Chemical, geologic, and hydrologic data from the Little Colorado River basin, Arizona and New Mexico, 1988-91

Fisk, G.G.; Ferguson, Sue A.; Rankin, Dale R.; Wirt, Laurie

doi:10.3133/ofr94356

Cited by 2 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…However, the transfer of siphon samplers into non‐conservative water quality monitoring programmes and other hydrological settings outside of the USA has been limited (cf. Gray and Fisk, , Fisk et al , ; Graf et al , ; Newham et al , ; Drewry et al , , ; Hawdon et al , ). Consequently, it is unknown if existing siphon sampler designs can withstand the dynamic high‐flow conditions typical of Australia's dryland rivers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Event‐based Water Quality Sampling Method for Application in Remote Rivers

Mackay

Taylor

2011

River Research & Apps

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This paper describes the design and operation of a passive siphon sampler for the collection of event‐based water quality data from a remote dryland river. The materials used to construct the siphon sampler were modified to better adapt the design for the collection of non‐conservative water quality parameters and for use in high‐intensity flow conditions typical of Australia's dryland rivers. The performance of the siphon sampler was evaluated in a pilot study of water metals in the rising‐stage floodwaters of the upper Leichhardt River catchment, north‐west Queensland, Australia. Field blanks were used to quantify the extent of contamination of the collected waters by sampling media, atmosphere exposure or water intrusion during an event‐based collection period. The use of inert materials, such as high‐density polyethylene plastic, and careful cleaning with 10% nitric acid washes prior to use reduced environmental contamination of the collected sample. Below detectable levels of Pb and Zn and minor concentrations of Cu (1.8 and 1.3 μg L–1) were reported in rinsate and atmospheric blanks that were exposed in the field for less than 24 h. Atmospheric and flood blanks that remained in the field for greater than 2 weeks and remained in the siphon samplers throughout the duration of the flood events reported quantifiable concentrations of metals. For the case of the upper Leichhardt River catchment, the siphon sampler met the need of providing event‐based water collection data and offered a practical, low‐cost alternative to conventional event‐based sampling techniques. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Event‐based Water Quality Sampling Method for Application in Remote Rivers

Mackay

Taylor

2011

River Research & Apps

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Water and suspended sediment samples were collected at three tributary sites in Grand Canyon: Little Colorado River, Kanab Creek, and Havasu Creek, using programmable ISCO autosamplers and by grab sampling. Suspended sediment was collected and analyzed in addition to water at these sites because of the high suspended-sediment loads coming from the tributaries [ 30 ] and the tendency of radionuclides and other constituents to sorb to fine-grained sediment [ 23 ]. The remoteness of the tributary sites allows only limited access (normally twice per year), mostly by boat trips on the Colorado River or by helicopter.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Stewart et al [ 22 ] presented radionuclide concentrations (uranium isotopes and radium) from Grand Canyon water samples including one sample each in July and September of 1986 at the Little Colorado River at the mouth, a July 1986 sample at Kanab Creek, and August 1985 and July 1986 samples at Havasu Creek. Fisk et al [ 23 ] presented results from a four-year study of water and sediment quality in the Little Colorado River basin, with a focus on radionuclides that might be related to uranium mining and milling operations in the basin. Samples were collected from several sites within the Little Colorado River basin, the most downstream being at Little Colorado River near Cameron, Arizona, which is some 70 river kilometers upstream from the Colorado River.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing uranium and select trace elements associated with breccia pipe uranium deposits in the Colorado River and main tributaries in Grand Canyon, USA

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Assessing chemical loading from streams in remote, difficult-to-access watersheds is challenging. The Grand Canyon area in northern Arizona, an international tourist destination and sacred place for many Native Americans, is characterized by broad plateaus divided by canyons as much as two-thousand meters deep and hosts some of the highest-grade uranium deposits in the U.S. From 2015–2018 major surface waters in Grand Canyon were monitored for select elements associated with breccia-pipe uranium deposits in the area, including uranium, arsenic, cadmium, and lead. Dissolved constituents in the Colorado River were monitored upstream (Lees Ferry), in the middle (Phantom Ranch), and downstream (Diamond Creek) of uranium mining areas. Concentrations of uranium, arsenic, cadmium, and lead at these main-stem sites varied little during the study period and were all well below human health and aquatic life benchmark criteria (30, 10, 5, and 15 μg/L maximum contaminant levels and 15, 150, 0.8, and 3.1 μg/L aquatic life criteria, respectively). Additionally, dissolved and sediment-bound constituents were monitored during a wide range of streamflow conditions at Little Colorado River, Kanab Creek, and Havasu Creek tributaries, whose watersheds have experienced different levels of uranium mining activities over time. Samples from the tributary sites contained ≤3.8 μg/L of dissolved cadmium and lead, and ≤17 μg/L of dissolved uranium. Dissolved arsenic also was mostly below human and aquatic life criteria at Little Colorado River and Kanab Creek; however, 63% of water samples from Havasu Creek were above the maximum contaminant level for arsenic. Arsenic in suspended sediment was greater than sediment quality guidelines in 9%, 35%, and 35% of samples from Little Colorado River, Kanab Creek, and Havasu Creek, respectively. At the concentrations observed during this study, tributaries contributed on average only about 0.12 μg/L of arsenic and 0.03 μg/L of uranium to the main-stem river. This study demonstrates how chemical loading from mined watersheds may be reliably assessed across a wide range of flow conditions in challenging locations.

show abstract

Chemical, geologic, and hydrologic data from the Little Colorado River basin, Arizona and New Mexico, 1988-91

Cited by 2 publications

References 0 publications

Event‐based Water Quality Sampling Method for Application in Remote Rivers

Event‐based Water Quality Sampling Method for Application in Remote Rivers

Assessing uranium and select trace elements associated with breccia pipe uranium deposits in the Colorado River and main tributaries in Grand Canyon, USA

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About