Occurrence and Distribution of Trace

Elements in Snow, Streams, and Streambed

Sediments, Cape Krusenstern National

Monument, Alaska, 2002-2003

By Timothy P. Brabets

Prepared in cooperation with the National Park Service

Scientific Investigation Report 2004-5229

U.S. Department of the Interior

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

Gale A. Norton, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Charles G. Groat, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2004

For sale by U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services

Box 25286, Denver Federal Center

Denver, CO 80225

For more information about the USGS and its products:

Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS

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Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply 

endorsement by the U.S. Government.

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

reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report.

Suggested citation:

Brabets, Timothy P., 2004, Occurrence and distribution of trace elements in snow, streams, and streambed sediments, 

Cape Krusenstern National Monuments, Alaska, 2002-2003: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigation Report 

2004-5229, 31 p.
iii

Contents

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

Introduction ................... 2

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

Acknowledgments ............................................................................................................................... 2

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

Methods of data collection and analysis .................................................................................................. 4

Trace elements in snow ............................................................................................................................. 11

Trace elements in streams ........................................................................................................................ 11

Trace elements in streambed sediments ................................................................................................ 13

Summary and conclusions ....................................................................................................................... 29

References ................... 30

Figures

Figure 1. Location of concentrate spill sites within Cape Krusenstern National Monument, 

Alaska ............ 3

Figure 2. Camp Krusentern National Monument. .................................................................................... 5

Figure 3. Grid layout and snow sampling sites, Cape Krusenstern National Monument, 

Alaska ............ 6

Figure 4. Location of water quality and streambed sediment sampling sites. ................................... 8

Figure 5. Boxplots of concentrations of dissolved and particulate cadmium, lead, and 

zinc from 28 snow samples collected in Cape Krusenstern National Monument, 

April 2002. .... 14

Figure 6. Trilinear diagram of water samples collected from Mud Lake Creek, Omikviorok 

River, Aufeis Creek, and New Heart Creek, July 2002. ....................................................... 19

Figure 7. Boxplots of concentrations of cadmium, lead, and zinc. in streambed sediments 

from sites in Cape Krusenstern National Monument, Denali National Park and 

Preserve, and Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. ...................................................... 25

Figure 8. Boxplots of concentrations of cadmium, lead, and zinc in streambed sediments 

from sites in Cape Krusenstern National Monument located south of the access 

road, along the access road, and north of the access road. ............................................. 26

Tables

Table 1. Locations of snow sampling sites, Cape Krusenstern National Monument, Alaska .......... 7

Table2. Locations of water quality and streambed sediment sampling sites, Cape 

Krusenstern National Monument, Alaska ............................................................................... 9

Table 3. Concentrations of dissolved trace elements in snow samples collected in Cape 

Krusenstern National Monument, April 2002 ........................................................................ 12

Table 4. Summary statistics of concentrations of dissolved trace elements in snow 

samples collected in Cape Krusenstern National Monument, April 2002 ........................ 13

Table 5. Concentrations of major ions and trace elements in the particulate phase from snow 

samples collected in Cape Krusenstern National Monument, April 2002 ........................ 15
iv

Tables—Continued

Table 6. Summary statistics for trace elements in the particulate phase for snow samples 

collected in Cape Krusenstern National Monument, April 2002 and ranges of 

trace elements found in Alaska soils. .................................................................................... 17

Table 7. Concentrations of water quality constituents measured in water samples collected 

from four streams in Cape Krusenstern National Monument, July 2002.......................... 18

Table 8. Trace-element concentrations and percent carbon measured in streambed 

sediments collected from sites located in Cape Krusenstern National Monument, 

July 2002 and July 2003 ............................................................................................................. 20

Table 9. Summary statistics of concentrations of trace elements measured in streambed 

sediments collected in Cape Krusenstern National Monument, July 2002 and 

July 2003 ..... 

Table 10. Comparison of median concentrations of trace elements measured in streambed 

sediments from the USGS National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) program, 

Cape Krusenstern National Monument, Denali National Park and Preserve, and 

Lake Clark National Park and Preserve ................................................................................. 24

Table 11. Streambed sediment quality guidelines for selected trace elements and the 

number of exceedances from samples collected from Cape Krusenstern 

National Monument .................................................................................................................. 27

Table 12. Concentrations of nine trace elements in streambed sediments finer than 0.063 mm 

in Cape Krusenstern National Monument, Denali National Park and Preserve, 

and Lake Clark National Park and Preserve ......................................................................... 28

Conversion Factors

Multiply By To obtain

Length

inch (in.) 2.54 centimeter (cm)

foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m)

mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km)

Area

acre 0.004047 square kilometer (km2)

square mile (mi2) 2.590 square kilometer (km2) 

Flow rate

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

Mass

ton, short (2,000 lb) 0.9072 megagram (Mg) 

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

°C=(°F-32)/1.8

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

25 °C).

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

or micrograms per liter (μg/L).

22
v

Abbreviations used in this Report 

CAKR—Cape Krusenstern National Monument 

DENA—Denali National Park and Preserve 

LACL—Lake Clark National Park and Preserve 

NAWQA—National Water-Quality Assessment Program 

Al—Aluminum 

As—Arsenic 

Ba—Barium 

Be—Berylium 

Bi—Bismuth 

Ca—Calcium 

Cd—Cadmium 

Ce—Cerium 

Co—Cobalt 

Cr—Chromium 

Cs—Cesium 

Cu—Copper 

Fe—Iron 

Ga—Gallium 

K—Potassium 

La—Lanthanum 

Li—Lithium 

Mg—Magnesium 

Mn—Manganese 

Mo—Molybdenum 

Na—Sodium 

Nb—Neodymium 

Ni—Nickel 

P—Phosphorus 

Pb—Lead 

Rb—Rubidium 

Sb—Antimony 

Sc—Scandium 

Sr—Strontium 

Th—Thorium 

Tl—Thallium 

Ti—Titanium 

U—Uranium 

V—Vanadium 

Y—Yttrium 

Zn—Zinc 

Mapping Sources 

Figures 1, 3 ,4 

Base map modified from U.S. Geological Survey 1:63,360 State base maps. 

U.S. Geological Survey Digital Line Graphs published at 1:63,360.

Publication projection is Albers Equal Area.

Standard parallels are 55o00 ́ and 65o00 ́ , central meridian—154o00 ́, latitude of projection origin 

50o00 ́. 
Occurrence and Distribution of Trace Elements in Snow,

Streams, and Streambed Sediments, Cape Krusenstern

National Monument, Alaska, 2002-2003

By Timothy P. Brabets

ABSTRACT

Cape Krusenstern National Monument 

is located in Northwest Alaska. In 1985, an 

exchange of lands and interests in lands between 

the Northwest Alaska Native Association and the 

United States resulted in a 100-year transportation system easement for 19,747 acres in the 

monument. A road was then constructed along 

the easement from the Red Dog Mine, a large 

zinc concentrate producer and located northeast 

of the monument, through the monument to the 

coast and a port facility. Each year approximately 

1.3 million tonnes of zinc and lead concentrate 

are transported from the Red Dog Mine via this 

access road. Concern about the possible deposition of cadmium, lead, zinc and other trace elements in the monument was the basis of a cooperative project with the National Park Service.

Concentrations of dissolved cadmium, dissolved lead, and dissolved zinc from 28 snow 

samples from a 28 mile by 16 mile grid were 

below drinking water standards. In the particulate 

phase, approximately 25 percent of the samples 

analyzed for these trace elements were higher 

than the typical range found in Alaska soils. 

Boxplots of concentrations of these trace elements, both in the dissolved and particulate phase, 

indicate higher concentrations north of the access 

road, most likely due to the prevailing southeast 

wind.

The waters of four streams sampled in Cape 

Krusenstern National Monument are classified as 

calcium bicarbonate. Trace-element concentrations from these streams were below drinking 

water standards. Median concentrations of 39 

trace elements from streambed sediments collected from 29 sites are similar to the median 

concentrations of trace elements from the U.S. 

Geological Survey’s National Water-Quality 

Assessment database. Statistical differences were 

noted between trace-element concentrations of 

cadmium, lead, and zinc at sites along the access 

road and sites north and south of the access road; 

concentrations along the access road being higher 

than north or south of the road. When normalized 

to 1 percent organic carbon, the concentrations of 

these trace elements are not expected to be toxic 

to aquatic life when compared to criteria established by the Canadian government and other 

recent research.
2 Occurrence and distribution of trace elements in snow, streams, and streambed sediments, Cape Kruesenstern

INTRODUCTION

Cape Krusenstern National Monument 

(CAKR) is located in Northwest Alaska, approximately 450 miles northwest of Fairbanks and 10 

miles northwest of Kotzebue (fig. 1). The monument is bordered by the Chukchi Sea on the west 

and Kotzebue Sound on the south. To the north 

and east are the river drainages of the Wulik and 

Noatak Rivers. CAKR was established in 1978 

by presidential proclamation and designated in 

the 1980 Alaska National Interest Lands and 

Conservation Act (ANILCA). Section 201 (3) 

of ANILCA specifies that “The monument shall 

be managed for the following purposes, among 

others...to protect habitat for population of birds, 

other wildlife, and fish resources.”

In 1985, an exchange of lands and interests in 

lands between the Northwest Alaska Native Association (NANA) and the United States resulted 

in a 100-year transportation system easement for 

19,747 acres in the monument. The easement 

spans approximately 25 miles of the monument. 

An access road was then constructed along the 

easement from the Red Dog Mine, located northeast of the monument, through the monument to 

the coast and a port facility (fig. 1).

Each year approximately 1.3 million tonnes 

of zinc/lead concentrate are transported from the 

Red Dog Mine to the port site where it is then 

shipped to market. Although subsistence activities 

(the traditional gathering of foods such as berries, 

birds, mammals, and fish by the local population) are not allowed along the access road corridor, there are still environmental concerns that 

zinc/lead/cadmium concentrates may be deposited 

on tundra or in streams and incorporated into 

the natural food web outside the road corridor. 

Throughout the operating years of the Red Dog 

Mine (from 1991 to the present), metal concentrates have been deposited in CAKR either by 

infrequent truck accidents (fig. 1) or by fugitive 

dust that blows off the trucks as they travel along 

the port access road. Improvements made to the 

trucks, and loading/off loading facilities in 2001 

have reduced fugitive dust emissions.

Northwest Alaska is home to about 6,000 

people, living in 11 villages, who have traditionally obtained their food supply by hunting and 

fishing. If water-quality of streams and rivers 

that are part of the local ecosystem are degraded, 

it constitutes a potential hazard to residents and 

wildlife. Collection of water-quality data in 

CAKR would (1) help determine if the ore concentrate that has been deposited along the road 

from truck accidents or fugitive dust has affected 

water quality in nearby streams and (2) establish a baseline of water-quality data from which 

changes—either anthropogenic or natural—can be 

measured in future years.

Purpose and Scope

This report summarizes the results of a cooperative study by the National Park Service (NPS) 

and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to study 

the water quality of streams located in CAKR 

near the port access road. The purpose of this 

study was to: (1) determine if deposition of ore 

concentrate in CAKR has affected water quality 

in nearby streams, and (2) establish a water-quality data base for this area of CAKR. 

Acknowledgments

The author gratefully acknowledges TeckCominco, particularly John Martinisko and Sam 

Hill, for allowing the USGS to stage its field 

operations from the Red Dog Mine. Sam Troxel, 

a volunteer for the NPS, assisted in the collection 

and processing of the streambed sediment sam-
Introduction 3

Wulik River Basin to the north

67o

45’

164o

07’30"

67o

45’

163o

07’30"

67o

22’30"

163o

07’30"

67o

22’30"

164o

00’

Study

Area

ALASKA

New Heart Creek

Aufeis Creek

Deadman Creek

Access Road

Drainage Divide

(see figure 4)

Concentrate Spill

Noatak River Basin to the east 

Port

Facility

Rabbit Creek

Straight

Creek

Omikviorok River

Rabbit Creek

To Red Dog Mine

EXPLANATION

Chukchi Sea

Omikviorok River

Highest elevation

Lowest elevation

0 5 10 MILES

0 5 10 KILOMETERS

67o

00’

163o

52’30"

Kotzebue Sound

162o

45’

67o

00’

Fiugre 1. Location of concentrate spill sites within Cape Krusenstern National Monument, Alaska
4 Occurrence and distribution of trace elements in snow, streams, and streambed sediments, Cape Kruesenstern

ples in 2003. The NPS also provided helicopter 

support for fieldwork in 2003.

DESCRIPTION OF STUDY AREA

CAKR is predominantly a series of moderately sloping hills in the Brooks Hills Ecoregion 

(Nowacki and others, 2001). Vegetation includes 

primarily low brush and muskeg, with sparse 

willows and grasses (fig. 2) (Markon and Wesser, 

2000). The area is within the zone of continuous 

permafrost and is characterized by a semi-arid 

arctic climate with an average July air temperature of 52 oF and an average February temperature 

of –8°F. Mean annual precipitation is 10.1 inches 

with a mean annual snowfall of 57 inches. The 

growing season for the area as a whole is generally from mid-May to late August, with initial 

green-up beginning about mid-May in the southern part to mid-June in the northern part (Markon and others, 1995). Soils consist of loamy, 

near-level to rolling Histic Pergelic Cryaquepts 

(cold, wet soils with a thick organic layer and 

minimal weathering) in low coastal areas along 

the western and southern coasts to more gravelly 

Pergelic Cryaquepts or Pergelic Cryorthents (cold 

wet soils with a thin organic layer and a minimal 

to small amount of leaching) in the central and 

northern lowlands and uplands (Rieger and others, 

1979).

Bedrock of the study area consists of an eastwest-trending fold and thrust belt of Paleozoic 

and Mesozoic rocks that extends along the entire 

western and central Brooks Range (Beikman, 

1980). Upper Paleozoic sedimentary rocks within 

this belt host three stratiform massive sulfide 

and barite mineral deposits and occurrences: the 

Drenchwater deposit, the Lik deposit, and the Red 

Dog deposit (Kelly, 1995). The Red Dog deposit 

is the largest of these deposits. The dominant 

minerals are sphalerite (zinc sulfide), silver-rich 

galena (lead sulfide), pyrite (iron sulfide), and 

marcasite (iron sulfide). Sulfide mineralization at 

all three deposits is hosted dominantly by black 

carbonaceous shale and chert of the Mississippian 

and Pennsylvanian Kuna Formation of the Lisburne Group.

There are several small watersheds and one 

mid-size watershed within the study area (fig. 1). 

The largest basin is the Omikviorok River (146 

mi2

) and the remaining watersheds range from 

about 10 mi2

 to 25 mi2. Since most of northwest 

Alaska is underlain by continuous permafrost, 

streams generally approach zero flow during the 

winter and any flow is derived from springs. Most 

of the annual runoff from these streams is in June 

due to snowmelt, with additional high flows in 

July through September due to rainfall. Runoff 

from these streams during the summer is characterized by rapid increase and decrease in flow due 

to the presence of permafrost. 

METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION

AND ANALYSIS

To accomplish the objectives of the study, 

data were collected both during the winter season and during the open-water season. In winter, 

streams located in the study area have little or 

no flow. It was felt that the water quality of the 

snow would be similar to the water quality of a 

stream during snowmelt runoff. In addition, the 

water quality of the snow samples can indicate the 

presence or absence of fugitive dust throughout 

the study area. For the snow sampling, a 16-mile 

(north/south) by 28-mile (east/west) grid was 

created with 4 mi2

 grid cells. Snow samples were 

collected at the center of each of the 28 cells at 

the time of maximum or near maximum snowpack, April 2002 (fig. 3, table 1).
Methods of data collection and analysis 5

Figure 2. Camp Krusentern National Monument. Topography is predominantly moderately sloping hills. Vegetation is primarily low brush. 

Photograph by T.P. Brabets, U.S. Geological Survey. 
6 Occurrence and distribution of trace elements in snow, streams, and streambed sediments, Cape Kruesenstern

67o

45’

164o

07’30"

163o

07’30"

1 2

3 4

5 6

7 8

9 10

12 13 14 15

16

17 18

19 20 21

22

23 24

25 26 27 28

11 67o

45’

EXPLANATION

Access Road

Snow sample site north of road

Snow sample site south of road

164o

00’

67o

22’30"

163o

07’30"

67o

22’30"

67o

00’

163o

52’30"

0 5 10 MILES

0 5 10 KILOMETERS

162o

45’

67o

00’

Figure 3. Grid layout and snow sampling sites, Cape Krusenstern National Monument, Alaska
7

Table 1. Locations of snow sampling sites, Cape Krusenstern 

National Monument, Alaska

Site Latitude/longitude Watershed

number

1 67o 46 ́32 ̋ /164o 06 ́ 42 ̋ Wulik River

2 67o 46 ́ 32 ̋ /163o 57 ́ 37 ̋ Wulik River

3 67o 46 ́ 32 ̋ /163o 48 ́ 38 ̋ Wulik River

4 67o 46 ́ 32 ̋ /163o 39 ́ 37 ̋ Wulik River

5 67o 46 ́ 32 ̋ /163o 30 ́ 31 ̋ Wulik River

6 67o 46 ́ 32 ̋ /163o 21 ́ 26 ̋ Omikviorok River

7 67o 46 ́ 31 ̋ /163o 12 ́ 25 ̋ Omikviorok River

8 67o 43 ́ 05 ̋ /164o 06 ́ 42 ̋ Imikruk Creek

9 67o 43 ́ 02 ̋ /163o 57 ́ 36 ̋ Omikviorok River

10 67o 43 ́ 08 ̋ /163o 48 ́ 35 ̋ Omikviorok River

11 67o 43 ́ 05 ̋ /163o 39 ́ 38 ̋ Omikviorok River

12 67o 43 ́ 05 ̋ /163o 30 ́ 32 ̋ Omikviorok River

13 67o 43 ́ 05 ̋ /163o 21 ́ 26 ̋ Omikviorok River

14 67o 43 ́ 08 ̋ /163o 12 ́ 56 ̋ Noatak River

15 67o 39 ́ 36 ̋ /164o 06 ́ 42 ̋ Omikviorok River

16 67o 39 ́ 36 ̋ /163o 57 ́ 37 ̋ Aufeis Creek

17 67o 39 ́ 33 ̋ /163o 48 ́ 45 ̋ Deadman Creek

18 67o 39 ́ 36 ̋ /163o 39 ́ 38 ̋ Straight Creek

19 67o 39 ́ 36 ̋ /163o 30 ́ 31 ̋ Omikviorok River

20 67o 39 ́ 36 ̋ /163o 21 ́ 26 ̋ Rabbit Creek

21 67o 40 ́ 14 ̋ /163o 10 ́ 25 ̋ Noatak River

22 67o 36 ́ 10 ̋ /164o 06 ́ 17 ̋ New Heart Creek

23 67o 36 ́ 08 ̋ /163o 57 ́ 37 ̋ New Heart Creek

24 67o 36 ́ 10 ̋ /163o 48 ́ 34 ̋ Aufeis Creek

25 67o 36 ́ 08 ̋ /163o 39 ́ 39 ̋ Rabbit Creek

26 67o 36 ́ 08 ̋ /163o 30 ́ 31 ̋ Rabbit Creek

27 67o 36 ́ 08 ̋ /163o 21 ́ 28 ̋ Rabbit Creek

28 67o 37 ́ 12 ̋ /163o 10 ́ 33 ̋ Noatak River

Snow samples were collected following methods developed by Snyder-Conn and others (1997). 

At each site, an aluminum shovel was used to dig 

a trench to expose a vertical snow wall. After the 

trench was completed, a pre-cleaned rectangular 

polyethylene scoop was used to trim a 2-4 inch 

layer away from the trench wall to remove snow 

Methods of data collection and analysis

that had contacted the aluminum shovel. Snow 

was then collected from the excavated face of the 

wall, with the polyethylene scoop, by removing 

a rectangular vertical core which extended the 

entire depth of the snowpack. Snow was placed in 

pre-cleaned, 13 inch x 18 inch Teflon bags. These 

bags were pre-cleaned at the USGS NationalWater Quality Laboratory (NWQL) in Lakewood, 

Colorado: the inside and outside of each bag was 

leached with 5 percent nitric acid for 48 hours at 

25 °C, thoroughly rinsed with deionized water, air 

dried, and individually packaged inside two similarly cleaned polyethylene bags. All bags were 

cleaned and packaged inside a Class-100 clean 

room equipped with high-efficiency particulate 

filters. Samples were kept frozen after collection, 

packed with dry ice in insulated coolers, and then 

shipped to the NWQL. At the NWQL, the snow 

was melted in the Class-100 clean room and then 

filtered through a 45-μm filter. The filtered water 

and the particulates on the filter were then analyzed for trace elements. 

A Perkin-Elmer Model 6000 Inductively Coupled Plasma—Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS) was 

used for the determination of major and trace-element concentrations in the samples. The ICPMS instrument was calibrated using three commercial multi-element aqueous standards, plus 

two aqueous standards prepared in the NWQL, 

and one surface-water standard reference material (T-143) prepared and certified by the USGS 

Water Resources Division. For quality control 

purposes, the instrument calibration was checked 

at the beginning and at the end of a single analytical run needed for the entire sample set using 

two National Institute of Standards and Technology standard reference solutions (NIST 1640 and 

NIST 1643d).

For the open-water season, efforts were 

concentrated on six watersheds that are bisected 

by the access road (fig. 4, table 2). The largest 
67o45'

163o45'

67o37'30"

164o00'

67o37'30"

163o30'

67o45'

163o15'

0

0

1

1

2

2

3

3

4 5 MILES

5 KILOMETERS 4

Water quality and streambed sediment sample along road

EXPLANATION

Streambed sediment sample north of roadStreambed sediment sample along roadStreambed sediment sample south of road

8 Occurrence and distribution of trace elements in snow, streams, and streambed sediments, Cape Kruesenstern Access Road Mud Lake Creek

Omikviorok River

Straight Creek

Aufeis Creek

New Heart 

Creek

Figure 4. Location of water quality and streambed sediment sampling sites.

26

23

22 24

25

18

19

20

17

15

16

13

9

8

2 6

1 4

5 10

14 11

21 12

7

3

Deadman

Cre ek

Omikviorok River

Straight Creek

Major drainage divide Secondary drainage divide
Methods of data collection and analysis 9

Table 2. Locations of water quality and streambed sediment sampling sites, Cape Krusenstern National Monument, Alaska

 [area in square miles]

Site Latitude/longitude Station name Area

number

1 67o44 ́37 ̋/163o31 ́25 ̋ Mud Lake Creek 3.4 miles above Port Access Road near Kivalina 2.8

2 67o43 ́46 ̋ /163o37 ́36 ̋ Mud Lake Creek at Port Access Road near Kivalina 10.4

3 67o46 ́41 ̋ /163o17 ́18 ̋ North Branch North Fork Omikviorok River 9 miles above Port Access Road near Kivalina 5.4

4 67o44 ́06 ̋ /163o23 ́59 ̋ North Fork Omikviorok River 6.5 miles above Port Access Road near Kivalina 17.2

5 67o43 ́24 ̋ /163o24 ́35 ̋ South Branch North Fork Omikviorok River 6.5 miles above Port Access Road near Kivalina 11.5

6 67o43 ́38 ̋ /163o32 ́05 ̋ North Fork Omikviorok River 2.6 miles above Port Access Road near Kivalina 44.5

7 67o41 ́33 ̋ /163o34 ́15 ̋ South Fork Omikviorok River 2.5 miles above Port Access Road near Kivalina 13.9

8 67o43 ́26 ̋ /163o37 ́59 ̋ Omikviorok River at Port Access Road near Kivalina 66.4

9 67o42 ́44 ̋ /163o44 ́11 ̋ Omikviorok River Tributary 2.3 miles below Port Access Road near Kivalina 5.1

10 67o43 ́41 ̋ /163o53 ́15 ̋ Omikviorok River 7.0 miles below Port Access Road near Kivalina 82.4

11 67o41 ́57 ̋ /164o02 ́43 ̋ Omikviorok River 5.5 miles above mouth near Kivalina 146

12 67o39 ́19 ̋ 163o39 ́53 ̋ Straight Creek 1 mile above Port Access Road near Kivalina 8.4

13 67o40 ́54 ̋ /163o46 ́52 ̋ Straight Creek 4 miles below Port Access Road near Kivalina 15.2

14 67o42 ́20 ̋ /163o57 ́28 ̋ Straight Creek 7.7 miles below Port Access Road near Kivalina 23.6

15 67o38 ́45 ̋ /163o45 ́56 ̋ Deadman Creek at Port Access Road near Kivalina 2.3

16 67o39 ́56 ̋ /163o49 ́00 ̋ Deadman Creek 2.5 miles below Port Access Road near Kivalina 5.2

17 67o40 ́21 ̋ /163o58 ́03 ̋ Deadman Creek 6.5 miles below Port Access Road near Kivalina 12.8

18 67o37 ́05 ̋ /163o49 ́18 ̋ Aufeis Creek 0.8 miles above Port Access Road near Kivalina 4.4

19 67o37 ́56 ̋ /163o50 ́39 ̋ Aufeis Creek at Port Access Road near Kivalina 11.3

20 67o39 ́11 ̋ /163o55 ́23 ̋ Aufeis Creek 2.7 miles below Port Access Road near Kivalina 15.5

21 67o40 ́01 ̋ /164o01 ́21 ̋ Aufeis Creek 5.5 miles below Port Access Road near Kivalina 24.4

22 67o36 ́10 ̋ /163o54 ́04 ̋ New Heart Creek 0.8 miles above Port Access Road near Kivalina 1.8

23 67o36 ́41 ́/163o55 ́45 ̋ North Fork New Heart Creek at Port Access Road near Kivalina 1.6

24 67o36 ́12 ̋ /163o56 ́40 ̋ New Heart Creek at Port Access Road near Kivalina 3.3

25 67o36 ́03 ̋ /163o56 ́59 ̋ South Fork New Heart Creek at Port Access Road near Kivalina 1

26 67o36 ́35 ̋ /164o00 ́46 ̋ New Heart Creek 2 miles below Port Access Road near Kivalina 9.7

watershed sampled was the Omikviorok River, 

which drains 146 mi2

 near its mouth and the 

smallest watershed was New Heart Creek, which 

drains 9.7 mi2

 near its mouth. Water samples were 

collected from four of these streams during the 

open-water season in 2002 to obtain general background water-quality information. Streambedsediment samples were collected from seven sites 

in 2002 and from 19 sites in 2003 and analyzed 

for 39 trace elements.

Water samples collected from the streams 

were analyzed for field parameters, major ions 

and dissolved solids, nutrients, organic carbon, 

and trace elements. The field-collection and processing equipment used was made from Teflon, 
10 Occurrence and distribution of trace elements in snow, streams, and streambed sediments, Cape Kruesenstern

glass, or stainless steel to prevent sample contamination and to minimize analyte losses through 

adsorption. All sampling equipment was cleaned 

prior to use with a nonphosphate laboratory 

detergent and then rinsed with deionized water 

and finally by stream water just prior to sample 

collection. Depth-integrated water samples were 

collected across the stream by using the equalwidth-increment method (Edwards and Glysson, 

1988) and processed in the field using methods 

and equip¬ment described by Shelton (1994). 

Samples to be analyzed for dissolved constituents 

were filtered through 0.45 -um capsule filters. 

Water samples were sent to the USGS NWQL for 

analysis using standard USGS analytical methods 

(Fishman and Friedman, 1989; Patton and Truitt, 

1992; Fishman, 1993). A Yellow Springs Instrument meter was used to measure water temperature, dissolved-oxygen concentration, specific 

conductance, and pH at the time of sampling. Discharge measurements also were made at the time 

of sampling using methods outlined by Rantz and 

others (1982).

Because streams in northwest Alaska rapidly 

rise and fall during rainstorms due to the presence of permafrost, it is difficult to collect waterquality samples during rainfall events. Instead, 

streambed sediment samples were collected and 

analyzed for trace-element concentrations. Since 

these samples were collected from depositional 

areas, it was felt this sampling approach would 

provide some indication as to whether ore concentrate—either from ore spills or fugitive dust—

had been ‘washed off’ from the access road and 

deposited in the streambed.

Streambed sediments were sampled from 

several depositional areas at each site. Sediments 

were collected from the surface of the streambed 

using Teflon tubes or Teflon coated spoons and 

composited in glass bowls (Shelton and Capel, 

1994). Because the concentration of trace elements on streambed materials is strongly affected 

by the particle-size distribution of the sample, 

only the portion of the sample that was finer than 

63-μm was analyzed. Stream water was used for 

sieving the trace-element sample through a 63-μm 

mesh. Water included in the trace-element sample 

was decanted after very fine-grained sediments 

had settled (about 24 hours). Arbogast (1990) 

describes laboratory procedures followed for 

processing streambed samples for trace-element 

analysis. Trace elements in streambed sediments 

were analyzed following a total digestion procedure.

The concentrations of various water-quality constituents from the snow, streams, and 

streambed sediments were evaluated in relation to 

established water-quality criteria. Boxplots were 

used to compare data south of the access road, 

along the access road, and north of the access 

road. Boxplots serve as a good statistical tool to 

(1) determine the center of distribution of data 

(median), (2) measure the variability of the data 

(the interquartile range), (3) gage the symmetry 

or skewness of the data (length of the whiskers) 

and (4) provide a general assessment about the 

presence of outliers. Kruskal-Wallis tests were 

used to test for statistically significant differences 

of data collected north of the access road, along 

the access road, and south of the access road. The 

terms “significantly lower than” and “significantly 

higher than” refer to whether or not the computed 

probability value is greater than or less than the 

alpha level of 0.05. Trace-element concentrations 

in streambed sediments were compared with those 

collected by the USGS, National Water-Quality 

Assessment (NAWQA) program, of which one 

study unit (Cook Inlet Basin) is located in Alaska, 

and with guidelines established by the Canadian 

Council of Ministers of the Environment. 
11

TRACE ELEMENTS IN SNOW

Snow sampling took place during April 18-

20, 2002. For the 28 sampling sites, snow cover 

depth ranged from 6 inches to 50 inches, with 

most depths between 6 and 12 inches. Concentrations in the filtered samples varied between 0.03 

and 1.0 μg/L for cadmium, 0.12 μg/L and 8.7 μg/

L for lead, and 1.3 and 43.2 μg/L for zinc (table 

3). Median concentrations for these elements 

were 0.12 ug/L, 0.86 μg/L, and 3.9 μg/L respectively (table 4). All concentrations were below the 

drinking water standards for cadmium (5 μg/L), 

lead (15 μg/L), and zinc (2,000 μg/L). The highest 

concentration of dissolved cadmium was found at 

site 5, just south of the access road (fig. 3). The 

highest concentration of dissolved lead was found 

at site 22 and the highest concentration of dissolved zinc was found at site 23, just north of the 

access road (fig. 3). Boxplots of concentrations of 

dissolved cadmium, dissolved lead, and dissolved 

zinc (fig. 5) indicate that concentrations of these 

trace elements are higher north of the access road, 

probably reflecting the effects of the prevailing 

southeast wind.

Concentrations of trace elements in snow 

samples in the particulate phase varied between 

0.39 and 52.4 ppm for cadmium, between 22.9 

and 2,480 ppm for lead, and between 91.8 and 

4,520 ppm for zinc (table 5). The highest concentration of cadmium was found at site 4 and 

the highest concentrations for lead and zinc were 

found at site 7. Median concentrations of these 

elements were 6.5 ppm, 290 ppm, and 870 ppm, 

respectively (table 6). Compared with the range 

of concentrations of trace elements found in 

soils of Alaska, approximately 25 percent of the 

lead and zinc values were higher than the range 

documented by Gough and others (1988) (table 

6). Gough and others (1988) did not report values for cadmium. Boxplots of the concentrations 

of these trace elements in the particulate phase 

Trace elements in streams

were similar to the dissolved concentrations and 

showed higher concentrations north of the access 

road, again reflecting the effects of the prevailing 

southeast wind (fig. 5). 

It should be noted that the replicate snow 

samples showed considerable variability when 

compared to the concentrations of the environmental sample. The variability may be due to 

contamination by sampling and/or differences in 

the snow that was collected for the environmental 

sample and the snow collected for the replicate. It 

also should be noted that based on this snow sampling, concentrations of cadmium, lead, and zinc, 

both in the dissolved and particulate phase, compared with drinking water standards and Gough’s 

data—appear to be at background levels in the 

Noatak River Basin and the Rabbit Creek Basin 

(sites 14, 21, 25-28).

TRACE ELEMENTS IN STREAMS

In the summer of 2002, water samples were 

collected at streams that crossed the access road 

(fig. 4). Four streams were sampled: Mud Lake 

Creek (site 2), Omikviorok River (site 8), Aufeis 

Creek (site 19), and New Heart Creek (site 24). 

Samples were collected about 50 feet downstream 

of the road. Flow at the time of sampling would 

be characterized as average or below average and 

ranged from 0.2 ft3

/s to 7.8 ft3/s. Water samples 

were collected for analysis of nutrients, organic 

carbon, and major ions, and the dissolved trace 

elements cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, and 

zinc.

Concentrations of all water-quality constituents (table 7) were below drinking-water standards. The water of the four streams was classified as calcium bicarbonate, with New Heart 

Creek and Aufeis Creek containing slightly more 
12 Occurrence and distribution of trace elements in snow, streams, and streambed sediments, Cape Kruesenstern

Table 3. Concentrations of dissolved trace elements in snow samples collected in Cape Krusenstern National Monument, April 2002

[all values in micrograms per liter; * denotes replicate sample; Al, aluminum; Cd, cadmium; Cu, copper; Cr, chromium; Fe, iron; Pb, lead; Zn, zinc]

Site Watershed Date Time Al Cd Cu Cr Fe Pb Zn

number.

1 Wulik River 4/18/2002 1118 2.5 0.16 0.11 0.16 4.0 2.3 3.2

2 Wulik River 4/18/2002 1155 14.1 0.08 0.12 0.39 6.7 1.2 2.0

3 Wulik River 4/18/2002 1230 2.3 0.46 0.32 0.31 4.8 1.4 2.4

3* Wulik River 4/18/2002 1235 9.8 0.09 0.17 0.05 11.7 1.1 3.0

4 Wulik River 4/20/2003 1653 29.2 0.55 0.28 0.11 36.5 3.2 8.1

5 Wulik River 4/19/2002 1650 6.7 1.0 0.22 1.1 6.7 1.3 5.8

6 Omikviorok River 4/19/2002 940 5.5 0.07 0.56 0.38 4.7 0.49 4.6

7 Omikviorok River 4/19/2002 1016 9.6 0.07 0.28 0.26 10.2 0.99 2.6

8 Imikruk Creek 4/18/2002 1045 1.9 0.10 0.12 0.28 4.1 1.4 2.2

9 Omikviorok River 4/18/2002 1426 13.2 0.16 0.20 0.21 20.7 2.9 4.5

10 Omikviorok River 4/18/2002 1333 4.9 0.09 0.20 0.18 7.2 0.92 3.0

11 Omikviorok River 4/20/2002 1611 45.4 0.48 0.80 0.42 123 0.58 14.6

12 Omikviorok River 4/20/2002 950 5.4 0.14 0.32 0.09 8.1 0.83 5.0

13 Omikviorok River 4/19/2002 1609 5.5 0.06 0.20 0.32 4.5 0.15 2.2

14 Noatak River 4/19/2002 1139 2.9 0.05 0.41 0.46 2.6 0.41 3.9

15 Omikviorok River 4/18/2002 1005 98.9 0.14 0.31 0.17 107 3.8 10.0

16 Aufeis Creek 4/18/2002 1456 11.3 0.10 0.17 0.40 11.1 0.65 5.0

17 Deadman Creek 4/18/2002 1554 18.9 0.22 0.57 0.60 42.2 1.5 14.9

18 Straight Creek 4/20/2002 1525 3.1 0.15 0.26 0.25 3.9 0.59 3.4

18* Straight Creek 4/20/2002 1530 4.0 0.18 0.28 0.33 5.0 0.81 3.3

19 Omikviorok River 4/20/2002 1021 10.0 0.52 0.35 0.08 11.3 0.71 11.4

20 Rabbit Creek 4/19/2002 1530 20.8 0.05 0.25 0.38 14.8 0.21 2.2

20* Rabbit Creek 4/19/2002 1535 18.1 0.04 0.26 0.41 13.3 0.39 3.3

21 Noatak River 4/19/2002 1230 1.6 0.04 0.25 0.26 2.6 0.19 1.9

22 New Heart Creek 4/18/2002 850 31.1 0.21 0.29 0.05 43.4 8.7 18.5

23 New Heart Creek 4/18/2002 1720 6.8 0.54 0.52 0.56 35.0 5.4 43.2

23* New Heart Creek 4/18/2002 1725 24.7 0.34 0.60 0.25 43.5 5.6 28.9

24 Aufeis Creek 4/18/2002 1640 13.3 0.08 0.19 0.05 14.8 0.46 2.1

25 Rabbit Creek 4/20/2002 1446 4.0 0.09 0.33 0.46 8.2 0.90 3.9

26 Rabbit Creek 4/20/2002 1348 3.4 0.19 0.54 0.65 5.3 0.35 4.6

27 Rabbit Creek 4/20/2002 1104 3.9 0.05 0.14 0.26 5.0 0.26 2.1

28 Noatak River 4/19/2002 1411 3.9 0.03 0.37 0.40 4.1 0.12 1.3
Trace elements in streambed sediments 13

Table 4. Summary statistics of concentrations of dissolved trace elements in snow samples collected in Cape Krusenstern National 

Monument, April 2002

 [all values in micrograms per liter]

Percentile1

Constituent Minimum 10 25 50 (median) 75 90 Maximum

Aluminum 1.6 2.3 3.7 6.1 13.7 31.1 98.9

Cadmium 0.03 0.05 0.07 0.12 0.22 0.54 1.0

Chromium 0.05 0.08 0.17 0.29 0.41 0.60 1.1

Copper 0.11 0.12 0.20 0.28 0.36 0.56 0.80

Iron 2.6 3.9 4.6 7.6 17.8 43.4 123

Lead 0.12 0.19 0.43 0.86 1.5 3.8 8.7

Zinc 1.3 2.0 2.2 3.9 7.0 14.9 43.2

1

 Percentage of samples (10, 25, 50, 75, 90) equal to or below the indicated concentration for a particular constituent

sulfate than Mud Lake Creek and the Omikviorok 

River (fig. 6). Nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations were low at all sites as were the dissolved 

trace elements analyzed. Mud Lake Creek, which 

drains Mud Lake, contained the highest concentration of dissolved organic carbon. Water was 

clear at the time of sampling, indicating little or 

no suspended sediment. Based on the general 

hydrology of the area, most of the annual runoff 

or flow is in late May or early June. Most likely, 

during high flow, there is more material in suspension.

TRACE ELEMENTS IN STREAMBED

SEDIMENTS

Streambed sediments at 26 sites were collected and analyzed for 39 trace elements. Seven 

sites were sampled in 2002 and 19 sites were 

sampled in 2003 (fig. 4, table 2). These sites 

were chosen to obtain a good spatial distribution throughout the study area. Sites were chosen 

south of the access road, along the access road, 

and north of the access road. Similar to 2002, 

flow conditions at the time of sampling in 2003 

were at average to low flow. 

Of the 39 trace elements analyzed (tables 

8-9), about one-third were found to be at the 

same concentration at all sites. Most of the trace 

elements do not have a corresponding drinking 

water or aquatic life standard. Thus, to provide a 

general comparison, the median concentrations 

of the CAKR data were compared to the median 

concentrations of the NAWQA program data set, 

which consists of about 1,000 samples collected 

throughout the contiguous United States, Alaska, 

and Hawaii. Of these samples, about 250 samples 

represent reference or forested areas and about 

80 samples represent hard rock mining sites (V. 

Cory Stephens, U.S. Geological Survey, written 

commun, 2004). The median concentrations of 

the CAKR data also were compared to the median 

concentrations of streambed sediments collected 

from two other national parks in Alaska for which 

data are available: Denali National Park and 

Preserve (DENA) and Lake Clark National Park 

and Preserve (LACL). These sites were part of the 

Cook Inlet Basin NAWQA study unit located in 

southcentral Alaska (Glass and others, 2004). The 

sites in DENA represent a spatial distribution of 
14 Occurrence and distribution of trace elements in snow, streams, and streambed sediments, Cape Kruesenstern

n = 13

n = 15

1.50 15.0

n = 13 n = 15

50

PARTICULATE LEAD, IN PARTS PER MILLION DISSOLVED LEAD, IN MICROGRAMS PER LITER

PARTICULATE ZINC, IN PARTS PER MILLION DISSOLVED ZINC, IN MICROGRAMS PER LITER

n = 13

n = 15

40 1.00 7.500

30 5.000

PARTICULATE CADMIUM, IN PARTS PER MILLION DISSOLVED CADMIUM, IN MICROGRAMS PER LITER

0.50 20

10

2.500

0.750

0.500

0.10 0.250

5

0.05

0.075

0.050

0.025

0.01 0.010 1

100 5000

n = 13 n = 15

3000

n = 13

n = 15

10 10

n = 13

n = 15

Sites north Sites south Sites north Sites south Sites north Sites south

of road of road of road of road of road of road

4000

2000 3000

50.0

2000

1000 25.0

1000

500

7.50 500

5.00

2.50

100

100

0.75 50 50

0.50

0.25

0.10

EXPLANATION

28 Number of samples

Outliers

Extremes

90th percentile

75th percentile

Median

25th percentile

10th percentile

Figure 5. Boxplots of concentrations of dissolved and particulate cadmium, lead, and zinc from 28 snow samples collected in Cape 

Krusenstern National Monument, April 2002.
Trace elements in streambed sediments 15

Table 5. Concentrations of major ions and trace elements in the particulate phase from snow samples collected in Cape Krusenstern 

National Monument, April 2002 —Continued

[all values in parts per million; * denotes replicate sample; <, less than; full names of trace elements given on page v]

Site Watershed Al As Ba Be Bi Ca Cd Ce Co Cr

no.

1 Wulik River 95,300 39.8 2,470 2.0 1.9 1,990 26.0 94.1 23.0 2,400 

2 Wulik River 73,200 23.4 1,900 0.52 1.6 < 100 18.1 80.6 16.6 3,180 

3 Wulik River 39,300 13.8 1,290 0.22 0.30 1,320 11.3 40.0 10.6 178 

3* Wulik River 52,500 18.1 2,160 0.99 0.55 3,070 26.2 54.8 14.0 1,680 

4 Wulik River 47,200 11.4 1,710 1.0 0.28 15,800 52.4 58.0 13.1 121 

5 Wulik River 56,900 14.7 1,530 0.73 0.19 12,100 11.5 68.6 14.2 1,980 

6 Omikviorok River 70,000 16.3 862 1.9 0.94 3,620 3.6 72.2 13.7 966 

7 Omikviorok River 237,000 214 6,120 < 0.03 < 0.06 < 100 33.5 252 46.7 48,600 

8 Imikruk Creek 76,600 41.5 2,350 0.90 0.47 1,840 31.2 72.8 21.9 1,890 

9 Omikviorok River 5340 5.2 295 < 0.03 < 0.06 771 3.6 6.4 1.7 1,290 

10 Omikviorok River 11,200 3.4 628 0.22 < 0.06 2,710 6.1 13.7 3.3 506 

11 Omikviorok River 70,800 16.0 1,740 2.9 0.26 7,770 6.2 94.4 20.8 363 

12 Omikviorok River 21,700 7.1 542 0.38 0.24 3,520 7.7 19.2 5.0 77.9 

13 Omikviorok River 43,200 11.6 517 0.84 0.27 748 4.0 41.8 8.9 1,610 

14 Noatak River 60,100 11.9 1,090 < 0.03 0.06 < 100 4.1 55.0 12.1 3,290 

15 Omikviorok River 59,000 29.7 1,460 2.0 0.85 5,950 11.8 71.4 13.0 114 

16 Aufeis Creek 83,300 19.1 1,090 2.9 0.93 4,780 3.7 89.7 16.8 488 

17 Deadman Creek 85,200 15.5 1,420 3.5 0.53 4,660 4.7 95.5 19.1 368 

18 Straight Creek 55,700 28.5 1,540 0.85 0.80 < 100 14.3 55.3 13.6 2,790 

18* Straight Creek 60,300 27.9 1,510 0.80 0.64 <100 11.2 64.2 14.6 3,460 

19 Omikviorok River 61,600 10.3 1,000 1.4 0.73 < 100 6.7 62.8 13.5 181 

20 Rabbit Creek 37,800 8.7 278 1.2 0.45 986 0.39 40.9 6.8 703 

20* Rabbit Creek 8,800 2.1 69 0.3 0.13 555 0.16 8.1 1.6 115 

21 Noatak River 21,400 10.1 539 0.55 0.35 < 100 2.1 18.5 6.0 1,720 

22 New Heart Creek 5,820 2.1 199 0.11 0.06 353 4.0 6.1 1.5 23.0 

23 New Heart Creek 74,400 11.8 1,730 2.9 0.25 5,380 13.0 89.4 18.4 309 

23* New Heart Creek 77,100 12.7 1,680 3.0 0.28 5,130 16.1 91.0 18.8 297 

24 Aufeis Creek 43,500 10.8 481 1.7 0.57 582 1.5 47.6 9.3 108 

25 Rabbit Creek 70,200 29.4 1,670 1.9 0.80 2,720 10.7 62.7 17.1 1,290 

26 Rabbit Creek 2,690 1.1 104 < 0.03 0.16 4,450 1.0 2.6 0.72 153 

27 Rabbit Creek 60,500 31.7 1,230 0.60 3.1 5,930 6.8 54.0 16.1 3,200 

28 Noatak River 75,600 23.3 1,160 3.2 2.1 3,500 3.1 71.2 16.8 2,210 

Site Watershed Cs Cu Fe Ga K La Li Mg Mn Mo

no.

1 Wulik River 11.1 72.8 60,600 25.1 26,800 49.4 70.6 21,000 561 10.3 

2 Wulik River 8.8 40.1 45,400 18.4 21,000 41.2 53.2 17,300 445 6.7 

3 Wulik River 4.1 81.7 25,500 10.4 11,200 20.5 33.6 10,100 268 6.3 

3* Wulik River 5.7 44.9 33,300 13.2 14,100 29.2 36.9 12,800 347 4.8 

4 Wulik River 5.6 39.8 28,600 11.8 12,800 31.7 38.4 15,700 363 2.6 

5 Wulik River 7.8 29.0 31,700 15.5 17,100 41.5 52.4 15,000 352 3.0 

6 Omikviorok River 8.4 52.1 39,500 18.7 18,700 36.0 45.3 15,900 523 3.0 

7 Omikviorok River 19.5 < 2 175,000 58.6 78,900 121 177 56,800 2,440 34.7 

8 Imikruk Creek 9.2 71.1 52,700 21.4 23,200 37.7 53.1 15,800 466 7.0 

9 Omikviorok River 0.50 < 2 4,280 1.3 3,650 3.0 4.7 2,070 1,320 1.6 

10 Omikviorok River 1.2 7.9 7,460 3.2 4,050 7.1 8.5 3,250 428 0.87 

11 Omikviorok River 10.4 41.9 45,600 18.3 21,700 47.5 59.8 11,000 359 1.4 

12 Omikviorok River 2.2 19.3 13,300 5.6 5,980 9.6 14.8 5,270 181 1.6 

13 Omikviorok River 5.1 24.3 24,700 11.3 12,000 20.7 27.7 10,400 605 2.2 

14 Noatak River 6.3 36.2 37,100 15.4 16,900 28.1 35.3 12,800 389 4.6 

15 Omikviorok River 7.3 39.8 34,000 15.6 16,200 35.0 43.7 11,800 346 2.3 

16 Aufeis Creek 10.9 45.7 44,900 21.7 22,300 45.0 57.3 15,200 464 2.2 

17 Deadman Creek 14.5 38.5 47,100 21.2 24,600 49.5 67.0 11,100 316 2.1 

18 Straight Creek 6.6 21.4 34,500 14.4 15,500 27.6 37.7 10,700 399 6.3 

18* Straight Creek 7.4 19.5 39,200 16.1 16,900 27.3 42.2 11,900 453 6.1 

19 Omikviorok River 6.6 29.2 36,500 16.6 16,700 31.7 43.5 12,600 392 3.0 

20 Rabbit Creek 4.9 17.4 21,200 10.4 10,000 20.2 24.0 8,280 250 1.2 

20* Rabbit Creek 1.2 5.0 4,790 2.4 2,370 4.0 5.8 1,860 76 0.3 

21 Noatak River 2.2 18.9 15,700 5.5 6,040 9.7 14.4 5,640 211 2.8 

22 New Heart Creek 0.69 4.6 3,560 1.5 1,620 3.0 4.2 1,150 32.7 0.30 

23 New Heart Creek 10.4 42.2 43,700 19.0 22,400 41.1 56.9 9,010 401 1.2 

23* New Heart Creek 10.6 45.4 46,100 19.4 22,600 44.4 56.7 8,820 445 1.4 

24 Aufeis Creek 6.1 19.2 25,500 11.4 12,100 26.0 34.5 7,580 288 1.5 

25 Rabbit Creek 8.9 62.2 44,400 18.7 20,300 29.8 49.3 13,900 529 4.2 

26 Rabbit Creek 0.25 4.3 1,740 0.72 1,310 1.3 1.2 947 334 0.34 

27 Rabbit Creek 8.1 35.4 41,100 19.5 18,000 27.2 36.5 17,500 491 7.7 

28 Noatak River 9.0 43.1 45,600 18.6 20,900 35.8 42.0 18,100 515 5.2 
16 Occurrence and distribution of trace elements in snow, streams, and streambed sediments, Cape Kruesenstern

Table 5. Concentrations of major ions and trace elements in the particulate phase from snow samples collected in Cape Krusenstern 

National Monument, April 2002 —Continued

Site Watershed Na Nb Ni P Pb Rb Sb Sc Sr Th

No.

1 Wulik River 1,0500 50 43.9 1,610 1,150 142 78.4 23.9 135 30.6 

2 Wulik River 7,690 44 3.1 1,540 900 115 34.2 18.8 74.2 18.1 

3 Wulik River 4,620 22 7.1 744 400 60.1 420 10.3 43.1 6.1

3* Wulik River 5,800 17 24.6 943 811 76.0 106 12.3 65.9 7.0

4 Wulik River 3,570 14 45.5 924 428 73.5 311 10.5 65.6 5.8

5 Wulik River 2,330 23 19.8 1,550 464 99.4 179 14.4 54.7 10.7 

6 Omikviorok River 6,520 20 28.8 890 247 102 314 14.2 90.8 7.8

7 Omikviorok River 11,000 180 < 0.3 16,000 2,480 385 619 157 < 0.8 141 

8 Imikruk Creek 8,730 21 46.8 1,080 824 112 37.0 17.6 104 9.4

9 Omikviorok River 185 17 < 0.3 1,130 168 11.0 5.4 4.7 < 0.8 3.0

10 Omikviorok River 1,430 3.6 2.4 750 174 18.6 39.7 2.8 22.5 1.5

11 Omikviorok River 4,020 15 56.0 730 308 135 25.6 16.6 89.6 11.9 

12 Omikviorok River 2,410 5.1 11.5 546 156 29.9 449 5.8 28.2 5.8

13 Omikviorok River 3,940 13 < 0.3 1,060 138 60.8 126 11.4 44.6 7.5

14 Noatak River 6,420 120 < 0.3 1,310 366 89.6 297 15.2 42.6 11.2 

15 Omikviorok River 5,960 16 36.9 618 424 92.9 216 12.3 92.8 6.8

16 Aufeis Creek 6,550 20 43.4 751 272 129 137 17.1 107 11.2 

17 Deadman Creek 3,440 18 60.7 773 325 158 9.9 17.8 88.3 12.2 

18 Straight Creek 4,740 13 < 0.3 880 457 89.2 102 13.5 43.1 16.0 

18* Straight Creek 4,620 7 <0.3 890 363 92.2 125 12.0 41.6 10.5 

19 Omikviorok River 6,900 12 10.7 579 203 94.0 683 9.8 61.6 5.5

20 Rabbit Creek 3,370 7.8 8.5 369 43.5 54.3 7.9 7.0 48.0 3.6

20* Rabbit Creek 790 2.1 4.0 126 10.1 13.0 2.7 1.8 11.7 1.2

21 Noatak River 2,060 1.6 < 0.3 575 104 31.1 48.4 5.1 17.0 5.8

22 New Heart Creek 610 1.2 2.1 68.9 116 9.0 48.8 1.1 8.8 0.74 

23 New Heart Creek 2,670 14 49.8 603 695 134 11.2 16.8 79.1 10.8 

23* New Heart Creek 2,720 17 50.7 664 735 134 10.4 17.2 84.8 13.0 

24 Aufeis Creek 3,710 13 15.5 413 84.0 69.9 119 8.9 46.1 8.0

25 Rabbit Creek 6,810 15 39.2 695 362 105 106 14.8 96.8 8.8

26 Rabbit Creek 256 0.30 0.6 505 22.9 4.4 26.2 0.6 9.6 0.52 

27 Rabbit Creek 5,910 5.8 3.2 1,380 265 93.3 48.5 12.3 68.4 5.5

28 Noatak River 7,600 19 14.8 992 195 110 51.3 14.4 93.7 6.4

Site Watershed Tl Ti U V Y Zn

No.

1 Wulik River 3.6 5,650 5.0 180 31.3 3,110 

2 Wulik River 2.2 4,380 3.5 101 27.7 2,410 

3 Wulik River 0.89 2,470 1.6 82.8 13.1 1,580 

3* Wulik River 1.5 3,250 3.4 89.5 19.4 3,070 

4 Wulik River 1.1 2,810 3.3 96.2 23.0 2,190 

5 Wulik River 1.1 2,910 4.0 99.6 28.1 1,640 

6 Omikviorok River 0.89 3,960 2.1 94.0 23.6 530 

7 Omikviorok River 1.2 16,200 2.6 422 87.5 4,520 

8 Imikruk Creek 1.7 4,480 4.6 168 25.3 3,470 

9 Omikviorok River 0.15 578 0.32 7.5 2.3 419 

10 Omikviorok River 0.20 779 0.66 20.7 4.5 740 

11 Omikviorok River 1.1 3,820 3.2 142 24.8 1,130 

12 Omikviorok River 0.54 1,200 0.87 43.8 6.4 575 

13 Omikviorok River 0.54 2,370 1.2 46.9 14.5 268 

14 Noatak River 0.62 3,380 1.7 101 17.3 603 

15 Omikviorok River 1.1 3,920 2.6 99.3 21.8 1,940 

16 Aufeis Creek 1.1 4,620 3.0 127 27.1 676 

17 Deadman Creek 1.7 4,250 3.4 161 24.9 920 

18 Straight Creek 1.7 3,280 2.2 91.6 17.4 1,460 

18* Straight Creek 0.93 3,150 1.9 101.0 14.6 1,380 

19 Omikviorok River 0.74 4,330 2.0 106 17.0 819 

20 Rabbit Creek 0.33 2,210 1.1 47.5 13.8 94.1 

20* Rabbit Creek 0.10 488 0.25 11.6 2.8 28.2 

21 Noatak River 0.23 1,130 0.79 47.8 7.3 247 

22 New Heart Creek 0.14 350 0.29 11.4 2.1 680 

23 New Heart Creek 1.4 3,540 3.0 138 21.6 2,400 

23* New Heart Creek 1.5 4,300 3.1 141 23.6 2,830 

24 Aufeis Creek 0.77 2,780 1.5 76.5 13.1 292 

25 Rabbit Creek 1.2 3,990 3.4 145 20.0 1,160 

26 Rabbit Creek < 0.08 157 0.11 4.7 0.94 91.8 

27 Rabbit Creek 0.74 3,520 2.5 110 18.5 980 

28 Noatak River 0.75 4,270 2.7 114 24.3 583 
-- -- --

-- -- -- --

-- -- -- --

-- -- -- --

-- -- -- --

-- -- -- --

Trace elements in streambed sediments 17

Table 6. Summary statistics for trace elements in the particulate phase for snow samples collected in Cape Krusenstern National Monument, April 2002 and ranges of trace elements found in Alaska soils.

[values in parts per million; --, no data available; GM, Geometric Mean; GD, Geometric Deviation; AM, Arithmetic Mean; full names of trace metal given on 

page v]

Con- Minimum Percentile1 Maximum GM2 GD2 AM2 Range2

stitu- 10 25 50 75 90

ent (median)

Al 2,690 5,820 38,550 59,550 73,800 85,200 237,000 62,000 13,800 65,000 12,000-100,000

As 1.1 3.4 10.2 14.3 26.0 39.8 214 6.7 2.3 9.6 10-750

Ba 104 278 541 1195 1690 2350 6120 595 1.7 678 39-3,100

Be 0.03 0.03 0.30 0.88 2.0 2.9 3.5 1.5 1.5 1.4 1-7

Bi 0.06 0.06 0.22 0.40 0.82 1.9 3.1 --

Ca 101 101 468 2,350 4,720 7,770 15,800 13,000 26,100 20,000 400-100,000

Cd 0.39 1.5 3.7 6.5 12.4 31.2 52.4

Ce 2.6 6.4 40.5 60.4 76.7 94.4 252 28 1.8 33 5-180

Co 0.72 1.7 7.9 13.6 17.0 21.9 46.7 13.0 1.7 14.0 2-55

Cr 23.0 108 180 835 2,095 3,200 48,600 50.0 2.0 64.0 5-390

Cs 0.25 0.69 4.5 7.0 9.1 11.1 19.5

Cu 2.0 4.3 19.0 35.8 42.6 71.1 81.7 24.0 1.8 29.0 3-810

Fe 1,740 4,280 22,950 35,500 45,150 52,700 175,000 35,000 15,200 38,000 5,500-100,000

Ga 0.72 1.5 10.4 15.6 18.9 21.7 58.6 15.0 1.4 16.0 4-32

K 1,310 3,650 10,600 16,800 21,350 24,600 78,900 12,000 15,700 13,000 900-40,100

La 1.3 3.0 20.4 30.8 41.2 49.4 121 19.0 1.7 21.0 2-120

Li 1.2 4.7 25.9 40.2 53.2 67.0 177 26.0 1.7 30.0 2-130

Mg 947 2,070 7,930 11,450 15,750 18,100 56,800 9,800 18,400 12,000 1,300-70,400

Mn 32.7 211 325 396 503 605 2,440 510 20,700 670 200-4,000

Mo 0.30 0.87 1.6 2.7 5.8 7.7 34.7 0.9 2.5 1.3 2-15

Na 185 610 2,540 4,320 6,680 8,730 11,000 12,000 17,400 15,000 700-36,000

Nb 0.30 1.6 9.9 15.0 20.5 50.0 180 8.0 1.6 9.0 4-44

Ni 0.30 0.300 1.4 11.1 41.3 49.8 60.7 24.0 2.2 33.0 3-320

P 68.9 413 591 762 1,105 1,550 16,000 780 15,500 860 200-3,400

Pb 22.9 84.0 162 290 443 900 2480 12.0 1.7 14.0 4-310

Rb 4.4 11.0 57.2 93.1 114 142 385

Sb 5.4 9.9 35.6 90.2 257 449 683

Sc 0.60 2.8 8.0 12.9 16.7 18.8 157 13.0 1.7 14.0 2-39

Sr 8.8 17.0 43.1 67.0 93.3 104 135 159.0 1.9 198.0 21-760

Th 0.52 1.5 5.6 7.7 11.2 18.1 141 6.1 2.0 7.6 1.6-76

Ti 157 578 2,290 3,450 4,260 4,620 16,200 4,800 14,800 5,200 900-15,000

Tl 0.08 0.15 0.54 0.89 1.2 1.7 3.6

U 0.11 0.32 1.1 2.3 3.2 4.0 5.0 2.3 1.9 2.8 .22-45

V 4.7 11.4 47.7 99.5 133 168 422 112.0 1.7 129.0 11-490

Y 0.94 2.3 13.1 19.3 24.9 28.1 87.5 14.0 1.6 15.0 4-100

Zn 91.8 247 553 870 1790 3110 4520 70.0 1.6 79.0 20-2,700

1

 Percentage of samples (10, 25, 50, 75, 90) equal to or below the indicated concentration for a particular constitue

2

 from Gough and others, 1988
18

6

Occurrence and distribution of trace elements in snow, streams, and streambed sediments, Cape Kruesenstern

Table 7. Concentrations of water quality constituents measured in water samples collected from four streams in Cape Krusenstern 

National Monument, July 2002

[all values in mg/L unless otherwise noted; <, less than; E, estimated; *denotes replicate sample]

Station Site Date Time Discharge Dissolved pH Specific Water Calcium

number (ft3

/s) oxygen (units) conduc- temperature 

tance (oC)

Mud Lake Cr.

Omikviorok R.

Aufeis Creek

New Heart Cr

New Heart Cr*

2 7/30/2002

8 7/28/2002

19 7/28/2002

24 7/29/2002

24 7/29/2002

1200

1015

1430

1050

1055

0.23

7.8

1.2

0.2

0.2

13.6

11

11.4

12

12

7.8

7.1

7.5

7.0

7.0

153

177

208

376

376

10.6

10.5

12.4

10.2

10.2

28

28

35

69

69

Magnesium Potassium Sodium Alkalinity Bicarbonate Chloride Fluoride Silica Sulfate Dissolved

solids

3.7

5.4

9.5

9.5

0.16

0.23

0.23

0.32

0.33

1.1

1.6

1.2

1.8

1.8

78.0

90.0

80.0

160.0

160.0

101

117

104

208

208

1.9

1.8

1.4

2.8

2.7

<.1

<.1

<.1

<.1

<.1

3

4.7

2.8

3.2

3.1

1.2

6.7

26

45

45

95

108

126

245

248

Ammonia nitro- Nitrogen Nitrogen Nitrogen Nitrogen Phos- Phospho- Phospho- Dissolved Aluminum 

gen (NH4

) (NH4+Org) (total) (NO2+NO ) (NO2) phorus rus ortho rus total organic (μg/L) 3

dissolved carbon

<0.015

<0.015

<0.015

0.013

0.015

0.23

E0.08

E0.07

0.14

0.13

0.27

E0.07

E0.07

0.13

0.13

0.101

0.165

0.034

0.071

0.072

E0.002

<.002

<.002

<.002

<.002

0.005

<0.004

E0.004

0.002

E0.003

<0.007

<0.007

<0.007

<0.007

<0.007

0.013

E0.003

0.005

0.002

E0.003

6.5

1.9

1.8

3.5

3.5

<20

<20

<20

<20

<20

Cadmium (μg/L) Chromium Copper Iron Lead Manga- Zinc 

(μg/L) (μg/L) (μg/L) (μg/L) nese (ug/L) (μg/L)

<0.04

E0.03

<0.04

0.05

0.05

<0.8

<0.8

<0.8

<0.8

<0.8

1.1

0.6

0.6

0.8

0.8

457

E8

<10

E6

<10

<0.08

0.018

<0.08

E0.05

<0.08

36

E2

E1.6

E2

E1.7

1

2

<1

5

5.0

the south side of the park (Brabets and Whitman, 

2002) while the sites in LACL represent the upper 

Johnson River Basin (Brabets and Riehle, 2003).

Most median concentrations of the trace 

elements collected at CAKR were similar to the 

medians of the NAWQA reference/forested sites 

and the NAWQA hard rock mining sites (table 

10). Concentrations of barium, chromium, nickel, 

vanadium, and zinc from the CAKR samples were 

notably higher than the NAWQA median concentrations from reference/forested sites, while concentrations of strontium were notably lower than 

the NAWQA median concentrations from reference/forested sites. Compared with the NAWQA 
Trace elements in streambed sediments 19

100 

100

SULFATE PLUS CHLORIDE

CALCIUM PLUS MAGNESIUM

60 

40 

20 

Omikviorok River

Mud Lake Creek

New Heart Creek

Aufeis Creek

80

80 

20 

40 

80 

100 100 

80 

60 

20 

60 

40 

20 

PERCENT

PERCENT

0

0

0 

0 

20 

20

0 

0

SODIUM PLUS POTASSIUM

40 

40 

60 

60 

80 

80 

40

BICARBONATE

40

20 

20 

60 MAGNESIUM

 60 

SULFATE

40 

80 

60 

100 100 

80 

100 

100

0 0

20 40 

60 

80 

100

0

100 

80 

60 

40 

20 

0 

CALCIUM CHLORIDE, FLUORIDE, NITRITE PLUS NITRATE

PERCENT

Figure 6. Trilinear diagram of water samples collected from Mud Lake Creek, Omikviorok River, Aufeis Creek, and New Heart Creek, July 

2002.

hard rock mining sites, median concentrations of trations of cadmium, lead, and zinc were from 

barium, chromium, nickel, and vanadium from CAKR samples (fig. 7). Ranges in lead concenCAKR were notably higher than the NAWQA trations are similar between CAKR and DENA, 

hard rock mining sites, while median concentra- while ranges in zinc are similar between CAKR 

tions of lead, manganese, strontium, and zinc and LACL. Other trace-element concentrations 

were notably lower than the NAWQA concentra- of interest were higher median concentrations of 

tions for hard rock mining sites. arsenic, copper, and strontium found in DENA 

and LACL than in CAKR.

Comparisons of the median trace-element 

concentrations between sites in CAKR, DENA, Boxplots of cadmium, lead, and zinc collected 

and LACL indicated the highest median concen- in CAKR show distinct differences between sites 
20 Occurrence and distribution of trace elements in snow, streams, and streambed sediments, Cape Kruesenstern

Table 8. Trace-element concentrations and percent carbon measured in streambed sediments collected from sites located in Cape 

Krusenstern National Monument, July 2002 and July 2003 —Contiuned

[values of carbon in percent; all other values in micrograms per gram; <, less than; * denotes replicate]

Site Site Date Time Carbon Alumi- Anti- Arsenic Barium Berylium Bismuth Cadmium

no. (total) num mony

1 Mud Lake Cr. 7/26/2003 1530 3.5 7.6 0.9 11 1,200 2.1 1 0.3

2

3

Mud Lake Cr.

Mud Lake Cr.

7/30/2002

7/26/2003

1200

1625

3.3

3.1

4.6

6.4

1.1

0.7

7.2

12

1,600

770

1.6

1.6

<1

1

3.4

0.4

4

5

NF Omikviorok

SBNF Omikviorok

7/26/2003

7/26/2003

1605

1550

3.5

1.8

7.4

5.3

0.8

0.6

16

7.2

1,400

790

2.4

1.6

1

1

0.9

0.3

6

7

8

NF Omikviorok

SF Omikviorok

Omikviorok R.

7/26/2003

7/26/2003

7/28/2002

1515

1455

1100

2.3

1.6

2.5

5.7

5.8

5.8

0.8

0.8

0.8

9

8.7

10

920

790

960

1.5

1.6

1.8

1

1

<1

0.5

0.3

0.9

9

10

Omikviorok R.

Omikviorok R.

7/26/2003

7/26/2003

1330

1305

2.1

2.8

5.7

6.4

0.7

0.8

9.6

11

990

1,100

1.6

1.8

1

1

0.3

0.6

11

11

Omikviorok R.

Omikviorok R*.

7/26/2003

7/26/2003

1215

1220

2.3

2.4

5.6

6.2

0.7

0.8

10

11

900

1,000

1.7

1.8

1

<1

0.4

0.5

12

13

Straight Creek

Straight Creek

7/26/2003

7/26/2003

1435

1350

2

1.5

5.9

5.6

0.7

0.6

8.4

6.3

730

710

1.9

1.7

1

1

0.4

0.4

14

15 Straight CreekDeadman Creek

7/26/2003

7/30/2002

1245

1400

2.5

3.4

6.3

5.6

0.7

0.8

9

9.4

950

960

1.8

1.9

1

<1

0.7

2

16

17

Deadman Creek

Deadman Creek

7/26/2003

7/26/2003

1415

1200

3.4

3.2

5.2

5.9

0.6

0.6

8.5

11

580

750

1.7

1.7

1

1

1.4

0.6

18

19

Aufeis Creek

Aufeis Creek

7/26/2003

7/29/2002

1000

915

4

3.5

7.4

6.6

1

0.9

13

13

1,000

1,100

2.3

2.4

1

<1

0.3

1.3

20

21

22

Aufeis Creek

Aufeis Creek

New Heart

7/26/2003

7/26/2003

7/26/2003

1125

1140

1030

2.9

2.6

3.4

7.2

6.3

6.3

0.7

0.7

0.8

13

12

9.8

860

800

810

2

2.1

1.9

1

1

1

0.5

0.4

0.3

23

24

N.F. New Heart

New Heart

7/29/2002

7/29/2002

1415

1230

4.3

3

6.1

5.9

1.1

0.8

13

10

1,100

1,100

2.1

2.1

<1

<1

2.1

2

24

25

New Heart*

S.F. New Heart

7/29/2002

7/29/2002

1235

1345

3

4

5.7

6

0.8

1.1

9.6

10

1,100

1,100

1.7

2.2

<1

<1

2.3

3.8

26

26

Site 

New Heart

New Heart*

Site

7/26/2003

7/26/2003

Date

1105

1110

Time

3

2.8

Cerium

6.4

6.5

Chro0.6

0.5

Cobalt

10

13

Copper

860

870

Euro1.8

2.1

Gallium

1

1

Gold

0.9

0.7

Holmium

no. mium pium 1 Mud Lake Cr. 7/26/2003

2 Mud Lake Cr. 7/30/2002

3 Mud Lake Cr. 7/26/2003

4 NF Omikviorok 7/26/2003

5 SBNF Omikviorok 7/26/2003

6 NF Omikviorok 7/26/2003

7 SF Omikviorok 7/26/2003

8 Omikviorok R. 7/28/2002

9 Omikviorok R. 7/26/2003

10 Omikviorok R. 7/26/2003

11 Omikviorok R. 7/26/2003

11 Omikviorok R.* 7/26/2003

12 Straight Creek 7/26/2003

13 Straight Creek 7/26/2003

14 Straight Creek 7/26/2003

15 Deadman Creek 7/30/2002

16 Deadman Creek 7/26/2003

17 Deadman Creek 7/26/2003

18 Aufeis Creek 7/26/2003

19 Aufeis Creek 7/29/2002

20 Aufeis Creek 7/26/2003

21 Aufeis Creek 7/26/2003

22 New Heart 7/26/2003

23 N.F. New Heart 7/29/2002

24 New Heart 7/29/2002

24 New Heart* 7/29/2002

25 S.F. New Heart 7/29/2002

26 New Heart 7/26/2003

26 New Heart* 7/26/2003

1530

1200

1625

1605

1550

1515

1455

1100

1330

1305

1215

1220

1435

1350

1245

1400

1415

1200

1000

915

1125

1140

1030

1415

1230

1235

1345

1105

1110

57

48

53

57

46

45

51

58

55

51

48

53

52

54

55

41

38

49

57

49

49

51

41

52

50

48

48

45

46

110

78

100

120

84

89

87

97

89

100

94

100

87

82

95

85

81

98

140

130

140

110

140

150

100

98

120

110

110

17

23

17

29

14

17

16

17

20

21

17

19

15

14

19

17

17

17

12

14

15

16

15

14

17

17

14

17

18

31

18

54

32

17

21

21

22

21

34

22

26

20

18

23

18

17

20

54

29

25

26

27

76

22

22

25

21

46

1

1

1

2

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1.3

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

18

11

14

18

11

13

13

14

13

15

13

14

13

12

14

13

12

13

17

16

17

15

14

15

14

14

14

14

14

1

<1

1

1

1

1

1

<1

1

1

1

<1

1

1

1

<1

1

1

1

<1

1

1

1

<1

<1

<1

<1

1

1

1

<1

1

1

1

1

1

<1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

<1

1

1

1

<1

1

1

1

<1

<1

<1

<1

1

1

Site Site Date Time Iron Lantha- Lead Lithium Manga- Mercury Molyb- Neono. num nese denum dymium

1 Mud Lake Cr. 7/26/2003

2 Mud Lake Cr. 7/30/2002

3 Mud Lake Cr. 7/26/2003

4 NF Omikviorok 7/26/2003

5 SBNF Omikviorok 7/26/2003

6 NF Omikviorok 7/26/2003

7 SF Omikviorok 7/26/2003

8 Omikviorok R. 7/28/2002

9 Omikviorok R. 7/26/2003

10 Omikviorok R. 7/26/2003

11 Omikviorok R. 7/26/2003

11 Omikviorok R.* 7/26/2003

12 Straight Creek 7/26/2003

13 Straight Creek 7/26/2003

14 Straight Creek 7/26/2003

15 Deadman Creek 7/30/2002

16 Deadman Creek 7/26/2003

17 Deadman Creek 7/26/2003

18 Aufeis Creek 7/26/2003

19 Aufeis Creek 7/29/2002

1530

1200

1625

1605

1550

1515

1455

1100

1330

1305

1215

1220

1435

1350

1245

1400

1415

1200

1000

915

4.7

3.9

4.2

5.3

3

3.5

3.6

3.8

4.2

4.2

3.7

4.1

3.4

3.1

4.1

3.9

3.4

3.6

3.6

3.7

30

22

28

31

24

24

27

30

28

25

25

26

27

28

27

20

21

26

31

26

20

120

23

26

19

21

16

34

18

24

20

23

21

20

26

64

47

23

20

50

49

31

48

61

38

43

41

45

37

53

44

48

40

39

48

47

45

56

59

58

470

1,700

1,100

2,800

780

1,100

710

800

740

1,500

960

1,100

560

630

1,100

1,000

950

890

370

530

0.05

0.13

0.08

0.08

0.04

0.05

0.05

0.08

0.04

0.1

0.05

0.06

0.05

0.04

0.06

0.1

0.09

0.06

0.17

0.13

0.8

<0.5

0.8

0.9

0.5

0.5

0.6

0.5

0.8

0.7

0.6

0.7

0.5

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.9

1

1.2

0.8

29

22

27

31

25

25

26

28

28

26

25

27

26

28

28

21

21

27

32

25
Trace elements in streambed sediments 21

Table 8. Trace-element concentrations and percent carbon measured in streambed sediments collected from sites located in Cape 

Krusenstern National Monument, July 2002 and July 2003 —Contiuned

Site Site Date Time Iron Lantha- Lead Lithium Manga- Mercury Molyb- Neono. num nese denum dymium

20

21

22

23

24

24

25

26

26

Aufeis Creek

Aufeis Creek

New Heart

N.F. New Heart

New Heart

New Heart*

S.F. New Heart

New Heart

New Heart*

7/26/2003

7/26/2003

7/26/2003

7/29/2002

7/29/2002

7/29/2002

7/29/2002

7/26/2003

1125

1140

1030

1415

1230

1235

1345

1105

1110

3.7

3.8

3.5

3.1

3.4

3.4

3.6

3.7

3.8

25

28

23

30

30

26

25

24

24

21

20

19

66

79

87

140

32

29

62

58

54

52

54

52

52

58

58

620

880

1,200

580

720

700

710

900

0.08

0.08

0.13

0.2

0.11

0.12

0.21

0.08

0.06

1

0.9

0.8

1.3

0.6

0.6

0.8

0.9

0.9

25

28

23

28

27

26

25

25

7/26/2003 1,000 24

Site Site Date Time Nickel Niobium Scan- Selenium Silver Stron- Tanta- Thallium

no dium tium lum

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

24

25

26

26

Mud Lake Cr.

Mud Lake Cr.

Mud Lake Cr.

NF Omikviorok

SBNF Omikviorok

NF Omikviorok

SF Omikviorok

Omikviorok R.

Omikviorok R.

Omikviorok R.

Omikviorok R.

Omikviorok R.*

Straight Creek

Straight Creek

Straight Creek

Deadman Creek

Deadman Creek

Deadman Creek

Aufeis Creek

Aufeis Creek

Aufeis Creek

Aufeis Creek

New Heart

N.F. New Heart

New Heart

New Heart*

S.F. New Heart

New Heart

New Heart*

7/26/2003

7/30/2002

7/26/2003

7/26/2003

7/26/2003

7/26/2003

7/26/2003

7/28/2002

7/26/2003

7/26/2003

7/26/2003

7/26/2003

7/26/2003

7/26/2003

7/26/2003

7/30/2002

7/26/2003

7/26/2003

7/26/2003

7/29/2002

7/26/2003

7/26/2003

7/26/2003

7/29/2002

7/29/2002

7/29/2002

7/29/2002

7/26/2003

1530

1200

1625

1605

1550

1515

1455

1100

1330

1305

1215

1220

1435

1350

1245

1400

1415

1200

1000

915

1125

1140

1030

1415

1230

1235

1345

1105

1110

57

40

120

85

46

51

47

48

46

64

57

62

48

42

61

49

53

60

51

50

61

52

55

62

61

59

51

67

71

11

8

8

9

8

8

9

8

9

9

8

8

8

9

9

8

7

8

10

9

10

8

8

12

8

8

9

9

9

18

11

14

18

12

13

13

14

14

16

14

15

14

12

15

13

11

13

16

15

15

15

14

14

13

13

14

13

13

0.6

0.3

0.8

1

0.5

0.5

0.4

0.6

0.4

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.4

0.3

0.6

1

1

1.2

4.3

2.2

1.5

1.5

1.8

6

1.2

1.1

1.9

1.3

1.3

0.2

0.2

0.2

0.2

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.2

0.2

0.1

0.16

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.2

1

0.2

0.4

0.2

0.2

0.2

0.3

0.8

0.3

0.3

0.4

0.2

0.2

82

76

72

85

69

70

70

72

73

76

74

76

74

73

85

100

130

210

180

120

120

100

120

160

160

160

190

140

150

1

<1

1

1

1

1

1

<1

1

1

1

<1

1

1

1

<1

1

1

1

<1

1

1

1

<1

<1

<1

<1

1

1

1

<1

1

1

1

1

1

<1

1

1

1

<1

1

1

1

<1

1

1

1

<1

1

1

1

<1

<1

<1

<1

1

7/26/2003 1

Site Site Date Time Thorium Tin Titanium Vanadium Ytter- Yttrium Zinc Uranium

no. bium

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

24

25

26

26

Mud Lake Cr.

Mud Lake Cr.

Mud Lake Cr.

NF Omikviorok

SBNF Omikviorok

NF Omikviorok

SF Omikviorok

Omikviorok R.

Omikviorok R.

Omikviorok R.

Omikviorok R.

Omikviorok R.*

Straight Creek

Straight Creek

Straight Creek

Deadman Creek

Deadman Creek

Deadman Creek

Aufeis Creek

Aufeis Creek

Aufeis Creek

Aufeis Creek

New Heart

N.F. New Heart

New Heart

New Heart*

S.F. New Heart

New Heart

New Heart*

7/26/2003

7/30/2002

7/26/2003

7/26/2003

7/26/2003

7/26/2003

7/26/2003

7/28/2002

7/26/2003

7/26/2003

7/26/2003

7/26/2003

7/26/2003

7/26/2003

7/26/2003

7/30/2002

7/26/2003

7/26/2003

7/26/2003

7/29/2002

7/26/2003

7/26/2003

7/26/2003

7/29/2002

7/29/2002

7/29/2002

7/29/2002

7/26/2003

1530

1200

1625

1605

1550

1515

1455

1100

1330

1305

1215

1220

1435

1350

1245

1400

1415

1200

1000

915

1125

1140

1030

1415

1230

1235

1345

1105

7/26/2003 1110

10

7

10

11

8

8

9

9

8

9

8

9

9

8

9

8

8

9

12

10

10

10

10

10

9

9

9

9

9

3

2

3

3

2

2

2

2

2

3

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

3

3

3

2

2

3

2

2

3

2

3

0.48

0.27

0.37

0.39

0.37

0.36

0.39

0.27

0.42

0.36

0.36

0.38

0.37

0.4

0.39

0.21

0.28

0.31

0.38

0.22

0.39

0.33

0.33

0.23

0.23

0.21

0.24

0.35

0.37

150

90

120

140

86

100

110

110

110

120

110

120

100

97

120

98

88

110

140

130

140

120

120

130

110

110

120

120

120

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

3

2

2

2

3

2

3

3

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

19

16

20

23

17

16

17

16

18

18

18

19

16

15

18

20

22

24

23

20

23

23

21

23

20

21

21

23

23

120

640

160

200

110

140

100

200

110

170

140

150

120

120

180

420

390

220

140

330

200

160

140

740

500

540

890

320

310

2.9

2.3

2.7

2.8

2.1

2.2

2.4

2.3

2.2

2.2

2.2

2.4

2.4

2.3

2.4

2.3

2.2

2.1

3.7

3.1

3

3

2.8

3.6

2.6

2.6

2.6

2.3

2.4
22 Occurrence and distribution of trace elements in snow, streams, and streambed sediments, Cape Kruesenstern

Table 9. Summary statistics of concentrations of trace elements measured in streambed sediments collected in Cape Krusenstern 

National Monument, July 2002 and July 2003 

[values of aluminum, iron, and titanium in percent; all other values in micrograms per gram]

Constituent Minimum Percentile1 Maximum

10 25 50 (median) 75 90

Aluminum 5 5 6 6 6 7 8

Antimony 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Arsenic 6 7 9 10 12 13 16

Barium 580 730 790 935 1,100 1,200 1,600

Berylium 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

Bismuth 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Cadmium 0 0 0 1 1 2 4

Cerium 38 41 48 51 54 57 58

Chromium 78 82 87 99 120 140 150

Cobalt 12 14 15 17 17 21 29

Copper 17 18 20 22 29 54 76

Europium 1 1 1 1 1 1 2

Gallium 11 12 13 14 15 17 18

Gold 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Holmium 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Iron 3 3 4 4 4 4 5

Lanthanum 20 22 24 27 28 30 31

Lead 16 19 20 23 47 79 140

Lithium 31 38 43 49 56 59 62

Manganese 370 530 630 840 1,100 1,500 2,800

Mercury 0.04 0.04 0.05 0.08 0.11 0.17 0.21

Molybdenum 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Neodymium 21 22 25 26 28 29 32

Nickel 40 46 48 53 61 67 120

Niobium 7 8 8 9 9 10 12

Scandium 11 12 13 14 15 16 18

Selenium 0 0 1 1 2 2 6

Silver 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

Strontium 69 70 73 85 130 180 210

Tantalum 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Thallium 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Thorium 7 8 8 9 10 10 12

Tin 2 2 2 2 3 3 3

Titanium 0.21 0.23 0.27 0.36 0.39 0.40 0.48

Vanadium 86 90 100 115 120 140 150

Ytterblum 2 2 2 2 2 3 3

Yttrium 15 16 17 20 23 23 24

Zinc 100 110 140 175 330 640 890

Uranium 2 2 2 2 3 3 4

1

 Percentage of samples (10, 25, 50, 75, 90) equal to or below the indicated concentration for a particular constituent
23

along the access road and sites north and south of 

the road (fig. 8). A Kruskal-Wallis test of the data 

indicated statistically significant differences in the 

median concentrations of these elements along the 

road. Boxplot comparisons and a Kruskal-Wallis 

test did not indicate statistically significant differences between concentrations at sites north or 

south of the road. Further inspection of the data 

from sites located north of the access road showed 

the highest concentrations of cadmium, lead, and 

zinc were found at sites 16 (Deadman Creek) and 

26 (New Heart Creek). Possible reasons for these 

relatively high concentrations may be due to concentrate spills that occurred along the access road 

near these two streams (fig. 1).

The focus in the literature on criteria for 

streambed sediments has been limited to nine 

trace elements: arsenic, cadmium, chromium, 

copper, lead, mercury, nickel, selenium, and 

zinc. The Canadian Council of Ministers of the 

Environment (CCME) (1999) has established 

guidelines for some trace elements in unsieved 

streambed sediment. These guidelines use two 

assessment values: a lower value, called the 

“interim freshwater sediment quality guideline” 

(ISQG), is the concentration below which adverse 

effects are expected to occur rarely; the upper 

value, called the “probable effect level” (PEL), is 

the concentration above which adverse effects are 

expected to occur frequently. Because trace-element samples for this study are from sediments 

finer than 0.063-mm where concentrations tend 

to be greatest, comparisons with the Canadian 

guidelines may overestimate the effects on aquatic 

organisms (Deacon and Stephens, 1998). However, it was felt that the PEL would be useful for 

comparative purposes when applied to the finer 

than 0.063-mm size fraction sediment samples 

analyzed for this study.

MacDonald and others (2000) proposed sediment quality guidelines for eight trace elements 

Trace elements in streambed sediments

and Van Derveer and Canton (1997) proposed 

guidelines for selenium. These guidelines use the 

following two concentrations for a given trace 

element: the threshold effect concentration (TEC) 

and the probable effect concentration (PEC) and 

assume a 1 percent organic carbon concentration. The TEC is the concentration below which 

sediment-dwelling organisms are unlikely to be 

adversely affected, and the PEC is the concentration above which toxicity is likely. In addition, MacDonald and others (2000) developed 

a Mean PEC Quotient, which is the toxicity of 

the combined trace element concentrations. The 

Mean PEC Quotient is computed by summing the 

concentrations of all the trace elements analyzed 

and dividing by the number of elements. MacDonald and others (2000) found that sediments 

with mean PEC quotients less than 0.5 accurately 

predicted the absence of toxicity in 83 percent of 

the samples they examined. Mean PEC quotients 

greater than 0.5 accurately predicted toxicity in 85 

percent of the samples.

When compared to the different guidelines, 

the concentrations of arsenic and chromium of 

all streambed samples from CAKR exceeded the 

ISQG guidelines, concentrations of 20 samples 

exceeded the ISQG guideline for zinc, and concentrations from 13 samples exceeded the ISQG 

concentration for cadmium (table 11). With the 

exception of arsenic and cadmium, approximately the same number of samples exceed the 

TEC. Concentrations of 15 samples exceeded 

the PEL for chromium. Concentrations of 19 

samples exceeded the PEC for nickel and 7 

samples exceeded the PEC for chromium. Thus, 

based on the above guidelines, concentrations 

of arsenic, chromium, nickel, and zinc of many 

samples exceeded either the ISQG or TEC guidelines. However, compared with the PEL or PEC 

guidelines, (shown as PEL/PEC), the number of 

concentrations that exceed the limits are primarily 

chromium (15/7 samples), nickel (--/19 samples), 

and zinc (8/4 samples). 
-- --

-- --

-- --

-- --

-- --

-- --

-- --

-- --

-- --

-- --

-- --

24 Occurrence and distribution of trace elements in snow, streams, and streambed sediments, Cape Kruesenstern

Table 10. Comparison of median concentrations of trace elements measured in streambed sediments from the USGS National WaterQuality Assessment (NAWQA) program, Cape Krusenstern National Monument, Denali National Park and Preserve, and Lake Clark 

National Park and Preserve 

[values for aluminum, iron, and titanium in percent; all other values in micrograms per gram; --, no data]

Trace element NAWQA Reference NAWQA Hard Rock Cape Krusenstern Denali National Park Lake Clark National 

Forested Sites (num- Mining Sites (number National Monument and Preserve (16 Park and Preserve (8 

ber of samples varies of samples varies (26 samples) samples) samples)

between 241 and 262) between 65 and 89)

Aluminum 6.5 6.8 6.0 6.8 8.6

Antimony 0.7 1.4 0.8 1.2 2.2

Arsenic 7.0 16 10 26 29

Barium 470 645 935 995 255

Berylium 2.0 2.0 1.8 1.9 1

Bismuth 1.0 1.0 1

Cadmium 0.4 1.3 0.55 0.3 0.15

Cerium 70 79 50 64 27

Chromium 63 53 99 98 42

Cobalt 15 19 17 15 25

Copper 26 64 22 41 60

Europium 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

Gallium 16 16 14 16 16

Gold 1.0 1.0 1.0

Holmium 1.0 1.0 1.0

Iron 3.6 3.9 3.7 3.5 7.4

Lanthanum 26 32 12

Lead 24 110 23 18 6

Lithium 48 48 14

Manganese 955 1300 840 605 1600

Mercury 0.07 0.09 0.08 0.02 0.28

Molybdenum 1 1.0 0.80 1.1 2.0

Neodymium 26 29 17

Nickel 26 28 53 46 12

Niobium 8.5 11 4

Scandium 12 11 14 13 40

Selenium 0.7 0.7 1.0 0.6 0.6

Silver 0.2 0.5 0.2 0.2 0.2

Strontium 140 170 85 145 165

Tantalium 1.0 1.0 1.0

Thallium 1.0 1.0 1.0

Thorium 12.0 11.8 9.0 9.5 1.5

Tin 2.5 2.5 2.0 2.0 1.0

Titanium 0.37 0.37 0.36 0.28 0.65

Vanadium 84 82 115 115 260

Ytterbium 2.0 2.0 4.0

Yettrium 20 18 35

Uranium 3.9 4.7 2.4 5.6 1.0

Zinc 110 320 175 112 135
Trace elements in streambed sediments 25

5.00

LEAD, IN MICROGRAMS PER GRAM

n = 26 n = 16 n = 8

300.0

4.00 200.0

3.00

100.0 2.00

n = 26 n = 16 n = 8

ZINC, IN MICROGRAMS PER GRAM CADMIUM, IN MICROGRAMS PER GRAM 1.00

0.50

10.0

0.10

1.0

0.01 0.1

n = 26 n = 16 n = 8

CAPE DENALI LAKE

KRUSENSTERN CLARK 2000

1000

500

100

50

10

25th percentile

10th percentile

Median

75th percentile

90th percentile

Number of samples

li

50

EXPLANATION

Extremes

Out ers

CAPE DENALI LAKE

KRUSENSTERN CLARK

Figure 7. Boxplots of concentrations of cadmium, lead, and zinc. in streambed sediments from sites in Cape Krusenstern National Monument, Denali National Park and Preserve, and Lake Clark National Park and Preserve.
26 Occurrence and distribution of trace elements in snow, streams, and streambed sediments, Cape Kruesenstern

5.0 200

n = 10

n = 7

n = 9

4.0

150

3.0

25th percentile

10th percentile

Median

75th percentile

90th percentile

Number of samples

li

26

LEAD, IN MICROGRAMS PER GRAM

n = 10

n = 10

Extremes

Out ers

n = 9

n = 7

n = 9

n = 7

ZINC, IN MICROGRAMS PER GRAM CADMIUM, IN MICROGRAMS PER GRAM

2.0

1.0

0.5

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

0.1 10

1000 Sites north Sites south Sites

of road of road along road

EXPLANATION

900

800

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

90

Sites north Sites south Sites

of road of road along road

Figure 8. Boxplots of concentrations of cadmium, lead, and zinc in streambed sediments from sites in Cape Krusenstern National Monument located south of the access road, along the access road, and north of the access road.
-- -- -- --

-- -- -- --

Trace elements in streambed sediments 27

Table 11. Streambed sediment quality guidelines for selected trace elements and the number of exceedances from samples collected 

from Cape Krusenstern National Monument 

[values in micrograms per gram; --, no guideline established]

Trace 

Element

Interim 

Freshwater 

Sediment 

Quality 

Guideline 

(ISQG)1

Number of 

exceedances

Threshold 

Effect 

Concentration

(TEC)2

Number of 

exceedances

Probable 

Effect 

Level 

(PEL)1

Number of 

exceedances

Probable

 Effect 

Concentration 

(PEC)2

Number of 

exceedances

Arsenic 5.9 26 9.8 16 17.0 0 33.0 0

Cadmium 0.6 13 0.99 7 3.5 1 5.0 0

Chromium 37.3 26 43.4 26 90 15 111 7

Copper 35.7 3 31.6 5 197 0 149 0

Lead 35.0 7 35.8 7 91.3 2 128 1

Mercury 0.17 3 0.18 1 0.49 0 1.06 0

Nickel 22.7 26 48.6 19

Selenium3 2.5 1 4.0 1

Zinc 123 20 121 20 315 8 459 4

1

 Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (1999)

2

 MacDonald and others (2000)

3 Van Derveer and Canton (1997)

Comparison of the concentrations of the 

trace elements with the percent organic carbon 

and Mean PEC Quotient provides some insights 

about the bioavailability of these trace elements. 

The concentration of organic carbon in sediment 

is used to indicate the concentration of organic 

matter. The ability of organic matter in concentrating some trace elements in stream sediment is 

well recognized (Gibbs, 1973, Horowitz, 1991) 

and this ability varies with the type of organic 

matter. For example, complexation by organic 

matter, such as humic and fulvic acids, has generally been thought to reduce bioavailability (Spacie 

and Hamelink, 1985, Newman and Jagoe, 1994). 

Results of studies by Decho and Luoma (1994) 

and Winner (1985) suggest that organic carbon 

compounds may in some cases enhance uptake 

of certain trace elements. In CAKR, all values of 

organic carbon for all samples were greater than 

1 percent (table 12). Compared to the percent 

organic carbon found in samples from DENA and 

LACL, the values of percent organic carbon in 

CAKR are higher. At all sites in CAKR, the mean 

PEC quotient was less than 0.50, which would 

indicate no toxicity. Conversely, at a number of 

sites in DENA and LACL, percent organic carbon 

was less than 1 percent and mean PEC quotients 

were greater than 0.5, which would indicate some 

level of potential toxicity (table 12). As MacDonald and others (2000) noted, sites containing 

relatively low concentrations of organic carbon 

have higher potential toxicity. When normalized 

to percent organic carbon, concentrations of all 

the selected trace elements in CAKR, with the 

exception of one concentration of cadmium, did 

not exceed the PEC level, whereas concentrations of several samples in DENA and LACL still 

exceeded PEC levels when normalized to organic 

carbon.
28 Occurrence and distribution of trace elements in snow, streams, and streambed sediments, Cape Kruesenstern

Table 12. Concentrations of nine trace elements in streambed sediments finer than 0.063 mm in Cape Krusenstern National Monument, 

Denali National Park and Preserve, and Lake Clark National Park and Preserve—Continued 

[Concentrations in micrograms per gram; Organic carbon in percent; As, arsenic; Cd, cadmium; Cr, chromium; Cu, copper; Pb, lead; Hg, mercury; Ni, nickel; 

Se, selenium; Zn, zinc; values in bold are concentrations that when normalized to one percent organic carbon, exceed Probable Effect Concentration (PEC), or 

for the Mean PEC Quotient, indicate toxicity for the sum of trace elements excluding selenium (MacDonald and others, 2000)]

Map Site name Latitude Longitude As Cd Cr Cu Pb Hg Ni Se Zn Organic Mean 

ID carbon PEC 

quotient

Cape Krusenstern

1 Mud Lake Creek 3.4 67o 44 ́37 ̋ 163o 31 ́25 ̋ 11 0.3 110 31 20 0.05 57 0.6 120 3.50 0.12

miles above Port Access Road 

2 Mud Lake Creek at Port 67o 43 ́46 ̋ 163o 37 ́36 ̋ 7.2 3.4 78 18 120 0.13 40 0.3 640 2.70 0.23

Access Road

3 North Branch North Fork 67o 46 ́41 ̋ 163o 17 ́18 ̋ 12 0.4 100 54 23 0.08 120 0.8 160 3.10 0.19

Omikviorok River 9 

miles above 

4 North Fork Omikviorok 67o 44 ́06 ̋ 163o 23 ́59 ̋ 16 0.9 120 32 26 0.08 85 1 200 3.30 0.17

River 6.5 miles above 

Port Access R

5 South Branch North Fork 67o 43 ́24 ̋ 163o 24 ́35 ̋ 7.2 0.3 84 17 19 0.04 46 0.5 110 1.70 0.19

Omikviorok River 6.5 

miles abv

6 North Fork Omikviorok 67o 43 ́38 ̋ 163o 32 ́05 ̋ 9 0.5 89 21 21 0.05 51 0.5 140 2.20 0.16

River 2.6 miles above 

Port Access R

7 South Fork Omikviorok 67o 41 ́33 ̋ 163o 34 ́15 ̋ 8.7 0.3 87 21 16 0.05 47 0.4 100 1.60 0.20

River 2.5 miles above 

Port Access R

8 Omikviorok River at Port 67o 43 ́26 ̋ 163o 37 ́59 ̋ 10 0.9 97 22 34 0.08 48 0.6 200 2.50 0.16

Access Road

9 Omikviorok River Tribu- 67o 43 ́41 ̋ 163o 44 ́11 ̋ 9.6 0.3 89 21 18 0.04 46 0.4 110 2.00 0.17

tary 2.3 miles below 

Port Access R

10 Omikviorok River 7.0 67o 43 ́41 ̋ 163o 53 ́15 ̋ 11 0.6 100 34 24 0.1 64 0.8 170 2.70 0.16

miles below Port Access Road

11 Omikviorok River 5.5 67o 41 ́57 ̋ 164o 02 ́43 ̋ 10 0.4 94 22 20 0.05 57 0.6 140 2.30 0.17

miles above mouth

12 Straight Creek 1 mile 67o 39 ́19 ̋ 163o 39 ́53 ̋ 8.4 0.4 87 20 21 0.05 48 0.4 120 2.00 0.17

above Port Access 

Road

13 Straight Creek 4 miles 67o 40 ́54 ̋ 163o 46 ́52 ̋ 6.3 0.4 82 18 20 0.04 42 0.3 120 1.50 0.20

below Port Access 

Road

14 Straight Creek 7.7 miles 67o 42 ́20 ̋ 163o 57 ́28 ̋ 9 0.7 95 23 26 0.06 61 0.6 180 2.50 0.17

below Port Access 

Road

15 Deadman Creek at Port 67o 38 ́45 ̋ 163o 45 ́56 ̋ 9.4 2.0 85 18 64 0.1 49 1 420 3.00 0.17

Access Road

16 Deadman Creek 2.5 miles 67o 39 ́56 ̋ 163o 49 ́00 ̋ 8.5 1.4 81 17 47 0.09 53 1 390 2.90 0.16

below Port Access 

Road

17 Deadman Creek 6.5 miles 67o 40 ́21 ̋ 163o 58 ́03 ̋ 11 0.6 98 20 23 0.06 60 1.2 220 2.40 0.18

below Port Access 

Road

18 Aufeis Creek 0.8 miles 67o 37 ́05 ̋ 163o 49 ́18 ̋ 13 0.3 140 54 20 0.17 51 4.3 140 3.90 0.12

above Port Access 

Road

19 Aufeis Creek at Port Ac- 67o 37 ́56 ̋ 163o 50 ́39 ̋ 13 1.3 130 29 50 0.13 50 2.2 330 3.30 0.16

cess Road

20 Aufeis Creek 2.7 miles 67o 39 ́11 ̋ 163o 55 ́23 ̋ 13 0.5 140 25 21 0.08 61 1.5 200 2.70 0.18

below Port Access 

Road

21 Aufeis Creek 5.5 miles 67o 40 ́01 ̋ 164o 01 ́21 ̋ 12 0.4 110 26 20 0.08 52 1.5 160 2.60 0.16

below Port Access 

Road

22 New Heart Creek 0.8 67o 36 ́10 ̋ 163o 54 ́04 ̋ 9.8 0.3 140 27 19 0.13 55 1.8 140 3.30 0.13

miles above Port Access Road

23 North Fork New Heart 67o 36 ́41 ̋ 163o 55 ́45 ̋ 13 2.1 150 76 66 0.2 62 6 740 4.00 0.14

Creek at Port Access 

Road
Summary and conclusions 29

Table 12. Concentrations of nine trace elements in streambed sediments finer than 0.063 mm in Cape Krusenstern National Monument, 

Denali National Park and Preserve, and Lake Clark National Park and Preserve—Continued

Map Site name Latitude Longitude As Cd Cr Cu Pb Hg Ni Se Zn Organic Mean 

ID carbon PEC 

quotient

24 New Heart Creek at Port 67o 36 ́12 ̋ 163o 56 ́40 ̋ 10 2.0 100 22 79 0.11 61 1.2 500 2.30 0.26

Access Road

25 South Fork New Heart 67o 36 ́03 ̋ 163o 56 ́59 ̋ 10 3.8 120 25 140 0.21 51 1.9 890 3.30 0.24

Creek at Port Access 

Road

26 New Heart Creek 2 miles 67o 36 ́35 ̋ 164o 00 ́46 ̋ 10 0.9 110 21 32 0.08 67 1.3 320 2.60 0.19

below Port Access 

Road

Denali National Park and Preserve - south side

Colorado Creek 63o 16 ́29 ̋ 149o 35 ́20 ̋ 44 0.5 220 59 15 0.18 130 0.7 150 0.52 1.71

Costello Creek 63o 16 ́18 ̋ 149o 32 ́37 ̋ 23 0.3 170 64 16 0.23 98 0.7 140 0.46 1.46

Camp Creek at mouth 63o 16 ́12 ̋ 149o 31 ́33 ̋ 49 0.5 110 35 27 0.24 42 0.5 140 1.00 0.55

Costello Creek below 63o 16 ́09 ̋ 149o 31 ́34 ̋ 25 0.3 140 55 18 0.16 70 0.6 130 0.47 1.19

Camp Creek

Coffee River above Crys- 62o 50 ́14 ̋ 150o 18 ́32 ̋ 9.1 0.2 10 10 22 <.02 6 0.1 56 0.08 1.39

tal Creek

Crystal Creek at mouth 62o 50 ́12 ̋ 150o 18 ́27 ̋ 10 0.2 24 16 20 0.02 11 0.6 68 0.80 0.19

Wildhorse Creek 62o 39 ́20 ̋ 150o 54 ́03 ̋ 56 1.9 120 48 17 0.08 56 5.2 170 6.90 0.09

Bear Creek 62o 38 ́34 ̋ 150o 54 ́33 ̋ 42 0.5 140 59 17 0.03 81 0.9 150 1.20 0.54

Hidden Creek 62o 35 ́30 ̋ 151o 11 ́29 ̋ 3.3 <.1 3 3 25 <.02 <2 <.1 16 0.09 0.53

Long Creek 62o 35 ́10 ̋ 150o 45 ́04 ̋ 46 0.2 79 26 10 0.04 32 1.7 80 7.10 0.06

Cripple Creek above 62o 33 ́25 ̋ 151o 32 ́18 ̋ 8.7 0.3 68 26 20 <.02 37 0.3 80 0.53 0.52

Snowslide Creek

Snowslide Creek at mouth 62o 33 ́24 ̋ 151o 32 ́16 ̋ 1.7 0.4 10 11 76 <.02 6 0.1 92 0.07

Cascade Creek at mouth 62o 25 ́22 ̋ 151o 59 ́22 ̋ 88 0.2 87 48 13 <.02 49 0.6 95 0.36 1.78

Fourth of July Creek at 62o 19 ́36 ̋ 151o 58 ́27 ̋ 26 0.3 150 49 16 0.02 80 0.8 130 0.57 1.01

mouth

Kichatna River above 62o 18 ́00 ̋ 152o 41 ́06 ̋ 16 <.1 29 13 33 0.02 17 0.2 63 0.11 1.82

Morris Creek

Morris Creek at mouth 62o 17 ́59 ̋ 152o 41 ́05 ̋ 30 0.2 150 47 14 0.07 94 1.2 150 0.49 1.29

Lake Clark National Park and Preserve - Johnson River Basin

No. Fork Ore Creek near 60o 06 ́58 ̋ 152o 58 ́14 ̋ 34 <.1 41 54 <1 0.53 15 0.2 120 0.16 2.21

mouth near Johnson 

Glacier

E. Fork Ore Creek near 60o 07 ́13 ̋ 152o 57 ́40 ̋ 64 4.3 14 76 230 0.93 4 2.6 1000 1.00 0.72

mouth near Johnson 

Glacier

Ore Creek near mouth 60o 07 ́15 ̋ 152o 57 ́28 ̋ 44 4.6 23 92 180 0.28 8 1.2 1800 0.24 4.60

near Johnson Glacier

Kona Creek 3 mi above 60o 08 ́26 ̋ 152o 55 ́44 ̋ 19 <.1 38 56 6 0.75 11 0.6 120 0.25 1.27

mouth above Lateral 

Glacier

Kona Creek 2.5 mi above 60o 08 ́03 ̋ 152o 55 ́24 ̋ 18 0.1 42 57 5 0.16 11 0.6 140 0.26 0.98

Lateral Glacier

Kona Creek 0.8 mi above 60o 06 ́36 ̋ 152o 55 ́14 ̋ 16 0.4 48 63 17 0.28 14 0.7 150 0.49 0.62

mouth above Lateral 

Glacier

Unnamed tributary to 60o 06 ́35 ̋ 152o 55 ́09 ̋ 18 <.1 77 47 4 0.1 25 0.2 85 1.30 0.23

Kona Creek above 

Lateral Glacier

Johnson River above 60o 05 ́41 ̋ 152o 54 ́38 ̋ 16 0.2 66 75 4 0.13 17 0.3 130 0.05 6.02

Lateral Glacier

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

Cape Krusenstern National Monument 

encompasses a road and easement from the Red 

Dog Mine to the coast and a port facility. Concern about the deposition of cadmium, lead, zinc, 

and other trace elements in the monument and 

possible environmental effects was the basis of a 

cooperative project with the NPS. Major findings 

are:

• Concentrations of dissolved cadmium, 

dissolved lead, and dissolved zinc from 28 snow 

samples collected from a 16 mi2

 by 28 mi2 grid 
30 Occurrence and distribution of trace elements in snow, streams, and streambed sediments, Cape Kruesenstern

were below standards for drinking water and 

for aquatic life. Particulate concentrations of 

these trace elements, compared with the range of 

concentrations of trace elements found in soils 

of Alaska, indicated that approximately 25 percent of the lead and zinc values were outside the 

documented range. Boxplots of the dissolved and 

particulate concentrations show a general trend 

of higher concentrations north of the access road, 

most likely due to the prevailing winds from the 

southeast.

• Water-quality samples were collected at 

four streams that cross the port access road and 

analyzed for general water-quality constituents. 

Concentrations of all constituents were less than 

drinking water and aquatic life standards. The 

water type for all four sites was classified as calcium bicarbonate during low flow.

• Streambed sediments were collected from 

26 sites representing streams located south and 

north of the port access road and along the port 

access road and analyzed for 39 trace elements. 

Median concentrations of most trace elements 

are similar to median concentrations of NAWQA 

database, which consists of approximately 1,000 

samples. Concentrations of cadmium, lead, and 

zinc at the sites along the port access road were 

higher than concentrations at sites located north 

and south of the access road. These concentrations are statistically different from the concentrations of these elements found north and south of 

the port access road.

• Concentrations of nine trace elements in 

streambed sediment samples were compared to 

criteria or guidelines for the protection of aquatic 

life. Concentrations of chromium and nickel from 

all samples exceeded the TEC, concentrations 

of zinc from 20 samples and concentrations of 

arsenic from 16 samples also exceeded the TEC. 

Concentrations of nickel from 19 samples and 

concentrations of chromium from seven samples 

exceeded the PEC. For all samples, the percent 

organic carbon was above 1.0 percent and the 

Mean PEC Quotient for all samples was less than 

0.50, indicating no toxicity. When normalized 

to percent organic carbon, concentrations of the 

trace elements for all samples do not exceed the 

PEC.

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Brabets—Occurrence and distribution of trace elements in snow, streams, streambed sediments, Cape Krusenstern National Monument, Alaska, 2002-2003—Scientific Investigation Report 2004-5229