Reconnaissance investigation of water quality, bottom sediment, and biota associated with irrigation drainage in Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge and adjacent areas of the Milk River Basin, northeastern Montana 1986-87

Book · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:6810916

Lambing, J H; Jones, W E; Sutphin, J W

Concentrations of trace elements, radiochemicals, and pesticides in the Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge lakes generally were not substantially larger than those in the water supplied from Dodson South Canal or in irrigation drainage. Concentrations of arsenic uranium and vanadium in Dry Lake Unit, and boron in Lake Bowdoin were notably larger than at other sites. Zinc concentrations in an irrigation drain and two shallow domestic wells were elevated relative to other sites. Concentrations of gross alpha radiation and gross beta radiation were elevated in Dry Lake Unit. Pesticides concentrations at all sites were 0.08 microg/L or less. Water use guidelines concentrations for boron, cadmium, uranium, zinc, and gross alpha radiation were slightly exceeded at several sites. In general, trace-constituent concentrations measured in the water do not indicate any potential toxicity problems in Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge; however, highwater conditions in 1986 probably caused dilution of dissolved constituents compared to recent dry years. Trace element concentrations in bottom sediment of the refuge lakes were generally similar to background concentrations in the soils. The only exception was Dry Lake Unit, which had concentrations of chromium, copper, nickel, vanadium, and zinc that were about double the mean background concentrations. The maximum selenium concentration in bottom sediment was 0.6 microg/g. Pesticide concentrations in bottom sediments were less than analytical detection limits at all sites. 46 refs., 13 figs., 22 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6810916
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
540330 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ACTINIDES
ALPHA PARTICLES
ARSENIC
BORON
CADMIUM
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHROMIUM
CONTAMINATION
COPPER
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION VIII
IRRIGATION
LAKES
METALS
MONITORING
MONTANA
NORTH AMERICA
PESTICIDES
POLLUTION
SEDIMENTS
SEMIMETALS
SURFACE WATERS
TRACE AMOUNTS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
URANIUM
USA
VANADIUM
WATER POLLUTION
ZINC