Tornes–Water Quality of Streams in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and

South Dakota, 1970-2001–Scientific Investigations Report 2005–5095

In cooperation with the Bureau of Reclamation

Water Quality of Streams in the Red River of the North Basin, 

Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1970-2001

Scientific Investigations Report 2005–5095

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey Printed on recycled paper
Water Quality of Streams in the Red River of 

the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1970-2001By Lan H. Tornes
U.S. Department of the Interior

Gale A. Norton, SecretaryU.S. Geological SurveyCharles G. Groat, DirectorU.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2005For sale by U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services

Box 25286, Denver Federal CenterDenver, CO 80225For more information about the USGS and its products:Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGSWorld Wide Web: http://www

usgs

gov/
 iii

Executive SummaryData for the Red River of the North (Red River) Basin in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota were analyzed to determine whether the water quality of streams in the basin is adequate to meet future needs. For the Red River at Emerson, Manitoba, site, pH values, water temperatures, and dissolved-oxygen concentrations generally were within the criteria established for the protection of aquatic life. Dissolved-solids concentrations ranged from 245 to 1,100 milligramsper liter. Maximum sulfate and chloride concentrations were near, but did not exceed, the established secondary maximum contaminant level. The trace elements considered potentially harmful generally were at concentrations that were less than the established guidelines, standards, and criteria. The concentrations of lead that were detected may have occurred as a result of sample contamination.For the Red River upstream from Emerson, Manitoba, sites, pH and other field values rarely exceeded the criteria established for the protection of aquatic life. Many constituent concentrations for the Red River below Fargo, N. Dak., site exceeded water-quality guidelines, standards, 

and criteria. However, the trace-element exceedances could be natural or could be related to

pollution or sample contamination.Many of the tributaries in the western part of the Red River Basin had median specific-conductance values that were greater than 1

000 microsiemens per centimeter

Sulfate concentrations 
iv 
 v

Contents

Executive summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .iiiAbstract. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Purpose and scope. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Data analyzed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Water-quality criteria. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Water quality. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Red River of the North at Emerson, Manitoba. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Red River of the North upstream from Emerson, Manitoba. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Sheyenne River . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Western tributaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Eastern tributaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Other related data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Summary and conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

References. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Appendix 1. Summary data for selected sites in the Red River of the North Basin,

Minnesota

North Dakota

and South Dakota 

19
vi 

Conversion Factors and Datum

Multiply By To obtain

Length

mile 1.609 kilometer

Area

acre 0.4047 hectaresquare mile 2.590 square kilometer

Flow rate

cubic foot per second 0.02832 cubic meter per second

Mass

pounds per square mile per day 1.18 kilograms per square kilometer per day

Temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) may be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (°F) as follows:
Water Quality of Streams in the Red River of the North 

Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota,1970-2001By Lan H. Tornes

Abstract

Data for the Red River of the North (Red River) Basin in 

Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota were analyzed to determine whether the water quality of streams in the basin is adequate to meet future needs. For the Red River at Emerson, Manitoba, site, pH values, water temperatures, and dissolvedoxygen concentrations generally were within the criteria established for the protection of aquatic life. Dissolved-solids concentrations ranged from 245 to 1,100 milligrams per liter. Maximum sulfate and chloride concentrations were near, but did not 

exceed

the established secondary maximum contaminant level

Concentrations of pesticides that were detected and that 

had regulatory limits were less than the cited water-quality guidelines, standards, and criteria. Concentrations of compounds that were detected generally were less than the sediment-quality standards and criteria.

The data considered in this report generally provide a good 

baseline from which to evaluate changes in water-quality conditions. However, because many of the trace elements detected, 

including lead and mercury, may have been the result of sample contamination, additional data are needed to confirm that traceelement concentrations generally are low. Concentrations of 

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2 Water Quality of Streams in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1970-2001

northern United States, is mainly agricultural. Crops include small grains, corn, soybeans, sugar beets, sunflowers, and hay. Contemporary streams in the basin generally have slow velocities and carry considerable sediment that is eroded from the clays and silts of the lake plain. Many communities are located along the streams in the basin, and farmsteads are located throughout the basin. Major metropolitan areas in the United States part of the basin include Wahpeton, N. Dak., Breckenridge, Minn., Fargo, N. Dak., Moorhead, Minn., Grand Forks, 

N. Dak., and East Grand Forks, Minn. These rapidly growing 

communities are located along the banks of the main stem of the Red River and are adding to the strain on water resources in the basin (Effertz-Hanson, 2004).

The major sources of sustainable potable water for most of 

the communities in the Red River Basin are the Red River and its tributaries. However, the Red River and its tributaries may not be sufficient sources of sustainable potable water during future dry years in the Red River Basin because of the increasing populations in the communities in the basin (Effertz-Hanson, 2004). The Red River flows north and drains large parts of 

western Minnesota and eastern North Dakota and a small part of South Dakota (fig. 1) before entering Canada and emptying into Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba, Canada. The river frequently floods during snowmelt runoff because snow and river ice melt from south to north and cause the river to back up behind ice 

Data Analyzed

Various agencies have collected water-quality data for 

streams in the Red River Basin. The data have been collected for ambient monitoring, regulatory and enforcement purposes, and to better understand special issues. The longest-term records for streams in the Red River Basin are comprised of data that were collected by the USGS as part of the high/lowflow sampling program conducted in cooperation with the North Dakota State Water Commission, the Hydrologic Benchmark Network (HBN) program, and the National Stream Quality Accounting Network (NASQAN) program. Those programs 

were started in 1971, 1967, and 1974, respectively, and use standard data-collection techniques that make the data comparable. Data collection for the high/low-flow sampling program continues, but data collection for the HBN and NASQAN programs has been discontinued as funding has declined.

Data also have been collected as part of the USGS National 

Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) program (February 1993 through September 2002) and for other USGS studies in the basin. Major-ion, nutrient, and pesticide data were collected during 1993-95 as part of the NAWQA program, but the program excluded sampling for most trace elements and microbiological indicators. Only those metals, such as iron and manganese, that are considered less subject to sample contamination 

were included in the NAWQA program

Data for the USGS 
EXPLANATION

Red River of the North Basin boundary

Devils Lake Basin boundary

Devils Lake BasinSite and map number (given in table 1)

Red

River

of

the

North

MANITOBA

99° 97°

95°

95°

49°

47° 47°

49°

99°

Base from U.S. Geological Survey

1:2,000,000, 1972

1

7 8

9

10

11

3

4

6

5

12

16

15

14

17

13

20 21 22

18

19

Baldhill

Dam

RED RIVER OF THENORTH BASIN

NORTH DAKOTA

SOUTH DAKOTA

MINNESOTA

State Ditch #51

Turtle RiverState Park Grand

Forks

Thief River Falls

Red Lake Falls

Oklee

Plummer

Olso

Argyle

Malung

Caribou

Lake Bronson

Minto

Fordville

Arvilla

Grafton

Cavalier

Drayton

Akra

Walhalla

Emerson

Pembina Neche

FARGO

West

Fargo

Twin

Valley

MOORHEAD

Dilworth Hawley

Hendrum

Halstad

Shelly

Climax

Crookston

Mapleton

Lisbon

Enderlin

Valley City

Dazey

Harvey

Sheyenne

Warwick

Cooperstown

Amenia Harwood

Kelso

Hillsboro

Abercrombie

Fergus Falls

Kindred

Hickson

East Grand

Forks

Upper

Red

Lake

Devils

Lake

Sheyenne

River

River

River

River

River

Pelican

Tail

River

River

R.

R.

R.

Tongue

Pembina

R.

River

Rivers

S. Br.

N. Br. Roseau

River

Clearwater

Lost

R.

R.

Two

River

R.

R.

Middle

Tamarac

Thief

Red

Lake

Snake

Forest

Turtle

Park

Rice

Marsh River

R.

Sand

Hill

Wild

Buffalo

R.

R.

R.

Elm

Goose

Maple

Rush

Stump

Lake

Lake

Ashtabula

Beaver

Baldhill

Cr.

Cr.

Cart

Cr.

Lower

Red

Lake

R.

Data Analyzed 3
Table 1. Sites considered to be the most indicative of water quality in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and 

South Dakota (given in downstream order).

Map

number

(figure 1)

U.S. Geological

Survey site

number

Site name Latitude Longitude

1 05046000 Otter Tail River below Orwell Dam near Fergus Falls, Minn. 46°12’35” 96°11’05”2 05051300 Bois de Sioux River near Doran, Minn. 46°09’08” 96°34’44”3 05051500 Red River of the North at Wahpeton, N. Dak. 46°15’55” 96°35’40”4 05051522 Red River of the North at Hickson, N. Dak. 46°39’35” 96°47’44”5 05053000 Wild Rice River near Abercrombie, N. Dak. 46°28’05” 96°47’00”6 05054020 Red River of the North below Fargo, N. Dak. 46°55’50” 96°47’05”7 05054500 Sheyenne River above Harvey, N. Dak. 47°42’10” 99°56’55”8 05056000 Sheyenne River near Warwick, N. Dak. 47°48’20” 98°42’57”9 05057000 Sheyenne River near Cooperstown, N. Dak. 47°25’58” 98°01’38”

10 05058000 Sheyenne River below Baldhill Dam, N. Dak. 47°02’02” 98°05’00”11 05058700 Sheyenne River at Lisbon, N. Dak. 46°26’49” 97°40’44”12 05059000 Sheyenne River near Kindred, N. Dak. 46°37’54” 97°00’01”13 05062000 Buffalo River near Dilworth, Minn. 46°57’40” 96°39’40”14 05062500 Wild Rice River at Twin Valley, Minn. 47°16’00” 96°14’40”

4 Water Quality of Streams in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1970-2001
Site number 05046000, Otter Tail River below Orwell Dam near Fergus Falls, Minnesota

Site number 05051300, Bois de Sioux River near Doran, Minnesota

Site number 05051500, Red River of the North at Wahpeton, North Dakota

Site number 05051522, Red River of the North at Hickson, North Dakota

Site number 05053000, Wild Rice River near Abercrombie, North Dakota

Site number 05054020, Red River of the North below Fargo, North Dakota

Site number 05054500, Sheyenne River above Harvey, North Dakota

Site number 05056000, Sheyenne River near Warwick, North Dakota

Water-Quality Criteria 5
Site number 05062500, Wild Rice River at Twin Valley, Minnesota

Site number 05064000, Wild Rice River at Hendrum, Minnesota

Site number 05064500, Red River of the North at Halstad, Minnesota

Site number 05079000, Red Lake River at Crookston, Minnesota

Site number 05082625, Turtle River at Turtle River State Park near Arvilla, North Dakota

Site number 05085000, Forest River at Minto, North Dakota

Site number 05100000, Pembina River at Neche, North Dakota

Site number 05102500, Red River of the North at Emerson, Manitoba

6 Water Quality of Streams in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1970-2001
Water Quality 7

treatment is necessary, reverse osmosis and carbon filtration 

can be used to remove the constituents from the water.

Also, several streams in the Red River Basin are listed as 

impaired by the state environmental agencies in Minnesota and North Dakota under the 303(d) program administered by the USE

PA. The 303(d) program often is called the total maximum 

daily load program. The lists of impaired streams generally are maintained on the Internet and may be updated at frequent intervals. The impaired streams listed for Minnesota and North 

Dakota are given in appendixes 2 and 3, respectively.

Water Quality

Red River of the North at Emerson, Manitoba

The Red River at Emerson, Manitoba, is the most downstream site considered for this report. The Red River at Emerson, Manitoba, site is important because of its implication for 

the international transport of stream water. Most of the water flowing north from the United States into Canada flows past the Emerson site because the site is located less than 1 mile north of the United States-Canada border. The Emerson site has a long period of record and, as an international site, has been monitored by both the United States and Canada

Thus

the data col

USE

PA (1986) for the protection of aquatic life, including the 

fish species Carp (Cyprinus carpio) and Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), commonly found in the Red River [see Goldstein (1995) for more information about the distribution of fish communities in streams in the Red River Basin].

Dissolved oxygen is one of the more critical factors for the 

maintenance of healthy aquatic ecosystems. In well-mixed and minimally-polluted rivers, the dissolved-oxygen concentration is near equilibrium with the atmosphere (near saturation) and ranges from about 8 to 15 mg/L, depending on temperature, 

barometric pressure, and other factors. Dissolved-oxygen concentrations for the Emerson site ranged from 1.3 to 18.2 mg/L 

(appendix 1). The median concentration was 9.8 mg/L. The 

minimum concentration was measured during August 1993 and was among several concentrations for that month that were less than the USE

PA (1986) minimum dissolved-oxygen criterion 

of 3.0 mg/L for the protection of aquatic life. Streamflow in the Red River during the late summer of 1993 was unusually high and exceeded 30,000 ft3/s (Tornes and others, 1997). Thus, runoff in the Red River Basin probably washed considerable oxygen-demanding substances into the streams in the basin. Oxygen-demanding substances include materials that consume 

oxygen as microorganisms decompose organic carbon and other materials associated with runoff and point-source inputs. Except for the late-summer-1993 period when streamflow in the basin was unusually high, the dissolved-oxygen concentra8 Water Quality of Streams in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1970-2001

at other sites in the United States and that the concentrations were not known to cause a threat to human health or the health of aquatic ecosystems in the basin. Brigham and others (1998) provided a more detailed discussion of constituents in bottom sediments in the basin. Tornes and Brigham (1994) indicated that, for 1970-90, the Red River at Emerson had the largest median suspended-sediment concentration (108 mg/L) of any of the sites evaluated for their study. The Pembina River, which 

joins the Red River a few miles upstream from Emerson, had the largest load per unit of area (1,010 pounds per square mile 

per day) of suspended sediment of any of the streams evaluated by Tornes and others (1997).

Hardness often is cited in USEPA guidelines, standards, 

and criteria as a factor that affects the toxicity of metals to aquatic organisms. The hardness values for the Emerson site were calculated from the calcium and magnesium concentrations and were as large as 496 mg/L. The median value was 

280 mg/L as calcium carbonate. Many of the trace-element 

aquatic-life criteria provided by the USEPA (2005) use a hardness value of 100 mg/L, which generally is less than the hardness values for the Red River at Emerson. The trace-element 

aquatic-life criteria provide a numeric value to which the Red River values can be compared, but specific exceedances were not calculated for this report.

The water in the Red River at Emerson, as in most streams 

circumstances in which the 2.3-mg/L concentration occurred are unknown. Since more stringent water-quality standards have been enacted by the Clean Water Act of 1972, which was amended in 1977 (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2005), and by other regulations, ammonia concentrations in the Red River have been much smaller than in previous years. Thus, the aquatic habitat in the Red River has improved. Data collected at the Emerson site as part of the NAWQA program indicate the maximum ammonia concentration for that site during 

1993-95 was 0.37 mg/L (Tornes and others, 1997).

Trace elements were included in the analysis of samples 

collected at the Emerson site and at other sites in the Red River Basin as part of the NASQAN program. However, beginning in the early 1990’s, much of the sampling for the NASQAN program was discontinued because of concerns about sample contamination. Therefore, the only trace elements for which samples continued to be routinely collected after the early 1990’s 

were iron and manganese, which generally are considered to be nontoxic micronutrients. Trace-element data collected before sampling was discontinued are discussed in this report with the caveat that the data may have been affected adversely by sample contamination. Mercury and other trace-element data collected more recently (Brigham and others, 1999; Brigham and others, 2002; Sando and others, 2003) further suggest that previously collected data may have been biased.
Water Quality 9

ing water is 15 μg/L, and the Environment Canada (2002) 

guideline for the protection of aquatic life is 1.7 μg/L. The concentrations of lead may have occurred as a result of pollution 

before the widespread use of lead as an octane booster in gasoline was restricted. Lead weights that commonly were used and 

handled during field trips also could cause sample contamination. Dissolved lead concentrations were variable until sampling was discontinued at the end of 1991 (fig. 3).

Dissolved mercury concentrations ranged from less than 

0.1 to 0.5 μg/L (appendix 1). At the reporting level established for this analysis and with the analytical method presently (2005) used, mercury probably would not have been detected in the samples collected at the Emerson site. Total and dissolved mercury and methylmercury concentrations in samples that were 

collected recently in various parts of the Red River Basin (Brigham and others, 1999; Sando and others, 2003) typically were less than 10 nanograms per liter, and methylated concentrations were much smaller. Those samples were collected and analyzed using methods that are more refined than those used in previous years. The USEPA (2005) criterion for mercury in 

aquatic ecosystems is 0.77 μg/L. Criteria for methylmercury concentrations in tissue have been promulgated to protect human health, but criteria for methylmercury concentrations in environmental samples were not available.

The previously straightforward sampling and analysis 

rion of 30 degrees Celsius for the protection of aquatic life (appendix 1). The USEPA (1986) minimum dissolved-oxygen criterion of 3.0 mg/L was exceeded during the 1970’s when the concentration reached 0.6 mg/L at the Hickson site and 1.4 mg/L at the below Fargo site (appendix 1). On occasion during the same period, the concentration reached 3.0 mg/L as far downstream as Halstad. Since more stringent water-quality standards were enacted by the Clean Water Act of 1972, which was amended in 1977 (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2005), dissolved-oxygen concentrations in the Red River have improved. However, during July 1993, the criterion was exceeded at the Halstad site when increased flows apparently washed oxygen-demanding substances into the Red River. Many constituent concentrations for the below Fargo site exceeded water-quality guidelines, standards, and criteria. The maximum sulfate concentration of 330 mg/L (appendix 1) was more than the 250-mg/L USEPA (2005) drinking-water stan- dard. Other exceedances, including cadmium, copper, lead, and selenium concentrations, generally occurred during the 1970’s or before and could be natural or could be related to pollution or sample contamination. Large cadmium concentrations of 26 and 45 μg/L (appen- dix 1) were measured in samples collected at the Halstad site in 1983 and 1988, respectively. The concentrations were much larger than the Environment Canada (2002) freshwater aquatic- 
-1

0123456789

101112

1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1992 1994 1990 1996

Figure 3. Dissolved lead concentrations for the Red River of the North at Emerson, Manitoba.

DISSOLVED LEAD, IN MICROGRAMS PER LITER

10 Water Quality of Streams in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1970-2001standard units established by the USEPA (2005) and Environ

Chromium, lead, mercury, nickel, and zinc generally were 
0

200400600800

1,0001,2001,400

1959 1961 1963 1965 1967 1969 1971 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001

Figure 4. Specific conductance for the Sheyenne River below Baldhill Dam, North Dakota.

SPECIFIC CONDUCTANCE, IN MICROSIEMENS PERCENTIMETER

DASHED WHERE INFERRED

REGRESSION-ESTIMATED TREND LINE

Water Quality 11
12 Water Quality of Streams in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1970-2001

improved sample-collection, -processing, and -analytical techniques or, possibly, improved water quality.Eastern Tributaries

The tributaries in the eastern part of the Red River Basin 

drain areas that have relatively large amounts of runoff and small evaporation rates compared to the tributaries in the western part of the basin (Stoner and others, 1993). For this report, 

the Bois de Sioux River was included with the tributaries in the eastern part of the basin because the river forms part of the boundary between Minnesota and North Dakota and could be considered the ‘headwaters’ of the Red River.

The tributaries in the eastern part of the basin had median 

specific-conductance values that were less than 1,000 μS/cm 

(appendix 1). For the Bois de Sioux River near Doran, Minn., site, one-fourth of the samples had specific-conductance values that were greater than 1,340 μS/cm (appendix 1). The median 

sulfate concentration for the Doran site was 350 mg/L (appendix 1), indicating the sulfate concentrations for that site often 

exceeded the USEPA (2005) drinking-water standard of 250 

mg/L. All other measurements for the Doran site indicated the concentrations were within established water-quality guidelines, standards, and criteria.

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bution of sulfate concentrations that was evident for the Otter Tail River was not evident for the Wild Rice River in Minne- sota. Sulfate concentrations for the Twin Valley and Hendrum sites were similar although the median concentration for the Hendrum site was larger than the median concentration for the Twin Valley site. The maximum concentration for both stations was 85 mg/L (appendix 1; Tornes, 1980). Other potential con- taminants in the Wild Rice River included nitrate nitrogen, which was at a concentration of 2.5 mg/L or less, and arsenic, which was at a concentration of 7 μg/L or less (Tornes, 1980). The concentrations for both constituents were less than the drinking-water guidelines, standards, and criteria for those con- stituents. About one-third of the flow below the confluence of the Red Lake River and the Red River is contributed by the Red Lake River. Therefore, the Red Lake River can have a large influence on the quantity and quality of water in the Red River. All constituent concentrations for the Red Lake River at Crook- ston, Minn., site were within the USEPA (2005) and Environ- ment Canada (2002) guidelines, standards, and criteria. Spe- cific-conductance values were 730 μS/cm or less (appendix 1), sulfate concentrations were 120 mg/L or less (appendix 1), and nitrate concentrations were 2.4 mg/L or less (Tornes and Brigham, 1994). Trace elements were detected in small concen- trations or were less than the laboratory detection level. Arsenic concentrations were 6 μg/L or less (appendix 1). 
Summary and Conclusions 13

cides, such as triallate, that are applied during late summer and early fall generally were detected in late fall and early spring runoff. Other pesticides, such as prometon, that are applied more generally, such as on transportation rights of way, were detected randomly.

The hydrophobic compound samples were collected from 

the bottom sediments at the stream sites. Results of the analysis 

of those samples are given by Brigham and others (1998), Goldstein (1995) (which included a discussion of concentrations in 

fish tissue), Tornes and others (1996), and Stoner and others (1998). Hydrophobic compounds include chlorinated pesticides and high molecular weight organic compounds. Generally, concentrations of the compounds detected were less than the Canadian sediment-quality standards and criteria. Few sedimentquality standards and criteria exist for compounds in United States waters. Because bottom-sediment samples usually were collected only once during the NAWQA program, temporal variability cannot be assessed. However, the spatial coverage of the samples provides some indication about the distribution of compounds in the Red River Basin.

Trace-element samples also were collected from bottom 

sediments at selected stream sites in the Red River Basin as part of the NAWQA study. Results of the analyses of those samples are given by Brigham and others (1998), Goldstein (1995) (which included a discussion of concentrations in fish tissue), 

For the Red River upstream from Emerson, Manitoba, 

sites, pH values rarely exceeded the criterion established for the protection of aquatic life, and water temperatures occasionally exceeded the criterion. Dissolved-oxygen concentrations occasionally exceeded the criterion during the 1970’s. Many constituent concentrations for the Red River below Fargo, N. Dak., 

site exceeded water-quality guidelines, standards, and criteria. 

However, the trace-element exceedances could be natural or could be related to pollution or sample contamination.

For the Sheyenne River sites, pH values rarely exceeded 

the criterion established for the protection of aquatic life. Water temperatures and dissolved-oxygen concentrations generally were within the criterion. Sodium concentrations generally were much less than 100 milligrams per liter for sites downstream from the Sheyenne River above Harvey, N. Dak., site. At 

many sites, the sulfate concentrations occasionally exceeded 

the established drinking-water standard of 250 milligrams per liter. Median arsenic concentrations typically were 4 micrograms per liter or less, and maximum concentrations occasionally exceeded the drinking-water standard that is scheduled to 

take effect in 2006. All constituent concentrations for the Sheyenne River below Baldhill Dam, N. Dak., site were within established guidelines, standards, and criteria.

Many of the tributaries in the western part of the Red River 

Basin had median specific-conductance values that were greater 
14 Water Quality of Streams in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1970-2001

Concentrations of pesticides that were detected and that 

had regulatory limits were less than the cited water-quality guidelines, standards, and criteria. Concentrations of compounds that were detected generally were less than the sediment-quality standards and criteria.

The data considered in this report generally provide a good 

baseline from which to evaluate changes in water-quality conditions. However, because many of the trace elements detected, 

including lead and mercury, may have been the result of sample contamination, additional data are needed to confirm that traceelement concentrations generally are low. Concentrations of major ions, including sulfate, and specific conductance may continue to approach drinking-water standards during periods of low flow because the streams, particularly those in the western part of the basin, are sustained mostly by ground-water discharge that generally has large dissolved-solids concentrations.

References

Brigham, M.E., Goldstein, R.M., and Tormes, L.H., 1998, 

Trace elements and organic chemicals in stream-bottom sediments and fish tissues, Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1992-1995: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 97

4043

32 p

North Dakota Department of Health, 2004, North Dakota 2004 

integrated section 305(b) water quality assessment report and section 303(d) list of waters needing total maximum daily loads: accessed April 28, 2005, at http://www.health.state.nd.us/wq/sw/Z7_Publications/

303(d)Lists/TMDL_2004_IntegratedReport_Final.pdf

Robinson, S.M., Lundgren, R.F., Sether, B.A., Norbeck, S.A., 

and Lambrecht, J.M., 2004, Water-resources data, North Dakota, Water year 2003, volume 1, Surface water: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Data Report ND-03-01, 583 p.

Sando, S.K., Wiche, G.J., Lundgren, R.F., and Sether, B.A., 

2003, Reconnaissance of mercury in lakes, wetlands, and rivers in the Red River of the North Basin, North Dakota, March through August 2001: U.S. Geological Survey WaterResources Investigations Report 03-4078, 52 p.

Stoner, J.D., Lorenz, D.L., Wiche, G.J., and Goldstein, R.M., 

1993, Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota: Water Resources Research Bulletin, v. 29, no. 4, p. 575-615.

Stoner, J.D., Lorenz, D.L., Goldstein, R.M., Brigham, M.E., 

and Cowdery, T.K., 1998, Water quality in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1992-95: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1169, on line at http://water.usgs.gov/pubs/circ/circ1169, updated April 21, 1998.
References 15

South Dakota, 1993-95: U.S. Geological Water-Resources Investigations Report 97-4053, 70 p.

U.S. Geological Survey, National field manual for the collection of water-quality data: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, book 9, chaps. 

A1-A9, accessed May 10, 2005, at http://pubs.water.usgs.gov/twri9A

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1986, Quality criteria 

for water 1986: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency report number 440/5-86-001, 256 p.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2005, Water quality 

standards: accessed March 2, 2005, at http://www.epa.gov/OST/standards/.

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

Inadequacy of NASQAN data for assessing metal trends in the nation’s rivers: Environmental Science and Technology, v. 25, p. 1137-1142.
16 Water Quality of Streams in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1970-2001
Appendixes 1-3
18 Water Quality of Streams in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1970-2001
Appendix 1 19

Appendix 1. Summary data for selected sites in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, andSouth Dakota.[Sites are given in downstream order; site number is given in parentheses; median may be a calculated mean value; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; mg/L, milligrams per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; --, no data; <, less than; JTU, Jackson turbidity unit; NTU, nephelometric turbidity unit; μ, micrometer; MF, membrane filtration; mFC, a method of detecting fecal coliform]

Property or constituent Minimum 25th percentile Median 75th percentile Maximum Number of samples

Otter Tail River below Orwell Dam near Fergus Falls, Minn. (05046000)

(Period of record: October 12, 1960, to August 24, 1995; Number of dates: 47)

Discharge (ft3/s) 85 446 687 907 1,220 47Specific conductance (μS/cm at 25 degrees

Celsius)

367 399 418 441 505 47

pH, field 7.2 8.0 8.2 8.4 8.8 46Temperature, water (degrees Celsius) 0 5.1 14.8 20.1 24.5 40Oxygen, dissolved (mg/L) 3.5 8.3 9.4 12.2 15.4 38Solids, residue on evaporation at 180 degrees

Celsius, dissolved (mg/L)

225 243 252 266 299 41

Calcium, dissolved (mg/L as Ca) 32 37 39 41 47 39Magnesium, dissolved (mg/L as Mg) 25 27 28 29 35 39Sodium, dissolved (mg/L as Na) 6.5 7.9 8.3 9.2 11 39Potassium, dissolved (mg/L as K) 1.8 3.8 4.1 4.6 5.8 38Bicarbonate, dissolved, field (mg/L as HCO3) 193 221 228 244 271 24Carbonate

dissolved

field (mg/L as CO3) 0 0 0 5 17 24
20 Water Quality of Streams in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1970-2001

Bois de Sioux River near Doran, Minn. (05051300)

(Period of record: March 27, 1993, to August 24, 1995; Number of dates: 26)

Discharge (ft3/s) 2.7 64 501 1,410 3,420 26Specific conductance (μS/cm at 25 degrees

Celsius)

384 743 985 1,340 2,270 25

pH, field 6.8 7.8 7.9 8.2 8.9 25Temperature, water (degrees Celsius) 0 1.1 12.3 20.0 24.0 26Oxygen, dissolved (mg/L) 2.8 5.6 8.8 11.7 13.4 23Solids, residue on evaporation at 180 degrees

Celsius, dissolved (mg/L)

250 535 760 1,110 1,860 26

Calcium, dissolved (mg/L as Ca) 32 77 95 130 220 25Magnesium, dissolved (mg/L as Mg) 16 41 63 93 140 25Sodium, dissolved (mg/L as Na) 15 25 42 60 100 25Potassium, dissolved (mg/L as K) 6.0 8.0 10 15 25 24Bicarbonate, dissolved, field (mg/L as HCO3) 79 161 222 317 666 25Carbonate

dissolved

field (mg/L as CO3) 0 0 0 0 29 25

Appendix 1. Summary data for selected sites in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and

South Dakota.—Continued

[Sites are given in downstream order; site number is given in parentheses; median may be a calculated mean value; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; mg/L, milligrams per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; --, no data; <, less than; JTU, Jackson turbidity unit; NTU, nephelometric turbidity 

unit; μ, micrometer; MF, membrane filtration; mFC, a method of detecting fecal coliform]

Property or constituent Minimum 25th percentile Median 75th percentile Maximum Number of samples
Appendix 1 21

Red River of the North at Wahpeton, N. Dak. (05051500)

(Period of record: October 5, 1971, to August 11, 2000; Number of dates: 320)

Discharge (ft3/s) 1.7 242 499 1,130 10,800 313Specific conductance (μS/cm at 25 degrees

Celsius)

123 450 520 604 1,050 304

pH, field 7.2 7.8 8.1 8.3 8.8 58Temperature, water (degrees Celsius) 0 0.5 7.3 18.9 30.0 310Oxygen, dissolved (mg/L) 13.0 13.0 13.1 13.3 13.6 4Solids, residue on evaporation at 180 degrees

Celsius, dissolved (mg/L)

177 252 293 344 601 55

Solids, sum, dissolved (mg/L) 189 229 262 297 337 18Calcium, dissolved (mg/L as Ca) 27 38 45 53 70 55Magnesium, dissolved (mg/L as Mg) 10 28 30 33 51 55Sodium, dissolved (mg/L as Na) 5.0 11 13 16 33 55Potassium, dissolved (mg/L as K) 1.7 3.9 5.0 6.3 15 55Sulfate

dissolved (mg/L as SO4) 15 32 60 94 230 55

Appendix 1. Summary data for selected sites in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and

South Dakota.—Continued

[Sites are given in downstream order; site number is given in parentheses; median may be a calculated mean value; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; mg/L, milligrams per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; --, no data; <, less than; JTU, Jackson turbidity unit; NTU, nephelometric turbidity 

unit; μ, micrometer; MF, membrane filtration; mFC, a method of detecting fecal coliform]

Property or constituent Minimum 25th percentile Median 75th percentile Maximum Number of samples
22 Water Quality of Streams in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1970-2001

Red River of the North at Hickson, N. Dak. (05051522)

(Period of record: November 3, 1975, to August 15, 2000; Number of dates: 282)

Discharge (ft3/s) 2.9 267 586 1,580 14,100 280Specific conductance (μS/cm at 25 degrees

Celsius)

47 480 541 612 1,590 272

pH, field 7.2 8.0 8.2 8.4 9.4 116Temperature, water (degrees Celsius) <0 0.8 9.0 20.0 32.0 273Oxygen, dissolved (mg/L) .6 7.2 9.2 11.6 18.6 83Solids, residue on evaporation at 180 degrees

Celsius, dissolved (mg/L)

168 288 329 391 1,180 95

Solids, sum, dissolved (mg/L) 224 282 326 384 1,150 55Calcium, dissolved (mg/L as Ca) 21 43 50 58 140 118Magnesium, dissolved (mg/L as Mg) 10 29 33 37 110 118Sodium, dissolved (mg/L as Na) 7.0 11 15 19 92 118Potassium, dissolved (mg/L as K) 1.3 4.6 5.5 6.6 24 118Bicarbonate

dissolved

field (mg/L as HCO3) -- -- 254 -- -- 1

Appendix 1. Summary data for selected sites in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and

South Dakota.—Continued

[Sites are given in downstream order; site number is given in parentheses; median may be a calculated mean value; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; mg/L, milligrams per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; --, no data; <, less than; JTU, Jackson turbidity unit; NTU, nephelometric turbidity 

unit; μ, micrometer; MF, membrane filtration; mFC, a method of detecting fecal coliform]

Property or constituent Minimum 25th percentile Median 75th percentile Maximum Number of samples
Appendix 1 23

Wild Rice River near Abercrombie, N. Dak. (05053000)

(Period of record: June 20, 1966, to August 8, 2001; Number of dates: 458)

Discharge (ft3/s) 0.01 2.8 25 227 9,260 458Specific conductance (μS/cm at 25 degrees

Celsius)

125 763 1,180 1,620 3,430 438

pH, field 6.8 7.7 7.9 8.1 8.6 272Temperature, water (degrees Celsius) <0 0.5 8.5 19.5 29.5 349Oxygen, dissolved (mg/L) 4.8 -- 5.7 -- 6.6 2Solids, residue on evaporation at 180 degrees

Celsius, dissolved (mg/L)

83 586 918 1,230 2,840 280

Solids, sum, dissolved (mg/L) 159 566 893 1,238 2,660 174Calcium, dissolved (mg/L as Ca) 13 72 100 130 290 256Magnesium, dissolved (mg/L as Mg) 4.5 35 56 74 150 256Sodium, dissolved (mg/L as Na) 5.3 60 100 160 420 281Potassium, dissolved (mg/L as K) 1.9 12 15 17 47 263Bicarbonate

dissolved

field (mg/L as HCO3) 55 260 380 460 980 209

Appendix 1. Summary data for selected sites in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and

South Dakota.—Continued

[Sites are given in downstream order; site number is given in parentheses; median may be a calculated mean value; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; mg/L, milligrams per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; --, no data; <, less than; JTU, Jackson turbidity unit; NTU, nephelometric turbidity 

unit; μ, micrometer; MF, membrane filtration; mFC, a method of detecting fecal coliform]

Property or constituent Minimum 25th percentile Median 75th percentile Maximum Number of samples
24 Water Quality of Streams in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1970-2001

Red River of the North at Fargo, N. Dak. (05054000)

(Period of record: May 16, 1949, to September 8, 2000; Number of dates: 791)

Discharge (ft3/s) 9.1 213 511 1,460 25,200 791Specific conductance (μS/cm at 25 degrees

Celsius)

180 465 526 608 1,400 769

pH, field 6.2 7.6 7.8 8.0 8.8 531Temperature, water (degrees Celsius) 0 1.0 8.5 20.0 32.0 414Oxygen, dissolved (mg/L) 6.6 -- 9.8 -- 13.3 4Solids, residue on evaporation at 180 degrees

Celsius, dissolved (mg/L)

134 282 317 375 650 493

Solids, sum, dissolved (mg/L) 130 268 299 362 609 205Calcium, dissolved (mg/L as Ca) 21 41 46 52 82 272Magnesium, dissolved (mg/L as Mg) 8.0 29 32 36 52 272Sodium, dissolved (mg/L as Na) 5.0 11 14 19 43 506Potassium, dissolved (mg/L as K) 1.7 4.6 5.3 6.3 18 239Bicarbonate

dissolved

field (mg/L as HCO3) -- -- 303 -- -- 1

Appendix 1. Summary data for selected sites in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and

South Dakota.—Continued

[Sites are given in downstream order; site number is given in parentheses; median may be a calculated mean value; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; mg/L, milligrams per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; --, no data; <, less than; JTU, Jackson turbidity unit; NTU, nephelometric turbidity 

unit; μ, micrometer; MF, membrane filtration; mFC, a method of detecting fecal coliform]

Property or constituent Minimum 25th percentile Median 75th percentile Maximum Number of samples
Appendix 1 25

Red River of the North below Fargo, N. Dak. (05054020)

(Period of record: July 16, 1969, to September 13, 1994; Number of dates: 190)

Discharge (ft3/s) 2.0 164 340 723 17,300 183Specific conductance (μS/cm at 25 degrees

Celsius)

290 500 557 638 1,140 182

pH, field 7.2 7.8 8.1 8.2 8.9 180Temperature, water (degrees Celsius) 0 0.3 9.0 19.5 28.0 183Oxygen, dissolved (mg/L) 1.4 6.8 9.2 11.0 16.1 118Solids, residue on evaporation at 180 degrees

Celsius, dissolved (mg/L)

183 308 356 414 769 180

Solids, sum, dissolved (mg/L) 170 294 334 384 741 106Calcium, dissolved (mg/L as Ca) 30 43 48 54 98 169Magnesium, dissolved (mg/L as Mg) 11 30 33 36 70 169Sodium, dissolved (mg/L as Na) 7.0 15 20 24 110 149Potassium, dissolved (mg/L as K) 3.7 5.3 6.2 7.7 20 139Sulfate

dissolved (mg/L as SO4) 19 49 69 100 330 180

Appendix 1. Summary data for selected sites in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and

South Dakota.—Continued

[Sites are given in downstream order; site number is given in parentheses; median may be a calculated mean value; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; mg/L, milligrams per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; --, no data; <, less than; JTU, Jackson turbidity unit; NTU, nephelometric turbidity 

unit; μ, micrometer; MF, membrane filtration; mFC, a method of detecting fecal coliform]

Property or constituent Minimum 25th percentile Median 75th percentile Maximum Number of samples
26 Water Quality of Streams in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1970-2001

Sheyenne River above Harvey, N. Dak. (05054500)

(Period of record: October 4, 1971, to September 5, 2000; Number of dates: 293)

Discharge (ft3/s) 0.16 1.6 5.1 30 500 268Specific conductance (μS/cm at 25 degrees

Celsius)

50 932 1,280 1,480 2,300 286

pH, field 7.4 8.0 8.2 8.5 9.2 176Temperature, water (degrees Celsius) 0 0.5 7.0 17.0 28.5 289Oxygen, dissolved (mg/L) 0 6.6 8.8 10.5 16.6 70Solids, residue on evaporation at 180 degrees

Celsius, dissolved (mg/L)

152 804 921 1,020 1,590 181

Solids, sum, dissolved (mg/L) 140 791 927 1,010 1,570 73Calcium, dissolved (mg/L as Ca) 13 28 33 42 140 181Magnesium, dissolved (mg/L as Mg) 3.2 15 22 36 69 181Sodium, dissolved (mg/L as Na) 20 180 250 300 480 181Potassium, dissolved (mg/L as K) 4.2 6.3 7.9 11 20 180Sulfate

dissolved (mg/L as SO4) 37 170 210 250 560 181

Appendix 1. Summary data for selected sites in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and

South Dakota.—Continued

[Sites are given in downstream order; site number is given in parentheses; median may be a calculated mean value; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; mg/L, milligrams per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; --, no data; <, less than; JTU, Jackson turbidity unit; NTU, nephelometric turbidity 

unit; μ, micrometer; MF, membrane filtration; mFC, a method of detecting fecal coliform]

Property or constituent Minimum 25th percentile Median 75th percentile Maximum Number of samples
Appendix 1 27

Sheyenne River near Warwick, N. Dak. (05056000)

(Period of record: January 8, 1951, to August 30, 2000; Number of dates: 716)

Discharge (ft3/s) 0.10 6.0 20 97 3,160 290Specific conductance (μS/cm at 25 degrees

Celsius)

210 575 734 930 1,680 703

pH, field 6.7 7.6 7.9 8.2 9.2 535Temperature, water (degrees Celsius) 0 1.0 7.4 17.0 30.0 344Oxygen, dissolved (mg/L) 2.1 5.2 5.9 8.0 11.4 8Solids, residue on evaporation at 180 degrees

Celsius, dissolved (mg/L)

150 362 468 598 1,010 532

Solids, sum, dissolved (mg/L) 139 323 427 564 768 110Calcium, dissolved (mg/L as Ca) 16 42 50 60 110 282Magnesium, dissolved (mg/L as Mg) 6.9 21 29 34 54 282Sodium, dissolved (mg/L as Na) 10 41 68 100 230 537Potassium, dissolved (mg/L as K) 1.8 6.1 7.8 9.6 17 276Bicarbonate

dissolved

field (mg/L as HCO3) 313 332 384 437 461 4

Appendix 1. Summary data for selected sites in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and

South Dakota.—Continued

[Sites are given in downstream order; site number is given in parentheses; median may be a calculated mean value; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; mg/L, milligrams per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; --, no data; <, less than; JTU, Jackson turbidity unit; NTU, nephelometric turbidity 

unit; μ, micrometer; MF, membrane filtration; mFC, a method of detecting fecal coliform]

Property or constituent Minimum 25th percentile Median 75th percentile Maximum Number of samples
28 Water Quality of Streams in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1970-2001

Sheyenne River near Cooperstown, N. Dak. (05057000)

(Period of record: October 11, 1959, to September 7, 2000; Number of dates: 585)

Discharge (ft3/s) 0.02 14 57 313 5,290 327Specific conductance (μS/cm at 25 degrees

Celsius)

213 710 906 1,010 1,880 573

pH, field 6.5 7.7 8.0 8.2 8.7 380Temperature, water (degrees Celsius) 0 0.5 7.4 16.5 27.8 462Oxygen, dissolved (mg/L) 3.0 7.0 8.4 10.1 13.5 77Solids, residue on evaporation at 180 degrees

Celsius, dissolved (mg/L)

143 499 596 667 1,240 370

Solids, sum, dissolved (mg/L) 129 494 591 653 1,230 265Calcium, dissolved (mg/L as Ca) 19 56 66 78 154 340Magnesium, dissolved (mg/L as Mg) 6.5 27 32.5 37 72 340Sodium, dissolved (mg/L as Na) 10 63 83 99 920 373Potassium, dissolved (mg/L as K) 2.3 7.7 8.5 9.6 28 354Sulfate

dissolved (mg/L as SO4) 21 120 140 170 360 322

Appendix 1. Summary data for selected sites in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and

South Dakota.—Continued

[Sites are given in downstream order; site number is given in parentheses; median may be a calculated mean value; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; mg/L, milligrams per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; --, no data; <, less than; JTU, Jackson turbidity unit; NTU, nephelometric turbidity 

unit; μ, micrometer; MF, membrane filtration; mFC, a method of detecting fecal coliform]

Property or constituent Minimum 25th percentile Median 75th percentile Maximum Number of samples
Appendix 1 29

Sheyenne River below Baldhill Dam, N. Dak. (05058000)

(Period of record: June 5, 1959, to September 7, 2000; Number of dates: 369)

Discharge (ft3/s) 0.05 22 79 235 5,510 283Specific conductance (μS/cm at 25 degrees

Celsius)

285 620 740 890 1,320 364

pH, field 6.9 7.7 8.1 8.5 9.1 124Temperature, water (degrees Celsius) 0 3.0 7.0 18.5 26.2 334Oxygen, dissolved (mg/L) 6.0 9.6 10.8 12.5 14.6 39Solids, residue on evaporation at 180 degrees

Celsius, dissolved (mg/L)

196 379 448 524 764 114

Solids, sum, dissolved (mg/L) 176 352 407 470 713 81Calcium, dissolved (mg/L as Ca) 22 40 47 54 76 114Magnesium, dissolved (mg/L as Mg) 2.0 23 26 32 48 114Sodium, dissolved (mg/L as Na) 20 51 65 77 120 114Potassium, dissolved (mg/L as K) 1.8 9.0 9.8 11 16 114Bicarbonate

dissolved

field (mg/L as HCO3) 170 217 267 371 453 10

Appendix 1. Summary data for selected sites in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and

South Dakota.—Continued

[Sites are given in downstream order; site number is given in parentheses; median may be a calculated mean value; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; mg/L, milligrams per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; --, no data; <, less than; JTU, Jackson turbidity unit; NTU, nephelometric turbidity 

unit; μ, micrometer; MF, membrane filtration; mFC, a method of detecting fecal coliform]

Property or constituent Minimum 25th percentile Median 75th percentile Maximum Number of samples
30 Water Quality of Streams in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1970-2001

Sheyenne River at Valley City, N. Dak. (05058500)

(Period of record: November 3, 1971, to June 20, 2000; Number of dates: 99)

Discharge (ft3/s) 11 46 171 1,420 5,200 69Specific conductance (μS/cm at 25 degrees

Celsius)

235 610 705 830 1,300 95

pH, field 7.6 7.8 8.0 8.3 8.7 30Temperature, water (degrees Celsius) 0 1.8 4.0 16.3 26.0 95Oxygen, dissolved (mg/L) -- -- 7.3 -- -- 1Solids, residue on evaporation at 180 degrees

Celsius, dissolved (mg/L)

278 392 484 554 734 28

Solids, sum, dissolved (mg/L) 297 390 444 477 524 11Calcium, dissolved (mg/L as Ca) 30 43 50 56 79 28Magnesium, dissolved (mg/L as Mg) 16 25 29 36 48 28Sodium, dissolved (mg/L as Na) 24 52 64 76 100 28Potassium, dissolved (mg/L as K) 6.4 8.3 10 12 15 28Sulfate

dissolved (mg/L as SO4) 81 120 130 160 260 28

Appendix 1. Summary data for selected sites in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and

South Dakota.—Continued

[Sites are given in downstream order; site number is given in parentheses; median may be a calculated mean value; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; mg/L, milligrams per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; --, no data; <, less than; JTU, Jackson turbidity unit; NTU, nephelometric turbidity 

unit; μ, micrometer; MF, membrane filtration; mFC, a method of detecting fecal coliform]

Property or constituent Minimum 25th percentile Median 75th percentile Maximum Number of samples
Appendix 1 31

Sheyenne River at Lisbon, N. Dak. (05058700)

(Period of record: August 2, 1956, to August 9, 2000; Number of dates: 765)

Discharge (ft3/s) 1.1 37 128 518 5,230 319Specific conductance (μS/cm at 25 degrees

Celsius)

110 686 832 988 5,220 758

pH, field 6.7 7.6 7.8 8.1 9.0 610Temperature, water (degrees Celsius) 0 1.0 7.0 19.1 28.5 392Oxygen, dissolved (mg/L) 6.0 8.2 10.4 12.0 14.7 57Solids, residue on evaporation at 180 degrees

Celsius, dissolved (mg/L)

185 450 541 644 1,000 600

Solids, sum, dissolved (mg/L) 198 451 539 650 1,040 201Calcium, dissolved (mg/L as Ca) 30 51 60 69 130 368Magnesium, dissolved (mg/L as Mg) 9.0 25 29 35 53 368Sodium, dissolved (mg/L as Na) 13 59 76 91 560 616Potassium, dissolved (mg/L as K) 4.9 9.7 11 12 22 384Bicarbonate

dissolved

field (mg/L as HCO3) 169 239 301 328 448 24

Appendix 1. Summary data for selected sites in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and

South Dakota.—Continued

[Sites are given in downstream order; site number is given in parentheses; median may be a calculated mean value; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; mg/L, milligrams per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; --, no data; <, less than; JTU, Jackson turbidity unit; NTU, nephelometric turbidity 

unit; μ, micrometer; MF, membrane filtration; mFC, a method of detecting fecal coliform]

Property or constituent Minimum 25th percentile Median 75th percentile Maximum Number of samples
32 Water Quality of Streams in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1970-2001

Sheyenne River near Kindred, N. Dak. (05059000)

(Period of record: October 13, 1971, to August 7, 2000; Number of dates: 531)

Discharge (ft3/s) 18 60 140 555 5,600 374Specific conductance (μS/cm at 25 degrees

Celsius)

180 679 765 900 1,420 514

pH, field 6.9 8.0 8.2 8.4 8.8 295Temperature, water (degrees Celsius) <0 1.0 9.0 18.2 28.0 525Oxygen, dissolved (mg/L) 4.0 7.7 9.1 11.5 16.1 310Solids, residue on evaporation at 180 degrees

Celsius, dissolved (mg/L)

200 478 539 600 832 227

Solids, sum, dissolved (mg/L) 189 447 519 589 777 128Calcium, dissolved (mg/L as Ca) 28 64 75 83 110 224Magnesium, dissolved (mg/L as Mg) 11 26 29 33 54 224Sodium, dissolved (mg/L as Na) 10 54 64 76 110 224Potassium, dissolved (mg/L as K) 3.8 8.0 8.9 10 15 223Bicarbonate

dissolved

field (mg/L as HCO3) 171 277 319 341 436 47

Appendix 1. Summary data for selected sites in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and

South Dakota.—Continued

[Sites are given in downstream order; site number is given in parentheses; median may be a calculated mean value; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; mg/L, milligrams per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; --, no data; <, less than; JTU, Jackson turbidity unit; NTU, nephelometric turbidity 

unit; μ, micrometer; MF, membrane filtration; mFC, a method of detecting fecal coliform]

Property or constituent Minimum 25th percentile Median 75th percentile Maximum Number of samples
Appendix 1 33

Sheyenne River at West Fargo, N. Dak. (05059500)

(Period of record: September 16, 1969, to August 8, 2000; Number of dates: 329)

Discharge (ft3/s) 5.3 64 164 484 3,840 283Specific conductance (μS/cm at 25 degrees

Celsius)

237 673 833 950 1,700 323

pH, field 6.7 7.7 8.0 8.2 8.6 62Temperature, water (degrees Celsius) <0 0.5 8.0 19.0 27.5 320Oxygen, dissolved (mg/L) --- -- 6.7 -- -- 1Calcium, dissolved (mg/L as Ca) 24 53 70 84 110 60Magnesium, dissolved (mg/L as Mg) 13 21 27 30 55 60Sodium, dissolved (mg/L as Na) 23 46 61 71 95 60Potassium, dissolved (mg/L as K) 3.3 7.3 8.2 9.9 14 60Bicarbonate, dissolved, field (mg/L as HCO3) -- -- 320 -- -- 1Sulfate, dissolved (mg/L as SO4) 9.0 110 140 170 310 60Chloride, dissolved (mg/L as Cl) 8.0 19 27 36 57 60Arsenic

dissolved (μg/L as As) 1 3 5 6 10 28

Appendix 1. Summary data for selected sites in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and

South Dakota.—Continued

[Sites are given in downstream order; site number is given in parentheses; median may be a calculated mean value; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; mg/L, milligrams per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; --, no data; <, less than; JTU, Jackson turbidity unit; NTU, nephelometric turbidity 

unit; μ, micrometer; MF, membrane filtration; mFC, a method of detecting fecal coliform]

Property or constituent Minimum 25th percentile Median 75th percentile Maximum Number of samples
34 Water Quality of Streams in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1970-2001

Maple River near Mapleton, N. Dak. (05060000)

(Period of record: October 6, 1971, to May 8, 2001; Number of dates: 94)

Discharge (ft3/s) 0.10 11 106 906 11,600 93Specific conductance (μS/cm at 25 degrees

Celsius)

240 600 1,060 1,440 2,620 90

pH, field 6.5 7.9 8.0 8.1 8.6 15Temperature, water (degrees Celsius) 0 0.5 6.8 19.0 27.5 88Solids, residue on evaporation at 180 degrees

Celsius, dissolved (mg/L)

326 720 859 1,060 1,130 12

Solids, sum, dissolved (mg/L) 648 815 928 1,030 1,110 8Calcium, dissolved (mg/L as Ca) 40 94 110 110 140 12Magnesium, dissolved (mg/L as Mg) 18 45 55 63 77 12Sodium, dissolved (mg/L as Na) 19 61 80 120 130 12Potassium, dissolved (mg/L as K) 9.0 10 12 12 16 12Bicarbonate, dissolved, field (mg/L as HCO3) 200 278 290 325 400 8Carbonate

dissolved

field (mg/L as CO3) 0 0 0 0 0 8

Appendix 1. Summary data for selected sites in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and

South Dakota.—Continued

[Sites are given in downstream order; site number is given in parentheses; median may be a calculated mean value; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; mg/L, milligrams per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; --, no data; <, less than; JTU, Jackson turbidity unit; NTU, nephelometric turbidity 

unit; μ, micrometer; MF, membrane filtration; mFC, a method of detecting fecal coliform]

Property or constituent Minimum 25th percentile Median 75th percentile Maximum Number of samples
Appendix 1 35

Buffalo River near Dilworth, Minn. (05062000)

(Period of record: April 10, 1962, to March 12, 1991; Number of dates: 217)

Discharge (ft3/s) 0.36 143 255 536 5,180 217Specific conductance (μS/cm at 25 degrees

Celsius)

260 570 620 750 1,100 117

pH, field 7.0 7.7 7.9 8.1 8.4 11Temperature, water (degrees Celsius) 0 7.5 10.5 15.3 26.0 207Oxygen, dissolved (mg/L) -- -- 6.1 -- -- 1Hardness, total (mg/L as CaC03) 120 330 420 430 600 10Solids, residue on evaporation at 180 degrees

Celsius, dissolved (mg/L)

168 432 534 556 736 11

Solids, sum, dissolved (mg/L) 156 465 510 548 658 5Calcium, dissolved (mg/L as Ca) 28 73 89 95 140 11Magnesium, dissolved (mg/L as Mg) 11 40 44 50 59 11Sodium, dissolved (mg/L as Na) 4.5 15 18 20 27 11Potassium

dissolved (mg/L as K) 4

6 5

8 6

3 6

7 7

4 11

Appendix 1. Summary data for selected sites in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and

South Dakota.—Continued

[Sites are given in downstream order; site number is given in parentheses; median may be a calculated mean value; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; mg/L, milligrams per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; --, no data; <, less than; JTU, Jackson turbidity unit; NTU, nephelometric turbidity 

unit; μ, micrometer; MF, membrane filtration; mFC, a method of detecting fecal coliform]

Property or constituent Minimum 25th percentile Median 75th percentile Maximum Number of samples
36 Water Quality of Streams in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1970-2001

Wild Rice River at Hendrum, Minn. (05064000)

(Period of record: October 1, 1962, to September 14, 2000; Number of dates: 305)

Discharge (ft3/s) 0.09 36 80 464 9,010 175Specific conductance (μS/cm at 25 degrees

Celsius)

239 480 540 595 2,150 163

pH, field 5.8 7.9 8.2 8.4 9.4 270Temperature, water (degrees Celsius) 0 1.8 16.0 22.0 28.0 276Oxygen, dissolved (mg/L) .8 6.3 7.4 9.8 13.4 261Hardness, total (mg/L as CaC03) 260 260 290 320 490 5Solids, residue on evaporation at 180 degrees

Celsius, dissolved (mg/L)

250 312 355 424 621 7

Solids, sum, dissolved (mg/L) 301 -- 342 -- 383 2Calcium, dissolved (mg/L as Ca) 42 58 66 82 93 7Magnesium, dissolved (mg/L as Mg) 16 28 31 37 63 7Sodium, dissolved (mg/L as Na) 5.2 9.0 10 19 31 7Potassium

dissolved (mg/L as K) 3

7 4

2 4

5 4

7 6

5 7

Appendix 1. Summary data for selected sites in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and

South Dakota.—Continued

[Sites are given in downstream order; site number is given in parentheses; median may be a calculated mean value; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; mg/L, milligrams per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; --, no data; <, less than; JTU, Jackson turbidity unit; NTU, nephelometric turbidity 

unit; μ, micrometer; MF, membrane filtration; mFC, a method of detecting fecal coliform]

Property or constituent Minimum 25th percentile Median 75th percentile Maximum Number of samples
Appendix 1 37

Red River of the North at Halstad, Minn. (05064500)

(Period of record: July 8, 1961, to September 8, 2000; Number of dates: 536)

Discharge (ft3/s) 23 619 1,450 6,000 69,200 405Specific conductance (μS/cm at 25 degrees

Celsius)

245 570 658 748 1,650 512

pH, field 5.9 7.8 8.1 8.3 9.3 279Temperature, water (degrees Celsius) 0 0.5 8.7 18.4 28.0 517Turbidity (JTU) 7 8 12 34 90 4Turbidity (NTU) 1.0 7.0 28 75 500 112Oxygen, dissolved (mg/L) 1.9 7.5 8.3 10.8 16.2 269Solids, residue on evaporation at 180 degrees

Celsius, dissolved (mg/L)

176 367 425 484 695 165

Solids, sum, dissolved (mg/L) 170 336 393 471 631 74Calcium, dissolved (mg/L as Ca) 28 52 60 69 96 165Magnesium, dissolved (mg/L as Mg) 12 29 33 39 58 165Sodium

dissolved (mg/L as Na) 8

0 22 30 38 77 165

Appendix 1. Summary data for selected sites in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and

South Dakota.—Continued

[Sites are given in downstream order; site number is given in parentheses; median may be a calculated mean value; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; mg/L, milligrams per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; --, no data; <, less than; JTU, Jackson turbidity unit; NTU, nephelometric turbidity 

unit; μ, micrometer; MF, membrane filtration; mFC, a method of detecting fecal coliform]

Property or constituent Minimum 25th percentile Median 75th percentile Maximum Number of samples
38 Water Quality of Streams in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1970-2001

Goose River at Hillsboro, N. Dak. (05066500)

(Period of record: September 15, 1969, to August 13, 2001; Number of dates: 346)

Discharge (ft3/s) 0 5.0 24 220 8,000 346Specific conductance (μS/cm at 25 degrees

Celsius)

204 945 1,330 1,640 3,400 332

pH, field 7.2 7.7 7.9 8.1 8.5 97Temperature, water (degrees Celsius) 0 0.5 6.0 18.5 27.5 340Oxygen, dissolved (mg/L) 4.1 -- 9.8 -- 10.4 4Solids, residue on evaporation at 180 degrees

Celsius, dissolved (mg/L)

184 662 977 1,140 2,190 97

Solids, sum, dissolved (mg/L) 208 892 1,020 1,240 2,060 59Calcium, dissolved (mg/L as Ca) 32 82 120 150 230 97Magnesium, dissolved (mg/L as Mg) 10 36 58 71 98 97Sodium, dissolved (mg/L as Na) 9.0 54 84 120 330 97Potassium, dissolved (mg/L as K) 3.0 9.0 10 12 20 97Bicarbonate

dissolved

field (mg/L as HCO3) 110 160 270 360 460 22

Appendix 1. Summary data for selected sites in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and

South Dakota.—Continued

[Sites are given in downstream order; site number is given in parentheses; median may be a calculated mean value; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; mg/L, milligrams per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; --, no data; <, less than; JTU, Jackson turbidity unit; NTU, nephelometric turbidity 

unit; μ, micrometer; MF, membrane filtration; mFC, a method of detecting fecal coliform]

Property or constituent Minimum 25th percentile Median 75th percentile Maximum Number of samples
Appendix 1 39

Red Lake River at Crookston, Minn. (05079000)

(Period of record: April 11, 1962, to September 11, 2000; Number of dates: 178)

Discharge (ft3/s) 6.0 499 980 1,680 20,200 176Specific conductance (μS/cm at 25 degrees

Celsius)

195 358 395 452 730 171

pH, field 6.9 7.8 8.1 8.3 8.7 163Temperature, water (degrees Celsius) 0 0.5 6.5 17.6 28.5 164Turbidity (NTU) .60 3.0 4.7 12 95 98Oxygen, dissolved (mg/L) 5.7 8.4 10.2 12.3 14.1 115Hardness, total (mg/L as CaC03) 100 180 210 240 390 169Solids, residue on evaporation at 180 degrees

Celsius, dissolved (mg/L)

68 188 207 235 326 65

Solids, sum, dissolved (mg/L) 145 230 263 300 463 171Calcium, dissolved (mg/L as Ca) 25 46 52 57 94 169Magnesium, dissolved (mg/L as Mg) 8.0 16 19 22 38 169Sodium

dissolved (mg/L as Na) 2

3 4

3 5

1 6

6 15 170

Appendix 1. Summary data for selected sites in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and

South Dakota.—Continued

[Sites are given in downstream order; site number is given in parentheses; median may be a calculated mean value; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; mg/L, milligrams per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; --, no data; <, less than; JTU, Jackson turbidity unit; NTU, nephelometric turbidity 

unit; μ, micrometer; MF, membrane filtration; mFC, a method of detecting fecal coliform]

Property or constituent Minimum 25th percentile Median 75th percentile Maximum Number of samples
40 Water Quality of Streams in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1970-2001

Red Lake River at Crookston, Minn. (05079000), Continued

(Period of record: April 11, 1962, to September 11, 2000; Number of dates: 178)

Selenium, dissolved (μg/L as Se) <1 <1 <1 <1 10 64Silver, dissolved (μg/L as Ag) <1 <1 <1 <1 3 65Zinc, dissolved (μg/L as Zn) <3 5 <20 <20 90 54Alachlor, dissolved (μg/L) <.002 -- -- -- <.002 5Chlorpyrifos, dissolved (μg/L) <.004 -- -- -- <.004 5Dieldrin, dissolved (μg/L) <.001 -- -- -- <.001 5Lindane, dissolved (μg/L) <.004 -- -- -- <.004 5Parathion, dissolved (μg/L) <.004 -- -- -- <.004 5Fecal coliform, 0.7-μ MF (colonies per 100

milliliters)

2 16 49 200 7,400 96

Appendix 1. Summary data for selected sites in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and

South Dakota.—Continued

[Sites are given in downstream order; site number is given in parentheses; median may be a calculated mean value; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; mg/L, milligrams per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; --, no data; <, less than; JTU, Jackson turbidity unit; NTU, nephelometric turbidity 

unit; μ, micrometer; MF, membrane filtration; mFC, a method of detecting fecal coliform]

Property or constituent Minimum 25th percentile Median 75th percentile Maximum Number of samples
Appendix 1 41

Red River of the North at Grand Forks, N. Dak. (05082500)

(Period of record: June 22, 1949, to September 26, 2000; Number of dates: 927)

Discharge (ft3/s) 1.9 1,190 2,400 7,730 106,000 924Specific conductance (μS/cm at 25 degrees

Celsius)

200 460 531 600 1,040 894

pH, field 7.0 7.5 7.7 7.9 8.7 532Temperature, water (degrees Celsius) 0 1.0 8.0 18.0 28.0 556Oxygen, dissolved (mg/L) 3.9 7.7 9.9 11.1 14.5 31Solids, residue on evaporation at 180 degrees

Celsius, dissolved (mg/L)

158 303 336 385 570 513

Solids, sum, dissolved (mg/L) 170 271 311 359 1,890 186Calcium, dissolved (mg/L as Ca) 30 49 55 62 150 286Magnesium, dissolved (mg/L as Mg) 6.0 22 25 30 110 285Sodium, dissolved (mg/L as Na) 3.0 14 17 20 43 535Potassium, dissolved (mg/L as K) .8 4.3 5.2 6.2 60 255Bicarbonate

dissolved

field (mg/L as HCO3) 140 216 253 264 373 25

Appendix 1. Summary data for selected sites in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and

South Dakota.—Continued

[Sites are given in downstream order; site number is given in parentheses; median may be a calculated mean value; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; mg/L, milligrams per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; --, no data; <, less than; JTU, Jackson turbidity unit; NTU, nephelometric turbidity 

unit; μ, micrometer; MF, membrane filtration; mFC, a method of detecting fecal coliform]

Property or constituent Minimum 25th percentile Median 75th percentile Maximum Number of samples
42 Water Quality of Streams in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1970-2001

Turtle River at Turtle River State Park near Arvilla, N. Dak. (05082625)

(Period of record: October 11, 1991, to September 27, 2001; Number of dates: 170)

Discharge (ft3/s) 2.7 11 17 113 12,200 119Specific conductance (μS/cm at 25 degrees

Celsius)

283 795 913 1,020 1,530 169

pH, field 7.0 7.9 8.1 8.3 8.6 108Temperature, water (degrees Celsius) 0 0.9 10.0 18.0 26.0 164Oxygen, dissolved (mg/L) 6.0 9.0 10.0 12.0 19.0 96Solids, residue on evaporation at 180 degrees

Celsius, dissolved (mg/L)

165 548 617 714 1,150 85

Calcium, dissolved (mg/L as Ca) 25 85 99 110 130 85Magnesium, dissolved (mg/L as Mg) 7.0 31 36 41 60 85Sodium, dissolved (mg/L as Na) 11 33 46 62 130 85Potassium, dissolved (mg/L as K) 4.2 5.3 5.9 7.1 11 85Bicarbonate, dissolved, field (mg/L as HCO3) 110 266 308 339 408 73Carbonate

dissolved

field (mg/L as CO3) 0 0 0 0 14 73

Appendix 1. Summary data for selected sites in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and

South Dakota.—Continued

[Sites are given in downstream order; site number is given in parentheses; median may be a calculated mean value; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; mg/L, milligrams per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; --, no data; <, less than; JTU, Jackson turbidity unit; NTU, nephelometric turbidity 

unit; μ, micrometer; MF, membrane filtration; mFC, a method of detecting fecal coliform]

Property or constituent Minimum 25th percentile Median 75th percentile Maximum Number of samples
Appendix 1 43

Forest River at Minto, N. Dak. (05085000)

(Period of record: October 6, 1971, to September 10, 2001; Number of dates: 308)

Discharge (ft3/s) 0.03 5.0 14 58 6,210 302Specific conductance (μS/cm at 25 degrees

Celsius)

240 672 804 940 2,120 294

pH, field 7.1 7.7 8.0 8.2 8.8 100Temperature, water (degrees Celsius) 0 0.5 6.5 17.5 27.0 302Oxygen, dissolved (mg/L) 1.8 5.4 8.8 10.5 12.4 12Solids, residue on evaporation at 180 degrees

Celsius, dissolved (mg/L)

171 444 511 582 1,370 95

Solids, sum, dissolved (mg/L) 152 441 491 548 1,370 55Calcium, dissolved (mg/L as Ca) 32 70 78 88 180 95Magnesium, dissolved (mg/L as Mg) 7.0 29 34 37 140 95Sodium, dissolved (mg/L as Na) 6.0 32 39 49 170 95Potassium, dissolved (mg/L as K) 3.6 5.3 6.8 8.1 62 95Bicarbonate

dissolved

field (mg/L as HCO3) 93 270 295 330 690 54

Appendix 1. Summary data for selected sites in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and

South Dakota.—Continued

[Sites are given in downstream order; site number is given in parentheses; median may be a calculated mean value; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; mg/L, milligrams per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; --, no data; <, less than; JTU, Jackson turbidity unit; NTU, nephelometric turbidity 

unit; μ, micrometer; MF, membrane filtration; mFC, a method of detecting fecal coliform]

Property or constituent Minimum 25th percentile Median 75th percentile Maximum Number of samples
44 Water Quality of Streams in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1970-2001

Park River at Grafton, N. Dak. (05090000)

(Period of record: September 22, 1969, to August 28, 2001; Number of dates: 297)

Discharge (ft3/s) 0 1.0 8.0 113 8,460 293Specific conductance (μS/cm at 25 degrees

Celsius)

289 750 1,110 1,340 2,500 283

pH, field 6.3 7.7 7.9 8.1 8.7 85Temperature, water (degrees Celsius) 0 0.5 7.0 18.0 28.0 292Oxygen, dissolved (mg/L) -- -- 12.2 -- -- 1Solids, residue on evaporation at 180 degrees

Celsius, dissolved (mg/L)

83 425 709 845 1,450 84

Solids, sum, dissolved (mg/L) 193 529 749 819 1,220 46Calcium, dissolved (mg/L as Ca) 31 58 75 96 130 84Magnesium, dissolved (mg/L as Mg) 8.0 20 33 41 68 84Sodium, dissolved (mg/L as Na) 12 46 97 130 370 84Potassium, dissolved (mg/L as K) 3.8 7.4 8.6 11 16 84Bicarbonate

dissolved

field (mg/L as HCO3) 93 210 260 320 440 45

Appendix 1. Summary data for selected sites in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and

South Dakota.—Continued

[Sites are given in downstream order; site number is given in parentheses; median may be a calculated mean value; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; mg/L, milligrams per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; --, no data; <, less than; JTU, Jackson turbidity unit; NTU, nephelometric turbidity 

unit; μ, micrometer; MF, membrane filtration; mFC, a method of detecting fecal coliform]

Property or constituent Minimum 25th percentile Median 75th percentile Maximum Number of samples
Appendix 1 45

Red River of the North at Drayton, N. Dak. (05092000)

(Period of record: October 12, 1971, to August 29, 2001; Number of dates: 416)

Discharge (ft3/s) 111 1,430 3,350 14,600 92,900 416Specific conductance (μS/cm at 25 degrees

Celsius)

275 520 620 746 2,010 386

pH, field 7.1 7.8 8.1 8.3 8.7 59Temperature, water (degrees Celsius) <0 0.5 9.0 18.0 28.5 407Oxygen, dissolved (mg/L) 10.5 -- 11.2 -- 11.9 2Solids, residue on evaporation at 180 degrees

Celsius, dissolved (mg/L)

179 328 389 472 932 59

Solids, sum, dissolved (mg/L) 169 246 339 415 564 18Calcium, dissolved (mg/L as Ca) 29 49 56 66 98 59Magnesium, dissolved (mg/L as Mg) 3.0 21 26 32 56 59Sodium, dissolved (mg/L as Na) 7.0 22 30 44 130 59Potassium, dissolved (mg/L as K) 3.0 5.0 7.0 8.0 12 59Sulfate

dissolved (mg/L as SO4) 35 65 87 120 220 59

Appendix 1. Summary data for selected sites in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and

South Dakota.—Continued

[Sites are given in downstream order; site number is given in parentheses; median may be a calculated mean value; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; mg/L, milligrams per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; --, no data; <, less than; JTU, Jackson turbidity unit; NTU, nephelometric turbidity 

unit; μ, micrometer; MF, membrane filtration; mFC, a method of detecting fecal coliform]

Property or constituent Minimum 25th percentile Median 75th percentile Maximum Number of samples
46 Water Quality of Streams in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1970-2001

Pembina River at Neche, N. Dak. (05100000)

(Period of record: October 13, 1971, to August 9, 2001; Number of dates: 334)

Discharge (ft3/s) 0.04 21 112 837 19,000 334Specific conductance (μS/cm at 25 degrees

Celsius)

250 583 825 942 1,700 294

pH, field 6.5 7.8 8.1 8.3 8.7 55Temperature, water (degrees Celsius) 0 0.5 7.8 17.5 28.0 328Oxygen, dissolved (mg/L) -- -- 12.4 -- -- 1Solids, residue on evaporation at 180 degrees

Celsius, dissolved (mg/L)

194 363 514 583 763 57

Solids, sum, dissolved (mg/L) 215 321 470 569 596 18Calcium, dissolved (mg/L as Ca) 26 46 70 87 140 57Magnesium, dissolved (mg/L as Mg) 8.0 18 29 36 53 57Sodium, dissolved (mg/L as Na) 19 28 42 49 59 57Potassium, dissolved (mg/L as K) 3.2 6.6 8.3 10 13 57Bicarbonate

dissolved

field (mg/L as HCO3) 110 150 210 320 340 17

Appendix 1. Summary data for selected sites in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and

South Dakota.—Continued

[Sites are given in downstream order; site number is given in parentheses; median may be a calculated mean value; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; mg/L, milligrams per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; --, no data; <, less than; JTU, Jackson turbidity unit; NTU, nephelometric turbidity 

unit; μ, micrometer; MF, membrane filtration; mFC, a method of detecting fecal coliform]

Property or constituent Minimum 25th percentile Median 75th percentile Maximum Number of samples
Appendix 1 47

Tongue River at Akra, N. Dak. (05101000)

(Period of record: October 14, 1971, to August 8, 2001; Number of dates: 270)

Discharge (ft3/s) 0.02 2.6 7.1 27 663 269Specific conductance (μS/cm at 25 degrees

Celsius)

235 510 570 650 1,490 252

pH, field 6.4 7.8 8.0 8.3 8.8 86Temperature, water (degrees Celsius) 0 2.5 9.0 18.5 28.5 265Oxygen, dissolved (mg/L) 6.5 8.2 9.8 10.7 13.2 8Solids, residue on evaporation at 180 degrees

Celsius, dissolved (mg/L)

172 315 360 407 515 81

Solids, sum, dissolved (mg/L) 177 312 339 380 463 44Calcium, dissolved (mg/L as Ca) 28 55 63 71 98 82Magnesium, dissolved (mg/L as Mg) 7.0 16 20 22 35 82Sodium, dissolved (mg/L as Na) 11 22 26 29 37 82Potassium, dissolved (mg/L as K) 3.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 12 82Bicarbonate

dissolved

field (mg/L as HCO3) 97 200 230 308 380 34

Appendix 1. Summary data for selected sites in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and

South Dakota.—Continued

[Sites are given in downstream order; site number is given in parentheses; median may be a calculated mean value; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; mg/L, milligrams per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; --, no data; <, less than; JTU, Jackson turbidity unit; NTU, nephelometric turbidity 

unit; μ, micrometer; MF, membrane filtration; mFC, a method of detecting fecal coliform]

Property or constituent Minimum 25th percentile Median 75th percentile Maximum Number of samples
48 Water Quality of Streams in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1970-2001

Red River of the North at Pembina, N. Dak. (05102490)

(Period of record: July 15, 1969, to August 30, 2000; Number of dates: 102)

Discharge (ft3/s) 887 2,100 5,120 9,780 91,700 69Specific conductance (μS/cm at 25 degrees

Celsius)

310 583 667 794 1,060 97

pH, field 6.5 8.0 8.2 8.3 8.7 96Temperature, water (degrees Celsius) 0 5.1 13.4 19.5 25.0 96Oxygen, dissolved (mg/L) 4.6 7.8 9.3 10.3 13.9 90Solids, residue on evaporation at 180 degrees

Celsius, dissolved (mg/L)

203 361 411 463 661 74

Calcium, dissolved (mg/L as Ca) 32 54 62 69 140 63Magnesium, dissolved (mg/L as Mg) 13 24 29 34 96 63Sodium, dissolved (mg/L as Na) 8.0 22 29 37 52 65Bicarbonate, dissolved, field (mg/L as HCO3) 122 211 243 260 312 45Carbonate, dissolved, field (mg/L as CO3) 0 0 0 2 11 45Sulfate

dissolved (mg/L as SO4) 39 73 94 120 220 73

Appendix 1. Summary data for selected sites in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and

South Dakota.—Continued

[Sites are given in downstream order; site number is given in parentheses; median may be a calculated mean value; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; mg/L, milligrams per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; --, no data; <, less than; JTU, Jackson turbidity unit; NTU, nephelometric turbidity 

unit; μ, micrometer; MF, membrane filtration; mFC, a method of detecting fecal coliform]

Property or constituent Minimum 25th percentile Median 75th percentile Maximum Number of samples
Appendix 1 49

Red River of the North at Emerson, Manitoba (05102500)

(Period of record: July 9, 1974, to March 7, 2000; Number of dates: 173)

Discharge (ft3/s) 170 1,140 2,160 5,240 62,800 158Specific conductance (μS/cm at 25 degrees

Celsius)

76 589 690 809 1,810 171

pH, field 7.2 7.8 8.1 8.4 8.9 158Temperature, water (degrees Celsius) 0 0.5 7.5 18.5 29.0 172Oxygen, dissolved (mg/L) 1.3 7.9 9.8 11.6 18.2 150Solids, residue on evaporation at 180 degrees

Celsius, dissolved (mg/L)

245 375 438 503 1,100 145

Solids, sum, dissolved (mg/L) 243 338 381 453 1,060 53Calcium, dissolved (mg/L as Ca) 36 58 63 69 110 144Magnesium, dissolved (mg/L as Mg) 16 26 30 34 54 144Sodium, dissolved (mg/L as Na) 8.0 28 34 50 190 144Potassium, dissolved (mg/L as K) 3.8 5.5 6.7 8.2 17 144Bicarbonate

dissolved

field (mg/L as HCO3) 136 222 255 304 398 50

Appendix 1. Summary data for selected sites in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and

South Dakota.—Continued

[Sites are given in downstream order; site number is given in parentheses; median may be a calculated mean value; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; mg/L, milligrams per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; --, no data; <, less than; JTU, Jackson turbidity unit; NTU, nephelometric turbidity 

unit; μ, micrometer; MF, membrane filtration; mFC, a method of detecting fecal coliform]

Property or constituent Minimum 25th percentile Median 75th percentile Maximum Number of samples
50 Water Quality of Streams in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1970-2001
EN, exceeds ecoregion norms; OK, within acceptable values; N, no]

Uses Indicators of impairment 

National hydrography datasetassessment reach identificationImpaired waters listRiver reachLocationNational hydrography dataset length(miles)Aquatic consumptionAquatic lifeAquatic recreationFishOxygen depletionTurbidityUn-ionized ammoniaMetalsChloridepHInvertebratesBacteriaMercury FCAPCB FCA

Bois de Sioux River

09020101-501 Y Bois de Sioux River Rabbit River to 

Otter Tail 

River

15.31 NA NS NA NS PS FS FS FS 

09020101-502 Y Rabbit River Wilkin County 

line to Bois 

de Sioux 

River

22.66 NA NS NA NS PS NS FS FS 

Mustinka River

09020102-501 Y Twelvemile Creek West Branch 

Twelvemile 

Creek to 

Mustinka 

River

18.96 NA NS NA NS

09020102-503 Y Mustinka River Unnamed creek 

to Lake 

Traverse

8.28 NA NS NA FS NS FS FS 

09020102-518 Y Mustinka River Grant/Traverse 

County line 

to Fivemile 

Creek

4.76 NA NS NA FS NS FS FS 
Otter Tail River

09020103-502 Y Otter Tail River Breckenridge 

Lake to Bois 

de Sioux 

River

8.20 NA NS NA FS NS FS FS FS 

09020103-503 N Otter Tail River Pelican River

to Dayton

Hollow

Reservoir

2.50 NA FS NA FS FS FS FS FS 

09020103-504 Y Otter Tail River Judicial

ditch 2 to

Breckenridge Lake

19.04 NA NS NA NS FS NS FS FS 

09020103-506 N Otter Tail River Orwell Dam to 

judicial 

ditch 2

7.61 NA FS NA FS FS FS FS 

09020103-521 N Otter Tail River Pine Lake to 

Rush Lake

11.71 NA FS NA FS FS

Uses Indicators of impairment 

National hydrography datasetassessment reach identificationImpaired waters listRiver reachLocationNational hydrography dataset length(miles)Aquatic consumptionAquatic lifeAquatic recreationFishOxygen depletionTurbidityUn-ionized ammoniaMetalsChloridepHInvertebratesBacteriaMercury FCAPCB FCA
Otter Tail River, Continued

09020103-526 N Toad River Little Toad 

Lake to 

T. 138 N., 

R. 38 W., 

sec. 30, 

southwest 

corner

8.51 NA NA NA

09020103-532 Y Otter Tail River Rice Lake to 

Mud Lake

10.9 NA PS NA PS FS FS FS

09020103-535 N Otter Tail River Little Pine Lake 

to Pine Lake

1.01 NA FS NA FS FS

09020103-542 N Toad River T. 138 N., 

R. 38 W., 

sec. 31, 

northwest 

corner to 

Pine Lake

9.74 NA FS NA FS FS FS

EN, exceeds ecoregion norms; OK, within acceptable values; N, no]

Uses Indicators of impairment 

National hydrography datasetassessment reach identificationImpaired waters listRiver reachLocationNational hydrography dataset length(miles)Aquatic consumptionAquatic lifeAquatic recreationFishOxygen depletionTurbidityUn-ionized ammoniaMetalsChloridepHInvertebratesBacteriaMercury FCAPCB FCA
Red River of the North (headwaters)

09020104-501 Y Whiskey Creek Headwaters to 

Red River

20.36 NA NS NA FS NS FS FS 

09020104-502 Y Red River Fargo/Moorhead Dam A 

to Sheyenne 

River (North 

Dakota)

21.24 NS NA NA NS N

09020104-503 Y Red River Breckenridge 

Dam to 

Whiskey 

Creek

25.00 NS NS FS FS FS NS FS FS FS FS NS N

09020104-504 Y Red River Fargo/Moorhead Dam 1 

to Dam A

3.11 NS NS PS FS NS FS FS FS PS NS N

09020104-505 Y Red River Whiskey Creek 

to Comstock Dam 3

39.65 NS NA NA NS N

09020104-506 Y Red River Otter Tail River 

to Breckenridge Dam

2.34 NS NA NA NS N

09020104-507 Y Red River Fargo/Moorhead Dam 2 

to Dam 1

5.92 NS NA NA NS N

Uses Indicators of impairment 

National hydrography datasetassessment reach identificationImpaired waters listRiver reachLocationNational hydrography dataset length(miles)Aquatic consumptionAquatic lifeAquatic recreationFishOxygen depletionTurbidityUn-ionized ammoniaMetalsChloridepHInvertebratesBacteriaMercury FCAPCB FCA
Red River of the North (headwaters), Continued

09020104-508 Y Red River Wild Rice 

River (North 

Dakota) to 

Dam 2

12.33 NS NA NA NS N

09020104-509 Y Red River Comstock

Dam 3 to 

Wolverton 

Creek

5.90 NS NA NA NS N

09020104-510 Y Red River Wolverton 

Creek to 

Wild Rice 

River (North 

Dakota)

6.76 NS NA NA NS N

09020104-511 Y Red River Sheyenne River 

(North 

Dakota) to 

Buffalo 

River

10.40 NS NA NA NS N

EN, exceeds ecoregion norms; OK, within acceptable values; N, no]

Uses Indicators of impairment 

National hydrography datasetassessment reach identificationImpaired waters listRiver reachLocationNational hydrography dataset length(miles)Aquatic consumptionAquatic lifeAquatic recreationFishOxygen depletionTurbidityUn-ionized ammoniaMetalsChloridepHInvertebratesBacteriaMercury FCAPCB FCA
Buffalo River

09020106-501 Y Buffalo River South Branch 

Buffalo 

River to Red 

River

45.07 NA FS NA FS

09020106-502 Y Stony Creek Hay Creek to 

South 

Branch

Buffalo 

River

12.83 NA NA NA

09020106-503 N South Branch Buffalo

River

Stony Creek to 

Buffalo 

River

16.28 NA NA NA

09020106-504 N South Branch Buffalo

River

Whiskey Creek 

to Stony 

Creek

10.40 NA NA NA

09020106-505 Y South Branch Buffalo

River

Deerhorn Creek 

to Whiskey 

Creek

16.58 NA NS NA NS

09020106-506 N Buffalo River Headwaters to 

South 

Branch

Buffalo 

River

69.49 NA FS NA FS

Uses Indicators of impairment 

National hydrography datasetassessment reach identificationImpaired waters listRiver reachLocationNational hydrography dataset length(miles)Aquatic consumptionAquatic lifeAquatic recreationFishOxygen depletionTurbidityUn-ionized ammoniaMetalsChloridepHInvertebratesBacteriaMercury FCAPCB FCA
Buffalo River, Continued

09020106-509 N Whiskey Creek T. 137 N., 

R. 47 W., 

sec. 13,

east line of 

section to 

South 

Branch

Buffalo 

River

5.91 NA NA NA

09020106-519 N Hay Creek Unnamed creek 

to Spring 

Creek

9.12 NA FS NA FS

Red River of the North (Hillsboro)--Marsh River

09020107-501 Y Red River Buffalo River 

to Elm River 

(North 

Dakota)

29.39 NS NS NA FS NS FS FS FS NS N

09020107-502 Y Red River Wild Rice 

River to 

Goose River 

(North 

Dakota)

22.77 NS FS NA FS FS FS NS N

09020107-503 N Marsh River Headwaters to 

Red River

51.07 NA FS NA FS

EN, exceeds ecoregion norms; OK, within acceptable values; N, no]

Uses Indicators of impairment 

National hydrography datasetassessment reach identificationImpaired waters listRiver reachLocationNational hydrography dataset length(miles)Aquatic consumptionAquatic lifeAquatic recreationFishOxygen depletionTurbidityUn-ionized ammoniaMetalsChloridepHInvertebratesBacteriaMercury FCAPCB FCA
Red River of the North (Hillsboro)--Marsh River, Continued

09020107-504 Y Red River Elm River 

(North 

Dakota) to 

Wild Rice 

River

6.70 NS NA NA NS N

09020107-505 Y Red River Goose River 

(North 

Dakota) to 

Marsh River

.88 NS FS NA FS NS N

Wild Rice River

09020108-501 N Wild Rice River South Branch 

Wild Rice 

River to Red 

River

30.58 NA FS NA FS FS FS

09020108-502 N South Branch Wild 

Rice River

Otto Lake to 

Wild Rice 

River

56.80 NA FS NA FS

09020108-503 N Wild Rice River Marsh Creek to 

South 

Branch Wild 

Rice River

44.58 NA FS NA FS FS FS FS FS 

Uses Indicators of impairment 

National hydrography datasetassessment reach identificationImpaired waters listRiver reachLocationNational hydrography dataset length(miles)Aquatic consumptionAquatic lifeAquatic recreationFishOxygen depletionTurbidityUn-ionized ammoniaMetalsChloridepHInvertebratesBacteriaMercury FCAPCB FCA
Red River of the North (Sand Hill River)

09020301-501 Y Red River Cole Creek 

(North 

Dakota) to 

Red Lake 

River

8.01 NS NS NA FS NS FS FS FS NS N

09020301-502 Y Red River Buffalo Coulee 

to Cole 

Creek 

(North 

Dakota)

20.39 NS NA NA NS N

09020301-503 Y Red River Grand Forks 

Dam to 

English 

Coulee

1.68 NS NA NA NS N

09020301-504 Y Red River Red Lake River 

to Grand 

Forks Dam

2.14 NS FS NA FS FS FS FS NS N

09020301-506 Y Red River Marsh River to 

Sand Hill 

Creek

21.22 NS NA NA NS N

09020301-507 Y Red River Sand Hill River 

to Buffalo 

Coulee

10.66 NS NA NA NS N

EN, exceeds ecoregion norms; OK, within acceptable values; N, no]

Uses Indicators of impairment 

National hydrography datasetassessment reach identificationImpaired waters listRiver reachLocationNational hydrography dataset length(miles)Aquatic consumptionAquatic lifeAquatic recreationFishOxygen depletionTurbidityUn-ionized ammoniaMetalsChloridepHInvertebratesBacteriaMercury FCAPCB FCA
Red Lake River

09020303-501 Y Red Lake River Burnham Creek 

to unnamed 

creek

30.52 NS NS NA FS NS FS FS FS NS 

09020303-502 Y Red Lake River Black River to 

Gentilly 

River

9.98 NS NA NA NS

09020303-503 Y Red Lake River Unnamed creek 

to Red River

1.88 NS NS NA FS NS FS FS FS NS 

09020303-504 Y Red Lake River Unnamed

creek to 

Clearwater 

River

21.22 NS FS NA FS NS

09020303-506 Y Red Lake River Crookston Dam 

to Burnham 

Creek

20.54 NS FS NA FS FS FS FS NS

09020303-507 N Black River Headwaters to 

Red Lake 

River

34.53 NA FS NA FS

09020303-508 Y Red Lake River Headwaters to 

Thief River

66.05 NS NA NA NS

09020303-509 Y Red Lake River Thief River to 

Thief River 

Falls Dam

.83 NS NA NA NS

Uses Indicators of impairment 

National hydrography datasetassessment reach identificationImpaired waters listRiver reachLocationNational hydrography dataset length(miles)Aquatic consumptionAquatic lifeAquatic recreationFishOxygen depletionTurbidityUn-ionized ammoniaMetalsChloridepHInvertebratesBacteriaMercury FCAPCB FCA
Red Lake River, Continued

09020303-510 Y Red Lake River Clearwater 

River to Cyr 

Creek

9.42 NS NA NA NS

09020303-511 Y Red Lake River Cyr Creek to 

Black River

4.83 NS NA NA NS

09020303-512 Y Red Lake River Gentilly

River to 

Crookston 

Dam

16.17 NS NA NA NS

09020303-513 Y Red Lake River Thief River 

Falls Dam to 

unnamed 

creek

13.87 NS NA NA NS

Clearwater River

09020305-501 Y Clearwater River Lower Badger 

Creek to 

Red Lake 

River

7.19 NS FS NA FS FS FS FS NS 

09020305-502 N Lower Badger Creek County ditch

14 to

Clearwater 

River

11.90 NA FS NA FS

EN, exceeds ecoregion norms; OK, within acceptable values; N, no]

Uses Indicators of impairment 

National hydrography datasetassessment reach identificationImpaired waters listRiver reachLocationNational hydrography dataset length(miles)Aquatic consumptionAquatic lifeAquatic recreationFishOxygen depletionTurbidityUn-ionized ammoniaMetalsChloridepHInvertebratesBacteriaMercury FCAPCB FCA
Clearwater River, Continued

09020305-504 N Poplar River Highway 59 to 

Lost River

10.34 NA FS NA FS

09020305-505 N Lost River Hill River to 

Poplar River

2.44 NA NA NA

09020305-507 Y Lost River Anderson Lake 

to Hill River

40.02 NA FS NA FS FS

09020305-508 Y County ditch 57 Unnamed

ditch to 

Clearwater 

River

.37 NA NA NA

09020305-509 Y Walker Brook Walker Brook 

Lake to 

Clearwater 

River

4.82 NA NA NA

09020305-510 Y Clearwater River Ruffy Brook to 

Lost River

58.24 NS FS NA FS FS FS NS 

09020305-511 Y Clearwater River Lost River to 

Beau Gerlot 

Creek

11.63 NS NA NA NS

Uses Indicators of impairment 

National hydrography datasetassessment reach identificationImpaired waters listRiver reachLocationNational hydrography dataset length(miles)Aquatic consumptionAquatic lifeAquatic recreationFishOxygen depletionTurbidityUn-ionized ammoniaMetalsChloridepHInvertebratesBacteriaMercury FCAPCB FCA
Clearwater River, Continued

09020305-512 N Lost River Pine Lake to 

Anderson 

Lake

8.43 NA NA NA

09020305-513 N Ruffy Brook Headwaters to 

Clearwater 

River

20.95 NA NA NA

09020305-514 Y Clearwater River Clearwater 

Lake to 

Ruffy Brook

16.74 NS FS NA FS FS FS NS 

09020305-516 Y Clearwater River T. 148 N., 

R. 35 W., 

sec. 31,

west line of 

section to 

Clearwater 

Lake

17.60 NS FS PS FS FS PS NS 

09020305-517 Y Clearwater River Headwaters to 

Thief Lake, 

T. 148 N., 

R. 36 W., 

sec. 36,

east line of

section

29.48 NS NA FS FS NS 

09020305-518 Y Poplar River Spring Lake to 

Highway 59

34.82 NA NA NA

EN, exceeds ecoregion norms; OK, within acceptable values; N, no]

Uses Indicators of impairment 

National hydrography datasetassessment reach identificationImpaired waters listRiver reachLocationNational hydrography dataset length(miles)Aquatic consumptionAquatic lifeAquatic recreationFishOxygen depletionTurbidityUn-ionized ammoniaMetalsChloridepHInvertebratesBacteriaMercury FCAPCB FCA
Clearwater River, Continued

09020305-519 Y Clearwater River Beau Gerlot 

Creek to 

Lower

Badger 

Creek

1.63 NS NA NA NS

09020305-539 N Hill River Hill River Lake 

to Lost 

River

28.06 NA FS NA FS

Red River of the North (Grand Marais Creek)

09020306-501 Y Red River Grand Marais 

Creek to 

North 

Marais 

River (North 

Dakota)

41.97 NS NA NA NS N

09020306-502 Y Red River English Coulee 

to Grand 

Marais 

Creek

6.95 NS NA NA NS N

09020306-503 Y Red River North Marais 

River (North 

Dakota) to 

Forest River 

(North 

Dakota)

3.70 NS NA NA NS N

Uses Indicators of impairment 

National hydrography datasetassessment reach identificationImpaired waters listRiver reachLocationNational hydrography dataset length(miles)Aquatic consumptionAquatic lifeAquatic recreationFishOxygen depletionTurbidityUn-ionized ammoniaMetalsChloridepHInvertebratesBacteriaMercury FCAPCB FCA
Red River of the North (Grand Marais Creek), Continued

09020306-504 Y Red River Forest River 

(North 

Dakota) to 

Snake River

13.52 NS NA NA NS N

09020306-505 Y Red River Snake River to 

Park River 

(North 

Dakota)

8.11 NS NA NA NS N

09020306-506 N Grand Marais Creek Unnamed creek 

to Red River

5.48 NA NA NA

Snake River (Red River of the North)

09020309-501 Y Snake River Middle River to 

Red River

9.11 NA NS NA PS NS FS FS FS 

09020309-503 Y Snake River County ditch 7 

to county 

ditch 3

15.37 NA NS NA NS PS FS FS FS 

09020309-504 Y Snake River South Branch 

Snake River 

to county 

ditch 7

22.85 NA NS NA NS

09020309-505 N Middle River Headwaters to 

Snake River

88.93 NA FS NA FS

EN, exceeds ecoregion norms; OK, within acceptable values; N, no]

Uses Indicators of impairment 

National hydrography datasetassessment reach identificationImpaired waters listRiver reachLocationNational hydrography dataset length(miles)Aquatic consumptionAquatic lifeAquatic recreationFishOxygen depletionTurbidityUn-ionized ammoniaMetalsChloridepHInvertebratesBacteriaMercury FCAPCB FCA
Snake River (Red River of the North), Continued

09020309-506 N Snake River Headwaters to 

South 

Branch 

Snake River

29.16 NA FS NA FS

Red River of the North (Tamarac River)

09020311-501 Y Red River Pembina River 

(North 

Dakota) to 

Canadian 

border

2.91 NS FS NA FS FS FS NS N

09020311-502 Y Red River Tamarac River 

to Drayton 

Dam

16.51 NS NA NA NS N

09020311-503 Y Tamarac River Florian Park 

Reservoir to 

Stephen 

Dam

33.20 NA NS NA NS

09020311-504 Y Red River Two Rivers to 

Pembina 

River (North 

Dakota)

17.52 NS NA NA NS N

09020311-506 Y Red River Unnamed creek 

to Two

Rivers

16.51 NS NA NA NS N

Uses Indicators of impairment 

National hydrography datasetassessment reach identificationImpaired waters listRiver reachLocationNational hydrography dataset length(miles)Aquatic consumptionAquatic lifeAquatic recreationFishOxygen depletionTurbidityUn-ionized ammoniaMetalsChloridepHInvertebratesBacteriaMercury FCAPCB FCA
Red River of the North (Tamarac River), Continued

09020311-507 Y Red River Park River 

(North 

Dakota) to 

Tamarac 

River

2.97 NS NA NA NS N

09020311-508 Y Red River Drayton Dam 

to unnamed 

creek

12.28 NS NA NA NS N

Two Rivers

09020312-501 N Two Rivers Middle Branch 

Two Rivers 

to North 

Branch Two 

Rivers

20.59 NA FS NA FS FS FS FS 

09020312-502 N South Branch Two 

Rivers

Lake Bronson 

to Middle 

Branch Two 

Rivers

32.96 NA FS NA FS

09020312-503 Y Middle Branch Two 

Rivers

Headwaters to 

South 

Branch Two 

Rivers

27.03 NA NS NA NS

EN, exceeds ecoregion norms; OK, within acceptable values; N, no]

Uses Indicators of impairment 

National hydrography datasetassessment reach identificationImpaired waters listRiver reachLocationNational hydrography dataset length(miles)Aquatic consumptionAquatic lifeAquatic recreationFishOxygen depletionTurbidityUn-ionized ammoniaMetalsChloridepHInvertebratesBacteriaMercury FCAPCB FCA
Two Rivers, Continued

09020312-504 Y North Branch Two 

Rivers

Headwaters to 

Little Joe 

River

39.31 NA NS NA NS

09020312-506 Y South Branch Two 

Rivers

Unnamed ditch 

to lateral 

ditch #2

24.89 NA NS NA NS

Roseau River

09020314-501 Y Roseau River Hay Creek to 

Canada

border

49.53 NS NS NA NS FS FS FS NS 

09020314-502 Y Roseau River South Fork 

Roseau 

River to Hay 

Creek

9.15 NS NA NA NS

09020314-504 Y Roseau River Headwaters to 

South Fork 

Roseau 

River

53.45 NS NA NA NS

End of basin

Uses Indicators of impairment 

National hydrography datasetassessment reach identificationImpaired waters listRiver reachLocationNational hydrography dataset length(miles)Aquatic consumptionAquatic lifeAquatic recreationFishOxygen depletionTurbidityUn-ionized ammoniaMetalsChloridepHInvertebratesBacteriaMercury FCAPCB FCA
[Modified from North Dakota Department of Health, 2004; TMDL, total maximum daily load]

Assessment

unit

identifier

Assessment unit

description

Assessment

unit

size

Designated

use Use support 

ND-09020101- 

001-S_00

Bois de Sioux River from the North 

Dakota-South Dakota border downstream to its confluence with the

Rabbit River

12.77 miles Fish and other aquatic biota Fully supporting but threatened 

ND-09020101-

002-S_00

Bois de Sioux River from its confluence 

with the Rabbit River downstream to 

its confluence with the Otter Tail River

15.03 miles Fish and other aquatic biota Fully supporting but threatened 

ND-09020104-

001-S_00

Red River from its confluence with the 

Otter Tail River downstream to its confluence with Whiskey Creek

26.81 miles Recreation

Fish consumption

Fully supporting but threatened

Not supporting

ND-09020104-

002-S_00

Red River from its confluence with

Whiskey Creek downstream to its confluence with the Wild Rice River

51.64 miles Recreation

Fish consumption

Fully supporting but threatened

Not supporting

ND-09020104-

003-S_00

Red River from its confluence with the 

Wild Rice River downstream to the 

12th Avenue North bridge in Fargo, 

North Dakota (just upstream from the 

Moorhead, Minnesota, wastewater discharge)

21 miles Recreation

Fish consumption

Fully supporting but threatened

Not supporting

ND-09020104-

004-S_00

Red River from the 12th Avenue North 

bridge in Fargo, North Dakota, downstream to its confluence with the

Sheyenne River

20.09 miles Fish and other aquatic biota

Recreation

Fish consumption

Fully supporting but threatened

Not supporting

Not supporting

ND-09020104-

005-S_00

Red River from its confluence with the 

Sheyenne River downstream to its confluence with the Buffalo River

10.45 miles Recreation

Fish consumption

Fully supporting but threatened

Not supporting
ND-09020105-

001-L_00

Lake Elsie 260.5 acres Fish and other aquatic biota Fully supporting but threatened 

ND-09020105-

001-S_00

Wild Rice River from its confluence with 

the Colfax watershed downstream to 

its confluence with the Red River

38.01 miles Fish and other aquatic biota

Recreation

Not supporting

Fully supporting but threatened

ND-09020105-

002-L_00

Mooreton Pond 36.8 acres Fish and other aquatic biota Not supporting 

ND-09020105-

003-S_00

Wild Rice River from its confluence with 

a tributary northeast of Great Bend, 

North Dakota, downstream to its confluence with the Colfax watershed

51.8 miles Fish and other aquatic biota Not supporting 

ND-09020105-

005-S_00

Antelope Creek downstream to its confluence with the Wild Rice River40.09 miles Fish and other aquatic biota Not supporting 

ND-09020105-

009-S_00

Wild Rice River from Elk Creek downstream to its confluence with a tributary northeast of Great Bend, North 

Dakota

52.31 miles Fish and other aquatic biota

Recreation

Not supporting

Fully supporting but threatened

ND-09020105-

012-S_00

Wild Rice River from its confluence with 

Shortfoot Creek downstream to its 

confluence with Elk Creek

44.78 miles Fish and other aquatic biota

Recreation

Not supporting

Fully supporting but threatened

ND-09020105-

016-S_00

Shortfoot Creek from its confluence with 

the Wild Rice River upstream to the 

North Dakota-South Dakota border, 

including tributaries

16.16 miles Recreation Not supporting 

Assessment

unit

identifier

Assessment unit

description

Assessment

unit

size

Designated

use Use support 
ND-09020105-

017-S_00

Unnamed tributaries to the Wild Rice 

River (ND-09020105-015-S), including Crooked Creek

16.17 miles Recreation Fully supporting but threatened 

ND-09020105-

018-S_00

Wild Rice River from its confluence with 

the Silver Lake diversion downstream 

to Lake Tewaukon

18.82 miles Recreation Fully supporting but threatened 

ND-09020105-

019-S_00

Wild Rice River upstream from its confluence with Wild Rice Creek, including tributaries57.06 miles Fish and other aquatic biota

Recreation

Not supporting

Fully supporting but threatened

ND-09020105-

020-S_00

Wild Rice Creek from its confluence with 

the Wild Rice River upstream to the 

North Dakota-South Dakota border, 

including tributaries

118.17 

miles

Recreation Fully supporting but threatened 

ND-09020105-

022-S_00

Wild Rice River from its confluence with 

Wild Rice Creek downstream to its 

confluence with the Silver Lake diversion

5.54 miles Recreation Fully supporting but threatened 

ND-09020107-

001-S_00

Red River from its confluence with the 

Buffalo River downstream to its confluence with the Elm River

29.4 miles Fish consumption Not supporting 

ND-09020107-

014-S_00

Red River from its confluence with the 

Elm River downstream to its confluence with the Marsh River

29.83 miles Fish consumption Not supporting 

ND-09020107-

008-S_00

Elm River from dam northwest of

Galesburg, North Dakota, downstream 

to dam northeast of Galesburg, North 

Dakota

20.49 miles Fish and other aquatic biota Not supporting 

ND-09020107-

011-S_00

North Branch Elm River downstream to 

its confluence with the Elm River

33.4 miles Fish and other aquatic biota Not supporting 

[Modified from North Dakota Department of Health, 2004; TMDL, total maximum daily load]

Assessment

unit

identifier

Assessment unit

description

Assessment

unit

size

Designated

use Use support 
ND-09020109-

001-S_00

Goose River from a tributary upstream 

from Hillsboro, North Dakota, downstream to its confluence with the Red 

River

27.68 miles Recreation Fully supporting but threatened 

ND-09020109-

002-L_00

South Golden Lake 323.5 acres Fish and other aquatic biota

Recreation

Fully supporting but threatened

Fully supporting but threatened

ND-09020109-

007-S_00

North Branch Goose River downstream 

to its confluence with the Goose River

37.12 miles Fish and other aquatic biota Not supporting 

ND-09020109-

011-S_00

Goose River from its confluence with 

Beaver Creek downstream to its confluence with the South Branch Goose 

River

19.38 miles Fish and other aquatic biota Not supporting 

ND-09020109-

027-S_00

Beaver Creek downstream to the Golden 

Lake diversion channel

37.01 miles Fish and other aquatic biota Fully supporting but threatened 

ND-09020109-

034-S_00

Little Goose River from Little Goose 

River National Wildlife Refuge downstream to the Goose River

28.64 miles Fish and other aquatic biota Fully supporting but threatened 

ND-09020201-

006-L_00

Devils Lake 125,000 

acres

Recreation

Fish consumption

Fully supporting but threatened

Not supporting

Assessment

unit

identifier

Assessment unit

description

Assessment

unit

size

Designated

use Use support 
ND-09020202-

001-L_00

Warsing Dam 53.4 acres Fish and other aquatic biota

Recreation

Fully supporting but threatened

Fully supporting but threatened

ND-09020202-

002-L_00

Balta Dam 108 acres Fish and other aquatic biota

Recreation

Fully supporting but threatened

Fully supporting but threatened

ND-09020202-

004-S_00

Sheyenne River from its confluence with 

Big Coulee downstream to its confluence with the Warsing Dam watershed 

(ND-09020202-003-S)

40.37 miles Fish and other aquatic biota Not supporting 

ND-09020202-

006-S_00

Sheyenne River from Harvey Dam downstream to its confluence with Big

Coulee

35.06 miles Fish and other aquatic biota Fully supporting but threatened 

ND-09020202-

008-S_00

North Fork Sheyenne River upstream 

from its confluence with the Sheyenne 

River, excluding the Trappers Coulee 

and Buffalo Coulee watersheds

52.66 miles Fish and other aquatic biota Not supporting 

ND-09020202-

012-S_00

Sheyenne River from Coal Mine/

Sheyenne Lakes downstream to

Harvey Dam

6.19 miles Fish and other aquatic biota

Recreation

Not supporting

Fully supporting but threatened

ND-09020203-

001-L_00

Lake Ashtabula 5,430 acres Recreation Not supporting 

[Modified from North Dakota Department of Health, 2004; TMDL, total maximum daily load]

Assessment

unit

identifier

Assessment unit

description

Assessment

unit

size

Designated

use Use support 
ND-09020203-

002-S_00

Baldhill Creek from tributary watershed 

(ND-09020203-005-S) downstream to 

Lake Ashtabula

30.21 miles Recreation Fully supporting but threatened 

ND-09020203-

004-L_00

Red Willow Lake 130 acres Fish and other aquatic biota

Recreation

Fully supporting but threatened

Fully supporting but threatened

ND-09020203-

004-S_00

Silver Creek, including Gunderson Creek 

and all tributaries

38.51 miles Recreation Fully supporting but threatened 

ND-09020203-

007-L_00

McVille Dam 33.4 acres Fish and other aquatic biota

Recreation

Fully supporting but threatened

Fully supporting but threatened

ND-09020203-

008-L_00

Tolna Dam 152 acres Fish and other aquatic biota

Recreation

Fully supporting but threatened

Fully supporting but threatened

ND-09020203-

008-S_00

Unnamed tributary watershed to Baldhill 

Creek (ND-09020203-007-S)

16.07 miles Recreation Not supporting 

ND-09020203-

012-S_00

Pickerel Lake Creek, including tributaries 28.04 miles Fish and other aquatic biota

Recreation

Not supporting

Not supporting

Assessment

unit

identifier

Assessment unit

description

Assessment

unit

size

Designated

use Use support 
ND-09020203-

013-S_00

Unnamed tributary watershed to the 

Sheyenne River (ND-09020203-

001-S)

33.92 miles Recreation Not supporting 

ND-09020204-

003-L_00

Brewer Lake 128 acres Fish and other aquatic biota

Recreation

Fully supporting but threatened

Fully supporting but threatened

ND-09020204-

003-S_00

Sheyenne River from its confluence with 

the Maple River downstream to its 

confluence with the Red River

18.51 miles Recreation Not supporting 

ND-09020204-

004-S_00

Rush River from its confluence with an 

unnamed tributary watershed (ND09020204-011-S) downstream to its 

confluence with the Sheyenne River

17.44 miles Fish and other aquatic biota Not supporting 

ND-09020204-

005-L_00

Dead Colt Creek Dam 124 acres Fish and other aquatic biota

Recreation

Fully supporting but threatened

Fully supporting but threatened

ND-09020204-

007-S_00

Rush River downstream to unnamed

tributary watershed (ND-09020204-

011-S)

40.92 miles Fish and other aquatic biota Not supporting 

[Modified from North Dakota Department of Health, 2004; TMDL, total maximum daily load]

Assessment

unit

identifier

Assessment unit

description

Assessment

unit

size

Designated

use Use support 
ND-09020204-

015-S_00

Sheyenne River from its confluence with 

tributary watershed (ND-09020204-

016-S) downstream to tributary (ND09020204-014-S)

27.68 miles Fish and other aquatic biota Fully supporting but threatened 

ND-09020204-

017-S_00

Sheyenne River from unnamed tributary 

(ND-09020204-018-S) downstream to 

unnamed tributary watershed (ND09020204-016-S)

56.72 miles Fish and other aquatic biota Fully supporting but threatened 

ND-09020204-

022-S_00

Sheyenne River from tributary near

Lisbon, North Dakota (ND-09020204-

0024-S), downstream to its confluence 

with Dead Colt Creek (ND-09020204-

021-S)

11.37 miles Recreation Fully supporting but threatened 

ND-09020204-

023-S_00

Tiber Coulee, including tributaries 32.33 miles Recreation Fully supporting but threatened 

ND-09020204-

025-S_00

Sheyenne River from its confluence with 

a tributary near Highway 46 (ND09020204-025-S) downstream to its 

confluence with a tributary near

Lisbon, North Dakota (ND-09020204-

024-S)

46.06 miles Fish and other aquatic biota Not supporting 

ND-09020204-

027-S_00

Sheyenne River from its confluence with 

a tributary watershed below Valley 

City, North Dakota (ND-09020204-

028-S), downstream to its confluence 

with a tributary near Highway 46 (ND09020204-026-S)

33.59 miles Fish and other aquatic biota Fully supporting but threatened 

Assessment

unit

identifier

Assessment unit

description

Assessment

unit

size

Designated

use Use support 
ND-09020204-

034-S_00

Sheyenne River from its confluence with 

a tributary above Valley City, North 

Dakota, near railroad bridge (ND09020204-038-S) downstream to its 

confluence with a tributary below

Valley City, North Dakota (ND09020204-028-S)

13.18 miles Fish and other aquatic biota Fully supporting but threatened 

ND-09020204-

040-S_00

Sheyenne River from Lake Ashtabula 

downstream to its confluence with a 

tributary above Valley City, North 

Dakota, near railroad bridge (ND09020204-038-S)

4.13 miles Fish and other aquatic biota Fully supporting but threatened 

ND-09020205-

001-S_00

Maple River from its confluence with 

Buffalo Creek downstream to its confluence with the Sheyenne River

27.02 miles Fish and other aquatic biota

Recreation

Not supporting

Fully supporting but threatened

ND-09020205-

010-S_00

Maple River from its confluence with 

tributary near Leonard, North Dakota 

(ND-09020205-011-S), downstream to 

its confluence with Buffalo Creek

13.96 miles Fish and other aquatic biota Not supporting 

ND-09020301-

001-S_00

Red River from its confluence with the 

Marsh River downstream to its confluence with Sand Hill Creek

21.26 miles Fish consumption Not supporting 

ND-09020301-

002-S_00

English Coulee from its confluence with 

a tributary upstream from Grand 

Forks, North Dakota, downstream to 

its confluence with the Red River 

(lower reach)

5.53 miles Fish and other aquatic biota

Recreation

Not supporting

Not supporting

[Modified from North Dakota Department of Health, 2004; TMDL, total maximum daily load]

Assessment

unit

identifier

Assessment unit

description

Assessment

unit

size

Designated

use Use support 
ND-09020301-

007-S_00

Red River from its confluence with the 

Sand Hill River downstream to its confluence with Cole Creek

31.13 miles Fish consumption Not supporting 

ND-09020301-

010-S_00

Red River from its confluence with Cole 

Creek downstream to its confluence 

with the Red Lake River

8.06 miles Fish consumption Not supporting 

ND-09020301-

014-S_00

Red River from its confluence with the 

Red Lake River downstream to its confluence with English Coulee

4.02 miles Fish consumption Not supporting 

ND-09020306-

001-S_00

Red River from its confluence with 

English Coulee downstream to its confluence with Grand Marais Creek

8.65 miles Fish consumption Not supporting 

ND-09020306-

003-S_00

Red River from its confluence with 

Grand Marais Creek downstream to its 

confluence with the Turtle River

12.62 miles Fish consumption Not supporting 

ND-09020306-

004-S_00

Red River from its confluence with the 

Turtle River downstream to its confluence with the Forest River

31.94 miles Fish consumption Not supporting 

ND-09020306-

005-S_00

Red River from its confluence with the 

Forest River downstream to its confluence with the Park River

22.02 miles Fish consumption Not supporting 

ND-09020307-

001-S_00

Turtle River from its confluence with the 

Salt Water Coulee downstream to its 

confluence with the Red River

30.36 miles Fish and other aquatic biota Not supporting 

Assessment

unit

identifier

Assessment unit

description

Assessment

unit

size

Designated

use Use support 
ND-09020307-

006-S_00

Turtle River from its confluence with 

Kelly Slough downstream to its confluence with Salt Water Coulee

0.65 mile Fish and other aquatic biota Not supporting 

ND-09020307-

016-S_00

Kelly Slough from the control structure at 

Kelly Slough National Wildlife Refuge 

downstream to its confluence with the 

Turtle River

2.69 miles Fish and other aquatic biota Not supporting 

ND-09020308-

001-L_00

Fordville Dam 197 acres Recreation Fully supporting but threatened 

ND-09020308-

001-S_00

Forest River from Lake Ardoch downstream to its confluence with the Red 

River

16.17 miles Fish and other aquatic biota Not supporting 

ND-09020308-

002-L_00

Whitman Dam 143 acres Recreation Fully supporting but threatened 

ND-09020308-

003-L_00

Matejcek Dam 130 acres Recreation Fully supporting but threatened 

ND-09020310-

001-L_00

Homme Dam 194 acres Fish and other aquatic biota

Recreation

Fully supporting but threatened

Fully supporting but threatened

ND-09020310-

001-S_00

Park River from its confluence with Salt 

Lake outlet (ND-09020310-009-S) 

downstream to its confluence with the 

Red River

15.06 miles Fish and other aquatic biota Not supporting 

[Modified from North Dakota Department of Health, 2004; TMDL, total maximum daily load]

Assessment

unit

identifier

Assessment unit

description

Assessment

unit

size

Designated

use Use support 
ND-09020310-

010-S_00

Park River from its confluence with a 

tributary east of Grafton, North Dakota 

(ND-09020310-012-S), downstream to 

its confluence with the Salt Lake outlet 

(ND-09020310-009-S)

14.68 miles Fish and other aquatic biota Not supporting 

ND-09020310-

013-S_00

Park River from the confluence of the 

South Branch Park River and the

Middle Branch Park River downstream 

to its confluence with a tributary east 

of Grafton, North Dakota (ND09020310-012-S)

6.83 miles Fish and other aquatic biota Fully supporting but threatened 

ND-09020311-

001-S_00

Red River from its confluence with the 

Park River downstream to its confluence with a small tributary north of 

Drayton, North Dakota

19.02 miles Fish consumption Not supporting 

ND-09020311-

003-S_00

Red River from its confluence with a 

small tributary north of Drayton, North 

Dakota, downstream to its confluence 

with Two Rivers

30.3 miles Fish consumption Not supporting 

ND-09020311-

005-S_00

Red River from its confluence with Two 

Rivers downstream to its confluence 

with the Pembina River

17.99 miles Fish consumption Not supporting 

ND-09020311-

007-S_00

Red River from its confluence with the 

Pembina River downstream to the 

United States-Canada border

3 miles Fish consumption Not supporting 

ND-09020313-

002-L_00

Renwick Dam 220 acres Fish and other aquatic biota

Recreation

Fully supporting but threatened

Fully supporting but threatened

Assessment

unit

identifier

Assessment unit

description

Assessment

unit

size

Designated

use Use support 
ND-09020313-

006-S_00

Tongue River from its confluence with a 

tributary northeast of Cavalier, North 

Dakota, downstream to its confluence 

with Big Slough

22.54 miles Fish and other aquatic biota Fully supporting but threatened 

ND-09020313-

007-L_00

Lake Upsilon 414 acres Fish and other aquatic biota

Recreation

Fully supporting but threatened

Fully supporting but threatened

ND-09020313-

011-L_00

Armourdale Dam 79.8 acres Fish and other aquatic biota

Recreation

Not supporting

Not supporting

ND-09020313-

021-S_00

Pembina River from its confluence with a 

tributary west of Neche, North Dakota, 

downstream to its confluence with the 

Tongue River

32.72 miles Recreation Fully supporting but threatened 

1

Priority 1 assessment units are scheduled for total maximum daily load development in the next 2 years. Priority 2 assessment uni

daily load development in the next 10 years. Assessment units listed as priority 3 are listed as impaired for fish consumption because o

units are a low priority for the State because of complexities related to the fate and transport of methylmercury and because of the i

atmospheric mercury sources.

[Modified from North Dakota Department of Health, 2004; TMDL, total maximum daily load]

Assessment

unit

identifier

Assessment unit

description

Assessment

unit

size

Designated

use Use support