Skip Links

USGS - science for a changing world

Data Series 915

Prepared in cooperation with the City of Independence, Missouri, Water Pollution Control Department

Hydrological, Water-Quality, and Ecological Data for Streams in Independence, Missouri, June 2005 through September 2013

By Shelley L. Niesen and Eric D. Christensen

Thumbnail of and link to report PDF (6.91 MB)Abstract

Water-quality, hydrological, and ecological data collected from June 2005 through September 2013 from the Little Blue River and smaller streams within the City of Independence, Missouri, are presented in this report. These data were collected as a part of an ongoing cooperative study between the U.S. Geological Survey and the City of Independence Water Pollution Control Department to characterize the water quality and ecological condition of Independence streams. The quantities, sources of selected constituents, and processes affecting water quality and aquatic life were evaluated to determine the resulting ecological condition of streams within Independence. Data collected for this study fulfill the municipal separate sewer system permit requirements for the City of Independence and can be used to provide a baseline with which city managers can determine the effectiveness of current (2014) and future best management practices within Independence. Continuous streamflow and water-quality data, collected during base flow and stormflow, included physical and chemical properties, inorganic constituents, common organic micro-constituents, pesticides in streambed sediment and surface water, fecal indicator bacteria and microbial source tracking data, and suspended sediment. Dissolved oxygen, pH, specific conductance, water temperature, and turbidity data were measured continuously at seven sites within Independence. Base-flow and stormflow samples were collected at eight gaged and two ungaged sites. Fecal sources samples were collected for reference for microbial source tracking, and sewage influent samples were collected as additional source samples. Dry-weather screening was done on 11 basins within Independence to identify potential contaminant sources to the streams. Benthic macroinvertebrate community surveys and habitat assessments were done on 10 stream sites and 2 comparison sites outside the city. Sampling and laboratory procedures and quality-assurance and quality-control methods used in data collection for this study are described in this report.

First posted March 12, 2015

For additional information contact:
Director, Missouri Water Science Center
U.S. Geological Survey
1400 Independence Road
Rolla, MO 65401
http://mo.water.usgs.gov/

Part or all of this report is presented in Portable Document Format (PDF). For best results viewing and printing PDF documents, it is recommended that you download the documents to your computer and open them with Adobe Reader. PDF documents opened from your browser may not display or print as intended. Download the latest version of Adobe Reader, free of charge. More information about viewing, downloading, and printing report files can be found here.


Suggested citation:

Niesen, S.L., and Christensen, E.D., 2015, Hydrological, water-quality, and ecological data for streams in Independence, Missouri, June 2005 through September 2013: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 915, 80 p., https://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ds915.

ISSN 2327-638X (online)



Contents

Acknowledgments

Conversion Factors

Abbreviations

Abstract

Introduction

Methods

Water-Quality Data

Ecological Data

Summary

References Cited

Appendixes 1 and 2


Accessibility FOIA Privacy Policies and Notices

Take Pride in America logo USA.gov logo U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://pubsdata.usgs.gov/pubs/ds/0915/index.html
Page Contact Information: GS Pubs Web Contact
Page Last Modified: Monday, 28-Nov-2016 20:32:03 EST