| Abstract: | The Silver River Watershed comprises about 69 square miles and drains part of northeastern Baraga County, Michigan. For generations, tribal members of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community have hunted and fished in the watershed. Tribal government and members of Keweenaw Bay Indian Community are concerned about the effect of any development within the watershed, which is rural, isolated, and lightly populated. For decades, the area has been explored for various minerals. Since 2004, several mineral-exploration firms have been actively investigating areas within the watershed; property acquisition, road construction, and subsurface drilling have taken place close to tributary streams of the Silver River. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, conducted a multi-year water-resources investigation of the Silver River Watershed during 2005-08. Methods of investigation included analyses of streamflow, water-quality sampling, and ecology at eight discrete sites located throughout the watershed. In addition, three continuous-record streamgages located within the watershed provided stage, discharge, specific conductance, and water-temperature data on an hourly basis. Water quality of the Silver River Watershed is typical of many streams in undeveloped areas of Upper Michigan. Concentrations of most analytes typically were low, although several exceeded applicable surface-water-quality standards. Seven samples had concentrations of copper that exceeded the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality standards for wildlife, and one sample had concentrations of cyanide that exceeded the same standards. Concentrations of total mercury at all eight sampling sites exceeded the Great Lakes Basin water-quality standard, but the ratio of methylmercury to total mercury was similar to the 5 to 10 percent found in most natural waters. Concentrations of arsenic and chromium in bed sediments were near the threshold-effect concentration. A qualitative ecological assessment of fishes and macroinvertebrates showed that intolerant salmonids were present at most sampled sites, and macroinvertebrate communities were indicative of near-excellent or excellent conditions at all eight sites. This baseline information will aid in an ongoing monitoring effort designed to protect the water resources of the |
| Genre: | USGS Numbered Series |
| ProdID: | 98728 |
| Citation Author: | Weaver, Thomas L.; Sullivan, Daniel J.; Rachol, Cynthia M.; Ellis, James M. |
| Citation Contributing Office: | Michigan Water Science Center |
| Citation Datum: | |
| Citation Day: | |
| Citation Edition: | - |
| Citation Editor: | |
| Citation End Page: | |
| Citation Issue: | |
| Citation Keywords: | |
| Citation Language: | ENGLISH |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | |
| Citation LatN: | 0470000 |
| Citation LatS: | 0460000 |
| Citation LonE: | -0880000 |
| Citation LonW: | -0884000 |
| Citation Month: | |
| Citation No Pagination: | |
| Citation Number Of Pages: | |
| Citation Online Only Flag: | |
| Citation Phsyical Description: | ix, 39 p.; Appendices |
| Citation Projection: | |
| Citation Public Comments: | Prepared in cooperation with Keweenaw Bay Indian Community |
| Citation Publisher: | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Citation Series: | Scientific Investigations Report |
| Citation Series Code: | SIR |
| Citation Series Number: | 2010-5050 |
| Citation Search Results Text: | Water quality and hydrology of the Silver River Watershed, Baraga County, Michigan, 2005-08; 2010; SIR; 2010-5050; Weaver, Thomas L.; Sullivan, Daniel J.; Rachol, Cynthia M.; Ellis, James M. |
| Citation Start Page: | |
| Citation Volume: | |
| Citation Year: | 2010 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Water quality and hydrology of the Silver River Watershed, Baraga County, Michigan, 2005-08; 2010; SIR; 2010-5050; Weaver, Thomas L.; Sullivan, Daniel J.; Rachol, Cynthia M.; Ellis, James M. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/sir_2010_5050.jpg |
| URL (INDEX PAGE): | http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2010/5050/ |
| Date Other: | Thu, 23 Sep 2010 00:00 -0500 |
| Publisher: | U.S. Geological Survey |
