Geology topics

Stephen E. Eikenberry

Publications and source records attributed to Stephen E. Eikenberry.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS1982

Hydrologic data collected in and around a surface coal mine, Clay and Vigo counties, Indiana, 1977-80

Few data are available for evaluating water-quality and other hydrologic properties in and around surface coal mines, particularly in areas where material having a high potential for acid-production is selectively buried. This report contains hydrologic data collected in an active coal mining area in Clay and Vigo Counties, Indiana, from September 1977 through February 1980. Methods of sampling and analysis used in collecting the data also are summarized. The data include field and laboratory measurements of water at 41 wells and 24 stream sites. Variables measured in the field include water temperature, specific conductance, pH, Eh, dissolved oxygen, ground-water levels, and streamflow; and in the laboratory, concentrations of major ions, alkalinity, hardness, trace elementsl, organic carbon, phosphorus, and dissolved solids. Other variables measured in the laboratory include ferrous iron concentration of water samples from selected wells, percent sulfur by weight and the potential acidity of core samples of reclaimed cast overburden, concentrations of elements absorbed on streambed materials, concentrations and particle size of suspended sediment in water, and populations and Shannon diversity indices of phytoplankton in water. Dissolved-solids concentrations and pH of ground water ranged from 173 to 5,130 milligrams per liter and from 6.1 to 8.9, respectively, and of surface water, from 120 to 4,100 milligrams per liter and from 6.1 to 8.8 respectively.

Indiana↗

USGS1981

Preliminary water-quality assessment of the upper White River near Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

The White River Park Commission is planning the development of park facilities along the White River through Indianapolis. A key element in the planning is the determination of whether water quality of the river is suitable for recreation. A preliminary water-quality assessment of the river in Indianapolis on August 4-5, 1980, indicates that, during low-flow steady-state conditions, water quality of the river is suitable for partial body contact recreation (any contact with water up to, but not including, complete submergence). Dissolved-oxygen concentrations varied but were higher than the Indiana water-quality standards established to ensure conditions for the maintenance of a well-balanced, warm-water fish community. High fecal-coliform densities that have been observed in the White River during high stream-flow are probably caused by stormwater runoff from combined sewers. However, during the low-flow steady-state conditions on August 4-5, 1980, fecal coliform densities were within the Indiana standards for partial body contact recreation. Concentrations of organic matter (based on biochemical-oxygen demand and dissolved- and suspended-organic carbon concentrations), nutrients, and heavy metals in the White River were generally within the limits recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and were generally similar to values for other Indiana rivers. Chromium, copper, lead, zinc, and mercury are accumulating in bottom materials downstream from 30th Street (river mile 235.58). The source of these metals is probably stormwater runoff from combined sewer overflows. The phytoplankton densities of the White River were high (>500 cells per milliliter). The dominant phytoplankton species are indicative of rivers moderately affected by organic wastes. The highest cell concentrations, upstream from dams on the White River, significantly affected dissolved-oxygen concentration and pH.

Indiana↗

USGS1978

A water-quality assessment of the Busseron Creek watershed, Sullivan, Vigo, Greene, and Clay counties, Indiana

Chemical quality of surface water in the 237-square mile Busseron Creek watershed is significantly affected by drainage from coal mines and municipalities. Drainage from coal mines is primarily a problem of higher than normal dissolved-solids concentration, whereas, drainage from municipalities is generally a problem of bacteria and phytoplankton. Generally, the water is calcium bicarbonate type, except in streams affected by drainage from coal mines, where the water is a mixed calcium and magnesium sulfate type. Ranges of concentration (in milligrams per liter) of dissolved solids and of some of the chemical constituents dissolved in streams from September 1975 to July 2976 were: dissolved solids, from 104 to 2, 610; iron, from 0.00 to 150; sulfate, from 14 to 1,900; chloride, from 3.3 to 130; nitrate (as nitrogen), from 0.01 to 5.3; phosphate (as phosphorus), from 0.1 to 1.7; and total organic carbon, from 2.4 to 60. Range of pH was from 2.7 to 9.6. Highest concentrations of iron and sulfate and lowest pH values were measured at sites draining areas mined for coal. Highest concentrations of chloride, phosphate, and total organic carbon were at sites downstream from municipalities. Ranges of concentration of chlorinated hydrocarbons (in micrograms per kilogram) detected in bed material of streams were: aldrin, from 0.2 to 0.4; chlordane, from 0 to 13; DDE, from 0.0 to 0.3; dieldrin, from 0.0 to 9.8; and heptachlor epoxide, from 0 to 1.0. Source of these materials is probably drainage from croplands. Streams draining municipalities were affected by human wastes and had high populations of fecal coliform bacteria (as many as 46,000 colonies per 100 ml) and phytoplankton (as many as 190,000 cells per milliliter). Dissolved-oxygen concentration ranged from 2.8 to 15.0 milligrams per liter (from 26 to 194 percent of saturation).

Indiana↗

USGS1977

A water-quality assessment of the Feather Creek watershed, Vermillion County, Indiana

Chemical quality of surface water within the Feather Creek watershed is generally good. However, fecal bacteria concentrations are high enough to represent a potential problem, especially because of the high water-contact recreation proposed for the future reservoir. Chemical analyses of surface-water samples collected on October 9, 1974, and periodically from October 1, 1975, to September 28, 1976, show that the water was calcium bicarbonate type at all sites except one, where it was calcium sulfate. Range of dissolved-solids concentration was from 290 to 1,080 milligrams per liter. Ranges of concentrations (in milligrams per liter) of some of the dissolved constituents in water were: nitrate (as nitrogen), from 0.01 to 6.9; phosphate (as phosphorous), from 0.01 to 0.14; and total organic carbon, from 2.5 to 16. Concentrations of fecal coliform bacteria and fecal streptococci bacteria ranged from 60 to 6,700 and 70 to 18,000 colonies per 100 milliliters, respectively. Concentrations of dieldrin in bed materials from two sites was 0.4 microgram per liter, but aldrin, chlordane, DDD, DDE, DDT, endrin, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, lindane, Toxaphene, polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), and polychlorinated naphthalene (PCN) compounds were not detected. Navicula sp and Scenedesmus sp dominated the phydoplankton community at the site sampled and indicated an environment lacking in organic enrichment. Cladaphora sp dominated the periphyton community sampled. Benthic invertebrates sampled were mostly caddis flies (Cheumatopsyche sp) and midges (Orthocladius sp) and had a diversity index of 2.3, which indicates some organic enrichment of the stream.

Indiana↗

USGS1976

A technique for estimating the time of travel of water in Indiana streams

Estimates of the traveltime of waterborne particles in streams is important for pollution studies and in the event of spills of contaminants. This report provides data for the 16 Indiana streams on which time-of-travel information has been obtained and a means for estimating the velocity of any naturally flowing stream in Indiana with a drainage area of 80 square miles (210 square kilometres) or more. Measured velocity rates compiled from the time-of-travel data collected in Indiana are releated to 25, 50, 100, and 200 percent of the average discharge of streams shown in this report. Velocities at these discharges are significantly related to their respective watershed characteristics (average discharge and slope). Generalized relations of the velocities as functions of the streams' watershed characteristics are developed as multivariate regression equations using the data from each of the measured streams. Examples of uses and applications of the measured data and the predictive equations are given.

Indiana↗