science for a changing world water quality in the ozark plateausscience for a changing world a...

Water Quality in theOzark Plateaus

Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma, 1992–95

U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Geological Survey Circular 1158

science for a changing world

A COORDINATED EFFORT

k theon

Coordination among agencies and organizations is an integral part of the NAWQA Program. We thanfollowing agencies and organizations that contributed data used in this report, participated in the study liaiscommittee, or assisted in field work.

Chief, NAWQA ProgramU.S. Geological SurveyWater Resources Division12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, M.S. 413Reston, VA 20192

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THENATIONAL WATER-QUALITY ASSESSMENT (NAWQA) PROGRAM :

Much appreciation is extended to the following U.S. Geological Survey employees for their contributions:Rebecca S. Inman, Visual Information Specialist; Bobbie L. Louthian, Writer/Editor. Several employees of theArkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma Districts provided valuable field assistance. Kevin J. Breen provided thepesticide application photograph on page 2.

Ozark Plateaus Study Unit, contact:

District Chief District ChiefU.S. Geological Survey U.S. Geological SurveyWater Resources Division Water Resources Division401 Hardin Road 1400 Independence RoadLittle Rock, AR 72211 Rolla, MO 65401

Information on the NAWQA Program is also available on the Internet via the World Wide Web. You mayconnect to the NAWQA Home Page using the Universal Resources Locator (URL):

http://water.usgs.gov/lookup/get?nawqa/

The Ozark Plateaus Study Unit’s Home Page is at URL:http://water.usgs.gov/lookup/get?arwater/nawqa/ozark/nawqa.html/

This circular is also available on the Internet via the World Wide Web, at URL:http://water.usgs.gov/lookup/get?circ1158

Arkansas Department of Pollution Control and EcologyArkansas Game and Fish CommissionArkansas Geological CommissionArkansas Soil and Water Conservation CommissionArkansas Water Resources Research CenterKansas Department of Health and EnvironmentKansas Geological SurveyKansas Water OfficeKansas Water Resources Research InstituteMissouri Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research UnitMissouri Department of ConservationMissouri Department of Natural Resources - Division of Environmental Quality - Division of Geology and Land SurveyMissouri Water Resources Research CenterNeosho Basin Advisory CommitteeOklahoma Conservation CommissionOklahoma Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit

Front cover: Waterfall and small stream in the Buffalo RiverDepartment of Parks and Tourism.)Back cover:Surveying stream geometry of Buffalo River neOak Grove, Arkansas.

Oklahoma Department of Environmental QualityOklahoma Water Resources BoardOklahoma Water Resources Research InstitutePittsburg State UniversityTaney County Planning CommissionThe Nature ConservancyUniversity of ArkansasU.S. Army Corps of EngineersU.S. Department of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Service - Forest ServiceU.S. Department of the Interior - Fish and Wildlife Service - Geological Survey - Biological Resources Division - Geological Survey - Geologic Division - National Park ServiceU.S. Environmental Protection AgencyWatershed Committee of the Ozarks

Basin. (Photograph courtesy of A.C. Haralson, Arkansas

ar Boxley, Arkansas. Measuring streamflow of Yocum Creek near

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 1158

Water Quality in the Ozark Plateaus,Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma,1992—95

By James C. Petersen, James C. Adamski, Richard W. Bell,Jerri V. Davis, Suzanne R. Femmer, David A. Freiwald, andRobert L. Joseph

CONTENTS

National Water-Quality AssessmentProgram ......................................................... 1

Summary of major issues and findings ........ 2

Environmental setting and hydrologicconditions ...................................................... 4

Major issues and findings............................... 6

Water-quality conditions in anational context ............................................ 18

Study design and data collection................... 22

Summary of compound detections andconcentrations .............................................. 24

References ......................................................... 30

Glossary............................................................. 32

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publications Data

The use of firm, trade, and brand names in this report is for identification purposes only anddoes not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Government

Free on application to theU.S. Geological Survey

Information ServicesBox 25286 Federal Center

Denver, CO 80225

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Thomas J. Casadevall, Acting Director

Water quality in the Ozark Plateaus, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma: 1992-95 / by James C.Petersen ... [et al.]. p. cm. -- (U.S. Geological Survey circular ; 1158)

ISBN 0-607-89114-9 (softcover : alk. paper)

1. Water quality--Ozark Mountains. I. Petersen, James C. (James Carroll), 1952- .

II. Series.

TD225.093W38 1998 98-2790

363.739’42’097671--dc21 CIP

1998

NATIONAL WATER-QUALITY ASSESSMENT PROGRAM

Began in 1991

Began in 1994

Began in 1997

Not scheduled yet

EXPLANATION

“As the state geologist of“The Natural State,” I have aspecial interest in its waterresources and a commitmentto further our geohydrologicknowledge. Data collectedthrough the NAWQA Pro-gram are helpful in evaluat-ing, protecting, andmanaging our bountifulwater resources.

William V. Bush, StateGeologist, ArkansasGeological Commission

The NAWQA approach ofrelating surface-water qualityto land use will help us man-age water resources in por-tions of the Missouri Ozarksnow undergoing significantland-use change.

John FordMissouri Department ofNatural Resources

auseosts

, andical

ramtentd anality

0 ofely,es ofsiveEachater-ol-nsis-ulta-

ionsake

s that

992nd toThean-lators,, pub-

theedater

Knowledge of the quality of the Nation's streams and aquifers is important becof the implications to human and aquatic health and because of the significant cassociated with decisions involving land and water management, conservationregulation. In 1991, the U.S. Congress appropriated funds for the U.S. GeologSurvey (USGS) to begin the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Progto help meet the continuing need for sound, scientific information on the areal exof the water-quality problems, how these problems are changing with time, anunderstanding of the effects of human actions and natural factors on water quconditions.

The NAWQA Program is assessing the water-quality conditions of more than 5the Nation's largest river basins and aquifers, known as Study Units. Collectivthese Study Units cover about one-half of the United States and include sourcdrinking water used by about 70 percent of the U.S. population. Comprehenassessments of about one-third of the Study Units are ongoing at a given time.Study Unit is scheduled to be revisited every decade to evaluate changes in wquality conditions. NAWQA assessments rely heavily on existing information clected by the USGS and many other agencies as well as the use of nationally cotent study designs and methods of sampling and analysis. Such consistency simneously provides information about the status and trends in water-quality conditin a particular stream or aquifer and, more importantly, provides the basis to mcomparisons among watersheds and improve our understanding of the factoraffect water-quality conditions regionally and nationally.

This report is intended to summarize major findings that emerged between 1and 1995 from the water-quality assessment of the Ozark Plateaus Study Unit arelate these findings to water-quality issues of regional and national concern.information is primarily intended for those who are involved in water-resource magement. Indeed, this report addresses many of the concerns raised by reguwater-utility managers, industry representatives, and other scientists, engineerslic officials, and members of stakeholder groups who provided advice and input toUSGS during this NAWQA Study-Unit investigation. Yet, the information containhere may also interest those who simply wish to know more about the quality of win the rivers and aquifers in the area where they live.

Robert M. Hirsch, Chief Hydrologist

U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1158 1

SUMMARY OF MAJOR ISSUES AND FINDINGS

MISSOURI

ARKANSAS

KANSAS

OKLAHOMA

WHAT’SHAPPENING

TO OURSMALLMOUTH

STREAMS?

Too Many Jacks, Jills

Polluting Jacks Fork?

Fecal Bacteria Stressing Stream, Testers Say

Lead-mining in Missouri causes commotionEnvironmentalists fight against economists over Mark TEnvironmentalists fight against economists over Mark Twain National Forest

’Scads’ of chicken farmstaking toll on streams Tourist town

cleans up act on

wastewater

2 Water Quality in the Ozark Plateaus, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma, 1992-95

• Nutrient concentrations in streams are higher in areas with greater agriculturalland use or downstream from wastewater-treatment plants than in forested areas.These higher concentrations may result in increased algal growth in streams.

• Nutrient concentrations in ground water are higher in areas with greater agricul-tural land use than in forested areas. These higher concentrations seldom exceeddrinking-water standards.

• Bacteria concentrations in streams are higher in basins with greater agriculturalland use (mostly pasture). Fecal coliform bacteria concentrations occasionallyexceed State water-quality standards for whole-body contact recreation.

• Nutrient and bacteria concentrations are affected by hydrologic and geologicfactors. Stream discharge and the presence or absence of confining geologiclayers are two factors that are important in predicting concentrations.

Are pesticides and other organic compounds more prevalent in the water, bed sediment, and fish or clam tissue fromsome land-use settings than from other settings? (p. 10)

• In streams and ground water, pesticides were more prevalent in agricultural areasthan in forested areas. Concentrations generally were low and seldom exceededU.S. Environmental Protection Agency drinking-water criteria or standards, orcriteria for the protection of aquatic life.

• In bed sediment, the greatest numbers of pesticides and other organic compoundsgenerally were detected at sites downstream from urban areas. No concentrationsexceeded U.S. Environmental Protection Agency criteria for the protection ofaquatic life.

• In biological tissue, pesticides were detected at 5 of 26 stream sites. Chlordanewas detected downstream from Springfield, Mo. DDT, DDE, or dieldrin wasdetected at four sites in agricultural basins.

Are streams and ground water being contaminated by nutrients and bacteria? (p. 6)

SUMMARY OF MAJOR ISSUES AND FINDINGS

reas

allyter,

sub-in.cts.ams.

Are historical or active mining sites affecting the quality of surface water? (p. 12)

• Concentrations of sulfate and some trace elements in water from streams in aof active or historical lead-zinc mining tend to be higher than in areas wheremining has not occurred. These trace element concentrations decrease withincreasing distance downstream from the mining activity. Concentrations usudid not exceed Federal standards or criteria for the protection of drinking wahuman health, or aquatic life.

• Concentrations of lead and zinc in bed sediment and fish or clam tissue arestantially higher at sites with mining activities (historical or active) in the basConcentrations are high enough to suggest potential adverse biological effeThe State of Missouri has issued a fish consumption advisory for some stre


What are some factors that affect aquatic (instream and riparian) habitats of Ozark streams? (p. 15)

Are naturally occurring radionuclides present in ground-water supplies? (p. 14)

• Radium (a product formed by the radioactive decay of uranium) is present in theconfined part of the Ozark aquifer. However, the levels of radium seldomexceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency drinking-waterstandard.

• Radon (a gas produced by the radioactive decay of radium) levels exceeded aproposed (but withdrawn) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency drinking-water standard in nearly one-half of the samples. Radon can enter homes throughtheir water systems. Homes served by private domestic wells and small publicwaterworks using ground water can be particularly vulnerable.

• Radon levels are greater in the Springfield Plateau aquifer and the unconfinedpart of the Ozark aquifer than in the confined part of the Ozark aquifer.

• Several factors can affect aquatic habitats, which then affect biologicalcommunities. Many habitat characteristics appeared to be influenced moreby basin size than by land use.

• Small streams in agricultural areas generally have fewer trees and other woodyplants in the riparian zone than do small streams in forested areas. This results inmore sunlight reaching the streams in the agricultural areas. More sunlight andthe higher nutrient concentrations probably result in faster growing attachedalgae in these streams.

• Some other habitat characteristics were different between the agricultural andforested sites studied. Of these characteristics, some are not likely the result ofagricultural practices, while others (canopy angle, channel width, and sinuosity)may, at least in part, result from agricultural practices. These characteristics canaffect biological communities.

• Although the effects of instream gravel mining in the Ozarks were not studied bythe NAWQA Program, some studies suggest that gravel mining has detrimentaleffects on instream habitat.

Are fish communities being affected by land-use activities? (p. 16)• Stonerollers make up a greater percentage of the fish at agricultural sites than at

forested sites. Stonerollers graze on algae attached to rocks and other surfaces.More algae probably grow on these surfaces because of the higher nutrient con-centrations and greater amounts of sunlight reaching these streams.

• Sunfish (including the black basses) and darters make up a smaller percentage offish at agricultural sites than at forested sites. Members of the sunfish family (par-ticularly smallmouth bass) are important game fish. Several species of darters thatlive in the Ozarks exist nowhere else in the world.

• Fish community composition appears to be related to stream size, canopy angle,substrate, and water chemistry. Some of these factors are affected by humanactivities.

ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING AND HYDROLOGIC CONDITIONS

Bos-ive

nd south.

EXPLANATION

Boston Mountains/Western Interior Plains confining system

Osage Plains/Western InteriorPlains confining system

Mississippi Alluvial Plain/Mississippi River Valley alluvial aquifer

MAJOR HYDROLOGIC FEATURES WITHIN THE OZARK PLATEAUSSTUDY UNIT

PHYSIOGRAPHIC AREA/HYDROGEOLOGIC UNIT

Salem Plateau/Ozark confining unit and aquifer

St. Francois Mountains/St. Francois confining unit and aquifer

Springfield Plateau/Springfield Plateau aquifer

90˚91˚92˚93˚94˚95˚

39˚

38˚

37˚

36˚

Missouri River

Mississi ppi

Meramec

Rive

r

WhiteRiver

River

KANSASKANSASOKLAHOMA

MISSOURIMISSOURIARKANSASARKANSAS

ArkansasRiver0 50 100 MILES

0 50 100 KILOMETERS

SpringfieldSpringfieldJoplinJoplin

St. Fra

nci s Ri ver

St. F r anci s

River

OKLAHOMA

Riv

er

River

Osage

Rive

r

River

Black

Gas

cona

de

RogersRogersSpringdaleSpringdaleFayettevilleFayetteville

Meramec

Meramec

WhiteRiver

Neosh

oR

i ver

Neosh

oR

i ver

Illin

oi

s River

Illin

oi

s River

(659)

(1,482)

1,800

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

2,000

0 0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

GROUND WATER

SURFACE WATER

(1,482) POPULATION SERVED,IN THOUSANDS

WA

TER

WIT

HD

RA

WA

LS,

IN M

ILLI

ON

S O

F G

ALL

ON

S P

ER

DA

Y

TOTAL PUBLICSUPPLY

DOMESTICSUPPLY

COMMER-CIAL

INDUSTRIALAND

MINING

IRRIGATIONAND

LIVESTOCK

THERMO-ELECTRIC

ESTIMATED WATER WITHDRAWALS IN 1990

PE

RC

EN

TA

GE

OF

TO

TA

L W

ATE

R W

ITH

DR

AW

ALS

FORESTED LAND

AGRICULTURAL LAND

URBAN LAND

MINING AREA

WATER

LAND USE IN THE OZARK PLATEAUS STUDY UNIT

0 50 100 MILES

0 50 100 KILOMETERS

MISSOURI

ARKANSAS

EXPLANATION

OKLAHOMA

KANSAS

60

0

10

20

30

40

50

PE

RC

EN

TA

GE

OF

TO

TA

L A

RE

A

AGRI-CULTURAL

FORESTED URBAN WATER

ESTIMATED LAND USE

MINING

(54)

(43)

(1.4) (1.1) (0.3)

Several river systems drain the Study Unit. Most drain radially away from south-central Missouri or northward from theton Mountains. Aquifers in the Study Unit generally coincide with the physiographic areas (Fenneman, 1938), but the extensSpringfield Plateau and Ozark aquifers also dip beneath other aquifers or confining units in physiographic areas to the west a


Land use is almost equally divided between forested and agricultural land, but is not distributed evenly across the Study Unit(Adamski and others, 1995). The Salem Plateau, Boston Mountains, and St. Francois Mountains are primarily forested, while agri-cultural land is most common in other areas. Most of the agricultural land in the Salem and Springfield Plateaus and in the BostonMountains is pastureland associated with production of poultry and cattle. Lead and zinc mining occurs or has occurred in someareas. Large urban areas are not common. Only the five cities on the map above have populations exceeding 20,000 (U.S. Depart-ment of Commerce, 1990). These land uses affect the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the water and land.

Approximately 50 percent of the water use in the Study Unit is surface water used (nonconsumptively) for thermoelectriccooling. Almost 25 percent of the water use is for irrigation and livestock; most of this water is ground water used for irrigation inthe Mississippi Alluvial Plain. Most of the remaining water use is for public and domestic supplies (drinking and related wateruses). About 30 percent of the 2.1 million people in the Study Unit get their drinking water from relatively shallow domestic wells.

ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING AND HYDROLOGIC CONDITIONS

to the typicalhe mate-sually

, whiless water

watersuch as andthe sur-

le col-mflow theorthern

ll in theceededal rain-

Streamflow is an important factor affecting water quality. During wet-weather periods, runoff carries materials instream from the land; concentrations of nutrients, bacteria, pesticides, and sediment can be elevated above the moreconcentrations for that stream. Higher streamflows can dilute concentrations of materials in streams if the source of trials is not runoff. For example, nutrient concentrations in a stream affected primarily by a wastewater-treatment plant udecrease during wet-weather periods. During dry periods, concentrations of materials contributed by runoff are lowerconcentrations of materials from wastewater-treatment plants or other similar sources usually are higher because of lefor dilution.

Shallow ground water can also be affected similarly by periods of wet or dry weather. The extent to which groundis affected depends on the hydrologic connection between the land surface and ground water; this is affected by factorslocal soils and geology. Karst features (springs, seeps, sinkholes, and caves) are abundant in much of the SpringfieldSalem Plateaus. These features allow rapid movement of ground water and substantial movement of water between face-water and ground-water environments.

Hydrologic conditions (illustrated here as rainfall departure from normal) during the most intense period of samplection (April 1993-September 1995) were relatively normal overall. However, during certain periods rainfall and streawere far from normal in some parts of the Study Unit. For example, in September 1993 rainfall in the northern part ofOzarks exceeded normal amounts by as much as 6 to 13 inches. This caused streamflows at several stations in the nOzarks to reach levels that would be expected to occur (on average) once every 10 or more years. In April 1994 rainfanorthern part of the Ozarks exceeded normal amounts by 6 to nearly 11 inches. In November 1994 rainfall generally exnormal amounts by 4 to 8 inches throughout the Study Unit. Extended periods (greater than 2 months) of less than normfall occurred infrequently and in few areas during the study period.

1993-6

14

-4

-2

2

4

6

8

10

12 CENTERVILLE

1994 1995

Jasper

CentervilleBuffalo

SpringfieldJoplin

RogersMISSOURI

ARKANSAS

KANSASOKLAHOMA

SpringdaleFayetteville

14

-6-4

-2

2

4

6

8

10

12 BUFFALO

1993 1994 1995RA

INF

ALL

, DE

PA

RTU

RE

FR

OM

NO

RM

AL,

IN

INC

HE

S

14

-6-4

-2

2

4

6

8

10

12 JOPLIN

1993 1994 1995RA

INF

ALL

, DE

PA

RTU

RE

FR

OM

NO

RM

AL,

IN IN

CH

ES

14

-6-4

-2

2

4

6

8

10

12 JASPER

1993 1994 1995

EXPLANATION

GREATER THAN NORMAL RAINFALL

LESS THAN NORMAL RAINFALL


MAJOR ISSUES AND FINDINGSNutrients and Bacteria

Beef and dairy cattle, which are important to theeconomy of the Ozarks, also are sources of nutrientsand bacteria.

Poultry production is an extremely important industryin northwestern Arkansas, southwestern Missouri, andnortheastern Oklahoma. Poultry litter can be asubstantial source of nutrients and bacteria to water.

Forested areas protect water quality and are aneconomic and recreational asset for the Ozarks.(Photograph courtesy of A.C. Haralson, ArkansasDepartment of Parks and Tourism.)

-

-

-s

f

-

-

Nutrient concentrations instreams are higher in areas withgreater agricultural land use ordownstream from wastewater-treatment plants than inforested areas. These higherconcentrations may result inincreased algal growth instreams.

Nitrogen and phosphorus are essential plant nutrients. However, elevatedconcentrations of these nutrients cancause excessive growth of aquaticplants and can have detrimental effectupon desired uses of water. Contami-nation of water in the Study Unit bynutrients has been a concern of manyagencies and the public for severalyears. Major sources of nitrogen andphosphorus in the Study Unit are poutry and cattle wastes, human wastes,and fertilizers. The U.S. Environmen-tal Protection Agency (EPA) has established a maximum contaminant level(MCL) of 10 milligrams per liter(mg/L) for nitrate (as nitrogen) indrinking water (U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency, 1988). Very highconcentrations of nitrate (a compoundof nitrogen and oxygen, and usuallythe most abundant form of nitrogen inwater) can cause blue-baby syndromein infants. Very few ground-water sam-ples (less than 1 percent) and no sur-face-water samples in the Study Unitexceeded the MCL. In general, shallowwells (less than about 300 feet) orsprings in agricultural areas are mostlikely to produce ground water withnitrate concentrations approaching orexceeding the nitrate MCL.

Elevated nitrogen concentrationscan result in several water-qualityproblems, such as algal blooms, oxy-gen depletion, and fishkills. The EPAhas not made recommendations fornitrate concentrations that would limitdetrimental effects on aquatic communities. The EPA has made recommen-dations for maximum ammoniaconcentrations to protect aquatic life.Ammonia concentrations generally arewell below the recommended maxi-mum in Ozark streams.

The EPA recommends that totalphosphorus should not exceed0.1 mg/L in streams and that totalphosphates (as phosphorus) should nexceed 0.05 mg/L in streams wherethey enter a lake or reservoir. Concentrations of total phosphorus and orthophosphate in streams in agriculturalareas sometimes exceed these recommended concentrations.

1rlbodrrpbbearttbspnsi

6 Water Quality in the Ozark Pla

-

s

l-

-

Elevated nitrate and phosphorusconcentrations may be linked withdifferences between fish communi-ties at sites in agricultural basinsand sites in forested basins (seepage 16). One of the major differ-ences is a tendency for more algaeeating fish to inhabit the sites inagricultural basins.

Fecal coliform bacteria live inthe intestines of warm-blooded ani-mals. The presence of these bacteria in water is indicative ofcontamination by fecal matter.Sources of these bacteria includeanimal manure, wastewater-treat-ment plants, and septic tanks.

-

ot

--

-

NAWQA data collected in993-95 at stream sites chosen toepresent selected combinations ofand use, physiographic area, andasin size indicate land-use effectsn nutrient concentrations. Medianissolved nitrate and total phosphous concentrations are higher at siteepresenting agricultural (mostlyoultry and cattle production)asins than at sites in forestedasins. Nitrate concentrations gen-rally increase as the percentage ogricultural land use increases. Theange of nutrient concentrations atwo sites with differing amounts andypes of urban activities in theirasins indicates that streams downtream from wastewater-treatmentlants or urban areas may haveutrient concentrations that are subtantially higher than concentrationsn agricultural basins.

teaus, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma, 1992-95



0.12

0

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

0.10

ME

DIA

N T

OT

AL

PH

OS

PH

OR

US

, IN

MIL

LIG

RA

MS

PE

R L

ITE

R

Phosphorus concentrations in streams also are lowest in streams draining forested areas. Samples collected 1993-95.

3.5

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

ME

DIA

N N

ITR

ATE

, IN

MIL

LIG

RA

MS

PE

R L

ITE

R A

S N

ITR

OG

EN

Nitrate concentrations in streams are lowest in streams draining forested areas. Samples collected 1993-95.

1 2 3 4 5 6SITE NUMBER (REFER TO PAGE 22)

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

1 2 3 4 5 6SITE NUMBER (REFER TO PAGE 22)

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

0

FORESTED

AGRICULTURAL LAND

FORESTED, AGRICULTURAL, ANDURBAN LAND MIX

URBAN LAND

Recent historical data from 1980 to1990 (Davis and others, 1995) alsoindicate that nutrient concentrations instreams in the Ozark Plateaus and theadjacent part of the Osage Plains gen-erally were significantly greater inagricultural basins or downstreamfrom wastewater-treatment plants thanin forested basins.

1000 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

AGRICULTURAL LAND USE, PERCENT

5

0

1

2

3

4

NIT

RA

TE, I

N M

ILLI

GR

AMS

PE

R L

ITE

R

Nitrate concentrations generally are higher in streams draining basins withgreater percentages of agricultural land. Samples collected 1993-95.

STREAMS

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

ME

DIA

N T

OT

AL

PH

OS

PH

OR

US

, IN

MIL

LIG

RA

MS

PE

R L

ITE

R

OSAGEPLAINS

BOSTONMOUNTAINS

SPRINGFIELDPLATEAU

SALEMPLATEAU

ST. FRANCOISMOUNTAINS

PHYSIOGRAPHIC AREA

FORESTED

FORESTED AND AGRICULTURALLAND MIX

AGRICULTURAL LAND

WASTEWATER-TREATMENT PLANT UPSTREAM

Phosphorus concentrations in streams during the 1980’s were highest down-stream from wastewater-treatment plants and lowest in forested areas.


d

,

-

.

-

1000 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

AGRICULTURAL LAND USE, PERCENT

4

0

1

2

3

NIT

RA

TE, I

N M

ILLI

GR

AMS

PE

R L

ITE

RAS

NIT

RO

GE

N

SPRINGS ANDDOMESTIC WELLS

Nitrate concentrations generally are higher in wells and springs in areas with greater agricultural land use. Samples collected 1993-95.

0.6

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

ME

DIA

N N

ITR

ATE

, IN

MIL

LIG

RA

MS

PE

R L

ITE

R A

S N

ITR

OG

EN

AGRI-CULTURAL

FORESTED URBAN

As was observed in streams, nitrate concentrations in water from wells and springs were higher in agricultural areas. Many wells in urban settings are deep public-supply wells overlain by layers of confining rock. Samples collected 1970-92.

ME

DIA

N F

EC

AL

CO

LIFO

RM

BA

CTE

RIA

,IN

CO

LON

IES

PE

R 1

00 M

ILLI

LITE

RS

Bacteria concentrations are highest in agricultural areas. Samples collected 1993-95.

500

0

100

200

300

400

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14SITE NUMBER (REFER TO PAGE 22)

FORESTED

AGRICULTURAL LAND

FORESTED, AGRICULTURAL,AND URBAN LAND MIX

URBAN LAND

-

-

Nutrient concentrations in groundwater are higher in areas withgreater agricultural land use than inforested areas. These higherconcentrations seldom exceeddrinking-water standards.

NAWQA data collected in 1993-95from wells and springs in the Spring-field Plateau and Ozark aquifers alsoindicate that land use affects nutrientconcentrations (Adamski, 1997a;1997b). Nitrate concentrations werestrongly associated with the percent-age of agricultural land near the wellsor springs. Concentrations in samplesfrom “relatively pristine” sites (nearbyforest cover greater than 90 percent)almost always were less than 1 mg/L(as nitrogen). Concentrations increaseas the percentage of agricultural landincreased; concentrations at sites withgreater than 75 percent agriculturalland use generally were about 3 mg/Lbut ranged from about 1 to 10 mg/L.

Median nutrient concentrations inground water (wells and springs) sampled from 1970 to 1992 also were lessin forested areas than in agriculturalareas (Davis and others, 1995). Themedian nitrate concentration in groundwater from urban settings was lowerthan in agricultural or forested areas.The wells in these urban settings commonly are drilled through thick layersof confining rock before reaching themore productive confined aquifer.

Bacteria concentrations in streamsare higher in basins with greateragricultural land use (mostlypasture). Fecal coliform bacteriaconcentrations occasionally exceedState water-quality standards forwhole-body contact recreation.

Fecal coliform bacteria concentra-tions in NAWQA samples collected in1993-95 generally are higher at streamsites representative of agriculturalbasins than at sites in forested basinsData for other bacteria and dischargesuggest that poultry and cattle are pri-mary sources of the fecal coliform bacteria. Median concentrations ranged

8 Water Quality in the Ozark Plate

-from about 10 to 20 colonies per 100milliliters (col/100 mL) at forestedsites and about 60 to 460 col/100 mLat agricultural sites.

State water-quality standards varyfrom State to State, by time of year,and with use of the water body. How-ever, median fecal coliform bacteriaconcentrations at some sites in agricul-

tural areas are greater than concentrations allowable by State regulatoryagencies for public swimming areas orfor primary contact. At most sites inagricultural areas, more than 25 per-cent of the samples contained concentrations of fecal coliform bacteriagreater than 200 col/100 mL.

aus, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma, 1992-95


Nutrient and bacteria concen-trations are affected by hydrologicand geologic factors. Streamdischarge and the presence orabsence of confining geologic layersare two factors that are important inpredicting concentrations.

Concentrations of nutrients and bac-teria in streams and springs areaffected by discharge (Davis and oth-ers, 1995). Depending on the sourceand constituent, concentrations mayincrease or decrease with discharge.For example, nutrients and bacteriaconcentrations downstream fromwastewater-treatment plants generallyare lower during periods of higher dis-charge because of dilution. Concentra-tions of bacteria and nutrients instreams and springs may increase withincreasing discharge in response torainfall in areas where nonpointsources are the major contributors.

Median nitrate and phosphorus con-centrations generally are higher insprings than in wells because waterfrom springs generally follows shal-lower flow paths and thus is more sus-ceptible to surface contamination(Davis and others, 1995; Adamski,1997b). Median nitrate concentrationsof NAWQA samples collected in 1993were about 0.5 mg/L in Ozark aquifersprings and about 0.3 mg/L in Ozarkaquifer wells. Median nitrate concen-trations in Springfield Plateau aquifersprings and wells were about 2.6 and1.0 mg/L, respectively. Median con-centrations of total phosphorus alsowere higher in springs (about0.02 mg/L) than in wells (less than0.01 mg/L).

Differences also were detected inmedian concentrations of total phos-phorus and nitrate in different aquifersand in confined and unconfined partsof the same aquifer (Davis and others,1995). Concentrations generally werehigher in the Western Interior Plainsconfining system and the SpringfieldPlateau aquifer. Concentrations gener-ally were higher in the unconfinedparts of the Springfield Plateau andOzark aquifers than in the confinedparts of these two aquifers. These dif-

ferences probably are the result ofland-use differences and the presenceor absence of a protective confininglayer between the aquifer and the landsurface.

Karst features in the Springfield andSalem Plateaus result in substantialinteraction between surface water andground water. The quality of surfacewater or ground water commonly isaffected by the quality of the other.

3.0

0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

OZARKAQUIFER

SPRINGFIELDPLATEAUAQUIFER

Nitrate (shown here) and phosphorus concentrations are higher in springs than in well water. Samples collected 1993.

SPRING

WELL

ME

DIA

N N

ITR

ATE

, IN

MIL

LIG

RA

MS

PE

R L

ITE

R A

S N

ITR

OG

EN

OZARKAQUIFER


0

3.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

Nitrate (shown here) and phosphorus concentrations are higher in parts of aquifers near the land surface (unconfined) than in parts of aquifers that are deeper (and protected by an overlying confining layer). Samples collected 1970-92.

CONFINED

UNCONFINED

ME

DIA

N N

ITR

ATE

, IN

MIL

LIG

RA

MS

PE

R L

ITE

R A

S N

ITR

OG

EN

Springs are abundant in much of theOzarks and are vulnerable tocontamination. (Permission granted bythe Missouri Division of Tourism.)

Many Ozark streams gain or losesubstantial amounts of their flow throughinteractions with ground water. All of thewater in this stream is going undergroundin this pool. (Photograph by J. VanBrahana, U.S. Geological Survey.)


MAJOR ISSUES AND FINDINGSPesticides and Other Organic Compounds in Water, Bed Sediment, and Tissue

-

.

-

f

y

t-

ls

MISSOURI

ARKANSAS

Salem Plateau

Springfield Plateau

EXPLANATION

SPRING

No pesticides detected

Pesticides detected

WELL—Domestic

No pesticides detected

Pesticides detected

In springs and wells, more pesticides were found in the Springfield Plateau and in other agricultural areas. Concentrations were usually relatively low. Samples collected 1993.

KANSASOKLAHOMA

BostonMountains

St. FrancoisMountains

MississippiAlluvialPlain

OsagePlains

SalemPlateau

Atrazine

p,p’-DDE

Metolachlor

Prometon

Simazine

Tebuthiuron

No pesticide detected

EXPLANATIONSAMPLING SITE—Color indicates pesticide commonly detected in surface-water samples

The greatest number of pesticides was found in the streams of the more agricultural Springfield Plateau. Concentrations were usually relatively low. Samples collected 1994-95.

KANSAS

MISSOURI

ARKANSAS

OKLAHOMA

SpringfieldPlateau

s

More than 1,000 organic com-pounds are contained in various prod-ucts used to control pests in urban,agricultural, and forested areas andalong rights of way. Most pesticidesintroduced in recent years are morewater soluble and more degradable inthe environment than many pesticidesused extensively in the past. Most presently used compounds tend to be foundmore often in water, whereas manyformerly used compounds are foundmore in sediment and biological tissueIn addition, numerous other organiccompounds (such as phenols, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, and phthalateesters) are used for various industrialand manufacturing processes. Many othese compounds tend to associatewith sediment particles rather thanwater.

In streams and ground water,pesticides were more prevalent inagricultural areas than in forestedareas. Concentrations generallywere low and seldom exceeded U.S.Environmental Protection Agencydrinking-water criteria orstandards, or criteria for theprotection of aquatic life.

Concentrations of pesticides instreams and ground water were usuallbelow method detection limits andwhen detected were usually relativelylow compared to detection limits andconcentrations in samples from otherNAWQA Study Units (p. 24-25). Con-centrations seldom exceeded U.S.Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) maximum contaminant levels orlifetime health-advisory levels fordrinking water, EPA or National Acad-emy of Sciences/National Academy ofEngineering (NAS/NAE) ambientwater-quality criteria for the protectionof aquatic life, or related State criteria.However, no standards or criteria exisfor about one-third of the detected pesticides. Dieldrin concentrations in twoground-water samples exceeded leveestimated by EPA to increase the riskof cancer (Nowell and Resek, 1994).

In water samples collected in 1994-95, pesticides were detected more

10 Water Quality in the Ozark Platea

commonly and in higher concentra-tions in streams in agriculturalbasins than in streams in forestedbasins (Bell and others, 1997). Datafor a limited number of sites down-stream from nearby urban areasindicate that pesticide detection frequencies and concentrations inurban basins are similar to those in

us, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and

-

agricultural basins. For most individualpesticides, the highest percentages ofdetections and the highest concentrationwere in samples from streams in larger,more agricultural basins. Atrazine (oneof the more commonly used herbicides inthe Study Unit) and its metabolites(breakdown products) were the mostcommonly detected organic pesticide

Oklahoma, 1992-95

MAJOR ISSUES AND FINDINGSPesticides and Other Organic Compounds in Water, Bed Sediment, and Tissue

-

ll

r

.

compounds in both forested and agri-cultural basins. Pesticides weredetected at 39 of the 43 sites.

The presence of pesticides inground water in the Springfield andSalem Plateaus also is related to landuse. Springs and domestic wells weresampled for pesticides in 1993-95(Adamski, 1997b). Pesticides weredetected more frequently at sites asso-ciated with greater percentages of agri-cultural land use. Pesticides were morelikely to be detected in samples fromsprings than in samples from domesticwells.

In bed sediment, the greatestnumbers of pesticides and otherorganic compounds generally weredetected at sites downstream fromurban areas. No concentrationsexceeded U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency criteria for theprotection of aquatic life.

No organic compounds detected inthe bed-sediment samples exceededeither the preliminary sediment-qualitycriteria developed by the EPA or con-

centrations expected to have a highprobability of adverse effects onaquatic life (U.S. Environmental Pro-tection Agency, 1996). Criteria oradverse effects levels have not beenestablished for most of the detectedcompounds. Most of the compoundsdetected had maximum concentrationof less than 100 micrograms per kilo-gram (parts per billion).

Pesticides and semivolatile organiccompounds (SVOCs) in 27 bed-sedi-ment samples collected in 1992-95were more frequently detected at sitesdownstream from urban areas (Belland others, 1997). Samples were analyzed for 95 organic compounds. Twopesticides (chlordane compounds) an44 SVOCs were detected. Samplesfrom three sites contained detectableconcentrations of more than 16 com-pounds. Two of these sites (one fromthe James River downstream fromSpringfield, Mo., one from CenterCreek downstream from Joplin, Mo.)were in urban basins. In the samplefrom the James River, 39 compoundswere detected; in the sample fromCenter Creek, 17 compounds were

U.S. Ge

t

-

n

SAMPLING SITE—Color indicates number of detections

1 to 6

7 to 11

12 to 16

Greater than 16

EXPLANATIONJamesRiver

CenterCreek

RichlandCreek

In bed sediment, the greatest number of pesticides and other organic compoundswas found near urban areas. Concentrations were usually relatively low. Samplescollected in 1992-95.

JoplinSpringfield

MISSOURI

ARKANSAS

OKLAHOMA

KANSAS

detected. The third sample contained23 compounds and was from RichlandCreek near Witts Spring, Ark., in a for-ested basin.

Sites with detected compounds aredistributed throughout the Study Unit,with respect to both physiography andland use. Sites with 12 or more organiccompounds detected are located ineach physiographic area and majorland-use category.

In biological tissue, pesticides weredetected at 5 of 26 stream sites.Chlordane was detecteddownstream from Springfield, Mo.DDT, DDE, or dieldrin was detectedat four sites in agricultural basins.

Tissue samples from fish and freshwater clams at 26 sites were analyzedfor 26 organic compounds. Six com-pounds were detected at five sites (Beand others, 1996). Three chlordanecompounds were detected in Asiaticclam tissue at a site on the James Rivedownstream from Springfield, Mo.These compounds frequently arepresent downstream from urban areasDDT, DDE, or dieldrin was detected intissue at four widely separated sites.

The concentrations in the tissueswere below guidelines recommendedas maximum concentrations to protecfish-eating wildlife (National Acad-emy of Sciences and National Acad-emy of Engineering, 1973). The sumof the three chlordane compound concentrations (0.0223 milligram per kilo-gram [mg/kg]) was below therecommended chlordane concentratioof 0.1 mg/kg. The DDT, DDE, anddieldrin concentrations were wellbelow the recommended maximumconcentrations.

s

-

d

ological Survey Circular 1158 11

MAJOR ISSUES AND FINDINGSLead, Zinc, and Other Trace Elements

-

Parts of the Ozark Plateaus have ahistory as major producers of lead andzinc. Mining in the Study Unit hasoccurred primarily in four main lead-zinc mining districts—the Southeast-ern District (Old Lead Belt, ViburnumTrend, and the Fredericktown subdis-tricts), the Tri-State District, the Cen-tral District, and the North ArkansasDistrict. By far the most important oredeposits were in the Southeastern andTri-State Districts. The ViburnumTrend subdistrict is the only area stillmined for lead or zinc.

Concentrations of sulfate and sometrace elements in water fromstreams in areas of historical oractive lead-zinc mining tend to behigher than in areas where mininghas not occurred. These traceelement concentrations decreasewith increasing distance down-stream from the mining activity.Concentrations usually did notexceed Federal standardsor criteriafor theprotection of drinkin g water,human health, or aquatic life.

In water samples collected in 1992-95, dissolved sulfate and several traceelements were detected more com-monly and were detected in higherconcentrations at sites in areas of his-

torical or ongoing lead-zinc miningthan at sites in other areas. Sulfate,barium, copper, manganese, molybde-num, and zinc concentrations werehigher in samples from sites down-stream from mining areas. Lead con-centrations were not higher in miningareas. Concentrations of sulfate andtrace elements generally decreasedwith increasing distance downstreamfrom a mining activity.

At most sites, concentrations usu-ally did not exceed U.S. Environmen-tal Protection Agency drinking-waterstandards or criteria for protection ofhuman health or aquatic life. However,zinc concentrations often exceededfreshwater aquatic life criteria in Cen-ter Creek.

Concentrations of lead and zinc inbed sediment and fish or clam tissuearesubstantially higher at siteswithmining activities (historical oractive) in the basin. Concentrationsare high enough to suggest potentialadverse biological effects. The Stateof Missouri has issued a fishconsumption advisory for somestreams.

Lead and zinc concentrations in bedsediment at sites downstream fromlead-zinc mines in the Tri-State Dis-

trict, the Old Lead Belt, and the Vibur-num Trend may have adversebiological effects on benthic organ-isms. Long and Morgan (1991) devel-oped guidelines called “effects rangethresholds” for use in assessing potential adverseeffectsonbiota. In general,the “effects range-low” threshold canbe considered to have adverse effectson some benthic organisms, while the“effects range-median” threshold canbe considered frequently or always tohave adverse effects on these organ-isms. In at least onebed-sediment sam-ple from each of the three miningareas, concentrations of lead and zincwereequal to or higher than theeffectsrange-low threshold. Lead and zincconcentrations from sites downstreamfrom theTri-StateDistrict and theOldLead Belt commonly were substan-tially higher than the effects-rangemedian threshold.

Concentrations of lead and zinc inbed sediment were highest at sitesdownstream from historical lead-zincmining areas. Concentrations of bothelements are similar at sitesdownstream from thehistorical miningareas in the Tri-State District and theOld Lead Belt and at sites down-stream from mining areas in the Vibur-num Trend.


Lead and zinc concentrations in water, bed sediment, and fish or clam tissue from mining and background areas of theOzark Plateaus

[Background valuesareminimum and maximum concentrationsassociated with sitesnot considered to be influenced by mining in theseor other areas.Sites immediately upstream from mining areasarenot included in background sites. Tissueconcentrationsarein fish liver or soft tissueof Asiatic clam.Values in red substantially exceed background concentration data collected 1992-95. µg/L, micrograms per liter; µg/g, micrograms per gram; <, lessthan; --, not measured or not applicable]

Site Mining area

Lead Zinc

Water(µg/L)

Bed sediment

(µg/g)

Tissue(µg/g)

Water(µg/L)

Bed sediment

(µg/g)

Tissue(µg/g)

Center Creek Tri-State <1 370 0.3 67-270 5,600 770

Big River Old Lead Belt <1 2,300 134 8-19 670 514

Meramec River Old Lead Belt -- 180 12.2 -- 140 296

West Fork ofBlack River

Viburnum Trend <1-11 100-950 0.5-8.3 13-33 120-460 70-110

Strother Creek Viburnum Trend <1-3 200 0.7 33-148 1.200 150

Background -- <1-20 15-28 <0.1-0.6 <1-44 43-140 57-230

MAJOR ISSUES AND FINDINGSLead, Zinc, and Other Trace Elements

-
Lead concentrations in bed sedi-ment were substantially higher thanbackground at sites within, or down-stream from, the Tri-State District andthe Old Lead Belt subdistrict and in theViburnum Trend subdistrict. In theViburnum Trend subdistrict, concen-trations of lead returned to backgroundlevels at sites about 15 miles down-stream from mine discharges.
Zinc concentrationsin bed sedimentwere highest at one site downstreamfrom theTri-StateDistrict and onesitedownstream from the Old Lead Belt.Concentrations at sites just down-stream from mines in the ViburnumTrend werehigher than concentrationsat sites upstream from these mines orfarther downstream; however, theseconcentrations were not higher thanthe maximum background concentra-

tions at sites throughout the StudyUnit. At sites about 15 miles down-stream from mines in the ViburnumTrend, bed-sediment concentrationsofzinc were similar to concentrationsupstream from the mines.

The relation between tissue concen-trations at background sites and sitesdownstream from mining areas issimi-lar to the relation between bed-sedi-ment concentrations at these samesites. Lead concentrations in tissuewere somewhat higher than back-ground concentrations at some sites inthe Viburnum Trend and substantiallyhigher at sites downstream from theOld Lead Belt. The lead concentrationat the site in the Tri-State District wasat background levels and substantiallylower than at sites downstream fromtheOld Lead Belt. Zinc concentrations

were not higher than background concentrations at sites in the ViburnumTrend, but weresomewhat higher thanbackground concentrations at sites inthe Tri-State District and downstreamfrom the Old Lead Belt. The elevatedlead and zinc concentrations in tissueand reduced enzyme activity in fishexposed to lead in mining areas of theOzark Plateaus (Schmitt and others,1993) suggest that both elements areavailable to fish and Asiatic clams forbiological processing. The State ofMissouri currently (1998) advises thepublic to not eat some species of fishfrom some rivers affected by past min-ing in the Old Lead Belt (Gale Carl-son, Missouri Department of Health,written commun., 1998).


Lead-zinc mining areas of the Ozark Plateaus. The Viburnum Trend subdistrict is the only area currently (1998) being mined for lead or zinc.

Indicates subdistrict of the Southeastern District

TRI-STATEDISTRICT

CenterCreek

KANSAS

Strother Creek

Big River

MeramecRiver

West Fork ofBlack River

Farmington

Springfield

FREDERICKTOWN

VIBURNUMTREND

NORTH ARKANSASDISTRICT

OLD LEAD BELT

CENTRAL DISTRICT

MISSOURI

ARKANSAS

Harrison

OKLAHOMA

Joplin

*

*

*

*

Lead-zinc mining tailings near Joplin, Mo. Downstream from miningareas, concentrations of lead, zinc, and other elements generally arerelatively low in water but are elevated in bed sediment and in fishand clam tissue. In bed sediment, concentrations at some locationsmay be harmful to aquatic wildlife.

MAJOR ISSUES AND FINDINGSRadium and Radon

-

rt

adon levels exceeded 300 picocuries per liter in almost one-half of the water samples rom domestic and municipal-supply wells.

EXPLANATION

Ozarkaquifer

Springfield Plateau aquifer

RADON-222 LEVELS, IN PICOCURIES PER LITER

Unconfinedaquifers

Less than 300

300 to 499

500 to 700

Greater than 700

MISSOURIARKANSAS

KANSASOKLAHOMA

Ozark aquifer(confined)

Radon entering a home through a water system (modified from Otton and others, 1993).

Radium and radon are naturallyoccurring radioactive elements thatresult from the radioactive decay ofuranium, which is present in small levels in common rocks and minerals.

Radium is present in the confinedpart of the Ozark aquifer. However,the levels of radium seldom exceededthe U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency drinking-water standard.

Water samples collected from 20randomly selected municipal-supplywells in the confined part of the Ozarkaquifer were analyzed for the presenceof radium (Adamski, 1997c). Radiumlevels ranged from 0.1 to 14 picocuriesper liter (pCi/L). One sample had alevel exceeding the interim U.S. Envi-ronmental Protection Agency (EPA)maximum contaminant level (MCL) of5 pCi/L. No levels exceeded the pro-posed MCL of 20 pCi/L for radium indrinking water.

Radon levels exceeded a proposed(but withdrawn) U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency drinking-waterstandard in nearly one-half of thesamples. Radon can enter homesthrough their water systems. Homesserved by private domestic wells andsmall public waterworks usingground water can be particularlyvulnerable.

Water samples were collected from53 domestic wells in the unconfinedparts of the Springfield Plateau andOzark aquifers, and 20 municipal supply wells in the confined part of theOzark aquifer (Adamski, 1997c). Insamples from these 73 wells, radonlevels ranged from 99 to 2,065 pCi/Lwith a median of 269 pCi/L. A pro-posed MCL of 300 pCi/L was recently(1997) withdrawn by the EPA, pendingfurther review. Radon levels exceededthat level in nearly 44 percent of thesamples but are lower than levels inmany other aquifers in the Nation (p.20).

Exposure to radon has been recognized as a health risk, primarily as acause of lung cancer. One pathway bywhich radon can enter a home isthrough its water system, especially if

Rf


ground water is the water source. Smapublic water systems and private domestic wells often have closed systems andshort transit times that do not removeradon from water or permit it to decay.Exposures can occur from water usedfor drinking, showering, and other com-mon household purposes. Radon gasalso can enter buildings from surround-ing rock and soil through foundationcracks.

Radon levels are greater in theSpringfield Plateau aquifer and theunconfined part of the Ozark aquiferthan in the confined part of the Ozarkaquifer.

Hydrogeology appears be significantin determining radon levels. Levels inthe samples from unconfined aquifers(Springfield Plateau aquifer and part of

-

-

tto

teaus, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, a

ll-

he Ozark aquifer) were substantially higherhan levels in samples from the confined paf the Ozark aquifer.

400

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

ME

DIA

N R

ADO

N, I

N P

ICO

CU

RIE

SPE

R L

ITE

R

OZARKAQUIFER

(CONFINED)

OZARKAQUIFER

(UNCONFINED)


Radon levels are lowest in the confined part of the Ozark aquifer.

nd Oklahoma, 1992-95

MAJOR ISSUES AND FINDINGSInstream and Riparian Habitats

-)

t

--

f

e

i-

r--,

arger streams often are more open to sun-ight—either because of wide gravel bars orimply because the streams are wider.

mall streams in forested areas generally have wider band of riparian trees. Here an over-ead canopy shades much of the stream.

all streams in agricultural areas commonlyve a narrow (or absent) band of riparian trees.

Habitat characteristics can affectbiological communities in many differ-ent ways. For example, trees alongstreambanks provide shade, erosionprotection, and leaf litter to a stream.These factors often affect the densityand diversity of fish (p. 16-17), aquaticinsects, and algae.

Several factors can affect aquatichabitats, which then affect biologicalcommunities. Many habitatcharacteristics appeared to beinfluenced more by basin size thanby land use.

Physiography, geology, basin size,and land use are among the factors thacan affect aquatic habitats. Most habi-tat characteristics appeared to be morinfluenced by basin size than by landuse (Femmer, 1997). Sites with largerbasins tend to be wider, deeper, moresinuous streams with greater watervelocity and larger canopy angles.Sites with smaller basins tend to havesteeper basin and stream gradients.

Small streams in agricultural areasgenerally have fewer trees and otherwoody plants in the riparian zonethan do small streams in forestedareas. This results in more sunlightreaching the streams in theagricultural areas. More sunlightand the higher nutrient levelsprobably result in faster growingattached algae in these streams.

Cleared pastureland commonlyextends to (or nearly to) streambanksin agricultural areas, resulting in nar-row or absent riparian vegetationzones. Small streams in agriculturalbasins generally had lower meanwoody-plant densities than smallstreams in forested basins (Femmer,1997). Small streams in agriculturalbasins also generally were more opento sunlight because of larger canopyangles than small streams in forestedbasins. More sunlight and higher nutrient levels (p. 6) in streams in agricul-tural areas probably result in fastergrowing attached algae in thesestreams.

Compared to smaller streams, largestreams are wider and have gravel bar

t

e

-

rs

extending farther from the edge ofwater to the streambanks. Therefore,larger streams in forested and agricul-tural basins tend to be more separatefrom their riparian zones.

Some other habitat characteristicswere different between theagricultural and forested sitesstudied. Of these characteristics,some are not likely the result ofagricultural practices, while others(canopy angle, channel width, andsinuosity) may, at least in part,result from agricultural practices.These characteristics can affectbiological communities.

Habitat characteristics that seem todiffer between agricultural and for-ested sites (Femmer, 1997), but are nothe result of agricultural activities,include water velocity, sideslope gradient, and flood-plain width. Some characteristics that may be influenced byland use are canopy angle (discussedabove), channel width, and channelsinuosity. Mean channel width andmean channel sinuosity both tended tobe greater at agricultural sites.

Although the effects of instreamgravel mining in the Ozarks werenot studied by the NAWQAProgram, some studies suggest thatgravel mining has detrimentaleffects on instream habitat.

A study (Brown and Lyttle, 1992) ofseveral instream (between the banks ostreams) gravel-mining sites onstreams in the Arkansas part of theOzark Plateaus indicated that streamchannels were altered as pools becamshallower and larger and riffles wereless frequent downstream from themining sites. Game-fish biomass andabundance of game fish and silt-senstive fish were lower at and downstreamfrom these sites than at upstream refeence locations. On the basis of Arkansas Game and Fish Commission dataArkansas State University (1996)reported similar differences in fishcommunities in gravel mining areas ofthe Spring River in northeasternArkansas. Brown and Lyttle (1992)also reported differences betweenbenthic invertebrate (animals such as

Lls

Sah

Smha

U.S. G

bottom-dwelling insects) communitiesat mining sites and communities at reference locations. Kanehl and Lyons (1992reported similar physical and biologicaleffects in other streams of the UnitedStates.

The severity of the effects of gravelmining on streams probably is depen-dent on several factors. These factorsinclude hydrology, channel shape, andgravel removal methods and relatedactivities.

d

eological Survey Circular 1158 15

MAJOR ISSUES AND FINDINGSFish Communities

-s

e

i-

f

.

l

-

In streams in agricultural basins, algae-grazing stonerollers generally are the most abundant type of fish. Generally, 20 to 50 percent of the fish are stonerollers.

60

0

10

20

30

40

50STONEROLLERSOTHER MINNOWSSUNFISHDARTERSMADTOMSSUCKERSOTHERS

YOCUM CREEK ILLINOIS RIVER

In streams in forested basins, minnows (other than stonerollers), sunfish,and darters are a larger percentage of the fish community than in agricultural basins. Generally, 10 to 20 percent of the fish are stonerollers.

RE

LATI

VE

AB

UN

DA

NC

E, I

N P

ER

CE

NT

SELECTED AGRICULTURAL BASINS

DOUSINBURY CREEK

60

10

20

30

40

50

NORTH SYLAMORE CREEK PADDY CREEK JACKS FORK RIVER

SELECTED FORESTED BASINS

0

Compared to other parts of theUnited States, many fish species live inthe Ozark Plateaus. Approximately175 species (including introduced species) are present in the Ozark Plateauprovince part of the Study Unit; atleast 16 of these species exist nowherelse in the world. Many of these 175species are intolerant of habitat orwater-chemistry degradation.

Fish communities are a useful toolin assessing water-chemistry and habtat conditions of streams. Many fishspecies are sensitive to a wide array ostresses that are integrated over theirlifetimes, are relatively widely distrib-uted, and are relatively easy to identify

Stonerollers make up a greaterpercentage of the fish at agriculturalsites than at forested sites. Stone-rollers graze on algae attached torocks and other surfaces. Morealgae probably grow on thesesurfaces because of the highernutrient concentrations and greateramounts of sunlight reaching thesestreams.

A major difference between thecomposition of fish communities atsites in forested basins and agriculturabasins is the difference in the relativeabundance (percentage of total individuals in the community) of two types ofminnows called “stonerollers” that areamong the most abundant fish speciein Ozark streams. Stonerollers grazeon algae attached to rocks and othersubmerged surfaces. Streams in agri-cultural basins typically have high con-centrations of nutrients and lessriparian shading (which allows moresunlight to reach the streambed), pro-moting algal growth. Greater amountsof this food source encourage greaternumbers of stonerollers. The medianrelative abundance of stonerollers atforested sites (in 1995) was 14 percentthe median abundance at agriculturalsites was 35 percent. Whether thisgreater abundance can have detrimental effects on the aquatic community isunknown, although apparently stone-rollers selectively graze on differenttypes of algae and affect the density


s

;

-

and composition of benthic inverte-brates (Gelwick and Matthews, 1992).

The increased abundance of stone-rollers is an indication of increasednutrients in Ozark streams. Other fac-tors (including toxicity and changes inchannel shape) can also affect stone-roller abundance. The relative abun-dance (17 percent) of stonerollers at asite on Center Creek, downstream froma lead-zinc mining area and from industrial and municipal wastewater-treat-ment plant discharges near Joplin, Mo.may be lowered because of toxicity. Theabundance (46 percent) of stonerollersat a site on the Kings River, downstreamfrom a small wastewater-treatment planand instream gravel mining, may be elevated because of nutrient enrichmentand other habitat changes.

teaus, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and

Stonerollers are very common in theOzarks. They generally are more abundantin streams in agricultural basins.

-

,

t-

Oklahoma, 1992-95

MAJOR ISSUES AND FINDINGSFish Communities

l-

n-

t

e-l-

o

-

n-

,

ne--,

--

eDarters also are sensitive to degraded habitat orwater chemistry. This Niangua darter is one ofseven species of darter found only in the Ozarks.(Photograph courtesy of Missouri Department ofConservation.)

Smallmouth bass, an important game fish, aresensitive to degraded habitat or waterchemistry. (Photograph courtesy of GreggPatterson.)

Sunfish (including the black basses)and darters make up a smallerpercentage of fish at agriculturalsites than at forested sites. Membersof the sunfish family (particularlysmallmouth bass) are importantgame fish. Several species of dartersthat live in the Ozarks exist nowhereelse in the world.

Stonerollers are more abundant (reative to other species) at sites in agri-cultural basins, and sunfish (includingthe black basses—smallmouth, large-mouth, and spotted bass) are less abudant at these sites. Many of the sunfishspecies in the Ozarks are sensitive todegraded water chemistry or habitat.Much of this decrease in relative abundance (percentage of total individuals)is because of the greater relative abundance of stonerollers; but even afterdiscounting the stoneroller data, sun-fish generally have lower relativeabundance values at agricultural sitesthan at forested sites. The median reltive abundance of sunfish at forestedsites was 11 percent (26 percent ofindividuals other than stonerollers);whereas, the median relative abun-dance at agricultural sites was 4 per-cent (6 percent of other than stone-rollers). Members of the sunfish fam-ily, especially smallmouth bass, areimportant game fish in Ozark streamsSpotted bass, largemouth bass, longesunfish, Ozark bass, shadow bass, anrock bass are less important, eitherbecause of fewer numbers or smallersize.

Darters also comprise a smaller pecentage of the communities at sites inagricultural basins. As with sunfish,much of this is because of the greaterrelative abundance of stonerollers; buafter discounting the stoneroller data,darters generally remain relativelyless abundant at sites in agriculturalbasins. The median relative abundancof darters at forested sites was 14 percent (18 percent of other than stonerolers). The median relative abundanceat agricultural sites was 4 percent (8percent of other than stonerollers).Darters generally are considered to besensitive to water-chemistry or habitat

-

-

a-

.ard

r-

degradation. At least seven species odarters in the Ozarks (Arkansas sad-dled darter, yoke darter, yellowcheekdarter, stippled darter, bluestripedarter, Missouri saddled darter, andNiangua darter) exist nowhere else inthe world. The Niangua darter, whichis found in only a few tributaries of theOsage River in central Missouri, is afederally listed threatened speciesunder the Endangered Species Act.

Fish community compositionappears to be related to stream size,canopy angle, substrate, and waterchemistry. Some of these factors areaffected by human activities.

Results of several statistical proce-dures (multivariate analyses, correla-tion, and regression) used to group ancompare the fish communities at 18sites in the Study Unit indicate thatthese communities are substantiallyaffected by their habitat. However, the

U.S. Ge

procedures used to group sites often dnot completely separate sites in agri-cultural areas from those in forestedareas. This indicates that factorsrelated to land use are important indetermining community structure, butthat other factors also are important.

Several measures of stream sizeappear related to community composition. These measures include streamwidth and depth, width-to-depth ratio,and stream order. This result is reasoable, considering that several speciesof fish have preferences for smaller,steeper gradient, lower order streamswhile others have preferences forlarger, lower gradient, higher orderstreams. Several other factors that cabe affected by stream size and land usalso appeared to be related to community structure at the 18 sites. These factors were canopy angle, substrate sizesinuosity, and velocity.

Several water-chemistry factorsappeared to be related to the fish community composition. Phosphorus, sediment, and nitrate concentrations wererelated to the community compositionin results from at least one of the mul-tivariate procedures.

Many of these factors probablyaffect spawning success and foodavailability. Smallmouth bass, someother sunfish, many minnows, andmost darters are intolerant of turbidityor siltation. Stonerollers are favored byincreased algal growth, which resultsfrom elevated nutrient concentrationsand large (open) canopy angles.

The site on Center Creek (map,p. 19) has one of the highest percent-ages in the study area of individualstolerant of degraded water chemistryor habitat. The site also has a relativelylow percentage of stonerollers for asite with elevated nutrient concentra-tions and an open canopy. This site,which is downstream from lead-zincmining and urban areas, has elevatedconcentrations of lead, zinc (table,p. 12), and semivolatile organic com-pounds (p. 11) in bed sediment. Theschemicals may be a major factoraffecting the Center Creek fish com-munity.

f

d

ological Survey Circular 1158 17

WATER-QUALITY CONDITIONS IN A NATIONAL CONTEXTComparison of Stream Quality in the Ozark Plateaus Study Unitwith Nationwide NAWQA Findings

achortudyytile

its.for

esatic-

ste-re

ORGANOCHLORINE PESTICIDES and PCBs in bed sediment andbiological tissue

Organochlorine pesticides and PCBs were rarely detected in bedsediment or biological tissue. DDE, a breakdown product of DDT,was detected at a low concentration in fish tissue from theIllinois River.

Fayetteville

Springfield

Illinois River

Greater than the 75th percentile(among the highest 25 percent of NAWQA

stream sites)

Between the median and the 75th percentile

Between the 25th percentile and the median

Less than the 25th percentile(among the lowest 25 percent of NAWQA

stream sites)

Insufficient data for analysis

Seven major water-quality characteristics were evaluated for stream sites in eNAWQA Study Unit. Summary scores for each characteristic were computed fall sites that had adequate data. Scores for each site in the Ozark Plateaus SUnit were compared with scores for all sites sampled in the 20 NAWQA StudUnits during 1992–95. Results are summarized by percentiles; higher percenvalues generally indicate poorer quality compared with sites in the 20 Study UnWater-quality conditions at each site also are compared to established criteriaprotection of aquatic life. Applicable criteria are limited to nutrients and pesti-cides in water, and semivolatile organic compounds, organochlorine pesticidand PCBs in sediment. (Methods used to compute rankings and evaluate aqulife criteria are described by Gilliom and others, in press.)

Pesticide concentrations in two intensively sampledstreams in agricultural basins were among the smallein the 20 Study Units. No exceedances of existing critria occurred. The herbicides atrazine and simazine wethe most commonly detected pesticides.

NUTRIENTS in water

PESTICIDES in water

Fayetteville

Springfield

Fayetteville

Springfield

EXPLANATION

Ranking of stream quality relative to allNAWQA stream sites — Darker coloredcircles generally indicate poorer quality.

Nutrient concentrations in twostreams draining basins with pre-dominantly agricultural land useand one stream downstream froma wastewater-treatment plantwere higher than the nationalmedian. Beef cattle, dairy cattle,and poultry production provides amajor source of nutrients tostreams. Ammonia concentra-tions did not exceed the EPA cri-terion for protection of aquaticlife at any of the agriculturalsites. Nutrient concentrations instreams draining basins with pre-dominantly forested land usewere among the lowest in the 20Study Units.


WATER-QUALITY CONDITIONS IN A NATIONAL CONTEXTComparison of Stream Quality in the Ozark Plateaus Study Unit

with Nationwide NAWQA Findings

t

n-,

e

Summed concentrations ofsemivolatile organic com-pounds in bed sediment at mostsites were lower than at mostsites in the 20 Study Units.None of the sites had concen-trations above which there is ahigh probability of adverse ef-fects on aquatic organisms.Two sites with concentrationsexceeding the national StudyUnit median are in forested ar-eas. The two sites with thehighest concentrations are inbasins containing some of themore urban areas of the StudyUnit.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with other NAWQA StudyUnits:

• Nutrient concentrations in streamsdraining forested basins were amongthe lowest in the Nation; concentra-tions in some streams draining basinswith other land uses were higher thanmost other sites in the Nation.

• Concentrations of pesticides and oth-er organic compounds in water, bedsediment, and tissue generally werelower than at sites in other StudyUnits. Concentrations of semivolatileorganic compounds in bed sedimentat sites downstream from urban ar-eas were among the highest in theNation.

• Trace element concentrations in bedsediment in lead-zinc mining areaswere among the highest in the Nation.

• The quality of stream habitats and fishcommunities at most sites was betterthan at most other sites in the Nation.

Fish communities at mostsites were less degraded(fewer diseased, tolerant, andomnivorous fish) than atmost other sites in the 20Study Units. Sites with mostdegradation in the Study Unitgenerally are on larger riversaffected by agricultural, min-ing, or urban activities. Thefourth site is in a forested ba-sin and was considered tohave a degraded fish commu-nity because of the large per-centage of omnivorous fishsuch as gizzard shad andcommon carp.

FISH COMMUNITY DEGRADATION

Fayetteville

Springfield A well-vegetated riparian corridor contrib-utes substantially to healthy habitat scores amany sites in the Study Unit. Gravel andlead-zinc mining probably have contributedto modified channels and increased sedimetation at some sites. A site on Center Creekwhich flows through an area of agriculturalland use and historical lead-zinc mining, isthe only site that was more degraded than thmedian of sites in the 20 Study Units.

TRACE ELEMENTS in bed sediment

SEMIVOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDSin bed sediment

STREAM HABITAT DEGRADATIONFayetteville

Springfield

Fayetteville

Springfield

CenterCreek

Boston Mountains

Fayetteville

Springfield

The bed sediment at sites lo-cated in lead-zinc mining ar-eas and in or near the BostonMountains had concentra-tions of trace elements at ahigher level than most othersites in the 20 Study Units.Zinc concentrations and leadconcentrations at CenterCreek near Smithfield, Mo.,were substantially higherthan the national medianzinc (about 50 times higher)and lead (about 15 timeshigher) concentrations.


WATER-QUALITY CONDITIONS IN A NATIONAL CONTEXTComparison of Ground-Water Quality in the Ozark Plateaus Study Unitwith Nationwide NAWQA Findings

in-

-sr-

Unitled-thhrers,tker

OZ-UOZ-C

SP

Greater than the 75th percentile(among the highest 25 percent of NAWQA

ground-water studies)

Between the median and the 75th percentile

Between the 25th percentile and the median

Less than the 25th percentile(among the lowest 25 percent of NAWQA

ground-water studies)

EXPLANATION

Five major water-quality characteristics were evaluated for ground-water studieseach NAWQA Study Unit. Ground-water resources were divided into two categories: (1) drinking-water aquifers, and (2) shallow ground water (in the Ozark Plateaus Study Unit, generally from wells less than 300 feet deep). Summary scorewere computed for each characteristic for all aquifers and shallow ground-water aeas that had adequate data. Scores for each aquifer in the Ozark Plateaus Studywere compared with scores for all aquifers and shallow ground-water areas sampin the 20 NAWQA Study Units during 1992–95. Results are summarized by percentiles; higher percentile values generally indicate poorer quality compared wiother ground-water studies in the 20 Study Units. Water-quality conditions for eacsampled drinking-water aquifer also are compared to established drinking-watestandards and criteria for protection of human health. (Methods used to computrankings and evaluate standards and criteria were described by Gilliom and othein press.) With the exception of the confined part of the Ozark aquifer (which is noconsidered shallow ground water), all groups of ground-water data for the OzarPlateaus Study Unit could have been compared to both the national drinking-wataquifer scores and the national shallow ground-water scores. The results of thedrinking-water aquifer comparisons are shown below.

Ozark aquifer (confined)—(OZ-C)

Ozark aquifer (unconfined)—(OZ-U)

Springfield Plateau aquifer (uncon-fined)—(SP)Springfield Plateau aquifer, uncon-fined, pasture (cattle)—(SP-Ca)Springfield Plateau aquifer, uncon-fined, pasture (poultry)—(SP-P)

NITRATE

Ranking of ground-water qualityrelative to all NAWQA ground-waterstudies— Darker colored circles generallyindicate poorer quality. Bold outline of cir-cle indicates one or more standards or cri-teria were exceeded Water from the Ozark aqui-

fer had nitrate concentrationslower than the median valuefor all NAWQA Study Units.However, water from parts ofthe Springfield Plateau aqui-fer, which lies beneath a pri-marily agricultural area, hadhigher nitrate concentrations,greater than the nationalmedian. U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency drinking-water standards were exceed-ed in less than 1 percent ofSpringfield Plateau aquifersamples.

OZ-UOZ-C

SP-Ca

SP

SP-P

RADON Radon levels in waterfrom the unconfinedSpringfield Plateauaquifer and the con-fined and unconfinedparts of the Ozarkaquifer were lowerthan levels in mostother aquifers in the20 NAWQA StudyUnits.


WATER-QUALITY CONDITIONS IN A NATIONAL CONTEXTComparison of Ground-Water Quality in the Ozark Plateaus Study Unitwith Nationwide NAWQA Findings


CONCLUSIONS

Compared with other NAWQA Study Units:

• Radon levels were lower than in mostother drinking-water aquifers.

• Nitrate concentrations in parts of theSpringfield Plateau aquifer were higherthan in most other drinking-water aqui-fers. This aquifer lies beneath an agricul-tural area.

• Dissolved-solids concentrations wereless than in most other drinking-wateraquifers.

• Volatile organic compounds were detect-ed more frequently than in most otherdrinking-water aquifers. Concentrationsgenerally were relatively low.

• Pesticides were detected less frequentlythan in most other drinking-water aqui-fers.

Pesticides were detected less frequently in the Spring-field Plateau and Ozark aquifers than in most other drink-ing-water aquifers in the 20 Study Units. However,pesticides were detected more frequently in water in theSpringfield Plateau aquifer (a mostly unconfined aquiferunderlying areas with primarily agricultural land use).Concentrations generally were low relative to detectionlimits and concentrations in other Study Units and ex-ceeded drinking-water standards or guidelines in lessthan 1 percent of samples.

OZ-U

SP

DISSOLVED SOLIDS

VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS PESTICIDES

OZ-UOZ-C

SP-Ca

SP

SP-P

OZ-UOZ-C

SP-Ca

SP

SP-P

Volatile organic compound (VOC) detections were morefrequent in samples from the Springfield Plateau aquiferand part of the Ozark aquifer than in most other drinking-water aquifers sampled nationally by NAWQA. Detec-tions of VOCs did not appear to be related to regional landuse, but could be related to very localized land uses atsome sites or could be an artifact of well construction orsample collection. Concentrations generally were low rel-ative to detection limits or drinking-water standards orguidelines.

Median dissolved-solids concentrations in water fromsampled wells were less than the NAWQA national medi-an. However, samples from nearly all groups of data occa-sionally exceeded the U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency drinking-water guideline. A small percentage ofthe samples from the Springfield Plateau aquifer and un-confined part of the Ozark aquifer had concentrations ex-ceeding the guideline; however, 15 percent of the samplesfrom the confined part of the Ozark aquifer exceeded theguideline. Dissolved-solids concentrations in the confinedaquifer were greatest near the western boundary of theStudy Unit.

STUDY DESIGN AND DATA COLLECTION IN THE OZARK PLATEAUS STUDY UNIT

d

-

le

STREAM-CHEMISTRY

EXPLANATION

Different study designs were usedfor collecting data associated withstream chemistry and ecology andground-water chemistry. For streams,sites were selected to represent specificenvironmental settings (combinationsof physiography, land use, and streamsize). Ground-water networks and sitescan be described in terms of their envi-ronmental setting (characteristics ofhydrogeology and land use). Physiog-raphy, land use, stream size, andhydrogeology are all factors thatshould be considered because of theireffects on water quality.

To the extent practical, stream sitesrepresent areas of relatively homoge-neous physiography and land use.Sampling sites were first classified by

physiographic area, then by predomi-nant land use and basin size.

Springs and wells in the SpringfieldPlateau aquifer and unconfined part ofthe Ozark aquifer were randomlyselected for sampling as part of theunconfined aquifer survey. Severalpublic-supply wells in the confinedpart of the Ozark aquifer also wereselected for sampling. To aid study ofthe effects of land use and hydrogeol-ogy on ground-water chemistry,springs and wells were randomlyselected in a poultry-production areaand a cattle-production area of theSpringfield Plateau. Land-use andhydrogeologic information was used tocharacterize springs and wells afterthey were selected and sampled.

An emphasis of the NAWQA designis the use of multiple lines of evidenceto describe water-quality conditions(Gilliom and others, 1995). Thus, datahave been collected for chemistry ofstreams and ground water, bed sedi-ment, and biological tissue (tissuefrom clams and fish); stream ecologi-cal conditions; and environmental fac-tors such as land-use percentages anhuman population. The sampling sitesassociated with the various study components are shown on the appropriatemaps, and the designs of the individuastudy components are described in thtable on the following page.

AQUIFER SURVEY, UNCONFINEDOzarkSpringfield Plateau

AQUIFER SURVEY, CONFINEDOzark

LAND-USE EFFECTSSpringfield Plateau, poultrySpringfield Plateau, cattle

CONFINING UNIT OR AQUIFEROzarkSpringfield PlateauOther

EXPLANATION

LOCATION OF GROUND-WATER SITES

LAND USE

Forested land

Agricultural land

Urban land

Mining area

Water

AND ECOLOGY SITE

Basic/intensive siteand number

Synoptic site

Bed sediment and biota site

3

BLACK RIVERTRACE ELEMENT

STUDY

OsagePlains

SalemPlateau

St. FrancoisMountains

BostonMountains

SpringfieldPlateau

MississippiAlluvialPlain

LOCATION OF STREAM SITES

5

76

39

24

8

1

List of basic and intensive stream-chemistry and ecology sites[Contaminants in bed sediment and aquatic biota also sampled at all of these sites]

Site number(see figure

above right)Site name

Site number(see figure

above right)Site name

1 Buffalo River near Boxley, Ark. 8 Yocum Creek near Oak Grove, Ark.2 North Sylamore Creek near Fifty-Six, Ark. 9 Dousinbury Creek near Wall Street, Mo.3 Paddy Creek above Slabtown Spring, Mo. 10 Elk River near Tiff City, Mo.4 Buffalo River near St. Joe, Ark. 11 Illinois River near Tahlequah, Okla.5 Black River near Lesterville, Mo. 12 Niangua River at Windyville, Mo.6 Jacks Fork River at Alley Spring, Mo. 13 Kings River near Berryville, Ark.7 Current River at Van Buren, Mo. 14 Center Creek near Smithfield, Mo.


STUDY DESIGN AND DATA COLLECTION IN THE OZARK PLATEAUS STUDY UNIT

SUMMARY OF DATA COLLECTION IN THE OZARK PLATEAUS STUDY UNIT, 1992-95

Study component What data were collected and why Types of sites sampledNumberof sites

Samplingfrequency

and period

Stream Chemistry

Basic sites—generalwater chemistry

Continuous streamflow, nutrients, major ions, tracemetals, bacteria, organic carbon, suspendedsediment, and physical parameters to describeconcentrations and seasonal variations.

Streams draining predominant land-usetypes across Study Unit: forested,agriculture, mining, and urban.

14 Monthly plus stormsApr. 1993-Sept. 1995(one site activated Jan.1995)

Intensive sites—pesticides, nutri-ents, bacteria

In addition to the above constituents, 82 dissolvedpesticides to determine concentrations andseasonal variations.

Subset of basic sites draining agriculturalland-use areas.

2 Weekly to monthlyFeb. 1994-Jan. 1995

Synoptic sites—waterchemistry

Streamflow, nutrients, major ions, trace metals,pesticides, bacteria, organic carbon, suspendedsediment, and physical parameters during highor low flow conditions to describe concentrationand spatial distribution.

Streams draining forested, agricultural,and urban land-use areas.

29 Three in 1994-95

Contaminants inbed sediments

Trace elements and hydrophobic organiccompounds to determine occurrence and spatialdistribution.

Depositional zones for all basic andintensive sites and many synoptic sites.

27 Once in 1992-95

Contaminants inaquatic biota

Trace elements in clams (soft tissue) and fish liversand organic compounds in clams (soft tissue)and whole fishes to determine occurrence andspatial distribution.

All basic and intensive sites and somesynoptic sites. Samples were takenfrom fish and clam species generallycommon across the Study Unit.

25 Once in 1992-95

Stream Ecology

Intensive assessments Fish, macroinvertebrates, algae, and aquatic andriparian habitat to assess biological communitiesin different land uses.

Stream reaches were collocated with basicand intensive sites. Sites represent thevariety of land uses within the StudyUnit.

14 Once annually in 1993-95; three reaches sam-pled at each of threesites one year

Synoptic assessments Similar to intensive assessments, except only onereach per site and fish were sampled at only foursites, for areal comparison of habitat andcommunity composition.

Stream reaches were collocated with asubset of synoptic stream chemistrysites.

27 Once in 1994

Ground-Water Chemistry

Aquifer survey—bedrock, uncon-fined

Nutrients, major ions, trace elements, pesticides,volatile organic compounds (wells), andradionuclides to determine overall water qualityand natural chemical patterns in unconfinedparts of Springfield Plateau and Ozark aquifers.

Domestic wells (49) and springs (50). 99 Once in 1993

Aquifer survey—bedrock, confined

Nutrients, major ions, trace elements, pesticides,volatile organic compounds, and radionuclidesto determine overall water quality and naturalchemical patterns in the confined part of theOzark aquifer.

Public supply wells located innorthwestern Arkansas, southeasternKansas, southwestern Missouri, andnortheastern Oklahoma.

20 Once in 1993-94

Land-use effects—agricultural

Nutrients, major ions, pesticides, and radionuclidesto determine the effect of agricultural practices(poultry and cattle) on the quality of groundwater in the Springfield Plateau aquifer.

Domestic wells (20) and springs (22) for astudy that focused on land used forconfined poultry; domestic wells (20)and springs (20) for a study thatfocused on land used for raising cattle.

82 Once in 1994-95

Special Studies

Black Rivertrace elementstudy—water, bed-sediment, and tissuechemistry; streamecology

Similar to data collected for the study componentsfor stream chemistry: basic sites, contaminantsin bed sediment, and contaminants in fish tissue;and for stream ecology: synoptic assessments.The data were collected to describe effects oflead-zinc mining on water quality, bed sediment,aquatic biota, and biological communities.

Streams, depositional zones, and streamreaches located within an area of lead-zinc mining.

10 Once in 1995

Small-basin study(not shown on map)

Nutrients, major ions, and pesticides to describe, ona local scale, occurrence and distribution in asmall Springfield Plateau basin.

Domestic (18) and monitoring (11) wells,springs (4), and streams (3) within theFlint Creek Basin.

36 Once in 1995


The following tables summarize data collected for NAWQA studies during 1992-95 by showing results for the Ozark PlateausStudy Unit compared to the NAWQA national range for each compound detected. The data were collected at a wide variety of placesand times. In order to represent the wide concentration ranges observed among Study Units, logarithmic scales are used to emphasizethe general magnitude of concentrations (such as 10, 100, or 1,000), rather than the precise number. The complete dataset used to con-struct these tables is available upon request. These tables were designed and compiled by Sarah Ryker, Jonathon Scott, and Alan Hag-gland, U.S. Geological Survey.

Concentrations of herbicides, insecticides, volatile organic compounds, and nutrients detected in ground and surface waters of the OzarkPlateaus Study Unit. [mg/L, milligrams per liter; µg/L, micrograms per liter; pCi/L, picocuries per liter; %, percent; <, less than; - -, notmeasured; trade names may vary]

EXPLANATION

Range of surface-water detections in all 20 Study Units

Range of ground-water detections in all 20 Study Units

Drinking water standard or guidelinea

Freshwater-chronic criterion for the protection of aquatic lifea

Detection in the Ozark Plateaus Study Unit

Herbicide(Trade or common

Rateof

Concentration, inµg/L Herbicide(Trade or common

ame)

Rateofdetec-

b

Concentration, inµg/L

0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1,000

SUMMARY OF COMPOUND DETECTIONS AND CONCENTRATIONS

name) detec-

tion b0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1,000 n

Alachlor (Lasso) 1%0%

Atrazine (AAtrex,Gesaprim)

21%3%

Deethylatrazinec

(Atrazine metabolite)

3%3%

Benfluralin (Balan,Benefin, Bonalan)

<1%<1%

Bentazon (Basagran,bentazone)

0%1%

Bromacil (Hyvar X,Urox B, Bromax)

1%0%

Butylate (Sutan,Genate Plus, butilate)

1%0%

Cyanazine (Bladex,Fortrol)

1%0%

2,4-D (2,4-PA) 2%0%

DCPA (Dacthal,chlorthal-dimethyl)

<1%<1%

Diuron (Karmex,Direx, DCMU)

0%1%

EPTC (Eptam) <1%0%

Metolachlor (Dual,Pennant)

1%1%

Molinate (Ordram) 1%0%

Prometon (Gesa-gram, prometone)

6%7%

24 Water Quality in the Ozark Plateaus, Arkansas, Kan

tion

Propanil (Stampede,Surcopur)

<1%1%

Simazine (Aquazine,Princep, GEsatop)

5%3%

Tebuthiuron (Spike,Perflan)

8%6%

Terbacilc (Sinbar) <1%0%

Thiobencarb (Bolero,Saturn, benthiocarb)

<1%0%

Trifluralin (Treflan,Trinin, Elancolan)

<1%<1%

Insecticide(Trade or commonname)

Rateofdetec-

tion b


Carbarylc (Sevin,Savit)

1%1%

Carbofuranc

(Furadan, Curaterr)

1%0%

Chlorpyrifos (Durs-ban, Lorsban)

<1%1%

p,p’-DDE (p,p’-DDTmetabolite)

<1%<1%

Diazinon 2%0%

Dieldrin (Panoram D-31, Octalox)

<1%1%

0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1,000

sas, Missouri, and Oklahoma, 1992-95

Nutrient Rateofdetec-

Concentration, in mg/L

0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1,000 10,000 100,000

Insecticide(Trade or commonname)

Rateofdetec-


0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1,000


gamma-HCH 0%1%

cis-Permethrinc

(Ambush, Pounce)

<1%0%

Propargite (Comite,Omite, BPPS)

0%<1%

Volatile organiccompound

Rateofdetec-

tion b


1,1,2-Trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane (Freon

--2%

Dichloromethane(Methylene chloride)

--2%

Methylbenzene (Tolu-ene)

--6%

total Trihalomethanes --13%

Volatile organiccompound

Rateofdetec-

tion b


Tetrachloroethene(Perchloroethene)

--2%

0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1,000

0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1,000 10,000 100,000

Da

Dpa

Dr

Dn

O

R

tion b

issolved ammonias nitrogen

67%79%

issolved ammonialus organic nitrogens nitrogen

12%3%

issolved phospho-us as phosphorus

51%44%

issolved nitrite plusitrate as nitrogen

81%86%

ther Rateofdetec-

tion b

Concentration, in pCi/L

adon 222100%

1 10 100 1,000 10,000 100,000

tion b



Herbicides, insecticides, volatile organic compounds, and nutrients not detected in ground and surface waters of the Ozark PlateausStudy Unit.

Herbicides

2,4,5-T

2,4,5-TP (Silvex, Fenoprop)

2,4-DB (Butyrac, Butox-one, Embutox Plus, Embu-tone)

2,6-Diethylaniline (Metabo-lite of Alachlor)

Acetochlor (Harness Plus,Surpass)

Acifluorfen (Blazer, Tackle2S)

Bromoxynil (Buctril, Bro-minal)

Chloramben (Amiben,Amilon-WP, Vegiben)

Clopyralid (Stinger, Lon-trel, Reclaim, Transline)

Dacthal mono-acid (Dacthalmetabolite)

Dicamba (Banvel, Dianat,Scotts Proturf)

Dichlorprop (2,4-DP, Seri-tox 50, Kildip, Lentemul)

Dinoseb (Dinosebe)

Ethalfluralin (Sonalan, Cur-bit)

Fenuron (Fenulon, Feni-dim)

Fluometuron (Flo-Met,Cotoran, Cottonex, Metu-ron)

Linuron (Lorox, Linex, Sar-clex, Linurex, Afalon)

MCPA (Rhomene, Rhonox,Chiptox)

MCPB (Thistrol)

Metribuzin (Lexone, Sen-cor)

Napropamide (Devrinol)

Neburon (Neburea, Neb-uryl, Noruben)

Norflurazon (Evital, Pre-dict, Solicam, Zorial)

Oryzalin (Surflan, Dirimal)

Pebulate (Tillam, PEBC)

26 Water Quality

Pendimethalin (Pre-M,Prowl, Weedgrass Control,Stomp, Herbadox)

Picloram (Grazon, Tordon)

Pronamide (Kerb, Propyza-mid)

Propachlor (Ramrod, Sate-cid)

Propham (Tuberite)

Triallate (Far-Go, AvadexBW, Tri-allate)

Triclopyr (Garlon, Grand-stand, Redeem, Remedy)

Insecticides

3-Hydroxycarbofuran (Car-bofuran metabolite)

Aldicarb sulfone (Standak,aldoxycarb, aldicarb metab-olite)

Aldicarb sulfoxide (Aldi-carb metabolite)

Aldicarb (Temik, Ambush,Pounce)

Azinphos-methyl (Guthion,Gusathion M)

Disulfoton (Disyston, Di-Syston, Frumin AL,Solvirex, Ethylthiodemeton)

Ethoprop (Mocap, Ethopro-phos)

Fonofos (Dyfonate, Capfos,Cudgel, Tycap)

Malathion (Malathion)

Methiocarb (Slug-Geta,Grandslam, Mesurol)

Methomyl (Lanox, Lan-nate, Acinate)

Methyl parathion (Penncap-M, Folidol-M, Metacide,Bladan M)

Oxamyl (Vydate L, Pratt)

Parathion (Roethyl-P, Alk-ron, Panthion, Phoskil)

Phorate (Thimet, Granutox,Geomet, Rampart)

Propoxur (Baygon, Blat-tanex, Unden, Proprotox)

Terbufos (Contraven,Counter, Pilarfox)

in the Ozark Plateaus, A

alpha-HCH (alpha-BHC,alpha-lindane,alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane,alpha-benzene hexachlo-ride)

Volatile organiccompounds

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane(1,1,1,2-TeCA)

1,1,1-Trichloroethane(Methylchloroform)

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane

1,1,2-Trichloroethane(Vinyl trichloride)

1,1-Dichloroethane (Eth-ylidene dichloride)

1,1-Dichloroethene(Vinylidene chloride)

1,1-Dichloropropene

1,2,3-Trichlorobenzene(1,2,3-TCB)

1,2,3-Trichloropropane(Allyl trichloride)

1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene(Pseudocumene)

1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropro-pane (DBCP, Nemagon)

1,2-Dibromoethane (EDB,Ethylene dibromide)

1,2-Dichlorobenzene (o-Dichlorobenzene, 1,2-DCB)

1,2-Dichloroethane (Ethyl-ene dichloride)

1,2-Dichloropropane (Pro-pylene dichloride)

1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene(Mesitylene)

1,3-Dichlorobenzene (m-Dichlorobenzene)

1,3-Dichloropropane (Tri-methylene dichloride)

1,4-Dichlorobenzene (p-Dichlorobenzene, 1,4-DCB)

1-Chloro-2-methylben-zene (o-Chlorotoluene)

1-Chloro-4-methylben-zene (p-Chlorotoluene)

2,2-Dichloropropane

Benzene

Bromobenzene (Phenylbromide)

Bromochloromethane(Methylene chlorobro-mide)

Bromomethane (Methylbromide)

Chlorobenzene(Monochlorobenzene)

Chloroethane (Ethyl chlo-ride)

Chloroethene (Vinyl chlo-ride)

Chloromethane (Methylchloride)

Dibromomethane (Methyl-ene dibromide)

Dichlorodifluoromethane(CFC 12, Freon 12)

Dimethylbenzenes(Xylenes (total))

Ethenylbenzene (Styrene)

Ethylbenzene (Phenyle-thane)

Hexachlorobutadiene

Isopropylbenzene(Cumene)

Methyl tert-butyl etherd

(MTBE)

Naphthalene

Tetrachloromethane (Car-bon tetrachloride)

Trichloroethene (TCE)

Trichlorofluoromethane(CFC 11, Freon 11)

cis-1,2-Dichloroethene((Z)-1,2-Dichloroethene)

cis-1,3-Dichloropropene((Z)-1,3-Dichloropropene)

n-Butylbenzene (1-Phe-nylbutane)

n-Propylbenzene (Isoc-umene)

p-Isopropyltoluene (p-Cymene)

sec-Butylbenzene

tert-Butylbenzene

trans-1,2-Dichloroethene((E)-1,2-Dichlorothene)

trans-1,3-Dichloropropene((E)-1,3-Dichloropropene)

Nutrients

No non-detects

rkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma, 1992-95

Concentrations of semivolatile organic compounds, organochlorine compounds, and trace elements detected in fish and clam tissue andbed sediment of the Ozark Plateaus Study Unit. [µg/g, micrograms per gram; µg/kg, micrograms per kilogram; %, percent; <, less than;--, not measured; trade names may vary]

EXPLANATION

Range of detections in fish and clam tissue in all 20 Study Units

Detection in bed sediment or fish tissue in the Ozark Plateaus Study Unit

Range of detections in bed sediment in all 20 Study Units

Guideline for the protection of aquatic lifee

Detection in clam tissue in the Ozark Plateaus Study Unit

emivolatile organicompound

Rate ofdetec-

tion b

Concentration, inµg/kg

10.1 10 100 1,000 10,000 100,000


1,2-Dimethylnaphtha-lene

--7%


--21%

1-Methyl-9H-fluorene --3%

1-Methylphenan-threne

--17%

1-Methylpyrene --7%

2,3,6-Trimethylnaph-thalene

--14%


--41%

2,6-Dinitrotoluene --3%

2-Ethylnaphthalene --10%

2-Methylanthracene --7%

4,5-Methyle-nephenanthrene

--7%

4-Bromophenyl-phe-nylether

--3%

4-Chloro-3-meth-ylphenol

--3%

4-Chlorophenyl-phe-nylether

--3%

9H-Carbazole --3%

9H-Fluorene --7%

Acenaphthene --7%

Semivolatile organiccompound

Rate ofdetec-

tion b


10.1 10 100 1,000 10,000 100,000

Sc

A

A

A

A

B

B

Bt

B

Bt

B

C

D

D

Da

D

D

D

cenaphthylene --3%

nthracene --14%

nthraquinone --3%

zobenzene --3%

enz[a ]anthracene --28%

enzo[a ]pyrene --14%

enzo[b ]fluoran-hene

--28%

enzo[ghi ]perylene --3%

enzo[k ]fluoran-hene

--28%

utylbenzylphthalate --62%

hrysene --34%

i- n -butylphthalate --100%

i- n -octylphthalate --10%

ibenz[a,h ]nthracene

--3%

ibenzothiophene --10%

iethylphthalate --24%

imethylphthalate --3%


Semivolatile organiccompound

Rate ofdetec-

tion b


10.1 10 100 1,000 10,000 100,000

Trace element Rateofdetec-

Concentration, inµg/g

0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1,000 10,000


Fluoranthene --41%

Indeno[1,2,3-cd ]pyrene

--14%

N-Nitrosodi-phenylamine

--7%

Nitrobenzene --3%

Phenanthrene --31%

Phenol --72%

Pyrene --41%

bis(2-Ethyl-hexyl)phthalate

--97%

p-Cresol --52%

Organochlorinecompound(Trade name)

Rateofdetec-

tion b


total-Chlordane 3%3%

p,p’-DDE 6%0%

total-DDT 10%0%

Dieldrin (Panoram D-31, Octalox)

3%0%

0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1,000 10,000 100,000

Arsenic 93%100%

Cadmium 97%100%

Chromium 90%100%

Copper 100%100%

Lead 30%100%

Mercury 60%79%

Nickel 83%100%

Selenium 87%100%

Zinc 100%100%

tion b


Semivolatile organic compounds, organochlorine compounds, and trace elements not detected in fish and clam tissue and bed sedimentof the Ozark Plateaus Study Unit.


Semivolatile organiccompounds

1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene

1,2-Dichlorobenzene (o-Dichlorobenzene, 1,2-DCB)

1,3-Dichlorobenzene (m-Dichlorobenzene)

1,4-Dichlorobenzene (p-Dichlorobenzene, 1,4-DCB)

2,2-Biquinoline

2,4-Dinitrotoluene

2-Chloronaphthalene

2-Chlorophenol

3,5-Dimethylphenol

Acridine

Benzo [c] cinnoline

C8-Alkylphenol

Isophorone

Isoquinoline

N-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine

Naphthalene

Pentachloronitrobenzene

Phenanthridine

Quinoline

bis (2-Chloroethoxy)meth-ane

Organochlorinecompounds

Aldrin (HHDN, Octalene)

Chloroneb (chloronebe,Demosan, Soil Fungicide1823)

DCPA (Dacthal, chlorthal-dimethyl)

Endosulfan I (alpha-Endosulfan, Thiodan,Cyclodan, Beosit, Malix,Thimul, Thifor)

Endrin (Endrine)

Heptachlor epoxide (Hep-tachlor metabolite)

Heptachlor (Heptachlore,Velsicol 104)

Hexachlorobenzene (HCB)

Isodrin (Isodrine, Com-pound 711)

Mirex (Dechlorane)

PCB, total

Pentachloroanisole (PCA,pentachlorophenol metabo-lite)

Toxaphene (Camphechlor,Hercules 3956)

alpha-HCH (alpha-BHC,alpha-lindane,alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane,alpha-benzene hexachlo-ride)

beta-HCH (beta-BHC,beta-hexachlorocyclohex-ane,alpha-benzenehexachloride)

cis-Permethrin (Ambush,Astro, Pounce, Pramex,Pertox, Ambushfog, Kafil,

a Selected water-quality standards and guidelines (Gb Rates of detection are based on the number of ana

insecticides were computed by only counting detpounds, which had widely varying detection limitsthan 0.01µg/L, or the detection rate rounds to lesslimits for most compounds were similar to the loware summarized in (Gilliom and others, in press).

c Detections of these compounds are reliable, but conas estimated values (Zaugg and others, 1995).

d The guideline for methyltert-butyl ether is between 2will be 20µg/L (Gilliom and others, in press).

e Selected sediment-quality guidelines (Gilliom and o

Perthrine, Picket, Picket G,Dragnet, Talcord, Outflank,Stockade, Eksmin,Coopex, Peregin, Sto-moxin, Stomoxin P, Qam-lin, Corsair, Tornade)

delta-HCH (delta-BHC,delta-hexachlorocyclohex-ane,delta-benzenehexachloride)

gamma-HCH (Lindane,gamma-BHC, Gammex-ane, Gexane, Soprocide,gamma-hexachlorocyclo-hexane,gamma-benzenehexachloride,gamma-ben-zene)

o,p’-Methoxychlor

p,p’-Methoxychlor (Mar-late, methoxychlore)

trans-Permethrin(Ambush,Astro, Pounce, Pramex,Pertox, Ambushfog, Kafil,Perthrine, Picket, Picket G,Dragnet, Talcord, Outflank,Stockade, Eksmin,Coopex, Peregin, Sto-moxin, Stomoxin P, Qam-lin, Corsair, Tornade)

Trace elements

No non-detects

U.S. Geological Survey C

illiom and others, in press).

lyses and detections in the Study Unit, not on national dections equal to or greater than 0.01µg/L in order to facilitate equ. For herbicides and insecticides, a detection rate of “<1than 1 percent. For other compound groups, all detectioner end of the national ranges shown. Method detection l

centrations are determined with greater uncertainty than

0 and 40µg/L; if the tentative cancer classification C is acce

thers, in press).

ircular 1158 29

ata. Rates of detection for herbicides andal comparisons among com-%” means that all detections are lesss were counted and minimum detectionimits for all compounds in these tables

for the other compounds and are reported

pted, the lifetime health advisory

REFERENCES

-

,

.

Adamski, J.C., 1997a, Nitrate and pes-ticides in ground water of theOzark Plateaus region in Arkan-sas, Kansas, Missouri, and Okla-homa: U.S. Geological SurveyFact Sheet FS-182-96, 4 p.

———1997b, Nutrients and pesticidesin ground water of the Ozark Pla-teaus in Arkansas, Kansas, Mis-souri, and Oklahoma: U.S.Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report96-4313, 28 p.

———1997c, Radium and radon inground water of the Ozark regionin Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri,and Oklahoma: U.S. GeologicalSurvey Fact Sheet FS-181-96,4 p.

Adamski, J.C., Petersen, J.C., Frei-wald, D.A., and Davis, J.V., 1995,Environmental and hydrologicsetting of the Ozark Plateausstudy unit, Arkansas, Kansas,Missouri, and Oklahoma: U.S.Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report94-4022, 69 p.

Arkansas State University, 1996, Aneconomic impact analysis ofstream bed gravel mining: StateUniversity, Arkansas, report sub-mitted to Arkansas Gravel MiningTask Force, unpaginated.

Bell, R.W., Davis, J.V., Femmer, S.R.,and Joseph, R.L., 1997, Water-quality assessment of the OzarkPlateaus study unit, Arkansas,Kansas, Missouri, and Okla-homa—Organic compounds insurface water, bed sediment, andbiological tissue, 1992-95: U.S.Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report97-4031, 30 p.

Bell, R.W., Joseph, R.J., and Freiwald,D.A., 1996, Water-quality assess-ment of the Ozark Plateaus studyunit, Arkansas, Kansas, Mis-souri, and Oklahoma—Summaryof information on pesticides,1970-90: U.S. Geological SurveyWater-Resources InvestigationsReport 96-4003, 51 p.

Brown, A.V., and Lyttle, M.M., 1992,Impacts of gravel mining onOzark stream ecosystems: Fay-etteville, Arkansas CooperativeFish and Wildlife Research Unit,Department of Biological Sci-ences, University of Arkansas,118 p.

Davis, J.V., Petersen, J.C., Adamski,J.C., and Freiwald, D.A., 1995,Water-quality assessment of theOzark Plateaus study unit, Arkan-sas, Kansas, Missouri, and Okla-homa—Analysis of informationon nutrients, suspended sediment,and suspended solids, 1970-92:U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report95-4042, 112 p.

Femmer, S.R., 1997, Water-qualityassessment of the Ozark Plateausstudy unit, Arkansas, Kansas,Missouri, and Oklahoma—Habi-tat characteristics at selected sites,1993-95: U.S. Geological SurveyOpen-File Report 97-236, 44 p.

Fenneman, N.M., 1938, Physiographyof eastern United States: NewYork, McGraw-Hill Book Co.,Inc., 689 p.

Gelwick, F.P., and Matthews, W.J.,1992, Effects of an algivorousminnow on temperate stream eco-system properties: Ecology, v. 73,p. 1630-1645.

Gilliom, R.J., Alley, W.M., and Gurtz,M.E., 1995, Design of theNational Water-Quality Assess-ment Program—Occurrence anddistribution of water-quality con-ditions: U.S. Geological SurveyCircular 1112, 33 p.

Gilliom, R.J., Mueller, D.K., and Now-ell, L.H., in press, Methods forcomparing water-quality condi-tions among National Water-Quality Assessment Study Units,1992-95: U.S. Geological SurveyOpen-File Report 97-589.

Kanehl, Paul, and Lyons, John, 1992,Impacts of in-stream sand andgravel mining on stream habitatand fish communities, including asurvey on the Big Rib River, Mar-athon County, Wisconsin: Wis-

consin Department of NaturalResources PUBL-RS-155 92,32 p.

Long, E.R., and Morgan, L.G., 1991,The potential for biologicaleffects for sediment-sorbed con-taminants tested in the NationalStatus and Trends Program:NOAA, NOAA Technical Memo-randum NOS OMA 52, Seattle,Washington.

National Academy of Sciences andNational Academy of Engineer-ing, 1973 [1974], Water qualitycriteria, 1972: U.S. Environmen-tal Protection Agency R3-73-033,U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency, Washington, D.C., 594 p.

Nowell, L.H., and Resek, E.A., 1994,National standards and guidelinesfor pesticides in water, sediment,and aquatic organisms—Applica-tion to water-quality assess-ments: New York, Springer-Verlag, 221 p.

Otton, J.K., Gundersen, L.C.S., andSchumann, R.R., 1993, The geology of radon: U.S. GeologicalSurvey General Interest Publica-tions of the U.S. Geological Sur-vey, 29 p.

Schmitt, C.J., Wildhaber, M.L., Hunn,J.B., Tieger, M.N., Steadman,B.L., and Nash, T., 1993,Biomonitoring of lead-contami-nated Missouri streams with anassay for d-aminolevulinic aciddehydratase (ALA-D) activity infish blood: Archives of Environ-mental Contaminants and Toxi-cology, v. 25, p. 464-475.

U.S. Department of Commerce, 19901990 Census of population andhousing summary, population andhousing characteristics—Arkan-sas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma

U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency, 1988, Maximum con-taminant levels (subpart 13 of141, National revised drinking-water regulations): U.S. Code ofFederal Regulations, Title 40,parts 100 to 149, revised as ofJuly 1, 1988, p. 530-533.


REFERENCES

———1996, The national sedimentquality survey—A report to Con-gress on the extent and severity osediment contamination in surfacewaters of the United States: U.S.Environmental Protection Agency,Office of Science and Technology,EPA-823-D-96-002.

Zaugg, S.D., Sandstrom, M.W., Smith,S.G., and Fehlberg, K.M., 1995,Methods of analysis by the U.S.Geological Survey National WaterQuality Laboratory—Determina-tion of pesticides in water by C-18solid-phase extraction and capil-lary-column gas chromatographymass spectrometry with selectedion monitoring: U.S. GeologicalSurvey Open-File Report 95-181,p. 54.

f


GLOSSARY

s,

l

The terms in this glossary were com-piled from numerous sources. Somedefinitions have been modified andmay not be the only valid ones forthese terms.

Algae - Chlorophyll-bearingnonvascular, primarily aquatic speciesthat have no true roots, stems, orleaves; most algae are microscopic,but some species can be as large asvascular plants.

Anomalies- As related to fish,externally visible skin or subcutaneousdisorders, including deformities,eroded fins, lesions, and tumors.

Aquatic-life criteria - Water-qualityguidelines for protection of aquaticlife. Often refers to U.S.Environmental Protection Agencywater-quality criteria for protection ofaquatic organisms.See also Water-quality guidelines and Water-qualitycriteria.

Aquifer - A water-bearing layer ofsoil, sand, gravel, or rock that willyield usable quantities of water to awell.

Benthic invertebrates - Insects,mollusks, crustaceans, worms, andother organisms without a backbonethat live in, on, or near the bottom oflakes, streams, or oceans.

Biomass - The amount of livingmatter, in the form of organisms,present in a particular habitat, usuallyexpressed as weight per unit area.

Blue-baby syndrome - A conditionthat can be caused by ingestion of highamounts of nitrate resulting in theblood losing its ability to effectivelycarry oxygen. It is most common inyoung infants and certain elderlypeople.

Breakdown product - A compoundderived by chemical, biological, orphysical action upon a pesticide. Thebreakdown is a natural process whichmay result in a more toxic or a lesstoxic compound and a more persistentor less persistent compound.

Canopy angle- Generally, a measureof the openness of a stream tosunlight. Specifically, the angleformed by an imaginary line from thehighest structure (for example, tree,shrub, or bluff) on one bank to eyelevel at midchannel to the higheststructure on the other bank.

Community - In ecology, the speciesthat interact in a common area.

Confined aquifer (artesian aquifer)- An aquifer that is completely filledwith water under pressure and that isoverlain by material that restricts themovement of water.

Criterion - A standard rule or test onwhich a judgment or decision can bebased.

Detection limit - The concentrationbelow which a particular analyticalmethod cannot determine, with a highdegree of certainty, a concentration.

Dissolved solids - Amount ofminerals, such as salt, that aredissolved in water; amount ofdissolved solids is an indicator ofsalinity or hardness.

Drinking-water standard orguideline - A threshold concentrationin a public drinking-water supply,designed to protect human health. Asdefined here, standards are U.S.Environmental Protection Agencyregulations that specify the maximumcontamination levels for public watersystems required to protect the publicwelfare; guidelines have no regulatorystatus and are issued in an advisorycapacity.

Fecal bacteria- Microscopic single-celled organisms (primarily fecalcoliforms and fecal streptococci)found in the wastes of warm-bloodedanimals. Their presence in water isused to assess the sanitary quality ofwater for body-contact recreation orfor consumption. Their presenceindicates contamination by the wastesof warm-blooded animals and thepossible presence of pathogenic(disease producing) organisms.

32 Water Quality in the Ozark Plateaus, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and

Habitat - The part of the physicalenvironment where plants and animalslive.

Human health advisory - Guidanceprovided by U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency, State agencies orscientific organizations, in the absenceof regulatory limits, to describeacceptable contaminant levels indrinking water or edible fish.

Karst - A type of topography thatresults from dissolution and collapseof carbonate rocks such as limestoneand dolomite, and characterized byclosed depressions or sinkholes, caveand underground drainage.

Maximum contaminant level (MCL)- Maximum permissible level of acontaminant in water that is deliveredto any user of a public water system.MCL's are enforceable standardsestablished by the U.S. EnvironmentaProtection Agency.

Mean - The average of a set ofobservations, unless otherwisespecified.

Median - The middle or central valuein a distribution of data ranked inorder of magnitude. The median isalso known as the 50th percentile.

Method detection limit - Theminimum concentration of a substancethat can be accurately identified andmeasured with present laboratorytechnologies.

Milligrams per liter (mg/L) - A unitexpressing the concentration ofchemical constituents in solution asweight (milligrams) of solute per unitvolume (liter) of water; equivalent toone part per million in moststreamwater and ground water. Onethousand micrograms per liter equals 1mg/L.

National Academy ofSciences/National Academy ofEngineering (NAS/NAE)recommended maximumconcentration in water - Numericalguidelines recommended by two jointNAS/NAE committees for the

Oklahoma, 1992-95

GLOSSARY

,

y

protection of freshwater and marineaquatic life, respectively. Theseguidelines were based on availableaquatic toxicity studies, and wereconsidered preliminary even at thetime (1972). The guidelines used inthis report are for freshwater.

Nonpoint source- A contaminationsource that cannot be defined asoriginating from discrete points suchas pipe discharge. Areas of fertilizerand pesticide applications,atmospheric deposition, manure, andnatural inputs from plants and treesare types of nonpoint-sourcecontamination.

Physiography- A description of thesurface features of the Earth, with anemphasis on the origin of landforms.

Picocurie (pCi) - One trillionth

(10-12) of the amount of radioactivityrepresented by a curie (Ci). A curie isthe amount of radioactivity that yields

3.7 x 1010 radioactive disintegrationsper second (dps). A picocurie yields2.22 disintegrations per minute (dpm)or 0.037 dps.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) -A mixture of chlorinated derivativesof biphenyl, marketed under the tradename Aroclor with a numberdesignating the chlorine content (suchas Aroclor 1260). PCBs were used intransformers and capacitors forinsulating purposes and in gas pipelinesystems as a lubricant. Further sale fornew use was banned by law in 1979.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon(PAH) - A class of organiccompounds with a fused-ring aromaticstructure. PAHs result fromincomplete combustion of organiccarbon (including wood), municipalsolid waste, and fossil fuels, as well asfrom natural or anthropogenicintroduction of uncombusted coal andoil. PAHs include benzo(a)pyrene,fluoranthene, and pyrene.

Radon - A naturally occurring,colorless, odorless, radioactive gasformed by the disintegration of the

element radium; damaging to humanlungs when inhaled.

Relative abundance - The number oforganisms of a particular kind presentin a sample relative to the totalnumber of organisms in the sample.

Riparian zone - Pertaining to orlocated on the bank of a body ofwater, especially a stream.

Sediment - Particles, derived fromrocks or biological materials, that havebeen transported by a fluid or othernatural process, and are suspended orsettled in water.

Semivolatile organic compound(SVOC) - Operationally defined as agroup of synthetic organic compoundsthat are solvent-extractable and can bedetermined by gaschromatography/mass spectrometry.SVOCs include phenols, phthalates,and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs).

Sideslope gradient - Therepresentative change in elevation in agiven horizontal distance (usuallyabout 300 yards) perpendicular to astream; the valley slope along a lineperpendicular to the stream (near thewater-quality or biological samplingpoint).

Sinuosity - The ratio of the channellength between two points on achannel to the straight-line distancebetween the same two points; ameasure of meandering.

Stream order - A ranking of therelative sizes of streams within awatershed based on the nature of theirtributaries. The smallest unbranchedtributary is called first order, thestream receiving the tributary is calledsecond order, and so on.

Substrate size - The diameter ofstreambed particles such as clay, silt,sand, gravel, cobble, and boulders.

Tolerant species - Those species thatare adaptable to (tolerant of) humanalterations to the environment andoften increase in number when humanalterations occur.

Trace element - An element found inonly minor amounts (concentrationsless than 1.0 milligram per liter) inwater or sediment; includes arsenic,cadmium, chromium, copper, lead,mercury, nickel, and zinc.

Unconfined aquifer - An aquiferwhose upper surface is a water table;an aquifer containing unconfinedground water.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)- Organic chemicals that have a highvapor pressure relative to their watersolubility. VOCs include componentsof gasoline, fuel oils, and lubricants,as well as organic solvents, fumigantssome inert ingredients in pesticides,and some by-products of chlorinedisinfection.

Water-quality criteria - Specificlevels of water quality which, ifreached, are expected to render a bodof water unsuitable for its designateduse. Commonly refers to water-qualitycriteria established by the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency.Water-quality criteria are based onspecific levels of pollutants that wouldmake the water harmful if used fordrinking, swimming, farming, fishproduction, or industrial processes.

Water-quality guidelines - Specificlevels of water quality which, ifreached, may adversely affect humanhealth or aquatic life. These arenonenforceable guidelines issued by agovernmental agency or otherinstitution.

Water-quality standards - State-adopted and U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency-approved ambientstandards for water bodies. Standardsinclude the use of the water body andthe water-quality criteria that must bemet to protect the designated use oruses.


Petersen and others • W

ater Quality in the O

zark PlateausU

SGS C

ircular 1158 • 1998

Mississipp

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ARKANSASSpringdaleFayetteville

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National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) ProgramOzark Plateaus

NAWQA

science for a changing world water quality in the ozark plateausscience for a changing world a...

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