Fluvial Geomorphology

Gregory Vandeberg

University of North Dakota

Lake Alice and Mauvais Coulee, North Dakota

Vandeberg, Gregory S. 2011. Surface water and sediment quality trends: 2007-2009, Lake Alice National Wildlife Refuge, North Dakota. Grand Forks, ND: Department of Geography. 531p.(download pdf of 2011 report)

Vandeberg, Gregory S. and Brooks Hansen. 2009. Water and sediment quality Lake Alice National Wildlife Refuge, North Dakota. 2008 Final Sampling Report. Grand Forks, ND: Department of Geography. 145p.
(download pdf of 2009 report)

Vandeberg, Gregory S. 2007. “Characterization of Water and Sediment Quality of Lake Alice National Wildlife Refuge, North Dakota”. Report prepared for U.S.F.W.S. Devils Lake, ND. Grand Forks, ND: Department of Geography. 270p. (download pdf of 2007 report)

Water and Sediment Quality 2008
Lake Alice National Wildlife Refuge,North Dakota
Gregory S. Vandeberg and Brooks Hansen
(Funded by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and ND Department of Health)

The purpose of this study was to 1) determine the seasonal variation of surface water quality of Lake Alice National Wildlife Refuge and its tributaries; 2) determine trace element and nutrient concentrations in sediment; and 3) complete a land cover assessment of the Mauvais Coulee and Calio Coulee watersheds. Lake Alice National Wildlife Refuge lies in northeastern North Dakota, and is part of the headwaters area for the Devils Lake basin. The two main tributaries to Lake Alice and the refuge are Mauvais Coulee and Calio Coulee. These tributaries flow primarily through cropland (small grains, row crops, hay) and have three large (8,000 – 20,000 hogs) concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO’s) within their watersheds. The closest waste management area for the CAFO’s is within 1.4 miles of the Lake Alice refuge boundary.

Surface water samples were collected from 5 locations on a monthly basis from June through October 2007 and from 7 locations from May through October 2008. The water samples were analyzed for nutrients (nitrite-nitrate, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, ammonia, phosphorus), total and dissolved organic carbon, select trace elements, major ions, chlorophyll, and E.coli and fecal colifrom bacteria. Bacterial samples were also collected on a weekly basis from Calio Coulee and Mauvais coulee. Sediment samples were collected from the same locations as the water samples using a coring device on a yearly basis. Land cover analysis was conducted using 2006 National Agricultural Inventory Program photography with a resolution of 1 m. Land cover types were digitized using ArcGIS 9.2.

The water type based on major ions is mixed CaMgCl with little differences between tributary and lake samples. Sulfate concentrations in water exceeded the North Dakota 30-day average standard of 250 mg/L for class I streams. Individual nitrate concentrations in water exceeded the North Dakota state guideline of 0.25 mg/L for class I streams. Median total phosphorus concentrations in water all exceeded the North Dakota state guideline of 0.02 mg/L. Carlson Tropic indexes based on chlorophyll a ranged from 40 to 70. Water samples from Calio Coulee and Mauvais Coulee exceeded the 30-day geometric mean North Dakota state standard of 126 organisms per 100 ml for E coli. Maximum aluminum concentrations in water exceeded the acute and chronic North Dakota aquatic standard of 750 µg/L for all but one sample location (Mauvais Coulee near Cando, ND). The herbicide 2,4-D was the only pesticide detected and was present in Mauvais and Calio Coulees.

Nutrient concentrations in sediment ranged from 0.64-10.00 mg/kg for nitrite-nitrates, 2.0-90.2 mg/kg for ammonia, 247-5110 mg/kg total Kjeldahl nitrogen and 336-849 mg/kg for total phosphorus. Cadmium in sediment exceeded the U.S. EPA ecological soil screening level for birds (0.77 mg/kg) and mammals (0.36 mg/kg). Zinc in sediment exceeded the U.S. EPA ecological soil screening level of 46 mg/kg. The single highest percentage of land cover was small grains at 35.26% followed by fallow (cultivated fields) at 16.37%.

Vandeberg, G. S., Martin, C. W., Pierzynski, G. M. 2011. Spatial distribution of trace elements in flood plain alluvium of the upper Blackfoot River, Montana. Environmental Earth Sciences, 62:1521-1534 (published online July 6, 2010). DOI 10.1007/s12665-010-0637-9. (Link to journal article).

The Distribution of Metals in the Floodplain Soils of the Upper Blackfoot River , Montana

Gregory S. Vandeberg, Department of Geography, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND 58202, Charles W. Martin, Department of Geography, and Gary M. Pierzynski, Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS66506. Modeling of Heavy Metal Distribution in an Intermontane Gravel Bed Stream (Presented at Association of American Geographers, April 2005).

Metal mining and ore processing have impacted river systems in much of the world. Many of these activities have occurred in alpine settings with gravel and cobble bed river systems such as the upper Blackfoot River in western Montana. This paper investigates the distribution of metals in floodplain sediments in relation to distance from the source areas, geomorphic setting, textural classification and soil organic matter. Soil samples were collected along 20 transects in the upper 105 river km of the Blackfoot River, Montana. Samples were analyzed for total As, Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn using inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy. Samples were also analyzed for pH, soil organic matter and particle size distribution. Soil As levels dropped to median background values 14 km from the Blackfoot headwaters, followed by Cd and Pb (20 km), Mn and Zn (36 km) and Cu (67 km). Nonlinear regression equations and geostatistics were used to model the distribution of the metals. River kilometers (distance from mine areas) and stream power were found to be the best independent predictors of soil metal levels.

Last revised June 15, 2011
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