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Joseph M. Childers

Publications and source records attributed to Joseph M. Childers.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS1978

Water resources along the TAPS route, Alaska, 1970-74

The U.S. Geological Survey installed 10 streamgaging and water-quality stations along the trans-Alaska pipeline route (TAPS) starting in 1970. These stations, mostly north of Fairbanks, add to the historical network of gaging stations and provide records of hydrologic conditions along the TAPS route. Selected data from 23 gaging stations along the TAPS route for the period 1970-74 (prior to construction of the pipeline) are compiled in graphic form. The data include annual hydrographs of daily mean or instantaneous values of a standard set of parameters which are indicative of physical, chemical and biological conditions of the streams. The hydrographs facilitate comparisons of data, both in time and between stream sites. Thus, they are a tool for evaluating streamflow characteristics along the TAPS route during the preconstruction period. (Woodard-USGS)

Alaska↗
USGS1977

Channel erosion surveys along the TAPS route, Alaska, 1977

Channel surveys were made along the trans-Alaska pipeline system (TAPS) route during 1977 at the same 28 sites that were studied in 1976. In addition, a new site at pipeline mile 22 near Deadhorse (alignment No 134) along the Sagavanirktok River was put under surveillance. Except for changes wrought by the completion of construction, most of the sites showed very little change. Significant events include virtual completion of all construction activities along the pipeline, the pipeline startup , and the breakup flood along the Sagavanirktok River which breached many river-training structures. In general, 1977 saw heavy flooding on streams draining the north and south slopes of the Brooks Range and only moderate flooding on streams further south. Aerial photogrammetric surveys were used again in 1977 on the same seven sites as in 1976. Results document the applicability of the method for channel erosion studies. (Woodard-USGS)

Open-File Report↗
USGS1975

Channel erosion surveys along southern segment of the TAPS route, Alaska, 1972 and 1973

This report presents descriptions of preconstruction conditions at selected stream-channel sites along the southern segments of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System from Flood Creek to Valdez. The information presented can be used in studies of severe channel erosion streambed scour, bank erosion, or rechannelization. The report also presents a plan for detecting and measuring significant erosion and the important factors causing the erosion, such as flood discharge, icing development, and construction activities.

Alaska↗
USGS1972

Channel erosion surveys along proposed TAPS route, Alaska, July 1971

The U.S. Geological Survey has the threefold responsibility along the proposed route of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS): to investigate possible hydroloqic hazards to the pipeline, to investigate possible impacts of the pipeline on water resources, and to develop a better understanding of Arctic hydrology. Because the proposed pipeline route lies within many stream channels, one of the obvious hydrologic hazards is channel erosion. It was considered a major hazard in a report by Hadley (1969) after a short reconnaissance of the proposed pipeline route and also in a national assessment of water resources by the Water Resources Council (1968). The U.S. Department of Interior has also recognized the channel erosion problems in considering the environmental impacts of TAPS and has stipulated conditions for their control (U.S. Dept. of Interior, 1972a, b). The Alyeska Pipeline Service Company (APSC), who would build and operate TAPS, has described methods for complying with the Department of Interior stipulations for channel and erosion control (APSC, 1971).

Alaska↗
USGS1972

Flood surveys along proposed TAPS route, Alaska, July 1971

The U.S. Geological Survey has a threefold responsibility along the proposed route of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS): to investigate possible hydrologic hazards to the pipeline, to investigate possible impacts of the pipeline system on water resources, and to develop a better understanding of Arctic hydrology. One of the major hazards to the proposed pipeline and its associated roads and facilities is flooding. Floods could inundate or erode foundations of structures, could cause pipeline rupture resulting in oil spillage, or could increase erosion especially where natural floodways have been altered by clearing, excavation, and other construction activities. The primary damage to the environment from accelerated flood erosion could be the degradation of water quality and its detrimental effects on fish and other organisms. Consequently, information on floods along the pipeline corridor is vitally needed to assess possible environmental damages and to aid in the design and management of the pipeline and associated facilities. This report presents a description of existing flood information and a description of flood surveys at 13 sites along the northern segment of the proposed TAPS route from Prudhoe Bay to the Salcha River. A similar report is planned for the southern segment of the TAPS route.

Alaska↗
USGS1972

Floods of August 1967 in east-central Alaska

East-central Alaska had record floods near Fairbanks following extensive rains of August 8-20, 1967. Precipitation during this period totaled as much as 10 inches, which is close to the average annual precipitation for this area. The most extensive flooding occurred in the White Mountains northeast of Fairbanks and along the major streams draining those mountains. Some of the major streams flooded were the Salcha, Chena, Chatanika, Tolovana, and lower Tanana Rivers, and Birch Creek west of Circle. Peak discharges on some streams in the flood area were from two to four times the probable 50-year flood. The peak discharge of 74,400 cubic feet per second of the Chena River at Fairbanks, from 1,980 square miles of drainage area, was 2.6 times the 50-year flood. The rise of ground-water levels in the Tanana River flood plain to the land surface during the flood caused foundation failures and prevented drainage of subsurface structures. Above-normal ground-water levels existed until the middle of September. Total flood damage was estimated in excess of $85 million. Six lives were reported lost, and about 12,000 persons were evacuated during the flood. This report has been prepared to furnish hydrologic data for development planning. Included are discussions of antecedent streamflow, meteorology of the storm, descriptions of floods, flood damage, flood frequency, ground-water conditions, and stages and discharges of major streams for August 1967.

Alaska↗
USGS1964

Magnitude and frequency of floods in Alaska south of the Yukon River

This report presents a method for evaluating the magnitude and frequency of floods on the basis of the analysis of flood records. One composite frequency curve is applied to the entire study region. This curve relates floods of various magnitudes at any site within the region to probable recurrence intervals (from 1.1 to 50 years) for those floods. Flood magnitudes are reduced to dimensionless form by expressing them as a ratio to mean annual flood. Magnitudes of mean annual floods vary with the flood-producing characteristics of stream basins. On the basis of the limited data available, drainage-area size is found to be the only significant factor affecting the magnitude of the mean annual flood. Trial and error groupings of gaging-station records show that the region can be split into three hydrologic areas: one curve defines the relation within each area between mean annual flood and drainage area. These three curves in combination with the composite flood-frequency curve permit, for natural-flow conditions at any site, the determination of flood magnitude for a given recurrence interval, or the determination of recurrence interval for a flood of known magnitude.

Alaska↗