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#           Sources and ages of fine-grained sediment to streams using fallout radionuclides in the Midwestern United States      

      June 1, 2017    

Fallout radionuclides, 7Be and 210Pbex, sampled in bed sediment for 99 watersheds in the Midwestern region of the United States and in 15 samples of suspended sediment from 3 of these watersheds were used to partition upland from channel sources and to estimate the age or the time since the surface-derived portion of sediment was on the land surface (0–∼1 year). Channel sources dominate: 78 of the 99 bed material sites (79%) have >50% channel-derived sediment, and 9 of the 15 suspended-sediment samples (60%) have >50% channel-derived sediment. 7Be was detected in 82 bed sediment samples and all 15 suspended-sediment samples. The surface-derived portion of 54 of the 80 (68%) streams with detectable 7Be and 210Pbex were ≤ 100 days old and the surface-derived portion of all suspended-sediment samples were ≤ 100 days old, indicating that surface-derived fine-grained sediment moves rapidly though these systems. The concentrations of two hydrophobic pesticides–DDE and bifenthrin–are correlated with the proportion of surface-derived sediment, indicating a link between geomorphic processes and particle-associated contaminants in streams. Urban areas had the highest pesticide concentrations and the largest percentage of surface-derived sediment. Although the percentage of surface-derived sediment is less than channel sources at most of the study sites, the relatively young age of the surface-derived sediment might indicate that management actions to reduce sediment contamination where the land surface is an important source could have noticeable effects.

## Citation Information

## Related Content

                  -              Data           
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May 17, 2016

####                 Radionuclide and Pesticide data for sediment age and source analysis in the Midwest Stream-Quality Assessment Region (2013-2014)              

South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

#### Allen C Gellis, Ph.D.

##### Research Hydrologist

Water Resources Mission Area

agellis@usgs.gov

443-498-5581

#### Christopher Fuller

##### Hydrologist

Water Resources Mission Area

ccfuller@usgs.gov

650-329-4479

####             Peter C Van Metre (Former Employee)          

##### Research Hydrologist

Water Resources Mission Area

## Related Content

May 17, 2016

####                 Radionuclide and Pesticide data for sediment age and source analysis in the Midwest Stream-Quality Assessment Region (2013-2014)              

South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

#### Allen C Gellis, Ph.D.

##### Research Hydrologist

Water Resources Mission Area

agellis@usgs.gov

443-498-5581

#### Christopher Fuller

##### Hydrologist

Water Resources Mission Area

ccfuller@usgs.gov

650-329-4479

####             Peter C Van Metre (Former Employee)          

##### Research Hydrologist

Water Resources Mission Area

### Study Area

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####               MD-DE-DC Water Science Center          

5522 Research Park DriveCatonsville, MD21228United States

gs-w-mdtws_information@usgs.gov

443-498-5500

442-498-5510

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