Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Evaluation and interpretation of historical major-ion chemistry for the Lodgepole Creek Watershed, Nebraska

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Lodgepole Creek, typically an ephemeral or intermittent stream, drains much of Kimball, Cheyenne, and Deuel counties [approximately 2180 mi2 (5646 km2)] in the Panhandle of western Nebraska (USA). Examination of historical (1970–1980) water-quality data [major cations and anions and total dissolved solids (TDS)] for Lodgepole Creek revealed that the mineralization is relatively low (200–600 mg/L TDS with an all-sampling station mean of 380 mg/L) and relatively uniform throughout its course in Nebraska. However, the t test statistic that was used to compare means for eight geochemical parameters (Ca, Mg, Na, K, HCO3, Cl, SO4, specific conductance) reveals that many mean pair differences are statistically significant, indicating mathematically/statistically unequal means. Ca−HCO3 is the predominant geochemical facies, and it infrequently yields to Na−HCO3 facies water. Gibb’s diagrams reveal that rock/mineral weathering is the dominant hydrogeochemical process occurring along the course of Lodgepole Creek in Nebraska. Based on the Gibbs worldwide interpretation of surface-water quality, evaporation-crystallization and atmospheric precipitation are secondary hydrochemical mechanisms. Pan evaporation of surface water approaches 127 cm (50 in.)/year; consequently, evaporation most likely plays a significant role in the geochemistry of Lodgepole Creek flow. Modeling with Visual MINTEQ (public-domain geochemical speciation software) documents slight supersaturation of calcite in 90% of the sample analyses. Scatter plots of milliequivalent-per-liter concentrations for selected anions and cations reveal the impact of silicate mineral (e.g., feldspar) weathering on the aqueous geochemistry and the occurrence of ion exchange (aqueous calcium and magnesium exchanged for sodium and potassium) throughout the watershed. These ubiquitous feldspar minerals most likely originated along the eastern slope of the Front Range.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abraham JD, Cannia JC, Bedrosian PA, Johnson MR, Ball LB, Sibray SS (2012) Airborne electromagnetic mapping of the base of aquifer in areas of western Nebraska. US Geological Survey Science Investigations Report 2011–5219

  • Allison JD, Brown DS, Novo-Gradac KJ (1991) MINTEQA2/PRODEFA2, a geochemical assessment model for environmental systems. Version 3.0 user’s manual. Environmental Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, USEPA, Athens

    Google Scholar 

  • Appelo CA, Postma D (1994) Geochemistry, groundwater and pollution. A.A Balkema, Rotterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Atkinson JC (2011) Geochemistry analysis and evolution of a bolson aquifer, basin and range province in the southwestern United States. Environ Earth Sci 64:37–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Back W (1966) Hydrochemical facies and ground-water flow patterns in the northern part of Atlantic Coastal Plain. US Geological Survey Prof Paper 498-A, Reston

  • Bartos T, Ogle KM (2002) Water quality and environmental isotopic analyses of groundwater samples collected from the Wasatch and Fort Union Formations in areas of coalbed methane development—implications to recharge and ground water flow, eastern Powder River Basin, Wyoming. US Geological Survey Water-Resources Investig Rep 02-4045, Reston

  • Bjorklund LJ (1957) Geology and ground-water resources of the Lower Lodgepole Creek drainage basin, Nebraska, with a section on the chemical quality of the water, by ER Jochens: US Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 1410, 76 p. http://pubs.usgs.gov/wsp/1410/report.pdf. Accessed 10 Feb 2016

  • Cannia JC, Woodward D, Cast LD (2006) Cooperative Hydrology Study (COHYST) hydrostratigraphic units and aquifer characterization report. Dept. of Natural Resources, Lincoln. http://cohyst.dnr.ne.gov/document/dc012hydro_ aquifer_022406.pdf. Accessed 15 Dec 2010

  • Center for Advanced Land Management Information Technologies (2007) Nebraska land use map. University of Nebraska, Lincoln. CALMIT geospatial data, http://www.calmit.unl.edu/2005landuse/statewide.shtml.for Advance Land Management Information Technology, 2007. Accessed 1 Dec 2011

  • Chowdhury AH, Uliana M, Wade S (2008) Groundwater recharge and flow characterization using multiple isotopes. Ground Water 46:426–436

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Condon SM (2005) Geologic studies of the Platte River, south-central Nebraska and adjacent areas—Geologic maps, subsurface study, and geologic history. US Geological Survey Prof Paper 1706

  • Condra GE, Reed EC (1959) The geological section of Nebraska. Nebraska geological survey bull 14A. University of Nebraska Conservation and Survey Division, Lincoln

    Google Scholar 

  • Darton NH (1905) Preliminary report on the geology and underground water resources of the central Great Plains: U.S. Geological Survey Prof Paper 32, 433 p 1903

  • Datta PS, Tyagi SK (1996) Major ion chemistry of groundwater in Delhi area: chemical weathering processes and groundwater flow regime. J Geol Soc India 47:179–188

    Google Scholar 

  • Dean S, Illowsky B (n.d.) Descriptive statistics: skewness and the mean, median, and mode, Connexions website http://www.connexions.org. Accessed 3 Feb 2017

  • Dehnavi AG, Sarikhani R, Nagaraju D (2011) Hydro geochemical and rock water interaction studies in East of Kurdistan, N-W of Iran. Int J Environ Sci Res 1:16–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Deutsch WJ (1997) Groundwater geochemistry: fundamentals and applications to contamination. Lewis, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Diffendal RF Jr (1982) Regional implications of the geology of the Ogallala Group (upper Tertiary) of southwestern Morrill County, Nebraska, and adjacent areas. Geol Soc Am Bull 93:964–976

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dugan JT, Zelt RB (2000) Simulation and analysis of soil-water conditions in the Great Plains and adjacent areas, central United States, 1951–80. US Geological Survey Water Supply Paper 2427

  • El-Kadi AI, Plummer LN, Aggarwal P (2011) NETPATH-WIN: an interactive user version of the mass-balance model, NETPATH. Ground Water 49:593–599

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Engberg RA (1984) Appraisal of data for ground-water quality in Nebraska. US Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 2245

  • English J, Johnston ST (2004) The laramide orogeny: what were the driving forces? Int Geol Rev 46:833–838. https://doi.org/10.2747/0020-6814.46.9.833

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farnsworth RK, Thompson ES (1982) Mean monthly, seasonal, and annual pan evaporation for the United States, NOAA Technical Rep NWS 34. US Dept Commerce, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Fenneman NM (1946) Physiographic divisions of the conterminous United States: US Geological Survey Special Map Series, scale 1:7,000,000

  • Fisher RS, Mulican WFII (1997) Hydrochemical evolution of sodium-sulfate and sodium-chloride groundwater beneath the Northern Chihuahuan desert. Trans-Pecos, Texas, USA. Hydrogeol J 10:455–474

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibbs RJ (1970) Mechanisms controlling world water chemistry. Sci New Ser 170:1088–1090

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibbs RJ (1992) Comment: a reply to the comment of Eilers et al. (1992). Limnol Oceanogr 37:1338–1339

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gomaa MA, Hamouda ME, Abdelfattah ME, Emara MM, El-Sabbah MMB (2013) Assessment of hydrogeochemical processes affecting groundwater quality in the area between Safaga and El-Quseir, eastern desert. Egypt. Middle East J Appl Sci 3(4):129–142

    Google Scholar 

  • GraphPad Software, Inc. (2016) http://www.graphpad.com/quickcalcs/ttest1/. Accessed 2 Feb 2017

  • GraphPad Software, Inc. (2017) Prism 7.03 statistical software La Jolla, CA 92037

  • Gustafsson JP (2009) Visual MINTEQ, version 2.62. KTH School of Architecture and Built Environment, Department of Land and Water Resources Engineering, Stockholm

    Google Scholar 

  • Gutentag ED, Heimes FJ, Krothe NC, Luckey RR, Weeks JB (1984) Geohydrology of the High Plains aquifer in parts of Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming: US Geological Survey Prof Paper 1400–B, 63 p. http://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/1400b/report.pdf. Accessed 5 Feb 2016

  • Handa BK (1969) Description and classification of media for hydrochemical investigations. In: Mithal RS, Singhal BBS (eds) Proceedings of groundwater studies in arid and semi arid regions. Department Geol, University of Roorkee, India, pp 319–337

  • Helland PE, Diffendal RF Jr (1993) Probable glacial climatic conditions in source areas during deposition of parts of the Ash Hollow Formation, Ogallala Group (Late Tertiary), of western Nebraska. Am J Sci 293:744–757

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hem JD (1992) Study and interpretation of the chemical characteristics of natural water. US Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 2254, Reston

  • High Plains Regional Climate Center (2006) Sidney 6 NNW, National climatic data center, Monthly climate summary. http://www.hprcc.unl.edu/cgi-bin/cli_perl_lib/cliMAIN.pl?ne7830. Accessed 10 April 2006

  • Hobza CM, Sibray SS (2014) Hydrostratigraphic interpretation of test-hole and borehole geophysical data, Kimball, Cheyenne, and Deuel Counties, Nebraska, 2011–12. US Geological Survey Open-File Rep 2014–1103. http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ofr20141103/

  • Korus JT, Joeckel RM (2011) Generalized geologic and hydrostratigraphic framework of Nebraska 2011, ver. 2. Conservation and Survey Division, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Geologic Maps and Charts (GMC), Lincoln, p 38

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambert RB, Grimm KC, Lee RW (2000) Hydrogeology, hydrologic budget, and water chemistry of the Medina Lake area, Texas. US Geological Survey Water-Resources Investig Rep 00-4148, Austin

  • Lowry ME (1966) The White River Formation as an aquifer in southeastern Wyoming and adjacent parts of Nebraska and Colorado. US Geological Survey Prof Paper 550–D, p 217–222

  • Luckey RR, Cannia JC (2006) Ground water flow model of the western model unit of the Nebraska Cooperative Hydrology Study (COHYST) area. Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, Lincoln, p 63

    Google Scholar 

  • Luckey RR, Carney CP, Peterson SM (2001) Estimated groundwater discharge to streams from the High Plains Aquifer in the western model unit of the cooperative hydrology study area for the period prior to major groundwater irrigation. Nebraska Coopera-tive Hydrology Study (COHYST) area. Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, Lincoln, p 20

    Google Scholar 

  • Mackenzie FJ, Garrels RH (1965) Silicates: reactivity with sea water. Sci J 1505:57–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meybeck M (1983) Atmospheric inputs and river transport of dissolved substances. Dissolved loads of rivers and surface water quantity/quality relationships. Int Assoc Hydrol Sci 141:173–192

    Google Scholar 

  • Meybeck M (1987) Global chemical weathering of surficial rocks estimated from river dissolved loads. Am J Sci 287:401–428

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mortlock HC, Wolfanger LA, Hearn GW (1920) Soil survey of Cheyenne County, Nebraska. US Department of Agriculture, Washington, p 39

    Google Scholar 

  • Piper AM (1944) A graphic procedure in the geochemical interpretation of water analyses. Am Geophys Union Trans 25:914–923. https://doi.org/10.1029/TR025i006p00914

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Plummer LN, Prestmon EC, Parkhurst DC (1994) An interactive code (NETPATH) for modeling NET geochemical reactions along a flow PATH. Version 2.0, US Geological Survey Water-Res Investig Rep 94-4169

  • Schoeller H (1965) Qualitative evaluation of groundwater resources. Methods and techniques of groundwater investigations and development. UNESCO, Paris, pp 54–83

    Google Scholar 

  • Schoeller H (1967) Geochemistry of groundwater: an international guide for research and practice. UNESCO, Paris, pp 1–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Sonkamble S, Sahya A, Mondal NC, Harikumar P (2012) Appraisal and evolution of hydrochemical processes from proximity basalt and granite areas of Deccan Volcanic Province (DVP) in India. J Hydrol 438–439:181–193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Srinivas Y, Oliver DH, Raj AS, Chandrasekar N (2013) Evaluation of groundwater quality in and around Nagercoil town, Tamilnadu, India. An integrated geochemical and GIS approach. Appl Water Sci 3:631–651

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stanton JS, Qi SL, Ryter DW, Falk SE, Houston NA, Peterson S, Westenbroek SM, Christenson SC (2011) Selected approaches to estimate water-budget components of the High Plains, 1940 through 1949 and 2000 through 2009: US Geological Survey Sci Investig Rep 2011–5183

  • Steele GV, Sibray SS, Quandt KA (2007) Evaluation of ground water near Sidney, western Nebraska, 2004-05 US Geological Survey Sci Investig Rep, 2007–5086

  • Sujatha D, Reddy BR (2003) Quality characterization of groundwater in the south-eastern part of the Ranga Reddy district, Andhra Pradesh, India. Environ Geol 44:579–586

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swinehart JB, Souders VL, DeGraw HM, Diffendal RF Jr. (1985) Cenozoic paleogeography of western Nebraska. In: Flores RM, Kaplan SS (eds) Cenozoic paleogeography of the west-central United States, Denver, Colo., Rocky Mountain Paleogeography Symposium 3: Tulsa, Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, pp 209–229

  • Swinehart JB, Diffendal RF, Jr. (1997) Geologic map of the Scottsbluff 1° × 2° quadrangle, Nebraska and Colorado: US Geological Survey Misc. Investig. Series Map I-12545, scale 1:250,000

  • University of New England, School of Psychology (n.d.) Table titled Testing the significance of Pearson’s r.https://webstat.une.edu.au/unit_materials/c6_common_statistical_tests/test_signif_pearson.html. Accessed 20 Oct 2017

  • USEPA (2016) STORET web site: http://www.epa.gov/storet/. Accessed 6 Mar 2016

  • USGS (US Geological Survey), (1976) Hydrologic Unit Map—1974 State of Nebraska. Department of the Interior US Geological Survey, Reston

    Google Scholar 

  • USGS (US Geological Survey) (2012) GW_Chart software web site: http://water.usgs.gov/nrp/gwsoftware/GW_Chart/GW_Chart.html. Accessed 9 June 2016

  • USGS (U.S. Geological Survey) (2016) Water quality web site: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ne/nwis/qw. Accessed 7 May 2016

  • Vengosh A, Keren R (1996) Chemical modifications of groundwater contaminated by recharge of sewage effluent. J Contam Hydrol 23:347–360

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson JR, Vyain D, Young P (2005) Soil survey of Kimball County, Nebraska. US Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), in cooperation with the Conservation and Survey Division, University of Nebraska; and the South Platte Natural Resources District

  • Wilson JR, Stuebe A, Young P (2003) Soil survey of Deuel County, Nebraska. US Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), in cooperation with the Conservation and Survey Division, University of Nebraska; and the South Platte Natural Resources District

Download references

Acknowledgements

This article is dedicated to the memory of Samuel B. Treves, Ph.D. (1925–2013), a long-time (46-year) professor in the Department of Geology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he also served as Chair of the Department and Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. I was honored to have Dr. Treves as a geology professor and undergraduate academic counselor (1967–1970) and a member of my M.S. thesis committee (1973). Additionally, the author greatly appreciates the highly professional effort of Mr. Les Howard, Conservation and Survey Division, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, in preparing Fig. 1.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. San Antonio, TX, 78259, USA

    Jon C. Atkinson

Authors
  1. Jon C. Atkinson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Atkinson, J.C. Evaluation and interpretation of historical major-ion chemistry for the Lodgepole Creek Watershed, Nebraska. Environ Earth Sci 77, 55 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-7202-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-7202-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation