Geology topics

D. G. Emerson

Publications and source records attributed to D. G. Emerson.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS1992

Movement of water in seasonally frozen soil, southeastern North Dakota, 1985-87

A study of seasonally frozen soil was conducted from October 1985 through April 1986 and from October 1986 through April 1987. Three runoff plots were established. On October 30, 1985, 86 mm (millimeters) of water was applied to plot 1, and 43 mm of water was applied to plot 3. No water was applied to plot 2. The winter of 1985-86 had colder-than-normal air temperatures and greater-thannormal precipitation. Some freezing-induced redistribution was measured within the soil profile at some sites. No measurable upward movement of water from the water table to the freezing front was detected in any of the plots. Snowmelt runoff occurred on March 21 and 22. Plot 1 had 14.2 mm of runoff, plot 2 had less than 0.1 mm of runoff, and plot 3 had 9.0 mm of runoff. Infiltration was determined as the difference between soil water content on March 3 and on March 24. Infiltration was 64.8 mm for plot 1, 43.0 mm for plot 2, and 34.8 mm for plot 3. The ground-water level started to rise rapidly 2 days after the start of the major snowmelt. Recharge computed from the change in ground-water levels for March 24-27 was 13.2 mm. The mean change in soil water content for March 24-27 indicates a loss (recharge) of 5.1 mm for plot 1, a loss of 1.9 mm for plot 2, and a gain of 4.4 mm for plot 3. The difference between recharge computed from the change in ground-water levels and recharge computed from the change in soil water content indicates that some of the recharge is from a location other than the plots. The winter of 1986-87 had warmer-than-normal air temperatures and less-than-normal precipitation. Because water was entering and leaving the soil profile during the mild winter, changes in soil water content caused by freezing-induced redistribution, infiltration, or evaporation could not be quantified. On February 26, rainfall runoff occurred from snow-free frozen soil on plots 2 and 3. Snowmelt runoff occurred on all three plots on March 4 and only on plot 3 on March 5. Between February 9 and March 5, infiltration was 50.1 mm for plot 1, 25.4 mm for plot 2, and 49.6 mm for plot 3. The ground-water level rose very rapidly for a few days at the beginning of March. This rise corresponded to the snowmelt runoff on March 4 and 5. The ground-water level then stabilized until March 18 when it again started to rise rapidly. This rise continued throughout the month. Recharge computed from the change in groundwater levels for March 5-11 was 5.9 mm, recharge for March 11-26 was 50.4 mm, and recharge for March 26 through April 1 was 18.7 mm.

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗

USGS1990

Gaged and estimated monthly streamflow during 1931-84 for selected sites in the Red River of the North basin in North Dakota and Minnesota

Operation of the Garrison Diversion Unit in North Dakota may have various effects on the quantity and quality of streamflow in the Sheyenne River and the Red River of the North. To model the effects that the Garrison Diverson Unit could have on water quantity, monthly gaged and estimated streamflow data and estimated unregulated streamflow data were compiled to develop a complete monthly streamflow record for January 1931 through December 1984 (data-development period) for 29 sites in the Red River of the North basin. Gaged streamflow records were available for January 1931 through December 1984 for only 4 sites; no records or records of various length were available for the remaining 25 sites. Drainage-area ratio and Maintenance of Variance Extension Type 1 methods were used to estimate the streamflow for those sites that had no streamflow record or had a streamflow record available for only part of the data-development period. Unregulated streamflow for the 29 sites was estimated by removing the hydrologic effects of Lake Ashtabula, which is formed behind Baldhill Dam on the Sheyenne River, and surface-water withdrawals. VIater-balance procedures were used to remove the hydrologic effects of Lake Ashtabula from the streamflow record for sites downstream of Baldhill Dam. Mean annual gaged streamflow for the Sheyenne River below Baldhill Dam was 9,175 acre-feet less than mean annual estimated unregulated streamflow for 1950-84, when Baldhill Dam was in operation. Net evaporation losses from Lake Ashtabula account for most of the difference between gaged streamflow and estimated unregulated streamflow.

Minnesota, North Dakota↗

USGS1984

Synopsis of ground-water and surface-water resources of North Dakota

This report describes the surface- and ground-water resources of North Dakota and the limitations of our understanding of these resources. Ground water and surface water are actually one resource, because they are often hydraulically interconnected. They are discussed separately for convenience. In general, the surface-water resources of the mainstem of the Missouri river are abundant and suitable for most uses. Other rivers may be important locally as water-supply sources, but the quantities of flow are small, quite variable in time, and generally of an unsuitable quality for most uses. Streamflow characteristics of North Dakota reflect its arid to semiarid climate (annual precipitation varies from 13 to 20 inches from west to east across the State), cold winters (usually including a significant snowpack available for spring snowmelt runoff), and the seasonal distribution of annual precipitation (almost 50 percent falls from Nky to July). Significant volumes of shallow ground water, of variable quality are found in the glacial-drift aquifers in parts of central, northern, and eastern North Dakota. Existing information provides only a limited capability to assess the long-term reliability of these scattered aquifers. There are significant indications, however, of water-quality problems related to sustained production of wells if long-term utilization of these aquifers is planned. A summary of the general suitability for use of surface water and ground water is given in Table E1.

Open-File Report↗

USGS1983

Inventory and analyses of information for flood plain management in North Dakota

Governmental units that have been identified as having flood hazard areas but do not have detailed base flood information are required to use the "best available data" to regulate new development or expansion of existing development in flood prone areas. Information for flood plain management has been identified for 95 governmental units in North Dakota and includes the determination of what data are available regarding flood hazards, hydraulics, and hydrology, and a review of these data to determine their adequacy for use in flood plain management.

North Dakota↗