Sedimentation and Chemical Quality of Surface Water in The … · 2012-02-17 · SEDIMENTATION AND CHEMICAL QUALITY OF SURFACE WATER IN THE HEART RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN, NORTH DAKOTA

Sedimentation and Chemical

Quality of Surface Water in

The Heart River Drainage

Basin, North Dakota

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1823

Prepared as part of a program of the Department of the Interior for development of the Missouri River basin

Sedimentation and Chemical Quality of Surface Water in

The Heart River Drainage

Basin, North Dakota By M L MADERAK

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1823

Prepared as part of a program of the Department of the Interior for development of the Missouri River basin

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON 1966

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

STEWART L. UDALL, Secretary

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

William T. Pecora, Director

Library of Congress catalog-card No GS 66-242

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U S Government Println~ Office Washln~ton, D C 20402 - Price 55 cents (paper cover)

CONTENTS

Page

Abstract__________________________________________________________ 1

Introduction------------------------------------------------------ 1 Descnption of the basm-------------------------------------------- 2 <Jeology__________________________________________________________ 5

Cretaceous System_____________________________________________ 7 Tertiary System_______________________________________________ 7 Quaternary System____________________________________________ 9

StreamfloW------------------------------------------------------- 9 Fluvialsediment__________________________________________________ 17

Sediment discharge___ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 17 Source of sediment ___________ --,--_____________________________ 24

Chemical quality of surface water___________________________________ 28 Heart RIVer near South Heart__________________________________ 29 Heart RIVer near DICkmson_____________________________________ 29 Heart RIVer near Richardton___________________________________ 34 Heart River near Glen Ullin____________________________________ 34 Heart River near Mandan______________________________________ 37

Conclusions------------------------------------------------------- 41 Literature mted_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 41

PLATE FIGURE

1 1 2

3 4 5 6

ILLUSTRATIONS

Page

<JeologiC map and section of the Heart River basm ___ In pocket Map showmg the Heart River basm__________________ 3 Graph shoWing departure from normal preCipitatiOn at

Dickmson and Mandan, 1921-59------------------ 4 Photograph of badland topography ______________ -____ 5 Profile of the Heart River and some of Its tnbutaries____ 6 Photograph of a meander m the Heart River___________ 7 Photograph of an outcrop of the Sentmal Butte and

Tongue RIVer Members (undifferentiated) and Cannon-ball Member of the Fort Umon Formatwn___________ 8

7 Graph showmg cumulatiVe average percentages of pre-Cipitation and streamflow, 1944-49__________________ 10

8 (}raph showmg annual streamflow of the Heart River and some of Its tributaries, 1945-58_____________________ 11

III

IV CONTENTS

Page

FIGURE 9-12 DuratiOn curves of daily flows 9 Heart River near South Heart, near Dickmson,

and at Lehigh_____________________________ 12 10 Heart River near Richardton__________________ 13 11 Heart River near Glen Ullm and near Mandan___ 14 12 Green River near Gladstone, Antelope Creek

near Carson, Big Muddy Creek near Almont, and Sweetbriar Creek near Judson___________ 15

13-15 Graphs showmg 13 RelatiOn of mean annual flow to dramage area___ 16 14 Duration of records and samphng frequency for

sediment statiOns__________________________ 18 15 Streamflow and sediment concentratiOns________ 18

16-18 Graphs showmg relatiOn of suspended-sediment discharge to streamflow for

16 Heart River near South Heart and near Richard-ton, 1951 water year________________________ 19

17 Heart River near Glen Ullin__________________ 21 18 Heart River near Mandan_____________________ 22

19-21 Graphs showmg sediment discharge 19 Annual suspended-sediment discharge for Heart

River near South Heart, near Richardton, and near Mandan______________________________ 23

20 RelatiOn of unmeasured sediment discharge to streamflow for Heart River near Richardton___ 25

21 RelatiOn of --unmeasured suspended-sediment discharge to measured suspended-sediment dis-charge for Heart River near Richardton______ 26

22 Photograph showmg accumulatiOn of sediment from debns fall along the Heart River___________________ 27

23 Photograph showmg headcut and gully________________ 27 24 Graph showmg duration of records and samphng fre-

quency for chemical-quality stations________________ 28 25 Tnhnear diagram showmg percentage compositiOn com

puted from average concentratiOns for selected ranges of streamflow for Heart River near South Heart, 1947-49_________________________________________ 30

26 Tnhnear diagram showmg percentage compositiOn computed from average concentrations for selected ranges of streamflow for Heart River near Dickmson, 1946-47_ 32

27 Diagram for classification of water for IrrigatiOn, Heart River near DICkmson_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 33

28 Trilinear diagram showmg percentage compositiOn computed from average concentrations for selected ranges of streamflow for Heart River near Richardton, 1946-50_________________________________________ 35

29 Trilinear diagram showmg percentage compositiOn computed from average concentratiOns for selected ranges of streamflow for Heart RIVer near Glen Ullm, 1945-49_ 36

30 Diagram for classificatiOn of water for urigahon, Heart River near Glen Ulhn_____________________________ 38

FIGURE

TABLE

CONTENTS ,

31 Tr1hnear dtagram showmg percentage composition computed from average concentratiOns for selected ranges of streamflow for Heart River near Mandan, 1946-49, 1955 and 1957------------------------------------

32 Diagram for classificatiOn of watei for Irrigation, Heart

v

Page

39

River near Mandan_______________________________ 40

TABLES

1 Generalized sectiOn of surface rocks __________________ _ 2 Median and mean streamflow m the Heart River basm __ 3 Effect of constructiOn of dams on the average percentage

of suspended sediment m Heart River ______________ _ 4-8 Average concentratiOn of dissolved constituents and

water type 4 Heart River near South Heart, 1947-49 ________ _ 5 Heart River near DICkmson, 1946-47 __________ _ 6 Heart River near RIChardton, 1946-50 ________ _ 7 Heart River near Glen Ulhn and Lake Tschida __ 8 Heart RIVer near Mandan ___________________ _

Page

7 16

24

30 32 35 37 39

SEDIMENTATION AND CHEMICAL QUALITY OF SURFACE WATER IN THE HEART RIVER DRAINAGE

BASIN, NORTH DAKOTA

By M. L MADERAK

ABSTRACT

The Heart River doramage basm of southwestern North Dakota comprises an area of 3,365 square miles and lies Withm the Missouri Plateau of the Great PlaiiliS provmce Streamflow of the Heart River and Its tnbutaries durmg 1949-58 was directly proportiOnal to the dramage area After the construction of Hea!'lt Butte Dam m 1949 and Dickmson Dam m 1950, the mean annual streamflow near Mandan was decreased an estimated 10 percent by IrrigatiOn, evruporation from the two reservoirs, and mumCipal use

Processes tlbat contnbute sediment to the Heart River 'are mass wastmg, advancement of valley heads, and sheet, lateral stream, and gully erosiOn In general, glacial deposits, terraces, and bars of Quaternary age are sources of sand and larger sediment, and the rocks of Tertiary age are sources of clay, silt, and sand The average annual suspended-sediment discharges near Mandan were estimated to be 1,300,000 tons for 1945--49 and 710,000 tons for 1950-58

The percentage composition of Ions m water of the Heart River, based on average concentratiOns m eqmvalents per million for selected ranges of streamflow, changes With flow and from station to statiOn Durmg extremely low flows the water contams a large percentage of sodmm and about equal percentages of bicarbonate and sulfate, and durmg extremely high flows the water contams a large percentage of calcmm plus magnesmm and bicarbonate The concentratiOns, m parts per million, of most of the wns vary mversely with flow

The water m the reservoirs-Edward Arthur Patterson Lake and Lake Tsdluda--durmg normal or 'R1bove-normal runoff IS of smtable quality for public use Generally, because of medmm or high salimty hazards, the successful long-term use of Heart River water for IrrigatiOn Will depend on a moderate amount of lea'Chmg, 'adequate dramage, 'and the growmg of crops that have moderate or good salt tolerance

INTRODUCTION

The InvestigatiOn of sedrmentatlon and chemical quahty of the surface water m the Heart River basin was needed for planning the development, management, and use of the water resources of the area. The sedimentatiOn was studied to determme the quantity and characteristics of sediment being transported by the Heart River, and the chemical quality of water was studied to determine the kind and

1

2 SEDIMENTATION, CHEMICAL QUALITY, HEART RIVER BASIN

amount of dissolved material In the streams and the suitability of the water for different uses.

This report presents the results of this Investigation that began m 1945. Basic data obtained from October 1945 to September 1952 have been pubhshed In the annual reports of the U.S Geological Survey entitled "Quahty of Surface Waters of the United States." Additional data were obtained during a reconnaissance of the basm In October 1960. Supplementing these data were suspended-sediment records for 1949-54 pubhshed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (1957) and unpublished chemical-quahty records for 1955 and 1957 furnished by the US Bureau of Reclamation

The mvestigatwn, a part of the program of the Department of InteriOr for the development of the Missouri River basin, was made by personnel of the Water Resources DIVISIOn of the U.S Geologwal Survey under the general superVIsiOn of P C. Benedict, regional engineer, who was succeeded by D M Culbertson, district engineer

DESCRIPTION OF THE BASIN

The Heart River drainage basm covers an area of 3,365 square miles In southwestern North Dakota It IS ·an elongated basin about 120 miles long and 30 miles wide (fig. 1). The altitude ranges from 1,650 feet near Mandan In Morton County to about 2,850 feet near Fryburg In Blllmgs County. The Heart River basin, whiCh has dendritic drainage, IS between the Knife River drainage basin on the north and the Cannonball River drainage basin on the south FarmIng and ranching are the principal occupatiOns Crops have been Irrigated by surface water since the constructiOn of the Heart Butte Dam In 1949 and the Dickinson Dam In 1950. Mandan and DICkinson, the two largest cities, have populations of 10,525 and 9,971, respectively, U.S. Bureau of Census (1960).

The semiarid chmate In the Heart River basin IS characterized by long cold winters and short warm summers. U.S Weather Bureau records show that the annual preCipitatiOn during 1931-55 averaged 16.34 Inches at Mandan, 17.16 Inches at Richardton, and 15.68 Inches at Dickinson In general, about 75 percent of the annual preCipitation falls during April through September, and about 50 percent falls during May, June, and July. The average annual snowfall Is about 35 Inches; the accumulatiOn of snow generally melts by the end of March. Variations In the annual precipitatiOn at DICkmson and Mandan for 1921-59 are fairly large (See fig 2) The 10-ye.ar moving average was greater than the long-term average during 1942-50 for D1ekmson and during 1944--59 for Mandan

R 100 W

T 143 N

47' I ~! 1HT1TThlf!C: i I ~I: ~ ... · 1 P' I 1=-

T 137 N

N 0 Chenucal-quahty and

sed1ment stat1ons

s Gagmg stat1on

Basm boundary

0Lark

f~arson ----- __ )

......... icCI"I I ' L...l.--+---~ - - :~RTH DAKOTA {

Areaof ~ ~ ---~ report~-~--_.l --

10 0 10 20M1LES

FIGURE 1-Heart R1ver ba~m

47'

t:l 1::".1 UJ (")

~ 1-1 "d 1-3 1-1

~ 0 l'%j

8 p:: 1::".1

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15

10

5

10

5

YEARS

FIGURE 2 -Departure from normal precipitatiOn at DICkmson and Mandan, 1921-59

GEOLOGY 5

The Heart River basin is in the Missouri Plateau, which is part of the Great Plains province (Fenneman, 1931). A generalized division of the basin by Fenneman characterizes the eastern half as glaciated plateau and the western half as unglaciated plateau. The eastern half of the basin has many hills tha.t contain remnants of ground moraines and scattered erratics, and the western half of the basin, exeept for a badlands area near South Heart (fig. 3), has a rolling topography broken by buttes; some of the buttes have a sandstone cap rock. Terraces, benches, and rather steep escarpments border most of the Heart River and its tributaries. The fairly well integrated drainage system, well-formed valleys, low stream gradients (figs. 4-5) , and meandering streams indicate that the Heart River drainage basin is in the late mature stage of the fluvial cycle.

FIGURE 3.- Badland topography, 8 miles south of South Heart.

GEOLOGY

The Heart River basin occupies the soatheastern part of the Williston structural basin, which was formed by orogenic movements that have progressed intermittently since Ordovician time. Before glaciation, repeatedly transgressing and regressing seas deposited sediments within a slowly subsiding basin. The consolidated rocks are sandstones, shales, carbonates, and evaporites; they dip gently toward the center of the Williston basin, which is about 25 miles north of the Heart River basin. During Pleistocene time, glaciers covered the eastern half

2800

u:j 2600 > IJJ _J

<( IJJ en z 2400 <( IJJ ~

IJJ > g 2200 <(

..... IJJ IJJ u...

~ 2000 uj Cl ::::> ..... i= <i. 1800

~Gr. ~efJ

South Heart :s.. ~ Ji>, D1ck1nson Dam "'e,.

D1ckmson ~ Leh1gh

Gladstone

~ Heart Butte Dam ~

Glen Ullm

EXPLANATION

6 Gag1ng stat1on

1600~----~------~----~------~----~~----~------~----~------~------~----~------~----~

260 240 220 200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0

DISTANCE, IN MILES UPSTREAM FROM MOUTH

FIGURE 4 -Profile of the Heart R1ver and some of Its tr1butanes

~

w t:=.l I;;

~ t_:l:j

z 8

~ ~

0 z 0 ~ t_:l:j

~ ~

0 > ~

D d > ~ ~

8 -~

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GEOLOGY 7

FIGURE 5.-Meander in the Heart River, about 18 miles downstream from Heart Butte Dam.

of the basin, and their recession resulted in the deposition of glacial sediments. Rocks of pre-Pleistocene age and the areal extent of the glaciers in the basin are sho·wn on plate 1, and a generalized section of surface rocks is shown in table 1.

TABLE !.-Generalized section of surface rocks

!

Approximate System Series Formation Member maximum

thickness (feet)

Quaternary Recent and Pleistocene Flood plain, terrace, and glacial deposits 75

Oligocene White River 150

Eocene Golden Valley 200

Tertiary Sentinel Butte 100

Tongue River 500 Paleocene Fort Union

Cannonball 150

Ludlow 20

Cretaceous Upper Cretaceous Hell Creek 120

1 Exposed.

CRETACEOUS SYSTEM

The Hell Creek Formation of Late Cretaceous age crops out in the southeastern part of the basin. It is about 265 feet thick, but only about 20 feet is exposed along the Heart River. The formation is composed of interbedded sandstones and shales of a nonmarine origin.

TERTIARY SYSTEM

The Paleocene Ludlow Member of the Fort Union Formation is composed of shales, poorly consolidated calcareous sandstones, and interbedded lignite. The thickness of the Ludlow increases toward the west.

212-528 0-66--2

8 SE·DIMENTATION, CHEMICAL QUALITY, HEART RIVER BASIN

The Paleocene Cannonball Member of the Fort Union Formation overlies and forms a gradational contact with the Ludlow Member. The fossiliferous Cannonball and the Ludlow represent a transition between marine and continental environments. The Cannonball, which thins toward the west, is composed predominantly of sandy shales, shaly sandstones, and interbedded thin lenticular limestones. In general, the sandstones are poorly indurated and grade to shale toward the west.

The Paleocene Tongue River Member of the Fort Union Formation conformably overlies the Cannonball Member. It is a continental deposit composed mostly of yellow to light-tan beds of sandstone and of alternating beds of lignite and shale. (See fig. 6.) The Paleocene Sentinel Butte Member of the Fort Union Formation conformably overlies the Tongue River Member. It is composed of mostly dark shales, of interbedded lignite, and of thin lenticular sandstones of local extent. The Sentinel Butte was probably deposited in an environment similar to that of the Tongue River. The two members are shown as one unit in figure 6 because reliable differentiation is not possible; generally, however, the Tongue River Member crops out extensively in the basin, and the Sentinel Butte Member crops out only in the western part.

FIGURE 6.-0utcrop of Sentinel Butte and Tongue River Members (undifferentiated) TfFt, (approximately the upper 70 ft) and Cannonball Member of the Fort Union formation, Tfc, about 7 miles downstream from Heart Butte Dam.

STREAMFLOW 9

The Golden Valley FormatiOn of Eocene age conformably overhes the Fort Unwn FormatiOn. It crops out In the southwestern part of the basin and as outliers along the northern part of the basin. The Golden Valley consists of claystones and Interbedded siltstones and sandstones In the lower part and of gray to yellow micaceous siltstones and sandstones separated locally by lignite beds In the upper part This formatwn was probably deposited In an environment Similar to that of the Tongue River and Sentinel Butte Shale Members. The Golden Valley thins toward the east.

The White River Formation of Oligocene age Is the youngest consolidated unit In the basin. The formation conformably overlies the Golden Valley Formatwn; however, where the Golden Valley IS not present, the White River hes unconformably on the Fort Unwn FormatiOn. The White River is largely a fresh-water lacustnne deposit composed of soft white calcareous shales, sandstones, and thin limestones

QUATERNARY SYSTEM

The sediments of Quaternary age are composed of unconsolidated flood plain, terrace, and glacial deposits. The flood plain and the tenace deposits consist of gravel, sand, silt, and clay tha·t were derived from sedimentary rocks The glacial deposits are In the eastern half of the basin and consist of remnants of old ground moraines and scattered erratiCs. GlaCiatiOn In the Heart River basin was probably restricted to Kansan time (Hainer, 1956).

STREAMFLOW

Streamflow data are a"\T<ail81ble for 11 statwns on the Heart River and tributaries. (See fig. 1.) Of the many natural physical factors that Influence streamflow, chmate IS probably the most effective. The cumulative average percentages, by months, of streamflow and preCipitatiOn for 1944--49 are shown In figure 7. From October to February the percentage of streamflow Is less than the percentage of precipitatiOn, but durmg February, as the snow and Ice began to melt, the percentage of streamflow Increases significantly. On the average about 88 percent of the streamflow for the water year occurs by the end of May, whereas only about 57 percent of the annual precipitation has fallen.

The average streamflow In acre-feet per year per square mile, decreases only slightly from the headwaters to the mouth of the Heart River, however, during 1945-58, the minimum and maximum annual averages tended to Increase In the downstream directiOn The extreme values were 10 5 and 116 acre-feet per square mile near South Heart and 16 and 126 acre-feet per square mile near Mandan (See fig 8 ) Gen-


IOO ----I z 90 I 0 I i= I <( 1- I ([ 80 _I u ~--UJ Q: a.. ~I Q:

70 ~~ 0

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I .....1 <( I :::> I z z I <(

I u.. 30 0 I UJ I "' I <( 20 1-z UJ (.) Q: IO UJ a..

0 ------------ _..,.,.

Oct Sept

FIGURE 7 -Oumulatlve average percentages of precipitation and streamfiow, 1944-49

erally, the volume of streamflow varies more 1n the tributaries than Ill the main stem. The above-average streamflow during 1947-52 resulted from above-average preCipitatiOn (fig. 2), and the belowaverage streamflow during 1953-58 resulted from a deficiency of precipitatiOn

Flow-duration curves for the Heart River are shown In figures 9-11 The relatively flat slopes at the lower end of the curves for South Heart, Dickinson, and Lehigh IndiCate that Significant amounts of surface and ground water from perennial flow are stored In the drainage basin ; the steep slopes at the lower end of the curves for RIChardton, Glen illhn, and Mandan IndiCate negligible storage Because most of the high flows In the Heart River result from snowmelt, the flow-duratiOn curves for most of the statiOns tend to have a flat slope at the upper end. The curves for Glen illhn and Mandan Indicate that the distributiOn of flow has not changed greatly since the constructiOn of Heart Butte Dam (See fig 11 ) Probably the most significant change after dam constructiOn was an Increase In the median flow, whiCh Increased from 22 to 30 cfs (cubic feet per second) at Glen Ulhn and from 35 to 60 cfs 3/t Mandan In general, the flow

STREAMFLOW 11

120 Heart R1ver near South Heart

Richardton

Glen Ulhn

Lark

Mandan

~ ~ w c:: <{ :::> 0' (/)

0 c:: w a.. 180

ti ~ ...:. c:: (.) <{

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/ Note Short bars near \1~111 \

center of graph show I mean streamflow for

-{ penod of record -'\--...___,,

I (symbols as above) \\ '-... . ~-

EXPLANATION

Green R1ver near Gladstone

B1g Muddy Creek near Almont

Antelope Creek near Carson

Sweetbnar Creek near Judson

WATER YEARS

FIGuRE 8 -Annual streamflow of the Heart River and some of Its tnbutanes, 1945-58

characteristics of the tributaries are similar to the flow characteristics of the Heart River near Lehigh, Dickinson, and South Heart (See figs. 9 and 12.) Median and mean streamflows at the gaging statwns are shown In table 2. The mean IS based on available records through 1958, and the median Is denved from the flow-duratiOn curves.

The annual streamflow for the main-stem stations was not corrected for Irrigation, evaporatiOn, nor muniCipal use, however, the percentage of water used for Irrigation and the percentage of water evaporated


c z 0

~ en

ffi c...

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~ g ~ iS 0::: ~ en

1000

100

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\ \ \ \

\ \ \ \ \ \

I \

\ \ \ \ \ \ I \

\ \ \ \ \ \ Leh1gh \ \ (1945-49) I \

\ \ \ \ \ \

D1ckmson-\ \\ (1952-58) \ \

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' ' \ ' ' ' \ ' \ '

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\ ' \ ' \ '

\ ' \ ' ~ ' ', ' ....... .......

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0 01 0 05 0 2 0 5 1 2 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 95 98 99 99 8 99 99 01 995 999

PERCENTAGE OF TIME INDICATED DISCHARGE WAS EQUALED OR EXCEEDED

FIGURE 9 -DuratiOn curves of druly flows for Heart River near South Heart, near DICkmson, and at Lehigh

STREAMFLOW

1000

0 z: 0 100 u UJ (I)

ffi 0....

~ u iii :::::l u

~

3i ~ :liE ~ 10 a:: t;;

Ol~~L~-L~~-L-L--L-~~-L~~~~~

0 01 0 05 0 2 0 5 1 2 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 95 98 01


FIGURE 10 -DuratiOn curves of daily flows for Heart River near Richardton, before and after construction of DICkmson Dam

13


1000

c 100 z: 0

~ Cl)

e5 Cl...

~ (..)

iii => (..)

~

3i g 10 ~ ~

~

EX PLANA Tl ON

NEAR GLEN ULLIN

1945-49

1950-58

NEAR MANDAN

1945-49

1950-58

01~~-L~~L-~J-~~~~~~--~~~~~-L--~

0 01 0 05 0 2 0 5 1 2 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 95 98 99 99 8 99 99 01 995 999


FIGURE 11-Duratwn curves of daily flows for Heart River near Glen Ullm and near Mandan, before and after constructiOn of D1ckmson and Heart Butte Dams

1000

' ' '~ \\~

\ \

\\ \I

'" \\

STREAMFLOW

\\ ~ \1 ~ \ ~ \

~81g Muddy Creek near Almont ~ ~ (1946-~8)

~\ \ \\ \\ \\ \\ ,,

~I ~I \\ \\ \' \\ \\ \\ ,, \ '.\ \ \\' \ \\

Sweetbnar Creek near'\ '\ Judson (1952-58) \ '\

\ \\ \ \\ \ \

' \

\\\ '\ \ ,~, \

~' \ ' \ \ \

Antelope Creek near-\ \\\ Carson (1949-58) \ ~\

\ ~\

\ ' ', '\ 0 6 01 0 05 0 2 0 5 1 2 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

01


FIGURE 12 -DuratiOn curves of daily flows for Green R1ver near Gladstone, Antelope Creek near Oarson, B1g Muddy Creek near Almont, and Sweetbr1ar Creek near Judson

15


TABLE 2 -Med~an and mean streamflow m the Heart Rwer basm

Gaging station Penod of record

Heart River near South Heart ___________ 1946-58 Heart River below D1cklnson Dam, near

Dickinson _____ --------- ___ ------------ 1951-58 Heart River at Lehigh ___________________ 1943-51 Green R1ver near Gladstone _____________ 1945-58 Heart River near Richardton ____________ 1920-21, 1943-58 Heart R1ver below Heart Butte Dam, near Glen Ullin ________________________ 1943-58 Antelope Creek near Carson _____________ 1948-58 Big Muddy Creek near Almont_ ________ 1945-58 Heart R1ver near Lark ___ --------------- 1946-58 Sweetbriar Creek near Judson ___________ 1951-58 Heart River near Mandan _______________ 1928-32, 1937-58

1 10 1 cfs after construction of Dickinson Dam 2 30 o cfs after construction of Heart Butte Dam a 60 o cfs after construction of Heart Butte Dam

Area (sqmi)

315

404 443 356

1,240

1, 710 221 456

2, 750 157

3,310

Mean streamflow Median

streamflow (cfs) Acre- Cub1c

feet feet per second

0 96 22,660 31 3

1 22 16,290 225 4 6 37,570 51 9 3 4 26,060 36 0

1160 83,260 115

2 22 0 108,600 150 1 60 12,450 17 2 208 27,950 38 6

------------ 166,500 230 108 8,620 119

3 35 0 189,700 262

were estimated for the basin. Storage for flood control, Irrigation, and municipal use began In Edward Arthur Patterson Lake, formerly Dickinson Reservmr, on May 23, 1950, and In Lake Tschida, formerly Heart Butte Reservoir, on September 23, 1949. The total capacity of

t;j LLJ ~ 100,000 0::

~ ~

~ LL. ::E < LLJ 0::

~ ..J < ::::) z z < z < LLJ ::E

10,000 '----~c.....__.__ __ ..____....__---'-_....__....__....__.1..-1. ____ ___, __ ---L _ ___J

100 1000 4000

DRAINAGE AREA, IN SQUARE MILES

FIGURE 13 -RelatiOn of mean annual flow to dramage area, Heart River and some of Its tributaries, 1949-58 Streamflow expressed as percentage of the flow near Mandan IS shown m parentheses

FLUVIAL SEDIMENT 17

the Edward Arthur Patterson Lake Is 25,700 acre-feet, dead storage IS 1,100 acre-feet, and the conservatiOn storage IS 5,900 acre-feet The total capacity of Lake Tschida IS 428,000 acre-feet, dead storage IS 6,750 acre-feet, and the •active conservatiOn storage IS 69,040 acrefeet IrrigatiOn In the basin has Increased since the completiOn of the two dams. In Stark and Morton Counties, 3,700 acres were Irrigated In 1950 and 8,500 acres were Irrigated In 1959 (U S. Bur Census, 1952, 1960). The volume of water used annually for Irrigation IS estrmated to be 12,500 acre-feet, which IS only 6 6 percent of the mean annual flow near Mandan. The average annual lake evaporatiOn for southwestern North Dakota Is about 35 Inches per year (Kohler and others, 1959). The 6,000 acre-feet of water estimated to evaporate annually from the two lakes Is only 3.2 percent of the mean annual flow near Mandan for the period of record through 1958 Because of IITigatwn, evaporatiOn from two lakes, and municipal use, the mean annual streamflow near Mandan was decreased by an estimated 10 percent, or about 19,000 acre-feet

The linear curve In figure 13 Indicates that the streamflow durIng 1949-58 was proportiOnal to drainage area. Streamflow expressed as the flow near Mandan is shown In parenthesis.

FLUVIAL SEDIMENT

J. C. Mundorff (unpub. data) defined fluvial sediment as the "material that originates mostly from the disintegration of rocks and IS transported by, suspended In, or deposited from water; It Includes the chemical and biochemiCal precipitates ·and the organic material, such as humus, whiCh has reached such an advanced stage of disintegration and decompositiOn that the original structure and characteristics of the hv1ng organic unit 'are not recognizable." Suspended sediment In fluvial sediment that IS maintained In suspensiOn by the upward components of turbulent currents or as a colloid

The study of fluvial sediment In the Heart River basin was begun by the GeologiCal Survey In 1946. Suspended-sediment samples were collected and analyzed usmg standard equipment .and methods of the GeologiCal Survey ; figure 14 shows the perwd of record and the frequency of sampling •at the different statwns. AdditiOnal suspended-sediment samples and some bed-material samples were collected in October 1960

SEDIMENT DISCHARGE

The quantity and characteristics of suspended sediment depend on many Interrelated physiCal conditiOns-streamflow, velocity, water temperature, and amount and size of material available for transportatiOn. Suspended -sediment discharge, as the term IS used In this


WATER YEAR SEDIMENT STATION 1946 1947 1948 1949

Heart R1ver near South Heart

Heart R1ver below D1ckmson •• Dam, near D1ckmson

Heart R1ver at Leh1gh ~ ~ Heart R1ver near Richardton

Heart R1ver below Heart Butte Dam, near Glen Ullin 1

Heart R1ver near Mandan 2

1 Before construction of dam station name was Heart River near Glen Ullin 2 Samples collected and analyzed by U S Army Corps of Engmeers

EXPLANATION

1950

- ~

1951

Da1ly samplmg Penod1c samplmg

1952 1953 1954

FIGURE 14 -DuratiOn of records and samphng frequency for sedtment stations

report, IS the sediment discharge that can be computed directly from the streamflow and the concentratiOn of depth-Integrated sediment samples. The part of the stream traversed by a depth-Integrating sampler IS called the sampled zone and Includes the flow from the stream sur:flace to a point about 0.3 or 0.4 foot from the streambed

In general, the concentratiOns of suspended sediments near South Heart, Richardton, and Glen Ulhn Increase with streamflow at a

I 0

/\ I I

/ I I I I I I I I I I I I I

MARCH

EXPLANATION

SOUTH HEART NEAR RICHARDTON

Streamflow Streamflow

Concentration Concentration BELOW HEART BUTTE DAM, NEAR

Streamflow

APRIL

FIGURE 15 -Streamflow and sedtment concentratiOns for Heart Rtver, March 21 to Apr1l 8, 1951

FLUVIAL SEDIMENT 19

fairly uniform rate (fig. 15) ; however, the peak concentratiOn may occur before, at, or after the peak streamflow. Normally, the peak concentratiOn near Glen Ulhn lags behind the peak streamflow about 3 days; therefore, the Increase In concentratiOn In suspended sediment on March 26, 1951, probably resulted from erosiOn of the channel and banks between the dam and the samphng statiOn.

The relation of suspended-sediment discharge to streamflow commonly IndiCates a seasonal trend for streams In the northern Great Plains Seasonal curves for low flows during late fall and winter, for snowmelt during spnng, and for runoff during summer thunderstorms can be plotted If data are available for a perwd of several years In the Heart River basin, the relatiOn of sediment discharge to streamflow probably changes from season to season, but because of the relatively short perwd of sediment record and the constructiOn of main-stem dams during this period, rehable seasonal curves cannot be established. For Heart River near South Heart, a curve showing the relatiOn of sediment discharge to streamflow for the 1951 water year (fig 16) IndiCates seasonal vanatwn For streamflows that

100 GOO

en 10 000 z := ~ .......

'"" 1000 "" ~ Ci ..... :'5 100 ::;;

~ ~ 10

~ >---' :;;: Cl

0 I I

0< XX X X

X X

Xx X

X X ~

10 100

• X

X X

X X lt

EXPLANATION

Rrchardlon X

South Hearl

1000

DAILY MEAN STREAMFLOW IN CUBIC FEET PER SECOND

10,000

FIGURE 16 -RelatiOn of suspended-sediment discharge to streamflow foi Heart River near South Heart and near Richardton, 1951 water yea1

ranged from about 5 to 35 cfs, the pOints representing sediment discharges of about 50 to 1,100 tons per day are for perwds of runoff during summer thunderstorms The pOints representing sediment discharges of about 0 2-25 tons per day are for perwds of base flows and snowmelt. Further, the effect of Edward Arthur Patterson Lake on sedrment discharge near Richardton IS evident If sediment


discharge IS compared to streamflow near South Heart and Richardton. During 1951, when sediment discharges of about 1,000 tons per day occurred at streamflows of 30-35 cfs near South Heart, the sediment discharge was about 10 tons per day near Richardton; apparently, nearly all the sediment from the dramage basin upstream from DICkinson Dam was deposited In the lake and was not transported by the Heart River.

The suspended -sediment discharge near DICkinson and Glen illhn has been reduced because of the DICkinson and Heart Butte Dams. The relation of sediment discharge to streamflow near Glen Ulhn (fig 17) IndiCates a large reductiOn In the sediment discharge afte1 the constructiOn of the dams, particularly at high streamflows Average annual sediment discharges, estimated from the curves In figures 11 and 17, were 540,000 tons for 1945-49 (before dam construction) and 11,000 tons for 1950-58 (after dam constructiOn). The sediment discharge for the 1951 water year was 22,000 tons The average annual sediment discharges near DICkinson were estrmated to be 36,200 tons before dam construction and 700 tons after dam constructiOn

The effect of the dams on the average annual suspended-sediment discharge near Mandan IS small (See fig. 18.) The average annual sediment discharge, estimated from the 1948-49 curve In figure 18 and from the 1945-49 curve In figure 11, was 1.3 million tons. The decrease In discharge, estimated from the 1952-53 curve In figure 18 and from the 1945-49 curve In figure 11, was 320,000 tons; the same curve In figure 11 was used to estimate the average annual sediment discharges before and after construction of the dams The average annual sediment discharge for 1950-54 was 1.02 milhon tons (US Army Corps of Engtneers, 1957) The .average annual sedrment discharge for 1950-58, estimated from the 1952-53 curve In figure 18 and from the 1950-58 curve In figure 11, was 710,000 tons The average sediment discharge for 1950-58 was less than the average for 1950-54 because the percentage of streamflow between 120 and 10,000 cfs was smaller for 1950-58 than for 1950-54; most of the sediment IS discharged at high streamflows. The decrease In the average sediment discharge of the Heart River because of deposition In upstream reservoirs has Improved the quahty of the water by reduCing the sediment concentratiOn; however, the deposition of sediment In the reservOirs IS also reduCing their capacity for storage

Data for the period 1949-51 IndiCate that the annual suspendedsediment discharge In tons per square mile Increased downstream In the Heart River (fig 19) The downstream Increase was more pronounced In 1949 before the construction of either dam than In 1950 or 1951 when the lakes trapped some of the sediment from the western

Cl)

z ~ !!: ....., <.!> a::

~ Q

I-

ffi ::;:

~ 8

~ ~ >-__, ~

0 1 1

10 000

1000

FLUVIAL SEDIMENT

10 100 1000 INSTANTANEOUS STREAMFLOW IN CUBIC FEET PER SECOND

A

21

10,000

01 1L---~~~~LL~10~--L-~~~~LIOLO--~--~~-Lww1~00_0 __ -L__,__,~~~10~000

DAILY MEAN STREAMFLOW IN CUBIC FEET PER SECOND B

FIGURE 17 -RelatiOn of suspended-se<hment discharge to streamflow for Heart River near Glen Ullm, before (A) and after (B) constructiOn of DICkmson and Heart Butte Dams


100,000

10,000

1000

100

10,000

/

. / / . /. .. ·: / . ~/ ..

• • • • r-· ••• • : .-:.·tf • '. . )'.\· .. .,vJr· .

• • I'~ .. • _,

••• .J!14.~ .. ····' .. :: -~.' ;,. ::: .. ~ ,.J:l"-· ... . : :..-:.~:r ., . . ............ . . . '• ,. .. .

• )!"• •• •

.:.--: //

• Y • . /'/ /

/• / .

··r/· ... -

//

/ //

. / .. / . /

/ /

10

100

100

A

1000

1000

10,000

DAILY MEAN STREAMFLOW, IN CUBIC FEET PER SECOND

B

10,000

100,000

FIGURE 18 -RelatiOn of suspended-sediment discharge to streamflow for Heart RIver near Mandan, before (A) and after (B) constructiOn of DICkmson and Heart Butte Dams

FLUVIAL SEDIMENT 23

half of the drainage basin. Amount ·and Intensity of surface runoff may have been partly responsible for the vanatlons In suspended-sediment discharge at a statwn between 1949 and 1950 or 1951

The retentiOn of sediment In the lakes affects both the concentratiOn and the partiCle-size distributiOn of suspended sediment downstream from the dams The concentratiOn decreases, whereas the percentage of sediment finer than 0 062 mm ( mllhmeter) Increases; after dam constructiOn the percentage of fine material Increased near Richardton from 82 to 87 and near Glen IDhn from 73 to 100 (See table 3 )

The unmeasured sediment discharge, as explained by Colby (1957), IS the difference between the total sediment discharge and the sediment

0:: 700 LLJ a.. en z ~ 600

z LLJ

~ 500 <( I (.)LLJ ~....J 0~ 400 t-ZLLJ LLJC:: ~<(

cs5 3oo ~en Q LLJ

~ 200 LLJ a.. en :::::> en ....J <( :::::> z z <(

100

0

.--Mandan

r--t----

r---Richardton

.--

r----

r-----

South t--

Heart --

I n WATER YEAR

FIGURE 19 -Annual suspended-sediment discharge for Heart River near South Heart, near Richardton, and near Mandan


d1scharge that can be computed d1rectly from the streamflow and the concentratiOn of depth-Integrated samples. It 1ncludes the sed1ment that IS d1scharged as bedload and part of the sed1ment that 1s discharged 1n suspensiOn below the sampled zone The unmeasured sed1ment d1scharge for Heart R1ver near R1chardton, approximated by the Colby method ( 1957), 1ncreases 1n proportion to streamflow at about the 1.5 power (See fig. 20.) The computatiOns of unmeasured sed1ment d1scharge were based on da1ly samples collected at a br1dge sectwn that has steep grassy banks. The scatter of pmnts 1n figure 20 may be due to changes 1n veloc1ty, temperature, and depths and to differences m the s1ze d1str1but10n of suspended sed1ment.

The unmeasured sedrment d1scharge near R1chardton and perhaps near Mandan averages 10 or 11 percent of the total sed1ment d1scharge (fig. 21) As a percentage of total sed1ment d1scharge, the unmeas-

TABLE 3 -Effect of constructwn of dams on the average percentage of suspended sedtment tn Heart Rwer

Sediment station Number of samples

Suspended sedrment (percent finer than 0 062

mm)

Before dams After dams Before dams After dams

Near South Heart _______ --------- 36 ------- - 98 ---------Below DICkmson Dam, near

Dickmson _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1 --------- 98 ---------At Lehigh_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2 --------- 88 ---------Near Richardton__________________ 30 15 82 87 Below Heart Butte Dam, near Glen

Ullm_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 21 1 3 73 100 Near Mandan 2 ____________________________ _ 60 --------- 71

t Samples collected at outflow tube of Heart Butte Dam 2 Data from U S Army Corps of Engineers (written commun )

ured sed1ment d1scharge will be above the 10-percent average when suspended-sed1ment concentratiOns are small ( dur1ng low flow or spr1ng runoff) and below average when suspended-sed1ment concentratiOns are large (during h1gh flows derived from thunderstorms)

SOURCE OF SEDIMENT

Streams and mass-wasting processes are 1mportant agents of erosiOn Slump, whiCh IS a slow form of mass wasting, 1s generally more ef-

FLUVIAL SEDIMENT 25

>-<: Q

0:: u.J 0.. (I) 1000 z 0 ......

~ u.i ~ 0:: <: :I: u (I)

c ...... e5 :::E c u.J (I)

Q u.J 0:: ::::1 (I)

100 <: u.J :::E z ::::1

100 1000

STREAMFLOW, IN CUBIC FEET PER SECOND

FIGURE 20 -RelatiOn of unmeasured sediment discharge to streamflow for Heart River near Richardton, 1947-52

fectlve In areas composed of mOist, poorly consolidated rocks or unconsolidated sediments Debris fall, whiCh IS a more rapid form of mass wasting, IS common In the Heart River basin where bank slopes are steep and where sediment may fall directly Into the stream (fig 22). Sheet erosiOn, gully eroswn, and the advancement of valley heads are processes that also contnbute sediment to the Heart River (fig 23)


>-< Q

5 a... en 1000 z: 0 I-

~ ...r (.!:) 0::: < ::t: c..> en 25 I-

15 :::!:

8 (I)

8 0::: 100 :::> (I)

~ :::!: z: :::>

SUSPENDED SEDIMENT DISCHARGE, IN TONS PER DAY

FIGuRE 21-Relatwn 'Of unmeasured suspended-sediment discharge to measured suspended-sediment discharge for Heart River near Richardton

About 15 percent of the area of exposed rocks In the Heart River basin are of Quaternary age, and about 85 percent are of Tertiary age Data are not available for determining the geologic unit that contnbutes the maJor amount of sediment; however, some general conclusiOns can be drawn from visual observatiOns and from analyses of samples of streambeds, bars, and terrace deposits In the basm. The average of the analyses IndiCates that 73 percent of the material is coarser than silt and 34 percent IS coarser than sand. In general, glacial deposits, terraces, and bars of Quaternary age are sources of sand and sednnents larger than sand ; the rocks of Tertiary age are sources of clay, silt, and sand

FLUVIAL SEDIMENT 27

FIGURE 22.-Accumulation of ediment from debris fall along the Heart River, about 2 miles west of Dickinson and about 1 mile up tream from Dickinson Dam. Sediment erod d from an outcrop of the Tongue River Member of the Fort Union Formation.

FIGURE 23.-Headcut and gully along Government Creek near Richardton.


CHEMICAL QUALITY OF SURFACE WATER

The study of the chenncal quahty of surface water In the Heart River basin was begun by the US Geological Survey In 1945. The period of record and the frequency of samphng at the different statiOns are shown In figure 24. In addition, data for water samples obtained In 1955 and 1957 and analyzed at the U.S Salinity Laboratory in R1verside, Cahf., were furnished by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The chemical quahty of the ground water In the Heart River basin has been discussed by Swenson (Tychsen, 1950).

The results of the Individual water analyses for each station were plotted on a graph to determine average concentrations for selected ranges of streamflow Instantaneous streamflow In cubic feet per second was used as the Independent variable, and the Individual catiOns (calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium) and the aniOns (biCarbonate, carbonate, sulfate, chloride, fluoride, and nitrate) 1n equiv-alents per million were used as the dependent variaJbles The sum of the catiOns taken from the Individual curves drawn through the plotted points balanced with the sum of the anwns within 5 percent The percentage of the cations and anwns computed from the curves

WATER YEAR CHEMICAL-QUALITY STATION

1946 1947 1948 1949 1950

Heart R1ver near South Heart -Heart R1ver below D1ck1nson Dam, ~ • near D1ck1nson

Heart R1ver at Leh1gh E !:a Heart R1ver near Richardton I(LL':. '////. -~ Heart R1ver below Heart Butte Dam, • near Glen Ull1n 1

Heart R1ver near Mandan

1 Before construction of dam, stat1on name was Heart R1ver near Glen Ullin

EXPLANATION

!W/1///A Da1ly sampling Penod1c sampling

FIGURE 24 -Duratwn of records and sampling frequency for chem1cal-quahty stations

for the selected ranges of flow were plotted on multiple-trilinear diagrams (Piper, 1944), average concentratiOns In equivalents per milhon taken from the curves were converted to parts per million and are used m conJunctiOn with the trilinear diagrams to explan1 the changes in the quahty of the water. Trilinear diagrams and data on

CHEMICAL QUALITY OF SURFACE WATEIR 29

chemiCal constituents 1n parts per mllhon are used to show the average change 1n water quahty at selected ranges of flow; the diagrams and the data can be used to show changes 1n the quahty of the water In a downstream d1rectwn.

From the multiple-trilinear diagram, differentiatiOn of water type IS possible by using a b1nom1al value written In the form of a "deCimal fractwn," whose two terms are" (1) the percentage of hardness-causIng constituents (calCium and magnesium) among the catwns, and (2) the percentage of bicarbonate (and carbonate, If present) among the anwns" (P1per, 1944) For example, 29.53 would IndiCate a water In which the calCium and magnesium amount to 29 percent of all the catiOnS lU equivalents per mllhon and ill whiCh the biCarbonate and carbonate amount to 53 percent of all the anwns.

HEART RIVER NEAR SOUTH HEART

The percentage compositiOn of the wns 1n the Heart R1ver near South Heart changes with streamflow (See fig. 25 and table 4.) Although the percentage of calCium and magnesium Increases as streamflow mcreases, the concentratiOn of these wns 1n parts per million decreases. The average concentratiOns of all Ions vary Inversely with streamflow

Most of the high flows In the Heart R1ver result from snowmelt, whiCh IS very low In dissolved constituents. Most of the low flows are supplied by ground water, ·which IS probably high In sodium and sulfate; deposits of sodium sulfate commonly form along the stream channel. Some sulfate Is probably derived from pyrite, marcasite, and other sulfur-hearing minerals associated w1th coal In the Sentinel Butte and Tongue R1ver Members of the Fort Union Formatwn, which crop out along the Heart River near South Heart. BICarbonate may be eroded from the cementing material of some sandstones and the shales. Calcium and magnesium are in the soils and clays of the two members. When the streamflow lS low, the quality of the water IS not suitable for most uses. When the streamflow Is h1gh, the water IS of good quahty; but high flows are of short duratiOn.

HEART RIVER NEAR DICKINSON

The Invest1gat1on of the water In the Heart River near DICknlSon was made prior to the constructiOn of the dam, whiCh was built to control floods and to Impound water for IrrigatiOn and municipal use. Because most of the data were collected dunng the sprmg runoff when the greatest amount of the water IS Impounded, the data were probably representative of the water that enters Edward Arthur Patterson Lake.


Ca CATIONS

EXPLANATION Streamflow 1n cub1c

feet per second

+ 0-5

0

6-15 . 16-50

" 51-100 A

101-500 .....

501-1000

+ 1001-5000

FIGURE 25 -Percentage composition computed from average concentratiOns, m eqUivalents per m1lhon, for selected ranges of streamflow for Heart R1ver near South Heart, 1947-49

TABLE 4 -Average concentratwn of d~ssolved const~tuents, ~n parts per mtllwn, and water type for Heart Rwer near South Heart, 191,.7-1,.9

Range of stream- Ca Mg Na+K HCOa+COa 804 Cl+F+NOa Dissolved Water flow (cfs) solids tvpe

---- --o--5 _____ -------- 68 22 299 604 413 7 1,110 29 53 6-15._ __________ 52 17 198 439 303 5 800 32 53

16-50 ____ -------- 38 13 127 305 211 4 550 36 53 51-100 ______ ----- 30 10 87 226 156 3 410 38 53

101-5QO _____ ------ 21 7 46 133 91 2 260 45 53 501-1,000.-------- 15 4 23 67 46 2 150 53 53

1,001-5,000 ___ ------ 12 3 14 43 29 1 90 '>9 53

The percentage compositiOn of the wns changes with streamflow, the "decrmal fraction" changed from 32 54 at the lowest range of flow to 53.69 ·at the highest range (See fig 26 and table 5 ) The sharp Increase In percentages of bicarbonate and magnesium at flows of more than 100 cfs Is probably the result of Inflow from upstream tributaries that drain areas In whiCh the White River and Golden

CHEMICAL QUALITY OF SURFACE WATER 31

Valley FormatiOns crop out. Inflow from these upstream tributaries IS negligible except dunng spring runoff and dunng Intense thunderstorms.

The average concentrations In parts per million for most of the wns decrease as streamflow Increases (table 5). Most of the samples on which these averages are based were collected when the quality of the water was affected significantly by snowmelt; therefore, the averages are probably lower than they would have been If the samples had been representative of year-round conditions

The quality of the water that enters the Edward Arthur Patterson Lake during the spring runoff Is probably Similar to the quality of water at the 101- to 500-cfs range During long periods of drought the quality of water In the lake gradually changes and eventually approXImates the average concentratiOns shown In table 5 for the 0- to 15-cfs ranges

Chemical-quality standards that have been established by the US Public Health Service (1962) for water to be used on Interstate carriers for drinking and culinary purposes can be used as guides to establish recommended maximum concentratiOns for public supplies. The maximum concentratiOns for some of the chemical constituents are shown In the following table

Recommended ma:D~mum

concentrahon Oonshtuent (ppm)

Iron (Fe>------------------------------------------------ 0 3 Sulfate (80,)--------------------------------------------- 250 Chloride (01)-------------------------------------------- 250 Fluoride (F)--------------------------------------------

1 1 5 Nitrate (NOa) ------------------------------------------- 45 Dissolved solids------------------------------------------ 500

1 Based on temperature data for Dickinson and Mandan

Except :for being moderately hard, the water In the lake during normal or above-norm·al runoff IS generally of suitable quality for public use The concentratiOns of chloride, fluoride, and nitrate probably never approach their maximum limits. Dunng long perwds of drought, however, the concentrations of sulfate and dissolved solids may be higher than the recommended maximums. Also, at times the Iron concent:vatwn may exceed 0 3 parts per million The use of water having sulfate concentrations greater than 250 ppm and dissolved solids greater than 500 ppm does not seem to cause any physiologiCal effects other than a laxative actiOn on new users. Iron conoentratwns above the maximum of 0.3 ppm are not physiologically harmful In fact, trace amounts of Iron are an essential nutrient, but concentratiOns higher than 0.5-1.0 ppm can be tested. Iron concen-


Ca CATIONS

EXPLANATION Streamflow 1n cub1c

feet per second

CI+F+N0 3

ANIONS

+ 0-5

0 6-15

16~50 6

51-100

• 101-500 ...-

501-1000

+ 1001-5000

FIGURE 26 -Percentage composition computed from average concentratiOns, m eqmvalents per mllhon, for selected ranges of streamflow for Heart R1ve1 near D1ckmson, 1946-47

TABLE 5 -Average concentratwn of dtssolved constttuents, m parts per mtllwn, and water type for Heart Rwer near Dtchnson, 191,.6-47 •

Range of streamflow (cfs)

Ca Mg Na+K HCOa+COa

----------Q-5 _______________ 52 24 223 470 6-15.------------- 38 17 131 282

16-50.------------- 27 12 74 171 51-100.------------ 21 9 44 121

101-500.------------ 14 6 27 85 501-1,000 ____ -- ------ 10 6 21 80

1,001-5,000 .. __ -------- 9 6 18 73

so. Cl F

------310 2 6 0 5 203 1 8 4 124 1 3 3

76 1 0 3 46 9 2 2Q 8 2 24 8 2

NO a D1sc;olved solids

1 5 860 1 7 540 1 8 330 1 9 220 2 1 140 2 2 110 2 4 100

Water type

32 5 4 37 51 42 52 49 55 51 58 52 6 536

7 9

trations above the 0 3 ppm also tend to stain laundry and porcel1ain fixtures.

The U.S. Salinity Laboratory Staff ( 1954) Introduced a diagram for classifying Irngatwn water; the diagram IS based on the sodiumadsorptiOn-ratiO (SAR) and the specific conductance of the water

0 0:: <t: N 0 <t:

~ I E c

:::::i :::l N 0 -o C/) ~

<t: Q) c. ~ :::?! ~ ...J "'C <t: ro '-' E: 2

:::l

-o ::J 0

0 en

0 C/)

CHEMICAL QUALITY OF SURFACE WATE1R

100

C1-S2

C2

Med1um

EXPLANATION

Streamflow, m cub1c feet per second

+ 0-5

0 6-15

• 16-50

+ 1001-5000

C3

6

51-100

• 101-500

...... 501-1000

C4

Very h1gh

SALINITY HAZARD

33

FIGURE 27 -ClassificatiOn of water for IrrigatiOn, Heart River near DICkmson Diagram by US Sahmty Laboratory Staff (1954)


The sodium-adsorptiOn-ratio and specific conductance for the average concentratiOns shown In table 5 were plotted In figure 27 to determine the salinity and sodium hazards of the water In the Heart River near DICkinson during 1946-47. The plotted points IndiCate that the water during periods of high flow has low sodium ~and low salinity hazards. Because most of the high flows are from spring runoff, the water from Edward Arthur Patterson Lake IS assumed to have low sodium and low salinity hazards. The mixing of water from successive spnng runoffs and low-flow periods with water already In the lake, however, m1ay change the salinity hazard from low to medium. If runoff Is below normal for several consecutive years, the water In the lake would probably have a low sodium hazard and a high salinity hazard. Water haVIng a high salinity hazard IS not considered suitable for IrrigatiOn unless adequate drainage IS provided and unless crops having a moderate to good salt tolerance are grown.

HEART RIVER NEAR RICHARDTON

The change In water type with flow In the Heart River near RIChardton IS IndiCated by the change In "demmal fraction" from 34.41 at the lowest range of flow to 63.54 at the highest range. (See fig. 28 and table 6.) Part of the change IS due to Inflow from Green River and Antelope Creek Sulfate, whiCh IS the predominant anion durIng low flow, IS probably contributed by Inflow from Antelope Creek and by ground-water Inflow. At extremely high flows, Antelope Creek, whiCh drains part of the badlands area south of South Heart, proba:bly contnbutes a water that has high percentages of magnesium and b1carl>onate.

The average concentratiOns In parts per million are higher In the water near RIChardton (table 6) than near South Heart or Dickinson. The Increase In concentratiOns from Dickinson to RIChardton, however, would have been much less If the averages for Dickinson had been representative of year-round conditiOns.

At flows of more than 100 cfs, the water near RIChardton IS of suitable quality for pu'blic use. At flows of less than 100 cfs, the water may contain more than the 250 ppm of sulfate recommended by the U S Public Health Service ( 1962)

HEART RIVER NEAR GLEN ULLIN

During .1945-49, before construction of Heart Butte Dam, the "demmal fractiOns" for the water In the Heart River near Glen Ulhn were 30 46 at the lowest range of flow and 69 61 at the highest rang~ During 1950, the first year that water was Impounded In Lake Tschida, the "decimal fractiOn" for the lake water at an altitude of 2,061 feet

CHEMICAL QUALITY OF SURFACE WATIDR

Ca CATIONS

EXPLANATION Streamflow m cub1c

feet per second

+ 0-5

0 6-15

16~50 6

51-100 &

101-500 .....

501-1000

+ 1001-5000

X

5001-10 000

CI+F+N0 3

ANIONS

35

FIGURE 28 -Percentage composition computed from average concentratiOns, m eqmvalents per mllhon, for selected ranges of streamflow for Heart River near Richardton, 1946-50

TABLE 6 -Average concentratwn of dtssolved constttuents, m parts per rmllwn, and water type for Heart Rwer near Rtchardton, 1946-50

Range of stream- Ca Mg Na+K HCOa+COa 804 Cl+F+NOa DISsolved Water flow (cfs) solids type

----------------0-5 ____ --------- 63 41 292 488 518 21 1,180 34 41 6-15 ___ - -------- 58 35 223 404 423 15 960 37 42

16-50 ___ - -------- 53 29 169 331 341 12 780 40 43 51-100 __________ - 48 24 133 287 288 9 650 4443 101-500 ___________ 42 20 90 223 216 6 490 49 44 501-1,000 __ ------- 36 16 58 171 149 4 350 55 47

1 ,001-5,000_ -------- 28 12 36 116 94 4 230 60 48 5,001-10,000 ____ ---- 21 8 23 85 53 3 160 6354

was 53 50, wlnch approximates the type of water at a flow of 101-500 cfs In the Heart River prwr to dam construction. (See fig. 29 and table 7 ) After 7 years the "decimal fractwn" for the lake water was 45 56 at an altitude of 2,059 feet The change 111 percentage com-


positiOn from 1950 to 1957 was partly the result of evaporation and of differences In quality of Inflow.

ConcentratiOns In parts per million of water from Lake Tschida during 1950 and 1957 (table 7) IndiCate that on the average the water IS of suitable quality for public supply according to standards of the U.S. Public Health Service (1962). The concentratiOns were also used to compute the average sodium-adsorptiOn-ratio and specific conductance to determine the sodium and salinity hazards of the water for IrrigatiOn. The plotted points In figure 30 mdiCate that the water entering Lake Tschida would have a medium sodium hazard and a high salinity hazard at the lowest range of flow and a low sodium hazard and a medium salinity hazard at the highest range The water In Lake Tschida, which had a low sodium hazard and a medium salinity hazard during 1950 and 1957, can be used for Irrigation If a moderate amount of leaching occurs

Ca CATIONS

EXPLANATION Streamflow tn cubic

feet per second

0

6-15

16~50 6

51-100 ...

101-500 .....

501-1000

+ 1001-5000

X

5001-10 000

" Lake sample

FIGURE 29 -Percentage composition computed from average concentratiOns, m eqmvalents per mllhon, for selected ranges of streamflow for Heart River near Glen Ulhn, 1945-49

CHEMICAL QUALITY OF SURFACE WATIDR 37

TABLE 7 -Average concentratwn of dtssolved constttuents, tn parts per mtllwn, and water type for Heart Rwer near Glen Ull'tn and for Lake Tschtda

Range of stream· I Ca I Mg I Na+K I HCOs+COa I SOt I Cl+F+NO I DtSSOlved I Water flow (cfs) 3 solids type

Heart River near Glen Ullin

1945-49

5-15------------ 52 34 283 494 442 14 1,080 30 46 16-50.---------- 47 29 198 384 341 11 830 36 46 51-100.--------- 45 25 138 305 252 8 630 42 48

101-500. 41 20 71 201 149 5 390 55 51 501-1, 000~ ~~===== 38 17 41 159 103 4 290 6553

1, 001-5,000.------- 35 14 30 146 77 4 230 69 58 5, 001-10,000.------ 33 12 27 142 67 3 220 69 61

Lake Tschada

1950 2,061 1_ •• -·------·· 37 14 62 176 129 6 360 53 50

1957 2,059 I_ •••••••••••• 42 17 99 261 155 6 480 45 56

1 Lake altitude, m feet

HEART RIVER NEAR MANDAN

During 1946-49 the "decunal fractwn" for the Heart River near Mandan changed :from 29.45 :for the lowest range o:f flow to 73.61 for the highest range (fig. 31 and table 8); however, the "decimal fractions" :for the ranges of flow changed very httle from Glen IDlin to Mandan. The percentages of the constituents remained :fairly constant, probably because the tributaries that drain areas composed of glacial deposits and rocks of the Cannonball Member of the Fort Unwn FormatiOn contribute a similar type water.

After dam construction the "deCimal fraction" for the lowest range of flow near Mandan was 38.51. The water released from Lake Tschida, for whiCh the "decimal fraction" during 1957 was 45.56 (table 7), changes In percentage compositiOn and In dissolved sohds as It moves downstream. The chemical constituents of the water In the river are affected by evaporatwn, tributary Inflow, and return flow :from Irrigation

Water In the Heart River near Mandan has a low sodium hazard and a high sahnity hazard (fig. 32) and, therefore, may be unsuitable for IrrigatiOn unless adequate drainage IS proVIded and unless crops haVIng a moderate to good salt tolerance are grown Except for concentrations o:f sulfate and dissolved sohds, whiCh during low flow exceed the maximum hmits recommended by the U.S. Pubhc Health SerVIce ( 1962), the water Is o:f suitable quahty for pubhc use.


0 c:: <( N <(

I

::i <( ~ ...J <(

::2: :::> 0 0 en

E ::J

N -o Q) en ~

~ ...... .3 en

100

0

~ c 0

"5. C5 1/)

"'0 ro

E: ::J -o 0

en C1-S2

EXPLANATION

Streamflow, m cub1c feet per second

0 ... 5-15 501-1000

• + 16-50

t:;. 1001-5000

51-100 X

... 5001-10,000

101-500 "V

Lake sample

Spec1f1c conductance m m1cromhos per cent1meter at 25• C

Cl C2 C3 C4

Low Med1um H1gh Very h1gh

SALINITY HAZARD

FIGURE 30 -Classrftcation of water for IrrigatiOn, Heart River near Glen Ullin Diagram by US Sahmty Laboratory Staff (1954)

CHEMICAL QUALITY OF SURFACE WATECR

Ca CATIONS

EXPLANATION Streamflow 1n cubiC

feet per second

0 6-15 . 16-50

t:. 51-100

• 101-500

..... 501-1000

+ 1001-5000

)(

5001-10 000

39

FIGURE 31-Percentage compositiOn computed from average concentrations, m eqUivalents per mllhon, for selected ranges of streamflow for Heart River near Mandan, 1946-49, 1955 and 1957

TABLE 8 -Average concentratton of dusolved constttuents, m parts per m'tlhon, and water type for Heart Rwer near Mandan

Range of stream- Ca Mg Na+K HCOa+COs 804 Cl+F+NOa DlSSOlved Water flow (cfs) sohds type

------1946-49

5-15.---------- 46 30 276 440 394 24 1,000 2945 16-50.---------- 44 26 223 378 319 18 830 31 47 51-100.--------- 42 23 191 336 279 14 740 3348

101-500.--------- 40 20 143 281 216 10 600 37 49 501-1,000 _______ -- 39 16 102 232 164 8 470 42 52

1, 001-5,000 ________ 38 13 60 108 112 6 340 53 55 5, 001-10,000 ________ 37 10 23 146 67 5 220 73 61

1955 and 1957

5-15------------- 53 31 198 414 292 22 830 38 51 16-50.------------ 45 26 162 350 239 17 680 38 52 51-100.----------- 40 23 145 317 212 15 600 39 52

101-500. ----------- 33 18 113 257 165 10 480 39 53 501-1,000 .... -- ----- 26 13 85 201 122 7 370 41 55


0 a:: <( N <(

I

:::::i <( ~ ..J <(

:2: ::::J 0 0 (J)

E ::I N ii (J) Q)

:2

3: -.3 (J)

100

0 ;:; e c: 0

-E. 0 If)

"0 til

E: ::I ii 0 en

C1-S2

EXPLANATION Streamflow, 1n cub1c feet per second

0 5-15

• 16-50

lJ.

51-100

)(

• 101-500

..... 501-1000

+ 1001-5000

5001-10,000

Spec1flc conductance, 1n m1cromhos per centimeter at 25• C

Cl C2 C3 C4

Low Med1um Very h1gh

SALINITY HAZARD

FIGURE 32 -Classrficatlon of water for Irrigation, Heart R1ver near Mandan Diagram by US Sahmty Laboratory Staff (1954)

LITERATURE CITED 41

CONCLUSIONS

Streamflow durmg 1949-58 was proportiOnal to dramage area In the Heart R1ver basin.

Heart Butte Dam and DICkinson Dam, completed In 1949 and 1950, respectively, have reduced the suspended-sediment concentr:atwn and discharge downstream The average annual suspended-sediment discharge ne·ar Mandan was estimated to be 1,300,000 tons before constructiOn of the two dams, and 1t decreased about 320,000 tons after construction of the dams.

Sheet, gully, and lateral stream eroswn, advancement of valley heads, and mass wasting are processes that contribute sediment to the Heart R1ver The poorly Indurated Tertiary rocks are the sources of clay, silt, and sand; the Quaternary rocks are the sources of material larger than sand

In general, the water 1n the Heart R1ver contains a large percentage of sodium and 'about equal percentages of bicarbonate and sulfate durIng extremely low flows, the water contains a large percentage of calCium plus magnesium and a large percentage of bicarbonate during extremely h1gh flows.

The water m Edward Arthur Patterson Lake and Lake Tschida dunng normal or a,bove-normal runoff Is of suitable quahty for pubhc use.

In general, because of medium or h1gh sahn1ty hazards, the use of water In the Heart River for 1rr1gatwn will require a moderate amount of leaching, adequate drainage, and the growing of crops having a moderate or good salt tolerance

LITERATURE CITED

Benson, 'V E , 1951, Geologic map of North Dakota southwest of the Missouri River US Geol Survey Gen Mmeral Resource Map, Scale 1 500,000

Colby, B R, 1957, Relationship of unmeasured sediment discharge to mean velocity Am Geophys Umon Trans, v 38, p 708-717

Fenneman, N M, 1931, Physiography of the western Umted States New York, McGraw-Hill Book Co, 534 p

Hamer, J L , 1956, The geology of North Dakota North Dakota Geol, Survey Bull 31, 46 p , 3 pls

Kohler, M A, Nordenson, T J, and Baker, D R, 1959, EvaporatiOn maps for the Umted States U S Weather Bur Tech Paper 37, 13 p

Piper, A M, 1944, A graphic procedure m the geochemiCal mterpretatwn of water analyses Am Geophys Umon Trans, pt 6, p 914-923

Tychsen, P C , 1950, Geology and ground-water hydrology of the Heart Rivel ur1gatwn proJect and the DICkmson area, North Dakota, with a section on the Mmeral quality of waters of the Heart R1ver ProJect, by Herbert A Swenson U S Geol Survey Circ 34, 59 p


US Army Corps of Engmeers, 1957, Suspended sediment m the Missoun River, dally record for water years 1949-54 US Army Engmeer Div, Missouri River, Omaha, Nebr

US Bureau of the Census, 1952, North Dakota and South Dakota, pt 11 of v 1 of U S Census of Agriculture, 1950 442 p

---1960, North Dakota, pt 18, of v 1 of U S Census of Agriculture, 1959 195p

U S Pubhc Health Service, 1962, Drmkmg water standards, 1962 Pubhc Health Service Pub 956, 61 p

U S Sahmty Laboratory Staff, 1954, Diagnosis and Improvement of sahne and alkali soils U S Dept Agriculture, Agnculture Handb 60, 160 p

US GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1966 0-212-528