Water Quality of Wetlands on Fee title Waterfowl Production Areas within Lostwood WMD Complex

The objective is to develop a baseline assessment, and subsequently a longterm monitoring program, of wetlands within fee title lands in the Lostwood Complex. Characteristics of water quality will be used to better understand surface water conditions and impacts of oil and gas development on prairie potholes. Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology and the USGS have extensive databases of results from water samples within Lostwood Complex. Samples were processed by the lab at Montana Tech. Analysis by the same lab is necessary so that sample results from these analyses can be compared to previous research conducted by MBMG, USFWS, and USGS to determine temporal and spatial changes in co produced water contamination. It will also give managers a baseline for future comparison as part of a longterm wetland monitoring program. Grab samples collected by FWS employees will be collected for laboratory analysis at Montana Tech. Montana Tech will provide water quality analysis for the following parameters: major ions, trace elements and other analytical results including, but not limited to, conductivity, hardness, alkalinity as CaCO3, sodium absorption ratio, total petroleum hydrocarbons and dissolved organic carbon. A final report, see attached report for example, for each sample will be provided to USFWS for use in the designing the comprehensive wetland monitoring project mentioned above.