Reconnaissance Investigation of Water Quality, Bottom Sediment,and Biota associated with Irrigation Drainage in the Owyhee and Vale Projects, Oregon and Idaho, 1990-91 By Frank A. Rinella, U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, William H. Mullins, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, and Carol A. Schuler, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Water-Resources Investigations Report 93-4156 Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, BUREAU OF RECLAMATION, and | BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS I Portland, Oregon 1994 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. For additional information Copies of this report can be write to: purchased from: U.S. Geological Survey District Chief Earth Science Information Center U.S. Geological Survey, WRD Open-File Reports Section 10615 S.E. Cherry Blossom Drive Box25286, MS 517 Portland, Oregon 97216 Denver Federal Center Denver, CO 80225 CONTENTS Abstract ................................................................................... Introduction....................................................................................................^^ Purpose and Scope.............................................................................................................................................................4 Acknowledgments..................................................^ General Description of the Study Area .......................................................................................................................................4 Previous Studies...........................................................................................................................................................^ Ground Water ........................................................................................................................_^ Surface Water and Bottom Sediment............................................................................................................................... 12 Biota.................................................................................................................................................................................14 Sample Collection and Analysis...............................................................................................................................................15 Sampling Sites.................................................................................................................................................................. 15 Field Collection and Analytical Techniques ...................................................................................................................18 Water.....................................................................................................................................................^ Bottom Sediment..................................................................................................................................................... 18 Biota........................................................................................................................................................................19 Discussion of Results................................................................................................................................................................20 Field Water-Quality Measurements.................................................................................................................................20 Major Ions........................................................................................................................................................................22 Dissolved Nutrients..........................................................................................................................................................24 Trace Elements.................................................................................................................................................................27 Arsenic....................................................................................................................................................................27 Water and Bottom Sediment..........................................................................................................................27 Biota..................................................................................................................^ Boron.......................................................................................................................................................................29 Water and Bottom Sediment..........................................................................................................................29 Biota...................................................................^ Mercury ..................................................................................................................................................................32 Water and Bottom Sediment..........................................................................................................................32 Biota...............................................................................................................................................................33 Selenium..................................................................................................................................................................35 Water and Bottom Sediment..........................................................................................................................35 Biota...............................................................................................................................................................36 Other Elements........................................................................................................................................................38 Water and Bottom Sediment..........................................................................................................................38 Biota...............................................................................................................................................................39 Organic Compounds ........................................................................................................................................................40 Water.......................................................................................................................................................................40 Bottom Sediment.....................................................................................................................................................40 Biota........................................................................................................................................................................44 Bioassessment Results .....................................................................................................................................................46 Biological Observations...................................................................................................................................................47 Summary................................................................................................................................................................^ Selected References ................................................................................................................................................................^ Supplemental Data Tables ........................................................................................................................................................55 iii FIGURES 1. 3. Maps showing: 1. Location of the Malheur, Owyhee, and Snake Rivers in the study area, Oregon and Idaho, 1990-91 ..............................................................................................5 2. Location of the Owyhee project area, and Snake River system, Oregon and Idaho, 1990-91 ..........................................................................................................................6 3. Location of the Vale project area, Oregon, 1990-91 ........................................................................................7 4. Schematic diagram showing surface-water movement through the Owyhee and Vale projects, Oregon and Idaho, 1990-91..................................................................................8 5. Graph showing daily mean streamflow of the Malheur River near Namorf, Oregon, water year 1990...........................................................................................................10 6. Boxplots showing distribution of temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and specific conductance in water, Owyhee, Malheur, and Snake River systems, April-October 1990 ............................21 7. Trilinear diagram showing dissolved major ions in water, Owyhee, Malheur, and Snake River systems, April-October 1990................................................................................24 8. 15. Graphs showing: 8. Distribution