Aquatic Communities and Selected Water Chemistry in St. Vrain Creek near the City of Longmont, Colorado, Wastewater-Treatment Plant, 2005 and 2006

Zuellig, Robert E.; Sprague, Lori A.; Collins, Jim A.; Cox, Oliver N.

Abstract:

In 2005, the U.S. Geological Survey and the City of Longmont, Colo., began a study to document chemical characteristics of St. Vrain Creek that had previously been unavailable either due to high cost of analysis or lack of analytical capability. Stream samples were collected at seven sites on St. Vrain Creek during the spring of 2005 and 2006 for analysis of wastewater compounds. A Lagrangian-sampling design was followed during each sampling event, and time-of-travel studies were conducted just prior to each sampling event to determine appropriate sampling times for the synoptic. In addition, semipermeable membrane devices, passive samplers that concentrate hydrophobic organic chemicals, were installed at six sites during the spring of 2005 and 2006 for approximately 4 weeks. After retrieval, contaminant residues concentrated in the semipermeable membrane devices were recovered and used in a toxicity assay that provided a screen for aryl hydrocarbon receptor type compounds, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, and furans. In addition, the U.S. Geological Survey summarized information on macroinvertebrate and fish communities known from St. Vrain Creek dating back to the early 1900s in order to assess their utility in evaluating wastewater-treatment plant upgrades and habitat improvement projects. Unfortunately, because of inconsistencies in data collection these data cannot be used as intended; however, they are useful for understanding to some degree gross patterns in fish species distribution, but less so for macroinvertebrates.

Genre:

USGS Numbered Series

ProdID:

79899

Citation Author:

Zuellig, Robert E.; Sprague, Lori A.; Collins, Jim A.; Cox, Oliver N.

Citation Contributing Office:

Geological Survey (U.S.)

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Citation Edition:

Version 1.1

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Citation Language:

ENGLISH

Citation Larger Work Title:

Citation LatN:

0402000

Citation LatS:

0395000

Citation LonE:

-1044500

Citation LonW:

-1054500

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Citation Phsyical Description:

iv, 30 p.

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Citation Public Comments:

Prepared in cooperation with the City of Longmont

Citation Publisher:

Geological Survey (U.S.)

Citation Series:

Data Series

Citation Series Code:

Citation Series Number:

253

Citation Search Results Text:

Aquatic Communities and Selected Water Chemistry in St. Vrain Creek near the City of Longmont, Colorado, Wastewater-Treatment Plant, 2005 and 2006; 2007; DS; 253; Zuellig, Robert E.; Sprague, Lori A.; Collins, Jim A.; Cox, Oliver N.