Coupled Transport and Geochemical Processes Determining the Fate of Chemicals in Surface Waters

Coupled transport and biogeochemical processes determine the fate of chemicals both naturally present in surface waters and those introduced through anthropogenic activities. In mountainous environments, coupled processes operate at scales which can be years and kilometers in watersheds or minutes and decimeters in the hyporheic zone. Although individual processes are often well understood in isolation, the ability to quantify chemical fate across the stream-watershed continuum requires development in design of field experiments and mechanistic formulations to integrate interpretation of multiple processes. This project will develop experimental field techniques and mechanistic formulations to quantitatively identify rates and extents of transport within the stream- watershed continuum. It will focus on transport processes which most influence the fate of chemicals introduced from the surrounding watershed into pristine streams (for example, natural dissolved organic materials and nutrients, as well as, acid mine drainage).

Read about

• The application (OTIS) of the Transient Storage concept for stream solute transport in the context of stream-catchment connections.
• Transient storage & selected related hyporheic zone references.
• OTIS (One Dimensional Transport with Inflow and Storage): A solute transport model for streams and rivers (Runkel, 1998).
• Use of tracer injections and synoptic sampling to measure metal loading from acid mine drainage.
• Use of tracer injections and synoptic sampling to measure metal loading from acid mine drainage (Kimball, 1996).
• A Rhodamine WT reader: Readings on the reactivity and transport characteristics of this tracer.
• A bromide reader: readings on the use of bromide as a stream tracer.
• Publications of USGS standard methods for stream tracer injection studies.

REPORTS PUBLISHED 1995-2004

American Society of Limnology and Oceanography, 2003, Emerging Research Questions for Limnology - Study of Inland Waters: Workshop, Dec, 2002, American Society of Limnology and Oceanography, Waco, Texas, 48 p. (on-line report)

Cox, M.H., and Hatch, C., 2003, Water temperature, streamflow, and ground-water elevation in and adjacent to the Russian River between Hopland and Guerneville, CA from 1998-2002: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 03-454. (on-line report)

Cox, M.H., Mendez, G.O., Kratzer, C.R., and Reichard, E.G., 2003, Evaluation of tracer tests completed in 1999 and 2000 on the upper Santa Clara River, Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, California: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 03-4277. (on-line abstract or to download report in pdf format - 5.8 MB)

Scott, D.T., Gooseff, M.N., Bencala, K.E., and Runkel,R.L., 2003, Automated calibration of a stream solute transport model: implications for interpretation of biogeochemical parameters:Journal of the North American Benthological Society, v. 22, no. 4, p. 492-510. (on-line abstract)

Cox, M., Rosenberry, D.O., Su, G., Conlon, T., Lee, K. and Constanz, J.E., 2002, Comparison of methods to estimate streambed seepage rates, in Kenny, J.E., ed., Ground Water/Surface Water Interactions: AWRA 2002 Summer Specialty Conference Proceedings, American Water Resources Association, Middleburg VA, p. 519-523.

Kimball, B.A., Runkel, R.L., Walton-Day, K., and Bencala, K.E., 2002, Assessment of metal loads in watersheds affected by acid mine drainage by using tracer injection synoptic sampling: Cement Creek, Colorado, USA: Applied Geochemistry, v. 17, no. 9, p. 1183-1207. (on-line abstract)

McKnight, D.M., Hornberger, G.M., Bencala, K.E., Boyer, E.W., 2002, In-stream sorption of fulvic acid in an acidic stream: A stream-scale transport experiment: Water Resources Research, v.. 38, no. 1, p. 6-1 - 6-12. (on-line abstract)

Brooks, P.D., McKnight, D.M., and Bencala, K.E., 2001, Annual maxima in Zn concentrations during spring snowmelt in streams impacted by mine drainage: Environmental Geology, no 11/12, p. 1447-1454. (on-line abstract)

Hinkle, S.R., Duff, J.H., Triska, F.J., Laenen, A., Gates, E.B., Bencala, K.E., Wentz, D.A., Silva, S.R., 2001, Linking hyporheic flow and nitrogen cycling near the Willamette River - a large river in Oregon, USA: Journal of Hydrology, v. 244, p. 157-180. (on-line abstract)

Laenan, A., and Bencala, K.E., 2001, Transient storage assessments of dye-tracer injections in rivers of the Willamette Basin, Oregon: Journal of the American Water Resources Association, v. 37, p. 367-377.

Ortiz, R.F., and Bencala, K.E., 2001, Determination of instream metal loads using tracer-injection and synoptic-sampling techniques in Wightman Fork, southwestern Colorado, September 1997: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 00-4154, 26 p. (on-line abstract)

Bencala, K.E., 2000, Invited Commentary: Hyporheic zone hydrological processes: Hydrological Processes, v. 14, p. 2,797-2,798. (on-line article or article in pdf format)

Boyer, E.W., Hornberger, G.M., Bencala, K.E., and McKnight, D.M., 2000, Effects of asynchronous snowmelt on flushing of dissolved organic carbon: A mixing model approach: Hydrological Processes, v. 14, p. 3,291-3,308. (on-line abstract or on-line article in pdf format)

Kimball, B.A., Bencala, K.E., and Runkel, R.L., 2000, Quantifying effects of metal loadings from mine drainage: Proceedings from the Fifth International Conference on Acid Rock Drainage, Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc., Littleton, Colo., p. 1381-1389.

Packman, A.I., and Bencala, K.E., 2000, Modeling surface - subsurface hydrologic interactions, in Jones, J.B., and Mulholland, P.J., eds., Streams and Ground Waters: Academic Press, p. 45-80.

Schemel, L.E., Kimball, B.A., and Bencala, K.E., 2000, Colloid formation and metal transport through two mixing zones affected by acid mine drainage near Silverton, Colorado: Applied Geochemistry, v.15, p. 1003-1018. (on-line abstract)

Walton-Day, K., Runkle, R.L., Kimball, B.A., and Bencala, K.E., 2000, Application of the solute-transport models OTIS and OTEQ and implications for remediation in a watershed affected by acid mine drainage, Cement Creek, Animas River Basin, Colorado: Proceedings from the Fifth International Conference on Acid Rock Drainage, Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc., Littleton, Colo., p. 389-399.

Bencala, K.E., and Ortiz, R.F., 1999, Theory and(or) reality: Analysis of sulfate mass-balance at Summitville, Colorado poses proces questions about the estimation of metal loadings, in Morganwalp, D.W., and Buxton, H.T., eds., U.S. Geological Survey Toxic Substances Hydrology Proggram--Proceedings of the Technical Meeting, Charleston, South Carolina, March 8-12, 1999: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 99-4018A, p. 119-122. (on-line abstract and to obtain report in pdf format)

Boyer, E.W., Mcknight, D.M., Bencala, K.E., Brooks, P.D., Anthony, M.W., Zellweger, G.W., and Harnish, R.E., 1999, Streamflow and water quality characteristics for the Upper Snake River and Deer Creek Catchments in Summit County, Colorado: Water Years 1980 to 1990: Occasional Paper No. 53, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, 81 p. + diskett. (on-line abstract)

Brooks, P.D., McKnight, D.M., and Bencala, K.E., 1999, The relationship between soil heterotrophic activity, soil dissolved carbon (DOC) leachate, and catchment-scale DOC export in headwater catchments: Water Resources Research, v. 35, p. 1895-1902. (on-line abstract)

Kimball, B.A., Runkel, R.L., Bencala, K.E., and Walton-Day, K., 1999, Use of tracer-injection and synoptic-sampling studies to quantify effects of metal loading from mine drainage, in Morganwalp, D.W., and Buxton, H.T., eds., U.S. Geological Survey Toxic Substances Hydrology Program--Proceedings of the Technical Meeting, Charleston, South Carolina, March 8-12, 1999: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations report 99-4018A, p. 31-36. (on-line abstract and to obtain report in pdf format)

Kimball, B.A., Bencala, K.E., and Besser, J.M., 1999, Synthesis of watershed characterization for making remediation decisions in Morganwalp, D.W., and Buxton, H.T., eds., U.S. Geological Survey Toxic Substances Hydrology Program--Proceedings of the Technical Meeting, Charleston, South Carolina, March 8-12, 1999: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations report 99-4018A, p. 3-7. (on-line abstract and to obtain report in pdf format)

Runkel, R.L., Bencala, K.E., and Kimball, B.A., 1999, Modeling solute transport and geochemistry in streams and rivers using OTIS and OTEQ, in Morganwalp, D.W., and Buxton, H.T., eds., U.S. Geological Survey Toxic Substances Hydrology Program--Proceedings of the Technical Meeting, Charleton, South Carolina, March 8-12, 1999: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 99-4018A, p. 109-118. (on-line abstract and to obtain report in pdf format)

Runkel, R.L., Kimball, B.A., McKnight, D.M., and Bencala, K.E., 1999, Reactive solute transport in streams: A surface complexation approach for trace metal sorption. Water Resources Research, v. 35, no. 12, p. 3829-3840. (on-line abstract)

Schemel, L.E, Cox, M.H., Kimball, B.A., and Bencala, K.E., Partitioning of zinc between dissolved and colloidal phases in the Animas River near Silverton, Colorado, in Morganwalp, D.W., and Buxton, H.T., eds., U.S. Geological Survey Toxic Substances Hydrology Program--Proceedings of the Technical Meeting, Charleton, South Carolina, March 8-12, 1999: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 99-4018A, p. 63-66. (on-line abstract and to obtain report in pdf format)

Schemel, L.E., Kimball, B.A., and Bencala, K.E., 1999, Colloid formation and the transport of aluminum and iron in the Animas River near Silverton, Colorado, in Morganwalp, D.W., and Buxton, H.T., eds., U.S. Geological Survey Toxic Substances Hydrology Program--Proceedings of the Technical Meeting, Charleston, South Carolina, March 8-12, 1999: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 99-4018A, p. 59-62. (on-line abstract and to obtain report in pdf format)

Walton-Day, K., Runkel, R.L., Kimball, B.A., and Bencala, K.E., 1999, Application fo the solute-transport models OTIS and OTEQ and implications for remediation in a watershed affected by acid mine drainage, in Morganwalp, D.W., and Buxton, H.T., eds., U.S. Geological Survey Toxic Substances Hydrology Program--Proceedings of the Technical Meeting, Charleston, South Carolina, March 8-12, 1999: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 99-4018A, p. 37-46 (on-line abstract)

Myhre, S.H., and Bencala, K.E., 1998, Surface-water quality data: Permanente and Saratoga Creeks, Santa Clara Valley, California, Water Year 1997: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 98-4, 39 p.

Wentz, D .A., Bonn, B.A., Carpenter, K.D., Hinkle, S.R., Janet, M.L., Rinella, F.A., Uhrich, M.A., Waite, L.R., Laenen, A., and Bencala, K.E., 1998, Water quality in the Willamette Basin, Oregon, 1991-95: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1161, 34p. (on-line report)

Boyer, E.W., Hornberger, G.M., Bencala, K.E., and McKnight, D.M., 1997, Response characteristics of DOC flushing in an alpine catchment: Hydrological Processes, v. 11, p. 1635-1647. (on-line abstract)

Boyer, E.W., Hornberger, G.M., Bencala, K.E., and McKnight, D.M., 1996, Overview of a simple model describing variation of dissolved organic carbon in an upland catchment: Ecological Modeling, v. 86, p. 183-188. (on-line abstract)

Broshears, R.E., Runkel, R.L., Kimball, B.A., McKnight, D.M., and Bencala, K.E., 1996, Reactive solute transport in an acidic stream: Experimantal pH increase and simulation of controls on pH, aluminum, and iron: Environmental Science and Technology, v. 30, p. 3016-3024. (on-line abstract)

Harvey, J.W., Wagner, B.J., and Bencala, K.E., 1996, Evaluating the reliability of the stream tracer approach to characterize stream-subsurface water exchange: Water Resources Research, v. 32, p. 2441-2451.

Runkel, R.L., Bencala, K.E., Broshears, R.E., and Chapra, S.C., 1996, Reactive solute transport in streams 1. Development of an equilibrium-based model: Water Resources Research, v. 32, p. 409-418.

Runkel, R.L., McKnight, D.M., Bencala, R.E., and Chapra, S.C., 1996, Reactive solute transport in streams 2. Simulation of a pH modification experiment: Water Resources Research, v. 32, p. 419-430.

Boyer, E.W., Hornberger, G.M., Bencala, K.E., and McKnight, D.M., 1995, Variation of dissolved organic carbon during snowmelt in soil and stream waters of two headwaters catchments in Summit County, Colorado, IAHS Pub. No. 228, p. 303-312.

Constantz, J., and Zellweger, G.W., 1995, Relations between stream temperature, discharge, and stream/groundwater interaction along several mountain streams: Proceedings of the Canadian Water Resources Association Conference on Mountain Hydrology, p. 79-84.

Harvey, J.W., and Nuttle, W.K., 1995, Fluxes of water and solute in a coastal wetland sediment 2: Effect of macropores on solute exchange with surface water: Journal of Hydrology,.v. 164, p. 109-125.

McKnight, D.M., Bencala, K.E., Harnish, R.A., and Runkel, R.L., 1995, Difficulties with intermediate scale experiments for studies of iron chemistry in acid mine drainage streams, in Morganwalp, D.W., and Aronson, D.A., ed., U.S. Geological Survey Toxic Substances Hydrology Program-- Proceedings of the Technical Meeting, Colorado Springs, Colo., September 20-24, 1993: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 94-4015, p. 789-796. (on-line abstract)

Nuttle, W.K., and Harvey, J.W., 1995, Fluxes of water and solute in a coastal wetland sediment 1: The contribution of regional groundwater discharge: Journal of Hydrology, v. 164, p. 89-107.

Runkel, R.L., and Bencala, K.E., 1995, Transport of reacting solutes in rivers and streams, in Singh, V.P., ed., Environmental Hydrology: Kluwer Academic Publishers, p. 137-164.

Runkel, R.L., Bencala, K.E., and Broshears, R.E., 1995, An equilibrium-based simulation model for reactive solute transport in small streams, in Morganwalp, D.W., and Aronson, D.A., ed., U.S. Geological Survey Toxic Substances Hydrology Program--Proceedings of the Technical Meeting, Colorado Springs, Colo., September 20-24, 1993: U.S. Geological Survey Water- Resources Investigations Report 94-4015, p. 775-780. (on-line abstract)

Zellweger, G.W., 1995, Tracer injections in small streams--Why and how we do them: in Morganwalp, D.W., and Aronson, D.A., ed., U.S. Geological Survey Toxic Substances Hydrology Program--Proceedings of the Technical Meeting, Colorado Springs, Colo., September 20-24, 1993: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 94-4015, p. 765-768. (on-line abstract)

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PROJECT, CONTACT:
Kenneth E. Bencala
U.S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Rd, MS 439, Menlo Park, CA 94025
Email: kbencala@usgs.gov
Telephone: 650-329-4409

Laurence E. Schemel
U.S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Rd, MS 439, Menlo Park, CA 94025
Internet: lschemel@usgs.gov
Telephone: 650-329-4436
For additional publications by Laurence E. Schemel, see Geochemistry of Riverine and Estuarine Waters.

Marisa H.Cox
U.S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Rd, MS 439, Menlo Park, CA 94025
Email: mhcox@usgs.gov
Telephone: 650-329-4345

For information on additional projects in the National Research Program, see Indexes to NRP projects and bibliographies