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Search indexed USGS publications on groundwater, aquifers, geologic maps, mineral resources and earthquakes. Explore source records by subject and place.

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At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources
USGS1992

Preliminary geologic map of the Cold Bay and False Pass quadrangles, Alaska Peninsula

This map of the Cold Bay and False Pass 1:250,000-scale quadrangles on the Alaska Peninsula is a compilation based in part on the mapping conducted as part of the Alaska Mineral Resource Assessment Program (AMRAP) and the Geothermal Energy Program. Field studies by the authors began as early as 1973 in the quadrangles, but systematic mapping was not begun until 1988. Systematic mapping remains to be completed for much of the southwest part of the map area and the vicinity of southeastern Cold Bay. Previous geologic mapping in the region, which constitutes an invaluable data base for our studies, was conducted by Kennedy and Waldron (1955). Waldron (1961). Burk (1965). McLean and others (1978), and DuBois and others, 1989. Most of the new mapping for this map was done by helicopter-supported foot-traverses and with helicopter spot landings. Coverage of areas between surface observations was made using helicopter overflights and interpretation of vertical aerial photography and Landsat imagery. Field investigations were conducted from bases at Cold Bay (1990), King Cove (1988), and False Pass (1991). In addition, some field work in 1984 was also conducted using the U.S. Geological Survey Research Vessel Don J. Miller II in the vicinity of Belkofski Bay.

Alaska↗
USGS1980

Selected hydrologic data, Arkansas River basin, Pueblo and southeastern Fremont Counties, Colorado, 1975-80

Selected hydrologic data collected in 1975-80 as part of water-quality investigations by the U.S. Geological Survey in Pueblo and southeastern Fremont Counties, Colo., are presented in this report. The data, in tabular form, consist of streamflow-discharge measurements for 33 sites, channel-geometry measurements for 97 sites, traveltime data for 12 sites, and field and laboratory water-quality analyses for 194 sites. Federal, state, and local officials may find these data useful in making decisions relating to the management of water resources of the area.

Colorado↗
USGS1995

Irrigation water use for the Fort Lyon Canal, southeastern Colorado, 1989-90

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Bent County Board of County Commissioners, began a study to evaluate irrigation water use quanti- tatively for about 91,630 acres of farmland irrigated from the 103.7-mile-long Fort Lyon Main Canal in the Arkansas River Valley of southeastern Colorado. This report provides information from 1980 and 1990 for four hydrologic components of irrigation water use: Surface-water withdrawals, conveyance losses, ground-water withdrawals, and estimates of threretical crop consumptive use. Surface-water withdrawals for the Fort Lyon Canal were 211,150 acre-feet (about 2.3 acre-feet per acre) during 1989 and 202,000 acre-feet (about 2.2 acre-feet per acre) during 1990. Conveyance losses occurred during the transport of water in the unlined Fort Lyon Canal. Conveyance losses were as much as 72 (acre-feet per day) per mile in the first division of the canal and generally decreased in the downstream canal divisions. Ground-water withdrawals for the Fort Lyon Canal were estimated to be 38,890 acre-feet (about 0.8 acre-foot per acre irrigated ground water) during 1989 and 33,970 acre-feet (about 0.7 acre-foot per acre irrigated by ground water) during 1990. Theoretical crop consumptive use was estimated to be 227,530 acre-feet (about 2.7 acre-feet per acre of cropland) during 1989 and 251, 130 acre-feet (about 2.9 acre-feet per acre of cropland) during 1990. The total crop irrigation requirement needed from irrigation withdrawals was 172,100 acre-feet (about 2.0 acre-feet per acre of cropland) during ` 1989 and 190,050 acre-feet (about 2.2 acre-feet per acre of cropland) during 1990. Crops cultivted in the five divisions of the canal were alfalfa, sorghum, corn, wheat, pasture, and spring grains.

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS2001

Ground-water quality in the southeastern Sacramento Valley aquifer, California, 1996

In 1996, the U.S. Geological Survey sampled 29 domestic wells and 2 monitoring wells in the southeastern Sacramento Valley as part of the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program. This area, designated as the NAWQA Sacramento subunit study area, was chosen because it had the largest amount of ground-water use in the Sacramento River Basin. The Sacramento subunit study area is about 4,400 square kilometers and includes intense agricultural and urban development. The wells sampled ranged from 14.9 to 79.2 meters deep. Ground-water samples from 31 wells were analyzed for 6 field measurements, 14 inorganic constituents, 6 nutrient constituents, organic carbon, 86 pesticides, 87 volatile organic compounds, tritium (hydrogen-3), radon-222, deuterium (hydrogen-2), and oxygen-18. Nitrate levels were lower than the 2000 drinking-water standards in all but one well, but many detections were in the range that indicated an effect by human activities on ground-water quality. Radon was detected in all wells, and was measured at levels above the proposed Federal 2000 maximum contaminant level in 90 percent of the wells. Five pesticides and one pesticide degradation product were detected in ground-water samples and concentrations were below 2000 drinking-water standards. All pesticides detected during this study have been used in the Sacramento Valley. Thirteen volatile organic compounds were detected in ground water. One detection of trichloroethene was above Federal 2000 drinking-water standards, and another, tetrachloromethane, was above California 1997 drinking-water standards; both occurred in a well that had eight volatile organic compound detections and is near a known source of ground-water contamination. Pesticides and volatile organic compounds were detected in agricultural and urban areas; both pesticides and volatile organic compounds were detected at a higher frequency in urban wells. Ground-water chemistry indicates that natural processes and human activities are affecting ground-water quality in the upper part of the southeastern Sacramento Valley aquifer. The factors identified as having an influence on ground-water quality were redox condition in the aquifer, depth within the aquifer, and land use overlying the aquifer. Nitrate concentrations showed a statistical correlation with each of these factors. Detections of pesticides and volatile organic compounds were too few to compare concentrations with the various factors, but the types of synthetic compounds detected were consistent with the sur-rounding land use. Sixty-one percent of the wells sampled in this study showed the effect of human activities on ground-water quality in the form of a nitrate concentration over 3 milligrams per liter or a detection of a pesticide or volatile organic compound. In general, the water quality in the southeastern Sacramento Valley aquifer was found suitable for most uses.

California↗
USGS2003

Geology of the MER 2003 "Elysium" candidate landing site in southeastern Utopia Planitia, Mars

The NASA Mars Exploration Rover (MER) Project has been considering a landing-site ellipse designated EP78B2 in southeastern Utopia Planitia, southwest of Elysium Mons. The site appears to be relatively safe for a MER landing site because of its predicted low wind velocities in mesoscale atmospheric circulation models and its low surface roughness at various scales as indicated by topographic and imaging data sets. Previously, the site's surface rocks have been interpreted to be marine sediments or lava flows. In addition, we suggest that Late Noachian to Early Hesperian collapse and mass wasting of Noachian highland rocks contributed to the deposition of detritus in the area of the ellipse. Furthermore, we document partial Late Hesperian to Early Amazonian resurfacing of the ellipse by flows and vents that may be of mud or silicate volcanic origin. A rover investigation of the Utopia landing site using the MER Athena instrument package might address some fundamental aspects of Martian geologic evolution, such as climate change, hydrologic evolution, and magmatic and tectonic history.

Journal of Geophysical Research E: Planets↗
USGS1986

Hydrogeologic framework and properties of regional aquifers in the Hollandale Embayment, southeastern Minnesota

In 1977, the U.S. Geological Survey began a series of investigations of regional aquifer systems in the United States. These studies will provide quantitative information for use in developing and managing regional ground-water supplies. One of these studies, the Northern Midwest Regional Aquifer-System Analysis (RASA) project, concerns the Cambrian and Ordovician age aquifers that occur in southeastern Minnesota and in parts of five other states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin (Steinhilber and Young, 1979). This report describes the hydrogeologic framework and properties of the regional aquifers in the Hollandale embayment in southeastern Minnesota (fig. 1). Two other reports describing different aspects of the regional aquifers in southeastern Minnesota were also prepared. Delin and Woodward (1984) mapped the potentiometric surface of each regional aquifer, and described the regional flow regimes; and Woodward (1985) presented a summary of 100 years of water use in southeastern Minnesota based upon trends in municipal-well installations and aquifer utilization.

Minnesota↗
USGS2017

Sequence stratigraphy, seismic stratigraphy, and seismic structures of the lower intermediate confining unit and most of the Floridan aquifer system, Broward County, Florida

Deep well injection and disposal of treated wastewater into the highly transmissive saline Boulder Zone in the lower part of the Floridan aquifer system began in 1971. The zone of injection is a highly transmissive hydrogeologic unit, the Boulder Zone, in the lower part of the Floridan aquifer system. Since the 1990s, however, treated wastewater injection into the Boulder Zone in southeastern Florida has been detected at three treated wastewater injection utilities in the brackish upper part of the Floridan aquifer system designated for potential use as drinking water. At a time when usage of the Boulder Zone for treated wastewater disposal is increasing and the utilization of the upper part of the Floridan aquifer system for drinking water is intensifying, there is an urgency to understand the nature of cross-formational fluid flow and identify possible fluid pathways from the lower to upper zones of the Floridan aquifer system. To better understand the hydrogeologic controls on groundwater movement through the Floridan aquifer system in southeastern Florida, the U.S. Geological Survey and the Broward County Environmental Planning and Community Resilience Division conducted a 3.5-year cooperative study from July 2012 to December 2015. The study characterizes the sequence stratigraphy, seismic stratigraphy, and seismic structures of the lower part of the intermediate confining unit aquifer and most of the Floridan aquifer system. Data obtained to meet the study objective include 80 miles of high-resolution, two-dimensional (2D), seismic-reflection profiles acquired from canals in eastern Broward County. These profiles have been used to characterize the sequence stratigraphy, seismic stratigraphy, and seismic structures in a 425-square-mile study area. Horizon mapping of the seismic-reflection profiles and additional data collection from well logs and cores or cuttings from 44 wells were focused on construction of three-dimensional (3D) visualizations of eight sequence stratigraphic cycles that compose the Eocene to Miocene Oldsmar, Avon Park, and Arcadia Formations. The mapping of these seismic-reflection and well data has produced a refined Cenozoic sequence stratigraphic, seismic stratigraphic, and hydrogeologic framework of southeastern Florida. The upward transition from the Oldsmar Formation to the Avon Park Formation and the Arcadia Formation embodies the evolution from (1) a tropical to subtropical, shallow-marine, carbonate platform, represented by the Oldsmar and Avon Park Formations, to (2) a broad, temperate, mixed carbonate-siliciclastic shallow marine shelf, represented by the lower part of the Arcadia Formation, and to (3) a temperate, distally steepened carbonate ramp represented by the upper part of the Arcadia Formation. In the study area, the depositional sequences and seismic sequences have a direct correlation with hydrogeologic units. The approximate upper boundary of four principal permeable units of the Floridan aquifer system (Upper Floridan aquifer, Avon Park permeable zone, uppermost major permeable zone of the Lower Floridan aquifer, and Boulder Zone) have sequence stratigraphic and seismic-reflection signatures that were identified on cross sections, mapped, or both, and therefore the sequence stratigraphy and seismic stratigraphy were used to guide the development of a refined spatial representation of these hydrogeologic units. In all cases, the permeability of the four permeable units is related to stratiform megaporosity generated by ancient dissolution of carbonate rock associated with subaerial exposure and unconformities at the upper surfaces of carbonate depositional cycles of several hierarchical scales ranging from high-frequency cycles to depositional sequences. Additionally, interparticle porosity also contributes substantially to the stratiform permeability in much of the Upper Floridan aquifer. Information from seismic stratigraphy allowed 3D geomodeling of hydrogeologic units—an approach never before applied to this area. Notably, the 3D geomodeling provided 3D visualizations and geocellular models of the depositional sequences, hydrostratigraphy, and structural features. The geocellular data could be used to update the hydrogeologic structure inherent to groundwater flow simulations that are designed to address the sustainability of the water resources of the Floridan aquifer system. Two kinds of pathways that could enable upward cross-formational flow of injected treated wastewater from the Boulder Zone have been identified in the 80 miles of high-resolution seismic data collected for this study: a near-vertical reverse fault and karst collapse structures. The single reverse fault, inferred to be of tectonic origin, is in extreme northeastern Broward County and has an offset of about 19 feet at the level of the Arcadia Formation. Most of the 17 karst collapse structures identified manifest as columniform, vertically stacked sagging seismic reflections that span early Eocene to Miocene age rocks equivalent to much of the Floridan aquifer system and the lower part of the overlying intermediate confining unit. In some cases, the seismic-sag structures extend upward into strata of Pliocene age. The seismic-sag structures are interpreted to have a semicircular shape in plan view on the basis of comparison to (1) other seismic-sag structures in southeastern Florida mapped with two 2D seismic cross lines or 3D data, (2) comparison to these structures located in other carbonate provinces, and (3) plausible extensional ring faults detected with multi-attribute analysis. The seismic-sag structures in the study area have heights as great as 2,500 vertical feet, though importantly, one spans about 7,800 feet. Both multi-attribute analysis and visual detection of offset of seismic reflections within the seismic-sag structures indicate faults and fractures are associated with many of the structures. Multi-attribute analysis highlighting chimney fluid pathways also indicates that the seismic-sag structures have a high probability for potential vertical cross-formational fluid flow along the faulted and fractured structures. A collapse of the seismic-sag structures within a deep burial setting evokes an origin related to hypogenic karst processes by ascending flow of subsurface fluids. In addition, paleo-epigenic karst related to major regional subaerial unconformities within the Florida Platform generated collapse structures (paleo-sinkholes) that are much smaller in scale than the cross-formational seismic-sag structures.

Florida↗
USGS2022

Groundwater resources of the Harney Basin, southeastern Oregon

In response to increasing groundwater demand and declining groundwater levels in the Harney Basin of southeastern Oregon, the U.S. Geological Survey and the Oregon Water Resources Department conducted a cooperative groundwater-availability study during 2016–22. This Fact Sheet summarizes the results of this study. Full details of the study are provided in Gingerich and others (2022a, 2022b), Garcia and others (2022), and the other supporting documents listed on the last page of this Fact Sheet.

Oregon↗
USGS1983

Preliminary surficial geologic map of the Fisher Valley-Professor Valley area, southeastern Utah

This map was constructed to document the distribution and character of the late Cenozoic deposits in the Fisher Valley-Professor Valley area. The map area includes the central portion of one of the long northwest-trending salt-cored anticlines of the Paradox Basin. The map area contains Fisher Valley, formed by collapse of a portion of the crest of the anticline, and the Onion Creek salt diapir, a cupola of salt on the main diapiric salt mass.

Utah↗