Pesticide amounts are small in streams in the Red River of the North Basin, 1993-94

Abstract

Pesticides are used extensively in the largely agricultural Red River of the North (Red River) Basin, but, unlike many other agricultural basins, only small amounts are routinely detected in samples from streams in the basin. The pesticides detected comprise less than 2 percent of the amount applied and usually are at concentrations far less than established drinking water standards. Most of the detected pesticides seem to come from sources near the headwaters in the southern part of the basin. Although low, concentrations are related to pesticide application and runoff. Flat land slope, organic soils, pesticide management, and degradation all may limit pesticide contamination that reaches Red River Basin streams. Pesticides were routinely sampled during 1993-94 from the sites shown below. Sites 1-3 were located in subbasins in which the principal crops are small grains, which is representative of principal crops in the Red River Basin. Site 4 represents flow from most of the basin. Site 5 was added in 1994 to sample water from the southern part of the basin. Land Use: Mostly cropland Cropland and grazing Cropland with woodland Woodland with cropland Forest and woodland Grassland and grazing Wetland Water Urban Watershed boundary Pesticide sampling site Site number and name 1 Wild Rice River at Twin Valley, Minn. 2 Turtle River near Arvilla.N.Dak. 3 Snake River near Alvarado, Minn. 4 Red River of the North at Emerson, Man. 5 Red River of the North upstream of Fargo, N. Dak.

Similar agricultural areas, different ground-water quality, Red River of the North Basin, 1993-95

“…These data are presented in the green boxes of the figure on the facing page. Samples from all sites were tested for 80 nationally-used pesticides (see Tornes & Brigham, 1995 for a complete list). Many, but not all of these pesticides were used in the study areas.…”

Nutrients, suspended sediment, and pesticides in water of the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota and North Dakota, 1990-2004

“…Phosphorus concentrations for the Red River from 2001 to 2003 were greater than the 0.1 mg/L North Dakota Department of Health standard (River Keepers, 2003). Only small amounts of pesticides have been detected in surface water-usually less than 2 percent of the amount applied (Tornes and Brigham, 1995). Surface-water quality in the Red River Basin varies seasonally (Red River Basin Board, 2001).…”