Geology topics

Martin R. Risch

Publications and source records attributed to Martin R. Risch.

21 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

USGS2005

Mercury in the Grand Calumet River/Indiana Harbor Canal and Lake Michigan, Lake County, Indiana, August 2001 and May 2002

Water samples from the Grand Calumet River/Indiana Harbor Canal and Lake Michigan in Lake County, Indiana, were collected and analyzed for mercury. Sampling was done with ultra-clean protocols, and mercury was analyzed by low-level methods during seasons of contrasting weather and streamflow conditions in August 2001 and May 2002. Total mercury concentrations in all the Grand Calumet River/Indiana Harbor Canal samples exceeded the 1.3 nanogram per liter Indiana water-quality standard for waters within the Great Lakes system. Total mercury concentrations in the Lake Michigan samples did not exceed the Indiana water-quality standard. Total mercury and methylmercury concentrations were larger in more samples collected during the wet-weather streamflow conditions in May 2002 than in samples collected during the dry-weather streamflow conditions in August 2001. The largest total mercury concentrations were in samples collected from the West Branch Grand Calumet River near wetlands and municipal-effluent outfalls (17.2 nanograms per liter) and in samples collected from the Indiana Harbor Canal near the confluence of the East Branch and West Branch Grand Calumet River (16.0 nanograms per liter). Particulate total mercury was the predominant form of total mercury detected in samples from the Grand Calumet River/Indiana Harbor Canal. Methylmercury concentrations were no more than 1.5 percent of the total mercury concentrations in August 2001 and no more than 6.2 percent in May 2002. Nearly all methylmercury was particulate and was correlated to concentrations of dissolved solids, total organic carbon, and sulfate. The estimated composition of most of the suspended solids in the water samples from the Grand Calumet River/ Indiana Harbor Canal was sediment larger than medium clay containing minimal organic carbon and plant matter. Total mercury loads in the Indiana Harbor Canal during the time of water sampling were as large as 703 milligrams per hour in August 2001 and 542 milligrams per hour in May 2002. As much as 21 percent of the instantaneous mercury load in some stream reaches could have come from ground-water discharge. Data from this study have implications for a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for mercury in the Grand Calumet River/Indiana Harbor Canal. Comparisons of data from this study with historical data do not show substantial changes in the distribution of mercury in the study area from 1994 through 2002. Treated municipal effluent had larger mercury concentrations than industrial effluent and presents a potential for larger mercury loads that could be controlled to achieve a TMDL, based on concentration. Mercury in ground-water discharge may be difficult to control to achieve a TMDL because of its diffuse and widespread distribution.

Indiana↗

USGS2004

Chemical and biological quality of surface water at the U.S. Army Atterbury Reserve Forces Training Area near Edinburgh, Indiana, September 2000 through July 2001

A base-wide assessment of surface-water quality at the U.S. Army Atterbury Reserve Forces Training Area near Edinburgh, Indiana, examined short-term and long-term quality of surface water flowing into, across, and out of a 33,760-acre study area. The 30-day geometric-mean concentrations of fecal-indicator bacteria ( Escherichia coli ) in water samples from all 16 monitoring sites on streams in the study area were greater than the Indiana recreational water-quality standard. None of the bacteria concentrations in samples from four lakes exceeded the standard. Half the samples with bacteria concentrations greater than the single-sample standard contained chemical tracers potentially associated with human sewage. Increased turbidity of water samples was related statistically to increased bacteria concentration. Lead concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 2.0 micrograms per liter were detected in water samples at seven monitoring sites. Lead in one sample collected during high-streamflow conditions was greater than the calculated Indiana water-quality standard. With the exception of Escherichia coli and lead, 211 of 213 chemical constituents analyzed in water samples did not exceed Indiana water-quality standards. Out of 131 constituents analyzed in streambed-sediment and fish-tissue samples from three sites in the Common Impact Area for weapons training, the largest concentrations overall were detected for copper, lead, manganese, strontium, and zinc. Fish-community integrity, based on diversity and pollution tolerance, was rated poor at one of those three sites. Compared with State criteria, the fish-community data indicated 8 of 10 stream reaches in the study area could be categorized as "fully supporting" aquatic-life uses.

Indiana↗

USGS1999

Hydrogeologic investigations by the U.S. Geological Survey at the former Fort Benjamin Harrison, Marion County, Indiana

As part of the U.S. Department of Defense Base Realignment and Closure process, the former Fort Benjamin Harrison in Marion County, Indiana (called 'Fort Harrison' in this fact sheet), was placed on the Base Closure List in 1991. Property disposal and reuse activities began when Fort Harrison was decommissioned in 1995; work continues through 1999. Fort Harrison was located on approximately 2,500 acres about 10 miles northeast of downtown Indianapolis, Ind., in the City of Lawrence (fig. 1). Since 1903, the installation served as a major training facility that at times included schools, a hospital, and Army Finance and Soldier Support Centers. In 1996, the Army leased 1,700 acres of woodland and recreational facilities to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources as Fort Harrison State Park. Another 550 acres became privately owned for industrial, commercial, and residential purposes.

Indiana↗