USGS

Hydrology and Water Quality near Bromide Pavilion in Chickasaw National Recreation Area, Murray County, Oklahoma, 2000

 

By William J. Andrews and Steven P. Burrough1

 

1National Park Service

 

This report is also available as a pdf.

 

U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 01-4250


 

ABSTRACT

The Bromide Pavilion in Chickasaw National Recreation Area drew many thousands of people annually to drink the mineral-rich waters piped from nearby Bromide and Medicine Springs. Periodic detection of fecal coliform bacteria in water piped to the pavilion from the springs, low yields of the springs, or flooding by adjacent Rock Creek prompted National Park Service officials to discontinue piping of the springs to the pavilion in the 1970s. Park officials would like to resume piping mineralized spring water to the pavilion to restore it as a visitor attraction, but they are concerned about the ability of the springs to provide sufficient quantities of potable water.

Pumping and sampling of Bromide and Medicine Springs and Rock Creek six times during 2000 indicate that these springs may not provide sufficient water for Bromide Pavilion to supply large numbers of visitors. A potential problem with piping water from Medicine Spring is the presence of an undercut, overhanging cliff composed of conglomerate, which may collapse. Evidence of intermittent inundation of the springs by Rock Creek and seepage of surface water into the spring vaults from the adjoining creek pose a threat of contamination of the springs.

Escherichia coli, fecal coliform, and fecal streptococcal bacteria were detected in some samples from the springs, indicating possible fecal contamination. Cysts of Giardia lamblia and oocysts of Cryptosporidium parvum protozoa were not detected in the creek or the springs. Total culturable enteric viruses were detected in only one water sample taken from Rock Creek.

CONTENTS

Abstract

Introduction

Purpose and scope

Acknowledgments

Description of the study area

Methods

Sampling procedures and water-quality analyses

Quality-control sampling

Hydrology

Streamflow

Spring yields

Water Quality

Historic major ion concentrations

Water properties

Fecal-indicator bacteria

Protozoa and microparticulate analyses

Total culturable enteric viruses

Summary

Reference cited

Appendix

  1. Analyses of two replicate samples collected at Chickasaw National Recreation Area, 2000
  2. Analyses of two equipment blank samples collected at Chickasaw National Recreation Area, 2000

 

For additional information write to:

 

District Chief

U.S. Geological Survey

Water-Resources Division

202 NW 66 St., Bldg. 7

Oklahoma City, OK 73116

 

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U.S. Geological Survey,

Information Service

Box 25286,

Federal Center

Denver, CO 80224

 

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For more information about USGS activities in Oklahoma, visit the USGS Oklahoma District home page.

 

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