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At least 541 records · Page 30Linked to original sources

Ground-water levels in the Columbia River basalt and overlying materials, spring 1983, southeastern Washington

A 2 1/2-year study of the Columbia Plateau in Washington was begun in March 1982 to define spatial and temporal variations in dissolved sodium in aquifers of the Columbia River Basalt Group and to relate these variations to the groundwater system and its geologic framework. This report is part of that study and describes groundwater level contours for four major geohydrologic units in southeastern Washington, constructed from water-level data collected from approximately 1,100 wells during the spring of 1983, data from U.S. Geological Survey studies in the area, and other indirect methods. Configuration of the groundwater level contours is controlled by: (1) extent of a geohydrologic unit and geologic structure, (2) recharge from precipitation and surface water bodies, (3) rivers, lakes, and coulees that drain the groundwater system, and (4) hydraulic conductivities of each unit. Upgradient flexures of water level contours north of Connel, Washington, show effects of prolonged irrigation while downgradient flexures in an area south of Potholes Reservoir, in the vicinity of the East Low Irrigation Canal, show the effects of increased man-induced recharge. (USGS)

Washington↗

Spatial digital database for the tectonic map of southeast Arizona

A spatial database was created for Drewes' (1980) tectonic map of southeast Arizona: this database supercedes Drewes and others (2001, ver. 1.0). Staff and a contractor at the U.S. Geological Survey in Tucson, Arizona completed an interim digital geologic map database for the east part of the map in 2001, made revisions to the previously released digital data for the west part of the map (Drewes and others, 2001, ver. 1.0), merged data files for the east and west parts, and added additional data not previously captured. Digital base map data files (such as topography, roads, towns, rivers and lakes) are not included: they may be obtained from a variety of commercial and government sources. This digital geospatial database is one of many being created by the U.S. Geological Survey as an ongoing effort to provide geologic information in a geographic information system (GIS) for use in spatial analysis. The resulting digital geologic map database can be queried in many ways to produce a variety of geologic maps and derivative products. Because Drewes' (1980) map sheets include additional text and graphics that were not included in this report, scanned images of his maps (i1109_e.jpg, i1109_w.jpg) are included as a courtesy to the reader. This database should not be used or displayed at any scale larger than 1:125,000 (for example, 1:100,000 or 1:24,000). The digital geologic map plot files (i1109_e.pdf and i1109_w.pdf) that are provided herein are representations of the database (see Appendix A). The map area is located in southeastern Arizona (fig. 1). This report describes the map units (from Drewes, 1980), the methods used to convert the geologic map data into a digital format, the ArcInfo GIS file structures and relationships, and explains how to download the digital files from the U.S. Geological Survey public access World Wide Web site on the Internet. The manuscript and digital data review by Helen Kayser (Information Systems Support, Inc.) is greatly appreciated.

Arizona↗

Geologic, geomorphic, and meteorological aspects of debris flows triggered by Hurricanes Frances and Ivan during September 2004 in the Southern Appalachian Mountains of Macon County, North Carolina (southeastern USA)

In September 2004, rain from the remnants of Hurricanes Frances and Ivan triggered at least 155 landslides in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. At least 33 debris flows occurred in Macon County, causing 5 deaths, destroying 16 homes, and damaging infrastructure. We mapped debris flows and debris deposits using a light-detecting and ranging digital elevation model, remote imagery and field studies integrated in a geographic information system. Evidence of past debris flows was found at all recent debris flow sites. Orographic rainfall enhancement along topographic escarpments influenced debris flow frequency at higher elevations. A possible trigger for the Wayah and fatal Peeks Creek debris flows was a spiral rain band within Ivan that moved across the area with short duration rainfall rates of 150-230 mm/h. Intersecting bedrock structures in polydeformed metamorphic rock influence the formation of catchments within structural-geomorphic domains where debris flows originate. ?? 2007 Springer-Verlag.

Landslides↗

Geologic map and database of the Roseburg 30' x 60' quadrangle, Douglas and Coos Counties, Oregon

The Roseburg 30' x 60' Quadrangle covers the southeastern margin of the Oregon Coast Range and its tectonic boundary with Mesozoic terranes of the Klamath Mountains (see figures 1 and 2 in pamphlet, also shown on map sheet). The geologic framework of the Roseburg area was established by the pioneering work of Diller (1898), Wells and Peck, (1961) and Ewart Baldwin (1974) and his students (see figure 3 in pamphlet, also shown on map sheet). Baldwin and his students focussed on the history of the Eocene Tyee basin, where the sediments lap across the tectonic boundary with the Mesozoic terranes and record the accretion of the Coast Range basement to the continent. Others have examined the sedimentary fill of the Tyee basin in detail, recognizing the deep marine turbidite facies of the Tyee Formation (Snavely and others, 1964) and proposing several models for the Eocene evolution of the forearc basin (Heller and Ryberg, 1983; Chan and Dott, 1983; Heller and Dickinson, 1985; Molenaar, 1985; see Ryu and others, 1992 for a comprehensive summary). Along the eastern margin of the quadrangle, both the Tyee basin and the Klamath terranes are overlain by Eocene volcanic rocks of the Western Cascade arc (Walker and MacLeod, 1991). The thick Eocene sedimentary sequence of the Tyee basin has significant oil and gas potential (Armentrout and Suek, 1985; Gautier and others, 1993; Ryu and others, 1996). Although 13 deep test wells have been drilled in the Roseburg quadrangle (see figure 2 and table 1 in pamphlet, also shown on map sheet), exploration to date has been hampered by an incomplete understanding of the basin�s tectonic setting and evolution. In response, the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) initiated a five year assessment of the oil and gas potential of the Tyee basin. This map is a product of a cooperative effort by the U. S. Geological Survey, Oregon State University, and DOGAMI to systematically map the sedimentary facies and structure of the Tyee basin. New geologic mapping of twenty-eight 7.5' quadrangles is summarized on the map (see figure 3, also shown on map sheet), and the digital database contains geologic information suitable for both 1:100K and 1:24K scale analysis. DOGAMI has published a compilation and synthesis of previous mapping (Niem and Niem, 1990), a basin-wide sequence stratigraphic model and correlations (Ryu and others, 1992), and a report on the oil and gas potential (Ryu and others, 1996). Readers interested in the oil and gas potential of the Roseburg quadrangle should use the map in combination with Ryu and others (1996) to address specific stratigraphic units and structural plays. Stratigraphic terminology for the Tyee basin adopts the type sections, formation names, and framework of Ryu and others (1992, 1996), which were developed concurrently with the mapping and are recognized throughout the basin. For detailed discussion of nomenclature, type sections, lithology, thickness and distribution, age, contact relationships, and depositional environment of stratigraphic units, the reader is referred to Ryu and others (1992). In this report we focus on the spatial, temporal, and structural relationships between units revealed by geologic mapping. Map unit ages (see figure 4 in pamphlet, also shown on map sheeet) are adjusted slightly from Ryu and others (1992, 1996) to fit new coccolith age determinations (D. Bukry, cited in pamphlet), paleomagnetic polarity data (Simpson, 1977 and new data cited in pamphlet), and the time scale of Berggren and others (1995).

Oregon↗

Assessment of nonpoint source chemical loading potential to watersheds containing uranium waste dumps associated with uranium exploration and mining, San Rafael Swell, Utah

During July and August of 2006, 117 solid-phase samples were collected from abandoned uranium waste dumps, geologic background sites, and adjacent streambeds in the San Rafael Swell, in southeastern Utah. The objective of this sampling program was to assess the nonpoint source chemical loading potential to ephemeral and perennial watersheds from uranium waste dumps on Bureau of Land Management property. Uranium waste dump samples were collected using solid-phase sampling protocols. After collection, solid-phase samples were homogenized and extracted in the laboratory using a field leaching procedure. Filtered (0.45 micron) water samples were obtained from the field leaching procedure and were analyzed for Ag, As, Ba, Be, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, U, V, and Zn at the Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry Metals Analysis Laboratory at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah and for Hg at the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory, Denver, Colorado. For the initial ranking of chemical loading potential of suspect uranium waste dumps, leachate analyses were compared with existing aquatic life and drinking-water-quality standards and the ratio of samples that exceeded standards to the total number of samples was determined for each element having a water-quality standard for aquatic life and drinking-water. Approximately 56 percent (48/85) of the leachate samples extracted from uranium waste dumps had one or more chemical constituents that exceeded aquatic life and drinking-water-quality standards. Most of the uranium waste dump sites with elevated trace-element concentrations in leachates were along Reds Canyon Road between Tomsich Butte and Family Butte. Twelve of the uranium waste dump sites with elevated trace-element concentrations in leachates contained three or more constituents that exceeded drinking-water-quality standards. Eighteen of the uranium waste dump sites had three or more constituents that exceeded trace-element concentrations for aquatic life water-quality standards. The proximity of the uranium waste dumps in the Tomsich Butte area near Muddy Creek, coupled with the elevated concentration of trace elements, increases the offsite impact potential to water resources. Future assessment and remediation priority of these areas may be done by using GIS-based risk-mapping techniques, such as Sensitive Catchment Integrated Mapping and Analysis Project.

Utah↗

Preliminary report on a lead-zinc occurrence at Berg Basin, Wrangell district, southeastern Alaska

A brief examinatin of lead-zinc occurrence at Berg Basin, Wrangell district, southeastern Alaska, was undertaken in 1947 as part of the U.S. Geological Survey's program of minerals investigations in Alaska. No lead-zinc ore body has yet been proved at Berg Basin, but because of recent interest in that area this preliminary report has been prepared for the purpose of making available immediately all data collected to date. A more complete report is in preparation.

Alaska↗

Pattern-recognition program modified and applied to southeastern United States seismicity

The pattern-recognition technique of Bongard and others (1966), Gelfand and others (1976), and Briggs and others (1977) was modified and applied in Southeastern United States to try to detect combinations or interactions of geologic, geophysical, and topographic parameters characteristic of areas with moderate and large earthquakes. The modification involved replacing the operator-defined criteria for significance of association of parameters and earthquakes with statistical estimates of significance. This was done in order to decrease the probability of random associations and to increase the flexibility of the pattern-recognition technique. The binomial distribution was used to determine the probability that each particular association could have occurred by chance. Bonferroni's inequality was invoked to determine a conservative significance level for each of the binomial tests. However, without being able to quantify the dependence among the associations, it is not possible to statistically evaluate the group of binomial tests as a whole. Preliminary results identify four independent associations characterizing spatially independent earthquake epicenters, or "dangerous" points, and seven independent associations characterizing the intervening "safe" points. When all points were reclassified using these traits, all epicenters were correctly classified as dangerous. In addition, three "safe" points were reclassified as dangerous and appear to be potential sites for future earthquakes. However, it is not possible to determine the degree of dangerousness of the points using this reclassification scheme. Two dangerous zones emerge in the northeast and southwest portions of the study area. Epicenters outside of these zones, including those of the large historic earthquakes (MMI > VIII) in Giles County, Virginia, and Charleston, South Carolina, have not been well characterized by the significant associations and may have fundamentally different causes.

southeastern United States↗

Hydrogeology and water quality of the Pepacton Reservoir Watershed in Southeastern New York. Part 2. Hydrogeology, stream base flow, and ground-water recharge

The hydrogeology of the 372-square-mile Pepacton Reservoir watershed (herein called the East Branch Delaware River Basin) in the southwestern Catskill Mountain region of Southeastern New York is described and depicted in a detailed surficial geologic map and two geologic sections. An analysis of stream discharge records and estimates of mean annual ground-water recharge and stream base flow for eight subbasins in the basin are included. Analysis of surficial geologic data indicates that the most widespread geologic unit within the basin is till, which occurs as masses of ablation till in major stream valleys and as thick deposits of lodgment till that fill upland basins. Till covers about 91.5 percent of the Pepacton Reservoir watershed, whereas stratified drift (alluvium, outwash, and ice-contact deposits) accounts for 6.3 percent. The Pepacton Reservoir occupies about 2.3 percent of the basin area. Large outwash and ice-contact deposits occupy the valleys of the upper East Branch Delaware River, the Tremper Kill, the Platte Kill, the Bush Kill, and Dry Brook. These deposits form stratified-drift aquifers that range in thickness from 90 feet in parts of the upper East Branch Delaware River Valley to less than 30 feet in the Dry Brook valley, and average about 50 feet in the main East Branch Delaware River Valley near Margaretville. An analysis of daily mean stream discharge for the six eastern subbasins for 1998–2001, and for two western subbasins for 1945–52, was performed using three computer programs to obtain estimates of mean annual base flow and mean annual ground-water recharge for the eight subbasins. Mean annual base flow ranged from 15.3 inches per year for the Tremper Kill subbasin to 22.3 inches per year for the Mill Brook subbasin; the latter reflects the highest mean annual precipitation of all the subbasins studied. Estimated mean annual ground-water recharge ranged from 24.3 inches per year for Mill Brook to 15.8 inches per year for the Tremper Kill. The base flow index, which is the mean annual base flow expressed as a percentage of mean annual streamflow, ranged from 69.1 percent for Coles Clove Kill to 75.6 percent for the upper East Branch Delaware River; most subbasin indices were greater than 70 percent. These high base flow indices indicate that because stratified drift covers only a small percentage of subbasin areas (generally 5 to 7 percent), most of the base flow is derived from the fractured sandstone bedrock that underlies the basin.

Scientific Investigations Report↗

Determination of baseline water-quality conditions using continuous specific conductance and discrete measurements of total dissolved solids and selected major ions, Arkansas River Basin, Colorado

From 2022 through 2024, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the Regional Resources Planning Group (Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District, Colorado Springs Utilities, Pueblo Water, Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District, Aurora Water, and Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District) established a basinwide water-quality monitoring network in the Arkansas River Basin in Colorado. The study leveraged ongoing continuous measurements of streamflow and specific conductance (SC) at 13 sites along the main stem Arkansas River and Fountain Creek from the USGS 07108600 Arkansas River at Granite, Colo., (Ark Granite) site to the USGS 07137500 Arkansas River near Coolidge, Kansas, (Ark Coolidge) site. Baseline water-quality conditions were established using data from October 1989 through September 2022 to help identify changes in water quality that could result from changes in land and water use. Total dissolved solids (TDS) concentration was the main indicator of general water quality in this study because it can be accurately estimated from SC and is sensitive to changes in streamflow, water operations, and source contributions. Median TDS concentrations in Arkansas River samples (October 1989 through December 2023) ranged from 75 milligrams per liter (mg/L) at Ark Granite near the headwaters to 3,660 mg/L at Ark Coolidge near the Colorado–Kansas State line. Distinct seasonal differences in median streamflow and TDS were apparent during the winter and summer months. Seasonal Kendall tests showed no significant trends in monthly mean streamflow (October 1995 through September 2022) at Arkansas River sites upstream from Pueblo Reservoir. Upward trends in TDS concentrations and loads occurred only at Ark Granite. Downward trends in streamflow, TDS concentrations, and TDS loads occurred at Arkansas River sites from USGS 07109500 Arkansas River near Avondale, Colo., to Ark Coolidge. Downward trends in streamflow and SC (surrogate for TDS) were more prevalent during winter base flow months and may indicate changes in groundwater quantity, and possibly groundwater quality, potentially affecting the river water-quality condition.

Colorado↗

Geology and Ground-Water Resources of the Roswell Artesian Basin, New Mexico

The Roswell artesian basin is in the Pecos Valley in southeastern New Mexico. The investigation, which covered a period of three years, 1925 to 1928, was made for the purpose of determining the available supply of artesian and other ground water within the area. The geologic formations of the region are of the Carboniferous (Permian series) and Quaternary systems. The Permian rocks consist of three units-an upper unit composed chiefly of clay, shale, and sand; a middle unit composed chiefly of limestone; and a lower unit composed chiefly of red beds, gypsum, and anhydrite. Most of the artesian water is obtained from the limestone beds of the middle unit, which has been designated the Picacho limestone. Originally the area of artesian flow comprised 663 square miles; but largely on account of heavy draft upon the artesian reservoir, it decreased to 499 square miles in 1916 and to 425 square miles in 1925. The area irrigated by water derived directly or indirectly from the reservoir amounts to about 60,000 acres. The annual quantity of water derived from wells is about 200,000 acre-feet, and the total discharge at the surface from all sources is about 250,000 acre-feet. Recharge to the reservoir is derived from precipitation that falls on a catchment area of 4,000 square miles west of the artesian area. In 1927 a law was passed by the State of New Mexico declaring underground waters to be public waters and subject to appropriation. This law was declared invalid because of a technicality, and in 1931 a new law was enacted, which furnishes a definite basis for the future regulation of ground waters in the area. The investigation leads to the conclusion that no new land should be placed under irrigation with artesian water, but that the development of shallow ground water should be encouraged. The present decline of the artesian head is slight in comparison with that in earlier years, and there is ample evidence to show that the reservoir annually receives large quantities of recharge and that with proper conservation it will never be completely exhausted.

Water Supply Paper↗

Chuckwalla Valley multiple-well monitoring site, Chuckwalla Valley, Riverside County

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management, is evaluating the geohydrology and water availability of the Chuckwalla Valley, California. As part of this evaluation, the USGS installed the Chuckwalla Valley multiple-well monitoring site (CWV1) in the southeastern portion of the Chuckwalla Basin. Data collected at this site provide information about the geology, hydrology, geophysics, and geochemistry of the local aquifer system, thus enhancing the understanding of the geohydrologic framework of the Chuckwalla Valley. This report presents construction information for the CWV1 multiple-well monitoring site and initial geohydrologic data collected from the site.

California↗

Preliminary report on uranium-, thorium-, and rare-earth-bearing rocks near Golovin, Alaska

Uranium-, thorium-, and rare-earth bearing rocks were found by a U.S. Geological Survey field party 15 miles northeast of Golovin, Alaska, in the southeastern Seward Peninsula (fig. 1) in June 1976. The mineralized areas occur in syenite and appear to be concentrated along the margins of alkaline dikes, with allanite tentatively identified as the principal mineral containing the uranium-, thorium-, and rare-earths. Samples contain as much as 0.15 percent U 3 0 8 and 1.05 percent Th0 2 , and over 2 percent rare-earth elements. These mineralized rocks are closely associated with alkaline dikes which are part of a dike swarm that crops out over at least 250 km 2 (100 mi 2 ). This large dike swarm is thus of considerable economic interest. These uranium-, thorium-, and rare-earth-rich rocks occur near the west end of the western Alaska uranium-thorium province (West, 1953; Clark and others, 1975; Miller, 3976) and were found during a regional investigation of this province by the Geological Survey. The alkaline dikes were known from previous mapping by the two senior authors (Miller and others, 1972) to be anomalously radioactive. The mineralized areas described in this report were found while making a brief study of (1) alteration and/or mineralization associated with these dikes and (2) their relation to similar dikes and rocks which occur elsewhere in the province (Miller, 1972).

Alaska↗

Dam-breach analysis and flood-inundation mapping for selected dams in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and near Atoka, Oklahoma

Dams provide beneficial functions such as flood control, recreation, and storage of water supplies, but they also entail risk; dam breaches and resultant floods can cause substantial property damage and loss of life. The State of Oklahoma requires each owner of a high-hazard dam, which the Federal Emergency Management Agency defines as dams for which failure or improper operation probably will cause loss of human life, to develop an emergency action plan specific to that dam. Components of an emergency action plan are to simulate a flood resulting from a possible dam breach and map the resulting downstream flood-inundation areas. The resulting flood-inundation maps can provide valuable information to city officials, emergency managers, and local residents for planning an emergency response if a dam breach occurs. This report presents results of a cooperative study by the U.S. Geological Survey and the City of Oklahoma City to model dam-breach scenarios at 11 dams controlled and operated by Oklahoma City, Okla., and to map the potential flood-inundation areas of such dam breaches. To assist the City of Oklahoma City with completion of the emergency action plans for the 11 dams, the U.S. Geological Survey used light detection and ranging (lidar) elevation data (2004), which produced a 2-foot contour elevation map for the flood plains around Oklahoma City. A 5-meter Digital Terrain Map was used to model the flood plain below Atoka Reservoir in southeastern Oklahoma. Digital-elevation models, field survey measurements, hydraulic data, and hydrologic data (U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging stations North Canadian River below Lake Overholser near Oklahoma City, Okla. [07241000], and North Canadian River at Britton Road at Oklahoma City, Okla. [07241520]), were used as inputs for the one-dimensional dynamic (unsteady-flow) models using Hydrologic Engineering Centers River Analysis System (HEC–RAS) software. The modeled flood elevations were exported to a geographic information system to produce flood-inundation maps. Water-surface profiles were developed for a 75-percent probable maximum flood dam-breach scenario and a sunny-day dam-breach scenario, as well as for maximum flood-inundation elevations and flood-wave arrival times at selected bridge crossings. Points of interest such as community-services offices, recreational areas, water-treatment plants, and wastewater-treatment plants were identified on the flood-inundation maps.

Oklahoma↗