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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database

Environmental Geosciences (DEG)

Abstract

Environmental Geosciences, V. 22, No. 1 (March 2015), P. 1933

Copyright copy2015. The American Association of Petroleum Geologists/Division of Environmental Geosciences. All rights reserved.

DOI: 10.1306/eg.10231414006

Impact of the Dakota Aquifer on major-ion chemistry of Previous HitRockNext Hit Creek discharge, eastern Nebraska, Midwest region

Jon C. Atkinson1

1U.S. Air Force, 19609 Encino Crown, San Antonio, Texas 78259; [email protected]

ABSTRACT

Examination of historical water-Previous HitqualityNext Hit data (major cations and anions and total dissolved solids [TDS]) for Previous HitRockNext Hit Creek, located in eastern Nebraska’s saline wetlands north of the Platte River, revealed that concentrations of sodium (Na), chloride (Cl), and TDS increased significantly in the downstream reach below the town of Ceresco, exceeding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) secondary drinking water standards of 250 mg/L for Cl and 500 mg/L for TDS. Research into the probable source(s) of these inorganic constituents revealed that the Dakota Formation of Late Cretaceous age subcrops in the study area and typically yields water with elevated concentrations of Na, Cl, and TDS in southeastern Nebraska. This brackish to saline water upwells to the surficial aquifer and Previous HitRockNext Hit Creek streambed. Additionally, the significant levels of Na and Cl correlate well with the occurrence of unique saline wetlands along Previous HitRockNext Hit Creek downstream from Ceresco. Public-domain geochemical speciation software codes (Visual MINTEQ and NETPATH) were used to characterize and investigate aqueous geochemistry of Previous HitRockNext Hit Creek discharge and to calculate mixing proportions of Dakota Formation water and stream discharge. The NETPATH output suggests that 3.3%–18% of discharge in Previous HitRockNext Hit Creek approximately 10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Ceresco, Nebraska, originates from the Dakota Formation and probably the underlying Pennsylvanian bedrock. Hopefully, this paper will be the impetus for an up-to-date, comprehensive, and geochemical-rich data investigation of the Dakota Aquifer’s impact on the inorganic water Previous HitqualityNext Hit of Previous HitRockTop Creek.

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