Hydrologic and Water-Quality Data from Mountain Island Lake, North Carolina, 1994-97

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Hydrologic and Water-Quality Data from Mountain Island Lake, North Carolina, 1994-97 Hydrologic and Water-Quality Data from Mountain Island Lake, North Carolina, 1994-97 By Kathleen M. Sarver and Bruce C. Steiner U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Open-File Report 98-549 Prepared in cooperation with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utility Department and Mecklenburg County Raleigh, North Carolina 1998 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Thomas J. Casadevall, Acting 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 3916 Sunset Ridge Road Federal Center, Box 25286 Raleigh, NC 27607 Denver, CO 80225 CONTENTS Abstract ......................................................................................................................................................................^ 1 Introduction.........................................................................................._^ 2 Purpose and scope ....................................................................................................................................................... 4 Description of the study area....................................................................................................................................... 5 Acknowledgments...............................................^ 7 Data-collection methods........................................................................................................................................................ 7 Hydrologic data........................................................................................................................................................... 7 Physical water-quality data.......................................................................................................................................... 7 Water-quality samples................................................................................................................................................. 9 Tributary bottom material samples.............................................................................................................................. 11 Quality-assurance procedures...................................................................................................................................... 11 Water-quality data.............................................................................................................................................. 11 Tributary bottom material data.......................................................................................................................... 12 Analytical procedures............................................................................................................................................................ 13 Hydrologic data..................................................................................^ 13 Water-quality data.................................................................................................................................................................. 13 Continuously monitored water-quality data................................................................................................................ 13 Vertical profile water-quality data............................................................................................................................... 19 Water-quality sample data........................................................................................................................................... 22 Tributary bottom material data.............................................................................................................................................. 24 References.............................................................................................................._^ 26 FIGURES 1. Map showing the Catawba River Basin, North Carolina and South Carolina........................................................ 3 2. Map of Mountain Island Lake, local drainage area, and data-collection sites........................................................ 6 3. Water-level hydrograph for Mountain Island Lake sites 01 and 14 for June 1996 and January 1997.................... 14 4. Hydrographs of hourly flow data from Cowans Ford Dam and Mountain Island Dam for August 1996............... 15 5. Continuous measurements of water temperature and dissolved-oxygen concentration at site 01 for March and July 1997............................................................................................................................................... 16 6. Continuous measurements of water temperature and dissolved-oxygen concentration at site 01 for July 14-18, 1997 ............................................................................................................................................... 17 7. Continuous measurements of near-surface and near-bottom water temperature at site 14 for March and August 1997.................................................................... 18 8. Continuous measurements of near-surface and near-bottom dissolved-oxygen concentration at site 14 for March and August 1997 .................................................................................................................................... 19 9. Continuous measurements of water temperature and dissolved-oxygen concentration at site 17 for March and August 1997 .................................................................................................................................... 20 10. Diagram of mainstem data-collection points for vertical profile water-quality data.............................................. 21 TABLES 1. Characteristics of Catawba River mainstem reservoirs in North and South Carolina............................................ 2 2. Data-collection network for the Mountain Island Lake study ................................................................................ 8 3. Preservation procedures and containers required for samples collected at Mountain Island Lake water-quality study sites, May 1996 through September 1997............................................................................... 10 4. Analytical procedures and method detection limits for chemical constituents in water analyzed by the U.S. Geological Survey National Water-Quality Laboratory, May 1996 through September 1997....................... 28 Contents III 5. Analytical procedures and method detection limits for chemical constituents in bottom material analyzed by the U.S. Geological Survey National Water-Quality Laboratory, August 1997................................................. 38 6-9. Monthly water-level summary statistics, August 1994 through September 1997, at: 6. Site 01............................................................................................................................................. 43 7. Site 05 ........................................................................^^ 44 8. Site 14 ............................................................ 45 9. Site 17 ...................................................................... 46 10-21. Daily mean values of: 10. Water temperature at site 01, April 1996 through September 1997................................................................ 47 11. Dissolved-oxygen concentration at site 01, April 1996 through September 1997 ......................................... 48 12. Specific conductance at site 01, April 1996 through September 1997........................................................... 49 13. Near-surface water temperature at site 14, April 1996 through September 1997........................................... 50 14. Near-bottom water temperature at site 14, April 1996 through September 1997........................................... 51 15. Near-surface dissolved-oxygen concentration at site 14, April 1996 through September 1997..................... 52 16. Near-bottom dissolved-oxygen concentration at site 14, April 1996 through September 1997..................... 53 17. Near-surface specific conductance at site 14, April 1996 through September 1997 ...................................... 54 18. Near-bottom specific conductance at site 14, April 1996 through September 1997....................................... 55 19. Water temperature at site 17, May 1996 through September 1997 ................................................................ 56 20. Dissolved-oxygen concentration at site 17, May 1996 through September 1997.......................................... 57 21. Specific conductance at site 17, May 1996 through September 1997............................................................ 58 22-36. Vertical profile water-quality data, May 1996 through September 1997, at: 22. Site 01.............................................................................................................................................. 59 23. Site02........................................................................................................._ 62 24. Site 03 .................................................................... 66 25. Site (M ....................................... 70 26. Site 06 ...............................................................
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