Geology topics

Mark E. Brigham

Publications and source records attributed to Mark E. Brigham.

44 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

USGS2002

Statistical analysis of stream water-quality data and sampling network design near Oklahoma City, central Oklahoma, 1977-1999

Water-quality data collected from 1993-99 at five sites on Bluff, Deer, and Chisholm Creeks and from 1988-99 at five sites in the North Canadian River indicated that there were significant differences in constituent values among sites for water properties, major ions, trace elements, nutrients, turbidity, pesticides, and bacteria. Concentrations of dissolved solids and sulfate generally decreased as streams flowed through the Oklahoma City urban area. Concentrations of organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus compounds, lindane, and 2,4-D, and frequencies of detection of pesticides increased in the North Canadian River as it flowed through the urban area. Volatile organic compounds were not detected in samples collected quarterly from 1988-90 at sites on the North Canadian River. Concentrations of some compounds, including dissolved oxygen, sulfate, chloride, ammonia, manganese, diazinon, dieldrin, and fecal coliform bacteria periodically exceeded Federal or state water-quality standards at some sites. Regression analyses were used to identify trends in constituent concentrations related to streamflow, season, and time. Trends for some constituents were indicated at all sites, but most trends were sitespecific. Seasonal trends were evident for several constituents: suspended solids, organic nitrogen, and biochemical oxygen demand were greatest during summer. Dissolved oxygen, ammonia, and nitrite plus nitrate-nitrogen were greatest during winter. Concentrations of dissolved oxygen, fluoride, sulfate, total suspended solids, iron, and manganese generally increased with time. Concentrations of chloride, nitrite plus nitrate-nitrogen, dissolved phosphorus, dissolved orthophosphate, biochemical oxygen demand, dieldrin, and lindane decreased with time. There was relatively little change in land use from the late 1970s to the mid-1990s due to relatively modest rates of population growth in the study area during that period. Most changes in water quality in these streams and rivers may be due to changes in chemical use and wastewater treatment practices. The sampling network was evaluated with respect to areal coverage, sampling frequency, and analytical schedules. Areal coverage could be expanded to include one additional watershed that is not part of the current network. A new sampling site on the North Canadian River might be useful because of expanding urbanization west of the city, but sampling at some other sites could be discontinued or reduced based on comparisons of data between the sites. Additional real-time or periodic monitoring for dissolved oxygen may be useful to prevent anoxic conditions in pools behind new low-water dams. The sampling schedules, both monthly and quarterly, are adequate to evaluate trends, but additional sampling during flow extremes may be needed to quantify loads and evaluate water-quality during flow extremes. Emerging water-quality issues may require sampling for volatile organic compounds, sulfide, total phosphorus, chlorophyll- a , Esherichia coli , and enterococci, as well as use of more sensitive laboratory analytical methods for determination of cadmium, mercury, lead, and silver.

Oklahoma↗

USGS2001

Analysis of suspended-sediment concentrations and radioisotope levels in the Wild Rice River basin, northwestern Minnesota, 1973-98

We examined historical suspended-sediment data and activities of fallout radioisotopes (lead-210 [ 210 Pb], cesium-137 [ 137 Cs], and beryllium-7 [ 7 Be]) associated with suspended sediments and source-area sediments (cultivated soils, bank material, and reference soils) in the Wild Rice River Basin, a tributary to the Red River of the North, to better understand sources of suspended sediment to streams in the region. Multiple linear regression analysis of suspended-sediment concentrations from the Wild Rice River at Twin Valley, Minnesota indicated significant relations between suspended-sediment concentrations and streamflow. Flow-adjusted sediment concentrations tended to be slightly higher in spring than summer-autumn. No temporal trends in concentration were observed during 1973-98. The fallout radioisotopes were nearly always detectable in suspended sediments during spring-summer 1998. Mean 210 Pb and 7 Be activities in suspended sediment and surficial, cultivated soils were similar, perhaps indicating little dilution of suspended sediment from low-isotopic-activity bank sediments. In contrast, mean 137 Cs activities in suspended sediment indicated a mixture of sediment originating from eroded soils and from eroded bank material, with bank material being a somewhat more important source upstream of Twin Valley, Minnesota; and approximately equal fractions of bank material and surficial soils contributing to the suspended load downstream at Hendrum, Minnesota. This study indicates that, to be effective, efforts to reduce sediment loading to the Wild Rice River should include measures to control soil erosion from cultivated fields.

Minnesota↗

USGS1999

Mercury, methylmercury, and other water-quality data from flood-control impoundments and natural waters of the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, 1997-99

It is now well documented that impoundment of natural waters, with inundation of terrestrial area, results in enhanced conversion of inorganic mercury to methylmercury, a form that is toxic and bioaccumulates to a greater extent than inorganic mercury. Concentrations of mercury, methylmercury, and other water-quality constituents are reported from water sampled from flood-control impoundments and natural (unimpounded) waters of the Red River of the North Basin from 1997-99.

Minnesota↗

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↗

USGS1996

Comparison of mercury concentrations in liver, muscle, whole bodies, and composites of fish from the Red River of the North

Carp ( Cyprinus carpio ) from four sites and channel catfish ( Ictalurus punctatus ) from one site in the Red River of the North in 1994 were analyzed for total mercury content. In carp, mercury concentrations differed among liver, muscle, and whole bodies (0.11, 0.31, and 0.18 µg/g wet weight, respectively), between large and small size groups, but not location. Mercury distribution in channel catfish tissues differed from that in carp. Liver and muscle tissue had similar mean concentrations; each was higher than whole-body concentrations (0.16, 0.18, and 0.11 µg/g, respectively). Mercury concentrations were not significantly different between the two size groups of channel catfish. Weighted-mean mercury concentrations from seven individual fish agreed closely (usually within 10%) with concentrations determined on physical composites of the same fish. The ratio of mercury in whole bodies to mercury in muscle was similar for both carp and channel catfish. Historical data indicate that this ratio may be applicable to other species and locations. The ratio of mercury in livers to whole bodies and muscle differed between carp and channel catfish, which may reflect physiological differences between different trophic groups.

Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota↗

USGS1995

Pesticide amounts are small in streams in the Red River of the North Basin, 1993-94

Pesticides are used extensively in the largely agricultural Red River of the North (Red River) Basin, but, unlike many other agricultural basins, only small amounts are routinely detected in samples from streams in the basin. The pesticides detected comprise less than 2 percent of the amount applied and usually are at concentrations far less than established drinking water standards. Most of the detected pesticides seem to come from sources near the headwaters in the southern part of the basin. Although low, concentrations are related to pesticide application and runoff. Flat land slope, organic soils, pesticide management, and degradation all may limit pesticide contamination that reaches Red River Basin streams.

Open-File Report↗

USGS1994

Pesticides detected in surface waters and fish of the Red River of the North drainage basin

The Red River of the North drainage basin (herein referred to as Red River Basin) within the United States is a study unit under the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) program. The overall goals of this program, initiated to better define the status and trends of the Nation’s water quality, are to address regional and national water-quality issues in a nationally consistent manner. Pesticide contamination of surface water and fish is one focus of this program. The Red River Basin is about 90,600 square kilometers (km2 ) in area and is composed of rolling prairie with a high density of prairie-pothole wetlands to the west; a very flat glacial lake bed with drainage ditches and meandering streams in the center (Red River Valley Lake Plain); morainal hills with a mosaic of agriculture, lakes, and forest in the southeast; and a flat lake-washed till plain with extensive peatlands in the northeast (fig. 1). Stoner and others (1993) have given a more complete description of the environmental setting of the Red River Basin. Agriculture is a major component of the region’s economy, and is greatest in the Red River Valley Lake Plain. Principal crops are wheat, barley, oats, sunflowers, corn, soybeans, dry beans, potatoes, sugarbeets, alfalfa hay, and other hay. Herbicide, insecticide, and fungicide use depends on crop type and environmental stresses such as crop disease, drought, and periodic insect-pest infestation. This paper focuses on the occurrence, movement, and fate of agricultural pesticides that are applied to crops, but improper disposal, and use of pesticides for household pests, lawn care, golf courses, and home gardening can also result in contamination of the aquatic environment. Furthermore, atmospheric transport is known to transport pesticides to regions far from their source (Kurtz, 1990). Pesticide data have been collected in the Red River Basin by various Federal, State, and local agencies. Tornes and Brigham (1994) recently summarized many of these historical data. This paper summarizes selected data collected as part of the NAWQA program during 1992-93, and briefly compares these data to historical data and to pesticide usage.

Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota↗

USGS1992

Increasing rates of atmospheric mercury deposition in midcontinental North America

Mercury contamination of remote lakes has been attributed to increasing deposition of atmospheric mercury, yet historic deposition rates and inputs from terrestrial sources are essentially unknown. Sediments of seven headwater lakes in Minnesota and Wisconsin were used to reconstruct regional modern and preindustrial deposition rates of mercury. Whole-basin mercury fluxes, determined from lake-wide arrays of dated cores, indicate that the annual deposition of atmospheric mercury has increased from 3.7 to 12.5 micrograms per square meter since 1850 and that 25 percent of atmospheric mercury deposition to the terrestrial catchment is exported to the lake. The deposition increase is similar among sites, implying regional or global sources for the mercury entering these lakes.

Science↗