Investigation of in situ physical properties of surface and subsurface site materials by engineering geophysical techniques project - Annual Report, fiscal year 1966
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Open-File Report↗
SEARCH · Geology Reports
Results for “Investigator Annual Report”
Search indexed USGS publications on groundwater, aquifers, geologic maps, mineral resources and earthquakes. Explore source records by subject and place.
Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.
Herring Disease Program - Annual Project Report 2012011-E, February 1, 2010-January 31, 2021
We will investigate fish health factors that may be contributing to the failed recovery of Pacific herring populations in Prince William Sound. Field samples will provide infection and disease prevalence data from Prince William Sound and Sitka Sound to inform the age structured assessment (ASA) model, serological data will indicate the prior exposure history and future susceptibility of herring to viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV), and diet information will provide insights into the unusually high prevalence of Ichthyophonus that occurs in juvenile herring from Cordova Harbor. Laboratory studies will validate the newly developed plaque neutralization assay as a quantifiable measure of herd immunity against VHS, provide further understanding of disease cofactors including salinity, and investigate possible routes of transmission for Ichthyophonus. Information from the field and laboratory studies will be integrated into the current ASA model and inform a novel ASA-type model that is based on the immune status of herring age cohorts.
Alaska↗
Digital-map grids of mean-annual precipitation for 1961-90, and generalized skew coefficients of annual maximum streamflow for Oklahoma
This digital report contains two digital-map grids of data that were used to develop peak-flow regression equations in Tortorelli, 1997, 'Techniques for estimating peak-streamflow frequency for unregulated streams and streams regulated by small floodwater retarding structures in Oklahoma,' U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 97-4202. One data set is a grid of mean annual precipitation, in inches, based on the period 1961-90, for Oklahoma. The data set was derived from the PRISM (Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model) mean annual precipitation grid for the United States, developed by Daly, Neilson, and Phillips (1994, 'A statistical-topographic model for mapping climatological precipitation over mountainous terrain:' Journal of Applied Meteorology, v. 33, no. 2, p. 140-158). The second data set is a grid of generalized skew coefficients of logarithms of annual maximum streamflow for Oklahoma streams less than or equal to 2,510 square miles in drainage area. This grid of skew coefficients is taken from figure 11 of Tortorelli and Bergman, 1985, 'Techniques for estimating flood peak discharges for unregulated streams and streams regulated by small floodwater retarding structures in Oklahoma,' U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 84-4358. To save disk space, the skew coefficient values have been multiplied by 100 and rounded to integers with two significant digits. The data sets are provided in an ASCII grid format.
Oklahoma↗
Fourth progress report on the cooperative investigation of springs and streamflow in the Tecolote Tunnel area of Santa Barbara County, California
This is a continuation of annual progress reports giving the results of discharge measurements made in the Santa Ynez Mountains between Refugio Canyon on the west to San Marcos Pass and the Painted Cave area on the east. This portion of Santa Barbara County has been designated as the "Tecolote Tunnel Area" because a tunnel by that name, now being built by the Bureau of Reclamation, passes through it. The purpose of this tunnel is to divert flood runoff from the Santa Ynez River, stored in Cachuma Reservoir, to the city of Santa Barbara and adjacent areas. During the construction of this tunnel, the seepage from the south portal has averaged 6.4 second-feet for the year ending April 30, 1952, the average being 8.7 second-feet for the last 6 months of that period. Both of these values exceed the average total discharge prior to April 30, 1951, for more than 120 springs measured in the Tecolote Tunnel Area. As, it was not known what effect the seepage from this tunnel might have on the flow of springs and streams in the immediate vicinity, the Santa Barbara County Water Agency requested the U. S. Geological Survey to institute an observational program. This program was started in 1948—about 2 years before work was started on the tunnel. The area covered by the observational program was made sufficiently large to include all the springs that could possibly be affected, as well as certain border springs believed to be outside the zone of influence. The purpose of this, the fourth progress report, is to make available factual data obtained during the year ending April 30, 1952. This program is operated under a cooperative agreement between the U. S. Geological Survey and the Santa Barbara County Water Agency whereby each pays half the cost of the investigation.
California↗
Hydrologic and climatologic data, 1968, Salt Lake County, Utah
An investigation of the water resources of Salt Lake County, Utah, was undertaken by the Water Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey in July 1963. This investigation is a cooperative project financed chiefly by equal contributions of the State of Utah and the Federal Government in accordance with an agreement between the Division of Water Rights, Utah Department of Natural Resources, and the Geological Survey. The investigation was financed during the period covered by this report by the following organizations: Utah Division of Water Rights (formerly State Engineer), Utah Division of Water Resources (formerly Water and Power Board), Salt Lake County, Salt Lake County Water Conservancy District, Central Utah Water Conservancy District, Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake City, City of Murray, Granger-Hunter Improvement District, Taylorsville-Bennion Improvement District, Holladay Water Company, Magna Water and Sewer District, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Geological Survey The investigation encompasses the collection and interpretation of a large variety of climatologic, hydrologic, and geologic data in and near Salt Lake County. Utah Basic-Data Releases 11-13 and 15 contain data collected through 1967. This release contains climatologic and surface-water data for the 1968 water year (October 1967 to September 1968) and ground-water data collected during the 1968 calendar year. This is the final annual release of basic data for this investigation. Interpretive reports summarizing the results are in preparation. Organizations that furnished data are acknowledged in station descriptions and footnotes to tables.
Utah↗
Geologic studies in Alaska by the U.S. Geological Survey, 1993
This collection of 19 papers continues the annual series of U.S. Geological Survey reports on geologic investigations in Alaska. Contributions include 14 Articles and 5 shorter Geologic Notes that report results from all corners of the State. USGS activities in Alaska cover a broad spectrum of earth science topics, including the environment, hazards, resources, and geologic framework studies. Three articles focus on the environmental geochemistry of parts of south-central, west-central, and southwestern Alaska. An article on methane released from permafrost near Fairbanks and a note on paleowind direction indicators on the Arctic coastal plain contribute to ongoing climate and paleoclimate investigations. Landslide hazards in the Talkeetna Mountains and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park are discussed in two notes. Possible active fault traces near Alaska's main population center are described in an article on the Castle Mountain fault. An article on Aniakchak volcano presents evidence for a previously unrecognized catastrophic flooding event. Resources and resource assessment on gold, base metals, and coal are discussed in several articles and a note. Geologic framework studies cover tectonics, paleontology, stratigraphy, and metamorphic petrology. One contribution involves field methods; it evaluates the relative accuracy of global positioning systems and topographic map-based methods for deriving location data for field stations. Two bibliographies at the end of the volume list reports about Alaska in USGS publications released in 1993 and reports about Alaska by USGS authors in non-USGS publications in 1993.
Alaska↗
Synthesis of monthly and annual streamflow records (water years 1950-2003) for Big Sandy, Clear, Peoples, and Beaver Creeks in the Milk River basin, Montana
To address concerns expressed by the State of Montana about the apportionment of water in the St. Mary and Milk River basins between Canada and the United States, the International Joint Commission requested information from the United States government about water that originates in the United States but does not cross the border into Canada. In response to this request, the U.S. Geological Survey synthesized monthly and annual streamflow records for Big Sandy, Clear, Peoples, and Beaver Creeks, all of which are in the Milk River basin in Montana, for water years 1950-2003. This report presents the synthesized values of monthly and annual streamflow for Big Sandy, Clear, Peoples, and Beaver Creeks in Montana. Synthesized values were derived from recorded and estimated streamflows. Statistics, including long-term medians and averages and flows for various exceedance probabilities, were computed from the synthesized data. Beaver Creek had the largest median annual discharge (19,490 acre-feet), and Clear Creek had the smallest median annual discharge (6,680 acre-feet). Big Sandy Creek, the stream with the largest drainage area, had the second smallest median annual discharge (9,640 acre-feet), whereas Peoples Creek, the stream with the second smallest drainage area, had the second largest median annual discharge (11,700 acre-feet). The combined median annual discharge for the four streams was 45,400 acre-feet. The largest combined median monthly discharge for the four creeks was 6,930 acre-feet in March, and the smallest combined median monthly discharge was 48 acre-feet in January. The combined median monthly values were substantially smaller than the average monthly values. Overall, synthesized flow records for the four creeks are considered to be reasonable given the prevailing climatic conditions in the region during the 1950-2003 base period. Individual estimates of monthly streamflow may have large errors, however. Linear regression was used to relate logarithms of combined annual streamflow to water years 1950-2003. The results of the regression analysis indicated a significant downward trend (regression line slope was -0.00977) for combined annual streamflow. A regression analysis using data from 1956-2003 indicated a slight, but not significant, downward trend for combined annual streamflow.
Scientific Investigations Report↗
Twenty-second annual report of the Director of the United States Geological Survey, 1900-1901: Part IV - Hydrography
I have the honor to transmit herewith the manuscript for a volume on hydrography, prepared for publication as Part IV of the Twenty-second Annual Report of the Survey. The data presented relate to the investigations carried on during the calendar year 1900. The first part of the report discusses the results of measurements of streams in different parts of the United States, the facts being presented in diagrammatic form as well as by statistical tables. The arrangement adopted is that of preceding reports of this series, being a geographic order, beginning in the extreme northeastern part of the United States and ending in the southwestern portion. A number of papers, prepared independently, have been incorporated in this part of the report, with such modification as was necessary to bring them into accord with the general arrangement. Following the report of stream measurements is a paper by Mr. Arthur Powell Davis, giving conclusions based upon his work while detailed to the Nicaraguan and Isthmian canal commissions. The original data have been incorporated in the reports of those bodies; but since this important investigation has been conducted by one of the members of the United States Geological Survey it is particularly appropriate that a brief recapitulation of the principal facts should appear in this volume. The resume here given contains the facts of chief interest to students of hydrography, thus rendering them available for consideration in connection with similar data obtained for the United States. The last paper, " The High Plains and their utilization," by Mr. Willard D. Johnson, is a continuation of that in the Twenty-first Annual Report, Part IV, the completion of which was unfortunately interrupted. Although this break in the sequence involves some inconvenience for reference, it will not detract from the value of the material.
Annual Report↗
Quality of water of the Colorado River, 1925-40
The study of the quality of water of the Colorado River and its tributaries has been a continuing one since 1925. The data so obtained have been useful in the planning and construction of dams and reservoirs, the utilization of the water within the basin, and in planning the economy of areas outside of the basin, partially or wholly dependent on the diversion or importation of water from the Colorado River or its tributaries. Much chemical quality data of the Colorado River and its tributaries collected during the period from 1925 to 1940 have not been published in detail. The purpose of this report is to make available for consultation and ready reference those previously unpublished data collected for the period 1925 to 1940, mainly between 1930 and 1940. Included among these data are many detailed chemical analyses of composites of daily samples and single samples of the Colorado River and its main tributaries and less detailed analyses of many other samples. In a few instances, for continuity of the record, analyses are included that have been published in Survey reports. Discussions of the quality of water of the Colorado River basin either in published reports or in mimeograph form are available; therefore, this report will include only tabulated data. Data obtained for the period 1925 to 1930 for the most part were published in three Geological Survey Water-Supply Papers, 596-B, 636-A, and 638-D, all out of print. Summary data for the streams in the Colorado River basin for the period 1925 to 1943 were published in U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 970, "Quality of surface waters of the United States, 1943". These summaries consist mainly of annual weighted averages of chemical analyses, dissolved-solids loads, and extremes of dissolved solids and hardness. Analyses of samples from Lake Mead are available in a series of reports, "Lake Mead Density Currents Investigations", by the Bureau of Reclamation /1937 -1940, Vols. I and ll; 1940 -1946; Vol. III/. Data on the suspended sediment in the Colorado River for the period 1925-1941 were published in 1947, in U.S. Geological Survey Water -Supply Paper 998. Since 1940 results of water-quality investigations in the Colorado River basin have been published in the annual U.S. Geological Survey reports, "Quality of surface waters of the United States".
Colorado River↗
Geologic studies in Alaska by the U.S. Geological Survey, 1995
This collection of 20 papers continues the annual series of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reports on geologic investigations in Alaska1 . Contributions cover a broad spectrum of earth science topics and report results from all parts of the State (fig. 1). USGS activities in Alaska include studies of environment and climate, hazards, resources, and geologic framework. Five papers in this volume discuss aspects of environment and climate. Environmental geochemistry of parts of southwestern and south-central Alaska is the focus of four articles; a fifth study, of emergent postglacial lake shorelines in southwestern Alaska, contributes to ongoing investigations of paleoclimate. Two papers address geologic hazards. The first assesses ground deformation in Katmai National Park at Novarupta dome, site of the largest volcanic eruption in this century, and the second evaluates earthquake risks related to the "Twin Peak fault" near Anchorage. Resources, including metallic minerals in northern, southwestern, and southeastern Alaska and coal in south-central Alaska, are discussed in four articles. Nine geologic framework studies apply a variety of techniques to a wide range of subjects throughout Alaska, including tectonics, geophysics, geochronology, bio stratigraphy, sedimentology, paleogeography, and paleomagnetism. Two bibliographies at the end of the volume list reports about Alaska in USGS publications released in 1995 and reports about Alaska by USGS authors in non-USGS publications in 1995.
Alaska↗
Monthly and annual water budgets of Lake Wingra, Madison, Wisconsin, 1972-77
This report presents estimated annual and monthly water budgets for Lake Wingra and the adjacent wetland area for January 1972 through September 1972. Annually, inputs from precipitation, surface runoff, and groundwater inflow are approximately equal (31, 34, and 35 percent, respectively). Outputs include outflow from the lake into Murphy Creek (70 percent), evapotranspiration from the lake and wetland (26 percent), and ground-water outflow (4 percent). The inputs and outputs vary seasonally. In months when snowmelt occurs, surface runoff is a major input (56 percent in March; 46 percent in April). In fall and winter ground-water inflow is a major input (57 percent in November). Precipitation comprises 41 percent of the input in August but only 18 percent in January. Lake outflow is the major output except from July through September. Combined evaporation and evapotranspiration is a major output in summer (45 to 58 percent) but minor in winter (less than 13 percent). Ground-water outflow is a small part of the budget each month, ranging from 2 percent in March and April to a maximum of 7 percent in September. The water budget is based on field data collected from January 1972 through June 1973, and on fragmentary data and estimates for July 1973 through September 1977. The budget terms differ from those published by Oakes, Hendrickson, and Zuehls (1975, table 10) because springflow has been included in total ground-water inflow and estimated on a monthly basis in this report. Previously only annual estimates were provided.
Wisconsin↗
Ground-water discharge from the Coastal Plain of Virginia
The Chesapeake Bay and other important surface- water bodies receive ground water that discharges directly from the Coastal Plain of Virginia. This report presents estimates of the average annual ground-water discharge from the Coastal Plain of Virginia using two approaches. Average annual ground-water discharge from 16 gaged watersheds in the Coastal Plain of Virginia estimated by use of a streamflow hydrograph-separation approach ranged from 7.5 to 12.5 inches per year; the median was 10.8 inches per year. These estimates are similar to those reported by other investigators for the Coastal Plain in the nearby Delmarva Peninsula. Average annual ground-water discharge also was estimated by use of a hydrogeologic-area approach. In this approach, areas that have similar hydrogeologic charac- teristics are grouped and multiple regression is used to determine the relation between the hydro- geologic areas and ground-water discharge. The multiple-regression analysis indicates that ground-water discharge within the Coastal Plain of Virginia is a function of the relative areal extent of well-drained uplands and moderately well-drained uplands. On the basis of the hydro- geologic-area approach, ground-water discharge from the Coastal Plain of Virginia averages 9.9 inches per year.
Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
Potentiometric surfaces, summer 2013 and winter 2015, and select hydrographs for the Southern High Plains aquifer, Cannon Air Force Base, Curry County, New Mexico
Cannon Air Force Base (Cannon AFB) is located in the High Plains physiographic region of east-central New Mexico, about 5 miles west of Clovis, New Mexico. The area surrounding Cannon AFB is primarily used for agriculture, including irrigated cropland and dairies. The Southern High Plains aquifer is the principal source of water for Cannon AFB, for the nearby town of Clovis, and for local agriculture and dairies. The Southern High Plains aquifer in the vicinity of Cannon AFB consists of three subsurface geological formations: the Chinle Formation of Triassic age, the Ogallala Formation of Tertiary age, and the Blackwater Draw Formation of Quaternary age. The Ogallala Formation is the main water-yielding formation of the Southern High Plains aquifer. Groundwater-supplied, center-pivot irrigation dominates pumping from the Southern High Plains aquifer in the area surrounding Cannon AFB, where the irrigation season typically extends from early March through October. The U.S. Geological Survey has been monitoring groundwater levels in the vicinity of Cannon AFB since 1954 and has developed general potentiometric-surface maps that show groundwater flow from northwest to southeast in the study area. While previous potentiometric-surface maps show the general direction of groundwater flow, a denser well network is needed to show details of groundwater flow at a local scale. Groundwater levels were measured in 93 wells during summer 2013 and 100 wells during winter 2015. The summer and winter potentiometric-surface maps display the presence of what is interpreted to be a groundwater trough trending from the northwest to the southeast through the study area. This groundwater trough may be the hydraulic expression of a Tertiary-age paleochannel. Groundwater north of the trough flows in a southerly direction into the trough, and groundwater south of the trough flows in an easterly direction into the trough. During the 18-month period between summer 2013 and winter 2015, changes in groundwater levels ranged from a rise of 10.0 to a decline of 3.8 feet. The regions to the north and south of the groundwater trough contained the majority of the rises in groundwater levels, whereas the regions within the trough contained the majority of the declines in groundwater levels. In contrast, the long-term groundwater-level trend in wells with 20 to 60 years of record is a steady decline in average annual water levels, with declines ranging from 0.41 to 2.81 feet per year. Overall, the northwestern part of the study area exhibits the smallest average annual declines, while the southeastern part of the study area exhibits the largest average annual declines.
New Mexico↗
Investigating passage of ESA-listed juvenile fall Chinook salmon at Lower Granite Dam during winter when the fish bypass system is not operated. 2006 Annual Report
During the winter of 2005-06, we radio and PIT tagged and released 48 juvenile fall Chinook salmon to evaluate over-wintering behavior and dam passage in the lower Snake River, Washington. Fish were released at the upstream end of the Lower Granite Dam forebay in November and December 2005. Fixed radio telemetry detection sites located in forebay and tailrace areas of Lower Granite, Little Goose, Lower Monumental and Ice Harbor dams were used to monitor fish movements and dam passage through early-May 2006. Of the 48 fish released during our study, 39 (81 %) passed Lower Granite Dam and were detected at downstream detection sites, 29 (60%) passed Little Goose Dam, 25 (52%) passed Lower Monumental Dam, and 15 (31%) passed Ice Harbor Dam. Thirty-seven (95%), 23 (79%), 16 (64%), and 9 (60%) of the fish that passed Lower Granite, Little Goose, Lower Monumental, and Ice Harbor dams respectively, did so when the fish bypass system was not operated. Passage of tagged fish past lower Snake River dams generally declined during the winter, but increased again after bypass began in April. Fish residence times in reservoirs and forebays was lengthy during the winter (up to 118 d), and varied by reservoir and time of year. We observed no diel passage trends. Only 15 of the 48 fish were subsequently detected at a PIT-tag interrogation site the following spring. We believe that passage of overwintering juvenile fall Chinook salmon during winter is due more to chance than directed downstream movement. Since the primary route of passage during the winter is through powerhouse turbines, the potential exists for increased mortality for over-wintering juvenile fall Chinook salmon in the Snake River. Our findings also have implications for transportation studies of subyearling fall Chinook salmon in the Snake River. Specifically, the finding that some fish can pass undetected during the winter may bias smolt-to-adult return rate calculations that are typically used to measure the success of the aforementioned management actions.
Washington↗
Effects of impoundments on selected flood-frequency and daily mean streamflow characteristics in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has a long history of working cooperatively with the South Carolina Department of Transportation to develop methods for estimating the magnitude and frequency of floods for rural and urban streams that have minimal to no regulation or tidal influence. As part of those previous investigations, flood-frequency estimates also have been generated for selected streamgages on regulated streams. This report assesses the effects of impoundments on flood-frequency characteristics by comparing annual exceedance probability (AEP) streamflows from pre- and post-regulated (before and after impoundment) periods at 18 long-term USGS streamgages, which is defined as a streamgage with 30 or more years of record, in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. For an assessment of how differences in such statistics can be influenced by period of record and hydrologic conditions captured in those records, which could be considered as natural variability, AEP streamflows at an additional 18 long-term USGS streamgages that represent unregulated conditions in those three States were computed and compared for the first and last half of those records. Of the 18 long-term streamgages with pre- and post-regulated periods of record, 17 streamgages had both peak streamflows and daily mean streamflows available. To further assess how impoundments may influence a broader range of streamflow characteristics, The Nature Conservancy’s Indicators of Hydrologic Alteration software was used to compare selected streamflow characteristics generated from daily mean streamflows for pre- and post-regulated periods of record at 16 of those long-term streamgages. For comparison of the natural variability of such streamflow statistics, two periods of record (first half and last half) also were compared at 17 of the 18 long-term streamgages on unregulated streams. The remaining long-term streamgage on an unregulated stream included in this report had only annual peak streamflows and, therefore, was not included in the hydrologic alteration analysis. In a separate USGS investigation completed in 2023, flood-frequency statistics for the 50-, 20-, 10-, 4-, 2-, 1-, 0.5-, and 0.2-percent AEP streamflows (also known as the 2-, 5-, 10-, 25-, 50-, 100-, 200-, and 500-year recurrence interval streamflows, respectively) were computed for 72 streamgages on regulated streams in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Of those 72 streamgages, 29 streamgages were found to be redundant, which is a situation where the drainage basin of one streamgage is contained inside another (nested) and the two basins are of similar size. For the remaining 43 streamgages, 39 had basins where 75 percent or more of the drainage area was above the Fall Line. Those 39 streamgages were included in this investigation to develop regional regression equations that can be used to estimate the flood-frequency statistics at ungaged locations on regulated streams in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina in which 75 percent or more of the drainage basin is located above the Fall Line. The flood-frequency regression equations are functions of drainage area and maximum storage index computed for upstream reservoirs.
Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina↗