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Arkansas Water Science Center

Comparability of Suspended-Sediment Concentration and Total Suspended-Solids Data for Two Sites on the L’Anguille River, Arkansas, 2001 to 2003

U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigation Report 2005-5193—ONLINE ONLY

By Joel M. Galloway, Dennis A. Evans, and W. Reed Green

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Abstract

Suspended-sediment concentration and total suspended solids data collected with automatic pumping samplers at the L'Anguille River near Colt and the L'Anguille River at Palestine, Arkansas, August 2001 to October 2003 were compared using ordinary least squares regression analyses to determine the relation between the two datasets for each of the two sites. The purpose of this report is to describe the suspended-sediment concentration and total suspended-solids data and examine the comparability of the two datasets for each site.

Suspended-sediment concentration and total suspended solids data for the L'Anguille River varied spatially and temporally from August 2001 to October 2003. The site at the L'Anguille River at Palestine represents a larger portion of the L'Anguille River Basin than the site near Colt, and generally had higher median suspended-sediment concentration and total suspended solids and greater ranges in values. The differences between suspended-sediment concentration and total suspended solids data for the L'Anguille River near Colt appeared inversely related to streamflow and not related to time. The relation between suspended-sediment concentration and total suspended solids at the L'Anguille River at Palestine was more variable than at Colt and did not appear to have a relation with flow or time. The relation between suspended-sediment concentration and total suspended solids for the L'Anguille River near Colt shows that total suspended solids increased proportionally as suspended-sediment concentration increased. However, the relation between suspended-sediment concentration and total suspended solids for the L'Anguille River at Palestine showed total suspended solids increased less proportionally as suspended-sediment concentration increased compared to the L’Anguille River near Colt.

Differences between the two analytical methods may partially explain differences between the suspended-sediment concentration and total suspended solids data at the two sites. Total suspended solids are analyzed by removing an aliquot of the original sample for further analysis, and suspended-sediment concentrations are analyzed using all sediment and the total mass of the sample. At the L’Anguille River at Palestine another source of variability in the two data sets could have been the location of the automatic pumping sampler intake. The intake was located at a point in the stream cross-section that was subject to sedimentation, which may have resulted in positive sample bias.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Abstract

Introduction

Purpose and Scope

Study Area Description

Methods of Study

Field Methods

Laboratory Methods

Suspended-Sediment Concentration

Total Suspended Solids

Statistical Methods

Description of Data Used in Evaluation

Comparability of Suspended-Sediment Concentration and Total Suspended-Solids Data

Summary

References

Figures

  1. Map showing locations of water-quality sites on the L’Anguille River at Palestine and near Colt in eastern Arkansas
  2. Graphs showing daily mean streamflow for the L’Anguille River near Colt and the L’Anguille River at Palestine from August 2001 to October 2003
  3. Boxplots showing distribution of suspended-sediment concentrations and total suspended solids for the L’Anguille River near Colt and the L’Anguille River at Palestine from August 2001 to October 2003
  4. Graph showing time series of suspended-sediment concentrations and total suspended solids data for the L’Anguille River near Colt and the L’Anguille River at Palestine from August 2001 to October 2003
  5. Boxplot showing distribution of suspended-sediment concentrations from samples collected using automatic pumping samplers and using the equal width increment cross-section method for the L’Anguille River near Colt and the L’Anguille River at Palestine, Arkansas from August 2001 to October 2003
  6. Differences between suspended-sediment concentration and total suspended solids for the L’Anguille River near Colt from August 2001 to October 2003 in relation to time and streamflow
  7. Relation between suspended-sediment concentration and total suspended solids for the L’Anguille River near Colt from August 2001 to October 2003
  8. Differences between suspended-sediment concentrations and total suspended solids for the L’Anguille River at Palestine from August 2001 to October 2003 in relation to time and streamflow
  9. Relation between suspended-sediment concentration and total suspended solids for the L’Anguille River at Palestine from August 2001 to October 2003

 

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