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Water-Quality, Bed-Sediment, and Invertebrate Tissue Trace-Element Concentrations for Tributaries in the Clark Fork Basin, Montana, October 2018–September 2019

Open-File Report 2021-1027
Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
By: , , , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20211027

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Abstract

Water, bed sediment, and invertebrate tissue were sampled in streams from Butte to near Missoula, Montana, as part of a monitoring program in the Clark Fork Basin. The sampling program was completed by the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, to characterize aquatic resources in the Clark Fork Basin and monitor trace elements associated with historical mining and smelting activities. Sampling sites were on the river and tributaries of the Clark Fork. Water samples were collected periodically at 20 sites from October 2018 through September 2019. Bed-sediment and tissue samples were collected once at 13 sites during July 2019.

Water-quality data included concentrations of major ions, dissolved organic carbon, nitrogen (nitrate plus nitrite), trace elements, and suspended sediment. Daily values of turbidity were determined at four sites. Bed-sediment data included trace-element concentrations in the fine-grained (less than 0.063 millimeter) fraction. Biological data included trace-element concentrations in whole-body tissue of aquatic benthic invertebrates. Statistical summaries of water-quality, bed-sediment, and invertebrate tissue trace-element data for sites in the Clark Fork Basin were provided for the period of record: March 1985–September 2019.

Suggested Citation

Clark, G.D., Hornberger, M.I., Hepler, E.J., Cleasby, T.E., and Heinert, T.L., 2021, Water-quality, bed-sediment, and invertebrate tissue trace-element concentrations for tributaries in the Clark Fork Basin, Montana, October 2018–September 2019: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2021–1027, 16 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20211027.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Acknowledgments
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Sampling Locations and Data Types
  • Trace-Element Concentrations and Physical Properties of Surface-Water Samples
  • Bed-Sediment Data
  • Tissue Concentrations
  • Statistical Summaries of Data
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Water-quality, bed-sediment, and invertebrate tissue trace-element concentrations for tributaries in the Clark Fork Basin, Montana, October 2018–September 2019
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2021-1027
DOI 10.3133/ofr20211027
Year Published 2021
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) WY-MT Water Science Center
Description Report: vi, 16 p.; Data Release; Dataset
Country United States
State Montana
Other Geospatial Clark Fork Basin
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details