site on the Sacra were determined to be Cache Creek and streams that mento River at Verona, which is just downstream from drain the Sierra Nevada, as well as an unknown source the confluence with the Feather River and downstream located somewhere in the upper Sacramento Valley or from the agricultural tributaries. That site, because of foothills of the Middle Cascade Mountains. The its proximity to the agricultural streams and the unknown source was contributing some of the greatest Feather River, may have some of the highest methyl- loads of mercury to the Sacramento River. mercury concentrations of any Sacramento River site. Water quality of the Sacramento River is Methylmercury loads in the Sacramento River at generally good during spring through autumn because Verona are lowest during late spring through autumn. most of the water is from reservoirs located in the Methylmercury loads range from nearly 10 to less than mountainous parts of the basin. The water in the reser 1 g/d. The highest loadings occurred during the winter voirs, which is mainly from melting snow, is generally of 1996-1997. The greatest load during that period characterized by low specific conductance, low nutri was 282 g/d calculated for a sample collected during ent concentrations, and low dissolved and suspended February 1997. The load decreased to 8 g/d in March organic carbon concentrations. in response to lower amounts of rainfall. Methyl- Water quality of the Sacramento River and mercury loadings were more consistent in the subse major tributaries can be degraded by agricultural quent El Nino winter of 1997-1998. Methylmercury runoff. Most of the agricultural drainage enters the loads increased from 8 g/d in December 1997 to Sacramento River just upstream from the Verona 20 g/d in January, and remained at levels of 28 and sampling site. Rice is one of the principal crops of the 24 g/d in February and March, respectively. Loads Sacramento Valley, and drainage from rice fields decreased to 10 g/d in April. Further work would be enters the Sacramento River from April through necessary to determine the actual loads of September. Concentrations of nutrients from this methylmercury transported from the Yolo Bypass and runoff are diluted upon mixing with the Sacramento how the contribution of methylmercury to the San River water. Some elevated concentrations of Francisco Bay Estuary from the Sacramento River methylmercury were detected in water from one Basin compares with the amount produced within the agricultural drainage system. However, those estuary system. concentrations were only slightly higher than concentrations of methylmercury already present in the Sacramento River, and they do not represent a SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS significant source of methylmercury to the Sacramento Water-quality conditions were characterized at River. 12 sites in the Sacramento River Basin between Temperature of the Sacramento River is of February 1996 through April 1998. During this time, concern for the well-being of migrating fish such as two unusual hydrological events affected the discharge salmon. Temperature of the Sacramento River rises and quality of water in the Sacramento River Basin. rapidly in early April through May, especially at the The first was a major flood that occurred on or close to site near Colusa, Calif. Temperature maintenance of January 1, 1997. Although high rainfall amounts were the Sacramento River for migrating salmon is gener recorded throughout the Sacramento River Basin, the ally not a problem during high water years, but can be Sierra Nevada part of the basin received the highest difficult during drought years. amounts of precipitation. The second event was the El The concentrations of trace elements, including Nino winter of 1997-1998, when greater than normal mercury, were always below any existing drinking amounts of precipitation were recorded throughout the water standards. Mercury concentrations frequently Sacramento River Basin. During both winters, exceeded the standards for the protection of aquatic elevated concentrations of mercury, above the water- life, and the exceedances always happened during the quality criteria for the protection of aquatic life, were late fall to early spring rainy season. 58 Water-Quality Assessment of the Sacramento River Basin, California Water Quality of Fixed Sites, 1996-1998 REFERENCES CITED Edwards, T.K., and Glysson, D.G., 1988, Field methods for measurement of fluvial sediment: U.S. Geological Anderson, J.R., Hardy, E.E., Roach, J.T., and Witmer, R.E., Survey Open-File Report 86-531, 118 p. 1976, A land use and land cover classification system Faires, L.M., 1993, Methods of analysis by the U.S. for use with remote sensor data: U.S. Geological Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory: Survey Professional Paper 964, 28 p. 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