Geology Reports⌕ Search

Geology topics

C.J. Childress

Publications and source records attributed to C.J. Childress.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS1997

Water-quality trends for streams and reservoirs in the Research Triangle area of North Carolina, 1983-95

Water-quality and streamflow monitoring data, collected from 1983 to 1995, were analyzed for 34 stream and reservoir sites in a seven- county region within the upper Neuse and upper Cape Fear River Basins. Early data (1983-88) were compiled from U.S. Geological Survey water- quality studies and from the ambient water-quality monitoring network of the North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources. Analyses of major ions, nutrients, metals, trace elements, and synthetic organic compounds were compiled from samples collected by the U.S. Geological Survey from 1988 to 1995 as part of a continuing project to monitor the water quality of surface-water supplies in the Research Triangle area of North Carolina, and from the North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources ambient water-quality monitoring network. This report presents the results of analysis of consistently increasing or decreasing trends in concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus species, suspended sediment, suspended solids, sodium, chloride, iron, manganese, zinc, and chlorophyll a from seasonal Kendall trend analysis on flow-adjusted concentrations for streams and concentrations in lakes. Total phosphorus concentrations also were tested for a step decrease in concentration (step trend) associated with the North Carolina phosphate-detergent ban of 1988. For some other constituents, insufficient data or values below laboratory detection limits precluded trend analysis. A regionwide decrease in total phosphorus, ranging from 25 to 81 percent was observed that coincided with increased phosphorus removal efforts at municipal wastewater-treatment facilities in the region and the statewide phosphate-detergent ban. Most sites had stable or decreasing trends in nitrogen concentrations; however, increasing trends occurred in the Neuse River near Clayton and at Smithfield, both of which are downstream from the developing Raleigh-Durham area. Chlorophyll a concentrations have increased by 17 to 52 percent per year at monitored reservoirs, except at Cane Creek Reservoir and Lake Michie where there was no trend. No significant trends in suspended- sediment concentrations were observed. Long-term sodium concentrations were available for only a few sites. Of these, decreasing concentrations were observed in the Neuse River at Smithfield and Cane Creek near Orange Grove, and an increasing concentration was observed in University Lake. At most sites, concentrations of manganese, iron, and zinc were stable. Decreasing iron trends were observed in Little River and Cane Creek Reservoirs and Lake Michie. Cane Creek Reservoir also had a decreasing manganese trend. Severn sites, all downstream from wastewater-treatment facilities, were analyzed for zinc trends. A decreasing trend was observed in two of these--Knap of Reeds Creek and Little Lick Creek.

North Carolina↗
USGS1996

Aftermath of Hurricane Fran in North Carolina; preliminary data on flooding and water quality

Floods resulting from Hurricane Fran, which passed through North Carolina on September 5-6, 1996, were some of the most severe and widespread in the State in recent memory. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is responsible for the collection and interpretation of water-resources information, including flood data, for the Nation. As such, the USGS, in cooperation with the North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and numerous other State and local agencies, is continuing to document the effects of Hurricane Fran on the water resources of North Carolina. The purpose of this report is to present preliminary, selected information on the flooding and associated water-quality conditions which followed Hurricane Fran in North Carolina

North Carolina↗
USGS1985

Sediment and water-quality data for the West Branch Shade and East Branch Shade River basins, Ohio, 1983 water year

Sedimentation in and flooding of the West Branch Shade River and its tributaries have been major concerns of residents and State and local officials. The area was extensively surface mined for coal between the mid-1940's and the early 1960's. Reclamation efforts immediately after mining were unsuccessful. The results have been elevated sediment loads and the subsequent loss of channel conveyance. Two sediment and stream-gaging stations were established on the West Branch Shade River and one station was established on the East Branch Shade River. These three stations will provide data to evalute the effectiveness of current reclamation activties on reducing sediment loads. From June Through September 1983, suspended-sediment yield was 18 times higher in West Branch (218 tons/mi2) than East Branch (12 tons/mi2) Shade River. In addition, acidity is higher, pH is lower, and concentrations of dissolved sulfate and metals are higher in the West Branch Shade River basin than in the East Branch Shade river basins.

Open-File Report↗
USGS1985

Classification of stream basins in southeastern Ohio according to extent of surface coal mining

Water-quality data were collected from streams grenadine 35 basins in the southeaster-Ohio coal region to evaluate and categorize the effect of surface coal mining on stream quality. The study area is underlain by rocks of Pennsylvanian age, the most important coal-producing formations of which are the Allegheny and Monogahela Formations. The study area contains 276 data-collection sites, each of which was sampled four times over a 3-year period. Water and bed-material samples were collected. Each site was classified as 'abandoned,' reclaimed,' unmined,' or mixed,' depending on the proportion of the drainage basin disturbed by mining, and if mined, on the present condition of the mine. Of the 130 sites in the Monogahela Formation, 18 percent were classified as abandoned, 2 percent as reclaimed, 10 percent as unmined, and 70 percent as mixed. Of the 146 sites in the Allegheny Formation, 14 percent were classified as abandoned, 11 percent as unmined, and 75 percent as mixed. Streams draining the carbonate-bearing Monogahela Formation have a significantly greater buffering capacity than streams draining the Allegheny Formation. THere are significant differences in specific conductance; pH; alkalinity; acidity; hardness; total and dissolve manganese, and aluminum; dissolved nickel, zinc, and sulfate; and dissolved solids among mining-disturbance types in the Allegheny Formation. However, in stream draining the Monogahela Formation, only hardness, sulfur, dissolved solids, and dissolved manganese are significantly different among mining-disturbance types. Discriminant-function analysis of water-quality data was used to classify each 'mixed' site into one of four categories: Abandoned, reclaimed, unmined, or uncertain. In addition, observations in each of the first three categories were classified as strongly, moderately, or weakly characteristic of that category. The discriminant function was based on specific conductance, pH, acidity, dissolved sulfate, dissolved aluminum and dissolved manganese in streams draining the Allegheny Formation, and was based on specific conductance, dissolved sulfate, and alkalinity for streams draining the Monogahela Formation. Of the 'mixed' sites in the Monogahela Formation, 46 percent were reclassified as abandoned, 11 percent as reclaimed, 18 percent as unmined, and 24 percent as uncertain. One site was not classified because of insufficient data. Of the 'mixed' sites in the Allegheny Formation, 27 percent were reclassified as abandoned, 57 percent as unmined, and 15 percent as uncertain. Four sites were not classified because of insufficient data.

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1985

Time of travel, water quality, and bed-material quality in the Cuyahoga River within the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation area, Ohio

Three studies were conducted in the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation by the U. S. Geological Survey to (1) establish the relationship between time of travel and discharge through the park reach of the Cuyahoga River, (2) characterize water quality of the Cuyahoga River within the park over a 24-hour period, and (3) determine general areas where the streambed might be contaminated by trace metals. Time of Travel between Botzum and Independence is described by the equation T = 46.9-0.038Q, where T = time, in hours, and Q = discharge at Independence, in cubic feet per second. On the main stem of the Cuyahoga River, dissolved-oxygen saturation was highest and ultimate carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand was lowest on the upstream and downstream ends of the reach. Dissolved-oxygen saturation was more than 80 percent in all the tributaries except Furnace Run, Brandywine Creek, and Langes Run. The number of fecal coliform counts per 100 milliliters of sample was high throughout the study area and ranged from 38 to 1,200,000. Concentrations of all metals and non-metals investigated by means of analysis of bed material were not anomalously high. (USGS)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗