A water-quality assessment of the Rock Creek (Cass) watershed, Cass and Carroll counties, Indiana

Open-File Report 75-324
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Abstract

A water-quality assessment of the Rock Creek (Cass) watershed was made June 12 and 13, 1974. Nutrients were resampled November 7, 1974. Surface waters within the watershed were calcium bicarbonate types with very similar concentrations of major dissolved constituents. Samples collected June 13 contained between 7.4 and 14 milligrams per litre dissolved nitrate (as N), between 0.05 and 1.3 milligrams per litre dissolved phosphate (as P), and between 2.3 to 4.0 milligrams per litre dissolved organic carbon. Samples collected November 7 contained less than 0.22 milligrams per litre dissolved nitrate (as N). The concentrations of fecal coliform bacteria ranged from 450 to 14,000 colonies per 100 millilitres. The concentrations of fecal streptococci bacteria ranged from 600 to 8,500 colonies per 100 millilitres. The bed materials of an upper Rock Creek site contained moderately high concentrations of dieldrin and chlordane (17 and 19 micrograms per kilogram, respectively) and also contained less than 6 micrograms per kilogram aldrin, DDD, heptachlor epoxide, and PCB's. Bed materials in a lower Rock Creek site contained less than 4.2 micrograms per kilogram of all the above compounds except PCB's. Biologic diversity indices of 2.7 and 2.2, which do not typify healthy benthic communities, were found in the upper and lower Rock Creek sampling sites, respectively. The benthic communities were dominated by midge larvae at both sites. Diatoms (Navicula sp) dominated the phytoplankton communities at both sites.

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title A water-quality assessment of the Rock Creek (Cass) watershed, Cass and Carroll counties, Indiana
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 75-324
DOI 10.3133/ofr75324
Year Published 1975
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Contributing office(s) Indiana Water Science Center
Description iv, 21 p.
Country United States
State Indiana
County Carroll County, Cass County
Other Geospatial Rock Creek (Cass) watershed
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Additional publication details