DTIC ADA439958: Surface-Water Quality Assessment of the North Fork Red River Basin Upstream From Lake Altus, Oklahoma, 2002

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Prepared in cooperation with the
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
Surface-Water Quality Assessment of the North
Fork Red River Basin Upstream from Lake Altus,
Oklahoma, 2002
Open-File Report 03–362
PanoramicphotographofLakeAltusandWichitaMountainstakenfromTwinMountainWest,lookingsoutheast.PhotographtakenbyS.
Jerrod Smith, April 30, 2003, U.S. Geological Survey.
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Geological Survey
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2003 N/A -
4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER
Surface-Water Quality Assessment of the North Fork Red River Basin
5b. GRANT NUMBER
Upstream From Lake Altus, Oklahoma, 2002
5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER
6. AUTHOR(S) 5d. PROJECT NUMBER
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Surface-Water Quality Assessment of the
North Fork Red River Basin Upstream from
Lake Altus, Oklahoma, 2002
By S. Jerrod Smith, Martin L. Schneider, Jason R. Masoner, and Robert L. Blazs
Open–File Report 03–362
Prepared in cooperation with the
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Department of the Interior
Gale P. Norton, Secretary
U.S. Geological Survey
Charles G. Groat, Director
For sale by U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services
Box 25286, Denver Federal Center
Denver, CO 80225
District Chief
U.S. Geological Survey
202 NW 66 St., Bldg. 7
Oklahoma City, OK 73116
For more information about the USGS and its products:
Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS
World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov/
Information about water resources in Oklahoma is available on the World Wide Web at
http://ok.water.usgs.gov
Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply
endorsement by the U.S. Government.
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: OKLAHOMA CITY 2003
iii
CONTENTS
Abstract. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Purpose and scope. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Description of the study area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Hydrogeologic setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Water use. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Land use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Methods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Surface-water quality. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
References cited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
FIGURES
1.–4. Maps showing:
1.NorthForkRedRiverbasinupstreamfromLakeAltuswithlocationsofstreamflow-gaging
stations and water-quality-monitoring stations.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
2. Lugert-Altus Irrigation District with locations of canals and laterals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
3.LanduseintheNorthForkRedRiverstudyarea,withlocationsofstreamflow-gaging
stations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
4. Major aquifers and 1995 water-withdrawal statistics in the North Fork Red River study area. . . . .6
5.–6. Hydrographs showing streamflow and estimated base-flow hydrographs for streamflow-
gaging stations on:
5. Sweetwater Creek, July 2002 (station numbers 07301410 and 07301420) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
6. North Fork Red River, July 2002 (station numbers 07301300 and 07301500) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
7.–9. Graphs showing concentrations of dissolved solids, sulfate, and chloride for stations on:
7. Sweetwater Creek, July 9–10, 2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
8. North Fork Red River, July 8–11, 2002. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
9. Tributaries of North Fork Red River and Sweetwater Creek, July 8–10, 2002. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
10.–12. Maps showing North Fork Red River study area with graduated symbols representing:
10. Dissolved solids concentrations, July 8–11, 2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
11. Sulfate concentrations, July 8–11, 2002. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
12. Chloride concentrations, July 8–11, 2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
13.Piperdiagramshowingmajor-ioncompositionintheNorthForkRedRiver,SweetwaterCreek,
McClellan Creek, and other tributaries, July 8–11, 2002. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
TABLES
1.Activestreamflow-gagingstationsintheNorthForkRedRiverbasinupstreamfromLakeAltus,
Oklahoma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
2.ReconnaissancemeasurementsofspecificconductanceintheNorthForkRedRiverstudyarea,
June 2002. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
iv
3.Laboratoryanalysismethodsformeasuredwater-qualityconstituentsinU.S.GeologicalSurvey
schedule 2750 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
4.Waterpropertiesandmajor-ionconcentrationsofsurface-watersamplesintheNorthFork
Red River study area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
v
Conversion Factors and Datum
Multiply By To obtain
Length
inch (in.) 2.54 centimeter (cm)
inch (in.) 25.4 millimeter (mm)
foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m)
mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km)
Area
acre 4,047 square meter (m2)
square mile (mi2) 2.590 square kilometer (km2)
Volume
cubic foot (ft3) 0.02832 cubic meter (m3)
acre-foot (acre-ft) 1,233 cubic meter (m3)
Flow rate
cubic foot per second (ft3/s) 0.02832 cubic meter per second (m3/s)
gallon per minute (gal/min) 0.06309 liter per second (L/s)
gallon per day (gal/d) 0.003785 cubic meter per day (m3/d)
million gallons per day (Mgal/d) 0.04381 cubic meter per second (m3/s)
Temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) may be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (°F) asfollows:
°F = (1.8×°C) + 32
Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83).
Concentrationsofchemicalconstituentsinwateraregiveneitherinmilligramsperliter(mg/L)or
micrograms per liter (µg/L).
Surface-Water Quality Assessment of the North Fork Red
River Basin Upstream from Lake Altus, Oklahoma, 2002
By S. Jerrod Smith, Martin L. Schneider, Jason R. Masoner, and Robert L. Blazs
Abstract gaging stations in the basin show an increased proportion of
base flow as well as substantial decreases in annual peak dis-
charges over the past few decades (Smith and Wahl, 2003).
Elevated salinity in the North Fork Red River is a major
Understanding the relation between surface-water runoff,
concern of the Bureau of Reclamation W. C. Austin Project at
ground-waterdischarge,andsurface-waterqualityisimportant
Lake Altus. Understanding the relation between surface-water
for maintaining the beneficial use of water in the North Fork
runoff, ground-water discharge, and surface-water quality is
Red River basin.
important for maintaining the beneficial use of water in the
The Bureau of Reclamation began construction of the
North Fork Red River basin. Agricultural practices, petroleum
Lake Altus dam in 1941 as part of the W.C. Austin Project.
production,andnaturaldissolutionofsalt-bearingbedrockhave
Storage operations began in 1946, and the project was com-
the potential to influence the quality of nearby surface water.
pletedin1948(OklahomaWaterResourcesBoard,1990).The
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the
purposesoftheprojectwerefloodcontrol,watersupplyforthe
Bureau of Reclamation, sampled stream discharge and water
city of Altus, and irrigation (Blazs and others, 2003). In 2002,
chemistryat19stationsontheNorthForkRedRiverandtribu-
the Lugert-Altus Irrigation District withdrew about 57,700
taries.Tocharacterizesurface-waterresourcesofthebasinina
acre-feet (L. Hall, Bureau of Reclamation, written commun.,
systematicmanner,sampleswerecollectedsynopticallyduring
2002)fromthelaketosustainabout46,000acresofagricultural
receding streamflow conditions during July 8-11, 2002.
land south of Lake Altus (A. Ensley, Lugert-Altus Irrigation
Together, sulfate and chloride usually constitute greater
District, oral commun., 2002; fig. 2).
than half of the dissolved solids. Concentrations of sulfate
As water-use requirements increased in the basin, con-
ranged from 87.1 to 3,450 milligrams per liter. The minimum
cernswereexpressedabouttheeffectsofrunoffretentionstruc-
valuewasmeasuredatMcClellanCreeknearBack(07301220),
turesandground-waterwithdrawalsonthequantityandquality
and the maximum value was measured at Bronco Creek near
ofwaterflowingintoLakeAltus.Determinationofbothstream
Twitty (07301303). Concentrations of chloride ranged from
discharge and chemistry was necessary to evaluate water
33.2 to 786 milligrams per liter. The minimum value was mea-
resources in the basin. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooper-
sured at a North Fork Red River tributary (unnamed) near
ation with the Bureau of Reclamation, sampled stream dis-
Twitty (07301310), and the maximum value was measured at
chargeandwaterchemistryat19stationsontheNorthForkRed
the North Fork Red River near Back (07301190), the most
River and tributaries.
upstream sample station.
Purpose and Scope
Introduction
Thepurposeofthisreportistopresentdatafromasurface-
waterqualityassessmentthatwillbeusedtoassesstheground-
Elevated salinity in the North Fork Red River is a major
waterandsurface-waterinteractionintheNorthForkRedRiver
concern of the Bureau of Reclamation W. C. Austin Project at
upstream from Lake Altus. To characterize surface-water
Lake Altus. The concentration of dissolved solids, especially
resources of the basin in a systematic manner, samples were
sulfate and chloride, generally increases downstream as the
collected synoptically during receding streamflow conditions
riverpassesoversalt-bearingrocksofPermianage(Smithand
duringJuly8-11,2002.Thesedatacanbeusedtosupportmod-
Wahl, 2003). Ongoing studies in the North Fork Red River
elingofground-waterandsurface-waterinteractionforthepur-
basin (fig. 1) indicate changes in water sources that could con-
pose of identifying areas where ground-water contribution has
tribute to impaired surface-water quality. Some streamflow-
asubstantialeffectonsurface-waterquality.Thedatapresented
2 Surface-Water Quality Assessment of the North Fork Red River Basin Upstream from Lake Altus, Oklahoma, 2002
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