Water–Quality Assessment of the Eastern Iowa Basins—Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Suspended Sediment, and Organic Carbon in Surface
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Water–Quality Assessment of the Eastern Iowa Basins—Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Suspended Sediment, and Organic Carbon In Surface Water, 1996–98 NATIONAL WATER–QUALITY ASSESSMENT PROGRAM Water-Resources Investigations Report 01–4175 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Technical Assistance James Giglierano, Iowa Geological Survey Bureau Robert Libra, Iowa Geological Survey Bureau Clint Beckert, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Dana Kolpin, U.S. Geological Survey Craig Harvey, U.S. Geological Survey Data Collection, Site Construction, Data Entry or Verification Jim Cerveny, U.S. Geological Survey Eric Sadorf, U.S. Geological Survey Debra Sneck-Fahrer, U.S. Geological Survey Matt Bobier, U.S. Geological Survey Jennifer Tobias, U.S. Geological Survey Joel Galloway, U.S. Geological Survey Jon Nania, U.S. Geological Survey Jim Klaus, U.S. Geological Survey Denise Montgomery, U.S. Geological Survey Jake Freier, U.S. Geological Survey Erik Smith, U.S. Geological Survey Bob Einhellig, U.S. Geological Survey Jeff Harms, U.S. Geological Survey Dave Conell, U.S. Geological Survey Joe Gorman, U.S. Geological Survey Al Conkling, U.S. Geological Survey Jim Sondag, U.S. Geological Survey Pat Lustgraaf, U.S. Geological Survey Mike Turco, U.S. Geological Survey Pat Sweeney, U.S. Geological Survey Daron Tanko, U.S. Geological Survey Editorial Review Lanna Combs, U.S. Geological Survey Technical Review Mary Skopec, Iowa Geological Survey Bureau Greg Nalley, U.S. Geological Survey Russell Dash, U.S. Geological Survey Patrick Edelmann, U.S. Geological Survey Robert Buchmiller, U.S. Geological Survey John O. Helgesen, U.S. Geological Survey Water-Quality Assessment of the Eastern Iowa Basins—Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Suspended Sediment, and Organic Carbon in Surface Water, 1996–98 By Kent D. Becher, Stephen J. Kalkhoff, Douglas J. Schnoebelen, Kimberlee K. Barnes, and Von E. Miller U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Water-Resources Investigations Report 01–4175 NATIONAL WATER-QUALITY ASSESSMENT PROGRAM Iowa City, Iowa 2001 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR GALE A. NORTON, 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 Information Services P.O. Box 1230 Box 25286 Iowa City, IA 52244 Federal Center Denver, CO 80225 FOR E WOR D The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is committed about water-quality issues and trends in a particular to serve the Nation with accurate and timely scientific stream or aquifer while providing an understanding information that helps enhance and protect the overall of how and why water quality varies regionally and quality of life, and facilitates effective management of nationally. The consistent, multi-scale approach helps water, biological, energy, and mineral resources. Infor- to determine if certain types of water-quality issues mation on the quality of the Nation’s water resources are isolated or pervasive, and allows direct compari- is of critical interest to the USGS because it is so inte- sons of how human activities and natural processes grally linked to the long-term availability of water that affect water quality and ecological health in the is clean and safe for drinking and recreation and that is Nation’s diverse geographic and environmental suitable for industry, irrigation, and habitat for fish and settings. Comprehensive assessments on pesticides, wildlife. Escalating population growth and increasing nutrients, volatile organic compounds, trace metals, demands for the multiple water uses make water avail- and aquatic ecology are developed at the national ability, now measured in terms of quantity and quality, scale through comparative analysis of the Study- even more critical to the long-term sustainability of Unit findings. our communities and ecosystems. The USGS places high value on the communica- The USGS implemented the National Water- tion and dissemination of credible, timely, and relevant Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program to support science so that the most recent and available knowl- national, regional, and local information needs and edge about water resources can be applied in manage- decisions related to water-quality management and ment and policy decisions. We hope this NAWQA policy. Shaped by and coordinated with ongoing publication will provide you the needed insights and efforts of other Federal, State, and local agencies, the information to meet your needs, and thereby foster NAWQA Program is designed to answer: What is the increased awareness and involvement in the protection condition of our Nation’s streams and ground water? and restoration of our Nation’s waters. How are the conditions changing over time? How do natural features and human activities affect the quality The NAWQA Program recognizes that a national of streams and ground water, and where are those assessment by a single program cannot address all effects most pronounced? By combining information water-resource issues of interest. External coordina- on water chemistry, physical characteristics, stream tion at all levels is critical for a fully integrated habitat, and aquatic life, the NAWQA Program aims to understanding of watersheds and for cost-effective provide science-based insights for current and emerg- management, regulation, and conservation of our ing water issues. NAWQA results can contribute to Nation’s water resources. The Program, therefore, informed decisions that result in practical and effective depends extensively on the advice, cooperation, water-resource management and strategies that protect and information from other Federal, State, interstate, and restore water quality. Tribal, and local agencies, non-government organiza- Since 1991, the NAWQA Program has imple- tions, industry, academia, and other stakeholder mented interdisciplinary assessments in more than groups. The assistance and suggestions of all are 50 of the Nation’s most important river basins and greatly appreciated. aquifers, referred to as Study Units. Collectively, these Study Units account for more than 60 percent of the overall water use and population served by public water supply, and are representative of the Nation’s major hydrologic landscapes, priority ecological resources, and agricultural, urban, and natural sources of contamination. Each assessment is guided by a nationally consis- tent study design and methods of sampling and analy- Robert M. Hirsch sis. The assessments thereby build local knowledge Associate Director for Water FOR E WOR D III CONTENTS Foreword ................................................................................................................................................................................ III Glossary ................................................................................................................................................................................. IX Abstract.................................................................................................................................................................................. 1 Introduction............................................................................................................................................................................ 2 Importance of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Suspended Sediment, and Organic Carbon ..................................................... 2 Purpose and Scope....................................................................................................................................................... 4 Description of Study Unit...................................................................................................................................................... 5 Hydrology .................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Landforms.................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Climate......................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Land Use...................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Methods and Data Analysis ................................................................................................................................................... 9 Sample Collection and Chemical Analysis.................................................................................................................. 11 Quality Assurance and Quality Control....................................................................................................................... 11 Statistics....................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Relation of Constituent Concentration and Streamflow .............................................................................................. 13 Hydrograph Separation ...............................................................................................................................................