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Research about Susquehanna River Basin

Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including Susquehanna River Basin.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS2020

Modified QuEChERS extraction for the analysis of young-of-year smallmouth bass using GC × GC-TOFMS

Signs of disease, such as external lesions, have been prevalent in smallmouth bass throughout the Susquehanna River Basin, USA. Previous targeted chemical studies in this system have identified known persistent organic pollutants, but a common explanatory link across multiple affected sites remains undetermined. A fast and robust extraction method that can be applied to young-of-year fish is needed to effectively screen for target and non-target compounds that may be impacting organism health. The quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) extraction methodology was optimized to perform both targeted and non-targeted chemical analyses from a single extraction of whole young-of-year fish. Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC-TOFMS) was used for extract analysis. Sample extraction was performed using the solvent ethyl acetate, followed by a two-step cleanup in which samples were frozen for lipid removal and subjected to dispersive solid phase extraction using Florisil. A sample of 21 young-of-year smallmouth bass collected from areas with disease and exhibiting different types of external lesions were evaluated for 233 target compounds. A total of 34 organic contaminants, including polychlorinated biphenyls, brominated diphenyl ethers, organochlorinated pesticides, and personal care products, were detected. Data from this sample set was then analyzed for non-targets. Using the Fisher ratio method and multivariate analysis, an additional 10 significant features were identified specific to either fish with visible lesions or with no visible disease characteristics.

Pennsylvania↗
USGS2012

Groundwater quality in the Upper Susquehanna River Basin, New York, 2009

Water samples were collected from 16 production wells and 14 private residential wells in the Upper Susquehanna River Basin from August through December 2009 and were analyzed to characterize the groundwater quality in the basin. Wells at 16 of the sites were completed in sand and gravel aquifers, and 14 were finished in bedrock aquifers. In 2004–2005, six of these wells were sampled in the first Upper Susquehanna River Basin study. Water samples from the 2009 study were analyzed for 10 physical properties and 137 constituents that included nutrients, organic carbon, major inorganic ions, trace elements, radionuclides, pesticides, volatile organic compounds, and 4 types of bacterial analyses. Results of the water-quality analyses are presented in tabular form for individual wells, and summary statistics for specific constituents are presented by aquifer type. The results are compared with Federal and New York State drinking-water standards, which typically are identical. The results indicate that groundwater genrally is of acceptable quality, although concentrations of some constituents exceeded at least one drinking-water standard at 28 of the 30 wells. These constituents include: pH, sodium, aluminum, manganese, iron, arsenic, radon-222, residue on evaporation, total and fecal coliform including Escherichia coli and heterotrophic plate count.

New York↗
USGS1979

Flow routing in the Susquehanna River Basin, Part II: Lowflow frequency characteristics of the Susquehanna River between Waverly, New York and Sunbury, Pennsylvania

Six flow-routing models were developed, calibrated, and verified for the Susquehanna River between Waverly, New York, and Sunbury , Pennsylvania. The models give the Susquehanna River Basin Commission tools to estimate effects of water-resource developments upstream from Waverly upon four gaged sites and two ungaged sites within the study reach. The models were used to simulate a 32-year record of daily flows at the two ungaged sites. Low-flow frequency curves for simulated flows at these sites were used to estimate 7-day low-flows at the 10-year recurrence interval of 540 and 770 cubic feet per second, respectively. The model errors, differences between model results and observed streamflow at gaged sites, are considered to be within reasonable limits and overall quality of simulated streamflow and low-flow frequency curves is considered good. (Woodard-USGS)

New York, Pennsylvania↗
USGS1977

Flow routing in the Susquehanna River Basin: Part I - Effects of Raystown Lake on the low-flow frequency characteristics of the Juniata and lower Susquehanna Rivers, Pennsylvania

A flow-routing model was used to simulate 17 water years of daily streamflows at five sites. The sites were Mapleton Depot and Newport, Pennsylvania, on the Juniata River, and Harrisburg and Marietta, Pennsylvania, and Conowingo, Maryland, on the Susquehanna River. The purpose for the simulations was to determine the effects of a new reservoir, Raystown Lake, on the low-flow frequency characteristics of these sites. Raystown Lake is on Raystown Branch Juniata River, a tributary to the Juniata River. Output from a reservoir-regulation model of Raystown Lake was used as input to the flow-routing models. In addition, a reservoir-routing model was developed for the hydroelectric power dams on the lower Susquehanna River. Low-flow frequency curves, based on the post-Raystown Lake simulated flows, were compared to similar curves based on pre-Raystown observed data. The comparison indicated that operation of the lake will cause estimated increases in the 7-day 10-year low flows ranging from 420 cfs at Mapleton Depot to 290 cfs at Marietta and Conowingo over the 7-day 10-year low flows for pre-Raystown conditions. Although inherent modeling errors exist in all of these simulated data, the overall quality of the simulated flows and the low-flow frequency curves is considered good. (Woodard-USGS)

Pennsylvania↗