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Seasonal Variations In Water Quality Parameters Of The Mississippi River Near St. Cloud, Mn, Stephen B. Ellingson, Alfred J. Hopwood

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

ABSTRACT - Water quality parameters were monitored in the Mississippi River and three tributaries (Harris Channel, Watab Creek, and Sauk River) from July 1980 to April 1981. Results were correlated with water temperature and discharge to assess seasonal changes. Effects of tributary inflow on the river were determined. Planktonic carbon was estimated with the firefly luciferin-luciferase system which measures adenosine triphosphate extracted from viable cells. Particulate organic matter, planktonic carbon, and percentage viable carbon were correlated with temperature (p ~ 0.6) while nitrate plus nitrite was inversely correlated with temperature and discharge. Only the Sauk River affected the water quality …