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R. F. Ferreira

Publications and source records attributed to R. F. Ferreira.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS2007

Effects of spatial orientation of multiple plate artificial substrates on invertebrate colonization

Jumbo multiple plate samplers were suspended in a river at 0.3 and 1 m depth in one of three orientations: interplate spaces closed to downwelling light and open to flow, open to light and flow, or open to light and closed to flow. Mean numbers of colonizing taxa and individuals were not significantly different among orientations after eight weeks of submergence. All variables tested decreased significantly with depth. Mean number of taxa, number of individuals (1 m only), and insect diversity decreased between samplings at four and eight weeks for samplers that were closed to light and open to flow. All orientations, depths, and durations had one‐half to two‐thirds of the total taxa. Colonization was affected by location in the river and position on sampler suspension equipment. The results indicate lack of orientation effects on colonization or high variability that obscured such effects. The sampler suspension equipment possibly increased among‐sampler variability by forming artificial snag habitats, and interplate light and flow conditions at different orientations may not have been sufficiently distinct to elicit different biological responses. Individual samplers provided diverse microhabitats regardless of orientation, but it would be prudent to include orientation among the variables considered in use of multiple plate samplers.

Journal of the American Water Resources Associatio↗
USGS1989

Chemical characteristics, including stable-isotope ratios, of surface water and ground water from selected sources in and near East Fork Armells Creek basin, southeastern Montana, 1985

Water samples were collected from 29 sites to provide synoptic chemical data, including stable-isotope ratios, for an area of active surface coal mining and to explore the effectiveness of using the data to chemically distinguish water from different aquifers. Surface-water samples were collected from one spring, four sites on East Armells Creek, one site on Stocker Creek, and two fly-ash ponds. Streamflows in East Fork Armells Creek ranged from no flow in several upstream reaches to 2.11 cu ft/sec downstream from Colstrip, Montana. Only one tributary, Stocker Creek, was observed to contribute surface flow in the study area. Groundwater samples were collected from wells completed in Quaternary alluvium or mine spoils, Rosebud overburden, Rosebud coal bed, McKay coal bed, and sub-McKay deposits of the Tongue River Member, Paleocene Fort Union Formation. Dissolved-solids concentrations, in mg/L, were 840 at the spring, 3,100 to 5,000 in the streams, 13,000 to 22,000 in the ash ponds, and 690 to 4 ,100 in the aquifers. With few exceptions, water from the sampled spring, streams, and wells had similar concentrations of major constituents and trace elements and similar stable-isotope ratios. Water from the fly-ash ponds had larger concentrations of dissolved solids, boron, and manganese and were isotopically more enriched in deuterium and oxygen-18 than water from other sources. Water from individual aquifers could not be distinguished by either ion-composition diagrams or statistical cluster analyses. (USGS)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1986

Water-quality variability in four reservoirs in Phillips and Valley Counties, Montana, May through August 1981

Four reservoirs in Phillips and Valley Counties were studied from May to August, 1981 (1) to describe the variation in water quality that occurs from late spring (May) to late summer (August) and during 24-hrs in late summer and (2) to describe possible causes for the variation. All the reservoirs had distinct thermal gradients but lacked true stratification as a result of circulation induced by wind. Such mixing helps prevent oxygen depletion in bottom waters during the summer. The smallest dissolved-oxygen concentrations occurred in the near-bottom water of the reservoirs and during the night. Nighttime dissolved-oxygen concentrations in reservoirs 19 and 24 were much less than in reservoirs 1 and 9. Similar trends occurred with pH. Most chemical constituents in the water generally became more concentrated from May to August because of continuous water losses from evapotranspiration. This was noted by increase in the concentration of major dissolved constituents and by increase in specific conductance. All the reservoirs contained similar types of planktonic organisms, but in different proportions. Most of the fecal bacteria existing in the reservoirs presumably originated from livestock and waterfowl waste. (USGS)

Montana↗
USGS1986

Variability in base streamflow and water quality of streams and springs in Otter and Rosebud Creek basins, southeastern Montana

The results of three base-flow studies conducted on Otter and Rosebud Creeks during 1977, 1978, and 1983 are summarized and compared to assess the variability of base-flow magnitude and water quality during years of widely different precipitation. Chemical analyses for springs in these basins also are presented to provide and indication of the areal and temporal variability of groundwater quality. Base-flow magnitudes in Otter and Rosebud Creeks vary considerably in response to precipitation of the previous year. Maximum observed differences in base-flow magnitudes between the study years were 3.8 cu ft/sec in Otter Creek and 53 cu ft/sec in Rosebud Creek. Predominant ions of base streamflow are sodium, magnesium, and sulfate in Otter Creek and magnesium, calcium, sodium, sulfate, and bicarbonate in Rosebud Creek. Dissolved solids concentrations varied considerably, with maximum differences between study years of about 1,200 mg/L in Otter Creek and about 3,200 mg/L in Rosebud Creek. The ionic composition of springs in the Otter and Rosebud Creek basins is generally similar to that of the streams. Dissolved solids concentrations of the springs vary largely throughout each basin; however, there was little variability between sampling years at individual springs.

Montana↗
USGS1985

Simulated effects of surface coal mining and agriculture on dissolved solids in the Redwater River, east-central Montana

Dissolved solids concentrations in five reaches of the Redwater River in east-central Montana were simulated to evaluate the effects of surface coal mining and agriculture. A mass-balance model of streamflow and dissolved solids load developed for the Tongue River in southeastern Montana was modified and applied to the Redwater River. Mined acreages, dissolved solids concentrations in mined spoils, and irrigated acreage can be varied in the model to study relative changes in the dissolved solids concentration in consecutive reaches of the river. Because of extreme variability and a limited amount of data, the model was not consecutively validated. Simulated mean and median monthly mean streamflows and consistently larger than those calculated from streamflow records. Simulated mean and median monthly mean dissolved solids loads also are consistently larger than regression-derived values. These discrepancies probably result from extremely variable streamflow, overestimates of streamflow from ungaged tributaries, and weak correlations between streamflow and dissolved solids concentrations. The largest increases in simulated dissolved solids concentrations from mining and agriculture occur from September through January because of smaller streamflows and dissolved solids loads. Different combinations of agriculture and mining under mean flow conditions resulted in cumulative percentage increases of dissolved solids concentrations of less than 5% for mining and less than 2% for agriculture. (USGS)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1983

Significance of water quality to fish propagation, waterfowl habitat, livestock watering, and recreation use for 24 lakes and reservoirs in Valley and Phillips Counties, Montana

Twenty-four reservoirs were sampled for water quality to determine their suitability for fish propagation, waterfowl habitat, livestock watering, and recreation. Reservoir-surface areas ranged from 0.2 to 146 hectares and depths ranged from 0.01 to 6.0 meters. Of the reservoirs studied, six generally had water quality that would not be detrimental to fish propagation. Most of the reservoirs were enriched with nutrients and supported large concentrations of phytoplankton and dense growth of aquatic plants. In late winter and late summer, enrichment of shallow reservoirs often resulted in dissolved-oxygen concentrations less than 5.0 milligrams per liter, which is detrimental to fish. Three reservoirs lacked aquatic plants for water fowl habitat. Four reservoirs had small dissolved-oxygen concentration in the bottom water that might be critical to the protection of waterfowl if botulism were to occur. Specific conductance of water samples from three reservoirs was sufficiently close to the criterion of 4,800 microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees celsius to be regarded as potentially hazardous to livestock. However, most of the reservoirs generally would not be conducive to recreational swimming. Visibility was limited in most of the reservoirs. In addition, leech populations and growth of submersed aquatic plants in most of the reservoirs would be a nuisance to swimmers.

Montana↗
USGS1978

An evaluation of problems arising from acid mine drainage in the vicinity of Shasta Lake, Shasta County, California

Streams draining the mined areas of massive sulfide ore deposits in the Shasta Mining Districts of northern California are generally acidic and contain large concentrations of dissolved metals, including iron, copper, and zinc. The streams, including Flat, Little Backbone, Spring, West Squaw, Horse, and Zinc Creeks, discharge into Shasta Reservoir and the Sacramento River and have caused numerous fish kills. The sources of pollution are discharge from underground mines, streams that flow into open pits, and streams that flow through pyritic mine dumps where the oxidation of pyrite and other sulfide minerals results in the production of acid and the mobilization of metals. Suggested methods of treatment include the use of air and hydraulic seals in the mines, lime neutralization of mine effluent, channeling of runoff and mine effluent away from mine and tailing areas, and the grading and sealing of mine dumps. A comprehensive preabatement and postabatement program is recommended to evaluate the effects of any treatment method used. (Woodard-USGS)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1975

An introduction to the processes, problems, and management of urban lakes

Lakes are bodies of water formed in depressions on the earth's surface, and as such, act as depositories for a variety of chemical and biological materials. The study of lakes has become increasingly prevalent in recent years. Lakes are a valuable resource, and their multiple uses have made them susceptible to water-quality problems such as algal blooms, sediment deposition and fish kills. These problems are products of the eutrophication process (enrichment, aging and extinction of lakes), which is often accelerated by man. Therefore, it becomes important to understand the properties and processes of lakes which govern lake enrichment, and the measures available to control enrichment. Lakes are described in terms of their physical (light penetration, temperature, sediment, and morphology), chemical (chemical constituents, plant nutrients:, and dissolved gases) and biological (plankton, benthos, and nekton) properties. These properties are all interre]ated, and are important variables to measure to evaluate water quality. In addition, lake processes, such as photosynthesis, respiration, eutrophication, and biogeochemical cycling, are important factors in determining the sources and extent of enrichment, and managing a lake for maximum benefit. Meeting demands for water of high quality requires a general knowledge of lake properties and processes, coupled with lake-basin planning, watershed and lake management, and water-quality control. There are many lake-management and control practices, but the best tools for quality control are preventive measures. Once extensive enrichment has occurred, there are few management or control options available. As lake studies become more common, sampling techniques for data collection need increased accuracy and consistency, in order to make meaningful comparisons between different lakes. Therefore, the report discusses the main factors involved in conducting lake studies. These factors include the types and frequency of measurements useful in lake reconnaissance studies and a review of literature on sampling equipment and techniques. A glossary of selected terms begins the report, which is intended for guideline use by urban planners and managers.

Circular↗