Water-quality, bed-sediment, and biological studies in the Upper Clark Fork Basin, Montana

Introduction
Montana's Clark Fork flows from its headwaters along the Continental Divide near Butte, past Missoula to Lake Pend Oreille in Idaho. From about 1870 to 1980, deposits of copper, gold, silver and lead ores were extensively mined, milled and smelted throughout the upper drainage of the Clark Fork. Tailings derived from mining practices commonly contain large quantities of toxic trace elements such as arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead and zinc. Little was done to stabilize tailing deposits. Thus errosion transported tailings downstream where they were deposited along stream channels and across flood plains. These tailings continue to be transported along stream channels, especially during high flows.

The occurrence of elevated concentrations of toxic trace metals in water and bed sediment poses a risk to aquatic biota and human health. Concern for this risk has resulted in efforts by State, Federal and private entities to engage in large-scale cleanup activities along the upper Clark Fork. A long-term database of water quality data was considered necessary, to evaluate and guide remediation efforts.

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, has been researching toxic trace metals in water, bed sediment and biota (aquatic benthic insects). The hydrologic transport and bioaccumulation of metals has been investigated. Data has been collected since 1985 giving long-term record which has been used to quantify seasonal and annual trends.

The links and references within these webpages present data and information relating to these studies.

Maps:
Detail of sampling sites (95kb) - Adobe Acrobat pdf format

References:
Axtmann, E.V., Cain, D.J., and Luoma, S.N., 1997, Effect of tributary inflows on the distribution of trace metals in fine-grained sediment and benthic insects of the Clark Fork River, Montana: Environmental Science and Technology, v. 31, p. 750-758.

Axtmann, E.V., and Luoma, S.N., 1991, Large scale distribution of metal contamination in the fine-grained sediment of the Clark Fork River, Montana: Applied Geochemistry, v. 6, p. 75-88.

Cain, D.J., Luoma, S.N., Carter, J.L., and Ferd, S.V., 1992, Aquatic insects as bioindicators of trace element contamination in cobble-bottom rivers and streams: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, v. 49, no. 10, p. 2141-2154.

Dodge, K. A., Hornberger, M. I., and Lavgine, I. R., 2003. Water-Quality, Bed-sediment and biological Data (October 2001 through September 2002) and Statistical Summaries of Data for Streams in the Upper Clark Fork Basin, Montana. Open-File Report 03-356.

Dodge, K. A., Hornberger, M. I., and David, C. P., 2002. Water-Quality, Bed-sediment and biological Data (October 2000 through September 2001) and Statistical Summaries of Data for Streams in the Upper Clark Fork Basin, Montana. Open-File Report 02-358.

Dodge, K.A., Hornberger, M.I., and David, C.P.C., 2001, Water-quality, bed-sediment, and biological data (October 1999 through September 2000) and statistical summaries of data for streams in the upper Clark Fork basin, Montana: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 01-379,

Dodge, K.A., Hornberger, M.I., and David, C.P.C., 2000, Water-quality, bed-sediment, and biological data (October 1998 through September 1999) and statistical summaries of data for streams in the upper Clark Fork basin, Montana: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 00-370,

Dodge, K.A., Hornberger, M.I., and Bouse, R.M., 1999, Water-quality, bed-sediment, and biological data (October 1997 through September 1998) and statistical summaries of data for streams in the upper Clark Fork basin, Montana: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 99-251,

Dodge, K.A., Hornberger, M.I., and Axtmann, E.V., 1998, Water-quality, bed-sediment, and biological data (October 1996 through September 1997) and statistical summaries of data for streams in the upper Clark Fork basin, Montana: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 98-407,

Dodge, K.A., Hornberger, M.I., and Axtmann, E.V., 1997, Water-quality, bed-sediment, and biological data (October 1995 through September 1996) and statistical summaries of data for streams in the upper Clark Fork basin, Montana: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 97-552, 91 p.

Dodge, K.A., Hornberger, M.I., and Axtmann, E.V., 1996, Water-quality, bed-sediment, and biological data (October 1994 through September 1995) and statistical summaries of data for streams in the upper Clark Fork basin, Montana: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 96-432, 109 p.

Hornberger, M.I., Lambing, J.H., Luoma, S.N., and Axtmann, E.V., 1997. Spatial and temporal trends of trace metals in surface water, bed sediment, and biota of the Upper Clark Fork Basin, Montana, 1985-95. U. S. Geological Survey Open File Report 97-669.

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