By Martin R. Risch
U.S. Geological Survey
Water-Resources Investigations Report 03-4149
ABSTRACT
A base-wide assessment of surface-water quality at the U.S. Army Atterbury Reserve Forces Training Area near Edinburgh, Indiana, examined short-term and long-term quality of surface water flowing into, across, and out of a 33,760-acre study area. The 30-day geometric-mean concentrations of fecal-indicator bacteria (Escherichia coli) in water samples from all 16 monitoring sites on streams in the study area were greater than the Indiana recreational water-quality standard. None of the bacteria concentrations in samples from four lakes exceeded the standard. Half the samples with bacteria concentrations greater than the single-sample standard contained chemical tracers potentially associated with human sewage. Increased turbidity of water samples was related statistically to increased bacteria concentration. Lead concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 2.0 micrograms per liter were detected in water samples at seven monitoring sites. Lead in one sample collected during high-streamflow conditions was greater than the calculated Indiana water-quality standard. With the exception of Escherichia coli and lead, 211 of 213 chemical constituents analyzed in water samples did not exceed Indiana water-quality standards. Out of 131 constituents analyzed in streambed-sediment and fish-tissue samples from three sites in the Common Impact Area for weapons training, the largest concentrations overall were detected for copper, lead, manganese, strontium, and zinc. Fish-community integrity, based on diversity and pollution tolerance, was rated poor at one of those three sites. Compared with State criteria, the fish-community data indicated 8 of 10 stream reaches in the study area could be categorized as "fully supporting" aquatic-life uses.
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Abstract
Introduction
Acknowledgments
Description of the Study Area
Topography, Physiography, Geology, and Soils
Climate
Hydrology
Study Methods
Chemical and Biological Assessments
Selection of Monitoring Sites
Instantaneous-Streamflow Measurements
Chemical Assessment
Collection of Surface-Water Samples
Collection of Streambed-Sediment Samples
Collection of Fish-Tissue Samples
Analytical Methods
Quality-Assurance Program
Biological Assessment
Fish-Community Inventories
Benthic-Macroinvertebrate-Community Inventories
Qualitative Habitat Evaluation
Surface-Water Quality
Chemical Quality
Chemical Analysis of Streambed-Sediment Samples
Chemical Analysis of Fish-Tissue Samples
Biological Quality
Fish-Community Inventories
Benthic-Macroinvertebrate-Community Inventories
Qualitative Habitat Evaluations
Short-Term and Long-Term Conditions
Microbiological Contamination
Water Quality at the Impact Area
Uncertainties of Data and Interpretations
Summary
References
Appendixes
2.Characteristics and physical properties of water samples collected at Camp Atterbury, September 2000
3.Concentrations of dissolved and total recoverable major ions and total nutrients in water samples collected at Camp Atterbury, September 2000 and July 2001
4.Concentrations of dissolved and total trace elements in water samples collected at Camp Atterbury, September 2000 and July 2001
5.Concentrations of Escherichia coli, instantaneous streamflow, and water-quality characteristics in water samples collected from monitoring sites on streams at Camp Atterbury, May and June 2001
6.Fish species, abundance, and total weight in stream reaches near 10 monitoring sites at Camp Atterbury, September and October 2000
Figures
2. Physiographic units of Camp Atterbury study area
3. Surficial geology of Camp Atterbury study area
4. Age of bedrock beneath Camp Atterbury study area
5. Soil regions of Camp Atterbury study area
6. Cross-section diagram of conceptual model for hydrogeology and contaminant transport at Camp Atterbury, September 2000 through July 2001
7. Map showing monitoring sites for assessment of surface-water quality at Camp Atterbury, September 2000 through July 2001
8. Illustration of filter plate with Escherichia coli colonies
9–11. Photographs showing:
10. Surber sampler in use for collection of benthic-macroinvertebrate sample at Camp Atterbury, September 2000
11. Aquatic insects of the orders Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera, typical of pollution-intolerant benthic macroinvertebrates
13. Daily mean streamflow at U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging station 03362000 on Youngs Creek near Edinburgh, Indiana, and instantaneous streamflow from monitoring sites at Camp Atterbury, September 2000
14. Map showing monitoring sites and 30-day geometric mean Escherichia coli concentrations in water samples collected at Camp Atterbury, May 14 through June 14, 2001
15. Boxplot of Escherichia coli concentrations in water samples collected from 16 monitoring sites on streams at Camp Atterbury, May 14 through June 14, 2001
16–17. Charts showing:
17. Concentrations of Escherichia coli and detections of wastewater tracers in water samples collected from 14 monitoring sites on streams at Camp Atterbury, May 14 through June 14, 2001
18. Map showing selected monitoring sites with chemical and biological assessment of surface-water quality at Camp Atterbury, September and October 2000
Tables
2. Coordinates, altitude, and watershed characteristics of monitoring sites for assessment of surface-water quality at Camp Atterbury, September 2000 through July 2001
3. Constituents and analytical methods for water samples collected at Camp Atterbury, September 2000 through July 2001
4. Constituent groups and analytical methods for water, streambed-sediment, and fish-tissue samples collected at Camp Atterbury, September 2000 through July 2001
5. Wastewater tracers analyzed in water samples collected at Camp Atterbury, May 14 through June 14, 2001
6. Daily mean streamflow at U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging station 03362000 on Youngs Creek near Edinburgh, Indiana, and instantaneous streamflow on water-sampling dates at Camp Atterbury, September 2000 and July 2001
7. Summary statistics for water-quality characteristics and physical properties of water samples collected at Camp Atterbury, September 2000 and July 2001
8. Radiological determinations for water samples collected at Camp Atterbury, September 2000
9. Summary statistics for dissolved major ions and nutrients in water samples collected at Camp Atterbury, September 2000 and July 2001
10. Summary statistics for trace elements in water samples collected at Camp Atterbury, September 2000 and July 2001
11. Physical properties of streambed-sediment samples collected at Camp Atterbury, September 2000
13. Comparative statistics for concentrations of selected trace elements detected in streambed-sediment samples collected at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, September 2000, and from the White River Basin, Indiana, 1992 and 1994–96
14. Characteristics of fish-tissue samples collected at Camp Atterbury, October 2000
15. Concentrations of trace elements detected in fish-tissue samples collected at Camp Atterbury, October 2000
16. Concentrations of Escherichia coli in water samples collected at Camp Atterbury, September 2000
17. Concentrations of Escherichia coli in water samples collected at Camp Atterbury, May 14 through June 14, 2001
18. Species identified during fish-community inventories at Camp Atterbury, September and October 2000
19. Summary of fish-community inventories at Camp Atterbury, September and October 2000
20. Fish-community-integrity classes and attributes for Index of Biotic Integrity and Modified Index of Well-Being scores
21. Numerical indexes for fish-community inventories and habitat evaluations at Camp Atterbury, September and October 2000
22. Benthic-macroinvertebrate-community inventories at Camp Atterbury, September 2000
23. Hilsenhoff Biotic Index score ranges and water-quality-evaluation ratings
24. Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index metrics and scores at Camp Atterbury, September 2000
25. Wastewater tracers detected in water samples collected from 13 monitoring sites on streams at Camp Atterbury, May 14 through June 14, 2001
26. Wastewater tracers detected in a water sample collected from monitoring site B5 on Lick Creek at Camp Atterbury, May 16, 2001
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