U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Scientific Investigations Report 2007–5268

Prepared in cooperation with the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation

Water, Bed-Sediment, and Fish-Tissue Quality within the 

Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, North Dakota and South 

Dakota, September 2006
Water, Bed-Sediment, and Fish-Tissue 

Quality within the Standing Rock Sioux 

Reservation, North Dakota and South 

Dakota, September 2006

By William C. Damschen and Robert F. Lundgren

Prepared in cooperation with the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation

Scientific Investigations Report 2007–5268

U.S. Department of the Interior

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

DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Mark D. Myers, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2007

For product and ordering information:

World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod

Telephone: 1–888–ASK–USGS

For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, 

natural hazards, and the environment:

World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov

Telephone: 1–888–ASK–USGS

Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the 

U.S. Government.

Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to 

reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report.

Suggested citation:

Damschen, W.C., and Lundgren, R.F., 2007, Water, bed-sediment, and fish-tissue quality within the Standing Rock 

Sioux Reservation, North Dakota and South Dakota, September 2006: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations 

Report 2007–5268, 29 p.
iii

Contents

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

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

Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................1

Study Area..............................................................................................................................................1

Methods...........................................................................................................................................................3

Data Collection Network .....................................................................................................................3

Public Drinking-Water Supply ...................................................................................................3

Solen Water-Delivery System...........................................................................................3

Selfridge Water-Delivery System.....................................................................................3

Fort Yates Water-Delivery System ...................................................................................3

Ground Water...............................................................................................................................4

Surface Water and Bed Sediment............................................................................................4

Fish Tissue.....................................................................................................................................4

Established Water-Quality Standards and Health-Based Screening Levels.......................................4

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Maximum Contaminant Levels......................................4

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels .................4

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Health Advisories ............................................................4

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Maximum Contaminant Level Goal...............................4

U.S. Geological Survey Health-Based Screening Levels...............................................................4

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Screening Values for Contaminants in Fish Tissue....5

Water, Bed-Sediment, and Fish-Tissue Quality ........................................................................................6

Major Inorganic and Minor and Trace Inorganic Constituents in Water....................................6

Volatile Organic Compounds in Water..............................................................................................6

Minor and Trace Inorganic Constituents in Bed Sediment............................................................6

Minor and Trace Inorganic Constituents in Fish Tissue and Livers..............................................6

Summary........................................................................................................................................................10

References Cited..........................................................................................................................................10

Supplement. Analytical data for water, bed sediment, and fish tissue within the 

Standing Rock Sioux Reservation ...............................................................................................13

Tables:

1–1. Sample location information............................................................................................14

1–2. Analytical results for samples collected from the Solen water-delivery 

system, Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, North Dakota..........................................16

1–3. Analytical results for samples collected from the Selfridge water-delivery 

system, Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, North Dakota..........................................17

1–4. Analytical results for samples collected from the Fort Yates water-delivery 

system, Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, North Dakota..........................................18

1–5. Analytical results for samples collected from select ground-water sources, 

Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, North Dakota.........................................................22

1–6. Analytical results for samples collected from select surface-water and 

bed-sediment sources, Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, North and 

South Dakota ......................................................................................................................23

1–7. Analytical results for fish-tissue and liver samples collected from the 

Missouri River near Fort Yates, North Dakota ..............................................................27
iv

Tables

1. Summary of established water-quality standards and health-based screening 

levels for selected contaminants in water...............................................................................5

2. Concentrations of minor and trace inorganic constituents in fish tissue and 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Screening Values for target species 

collected on the Missouri River near Fort Yates, North Dakota .........................................10

Conversion Factors and Datum

Multiply By To obtain

Length

mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km)

Area

acre 0.4047 hectare (ha)

Volume

gallon (gal) 3.785 liter (L) 

Mass

pound, avoirdupois (lb) 0.4536 kilogram (kg) 

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

°F=(1.8×°C)+32

Specific conductance is given in microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius (μS/cm at 

25°C).

Concentrations of chemical constituents in water are given either in milligrams per liter (mg/L) 

or micrograms per liter (μg/L).

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1927 (NAD 27).

Figures

1. Maps shpwing locations of sample sites within the Standing Rock Sioux 

Reservation, North and South Dakota.......................................................................................2

2–3. Graphs showing:

2. Major inorganic constituents in select public drinking-water sources, 

ground waters, and surface waters within the Standing Rock Sioux 

Reservation, North and South Dakota..............................................................................7

3. Minor and trace inorganic constituents in select public drinking-water 

sources, ground waters, and surface waters within the Standing Rock 

Sioux Reservation, North and South Dakota...................................................................8
Water, Bed-Sediment, and Fish-Tissue Quality within the 

Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, North Dakota and South 

Dakota, September 2006

By William C. Damschen and Robert F. Lundgren

Abstract

During September 2006, samples from public waterdelivery systems, ground water, surface water, bed-sediment, 

and fish-tissue sources were collected at 32 locations within 

the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation and analyzed to aid 

in the evaluation of any immediate water-quality concerns. 

Samples were collected from Solen, Selfridge, and Fort Yates, 

North Dakota, water-delivery systems and included raw water 

samples and treated water samples from water users on the 

water-delivery systems. Samples from the Solen and Selfridge 

systems were analyzed for dissolved major inorganic and 

dissolved minor and trace inorganic concentrations. Samples 

from the Fort Yates system were analyzed for dissolved major 

inorganic concentrations, dissolved minor and trace inorganic 

concentrations, total and dissolved nutrient concentrations, 

total and dissolved organic carbon concentrations, and volatile organic compound concentrations. Water samples were 

collected from ground-water wells throughout the reservation 

only in North Dakota and analyzed for dissolved major inorganic concentrations and dissolved minor and trace inorganic 

concentrations. Water samples were collected at locations on 

the Missouri River and its major tributaries within the reservation and analyzed for dissolved major inorganic concentrations and dissolved minor and trace inorganic concentrations; 

bed sediment was collected at these sites and analyzed for 

minor and trace inorganic concentrations. Fish-tissue and liver 

samples were collected from several species on the Missouri 

River near Fort Yates and analyzed for minor and trace inorganic concentrations. Results of the water-quality analysis 

revealed very little of concern, with the exception of elevated 

boron concentrations in the drinking water and ground water 

in the area of Selfridge and Solen and minor exceedences of 

total trihalomethanes in the Fort Yates water-delivery system.

Introduction

Tribal members of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation are concerned about the quality of water from various 

sources on the reservation and that some of the drinking water 

consumed on the reservation is adversely affecting human 

health (Mni Sose Intertribal Rights Coalition, Inc, 2005). 

Water-quality data are needed to determine potential sources 

of poor water quality in water-delivery, surface-water, and 

ground-water supplies and to better understand possible links 

to health effects among tribal members; therefore, the U.S. 

Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the Standing 

Rock Sioux Reservation developed a water-quality reconnaissance plan to investigate these concerns.

Purpose and Scope

This report provides a limited overview of the water, 

bed-sediment, and fish-tissue quality from select water sources 

within the reservation in an attempt to evaluate the overall 

quality of the water resources on the reservation. Analytical 

results were compared to established standards and screening values for drinking water, bed sediment, and fish tissue. 

Samples were collected within the reservation from September 11 through 23, 2006, and analyzed at the USGS National 

Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) in Denver, Colorado.

Study Area

The reservation is in south-central North Dakota (Sioux 

County) and north-central South Dakota (Corson County) and 

has a total land area of 2.3 million acres (fig. 1). The area is 

fairly well drained and includes several small streams, lakes, 
Figure 1. Locations of sample sites within the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, North and South Dakota.

19

18

17

16

15

25

24

23

22

21

20

31, 37

27, 33

26, 32

28, 34 Solen

Selfridge

Fort Yates

South Dakota

North Dakota

Standing Rock Sioux

Reservation

0 10 20 MILES

Sioux County, North Dakota

Corson County, South Dakota

Cannonball

Porcupine Creek

Grand River

Lake Oahe

Missouri River

 Oak Creek

River

Cedar Creek

9 8

12

11 10

14

13

38-47

30, 36

29, 35

0 0.1 0.2 MILES

7

6

5

4 3

1,2

0 0.1 0.2 MILES 0 0.25 0.5 MILES

Solen Fort Yates Selfridge

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 2005, 1:2,000,000 and North Dakota Department of Transportation, 2003, 1:24,000, GCS North American 1983

Base from U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency NAIP, 2006, 1 meter, 

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 14, North American Datum 1983 

EXPLANATION

Water-delivery systems

Surface water and bed sediment–first number is surface 

 water site; second number is bed-sediment site

26, 32

Ground-water site

23

Fish-tissue site

38–47 15

See insets for sampling locations within/near each 

 town.

   Water, Bed-Sediment, and Fish-Tissue Quality within the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, September 2006
and dugouts. Surface water is the major water source for the 

reservation; the Missouri River provides the largest portion 

of the surface-water supply. Ground water is not as abundant 

as surface water and, where available, is usually adequate 

for only small-scale use (Howells, 1982). Shallow ground 

water is scarce and unreliable, and deep ground water, while 

generally more plentiful, is highly mineralized and of poor 

quality (http://www.mnisose.org/profiles/strock.htm). Surface 

and ground water on the reservation are used for municipal, 

domestic, stock-water, recreation, and irrigation purposes 

(Amundson, 2002).

Methods

Water-quality, bed-sediment, and fish-tissue samples were 

collected in North and South Dakota by USGS and Standing 

Rock Sioux Tribe Department of Water Resources personnel 

from September 11 through 23, 2006. The 32 locations where 

samples were collected are described in Supplement table 1–1.

Samples were collected according to U.S. Geological 

Survey protocols (U.S. Geological Survey, variously dated) 

and were analyzed at the NWQL utilizing analytical methods 

for constituent groups described in the following publications:

Major inorganic and minor trace inorganic constituents 

in water (American Public Health Association, 1998; 

Faires, 1993; Fishman, 1993; Fishman and Friedman, 

1989; Garbarino, 1999; Garbarino and others, 2006; 

Struzeski and others, 1996).

Volatile organic compounds (Conner and others, 1998).

Nutrients (Fishman, 1993; Patton and Truitt, 1992; 

Patton and Truitt, 2000).

Minor and trace inorganic constituents in bed sediment 

(Arbogast, 1996; Briggs and Meier, 1999; Hageman, 

2007, Taggart, 2002).

Minor and trace inorganic constituents in fish tissue 

(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1996; 

Garbarino and others, 2006; Hoffman, 1996).

Field quality assurance and quality control for the study 

described in this report were addressed by using the same 

data-collection procedures that are used in the USGS National 

Stream Quality Accounting Network (NASQAN) program 

(Kelly and others, 2001). Results for blank and replicate 

samples collected during 2006 for the NASQAN program 

in North Dakota indicate that no sample contamination was 

introduced by field activities (data on file at the USGS North 

Dakota Water Science Center, Bismarck, North Dakota).

•

•

•

•

•

Data Collection Network

Samples and results are grouped into the various categories as described in the following sections.

Public Drinking-Water Supply

Solen Water-Delivery System

Domestic water for Solen, North Dakota, is delivered 

by one public supply well located within the city. Water is 

treated at the well location and then distributed to the water 

users. Seven water samples were collected from the waterdelivery system: two samples from the supply well, one raw, 

untreated sample (Supplement table 1–2, sample 2) and one 

treated sample (Supplement table 1–2, sample 1); and five 

samples from users on the water-delivery system (Supplement 

table 1–2, samples 3–7). Water samples were analyzed for 

dissolved major inorganic and dissolved minor and trace inorganic concentrations.

Selfridge Water-Delivery System

Domestic water for Selfridge, North Dakota, is delivered 

from one public supply well located within the city. Water is 

treated at the well and then distributed to water users. One 

raw water sample was collected from the supply well (Supplement table 1–3, sample 8). Four water samples were collected 

from water users on the water-delivery system (Supplement 

table 1–3, samples 9–12). Water samples were analyzed for 

dissolved major inorganic and dissolved minor and trace inorganic concentrations.

Fort Yates Water-Delivery System

Domestic water for Fort Yates, North Dakota, and 

surrounding areas is delivered by the Missouri River intake 

treatment facility located within the city of Fort Yates. 

Missouri River water is pumped into the facility and treated, 

then delivered to the city of Fort Yates and surrounding areas 

through a pipeline. Seven water samples were collected from 

the delivery system. A raw water sample was collected at 

the water intake (Supplement table 1–4, sample 13), and six 

water samples were collected from water users on the delivery 

system (Supplement table 1–4, samples 14–19). Water samples 

were analyzed for dissolved major inorganic and dissolved 

minor and trace inorganic concentrations, total and dissolved 

nutrients, total and dissolved organic carbon, and volatile 

organic compounds (VOCs).

Methods 
Ground Water

Water samples were collected at six ground-water wells 

throughout the reservation within Sioux County, North Dakota 

(Supplement table 1–5, samples 20–25). Water samples were 

analyzed for dissolved major inorganic and dissolved minor 

and trace inorganic concentrations.

Surface Water and Bed Sediment

Water and bed-sediment samples were collected from 

six surface-water locations within the Missouri River drainage on the reservation in North and South Dakota. Water 

samples were analyzed for dissolved major inorganic and 

dissolved minor and trace inorganic concentrations (Supplement table 1–6, samples 26–31). Bed-sediment samples 

were analyzed for minor and trace inorganic concentrations 

(Supplement table 1–6, samples 32–37).

Fish Tissue

Fish-tissue samples were collected on the Missouri River 

near Fort Yates, North Dakota. Samples from each of 10 fish 

species were analyzed for minor and trace inorganic concentrations (Supplement table 1–7, samples 38–47). Additionally 

an individual minor and trace inorganic analysis was done on 

the livers of the larger species.

Established Water-Quality Standards 

and Health-Based Screening Levels

Under the authority of the Safe Drinking Water Act in 

1974, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) 

established a public drinking-water program. Under the act, 

the USEPA set limits for contaminant levels in drinking water 

to ensure the safety of public drinking water. Current 2007 

water-quality standards are listed in table 1.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

Maximum Contaminant Levels

The USEPA has set national water-quality standards for 

certain contaminants called Maximum Contaminant Levels 

(MCLs). MCLs are legally enforceable standards that set the 

maximum permissible level of a contaminant in water that is 

delivered to any user of a public water system. MCLs are set 

as close as feasible to the maximum level of a contaminant 

at which no known or anticipated adverse effects on human 

health would occur, taking into account the best available 

technology, treatment techniques, cost considerations, expert 

judgment, and public comments (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2006a).

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels

In addition, the USEPA has established National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations that set non-mandatory 

water-quality standards for 15 contaminants. The USEPA does 

not enforce these Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels 

(SMCLs). They are established only as guidelines to assist 

public water systems in managing their drinking water for 

aesthetic considerations, such as taste, color, and odor. These 

contaminants are not considered to present a risk to human 

health at the SMCL (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 

1992).

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Health 

Advisories

The USEPA health advisories are an estimate of acceptable drinking-water levels for a chemical substance based on 

health effects information. A health advisory is not a legally 

enforceable Federal standard, but serves as technical guidance 

to assist Federal, State, and local officials (U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, 2006b). The USEPA currently has 1-day, 

10-day, and lifetime health advisories established to estimate 

the concentration of a chemical in drinking water that is not 

expected to cause any adverse noncarcinogenic effects.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal

The USEPA Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) 

is the level of a contaminant in drinking water below which 

there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for 

a margin of safety and are non-enforceable public health goals 

(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2006a).

U.S. Geological Survey Health-Based Screening 

Levels

Health-Based Screening Levels (HBSLs) are benchmark 

concentrations of contaminants in water that may be of potential concern for human health. HBSLs are non-enforceable 

guidelines that were developed by the USGS in collaboration 

with USEPA and others using USEPA methodologies and 

the most current, USEPA peer-reviewed, publicly available 

human-health toxicity information (Toccalino and others, 

2003). The USGS and its cooperators are continuing to refine 

the HBSL methodology.

 Water, Bed-Sediment, and Fish-Tissue Quality within the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, September 2006
Table 1. Summary of established water-quality standards and health-based screening levels for selected 

contaminants in water.

[USEPA MCL, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Maximum Contaminant Level; USEPA SMCL, U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level; HBSL, Health-Based Screening Level developed by U.S. Geological Survey, USEPA, 

and others; NA, not available; mg/L, milligrams per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter]

Contaminant Constituent type USEPA MCL USEPA 

SMCL HBSL

Aluminum Minor and trace inorganic constituent NA 2 mg/L NA

Antimony Minor and trace inorganic constituent 6 μg/L NA NA

Arsenic Minor and trace inorganic constituent 10 μg/L NA NA

Barium Minor and trace inorganic constituent 2,000 μg/L NA NA

Beryllium Minor and trace inorganic constituent 4 μg/L NA NA

Boron Minor and trace inorganic constituent NA NA 1,000 μg/L

Cadmium Minor and trace inorganic constituent 5 μg/L NA NA

Chloride Major inorganic constituent NA 250 mg/L NA

Chromium Minor and trace inorganic constituent 100 μg/L NA NA

Copper Minor and trace inorganic constituent 1,300 μg/L 1 mg/L NA

Fluoride Major inorganic constituent 4,000 μg/L 2 mg/L NA

Iron Minor and trace inorganic constituent NA 0.3 mg/L NA

Lead Minor and trace inorganic constituent 15 μg/L NA NA

Manganese Minor and trace inorganic constituent NA 0.05 mg/L 300 μg/L

Nickel Minor and trace inorganic constituent NA NA 100 μg/L

Selenium Minor and trace inorganic constituent 50 μg/L NA NA

Silver Minor and trace inorganic constituent NA 0.1 mg/L 100 μg/L

Sulfate Major inorganic constituent NA 250 mg/L NA

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Volatile organic compound 80 μg/L NA NA

Zinc Minor and trace inorganic constituent NA 5 mg/L 2,000 μg/L

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

Screening Values for Contaminants in Fish 

Tissue

USEPA screening values (SV) are defined as concentrations of target contaminants in fish or shellfish tissue that 

are of potential public health concern and used as threshold 

values against which levels of contamination in similar tissue 

collected from the ambient environment can be compared. 

Exceedance of these SVs should be taken as an indication that 

more intensive site-specific monitoring and/or evaluation of 

human health risk should be conducted (U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, 2000a).

Established Water-Quality Standards and Health-Based Screening Levels 
Water, Bed-Sediment, and Fish-Tissue 

Quality

Results for sample analyses can be found in Supplement 

tables 1–2 through 1–7. The results were compared to USEPA 

water-quality standards and USGS health-based screening 

levels for contaminants in drinking water, ground water, 

surface water, and fish tissue.

Major Inorganic and Minor and Trace Inorganic 

Constituents in Water

Concentrations of major inorganic and minor and trace 

inorganic constituents in the 31 water samples collected did 

not exceed MCLs (figs. 2 and 3); however, arsenic in ground 

water approached the MCL of 10 μg/L at 2 wells (Supplement 

table 1–5). Fluoride, manganese, and sulfate concentrations 

in some samples from the Solen and Selfridge water-supply 

systems and from ground-water sources exceeded the SMCLs. 

Long-term exposure to elevated fluoride concentrations may 

have potential health effects of flourosis ( U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, 1994). Higher concentrations of sulfate 

may have a laxative effect and give water a bitter taste.

Boron exceeded the HBSL of 1,000 μg/L. The USEPA 

does not have an MCL for boron but does have a lifetime 

health advisory (HA) of 1,000 μg/L (U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, 2006a). The lifetime HA is based on 

exposure of a 70-kg adult consuming 2 liters of water per 

day. Several of the boron values for the Solen and Selfridge 

water systems and ground-water wells exceeded the HBSL 

and HA. Of the 18 samples collected at these sites, 16 samples 

exceeded the HBSL and HA of 1,000 μg/L. The highest value 

was 3,440 μg/L (Supplement table 1–2, samples 2 and 7) 

and the lowest value was 183 μg/L (Supplement table 1–5, 

sample 25). Concentrations in the Solen samples ranged from 

3,380 μg/L to 3,440 μg/L. Boron occurs naturally in ground 

water; other sources include the atmospheric deposition of 

coal combustion products, storage or disposal of coal ash, 

and production of consumer and agricultural products such as 

fertilizer. Ingesting large amounts of boron can be a humanhealth concern (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease 

Registry, 1992).

Volatile Organic Compounds in Water

Of the 29 regulated VOCs analyzed for the Fort Yates 

water-delivery system, the four trihalomethanes (trichloromethane (CHCl3

); bromodichloromethane (CHBrCl2); dibromochloromethane (CHBr2

Cl); and, tribromomethane (CHBr3) 

were the most frequently detected VOCs in samples collected 

from water users on the delivery system. The relative concentrations of the four THMs in all six samples are expected in 

natural water that has a low bromide content (Ivahnenko and 

Barbash, 2004). In such waters, CHCl3 is expected to be the 

highest concentration, CHBrCl2 next largest, then CHBr2Cl, 

and CHBr3 the lowest concentration. The sum of the total 

THMs (TTHM) for each of the six sites was 64, 64, 115, 

85, 92, and 86 μg/L, respectively. The sum of the concentrations in samples at four locations (Supplement table 1–4, 

samples 13–19) exceeded the MCL of 80 μg/L for TTHM 

(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2006a). The presence of a free chlorine residual in the water being pumped into 

the distribution system during the September 2006 sampling 

period may explain the higher values (Ivahnenko and Zogorski, 2006). Until the free chlorine is removed or reduced to 

chloride, the THM reaction continues to form THMs, and 

water users at the end of a distribution may have the largest exposure (John Zogorski, U.S. Geological Survey, South 

Dakota Water Science Center, written commun., March 9, 

2007).

The presence of trichloromethane in drinking water is a 

potential human-health concern. In 1986, the USEPA classified trichloromethane as a probable human carcinogen (Group 

B2 carcinogen) on the basis of evidence of its carcinogenicity 

in animals (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2000b). 

In 1998, the USEPA revised the carcinogenicity risk assessment for trichloromethane, stating that the compound is 

likely to be carcinogenic to humans by all routes of exposure 

at concentrations high enough to cause cytotoxicity or the 

formation of regenerative nodules in susceptible tissues (U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency, 2002). More recently, the 

USEPA revised the MCLG for trichloromethane to 70 μg/L on 

the basis of non-cancer effects (U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency, 2004).

Minor and Trace Inorganic Constituents in Bed 

Sediment

Bed sediment collected at the surface-water sampling 

sites were analyzed for minor and trace inorganic constituents 

(Supplement table 1–6, samples 32–37). The available Federal 

sediment-quality screening values and standards are complex 

and apply to individual basins or regions other than the study 

area. Developing these screening values for this study area 

would require extensive information that is beyond the scope 

of this report. The North Dakota Department of Health is 

currently in the process of developing bed-sediment quality 

criteria for the State of North Dakota (Mike Ell, North Dakota 

Department of Health, oral commun., April 25, 2007) that can 

be used in the future for comparison to results in this report.

Minor and Trace Inorganic Constituents in Fish 

Tissue and Livers

The 10 fish-tissue samples were analyzed for 22 minor 

and trace inorganic constituents (Supplement table 1–7, 

samples 38–47). Results for four constituents that are of 

human health concern (arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and 

   Water, Bed-Sediment, and Fish-Tissue Quality within the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, September 2006
Figure 2. Major inorganic constituents in select public drinking-water sources, ground waters, and surface waters within the 

Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, North and South Dakota.

1

10

100

1,000

MICROGRAMS PER LITER

Chloride, water, filtered

USEPA SMCL

10

100

1,000

Ground water

Surface water

Selfridge

Fort Yates

Solen

MICROGRAMS PER LITER

Sulfate, water, filtered

USEPA SMCL

0.1

1

10

Fluoride, water, filtered

USEPA MCL

USEPA SMCL

Ground water

Surface water

Selfridge

Fort Yates

Solen

Ground water

Surface water

Selfridge

Fort Yates

Solen

EXPLANATION

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

Maximum Contaminant Level (USEPA MCL)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level

(USEPA SMCL)

selenium) were compared to SVs for this study (table 2). 

Of the 10 species collected only the northern pike, channel catfish, common carp, and yellow perch are considered 

recommended target species for inland fresh waters by the 

USEPA screening criteria (U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency, 2000a). Target species are species that are commonly 

consumed in the study area and are of commercial, recreational, or subsistence value. Even though the common carp 

is not a popular game fish, the USEPA recommends it as a 

target species because it is a bottom feeder. Bottom-feeding 

species such as channel catfish and common carp have been 

used extensively to monitor a wide variety of containments 

(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2000a). None of 

the samples from the target species exceeded the SVs for the 

selected constituents given the consumption criteria used; 

however, the gizzard shad, a nontarget species, did exceed the 

subsistence fishers SV for arsenic. The State of North Dakota 

administers fish advisories following USEPA guidelines for 

Lake Oahe and the Missouri River and its major tributaries.

Liver analyses were performed on the northern pike, 

channel catfish, goldeye, and the common carp. The purposes 

of these analyses were to evaluate the health of the individual 

species of fish. These results were not evaluated against any 

established standards because it was not in the scope of this 

report.

Water, Bed-Sediment, and Fish-Tissue Quality 
Figure 3. Minor and trace inorganic constituents in select public drinking-water sources, ground waters, and surface waters 

within the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, North and South Dakota.

USEPA MCL

0.1

1

10

100

1,000

MICROGRAMS PER LITER

Aluminum, water, filtered

USEPA SMCL

0.01

0.1

1

10

100

MICROGRAMS PER LITER

Arsenic, water, filtered

USEPA MCL

MICROGRAMS PER LITER

0.01

0.1

1

10

Antimony, water, filtered

10

100

1,000

10,000

Boron, water, filtered

HBSL

Ground water

Surface water

Selfridge

Fort Yates

Solen

Ground water

Surface water

Selfridge

Fort Yates

Solen

0.01

0.1

1

10

Beryllium, water, filtered

USEPA MCL

1

10

100

1,000

10,000

Barium, water, filtered

USEPA MCL

Ground water

Surface water

Selfridge

Fort Yates

Solen

Ground water

Surface water

Selfridge

Fort Yates

Solen

Ground water

Surface water

Selfridge

Fort Yates

Solen

Ground water

Surface water

Selfridge

Fort Yates

Solen

 Water, Bed-Sediment, and Fish-Tissue Quality within the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, September 2006
Figure 3. Minor and trace inorganic constituents in select public drinking-water sources, ground waters, and surface waters 

within the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, North and South Dakota.—Continued

0.01

0.1

1

10

100

1,000

MICROGRAMS PER LITER

Nickel, water, filtered

HBSL

0.01

0.1

1

10

100

1,000

Ground water

Surface water

Selfridge

Fort Yates

Solen

MICROGRAMS PER LITER

Silver, water, filtered

USEPA SMCL HBSL

0.01

0.1

1

10

100

Selenium, water, filtered

USEPA MCL

0.1

1

10

100

1,000

10,000

Zinc, water, filtered

USEPA SMCL

HBSL

Ground water

Surface water

Selfridge

Fort Yates

Solen

Ground water

Surface water

Selfridge

Fort Yates

Solen

Ground water

Surface water

Selfridge

Fort Yates

Solen

EXPLANATION

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

Maximum Contaminant Level (USEPA MCL)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level 

(USEPA SMCL)

Health-Based Screening Level (HBSL)

Water, Bed-Sediment, and Fish-Tissue Quality 
Table 2. Concentrations of minor and trace inorganic constituents in fish tissue and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Screening 

Values for target species collected on the Missouri River near Fort Yates, North Dakota.

[Concentrations in micrograms per gram; SV, Screening Value; <, less than]

Sample number 38 39 41 47 USEPA USEPA

Species Northern pike Channel catfish Common carp Yellow perch SV1 SV2

Contaminant

Arsenic 0.456 <0.1 <0.1 0.279 26 3.27

Cadmium <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 4,000 491

Mercury .241 .171 2.191 .123 400 49

Selenium 2.561 2.101 3.939 3.735 20,000 2,457

1

 Recreational fishers; based on fish consumption rate of 17.5 grams per day, 70 kilograms body weight.

2

 Subsistence fishers; based on fish consumption rate of 142.4 grams per day, 70 kilograms body weight.

Summary

Water-quality samples were collected from public watersupply systems, ground water, surface water, bed sediment, 

and fish tissue within the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, 

North and South Dakota, and analyzed to aid in the evaluation of any immediate water-quality concerns. Samples were 

collected at 32 locations throughout the reservation by U.S. 

Geological Survey and Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Department of Water Resources personnel from September 11 

through 23, 2006.

None of the major inorganic or minor and trace inorganic 

constituents exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency (USEPA) Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs). 

Fluoride, manganese, and sulfate concentrations in several 

samples from the Solen and Selfridge water-delivery systems 

and from ground water exceeded the USEPA Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels (SMCLs). Samples collected from 

the Solen and Selfridge water systems and from ground-water 

wells had boron concentrations greater than the Health-Based 

Screening Level (HBSL) of 1,000 micrograms per liter. Boron 

concentrations in the Solen samples exceeded the HBSL and 

ranged from 3,380 μg/L to 3,440 μg/L.

Of the 29 regulated Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) 

analyzed in samples from the Fort Yates water-delivery 

system, the four trihalomethanes (THMs) were the most 

frequently detected in samples collected from water users. The 

sum of the total THMs (TTHM) for each of the six sites was 

64, 64, 115, 85, 92, and 86 micrograms per liter, respectively. 

The concentrations in samples from four locations exceeded 

the MCL of 80 micrograms per liter for TTHM. The presence 

of a free chlorine residual in the water being pumped into 

the distribution system during the September 2006 sampling 

period may explain the higher values. Until the free chlorine is 

removed or reduced to chloride, the THM reaction continues 

to form THMs, and water users at the end of a distribution 

may have the largest exposure.

Results from bed-sediment analyses were not compared 

to any standards, but the State of North Dakota is currently 

(2007) developing a set of screening standards that can be 

used in the future.

Minor and trace inorganic constituent concentrations did 

not exceed USEPA Screening Values in fish tissue of targeted 

species. The State of North Dakota administers fish advisories 

following USEPA guidelines for Lake Oahe and the Missouri 

River and its major tributaries.

References Cited

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), 

1992, Toxicological profile for boron: Atlanta, Ga., U.S. 

Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health 

Service.

American Public Health Association, 1998, Standard methods 

for the examination of water and wastewater (20th ed.): 

Washington, D.C., American Public Health Association, 

American Water Works Association, and Water Environment Federation, p. 3–37—3–43.

Amundson, F.D., 2002, Estimated use of water in South 

Dakota, 2000: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File 

Report 02–440, 17 p.

Arbogast, B.F., 1996, Analytical methods for the Mineral 

Resource Surveys Program: U.S. Geological Survey OpenFile Report 96–525, 248 p.

Briggs, P.H., and Meier, A.L., 1999, The determination of 

forty two elements in geological materials by inductively 

coupled plasma-mass spectrometry: U.S. Geological Survey 

Open-File Report 99–166, 15 p.

10 Water, Bed-Sediment, and Fish-Tissue Quality within the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, September 2006
Connor, B.F., Rose, D.L., Noriega, M.C., Murtagh, L.K., and 

Abney, S.R., 1998, Methods of analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey National Water-Quality Laboratory—determination of 86 volatile organic compounds in water by gas 

chromatography/mass spectrometry, including detections 

less than reporting limits: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File 

Report 97–829, 78 p.

Faires, L.M., 1993, Methods of analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory—determination of metals in water by inductively coupled plasma-mass 

spectrometry: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 

92–634, 28 p.

Fishman, M.J., ed., 1993, Methods of analysis by the U.S. 

Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory—

determination of inorganic and organic constituents in water 

and fluvial sediments: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File 

Report 93–125, 217 p.

Fishman, M.J., and Friedman, L.C., 1989, Methods for 

determination of inorganic substances in water and fluvial 

sediments: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of WaterResources Investigations, book 5, chap. A1, 545 p.

Garbarino, J.R., 1999, Methods of analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory—determination of dissolved arsenic, boron, lithium, selenium, 

strontium, thallium, and vanadium using inductively 

coupled plasma-mass spectrometry: U.S. Geological Survey 

Open-File Report 99–093, 31 p.

Garbarino, J.R., Kanagy, L.K., and Cree, M.E., 2006, Determination of elements in natural-water, biota, sediment, and soil 

samples using collision/reaction cell inductively coupled 

plasma-mass spectrometry: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques and Methods, book 5, sec. B, chap.1, 88 p.

Hageman, P.L., 2007, Determination of mercury in aqueous 

and geologic materials by continuous flow-cold vaporatomic fluorescence spectrometry (CVAFS): U.S. Geological Survey Techniques and Methods, book 5, chap. D2, 6 p.

Hoffman, G.L., 1996, Methods of analysis by the U.S. 

Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory—

preparation procedure for aquatic biological material determined for trace metals: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File 

Report 96–362, 42 p.

Howells, L.W., 1982, Geohydrology of the Standing Rock 

Indian Reservation, North and South Dakota: U.S. Geological Survey Hydrologic Investigations Atlas HA–644, 

5 sheets.

Ivahnenko, T., and Barbash, J.E., 2004, Chloroform in the 

hydrologic system—sources, transport, fate, occurrence, 

and effects on human health and aquatic organisms: 

U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations 

Report 2004–5137, 34 p.

Ivahnenko, T., and Zogorski, J.S., 2006, Sources and occurrence of chloroform and other trihalomethanes in drinkingwater supply wells in the United States, 1986–2001: 

U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations 

Report 2006–5015, 13 p.

Kelly, V.J., Hooper, R.P., Aulenbach, B.T., and Janet, M., 

2001, Concentrations and annual fluxes for selected 

water-quality constituents from the USGS National Stream 

Quality Accounting Network (NASQAN), 1996–2000: 

U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations 

Report 01–4255.

Mni Sose Intertribal Rights Coalition, Inc., 2005, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe community environmental profile, 

accessed June 1, 2005, at http://www.mnisose.org/profiles/

strock.htm

Patton, C.J., and Truitt, E.P., 1992, Methods of analysis by 

the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory—determination of total phosphorus by a Kjeldahl 

digestion method and an automated colorimetric finish 

that includes dialysis: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File 

Report 92–146, 39 p.

Patton, C.J., and Truitt, E.P., 2000, Methods of analysis by the 

U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory—determination of ammonium plus organic nitrogen by 

a Kjeldahl digestion method and an automated photometric 

finish that includes digest cleanup by gas diffusion: U.S. 

Geological Survey Open-File Report 00–170, 31 p.

Struzeski, T.M., DeGiacomo, W.J., and Zayhowski, E.J., 1996, 

Methods of analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey National 

Water Quality Laboratory—determination of dissolved aluminum and boron in water by inductively coupled plasmaatomic emission spectrometry: U.S. Geological Survey 

Open-File Report 96–149, 17 p.

Taggart, J.E., Jr., ed., 2002, Analytical methods for chemical 

analysis of geologic and other materials, U.S. Geological 

Survey: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 02–223, 

20 p.

Toccalino, P.L., Nowell, L.H., Wilber, W.G., Zogorski, J.S., 

Donohue, J.M., Eiden, C.A., Krietzman, S.J., and Post, 

G.B., 2003, Development of health-based screening levels 

for use in state- or local-scale water-quality assessments: 

U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations 

Report 03–4054, 22 p.

References Cited 11
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1992, Secondary Drinking Water Regulations—guidance for nuisance 

chemicals, accessed January 17, 2007, at http://www.epa.

gov/safewater/consumer/2ndstandards.html

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1994, Summary of 

EPA finalized National Primary Drinking Water Regulations: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region VIII, 

7 p.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1996, Microwave assisted acid digestion of siliceous and organically 

based matrices: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

Method 3052, Revision 0, December 1996, 20 p.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2000a, Guidance for 

assessing chemical contaminant data for use in fish advisories: v. 1, Fish sampling and analysis (3d ed.).

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2000b, Federal 

Register Document 40 CFR, Part 141: U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, v. 65, no. 104, p. 34404–34405.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2002, Integrated Risk 

Information System, accessed March 21, 2007, at http://

www.epa.gov/iris/

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2004, 2004 Edition of 

the drinking water standards and health advisories: Washington, D.C., Office of Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA 822–R–04–005, 20 p.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2006a, 2006 Edition 

of the drinking water standards and health advisories: Washington, D.C., Office of Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA 822–R–04–005, 12 p.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2006b, Setting standards for safe drinking water, accessed January 17, 2007, at 

http://www.epa.gov/safewater/standard/setting.html

U.S. Geological Survey, variously dated, National field manual 

for the collection of water-quality data: U.S. Geological 

Survey Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, 

book 9, chaps. A1–A9, available online at http://pubs.water.

usgs.gov/twri9A

12 Water, Bed-Sediment, and Fish-Tissue Quality within the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, September 2006
Supplement. Analytical data for water, bed 

sediment, and fish tissue within the Standing 

Rock Sioux Reservation.
Table 1–1. Sample location information.

[USDA, U.S. Department of Agriculture; MRI, Municipal, Residential, and Industrial]

Sample 

number Site name Latitude and longitude Sample date and time Sample location/information

Solen water-delivery 

system samples

1 Solen city well (treated) 46o23’ 100o47’ 09/11/06 1000 Source well (treated).

2 Solen City Well (raw) 46o23’ 100o47’ 09/11/06 1205 Source well (raw water).

3 Solen water user #1 46o23’16” 100o47’41” 09/11/06 1030 Hoffman residence, from kitchen sink.

4 Solen water user #2 46o23’17” 100o47’31” 09/11/06 1100 Solen School, from teacher lounge sink.

5 Solen water user #3 46o23’13” 100o47’48” 09/11/06 1140 Solen garage, from restroom sink.

6 Solen water user #4 46o23’19” 100o47’53” 09/11/06 1235 Solen Fire Hall, from kitchen sink.

7 Solen water user #5 46o23’14” 100o47’48” 09/11/06 1250 Solen Post Office, from restroom sink.

Selfridge waterdelivery system 

samples

8 Selfridge city well (raw) 46o02’ 100o55’ 09/14/06 0900 Source well (raw water).

9 Selfridge water user #1 46o02’30” 100o55’14” 09/14/06 0920 USDA Service Center office, from utility sink.

10 Selfridge water user #2 46o02’29” 100o55’19” 09/14/06 0930 Selfridge Cenex station, from restroom sink.

11 Selfridge water user #3 46o02’29” 100o55’26” 09/14/06 0940 Selfridge Post Office, from restroom sink.

12 Selfridge water user #4 46o02’36” 100o55’17” 09/14/06 1000 Selfridge Elementary School, from utility sink.

Fort Yates water-delivery system samples

13 Fort Yates MRI intake 

facility (raw)

46o05’ 100o37’ 09/14/06 1245 Sample collected at intake facility raw intake.

14 Fort Yates water user #1 46o05’39” 100o37’42” 09/14/06 1225 Standing Rock Sioux Administration Building, 

from basement utility sink.

15 Fort Yates water user #2 46o05’23” 100o40’19” 09/14/06 0930 Standing Rock High School, from utility sink.

16 Fort Yates water user #3 46o23’20” 100o35’50” 09/14/06 1415 Porcupine Community Center, from kitchen 

utility sink.

17 Fort Yates water user #4 46o23’27” 100o35’16” 09/14/06 1355 Porcupine Head Start building, from restroom 

sink

18 Fort Yates water user #5 46o13’14” 101o05’53” 09/14/06 1110 Cannonball School, from utility sink.

19 Fort Yates water user #6 46o13’12” 101o05 44” 09/14/06 1030 Cannonball Community Center, from utility 

sink.

Ground-water 

samples

20 132–83–29CCC C 46o13’11” 101o06’14” 09/12/06 1145 0.4 mile west of Porcupine, N. Dak.

21 130–80–03ABB 46o06’59”100o40’41” 09/13/06 1130 2.3 miles northwest of Fort Yates, N. Dak.

22 129–81–01BAB 46o01’48” 100o45’56” 09/12/06 1530 7.4 miles east of Selfridge, N. Dak..

23 130–86–28CCC2 46o02’44” 101o27’27” 09/12/06 1355 3.8 miles northwest of McLintosh, S. Dak.

24 134–79–32ADD 46o22’39” 100o37’56” 09/13/06 1440 1 mile west of Cannonball, N. Dak.

25 Sioux County well #6 46o02’47” 100o41’47” 09/19/06 1100 4 miles southwest of Fort Yates, N. Dak.

Surface-water water samples

26 Cannonball River near 

Raleigh, N. Dak.

46o07’37” 101o19’58” 09/18/06 1325 USGS station number 06351200.

27 Cedar Creek near 

Raleigh, N. Dak.

46o05’30” 101o20’00” 09/18/06 1225 USGS station number 06353000.

28 Cannonball River at 

Breien, N. Dak.

46o22’34” 100o56’04” 09/18/06 0900 USGS station number 06354000.

29 Missouri River above 

Fort Yates, N. Dak.

46o05’33” 100o37’19” 09/19/06 1120 Collection from boat on Missouri River above 

Fort Yates.

30 Missouri River below 

Fort Yates, N. Dak.

46o05’10” 100o36’50” 09/19/06 1105 Collection from boat on Missouri River below 

Fort Yates.

31 Grand River near 

Wakpala, S. Dak.

45o39’40” 100o38’20” 09/18/06 1050 USGS station number 06358000.

14  Water, Bed-Sediment, and Fish-Tissue Quality within the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, September 2006
Sample 

number Site name Latitude and longitude Sample date and time Sample location/information

Bed-sediment samples

32 Cannonball River near 

Raleigh, N. Dak.

46o07’37” 101o19’58” 09/18/06 1325 Center of river channel.

33 Cedar Creek near 

Raleigh, N. Dak.

46o05’30” 101o20’00” 09/18/06 1225 Center of river channel.

34 Cannonball River at 

Breien, N. Dak.

46o22’34” 100o56’04” 09/18/06 0900 Center of river channel.

35 Missouri River above 

Fort Yates, N. Dak.

46o05’33” 100o37’19” 09/19/06 1120 Center of river channel.

36 Missouri River below 

Fort Yates, N. Dak.

46o05’10” 100o36’50” 09/19/06 1105 Center of river channel.

37 Grand. River near 

Wakpala, S. Dak.

45o39’40” 100o38’20” 09/18/06 1050 Center of river channel.

Fish-tissue samples

38 Missouri River near Fort 

Yates, N. Dak. (Fish)

46o05’19” 100o36’42” 09/23/06 1200 Tissue sample from northern pike.

39 Missouri River near Fort 

Yates, N. Dak. (Fish)

46o05’19” 100o36’42” 09/23/06 1205 Tissue sample from channel catfish.

40 Missouri River near Fort 

Yates, N. Dak. (Fish)

46o05’19” 100o36’42” 09/23/06 1210 Tissue sample from goldeye.

41 Missouri River near Fort 

Yates, N. Dak. (Fish)

46o05’19” 100o36’42” 09/23/06 1215 Tissue sample from common carp.

42 Missouri River near Fort 

Yates, N. Dak. (Fish)

46o05’19” 100o36’42” 09/23/06 1220 Tissue sample from common shiner.

43 Missouri River near Fort 

Yates, N. Dak. (Fish)

46o05’19” 100o36’42” 09/23/06 1225 Tissue sample from green sunfish.

44 Missouri River near Fort 

Yates, N. Dak. (Fish)

46o05’19” 100o36’42” 09/23/06 1230 Tissue sample from gizzard shad.

45 Missouri River near Fort 

Yates, N. Dak. (Fish)

46o05’19” 100o36’42” 09/23/06 1235 Tissue sample from orange spotted sunfish.

46 Missouri River near Fort 

Yates, N. Dak. (Fish)

46o05’19” 100o36’42” 09/23/06 1240 Tissue sample from river carpsucker.

47 Missouri River near Fort 

Yates, N. Dak. (Fish)

46o05’19” 100o36’42” 09/23/06 1245 Tissue sample from yellow perch.

Table 1–1. Sample location information.—Continued

[USDA, U.S. Department of Agriculture; MRI, Municipal, Residential, and Industrial]

Supplement. Analytical data for water, bed sediment, and fish tissue within the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation 15
Table 1–2. Analytical results for samples collected from the Solen water-delivery system, Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, North 

Dakota.

[Sample 1 is raw sample from city supply well; sample 2 is treated sample from supply well; samples 3–7 are from water users. <, less than; E, estimated]

Sample number (see table 1-1) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Physical properties

pH, water, unfiltered, field, standard units 8.2 8.3 8.2 8.2 8.5 8.2 8.2

pH, water, unfiltered, laboratory, standard units 8.4 8.5 8.5 8.4 8.4 8.4 8.4

Specific conductance, water, unfiltered, laboratory, microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees 

Celsius

2,030 1,990 2,060 2,050 2,040 2,040 2,030

Specific conductance, water, unfiltered, microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius2,070 1,990 2,090 2,130 2,100 2,100 2,090

Temperature, water, degrees Celsius 10.2 10.4 15.2 19.9 17.6 16.9 16.3

Major inorganic constituents

Calcium, water, filtered, milligrams per liter 2.5 2.46 2.48 2.48 2.48 2.51 2.49

Magnesium, water, filtered, milligrams per liter .772 .751 2.65 .759 .760 .776 .772

Potassium, water, filtered, milligrams per liter 2.56 2.45 2.58 2.46 2.49 2.57 2.55

Sodium, water, filtered, milligrams per liter 488 477 488 479 488 502 499

Acid neutralizing capacity, water, unfiltered, fixed 

endpoint (pH 4.5) titration, laboratory, milligrams per liter as calcium carbonate

870 866 880 871 869 870 870

Chloride, water, filtered, milligrams per liter 139 120 141 142 140 142 140

Fluoride, water, filtered, milligrams per liter 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.2

Silica, water, filtered, milligrams per liter 16.6 16.7 16.6 15.9 16.4 15.6 16.2

Sulfate, water, filtered, milligrams per liter 45.7 47 44.4 44.7 44.8 44.7 43.4

Minor and trace inorganic contituents

Aluminum, water, filtered, micrograms per liter 2 E1 5 2 2 3 2

Antimony, water, filtered, micrograms per liter <.20 <.20 <.20 <.40 <.20 <.20 <.20

Arsenic, water, filtered, micrograms per liter <.06 E0.12 <.10 <.10 <.06 <.09 <.08

Barium, water, filtered, micrograms per liter 10 9 10 9 9 10 9

Beryllium, water, filtered, micrograms per liter <.06 <.06 <.06 <.06 <.06 <.06 <.06

Boron, water, filtered, micrograms per liter 3,430 3,440 3,430 3,420 3,380 3,430 3,440

Cadmium, water, filtered, micrograms per liter .28 <.04 .05 .04 E.03 .04 E.02

Chromium, water, filtered, micrograms per liter <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2

Copper, water, filtered, micrograms per liter 75.7 .93 80.8 363 63.8 68.4 57.2

Iron, water, filtered, micrograms per liter 51 41 17 32 38 31 40

Lead, water, filtered, micrograms per liter .28 .24 .42 1.63 .38 1.6 .29

Manganese, water, filtered, micrograms per liter 4.7 4.4 6 1.9 1.6 1 1.6

Nickel, water, filtered, micrograms per liter .27 .09 .58 .52 .33 .54 .28

Selenium, water, filtered, micrograms per liter <.08 <.08 <.08 E.04 <.08 <.08 <.08

Silver, water, filtered, micrograms per liter <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2

Thallium, water, filtered, micrograms per liter <.04 <.04 <.04 <.04 <.04 <.04 <.04

Zinc, water, filtered, micrograms per liter 1.8 E.33 3.4 3.9 3.7 38.7 2.4

16 Water, Bed-Sediment, and Fish-Tissue Quality within the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, September 2006
Table 1–3. Analytical results for samples collected from the Selfridge water-delivery system, Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, North 

Dakota.

[Sample 8 is raw sample from supply well; samples 9–12 are from water users. <, less than; E, estimated]

Sample number (see table 1-1) 8 9 10 11 12

Physical properties

pH, water, unfiltered, field, standard units 8.1 8.2 8.2 8.2 8.1

pH, water, unfiltered, laboratory, standard units 8.3 8.3 8.4 8.3 8.3

Specific conductance, water, unfiltered, 

laboratory, microsiemens per centimeter 

at 25 degrees Celsius

1,410 1,360 1,360 1,370 1,370

Specific conductance, water, unfiltered, microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius1,440 1,400 1,390 1,390 1,390

Temperature, water, degrees Celsius 17.1 18 16.7 16.8 18.4

Major inorganic constituents

Calcium, water, filtered, milligrams per liter 5.49 5.36 5.38 5.37 5.25

Magnesium, water, filtered, milligrams per liter .992 1 1.02 .984 1.02

Potassium, water, filtered, milligrams per liter 1.78 1.66 1.61 1.63 1.65

Sodium, water, filtered, milligrams per liter 315 306 306 306 300

Acid neutralizing capacity, water, unfiltered, 

fixed endpoint (pH 4.5) titration, laboratory, 

milligrams per liter as calcium carbonate

445 440 440 440 440

Chloride, water, filtered, milligrams per liter 49.1 39 39 39 39

Fluoride, water, filtered, milligrams per liter .9 .9 .9 .9 .9

Silica, water, filtered, milligrams per liter 17.8 16.6 16.8 16.6 16.6

Sulfate, water, filtered, milligrams per liter 209 211 210 209 210

Minor and trace inorganic constituents

Aluminum, water, filtered, micrograms per liter 2 2 E1 2 3

Antimony, water, filtered, micrograms per liter <.20 <.20 <.20 <.20 <.20

Arsenic, water, filtered, micrograms per liter .74 .58 .59 .59 .6

Barium, water, filtered, micrograms per liter 16 13 13 14 13

Beryllium, water, filtered, micrograms per liter <.06 <.06 <.06 <.06 <.06

Boron, water, filtered, micrograms per liter 1,460 1,370 1,340 1,410 1,350

Cadmium, water, filtered, micrograms per liter <.04 <.04 <.04 <.04 <.04

Chromium, water, filtered, micrograms per liter <6 <2 <2 <6 <6

Copper, water, filtered, micrograms per liter 1.3 160 25.2 56 41.6

Iron, water, filtered, micrograms per liter 108 57 61 55 60

Lead, water, filtered, micrograms per liter .29 .23 .22 .20 .26

Manganese, water, filtered, micrograms per liter 13.1 8.7 9 8.2 9.4

Nickel, water, filtered, micrograms per liter .70 1.1 .86 .78 .95

Selenium, water, filtered, micrograms per liter <.08 <.08 <.08 <.08 <.08

Silver, water, filtered, micrograms per liter <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2

Thallium, water, filtered, micrograms per liter <.04 <.04 <.04 <.04 <.04

Zinc, water, filtered, micrograms per liter 7.2 2.3 4 2 3.2

Supplement. Analytical data for water, bed sediment, and fish tissue within the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation 17
Table 1–4. Analytical results for samples collected from the Fort Yates water-delivery system, Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, North 

Dakota.

[Sample 13 is raw sample from water intake; samples 14–19 are from water users. <, less than; E, estimated; THM, trihalomethane]

Sample number (see table 1-1) 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

Physical properties

pH, water, unfiltered, field, standard units 8.2 9.2 9 9.1 9.2 9.2 9.2

pH, water, unfiltered, laboratory, standard units 8.4 9.3 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.3 9.3

Specific conductance, water, unfiltered, 

laboratory, microsiemens per centimeter 

at 25 degrees Celsius

659 528 532 523 528 530 523

Specific conductance, water, unfiltered, microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius666 531 532 534 532 529 520

Temperature, water, degrees Celsius 20 21.2 15.6 21.6 18.6 19.7 20.6

Major inorganic constituents

Calcium, water, filtered, milligrams per liter 48.8 33.6 32.4 31.4 34.1 33.3 32.5

Magnesium, water, filtered, milligrams per liter 19.4 7.09 7.65 6.77 6.17 6.8 6.76

Potassium, water, filtered, milligrams per liter 4.03 4.28 4.16 4.11 4.27 4.31 4.17

Sodium, water, filtered, milligrams per liter 58.2 61.8 59.4 60.2 61.1 61 60.6

Acid neutralizing capacity, water, unfiltered, 

fixed endpoint (pH 4.5) titration, laboratory, 

milligrams per liter, as calcium carbonate

165 65 66 63 65 65 64

Chloride, water, filtered, milligrams per liter 9.6 12.2 12.1 12.4 12.2 11.8 12.1

Fluoride, water, filtered, milligrams per liter .60 1.4 1.5 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4

Silica, water, filtered, milligrams per liter 5.84 6.09 6.17 5.97 5.89 6.07 6

Sulfate, water, filtered, milligrams per liter 158 160 161 161 158 158 162

Organic carbon, water, filtered, milligrams per 

liter

3.2 2.7 2.5 2.4 2.9 2.7 3

Organic carbon, water, unfiltered, milligrams 

per liter

4.1 2.2 2.3 1.8 2.1 1.9 1.8

Nutrients

Ammonia plus organic nitrogen, water, filtered, 

milligrams per liter, as nitrogen

0.27 0.21 0.37 0.22 0.35 0.37 0.38

Ammonia plus organic nitrogen, water, unfiltered, milligrams per liter, as nitrogen.33 .12 .14 .12 E.08 .14 .13

Ammonia, water, filtered, milligrams per liter 

as nitrogen

.013 E.008 <.010 <.010 <.010 <.010 <.010

Nitrite plus nitrate, water, filtered, milligrams 

per liter, as nitrogen

.10 .11 .11 .11 .11 .13 .12

Nitrite, water, filtered, milligrams per liter, as 

nitrogen

E.001 <.002 <.002 <.002 <.002 <.002 <.002

Orthophosphate, water, filtered, milligrams per 

liter, as phosphorus

.006 .137 .134 .163 .138 .159 .137

Phosphorus, water, filtered, milligrams per liter <.04 .34 .29 .32 .32 .31 .34

Phosphorus, water, unfiltered, milligrams per 

liter

.04 .34 .30 .31 .32 .32 .33

18  Water, Bed-Sediment, and Fish-Tissue Quality within the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, September 2006
Sample number (see table 1-1) 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

Minor and trace inorganic constituents

Aluminum, water, filtered, micrograms per liter 2 39 35 42 38 42 39

Antimony, water, filtered, micrograms per liter .46 .40 .49 .42 .56 .44 .42

Arsenic, water, filtered, micrograms per liter 1.4 .58 .81 .61 .62 .71 .63

Barium, water, filtered, micrograms per liter 70 24 24 25 26 25 25

Beryllium, water, filtered, micrograms per liter <.06 <.06 <.06 <.06 <.06 <.06 <.06

Boron, water, filtered, micrograms per liter 125 110 126 105 108 108 105

Cadmium, water, filtered, micrograms per liter <.04 <.04 <.04 <.04 E.02 <.04 <.04

Chromium, water, filtered, micrograms per liter <2 E1 <2 <2 E1 E1 <2

Copper, water, filtered, micrograms per liter 13 5.9 4.6 7.7 3.4 .85 5.1

Iron, water, filtered, micrograms per liter <6 <6 <6 7 <6 <6 <6

Lead, water, filtered, micrograms per liter .1 E.06 E.06 .15 .15 E.05 .57

Manganese, water, filtered, micrograms per liter 4.4 <.6 <.6 E.3 <.6 <.6 <.6

Nickel, water, filtered, micrograms per liter 1.3 .55 .73 .39 .42 .42 .45

Selenium, water, filtered, micrograms per liter .71 .68 .39 .69 .69 .70 .66

Silver, water, filtered, micrograms per liter <.2 <.2 E.1 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2

Thallium, water, filtered, micrograms per liter <.04 <.04 <.04 <.04 <.04 <.04 <.04

Zinc, water, filtered, micrograms per liter 1.8 1.8 4.3 1.1 3.5 1 2.6

Volatile inorganic compounds

1,1,1-Trichloroethane, water, unfiltered, recoverable, micrograms per liter<0.1 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1

1,1,2-Trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane, water, 

unfiltered, recoverable, micrograms per liter

<.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1

1,1-Dichloroethane, water, unfiltered, recoverable, micrograms per liter<.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1

1,1-Dichloroethene, water, unfiltered, recoverable, micrograms per liter<.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1

1,2-Dichlorobenzene, water, unfiltered, recoverable, micrograms per liter<.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1

1,2-Dichloroethane, water, unfiltered, recoverable, micrograms per liter<.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2

1,2-Dichloroethane-d4, surrogate, Schedule 

2090, water, unfiltered, percent recovery

111 109 114 111 111 109 111

1,2-Dichloropropane, water, unfiltered, recoverable, micrograms per liter<.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1

1,3-Dichlorobenzene, water, unfiltered, recoverable, micrograms per liter<.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1

1,4-Dichlorobenzene, water, unfiltered, recoverable, micrograms per liter<.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1

1-Bromo-4-fluorobenzene, surrogate, VOC 

schedules, water, unfiltered, percent recovery

96.5 97.4 99.8 97.5 97.6 99.1 98.3

Benzene, water, unfiltered, recoverable, micrograms per liter<.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1

Table 1–4. Analytical results for samples collected from the Fort Yates water-delivery system, Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, North 

Dakota.—Continued

[Sample 13 is raw sample from water intake; samples 14–19 are from water users. <, less than; E, estimated; THM, trihalomethane]

Supplement. Analytical data for water, bed sediment, and fish tissue within the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation 19
Sample number (see table 1-1) 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

Volatile inorganic compounds—Continued

(THM) Bromodichloromethane, water, unfiltered, recoverable, micrograms per liter<0.1 16.2 16.8 20.5 19 18 19.2

Chlorobenzene, water, unfiltered, recoverable, 

micrograms per liter

<.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1

cis-1,2-Dichloroethene, water, unfiltered, recoverable, micrograms per liter

<.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1

(THM) Dibromochloromethane, water, unfiltered, recoverable, micrograms per liter<.2 6.6 6.8 7.9 7.5 7.7 7.6

Dichlorodifluoromethane, water, unfiltered, 

recoverable, micrograms per liter

<.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2

Dichloromethane, water, unfiltered, recoverable, 

micrograms per liter

<.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2

Diethyl ether, water, unfiltered, recoverable, 

micrograms per liter

<.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2

Diisopropyl ether, water, unfiltered, recoverable, 

micrograms per liter

<.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2

Ethylbenzene, water, unfiltered, recoverable, 

micrograms per liter

<.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1

Methyl tert-pentyl ether, water, unfiltered, 

recoverable, micrograms per liter

<.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2

m-Xylene plus p-xylene, water, unfiltered, 

recoverable, micrograms per liter

<.2 <.2 <.2 E.2 <.2 E.1 E.1

o-Xylene, water, unfiltered, recoverable, micrograms per liter

<.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1

Styrene, water, unfiltered, recoverable, micrograms per liter<.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1

tert-Butyl ethyl ether, water, unfiltered, recoverable, micrograms per liter

<.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1

Methyl tert-butyl ether, water, unfiltered, recoverable, micrograms per liter

<.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2

Tetrachloroethene, water, unfiltered, recoverable, micrograms per liter<.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1

Tetrachloromethane, water, unfiltered, recoverable, micrograms per liter<.2 <.2 <.2 0.2 <.2 0.3 0.3

Toluene, water, unfiltered, recoverable, micrograms per liter<.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1

Toluene-d8, surrogate, Schedule 2090, water, 

unfiltered, percent recovery

101 101 102 101 101 101 100

trans-1,2-Dichloroethene, water, unfiltered, 

recoverable, micrograms per liter

<.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1

(THM) Tribromomethane, water, unfiltered, 

recoverable, micrograms per liter

<.2 .6 .6 .8 .7 .7 .7

Trichloroethene, water, unfiltered, recoverable, 

micrograms per liter

<.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1

Table 1–4. Analytical results for samples collected from the Fort Yates water-delivery system, Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, North 

Dakota.—Continued

[Sample 13 is raw sample from water intake; samples 14–19 are from water users. <, less than; E, estimated; THM, trihalomethane]

20 Water, Bed-Sediment, and Fish-Tissue Quality within the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, September 2006
Sample number (see table 1-1) 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

Volatile inorganic compounds—Continued

Trichlorofluoromethane, water, unfiltered, 

recoverable, micrograms per liter

<0.2 <0.2 <0.2 <0.2 <0.2 <0.2 <0.2

(THM) Trichloromethane, water, unfiltered, 

recoverable, micrograms per liter

<.1 40.6 40.2 86 58.1 65.8 58.7

Vinyl chloride, water, unfiltered, recoverable, 

micrograms per liter

<.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2

Table 1–4. Analytical results for samples collected from the Fort Yates water-delivery system, Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, North 

Dakota.—Continued

[Sample 13 is raw sample from water intake; samples 14–19 are from water users. <, less than; E, estimated; THM, trihalomethane]

Supplement. Analytical data for water, bed sediment, and fish tissue within the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation 21
Table 1–5. Analytical results for samples collected from select ground-water sources, Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, North Dakota. 

[<, less than; E, estimated; M, verified but not quantified]

Sample number (see table 1-1) 20 21 22 23 24 25

Physical properties

pH, water, unfiltered, laboratory, standard units 8.5 8.4 8 8.1 8.6 7.5

Specific conductance, water, unfiltered, laboratory, microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius2,660 1,580 1,080 1,840 1,930 1,340

Specific conductance, water, unfiltered, microsiemens per 

centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius

2,710 1,580 1,080 1,860 1,950 1,360

Temperature, water, degrees Celsius 11.4 11.9 12.1 11.1 11.3 13.7

Major inorganic constituents

Magnesium, water, filtered, milligrams per liter 5.97 6.21 17.1 20.2 .664 69.9

Potassium, water, filtered, milligrams per liter 10.4 3.84 4.48 5.45 1.39 9.11

Sodium, water, filtered, milligrams per liter 630 361 179 350 462 110

Acid neutralizing capacity, water, unfiltered, fixed endpoint (pH 4.5) titration, laboratory, milligrams per liter, 

as calcium carbonate

754 747 509 603 697 516

Chloride, water, filtered, milligrams per liter 9.09 5.29 36.1 27 29.7 1.44

Fluoride, water, filtered, milligrams per liter 1.1 1.3 .8 .8 3 .3

Silica, water, filtered, milligrams per liter 40.3 23.6 27.4 25.1 15.2 15.9

Sulfate, water, filtered, milligrams per liter 648 134 48.4 369 290 270

Minor and trace inorganic constituents

Aluminum, water, filtered, micrograms per liter 4 2 M E1 7 <2

Antimony, water, filtered, micrograms per liter <.40 E.16 <.20 <.20 E.10 <.20

Arsenic, water, filtered, micrograms per liter .46 8.8 7.8 3.6 1.2 E.12

Barium, water, filtered, micrograms per liter 23 37 112 16 26 41

Beryllium, water, filtered, micrograms per liter <.12 <.06 <.06 <.06 <.06 <.06

Boron, water, filtered, micrograms per liter 2,370 1,570 651 1,050 2,370 183

Cadmium, water, filtered, micrograms per liter <.08 <.04 E.02 E.02 .04 E.02

Chromium, water, filtered, micrograms per liter <6 <2 <6 <6 <10 E1

Copper, water, filtered, micrograms per liter <.80 E.26 <.40 <.40 .57 48.7

Iron, water, filtered, micrograms per liter 88 86 364 267 49 10

Lead, water, filtered, micrograms per liter <.16 E.04 E.06 E.04 3.84 E.04

Manganese, water, filtered, micrograms per liter 162 84.1 41.6 122 36.6 206

Nickel, water, filtered, micrograms per liter .33 .42 .19 .08 .53 6.6

Selenium, water, filtered, micrograms per liter <.16 <.08 <.08 <.08 <.08 2.5

Silver, water, filtered, micrograms per liter <.4 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2

Thallium, water, filtered, micrograms per liter <.08 <.04 <.04 <.04 <.04 <.04

Zinc, water, filtered, micrograms per liter E1.2 .95 3.9 4.4 33.3 5.2

22 Water, Bed-Sediment, and Fish-Tissue Quality within the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, September 2006
Table 1–6. Analytical results for samples collected from select surface-water and bed-sediment sources, Standing Rock Sioux 

Reservation, North and South Dakota.

[Second sample number is bed-sediment sample. <, less than; E, estimated; M, verified but not quantified]

Sample number (see table 1-1) 26, 32 27, 33 28, 34 29, 35 30, 36 31, 37

Physical properties

pH, water, unfiltered, laboratory, standard units 8.6 9 8.7 8.4 8.4 8.9

Specific conductance, water, unfiltered, laboratory, microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius1,370 1,410 1,360 648 649 2,280

Specific conductance, water, unfiltered, microsiemens per 

centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius

1,380 1,460 1,380 655 655 2,340

Temperature, water, degrees Celsius 9.2 11.2 7.2 11.4 11.4 8.2

Major inorganic constituents

Magnesium, water, filtered, milligrams per liter 27.1 28.6 19.1 19.6 19.6 26

Potassium, water, filtered, milligrams per liter 9.76 12 8.93 3.84 3.87 11.1

Sodium, water, filtered, milligrams per liter 221 242 247 58.3 59.4 456

Acid neutralizing capacity, water, unfiltered, fixed endpoint (pH 4.5) titration, laboratory, milligrams per liter 

as calcium carbonate

317 272 343 165 165 473

Chloride, water, filtered, milligrams per liter 11 8.11 18.1 9.65 9.63 13

Fluoride, water, filtered, milligrams per liter .50 .50 .60 .70 .60 .58

Silica, water, filtered, milligrams per liter 4.17 .93 3.41 6.11 6.03 1.1

Sulfate, water, filtered, milligrams per liter 386 451 345 160 160 710

Minor and trace inorganic constituents

Antimony, water, filtered, micrograms per liter 0.67 0.77 0.88 0.45 0.49 1

Arsenic, water, filtered, micrograms per liter 1.3 2.3 1.7 1.9 2.2 1.4

Barium, water, filtered, micrograms per liter 71 42 47 63 65 47.3

Beryllium, water, filtered, micrograms per liter <.06 <.06 <.06 <.06 <.06 <.06

Boron, water, filtered, micrograms per liter 371 475 594 130 127 476

Cadmium, water, filtered, micrograms per liter .05 E.03 .05 <.04 <.04 .09

Chromium, water, filtered, micrograms per liter <2.0 <2 <2 <2 <2 <6

Copper, water, filtered, micrograms per liter 1.1 2.6 2.8 1.5 1.5 2.02

Iron, water, filtered, micrograms per liter <6 E5 <6 <6 <6 <18

Lead, water, filtered, micrograms per liter <.08 E.04 E.06 E.04 <.08 E.04

Manganese, water, filtered, micrograms per liter 6.8 1.2 1 4.7 5.2 <1.8

Nickel, water, filtered, micrograms per liter 4.39 5.4 5.4 1.6 1.6 4.02

Selenium, water, filtered, micrograms per liter .47 .49 .76 .41 .35 .8

Silver, water, filtered, micrograms per liter <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2 <.2

Thallium, water, filtered, micrograms per liter E.02 E.02 <.04 <.04 <.04 <.04

Zinc, water, filtered, micrograms per liter E.4 E.34 E.59 1.8 1.3 E.4

Supplement. Analytical data for water, bed sediment, and fish tissue within the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation 23
Sample number (see table 1-1) 26, 32 27, 33 28, 34 29, 35 30, 36 31, 37

Major, minor, and trace inorganic constituents in bed sediment

Antimony, bed sediment smaller than 62.5 microns, wet 

sieved, field, total digestion, dry weight, micrograms 

per gram

6.9 1.1 3.3 0.5 0.4 1

Arsenic, bed sediment smaller than 62.5 microns, wet 

sieved, field, total digestion, dry weight, micrograms 

per gram

120 4.6 59 7.3 6.1 7.6

Barium, bed sediment smaller than 62.5 microns, wet 

sieved, field, total digestion, dry weight, micrograms 

per gram

810 450 820 940 840 683

Beryllium, bed sediment smaller than 62.5 microns, wet 

sieved, field, total digestion, dry weight, micrograms 

per gram

2.1 2.1 1.5 1.2 1 2.3

Bismuth, bed sediment smaller than 177 microns, wet 

sieved, field, total digestion, dry weight, micrograms 

per gram

M M M M <.06 .29

Cadmium, bed sediment smaller than 62.5 microns, wet 

sieved, field, total digestion, dry weight, micrograms 

per gram

.70 .40 .30 .10 .10 .38

Calcium, bed sediment smaller than 62.5 microns, wet 

sieved, field, total digestion, dry weight, micrograms 

per gram

8,400 12,000 7,400 26,000 23,000 10,600

Inorganic carbon, bed sediment smaller than 62.5 microns, wet sieved (native water), field, recoverable, dry 

weight, percent

.6 1.3 .5 1.3 .8 1.1

Organic carbon, bed sediment smaller than 62.5 microns, 

wet sieved (native water), field, recoverable, dry 

weight, percent

.2 .4 .2 .9 .7 .2

Carbon (inorganic plus organic), bed sediment smaller 

than 62.5 microns, wet sieved (native water), field, 

recoverable, dry weight, percent

.3 .9 .3 .4 .1 1

Cerium, bed sediment smaller than 62.5 microns, wet 

sieved, field, total digestion, dry weight, micrograms 

per gram

31 73 31 62 45 60

Cesium, bed sediment smaller than 62.5 microns, wet 

sieved, field, total digestion, dry weight, micrograms 

per gram

1.2 4.8 1.7 2.2 1.4 5.9

Chromium, bed sediment smaller than 62.5 microns, wet 

sieved, field, total digestion, dry weight, micrograms 

per gram

24 62 30 50 42 113

Cobalt, bed sediment smaller than 62.5 microns, wet 

sieved, field, total digestion, dry weight, micrograms 

per gram

32 8 18 7 6 15.2

Copper, bed sediment smaller than 62.5 microns, wet 

sieved, field, total digestion, dry weight, micrograms 

per gram

22 22 14 12 5 36

Table 1–6. Analytical results for samples collected from select surface-water and bed-sediment sources, Standing Rock Sioux 

Reservation, North and South Dakota.—Continued

[Second sample number is bed-sediment sample. <, less than; E, estimated; M, verified but not quantified]

24  Water, Bed-Sediment, and Fish-Tissue Quality within the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, September 2006
Sample number (see table 1-1) 26, 32 27, 33 28, 34 29, 35 30, 36 31, 37

Major, minor, and trace inorganic constituents in bed sediment—Continued

Gallium, bed sediment smaller than 62.5 microns, wet 

sieved, field, total digestion, dry weight, micrograms 

per gram

5 17 8 9 8 21

Iron, bed sediment smaller than 62.5 microns, wet sieved, 

field, total digestion, dry weight, micrograms per gram

230,000 29,000 100,000 17,000 14,000 43,900

Lanthanum, bed sediment smaller than 62.5 microns, wet 

sieved, field, total digestion, dry weight, micrograms 

per gram

18 37 18 31 24 32

Lead, bed sediment smaller than 62.5 microns, wet 

sieved, field, total digestion, dry weight, micrograms 

per gram

23 21 17 11 10 19

Lithium, bed sediment smaller than 62.5 microns, wet 

sieved, field, total digestion, dry weight, micrograms 

per gram

7 30 12 18 13 37

Magnesium, bed sediment smaller than 62.5 microns, wet 

sieved, field, total digestion, dry weight, micrograms 

per gram

2,700 14,000 4,800 12,000 9,700 13,200

Manganese, bed sediment smaller than 62.5 microns, wet 

sieved, field, total digestion, dry weight, micrograms 

per gram

4,200 320 1,800 280 230 630

Mercury, bed sediment smaller than 62.5 microns, wet 

sieved, field, total digestion, dry weight, micrograms 

per gram

.03 .04 .03 .04 <.02 .10

Molybdenum, bed sediment smaller than 62.5 microns, 

wet sieved, field, total digestion, dry weight, micrograms per gram

18 1.5 6.8 .5 .4 1.3

Nickel, bed sediment smaller than 62.5 microns, wet 

sieved, field, total digestion, dry weight, micrograms 

per gram

75 22 43 16 12 42

Niobium, bed sediment smaller than 62.5 microns, wet 

sieved, field, total digestion, dry weight, micrograms 

per gram

3 17 5 10 7 18

Phosphorus, bed sediment smaller than 62.5 microns, wet 

sieved, field, total digestion, dry weight, micrograms 

per gram

1,100 490 710 700 540 550

Potassium, bed sediment smaller than 62.5 microns, wet 

sieved, field, total digestion, dry weight, micrograms 

per gram

8,300 16,000 14,000 16,000 15,000 16,000

Rubidium, bed sediment smaller than 62.5 microns, wet 

sieved, field, total digestion, dry weight, micrograms 

per gram

29.2 70.8 45 55.2 45.5 78.8

Scandium, bed sediment smaller than 62.5 microns, wet 

sieved, field, total digestion, dry weight, micrograms 

per gram

8 11 6 6 5 18

Selenium, bed sediment smaller than 62.5 microns, wet 

sieved, field, total digestion, dry weight, micrograms 

per gram

3.8 .34 1.4 .16 .08 .79

Table 1–6. Analytical results for samples collected from select surface-water and bed-sediment sources, Standing Rock Sioux 

Reservation, North and South Dakota.—Continued

[Second sample number is bed-sediment sample. <, less than; E, estimated; M, verified but not quantified]

Supplement. Analytical data for water, bed sediment, and fish tissue within the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation 25
Sample number (see table 1-1) 26, 32 27, 33 28, 34 29, 35 30, 36 31, 37

Major, minor, and trace inorganic constituents in bed sediment—Continued

Silver, bed sediment smaller than 62.5 microns, wet 

sieved, field, total digestion, dry weight, micrograms 

per gram

<1.0 <1.0 <1.0 <1.0 <1.0 <1.0

Sodium, bed sediment smaller than 62.5 microns, wet 

sieved, field, total digestion, dry weight, micrograms 

per gram

3,400 8,700 7,800 11,000 11,000 6,900

Strontium, bed sediment smaller than 62.5 microns, wet 

sieved, field, total digestion, dry weight, micrograms 

per gram

120 170 170 210 210 190

Sulfur, bed sediment smaller than 62.5 microns, wet 

sieved, field, total digestion, dry weight, percent

.06 .05 .09 <.05 <.05 .10

Thallium, bed sediment smaller than 62.5 microns, dry 

sieved, total digestion, dry weight, micrograms per 

gram

M M M M M M

Thorium, bed sediment smaller than 62.5 microns, wet 

sieved, field, total digestion, dry weight, micrograms 

per gram

4 13 4 9 6 11

Titanium, bed sediment smaller than 62.5 microns, wet 

sieved, field, total digestion, dry weight, micrograms 

per gram

660 2,900 1,100 2,400 1,800 4,500

Uranium, bed sediment smaller than 62.5 microns, wet 

sieved, field, total digestion, dry weight, micrograms 

per gram

4.3 4 2.4 1.9 1.4 2.9

Vanadium, bed sediment smaller than 62.5 microns, wet 

sieved, field, total digestion, dry weight, micrograms 

per gram

100 85 81 56 42 178

Yttrium, bed sediment smaller than 62.5 microns, wet 

sieved, field, total digestion, dry weight, micrograms 

per gram

28 26 20 17 13 23

Zinc, bed sediment smaller than 62.5 microns, wet 

sieved, field, total digestion, dry weight, micrograms 

per gram

140 95 85 45 32 130

Table 1–6. Analytical results for samples collected from select surface-water and bed-sediment sources, Standing Rock Sioux 

Reservation, North and South Dakota.—Continued

[Second sample number is bed-sediment sample. <, less than; E, estimated; M, verified but not quantified]

26 Water, Bed-Sediment, and Fish-Tissue Quality within the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, September 2006
Table 1–7. Analytical results for fish-tissue and liver samples collected from the Missouri River near Fort Yates, North Dakota.

[<, less than; E, estimated; NA, not analyzed]

Sample number (see table 1-1) 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47

Species Northern pike Channel catfish Goldeye Common carp Common shiner Green sunfish Gizzard shad Orange spotted sunfish River carpsucker Yellow perch

Fish tissue

Antimony, biota, tissue, recoverable, 

dry weight, micrograms per gram

<0.1 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1

Arsenic, biota, tissue, recoverable, 

dry weight, micrograms per gram

.456 <.1 .117 <.1 .710 .268 3.603 .417 1.475 .279

Barium, biota, tissue, recoverable, 

dry weight, micrograms per gram

.1 <.1 1.1 .5 19.2 11.6 44.2 18.6 36.5 15.2

Beryllium, biota, tissue, recoverable, 

dry weight, micrograms per gram

<.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 .1 <.1 <.1 <.1

Boron, biota, tissue, recoverable, dry 

weight, micrograms per gram

.5 .5 .4 .7 1.3 1.1 3.7 1.2 2.1 2.1

Cadmium, biota, tissue, recoverable, 

dry weight, micrograms per gram

<.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 .1 <.1 <.1 <.1

Chromium, biota, tissue, recoverable, dry weight, micrograms per 

gram

<.5 <.5 <.5 <.5 1 .8 5 .8 2 .8

Cobalt, biota, tissue, recoverable, 

dry weight, micrograms per gram

<.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 .2 .2 1.5 .2 .6 .2

Copper, biota, tissue, recoverable, 

dry weight, micrograms per gram

.9 .6 .9 1.5 1.9 .7 7.6 1.1 3.3 1.3

Iron, biota, tissue, recoverable, dry 

weight, micrograms per gram

13.3 11.9 25.3 107 294 145 3,260 98.4 898 257

Lead, biota, tissue, recoverable, dry 

weight, micrograms per gram

<.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 .2 .2 1.6 .1 .5 .2

Manganese, biota, tissue, recoverable, dry weight, micrograms per 

gram

1.1 .4 .2 .6 21.6 29.2 65.2 36.3 23.6 32.7

Mercury, biota, tissue, recoverable, 

dry weight, micrograms per gram

.241 .171 .804 2.191 .117 .361 .017 .222 .560 .123

Molybdenum, biota, tissue, recoverable, dry weight, micrograms per 

gram

<.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 .2 .1 .2 .2 .1 <.1

Supplement. Analytical data for water, bed sediment, and fish tissue within the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation 27
Sample number (see table 1-1) 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47

Species Northern pike Channel catfish Goldeye Common carp Common shiner Green sunfish Gizzard shad Orange spotted sunfish River carpsucker Yellow perch

Nickel, biota, tissue, recoverable, 

dry weight, micrograms per gram

<0.1 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 0.8 0.08 3.9 0.9 1.5 0.6

Selenium, biota, tissue, recoverable, 

dry weight, micrograms per gram

2.561 2.101 3.764 3.939 3.305 3.578 3.800 5.654 4.048 3.735

Silver, biota, tissue, recoverable, dry 

weight, micrograms per gram

<.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1

Strontium, biota, tissue, recoverable, 

dry weight, micrograms per gram

1.9 .7 .4 3.4 189 151 68.7 231 227 87.4

Vanadium, biota, tissue, recoverable, 

dry weight, micrograms per gram

<.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 .940 .572 9.853 2.264 3.077 .982

Zinc, biota, tissue, recoverable, dry 

weight, micrograms per gram

22 15.6 16 84.9 109 122 74.4 138 90.9 76.8

Uranium, biota, tissue, recoverable, 

dry weight, micrograms per gram

<.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 .2 <.1 <.1 <.1

Water present, biota, tissue, recoverable, dry weight, percent 75.7 65.8 67.4 82 78.4 75.4 74.7 79.4 77.4 75.7

Fish livers

Aluminum E4.249 25.6 E5.230 34.84 NA NA NA NA NA NA

Silver <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 NA NA NA NA NA NA

Arsenic 1.142 .372 <.1 .879 NA NA NA NA NA NA

Boron .239 .184 .544 <.2 NA NA NA NA NA NA

Barium .197 .380 .671 .160 NA NA NA NA NA NA

Beryllium <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 NA NA NA NA NA NA

Cadmium <.1 <.1 .453 1.738 NA NA NA NA NA NA

Cobalt .0920 <.1 .129 .229 NA NA NA NA NA NA

Chromium <.5 <.5 <.5 <.5 NA NA NA NA NA NA

Copper 26.2 6.319 3.113 7.956 NA NA NA NA NA NA

Iron 765.1 1,793 294.7 2,361 NA NA NA NA NA NA

Mercury .024 .194 .087 .147 NA NA NA NA NA NA

Manganese 2.232 3.407 .822 4.353 NA NA NA NA NA NA

Table 1–7. Analytical results for fish-tissue and liver samples collected from the Missouri River near Fort Yates, North Dakota.—Continued[<, less than; E, estimated; NA, not analyzed]

28  Water, Bed-Sediment, and Fish-Tissue Quality within the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, September 2006
Sample number (see table 1-1) 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47

Species Northern pike Channel catfish Goldeye Common carp Common shiner Green sunfish Gizzard shad Orange spotted sunfish River carpsucker Yellow perch

Fish livers—Continued

Molybdenum 0.327 <0.1 0.162 0.522 NA NA NA NA NA NANickel <.1 <.1 .153 <.1 NA NA NA NA NA NALead <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 NA NA NA NA NA NAAntimony <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 NA NA NA NA NA NASelenium 6.755 7.423 3.604 10.518 NA NA NA NA NA NA

Strontium .379 2.08 .671 1.1 NA NA NA NA NA NA

Uranium <.1 <.1 <.1 <.1 NA NA NA NA NA NAVanadium <.1 1.62 .635 3.397 NA NA NA NA NA NA

Zinc 86.89 78.29 232.1 72.36 NA NA NA NA NA NA

Table 1–7. Analytical results for fish-tissue and liver samples collected from the Missouri River near Fort Yates, North Dakota.—Continued[<, less than; E, estimated; NA, not analyzed]

Supplement. Analytical data for water, bed sediment, and fish tissue within the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation 29
Publishing support provided by:

Helena Publishing Service Center

For more information concerning this publication, contact:

Director, USGS North Dakota Water Science Center

821 E. Interstate Ave.

Bismarck, ND 58503

(406) 457–5900

Or visit the North Dakota Water Science Center Web site at:

http://nd.water.usgs.gov
Damschen and Lundgren—Water, Bed-Sediment, and Fish-Tissue Quality within the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, North Dakota and South Dakota, 

September 2006—Scientific Investigations Report 2007–5268