Herbicide interchange between a stream and the adjacent alluvial aquifer

Environmental Science & Technology
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Abstract

Herbicide interchange between a stream and the adjacent alluvial aquifer and quantification of herbicide bank storage during high streamflow were investigated at a research site on the Cedar River flood plain, 10 km southeast of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. During high streamflow in March 1990, alachlor, atrazine, and metolachlor were detected at concentrations above background in water from wells as distant as 20, 50, and 10 m from the river's edge, respectively. During high streamflow in May 1990, alachlor, atrazine, cyanazine, and metolachlor were detected at concentrations above background as distant as 20, 50, 10, and 20 m from the river's edge, respectively. Herbicide bank storage took place during high streamflow when hydraulic gradients were from the river to the alluvial aquifer and the laterally infiltrating river water contained herbicide concentrations larger than background concentrations in the aquifer. The herbicide bank storage can be quantified by multiplying herbicide concentration by the "effective area" that a well represented and an assumed porosity of 0.25. During March 1990, herbicide bank storage values were calculated to be 1.7,79, and 4.0 mg/m for alachlor, atrazine, and metolachlor, respectively. During May 1990, values were 7.1, 54, 11, and 19 mg/m for alachlor, atrazine, cyanazine, and metolachlor, respectively. 

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Herbicide interchange between a stream and the adjacent alluvial aquifer
Series title Environmental Science & Technology
DOI 10.1021/es00062a018
Volume 28
Issue 13
Year Published 1994
Language English
Publisher American Chemical Society
Contributing office(s) Toxic Substances Hydrology Program
Description 9 p.
First page 2336
Last page 2344
Country United States
State Iowa
City Cedar Rapids
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