Geology topics

Russell A. Gadoury

Publications and source records attributed to Russell A. Gadoury.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS1997

Reporting of Real Time River Levels in Massachusetts and Rhode Island

Introduction In times of floods and droughts, immediate access to river level data is important to officials charged with the responsibilities of protecting lives and property by taking actions to diminish the adverse effects of the emergency. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with many Federal, State, and local agencies, is the Nation's principal collector of accurate and unbiased streamflow data, and thus is the agency emergency officials rely on to provide the needed river data. The USGS operates and maintains more than 7,000 continuous-record streamflow-gaging stations on rivers in the United States; 84 of these stations are in Massachusetts and Rhode Island (see fig. 1). The river levels are recorded every 15 minutes at most of the stations; the river level data are then converted to streamflow data. Recorders equipped with telemetry (satellite radios or telephone modems) can provide almost immediate access to vital river levels.

Fact Sheet↗

USGS1983

Drainage divides, Massachusetts; Housatonic River basin

Drainage boundaries for selected subbasins in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, are delineated on 12 topographic quadrangle maps at a scale of 1:24,000. Drainage basins are shown for all U.S. Geological Survey data-collection sites and for mouths of major rivers. Drainage basins are shown for the outlets of lakes or ponds and for streams where the drainage area is greater than 3 square miles. Successive sites along watercourses are indicated where the intervening area is at least 6 square miles on tributary streams or 15 square miles along the Housatonic River. (USGS)

Open-File Report↗

USGS1983

Drainage divides, Massachusetts; Westfield and Farmington River basins

Drainage boundaries for selected subbasins in western Hampshire, western Hampden, and southeastern Berkshire Counties, Massachusetts, are delineated on 15 topographic quadrangle maps at a scale of 1:24,000. Drainage basins are shown for all U.S. Geological Survey data-collection sites and for mouths of major rivers. Drainage basins are shown for the outlets of lakes or ponds and for streams where the drainage area is greater than 3 square miles. Successive sites along watercourses are indicated where the intervening area is at least 6 square miles on tributary streams or 10 square miles along the Westfield or Farmington Rivers. (USGS)

Open-File Report↗

USGS1979

Coastal flood of February 7, 1978, in Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire

On February 6-8, 1978, New England was battered by one of the most severe winter storms of record. The storm produced record snowfall in many areas of Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Spring high tides (sun and moon in such alinement as to cause the highest tides of the month), a stationary storm center, and hurricane force winds combined to produce record high flood levels along much of the Massachusetts to Maine coastline on February 7. Tidal gages recorded new highs of 10.4 feet in Boston, Massachusetts, and 9.6 feet in Portland, Maine. Fifty-four lives were lost because of the storm. Property damage was greatest along the Massachusetts coastline north of Cape Cod. The total cost of the storm--principally property damage, snow removal, and economic losses--approached $1 billion. This report contains data which document the flooding along parts of the New England coast. Elevations of 203 floodmarks in Massachusetts, 104 in Maine, and 46 in New Hampshire are given. Also included are some historical coastal flood data and a list of other storm-related studies.

Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire↗

USGS1970

Flood of March 1968 on the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord Rivers, Massachusetts

During a 3-day period from March 17 to 19, 1968, a total of 3 to 7 inches of rain fell on parts of eastern Massachusetts. This heavy rainfall, combined with the generally wet antecedent conditions of the spring season and some runoff from snowmelt, caused considerable flooding of the rivers in the area. Property damage in Massachusetts from the flood was reported by the New England Division, Corps of Engineers (1968) to be $28 million. Most of the damage occurred where construction, both industrial and domestic, had encroached upon the flood plains of the rivers. The Sudbury and Assabet Rivers join at Concord, Mass., to form the Concord River (see fig. 1). This three-river system, which is known locally as the “SuAs-Co’’ basin, drains an area of about 405 square miles. The purpose of this report, which is one of a series covering the major flooded rivers in eastern Massachusetts, is to show flood stages and areas inundated by the March 1968 flood, to compare the severity of this flood with past floods, and to show the frequency of floods of given magnitudes which may be expected in the future at gaging stations in the basins. These basic flood data, as compiled, will serve as a broad, sound basis to assist state and local planners in such measures as flood-plain zoning and flood containment and prevention.

Massachusetts↗