U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Scientific Investigations Report 2010–5021

Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Army

Assessment of Energetic Compounds, Semi-volatile 

Organic Compounds, and Trace Elements in Streambed 

Sediment and Stream Water from Streams Draining 

Munitions Firing Points and Impact Areas, Fort Riley, 

Kansas, 2007–08
Cover Photograph: M1A1 Abrams tank and crew member near sampling site 3MC-1, 

Fort Riley, Kansas (photograph by L.M. Pope, U.S. Geological Survey)
Assessment of Energetic Compounds, 

Semi-volatile Organic Compounds, and 

Trace Elements in Streambed Sediment 

and Stream Water from Streams Draining 

Munitions Firing Points and Impact Areas, 

Fort Riley, Kansas, 2007–08

By R.L. Coiner, L.M. Pope, and H.E. Mehl

Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Army

Scientific Investigations Report 2010–5021

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Department of the Interior

KEN SALAZAR, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Marcia K. McNutt, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2010

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Suggested citation:

Coiner, R.L., Pope, L.M., and Mehl, H.M., 2010, Assessment of energetic compounds, semi-volatile organic 

compounds, and trace elements in streambed sediment and stream water from streams draining munitions 

firing points and impact areas, Fort Riley, Kansas, 2007–08: Reston, Virginia, U.S. Geological Survey Scientific 

Investigations Report 2010–5021, 55 p.
iii

Contents

Abstract...........................................................................................................................................................1

Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1

Problem and Background....................................................................................................................1

Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................6

Description of Study Area ............................................................................................................................6

Climate....................................................................................................................................................6

Physiography and Topography ...........................................................................................................8

Surficial Geology and Soils .................................................................................................................8

Land Use.................................................................................................................................................8

History.....................................................................................................................................................8

Previous Study.......................................................................................................................................9

Study Methods ...............................................................................................................................................9

Sampling-Site Selection ......................................................................................................................9

Sample Collection, Handling, and Processing...............................................................................10

Streambed-Sediment Samples................................................................................................10

Stream-Water Samples ............................................................................................................11

Sample Analysis..................................................................................................................................12

Quality Assurance...............................................................................................................................13

Streambed-Sediment Samples................................................................................................13

Stream-Water Samples ............................................................................................................16

Assessment of Streambed Sediment .......................................................................................................16

Statistical Summary and Spatial Variability ...................................................................................17

Relation to Sediment-Quality Guidelines ........................................................................................17

Assessment of Stream-Water Quality......................................................................................................22

Statistical Summary and Spatial Variability ...................................................................................22

Relation to Water-Quality Criteria....................................................................................................27

Summary........................................................................................................................................................27

References Cited..........................................................................................................................................29

Supplemental Information..........................................................................................................................33

Figures

1. Maps showing Location of Fort Riley, sampling sites, munitions firing points, and livefire training range complexes, northeast Kansas ...................................................................2

2. Photograph showing M1A1 Abrams tanks conducting live-fire training at Fort Riley, 

2008 .................................................................................................................................................3

3. Graph showing average monthly precipitation, 1971-2000, at Manhattan, Kansas, and 

departure from average during study period, June 2007 through June 2008.....................6

4. Map showing land-surface altitude of Fort Riley Military Reservation and adjacent 

areas ...............................................................................................................................................7

5–6. Photographs showing:

5. 10th Cavalry on maneuvers, Fort Riley, 1942 ............................................................................8

6 Cannon and soldiers at Fort Riley, circa 1870–80....................................................................9
iv

7–10. Graphs showing:

7. Method reporting limits, sample concentrations and median values in the less-than0.063-millimeter fraction of streambed sediment for selected trace elements and 

carbon from 15 sites at Fort Riley, 2007, and 25-percent probability sediment-quality 

guidelines for toxicity in benthic organisms ..........................................................................19

8. Comparison of concentrations of selected trace elements in the less-than-0.063-millimeter fraction of streambed sediment from sampling sites on Threemile and Sevenmile 

Creeks, Fort Riley, 2007 ..............................................................................................................20

9. Time series of estimated stream-water perchlorate concentrations at sampling site 

7MC-2, Fort Riley, collected during runoff on June 2, 2008, with discharge values 

noted .............................................................................................................................................23

10. Method reporting limits, sample concentrations and median values, and surfacewater-quality criteria for selected trace elements in stream water from sampling sites 

at Fort Riley, 2007–08 ..................................................................................................................24

Tables

1. Partitioning coefficients, water solubility, and degree of mobility-through-soil of 

selected energetic compounds..................................................................................................4

2. Regulatory criteria for selected energetic compounds in surface water or drinking 

water...............................................................................................................................................5

3. Streambed-sediment and stream-water sampling sites at or near Fort Riley, Kansas, 

2007–08 .........................................................................................................................................10

4. Laboratory analytical methods used to analyze streambed-sediment and stream-water 

constituents in samples collected from Fort Riley, Kansas, 2007–08.................................12

5. Statistical summary of absolute relative percentage differences between trace element, carbon, and nutrient analyses of concurrent-, sequential-, and split-replicate 

environmental samples, and laboratory split-replicate samples of the less-than-0.063-

millimeter fraction of streambed sediment from selected sampling sites at Fort Riley, 

Kansas, 2007 ................................................................................................................................14

6. Statistical summary of trace element , carbon, and nutrient analyses of standard-reference soil/sediment samples .....................................................................................................15

7. Statistical summary of ratios of manually collected (1320 hours) to automatically collected (1335 hours) concurrent replicate analyses of perchlorate, trace elements, and 

major cations in stream-water samples collected at site 7MC-2, Fort Riley, Kansas, 

June 2, 2008 .................................................................................................................................16

8. Statistical summary of relative percentage differences between environmental (1320 

hours) and split replicate (1325 hours) analyses of perchlorate, trace elements, and 

major cations in stream-water samples collected at site 7MC-2, Fort Riley, Kansas, 

June 2, 2008. ................................................................................................................................16

9. Statistical summary of sediment particle size and selected trace element, carbon, 

and nutrient concentrations in the less-than-0.063 millimeter fraction of streambed 

sediment collected from 15 sampling sites at Fort Riley, Kansas, with comparison to 

reference site TC-1, 2007...........................................................................................................18

10. Maximum concentrations and recommended sediment-quality guidelines for selected 

semi-volatile organic compounds and trace elements analyzed in streambed sediment 

from 16 sampling sites at or near Fort Riley, Kansas, 2007..................................................21

11. Statistical summary of trace element concentrations in stream-water samples from 

five sampling sites at Fort Riley, Kansas, 2007–08.................................................................25

12. Maximum concentrations and associated water-quality criteria for selected constitu-
v

ents analyzed in stream water collected from five sampling sites at Fort Riley, Kansas, 

2007–08 .........................................................................................................................................26

13. Energetic and semi-volatile organic compounds analyzed in the less-than-2.0-millimeter fraction and carbon and trace elements analyzed in the less-than-0.063-millimeter 

fraction of streambed sediment collected from 16 sampling sites at or near Fort Riley, 

Kansas, 2007 ................................................................................................................................34

14. Water-quality constituents analyzed in stream water collected from five sampling sites 

at Fort Riley, Kansas, 2007–08...................................................................................................36

15. Results of analyses for energetic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds, carbon, and selected trace elements in streambed sediment collected from sampling sites 

at or near Fort Riley, Kansas, 2007 ...........................................................................................38

16. Results of analyses for physical properties, energetic compounds, semi-volatile 

organic compounds, and selected trace elements and major cations in stream water 

collected from sampling sites at Fort Riley, Kansas, 2007–08.............................................43

17. Results of chemical analyses of standard-reference soil/sediment samples and comparison to most probable values..............................................................................................51
vi

Conversion Factors, Abbreviations, and Datum

Multiply By To obtain

Length

inch (in.) 2.54 centimeter (cm)

foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m)

mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km)

millimeter (mm) 0.03937 inch (in.)

centimeter (cm) 0.39370 inch (in.)

Area

acre 4,047 square meter (m2)

Volume

gallon (gal) 3.7854 liter (L)

Flow rate

cubic foot per second (ft3/s) 0.02832 cubic meter per second (m3/s)

Mass

gram (g) 0.03527 ounce (oz)

pound, avoirdupois (lb) 0.4536 kilogram (kg) 

Chemical constituents

microgram per kilogram (μg/kg)

microgram per liter (μg/L)

1.0 part per billion (ppb)

milligram per kilogram (mg/kg)

milligram per liter (mg/L)

1.0 part per million (ppm) 

Temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) may be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (°F) as follows:

°F=(1.8 × °C)+32.

Temperature in degrees Fahrenheit (°F) may be converted to degrees Celsius (°C) as follows:

°C=(°F-32)/1.8

Vertical coordinate information is referenced to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 

(NAVD 88).

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 

(NAD 83).

Altitude, as used in this report, refers to distance above the vertical datum.
vii

Acronyms and Other Abbreviations Used in this Report

μS/cm microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius

AAS atomic absorption spectroscopy

ATA Artillery Target Area

BrCl bromine monochloride

CNF Chilean nitrate fertilizer

DWEL Drinking Water Equivalent Level, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

E estimated value

EWI equal-width increment

FNU formazin nephelometric unit

GC gas chromatography

HMX octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine

HPLC high-performance liquid chromatography

IAC Impact Area complex

IHA Interim Health Advisory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

KClO4 potassium perchlorate

KDHE Kansas Department of Health and Environment

KSWSC Kansas Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey

LHA Lifetime Health Advisory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

MCL Maximum Contaminant Level, U.S. Evironmental Protection Agency

MPRC Multiple-Purpose Range Complex

MPV most probable value

MRL minimum reporting level

MS mass spectrometry

mV millivolts

NWQL National Water Quality Laboratory, U.S. Geological Survey

RDX 1,3,5-hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitrotriazine

RPD relative percentage difference

SDWR Secondary Drinking Water Regulation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

SVOC semi-volatile organic compound

TNT 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene

USACE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

USEPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

USGS U.S. Geological Survey

Abstract

An assessment of energetic compounds (explosive and 

propellant residues) and associated semi-volatile organic 

compounds (SVOCs) and trace elements in streambed sediment and stream water from streams draining munitions firing 

points and impact areas at Fort Riley, northeast Kansas, was 

performed during 2007–08 by the U.S. Geological Survey 

(USGS) in cooperation with the U.S. Army. Streambed sediment from 16 sampling sites and stream-water samples from 

5 sites were collected at or near Fort Riley and analyzed for 

as many as 17 energetic compounds, 65 SVOCs, and 27 trace 

elements. 

None of the energetic compounds or SVOCs were 

detected in streambed sediment collected from sites within the 

Fort Riley Military Reservation. This may indicate that these 

compounds either are not transported from dispersal areas 

or that analytical methods are not sensitive enough to detect 

the small concentrations that may be transported. Concentrations of munitions-associated trace elements did not exceed 

sediment-quality guidelines recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and are not indicative 

of contamination of streambed sediment at selected streambed 

sampling sites, at least in regards to movement from dispersal 

areas.

Analytical results of stream-water samples provided little 

evidence of contamination by energetic compounds, SVOCs, 

or associated trace elements. Perchlorate was detected in 19 

of 20 stream-water samples at concentrations ranging from an 

estimated 0.057 to an estimated 0.236 μg/L (micrograms per 

liter) with a median concentration of an estimated 0.114 μg/L, 

substantially less than the USEPA Interim Health Advisory 

criterion (15 μg/L), and is in the range of documented background concentrations. Because of these small concentrations 

and possible natural sources (precipitation and groundwater), 

it is likely that the occurrence of perchlorate in stream water is 

naturally occurring, although a definitive identification of the 

source of perchlorate in stream water at Fort Riley is difficult. 

The only SVOCs detected in stream-water samples were bis(2-

ethylhexyl) phthalate and di-n-butyl phthalate but at concentrations substantially less than the most stringent aquatic-life 

criteria established by the Kansas Department of Health and 

Environment. All trace element concentrations in stream-water 

samples were less than the most stringent aquatic-life criteria. 

The implication of these stream-water results is that contamination arising from firing-range activities, if it exists, is so 

small as to be nondetectable with current analytical methods 

or is not distinguishable from background concentrations for 

constituents that also are naturally occurring. Overall, the 

munitions-related constituents analyzed in streambed sediment 

and stream water, when detected, were at concentrations that 

were less than regulatory criteria.

Introduction

Problem and Background

The operational effectiveness of military organizations is 

strongly tied to the extent and quality of prior training. This is 

particularly true for the combat readiness of military units that 

rely extensively on live-fire training to develop the skills and 

proficiency required to effectively perform assigned functions. 

Many military installations throughout the United States have 

live-fire training ranges used to develop these skills, including 

Fort Riley, Kansas, home of the First Infantry Division (fig. 1).

Live-fire training ranges include areas used for small 

arms and machine-gun fire, hand-grenade training, crewserved indirect-fire weapons systems (mortar and artillery), 

anti-armor rockets, and tank main-gun fire (fig. 2). Although 

live-fire training ranges are necessary for the operational 

readiness of military units, the use of these facilities has the 

Assessment of Energetic Compounds, Semi-Volatile 

Organic Compounds, and Trace Elements in Streambed 

Sediment and Stream Water from Streams Draining 

Munitions Firing Points and Impact Areas, Fort Riley, 

Kansas, 2007–08

By R.L. Coiner, L.M. Pope, and H.E. Mehl
2 Assessment of Energetic Compounds, Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds, and Trace Elements

Figure 1. Location of Fort Riley, sampling sites, munitions firing points, and live-fire training range complexes, northeast Kansas 

(munitions firing points and live-fire training range complexes locations from National Imagery and Mapping Agency, 1981, 1997).

MC-1

MCT-1

LAC-1

WC-1

7MC-1

3MC-2

DBC-1 7MC-3

WCC-1

FC-1

RC-1

3MC-1

7MC-2

HC-1

DC-1

TC-1

KANSAS

NEBRASKA

Index map

OKLAHOMA

COLORADO

MISSOURI

Study

area

Tuttle

Creek

Lake

Junction City

Riley

Ogden

Grandview Plaza

Manhattan

Milford

Clay County

Riley County

Dickinson County

Geary County

Riley County

Geary County

Sevenmile Creek

Honey Creek

Wildcat Creek

Kitten Creek

Silver Creek

Wind Creek

Little Arkansas Creek

Wildcat Creek

Timber Creek

Dry Creek

Republican River Fourmile Creek

Kansas River

Clarks Creek

Clarks Creek

Humboldt Creek

Onemile Creek

Forsyth Creek

Threemile Creek

0 1 2 3 4 MILES

0 1 2 3 4 KILOMETERS

Milford Lake

Madison Creek

Farnum Creek

Rush Creek

96°57'

96°41'

55' 53' 51' 49' 47' 45'

43'

39°19'

39°01'

17'

15'

13'

11'

09'

07'

05'

03'

Artillery Target Area

Multiple-Purpose

Range Complex

Boundary of Fort Riley 

Military Reservation

Boundary of Fort Riley

Military Reservation

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1:100,000, 1999

Universal Transverse Mercator projection,

Zone 14

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American

Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

EXPLANATION

Small-arms or other-type firing range

Impact Area complex

Urban area

Sediment-only sampling site and

 identifier

Sediment and water sampling site

 and identifier

Reference sampling site and 

 identifier

Artillery firing-point (1997)

Artillery firing-point (1981)

Mortar firing-point (1997)

Mortar firing-point (1981)

RC-1

DC-1

TC-1

Firing points from National Imagery and Mapping Agency (1981,1997)
Introduction 3

potential for detrimental environmental consequences, particularly for water resources in and near the facilities.

The use of live-fire training ranges can result in the dispersal of residues of energetic compounds (explosive and propellant residues), semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), 

and trace elements that are components of munitions as explosives and propellants or part of the explosive casing. Energetic 

compounds include octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX), 1,3,5-hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitrotriazine (RDX), 

and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), which are used as high-explosives, and 2,4-dinitrotoluene, nitrocellulose, nitroglycerin, 

and perchlorate, which are used in gun or rocket propellants 

(Jenkins and others, 2005). SVOCs used in munitions include 

di-n-butyl phthalate and di-n-octyl phthalate (plasticizers 

associated with propellants or explosives) and diphenylamine 

(a propellant stabilizer). Trace elements may be found in the 

casings, projectiles, explosives, or detonators of munitions 

and include aluminum, antimony, barium, copper, iron, lead, 

mercury, molybdenum, titanium, uranium, and zinc (Hewitt, 

1997; U.S. Department of Defense, 2002; Jenkins and others, 

2005; Global Security, 2008). The occurrence and distribution 

of energetic compounds in soils and around munitions firing 

points and impact areas have been well documented at military 

installations throughout the United States (Phelan and others, 

1998; Pennington and others, 2001; Jenkins and others, 2005), 

and trace element contamination frequently is associated with 

energetic compound residues (Savard and others, 2007). 

The dispersal of energetic compounds, SVOCs, and 

trace elements in impact areas may result from the ordinary 

intended operation of munitions such as the complete detonation of a warhead, or may occur with the partial detonation 

of munitions. For example, it has been shown that most soil 

contamination by energetic compounds in impact areas is from 

“low-order” detonations of warheads (Jenkins and others, 

2005). Low-order detonations are partial explosions where 

quantities of unexploded energetic compounds are dispersed 

as particles or chunks to the surrounding soil. In contrast, 

contamination at munitions firing points results from unburned 

or partially burned propellant fibers being deposited to the 

soil under normal firing procedures. Soil concentrations of 

energetic compounds may be distributed heterogeneously over 

firing ranges. Distribution of energetic compounds in soil at 

impact areas can be described as randomly distributed point 

sources. However, most of the land area of firing ranges has 

very small or undetectable concentrations of energetic compounds in soils (Jenkins and others, 2005). Less known is the 

Figure 2. M1A1 Abrams tanks conducting live-fire training at Fort Riley, 2008 (photograph courtesy of First Infantry Division, U.S. Army, 

Fort Riley, Kansas).
4 Assessment of Energetic Compounds, Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds, and Trace Elements

extent to which these compounds, SVOCs, and trace elements 

move from their source areas and into water and bottom sediment of streams draining munitions firing points and impact 

areas, although some investigations of this phenomenon have 

been conducted (Craig and others, 1999; McConnell and others, 2000; Clark and others, 2005).

Energetic compounds, SVOCs, and trace elements can 

be mobilized into streams during runoff (adsorbed to soil 

particles or dissolved in water) or as a component of groundwater discharged to adjacent streams during base flow. Trace 

elements have only a small degree of solubility and tend to 

occur in a solid phase or adsorbed to soil or sediment particles 

(Hem, 1992). Trace elements transported with sediment during 

runoff may form deposits in receiving streams and is a potential source of contamination. McConnell and others (2000) 

reported concentrations of the trace elements chromium, lead, 

mercury, and silver in bed sediment of surface-water sources 

receiving runoff or drainage from munitions impact areas that 

exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2004) 

sediment-quality criteria used in this report.

Energetic compounds have varying degrees of water solubility and affinity for adsorption to soil or sediment (table 1). 

For example, RDX is less water soluble than TNT, but the latter is more strongly bound to soil, and thus, RDX has a greater 

potential for mobility in groundwater (Larson and others, 

2008). The transport of energetic compounds with soil from 

source areas into streambed sediment or stream water will be 

associated with sediment transport in runoff or groundwater 

flow to varying degrees depending upon the characteristics of 

the compound. For example, perchlorate, an anion with a large 

solubility value, readily migrates to groundwater or surface 

water (Parker and others, 2008). Therefore, the possibility of 

groundwater transport is likely much greater for perchlorate 

than for the other energetic compounds or trace elements.

The log Kow indicated in table 1 is the octanol/water 

partitioning coefficient, which quantifies the proportion of a 

substance that dissolves in each solvent in an octanol/water 

mixture. It is calculated by dividing the concentration of the 

compound dissolved in octanol by the concentration of the 

compound dissolved in water and is expressed as a logarithm. 

Positive log Kow values indicate that the compound is more 

Table 1. Partitioning coefficients, water solubility, and degree of mobility-through-soil of selected energetic 

compounds (National Library of Medicine, 2008; except where noted).

[log Kow, logarithm of the octanol/water partitioning coefficient; °C, degrees Celsius; mg/L, milligrams per liter; --, not available; 

HMX, octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine; KClO4, potassium perchlorate; RDX, 1,3,5-hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitrotriazine; 

TNT, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene. Number in parentheses ( ) indicates that the solubility data were obtained at another temperature.]

Compound log Kow

Water solubility at 25 °C 

(mg/L)

Degree of mobilitythrough-soil

1,3-Dinitrobenzene 1.49 533 large

1,3,5-Trinitrobenzene 1.18 (278) large

2,4-Dinitrotoluene 1.98 (270) moderate

2,6-Dinitrotoluene 2.10 -- very large to large

2-Amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene -- -- --

4-Amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene -- -- --

2-Nitrotoluene 2.30 (650) moderate

3-Nitrotoluene 2.45 (500) small

4-Nitrotoluene 2.37 (442) moderate

HMX .16 -- very large to moderate

Nitrobenzene 1.85 1,797 very large to moderate

Nitroglycerin 1.62 1,800 moderate

Pentaerythritol tetranitrate 1.61 43 moderate to small

Perchlorate1 (KClO4) −7.18 15,000 mobile in groundwater

RDX .87 59.7 large to moderate

Tetryl 1.64 74 small

TNT 1.60 (115) small

1

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2009a).
Introduction 5

readily dissolved in octanol, and larger positive numbers 

indicate increasing octanol solubility. Negative log Kow values 

indicate that the compound is more readily dissolved in water, 

and larger negative numbers indicate increasing water solubility. Log Kow values serve as a proxy measure of the tendency 

for compounds to be bound to soil organic matter (positive 

values) or dissolved in water (negative values). The degree of 

mobility through soil refers to the relative capacity that exists 

for a compound to be transported through soil by means of 

groundwater movement.

An analysis of the significance of contamination from 

live-fire ranges would be aided by considering streambedsediment and water-quality criteria related to energetic compounds, SVOCs, and trace elements used in munitions. The 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has established Drinking Water Equivalent Level (DWEL), Lifetime 

Health Advisory (LHA), and Interim Health Advisory (IHA) 

guidelines for several energetic compounds in drinking water 

(table 2). The DWEL guideline provides a lifetime exposure 

concentration protective of adverse, noncancer health effects 

that assumes that all exposure to a contaminant is from drinking water. The LHA and IHA guidelines are defined similarly, 

except that they assume that additional exposure occurs apart 

from drinking water. The DWEL, LHA, and IHA guidelines 

are not enforceable Federal standards but are health advisories 

that provide guidance to officials responsible for public water 

supply (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2006). USEPA 

also has classified the human cancer-causing properties of 

several energetic compounds (table 2).

The nonenforceable health advisories provided by 

USEPA can be contrasted with the enforceable Maximum 

Contaminant Level (MCL) drinking-water standards that 

have been established for the trace elements arsenic, barium, 

beryllium, cadmium, chromium, and mercury. Because stream 

water is not used as a public water supply at Fort Riley, the 

greater immediate concern may be the potential effects on 

aquatic ecosystems from the occurrence of energetic compounds or trace elements in streambed sediment or surface 

water. Correspondingly, USEPA has proposed streambed-sediment-quality guidelines, and the Kansas Department of Health 

and Environment (KDHE) has established surface-waterquality criteria for the protection of aquatic life for some of the 

constituents discussed in this report. The guidelines proposed 

by USEPA for streambed sediment do not include the energetic compounds discussed in this report but do include guidelines for 16 SVOCs and the trace elements antimony, arsenic, 

cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, silver, and 

zinc (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2004). Waterquality criteria established by KDHE relate to the energetic 

compounds 2,4-dinitrotoluene and nitrobenzene (table 2), 25 

SVOCs, and to the trace elements arsenic, chromium, mercury, 

and selenium (Kansas Department of Health and Environment (2005). Cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, silver, and zinc 

have KDHE water-hardness-dependent criteria, which are not 

discussed in this report because water-hardness values calculated on the basis of concentrations of dissolved calcium and 

magnesium (analysis of filtered samples) were not determined. 

Table 2. Regulatory criteria for selected energetic compounds in surface water or drinking water.

[KDHE, Kansas Department of Health and Environment; USEPA, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; DWEL, Drinking Water 

Equivalent Level; LHA, Lifetime Health Advisory; IHA, Interim Health Advisory; μg/L, micrograms per liter; D, human cancer risk 

not-classifiable; --, not established; B2, probable human carcinogen; HMX, octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine; N, not 

likely a human carcinogen; C, possible human carcinogen; RDX, 1,3,5-hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitrotriazine; TNT, 2,4,6 trinitrotoluene]

Compound

KDHE aquatic-life- and 

-surface-water critera1

USEPA drinking-water health advisory 

critera2 USEPA drinking 

water cancer 

descriptor Acute

(μg/L)

Chronic

(μg/L)

DWEL

(μg/L)

LHA

(μg/L)

IHA

(μg/L)

1,3-Dinitrobenzene -- -- 5 1 -- D

2,4-Dinitrotoluene 330 230 100 -- -- B2

2,6-Dinitrotoluene -- -- 40 -- -- B2

HMX -- -- 2,000 400 -- D

Nitrobenzene 27,000 -- -- -- -- --

Nitroglycerin -- -- -- 5 -- --

Perchlorate -- -- -- -- 315 4N

RDX -- -- 100 2 -- C

TNT -- -- 20 2 -- C

1

Kansas Department of Health and Environment (2005).

2

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2006).

3

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2009b).

4

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2005).
6 Assessment of Energetic Compounds, Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds, and Trace Elements

Only unfiltered stream-water samples were collected and analyzed during the study described in this report.

Purpose and Scope

The purpose of this report is to describe an assessment 

of the occurrence and distribution of energetic compounds, 

SVOCs, and trace elements in streambed sediment and 

stream water from streams draining munitions firing points 

and impact areas on the Fort Riley Military Reservation. The 

assessment was done by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 

in cooperation with the U.S. Army from June 2007 through 

June 2008. The SVOCs di-n-butyl phthalate, di-n-octyl 

phthalate, and diphenylamine are compounds associated with 

propellant mixtures and were assessed in streambed sediment and stream water as part of a larger analytical schedule 

for SVOCs. Streambed sediment was collected from 16 sites 

(including one reference site; fig. 1) and analyzed for particle 

size, carbon, and 17 energetic compounds, 65 SVOCs, and 27 

trace elements (table 13 in the “Supplemental Information” 

section at the back of this report). Stream-water samples were 

collected during base-flow conditions from three streams. 

Seventeen stream-water samples, including one split replicate 

and one concurrent replicate, were collected during runoff from five streams. Water samples were analyzed for 17 

energetic compounds, 64 SVOCs, and 23 trace elements and 

major cations (table 14 in the “Supplemental Information” 

section at the back of this report). The occurrence and distribution of energetic compounds, SVOCs, and trace elements are 

discussed in relation to pertinent sediment- and water-quality 

guidelines or criteria.

Description of Study Area

Climate

The Fort Riley Military Reservation is located in northeast Kansas, a mid-latitude and continent-centered geographical area that has a temperate climate with marked seasonal 

variations in both temperature and precipitation. January is the 

coldest month with an average temperature of 27.8 °F (degrees 

Fahrenheit), July is the warmest month with an average temperature of 79.9 °F, and the average annual temperature is 

Figure 3. Average monthly precipitation, 1971-2000, at Manhattan, Kansas, and departure from average during study period, 

June 2007 through June 2008 (data from National Climatic Data Center, 2002, 2008).

-3

-2

-1

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

DEPARTURE FROM LONG-TERM AVERAGE MONTHLY

PRECIPITATION, IN INCHES

LONG-TERM AVERAGE MONTHLY

PRECIPITATION, IN INCHES

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May

June

Long-term average monthly precipitation for

Manhattan, Kansas, for 1971–2000

Departure from long-term average 

(1971–2000) monthly precipitation at 

Manhattan, Kansas, during 

June 2007−June 2008

2007 2008
Description of Study Area 7

Figure 4. Land-surface altitude of Fort Riley Military Reservation and adjacent areas (live-fire training 

range complexes locations from National Imagery and Mapping Agency, 1997).

MC-1

MCT-1

LAC-1

WC-1

7MC-1

3MC-2

DBC-1 7MC-3

WCC-1

FC-1

RC-1

3MC-1

7MC-2

HC-1

DC-1

TC-1

Junction City

Riley

Ogden

Grandview Plaza

Manhattan

Milford

Clay County

Riley County

Dickinson County

Geary County

Riley County

Geary County

Sevenmile Creek

Honey Creek

Wildcat Creek

Kitten Creek

Silver Creek

Wind Creek

Little Arkansas Creek

Wildcat Creek

Timber Creek

Dry Creek

Republican River Fourmile Creek

Kansas River

Clarks Creek

Clarks Creek

Humboldt Creek

Onemile Creek

Forsyth Creek

Threemile Creek

0 1 2 3 4 MILES

0 1 2 3 4 KILOMETERS

Milford Lake

Tuttle Creek Lake

Madison Creek

Farnum Creek

Rush Creek

96°57' 55' 53' 51' 49' 47' 45' 43' 96°41'

39°19'

39°01'

17'

15'

13'

11'

09'

07'

05'

03'

Artillery Target Area

Multiple-Purpose

Range Complex

Boundary of Fort Riley 

Military Reservation

Boundary of Fort Riley

Military Reservation

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1:100,000, 1999

Universal Transverse Mercator projection,

Zone 14

Vertical coordinate information is referenced to the North American

Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88)

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American

Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

Surface altitude imagery from National Imagery and Mapping Agency (1997)

EXPLANATION

Impact Area complex

Small-arms or other-type firing range

Sediment-only sampling site and

 identifier

Sediment and water sampling site

 and identifier

Reference sampling site and 

 identifier

RC-1

DC-1

1,420

980

1,200

Range in land surface altitude

 in feet vertical datum

TC-1
8 Assessment of Energetic Compounds, Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds, and Trace Elements

54.9 °F (for Manhattan, Kansas; National Climatic Data 

Center, 2002). Average annual precipitation is 34.8 in. 

(1971–2000) with most precipitation occurring between April 

and September (fig. 3). May and June have the highest average monthly precipitation, 5.08 and 5.23 in., respectively, 

and combined account for nearly one-third of the total annual 

precipitation for Manhattan, Kansas (National Climatic Data 

Center, 2002).

The 13-month study period (June 2007 through June 

2008) described in this report was substantially wetter than the 

long-term average. Total departure from average for the study 

period was +11.9 in. January and June 2008 had the largest monthly departures from average of +5.14 and +6.19 in., 

respectively.

Physiography and Topography

The study area is located in the Osage Plains section of 

the Central Lowlands physiographic province (Fenneman 

and Johnson, 1946). The Osage Plains are characterized by 

scarped plains with layers of resistant rock that form east- or 

southeast-facing escarpments. Topographically, there are three 

main features – (1) streams and river valleys with associated 

alluvial floors and terraces, (2) uplands comprising of resistant 

limestone layers, and (3) scattered hill country that includes 

the Flint Hills. Fort Riley has a total topographic relief of 

about 330 ft (fig. 4). The reservation is located between two 

large reservoirs – Milford Lake to the west, a part of which 

defines the reservation boundary, and Tuttle Creek Lake to the 

northeast (fig. 4).

Surficial Geology and Soils

Fort Riley is located in a transitional zone between the 

Flint Hills and Smoky Hills ecoregions, an area of predominately tall-grass prairie. The area also marks the transition 

between the cherty, rocky soils of the Flint Hills and the silty, 

loamy, loess-formed soils of the Smoky Hills (Chapman and 

others, 2001). The area is underlain by sedimentary rocks, 

consisting of limestone, limestone with chert (flint), and shale 

(Jewett, 1941). Soils along streams are deep and typically 

fertile with thinning soils in hilly areas. Characteristics of soils 

vary with regards to permeability and particle size in relation 

to topographic features and proximity to streams. The most 

prevalent soil types on the reservation are silty clay loams and 

silty loams, although a few other soil types are present to a 

lesser extent (Jantz and others, 1975).

Land Use

The Fort Riley Military Reservation consists of parts of 

Riley and Geary Counties and contains more than 100,000 

acres with barracks, offices, and other buildings located mostly 

in the southern areas of the post (U.S. Army, 1984). Located in 

the northwest part of the reservation is the Multiple-Purpose 

Range Complex (MPRC), an area that is used for various 

live-fire training exercises. The Impact Area complex (IAC) is 

located in the east-central part of the reservation (fig. 1). The 

IAC includes several live-fire ranges for small-arms, mortar, 

and tank main-gun training along its periphery and the Artillery Target Area (ATA) at its center. The MPRC and IAC are 

the primary munitions impact areas at the reservation. A large 

number of historic (1981) or contemporary (1997) artillery and 

mortar firing points are scattered throughout many parts the 

reservation, but artillery firing points are concentrated mostly 

to the west and northwest of the IAC and mortar firing points 

are typically located near the perimeter of the IAC (fig. 1). 

History

Fort Riley was established in 1853 as a means of protecting westward-moving pioneers. It was also a post for cavalry 

units from its earliest days, including the 7th Cavalry under 

George A. Custer. Over the course of several decades, the post 

had been the home of different academies that taught horsemanship to mounted units, and traditional cavalry instruction 

continued until 1946 (fig. 5) (U.S. Army, 1984).

The location and large size of Fort Riley (20,000 acres 

during the 19th century) made it an important site for various 

military uses over the years. Fort Riley served as a distribution 

hub supplying other posts, especially with hay due to the reservation’s abundant grasslands (Dobak, 1998). Artillery units 

began using the reservation as a live-fire training facility in the 

late 1800s (fig. 6) (U.S. Army, 1984).

The historic land holdings of Fort Riley were expanded 

during the 20th century. The most recent land acquisition was 

authorized in fiscal year 1965 and brought the total area of the 

reservation to more than 100,000 acres (U.S. Army, 1984). 

The location of weapons training ranges has shifted in the 

same direction as land acquisition – to the north and northwest 

Figure 5. 10th Cavalry on maneuvers, Fort Riley, 1942 

(photograph courtesy of Library of Congress).
Study Methods 9

of the historic areas on the post. Construction of contemporary 

live-fire ranges began in 1942 and now include the IAC and 

MPRC (U.S. Army, 2007). In addition to the development, 

expansion, and location of small-arms and artillery ranges, 

the 20th century included the transition from the traditional 

black-powder-based munitions of the 19th century to modern 

munitions containing synthetic, nitrated organic compounds 

such as those listed in table 1.

Previous Study

A regional range study at Fort Riley was completed for 

the U.S. Army (2007) to assess potential contamination of 

live-fire ranges and associated human- or ecological-health 

risks. The study used a variety of methods to characterize the 

effects of artillery and other munitions use including analyses 

of surficial soil, streambed sediment, stream water, stream 

(benthic) macroinvertebrates, and groundwater. Environmental 

samples were analyzed for energetic compounds and selected 

trace elements. Semi-volatile organic compounds were not 

analyzed in the study. Streams sampled for streambed sediment or stream water in the U.S. Army (2007) study included 

five streams that also were sampled in the study described 

in this report, and some of the sampling sites were near one 

another or at the same general location.

In the U.S. Army (2007) study, perchlorate was the 

only energetic compound detected in 4 of 72 soil samples at 

relatively small concentrations of 5 micrograms per kilogram 

(μg/kg) or less. The authors noted that three of these detections occurred at a reference site in a historically agricultural 

area and that the presence of perchlorate may have resulted 

from fertilizer application (U.S. Army, 2007). Perchlorate has 

been found as a contaminant in some fertilizers, especially in 

Chilean nitrate fertilizer (CNF; Dasgupta and others, 2006). 

Perchlorate also is a component of pyrotechnic cartridges used 

to simulate artillery or tank main-gun fire in the MPRC. Concentrations of trace elements in soil samples did not indicate 

derivation from range activities. Arsenic, however, was found 

at relative large naturally occurring concentrations in some 

soil samples (U.S. Army, 2007).

Energetic compounds were not detected in streambedsediment samples during the U.S. Army (2007) study. However, in some samples, concentrations of the trace elements 

antimony, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and nickel exceeded the 

USEPA sediment-quality guideline for a 25-percent probability (T25 level) of adverse biological effects (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2004). 

Perchlorate was the only energetic compound detected in 

stream-water samples during the U.S. Army (2007) study. It 

was detected in about one-fourth of the samples with concentrations that ranged from an estimated 0.069 to an estimated 

0.194 μg/L (micrograms per liter). The USEPA IHA for perchlorate is 15 μg/L (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 

2009b). Concentrations of trace elements in stream water were 

all less than aquatic-life criteria established by KDHE (Kansas Department of Health and Environment, 2005). Benthic 

macroinvertebrate diversity was not affected by range activities in any stream. The authors of the U.S. Army (2007) report 

acknowledged that only a few stream-water samples were 

collected, and because stream-water-quality characteristics can 

be variable, it was recommended that additional monitoring of 

stream water be conducted. The study described in this report 

represents the fulfillment of that recommendation.

Groundwater (depth to water about 11 to 105 ft below 

land surface) was sampled at the periphery of the IAC in the 

U.S. Army (2007) study. Perchlorate was the only energetic 

compound detected in groundwater where it was found in 

about one-half of the samples. The perchlorate detection 

concentrations ranged from an estimated 0.077 to 0.538 

μg/L, with a median value of 0.166 μg/L. Concentrations of 

trace elements were less than USEPA drinking-water-quality 

standards except for manganese, which was detected at concentrations slightly exceeding the Secondary Drinking Water 

Regulation (SDWR) of 50 μg/L (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2006). The study authors interpreted the relatively large manganese concentrations as being the result of 

the natural lithology of the area. The authors further concluded 

that groundwater surrounding the IAC was not contaminated 

from range activities and would not pose an unacceptable risk 

to humans or the environment.

Study Methods

Sampling-Site Selection

The selection of 16 streambed-sediment sampling sites 

(fig. 1; table 3) for the study described in this report was based 

on location relative to munitions firing points and impact 

areas. Streambed-sediment samples were collected at locations 

downstream from live-fire ranges and the IAC on Dry Branch 

Figure 6. Cannon and soldiers at Fort Riley, circa 1870–80 

(photograph courtesy of Kansas Historical Society).
10 Assessment of Energetic Compounds, Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds, and Trace Elements

(site DBC-1) and Honey Creeks (site HC-1), downstream from 

artillery and mortar firing points and the IAC on Threemile 

Creek (sites 3MC-1 and 3MC-2), and upstream (site 7MC-1) 

and downstream (sites 7MC-2 and 7MC-3) from the ATA on 

Sevenmile Creek (fig. 1). Sevenmile Creek provided a unique 

opportunity to evaluate streambed-sediment quality immediately before and after the stream traversed a munitions impact 

area of a major military installation. Because of contemporary 

or previous firing-point locations or the MPRC within their 

watersheds, samples of streambed sediment also were collected from Dry (site DC-1), Farnum (site FC-1), Little Arkansas (site LAC-1), Madison (site MC-1), Rush (site RC-1), a 

tributary to Madison (site MCT-1), Wildcat (site WCC-1), and 

Wind (site WC-1) Creeks. The Timber Creek reference site 

(TC-1) is located on a stream that drains from the north at a 

location immediately north of the military reservation. The 

reference site was used to assess background concentrations of 

energetic compounds, SVOCs, and trace elements in streambed sediment only. Stream-water samples were collected at 

five sites on Farnum (site FC-1), Honey (site HC-1), Rush 

(site RC-1), and Threemile Creeks (site 3MC-1) as well as on 

Sevenmile Creek (site 7MC-2) immediately downstream from 

the ATA (fig. 1).

Sample Collection, Handling, and Processing

Streambed-Sediment Samples

Streambed-sediment samples in this study were collected 

and processed according to methods described in Shelton and 

Capel (1994). Samples for analysis of streambed sediment 

were collected and sieved onsite to retain the less-than-2.0-mm 

(millimeter) size fraction for analysis of energetic compounds 

and SVOCs. Subsamples of nonsieved sediment collected for 

energetic compounds and SVOCs were retained for analysis of 

sediment particle-size fractions at each sampling site. Subsamples for trace element analysis were collected and sieved 

at the analyzing laboratory to retain the less-than-0.063-mm 

fraction (silt- and clay-sized particles). Concentrations of associated trace elements can vary substantially between particlesize classes, and generally, concentrations are largest in the 

silt/clay fraction (Horowitz, 1991). Restricting trace element 

analyses to the silt/clay fraction reduces particle-size variability between sampling sites and permits direct site-to-site comparisons. However, all trace element samples submitted to the 

analyzing laboratory also were analyzed in sediment particles 

finer than 0.063 mm prior to sieving. The concentration of 

Table 3. Streambed-sediment and stream-water sampling sites at or near Fort Riley, Kansas, 2007–08. 

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; S-S, streambed sediment sampled; W-S, stream water sampled; MPRC, Multiple-Purpose Range Complex]

Map index 

identifier 

(fig. 1)

USGS site 

identification 

number

Site name

Latitude 

(degrees, 

minutes, 

seconds)

Longitude

 (degrees, 

minutes, 

seconds)

S-S W-S

RC-1 390822096523700 Rush Creek at Vinton Cemetery Road, Fort Riley 39°08' 22.1" 96°52' 37.3" x x

FC-1 391124096524100 Farnum Creek at South Area H Road, Fort Riley 39°11' 23.8" 96°52' 40.7" x x

7MC-1 391113096483600 Sevenmile Creek west of West Engineer Road, Fort Riley 39°11' 12.7" 96°48' 35.5" x

MC-1 391454096533000 Madison Creek at Middle MPRC Road, Fort Riley 39°14' 54.4" 96°53' 30.5" x

DC-1 391455096550400 Dry Creek at Middle MPRC Road, Fort Riley 39°14' 55.2" 96°55' 03.8" x

MCT-1 391312096535200 Madison Creek tributary at Supply Road, Fort Riley 39°13' 12.3" 96°53' 52.5" x

3MC-1 390756096461800 Threemile Creek at Vinton School Road, Fort Riley 39°07' 56.0" 96°46' 18.0" x x

HC-1 391304096431000 Honey Creek at Old Highway 82 near Keats 39°13' 03.8" 96°43' 10.1" x x

7MC-2 390857096430600 Seven mile Creek at East Engineer Road, Fort Riley 39°08' 56.6" 96°43' 06.0" x x

LAC-1 391422096460900 Little Arkansas Creek at Supply Road, Fort Riley 39°14' 21.5" 96°46' 08.7" x

WC-1 391341096473800 Wind Creek at Tank Road, Fort Riley 39°13' 41.2" 96°47' 38.0" x

3MC-2 390550096444800 Three mile Creek at Huebner Road, Fort Riley 39°05' 49.7" 96°44' 48.0" x

7MC-3 390753096422900 Seven mile Creek at Vinton School Road, Fort Riley 39°07' 53.0" 96°42' 28.6" x

DBC-1 390754096430600 Dry Branch Creek at Vinton School Road, Fort Riley 39°07' 53.6" 96°43' 05.6" x

WCC-1 391307096423600 Wildcat Creek at Reservation Road near Keats 39°13' 07.1" 96°42' 36.2" x

Reference site

TC-1 391827096563900 Timber Creek at Bala Park, Bala 39°18' 27.3" 96°56' 39.0" x
Study Methods 11

organic compounds such as energetic compounds and SVOCs 

in streambed sediment is not strongly tied to particle-size 

distribution but likely is related more to the concentration of 

organic material in the sediment (Shelton and Capel, 1994).

To obtain only the most recently deposited material, 

streambed-sediment samples were collected from the upper 

2.0 cm (centimeters) of sediment deposition using a stainlesssteel scoop for analysis of energetic compounds and SVOCs 

and a white plastic scoop for analysis of trace element 

samples. The use of a stainless-steel scoop for energetic compound and SVOC sampling reduced the likelihood of sample 

contamination from organic compounds such as phthalates 

that may occur when using a plastic scoop, whereas the use 

of a plastic scoop for trace element sampling reduced possible contamination from metals such as chromium and nickel. 

Sampling the upper 2.0 cm of deposition followed protocols 

of the USGS National Water-Quality Assessment Program 

(Shelton and Capel, 1994). At each streambed-sampling site, 

one composited sample was collected for analysis of energetic 

compounds and SVOCs, and one composited sample was 

collected for analysis of trace elements. Multiple subsamples 

(from 5 to 10 subsampling locations) were collected for each 

composited sample from depositional zones along the sides 

and center of sampled streams. The subsamples were composited into polyethylene zip-lock bags. The composited sample 

for energetic compounds and SVOCs was homogenized onsite 

in a glass container and sieved to obtain the less-than-2.0-mm 

size fraction. After sieving was completed, the less-than2.0-mm sediment sample was placed in a clean zip-lock bag, 

sealed with a chain-of-custody sticker, and placed in a second 

clean zip-lock bag. A subsample of the homogenized, but nonsieved, composite sample was retained separately and transported to the Kansas Water Science Center (KSWSC) office in 

Lawrence, Kansas, for analysis of the percentage of sand-silt/

clay-size particles in the sediment. The composite sample for 

trace element analysis was sealed with a chain-of-custody 

sticker, placed into a second clean zip-lock bag with a chainof-custody sticker, and placed in a third clean zip-lock bag for 

shipment. The samples from each site were stored at 4 oC in 

a secured area at the KSWSC until shipped to the appropriate 

analyzing laboratory. Energetic compound and SVOC samples 

sieved to 2.0 mm were sent to an U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) contract laboratory for analyses (AML Laboratories, Olathe, Kansas, subcontracted to GEL Laboratories, 

Charleston, South Carolina). Streambed-sediment samples for 

trace element analyses were sent to the USGS Sediment Trace 

Element Laboratory in Atlanta, Georgia.

Upon receipt at the USGS laboratory in Atlanta, the 

streambed-sediment samples for trace element analyses were 

freeze dried and placed in secure storage until preanalytical 

processing. Chain-of-custody procedures were followed during sample storage, processing, and analysis. Prior to analysis, 

the samples were sieved through a 2.0-mm polyester screen 

to remove large material such as wood and leaf debris and 

gravel. The less-than-2.0-mm samples were mechanically 

homogenized, and a less-than-0.063-mm fraction was obtained 

by sieving a representative aliquot of the homogenized sample 

through a 0.063-mm polyester screen held in a polycarbonate 

frame. Screens were replaced between samples.

Stream-Water Samples

Stream-water samples were collected according to 

methods described in U.S. Geological Survey (2006) to assess 

concentrations of energetic compounds, SVOCs, and trace 

elements during base-flow and runoff conditions. Base-flow 

conditions were defined by a single discharge measurement 

performed during periods of no precipitation when streamflow 

is supplied by groundwater and not by runoff from precipitation. Runoff conditions were defined by discharge measurements performed during or within 12 hours of precipitation 

events when the streamflow hydrograph demonstrated rising, 

peak, or falling stages. For sampling site 7MC-2, a discharge 

gage-height rating was developed and used to estimate discharge during automated sampling. Discharge measurements 

were made according to methods described by Rantz and 

others (1982). The discharge gage-height rating was developed according to methods described by Kennedy (1983). 

A single base-flow sample each was collected at sites HC-1, 

3MC-1, and 7MC-2 (fig. 1). A total of 17 runoff samples were 

collected at five sites--one each at sites FC-1 and RC-1, two 

each at sites HC-1 and 3MC-1, and 11 at site 7MC-2—during 

rising-, falling-, and peak-stage conditions. Samples were collected manually at all sites or by an automatic sampler at site 

7MC-2 for 5 of the 11 samples collected at that site. Manual 

sample collection was performed during base-flow and runoff 

conditions; the automatic sampler was used only during runoff 

conditions.

Manually collected stream-water samples were acquired 

through collection of several equally spaced, vertically 

integrated subsamples from the streamflow cross section 

(equal-width increment, EWI, method; U.S. Geological 

Survey, 2006). For each EWI sample, an appropriate sampler 

(hand-held or cable-suspended) and a Teflon collection bottle 

were used for collecting cross-sectional subsamples (Lane and 

others, 2003). All subsamples were composited into a Teflon 

churn for subsequent splitting of analytical samples. When 

streamflow was too small to permit EWI subsampling, several 

grab samples were collected using a hand-held sampler with a 

Teflon bottle and composited into a Teflon churn.

Samples collected by the automatic sampler at site 

7MC-2 were pumped through Teflon tubing from a fixed sampling point in the stream and into 1-gal glass jars in the sampler storage compartment. Each sampling with the automatic 

sampler filled two 1-gal glass jars. Automatic sampling was 

triggered by an increase in discharge as recorded by a Sutron 

8210 (Sutron Corporation, Sterling, Virginia) data-collection 

platform. The automatically collected samples (two 1-gal jars) 

were retrieved within 24 hours to meet analytical holding 

times for preventing biological alteration of the samples and 

were composited into a Teflon churn for subsequent splitting 

of analytical samples. The automatic sampler had the capacity 
12 Assessment of Energetic Compounds, Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds, and Trace Elements

to collect two samples (total of four 1-gal jars) before servicing was required.

 All stream-water samples were processed unfiltered 

and split from Teflon churns into amber glass sample bottles 

for energetic compounds and SVOCs analyses. Polyethylene 

sample bottles were used for perchlorate analyses, and acidrinsed polyethylene sample bottles were used for trace element 

analyses except for samples analyzed for mercury, which were 

placed into acid-rinsed glass bottles with a Teflon-seal closure 

(Wilde and others, 2004). Samples collected for analyses of 

energetic compounds and SVOCs were preserved by storing 

at 4 oC. Samples for analyses of trace elements were preserved 

with nitric acid to a pH of less than 2.0 standard units except 

for samples collected for analyses of mercury, which were preserved with hydrochloric acid to a pH of less than 2.0 standard 

units. All samples were refrigerated at 4 °C at the KSWSC 

office until shipped to the appropriate laboratory. Samples 

for analysis of trace elements in stream water were shipped 

to the USGS National Water-Quality Laboratory (NWQL) in 

Lakewood, Colorado, for analysis. Samples for analysis of 

energetic compounds and SVOCs in stream water were sent to 

the USACE contract laboratory (AML Laboratories, Olathe, 

Kansas, subcontracted to GEL Laboratories, Charleston, South 

Carolina, for some samples). 

Sample Analysis

Energetic compounds, SVOCs, and trace elements 

analyzed in streambed-sediment and stream-water samples 

are listed in tables 13 and 14, respectively, in the “Supplemental Information” section at the back of this report. Analyses 

of energetic compounds or SVOCs in the less-than-2.0-mm 

fraction of streambed sediment and in stream-water samples 

were conducted by the USACE contract laboratory according to USEPA Method 8330 for nitroaromatic and nitramine 

compounds, USEPA Method 8332 for nitroglycerin, USEPA 

Method 8321 (modified) for perchlorate, and USEPA Method 

8270C/8270D for SVOCs (table 4) (U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, 2007). Constituent concentrations analyzed 

in streambed sediment and stream water were reported as estimated (E) values when they fell between the analytical method 

detection level and the analytical method minimum reporting 

level (MRL). The estimated qualifier means that concentrations of constituents are less certain than concentrations 

reported greater than the MRL (Childress and others, 1999).

The less-than-0.063-mm fractions of streambed-sediment 

samples were analyzed for carbon and selected trace elements generally using procedures described in Fishman 

(1993) and modified by Horowitz and others (1989) (table 4). 

The essential procedures involved digestions of 0.5g (gram) 

homogenized aliquots of the less-than-0.063-mm fractions 

using a strong-acid combination (hydrochloric, hydrofluoric, 

perchloric, and nitric acids) in Teflon beakers at 210 °C for all 

constituents except total carbon, total organic carbon, mercury, 

total nitrogen, and total phosphorus. This strong-acid digestion 

breaks apart the mineral matrix and releases trace elements 

adsorbed to and (or) bound in the mineral matrix. The trace 

element salts produced from the digestion procedure were 

made soluble with 5-percent hydrochloric acid and analyzed 

by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy, 

flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), or hydride 

generation AAS. Mercury was determined using cold vapor 

AAS (Grosbois and others, 2001). Carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus were determined by procedures described in Fishman 

(1993).

Trace elements in stream-water samples were analyzed 

at NWQL according to procedures in Garbarino and Struzeski 

(1998) and Garbarino and Damrau (2001) (table 4). Samples 

for all selected trace elements except mercury were prepared 

for analysis by digesting in the sample bottle with nitric acid 

and filtering the digested sample. Stream-water samples were 

prepared for analysis of mercury by oxidation with a bromine 

monochloride (BrCl) digestion procedure. Analyses of all 

selected trace elements except mercury were performed by 

inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry and 

inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Mercury was 

analyzed by cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry.

Table 4. Laboratory analytical methods used to analyze streambed-sediment and stream-water constituents in samples 

collected from Fort Riley, Kansas, 2007–08.

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; MS, mass spectrometry; HPLC, high-performance liquid chromatography; USEPA, U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency; GC, gas chromatography. Method reference may contain revised versions of analytical methods]

Constituent group Analysis method Method reference

Trace elements in streambed sediment Various methods Fishman (1993); Horowitz and 

others (1989)

Trace elements in stream water (USGS 

schedule 2705)

Various methods Gabarino and Struzeski (1998); 

Gabarino and Damrau (2001)

Energetic compounds (USEPA Method 8330) HPLC USEPA (2007)

Nitroglycerin (USEPA Method 8332) HPLC USEPA (2007)

Perchlorate (USEPA Method 8321, modified) Liquid Chromatography/MS/MS USEPA (2007)

Semi-volatile organic compounds (USEPA 

Method 8270C/8270D)

GC/MS USEPA (2007)
Study Methods 13

Quality Assurance

Quality-assurance samples were collected to test precision and bias in streambed-sediment and stream-water sample 

collection, processing, and analyses. Quality-assurance 

samples for streambed sediment included concurrent, sequential, and split replicate environmental samples, laboratory split 

replicate samples (table 15 in the “Supplemental Information” 

section at the back of this report), standard-reference soil/

sediment samples (table 17 in the “Supplemental Information” 

section at the back of this report), and laboratory qualitycontrol samples. Quality-assurance samples for stream water 

included concurrent and split replicate samples, and laboratory 

quality-control samples. A target goal for variability among 

analyses of concurrent, sequential, and split replicate samples 

was an absolute relative percentage difference (RPD) of 20 

percent except when constituent concentrations were at or near 

MRLs. RPD was calculated as the absolute value of the difference in environmental (primary) and replicate sample values 

divided by the mean and expressed as a percentage. 

Streambed-Sediment Samples

Because energetic compounds and SVOCs were not 

detected in any streambed-sediment samples with replicates 

(table 15), RPD values for streambed-sediment samples 

were available only for trace element analyses. A target 

goal for acceptable results of analysis of standard-reference 

soil samples was within published limits (table 17) for each 

constituent for each standard or ±10 percent of the most probable value (MPV) for the constituent (whichever was greater) 

except when constituent concentrations were at or near MRLs. 

Analyses of standard-reference soil samples were conducted 

only for trace elements. 

Streambed-sediment concurrent replicate samples consisted of alternately collected subsamples (from same subsampling site) composited into two sample-collection bags. Analysis of concurrent replicate samples measures the variability of 

sample-collection methods. One pair of concurrent replicate 

samples (table 15) was collected from site 7MC-3 (fig.1).

Streambed-sediment sequential replicate samples consisted of two independently collected (different subsampling 

sites) samples acquired at the same sampling site. Analysis of 

sequential replicate samples measures the effects of samplingsite (within site) variability and the degree to which data accurately and precisely represent a characteristic of a population 

at a sampling site. One pair of sequential replicate samples 

(table 15) was collected from site DC-1 (fig. 1).

Streambed-sediment split replicate environmental samples consisted of subsamples composited into a common glass 

container, homogenized, and split into separate sample-collection bags. Analysis of split replicate environmental samples 

measures the homogeneity of an environmental sample. One 

pair of split replicate environmental samples was collected 

from site 3MC-1 (fig. 1).

All RPD values between replicate pairs of streambedsediment environmental samples were less than the 20-percent 

quality-assurance goal except for one paired analysis for cadmium in the split replicate samples from site 3MC-1 where the 

RPD was 28.6 percent (table 5). However, this unusually large 

RPD is not considered significant because cadmium concentrations for this pair of samples were small and near the MRL 

of 0.1 mg/kg (milligram per kilogram) (table 15). Therefore, 

any small difference between replicate analyses could result in 

a relatively large RPD. Generally, analysis of replicate environmental samples indicates that sampling methods, subsample site selection, and compositing methods did not produce an 

unacceptable degree of variability in analytical results.

Laboratory split replicate samples for streambed sediment 

consisted of two subsamples of a homogeneously prepared 

environmental sample that were selected randomly at the time 

of sample analysis. Analysis of split replicate samples measures the precision (reproducibility) among replicate measurements of the same property and represents the ability of 

laboratory methods to reproduce the same or nearly the same 

concentration of selected constituents in an environmental 

sample. Two laboratory split replicate samples were analyzed 

for trace elements in streambed sediment to evaluate precision 

in laboratory methods (table 5). Most of the trace elements had 

RPDs less than the 20-percent goal. The exceptions were cadmium and selenium where the maximum RPDs were 40 and 

66.7 percent, respectively. However, these trace elements were 

detected at small concentrations (less than 1 mg/kg), and a 

small absolute difference at these concentrations may translate 

into a large RPD.

Standard-reference soil/sediment samples were obtained 

from sources indicated in table 17. Analysis of reference 

samples provides a measure of the accuracy of laboratory 

methods to produce the true value of a measured constituent 

and essentially represents the bias in methodology (instrumentation and procedures). As many as nine reference-sample 

analyses were performed for the trace elements evaluated in 

streambed sediment in this report (table 6). Censored results 

(not detected or reported as less than the MRL) were not used 

in comparison to reference limits or MPVs. Of the 202 trace 

elements analyses performed on reference samples, 90 percent 

met quality-assurance goals as previously defined. Seventeen 

of the 29 constituents listed in table 6 were within established 

quality-assurance criteria in 100 percent of reference analyses 

for those constituents. Cadmium, molybdenum, and silver 

were within established quality-assurance criteria in 71, 56, 

and 50 percent of analyses, respectively, but were detected at 

or near the analytical reporting limit when they were outside 

of quality goals. The trace elements antimony, barium, carbon 

(total), manganese, sulfur, and zinc were within established 

quality-assurance criteria in more than 80 percent of analyses. 

In contrast, mercury and selenium were within established 

quality-assurance criteria in 43 percent of analyses, and most 

of the concentrations determined were greater than the MRL 

for those trace elements (table 6). Overall, laboratory accuracy 

was of acceptable quality, and the analytical results for trace 
14 Assessment of Energetic Compounds, Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds, and Trace Elements

elements in streambed sediment were considered representative of the samples submitted for analysis, with the exception of mercury and selenium. Quality-assurance analyses of 

replicate samples were not available for energetic compounds 

or SVOCs because none of these compounds were detected 

in streambed sediment from sites that had replicate samples 

(table 15 in the “Supplemental Information” section at the 

back of this report).

Laboratory quality-assurance measures were undertaken 

during analyses for energetic compounds and SVOCs in 

streambed-sediment samples. Laboratory quality-assurance 

measures included analyses of laboratory-control samples, 

matrix spike samples, and matrix spike duplicate samples 

(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2007). The percentage of recoveries in laboratory-control samples or matrix spike 

samples and matrix spike duplicate samples were outside 

laboratory quality-assurance goals (usually smaller percentage 

of recoveries than stated goals) for some SVOCs--2,4-dinitrophenol, 3,3’-dichlorobenizidine, di-n-octylphthalate, 4-nitrophenol, and hexachlorocyclopentadiene. Nondetections in the 

Table 5. Statistical summary of absolute relative percentage differences between trace element , carbon, and nutrient analyses 

of concurrent-, sequential-, and split-replicate environmental samples, and laboratory split-replicate samples of the less-than 

-0.063-millimeter fraction of streambed sediment from selected sampling sites at Fort Riley, Kansas, 2007. 

[N, number of replicate pair analyses; Min, minimum percentage; Med, median percentage; Max, maximum percentage; --, not determined]

Constituent Environmental replicate samples Laboratory split-replicate samples

N Min Med Mean Max N Min Med/Mean Max

Aluminum 3 1.8 2.0 3.0 5.3 2 0 0 0

Antimony 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0

Arsenic 3 1.6 2.3 3.0 5.2 2 0 .7 1.4

Barium 3 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.6 2 3.3 3.9 4.6

Beryllium 3 0 6.1 4.3 6.9 2 0 0 0

Cadmium 3 0 0 9.5 28.6 2 28.6 34.3 40

Carbon, organic, total 3 0 0 2.7 8.0 2 8 8.8 9.5

Carbon, total 3 5.7 7.4 8.3 11.8 2 0 0 0

Chromium 3 0 1.9 1.4 2.2 2 0 7.2 14.4

Cobalt 3 0 0 2.7 8 2 0 0 0

Copper 3 0 0 2.5 7.4 2 0 3.2 6.5

Iron 3 0 4.3 4.4 9.1 2 0 0 0

Lead 3 0 0 1.7 5.1 2 0 2.3 4.7

Lithium 3 0 4.1 3.9 7.7 2 3.9 5 6.1

Manganese 3 4.1 5.4 6.7 10.7 2 1.8 2.9 3.9

Mercury 0 -- -- -- -- 0 -- -- --

Molybdenum 0 -- -- -- -- 0 -- -- --

Nickel 3 0 0 1.7 5.1 2 0 2.6 5.1

Nitrogen 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0

Phosporus 3 0 1.9 1.3 2.1 2 0 1.1 2.1

Selenium 3 0 0 0 0 2 40 53.3 66.7

Silver 0 -- -- -- -- 0 -- -- --

Strontium 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 4 8

Sulfur 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0

Thallium 0 -- -- -- -- 0 -- -- --

Titanium 3 0 2.7 1.8 2.7 2 0 0 0

Uranium 0 -- -- -- -- 0 -- -- --

Vanadium 3 0 1.4 2.4 5.7 2 1.4 2.2 2.9

Zinc 3 1.3 3.4 4.5 8.8 2 0 .7 1.5

Total number of replicate pair analyses72 -- -- -- -- 48 -- -- --
Study Methods 15

environmental samples of these five SVOCs that had associated laboratory quality-assurance concerns were qualified by 

the laboratory with the understanding that the true concentration of these constituents may be obscured. All environmental 

streambed-sediment samples had laboratory quality-assurance 

concerns for one or more of the aforementioned five SVOCs. 

However, none of the SVOCs with laboratory quality-assurance concerns were detected in any of the streambed-sediment 

samples, and in the few instances when other SVOCs were 

detected, they were found at relatively small concentrations 

Table 6. Statistical summary of trace element , carbon, and nutrient analyses of standard-reference soil/sediment samples. 

[MPV, most probable value; --, not determined]

Constituent

Number of 

reference 

analyses1

Range of 

MPVs2

Percentage difference from MPV

(absolute values)

Percentage of 

reference analyses 

within established 

quality criteria Minimum Median Mean Maximum 3

Aluminum 9 2.3−9.73 0 1.4 1.1 2.0 100

Antimony 8 0.3−19.4 0 7.1 7.3 12.4 88

Arsenic 8 4.6−105 .7 3.5 3.8 7.5 100

Barium 9 210−1,340 .6 5.3 6.5 16.9 89

Beryllium 6 1.06−9.6 0 2.6 2.2 3.8 100

Cadmium 7 0.14−41.7 0 7.5 16.6 50.0 71

Carbon, organic, total 1 24.8 8.9 8.9 8.9 8.9 100

Carbon, total 6 0.81−28 3.6 7.7 9.6 23.5 83

Chromium 9 4.3−130 2.1 7.4 10.3 39.5 100

Cobalt 8 5−46.8 0 4.2 3.6 7.8 100

Copper 9 4.6−114 1.3 4.7 6.0 13.0 100

Iron 9 2.00−6.53 0 2.0 1.9 3.8 100

Lead 9 12−1,162 0 5.3 4.9 10.5 100

Lithium 7 17−147 0 2.8 6.6 18.8 100

Manganese 9 234−1,700 1.5 5.9 5.7 13.9 89

Mercury 7 0.018−6.25 4 26.3 51.5 178 43

Molybdenum 9 1.37−134 3.8 11.9 17.2 50.0 56

Nickel 9 3.0−99.5 3.4 8.7 11.0 33.3 100

Nitrogen 1 .35 11.4 11.4 11.4 11.4 100

Phosphorus 9 270−1,430 1.4 3.7 4.9 16.1 100

Selenium 7 0.19−6.8 1.1 9.7 16.1 57.9 43

Silver 2 0.41−4.63 .6 11.3 11.3 22.0 50

Strontium 9 68−700 2.2 4.1 4.2 7.1 100

Sulfur 7 0.042−5.35 3.2 8.5 8.5 12.8 86

Thallium 0 -- -- -- -- -- --

Titanium 9 0.081−0.46 0 2.3 2.7 6.9 100

Uranium 1 48.8 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 100

Vanadium 9 8.7−160 0 4.4 9.7 54.0 100

Zinc 9 49−350.4 0 7.7 6.7 10.8 89

Total number of reference analyses and 

mean percentage of 

reference analyses 

within established 

quality criteria

202 -- -- -- -- -- 90

1

Does not include analyses reported as not detected or as less than the laboratory method reporting limit.

2

In milligrams per kilogram except for aluminum, carbon, iron, nitrogen, and titanium, which are in percentage of dry weight.

3

Acceptable variability among analyses of standard-reference samples is within the published limits for each constituent for each standard or ±10 percent of 

the MPV, whichever is greater.
16 Assessment of Energetic Compounds, Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds, and Trace Elements

(near or smaller than the MRL). Thus, it is reasonable to 

assume that the actual SVOC concentrations for these particular quality-concerned constituents would not be appreciably 

different than the reported nondetection values.

Stream-Water Samples

Stream-water replicate samples included concurrent 

and split replicate environmental samples collected from 

site 7MC-2 on June 2, 2008 (table 16 in the “Supplemental 

Information” section at the back of this report). The concurrent 

replicate sample (1335 hours) was collected by the automatic 

sampler at the point in time when the manual environmental 

sample (1320 hours) was about half collected. The concurrent replicate stream-water sample measures the comparability of automatically collected samples to manually collected 

samples. Results of analyses for the manually collected and 

automatically collected samples are evaluated by calculation 

of the ratio of the concentrations in the manually collected 

sample to the concentration of the constituent in the automatically collected sample. This ratio provides a simple measure 

of the degree and direction in which deviations occur between 

these two samples. Replicate-pair ratios were available only 

for perchlorate, trace elements, and major cations because no 

other energetic compounds or SVOCs were detected in either 

sample of the replicate pair. With the exception of sodium, all 

constituents had larger concentrations in the manually collected sample. The median and mean ratios were 1.316 and 

1.311, respectively (table 7). Generally, these results indicate 

that cross-sectional mean constituent concentrations as represented by manually collected EWI samples at site 7MC-2 are 

underestimated by automatically collected point samples by a 

factor of about 1.3.

A stream-water split replicate sample (1325 hours) was 

collected at site 7MC-2 from the same sample churn as the 

environmental sample (1320 hours). RPDs between the two 

samples were calculated but were available only for perchlorate, trace elements, and major cations. The RPDs between 

replicate pairs generally were small, as evidenced by a 75th 

percentile value of 2.4 percent (table 8). The maximum RPD 

was 16.2 percent, still within the 20-percent quality-assurance 

goal.

Quality-assurance measures were part of laboratory 

analytical protocols for stream-water constituents. Analysis 

of a perchlorate matrix spike sample identified a large percentage recovery value that was larger than the laboratory 

quality-assurance goal. This resulted in “estimated” qualifiers 

for measured concentrations of perchlorate in samples from 

the following sites: RC-1, FC-1, 3MC-1 (5/26/08), HC-1 

(5/27/08), 7MC-2 (5/26/08 at 1045 and 2140 hours), and 

7MC-2 (5/27/08) (table 16). This exceedance of laboratory 

quality-assurance goals indicates that the actual concentration of perchlorate in these samples may be smaller than the 

reported concentrations. Additionally, four SVOC samples 

from site 7MC-2 (6/2/08 at 1130, 1325, 1335, and 2030 hours) 

were processed past twice the standard sample-holding time of 

7 days. Percentage recoveries of SVOCs for some laboratorycontrol or matrix-spike duplicate samples also exceeded laboratory quality-assurance goals for stream-water samples collected from the following sites: 3MC-1 (6/20/07 and 7/4/07), 

HC-1 (6/20/07), and 7MC-2 (6/02/07) (table 16). Therefore, 

the nondetection of SVOCs in these samples was qualified 

by the laboratory with the understanding that the excessive 

holding time and quality-assurance concerns with laboratorycontrol or matrix-spike duplicate samples may obscure the true 

concentration of these constituents. 

Assessment of Streambed Sediment

Energetic compounds and particularly trace elements 

can accumulate in streambed sediment (Horowitz and others, 

1989; Horowitz, 1991). Analysis of streambed sediment can 

provide useful information about the extent and magnitude 

Table 7. Statistical summary of ratios of manually 

collected (1320 hours) to automatically collected (1335 

hours) concurrent replicate analyses of perchlorate, trace 

elements, and major cations in stream-water samples 

collected at site 7MC-2, Fort Riley, Kansas, June 2, 2008. 

[M, manually collected sample; A, automatically collected sample]

Summary statistic Number of replicate 

analyses or ratios (M/A)

Number of replicate analyses 24

Minimum .986

25th percentile 1.254

Median 1.316

Mean 1.311

75th percentile 1.394

Maximum 1.517

Table 8. Statistical summary of relative percentage 

differences between environmental (1320 hours) and 

split replicate (1325 hours) analyses of perchlorate, trace 

elements, and major cations in stream-water samples 

collected at site 7MC-2, Fort Riley, Kansas, June 2, 2008.

Summary statistic Number of replicate analyses or 

relative percentage difference

Number of replicate analyses 24

Minimum .1

25th percentile .4

Median .8

Mean 2.3

75th percentile 2.4

Maximum 16.2
Assessment of Streambed Sediment 17

of constituent dispersal within watersheds and the affinity 

of constituents to move from dispersal areas. Samples of 

streambed sediment were collected at 16 sampling sites at or 

near the Fort Riley Military Reservation (fig. 1) and analyzed 

for selected energetic compounds, SVOCs, carbon, and trace 

elements. Results of these analyses were tabulated (table 15 

in the “Supplemental Information” section at the back of this 

report), summarized, and assessed. Assessment of these data 

included the extent and magnitude of constituent occurrence 

and the potential for constituent concentrations to adversely 

affect aquatic life relative to recommended sediment-quality 

guidelines. For sampling sites with both environmental 

(primary) and replicate sample analyses (table 15), analytical results were averaged prior to statistical summary and 

assessment.

Statistical Summary and Spatial Variability

None of the energetic compounds or SVOCs analyzed in 

streambed sediment were detected in samples from selected 

stream sites (fig. 1) located within the Fort Riley Military 

Reservation (table 15). The only detections of any of these 

compounds were for the SVOCs benzo[a]pyrene (estimated 

54.3 μg/kg), benzo[b]fluoranthene (165 μg/kg), fluoranthene 

(estimated 107 μg/kg), and pyrene (estimated 114 μg/kg) all of 

which were in the sample collected at reference site TC-1 (fig. 

1) located just upstream from the northern boundary of Fort 

Riley. These results are in general agreement with the nondetection of energetic compounds in streambed sediment in the 

U.S. Army (2007) study. The implications of these nondetections for energetic compounds and SVOCs are that either the 

compounds are not being transported from areas of dispersal 

(munitions firing points and impact areas), the compounds 

do not favor adsorption to sediment in streambeds, or that 

current (2008) analytical methods are not sensitive enough 

to detect the small concentrations that may be transported 

adsorbed to suspended sediment and subsequently deposited 

on streambeds. It is not surprising, however, that perchlorate 

was not found in streambed sediment because its negative log 

KOW value (table 1) means that the compound would partition 

strongly to the dissolved phase.

As mentioned in the “Introduction” of this report, trace 

elements may be components of casings, projectiles, explosives, or detonators of munitions and include aluminum, 

antimony, barium, copper, iron, lead, mercury, molybdenum, 

titanium, uranium, and zinc. These elements and others commonly are transported adsorbed to suspended sediment and, 

subsequently, may be deposited on streambeds. An analysis 

of streambed sediment for trace elements may provide insight 

into potential for contamination resulting from live fire of 

military munitions. Therefore, a statistical analysis (table 

9, fig. 7) was conducted of trace element concentrations in 

streambed sediment for the 15 sampling sites within the Fort 

Riley Military Reservation and compared to the reference site 

TC-1 (fig. 1).

Generally, the range in concentrations for most trace 

elements among the 15 sampling sites was narrow and not 

too dissimilar from background concentrations determined 

in streambed sediment from reference site TC-1. Reference 

site concentrations usually equated to about the 50th to 75th 

percentile concentration range among the 15 sampling sites. 

These results provide little evidence of contamination relative 

to live-firing exercises. However, to further examine or quantify potential contamination, streams with multiple sampling 

locations that transect or receive intervening drainage from 

munitions firing points or the IAC were assessed in greater 

detail. Two streambed-sediment sampling sites were located 

on Threemile Creek, and three sampling sites were located 

on Sevenmile Creek (fig. 1, table 3). All of these sites receive 

drainage from firing points and (or) the IAC with each succeeding downstream site receiving additional drainage from 

affected areas relative to the preceding upstream site. Sevenmile Creek has the largest potential for trace element contamination because it transects not only the IAC but also the 

ATA. The ATA likely contains the largest dispersal of energetic 

compounds and associated trace elements from munitions 

firing or detonations of any location at Fort Riley. Therefore, 

Sevenmile Creek could be the most vulnerable to hydrologic 

contamination from munitions-related trace elements as verified by a comparison of trace element concentrations between 

sites upstream (site 7MC-1) from and downstream (sites 

7MC-2 and 7MC-3) from the IAC. In reality, this vulnerability 

(potential contamination) was not supported by the streambedsediment trace element data from Sevenmile Creek or by 

equivalent data from Threemile Creek (fig. 8). In fact, trace 

element concentrations in streambed sediment changed little 

along the upstream-to-downstream flow paths of Threemile 

and Sevenmile Creeks (table 15).

Data from selected streambed-sampling sites at Fort 

Riley are not indicative of trace elements contaminantion of 

streambed sediment at least in regards to movement from 

dispersal areas. This conclusion may indicate that (1) trace elements associated with military munitions may not be of sufficient mass to significantly increase background concentrations 

in streambed sediment of local streams, (2) trace elements 

become adsorbed to soil particles not readily transported from 

dispersal areas, (3) actual munitions dispersal areas (areas 

directly affected by detonations) may be small relative to the 

overall size and associated drainage area of the firing points 

and impact areas, or (4) some combination of the first three.

Relation to Sediment-Quality Guidelines

The USEPA has established sediment-quality guidelines 

for concentrations of certain compounds and trace elements 

in the form of level-of-concern concentrations (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2004). These level-of-concern 

concentrations were derived from biological-effects correlations made on the basis of paired field (collected onsite) and 

laboratory data to relate incidence of adverse biological effects 
18 Assessment of Energetic Compounds, Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds, and Trace Elements

to dry-weight sediment concentrations. Sediment-quality 

guidelines are presented as the concentration of a compound 

or trace element that would produce toxic effects in sediment-inhabiting organisms with a specified probability – for 

example, 25-percent (T25) and 50-percent (T50) probabilities 

of toxicity (table 10).

USEPA notes that T25 and T50 guidelines are for use as 

screening tools for possible hazardous levels of chemicals and 

are not intended as regulatory criteria (U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, 2004). This cautionary statement is made 

because, although biological-effects correlation identifies 

level-of-concern concentrations associated with the likelihood 

of adverse organism response, the procedure may not demonstrate that a particular chemical or trace element is solely 

responsible. In fact, biological-effects correlation may not 

indicate direct cause-and-effect relations because sampling 

Table 9. Statistical summary of sediment particle size and selected trace element, carbon, and nutrient concentrations in 

the less-than-0.063 millimeter fraction of streambed sediment collected from 15 sampling sites at Fort Riley, Kansas, with 

comparison to reference site TC-1, 2007.

[Concentrations may represent an average of environmental (primary) and replicate samples presented in table 15. Concentrations are in milligrams per kilogram unless otherwise indicated; T25, concentration with a 25-percent probability of toxic effects; <, less than; mm, millimeter; %, 

percentage of dry weight ; --, not applicable]

Constituent

Particle size or concentration

Minimum

Percentile

Maximum

Reference 

site (TC-1; 

fig. 1)

T25 sediment quality guideline 

value

25 50 (median) 75

Sediment, <0.063 mm, % 44 58 60 70 78 76 --

Trace element , carbon, or nutrient concentration in the less-than-0.063-mm fraction

Aluminum, % 5.0 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.9 5.5 --

Antimony .6 .6 .7 .7 .8 .7 1.09

Arsenic 4.4 5.4 6.1 6.8 7.3 6.6 11.29

Barium 610 630 640 660 680 650 --

Beryllium 1.4 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.6 --

Cadmium .2 .3 .3 .4 .5 .4 .65

Carbon, organic, total, % .8 .9 1.0 1.2 1.5 1.0 --

Carbon, total, % 1.1 1.3 1.4 1.7 1.8 1.6 --

Chromium 44 47 49 51 56 47 76

Cobalt 8.0 9.5 11 12 13 12 --

Copper 13 14 14 15 17 15 49.98

Iron, % 1.9 2.0 2.2 2.2 2.5 2.2 --

Lead 18 19 21 22 26 22 47.82

Lithium 24 26 27 28 34 27 --

Manganese 340 460 530 620 710 600 --

Mercury <.01 <.01 <.01 <.01 <.01 <.01 .23

Molybdenum <1 <1 1 1 1 1 --

Nickel 16 18 20 20 23 19 23.77

Nitrogen, % .08 .09 .10 .10 .10 .10 --

Phosporus 430 460 490 520 590 480 --

Selenium .1 .2 .2 .2 .3 .2

Silver <.5 <.5 <.5 <.5 <.5 <.5 .44

Strontium 130 140 150 160 180 140 --

Sulfur .02 .02 .02 .03 .03 .02 --

Thallium <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 --

Titanium, % .36 .37 .38 .38 .39 .36 --

Uranium <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 --

Vanadium 61 66 68 70 76 66 --

Zinc 59 65 69 72 80 66 140.48
Assessment of Streambed Sediment 19 Figure 7. Method reporting limits, sample concentrations and median values in the less-than-0.063-millimeter fraction of streambed sediment for selected trace elements and carbon from 15 sites at Fort Riley, 2007, and 25-percent probability sediment-quality guidelines for toxicity in benthic organisms (U.S Environmental Protection Agency, 2004). 0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1,000 CONCENTRATION IN MILLIGRAMS PER KILOGRAM, EXCEPT AS NOTED

Aluminum (percent)

Antimony

Arsenic

Barium

Beryllium

Cadmium

Carbon, organic (percent)

Carbon, total (percent) 

Chromium

Copper

Iron (percent)

Lead

Lithium

Manganese

Mercury

Molybdenum

Nitrogen, total (percent)

Nickel

Phosphorus

Selenium

Silver

Strontium

Sulfur (percent)

Thallium

Titanium (percent)

Uranium

Vanadium

Zinc

Cobalt

(15)(15)(15)(15)

(7)

T25 Sediment quality guideline

Minimum Reporting Level (MRL)

Number of values less than MRL

Median value less than MRL

Median value

Median value equal to MRL

.23

.44

.65

1.09

140.48

11.29

23.77

49.9847.82

76
20 Assessment of Energetic Compounds, Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds, and Trace Elements

sites may contain a mixture of chemicals or trace elements 

that contribute to the toxic effects to some degree. Therefore, for any given site, these guidelines may be over-or 

underprotective.

Although sediment-quality guidelines have not been 

established for any of the energetic compounds examined 

in the study described in this report, guidelines have been 

established for several SVOCs and trace elements (table 10). 

Maximum concentrations of these SVOCs and trace elements determined among all 16 streambed-sampling sites (fig. 

1) at or near Fort Riley were compared to the T25 and T50 

sediment-quality guidelines. None of the maximum concentrations reported as uncensored values in table 10 exceeded either 

sediment-quality guideline, and, in fact, only one constituent 

Aluminum

(percent)

Antimony Barium Copper Iron

(percent)

Lead Titanium

(percent)

Zinc

Site 3MC-1 Site 3MC-2

Site 7MC-1 Site 7MC-2 Site 7MC-3

0

1

10

100

1,000

0

1

10

100

1,000

(A) Threemile Creek

(B) Sevenmile Creek

CONCENTRATION, IN MILLIGRAMS PER KILOGRAM OR PERCENTAGE OF DRY WEIGHT

Figure 8. Comparison of concentrations of selected trace elements in the less-than-0.063-millimeter fraction of 

streambed sediment from sampling sites on Threemile and Sevenmile Creeks, Fort Riley, 2007.
Assessment of Streambed Sediment 21

(nickel) was even relatively close to the most stringent 

(smallest concentration) T25 guideline. This diverges from 

the results obtained in the U.S. Army (2007) study where the 

trace elements antimony, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and nickel 

exceeded the T25 guideline in some instances.

Some ambiguity exists in the comparison of streambedsediment concentrations of some SVOCs and a trace element 

to sediment-quality guidelines because of relatively large 

MRLs. The MRLs for the SVOCs 1,1’-biphenyl, 9H-fluorene, 

acenaphthene, acenaphthylene, anthracene, benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[g,h,i]perylene, dibenzo[a,h]anthracene, and 

indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, and the trace element silver were 

larger than the most stringent guideline for each compound 

(T25; table 10). Analytical methods and associated MRLs 

were fixed by the USACE contract laboratory for energetic 

compounds and SVOCs. The inability of the analytical 

methods to report nondetection concentrations at or smaller 

than guideline values for these compounds means it is unclear 

whether concentrations of these particular compounds 

exceed guideline values in these instances. With the exception of 1,1’-biphenyl, however, the MRLs were less than the 

T50 guideline. The maximum concentration comparisons to 

sediment-quality guidelines do not indicate a large probability 

of toxic effects to aquatic organisms from detected concentrations of SVOCs or trace elements in streambed sediment at or 

near Fort Riley.

Table 10. Maximum concentrations and recommended sediment-quality guidelines (U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, 2004) for selected semi-volatile organic compounds and trace elements analyzed in streambed 

sediment from 16 sampling sites at or near Fort Riley, Kansas, 2007.

[T25, concentration with a 25-percent probability of toxic effects; T50, concentration with a 50-percent probability of toxic effects; <, 

less than; E, estimated concentration; ?, not known because method reporting limit is large relative to guideline value]

Sediment constituent

Maximum 

concentration 

or largest nondetected value

T25 guidelines T50 guidelines

Guideline value

Number of sites 

exceeding 

guideline

Guideline value

Number of sites 

exceeding 

guideline

Semi-volatile organic compounds, in micrograms per kilogram

1,1'-Biphenyl <1,570 30 ? 140 ?

9H-Fluorene <157 40 ? 260 0

Acenaphthene <157 40 ? 270 0

Acenaphthylene <157 40 ? 420 0

Anthracene <157 80 ? 800 0

Benzo[a]anthracene <157 140 ? 1,210 0

Benzo[a]pyrene E54.3 160 0 1,340 0

Benzo[b]fluoranthene 165 320 0 3,030 0

Benzo[g,h,i]perylene <157 150 ? 1,280 0

Benzo[k]fluoranthene <157 160 0 1,400 0

Chrysene <157 190 0 1,730 0

Dibenzo[a,h]anthracene <157 40 ? 260 0

Fluoranthene E107 290 0 2,860 0

Indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene <157 160 0 1,230 0

Phenanthrene <157 150 ? 1,120 0

Pyrene E114 290 0 2,410 0

Trace elements, in milligrams per kilogram

Antimony .8 1.09 0 4.41 0

Arsenic 7.3 11.29 0 32.61 0

Cadmium .5 .65 0 2.49 0

Chromium 56 76 0 233.27 0

Copper 17 49.98 0 157.13 0

Lead 26 47.82 0 161.06 0

Mercury <.01 .23 0 .87 0

Nickel 23 23.77 0 80.07 0

Silver <.5 .44 ? 2.45 0

Zinc 80 140.48 0 383.81 0
22 Assessment of Energetic Compounds, Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds, and Trace Elements

Assessment of Stream-Water Quality

Energetic compounds, SVOCs, and trace elements may 

be transported in runoff from areas of dispersal in particulate 

form, adsorbed to suspended sediment, or in the dissolved 

phase. These constituents, subsequently, may reach streams 

and become contaminants in stream water. Analyses of unfiltered stream-water samples provide information about the 

extent and magnitude of constituent occurrence and potential 

watershed source. Stream-water samples were collected from 

five sites during the investigation described in this report and 

were analyzed for selected physical properties, energetic compounds, SVOCs, and trace elements. Results of these analyses 

were tabulated (table 16 in the “Supplemental Information” 

section at the back of this report), summarized, and assessed. 

Assessment of these data included the extent and magnitude 

of constituent occurrence and the potential for constituent 

concentrations to adversely affect aquatic life relative to 

surface-water-quality criteria. Results of the manually collected runoff sample (1320 hours) and split replicate sample 

(1325 hours) collected at site 7MC-2 on June 2, 2008, were 

averaged prior to statistical summary or assessments described 

in this report. Because manually collected EWI samples were 

available for site 7MC-2 on June 2, 2008, data from the automatically collected, concurrent replicate sample (1335 hours) 

for this date (table 16) were not used in statistical summaries 

or assessments.

Statistical Summary and Spatial Variability

Stream-water samples were collected throughout a wide 

range of streamflow conditions. Base-flow samples (stable, 

low streamflow) were collected at sites HC-1, 3MC-1, and 

7MC-2 (fig. 1) at instantaneous discharges ranging from 

0.62 (site HC-1) to 6.4 ft3/s (site 7MC-2) (table 16). Runoff 

samples were collected at sites RC-1, FC-1, and HC-1 during a falling stream stage with discharges that ranged from 

24.9 (site FC-1) to 1,030 ft3/s (site HC-1). Of the two runoff 

samples collected at site 3MC-1, one was during a falling 

stage (163 ft3/s), and the other was during a rising stage (53.1 

ft3/s). Runoff samples collected at site 7MC-2 were collected 

during rising, peak, and falling stages with discharges that 

ranged from 4.6 to 966 ft3/s. This discharge range for sample 

collection at site 7MC-2 roughly corresponds to the total 

range in recorded discharge at this site (0.32 to 1,100 ft3/s) 

during stream-water sample collection from June 20, 2007, 

through June 2, 2008 (http://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/ks/nwis/

measurements/?site_no=390857096430600).

Perchlorate was the only energetic compound detected in 

stream-water samples collected during the study described in 

this report. Perchlorate was detected in 19 of 20 stream-water 

samples in concentrations that ranged from an estimated 0.057 

μg/L (site 7MC-2) to an estimated 0.236 μg/L (site FC-1) 

(table 16) with a median concentration of an estimated 0.114 

μg/L, which is substantially less than the 15-μg/L IHA. This 

range of concentrations is similar to that found in stream water 

during the U.S. Army (2007) study (0.069 to 0.194 μg/L). 

Also, the nondetection of other energetic compounds in stream 

water in the U.S. Army (2007) study is in general agreement 

with the nondetection of selected energetic compounds (other 

than perchlorate) in the study described in this report.

Perchlorate reacts vigorously when used as a component 

of rocket propellant, however, it is actually quite chemically 

stable under many conditions (Espenson, 2003). The chemical stability of perchlorate is attested to by its detection in 

the environment in various samples. In the late 19th century, 

perchlorate was identified in samples of high-nitrate caliche 

deposits in Chile (Dasgupta and others, 2006). These deposits are used as a fertilizer called “Chilean nitrate fertilizer” 

(CNF). Use of CNF on agricultural land represents a source 

of perchlorate input to the environment that is separate from 

munitions use. Historically, CNF has been used extensively 

in the United States, although its use in recent decades has 

decreased substantially (Dasgupta and others, 2006).

 More recently, small concentrations of perchlorate have 

been detected in natural water, especially in groundwater. 

Often, the presence of perchlorate in water is linked to its 

production, handling, and use as a propellant, but detections of 

the compound in samples from relatively pristine areas have 

led to the investigation of naturally occurring perchlorate. 

Naturally occurring perchlorate is thought to originate from 

atmospheric formation of the compound especially during 

lightning storms. Parker and others (2008) reported detectable 

concentrations of perchlorate in a majority of rainfall samples 

from pristine sites in the conterminous United States, with a 

range of detected values between an estimated 0.07 and 24.4 

μg/L and the maximum concentration detected in a sample 

from a site in rural Colorado. The authors also noted large 

spatial and temporal variability in perchlorate concentrations 

in rainfall.

Parker and others (2008) also investigated naturally 

occurring perchlorate concentrations in groundwater in the 

conterminous United States. They estimated that a median 

background concentration of perchlorate is detectable but not 

quantifiable in groundwater at a concentration between 0.04 

and 0.12 μg/L. Concentrations generally were larger in semiarid regions including the Great Plains. Perchlorate in water 

from the nine wells sampled in Kansas for the Parker and others (2008) study had a median concentration of 0.665 μg/L. 

 Backus and others (2005) studied surface-water occurrence of perchlorate in the Canadian Great Lakes Basin. 

Samples were collected from Lake Erie, Lake Huron, and 12 

streams. Perchlorate was not found in samples from the lakes 

but was detected in samples from six of the streams with 

concentrations that ranged from 0.16 to 0.33 μg/L. Backus 

and others (2005) attributed the presence of perchlorate in the 

stream water to agricultural activity in the watershed. 

Perchlorate occurs in stream water at sites receiving 

drainage from munitions firing points and impact areas at Fort 

Riley. However, a more thorough analysis of stream-water 

data is required to identify potential sources of perchlorate. 
Assessment of Stream-Water Quality 23

The concentrations of perchlorate in stream water were relatively small (median concentration was an estimated 0.114 

μg/L), which is similar to the median concentration of perchlorate detected in groundwater (0.166 μg/L) during the U.S. 

Army (2007) study. Thus, it is possible that perchlorate concentrations measured in stream water in the study described 

herein were derived, at least in part, from the groundwater that 

provides base flow for streams. 

In general, positive relations between water-quality constituent concentrations and stream discharge (as one increases, 

so does the other) probably indicate a land-surface origin for 

the constituent mass (transported from the land surface in 

runoff). On the other hand, negative relations may indicate a 

primarily groundwater origin for the constituents. The relation 

between concentration and discharge provides a means for 

evaluating the relative importance of stream-water constituent 

sources, particularly sources of perchlorate.

Three stream-water sampling sites (3MC-1, HC-1, 

7MC-2) had multiple samples including base-flow and runoff 

samples. Within-site differences of perchlorate concentrations 

were not very large; maximum concentrations were no more 

than about three times larger than minimum concentrations 

(table 16), but an examination of these differences is worthwhile. At sites HC-1 and 7MC-2 maximum perchlorate concentrations corresponded to base-flow conditions. The baseflow sample at site HC-1 had a discharge of 0.62 ft3

/s, and the 

perchlorate concentration was 0.216 μg/L. The runoff sample 

at site HC-1 with a maximum discharge of 1,030 ft3/s had 

a nondetectable (less than 0.2 μg/L) perchlorate concentration, the only nondetection of the compound in stream-water 

samples. At site 7MC-2 the base-flow discharge was 6.4 ft3/s 

with a maximum perchlorate concentration of an estimated 

0.180 μg/L. The series of runoff samples collected from site 

7MC-2 on June 2, 2008, provides a reasonable illustration of 

the negative relation between perchlorate concentrations and 

discharge observed at this site. Figure 9 shows the time series 

of perchlorate concentrations in samples collected during 

runoff on June 2, 2008, with corresponding discharge values 

noted (replicate samples are not shown). 

The first sample (1130 hours) was collected with a 

discharge of 124 ft3/s and a perchlorate concentration of an 

estimated 0.086 μg/L. A small decrease in perchlorate concentration (estimated 0.075 μg/L) occurred when the discharge 

reached a maximum of 966 ft3/s at 1320 hours. The perchlorate concentration rebounded and reached an estimated 0.108 

μg/L at 2330 hours when discharge had decreased to 221 ft3/s. 

The relation is even more apparent if the correction factor 

of 1.3 times the measured concentration of constituents in 

the automatically collected samples (see section on “Quality 

Assurance”; table 7) is applied to the measured concentrations of perchlorate in these samples; however, only estimated 

values are shown in figure 9. Site 3MC-1 was the only site 

where base-flow conditions did not correspond to maximum 

within-site perchlorate concentrations. The maximum perchlorate concentration at site 3MC-1 was an estimated 0.176 

μg/L with the maximum discharge of 163 ft3/s; the minimum 

perchlorate concentration was an estimated 0.085 μg/L with 

the minimum (base-flow) discharge of 2.0 ft3/s. The positive 

relation between perchlorate concentration and discharge at 

site 3MC-1 may indicate a land-surface source of perchlorate 

at Threemile Creek. However, a firm conclusion cannot be 

drawn because only three samples were collected from the 

site, and the collection dates were spaced widely–June 20, 

2007; May 27, 2008; June 2, 2008. In contrast, the negative 

relations observed at site HC-1 and especially at site 7MC-2 

give an indication that perchlorate concentrations are more 

strongly connected to groundwater influx at these sites. The 

fact that all base-flow stream-water samples contained measurable perchlorate and the negative relations in perchlorate concentration in relation to discharge at two of the sites points to a 

relatively substantial groundwater contribution of perchlorate 

in stream water. Because the median concentration of perchlorate in stream water measured during this study is similar 

to the median concentration measured in groundwater at the 

periphery of the IAC during the U.S. Army (2007) study and 

because these concentrations are within the range of naturally 

occurring groundwater perchlorate concentrations reported by 

Parker and others (2008), it is likely that the stream-water perchlorate concentrations measured during the study described 

herein result, at least in part, from natural sources. 

Additionally, the watersheds for sites RC-1 and FC-1 

contain only firing points (Figures 1 and 6) and these are for 

artillery whose propellants generally do not contain perchlorate, not for rockets whose propellants do contain perchlorate 

(Richard Shields, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, written communication, 2009). Site FC-1, in particular, only has historic 

(1981) firing points. The one stream-water sample taken from 

site FC-1 had the highest (estimated 0.236 μg/L) (table 16) 

measured perchlorate concentration. Perchlorate concentrations for site RC-1 and especially site FC-1 cannot, therefore, 

0

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

0.10

0.12

TIME OF SAMPLE COLLECTION, 24 HOURS

PERCHLORATE CONCENTRATION,

IN 

MICROGRA

MS PER LITER

124 ft3/s 

966 ft3

/s 

Cubic feet per second, ft3

/s 

856 ft3

/s 

289 ft3

/s 

221 ft3

/s 

1130 1330 1630 2030 2330

Figure 9. Time series of estimated stream-water perchlorate 

concentrations at sampling site 7MC-2, Fort Riley, collected during 

runoff on June 2, 2008, with discharge values noted.
24 Assessment of Energetic Compounds, Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds, and Trace Elements

Figure 10. Method reporting limits, sample concentrations and median values, and surface-water-quality criteria (Kansas Department of Health and Environment, 2005) for selected trace elements in stream water from sampling sites at Fort Riley, 2007–08.

Minimum Reporting Level (MRL)

Kansas surface water-quality criterion

Median value

Number of values less than MRL

(8)(3)(3)(6)(2)(8)(7)(5)

0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1,000 10,000 100,000

CONCENTRATION, IN MICROGRA

MS PER LITER

Beryllium

Barium

Arsenic

Aluminum

Copper

Cobalt

Chromium

Cadmium

Iron

Lead

Lithium

Manganese

Mercury

Molybdenum

Nickel

Selenium

Silver

Strontium

Zinc

Rangeofreporting levels

Estimated value

Measuredvalue

150

40

0.77

5.0
Assessment of Stream-Water Quality 25

be reasonably attributed to firing-range activities, and provide 

further evidence of a naturally occurring perchlorate source at 

Fort Riley.

The weight of the evidence regarding perchlorate in 

stream water suggests that occurrence of the compound in 

water from selected streams at Fort Riley arises from natural 

sources, although a contribution from firing-range activities is 

also certainly possible. Therefore a definitive identification of 

the source of perchlorate is difficult. The fact that perchlorate 

was not detected in any streambed-sediment samples during 

this study but was found in nearly all stream-water samples 

can be attributed, in part, to the fact that perchlorate is a highly 

soluble compound and has a negative log Kow value (table 1). 

Thus, perchlorate would be expected to favor dissolution in 

water rather than adsorption to streambed sediment.

SVOCs generally were not detected in stream-water 

samples except for two compounds. Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate was detected in one sample from site FC-1 at an estimated 

concentration of 1.18 μg/L and in three samples from site 

7MC-2 (fig. 1) at estimated concentrations of 1.70, 2.46, and 

1.56 μg/L. Di-n-butyl phthalate was found in one sample from 

site 7MC-2 at an estimated concentration of 1.25 μg/L. Both 

of these phthalate compounds are plasticizers and have many 

commercial and industrial uses, and their occurrence in water 

can result from (1) leaching of plastics such as tubes, dishes, 

containers, and paper; (2) from a microcontaminant in laboratory chemicals, food, and detergents; (3) from the applications 

of paints, coatings, and adhesives; and (4) from evaporates of 

inks and insecticides. Additionally, di-n-butyl phthalate is a 

component in the fuel matrix of double-base rocket propellant 

(Verschueren, 1996). The detection of di-n-butyl phthalate in 

one sample from site 7MC-2 does provide some speculation 

that munitions use at Fort Riley may be responsible for the 

occurrence of this constituent; however, because of its nonpervasive occurrence, the fact that the only SVOCs detected 

in stream-water samples were related phthalate compounds 

with similar commercial and industrial sources, and because 

the concentrations detected were small, there is no definitive 

evidence that the detection of di-n-butyl phthalate is from 

munitions use.

Variability in concentrations of trace elements in all 

stream-water samples collected from the five sampling sites 

(fig. 1) was large (table 11; fig. 10) relative to the narrow range 

determined for concentrations in streambed sediment. Maximum concentrations were more than three orders of magnitude 

larger than minimum concentrations for several trace elements. Aluminum, iron, manganese, and strontium had some 

Table 11. Statistical summary of trace element concentrations in stream-water samples from five sampling sites at Fort 

Riley, Kansas, 2007–08.

[Concentrations may represent an average of primary and replicate samples presented in table 16. Concentrations are in micrograms per liter. 

<, less than]

Trace element

Summary statistic

Number of 

samples

Percentile

Minimum 25 50 (median) 75 Maximum

Aluminum 18 12 390 4,000 12,000 36,000

Arsenic 18 1.1 2.0 3.6 4.8 9.9

Barium 18 110 160 190 260 900

Beryllium 18 <.26 .32 .70 1.2 3.9

Cadmium 18 .01 .03 .24 .65 1.8

Chromium 18 <.6 1.0 8.8 18 38

Cobalt 18 .05 .50 5.0 13 40

Copper 18 2.5 <4.0 9.5 21 81

Iron 18 9.6 200 2,800 14,000 40,000

Lead 18 .05 .91 11 31 150

Lithium 18 4.8 8.4 9.8 22 44

Manganese 18 8.6 66 340 770 2,600

Mercury 18 .008 <.010 .02 .04 .07

Molybdenum 18 .20 .26 .42 .90 1.3

Nickel 18 .30 1.4 12 26 64

Selenium 18 .25 .30 .36 .45 .92

Silver 18 <.016 .018 .04 .11 .29

Strontium 18 80 230 380 610 900

Zinc 18 3.1 6.2 34 74 160
26 Assessment of Energetic Compounds, Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds, and Trace Elements

Table 12. Maximum concentrations and associated water-quality criteria for selected constituents analyzed in stream water 

collected from five sampling sites at Fort Riley, Kansas, 2007–08.

[KDHE, Kansas Department of Health and the Environment; USEPA, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; IHA, Interim Health Advisory; E, estimated 

concentration; <, less than; --, criterion not available or not applicable; ?, not known because detection value is large relative to most stringent criterion value]

Constituent Number of 

samples

Maximum 

concentration 

or largest nondetected value

Water-quality criteria source, type, or value Number of samples exceeding 

most stringent 

criterion

KDHE1 USEPA2

Acute Chronic IHA

Energetic compounds, in micrograms per liter

2,4-Dinitrotoluene 18 <0.87 330 230 -- 0

Nitrobenzene 18 <.87 27,000 -- -- 0

Perchlorate 18 E.236 -- -- 15 0

Semi-volatile organic compounds, in micrograms per liter

1,2-Dichlorobenzene 18 <13.3 1,120 763 -- 0

1,3-Dichlorobenzene 18 <13.3 1,120 763 -- 0

2,4-Dichlorophenol 11 <13.3 2,020 365 -- 0

2,4,5-Trichlorophenol 11 <13.3 100 63 -- 0

2,4,6-Trichlorophenol 11 <13.3 -- 970 -- 0

2,4-Dimethylphenol 11 <13.3 1,300 530 -- 0

2-Chlorophenol 12 <13.3 4,380 2,000 -- 0

4-Chloro-3-methylphenol 11 <13.3 30 -- -- 0

Acenaphthene 18 <11.9 1,700 520 -- 0

Atrazine 5 <13.3 170 3.0 -- ?

Bis(2-chloroethoxy)methane 18 <13.3 11,000 -- -- 0

Bis(2-chloroethyl) ether 18 <13.3 238,000 -- -- 0

Bis(2-chloroisopropyl) ether 18 <13.3 238,000 -- -- 0

Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate 18 E2.46 400 360 -- 0

Dimethyl phthalate 18 <13.3 940 3.0 -- ?

Di-n-butyl phthalate 18 E1.25 940 3.0 -- 0

Fluoranthene 18 <11.9 3,980 -- -- 0

Hexachlorobutadiene 18 <13.3 90 9.3 -- ?

Hexachlorocyclopentadiene 18 <13.3 7.0 5.2 -- ?

Hexachloroethane 18 <13.3 980 540 -- 0

Isosphorone 18 <13.3 117,000 -- -- 0

Naphthalene 18 <11.9 2,300 620 -- 0

Pentachlorophenol3 11 <13.3 11 7.0 -- ?

Phenanthrene 18 <11.9 30 6.3 -- ?

Phenol 11 <13.3 10,200 2,560 -- 0

Trace elements, in micrograms per liter

Arsenic 18 9.9 340 150 -- 0

Chromium 18 38 -- 40 -- 0

Mercury 18 .07 1.4 0.77 -- 0

Selenium 18 .92 20 5.0 -- 0

1

 Kansas Department of Health and Environment (2005), aquatic-life criteria.

2

 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2009a).

3

 Values are pH dependent, and were calculated using the minimum field pH measured in this study according to Kansas Department of Health and Environment (2005) criteria.
Summary 27

of the widest concentration ranges and the largest median 

concentrations of all selected trace elements.

The number of samples collected at stream-water sampling sites was not sufficient to assess between-site statistical 

differences in concentrations. However, within-site variation 

in trace element concentrations among stream-water samples 

was large at sites HC-1, 3MC-1, and 7MC-2 (fig. 1) (table 

16), and generally, the largest concentrations for each trace 

element were associated with runoff samples. Exceptions 

included barium, lithium, molybdenum, and strontium where 

the base-flow sample had the largest concentration among all 

samples for at least one of the three sites with both base-flow 

and runoff samples. As noted in the discussion of perchlorate 

detections, positive relations between water-quality constituent 

concentrations and discharge probably indicate a land-surface 

origin for the constituent mass (runoff). Conversely, negative relations may indicate a primarily groundwater origin for 

the constituent such as might be the case for barium, lithium, 

molybdenum, and strontium.

The wide range in concentrations of some trace elements 

in stream water is not necessarily an indication of anthropogenic (human-related) sourcing or, more specifically, the result 

of munitions use at Fort Riley. Total concentrations (determined on unfiltered water) for many constituents may increase 

as discharge increases because of increased suspended-sediment load and the associated mineral compounds in runoff. 

Mineral-associated trace elements include aluminum, iron, 

and manganese (Hem, 1992). The assessment of the relation 

to water-quality criteria described in the next section provides 

a more informative evaluation of contaminant occurrence in 

stream water.

Relation to Water-Quality Criteria

Perchlorate was the only energetic compound detected in 

stream-water samples; however, the maximum concentration 

determined at any sampling site was substantially less than the 

U.S. Environmental Protection (2009b) IHA of 15 μg/L (table 

12). In addition, several SVOCs have established aquaticlife criteria (Kansas Department of Health and Environment, 

2005) (table 12). Of these SVOCs, only bis(2-ethylhexyl) 

phthalate and di-n-butyl phthalate were detected but at concentrations less than 50 percent of the most stringent criteria.

Some ambiguity exists in the comparison of streamwater concentrations of some SVOCs to water-quality criteria 

because of relatively large MRLs. The MRLs for atrazine, 

dimethyl phthalate, hexachlorobutadiene, hexachlorocyclopentadiene, pentachlorophenol, and phenanthrene were larger 

than the most stringent criterion for each compound (chronic 

criterion; table 12). As noted in the discussion of streambedsediment quality criteria, analytical methods and associated 

MRLs were fixed by the USACE contract laboratory for energetic compounds and SVOCs. The inability of the analytical 

methods to report nondetection concentrations at or smaller 

than criteria values for these compounds means it is unclear 

whether concentrations of these particular SVOCs exceeded 

criteria values in these instances. With the exception of hexachlorocyclopentadiene and pentachlorophenol, however, the 

MRLs were substantially less than the acute criteria.

The concentrations of the trace elements arsenic, chromium, mercury, and selenium determined in stream-water 

samples were all less than KDHE aquatic-life criteria (Kansas 

Department of Health and Environment, 2005; table 12), confirming the results of the U.S. Army (2007) study. KDHE also 

has established aquatic-life criteria for cadmium, copper, lead, 

nickel, silver, and zinc (Kansas Department of Health and 

Environment, 2005). However, these criteria are water-hardness dependent, and hardness values could not be calculated 

from the data set obtained during the study described in this 

report because calcium and magnesium concentrations were 

determined on unfiltered stream-water samples. Analytical 

results, therefore, would include the calcium and magnesium 

incorporated in mineral matrix, which could be a substantial 

part of reported concentrations especially for runoff samples 

with large suspended-sediment loads.

Analytical results of stream-water samples provided little 

evidence of contamination by energetic compounds, SVOCs, 

or trace elements from munitions use at Fort Riley. The pervasive occurrence of perchlorate in stream-water samples was 

the only indication of a possible munitions-use signature on 

stream-water quality. However, perchlorate was found in small 

concentrations and has possible natural sources. The implication of these results is that stream-water contamination arising 

from firing-range activities, if it exists, is so small as to be 

nondetectable with current (2008) analytical methods or is not 

distinguishable from background concentrations for constituents that also are naturally occurring. Overall, the munitionsrelated constituents analyzed in this report in streambed sediment or stream water when detected were at concentrations 

that were less than regulatory criteria.

Summary

Many military installations throughout the United States 

have live-fire training ranges, including Fort Riley, Kansas, 

home of the First Infantry Division. The use of live-fire training ranges can result in the environmental dispersal of residues 

of energetic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds 

(SVOCs), and trace elements that are components of munitions as explosives and propellants or part of the explosive 

casing.

The occurrence and distribution of energetic compounds, 

SVOCs, and trace elements on soils in and around munitions 

firing points and impact areas have been well documented at 

military installations throughout the United States. Energetic 

compounds, SVOCs, and trace elements can be mobilized into 

streams during runoff (adsorbed to soil particles or dissolved 

in water) or as a component of groundwater discharged to 

adjacent streams during base flow.
28 Assessment of Energetic Compounds, Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds, and Trace Elements

This report provides an assessment of the occurrence and 

distribution of energetic compounds, SVOCs, and trace elements in streambed sediments and stream water from streams 

draining munitions firing points and impact areas on the Fort 

Riley Military Reservation in northeast Kansas. Streambed 

sediment was collected from 16 sampling sites located at or 

near Fort Riley. Samples of stream water also were collected 

during base-flow and runoff conditions at 5 of the 16 sites. 

Streambed sediment and stream-water samples were analyzed 

for as many as 17 energetic compounds, 65 SVOCs, and 27 

trace elements. The occurrence and distribution of energetic 

compounds, SVOCs, and trace elements are discussed in 

relation to applicable State and Federal sediment- and waterquality guidelines.

None of the energetic compounds or SVOCs analyzed in 

streambed sediment were detected in samples from selected 

stream sites located within the Fort Riley Military Reservation. The only detections of any of these compounds were 

for four SVOCs detected at concentrations near or less than 

the analytical method minimum reporting levels. All of the 

SVOC detections were in the sample collected at a reference 

site located just outside of the northern boundary of Fort Riley. 

These results are in general agreement with the nondetection 

of energetic compounds in streambed sediment during a previous study of Fort Riley by the U.S. Army. The implications 

of these nondetections for energetic compounds and SVOCs 

are that either the compounds are not being transported from 

dispersal areas (munitions firing points and impact areas) or, if 

they are, that current (2008) analytical methods are not sensitive enough to detect the small concentrations that may be 

transported adsorbed to suspended sediment and subsequently 

deposited on streambeds.

Generally, the range in concentrations for most trace 

elements among the 15 streambed-sediment sampling sites 

located on the Fort Riley Military Reservation was narrow and 

not too dissimilar from concentrations determined in streambed sediment from the off-reservation reference site. These 

results provide little evidence for contamination relative to 

live-firing exercises. Additionally, none of the trace element 

maximum concentrations exceeded USEPA sediment-quality 

guidelines. This diverges from the results obtained in an earlier 

U.S. Army study where, in some instances, the trace elements 

antimony, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and nickel exceeded the 

applicable 25-percent probability sediment-quality guidelines 

established by USEPA.

Data from selected streambed sampling sites at Fort Riley 

are not indicative of trace elements contaminantion of streambed sediment at least in regards to movement from dispersal 

areas. This conclusion may indicate that (1) trace elements 

associated with military munitions may not be of sufficient 

mass to significantly increase background concentrations 

in streambed sediment of local streams, (2) trace elements 

become adsorbed to soil particles not readily transported from 

dispersal areas, (3) actual munitions dispersal areas (areas 

directly affected by detonations) may be small relative to the 

overall size and associated drainage area of the munitions 

firing points and impact areas at Fort Riley, or (4) some combination of the first three indications.

Perchlorate was the only energetic compound detected in 

stream-water samples collected during the study described in 

this report. Perchlorate was detected in 19 of 20 stream-water 

samples with a median concentration of an estimated 0.114 

micrograms per liter (μg/L) and a maximum concentration of 

an estimated 0.236 μg/L, which was substantially less than the 

USEPA Interim Health Advisory criterion (15 μg/L). 

The stream-water sample data suggests a perchlorate 

source tied to shallow groundwater. The median concentration 

(an estimated 0.114 μg/L) of perchlorate in stream water measured during this study is similar to the median concentration 

(0.166 μg/L) measured in groundwater at the periphery of the 

Impact Area complex during the earlier U.S. Army study and 

these concentrations are within the range of naturally occurring perchlorate concentrations reported in groundwater from 

pristine sites in the conterminous United States in a previous 

study. Perchlorate was detected in stream water from sites 

RC-1 and FC-1, where firing-range activities cannot reasonably contribute to occurrence of the compound. The weight 

of the evidence suggests that occurrence of perchlorate in 

water from selected streams at Fort Riley arises from natural 

sources, although a contribution from firing-range activities is 

also certainly possible. Therefore a definitive identification of 

the source of perchlorate is difficult. 

The concentrations of perchlorate in stream water determined during the study described in this report had a range 

similar to the earlier U.S. Army study (0.069 to 0.194 μg/L). 

Also, the nondetection of other energetic compounds in the 

U.S. Army study is in general agreement with the nondetection 

of selected energetic compounds (other than perchlorate) in 

the study described herein.

SVOCs were not detected in stream-water samples except 

for bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (4 samples), and di-n-butyl 

phthalate (1 sample), which were detected at small, estimated 

(less than 2.5 μg/L) concentrations and were less than the most 

stringent KDHE aquatic-life criteria. Of these, only di-n-butyl 

phthalate is used as a munitions component, although it has 

many other commercial and industrial uses. The detection of 

di-n-butyl phthalate in one sample does lead to some speculation that munitions use at Fort Riley may be responsible for 

the occurrence of this compound; however, because of its 

nonpervasive occurrence, the only SVOCs detected in streamwater samples are related phthalate compounds with similar 

commercial and industrial sources, and because of the small 

concentrations detected, there is no definitive evidence that the 

detection of di-n-butyl phthalate is from munitions use.

The concentrations of trace elements arsenic, chromium, 

mercury, and selenium detected in stream-water samples were 

all less than KDHE aquatic-life criteria, which confirms the 

results of the earlier U.S. Army study. Analytical results of 

stream-water samples provided little evidence of contamination by energetic compounds, SVOCs, or trace elements from 

munitions use at Fort Riley. The pervasive occurrence of 

perchlorate in stream-water samples was the only indication 
References Cited 29

of a possible munitions-use signature on stream-water quality. 

However, perchlorate was found in small concentrations and 

has possible natural sources. The implication of these results is 

that potential stream-water contamination arising from range 

activities, if it exists, is so small as to be nondetectable with 

current (2008) analytical methods or is not distinguishable 

from background concentrations for constituents that also are 

naturally occurring.

In brief, this study did not identify concentrations of 

energetic compounds, SVOCs, or trace elements that indicated 

contamination of bed sediment in streams draining live-firing 

ranges at Fort Riley. Stream-water samples did contain small 

concentrations (within regulatory criteria) of the energetic 

compound perchlorate in most samples and the SVOCs 

bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and di-n-butyl phthalate in a few 

samples. Concentrations of trace elements in stream water 

were within regulatory criteria. The results of this study are in 

general agreement with the earlier U.S. Army study with the 

exception that the exceedance of sediment-quality guidelines 

for some trace elements in the earlier study was not found in 

this study. Overall, the munitions-related constituents analyzed 

in this report in streambed sediment or stream water when 

detected were at concentrations that were less than regulatory 

criteria.

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Supplemental Information
34 Assessment of Energetic Compounds, Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds, and Trace Elements

Table 13. Energetic and semi-volatile organic compounds analyzed in the less-than-2.0-millimeter fraction and carbon and trace 

elements analyzed in the less-than-0.063-millimeter fraction of streambed sediment collected from 16 sampling sites at or near Fort 

Riley, Kansas, 2007. 

[Some method reporting limits are interim limits and limits expressed as a range include one or more interim reporting limits. %, percentage of dry weight]

Constituent Minimum 

reporting level Constituent Minimum reporting level

Energetic compounds, in micrograms per kilogram

1,3-Dinitrobenzene 150 1,3,5-Trinitrobenzene 150

2,4-Dinitrotoluene 150 2,6-Dinitrotoluene 150

2-Amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene 150 4-Amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene 150

2-Nitrotoluene 150 3-Nitrotoluene 150

4-Nitrotoluene 150 Octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-

tetrazocine (HMX)

150

Nitrobenzene 150 Nitroglycerin 1,000

Pentaerythritol tetranitrate 500 Perchlorate 2.71–3.17

1,3,5-Hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitrotriazine (RDX) 150 Tetryl 150

2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT) 150

Semi-volatile organic compounds, in micrograms per kilogram

1,1’-Biphenyl 1,360–1,570 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene 1,360–1,570

1,2-Dichlorobenzene 1,360–1,570 1,3-Dichlorobenzene 1,360–1,570

1,4-Dichlorobenzene 1,360–1,570 2,4-Dichlorophenol 1,360–1,570

2,4,5-Trichlorophenol 1,360–1,570 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol 1,360–1,570

2,4-Dimethylphenol 1,360–1,570 2,4-Dinitrophenol 2,710–3,140

2-Chloronaphthalene 136–157 2-Chlorophenol 1,360–1,570

2-Methyl-4,6-dinitrophenol 1,360–1,570 2-Methylnaphthalene 136–157

2-Nitroaniline 1,360–1,570 2-Nitrophenol 1,360–1,570

3,3’-Dichlorobenzidine 1,360–1,570 3-Nitroaniline 1,360–1,570

4-Bromophenyl phenyl ether 1,360–1,570 4-Chloro-3-methylphenol 1,360–1,570

4-Chloroaniline 1,360–1,570 4-Chlorophenyl phenyl ether 1,360–1,570

4-Nitroaniline 1,360–1,570 4-Nitrophenol 1,360–1,570

9H-Fluorene 136–157 Acenaphthene 136–157

Acenaphthylene 136–157 alpha-Terpineol 1,360–1,570

Anthracene 136–157 Atrazine 1,360–1,570

Benzaldehyde 1,360–1,570 Benzo[a]anthracene 136–157

Benzo[a]pyrene 136–157 Benzo[b]fluoranthene 136–157

Benzo[g,h,i]perylene 136–157 Benzo[k]fluoranthene 136–157

Benzyl n-butyl phthalate 1,360–1,570 Bis(2-chloroethoxy)methane 1,360–1,570

Bis(2-chloroethyl) ether 1,360–1,570 Bis(2-chloroisopropyl) ether 1,360–1,570
Supplemental Information 35

Table 13. Energetic and semi-volatile organic compounds analyzed in the less-than-2.0-millimeter fraction and carbon and trace 

elements analyzed in the less-than-0.063-millimeter fraction of streambed sediment collected from 16 sampling sites at or near Fort 

Riley, Kansas, 2007.—Continued

[Some method reporting limits are interim limits and limits expressed as a range include one or more interim reporting limits. %, percentage of dry weight]

Constituent Minimum 

reporting level Constituent Minimum reporting level

Semi-volatile organic compounds, in micrograms per kilogram—Continued

Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate 678–785 Carbazole 136–157

Chrysene 136–157 Dibenzo[a,h]anthracene 136–157

Dibenzofuran 1,360–1,570 Diethyl phthalate 1,360–1,570

Dimethyl phthalate 1,360–1,570 Di-n-butyl phthalate 1,360–1,570

Di-n-octyl phthalate 1,360–1,570 Diphenylamine 1,360–1,570

Fluoranthene 136–157 Hexachlorobenzene 1,360–1,570

Hexachlorobutadiene 1,360–1,570 Hexachlorocyclopentadiene 1,360–1,570

Hexachloroethane 1,360–1,570 Indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene 136–157

Isophorone 1,360–1,570 m-Cresol plus p-Cresol 1,360–1,570

Naphthalene 136–157 N-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine 1,360–1,570

o-Cresol 1,360–1,570 Pentachlorophenol 1,360–1,570

Phenanthrene 136–157 Phenol 1,360–1,570

Pyrene 136–157

Carbon and trace elements, in milligrams per kilogram unless otherwise noted

Aluminum, % .01 Antimony .1

Arsenic 1 Barium 1

Beryllium 1 Cadmium .1

Carbon, organic, total, % .01 Carbon, total, % .01

Chromium 1 Cobalt 1

Copper 1 Iron, % .01

Lead 1 Lithium 1

Manganese 1 Mercury .01

Molybdenum 1 Nickel 1

Nitrogen, % .01 Phosphorus 1

Selenium .1 Silver .5

Strontium 1 Sulfur, total, % .01

Thallium 50 Titanium, % .01

Uranium 50 Vanadium 1

Zinc 1
36 Assessment of Energetic Compounds, Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds, and Trace Elements

Table 14. Water-quality constituents analyzed in stream water collected from five sampling sites at Fort Riley, Kansas, 2007–08. 

[FNU, formazin nephelometric units; mg/L, milligrams per liter; °C, degrees Celsius; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter at 25 °C; mV, millivolts, relative to 

standard hydrogen electrode; --, not applicable. Some reporting limits are interim limits and limits expressed as a range include one or more interim reporting 

limits]

Constituent Minimum 

reporting level

Constituent Minimum 

reporting level

Physical properties and dissolved oxygen

Specific conductance (μS/cm) 2.6 pH (standard units) 0.01

Water temperature (°C) .1 Turbidity (FNU) .10

Dissolved oxygen (mg/L) .01 Redox potential (mV) --

Energetic compounds, in micrograms per liter

1,3-Dinitrobenzene 0.325–0.87 1,3,5-Trinitrobenzene 0.325–0.87

2,4-Dinitrotoluene 0.487–0.87 2,6-Dinitrotoluene 0.487−0.87

2-Amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene 0.487–0.87 4-Amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene 0.487−0.87

2-Nitrotoluene 0.487−0.87 3-Nitrotoluene 0.325–0.87

4-Nitrotoluene 0.487–0.87 Octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX)0.487–0.87

Nitrobenzene 0.325–0.87 Nitroglycerin 1.95−5.48

Pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) 1.95–5.43 Perchlorate .20

1,3,5-Hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitrotriazine (RDX) 0.487–0.87 Tetryl 0.4–1.46

2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT) 0.487–0.87

Semi-volatile organic compounds, in micrograms per liter

1,1’-Biphenyl 10.8–13.3 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene 10.2–13.3

1,2-Dichlorobenzene 10.2–13.3 1,3-Dichlorobenzene 10.2–13.3

1,4-Dichlorobenzene 10.2–13.3 2,4-Dichlorophenol 10.2–13.3

2,4,5-Trichlorophenol 10.2–13.3 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol 10.2–13.3

2,4-Dimethylphenol 10.2–13.3 2,4-Dinitrophenol 10.2–26.7

2-Chloronaphthalene 1.08−11.9 2-Chlorophenol 10.2–13.3

2-Methyl-4,6-dinitrophenol 10.2–13.3 2-Methylnaphthalene 1.08–11.9

2-Nitroaniline 10.2–13.3 2-Nitrophenol 10.2–13.3

3,3’-Dichlorobenzidine 10.2–13.3 3-Nitroaniline 10.2–13.3

4-Bromophenyl phenyl ether 10.2–13.3 4-Chloro-3-methylphenol 10.2–13.3

4-Chloroaniline 10.2–13.3 4-Chlorophenyl phenyl ether 10.2–13.3

4-Nitroaniline 10.2–13.3 4-Nitrophenol 10.2–13.3

9H-Fluorene 1.08–11.9 Acenaphthene 1.08–11.9

Acenaphthylene 1.08–11.9 Anthracene 1.08–11.9

Atrazine 10.8−13.3 Benzaldehyde 10.8–13.3

Benzo[a]anthracene 1.08–11.9 Benzo[a]pyrene 1.08–11.9

Benzo[b]fluoranthene 1.08–11.9 Benzo[g,h,i]perylene 1.08–11.9

Benzo[k]fluoranthene 1.08–11.9 Benzyl n-butyl phthalate 10.2−13.3
Supplemental Information 37

Table 14. Water-quality constituents analyzed in stream water collected from five sampling sites at Fort Riley, Kansas, 2007–08.—

Continued

[FNU, formazin nephelometric units; mg/L, milligrams per liter; °C, degrees Celsius; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter at 25 °C; mV, millivolts, relative to 

standard hydrogen electrode; --, not applicable. Some reporting limits are interim limits and limits expressed as a range include one or more interim reporting 

limits]

Constituent Minimum 

reporting level Constituent Minimum reporting level

Semi-volatile organic compounds, in micrograms per liter—Continued

Bis(2-chloroethoxy)methane 10.2–13.3 Bis(2-chloroethyl) ether 10.2–13.3

Bis(2-chloroisopropyl) ether 10.2–13.3 Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate 10.2–13.3

Carbazole 1.08–11.9 Chrysene 1.08–11.9

Dibenzo[a,h]anthracene 1.08–11.9 Dibenzofuran 10.2–13.3

Diethyl phthalate 10.2–13.3 Dimethyl phthalate 10.2–13.3

Di-n-butyl phthalate 10.2–13.3 Di-n-octyl phthalate 10.2–13.3

Diphenylamine 10.2–13.3 Fluoranthene 1.08–11.9

Hexachlorobenzene 10.2–13.3 Hexachlorobutadiene 10.2–13.3

Hexachlorocyclopentadiene 10.2–13.3 Hexachloroethane 10.2–13.3

Indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene 1.08–11.9 Isophorone 10.2–13.3

m-Cresol plus p-Cresol 10.8–23.3 Naphthalene 1.08–11.9

N-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine 10.2–13.3 o-Cresol 10.2–13.3

Pentachlorophenol 10.2–13.3 Phenanthrene 1.08–11.9

Phenol 10.2–13.3 Pyrene 1.08–11.9

Selected trace elements and major cations, in micrograms per liter unless otherwise noted

Aluminum 2.0 Arsenic .60

Barium .40 Beryllium 0.26–0.40

Cadmium .014 Calcium (mg/L) .04

Chromium .60 Cobalt .04

Copper 4.0 Iron 6.0

Lead .06 Lithium .08

Magnesium (mg/L) .004 Manganese .40

Mercury .010 Molybdenum .08

Nickel .12 Potassium (mg/L) .16

Selenium .08 Silver 0.016–0.020

Sodium (mg/L) .12 Strontium 1.0

Zinc 6.0
38 Assessment of Energetic Compounds, Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds, and Trace Elements Table 15. Results of analyses for energetic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds, carbon, and selected trace elements in streambed sediment collected from sampling sites at or near Fort Riley, Kansas, 2007. [P, environmental (primary) sample; SE-R, sequential-replicate sample; SP-R, split-replicate sample; CO-R, concurrent-replicate sample; RS, reference site; <, less than; %, percentage of dry weight; E, esti- mated; shading indicates detections of semi-volatile organic compounds] Date, time, or constituent Map index identifier (fig. 1) RC-1 FC-1 7MC-1 MC-1 DC-1 MCT-1 3MC-1 HC-1 7MC-2 LAC-1 WC-1 3MC-2 7MC-3 DBC-1 WCC-1 TC-1 (RS) P SE-R P SP-R P CO-R Date (month/day/year) 06/12/07 06/12/07 06/12/07 06/13/07 06/13/07 06/13/07 06/13/07 06/20/07 06/20/07 06/20/07 06/20/07 06/25/07 06/25/07 06/25/07 06/26/07 06/26/07 06/26/07 06/26/07 06/13/07 Time (24-hour) 1200 1345 1515 1115 1230 1235 1400 1000 1005 1300 1430 1000 1130 1330 0900 0905 1045 1200 1530 Energetic compounds, in micrograms per kilogram 1,3-Dinitrobenzene <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 1,3,5-Trinitrobenzene <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 2,4-Dinitrotoluene <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 2,6-Dinitrotoluene <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 2-Amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 4-Amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 2-Nitrotoluene <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 3-Nitrotoluene <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 4-Nitrotoluene <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 HMX <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 Nitrobenzene <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 Nitroglycerin <1,000 <1,000 <1,000 <1,000 <1,000 <1,000 <1,000 <1,000 <1,000 <1,000 <1,000 <1,000 <1,000 <1,000 <1,000 <1,000 <1,000 <1,000 <1,000 Pentaerythritol tetranitrate <500 <500 <500 <500 <500 <500 <500 <500 <500 <500 <500 <500 <500 <500 <500 <500 <500 <500 <500 Perchlorate <2.92 <3.04 <3.06 <2.91 <3.05 <3.17 <2.95 <2.92 <3.01 <3.14 <2.84 <2.71 <3.06 <2.81 <2.96 <2.95 <3.14 <3.14 <3.02 RDX <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 Tetryl <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 TNT <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 <150 Semi-volatile organic compounds, in micrograms per kilogram

1,1'-Biphenyl <1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,5301,2,4-Trichlorobenzene <1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,5301,2-Dichlorobenzene <1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,5301,3-Dichlorobenzene <1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,5301,4-Dichlorobenzene <1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,5302,4-Dichlorophenol <1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,5302,4,5-Trichlorophenol <1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,530
Supplemental Information 39

Table 15. Results of analyses for energetic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds, carbon, and selected trace elements in streambed sediment collected from sampling sites at or near Fort Riley, Kansas, 2007. —Continued[P, environmental (primary) sample; SE-R, sequential-replicate sample; SP-R, split-replicate sample; CO-R, concurrent-replicate sample; RS, reference site; <, less than; %, percentage of dry weight; E, estimated; shading indicates detections of semi-volatile organic compounds]

Date, time, or 

constituent

Map index identifier (fig. 1)

RC-1 FC-1 7MC-1 MC-1

DC-1

MCT-1

3MC-1

HC-1 7MC-2 LAC-1 WC-1 3MC-2

7MC-3

DBC-1 WCC-1 TC-1 (RS) P SE-R P SP-R P CO-R

Semi-volatile organic compounds, in micrograms per kilogram—Continued

2,4,6-Trichlorophenol <1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,530

2,4-Dimethylphenol <1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,5302,4-Dinitrophenol <3,030 <2,980 <3,110 <2,860 <3,080 <3,000 <2,950 <2,920 <3,010 <3,140 <2,840 <2,710 <3,060 <2,810 <2,960 <2,950 <3,140 <3,140 <3,0702-Chloronaphthalene <151 <149 <156 <143 <154 <150 <147 <146 <151 <157 <142 <136 <153 <140 <148 <147 <157 <157 <1532-Chlorophenol <1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,5302-Methyl-4,6-dinitrophenol <1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,5302-Methylnaphthalene <151 <149 <156 <143 <154 <150 <147 <146 <151 <157 <142 <136 <153 <140 <148 <147 <157 <157 <1532-Nitroaniline <1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,5302-Nitrophenol <1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,5303,3'-Dichlorobenzidine <1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,5303-Nitroaniline <1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,5304-Bromophenyl phenyl ether

<1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,530

4-Chloro-3-methylphenol <1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,5304-Chloroaniline <1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,5304-Chlorophenyl phenyl ether

<1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,530

4-Nitroaniline <1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,5304-Nitrophenol <1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,5309H-Fluorene <151 <149 <156 <143 <154 <150 <147 <146 <151 <157 <142 <136 <153 <140 <148 <147 <157 <157 <153Acenaphthene <151 <149 <156 <143 <154 <150 <147 <146 <151 <157 <142 <136 <153 <140 <148 <147 <157 <157 <153Acenaphthylene <151 <149 <156 <143 <154 <150 <147 <146 <151 <157 <142 <136 <153 <140 <148 <147 <157 <157 <153alpha-Terpineol <1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,530Anthracene <151 <149 <156 <143 <154 <150 <147 <146 <151 <157 <142 <136 <153 <140 <148 <147 <157 <157 <153Atrazine <1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,530Benzaldehyde <1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,530Benzo[a]anthracene <151 <149 <156 <143 <154 <150 <147 <146 <151 <157 <142 <136 <153 <140 <148 <147 <157 <157 <153
40 Assessment of Energetic Compounds, Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds, and Trace Elements Table 15. Results of analyses for energetic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds, carbon, and selected trace elements in streambed sediment collected from sampling sites at or near Fort Riley, Kansas, 2007. —Continued [P, environmental (primary) sample; SE-R, sequential-replicate sample; SP-R, split-replicate sample; CO-R, concurrent-replicate sample; RS, reference site; <, less than; %, percentage of dry weight; E, esti- mated; shading indicates detections of semi-volatile organic compounds] Date, time, or constituent Map index identifier (fig. 1) RC-1 FC-1 7MC-1 MC-1 DC-1 MCT-1 3MC-1 HC-1 7MC-2 LAC-1 WC-1 3MC-2 7MC-3 DBC-1 WCC-1 TC-1 (RS) P SE-R P SP-R P CO-R Semi-volatile organic compounds, in micrograms per kilogram—Continued Benzo[a]pyrene <151 <149 <156 <143 <154 <150 <147 <146 <151 <157 <142 <136 <153 <140 <148 <147 <157 <157 E54.3 Benzo[b]fluoranthene <151 <149 <156 <143 <154 <150 <147 <146 <151 <157 <142 <136 <153 <140 <148 <147 <157 <157 165 Benzo[g,h,i]perylene <151 <149 <156 <143 <154 <150 <147 <146 <151 <157 <142 <136 <153 <140 <148 <147 <157 <157 <153 Benzo[k]fluoranthene <151 <149 <156 <143 <154 <150 <147 <146 <151 <157 <142 <136 <153 <140 <148 <147 <157 <157 <153 Benzyl n-butyl phthalate <1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,530 Bis(2-chloroethoxy) methane <1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,530 Bis(2-chloroethyl) ether <1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,530 Bis(2-chloroisopropyl) ether <1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,530 Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate <757 <745 <778 <714 <771 <751 <737 <731 <754 <784 <710 <678 <765 <702 <740 <737 <785 <784 <767 Carbazole <151 <149 <156 <143 <154 <150 <147 <146 <151 <157 <142 <136 <153 <140 <148 <147 <157 <157 <153 Chrysene <151 <149 <156 <143 <154 <150 <147 <146 <151 <157 <142 <136 <153 <140 <148 <147 <157 <157 <153 Dibenzo[a,h]anthracene <151 <149 <156 <143 <154 <150 <147 <146 <151 <157 <142 <136 <153 <140 <148 <147 <157 <157 <153 Dibenzofuran <1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,530 Diethyl phthalate <1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,530 Dimethyl phthalate <1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,530 Di-n-butyl phthalate <1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,530 Di-n-octyl phthalate <1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,530 Diphenylamine <1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,530 Fluoranthene <151 <149 <156 <143 <154 <150 <147 <146 <151 <157 <142 <136 <153 <140 <148 <147 <157 <157 E107

Hexachlorobenzene <1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,530Hexachlorobutadiene <1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,530Hexachlorocyclopentadiene <1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,530Hexachloroethane <1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,530Indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene <151 <149 <156 <143 <154 <150 <147 <146 <151 <157 <142 <136 <153 <140 <148 <147 <157 <157 <153Isophorone <1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,530
Supplemental Information 41

Table 15. Results of analyses for energetic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds, carbon, and selected trace elements in streambed sediment collected from sampling sites at or near Fort Riley, Kansas, 2007. —Continued[P, environmental (primary) sample; SE-R, sequential-replicate sample; SP-R, split-replicate sample; CO-R, concurrent-replicate sample; RS, reference site; <, less than; %, percentage of dry weight; E, estimated; shading indicates detections of semi-volatile organic compounds]

Date, time, or 

constituent

Map index identifier (fig. 1)

RC-1 FC-1 7MC-1 MC-1

DC-1

MCT-1

3MC-1

HC-1 7MC-2 LAC-1 WC-1 3MC-2

7MC-3

DBC-1 WCC-1 TC-1 (RS) P SE-R P SP-R P CO-R

Semi-volatile organic compounds, in micrograms per kilogram—Continued

m-Cresol plus p-Cresol <1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,530Naphthalene <151 <149 <156 <143 <154 <150 <147 <146 <151 <157 <142 <136 <153 <140 <148 <147 <157 <157 <153N-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine <1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,530o-Cresol <1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,530Pentachlorophenol <1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,530Phenanthrene <151 <149 <156 <143 <154 <150 <147 <146 <151 <157 <142 <136 <153 <140 <148 <147 <157 <157 <153Phenol <1,510 <1,490 <1,560 <1,430 <1,540 <1,500 <1,470 <1,460 <1,510 <1,570 <1,420 <1,360 <1,530 <1,400 <1,480 <1,470 <1,570 <1,570 <1,530Pyrene <151 <149 <156 <143 <154 <150 <147 <146 <151 <157 <142 <136 <153 <140 <148 <147 <157 <157 E114

Carbon and selected trace elements, in milligrams per kilogram unless otherwise indicated

Sediment <0.063 mm (%) 59 71 56 53 70 67 72 59 59 71 44 58 60 60 77 78 65 68 76Aluminum (%) 5.5 5.5 5.6 5.5 5.8 5.5 5.8 5.6 5.7 5.9 5.4 5.5 5.4 5.1 5.0 5.1 5.6 5.1 5.5Antimony .8 .7 .7 .6 .7 .7 .7 .7 .7 .7 .7 .6 .7 .6 .6 .6 .7 .6 .7Arsenic 5.5 7.0 7.0 5.3 6.2 6.1 6.9 5.6 5.9 7.3 6.1 6.6 6.3 4.7 4.3 4.4 5.8 5.1 6.6Barium 660 630 660 670 670 660 650 640 650 630 610 610 640 640 620 630 680 650 650Beryllium 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.6 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.5 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.5 1.6Cadmium .5 .5 .3 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .3 .4 .3 .3 .3 .3 .3 .3 .2 .3 .4Carbon, organic, total, % 1.1 .9 1.2 .9 1.2 1.2 .8 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.0 1.0 .9 1.5 1.1 1.1 .8 1.0 1.0Carbon, total, % 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.6 1.8 1.2 1.8 1.7 1.8 1.6 1.8 1.4 1.7 1.3 1.4 1.1 1.3 1.6Chromium 49 49 50 46 48 48 52 51 52 56 52 49 48 46 45 44 47 47 47Cobalt 10 12 11 13 13 12 11 11 11 11 11 10 13 8 8 8 8 9 12Copper 14 14 16 14 14 13 15 16 16 17 15 14 14 14 13 13 15 13 15Iron, % 2.0 2.2 2.2 2.1 2.3 2.1 2.3 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.3 2.2 2.2 2.0 1.9 1.9 2.1 1.9 2.2Lead 26 21 22 22 22 22 19 21 21 20 21 19 20 22 19 20 18 18 22Lithium 26 28 26 27 27 25 28 29 29 34 30 33 27 25 24 25 25 25 27Manganese 340 710 560 530 590 530 620 480 500 620 610 510 630 480 360 380 370 440 600Mercury <.01 <.01 <.01 <.01 <.01 <.01 <.01 <.01 <.01 <.01 <.01 <.01 <.01 <.01 <.01 <.01 <.01 <.01 <.01Molybdenum <1 1 1 <1 1 <1 1 <1 1 1 <1 <1 <1 <1 1 <1 1 <1 1Nickel 19 21 19 20 20 19 21 20 20 23 20 20 19 18 16 16 17 17 19
42 Assessment of Energetic Compounds, Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds, and Trace Elements Table 15. Results of analyses for energetic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds, carbon, and selected trace elements in streambed sediment collected from sampling sites at or near Fort Riley, Kansas, 2007. —Continued [P, environmental (primary) sample; SE-R, sequential-replicate sample; SP-R, split-replicate sample; CO-R, concurrent-replicate sample; RS, reference site; <, less than; %, percentage of dry weight; E, estimated; shading indicates detections of semi-volatile organic compounds] Date, time, or constituent Map index identifier (fig. 1) RC-1 FC-1 7MC-1 MC-1 DC-1 MCT-1 3MC-1 HC-1 7MC-2 LAC-1 WC-1 3MC-2 7MC-3 DBC-1 WCC-1 TC-1 (RS) P SE-R P SP-R P CO-R Carbon and selected trace elements, in milligrams per kilogram unless otherwise indicated—Continued Nitrogen, % 0.10 0.09 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.09 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.09 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.08 0.09 0.10 Phosphorus 440 490 460 490 530 530 470 520 530 550 510 480 450 590 470 480 430 490 480 Selenium .3 .1 .2 .2 .2 .2 .2 .2 .2 .3 .2 .2 .2 .2 .2 .2 .2 .2 .2 Silver <.5 <.5 <.5 <.5 <.5 <.5 <.5 <.5 <.5 <.5 <.5 <.5 <.5 <.5 <.5 <.5 <.5 <.5 <.5 Strontium 150 160 130 150 140 140 130 170 170 140 170 140 130 180 150 150 160 150 140 Sulfur, % .02 .02 .02 .03 .02 .02 .02 .03 .03 .02 .03 .02 .02 .03 .02 .02 .02 .03 .02 Thallium <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 Titanium, % .38 .36 .38 .37 .38 .38 .38 .37 .38 .38 .39 .37 .37 .38 .38 .37 .38 .37 .36 Uranium <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 Vanadium 67 67 72 66 72 68 72 69 70 76 68 68 68 61 61 61 71 63 66 Zinc 63 73 69 64 71 65 69 79 80 77 72 69 66 69 58 60 74 61 66
Supplemental Information 43

Table 16. Results of analyses for physical properties, energetic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds, and selected trace 

elements and major cations in stream water collected from sampling sites at Fort Riley, Kansas, 2007–08. 

[RO, manually collected runoff sample; B, manually collected base-flow sample; A, automatically collected sample; S, manually collected split- replicate sample; C, manually collected concurrent- replicate sample; FNU, formazin nephelometric units; --, not determined; mg/L, milligrams per liter; °C, degrees Celsius; 

μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter at 25 °C; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; <, less than; E, estimated; HMX, octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine; 

RDX, 1,3,5-hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitrotriazine; TNT, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene; E, estimated concentration; shading indicates detections of perchlorate or semi-volatile 

organic compounds]

Date, time, sample type, 

property, or constituent

Map index identifier (fig. 1)

RC-1 FC-1 3MC-1 HC-1

Date (month/day/year) 05/27/08 05/27/08 06/20/07 07/04/07 05/26/08 06/20/07 05/27/08 06/02/08

Time (24-hour) 0815 1000 0930 2040 1215 1230 1030 1400

Sample type RO RO B RO RO B RO RO

Physical properties and dissolved oxygen

Stream stage falling falling steady falling rising steady falling falling

Instantaneous discharge (ft3/s) 48.0 24.9 2.0 163 53.1 .62 30.2 1,030

Specific conductance, field (μS/cm) 141 170 672 156 331 627 358 101

Specific conductance, laboratory (μS/cm) 141 167 687 170 481 643 367 144

pH, field (standard units) 7.53 7.67 7.64 8.01 7.87 7.60 7.76 7.57

pH, laboratory (standard units) 7.70 7.66 7.70 7.44 7.77 7.72 7.94 7.66

Water temperature (°C) 17.8 18.4 19.0 22.6 17.8 19.0 16.9 10.0

Turbidity (FNU) -- -- 1.0 300 1,000 0.10 190 --

Dissolved oxygen (mg/L) 8.9 9.0 -- 7.5 7.4 -- 7.6 10

Energetic compounds, in micrograms per liter

1,3-Dinitrobenzene <.741 <.625 <.325 <.325 <.408 <.325 <.4 <.8

1,3,5-Trinitrobenzene <.741 <.625 <.325 <.325 <.408 <.325 <.4 <.8

2,4-Dinitrotoluene <.741 <.625 <.487 <.487 <.408 <.487 <.4 <.8

2,6-Dinitrotoluene <.741 <.625 <.487 <.487 <.408 <.487 <.4 <.8

2-Amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene <.741 <.625 <.487 <.487 <.408 <.487 <.4 <.8

4-Amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene <.741 <.625 <.487 <.487 <.408 <.487 <.4 <.8

2-Nitrotoluene <.741 <.625 <.487 <.487 <.408 <.487 <.4 <.8

3-Nitrotoluene <.741 <.625 <.325 <.325 <.408 <.325 <.4 <.8

4-Nitrotoluene <.741 <.625 <.487 <.487 <.408 <.487 <.4 <.8

HMX <.741 <.625 <.487 <.487 <.408 <.487 <.4 <.8

Nitrobenzene <.741 <.625 <.325 <.325 <.408 <.325 <.4 <.8

Nitroglycerin <4.67 <3.94 <1.95 <1.95 <2.57 <1.95 <2.52 <5.04

Pentaerythritol tetranitrate <4.63 <3.91 <1.95 <1.95 <2.55 <1.95 <2.5 <5

Perchlorate E.126 E.236 E.085 E.176 E.093 .216 E.117 <.2

RDX <.741 <.625 <.487 <.487 <.408 <.487 <.4 <.8

Tetryl <.741 <.625 <1.46 <1.46 <.408 <1.46 <.4 <.8

TNT <.741 <.625 <.487 <.487 <.408 <.487 <.4 <.8

Semi-volatile organic compounds, in micrograms per liter

1,1’-Biphenyl -- -- <10.9 <13.3 -- <11.4 -- --

1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene <10.5 <10.5 <10.9 <13.3 <10.3 <11.4 <11.2 <11.4

1,2-Dichlorobenzene <10.5 <10.5 <10.9 <13.3 <10.3 <11.4 <11.2 <11.4

1,3-Dichlorobenzene <10.5 <10.5 <10.9 <13.3 <10.3 <11.4 <11.2 <11.4

1,4-Dichlorobenzene <10.5 <10.5 <10.9 <13.3 <10.3 <11.4 <11.2 <11.4
44 Assessment of Energetic Compounds, Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds, and Trace Elements

Table 16. Results of analyses for physical properties, energetic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds, and selected trace 

elements and major cations in stream water collected from sampling sites at Fort Riley, Kansas, 2007–08.—Continued 

[RO, manually collected runoff sample; B, manually collected base-flow sample; A, automatically collected sample; S, manually collected split- replicate 

sample; C, manually collected concurrent- replicate sample; FNU, formazin nephelometric units; --, not determined; mg/L, milligrams per liter; °C, degrees 

Celsius; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter at 25 °C; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; <, less than; E, estimated; HMX, octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-

tetrazocine; RDX, 1,3,5-hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitrotriazine; TNT, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene; E, estimated concentration; shading indicates detections of perchlorate or 

semi-volatile organic compounds]

Date, time, sample type, 

property, or constituent

Map index identifier (fig. 1)

RC-1 FC-1 3MC-1 HC-1

Date (month/day/year) 05/27/08 05/27/08 06/20/07 07/04/07 05/26/08 06/20/07 05/27/08 06/02/08

Time (24-hour) 0815 1000 0930 2040 1215 1230 1030 1400

Sample type RO RO B RO RO B RO RO

Semi-volatile organic compounds, in micrograms per liter—Continued

2,4-Dichlorophenol -- -- <10.9 <13.3 -- <11.4 -- <11.4

2,4,5-Trichlorophenol -- -- <10.9 <13.3 -- <11.4 -- <11.4

2,4,6-Trichlorophenol -- -- <10.9 <13.3 -- <11.4 -- <11.4

2,4-Dimethylphenol -- -- <10.9 <13.3 -- <11.4 -- <11.4

2,4-Dinitrophenol -- -- <21.7 <26.7 -- <22.7 -- <11.4

2-Chloronaphthalene <10.5 <10.5 <1.09 <1.33 <10.3 <1.14 <11.2 <11.4

2-Chlorophenol -- -- <10.9 <13.3 -- <11.4 -- <11.4

2-Methyl-4,6-dinitrophenol -- -- <10.9 <13.3 -- <11.4 -- <11.4

2-Methylnaphthalene <10.5 <10.5 <1.09 <1.33 <10.3 <1.14 <11.2 <11.4

2-Nitroaniline <10.5 <10.5 <10.9 <13.3 <10.3 <11.4 <11.2 <11.4

2-Nitrophenol -- -- <10.9 <13.3 -- <11.4 -- <11.4

3,3’-Dichlorobenzidine <10.5 <10.5 <10.9 <13.3 <10.3 <11.4 <11.2 <11.4

3-Nitroaniline <10.5 <10.5 <10.9 <13.3 <10.3 <11.4 <11.2 <11.4

4-Bromophenyl phenyl ether <10.5 <10.5 <10.9 <13.3 <10.3 <11.4 <11.2 <11.4

4-Chloro-3-methylphenol -- -- <10.9 <13.3 -- <11.4 -- <11.4

4-Chloroaniline <10.5 <10.5 <10.9 <13.3 <10.3 <11.4 <11.2 <11.4

4-Chlorophenyl phenyl ether <10.5 <10.5 <10.9 <13.3 <10.3 <11.4 <11.2 <11.4

4-Nitroaniline <10.5 <10.5 <10.9 <13.3 <10.3 <11.4 <11.2 <11.4

4-Nitrophenol -- -- <10.9 <13.3 -- <11.4 -- <11.4

9H-Fluorene <10.5 <10.5 <1.09 <1.33 <10.3 <1.14 <11.2 <11.4

Acenaphthene <10.5 <10.5 <1.09 <1.33 <10.3 <1.14 <11.2 <11.4

Acenaphthylene <10.5 <10.5 <1.09 <1.33 <10.3 <1.14 <11.2 <11.4

Anthracene <10.5 <10.5 <1.09 <1.33 <10.3 <1.14 <11.2 <11.4

Atrazine -- -- <10.9 <13.3 -- <11.4 -- --

Benzaldehyde -- -- <10.9 <13.3 -- <11.4 -- --

Benzo[a]anthracene <10.5 <10.5 <1.09 <1.33 <10.3 <1.14 <11.2 <11.4

Benzo[a]pyrene <10.5 <10.5 <1.09 <1.33 <10.3 <1.14 <11.2 <11.4

Benzo[b]fluoranthene <10.5 <10.5 <1.09 <1.33 <10.3 <1.14 <11.2 <11.4

Benzo[g,h,i]perylene <10.5 <10.5 <1.09 <1.33 <10.3 <1.14 <11.2 <11.4

Benzo[k]fluoranthene <10.5 <10.5 <1.09 <1.33 <10.3 <1.14 <11.2 <11.4

Benzyl n-butyl phthalate <10.5 <10.5 <10.9 <13.3 <10.3 <11.4 <11.2 <11.4

Bis(2-chloroethoxy)methane <10.5 <10.5 <10.9 <13.3 <10.3 <11.4 <11.2 <11.4

Bis(2-chloroethyl) ether <10.5 <10.5 <10.9 <13.3 <10.3 <11.4 <11.2 <11.4

Bis(2-chloroisopropyl) ether <10.5 <10.5 <10.9 <13.3 <10.3 <11.4 <11.2 <11.4

Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate <10.5 E1.18 <10.9 <13.3 <10.3 <11.4 <11.2 <11.4
Supplemental Information 45

Table 16. Results of analyses for physical properties, energetic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds, and selected trace 

elements and major cations in stream water collected from sampling sites at Fort Riley, Kansas, 2007–08.—Continued 

[RO, manually collected runoff sample; B, manually collected base-flow sample; A, automatically collected sample; S, manually collected split- replicate 

sample; C, manually collected concurrent- replicate sample; FNU, formazin nephelometric units; --, not determined; mg/L, milligrams per liter; °C, degrees 

Celsius; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter at 25 °C; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; <, less than; E, estimated; HMX, octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-

tetrazocine; RDX, 1,3,5-hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitrotriazine; TNT, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene; E, estimated concentration; shading indicates detections of perchlorate or 

semi-volatile organic compounds]

Date, time, sample type, 

property, or constituent

Map index identifier (fig. 1)

RC-1 FC-1 3MC-1 HC-1

Date (month/day/year) 05/27/08 05/27/08 06/20/07 07/04/07 05/26/08 06/20/07 05/27/08 06/02/08

Time (24-hour) 0815 1000 0930 2040 1215 1230 1030 1400

Sample type RO RO B RO RO B RO RO

Semi-volatile organic compounds, in micrograms per liter—Continued

Carbazole <10.5 <10.5 <1.09 <1.33 <10.3 <1.14 <11.2 <11.4

Chrysene <10.5 <10.5 <1.09 <1.33 <10.3 <1.14 <11.2 <11.4

Dibenzo[a,h]anthracene <10.5 <10.5 <1.09 <1.33 <10.3 <1.14 <11.2 <11.4

Dibenzofuran <10.5 <10.5 <10.9 <13.3 <10.3 <11.4 <11.2 <11.4

Diethyl phthalate <10.5 <10.5 <10.9 <13.3 <10.3 <11.4 <11.2 <11.4

Dimethyl phthalate <10.5 <10.5 <10.9 <13.3 <10.3 <11.4 <11.2 <11.4

Di-n-butyl phthalate <10.5 <10.5 <10.9 <13.3 <10.3 <11.4 <11.2 <11.4

Di-n-octyl phthalate <10.5 <10.5 <10.9 <13.3 <10.3 <11.4 <11.2 <11.4

Diphenylamine <10.5 <10.5 <10.9 <13.3 <10.3 <11.4 <11.2 <11.4

Fluoranthene <10.5 <10.5 <1.09 <1.33 <10.3 <1.14 <11.2 <11.4

Hexachlorobenzene <10.5 <10.5 <10.9 <13.3 <10.3 <11.4 <11.2 <11.4

Hexachlorobutadiene <10.5 <10.5 <10.9 <13.3 <10.3 <11.4 <11.2 <11.4

Hexachlorocyclopentadiene <10.5 <10.5 <10.9 <13.3 <10.3 <11.4 <11.2 <11.4

Hexachloroethane <10.5 <10.5 <10.9 <13.3 <10.3 <11.4 <11.2 <11.4

Indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene <10.5 <10.5 <1.09 <1.33 <10.3 <1.14 <11.2 <11.4

Isophorone <10.5 <10.5 <10.9 <13.3 <10.3 <11.4 <11.2 <11.4

m-Cresol plus p-Cresol -- -- <10.9 <13.3 -- <11.4 -- <22.7

Naphthalene <10.5 <10.5 <1.09 <1.33 <10.3 <1.14 <11.2 <11.4

N-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine <10.5 <10.5 <10.9 <13.3 <10.3 <11.4 <11.2 <11.4

o-Cresol -- -- <10.9 <13.3 -- <11.4 -- <11.4

Pentachlorophenol -- -- <10.9 <13.3 -- <11.4 -- <11.4

Phenanthrene <10.5 <10.5 <1.09 <1.33 <10.3 <1.14 <11.2 <11.4

Phenol -- -- <10.9 <13.3 -- <11.4 -- <11.4

Pyrene <10.5 <10.5 <1.09 <1.33 <10.3 <1.14 <11.2 <11.4

Selected trace elements and major cations, in micrograms per liter unless otherwise indicated

Aluminum 9,100 4,100 150 9,400 4,000 12 1,800 36,000

Arsenic 3.5 3.0 2.0 4.0 3.0 1.1 1.7 8.6

Barium 170 110 220 210 160 160 130 710

Beryllium .75 E.29 <.26 .79 <.40 <.26 <.40 3.5

Cadmium .24 .13 .02 .44 .17 E.01 .04 1.2

Calcium (mg/L) 27 24 94 38 73 110 62 68

Chromium 9.4 4.1 <.60 9.1 4.6 <.60 1.9 32

Cobalt 4.9 2.4 .23 6.0 3.0 .05 .98 24

Copper 9.5 4.5 <4.0 9.5 4.3 <4.0 E2.5 81

Iron 8,600 3,800 180 9,100 9.6 12 1,700 36,000

Lead 9.9 4.4 0.20 12 5.3 <.06 2.2 150
46 Assessment of Energetic Compounds, Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds, and Trace Elements

Table 16. Results of analyses for physical properties, energetic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds, and selected 

trace elements and major cations in stream water collected from sampling sites at Fort Riley, Kansas, 2007–08.—Continued 

[RO, manually collected runoff sample; B, manually collected base-flow sample; A, automatically collected sample; S, manually collected split- replicate sample; C, manually collected concurrent- replicate sample; FNU, formazin nephelometric units; --, not determined; mg/L, milligrams per liter; °C, 

degrees Celsius; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter at 25 °C; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; <, less than; E, estimated; HMX, octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro1,3,5,7-tetrazocine; RDX, 1,3,5-hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitrotriazine; TNT, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene; E, estimated concentration; shading indicates detections of 

perchlorate or semi-volatile organic compounds]

Date, time, sample 

type, property, or 

constituent

Map index identifier (fig. 1)

RC-1 FC-1 3MC-1 HC-1

Date (month/day/year) 05/27/08 05/27/08 06/20/07 07/04/07 05/26/08 06/20/07 05/27/08 06/02/08

Time (24-hour) 0815 1000 0930 2040 1215 1230 1030 1400

Sample type RO RO B RO RO B RO RO

Selected trace elements and major cations, in micrograms per liter unless otherwise indicated—Continued

Lithium 10 5.6 6.5 12 8.9 7.1 4.8 34

Magnesium (mg/L) 5.1 5.7 22 7.2 15 19 9.4 15

Manganese 260 170 86 470 380 9.3 60 1,500

Mercury .02 E.009 <.010 .02 E.008 <.010 <.010 .07

Molybdenum .27 .51 1.3 .47 .76 1.2 .62 .20

Nickel 12 6.5 .77 13 6.7 .30 2.8 44

Potassium (mg/L) 6.2 6.0 2.2 5.2 3.3 1.7 4.2 13

Selenium .28 .25 .31 .34 .26 .63 .30 .40

Silver .04 .02 <.016 .05 E.017 <.016 <.02 .25

Sodium (mg/L) 2.2 4.1 19 4.1 18 7.0 4.4 1.4

Strontium 80 110 900 210 630 550 290 220

Zinc 33 18 <6.0 43 20 <6.0 6.8 150
Supplemental Information 47

Table 16. Results of analyses for physical properties, energetic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds, and selected trace 

elements and major cations in stream water collected from sampling sites at Fort Riley, Kansas, 2007–08.—Continued 

[RO, manually collected runoff sample; B, manually collected base-flow sample; A, automatically collected sample; S, manually collected split- replicate 

sample; C, manually collected concurrent- replicate sample; FNU, formazin nephelometric units; --, not determined; mg/L, milligrams per liter; °C, degrees 

Celsius; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter at 25 °C; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; <, less than; E, estimated; HMX, octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-

tetrazocine; RDX, 1,3,5-hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitrotriazine; TNT, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene; E, estimated concentration; shading indicates detections of perchlorate 

or semi-volatile organic compounds]

Date, time, sample 

type, property, or 

constituent

Map index identifier (fig. 1)

7MC-2

Date (month/day/year) 06/20/07 07/31/07 05/26/08 05/26/08 05/27/08 06/02/08 06/02/08 06/02/08 06/02/08 06/02/08 06/02/08 06/02/08

Time (24-hour) 1400 1150 1045 2140 0810 1130 1320 1325 1335 1630 2030 2330

Sample type B RO RO A RO A RO RO-S RO-A-C RO A A

Physical properties and dissolved oxygen

Stream stage steady falling peak rising falling rising rising rising rising rising falling falling

Instantaneous discharge (ft3/s) 6.4 4.6 5.3 148 151 124 966 966 966 856 289 221

Specific conductance, field 

 (μS/cm)

675 555 610 272 244 -- 155 155 155 107 185 266

Specific conductance, laboratory

 (μS/cm)

686 560 631 282 241 352 218 215 223 179 191 263

pH, field (standard units) 7.99 7.83 7.95 7.95 7.81 -- 7.93 7.93 7.93 7.94 7.20 7.24

pH, laboratory (standard units) 8.01 7.97 8.15 7.57 7.59 7.68 7.65 7.63 7.65 7.50 7.54 7.56

Dissolved oxygen (mg/L) -- 8.0 6.5 -- 7.6 -- 8.4 8.4 8.4 8.3 -- --

Turbidity (FNU) 0.80 15 8.1 -- 320 -- 1,500 1,500 1,500 12 -- --

Stream stage steady falling peak rising falling rising rising rising rising rising falling falling

Energetic compounds, in micrograms per liter

1,3-Dinitrobenzene <.325 <.325 <.426 <.87 <.556 <.561 <.638 <.714 <.645 <.429 <.69 <.423

1,3,5-Trinitrobenzene <.325 <.325 <.426 <.87 <.556 <.561 <.638 <.714 <.645 <.429 <.69 <.423

2,4-Dinitrotoluene <.487 <.487 <.426 <.87 <.556 <.561 <.638 <.714 <.645 <.429 <.69 <.423

2,6-Dinitrotoluene <.487 <.487 <.426 <.87 <.556 <.561 <.638 <.714 <.645 <.429 <.69 <.423

2-Amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene <.487 <.487 <.426 <.87 <.556 <.561 <.638 <.714 <.645 <.429 <.69 <.423

4-Amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene <.487 <.487 <.426 <.87 <.556 <.561 <.638 <.714 <.645 <.429 <.69 <.423

2-Nitrotoluene <.487 <.487 <.426 <.87 <.556 <.561 <.638 <.714 <.645 <.429 <.69 <.423

3-Nitrotoluene <.325 <.325 <.426 <.87 <.556 <.561 <.638 <.714 <.645 <.429 <.69 <.423

4-Nitrotoluene <.487 <.487 <.426 <.87 <.556 <.561 <.638 <.714 <.645 <.429 <.69 <.423

HMX <.487 <.487 <.426 <.87 <.556 <.561 <.638 <.714 <.645 <.429 <.69 <.423

Nitrobenzene <.325 <.325 <.426 <.87 <.556 <.561 <.638 <.714 <.645 <.429 <.69 <.423

Nitroglycerin <1.95 <1.95 <2.68 <5.48 <3.5 <3.53 <4.02 <4.5 <4.06 <2.7 <4.34 <2.66

Pentaerythritol tetranitrate <1.95 <1.95 <2.66 <5.43 <3.47 <3.5 <3.99 <4.46 <4.03 <2.68 <4.31 <2.64

Perchlorate E.180 E.139 E.130 E.112 E.135 E.086 E.075 E.072 E.057 E.078 E.082 E.108

RDX <.487 <.487 <.426 <.87 <.556 <.561 <.638 <.714 <.645 <.429 <.69 <.423

Tetryl <1.46 <1.46 <.426 <.87 <.556 <.561 <.638 <.714 <.645 <.429 <.69 <.423

TNT <.487 <.487 <.426 <.87 <.556 <.561 <.638 <.714 <.645 <.429 <.69 <.423

Semi-volatile organic compounds, in micrograms per liter

1,1’-Biphenyl <10.9 <10.8 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene <10.9 <10.8 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

1,2-Dichlorobenzene <10.9 <10.8 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

1,3-Dichlorobenzene <10.9 <10.8 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

1,4-Dichlorobenzene <10.9 <10.8 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6
48 Assessment of Energetic Compounds, Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds, and Trace Elements

Table 16. Results of analyses for physical properties, energetic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds, and selected trace 

elements and major cations in stream water collected from sampling sites at Fort Riley, Kansas, 2007–08.—Continued 

[RO, manually collected runoff sample; B, manually collected base-flow sample; A, automatically collected sample; S, manually collected split- replicate 

sample; C, manually collected concurrent- replicate sample; FNU, formazin nephelometric units; --, not determined; mg/L, milligrams per liter; °C, degrees 

Celsius; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter at 25 °C; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; <, less than; E, estimated; HMX, octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-

tetrazocine; RDX, 1,3,5-hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitrotriazine; TNT, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene; E, estimated concentration; shading indicates detections of perchlorate or 

semi-volatile organic compounds]

Date, time, sample 

type, property, or 

constituent

Map index identifier (fig. 1)

7MC-2

Date (month/day/year) 06/20/07 07/31/07 05/26/08 05/26/08 05/27/08 06/02/08 06/02/08 06/02/08 06/02/08 06/02/08 06/02/08 06/02/08

Time (24-hour) 1400 1150 1045 2140 0810 1130 1320 1325 1335 1630 2030 2330

Sample type B RO RO A RO A RO RO-S RO-A-C RO A A

Semi-volatile organic compounds, in micrograms per liter—Continued

2,4-Dichlorophenol <10.9 <10.8 -- -- -- <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

2,4,5-Trichlorophenol <10.9 <10.8 -- -- -- <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

2,4,6-Trichlorophenol <10.9 <10.8 -- -- -- <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

2,4-Dimethylphenol <10.9 <10.8 -- -- -- <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

2,4-Dinitrophenol <21.7 <21.5 -- -- -- <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

2-Chloronaphthalene <1.09 <1.08 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

2-Chlorophenol <10.9 <10.8 -- -- -- <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

2-Methyl-4,6-dinitrophenol <10.9 <10.8 -- -- -- <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

2-Methylnaphthalene <1.09 <1.08 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

2-Nitroaniline <10.9 <10.8 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

2-Nitrophenol <10.9 <10.8 -- -- -- <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

3,3’-Dichlorobenzidine <10.9 <10.8 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

3-Nitroaniline <10.9 <10.8 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

4-Bromophenyl phenyl ether <10.9 <10.8 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

4-Chloro-3-methylphenol <10.9 <10.8 -- -- -- <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

4-Chloroaniline <10.9 <10.8 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

4-Chlorophenyl phenyl ether <10.9 <10.8 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

4-Nitroaniline <10.9 <10.8 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

4-Nitrophenol <10.9 <10.8 -- -- -- <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

9H-Fluorene <1.09 <1.08 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

Acenaphthene <1.09 <1.08 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

Acenaphthylene <1.09 <1.08 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

Anthracene <1.09 <1.08 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

Atrazine <10.9 <10.8 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Benzaldehyde <10.9 <10.8 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Benzo[a]anthracene <1.09 <1.08 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

Benzo[a]pyrene <1.09 <1.08 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

Benzo[b]fluoranthene <1.09 <1.08 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

Benzo[g,h,i]perylene <1.09 <1.08 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

Benzo[k]fluoranthene <1.09 <1.08 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

Benzyl n-butyl phthalate <10.9 <10.8 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

Bis(2-chloroethoxy)methane <10.9 <10.8 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

Bis(2-chloroethyl) ether <10.9 <10.8 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

Bis(2-chloroisopropyl) ether <10.9 <10.8 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate <10.9 <10.8 E1.7 E2.46 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 E1.56
Supplemental Information 49

Table 16. Results of analyses for physical properties, energetic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds, and selected trace 

elements and major cations in stream water collected from sampling sites at Fort Riley, Kansas, 2007–08.—Continued 

[RO, manually collected runoff sample; B, manually collected base-flow sample; A, automatically collected sample; S, manually collected split- replicate 

sample; C, manually collected concurrent- replicate sample; FNU, formazin nephelometric units; --, not determined; mg/L, milligrams per liter; °C, degrees 

Celsius; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter at 25 °C; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; <, less than; E, estimated; HMX, octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-

tetrazocine; RDX, 1,3,5-hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitrotriazine; TNT, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene; E, estimated concentration; shading indicates detections of perchlorate or 

semi-volatile organic compounds]

Date, time, 

sample type, 

Map index identifier (fig. 1)

7MC-2

Date (month/day/year) 06/20/07 07/31/07 05/26/08 05/26/08 05/27/08 06/02/08 06/02/08 06/02/08 06/02/08 06/02/08 06/02/08 06/02/08

Time (24-hour) 1400 1150 1045 2140 0810 1130 1320 1325 1335 1630 2030 2330

Sample type B RO RO A RO A RO RO-S RO-A-C RO A A

Semi-volatile organic compounds, in micrograms per liter—Continued

Carbazole <1.09 <1.08 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

Chrysene <1.09 <1.08 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

Dibenzo[a,h]anthracene <1.09 <1.08 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

Dibenzofuran <10.9 <10.8 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

Diethyl phthalate <10.9 <10.8 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

Dimethyl phthalate <10.9 <10.8 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

Di-n-butyl phthalate <10.9 <10.8 <11.2 E1.25 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

Di-n-octyl phthalate <10.9 <10.8 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

Diphenylamine <10.9 <10.8 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

Fluoranthene <1.09 <1.08 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

Hexachlorobenzene <10.9 <10.8 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

Hexachlorobutadiene <10.9 <10.8 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

Hexachlorocyclopentadiene<10.9 <10.8 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

Hexachloroethane <10.9 <10.8 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

Indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene <1.09 <1.08 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

Isophorone <10.9 <10.8 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

m-Cresol plus p-Cresol <10.9 <10.8 -- -- -- <22 <21.1 <21.1 <20.4 <23.3 <20.8 <23.3

Naphthalene <1.09 <1.08 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

N-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine<10.9 <10.8 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

o-Cresol <10.9 <10.8 -- -- -- <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

Pentachlorophenol <10.9 <10.8 -- -- -- <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

Phenanthrene <1.09 <1.08 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

Phenol <10.9 <10.8 -- -- -- <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

Pyrene <1.09 <1.08 <11.2 <11.9 <11.8 <11 <10.5 <10.5 <10.2 <11.6 <10.4 <11.6

Selected trace elements and major cations, in micrograms per liter unless otherwise indicated

Aluminum 57 530 360 200 480 16,000 37,000 36,000 29,000 28,000 13,000 8,200

Arsenic 1.7 1.7 2.0 7.3 4.2 4.8 9.9 9.9 7.8 8.2 4.7 3.7

Barium 170 140 160 110 240 370 900 900 670 590 270 210

Beryllium <.26 <.26 <.40 2.3 .82 1.3 3.9 3.9 2.9 2.7 1.1 .66

Cadmium E.01 .03 <.014 1.0 .31 .71 1.8 1.8 1.3 1.0 .46 .23

Calcium, mg/L 110 84 99 110 49 98 130 140 89 74 43 50

Chromium <.60 .74 .60 28 11 19 38 36 30 28 14 8.6

Cobalt .07 .34 .24 23 7.4 14 40 40 27 23 9.5 5.2

Copper <4.0 <4.0 <4.0 39 12 22 55 55 43 39 17 11

Iron 40 460 320 140 280 17,000 41,000 40,000 32,000 31,000 15,000 8,800

Lead E.05 .48 .40 65 14 34 90 90 59 63 21 12
50 Assessment of Energetic Compounds, Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds, and Trace Elements

Table 16. Results of analyses for physical properties, energetic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds, and selected trace 

elements and major cations in stream water collected from sampling sites at Fort Riley, Kansas, 2007–08.—Continued 

[RO, manually collected runoff sample; B, manually collected base-flow sample; A, automatically collected sample; S, manually collected split- replicate 

sample; C, manually collected concurrent- replicate sample; FNU, formazin nephelometric units; --, not determined; mg/L, milligrams per liter; °C, degrees 

Celsius; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter at 25 °C; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; <, less than; E, estimated; HMX, octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-

tetrazocine; RDX, 1,3,5-hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitrotriazine; TNT, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene; E, estimated concentration; shading indicates detections of perchlorate or 

semi-volatile organic compounds]

Date, time, sample 

type, property, or 

constituent

Map index identifier (fig. 1)

7MC-2

Date (month/day/year) 06/20/07 07/31/07 05/26/08 05/26/08 05/27/08 06/02/08 06/02/08 06/02/08 06/02/08 06/02/08 06/02/08 06/02/08

Time (24-hour) 1400 1150 1045 2140 0810 1130 1320 1325 1335 1630 2030 2330

Sample type B RO RO A RO A RO RO-S RO-A-C RO A A

Selected trace elements and major cations, in micrograms per liter unless otherwise indicated—Continued

Lithium 8.3 8.8 8.6 36 12 25 44 43 33 28 13 9.7

Magnesium, mg/L 23 19 21 19 9.7 18 22 23 18 14 9 9.8

Manganese 8.6 27 45 2,000 430 850 2,500 2,600 1,800 1,400 540 290

Mercury <.010 <.010 <.010 .05 .02 .03 .07 .07 .05 .05 .05 .02

Molybdenum 1.2 .95 1.4 .22 .34 .30 .26 .25 .23 .23 .25 .36

Nickel .43 1.0 .95 43 15 28 64 63 48 41 19 11

Potassium, mg/L 1.9 2.2 2.1 8.9 6.1 6.4 11 11 9.3 11 7.5 6.4

Selenium .92 .45 .42 .45 .34 .49 .55 .46 .40 .33 .26 .37

Silver <.016 <.016 <.02 .16 .05 .12 .29 .29 .22 .19 .07 .04

Sodium, mg/L 10 7.1 9.6 4.0 3.6 5.2 4.0 4.0 4.1 2.0 2.6 3.9

Strontium 830 660 800 510 270 480 530 530 420 260 220 290

Zinc <6.0 E3.2 E3.1 120 38 79 160 160 130 120 57 35
Supplemental Information 51

Table 17. Results of chemical analyses of standard-reference soil/sediment samples and comparison to most probable values. [Shading indicates values outside of published limits for each soil-quality constituent or ± 10 percent of the most probable value, whichever is greater. MPV, most probable value; mg/kg, milligrams per kilogram; NIST, National Institute of Standards and Technology; --, not determined; (nc), not certified; USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; <, less than; ?, actual value in question]

Sample 

source

Sample 

code

Aluminum Antimony Arsenic Barium Beryllium Cadmium

Concentration 

(percentage of dry 

weight)

Percentage 

different 

from 

MPV

Concentration 

(mg/kg)

Percentage 

different 

from 

MPV

Concentration 

(mg/kg)

Percentage 

different 

from 

MPV

Concentration 

(mg/kg)

Percentage 

different 

from 

MPV

Concentration 

(mg/kg)

Percentage 

different 

from 

MPV

Concentration 

(mg/kg)

Percentage 

different 

from 

MPV

NIST 2709 MPV 7.50±0.6 -- 7.9±0.6 -- 17.7±0.8 -- 968±40 -- -- -- 0.4 --

7.5 0 7.5 -5.1 18 1.7 990 2.3 5.8 -- .4 0

NIST 2711 MT. 

soil

MPV 6.53±0.9 -- 19.4±1.8 -- 105±8 -- 726±38 -- -- -- 41.70±0.25 --

6.4 -2.0 17 -12.4 99 -5.7 730 .6 2.2 -- 40 -4.1

NIST 1646a MPV 2.30±0.2 -- .3 -- 6.23±0.21 -- 210 -- <1 -- .2 --

2.3 0 .3 0 6.0 -3.7 220 4.8 .9 -- .2 0

USGS MAG-1 MPV 8.66±.16 -- 0.96±0.10 -- 9.2±1.2 -- 479±41 -- 3.2±0.4 -- .2±.1 --

8.5 -1.8 .9 -6.2 8.9 -3.3 520 8.6 3.1 -3.1 .1 -50.0

USGS STM-1 MPV 9.73±0.12 -- 1.66±0.15 -- 4.6±0.6 -- 560±60 -- 9.6±0.6 -- .27±0.05 --

9.7 -.3 1.5 -9.6 4.8 4.3 610 8.9 9.7 1.0 .2 -25.9

USGS SDO-1 MPV 6.49±0.14 -- 4.1-4.8 -- 68.5±8.6 -- 397±38 -- 3.3±0.6 -- -- --

6.4 -1.4 4.2 -- 68 -.7 330 -16.9 3.2 -3.0 <.1 --

USGS SGR-1 MPV 3.45±0.11 -- 3.4±0.5 -- 67±5 -- 290±40 -- 1.06±0.16 -- .93±0.05 --

3.5 1.4 3.0 -11.8 62 -7.5 310 6.9 1.1 3.8 1.0 7.5

USGS SCO-1 MPV 7.23±0.11 -- 2.5±0.1 -- 12.4±1.4 -- 570±30 -- 1.84±0.20 -- .14 --

7.1 -1.8 2.3 -8.0 12 -3.2 600 5.3 1.8 -2.2 .1 -28.6

USGS GSP-2 MPV 7.88±0.11 -- -- -- -- -- 1,340±44 -- 1.5±0.2 -- -- --

7.8 -1.0 .3 -- 1.2 -- 1,400 4.5 1.5 0 <.1 --
52 Assessment of Energetic Compounds, Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds, and Trace Elements Table 17. Results of chemical analyses of standard-reference soil/sediment samples and comparison to most probable values.—Continued [Shading indicates values outside of published limits for each soil-quality constituent or ± 10 percent of the most probable value, whichever is greater. MPV, most probable value; mg/kg, milligrams per kilogram; NIST, National Institute of Standards and Technology; --, not determined; (nc), not certified; USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; <, less than; ?, actual value in question] Sample source Sample code Carbon, organic, total Carbon, total Chromium Cobalt Copper Iron Concen- tration (percent- age of dry weight) Percent- age different from MPV Concen- tration (percent dry weight) Percent- age differ- ent from MPV Concen- tration (mg/kg) Percent- age different from MPV Concen- tration (mg/kg) Percent- age different from MPV Concen- tration (mg/kg) Percent- age different from MPV Concen- tration (percent dry weight) Percent- age different from MPV NIST 2709 MPV -- -- 1.2(nc) -- 130±4 -- 13.4±0.7 -- 34.6±0.7 -- 3.5±0.11 -- 1.1 -- 1.1 -8.3 120 -7.7 14 4.5 33 -4.6 3.5 0 NIST 2711 MT. soil MPV -- -- 2 -- 47 -- 10 -- 114±2 -- 2.89±0.06 -- 1.8 -- 1.8 -10.0 45 -4.3 10 0 110 -3.5 2.8 -3.1 NIST 1646a MPV -- -- -- -- 41±2 -- 5 -- 10±0.34 -- 2.00±0.04 -- .6 -- .6 -- 40 -2.4 4.8 -4.0 9.4 -6.0 2.0 0 USGS MAG-1 MPV -- -- 2.15±0.40 -- 97±8 -- 20.4±1.6 -- 30±3 -- 4.75±0.21 -- 2.3 -- 2.3 7.0 95 -2.1 22 7.8 27 -10.0 4.9 3.2 USGS STM-1 MPV -- -- .01 -- 4.3±2.6 -- 0.90±0.15 -- 4.6±2.0 -- 3.65±0.07 -- <.1 -- <.1 -- 3 -39.5 <1 -- 4 -13.0 3.6 -1.4 USGS SDO-1 MPV -- -- 9.95±0.44 -- 66.4±7.6 -- 46.8±6.3 -- 60.2±9.6 -- 6.53±0.15 -- 9.4 -- 9.4 -5.5 69 3.9 49 4.7 61 1.3 6.4 -2.0 USGS SGR-1 MPV 24.8 -- 28 -- 30±3 -- 11.8±1.5 -- 66±9 -- 2.12±0.10 -- 27 8.9 27 -3.6 33 10.0 12 1.7 67 1.5 2.1 -.9

USGS SCO-1 MPV -- -- 0.81±0.12 -- 68±5 -- 10.5±0.8 -- 28.7±1.9 -- 3.59±0.13 --

1.0 -- 1.0 23.5 63 -7.4 11 4.8 26 -9.4 3.5 -2.5

USGS GSP-2 MPV -- -- -- -- 20±6 -- 7±1 -- 43±4 -- 3.43±0.11 --

<.1 -- .07 -- 17 -15.0 7.1 1.4 45 4.7 3.3 -3.8
Supplemental Information 53

Table 17. Results of chemical analyses of standard-reference soil/sediment samples and comparison to most probable values.—Continued[Shading indicates values outside of published limits for each soil-quality constituent or ± 10 percent of the most probable value, whichever is greater. MPV, most probable value; mg/kg, milligrams per kilogram; NIST, National Institute of Standards and Technology; --, not determined; (nc), not certified; USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; <, less than; ?, actual value in question]

Sample 

source

Sample 

code

Lead Lithium Manganese Mercury Molybdenum Nickel

Concentration 

(mg/kg)

Percentage 

different 

from 

MPV

Concentration 

(mg/kg)

Percentage different from 

MPV

Concentration 

(mg/kg)

Percentage 

different 

from MPV

Concentration 

(mg/kg)

Percentage 

different 

from MPV

Concentration 

(mg/kg)

Percentage 

different 

from MPV

Concentration 

(mg/kg)

Percentage 

different 

from MPV

NIST 2709 MPV 18.9±0.5 -- -- -- 538±17 -- 1.40±.08 -- 2.0(nc) -- 88±5 --

19 53 -- 530 -1.5 1.30 -7.1 1.9 -5.0 83 -5.7

NIST 2711 

MT. 

soil

MPV 1,162±31 -- -- -- 638±28 -- 6.25±0.19 -- 1.6 -- 20.6±1.1 --

1,100 -5.3 26 -- 610 -4.4 6.50 4.0 1.2 -25.0 19 -7.8

NIST 1646a MPV 12±1 -- 17 -- 234±3 -- .04 -- 1.8 -- 23 --

12 0 17 0 230 -1.7 .06 50.0 1.5 -16.7 21 -8.7

USGS MAG-1 MPV 24±3 -- 79±4 -- 760±70 -- .018 -- 1.6±0.6 -- 53±8 --

26 8.3 77 -2.5 710 -6.6 .05 177.8 .8 -50.0 48 -9.4

USGS STM-1 MPV 17.7±1.8 -- 32±8 -- 1,700±120 -- .015 -- 5.2±0.9 -- 3.0±1.6 --

16 -9.6 38 18.8 1,600 -5.9 <.01 -- 5.0 -3.8 2 -33.3

USGS SDO-1 MPV 27.9±5.2 -- 28.6±5.5 -- 325±39 -- 0.19±0.08 -- 134±21 -- 99.5±9.9 --

26 -6.8 31 8.4 310 -4.6 .14 -26.3 150 11.9 92 -7.5

USGS SGR-1 MPV 38±4 -- 147±26 -- 267±34 -- .313 -- 35.1±0.9 -- 29±5 --

42 10.5 130 -11.6 230 -13.9 .28 -10.5 33 -6.0 28 -3.4

USGS SCO-1 MPV 31±3 -- 45±3 -- 408±30 -- .052 -- 1.37±0.16 -- 27±4 --

30 -3.2 44 -2.2 380 -6.9 .096 84.6 .94 -31.4 24 -11.1

USGS GSP-2 MPV 42±3 -- 36±1 -- 320±20 -- -- -- 2.1±0.6 -- 17±2 --

42 0.0 35 -2.8 300 -6.3 .02 -- 2.2 4.8 15 -11.8
54 Assessment of Energetic Compounds, Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds, and Trace Elements Table 17. Results of chemical analyses of standard-reference soil/sediment samples and comparison to most probable values.—Continued [Shading indicates values outside of published limits for each soil-quality constituent or ± 10 percent of the most probable value, whichever is greater. MPV, most probable value; mg/kg, milligrams per kilo- gram; NIST, National Institute of Standards and Technology; --, not determined; USGS, (nc), not certified; U.S. Geological Survey; <, less than; ?, actual value in question] Sample source Sample code Nitrogen Phosphorus Selenium Silver Strontium Sulfur Concen- tration (percent- age of dry weight) Per- centage different from MPV Concen- tration (mg/kg) Percent- age different from MPV Concen- tration (mg/kg) Percent- age different from MPV Concen- tration (mg/kg) Percent- age different from MPV Concen- tration (mg/kg) Per- centage differ- ent from MPV Concen-tra- tion (percent dry weight) Percent- age different from MPV NIST 2709 MPV -- -- 620±50 -- 1.57±0.08 -- 0.41±0.03 -- 231±2 -- 0.089±0.002 -- 0.10 -- 630 1.6 1.5 -4.5 .5 22.0 240 3.9 .081 -9.0 NIST 2711 MT. soil MPV -- -- 860±70 -- 1.52±0.14 -- 4.63±0.39 -- 245.3±0.7 -- .042±.001 -- .10 -- 810 -5.8 1.4 -7.9 4.6 -.6 240 -2.2 .037 -11.9 NIST 1646a MPV -- -- 270±10 -- 0.19±0.03 -- <.3 -- 68 -- 0.35±0.004 -- .06 -- 280 3.7 .3 57.9 <.5 -- 70 2.9 .33 -5.7 USGS MAG-1 MPV -- -- 710±90 -- 1.16±0.12 -- .08 -- 146±15 -- 0.39±0.07 -- .30 -- 700 -1.4 1.0 -13.8 <.5 -- 140 -4.1 .34 -12.8 USGS STM-1 MPV -- -- 690±60 -- 0.008±0.002 -- .08 -- 700±30 -- -- -- <.1 -- 680 -1.4 <.1 -- <.5 -- 670 -4.3 <.01 -- USGS SDO-1 MPV 0.35±0.04 -- 480±31 -- 1.9–6.8 -- 0.1–0.2 -- 75.1±11 -- 5.35±0.44 -- .39 11.4 470 -2.1 1.8 -- <.5 -- 80 6.5 4.90 -8.4 USGS SGR-1 MPV -- -- 1,430±290 -- 3.5±.28 -- 0.01–0.20 -- 420±30 -- 1.53±0.11 -- .90 -- 1,200 -16.1 3.9 11.4 <.5 -- 390 -7.1 1.40 -8.5

USGS SCO-1 MPV -- -- 900±90 -- 0.89±0.06 -- .13 -- 174±16 -- 0.063±0.009 --

.06 -- 860 -4.4 .9 1.1 <.5 -- 170 -2.3 .061 -3.2

USGS GSP-2 MPV -- -- 1,300±100 -- -- -- -- -- 240±10 -- -- --

<.1 -- 1,200 -7.7 .05 -- <.5 -- 250 4.2 .044 --
Supplemental Information 55

Table 17. Results of chemical analyses of standard-reference soil/sediment samples and comparison to most probable values.—Continued[Shading indicates values outside of published limits for each soil-quality constituent or ± 10 percent of the most probable value, whichever is greater. MPV, most probable value; mg/kg, milligrams per kilogram; NIST, National Institute of Standards and Technology; --, not determined; (nc), not certified; USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; <, less than; ?, actual value in question]

Sample 

source

Sample 

code

Thallium Titanium Uranium Vanadium Zinc

Concentration 

(mg/kg)

Percentage 

different 

from 

MPV

Concentration 

(percentage of 

dry weight)

Percentage 

different 

from 

MPV

Concentration 

(mg/kg)

Percentage 

different 

from 

MPV

Concentration 

(mg/kg)

Percent 

agedifferent 

from 

MPV

Concentration 

(mg/kg)

Percentage 

different 

from 

MPV

NIST 2709 MPV 0.74±0.05 -- .342±.024 -- 3 -- 112±5 -- 106±3 --

<50 -- .35 2.3 <50 -- 110 -1.8 110 3.8

NIST 2711 MT. 

soil

MPV 2.47±0.15 -- 0.306±0.023 -- 2.6 -- 81.6±2.9 -- 350.4±4.8 --

<50 -- .29 -5.2 <50 -- 79 -3.2 360 2.7

NIST 1646a MPV <.5 -- 0.46±0.02 -- 2 -- 45±1 -- 49±2 --

<50 -- .46 0 <50 -- 43 -4.4 49 0

USGS MAG-1 MPV 0.590±? -- 0.450±0.040 -- 2.7±0.3 -- 140±6 -- 130±6 --

<50 -- .43 -4.4 <50 -- 130 -7.1 140 7.7

USGS STM-1 MPV 0.260±0.050 -- 0.081±0.007 -- 9.06±0.13 -- 8.7±5.2 -- 235±22 --

<50 -- .083 2.5 <50 -- 4 -54.0 260 10.6

USGS SDO-1 MPV 8.3? -- 0.426±0.019 -- 48.8±6.5 -- 160±21 -- 64.1±6.9 --

<50 -- .42 -1.4 50 2.5 160 0 71 10.8

USGS SGR-1 MPV 0.330±? -- 0.152±0.015 -- 5.4±0.4 -- 128±6 -- 74±9 --

<50 -- .15 -1.3 <50 -- 120 -6.3 81 9.5

USGS SCO-1 MPV 0.72±0.13 -- 0.376±0.039 -- 3.0±0.2 -- 131±13 -- 103±8 --

<50 -- .35 -6.9 <50 -- 120 -8.4 110 6.8

USGS GSP-2 MPV 1.1 -- 0.40±0.01 -- 2.4 -- 52±4 -- 120±10 --

<50 -- .40 0 <50 -- 51 -1.9 130 8.3
Publishing support provided by: 

Rolla Publishing Service Center

For additional information concerning this publication, contact:

Director, USGS Kansas Water Science Center 

4821 Quail Crest Place, Lawrence, KS (785) 842–9909

Or visit the Kansas Water Science Center Web Site at:

http://ks.water.usgs.gov
Back cover photographs:

Live-fire range at Fort Riley, Kansas (photograph by L.M. Pope, U.S. Geological Survey).

Mechanized mortar crew 

conducting live-fire training 

at Fort Riley, Kansas, c. 2007 

(photograph courtesy of First 

Infantry Division, U.S. Army).

M1A1 Abrams tanks conducting live-fire 

training at Fort Riley, Kansas, 2008 (photograph courtesy of First Infantry Division, 

U.S. Army).
Coiner and others—Energetic Compounds in Streams Draining Firing Points and Munitions Impact Areas, Fort Riley, Kansas—Scientific Investigations Report 2010–5021

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