Water-Resources Investigations Report

WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF MAUMELLE AND WINONA RESERVOIR SYSTEMS, CENTRAL ARKANSAS MAY 1989 - OCTOBER 1992

by W. Reed Green

This document is available in Portable Document Format (PDF):  WRIR93-4218 (629 KB)

To view this document, you need the Adobe Acrobat® Reader installed on your computer. (A free copy of the Acrobat® Reader may be downloaded from Adobe Systems Incorporated.)

Abstract

Water quality of the Maumelle and Winona water supply reservoir systems in central Arkansas, was assessed on the basis of the data collected from May 1989 through October 1992. Water quality relative to: (1) suitability for municipal water supply; (2) other streams and reservoirs within the region; and for the Maumelle reservoir, (3) the ecological trophic condition and sensity to change. The Maumelle reservoir covers 8,900 acres and is relatively shallow (maximum depth is 45 feet). The Winona reservoir covers 1,240 acres and has a maximum depth of 100 feet.

The tributary and reservoir water was analyzed for constituents regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Arkansas Department of Health. In many cases, the concentration of these constituents was at or below detection limits, which was well below the respective maximum contaminant levels used by the Arkansas Department of Health. Total iron and manganese concentrations often exceeded the maximum contaminant level, especially in the bottom of Maumelle. Turbidity levels also exceeded the maximum contaminant level, but this would be expected in the raw water.

The water quality of Maumelle and Winona reservoir systems also compared favorably when measured against other regional streams and reservoirs. From these comparisons, it can be considered that the water quality of the major tributaries discharging into the respective reservoirs represents the baseline or pristine condition within the region. Likewise, the water quality of the reservoirs could be considered to represent the baseline condition; Maumelle for a shallow, impounded flood-plain reservoir, and Winona for a deep river valley reservoir.

Data from the Maumelle reservoir system were used to investigate trophic condition using empirical models developed from an 80 lake cross-sectional data set that examined, specified, and parameterized trophic state relations. Observed and predicted values generated from empirical trophic state models compared favorably. The Maumelle reservoir can be considered in a state of oligo-mesotrophic transition. If nutrient inputs can be maintained at current levels, the water quality of the Maumelle reservoir should remain relatively stable. However, increases in phosphorus load may alter the water quality from its present oligo-mesotrophic condition to that of a more eutrophic condition, and this trophic response may be amplified with increases in nitrogen loading.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Abstract

Introduction

Purpose and scope

Description of study area

Maumelle reservoir

Winona reservoir

Study methods and approach

Hydrologic setting

Thermal and dissolved oxygen dynamics

Water quality related to municipal water supply

Water quality related to other regional streams and reservoirs

Regional streams

Regional reservoirs

Water quality of Maumelle in relation to trophic state and sensitivity to change

Summary

Selected references

ILLUSTRATIONS

  1. Location of study area
  2. Maumelle reservoir system and location of data collection stations
  3. Winona reservoir system and location of data collection stations
  4. Daily mean discharge for Maumelle River and Alum Fork Saline River, August 1989 through October 1992
  5. Flow-duration relations for Maumelle River and Alum Fork Saline River, water-years 1990-92
  6. Daily discharge-percentage total discharge relations for Maumelle River and Alum Fork Saline River, water-years 1990-92
  7. Daily mean reservoir volume for Maumelle and Winona reservoirs, August 1989 through October 1992
  8. Map showing Maumelle reservoir bathymetry
  9. Maps showing Winona reservoir bathymetry
  10. Percentage of capacity and depth relation for Maumelle and Winona reservoirs
  11. Distribution of temperature with depth and time in Maumelle reservoir at site M2, January 1991-October 1992
  12. Temperature-depth profiles during winter, spring, and summer in Winona reservoir at site W2, 1989-92.
  13. Distribution of dissolved oxygen as percentage of saturation with depth and time in Maumelle reservoir at site M2, January 1991-October 1992
  14. Dissolved oxygen-depth profiles during winter, spring and summer in Winona reservoir at site W2, 1989-92
  15. Chloride, nitrite plus nitrate nitrogen, total iron, and total manganese concentrations in water from inflow and reservoir stations from Maumelle and Winona reservoirs
  16. Sodium, sulfate, and total dissolved solid concentrations, and turbidity in water from inflow and reservoir stations from Maumelle and Winona reservoirs.
  17. Color intensity and organic carbon concentrations in water from inflow and reservoir stations from Maumelle and Winona reservoirs
  18. Map showing regional streams and reservoirs used in water-quality comparisons
  19. Chloride, sulfate, total ammonia nitrogen, and total phosphorus concentrations in water from selected streams in Arkansas
  20. Total phosophorus and cholorophyll-a concentrations in water from selected reservoirs in Arkansas
  21. Expected maximum cholorphyll-a concentrations for Maumelle reservoir generated by the Reckhow (1988) model

TABLES

  1. Descriptive data for Maumelle and Winona reservoir systems
  2. Sampling dates for Maumelle and Winona inflow and reservoir stations
  3. Primary standards for selected constituents mandated by the U.S. enbironmental Protection Agency and the Arkansas Department of Health, and secondary standards recommended by the Arkansas Department of health for drinking water
  4. Variables used in the Reckhow (1988) empirical trophic state models for Maumelle reservoir
  5. Observed and calculated values generated from the Reckhow (1988) empirical trophic state models for mean summer phosophorus, nitrogen, and maximum summer cholorphyll-a concentrations in Maumelle reservoir

Accessibility FOIA Privacy Policies and Notices

Take Pride in America home page. FirstGov button U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
Persistent URL: https://pubs.water.usgs.gov/wri934218
Page Contact Information: USGS Publishing Network
Page Last Modified: Wednesday, 07-Dec-2016 13:26:06 EST