Geology topics

Leo B. House

Publications and source records attributed to Leo B. House.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS1985

Stage fluctuations of Wisconsin lakes

This report describes lake-stage fluctuations of 83 gaged lakes in Wisconsin and presents techniques for estimating stage fluctuation at ungaged lakes. Included are stage information at 83 lakes and stage-frequency data for 32 of these lakes that had sufficient record for analysis. Lakes are classified by a hydrologic-topographic lake classification scheme as ground-water flowthrough (GWF) lakes, surface-water drainage (SWD) lakes, and surface-water flow-through (SWF) lakes. Lakes within the same class were found to have similar water-level fluctuations. The lake-stage records indicate that most annual maximums occur during the months of May and June for all three classes. Annual minimum lake levels generally occur in September for surface-water drainage lakes, in March for surface-water flowthrough lakes, and in November for ground-water flow-through lakes. Data for each lake include location, period of water-level record, hydrologic classification, drainage area, surface area, lake volume, maximum depth, long-term mean stage and its standard deviation, maximum and minimum observed lake stage, and the average annual lake-stage fluctuation.

Wisconsin↗

USGS1981

An assessment of streamflow, water quality, and the effects of constructing an impoundment on Bridge Creek at Augusta, Wisconsin

This study documents Streamflow, temperature, and water-quality conditions of Bridge Creek at Augusta, Wisconsin, and evaluates the potential effects of a proposed small impoundment on the creek. The effects are of concern to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources because the stream is a Class II trout stream. Average daily Streamflow, from records collected during the 1980 water year, was about 50 cubic feet per second, and flow ranged from 4.5 to 1,010 cubic feet per second. Average summer (1980) water temperature of the creek was 21.0°C, and the average summer dissolved-oxygen concentration was 7.1 milligrams per liter. Water temperature did not exceed 26.0°C, and dissolved oxygen did not fall below 6.0 milligrams per liter at any time during the summer. A computer-simulated average summer temperature below the proposed impoundment was 22.5°C with a surface-level outlet from the reservoir, and 21.9°C with a bottom-draw outlet. Dissolved oxygen exceeded 6.0 milligrams per liter in both cases. Nutrient concentrations in Bridge Creek and comparisons with a similar impoundment at nearby Fall Creek indicate that the proposed impoundment would have nuisance weed growth. The impoundment would have a computed transit time of about 3 days, with a surface-level outlet, or 1 day with a bottom-draw outlet, assuming a normal pool elevation and a summer base flow of 7.5 cubic feet per second. Total storage in the proposed impoundment is estimated to be 48 acre-feet.

Wisconsin↗

USGS1981

Comparison of the propane-area tracer method and predictive equations for determination of stream-reaeration coefficients on two small streams in Wisconsin

This study was made to identify the best predictive equations for a stream's reaeration-rate coefficient. Reaeration-rate information is needed in dissolvedoxygen modeling work, but an actual tracer measurement is not always possible. The propane-area gas-tracer method and predictive equations were compared for determination of stream-reaeration coefficients (K.2) for reaches of two small streams in Wisconsin. The study was made by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The reaeration-rate coefficients actually measured by the propane-area tracer technique were 14.0 per day and 10.5 per day for two reaches of Honey Creek near Monroe, Wisconsin, with 6.98 per day and 0.98 per day measured at separate reaches on Mill Creek near Marshfield, Wisconsin. Of 20 predictive equations evaluated, the top five ranking equations were as follows: Tsivoglou-Neal with 34 percent mean error, Foree with 34.8 percent, Cadwallader with 45.5 percent, Isaacs-Gaudy with 45.8 percent, and Langbein- Durum with 49 percent.

Wisconsin↗

USGS1981

One-dimensional reservoir-lake temperature and dissolved oxygen model

This report describes and documents a one-dimensional computer model that predicts dissolved-oxygen and temperature profiles in a lake or reservoir. Downstream release dissolved-oxygen concentrations and temperatures also are computed based on a user-specified outflow withdrawal elevation. The model can, therefore, be used to compare top-draw versus bottom-draw outlet configuration effects on downstream dissolved-oxygen and temperature conditions. The dissolved-oxygen and temperature profiles are computed for a conceptual vertical water column located at the deepest point in the lake or reservoir.. The water column is divided into a series of uniform thickness horizontal layers for computation purposes. The model operates on a daily simulation interval, with summary output given for each day and detailed depth profiles printed on user-specified days. Model options allow the simulation of 5-day biochemical oxygen demand, sediment oxygen demand, and the density current effects of inflowing suspended sediment. The model is a modification of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer's "WESTEX" model number 722-F5-E1011. The user-specified withdrawal elevation, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, sediment oxygen demand, and suspended sediment simulation capabilities were not present in the earlier "WESTEX" model. The model is capable of simulating a stratified reservoir pool environment. This reservoir-lake model is most applicable to preliminary or reconnaissance studies of a proposed impoundment. Other more complex and accurate models exist to model existing lakes or reservoirs where onsite data can be collected.

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗

USGS1980

Streamflow model of Wisconsin River for estimating flood frequency and volume

A set of daily streamflow-routing models are used to simulate streamflow at 10 sites along the Wisconsin River for water years 1915-76, to determine the effects the reservoir system has on flood discharges. Streamflow is simulated under the following two conditions: (1) No reservoirs are in the system and (2) all of the present reservoirs are in place and operated with current rules. At Wisconsin Dells, 20 miles upstream from Portage, daily streamflow hydrographs are estimated for the 10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year floods. These were determined from statistical analysis of the simulated daily streamflows for the condition of all reservoirs in place. The reservoirs have a significant impact on floods. The mean annual flood peak at Wisconsin Dells is lowered about 20% from 43,000 cubic feet per second for the simulated, unregulated condition to 34,000 cubic feet per second for the simulated, regulated condition. The 100-year flood peak at Wisconsin Dells is reduced about 10% (92,000 to 82,000 cubic feet per second) between the simulated, unregulated and simulated, regulated conditions. The 100-year flood peak at Wisconsin Dells, computed from the simulated, regulated streamflow data for the period 1915-76, is 82,000 cubic feet per second, including the effects of all the reservoirs in the river system, as they are currently operated. It also includes the effects of Lakes Du Bay, Petenwell, and Castle Rock which are significant for spring floods but are insignificant for summer or fall floods because they are normally maintained nearly full in the summer and fall and have very little storage for floodwaters. (USGS)

Wisconsin↗