Analysis of selected water-quality data for surface water in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, April-August 1995
Open-File Report
96-345
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Abstract
Physical and chemical-related properties, concentrations of chemical constituents, which included major ions and nutrients, and concentrations of fecal-coliform bacteria were determined for 17 sites on 11 streams in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, during the period April-August 1995. The streams were sampled to assess the effects of different streamflow conditions on the concentrations of water-quality constituents. The streams included in the study were Tchefuncte River, Bogue Falaya, Abita River, Bayou Chinchouba, Bayou Castine, Cane Bayou, Bayou Lacombe, Bayou Liberty, Bayou Bonfouca, Bogue Chitto, and West Pearl River. Water-quality samples were collected under several hydrologic conditions. These conditions included a period of wet weather and sustained high river stages; a period of local storms several days apart and river stages typical of that situation; and a period of dry weather and low river stages. The concentrations of inorganic chemical constituents in water from the upstream sites generally were low. Concentrations from the downstream sites varied and were higher. Nutrient and fecal-coliform bacteria concentrations varied and indicated that degraded water-quality conditions that typically occur during storms persisted less than 1-3 days. In general, the larger the drainage basin, the longer it takes for the stream to recover. Fecal-coliform concen- trations reflected the effects of small, isolated storms in the area. Bayou Castine, sampled immediately after a storm, had a fecal-coliform concentration of 26,000 colonies per 100 milliliters. The stream was resampled 24 hours later, and the fecal-coliform concentration had decreased to 1,700 colonies per 100 milliliters. This is an indication of the rapid water-quality changes that typically occur in small streams.
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | Analysis of selected water-quality data for surface water in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, April-August 1995 |
| Series title | Open-File Report |
| Series number | 96-345 |
| DOI | 10.3133/ofr96345 |
| Edition | - |
| Year Published | 1996 |
| Language | ENGLISH |
| Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey ; Branch of Information Services [distributor], |
| Description | iii, 59 p. :ill. (some col.), col. maps ;28 cm. |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |