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Establishment of sentinel sampling sites to monitor changes in water and sediment quality and biota related to visitor use at Lake Powell, Arizona and Utah, 2004-2006

Open-File Report 2012-1237
Prepared in cooperation with the National Park Service, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
By: , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20121237

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Abstract

Twenty sentinel sampling sites were established and sampled during 2004–06 at Lake Powell, Arizona and Utah, by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Park Service—Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. The sentinel sampling sites provide sampling locations on Lake Powell, the Nation’s second largest reservoir that can be visited and sampled repeatedly over time to monitor changes in water and sediment quality and also biota. The sites were established in response to an Environmental Impact Statement that addressed the use of personal watercraft on Lake Powell. The use of personal watercraft can potentially introduce hydrocarbons and other contaminants and are of concern to the health of visitors and aquatic habitats of these environments. Data from this initial sampling period (2004–06) include (1) discrete measurements of water temperature, specific conductance, pH, and water clarity; (2) major ions, nutrients, and organic carbon; (3) trace elements including rare earths; (4) organic compounds including oil and grease, total petroleum hydrocarbons, and volatile organic compounds; (5) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in lakebed sediments; and (6) continuous depth profile measurements of water temperature, specific conductance, pH, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity. Also, the National Park Service-Glen Canyon National Recreation Area collected bacteria samples during this initial sampling period.

Suggested Citation

Hart, R.J., Taylor, H.E., Anderson, G., 2012, Establishment of sentinel sampling sites to monitor changes in water and sediment quality and biota related to visitor use at Lake Powell, Arizona and Utah, 2004-2006: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2012-1237, Report: vi, 25 p.; Table 1; 6 Appendixes: A-F, https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20121237.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Establishment of sentinel sampling sites to monitor changes in water and sediment quality and biota related to visitor use at Lake Powell, Arizona and Utah, 2004-2006
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2012-1237
DOI 10.3133/ofr20121237
Year Published 2012
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Arizona Water Science Center
Description Report: vi, 25 p.; Table 1; 6 Appendixes: A-F
Time Range Start 2004-01-01
Time Range End 2006-12-31
Country United States
State Arizona;Utah
Other Geospatial Glen Canyon National Recreation Area;Lake Powell
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) Y
Additional publication details