Water-quality investigation of the Vache Grasse Creek watershed, Sebastian County, Arkansas

The results of a 1-year study in the upper Vache Grasse Creek watershed, Sebastian County, AR., are presented to document surface-water quality conditions before implementation of Soil Conservation Service programs. Analysis of samples collected at four sites showed that during periods of warm weather several of the parameters sampled produced unusually high or low values that indicated possible water-quality problems. Low dissolved-oxygen concentration, high nitrogen and organic carbon concentrations, and high coliform bacteria counts were at sampling sites upstream from the Greenwood water-supply lake. Sampling in and downstream from the lake indicated that the quality of the water passing through the lake was improved significantly. However, sampling in the lake indicated that there is a large layer of water with low oxygen concentration and a buildup of phosphorus, iron, manganese, and some other metals in the bottom ooze. (Woodard-USGS)