HYDROLOGY AND WATER CHEMISTRY OF SHALLOW AQUIFERS ALONG THE UPPER CLARK FORK, WESTERN MONTANA By David A. Nimick U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Water-Resources Investigations Report 93-4052 Prepared in cooperation with the MONTANA BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY Helena, Montana August 1993 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey DALLAS L. PECK, Director For additional information Copies of this report can write to: be purchased from: District Chief U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Geological Survey Earth Science Information Center 428 Federal Building Open-File Reports Section Drawer 10076 Box 25286, MS 517 301 South Park Denver Federal Center Helena, MT 59626-0076 Denver, CO 80225 CONTENTS Page Abstract. .................................. 1 Introduction. ................................ 1 Purpose and scope ............................. 2 Previous investigations .......................... 2 Quality assurance ............................. 4 Systems for specifying geographic locations ................ 5 Acknowledgments .............................. 6 Description of study area .......................... 6 Drainage and physiography ......................... 6 Climate .................................. 6 General geology .............................. 7 Hydrology and water chemistry of shallow aquifers .............. 9 Quaternary deposits ............................ 10 Aquifer characteristics ......................... 10 Water chemistry ............................. 13 Major ions. .............................. 13 Trace elements. ............................ 16 Tertiary deposits ............................. 18 Aquifer characteristics ......................... 18 Water chemistry ............................. 21 Bedrock .................................. 23 Aquifer characteristics ......................... 23 Water chemistry ............................. 25 Relation of streamflow to shallow aquifers. ................. 26 Flow characteristics. ........................... 26 Water chemistry .............................. 28 Summary and conclusions ........................... 31 References cited. .............................. 32 Supplemental data .............................. 36 ILLUSTRATIONS Plate 1. Map showing approximate altitude and configuration of the potentiometric surface and location of inventoried wells and springs along the upper Clark Fork, western Montana ..... In pocket Figure 1. Map showing location of study area ................ 3 2. Diagram showing well and spring numbering system ......... 5 3. Map showing generalized geology. ................. 8 4. Graph showing range of depths and specific capacities for wells completed in various aquifers in the upper Clark Fork valley, Montana............................. 9 5-7. Hydrographs showing: 5. Water levels measured intermittently in observation wells completed in Quaternary alluvium along Warm Springs Creek near Anaconda. ....................... 10 6. Water levels measured intermittently in observation wells completed in Quaternary alluvium and located within 300 feet of the Clark Fork ................... 11 7. Relation of water levels in Quaternary alluvium to water stage in the Clark Fork near Goldcreek .............. 12 8. Trilinear diagram showing percentages of major ions in water from wells completed in Quaternary alluvium in tributary valleys and in the mainstem Clark Fork valley upstream from Jens. ........................... 13 9. Trilinear diagram showing percentages of major ions in water from wells completed in Quaternary alluvium in the mainstem Clark Fork valley downstream from Jens ............. 14 iii ILLUSTRATIONS Continued Page Figure 10. Hydrographs showing water levels measured intermittently in observation wells completed in Tertiary deposits in the Clark Fork valley upstream from Drummond. .............. 19 11. Hydrograph showing water levels measured by continuous recorder in an observation well completed in Tertiary deposits in the upper Clark Fork valley south of Garrison ........... 20 12. Trilinear diagram showing percentages of major ions in water from wells completed in Tertiary deposits ........... 21 13. Hydrograph showing water levels measured intermittently in an observation well completed in bedrock in the upper Clark Fork valley near Drummond. ..................... 24 14. Trilinear diagram showing percentages of major ions in water from wells and springs completed in bedrock in and near the study area. .......................... 25 15. Map showing location of streamflow-measurement sites. ...... 27 16. Trilinear diagram showing percentages of major ions in water from the Clark Fork and tributaries .............. 28 17. Graph showing relation between specific-conductance values and dissolved-solids concentrations for stream-water samples from the upper Clark Fork valley. ............... 30 TABLES Table 1. Ground-water data for the upper Clark Fork valley, Montana .... 37 2. Ground-water-chemistry data for the upper Clark Fork valley, Montana. ............................ 52 3. Drinking-water regulations for public water supply ........ 60 4. Streamflow data for the upper Clark Fork valley, Montana ..... 61 5. Stream-water-chemistry data for the upper Clark Fork valley, Montana. ............................ 62 IV CONVERSION FACTORS, VERTICAL DATUM, ABBREVIATED WATER-QUALITY UNITS, AND ACRONYMS Multiply By. To obtain acre 4,047 square meter cubic foot per second (ft3 /s) 0.028317 cubic meter per second foot (ft) 0.3048 meter foot squared per day (ft2 /d) 0.0929 meter squared per day gallon per minute (gal/min) 0.06309 liter per second gallon per minute per foot 0.207 liter per second per meter [(gal/min)/ft] inch (in.) 25.4 millimeter mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer square mile (mi2 ) 2.59 square kilometer Temperature can be converted to degrees Celsius (°C) or degrees Fahrenheit (°F) by the equations: °C = 5/9 (°F - 32) °F = 9/5 (°C) + 32 Sea level: In this report, "sea level" refers to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD of 1929) a geodetic datum derived from a general adjustment of the first-order level nets of both the United States and Canada, formerly called Sea Level Datum of 1929. Abbreviated water-quality units used in this report: |ig/L micrograms per liter |iS/cm microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius mg/L milligrams per liter Acronyms used in this report: MCL Maximum Contaminant Level SMCL Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level HYDROLOGY AND WATER CHEMISTRY OF SHALLOW AQUIFERS ALONG THE UPPER CLARK FORK, WESTERN MONTANA By David A. Nimick ABSTRACT Shallow ground-water resources along the upper Clark Fork have been developed primarily in Quaternary alluvium and unconsolidated Tertiary deposits, although bedrock supplies water to wells locally. Well yields and transmissivity values varied considerably and tended to be largest (medians of 40 gallons per minute and 970 feet squared per day, respec­ tively) for alluvium and smallest (medians of 15 gallons per minute and 130 feet squared per day, respectively) for bedrock. Ground-water levels gen­ erally responded to seasonal events, such as spring runoff and irrigation. Ground water generally flows from upland areas toward the Clark Fork. The chemical composition of ground water was dominated primarily by calcium, magnesium, and bicarbonate derived from the dissolution of carbonate minerals. Other ground-water types also were present locally. Increased sodium concentrations probably result from ion-exchange reactions, and increased sulfate concentrations result from mixing of geothermal water or leachate from mine wastes. Nitrate (as nitrogen) concentrations were elevated in some agricultural areas, but only one ground-water sample had a nitrate concentration (11 milligrams per liter) that exceeded Primary Drinking-Water Regulations established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for public supplies. Concentrations of trace elements in ground water were generally very small and below minimum reporting levels; however, some contaminants associated with mine wastes were detected. Although concentrations of arsenic were relatively small (maximum of 20 micrograms per liter) in all ground-water samples, concen­ trations were largest in water from alluvium located within 300 feet of the Clark Fork. Elevated cadmium concentrations (maximum of 6 micrograms per liter) were measured in water from one well downgradient from several tailings ponds. One water sample from this well exceeded the Primary Drinking-Water Regulation. In general, the water-quality data collected during this study indicate that, although mining has occurred in the basin for more than 125 years, ground water contains elevated concentrations of trace elements only in localized areas. Streamflow data indicate that ground-water inflow to the Clark Fork is significant primarily in two reaches. Between Racetrack and Garrison, irrigation-return flow probably is the main source of this water. Between Jens and Cramer Creek, geothermal water from bedrock flows upward through alluvium to the river. Water-quality data and computations of major-ion loading in the river also support this conclusion. The only trace elements associated with mining that occurred in the Clark Fork in concentrations significantly greater than minimum reporting levels were arsenic, copper, and manganese. Arsenic concentrations (maximum of 8.1 micrograms per liter) showed no downstream trend. Copper and manganese concentrations were largest at Warm Springs (maximums of 14 and 350 micrograms per liter,