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Concentrations and annual fluxes for selected water-quality constituents from the USGS National Stream Water Quality Accounting Network (NASQAN)

By Valerie J. Kelly, Richard P. Hooper, Brent T. Aulenbach, and Mary Janet

Summary Statistics--Rio Grande Basin, Water Years 1996-2000

Rio Grande near Brownsville, Texas (08475000)

Daily Mean Streamflow

Units                               N             Min     5th       25th     Median    75th      95th      Max

Cubic feet per second             1,827             0         5        29        69       125       250     2,330
Cubic meters per second           1,827             0         0         1         2         4         7        66

Field Parameters, Turbidity, and Suspended Sediment

Units in milligrams per liter, except where noted

Parameter                             N               Min      5th     25th    Median     75th     95th     Max

00010 Temperature (C)                35                16.0    18.0     22.0      28.5     30.0     33.0     34.5
00076 Turbidity (NTU)                35                 1.7     5.5     14.0      20.0     24.0     39.0     75.0
00095 Conductance (uS/cm)            35               782.0   819.0   1227.0    1420.0   1590.0   1930.0   1940.0
00300 Dissolved oxygen               35                 4.8     5.0      6.4       7.4      8.5     11.0     11.8
00400 pH (standard units)            35                 7.3     7.6      8.0       8.2      8.3      8.4      8.7
00452 CO3 (filtered)                 34                 0.0     0.0      0.0       0.0      0.0     14.0     17.0
00453 HCO3 (filtered)                35               102.0   121.0    146.0     161.0    192.0    219.0    238.0
39086 Alk (filtered, as CaCO3)       35                84.0    99.0    119.0     134.0    165.0    195.0    202.0
70331 % finer than 62 microns        29                83.0    88.1     96.9      98.0     99.0    100.0    100.0
80154 Suspended sediment             35                16.0    23.0     30.0      37.0     55.0    156.0    191.0

Nutrients and Organic Carbon, dissolved (filtered at 0.45 microns) and whole-water (unfiltered)

Units in milligrams per liter

Note: because of changes in reporting levels (RL), all censored data in this summary are converted to the highest RL reported for this station

                                          Percent
Parameter                       RL  N    Detections    Min      5th      25th    Median    75th     95th     Max

00608 NH3-N                   .020  35       74      < 0.020  < 0.020  < 0.020    0.014    0.020    0.111    0.203
00613 NO2-N                   .010  35       60      < 0.010  < 0.010  < 0.010    0.007    0.010    0.020    0.022
00623 Org+NH3-N (filtered)    .200  35      100        0.200    0.233    0.292    0.312    0.392    0.551    0.600
00625 Org+NH3-N (whole-water) .200  35       97      < 0.200    0.356    0.520    0.601    0.800    1.291    1.300
00631 NO2+NO3-N               .050  35       46      < 0.050  < 0.050  < 0.050  < 0.050    0.100    0.525    0.740
00665 Total P (whole-water)   .010  35      100        0.050    0.060    0.120    0.158    0.180    0.230    0.294
00666 Total P (filtered)      .010  35       89      < 0.010  < 0.010    0.047    0.063    0.113    0.149    0.230
00671 PO4-P                   .001  35       97      < 0.001    0.002    0.036    0.061    0.099    0.132    0.199
00681 DOC                     .300  32      100        2.900    3.000    3.700    3.900    4.150    5.000    5.100
00689 SOC                     .200  35      100        0.300    0.396    0.700    1.300    2.000    2.600    2.900

Major Ions, dissolved (filtered at 0.45 microns)

Units in milligrams per liter, except where noted

                                          Percent
Parameter                       RL  N    Detections    Min      5th      25th    Median    75th     95th     Max

00915 Calcium                 .020  35      100        47.77    59.29    73.19    81.00    96.00    120.0    122.7
00925 Magnesium               .010  35      100        12.33    13.67    21.93    25.80    28.25    34.56    37.53
00930 Sodium                  .200  35      100        75.93    86.34    130.0    152.9    180.0    210.0    214.7
00935 Potassium               .010  35      100        4.770    5.080    5.890    6.320    6.810    7.500    7.640
00940 Chloride                .010  34      100        108.3    121.1    165.1    197.1    220.0    298.5    301.8
00945 Sulfate                 .010  34      100        133.5    168.2    227.3    269.5    290.0    330.0    341.6
00950 Fluoride                .100  34      100        0.391    0.400    0.566    0.700    0.864    0.900    0.901
00955 Silica                  .010  35      100        3.531    5.052    9.900    12.77    14.32    19.00    24.97

Trace Elements, dissolved (filtered at 0.45 microns)

Units in micrograms per liter

Note: because of changes in reporting levels (RL), all censored data in this summary are converted to the highest RL reported for this station

                                          Percent
Parameter                       RL  N    Detections    Min      5th      25th    Median    75th     95th     Max

01000 Arsenic                  1.0  35      100          2.0      2.1      3.0      4.0      5.1      7.0      8.0
01005 Barium                   1.0  29      100         64.3     93.0    102.0    114.0    136.0    141.0    142.3
01010 Beryllium                1.0  29        0      <   1.0  <   1.0  <   1.0  <   1.0  <   1.0  <   1.0  <   1.0
01020 Boron                   16.0  34      100        187.1    203.8    247.5    305.2    360.0    494.5    544.8
01025 Cadmium                  1.0  29        0      <   1.0  <   1.0  <   1.0  <   1.0  <   1.0  <   1.0  <   1.0
01030 Chromium                 5.0  29       69      <   5.0  <   5.0  <   5.0      1.5      2.0      3.0      5.0
01035 Cobalt                   3.0  29        0      <   3.0  <   3.0  <   3.0  <   3.0  <   3.0  <   3.0  <   3.0
01040 Copper                   1.0  29       90      <   1.0  <   1.0      1.1      1.6      2.0      3.0      3.0
01046 Iron                    10.0  35        9      <  10.0  <  10.0  <  10.0  <  10.0  <  10.0     10.0     15.6
01049 Lead                     1.0  29        0      <   1.0  <   1.0  <   1.0  <   1.0  <   1.0  <   1.0  <   1.0
01056 Manganese                1.0  29       41      <   1.0  <   1.0  <   1.0  <   1.0      1.5      5.3      6.2
01060 Molybdenum              10.0  29       97      <  10.0      4.4      7.0      7.7      8.5      9.0     10.0
01065 Nickel                   1.0  29       97      <   1.0      1.0      1.4      1.9      2.0      3.0      4.0
01075 Silver                   1.0  29        0      <   1.0  <   1.0  <   1.0  <   1.0  <   1.0  <   1.0  <   1.0
01080 Strontium                0.5  35      100        743.6    808.6     1285     1499     1700     1900     2008
01085 Vanadium                10.0  35       29      <  10.0  <  10.0  <  10.0  <  10.0     10.0     10.0     10.0
01090 Zinc                     3.0  29       86      <   3.0  <   3.0      1.8      2.5      3.0      4.0      6.4
01095 Antimony                 1.0  28        4      <   1.0  <   1.0  <   1.0  <   1.0  <   1.0  <   1.0      1.0
01106 Aluminum                10.0  29       45      <  10.0  <  10.0  <  10.0  <  10.0      2.0      3.5     10.0
01130 Lithium                  4.0  35      100         22.3     26.3     43.6     48.9     57.0     65.0     65.3
01145 Selenium                 2.4  35        6      <   2.4  <   2.4  <   2.4  <   2.4  <   2.4      2.4      2.4
22703 Uranium                  1.0  28      100          1.2      1.4      2.5      3.0      3.2      4.0      4.0

Pesticides, dissolved (filtered at 0.7 microns)

Units in micrograms per liter, except where noted

Note: concentrations sometimes are estimated below the reporting level (RL); in this summary, all censored and estimated concentrations are converted to highest RL reported for this station; the percent detections described in the table include estimated concentrations, when appropriate

                                          Percent
Parameter                       RL  N    Detections    Min      5th      25th    Median    75th     95th     Max

04024 Propachlor              .007  34        3      < 0.007  < 0.007  < 0.007  < 0.007  < 0.007  < 0.007    0.410
04028 Butylate                .002  34        0      < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002
04035 Simazine                .010  34       15      < 0.010  < 0.010  < 0.010  < 0.010  < 0.010    0.010    0.014
04037 Prometon                .018  34       15      < 0.018  < 0.018  < 0.018  < 0.018  < 0.018    0.018    0.018
04040 Desethyl atrazine       .004  34       59      < 0.004  < 0.004  < 0.004    0.002    0.004    0.005    0.006
04041 Cyanazine               .004  34        0      < 0.004  < 0.004  < 0.004  < 0.004  < 0.004  < 0.004  < 0.004
04095 Fonofos                 .003  34        0      < 0.003  < 0.003  < 0.003  < 0.003  < 0.003  < 0.003  < 0.003
34253 alpha-HCH               .002  34        0      < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002
34653 p,p DDE                 .006  34        3      < 0.006  < 0.006  < 0.006  < 0.006  < 0.006  < 0.006    0.006
38933 Chlorpyrifos            .004  34       18      < 0.004  < 0.004  < 0.004  < 0.004  < 0.004    0.010    0.026
39341 gamma-HCH               .004  34        0      < 0.004  < 0.004  < 0.004  < 0.004  < 0.004  < 0.004  < 0.004
39381 Dieldrin                .001  34        0      < 0.001  < 0.001  < 0.001  < 0.001  < 0.001  < 0.001  < 0.001
39415 Metolachlor             .002  34       21      < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002    0.007    0.016
39532 Malathion               .005  34        3      < 0.005  < 0.005  < 0.005  < 0.005  < 0.005  < 0.005    0.022
39542 Parathion               .004  34        0      < 0.004  < 0.004  < 0.004  < 0.004  < 0.004  < 0.004  < 0.004
39572 Diazinon                .007  32       53      < 0.007  < 0.007  < 0.007    0.005    0.008    0.057    0.087
39632 Atrazine                .001  34       94      < 0.001  < 0.001    0.007    0.011    0.022    0.139    0.224
46342 Alachlor                .005  34        0      < 0.005  < 0.005  < 0.005  < 0.005  < 0.005  < 0.005  < 0.005
49260 Acetochlor              .002  34        0      < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002
82630 Metribuzin              .075  34        3      < 0.075  < 0.075  < 0.075  < 0.075  < 0.075  < 0.075    0.075
82660 Diethylanaline          .003  34        0      < 0.003  < 0.003  < 0.003  < 0.003  < 0.003  < 0.003  < 0.003
82661 Trifluralin             .002  34        3      < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002    0.003
82663 Ethalfluralin           .004  34        0      < 0.004  < 0.004  < 0.004  < 0.004  < 0.004  < 0.004  < 0.004
82664 Phorate                 .002  34        0      < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002
82665 Terbacil                .007  34        0      < 0.007  < 0.007  < 0.007  < 0.007  < 0.007  < 0.007  < 0.007
82666 Linuron                 .002  32        0      < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002
82667 Methyl parathion        .006  32        9      < 0.006  < 0.006  < 0.006  < 0.006  < 0.006    0.017    0.084
82668 EPTC                    .008  32        0      < 0.008  < 0.008  < 0.008  < 0.008  < 0.008  < 0.008  < 0.008
82669 Pebulate                .040  32        0      < 0.040  < 0.040  < 0.040  < 0.040  < 0.040  < 0.040  < 0.040
82670 Tebuthiuron             .010  32        3      < 0.010  < 0.010  < 0.010  < 0.010  < 0.010  < 0.010    0.010
82671 Molinate                .004  34        0      < 0.004  < 0.004  < 0.004  < 0.004  < 0.004  < 0.004  < 0.004
82672 Ethoprop                .003  34        0      < 0.003  < 0.003  < 0.003  < 0.003  < 0.003  < 0.003  < 0.003
82673 Benfluralin             .002  34        0      < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002
82674 Carbofuran              .010  34        0      < 0.010  < 0.010  < 0.010  < 0.010  < 0.010  < 0.010  < 0.010
82675 Terbufos                .013  34        0      < 0.013  < 0.013  < 0.013  < 0.013  < 0.013  < 0.013  < 0.013
82676 Pronamide               .003  34        0      < 0.003  < 0.003  < 0.003  < 0.003  < 0.003  < 0.003  < 0.003
82677 Disulfoton              .017  34        0      < 0.017  < 0.017  < 0.017  < 0.017  < 0.017  < 0.017  < 0.017
82678 Triallate               .001  34        0      < 0.001  < 0.001  < 0.001  < 0.001  < 0.001  < 0.001  < 0.001
82679 Propanil                .004  34        0      < 0.004  < 0.004  < 0.004  < 0.004  < 0.004  < 0.004  < 0.004
82680 Carbaryl                .003  34        3      < 0.003  < 0.003  < 0.003  < 0.003  < 0.003  < 0.003    0.160
82681 Thiobencarb             .002  34        0      < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002
82682 Dachthal (DCPA)         .002  34       21      < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002  < 0.002    0.005    0.021
82683 Pendimethalin           .004  34        0      < 0.004  < 0.004  < 0.004  < 0.004  < 0.004  < 0.004  < 0.004
82684 Napropamide             .003  34        0      < 0.003  < 0.003  < 0.003  < 0.003  < 0.003  < 0.003  < 0.003
82685 Propargite              .050  33        0      < 0.050  < 0.050  < 0.050  < 0.050  < 0.050  < 0.050  < 0.050
82686 Azinphos methyl         .010  33        6      < 0.010  < 0.010  < 0.010  < 0.010  < 0.010    0.010    0.010
82687 Permethrin              .020  34        3      < 0.020  < 0.020  < 0.020  < 0.020  < 0.020  < 0.020    0.020
91063 Diazinon-d10 (%)        .100  34      100        62.80    75.60    92.00    101.3    110.1    120.0    120.3
91064 Terbuthylazin (%)       .100  28      100        80.40    89.62    102.9    109.5    112.8    125.7    133.3
91065 HCH alpha-D6 (%)        .100  34      100        69.10    70.50    83.11    92.38    102.8    117.5    121.0

Suspended Sediment Chemistry

Units in parts per million (ppm) or parts per hundred (%)

Values censored higher than the reporting level (RL) indicate samples with insufficient sediment mass to quantify concentration above the RL

                                          Percent
Parameter                    RL       N  Detections    Min      5th      25th    Median    75th     95th     Max

29816 Antimony (ppm)        0.10     29     100       0.50     0.80     1.30     1.80      3.00     9.60      9.80
29818 Arsenic (ppm)         0.10     29     100       7.00     7.90     9.30    10.90     12.00    15.00     15.50
29820 Barium (ppm)          1.00     29     100      290.0    290.0    330.0    400.0     430.0    470.0     490.0
29822 Beryllium (ppm)       0.10     29     100       0.50     0.70     1.10     1.40      1.50     1.60      2.00
29826 Cadmium (ppm)         0.10     29      97    <  0.10     0.10     0.30     0.40      0.60     1.20      1.50
29829 Chromium (ppm)        1.00     29      97    <  1.00    16.00    33.00    36.00     41.00    49.00     51.00
29832 Copper (ppm)          1.00     29     100       8.00    11.00    14.00    16.00     18.00    30.00     41.00
29836 Lead (ppm)            1.00     29     100      14.00    17.00    21.00    25.00     31.00    60.00     130.0
29839 Manganese (ppm)       10.0     29     100      650.0     1000     1300     1500      1800     2500      2500
29841 Mercury (ppm)         0.01     29      97    <  0.01     0.04     0.07     0.11      0.16     0.33      0.42
29843 Molybdenum (ppm)      5.00     29       0    <  5.00  <  5.00  <  5.00  <  5.00   < 25.00  < 25.00   < 50.00
29845 Nickel (ppm)          1.00     29      97    <  1.00    12.00    19.00    22.00     24.00    29.00     29.00
29847 Selenium (ppm)        0.10     29     100       0.40     0.50     0.60     0.70      0.90     1.20      1.60
29850 Silver (ppm)          0.50     29      24    <  0.50  <  0.50  <  0.50  <  0.50   <  1.00     5.00      5.00
29853 Vanadium (ppm)        1.00     29     100      27.00    37.00    57.00    65.00     77.00    85.00     90.00
29855 Zinc (ppm)            1.00     29     100      50.00    60.00    100.0    120.0     130.0    220.0     250.0
30221 Aluminum (%)          0.10     29     100       1.90     2.90     4.30     5.00      5.70     6.20      6.80
30244 Total carbon (%)      0.10     29      90    <  0.10  <  0.10     4.40     5.00      5.40     6.20      9.70
30269 Iron (%)              0.10     29     100       0.90     1.30     2.10     2.30      2.70     3.40      5.80
30292 Phosphorus (%)        0.01     29     100       0.08     0.09     0.10     0.12      0.14     0.16      0.16
30308 Sulfur (%)            0.10     27      89    <  0.10  <  0.10     0.50     1.40      1.80     2.90      3.80
30317 Titanium (%)          0.01     29     100       0.10     0.10     0.20     0.22      0.30     0.30      0.33
35031 Cobalt (ppm)          1.00     29     100       3.00     4.00     6.00     7.00      8.00    11.00     13.00
35040 Strontium (ppm)       0.01     29     100      410.0    410.0    540.0    660.0     810.0     1200      1500
35046 Uranium (ppm)         50.0     29       0    < 50.00  < 50.00  < 50.00  < 50.00   < 250.0  < 250.0   < 500.0
35050 Lithium (ppm)         1.00     29     100      22.00    37.00    40.00    44.00     47.00    50.00     51.00
49955 Thallium (ppm)        50.0     29       0    < 50.00  < 50.00  < 50.00  < 50.00   < 250.0  < 250.0   < 500.0
50279 Sediment (mg/L)       1.00     29     100      32.00    33.00    37.00    43.00     51.00    88.00     103.0
50465 Organic carbon (%)    0.10     29      86    <  0.10  <  0.10     2.00     2.80      3.20     3.80      4.10

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