Geology topics

D.E. Renn

Publications and source records attributed to D.E. Renn.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS1993

Sedimentation in Long Lake, Noble County, northeastern Indiana, 1959-88

Sedimentation has had little or no effect on the storage capacity or surface area of Long Lake. The lake is a natural lake that formed in unconsolidated glacial deposits. The lake is essentially two lakes: a small southern part and a large northern part. The lake receives drainage from Thumma Ditch. At the outlet of the lake, the drainage area of Thumma Ditch is 12.0 square miles. Locations where the largest amount of sediment has accumulated for the 29-year period 1959-88 are in the southern part of Long Lake where Thumma Ditch enters the lake, and in the narrow channel that connects the southern and northern parts of the lake. In general, there has been little or no sediment accumulation in most of Long Lake. The surface-area of the lake was 1,738,000 square feet (39.9 acres) in 1959 and was 1,733,400 square feet (39.8 acres) in 1988. In 1959, the volume of water in Long Lake was 27,555,000 cubic feet; in 1988, the volume was 27,511,000 cubic feet. The amount of sediment accumulation in the lake during 1959-88 was 44,000 cubic feet. In 1988, the volume of water remaining in the lake was 99.8 percent of the 1959 volume; 0.2 percent of the 1959 lake volume had filled with sediment. The average annual rate of sediment accumulation in the lake during 1959-88 was 1,520 cubic feet per year. Potential decreases in the storage capacity of Long Lake for the 29-year period 1989-2018 were estimated assuming steady-state conditions. The volume of water in the lake in 2018 is estimated to be 99.6 percent of the 1959 volume; 0.4 percent of the lake is estimated to be filled with sediment.

Indiana↗

USGS1993

Sedimentation in Whitewater Lake, Union County, east-central Indiana, 1959-88

Sedimentation has had little effect on the storage capacity or surface area of Whitewater Lake. The lake was constructed by damming Silver Creek in 1949 and was dredged during 1978-81 and 1984-88. At the dam, the drainage area of Silver Creek is 19.2 square miles. Locations where the largest amount of sediment has accumulated for the 29-year period 1959-88 are in the upper part of the lake where Silver Creek enters. In general, except for the upper part of the lake, there has been little sediment accumulation in most of the lake. The surface area of the lake was 7,580,000 square feet (174 acres) in 1959 and 6,590,000 square feet (151 acres) in 1988. In 1959, the volume of water in Whitewater Lake was 138,000,000 cubic feet; in 1988, the volume was 132,000,000 cubic feet. The amount of sediment that accumulated in the lake from 1959-88 was 6,000,000 cubic feet. In 1988, the volume of water remaining in the lake was 95.6 percent of the 1959 volume, and 4.4 percent of the 1959 lake volume had filled with sediment. The total amount of sediment that accumulated in Whitewater Lake from 1959-88 (10,350,000 cubic feet) was determined by adding the amount of sediment that accumulated in the lake from 1959-88 (6,000,000 cubic feet) and the amount of sediment that was dredged from the lake during 1978-81 and 1984-88 (4,350,000 cubic feet). Thus, the annual rate of sediment accumulation in the lake from 1959-88 was 357,000 cubic feet per year. Potential decreases in the storage capacity of Whitewater Lake based on whether dredging is continued or discontinued were estimated for the 29-year period 1989-2017. If dredging is continued, the potential for future decreases in the storage capacity of the lake is small. If dredging is discontinued, the volume of water in the lake in 2017 is estimated to be 88.2 percent of the 1959 volume; 11.8 percent of the 1959 volume of the lake would be filled with sediment.

Indiana↗

USGS1989

Streamflow and stream quality in the coal-mining region, Patoka River basin, southwestern Indiana, 1983-85

Streamflow and stream-quality data were collected for surface water in the coal-mining region of the Patoka River basin. Data were collected primarily in Pike County. Data were collected 4 times at 29 surface-water sites during different seasons and conditions of Streamflow. Data were collected August 1983, July 1984, December 1984, and February through March 1985. Six sites were on the Patoka River. Although the percentage of drainage from coal-mined lands increases from the upstream to the downstream sites, the major land use for all sites on the Patoka River is agriculture. Ten sites were on 8 tributaries to the Patoka River (excluding the South Fork Patoka River), 3 sites were on the South Fork Patoka River (the largest tributary to the Patoka River), and 10 sites were on 10 tributaries to the South Fork Patoka River. The major land use for these sites is coal mining. Data obtained at the sites included instantaneous Streamflow, pH, specific conductance, dissolved-oxygen concentration, water temperature and concentrations of alkalinity and hot acidity. Water samples were collected and analyzed to determine the concentrations of dissolved sulfate; dissolved, suspended, and total recoverable iron and manganese; dissolved solids; suspended sediment; and suspended sediment finer than 0.0625-millimeter diameter. Streamflow in the Patoka River has been regulated since 1978 by Patoka Lake. Flow-duration analyses indicate that flow regulation by Patoka Lake generally has increased low streamflows and decreased high streamflows in the Patoka River. When compared to sites on the tributaries, sites on the Patoka River generally had smaller values for specific conductance and concentrations of chemical constituents. Sites on the tributaries to the Patoka River (including the South Fork Patoka and its tributaries) had larger values due to the physical and chemical weathering of coal-mined material in their basins. Generally, for sites on the Patoka River, values of specific conductance and concentrations of dissolved sulfate and dissolved, suspended, and total recoverable manganese increased from the upstream to the downstream sites. For the tributary sites, pH was near neutral at 11 sites (median pH value of 7.3 for all samplings), pH was low at 8 sites (median pH value of 3.7 for all samplings), and pH was variable at 3 sites depending on Streamflow. At sites where pH was near neutral, when compared with sites where pH was low, specific conductance and concentrations of alkalinity, dissolved sulfate, suspended iron, suspended manganese, dissolved solids, and suspended sediment generally were larger, and concentrations of acidity, dissolved iron, total recoverable iron, dissolved manganese, and total manganese generally were smaller. At those sites where pH varied with streamflow, concentrations of chemical constituents also varied. For sites on the Patoka River, loads of dissolved sulfate, total recoverable manganese, and dissolved solids generally increased from the upstream to the downstream sites; loads of total recoverable iron were variable. Generally, there was an inverse relation of streamflow to concentrations of chemical constituents the greater the streamflow, the smaller the concentrations. For sites on the tributaries, there was an inverse relation of streamflow to specific conductance and to concentrations of alkalinity, acidity, dissolved sulfate, and dissolved solids and a direct relation of streamflow to concentrations of dissolved, suspended, and total iron. Data collected from 1965 through 1968 and during May and October 1979 were compared with data collected during the time of the study (1983-85). Few historical data were available, and those that were available were only for selected sites. Data for pH, alkalinity, acidity, and dissolved sulfate indicate minimal or no change in these constituents.

Indiana↗

USGS1988

Effects of agricultural irrigation on water resources in the St. Joseph River basin, Indiana, and implications for aquifer yield

During the past decade, the acreage of irrigated agricultural land in Indiana has tripled, causing public concern about competition for water and resulting in several State laws for regulating water withdrawals. The St. Joseph River basin represents less than one-tenth of the area of the State, but it contains one-third of the State 's irrigated land. Irrigated land in the basin is composed of permeable soils that are underlain by productive glacial aquifers. A computer model was used to analyze the effects of maximum irrigation withdrawals on aquifer drawdown and streamflow in a 16.5 sq mi area of intensive irrigation. Simulation of maximum pumping resulted in predicted aquifer drawdowns of one-fourth of the total available drawdown. Flow in a nearby stream was decreased by 40%. Areas of most intensive irrigation in the basin also are areas that have productive aquifers and well-sustained streamflows. Aquifer yield is based on the concept of capture - the volume of increased recharge to the aquifer or decreased discharge from the aquifer that results from pumping. The high rates of capture for aquifers in the basin supply ample water for present (1982) irrigation and for substantial future development. (USGS)

Indiana↗

USGS1987

Description of the physical environment and coal-mining history of west-central Indiana, with emphasis on six small watersheds

Information on the geology, geomorphology, soils, climate, hydrology, water use, land use, population, and coal mining history of Clay, Owen, Sullivan, and Vigo Counties in Indiana is summarized. Site-specific information is given on the morphology , geology, soils, land use, coal mining history, and hydrologic instrumentation of the six watersheds which are each less than 3 sq mi in area. The Wabash, White, and Eel Rivers are the major drainages in west-central Indiana. Average annual precipitation is about 39.5 in/yr and average annual runoff is about 13 in/yr. The most productive aquifers are confined or unconfined outwash aquifers located along the major rivers. Bedrock aquifers are regionally insignificant but are the sole source of groundwater for areas that lack outwash, alluvium, or sand and gravel lenses in till. Indiana has more than 17 billion short tons of recoverable coal reserves; about 11% can be mined by surface methods. Almost half of Indiana's surface reserves are in Clay, Owen, Sullivan, and Vigo Counties. More than 50,000 acres in west-central Indiana have been disturbed by surface coal mining from 1941 through 1980. Big Slough and Hooker Creek are streams that drain unmined, agricultural watersheds. Row-crop corn and soybeans are the principal crops. Soils are moderately well drained silt loams, and the watersheds well developed dendritic drainage systems. Unnamed tributaries drain mined and reclaimed watersheds. Ridges of mine spoil have been graded to a gently rolling topography. Soils are well drained and consist of 6 to 12 inches of silt-loam topsoil that was stockpiled and then replaced over shale and sandstone fragments of the graded mine spoil. Grasses and legumes form the vegetative cover in each watershed. Pond Creek and an unnamed tributary to Big Branch are streams that drain mined and unreclaimed watersheds. Soils are very well drained shaly silty loams that have formed on steeply sloping banks. Both watersheds contain numerous impoundments of water and have enclosed areas that do not contribute surface runoff to streamflow. The ridges of mine spoil are covered with pine trees, but much of the soil surface is devoid of vegetation. (Lantz-PTT)

Indiana↗

USGS1983

Quality of surface water in the coal-mining region, southwestern Indiana, October 1979 to September 1980

The U.S. Geological Survey collected water-quality and other hydrologic data for surface water in the coal-mining region of southwestern Indiana. These data were collected at 85 sites in 19 counties during October 1979 and at 21 of the 85 sites in 12 of the 19 counties monthly from January through September 1980. The samples were collected during steady flow. Samples were also collected at 8 of the 21 monthly sites during unsteady flow caused by storms. Samples were collected prestorm; on the rising, peak, and falling stream stages; and poststorm, after flow had stabilized. Water samples were collected at each site for determining concentrations of major ions, selected metals, nutrients, and suspended sediment. Specific conductance, pH, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and instantaneous discharge were also determined at each site. During October 1979, streambed-material samples were collected at 74 sites for determining concentrations of acid-soluble constituents on sediment smaller than 63-micron diameter. During March 1980, streambed-material samples were collected at 14 sites for determining the quantity of coal in streambed sediments.

Indiana↗