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| Title | Second Screening Investigation of Water and Sediment Quality of Creeks in Ten Washington Mining Districts, with Emphasis on Metals | |||
| Month-Year Published | June 2002 | |||
| Online Availability |
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| Short Description |
This study was designed to characterize water and sediment quality in streams that drain ten metals mining districts in Washington State. The districts were selected based on a preference for sites at high elevation, located in western Washington, or that had arsenic or mercury as primary or secondary minerals. The water quality emphasis for the study was the EPA ultra-clean sampling and low-level analysis methods for metals. General chemistry and field parameters were obtained concurrently with the metals and sediment samples. This study was similar in design to a study conducted by the same authors in 1997. (Also see abstract below) | |||
| Publication Number | 02-03-024 | |||
| Author(s) | Raforth, R., D. Norman, and A. Johnson | |||
| Print Availability | ||||
| Number of pages | 129 pp. | |||
| Keywords | creek, drainage, flow, guidelines, investigation, metals, mining, model, quality, results, sediment, study, waste, water, zinc | |||
| Subject Waterbodies |
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| Related Publications | Title | Relationship | ||
| Screening Level Investigation of Water and Sediment Quality of Creeks in Ten Eastern Washington Mining Districts, with Emphasis on Metals | part of a series | |||
| Third Screening Investigation of Water and Sediment Quality of Creeks in Ten Washington Mining Districts, with Emphasis on Metals | similar topic | |||
| Quality Assurance Project Plan: Fourth Screening Investigation of Water and Sediment Quality in Creeks from Selected Washington Mining Districts | related publication | |||
| Abstract | Long Description |
This study was designed to characterize water and sediment quality in streams that drain ten metals mining districts in Washington State. The districts were selected based on a preference for sites at high elevation, located in western Washington, or that had arsenic or mercury as primary or secondary minerals. The water quality emphasis for the study was the EPA ultra-clean sampling and low-level analysis methods for metals. General chemistry and field parameters were obtained concurrently with the metals and sediment samples. This study was similar in design to a study conducted by the same authors in 1997. Water samples were collected upstream and downstream of each district during late summer and fall 2000 for low-flow conditions, and during spring 2001 for high-flow conditions. Sediment samples were collected during low flow. Results were compared upstream to downstream, seasonally, and to state surface water quality standards and sediment quality guidelines. The expected seasonal contrast between low-flow and high-flow water quality was not strongly evident in the results. Similarly, the ratio of sulfate to total dissolved solids that was intended to be used as a fingerprinting mechanism for Acid Rock Drainage did not perform as expected. One explanation is that record low snowpack and precipitation limited recharge through the mine workings, tailings, and waste rock that are the sources for metals and oxidation products. According to the model developed in the previous study, spring recharge is considered the flushing mechanism that resolubilizes efflorescent minerals and discharges to adjacent streams. Two districts exceeded water quality standards for metals: copper in the St Helens District and zinc in the Big Chief Mine Area. Sediment quality guidelines were exceeded with much greater frequency than water quality standards. Guidelines for copper and arsenic were most frequently exceeded. Sediment quality was assumed to be unaffected by the low runoff conditions. |
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