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At least 793 records · Page 44Linked to original sources

Records of wells, water levels, and chemical quality of ground water in the French Prairie-Mission Bottom area, northern Willamette Valley, Oregon

An investigation of the ground-water resources of the northern Willamette Valley was begun in 1960 as a cooperative program between the Ground Water Branch, U.S. Geological Survey, and the Oregon State Engineer. The northern Willamette Valley area is one of the fastest growing areas of ground-water use within the state. The purpose of the investigation is to obtain an understanding of the availability, movement, and chemical quality of the ground-water resources of the area. This information is needed to attain an optimum development of the ground-water resources of the area and to aid in the prevention of problems of overdevelopment and pollution. The first phase of the program was the collection of well records, water level records, and chemical quality data in the central part of this area, which is known as the French Prairie-Mission Bottom area. The records collected in this phase of the study are essential in the preparation of an interpretive report describing the occurrence and movement of ground-water in the French Prairie-Mission Bottom area. These records, which will not be included in the interpretive report that is being prepared at this time, are being made available in this publication to aid in the location and the development of the ground-water resources of the area, and to serve as a supplement to the forthcoming interpretive report.

Oregon↗

A summary of water-quality monitoring in San Francisco Bay in water year 2017

This report summarizes the activities of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) San Francisco Bay Water-Quality Monitoring and Sediment Transport Project during water year 2017, including an explanation of methods employed, stations operated, and a graphical summary of data for the period of record for stations operational in water year 2017. In cooperation with partner agencies, the USGS maintains a network of sensors that continuously and autonomously measures water-quality parameters in San Francisco Bay including water temperature, specific conductance, turbidity, and suspended-sediment concentration. Data are collected at several locations in the estuary by a network of water-quality sondes sampled at 15-minute intervals. Methods of data collection are presented along with documentation of the regression models utilized to estimate suspended-sediment concentration from observed turbidity, a commonly utilized surrogate to estimate suspended-sediment concentration. The goals of the data collection effort are to (1) obtain long-term, high-frequency, and high-quality data to describe San Francisco Bay water quality; (2) make the data publicly available on the USGS National Water Information System data portal; and (3) help improve understanding of the spatial and temporal variability of water quality in the estuary, informing management decisions regarding restoration, water supply, navigation, and ecology.

California↗

Hydrologic data for urban studies in the Austin, Texas metropolitan area, 1978

Hydrologic investigations of urban watersheds in Texas were begun by the U.S. Geological Survey in 1954. Studies are now in progress in Austin, Dallas, Dallas County, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio. The Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Texas Department of Water Resources, began hydrologic studies in the Austin urban area in 1954. In cooperation with the city of Austin, the program was expanded in 1975 to include additional streamflow and rainfall gaging stations and the collection of water-quality data. In 1978, the program was expanded to include a ground-water resources study of the South Austin metropolitan area in the Balcones Fault Zone.

Texas↗

Synthesis and interpretation of surface-water quality and aquatic biota data collected in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, 1979-2009

Shenandoah National Park in northern and central Virginia protects 777 square kilometers of mountain terrain in the Blue Ridge physiographic province and more than 90 streams containing diverse aquatic biota. Park managers and visitors are interested in the water quality of park streams and its ability to support healthy coldwater communities and species, such as the native brook trout ( Salvelinus fontinalis ), that are at risk in the eastern United States. Despite protection from local stressors, however, the water quality of streams in the park is at risk from many regional stressors, including atmospheric pollution, decline in the health of the surrounding forests because of invasive forest pests, and global climate change. In 2010, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the National Park Service, undertook a study to compile, analyze, and synthesize available data on water quality, aquatic macroinvertebrates, and fish within Shenandoah National Park. Specifically, the effort focused on creating a comprehensive water-resources database for the park that can be used to evaluate temporal trends and spatial patterns in the available data, and characterizing those data to better understand interrelations among water quality, aquatic macroinvertebrates, fish, and the landscape.

Virginia↗

Effects of pumping collector wells on river-aquifer interaction at Platte River Island near Ashland, Nebraska, 1998

The city of Lincoln, Nebraska, owns and operates two large collector wells-W90-1H and W90-2H-on the Platte River Island near Ashland, Nebraska (fig. 1). Wells W90-1H and W90-2H augment water supplies from the city's primary well fields on the west bank of the Platte River. In 1998, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the city of Lincoln entered a cooperative agreement to study the interaction of the Platte River with the underlying alluvial aquifer during various pumping scenarios for the collector wells. Description of the river-aquifer interaction at the Platte River Island while the collector wells are pumping will enable water managers to regulate the relative amounts of river water and ground water withdrawn by the collector wells. Results also will contribute to improved understanding of surface-water/ground-water relations in similar alluvial settings.

Nebraska↗

Degree of contamination and sources of polychlorinated biphenyls in Meandering Road Creek and Woods Inlet of Lake Worth, Fort Worth, Texas, 2004 and 2006-07

Lake Worth is a reservoir on the West Fork Trinity River on the western edge of Fort Worth, Texas. Air Force Plant 4 (AFP4) is on the eastern shore of Woods Inlet, an arm of Lake Worth that extends south from the main body of the lake. Two previous reports documented ele­vated polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations in surficial sediment in Woods Inlet relative to those in surficial sediment in other parts of Lake Worth. This report presents the results of another USGS study, done in cooperation with the U.S. Air Force, to indicate the degree of PCB contamination of Meandering Road Creek and Woods Inlet and to identify possible sources of PCBs in Meandering Road Creek and Woods Inlet on the basis of suspended, streambed, and lake-bottom sediment samples collected there in 2004 and 2006–07. About 40 to 80 percent of total PCB concentrations (depending on how total PCB concentration is computed) in suspended sediment exceed the threshold effect concentration, a concentration below which adverse effects to benthic biota rarely occur. About 20 percent of total PCB concentrations (computed as sum of three Aroclors) in suspended sediment exceed the probable effect concentration, a concentration above which adverse effects to benthic biota are expected to occur frequently. About 20 to 30 percent of total PCB concentrations in streambed sediment exceed the threshold effect concentration; and about 6 to 20 percent of total PCB concentrations in lake-bottom (Woods Inlet) sediment exceed the threshold effect concentration. No streambed or lake-bottom sediment concentrations exceed the probable effect concentration. The sources of PCBs to Meandering Road Creek and Woods Inlet were investigated by comparing the relative distributions of PCB congeners of suspended sediment to those of streambed and lake-bottom sediment. The sources of PCBs were identified using graphical analysis of normalized concentrations (congener ratios) of 11 congeners. For graphical analysis, the sampling sites were divided into three groups with each group associated with one of the three outfalls sampled: SSO, OF4, and OF5. The variations of normalized PCB congener concentrations from Woods Inlet, from outfalls along Meandering Road Creek, and from streambed sediment sampling sites along Meandering Road Creek generally form similar patterns within sample groups, which is indicative of a common source of PCBs to each group. Overall, the variations in congener ratios indicate that PCBs in surficial lake-bottom sediment of Woods Inlet probably entered Woods Inlet primarily from Meandering Road Creek, and that runoff from AFP4 is a prominent source of PCBs in Meandering Road Creek. Sixteen of the 20 box core sites in Woods Inlet had lower PCB concentrations in the 2006 cores compared to those in the 2003 cores.

Texas↗

Hydrologic data for urban studies in the Austin, Texas metropolitan area, 1976

Hydrologic investigations of urban watersheds in Texas were begun by the U.S. Geological Survey in 1954. Studies are now in progress in Austin, Dallas and Dallas County, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio. The Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Texas Department of Water Resources, began hydrologic studies in the Austin urban area in 1954. In cooperation with the city of Austin, the program was expanded in 1975 to include additional streamflow and rainfall gaging stations, and the collection of water-quality data. The objectives of the Austin urban hydrology study are as follows:1. To determine, on the basis of historical data and hydrologic analyses, the magnitude and frequency of flood peaks and flood volume.; 2. To determine the effect of urban development on flood peaks and volume.; 3. To ascertain the variation in water quality for different seasons from selected basins of varying urban development. This report presents the basic hydrologic data collected in the Austin urban area for the 1976 water year (Oct. 1, 1976 to Sept. 30, 1976). To facilitate the pubication and distribution of this report at the earliest feasible time, certain material has been included that does not conform to the formal publication standards of the U.S. Geological Survey.

Texas↗

A catalogue of drill core recovered from Kilauea Iki lava lake, from 1967 to 1979

The purpose of this report is to serve as a descriptive catalogue for drill core recovered from Kilauea Iki lava lake, from 1967 to 1979. Kilauea Iki lava lake was formed when lavas of the 1959 summit eruption were ponded in Kilauea Iki pit crater, a large pit crater at the extreme upper end of Kilauea's east rift zone (Fig. 1). This eruption is one of the best documented of Kilauean eruptions: Murata and Richter (1966) and Richter and Murata (1966) presented data on the chemistry and petrography of the lavas, respectively, and Richter et al. (1970) described the complex filling of the pit crater in considerable detail. Investigation of the lava lake began a few months after the crust stabilized, with the establishment of two perpendicular lines of levelling stations on the surface of the lake. In 1960-62, four holes were drilled through the upper crust in the center of the lake; the crust was 22-44 feet (6.7-13.4 m) thick at that time. Richter and Moore (1966) presented petrographic, modal, and chemical data on the core recovered from this early drilling. The upper crust of Kilauea Iki was drilled again in 1967 by staff members of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, and core was recovered from three holes. In 1975, U.S. Geological Survey workers drilled three more holes, each a few feet away from one of the 1 967 holes. A summary of all work done on Kilauea Iki and other Hawaiian lava lakes through 1975 has been given by Wright et al. (1976). The lake has been redrilled twice since 1975, by workers from Sandia Laboratories, as part of their Magma Energy Research program, in cooperation with the U.S. Geological Survey. In 1976, they drilled two holes near the center of the lake. In 1978-79, they drilled a total of six holes; one, commissioned by the U.S. Geological Survey, went completely through the lava lake near its north edge, into the pre-1959 lavas below.

Hawaii↗

Memorandum on ground-water investigation of four proposed stock wells in Puertocito Area, Socorro County and Canoncito Area, Bernalillo and Valencia Counties, New Mexico

At the request of the Navajo Service, Office ot Indian Affairs, a groundwater iinvestigation of four proposed stock wells in the Puertocito Area, Socorro county and the Canoncito Area., Bernalillo and Valencia counties,New Mexico, was made in November, 1951 (see fig. 1). Although these areas are not on the Navajo Indian Reservation, they were included in the program of study of ground-water resources or the Navajo and Hopi Indian Reservations now being conducted by the Ground Water Branch of the United States Geological Survey. The work was financed by and was in cooperation with the Navajo Service, Office of Indian Affairs.

New Mexico↗

Ground-water resources of Nelson County, northeastern North Dakota

This investigation is part of a Statewide program to determine the location and extent of the ground-water reservoirs (aquifers); to evaluate the occurrence and movement of ground water within these aquifers, including the sources of recharge and discharge; and to determine the chemical quality of the ground water. Nelson County covers an area of approximately 1,000 square miles in northeastern North Dakota. The study, which began in July 1967, has been made cooperatively by the U.S. Geological Survey, the North Dakota State Water Commission, the North Dakota Geological Survey, and the Nelson County Water Management District. The final results of the study will be published in three parts by the cooperating State agencies.

Hydrologic Atlas↗

Borehole geophysical data from Eastland Woolen Mill Superfund site, Corinna, Maine, March 1999

Borehole-geophysical data were collected in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in seven bedrock wells at the Eastland Woolen Mill Superfund site, Penobscot County, Corinna, Maine, in March, 1999. The data were collected as part of a reconnaissance investigation to provide information needed to address concerns about the distribution and fate of contaminants in ground-water at the site. The borehole geophysical data were also needed to guide subsequent data collection associated with the development of a remediation workplan. The borehole geophysical logs collected included: natural gamma, caliper, fluid temperature, fluid conductivity, electromagnetic conductivity, electromagnetic resistivity, spontaneous potential, and single-point resistivity.

Maine↗

Chemical and physical characteristics of water in estuaries of Texas, October 1976-September 1978

The Texas Water Plan (1968) proposes development and utilization of water resources in Texas and includes provision for the use and preservation of water in the estuaries of the State. Management of estuarine waters requires knowledge of the hydrodynamics and of the continuing changes in the chemical and physical characteristics of water in the estuaries. In September 1967, the U.S. Geological Survey and the Texas Department of Water Resources began a cooperative water-resources investigation of the principal estuaries along the Texas coast (fig. 1) except the Rio Grande estuary, which is under the jurisdiction of the International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico. The objectives of the investigation are to define: (1) The occurrence, source, and distribution of nutrients; (2) the physical, organic, and inorganic water-quality constituents and their areal distribution and time variations; (3) the chemical and physical characteristics of Gulf water that enters the estuaries; (4) the occurrence, quality, quantity, and dispersion of drainage entering the estuarine systems; and (5) the current patterns, directions, and rates of water movement. The coastal waters of Texas are not classical estuaries, but are similar to them in ecosystems and mixing phenomena. A description of various types of estuaries is presented in "Estuaries" edited by Lauff (1967, p. 3-11). The term estuary as used in this report, refers to concomitant water bodies in which streamflow mixes with seawater.

Open-File Report↗

Bathymetry of Groundhog Reservoir, Dolores County, Colorado, 2011

In order to better characterize the water supply capacity of Groundhog Reservoir, Dolores County, Colorado, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Dolores Water Conservancy District, conducted a bathymetric survey of Groundhog Reservoir. The study was performed in June 2011 using a man-operated boat-mounted multibeam echo sounder integrated with a global positioning system and a terrestrial real-time kinematic global positioning system. The two collected datasets were merged and imported into geographic information system software. A bathymetric map of the reservoir was generated in addition to plots for the stage-area and the stage-volume relations.

Colorado↗

Bathymetry of Totten Reservoir, Montezuma County, Colorado, 2011

In order to better characterize the water supply capacity of Totten Reservoir, Montezuma County, Colorado, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Dolores Water Conservancy District, conducted a bathymetric survey of Totten Reservoir. The study was performed in June 2011 using a man-operated boat-mounted multibeam echo sounder integrated with a global positioning system and a terrestrial real-time kinematic global positioning system. The two collected datasets were merged and imported into geographic information system software. A bathymetric map of the reservoir was generated in addition to plots for the stage-area and the stage-volume relations.

Colorado↗

Hydrogeology and ground-water quality of the county road a disposal site on the Bad River Indian Reservation, Ashland County, Wisconsin: 1997-98

The County Road A disposal site, located on the Bad River Indian Reservation, Ashland County, Wisconsin, contains papermill sludge generated by a former mill in the City of Ashland. Since the time of disposal (1968-1970) the site has been the subject of investigations by the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and private consultants. During 1997- 1998, an investigation was conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Natural Resources Department of the Bad River Indian Tribe, to evaluate the hydrogeology and groundwater quality of the disposal site, particularly with respect to the hydraulic connection between two ponds at the site and the shallow ground-waterflow system. Additional monitoring wells and well points were installed, and additional hydrogeologic, ground-water quality, and geophysical data were collected. The data from this and previous studies were integrated and interpreted.

Wisconsin↗

Ground-water level fluctuations in Utah, 1936-45

Ground-water investigations in Utah by the Geological Survey of the U.S. Department of the Interior have been in progress since 1935, in cooperation with the Utah State Engineer. This cooperative work includes (1) determination of the fluctuations of water level in most of the developed ground-water areas in the state, based upon measurements which are tabulated and published annually by the Geological Survey; and (2) detailed investigations of specific ground-water areas to determine source, movement, disposal, quantity and quality of the ground water, and to show the relation of present development to the maximum economic development of which those areas are capable. Such detailed investigations have been completed during the past decade for areas in Iron, Millard, Salt Lake, Tooele, and Weber Counties, and are referred to in discussion subsequently. Similar investigations are now in progress in other areas in Davis, Iron, and Weber Counties.

Utah↗

Peak-flow variability, peak-flow informational needs, and consideration of regional regression analyses in managing the crest-stage gage network in Montana

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT), has operated a crest-stage gage (CSG) network in Montana to collect peak-flow data since 1955. The CSG network is vital to collecting peak-flow data on small drainage basins that typically are not addressed by continuous streamflow operations. Discussions between USGS and MDT identified a need for evaluating the CSG network to allow for better decision making in the management of the network. The purpose of this report is to (1) generally describe peak-flow variability in Montana, (2) assess peak-flow informational needs relevant to MDT activities, and (3) consider the characteristics of the active CSG network in relation to addressing the informational needs. The evaluation of the CSG network is intended to assist in prioritization for discontinuation of CSGs and other activities involving changes to the CSG network. Peak-flow variability was investigated by analysis of selected peak-flow characteristics of 659 unregulated streamgages in or near Montana. A generalized peak-flow variability index ( PFVI ) was developed to provide large-scale representation of peak-flow variability in Montana. For unregulated Montana streamgages, PFVI generally monotonically decreases with increasing drainage area, although there is somewhat large (but generally consistent) variability about the locally weighted scatterplot smooth line. Presumably, highly variable small-scale hydroclimatic processes are integrated with increasing drainage area such that variability in many hydrologic characteristics is reduced. PFVI also decreases with increasing mean basin elevation and mean annual precipitation. Presumably, higher elevation and wetter hydroclimatic settings in Montana contribute to reduced variability in hydrologic characteristics. Intuitively, PFVI might be expected to generally decrease with increasing years of record because the standard deviation might typically be expected to decrease with increasing sample size. However, relations among PFVI and years of record are more complex and variable than drainage area, elevation, and precipitation. PFVI variably increases from 10 to about 40 years of record and then generally monotonically decreases from about 40 to about 105 years of record. Relations among PFVI and the years of record might be confounded by effects of drainage area because streamgages with long periods of record (greater than about 60 years) generally have large drainage areas (greater than about 100 square miles). The relations between PFVI and drainage area, mean basin elevation, mean annual precipitation, and years of record substantially differ among the eight hydrologic regions in Montana. As such, the PFVI relations were further investigated within each hydrologic region. A major use of peak-flow information by MDT is for design of road and highway infrastructure, including bridges, culverts, and roadside drainage ditches. As such, basin characteristics (including drainage area, mean basin elevation, and mean annual precipitation) of the Montana streamgage network (735 regulated and unregulated streamgages) were statistically investigated in relation to basin characteristics of 12,639 road and stream intersections in Montana. Both regulated and unregulated streamgages were investigated because the road and stream intersections are on both regulated and unregulated streams. Exploratory analyses indicated that the various relations substantially differ among the hydrologic regions. As such, the relations between the Montana streamgage network and the road and stream intersections were further investigated within each hydrologic region. An important objective of the CSG network is to provide data for developing regional regression equations (RREs) for estimating frequencies at ungaged sites in Montana. Various characteristics of the RREs substantially differ among the eight hydrologic regions in Montana. As such, the RRE characteristics were further investigated within each hydrologic region. For each of the eight hydrologic regions, various characteristics of peak-flow variability, peak-flow informational needs, and regional regression analyses were investigated in detail. Possible shortcomings of the streamgage network in each hydrologic region are identified and possible future improvements to the CSG network are presented.

Montana↗

Geohydrology and quality of ground water in unconsolidated aquifers near South Bend, Indiana

Introduction The water supply for the City of South Bend, Indiana, and much of surrounding St. Joseph County is provided by 36 municipal and community well fields. Some of these well fields are located near known or potential sources of ground-water contamination that could affect ground-water supplies in the near future. As population and industry grow, it will be necessary to find additional sources of water and determine their quantity and quality. Geohydrologic and water-quality data are available to identify areas for developing additional ground-water supplies, but these data have not been compiled into one source accessible to area water-resource managers. This report presents a compilation of these geohydrologic and water-quality data for the ground-water system in and near South Bend that can be used to identify potentially favorable areas for developing additional ground-water supplies for municipal use. The data were compiled by the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the South Bend Water Works, for a study area of approximately 535 square miles that includes all of St. Joseph County and the eastern part of La Porte County. A map format has been used to facilitate comparison between geohydrologic and water-quality information. Previously published geologic maps and cross sections describe the geologic setting and aquifer deposits of the study area, the hydrogeology of northeastern St. Joseph County, and the ground-water quality of northeastern St. Joseph County. Beaty (1990) and Clendenon and Beaty (1987) produced water-resource-availability reports for the St. Joseph and Kankakee River Basins.

Indiana↗