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G.H. Hughes

Publications and source records attributed to G.H. Hughes.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS1981

Low-flow frequency data for selected stream gaging stations in Florida

This report contains tables of low-flow frequency data for 161 stream-gaging stations in Florida. The selected stations represent those having suitable flow records spanning 7 or more years. Flow values representing the annual minimum average flow for selected periods ranging from 1 to 183 days are presented for recurrence intervals ranging from 2 to 50 years. The low-flow frequency data of relatively short-term stations were adjusted where possible on basis of records of long-term stations to reduce the possible bias introduced by short-term climatic trends. (USGS)

Open-File Report↗
USGS1979

Surface-water features in Osceola County and adjacent areas, Florida

The western two-thirds of Osceola County, Fla., drains southward by way of the Kissimmee River and its tributaries; the eastern one-third drains eastward to the St. Johns River or to marshy areas that make up part of the headwaters of the St. Johns River. About 15 percent of the county is covered by several hundred lakes whose surface areas range in size from a few to several thousand acres. Much of the natural drainage has been altered by canalization or regulated by control structures. Under natural conditions streamflow is seasonal, usually high in September or October and low in May or June, in phase with the rainy season. Control structures are used to maintain lake levels within a relatively small range in stage, producing greater seasonal variations in river flow than before regulation. Dissolved-solids concentration of much of the surface water is less than 240 mg/l, in some, much less. The water typically is of calcium bicarbonate type. Color is fairly high, in water draining from swamps, where the pickup of humic acids is significant. (Kosco-USGS)

Open-File Report↗
USGS1979

Analysis of water-level fluctuations of Lakes Winona and Winnemissett-- two landlocked lakes in a karst terrane in Volusia County, Florida

The water levels of Lakes Winona and Winnemissett in Volusia County, Fla., correlate reasonably well during dry spells but only poorly during wet spells. Disparities develop mostly at times when the lake levels rise abruptly owing to rainstorms passing over the lake basins. The lack of correlation is attributed to the uneven distribution of the storm rainfall, even though the average annual rainfall at National Weather Service gages in the general area of the lakes is about the same. Analyses of the monthly rainfall data show that the rainfall variability between gages is sufficient to account for most of the disparity between monthly changes in the levels of the two lakes. The total annual rainfall at times may differ between rainfall gages by as much as 15 to 20 inches. Such differences tend to balance over the long term but may persist in the same direction for two or more years, causing apparent anomalies in lake-level fluctuations. (Woodard-USGS)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1978

Impact of potential phosphate mining on the hydrology of Osceola National Forest, Florida

Potentially exploitable phosphate deposits underlie part of Osceola National Forest, Fla. Hydrologic conditions in the forest are comparable with those in nearby Hamilton County, where phosphate mining and processing have been ongoing since 1965. Given similarity of operations, hydroloigc effects of mining in the forest are predicted. Flow of stream receiving phosphate industry effluent would increase somewhat during mining, but stream quality would not be greatly affected. Local changes in the configuration of the water table and the quality of water in the surficial aquifer will occur. Lowering of the potentiometric surface of the Floridan aquifer because of proposed pumpage would be less than five feet at nearby communities. Flordian aquifer water quality would be appreciably changed only if industrial effluent were discharged into streams which recharge the Flordian through sinkholes. The most significant hydrologic effects would occur at the time of active mining: long-term effects would be less significant.

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USGS1977

Hydrologic considerations in dewatering and refilling Lake Carlton, Orange and Lake Counties, Florida

Lake Carlton straddles the line between Lake and Orange Counties in central Florida. The 382-acre (155-hectare) lake is highly eutrophic and subject to virtually perpetual algal blooms. The Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission has proposed to restore the lake to a less eutrophic state by dewatering the lake long enough to allow the muck on its bottom to dry and compact. Lake Carlton would be permanently sealed off from Lake Beauclair which presently serves as a source of nutrient enriched water for Lake Carlton. On the assumption that the seasonal rainfall would be normal, and that the dewatering phase would begin on March 1, the predicted time required to dewater the lake at a pumping rate of 50,000 gallons (190 cubic meters) per minute is 21 days. The average rate of pumping required to maintain the lake in a dewatered condition is computed to be 2,400 gallons (9.08 cubic meters) per minute. If pumping is ended May 31, the predicted altitude to which the lake would recover by October 31 as a result of net natural input is 56.2 feet (17.1 meters) above sea level. Raising the lake level to 63 feet (19.2 meters) above sea level by October 31 would require that the net natural input be supplemented at an average rate of about 4,860 gallons (18.4 cubic meters) per minute between May 31 and October 31.

Florida↗
USGS1977

Evaluation of chemical, biological, and physical conditions in the Winter Haven chain of lakes, Florida, March-June 1976

Reconnaissance of water-quality conditions of 14 interconnected navigable lakes, in and around Winter Haven, Fla., revealed that in March and May, 1976 most were eutrophic, on the basis of high nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) concentrations. Lakes Lulu and Shipp were the most enriched as a result of surface runoff from residential, agricultural, and highly urbanized areas, and many years of municipal and industrial waste effluent input. Phytoplankton counts were greater than a million cells per milliliter in some lakes sampled; algal blooms have ocurred, and water clarity was low. The level of Lake Howard fell to the lowest stage recorded in 31 years during May 1976. The record low was likely due to rainfall deficiency. Leakage of water through the lake beds to the ground-water system is also possible, but determination of the escaping water volume would require additional study. (Woodard-USGS)

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USGS1976

Hydrologic relations between lakes and aquifers in a recharge area near Orlando, Florida

The three lakes investigated in Orange County, Florida, gain water from adjoining water-table aquifer and lose water to Floridan aquifer by downward leakage. Net seepage (net exchange of water between lake and aquifers) can be estimated by equation S = AX + BY, where S is net seepage, X represents hydraulic gradient between lake and water-table aquifer, A is lumped parameter representing effect of hydraulic conductivity and cross-sectional area of materials in flow section of water-table aquifer, Y is head difference between lake level and potentiometric surface of Floridan aquifer, and B is lumped parameter representing effect of hydraulic conductivity, area, and thickness of materials between lake bottom and Floridan aquifer. If values of S, X, and Y are available for two contrasting water-level conditions, coefficients A and B are determinable by solution of two simultaneous equations. If the relation between lake and ground-water level is the same on all sides of the lake--with regard to each aquifer--and if X and Y are truly representative of these relations, then X and Y terms of equation provide valid estimates of inflow to lake from water-table aquifer and outflow from lake to Floridan aquifer. (Woodard-USGS)

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USGS1976

Hydrology of Lake County, Florida

Lake County includes a 1,150 square-mile area consisting of ridges, uplands, and valleys in central-peninsular Florida. About 32 percent of the county is covered by lakes, swamps, and marshes. Water requirements in 1970 averaged about 54 million gallons per day. About 85 percent of the water was obtained from wells; about 15 percent from lakes. The Floridan aquifer supplies almost all the ground water used in Lake County. Annual recharge to the Floridan aquifer averages about 7 inches over the county; runoff average 8.5 inches. The quality of ground and surface water in Lake County is in general good enough for most uses; however, the poor quality of Floridan-aquifer water in the St. John River Valley probably results from the upward movement of saline water along a fault zone. Surface water in Lake County is usually less mineralized than ground water but is more turbid and colored. (Woodard-USGS)

Florida↗
USGS1975

Hydrology of three sinkhole basins in southwestern Seminole County, Florida

The southwestern part of Seminole County--in east-central Florida-is characterized by sinkholes formed by the subsidence of surficial deposits into solution cavities in the underlying limestone deposits. The area includes three sinkhole basins created by such subsidence: Cranes Roost, Palm Springs, and Grace Lake. Cranes Roost basin (drainage area, 5.02 square miles) contains a closed drainage system of lakes and swamps--including Lakes Adelaide, Florida, and Mobile--that terminates at Cranes Roost sink. It also contains Lake Orienta and two unnamed sinks which do not overflow into Cranes Roost sink. Palm Springs basin (drainage area, 1.77 square miles) includes Lake Marion, Eleventh Hole Pond, and several small unconnected sinks. Grace Lake basin (drainage area, 1.64 square miles) includes Island Lake which overflows into Grace Lake. The recent spread of urban development has tended to encroach on the flood plains of lakes in these sinkhole basins and cause concern over the flood hazard that results. An investigation was made of the area to document the highest known lake levels, to examine possible effects of urbanization with regard to increasing the flood hazard, and to appraise the possibilities of controlling lake levels to reduce or limit the flood hazard. The highest lake stages of record in the three sinkhole basins occurred in September 1960. Analyses of the hydrologic relations between lake stages, ground-water levels, stream discharges, and rainfall in the area indicated that the lake stages of September 1960 probably were the highest attained since at least 1895. Cultural development that increases the percentage of a sink basin covered by impervious materials will cause more rapid runoff of a larger part of the rainfall in the basin. Thus, as development progresses, lake stages seldom reached under natural conditions may be reached more frequently unless the lake levels are controlled. In Crane Roost basin, the levels of Lakes Mobile, Adelaide, and Florida could be controlled by enlarging their surface outlets and adding control structures; however, such measures might be ineffective unless the level of Cranes Roost also was controlled. The level of Cranes Roost could be controlled by removal of water by pumping or by providing a surface outlet; pumping might be ineffective during extreme wet periods because of the potential for inflow from upstream lakes and the potential for ground-water inflow from the Floridan aquifer. The level of Lake Orienta could be Controlled by removal of water by pumping or by providing a surface outlet. In the Palm Springs sink basin, the levels of Lake Marion and the several small sinks could be controlled by removal of water by pumping or by providing surface outlets. For the several sinks, however, providing a surface outlet would require an extensive excavation and pumping might prove impractical because of seepage induced from the Floridan aquifer. The level of Island Lake--in Grace Lake sink basin-could be controlled by enlarging its surface outlet and providing a control structure. The peak stage of Grace Lake could be reduced by lowering its outlet to the north, but release of water during wet periods might cause downstream flooding.

Florida↗
USGS1975

Perspective on use of fresh water for cooling systems of thermoelectric powerplants in Florida

Cooling ponds, evaporative cooling towers, and once-through cooling systems of thermoelectric powerplants consume appreciable quantities of water. In Florida a cooling pond for a 1,000 megawatt nuclear power-plant operating at full load in sulluner consumes about 12.5 million gallons of water per day (0.55 cubic metres per second). A cooling tower for a plant of the same size consumes about 14.8 million gallons per day (0.65 cubic metres per second). Because the natural water loss to evaporation is greater for a water body than for a land area of comparable size in the same general environment, the total water consumption attributable to powerplant cooling may be greater for a cooling pond than for a cooling tower in instances where, for lack of a suitable natural water body, a cooling pond is created out of a dryland area. Additional water is required to maintain the chemical quality of the recycled cooling water, the quantity varying with the chemical quality of the makeup water and the concentration of chemical constituents that can be tolerated in the cooling water. Once-through cooling systems require 5 to 10 percent less water than cooling ponds, but the total withdrawal of water for this method is so large that it is practicable in Florida only along the coast where saline water can be used. In 1970 cooling systems of powerplants in Florida consumed about 106 million gallons per day (4.6 cubic metres per second), mostly saline water. Water consumption for power production in Florida could increase to 400 million gallons per day (17.5 cubic metres per second) by 1990 and to 800 million gallons per day (35.0 cubic metres per second) by 2000. Demand also will increase greatly for other uses that require Fresh water. The continued use of saline water for cooling systems of 3owerplants would help to conserve the fresh-water supply for these uses.

Florida↗