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G. A. Payne

Publications and source records attributed to G. A. Payne.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS2004

Effects of changes in reservoir operations on water quality and trophic state indicators in Voyageurs National Park, northern Minnesota, 2001-03

Implementation of an order by the International Joint Commission in January 2000 has changed operating procedures for dams that regulate two large reservoirs in Voyageurs National Park in northern Minnesota. These new procedures were expected to restore a more natural water regime and affect water levels, water quality, and trophic status. Results of laboratory analyses and field measurements of chemical and physical properties from May 2001 through September 2003 were compared to similar data collected prior to the change in operating procedures. Rank sum tests showed significant decreases in chlorophyll-a concentrations and trophic state indices for Kabetogama Lake (p=0.021) and Black Bay (p=0.007). There were no significant decreases in total phosphorus concentration, however, perhaps due to internal cycling of phosphorus. No sites had significant trends in seasonal total phosphorus concentrations, with the exception of May samples from Sand Point Lake, which had a significant decreasing trend (tau=-0.056, probability=0.03). May chlorophyll-a concentrations for Kabetogama Lake showed a significant decreasing trend (tau=-0.42, probability=0.05). Based on mean chlorophyll trophic-state indices (2001-03), Sand Point, Namakan, and Rainy Lakes would be classified oligotrophic to mesotrophic, and Kabetogama Lake and Rainy Lake at Black Bay would be classified as mesotrophic. The classification of Sand Point, Namakan, and Rainy Lakes remain the same for data collected prior to the change in operating procedures. In contrast, the trophic classification of Kabetogama Lake and Rainy Lake at Black Bay has changed from eutrophic to mesotrophic.

Minnesota↗
USGS2003

Reconnaissance of mercury and methylmercury in the St. Croix River and selected tributaries, Minnesota and Wisconsin, July 2000 through October 2001

A reconnaissance-level assessment to characterize total mercury and methylmercury concentrations during summer lowflow conditions was conducted in the St. Croix River Basin during July 2000 through October 2001. Samples were collected at 6 main stem and 16 tributary sites. Loads of total mercury and methylmercury increased in the St. Croix River main stem between Nevers Dam and Franconia. Total mercury and methylmercury concentrations were greatest during July in the Namekagon River. Methylmercury yields in the Namekagon River and Rush Creek were greater than the yield for other tributary streams. Methylmercury concentrations and yields were greater in tributaries draining wetland/forest watersheds than in tributaries draining agricultural/forest watersheds.

Minnesota, Wisconsin↗
USGS2002

Water-quality and aquatic-community characteristics of selected reaches of the St. Croix River, Minnesota and Wisconsin, 2000

Synoptic sampling was used to determine chemical and biological characteristics of the St. Croix River within a study reach that extended from near Danbury, Wisconsin to the confluence with the Mississippi River at Prescott, Wisconsin. The study was conducted August 7- September 25, 2000 during summer low flow. Dissolved-residue concentrations were found to increase gradually as the river flows downstream, with an abrupt increase downstream of the confluence with the Sunrise River that was primarily attributed to an increase in calcium and magnesium. Dissolved residue concentrations were further augmented by increased yields of chloride and sulfate in the part of the St. Croix Basin between Nevers Dam near St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin and Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota. Nearly all of the nitrogen in transport was in the form of nitrate and organic nitrogen. Organic nitrogen, mainly in particulate form, accounted for most of the gain in total nitrogen load within the study reach. Nitrogen loading to the mainstem indicated relatively uniform nitrogen inputs from the Clam River, Kettle River, and Snake River watersheds. The rate of nitrogen load accrual increased downstream of the confluence with the Sunrise River and in the subreach extending from Nevers Dam through St. Croix Falls to Franconia, Minnesota. Nitrogen load also increased, primarily because of nitrate input, in the part of Lake St. Croix downstream of the confluence with the Kinnickinnic River. Total phosphorus concentrations and loads reflected variations in the amount of particulate phosphorus in transport. Phosphorus loading increased in the part of the St. Croix River that includes Danbury and the confluences of the Yellow River and Clam River. Phosphorus loading also increased downstream of the confluence with the Sunrise River, but the greatest load increase occurred between Nevers Dam and Franconia. Phosphorus load decreased substantially as the river flowed through the pooled reach of Lake St. Croix downstream of Stillwater. Suspended-sediment concentrations were low, ranging from 4.0 to 36 milligrams per liter. The small amount of sediment in transport was reflected in turbidity measurements that ranged from 0.5 to 3.6 Nephelometry Turbidity Units, and transparency tube measurements that were greater than 60 centimeters at all sites. Biological measures of resource quality change in the St. Croix River along its course from Danbury to Prescott. Changes in the biological indicators of resource quality (fish and invertebrate community composition) are most notable just upstream and downstream of the dam at St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin. Aquatic communities in the upper St. Croix River, from near Danbury to near Rush City, Minnesota, indicate minimal physical and chemical disturbance as evidenced by relatively high taxa richness and greater proportions of taxa intolerant to physical and chemical disturbance. In contrast, aquatic communities downstream of the Sunrise River to Marine on St. Croix indicate both physical and chemical disturbance. Resource monitoring, consisting of short-term diagnostic studies, may be needed in parts of the St. Croix River mainstem and tributaries where results from this study indicate constituent loading is greatest and where the aquatic community composition indicates disturbance. Longer-term trend monitoring may be needed to detect physical, chemical and biological responses to natural processes and human activities in the St. Croix River Basin.

Minnesota, Wisconsin↗
USGS1999

Stream water-quality characteristics and trends, James River basin, North Dakota, 1949-95

Water-quality data collected at 16 water-quality-sampling sites in the James River Basin during 1949-95 were statistically summarized. Analysis of variance of data ranks was used to make comparisons among sites for selected constituents that had 20 or more analyses per site. Statistically significant differences among sites were indicated for specific conductance, dissolved solids, major ions, and nutrients. Regression analyses indicated negative relations to streamflow at most sites for specific conductance, dissolved solids, hardness, and most major ions. Several nutrients related positively to streamflow. Seasonal trends were prevalent for calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, sulfate, and chloride. Seasonal trends for nutrients were less frequent. Time trends were indicated for one or more constituents at all sites.

North Dakota↗
USGS1998

Ground water and streamflow in the Nett Lake Indian Reservation, northern Minnesota, 1995-97

The Nett Lake Indian Reservation, about 164 square miles in area, is in northern Minnesota. About 300 people live in Nett Lake Community, about 100 people live in Palmquist Community, and a few people live in other parts of the Reservation. Water resources in the Reservation include: (1) ground water in sand and gravel aquifers and bedrock aquifers; (2) Nett Lake; (3) streams in the Nett Lake River watershed; and (4) wetlands that comprise about one-half of the area of the Reservation. Ground-water sources in the Reservation consist of sand and gravel aquifers and bedrock aquifers. Buried sand and gravel aquifers are important sources of water. Reported yields for wells completed in these aquifers are as much as 60 gallons per minute. Reported yields for wells completed in bedrock aquifers are as much as 34 gallons per minute. The Reservation is located within the Little Fork River Basin. Streams that flow into and out of Nett Lake are in the Nett Lake River watershed, a subbasin of the Little Fork River Basin. Most of the discharge into Nett Lake is from Lost River and Woodduck Creek; a small amount of discharge into Nett Lake is from several other small streams. Discharge from Nett Lake is to the Nett Lake River. Ground water in buried sand and gravel aquifers in the vicinity of three community wells and a closed landfill east of Nett Lake Community may have moved from the landfill toward the community wells. Ground water near Nett Lake locally discharged into the lake through underlying peat that ranges in thickness from 3 to 12 feet. Two Palmquist Community wells probably are not hydraulically connected to shallow ground water in the vicinity of a nearby closed landfill. The wells are located more than 2,000 feet away and are completed in a bedrock aquifer overlain by 124-154 feet of clay. The concentrations of the trace metals iron and manganese exceeded their respective U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level limits in water from three and six wells sampled, respectively. All but 3 of 63 VOCs (volatile organic compounds) analyzed for in water from seven wells sampled had concentrations less than the MDL (method detection limit) of 0.2000 ( μ g/L except for di-bromo-chloro-propane, which had a concentration less than the MDL of 1.000 ( μ g/L. The detected VOCs were phenols, benzene, and 1,1- dichloroethane. The sources of these VOCs may have been leachate from nearby closed landfills. Benzene, the only one of the three detected VOCs with an established MCL (Maximum Contaminant Level), had a concentration that was one order of magnitude less than its MCL of 5 ( μ g/L. The stage-discharge relations for Nett Lake River and Woodduck Creek were usable for estimation of daily mean discharge for each stream. Six discharge measurements made in the Lost River indicate that discharge in this stream could be substantially greater or smaller than concurrent discharge in Woodduck Creek.

Minnesota↗
USGS1997

Quantity and quality of runoff from selected guttered and unguttered roadways in northeastern Ramsey County, Minnesota

Five roadway sections in northeastern Ramsey County, Minnesota were monitored during 1993-95, to evaluate water quality and loading of constituents from roadway runoff. Two snowmelt-runoff and five rainfall-runoff events were monitored per year at each site. Additional samples of rainfall were analyzed to determine if rainfall was a direct source of constituent loading to roadway runoff. Roadway-runoff samples were analyzed for selected physical properties, dissolved solids, nutrients, dissolved ions, selected metals, and semi-volatile compounds. Concentrations of dissolved ions such as sodium, chloride, and metals such as aluminum, chromium, lead, and zinc were detected at much greater levels for snowmelt-runoff samples than rainfall-runoff samples. Analysis of chemical samples from rainfall indicate that rainfall was not a direct source for most constituents. Dissolved nitrate and dissolved ammonia in rainfall, however, can contribute up to one-half the amounts detected in roadway runoff. Concentrations of total phosphorus and fecal Streptococcus bacteria were greater at unguttered sites than at guttered sites. Concentrations of dissolved solids, and some metals were greater at guttered sites than at unguttered sites. This suggests that the vegetated road ditches associated with unguttered sites may filter out heavier particles such as metals and solids, while contributing additional organic matter. Concentrations of aliiminum, copper, lead, and zinc exceeded chronic condition standard limits established by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for metropolitan storm water from 96 percent, 52 percent, 9 percent, and 20 percent of the samples collected, respectively. Chemical loadings of specific constituents, such as suspended solids, from an individual rainfall-runoff event accounted for greater than 90 percent of the cumulative loadings of that constituent for all monitored events at site 4, for the entire study period. Length of latent period was statistically compared to constituent concentration levels of total phosphorus, dissolved sulfate, and total zinc and there was a correlation. Constituent loads were not associated with latent period. No correlation was found between traffic volumes which ranged from 1,888 to 7,172 vehicles per day and constituent concentrations or loads for this study.

Minnesota↗
USGS1995

Ground-water baseflow to the upper Mississippi River upstream of the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, Minnesota during July 1988

Ground-water baseflow to six subreaches of the Upper Mississippi River were estimated for July 1988, a period of drought. Ground-water baseflow to each subreach was estimated on the basis of streamflow gains determined from records of daily discharge at gaging stations. Streamflow gains were adjusted for estimated inflow from tributaries, municipal and industrial discharges, withdrawals, and evaporation. Low-flow frequency characteristics were computed for the Mississippi River near Anoka, Minnesota and the Mississippi River at St. Paul, Minnesota.

Minnesota↗
USGS1994

Physical characteristics of stream subbasins in the Pomme de Terre River Basin, west-central Minnesota

Data describing the physical characteristics of stream subbasins upstream from selected points on streams in the Pomme de Terre River Basin, located in west-central Minnesota, are presented in this report. The physical characteristics are the drainage area of the subbasin, the percentage area of the subbasin covered only by lakes, the percentage area of the subbasin covered by both lakes and wetlands, the main-channel length, and the main-channel slope. The points on the stream include outlets of subbasins of at least 5 square miles, outfalls of sewage treatment plants, and locations of U.S. Geological Survey low-flow, high-flow, and continuous-record gaging stations.

Minnesota↗
USGS1994

Sources and transport of sediment, nutrients, and oxygen-demanding substances in the Minnesota River basin, 1989-92

The Minnesota River, 10 major tributaries, and 21 springs were sampled to determine the sources and transport of sediment, nutrients, and oxygen- demanding substances. The study was part of a four-year assessment of non-point source pollution in the Minnesota River Basin. Runoff from tributary watersheds was identified as the primary source of suspended sediment and nutrients in the Minnesota River mainstem. Suspended-sediment, phosphorus, and nitrate concentrations were elevated in all major tributaries during runoff, but tributaries in the south-central and eastern part of the basin produce the highest annual loading to the mainstem because of higher annual precipitation and runoff in that part of the basin. Particle-size analyses showed that most of the suspended sediment in transport consisted of silt- and clay-size material. Phosphorus enrichment was indicated throughout the mainstem by total phosphorus concentrations that ranged from 0.04 to 0.48 mg/L with a median value of 0.22 mg/L, and an interquartile range of 0.15 to 0.29 mg/L. Nitrate concentrations periodically exceeded drinking water standards in tributaries draining the south-central and eastern part of the basin. Oxygen demand was most elevated during periods of summer low flow. Correlations between levels of biochemical oxygen demand and levels of algal productivity suggest that algal biomass comprises much of the oxygen-demanding material in the mainstem. Transport of sediment, nutrients, and organic carbon within the mainstem was found to be conservative, with nearly all tributary inputs being transported downstream. Uptake and utilization of nitrate and orthophosphorus was indicated during low flow, but at normal and high flow, inputs of these constituents greatly exceeded biological utilization.

Minnesota, South Dakota↗
USGS1993

Selected basin characteristics and water-quality data of the Minnesota River basin

Selected basin characteristics and water-quality dam for the Minnesota River Basin are presented in this report as 71 maps, 22 graphs, and 8 tables. The data were compiled as part of a four-year study to identify non-point sources of pollution and the effect of this pollution on water quality. The maps were prepared from geographic information system data bases. Federal, State, and local agencies, and colleges and universities collected and assembled these data as part of the Minnesota River Assessment Project.

Minnesota↗
USGS1990

Hydrologic and water-quality data for streams and impoundments in the Coteau des Prairies-Upper Minnesota River basin, 1979-84

Water-quality and streamflow data were collected in the Coteau des Prairies region of southwestern Minnesota and eastern South Dakota from 1979- 84. Data were collected to (1) document the water-quality characteristics of streams and impoundments in the Coteau area, (2) predict the impact of proposed impoundments, (3) define the amount of dissolved and suspended material transported, and (4) determine the differences in water quality between the impoundment inflows and outflows. Streamflow and water-quality data were collected at 12 stream and four impoundment sites. Continuous-record gages, set to collect data at 15-minute intervals, and readings taken by local observers were used to complete discharge records at 10 stream sites and stage records at three impoundment sites. Automatic samplers and local observers collected storm runoff, sediment, and nutrient samples at 10 stream sites. Water-quality samples were collected at various time and stage intervals during high flow and periodically during low flow. Primary emphasis in the stream-sampling program was on analysis of samples for nutrients in 1980-82, and on analysis of suspended sediment and nutrients in 1983-84. Field measurements were made of pH, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, alkalinity, and bacteria. Secondary emphasis was on analysis of major dissolved substances. Primary emphasis in the impoundments was on analysis of samples for phosphorus and chlorophyll and on the measurement of transparency. Temperature and dissolved-oxygen concentrations were measured to determine the degree of stratification. All data collected during the study are given in tables 4-13 of this report. The tables list mean-daily stream discharge, mean-daily suspendedsediment concentration, daily suspended-sediment discharge, results of waterquality analyses, and bed-material particle-size analyses at stream sites. The tables also list information on pool stage, water temperature, and transparency, on dissolved-oxygen, chlorophyll a, phytoplankton, and nutrient concentrations, and on chemical and partical-size analyses of bed material at impoundment sites.

Minnesota↗
USGS1981

Water quality of Alimagnet, Farquar, and Long Lakes in Apple Valley, Minnesota

Alimagnet, Farquar, and Long Lakes, in Apple Valley, Minnesota, were sampled from 1973-79 to determine their physical and chemical characteristics. A storm-sewer inlet to Alimagnet Lake was also sampled during two storms in 1978. The 1976-77 drought caused a more noticeable effect on the quality of the lakes than any other factor. Chloride concentrations were 10 to 15 milligrams per liter before the drought, but increased 2 to 4 times during the drought. Dissolved solids reacted similarly. Dissolved oxygen and pH were governed mainly by biological activity. In February 1977, dissolved-oxygen concentration was less than 0.5 milligrams per liter in the three lakes. Ratios between mean total nitrogen and mean total phosphorus ranged from 22:1 to 26:1. Trophic-state indices indicate that the lakes are eutrophic. Blue-green algae dominated the phytoplankton populations. Storms sampled at a storm-sewer inlet to Alimagnet Lake showed higher concentrations of chromium, copper, nickel, and zinc than of lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury. Total phosphorus for the September 1978 storm had a concentration of 1.7 milligrams per liter, which means that approximately 29 pounds entered the lake during the 5.5-hour sampling period.

Minnesota↗
USGS1980

Effects of urbanization on the water quality of lakes in Eagan, Minnesota

Water-quality characteristics of 17 lakes and ponds in the city of Eagan were described from data collected from 1972 through 1978. The data showed that differences in water quality between lakes were related to differences in the percentage of urbanization. However, water-quality variations within each lake were affected more by climatic variations than by land-use changes during that period. Dissolved solids, alkalinity, and chloride concentrations varied most in lakes with urbanized watersheds, in lakes with outlets, and in lakes less than 6 feet deep. Certain lakes without outlets showed an increase in chloride during the study, caused in part by urbanization but intensified by drought conditions of 1976-77. Fifteen of the lakes studied are less than 10 feet deep and frequently mix during open water. These lakes are highly eutrophic, primarily because of high nutrient loading and recycling of nutrients. Holland and Fish Lakes, with depths of 52 and 30 feet, respectively, were the least eutrophic. These lakes limit continuous recycling of nutrients from bottom materials to water surface by thermal stratification and entrapment of nutrients in the hypolimnion. Three phosphorus-prediction models developed during the study are applicable to shallow (less than about 12 feet), nonstratifying lakes and ponds. The data base was not sufficient to select an appropriate model to predict the effects of future loading from continuing urbanization on the deeper lakes.

Minnesota↗
USGS1977

Baseline water quality of Long Meadow Lake, Ponds AP-9 and AP-10, and Black Dog Creek, Hennepin and Dakota counties, Minnesota

Long Meadow Lake, Black Dog Creek, and Ponds AP-9 and AP-10 which lie in an area designated for a trunk highway bridge crossing the Minnesota River, were sampled for baseline water quality prior to construction of the bridge. Data collected show that dissolved solids fluctuate seasonally. Dissolved oxygen:/ranged from less than 1 milligram per liter under an ice cover to 13-9 milligrams per liter in the September sample at site 4 in Long Meadow Lake. The phytoplankton analyses showed pulses in algae populations, blue-green algae being the dominant type in at least one sample from each of the water courses.

Minnesota↗