Particle tracking for selected groundwater wells in the lower Yakima River Basin, Washington

Bachmann, Matthew P.

doi:10.3133/sir20155149

Cited by 1 publication

(2 citation statements)

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“…Soil samples were selected based on sampling site access and proximity to the surface area of contribution to nitrate contaminated drinking water wells. 10 At eight locations, soil samples were collected from soil pits or road cuts at regular depth intervals to a depth of approximately 1 m. Soil series containing significant carbonate content were chosen, when available, to investigate caliche-rich soils as a potential unexplored source of atmospheric nitrate as suggested in the earlier EPA study. 2 Soil samples were immediately frozen and stored at −20 °C in a dark environment.…”

Section: ■ Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Isotope Investigation of Nitrate in Soils and Agricultural Drains of the Lower Yakima Valley, Washington

Jensen

Gazis

2018

ACS Earth Space Chem.

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Nitrate in the groundwater of the lower Yakima Valley, Washington frequently exceeds the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maximum contaminant level standard for potable water (10 mg/L), impacting communities with disadvantaged socioeconomic status. Nitrogen and oxygen isotopic signatures were determined for nitrate in soil leachates and irrigation return flow. Isotope signatures for nitrate from soil leachate had significant overlap with both the isotope signatures of naturally occurring soil nitrate at the nearby Hanford site, Washington and of groundwater nitrate attributed to manure and fertilizer application in a local EPA study. A mass balance calculation using Δ17O data suggests that there is a consistent ∼9% atmospheric contribution to nitrate in soil accumulations below caliche layers at several locations. This agrees with other research on the atmospheric contribution to naturally occurring soil nitrates in areas with similar mean annual precipitation values. We argue that this consistent ∼9% atmospheric component indicates that soil nitrate at depth is dominated by naturally occurring, biologically fixed nitrate across multiple sites. We suggest the flushing of naturally occurring soil nitrate to groundwater during land use conversion to irrigated agriculture may represent a previously overlooked significant nitrate input to aquifers in this region.

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Section: ■ Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Map of the lower Yakima Valley, Washington and sampling sites. Approximate surface area of contribution to nitrate contaminated wells is shown in salmon shading. Soil sampling sites are as follows: Road Cut (RC1), Road Cut 2(RC2), Natural 1 through 4 (NI-4), Irrigated Agriculture (1), Irrigated and Natural (IN).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Isotope Investigation of Nitrate in Soils and Agricultural Drains of the Lower Yakima Valley, Washington

Jensen

Gazis

2018

ACS Earth Space Chem.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Particle tracking for selected groundwater wells in the lower Yakima River Basin, Washington

Cited by 1 publication

References 11 publications

Isotope Investigation of Nitrate in Soils and Agricultural Drains of the Lower Yakima Valley, Washington

Isotope Investigation of Nitrate in Soils and Agricultural Drains of the Lower Yakima Valley, Washington

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