Geology topics

James C. Petersen

Publications and source records attributed to James C. Petersen.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

USGS1998

Water quality in the Ozark Plateaus, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma, 1992-95

This report is intended to summarize major findings that emerged between 1992 and 1995 from the water-quality assessment of the Ozark Plateaus Study Unit and to relate these findings to water-quality issues of regional and national concern. The information is primarily intended for those who are involved in water-resource management. Yet, the information contained here may also interest those who simply wish to know more about the quality of water in the rivers and aquifers in the area where they live.

Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma↗

USGS1998

Water-quality assessment of the Ozark Plateaus study unit, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma- fish communities in streams of the Ozark Plateaus and their relations to selected environmental factors

Fish communities from 22 reaches at 18 stations in the Ozark Plateaus were sampled in 1993, 1994, and 1995. The 18 stations were chosen to represent selected combinations of major environmental factors (geology/physiographic area, land use, and basin size). Additional physical, chemical, and biological factors also were measured for each of the 22 reaches and the influence of these factors upon the fish communities was investigated. Fish community samples collected at the 22 reaches identified differences in these communities that can be attributed to differences in land use and related water-quality and habitat characteristics. Communities from agriculture reaches tended to have more species, increased relative abundance of stonerollers and members of the sucker family, and decreased relative abundance of members of the sunfish and darter families. Several groups of environmental factors (concentrations of nutrients, organic carbon, suspended sediment, and dissolved oxygen; measures related to ionic strength; measures related to riparian vegetation; measures related to substrate; and measures related to stream size) appear to be related to land-use differences and fish community differences. Three multivariate analysis techniques (two ordination techniques and a classification technique) yielded similar results when applied to the fish community data. Fish communities from reaches with more similar land use in their basins and with similar drainage areas generally were grouped closer together in the analysis. Water quality, substrate, stream morphology, and riparian measures appear to be affecting fish communities at these reaches. The relations between land use, stream size, and fish communities have implications for water quality assessments of Ozark streams. Compared to other parts of the United States, many fish species live in the Ozark Plateaus. At least 19 of these species are endemic to the Ozarks area. Many of these species are intolerant of habitat or water chemistry degradation. This characteristic makes fish a useful tool for assessing water-chemistry and other habitat conditions of streams. Several environmental factors can contribute to differences in fish communities. Elevated nutrient concentrations and greater canopy angles can increase periphyton production. Greater canopy angles can raise water temperatures and, if they reflect less woody vegetation along the banks of streams, can be associated with greater streambank erosion. Elevated suspended sediment concentrations and finer and more embedded substrates can reduce benthic macroinvertebrate populations, decrease spawning success of many fish species, and decrease protection of benthic fish from water velocities and predators.

Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma↗

USGS1995

Environmental and hydrologic setting of the Ozark Plateaus study unit, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma

The environmental and hydrologic setting of the Ozark Plateaus National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) study unit and the factors that affect water quality are described in this report. The primary natural and cultural features that affect water- quality characteristics and the potential for future water-quality problems are described. These environmental features include climate, physio- graphy, geology, soils, population, land use, water use, and surface- and ground-water flow systems. The study-unit area is approximately 47,600 square miles and includes most of the Ozark Plateaus Province and parts of the adjacent Osage Plains and Mississippi Alluvial Plain in parts of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. The geology is characterized by basement igneous rocks overlain by a thick sequence of dolomites, limestones, sandstones, and shales of Paleozoic age. Land use in the study unit is predominantly pasture and forest in the southeastern part, and pasture and cropland in the northwestern part. All or part of the White, Neosho-lllinois, Osage, Gasconade, Meramec, St. Francis, and Black River Basins are within the study unit. Streams in the Boston Mountains contain the least mineralized water, and those in the Osage Plains contain the most mineralized water. The study unit contains eight hydrogeologic units including three major aquifers--the Springfield Plateau, Ozark, and St. Francois aquifers. Streams and aquifers in the study unit generally contain calcium or calcium-magnesium bicarbonate waters. Ground- and surface-water interactions are greatest in the Salem and Springfield Plateaus and least in the Boston Mountains and Osage Plains. Geology, land use, and population probably are the most important environmental factors that affect water quality.

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗

USGS1995

Water-quality assessment of the Ozark Plateaus study unit, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma: Analysis of information on nutrients, suspended sediment, and suspended solids, 1970-92

Water-quality data collected during water years 1970-90 (October 1 to September 30) for 83 surface-water sites and during 1970-92 for 395 ground-water sites in the 48,000 square mile Ozark Plateaus study unit of the National Water Quality Assessment Program were analyzed using selected descriptive and statistical methods. The water- quality data include nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus), suspended sediment, and suspended- solids data, and ancillary information such as fertilizer use, animal waste, sewage treatment plant, and land use. Statistically significant differences exist in surface-water quality that can be attributed to physiography, land use, and other effects. The sites that were considered to be substantially affected by sewage treatment plants had the largest concentrations of nutrients. Nutrient concentrations generally were larger at sites associated with agricultural basins than at sites associated with forested basins. Statistically significant differences existed in the quality of ground water that can be attributed to hydrogeologic and land-use effects. Nutrient concentrations generally were largest where the water source is indicated to be shallow in origin and where parts of the hydrogeologic units are in agricultural land-use areas. Water quality has changed at several surface-water sites since 1970. Nutrient concentrations appear to have increased at some sites and decreased at other sites. Causes of these apparent trends are not known, but many of the sites with apparent trends are in agricultural areas. Surface-water loads of nutrients and suspended sediment were affected by several factors including streamflow, climate, drainage area, reservoir operation, and inputs from point and nonpoint sources. Annual loads were largest in large basins, with large inputs of nutrients or sediment during periods of high streamflows at locations where reservoir operation effects are not substantial.

Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma↗

USGS1982

Reconnaissance of stormwater-runoff water quality of the Big Piney Creek segment of the Cedar-Piney Creeks watershed, Yell County, Arkansas

A reconnaissance of the Big Piney Creek watershed was made between June 1981 and January 1982 to assess the water quality of selected streams in the watershed. Streamflow was measured and water samples were collected three times at each of three sites during the study. All samples were collected during periods of stormwater runoff. The water was soft (7 to 20 milligrams per liter of hardness as calcium carbonate) and dissolved-solids concentrations ranged from 36 to 74 milligrams per liter. Suspended-sediment concentrations ranged from 7 to 144 milligrams per liter. The 5-day biochemical oxygen-demands, total-nitrogen concentrations and total-phosphorus concentrations ranged from 1.5 to 6.8 milligrams per liter, 0.54 to 5.8 milligrams per liter, and 0.03 to 0.56 milligram per liter, respectively. Fecal-coliform bacteria were present in large enough concentrations at two of the sites (340 to 490 colonies per 100 milliliters and 1,200 to 6,000 colonies per 100 milliliters) to indicate that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency criterion for bathing waters and the Arkansas water-quality standard may be exceeded at times. Total-iron concentrations greater than 1,000 micrograms per liter (the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency criterion for protection of freshwater aquatic life) were detected at least once at all sites. (USGS)

Open-File Report↗

USGS1981

Water-quality reconnaissance of Harding Creek, Lawrence County, Arkansas

A study of Harding Creek conducted between April and October 1980 to assess the water quality of the creek indicates no serious water-quality problems. Eight water samples were collected during periods of low to moderate streamflow (less than 19 cubic feet per second). The water was hard to very hard (100 to 220 milligrams per liter as calcium carbonate) and dissolved-solids concentrations ranged from 112 to 244 milligrams per liter. Suspended-sediment concentrations were low (generally less than 5 milligrams per liter). Total phosphorus concentrations did not exceed 50 micrograms per liter, and total nitrogen concentrations were less than 1.9 milligrams per liter. Concentrations of most metals were less than 5 micrograms per liter, the exceptions being iron (110 to 210 micrograms per liter), manganese (20 to 80 micrograms per liter), and zinc (0 to 30 micrograms per liter). Fecal-coliform bacteria were present in some samples in large enough numbers (as many as 710 colonies per 100 milliliters) to indicate that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency criterion and Arkansas water-quality standards may be exceeded at times.

Arkansas↗

USGS1981

Water-quality reconnaissance of Patton Lake, Jefferson County, Arkansas

Results of a study (summer of 1980) of pesticides, nutrients, and other water-quality characteristics of the water and bottom material of Patton Lake indicate that the lake is nutrient enriched and that several pesticides are present in the bottom material. The high pH (9.0 to 9.3) and large dissolved-oxygen concentrations (8.7 to 10.8 milligrams per liter) on August 29 indicate significant primary production. Organic-nitrogen concentrations ranged from 1.1 to 3.0 milligrams per liter (as nitrogen). Ammonia-nitrogen concentrations ranged from 0.03 to 0.05 milligram per liter (as nitrogen). Orthophosphate concentrations ranged from 0.01 to 0.14 milligram per liter (as phosphorus). Total phosphorus ranged from 0.01 to 0.20 milligram per liter. In bottom-material samples, concentrations of organic-plus-ammonia nitrogen ranged from 5,400 to 10,000 milligrams per kilogram; total phosphorus concentrations ranged from 830 to 1,400 milligrams per kilogram; and inorganic-plus-organic carbon concentrations ranged from 70 to 106 grams per kilogram. Concentrations of DDT in bottom material did not exceed 43 micrograms per kilogram. Concentrations of DDD and of DDE exceeded 150 micrograms per kilogram in most bottom-material samples. Aldrin, chlordane, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, and lindane also were detected in bottom material. Toxaphene, a principal contaminant present in fish from the lake, was not detected in any bottom-material samples.

Arkansas↗

USGS1981

Water-quality reconnaissance of the Larkin Creek watershed, Lee and St. Francis counties, Arkansas

A reconnaissance of the Larkin Creek watershed in Arkansas was made during April through September 1980 to assess the water quality of streams in the watershed. Streamflow was measured and water samples were collected three times during the study period. Samples of bottom material were collected in September. Concentrations of dissolved solids ranged from 45 to 391 milligrams per liter. Water hardness ranged from 31 milligrams per liter (soft) to 280 milligrams per liter (very hard). Fecal-coliform bacteria densities ranged from 40 to an estimated 540 colonies per 100 milliliters and may have exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency criterion for bathing waters. Total nitrogen concentrations ranged from 0.90 to 2.2 milligrams per liter. Total phosphorus concentrations often exceeded the State standard and ranged from 0.08 to 0.46 milligrams per liter. Low dissolved-oxygen concentrations (2.5 to 5.4 milligrams per liter at midday) were measured in Larkin Creek and a major tributary. Iron (290 to 9,800 micrograms per liter), manganese (60 to 3,100 micrograms per liter), and mercury (0.0 to 0.2 micrograms per liter) concentrations at times exceeded Environmental Protection Agency criteria for domestic use or freshwater aquatic life. High concentrations of toxaphene (20 to 170 micrograms per kilogram dry weight) were present in all bottom-material samples. In two water samples, concentrations of dieldrin (0.01 micrograms per liter) exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency criterion for freshwater aquatic life. Polychlorinated biphenyls, several insecticides, and several herbicides (including 2, 4, 5-T) were present in water or bottom-material samples. (USGS)

Open-File Report↗