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Stream Sediment Sources in Medicine Creek, Northern Missouri and Southern Iowa

Scientific Investigations Report 2026-5121
Prepared in cooperation with Missouri Department of Natural Resources
By:
https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20265121

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Abstract

This report presents the results of a cooperative study by the U.S. Geological Survey and Missouri Department of Natural Resources to quantify sediment transport source contributions in the Medicine Creek drainage basin. Understanding relative source contributions provides valuable information for selecting the conservation practices that may be most effective in reducing sediment and sediment-associated nutrient transport in the Medicine Creek drainage basin and similar areas of the Lower Grand River drainage basin. Sediment samples were collected from potential contributing areas (source samples) and from fluvial-transported samples (target samples). Source sample types included streambanks, row crop fields, and a combined pastures and forests category. Samples were analyzed for particle size and quantity of carbon, nitrogen, stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen, and 49 mineral elements as potential tracers. Results for the carbon stable isotope ratio of carbon-13/carbon-12 (δ13C) and concentrations of total carbon, total nitrogen, calcium, potassium, and copper were selected by discriminant function analysis as the best combination of multiple tracers to differentiate each source type. The discriminant function analysis poorly differentiated pastures and forests, so these source types were combined. The sources defined by the discriminant function analysis were then used in an unmixing model to apportion sources for each target sample.

In the study area, transported sediment was predominantly bank sediment, with an overall average of 86.9 percent of suspended-sediment samples and depositional streambed samples attributed to bank material. Suspended-sediment samples from the mainstem of Medicine Creek were dominated by bank sediments (average of 95.8 percent), and depositional streambed samples from throughout the drainage basin had more variable source contributions with an average of 71.1 percent attributed to bank material. The relative importance of upland sources (row crop fields and the combined pastures and forests category) varied seasonally and with streamflow but was not related to land use or drainage basin size. Relative contributions from upland sources were greater in the summer through winter rather than spring and during lower streamflow, though this may be driven by the seasonality of streamflow. These results indicate management practices that reduce bank erosion could be effective strategies for managing the dominant source of sediment and sediment-associated phosphorus.

Suggested Citation

Garrett, J.D., 2026, Stream sediment sources in Medicine Creek, northern Missouri and southern Iowa: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2026–5121, 11 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20265121.

ISSN: 2328-0328 (online)

Table of Contents

  • Acknowledgments
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Methods for Data Collection and Computation
  • Summary of Sediment Sample Data
  • Fluvial Sediment and Phosphorus Apportioning by Source Type
  • Summary
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Stream sediment sources in Medicine Creek, northern Missouri and southern Iowa
Series title Scientific Investigations Report
Series number 2026-5121
DOI 10.3133/sir20265121
Publication Date March 02, 2026
Year Published 2026
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Central Midwest Water Science Center
Description Report: vi, 11 p.; Data Release; Dataset
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Additional publication details