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Long Creek Creek Mine Drainage Study: South Fork Reservation: Final Report
Citation:
Long Creek Creek Mine Drainage Study: South Fork Reservation: Final Report.
Impact/Purpose:
Determine how mining affects water quality.
Description:
To characterize water quality in streams affected by historical mining it is necessary to determine the seasonal and spatial distribution patterns of trace metals concentrations. Identification of these patterns is used to identify the trace metals that are of ecological concern in the South Fork Humboldt River and could potentially impact the populace of the South Fork Reservation. Samples for analysis of trace metal concentrations were collected 35 times over the 15 month project period. Of the 15 trace elements analyzed, concentrations of 5 (arsenic, cadmium, lead, selenium and silver) were very low and commonly were less than the laboratory reporting level. These trace metals, except for lead (Pb), should be discontinued from any future monitoring program. Trace metals, with a significant number of detects, and/or exceeded aquatic life criteria for water and sediment, are aluminum, barium, copper, iron, lead, manganese, strontium, and zinc. The drinking water criteria for manganese (50 ug/L), aquatic life (100 ug/L) and agriculture (200 ug/L), and the chronic aquatic-life standards for copper were exceeded during seasonal periods of spring and summer respectively in samples from the South Fork Humboldt River. This study identified the temporal and spatial distribution of trace metals within the South Fork Humboldt River system. Trace metal fate and transport appears to follow a pattern based on solubility, cation exchange capacity (CEC) and presence/absence of organic matter. Temporal fluctuations, in trace metal concentrations, is attributed to seasonal variability resulting from snow melt runoff and monsoonal weather patterns. Oxidation of the source rock is the primary mechanism of exposing sulfidic salts to solution via precipitation events. In the winter time snow reacts with the sulfidic salts causing a chemical reaction heating the overlying snow resulting in dissolving the salts and transporting the solution downstream. In the summer monsoonal period a sporadic pattern resulting from thundershower activity increases trace metal concentrations into the South Fork Humboldt River. Because of the distance, approximately 10 miles from potential source(s), dilution has lowered the ARD signature making it difficult to determine an actual source. Further work in finger printing the mines is necessary to determine potential sources. Significant statistical relationships, for the entire 15 month sampling period, are found between barium and strontium, and barium and aluminum. This indicates the relationships in trace metal concentrations, from ARD, is based on seasonal variability. The total concentrations of trace metals in copper (Cu) concentrations are associated with the presence and absence of organic matter and/or particulate matter in the colloidal and clay size fraction providing cation exchange capacity (CEC). This study has resulted in the South Fork Band of the Te-Moak Tribe environmental program to receive a USEPA Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 106 water quality monitoring program grant to develop tribal water quality standards, and biological criteria. This grant will allow the tribe to continue monitoring their tribal surface and groundwater resources. This study also identified which constituents are of concern (e.g., lead, zinc, copper, manganese) and are to be included in the Tribal ambient water quality monitoring program. To characterize water quality in streams affected by historical mining it is necessary to determine the seasonal and spatial distribution patterns of trace metals concentrations. Identification of these patterns is used to identify the trace metals that are of ecological concern in the South Fork Humboldt River and could potentially impact the populace of the South Fork Reservation. Samples for analysis of trace metal concentrations were collected 35 times over the 15 month project period. Of the 15 trace elements analyzed, concentrations of 5 (arsenic, cadmium, lead, selenium and silver) were very low and commonly were less than the laboratory reporting level. These trace metals, except for lead (Pb), should be discontinued from any future monitoring program. Trace metals, with a significant number of detects, and/or exceeded aquatic life criteria for water and sediment, are aluminum, barium, copper, iron, lead, manganese, strontium, and zinc. The drinking water criteria for manganese (50 ug/L), aquatic life (100 ug/L) and agriculture (200 ug/L), and the chronic aquatic-life standards for copper were exceeded during seasonal periods of spring and summer respectively in samples from the South Fork Humboldt River. This study identified the temporal and spatial distribution of trace metals within the South Fork Humboldt River system. Trace metal fate and transport appears to follow a pattern based on solubility, cation exchange capacity (CEC) and presence/absence of organic matter. Temporal fluctuations, in trace metal concentrations, is attributed to seasonal variability resulting from snow melt runoff and monsoonal weather patterns. Oxidation of the source rock is the primary mechanism of exposing sulfidic salts to solution via precipitation events. In the winter time snow reacts with the sulfidic salts causing a chemical reaction heating the overlying snow resulting in dissolving the salts and transporting the solution downstream. In the summer monsoonal period a sporadic pattern resulting from thundershower activity increases trace metal concentrations into the South Fork Humboldt River. Because of the distance, approximately 10 miles from potential source(s), dilution has lowered the ARD signature making it difficult to determine an actual source. Further work in finger printing the mines is necessary to determine potential sources. Significant statistical relationships, for the entire 15 month sampling period, are found between barium and strontium, and barium and aluminum. This indicates the relationships in trace metal concentrations, from ARD, is based on seasonal variability. The total concentrations of trace metals in copper (Cu) concentrations are associated with the presence and absence of organic matter and/or particulate matter in the colloidal and clay size fraction providing cation exchange capacity (CEC). This study has resulted in the South Fork Band of the Te-Moak Tribe environmental program to receive a USEPA Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 106 water quality monitoring program grant to develop tribal water quality standards, and biological criteria. This grant will allow the tribe to continue monitoring their tribal surface and groundwater resources. This study also identified which constituents are of concern (e.g., lead, zinc, copper, manganese) and are to be included in the Tribal ambient water quality monitoring program. To characterize water quality in streams affected by historical mining it is necessary to determine the seasonal and spatial distribution patterns of trace metals concentrations. Identification of these patterns is used to identify the trace metals that are of ecological concern in the South Fork Humboldt River and could potentially impact the populace of the South Fork Reservation. Samples for analysis of trace metal concentrations were collected 35 times over the 15 month project period. Of the 15 trace elements analyzed, concentrations of 5 (arsenic, cadmium, lead, selenium and silver) were very low and commonly were less than the laboratory reporting level. These trace metals, except for lead (Pb), should be discontinued from any future monitoring program. Trace metals, with a significant number of detects, and/or exceeded aquatic life criteria for water and sediment, are aluminum, barium, copper, iron, lead, manganese, strontium, and zinc. The drinking water criteria for manganese (50 ug/L), aquatic life (100 ug/L) and agriculture (200 ug/L), and the chronic aquatic-life standards for copper were exceeded during seasonal periods of spring and summer respectively in samples from the South Fork Humboldt River. This study identified the temporal and spatial distribution of trace metals within the South Fork Humboldt River system. Trace metal fate and transport appears to follow a pattern based on solubility, cation exchange capacity (CEC) and presence/absence of organic matter. Temporal fluctuations, in trace metal concentrations, is attributed to seasonal variability resulting from snow melt runoff and monsoonal weather patterns. Oxidation of the source rock is the primary mechanism of exposing sulfidic salts to solution via precipitation events. In the winter time snow reacts with the sulfidic salts causing a chemical reaction heating the overlying snow resulting in dissolving the salts and transporting the solution downstream. In the summer monsoonal period a sporadic pattern resulting from thundershower activity increases trace metal concentrations into the South Fork Humboldt River. Because of the distance, approximately 10 miles from potential source(s), dilution has lowered the ARD signature making it difficult to determine an actual source. Further work in finger printing the mines is necessary to determine potential sources. Significant statistical relationships, for the entire 15 month sampling period, are found between barium and strontium, and barium and aluminum. This indicates the relationships in trace metal concentrations, from ARD, is based on seasonal variability. The total concentrations of trace metals in copper (Cu) concentrations are associated with the presence and absence of organic matter and/or particulate matter in the colloidal and clay size fraction providing cation exchange capacity (CEC). This study has resulted in the South Fork Band of the Te-Moak Tribe environmental program to receive a USEPA Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 106 water quality monitoring program grant to develop tribal water quality standards, and biological criteria. This grant will allow the tribe to continue monitoring their tribal surface and groundwater resources. This study also identified which constituents are of concern (e.g., lead, zinc, copper, manganese) and are to be included in the Tribal ambient water quality monitoring program. To characterize water quality in streams affected by historical mining it is necessary to determine the seasonal and spatial distribution patterns of trace metals concentrations. Identification of these patterns is used to identify the trace metals that are of ecological concern in the South Fork Humboldt River and could potentially impact the populace of the South Fork Reservation. Samples for analysis of trace metal concentrations were collected 35 times over the 15 month project period. Of the 15 trace elements analyzed, concentrations of 5 (arsenic, cadmium, lead, selenium and silver) were very low and commonly were less than the laboratory reporting level. These trace metals, except for lead (Pb), should be discontinued from any future monitoring program. Trace metals, with a significant number of detects, and/or exceeded aquatic life criteria for water and sediment, are aluminum, barium, copper, iron, lead, manganese, strontium, and zinc. The drinking water criteria for manganese (50 ug/L), aquatic life (100 ug/L) and agriculture (200 ug/L), and the chronic aquatic-life standards for copper were exceeded during seasonal periods of spring and summer respectively in samples from the South Fork Humboldt River. This study identified the temporal and spatial distribution of trace metals within the South Fork Humboldt River system. Trace metal fate and transport appears to follow a pattern based on solubility, cation exchange capacity (CEC) and presence/absence of organic matter. Temporal fluctuations, in trace metal concentrations, is attributed to seasonal variability resulting from snow melt runoff and monsoonal weather patterns. Oxidation of the source rock is the primary mechanism of exposing sulfidic salts to solution via precipitation events. In the winter time snow reacts with the sulfidic salts causing a chemical reaction heating the overlying snow resulting in dissolving the salts and transporting the solution downstream. In the summer monsoonal period a sporadic pattern resulting from thundershower activity increases trace metal concentrations into the South Fork Humboldt River. Because of the distance, approximately 10 miles from potential source(s), dilution has lowered the ARD signature making it difficult to determine an actual source. Further work in finger printing the mines is necessary to determine potential sources. Significant statistical relationships, for the entire 15 month sampling period, are found between barium and strontium, and barium and aluminum. This indicates the relationships in trace metal concentrations, from ARD, is based on seasonal variability. The total concentrations of trace metals in copper (Cu) concentrations are associated with the presence and absence of organic matter and/or particulate matter in the colloidal and clay size fraction providing cation exchange capacity (CEC). This study has resulted in the South Fork Band of the Te-Moak Tribe environmental program to receive a USEPA Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 106 water quality monitoring program grant to develop tribal water quality standards, and biological criteria. This grant will allow the tribe to continue monitoring their tribal surface and groundwater resources. This study also identified which constituents are of concern (e.g., lead, zinc, copper, manganese) and are to be included in the Tribal ambient water quality monitoring program. To characterize water quality in streams affected by historical mining it is necessary to determine the seasonal and spatial distribution patterns of trace metals concentrations. Identification of these patterns is used to identify the trace metals that are of ecological concern in the South Fork Humboldt River and could potentially impact the populace of the South Fork Reservation. Samples for analysis of trace metal concentrations were collected 35 times over the 15 month project period. Of the 15 trace elements analyzed, concentrations of 5 (arsenic, cadmium, lead, selenium and silver) were very low and commonly were less than the laboratory reporting level. These trace metals, except for lead (Pb), should be discontinued from any future monitoring program. Trace metals, with a significant number of detects, and/or exceeded aquatic life criteria for water and sediment, are aluminum, barium, copper, iron, lead, manganese, strontium, and zinc. The drinking water criteria for manganese (50 ug/L), aquatic life (100 ug/L) and agriculture (200 ug/L), and the chronic aquatic-life standards for copper were exceeded during seasonal periods of spring and summer respectively in samples from the South Fork Humboldt River. This study identified the temporal and spatial distribution of trace metals within the South Fork Humboldt River system. Trace metal fate and transport appears to follow a pattern based on solubility, cation exchange capacity (CEC) and presence/absence of organic matter. Temporal fluctuations, in trace metal concentrations, is attributed to seasonal variability resulting from snow melt runoff and monsoonal weather patterns. Oxidation of the source rock is the primary mechanism of exposing sulfidic salts to solution via precipitation events. In the winter time snow reacts with the sulfidic salts causing a chemical reaction heating the overlying snow resulting in dissolving the salts and transporting the solution downstream. In the summer monsoonal period a sporadic pattern resulting from thundershower activity increases trace metal concentrations into the South Fork Humboldt River. Because of the distance, approximately 10 miles from potential source(s), dilution has lowered the ARD signature making it difficult to determine an actual source. Further work in finger printing the mines is necessary to determine potential sources. Significant statistical relationships, for the entire 15 month sampling period, are found between barium and strontium, and barium and aluminum. This indicates the relationships in trace metal concentrations, from ARD, is based on seasonal variability. The total concentrations of trace metals in copper (Cu) concentrations are associated with the presence and absence of organic matter and/or particulate matter in the colloidal and clay size fraction providing cation exchange capacity (CEC). This study has resulted in the South Fork Band of the Te-Moak Tribe environmental program to receive a USEPA Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 106 water quality monitoring program grant to develop tribal water quality standards, and biological criteria. This grant will allow the tribe to continue monitoring their tribal surface and groundwater resources. This study also identified which constituents are of concern (e.g., lead, zinc, copper, manganese) and are to be included in the Tribal ambient water quality monitoring program.