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Water quality of Lake Pontchartrain and outlets to the Gulf of Mexico following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: Chapter 7E in Science and the storms-the USGS response to the hurricanes of 2005

Circular 1306-7E
This report is Chapter 7E in Science and the storms-the USGS response to the hurricanes of 2005. See Circular 1306 for more information and other chapters.
By: , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/cir13067E

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Abstract

Water-quality samples collected from drainage canals, from Lake Pontchartrain, La., and from flood waters contained contaminants typically found in waters influenced by urban runoff. Pesticides and wastewater compounds were detected in all water samples, but none exceeded U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) drinking water or aquatic life criteria. Although metals were detected in all samples, copper, nickel, and silver occurred in concentrations greater than water-quality criteria for salt water. Salinity levels in the freshwater marshes south of New Orleans were typical of Gulf of Mexico waters for an extended period of time, and levels did not return to prehurricane levels until February 2006.

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Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Water quality of Lake Pontchartrain and outlets to the Gulf of Mexico following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: Chapter 7E in Science and the storms-the USGS response to the hurricanes of 2005
Series title Circular
Series number 1306
Chapter 7E
DOI 10.3133/cir13067E
Year Published 2007
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) National Wetlands Research Center
Description 4 p.
Larger Work Type Report
Larger Work Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Larger Work Title Science and the storms-the USGS response to the hurricanes of 2005 (Circular 1306)
First page 221
Last page 224
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