Title:
The Spatial Distribution of Dissolved Pesticides in Surface Water of the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin in Relation to Land Use and Pesticide Runoff-Potential Ratings, May 1994
The Spatial Distribution of Dissolved Pesticides in Surface Water of the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin in Relation to Land Use and Pesticide Runoff-Potential Ratings, May 1994
Author(s)
Hippe, Daniel J.
Garrett, Jerry W.
Garrett, Jerry W.
Advisor(s)
Editor(s)
Hatcher, Kathryn J.
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Abstract
During baseflow conditions in May 1994,
streamwater samples were collected and analyzed from 67
locations in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF)
River basin. These data were used to evaluate the number and
concentrations of dissolved pesticides present in streams in
relation to (1) predominant land uses in the ACF River basin;
(2) location along the mainstem of the Chattahoochee, Flint,
and Apalachicola Rivers and selected large tributaries; and (3)
pesticide runoff characteristics. In comparisons of streamwater samples from groups of
small watersheds representing the predominant land uses in
the ACF River basin (referred to as indicator sites), pesticides
were detected most frequently and at highest concentrations in
urban watersheds; followed by suburban, rowcrop agriculture,
poultry and livestock production, and forested watersheds.
Herbicides used for selective preemergent weed control had
the widest distribution among indicator sites; however,
herbicides used for nonselective weed control were present at
highest concentrations. Herbicides used for postemergent
weed control were rarely detected in streamwater samples
from indicator sites, or mainstem and large tribuatary sites
that possess mixed land uses (referred to as integrator sites). The insecticides carbaryl, chlorpyrifos, and diazinon were
detected with greatest frequency in streamwater samples from
(1)indicator sites in areas of urban and suburban land use, and
(2) integrator sites located near the Atlanta Metropolitan area.
These sites comprised 18 of 22 sites where insecticide
concentrations exceeded existing standards or guidelines for
protection of aquatic life. Pesticides with long soil half-lifes, high water solubilities,
and low organic carbon partitioning coefficients were
detected with greatest frequency and highest concentrations in
streamwater samples. These compounds have large
runoff-potential ratings, and include several of the herbicides
used for selective preemergent weed control, all the
herbicides used for nonselective weed control, and the
insecticide diazinon. Pesticides having medium runoffpotential
ratings were detected primarily in streamwater samples from sites in areas of suburban and urban land use
and from integrator sites located near the Atlanta
Metropolitan area.
Sponsor
Sponsored and Organized by: U.S. Geological Survey, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, The University of Georgia, Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology
Date Issued
1997-03
Extent
Resource Type
Text
Resource Subtype
Proceedings