HYDROLOGIC AND WATER-QUALITY 

CHARACTERISTICS FOR CALF CREEK NEAR SILVER 

HILL, ARKANSAS, AND SELECTED BUFFALO RIVER 

SITES, 2001-2002

Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5007

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
Cover: Photograph of Calf Creek near Silver Hill, Arkansas. Photograph by W. Reed Green, U.S.

Geological Survey.
HYDROLOGIC AND WATER-QUALITY 

CHARACTERISTICS FOR CALF CREEK NEAR SILVER 

HILL, ARKANSAS AND SELECTED BUFFALO RIVER 

SITES, 2001-2002

By Joel M. Galloway and W. Reed Green

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5007

Little Rock, Arkansas

2004
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

GALE A. NORTON, Secretary

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Charles G. Groat, Director

For additional information Copies of this report can be

write to: purchased from:

District Chief U.S. Geological Survey

U.S. Geological Survey, WRD Branch of Information Services

401 Hardin Road Box 25286

Little Rock, Arkansas 72211 Denver Federal Center

Denver, Colorado 80225

The use of firm, trade, and brand names in this report is for identification purposes only and does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Geological Survey.
Contents III

CONTENTS

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

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

Description of Study Area......................................................................................................................... 2

Purpose and Scope .................................................................................................................................... 2

Methods.............................................................................................................................................................. 4

Hydrologic Characteristics................................................................................................................................. 6

Water-Quality Characteristics ............................................................................................................................ 9

Concentrations .......................................................................................................................................... 9

Loads.......................................................................................................................................................13

Annual............................................................................................................................................14

Seasonal .........................................................................................................................................14

Flow-Weighted Concentrations...............................................................................................................17

Yields ......................................................................................................................................................18

Summary ..........................................................................................................................................................19

References........................................................................................................................................................20

Appendix—Water-quality data for Calf Creek near Silver Hill, Buffalo River near Boxley, and

Buffalo River near St. Joe, Arkansas...................................................................................................23

ILLUSTRATIONS

Figure 1. Map showing locations of Calf Creek and Buffalo River sites......................................................... 3

2. Graph showing daily base flow and total daily streamflow and water-quality sample times during 

calendar years 2001 and 2002 for Calf Creek near Silver Hill, Arkansas.................................... 6

3. Graph showing daily base flow and total daily streamflow and water-quality sample times during 

calendar years 2001 and 2002 for Buffalo River near Boxley, Arkansas..................................... 7

4. Graph showing daily base flow and total daily streamflow and water-quality sample times during 

calendar years 2001 and 2002 for Calf Creek near St. Joe, Arkansas.......................................... 7

5. Boxplot showing distribution of nitrogen concentrations for Calf Creek near Silver Hill

and the Buffalo River near Boxley and St. Joe, Arkansas, 2001-2002 ........................................ 9

6. Boxplot showing distribution of total phosphorus concentrations for Calf Creek near

Silver Hill and the Buffalo River near Boxley and St. Joe, Arkansas, 2001-2002.....................10

7. Boxplot showing distribution of bacteria concentrations for Calf Creek near Silver Hill

and the Buffalo River near Boxley and St. Joe, Arkansas, 2001-2002 ......................................11

8. Boxplot showing distribution of dissolved organic carbon for Calf Creek near

Silver Hill and the Buffalo River near Boxley and St. Joe, Arkansas, 2001-2002.....................12

 9. Boxplot showing distribution of suspended sediment concentrations for Calf Creek near

Silver Hill and the Buffalo River near Boxley and St. Joe, Arkansas, 2001-2002.....................12

10. Graphs showing seasonal loads of nutrients, dissolved organic carbon, and suspended sediment

for Calf Creek near Silver Hill and the Buffalo River near Boxley and St. Joe, Arkansas,

2001-2002...................................................................................................................................16
IV Contents

TABLES

Table 1. Annual and monthly streamflow statistics for Calf Creek near Silver Hill, and Buffalo

River near Boxley and St. Joe, Arkansas, calendar years 2001-2002.......................................... 8

2. Regression models applied to estimate constituent loads ............................................................... 13

3. Annual nitrogen, phosphorus, dissolved organic carbon, and suspended sediment loads

and yields for Calf Creek near Silver Hill and Buffalo River near Boxley and

St. Joe, Arkansas, 2001-2002..................................................................................................... 14

4. Seasonal nitrogen, phosphorus, dissolved organic carbon, and suspended sediment loads

for Calf Creek near Silver Hill and Buffalo River near Boxley and St. Joe,

Arkansas, 2001-2002 ................................................................................................................. 15

5. Flow-weighted concentrations for Calf Creek, two Buffalo River sites, and selected other stream

basins ......................................................................................................................................... 17

6. Yields for Calf Creek, two Buffalo River sites, and selected other stream basins.......................... 18
Abstract 1

HYDROLOGIC AND WATER-QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS FOR 

CALF CREEK NEAR SILVER HILL, ARKANSAS, AND SELECTED 

BUFFALO RIVER SITES, 2001-2002

By Joel M. Galloway and W. Reed Green

ABSTRACT

The Buffalo River and its tributary, Calf 

Creek, are in the White River Basin in the Ozark 

Plateaus physiographic province in north-central 

Arkansas. A better understanding of the hydrology 

and water quality of Calf Creek is of interest to 

many, including the National Park Service, which 

administers the Buffalo National River, to evaluate 

its effect on the hydrology and water quality of the 

Buffalo River. 

The streamflow and water-quality characteristics of Calf Creek near Silver Hill, Arkansas, 

were compared to two sites on the Buffalo River 

upstream (near Boxley, Arkansas) and downstream (near St. Joe, Arkansas) from the confluence of Calf Creek for calendar years 2001 and 

2002. Annual and seasonal loads were estimated 

for Calf Creek for nutrients, dissolved organic carbon, and suspended sediment and compared with 

loads at sites on the Buffalo River. Flow-weighted 

concentrations and yields were computed from 

estimated annual loads for comparison with other 

developed and undeveloped basins.

Streamflow varied annually and seasonally 

at the three sites. The Buffalo River near St. Joe 

had the largest annual mean streamflow (805 to 

1,360 cubic feet per second for 2001 and 2002) 

compared to the Buffalo River near Boxley (106 

and 152 cubic feet per second for 2001 and 2002) 

and Calf Creek (39 and 80 cubic feet per second 

for 2001 and 2002). 

Concentrations of nutrients, suspended sediment, and fecal indicator bacteria generally were 

greater in samples from Calf Creek than in samples collected from both Buffalo River sites. Bacteria and suspended-sediment concentrations were 

greater in samples collected during high-flow 

events at all three sites. The Buffalo River near 

Boxley had the lowest concentrations for nutrients, 

suspended sediment, and fecal indicator bacteria.

Estimated annual loads of the nutrients, suspended sediment, and organic carbon for 2001 and 

2002 demonstrated substantial variability between 

the three sites and through time. Estimated loads 

for nutrients at the Buffalo River near St. Joe were 

7 to 27 times the median loads estimated for Calf 

Creek and suspended sediment loads were as 

much as 120 times greater. Dissolved organic carbon loads were 16 to 20 times greater at the Buffalo River near St. Joe than for Calf Creek. The 

Buffalo River near Boxley had the smallest annual 

loads for all constituents except for suspended sediment, which were slightly greater than suspended 

sediment loads estimated for Calf Creek. Higher 

loads would be expected at the Buffalo River near 

St. Joe because of the larger basin area and larger 

volume of streamflow. Likewise, estimated loads 

for all three sites were greater during seasons that 

had greater streamflow than during seasons with 

more frequent periods of base-flow conditions. 

The highest daily loads occurred in the fall and 

winter of 2001 and the winter and spring of 2002.

Flow-weighted concentrations generally 

were higher for Calf Creek than concentrations for 

the two sites on the Buffalo River and for typical 

flow-weighted concentrations found in undeveloped basins. However, the flow-weighted concentrations were lower than concentrations in a 

developed basin.
2 Hydrologic and Water-Quality Characteristics for Calf Creek near Silver Hill, Arkansas, and Selected Buffalo River Sites,

2001-2002

Annual yields calculated for Calf Creek 

were higher than the two sites on the Buffalo River 

and sites that are representative of undeveloped 

basins but lower than a site representative of a 

developed basin. The Buffalo River near Boxley 

had yields that were less than the yields typical of 

undeveloped basins.

INTRODUCTION

The Buffalo River and its tributary, Calf Creek, 

are in the White River Basin in the Ozark Plateaus 

physiographic province (Fenneman, 1938) in northcentral Arkansas (fig. 1). The Buffalo River is a 150-

mile long free-flowing stream known for its scenic 

beauty and for canoeing, fishing, and other recreational 

activities. Eleven percent of the Buffalo River Basin 

and less than 4 percent of the Calf Creek Basin near its 

confluence with the Buffalo River lie within the boundaries of the Buffalo National River. Outside the boundary of the Buffalo National River, agricultural activities 

such as animal production and logging have increased 

over the past 30 years, especially in the middle portion 

of the Buffalo River Basin (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1995). Previous investigations indicated that 

nutrient and fecal-indicator bacteria concentrations and 

loads were elevated in Calf Creek and nearby Bear 

Creek (fig. 1) (Mott, 1997; Petersen and others, 1998; 

2002; Steele and Mott, 1998). Nutrient enrichment in 

the Buffalo River can contribute to excessive algal 

growth and the reduction of dissolved oxygen in the 

stream, which can be unfavorable for aesthetics and 

detrimental to the aquatic health of the stream. Bacteria 

increase in the stream can pose a threat to humans that 

commonly come in contact with the waters for recreation. A better understanding of the hydrology and 

water quality of Calf Creek is of interest to many, 

including the National Park Service, which administers 

the Buffalo National River, to evaluate its effect on the 

hydrology and water quality of the Buffalo River.

Description of Study Area

The Buffalo River (fig. 1) originates north of 

Fallsville, Arkansas, in the Boston Mountains and 

flows eastward into the Ozark Plateaus to the White 

River. The drainage area of the Buffalo River at its 

mouth is 1,340 square miles (Sullavan, 1974). The 

drainage area upstream from the Buffalo River near 

Boxley streamflow gaging station (07055646) is 

approximately 57 square miles and upstream from the 

Buffalo River near St. Joe gaging station (07056000) is 

829 square miles (Porter and others, 2002). Land use in 

the Buffalo River Basin is primarily a mixture of forest 

and pasture. Approximately 13 percent of the land is 

agricultural (mostly pasture) upstream from the Buffalo River near St. Joe. Only approximately 4 percent 

of the land is used for agriculture upstream from the 

Buffalo River near Boxley (Davis and Bell, 1998).

Calf Creek lies in the middle reach of the Buffalo 

River Basin and originates near Witts Spring, Arkansas, flowing northward to empty into the Buffalo River 

(fig. 1). The Calf Creek drainage area is about 49.6 

square miles at its mouth or about 6 percent of the Buffalo River drainage area at its confluence with Calf 

Creek. Land use in the Calf Creek Basin includes forest 

(56 percent), and pasture and hay (39 percent) (Vogelmann and others, 2001). A part of the Calf Creek Basin 

(3.5 percent) is included in the Buffalo National River 

boundary. The basin shares a boundary to the east with 

Bear Creek, a larger tributary to the Buffalo River with 

a drainage area of 91.6 square miles.

Purpose and Scope

The purpose of this report is to describe and 

compare the hydrologic and water-quality characteristics of Calf Creek near Silver Hill, Arkansas, to sites on 

the Buffalo River upstream and downstream from the 

confluence of Calf Creek. Stream stage was measured 

continuously to compute streamflow, and water-quality 

samples were collected monthly and during selected 

high-flow events from January 2001 to March 2003. 

Results for calendar years 2001 and 2002 are described 

in this report. Water samples were analyzed for several 

field parameters and constituents, including specific 

conductance, dissolved oxygen, water temperature, 

pH, alkalinity, fecal indicator bacteria, nutrients, 

organic carbon, and suspended sediment. Annual and 

seasonal loads were estimated for Calf Creek for nutrients, dissolved organic carbon, and suspended sediment and compared with loads for sites on the Buffalo 

River upstream and downstream from its confluence 

with Calf Creek. Flow-weighted concentrations and 

yields were calculated from estimated annual loads for 

comparison with other developed and undeveloped 

basins.
Introduction 3Figure 1. Locations of Calf Creek and Buffalo River sites.

SEARC

COUNT

NEWTON

COUNTY

B

e

a

r

Creek

Calf

Creek

Buffalo River

Buffalo

River

Rive

07055646

07055893

07056000

65

65

27

7

7

16

21

21

16

6

27

14

62

16

16

Boxley

Jasper

St. Joe

Marshall

Silver

Hill

White

07056515

Witts

Spring Fallsville

BOSTON MOUNTAINS

OZARK PLATEAUS

0 

0 

37°

35°42'

93°30' 

Base from U.S. Geological Surveydigital data, 1:100,000

07056000

EXPLANATIONBUFFALO NATIONAL RIVER

BOUNDARY

WATER-QUALITY AND STREAMFLOW MEASUREMENT SITE

AND ASSOCIATED STATION

IDENTIFICATION
4 Hydrologic and Water-Quality Characteristics for Calf Creek near Silver Hill, Arkansas, and Selected Buffalo River Sites,

2001-2002

METHODS

Stream stage was measured continuously at a site 

on Calf Creek near Silver Hill (07055893) and two sites 

on the Buffalo River (fig. 1). Stage and instantaneous 

discharge were measured to compute the continuous 

streamflow from stage-discharge rating curves using 

methods described in Rantz and others (1982). Because 

stage was not measured on January 1-17, 2001, at the 

Calf Creek site, the daily mean streamflow was estimated using a hydrograph comparison with a nearby 

gaging station on Bear Creek near Silver Hill 

(07056515) (fig. 1) for estimates of load during this 

period.

Water-quality samples were collected from a 

fixed sampling site at Calf Creek from January 2001 to 

March 2003. Samples were collected monthly and during high-flow events resulting in 12 samples collected 

during high-flow events and 16 samples collected during base-flow conditions. Samples were collected from 

fixed sampling sites at the Buffalo River near Boxley 

(07055646) from April 1994 to present and at the Buffalo River near St. Joe (07056000) from April 1974 to 

present. Nine samples collected at the Buffalo River 

near Boxley were associated with high-flow events and 

11 samples were collected during base-flow conditions 

during calendar years 2001 and 2002. Seventeen samples collected at the Buffalo River near St. Joe were 

associated with high-flow events and 14 samples were 

collected during base-flow conditions during calendar 

years 2001 and 2002. 

Water-quality samples were collected by equalwidth increment methods using depth-integrated samplers and processed using protocols described in Wilde 

and others (1998a, 1998b, 1998c, 1999a, and 1999b) 

and Meyers and Wilde (1999). Samples were analyzed 

for nutrients (total ammonia plus organic nitrogen, dissolved nitrite plus nitrate, total nitrogen, dissolved 

phosphorus, dissolved orthophosphorus, and total 

phosphorus), fecal indicator bacteria (fecal coliform, 

fecal streptococci, and E. coli), dissolved organic carbon, and suspended sediment. Field parameters, 

including water temperature, dissolved-oxygen concentration, pH, specific conductance, and alkalinity 

also were collected with each sample following protocols described in Wilde and Radke (1998). Nutrient and 

dissolved organic carbon analyses were conducted at 

the USGS National Water-Quality Laboratory in Denver, Colorado, following procedures described in Fishman (1993). Samples were analyzed for fecal indicator 

bacteria in the field by USGS personnel, following procedures described in Meyers and Wilde (1999). Suspended sediment analyses were conducted at the USGS 

laboratory at the Rolla, Missouri District office following procedures described in Guy (1969).

The resulting water-quality and streamflow data 

were analyzed using several statistical and graphical 

techniques. Boxplots were used to compare concentrations of selected water-quality constituents among sites 

for data collected during calendar years 2001 and 2002. 

Concentrations reported as less than a laboratory 

reporting limit were converted to one-half the reporting 

limit for preparation of boxplots, calculation of total 

nitrogen concentrations (the sum of nitrite plus nitrate 

and ammonia plus organic nitrogen), and statistical 

analyses. The Wilcoxon rank sum test (Helsel and Hirsch, 1992) was used to test for differences in selected 

water-quality constituents between sites.

Streamflow was separated using the Base Flow 

Index (BFI) hydrograph separation computer program 

to identify base-flow and surface-runoff components 

(Wahl and Wahl, 1995). The BFI program is based on 

the Institute of Hydrology method of base-flow separation, which divides the water year into increments and 

identifies the minimum flow for each increment. A 2-

day increment was used for Calf Creek and Buffalo 

River near Boxley, and a 5-day increment was used for 

the Buffalo River near St. Joe because it has a larger 

drainage area. Minimums are compared to adjacent 

minimums to determine turning points on the base-flow 

hydrograph. If 90 percent of a given minimum is less 

than both adjacent minimums, then that minimum is a 

turning point. Straight lines are drawn between the 

turning points to define the base-flow hydrograph 

(Wahl and Wahl, 1995). The area beneath the 

hydrograph is the estimate of the volume of base flow 

for the period. The ratio of the base-flow volume to 

total-flow volume is the base-flow index.

Water-quality samples were separated into those 

collected under base-flow or high-flow conditions. 

Base-flow water-quality samples were collected on 

days when the estimated base-flow component was 

greater than or equal to 70 percent of the total daily 

mean flow. High-flow samples were defined as waterquality samples collected on days when the surfacerunoff component was greater than 30 percent of the 

total daily mean flow. 
Methods 5

Water-quality constituent loads and yields were 

calculated from concentrations and streamflow measured at each site from January 2001 to March 2003. 

Constituent load (L) is a function of the volumetric rate 

(Q) of water passing a point in the stream and the constituent concentration (C) within the water. Regression 

methods used to estimate constituent loads use the natural logarithm (ln) transformed relation between Q and 

C to estimate daily C (or L) of the constituent (Cohn 

and others, 1989; Cohn and others, 1992; Cohn, 1995). 

The regression method can account for non-normal 

data distributions, seasonal and long-term cycles, censored data, biases associated with using logarithmic 

transformations, and serial correlations of the residuals 

(Cohn, 1995). The regression method uses discrete 

water-quality samples often collected over several 

years and a daily streamflow hydrograph. A typical 

log-linear regression model for estimating load can be 

expressed as:

(1)

where L represents the constituent load,

βo represents the regression constant,

β1, β2, β3, β4, β5, and β6 represent regression

coefficients,

Q represents daily streamflow discharge, and

T represents decimal time.

However, seasonality and time were not included in the 

regression analysis described in this report because the 

period of data collection was too short (2 years) to 

describe or identify seasonal or temporal trends in the 

data for the regression model. Therefore, only the relations between natural logarithmic-transformed L and Q 

were used to estimate annual and seasonal constituent 

loads:

(2)

Transforming the results of the model from logarithmic space to real space was accomplished using 

two methods; an adjusted maximum likelihood estimator (AMLE) (Cohn, 1995) and a least absolute deviation (LAD). The AMLE method was used if the 

constituent had censored values and the LAD method 

was used to transform the results if censored values 

were not included in the data or if outliers in the residuals were present. The S-LOADEST computer program (David Lorenz, U.S. Geological Survey, written 

commun., 2003) was used to estimate annual and seasonal constituent loads at the three sites for calendar 

years 2001 and 2002.

Annual yields (pounds per square mile) also 

were computed from estimated annual loads at each 

site. The yield was calculated by simply dividing the 

annual load (pounds per year) by the drainage area contributing flow at the location of the sampling site 

(square miles). 

Flow-weighted concentrations were computed 

from the loads derived from the monthly samples. 

Flow-weighted concentrations were calculated by 

dividing the annual load by annual mean flow, and 

applying appropriate conversion factors for dimensional units:

(3)

where CFW represents the flow-weighted concentrations, in milligrams per liter,

L represents the annual constituent load in 

pounds per year, and

QAnnual represents the mean annual streamflow, in cubic feet per second.

ln( ) L βo β1 () β Q 2 Q2 ( )β3T β4T2

β5 ( )β 2πT 6 sin + cos( ) 2πT

+ +

+

= + ln + ln

ln( ) L βo β = + 1 ln( ) Q

CFW

L

QAnnual

------------------ 5.08 10–4 = × ×
6 Hydrologic and Water-Quality Characteristics for Calf Creek near Silver Hill, Arkansas, and Selected Buffalo River Sites,

2001-2002

HYDROLOGIC CHARACTERISTICS

The streamflow for Calf Creek near Silver Hill 

varies seasonally and annually (fig. 2). The annual 

mean streamflow for calendar years 2001 and 2002 was 

39.3 and 79.6 cubic feet per second (ft3/s), respectively 

(table 1). Daily mean streamflow ranged from 1.2 to 

2,970 ft3

/s for the period. The highest daily mean flows 

were generally in the months of January through May 

and the lowest daily mean flows generally occurred in 

the months of July through October. 

Streamflow for the Buffalo River near Boxley 

and near St. Joe also varied seasonally and annually 

(figs. 3 and 4, table 1). The mean annual streamflow for 

the Buffalo River near Boxley was 106 and 152 ft3/s for 

calendar years 2001 and 2002, respectively. Buffalo 

River near St. Joe, located approximately 73 river miles 

downstream, had mean annual streamflows of 805 and 

1,360 ft3

/s for 2001 and 2002, respectively. Daily mean 

streamflow ranged from 0.23 to 4,690 ft3/s for the Buffalo River near Boxley and from 20 to 45,800 ft3/s for 

the Buffalo River near St. Joe for 2001 to 2002. Additional summary statistics for January 2001 to December 2002 for all of the sites are reported in Porter and 

others (2002) and Brossett and Evans (2003).

The streamflow for Calf Creek and the two Buffalo River sites demonstrated a considerable amount of 

base flow that varied seasonally. The base flow at Calf 

Creek comprised approximately 34 to 35 percent of the 

total mean annual streamflow in 2001 and 2002, 

respectively. In 2001, the base flow comprised 84 to 97 

percent of the total mean monthly streamflow during 

April to June and less than 18 percent of the total mean 

monthly streamflow in December. In 2002, the base 

flow comprised 91 to 98 percent of total mean monthly 

streamflow during September to November and less 

than 17 percent of the total mean monthly streamflow 

in January. The base flow comprised 25 to 28 percent 

of the total mean annual streamflow at the Buffalo 

River near Boxley and 35 percent of the total mean 

annual streamflow near St. Joe. Both sites had similar 

seasonal trends compared to Calf Creek.

Figure 2. Daily base flow and total daily streamflow and water-quality sample times during calendar years 2001 and 2002 for 

Calf Creek near Silver Hill, Arkansas.

DATE

1/1/01 5/1/01 9/1/01 1/1/02 5/1/02 9/1/02 1/1/03 

STREAMFLOW, IN CUBIC FEET PER SECOND

1

10

100

1000

10000

TOTAL DAILY STREAMFLOW

DAILY BASE FLOW

SAMPLE ASSOCIATED WITH SURFACE RUNOFF

SAMPLE ASSOCIATED WITH BASE FLOW

,

,

EXPLANATION
Hydrologic Characteristics 7

Figure 3. Daily base flow and total daily streamflow and water-quality sample times during calendar years 2001 and 2002 for 

Buffalo River near Boxley, Arkansas.

Figure 4. Daily base flow and total daily streamflow and water-quality sample times during calendar years 2001 and 2002 for 

Buffalo River near St. Joe, Arkansas.

DATE

1/1/01 5/1/01 9/1/01 1/1/02 5/1/02 9/1/02 1/1/03 

STREAMFLOW, IN CUBIC FEET PER SECOND

1

10

100

1000

10000

TOTAL DAILY STREAMFLOW

DAILY BASE FLOW

SAMPLE ASSOCIATED WITH SURFACE RUNOFF

SAMPLE ASSOCIATED WITH BASE FLOW

,

,

EXPLANATION

DATE

1/1/01 5/1/01 9/1/01 1/1/02 5/1/02 9/1/02 1/1/03 

STREAMFLOW, IN CUBIC FEET PER SECOND

10

100

1000

10000

100000

TOTAL DAILY STREAMFLOW

DAILY BASE FLOW

SAMPLE ASSOCIATED WITH SURFACE RUNOFF

SAMPLE ASSOCIATED WITH BASE FLOW

,

,

,

EXPLANATION
2001-2002

8 Hydrologic and Water-Quality Characteristics for Calf Creek near Silver Hill, Arkansas, and Selected Buffalo River Sites, Table 1. Annual and monthly streamflow statistics for Calf Creek near Silver Hill, and Buffalo River near Boxley and St. Joe, Arkansa

[Values are in cubic feet per second; e, estimated] Station January February March April May June July August September October 

2001 Calf Creek Mean 35.1e 181 42.3 23.1 8.34 4.69 2.78 3.20 7.08 3.66 

Median 25.0e 71.5 35.0 22.5 7.90 4.80 2.70 3.10 6.65 3.00 Maximum 132e 1,420 110 35.0 11.0 6.30 4.10 5.40 24.0 6.30 Minimum 2.10e 18.0 18.0 11.0 6.50 2.90 1.90 1.60 1.80 1.20 

Buffalo River near Boxley Mean 137 530 75.2 49.4 24.4 35.0 10.34 8.13 6.09 30.93 

Median 66 248 62.0 38.0 20.0 18.5 8.1 7.50 5.40 7.7 Maximum 925 3,120 232 104 65.0 400 42.0 12.0 14.0 290 Minimum 22.0 61.0 38.0 25.0 9.90 10.0 6.70 6.50 3.60 3.80 

Buffalo River near St. Joe Mean 775 3,640 882 493 201 229 83.0 52.7 148 191 

Median 509 1,860 740 480 197 172 83.0 51.0 125 115 Maximum 4,350 23,200 2,180 704 300 1,120 145 99.0 569 734 Minimum 175 592 477 287 132 99.0 46.0 24.0 20.0 54.0 

2002 Calf Creek Mean 87.6 99.6 456 164 63.3 15.7 17.0 5.29 1.62 3.75 

Median 11.0 71.0 215 103 49.0 12.0 6.30 5.00 1.70 3.70 Maximum 1,260 503 2,970 1,600 244 52.0 122 14.0 2.40 4.90 Minimum 6.90 37.0 39.0 40.0 17.0 5.80 4.60 2.30 1.20 3.20 

Buffalo River near Boxley Mean 126 173 748 473 175 80.1 8.78 7.20 2.29 0.47 

Median 15.0 106 381 255 67.0 60.5 8.50 5.10 2.00 0.34 Maximum 2,320 1,250 4,330 4,690 1,010 326 21.0 30.0 4.30 1.20 Minimum 11.0 40.0 69.0 84.0 31.0 12.0 4.50 3.80 0.82 0.23 

Buffalo River near St. Joe Mean 1,270 2,320 6,800 3,435 1,200 643 251 125 38.7 26.2 

Median 519 1,360 3,650 1,990 1,000 614 186 102 35.0 26.0 Maximum 10,300 19,000 45,800 29,500 2,910 1,330 1,270 342 66.0 35.0 Minimum 398 778 749 1,310 539 221 119 71.0 27.0 23.0 
Water-Quality Characteristics 9

WATER-QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS

Water-quality data for the sites on Calf Creek and 

the Buffalo River are described below in terms of concentrations, loads, flow-weighted concentrations, and 

yields. Considerable differences were indicated 

between the sites and individual samples. Calf Creek 

generally had the greatest concentrations, flowweighted concentrations, and yields, while the Buffalo 

River near St. Joe had the highest loads.

Concentrations

Concentrations of water-quality constituents in 

samples collected from Calf Creek generally were 

greater than in samples from both sites on the Buffalo 

River in 2001 and 2002 (appendix). The median nutrient concentrations in Calf Creek were significantly 

higher (p < 0.05) than the Buffalo River near St. Joe and 

near Boxley for nitrite plus nitrate, total nitrogen (fig. 

5), and total phosphorus (fig. 6) for all of the samples. 

However, the 90th percentile of the total phosphorus 

concentrations for the Buffalo River near St. Joe was 

substantially greater than the 90th percentile for the 

other two sites for samples collected during base-flow 

conditions. In general, the median nutrient concentrations in samples collected during base-flow conditions 

were slightly less than median nutrient concentrations 

for all of the samples, although a strong relation 

between the concentrations and streamflow was not 

evident (appendix). Concentrations of total ammonia 

plus organic nitrogen were not significantly different 

between Calf Creek and the Buffalo River near St. Joe 

and concentrations in samples from the Buffalo River 

near Boxley were all near or below laboratory reporting 

limits (appendix). 

Figure 5. Distribution of nitrogen concentrations for Calf Creek near Silver Hill and the Buffalo River near Boxley and St. Joe, 

Arkansas, 2001-2002. The p-value is the probability that the median concentrations between the Calf Creek site and the 

Buffalo River sites are equal. NS indicates the probability exceeds 0.05.

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

p < 0.001

NS

p <0.001

p =0.006

p < 0.001

p < 0.001

CONCENTRATION, IN MILLIGRAMS PER LITER AS NITROGEN 0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

BUFFALO 

RIVER NR

BOXLEY

CALF

CREEK

BUFFALO

RIVER NR 

ST. JOE

TOTAL AMMONIA PLUS

ORGANIC NITROGEN

DISSOLVED NITRITE TOTAL NITROGEN

PLUS NITRATE

BUFFALO 

RIVER NR

BOXLEY

CALF

CREEK

BUFFALO

 RIVER NR 

ST. JOE

BUFFALO 

RIVER NR

BOXLEY

CALF

CREEK

BUFFALO

 RIVER NR 

ST. JOE

NS NS

p <0.001

,

SITE AND NITROGEN SPECIES

p < 0.001

p < 0.001

All samples

Base-flow samples

p <0.001

10th percentile

25th percentile

50th percentile

75th percentile

90th percentile

EXPLANATION

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

Surface-runoff samples

p = 0.002

NS

p = 0.002

p < 0.001

p < 0.001

NS
10 Hydrologic and Water-Quality Characteristics for Calf Creek near Silver Hill, Arkansas, and Selected Buffalo River Sites,

2001-2002

Figure 6. Distribution of total phosphorus concentrations for Calf Creek near Silver Hill and the Buffalo River near Boxley and 

St. Joe, Arkansas, 2001-2002. The p-value is the probability that the median concentrations between the Calf Creek site and 

the Buffalo River sites are equal. NS indicates the probability exceeds 0.05. TOTAL PHOSPHORUS CONCENTRATION, IN MILLIGRAMS PER LITER AS PHOSPHORUS

0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.00

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

p<0.001

p<0.001

p<0.001

p=0.001

All samples

Base-flow samples

SITE

BUFFALO

RIVER NR

BOXLEY

BUFFALO

RIVER NR

ST. JOE

CALF 

CREEK

10th percentile

25th percentile

50th percentile

75th percentile

90th percentile

EXPLANATION

0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

Surface-runoff samples NS

p<0.001

Fecal indicator bacteria concentrations in samples collected from all three sites varied substantially 

(fig. 7). Calf Creek had the highest concentrations of 

bacteria with median values for all samples ranging 

from 50 (E. coli) to 86 colonies per 100 milliliters (fecal 

streptococci). The Buffalo River near Boxley had the 

lowest concentrations with median values ranging from 

8 (E. coli) to 15 colonies per 100 milliliters (fecal streptococci). Concentrations from base-flow samples generally had lower concentrations of fecal indicator 

bacteria with a range of 1 to 190 colonies per 100 milliliters compared to high-flow event samples that had 

concentrations with a range of 1 to 7,300 colonies per 

100 milliliters (appendix) at all the sites. Sources of 

fecal indicator bacteria can include untreated municipal 

wastewater-treatment effluents; septic tanks; animal 

wastes from feedlots, barnyards, and pastures; and 

manure application areas. Higher concentrations of 

fecal indicator bacteria in high-flow samples from Calf 

Creek may reflect the higher percentage of pastureland 

in the basin, providing a source of nonpoint contamination during high-flow events.

Dissolved organic carbon concentrations in samples from Calf Creek and the Buffalo River near St. Joe 

were similar (fig. 8). However, samples associated with 

base-flow conditions at Calf Creek had significantly 

lower concentrations than samples collected from the 

Buffalo River near St. Joe. Samples from the Buffalo 

River near Boxley were not analyzed for dissolved 

organic carbon.

Suspended-sediment concentrations for Calf 

Creek were significantly higher than for the two Buffalo River sites (fig. 9). Although Calf Creek had the 

highest median concentrations, the Buffalo River near 

St. Joe had the highest measured concentrations during 

high-flow events. The Buffalo River near Boxley had 

the lowest concentrations ranging from 1 to 11 mg/L, 

which could be because fewer high-flow event samples 

were collected at the site and most of the high-flow 

samples were collected on the fall of the peak streamflow during high-flow events. Suspended-sediment 

concentrations generally are highest during the rise in 

streamflow during high-flow events. Similar to the bacteria concentrations, higher concentrations of suspended sediment for Calf Creek may be related to the 

higher percentage of agricultural activity in the basin. 
Water-Quality Characteristics 11

Figure 7. Distribution of bacteria concentrations for Calf Creek near Silver Hill and the Buffalo River near Boxley and St. Joe, 

Arkansas, 2001-2002. The p-value is the probability that the median concentrations between the Calf Creek site and the 

Buffalo River sites are equal. NS indicates the probability exceeds 0.05.

1

10

100

1000

p=0.002

NS

p=0.002

p=0.019

p<0.001

p=0.047

,

BACTERIA CONCENTRATION, IN COLONIES PER 100 MILLILITERS

1

10

100

1000

BUFFALO 

RIVER NR

BOXLEY

CALF

CREEK

BUFFALO

 RIVER NR 

ST. JOE

FECAL COLIFORM FECAL STREPTOCOCCI E. COLI

BUFFALO 

RIVER NR

BOXLEY

CALF

CREEK

BUFFALO

 RIVER NR 

ST. JOE

BUFFALO 

RIVER NR

BOXLEY

CALF

CREEK

BUFFALO

 RIVER NR 

ST. JOE

p=0.009

p=0.006

p =0.003 p<0.001 p=0.008

p=0.003

,

All samples

Base-flow samples

SITE AND BACTERIA TYPE

1

10

100

1000

10000 Surface-runoff samples

10th percentile

25th percentile

50th percentile

75th percentile

90th percentile

EXPLANATION

,

,

p=0.008

NS NS

p=0.02

p=0.04

NS
12 Hydrologic and Water-Quality Characteristics for Calf Creek near Silver Hill, Arkansas, and Selected Buffalo River Sites,

2001-2002

Figure 8. Distribution of dissolved organic carbon for Calf 

Creek near Silver Hill and the Buffalo River near St. Joe, 

Arkansas, 2001-2002. The p-value is the probability that the 

median concentrations between the Calf Creek site and the 

Buffalo River site are equal. NS indicates the probability 

exceeds 0.05.

Figure 9. Distribution of suspended-sediment 

concentrations for Calf Creek near Silver Hill and the Buffalo 

River near Boxley and St.Joe, Arkansas, 2001-2002. The pvalue is the probability that the median concentrations 

between the Calf Creek site and the Buffalo River sites are 

equal. NS indicates the probability exceeds 0.05.

0

1

2

3

4

5

NS

DISSOLVED ORGANIC CARBON CONCENTRATION, IN MILLIGRAMS PER LITER AS CARBON

0.0

0.4

0.8

1.2

1.6

p=0.008

All samples

Base-flow samples

SITE

BUFFALO

RIVER NR

ST. JOE

CALF 

CREEK

10th percentile

25th percentile

50th percentile

75th percentile

90th percentile

EXPLANATION

0

2

4

6

8

Surface-runoff samples

NS

0

50

100

150

200

250

p<0.001

p = 0.015

SUSPENDED- SEDIMENT CONCENTRATION, IN MILLIGRAMS PER LITER

0

20

40

60

80

100

p<0.001

p = 0.005

All samples

Base-flow samples

SITE

BUFFALO

RIVER NR

BOXLEY

BUFFALO

RIVER NR

ST. JOE

CALF 

CREEK

10th percentile

25th percentile

50th percentile

75th percentile

90th percentile

EXPLANATION

0

100

200

300

400

500

Surface-runoff samples NS

p = 0.001
Water-Quality Characteristics 13

Loads

Constituent loads for nutrients, dissolved organic 

carbon, and suspended sediment were estimated using 

regression models (table 2). Estimated loads for 2001 

and 2002 showed substantial variability among the 

three sites and through time (table 3). The Buffalo 

River near St. Joe had estimated annual loads for nutrients and suspended sediment that were at least an order 

of magnitude higher than the other two sites. Higher 

loads would be expected at the Buffalo River near St. 

Joe because of the higher volume of streamflow. Likewise, estimated loads were higher during seasons that 

had higher values for streamflow from high-flow 

events than during seasons with more frequent periods 

of base-flow conditions for all three sites.

Table 2. Regression models applied to estimate constituent loads

[Water-quality data collected between January 2001 and March 2003. Regression model described by the equation ln(L) = βo+β1ln(Q), where

L is load, Q is discharge, βo is a regression constant, and β1 is a regression coefficient; --, not calculated]

Constituent Site

Number

of

samples

Regression

constant

(βo)

Regression

coefficient

(β1)

Coefficient of

determination

(R2)

Total ammonia plus organic

nitrogen

Calf Creek 27 -5.21 1.24 96.2

Buffalo River near Boxley 20 -5.92 0.99 97.1

Buffalo River near St. Joe 30 -1.89 1.31 94.9

Nitrite plus nitrate Calf Creek 27 -3.94 1.06 93.1

Buffalo River near Boxley 20 -6.41 1.03 84.4

Buffalo River near St. Joe 30 2.22 1.27 93.8

Total nitrogen Calf Creek 27 -3.64 1.12 95.7

Buffalo River near Boxley 20 -5.50 1.00 93.5

Buffalo River near St. Joe 30 -1.25 1.32 97.4

Dissolved phosphorus Calf Creek 27 -6.59 1.04 97.7

Buffalo River near Boxley -- -- -- --

Buffalo River near St. Joe 30 -5.12 1.26 95.6

Orthophosphorus Calf Creek 27 -6.78 1.04 95.3

Buffalo River near Boxley -- -- -- --

Buffalo River near St. Joe -- -- -- --

Total phosphorus Calf Creek 27 -6.31 1.16 96.3

Buffalo River near Boxley 20 -8.83 1.04 94.2

Buffalo River near St. Joe 30 -4.03 1.48 92.7

Dissolved organic carbon Calf Creek 28 -3.21 1.28 98.1

Buffalo River near Boxley -- -- -- --

Buffalo River near St. Joe 31 0.36 1.20 97.7

Suspended sediment Calf Creek 28 0.15 1.04 80.4

Buffalo River near Boxley 20 -1.61 1.30 87.9

Buffalo River near St. Joe 31 3.02 1.53 93.8
14 Hydrologic and Water-Quality Characteristics for Calf Creek near Silver Hill, Arkansas, and Selected Buffalo River Sites,

2001-2002

Table 3. Annual nitrogen, phosphorus, dissolved organic carbon, and suspended-sediment loads and yields for Calf Creek 

near Silver Hill and Buffalo River near Boxley and St. Joe, Arkansas, 2001-2002

[Loads and yields were rounded to two significant figures, lbs/yr, pounds per year; lbs/yr/mi2, pounds per year per square mile; --, not calculated]

Calf Creek Buffalo River near Boxley Buffalo River near St. Joe

Constituent Load

(lbs/yr)

Yield

(lbs/yr/mi2)

Load

(lbs/yr)

Yield

(lbs/yr/mi2)

Load

(lbs/yr)

Yield

(lbs/yr/mi2)

2001

Total ammonia plus organic

nitrogen

18,000 400 16,000 280 490,000 590

Nitrite plus nitrate 39,000 870 11,000 200 330,000 400

Total nitrogen 59,000 1,300 24,000 420 880,000 1,100

Dissolved phosphorus 2,400 52 -- -- 17,000 21

Orthophosphorus 2,100 46 -- -- -- --

Total phosphorus 4,300 95 960 17 95,000 120

Dissolved organic carbon 170,000 3,800 -- -- 3,400,000 4,100

Suspended sediment 3,000,000 67,000 4,000,000 71,000 170,000,000 200,000

2002

Total ammonia plus organic

nitrogen

42,000 940 23,000 400 960,000 1,200

Nitrite plus nitrate 82,000 1,800 16,000 290 640,000 770

Total nitrogen 130,000 2,900 34,000 590 1,700,000 2,100

Dissolved phosphorus 4,800 110 -- -- 32,000 39

Orthophosphorus 4,300 96 -- -- -- --

Total phosphorus 9,400 210 1,400 24 190,000 230

Dissolved organic carbon 410,000 9,000 -- -- 6,400,000 7,700

Suspended sediment 5,900,000 130,000 6,300,000 110,000 360,000,000 430,000

Annual

In general, estimated loads for the three sites were 

greater in 2002 than in 2001 (table 3), which could be 

attributed to greater streamflow in 2002 (table 1). The 

annual nutrient loads estimated for the Buffalo River 

near St. Joe were 7 to 27 times the annual loads estimated for Calf Creek. The total phosphorus and total 

ammonia plus organic nitrogen loads had the greatest 

differences between sites with values for the Buffalo 

River near St. Joe more than 20 times greater than those 

estimated for Calf Creek for 2001 and 2002. Estimated 

loads for nitrite plus nitrate were 7 times greater and dissolved phosphorus were approximately 8 times greater 

for the Buffalo River near St. Joe than for Calf Creek for 

2001 and 2002. Calf Creek had lower estimated loads for 

suspended sediment than the Buffalo River near St. Joe 

and Buffalo River near Boxley. Suspended-sediment 

loads estimated for the Buffalo River near St. Joe were 

57 times the estimated loads at Calf Creek for 2001 and 

61 times the estimated load at Calf Creek for 2002. Estimated loads of dissolved organic carbon were 20 times 

greater at the Buffalo River near St. Joe than Calf Creek 

for 2001 and 16 times greater for 2002. The larger nutrient and suspended-sediment loads estimated at the Buffalo River near St. Joe can be attributed to a larger basin 

area and larger volume of streamflow than Calf Creek. 

Although the annual streamflow for the Buffalo River 

near Boxley was greater than Calf Creek and less than 

the Buffalo River near St. Joe, it had the lowest values 

for estimated annual loads for all the constituents except 

suspended sediment, which had loads slightly greater 

than Calf Creek. 

Seasonal

The seasonal distribution of the loads differed 

between 2001 and 2002 (table 4; fig. 10) due to higher 

rainfall and streamflow in the spring (April through 

June) of 2002 and in the fall (October through December) of 2001 (table 1).The estimated seasonal loads for 

all the sites show similar patterns for the period. For 

2001, the highest loads occurred in the winter (January 

through March) and the fall. In 2002, the summer (July 

through September) and fall seasons generally had the 

smallest estimated loads, and the highest loads were in 

the winter and spring. 
Water-Quality Characteristics 15

Table 4. Seasonal nitrogen, phosphorus, dissolved organic carbon, and suspended-sediment loads for Calf Creek near Silver 

Hill and Buffalo River near Boxley and St. Joe, Arkansas, 2001-2002

[Values are loads in pounds per day; winter defined as January through March, spring defined as April through June, summer defined as July through

September, and fall defined as October through December; values were rounded to two significant figures; --, not calculated]

Constituent Site Winter Spring Summer Fall

2001

Total ammonia plus organic nitrogen Calf Creek 100 7.5 2.2 83

Buffalo River near Boxley 98 15 3.4 59

Buffalo River near St. Joe 2,900 240 55 2,200

Nitrite plus nitrate Calf Creek 230 28 10 170

Buffalo River near Boxley 71 11 2.4 42

Buffalo River near St. Joe 2,000 180 42 1,500

Total nitrogen Calf Creek 350 35 11 260

Buffalo River near Boxley 150 23 5.2 87

Buffalo River near St. Joe 5,200 420 95 4,000

Dissolved phosphorus Calf Creek 14 1.8 0.64 10

Buffalo River near Boxley -- -- -- --

Buffalo River near St. Joe 100 11 2.7 74

Orthophosphorus Calf Creek 12 1.5 0.54 8.8

Buffalo River near Boxley -- -- -- --

Buffalo River near St. Joe -- -- -- --

Total phosphorus Calf Creek 25 2.6 0.85 19

Buffalo River near Boxley 6.0 0.85 0.18 4

Buffalo River near St. Joe 560 41 8.9 440

Dissolved organic carbon Calf Creek 990 74 22 800

Buffalo River near Boxley -- -- -- --

Buffalo River near St. Joe 20,000 2,300 570 14,000

Suspended sediment Calf Creek 17,000 2,700 1,000 12,000

Buffalo River near Boxley 25,000 2,000 270 17,000

Buffalo River near St. Joe 960,000 43,000 7,800 850,000

2002

Total ammonia plus organic nitrogen Calf Creek 350 97 5.9 14

Buffalo River near Boxley 150 100 2.5 1.9

Buffalo River near St. Joe 7,500 3,000 97 79

Nitrite plus nitrate Calf Creek 630 220 20 32

Buffalo River near Boxley 100 74 1.7 1.3

Buffalo River near St. Joe 4,900 2,000 73 57

Total nitrogen Calf Creek 1,000 330 26 47

Buffalo River near Boxley 220 150 3.9 2.8

Buffalo River near St. Joe 13,000 5,300 170 140

Dissolved phosphorus Calf Creek 37 13 1.2 1.9

Buffalo River near Boxley -- -- -- --

Buffalo River near St. Joe 250 100 4.5 3.3

Orthophosphorus Calf Creek 33 12 1.1 1.7

Buffalo River near Boxley -- -- -- --

Buffalo River near St. Joe -- -- -- --

Total phosphorus Calf Creek 75 24 1.9 3.4

Buffalo River near Boxley 9.0 6.2 0.13 0.10

Buffalo River near St. Joe 1,500 570 16 14

Dissolved organic carbon Calf Creek 3,400 940 58 130

Buffalo River near Boxley -- -- -- --

Buffalo River near St. Joe 48,000 21,000 940 680

Suspended sediment Calf Creek 44,000 17,000 1,900 2,600

Buffalo River near Boxley 42,000 26,000 190 250

Buffalo River near St. Joe 2,900,000 1,000,000 16,000 18,000
16 Hydrologic and Water-Quality Characteristics for Calf Creek near Silver Hill, Arkansas, and Selected Buffalo River Sites,

2001-2002

Figure 10. Seasonal loads of nutrients, dissolved organic carbon, and suspended sediment for Calf Creek near Silver Hill and 

the Buffalo River near Boxley and St. Joe, Arkansas, 2001-2002.

NITRITE PLUS NITRATE

BUFFALO RIVER NEAR BOXLEY

CALF CREEK NEAR SILVER HILL

BUFFALO RIVER NEAR ST. JOE

TOTAL AMMONIA PLUS 

ORGANIC NITROGEN

LOAD, IN POUNDS 

PER DAY

1

10

100

1000

10000

100000

WINTER

TOTAL NITROGEN

LOAD, IN POUNDS 

PER DAY

1

10

100

1000

10000

100000

DISSOLVED PHOSPHORUS

ORTHOPHOSPHORUS

LOAD, IN POUNDS 

PER DAY

1

10

100

1000

10000

TOTAL PHOSPHORUS

DISSOLVED ORGANIC CARBON

LOAD, IN POUNDS 

PER DAY

10

100

1000

10000

100000

1000000

10000000

SUSPENDED SEDIMENT

SPRING

SUMMER

FALL

WINTER

SPRING

SUMMER

FALL

WINTER

SPRING

SUMMER

FALL

WINTER

SPRING

SUMMER

FALL

2001 2002 2001 2002

,

,

,

,

,

,

,

,

, ,

, ,

,

,

,

EXPLANATION
Water-Quality Characteristics 17

Flow-Weighted Concentrations

Annual flow-weighted concentrations were computed for Calf Creek and the two Buffalo River sites 

(table 5). The flow-weighted concentrations for the 

three sites also were compared to the flow-weighted 

concentrations of 82 undeveloped basins throughout 

the Nation (Clark and others, 2000; Petersen and others, 2002), including two basins in the Ozark Plateaus—North Sylamore Creek and Paddy Creek. The 

flow-weighted concentrations also were compared to 

flow-weighted concentrations at Bear Creek, a tributary to the Buffalo river adjacent to Calf Creek (fig. 1), 

and to flow-weighted concentrations for a site on the 

Illinois River near Siloam Springs, Arkansas (Petersen 

and others, 2002). The Illinois River represents a developed basin that is affected by both point and non-point 

sources of contamination (Green and Haggard, 2001). 

The flow-weighted concentrations for Calf 

Creek and the Buffalo River were determined from 

loads estimated using water-quality data collected at 

fixed intervals. These data were a subset of the waterquality data used to estimate annual and seasonal loads 

in tables 3 and 4. Data associated with high-flow events 

were omitted because the data for the undeveloped 

basins (Clark and others, 2000) generally included little 

high-flow event data. The flow-weighted concentrations for the Illinois River were calculated from loads 

computed from data that included some high-flow 

event data (Green and Haggard, 2001). 

Flow-weighted concentrations for Calf Creek 

generally were higher than the flow-weighted concentrations computed for both of the Buffalo River sites. 

Nitrite plus nitrate flow-weighted concentrations for 

Calf Creek were approximately 2.5 times higher than 

the flow-weighted concentrations for the Buffalo River 

near St. Joe and 10 to 13 times higher than the flowweighted concentrations computed for the Buffalo 

River near Boxley for 2001 and 2002. Total nitrogen 

flow-weighted concentrations for Calf Creek were similar to the flow-weighted concentrations computed for 

the Buffalo River near St. Joe and were 8 to 9 times the 

flow-weighted concentrations for the Buffalo River 

near Boxley for 2001 and 2002. The Buffalo River near 

St. Joe had similar flow-weighted concentrations of 

total phosphorus as Calf Creek, and the flow-weighted 

concentrations of total phosphorus computed for the 

Buffalo River near Boxley were small (less than 0.01

mg/L).

Flow-weighted concentrations for Calf Creek 

generally were higher than all the other sites in the 

comparison with the exception of the Illinois River 

(table 5). Nitrite plus nitrate flow-weighted concentrations for Calf Creek were approximately 7 times the 

median concentration for the undeveloped basins. Total 

nitrogen flow-weighted concentrations for Calf 

Table 5. Flow-weighted concentrations for Calf Creek, two Buffalo River sites, and selected other stream basins

[Values are in milligrams per liter. Buffalo River, Bear Creek, and Calf Creek concentrations are calculated from fixed interval sampling data. Values for 

undeveloped basins, North Sylamore Creek and Paddy Creek, are from Clark and others (2000). Values for the Illinois River are from Green and Haggard 

(2001) and for the Buffalo River and Bear Creek for years 1999 and 2000 are from Petersen and others (2002).

 --, not available; <, less than].

Dissolved

 nitrite plus

 nitrate

Total

nitrogen

Dissolved

 orthophosphorus

Total

 phosphorus

Calf Creek - 2001 0.61 0.90 0.03 0.06

Calf Creek - 2002 0.67 1.01 0.03 0.06

Buffalo River near Boxley - 2001 0.06 0.11 -- <0.01

Buffalo River near Boxley - 2002 0.05 0.11 -- <0.01

Buffalo River near St. Joe - 1999 0.35 0.75 -- 0.05

Buffalo River near St. Joe - 2000 0.39 0.93 -- 0.06

Buffalo River near St. Joe - 2001 0.24 0.52 -- 0.04

Buffalo River near St. Joe - 2002 0.28 0.60 -- 0.04

Undeveloped basin median (1990-1995) 0.09 0.26 0.01 0.02

Undeveloped basin 75th percentile (1990-1995) 0.21 0.50 0.01 0.04

North Sylamore Creek, Arkansas - undeveloped

(1990-1995)

0.10 0.23 <0.01 0.03

Paddy Creek, Missouri - undeveloped (1990-1995) 0.04 <0.20 <0.01 0.04

Bear Creek -1999 0.46 0.82 0.03 0.09

Bear Creek -2000 0.46 0.88 0.04 0.13

Illinois River, Arkansas - developed (1997-1998) 2.4 3.4 0.22 0.40
18 Hydrologic and Water-Quality Characteristics for Calf Creek near Silver Hill, Arkansas, and Selected Buffalo River Sites,

2001-2002

Creek were 3 to 4 times higher than the median concentration for the undeveloped basins. Calf Creek had values for the flow-weighted concentrations of total 

phosphorus that were slightly higher than the 75th percentile of flow-weighted concentrations for the undeveloped basins. The total phosphorus flow-weighted 

concentrations for the Illinois River were approximately 7 times the concentrations found at Calf Creek. 

The Buffalo River near St. Joe had flow-weighted concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus computed for 

2001 and 2002 that were similar to the 75th percentile 

of the flow-weighted concentrations for the undeveloped basins. Flow-weighted concentrations of nitrogen 

and phosphorus for the Buffalo River near Boxley generally were lower than the median flow-weighted concentration for the undeveloped basins.

Yields

Annual yields (annual load divided by drainage 

area) for Calf Creek were higher than yields for both of 

the Buffalo River sites for 2001 and 2002 (table 3). 

Although the estimated loads for the Buffalo River near 

St. Joe were considerably greater than estimated loads 

for Calf Creek, the annual yields of nitrite plus nitrate 

and dissolved phosphorus for Calf Creek were approximately 2 times greater than that of the Buffalo River 

near St. Joe in 2001 and 2002. Total phosphorus and 

total nitrogen yields were similar between Calf Creek 

and the Buffalo River near St. Joe. Compared to the 

Buffalo River near Boxley, yields computed for 2001 

and 2002 for Calf Creek were approximately 4.4 to 6.2 

times greater for nitrite plus nitrate, 5.6 to 8.8 times 

greater for total phosphorus, and 3.1 to 4.9 times 

greater for total nitrogen.

Annual yields for Calf Creek and the Buffalo 

River were compared to the yields of the 82 undeveloped basins throughout the Nation, including two 

streams in the Ozark Plateaus (Clark and others, 2000; 

table 6). The yields also were compared to Bear Creek 

(Petersen and others, 2002) and the Illinois River near 

Siloam Springs, Arkansas (Green and Haggard, 2001). 

For comparison, the yields for Calf Creek and the Buffalo River were determined from loads calculated using 

water-quality data collected at fixed time intervals. 

These data were a subset of the water-quality data used 

to calculate the annual loads and yields in table 3 and 

seasonal loads in table 4. Data associated with highflow events were omitted because the data for the undeveloped basins (Clark and others, 2000) generally did 

not include high-flow event data. The yields for the Illinois River were calculated from loads computed from

Table 6. Yields for Calf Creek, two Buffalo River sites, and selected other stream basins

[Values are in pounds per year per square mile. Buffalo River, Bear Creek, and Calf Creek yields are calculated from fixed time interval sampling data. Values for undeveloped basins, North Sylamore Creek and Paddy Creek, are from Clark and others (2000). Values for the Illinois River are from Green and 

Haggard (2001) and for the Buffalo River and Bear Creek for years 1999 and 2000 are from Petersen and others (2002). --, not available]

Dissolved

 nitrite plus

 nitrate

Total

nitrogen

Dissolved

 orthophosphorus

Total

 phosphorus

Calf Creek - 2001 1,000 1,500 53 97

Calf Creek - 2002 2,300 3,500 110 210

Buffalo River near Boxley - 2001 200 420 -- 17

Buffalo River near Boxley - 2002 290 590 -- 24

Buffalo River near St. Joe - 1999 700 1,500 -- 97

Buffalo River near St. Joe - 2000 660 1,600 -- 100

Buffalo River near St. Joe - 2001 460 1,000 -- 73

Buffalo River near St. Joe - 2002 910 1,900 -- 140

Undeveloped basin median (1990-1995) 150 490 16 49

Undeveloped basin 75th percentile (1990-1995) 500 1,300 27 69

North Sylamore Creek, Arkansas - undeveloped (1990-1995) 170 390 7 43

Paddy Creek, Missouri - undeveloped (1990-1995) 80 360 9 74

Bear Creek -1999 610 1,100 44 120

Bear Creek -2000 700 1,400 61 190

Illinois River, Arkansas - developed (1997-1998) 5,900 8,600 540 960
Summary 19

data that included some high-flow event data (Green 

and Haggard, 2001).

The annual yields calculated for Calf Creek were 

considerably higher compared to the other selected 

sites except for the Illinois River (table 6). Nitrite plus 

nitrate yields for Calf Creek were approximately 7 to 

15 times the median yield for undeveloped basins and 

total phosphorus yields were 2 to 4 times greater than 

the median yield for undeveloped basins. The total 

nitrogen and dissolved orthophosphorus yields were 

both 3 to 7 times greater than the median yield for 

undeveloped basins. The Buffalo River near Boxley 

generally had the lowest yields except for yields computed for Paddy Creek, Missouri. Yields calculated for 

the Buffalo River near Boxley with respect to nitrite 

plus nitrate were 1.3 to 1.9 times greater than the 

median yield for undeveloped basins, and total phosphorus yields were approximately 1/3 to 1/2 of the 

median yield for undeveloped basins. 

SUMMARY

The Buffalo River and its tributary, Calf Creek, 

are in the White River Basin in the Ozark Plateau physiographic province in north-central Arkansas. A better 

understanding of the hydrology and water quality of 

Calf Creek is of interest to many, including the 

National Park Service, who administers the Buffalo 

National River, to evaluate its effect on the hydrology 

and water quality of the Buffalo River. 

The hydrologic and water-quality characteristics 

of Calf Creek near Silver Hill, Arkansas, were compared to two sites on the Buffalo River upstream (near 

Boxley, Arkansas) and downstream (near St. Joe, 

Arkansas) from the confluence of Calf Creek for calendar years 2001 and 2002. Stage was measured continuously to compute streamflow, and water-quality 

samples were collected monthly and during selected 

high-flow events from January 2001 to March 2003. 

Annual and seasonal loads were estimated for Calf 

Creek for nutrients, dissolved organic carbon, and suspended sediment and compared with loads and yields at 

the sites on the Buffalo River. Flow-weighted concentrations and yields were computed from estimated 

annual loads for comparison with other developed and 

undeveloped basins.

Streamflow for Calf Creek and the two sites on 

the Buffalo River varied annually and seasonally. The 

Buffalo River near St. Joe had the largest annual mean 

streamflow (805 to 1,360 ft3/s for 2001 and 2002) compared to the Buffalo River near Boxley (106 and 152 

ft3

/s for 2001 and 2002) and Calf Creek (39.3 and 79.6 

ft3

/s for 2001 and 2002). The highest mean daily 

streamflows were generally in the months of January 

through May and the lowest in the months of July 

through October. 

Concentrations of nutrients, suspended sediment, and fecal indicator bacteria generally were 

greater in samples from Calf Creek than in samples collected from both Buffalo River sites. Bacteria and suspended-sediment concentrations were higher in 

samples collected during high-flow events at all three 

sites. The Buffalo River near Boxley had the lowest 

concentrations for nutrients, suspended sediment, and 

fecal indicator bacteria.

Estimated loads of the nutrients, suspended sediment, and organic carbon for 2001 and 2002 demonstrated substantial variability among the three sites and 

through time. Estimated loads for nutrients at the Buffalo River near St. Joe were 7 to 27 times the median 

loads calculated for Calf Creek. Suspended-sediment 

loads for the Buffalo River near St. Joe were up to 61 

times greater than estimated loads for Calf Creek and 

dissolved organic carbon loads were 16 to 20 times 

greater. The Buffalo River near Boxley had the least 

annual loads for all constituents except for suspended 

sediment, which were slightly greater than suspendedsediment loads estimated for Calf Creek. Higher loads 

would be expected at the Buffalo River near St. Joe 

because of the larger basin area and larger volume of 

streamflow. Likewise, estimated loads for all three sites 

were higher during seasons that had higher streamflow 

from high-flow events than during seasons with more 

frequent periods of base-flow conditions. The highest 

daily loads occurred in the fall and winter of 2001 and 

the winter and spring of 2002.

Flow-weighted concentrations generally were 

higher for Calf Creek than concentrations for the two 

sites on the Buffalo River and for typical flow-weighted 

concentrations found in undeveloped basins. Nitrite 

plus nitrate flow-weighted concentrations for Calf 

Creek were 7 times higher and total nitrogen flowweighted concentrations were 3 to 4 times higher than 

the median concentration for the undeveloped basins. 

Total phosphorus flow-weighted concentrations for 

Calf Creek and the Buffalo River near St. Joe were 

slightly higher than the 75th percentile of concentrations for the undeveloped basins. The Buffalo River 

near Boxley had flow-weighted concentrations of 
20 Hydrologic and Water-Quality Characteristics for Calf Creek near Silver Hill, Arkansas, and Selected Buffalo River Sites,

2001-2002

nitrogen and phosphorus that were lower than the 

median concentration of the undeveloped basins.

Annual yields computed for Calf Creek were 

higher than yields computed for the two sites on the 

Buffalo River and sites that are representative of undeveloped basins. Nitrite plus nitrate yields for Calf 

Creek were approximately 2 times greater than yields 

for the Buffalo River near St. Joe, 4.4 to 6.2 times 

greater than yields for the Buffalo River near Boxley 

for 2001 and 2002, and 7 to 15 times greater than the 

median yield for the undeveloped basins. Annual yields 

of total nitrogen for 2001 and 2002 for Calf Creek were 

similar to the yields for the Buffalo River near St. Joe, 

3.1 to 4.9 times greater than yields for the Buffalo River 

near Boxley, and 2 to 4 times greater than the median 

yield for undeveloped basins. All of the computed 

yields were less than yields for a developed basin.

REFERENCES

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Data, Arkansas, water year 2002: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Data Report AR-02-1, 461 p.

Clark, G.M., Mueller, D.K., and Mast, M.A., 2000, Nutrient 

concentrations and yields in undeveloped stream basins 

of the United States: Journal of American Water 

Resources Association, v. 4, no. 36, p. 844-867.

Cohn, T.A., 1995, Recent advances in statistical methods for 

the estimation of sediment and nutrient transport in rivers, U.S. National Report to the International Union 

Geodesy and Geophysics, 1991-1994: Reviews of Geophysics, Supplement 33, p. 1117-1123.

Cohn, T.A., Cauldes, D.L., Gilroy, E.J., Zynjuk, L.D., and 

Summers, R.M., 1992, The validity of a simple longlinear model for estimating fluvial constituent loads 

entering Chesapeake Bay: Water Resources Research, 

v. 28, no. 9, p. 2353-2363.

Cohn, T.A., DeLong, L.L., Gilroy, E.J., Hirsch, R.M., and 

Wells, D.K., 1989, Estimating constituent loads: Water 

Resources Research, v. 25, no. 5, p. 237-942.

Davis, J.V. and Bell, R.W., 1998, Water-quality assessment 

of the Ozark Plateaus Study Unit, Arkansas, Kansas, 

Missouri, and Oklahoma - nutrients, bacteria, organic 

carbon, and suspended sediment in surface water, 1993-

95: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 98-4164, 56 p.

Fenneman, N.M., 1938, Physiography of eastern United 

States: New York, McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., 714 p.

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

Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory—Determination of inorganic and organic constituents in water and fluvial sediments: U.S. Geological 

Survey Open-File Report 93-125, 217 p.

Green W.R. and Haggard, B.E., 2001, Phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations and loads at Illinois River south of 

Siloam Springs, Arkansas, 1997-1999: U.S. Geological 

Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 01-

4217, 12 p.

Guy, H.P., 1969, Laboratory theory and methods for sediment analysis: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of 

Water-Resources Investigations Reports, book 5, chap. 

C1, 58 p.

Helsel, D.R., and Hirsch, R.M., 1992, Statistical methods in 

water resources: Amsterdam, Netherlands, Elsevier, 

522 p.

Meyers, D.N., and Wilde, F.D., 1999, Biological indicators: 

U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of WaterResources Investigations, book 9, chap. A7, variously 

paginated.

Mott, D.N., 1997, Buffalo National River, Arkansas - Ten 

years of water quality monitoring: Department of the 

Interior, National Park Service, Harrison, Arkansas, 35 

p.

Petersen, J.C., Adamski, J.C., Bell, R.W., Davis, J.V., Femmer, S.R., Freiwald, D.A., and Joseph, R.L., 1998, 

Water quality in the Ozark Plateaus, Arkansas, Kansas, 

Missouri, and Oklahoma, 1992-1995: U.S. Geological 

Survey Circular 1158, 33 p.

Petersen, J.C., Haggard, B.E., and Green, W.R., 2002, 

Hydrologic characteristics of Bear Creek near Silver 

Hill and Buffalo River near St. Joe, Arkansas, 1999-

2000: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 02-4024, 36 p.

Porter, J.E., Evans, D.A., and Remsing, L.M., 2002, Water 

Resources Data, Arkansas, water year 2001: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Data Report AR-01-1, 396 p.

Rantz, S.E, and others, 1982, Measurement and computation 

of streamflow: Volume 1. Measurement of stage and 

discharge and Volume 2. Computation of discharge: 

U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 2175, 631 

p.

Steele K.F. and Mott, D.N., 1998, Storm and base flow water 

quality for Bear, Calf, and Tomahawk Creeks: University of Arkansas Water Resources Center Publication 

No. 255, unpaginated.

Sullavan, J.N., 1974, Drainage areas of streams in Arkansas, 

White River Basin: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File 

Report, 123 p.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1995, Watershed Plan - 

Environmental assessment for Buffalo River tributaries 

watersheds, Final Report: U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, Little 

Rock, Arkansas, variously paginated.
References 21

Vogelmann, J.E., Howard, S.M., Yang, L., Larson, C.R., 

Wylie, B.K., and Van Driel, N., 2001, Completion of the 

1990s national land cover data set for the conterminous 

United States from LANDSAT Thematic Mapped data 

and ancillary data sources: Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing, v. 67, no. 8, p. 650-662.

Wahl, K.L., and Wahl, T.L., 1995, Determining the flow of 

Comal Springs at New Braunsfel, Texas: Conference of 

Water Resources Engineering, August 16-17, 1995, San 

Antonio, Texas, American Society of Civil Engineers, 

p. 77-86.

Wilde, F.D., and Radke, D.B., 1998, Field measurements: 

U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of WaterResources Investigations, book 9, chap. A6, variously 

paginated.

Wilde, F.D., Radke, D.B., Gibs, J., Iwatsubo, R.T., 1998a, 

Preparations for water sampling: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, 

book 9, chap. A1, variously paginated.

Wilde, F.D., Radke, D.B., Gibs, J., Iwatsubo, R.T., 1998b, 

Selection of equipment for water sampling: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, book 9, chap. A2, variously paginated.

Wilde, F.D., Radke, D.B., Gibs, J., Iwatsubo, R.T., 1998c, 

Cleaning of equipment for water sampling: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, book 9, chap. A3, variously paginated.

Wilde, F.D., Radke, D.B., Gibs, J., Iwatsubo, R.T., 1999a, 

Collection of water samples: U.S. Geological Survey 

Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, book 9, 

chap. A4, variously paginated.

Wilde, F.D., Radke, D.B., Gibs, J., Iwatsubo, R.T., 1999b, 

Processing of water samples: U.S. Geological Survey 

Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, book 9, 

chap. A5, variously paginated.
 
Appendix 23

APPENDIX
24 Hydrologic and Water-Quality Characteristics for Calf Creek near Silver Hill, Arkansas, and Selected Buffalo River Sites,

2001-2002 Appendix—Water-quality data for Calf Creek near Silver Hill, Buffalo River near Boxley, and Buffalo River near St. Joe, Arkansas [Five digit numbers in parentheses are U.S. Environmental Protection Agency STORET data management system parameter codes, ft3/s, cubic feet per second; mg/L

microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius; °C, degrees Celsius; CaCO3, calcium carbonate; N, nitrogen; P, phosphorus; C, carbon; mL, milliliters; --, no dat

Date Time 

Discharge,

instantaneous

(ft3/s)

(00061)

Oxygen,

 dissolved

 (mg/L)

(00300)

Oxygen,

 dissolved

 (percent

 saturation)

 (00300)

pH, field

 standard

 units

 (00400)

Specific

conductance

(μS/cm)

(00095)

Tempera

ture

(° C)

 (00010)

Acid

neutralizing

 capacity,

field

(mg/L as

 CaCO3)

(00410)

Solids,

 residue

 at 180 ° C 

 dissolved

 (mg/L)

(70300)

Ammonia,

dissolved

 (mg/L as N)

(00608)

Ammon

plus

 organi

nitrogen

 dissolve

 (mg/L as 

(00623

Calf Creek near Silver Hill, Arkansas

1/29/2001 1715 304 10.6 95 7.9 162 9.9 56 102 <0.04 0.36 2/14/2001 0745 193 10.3 91 7.2 264 10.1 110 155 <.04 0.13 2/21/2001 0930 88 10.8 96 7.8 236 10.1 95 132 <.04 E.07 3/20/2001 1115 37 11.2 99 8.6 256 9.8 107 128 <.04 <.10 4/25/2001 0925 19 7.4 70 7.8 272 13 121 156 <.04 E.09 5/9/2001 1000 8 10.3 104 8.1 287 16.1 122 174 E.03 E.08 6/6/2001 1405 5.7 10.8 125 8.1 285 21.8 100 166 E.03 0.12 7/10/2001 1045 3 9 101 7.8 333 20.4 152 192 E.03 E.07 10/17/2001 1040 6.7 8.8 84 7.5 389 13.8 171 208 <.04 E.08 11/14/2001 0915 1.9 9.4 89 7.5 365 13 178 200 <.04 E.06 12/6/2001 0930 23 10 100 7.7 327 15.6 144 188 <.04 E.08 12/17/2001 1615 824 8.3 80 8.2 200 12.7 97 124 <.04 0.14 1/23/2002 1055 2.7 11.4 106 7.5 309 11.3 137 172 <.04 <.10 1/24/2002 1815 137 10.9 94 7.7 163 8.7 63 98 <.04 0.19 2/1/2002 1410 420 11.5 103 7.3 185 10.2 89 -- E.02 0.12 2/21/2002 1145 77 15.8 140 7.6 244 10.1 105 140 <.04 <.10 3/21/2002 1515 459 7.3 66 7.8 217 11.5 98 129 <.04 E.07 4/8/2002 1715 9.8 95 7.8 172 13.8 80 95 <.04 0.19 4/24/2002 0745 80 8.3 84 7.8 332 15.8 162 189 <.04 E.08 6/11/2002 1615 45 11.4 139 7.8 246 24.6 108 139 E.03 E.10 6/19/2002 1100 10 7.5 85 7.5 271 20.8 129 153 <.04 E.06 7/9/2002 1245 5.8 12.8 154 7.8 332 24.9 148 173 <.04 E.07 8/13/2002 1130 4.2 9.8 115 7.7 307 23.7 138 185 <.04 E.10 9/11/2002 1240 1.1 10.4 121 7.6 319 22.9 148 181 <.04 E.09 10/24/2002 0900 -- 7 69 7.8 344 15.4 165 189 <.04 E.05 11/6/2002 0830 -- 9.6 92 7.6 361 12.8 165 199 <.04 E.06 12/17/2002 1130 -- 12.1 122 8 327 15.2 145 200 <.04 E.08 1/14/2003 0930 -- 10.4 88 7.7 270 7.9 114 154 -- -- 
Appendix 25

Appendix—Water-quality data for Calf Creek near Silver Hill, Buffalo River near Boxley, and Buffalo River near St. Joe, Arkansas—C[Five digit numbers in parentheses are U.S. Environmental Protection Agency STORET data management system parameter codes, ft3/s, cubic feet per second; mg/Lmicrosiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius; °C, degrees Celsius; CaCO3, calcium carbonate; N, nitrogen; P, phosphorus; C, carbon; mL, milliliters; --, no dat

Date Time 

Nitrite,

dissolved

 (mg/L as N)

(00613)

Nitrogen,

 total

 (mg/L as N)

(00600)

Phosphorus,

 dissolved

 (mg/L as P)

(00666)

Orthophosphorus,

 dissolved

 (mg/L as P)

 (00671)

Phosphorus,

 total

 (mg/L as P)

 (00665)

Organic

 carbon,

 dissolved

 (mg/L as C)

 (00681)

E. coli

 (colonies

 per 100 mL)

(31633)

Fecal

 coliform

 (colonies

 per 100 mL)

(31625)

Fe

 stre

co

 (col

 per 1

(31

Calf Creek near Silver Hill, Arkansas

1/29/2001 1715 E.004 1.8 0.097 0.08 0.31 7.6 E1,900 E2,800 7,12/14/2001 0745 <.006 1.5 0.015 E.01 0.037 3.4 780 470 1,42/21/2001 0930 0.012 1.5 0.028 0.03 0.034 1 140 60 3/20/2001 1115 <.006 0.51 0.017 E.01 0.018 0.9 E7 <1 4/25/2001 0925 E.003 0.44 0.023 E.02 0.027 0.8 68 53 5/9/2001 1000 E.004 -- 0.024 0.06 0.028 0.7 E18 23 6/6/2001 1405 E.003 -- 0.024 E.01 0.03 0.9 E13 E12 7/10/2001 1045 <.006 0.32 0.02 0.02 0.023 0.8 53 56 10/17/2001 1040 <.008 -- 0.03 0.03 0.03 1 20 39 111/14/2001 0915 <.008 -- 0.024 E.01 0.024 0.7 27 29 112/6/2001 0930 <.008 1 0.032 0.03 0.036 1.2 26 46 12/17/2001 1615 <.008 0.5 0.032 0.03 0.053 4 330 290 51/23/2002 1055 <.008 -- 0.026 0.03 0.025 0.7 E5 E3 1/24/2002 1815 <.008 0.84 0.04 0.03 0.093 3.6 490 510 3,22/1/2002 1410 <.008 0.88 0.034 0.03 0.082 2.3 340 620 32/21/2002 1145 <.008 -- 0.023 0.02 0.033 1.3 77 100 3/21/2002 1515 <.008 0.75 0.031 0.02 0.06 1.5 E62 E80 E4/8/2002 1715 <.008 0.35 0.025 0.02 E.05 3.1 580 490 1,04/24/2002 0745 <.008 -- 0.017 0.02 0.02 1.1 380 350 26/11/2002 1615 <.008 0.41 0.028 0.02 0.037 1.5 <1 120 16/19/2002 1100 <.008 -- 0.027 0.02 0.031 0.9 25 E16 7/9/2002 1245 <.008 -- 0.026 0.02 0.031 0.8 E10 E18 8/13/2002 1130 <.008 -- 0.027 0.02 0.031 0.8 >84 <16 >19/11/2002 1240 <.008 0.4 0.029 0.02 0.033 0.6 31 65 110/24/2002 0900 <.008 -- 0.03 0.03 0.034 0.7 61 E170 111/6/2002 0830 <.008 -- 0.027 0.02 0.033 0.7 48 59 12/17/2002 1130 <.008 -- 0.028 0.02 0.03 0.6 27 E18 1/14/2003 0930 -- -- -- -- -- 0.9 22 28 E
26 Hydrologic and Water-Quality Characteristics for Calf Creek near Silver Hill, Arkansas, and Selected Buffalo River Sites,

2001-2002 Appendix—Water-quality data for Calf Creek near Silver Hill, Buffalo River near Boxley, and Buffalo River near St. Joe, Arkansas [Five digit numbers in parentheses are U.S. Environmental Protection Agency STORET data management system parameter codes, ft3/s, cubic feet per second; mg/L

mens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius; °C, degrees Celsius; CaCO3, calcium carbonate; N, nitrogen; P, phosphorus; C, carbon; mL, milliliters; --, no data; E, esti

Date Time 

Discharge,

 instantaneous

(ft3/s)

(00061)

Oxygen,

 dissolved

 (mg/L)

 (00300)

Oxygen,

 dissolved

(percent

 saturation)

 (00300)

pH, field

 standard

 units

 (00400)

Specific

 conductance

 (μS/cm) 

(00095)

Temperature

(° C) 

(00010)

Acid

neutralizing

 capacity,

field

(mg/L as

 CaCO3)

 (00410)

Solids,

 residue

 at 180 ° C

 dissolved

 (mg/L)

 (70300)

Ammonia,

dissolved

 (mg/L

 as N)

 (00608)

Ammo

plus

 organ

 nitrog

dissolv

 (mg/L a

 (0062

Buffalo River near Boxley, Arkansas

1/10/2001 1000 64 13.2 98 7 64 2.7 -- 36 <0.04 E0.06 2/7/2001 1315 66 11.9 100 7.9 59 6.9 -- 40 <.04 <.10 3/7/2001 1045 69 12.3 104 7.9 61 7.8 -- 38 <.04 <.10 4/17/2001 1135 86 11 104 6.7 58 12.6 -- 45 <.04 <.10 5/23/2001 1515 42 9.2 103 8.1 77 19.8 -- 41 <.04 <.10 6/26/2001 1000 12 7.5 85 8.1 112 21.1 -- 64 <.04 <.10 7/17/2001 1000 8.8 7.5 86 7.5 142 21.4 -- 87 <.04 <.10 8/16/2001 1320 8.8 7 88 7.2 149 25.5 -- 43 <.04 E.05 9/11/2001 1145 14 8.6 96 8.1 161 19.2 -- 89 <.04 <.10 11/20/2001 1130 7.4 7.7 70 8.5 128 10.8 -- -- <.04 -- 12/12/2001 1215 40 10.2 91 7.5 59 9.2 -- -- <.04 -- 1/9/2002 1125 14 13 104 7.9 69 4.9 -- -- <.04 -- 2/14/2002 0930 56 12.7 101 7.5 55 4.8 -- -- <.04 -- 3/12/2002 1245 560 11.3 98 7.4 50 8.1 -- -- <.04 -- 5/8/2002 1050 38 9.3 100 7.7 71 17.6 -- -- <.04 -- 7/9/2002 1050 8 6.6 79 7.3 118 23.6 -- -- <.04 -- 9/11/2002 0755 2.9 7.8 88 7 163 20.6 -- -- <.04 -- 11/26/2002 1215 -- 11.4 96 8.1 182 7.4 -- -- <.04 -- 12/10/2002 1150 -- 11.4 96 7.5 177 7.3 -- -- <.04 -- 1/14/2003 1500 -- 11.4 96 8 89 7.7 -- -- <.04 -- 
Appendix 27

Appendix—Water-quality data for Calf Creek near Silver Hill, Buffalo River near Boxley, and Buffalo River near St. Joe, Arkansas—C[Five digit numbers in parentheses are U.S. Environmental Protection Agency STORET data management system parameter codes, ft3/s, cubic feet per second; mg/Lmicrosiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius; °C, degrees Celsius; CaCO3, calcium carbonate; N, nitrogen; P, phosphorus; C, carbon; mL, milliliters; --, no dat

Date Time 

Nitrite,

dissolved

 (mg/L as N)

(00613)

Nitrogen,

 total

 (mg/L as N)

 (00600)

Phosphorus,

 dissolved

 (mg/L as P)

 (00666)

Orthophosphorus,

 dissolved

 (mg/L as P)

 (00671)

Phosphorus, 

total

(mg/L as P)

 (00665)

Organic

 carbon,

 dissolved

 (mg/L as C)

(00681)

E. coli

 (colonies

 per 100 mL)

 (31633)

Fecal

 coliform

 (colonies

 per 100 mL)

 (31625)

Fec

 strep

coc

 (colon

 per 100 

 (316

Buffalo River near Boxley, Arkansas

1/10/2001 1000 <.006 -- <.006 <.02 <.004 -- E5 E5 E7 2/7/2001 1315 <.006 -- <.006 <.02 E.003 -- E2 E7 <1 3/7/2001 1045 <.006 -- <.006 <.02 E.003 -- E2 E4 E1 4/17/2001 1135 <.006 -- <.006 <.02 0.005 -- E6 E5 E9 5/23/2001 1515 <.006 -- <.006 <.02 E.002 -- E5 E10 29 6/26/2001 1000 0.007 -- <.006 <.02 E.003 -- E10 24 49 7/17/2001 1000 E.003 -- <.006 <.02 <.004 -- 59 77 59 8/16/2001 1320 <.006 -- <.006 <.02 0.004 -- E9 22 E22 9/11/2001 1145 <.006 0.3 <.006 <.02 0.005 -- 83 E180 340 11/20/2001 1130 <.008 -- -- <.02 E.002 -- <10 <16 <10 12/12/2001 1215 <.008 -- -- <.02 E.004 -- E87 66 66 1/9/2002 1125 <.008 -- -- <.02 E.003 -- E15 E3 E3 2/14/2002 0930 <.008 -- -- <.02 0.004 -- E1 E4 E2 3/12/2002 1245 <.008 -- -- <.02 0.011 -- 21 21 E8 5/8/2002 1050 <.008 -- -- <.02 0.005 -- E4 E6 48 7/9/2002 1050 <.008 -- -- E.01 0.004 -- 18 21 55 9/11/2002 0755 <.008 -- -- <.02 0.005 -- 31 91 240 11/26/2002 1215 <.008 -- -- <.02 0.005 -- E2 E1 E10 12/10/2002 1150 <.008 -- -- <.02 0.005 -- E5 E4 20 1/14/2003 1500 <.008 -- -- <.02 0.005 -- E2 E1 E1 
28 Hydrologic and Water-Quality Characteristics for Calf Creek near Silver Hill, Arkansas, and Selected Buffalo River Sites,

2001-2002 Appendix—Water-quality data for Calf Creek near Silver Hill, Buffalo River near Boxley, and Buffalo River near St. Joe, Arkansas [Five digit numbers in parentheses are U.S. Environmental Protection Agency STORET data management system parameter codes, ft3/s, cubic feet per second; mg/L

mens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius; °C, degrees Celsius; CaCO3, calcium carbonate; N, nitrogen; P, phosphorus; C, carbon; mL, milliliters; --, no data; E, esti

Date Time

Discharge,

instantaneous

(ft3/s)

(00061)

Oxygen,

 dissolved

 (mg/L)

(00300)

Oxygen,

 dissolved

 (percent

 saturation)

 (00300)

pH, field

 standard

 units

 (00400)

Specific

conductance

(μS/cm)

(00095)

Tempera

ture

(° C)

 (00010)

Acid

neutralizing

 capacity,

field

(mg/L as

 CaCO3)

 (00410)

Solids,

 residue

 at 180 ° C 

 dissolved

 (mg/L)

 (70300)

Ammonia,

dissolved

 (mg/L as N)

(00608)

Ammoni

plus

 organic

nitrogen

 dissolve

 (mg/L as 

(00623)

Buffalo River near St. Joe, Arkansas

1/16/2001 1400 1,240 9.4 77 8.4 152 6.4 68 83 <0.04 <.10 1/29/2001 1815 774 11.8 99 8 183 7.1 71 102 <.04 0.2 2/14/2001 0645 1,590 10.6 91 8 146 8.7 64 86 <.04 <.10 2/21/2001 0815 2,240 10.6 92 7.6 156 9.4 68 84 <.04 E.06 3/20/2001 1300 750 11.8 107 8.3 172 11 74 100 <.04 <.10 4/25/2001 0815 477 7 71 7 176 16.2 79 -- <.04 E.09 5/9/2001 1100 244 8.5 94 8.1 210 20.7 95 130 <.04 E.09 6/7/2001 0740 176 8.2 99 7.5 202 24 94 -- <.04 E.07 7/10/2001 1145 94 6.4 84 8 219 28.6 99 132 <.04 E.09 8/17/2001 0710 94 5.2 64 7.5 236 24.8 145 69 <.04 E.08 9/6/2001 0945 21 6.6 81 8.1 241 25.8 109 144 <.04 E.10 10/17/2001 1140 388 9.2 90 7.7 237 15.3 108 136 <.04 E.08 11/13/2001 1515 77 11.6 115 7.8 253 15.2 125 142 <.04 E.06 12/6/2001 0845 639 9.3 91 7.4 191 14.4 92 108 <.04 E.07 12/17/2001 1730 35,000 10.2 95 8 88 11.4 41 62 <.04 0.18 1/23/2002 1130 268 11.7 104 7.5 226 9.2 101 132 <.04 <.10 1/25/2002 0900 3,800 9.8 82 8 140 7.7 61 82 <.04 0.18 2/1/2002 1325 15,900 9.8 85 6.9 100 9.1 50 -- E.02 0.2 2/22/2002 0845 1,380 11.4 97 7.6 172 8.9 80 92 0.09 <.10 3/20/2002 0810 51,500 8.5 76 7.5 89 10.8 5 62 <.04 0.14 4/8/2002 1500 44,200 11.2 102 7.6 81 10.8 33 49 <.04 0.21 4/23/2002 1445 1,360 10.2 109 8.3 177 18.8 87 105 <.04 E.07 6/12/2002 1000 1,190 8 95 7.9 203 23.2 103 117 E.03 E.10 6/19/2002 1145 407 7.4 84 8.1 209 21 107 119 <.04 E.08 7/10/2002 0715 139 5.7 72 7.9 231 27.6 109 130 <.04 E.09 8/13/2002 1015 70 6.8 84 7.9 225 26.6 103 135 <.04 E.10 9/11/2002 1040 36 7.3 88 7.7 232 25 111 122 <.04 E.07 10/24/2002 0805 -- 7.7 77 7.9 264 15.7 131 142 <.04 <.10 11/5/2002 1215 -- 11.4 110 7.7 260 12.7 129 152 <.04 E.07 12/17/2002 1210 -- 10.2 95 8.2 256 11.5 121 149 <.04 E.06 1/14/2003 1015 -- 10.9 87 7.7 207 6.2 84 121 -- -- 
Appendix 29

Appendix—Water-quality data for Calf Creek near Silver Hill, Buffalo River near Boxley, and Buffalo River near St. Joe, Arkansas[Five digit numbers in parentheses are U.S. Environmental Protection Agency STORET data management system parameter codes, ft3/s, cubic feet per second; mg/Lmens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius; °C, degrees Celsius; CaCO3, calcium carbonate; N, nitrogen; P, phosphorus; C, carbon; mL, milliliters; --, no data; E, esti

Date Time 

Nitrite,

dissolved

 (mg/L as N)

(00613)

Nitrogen,

 total

 (mg/L as N)

(00600)

Phosphorus,

 dissolved

 (mg/L as P)

(00666)

Orthophosphorus,

 dissolved

 (mg/L as P)

 (00671)

Phosphorus,

 total

 (mg/L as P)

 (00665)

Organic

 carbon,

 dissolved

 (mg/L as C)

 (00681)

E. coli

 (colonies

 per 100 mL)

(31633)

Fecal

 coliform

 (colonies

 per 100 mL)

(31625)

Fe

 stre

co

 (col

 per 1

(31

Buffalo River near St. Joe, Arkansas

1/16/2001 1400 <.006 -- E.005 <0.02 0.008 1.3 E6 E4 E11/29/2001 1815 E.003 1.2 0.042 0.04 0.28 3.3 1,700 2,000 7,302/14/2001 0645 <.006 0.43 E.004 <.02 0.019 1.4 240 210 262/21/2001 0815 0.009 0.87 0.006 <.02 0.02 1 120 52 53/20/2001 1300 <.006 0.25 <.006 <.02 0.005 1 <1 E2 E4/25/2001 0815 <.006 -- E.003 <.02 0.007 0.9 78 110 25/9/2001 1100 E.003 0.22 E.003 <.02 0.008 1 E4 E10 26/7/2001 0740 <.006 -- <.006 <.02 0.009 1.1 E14 E12 37/10/2001 1145 E.003 -- <.006 <.02 0.008 1.2 E11 E13 28/17/2001 0710 <.006 -- <.006 <.02 0.007 1.9 E9 E5 39/6/2001 0945 <.006 -- E.003 <.02 0.007 1.4 27 29 E110/17/2001 1140 <.008 0.2 E.004 <.02 0.007 1.8 28 51 211/13/2001 1515 <.008 -- <.004 <.02 E.003 0.9 E2 E1 E12/6/2001 0845 <.008 -- 0.005 <.02 0.012 1.2 E17 26 512/17/2001 1730 <.008 1.2 0.025 E.01 0.23 4.8 1,300 5,800 1,201/23/2002 1130 <.008 -- E.003 <.02 0.004 0.7 E3 E1 E1/25/2002 0900 <.008 0.55 0.01 <.02 0.058 3.5 190 E230 1,002/1/2002 1325 <.008 0.73 0.013 <.02 0.128 3.4 290 780 882/22/2002 0845 <.008 -- 0.004 <.02 0.01 0.9 E15 E15 E13/20/2002 0810 <.008 1.1 0.023 0.02 0.33 3.3 780 1,300 1,304/8/2002 1500 <.008 1.3 0.029 0.02 0.4 4.2 2,000 100 2,204/23/2002 1445 <.008 -- <.004 <.02 0.008 1 7 13 26/12/2002 1000 <.008 0.23 0.007 E.02 0.015 1.8 40 60 E16/19/2002 1145 <.008 -- E.003 <.02 0.009 1.2 E19 E9 37/10/2002 0715 <.008 -- E.003 <.02 0.014 1.3 E13 E10 38/13/2002 1015 <.008 -- 0.005 <.02 0.017 1 <6 29 <19/11/2002 1040 <.008 -- E.004 <.02 0.011 1.1 5 7 210/24/2002 0805 <.008 -- 0.006 <.02 0.011 0.7 3 E13 11/5/2002 1215 <.008 -- 0.004 <.02 0.009 0.7 E20 E15 212/17/2002 1210 <.008 -- E.003 <.02 0.005 0.6 E8 E8 E11/14/2003 1015 -- -- -- -- -- 1 E5 E9 E1
Galloway, J.M. and Green, W.R.—HYDROLOGIC AND WATER-QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS FOR CALF CREEK NEAR SILVER HILL, 

ARKANSAS, AND SELECTED BUFFALO RIVER SITES, 2001-2002—U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5007