Mercury, methylmercury, and other water-quality data from flood-control impoundments and natural waters of the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, 1997-99

It is now well documented that impoundment of natural waters, with inundation of terrestrial area, results in enhanced conversion of inorganic mercury to methylmercury, a form that is toxic and bioaccumulates to a greater extent than inorganic mercury. Concentrations of mercury, methylmercury, and other water-quality constituents are reported from water sampled from flood-control impoundments and natural (unimpounded) waters of the Red River of the North Basin from 1997-99.