Geology topics

William C. Damschen

Publications and source records attributed to William C. Damschen.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS2018

Interactive tool to estimate groundwater elevations in central and eastern North Dakota

This report describes an interactive tool (NDakGWtool) in which a statistical model is developed using locally weighted regression to estimate monthly mean groundwater elevations for a specified latitude and longitude, referred to as the “user-specified location.” For each user-specified location, seven models are developed for each month from April through October. Localized, high spatial-resolution maps of estimated monthly mean groundwater surface elevations are produced from the models. The tool was evaluated for glacial drift aquifers of the 32-county study area in central and eastern North Dakota. Although groundwater elevations from 1960 to 2017 were available to develop the tool, groundwater elevations from 1995 to 2015 were used for model testing and development of the model domain. There are 413 grid cells of 0.1-degree latitude by 0.1-degree longitude size in the model domain, and the tool produces maps of estimated monthly mean groundwater surface elevations for the cell containing the user-specified location. Additionally, the NDakGWtool produces maps of estimated groundwater depth below land surface and ArcGIS files of estimated groundwater surface elevations and groundwater depth below land surface. The tool is composed of four main components: data input, statistical model, output, and user-interactive process.

North Dakota↗

USGS2018

Computing under-ice discharge: A proof-of-concept using hydroacoustics and the Probability Concept

Under-ice discharge is estimated using open-water reference hydrographs; however, the ratings for ice-affected sites are generally qualified as poor. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in collaboration with the Colorado Water Conservation Board, conducted a proof-of-concept to develop an alternative method for computing under-ice discharge using hydroacoustics and the Probability Concept. The study site was located south of Minturn, Colorado (CO), USA, and was selected because of (1) its proximity to the existing USGS streamgage 09064600 Eagle River near Minturn, CO, and (2) its ease-of-access to verify discharge using a variety of conventional methods. From late September 2014 to early March 2015, hydraulic conditions varied from open water to under ice. These temporal changes led to variations in water depth and velocity. Hydroacoustics (tethered and uplooking acoustic Doppler current profilers and acoustic Doppler velocimeters) were deployed to measure the vertical-velocity profile at a singularly important vertical of the channel-cross section. Because the velocity profile was non-standard and cannot be characterized using a Power Law or Log Law, velocity data were analyzed using the Probability Concept, which is a probabilistic formulation of the velocity distribution. The Probability Concept-derived discharge was compared to conventional methods including stage-discharge and index-velocity ratings and concurrent field measurements; each is complicated by the dynamics of ice formation, pressure influences on stage measurements, and variations in cross-sectional area due to ice formation. No particular discharge method was assigned as truth. Rather one statistical metric (Kolmogorov-Smirnov; KS), agreement plots, and concurrent measurements provided a measure of comparability between various methods. Regardless of the method employed, comparisons between each method revealed encouraging results depending on the flow conditions and the absence or presence of ice cover. For example, during lower discharges dominated by under-ice and transition (intermittent open-water and under-ice) conditions, the KS metric suggests there is not sufficient information to reject the null hypothesis and implies that the Probability Concept and index-velocity rating represent similar distributions. During high-flow, open-water conditions, the comparisons are less definitive; therefore, it is important that the appropriate analytical method and instrumentation be selected. Six conventional discharge measurements were collected concurrently with Probability Concept-derived discharges with percent differences (%) of −9.0%, −21%, −8.6%, 17.8%, 3.6%, and −2.3%. This proof-of-concept demonstrates that riverine discharges can be computed using the Probability Concept for a range of hydraulic extremes (variations in discharge, open-water and under-ice conditions) immediately after the siting phase is complete, which typically requires one day. Computing real-time discharges is particularly important at sites, where (1) new streamgages are planned, (2) river hydraulics are complex, and (3) shifts in the stage-discharge rating are needed to correct the streamflow record. Use of the Probability Concept does not preclude the need to maintain a stage-area relation. Both the Probability Concept and index-velocity rating offer water-resource managers and decision makers alternatives for computing real-time discharge for open-water and under-ice conditions.

Colorado↗

USGS2016

Water-surface elevation and discharge measurement data for the Red River of the North and its tributaries near Fargo, North Dakota, water years 2014–15

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Fargo Diversion Board of Authority, collected water-surface elevations during a range of discharges needed for calibration of hydrologic and hydraulic models for specific reaches of interest in water years 2014–15. These water-surface elevation and discharge measurement data were collected for design planning of diversion structures on the Red River of the North and Wild Rice River and the aqueduct/diversion structures on the Sheyenne and Maple Rivers. The Red River of the North and Sheyenne River reaches were surveyed six times, and discharges ranged from 276 to 6,540 cubic feet per second and from 166 to 2,040 cubic feet per second, respectively. The Wild Rice River reach also was surveyed six times during 2014 and 2015, and discharges ranged from 13 to 1,550 cubic feet per second. The Maple River reach was surveyed four times, and discharges ranged from 16.4 to 633 cubic feet per second. Water-surface elevation differences from upstream to downstream in the reaches ranged from 0.33 feet in the Red River of the North reach to 9.4 feet in the Maple River reach.

North Dakota↗

USGS2009

Occurrence of emerging contaminants in water and bed material in the Missouri River, North Dakota, 2007

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, conducted a reconnaissance study to determine the occurrence of emerging contaminants in water and bed sediment within the Missouri River upstream and downstream from the cities of Bismarck and Mandan, North Dakota, and upstream from the city of Fort Yates, North Dakota, during September-October 2007. At each site, water samples were collected twice and bed-sediment samples were collected once. Samples were analyzed for more than 200 emerging contaminants grouped into four compound classes - wastewater compounds, human-health pharmaceutical compounds, hormones, and antibiotics. Only sulfamethoxazole, an antibiotic, was present at a concentration higher than minimum detection limits. It was detected in a water sample collected downstream from the cities of Bismarck and Mandan, and in bed-sediment samples collected at the two sites downstream from the cities of Bismarck and Mandan and upstream from Fort Yates. Sulfamethoxazole is an antibiotic commonly used for treating bacterial infections in humans and animals.

North Dakota↗

USGS2008

Water-quality data for water- and wastewater-treatment plants along the Red River of the North, North Dakota and Minnesota, January through October 2006

From January through October 2006, six sets of water-quality samples were collected at 28 sites, which included inflow and outflow from seven major municipal water-treatment plants (14 sites) and influent and effluent samples from seven major municipal wastewater treatment plants (14 sites) along the Red River of the North in North Dakota and Minnesota. Samples were collected in cooperation with the Bureau of Reclamation for use in the development of return-flow boundary conditions in a 2006 water-quality model for the Red River of the North. All samples were analyzed for nutrients and major ions. For one set of effluent samples from each of the wastewater-treatment plants, water was analyzed for Eschirichia coli, fecal coliform, 20-day biochemical oxygen demand, 20-day nitrogenous biochemical oxygen demand, total organic carbon, and dissolved organic carbon. In general, results from the field equipment blank and replicate samples indicate that the overall process of sample collection, processing, and analysis did not introduce substantial contamination and that consistent results were obtained.

Minnesota, North Dakota↗

USGS2007

Water, bed-sediment, and fish-tissue quality within the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, North Dakota and South Dakota, September 2006

During September 2006, samples from public water-delivery systems, ground water, surface water, bed-sediment, and fish-tissue sources were collected at 32 locations within the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation and analyzed to aid in the evaluation of any immediate water-quality concerns. Samples were collected from Solen, Selfridge, and Fort Yates, North Dakota, water-delivery systems and included raw water samples and treated water samples from water users on the water-delivery systems. Samples from the Solen and Selfridge systems were analyzed for dissolved major inorganic and dissolved minor and trace inorganic concentrations. Samples from the Fort Yates system were analyzed for dissolved major inorganic concentrations, dissolved minor and trace inorganic concentrations, total and dissolved nutrient concentrations, total and dissolved organic carbon concentrations, and volatile organic compound concentrations. Water samples were collected from ground-water wells throughout the reservation only in North Dakota and analyzed for dissolved major inorganic concentrations and dissolved minor and trace inorganic concentrations. Water samples were collected at locations on the Missouri River and its major tributaries within the reservation and analyzed for dissolved major inorganic concentrations and dissolved minor and trace inorganic concentrations; bed sediment was collected at these sites and analyzed for minor and trace inorganic concentrations. Fish-tissue and liver samples were collected from several species on the Missouri River near Fort Yates and analyzed for minor and trace inorganic concentrations. Results of the water-quality analysis revealed very little of concern, with the exception of elevated boron concentrations in the drinking water and ground water in the area of Selfridge and Solen and minor exceedences of total trihalomethanes in the Fort Yates water-delivery system.

North Dakota, South Dakota↗

USGS2005

Data for selected gaging stations in the upper Red River of the North Basin in Minnesota, September 2001 through September 2003

Surface-water and water-quality data were collected to use in development of upper Red River of the North Basin Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs). This report presents the data that were collected. During September 2001 through September 2003, data were collected at 13 selected gaging stations in the upper Red River of the North Basin. Continuous streamflow data were collected at three of the gaging stations. Water-quality samples were collected at all 13 gaging stations; and, simultaneous with sample collection, in-stream specific conductance, pH, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity were measured. Samples were analyzed for selected nutrients, selected bacteria, chlorophyll a, and suspended sediment. Continuous in-stream water-quality monitors were installed at two gaging stations to measure specific conductance, pH, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity.

Open-File Report↗

USGS2005

Graphical user interface for accessing water-quality data for the Devils Lake basin, North Dakota

Maintaining the quality of surface waters in the Devils Lake Basin in North Dakota is important for protecting the agricultural resources, fisheries, waterfowl and wildlife habitat, and recreational value of the basin. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with local, State, and Federal agencies, has collected and analyzed water-quality samples from streams and lakes in the basin since 1957, and the North Dakota Department of Health has collected and analyzed water-quality samples from lakes in the basin since 2001. Because water-quality data for the basin are important for numerous reasons, a graphical user interface was developed to access, view, and download the historical data for the basin. The interface is a web-based application that is available to the public and includes data through water year 2003. The interface will be updated periodically to include data for subsequent years.

Open-File Report↗