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ISOTOPIC EVIDENCE FOR NATURALLY OCCURRING SULFATE PONDS IN THE KANKAKEE RIVER BASIN, ILLINOIS-INDIANA
Citation:
Sidle*, W C., D. L. Roose*, AND D. Shanklin. ISOTOPIC EVIDENCE FOR NATURALLY OCCURRING SULFATE PONDS IN THE KANKAKEE RIVER BASIN, ILLINOIS-INDIANA. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY. American Society of Agronomy, MADISON, WI, 29(5):1594-1603, (2000).
Description:
Design of constructed wetlands in the Kankakee watershed, Indiana, include pumping and distribution ditches leaving former channelized river levees intact. Resultant changes in shallow ground water - surface water interactions may be contributing elevated sulfate to wetland ponds. The study area, Hog Marsh, is located downwind from major industrial air emissions so that acid precipitation could be a significant contributor of sulfate into the wetland. Isotopes are examined to assist in the determination of the sources of sulfate in wetland ponds and local ground water. A two-dimensional VS2DT-PLANT numerical simulation of the vadose zone is utilized to estimate travel times of sulfate to the water table.