Geology topics
J. M. Norris
Publications and source records attributed to J. M. Norris.
Simulation of streamflow in small drainage basins in the southern Yampa River basin, Colorado
Coal mining operations in northwestern Colorado commonly are located in areas that have minimal available water-resource information. Drainage-basin models can be a method for extending water-resource information to include periods for which there are no records or to transfer the information to areas that have no streamflow-gaging stations. To evaluate the magnitude and variability of the components of the water balance in the small drainage basins monitored, and to provide some method for transfer of hydrologic data, the U.S. Geological Survey 's Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System was used for small drainage basins in the southern Yampa River basin to simulate daily mean streamflow using daily precipitation and air-temperature data. The study area was divided into three hydrologic regions, and in each of these regions, three drainage basins were monitored. Two of the drainage basins in each region were used to calibrate the Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System. The model was not calibrated for the third drainage basin in each region; instead, parameter values were transferred from the model that was calibrated for the two drainage basins. For all of the drainage basins except one, period of record used for calibration and verification included water years 1976-81. Simulated annual volumes of streamflow for drainage basins used in calibration compared well with observed values; individual hydrographs indicated timing differences between the observed and simulated daily mean streamflow. Observed and simulated annual average streamflows compared well for the periods of record, but values of simulated high and low streamflows were different than observed values. Similar results were obtained when calibrated model parameter values were transferred to drainage basins that were uncalibrated. (USGS)
Surface water-quality characteristics in the upper North Fork Gunnison River basin, Colorado
Analyses of water quality data collected during 1982 and 1983 in the upper North Fork Gunnison River basin indicate that dissolved-solids concentrations are relatively small, with a mean value near 97 milligrams per liter. Most major dissolved constituents also had small measured concentrations throughout the study area. Trace-element concentrations generally were small; however, total-iron concentration generally was large in the area with a mean concentration of about 8,250 micrograms per liter. The cause of this larger iron concentration probably is related to the local geology. Paonia Reservoir, located on Muddy Creek, greatly reduced suspended-sediment and trace-element concentrations. The reservoir had only a slight effect on major dissolved-constituent concentrations. Analyses of alkalinity, sulfate, and dissolved-solids concentrations indicated that little, if any, changes in water quality occur as a result of coal mining; however, more data are needed to make more definite conclusions. Sulfate concentrations increased slightly downstream through the mined area; however, with the small concentrations measured and limited quantity of data, the source of the increased sulfate could not be determined. (USGS)
Application of the precipitation-runoff modeling system to small basins in the Parachute Creek basin, Colorado
The U.S. Geological Survey 's Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System was calibrated and verified for two small basins in western Colorado. Average monthly mean, average monthly maximum, average annual total, and average daily mean observed and model predicted streamflow differences were small, on the average < 10 %, indicating the Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System can, when adequately calibrated, satisfactorily estimate these streamflow factors. Average monthly minimum streamflow generally was over-predicted, but actual differences between observed and model predicted average monthly minimum streamflow are small. To determine relative errors of streamflow prediction in ungaged basins, three different model parameter sets were used to predict streamflow in a nearby gaged basin. The first set of parameters was based on the assumption that little information about this basin was available. Model parameters used to calibrate basins approximately 75 mi away were adjusted to model this basin on the basis of easily obtainable physical basin characteristics, such as elevation and slope. The second set of parameters was based on the first set, except it was assumed that local climate information was available to estimate the model 's climatic parameters for the basin better. The second set of parameters improved streamflow estimation in this basin by about 7% over the first model parameter set. The third set of model parameters assumed that the model had been calibrated to similar, nearby basins. This model parameter set was derived from the model parameters of the earlier calibrated basins. Using these calibrated model parameter values improved streamflow estimates by approximately 21% over the second parameter set. The average difference between observed and predicted average annual streamflow for the basin using these parameters was 16.3%. For comparison, the average difference between observed and predicted average annual total streamflow for the calibration basins was 12.9%. This suggests that, with some increase in error, this model can be used to estimate streamflow in ungaged basins, if the model has been calibrated to a nearby gaged basin with similar physical characteristics. (Lantz-PTT)
Water-quality data for streams in the Upper North Fork of the Gunnison River, Colorado
The upper reaches of the North Fork of the Gunnison River have been an area of active coal mining for many years. Recently, concerns about impacts of coal mining on surface-water quality have been raised. To answer these concerns, information on existing, or background, water quality must be known. To obtain this information for the study area, a program for the synoptic collection of water quality data was established in 1982. Water quality data were collected on continuously flowing streams in the upper North Fork of the Gunnison River basin in 1982 and 1983. Each site was sampled repetitively as changes occurred in streamflow and specific conductance. (USGS)
Calibration procedure for a daily flow model of small watersheds with snowmelt runoff in the Green River coal region of Colorado
A calibration procedure was developed for the U.S. Geological Survey 's Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System for watersheds in which snowmelt is the major contributor to runoff. The model uses daily values of air temperature and precipitation as input and the output is mean daily discharge. The procedure appears sufficient to calibrate both streamflow volume and the timing of mean daily discharge if other model parameters are reasonably estimated. Model structure and sensitivity analysis suggest that one of the most important parameters is the available water-holding capacity of the soil (SMAX). Changing this parameter through a series of iterations, the calibration procedure minimizes the error between observed and predicted annual discharge. The calibration suggests that the single parameter SMAX may be sufficient for optimizing both the volumes and the timing of runoff, assuming other model parameters are adequately estimated. Additional optimization on parameters sensitive to timing does not appear to improve prediction. This indicates that these parameters were estimated accurately prior to calibration. Further investigation is needed on more watersheds to determine SMAX 's ability to calibrate volume and timing with a constant set of other model parameter values.
Summary of hydrologic information for the Denver coal region, Colorado
A literature review of available hydrologic information for the Denver coal region is presented. Where little information is available, data from the U.S. Geological Survey 's WATSTORE data base are summarized. The information is divided into three categories: surface water, surface water quality, and groundwater. Data generally are lacking on surface water and surface water quality. The effects of man 's activities on streamflow quantity and quality are not known. Considerable literature is available on the major aquifers in the area, but less is known about the shallow groundwater system. (USGS)
Hydrology of area 53, northern Great Plains and Rocky Mountain coal provinces, Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah
Hydrologic information and analysis are needed to aid in decisions to lease Federally owned coal and for the preparation of the necessary Environmental Assessments and Impact Study Reports. This need has become even more critical with the enactment of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (Public Law 95-87). This report, one in a series of nationwide coal province reports, presents information thematically by describing single hydrologic topics through the use of brief texts and accompanying maps, graphs, or other illustrations. The report broadly characterizes the hydrology of Area 53 in northwestern Colorado, south-central Wyoming, and northeastern Utah. The report area, located primarily in the Wyoming Basin and Colorado Plateau physiographic provinces, consists of 14,650 square miles of diverse geology, topography, and climate. This diversity results in contrasting hydrologic characteristics. The two major rivers, the Yampa and the White Rivers, originate in humid granitic and basaltic mountains, then flow over sedimentary rocks underlying semiarid basins to their respective confluences with the Green River. Altitudes range from 4,800 to greater than 12,000 feet above sea level. Annual precipitation in the mountains, as much as 60 inches, is generally in the form of snow. Snowmelt produces most streamflow. Precipitation in the lower altitude sedimentary basins, ranging from 8 to 16 inches, is generally insufficient to sustain streamflow; therefore, most streams originating in the basins (where most of the streams in coal-mining areas originate) are ephemeral. Streamflow quality is best in the mountains where dissolved-solids concentrations generally are small. As streams flow across the sedimentary basins, mineral dissolution from the sedimentary rocks and irrigation water with high mineral content increase the dissolved-solids concentrations in a downstream direction. Due to the semiarid climate of the basins, soils are not adequately leached; consequently, flows in the ephemeral streams usually have larger concentrations of dissolved solids than those in perennial streams. Ground-water supplies are restricted by the low yields of wells due to small permeability. Most ground-water use is for domestic and stock-watering purposes; it is limited by the amount and type of dissolved material. The ground-water ionic composition is highly variable. Dissolved-solids concentrations for aquifers sampled in Area 53 range from a minimum of 46 milligrams per liter to a maximum of 109,000 milligrams per liter. Trace element concentrations generally are not a problem. An estimated 82 billion tons of coal exist above a depth of 6,000 feet in the Colorado parts of the area. The coal beds of greatest economic interest occur in the sedimentary deposits of the Upper Cretaceous Iles and Williams Fork Formations of the Mesaverde Group and the Upper Cretaceous Lance Formation and the Fort Union and Wasatch Formations of Tertiary age. The coal characteristically has a low sulfur content. Hydrologic problems related to surface mining are erosion, sedimentation, decline in water levels, disruption of aquifers, and degradation of water quality. Because the semiarid mine areas have very little runoff and the major streams have large buffer and dilution capacities, the effects of mining on surface water are minimal. However, effects on ground water may be much more severe and long lasting.
Simulated effects of anticipated coal mining on dissolved solids in selected tributaries of the Yampa River, northwestern Colorado
Identifying cumulative effects of coal mining on dissolved solids downstream from multipe coal-mining operations is particularly important in western basins. The problem of identifying cumulative effects is evident in the Trout Creek drainage, a tributary to the Yampa River in northwestern Colorado, where a number of mines are active and mine expansions are planned. As an evaluation tool, a model was developed and calibrated for the Trout Creek drainage and a reach of the Yampa River main stem. This model uses a series of nodes on the stream network to sum water quantity and quality through the network. The model operates on a monthly basis and uses data from water years 1976 to 1981. Output is mean monthly discharge, dissolved-solids concentration, and dissolved-solids load. Observed data are needed to initiate the model and for model calibration. Some data were extrapolated from records of nearby streamflow-gaging stations. Some nodes within the stream network were for inputs from anticipated mining and were inactive during calibrations. After calibration, these nodes were used to input water discharge at a given dissolved-solids concentration to reflect various future mine configurations. (USGS)