Geology Reports⌕ Search

Geology topics

F. A. Packard

Publications and source records attributed to F. A. Packard.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS1996

Quality-assurance plan for water-resources activities of the U.S. Geological Survey in Idaho

To ensure continued confidence in its products, the Water Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey implemented a policy that all its scientific work be performed in accordance with a centrally managed quality-assurance program. This report establishes and documents a formal policy for current (1995) quality assurance within the Idaho District of the U.S. Geological Survey. Quality assurance is formalized by describing district organization and operational responsibilities, documenting the district quality-assurance policies, and describing district functions. The districts conducts its work through offices in Boise, Idaho Falls, Twin Falls, Sandpoint, and at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory. Data-collection programs and interpretive studies are conducted by two operating units, and operational and technical assistance is provided by three support units: (1) Administrative Services advisors provide guidance on various personnel issues and budget functions, (2) computer and reports advisors provide guidance in their fields, and (3) discipline specialists provide technical advice and assistance to the district and to chiefs of various projects. The district's quality-assurance plan is based on an overall policy that provides a framework for defining the precision and accuracy of collected data. The plan is supported by a series of quality-assurance policy statements that describe responsibilities for specific operations in the district's program. The operations are program planning; project planning; project implementation; review and remediation; data collection; equipment calibration and maintenance; data processing and storage; data analysis, synthesis, and interpretation; report preparation and processing; and training. Activities of the district are systematically conducted under a hierarchy of supervision an management that is designed to ensure conformance with Water Resources Division goals quality assurance. The district quality-assurance plan does not describe detailed technical activities that are commonly termed "quality-control procedures." Instead, it focuses on current policies, operations, and responsibilities that are implemented at the management level. Contents of the plan will be reviewed annually and updated as programs and operations change.

Idaho↗
USGS1988

Effects of coal mine drainage on the water quality of small receiving streams in Washington, 1975-77

Drainage from abandoned coal mines in western and central Washington has minimal environmental impact. Water quality characteristics that have the most significant environmental impact are suspended sediment and turbidity. Water quality data from 51 abandoned coal mines representing 11 major coal bearing areas indicate that less than 1% of the mine drainage has a pH of 4.5 or less. Fifty percent of the drainage is alkaline and has pH 7.0 and greater, and about 95% of the drainage has pH 6.0 and greater. Less than 2% is acidified to a pH of 5.6, a point where water and free (atmospheric) carbon dioxide are in equilibrium. The area where pH 5.6 or less is most likely to occur is in the Centralia/Chehalis mine district. No significant difference in diversity of benthic organisms was found between stations above and below the mine drainage. However, within the 50-ft downstream reach ostracods were more abundant than above the mine drainage and mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies were less abundant than at the control site. Correlations to water quality measurements show that these faunal changes are closely associated with iron and sulfate concentrations. (USGS)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1985

Controls on ground-water chemistry in the Horse Heaven Hills, south-central Washington

Miocene basaltic aquifers are the source of domestic and municipal water, and about 20,000 acre-feet of irrigation water annually, in the Horse Heaven Hills in south-central Washington State. Groundwater chemical variations derive from the hydraulic characteristics is of the geohydrologic system, from groundwater basalt reactions, and from irrigation. Some dissolved species concentrations increase with residence time; others decrease. Recharge area groundwaters are calcium magnesium sodium bicarbonate waters with sodium-adsorption ratios (SAR's) less than 1.0. They evolve to sodium potassium bicarbonate waters with SAR 's as high as 17. Glassy and cryptocrystalline phases of the basalt are the main sources of dissolved sodium. They dissolve by silicate hydrolysis in carbon dioxide charged waters that recharge the aquifer system. Dissolved silicon, iron, and aluminum concentrations are controlled by the solubilities of amorphous secondary alteration products, which order to silica phases, oxyhydroxides, and smectite. Carbonate mineral precipitation is induced by increasing pH from the hydrolysis reaction. Sodium and potassium concentrations increase until clinoptilolite saturation is reached and precipitation begins. Deviations from the general variation patterns are due to localized geologic structures which distort the groundwater flow system, and to the irrigation use of Columbia River water. (USGS)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1983

Groundwater-surfacewater relationships in the Bonaparte Creek basin, Okanogan County, Washington, 1979-1980

Ground water-surface-water relationships were studied in five morphological segments in the Bonaparte Creek basin, Washington during 1979 and 1980. In one segment, kettle lakes were found to be closely associated with the ground-water system. In the other four segments, a close relationship was found between streamflow and ground water. It was concluded that additional ground-water development would adversely affect lake levels and streamflow, thereby reducing surface-water resources already closed to further appropriation. The ground-water divide between the Bonaparte and Sanpoil basins was 6 miles southeast of where it was estimated to be. (USGS)

Open-File Report↗
USGS1983

Data supplement to: Quality of coal mine drainage to Washington, 1975-77

From December 1975 to September 1977 the U.S. Geological Survey studied coal mine drainage in western Washington to 1) characterize the water quality of drainage from abandoned mines in the 11 coal-bearing areas of the State; 2) examine the water quality effects on a stream receiving drainage from an abandoned coal mine; 3) determine the baseline water-quality conditions at two prospective underground coal mine areas; and 4) recommend procedures for monitoring stream quality in the baseline areas in the event that mining occurs. This report presents physical, chemical, and biological data collected during the study period from Gallop Creek (Whatcom County), Loretta Creek (Skagit County), and Wilkeson Creek (Pierce County) and from 100 abandoned coal mines in western Washington, and from a borehole hydraulic-mining test site. Biological information included taxonomic identifications and counts of benthic invertebrates and periphytic algae. (USGS)

Open-File Report↗
USGS1981

Reconnaissance of water availability and quality in abandoned coal mines near Roslyn, Kittitas County, Washington

The recoverable volume of ground water in abandoned coal mines near Roslyn, Wash., is estimated to be 20,000 acre-feet. During times of drought, pumping this water into the Cle Elum and Yakima Rivers for use in irrigation downstream should present few major water-quality problems. Wells at seven locations should be sufficient to withdraw the recoverable water from nine separate reservoirs within the mines. Under normal recharge (precipitation) conditions, these reservoirs would refill in about 6 years. (USGS)

Open-File Report↗