Location

UNLV Student Union

Start Date

13-1-2009 8:00 AM

End Date

14-1-2009 6:00 PM

Description

The USGS, in cooperation with the NPS and BOR (Bureau of Reclamation), is collecting water quality data to determine the temporal changes and spatial distributions of natural and anthropogenic compounds entering the Overton Arm of Lake Mead. These efforts and others already underway on the lake by BOR, USGS, and SNWA will aid in the development of a reservoir model of the lake. The effects of the flood flows on the water quality of the Overton Arm are largely unknown and necessary for model development and verification.

Water quality physical parameters are continuously monitored near the mouth of the Virgin and Muddy Rivers using multi-parameter sondes. Water samples are collected quarterly at both sites and analyzed for major ions, trace elements, nutrients, pesticides, total organic carbon, indicator bacteria, and suspended sediment.

During flows that exceed the 1.5 year flood, additional data collection occurs. Water samples will be collected at both river sites and analyzed for the same constituents as quarterly samples and hourly suspended sediment samples will be collected with an automatic sampler during the peak event the discharge plume into Lake Mead will be tracked by monitoring changes in sediment concentration and water quality in the Overton Arm.

Keywords

Nevada – Muddy River; Stream chemistry; United States – Lake Mead National Recreation Area; United States – Virgin River; Water chemistry; Water quality

Disciplines

Chemistry | Environmental Monitoring | Fresh Water Studies | Water Resource Management

Language

English

Comments

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Jan 13th, 8:00 AM Jan 14th, 6:00 PM

Monitoring Water Quality on Tributary Inflows to Lake Mead and on a Transect of the Overton Arm

UNLV Student Union

The USGS, in cooperation with the NPS and BOR (Bureau of Reclamation), is collecting water quality data to determine the temporal changes and spatial distributions of natural and anthropogenic compounds entering the Overton Arm of Lake Mead. These efforts and others already underway on the lake by BOR, USGS, and SNWA will aid in the development of a reservoir model of the lake. The effects of the flood flows on the water quality of the Overton Arm are largely unknown and necessary for model development and verification.

Water quality physical parameters are continuously monitored near the mouth of the Virgin and Muddy Rivers using multi-parameter sondes. Water samples are collected quarterly at both sites and analyzed for major ions, trace elements, nutrients, pesticides, total organic carbon, indicator bacteria, and suspended sediment.

During flows that exceed the 1.5 year flood, additional data collection occurs. Water samples will be collected at both river sites and analyzed for the same constituents as quarterly samples and hourly suspended sediment samples will be collected with an automatic sampler during the peak event the discharge plume into Lake Mead will be tracked by monitoring changes in sediment concentration and water quality in the Overton Arm.