National Water-Quality Assessment Program: Water Quality Conditions and Mass Transport in the Flint River, Southwestern Georgia, Related to the Flood of July 1994, Caused by Tropical Storm Alberto

Abstract

Nineteen water samples were collected from July 6-26 in the Flint River at Newton, Ga., to assess water quality and mass transport related to flooding caused by tropical storm Alberto. Water-quality and stream-discharge data indicate that the large quantity of runoff caused substantial changes in sediment and chemical-constituent concentrations because of dilution, or mobilization of constituents. Nutrient loads were a substantial part of the mean annual loads based on historic data. Nutrient and pesticide loads were from 0.07 to 4.5 percent of the estimated annual inputs to the basin from point and nonpoint sources.