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Hydrological, Chemical, and Biological Characterization of the Snake River and Associated Tributaries and Irrigation Drains from River Mile 448 to 346, 2022

Metadata Updated: July 6, 2024

This dataset includes field hydrologic measurements and laboratory analyses of surface and pore waters, sediments, benthic plants/biofilms, and biota along the Middle Snake River upgradient of the Hells Canyon Complex. The study region for this work focuses on a section of the Snake River heavily utilized for agriculture, with complex systems of irrigation diversion and return drainage, spanning 164 km above the Hells Canyon Complex (Idaho, Oregon). The goal of this study was to identify potential loading sources of methylmercury from the upgradient Snake River into the reservoir complex, with a focus on the tributaries, irrigation return drains, and riparian zones adjacent to agricultural lands along the river. To this end, 16 locations along the Snake River between River Miles 448 and 346 were sampled over a four-day period, July 11 – 14, 2022. At each sampling site, pore water and sediment cores were collected in the shallow riparian zones along the edge of the river, surface waters were collected from cross-sections of the river, river flow and velocity were measured, submerged macrophytes and associated biofilm was collected, and biota (snails, amphipods, clams, periphyton, dragonfly larvae) were sampled from shallow riparian margins using a boat-mounted benthic suction dredge. Concurrently, water samples were collected from the six major tributaries that enter the Snake River in the study reach (Succor Creek, Owyhee River, Boise River, Malheur River, Payette River, Weiser River) and from six irrigation return drains that were actively discharging to the Snake River. Data from additional irrigation return drains to the study reach, sampled in June 2021 and May 2022, are also included. All water samples (surface and pore water) were processed and analyzed for filter-passing total mercury and methylmercury, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), dissolved organic matter (DOM) composition (UV-vis absorption and fluorescence), inorganic anions (chloride, nitrate, sulfate), and filter acidified metals (iron, manganese). In addition, the surface waters were analyzed for total suspended solids (TSS), particulate total and methylmercury, particulate organic carbon (POC) and stable isotopic composition, particulate nitrogen (PN) content and stable isotopic composition, and particulate metals (iron, manganese); and the pore waters were analyzed for inorganic sulfide (S(-II)). Sediment, submerged macrophytes and biofilms, and biota samples were dried, ground, and analyzed for total and methylmercury. Loss on ignition was also measured on the sediment samples. This data release includes eight metadata and data tables in machine readable format (*.csv). All data columns in tables 3-8 are defined in Table 2. Reference Table 2 for associated units, abbreviation definitions, laboratory information, and method citations. Table_1_Site_Descriptions.csv - site descriptions Table_2_Analysis_Descriptions.csv - data dictionary defining column headings in Tables 3-8 Table_3_Water_SW.csv - surface water chemistry data Table_4_Water_PW.csv - pore water chemistry data Table_5_Sediment.csv - sediment chemistry data Table_6_Macrophytes_and_Biofilms.csv - submerged macrophyte and biofilm data Table_7_Hydrology.csv - hydrologic data Table_8_Biota.csv - biota data

Access & Use Information

Public: This dataset is intended for public access and use. License: No license information was provided. If this work was prepared by an officer or employee of the United States government as part of that person's official duties it is considered a U.S. Government Work.

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Dates

Metadata Created Date November 29, 2023
Metadata Updated Date July 6, 2024

Metadata Source

Harvested from DOI EDI

Additional Metadata

Resource Type Dataset
Metadata Created Date November 29, 2023
Metadata Updated Date July 6, 2024
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Maintainer
@Id http://datainventory.doi.gov/id/dataset/4cd2c2d37582b557bfa929dcf1b0c47c
Identifier USGS:64e5fea7d34e736b81e1a180
Data Last Modified 20231019
Category geospatial
Public Access Level public
Bureau Code 010:12
Metadata Context https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema/catalog.jsonld
Metadata Catalog ID https://datainventory.doi.gov/data.json
Schema Version https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema
Catalog Describedby https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema/catalog.json
Harvest Object Id b97d5710-d2fd-4bdd-a607-c55ec427dcb2
Harvest Source Id 52bfcc16-6e15-478f-809a-b1bc76f1aeda
Harvest Source Title DOI EDI
Metadata Type geospatial
Old Spatial -117.0713,43.2652,-116.4798,44.2528
Publisher Hierarchy White House > U.S. Department of the Interior > U.S. Geological Survey
Source Datajson Identifier True
Source Hash df9aaad0d54b1e4a6d703a579f72183d7523f0ab84005257a22fffd7b77f414b
Source Schema Version 1.1
Spatial {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": -117.0713, 43.2652, -117.0713, 44.2528, -116.4798, 44.2528, -116.4798, 43.2652, -117.0713, 43.2652}

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