Variations in Surface-Water Quality in the Chain of Lakes and Its Tributaries, Devils Lake Basin, North Dakota, 1957-92

By Robert M. Lent and Scott D. Zainhofsky

Abstract: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 94-4102

The chain of lakes, located in the Devils Lake Basin, North Dakota, receives and stores runoff from the northern section of the basin and recharges Devils Lake. Hydrologic and water-quality conditions can vary greatly in the basin, resulting in potential economic damage. This report describes the seasonal and spatial variations in surface-water quality in the chain of lakes and its tributaries. Long-term trends in dissolved-solids and nutrient concentrations and instantaneous loads in tributaries upstream and downstream of the chain of lakes are not apparent. However, seasonal variations are apparent. Dissolved-solids concentrations were smaller, and nutrient concentrations were larger, during the spring than during the remainder of the year. Variations in dissolved-solids concentrations are caused by dilution and evaporation. Variations in nutrient concentrations are the result of biologic activity. Instantaneous dissolved-solids and nutrient loads were greater during the spring than during the remainder of the year because of seasonal differences in flow rates. Only minimal long-term trends and seasonal variations in dissolved-solids and nutrient concentrations in the chain of lakes are apparent. During the period of record, dissolved-solids concentrations in Sweetwater Lake generally increased, dissolved-solids concentrations in Lake Alice and Lake Irvine varied seasonally, and dissolved phosphorus concentrations in Lake Alice generally increased. Spatial variations in dissolved-solids and nutrient concentrations in the basin are apparent. The medians and ranges of dissolved-solids concentrations for the upstream stations were smaller than those for the lake stations and the downstream stations. Dissolved-solids concentrations were larger in Channel A than in Big Coulee, and nutrient concentrations were larger in Big Coulee than in Channel A.

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