Scientific Investigations Report 2006-5005
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Scientific Investigations Report 2006-5005
Occurrence, Distribution, and Transport of Pesticides in Agricultural Irrigation-Return Flow from Four Drainage Basins in the Columbia Basin Project, Washington, 2002-04, and Comparison with Historical Data
By Richard J. Wagner, Lonna M. Frans, and Raegan L. Huffman
Table of Contents
Conversion Factors and Datums
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Occurrence, Distribution, and Transport of Pesticides
Summary
References Cited
Tables at Back of Report
Figures
Figure 1. Locations of the four irrigation return-flow drainage basins and surface-water sampling sites, Columbia Basin Project, Washington.
Figure 2. Concentrations of dissolved solids in the four irrigation return-flow drainage basins, Columbia Basin Project, Washington, July 2002 to October 2004.
Figure 3. Percentage of major ions in surface water from the Columbia River and from the four irrigation return-flow drainage basins, Columbia Basin Project, Washington.
Figure 4. Pesticide concentrations in four irrigation return-flow drainage basins, Columbia Basin Project, Washington, July 2002 to October 2004.
Figure 5. Pesticide-application rates and percentage of surface-water samples with pesticide detections in the four irrigation return-flow drainage basins, Columbia Basin Project, Washington, July 2002 to October 2004.
Figure 6 Comparison of historical and current pesticide concentrations in the Crab Creek and Sand Hollow irrigation return-flow drainage basins, Columbia Basin Project, Washington.
Figure 7. Concentrations of simazine and terbacil in the Lind Coulee irrigation return-flow drainage basin, Columbia Basin Project, Washington, 1994 to 2004.
Figure 8. Comparison of selected pesticide concentrations in the Columbia Basin Project, Washington, July 2002 to October 2004 with national NAWQA concentrations.
Figure 9. Concentrations of nitrate plus nitrite and atrazine in samples from streamflow-gaging stations in the four irrigation return-flow drainage basins, Columbia Basin Project, Washington, July 2002 to October 2004.
Tables
Table 1. Physical and land-use characteristics of the four irrigation return-flow drainage basins sampled for pesticides, Columbia Basin Project, Washington, July 2002 to October 2004.
Table 2. Crop acreage estimates in the four irrigation return-flow drainage basins, Columbia Basin Project, Washington, 2003.
Table 3. Inorganic and organic analytes and schedules, analytical methods, and references.
Table 4. Pesticide target analytes, laboratory reporting levels, drinking water standards or guidelines, and aquatic-life benchmarks.
Table 5. Summary of field measurements and concentrations of inorganic constituents in surface-water samples collected from the four irrigation return-flow drainage basins, Columbia Basin Project, July 2002 through October 2004.
Table 6. Summary of calculated major ion ratios in surface-water samples collected from the four irrigation return-flow drainage basins, Columbia Basin Project, and the Columbia River, Washington, July 2002 to October 2004.
Table 7. Maximum concentrations and number of pesticide detections in the four irrigation return-flow drainage basins, Columbia Basin Project, Washington, July 2002 to October 2004.
Table 8. Summary of pesticide concentrations in the four irrigation return-flow drainage basins, Columbia Basin Project, Washington, July 2002 to October 2004.
Table 9. Summary of pesticide toxicity values for freshwater fish in the Columbia Basin Project, Washington.
Table 10. Herbicides applied to irrigation canals, roads, and rights of way along irrigation canals, drains, and return flows in the four irrigation return‑flow drainage basins, Columbia Basin Project, 2003.
Table 11. Estimated application for residential use of non-agricultural pesticides detected in water samples from the four irrigation return-flow drainage basins, Columbia Basin Project, Washington, July 2002 to October 2004.
Table 12. Pesticides with no reported residential or major agricultural use detected in water samples from the four irrigation return-flow drainage basins, Columbia Basin Project, Washington, July 2002 to October 2004.
Table 13. Detection rates of pesticides analyzed during the 1970s and from July 2002 to October 2004 in Crab Creek and Lind Coulee irrigation return-flow drainage basins, Columbia Basin Project, Washington.
Table 14. Detection rates of pesticides analyzed for during the 1990s and from July 2002 to October 2004 in the Crab Creek, Lind Coulee, and Sand Hollow irrigation return-flow drainage basins, Columbia Basin Project, Washington.
Table 15. Physical and chemical properties of pesticides frequently detected in four irrigation-return flow drainage basins in the Columbia Basin Project, Washington, July 2002 to October 2004.
Table 16. Concentrations and precision data for pesticide replicate samples, Columbia Basin Project, Washington, July 2002 to October 2004.
Table 17. Percentage of mean recoveries from field-matrix-pesticide analyses, Columbia Basin Project, Washington, July 2002 to October 2004.
Table 18. Pesticide concentrations analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, Columbia Basin Project, Washington, July 2002 to October 2004.
Table 19. Registration status of pesticides analyzed, Columbia Basin Project, Washington, July 2002 to October 2004.
Table 20. Summary of pesticides not detected, Columbia Basin Project, Washington, July 2002 to October 2004.
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Send questions or comments about this report to the author,
Richard J. Wagner
, (253) 428-3600 ext. 2685.
For more information about USGS activities in Washington, visit the
USGS Washington Water Science Center home page
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