Principal Locations of Major-Ion, Trace-Element, Nitrate, and Escherichia coli Loading to Emigration Creek, Salt Lake County, Utah, October 2005

Kimball, Briant A.; Runkel, Robert L.; Walton-Day, Katherine

Abstract:

Housing development and recreational activity in Emigration Canyon have increased substantially since 1980, perhaps causing an observed decrease in water quality of this northern Utah stream located near Salt Lake City. To identify reaches of the stream that contribute to water-quality degradation, a tracer-injection and synoptic-sampling study was done to quantify mass loading of major ions, trace elements, nitrate, and Escherichia coli (E. coli) to the stream. The resulting mass-loading profiles for major ions and trace elements indicate both geologic and anthropogenic inputs to the stream, principally from tributary and spring inflows to the stream at Brigham Fork, Burr Fork, Wagner Spring, Emigration Tunnel Spring, Blacksmith Hollow, and Killyon Canyon. The pattern of nitrate loading does not correspond to the major-ion and trace-element loading patterns. Nitrate levels in the stream did not exceed water-quality standards at the time of synoptic sampling. The majority of nitrate mass loading can be considered related to anthropogenic input, based on the field settings and trends in stable isotope ratios of nitrogen. The pattern of E. coli loading does not correspond to the major-ion, trace-element, or nitrate loading patterns. The majority of E. coli loading was related to anthropogenic sources based on field setting, but a considerable part of the loading also comes from possible animal sources in Killyon Canyon, in Perkins Flat, and in Rotary Park. In this late summer sampling, E. coli concentrations only exceeded water-quality standards in limited sections of the study reach. The mass-loading approach used in this study provides a means to design future studies and to evaluate the loading on a catchment scale.

Genre:

USGS Numbered Series

ProdID:

81273

Citation Author:

Kimball, Briant A.; Runkel, Robert L.; Walton-Day, Katherine

Citation Contributing Office:

USGS Utah Water Science Center

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Citation Language:

ENGLISH

Citation Larger Work Title:

Citation LatN:

0404900

Citation LatS:

0404545

Citation LonE:

-1114330

Citation LonW:

-1114900

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Citation Phsyical Description:

vi, 33 p.

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Citation Public Comments:

Prepared in cooperation with Salt Lake County Department of Public Works, Engineering Division

Citation Publisher:

Geological Survey (U.S.)

Citation Series:

Scientific Investigations Report

Citation Series Code:

SIR

Citation Series Number:

2008-5043

Citation Search Results Text:

Principal Locations of Major-Ion, Trace-Element, Nitrate, and Escherichia coli Loading to Emigration Creek, Salt Lake County, Utah, October 2005; 2008; SIR; 2008-5043; Kimball, Briant A.; Runkel, Robert L.; Walton-Day, Katherine