In North Dakota, (click here) the Little Missouri River enters the southwestern corner of the State and flows in a northerly and then easterly direction to its confluence with Lake Sakakawea near Killdeer. The river flows through the Little Missouri National Grasslands and Theodore Roosevelt National Park and is the only river that the State has designated as a scenic river.
The Little Missouri River is characterized by a highly seasonal flow. Before canoeing, it is important to check conditions on the river to determine that the river is not flooding and that there is adequate water for canoeing.
The Little Missouri River has a drainage area of about 4,750 square miles in North Dakota. The treeless and barren slopes of the Little Missouri River Basin produce rapid and excessive overland runoff, and tributary streams flood frequently. Because the river channels of the basin are in the easily eroded shale and sandstone of the badlands, large quantities of sediment are transported downstream.
What does all that mean? It means that anything running into the Little Missouri River through tributaries or otherwise can be incorporated with the sediment the river carries downstream. Some of the sediment in the Little Missouri River is sandstone. Sandstone is very porous. It's porosity ratings are from 15% to 30%.
What is a watershed? It is the area of land that receives precipitation, transports over land (which is called overland flow) and deposits the water into streams and ultimately rivers. It is where cities and towns receive their drinking water otherwise known as potable water.
Interesting to know, right? So this is why it is interesting to know that.
FRACKING is destroying the water supply of the Little Missouri River and polluting federal parks and federal forests, while ruining a scenic river used for enjoyment by the public.
December 09, 2013 5:06 pm
By Nick Smith
BISMARCK, N.D. — The North Dakota Department of Health (click here) said Monday that it is monitoring a spill of saltwater and oil in Billings County, of which some reached a small tributary of the Little Missouri River.
According to a Health Department statement, the amount of material spilled is estimated at 650 barrels of saltwater and 20 barrels of crude oil.
The well site is owned by Midland, Texas-based BTA Oil Producers LLC. The spill was reported to the Health Department on Sunday afternoon.
It is really great the polluter in this instance is an LLC. Amazing.
It is really great the polluter in this instance is an LLC. Amazing.
Dennis Fewless, water quality director for the Health Department, said the spill is located about 4½ miles west of the Little Missouri River and about 15 miles northwest of Medora.
Fewless said the materials seeped from the well site "about a half-mile down the drainage" where the company has set up temporary dams in order to collect the material.
SEEPED. You know what that means? It means it was an accident and it wasn't mechanical. It also means the the CASINGS the company is using including CONCRETE can't contain the fracking fluids. The casing is leaking. The casing that lines the well has FAILED.
SEEPED. You know what that means? It means it was an accident and it wasn't mechanical. It also means the the CASINGS the company is using including CONCRETE can't contain the fracking fluids. The casing is leaking. The casing that lines the well has FAILED.
The well site also borders U.S. Forest Service land, which is where the spill leaked. Fewless said the Health Department is monitoring the spill and cleanup.
The spill was one of two reports involving well sites over the weekend. State agencies also received a report of a fire at a saltwater disposal well site....
I hope that state is monitoring more than saltwater in the samples they are collecting. Saltwater is only ONE component that enters these wells and any seepage MUST be regarded as highly contaminated and tested for every known toxin this industry uses as well as any they DON'T claim they use.
Basically, leave no stone unturned.
The rocks in the foreground of this picture are approximately 3 to 4 million years old. They are on one of the national parks along the Little Missouri River.
The light colored stone in the background is sandstone. As one can easily discern it is susceptible to erosion from rain or snow and/or wind. When eroded it turns into sediment and is transported to the streams and then the Little Missouri River.
The sediment can contain and store toxins from overland flow into the rivers. The sediment of any body of water is tested every 5 years or so by the US Army Corp. They test these sediments for what might be contained in them because it can effect water quality. So. The point is the State Health Department in North Dakota needs to not only test the water, but, the sediment as well TODAY and for years into the FUTURE. Seeps don't just stop seeping. Seeps, especially oil seeps, are usually forever.
The petroleum industry is disturbing the rock. The fracked rock is a permanent disturbance. What do you expect?
I hope that state is monitoring more than saltwater in the samples they are collecting. Saltwater is only ONE component that enters these wells and any seepage MUST be regarded as highly contaminated and tested for every known toxin this industry uses as well as any they DON'T claim they use.
Basically, leave no stone unturned.The rocks in the foreground of this picture are approximately 3 to 4 million years old. They are on one of the national parks along the Little Missouri River.
The light colored stone in the background is sandstone. As one can easily discern it is susceptible to erosion from rain or snow and/or wind. When eroded it turns into sediment and is transported to the streams and then the Little Missouri River.
The sediment can contain and store toxins from overland flow into the rivers. The sediment of any body of water is tested every 5 years or so by the US Army Corp. They test these sediments for what might be contained in them because it can effect water quality. So. The point is the State Health Department in North Dakota needs to not only test the water, but, the sediment as well TODAY and for years into the FUTURE. Seeps don't just stop seeping. Seeps, especially oil seeps, are usually forever.
The petroleum industry is disturbing the rock. The fracked rock is a permanent disturbance. What do you expect?
