Hydrological, Chemical, and Biological Characterization of the Snake River and Associated Tributaries and Irrigation Drains from River Mile 448 to 346, 2022

Dates

Publication Date: 2023-10-19
Start Date: 2021-06-17
End Date: 2022-07-14

Citation

Poulin, B.A., Krause, V.M., Baldwin, A.K., Ogorek, J., Tate, M.T., Janssen, S.E., Krabbenhoft, D.P., Eagles-Smith, C.A., Willacker, J.J., Pierce, J., and Yoder, A.M., 2023, Hydrological, Chemical, and Biological Characterization of the Snake River and Associated Tributaries and Irrigation Drains from River Mile 448 to 346, 2022: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9QWE56T.

Summary

This dataset includes field hydrologic measurements and laboratory analyses of surface and pore waters, sediments, benthic plants/biofilms, and biota along the Middle Snake River upgradient of the Hells Canyon Complex. The study region for this work focuses on a section of the Snake River heavily utilized for agriculture, with complex systems of irrigation diversion and return drainage, spanning 164 km above the Hells Canyon Complex (Idaho, Oregon). The goal of this study was to identify potential loading sources of methylmercury from the upgradient Snake River into the reservoir complex, with a focus on the tributaries, irrigation return drains, and riparian zones adjacent to agricultural lands along the river. To this end, 16 locations [...]

Summary

This dataset includes field hydrologic measurements and laboratory analyses of surface and pore waters, sediments, benthic plants/biofilms, and biota along the Middle Snake River upgradient of the Hells Canyon Complex. The study region for this work focuses on a section of the Snake River heavily utilized for agriculture, with complex systems of irrigation diversion and return drainage, spanning 164 km above the Hells Canyon Complex (Idaho, Oregon). The goal of this study was to identify potential loading sources of methylmercury from the upgradient Snake River into the reservoir complex, with a focus on the tributaries, irrigation return drains, and riparian zones adjacent to agricultural lands along the river. To this end, 16 locations along the Snake River between River Miles 448 and 346 were sampled over a four-day period, July 11 – 14, 2022. At each sampling site, pore water and sediment cores were collected in the shallow riparian zones along the edge of the river, surface waters were collected from cross-sections of the river, river flow and velocity were measured, submerged macrophytes and associated biofilm was collected, and biota (snails, amphipods, clams, periphyton, dragonfly larvae) were sampled from shallow riparian margins using a boat-mounted benthic suction dredge. Concurrently, water samples were collected from the six major tributaries that enter the Snake River in the study reach (Succor Creek, Owyhee River, Boise River, Malheur River, Payette River, Weiser River) and from six irrigation return drains that were actively discharging to the Snake River. Data from additional irrigation return drains to the study reach, sampled in June 2021 and May 2022, are also included.

All water samples (surface and pore water) were processed and analyzed for filter-passing total mercury and methylmercury, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), dissolved organic matter (DOM) composition (UV-vis absorption and fluorescence), inorganic anions (chloride, nitrate, sulfate), and filter acidified metals (iron, manganese). In addition, the surface waters were analyzed for total suspended solids (TSS), particulate total and methylmercury, particulate organic carbon (POC) and stable isotopic composition, particulate nitrogen (PN) content and stable isotopic composition, and particulate metals (iron, manganese); and the pore waters were analyzed for inorganic sulfide (S(-II)). Sediment, submerged macrophytes and biofilms, and biota samples were dried, ground, and analyzed for total and methylmercury. Loss on ignition was also measured on the sediment samples.

This data release includes metadata and eight tables in machine readable format (*.csv). All data columns in tables 3-8 are defined in Table 2. Reference Table 2 for associated units, abbreviation definitions, laboratory information, and method citations.
Table_1_Site_Descriptions.csv - site descriptions
Table_2_Analysis_Descriptions.csv - data dictionary defining column headings in Tables 3-8
Table_3_Water_SW.csv - surface water chemistry data
Table_4_Water_PW.csv - pore water chemistry data
Table_5_Sediment.csv - sediment chemistry data
Table_6_Macrophytes_and_Biofilms.csv - submerged macrophyte and biofilm data
Table_7_Hydrology.csv - hydrologic data
Table_8_Biota.csv - biota data

Contacts

Point of Contact :: Austin K Baldwin
Originator :: Brett A Poulin, Virginia M. Krause, Austin K Baldwin, Jake Ogorek, Michael T Tate, Sarah E Janssen, David P Krabbenhoft, Collin A Eagles-Smith, James J Willacker, John R Pierce, Alysa M Yoder
Metadata Contact :: Austin K Baldwin
Publisher :: U.S. Geological Survey
Distributor :: U.S. Geological Survey - ScienceBase
SDC Data Owner :: Idaho Water Science Center
USGS Mission Area :: Water Resources

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UpstreamSnakeDataReleaseMetadata.xml “Metadata” Original FGDC Metadata	View	34 KB	application/fgdc+xml
Upgradient Data Release_PhotoV1.jpg “Collecting a sediment core in the Snake River, Idaho”		1.23 MB	image/jpeg
Table_1_Site_Descriptions.csv “Site descriptions”		5.52 KB	text/csv
Table_2_Analysis_Descriptions.csv “Data dictionary defining column headings in Tables 3-8”		52.67 KB	text/csv
Table_3_Water_SW.csv “Surface water chemistry data”		18.5 KB	text/csv
Table_4_Water_PW.csv “Pore water chemistry data”		5.24 KB	text/csv
Table_5_Sediment.csv “Sediment chemistry data”		5.06 KB	text/csv
Table_6_Macrophytes_and_Biofilms.csv “Submerged macrophyte and biofilm data”		2.44 KB	text/csv
Table_7_Hydrology.csv “Hydrologic data”		2.97 KB	text/csv
Table_8_Biota.csv “Biota data”		16.77 KB	text/csv

Purpose

The purpose of these data is to characterize potential loading sources of methylmercury from the upgradient Snake River into the Hells Canyon reservoir complex, with a focus on the tributaries, irrigation return drains, and riparian zones adjacent to agricultural lands along the river. This work was done as part of a 10-year study (2014-2023) by researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey, Idaho Power Company, and the University of California at Davis to gain a process-level understanding of the biogeochemical processes that control mercury cycling in the Hells Canyon Complex.

Hydrological, Chemical, and Biological Characterization of the Snake River and Associated Tributaries and Irrigation Drains from River Mile 448 to 346, 2022

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