Scientific Investigations Report 2007-5065
Prepared in cooperation with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
This report is available below as a 46-page PDF for viewing and printing.
Nutrient, suspended sediment, and pesticide data from 1990 through 2004 in the Red River of the North Basin were compiled, summarized, and compared to historical data. Streamflow varied widely throughout the basin during the 1990-2004 study period. For 19 of 22 streamflow sites, median annual streamflow during the study period exceeded the long-term average streamflow. High streamflow can have a substantial effect on water quality. In water samples from selected surface-water sites, nitrite plus nitrate concentrations ranged from less than 0.005 to 7.7 milligrams per liter; total Kjeldahl nitrogen concentrations ranged from 0.1 to 7.5 milligrams per liter; total phosphorus concentrations ranged from less than 0.005 to 4.14 milligrams per liter; and dissolved phosphorus concentrations ranged from 0.003 to 4.13 milligrams per liter. Surface-water samples from the Pembina River basin generally had higher nitrite plus nitrate, total phosphorus, and suspended sediment concentrations compared to samples from other Red River Basin sites. Historical data from 1970 through 1990 showed relatively high nitrite plus nitrate and suspended sediment concentrations in samples from some Pembina River sites; in contrast to the 1990-2004 period, total phosphorus concentrations from the 1970-90 period generally were highest at Red River of the North sites. Nitrate concentrations in ground-water samples for the 1990-2004 period were highest in Sheridan County, North Dakota and Marshall and Otter Tail Counties in Minnesota. Concentrations of nitrate in ground water in Marshall and Otter Tail Counties corresponded to relatively high reported fertilizer applications during 2002; however, Sheridan County did not have the high fertilizer applications in 2002 compared to other North Dakota and Minnesota counties. The most frequently detected pesticides or pesticide metabolites were 2, 4-D, bentazon, de-ethylatrazine, metolachlor, picloram, and triallate in surface water and alachlor ethanesulfonic acid (ESA), atrazine, de-ethylatrazine, picloram, and triazine in ground water. None of the most frequently detected pesticides or metabolites sampled and analyzed by the U.S. Geological Survey or available in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Storage and Retrieval System (STORET) during 1990-2004 were detected frequently during 1970-90, with the exception of 2,4-D.
Abstract
Introduction
Purpose and Scope
Environmental Setting
Uses and Sources of Nutrients, Sediment, and Pesticides
Methods
Nutrients, Suspended Sediment, and Pesticides in Water of the Red River Basin
Nutrients
Surface Water
Ground Wate
Suspended Sediment
Pesticides
Surface Water
Ground Water
Comparison to Historical Data
Summary
References Cited
4. |
Distribution of mean annual streamflow for 22 U.S. Geological Survey sites with continuous streamflow record in the Red River of the North Basin, 1990–2004. | |
5. |
Distribution of (A) nitrite plus nitrate nitrogen, (B) total Kjeldahl nitrogen, (C) total phosphorus, and (D) dissolved phosphorus concentrations for 23 selected U.S. Geological Survey stream sites in the Red River of the North Basin, 1990–2004. | |
6. |
Distribution of (A) nitrite plus nitrate nitrogen, (B) total Kjeldahl nitrogen, and (C) total phosphorus concentrations for selected U.S. Environmental Protection Agency STOrage and RETrieval stream sites in the Red River of the North Basin, 1990–2004. |
| 7. | Map showing numbers of wells sampled, by county, during 1990–2004 in the Red River of the North Basin. |
8. |
Distribution of nitrate nitrogen concentrations in water from wells in North Dakota counties in the Red River of the North Basin, 1990–2004. | |
9. |
Distribution of nitrate nitrogen concentrations in water from wells in Minnesota counties in the Red River of the North Basin, 1990–2004. | |
10. |
Distribution of suspended-sediment concentrations for stream sites in the Red River of the North Basin upstream from Grand Forks, North Dakota, 1990–2004. | |
11. |
Distribution of suspended-sediment concentrations for stream sites in the Red River of the North Basin at Grand Forks, North Dakota and downstream, 1990–2004. | |
12. |
Monthly distribution of pesticide concentrations for five selected U.S. Geological Survey stream sites (1990–2004): (A) de-ethylatrazine, (B) atrazine, (C) metolachlor, and (D) triallate. |
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Suggested citation:
Christensen, V.G., 2007, Nutrients, suspended sediment, and pesticides in water of the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota and North Dakota, 1990-2004: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2007-5065, 36 p.
Go to the USGS Minnesota Water Science Center Home Page
2280 Woodale Drive
Mounds View, MN 55112-4900
USA
Phone: (763) 783-3100
FAX: (763) 783-3103
For scientific questions or comments, please send inquires to Victoria G. Christensen (E-mail address: vglenn@usgs.gov).
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