Water-Quality Data, 1999-2005, and Ground-Water Level Data, 2004-2005, for McBaine Bottoms, Including the Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area, Columbia, Missouri

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the city of Columbia, Missouri,
and the Missouri Department of Conservation, collected ground-water quality
data from June 1999 through August 2005, surface-water quality data from August
1999 through August 2003, and water-level data from February 2004 through
August 2005 in McBaine Bottoms, southwest of Columbia. McBaine Bottoms,
adjacent to the Missouri River, is the location of the municipal-supply well
field for the city of Columbia, the city of Columbia wastewater-treatment
wetlands, and the Missouri Department of Conservation Eagle Bluffs Conservation
Area.

This report presents water-quality data, which include water-quality analyses
of samples collected from 36 water-quality sampling sites (31 were wells and 5
were surface-water sites), and ground-water level data, which include
water-level measurements from more than 80 wells. Water samples were analyzed
for physical properties, inorganic chemical constituents, nutrients, and
dissolved iron. Selected samples were analyzed for trace elements, wastewater
organic compounds, and pesticides.

In samples from monitoring wells, chloride concentrations ranged from 2.41 to
259 mg/L (milligrams per liter), sodium concentrations ranged from 1.08 to 175
mg/L, and sulfate concentrations ranged from less than 0.2 to 271 mg/L (all
concentrations were dissolved). Dissolved nitrite plus nitrate as nitrogen
concentrations ranged from less than 0.05 to 0.46 mg/L. Total phosphorous
concentrations ranged from less than 0.04 to 1.68 mg/L, dissolved phosphorous
concentrations ranged from less than 0.04 to 1.50 mg/L, and dissolved
orthophosphorous concentrations ranged from less than 0.01 to 1.83 mg/L.
Dissolved iron concentrations ranged from less than 6 to 42,900 g/L (micrograms
per liter). Dissolved arsenic concentrations in samples from two monitoring
wells ranged from 11 to 37 g/L.

In samples from surface-water sampling sites, chloride concentrations ranged
from 8.67 to 289 mg/L, sodium concentrations ranged from 6.18 to 219 mg/L, and
sulfate concentrations ranged from 33.4 to 119 mg/L. All of the minimum
concentrations were detected in samples from Perche Creek. Dissolved nitrite
plus nitrate as nitrogen concentrations ranged from less than 0.05 to 1.53
mg/L. Total phosphorous concentrations ranged from 0.07 to 3.06 mg/L, dissolved
phosphorous concentrations ranged from less than 0.05 to 2.88 mg/L, and
dissolved orthophosphorous concentrations ranged from less than 0.01 to 2.86
mg/L. Most of the maximum concentrations were detected in samples from the city
outflow.

More than 35 wastewater organic compounds and pesticides were detected in
samples from the city outflow. However, most concentrations were estimated or
their presence verified, but not quantified.

Water levels in monitoring wells ranged from 548.54 to 576.55 ft (feet) above
the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD 29). The difference in water
levels from February 2004 to August 2005 ranged from 0.13 ft to 10.97 ft.

[Summary provided by the USGS.]