Along with nearby Hailstone and Half breed Wildlife Refuges, Big 

 Lake was one of a small handful of sample sites with detectable 

 nickel found in the water column. Boron and zinc concentrations 

 were relatively high in comparison to hydrologically similar sample 

 sites. The arsenic concentration was below detection, unusual 

 among the sampled sites. 



Chemical history. No water quality analyses prior to the DHES 

 sampling are known. During October of 1994 (six months after 

 sample collection) field chemical parameters (pH and specific 

 conductance) were spatially variable within the small constructed 

 wetland area. Specific conductance measurements ranged from less 

 than half that reported at the time of sampling, to 10% higher; 

 the configuration of the constructed site may discourage rapid 

 mixing of inflow from Cedar Creek. Water quality of Cedar Creek 

 reflects evaporative concentration in upgradient water bodies 

 (including Half breed Lake) and may be influenced by upgradient 

 water management. No surface water quality data from Big Lake 

 proper are known. In October 1994, the Big Lake basin retained 

 surface water in a relatively small area near the center of the 

 basin. 



Sediments. In comparison to hydrologically similar sample sites, 

 most trace elements were found in low to intermediate 

 concentrations. The exceptions were selenium and vanadium; for 

 these elements WET06 was at or near the top of the sampled range 

 for similar sites. The selenium concentration was above the mean 

 for soils and other surficial deposits of the western U.S. 



