Water Quality in the

Red River of the North Basin

Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1992–95

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1169

science for a changing world
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR

Water Quality in the Red River of the North Basin,

Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1992–95

1169

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

T.K. Cowdery

CONTENTS

National Water-Quality Assessment Program .............. 1

Summary of major issues and findings......................... 2

Environmental setting and hydrologic conditions ........ 4

Major issues and findings ............................................. 6

 (A) Background water quality .................................... 6

 (B) Agriculture and water quality............................... 8

 (C) Red River water quality and nonagricultural

sources of contamination .......................................... 12

 (D) Effects of other nonpoint-source toxic

compounds on water quality ..................................... 13

 (E) Sediment in streams.............................................. 14

 (F) Importance of variations in water quality ............. 16

Water-quality conditions in a national context ............. 18

Study design and data collection .................................. 22

Summary of compound detections and

concentrations ........................................................... 24

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

Glossary ........................................................................ 32
U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1169 1

Knowledge of the quality of the Nation's streams and aquifers is important because 

of the implications to human and aquatic health and because of the significant costs 

associated with decisions involving land and water management, conservation, and 

regulation. In 1991, the U.S. Congress appropriated funds for the U.S. Geological 

Survey (USGS) to begin the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program 

to help meet the continuing need for sound, scientific information on the areal extent 

of the water-quality problems, how these problems are changing with time, and an 

understanding of the effects of human actions and natural factors on water-quality 

conditions. 

The NAWQA Program is assessing the water-quality conditions of more than 50 of 

the Nation's largest river basins and aquifers, known as Study Units. Collectively, 

these Study Units cover about one-half of the United States and include sources of 

drinking water used by about 70 percent of the U.S. population. Comprehensive 

assessments of about one-third of the Study Units are ongoing at a given time. Each 

Study Unit is scheduled to be revisited every decade to evaluate changes in waterquality conditions. NAWQA assessments rely heavily on existing information

collected by the USGS and many other agencies as well as the use of nationally consistent study designs and methods of sampling and analysis. Such consistency simultaneously provides information about the status and trends in water-quality conditions 

in a particular stream or aquifer and, more importantly, provides the basis to make 

comparisons among watersheds and improve our understanding of the factors that 

affect water-quality conditions regionally and nationally. 

This report is intended to summarize major findings that emerged between 1992 

and 1995 from the water-quality assessment of the Red River of the North Basin 

Study Unit and to relate these findings to water-quality issues of regional and national 

concern. The information is primarily intended for those who are involved in waterresource management. Indeed, this report addresses many of the concerns raised by 

regulators, water-utility managers, industry representatives, and other scientists, engineers, public officials, and members of stakeholder groups who provided advice and 

input to the USGS during this NAWQA Study-Unit investigation. Yet, the information contained here may also interest those who simply wish to know more about the 

quality of water in the rivers and aquifers in the area where they live. 

 Robert M. Hirsch, Chief Hydrologist

Began in 1991

Began in 1994

Began in 1997

Not scheduled yet

EXPLANATION

NATIONAL WATER-QUALITY ASSESSMENT PROGRAM

As a representative of a

Canadian natural

resources agency, I feel

that the extensive knowledge generated by the

NAWQA study of the Red

River on key environmental issues and underlying

processes has given Canadian stakeholders a better

understanding of transboundary issues and will

contribute significantly to

the management of the

entire watershed.

Dr. John Wood, Red

River NAWQA liaison

committee member for

Environment Canada,

Regina, Saskatchewan
2 Water Quality in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1992–95

(A) Background Water Quality.

Stream quality and basic water quality (as defined by concentrations of major ions) in surficial aquifers are not uniform in the Red River of the North Basin Study Unit (fig. 1). 

The differences in water quality generally can be related to 

differences in geology, soils, and hydrology in four subregions in the basin. Saline seeps from deep ground-water 

sources affect streams in the northwestern portion of the 

Study Unit during times of extremely low streamflow.

Water in the Red River of the North Basin, when 

unaffected by human activities, generally is safe to drink 

according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

(USEPA) standards for dissolved solids, major ions, and 

radionuclides. Natural differences in water quality are 

important factors for water and land management. [See 

pages 6–7.]

(B) Agriculture and Water Quality.

Pesticide concentrations were mostly related to factors such 

as chemical persistence and rate of water movement over 

and through agricultural soils. In this largely agricultural 

area, the most heavily applied pesticides, which included the 

herbicides 2,4-D, MCPA, bromoxynil, and trifluralin, were 

not always the most frequently detected in streams and shallow aquifers. Atrazine, applied at about 7 percent of the rate 

of 2,4-D, was detected in streams throughout the basin and 

shallow ground water beneath cropland. The presence of the 

banned insecticide DDT and some of its breakdown products 

in stream-bottom sediments, fish tissues, and in some ground 

water illustrates the persistence of some pesticides.

Pesticides detected in streams and shallow ground water 

did not exceed any drinking-water standards and, except 

for a single concentration of the herbicide triallate, were 

not acutely toxic to aquatic life based on current standards. 

USEPA has established drinking-water standards for 6 

individual pesticides out of the 43 detected in the basin. 

The health effects of other pesticides or combinations of 

pesticides was not assessed. Some insecticides and most 

fungicides applied to specialty crops in this basin were not 

analyzed in this study. Pesticide persistence and its 

dependence on soil characteristics and hydrologic 

conditions suggest the importance of considering soil, 

geology, and hydrology in developing and implementing 

land-management plans. [See pages 8–9.]

Streams draining areas containing the largest percentage of 

cropland (central and southern parts of the Red River of the 

North Basin Study Unit) had the highest concentrations of 

nutrients (dissolved phosphorus, nitrate, and organic nitrogen).

Although the nutrient concentrations were relatively low, 

agricultural activity has increased the concentration and 

load of nutrients [see pages 10–11] potentially degrading 

stream quality and increasing eutrophication of lakes and 

reservoirs. [See page 12.]

Nitrate concentrations generally were low in shallow ground 

water except in some surficial aquifers beneath cropland, 

where concentrations exceeded the USEPA 10 mg/L drinking-water standard in 27, 0, and 8 percent of the samples 

from the western, central, and southeastern parts of the Study 

Unit, respectively. Nitrate and pesticide concentrations were 

well below drinking-water standards in ground water deeper 

than these aquifers, particularly buried aquifers naturally 

protected by overlying sediments.

Ground water most commonly used for domestic and 

public water supplies in the basin was safe to drink 

according to USEPA standards for nitrate and pesticides. 

Detectable concentrations of nutrients and pesticides that 

have reached ground water indicate the potential for 

further contamination over time. Shallow ground water 

beneath sandy soils is particularly vulnerable to 

contamination, and this study provided a perspective on 

how decades of agricultural activity affects the current 

variability of ground-water quality. [See pages 8–11.] 

Fish communities were affected more by differences in natural environmental factors (some of which are affected by 

land use) than by differences in the concentrations of nutrients and pesticides in streams in agricultural areas. 

More work would be useful to better assess the effects of 

land use, nutrients, and pesticides on the aquatic 

ecosystem. [See page 11.]

Major Finding Implication

Agriculture is the dominant land use in 

the Red River of the North Basin 

Study Unit.

SUMMARY OF MAJOR ISSUES AND FINDINGS

Their Implications in the Red River of the North Basin
U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1169 3

(C) Red River Water Quality and Nonagricultural Sources of Contamination.

Wastewater from urban areas along the Red River of the 

North has a minimal effect on the river’s quality. The 

median concentration of ammonia, commonly associated 

with wastewater, was not higher in the river than in the tributaries, but ammonia concentration was slightly higher in the 

river downstream from the Fargo-Moorhead area. Compared 

to historical data for the river, concentrations of ammonia 

have decreased and nitrate have increased slightly downstream from the Fargo-Moorhead area. These trends likely 

reflect improved aeration of wastewater effluent over time.

Fargo, North Dakota and Moorhead, Minnesota, the 

largest urban area in the basin, moderately affected Red 

River of the North water quality during flow conditions 

observed from 1993 to 1995. Ammonia concentrations 

were elevated at the point of discharge but were diluted by 

the river and tributary flows, based on measurements 78 

miles downstream at Halstad, Minnesota. This dilution 

effect also is apparent where industries discharge ammonia 

to the main stem. [See page 12.]

(D) Effects of other Nonpoint-Source Toxic Compounds on Water Quality.

Mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polycyclic 

aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (potentially toxic chemicals 

that are associated with modern industrial sources) were 

widely detected in Red River of the North Basin Study Unit 

fish and (or) stream sediments.

Mercury and PCB concentrations in fish tissue were below 

Federal standards for fish consumption, but some of the 

highest concentrations were at moderate levels based on 

Minnesota fish-consumption advisories. PAHs were 

detected in stream sediments at some locations at levels 

thought to adversely affect aquatic life. [See page 13.]

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), sampled in selected 

shallow aquifers and in the Red River of the North under ice 

conditions, were detected infrequently and at concentrations 

well below drinking-water standards.

VOC's, which can enter water from the use of petroleum 

products and industrial solvents, were rarely detected in 

ground water beneath agricultural areas or in the Red 

River of the North. [See pages 10 and 13.]

(E) Sediment in Streams.

(F) Importance of Variations in Water Quality.

The highest measured concentrations of herbicides commonly were detected during the first runoff events after 

application. The herbicide triallate (applied mostly during 

autumn) and nutrients were transported to streams during 

spring-snowmelt runoff. Relatively minor differences in the 

timing of recharge, agricultural practices, and geology can 

cause significant differences in magnitudes and fluctuations 

of nitrate concentrations in shallow ground water. Seasonal 

variation in flow affects available habitat and fish community composition (an indicator of stream quality).

Water-quality criteria and indicators used for monitoring 

and overall management of contamination sources for 

water resources in this basin could be enhanced by 

considering the water-quality effects of seasonal and 

hydrologic variability. [See pages 16–17.]

Major Finding Implication

High suspended-sediment concentrations characterize 

streams that flow through the heavily cropped central part of 

the basin. The highest sediment concentrations coincided 

with high stream gradient, high streamflows, and erodible 

stream channels, such as were characteristic of the Pembina 

River, a tributary to the Red River of the North (fig. 2).

Land-use practices that do not abate rapid runoff of water 

can increase suspended sediment in streams, thereby 

reducing water clarity and ecological integrity. Suspended 

sediment in streams can settle in reservoirs, which could 

require costly maintenance to restore storage capacity. 

Sediment delivery to streams may be an important factor 

for managing nutrient inputs to, and transport in, some 

streams. [See pages 14–15.] 

Widespread flooding, such as occurred 

during the spring of 1997, can affect 

stream quality.

SUMMARY OF MAJOR ISSUES AND FINDINGS

Their Implications in the Red River of the North Basin
4 Water Quality in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1992–95

The Red River of the North (hereinafter Red River) Basin 

was selected as a Study Unit under the NAWQA Program 

because:

• The basin represents an important hydrologic region where 

water is a valuable resource for the region’s economy.

• The quality of the Red River is of international concern.

• The basin represents an economically valuable agricultural 

area.

• The northern location is useful for a complete understanding of the Nation’s water quality.

The Red River, located near the geographic center of the 

North American continent, flows northward and drains an 

area that is largely a glacial lake plain. The Red River Basin 

Study Unit (figs. 1 and 2) includes the surface drainage to 

the Red River and Roseau River within the United States. 

The Devils Lake Basin is not part of the Study Unit.

To assess the water quality in the basin, the Study Unit was 

divided into four subregions (fig. 2) that represent reasonably homogeneous environmental conditions of climate, 

topography, geology, soils, and land use and land cover. 

These environmental conditions can affect the amounts and 

concentrations of chemicals, sediment, and biota in water.

Basin

Lake

Devils

peg

Study Unit

MINNESOTA

NORTH

DAKOTA

SOUTH

DAKOTA

ONTARIO

MANITOBA

Red River of the

No tr h

Missouri

R.

Mississippi R.

Red River

Drainage

Basin

CANADA UNITED STATES

0 100 200 300 Miles

0 100 200 300 Kilometers

Figure 1. The Red River of the North Basin Study Unit is located

in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The Red River

of the North flows northward into Canada.

0 50 100 Miles

0 50 100 Kilometers

Agricultural land

Forest land

Wetland

Water

Rangeland

Urban or built-up land

Subregion boundary

EXPLANATION

West

Central

Northeast

Southeast

Agricultural land

Forest land

Wetland

Water

Rangeland

Urban or built-up land

0

100

20

40

60

80

PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL AREA

Figure 2. The major land use in the Red River of the North Basin Study Unit is agriculture.

46°

47°

48°

49°100° 98° 96°

Grand

Forks

East

Grand Forks

Moorhead

Halstad

Fargo

Fergus

Breckenridge Falls

Wahpeton

Pembina

Emerson

Noyes

Red Lake

Red Lake

Lower

Upper

Lake

Ashtabula

Red

River

of

the

North

Pembina

River

River

River

R

R

R

R

R

R

R

R

R

R

R

R

R

R

R

R

R

R

R

P k ar

Forest

Turtle

Goose

Elm

Sheyenne

Maple

Wild

Rice

Rivers Roseau

Tamarac

Middle

Snake Thief Red

Lake

Clearwater

Sandhill

Marsh

Wild Rice R

Buffalo

Pelican

Otter Tail

Mustinka

Lake

Traverse

Bois

de Sioux

Two

Thief

Lake

R

NORTH DAKOTA

SOUTH DAKOTA

MINNESOTA

MANITOBA

Cropland

ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING AND HYDROLOGIC CONDITIONS

In the Red River of the North Basin, 1993-95
U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1169 5

The 1990 population in the largely rural Red River Basin 

Study Unit was about 511,000. Almost one-third of the population lives along the Red River in the cities of Fargo and 

Grand Forks, North Dakota, and Moorhead, Minnesota. 

Urban runoff, treated municipal waste, and treated industrial 

waste from these and other cities can contain turf-applied 

pesticides, organic compounds, and nutrients that are discharged into the river.

Knowledge of land-use type and location is important 

because pesticides and nutrients applied to the soil and crops 

can leach into ground water or enter streams through runoff. 

About 81 percent of the land area in the Study Unit is agricultural, and 64 percent of the total area is cropland (fig. 2). 

Principal crops are wheat, barley, corn, and soybeans. Secondary crops include oats, sugar beets, sunflowers, potatoes, 

and forage grasses. Most nonagricultural land is along the 

eastern edge of the Study Unit.

Good quality water is important for residents in the Study 

Unit. In 1990, about 36 percent of the withdrawals from surface water in the basin were used for public supply (Stoner 

and others, 1993). Most of these withdrawals were from the 

Red River by Fargo and Grand Forks, North Dakota, and 

Moorhead, Minnesota, the major urban areas in the basin. 

Public supplies also came from ground water. In rural areas, 

water for domestic use was obtained almost exclusively from 

glacial sand and gravel aquifers. All public drinking water 

should meet standards to protect the health of the population 

and preferably have no objectionable taste or odor. Water 

use also can affect water quality. For example, irrigation, 

accounting for 47 percent of all 1990 water withdrawals 

(fig. 3), can increase leaching of salts and agricultural chemicals into shallow ground water.

Streamflow generally was above average during the 1993–

95 period of sampling. The spring peaks for 1993 and 1994 

were generally within the 25th and 75th percentile of flow 

(fig. 4), and the peak for 1995 was above the 75th percentile 

of flow. Summer storms produced streamflows much larger 

than the 75th percentile in each of the sampling years, with 

the storms of 1993 resulting in very large flow. Large summer rainfalls can remove nutrients and pesticides applied 

after the spring snowmelt and result in larger than normal 

concentrations and loads of these constituents in streams. 

Spring peak flows can contain pesticides applied in the fall 

and nutrients leached from decaying matter and soils.

Ground-water levels generally were high during the 1993–95 

period of sampling. Drought conditions that lasted from 

1987 into 1991 preceded this sampling. Ground-water levels 

generally rose from the end of the drought to the time of 

sampling as a result of increased recharge. This rise can be 

seen in the hydrograph for a well located in the southeast 

subregion (fig. 5). Recharge can affect the quality of shallow 

ground water. The quality of shallow ground water is 

affected by land-use activities and relatively recent (0–10 

years) recharge. However, the quality of deeper ground 

water, which typically is older than 20 years, is less affected 

by relatively recent land-use activities and recharge.

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Total

Public supply

Domestic

Supply

Commercial

Industrial and

Mining

Irrigation and

Livestock

ThermoElectric

GROUND WATER

SURFACE WATER

POPULATION SERVED,

IN THOUSANDS

(360)

(151)

(360)

PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL

WATER WITHDRAWALS,

WATER WITHDRAWALS

IN MILLIONS OF GALLONS PER DAY

Figure 3. Overall water use in 1990 generally was balanced

between surface and ground-water sources. 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994

1995

12

6

7

8

9

10

11

DEPTH BELOW LAND SURFACE, IN FEET

Figure 5. Ground-water levels generally were high during the

study period.

Study

period

O N D JFM A M J J A S ON D J FM AM J J A SO N D J FM AM J J A S 1992 1993 1994 1995

0

50,000

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

STREAMFLOW, IN CUBIC FEET

PER SECOND

75th percentile of daily flow Based on 1911-1995 period of record. 25th percentile of daily flow

daily streamflow 1993-1995

Figure 4. Daily streamflow in the Red River of the North at Emerson, Manitoba, shows above-normal flows during the study period.

}

O N D JFM A M J J A S ON D J FM AM J J A SO N D J FM AM J J A S 1992 1993 1994 1995

0

50,000

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

STREAMFLOW, IN CUBIC FEET

PER SECOND

75th percentile of daily flow Based on 1911-1995 period of record. 25th percentile of daily flow

daily streamflow 1993-1995

Figure 4. Daily streamflow in the Red River of the North at Emerson, Manitoba, shows above-normal flows during the study period.

}

ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING AND HYDROLOGIC CONDITIONS

In the Red River of the North Basin, 1993-95
6 Water Quality in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1992–95

Defining background conditions of water quality is important for water and land managers in assessing the effects of 

human activities, such as land use, on water resources. The 

background dissolved solids in rivers and ground water in 

the Red River Basin Study Unit include the major cations 

(calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium), the major 

anions (bicarbonate, chloride, and sulfate), trace elements 

(including iron and manganese), and radionuclides (uranium, 

radium, and radon). The most common ions in ground water 

from surficial and buried glacial aquifers are calcium, magnesium, and bicarbonate, all of which are at fairly low concentrations. Median dissolved solids are about 400 

milligrams per liter (mg/L) for surficial glacial aquifers and 

500 mg/L for buried glacial aquifers. Common ions in 

deeper bedrock aquifers are sodium and chloride (the components of table salt) and are at much higher concentrations 

(median dissolved-solids concentration about 1,900 mg/L).

Ground-water studies in the Study Unit demonstrated that 

water quality in surficial aquifers in the west and central subregions is significantly different than that in the southeast 

subregion (Cowdery, in press). These differences are in the 

concentrations of dissolved solids, sodium, sulfate, silica, 

potassium, uranium, and radium. The west and central subregions have higher concentrations of all of these ions except 

radium, which is higher in the east. Variations in water quality are related to natural differences in geology and hydrology. Saline sedimentary bedrock aquifers exist mostly in the 

western part of the Study Unit (fig. 6). Most of the eastern 

part is underlain by crystalline rocks that do not readily 

transmit water and were not considered for this study. The 

sedimentary bedrock aquifers slope gently upward to the 

east, in the direction of regional ground-water flow. Saline 

water from these aquifers is primarily discharged in the 

north-central part of the Study Unit. Saline ground water 

from deep aquifers seeping into some shallow buried and 

surficial aquifers in the west and central subregions can 

affect the quality and use of water in these aquifers. This 

saline ground water also can discharge into streams and 

degrade water quality in the northwestern part of the Study 

Unit. This effect can be greatest during periods of extremely 

low streamflow.

CANADA

Figure 6. Surficial aquifers are in glacial sediments

throughout the Study Unit. Saline ground water in

sedimentary rocks can seep to the land surface.

46°

47°

48°

49°

100° 98° 96°

A A'

EXPLANATION

Surficial glacial aquifers

Area of potential saline seeps

Section A-A'

Sedimentary rocks

Crystalline rocks

Glacial sediments Red River

of the North

3,000 FEET

Sea level

-3,000 FEET

A A'

0

0

50

50 100 Kilometers

100 Miles

The middle part of the Wild Rice River in Minnesota shows the relatively common undisturbed land in the southeastern subregion.

MAJOR ISSUES AND FINDINGS

(A) Background Water Quality
U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1169 7

Most water in the Red River Basin Study Unit is safe to 

drink according to U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency (USEPA) standards for natural constituents (dissolved solids, major ions, and radionuclides). 

Some constituents of ground water in the Study Unit 

exceeded USEPA drinking-water standards (table1). These 

standards were exceeded in concentrations of primarily naturally occurring substances. Iron and manganese, which commonly occur in soluble minerals within glacial sediments, 

result in numerous exceedances of secondary maximum contaminant levels for these constituents in ground water. 

Radon concentrations were relatively consistent across the 

Study Unit. There is now no standard for radon in drinking 

water. USEPA withdrew the previous standard of 300 picocuris per liter (pCi/L) pending further review. More shallow 

ground water in the west and central subregions exceeds 

standards than does ground water in the southeast subregion 

(table 1). More water from buried sand and gravel aquifers 

exceeds standards than does water in surficial aquifers. In 

fact, more than 50 percent of the water in buried sand and 

gravel aquifers sampled exceeded the dissolved-solids standard and ranked among the highest nationally (p. 21). 

Although nitrate does occur naturally in ground water, background concentrations were not established in this study. 

Ground-water nitrate concentrations ranked among the lowest nationally (p. 20).

The distribution and concentration of major ions in streams 

appeared related to subregions in the Red River Basin Study 

Unit (Tornes and others, 1997). Historically, water in the 

Red River had mean dissolved-solids concentrations of 

347 mg/L near the headwaters and 406 mg/L at the international boundary near Emerson, Manitoba (Stoner and others, 

1993). The median dissolved-solids concentration at Emerson, Manitoba, was 419 mg/L during 1993–95 (Tornes and 

others, 1997), a period of relatively high streamflow conditions. With limited area of undisturbed land in the Red River 

Basin Study Unit, background conditions in stream-water 

quality were not definable.

Fish communities and stream habitat can be indicators of 

overall stream quality. For example, greater fish species 

diversity and abundance coincide with higher quality 

streams. Fish diversity and abundance in the streams of the 

Study Unit are influenced by human and natural factors 

(Goldstein and others, 1996b). Three factors explain about 

60 percent of the variability in fish distribution: (1) the abundance and diversity of fish habitat within a stream, (2) the 

variability in the amount of water in the stream, and (3) the 

amount of relatively undisturbed land (forest or wetland) 

within about a mile of a stream. Habitat and stream variability are mostly natural factors, although both are influenced 

by human activities. Other factors considered in this study, 

such as number of dams, amount of drainage ditches, or 

width of riparian buffer zones, appear to have less effect on 

variability in fish distribution and abundance (Goldstein and 

others, 1996b).

1Health advisory.

2Under review.

3Proposed.

4Historical, under review.

Table 1. Some U.S. Environmental Protection Agency drinking-water standards and health advisories were exceeded 

frequently in ground water in the Red River Basin Study Unit

[Green area, maximum contaminant level; yellow area, secondary maximum contaminant level; mg/L, milligrams per liter; pCi/L, picocuries per liter]

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards 

and health advisories

Percentage of ground-water samples

exceeding standard or advisory

Constituent Glacial aquifer type Subregion

Buried Surficial West Central Southeast

Dissolved solids, in mg/L 500 52 23 33 38 0

Sodium, in mg/L 120 82 21 27 33 4

Chloride, in mg/L 250 9 0 0 0 0

Sulfate, in mg/L 500 6 3 7 4 0

Sulfate, in mg/L 250 12 5 7 7 0

Fluoride, in mg/L 22 0 0 00 0

Iron, in mg/L 0.3 82 48 13 52 64

Manganese, in mg/L 0.05 82 79 80 85 72

Uranium, in mg/L 30.02 0 5 7 8 0

Radium, in mg/L 30.005 0 0 0 0 0

Radon, in pCi/L 4300 50 66 60 64 64

MAJOR ISSUES AND FINDINGS

(A) Background Water Quality
8 Water Quality in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1992–95

This study focused on the relation between land use and 

water quality. Agriculture, and particularly crop production, 

is the primary use of land in the Red River Basin Study Unit. 

Streams and surficial sand and gravel aquifers are vulnerable 

to the effects of agricultural activities. These resources are 

important for public and commercial uses. 

Nutrients detected in streams and pesticides detected in 

streams and water in surficial aquifers did not exceed 

any existing drinking-water standards and, except for a 

single instance for triallate, were not toxic to aquatic life.

A single sample from the Snake River (fig. 2) contained a 

triallate concentration of 0.28 microgram per liter (μg/L), 

which exceeded the interim Canadian guidelines for the protection of freshwater aquatic life (Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment, 1992). Twenty-seven percent of 

the ground water sampled in the west subregion and 8 percent of the ground water in the southeast subregion exceeded 

the 10-mg/L drinking-water standard for nitrate (Cowdery, 

in press). None of the ground water in the central subregion 

exceeded the drinking-water standard for nitrate. Currently 

(1998), USEPA drinking-water standards exist for 7 of the 44 

pesticides detected in the basin. No ground water exceeded 

any of the existing standards. Pesticide and nutrient persistence and regional differences in soils, geology, and climate 

govern the distribution of these water-quality indicators in 

the Red River Basin Study Unit (Tornes and others, 1997; 

Cowdery, 1997; and Cowdery, in press). Data from this study 

and previous studies were not sufficient to determine 

changes in pesticide levels over time. Continued monitoring 

might help to satisfy concerns about pesticide trends in 

water.

Streams draining areas of extensive cropland (central and 

southern parts of the Study Unit) had the highest concentrations of nutrients (dissolved phosphorus, nitrate, and organic 

nitrogen) and the most detections of herbicides (Tornes and 

others, 1997). No stream water exceeded any of the existing 

drinking-water standards for pesticides or nutrients.

Table 2 shows that selected indicators of water quality varied 

across the four subregions, which generally relate to major 

categories of land use (fig. 2). The water-quality indicators 

used are commonly associated with agricultural land use but 

are also affected by environmental conditions, such as geology, soils, climate and hydrology.

Pesticide concentrations in water are not related only to 

amounts used in agriculture.

Despite having a drainage area composed of 64 percent cropland, the Red River delivered relatively low concentrations 

and loads of pesticides into Canada (table 3). Pesticide concentrations in water commonly were related to the drainage 

of water over and through agricultural soils, pesticide uptake 

by plants and microbes, and attachment to soil particles.

Table 2. Water quality varies by major subregions in the Red River Basin Study Unit

[SW, surface water; GW, ground water (surficial aquifers); --, not sampled; μg/L, micrograms per liter; mg/L, milligrams per liter; <, less than]

Water-quality indicator

Water resource

Value

Remarks or specific findings Subregion

West Central Northeast Southeast

Mean total pesticides, 

(mostly herbicides)

(μg/L)

SW 0.36 0.17 -- 0.23 Central does not include the Red River as an indicator of this subregion.

Southeast had highest percent detection rate, but 

values were all low.

GW .01 .05 -- .03

Nutrients 

(mg/L)

Median total

nitrogen SW .67 1.02 0.82 .59 The Red River is a major source of nutrients to 

Lake Winnipeg.

Nitrate concentrations in ground water exceeded 

the USEPA drinking-water standard in 27, 0, and 

8 percent of samples in the west, central, and 

southeast subregions, respectively.

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency goal is 

0.10 mg/L phosphorus in rivers.

Subregions with high nutrient levels do not necessarily have high pesticide levels.

Median nitrate

nitrogen GW .39 <.05 -- <.05

Median total

phosphorus SW .14 .14 .04 .03

Median orthophosphate 

(dissolved)

GW .03 .01 -- .02

Median Index of Biotic 

Integrity SW 41 25 36 43 These scores were strongly related to stream

habitat.

MAJOR ISSUES AND FINDINGS

(B) Agriculture and Water Quality
U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1169 9

The most heavily applied pesticides (2,4-D, MCPA, bromoxynil, and trifluralin) were not always the most frequently 

detected in streams and shallow aquifers (fig. 7 and tables 6 

and 7, p. 24–26) (Tornes and others, 1997; Cowdery, in 

press). The infrequency of 2,4-D detection may be related to 

factors such as the following: (1) 2,4-D is applied as a postemergent herbicide and mostly is taken up by plants where it 

is metabolized to other compounds, (2) soil microbes effectively degrade 2,4-D, or (3) soils retain 2,4-D instead of 

allowing it to run off or seep downward into ground water 

(Tornes and others, 1997). Triallate was detected in northern 

streams of the Study Unit, an area where it is most commonly applied to small grains. Triallate usually was applied 

during autumn and reached streams during spring snowmelt 

runoff.

Wheat harvest is a major agricultural activity in August (photograph 

courtesy of Don Brennemen, University of Minnesota Agricultural 

Extension Service).

Some pesticides were ubiquitous.

Atrazine, applied on corn mostly in the southern part of the 

basin, and its metabolite, deethylatrazine, were the most frequently detected pesticides in streams throughout the basin 

and shallow ground water beneath cropland. Atrazine was 

detected in nearly every stream sample collected from the 

basin, even during winter. Simazine, commonly applied for 

weed control in rights-of-way in the Study Unit, also was 

detected frequently in streams and shallow ground water. 

Although DDT was banned for use in the United States more 

than 20 years ago, low concentrations of DDT and its metabolites were detected in stream sediments and fish tissues 

(Goldstein and others, 1996a; Brigham and others, 1996). 

The metabolite p,p'-DDE was detected in some ground water 

and streams. DDT and its metabolites are more prevalent in 

agricultural areas, indicating that residue from past DDT use 

is a more prevalent source than atmospheric transport from 

distant sources (outside of the Red River Basin Study Unit).

Table 3. The amount of pesticides in the Red River is a small 

percentage of the amount applied

[Units in pounds per year, except as indicated.]

Pesticide

Annual rate of 

application (1990)

Load at 

Emerson 

(1993–95) 

Percent 

output

Atrazine 120,000 1,100 0.9

Triallate 450,000 270 .06

2,4-D 1,700,000 370 .02

Bentazon

Atrazine

2,4-D

Acifluorfen

MCPA

Cyanazine

Metolachlor

EPTC

Alachlor

Acetochlor

Bromoxynil

Carbofuran

*Deethylatrazine

Triallate

Fenuron

Dicamba

Simazine

Fonofos

Diuron

Chlorothalonil

Aldicarb

Dichlorprop

Trifluralin

Prometon

Metribuzin

DCPA

Chlorpyrifos

*p,p'-DDE

Tebuthiuron

Ethalfluralin

Propanil

Gamma-HCH

Malathion

Terbacil

Propachlor

Diazinon

Carbaryl

Propoxur

Methyl parathion

Molinate

Disulfoton

Pendimethalin

Azinphos-methyl

20 10 0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Percent greater than method detection limit.

Color indicates type of pesticide

Herbicide

* indicates Metabolite

Insecticide

Fungicide

Percent greater than 0.1 microgram per liter, with

laboratory recovery correction.

Shallow ground water

Streams

Figure 7. More pesticides were detected in streams than in

shallow surficial ground water, and most were herbicides.

DETECTION FREQUENCY, IN PERCENT

MAJOR ISSUES AND FINDINGS

(B) Agriculture and Water Quality
10 Water Quality in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1992–95

Cropland activity has contributed to nutrients found in 

streams and shallow ground water.

Nutrient concentrations were relatively low, but cropland 

activity has increased the amount of nutrients (particularly 

phosphorus) available to aquatic plants in streams (fig. 8). 

Phosphorus concentrations occasionally were high enough to 

produce eutrophic conditions in streams and receiving 

waters, such as lakes and wetlands. For example, streams 

draining the western and central parts of the basin (mostly 

cropland) had the highest concentrations of total phosphorus—0.12 to 0.32 mg/L. Streams draining the eastern part of 

the basin (where the percent cropland is smaller) had the 

lowest total phosphorus concentrations—0.08 mg/L or less. 

Concentrations of dissolved and suspended phosphorus 

increased substantially during runoff after snowmelt and 

rainfall. High phosphorus concentrations in the Pembina 

River probably resulted from agricultural applications and 

naturally occurring phosphorus in soils that is readily delivered to this river because of steep terrain in the watershed. 

From 1975 to 1988, 60 percent of the phosphorus load to 

Lake Winnipeg by the Red River came from the U.S. portion 

of the Red River Basin (Brigham and others, 1996).

The median concentration of nitrate was higher in the Red 

River than in the tributaries (fig. 9). These values indicate 

that activities in and near the Red River are contributing to 

the nitrate concentrations in the river. These activities could 

be both agricultural and nonagricultural.

Generally, water in aquifers sampled for the Red River Basin 

Study Unit is safe to drink relative to nutrients and herbicides (Cowdery, in press) (fig. 10). As related to agricultural 

pesticide application, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) 

were not detected in surficial aquifers (Cowdery, 1997; 

Cowdery, in press). Concentrations of pesticides and nutrients in water from the buried aquifers, naturally protected by 

overlying sediments, indicated no significant contamination 

from irrigation (Cowdery, in press).

tributaries

Western

tributaries

Red River Eastern

Figure 9. Nitrate concentration in streams differed by

subregion in the Study Unit.

0

0.4

0.1

0.2

0.3

MEDIAN NITRATE CONCENTRATION,

IN MILLIGRAMS PER LITER

West Central Southeast

60

0

20

40

PERCENTAGE OF GROUND WATER SAMPLES

THAT HAD DETECTABLE AMOUNTS OF

ANY HERBICIDE

30

0

10

20

PERCENTAGE OF GROUND WATER SAMPLES

THAT EXCEEDED NITRATE DRINKING-WATER

STANDARDS OF 10 MILLIGRAMS PER LITER

Herbicide

Nitrate

Figure 10. Agricultural chemical concentrations in ground

water differed by subregion in the Study Unit.

Figure 8. Cropland applications of nitrogen and phosphorus have contributed nutrients to streams (1993-95).

0 20,000 40,000

NITROGEN APPLICATION RATE,

IN POUNDS PER SQUARE

MILE PER YEAR

1,800

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

NITROGEN YIELD, IN POUNDS

PER SQUARE MILE PER YEAR

Yield = 4% of

application + 145

PHOSPHORUS APPLICATION RATE,

IN POUNDS PER SQUARE

MILE PER YEAR

0 5,000 10,000 0

300

50

100

150

200

250

PHOSPHORUS YIELD, IN POUNDS

PER SQUARE MILE PER YEAR

Yield = 2.8% of

application – 16

Greater than 29,700

16,900 to 29,700

10,000 to 16,899

0 to 9,999

Study Unit boundary

Estimated total nitrogen applied in and

near the Red River of the North Basin

Study Unit (in pounds per square mile)

EXPLANATION

(Modified from Tornes and

Brigham, 1994)

MAJOR ISSUES AND FINDINGS

(B) Agriculture and Water Quality
U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1169 11

Detections of pesticides and nitrate in shallow ground 

water were related to cropland in sandy soils over coarsetextured aquifers.

Nitrate concentrations near the water table exceeded the 

drinking-water standard (10 mg/L) in some areas but 

decreased significantly at greater depths in the surficial aquifers (Cowdery, 1997). Irrigation has enhanced crop production in some areas by allowing for increased yields and a 

greater variety of crops. Increased applications of fertilizer 

and pesticides are sometimes associated with irrigation. Irrigation has also been associated with pesticides and nutrients 

reaching parts of some surficial aquifers. The concentrations 

of pesticides in shallow ground water in the irrigated parts of 

the Otter Tail outwash aquifer (fig. 11) are higher than elsewhere in the Study Unit and indicate the potential for contamination in deeper ground water (Cowdery, 1997). 

A detailed study of the Otter Tail outwash aquifer (see page 

22) that included analyses of ground-water age, water chemistry, and historical land use showed a trend of increased 

nitrate and nitrogen levels over the past 30 years (Stoner and 

others, 1997). The combination of irrigation, sandy soils, 

aquifer materials with low carbon content, and conditions 

not favorable for biological reduction of nitrate resulted in 

elevated nitrate in the shallow ground water. 

The Otter Tail outwash aquifer, with high nitrate concentrations near the water table, discharged water with low nitrate 

concentrations to the Otter Tail River, according to one 

intensive case study (Puckett and others, 1995; Tornes and 

others, 1996; Stoner and others, 1997). Mixing with older, 

low-nitrate ground water and denitrification (whereby nitrate 

was transformed to nitrogen gas and removed from the 

water) as water flowed beneath riparian wetlands accounted 

for the low concentrations of nitrate discharging to the river. 

These conditions helped reduce the possibility of eutrophication in the river and downstream lakes and wetlands. Figure 

11 shows other areas in the Study Unit where surficial aquifers potentially discharge water to streams.

A direct link between pesticides and nutrients in streams 

and fish communities was not established.

Fish were studied as part of the overall assessment of stream 

quality. Detailed analysis showed that both chemical and 

physical factors affect the composition of fish communities 

in the streams of the Study Unit. Specific cause-and-effect 

relations could not be established, however. Differences in 

fish communities could not be explained directly by differences in concentrations of nutrients and pesticides in streams 

in agricultural areas (Goldstein and others, 1996b). Only one 

pesticide (triallate) was detected in one stream sample that 

exceeded a level of concern for acute toxicity to aquatic 

organisms (Tornes and others, 1997). More work will be 

helpful to better assess the effects of nutrients on the aquatic 

food chain and the effects of pesticides on the reproductive 

abilities of fish (Goodbred and others, 1997).

Limitations of this assessment of agriculture and water 

quality should be recognized.

Some insecticides and most fungicides applied to specialty 

crops, such as potatoes and sugar beets, were not analyzed in 

this study; also, the results of this water-quality assessment 

likely were affected by the unusually wet summers that 

occurred during the period of intensive sampling (1993–95). 

Dilution or increased loads to streams or surficial aquifers 

were possible as a result of these wet conditions. Therefore, 

the relation established between agriculture and water quality during this study may not represent average conditions.

Fish distribution and abundance may not be a good indicator 

of nutrient effects on stream quality. Most of the nutrients 

enter the stream early in the spring when temperatures are 

low and most metabolic rates for aquatic plants and animals 

likewise are low. Therefore, the amount of nutrients applied 

in a watershed correlated poorly with fish distribution and 

abundance.

Currently (1998), drinking-water standards are set only for 

individual pesticides. However, pesticides commonly occur 

in mixtures of up to nine compounds in surface water that is 

a potential source of drinking water. Although most shallow 

ground water did not contain detectable concentrations of 

pesticides, more than one pesticide commonly was detected 

in water where there were detectable concentrations. The 

health effects of such combinations of pesticides in drinking 

water are not well understood. However, the effects of various pesticides on human health may differ when pesticides 

are present in combination, even at low concentrations, in 

drinking water. The USEPA (1994) is considering establishing drinking-water standards for combinations of triazine 

pesticides and their individual degradation products.

CANADA

46°

47°

48°

49°

100° 98° 96°

0

0

50

50 100 Kilometers

100 Miles

Figure 11. Several sites of possible stream-aquifer interaction

occur in the Red River of the North Basin Study Unit.

Otter Tail

outwash

aquifer Surficial aquifer

Interaction stream

reach

EXPLANATION

MAJOR ISSUES AND FINDINGS

(B) Agriculture and Water Quality
12 Water Quality in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1992–95

Although the major land use in the basin is agriculture, urban 

areas also can affect water quality. The primary sources of 

contamination from urban areas are stormwater runoff, 

municipal wastewater discharge, and industrial discharge. 

This study did not focus specifically on point discharges; but 

generally, water quality downstream from Fargo can be 

compared to the water quality upstream.

The concentrations of some indicators of nutrient contamination were slightly but measurably higher downstream from Fargo, North Dakota, and Moorhead, 

Minnesota, than upstream (Tornes and others, 1997).

The median concentrations of ammonia and total phosphorus 

were slightly higher in the Red River downstream from the 

Fargo-Moorhead area (fig. 12). This analysis was based on 

the discharge-weighted mean concentration of ammonia and 

total phosphorus upstream from the Fargo-Moorhead area 

and at Halstad (fig. 2).

The effect of municipal wastewater discharges on the total 

nitrogen concentration can be estimated through a mass balance model. In this model, the total nitrogen concentration is 

computed from the concentration in the average daily municipal wastewater-treatment outflow and the concentration in 

streamflow at the time of measurement. Adding the municipal wastewater outflow from Fargo and Moorhead increases 

the median total nitrogen concentration from 1.41 mg/L 

upstream from the Fargo-Moorhead area to 1.68 mg/L 

downstream (Tornes and others, 1997). The effect on the 

Red River is difficult to assess farther downstream because 

the streamflow nearly doubles between the Fargo-Moorhead 

area and Halstad, Minnesota. This analysis assumes a total 

nitrogen concentration of 11.2 mg/L for sewage effluent 

(national average, Larry Puckett, U.S. Geological Survey, 

written commun., 1993). This model may not be appropriate 

for conditions after September 1995 because a new sewagetreatment plant went into full service at that time.

Nitrite plus nitrate concentrations tended to be slightly 

higher than historical concentrations at sites along the Red 

River. Median ammonia concentrations for the Red River at 

Halstad, downstream from the Fargo-Moorhead urban area, 

were about 0.16 mg/L in historical samples, but were only 

0.08 mg/L in samples collected for this study (Tornes and 

others, 1997). Increases in nitrate and decreases in ammonia 

have been identified in several streams nationwide, particularly downstream from urban areas; these trends likely 

reflect improved aeration of wastewater effluent, whereby 

ammonia is nitrified to nitrate. It also is possible that reduced 

loading of oxygen-demanding materials is allowing streams 

to remain aerated, decreasing the instream production of 

ammonia. 

Although urban areas contribute only a portion of the phosphorus in the Red River (fig. 12), it is a major issue in Red 

River water quality. Eutrophication due to high concentrations of phosphorus is possible in streams and in Lake Winnipeg, into which the Red River flows (fig. 1). Noxious algal 

blooms have occurred frequently in Lake Winnipeg (Nielsen 

and others, 1996). From 1969 to 1974, the Red River contributed about 58 percent of the total phosphorus but only 9 

percent of the total flow to Lake Winnipeg (Brunskill and 

others, 1980). More recently, from 1975 to 1988 the Red 

River contributed, on average, twice the phosphorus load but 

only one-fifth the flow of the Winnipeg River (the other 

major tributary to the southern part of Lake Winnipeg); furthermore, about 60 percent of the phosphorus load at the outflow of the Red River comes from the U.S. portion of the 

Red River Basin (Brigham and others, 1996).

The Fargo municipal outflow pipe discharged into the Red 

River of the North until September 1995 when a tertiary 

treatment system was completed (photograph by Edwin 

Wesolowski, USGS).

Fargo

Upstream from Halstad

Figure 12. Ammonia and phosphorus concentrations in the Red

River of the North increase in a downstream direction through

the Fargo-Moorhead area.

0.10

0

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

MEDIAN AMMONIA CONCENTRATION,

IN MILLIGRAMS PER LITER

0.4

0

0.2

MEDIAN PHOSPHORUS CONCENTRATION,

IN MILLIGRAMS PER LITER

MAJOR ISSUES AND FINDINGS

(C) Red River Water Quality and Nonagricultural Sources of Contamination
U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1169 13

Fish tissues, streambed sediments, and water in shallow 

aquifers were examined for potentially toxic chemicals. 

Many of the chemicals are associated with modern industrial 

sources, which are relatively sparse in the largely rural Red 

River Basin Study Unit.

PCBs are a class of industrial compounds that have been 

banned in the United States because of their toxicity and persistence in the environment. PCBs are synthetic so there are 

no natural or background levels of these compounds. Atmospheric transport of mercury, PCBs, and PAHs may carry 

these contaminants far from their sources (reviewed by 

Brigham and others, 1998). VOCs include both synthetic 

chlorinated compounds and compounds of natural origin, 

such as components of petroleum. These compounds have 

been widely dispersed in the environment by human activity.

Many of the contaminants detected in the Study Unit are 

present in aquatic ecosystems worldwide. Mercury and 

PAHs occur naturally but also are released to the environment from industrial activities such as fossil-fuel combustion 

and garbage incineration (table 4).

Medium-sized carp (about 2–4 pounds) in the Red River had 

an average mercury concentration of 0.31 part per million 

(ppm) in the muscle (fillet) tissue. Smaller channel catfish 

(about 0.5–1 pound) had lower mercury levels, averaging 

0.18 ppm (Goldstein and others, 1996a). These concentrations are in the moderate range of Minnesota’s fish-consumption guidelines. Although fish from this study had 

mercury concentrations lower than the U.S. Food and Drug 

Administration’s 1-ppm standard, larger catfish and other 

game fish from the Study Unit analyzed by the Minnesota 

Department of Natural Resources (1994) exceeded this standard.

Polychlorinated biphenyls were commonly detected in 

low concentrations in fish samples. 

Few fish samples had PCB levels in the moderate range of 

fish-consumption guidelines (Brigham and others, 1998). 

Northern pike are common game fish in lakes and rivers in 

the Red River Basin (photograph courtesy of Dennis Conroy).

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were widely detected 

in bed sediments.

Bed sediment samples at few sites had PAH levels that were 

potentially high enough to adversely affect aquatic organisms, based on published toxicity studies (reviewed in 

Brigham and others, 1998). See tables 8 and 9, p. 27–29, for 

specific PAH and other semivolatile organic compounds 

detected and their range of concentration.

Volatile organic compounds were rarely detected in shallow ground water and when detected were at concentrations well below USEPA drinking-water standards.

VOCs were sampled in shallow ground water mostly 

beneath agricultural areas and under ice conditions in the 

Red River. Most VOC concentrations were below detection 

limits. Compounds that are in gasoline were detected in one 

well. It is possible that the well was contaminated during 

construction, and that sample might not be representative of 

the ground water in the aquifer (Cowdery, 1997).

Fossil-fuel combustion is a major source of polycyclic 

aromatic hydrocarbons.

Table 4. Mercury and PCB levels were analyzed in fish 

tissue; several water-quality indicators were used to assess 

nonpoint-source toxic compounds

Chemicals examined Sources

Mercury coal burning, waste 

incineration

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) electrical transformers, other

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons 

(PAHs)

fossil fuels, combustion by-products

Volatile organic compounds 

(VOCs)

industrial solvents, 

petroleum

MAJOR ISSUES AND FINDINGS

(D) Effects of other Nonpoint-Source Toxic Compounds on Water Quality
14 Water Quality in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1992–95

“The presence of sediment is one of the most obvious characteristics of small streams. 

Sediment has several forms and sources, but of greatest concern in stream and river sediment problems are the fine inorganic particles that either flow with the current (causing turbidity) or that are deposited on the streambed (causing loss of benthic productivity and fish 

habitat). Such sediment is widespread and pervasive, occurring to some extent in all 

streams.”—Thomas F. Waters (1995)

“Obvious effects of ... anthropogenic erosion and sediment deposition include loss of 

agricultural soils, decreased water-retention capacity of forest lands, increased flood frequency, and rapid filling of reservoirs. Less obvious, however (and until recently largely 

ignored), is sedimentation in small streams that affects biotic communities, reduces diversity 

of fish and other animal communities, and lowers the productivity of aquatic populations.” 

—Thomas F. Waters (1995)

Reprinted from “Sediment in streams—Sources, biological effects, and control” and published with permission.

The upper reaches of the Wild Rice River is typical of many 

streams in the eastern part of the Red River Basin.

As the Wild Rice River flows downstream (shown near the 

confluence with the Red River), it becomes visually more turbid. Both photographs were taken in June 1992.

Water in the Red River is turbid, resulting from the fine suspended sediments (clay and silt). Suspended-sediment concentrations vary greatly in streams in the Study Unit due to 

factors such as landscape characteristics, streamflow, season, and land use. High suspended-sediment concentrations 

characterize streams that flow through heavily cropped, 

erodible lands (especially in the central part of the Study 

Unit) and erodible stream channels (especially the Pembina 

River). In contrast, low sediment concentrations characterize 

most streams that drain upland areas of the Study Unit. Most 

of these streams flow through reservoirs, lakes, and wetlands. Suspended sediments settle in these quiescent waters. 

Suspended sediment in streams affects the chemical water 

quality. At high sediment concentrations, a significant portion of phosphorus and nitrogen in streams is attached to sediment. Organochlorines such as DDT and PCBs, and trace 

elements such as mercury and lead, adhere tightly to sediments, which can settle to the bottom of streams, lakes, and 

reservoirs. Organochlorines and trace elements were found 

in bed sediments during this study (Brigham and others, 

1998) (see also tables 8 and 9, p. 27–29).

High sediment concentrations also diminish the esthetic 

water quality. The enjoyment of recreational activities such 

as fishing, swimming, and boating can be affected by sediment in the stream.

The highest sediment concentrations in each stream typically 

accompanied high flows (fig. 13). Therefore, sediment concentrations in streams are highest in the spring or after heavy 

summer rains.

Water with about 10 

milligrams per liter 

suspended sediment 

(left) is much clearer 

than water with about 

500 milligrams per liter 

(right) (photograph by 

Lan Tornes, USGS).

MAJOR ISSUES AND FINDINGS

(E) Sediment in Streams
U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1169 15

The Otter Tail River flows through numerous lakes and 

reservoirs. Partly as a result of sedimentation in these 

quiescent water bodies, the river has low suspendedsediment concentrations. 

Land-use practices that do not abate rapid runoff of 

water can impair water quality by increasing suspended 

sediment in streams in two ways.

First, runoff erodes bare soils, which contributes sediment to 

streams. Second, higher streamflows associated with runoff 

events will more readily erode sediments from the channel 

and streambanks. The relative importance of these two 

sources of sediment is unknown for streams in the Red River 

Basin Study Unit.

Snowmelt runoff carries eroded sediment from a cultivated 

field to a drainage ditch (foreground). Sand, which is 

relatively coarse and heavy, settles at low flow velocities; 

finer silt and clay particles remain suspended at fairly low 

velocities. The stubble in this field probably helped lessen 

sediment erosion. 

A high-flow event has deposited sediment on the flood plain 

(foreground) and on the lower part of the concrete structure 

separating these two culverts on Two Rivers near Northcote, 

Minnesota.

High flows erode the steep banks of the Pembina River, in 

northeastern North Dakota, contributing to the high sediment 

load.

10 100 1,000 10,000

1,000

1,000

10,000

10,000

100

100

10

10

SUSPENDED-SEDIMENT

CONCENTRATION, IN

MILLIGRAMS PER LITER

STREAMFLOW, CUBIC FEET PER SECOND

Figure 13. The Pembina River at Walhalla, North Dakota, had

the highest suspended-sediment concentrations in all of the

sampled streams. At the highest concentration, the river was

carrying about 30,000 tons of sediment per day. The Snake

River near Alvarado, Minnesota, is typical of central subregion

streams.

Pembina River Snake River

MAJOR ISSUES AND FINDINGS

(E) Sediment in Streams
16 Water Quality in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1992–95

Water-quality criteria and indicators used for monitoring 

and overall management of contamination sources for 

water resources in this basin could be enhanced by considering the water-quality effects of variation by subregion, hydrologic conditions, and season. 

Nitrate concentrations in streams tended to be highest in the 

central subregion of the Study Unit (Tornes and others, 

1997) where fertilizer application was the greatest (Tornes 

and Brigham, 1994). Total phosphorus also was higher in the 

central subregion than in the other subregions (Tornes and 

others, 1997). Atrazine and associated herbicides were 

detected mostly in the southern part of the basin where corn 

is a major crop. Streams in the western subregion had the 

highest concentrations of sulfate and usually the highest concentrations of dissolved solids. Dissolved-solids concentrations ranged from 300 mg/L in the upper Otter Tail River to 

about 800 mg/L in the Bois de Sioux River (Tornes and others, 1997). 

This study was conducted during a period of relatively wet 

hydrologic conditions. These wet conditions enabled some 

definition of water quality during high streamflows and 

ground-water recharge. However, without comparable historical data, the specific effects of these wet conditions cannot 

be quantified.

Much of the temporal variation in water quality is seasonal. 

Seasonally, winter brings cold temperatures, snow, and ice. 

Surface waters tend to have less dissolved oxygen, lower 

concentrations of suspended sediment, and higher concentrations of nutrients than during other seasons. Ammonia and 

dissolved phosphorus concentrations can be high under ice 

conditions. Typical concentration of dissolved oxygen under 

ice was 0.1 mg/L in the Red River (Tornes and others, 1997). 

Spring brings cool temperatures, melting snow and ice, 

flooded fields, and high flows in rivers with corresponding 

increases in dissolved-oxygen, suspended-sediment, and 

nutrient concentrations. Snowmelt and precipitation runoff 

delivers nutrients, pesticides, and sediment to streams. Soil 

preparation and the application of chemicals relative to the 

occurrence of precipitation accounts for some of the variability in the amount of contaminants that reached Study Unit 

streams. Agricultural chemicals such as triallate, a herbicide 

applied in the fall, may reach their highest concentrations 

during spring (Tornes and Brigham, 1995) (fig. 14).

Summer brings warm temperatures, thunderstorms, and generally declining water levels in rivers. The periodic rainstorms increase suspended sediment and transport pesticides 

applied in spring and summer to surface waters.

Fall brings cool temperatures, falling leaves, and low streamwater levels. Streamflows approach the annual minimum 

during fall (Stoner and others, 1993). Reduced flows generally correspond to reduced suspended-sediment, nutrient, 

and pesticide concentrations.

Detailed studies of cropland effects on the quality of 

water in shallow surficial aquifers (Otter Tail and Sheyenne Delta study areas, p. 22) showed significant differences in pesticide presence and nitrate concentrations 

with location, season, and depth (Cowdery, 1997).

The median nitrate concentrations in ground water from the 

Otter Tail study were higher than from the Sheyenne Delta 

study: 6.1 mg/L compared to 0.03 mg/L, respectively. More 

pesticides were detected for the Otter Tail study and at 

higher concentrations than for the Sheyenne Delta study. 

The water-quality difference was related to differences in 

total nitrogen application to cropland (estimated at 52 and 23 

pounds per acre per year, respectively) and slight differences 

in hydrologic and soil conditions among the aquifer settings. 

Although land use in both areas was similar, the Otter Tail 

aquifer received more recharge because of coarser textured 

soils and generally more irrigation.

Seasonal differences in nitrate concentrations in the upper 5 

to 10 feet of these surficial aquifers were related in part to 

the timing of significant recharge periods that generally 

coincided with spring snowmelt and major summer rainstorms. This variable recharge, in conjunction with variations in the timing and application of fertilizer applied to 

each crop, results in complex changes in nitrate concentrations over time in shallow depths in these aquifers (fig. 15). 

Similar temporal variability in pesticide presence also might 

be expected. This information could be used in the design of 

ground-water monitoring of surficial aquifers for the purpose 

of checking the progress of land-management practices.

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

CONCENTRATION, IN MICROGRAMS

PER LITER

STREAMFLOW, IN CUBIC FEET

PER SECOND

MAR APR MAY JULY AUG JUNE SEPT OCT

Streamflow

Atrazine

Triallate

1993

Figure 14. The concentration of pesticides in the Red River

depends on the timing of their application and runoff from

rainstorms or snowmelt.

MAJOR ISSUES AND FINDINGS

(F) Importance of Variations in Water Quality
U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1169 17

Many privately owned drinking-water wells used in the Otter 

Tail and Sheyenne Delta aquifers are deeper than the monitoring wells from this study and produced water that was 

safe to drink. Water quality near the water table was affected 

by the land-use activities because of relatively recent 

recharge (1 to 10 years). The quality of the deeper ground 

water was older (greater than 20 years) and was therefore 

less affected by the relatively recent land-use practices and 

recharge (Stoner and others, 1997, and fig. 16).

Fish community composition correlated well with stream 

size, habitat availability, and hydrologic variability, but not 

with geographic provinces and ecoregions (Goldstein and 

others, 1996b). Species in small streams, medium streams, 

and large rivers tend to differ (fig. 17). The source of species 

for tributary streams was the Red River, so any given species 

has potential access to most tributaries. The number of fish 

species (one measure of community health) increased with 

the size of streams and the number of ecoregions through 

which a stream flowed (Goldstein, 1995). Approximately 60 

percent of the variability in fish community composition can 

be attributed to factors such as habitat, streamflow, water 

temperature, minimum dissolved-oxygen concentration, 

nutrients, and suspended sediment (Goldstein and others, 

1996b). Additional variation was due to both human influence from land-use practices and biological interactions 

(competition, predation, disease, and parasitism) (Goldstein 

and others, 1996b). No patterns could be found to interpret 

cause-and-effect relations. Biological communities have 

adapted to take advantage of the environmental conditions 

that occur during each season: increased habitat volume and 

dissolved-oxygen concentrations during the spring for reproduction; increased water temperatures and productivity during summer for growth; lower water levels during fall for 

concentration of prey; and reduced activity and return to 

deep-water refuges during low water and dissolved-oxygen 

concentrations in winter (Goldstein and others, 1996b). A 

biological monitoring program (Niemela and others, in 

press) that relies on periodically sampling communities 

under the same seasonal environmental conditions has been 

developed for the Red River Basin Study Unit.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

NITRATE CONCENTRATION, IN

Otter Tail wells

Sheyenne Delta

well

MILLIGRAMS PER LITER

1 July

1 Nov

1993

1 Mar

1994 1995 1 July 1 Nov 1 Mar 1 July

1 Nov

Figure 15. At shallow depth in surficial aquifers, nitrate

concentrations sometimes varied with season.

Surficial

aquifer

Confining bed

Precipitation

Irrigation

Water table

Soil

round- ter flo

Percolation

Drinking-water

well

Monitoring

well

10 Yrs

50 Yrs

1 Yr

Figure 16. Ground-water monitoring that considers the use of wells

completed near the water table could provide resource managers

better opportunities to effect change in land-use practices before

contamination spreads wider and deeper into an aquifer.

Longnose dace

Blacknose dace

Johnny darter

Iowa darter

Common shiner

Bigmouth shiner

Brook stickleback

Tadpole madtom

Creek chub

Northern redbelly dace

Central mudminnow

Blackside darter

Black bullhead

White sucker

Fathead minnow

Stonecat

Rock bass

Hornyhead chub

Bluntnose minnow

Sand shiner

Spottail shiner

Spotfin shiner

Burbot

Black crappie

Walleye

Yellow perch

Northern pike

Golden redhorse

Silver redhorse

Shorthead redhorse

Smallmouth bass

Common carp

Chestnut lamprey

Sauger

Quillback

Mooneye

Goldeye

Silver chub

Emerald shiner

SMALL

SMALL

TO

MEDIUM

MEDIUM

TO

LARGE

LARGE

Figure 17. Fish species composition changes with stream size.

MAJOR ISSUES AND FINDINGS

(F) Importance of Variations in Water Quality
18 Water Quality in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1992–95

Nearly all streams that drain the eastern parts of the Study Unit contained 

nutrient concentrations that were lower than the national median for the 

other Study Units. Streams that drain 

the western and central areas were 

higher than the national median. The 

distribution of cropland and soils 

helps explain this nutrient pattern.

Where detected, DDT concentrations were 

typical of other minimally contaminated areas 

in the other NAWQA Study Units. Organochlorine concentrations in fish usually were 

low in the Study Unit and were low on a national basis. However, PCB concentrations in 

some fish from this area prompt State fishconsumption advisories. PCBs and many organochlorine compounds were banned in the 

1970’s.

WATER-QUALITY CONDITIONS IN A NATIONAL CONTEXT

Comparison of Stream Quality in the Red River of the North Basin with Nationwide NAWQA Findings

Seven major water-quality characteristics were evaluated for stream sites in each NAWQA 

Study Unit. Summary scores for each characteristic were computed for all sites that had 

adequate data. Scores for each site in the Red River of the North Basin were compared with 

scores for all sites sampled in the 20 NAWQA Study Units during 1992–95. Results are 

summarized by percentiles; higher percentile values generally indicate poorer quality 

compared with other NAWQA sites. Water-quality conditions at each site also are 

compared to established criteria for protection of aquatic life. Applicable criteria are limited 

to nutrients and pesticides in water, and semivolatile organic compounds, organochlorine 

pesticides, and PCBs in sediments. (Methods used to compute rankings and evaluate 

aquatic-life criteria are described by Gilliom and others, in press.)

Pesticide concentrations in the Red 

River and its tributaries are lower than 

most concentrations in streams from 

other NAWQA Study Units. The 

Study Unit had the highest percentage 

of agricultural cropland among other 

Study Units and is in the lowest quartile in terms of pesticide concentrations.

PESTICIDES in water

ORGANOCHLORINE PESTICIDES

and PCBs in stream bed sediment

and biological tissue

EXPLANATION

Ranking of stream quality relative to all 

NAWQA stream sites— Darker colored 

circles generally indicate poorer quality. 

Greater than the 75th percentile

(among the highest 25 percent

of NAWQA stream sites)

Between the median and the 75th percentile

Between the 25th percentile and the median

Less than the 25th percentile

(Among the lowest 25 percent

of NAWQA stream sites)

NUTRIENTS in water
U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1169 19

Trace elements in sediments were usually typical of other NAWQA Study Units 

and reflect natural concentrations. The 

site with the highest concentrations likely reflects higher natural concentrations 

of trace elements associated with shale 

outcroppings in that area.

Stream habitat in the basin was generally poor compared to the other 

NAWQA Study Units. Almost all 

streams in the basin have been modified through dams, ditching, or channelization and erosion due to unstable 

banks. Agricultural practices that 

leave riverine wetlands and intact

riparian zones with naturally dense 

vegetation seem to provide a degree of 

instream habitat protection and enhance fish communities.

Compared to other NAQWA Study 

Units, fish species composition varied 

from poor to good, depending on area 

within the basin. Tributary streams 

outside of the central subregion tended to have better composition of species. Tributary streams in the central 

subregion and the Red River were 

dominated by introduced carp but still 

contained numerous species. It is difficult to distinguish the relative importance of natural compared to land-use 

factors due to the interactions where 

land use affects habitat and water

quality.

This broad group of chemicals includes 

PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are both components of fossil fuels and by-products of combustion), 

phenols (industrial solvents), and

phthalates (often used as plasticizers or 

solvents). concentrations of these compounds were below the median of other 

NAWQA Study Units.

CONCLUSIONS

The significant amount of cropland in 

the Red River Basin Study Unit has 

resulted in elevated concentrations 

of nutrients and low concentrations 

of pesticides in many streams. However, comparison to the NAWQA 

sites nationwide shows that nutrient 

concentrations were not exceptionally high and pesticide detections were 

relatively low.

The presence of other toxic compounds in bed sediments or fish tissue were typical of other areas 

nationally. Aquatic-life criteria were 

not exceeded.

The distribution of trace elements is 

mostly affected by geology. Fish 

communities and habitat are relatively poor and are related both to natural 

conditions and land-use practices.

TRACE ELEMENTS in

bed sediment

STREAM HABITAT DEGRADATION

FISH COMMUNITIES

DEGRADATION

SEMIVOLATILE ORGANIC

COMPOUNDS in bed sediment

WATER-QUALITY CONDITIONS IN A NATIONAL CONTEXT

Comparison of Stream Quality in the Red River of the North Basin with Nationwide NAWQA Findings
20 Water Quality in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1992–95

EXPLANATION

Drinking-water aquifers

Surficial aquifers (Northeastern subregion was not studied)

West

Central

Southeast

Buried glacial aquifer sampled area

Shallow ground-water study areas

Sheyenne Delta

Otter Tail outwash

WATER-QUALITY CONDITIONS IN A NATIONAL CONTEXT

Comparison of Ground-Water Quality in the Red River of the North Basin with Nationwide NAWQA Findings

Five major water-quality characteristics were evaluated for ground-water studies in each 

NAWQA Study Unit. Ground-water resources were divided into two categories:

(1) drinking-water aquifers, and (2) shallow ground water underlying agricultural or urban 

areas. Summary scores were computed for each characteristic for all aquifers and shallow 

ground-water areas that had adequate data. Scores for each aquifer and shallow groundwater area in the Red River of the North Basin were compared with scores for all aquifers 

and shallow ground-water areas sampled in the 20 NAWQA Study Units during 1992–95. 

Results are summarized by percentiles; higher percentile values generally indicate poorer 

quality compared with other NAWQA ground-water studies. Water-quality conditions for 

each drinking-water aquifer also are compared to established drinking-water standards and 

criteria for protection of human health. (Methods used to compute rankings and evaluate 

standards and criteria are described by Gilliom and others, in press.)

All radon concentrations ranked 

in the lower 50 percent of the samples collected from other 

NAWQA Study Units. Currently 

(1998), there are no Federal drinking-water standards for radon. 

The historical standard was

exceeded in two-thirds and onehalf of the samples collected from 

the surficial and buried aquifers, 

respectively.

Ranking of ground-water quality relative to 

all NAWQA ground-water studies— Darker 

colored circles generally indicate poorer quality. Bold outline indicates one or more drinking-water standards or criteria were exceeded

Greater than the 75th percentile

(Among the highest 25 percent of

NAWQA ground-water studies)

Between the median and the 75th percentile

Between the 25th percentile and the median

Less than the 25th percentile

(Among the lowest 25 percent of

NAWQA ground-water studies)

Although nitrate concentrations 

generally were low in comparison 

to other Study Units, the variability of nitrate concentrations was 

high. This explains why 27, 8, and 

6 percent of the samples from the 

western and southeastern surficial 

aquifers and the buried aquifers, 

respectively, exceeded the 

USEPA drinking-water standard, 

whereas a much larger percentage 

of samples from these aquifers 

had concentrations close to or below detection limits. Nitrate concentrations in shallow ground 

water of the Otter Tail Outwash 

agricultural area ranked in the upper 50 percent among other Study 

Units.

RADON

NITRATE
U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1169 21

The number and concentrations of pesticides 

(mostly atrazine and related herbicides and bentazon ) were relatively low with the exception of 

shallow ground water in the Otter Tail outwash

area. Although no drinking-water standard was 

exceeded in the Otter Tail study, pesticide detections ranked among the highest in detections compared to other NAWQA Study Units (highest 

quartile).

Of the two areas studied, VOCs were detected in 

only one well (Sheyenne Delta agricultural area), 

placing the Study Unit among the lowest compared 

to other NAWQA Study Units for VOC detections.

Dissolved-solids concentrations ranked in the upper 50 percent of the samples collected from other NAWQA Study Units. These concentrations were 

highest in the surficial aquifers located in the western and central subregions 

and in the buried aquifers sampled. These dissolved-solids concentrations, 

which largely reflect the effect of geology and semiarid climate, exceeded 

the drinking-water standard in more than one-third of the ground water sampled basin wide and from 14 to 17 percent of the shallow ground water sampled in the two agricultural areas studied.

CONCLUSIONS

Given the large area of agricultural cropland in the 

Red River Basin Study Unit, pesticide detections 

and nitrate concentrations in ground water were 

relatively low compared to the other NAWQA Study 

Units.

For the Otter Tail outwash area, where sandy soils 

over relatively permeable surficial aquifers have 

been irrigated to enhance crop production, shallow 

ground water has been contaminated with 

pesticides and nitrate. These results show the 

importance of considering the geology along with 

agricultural and water-management practices in 

protecting ground-water quality.

The geology and semiarid climate of the western 

part of the basin result in dissolved-solids 

concentrations that are among the highest in the 

NAWQA Study Units. However, these 

concentrations are not a serious health risk for 

drinking water. They can result in esthetic 

nuisances, such as scale buildup, staining, and 

unpleasant taste.

DISSOLVED SOLIDS

VOLATILE ORGANIC

COMPOUNDS (VOCs)

PESTICIDES

WATER-QUALITY CONDITIONS IN A NATIONAL CONTEXT

Comparison of Ground-Water Quality in the Red River of the North Basin with Nationwide NAWQA Findings
22 Water Quality in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1992–95

The ground-water studies assessed the overall water quality 

of surficial aquifers and buried glacial aquifers (table 5). 

Land-use effects on ground-water quality were also 

described in two study areas. A special study addressed landuse effects on the Otter Tail outwash aquifer along groundwater flow from areas of recharge beneath the land use to an 

area of discharge to a stream.

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

DD

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

DD

D

D

DDDD

DD

D

D D D

D

DD

D

D

D

D

DDD

D D D

DD

D D D

D

D

D

D D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

E

E

E

E E E E

E E

E E

E

EE E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

Buried glacial

aquifer

sampled

area

Otter Tail

study

Sheyenne

Delta study

0 50

0 50

100 Miles

100 Kilometers

West

Central

Northeast

Southeast

D

E

Major glacial aquifers

Basinwide-survey sites

Surficial-aquifer well

Buried-aquifer well

Area of wells for studying

land-use effects, seasonal

variations, and variations

along flow

EXPLANATION

Land-use effects

Aquifers

Ground-water studies

Aquatic biology sites were selected to describe the variation 

among the USEPA ecological regions (Omernik, 1987) in the 

Study Unit (table 5). Samples were also taken to determine the 

presence of contaminants in fish tissue.

West

Central

Northeast

Southeast

BBB

B B

B

B BB

B B B

B

BB BB

B

B B

B B

B

B

B

B B B B

B

B

G

G

G

G

G

B

B

BB

B

BB

B

B

B

B

B

B B

B

BB B

B B

B

B B

BB B B

B

D

D D

D

D

D

D

D

D D

0 50

0 50

100 Miles

100 Kilometers

B

Land use and land cover

D

B

Stream-quality sites

Bed sediment

Basinwide chemistry

Intensive agriculture

Synoptic studies

G

Agricultural land

Forest land

Wetland

Water

Rangeland

Urban or built-up land

EXPLANATION

0 50

0 50

100 Miles

100 Kilometers

3

D

D

D

D D

D

D D D

D DD D

D

D

D

G

G

G

G

G

G

B

B

B

B

B

B

B

B

B

B

B

B Grand

Forks

Fargo Moorhead

Fergus

Falls

of the North

River Red

B

USEPA Ecoregions

Aquatic-biology sites

Northern Glaciated Plains

Red River Valley

Northern Minnesota

Wetlands

North Central Hardwood

Forests

Northern Lakes and Forests

Fish tissue,

contaminants

Comprehensive ecology

Basinwide ecology

Fish tissue, comparison

D

B

B

G

EXPLANATION

The stream-water-quality sampling design (table 5) was established to assess the effects of agricultural land use on water 

quality and account for differences in the four subregions. A 

special study addressed the capacity of suspended sediment for 

transporting nutrients in streams.

STUDY DESIGN AND DATA COLLECTION

In the Red River of the North Basin, 1992-95
U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1169 23

Table 5. Summary of data collected in the Red River of the North Basin reflects the multidisciplinary approach of NAWQA

Study component What data were collected and why

Types of sites sampled and 

water-quality measures

Number of 

sites or 

studies

Sampling 

frequency 

[period]

Ground-Water Quality

Basinwide survey - 

surficial aquifers

Describe overall water quality in surficial 

sand and gravel aquifers which are 

susceptible to contamination.

Sample 20–30 wells in three of the major 

subregions for major ions, nutrients, pesticides, 

organic carbon, and radionuclides.

69 1

Basinwide survey - 

buried aquifers

Describe the overall water quality and natural 

chemical patterns in buried aquifers.

Sample wells within a west-east area across the 

central part of the Study Unit for major ions and 

trace elements; nutrients and radionuclides 

collected from 27 wells.

42 1

Land-use effects Determine the effects of specific land use on 

the quality of shallow ground water.

For two surficial aquifers lying mostly beneath 

irrigated cropland, sample wells completed near 

water table for major ions, nutrients, and 

pesticides; from one aquifer, sample for volatileorganic compounds and radionuclides.

58 1

Seasonal variations Determine seasonal variation of 

concentrations of water-quality indicators in 

aquifers studied for land-use effects.

Resample selected wells in each aquifer studied 

for land-use effects for nutrients, major ions, and 

organic carbon.

16 4-5 per year,

[1994–95]

Variations along flow Describe land-use effects on surficial aquifers 

along ground-water flow from areas of 

recharge beneath the land use to area of 

discharge to a stream.

Sample clusters of wells installed along an 

approximate line of ground-water flow and at 

various depths within aquifers studied for land-use 

effects; analyze for major ions, nutrients, 

pesticides, and age-dating constituents.

19 1

Stream-Water Quality

Bed-sediment survey Determine presence of potentially toxic 

compounds attached to sediments in major 

streams.

Sample depositional zones of the Red River and 

selected tributaries for trace elements, PAHs, and 

organochlorine compounds.

22 1

[1992]

Bed-sediment 

distribution survey

Determine distribution of toxic compounds 

attached to sediment in streams.

Sample sites in addition to bed-sediment survey 

sites mostly for trace elements.

8 1

Basinwide streamchemistry sitesDescribe concentrations and loads of 

chemicals, suspended sediment, and nutrients 

at selected sites basinwide.

Sample for major ions, organic carbon, suspended 

sediment, and nutrients at or near sites where 

streamflow is measured continuously.

15 ~14 per year, 

[1993–95]

Intensive agriculture 

sites

Determine concentration and timing of 

agriculture related compounds that are 

transported to streams.

Subset of basinwide stream-chemistry sites where 

80 pesticides are sampled at least monthly and 

during selected runoff events.

5 ~20 per year, 

[1993–95]

Synoptic studies Describe short-term presence and distribution 

of contamination over broad areas and how 

well the stream-chemistry stations represent 

the entire Red River Basin.

Sample streams during high flow for pesticides 

and (or) nutrients, suspended sediment, organic 

carbon, and streamflow; one synoptic sampling for 

volatile organic compounds.

27 1

Stream sediment Describe the role of suspended sediment in 

transporting nutrients in streams.

Map stream-channel geometry and collect 

sediment samples during spring runoff and storm 

flows at selected sites along the Pembina River.

1 12

Aquatic Biology

Fish tissues, 

contaminants

Determine presence of contaminants that can 

accumulate in fish tissues.

Collect fish species that live in most streams of the 

Study Unit; sample composites of whole fish for 

organic compounds and fish livers for trace 

elements.

11 1

[1992]

Comprehensive ecology Assess in detail biological communities and 

habitat in streams representing primary 

ecological regions.

Sample and quantify fish, macroinvertebrates, and 

algae in four of the major ecological regions 

located at or near a basinwide stream chemistry 

site; quantitatively describe stream habitat for 

these organisms; replicate sampling for three 

consecutive years over three stream reaches.

6 1 per year, 

[1993–95]

Basinwide ecology Determine presence and community structure 

of aquatic species and habitat in 

representative streams across the Study Unit.

Sample and identify fish, macroinvertebrates and 

algae at or near stream-chemistry sites and 

describe habitat.

16 1

Fish tissues, comparison Determine differences in concentrations of 

mercury in different fish tissues in the Red 

River.

Sample two sizes of carp at four sites and catfish at 

one site in the Red River for mercury 

concentration in livers, fillets, and whole bodies.

4 1

STUDY DESIGN AND DATA COLLECTION

In the Red River of the North Basin, 1992-95
24 Water Quality in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota 1992-95

Herbicide 

(Trade or

common name)

Rate of 

detection b

Concentration, in μg/L

0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1,000

The following tables summarize data collected for NAWQA studies from 1992–95 by showing results for the Red 

River Basin Study Unit compared to the NAWQA national range for each compound detected. The data were collected at a 

wide variety of places and times. In order to represent the wide concentration ranges observed among Study Units, logarithmic 

scales are used to emphasize the general magnitude of concentrations (such as 10, 100, or 1000), rather than the precise number. The complete dataset used to construct these tables is available upon request. The statistics for detection rates reported in 

Table 6 can differ from those reported in Figure 7 because of differing definitions of detection limits.

Table 6. Concentrations of herbicides, insecticides, volatile organic compounds, nutrients, and radon detected in surface or 

ground water of the Red River of the North Basin Study Unit

[mg/L, milligrams per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; pCi/L, picocuries per liter; %, percent; <, less than;--, not measured; trade names may vary; footnotes 

on p. 29]

EXPLANATION

Range of surface-water detections in all 20 NAWQA Study Units

Detection in the Red River of the North Study Unit

Range of ground-water detections in all 20 NAWQA Study Units

Drinking water standard or guideline a

Freshwater-chronic criterion for the protection of aquatic life a

Herbicide 

(Trade or

common name)

Rate of 

detection b

Concentration, in μg/L

0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1,000

Ethalfluralin

(Sonalan)

3%

0%

Fenuron (BeetKleen, fenidim)1%

0%

MCPA 6%

0%

Metolachlor (Dual) 25%

1%

Metribuzin (Lexone, Sencor)3%

3%

Molinate (Ordram) <1%

0%

Pendimethalin 

(Prowl)

<1%

0%

Picloram (Tordon) 0%

3%

Prometon

(Pramitol)

14%

0%

Propachlor

(Ramrod)

<1%

0%

Propanil

(Stampede)

<1%

0%

Simazine (Princep, Weedex)10%

3%

Tebuthiuron 

(Spike)

<1%

0%

Terbacilc

 (Sinbar) <1%

0%

Triallate (Far-Go) 19%

0%

SUMMARY OF COMPOUND DETECTIONS AND CONCENTRATIONS

Acetochlor 12%

0%

Acifluorfen 

(Blazer)

9%

0%

Alachlor (Lasso) 11%

1%

2,6-Diethylaniline 

(metabolite)

0%

<1%

Atrazine (AAtrex) 79%

16%

Desethylatrazinec

(metabolite)

22%

15%

Bentazon

(Basagran)

20%

3%

Bromoxynil

(Buctril)

3%

0%

Cyanazine

(Bladex)

56%

1%

2,4-D (Butyrac) 12%

0%

DCPA (Dacthal) <1%

0%

Dicamba (Banvel) 1%

1%

Dichlorprop

(Kildip)

<1%

0%

Diuron (Karmex, 

Direx)

1%

0%

EPTC (Eptam) 28%

1%
U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1169 25

Trifluralin (Treflan)7%

0%

Insecticide 

(Trade or

common name)

Rate of 

detection b

Concentration, in μg/L

Aldicarbc (Temik) <1%

0%

Azinphos-methylc

(Guthion)

<1%

0%

Carbarylc

 (Sevin, 

Savit)

<1%

0%

Carbofuranc

(Furadan)

14%

0%

Chlorpyrifos 

(Lorsban)

2%

0%

p,p’-DDE

(metabolite)

<1%

<1%

Diazinon <1%

0%

Fonofos 

(Dyfonate)

1%

0%

gamma-HCH 2%

0%

Malathion (malathon, Cythion)1%

<1%

Methyl parathion 

(Penncap-M)

<1%

0%

Propoxur (Blattanex, Undene)1%

0%

Volatile 

organic compound

(Trade or

common name)

Rate of 

detection b

Concentration, in μg/L

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene--

3%

1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene--

3%

0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1,000

0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1,000

Chloroethene 

(vinyl chloride)

--

3%

Dimethylbenzenes

(total xylenes)

--

3%

Ethenylbenzene 

(styrene)

--

3%

Ethylbenzene 

(phenylethane)

--

3%

Isopropylbenzene 

(cumene)

--

3%

Methylbenzene 

(toluene)

--

3%

Naphthalene --

3%

n-Butylbenzene

(1-phenylbutane)

--

3%

n-Propylbenzene 

(isocumene)

--

3%

Nutrient Rate of 

detection b

Concentration, in mg/L

Dissolved ammonia as nitrogen92%

80%

Dissolved ammonia plus organic 

nitrogen as nitrogen

100%

46%

Dissolved phosphorus as

phosphorus

90%

57%

Dissolved nitrite 

plus nitrate as 

nitrogen

76%

54%

Other Rate of 

detection b

Concentration, in pCi/L

Radon 222 --

99%

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

1 10 100 1,000 10,000 100,000

Volatile 

organic compound

(Trade or

common name)

Rate of 

detection b

Concentration, in μg/L

0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1,000

Herbicide 

(Trade or

common name)

Rate of 

detection b

Concentration, in μg/L

0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1,000

SUMMARY OF COMPOUND DETECTIONS AND CONCENTRATIONS
26 Water Quality in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota 1992-95

Table 7. Herbicides, insecticides, volatile organic compounds, and nutrients not detected in surface or ground water of the Red

River of the North Basin Study Unit

Herbicides

2,4,5-T

2,4,5-TP (Silvex, Fenoprop)

2,4-DB (Butyrac, Butoxone, 

Embutox Plus, Embutone)

Benfluralin (Balan, Benefin, 

Bonalan, Benefex)

Bromacil (Hyvar X, Urox B, 

Bromax)

Butylate (Sutan +, Genate Plus, 

Butilate)

Chloramben (Amiben, AmilonWP, Vegiben)

Clopyralid (Stinger, Lontrel, 

Reclaim, Transline)

Dacthal mono-acid (Dacthal 

metabolite)

Dinoseb (Dinosebe)

Fluometuron (Flo-Met, Cotoran, Cottonex, Meturon)

Linuron (Lorox, Linex, Sarclex, 

Linurex, Afalon)

MCPB (Thistrol)

Napropamide (Devrinol)

Neburon (Neburea, Neburyl, 

Noruben)

Norflurazon (Evital, Predict, 

Solicam, Zorial)

Oryzalin (Surflan, Dirimal)

Pebulate (Tillam, PEBC)

Pronamide (Kerb, Propyzamid)

Propham (Tuberite)

Thiobencarb (Bolero, Saturn, 

Benthiocarb, Abolish)

Triclopyr (Garlon, Grandstand, 

Redeem, Remedy)

Insecticides

3-Hydroxycarbofuran (Carbofuran metabolite)

Aldicarb sulfone (Standak, 

aldoxycarb, aldicarb metabolite)

Aldicarb sulfoxide (Aldicarb 

metabolite)

Dieldrin (Panoram D-31, Octalox, Compound 497, Aldrin 

epoxide)

Disulfoton (Disyston, Di-Syston, Frumin AL, Solvirex, Ethylthiodemeton)

Ethoprop (Mocap, Ethoprophos)

Methiocarb (Slug-Geta, Grandslam, Mesurol)

Methomyl (Lanox, Lannate, 

Acinate)

Oxamyl (Vydate L, Pratt)

Parathion (Roethyl-P, Alkron, 

Panthion, Phoskil)

Phorate (Thimet, Granutox, 

Geomet, Rampart)

Propargite (Comite, Omite, 

Ornamite)

Terbufos (Contraven, Counter, 

Pilarfox)

alpha-HCH (alpha-BHC, alphalindane, alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane, alpha-benzene 

hexachloride)

cis-Permethrin (Ambush, Astro, 

Pounce, Pramex, Pertox, 

Ambushfog, Kafil, Perthrine, 

Picket, Picket G, Dragnet, Talcord, Outflank, Stockade, 

Eksmin, Coopex, Peregin, Stomoxin, Stomoxin P, Qamlin, 

Corsair, Tornade)

Volatile organic 

compounds

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane 

(1,1,1,2-TeCA)

1,1,1-Trichloroethane (Methylchloroform)

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane

1,1,2-Trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane (Freon 113, CFC 113)

1,1,2-Trichloroethane (Vinyl 

trichloride)

1,1-Dichloroethane (Ethylidene 

dichloride)

1,1-Dichloroethene (Vinylidene 

chloride)

1,1-Dichloropropene

1,2,3-Trichlorobenzene (1,2,3-

TCB)

1,2,3-Trichloropropane (Allyl 

trichloride)

1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene

1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane 

(DBCP, Nemagon)

1,2-Dibromoethane (EDB,

Ethylene dibromide)

1,2-Dichlorobenzene (o-Dichlorobenzene, 1,2-DCB)

1,2-Dichloroethane (Ethylene 

dichloride)

1,2-Dichloropropane (Propylene dichloride)

1,3-Dichlorobenzene (m-Dichlorobenzene)

1,3-Dichloropropane (Trimethylene dichloride)

1,4-Dichlorobenzene (p-Dichlorobenzene, 1,4-DCB)

1-Chloro-2-methylbenzene (oChlorotoluene)

1-Chloro-4-methylbenzene (pChlorotoluene)

2,2-Dichloropropane

Benzene

Bromobenzene (Phenyl bromide)

Bromochloromethane (Methylene chlorobromide)

Bromomethane (Methyl bromide)

Chlorobenzene (Monochlorobenzene)

Chloroethane (Ethyl chloride)

Chloromethane (Methyl chloride)

Dibromomethane (Methylene 

dibromide)

Dichlorodifluoromethane (CFC 

12, Freon 12)

Dichloromethane (Methylene 

chloride)

Hexachlorobutadiene

Methyl tert-butyl etherd

(MTBE)

Tetrachloroethene (Perchloroethene)

Tetrachloromethane (Carbon

tetrachloride)

Total Trihalomethanes (Trichloromethane (Chloroform), Dibromochloromethane, 

Bromodichloromethane, Tribromomethane (Bromoform))

Trichloroethene (TCE)

Trichlorofluoromethane (CFC 

11, Freon 11)

cis-1,2-Dichloroethene ((Z)-1,2-

Dichloroethene)

cis-1,3-Dichloropropene ((Z)-

1,3-Dichloropropene)

p-Isopropyltoluene (p-Cymene)

sec-Butylbenzene

tert-Butylbenzene

trans-1,2-Dichloroethene ((E)-

1,2-Dichlorothene)

trans-1,3-Dichloropropene ((E)-

1,3-Dichloropropene)

Nutrients

No non-detects

SUMMARY OF COMPOUND DETECTIONS AND CONCENTRATIONS
U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1169 27

1,2-Dimethylnaphthalene

--

14%

1,6-Dimethylnaphthalene

--

22%

1-Methyl-9Hfluorene

--

14%

1-Methylphenanthrene

--

31%

1-Methylpyrene --

33%

2,2-Biquinoline --

6%

2,3,6-Trimethylnaphthalene

--

14%

2,6-Dimethylnaphthalene

--

47%

2-Ethylnaphthalene

--

19%

2-Methylanthracene

--

22%

3,5-Dimethylphenol

--

6%

4,5-Methylenephenanthrene

--

25%

4-Chloro-3-

methylphenol

--

3%

9H-Carbazole --

44%

9H-Fluorene --

44%

Acenaphthene --

22%

Acenaphthylene --

22%

Table 8. Concentrations of semivolatile organic compounds, organochlorine compounds, and trace elements detected in fish 

tissue or bed sediment of the Red River of the North Basin Study Unit

[μg/g, micrograms per gram; μg/kg, micrograms per kilogram; %, percent;<, less than; - -, not measured; trade names may vary; footnotes on p. 29]

EXPLANATION

Range of detections in fish tissue in all 20 NAWQA Study Units

Detection in bed sediment or fish tissue in the Red River of the North Study Unit

Range of detections in bed sediment in all 20 NAWQA Study Units

Guideline for the protection of aquatic life e

Semivolatile 

organic compound

Rate of 

detection b

Concentration, in μg/kg

0.1 10 100 1,000 10,000 100,000 1

Semivolatile 

organic compound

Rate of 

detection b

Concentration, in μg/kg

0.1 10 100 1,000 10,000 100,000 1

Acridine --

6%

Anthracene --

47%

Anthraquinone --

42%

Benz[ a ] 

anthracene

--

42%

Benzo[ a ] 

pyrene

--

42%

Benzo[ b ]fluoranthene

--

61%

Benzo[ ghi ]

perylene

--

17%

Benzo[ k ]fluoranthene

--

64%

Butylbenzylphthalate

--

83%

Chrysene --

53%

Di- n -butylphthalate

--

97%

Di- n -octylphthalate

--

17%

Dibenz[ a,h ] 

anthracene

--

14%

Dibenzothiophene

--

28%

Diethylphthalate --

81%

Dimethylphthalate

--

6%

Fluoranthene --

83%

SUMMARY OF COMPOUND DETECTIONS AND CONCENTRATIONS
28 Water Quality in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota 1992-95

Indeno[1,2,3- 

cd ]pyrene

--

39%

Isoquinoline --

3%

Naphthalene --

8%

N-Nitrosodiphenylamine

--

3%

Phenanthrene --

53%

Phenanthridine --

6%

Phenol --

81%

Pyrene --

86%

Quinoline --

3%

bis(2-Ethylhexyl)phthalate

--

92%

p-Cresol --

64%

Organochlorine compound

Rate of 

detection b

Concentration, in μg/kg

total-Chlordane 9%

0%

p,p’-DDE 73%

19%

total-DDT 73%

22%

PCB, total 36%

0%

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

Arsenic 62%

100%

Cadmium 62%

98%

Chromium 62%

100%

Copper 100%

100%

Lead 13%

100%

Mercury 86%

88%

Nickel 13%

100%

Selenium 100%

100%

Zinc 100%

100%

Semivolatile 

organic

compound

Rate of 

detection b

Concentration, in μg/kg

0.1 10 100 1,000 10,000 100,000 1

Trace element Rate of 

detection b

Concentration, in μg/g

0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1,000 10,000

SUMMARY OF COMPOUND DETECTIONS AND CONCENTRATIONS
U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1169 29

Table 9. Semivolatile organic compounds, organochlorine compounds, and trace elements not detected in fish tissue or bed 

sediment of the Red River of the North Basin Study Unit

Semivolatile organic 

compounds

1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene

1,2-Dichlorobenzene (oDichlorobenzene, 1,2-DCB)

1,3-Dichlorobenzene (mDichlorobenzene)

1,4-Dichlorobenzene (pDichlorobenzene, 1,4-DCB)

2,3,5,6-Tetramethylphenol

2,4,6-Trichlorophenol

2,4,6-Trimethylphenol

2,4-Dichlorophenol

2,4-Dinitrophenol

2,4-Dinitrotoluene

2,6-Dinitrotoluene

2-Chloronaphthalene

2-Chlorophenol

2-Nitrophenol

4,6-Dinitro-2-methylphenol

4-Bromophenyl-phenylether

4-Chlorophenyl-phenylether

4-Nitrophenol

Azobenzene

Benzo [c] cinnoline

C8-Alkylphenol

Hexachlorobutadiene

Hexachlorocyclopentadiene

Hexachloroethane

Isophorone

N-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine

Nitrobenzene

Pentachloronitrobenzene

bis (2-Chloroethoxy)methane

bis (2-Chloroisopropyl)ether

Organochlorine 

compounds

Aldrin (HHDN, Octalene)

Chloroneb (chloronebe, Demosan, Soil Fungicide 1823)

DCPA (Dacthal, chlorthaldimethyl)

Dieldrin (Panoram D-31, Octalox, Compound 497, Aldrin 

epoxide)

Endosulfan I (alpha-Endosulfan, Thiodan, Cyclodan, 

Beosit, Malix, Thimul, Thifor)

Endrin (Endrine)

Heptachlor epoxide (Heptachlor metabolite)

Heptachlor (Heptachlore, Velsicol 104)

Hexachlorobenzene (HCB)

Isodrin (Isodrine, Compound 

711)

Mirex (Dechlorane)

Pentachloroanisole (PCA, pentachlorophenol metabolite)

Total Trihalomethanes 

(Trichloromethane (Chloroform), Dibromochloromethane, 

Bromodichloromethane, Tribromomethane (Bromoform))

Toxaphene (Camphechlor, 

Hercules 3956)

alpha-HCH (alpha-BHC, 

alpha-lindane, alphahexachlorocyclohexane, 

alpha-benzene hexachloride)

beta-HCH (beta-BHC, betahexachlorocyclohexane, 

alpha-benzene hexachloride)

cis-Permethrin (Ambush, 

Astro, Pounce, Pramex, Pertox, 

Ambushfog, Kafil, Perthrine, 

Picket, Picket G, Dragnet, Talcord, Outflank, Stockade, 

Eksmin, Coopex, Peregin, Stomoxin, Stomoxin P, Qamlin, 

Corsair, Tornade)

delta-HCH (delta-BHC, deltahexachlorocyclohexane, deltabenzene hexachloride)

gamma-HCH (Lindane, 

gamma-BHC, Gammexane, 

Gexane, Soprocide, gammahexachlorocyclohexane, 

gamma-benzene hexachloride, 

gamma-benzene)

o,p’-Methoxychlor

p,p’-Methoxychlor (Marlate, 

methoxychlore)

trans-Permethrin (Ambush, 

Astro, Pounce, Pramex, Pertox, 

Ambushfog, Kafil, Perthrine, 

Picket, Picket G, Dragnet, Talcord, Outflank, Stockade, 

Eksmin, Coopex, Peregin, Stomoxin, Stomoxin P, Qamlin, 

Corsair, Tornade)

Trace elements

No non-detects

a

 Selected water-quality standards and guidelines (Gilliom and others, in press).

b

 Rates of detection are based on the number of analyses and detections in the Study Unit, not on national data. Rates of detection for herbicides and insecticides were computed by only counting detections equal to or greater than 0.01 μg/L in order to facilitate equal comparisons among compounds, which had widely varying detection limits. For herbicides and insecticides, a detection rate of “<1%” means 

that all detections are less than 0.01 μg/L, or the detection rate rounds to less than one percent. For other compound groups, all detections 

were counted and minimum detection limits for most compounds were similar to the lower end of the national ranges shown. Method

detection limits for all compounds in these tables are summarized in Gilliom and others (in press).

c

 Detections of these compounds are reliable, but concentrations are determined with greater uncertainty than for the other compounds and 

are reported as estimated values (Zaugg and others, 1995).

d

 The guideline for methyl tert-butyl ether is between 20 and 40 μg/L; if the tentative cancer classification C is accepted, the lifetime health 

advisory will be 20 μg/L (Gilliom and others, in press).

e

 Selected sediment-quality guidelines (Gilliom and others, in press).

SUMMARY OF COMPOUND DETECTIONS AND CONCENTRATIONS
30 Water Quality in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1992–95

Brigham, M.E., Goldstein, R.M., and Tornes, L.H., 1998, Trace 

elements and organic chemicals in stream-bottom sediments 

and fish tissues, Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, 

North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1992–95: U.S. Geological 

Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 97–4043, 

32 p.

Brigham, M.E., Mayer, Tatiana, McCullough, G.K., and Tornes, 

L.H., 1996, Transport and speciation of nutrients in 

tributaries to souther Lake Winnipeg, Canada: North 

American Lake Management Society, 16th Annual 

International Symposium—Final Program, November 13–

16, 1996, p. 64.

Brunskill, G.J., Elliott, S.E.M., and Campbell, P., 1980, 

Morphometry, hydrology, and watershed data pertinent to 

the limnology of Lake Winnipeg: Canadian Manuscript 

Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 1556, 32 p.

Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment, 1992, Canadian 

water quality guidelines, Appendix XI—updates (April 

1992): Ottawa, Ontario, Task Force on Water Quality 

Guidelines of the Canadian Council of Ministers of the 

Environment, variously paged.

Cowdery, T.K., 1995, Similar agricultural areas, different groundwater quality—Red River of the North Basin, 1993–95: 

U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 95–441, 4 p.

Cowdery, T.K., 1997, Shallow ground-water quality beneath 

cropland in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota 

and North Dakota, 1993–95: U.S. Geological Survey 

Water-Resources Investigations Report 97–4001, 52 p.

Cowdery, T.K., in press, Ground-water quality in the Red River of 

the North Basin, Minnesota and North Dakota, 1993–95: 

U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations 

Report

Cowdery, T.K., and Brigham, M.E., 1992, Baseflow dissolvedsolids loads to streams of the Red River of the North basin, 

South Dakota, North Dakota, and Minnesota: 37th Annual 

Midwest Ground Water Conference Program with 

Abstracts, October 14–16, 1992, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 

p. 38.

Cowdery, T.K., and Goff, K.L., 1994, Nitrogen concentrations near 

the water table of the Sheyenne Delta aquifer beneath 

cropland areas, Ransom and Richland Counties, North 

Dakota: North Dakota Water Quality Symposium 

Proceedings, March 30–31, 1994, Fargo, North Dakota, 

North Dakota State University Extension Service, p. 89–

102. 

Cowdery, T.K., and Saylor, K.N., 1996, Contrasting water quality 

of two surficial aquifers in the Red River of the North 

drainage basin, North Dakota and Minnesota: North Dakota 

Water Quality Symposium Proceedings, March 20–21, 

1996, Bismarck, North Dakota, North Dakota State 

University Extension Service, p. 146; also in Minnesota 

Water ‘96 collection of conference abstracts, May 20–21, 

1996, Minneapolis, Minnesota, University of Minnesota 

Water Resources Research Center, p. 98.

Cowdery, T.K., Stoner, J.D., and Lorenz, D.L., 1995, Distribution 

and movement of nitrate in a surficial outwash aquifer 

beneath irrigated cropland, northwestern Minnesota: 

American Geophysical Union, EOS Transactions, Abstracts 

for Fall Meeting—December 11–15, 1995, p. 195.

Gilliom, R.J., Mueller, D.K, and Nowell, L.H., in press, Methods 

for comparing water-quality conditions among National 

Water-Quality Assessment Study Units, 1992–95: U.S. 

Geological Survey Open-File Report 97–589.

Goldstein, R.M., 1995, Aquatic communities and contaminants in 

fish from streams of the Red River of the North Basin, 

Minnesota and North Dakota: U.S. Geological Survey 

Water-Resources Investigations Report 95–4047, 34 p.

Goldstein, R.M., Brigham, M.E., and Stauffer, 1996a, Comparison 

of mercury concentrations in liver, muscle, whole bodies, 

and composites of fish from the Red River of the North: 

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, v. 53, 

no. 2, p. 244–252.

Goldstein, R.M., Simon, T.P, Bailey, P.A., Ell, Michael, Pearson, 

Eric, Schmidt, Konrad, and Enblom, J.W., 1994, Concepts 

for an index of biotic integrity for streams of the Red River 

of the North Basin: North Dakota Water Quality 

Symposium Proceedings, March 30–31, 1994, Fargo, North 

Dakota, North Dakota State University Extension Service, 

p. 169–180.

Goldstein, R.M., Stauffer, J.C., Larson, P.R., and Lorenz, D.L., 

1996b, Relation of physical and chemical characteristics of 

streams to fish communities in the Red River of the North 

Basin, Minnesota and North Dakota, 1993–95: WaterResources Investigations Report 96–4227, 57 p.

Goodbred, S.L., Gilliom, R.J., Gross, T.S., Denslow, N.P., Bryant, 

W.B., and Schoeb, T.R., 1997, Reconnaissance of 17βestradiol, 11-ketotestosterone, vitellogenin, and gonad 

histopathology in common carp of the United States 

streams—Potential for contaminant-induced endocrine 

distruption: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 96–

627, 47 p.

Lorenz, D.L. and Stoner, J.D., 1996, Sampling design for assessing 

water quality in the Red River of the North Basin, North 

Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota, 1993–95: U.S. 

Geological Survey Water-Resource Investigations Report 

96–4129, 2 plates.

Menheer, M.A., and Brigham, M.E., 1997, Ground-water sampling 

methods and quality-control data for the Red River of the 

North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 

1993–95: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources 

Investigations Report 96–4317, 34 p.

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 1994, Minnesota fish 

contaminant monitoring program, 1990–1992 data 

document: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources 

81 p.

REFERENCES

This Report was Based on the Following Publications
U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1169 31

Nielsen, E., McLeod, K.D., Pip, E., and Doering, J.C., 1996, Late 

Holocene environmental changes in southern Manitoba— 

Field trip guidebook A2: Geological Association of 

Canada/Mineralogical Association of Canada Annual 

Meeting, Winnipeg, Manitoba, May 27–29, 33 p.

Niemela, Scott, Pearson, Eric, Simon, T.P., Goldstein, R.M., and 

Bailey, P.A., in press, Development of index of biotic 

integrity expectations for the Lake Agassiz Plain Ecoregion: 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency report EPA 905/R96–005.

Omernik, J.M., 1987, Ecoregions of the United States: Annals of 

the Association of American Geographers, vol. 77, p. 118–

125.

Puckett, L.J., Tornes, L.H., Cowdery, T.K., Brigham, M.E., and 

Stoner, J.D., 1995, The role of wetlands in reducing 

nitrogen loadings to the Otter Tail River in Minnesota: 

American Geophysical Union, EOS Transactions, Abstracts 

for Fall Meeting—December 11–15, 1995, p. 186.

Stauffer, J.C., and Goldstein, R.M., 1997, Comparison of three 

qualitative habitat indices and their applicability to prairie 

streams: North American Journal of Fisheries Management, 

v. 17, no. 2, p. 348–61.

Stoner, J.D., Cowdery, T.K., and Puckett, L.J.,1997, Ground water 

age dating and other tools to assess land-use effects on 

water quality: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources 

Investigations Report 97–4150, 6 p.

Stoner, J.D., and Lorenz, D.L., 1995, National Water-Quality 

Assessment Program—Data collection in the Red River of 

the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South 

Dakota, 1992–95: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet FS172–95, 4 p.

Stoner, J.D., Lorenz, D.L., Wiche, G.J., and Goldstein, R.M., 1993, 

Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, 

and South Dakota: American Water Resources Association 

Monograph Series No. 19 and Water Resources Bulletin, 

v. 29, no. 4, p. 575–615. 

Strobel, M.L., and Gerla, P.J., 1992, Effects of saline ground-water 

discharge on water quality in the Red River of the North, 

northeastern North Dakota: Preliminary observations of the 

hydrologic setting—North Dakota Water Quality 

Symposium Proceedings, March 25–26 1992, Bismarck, 

North Dakota, p. 60–82.

Strobel, M.L., and Gerla, P.J., 1993, Hydrologic and anthropogenic 

influences on the occurrence of saline wetlands in the Red 

River of the North Valley, northeastern North Dakota— 

Prairie ecosystems: Abstracts, Wetlands Ecology, 

Management and Restoration, Wetland Symposium, August 

9–13, 1993, Jamestown, North Dakota, p. 44.

Strobel, M.L., and Haffield, N.D., 1995, Salinity in surface water in 

the Red River of the North basin, northeastern North 

Dakota: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources 

Investigations Report 95–4082, 14 p.

Strobel. M.L., and Radig, S.A., 1997, Effects of the 1993 flood on 

water levels and water quality in the Sheyenne Delta 

aquifer, southeastern North Dakota, 1993–94: U.S. 

Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 

97–4163, 43 p.

Strobel, M.L., Kelly, J.B., Carlson, S.T., and Salender, H.A., 1994, 

Flowing wells in northeastern North Dakota and their 

possible effect on water quality in the Red River of the 

North basin: North Dakota Water Quality Symposium 

Proceedings, March 30–31, 1994, Fargo, North Dakota, 

p. 247–255.

Tornes, L.H., and Brigham. M.E., 1994, Nutrients, suspended 

sediment, and pesticides in waters of the Red River of the 

North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 

1970–1990: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources 

Investigations Report 93–4231, 62 p.

Tornes, L.H., and Brigham, M.E., 1995, Pesticide amounts are 

small in streams of the Red River of the North Basin, 1993–

94: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 95–283, 2 p.

Tornes, L.H., Brigham, M.E., and Lorenz, D.L., 1997, Nutrients, 

suspended sediment, and pesticides in streams in the the 

Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, 

and South Dakota, 1993–95: U.S. Geological Survey 

Water-Resources Investigations Report 97–4053, 70 p.

Tornes, L.H., Puckett, L.J., Porter, S.D., and Stoner, J.D., 1996, 

Variations of nitrate beneath a riparian wetland in 

Minnesota and its relation to stream biota: American 

Geophysical Union, EOS Transactions, Abstracts for Fall 

Meeting—December 11–15, 1995, p. 186.

Tornes, L.H., Puckett, L.J., Stoner, J.D., and Brigham, M.E., 1994, 

The effect of riparian wetlands in reducing nitrate-nitrogen 

from a sand and gravel aquifer to a stream: American 

Geophysical Union, EOS Transactions, Abstracts for Fall 

Meeting—December 5–9, 1994, p. 261.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, November 23, 1994, 

Atrazine, simazine, cyanazine—notice of initiation of 

special review: Federal Register, v. 59, p. 60412–60443.

Ware, G.W., ed., 1994, Reviews of environmental contamination 

and toxicology: New York, Springer-Verlag, v. 140, 221 p.

Waters, T.F., 1995, Sediment in streams—Sources, biological 

effects, and control: American Fisheries Society 

Monograph 7, Bethesda, Maryland, 251 p

Zaugg, S.D., Sandstrom, M.W., Smith, S.G., and Fehlberg, K.M., 

1995, Methods of analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey 

National Water Quality Laboratory—determination of 

pesticides in water by C-18 solid-phase extraction and 

capillary-column gas chromatography/mass spectrometry 

with selected-ion monitoring: U.S. Geological Survey 

Open-File Report 95–181, 49 p..

REFERENCES

This Report was Based on the Following Publications
32 Water Quality in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1992–95

Algae - Chlorophyll-bearing nonvascular, primarily aquatic species 

that have no true roots, stems, or leaves; most algae are microscopic, but some species can be as large as vascular plants.

Ammonia - A compound of nitrogen and hydrogen (NH3) that is a 

common by-product of animal waste. Ammonia readily converts to 

nitrate in soils and streams.

Aquifer - A water-bearing layer of soil, sand, gravel, or rock that 

will yield usable quantities of water to a well.

Bed sediment - The material that temporarily is stationary in the 

bottom of a stream or other watercourse.

Concentration - The amount or mass of a substance present in a 

given volume or mass of sample. Usually expressed as microgram 

per liter (water sample) or micrograms per kilogram (sediment or 

tissue sample).

Constituent - A chemical or biological substance in water, sediment, or biota that can be measured by an analytical method.

Cubic foot per second (ft3

/s or cfs) - Rate of water discharge representing a volume of 1 cubic foot passing a given point during 1 

second, equivalent to approximately 7.48 gallons per second or 

448.8 gallons per minute or 0.2832 cubic meter per second.

Denitrification - A process by which oxidized forms of nitrogen 

such as nitrate (NO3

-

) are reduced to form nitrites, nitrous oxides, 

ammonia, or free nitrogen: commonly brought about by the action 

of denitrifying bacteria and usually resulting in the escape of nitrogen to the air.

Discharge - Rate of fluid flow passing a given point at a given 

moment in time, expressed as volume per unit of time.

Dissolved solids - Amount of minerals, such as salt, that are dissolved in water; amount of dissolved solids is a indicator of salinity 

or hardness.

Drinking-water standard or guideline - A threshold concentration in a public drinking-water supply, designed to protect human 

health. As defined here, standards are U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations that specify the maximum contamination 

levels for public water systems required to protect the public welfare; guidelines have no regulatory status and are issued in an advisory capacity.

Ecological studies - Studies of biological communities and habitat 

characteristics to evaluate the effects of physical and chemical characteristics of water and hydrologic conditions on aquatic biota and 

to determine how biological and habitat characteristics differ 

among environmental settings in the NAWQA Study Units.

Ecoregion - An area of similar climate, landform, soil, potential 

natural vegetation, hydrology, or other ecologically relevant variables. 

Ecosystem - The interacting populations of plants, animals, and 

micro-organisms occupying an area, plus their physical environment. 

Eutrophication - The process by which water becomes enriched 

with plant nutrients, most commonly phosphorus and nitrogen.

Fungicide - A substance or mixture of substances intended to 

destroy or inhibit the growth of fungi.

Ground water - In general, any water that exists beneath the land 

surface, but more commonly applied to water in fully saturated 

soils and geologic formations. 

Habitat - The part of the physical environment where plants and 

animals live. 

Health advisory - Nonregulatory levels of contaminants in drinking water that may be used as guidance in the absence of regulatory 

limits. They consist of estimates of concentrations that would result 

in no known or anticipated health effects (for carcinogens, a specified cancer risk) determined for a child or for an adult for various 

exposure periods. 

Herbicide - A chemical or other agent applied for the purpose of 

killing undesirable plants. See also Pesticide. 

Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) - An aggregated number, or index, 

based on several attributes or metrics of a fish community that provides an assessment of biological conditions. 

Insecticide - A substance or mixture of substances intended to 

destroy or repel insects. 

Load - General term that refers to a material or constituent in solution, suspension, or in transport; usually expressed in terms of mass 

or volume.

Maximum contaminant level (MCL) - Maximum permissible 

level of a contaminant in water that is delivered to any user of a 

public water system. MCLs are enforceable standards established 

by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 

Mean - The average of a set of observations, unless otherwise specified. 

Median - The middle or central value in a distribution of data 

ranked in order of magnitude. The median is also known as the 50th 

percentile. 

Method detection limit - The minimum concentration of a substance that can be accurately identified and measured with present 

laboratory technologies. 

Micrograms per liter (μg/L) - A unit expressing the concentration 

of constituents in solution as weight (micrograms) of solute per unit 

volume (liter) of water; equivalent to one part per billion in most 

streamwater and ground water. One thousand micrograms per liter 

equals 1 mg/L. 

The terms in this glossary were compiled from numerous sources. Some definitions have been modified and may not be the only 

valid ones for these terms.

GLOSSARY
U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1169 33

Milligrams per liter (mg/L) - A unit expressing the concentration 

of chemical constituents in solution as weight (milligrams) of solute 

per unit volume (liter) of water; equivalent to one part per million in 

most streamwater and ground water. One thousand micrograms per 

liter equals 1 mg/L. 

Nitrate - An ion consisting of nitrogen and oxygen (NO3

-

). Nitrate 

is a plant nutrient and is very mobile in soils. 

Nonpoint source - A pollution source that cannot be defined as 

originating from discrete points such as pipe discharge. Areas of 

fertilizer and pesticide applications, atmospheric deposition, 

manure, and natural inputs from plants and trees are types of nonpoint source pollution. 

Nutrient - Element or compound essential for animal and plant 

growth. Common nutrients in fertilizer include nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

Organochlorine insecticide - A class of organic insecticides containing a high percentage of chlorine. Includes dichlorodiphenylethanes (such as DDT), chlorinated cyclodienes (such as chlordane), 

and chlorinated benzenes (such as lindane). Most organochlorine 

insecticides were banned because of their carcinogenicity, tendency 

to bioaccumulate, and toxicity to wildlife. 

Outwash - Soil material washed down a hillside by glacial meltwater and deposited upon more gently sloping land.

Part per million (ppm) - Unit of concentration equal to one milligram per kilogram or one milligram per liter.

Pesticide - A chemical applied to crops, rights-of-way, lawns or 

residences to control weeds, insects, fungi, nematodes, rodents or 

other “pests.” 

Phosphorus - A nutrient essential for growth that can play a key 

role in stimulating aquatic growth in lakes and streams.

Picocurie (pCi) - One trillionth (10-12) of the amount of radioactivity represented by a curie (Ci). A curie is the amount of radioactivity that yields 3.7 x 1010 radioactive disintegrations per second 

(dps). A picocurie yields 2.22 disintegrations per minute (dpm) or 

0.037 dps.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) - A mixture of chlorinated 

derivatives of biphenyl, marketed under the trade name Aroclor 

with a number designating the chlorine content (such as Aroclor 

1260). PCBs were used in transformers and capacitors for insulating purposes and in gas pipeline systems as a lubricant. Further sale 

for new use was banned by law in 1979.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) - A class of organic 

compounds with a fused-ring aromatic structure. PAHs result from 

incomplete combustion of organic carbon (including wood), municipal solid waste, and fossil fuels, as well as from natural or anthropogenic introduction of unburned coal and oil. PAHs include 

benzo(a)pyrene, fluoranthene, and pyrene.

Radon - A naturally occurring, colorless, odorless, radioactive gas 

formed by the disintegration of the element radium; damaging to 

human lungs when inhaled. 

Recharge - Water that infiltrates the ground and reaches the saturated zone.

Riparian - Areas adjacent to rivers and streams with a high density, 

diversity, and productivity of plant and animal species relative to 

nearby uplands.

Secondary maximum contaminant level (SMCL) - The maximum contamination level in public water systems that, in the judgment of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), are 

required to protect the public welfare. SMCLs are secondary (nonenforceable) drinking water regulations established by the USEPA 

for contaminants that may adversely affect the odor or appearance 

of such water.

Semivolatile organic compound (SVOC) - Operationally defined 

as a group of synthetic organic compounds that are solvent-extractable and can be determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. SVOCs include phenols, phthalates, and polycyclic aromatic 

hydrocarbons (PAHs).

Shallow ground water - In this report, refers to water (generally, 

aged less than 10 years) that is within 10 feet below the water table.

Surficial aquifer - An aquifer located within close proximity to the 

land surface (as compared to locally deep ground-water aquifers) in 

which recently recharged ground water is commonly susceptible to 

contamination from activities on the land surface.

Suspended sediment - Particles of rock, sand, soil, and organic 

detritus carried in suspension in the water column, in contrast to 

sediment that moves on or near the streambed. 

Trace element - An element found in only minor amounts (concentrations less than 1.0 milligram per liter) in water or sediment; 

includes arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, 

nickel, and zinc. 

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) - Organic chemicals that 

have a high vapor pressure relative to their water solubility. VOCs 

include components of gasoline, fuel oils, and lubricants, as well as 

organic solvents, fumigants, some inert ingredients in pesticides, 

and some by-products of chlorine disinfection.

Water-quality criteria - Specific levels of water quality which, if 

reached, are expected to render a body of water unsuitable for its 

designated use. Commonly refers to water-quality criteria established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Water-quality 

criteria are based on specific levels of pollutants that would make 

the water harmful if used for drinking, swimming, farming, fish 

production, or industrial processes. 

Water table - The point below the land surface where ground water 

is first encountered and below which the earth is saturated. Depth to 

the water table varies widely across the country.

Wetlands - Ecosystems whose soil is saturated for long periods 

seasonally or continuously, including marshes, swamps, and 

ephemeral ponds.

Yield - The mass of material or constituent transported by a river in 

a specified period of time divided by the drainage area of the river 

basin. 

GLOSSARY
Stoner and others • Water Quality in the Red River of the North

 USGS Circular 1169 • 1998

Red River of the North

Missouri River NORTH 

DAKOTA

MINNESOTA

CANADA

SOUTH 

DAKOTA Minnesota

Rive r

Grand

Forks

Fargo

Moorhead

Mississippi

Riv e r

National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program

Red River of the North

NAWQA