Water-quality, bed-sediment, and invertebrate tissue trace-element concentrations for tributaries in the Clark Fork Basin, Montana, October 2019–September 2020

Gregory D. Clark; Michelle I. Hornberger; Eric J. Hepler; Terry L. Heinert

doi:10.3133/ofr20221090

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Water-quality, bed-sediment, and invertebrate tissue trace-element concentrations for tributaries in the Clark Fork Basin, Montana, October 2019–September 2020

Gregory D. Clark·Michelle I. Hornberger·Eric J. Hepler·Terry L. Heinert

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Abstract

Water, bed sediment, and invertebrate tissue were sampled in streams from Butte to near Missoula, Montana, as part of a monitoring program in the Clark Fork Basin. The sampling program was completed by the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, to characterize aquatic resources in the Clark Fork Basin and monitor trace elements associated with historical mining and smelting activities. Sampling sites were on the Clark Fork River and a subset of its tributaries. Water samples were collected periodically at 22 sites from October 2019 through September 2020. Bed-sediment and tissue samples were collected once at 12 sites during July 2020. Water-quality data included concentrations of major ions, dissolved organic carbon, nitrogen (nitrate plus nitrite), trace elements, and suspended sediment. Daily values of turbidity were determined at four sites. Bed-sediment data included trace-element concentrations in the fine-grained (less than 0.063 millimeter) fraction. Biological data included trace-element concentrations in whole-body tissue of selected aquatic benthic invertebrates. Statistical summaries of water-quality, bed-sediment, and invertebrate tissue trace-element data for sites in the Clark Fork Basin were provided for the period of record: March 1985–September 2020.

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Source-reported bounding extent: 45.00795879114483° to 47.58172589143089° latitude; -115.67714251796224° to -111.56647259158387° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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Gregory D. Clark, Michelle I. Hornberger, Eric J. Hepler, Terry L. Heinert. 2022-10-19. Water-quality, bed-sediment, and invertebrate tissue trace-element concentrations for tributaries in the Clark Fork Basin, Montana, October 2019–September 2020. https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20221090

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