Sources and concentrations of dissolved solids and selenium in the San Joaquin River and its tributaries, California, October 1985 to March 1987
Book
·
OSTI ID:6898411
Sources and concentrations of dissolved solids and selenium in the San Joaquin River and its tributaries, California, were assessed by a mass-balance approach to determine the effects of tile-drain water and irrigation-return flows on the river. The study included low-flow periods from October 1985 to mid-February 1986 and mid-May 1986 through March 1987, and a high-flow period from mid-February to mid-May 1985. During the combined low-flow period, the dissolved-solids load from eastside tributaries and the upper San Joaquin River accounted for only 18% of the total load at Vernalis, located farthest downstream, even though they accounted for 71% of the stream flow. Salt and Mud Sloughs contributed 40% of the dissolved-solids load but only 9% of stream flow. Unmeasured sources of dissolved solids contributed about 42% of the total load during low flow. In contrast, Salt and Mud Sloughs, which receive most of the tile-drain water that enters the river, contributed almost 80% of the total selenium load to the river, and loading of selenium concentrations were highest in Salt and Mud Sloughs and decreased downstream in the San Joaquin River with dilution from eastside tributaries. A State standard for dissolved solids of 500 mg/L was exceeded 11% of the time in the San Joaquin River at Vernalis. The US Environmental Protection Agency's 4-day average aquatic-life criterion of 5 micrograms/L of selenium was exceeded in more than 60% of the samples from the sloughs and in about 20% of the samples from the San Joaquin River, just downstream of the Merced River. 23 refs., 8 figs., 6 tabs.
- OSTI ID:
- 6898411
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
CALIFORNIA
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION IX
MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE LEVEL
MONITORING
NORTH AMERICA
POLLUTION
POLLUTION SOURCES
RIVERS
SAFETY STANDARDS
SEDIMENTS
SELENIUM
SEMIMETALS
STANDARDS
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
USA
WATER POLLUTION
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
CALIFORNIA
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION IX
MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE LEVEL
MONITORING
NORTH AMERICA
POLLUTION
POLLUTION SOURCES
RIVERS
SAFETY STANDARDS
SEDIMENTS
SELENIUM
SEMIMETALS
STANDARDS
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
USA
WATER POLLUTION