Biosolids, soils, crops, ground water, and streambed sediments in the vicinity of a biosolids-application area near Deer Trail, Colorado Completed
The Metro Wastewater Reclamation District (Metro District) applies biosolids throughout their properties (the MetroGro Farm) near Deer Trail, Colorado. These biosolids applications could affect the quality of water in alluvial and bedrock aquifers, streambed sediment, soil, dust, and crops.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has a monitoring program to address concerns from a stakeholder group about the biosolids and the quality of the environment in the vicinity of the biosolids-application areas. The USGS monitoring program near Deer Trail is referred to as the "USGS Expanded Monitoring Program" and began in January 1999.
Biosolids must meet regulatory standards, and the biosolids chemical data need to be accurate or else agronomic loading rates will be incorrect and soils could be overloaded. Soil quality could either be improved by biosolids applications through increased nutrients and organic matter, or degraded through excessive nutrients or metals.
Water quality can be directly affected through:
- Contaminated recharge water, or
- Infiltration of water through contaminated soils or sediments (remobilization).
Water quality can be indirectly affected through:
- Tilling that mobilizes or changes subsurface chemical constituents, or
- Contributions to natural processes such as nitrification.
Contaminated groundwater or surface water could contaminate:
- Other aquifers, such as bedrock water-supply aquifers or alluvial aquifers,
- Other surface-water bodies (ponds or streams), or
- Streambed sediments
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has a monitoring program to address concerns from a stakeholder group about the biosolids and the quality of the environment in the vicinity of the biosolids-application areas. The USGS monitoring program near Deer Trail is referred to as the "USGS Expanded Monitoring Program" and began in January 1999. The first phase of monitoring ended in 2003. All data and interpretive reports from the 1999-2003 monitoring period were published by January 2005 and are available to the public. An interim monitoring period (2004 through mid2005) continued the monitoring while reports were completed, results were presented, and a new phase of the monitoring program was negotiated for 2005-2011. The monitoring program ended in December 2011.
Project area data from continuous data recorders:
Precipitation Gage:
Ground Water Conditions:
Below are publications associated with this project.
Water quality at a biosolids-application area near Deer Trail, Colorado, 1993-1999
Effects of surface applications of biosolids on groundwater quality and trace-element concentrations in crops near Deer Trail, Colorado, 2004-2010
Preliminary assessment of sources of nitrogen in groundwater at a biosolids-application area near Deer Trail
Biosolids, crop, and groundwater data for a biosolids-application area near Deer Trail, Colorado, 2009 and 2010
Analytical results for municipal biosolids samples from a monitoring program near Deer Trail, Colorado (U.S.A.), 2010
Biosolids, crop, and groundwater data for a biosolids-application area near Deer Trail, Colorado, 2007 and 2008
Analytical results for municipal biosolids samples from a monitoring program near Deer Trail, Colorado (U.S.A.), 2009
Analytical Results for Agricultural Soils Samples from a Monitoring Program Near Deer Trail, Colorado (USA)
Analytical Results for Municipal Biosolids Samples from a Monitoring Program Near Deer Trail, Colorado (U.S.A.), 2008
Biosolids, Crop, and Ground-Water Data for a Biosolids-Application Area Near Deer Trail, Colorado, 2004 Through 2006
Description and Analytical Results for Deposited Dust Samples from a Two-Year Monitoring Program Near Deer Trail, Colorado, USA, 2006-2007
Analytical Results for Municipal Biosolids Samples from a Monitoring Program near Deer Trail, Colorado (U.S.A.), 2007
Below are partners associated with this project.
- Overview
The Metro Wastewater Reclamation District (Metro District) applies biosolids throughout their properties (the MetroGro Farm) near Deer Trail, Colorado. These biosolids applications could affect the quality of water in alluvial and bedrock aquifers, streambed sediment, soil, dust, and crops.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has a monitoring program to address concerns from a stakeholder group about the biosolids and the quality of the environment in the vicinity of the biosolids-application areas. The USGS monitoring program near Deer Trail is referred to as the "USGS Expanded Monitoring Program" and began in January 1999.
Biosolids must meet regulatory standards, and the biosolids chemical data need to be accurate or else agronomic loading rates will be incorrect and soils could be overloaded. Soil quality could either be improved by biosolids applications through increased nutrients and organic matter, or degraded through excessive nutrients or metals.
Water quality can be directly affected through:
- Contaminated recharge water, or
- Infiltration of water through contaminated soils or sediments (remobilization).
Water quality can be indirectly affected through:
- Tilling that mobilizes or changes subsurface chemical constituents, or
- Contributions to natural processes such as nitrification.
Contaminated groundwater or surface water could contaminate:
- Other aquifers, such as bedrock water-supply aquifers or alluvial aquifers,
- Other surface-water bodies (ponds or streams), or
- Streambed sediments
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has a monitoring program to address concerns from a stakeholder group about the biosolids and the quality of the environment in the vicinity of the biosolids-application areas. The USGS monitoring program near Deer Trail is referred to as the "USGS Expanded Monitoring Program" and began in January 1999. The first phase of monitoring ended in 2003. All data and interpretive reports from the 1999-2003 monitoring period were published by January 2005 and are available to the public. An interim monitoring period (2004 through mid2005) continued the monitoring while reports were completed, results were presented, and a new phase of the monitoring program was negotiated for 2005-2011. The monitoring program ended in December 2011.
Project area data from continuous data recorders:
Precipitation Gage:
Ground Water Conditions:
- Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Filter Total Items: 20Water quality at a biosolids-application area near Deer Trail, Colorado, 1993-1999
The Metro Wastewater Reclamation District (Metro District) in Denver, Colo., applied biosolids resulting from municipal sewage treatment to farmland in eastern Colorado beginning in December 1993. In mid-1993, the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Metro District began monitoring water quality at the biosolids-application area about 10 miles east of Deer Trail, Colo., to evaluate baselAuthorsTracy J.B. YagerEffects of surface applications of biosolids on groundwater quality and trace-element concentrations in crops near Deer Trail, Colorado, 2004-2010
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with Metro Wastewater Reclamation District (Metro District), studied biosolids composition and the effects of biosolids applications on groundwater quality and trace-element concentrations in crops of the Metro District properties near Deer Trail, Colorado, during 2004 through 2010. Priority parameters for each monitoring component included the ninAuthorsTracy J.B. Yager, James G. Crock, David B. Smith, Edward T. Furlong, Philip L. Hageman, William T. Foreman, James L. Gray, Rhiannon C. ReVelloPreliminary assessment of sources of nitrogen in groundwater at a biosolids-application area near Deer Trail
Concentrations of dissolved nitrite plus nitrate increased fairly steadily in samples from four shallow groundwater monitoring wells after biosolids applications to nonirrigated farmland began in 1993. The U.S. Geological Survey began a preliminary assessment of sources of nitrogen in shallow groundwater at part of the biosolids-application area near Deer Trail, Colorado, in 2005 in cooperation wiAuthorsTracy J.B. Yager, Peter B. McMahonBiosolids, crop, and groundwater data for a biosolids-application area near Deer Trail, Colorado, 2009 and 2010
During 2009 and 2010, the U.S. Geological Survey monitored the chemical composition of biosolids, crops, and groundwater related to biosolids applications near Deer Trail, Colorado, in cooperation with the Metro Wastewater Reclamation District. This monitoring effort was a continuation of the monitoring program begun in 1999 in cooperation with the Metro Wastewater Reclamation District and the NorAuthorsTracy J.B. Yager, David B. Smith, James G. CrockAnalytical results for municipal biosolids samples from a monitoring program near Deer Trail, Colorado (U.S.A.), 2010
Since late 1993, Metro Wastewater Reclamation District of Denver (Metro District), a large wastewater treatment plant in Denver, Colo., has applied Grade I, Class B biosolids to about 52,000 acres of nonirrigated farmland and rangeland near Deer Trail, Colo., U.S.A. In cooperation with the Metro District in 1993, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) began monitoring groundwater at part of this site.AuthorsJ. G. Crock, D. B. Smith, T. J. B. Yager, C. J. Berry, M. G. AdamsBiosolids, crop, and groundwater data for a biosolids-application area near Deer Trail, Colorado, 2007 and 2008
During 2007 and 2008, the U.S. Geological Survey monitored the chemical composition of biosolids, crops, and groundwater related to biosolids applications near Deer Trail, Colorado, in cooperation with the Metro Wastewater Reclamation District. This monitoring effort was a continuation of the monitoring program begun in 1999 in cooperation with the Metro Wastewater Reclamation District and the NorAuthorsTracy J.B. Yager, David B. Smith, James G. CrockAnalytical results for municipal biosolids samples from a monitoring program near Deer Trail, Colorado (U.S.A.), 2009
Since late 1993, Metro Wastewater Reclamation District of Denver, a large wastewater treatment plant in Denver, Colo., has applied Grade I, Class B biosolids to about 52,000 acres of nonirrigated farmland and rangeland near Deer Trail, Colo., U.S.A. In cooperation with the Metro District in 1993, the U.S. Geological Survey began monitoring groundwater at part of this site. In 1999, the Survey begaAuthorsJ. G. Crock, D. B. Smith, T. J. B. Yager, C. J. Berry, M. G. AdamsAnalytical Results for Agricultural Soils Samples from a Monitoring Program Near Deer Trail, Colorado (USA)
Since late 1993, Metro Wastewater Reclamation District of Denver (Metro District, MWRD), a large wastewater treatment plant in Denver, Colorado, has applied Grade I, Class B biosolids to about 52,000 acres of nonirrigated farmland and rangeland near Deer Trail, Colorado, USA. In cooperation with the Metro District in 1993, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) began monitoring groundwater at part of tAuthorsJ. G. Crock, D. B. Smith, T. J. B. YagerAnalytical Results for Municipal Biosolids Samples from a Monitoring Program Near Deer Trail, Colorado (U.S.A.), 2008
Since late 1993, Metro Wastewater Reclamation District of Denver (Metro District), a large wastewater treatment plant in Denver, Colo., has applied Grade I, Class B biosolids to about 52,000 acres of nonirrigated farmland and rangeland near Deer Trail, Colo. (U.S.A.). In cooperation with the Metro District in 1993, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) began monitoring groundwater at part of this siteAuthorsJ. G. Crock, D. B. Smith, T. J. B. Yager, C. J. Berry, M. G. AdamsBiosolids, Crop, and Ground-Water Data for a Biosolids-Application Area Near Deer Trail, Colorado, 2004 Through 2006
From 2004 through 2006, the U.S. Geological Survey monitored the chemical composition of biosolids, crops, dust, and ground water related to biosolids applications near Deer Trail, Colorado, in cooperation with the Metro Wastewater Reclamation District. This monitoring effort was a continuation of the monitoring program begun in 1999 in cooperation with the Metro Wastewater Reclamation District anAuthorsTracy J.B. Yager, David B. Smith, James G. CrockDescription and Analytical Results for Deposited Dust Samples from a Two-Year Monitoring Program Near Deer Trail, Colorado, USA, 2006-2007
Biosolids reclaimed from municipal wastewater have been applied since 1993 on nonirrigated farmland and rangeland east of Deer Trail, Colo., by Metro Wastewater Reclamation District of Denver. The U.S. Geological Survey has monitored ground water at this site since 1993, and began monitoring the biosolids, soils, and stream sediments in 1999. To investigate the possible effects of airborne dust blAuthorsMarith C. Reheis, Jeffrey S. Honke, Paul Lamothe, Eric FisherAnalytical Results for Municipal Biosolids Samples from a Monitoring Program near Deer Trail, Colorado (U.S.A.), 2007
Since late 1993, the Metro Wastewater Reclamation District of Denver (Metro District), a large wastewater treatment plant in Denver, Colorado, has applied Grade I, Class B biosolids to about 52,000 acres of nonirrigated farmland and rangeland near Deer Trail, Colorado (U.S.A.). In cooperation with the Metro District in 1993, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) began monitoring ground water at part oAuthorsJ. G. Crock, D. B. Smith, T. J. B. Yager, C. J. Berry, M. G. Adams - Partners
Below are partners associated with this project.