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| Title | Third Screening Investigation of Water and Sediment Quality of Creeks in Ten Washington Mining Districts, with Emphasis on Metals | |||
| Month-Year Published | February 2004 | |||
| Online Availability |
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| Short Description |
Water and sediment quality samples were collected from creeks draining ten selected metals mining districts and a few mines. Upstream and downstream water samples were obtained during the fall of 2002 for low-flow conditions and during the spring of 2003 for high-flow conditions. Sediment samples were collected only during low flow. The study employed the EPA ultra clean and low-level sampling and analysis methods for metals. General chemistry and field parameters were obtained concurrently with the metals and sediment samples. Four mines or districts exceeded water quality standards. Seven districts exceeded sediment quality guidelines. (Also see abstract below) | |||
| Publication Number | 04-03-005 | |||
| Author(s) | Raforth, R.L., D.K. Norman, and A. Johnson | |||
| Print Availability | ||||
| Number of pages | 78 pp. + app (119 total) | |||
| Keywords | creek, investigation, metals, mining, model, order, resource, results, sediment, study, trend, waste, water | |||
| 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 | |||
| Second Screening Investigation of Water and Sediment Quality of Creeks in Ten Washington Mining Districts, with Emphasis on Metals | part of a series | |||
| Quality Assurance Project Plan: Screening Investigation of Water and Sediment Quality in Creeks from Ten Washington Mining Districts | 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. The districts were selected from a database prepared by Washington State Department of Natural Resources staff who identified the 60 largest inactive or abandoned metals mines in the state. The study employed the EPA (1995) ultra clean and low-level sampling and analysis method for metals. General chemistry and field parameters were obtained concurrently with the metals and sediment samples. Water samples were collected upstream and downstream of each district during fall 2002 for low-streamflow conditions, and during spring 2003 for high-streamflow conditions. Water samples also were obtained from a few mines that discharged to adjacent streams. Sediment samples were collected during low streamflow only. Results were compared upstream to downstream, seasonally, and to state surface water quality standards and sediment quality guidelines. Four districts exceeded water quality standards for metals: arsenic in the Blewett District; zinc in the Pend Oreille District; copper, zinc, and cadmium in the Money Creek District; and copper in the Index District. Seven districts exceeded sediment quality guidelines. Zinc, copper, cadmium, antimony, and arsenic sediment guidelines were most frequently exceeded, in that order. The data were also used to continue development of a conceptual geochemical model that predicts water quality seasonality contrasts and investigation of a sulfate to total dissolved solids ratio for fingerprinting water quality impacts. The water quality analyses did not identify a consistent trend of seasonality in the data or definition of an absolute ratio useful for fingerprinting. In part, this may be due to a low level of spring recharge and runoff through the mine workings, tailings, and waste rock that are the sources for metals and oxidation products. The conceptual geochemical model predicts water quality impacts from a flushing mechanism that resolubilizes efflorescent minerals and discharges to adjacent streams. |
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