Pipestone National Monument, with its historic pipestone quarries and Winnewissa Falls, is sacred to many Native American tribes and provides walking trails and cultural exhibits for numerous visitors each year. However, previous studies indicated turbidity and fecal coliform bacteria occur in Pipestone Creek in high enough numbers to be a potential health hazard. Additionally, National Park Service staff reported concerns about the risk of possible contaminant exposure from waterfall mist to visitors and staff. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the National Park Service (NPS) collaborated on a study to collect water-quality samples from eight creek sites and three quarries in 2018 and from the waterfall in 2019 in order to identify water-quality issues within the Monument.

In 2018, creek and quarry samples were analyzed for over 250 water-quality parameters and contaminants. Along with field measurements, nutrients, and major ions, researchers detected 13 pesticides, five pharmaceuticals, caffeine, methylparaben, two algal toxins, three fecal indicator bacteria, and Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) in creek and/or quarry samples. Although many of the parameters and contaminants sampled do not have any available standards, those that were detected were compared to several types of water-quality benchmarks, ranging from lethal dose studies to recreational guidelines. Two field parameters (dissolved oxygen and turbidity), three nutrients (total nitrogen, nitrate, and phosphorus), and two fecal indicator bacteria (fecal coliform and Escherichia coli) exceeded a benchmark.

During the 2019 sampling at Winnewissa Falls, three organisms were detected in the water (Cryptosporidium, Legionella, and ruminant Bacterioides). Only ruminant Bacterioides was detected in mist. Whereas there are no benchmarks associated with these specific organisms, Cryptosporidium and Legionella can cause illness in humans and non-pathogenic ruminant Bacterioides is an indicator of manure contamination.

This publication provides the NPS the data to determine the necessity of further water-quality research and is a first step toward management actions at the Monument.

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