Nuclides and Other Chemical Constituents in the Puerco and 'He Little Colorado River Basins, Arizona and New Mexico
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-treamflow Transport of Radio- nuclides and Other Chemical Constituents in the Puerco and 'he Little Colorado River Basins, Arizona and New Mexico United States Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 2459 Prepared in cooperation with the Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, the Arizona Department of Water Resources, The Navajo Nation, and the New Mexico Environment Department AVAILABILITY OF BOOKS AND MAPS OF THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Instructions on ordering publications of the I'.S. Geological Survey, along with prices of the last offerings, are given in the currcnt- year issues of the monthly catalog "New Publications of the I' S. Geological Survey" Prices of available U.S. Geological Survey publica tions released prior 10 the curreni year are listed in the most recent annual "Price and Availability List." 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Maps Only Maps Maps may he purchased over the counter at ihe following U.S. Geological Survey offices: For maps, address mail orders to U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services ROLLA, Missouri 1400 Independence Rci. Box 25286, Federal Center. Denver, CO 80225 STFNMS SPACE CFNTFR, Mississippi Bldg 3101 Streamflow Transport of Radio- nuclides and Other Chemical Constituents in the Puerco and the Little Colorado River Basins, Arizona and New Mexico By JULIA B. GRAF, LAURIE WIRT, EDWIN K. SWANSON, GREGORY G. FISK, and JOHN R. GRAY Prepared in cooperation with the Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, the Arizona Department of Water Resources, the Navajo Nation, and the New Mexico Environment Department U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 2459 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Gordon P. Eaton, Director Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON: 1996 For sale by the U.S. Geological Survey Information Services Box 25286, Federal Center Denver, CO 80225 Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Streamflow transport of radionuclides and other chemical constituents in the Puerco and the Little Colorado River Basins, Arizona and New Mexico / by Julia B. Graf... [et al.]. p. cm. {U.S. Geological Survey water-supply paper; 2459) Includes bibliographical references. Spine title: Streamflow transport of radionuclides, Puerco and Little Colorado River Basins, Arizona and New Mexico. Supt. of Docs, no.: 119.13:2459 1. Stream measurements Puerco River (N.M. and Ariz.) 2. Stream measure ments Little Colorado River (N.M. and Ariz.) 3. Sediment transport Puerco River (N.M. and Ariz.) 4. Sediment transport Little Colorado River (N.M. and Ariz.) 5. Radioisotopes in hydrology Puerco River (N.M. and Ariz.) 6. Radio- isotopes in hydrology Little Colorado River (N.M. and Ariz.) I. Graf, Julia B. II. Title. Streamflow transport of radionuclides, Puerco and Little Colorado River Basins, Arizona and New Mexico. III. Series. GB1227.PB84S87 1996 628.1'683 dc20 9&-15541 CIP CONTENTS Abstract................................................................................................................^^ 1 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................^ 2 Purpose and Scope.................................................................................................................................................... 2 Acknowledgments..........................................................................................._^ 4 Background............................................................................................................................................................^ 4 Basic Concepts of Radioactivity Applicable to This Study ..................................................................................... 4 Previous Investigations............................................................................................................................................. 5 Physical Setting ........................................................................................................................................................ 6 Approach............................................................................................................................................................................ 10 Design of Sampling Network................................................................................................................................... 10 Methods of Data Collection and Sample Analysis................................................................................................... 10 Data Collection............................................................................................................................................... 10 Sample Analysis............................................................................................................................................. 12 Components of Streamflow in the Puerco River and the Little Colorado River Downstream from the Mouth of the Puerco River............................................................................................................................................. 13 Volume of Streamflow Components......................................................................................................................... 13 Chemistry of Streamflow Components..................................................................................................................... 14 Relation of Chemical Concentrations and Radioactivities to Water-Quality Standards .................................................... 19 Regulatory Background............................................................................................................................................ 19 Approach to Evaluation of Water Quality................................................................................................................ 22 Compliance With Water-Quality Standards.............................................................................................................. 23 Distribution of Radionuclides and Other Chemical Constituents in Streamflow............................................................... 24 Sources of Radionuclides ......................................................................................................................................... 24 Distribution of Radioactivity and Chemical Constituents Between Dissolved and Suspended Phases................... 29 Relation of Constituent Concentration to Suspended-Sediment Properties............................................................. 33 Spatial Variation in Chemistry of Suspended Sediment........................................................................................... 35 Suspended-Phase Loads of Radionuclides......................................................................................................................... 39 Characteristics of Streamflow and Sediment Transport........................................................................................... 39 Computation of Suspended-Sediment Load............................................................................................................. 43 Radionuclide Loads.................................................................................................................................................. 44 Discussion................................................................................................................................................................