U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5063

Prepared in cooperation with the

New Mexico Environment Department

Questa Baseline and Pre-Mining Ground-Water Quality 

Investigation 4. Historical Surface-Water Quality for the 

Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001

Version 2
Cover photograph: Seep entering the Red River, New Mexico, November 2001 (photograph by Ann Maest).
Questa Baseline and Pre-Mining GroundWater Quality Investigation 4. Historical 

Surface-Water Quality for the Red River 

Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001

By Ann S. Maest, D. Kirk Nordstrom, and Sara H. LoVetere

Prepared in cooperation with the

New Mexico Environment Department

Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5063

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, Boulder, Colorado: 2004

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

Box 25286, Denver Federal Center

Denver, CO 80225

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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, it contains copyrighted materials that are noted in the text. 

Permission to reproduce those items must be secured from the individual copyright owners.
iii

Contents

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

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

Physical Description of Study Area .................................................................................................. 3

Climate and Vegetation ....................................................................................................................... 3

Geology .................................................................................................................................................. 4

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

Surface Water ...................................................................................................................................... 5

Mining History ...................................................................................................................................... 5

Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................. 5

Methods for Compiling and Reviewing Historical Surface-Water Quality Data ................................ 6

Historical Surface-Water Quality ............................................................................................................... 7

Hydrologic Conditions for Historical Water-Quality Sampling Events .................................... 128

Evaluation of Selected Water-Quality Data in Previous Reports ............................................. 128

Historical Water-Quality Trends over Time .................................................................................. 131

Water Quality and Precipitation ........................................................................................... 131

Discharge-Solute Relationships ........................................................................................... 131

Comparison of Water-Quality Upstream and Downstream from the Mine ............................ 134

Effect of Mineral Dissolution on Red River Water Quality ........................................................ 137

Hydrogeochemical Controls on Zinc Concentrations in the Red River .................................. 139

Summary .................................................................................................................................................... 147

References ................................................................................................................................................. 147

Figures

1. Map showing study area and surface-water sampling locations ........................................... 2

2–21. Graphs showing:

2. Average daily discharge and timing of surface-water samples collected in the

Red River at the Questa Range Station gage in water years 1966 to 1982 ...... 130

3. Average daily discharge and timing of surface-water samples collected in the

Red River at the Questa Range Station gage in water years 1983 to 2001 ...... 130

4. Sulfate concentrations and average daily discharge in the Red River at the

Questa Ranger Station gage, from January 1977 to December 1979 ............... 132

5. Sulfate concentrations and average daily discharge in the Red River at the

Questa Ranger Station gage for all historical data ............................................. 132

6. Sulfate concentrations in the Red River at the Questa Ranger Station gage

from 1966 to 2001, and timing of mining history .................................................... 133

7. Sulfate concentrations in the Red River upstream and downstream from the

mine site ...................................................................................................................... 134

8. Sulfate loads in the Red River at the Questa Ranger Station gage, with

hydrologic discrimination ........................................................................................ 136

9. Sulfate loads in the Red River upstream and downstream from the mine site ........ 136
iv

Figures—Continued

10. Specific conductance in relationship to sulfate concentrations in the

Red River at the Questa Ranger Station gage ...................................................... 137

11. Sulfate concentrations in relationship to total dissolved solids concentrations

in the Red River at the Questa Ranger Station from 1965 to 2001, with 

outliers ........................................................................................................................ 138

12. Sulfate concentrations in relationship to total dissolved solids concentrations

in the Red River at the Questa Ranger Station gage from 1965 to 2001, 

without outliers .......................................................................................................... 138

13. Calcium concentrations in relationship to sulfate concentrations in the

Red River at the Questa Ranger Station gage and the gypsum congruent 

dissolution line ........................................................................................................... 140

14. Calcium to sulfate molar ratio over time in the Red River at the the Questa Ranger Station gage ...................................................................................................................... 140

15. Alkalinity values in the Red River upstream and downstream from the

mine site ...................................................................................................................... 141

16. Zinc concentrations over time in the Red River upstream and downstream

from the mine site ...................................................................................................... 141

17. Specific conductance, pH, and average daily discharge in the Red River at 

the Questa Ranger Station gage, from October 1978 to December 1986 ......... 142

18. Specific conductance and average daily discharge in the Red River at the

Questa Ranger Station gage from February 1982 to September 1984 .............. 143

19. Total and dissolved zinc concentrations and average daily discharge in the

Red River at the Questa Ranger Station gage from February 1982 to

September 1984 ......................................................................................................... 144

20. Dissolved and total zinc concentrations and average daily discharge in the Red River at 

the Questa Ranger Station gage in 1986 ................................................................... 145

21. pH, specific conductance, and average daily discharge in the Red River at 

the Questa Ranger Station gage in 1986 ............................................................... 146

Tables

1. Red River monthly climate summary from January 1915 to December 2002 ......................... 3

2. Sampling events, dates, and analyses ......................................................................................... 8

3. Sample collection, preservation, and analysis methods, laboratory, and quality control 

plans ....................................................................................................................................... 17

4. Historical water-quality data at the Questa Ranger Station gage on the Red River

from 1965 to 2001 .................................................................................................................. 26

5. Water-quality data upstream from the Molycorp, Inc. molybdenum mine ........................ 116

6. Definition of hydrologic conditions and summary of sampling events ............................... 129
v

Conversion Factors, Datum, and Abbreviations

Multiply By To obtain

inch (in) 2.54 centimeter (cm)

foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m)

mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km)

acre 0.004047 square kilometer (km2)

square mile (mi2) 2.590 square kilometer (km2)

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

ton, short (2,000 lb) 0.9072 metric ton

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

 °F=(1.8×°C)+32

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

(NAVD 88).

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

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

25°C).

Abbreviations used in this report:

AAS atomic absorption spectrometry

BLM Bureau of Land Management

ENSR ENSR Consulting and Engineering, Inc.

NM BMMR New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources

NMDGF New Mexico Department of Game and Fish

NMED New Mexico Environment Department

NMEID New Mexico Environmental Improvement Division

NM ONRT New Mexico Office of the Natural Resource Trustee

NWIS U.S. Geological Survey National Water Information System

QA/QC quality assurance/quality control

QSP quartz-sericite-pyrite

R2 correlation coefficient

STORET USEPA’s STORage and RETrieval System

TDS total dissolved solids

USEPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

USGS U.S. Geological Survey

USHEW U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare

Abbreviated water-quality units used in this report:

kg/d kilograms per day

meq/L milliequivalents per liter

mg/L milligrams per liter

mL milliliters

μm micrometer

μg/L micrograms per liter

μS/cm microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius

Abstract

Historical water-quality samples collected from the Red 

River over the past 35 years were compiled, reviewed for 

quality, and evaluated to determine influences on water quality 

over time. Hydrologic conditions in the Red River were found 

to have a major effect on water quality. The lowest sulfate 

concentrations were associated with the highest flow events, 

especially peak, rising limb, and falling limb conditions. The 

highest sulfate concentrations were associated with the early 

part of the rising limb of summer thunderstorm events and 

early snowmelt runoff, transient events that can be difficult 

to capture as part of planned sampling programs but were 

observed in some of the data. The first increase in flows in 

the spring, or during summer thunderstorm events, causes a 

flushing of sulfide oxidation products from scars and minedisturbed areas to the Red River before being diluted by rising 

river waters.

A trend of increasing sulfate concentrations and loads 

over long time periods also was noted at the Questa Ranger 

Station gage on the Red River, possibly related to mining 

activities, because the same trend is not apparent for concentrations upstream. This trend was only apparent when the 

dynamic events of snowmelt and summer rainstorms were 

eliminated and only low-flow concentrations were considered. 

An increase in sulfate concentrations and loads over time 

was not seen at locations upstream from the Molycorp, Inc., 

molybdenum mine and downstream from scar areas. Sulfate 

concentrations and loads and zinc concentrations downstream 

from the mine were uniformly higher, and alkalinity values 

were consistently lower, than those upstream from the mine, 

suggesting that additional sources of sulfate, zinc, and acidity 

enter the river in the vicinity of the mine. During storm events, 

alkalinity values decreased both upstream and downstream 

of the mine, indicating that natural sources, most likely scar 

areas, can cause short-term changes in the buffering capacity 

of the Red River.

The major-element water chemistry of the Red River is 

controlled by dissolution of calcite and gypsum and the oxidation of pyrite, and the river is generally not well buffered with 

respect to pH. During higher-flow periods, Red River water 

was diluted by calcium-carbonate waters, most likely from 

unmineralized Red River tributaries and areas upstream from 

scars. The effect of pyrite oxidation on Red River water chemistry was more pronounced after the early 1980’s. Elevated 

zinc concentrations were most apparent during summer 

thunderstorm and rising limb times, which also were associated with a decrease in alkalinity and an increase in sulfate 

concentrations and conductivity. The water-quality results 

demonstrate that it is critical to consider hydrologic conditions 

when interpreting water chemistry in naturally mineralized or 

mined drainages.

Introduction

Molycorp, Inc. operates a molybdenum mine west of the 

town of Red River, New Mexico on approximately 18 km2 of 

land surrounded by the Carson National Forest. The Red River 

forms the southern boundary of the mine site and flows to the 

west where it joins the Rio Grande River (fig. 1). State and 

federal authorities have raised concerns about potential injury 

to the Red River fishery and aquatic life since open-pit mining 

began in 1965. Water quality of receiving streams can change 

over time because of climatic events and because mining activities evolve and change in type and extent over time. Information is needed to discern the potential effects of climate and 

seasonal events from mining or other anthropogenic activities. 

This paper puts the available data on Red River water quality 

into historical perspective so that trends over time and their 

causes can be better understood.

Historical surface-water quality evaluation is part of the 

Questa baseline and pre-mining ground-water quality investigation, hereinafter called the Questa pre-mining study, conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation 

with the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED). The 

overall objective of the investigation is to infer the pre-mining 

ground-water quality at the Questa Molycorp, Inc. mine site. 

As part of this investigation, the USGS, in cooperation with 

NMED, has compiled and evaluated historical surface-water 

quality data for the Red River.

Although a considerable number of surface-water 

samples in the Red River Valley were collected from 1965 to 

2001, the data were not compiled in a single document, did not 

undergo data quality evaluation, and have not been utilized to 

interpret water-rock interactions. The purpose of this report is 

Questa Baseline and Pre-Mining Ground-Water Quality 

Investigation 4. Historical Surface-Water Quality for the 

Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001

 By Ann S. Maest1, D. Kirk Nordstrom2, and Sara H. LoVetere2

1

Buka Environmental, Boulder, Colo.

2

U.S. Geological Survey
Figure 1. Study area and surface-water sampling locations.

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2 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 1. Red River monthly climate summary from January 1915 to December 2002.

Average maximum 

temperature (oC)

Average minimum 

temperature (oC)

Average total precipitation (cm)Average total snowfall (cm)Average snow depth 

(cm)

January 2.5 -15.4 2.7 50.8 22.9

February 4.1 -13.3 2.9 54.1 22.9

March 6.7 -9.7 4.5 74.4 17.8

April 12.0 -5.6 4.4 55.4 5.1

May 16.9 -1.8 4.4 18.5 0.0

June 22.6 1.8 3.2 0.3 0.0

July 24.4 4.9 7.4 0.0 0.0

August 23.2 4.6 8.0 0.0 0.0

September 20.4 0.9 4.2 1.3 0.0

October 14.8 -3.8 3.8 21.1 0.0

November 7.2 -9.9 3.4 47.0 5.1

December 3.1 -14.4 2.9 48.3 15.2

Annual 13.2 -5.2 52.0 370.0 7.6

Data source: Western Regional Climate Center, 2003.

Introduction 3

to compile and evaluate historical surface-water quality data in 

the Red River Valley between the Questa Ranger Station and 

the town of Red River. “Historical” data are defined as all data 

existing from the earliest available record (1965) until November 2001. The purpose of this report also is to delineate any 

spatial and temporal trends in the data and to obtain some preliminary information on water-rock interactions or any other 

factors affecting temporal trends in Red River water quality.

Physical Description of Study Area

The study area is located in Taos County in north-central 

New Mexico in the Red River drainage basin, a tributary to 

the Rio Grande within the Carson National Forest. The area 

is a rugged and altered terrain with steep slopes and V-shaped 

valleys. The study reach is in the Red River Valley between 

the Questa Ranger Station (elevation 7,452 ft or 2,271 m) at 

the west end and the town of Red River (elevation 8,680 feet 

or 2,646 m) at the east end (fig. 1). The Molycorp, Inc. Questa 

molybdenum mine, referred to as the mine site, is located on 

the north side of State Highway No. 38 and the Red River, 

approximately 20 km east of the Ranger Station. The mine site 

is approximately 15 km2 and encompasses three tributary valleys to the Red River: Capulin Canyon, Goat Hill Gulch and 

Sulphur Gulch, from west to east respectively.

Mining activities produced extensive underground workings and an open-pit of approximately 914 m in diameter, 

covering approximately 0.66 km2, near or in Sulphur Gulch 

(URS, 2001). Waste-rock piles cover steep slopes on the north 

side of the Red River between Capulin Canyon and Spring 

Gulch (a tributary valley of Sulphur Gulch). Hydrothermally 

altered bedrock is found in Capulin, Goat Hill, Sulphur, Hansen, Straight, and Hottentot drainages (fig. 1). Weathering of 

extensively altered rock has resulted in steep, highly erosive, 

sparsely vegetated “scars” that are clearly visible from the 

ground and in aerial photographs.

Climate and Vegetation

The Red River Valley is located within a semi-arid desert 

that receives precipitation throughout the year and sustains 

moderate biodiversity. Between 1915 and 2002, the annual 

average temperature was 4°C, the annual average precipitation 

and snowfall were 52 cm and 370 cm, respectively, and the 

daily temperatures generally fluctuated by 18°C throughout 

the year (table 1).

Climate and vegetation vary greatly within short distances because of differences in topography, weather, sun 

exposure, elevation, and sediment composition. The landsurface elevation in the study area ranges from 2,271 m at 

the Ranger Station to 2,704 m at the Zwergle gage upstream 

from the town of Red River. Orographic effects of mountainous topography lead to precipitation on the windward slopes 

and localized storms within tributary valleys. Major precipitation events include summer thunderstorms and winter-spring 

snowstorms. Thunderstorms are responsible for mass wasting 

in hydrothermally altered areas, producing debris flows that 

potentially impact vegetation, alluvial aquifers, and the Red 

River (K. Vincent, USGS, written commun., 2003). Winter 

snowpack contributes to ground water recharge through snowmelt infiltration and runoff.
4 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001

Prevalent vegetation in the Red River Valley is controlled by elevation and includes four zones: pinyon-juniper 

woodland (from 1,829 to 2,286 m), mixed-conifer woodland 

(from 2,286 to 2,743 m), spruce-fir woodland (from 2,743 to 

3,658 m), and alpine tundra (above 3,658 m) (Knight, 1990). 

Perennial grasses, shrubs, flowering vegetation, willows, and 

cottonwoods occur near the banks of the Red River. Extending 

from the river are widely spaced pinyon pines (Pinus edulis) 

and junipers (Juniperus monosperma). Gains in altitude give 

rise to an abundance of ponderosa pines (Pinus ponderosa) 

and limber pines (Pinus flexilis), while douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and white fir (Abies concolor) can be found 

at higher elevations (Briggs and others, 2003). This typical 

montane community, while diverse, is dominated by ponderosa pines.

Geology

Ground water passes through, and geochemically interacts with, the various types of earth materials discussed in 

this section, including fractured bedrock, soil and alluvium, 

and waste rock. This section summarizes the work of Schilling (1956), Rehrig (1969), Lipman (1981), and Meyer and 

Leonardson (1990, 1997), in addition to observations made by 

the USGS scientists working at the site.

The Taos Range of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains is 

composed of Precambrian metamorphic assemblages and granitic intrusives overlain by Tertiary volcanics. Late Oligocene 

to early Miocene granitic plutons and associated hydrothermal 

alteration were the source of molybdenite and other sulfide 

mineralization.

The Red River Valley is located along the southern edge 

of the Questa volcanic caldera and contains complex structural 

features and extensive hydrothermal alteration. In the Red 

River Valley, most of the visible rocks are Tertiary volcanics 

with smaller areas of Precambrian metamorphics and granitic 

stocks. The volcanics are primarily intermediate to felsic in 

composition (andesites to rhyolites); granites and porphyries 

have intruded the volcanics and are the apparent source of 

hydrothermal fluids and molybdenite mineralization. The 

hydrothermally altered volcanics often contain pyrite mineralization (generally 1-3 percent).

The mineral deposits in the Red River Valley are considered Climax-type deposits, which are associated with silicaand fluorine-rich rhyolite porphyry and granitic intrusives. 

Climax-type hydrothermal alteration produces zones of alteration assemblages, with a central zone of fluorine-rich potassic alteration, a quartz-sericite-pyrite zone (QSP), often with 

a carbonate-fluorite veinlet overprint, and a propylitic zone. 

Chlorite, epidote, albite, and calcite typically are found in the 

propylitic assemblages. In the potassic zone, rocks are altered 

to a mixture of biotite, potassium feldspar, quartz, fluorite, and 

molybdenite.

In the Red River Valley, ore deposits contain quartz, 

molybdenite, pyrite, fluorite, calcite, manganiferous calcite, 

dolomite, and rhodochrosite. Lesser amounts of galena, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, magnetite, and hematite also are present. 

The hydrothermal alteration related to mineralization overprints an older, regional propylitic alteration. In these areas, 

rocks can contain a mixture of quartz, pyrite, and illite clays 

replacing feldspars, chlorite, and epidote. Calcite is an important mineral in the Red River Valley because its dissolution 

can effectively neutralize the acid inflows so that pH values in 

the Red River tend to be neutral to alkaline (pH 7-8). Gypsum is commonly found throughout the Red River Valley and 

forms as a secondary product of acid-sulfate weathering when 

the products of pyrite oxidation react with calcite. Abundant 

minerals in waste rock produced by mining activities include 

chlorite, gyp sum, illite, illite-smectite, jarosite, kaolinite, and 

muscovite (Gale and Thompson, 2001).

Scar-area bedrock outcrops are composed of andesite 

volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks, rhyolitic tuff, quartz latite, 

and rhyolite porphyry. The dominant alteration type in all 

scars is QSP; carbonates also are found in all scar areas. Most 

of the andesite and quartz latite has been propylitically altered 

and contains plagioclase feldspar and chlorite, with less QSP 

alteration. Rhyolite porphyry and tuff do not seem to have 

been substantially affected by propylitization. Depending on 

location within the weathering profile, altered rocks contain 

variable amounts of quartz, illite, chlorite, and plagioclase 

feldspar, with smaller amounts of pyrite, gypsum, rutile, 

jarosite, and goethite (Livo and Clark, 2002; Ludington and 

others, in press).

Ground Water

Ground water is influenced by the climate, geology, and 

anthropogenic activities in the Red River Valley. There are 

three major types of water-bearing units present: fractured 

bedrock, debris-fan deposits, and Red River alluvium. Bedrock 

constitutes the largest aquifer in the study area in terms of rock 

mass, but probably contains only small amounts of ground 

water because of low porosity and hydraulic conductivity 

that are controlled by fractures. Debris fans are composed of 

sediments shed from their watersheds, which are tributary to 

the Red River. Tributary watersheds with scars contain large, 

active debris fans with both coarse and fine-grained sediments 

and correspondingly variable porosity and infiltration rates. 

The chemistry of these sediments likely reflects the chemistry 

of their rapidly eroding and altered erosion scars. Sediments 

deposited by the Red River (alluvium), in contrast, generally 

consist of well washed sandy-gravel and are composed of a 

mix of the lithologies found in the entire Red River basin. The 

largest debris fans caused the Red River to aggrade behind the 

fans during the Quaternary. Thus water flowing in the shallow alluvial aquifers likely passes alternately through Red 

River alluvium and debris fan alluvium. Both the Red River 

alluvium and debris fan alluvium are less than several hundred 

meters wide and less than 60 m thick, but together they con-
Introduction 5

tain most of the ground water in the valley (K. Vincent, USGS, 

written commun., 2003). 

While chemical analyses of ground water were not 

obtained prior to mining in the Red River Valley, a substantial 

amount of historical data are currently available (LoVetere 

and others, 2003). Alluvial, debris-fan, and shallow bedrock 

ground water is dominantly calcium-sulfate type water. Most 

wells developed in the Red River Valley were installed to 

monitor water quality down gradient from mine waste deposits 

(waste rock dumps and tailings piles) and/or scar areas.

Surface Water

The Red River originates at an elevation of approximately 

3,658 m near Wheeler Peak and flows north and then westward for roughly 55 km to its confluence with the Rio Grande 

River at an altitude of 2,012 m. The drainage area upstream 

from the Questa Ranger Station gage is 293 km2. Peak streamflow usually occurs from late May to mid-June, with snowmelt-related flows beginning in late March and increasing 

through mid-April. Summer thunderstorms are prevalent from 

July through September. The mean annual discharge of the 

Red River at the Questa Ranger Station gage has ranged from 

12.8 to 103 ft3/s between 1930 and 2001, while the average 

daily discharge ranged from 2.5 to 557 ft3/s, with an average 

of 42.9 ft3/s, between 1965 and 2001 (U.S. Geological Survey, 

2003a).

The main drainages in the vicinity of the mine site are 

Capulin Canyon, Goat Hill Gulch, and Sulphur Gulch on the 

north side of the Red River (fig. 1). Upstream from the mine 

site, Little Hansen, Hansen, Straight, and Hottentot Creeks 

drain scar areas, while Mallette and Bitter Creeks drain nonscar areas on the north side of the Red River. Bear Canyon and 

Columbine, Pioneer, and Placer Creeks drain largely unmineralized land on the south side of the river. Downstream from the 

mine site the Red River joins with Cabresto Creek, entering 

from the north side of the Red River, before it discharges to 

the Rio Grande. 

Springs and shallow alluvial ground water discharge to 

the Red River rendering it a gaining stream over much of its 

length (Smolka and Tague, 1989). Between the town of Red 

River and the Questa Ranger Station gage, there are roughly 

25 ephemeral seeps and springs along the banks of the Red 

River and approximately 20 intermittent seeps and springs 

in tributary drainages on the north side of the river (South 

Pass Resource, Inc., 1995; Steffen, Robertson, and Kirsten, 

1995; Robertson GeoConsultants, Inc., 2001). The majority 

of the seeps and springs are acidic (pH 2-4) with high specific 

conductance, total dissolved solids (TDS), and metal concentrations. Springs downgradient from scar and mined areas on 

the north side of the Red River often have a milky aluminum 

hydroxide precipitate that affects the color and turbidity of the 

Red River (Vail Engineering, Inc. 1989) (see cover photo).

Mining History

The history of the Molycorp, Inc. mine site and other 

related information is available from Molycorp, Inc. (www.

molycorp.com), NMED, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA; www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/

nar1599.htm). The following is a summary of that information 

and other data that pertain to the study of surface water in the 

Red River Valley.

A pair of prospectors first discovered molybdenite in 

Sulphur Gulch in 1914. Small-scale underground mining 

took place between 1919 and 1958. In 1954 there were over 

56 km of underground mine workings. Molycorp, Inc. began 

removing the rock overburden at Sulphur Gulch in 1964, and 

the first molybdenite ore was extracted from the open pit in 

1965. Tailings were transported by pipeline from the mine 

to the tailings facility, located near the town of Questa, New 

Mexico, just upstream of the confluence of the Red River and 

the Rio Grande. More than 200 spills from the tailings pipeline 

occurred between 1964 and 1982 (URS, 2002). Water used in 

the mill operation was produced from the Red River and the 

Red River alluvial aquifer.

In 1983, Molycorp, Inc. ceased open-pit mining and initiated a new phase of underground mining in Goat Hill Gulch. 

The switch effectively stopped the dumping of waste rock in 

Capulin Canyon, along the north slope of the Red River, and 

in Goat Hill, Sulphur, and Spring Gulches, and increased the 

volume of tailings transported by pipeline to the impoundment in Questa. It is estimated that roughly 328 million tons of 

waste rock (295 million metric tons) were deposited near the 

open pit between 1964 and 1983 (Robertson GeoConsultants, 

Inc., 2000c; Slifer, 1996).

Low market values for molybdenum caused the mine 

to shut down between 1986 and 1989 and again in 1992. 

From 1992 to 1995, while the underground mine was shut 

down, pumping of ground water from the underground mine 

stopped, and the workings were allowed to flood. Point-source 

discharges from the tailings facility at Questa were monitored through a discharge permit issued by USEPA, and two 

discharge points for stormwater runoff from the mine site were 

added when the permit was renewed in 1993 (Slifer, 1996). 

A discharge permit for the mine site was issued in November 

2000. The permit required quarterly sampling, which was 

initiated in June 2001. In 2002, Molycorp, Inc. and USEPA 

entered into an Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) to 

define the nature and extent of contamination from the mine 

site. Currently, Molycorp, Inc. is required to collect soil, rock, 

water, animal, and plant samples for the Remedial Investigation as defined in the AOC.

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge Cheryl Naus for her 

assistance in preparing the map of the study area. Katie Walton-Day and Laura Bexfield of the USGS provided helpful 
6 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001

technical reviews on a draft of the manuscript. Molycorp, Inc. 

provided documents and data on historical water quality. This 

report also would not have been possible without the support 

of the National Research Program.

Methods for Compiling and Reviewing 

Historical Surface-Water Quality Data

For the purposes of this report, historical water-quality 

data are defined as those from samples collected on or before 

the November 12, 2001 sampling of Molycorp, Inc. The location with the longest period of record for water-quality data is 

the Questa Ranger Station gage on the Red River, where there 

has been continuous streamflow-gaging by the USGS since 

October 1, 1924. The USGS streamflow-gaging station (site 

number 08265000) is located downstream from the Molycorp, 

Inc. Mine in Questa, New Mexico (fig. 1). Because of the 

long-term water-quality and flow record, the historical surfacewater data compilation has focused on the Questa Ranger 

Station gage. In addition, data from locations upstream from 

the mine site and downstream from natural scar areas are also 

included in the compilation.

The historical surface-water quality data for the Red 

River are contained in Federal and State agency reports, 

consultant reports, and on computer files or databases that are 

not associated with any report. One of the main purposes of 

compiling and evaluating the historical surface-water quality 

information is to gather all the available data in one document 

and to describe its quality to the extent possible. Vail Engineering, Inc., URS, and others, under contract to Molycorp, 

Inc., have compiled historical surface-water quality data in the 

past. However, not all parameters were reported, a comprehensive evaluation of the methods used to collect and analyze the 

samples was not conducted, geochemical interpretations were 

not included, and/or the data were not evaluated with respect 

to water flow dynamics. The more complete review and 

evaluation presented herein will aid in data comparison and 

analysis. For this report, original sources were reviewed for 

information on collection and analysis methods, and the data 

were gathered from these original sources. Once compiled and 

evaluated for quality, the historical surface-water quality data 

are useful for evaluating chemical, temporal, and spatial trends 

and for establishing an historical framework for comparing 

any recent surface-water quality data collected.

Water-quality sampling events, dates, parameters, and 

locations are presented in table 2. The U.S. Department of 

Health, Education, and Welfare (USHEW), the USEPA, and 

Molycorp, Inc. conducted water-quality sampling on the Red 

River, its tributaries, and the Rio Grande in the mid-1960’s 

to the mid-1970’s. NMED and Vail Engineering, Inc., under 

contract to Molycorp, Inc., collected the majority of the 

water-quality samples on the Red River and its tributaries in 

the 1980’s and 1990’s. The source of the data, and, if available, the reference for the report containing the data are listed 

in table 2. Table 2 shows that when metals were determined 

on Red River and tributary samples, the most common analyte 

suite was aluminum, iron, manganese, and zinc. For a number 

of sampling events, sulfate was the only anion determined. 

Flow was usually only available for samples collected at the 

Questa Ranger Station gage, although the USGS streamflowgaging station located upstream from the town of Red River 

(Zwergle gage, site number 08264500, see fig. 1) operated 

from May 1, 1963 to December 31, 1973. Water-quality 

samples were collected from the Zwergle gage location on the 

Red River in 1997 and 1998 (Allen and others, 1999).

Sample collection, preservation and analysis methods, 

laboratories, and quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) 

plans used for surface-water quality sampling are presented 

in table 2. When a document containing surface-water quality 

information was associated with the analytical data, it was 

reviewed for sample collection, preservation, analytical methods, and other quality-control issues. The references for the 

documents are listed in both tables 2 and 3, and full citations 

can be found in the reference section at the end of this report. 

For several documents and sampling events, not all QA/QC 

information was available; for these instances, the entries are 

indicated by two short dashes (--) in table 3.

In table 3, the collection methods column includes 

frequency of sampling for a given sampling event, whether 

samples were composited, whether replicate field samples 

were collected, where in the stream the samples were collected 

(for example, mid-depth), whether samples were collected by 

pump or grab, and whether the sampling was synoptic. Most 

of the samples collected before the mid-1980’s were unfiltered 

(except for Faith, 1974). If samples collected before the mid1980’s were filtered, the filtration was for suspended sediment and metals, most notably suspended aluminum and iron. 

When filtering was conducted, 0.45-μm filters were used; no 

historical water-quality samples were filtered through 0.1-μm 

filters. Few samples were analyzed for both total and dissolved 

constituents, although limited samples collected after 1984 

were analyzed for both. Similarly, preservation of samples 

was not common before the mid-1980’s (again, Faith, 1974 is 

an exception to this). Unfortunately, Faith did not collect any 

samples at the Questa Ranger Station gage.

Table 3 also lists analytical methods used to determine 

metals and other parameters. Samples collected in the 1960’s 

and early 1970’s used colorimetric or flame atomic-absorption 

spectrometry (AAS) for determination of metals, and consequently, high detection limits were common. However, Faith, 

(1974) used graphite-furnace AAS for the determination of 

trace metals, iron and manganese. Standard Methods (American Public Health Association, 1981) and USEPA methods 

(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1983) were used 

by New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF) 

(Jacobi and Smolka, 1984; Smolka and Tague, 1987 and 1989; 

NMDGF, 1992 and 1993) since the mid-1980’s. Allen and 

others (1999) of the University of New Mexico, was the only 

report in which inductively-coupled argon-plasma—mass 

spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used for determination of trace 
Historical Surface-Water Quality 7

metals; other sampling efforts generally used inductively-coupled argon-plasma—atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) 

for determination of trace and minor metals.

Chemical analyses of surface-water samples were 

conducted at commercial, government, and university laboratories. Very few of the sampling efforts included sampling 

plans or QA/QC plans, such as quality assurance project plans 

(QAPPs). However, sampling performed by New Mexico State 

agencies usually did include a sampling or QA/QC plan.

Historical Surface-Water Quality

Table 4 contains the water-quality data for the Red 

River at the Questa Ranger Station gage from 1965 to 2001. 

Although all of the constituents for which determinations 

were attempted are included in table 2, constituents that were 

rarely determined or that had concentrations consistently near 

or below detection were excluded from table 4. A smaller set 

of water-quality data from stations upstream from the Questa 

Ranger Station gage but downstream from hydrothermal scar 

areas also is included in table 5. The source of the water-quality data is indicated in table 4 and corresponds to the ‘Reference’ columns in tables 2 and 3. The source for all water-quality data in table 5 is Vail Engineering, Inc. (written commun., 

2002). 
FWPCA, 1966 11/3-8/1965 FWPCA Alk, As, Ca, Cl, Fe, Mg, NO3, 

Pb, pH, SC, SO4, TDS, TSS, Zn

Yes Red River (5 locations) None

Molycorp, Inc., 1979 1/31/1966 - 9/1979 USGS, BLM, 

Molycorp, Inc. NMEID (outfalls)

Ca, Cd, Cu, F, Fe, Mg, Mo, 

Mn, SO4, TDS, TSS, Zn

Red River, 

fish 

hatchery, 

Red River 

mouth, 

outfalls

Red River (7 locations); Red 

River, fish hatchery; outfalls 001, 002, 003; wells below tailings dam

Tested for CN in Red River

USEPA, 1971 11/2-5/1970 USEPA Alk, Al, As, Ca, Fe, Mg, NO3, 

Pb, pH, SC, SO4, TDS, TSS, Zn

Yes Red River (5 locations) None

Pennak, 1972a Surface water: June, 

July, Aug, Sept 30, Oct, Nov 1971; Jan 15, Feb 26, Mar 25, Apr 30 1972. Biology: May 17, June 23, July 28, Sept 3, Oct 8, Nov 14, 1971.

Pennak Ag, As, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Cd, 

coliform, bacteria, Cr, Cu, CO3, DO, Ga, Ge, hard, Hg, La, Mn, Mo, Nb, Ni, Pb, pH, PO4, Se, SO4, T, turb, TSS, Zn

Yes Red River (6 locations, not 

Ranger Station), mine drainage, Sulphur Gulch, tailings pond influent/effluent, Pope Lake, north drainage, 2 wells. Biology: 4 Red River, 1 Pope Creek (settling pond effluent)

In some cases sampled immediately after a storm 

event or tailings break.

Pennak, 1972b 10/8-9/1971 Pennak DO, DIM, DOM, “free/bound 

CO2,” imbeddedness, pH, T, TSS, turb

No Red River: Molycorp, Inc. line; 

Eagle Rock CG; Pope Creek; fish hatchery. Pope Creek (settling pond effluent)

None

Pennak, 1976 10/5-6/1976 Pennak DO, DIM, DOM, “free/bound 

CO2,” imbeddedness, pH, T, TSS, turb

No Red River: Molycorp, Inc. line; 

Eagle Rock CG; Goat Hill CG; Pope Creek; State Fish Hatchery. Pope Creek (settling pond effluent)

Compared to October 

8-9, 1971 sampling (in Pennack, 1972), which occurred the day after a tailings break.

Table 2. Sampling events, dates, and analyses.[Alk, alkalinity; App, appendix; assoc, associated; BLM, Bureau of Land Management; CG, campground; up, upstream; CN, cyanide; DIM, dissolved inorganic matter; diss, dissolved; DO, dissolved oxygen; DOC, dissolved organic carbon; DOM, dissolved organic matter; hard, hardness; down, downstream; ENSR, ENSR Consulting and Engineering; Inc.; FWPCA, Federal Water Pollution Control Authority; NMEID, New Mexico Environmental Improvement Division; NMED, New Mexico Environment Department; NM BMMR, New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources; NMDGF, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish; params, parameters; POTW, publicly-owned treatment works; RGC, Robertson GeoConsultants; SC, specific conductance; SPRI, South Pass Resources, Inc.; SRK, Steffen, Robertson, and Kirsten; T, temperature; TDS, total dissolved solids; TSS, total suspended sediment; trib, tributary; turb, turbidity; UNM, University of New Mexico; USEPA, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; WC, Woodward-Clyde Consultants; WWTF, waste water treatment facility; --, no data]

Reference Sample event dates Collected by Water-quality parameters

Flow measured with 

sampling Locations

Special sampling events/

analyses

8 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 2. Sampling events, dates, and analyses.—Continued.

Reference Sample event dates Collected by Water-quality parameters

Flow measured with 

sampling Locations

Special sampling events/

analyses

Pennak, 1977a 3/12-13/1977 Pennak DO, DIM, DOM, “free/bound 

CO2,” imbeddedness, pH, T, TSS, turb

No Red River: Molycorp, Inc. line; 

Eagle Rock CG; Goat Hill CG; Pope Creek; State Fish hatchery. Pope Creek (settling pond effluent).

March 1977 sampling in 

response to March 8 tailings breaks.

Pennak, 1978a 3/29-30/1978 Pennak DO, DIM, DOM, “free/bound 

CO2,” imbeddedness, pH, T, TSS, turb

No Red River: Molycorp, Inc. line; 

Eagle Rock CG; Goat Hill CG; Pope Creek; State Fish hatchery. Pope Creek (settling pond effluent).

No chemical data—results 

similar to earlier samplings. Macroinvertebrate density given.

Pennak, 1978b 3/29-30 and 7/25-26/

1978

Pennak DO, DIM, DOM, “free/bound 

CO2,” imbeddedness, pH, T, TSS, turb

No Red River: Molycorp, Inc. line; 

Eagle Rock CG; Goat Hill CG; Pope Creek; State Fish hatchery. Pope Creek (settling pond effluent).

26 July 1978: “extremely 

heavy pollution load” observed at Station 1—no rain, assumed light tan particles from streamside construction upriver.

Pennak, 1979 8/5-6 and 9/9-10/1979 Pennak DO, DIM, DOM, “free/bound 

CO2,” imbeddedness, pH, T, TSS, turb

No Red River: Molycorp, Inc. line; 

Eagle Rock CG; Goat Hill CG; Pope Creek; State Fish hatchery (up/down); mouth of Red River. Pope Creek (settling pond effluent).

Highest runoff in 40 years 

in spring/summer 1979. 

Pennak, 1981 7/18-19/1981 Pennak DO, DIM, DOM, “free/bound 

CO2,” imbeddedness, pH, T, TSS, turb

No Red River: Molycorp, Inc. line; 

Eagle Rock CG; Goat Hill CG; Pope Creek; State Fish hatchery (up/down); mouth of Red River. Pope Creek (settling pond effluent).

1981 runoff below normal. 

Tailings still embedded but better than 1979. Goat Hill and Eagle Rock locations only continuing “problems.”

Pennak, 1983 10/20-22/1982 Pennak DO, DIM, DOM, “free/bound 

CO2,” imbeddedness, pH, T, TSS, turb

No Red River: Molycorp, Inc. line; 

Eagle Rock CG; Goat Hill CG; Pope Creek; State Fish hatchery (up/down); mouth of Red River. Pope Creek (settling pond effluent).

No macroinverts collected 

at Station 7 (0.4km upstream of Rio Grande)—river too deep. Pope Creek not sampled - dry. Quintuplicate macroinvertebrate samples taken. 

Historical Surface-Water Quality 9
Pennak, 1984 10/18-20/1983 Pennak DO, DIM, DOM, “free/bound 

CO2,” imbeddedness, pH, T, TSS, turb

No Red River: Molycorp, Inc. line; 

Eagle Rock CG; Goat Hill CG; Pope Creek; State Fish hatchery (up/down); mouth of Red River. Pope Creek (settling pond effluent).

Big and Little Arsenic 

Springs (Rio Grande 2-3 mi upstream of Red River)—results in separate report Dec 1983.

Faith, 1974 6/4-6/1974 Faith Al, Alk, Ca, Cl, Cu, Eh, Fe, 

K, Mg, Mo, Mn, Na, Ni, pH, SO4, Sn

Yes Red River (not Ranger Station) Spatial (horizontal across 

stream) and temporal (diel) variability examined

USEPA, 1983 9/5-14/1980 USEPA Alk, Ag, Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, 

DO, Ni, NO3, Pb, pH, SC, TDS, TOC, TSS, turb, Se, Zn 

No Red River (8 locations, not 

including Ranger Station)

None

Jacobi and Smolka, 

1984

1/25-27/1984 NMED Ag, Al, Alk, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, 

Cu, DO, Hg, K, Mg, Mo, Mn, Na, Ni, NO3, Pb, pH, SC, Se, SO4, T, TDS, turb, TSS, Zn

No Red River (7 locations), 

Cabresto Creek, Red River POTW

None

Garn, 1985; USGS, 

2003b

10/17/78–12/24/86 USGS Alk, Ca, Cd, Cl, Cu, CN, 

DOC, F, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, nutrients, pH, SC, SO4, TDS, TSS, Zn

Yes Red River (7 locations), Cabresto Creek None

Smolka and Tague, 

1987

2/27/86, 8/18-21/1986 NMED Ag, Al, Alk, As, Ca, Cd, Cr, 

Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mo, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, pH, SC, Se, SO4, TDS, turb 

No Red River (4 locations), Rio 

Grande, Cabresto Creek

Runoff event Aug 18, 1986 

in arroyo and at WWTF

Smolka and Tague, 

1989

3/25/1988 Smolka and 

Tague 

Ag, Al, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, 

Fe, Hg, Mo, Mn, Ni, Pb, pH, SC, Se, TDS, TSS, turb, Zn

No Red River (8 locations), Goose 

Creek, Bitter Creek, Pioneer Creek, Columbine Creek

Rainstorm event Bitter 

Creek—total and diss metals; seepage study from Zwergle Dam and Ranger Station

USEPA, 1988 ~9/21/1988 USEPA Alk, Cl, hard, NH3, pH, salinity, SC No Red River (5 locations, includ- ing Ranger Station), Bitter 

Creek

24-hr bioassays with adult 

Daphnia pulex and fathead minnow embryos (<18-hr old); chemistry results are from day 0 of tests

Table 2. Sampling events, dates, and analyses.—Continued.

Reference Sample event dates Collected by Water-quality parameters

Flow measured with 

sampling Locations

Special sampling events/

analyses

10 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 2. Sampling events, dates, and analyses.—Continued.

Reference Sample event dates Collected by Water-quality parameters

Flow measured with 

sampling Locations

Special sampling events/

analyses

ENSR, 1988 10/10-12/1988 ENSR Al, Alk, Ba, Cd, Cl, Cu, DO, 

Fe, Mo, Mn, Pb, pH, SC, SO4, T, TDS, TSS, turb, Zn

No 7 stations on Red River (Including Ranger Station), 1 on 

Pope Creek.

Benthic and algal populations, density, diversity, benthic community 

indices

NMDGF, 1992 4/9/1991 NMED Ag, Al, Alk, As, B, Ba, Be, 

Ca, Cd, chl-a,b,c, Cl, Co, Cr, Cu, DO, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mo, Mn, Na, Ni, NO3, Pb, pH, PO4, SC, Se, Si, SO4, Sr, T, TDS, turb, V, Zn

No Fawn and Eagle Rock Lakes None

Smolka and Tague, 

1989

9/13-26/1988, 

10/25/1988

NMED Ag, Al, Alk, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, 

Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mo, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, pH, SC, Se, SO4, TDS, turb, TSS, Zn

No Red River (6 locations), Columbine Creek, Rio Grande None

Vail Engineering, Inc., 

1989

11/4/65, 11/4/70, 

8/20/81, 7/26/88, 11/29/1988 (11/29/88 also in App. I Vail 1993)

Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Al, As, Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn 

(11/20/88 only); Alk, F, pH, SO4, TDS, turb, TSS

Ranger Station only Red River (14 locations), Pioneer Creek, Columbine 

Creek, Eagle Rock Lake

7/26/88—short thunderstorm

NMDGF, 1993 and 

USEPA, 2003

2/26–12/16/1992 NMED Ag, Al, As, Ba, Be, Cd, Co, 

Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mo, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, Sn, Sr, V, Zn (2/26, 3/25, 4/29 only); Alk, Ca, Cl, K, Mg, Na, NO3, pH, SC, SO4, TDS, turb, TSS

No Red River (8 locations) None

Vail Engineering, Inc., 

1993

7/25/1992 Molycorp Al, Ca (limited), Cd, Cu, F, 

Fe, Mg, Mo, Mn, Pb, pH, SO4, TDS, TSS, Zn

Yes Red River (17 locations), Eagle 

Rock Lake, Columbine Creek

Rainstorm event July 25, 

1992

Vail Engineering, Inc., 

1993

10/22/1992 Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Al, Alk, F, Fe, Mn, pH, SC, 

SO4, TDS, turb, TSS, Zn

Yes Red River (17 locations), Columbine Creek None

Vail Engineering, Inc., 

1993

2/16/1993 Molycorp Al, Alk, F, Fe, Mn, pH, SC, 

SO4, TDS, TSS, Zn

Yes Red River (11 locations) None

Historical Surface-Water Quality 11
Vail Engineering, Inc., 

written commun., 2002

11/10/1993 Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Al, Alk, F, Fe, Mn, pH, SC, 

SO4, TDS, TSS, Zn

Ranger Station only Red River (21 locations), Col- umbine Creek None

URS, 2001 11/1993 Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Al, Cu, Fe, Mn, SO4, Zn No Red River None

Vail Engineering, Inc., 

written commun., 2002

2/11/1994 Molycorp, Inc. Al, Alk, F, Fe, Mn, pH, SC, 

SO4, TDS, TSS, Zn

Ranger Station only Red River (12 locations) None

Woodward-Clyde Consultants, 1996a 4/18-27/1994, 6/26-28/94, 

11/7-8/1994, 5/9/1995

NMED Ag, Al, As, Ba, Be, Ca, Cd, 

Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, pH, Sb, SC, Se, T, Tl, V, Zn

No Red River (7 locations—not 

Ranger Station), Columbine Creek, 5 seeps

None

SPRI, 1995 5/15/94, 10/13/1994 Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Al, Alk, Ca, Cd, Cl (5/15 

only), Cu, F, Fe, K, Mg, Mo, Mn, Na, Pb, pH, SC, SO4, TDS, TSS, Zn

Ranger Station only Red River (22 locations), Bitter Creek, Hansen Creek, Columbine Creek, Cabin Spring None

Woodward-Clyde 

Consultants, 1994; Kent, 1995

6/26/1994 Woodward-Clyde 

Consultants (field parameters); NMED

Al, Alk, Ba, Ca, Co, Hg, Mg, 

Mn, NO3, Pb, pH, SC, SO4, TDS, TOC, TSS, Zn

No Red River (3 locations), Capulin Canyon drainage, Hansen 

Creek, Goathill seep

None

Molycorp, Inc. written 

commun., 2002

6/27/1994 Unknown Ag, Al, Alk, Ba, Be, Ca, Cd, 

Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mo, Mn, Ni, NH3, Pb, Sb, Se, Tl, V, Zn

No Red River (7 locations), SP-10, 

SP-8, SP-9, SS-3, SS-4, SS5, SS-6

None

Woodward-Clyde Consultants, 1994 6/26-28/1994 NMED Ag, Al, As, Ba, Be, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, 

Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, pH, Sb, SC, Sb, Se, T, Tl, V, Zn

No Red River (7 locations—not 

Ranger Station), Columbine Creek, 5 seeps

None

Woodward-Clyde Consultants, 1996a; Vail 

Engineering, Inc., written commun., 2002; Kent, 1995

11/7-8/1994 NMED Ag, Al, Alk, As, Ba, Be, Cd, 

Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mg, Mo, Mn, Ni, Pb, pH, Sb, SC, Se, SO4, TDS, Tl, TSS, V, Zn

6 locations on 

Red River

9 Red River locations (not 

Ranger Station), Columbine Creek

None

Table 2. Sampling events, dates, and analyses.—Continued.

Reference Sample event dates Collected by Water-quality parameters

Flow measured with 

sampling Locations

Special sampling events/

analyses

12 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 2. Sampling events, dates, and analyses.—Continued.

Reference Sample event dates Collected by Water-quality parameters

Flow measured with 

sampling Locations

Special sampling events/

analyses

URS, 2001 1994-99 Molycorp, Inc. 

NMED, SRK, RGC

Ag, Al, Alk, As, Ba, Be, Ca, 

Cd, Cl, Co, Cr, Cu, F, Fe, Hg, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, NO2, NO3, Pb, pH, Sb, SC, Se, TDS, Tl, TOC, TSS, V, Zn

No Red River Acid base accounting, 

shake flask, paste pH, mine rock analysis, leach tests, rinse pH/SC

Vail Engineering, Inc., 

written commun., 2002

2/14/1995 Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Al, Alk, F, Fe, Mn, pH, SC, 

SO4, TDS, TSS, Zn

Ranger Station only Red River (22 locations), Columbine Creek, Cabin 

Springs

None

Woodward-Clyde Consultants, 1996b 11/9/1995 Vail Engineering, Inc., WC Ag, Al, Alk, As, Ba, Be, Ca, Cd, Cl, Co, Cr, Cu, F, Fe, 

Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, NO3, Pb, pH, Sb, SC, Se, SO4, TDS, Tl, TSS, turb, V, Zn

Ranger Station only Red River (20 locations), Bitter Creek, Hansen Creek, Hottentot, Columbine Creek, 

mine water, 4 springs

None

Vail Engineering, Inc., 

written commun., 2002

2/26/1996 Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Al, F, Mg, Mn, pH, SC, SO4, 

Zn

Ranger Station only Red River (21 locations), Portal Spring, Columbine Creek, 

Cabin Springs, Cabresto Creek

None

Vail Engineering, Inc., 

written commun., 2002

11/5/1996 Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Al, Mg, Mn, pH, SC, SO4, Zn No Red River (20 locations), Hansen Creek, Columbine Creek, 

5 springs

None

Vail Engineering, Inc., 

written commun., 2003

3/13/1997 Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Al, Mg, Mn, pH, SC, SO4, 

turb, Zn

Ranger Station, Hansen, springs 

only 

Red River (24 locations), Hansen Creek, Columbine Creek, 

6 springs, Cabresto Creek, Sawmill Creek, 4 wells

None

Allen and others, 1999 13/5 dates for 3/2 

locations between 6/10/97 and 7/16/98

NM BMMR, 

UNM

Al, Alk, Ca, Cd, Cl, Co, Cu, 

DO, Eh, F, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, NO3, pH, SC, SO4, T, Zn

Yes Red River (5 locations—not 

Ranger Station), Columbine Creek

None

Allen and others, 1999 2/21/98, 7/16/98, 

10/22/1998

NM BMMR, 

UNM

Al, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, 

Zn

No 6 Red River locations Sediment grab samples

Allen and others, 1999 7 dates between 

8/14/97 and 4/29/98, 9/19/97, 6/4/98

NM BMMR, 

UNM

Al, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, 

Zn

No 5 Red River locations, Eagle 

Rock, Fawn Lakes

Sediment trap samples

Historical Surface-Water Quality 13
Allen and others, 1999 9/19/97, 7/16/98, 

10/22-23/98

NM BMMR, 

UNM

Al, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, 

Zn

No 4 Red River locations Terrace sediment samples

Allen and others, 1999 1/1998 NM BMMR, 

UNM

Al, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, 

Zn

No Eagle Rock, Fawn Lakes Sediment core samples

Allen and others, 1999 8/15/97–10/23/98 NM BMMR, 

UNM

Al, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, 

Zn

No Capulin Canyon, Hansen 

Creek, Columbine Creek, Goathill Gulch, 2 Red River locations

Crust, cement, sediments 

assoc with scar areas

Allen and others, 1999 1997/1998 NM BMMR, 

UNM

Mn, Cu, Zn No 5 Red River locations Tree ring samples

Vail Engineering, Inc., 

written commun., 2002

6/10/97–7/16/98 Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Al, Fe, Mn, Zn Ranger Station only Red River (6 locations; Ranger Station has flow but no 

chemistry), Columbine Creek 

None

Vail Engineering, Inc., 

written commun., 2002

7/21/1997 Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Al, Alk, Mg, Mn, pH, SC, 

SO4, turb, Zn

No Red River (24 locations), 

Hansen Creek, Columbine Creek, Bear Creek, 6 springs, 3 wells

None

Vail Engineering, Inc., 

written commun., 2002; URS, 2001

9/9/1997 Vail Engineering, 

Inc., URS (flow only)

Alk, F, Fe, Mg, Mn, pH, SC, 

SO4, TDS, TSS, turb, Zn

Ranger Station (URS), 

Hansen 

Creek (estimated)

Red River (25 locations), Hansen Creek, Columbine Creek, 

Bear Creek, Mallette Creek, 4 springs, 4 wells

None

Vail Engineering, Inc., 

written commun., 2002; URS, 2001

11/3/1997 Vail Engineering, 

Inc., URS (flow only)

Al, F, Mg, Mn, pH, SC, SO4, 

Zn

Ranger Station (URS) Red River (19 locations, 15 field params only), Hansen 

Creek, Cabin Springs, mine water, 3 wells

None

Vail Engineering, Inc., 

written commun., 2002; URS, 2001

3/9/1998 Vail Engineering, 

Inc., URS (flow only)

Al, F, Mg, Mn, pH, SC, SO4, 

Zn

Ranger Station (URS) Red River (22 locations, only 6 with metals, Columbine 

Creek, 5 springs, mine water, 5 wells

None

Table 2. Sampling events, dates, and analyses.—Continued.

Reference Sample event dates Collected by Water-quality parameters

Flow measured with 

sampling Locations

Special sampling events/

analyses

14 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 2. Sampling events, dates, and analyses.—Continued.

Reference Sample event dates Collected by Water-quality parameters

Flow measured with 

sampling Locations

Special sampling events/

analyses

Vail Engineering, Inc., 

written commun., 2002

4/30/1998 Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Cu, F, hard, Mn, pH, SC, SO4, 

TSS, Zn

No Red River (21 locations, 5 field 

params only), Bitter Creek, Columbine, Mallette Creek, 4 springs, mine water, 3 wells

None

Vail Engineering, Inc., 

written commun., 2002

8/27/1998 Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

pH, SC Borehole only Hansen Creek, Hansen trib, 

borehole

None

Vail Engineering, Inc., 

written commun., 2002

10/20/1998 Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Al, Zn, Mo, Cu (Red River 

and wells only); F, pH, SC, SO4

10 Red River 

stations, 

Columbine, 

Bear Creek

Red River (24 locations, only 

3 with metals), Columbine Creek, 2 wells, Bear Creek

None

Vail Engineering, Inc., 

written commun., 2002

2/25/1999 Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

pH, SC, SO4, turb No Red River (23 locations); 2 

springs, Columbine Creek, mine water (pH, SC only)

None

Vail Engineering, Inc., 

written commun., 2002

9/27/1999 Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

SC No Red River (17 locations), Columbine Creek, 6 wells None

Vail Engineering, Inc., 

written commun., 2002; Vail Engineering, Inc., 2000; URS, 2001

10/13/1999 Vail Engineering, 

Inc., URS (flow only)

Mn, Al, Zn (6 Red River, 

3 springs, 4 wells); F, Mg, pH, SC, SO4

8 Red River 

stations, 

Columbine 

Creek, 

South Ditch

Red River (23 locations), 

Columbine Creek, Mallette Creek, Pioneer Creek, 3 springs, 6 wells

None

Vail Engineering, Inc., 

written commun., 2002; URS, 2001

3/15/2000 Vail Engineering, 

Inc., URS (flow only)

Al, F, Mg, Mn, pH, SC, SO4, 

turb, Zn

13 Red River 

stations, 

Columbine 

Creek

Red River (22 locations), Columbine Creek, Bear Creek, 5 

springs, 4 wells, mine water

None

Kent, 1995 6/26-27/94, 

11/7-8/1994

NMED Ag, Al, As, Ba, Be, Ca, Cd, 

Co, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, pH, SC, Sb, Se, T, Tl, V, Zn

No Red River (7 locations—not 

Ranger Station), Columbine Creek, 5 seeps

None

RGC, 2000c 3/24/00–11/06/00 RGC Ag, Al, Alk, As, Ba, Be, Ca, 

Cd, Cl, Co, Cr, Cu, F, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, NO3, Pb, pH, Sb, SC, Se, SO4, T, Tl, TDS, TSS, V, Zn

Yes Red River (15 locations); Bitter, Columbine, Hottentot, 

Straight, Little Hansen, Pioneer, Capulin creeks; springs; wells; mine water

Diurnal variability Straight, 

Hansen Creek. (Apr 16, 2000). Season trends, thunderstorm events (7/18/00 and 8/6/00)

Historical Surface-Water Quality 15
Medine, 2000; Molycorp, Inc. written 

commun., 2002

5/1-12/2000 Unknown Al, Alk, Ca, Cd, Cl, Co, Cu, 

F, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, NO3, Pb, pH, SC, SO4, TDS, TSS, Zn

9 Red River 

locations, 

Bitter 

Creek, 

Columbine 

Creek

Red River (10 locations), Bitter 

Creek, Columbine Creek, 1 seep

None

Vail Engineering, Inc., 

written commun., 2002

9/6/2000 Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Al, Mn, Zn (6 Red River, 

1 spring, 3 wells); F, pH, SC, SO4

16 Red River, 

Columbine 

Creek, Pioneer Creek

Red River (23 locations), 1 

spring, Columbine Creek, Pioneer Creek, 3 wells

None

Vail Engineering, Inc., 

written commun., 2002

11/3/2000 Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Al, Zn (6 Red River, 4 wells); 

Alk, F, pH, SC, SO4

13 Red River 

stations, 

Columbine 

Creek

Red River (23 locations), Columbine, 4 wells None

Vail Engineering, Inc., 

written commun., 2002

2/20/2001 Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Al, Cu, Mn, Mo, Zn (9 Red 

River, 2 springs); F, Mg, pH, SC, SO4, TDS

13 Red River 

stations, 

Columbine 

Creek, Mallette Creek

Red River (17 locations), 

Columbine Creek, Mallette Creek, 3 springs, 3 wells

None

Table 2. Sampling events, dates, and analyses.—Continued.

Reference Sample event dates Collected by Water-quality parameters

Flow measured with 

sampling Locations

Special sampling events/

analyses

16 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
FWPCA, 1966 Grabs every 9 hrs, 

composited at 2-hr intervals, composited 3 8-hr interval samples

No -- APHA, 1965. SO4: 

turbidimetric; hard: EDTA titration; Fe, Zn, As, Pb: colorimetric

New Mexico State 

Public Health Lab, Albuquerque, New Mex.

No High detection limits 

for Pb, Zn

USEPA, 1971 Composite samples: 

every 2 hrs for 8 hrs; 1 24-hr sampling in 3 8-hr segments. Bacteriological: collected in sterile, glass bottles. Surber sampler, sieving for macroinvertebrates.

TDS only Bacteria: ice; macroinvertebrates: 

5% formalin.

APHA, 1971. Fe, 

Pb:colorimetric, Zn:AAS, Total, fecal coliform, fecal streptococci. Benthics hand-picked and sugar flotation technique, keyed, classed as clean water, facultative, or tolerant.

New Mexico State 

Health Department Laboartory, Albuquerque, New Mex.

No --

Pennak, 1972a and 

1972b

No information on 

water methods; macroinvertebrates: Surber sampler; periphyton scraped from rock with sharp scalpel for 5-10 minutes from 3-8 rocks/location.

Assume unfiltered Periphyton: formalin. Ag, As, B, Ba, Cl, CN, Mo, NO3, Se, 

PO4-colorimetric; Hg-cold vapor; Ba, Cl-titration; Cd, Pb-APDC extraction/flame AAS; Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn-flame AAS; sulfate, TSS-gravimetric. USEPA 1979; APHA, 1971; Brown and others, 1970

Geolabs, a division of Natural Resources 

Laboratory, Inc., Lakewood, Colo.

No High detection limits 

for colorimetric methods. Data available only for Sept 1971 and all dates in 1972.

Table 3. Sample collection, preservation, and analysis methods, laboratory, and quality control plans.[AAS, atomic absorption spectrometry; alk, alkalinity; APDC, ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate; APHA, American Public Health Association; CLP, contract laboratory procedure; EDTA, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; EMSL-LV, Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory, Las Vegas; ENSR, ENSR Consulting and Engineering; EP, extraction procedure; FWPCA, Federal Water Pollution Control Authority; GFAAS, graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry; HDPE, high-density polyethylene; hard, hardness; ICP-AES, inductively-coupled argon-plasma—atomic emission spectrometry; ICP-MS, inductively-coupled argon-plasma—mass spectrometry; Lab., laboratory; NMDGF, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish; NMEID, New Mexico Environmental Improvement Division; μg/L, micrograms per liter; NMED, New Mexico Environment Department; μm, micrometer; QAPP, quality assurance project plan; QA/QC, quality assurance/quality control; refrig, refrigerated; RGC, Robertson Geoconsultants; TAL, target analyte list; TDS, total dissolved solids; TSS, total suspended solids; UCLA, University of California at Los Angeles; UNM, University of New Mexico; USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; USEPA, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; --, no information]

Reference Collection methods Filtered Preservation Laboratory methods Laboratory QAPP Comments

Historical Surface-Water Quality 17
Table 3. Sample collection, preservation, and analysis methods, laboratory, and quality control plans.—Continued.

Reference Collection methods Filtered Preservation Laboratory methods Laboratory QAPP Comments

Faith, 1974 -- 0.45-μm HNO3 SO4: gravimetric; 

Cl: HgNO3 titration; Na, K, Mg: AAS; Ca: EDTA titration; Fe, Mn, Al, Cu, Ni, Sn: GFAAS; Mo, SiO2: colorimetric; filter residue digested.

Assume New Mex. 

Institute of Mining and Technology

No --

Pennak, 1976 -- Suspended sediment 

samples only

-- -- -- No More focus on benthics than water 

quality. No metals determined. Also sampled on 17 May 1971.

Pennak, 1977a -- Suspended sediment 

samples only

-- -- -- No --

Pennak, 1978a -- Suspended sediment 

samples only

-- -- -- No Assumes “thin yellowish-tan chemical deposit” above 

the Eagle Rock from Molycorp, Inc. operations (p. 1). Noted reduction in macroinvertebrates at Eagle Rock, some coated with precipitate (p. 2).

Pennak, 1978b -- Suspended sediment 

samples only

-- -- -- No Now state yellowish-tan chemical 

deposit is naturally-occurring. Note improvement in 1978 conditions.

18 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 3. Sample collection, preservation, and analysis methods, laboratory, and quality control plans.—Continued.

Reference Collection methods Filtered Preservation Laboratory methods Laboratory QAPP Comments

Molycorp, Inc, 1979 -- Some dissolved 

measurements; assume pore size 0.45-μm

-- -- Outfall samples by 

State Scientific Laboratory and University of Colorado’s Molybdenum Project in Boulder, Colo.

No Monthly record of 

flow, Cu, Zn at fish hatchery from 1/31/66–4/27/99 and Red River mouth from 1/4/66–5/14/69. In outfall 001, 002, 003 flow, CN. Outfall 001 (decant water tailings) permit violations for CN, F, Fe, foam; 002 for Mn. High Mo concs in outfalls 001, 002 (1,430-3,200 μg/L) in 1975. High Mo concs up/downstream hatchery in late ‘70s (BLM data).

Pennak, 1979 -- Suspended sediment 

samples only

-- -- -- No Productivity in 

1979 very low compared to other years. Natural stream “catastrophe” of much greater magnitude than man-made events (p. 11).

Pennak, 1981 -- Suspended sediment 

samples only

-- -- -- No More species found 

at most locations. The stream is now in “better biological shape” than at any previous time sampled.

Historical Surface-Water Quality 19
Table 3. Sample collection, preservation, and analysis methods, laboratory, and quality control plans.—Continued.

Reference Collection methods Filtered Preservation Laboratory methods Laboratory QAPP Comments

Melancon and others, 1982 Triplicate grabs at mid depth; automatic sampler: 

24-hr composites at 1-hr intervals for metals (eight 3-hr composities)

0.45-μm ICP-AES metals: 

Ultrex HNO3; see Table 4 for volumes, preservation; Table 3 for specifications; Table 5 for methods, precision/accuracy

ICP-AES UCLA—metals 

Biomedical and Environmental Science Lab.; EMSL-LV for field params

No Arsenic data 

questionable for intended use; high Cd and Ag detection limits.

Pennak, 1983 -- Suspended sediment 

samples only

-- -- -- No 1982 summer 

frequent/heavy rains—flows in Oct ~2x “normal,” similar to 1979 summer; lowest variability in pH (7.5-7.7) at all stations; macroinvertebrate species slowly increasing. 

Pennak, 1984 -- Suspended sediment 

samples only

-- -- -- No Highest, longest 

spring runoff sampled; Red River warmer than usual; substrate had higher % rubble, small rubble (1-4 in.) reduced; formed sand and gravel bars. 

Jacobi and Smolka, 

1984

1-L polyethylene cubitainers cleaned 

in 10% v/v HCl, pre-rinsed with sample water. Surface water collected 6x during a 45-hr period beginning on Jan 25, 1984; chainof-custody used.

No

H2SO4 for PO4 and 

nitrate; TSS,TDS refrig; Mg, Na, K, Cl, SO4, HCO3, alk refrig (no acid); As, Ba, Cd, Pb, Hg, Mo, Se, Zn HNO3+ice

APHA, 1975; 

USEPA, 1979

Scientific Laboratory Division, 

Albuquerque

NMEID, 1982 --

20 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 3. Sample collection, preservation, and analysis methods, laboratory, and quality control plans.—Continued.

Reference Collection methods Filtered Preservation Laboratory methods Laboratory QAPP Comments

Smolka and Tague, 

1987

Turb: 250-mL clean 

polypropylene bottles; 1-L polyethylene cubitainers for nutrients, TSS, TDS, major cations/anions, trace metals; pre-rinsed with sample water; chain-of-custody forms used.

Mg, Ca, K, Na dissolved; 2/27/86 

sample total and dissolved metals

Nutrients: H2SO4, 

4°C; anions: 4°C; turbidity: 4°C; metals: HNO3; CN: pH 12, NaOH

USEPA, 1979; 

USEPA, 1982

Scientific Laboratory Division, 

Albuquerque

NMEID, 1986 --

USEPA, 1988 -- No On ice at 4°C No information 

given; bioassays: USEPA Method EPA/600/4-85/013

Inorganic Laboratory, USEPA, 

Houston, Region VI

No Results from day 0 

of bioassay tests

ENSR, 1988 Surface water: 1-L 

containers, middepth in thalweg; Macroinvertebrates: Surber sampler or net; rocks scraped with pocket knife.

Suspended sediment 

and dissolved

On ice, acidified to 

pH 2 with HNO3at lab; periphyton preserved with 5% formalin

Detection limits 

(μg/L) = Cd 5; Pb 50; Mo 20; Cu 10; Al 500, Ba 500. No information on methods.

Molycorp, Inc. ’s 

on site analytical laboratory for surface water

No High detection limit 

for Pb

Smolka and Tague, 

1989

Turb: 250-mL clean 

polypropylene bottles; TSS, TDS, major cations/anions, trace metals: 1-L polyethylene cubitainers.

0.45-μm Millipore Nutrients: H2SO4, 

4°C; anions: 4°C; turbidity: 4°C; metals: HNO3; CN: pH 12, NaOH

Turb: Hach 2100A 

Turbidimeter; seds screened through 2-μm screen: EP Toxicity test; others same as Smolka and Tague, 1987; APHA, 1976; USEPA, 1979

Scientific Laboratory Division, 

Albuquerque

NMEID, 1986 --

Vail Engineering, 

Inc., 1989

17 samples over a 

12-mile segment of river—synoptic over 4 hours.

Yes; assume 

0.45-μm

NA NA Assay Laboratory at 

Questa Mine

No --

Historical Surface-Water Quality 21
Table 3. Sample collection, preservation, and analysis methods, laboratory, and quality control plans.—Continued.

Reference Collection methods Filtered Preservation Laboratory methods Laboratory QAPP Comments

NMDGF, 1992 Turb: 250-mL clean 

polypropylene bottles; Nutrients, TSS, TDS, major cations/anions, trace metals: 1-L polyethylene cubitainers; fish, macroinvertebrates, diatoms sampled.

Filtered (assume 

0.45-μm) and unfiltered samples

Nutrients: H2SO4, 

4°C; anions: 4°C; turbidity: 4°C; metals: HNO3

USEPA, 1979; 

USEPA, 1982

Scientific Laboratory Division, 

Albuquerque

NMEID, 1991 Only in Fawn Lake 

and Eagle Rock Lake—fed by water from Red River

NMDGF, 1993 Turb: 250-mL clean 

polypropylene bottles; nutrients, TSS, TDS, major cations/anions, trace metals: 1-L polyethylene cubitainers.

Yes; assume 

0.45-μm

Nutrients: H2SO4, 

4°C; anions: 4°C; turbidity: 4°C; metals: HNO3

USEPA, 1979; 

USEPA, 1982

Scientific Laboratory Division, 

Albuquerque

NMEID, 1991 --

Vail Engineering, 

Inc., 1993

-- Al only -- -- Assay Laboratory at 

Questa Mine

No --

Woodward-Clyde 

Consultants, 1994

Collected splits from 

NMED (June 1994)—pre-preserved sample bottles

Same as Kent, 1995 Same as Kent, 1995 Same as Kent, 1995 ETC Northwest, 

Redmond, Wash.

CLP methods, TAL 

list

Field observations of 

NMED June 1994 sampling event, review of Kent, 1995

22 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 3. Sample collection, preservation, and analysis methods, laboratory, and quality control plans.—Continued.

Reference Collection methods Filtered Preservation Laboratory methods Laboratory QAPP Comments

Kent, 1995 1-L HDPE bottles, 

250-mL beaker, plastic scoop, or tygon tubing for collecting seep water; split with Woodward-Clyde Consultants Decontaminated beakers with Alconox between samples; used chain of custody; measured pH with litmus paper; duplicate/blank samples.

Yes (assume 

0.45-μm); did not decontaminate with HNO3 between samples

HNO3 to pH 2 for 

TAL list, H2SO4for general chem, on ice

CLP for TAL list; 

Alk: SM2320B; NH3: EPA 350.2; Cl: EPA 325.3; COD: EPA 410.4; NO3/NO2: EPA 353.2; PO4/P: EPA 365.3; SO4: EPA 375.4; TDS/TSS: EPA160.1/160.2; DOC: EPA 9060

Silver Valley Labs, 

Kellogg, Idaho

CLP methods, TAL 

list. Work plan: NMED 1991.

Blew into 4-L 

cubitainers before filling; did not decontaminate filtration device between samples

SPRI, 1995 -- Al only -- -- Molycorp, Inc. ’s 

on site analytical laboratory for surface water

No --

Woodward-Clyde 

Consultants, 1996a

Collected splits from 

NMED (June 1994)—pre-preserved sample bottles

Same as Kent, 1995 Same as Kent, 1995 Same as Kent, 1995 ETC Northwest, 

Redmond, Wash.

CLP methods, TAL 

list

--

Allen and others, 

1999

Stream samples: 

peristaltic pump; equipment blanks, field replicates, chain-of-custody. Used sediment traps. Alluvium: natural scar areas. Fe coatings: low -pH seeps; cemented fluvial sand/gravel: <100 mesh. Al crusts: removed with polypropylene spatula and using peristaltic pump over floc.

0.45-μm in-line 

Gelman

HNO3 for metals, on 

ice for anions

Major cations: flame 

AAS; anions: Dionex-500X; trace metals: ICPMS. Sed samples dried, 100-mesh sieve, Digestion using 1:1:1.5 mix of HNO3, HClO4, HF. Standard calibration curves basalt working standard UNM B1. Spiked samples.

University of New 

Mexico

No --

Historical Surface-Water Quality 23
Table 3. Sample collection, preservation, and analysis methods, laboratory, and quality control plans.—Continued.

Reference Collection methods Filtered Preservation Laboratory methods Laboratory QAPP Comments

Vail Engineering, 

Inc., 2000

Synoptic sampling, 

samples collected mid-stream, in upstream direction; bottles filled with mouth pointing upstream; chain of custody used. 

Filtered at the lab 

within 20 hrs of collection (assume 0.45-μm)

Iced after collection; 

preservation at laboratory within 20 hrs of collection

-- CDS Labs, Durango, 

Colo. (now Acculabs, Inc.)

No --

RGC, 2000b Duplicates, equipment blanks, 

chain-of-custody, field blanks; See work plan RGC (2000a) for details.

0.45-μm, disposable 

syringe and inline filters

Metals: HNO3; anions: on ice. See 

RGC (2000a)

See appendix B 

RGC (2000c)

ACZ, Steamboat 

Springs (Mar–Jun 2000); after ~mid-June 2000 Paragon Analytics Inc. Some splits to ACZ and Molycorp, Inc. Lab for QA/QC for F.

Final QA/QC 

analysis will be completed at end of 2000 field season. See RGC (2000a).

Found thunderstorm 

generated more contaminant loading than snowmelt event

Garn, 1985 Sampled ~10x/yr ~ 

monthly; winter bimonthly; spring runoff—near peak flow and rising and falling stages; event samples. 

Yes; assume 

0.45-μm

Yes Skougstad and others, 1979. USGS laboratory in Denver, Colo. No Data in USGS, 2003b

Medine, 2000 -- -- ICP -- No --

24 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Historical Surface-Water Quality 25
Date (mm/dd/yy) 11/03/65 11/04/65 11/04/65 11/04/65 11/04/65

Time (24-hr) -- -- -- -- --

Collected by FWPCA FWPCA FWPCA FWPCA Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Source FWPCA,1966 FWPCA,1966 FWPCA,1966 FWPCA,1966 Vail Engineering, 

Inc., 1989

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) -- -- -- 26.3 26.3

Flow Comments -- -- -- -- --

Hydrologic Condition Low flow Low flow Low flow Low flow Low flow

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) 26 26 26 26 26

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 -- -- -- -- --

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 119 119 119 119 119

pH-field (SU) 7.9 8.0 8.5 8.4 8.1

pH-lab (SU) 7.6 7.5 7.5 7.5 --

SC-field (μS/cm) 255 260 260 255 --

SC-lab (μS/cm) 242 253 262 253 --

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

Temp, field (°C) 5.0 4.0 4.5 2.3 --

TDS, meas (mg/L) 180 195 200 170 186

TSS (mg/L) 8.0 8.0 78.0 8.0 25

DOC (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, field (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) 5 4.3 5.9 8.7 5.6

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final 33 34.4 34.4 34 --

Mg final 9.3 8.3 9.5 -- --

Na final -- -- -- -- --

K final -- -- -- -- --

SO4 final 62 63 67 62 64

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) 57.9 55 58.9 54.5 56

F final -- -- -- -- --

Cl final 1 1.5 0.5 1.5 --

Ag_d -- -- -- -- --

Ag_t -- -- -- -- --

Al_d -- -- -- -- --

Al_s -- -- -- -- --

Al_t -- -- -- -- --

As_d -- -- -- -- --

Table 4. Historical water-quality data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001.

[A, average (monthly composite); Alk, alkalinity; avg, average (monthly composite); Avg, average; BLM, Bureau of Land Management; _d, dissolved; 

DOC, dissolved organic carbon; FWPCA, Federal Water Pollution Control Authority; final, dissolved if available, total if dissolved not available, unknown if 

neither available; J, estimated value; JTU, Jackson turbidity units; Max, maximum; mg/L, milligrams per liter; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; mm/dd/yy, 

month/day/year; NMDGF, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish; NMED, New Mexico Environment Department; NM ONRT, New Mexico Office of the 

Natural Resource Trustee; NTU, nephelometric turbidity units; RGC, Robertson GeoConsultants; _s, suspended; SC, specific conductance; SPRI, South Pass 

Resources, Inc.; SRK, Steffen, Robertson & Kirsten, Inc.; SU, standard units; Temp, temperature; _t, total; TDS, total dissolved solids; TSS, total suspended 

sediment; USEPA, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; <, less than; _?, not known if total or dissolved; --, no data]

26 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Date (mm/dd/yy) 11/03/65 11/04/65 11/04/65 11/04/65 11/04/65

As_t <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 --

Ba_d -- -- -- -- --

Ba_t -- -- -- -- --

Be_d -- -- -- -- --

Be_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_d -- -- -- -- --

Cd_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_? -- -- -- -- --

Co_d -- -- -- -- --

Co_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_d -- -- -- -- --

Cr_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_? -- -- -- -- --

Cu_d -- -- -- -- --

Cu_t -- -- -- -- --

Cu_? -- -- -- -- --

Fe_d <0.02 <0.02 <0.02 <0.02 --

Fe_t -- -- -- -- --

Fe_? -- -- -- -- --

Hg_d -- -- -- -- --

Hg_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_d -- -- -- -- --

Mn_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_? -- -- -- -- --

Mo_d -- -- -- -- --

Mo_t -- -- -- -- --

Mo_? -- -- -- -- --

Ni_d -- -- -- -- --

Ni_t -- -- -- -- --

P_t -- -- -- -- --

Pb_d -- -- -- -- --

Pb_t <0.02 <0.02 <0.02 <0.02 --

Se_d -- -- -- -- --

Se_t -- -- -- -- --

SiO2 final -- -- -- -- --

Tl_d -- -- -- -- --

Tl_t -- -- -- -- --

V_d -- -- -- -- --

V_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_d -- -- -- -- --

Zn_t 1 1 1 1 --

Zn_? -- -- -- -- --

Total cations (meq/L) -- -- -- 1.6 --

Total anions (meq/L) -- -- -- 1.2 --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -- -- 25.8 --

Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Historical Surface-Water Quality 27
Date (mm/dd/yy) 11/07/65 11/08/65 11/02/70 11/03/70 11/04/70

Time (24-hr) -- -- -- -- --

Collected by FWPCA FWPCA USEPA USEPA USEPA

Source FWPCA,1966 FWPCA,1966 USEPA, 1971 USEPA, 1971 USEPA, 1971

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) -- -- -- -- 11.2

Flow Comments -- -- -- -- --

Hydrologic Condition Low flow Low flow Low flow Low flow Low flow

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) 25 25 13 12 11

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 -- -- -- -- --

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 119 119 189 189 189

pH-field (SU) 7.8 7.8 6.5 6.6 7.0

pH-lab (SU) 7.6 -- 7.0 7.0 7.7

SC-field (μS/cm) 250 250 260 260 250

SC-lab (μS/cm) 266 -- 250 260 255

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

Temp, field (°C) 3.8 3.0 3.9 2.8 2.2

TDS, meas (mg/L) -- -- 173 185 90

TSS (mg/L) -- -- 4.0 1.0 1.0

DOC (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, field (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) 4 6.3 6.1 6.5 60

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final 36 -- 34 36 38

Mg final -- -- 4.9 9.8 6.1

Na final -- -- -- -- --

K final -- -- -- -- --

SO4 final -- -- 50 80 69.2

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) 55 -- 54 52 55

F final -- -- -- -- --

Cl final 2 -- 2 -- --

Ag_d -- -- -- -- --

Ag_t -- -- -- -- --

Al_d -- -- -- -- --

Al_s -- -- -- -- --

Al_t -- -- -- -- --

As_d -- -- -- -- --

As_t <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01

Ba_d -- -- -- -- --

Ba_t -- -- -- -- --

Be_d -- -- -- -- --

Be_t -- -- -- -- --

Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

28 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Date (mm/dd/yy) 11/07/65 11/08/65 11/02/70 11/03/70 11/04/70

Cd_d -- -- -- -- --

Cd_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_? -- -- -- -- --

Co_d -- -- -- -- --

Co_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_d -- -- -- -- --

Cr_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_? -- -- -- -- --

Cu_d -- -- -- -- --

Cu_t -- -- -- -- --

Cu_? -- -- -- -- --

Fe_d <0.02 -- 0.08 0.0 0.08

Fe_t -- -- -- -- --

Fe_? -- -- -- -- --

Hg_d -- -- -- -- --

Hg_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_d -- -- -- -- --

Mn_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_? -- -- -- -- --

Mo_d -- -- -- -- --

Mo_t -- -- -- -- --

Mo_? -- -- -- -- --

Ni_d -- -- -- -- --

Ni_t -- -- -- -- --

P_t -- -- -- -- --

Pb_d -- -- -- -- --

Pb_t <0.02 <0.02 <0.02 <0.02 <0.02

Se_d -- -- -- -- --

Se_t -- -- -- -- --

SiO2 final -- -- -- -- --

Tl_d -- -- -- -- --

Tl_t -- -- -- -- --

V_d -- -- -- -- --

V_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_d -- -- -- -- --

Zn_t 1 1 0.02 0.01 0.01

Zn_? -- -- -- -- --

Total cations (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Total anions (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -- -- -- --

Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Historical Surface-Water Quality 29
Date (mm/dd/yy) 11/04/70 11/05/70 11/05/70 11/05/70 01/15/77

Time (24-hr) -- -- -- -- --

Collected by Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

USEPA USEPA USEPA Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Source Vail Engineering, 

Inc., 1989

USEPA, 1971 USEPA, 1971 USEPA, 1971 Molycorp, Inc., 

1979

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) 11.9 -- -- -- --

Flow Comments -- -- -- -- --

Hydrologic Condition Low flow Low flow Low flow Low flow Low flow

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) 11 12 12 12 --

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 -- -- -- -- 4.41

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 189 189 189 189 157

pH-field (SU) 6.8 6.9 6.8 6.8 --

pH-lab (SU) -- 7.3 7.4 7.1 --

SC-field (μS/cm) -- 245 255 260 --

SC-lab (μS/cm) -- 255 250 245 --

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

Temp, field (°C) -- 1.0 2.8 2.8 --

TDS, meas (mg/L) 160 183 170 158 211 A

TSS (mg/L) 2.7 1.0 2.0 7.0 18 A

DOC (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, field (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) 26.9 9 8.5 10 10

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final -- 36 36 34 --

Mg final -- 4.9 3.7 12.2 --

Na final -- -- -- -- --

K final -- -- -- -- --

SO4 final 66 56 64 80 103 A

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) 54 56 50 55 --

F final -- -- -- -- 0.8 A

Cl final -- 2 -- -- --

Ag_d -- -- -- -- --

Ag_t -- -- -- -- --

Al_d -- -- -- -- --

Al_s -- -- -- -- --

Al_t -- -- -- -- --

As_d -- -- -- -- --

As_t <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 --

Ba_d -- -- -- -- --

Ba_t -- -- -- -- --

Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

30 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Date (mm/dd/yy) 11/04/70 11/05/70 11/05/70 11/05/70 01/15/77

Be_d -- -- -- -- --

Be_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_d -- -- -- -- --

Cd_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_? -- -- -- -- <0.01 A

Co_d -- -- -- -- --

Co_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_d -- -- -- -- --

Cr_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_? -- -- -- -- --

Cu_d -- -- -- -- --

Cu_t -- -- -- -- --

Cu_? -- -- -- -- --

Fe_d 0.2 0.20 0.12 0.08 --

Fe_t -- -- -- -- --

Fe_? -- -- -- -- 0.73 A

Hg_d -- -- -- -- --

Hg_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_d -- -- -- -- --

Mn_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_? -- -- -- -- 0.75 A

Mo_d -- -- -- -- --

Mo_t -- -- -- -- --

Mo_? -- -- -- -- --

Ni_d -- -- -- -- --

Ni_t -- -- -- -- --

P_t -- -- -- -- --

Pb_d -- -- -- -- --

Pb_t <0.02 <0.02 <0.02 <0.02 --

Se_d -- -- -- -- --

Se_t -- -- -- -- --

SiO2 final -- -- -- -- --

Tl_d -- -- -- -- --

Tl_t -- -- -- -- --

V_d -- -- -- -- --

V_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_d -- -- -- -- --

Zn_t 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.02 --

Zn_? -- -- -- -- 0.18 A

Total cations (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Total anions (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -- -- -- --

Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Historical Surface-Water Quality 31
Date (mm/dd/yy) 02/15/77 03/08/77 03/15/77 04/15/77 05/15/77

Time (24-hr) -- -- -- -- --

Collected by Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Source Molycorp, Inc., 

1979

Molycorp, Inc., 

1979

Molycorp, Inc., 

1979

Molycorp, Inc., 

1979

Molycorp, Inc., 

1979

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) -- -- -- -- --

Flow Comments -- -- -- -- --

Hydrologic Condition Low flow Low flow Low flow Rising limb Peak

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) -- 5.5 -- -- --

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 4.81 -- 5.11 10.0 21.9

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 157 29 157 29 29

pH-field (SU) -- -- -- -- --

pH-lab (SU) -- -- -- -- --

SC-field (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

SC-lab (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

Temp, field (°C) -- -- -- -- --

TDS, meas (mg/L) 192 A -- 201 A 184 A 157 A

TSS (mg/L) 18 A -- 221 A 14 A 13 A

DOC (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, field (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) 10 -- 623 11 7

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final -- -- -- -- --

Mg final -- -- -- -- --

Na final -- -- -- -- --

K final -- -- -- -- --

SO4 final 107 A -- 109 A 60 A 40 A

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) -- -- <45 -- --

F final 0.7 A -- 0.9 A 1.1 0.5

Cl final -- -- -- -- --

Ag_d -- -- -- -- --

Ag_t -- -- -- -- --

Al_d -- -- -- -- --

Al_s -- -- -- -- --

Al_t -- -- -- -- --

As_d -- -- -- -- --

As_t -- -- -- -- --

Ba_d -- -- -- -- --

Ba_t -- -- -- -- --

Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

32 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Date (mm/dd/yy) 02/15/77 03/08/77 03/15/77 04/15/77 05/15/77

Be_d -- -- -- -- --

Be_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_d -- -- -- -- --

Cd_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_? <0.01 A -- <0.01 A <0.01 A <0.01 A

Co_d -- -- -- -- --

Co_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_d -- -- -- -- --

Cr_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_? -- -- -- -- --

Cu_d -- -- -- -- --

Cu_t -- -- -- -- --

Cu_? -- -- -- -- --

Fe_d -- -- -- -- --

Fe_t -- -- -- -- --

Fe_? 0.5 A -- 5.02 A 0.68 A 0.74 A

Hg_d -- -- -- -- --

Hg_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_d -- -- -- -- --

Mn_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_? 0.6 A -- 1.1 A 0.48 A 0.28 A

Mo_d -- -- -- -- --

Mo_t -- -- -- -- --

Mo_? -- -- 0.02 A -- --

Ni_d -- -- -- -- --

Ni_t -- -- -- -- --

P_ -- -- -- -- --

Pb_d -- -- -- -- --

Pb_t -- -- -- -- --

Se_d -- -- -- -- --

Se_t -- -- -- -- --

SiO2 final -- -- -- -- --

Tl_d -- -- -- -- --

Tl_t -- -- -- -- --

V_d -- -- -- -- --

V_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_d -- -- -- -- --

Zn_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_? 0.16 A -- 0.36 A 0.19 A 0.11 A

Total cations (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Total anions (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -- -- -- --

Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Historical Surface-Water Quality 33
Date (mm/dd/yy) 06/15/77 07/15/77 08/15/77 09/15/77 10/15/77

Time (24-hr) -- -- -- -- --

Collected by Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Source Molycorp, Inc., 

Inc., 1979

Molycorp, Inc., 

Inc., 1979

Molycorp, Inc., 

1979

Molycorp, Inc., 

1979

Molycorp, Inc., 

1979

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) -- -- -- -- --

Flow Comments -- -- -- -- --

Hydrologic Condition Peak Falling limb Storm Storm Storm

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) -- -- -- -- --

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 22.7 26.8 21.4 17.8 13.8

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 29 29 29 29 29

pH-field (SU) -- -- -- -- --

pH-lab (SU) -- -- -- -- --

SC-field (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

SC-lab (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

Temp, field (°C) -- -- -- -- --

TDS, meas (mg/L) 217 A 152 A 162 A 155 A 170 A

TSS (mg/L) 201 A 112 A 335 A 332 A 28 A

DOC (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, field (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) 17 77 61 170 15

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final -- -- -- -- --

Mg final -- -- -- -- --

Na final -- -- -- -- --

K final -- -- -- -- --

SO4 final 57 A 58 A 55 A 55 A 53 A

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) -- -- -- -- --

F final 0.7 0.6 0.5 A 0.5 A 0.5 A

Cl final -- -- -- -- --

Ag_d -- -- -- -- --

Ag_t -- -- -- -- --

Al_d -- -- -- -- --

Al_s -- -- -- -- --

Al_t -- -- -- -- --

As_d -- -- -- -- --

As_t -- -- -- -- --

Ba_d -- -- -- -- --

Ba_t -- -- -- -- --

Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

34 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Date (mm/dd/yy) 06/15/77 07/15/77 08/15/77 09/15/77 10/15/77

Be_d -- -- -- -- --

Be_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_d -- -- -- -- --

Cd_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_? <0.01 A <0.01 A <0.01 A <0.01 A <0.01 A

Co_d -- -- -- -- --

Co_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_d -- -- -- -- --

Cr_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_? -- -- -- -- --

Cu_d -- -- -- -- --

Cu_t -- -- -- -- --

Cu_? -- -- -- -- --

Fe_d -- -- -- -- --

Fe_t -- -- -- -- --

Fe_? 4.45 A 13.4 A 4.52 A 18.4 A 1.8 A

Hg_d -- -- -- -- --

Hg_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_d -- -- -- -- --

Mn_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_? 0.83 A 0.45 A 0.42 A 0.58 A 0.33 A

Mo_d -- -- -- -- --

Mo_t -- -- -- -- --

Mo_? 0.27 A 0.01 A -- 0.04 A --

Ni_d -- -- -- -- --

Ni_t -- -- -- -- --

P_ -- -- -- -- --

Pb_d -- -- -- -- --

Pb_t -- -- -- -- --

Se_d -- -- -- -- --

Se_t -- -- -- -- --

SiO2 final -- -- -- -- --

Tl_d -- -- -- -- --

Tl_t -- -- -- -- --

V_d -- -- -- -- --

V_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_d -- -- -- -- --

Zn_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_? 0.24 A 0.27 A 0.17 A 0.21 A 0.22 A

Total cations (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Total anions (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -- -- -- --

Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Historical Surface-Water Quality 35
Date (mm/dd/yy) 11/15/77 12/15/77 01/15/78 02/15/78 03/15/78

Time (24-hr) -- -- -- -- --

Collected by Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Source Molycorp, Inc., 

1979

Molycorp, Inc., 

1979

Molycorp, Inc., 

1979

Molycorp, Inc., 

1979

Molycorp, Inc., 

1979

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) -- -- -- -- --

Flow Comments -- -- -- -- --

Hydrologic Condition Low flow Low flow Low flow Low flow Low flow

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) -- -- -- -- --

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 10.9 8.71 9.04 9.49 9.63

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 29 29 29 29 29

pH-field (SU) -- -- -- -- --

pH-lab (SU) -- -- -- -- --

SC-field (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

SC-lab (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

Temp, field (°C) -- -- -- -- --

TDS, meas (mg/L) 221 A 157 A 201 A 185 A 189 A

TSS (mg/L) 25 A 17 A 14 A 18 A 11 A

DOC (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, field (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) 20 11 -- -- 12

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final -- -- -- -- --

Mg final -- -- -- -- --

Na final -- -- -- -- --

K final -- -- -- -- --

SO4 final 101 A 82 A 102 A 100 A 81 A

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) -- -- -- -- --

F final 0.7 A 0.8 A 0.8 A 0.7 A 0.7 A

Cl final -- -- -- -- --

Ag_d -- -- -- -- --

Ag_t -- -- -- -- --

Al_d -- -- -- -- --

Al_s -- -- -- -- --

Al_t -- -- -- -- --

As_d -- -- -- -- --

As_t -- -- -- -- --

Ba_d -- -- -- -- --

Ba_t -- -- -- -- --

Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

36 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Date (mm/dd/yy) 11/15/77 12/15/77 01/15/78 02/15/78 03/15/78

Be_d -- -- -- -- --

Be_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_d -- -- -- -- --

Cd_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_? <0.01 A <0.01 A <0.01 A <0.01 A <0.01 A

Co_d -- -- -- -- --

Co_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_d -- -- -- -- --

Cr_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_? -- -- -- -- --

Cu_d -- -- -- -- --

Cu_t -- -- -- -- --

Cu_? -- -- -- -- --

Fe_d -- -- -- -- --

Fe_t -- -- -- -- --

Fe_? 1.62 A 1.13 A 1.31 A 0.73 A 0.88 A

Hg_d -- -- -- -- --

Hg_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_d -- -- -- -- --

Mn_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_? 0.45 A 0.62 A 0.51 A 0.63 A 0.49 A

Mo_d -- -- -- -- --

Mo_t -- -- -- -- --

Mo_? -- -- -- -- --

Ni_d -- -- -- -- --

Ni_t -- -- -- -- --

P_ -- -- -- -- --

Pb_d -- -- -- -- --

Pb_t -- -- -- -- --

Se_d -- -- -- -- --

Se_t -- -- -- -- --

SiO2 final -- -- -- -- --

Tl_d -- -- -- -- --

Tl_t -- -- -- -- --

V_d -- -- -- -- --

V_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_d -- -- -- -- --

Zn_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_? 0.11 A 0.1 A 0.06 A 0.12 A 0.11 A

Total cations (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Total anions (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -- -- -- --

Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Historical Surface-Water Quality 37
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 04/15/78 05/15/78 06/15/78 07/15/78 08/15/78

Time (24-hr) -- -- -- -- --

Collected by Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Source Molycorp, Inc., 

1979

Molycorp, Inc., 

1979

Molycorp, Inc., 

1979

Molycorp, Inc., 

1979

Molycorp, Inc., 

1979

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) -- -- -- -- --

Flow Comments -- -- -- -- --

Hydrologic Condition Rising limb Peak Peak Falling limb Low flow

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) -- -- -- -- --

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 27.8 71.6 88.6 33.1 16.7

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 107 107 107 107 107

pH-field (SU) -- -- -- -- --

pH-lab (SU) -- -- -- -- --

SC-field (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

SC-lab (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

Temp, field (°C) -- -- -- -- --

TDS, meas (mg/L) 148 A 123 A 115 A 128 A 181 A

TSS (mg/L) 38 A 161 A 30 A 69 A 28 A

DOC (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, field (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) 25 49 12 18 12

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final -- -- -- -- --

Mg final -- -- -- -- --

Na final -- -- -- -- --

K final -- -- -- -- --

SO4 final 40 A 27 A 18 A 45 A 53 A

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) -- -- -- -- --

F final 0.6 A 0.6 A 0.4 A 0.5 0.7 A

Cl final -- -- -- -- --

Ag_d -- -- -- -- --

Ag_t -- -- -- -- --

Al_d -- -- -- -- --

Al_s -- -- -- -- --

Al_t -- -- -- -- --

As_d -- -- -- -- --

As_t -- -- -- -- --

Ba_d -- -- -- -- --

Ba_t -- -- -- -- --

38 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 04/15/78 05/15/78 06/15/78 07/15/78 08/15/78

Be_d -- -- -- -- --

Be_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_d -- -- -- -- --

Cd_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_? <0.01 A <0.01 A <0.01 A <0.01 A <0.01 A

Co_d -- -- -- -- --

Co_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_d -- -- -- -- --

Cr_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_? -- -- -- -- --

Cu_d -- -- -- -- --

Cu_t -- -- -- -- --

Cu_? -- -- -- -- --

Fe_d -- -- -- -- --

Fe_t -- -- -- -- --

Fe_? 2 A 7.01 A 1.26 A 2.43 A 0.58 A

Hg_d -- -- -- -- --

Hg_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_d -- -- -- -- --

Mn_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_? 0.17 A 0.23 A 0.12 A 0.26 A 0.17 A

Mo_d -- -- -- -- --

Mo_t -- -- -- -- --

Mo_? -- 0.06 A -- -- --

Ni_d -- -- -- -- --

Ni_t -- -- -- -- --

P_ -- -- -- -- --

Pb_d -- -- -- -- --

Pb_t -- -- -- -- --

Se_d -- -- -- -- --

Se_t -- -- -- -- --

SiO2 final -- -- -- -- --

Tl_d -- -- -- -- --

Tl_t -- -- -- -- --

V_d -- -- -- -- --

V_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_d -- -- -- -- --

Zn_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_? 0.11 A 0.11 A 0.07 A 0.07 A 0.08 A

Total cations (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Total anions (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -- -- -- --

Historical Surface-Water Quality 39
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 09/15/78 10/15/78 10/17/78 10/17/78 11/14/78

Time (24-hr) -- -- 10:00 10:20 13:35

Collected by Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

BLM BLM BLM

Source Molycorp, Inc., 

1979

Molycorp, Inc., 

1979

USGS, 2003b USGS, 2003b USGS, 2003b 

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) -- -- 7.7 7.6 9.6

Flow Comments -- -- -- -- --

Hydrologic Condition Low flow Low flow Low flow Low flow Low flow

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) -- -- 8.1 8.1 11

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 8.81 9.04 -- -- --

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 107 107 107 107 107

pH-field (SU) -- -- 7.7 -- --

pH-lab (SU) -- -- -- -- --

SC-field (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

SC-lab (μS/cm) -- -- 278 -- --

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

Temp, field (°C) -- -- -- -- --

TDS, meas (mg/L) 191 A 199 A -- -- --

TSS (mg/L) 18 A 5 A -- 13 --

DOC (mg/L) -- -- 1.4 -- --

Turbidity, field (NTU) -- -- 3.4 -- --

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) 9 8 -- -- --

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final -- -- -- -- --

Mg final -- -- -- -- --

Na final -- -- -- -- --

K final -- -- -- -- --

SO4 final 59 A 95 A -- -- --

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) -- -- -- -- --

F final 0.8 A 1 -- -- --

Cl final -- -- -- -- --

Ag_d -- -- -- -- --

Ag_t -- -- -- -- --

Al_d -- -- -- -- --

Al_s -- -- -- -- --

Al_t -- -- -- -- --

As_d -- -- -- -- --

As_t -- -- -- -- --

Ba_d -- -- -- -- --

Ba_t -- -- -- -- --

40 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 09/15/78 10/15/78 10/17/78 10/17/78 11/14/78

Be_d -- -- -- -- --

Be_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_d -- -- -- -- --

Cd_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_? <0.01 A <0.01 A -- -- --

Co_d -- -- -- -- --

Co_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_d -- -- -- -- --

Cr_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_? -- -- -- -- --

Cu_d -- -- <0.02 -- --

Cu_t -- -- -- -- --

Cu_? -- -- -- -- --

Fe_d -- -- -- -- --

Fe_t -- -- -- -- --

Fe_? 0.59 A 0.45 A -- -- --

Hg_d -- -- -- -- --

Hg_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_d -- -- -- -- --

Mn_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_? 0.33 A 0.44 A -- -- --

Mo_d -- -- 0.014 -- --

Mo_t -- -- 0.012 -- --

Mo_? -- 0.01 A -- -- --

Ni_d -- -- -- -- --

Ni_t -- -- -- -- --

P_ -- -- 0.04 -- --

Pb_d -- -- -- -- --

Pb_t -- -- -- -- --

Se_d -- -- -- -- --

Se_t -- -- -- -- --

SiO2 final -- -- -- -- --

Tl_d -- -- -- -- --

Tl_t -- -- -- -- --

V_d -- -- -- -- --

V_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_d -- -- 0.05 -- --

Zn_t -- -- 0.09 -- --

Zn_? 0.08 A 0.11 A -- -- --

Total cations (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Total anions (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -- -- -- --

Historical Surface-Water Quality 41
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 11/14/78 11/15/78 12/15/78 01/15/79 01/16/79

Time (24-hr) 13:55 -- -- -- 10:00

Collected by BLM Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

BLM

Source USGS, 2003b Molycorp, Inc., 

1979

Molycorp, Inc., 

1979

Molycorp, Inc., 

1979

USGS, 2003b 

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) 9.6 -- -- -- 6.8

Flow Comments -- -- -- -- --

Hydrologic Condition Low flow Low flow Low flow Low flow Low flow

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) 11 -- -- -- 6.8

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 -- 10.5 4.53 5.95 --

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 107 107 107 107 107

pH-field (SU) 7.8 -- -- -- 7.8

pH-lab (SU) -- -- -- -- --

SC-field (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

SC-lab (μS/cm) 257 -- -- -- 250

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

Temp, field (°C) -- -- -- -- --

TDS, meas (mg/L) -- 178 A 250 A 210 A 187

TSS (mg/L) 20 11 A 11 A 36 A 20

DOC (mg/L) 0.9 -- -- -- 0.8

Turbidity, field (NTU) 6 -- -- -- 8.2

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) -- 11 A 12 A 13 A --

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final 34 -- -- -- 42

Mg final 6.2 -- -- -- 7

Na final -- -- -- -- 4.3

K final -- -- -- -- 0.9

SO4 final -- 73 A 144 A 112 A 95

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) 108 -- -- -- 38

F final -- 0.8 A 0.9 A 0.9 A 0.7

Cl final -- -- -- -- 1.8

Ag_d -- -- -- -- --

Ag_t -- -- -- -- --

Al_d -- -- -- -- --

Al_s -- -- -- -- --

Al_t -- -- -- -- --

As_d -- -- -- -- --

As_t -- -- -- -- --

Ba_d -- -- -- -- --

Ba_t -- -- -- -- --

42 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 11/14/78 11/15/78 12/15/78 01/15/79 01/16/79

Be_d -- -- -- -- --

Be_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_d -- -- -- -- --

Cd_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_? -- <0.01 A <0.01 A <0.01 A --

Co_d -- -- -- -- --

Co_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_d -- -- -- -- --

Cr_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_? -- -- -- -- --

Cu_d -- -- -- -- <0.02

Cu_t -- -- -- -- --

Cu_? -- -- -- -- --

Fe_d -- -- -- -- 0.12

Fe_t -- -- -- -- --

Fe_? -- 0.97 A 0.45 A 0.7 A --

Hg_d -- -- -- -- --

Hg_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_d -- -- -- -- 0.48

Mn_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_? -- 0.39 A 0.45 A 0.4 A --

Mo_d -- -- -- -- 0.009

Mo_t 0.017 -- -- -- 0.01

Mo_? -- -- -- -- --

Ni_d -- -- -- -- --

Ni_t -- -- -- -- --

P_ 0.01 -- -- -- 0.03

Pb_d -- -- -- -- --

Pb_t -- -- -- -- --

Se_d -- -- -- -- --

Se_t -- -- -- -- --

SiO2 final -- -- -- -- 11

Tl_d -- -- -- -- --

Tl_t -- -- -- -- --

V_d -- -- -- -- --

V_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_d -- -- -- -- 0.1

Zn_t 0.07 -- -- -- 0.13

Zn_? -- 0.23 A 0.07 A 0.06 A --

Total cations (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Total anions (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -- -- -- --

Historical Surface-Water Quality 43
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 02/15/79 03/15/79 03/20/79 04/15/79 04/26/79

Time (24-hr) -- -- 11:15 -- 8:35

Collected by Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

BLM Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

BLM

Source Molycorp, Inc., 

1979

Molycorp, Inc., 

1979

USGS, 2003b Molycorp, Inc., 

1979

USGS, 2003b 

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) -- -- 12 -- 131

Flow Comments -- -- -- -- --

Hydrologic Condition Low flow Low flow Low flow Rising limb Rising limb

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) -- -- 11 -- 131

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 6.65 10.2 -- 62.9 --

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 107 107 107 557 557

pH-field (SU) -- -- 8.2 -- 7.6

pH-lab (SU) -- -- -- -- --

SC-field (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

SC-lab (μS/cm) -- -- 270 -- 150

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

Temp, field (°C) -- -- -- -- --

TDS, meas (mg/L) 202 A 199 A -- 185 A 122

TSS (mg/L) 16 A 11 A 27 205 A 554

DOC (mg/L) -- -- 1.5 -- 6.8

Turbidity, field (NTU) -- -- 13 -- 99

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) 12 A 14 A -- 77 A --

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final -- -- 38 -- 25

Mg final -- -- 7.5 -- 4.6

Na final -- -- -- -- 3.4

K final -- -- -- -- 1.1

SO4 final 104 A 86 A -- 56 A 46

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) -- -- 49 -- 41

F final 0.8 A 0.7 A -- 0.9 A 0.4

Cl final -- -- -- -- 2

Ag_d -- -- -- -- --

Ag_t -- -- -- -- --

Al_d -- -- -- -- --

Al_s -- -- -- -- --

Al_t -- -- -- -- --

As_d -- -- -- -- --

As_t -- -- -- -- --

Ba_d -- -- -- -- --

Ba_t -- -- -- -- --

44 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 02/15/79 03/15/79 03/20/79 04/15/79 04/26/79

Be_d -- -- -- -- --

Be_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_d -- -- -- -- --

Cd_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_? <0.01 A <0.01 A -- <0.01 A --

Co_d -- -- -- -- --

Co_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_d -- -- -- -- --

Cr_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_? -- -- -- -- --

Cu_d -- -- -- -- <0.02

Cu_t -- -- -- -- --

Cu_? -- -- -- -- --

Fe_d -- -- -- -- <0.01

Fe_t -- -- -- -- --

Fe_? 2.46 A 1.1 A -- 25.3 A --

Hg_d -- -- -- -- --

Hg_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_d -- -- -- -- 0.25

Mn_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_? 0.34 A 0.38 A -- 0.77 A --

Mo_d -- -- -- -- <0.01

Mo_t -- -- 0.008 -- 0.01

Mo_? -- -- -- -- --

Ni_d -- -- -- -- --

Ni_t -- -- -- -- --

P_ -- -- 0.02 -- 0.2

Pb_d -- -- -- -- --

Pb_t -- -- -- -- --

Se_d -- -- -- -- --

Se_t -- -- -- -- --

SiO2 final -- -- -- -- 12

Tl_d -- -- -- -- --

Tl_t -- -- -- -- --

V_d -- -- -- -- --

V_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_d -- -- -- -- 0.2

Zn_t -- -- 0.12 -- 0.2

Zn_? 0.05 A 0.11 A -- 0.09 A --

Total cations (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Total anions (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -- -- -- --

Historical Surface-Water Quality 45
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 05/15/79 05/23/79 06/10/79 06/14/79 06/15/79

Time (24-hr) -- 12:50 -- -- --

Collected by Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

BLM -- Obby Davidson Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Source Molycorp, Inc., 

1979

USGS, 2003b Molycorp, Inc., 

1979

Molycorp, Inc., 

1979

Molycorp, Inc., 

1979

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) -- 359 -- -- --

Flow Comments -- -- -- -- --

Hydrologic Condition Rising limb Peak Peak Peak Peak

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) -- 378 510.00 484 --

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 267 -- -- -- 405

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 557 557 557 557 557

pH-field (SU) -- 7.7 -- 7.6 --

pH-lab (SU) -- -- -- -- --

SC-field (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

SC-lab (μS/cm) -- 150 -- -- --

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

Temp, field (°C) -- -- -- -- --

TDS, meas (mg/L) 127 A 92 -- 99 110 A

TSS (mg/L) 367 A 1370 980 458 296 A

DOC (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, field (NTU) -- 150 -- -- --

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) 147 A -- -- -- 175 A

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final -- 20 -- 18 --

Mg final -- 3.4 -- 3 --

Na final -- 2.9 -- -- --

K final -- 1.2 -- -- --

SO4 final 33 A 29 -- 14 16 A

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) -- 38 -- -- --

F final 0.4 A 0.4 -- 0.3 0.3 A

Cl final -- 1.4 -- -- --

Ag_d -- -- -- -- --

Ag_t -- -- -- -- --

Al_d -- -- -- -- --

Al_s -- -- -- -- --

Al_t -- -- -- -- --

As_d -- -- -- -- --

As_t -- -- -- -- --

Ba_d -- -- -- -- --

Ba_t -- -- -- -- --

46 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 05/15/79 05/23/79 06/10/79 06/14/79 06/15/79

Be_d -- -- -- -- --

Be_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_d -- -- -- -- --

Cd_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_? <0.01 A -- -- -- <0.01 A

Co_d -- -- -- -- --

Co_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_d -- -- -- -- --

Cr_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_? -- -- -- 0.047 --

Cu_d -- -- -- -- --

Cu_t -- -- -- -- --

Cu_? 0.13 A -- -- <0.01 0.03 A

Fe_d -- 0.03 -- -- --

Fe_t -- -- -- -- --

Fe_? 18.1 A -- -- 14.08 14.1 A

Hg_d -- -- -- -- --

Hg_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_d -- 0.08 -- -- --

Mn_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_? 0.87 A -- -- 0.89 0.88 A

Mo_d -- 0.006 -- -- --

Mo_t -- 0.017 -- -- --

Mo_? 0.03 A -- -- -- 0.05 A

Ni_d -- -- -- -- --

Ni_t -- -- -- -- --

P_ -- 0.36 -- -- --

Pb_d -- -- -- -- --

Pb_t -- -- -- -- --

Se_d -- -- -- -- --

Se_t -- -- -- -- --

SiO2 final -- 9.8 -- -- --

Tl_d -- -- -- -- --

Tl_t -- -- -- -- --

V_d -- -- -- -- --

V_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_d -- <0.2 -- -- --

Zn_t -- 0.11 -- -- --

Zn_? 0.3 A -- -- 0.40 0.22 A

Total cations (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Total anions (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -- -- -- --

Historical Surface-Water Quality 47
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 06/18/79 07/05/79 07/14/79 07/15/79 07/24/79

Time (24-hr) 14:15 -- -- -- 9:40

Collected by BLM Molycorp, Inc. Obby Davidson Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

BLM

Source USGS, 2003b Molycorp, Inc., 

1979

Molycorp, Inc., 

1979

Molycorp, Inc., 

1979

USGS, 2003b 

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) 354 -- -- -- 117

Flow Comments -- -- -- -- --

Hydrologic Condition Peak Falling limb Falling limb Falling limb Low flow

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) 372 249 162 -- 114

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 -- -- -- 172 --

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 557 557 557 557 557

pH-field (SU) 7.9 7.6 -- -- 8

pH-lab (SU) -- -- -- -- --

SC-field (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

SC-lab (μS/cm) 147 -- -- -- 190

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

Temp, field (°C) -- -- -- -- --

TDS, meas (mg/L) -- 99 -- 139 A --

TSS (mg/L) 1160 458 -- 18 A 12

DOC (mg/L) 10 -- -- -- 2.8

Turbidity, field (NTU) 140 -- -- -- 2.5

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) -- -- -- 7 A --

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final 19 18 -- -- 27

Mg final 3.1 3 -- -- 4.7

Na final -- -- -- -- --

K final -- -- -- -- --

SO4 final -- -- -- 28 A --

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) 48 -- -- -- 56

F final -- -- -- 0.5 A --

Cl final -- -- -- -- --

Ag_d -- -- -- -- --

Ag_t -- -- -- -- --

Al_d -- -- -- -- --

Al_s -- -- -- -- --

Al_t -- -- -- -- --

As_d -- -- -- -- --

As_t -- -- -- -- --

Ba_d -- -- -- -- --

Ba_t -- -- -- -- --

48 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 06/18/79 07/05/79 07/14/79 07/15/79 07/24/79

Be_d -- -- -- -- --

Be_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_d <0.002 -- -- -- <0.002

Cd_t 0 -- -- -- --

Cd_? 0 -- -- <0.01 A --

Co_d -- -- -- -- --

Co_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_d -- -- -- -- --

Cr_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_? -- 0.047 -- -- --

Cu_d -- -- -- -- --

Cu_t -- -- -- -- --

Cu_? -- <0.01 -- <0.01 A --

Fe_d -- -- -- -- --

Fe_t -- -- -- -- --

Fe_? -- 14.1 -- 1.44 A --

Hg_d -- -- -- -- --

Hg_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_d -- -- -- -- --

Mn_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_? -- 0.89 -- 0.33 A --

Mo_d -- -- -- -- --

Mo_t 0.009 -- -- -- 0.004

Mo_? -- -- -- -- --

Ni_d -- -- -- -- --

Ni_t -- -- -- -- --

P_ 0.3 -- -- -- 0.01

Pb_d -- -- -- -- --

Pb_t -- -- -- -- --

Se_d -- -- -- -- --

Se_t -- -- -- -- --

SiO2 final -- -- -- -- --

Tl_d -- -- -- -- --

Tl_t -- -- -- -- --

V_d -- -- -- -- --

V_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_d -- -- -- -- --

Zn_t 0.18 -- -- -- 0.09

Zn_? -- 0.40 -- 0.08 A --

Total cations (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Total anions (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -- -- -- --

Historical Surface-Water Quality 49
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 07/27/79 08/04/79 08/10/79 08/15/79 08/29/79

Time (24-hr) -- -- -- -- 14:30

Collected by Obby Davidson Obby Davidson Obby Davidson Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

BLM

Source Molycorp, Inc., 

1979

Molycorp, Inc., 

1979

Molycorp, Inc., 

1979

Molycorp, Inc., 

1979

USGS, 2003b 

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) -- -- -- -- 45

Flow Comments -- -- -- -- --

Hydrologic Condition Low flow Low flow Low flow Falling limb Low flow

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) 103 76 78 -- 46

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 -- -- -- 65.5 --

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 557 557 557 557 557

pH-field (SU) -- -- -- -- 7.8

pH-lab (SU) -- -- -- -- --

SC-field (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

SC-lab (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- 250

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

Temp, field (°C) -- -- -- -- --

TDS, meas (mg/L) -- -- -- 162 A 158

TSS (mg/L) -- -- -- 39 A 66

DOC (mg/L) -- -- -- -- 0.9

Turbidity, field (NTU) -- -- -- -- 9.2

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) -- -- -- 24 A --

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final -- -- -- -- 34

Mg final -- -- -- -- 6

Na final -- -- -- -- 3.7

K final -- -- -- -- 1

SO4 final -- -- -- 32 A 64

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) -- -- -- -- 61

F final -- -- -- 0.6 A 0.5

Cl final -- -- -- -- 1.7

Ag_d -- -- -- -- --

Ag_t -- -- -- -- --

Al_d -- -- -- -- --

Al_s -- -- -- -- --

Al_t -- -- -- -- --

As_d -- -- -- -- --

As_t -- -- -- -- --

Ba_d -- -- -- -- --

Ba_t -- -- -- -- --

50 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 07/27/79 08/04/79 08/10/79 08/15/79 08/29/79

Be_d -- -- -- -- --

Be_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_d -- -- -- -- <0.002

Cd_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_? -- -- -- <0.01 A --

Co_d -- -- -- -- --

Co_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_d -- -- -- -- --

Cr_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_? -- -- -- -- --

Cu_d -- -- -- -- <0.02

Cu_t -- -- -- -- --

Cu_? -- -- -- <0.01 A --

Fe_d -- -- -- -- <0.01

Fe_t -- -- -- -- --

Fe_? -- -- -- 2.49 A --

Hg_d -- -- -- -- --

Hg_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_d -- -- -- -- 0.18

Mn_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_? -- -- -- 0.26 A --

Mo_d -- -- -- -- 0.012

Mo_t -- -- -- -- 0.008

Mo_? -- -- -- -- --

Ni_d -- -- -- -- --

Ni_t -- -- -- -- --

P_ -- -- -- -- 0.11

Pb_d -- -- -- -- --

Pb_t -- -- -- -- --

Se_d -- -- -- -- --

Se_t -- -- -- -- --

SiO2 final -- -- -- -- 10

Tl_d -- -- -- -- --

Tl_t -- -- -- -- --

V_d -- -- -- -- --

V_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_d -- -- -- -- <0.003

Zn_t -- -- -- -- 0.09

Zn_? -- -- -- 0.12 A --

Total cations (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Total anions (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -- -- -- --

Historical Surface-Water Quality 51
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 09/15/79 09/25/79 10/15/79 10/24/79 11/15/79

Time (24-hr) -- 16:00 -- 14:50 --

Collected by Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

BLM Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

BLM Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Source Molycorp, Inc., 

1979

USGS, 2003b Molycorp, Inc., 

1979

USGS, 2003b Molycorp, Inc., 

1979

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) -- 24 -- 24 --

Flow Comments -- -- -- -- --

Hydrologic Condition Low flow Low flow Low flow Low flow Low flow

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) -- 26 -- 23 --

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 30.5 -- 23.1 -- 15.6

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 557 557 557 557 557

pH-field (SU) -- 7.7 -- 7.7 --

pH-lab (SU) -- -- -- -- --

SC-field (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

SC-lab (μS/cm) -- 240 -- 281 --

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

Temp, field (°C) -- -- -- -- --

TDS, meas (mg/L) -- -- -- 186 --

TSS (mg/L) -- 16 -- -- --

DOC (mg/L) -- 3.7 -- 2.6 --

Turbidity, field (NTU) -- 5.7 -- 4.7 --

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) -- -- -- -- --

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final -- 35 -- 36 --

Mg final -- 6.5 -- 7.3 --

Na final -- -- -- 4.6 --

K final -- -- -- 1.2 --

SO4 final -- -- -- 83 --

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) -- 51 -- 52 --

F final -- -- -- 0.6 --

Cl final -- -- -- 2 --

Ag_d -- -- -- -- --

Ag_t -- -- -- -- --

Al_d -- -- -- -- --

Al_s -- -- -- -- --

Al_t -- -- -- -- --

As_d -- -- -- -- --

As_t -- -- -- -- --

Ba_d -- -- -- -- --

Ba_t -- -- -- -- --

52 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 09/15/79 09/25/79 10/15/79 10/24/79 11/15/79

Be_d -- -- -- -- --

Be_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_d -- <0.002 -- -- --

Cd_t -- -- -- 0 --

Cd_? <0.01 A -- <0.01 A -- <0.01 A

Co_d -- -- -- -- --

Co_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_d -- -- -- -- --

Cr_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_? -- -- -- -- --

Cu_d -- -- -- -- --

Cu_t -- -- -- -- --

Cu_? -- -- -- -- --

Fe_d -- -- -- 0.01 --

Fe_t -- -- -- -- --

Fe_? -- -- -- -- --

Hg_d -- -- -- -- --

Hg_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_d -- -- -- 0.31 --

Mn_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_? -- -- -- -- --

Mo_d -- -- -- 0.001 --

Mo_t -- 0.006 -- 0.007 --

Mo_? -- -- -- -- --

Ni_d -- -- -- -- --

Ni_t -- -- -- -- --

P_ -- 0.02 -- 0.02 --

Pb_d -- -- -- -- --

Pb_t -- -- -- -- --

Se_d -- -- -- -- --

Se_t -- -- -- -- --

SiO2 final -- -- -- 19 --

Tl_d -- -- -- -- --

Tl_t -- -- -- -- --

V_d -- -- -- -- --

V_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_d -- -- -- 0.05 --

Zn_t -- 0.06 -- 0.06 --

Zn_? -- -- -- -- --

Total cations (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Total anions (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -- -- -- --

Historical Surface-Water Quality 53
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 12/04/79 12/15/79 12/17/79 12/17/79 02/07/80

Time (24-hr) 11:40 -- 13:30 14:30 11:55

Collected by BLM Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

BLM BLM BLM

Source USGS, 2003b Molycorp, Inc., 

1979

USGS, 2003b USGS, 2003b USGS, 2003b 

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) 12 -- 14 13 13

Flow Comments -- -- -- -- --

Hydrologic Condition Low flow Low flow Low flow Low flow Low flow

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) 13 -- 14 14 13

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 -- 13.5 -- -- --

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 557 557 557 557 557

pH-field (SU) 7.1 -- 7.8 7.5 7.5

pH-lab (SU) -- -- -- -- --

SC-field (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

SC-lab (μS/cm) 340 -- 350 340 290

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

Temp, field (°C) -- -- -- -- --

TDS, meas (mg/L) 198 -- 201 -- 132

TSS (mg/L) 41 -- 212 462 --

DOC (mg/L) 2.9 -- -- -- --

Turbidity, field (NTU) 12 -- 130 -- 1

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) -- -- -- -- --

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final 44 -- 45 55 42

Mg final 8.2 -- 7.7 8.5 8.6

Na final 5 -- 5.1 5.3 5.8

K final 1.2 -- 1.7 2.1 1.1

SO4 final 100 -- 100 -- 36

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) 38 -- 45 -- 38

F final 1.1 -- 0.5 -- 0.4

Cl final 2.7 -- 2.5 -- 0.6

Ag_d -- -- -- -- --

Ag_t -- -- -- -- --

Al_d -- -- -- -- --

Al_s -- -- -- -- --

Al_t -- -- -- -- --

As_d -- -- -- -- --

As_t -- -- -- -- --

Ba_d -- -- -- -- --

Ba_t -- -- -- -- --

54 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 12/04/79 12/15/79 12/17/79 12/17/79 02/07/80

Be_d -- -- -- -- --

Be_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_d -- -- -- -- --

Cd_t 0.001 -- 0.001 -- 0.001

Cd_? -- <0.01 A -- -- --

Co_d -- -- -- -- --

Co_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_d -- -- -- -- --

Cr_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_? -- -- -- -- --

Cu_d -- -- -- -- --

Cu_t -- -- -- -- --

Cu_? -- -- -- -- --

Fe_d 0.02 -- 0.01 0.01 0.02

Fe_t -- -- -- -- --

Fe_? -- -- -- -- --

Hg_d -- -- -- -- --

Hg_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_d 0.6 -- 0.49 0.58 0.49

Mn_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_? -- -- -- -- --

Mo_d <0.01 -- 0.053 -- <0.01

Mo_t 0.003 -- 0.052 0.13 0.007

Mo_? -- -- -- -- --

Ni_d -- -- -- -- --

Ni_t -- -- -- -- --

P_ 0.03 -- 0.23 -- 0.04

Pb_d -- -- -- -- --

Pb_t -- -- -- -- --

Se_d -- -- -- -- --

Se_t -- -- -- -- --

SiO2 final 11 -- 10 -- 13

Tl_d -- -- -- -- --

Tl_t -- -- -- -- --

V_d -- -- -- -- --

V_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_d 0.13 -- 0.08 0.06 0.09

Zn_t 0.14 -- 0.17 0.27 0.16

Zn_? -- -- -- -- --

Total cations (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Total anions (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -- -- -- --

Historical Surface-Water Quality 55
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 04/02/80 04/28/80 06/03/80 07/09/80 08/14/80

Time (24-hr) 15:30 18:30 15:40 16:00 16:45

Collected by BLM BLM BLM BLM BLM

Source USGS, 2003b USGS, 2003b USGS, 2003b USGS, 2003b USGS, 2003b 

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) 17 38 176 82 32

Flow Comments -- -- -- -- --

Hydrologic Condition Low flow Rising limb Falling limb Falling limb Low flow

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) 15 38 176 85 31

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 -- -- -- -- --

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 557 278 278 278 278

pH-field (SU) 7.6 7.7 8 7.8 8

pH-lab (SU) -- -- -- -- --

SC-field (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

SC-lab (μS/cm) 294 278 157 190 238

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

Temp, field (°C) -- -- -- -- --

TDS, meas (mg/L) 132 164 93 118 157

TSS (mg/L) 30 478 -- -- 2

DOC (mg/L) 2.2 2 4.6 1.3 4

Turbidity, field (NTU) 8.8 17 7.2 2.1 66

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) -- -- -- -- --

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final 38 35 21 28 34

Mg final 7.7 6.9 3.5 4.6 6.3

Na final 4.5 4.6 3.1 3.4 4.5

K final 1 1 0.7 0.9 1.1

SO4 final 100 74 28 40 66

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) 44 48 42 51 49

F final 0.7 0.5 0.1 0.5 0.6

Cl final 2.5 2.1 0.8 1 2.5

Ag_d -- -- -- -- --

Ag_t -- -- -- -- --

Al_d -- -- -- -- --

Al_s -- -- -- -- --

Al_t -- -- -- -- --

As_d -- -- -- -- --

As_t -- -- -- -- --

Ba_d -- -- -- -- --

Ba_t -- -- -- -- --

Be_d -- -- -- -- --

Be_t -- -- -- -- --

56 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 04/02/80 04/28/80 06/03/80 07/09/80 08/14/80

Cd_d -- -- -- -- --

Cd_t -- 0.001 -- 0.001 --

Cd_? -- -- -- -- --

Co_d -- -- -- -- --

Co_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_d -- -- -- -- --

Cr_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_? -- -- -- -- --

Cu_d -- -- -- -- --

Cu_t -- -- -- -- --

Cu_? -- -- -- -- --

Fe_d <0.01 <0.01 0.14 0.01 0.02

Fe_t -- -- -- -- --

Fe_? -- -- -- -- --

Hg_d -- -- -- -- --

Hg_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_d 0.45 0.39 0.11 0.16 0.3

Mn_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_? -- -- -- -- --

Mo_d <0.01 <0.01 0.002 <0.01 0.006

Mo_t 0.01 0.006 0 0.006 0.007

Mo_? -- -- -- -- --

Ni_d -- -- -- -- --

Ni_t -- -- -- -- --

P_ 0.06 0.07 0.04 0.03 0.13

Pb_d -- -- -- -- --

Pb_t -- -- -- -- --

Se_d -- -- -- -- --

Se_t -- -- -- -- --

SiO2 final 10 11 10 9 11

Tl_d -- -- -- -- --

Tl_t -- -- -- -- --

V_d -- -- -- -- --

V_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_d 0.07 0.05 0.02 0.02 0.03

Zn_t 0.12 0.11 0.05 0.05 0.11

Zn_? -- -- -- -- --

Total cations (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Total anions (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -- -- -- --

Historical Surface-Water Quality 57
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 09/10/80 10/14/80 11/19/80 01/08/81 03/10/81

Time (24-hr) 9:00 14:45 14:20 16:15 12:45

Collected by BLM BLM BLM BLM BLM

Source USGS, 2003b USGS, 2003b USGS, 2003b USGS, 2003b USGS, 2003b 

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) 46 12 5 9.5 5.9

Flow Comments -- -- -- -- --

Hydrologic Condition Storm Low flow Low flow Low flow Low flow

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) 44 13 4.9 7.5 5.9

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 -- -- -- -- --

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 278 278 278 278 278

pH-field (SU) 8 7.7 7 7.3 7.1

pH-lab (SU) -- 7.7 7.6 7.4 7.5

SC-field (μS/cm) -- 270 -- -- --

SC-lab (μS/cm) 220 302 320 290 340

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) -- -- 354 320 362

Temp, field (°C) -- -- -- -- --

TDS, meas (mg/L) 142 200 209 210 232

TSS (mg/L) 144 -- -- -- 150

DOC (mg/L) 5.2 4.1 1 14 1.6

Turbidity, field (NTU) 40 0.4 18 13 56

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) -- -- -- -- --

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final 33 41 43 43 48

Mg final 5.9 8.2 8.3 8.4 9.5

Na final 3.8 5 4.8 5.2 5.1

K final 1.4 1.1 1.2 1.1 1.2

SO4 final 55 100 120 110 140

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) 50 48 33 43 28

F final 0.4 1.8 0.9 0.9 1.1

Cl final 2 2.2 2.2 1.9 2.2

Ag_d -- -- -- -- --

Ag_t -- -- -- -- --

Al_d -- -- -- -- --

Al_s -- -- -- -- --

Al_t -- -- -- -- --

As_d -- -- -- -- --

As_t -- -- -- -- --

Ba_d -- -- -- -- --

Ba_t -- -- -- -- --

Be_d -- -- -- -- --

Be_t -- -- -- -- --

58 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 09/10/80 10/14/80 11/19/80 01/08/81 03/10/81

Cd_d -- -- -- -- --

Cd_t 0.001 0.001 0.009 0.001 0.001

Cd_? -- -- -- -- --

Co_d -- -- -- -- --

Co_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_d -- -- -- -- --

Cr_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_? -- -- -- -- --

Cu_d -- -- -- -- --

Cu_t -- -- -- -- --

Cu_? -- -- -- -- --

Fe_d 0.02 0.01 0.14 0.08 0.07

Fe_t -- -- -- -- --

Fe_? -- -- -- -- --

Hg_d -- -- -- -- --

Hg_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_d 0.19 0.49 0.94 0.6 0.95

Mn_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_? -- -- -- -- --

Mo_d <0.01 0.006 <0.01 0.01 <0.01

Mo_t 0.009 0.008 0.012 0.009 0.027

Mo_? -- -- -- -- --

Ni_d -- -- -- -- --

Ni_t -- -- -- -- --

P_ 0.2 0.05 0.01 0.08 0.03

Pb_d -- -- -- -- --

Pb_t -- -- -- -- --

Se_d -- -- -- -- --

Se_t -- -- -- -- --

SiO2 final 9.9 11 10 11 10

Tl_d -- -- -- -- --

Tl_t -- -- -- -- --

V_d -- -- -- -- --

V_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_d 0.03 0.07 0.19 0.11 0.16

Zn_t 0.14 0.33 -- 0.14 0.26

Zn_? -- -- -- -- --

Total cations (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Total anions (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -- -- -- --

Historical Surface-Water Quality 59
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 03/11/81 04/13/81 05/14/81 06/10/81 07/14/81

Time (24-hr) 12:30 16:00 16:30 14:15 15:30

Collected by BLM BLM BLM BLM BLM

Source USGS, 2003b USGS, 2003b USGS, 2003b USGS, 2003b USGS, 2003b 

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) 5 12 19 51 20

Flow Comments -- -- -- -- --

Hydrologic Condition Low flow Rising limb Rising limb Peak Low flow

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) 5.3 12 19 47 18

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 -- -- -- -- --

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 278 47 47 47 47

pH-field (SU) 7.2 7.6 7.7 7.5 7.8

pH-lab (SU) 7.6 7.5 7.7 7.7 7.6

SC-field (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

SC-lab (μS/cm) 330 278 271 185 270

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) 350 290 271 200 280

Temp, field (°C) -- -- -- -- --

TDS, meas (mg/L) 242 174 170 118 173

TSS (mg/L) 27 54 -- 63 35

DOC (mg/L) 2.2 4.2 3 4.3 2.1

Turbidity, field (NTU) 31 33 4.6 5.2 18

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) -- -- -- -- --

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final 47 38 37 28 39

Mg final 9.6 7.4 7.2 4.8 7.5

Na final 5.4 5.2 4.4 3.4 5

K final 1.2 1.3 1.1 1 1.3

SO4 final 150 87 77 47 83

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) 34 43 41 -- 48

F final 1 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.7

Cl final 2.2 2.8 1.5 1 1.9

Ag_d -- -- -- -- --

Ag_t -- -- -- -- --

Al_d -- -- -- -- --

Al_s -- -- -- -- --

Al_t -- -- -- -- --

As_d -- -- -- -- --

As_t -- -- -- -- --

Ba_d -- -- -- -- --

Ba_t -- -- -- -- --

Be_d -- -- -- -- --

Be_t -- -- -- -- --

60 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 03/11/81 04/13/81 05/14/81 06/10/81 07/14/81

Cd_d -- -- -- -- --

Cd_t 0.001 -- 0.001 -- 0.001

Cd_? -- -- -- -- --

Co_d -- -- -- -- --

Co_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_d -- -- -- -- --

Cr_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_? -- -- -- -- --

Cu_d -- 0.005 -- -- --

Cu_t -- -- -- -- --

Cu_? -- -- -- -- --

Fe_d 0.11 0.02 0.02 0.03 0.01

Fe_t -- -- -- -- --

Fe_? -- -- -- -- --

Hg_d -- -- -- -- --

Hg_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_d 0.99 0.47 0.35 0.16 0.35

Mn_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_? -- -- -- -- --

Mo_d 0.014 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 0.011

Mo_t 0.011 0.1 0.001 0.006 0.019

Mo_? -- -- -- -- --

Ni_d -- -- -- -- --

Ni_t -- -- -- -- --

P_ -- 0.12 0.02 0.02 0.08

Pb_d -- -- -- -- --

Pb_t -- -- -- -- --

Se_d -- -- -- -- --

Se_t -- -- -- -- --

SiO2 final 10 9.4 10 8.2 11

Tl_d -- -- -- -- --

Tl_t -- -- -- -- --

V_d -- -- -- -- --

V_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_d 0.21 0.05 0.04 0.06 0.03

Zn_t 0.22 0.13 0.16 0.06 0.09

Zn_? -- -- -- -- --

Total cations (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Total anions (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -- -- -- --

Historical Surface-Water Quality 61
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 07/17/81 08/12/81 08/13/81 08/20/81 10/09/81

Time (24-hr) 22:00 -- 16:00 -- 14:00

Collected by BLM BLM BLM Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

BLM

Source USGS, 2003b USGS, 2003b USGS, 2003b Vail Engineering, 

Inc., 1989

USGS, 2003b 

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) 18 29 19 40 15

Flow Comments -- -- -- -- --

Hydrologic Condition Low flow Storm Storm Low flow Low flow

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) 15 28 21 19 14

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 -- -- -- -- --

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 47 47 47 47 47

pH-field (SU) 7.5 -- 7.5 7.2 7.5

pH-lab (SU) 7.5 4.1 7.2 -- 7.7

SC-field (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

SC-lab (μS/cm) 270 -- 258 -- 280

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) 310 508 283 -- 278

Temp, field (°C) -- -- -- -- --

TDS, meas (mg/L) -- -- 169 -- 185

TSS (mg/L) 3970 6550 41 -- 30

DOC (mg/L) -- -- 2 -- 1.7

Turbidity, field (NTU) -- -- 9.1 -- 8.8

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) -- -- -- 7.5 --

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final 41 72 37 -- 39

Mg final 7 11 7.2 -- 8.1

Na final 4.7 6 5.6 -- 4.6

K final -- -- 1.2 -- 1.3

SO4 final -- -- 74 118 92

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) -- -- 49 40 48

F final -- -- 0.5 -- 0.8

Cl final -- -- 1.6 -- 2.7

Ag_d -- -- -- -- --

Ag_t -- -- -- -- --

Al_d -- -- -- -- --

Al_s -- -- -- -- --

Al_t -- -- -- -- --

As_d -- -- -- -- --

As_t -- 0.022 -- -- --

Ba_d 0.03 0.026 -- -- --

Ba_t -- -- -- -- --

62 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 07/17/81 08/12/81 08/13/81 08/20/81 10/09/81

Be_d 0.001 0.002 -- -- --

Be_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_d <0.001 0.002 -- -- --

Cd_t -- 0.001 0.001 -- --

Cd_? -- -- -- -- --

Co_d <0.003 0.023 -- -- --

Co_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_d -- -- -- -- --

Cr_t 0.02 0.06 -- -- --

Cr_? -- -- -- -- --

Cu_d <0.01 0.04 -- -- --

Cu_t 0.11 0.48 -- -- --

Cu_? -- -- -- -- --

Fe_d 0.02 <0.01 <0.01 -- <0.01

Fe_t 38 180 -- -- --

Fe_? -- -- -- -- --

Hg_d -- -- -- -- --

Hg_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_d 0.061 1.5 0.34 -- 0.39

Mn_t 0.7 2.6 -- -- --

Mn_? -- -- -- -- --

Mo_d 0.019 <0.01 0.01 -- 0.01

Mo_t 0.03 0.14 0.008 -- 0.007

Mo_? -- -- -- -- --

Ni_d -- -- -- -- --

Ni_t -- -- -- -- --

P_ -- -- 0.14 -- 0.08

Pb_d <0.01 <0.01 -- -- --

Pb_t 0.16 0.84 -- -- --

Se_d -- -- -- -- --

Se_t -- 0.005 -- -- --

SiO2 final 10 14 11 -- 12

Tl_d -- -- -- -- --

Tl_t -- -- -- -- --

V_d <0.006 <0.006 -- -- --

V_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_d 0.014 0.36 0.038 -- 0.043

Zn_t 0.23 0.75 0.1 -- 0.11

Zn_? -- -- -- -- --

Total cations (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Total anions (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -- -- -- --

Historical Surface-Water Quality 63
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 11/05/81 02/17/82 03/24/82 04/29/82 06/02/82

Time (24-hr) 11:00 11:50 14:15 13:30 15:00

Collected by BLM BLM BLM BLM BLM

Source USGS, 2003b USGS, 2003b USGS, 2003b USGS, 2003b USGS, 2003b 

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) 13 13 15 30 131

Flow Comments -- -- -- -- --

Hydrologic Condition Low flow Low flow Low flow Rising limb Peak

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) 13 13 15 29 137

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 -- -- -- -- --

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 47 47 47 142 142

pH-field (SU) 7.6 7.3 7.2 7.4 6.8

pH-lab (SU) 7.8 -- -- -- --

SC-field (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

SC-lab (μS/cm) 290 325 320 250 160

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) 309 -- -- -- --

Temp, field (°C) -- -- -- -- --

TDS, meas (mg/L) 190 -- -- -- --

TSS (mg/L) 11 39 32 -- 99

DOC (mg/L) 1.3 0.9 1.3 -- --

Turbidity, field (NTU) 0.5 -- -- -- --

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) -- -- -- -- --

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final 41 -- -- -- --

Mg final 8.3 -- -- -- --

Na final 4.6 -- -- -- --

K final 1.3 -- -- -- --

SO4 final 97 -- -- -- --

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) 43 36 39 -- --

F final 0.8 -- -- -- --

Cl final 2.5 -- -- -- --

Ag_d -- -- -- -- --

Ag_t -- -- -- -- --

Al_d -- -- -- -- --

Al_s -- -- -- -- --

Al_t -- -- -- -- --

As_d -- -- -- -- --

As_t -- -- -- -- --

Ba_d -- -- -- -- --

Ba_t -- -- -- -- --

Be_d -- -- -- -- --

Be_t -- -- -- -- --

64 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 11/05/81 02/17/82 03/24/82 04/29/82 06/02/82

Cd_d -- -- -- -- --

Cd_t <0.001 <0.001 0.68 0.41 0.19

Cd_? -- -- -- -- --

Co_d -- -- -- -- --

Co_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_d -- -- -- -- --

Cr_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_? -- -- -- -- --

Cu_d -- -- -- -- --

Cu_t -- 0.036 0.023 0.017 0.017

Cu_? -- -- -- -- --

Fe_d 0.02 0.03 0.01 0.07 0.04

Fe_t -- -- -- -- --

Fe_? -- -- -- -- --

Hg_d -- -- -- -- --

Hg_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_d 0.46 0.59 0.51 0.27 0.086

Mn_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_? -- -- -- -- --

Mo_d <0.01 0.01 0.007 0.004 0.002

Mo_t 0.008 0.01 0.008 0.004 0.003

Mo_? -- -- -- -- --

Ni_d -- -- -- -- --

Ni_t -- -- -- -- --

P_ 0.04 -- -- -- --

Pb_d -- <0.001 -- -- --

Pb_t -- -- -- -- --

Se_d -- -- -- -- --

Se_t -- -- -- -- --

SiO2 final 11 -- -- -- --

Tl_d -- -- -- -- --

Tl_t -- -- -- -- --

V_d -- -- -- -- --

V_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_d 0.078 0.11 0.072 0.046 0.03

Zn_t 0.12 0.16 0.12 0.09 0.05

Zn_? -- -- -- -- --

Total cations (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Total anions (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -- -- -- --

Historical Surface-Water Quality 65
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 07/06/82 08/20/82 09/16/82 10/19/82 12/07/82

Time (24-hr) 15:00 17:00 14:35 16:00 16:45

Collected by BLM BLM BLM BLM BLM

Source USGS, 2003b USGS, 2003b USGS, 2003b USGS, 2003b USGS, 2003b 

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) 76 43 51 32 21

Flow Comments -- -- -- -- --

Hydrologic Condition Falling limb Low flow Storm Low flow Low flow

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) 77 45 52 35 19

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 -- -- -- -- --

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 142 142 142 142 142

pH-field (SU) 7.6 7.7 7.3 7.4 7.1

pH-lab (SU) -- -- -- -- --

SC-field (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

SC-lab (μS/cm) 200 285 235 265 295

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

Temp, field (°C) -- -- -- -- --

TDS, meas (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

TSS (mg/L) 22 397 63 3 26

DOC (mg/L) 1.5 8.3 1.5 -- 1.2

Turbidity, field (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) -- -- -- -- --

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final -- -- -- -- --

Mg final -- -- -- -- --

Na final -- -- -- -- --

K final -- -- -- -- --

SO4 final -- -- -- -- --

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) 51 51 62 49 41

F final -- -- -- -- --

Cl final -- -- -- -- --

Ag_d -- -- -- -- --

Ag_t -- -- -- -- --

Al_d -- -- -- -- --

Al_s -- -- -- -- --

Al_t -- -- -- -- --

As_d -- -- -- -- --

As_t -- -- -- -- --

Ba_d -- -- -- -- --

Ba_t -- -- -- -- --

Be_d -- -- -- -- --

Be_t -- -- -- -- --

66 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 07/06/82 08/20/82 09/16/82 10/19/82 12/07/82

Cd_d -- -- -- -- --

Cd_t 0.23 0.42 0.32 0.48 0.75

Cd_? -- -- -- -- --

Co_d -- -- -- -- --

Co_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_d -- -- -- -- --

Cr_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_? -- -- -- -- --

Cu_d -- -- -- -- --

Cu_t 0.008 0.026 0.023 0.017 0.025

Cu_? -- -- -- -- --

Fe_d 0.02 <0.003 0.02 0.03 0.04

Fe_t -- -- -- -- --

Fe_? -- -- -- -- --

Hg_d -- -- -- -- --

Hg_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_d 0.005 0.27 0.26 0.39 0.53

Mn_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_? -- -- -- -- --

Mo_d 0.002 0.045 0.003 0.005 0.004

Mo_t 0.004 0.017 0.004 0.005 0.002

Mo_? -- -- -- -- --

Ni_d -- -- -- -- --

Ni_t -- -- -- -- --

P_ -- -- -- -- --

Pb_d -- -- -- -- --

Pb_t -- -- -- -- --

Se_d -- -- -- -- --

Se_t -- -- -- -- --

SiO2 final -- -- -- -- --

Tl_d -- -- -- -- --

Tl_t -- -- -- -- --

V_d -- -- -- -- --

V_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_d 0.036 0.005 0.059 0.063 0.11

Zn_t 0.06 0.07 0.07 0.11 0.16

Zn_? -- -- -- -- --

Total cations (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Total anions (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -- -- -- --

Historical Surface-Water Quality 67
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 02/08/83 04/26/83 06/07/83 07/21/83 08/31/83

Time (24-hr) 16:30 15:00 15:15 13:40 13:00

Collected by BLM BLM BLM BLM BLM

Source USGS, 2003b USGS, 2003b USGS, 2003b USGS, 2003b USGS, 2003b 

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) 22 81 247 123 47

Flow Comments -- -- -- -- --

Hydrologic Condition Low flow Rising limb Peak Falling limb Low flow

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) 17 83 265 116 46

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 -- -- -- -- --

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 142 332 332 332 332

pH-field (SU) 7.3 6.8 7.2 7.3 7.2

pH-lab (SU) -- -- -- -- --

SC-field (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

SC-lab (μS/cm) 310 240 145 200 290

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

Temp, field (°C) -- -- -- -- --

TDS, meas (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

TSS (mg/L) 47 300 351 63 31

DOC (mg/L) 1.7 8.3 4.5 2.4 1

Turbidity, field (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) -- -- -- -- --

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final -- -- -- -- --

Mg final -- -- -- -- --

Na final -- -- -- -- --

K final -- -- -- -- --

SO4 final -- -- -- -- --

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) 44 28 39 48 61

F final -- -- -- -- --

Cl final -- -- -- -- --

Ag_d -- -- -- -- --

Ag_t -- -- -- -- --

Al_d -- -- -- -- --

Al_s -- -- -- -- --

Al_t -- -- -- -- --

As_d -- -- -- -- --

As_t -- -- -- -- --

Ba_d -- -- -- -- --

Ba_t -- -- -- -- --

Be_d -- -- -- -- --

Be_t -- -- -- -- --

68 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 02/08/83 04/26/83 06/07/83 07/21/83 08/31/83

Cd_d -- -- -- -- --

Cd_t 0.8 1.4 0.35 0.49 0.48

Cd_? -- -- -- -- --

Co_d -- -- -- -- --

Co_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_d -- -- -- -- --

Cr_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_? -- -- -- -- --

Cu_d -- -- -- -- --

Cu_t 0.035 0.085 0.019 0.023 0.022

Cu_? -- -- -- -- --

Fe_d 0.03 -- 0.05 -- --

Fe_t -- -- -- -- --

Fe_? -- -- -- -- --

Hg_d -- -- -- -- --

Hg_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_d 0.52 1.2 0.13 0.25 0.43

Mn_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_? -- -- -- -- --

Mo_d 0.004 0.002 <0.001 <0.001 0.004

Mo_t 0.005 0.005 0.006 0.005 0.004

Mo_? -- -- -- -- --

Ni_d -- -- -- -- --

Ni_t -- -- -- -- --

P_ -- -- -- -- --

Pb_d -- -- -- -- --

Pb_t -- -- -- -- --

Se_d -- -- -- -- --

Se_t -- -- -- -- --

SiO2 final -- -- -- -- --

Tl_d -- -- -- -- --

Tl_t -- -- -- -- --

V_d -- -- -- -- --

V_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_d 0.091 0.19 0.028 0.04 0.053

Zn_t 0.17 0.42 0.07 0.12 0.16

Zn_? -- -- -- -- --

Total cations (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Total anions (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -- -- -- --

Historical Surface-Water Quality 69
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 11/04/83 01/10/84 01/25/84 01/26/84 01/26/84

Time (24-hr) 11:15 14:30 17:00 9:15 12:40

Collected by BLM BLM Jacobi and Smolka Jacobi and Smolka Jacobi and Smolka

Source USGS, 2003b USGS, 2003b Jacobi and Smolka, 

1984

Jacobi and Smolka, 

1984

Jacobi and Smolka, 

1984

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) 14 9.1 -- -- --

Flow Comments -- -- -- -- --

Hydrologic Condition Low flow Low flow Low flow Low flow Low flow

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) 17 7 11 11 11

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 -- -- -- -- --

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 332 332 332 332 332

pH-field (SU) 7.2 7.3 6.8 6.9 6.9

pH-lab (SU) -- -- -- -- --

SC-field (μS/cm) -- -- 266 188 173

SC-lab (μS/cm) 290 345 -- -- --

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

Temp, field (°C) -- -- 0.2 0.2 0.0

TDS, meas (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

TSS (mg/L) -- 44 -- -- --

DOC (mg/L) 1 0.7 -- -- --

Turbidity, field (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) -- -- 8 7 7

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final -- -- -- -- --

Mg final -- -- -- -- --

Na final -- -- -- -- --

K final -- -- -- -- --

SO4 final -- -- -- -- --

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) 48 28 -- -- --

F final -- -- -- -- --

Cl final -- -- -- -- --

Ag_d -- -- -- -- --

Ag_t -- -- -- -- --

Al_d -- -- -- -- --

Al_s -- -- -- -- --

Al_t -- -- -- -- --

As_d -- -- -- -- --

As_t -- -- -- -- --

Ba_d -- -- -- -- --

Ba_t -- -- -- -- --

Be_d -- -- -- -- --

70 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 11/04/83 01/10/84 01/25/84 01/26/84 01/26/84

Be_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_d -- -- -- -- --

Cd_t 0.64 1.4 -- -- --

Cd_? -- -- -- -- --

Co_d -- -- -- -- --

Co_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_d -- -- -- -- --

Cr_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_? -- -- -- -- --

Cu_d -- -- -- -- --

Cu_t 0.027 0.048 -- -- --

Cu_? -- -- -- -- --

Fe_d 0.01 0.01 -- -- --

Fe_t -- -- -- -- --

Fe_? -- -- -- -- --

Hg_d -- -- -- -- --

Hg_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_d 0.62 -- -- -- --

Mn_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_? -- -- -- -- --

Mo_d 0.006 0.009 -- -- --

Mo_t 0.012 0.008 -- -- --

Mo_? -- -- -- -- --

Ni_d -- -- -- -- --

Ni_t -- -- -- -- --

P_ -- -- -- -- --

Pb_d -- -- -- -- --

Pb_t -- -- -- -- --

Se_d -- -- -- -- --

Se_t -- -- -- -- --

SiO2 final -- -- -- -- --

Tl_d -- -- -- -- --

Tl_t -- -- -- -- --

V_d -- -- -- -- --

V_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_d 0.09 0.23 -- -- --

Zn_t 0.2 0.31 -- -- --

Zn_? -- -- -- -- --

Total cations (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Total anions (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -- -- -- --

Historical Surface-Water Quality 71
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 01/26/84 01/26/84 01/27/84 04/05/84 05/25/84

Time (24-hr) 16:30 21:45 11:00 10:00 14:45

Collected by Jacobi and Smolka Jacobi and Smolka Jacobi and Smolka BLM BLM

Source Jacobi and Smolka, 

1984

Jacobi and Smolka, 

1984

Jacobi and Smolka, 

1984

USGS, 2003b USGS, 2003b 

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) -- -- -- 13 351

Flow Comments -- -- -- -- --

Hydrologic Condition Low flow Low flow Low flow Low flow Peak

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) 11 11 10 14 377

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 -- -- -- -- --

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 332 332 332 332 377

pH-field (SU) 6.9 6.9 6.9 7 7

pH-lab (SU) -- -- -- -- --

SC-field (μS/cm) 203 187 186 -- --

SC-lab (μS/cm) -- -- -- 320 132

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

Temp, field (°C) 0.8 0.2 0.5 -- --

TDS, meas (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

TSS (mg/L) -- -- -- 67 1210

DOC (mg/L) -- -- -- 0.8 --

Turbidity, field (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) 7.2 7 6.5 -- --

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final -- -- -- -- --

Mg final -- -- -- -- --

Na final -- -- -- -- --

K final -- -- -- -- --

SO4 final -- -- 131 -- --

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) -- -- -- 28 33

F final -- -- -- -- --

Cl final -- -- -- -- --

Ag_d -- -- -- -- --

Ag_t -- -- -- -- --

Al_d -- -- -- -- --

Al_s -- -- -- -- --

Al_t -- -- -- -- --

As_d -- -- -- -- --

As_t -- -- 0.005 -- --

Ba_d -- -- -- -- --

Ba_t -- -- 0.1 -- --

Be_d -- -- -- -- --

72 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 01/26/84 01/26/84 01/27/84 04/05/84 05/25/84

Be_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_d -- -- -- -- --

Cd_t -- -- 0.001 2.2 0.62

Cd_? -- -- -- -- --

Co_d -- -- -- -- --

Co_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_d -- -- -- -- --

Cr_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_? -- -- -- -- --

Cu_d -- -- -- -- --

Cu_t -- -- -- 0.049 0.08

Cu_? -- -- -- -- --

Fe_d -- -- -- 0.06 0.04

Fe_t -- -- -- -- --

Fe_? -- -- -- -- --

Hg_d -- -- -- -- --

Hg_t -- -- 0.0050 -- --

Mn_d -- -- -- 1.4 0.15

Mn_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_? -- -- 1.25 -- --

Mo_d -- -- -- 0.006 0.002

Mo_t -- -- 0.010 0.006 0.013

Mo_? -- -- -- -- --

Ni_d -- -- -- -- --

Ni_t -- -- -- -- --

P_ -- -- -- -- --

Pb_d -- -- -- -- --

Pb_t -- -- 0.005 -- --

Se_d -- -- -- -- --

Se_t -- -- 0.005 -- --

SiO2 final -- -- -- -- --

Tl_d -- -- -- -- --

Tl_t -- -- -- -- --

V_d -- -- -- -- --

V_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_d -- -- -- 0.25 0.041

Zn_t -- -- 0.280 0.33 0.17

Zn_? -- -- -- -- --

Total cations (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Total anions (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -- -- -- --

Historical Surface-Water Quality 73
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 06/28/84 09/27/84 01/16/85 06/12/85 07/12/85

Time (24-hr) 15:00 13:30 10:00 10:00 14:00

Collected by BLM BLM BLM BLM BLM

Source USGS, 2003b USGS, 2003b USGS, 2003b USGS, 2003b USGS, 2003b 

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) 95 18 8.8 332 93

Flow Comments -- -- -- -- --

Hydrologic Condition Falling limb Low flow Low flow Peak Falling limb

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) 92 22 13 320 104

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 -- -- -- -- --

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 377 377 377 322 322

pH-field (SU) 7.1 7 6.9 7.4 8.2

pH-lab (SU) -- -- -- -- --

SC-field (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

SC-lab (μS/cm) 180 310 350 155 225

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

Temp, field (°C) -- -- -- -- --

TDS, meas (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

TSS (mg/L) 19 28 -- 215 19

DOC (mg/L) 1 0.7 1 4.3 1.3

Turbidity, field (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) -- -- -- -- --

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final -- -- -- -- --

Mg final -- -- -- -- --

Na final -- -- -- -- --

K final -- -- -- -- --

SO4 final -- -- -- -- --

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) 48 39 -- -- 30

F final -- -- -- -- --

Cl final -- -- -- -- --

Ag_d -- -- -- -- --

Ag_t -- -- -- -- --

Al_d -- -- -- -- --

Al_s -- -- -- -- --

Al_t -- -- -- -- --

As_d -- -- -- -- --

As_t -- -- -- -- --

Ba_d -- -- -- -- --

Ba_t -- -- -- -- --

Be_d -- -- -- -- --

Be_t -- -- -- -- --

74 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 06/28/84 09/27/84 01/16/85 06/12/85 07/12/85

Cd_d -- -- -- -- --

Cd_t 0.37 0.92 1.8 0.49 0.67

Cd_? -- -- -- -- --

Co_d -- -- -- -- --

Co_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_d -- -- -- -- --

Cr_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_? -- -- -- -- --

Cu_d -- -- -- -- --

Cu_t 0.016 0.031 0.044 0.027 0.016

Cu_? -- -- -- -- --

Fe_d 0.01 0.02 0.2 0.04 0.01

Fe_t -- -- -- -- --

Fe_? -- -- -- -- --

Hg_d -- -- -- -- --

Hg_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_d 0.27 0.84 1.7 0.28 0.001

Mn_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_? -- -- -- -- --

Mo_d 0.004 0.004 0.004 0.002 0.002

Mo_t 0.005 0.005 0.004 0.001 0.002

Mo_? -- -- -- -- --

Ni_d -- -- -- -- --

Ni_t -- -- -- -- --

P_ -- -- -- -- --

Pb_d -- -- -- -- --

Pb_t -- -- -- -- --

Se_d -- -- -- -- --

Se_t -- -- -- -- --

SiO2 final -- -- -- -- --

Tl_d -- -- -- -- --

Tl_t -- -- -- -- --

V_d -- -- -- -- --

V_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_d 0.047 0.1 0.34 0.046 0.011

Zn_t 0.09 0.2 0.37 0.19 0.12

Zn_? -- -- -- -- --

Total cations (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Total anions (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -- -- -- --

Historical Surface-Water Quality 75
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 07/20/85 10/29/85 12/20/85 02/27/86 05/22/86

Time (24-hr) 19:05 14:00 16:00 14:15 14:30

Collected by BLM BLM BLM Smolka and Tague BLM

Source USGS, 2003b USGS, 2003b USGS, 2003b Smolka and Tague, 

1987

USGS, 2003b

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) 108 33 12 -- 114

Flow Comments -- -- -- -- --

Hydrologic Condition Falling limb Low flow Low flow Low flow Rising limb

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) 102 32 10 17 135

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 -- -- -- -- --

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 322 322 322 332 325

pH-field (SU) 4.7 -- -- 7.2 --

pH-lab (SU) 4.6 -- -- -- 8

SC-field (μS/cm) -- -- -- 308 --

SC-lab (μS/cm) 420 -- 345 -- 170

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) 355 -- -- -- 189

Temp, field (°C) -- -- -- 8.0 --

TDS, meas (mg/L) -- -- -- 210 --

TSS (mg/L) -- 3 -- -- --

DOC (mg/L) -- -- -- -- 3.1

Turbidity, field (NTU) 130 -- -- -- --

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) -- -- -- -- --

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final -- -- -- 40.8 --

Mg final -- -- -- 26.8 --

Na final -- -- -- 4.6 --

K final -- -- -- 0.8 --

SO4 final -- -- -- 123 --

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) -- -- -- 50 --

F final -- -- -- -- --

Cl final -- -- -- -- --

Ag_d -- -- -- -- --

Ag_t -- -- -- -- --

Al_d -- -- -- -- --

Al_s -- -- -- -- --

Al_t -- -- -- 3.4 --

As_d -- -- -- -- --

As_t -- -- -- 0.005 --

Ba_d -- -- -- -- --

Ba_t -- -- -- 0.04 --

Be_d -- -- -- -- --

76 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 07/20/85 10/29/85 12/20/85 02/27/86 05/22/86

Be_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_d -- -- -- -- --

Cd_t -- -- -- 0.001 0.27

Cd_? -- -- -- -- --

Co_d -- -- -- -- --

Co_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_d -- -- -- -- --

Cr_t -- -- -- 0.005 --

Cr_? -- -- -- -- --

Cu_d -- -- -- -- --

Cu_t 0.32 -- 0.052 0.05 0.006

Cu_? -- -- -- -- --

Fe_d 0.03 -- 0.12 -- 0.02

Fe_t -- -- -- 0.44 --

Fe_? -- -- -- -- --

Hg_d -- -- -- -- --

Hg_t -- -- -- 0.0005 --

Mn_d 0.86 -- 1.6 -- 0.25

Mn_t -- -- -- 1 --

Mn_? -- -- -- -- --

Mo_d <0.001 -- 0.004 -- 0.002

Mo_t 0.1 -- 0.004 0.010 0.001

Mo_? -- -- -- -- --

Ni_d -- -- -- -- --

Ni_t -- -- -- 0.05 --

P_ -- -- -- -- --

Pb_d -- -- -- -- --

Pb_t -- -- -- 0.010 --

Se_d -- -- -- -- --

Se_t -- -- -- 0.005 --

SiO2 final -- -- -- -- --

Tl_d -- -- -- -- --

Tl_t -- -- -- -- --

V_d -- -- -- -- --

V_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_d 0.26 -- 0.29 -- 0.037

Zn_t 0.67 -- 0.34 0.22 0.06

Zn_? -- -- -- -- --

Total cations (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Total anions (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -- -- -- --

Historical Surface-Water Quality 77
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 06/12/86 08/18/86 08/19/86 08/19/86 08/20/86

Time (24-hr) 16:30 16:30 10:55 15:45 11:20

Collected by BLM Smolka and Tague Smolka and Tague Smolka and Tague Smolka and Tague

Source USGS, 2003b, 

1985

Smolka and Tague, 

1987

Smolka and Tague, 

1987

Smolka and Tague, 

1987

Smolka and Tague, 

1987

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) 240 -- -- -- --

Flow Comments -- storm -- -- --

Hydrologic Condition Peak Low flow Low flow Low flow Low flow

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) 252 42 40 40 38

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 -- -- -- -- --

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 325 325 325 325 325

pH-field (SU) 7.8 7.3 7.3 7.3 7.2

pH-lab (SU) 8.1 -- -- -- --

SC-field (μS/cm) -- 306 298 305 298

SC-lab (μS/cm) 160 -- -- -- --

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) 170 -- -- -- --

Temp, field (°C) -- 16.2 13.0 15.9 13.5

TDS, meas (mg/L) -- 240 234 294 300

TSS (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

DOC (mg/L) 4.5 -- -- -- --

Turbidity, field (NTU) 24 -- -- -- --

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) -- 9.3 12 8 9.4

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final -- 46.4 40 -- 48

Mg final -- 18.1 16.4 -- 11.7

Na final -- 10 10 -- 10

K final -- 5 5 -- 5

SO4 final -- 105 115 160 118

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) -- 40 40 -- 40

F final -- -- -- -- --

Cl final -- -- -- -- --

Ag_d -- -- -- -- --

Ag_t -- -- -- -- --

Al_d -- -- -- -- --

Al_s -- -- -- -- --

Al_t -- 3.34 3.26 -- 3.41

As_d -- -- -- -- --

As_t -- 0.005 0.005 -- 0.005

Ba_d -- -- -- -- --

Ba_t -- 0.1 0.1 -- 0.1

Be_d -- -- -- -- --

78 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 06/12/86 08/18/86 08/19/86 08/19/86 08/20/86

Be_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_d -- -- -- -- --

Cd_t 0.29 0.001 0.001 -- 0.001

Cd_? -- -- -- -- --

Co_d -- -- -- -- --

Co_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_d -- -- -- -- --

Cr_t -- 0.005 0.005 -- 0.005

Cr_? -- -- -- -- --

Cu_d -- -- -- -- --

Cu_t 0.021 0.05 0.05 -- 0.05

Cu_? -- -- -- -- --

Fe_d 0.29 -- -- -- --

Fe_t -- 1.1 4.03 -- 0.85

Fe_? -- -- -- -- --

Hg_d -- -- -- -- --

Hg_t -- 0.0005 0.0005 -- 0.0005

Mn_d 0.24 -- -- -- --

Mn_t -- 0.89 0.95 -- 1.04

Mn_? -- -- -- -- --

Mo_d 0.006 -- -- -- --

Mo_t 0.003 0.010 0.010 -- 0.010

Mo_? -- -- -- -- --

Ni_d -- -- -- -- --

Ni_t -- 0.05 0.05 -- 0.05

P_ -- -- -- -- --

Pb_d -- -- -- -- --

Pb_t -- 0.010 0.010 -- 0.010

Se_d -- -- -- -- --

Se_t -- 0.005 0.005 -- 0.005

SiO2 final -- -- -- -- --

Tl_d -- -- -- -- --

Tl_t -- -- -- -- --

V_d -- -- -- -- --

V_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_d 0.07 -- -- -- --

Zn_t 0.08 0.19 0.02 -- 0.22

Zn_? -- -- -- -- --

Total cations (meq/L) -- -- 3 -- 3.1

Total anions (meq/L) -- -- 2.8 -- 2.8

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -- 10.2 -- 8.4

Historical Surface-Water Quality 79
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 08/20/86 08/26/86 09/07/86 12/24/86 03/25/88

Time (24-hr) 15:35 15:30 22:00 13:00 15:00

Collected by Smolka and Tague BLM BLM BLM Smolka and Tague

Source Smolka and Tague, 

1987

USGS, 2003b, 

1985

USGS, 2003b, 

1985

USGS, 2003b, 

1985

Smolka and Tague, 

1989

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) -- 44 1100 25 --

Flow Comments -- -- -- -- --

Hydrologic Condition Low flow Storm Storm Low flow Low flow

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) 38 48 39 27 21

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 -- -- -- -- --

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 325 325 325 325 277

pH-field (SU) 7.3 7.4 3.8 7.3 6.8

pH-lab (SU) -- -- 3.9 6.8 --

SC-field (μS/cm) 302 -- -- -- 381

SC-lab (μS/cm) -- 280 1100 345 --

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) -- -- 1160 390 --

Temp, field (°C) 15.0 -- -- -- 9.0

TDS, meas (mg/L) 236 -- -- -- 290

TSS (mg/L) -- -- -- -- 21.0

DOC (mg/L) -- 2.4 -- 1.8 --

Turbidity, field (NTU) -- -- -- 10 --

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- -- -- -- 10

Turbidity (JTU) 7.5 -- -- -- --

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final -- -- -- -- --

Mg final -- -- -- -- --

Na final -- -- -- -- --

K final -- -- -- -- --

SO4 final -- -- -- -- --

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) -- -- -- -- --

F final -- -- -- -- --

Cl final -- -- -- -- --

Ag_d -- -- -- -- --

Ag_t -- -- -- -- --

Al_d -- -- 23 -- --

Al_s -- -- -- -- --

Al_t -- -- 220 -- 4.60

As_d -- -- <0.001 -- 0.005

As_t -- -- -- -- 0.005

Ba_d -- -- 0.024 -- --

Ba_t -- -- 0.7 -- 0.1

Be_d -- -- -- -- --

80 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 08/20/86 08/26/86 09/07/86 12/24/86 03/25/88

Be_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_d -- -- 0.006 -- --

Cd_t -- 1.4 <1 1.1 0.001

Cd_? -- -- -- -- --

Co_d -- -- -- -- --

Co_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_d -- -- <0.01 -- --

Cr_t -- -- 0.45 -- 0.005

Cr_? -- -- -- -- --

Cu_d -- -- 0.51 -- --

Cu_t -- 0.056 2.1 0.031 0.06

Cu_? -- -- -- -- --

Fe_d -- 0.02 0.13 0.08 --

Fe_t -- -- 940 -- 0.34

Fe_? -- -- -- -- --

Hg_d -- -- -- -- --

Hg_t -- -- -- -- 0.0005

Mn_d -- 1.4 12 0.99 --

Mn_t -- -- 18 -- 1.2

Mn_? -- -- -- -- --

Mo_d -- 0.005 0.001 0.008 --

Mo_t -- 0.004 0.036 0.008 0.010

Mo_? -- -- -- -- --

Ni_d -- -- 0.2 -- --

Ni_t -- -- 0.034 -- --

P_ -- -- -- -- --

Pb_d -- -- <0.01 -- --

Pb_t -- -- 3.3 -- 0.010

Se_d -- -- -- -- --

Se_t -- -- -- -- 0.005

SiO2 final -- -- -- -- --

Tl_d -- -- -- -- --

Tl_t -- -- -- -- --

V_d -- -- -- -- --

V_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_d -- 0.18 2.6 0.19 --

Zn_t 0.21 0.29 4.4 0.21 0.26

Zn_? -- -- -- -- --

Total cations (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Total anions (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -- -- -- --

Historical Surface-Water Quality 81
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 07/26/88 09/13/88 09/20/88 09/21/88 09/26/88

Time (24-hr) -- 11:00 12:15 -- 9:40

Collected by Molycorp Smolka and Tague Smolka and Tague USEPA Smolka and Tague

Source Vail Engineering, 

Inc., 1989

Smolka and Tague, 

1989

Smolka and Tague, 

1989

USEPA, 1988 Smolka and Tague, 

1989

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) -- -- -- -- --

Flow Comments -- storm -- -- --

Hydrologic Condition Storm Storm Storm Storm Storm

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) 37 138 57 58 47

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 -- -- -- -- --

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 101 101 101 101 101

pH-field (SU) -- 6.8 7.6 7.9 7.2

pH-lab (SU) -- -- -- -- --

SC-field (μS/cm) -- 230 210 -- 271

SC-lab (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

Temp, field (°C) -- 9.2 8.2 -- 6.5

TDS, meas (mg/L) 1,112 927 184 -- 200

TSS (mg/L) 47800 210 17.0 -- 15.0

DOC (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, field (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- 410 8 -- 9

Turbidity (JTU) -- -- -- -- --

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final -- -- -- -- --

Mg final -- 20.1 18.9 -- 15.9

Na final -- 4 4 -- 2

K final -- 2 1 -- 1

SO4 final 278 120 85 -- 96

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) -- -- -- 48 --

F final -- -- -- 0.7 --

Cl final -- -- -- -- --

Ag_d -- 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.001

Ag_t -- 0.002 0.001 -- 0.001

Al_d 3 0.07 0.05 -- 0.10

Al_s 1,453 16.9 1.95 -- 2.00

Al_t 1,456 17.0 2.00 -- 2.10

As_d -- 0.005 0.005 -- 0.005

As_t -- 0.012 0.005 -- 0.005

Ba_d -- 0.1 0.1 -- 0.1

Ba_t -- 0.5 0.1 -- 0.1

Be_d -- -- -- -- --

82 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 07/26/88 09/13/88 09/20/88 09/21/88 09/26/88

Be_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_d -- 0.001 0.001 -- 0.001

Cd_t -- 0.002 0.001 -- 0.001

Cd_? -- -- -- -- --

Co_d -- -- -- -- --

Co_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_d -- 0.005 0.013 -- 0.005

Cr_t -- 0.032 0.005 -- 0.005

Cr_? -- -- -- -- --

Cu_d -- 0.05 0.05 -- 0.05

Cu_t -- 0.13 0.05 -- 0.05

Cu_? -- -- -- -- --

Fe_d -- 0.05 0.05 -- 0.05

Fe_t -- 45 0.59 -- 0.44

Fe_? -- -- -- -- --

Hg_d -- 0.0005 0.0005 -- 0.0005

Hg_t -- 0.0005 0.0005 -- 0.0005

Mn_d -- 0.8 0.61 -- 0.66

Mn_t -- 1.3 0.6 -- 0.64

Mn_? -- -- -- -- --

Mo_d -- 0.01 0.01 -- 0.01

Mo_t -- 0.033 0.010 -- 0.010

Mo_? -- -- -- -- --

Ni_d -- 0.05 0.05 -- 0.05

Ni_t -- 0.05 0.05 -- 0.05

P_ -- -- -- -- --

Pb_d -- 0.01 0.01 -- 0.01

Pb_t -- 0.120 0.005 -- 0.010

Se_d -- 0.005 0.005 -- 0.005

Se_t -- 0.005 0.005 -- 0.005

SiO2 final -- -- -- -- --

Tl_d -- -- -- -- --

Tl_t -- -- -- -- --

V_d -- -- -- -- --

V_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_d -- 0.07 0.12 -- 0.10

Zn_t -- 0.30 0.10 -- 0.12

Zn_? -- -- -- -- --

Total cations (meq/L) -- 1.8 1.7 -- --

Total anions (meq/L) -- 2.3 1.7 -- --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -28.6 0.7 -- --

Historical Surface-Water Quality 83
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 10/12/88 10/25/88 11/29/88 11/29/88 02/26/92

Time (24-hr) 9:00 16:15 -- -- 13:00

Collected by ENSR Smolka and Tague Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Smolka 

Source ENSR, 1988 Smolka and Tague, 

1989

Vail Engineering, 

Inc., 1989

Vail Engineering, 

Inc., 1993

NMDGF, 1993

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) -- -- 17 17 --

Flow Comments -- -- -- -- --

Hydrologic Condition Low flow Low flow Low flow Low flow Low flow

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) 41 31 13 13 23

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 -- -- -- -- --

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 152 152 101 101 469

pH-field (SU) -- 7.3 7.1 7.1 7.4

pH-lab (SU) 7.5 -- -- -- --

SC-field (μS/cm) -- 311 -- -- 272

SC-lab (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

Temp, field (°C) -- 8.3 -- -- 3.1

TDS, meas (mg/L) 256 230 263 263 283

TSS (mg/L) 17.0 17.0 50 49.6 25

DOC (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, field (NTU) -- -- -- -- 11.5

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- 1 -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) -- -- 22 22 --

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final -- -- -- -- 49

Mg final -- 4.6 -- -- 12.0

Na final -- 5 -- -- 6

K final -- 1 -- -- 2

SO4 final -- 118 137 137 166

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) 58 -- 26 26 30.6

F final -- -- 1.2 1.2 --

Cl final 20 -- -- -- --

Ag_d -- -- -- -- <0.1

Ag_t -- 0.001 -- -- --

Al_d <0.5 -- -- 4.4 <0.1

Al_s 1.80 -- -- 7.1 --

Al_t -- 1.31 -- 11.5 5.20

As_d -- 0.005 -- -- <0.005

As_t -- 0.005 -- -- --

Ba_d <0.5 -- -- -- <0.1

Ba_t -- 0.05 -- -- --

84 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 10/12/88 10/25/88 11/29/88 11/29/88 02/26/92

Be_d -- -- -- -- <0.1

Be_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_d 0.005 -- -- -- <0.001

Cd_t -- 0.001 -- -- --

Cd_? -- -- -- -- --

Co_d -- -- -- -- <0.05

Co_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_d -- -- -- -- <0.005

Cr_t -- 0.005 -- -- --

Cr_? -- -- -- -- --

Cu_d 0.02 -- -- -- <0.1

Cu_t -- 0.05 -- -- --

Cu_? -- -- -- -- --

Fe_d 0.04 -- -- -- <0.1

Fe_t -- 0.44 -- -- --

Fe_? -- -- -- 2.17 --

Hg_d -- -- -- -- --

Hg_t -- 0.0005 -- -- <0.0005

Mn_d 0.72 -- -- -- 1.6

Mn_t -- 0.78 -- -- --

Mn_? -- -- -- 1.39 --

Mo_d 0.72 -- -- -- <0.1

Mo_t -- 0.010 -- -- --

Mo_? -- -- -- -- --

Ni_d -- -- -- -- <0.1

Ni_t -- -- -- -- --

P_ -- -- -- -- --

Pb_d <0.05 -- -- -- <0.005

Pb_t -- 0.005 -- -- --

Se_d -- -- -- -- <0.005

Se_t -- 0.005 -- -- --

SiO2 final -- -- -- -- --

Tl_d -- -- -- -- --

Tl_t -- -- -- -- --

V_d -- -- -- -- <0.1

V_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_d 0.12 -- -- -- 0.30

Zn_t -- 0.13 -- -- --

Zn_? -- -- -- 0.37 --

Total cations (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Total anions (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -- -- -- --

Historical Surface-Water Quality 85
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 03/25/92 04/29/92 05/27/92 06/30/92 07/25/92

Time (24-hr) 12:20 12:00 12:35 12:25 --

Collected by Smolka Smolka Smolka Smolka Molycorp

Source NMDGF, 1993 NMDGF, 1993 NMDGF, 1993 NMDGF, 1993 Vail Engineering, 

Inc., 1993

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) -- -- -- -- --

Flow Comments -- -- -- -- --

Hydrologic Condition Rising limb Rising limb Peak Falling limb Falling limb

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) 27 135 160 103 61

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 -- -- -- -- --

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 184 184 184 184 184

pH-field (SU) 6.5 7.1 7.4 6.6 7.5

pH-lab (SU) -- -- -- -- --

SC-field (μS/cm) 322 176 186 218 --

SC-lab (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

Temp, field (°C) 7.6 9.0 8.5 11.9 --

TDS, meas (mg/L) 322 142 148 160 236

TSS (mg/L) 49 158 20 12 450

DOC (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, field (NTU) 22.0 78.0 19.0 6.0 --

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) -- -- -- -- --

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final 57 34 37 33 --

Mg final 16.0 6.0 5.0 7.0 --

Na final 6 3 5 4 --

K final 1 1 1 1 --

SO4 final 175 58.2 49.2 67.7 59

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) 18.4 29.6 43.4 45.4 --

F final -- -- -- -- 0.8

Cl final -- <5 <5 <5 --

Ag_d <0.1 <0.1 -- -- --

Ag_t -- -- -- -- --

Al_d <0.1 <0.1 -- -- --

Al_s -- -- -- -- --

Al_t 9.00 -- -- -- 12.8

As_d <0.005 <0.005 -- -- --

As_t -- -- -- -- --

Ba_d <0.1 <0.1 -- -- --

Ba_t -- -- -- -- --

Be_d <0.1 <0.1 -- -- --

86 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 03/25/92 04/29/92 05/27/92 06/30/92 07/25/92

Be_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_d 0.003 <0.001 -- -- --

Cd_t -- -- -- -- <0.01

Cd_? -- -- -- -- --

Co_d <0.05 <0.05 -- -- --

Co_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_d <0.005 <0.005 -- -- --

Cr_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_? -- -- -- -- --

Cu_d <0.1 <0.01 -- -- --

Cu_t -- -- -- -- 0.114

Cu_? -- -- -- -- --

Fe_d 0.200 <0.1 -- -- --

Fe_t -- -- -- -- 27.9

Fe_? -- -- -- -- --

Hg_d -- -- -- -- --

Hg_t <0.0005 <0.0005 -- -- --

Mn_d 3 0.760 -- -- --

Mn_t -- -- -- -- 1.2

Mn_? -- -- -- -- --

Mo_d <0.1 <0.01 -- -- --

Mo_t -- -- -- -- 0.5

Mo_? -- -- -- -- --

Ni_d <0.1 <0.1 -- -- --

Ni_t -- -- -- -- --

P_ -- -- -- -- --

Pb_d <0.005 <0.005 -- -- --

Pb_t -- -- -- -- 0.12

Se_d <0.005 <0.005 -- -- --

Se_t -- -- -- -- --

SiO2 final -- -- -- -- --

Tl_d -- -- -- -- --

Tl_t -- -- -- -- --

V_d <0.1 <0.1 -- -- --

V_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_d 0.60 <0.1 -- -- --

Zn_t -- -- -- -- 0.281

Zn_? -- -- -- -- --

Total cations (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Total anions (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -- -- -- --

Historical Surface-Water Quality 87
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 07/29/92 08/26/92 09/30/92 10/22/92 10/28/92

Time (24-hr) 12:30 12:05 10:40 -- 9:20

Collected by Smolka Smolka Smolka Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Smolka 

Source NMDGF, 1993 NMDGF, 1993 NMDGF, 1993 Vail Engineering, 

Inc., 1993

NMDGF, 1993

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) -- -- -- 25.0 --

Flow Comments -- -- -- -- --

Hydrologic Condition Falling limb Storm Low flow Low flow Low flow

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) 56 53 30 25 25

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 -- -- -- -- --

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 184 184 184 184 184

pH-field (SU) 7.7 7.8 7.1 7.39 7.1

pH-lab (SU) -- -- -- -- --

SC-field (μS/cm) 298 268 371 427 355

SC-lab (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

Temp, field (°C) 12.5 13.5 7.2 -- 5.3

TDS, meas (mg/L) 196 186 256 331 280

TSS (mg/L) 4 < 3 13 32 18

DOC (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, field (NTU) 5.0 11.6 6.8 -- 7.6

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) -- -- -- 9 --

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final 49 46 49 -- 56

Mg final 9.0 9.0 11.0 -- 13.0

Na final 5 4 6 -- 6

K final 1 1 2 -- 2

SO4 final 98.8 94.5 142 152 162

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) 48.6 49.8 42.5 44 34.9

F final -- -- -- 0.948 --

Cl final <5 5 <5 -- 5.5

Ag_d -- -- -- -- --

Ag_t -- -- -- -- --

Al_d -- -- -- 0.79 --

Al_s -- -- -- 3.36 --

Al_t -- -- -- 4.15 --

As_d -- -- -- -- --

As_t -- -- -- -- --

Ba_d -- -- -- -- --

Ba_t -- -- -- -- --

88 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 07/29/92 08/26/92 09/30/92 10/22/92 10/28/92

Be_d -- -- -- -- --

Be_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_d -- -- -- -- --

Cd_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_? -- -- -- -- --

Co_d -- -- -- -- --

Co_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_d -- -- -- -- --

Cr_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_? -- -- -- -- --

Cu_d -- -- -- -- --

Cu_t -- -- -- -- --

Cu_? -- -- -- -- --

Fe_d -- -- -- -- --

Fe_t -- -- -- -- --

Fe_? -- -- -- 0.2 --

Hg_d -- -- -- -- --

Hg_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_d -- -- -- -- --

Mn_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_? -- -- -- 1.13 --

Mo_d -- -- -- -- --

Mo_t -- -- -- -- --

Mo_? -- -- -- -- --

Ni_d -- -- -- -- --

Ni_t -- -- -- -- --

P_ -- -- -- -- --

Pb_d -- -- -- -- --

Pb_t -- -- -- -- --

Se_d -- -- -- -- --

Se_t -- -- -- -- --

SiO2 final -- -- -- -- --

Tl_d -- -- -- -- --

Tl_t -- -- -- -- --

V_d -- -- -- -- --

V_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_d -- -- -- -- --

Zn_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_? -- -- -- -- --

Total cations (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Total anions (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -- -- -- --

Historical Surface-Water Quality 89
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 11/24/92 12/16/92 02/16/93 11/10/93 02/11/94

Time (24-hr) 12:15 11:55 -- -- --

Collected by Smolka Smolka Molycorp Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Molycorp

Source NMDGF, 1993 NMDGF, 1993 Vail Engineering, 

Inc., 1993

Vail Engineering, 

Inc., 2002 

Vail Engineering, 

Inc., 2002

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) -- -- 22.0 25.0 16.8

Flow Comments -- -- -- -- --

Hydrologic Condition Low flow Low flow Low flow Low flow Low flow

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) 16 12 21 26 23

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 -- -- -- -- --

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 184 184 184 184 184

pH-field (SU) 6.8 7.0 7.2 7.27 6.9

pH-lab (SU) -- -- -- -- --

SC-field (μS/cm) 348 358 458 425 450

SC-lab (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

Temp, field (°C) 0.5 0.3 -- -- --

TDS, meas (mg/L) 333 340 338 262 352

TSS (mg/L) 33 24 21.0 16.0 13.0

DOC (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, field (NTU) 13.2 11.2 -- -- --

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) -- -- -- -- --

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final 61 61 -- -- --

Mg final 15.0 14.0 -- -- --

Na final 7 7 -- -- --

K final 2 2 -- -- --

SO4 final 205 206 202 129 171

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) 21.5 24 29 43 25

F final -- -- 1.1 1.18 1.6

Cl final 6.5 5.4 -- -- --

Ag_d -- -- -- -- --

Ag_t -- -- -- -- --

Al_d -- -- 0.50 2.80 0.50

Al_s -- -- 5.10 3.30 7.60

Al_t -- -- 5.60 6.10 8.10

As_d -- -- -- -- --

As_t -- -- -- -- --

Ba_d -- -- -- -- --

Ba_t -- -- -- -- --

90 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 11/24/92 12/16/92 02/16/93 11/10/93 02/11/94

Be_d -- -- -- -- --

Be_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_d -- -- -- -- --

Cd_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_? -- -- -- -- --

Co_d -- -- -- -- --

Co_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_d -- -- -- -- --

Cr_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_? -- -- -- -- --

Cu_d -- -- -- -- --

Cu_t -- -- -- -- --

Cu_? -- -- -- -- --

Fe_d -- -- -- -- --

Fe_t -- -- -- -- --

Fe_? -- -- 0.524 0.301 0.36

Hg_d -- -- -- -- --

Hg_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_d -- -- -- -- --

Mn_t -- -- 1.5 -- --

Mn_? -- -- -- 0.932 1.68

Mo_d -- -- -- -- --

Mo_t -- -- -- -- --

Mo_? -- -- -- -- --

Ni_d -- -- -- -- --

Ni_t -- -- -- -- --

P_ -- -- -- -- --

Pb_d -- -- -- -- --

Pb_t -- -- -- -- --

Se_d -- -- -- -- --

Se_t -- -- -- -- --

SiO2 final -- -- -- -- --

Tl_d -- -- -- -- --

Tl_t -- -- -- -- --

V_d -- -- -- -- --

V_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_d -- -- -- -- --

Zn_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_? -- -- 0.348 0.225 0.355

Total cations (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Total anions (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -- -- -- --

Historical Surface-Water Quality 91
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 05/15/94 06/26/94 06/26/94 06/27/94 10/13/94

Time (24-hr) -- -- -- -- am

Collected by SPRI Woodward-Clyde 

Consultants

NMED -- SPRI

Source SPRI, 1995 Woodward-Clyde 

Consultants, 

1994

Kent, 1995 Molycorp, Inc., 

written commun., 2002

SPRI, 1995

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) -- -- -- -- --

Flow Comments -- -- -- -- --

Hydrologic Condition Peak Falling limb Falling limb Falling limb Low flow

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) -- 155 155 144 27

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 244 -- -- -- --

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 399 399 399 399 359

pH-field (SU) -- 7.2 -- -- --

pH-lab (SU) -- -- -- -- --

SC-field (μS/cm) 171 228 -- -- --

SC-lab (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

Temp, field (°C) 11.1 13.7 -- -- --

TDS, meas (mg/L) 150 -- 156 -- 278

TSS (mg/L) 106 -- 14.0 -- 8.0

DOC (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, field (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) -- -- -- -- --

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final 22.1 -- 29 J 29 --

Mg final 4.5 -- 5.89 5.84 0.946

Na final 2.7 -- -- 3.24 --

K final <1 -- -- 0.719 --

SO4 final 28.9 -- 53.7 -- 196

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) 41 -- 45.4 54 49

F final 0.35 -- -- -- 1.2

Cl final 6.5 -- -- -- --

Ag_d -- -- -- <0.0024 --

Ag_t -- -- -- <0.0024 --

Al_d <0.5 -- -- 0.284 <0.5

Al_s 0.83 -- -- -- 2.9

Al_t -- -- 1.36 1.05 3.4

As_d -- -- -- <0.0033 --

As_t -- -- -- <0.0033 --

Ba_d -- -- 0.027J 0.029 --

Ba_t -- -- 0.04 J 0.0313 --

92 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 05/15/94 06/26/94 06/26/94 06/27/94 10/13/94

Be_d -- -- -- <0.0003 --

Be_t -- -- -- 0.00049 --

Cd_d -- -- -- <0.0017 --

Cd_t <0.005 -- -- <0.0017 <0.01

Cd_? -- -- -- -- --

Co_d -- -- 0.005 J <0.0035 --

Co_t -- -- 0.006 J 0.0044 --

Cr_d -- -- -- <0.0023 --

Cr_t -- -- -- 0.0028 --

Cr_? -- -- -- -- --

Cu_d -- -- -- <0.0021 --

Cu_t 0.024 -- -- 0.0108 0.03

Cu_? -- -- -- -- --

Fe_d -- -- -- <0.045 --

Fe_t 2.72 -- -- 0.233 0.342

Fe_? -- -- -- -- --

Hg_d -- -- -- <0.0001 --

Hg_t -- -- 0.00022 <0.0001 --

Mn_d -- -- 0.369 0.378 --

Mn_t 0.29 -- 0.407 0.408 0.946

Mn_? -- -- -- -- --

Mo_d -- -- -- <0.02 --

Mo_t <0.02 -- -- <0.02 <0.1

Mo_? -- -- -- -- --

Ni_d -- -- -- 0.0076 --

Ni_t -- -- -- 0.0165 --

P_ -- -- -- <0.05 --

Pb_d -- -- -- <0.0019 --

Pb_t 0.014 -- 0.002 J <0.0019 <0.1

Se_d -- -- -- <0.01 --

Se_t -- -- -- <0.0022 --

SiO2 final 14 -- -- -- --

Tl_d -- -- -- <0.0019 --

Tl_t -- -- -- <0.0019 --

V_d -- -- -- <0.0023 --

V_t -- -- -- <0.0023 <0.0039

Zn_d -- -- 0.06 0.0583 --

Zn_t 0.073 -- 0.095 0.104 0.23

Zn_? -- -- -- -- --

Total cations (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Total anions (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -- -- -- --

Historical Surface-Water Quality 93
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 10/13/94 02/14/95 11/09/95 11/09/95 11/09/95

Time (24-hr) pm -- -- -- --

Collected by SPRI Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

-- --

Source SPRI, 1995 Vail Engineering, 

Inc., written 

commun., 2002 

Vail Engineering, 

Inc., written 

commun., 2002 

Molycorp, Inc., 

written commun., 2002

Woodward-Clyde 

Consultants, 

1996a

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) -- 21.5 27.0 -- --

Flow Comments -- -- -- -- --

Hydrologic Condition Low flow Low flow Low flow Low flow Low flow

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) 27 21 28 28 28

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 -- -- -- -- --

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 359 399 359 359 359

pH-field (SU) 7.8 7.6 7.7 -- 7.7

pH-lab (SU) -- -- 7.6 7.6 7.6

SC-field (μS/cm) 400 438 388 -- 389

SC-lab (μS/cm) -- -- 367 367 367

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

Temp, field (°C) -- -- -- -- 5.7

TDS, meas (mg/L) 268 286 310 263 263

TSS (mg/L) 9.3 22 10.0 9.2 9.2

DOC (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, field (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- -- -- -- 5.24

Turbidity (JTU) -- -- -- -- --

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final -- -- -- 47.7 47.7

Mg final 0.92 -- 19.2 11.6 11.6

Na final -- -- -- 5.59 5.59 J

K final -- -- -- <1.24 <1.24

SO4 final 197 144 136 133 133

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) 44 39 47 47.8 47.8

F final 1.1 1.0 1.2 1.1 1.1

Cl final -- -- -- <3 <3

Ag_d -- -- -- <0.0055 <0.005

Ag_t -- -- -- <0.0055 <0.005

Al_d <0.5 0.05 0.11 0.113 0.113 J

Al_s 2.9 2.70 3.80 -- --

Al_t 3.4 2.75 3.91 2.23 2.23

As_d -- -- -- <0.001 <0.001

As_t -- -- -- <0.001 <0.001

Ba_d -- -- -- 0.0332 0.033 J

Ba_t -- -- -- 0.0331 0.033 J

94 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 10/13/94 02/14/95 11/09/95 11/09/95 11/09/95

Be_d -- -- -- <0.0005 <0.0005

Be_t -- -- -- <0.0005 0.0005

Cd_d -- -- -- 0.0011 0.001

Cd_t <0.01 -- -- <0.0031 <0.003

Cd_? -- -- -- -- --

Co_d -- -- -- 0.0059 0.0059 J

Co_t -- -- -- 0.0055 0.005

Cr_d -- -- -- <0.0046 <0.0046

Cr_t -- -- -- <0.0046 <0.0046

Cr_? -- -- -- -- --

Cu_d -- -- -- <0.0042 <0.0042

Cu_t 0.03 -- -- 0.0247 0.0247 J

Cu_? -- -- -- -- --

Fe_d -- -- -- <0.0181 <0.0181

Fe_t 0.432 -- -- 0.184 0.184

Fe_? -- 0.408 0.339 -- --

Hg_d -- -- -- -- <0.0002

Hg_t -- -- -- <0.0002 <0.0002

Mn_d -- -- -- 0.815 0.815

Mn_t 0.902 0.828 0.87 0.759 0.759

Mn_? -- -- -- -- --

Mo_d -- -- -- <0.0078 <0.0078

Mo_t <0.1 -- -- <0.0078 <0.0078

Mo_? -- -- -- -- --

Ni_d -- -- -- 0.0299 0.0299 J

Ni_t -- -- -- 0.0236 0.0236 J

P_ -- -- -- -- --

Pb_d -- -- -- -- <0.001 J

Pb_t <0.1 -- -- <0.001 <0.001 J

Se_d -- -- -- <0.002 <0.002 J

Se_t -- -- -- <0.002 <0.002 J

SiO2 final -- -- -- -- --

Tl_d -- -- -- <0.001 <0.001

Tl_t -- -- -- <0.0012 <0.0012

V_d -- -- -- <0.0039 <0.0039

V_t <0.0039 -- -- <0.0039 <0.0039

Zn_d -- -- -- 0.126 0.126

Zn_t 0.228 -- 0.280 0.191 0.191

Zn_? -- 0.265 -- -- --

Total cations (meq/L) -- -- -- 3.6 --

Total anions (meq/L) -- -- -- 3.8 --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -- -- -1.85 --

Historical Surface-Water Quality 95
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 02/26/96 11/05/96 03/13/97 06/10/97 07/17/97

Time (24-hr) -- -- -- -- --

Collected by Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

NM ONRT NM ONRT

Source Vail Engineering, 

Inc., written 

commun., 2002 

Vail Engineering, 

Inc., written 

commun., 2002 

Vail Engineering, 

Inc., written 

commun., 2002 

Allen and others, 

1999

Allen and others, 

1999

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) 22.5 16.2 16.9 283 53

Flow Comments -- -- -- -- --

Hydrologic Condition Low flow Low flow Rising limb Falling limb Low flow

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) 22 17 14 283 53

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 -- -- -- -- --

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 359 55 347 347 347

pH-field (SU) 7.4 6.9 6.8 -- --

pH-lab (SU) -- 7.39 7.47 -- --

SC-field (μS/cm) 448 478 420 -- --

SC-lab (μS/cm) -- 454 415 -- --

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

Temp, field (°C) -- -- -- -- --

TDS, meas (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

TSS (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

DOC (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, field (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) -- -- 9 -- --

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final -- -- -- -- --

Mg final 12.7 15.2 12.1 -- --

Na final -- -- -- -- --

K final -- -- -- -- --

SO4 final 163 185 148 -- --

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) -- -- -- -- --

F final 1.42 -- -- -- --

Cl final -- -- -- -- --

Ag_d -- -- -- -- --

Ag_t -- -- -- -- --

Al_d -- -- -- -- --

Al_s -- -- -- -- --

Al_t 3.4 3.40 3.00 -- --

As_d -- -- -- -- --

As_t -- -- -- -- --

Ba_d -- -- -- -- --

Ba_t -- -- -- -- --

96 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 02/26/96 11/05/96 03/13/97 06/10/97 07/17/97

Be_d -- -- -- -- --

Be_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_d -- -- -- -- --

Cd_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_? -- -- -- -- --

Co_d -- -- -- -- --

Co_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_d -- -- -- -- --

Cr_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_? -- -- -- -- --

Cu_d -- -- -- -- --

Cu_t -- -- -- -- --

Cu_? -- -- -- -- --

Fe_d -- -- -- -- --

Fe_t -- -- -- -- --

Fe_? -- -- -- -- --

Hg_d -- -- -- -- --

Hg_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_d -- -- -- -- --

Mn_t 0.546 1.1 0.66 -- --

Mn_? -- -- -- -- --

Mo_d -- -- -- -- --

Mo_t -- -- -- -- --

Mo_? -- -- -- -- --

Ni_d -- -- -- -- --

Ni_t -- -- -- -- --

P_ -- -- -- -- --

Pb_d -- -- -- -- --

Pb_t -- -- -- -- --

Se_d -- -- -- -- --

Se_t -- -- -- -- --

SiO2 final -- -- -- -- --

Tl_d -- -- -- -- --

Tl_t -- -- -- -- --

V_d -- -- -- -- --

V_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_d -- -- -- -- --

Zn_t 0.232 0.3 0.19 -- --

Zn_? -- -- -- -- --

Total cations (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Total anions (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -- -- -- --

Historical Surface-Water Quality 97
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 07/21/97 08/14/97 09/09/97 09/09/97 09/18/97

Time (24-hr) -- -- -- -- --

Collected by Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

NM ONRT Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

NM ONRT

Source Vail Engineering, 

Inc., written 

commun., 2002 

Allen and others, 

1999

Vail Engineering, 

Inc., written 

commun., 2002 

URS, 2001 Allen and others, 

1999

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) -- 43 -- 27.93 22

Flow Comments No mill well or 

river diversions

 -- River diversion was 

on

 -- --

Hydrologic Condition Storm Low flow Low flow Low flow Low flow

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) 59 43 28 28 22

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 -- -- -- -- --

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 347 347 347 347 347

pH-field (SU) 7.9 -- 7.8 -- --

pH-lab (SU) 7.5 -- 7.5 -- --

SC-field (μS/cm) 272 -- 333 -- --

SC-lab (μS/cm) 268 -- 331 -- --

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

Temp, field (°C) -- -- -- -- --

TDS, meas (mg/L) -- -- 235 -- --

TSS (mg/L) -- -- 11.2 -- --

DOC (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, field (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) 2.4 -- 8.0 -- --

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final -- -- -- -- --

Mg final 7.8 -- 9.5 -- --

Na final -- -- -- -- --

K final -- -- -- -- --

SO4 final 70 -- 114 -- --

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) 55 -- 45 -- --

F final -- -- 0.98 -- --

Cl final -- -- -- -- --

Ag_d -- -- -- -- --

Ag_t -- -- -- -- --

Al_d -- -- <0.5 -- --

Al_s -- -- -- -- --

Al_t 1.35 -- -- -- --

As_d -- -- -- -- --

As_t -- -- -- -- --

Ba_d -- -- -- -- --

98 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 07/21/97 08/14/97 09/09/97 09/09/97 09/18/97

Ba_t -- -- -- -- --

Be_d -- -- -- -- --

Be_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_d -- -- -- -- --

Cd_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_? -- -- -- -- --

Co_d -- -- -- -- --

Co_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_d -- -- -- -- --

Cr_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_? -- -- -- -- --

Cu_d -- -- -- -- --

Cu_t -- -- -- -- --

Cu_? -- -- -- -- --

Fe_d -- -- <0.2 -- --

Fe_t -- -- -- -- --

Fe_? -- -- -- -- --

Hg_d -- -- -- -- --

Hg_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_d -- -- -- -- --

Mn_t 0.41 -- -- -- --

Mn_? -- -- -- -- --

Mo_d -- -- -- -- --

Mo_t -- -- -- -- --

Mo_? -- -- -- -- --

Ni_d -- -- -- -- --

Ni_t -- -- -- -- --

P_ -- -- -- -- --

Pb_d -- -- -- -- --

Pb_t -- -- -- -- --

Se_d -- -- -- -- --

Se_t -- -- -- -- --

SiO2 final -- -- -- -- --

Tl_d -- -- -- -- --

Tl_t -- -- -- -- --

V_d -- -- -- -- --

V_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_d -- -- -- -- --

Zn_t 0.12 -- <0.25 -- --

Zn_? -- -- -- -- --

Total cations (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Total anions (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -- -- -- --

Historical Surface-Water Quality 99
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 10/23/97 11/03/97 11/03/97 11/20/97 12/19/97

Time (24-hr) -- -- -- -- --

Collected by NM ONRT Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

NM ONRT NM ONRT

Source Allen and others, 

1999

Vail Engineering, 

Inc., written 

commun., 2002 

URS, 2001 Allen and others, 

1999

Allen and others, 

1999

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) 19 -- 23.64 9 9

Flow Comments -- -- -- -- --

Hydrologic Condition Low flow Low flow Low flow Low flow Low flow

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) 19 21 21 9 8.9

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 -- -- -- -- --

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 347 347 347 347 347

pH-field (SU) -- 7.5 -- -- --

pH-lab (SU) -- 7.3 -- -- --

SC-field (μS/cm) -- 346 -- -- --

SC-lab (μS/cm) -- 332 -- -- --

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

Temp, field (°C) -- -- -- -- --

TDS, meas (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

TSS (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

DOC (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, field (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) -- -- -- -- --

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final -- -- -- -- --

Mg final -- 10.1 -- -- --

Na final -- -- -- -- --

K final -- -- -- -- --

SO4 final -- 128 -- -- --

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) -- -- -- -- --

F final -- 0.90 -- -- --

Cl final -- -- -- -- --

Ag_d -- -- -- -- --

Ag_t -- -- -- -- --

Al_d -- -- -- -- --

Al_s -- -- -- -- --

Al_t -- 2.20 -- -- --

As_d -- -- -- -- --

As_t -- -- -- -- --

Ba_d -- -- -- -- --

Ba_t -- -- -- -- --

100 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 10/23/97 11/03/97 11/03/97 11/20/97 12/19/97

Be_d -- -- -- -- --

Be_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_d -- -- -- -- --

Cd_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_? -- -- -- -- --

Co_d -- -- -- -- --

Co_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_d -- -- -- -- --

Cr_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_? -- -- -- -- --

Cu_d -- -- -- -- --

Cu_t -- -- -- -- --

Cu_? -- -- -- -- --

Fe_d -- -- -- -- --

Fe_t -- -- -- -- --

Fe_? -- -- -- -- --

Hg_d -- -- -- -- --

Hg_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_d -- -- -- -- --

Mn_t -- 0.6 -- -- --

Mn_? -- -- -- -- --

Mo_d -- -- -- -- --

Mo_t -- -- -- -- --

Mo_? -- -- -- -- --

Ni_d -- -- -- -- --

Ni_t -- -- -- -- --

P_ -- -- -- -- --

Pb_d -- -- -- -- --

Pb_t -- -- -- -- --

Se_d -- -- -- -- --

Se_t -- -- -- -- --

SiO2 final -- -- -- -- --

Tl_d -- -- -- -- --

Tl_t -- -- -- -- --

V_d -- -- -- -- --

V_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_d -- -- -- -- --

Zn_t -- <0.25 -- -- --

Zn_? -- -- -- -- --

Total cations (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Total anions (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -- -- -- --

Historical Surface-Water Quality 101
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 01/14/98 02/20/98 03/09/98 03/09/98 03/19/98

Time (24-hr) -- -- -- -- --

Collected by NM ONRT NM ONRT Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

NM ONRT

Source Allen and others, 

1999

Allen and others, 

1999

Vail Engineering, 

Inc., 2002 

URS, 2001 Allen and others, 

1999

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) 17 12 -- 18.13 16

Flow Comments -- -- -- -- --

Hydrologic Condition Low flow Low flow Low flow Low flow Rising limb

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) 17 12 15 15 16

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 -- -- -- -- --

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 347 347 347 347 139

pH-field (SU) -- -- 6.9 -- --

pH-lab (SU) -- -- 7.4 -- --

SC-field (μS/cm) -- -- 410 -- --

SC-lab (μS/cm) -- -- 396 -- --

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

Temp, field (°C) -- -- -- -- --

TDS, meas (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

TSS (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

DOC (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, field (NTU) -- -- 12.0 -- --

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- -- 11.9 -- --

Turbidity (JTU) -- -- -- -- --

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final -- -- -- -- --

Mg final -- -- 11.8 -- --

Na final -- -- -- -- --

K final -- -- -- -- --

SO4 final -- -- 150 -- --

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) 0.0 -- -- -- --

F final -- -- 1.00 -- --

Cl final -- -- -- -- --

Ag_d -- -- -- -- --

Ag_t -- -- -- -- --

Al_d -- -- -- -- --

Al_s -- -- -- -- --

Al_t -- -- 3.30 -- --

As_d -- -- -- -- --

As_t -- -- -- -- --

Ba_d -- -- -- -- --

Ba_t -- -- -- -- --

Be_d -- -- -- -- --

102 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 01/14/98 02/20/98 03/09/98 03/09/98 03/19/98

Be_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_d -- -- -- -- --

Cd_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_? -- -- -- -- --

Co_d -- -- -- -- --

Co_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_d -- -- -- -- --

Cr_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_? -- -- -- -- --

Cu_d -- -- -- -- --

Cu_t -- -- -- -- --

Cu_? -- -- -- -- --

Fe_d -- -- -- -- --

Fe_t -- -- -- -- --

Fe_? -- -- -- -- --

Hg_d -- -- -- -- --

Hg_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_d -- -- -- -- --

Mn_t -- -- 0.50 -- --

Mn_? -- -- -- -- --

Mo_d -- -- -- -- --

Mo_t -- -- -- -- --

Mo_? -- -- -- -- --

Ni_d -- -- -- -- --

Ni_t -- -- -- -- --

P_ -- -- -- -- --

Pb_d -- -- -- -- --

Pb_t -- -- -- -- --

Se_d -- -- -- -- --

Se_t -- -- -- -- --

SiO2 final -- -- -- -- --

Tl_d -- -- -- -- --

Tl_t -- -- -- -- --

V_d -- -- -- -- --

V_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_d -- -- -- -- --

Zn_t -- -- <0.25 -- --

Zn_? -- -- -- -- --

Total cations (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Total anions (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -- -- -- --

Historical Surface-Water Quality 103
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 04/30/98 04/30/98 06/04/98 07/16/98 10/20/98

Time (24-hr) -- -- -- -- --

Collected by Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

NM ONRT NM ONRT NM ONRT Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Source Vail Engineering, 

Inc., written 

commun., 2002 

Allen and others, 

1999

Allen and others, 

1999

Allen and others, 

1999

Vail Engineering, 

Inc., written 

commun., 2002 

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) -- 54 137 57 21.1

Flow Comments -- -- -- -- Erratic mill river 

diversions

Hydrologic Condition Rising limb Rising limb Peak Falling limb Low flow

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) 54 54 137 57 21

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 -- -- -- -- --

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 139 139 139 139 139

pH-field (SU) 7.0 -- -- -- 7.9

pH-lab (SU) 7.8 -- -- -- --

SC-field (μS/cm) 246 -- -- -- 334

SC-lab (μS/cm) 240 -- -- -- --

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

Temp, field (°C) -- -- -- -- --

TDS, meas (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

TSS (mg/L) 16.5 -- -- -- --

DOC (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, field (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) -- -- -- -- --

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final -- -- -- -- --

Mg final -- -- -- -- --

Na final -- -- -- -- --

K final -- -- -- -- --

SO4 final 70 -- -- -- 110

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) -- -- -- -- --

F final 0.51 -- -- -- 0.72

Cl final -- -- -- -- --

Ag_d -- -- -- -- --

Ag_t -- -- -- -- --

Al_d -- -- -- -- --

Al_s -- -- -- -- --

Al_t -- -- -- -- 1.40

As_d -- -- -- -- --

As_t -- -- -- -- --

Ba_d -- -- -- -- --

104 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 04/30/98 04/30/98 06/04/98 07/16/98 10/20/98

Ba_t -- -- -- -- --

Be_d -- -- -- -- --

Be_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_d -- -- -- -- --

Cd_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_? -- -- -- -- --

Co_d -- -- -- -- --

Co_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_d -- -- -- -- --

Cr_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_? -- -- -- -- --

Cu_d <0.02 -- -- -- <0.25

Cu_t -- -- -- -- --

Cu_? -- -- -- -- --

Fe_d -- -- -- -- --

Fe_t -- -- -- -- --

Fe_? -- -- -- -- --

Hg_d -- -- -- -- --

Hg_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_d -- -- -- -- --

Mn_t 0.20 -- -- -- --

Mn_? -- -- -- -- --

Mo_d -- -- -- -- --

Mo_t -- -- -- -- --

Mo_? -- -- -- -- <0.1

Ni_d -- -- -- -- --

Ni_t -- -- -- -- --

P_ -- -- -- -- --

Pb_d -- -- -- -- --

Pb_t -- -- -- -- --

Se_d -- -- -- -- --

Se_t -- -- -- -- --

SiO2 final -- -- -- -- --

Tl_d -- -- -- -- --

Tl_t -- -- -- -- --

V_d -- -- -- -- --

V_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_d -- -- -- -- --

Zn_t 0.06 -- -- -- <0.25

Zn_? -- -- -- -- --

Total cations (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Total anions (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -- -- -- --

Historical Surface-Water Quality 105
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 02/25/99 09/27/99 10/13/99 10/13/99 03/15/00

Time (24-hr) -- -- -- -- --

Collected by Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Source Vail Engineering, 

Inc., written 

commun., 2002 

Vail Engineering, 

Inc., written 

commun., 2002 

Vail Engineering, 

Inc., written 

commun., 2002 

URS, 2001 Vail Engineering, 

Inc., written 

commun., 2002 

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) -- -- 25.37 24.93 18.00

Flow Comments -- -- Includes South 

Ditch

 -- --

Hydrologic Condition Low flow Low flow Low flow Low flow Low flow

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) 14 25 23 23 16

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 -- -- -- -- --

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 139 288 288 288 288

pH-field (SU) 7.8 -- -- -- 7.7

pH-lab (SU) -- -- 7.8 -- --

SC-field (μS/cm) 384 296 312 -- 386

SC-lab (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

Temp, field (°C) -- -- -- -- --

TDS, meas (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

TSS (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

DOC (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, field (NTU) 8.7 -- -- -- --

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- -- -- -- 7.2

Turbidity (JTU) -- -- -- -- --

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final -- -- -- -- --

Mg final -- -- 9.2 -- 12.0

Na final -- -- -- -- --

K final -- -- -- -- --

SO4 final 128 -- 102 -- 136

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) -- -- -- -- --

F final -- -- 0.70 -- 0.8

Cl final -- -- -- -- --

Ag_d -- -- -- -- --

Ag_t -- -- -- -- --

Al_d -- -- 0.11 -- 0.10

Al_s -- -- -- -- --

Al_t -- -- 1.50 -- 2.50

As_d -- -- -- -- --

As_t -- -- -- -- --

Ba_d -- -- -- -- --

106 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 02/25/99 09/27/99 10/13/99 10/13/99 03/15/00

Ba_t -- -- -- -- --

Be_d -- -- -- -- --

Be_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_d -- -- -- -- --

Cd_t -- -- -- -- --

Cd_? -- -- -- -- --

Co_d -- -- -- -- --

Co_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_d -- -- -- -- --

Cr_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_? -- -- -- -- --

Cu_d -- -- -- -- --

Cu_t -- -- -- -- --

Cu_? -- -- -- -- --

Fe_d -- -- -- -- --

Fe_t -- -- -- -- --

Fe_? -- -- -- -- --

Hg_d -- -- -- -- --

Hg_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_d -- -- -- -- --

Mn_t -- -- 0.27 -- 0.41

Mn_? -- -- -- -- --

Mo_d -- -- -- -- --

Mo_t -- -- -- -- --

Mo_? -- -- -- -- --

Ni_d -- -- -- -- --

Ni_t -- -- -- -- --

P_ -- -- -- -- --

Pb_d -- -- -- -- --

Pb_t -- -- -- -- --

Se_d -- -- -- -- --

Se_t -- -- -- -- --

SiO2 final -- -- -- -- --

Tl_d -- -- -- -- --

Tl_t -- -- -- -- --

V_d -- -- -- -- --

V_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_d -- -- -- -- 0.055

Zn_t -- -- -- -- --

Zn_? -- -- -- -- --

Total cations (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Total anions (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -- -- -- --

Historical Surface-Water Quality 107
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 03/15/00 05/01/00 05/01/00 07/18/00 07/18/00

Time (24-hr) -- -- -- -- --

Collected by Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

-- Medine RGC RGC

Source URS, 2001 Molycorp, Inc., 

2002

Medine, 2000 RGC, 2000b RGC, 2000b

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) 14.68 -- 41 -- --

Flow Comments -- -- -- -- Duplicate

Hydrologic Condition Low flow Peak Peak Storm Storm

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) 16 46 46 25 25

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 -- -- -- -- --

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 288 48 48 48 48

pH-field (SU) -- -- 7.8 -- --

pH-lab (SU) -- 6.9 -- 4.8 --

SC-field (μS/cm) -- -- 277 -- --

SC-lab (μS/cm) -- -- -- 550 --

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

Temp, field (°C) -- -- -- -- --

TDS, meas (mg/L) -- 180 180 -- --

TSS (mg/L) -- 6 6 720 --

DOC (mg/L) -- 2 2 -- --

Turbidity, field (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) -- -- -- -- --

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final -- 38.3 38.3 86 --

Mg final -- 8.1 8.1 11 14.1

Na final -- 4.4 4.4 6.6 --

K final -- 1 1 2.1 --

SO4 final -- 80 80 360 --

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) -- 51 51 <10 --

F final -- 0.5 0.5 0.53 --

Cl final -- 2 2 4.9 --

Ag_d -- -- -- <0.01 --

Ag_t -- -- -- <0.01 <0.01

Al_d -- 0.21 0.21 0.23 --

Al_s -- -- -- -- --

Al_t -- 1.21 1.21 10 9.57

As_d -- -- -- -0.01 --

As_t -- -- -- <0.01 <0.01

Ba_d -- -- -- <0.01 --

Ba_t -- -- -- 0.34 0.439

108 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 03/15/00 05/01/00 05/01/00 07/18/00 07/18/00

Be_d -- -- -- <0.005 --

Be_t -- -- -- <0.005 --

Cd_d -- 0.0005 0.0005 <0.005 <0.005

Cd_t -- -- -- <0.005 <0.005

Cd_? -- -- -- -- --

Co_d -- 0.0022 0.0022 <0.01 --

Co_t -- 0.0026 0.0026 0.012 0.0126

Cr_d -- -- -- <0.01 --

Cr_t -- -- -- 0.011 0.0119

Cr_? -- -- -- -- --

Cu_d -- 0.005 0.005 <0.01 --

Cu_t -- 0.005 0.005 0.075 0.0848

Cu_? -- -- -- -- --

Fe_d -- -- -- <0.01 --

Fe_t -- 0.33 0.33 32 39.3

Fe_? -- -- -- -- --

Hg_d -- -- -- -- --

Hg_t -- -- -- -- --

Mn_d -- 0.182 0.182 0.74 --

Mn_t -- 0.2 0.2 0.92 0.952

Mn_? -- -- -- -- --

Mo_d -- 0.0022 0.0022 <0.01 --

Mo_t -- 0.0022 0.0022 0.014 0.0179

Mo_? -- -- -- -- --

Ni_d -- 0.011 0.011 0.037 --

Ni_t -- 0.014 0.014 0.048 0.0491

P_ -- -- -- -- --

Pb_d -- -- -- <0.003 --

Pb_t -- -- -- 0.13 0.167

Se_d -- -- -- <0.005 --

Se_t -- -- -- <0.005 <0.005

SiO2 final -- -- -- -- --

Tl_d -- -- -- <0.01 --

Tl_t -- -- -- <0.01 <0.01

V_d -- -- -- <0.01 --

V_t -- -- -- 0.014 0.0149

Zn_d -- 0.06 0.06 0.12 --

Zn_t -- 0.09 0.09 0.32 0.345

Zn_? -- -- -- -- --

Total cations (meq/L) -- 2.8 2.8 -- --

Total anions (meq/L) -- 2.8 2.8 -- --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- 0 0 -- --

Historical Surface-Water Quality 109
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 08/06/00 09/06/00 11/03/00 02/20/01 05/22/01

Time (24-hr) -- -- -- -- --

Collected by RGC Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Vail Engineering, 

Inc.

Vail Engineering, 

Inc./Martinez

--

Source RGC, 2000b Vail Engineering, 

Inc., written 

commun., 2002 

Vail Engineering, 

Inc., written 

commun., 2002 

Vail Engineering, 

Inc., written 

commun., 2002 

Molycorp, Inc., 

written commun., 2002

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) -- 10.73 +/-15 6.37 145.5

Flow Comments -- -- -- -- --

Hydrologic Condition Storm Low flow Low flow Low flow Peak

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) 12 12 13 10 187

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 -- -- -- -- --

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 48 48 48 48 218

pH-field (SU) -- 7.9 7.8 7.7 7.41

pH-lab (SU) 6.2 -- -- -- --

SC-field (μS/cm) -- 384 382 -- 174

SC-lab (μS/cm) 380 -- -- -- --

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

Temp, field (°C) -- -- -- -- 5.7

TDS, meas (mg/L) 300 -- -- 340 110

TSS (mg/L) 870 -- -- -- --

DOC (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, field (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) -- -- -- -- --

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final 57 -- -- -- 22

Mg final 12 -- -- 14.0 4.2

Na final 6.1 -- -- -- <10

K final 1.7 -- -- -- 0.76

SO4 final 160 170 150 190 36

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) 19 -- 48 -- 49

F final 0.92 0.7 0.8 0.94 <0.5

Cl final 4.4 -- -- -- 1.5

Ag_d <0.01 -- -- -- <0.002

Ag_t <0.01 -- -- -- <0.002

Al_d <0.2 -- -- <0.05 0.23

Al_s -- -- -- -- --

Al_t 18 1.70 1.70 3.30 1.2

As_d <0.01 -- -- -- <0.005

As_t <0.01 -- -- -- <0.005

Ba_d <0.01 -- -- -- 0.025

Ba_t 0.62 -- -- -- 0.043

110 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 08/06/00 09/06/00 11/03/00 02/20/01 05/22/01

Be_d <0.005 -- -- -- <0.004

Be_t <0.005 -- -- -- <0.004

Cd_d <0.005 -- -- -- <0.001

Cd_t <0.005 -- -- -- <0.001

Cd_? -- -- -- -- --

Co_d <0.01 -- -- -- --

Co_t 0.02 -- -- -- --

Cr_d <0.01 -- -- -- <0.01

Cr_t 0.013 -- -- -- <0.01

Cr_? -- -- -- -- --

Cu_d <0.01 -- -- -- <0.01

Cu_t 0.18 -- -- 0.033 0.01

Cu_? -- -- -- -- --

Fe_d 0.1 -- -- -- 0.22

Fe_t 36 -- -- -- 1.1

Fe_? -- -- -- -- --

Hg_d -- -- -- -- --

Hg_t -- -- -- -- <0.0002

Mn_d 0.098 -- -- -- 0.12

Mn_t 1.1 0.34 -- 0.62 0.17

Mn_? -- -- -- -- --

Mo_d <0.01 -- -- -- <0.1

Mo_t 0.019 -- -- <0.01 <0.1

Mo_? -- -- -- -- --

Ni_d <0.02 -- -- -- <0.02

Ni_t 0.077 -- -- -- <0.02

P_ -- -- -- -- --

Pb_d <0.003 -- -- -- <0.003

Pb_t 0.12 -- -- -- 0.0034

Se_d <0.005 -- -- -- <0.005

Se_t <0.005 -- -- -- <0.005

SiO2 final -- -- -- -- --

Tl_d <0.01 -- -- -- --

Tl_t <0.01 -- -- -- --

V_d <0.01 -- -- -- --

V_t 0.017 -- -- -- --

Zn_d <0.02 -- -- -- 0.028

Zn_t 0.77 0.110 0.14 0.22 0.052

Zn_? -- -- -- -- --

Total cations (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Total anions (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -- -- -- --

Historical Surface-Water Quality 111
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 05/22/01 08/21/01 11/12/01 11/12/01 11/12/01

Time (24-hr) -- -- -- -- --

Collected by -- -- -- -- --

Source Molycorp, Inc., 

written commun., 2002

Molycorp, Inc., 

written commun., 2002

Molycorp, Inc., 

written commun., 2002

Molycorp, Inc., 

written commun., 2002

Molycorp, Inc., 

written commun., 2002

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) -- 21.15 13.8 -- --

Flow Comments -- -- -- -- --

Hydrologic Condition Peak Low flow Low flow Low flow Low flow

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) 187 37 14 14 14

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 -- -- -- -- --

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 218 218 218 218 218

pH-field (SU) 7.41 7.88 7.74 7.74 7.74

pH-lab (SU) -- -- -- -- --

SC-field (μS/cm) 174 288 386 386 --

SC-lab (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

Temp, field (°C) 5.7 14.5 5.3 5.3 5.3

TDS, meas (mg/L) 110 220 260 260 260

TSS (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

DOC (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, field (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) -- -- -- -- --

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final 22 49 49 49 --

Mg final 4.4 11 11 11 --

Na final <10 <10 5.2 5.1 --

K final 0.81 <1.3 1.4 1.4 --

SO4 final 36 110 130 130 130

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) 48 51 45 45 45

F final <0.5 1 0.81 0.81 --

Cl final 1.5 3.7 3.5 3.4 --

Ag_d <0.002 <0.002 <0.002 <0.002 --

Ag_t <0.002 <0.002 <0.002 <0.002 --

Al_d 0.26 0.29 0.13 0.12 --

Al_s -- -- -- -- --

Al_t 1.2 1.6 1.9 1.9 --

As_d <0.005 <0.005 <0.005 <0.005 --

As_t <0.005 <0.005 <0.005 <0.005 --

Ba_d 0.026 0.032 0.031 0.03 --

Ba_t 0.044 0.035 0.032 0.032 --

112 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 05/22/01 08/21/01 11/12/01 11/12/01 11/12/01

Be_d <0.004 <0.004 <0.004 <0.004 --

Be_t <0.004 <0.004 <0.004 <0.004 --

Cd_d <0.001 <0.001 <0.001 <0.001 --

Cd_t <0.001 0.001 <0.001 <0.001 --

Cd_? -- -- -- -- --

Co_d -- -- -- -- --

Co_t -- -- -- -- --

Cr_d <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 --

Cr_t <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 --

Cr_? -- -- -- -- --

Cu_d <0.01 <0.01 0.0016 0.002 --

Cu_t 0.013 0.017 0.019 0.019 --

Cu_? -- -- -- -- --

Fe_d <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 --

Fe_t 1.2 0.32 0.27 0.26 --

Fe_? -- -- -- -- --

Hg_d -- -- -- -- --

Hg_t <0.0002 <0.0002 <0.0002 <0.0002 --

Mn_d 0.12 0.45 0.38 0.38 --

Mn_t 0.18 0.46 0.39 0.39 --

Mn_? -- -- -- -- --

Mo_d <0.1 <0.1 -- -- --

Mo_t <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 --

Mo_? -- -- -- -- --

Ni_d <0.02 0.021 0.018 0.018 --

Ni_t <0.02 0.022 0.019 0.019 --

P_ -- -- -- -- --

Pb_d <0.003 <0.003 <0.003 <0.003 --

Pb_t <0.003 <0.003 <0.003 <0.003 --

Se_d <0.005 <0.005 <0.005 <0.005 --

Se_t <0.005 <0.005 <0.005 <0.005 --

SiO2 final -- 5.2 5.6 5.5 --

Tl_d -- -- -- -- --

Tl_t -- -- -- -- --

V_d -- <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 --

V_t -- <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 --

Zn_d 0.031 0.075 0.089 0.088 --

Zn_t 0.06 0.15 0.13 0.13 --

Zn_? -- -- -- -- --

Total cations (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Total anions (meq/L) -- -- -- -- --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- -- -- -- --

Historical Surface-Water Quality 113
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 11/12/01 11/12/01

Time (24-hr) -- --

Collected by -- --

Source Molycorp, Inc., 

written commun., 2002

Molycorp, Inc., 

written commun., 2002

Measured Discharge (ft3/s) -- --

Flow Comments -- --

Hydrologic Condition Low flow Low flow

Avg Daily Discharge (ft3/s) 14 14

Avg Monthly Discharge 

(ft3/s)

 -- --

Max Avg Daily Discharge 

snowmelt runoff (ft3/s)

 218 218

pH-field (SU) 7.74 7.74

pH-lab (SU) -- --

SC-field (μS/cm) -- --

SC-lab (μS/cm) -- --

SC, 25°C (μS/cm) -- --

Temp, field (°C) 5.3 5.3

TDS, meas (mg/L) 260 260

TSS (mg/L) -- --

DOC (mg/L) -- --

Turbidity, field (NTU) -- --

Turbidity, lab (NTU) -- --

Turbidity (JTU) -- --

Constituent (mg/L)

Ca final 49 49

Mg final 11 11

Na final 5.1 5.2

K final 1.4 1.4

SO4 final 130 130

Alk final (mg/L CaCO3) 45 45

F final 0.81 0.81

Cl final 3.5 3.4

Ag_d -- --

Ag_t 0.002 <0.002

Al_d 0.12 0.13

Al_s -- --

Al_t 1.9 1.9

As_d -- --

As_t 0.005 <0.005

Ba_d 0.03 0.03

Ba_t 0.03 0.03

114 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 4. Historical Water-Quality Data at the Questa Ranger Station on the Red River from 1965 to 2001—Continued.

Date (mm/dd/yy) 11/12/01 11/12/01

Be_d -- --

Be_t 0.004 <0.004

Cd_d -- --

Cd_t 0.001 <0.001

Cd_? -- --

Co_d -- --

Co_t -- --

Cr_d -- --

Cr_t 0.01 <0.01

Cr_? -- --

Cu_d 0.002 0.0016

Cu_t 0.01 0.01

Cu_? -- --

Fe_d -- --

Fe_t 0.26 0.27

Fe_? -- --

Hg_d -- --

Hg_t <0.0002 <0.0002

Mn_d -- --

Mn_t 0.39 0.39

Mn_? -- --

Mo_d <0.1 <0.1

Mo_t 0.1 <0.1

Mo_? -- --

Ni_d 0.01 0.01

Ni_t 0.01 0.01

P_ -- --

Pb_d -- --

Pb_t 0.003 <0.003

Se_d -- --

Se_t 0.005 <0.005

SiO2 final 4.9 5.0

Tl_d -- --

Tl_t -- --

V_d -- --

V_t 0.01 <0.01

Zn_d 0.08 0.08

Zn_t 0.13 0.13

Zn_? -- --

Total cations (meq/L) -- --

Total anions (meq/L) -- --

Charge Imbalance (%) -- --

Historical Surface-Water Quality 115
Table 5. Water-quality data upstream from the Molycorp, Inc. molybdenum mine.

[Source, Vail Engineering, Inc., written commun., 2002.

Alk, alkalinity; Avg, average; Disch, discharge; _d, dissolved; JTU, Jackson turbidity units; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; mg/L, milligrams per liter; 

mm/dd/yy, month/day/year; Moly, Molycorp, Inc.; NTU, nephelometric turbidity units; Prop, property; SC, specific conductance; SU, standard units; _s, suspended; _t, total; TDS, total dissolved solids; TSS, total suspended solids; Upstr., upstream; --, no data]

Station Identifier 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7

Station Number 33200 33200 33200 33200 33200 33200 -- 33200

Date (mm/dd/yy) 11/29/88 10/22/92 2/16/93 11/10/93 2/11/94 10/13/94 11/7/94 2/14/95

Avg Daily Disch (ft3/s) -- -- -- -- -- -- 18 --

pH field (SU) 7.7 8.19 7.7 7.5 7.46 7.6 6 8.1

pH lab (SU) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

SC field (μS/cm) -- 317 336 327 341 296 178 341

SC lab (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

TDS (mg/L) 163 184 230 198 250 228 220 262

TSS (mg/L) 33.7 6 8 2 6 8.7 9 8

Turbidity (JTU) 10 4 -- -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (NTU) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Mg (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- -- 8.22 --

SO4 (mg/L) 65 85 113 80 103 93 74 103

SO4 Load (kg/d) -- -- -- -- -- -- 3260 --

Alk (mg/L CaCO3) 55 62 49 66 54 70 58 58

F (mg/L) 0.5 0.358 0.37 0.368 0.43 0.6 -- 0.48

Al_t (mg/L) 4.1 1.6 2.5 2.3 2.5 1.25 1.07 1.18

Al_d (mg/L) 1.8 0.7 0.5 1.2 0.5 0.5 0.115 0.08

Al_s (mg/L) 2.3 0.9 2 1.1 2 0.75 -- 1.1

Cu (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Fe (mg/L) 1.48 0.31 0.442 0.78 0.48 0.342 0.394 0.306

Mo (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Mn (mg/L) 0.23 0.21 0.274 0.237 0.36 0.143 0.208 0.175

Zn (mg/L) 0.08 0.071 0.083 0.1 0.107 0.051 0.069 0.088

116 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Table 5. Water-Quality Data upstream from the Molycorp, Inc. Molybdenum Mine—Continued.

Station Identifier 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7

Station Number 33200 33200 33200 33200 33200 33200 33200 33200

Date (mm/dd/yy) 11/9/95 2/26/96 11/5/96 3/13/97 7/21/97 9/9/97 11/3/97 3/9/98

Avg Daily Disch (ft3/s) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

pH field (SU) 8.1 7.8 7.4 7.4 8.7 8.1 7.4 7.8

pH lab (SU) 7.9 -- 7.94 7.83 8 7.76 7.77 7.51

SC field (μS/cm) 294 335 331 346 224 262 306 353

SC lab (μS/cm) 289 -- 316 346 219 259 291 333

TDS (mg/L) 208 -- -- -- -- 185 -- --

TSS (mg/L) 2.8 -- -- -- -- 9.4 -- 13.8

Turbidity (JTU) 2.46 -- -- 7.6 1.2 6.9 -- 16

Turbidity (NTU) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Mg (mg/L) 6 10.9 9.9 9.4 6.1 7.2 9.1 10.3

SO4 (mg/L) 83 102 96 102 40 74 94 112

SO4 Load (kg/d) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Alk (mg/L CaCO3) 66 -- -- -- 65 57 -- --

F (mg/L) 0.3 0.407 -- -- -- 0.28 0.4 0.46

Al_t (mg/L) 2.13 1.7 1.1 1.3 0.46 -- 0.5 2

Al_d (mg/L) 0.127 -- -- -- -- <0.5 -- --

Al_s (mg/L) 2 -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Cu (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Fe (mg/L) 0.281 -- -- -- -- <0.2 -- --

Mo (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Mn (mg/L) 0.16 0.155 0.2 0.26 0.079 <0.2 <0.2 0.3

Zn (mg/L) 0.09 0.056 <0.09 <0.09 0.04 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25

Historical Surface-Water Quality 117
Station Identifier 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7

Station Number 33200 33200 33200 33200 33200 33200 33200 33200

Date (mm/dd/yy) 4/30/98 10/20/98 2/25/99 9/27/99 10/13/99 3/15/00 9/6/00 11/3/00

Avg Daily Disch (ft3/s) -- 14.88 -- -- 15.37 9.31 9.56 8.99

pH field (SU) 7.5 8.1 8.2 -- -- 8.3 8.3 8

pH lab (SU) 7.66 -- -- -- 7.86 -- -- --

SC field (μS/cm) 223 279 322 264 273 328 311 308

SC lab (μS/cm) 218 -- -- -- -- -- -- --

TDS (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

TSS (mg/L) 14.6 -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (NTU) -- -- 7 -- -- -- -- --

Mg (mg/L) -- -- -- -- 7.7 10 -- --

SO4 (mg/L) 49 70 92 -- 78 100 106 87

SO4 Load (kg/d) -- 2,550 -- -- 2,930 2,280 2,480 1,910

Alk (mg/L CaCO3) 99.2 -- -- -- -- -- -- 58

F (mg/L) 0.28 0.31 -- -- 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.4

Al_t (mg/L) -- 0.6 -- -- -- 1 0.75 0.81

Al_d (mg/L) -- -- -- -- 0.24 0.1 -- --

Al_s (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Cu (mg/L) -- <0.25 -- -- -- -- -- --

Fe (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Mo (mg/L) -- <0.1 -- -- -- -- -- --

Mn (mg/L) <0.2 -- -- -- 0.12 0.19 0.17 --

Zn (mg/L) <0.05 <0.25 -- -- -- 0.014 <0.05 0.045

Table 5. Water-Quality Data upstream from the Molycorp, Inc. Molybdenum Mine—Continued.

118 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Station Identifier 7

Upstr. Moly 

Prop 

Line

Upstr. Moly 

Prop 

Line

Upstr. Moly 

Prop 

Line

Upstr. Moly 

Prop 

Line 6A 6A 6A

Station Number 33200 34300 34300 34300 34300 39800 39800 39800

Date (mm/dd/yy) 2/20/01 9/13/88 9/20/88 9/26/88 10/25/88 11/29/88 10/22/92 2/16/93

Avg Daily Disch (ft3/s) 5.05 -- -- -- 20 -- -- --

pH field (SU) 7.9 7.2 7.9 7.5 7.8 -- -- --

pH lab (SU) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

SC field (μS/cm) 358 213 166 199 237 -- -- --

SC lab (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

TDS (mg/L) 230 198 144 150 174 -- -- --

TSS (mg/L) -- 198 10 6 3 -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) -- 320 5 5 -- -- -- --

Turbidity (NTU) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Mg (mg/L) 12 -- -- -- -- -- -- --

SO4 (mg/L) 120 103 46 51 67 -- -- --

SO4 Load (kg/d) 1,480 -- -- -- 3,280 -- -- --

Alk (mg/L CaCO3) -- 18 55 56 58 -- -- --

F (mg/L) 0.7 -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Al_t (mg/L) 2 8.9 0.6 0.7 1.08 -- -- --

Al_d (mg/L) 0.064 0.05 0.14 0.1 -- -- -- --

Al_s (mg/L) -- 8.85 0.46 0.6 -- -- -- --

Cu (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Fe (mg/L) 0.041 33 0.54 0.35 0.23 -- -- --

Mo (mg/L) <0.1 -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Mn (mg/L) 0.33 0.62 0.1 0.1 0.15 -- -- --

Zn (mg/L) 0.11 0.15 0.05 0.05 0.05 -- -- --

Table 5. Water-Quality Data upstream from the Molycorp, Inc. Molybdenum Mine—Continued.

Historical Surface-Water Quality 119
Station Identifier 6A 6A 6A 6A 6A 6A 6A 6A

Station Number 39800 39800 39800 39800 39800 39800 39800 39800

Date (mm/dd/yy) 11/10/93 2/11/94 10/13/94 2/14/95 11/9/95 2/26/96 11/5/96 3/13/97

Avg Daily Disch (ft3/s) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

pH field (SU) 7.63 -- 7.2 7.7 7.7 7.4 6.7 7

pH lab (SU) -- -- -- -- 7.6 -- 7.32 7.3

SC field (μS/cm) 330 -- 291 340 286 330 334 350

SC lab (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- 281 -- 321 348

TDS (mg/L) 184 -- 224 260 206 -- -- --

TSS (mg/L) 8 -- 7.3 9.5 4 -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) -- -- -- -- 2.82 -- -- 47

Turbidity (NTU) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Mg (mg/L) -- -- -- -- 5.2 11.4 10.1 9.9

SO4 (mg/L) 83 -- 97 96 77 96 98 104

SO4 Load (kg/d) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Alk (mg/L CaCO3) 56 -- 76 50 62 -- -- --

F (mg/L) 0.378 -- 0.5 0.472 0.3 0.386 -- --

Al_t (mg/L) 2.7 -- 1.25 1.16 1.88 0.8 1.5 2.3

Al_d (mg/L) 1.4 -- 0.5 0.06 0.08 -- -- --

Al_s (mg/L) 1.3 -- 0.75 1.1 1.8 -- -- --

Cu (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Fe (mg/L) 0.604 -- 0.27 0.323 0.329 -- -- --

Mo (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Mn (mg/L) 0.254 -- 0.121 0.168 0.17 0.149 0.3 0.3

Zn (mg/L) 0.084 -- 0.044 0.066 0.09 0.06 <0.09 <0.09

Table 5. Water-Quality Data upstream from the Molycorp, Inc. Molybdenum Mine—Continued.

120 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Station Identifier 6A 6A 6A 6A 6A 6A 6A 6A

Station Number 39800 39800 39800 39800 39800 39800 39800 39800

Date (mm/dd/yy) 7/21/97 9/9/97 11/3/97 3/9/98 4/30/98 10/20/98 2/25/99 9/27/99

Avg Daily Disch (ft3/s) -- -- -- -- -- 15.4 -- --

pH field (SU) 8.1 7.9 6.9 7.6 -- 7.8 7.6 --

pH lab (SU) -- 7.56 -- -- -- -- -- --

SC field (μS/cm) 223 259 307 355 -- 279 327 259

SC lab (μS/cm) -- 257 -- 334 -- -- -- --

TDS (mg/L) -- 180 -- -- -- -- -- --

TSS (mg/L) -- 5.8 -- 10.7 -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) -- 6.2 -- 15 -- -- -- --

Turbidity (NTU) -- -- -- -- -- -- 5.5 --

Mg (mg/L) -- 7.1 -- -- -- -- -- --

SO4 (mg/L) -- 65 -- 106 -- 70 100 --

SO4 Load (kg/d) -- -- -- -- -- 2,630 -- --

Alk (mg/L CaCO3) -- 63 -- -- -- -- -- --

F (mg/L) -- 0.27 -- -- -- 0.29 -- --

Al_t (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Al_d (mg/L) -- <0.5 -- -- -- -- -- --

Al_s (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Cu (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Fe (mg/L) -- <0.2 -- -- -- -- -- --

Mo (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Mn (mg/L) -- <0.2 -- -- -- -- -- --

Zn (mg/L) -- <0.25 -- -- -- -- -- --

Table 5. Water-Quality Data upstream from the Molycorp, Inc. Molybdenum Mine—Continued.

Historical Surface-Water Quality 121
Station Identifier 6A 6A 6A 6A 6A 6 6 6

Station Number 39800 39800 39800 39800 39800 42200 42200 42200

Date (mm/dd/yy) 10/13/99 3/15/00 9/6/00 11/3/00 2/20/01 11/4/65 11/4/70 11/29/88

Avg Daily Disch (ft3/s) -- 11.4 9.27 10.1 6.13 17 12.7 --

pH field (SU) -- 7.4 7.7 7.7 7.9 7.4 7.2 7.7

pH lab (SU) 7.64 -- -- -- -- -- -- --

SC field (μS/cm) 271 330 310 305 354 237 255 --

SC lab (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

TDS (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- 165 193 149

TSS (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- 8 0 17.8

Turbidity (JTU) -- -- -- -- -- 2.3 4.5 8

Turbidity (NTU) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Mg (mg/L) -- 10 -- -- -- -- -- --

SO4 (mg/L) 74 98 104 89 -- 47 60 46

SO4 Load (kg/d) -- 2,730 -- 2,200 -- 1,960 1,860 --

Alk (mg/L CaCO3) -- -- -- 64 -- 62 60 62

F (mg/L) -- 0.4 -- -- -- -- -- 0.5

Al_t (mg/L) -- 0.96 -- -- -- -- -- 3

Al_d (mg/L) -- <0.1 -- -- -- -- -- 1.8

Al_s (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1.2

Cu (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Fe (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- <0.02 0.12 0.64

Mo (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Mn (mg/L) -- 0.2 -- -- -- -- -- 0.18

Zn (mg/L) -- 0.039 -- -- -- <1 <0.01 0.04

Table 5. Water-Quality Data upstream from the Molycorp, Inc. Molybdenum Mine—Continued.

122 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Station Identifier 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

Station Number 42200 42200 42200 42200 42200 42200 42200 42200

Date (mm/dd/yy) 11/10/93 2/11/94 10/13/94 2/14/95 11/9/95 2/26/96 11/5/96 3/13/97

Avg Daily Disch (ft3/s) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

pH field (SU) 7.46 7.62 7.4 8.1 8.1 7.9 6.35 7.2

pH lab (SU) -- -- -- -- 7.9 -- 7.7 7.72

SC field (μS/cm) 304 279 271 306 261 297 298 318

SC lab (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- 260 -- 291 319

TDS (mg/L) 164 204 212 224 180 -- -- --

TSS (mg/L) 7 5 5.3 6.5 -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) -- -- -- -- 1.71 -- -- 72

Turbidity (NTU) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Mg (mg/L) -- -- -- -- 5 9.7 8.5 8.8

SO4 (mg/L) 71 74 68 80 63 75 76 88

SO4 Load (kg/d) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Alk (mg/L CaCO3) 63 61 68 68 73 -- -- --

F (mg/L) 0.3 0.33 0.5 0.374 0.3 0.322 -- --

Al_t (mg/L) 1.15 5.5 1 0.39 0.65 0.7 0.7 1.9

Al_d (mg/L) 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.07 0.05 -- -- --

Al_s (mg/L) 0.65 5 0.5 0.32 0.6 -- -- --

Cu (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Fe (mg/L) 1.02 0.63 0.234 0.323 0.406 -- -- --

Mo (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Mn (mg/L) 0.164 0.29 0.055 0.091 0.1 0.083 0.1 0.2

Zn (mg/L) 0.052 0.046 0.035 0.074 0.07 0.029 <0.09 <0.09

Table 5. Water-Quality Data upstream from the Molycorp, Inc. Molybdenum Mine—Continued.

Historical Surface-Water Quality 123
Station Identifier 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

Station Number 42200 42200 42200 42200 42200 42200 42200 42200

Date (mm/dd/yy) 7/21/97 9/9/97 11/3/97 3/9/98 4/30/98 10/20/98 2/25/99 9/27/99

Avg Daily Disch (ft3/s) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

pH field (SU) 8.2 8.2 -- 7.8 7.4 8.2 8.3 --

pH lab (SU) -- -- -- -- 7.52 -- -- --

SC field (μS/cm) 211 241 -- 332 209 256 294 --

SC lab (μS/cm) -- -- -- 313 205 -- -- --

TDS (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

TSS (mg/L) -- -- -- 2.6 -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) -- -- -- 14 -- -- -- --

Turbidity (NTU) -- -- -- -- -- -- 4.7 --

Mg (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

SO4 (mg/L) -- -- -- 90 44 54 70 --

SO4 Load (kg/d) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Alk (mg/L CaCO3) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

F (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- 0.25 -- --

Al_t (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Al_d (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Al_s (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Cu (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Fe (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Mo (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Mn (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Zn (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Table 5. Water-Quality Data upstream from the Molycorp, Inc. Molybdenum Mine—Continued.

124 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Station Identifier 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

Station Number 42200 42200 42200 42200 42200 42400 42400 --

Date (mm/dd/yy) 10/13/99 3/15/00 9/6/00 11/3/00 2/20/01 10/22/92 2/16/93 11/7/94

Avg Daily Disch (ft3/s) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

pH field (SU) -- -- 8.3 8.2 -- 8.23 7.6 6

pH lab (SU) 8.12 -- -- -- -- -- -- --

SC field (μS/cm) 248 -- 282 280 -- 286 305 160

SC lab (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

TDS (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- 176 200 206

TSS (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- 4.7 6 6

Turbidity (JTU) -- -- -- -- -- 4 -- --

Turbidity (NTU) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Mg (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 7.24

SO4 (mg/L) 58 -- 80 70 -- 66 86 59

SO4 Load (kg/d) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Alk (mg/L CaCO3) -- -- -- 66 -- 72 46 62

F (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- 0.268 0.32 --

Al_t (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- 0.89 1.33 0.612

Al_d (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- 0.5 0.5 0.0484

Al_s (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- 0.39 0.83 --

Cu (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Fe (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- 0.359 0.467 0.376

Mo (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Mn (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- 0.126 0.179 0.138

Zn (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- 0.053 0.041 0.0487

Table 5. Water-Quality Data upstream from the Molycorp, Inc. Molybdenum Mine—Continued.

Historical Surface-Water Quality 125
Station Identifier MP8 MP8 MP8 MP8 MP8 MP8 MP8 MP8

Station Number -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Date (mm/dd/yy) 6/10/97 7/17/97 8/14/97 9/18/97 10/23/97 11/20/97 12/19/97 1/14/98

Avg Daily Disch (ft3/s) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

pH field (SU) 7.96 8.37 8.2 7.93 7.79 7.99 7.85 7.95

pH lab (SU) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

SC field (μS/cm) 33 -- 50 251 32 286 78 321

SC lab (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

TDS (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

TSS (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (NTU) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Mg (mg/L) 3.3 5.7 5.9 7.7 10.8 8.2 10.1 9.4

SO4 (mg/L) 22.6 53.3 51.7 75.6 76.8 76.6 84 96.9

SO4 Load (kg/d) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Alk (mg/L CaCO3) 60.5 55.5 60 58.5 54.7 62.5 45 55.8

F (mg/L) 0.1 -- 0.2 -- 0.5 0.3 -- 1.3

Al_t (mg/L) -- 0.3 -- -- 0.78 -- -- 1.6

Al_d (mg/L) <0.15 0.19 0.23 0.15 0.17 <0.15 <0.15 0.17

Al_s (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Cu (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Fe (mg/L) -- 0.2 -- -- <0.02 -- -- 2.36

Mo (mg/L) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Mn (mg/L) -- <0.1 -- -- 0.13 -- -- 0.245

Zn (mg/L) -- 0.013 -- -- 0.031 -- -- 0.069

Table 5. Water-Quality Data upstream from the Molycorp, Inc. Molybdenum Mine—Continued.

126 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Station Identifier MP8 MP8 MP8 MP8 MP8

Station Number -- -- -- -- --

Date (mm/dd/yy) 2/20/98 3/19/98 4/30/98 6/4/98 7/16/98

Avg Daily Disch (ft3/s) -- -- -- -- --

pH field (SU) 8.03 7.7 7.94 7.69 7.88

pH lab (SU) -- -- -- -- --

SC field (μS/cm) 60 52 54 45 --

SC lab (μS/cm) -- -- -- -- --

TDS (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

TSS (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (JTU) -- -- -- -- --

Turbidity (NTU) -- -- -- -- --

Mg (mg/L) 12.2 10.6 5.9 4 5.3

SO4 (mg/L) 103 92.8 53.1 26.1 43.1

SO4 Load (kg/d) -- -- -- -- --

Alk (mg/L CaCO3) 42 57 50 58.5 54.3

F (mg/L) 0.7 0.5 1.1 0.1 0.5

Al_t (mg/L) -- -- 1.5 -- 0.63

Al_d (mg/L) <0.15 <0.15 <0.15 <0.15 <0.15

Al_s (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

Cu (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

Fe (mg/L) -- -- 1.05 -- 0.802

Mo (mg/L) -- -- -- -- --

Mn (mg/L) -- -- <0.1 -- <0.1

Zn (mg/L) -- -- 0.043 -- 0.025

Table 5. Water-Quality Data upstream from the Molycorp, Inc. Molybdenum Mine—Continued.

Historical Surface-Water Quality 127
128 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001

this time. Most samples from water years 1983 to 2001 (fig. 

3) were collected during low flow conditions, although there 

were five summer thunderstorm samples collected in 1988 and 

a number of non-low-flow samples collected in 1992, 1994, 

1997, and 1998. Table 6 shows the years in which samples 

from different hydrologic conditions were collected. Relationships between hydrologic conditions (for example, low flow) 

and concentrations are discussed in the following sections.

Evaluation of Selected Water-Quality Data in 

Previous Reports

The sample collection, preservation, and analysis methods are presented in table 3. Analytical issues that may limit 

the usefulness of previous Red River water-quality studies are 

discussed in this section. In addition, the results of a limited 

number of studies are discussed to provide a context for the 

presentation of historical water-quality data.

Baseline surveys of Red River water quality were conducted by the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration 

(1966) and the USEPA (1971). The reports concluded that the 

water quality was good in 1966 and that the chemical quality 

and biological conditions remained very good in 1971, with 

the exception of the influences of tailings pipeline breaks 

(USEPA, 1971). In the early 1970’s, the NMDGF, however, 

noted that fish were absent in the middle reach of the Red 

River where there had been 572 fish per mile in 1960 (Slifer, 

1996).

In 1980, the USEPA performed a preliminary assessment 

of the Red River-Questa site (Melancon et al., 1982). The 

study found biologic toxicity, high concentrations of arsenic, and concentrations of cadmium and silver that exceeded 

water quality standards for the protection of aquatic life. Four 

surveys were performed between 1984 and 1988 by different 

bureaus within NMED that indicated progressive degradation in the Red River (Slifer, 1996; URS, 2001). The Bureau 

of Land Management (BLM) studied Red River water quality between 1978 and 1986 (Garn, 1985; USGS, 2003b), 

and documented a downstream increase in concentrations 

of metals and other constituents, at times exceeding water 

quality standards, and related the impacts to mining. Smolka 

and Tague (1987, 1989) conducted water studies that showed 

increased loading from storm events, but concentrations in the 

Red River did not exceed aquatic toxicity thresholds. However, 

biological indices were substantially reduced downstream 

from the Molycorp, Inc. Mine. Summaries of these and other 

water-quality investigations are discussed and reviewed in the 

Historical Surface-Water Quality section.

Arsenic, iron, lead, and zinc were determined using colorimetric methods in FWPCA (1966). The detection limits for 

lead (20 micrograms per liter (μg/L) and zinc (1,000 μg/L) in 

the FWPCA study are elevated compared to those for graphite furnace AAS, ICP-MS, or even flame AAS and preclude 

comparisons to criteria for the protection of aquatic life in the 

Red River. Similarly, detection limits for many of the eleHydrologic Conditions for Historical WaterQuality Sampling Events

In mineralized or mined areas, it is common to see 

relationships between concentrations and flow, or between 

concentrations and changes in hydrologic conditions determined from the hydrograph record. For example, concentrations of metals in streams draining mined areas can increase 

during the rising limb of the hydrograph before dilution occurs 

(Jambor and others, 2000). Stored acid and metals from the 

oxidation of pyrite and other sulfides (unsaturated-zone waters 

and efflorescent salts) are flushed from soils, mine wastes, 

and unmined but mineralized areas by melting snow or rain 

and washed into receiving streams. To determine if similar 

mechanisms were operating in the study area, hydrographs 

for all years containing sampling events were examined to 

find the hydrologic conditions during sampling. Average daily 

discharge values were taken from the U.S. Geological Survey 

web site (USGS, 2003a).

Criteria used to discriminate sampling events based on 

hydrologic conditions are defined in table 6 and used in tables 

4 and 5. As shown in table 6, five hydrologic conditions were 

defined: rising limb, peak, falling limb, storm, and low flow. 

Rising limb was defined as starting when flows first increased 

as a result of snowmelt (usually in April) and ending when 

flows reached 50 percent of the peak flow for that water year. 

Peak flow was defined as starting and ending at 50 percent of 

peak flow on either side of the peak (usually late April/early 

May). Falling limb started after the peak when flows fell to 50 

percent of peak values and ended when flows fell to 25 percent 

of peak values. Low flows started at 25 percent of peak flow 

after the peak and continued to the start of the rising limb the 

following year. Storm events are defined as increases in flow 

superimposed on the low flow portions of the hydrograph 

(summer thunderstorms). To determine percent of peak flow, 

average daily flows were compared to maximum daily discharge (peak flow). The relevant peak flow was defined as the 

previous peak. For example, if the sampling date was between 

October 1, 1999, and the start of the rising limb in 2000, the 

relevant peak flow for these dates would be the peak flow for 

1999, not 2000.

Sampling dates at the Questa Ranger Station gage from 

water years 1966 to 1982 and 1983 to 2001 are shown on 

hydrographs in figures 2 and 3, respectively. In total, there 

were 190 separate sampling dates when water quality samples 

were collected on the Red River at the Questa Ranger Station 

gage. On a small number of additional dates, only flow was 

measured, but those events are not included in figures 2 and 

3 or in table 4. Figure 2 shows the wide variability in peak 

discharge values, ranging from a low of 29 ft3/s in 1977 to a 

high of 557 ft3/s in 1979. The earliest sampling events were in 

November 1965 and November 1971, both during low flow. 

A number of samples collected from 1977 through 1979 were 

average monthly composites (Molycorp, Inc., 1979; marked 

with an ‘A’ in table 4), and some of the most consistent 

sampling coverage for different flow conditions was during 
Table 6. Definition of hydrologic conditions and summary of sampling events.

[NA, not applicable]

Hydrologic conditions Definition Approximate dates

Number of 

sampling 

events Years sampled

Rising limb Starts when flows 

begin to increase in 

the spring; stops at 

50 percent of peak 

flow

April 1–May 15 17 1977-83, 1986, 1992, 1997, 1998

Peak Rising or falling limb 

and 50 percent or 

more of peak flow

May, June 22 1977-79, 1981-86, 1992, 1994, 1998, 

2000, 2001

Falling limb Starts after peak flow 

when flows decrease 

to 50 percent of 

peak flow; stops 

when flows fall to 

25 percent of peak 

flow

June 1–August 15 20 1978-80, 1982-85, 1992, 1994, 1997, 

1998

Storm Summer thunderstorm 

event; generally 

requires a noticeable 

peak in flow relative 

to flows before and 

after storm.

Summer 20 1977, 1980-82, 1986, 1988, 1992, 1997, 

2000

Low flow Starts at 25 percent of 

peak flow and ends 

when flows start to 

increase in spring1

August 15–April 1 156 1965, 1970, 1977-86, 1988, 1992-2001

Unknown No flow data available NA 5 Water year 2001

1

If date falls between October 1 and start of rising limb, peak flow used is from previous year.

Historical Surface-Water Quality 129

ments determined using colorimetric methods in the Pennak 

(1972a) report prohibit comparisons to water-quality standards 

or criteria. For example, colorimetric detection limits were 

1 milligram per liter (mg/L) for silver, 0.5 mg/L for arsenic, 

and 2 mg/L for beryllium. However, for analytes determined 

by flame AAS, detection limits were in the parts per billion 

range (for example, 20 μg/L for copper and 40 μg/L for iron).

Although the later Pennak (1976 to 1984) reports 

discussed water quality, no metals were determined, and the 

focus was predominantly on benthic aquatic life. The cause of 

a “yellowish-tan” precipitate was attributed to Molycorp, Inc. 

operations in May 1978 and to naturally-occurring streamside deposits upstream from the Eagle Rock campground in 

October 1978.

The USEPA report by Melancon and others (1982) 

concluded that concentrations of total arsenic, cadmium, and 

silver exceeded acute aquatic life criteria in the Red River. 

However, cadmium and silver detection limits were 

7.5 and 12.0 μg/L, respectively, and the arsenic detection limit 

was 110 μg/L. Arsenic concentrations are higher than those 

reported in any other water-quality study of the Red River. 

For example, the highest arsenic concentration reported at the 

Questa Ranger Station gage (table 4) from 1966 to 2001 was 

22 μg/L; arsenic concentrations reported by Melancon and 

others (1982) ranged from 633 μg/L upstream from the town 

of Red River to 1,400 μg/L approximately 200 m upstream 

from the State fish hatchery, which is downstream from the 

Questa Ranger Station. Arsenic was determined by ICPAES, which is one of the least sensitive methods available for 

arsenic. The arsenic values reported in Melancon and others 

(1982) were not considered reliable because all other arsenic 

values measured in the Red River were lower. Furthermore, 

arsenic mineralization is rare in the Red River Valley (Schilling, 1956).

Only three of eight locations sampled by Melancon and 

others (1982) had detectable cadmium concentrations, and 

these ranged from 7.8 μg/L at one of the upstream control 

locations to 11.5 μg/L at the other upstream control location. 
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Figure 2. Average daily discharge and timing of surface-water samples collected in the Red River at the Questa Range 

Station gage in water years 1966 to 1982.

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Figure 3. Average daily discharge and timing of surface-water samples collected in the Red River at the Questa Range 

Station gage in water years 1983 to 2001.

130 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Historical Surface-Water Quality 131

These values are less than twice the detection limit of 7.5 μg/L 

and may not be reliable. Similarly, silver was detected at only 

two of eight locations; the values were 16.0 and 19.2 μg/L, 

which are only slightly higher than the detection limit of 

12.0 μg/L. Silver also is highly insoluble (<1 μg/L) in most 

freshwaters. Consequently, conclusions by Melancon and others (1982) about exceedences of arsenic, cadmium, and silver 

aquatic criterion values are questionable.

The detection limits for lead (50 μg/L), copper (10 μg/L), 

and cadmium (5 μg/L) in ENSR Consulting and Engineering, 

Inc. (1988) were higher than many detected concentrations in 

other studies (especially for dissolved metal concentrations). 

Detection limits for zinc (10 μg/L) in the ENSR Consulting 

and Engineering, Inc. (1988) study were acceptable, because 

measured zinc concentrations in the Red River at the Questa 

Ranger Station gage and other locations were usually substantially higher than 10 μg/L.

The Allen and others (1999) report, prepared for the New 

Mexico Office of the Natural Resources Trustee, concluded 

that water quality, sediment chemistry, and aquatic life impacts 

in the Red River were related more to mining than natural 

sources at the Molycorp, Inc. mine. Allen and others (1999) 

compared metal concentrations in sediment from two lakes, 

Fawn Lakes and Eagle Rock Lake, dug as borrow pits for road 

construction. Fawn Lakes are located upstream from the mine 

site near the Elephant Rock Campground, and Eagle Rock 

Lake is located downstream from the mine site, approximately 

700 m downstream from the Questa Ranger Station (see 

fig. 1). Metal enrichment appeared in the Eagle Rock Lake 

sediments but not in the Fawn Lakes sediments. Water-quality 

data were collected during 1997 and 1998 by Allen and others 

(1999) at five sites along the Red River from near the Questa 

gage to above the mine site. Their data showed increases in 

concentrations of sulfate, calcium, magnesium, zinc, nickel, 

and aluminum at the gage relative to upstream concentrations, 

and the concentrations increased through the reach adjacent to 

the mine. Alkalinity decreased from upstream to downstream 

locations. They concluded that the source of these elevated 

concentrations and decreased alkalinity values was mining 

activities, although they also noted that trace metal concentrations in waters upstream from the mine and adjacent to scar 

areas were elevated relative to those in waters upstream from 

all scar areas. They found that concentrations at any one site 

tended to increase during the dry season and decrease during 

the wet season.

Historical Water-Quality Trends over Time

Water Quality and Precipitation

Vail Engineering, Inc. (2000) and URS (2001, based on 

Vail Engineering, Inc., 2000) address changes in water quality over time in the Red River. The authors of these reports 

stated that concentration changes in the Red River downstream 

from the mine, over time, are related in part to changes in the 

amount of precipitation over time. They ascribed the lower 

sulfate concentrations from 1965 to the early 1970’s to lower 

pre cipitation from the early 1950’s to the middle 1960’s and 

consequent lower loadings to the Red River. Vail Engineering, 

Inc. (2000) stated that the good water quality in the 1965 survey reflected the large amounts of rainfall in July and September, which resulted in an above average November flow, and 

that runoff conditions in 1965 and 1970 were similar. Conversely, they attributed the higher concentrations in the 1980’s 

and 1990’s partly to increased precipitation from 1978 to 1993 

and the resulting increase in loadings from hydrothermal scar 

areas upstream from the mine site. They also ascribed the 

concentra tions changes in the 1980’s and 1990’s to changes 

in mining practices, especially cessation of pumping from the 

Red River.

To test the hypothesis that changes in concentrations 

are related to the amount of precipitation, discharge records 

were consulted for this time period (U.S. Geological Survey, 

2003a), and the rela tionship between sulfate concentration and 

discharge also was examined. URS (2001) and Vail Engineering, Inc. (2000) stated that drought conditions existed from 

1950 to 1968, based on 15 percent below normal precipitation 

during this period and 15 percent lower than average stream 

discharge from 1953 to 1964 at the town of Red River. However, average mean annual streamflow at the Questa Ranger 

Station gage from 1955 to 1965 was 41.7 cubic feet per second 

(ft3/s), which is close to the average mean annual streamflow 

from 1924 to 2001 (47.1 ft3/s).

Although Vail (2000) seems to state that flows were 

higher during the 1965 sampling, streamflows at the Questa 

Ranger Station gage on the 1965 sampling dates (November 

3 through 8) were 25 to 26 ft3/s. Both the November 1965 and 

the November 1970 sampling events took place during normal low-flow conditions and were not associated with storm 

events. The ensuing ten-year period (1965 to 1975) did have a 

lower average mean annual streamflow (33.7 ft3/s) compared 

to the 1955-to-1965 period. The discharge records would indicate that the 1955-65 period was near normal precipitation and 

flow, whereas the next ten-year period was well below normal. 

From 1978 to 1993, the average mean annual stream flow was 

higher (51.3 ft3/s) than the 1924 to 2001 long-term average, as 

stated by URS (2001) and Vail Engineering, Inc. (2000).

Discharge-Solute Relationships

The relationship between discharge and solute concentrations is different depending on whether one considers longterm climatic trends or short-term episodic events. Although 

increases in precipitation can produce increases in acid drainage for short time periods, data evaluated for this report indicate that increased flows have a diluting effect on solute concentrations in the Red River most of the time. The hypothesis 

presented in previous reports (Vail Engineering, Inc., 2000; 

URS, 2001) that increased rainfall can increase solute concentrations can be tested by observing the relation ship between 
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Figure 4. Sulfate concentrations and average daily discharge in the Red River at the Questa Ranger Station gage, from 

January 1977 to December 1979.

Figure 5. Sulfate concentrations and average daily discharge in the Red River at the Questa Ranger Station gage 

for all historical data.

132 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
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Figure 6. Sulfate concentrations in the Red River at the Questa Ranger Station gage from 1966 to 2001, and timing of mining 

history.

Historical Surface-Water Quality 133

discharge, as a surrogate of rainfall, and sulfate concentrations, 

as shown in figures 4 and 5. The time period with the best 

continuous temporal coverage, 1977–1979, shows a strong 

trend of increasing sulfate concentrations with decreas ing flow 

(fig. 4); this same trend is seen in figure 5 when all available 

historical data are plotted. Under low flow condi tions, sulfate concentrations are generally higher (60–140 mg/L), but 

considerable dilution takes place during higher flows, bringing 

the sulfate concentrations to well below 60 mg/L. The lowest 

sulfate concentrations cor respond to peak flows when stream 

water is most diluted with low-sulfate waters.

High-sulfate concentrations were similar during low-flow 

times in different water years, while the low est annual sulfate 

concentrations varied depending on the mag nitude of peak 

flow for that year. As shown in figure 4, sulfate concentrations 

measured during peak snowmelt were high est in 1977, which 

had the lowest peak discharge on record, and lowest in 1979, 

which had the highest snowmelt-related discharge on record at 

the Questa Ranger Station gage for this time period.

Although most of the sulfate concentrations reported 

during dynamic hydrologic conditions (snowmelt and storms) 

were lower than low-flow concentrations (fig. 4), a number 

of samples collected during summer thunderstorm and rising 

limb conditions had sulfate concentrations equal to or higher 

than low-flow concentrations (fig. 5). The two highest concentrations were from samples collected during the rising limb of 

summer thunderstorm events (July 18, 2000, at 350 mg/L and 

July 26, 1988, at 278 mg/L; fig. 6). Two rising limb samples 

with elevated sulfate concentrations were collected on March 

25, 1992 and March 13, 1997; sulfate concentrations were 175 

and 148 mg/L, respectively (fig. 6). When flows first begin to 

increase in the spring, the first flush of sulfide oxidation products from scar and mine-disturbed areas reach the Red River 

and are not yet diluted by waters of lower TDS concentrations 

that are present as snowmelt increases. The high-concentration 

storm-event samples may reflect flushing of pyrite oxidation products such as gypsum or evaporated unsaturated zone 

waters from scars and mined areas during summer thunderstorm events. The higher sulfate concentrations for these four 

samples and the distribution of temporal sulfate concentrations 

shown in figure 6 indicate that the highest sulfate concentrations can be expected to occur early in snowmelt runoff and 

during summer storm events. However, very few historical 

water-quality samples were collected on the Red River under 

these hydrologic conditions (table 6). Recent data from a 

summer thunderstorm event on the Red River corroborates 

this theory (Philip Verplanck, USGS, unpublished data, 2002). 
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Figure 7. Sulfate concentrations in the Red River upstream and downstream from the mine site.

134 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001

The source of the elevated sulfate could be mine materials or 

mineralized catchments with hydrothermal scars.

By grouping samples by hydrologic condition (hydrologic discrimination) (see table 6), historic sulfate concentrations from 1965 to 2001 were plotted against time in figure 6. 

A time line of relevant mining activities at the Molycorp, Inc. 

Mine also is included in figure 6. A trend of increasing sulfate 

concentrations over time, potentially related to mining inputs, 

is apparent when the dynamic events of snowmelt and summer 

rainstorm are eliminated and only low-flow concentrations are 

considered. Without using hydrologic discrimination, the trend 

is obscured by dilution during periods of transient flow. Sulfate concentrations during low-flow conditions increased from 

sometime during 1971–77 to late 1992, more than doubling 

from approximately 60 mg/L in 1965 and 1971 to almost 

200 mg/L in 1992 and 1993. The steady increase in sulfate 

concentrations during this time does not correspond well 

to on-again, off-again pumping through the 1980’s and the 

resumption of spring discharge to the Red River, as suggested 

by Vail Engineering, Inc. (2000) and URS (2001).

After 1993, a possible trend of decreasing sulfate concentrations during low-flow conditions is evident in figure 6. The 

more recent decrease in sulfate concentration may be related 

to restarting the mine and the pumping of alluvial groundwater, as shown on the time line in figure 6, and as suggested by 

URS (2001). Alluvial wells from the Red River in the vicinity of the mine were pumped starting in the early 1990’s for 

make-up water for the mill. Alluvial ground water along the 

Red River generally has higher sulfate concentrations than 

does surface water (LoVetere and others, 2003). By decreasing 

the amount of alluvial ground water entering the Red River at 

the mine site, concentrations of sulfate and other constituents 

downstream in the Red River could decrease if volumes were 

large enough to produce a detectable difference in constituent concentrations in the river. In addition, flow of Capulin 

Gulch water to the Red River was captured beginning in 1993. 

Removal of this high-sulfate water input (the sulfate concentration in Capulin Canyon on November 9, 1995 was 

1,270 mg/L; Vail Engineering, Inc., 2002, and WoodwardClyde Consultants, 1996a and b) to the Red River also could 

decrease sulfate concentrations at the Questa Ranger Station 

gage.

Comparison of Water-Quality Upstream and 

Downstream from the Mine

A small number of samples was collected upstream from 

the Molycorp, Inc. facilities and downstream from natural scar 

areas (see table 5). Sulfate concentrations from five stations 

downstream from Hansen Creek and upstream from the mill 

(Stations 6, 6A, 7, MP8, and upstream Moly property line; 

fig. 1) are shown in figure 7. Figure 7 shows data only for 

times when sulfate concentrations were measured in samples 

collected on the same date both upstream from the mine and 
Historical Surface-Water Quality 135

at the Questa Ranger Station gage. Results from only two 

sample dates were available from this area before 1971, and no 

samples were collected between November 1970 and September 1988. As shown in figure 7, sulfate concentrations at the 

Questa Ranger Station gage from 1988 to 2001 were consistently higher than those from the upstream locations, usually 

by a factor of two. Vail Engineering, Inc. (2000) selected four 

low-flow sampling dates upstream from the mine from 1994 

through 1997 and compared sulfate concentrations from those 

dates (83 to 93 mg/L) to the sulfate concentrations in 1965 and 

1970 (47 and 60 mg/L). This comparison was used to demonstrate that sulfate concentrations upstream from the mine were 

lower in 1965 and 1970 compared to values from more recent 

dates. Although there is a marked paucity of data before 1988 

upstream from the mine area, no trend of increasing concentrations over the 35-year time period is apparent in the upstream 

samples when all historical water-quality samples are evaluated (fig. 7). Indeed, sulfate concentrations upstream from the 

mine site during the 1990’s (approximately 25 to 

110 mg/L) are in the same range as concentrations at the 

Questa Ranger Station gage from 1965 to 1975. In contrast, 

there does appear to be a trend of increasing sulfate concentrations at the Questa Ranger Station gage, as discussed above 

and shown in figure 6. The cause of the higher downstream 

concentrations from 1988 to 2001 could be mining activities, 

but the chemical changes are small relative to the scatter in the 

data.

Sulfate loads in the Red River upstream and downstream 

from the mine are shown in figures 8 and 9. Sulfate loads, in 

kilograms per day (kg/d), were calculated using the following 

equation:

sulfate load = (Q)(C)(2.447) (1)

where Q is average daily discharge in ft3/s, C is sulfate 

concentration in mg/L, and 2.447 is the conversion factor. 

Figure 8 shows sulfate load data for all sample dates at the 

Questa Ranger Station gage, with hydrologic discrimination, and figure 9 shows sulfate loads both upstream from the 

mine (five stations) and at the Questa Ranger Station gage, 

only for those times when flow and sulfate were measured at 

both locations (with the exception of one date upstream from 

the mine, November 7, 1994, used to show trends in sulfate 

load over time upstream from the mine). Few flows were 

measured when upstream samples were collected because a 

gage is not located in this reach between Hansen Creek and 

the mill. Sulfate loads at the Questa Ranger Station gage were 

highest during times of higher flows (rising limb, peak, and 

falling limb times) and during summer thunderstorms, with 

the highest sulfate load measured during a storm event on 

September 13, 1988 (fig. 8). Although there were only two 

sample dates when both sulfate concentration and flow were 

measured before 1971, sulfate loads upstream from the mine 

at these times were similar to those measured from the late 

1980’s to 2001 (fig. 9). In contrast, sulfate loads at the Questa 

Ranger Station gage during low flow followed trends seen in 

sulfate concentration (see fig. 6), with increasing sulfate loads 

between 1980 and 1993, then decreasing sulfate loads between 

1993 and 2001 (fig. 8). With the exception of November 4, 

1970, when loads upstream from the mine and at the Questa 

Ranger Station gage were similar, sulfate loads at the Questa 

Ranger Station gage were consistently higher than loads 

upstream from the mine (fig. 9). Differences between sulfate 

loads upstream and downstream from the mine were highest 

in the late 1980’s (on October 25, 1988—a low-flow sampling 

event). Sulfate loads both upstream and downstream from the 

mine appeared to decrease from 1999 to 2001 (fig. 9). Inputs 

of sulfate between the mill and the Questa Ranger Station are 

largely limited to the mine area and would include both natural 

(scar-related) and mining sources. However, differences in 

concentration and load trends over time at the Questa Ranger 

Station gage and upstream from the mine suggest that differences in sulfate loads and concentrations between the two 

locations may be related to mining activities.

One check on the validity of the sulfate data is the correlation between sulfate and other parameters controlled by 

sulfate concentrations in areas with pyrite and gypsum, for 

example, specific conductance and TDS. In addition, for some 

sampling dates specific conductance values are available when 

sulfate was not determined, and conductance is an easier measurement than sulfate because no wet chemistry preparation 

is necessary. No specific conductance values were available 

from November 1970 to January 1988. In streams draining 

pyrite and/or gypsum-containing areas, sulfate and specific 

conductance and TDS should be highly correlated. The mine 

and the scar areas do contain abundant gypsum from alteration 

of pyrite and calcite (Robertson GeoConsultants, Inc. 2000c). 

Figure 10 shows the relationship between sulfate concentrations and field specific conductance at the Questa Ranger 

Station gage for all sample dates. The correlation between 

sulfate and specific conductance is reasonably good (correlation coefficient [R2

] = 0.64), indicating that the sulfate values 

are reasonable.

There is more continuous coverage of TDS data than 

specific conductance data, and TDS provides another check 

on changing solute trends in samples collected at the Questa 

Ranger Station gage and the validity of the sulfate data. 

Because sulfate is almost always the major anion in the Red 

River and is commonly present in concentrations substantially 

higher than any other anion, it should approximate as much as 

half of the milliequivalents in the charge balance and should 

also approximate up to half of the TDS. Figure 11 shows that 

the sulfate concentrations are between 25 to 50 percent of the 

TDS values. Two outliers are immediately apparent in the plot 

of sulfate and TDS, and both are summer thunderstorm events 

from 1988, as shown in figure 11. The storm event on September 13, 1988 had a sulfate concentration that is well within the 

range of other values. For this sample, it is likely that the TDS 

measurement is in error. The other sample, collected on July 

26, 1988, has the highest measured sulfate concentration in the 

historical data set. For this sample, sulfate and/or TDS may 

be in error. A recent sample collected on the Red River at the 
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Figure 8. Sulfate loads in the Red River at the Questa Ranger Station gage, with hydrologic discrimination.

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Figure 9. Sulfate loads in the Red River upstream and downstream from the mine site.

136 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
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Figure 10. Specific conductance in relationship to sulfate concentrations in the Red River at the Questa Ranger Station gage.

Historical Surface-Water Quality 137

Questa Ranger Station gage during a summer thunderstorm 

event had a sulfate concentration of 315 mg/L (McCleskey and 

Verplanck, U.S. Geological Survey, unpublished data, 2003), 

suggesting that the sulfate concentration for the July 26, 1988 

sample is correct and the TDS value is in error. When these 

two outliers are removed, the correlation between TDS and 

sulfate is better than that between specific conductance and 

sulfate. Figure 12 shows the trend between TDS and sulfate 

for all sample dates, except the two outliers. The R2 value for 

the linear correlation is 0.83, indicating that TDS and sulfate 

are highly correlated and that the sulfate values are acceptable.

Effect of Mineral Dissolution on Red River 

Water Quality

Another analyte that should correlate with sulfate in the 

Red River Valley is calcium. Most ground water in the alluvial 

aquifer along the Red River is calcium-sulfate type water 

(LoVetere and others, 2004), and gypsum dissolution exerts 

a strong control on both calcium and sulfate concentrations 

in surface water and ground water in the area. Samples with 

both calcium and sulfate measurements were few; however, a 

trend between calcium and sulfate concentrations is apparent 

in figure 13. The data points follow the gypsum congruent dissolution line (Ca:SO4

 molar ratio equals 1; fig. 14), paralleling 

the line at low concentration but not at high concentration. 

If the only source of dissolved calcium and sulfate was the 

dissolution of gypsum, the values should plot on the gypsum 

dissolution line. If calcite dissolution (or plagioclase weathering) contributes to the water chemistry, the values should 

plot above the line, as several of the points do at lower sulfate 

concentrations. Alternatively, if pyrite oxidation contributes 

additional sulfate, the values would plot below the line, as 

shown for a number of the points at higher sulfate concentrations. The points that plot above the gypsum dissolution line 

are generally those from higher flow events (falling limb, 

peak, and rising limb) and older sampling dates, as would be 

expected for lower sulfate concentrations. No point plotted 

below the gypsum dissolution line before 1980, whereas the 

majority of the low-flow sampling points plotted below the 

line after 1980 (fig. 14). This trend indicates that the source of 

increasing sulfate concentrations over time is areas draining 

material that is higher in pyrite content. No conclusion can be 

drawn from these data regarding the location of this source.

The separation of sampling points according to hydrologic conditions in figure 13 suggests that during higher 

flow events, Red River water is diluted by calcium-carbonate 

waters, most likely from unmineralized Red River tributaries and areas upstream from scars. In fact, samples from the 

transient-flow events roughly follow the gypsum congruent 

dissolution line, while the low-flow samples have a trend 

showing relatively small variability in calcium concentration 

over a wide range in sulfate concentrations. It is possible that 

the low-flow samples reflect ground water chemistry, which is 

dominated by high-sulfate waters (LoVetere and others, 2003), 

and that the transient flow samples reflect mixtures of calcite-
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Figure 11. Sulfate concentrations in relationship to total dissolved solids concentrations in the Red River at the Questa Ranger 

Station from 1965 to 2001, with outliers.

Figure 12. Sulfate concentrations in relationship to total dissolved solids concentrations in the Red River at the Questa 

Ranger Station gage from 1965 to 2001, without outliers.

138 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
Historical Surface-Water Quality 139

dominated waters from upstream with higher sulfate ground 

water.

Red River water had lower sulfate concentrations (see 

fig. 6) and Ca:SO4 molar ratios (fig. 14), reflecting greater 

calcite dissolution than pyrite oxidation before 1980. Samples 

collected between the early 1980’s and the late 1990’s showed 

increased sulfate concentrations at the Questa Ranger Station 

gage (see fig. 6) and decreasing Ca:SO4 molar ratios (fig. 14), 

suggesting that the influence of pyrite oxidation on water quality was greater during this period. Samples collected after this 

time showed Ca:SO4 molar ratios more similar to pre-1980’s 

times, possibly as a result of removal of flow to the river from 

Capulin Gulch and alluvial ground water. However, samples 

collected by the U.S. Geological Survey in 2001 and 2002 plot 

even farther to the right on figure 13 (McCleskey and others, 2003), indicating a recent trend toward pyrite oxidation 

predominance over calcite dissolution.

The alkalinity values in the Red River also indicate that 

the river is not well buffered with respect to pH. Figure 15 

plots low-flow alkalinity values upstream from the mine and 

at the Questa Ranger Station gage. Although there are few 

alkalinity data both upstream from the mine and at the Questa 

Ranger Station gage (no upstream samples were collected 

between November 1970 and September 1988), figure 15 

shows that low-flow alkalinity values were consistently lower 

at the Questa Ranger Station gage than they were upstream 

from the mine (all alkalinity data at the Questa Ranger Station 

gage varied from 0 to 62 mg/L as calcium carbonate, with one 

outlier at 108 mg/L). Low-flow alkalinity values at the Questa 

Ranger Station gage have decreased over time, with values 

close to 60 mg/L as CaCO3 in 1965 and values between 20 

and 50 by 1993. These low alkalinity values offer only limited 

buffering capacity, especially downstream from the mine. During a storm event in August 1988, alkalinity values dropped 

substantially both upstream and downstream from the mine 

(fig. 15). The drop in alkalinity at both locations indicates that 

natural sources, most likely scar areas, can cause short-term 

changes in the buffering capacity of the Red River.

Hydrogeochemical Controls on Zinc Concentrations in the Red River

Figure 16 shows zinc concentrations in samples collected 

upstream from the mine and at the Questa Ranger Station gage 

over time (only dates when zinc concentrations were measured 

at both locations are shown). The concentrations shown are a 

combination of total and dissolved zinc values, and in some 

cases, no indication was given about sample filtration. No 

obvious trend in concentrations over time at the Questa Ranger 

Station gage is apparent, possibly due in part to the inability 

to separate dissolved and unfiltered concentrations. However, 

zinc concentrations downstream from the mine at the Questa 

Ranger Station gage are consistently higher than those on the 

same day upstream from the mine and downstream from scar 

areas, suggesting that additional zinc sources enter the river in 

the vicinity of the mine.

Dissolved and total zinc concentrations were measured 

by Garn (1985; data in USGS, 2003b) between October 1978 

and December 1986. Discharge (at the time of sampling, in 

addition to average daily discharge from the U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging station at the Questa Ranger 

Station), specific conductance, field pH, and other parameters 

also were measured by Garn during this timeframe. The frequency of zinc measurements by Garn is higher than for any 

other time period, and trends in zinc concentrations related to 

flow events can be discerned using his data. Figure 17 shows 

specific conductance and pH values (measured by Garn), as 

well as average daily discharge, from October 1978 to December 1986. Decreases in specific conductance are associated 

with increases in discharge. Over this time period, pH values 

appeared to somewhat decrease.

Two time periods from the Garn (1985) data (USGS, 

2003b) are shown in more detail in figures 18 and 19. Figure 18 shows specific conductance and average daily discharge, and figure 19 shows total and dissolved zinc and 

average daily discharge from February 1982 through September 1984. Specific conductance values decreased during 

peak flows and increased throughout the low flow period 

(figure 18). Zinc concentrations also increased throughout 

the low flow period and generally peaked during rising limb 

times (fig. 19). Particulate (total minus dissolved) zinc was 

present at all times, but the highest concentration of particulate zinc (230 μg/L) from February 1982 to September 1984 

was associated with the peak in zinc concentrations during 

the rising limb in 1983. This zinc peak also is accompanied 

by a decrease in alkalinity (to 28 mg/L as CaCO3). Summer 

thunderstorm events from other time periods also had high 

concentrations of particulate zinc.

Figure 20 shows total and dissolved zinc concentrations 

measured by Garn in 1986 (U.S. Geological Survey, 2003b). 

His highest measured zinc concentration (4,400 and 

2,600 μg/L for total and dissolved, respectively) was measured 

during a summer thunderstorm on September 7, 1986. Much 

of the zinc measured during this thunderstorm event was 

present as particulate zinc. This date correlates with the rising 

limb of the storm, and specific conductance also peaked during the event (fig. 21). The data in figure 19 demonstrate that 

thunderstorm events and the rising limb of the hydrograph are 

associated not only with sulfate and conductivity peaks, but 

also with peaks in zinc concentrations.
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Figure 13. Calcium concentrations in relationship to sulfate concentrations in the Red River at the Questa Ranger Station 

gage and the gypsum congruent dissolution line.

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Figure 14. Calcium to sulfate molar ratio over time in the Red River at the the Questa Ranger Station gage.

140 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
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Figure 15. Alkalinity values in the Red River upstream and downstream from the mine site.

Figure 16. Zinc concentrations over time in the Red River upstream and downstream from the mine site.

Historical Surface-Water Quality 141
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Figure 17. Specific conductance, pH, and average daily discharge in the Red River at the Questa Ranger Station gage, 

from October 1978 to December 1986.

142 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
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Figure 18. Specific conductance and average daily discharge in the Red River at the Questa Ranger Station gage from 

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Figure 19. Total and dissolved zinc concentrations and average daily discharge in the Red River at the Questa Ranger Station 

gage from February 1982 to September 1984.

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gage in 1986.

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Figure 21. pH, specific conductance, and average daily discharge in the Red River at the Questa Ranger Station gage in 1986.

146 Historical Surface-Water Quality for the Red River Valley, New Mexico, 1965 to 2001
References 147

Summary

This report presents a compilation and evaluation of historical surface-water quality data for the Red River in northern 

New Mexico. Water-quality results from samples collected 

from 1965, the year open-pit mining began at the Molycorp, 

Inc. molybdenum mine, to 2001 were compiled. The historical surface-water data compilation has focused on the Questa 

Ranger Station, located approximately two km downstream 

from streams that drain the mine site, because of the long-term 

water quality and flow record at this USGS gage location. 

Data from locations upstream from the mine site and downstream from natural scar areas also are included. The mine 

area and other drainages upstream and downstream from the 

mine are naturally mineralized, and the USGS, in cooperation 

with the New Mexico Environment Department, is currently 

conducting a baseline and pre-mining ground-water quality 

investigation in the Red River Valley.

One of the main purposes of compiling and evaluating 

the historical surface-water quality information is to gather all 

the data in one document and to describe its quality. Others 

have compiled Red River historical water-quality data, but not 

all parameters were reported, a comprehensive evaluation of 

the methods used to collect and analyze the samples was not 

conducted, geochemical interpretations were not included, 

and/or the data were not evaluated with respect to water flow 

dynamics. Very few of the historical sampling efforts included 

sampling or quality assurance/quality control plans. Detection 

limits for metals and arsenic were elevated in a number of the 

studies compared to those for graphite furnace and inductively-coupled argon-plasma—mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) 

techniques and often precluded comparisons to criteria for the 

protection of aquatic life in the Red River. However, majorand minor-element, and in some cases trace-element data are 

reliable and useful for evaluating chemical, temporal, and spatial trends and for establishing an historical framework for the 

more recent surface-water quality data collected by the USGS.

In mineralized or mined areas, it is common to see 

relationships between concentrations and flow, or between 

concentrations and changes in hydrologic conditions. The 

gathered historical data were examined in the context of 

hydrologic conditions by discriminating sampling events based 

on seasonal and event-based flow conditions at the Questa 

Ranger Station gage. Five hydrologic conditions were defined: 

rising limb, peak, falling limb, storm, and low flow. A trend 

of increasing sulfate concentrations and loads at the Questa 

Ranger Station gage over time, potentially related to mining 

inputs, was apparent when the dynamic events of snowmelt 

and summer rainstorm were eliminated and only low-flow 

concentrations were considered. An inverse relationship was 

found to exist between sulfate concentrations and discharge 

seasonally. Both rising limb and storm-event sulfate concentrations were lower than low-flow concentrations. However, a 

number of samples collected during summer thunderstorm and 

rising limb conditions had sulfate concentrations equal to or 

higher than low-flow concentrations, indicating that collecting samples as monthly composites, for example, will dampen 

or eliminate peaks in releases of sulfate from mineralized or 

mined areas in the Red River basin. These results show that 

the highest sulfate concentrations can be expected to occur 

early in snowmelt runoff and during summer storm events, 

especially during the rising limb of storms. When flows 

first increase in the spring, or during summer thunderstorm 

events, the first flush of sulfide oxidation products from scar 

and mine-disturbed areas reach the Red River and are not yet 

diluted by rising river waters.

A more limited number of samples was collected 

upstream from the Molycorp, Inc. facilities and downstream 

from sulfate inputs from natural scar areas. The increase 

in sulfate concentrations and loads over time at the Questa 

Ranger Station gage was not seen at locations upstream from 

the mine and downstream from scar areas. Zinc concentrations downstream from the mine at the Questa Ranger Station 

were uniformly higher than those upstream from the mine and 

downstream from scar areas, indicating that additional zinc 

sources enter the river in the vicinity of the mine.

A plot of calcium in relationship to sulfate concentrations 

in samples collected at the Questa Ranger Station gage indicates that during higher flow events, Red River water is diluted 

by calcium-carbonate waters, most likely from unmineralized 

Red River tributaries and areas upstream from scar areas. The 

effect of pyrite oxidation on Red River water chemistry is 

more pronounced after the early 1980’s, possibly from mining activity. The alkalinity values in the Red River indicate 

that the river is not well buffered with respect to pH, and that 

both mined and scar areas contribute to observed decreases in 

alkalinity. These effects were most apparent during summer 

thunderstorm and rising limb conditions, which were associated with elevated zinc concentrations, a decrease in alkalinity, 

and increases in sulfate and conductivity, again demonstrating 

that hydrologic timing is critical to interpretation of concentration changes in this mineralized and mined drainage.

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