Concentrations of Copper and Trace Elements in Surface and Pore Water at Release Areas for Translocated White Sturgeon (Acipenser Transmontanus) Larvae in the Upper Columbia River near Kettle Falls, Washington

Smelter slag, containing copper and other trace elements, is widespread in riverbed sediments in the Upper Columbia River near Kettle Falls, WA. To evaluate the potential risk to aquatic life, concentrations of copper and other trace elements were measured in the shallow pore and surface water collected near the sediment-water interface. An in situ pore-water profiler was used to collect a suite of four water samples from above, at, and below the sediment-water interface at each of 11 sampling locations. Samples were collected between July 19-21, 2017. The analysis of water samples included specific conductance, pH, alkalinity, dissolved organic carbon, and a suite of major anions, cations, and trace elements.