Quality of water and time of travel in Bakers Creek near Clinton, Mississippi

A short-term intensive quality-of-water study was conducted during a period of generally low streamflow in Bakers Creek and its tributary, Lindsey Creek, near Clinton, Mississippi.

During the September 15-18, 1980 study, dissolved oxygen concentrations in Bakers Creek were less than 5 milligrams per liter. The specific conductance, 5-day biochemical oxygen demand, nutrient concentrations, and bacteria densities in Bakers Creek decreased downstream through the study reach. The mean specific conductance decreased from 670 micromhos per centimeter to 306 micromhos per centimeter. The 5-day biochemical oxygen demand decreased from 19 milligrams per liter to 2.8 milligrams per liter. The mean total nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations decreased from 10 and 7.1 milligrams per liter to 1.0 and 0.87 milligram per liter, respectively. The maximum fecal bacteria decreased from 7,200 colonies per 100 milliliter to 400 colonies per 100 milliliter.

The concentrations of mercury (0.4 micrograms per liter), iron (3,400 micrograms per liter), and manganese (1,100 micrograms per liter) in a sample collected at the downstream site exceeded recommended limits. Diazinon (0.01 micrograms per liter) and 2,4-D (0.02 micrograms per liter) were also present in the water. A bottom material sample contained DDD (2.5 micrograms per kilogram), DDE (2.7 micrograms per kilogram), and DDT (.3 micrograms per kilogram).

The tributary inflow from Lindsey Creek did not improve the water quality at downstream sites on Bakers Creek. The dissolved oxygen concentrations were generally less than 5.0 milligrams per liter at the sampling site on Lindsey Creek. The 5-day biochemical oxygen demand, the mean specific conductance, and fecal coliform densities were greater in the tributary than at the downstream site on Bakers Creek.

The average rate of travel through a 1.8 -mile reach of Bakers Creek was 0.06 foot per second or 0.04 miles per hour.