USGS Measurements of Dissolved and Suspended Particulate Material Selenium in Lake Koocanusa in the Vicinity of Libby Dam (MT), 2015-2017 (update)

Dates

Publication Date: 2018-06-14
Start Date: 2015-04-14
End Date: 2017-10-24

Citation

Presser, T.S., Naftz, D.L., and Jenni, K.E., 2018, USGS Measurements of Dissolved and Suspended Particulate Material Selenium in Lake Koocanusa in the Vicinity of Libby Dam (MT), 2015-2017 (update): U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9HB5S5F.

Summary

IMPORTANT NOTE: Data and supporting information from samples collected during 2015-16 can be can be accessed from this link. The U.S. Geological Survey is studying Lake Koocanusa, a border reservoir between British Columbia in Canada and Montana, in collaboration with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Region 8). This work is part of a multi-agency project to apply an ecosystem-scale selenium modeling methodology (Presser and Luoma, 2010) to the lake to support development of site-specific selenium guidelines for the protection of aquatic life. A conceptual model framework was published in 2017 (Jenni, Naftz, and Presser, 2017) to serve as a coherent and consistent structure [...]

Summary

IMPORTANT NOTE: Data and supporting information from samples collected during 2015-16 can be can be accessed from this link.

The U.S. Geological Survey is studying Lake Koocanusa, a border reservoir between British Columbia in Canada and Montana, in collaboration with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Region 8). This work is part of a multi-agency project to apply an ecosystem-scale selenium modeling methodology (Presser and Luoma, 2010) to the lake to support development of site-specific selenium guidelines for the protection of aquatic life. A conceptual model framework was published in 2017 (Jenni, Naftz, and Presser, 2017) to serve as a coherent and consistent structure for organizing relevant scientific information, to provide an appropriate context for interpreting new information as datasets and site parameters are developed, and to identify data and science gaps that limit understanding of the implications of alternative Se criteria. This Data Release makes available measurements taken in May, July, and October, 2015; April, May, July, and September, 2016; and monthly from April through October, 2017. Spatially and temporally matched sets of dissolved and suspended particulate material selenium concentrations were collected mainly at two locations (forebay and international boundary) and at two depths (epilimnion, 3 meters below lake surface; hypolimnion, 3 meters above lake bottom). In 2017, samples were additionally collected during June, July, and September at a site south of the Elk River inflow by the British Columbia Ministry of Environment & Climate Change Strategy. These data allow calculation of an environmental partitioning factor (i.e., Kd) between dissolved and suspended particulate material selenium concentrations as an initial modeling step. This Data Release contains 1) a location map; 2) a modeling schematic; 3) collection methods, analytical methods, and quality control information; 4) spreadsheets and graphical displays of selenium data; and 5) hydrological parameters related to sampling conditions at the lake. Also included is an example sampling matrix that illustrates the types of data needed within Lake Koocanusa to support robust ecosystem-scale selenium modeling. For this 2017 update of the Data Release, the same methodologies were followed as in 2016, except sampling occurred over seven consecutive months. This allowed documentation of a more detailed view of the dissolve and particulate selenium dynamics of Lake Koocanusa to help identify trends and connect to other ecological and management variables. This Data Release will be updated and modified if additional sampling and analysis takes place.

Jenni, K.E., Naftz, D.L., and Presser, T.S., 2017, Conceptual modeling framework to support development of site-specific selenium criteria for Lake Koocanusa, Montana, U.S.A., and British Columbia, Canada: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2017–1130, 14 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20171130.

Presser, T.S. and Luoma, S.N., 2010, A methodology for ecosystem-scale modeling of selenium: Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, v. 6, no. 4, p. 685-710. DOI: 10.1002/ieam.101 [http://wwwrcamnl.wr.usgs.gov/Selenium/Library_articles/Presser_Luoma_2010_IEAMv6no4_685_710p.pdf]

Contacts

Point of Contact :: David L Naftz
Process Contact :: David L Naftz, Theresa S Presser
Originator :: Theresa S Presser, David L Naftz, Karen E Jenni
Metadata Contact :: Theresa S Presser
Publisher :: U.S. Geological Survey
SDC Data Owner :: Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center
USGS Mission Area :: Water Resources
Distributor :: U.S. Geological Survey - ScienceBase

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cf30237e-a4ca-48f1-965d-4616f2361df2.xml Original FGDC Metadata	View	50.52 KB	application/fgdc+xml
Location-map-2017 final.pdf		33.15 MB	application/pdf
Lake Koocanusa data 2015-17.xlsx		720.01 KB	application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet
Figures-2017 update.pdf		981.47 KB	application/pdf
science_base_USGS_sampling_matrix_generic1.xlsx		16.72 KB	application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet
Model-schematic.pdf		114.45 KB	application/pdf
sedtrap3.jpg		430.9 KB	image/jpeg

Purpose

This dataset was collected to help understand the variability in dissolved and suspended particulate material selenium concentrations 1) within the hydrodynamics and limnology of the lake; and 2) as components of modeling the ecosystems of Lake Koocanusa. The dataset also contributes to the overall understanding of such factors as the upstream loading of selenium from coal mining in the Elk River Valley in southeastern British Columbia and the ecosystem effects of the management of Libby Dam in northwestern Montana.

USGS Measurements of Dissolved and Suspended Particulate Material Selenium in Lake Koocanusa in the Vicinity of Libby Dam (MT), 2015-2017 (update)

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