SELECTED TRACE METALS IN WATER, 

SEDIMENT, PLANTS, AND FISH IN 

RAPID CREEK, RAPID CITY, 

SOUTH DAKOTA, 1993-94

By JOYCE E. WILLIAMSON, ROBERT M. GOLDSTEIN, and 

STEPHEN D. PORTER

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

Water-Resources Investigations Report 96-4276

Prepared in cooperation with the 

CITY OF RAPID CITY

Rapid City, South Dakota 

1996
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

Gordon P. Eaton, Director

The use of firm, trade, or brand names in this report is for identification purposes 

only and does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Geological Survey.

For additional information write to:

District Chief 

U.S. Geological Survey 

1608 Mt. View Rd. 

Rapid City, SD 57702

Copies of this report can be purchased 

from:

U.S. Geological Survey 

Branch of Information Services 

Box 25286 

Denver, CO 80225-0046
CONTENTS

Abstract..............................................................^ 1

Introduction ..............................................................................................................................................................^ 2

Background.....................................................^ 2

Purpose and scope ....................................................................................................................................................... 2

Description of study area............................................................................................................................................. 4

Acknowledgments....................................................................................................................................................... 4

Sampling sites and methods .................................................................................................................................................. 5

Sites ................................................................................................................................................^ 5

Methods....................................................................................................................................................................... 6

Concentrations of selected trace metals................................................................................................................................. 7

Effects of selected trace metals on plants and fish ................................................................................................................ 13

Summary and conclusions..................................................................................................................................................... 18

References cited..................................................................................................................................................................... 19

Supplemental data............................................................................ 21

ILLUSTRATIONS

1. Map showing location of sampling sites within Rapid Creek Basin.......................................................................... 3

2. Graphs showing concentrations of silver, cadmium, copper, and zinc in bed sediments........................................... 9

3. Graphs showing concentrations of silver, cadmium, copper, and zinc in plant tissue................................................ 11

4. Graphs showing concentrations of silver, cadmium, copper, and zinc in fish-liver tissue......................................... 12

5. Graph showing comparison of mean concentrations of selected trace metals in bed

sediments and plants upstream and downstream of the Wastewater Treatment Plant................................................ 14

6. Graph showing mean fish weight in relation to concentration of selected trace metals in fish-liver tissue

upstream and downstream of the wastewater treatment plant.................................................................................... 15

7. Graph showing comparison of mean concentrations of selected trace metals in plants and

fish-liver tissue upstream and downstream of the wastewater treatment plant........................................................... 16

8. Graph showing comparison of mean concentrations of selected trace metals in bed sediments and

fish-liver tissue upstream and downstream of the wastewater treatment plant........................................................... 17

TABLES

1. Site information and types of sampling conducted along or near Rapid Creek...................................................... 5

2. Concentrations of silver, cadmium, copper, and zinc in stream-water samples...................................................... 8

3. Mean weight and length for fish sampled in Rapid Creek upstream and downstream of the

	wastewater treatment plant...................................................................................................................................... 10

4. Water-quality data for sites along and near Rapid Creek, 1993-94......................................................................... 23

5. Chemical analyses of bed sediments for sites along Rapid Creek, 1993-94........................................................... 26

6. Chemical analyses of plant tissue for sites along Rapid Creek, 1993-94 ............................................................... 28

7. Chemical analyses of fish-liver tissue for sites along Rapid Creek, 1993-94......................................................... 30

Contents III
CONVERSION FACTORS, ABBREVIATIONS, AND DEFINITIONS OF TERMS

Multiply

acre-foot (acre-ft)

cubic foot per second (ft3/s)

foot per mile (ft/mi)

gram (g)

liter (L)

microgram (|ig)

mile (mi)

milliliter (rnL)

millimeter (mm)

By

1,233

0.02832

0.1894

0.03527

0.2642

3.52 x 10"8

1.609

0.0338

0.03937

To obtain

cubic meter

cubic meter per second

meter per kilometer

ounce, avoirdupois

gallon

ounce

kilometer

ounce

inch

Water year: In Geological Survey reports dealing with surface-water supply, water year is the 12- 

month period, October 1 through September 30. The water year is designated by the calendar year 

in which it ends; thus, the water year ending September 30, 1992, is the "1992 water year."

Sewage Treatment Plant: USGS gaging station names refer to the Rapid City Waste Water Treatment Plant as "Sewage Treatment Plant."

PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL WATER-QUALITY UNITS

Temperature can be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (°F) or degrees Celsius (°C) by the following 

equations:

°F = 9/5 (°C) + 32 

°C = 5/9 (°F-32)

Specific electrical conductance of water is expressed in microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees 

Celsius ((iS/cm). This unit is equivalent to micromhos per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius.

Micrograms per gram (|ig/g) is a weight per weight unit expressing the concentration of a chemical 

constituent occurring in a solid material. Micrograms per gram is directly equivalent to parts per 

million, and the terms are used interchangeably in this report.

Milligrams per liter (mg/L) or micrograms per liter (jirn/L): Milligrams per liter is a unit expressing 

the concentration of a chemical constituent in solution as weight (milligrams) of solute per unit volume (liter) of water. One thousand micrograms per liter is equivalent to one milligram per liter. For 

natural waters with dissolved-solids concentrations less than about 7,000 (ig/L, "milligrams per 

liter" is essentially equivalent to "parts per million" (ppm), and "micrograms per liter" is essentially 

equivalent to "parts per billion" (ppb); the terms are used interchangeably in this report.

IV Contents
Selected Trace Metals in Water, Sediment, Plants, and Fish 

in Rapid Creek, Rapid City, South Dakota, 1993-94

By Joyce E. Williamson, Robert M. Goldstein, and Stephen D. Porter

ABSTRACT

Local industries in Rapid City have reported 

violations of maximum contaminant levels for 

their National Pollutant Discharge Elimination 

System permits. The industries initiated a request 

that the City of Rapid City investigate whether 

natural concentrations of trace metals in the 

municipal water supply were contributing to 

concentrations of trace metals in their industrial 

effluent. Metals of specific concern were silver, 

cadmium, copper, and zinc. Stream-water, bedsediment, plant, and fish sampling was conducted 

in an effort to better understand the aquatic 

conditions of Rapid Creek.

Within Rapid Creek, concentrations of 

silver, cadmium, copper, and zinc in stream water 

increased from upstream to downstream of the 

wastewater treatment plant. Silver concentrations 

were below the laboratory reporting limits for all 

samples with the exception of the effluent discharge and immediately downstream in Rapid 

Creek. Cadmium concentrations were at or below 

the laboratory reporting limit for all sites. Copper 

and zinc concentrations were detectable at all 

stream sites and two wells but not at a spring site. 

Concentrations of silver, cadmium, copper, and 

zinc in bed-sediment samples all increased from 

upstream to downstream of the wastewater treatment plant. Concentrations of silver, cadmium, 

copper, and zinc in plant-tissue samples all 

increased from upstream to downstream of the 

wastewater treatment plant and were consistent 

with increased concentrations in both water and

bed sediments. Silver concentrations in fish-liver 

samples were smaller upstream compared to 

downstream of the wastewater treatment plant; 

cadmium concentrations varied little between 

sites. Copper and zinc concentrations in fish-liver 

samples were larger upstream compared to downstream of the plant.

Based on the limited sampling during this 

study, there is evidence that the selected metals 

present in both the water and bed sediments are 

bioaccumulating in the plant and fish species. 

Results also indicate that biomagnification in the 

plants and fish is not occurring; that is, the concentrations found in the sediment, plants, and fish are 

all at about the same order of magnitude.

Based on the concentrations found in the 

stream-water, bed-sediment, plant, and fish sampling, there is an increase in the mean concentrations of selected trace metals from upstream of 

Rapid City to downstream of where the treatment 

plant effluent enters. Increases in concentrations 

from immediately upstream to downstream of the 

wastewater treatment plant are consistent with 

concentrations added by the wastewater treatment 

plant effluent. Bed-sediment concentrations of 

silver and cadmium increased between the two 

upstream sites and additional sampling would be 

necessary to determine possible point sources of 

trace metals in Rapid Creek upstream of the wastewater treatment plant. Exceptions to increasing 

concentrations were copper and zinc in fish-liver 

tissue, which decreased from upstream to downstream of the wastewater treatment plant effluent.

Abstract 1
INTRODUCTION

In an effort to control water pollution, Congress 

passed the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Public 

Law 92-500) in 1972. Congress amended the law in 

1977, changing the name to the Clean Water Act. 

Section 402 of the Act, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), establishes the 

procedure for obtaining National Pollutant Discharge 

Elimination System (NPDES) permits to discharge into 

streams (Ward, 1982). These permits include both 

industrial and wastewater discharges and focus on protection of aquatic life. An NPDES permit requires that 

conditions of sections 301,302, 306,307,308, and 403 

of the Act be met by the permittee (Ward, 1982). These 

sections address effluent limitations; water-qualityrelated effluent limitations; national standards of performance; toxic and pretreatment effluent standards; 

inspections, monitoring and entry strategies; and discharge criteria. The State of South Dakota is authorized to implement the NPDES program for industrial 

and wastewater discharges. As part of this authorization, the State has classified each South Dakota stream 

with regard to use and has established water-quality 

criteria to meet those uses (South Dakota Department 

of Water and Natural Resources, 1987). The NPDES 

permitting program is a means of implementing the 

Surface Water Quality Standards adopted by the State 

of South Dakota.

Background

Various industries within Rapid City have 

NPDES permits to discharge into the City sanitarysewer system, which discharges to Rapid Creek. The 

maximum effluent limits established for the industries 

are indirectly based upon the water-quality criteria for 

Rapid Creek. Some of these industries are required to 

pretreat and to periodically monitor their effluent prior 

to discharge into the City sanitary-sewer system. 

These industries have recovery systems in place to 

remove the majority of metals from their effluent. The 

City regularly monitors the effluent for a range of constituents as required by the NPDES permits and occasionally collects unscheduled samples.

In 1990, exceedances of maximum contaminant 

levels were found by a few local industries and 

reported to the City. Two industries sampled the City 

tap water at their places of business and reported 

detectable concentrations of silver, copper, and zinc.

The industries subsequently requested that the City 

investigate whether natural concentrations of trace 

metals in the municipal water supply were contributing 

to concentrations of trace metals in the industrial 

effluent.

Following this request, the City began collecting 

monthly water samples from May 1991 to May 1992 at 

selected locations along Rapid Creek from upstream of 

Pactola Reservoir near Silver City to downstream of 

where the City's wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) 

effluent enters the creek (fig. 1). Concentrations of 

trace metals in these samples were found to be as much 

as 66 |ig/L of silver, 7 |ig/L of cadmium, 22 ug/L of 

copper, and 236 |ig/L of zinc (Chuck Larson, City of 

Rapid City, written commun., 1992).

Based on these preliminary findings, the City 

considered petitioning the State of South Dakota for a 

modification of aquatic standards for Rapid Creek. The 

EPA has established procedures necessary to establish 

criteria for the protection of aquatic life (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1985). The State of South 

Dakota has adopted the EPA standards for trace metals 

in Rapid Creek. These standards are based on results 

from laboratory experiments conducted under controlled conditions (U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency, 1992). Differences between Rapid Creek and 

the laboratory waters used to establish the standards 

could result in a situation where the current standards 

may be too lenient to protect the aquatic life or may be 

more stringent than necessary. The NPDES limits can 

be modified to reflect naturally occurring concentrations of trace metals in the stream. Methods for modification of criteria are in place (U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, 1983) and additional guidelines 

specifically pertaining to metals are available (U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency, 1992). Requirements for the modification of criteria include a good 

understanding of the stream and supporting data to 

ensure that the aquatic life will be protected.

Purpose and Scope

During 1991, Rapid City Public Works staff 

approached the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for 

assistance in determining background concentrations 

of trace metals in Rapid Creek. Elements of particular 

concern were silver, cadmium, copper, and zinc. 

Stream-water, bed-sediment, plant, and fish sampling 

was conducted at four sites along Rapid Creek in an 

effort to better understand the aquatic conditions of

Selected Trace Metals in Water, Sediment, Plants, and Fish in Rapid Creek, Rapid City, South Dakota, 1993-94
104'

44°1S

Base modified from U.S. Geological Survey 

1:500,000 Hydrologic Unit Map, 1978. 

City limit from Office of the City Engineer Map, 

Rapid City, 1991.

103°15

T. 3N.

T.2N.

T. 1 N.

 . T. 1 S.

T. 2S.

CUSTER COUNTY;

R. 1 E. R.2E. R.3E. R. 4 E. R. 5 E. R. 6 E./R. 7 E. R. 8 E. R. 9 E. R. 10 E. R. 11 E. R. 12 E.

> 

0 10 20 MILES

.

>

10 20 KILOMETERS

103°00

44°05

44°00

T. 2N.

T. 1 N.

R.7E.

Base from U.S. Geological Survey difital data 

1:100,000.

City limit from Office of the City Engineer Map, 

Rapid City, 1991.

R.8E. R. 9E. 

4 6 MILES

) 2 4 6 KILOMETERS

EXPLANATION

 BASIN BOUNDARY

T 9 WATER-QUALITY SITE-Number indicates site 

identification

 2 SEDIMENT AND PLANT SITE-Number indicates 

site identification

D 3 WATER-QUALITY, SEDIMENT, PLANT, 

AND FISH SITE-Number indicates site 

identification

Figure 1. Location of sampling sites within Rapid Creek Basin.

Introduction 3
Rapid Creek. Additional water-quality samples were 

collected for WWTP effluent, at two wells that are part 

of the City water supply, at one of the City's infiltration 

galleries that supply water from the Rapid Creek alluvium, and at a spring within the City that had detectable 

levels of silver during earlier sampling under different 

sampling and laboratory methods. The spring discharges from the same aquifer that is a major source to 

the City's water-supply system. This report describes 

the results of this sampling and possible effects on 

plants and fish of the levels of the trace metals that were 

determined.

Description of Study Area

Rapid City is located on the eastern flank of the 

Black Hills uplift. Rapid Creek (fig. 1) is a perennial 

stream that originates on the core of the uplift, which 

generally is composed of Precambrian igneous and 

metamorphic rocks (Greene, 1993). The reach of 

Rapid Creek from Pactola Reservoir to within Rapid 

City has an average gradient of 48 ft/mi; is characteristic of a mountain stream with a sand, gravel, and cobble 

bottom; and crosses a series of outcrops of sedimentary 

rocks, which are predominately sandstones and limestones. These sedimentary rocks contain abundant calcite, dolomite, and anhydrite that contain calcium and 

magnesium (Peter, 1985). Rapid Creek downstream of 

Pactola Reservoir generally has very hard water, which 

is defined as over 180 mg/L hardness expressed as calcium carbonate (Freeman and Komar, 1991). In addition, various naturally occurring trace metals are 

available within the entire basin for dissolution and 

transport by the stream. The reach from Rapid City to 

the confluence with the Cheyenne River near Creston 

has an average gradient of 13 ft/mi and is characteristic 

of a meandering prairie stream with a mud bottom 

(Goddard and others, 1989).

Pactola Reservoir, which has a conservation 

capacity of 54,955 acre-ft, regulates the flow in Rapid 

Creek. The average annual streamflow of Rapid Creek 

below Pactola Dam is 29,380 acre-ft (1957-94) (U.S. 

Geological Survey, 1995), and the general water 

quality (specific conductance, pH, hardness, major 

ions, nutrients) of flows discharged from Pactola Reservoir generally has little monthly variation (Freeman 

and Komar, 1991). Roads and small communities 

located along Rapid Creek from Pactola Reservoir to 

Rapid City affect the stream with inputs from road sediments, salts, oils and greases, and localized septic

systems. Within Rapid City, Rapid Creek is affected by 

numerous factors, including snowmelt and stormwater 

runoff from urban roads; various domestic, municipal, 

and minor irrigation diversions and return flows; and 

numerous point and nonpoint sources of inflow. 

Between the eastern edge of Rapid City downstream to 

the WWTP, stream quality is affected by significant 

irrigation diversions and return flows; runoff from 

roads, suburban areas, and agricultural areas; and 

numerous septic systems within the flood plain.

Mean monthly flow (1957-94) at USGS gaging 

station 06411500, Rapid Creek below Pactola Resero

voir, varies seasonally from a minimum of 16.1 ft /s in 

January to a maximum of 82.7 ft3/s in June. Many 

losses and gains occur on Rapid Creek between Pactola 

Reservoir and its mouth because of aquifer recharge 

zones, irrigation diversions and return flows, springs, 

tributaries, drainage ditches, and the City WWTP 

effluent. The mean monthly discharge (1957-94) at 

USGS gaging station 06421500, Rapid Creek near 

Farmingdale (67 river miles downstream of Pactola 

Reservoir), varies from a minimum of 31.7 ft3/s in

o

August to a maximum of 116 ft /s in June (U.S. 

Geological Survey, 1995).

The South Dakota Department of Environment 

and Natural Resources has classified all streams in 

South Dakota for beneficial use relating to wildlife 

propagation, stock watering, and irrigation. The reach 

of Rapid Creek from Pactola Reservoir to upstream of 

the WWTP effluent is classified as a cold-water permanent fishery and fish-life propagation; it also is classified as suitable for both limited contact and immersion 

recreation. The downstream reach from upstream of 

the WWTP effluent to the confluence with the 

Cheyenne River is classified as a warm-water semipermanent fishery. The downstream reach also is classified as suitable for both immersion and limited-contact 

recreation for 5 months from May through September 

when chlorine is added at the WWTP.

Acknowledgments

Many people provided technical and professional assistance during the course of this study. A 

good working relationship was maintained throughout 

the study with the City, the South Dakota Department 

of Environment and Natural Resources, and the U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency. The input and 

guidance from these agencies is much appreciated.

4 Selected Trace Metals in Water, Sediment, Plants, and Fish in Rapid Creek, Rapid City, South Dakota, 1993-94
SAMPLING SITES AND METHODS

Samples were collected for analysis of trace 

metals in the stream water, bed sediment, plants, and 

fish. Water-quality samples were collected to determine concentrations, ratios, and variances of total and 

dissolved concentrations in the stream water column if 

detectable levels were found. Bed-sediment samples 

were collected to determine levels available to plants 

and aquatic life. Plants and fish were sampled to determine if and at what levels the trace metals were being 

taken up by the aquatic life within the stream.

For all samples, concentrations of silver, cadmium, copper, and zinc were determined. Concentrations of other selected constituents of interest were 

determined for the water-quality samples. These constituents and properties included chloride, which in 

excess of 35 mg/L may be related to silver solubility, 

and hardness, which is used to establish the acute 

toxicity criteria for silver, cadmium, copper, and zinc 

(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1980). 

Common cations, anions, field pH, and field specific 

conductance also were determined. Additional trace 

metals were analyzed as part of the laboratory

processing. These data are presented in the tables in 

the Supplemental Data section at the end of this report.

Sites

Water-quality samples were collected at eight 

sites along or near Rapid Creek (fig. 1, table 1). These 

sites included a background site on Rapid Creek 

located upstream of Rapid City (site 1), a site on Rapid 

Creek immediately upstream of the WWTP (site 3), the 

WWTP effluent (site 4), a site on Rapid Creek immediately downstream of the WWTP (site 5), an infiltration 

gallery in the Rapid Creek alluvial aquifer (site 6), a 

spring discharging from the Madison aquifer (site 7), 

and two wells completed in the Madison aquifer 

(sites 8 and 9). The WWTP effluent was sampled to 

obtain concentrations from a known source of trace 

metals to the stream. The infiltration gallery and wells 

were sampled to provide information on inputs to the 

City's water supply from these sources. Although the 

spring (site 7) is not a part of the City's supply system, 

it originates from the same formation (Madison Limestone) as the wells, and samples collected at this spring 

during a prior study had detectable concentrations of 

silver.

Table 1. Site information and types of sampling conducted along or near Rapid Creek 

[--, not applicable]

Site 

number

1 

2 

3

uses

site 

identification 

number

06412500 

06413700 

440126103054701

River 

mile

84.4 

80.1 

61.6

Site name

Rapid Creek above Canyon Lake, near 

Rapid City

Rapid Creek above Water Treatment 

Plant, at Rapid City

Rapid Creek above Sewage Treatment 

Plant, near Rapid City

Latitude

440310 

440429 

440126

Longitude

1031841 

1031534 

1030547

Type of sampling

Water quality 

Bed sediment, plants

Water quality, bed 

sediment, plants, 

fish

4 440124103054601

5 06418900

6 440343103163002

7 06413600

8 440342103160701

9 440612103152001

60.5 Sewage Treatment Plant effluent near 440124 

Rapid City

60.4 Rapid Creek below Sewage Treatment 440124 

Plant, near Rapid City

Meadowbrook gallery at number 4 440343 

pumphouse

City Springs at Rapid City 440524

Well RC 9 completed in the Madison 440342 

aquifer

Well RC 10 completed in the Madison 440612 

aquifer

1030546 Water quality

1030543 Water quality, bed 

sediment, plants, 

fish

1031630 Water quality

1031732

1031607

Water quality 

Water quality

1031520 Water quality

Sampling Sites and Methods
Bed-sediment samples were collected at sites 2, 

3, and 5. Site 2 was used instead of site 1 to obtain 

enough fine-grained sediment for sampling, remaining 

as close to site 1 as possible. Plant samples were collected at the same sites used to collect bed-sediment 

samples (sites 2, 3, and 5). Fish were collected from a 

0.6-mi reach of the stream from about 2.5 mi to 3.1 mi 

upstream of where WWTP effluent enters Rapid Creek 

and from a 1.6-mi reach of the stream immediately 

downstream of where WWTP effluent enters Rapid 

Creek.

Methods

Water-quality samples were collected in downstream order, with the exception of samples collected 

immediately upstream and downstream of the WWTP 

effluent (sites 3 and 5). Because the sites where the 

effluent enters are so close to one another, the downstream samples were collected first to avoid disturbances from collecting the upstream samples.

Recent research indicates that many reported 

trace-element concentrations are not accurate because 

of contamination during field sampling and processing 

(Windom and others, 1991). Proper collection, documentation, and quality-assurance samples are necessary at the part-per-million (essentially equal to 

milligrams per liter) and part-per-billion (essentially 

equal to micrograms per liter) reporting levels. Therefore, water-quality samples were collected using lowlevel, ultra-clean methods developed to eliminate as 

many sources of sample contamination as possible and 

described by Horowitz and others (1994).

Prior to sampling, all water and sedimentsampling equipment was presoaked in a Liquinox solution, thoroughly scrubbed, rinsed with tap water, and 

soaked in a 5-percent hydrochloric acid solution. 

Equipment was then rinsed three times with deionized 

water and placed in scalable plastic bags until use. 

During sampling and processing, non-powdered vinyl 

gloves were worn to reduce contamination from human 

contact. Two people worked together to collect and 

process the samples, enabling one sampler to avoid 

contact with possible contamination sources. Samples 

were protected from outside sources as much as 

possible throughout the collection and processing 

steps. After samples were collected, filtered if applicable, and preserved, they were shipped to the USGS 

National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) for 

analysis.

High-flow samples were collected to determine 

concentrations in the stream water column after a 

selected storm event. Flows ranged from 194 to 

207 ft3/s for the high-flow events. Low-flow 24-hour 

samples were collected to determine diurnal concentration variations in the water column, with flows ranging 

from 30 to 49 ft3/s.

Bed-sediment samples (sites 2, 3, and 5) were 

collected along inside bends and bars where finegrained sediment had settled. One sample was collected at site 2 where fine-grained sediments were 

scarce, and three samples were collected from sites 3 

and 5. Each sample consisted of the top 2 to 3 in. of 

bed sediment and was collected from a different sampling location in the stream reach. The downstream 

samples were collected first to avoid disturbances from 

collecting the upstream sample. Samples were collected with a polyethylene scoop and placed in precleaned glass containers. Samples were subsequently 

wet-sieved through a 0.062-mm mesh polyethylene 

sieve using a minimal amount of filtered stream water. 

After sieving, samples were placed in 500 mL Teflon 

bottles. The sample from site 2 and one sample from 

site 5 were split and processed as quality-assurance 

samples. After settling for 24 hours, samples were 

decanted and shipped to the USGS Branch of 

Geochemistry, Analytical Chemistry Services (GACS) 

Group, for further processing and analysis.

Plant samples were collected at the same three 

sites as the bed-sediment samples (sites 2, 3, and 5). 

Leafy pond weed (Potamogetonfoliosus) was collected at site 2 and Sago pond weed (Potamogeton 

pectinatus) was collected at sites 3 and 5. Only one 

plant sample was collected at site 2 due to lack of abundance; three plant samples each were collected at site 3 

and at site 5. Plants were collected by wading the 

stream and pulling the plants from the streambed in 

order to collect as much of the whole plant as possible, 

including roots. An effort was made to collect each 

sample from a separate area within the stream. The 

plants were rinsed in stream water to remove as much 

sediment and debris as possible and placed in a plastic 

bucket previously rinsed with stream water. Then the 

plants were placed in scalable plastic bags and cooled 

for further cleaning in the office laboratory. Office laboratory cleaning consisted of some additional washing 

of each plant with tap water to remove any remaining 

debris, sediment, and plants other than the pond weed. 

Any addition of metals by the tap water would be minimal compared to expected high metal concentrations

Selected Trace Metals in Water, Sediment, Plants, and Fish in Rapid Creek, Rapid City, South Dakota, 1993-94
in sediments that would be left on plants without 

thorough rinsing. The samples were dried on paper 

towels, placed in scalable plastic bags, weighed, 

packed on dry ice, and sent to the GACS for analysis.

Fish samples were collected by electron" shing 

with a backpack shocker. One person waded the 

stream with the shocker, followed by a second person 

with a net to collect stunned fish, and a third person 

with plastic buckets of stream water to revive the fish. 

Only white sucker (Castostomus commersoni) were 

saved from the collection process; other species were 

returned to the stream. Fifteen white suckers were collected from each site and divided into three size groupings for composite samples (five fish per size 

composite). The fish were dissected and liver tissue 

was collected for laboratory analysis. Weight, length, 

sex, and any abnormalities also were noted. The liver 

tissue was placed in a scalable plastic bag, placed on 

dry ice, and shipped to the NWQL for analysis.

Bed-sediment samples, plant-tissue samples, and 

fish-tissue samples were grouped for statistical comparisons as either upstream of the WWTP or downstream of the WWTP. Statistical comparisons were 

made using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test, also known as 

the Mann-Whitney test. This is a nonparametric test 

used to determine if the two groups are from the same 

population using a significance level of 0.10. This test 

does not require that the distribution of the sample sets 

be normal (Helsel and Hirsch, 1992). Thus, the 

Wilcoxon rank-sum test is better suited for comparison 

of small sample sets than parametic tests are.

Various quality assurance (QA) samples were 

collected throughout the sampling process to ensure 

high-quality data and the validity of values obtained 

from sampling. Quality control (QC) consisted of 

using precleaned, separate sampling devices whenever 

possible. When this was not possible, the sampling 

device was cleaned between samples and a field blank 

was taken to confirm that the device was clean prior to 

sampling the next site. Equipment blanks and field 

blanks were collected to test the cleanliness of the 

equipment. Equipment blanks are collected in the laboratory; field blanks are collected at the sampling site. 

Equipment blanks were collected prior to water-quality 

sampling, and field blanks were collected when on-site 

cleaning took place. Splits are two samples processed 

from the same collection of water or bed sediment and 

are used to determine any field processing or laboratory 

variance. The QA/QC for water-quality samples 

included equipment blanks both prior to sampling and

between sites in addition to splits of actual samples 

taken. The QA/QC for bed-sediment sampling consisted of a split as a verification of laboratory results. 

The QA/QC for fish samples consisted of analysis for 

aluminum, which normally should not be found in fish 

liver at levels above the parts per million (ppm) level 

(Spry and Wiener, 1991). Concentrations above this 

level would indicate contamination from outside 

sources.

CONCENTRATIONS OF SELECTED 

TRACE METALS

Water-quality samples were collected at four 

sites along Rapid Creek (sites 1,3,4, and 5) and at four 

additional sites consisting of an infiltration gallery 

(site 6), a spring (site 7), and two wells (sites 8 and 9). 

Concentrations of total recoverable and dissolved 

silver, cadmium, copper, and zinc are summarized in 

table 2. All of the water-quality data are presented in 

table 4 in the Supplemental Data section.

The high-flow and low-flow 24-hour samples 

were evaluated to determine if concentration levels 

were a function of flow conditions or diurnal variations 

in the stream. Those samples did not provide any 

additional insights, although additional sampling 

would be necessary to reach a definite conclusion concerning the relation between concentration levels and 

other variables.

Concentrations of silver were below the laboratory reporting limits of 1.0 |lg/L (total recoverable) and 

0.2 |Hg/L (dissolved) for all samples collected from 

Rapid Creek upstream of the WWTP (sites 1 and 3), 

the infiltration gallery (site 6), the spring (site 7), and 

the two wells (sites 8 and 9). Concentrations of silver 

were detected in the WWTP effluent (site 4) and in 

Rapid Creek downstream of the WWTP (site 5). 

Cadmium was detected (0.1 |ig/L) only at site 1 during 

a high-flow event on July 6, 1993, and in the WWTP 

effluent (site 4). Copper was detected occasionally at 

all sites except the spring (site 7), with larger concentrations in Rapid Creek within and downstream of the 

WWTP effluent (sites 4 and 5). Samples from the 

upstream sites generally had concentrations less than 

3 |ig/L. Zinc was detected at all sites except the spring 

(site 7), again with larger concentrations within and 

downstream of the WWTP effluent. Both copper and 

zinc were found in all of the municipal water-supply 

sources tested (sites 6, 8, and 9).

Concentrations of Selected Trace Metals
Table 2. Concentrations of silver, cadmium, copper, and zinc in stream-water samples

(jig/L, micrograms per liter]

Site _ . 

. Date number

1 07-06-93

01-24-94

01-24-94

01-24-94

01-24-94

01-24-94

01-25-94

08-22-94

3 07-06-93

01-26-94

01-26-94

01-26-94

01-26-94

01-26-94

01-27-94

08-24-94

10-06-94

4 08-24-94

5 08-24-94

10-06-94

6 08-22-94

7 07-08-94

8 08-25-94

9 08-25-94

Time

0845

0700

1100

1500

1900

2300

0300

0745

1145

0700

1100

1500

1900

2300

0300

1345

0930

0915

0730

0730

1145

1340

1145

1315

Silver Cadmium, 

total total 

recov- Silver, recov- Cadmium, 

erable dissolved erable dissolved 

(|ig/L (ng/L (ng/L dig/las AG) as AG) as CD) as CD) 

(01077) (01075) (01027) (01025)

<1 <0.2 <1 0.1

<1 <0.2 <1 <0.1

<1 <0.2 <1 <0.1

<1 <0.2 <1 <0.1

<1 <0.2 1 <0.1

<1 <0.2 <1 <0.1

<1 <0.2 <1 <0.1

<1 <0.2 <1 <0.1

<1 <0.2 <1 <0.1

<1 <0.2 <1 <0.1

<1 <0.2 <1 <0.1

<1 <0.2 <1 <0.1

<1 <0.2 <1 <0.1

<1 <0.2 <1 <0.1

<1 <0.2 <1 <0.1

<1 <0.2 <1 <0.1

<1 <0.2 <1 <0.1

5 2.4 <1 0.1

<1 0.3 -- <0.1

1 0.5 <1 <0.1

<1 <0.2 <1 <0.1

<1 <0.2 <1 <0.1

<1 <0.2 <1 <0.1

<1 <0.2 <1 <0.1

Copper, 

total 

recover- Copper, 

able dissolved 

(lig/L. (|ig/L. 

as CU) as CU) 

(01042) (01040)

1 <1

<1 <1

<1 <1

<1 <1

<1 <1

<1 <1

<1 <1

<1 <1

3 <1

<1 <1

<1 <1

<1 <1

<1 <1

<1 <1

<1 <1

<1 1

2 <1

16 13

4 4

9 5

11 2

<1 <1

3 3

21 2

Zinc, 

total 

recover- Zinc, 

able dissolved 

(lig/L. (jig/las ZN) as ZN) 

(01092) (01090)

<10 <1

<10 <1

<10 3

<10 1

<10 1

<10 3

<10 3

<10 1

10 <1

<10 1

<10 1

<10 2

<10 5

<10 2

<10 1

20 <1

<10 3

40 29

10 5

<20 * 14

<10 1

<10 <1

<10 5

10 10

Bed-sediment samples were collected at three 

sites along Rapid Creek. One sample was collected at 

site 2, three samples at site 3, and three samples at 

site 5 (fig. 2). Chemical analyses of bed sediments are 

presented in table 5 in the Supplemental Data section.

Silver concentrations in bed sediments increased 

downstream with a slight increase from 0.18 |ig/g at 

site 2 to an average of 0.37 (ig/g at site 3 and then a 

much larger increase to an average of 11.9 (ig/g at 

site 5 (fig. 2). The substantial increase from site 3 to 

site 5 is consistent with the addition of silver by the 

WWTP effluent (site 4, table 2). The slight increase 

between site 2 and site 3 may be an indication of background levels of silver or of possible low-level, nonpoint sources of silver entering this reach of the stream. 

Cadmium concentrations increased slightly from 

upstream to downstream, although not as much as for 

the other trace metals; water-quality sampling indicated that very little cadmium was being added by the 

WWTP effluent. Copper concentrations were approximately the same at both sites upstream of the WWTP 

effluent (sites 2 and 3) and increased substantially 

between sites 3 and 5. Zinc concentrations were 

approximately the same at both sites upstream of the 

WWTP effluent (sites 2 and 3), and increased between 

sites 3 and 5. The increases in concentrations of 

copper and zinc from site 3 to site 5 are consistent with 

the addition of copper and zinc by the WWTP effluent

8 Selected Trace Metals in Water, Sediment, Plants, and Fish in Rapid Creek, Rapid City, South Dakota, 1993-94
2

DC

CD

DC 

LLJ

Q_ 

C/D

2>

DC

CD

O

DC

0

\<j<j

50

20

10

5

2

1

0.5 

0.2

0.1

10

7

5

4

3

2

1 

0.7

0.5 

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1 

. i i i i l i . . i 1 i i i i l i i . i l i . i > I i i i

f SILVER

r + 19

+ 9.8 

! + 6.9

-

-

L 0.41 

0.39 I

: +o.i8 °-30

1 1 , 1 1 , , , , I , , , 1 I , , 1 , 1 , , , , I 1 , ,

-_

-

-

~

-

-

~

,

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

I_

L CADMIUM

-

-

r

; 0.91 0.98

- 0.90 _J_ + 0.97 

'- 0.90 0.96

r + 0.47

-

r

l , , , , i , , , , l , , , , i , , , , i

1

J

_:

-

-

-

~

-.

-

-

i

z

z"

o

<

LU 

O

o 

o

I,UUU

700

500

400

300

200

100 

70

50 

40 

30

20

tr>

i_ i i i i | i i i i | i i | i i | i i i i | i i

L. .I

L COPPER j

j- -_

- -

r -

: 4- 110 : 

f I 84 :

r + 67 i

=" 35 ~-

r + 31 3?* -.

r ~

, , , , l , i i , l i i i , l i i i i l , i . , l i , , , '

1 ,UUU

700

500 

400

300

200

100

70

50

40

30

20

10 

i i i i l i i i i I i

'-

r ZINC

-

r

i H on

-

'-

 -

-

-

-

: Site 2

i , , , , i ,

85 80 75

i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i

!^ * %

]* + 160

Site 3 Site 5

i , , , , i , , , , i

70 65 60

RIVER MILE

'

-_

 :

-

-

_

-

-^

_:

-

-

_

,

5

Figure 2. Concentrations of silver, cadmium, copper, and zinc in bed sediments (site 4, Waste Water Treatment Plant 

effluent enters stream at river mile 60.5).

Concentrations of Selected Trace Metals 9
(table 2). Concentrations of each of the four selected 

trace metals in bed sediments were statistically smaller 

upstream of the WWTP effluent than downstream of 

the WWTP effluent (p=0.029 for all four tests, sites 2 

and 3 compared to site 5, Wilcoxon rank-sum test).

Plant-tissue samples also were collected at three 

sites along Rapid Creek (sites 2, 3, and 5). Plant-tissue 

samples consisted of one sample collected at site 2 

(limited plant species available), three samples at 

site 3, and three samples at site 5 (fig. 3). Chemical 

analyses of plant tissues are presented in table 6 in the 

Supplemental Data section.

Silver concentrations in plants collected at 

sites 2 and 3 were less than the laboratory reporting 

limit of 0.2 (ig/g. Concentrations of silver in plants 

collected downstream of the WWTP effluent ranged 

from 4.2 to 5.5 (ig/g, and averaged 5.0 (ig/g. Concentrations of cadmium, copper, and zinc also increased 

from site 3 upstream of the WWTP to site 5 downstream of the WWTP, which is consistent with 

increased concentrations in both water and bed sediments between these two sites. Concentrations of 

silver, cadmium, copper, and zinc in plant-tissue samples were statistically smaller upstream of the WWTP 

effluent than downstream of the WWTP effluent 

(p=0.050 for all four tests, site 3 compared to site 5). 

Concentrations of cadmium, copper, and zinc all 

tended to be comparatively high at site 2, which could 

be because the plants are from the leafy pond weed 

rather than the Sago pond weed at sites 3 and 5. Therefore, site 2 was not used in the statistical analysis.

Three fish samples were collected at two sites 

along Rapid Creek (sites 3 and 5) and liver tissue was 

analyzed for trace metals (fig. 4). Samples collected 

were composites of liver tissue from five fish of 

approximately the same size (age). Mean fish weights 

and lengths are presented in table 3. Chemical analysis 

of fish-liver tissue are presented in table 7 in the 

Supplemental Data section.

Silver concentrations in fish-liver tissue generally were smaller upstream of the WWTP effluent than 

downstream of the WWTP effluent, with the largest 

concentration measured upstream being equal to the 

smallest concentration downstream. Concentrations of 

silver in fish-liver tissue samples were statistically 

smaller upstream of the WWTP effluent than downstream of the WWTP effluent (p=0.075). Concentrations of cadmium were not significantly different 

between sites 3 and 5 (p=0.15). Copper and zinc concentrations in fish liver were larger upstream of the 

WWTP effluent than downstream of the WWTP 

effluent, with some overlap in ranges for copper. 

Copper and zinc are necessary metabolic requirements 

and are almost always observed at tissue concentrations much greater than other trace elements (Lagler 

and others, 1962). Although excess zinc in water can 

cause direct toxicity to aquatic organisms, zinc in low 

concentrations is an essential dietary element for 

animal and plant life (Keller, 1988). Concentrations of 

copper and zinc in fish-liver tissue samples were statistically greater upstream of the WWTP effluent than 

downstream of the WWTP effluent (p=0.10 and 

p=0.05, respectively).

The QA/QC results are presented in table 4 

(water quality), table 5 (bed sediments), and table 7 

(fish-liver tissue) of the Supplemental Data section. 

The QA/QC for fish tissue included an analysis for aluminum. As previously indicated, aluminum found in 

fish liver at levels above the parts per million level 

would indicate contamination from outside sources 

(Spry and Wiener, 1991). One detection of 11 (ig/g of 

aluminum for site 3 possibly is the result of field contamination during sample collection or processing. 

However, because the values for silver, cadmium, 

copper, and zinc were lower or between concentrations 

from uncontaminated samples, the data were not 

excluded.

Table 3. Mean weight and length for fish sampled in Rapid Creek upstream and downstream of the wastewater 

treatment plant

Category of

fish size

(n=5 for each 

category)

Small 

Medium 

Large

Upstream of the wastewater treatment plant effluent

Weight, in grams

Mean

154 

279 

503

Standard 

deviation

11.5 

30.6

33.2

Length, in millimeters

Mean

245 

298 

355

Standard 

deviation

10.4 

8.9 

6.0

Downstream of the wastewater treatment plant effluent

Weight,

Mean

134 

356 

675

in grams

Standard 

deviation

12.2 

10.2 

35.1

Length, in millimeters

Mean

226 

308 

378

Standard 

deviation

6.5 

4.9 

6.6

10 Selected Trace Metals in Water, Sediment, Plants, and Fish in Rapid Creek, Rapid City, South Dakota, 1993-94
7

5 

4 

3

2

1

0.7

0.5 

0.4 

0.3

0.2 

n 1

 i , i | i i i 

-- SILVER

r

_

-_ one sample less 

- than laboratory reporting 

- limit of 0.20

r +

1 I 1 1 1 1 I 1 1 1 . I 1 1 1 1 I 1 

5.5 

f 5.4 

+ 4.2

three samples less 

than laboratory reporting 

limit of 0.20

+

-

-

-_

i

^

a:

CD

a:

LU

a.

CO

^

a:

CDO

cc

o

IU

7

5

4

3

2

1 

0.7

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.

L CADMIUM j

- -

- -

- . , 1.7 -

^92 ± * ^ ^ 

0.80 + ^

z. 

 

-

- -

, , , , I i , , i I , , , , I , , , , I , , , , 1 , , , ,

Z

z"

o

^

a:

rLLJ 

0

Z

o

o

I.UUU

700

500

400

300

200

100

70

50 

40 

30

20

 m

i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i .

_

'- COPPER . 470 =

- ^ 430 -

- 410 - 

+ 250

'- -

' 120 + :

L 

1 

78 

63 

+] 

+ E

- -

r -

i , , , , i , , , , i , , , , i , , , , i , , , ,

700

500 

400

300 

200

100

70

50

40

30

20

10

 _ ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' J

L 7IMP + 550 430 j

._ ZINU ^ + 430 - QQfi i I

r 26? ± 42° -

r 230 ~*~ -

_

j- -_

\. _:

- -

- -

_

: Site 2 Site 3 Site 5 :

 i i i i i i . . i . i i i i i i , i i i , , , i , , , ,

85 80 75 70

RIVER MILE

65 60 55

Figure 3. Concentrations of silver, cadmium, copper, and zinc in plant tissue (site 4, Waste Water Treatment Plant 

effluent enters stream at river mile 60.5).

Concentrations of Selected Trace Metals 11
2

cc

O

cc

LU

Q_ 

CO

CC

O

O

CC

O

z z"

O

<

cc

LU 

O

Z

O 

0

IU

7

5

4

2

1 

0.7

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1 

10

7

5

4

3

2

1

0.7

0.5 

0.4 

0.3

0.2

0.1

1 I ,UUU nnn

700 

500

400

300

200

100 

70 

50

40 

30

20

10 

1 I ,UUU nnn

700

500 

400

300

200

100 

70

50

40

30

20

10

E.

E-

~

r

I

-

~

L

:_

-

-

r

r

1-

^

-

1

'-

'-

-

_~.

'-

:

i

^

:

-

r

r

L

-

-

'_

:~ i

SILVER

+ 1-8

_i_ 0.8 

T 0.7

CADMIUM

, 0.4 " " 0.4

+ 0.2

,,,,,,,, I ,,,,,, i ,. 1 ,,,,,,,,, I ,,

COPPER

4- 110 

-f 95

+ 58

ZINC

, 170

T 160

" 130

Site 3

_^

+ 4.8 -E

+ 3.6 ~

+ 1-8 -j

-

-

-

-

~

J

_:

-

-

-

-

-j

+ <0.3 ^

+ *°| -

i , . , , , 1 , , , , , , , , . "

-j

-

_

i

+ 76 ] 

+ 55 J

+ 37 ]

1 ^

-:

-

-

4. 110 -

T 90 - 

+ 750 -j

j

-

-

Site 5 ]

64 63 62 61

RIVER MILE

60 59

Figure 4. Concentrations of silver, cadmium, copper, and zinc in fish-liver tissue (site 4, Waste Water Treatment Plant 

effluent enters stream at river mile 60.5).

12 Selected Trace Metals in Water, Sediment, Plants, and Fish in Rapid Creek, Rapid City, South Dakota, 1993-94
EFFECTS OF SELECTED TRACE 

METALS ON PLANTS AND FISH

Biological sampling took place in early October 

1994 when streamflow was low, but prior to freezing 

temperatures that would reduce plant growth. Biological sampling primarily was done immediately 

upstream of the WWTP effluent (site 3) and immediately downstream of the WWTP effluent (site 5), with 

three samples collected at each of the respective sites. 

The biological sampling was done to provide information on the concentrations and accumulation of silver 

and other trace metals in the biota and was not intended 

to answer all questions regarding the biological health 

of the stream. Bioaccumulation is the process by 

which chemicals are taken up by plants and other 

aquatic organisms either directly from the water or 

through consumption of food. Trace metals would be 

available to aquatic plants from both water and sediments and available to fish from water, sediments, and 

plants. Bioconcentration is the process by which there 

is a net accumulation of a chemical directly from water 

into the aquatic organisms. Biomagnification is the 

result of bioconcentration and bioaccumulation and 

implies a transfer of the chemical from food to consumer, so that residue concentrations increase systematically from one trophic level to the next.

A background plant-tissue sample collected for 

plants at site 2 proved to be a different species of pond 

weed (Potamogeton) than at sites 3 and 5, provides little information for comparison, and was not included in 

graphical or statistical analyses. A comparison of 

mean concentrations of selected trace metals for bed 

sediments and plants is shown in figure 5. With the 

exception of silver, trace-metal concentrations in plants 

that were collected are slightly larger than concentrations in the bed sediments, indicating that the plants are 

taking up these trace metals from the water and sediments. Although the metals are accumulated in plant 

tissue, concentrations generally are of the same order 

of magnitude and are not biomagnified.

The limited sampling of plants for this study 

does not address differences that may occur due to 

longer growing seasons downstream than upstream, 

variations in fine-grained sediments, or the influence of 

increases of such constituents as chloride, sulfate, and 

hardness in the downstream direction. Plants appeared 

healthy in all three locations, but were most abundant 

and longer stemmed downstream of the WWTP 

effluent. This probably is related to the warmer water

temperature and larger nutrient levels that result from 

the WWTP effluent (Freeman and Komar, 1991).

Three fish-tissue samples, consisting of livertissue composites from five fish of approximately the 

same weight, length, and age, were collected at both 

sites 3 and 5. Mean fish weight in relation to fish-liver 

tissue concentration of selected trace metals, shown in 

figure 6, indicates that there was no clear trend of 

increasing metal concentrations with the size (age) of 

the fish. There was an increase in concentration from 

the small size group to the medium size group, but a 

decrease in concentration from the medium to large 

size groups. If the fish were bioaccumulating these 

metals, then the concentration would be expected to 

increase with increasing size (age) grouping. Active 

biomagnification does not appear to occur with these 

metals in Rapid Creek biota; the concentrations of 

these trace metals in fish-liver tissue generally are of 

the same order of magnitude as the concentrations in 

bed sediments and plants.

Silver concentration increased in fish-liver tissue 

from upstream of the WWTP to downstream of the 

WWTP, copper and zinc generally decreased, and cadmium was essentially equal (figs. 4 and 6). Fish could 

potentially move from one site to another. If this were 

the case, then concentrations of metals in liver tissue 

would have been similar both upstream of the WWTP 

and downstream of the WWTP and the fish could be 

assumed to come from the same group. Differences in 

metal concentrations suggest that the fish are not 

moving between sites upstream of the WWTP and 

downstream of the WWTP.

A comparison of mean plant-tissue concentrations and mean fish-liver tissue concentrations for 

selected metals is shown in figure 7. Plant and fishliver concentrations are similar with a tendency for 

metal concentrations in plants to be larger than in fish 

liver.

A comparison of mean concentrations of trace 

metals in bed sediment to mean concentrations in fishliver tissue is shown in figure 8. Fish and sediment 

concentrations are similar with a tendency for metal 

concentrations in fish to be larger than in sediments 

upstream of the WWTP and metal concentrations in 

fish to be smaller than in sediments downstream of the 

WWTP. Because all of the fish were white suckers, 

which are benthic feeders, both plant and bed-sediment 

concentrations could affect metal concentrations in 

fish. The pathway for bioaccumulation could be either 

through uptake across the gills or through food sources

Effects of Selected Trace Metals on Plants and Fish 13
1.000

700

500

400

300

GC 200 

O

CC 

LLJ

CC

o O

CC 

O

70

50

40

30

20

O

< 

cc

uj 

O

O

sD

C/) c/)

10

0.7

0.5 

0.4

0.3 

0.2

0.1

Line of equal concentration

Laboratory reporting limit for silver in plant tissue

D Silver

X Cadmium

+ Copper

O Zinc

u/s Upstream

d/s Downstream

d/S d/S 

+ O

O

0.1 0.2 0.5 1 2 5 10 20 50 100 200

MEAN BED-SEDIMENT CONCENTRATION, IN MICROGRAMS PER GRAM

500 1,000

Figure 5. Comparison of mean concentrations of selected trace metals in bed sediments and plants upstream and downstream of the Waste Water Treatment Plant.

14 Selected Trace Metals in Water, Sediment, Plants, and Fish in Rapid Creek, Rapid City, South Dakota, 1993-94
<

200

150

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

25

UJ 20 

Q_

15

10

9

8

7

U)

DC 

CD 

O

cc

O

Si

O

UJ 1.5

ID 

U) w 

I- 1

CC 0.9

W 0.8

§ 0.7

± 0.6

0.4

0.3 

0.25

0.2 

0.15

0.1

---o :

	Silver upstream

-Q Silver downstream

X Cadmium upstream

--X-- Cadmium downstream

-I Copper upstream

-| Copper downstream

<^> Zinc upstream

-A- Zinc downstream

,0- ______

 x- -x -

100 200 300 400 500

MEAN FISH WEIGHT, IN GRAMS

600 700

Figure 6. Mean fish weight in relation to concentration of selected trace metals in fish-liver tissue upstream and downstream of the Waste Water Treatment Plant.

Effects of Selected Trace Metals on Plants and Fish 15
1,000

700

500

400

300

2

CC 200 

CD

CC 

LLI

2

< 70

8 =o 5 40

1 30

Z

-,- 20

CCILLI 

O

O 

O 

LLI

CO 

CO

Icc

LLI

X 

CO

10

1 

0.7

2) 0.5

^ 0.4

0.3 

0.2

0.1

m

u/s

Line of equal concentration

Laboratory reporting limit for silver in plant tissue

D Silver

X Cadmium

-f Copper

O Zinc

u/s Upstream

d/s Downstream

u/s

d/s

0.1 0.2 0.5 1 2 5 10 20 50 100 200

MEAN PLANT-TISSUE CONCENTRATION, IN MICROGRAMS PER GRAM

500 1,000

Figure 7. Comparison of mean concentrations of selected trace metals in plants and fish-liver tissue upstream and downstream of the Waste Water Treatment Plant.

16 Selected Trace Metals in Water, Sediment, Plants, and Fish in Rapid Creek, Rapid City, South Dakota, 1993-94
1,000

700

500

400

^ 300

<

§200

cc

LJJ 

CL

CO 100

££ 70

O

O 50

O 40 

5 30

Z 20 

O

CCILJJ 

O

O 

O

UJ

Z) 

COc/5

LU

LL

10

0.5 

0.4

0.3 

0.2

0.1

Line of equal concentration

Laboratory reporting limit for cadmium in fish-liver tissue

Silver

Cadmium

Copper

O Zinc

u/s Upstream

d/s Downstream

D

u/s

0.1 0.2 0.5 1 2 5 10 20 50 100 200

MEAN BED-SEDIMENT CONCENTRATION, IN MICROGRAMS PER GRAM

500 1,000

Figure 8. Comparison of mean concentrations of selected trace metals in bed sediments and fish-liver tissue upstream and 

downstream of the Waste Water Treatment Plant.

Effects of Selected Trace Metals on Plants and Fish 17
such as benthic invertebrates and plant material. The 

decrease in metal concentrations from the medium size 

groups to the large sized fish groups suggest that this 

species has the ability to remove trace metals from their 

bodies or that the amount of trace metals accumulated 

is finite and the concentration can be reduced by 

growth. In either case, the decrease in metal concentration from the medium size groups to the large size 

groups indicates a mechanism for reducing potential 

effects on this species. Examination of the fish indicated no abnormalities.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

Various industries within Rapid City have 

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System 

(NPDES) permits for discharging into the City 

sanitary-sewer system. Occasional violations of maximum contaminant levels were found by local industries 

and reported to the City. The industries requested that 

the City investigate whether natural concentrations of 

trace metals in the municipal water supply were contributing to concentrations of trace metals in the industrial effluent. An investigation was performed to 

determine background concentrations of trace metals 

in stream water, bed sediment, plants, and fish to better 

understand the aquatic conditions of Rapid Creek.

Water-quality sampling was conducted at three 

sites along Rapid Creek and additionally at the wastewater treatment plant effluent, at two deep wells that 

are part of the City water supply, at one of the City's 

infiltration galleries, and at a natural spring within the 

City that had detectable levels of silver during earlier 

sampling under different methods. The spring discharges from the Madison aquifer, which also is a 

major source of water to the City water-supply system. 

Low-level, ultra-clean methods were used throughout 

the sampling program to ensure accurate results. Silver 

concentrations were below the laboratory reporting 

limits for all Rapid Creek samples upstream of the 

WWTP and at the four additional sites. Concentrations 

in two samples at the site immediately downstream of 

the WWTP were 0.3 and 0.5 \aglL for dissolved silver 

and less than or equal to the laboratory reporting limit 

of 1 (ig/L for total recoverable silver. Cadmium concentrations were all at or less than the laboratory 

reporting limit for all sites. Copper concentrations 

were at or relatively close to the laboratory reporting 

limit for sites upstream of the WWTP effluent and at 

the spring site, but were detectable at higher concentrations at the remaining five sites. Zinc concentrations 

were detectable at all sites except the spring site.

Bed-sediment samples were collected at three 

sites along Rapid Creek, two sites upstream of the 

WWTP, and one immediately downstream of the 

WWTP. Silver, cadmium, copper, and zinc concentrations all increased from upstream of the WWTP to 

downstream of the WWTP.

Plant-tissue samples were collected at the same 

three sites along Rapid Creek as bed-sediment samples. 

Concentrations of silver, cadmium, copper, and zinc all 

increased from upstream of the WWTP to downstream 

of the WWTP and were consistent with increased concentrations in both stream water and bed sediments.

Fish were collected at two sites along Rapid 

Creek, one upstream of the WWTP, and one downstream of the WWTP. Fifteen fish were collected at 

each site, divided into three weight and lengthdetermined groups, and liver tissue was collected for 

analysis of composite samples. Silver concentrations 

in fish liver were smaller upstream of the WWTP than 

downstream of the WWTP, with the largest concentration upstream being equal to the smallest concentration 

downstream. Cadmium concentrations varied little 

between sites. Copper and zinc concentrations were 

larger upstream of the WWTP than downstream of the 

WWTP.

Based on the limited sampling, there is evidence 

that the selected metals present in both the stream water 

and bed sediments are bioaccumulating in the plant and 

fish species collected in this study. Results also indicate that biomagnification in the plants and fish is not 

occurring at this time; that is, the concentrations found 

in the sediment, plants, and fish are all currently at 

approximately the same level of magnitude.

Based on the concentrations found in the waterquality, bed-sediment, plant, and fish sampling, there is 

an increase in the mean concentrations of selected trace 

metals from upstream of Rapid City to downstream of 

the WWTP effluent. Increases in concentrations from 

immediately upstream of the WWTP to downstream of 

the WWTP are consistent with concentrations added by 

the WWTP effluent. Bed-sediment concentrations of 

silver and cadmium increased between sites 2 and 3, 

and additional sampling would be necessary to determine possible point sources of trace metals in Rapid 

Creek upstream of the WWTP. Exceptions to increasing concentrations were copper and zinc in fish-liver 

tissue, which decreased from upstream of the WWTP 

effluent to downstream of the WWTP effluent.

18 Selected Trace Metals in Water, Sediment, Plants, and Fish in Rapid Creek, Rapid City, South Dakota, 1993-94
REFERENCES CITED

Freeman, I.E., and Komar, S.C., 1991, Selected waterquality data for Rapid Creek Basin, southwestern South 

Dakota, 1946-90: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File 

Report 91-249, 194 p.

Goddard, K.E., Lockner, R.K., Harms, L.L., and Smith, 

M.H., 1989, Summary of data pertaining to land use, 

rainfall, dry fall, stream discharge, and storm runoff on 

Rapid Creek, Rapid City area, South Dakota: U.S. 

Geological Survey Open-File Report 87-45, 194 p.

Greene, E.A., 1993, Hydraulic properties of the Madison 

aquifer system in the western Rapid City area, South 

Dakota: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources 

Investigations Report 93-4008, 56 p.

Helsel, D.R., and Hirsch, R.M., 1992, Statistical methods in 

water resources: Studies in Environmental Science 49, 

Amsterda, Netherlands, Elsevier Science, 529 p.

Horowitz, A.J., Demas, C.R., Fitzgerald, K.K., Miller, T.L., 

and Rickert, D.A., 1994, U.S. Geological Survey protocol for the collection and processing of surface-water 

samples for the subsequent determination of inorganic 

constituents in filtered water: U.S. Geological Survey 

Open-File Report 94-539, 57 p.

Keller, P.C., 1988, Zinc, in The Electronic Encyclopedia 

(TM), the 21 volume Academic American Encyclopedia on CD-ROM (C): Danbury, Connecticut, Grolier 

Electronic Publishing, Inc.

Lagler, K.F., Bardach, I.E., and Miller, R.R., 1962, Ichthyology: New York, Wiley, 545 p.

Peter, K.D., 1985, Availability and quality of water from the 

bedrock aquifers in the Rapid City area, South Dakota: 

U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 85-4022, 34 p.

South Dakota Department of Water and Natural Resources, 

1987, Surface water quality standards: Administrative 

Rules of South Dakota, 74:03:02.

Spry, D.J., and Wiener, J.G., 1991, Metal bioavailability and 

toxicity to fish in low-alkalinity lakes: A critical 

review: Environmental Pollution, v. 71, p. 243-304.

U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1980, Ambient 

water quality criteria for silver: Washington D.C., 

Office of Water Regulations and Standards, 211 p.

 1983, Water quality standards handbook: Washington, D.C., Office of Water Regulations and Standards.

 1985, Guidelines for deriving numerical national 

water quality criteria for the protection of aquatic 

organisms and their uses: Washington, D.C., Office of 

Research and Development, 98 p.

 1992, Interim guidance on interpretation and implementation of aquatic life criteria for metals: Washington, D.C., Office of Science and Technology, Health 

and Ecological Criteria Division, 25 p.

U.S. Geological Survey, 1995, Water resources data, South 

Dakota, water year 1994: U.S. Geological Survey 

Water-Data Report SD-94-1, 390 p.

Ward, Morris A., 1982, The Clean Water Act: The Second 

Decade: Washington, D.C., E. Bruce Harrison Co., 

53 p.

Windom, H.L., Byrd, J.T., Smith, R.G., and Huan, R, 1991, 

Inadequacy of NASQAN data for assessing metals 

trends in the nations's rivers: Environmental Science 

Technology, v. 25, p. 1137.

References Cited 19

SUPPLEMENTAL DATA

Table 4. Water-quality data for sites along and near Rapid Creek, 1993-94

[US/CM, microsiemens per centimeter; MM, millimeters; MG/L, milligrams per liter; UG/L, micrograms per liter; --, no data available]

DATE

Site 1, 

JUL 1993

1 06 . . .

06. . .

2 06...

JAN 1994

1 24 . . .

24. . .

24. . .

24. . .

3 24...

24. . .

24. . .

25. . .

AUG

1 22 . . .

22. . .

Site 3,

JUL 1993

06. . .

JAN 1994

2 26...

26. . .

26. . .

26. . .

3 26...

26. . .

26. . .

27. ..

AUG

24. . .

OCT

06. . .

Site 4,

AUG 1994

24. . .

Site 5,

AUG 1994

24. . .

3 24...

OCT

06. ..

Site 6,

AUG 1994

22. ..

3 22...

Site 7,

JUL 1994

08. . .

Site 8,

AUG 1994

25. . .

3 25...

Site 9,

AUG 1994

25. ..

DIS- PH 

CHARGE, SPE- WATER 

INST. CIFIC WHOLE 

CUBIC CON- FIELD TEMPERFEET DUCT- (STAND- ATURE 

TIME PER ANCE ARD AIR 

SECOND (US /CM) UNITS) (DEC C) 

(00061) (00095) (00400) (00020)

Station

0800

0845

0930

0600

0700

1100

1500

1501

1900

2300

0300

0620

0745

Station

1145

0545

0700

1100

1500

1501

1900

2300

0300

1345

0930

Station

0915

Station

0730

0731

1130

Station

1145

1146

Station

1340

Station

1145

1146

Station

1315

06412500, Rapid Creek above

1 9.0

207 376 8.4

1 6.4

2 9.1

30 359 8.3

30 359 8.2

30 357 8.3

30 357 8.3

30 356 8.2

30 356 8.1

30 358 8.3

3 8.2

54 353 7.9

440126103054701 Rapid Creek

194 469 8.4

5 8.0

49 631 7.8

49 630 8.0

49 630 8.0

49 630 8.0

49 633 8.0

49 629 8.0

49 627 8.0

25 622 8.2

52 796 7.9

BAROMETRIC HARDPRES- NESS 

TEMPER- SURE OXYGEN, TOTAL 

ATURE (MM DIS- (MG/L 

WATER OF SOLVED AS 

(DEG C) HG) (MG/L) CAC03 ) 

(00010) (00025) (00300) (00900)

ALKALINITY 

LAB 

(MG/L 

AS 

CAC03 ) 

(90410)

SOLIDS, 

SUM OF 

CONSTITUENTS, 

DISSOLVED 

(MG/L) 

(70301)

Canyon Lake, near Rapid City

15.0

15.0

15.0

18.5

-3.5

-2.0

-4.0

-4.0

-2.5

-5.0

-4.5

23.5

20.5

9.

9.

9.

19.

0.

0.

0.

0.

0.

0.

0.

24.

14.

0

0

0

0

0

0

5

5

5

0

,0

0

,0

above Sewage Treatment

17.5

19.0

-6.5

-4.5

-5.0

-5.0

-7.0

-7.5

-7.5

30.0

14.5

440124103054601 Sewage Treatment Plant

15 1260 7.3

06418900 Rapid Creek below

34 800 7.5

34 800 7.5

71 1010 7.8

440343103163002 Meadowbrook

676 7.2

676 7.2

21.5

14.

18.

0.

0.

0.

0.

0.

0.

0.

22,

14,

,5

,5

,0

,0

,0

,0

,0

,0

,0

,5

.0

-

670

-

-

670

670

670

670

670

670

670

-

657

--

11.

__

--

11.

12.

12.

12.

12.

12.

12.

--

8.

Plant, near

682

-

684

684

681

681

682

682

682

674

-

effluent near Rapid

19.

Sewage Treatment

13.5

13.5

13.0

Gallery at

33.5

33.5

19,

19.

16,

.0

Plant,

,0

0

,5

673

12.

10.

11.

11.

11.

11.

11.

11.

11.

6.

-

4

-

-

7

5

5

5

1

1

1

-

4

Rapid

4

-

7

1

6

6

7

6

4

1

8

-

190

-

-

170

170

180

170

170

170

170

-

170

City

230

-

300

300

300

290

300

300

300

300

380

2.6

150

2.7

1.2

149

149

148

148

148

148

149

1.3

144

160

3.6

183

184

183

184

185

185

185

176

207

--

207

_-

--

196

196

197

195

194

195

195

--

190

268

378

379

379

378

378

378

378

380

489

City

4.

near Rapid

673

673

-

6.

6.

6.

4

City

6

6

1

360

320

320

370

191

183

186

198

701

460

462

585

number 4 pumphouse

12

12,

.0

.0

658

658

4.

4.

1

1

330

330

229

229

388

386

06413600 City Springs at Rapid City

0.34 442 7.3 31.5

440342103160701 Well RC 9 completed in

370 7.6

370 7.6

440612103152001 Well RC 10

343 7.5

31.0

31.0

10 .5

the Madison

16

16

completed in the

30.5 15

.5

.5

657

aquifer

664

664

6.

7.

7.

8

4

4

220

170

170

196

162

162

233

194

193

Madison aquifer

.5 661 -- 170 171 176

Equipment blank.

2 Field blank.

3 Split.

Table 4 23
Table 4. Water-quality data for sites along and near Rapid Creek, 1993-94 Continued

DATE

Site 1,

JUL 1993

^06 . . .

06. ..

2 06...

JAN 1994

 ^4 . . .

24. ..

24. . .

24. . .

3 24...

24. . .

24. . .

25. . .

AUG

1 22 . . .

22. . .

CALCIUM

DISSOLVED

(MG/L

AS CA)

(00915)

MAGNESIUM,

DISSOLVED

(MG/L

AS MG)

(00925)

Station 06412500,

0.02

40

0.03

<0.02

39

39

39

39

38

38

38

<0.02

39

<0.01

21

<0.01

<0.01

18

18

19

18

18

18

18

<0.01

18

SODIUM,

DISSOLVED

(MG/L

AS NA)

(00930)

Rapid Creek

<0.20

3.8

<0.20

<0.20

4.2

4.1

4.2

4.1

4.1

4.1

4.0

<0.20

3.6

SODIUM

PERCENT

(00932)

above

--

4

--

--

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

--

4

SODIUM

ADSORPTION

: RATIO

(00931)

Canyon Lake

--

0.1

--

--

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

--

0.1

POTASSIUM,

DISSOLVED

(MG/L

AS K)

(00935)

, near

<0.10

3.1

<0.10

<0.10

2.6

2.6

2.6

2.6

2.5

2.5

2.5

0.40

2.4

SULFATE

DISSOLVED

(MG/L

AS S04)

(00945)

Rapid City

<0.10

46

0.20

<0.10

39

39

39

39

39

39

39

<0.10

38

CHLORIDE,

DISSOLVED

(MG/L

AS CL)

(00940)

0.40

3.0

<0.10

<0.10

3.7

3.7

3.8

3.7

3.8

4.0

3.9

0.20

2.6

FLUORIDE,

DISSOLVED

(MG/L

AS F)

(00950)

<0.10

0.30

<0.10

<0.10

0.20

0.30

0.20

0.20

0.20

0.20

0.20

<0.10

0.20

NITROGEN,

AMMONIA

DISSOLVED

(MG/L

AS N)

(00608)

0.020

0.020

0.020

0.010

0.010

0.010

0.010

0.010

0.010

0.010

0.010

<0.010

0.010

CADMIUM

TOTAL

RECOVERABLE

(UG/L

AS CD)

(01027)

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

Site 3, Station 440126103054701 Rapid Creek above Sewage Treatment Plant, near Rapid City

JUL 1993

06. . .

JAN 1994 

2 26...

26. . .

26. . .

26. . . 

3 26...

26. . .

26. . .

27. .. 

AUG 

24. . . 

OCT 

06. . .

53 24 5.9 0.2 3.3 81 4.9

0.02

72

72

73

71

72

72

72

69

92

<0.01

28

28

28

28

28

28

28

32

36

<0.20

12

12

12

12

11

11

11

12

18

.-

0,

0,

0,

0,

0,

0,

0

0,

0,

.3

.3

.3

,3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.4

<0,

3,

3,

3,

3,

3,

3

3

3,

5

.10

.2

.2

.2

.2

.1

.2

.3

.2

.5

<0.10

140

140

140

140

140

140

140

150

200

0,

13

13

13

13

13

13

12

7

13

.20

.5

0.30

=0.10 

0.30 

0.30 

0.30 

0.30 

0.30 

0.30 

0.30

0.30

0.40

0.030

0.010

0.020

0.020

0.020

0.020

0.010

0.020

0.020

0.020 

cO.015

Site 4, Station 440124103054601 Sewage Treatment Plant effluent near Rapid City

AUG 1994 

24. ..

Site 5,

AUG 1994 

24. . . 

3 24...

OCT 

06. . .

Site 6,

AUG 1994 

22. .. 

3 22...

Site 7,

JUL 1994 

08. . .

Site 8,

AUG 1994

25. . . 

3 25...

Site 9,

AUG 1994

25. . .

88

Station

75 

75

90

Station

87 

85

Station

54

Station

40 

40

Station

38

34

06418900

33 

33

35

120

Rapid Creek

37 

37

60

41

below

20 

20

26

440343103163002 Meadowbrook

28 

28

06413600

20

9.1 

8.9

City Springs

4.2

440342103160701 Well

18 

18

5.9 

5.8

440612103152001 Well

19 2.6

6 

6

3 12

Sewage Treatment

0.9 

0.9

1

Gallery at

0.2 

0.2

5. 

5.

8.

190 140 1.3 0.590 <1

Plant, near Rapid City

2 160 39 0.50 0.200 

2 160 39 0.50 0.200 <1

9 200 71 0.80 0.400 <1

number 4 pumphouse

3. 

3.

5 110 13 0.20 0.020 <1 

5 110 13 0.20 0.020 <1

at Rapid City

4 0.1

RC 9 completed in

7 

7

RC 10

3

0.2 

0.2

2.

the

2. 

2.

1 30 5.1 0.20 0.020 <1

Madison aquifer

3 26 4.7 0.30 0.010 <1 

5 25 3.9 0.20 <0.010 <1

completed in the Madison aquifer

0.1 1. 6 11 1.0 0.20 <0.010 <1

 " Equipment blank. 

2 Field blank. 

3 Split.

24 Selected Trace Metals in Water, Sediment, Plants, and Fish in Rapid Creek, Rapid City, South Dakota, 1993-94
Table 4. Water-quality data for sites along and near Rapid Creek, 1993-94 Continued

CADMIUM

DATE

Site

Site

Site

Site

Site

Site

Site

Site

1,

JUL

: Q6

06

2 06

JAN

1 24

24

24

24

3 24

24

24

25

AUG

1 22

22

3,

JUL

06

JAN 2 26

26

26

26

3 26

26

26

27

AUG

24

OCT

06

4,

AUG

24

5,

AUG

24

3 24

OCT

06

6,

AUG

22

3 22

7,

JUL

08

8,

AUG

25

3 25

9,

Station

1993

1994

Station

1993

1994

Station

1994

Station

1994

Station

1994

Station

1994

Station

1994

Station

DISSOLVED

(UG/L

AS CD)

(01025)

06412500

<0. 1

0.1

<0. 1

<0 . 1

<0 . 1

<0 1

<0. 1

<0 . 1

<0. 1

<0. 1

<0 . 1

<0.1

COPPER,

TOTAL

RECOVERABLE

(UG/L

AS CU)

(01042)

, Rapid

<1

1

<1

<1

<1

<]_

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

440126103054701

<0.1

<0.1

<0. 1

<0. 1

<0 . 1

<0.1

<0 . 1

<0. 1

<0. 1

<0 . 1

<0.1

3

<1

<1

<1

<]_

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

2

440124103054601

0.1

06418900

<0.1

<0.1

<0.1

16

COPPER,

DISSOLVED

(UG/L

AS CU)

(01040)

MANGANESE,

DISSOLVED

(UG/L

AS MN)

(01056)

Creek above Canyon

<1

<]_

<1

<1

<1

<1

<]_

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

0.

5.

<0.

<0.

0.

0.

0.

0.

0.

0.

0.

0.

1.

Rapid Creek above

<1

<1

<1

<1

< 1

<1

<1

<1

<1

1

<!

13

<0.

6.

6.

6.

6.

6.

6.

6.

19

34

SILVER,

TOTAL

RECOVERABLE

(UG/L

AS AG)

(01077)

ZINC,

SILVER, TOTAL

DIS- RECOVSOLVED ERABLE

(UG/L (UG/L

AS AG) AS ZN)

(01075) (01092)

ZINC,

DISSOLVED

(UG/L

AS ZN)

(01090)

MERCURY

TOTAL

RECOVERABLE

(UG/L

AS HG)

(71900)

MEDIUM

CODE

Lake, near Rapid City

3 <1

0 <1

2 <1

2 <1

6 <1

6 <1

6 <1

6 <1

5 <1

9 <1

5 <1

3 <1

9 <1

<10

<0.2 <10

<10

<0.2 10

<0.2 <10

<0.2 <10

<0.2 <10

<0.2 <10

<0.2 <10

<0.2 <10

<0.2 <10

<0.2 <10

<0.2 <10

Sewage Treatment Plant, near

<1

2 <1

4 <1

7 <1

5 <1

4 <1

1 <1

2 <1

2 <1

<1

<!

<0.2 10

<0.2 <10

<0.2 <10

<0.2 <10

<0.2 <10

<0.2 <10

<0.2 <10

<0.2 <10

<0.2 <10

<0.2 20

<0.2 <10

<1

<1

1

<1

<1

3

1

1

1

3

3

<1

1

Rapid

<1

<1

1

1

2

2

5

2

1

<1

3

<0.10

<0.10

<0.10

<0.10

<0.10

<0.10

<0.10

<0.10

<0.10

<0.10

<0.10

<0.10

<0.10

City

<0.10

<0.10

<0.10

<0.10

<0.10

<0.10

<0.10

<0.10

<0.10

<0.10

<0.10

Q

9

Q

Q

9

9

9

Q

9

9

9

Q

9

9

Q

9

9

9

Q

9

9

9

9

9

Sewage Treatment Plant effluent near Rapid City

13 59

Rapid Creek below Sewage

4

5

9

440343103163002

<0.1

<0.1

06413600

<0.1

11

7

4

3

5

35

34

40

5

Treatment

<1

1

1

2.4 40

Plant, near Rapid

0.3 10

0.3 10

0.5 <20

29

City

5

5

14

<0.10

<0.10

<0.10

<0.10

9

9

R

9

Meadowbrook Gallery at number 4 pumphouse

2

2

City Springs at

<1

440342103160701

<0.1

<0.1

3

3

440612103152001

<1

Well RC

3

3

Well RC

<0.

<0.

2 <1

2 <1

<0.2 <10

<0.2 <10

1

1

<0.10

<0.10

9

R

Rapid City

<0. 2 <1 <0.2 <10 <1 <0.10 9

9 completed in the Madison aquifer

1.

0.

1 <1

7 <1

10 completed in the

<0.2 <10

<0.2 <10

Madison aquifer

5

7

<0.10

<0. 10

6

S

AUG 1994

25 <0.1 21 2 0. 6 <1 <0.2 10 10 <0.10 6

 " Equipment blank.

2 Field blank.

3 Split

Table 4 25
Table 5. Chemical analyses of bed sediments for sites along Rapid Creek, 1993-94

Concentration, in percent

«7i ic rieiu

number number

2 C-A

1 2 C-B

3 A-l

3 A-2

3 A-3

5 B-l

5 B-2

5 B-3-A

1 5 B-3-B

Aluminum

5.0

4.8

5.2

5.0

5.1

5.1

5.8

6.0

5.8

Calcium

8.8

8.7

11

11

12

8.4

6.7

6.2

6.6

Iron

2.9

2.9

2.6

2.7

2.5

2.7

3.1

3.0

3.1

Potassium

2.0

1.9

1.6

1.6

1.6

1.6

1.8

1.7

1.8

Magnesium

1.9

1.9

1.3

1.3

1.3

1.3

1.3

1.3

1.3

Sodium

0.36

.36

.32

.31

.31

.38

.38

.32

.37

Phosphorus

0.11

.11

.11

.11

.09

.34

.20

.24

.21

Titanium

0.25

.25

.24

.23

.24

.27

.28

.28

.28

Table 5. Chemical analyses of bed sediments for sites along Rapid Creek, 1993-94 Continued

Site 

number

2

! 2

3

3

3

5

5

5

>5

Table 5.

Site 

number

2

'2

3

3

3

5

5

5

ls

Concentration, in micrograms per gram

.. o,-i Silver . . _ . . Manganese Silver . . .. Arsenic Gold

440

440

480

570

540

560

560

540

570

<2 0.18

<2 .18

<2 .41

<2 .39

<2 .30

18 19

7 6.9

10 9.8

7 7.1

17

20

17

18

14

13

15

12

10

<8

<8

<8

<8

<8

<8

<8

<8

<8

Chemical analyses of bed sediments for sites along

Concentration

Cobalt

10

10

10

9

9

10

10

11

12

Chromium Copper

58 31

56 31

56 35

58 31

59 32

62 110

72 67

74 84

72 68

Europium

<2

<2

<2

<2

<2

<2

<2

<2

<2

_ . Bery- _. x. _ . . Cadmium Barium .. * Bismuth Cadmium .. , .. hum (low level)

440

450

430

430

420

630

530

520

510

1 <10

1 <10

2 <10

2 <10

2 <10

2 <10

2 <10

2 <10

2 <10

<2

<2

<2

<2

<2

<2

<2

<2

<2

0.47

.50

.91

.90

.90

.96

.97

.98

.96

Cerium

62

61

56

54

54

62

68

64

69

Rapid Creek, 1 993-94 Continued

, in micrograms per gram

Gallium Homium

8

10

10

11

11

10

14

15

13

<4

<4

<4

<4

<4

<4

<4

<4

<4

Lantha- . .... Lithium 

num

31 37

32 35

29 35

28 34

28 34

32 33

36 39

33 40

35 39

Molybdenum

<2

<2

<2

<2

<2

<2

<2

<2

2

Niobium

5

6

7

7

7

7

7

10

8

Neodymium

24

24

21

21

19

30

29

26

27

26 Selected Trace Metals in Water, Sediment, Plants, and Fish in Rapid Creek, Rapid City, South Dakota, 1993-94
Table 5. Chemical analyses of bed-sediments for sites along Rapid Creek, 1993-94 Continued

Site - 

number

2

1 2

3

3

3

5

5

5

ls

Concentration, in micrograms per gram

Nickel

29

29

28

26

27

30

33

31

32

Lead

40

39

39

36

43

36

52

48

49

Scandium

7

7

8

8

7

8

9

9

9

Tin

<5

<5

<5

<5

<5

<5

<5

<5

<5

Strontium

230

230

330

340

360

340

270

260

260

Tantalum

<40

<40

<40

<40

<40

<40

<40

<40

<40

Thorium

8

8

7

6

6

9

11

11

9

Uranium

<100

<100

<100

<100

<100

<100

<100

<100

<100

Vanadium

74

74

100

100

96

95

110

110

110

Yttrium

17

18

18

17

19

21

25

21

21

Ytterbium

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

Zinc

120

120

130

130

130

160

160

170

160

Split sample.

Table 5 27
Table 6. Chemical analyses of plant tissue for sites along Rapid Creek, 1993-94

Site Field 

number numbc

2

3

3

3

5

5

5

Table 6.

Site 

number

2

3

3

3

5

5

5

Table 6.

Site 

number

2

3

3

3

5

5

5

C-l

V-l

V-2

V-3

D-l

D-2

D-3

Chemical

Concentration, in percent

Jr Aluminum Calcium

0.35

1.0

0.80

0.69

0.43

0.65

0.52

9.0

9.7

11

16

8.7

8.9

10

Iron

0.66

1.2

1.4

1.5

2.7

3.2

1.9

analyses of plant tissue for sites along

Potassium Magnesium Sodium . Titanium

23

18

17

16

21

15

19

Rapid Creek,

3.3

2.2

2.1

2.4

2.1

2.3

2.4

3.4

5.9

6.2

4.3

4.1

3.5

3.4

1.3

1.8

1.7

1.9

5.7

5.2

5.1

0.01

.05

.03

.03

.02

.03

.02

1993-94 Continued

Concentration, in micrograms per gram

Manganese

7,000

5,700

5,900

9,900

5,600

5,900

5,100

Chemical

Silver

<4

<4

<4

<4

<4

5

6

Silver 

(low level)

<0.20

<.20

<.20

<.20

4.2

5.5

5.4

Arsenic

<20

26

26

30

<20

28

<20

Gold

<20

<20

<20

<20

<20

<20

<10

analyses of plant tissue for sites along

Barium

380

330

340

580

660

830

650

Rapid Creek,

Beryllium Bismuth

<2

<2

<2

<2

<2

<2

<2

<20

<20

<20

<20

<20

<20

<20

Cadmium

<4

<4

<4

<4

<4

<4

<4

Cadmium 

(low level)

1.6

.80

.92

1.1

1.4

1.2

1.7

Cerium

8

13

9

12

<8

9

<7

1 993-94 Continued

Concentration, in micrograms per gram

Cobalt Chromium

14

13

19

27

11

10

10

5

12

9

6

9

9

8

Copper

250

63

78

120

430

410

470

Europium

<4

<4

<4

<4

<4

<4

<4

Gallium Holmium

12

9

9

<8

<8

<7

<7

<8

<8

<8

<8

<8

<7

<7

Lantha- . .... Lithium 

num

<4

8

6

6

4

<4

5

7

15

15

11

9

8

8

Molybdenum

6

<4

<4

<4

<4

<4

<4

Niobium

<8

<8

<8

<8

<8

<7

<7

Neodymium

<8

<8

<8

<8

<8

<7

<7

28 Selected Trace Metals in Water, Sediment, Plants, and Fish in Rapid Creek, Rapid City, South Dakota, 1993-94
Table 6. Chemical analyses of plant tissue for sites along Rapid Creek, 1993-94 Continued

Site

number

2

3

3

3

5

5

5

Concentration, in micrograms per gram

Nickel

27

24

26

35

20

22

21

Lead

18

13

19

20

11

15

17

Scandium

<4

<4

<4

<4

<4

<4

<4

_. Stron- Tin tium

<10 530

<10 670

<10 810

<10 1,100

<9 970

<9 980

<9 1,000

Tantalum

<80

<80

<80

<80

<80

<70

<70

Thorium

<8

<8

<8

9

<8

7

<7

Uranium

<200

<200

<200

<200

<200

<200

<200

Vanadium

17

27

26

29

13

17

18

Yttrium

<4

4

<4

4

<4

4

<4

Ytterbium

<2

<2

<2

<2

<2

<2

<2

Zinc

550

230

260

330

430

430

420

Concentration, in

percent

Ash

16.7

23.9

23.0

16.7

20.6

21.5

17.5

Table 6 29
Table 7. Chemical analyses of fish-liver tissue for sites along Rapid Creek, 1993-94 

[UG/G, micrograms per gram]

DATE

Site 3,

OCT 1994

06. . .

06. . .

06. . .

Site 5,

OCT 1994

06. . .

06. . .

06. . .

Table 7.

DATE

Site 3,

OCT 1994

06. . .

06. . .

06. . .

Site 5,

OCT 1994

06. . .

06. . .

06. . .

SIZE

ALUMI- BARIUM, 

NUM, BIOTA, 

BIO TIS TISSUE, 

LIVER, LIVER, 

DRY WGT DRY WGT 

REC REC 

(UG/G) (UG/G) 

(49237) (49238)

Station 440126103054701 Rapid

Small

Medium

Large

11 0.2

<1.0 <0.1

1.5 0.1

BORON, 

BIOTA, 

TISSUE, 

LIVER, 

DRY WGT 

REC 

(UG/G) 

(49239)

CHROMIUM-, 

BIO TIS 

LIVER, 

DRY WGT 

REC 

(UG/G) 

(49240)

Creek above Sewage

0.3

0.4

0.2

0.6

0.6

0.6

COPPER, 

BIOTA, 

TISSUE, 

LIVER, 

DRY WGT 

REC 

(UG/G) 

(49241)

IRON, 

BIOTA, 

TISSUE, 

LIVER, 

DRY WGT 

REC 

(UG/G) 

(49242)

Treatment Plant,

95

110

58

Station 06418900 Rapid Creek below Sewage Treatment Plant

Small

Medium

Large

<1.0 <0.1

<1.0 <0.1

1.9 <0.1

0.6

1.1

0.2

0.5

0.5

<0.5

55

76

37

480

470

790

MANGANESE, 

BIO TIS 

LIVER, 

DRY WGT 

REC 

(UG/G) 

(49243)

STRONTIUM, 

BIO TIS 

LIVER, 

DRY WGT 

REC 

(UG/G) 

(49244)

ZINC, 

BIOTA, 

TISSUE, 

LIVER, 

DRY WGT 

REC 

(UG/G) 

(49245)

ANTIMONY, 

BIO TIS 

LIVER, 

DRY WGT 

REC 

(UG/G) 

(49246)

ARSENIC 

BIOTA, 

TISSUE, 

LIVER, 

DRY WGT 

REC 

(UG/G) 

(49247)

near Rapid City

9.2

9.8

12

0.8

0.6

1.1

160

170

130

<0.2

<0.3

<0.3

<0.2

<0.3

<0.3

, near Rapid City

290

300

590

7.1

7.0

6.0

0.7

0.6

0.4

90

110

75

<0.3

<0.2

<0.2

<0.3

<0.2

<0.2

Chemical analyses of fish-liver tissue for sites along Rapid Creek, 1993-94 Continued

BERYLLIUM-, 

BIO TIS 

LIVER, 

DRY WGT 

REC 

(UG/G) 

(49248)

CADMIUM COBALT, 

BIOTA, BIOTA 

TISSUE, TISSUE, 

LIVER, LIVER 

DRY WGT DRY WGT 

REC REC 

(UG/G) (UG/G) 

(49249) (49250)

Station 440126103054701 Rapid

<0.2

<0.3

<0.3

0.2 0.3

0.4 <0.3

0.4 0.5

LEAD, 

BIOTA, 

TISSUE, 

LIVER, 

DRY WGT 

REC 

(UG/G) 

(49251)

MOLYBDENUM, 

BIO TIS 

LIVER, 

DRY WGT 

REC 

(UG/G) 

(49252)

Creek above Sewage

<0.2

<0.3

<0.3

1.3

1.4

1.2

NICKEL, 

BIOTA, 

TISSUE, 

LIVER, 

DRY WGT 

REC 

(UG/G) 

(49253)

SELENIUM, 

BIO TIS 

LIVER, 

DRY WGT 

REC 

(UG/G) 

(49254)

Treatment Plant,

1.0

0.6

0.9

Station 06418900 Rapid Creek below Sewage Treatment Plant

<0.3

<0.2

<0.2

<0.3 <0.3

<0.2 <0.2

0.2 <0.2

<0.3

<0.2

<0.2

0.9

1.0

0.7

0.7

0.7

0.4

6.4

6.4

6.4

SILVER, 

BIOTA, 

TISSUE, 

LIVER, 

DRY WGT 

REC 

(UG/G) 

(49255)

URANIUM 

BIOTA, 

TISSUE, 

LIVER, 

DRY WGT 

REC 

(UG/G) 

(49257)

MERCURY 

BIOTA, 

TISSUE, 

LIVER, 

DRY WGT 

REC 

(UG/G) 

(49258)

WATER, 

PRESENT 

BIO TIS 

LIVER, 

DRY WGT 

REC 

(UG/G) 

(49273)

VANADIUM 

BIO TIS 

LIVER 

DRY WFT 

REC 

(UG/G) 

(49465)

near Rapid City

0.7

1.8

0.8

<0.2

<0.3

<0.3

0.1

<0.1

0.1

78

80

79

0.3

<0.3

0.4

, near Rapid City

7.3

6.9

4.5

1.8

4.8

3.6

<0.3

<0.2

<0.2

0.1

0.2

0.2

78

79

71

<0.3

<0.2

<0.2

30 Selected Trace Metals in Water, Sediment, Plants, and Fish in Rapid Creek, Rapid City, South Dakota, 1993-94

*U.S.GOVERNMENT PRI NTING OFFICE 1997-0-573-234/44002