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C. A. Collins

Publications and source records attributed to C. A. Collins.

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Estimated water use and general hydrologic conditions for Oregon, 1985 and 1990

Water-use information is vital to planners, engineers, and hydrologists in water resources. This report is a compilation of water-use information for Oregon for calendar years 1985 and 1990. The report presents water-use data by geographic region for several categories of use, including public supply, domestic, commercial, industrial, mining, thermoelectric power, hydroelectric power, live-stock, irrigation, reservoir evaporation, and wastewater treatment. Hydroelectric power is the only instream use discussed; all other uses are considered offstream. The Appendix presents 1985 and 1990 data by region and by drainage basin for the previously mentioned categories of use. The Cascade Range divides Oregon into two distinct climatic zones. The area west of the Cascade Range has an average annual precipitation that ranges from 40 to 200 inches, and precipitation in the area east of the Cascade Range ranges from 10 to 20 inches. The differences in precipitation and geology have an effect on the sources, uses, and amounts of water withdrawn. Most of the large public-supply systems west of the Cascade Range rely on surface water, whereas many of the large public-supply systems east of the Cascade Range use on wells or springs. Irrigators west of the Cascade Range rely primarily on nearby surface- water sources; however, irrigators east of the Cascade Range use primarily surface water that commonly is delivered from distant sources through irrigation ditches. A variety of methods was used to estimate water-use information. Most withdrawals for public-water suppliers were metered; however, irrigation withdrawals usually were estimated by using information on crops, climate, application efficiencies, and conveyance losses. The accuracy of the estimated total withdrawal values for public supply was estimated to be within 4 percent of the values that would be obtained if all public-supply withdrawals were metered. Total withdrawals for irrigation were estimated to be within 40 percent of metered irrigation withdrawals. The estimates-of-error are presented to show the relative, rather than absolute, accuracy of the data for each water-use category. A total of 8,400 million gallons of water per day was withdrawn in Oregon during 1990, about 1,900 million gallons per day more than the 6,500 million gallons per day withdrawn in 1985. Whereas actual water use increased in 1990, the major differences between 1985 and 1990 were attributed to the inclusion of offstream fish hatcheries, the use of different crop coefficients to estimate irrigation, and the availability of more detailed information in the 1990 estimates. Surface-water withdrawals accounted for 92 percent of the total withdrawals in 1990; irrigation was the largest category of water use, accounting for 82 percent of the total withdrawals.

Water-Resources Investigations Report

Water-resources of western Douglas County, Oregon

In western Douglas County, Quaternary coastal dune sands and marine terrace deposits may have the best potential for ground-water development. Yields of 200 gallons per minute have been reported from wells completed in Quaternary fluvial deposits along the lower Umpqua River. The entire area is underlain by Tertiary marine sediments that yield quantities of water barely adequate for domestic use. On the basis of wells sampled and the constituents analyzed, ground-water quality was generally good, but the recommended criteria level of 300 micrograms per liter for iron was exceeded in about one-third of the samples. Average annual runoff from eight streams in western Douglas County was estimated to range from 2.4 cubic feet per second per square mile for Elk Creek to 6.8 cubic feet per second per square mile for Scholfield Creek. The estimated 7-day , 20-year low flow ranges from 0.01 cubic foot per second per square mile for Weatherly Creek to 3.6 cubic feet per second per square mile for the Smith River. The dissolved-solids of the Umpqua River is small and stable, with little seasonal and yearly variation. Likewise, the eight small streams in the project area have small dissolved-solids but have noticeably higher nitrite plus nitrate nitrogen concentrations than those of the Umpqua River. All the lakes in the project area have dissolved-solids concentrations of less than 100 milligrams per liter and, except for Loon Lake, have limited phosphorus available for algal production. Tahkenitch and Elbow Lakes are considered to be the most active in terms of biological productivity.

Oregon

Selected ground-water data in parts of Gilliam, Morrow, and Umatilla counties, Oregon

Over the last 20 years there has been a shift from dryland to irrigated agriculture in parts of Gilliam, Morrow, and Umatilla Counties in northeastern Oregon. Some irrigation water used in this area obtained from surface sources, but a significant amount is obtained from wells. The principal aquifer in the area is the Columbia River Basalt Group. Wells in the basalt are commonly drilled to depths of 500 to 1,200 ft and many produce more than 1,000 gal/min. A cooperative ground-water modeling study by the U.S. Geological Survey and Oregon Water Resources Department has resulted in the compilation of data from drillers logs and well inspections for wells completed in the basalt aquifer. Water-level measurements have been made in some wells in the area since the 1950's. The wells with longest periods of record are those that are part of a Statewide network of observation wells measured by the U. S. Geological Survey and Oregon Water Resources Department. This report includes a table of well information, representative hydrographs, and well location maps. (USGS)

Open-File Report

Ground-water data in the Baker County-northern Malheur County area, Oregon

Ground-water data for the Baker County-northern Malheur area, Oregon, are tabulated for the Bureau of Land Management. The data include well and spring records, a well-location map, drillers' logs of wells, observation-well hydrographs, and chemical analyses of ground-water samples. The reported yields of wells and springs in the area ranged from less than 1 to 2,500 gallons per minute. Dissolved solids in ground-water samples ranged from 50 to 1,587 milligrams per liter, and arsenic ranged from 0.001 to 0.317 milligrams per liter.

Oregon

Ground-water data for the Drewsey Resource Area, Harney and Malheur counties, Oregon

Appraisals of the resources of selected management areas in eastern Oregon are being made by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. To provide needed hydrologic information the Bureau of Land Management requested the U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources Division to inventory ground-water data for the Drewsey Resource Area. Included in this report are well data, drillers ' lithologic logs, hydrographs, a summary of observation-well data, and chemical analyses of ground water. (Woodard-USGS)

Open-File Report

Availability and quality of ground water in the Winston area, Douglas County, Oregon

A map of the Winston area, Douglas County, Oreg., shows areal geology and locations and chemical diagrams of wells with water analyses. Another map of the area has diagrams showing the depth to water, pumping level, total depth, and yields of selected wells. Reported yields of wells range from less than 1 to as much as 70 gallons per minute; the average is less than 10. A table listing chemical analyses of water shows that, although most ground water is of adequate quality for domestic use, some wells yield water with dissolved constituents in excess of recommended limits. (Woodard-USGS)

Oregon

Availability and quality of ground water in the Drain-Yoncalla area, Douglas County, Oregon

The purpose of this report is to present information that may enable water users, potential water users, and planners to estimate the likelihood of obtaining ground water in adequate quantity and of suitable quality at desired locations within the study area. The Drain-Yoncalla area is in Douglas County in southwestern Oregon, includes about 340 mi 2 (880 km 2 ), and lies within the Umpqua River drainage basin.

Oregon