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Effects of Climatic Variations over 11 Years on Nitrate-Nitrogen Concentrations in the Raccoon River, Iowa

U.S. Geological Survey, 400 S. Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA 52244;

D. A. Goolsby

U.S. Geological Survey, Box 25046 DFC MS 406, Denver, CO 80225.

^* Corresponding author.

ABSTRACT

Nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃-N) concentrations at public water-supply intakes on the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers in Iowa exceeded the maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 10 mg L^–1 for public water supplies established by the USEPA for extended periods of time from March through early August 1990. The excessive NO₃-N levels followed 2 yr of less than normal precipitation in 1988 and 1989. The largest daily NO₃-N load (771 t) transported during the last 17 yr in the Raccoon River occurred in June 1990. The streamflow hydrograph for the Raccoon River for March 1990 prior to seasonal fertilizer application indicates that high NO₃-N concentrations characterize the recession side of the hydrograph. High NO₃-N concentrations in streamflow persisted as streamflow decreased to baseflow conditions. This implies that substantial quantities of NO₃-N were being leached from the soil and transported by subsurface flow during early 1990. A multiple linear-regression model was developed to predict NO₃-N concentrations in the Raccoon River from readily-obtainable streamflow and climatic data. The four-variable model explained about 70% of the variability in the concentration of NO₃-N. The mean streamflow for the previous 7-d period accounted for about 50% of the total variability.

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