Geology Reports⌕ Search

SEARCH · Geology Reports

Results for “Field and Stream”

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.

At least 811 records · Page 45Linked to original sources
USGS2001

Water source to four U.S. wetlands: Implications for wetland management

Results of long-term field studies of wetlands in four different hydrogeologic and climatic settings in the United States indicate that each has considerably different sources of water, which affects their response to climate variability and land-use practices. A fen wetland in New Hampshire is supplied almost entirely by ground water that originates as seepage from Mirror Lake; therefore, stream discharge from the fen closely follows the pattern of Mirror Lake stage fluctuations. A fen wetland in northern Minnesota is supplied largely by discharge from a regional ground-water flow system that has its recharge area 1 to 2 km to the east. Because of the size of this wetland's ground-water watershed, stream discharge from the fen has little variability. A prairie-pothole wetland in North Dakota receives more than 90 percent of its water from precipitation and loses more than 90 percent of its water to evapotranspiration, resulting in highly variable seasonal and annual water levels. A wetland in the sandhills of Nebraska lies in a regional ground-water flow field that extends for tens of kilometers and that contains numerous lakes and wetlands. The wetland receives water that moves through the ground-water system from the upgradient lakes and from ground water in local flow systems that are recharged between the lakes. The difference in sources of water to these wetlands implies that they would require different techniques to protect their water supply and water quality.

Wetlands↗
USGS2004

Water-quality and amphibian population data for Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia, 2001-2004

Data on the chemical composition of water and on amphibian populations were collected at least annually from vernal pool and stream sites in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia, from 2001 through 2004. The data were collected as part of long-term monitoring projects of the Northeast Region of the Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI) of the U.S. Geological Survey. Water samples were analyzed for temperature, specific conductance, pH, dissolved-oxygen concentration, acid-neutralizing capacity, and concentrations of total Kjeldahl nitrogen and total phosphorus; in 2004, samples also were analyzed for nitrite plus nitrate concentrations and total nitrogen concentrations. Field and laboratory analytical results of water samples and quality-assurance information are presented. Amphibian population data include the presence of amphibian species and the maximum number of egg masses of wood frogs and spotted salamanders at vernal pools, and counts of amphibians made during stream transect and stream quadrat surveys.

Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C.↗
USGS2004

Water-quality and amphibian population data for Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia, 2001-2004

Data on the chemical composition of water and on amphibian populations were collected at least annually from vernal pool and stream sites in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia, from 2001 through 2004. The data were collected as part of long-term monitoring projects of the Northeast Region of the Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI) of the U.S. Geological Survey. Water samples were analyzed for temperature, specific conductance, pH, dissolved-oxygen concentration, acid-neutralizing capacity, and concentrations of total Kjeldahl nitrogen and total phosphorus; in 2004, samples also were analyzed for nitrite plus nitrate concentrations and total nitrogen concentrations. Field and laboratory analytical results of water samples and quality-assurance information are presented. Amphibian population data include the presence of amphibian species and the maximum number of egg masses of wood frogs and spotted salamanders at vernal pools, and counts of amphibians made during stream transect and stream quadrat surveys.

Open-File Report↗
USGS2021

Field trials to test new trap technologies for monitoring Culex populations and the efficacy of the biopesticide formulation VectoMax® FG for control of larval Culex quinquefasciatus in the Alaka'i Plateau, Kaua'i, Hawaii

Mosquito-borne avian malaria Plasmodium relictum is a key limiting factor for endemic Hawaiian forest birds. In the past decade, populations of Kaua‘i’s endemic forest birds have been in a steep decline due to an increase in malaria transmission. To evaluate the use of available biopesticides for short-term mosquito control we tested the efficacy of the biopesticide VectoMax® FG against Culex quinquefasciatus larvae in naturally occurring perched stream pools, seeps, and ground pools in forest bird habitat in Kaua‘i’s remote Alaka‘i Plateau. We also tested the efficacy of conventional and newer traps and attractants for the capture of adult Culex quinquefasciatus in Hawaiian rain forests and monitored adult mosquito populations at the Kaua‘i field site. During field trials conducted on Hawai‘i Island we captured more Culex quinquefasciatus in gravid traps than in host-seeking traps. Among the host-seeking traps, Biogents BG-Sentinel 2 traps baited with CO2 and BG-Lure caught more Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes japonicus japonicus than CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) traps baited with compressed CO2, CDC traps baited with dry ice, or Biogents BG-Sentinel 2 traps baited with BG-Lure and octenol but not CO2. Both Biogents BG-Sentinel 2 and CDC miniature traps baited with compressed CO2 or dry ice captured significantly more Culex quinquefasciatus than Biogents BG-Sentinel 2 traps baited with octenol and BG-Lure but without CO2. We also found that gravid traps baited with timothy hay infusions caught significantly more Culex quinquefasciatus than traps baited with either a commercial gravid mosquito attractant or an infusion made with pelleted rabbit feed. Traps baited with an infusion of timothy hay and donkey dung were the most effective for Culex quinquefasciatus. On Kaua‘i, we operated Biogents BG-Sentinel 2 traps baited with CO2 and gravid traps and captured 29 mosquitoes in 182 trap-nights from October–November 2016 and 126 mosquitoes in 254 trap-nights from September–October 2017. Contrary to our findings on Hawai‘i Island, most mosquitoes (96%) were captured in Biogents BG-Sentinel 2 traps indicating considerable site-to-site variability in trap efficacy. Weekly adult trapping on Kaua‘i indicates Culex quinquefasciatus populations peaked in October but provided no reliable evidence that larval control had any significant effect on adult populations. Overall, VectoMax® FG was very effective at larval control reducing larval abundance by 95% at 48 hours and out to 1-week post-treatment. Treatment was most effective (100% at 1-week post-treatment) in perched pools when early instar larvae were present and least effective in seeps when pupae and fourth instar larvae were most common. Although post-treatment counts fluctuated dramatically, we observed no evidence of population level impacts to the two most common non-target invertebrates: the water strider Microvelia vagans and endemic damselfly naiads (Megalagrion sp.). VectoMax® FG appears to be an effective and safe biopesticide for the local control of Culex quinquefasciatus larvae in forest bird habitat in the Alaka‘i Plateau. Further studies will be necessary to determine if local larval control significantly reduces adult mosquito abundance and, ultimately, avian malaria transmission, and if there are long term, non-target effects associated with repeated use of VectoMax® FG in natural Hawaiian waterways.

Hawaii↗
USGS2025

Spatial mapping of dissolved methane using an in situ sensor in Puget Sound

Release of methane, as gas bubbles or in the dissolved phase, from the seafloor has been observed in coastal waters (< 200 m) and deep ocean basins (> 1000 m). Methane dissolution within the water column affects the geochemistry of the surrounding water, leading to localized oxygen loss and potential escape to the atmosphere, particularly from shallower sites. Traditional methods for detecting and quantifying dissolved methane rely on collecting discrete water samples for ship- or land-based ex situ analysis and post processing. Here, we report on the use of a reduced response time, in situ methane sensor, the Sensor for Aqueous Gases in the Environment (SAGE), for detecting and quantifying dissolved methane concentrations in a wide range of seafloor environments. During a Fall 2022 research cruise on the R/V Thomas G. Thompson in Puget Sound, SAGE was integrated onto a towed conductivity/temperature/depth rosette and deep-sea camera system with live-stream 1 Hz telemetry and used to spatially map the concentration of methane approximately 1 m above the seafloor. The site had been previously identified as an active methane plume field characterized by gas bubbles, fluid venting, and a faulted seabed. The widespread background dissolved concentration of methane measured by SAGE was 83 nM, and a range of 78–670 nM was observed throughout the survey. The results highlight the capacity of SAGE to map the spatial and temporal variability of dissolved methane concentrations in situ and to identify and localize sites of variable methane emissions from the seafloor.

Washington↗
USGS1999

Responses of riparian cottonwoods to alluvial water table declines

Human demands for surface and shallow alluvial groundwater have contributed to the loss, fragmentation, and simplification of riparian ecosystems. Populus species typically dominate riparian ecosystems throughout arid and semiarid regions of North American and efforts to minimize loss of riparian Populus requires an integrated understanding of the role of surface and groundwater dynamics in the establishment of new, and maintenance of existing, stands. In a controlled, whole-stand field experiment, we quantified responses of Populus morphology, growth, and mortality to water stress resulting from sustained water table decline following in-channel sand mining along an ephemeral sandbed stream in eastern Colorado, USA. We measured live crown volume, radial stem growth, annual branch increment, and mortality of 689 live Populus deltoides subsp. monilifera stems over four years in conjunction with localized water table declines. Measurements began one year prior to mining and included trees in both affected and unaffected areas. Populus demonstrated a threshold response to water table declines in medium alluvial sands; sustained declines ???1 m produced leaf desiccation and branch dieback within three weeks and significant declines in live crown volume, stem growth, and 88% mortality over a three-year period. Declines in live Crown volume proved to be a significant leading indicator of mortality in the following year. A logistic regression of tree survival probability against the prior year's live crown volume was significant (-2 log likelihood = 270, ??2 with 1 df = 232, P < 0.0001) and trees with absolute declines in live crown volume of ???30 during one year had survival probabilities <0.5 in the following year. In contrast, more gradual water table declines of ~0.5 m had no measurable effect on mortality, stem growth, or live crown volume and produced significant declines only in annual branch growth increments. Developing quantitative information on the timing and extent of morphological responses and mortality of Populus to the rate, depth, and duration of water table declines can assist in the design of management prescriptions to minimize impacts of alluvial groundwater depletion on existing riparian Populus forests.

Environmental Management↗
USGS2005

Measurements of aquifer-storage change and specific yield using gravity surveys

Pinal Creek is an intermittent stream that drains a 200-square-mile alluvial basin in central Arizona. Large changes in water levels and aquifer storage occur in an alluvial aquifer near the stream in response to periodic recharge and ground-water withdrawals. Outflow components of the ground-water budget and hydraulic properties of the alluvium are well-defined by field measurements; however, data are insufficient to adequately describe recharge, aquifer-storage change, and specific-yield values. An investigation was begun to assess the utility of temporal-gravity surveys to directly measure aquifer-storage change and estimate values of specific yield. The temporal-gravity surveys measured changes in the differences in gravity between two reference stations on bedrock and six stations at wells; changes are caused by variations in aquifer storage. Specific yield was estimated by dividing storage change by water-level change. Four surveys were done between February 21, 1991, and March 31, 1993. Gravity increased as much as 158 microGal ± 1 to 6 microGal, and water levels rose as much as 58 feet. Average specific yield at wells ranged from 0.16 to 0.21, and variations in specific yield with depth correlate with lithologic variations. Results indicate that temporal-gravity surveys can be used to estimate aquifer-storage change and specific yield of water-table aquifers where significant variations in water levels occur. Direct measurement of aquifer-storage change can eliminate a major unknown from the ground-water budget of arid basins and improve residual estimates of recharge.

Groundwater↗
USGS1980

Map showing the distribution of minerals in the heavy-mineral concentrate of stream sediments in the Sierra Ancha Wilderness and Salome Study Area, Gila County, Arizona

Reconnaissance geochemical and mineralogical sampling was done in the Sierra Ancha Wilderness and Salome Study Area during April and May 1978. This map shows the distribution of chalcopyrite, florite, galena, scheelite, and lead-rich iron oxides in the nonmagnetic fraction of the heavy-mineral concentrate of stream sediment samples collected during the reconnaissance study.

Arizona↗
USGS1985

Maps showing water geochemistry of the Buffalo Peaks Wilderness Study Area, Lake, Park, and Chaffee Counties, Colorado

This report presents results of geochemical studies carried out in June and July of 1982 in the Buffalo Peaks Wilderness Study Area, Colo. (see index map). Samples of water were collected from 84 streams and 18 springs draining the study area. Tabulations of the analyses and a sample locality map are in Ficklin and others (1984). The geochemistry of stream sediments and panned concentrates of the study area is in Nowlan and Gerstel (1985). The geology of the study area and vicinity is in Hedlund (1985). The mineral resource potential of the study area is described in Hedlund and others (1983). This report (1) assists in the assessment of the mineral resource potential of the Buffalo Peaks Wilderness Study Area; and (2) compares analyses of water samples with analyses of stream-sediment and panned-concentrate samples (Nowlan and Gerstel, 1985).

Colorado↗
USGS2009

Mineral-resource assessment of northern Nye County, Nevada— A progress report

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), and Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology (NBMG), which is a part of the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), have completed the first year of data collection and analysis in preparation for a new mineral- and energy-resource assessment of northern Nye County, Nevada. This report provides information about work completed before October 1, 2009. Existing data are being compiled, including geology, geochemistry, geophysics, and mineral-deposit information. Field studies are underway, which are primarily designed to address issues raised during the review of existing information. In addition, new geochemical studies are in progress, including reanalyzing existing stream-sediment samples with modern methods, and analyzing metalliferous black shales.

Nevada↗
USGS2008

Principal locations of major-ion, trace-element, nitrate, and Escherichia coli loading to Emigration Creek, Salt Lake County, Utah, October 2005

Housing development and recreational activity in Emigration Canyon have increased substantially since 1980, perhaps causing an observed decrease in water quality of this northern Utah stream located near Salt Lake City. To identify reaches of the stream that contribute to water-quality degradation, a tracer-injection and synoptic-sampling study was done to quantify mass loading of major ions, trace elements, nitrate, and Escherichia coli (E. coli) to the stream. The resulting mass-loading profiles for major ions and trace elements indicate both geologic and anthropogenic inputs to the stream, principally from tributary and spring inflows to the stream at Brigham Fork, Burr Fork, Wagner Spring, Emigration Tunnel Spring, Blacksmith Hollow, and Killyon Canyon. The pattern of nitrate loading does not correspond to the major-ion and trace-element loading patterns. Nitrate levels in the stream did not exceed water-quality standards at the time of synoptic sampling. The majority of nitrate mass loading can be considered related to anthropogenic input, based on the field settings and trends in stable isotope ratios of nitrogen. The pattern of E. coli loading does not correspond to the major-ion, trace-element, or nitrate loading patterns. The majority of E. coli loading was related to anthropogenic sources based on field setting, but a considerable part of the loading also comes from possible animal sources in Killyon Canyon, in Perkins Flat, and in Rotary Park. In this late summer sampling, E. coli concentrations only exceeded water-quality standards in limited sections of the study reach. The mass-loading approach used in this study provides a means to design future studies and to evaluate the loading on a catchment scale.

Utah↗
USGS1987

Surface-water quality in Pequea Creek basin, Pennsylvania, 1977-79

A study of the Pequea Creek basin was conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Susquehanna River Basin Commission and the EPA from February 1977 through March 1979. Pequea Creek drains an intensive agricultural area of 154 sq mi in southeastern Pennsylvania, and enters the Susquehanna River 30 mi north of the Chesapeake Bay. The study included measurement of streamflow and collection of water and bottom material samples from seven sites in the basin during selected base flows and storms. Water samples were collected daily at a site near the mouth of Pequea Creek, and analyzed for suspended sediment, nitrogen and phosphorus species, organic carbon, and pesticides. Some groundwater samples also were collected and analyzed for nitrate. Annual yields measured from the basin during the study period were 1,950 ton/sq mi for suspended sediment, 13.8 ton/sq mi for total nitrogen, and 1.8 ton/sq mi for phosphorus. These yields are five times higher than any previously measured in the Susquehanna River basin. The discharges of all constituents monitored increased with increasing flow, indicated that a large amount of material in the basin is available for transport to streams during storms. The large yields of nitrogen and phosphorus are probably caused by the intensive agriculture in the basin coupled with large applications of fertilizer and manure to farm fields. Chemical analyses of rainfall samples indicate that precipitation was not a significant source of nitrogen and phosphorus. Excluding nitrate, all constituents measured were transported mainly during storms. Nitrate concentrations during base flow were as high as 10 mg/L as N--the Environmental Protection Agency standard for domestic water supplies. Groundwater sampled from farm wells had nitrate concentrations up to 28 mg/L as N. The largest concentrations of herbicides detected in Pequea basin were for 2,4-D, atrazine, and simazine. The maximum concentrations observed during storms were 1.2, 24, and 5.4 micrograms/L, respectively. The insecticides chlordane and DDT had mean concentrations of 0.02 and 0.01 micrograms/L, respectively. Lindane, PCB, and heptachlor slightly exceed maximum limits during storms.

Pennsylvania↗
USGS1961

Geology and ground-water resources of Sumner County, Kansas

This report describes the geography, geology, and ground-water resources of Sumner County in south-central Kansas. The hydrologic and geologic data upon which this report is based were obtained in the field during the summers of 1955 and 1956. Records of 300 wells and 2 springs, chemical analyses of 219 water samples from wells and test holes and of 15 from streams, and logs of 362 wells and test holes are included in tables. Sumner County has an area of 1,183 square miles and lies in the Wellington Lowland and Arkansas River Lowlands of the Central Lowland physiographic province. It is drained by Arkansas River, Ninnescah River, and Chikaskia River and their tributaries. The land surface in general is a southeastward-sloping, gently rolling plain. The average annual precipitation at Wellington is about 31 inches. Wheat fanning is the principal industry of the county, and oil is the chief natural resource. The Wellington Formation, of Permian age, crops out in the eastern two-thirds of the county except where it is covered by Pleistocene deposits. The Ninnescah Shale (Permian) overlies the Wellington Formation and crops out in parts of the western third of the county. The Permian rocks yield small quantities of hard water to wells. Pleistocene sand and gravel deposits of Nebraskan age are present in the northwestern corner of the county and yield moderate quantities of good water to wells. Discontinuous deposits of Kansan or Illinoisan age, locally mantled by colluvium, forms terraces in southern and eastern Sumner County, and may yield moderate quantities of water. Wisconsinan terrace deposits and Recent alluvium along the major streams yield large quantities of water. Colluvium and dune sand are unimportant as sources of water but may facilitate recharge. Maps of Sumner County included in this report show the outcrop areas of the formations, geologic cross sections, the shape and slope of the water table, the locations of wells and test holes for which records are given, and the distribution of chloride in water samples. The ground-water reservoir is recharged principally from rain and snow that fall within the county, by percolation from streams and other surface bodies of water, and by underflow from adjacent areas. Water is discharged from the ground-water reservoir by seepage into streams, by transpiration and evaporation, by movement into adjacent areas, and by wells. Water is pumped from wells for domestic, stock, municipal, industrial, and irrigation use. Irrigation from wells is most extensive in the valley of Arkansas River, in which area further development is most probable. Chemical analyses of samples of water from Sumner County indicate that the quality varies greatly from place to place. Sulfate is common in water from the Wellington Formation and Ninnescah Shale. Water from Pleistocene deposits is generally suitable for most uses except in local areas where it contains excessive chloride.

Kansas Geological Survey Bulletin↗
USGS2024

Reducing wastewater nitrogen loading by >90% with carbon-amended septic systems: A field demonstration in Barnstable (Cape Cod), Massachusetts

Onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS) are a major source of excess nutrients and co-pollutants in watersheds across the United States. In Barnstable County (Cape Cod), Massachusetts, effluent from septic systems and cesspools contributes approximately 80% of the controllable reactive nitrogen (N) load to numerous impaired estuaries and degrades water quality in the region's sole source aquifer, streams and ponds. In unsewered areas, wastewater N loads could be reduced substantially by Innovative/Alternative (I/A) septic systems designed for enhanced removal. Use, however, has been partly limited by the availability of high performing, cost effective options, while conventional septic systems continue to be installed in watersheds with well documented N impairments. This paper describes the strategic replacement of residential OWTS with two I/A models that incorporate woodchip bioreactors to enhance N removal. Systems were installed at 14 neighboring homes in Barnstable, MA, and monitored for field performance. Influent and effluent were sampled monthly and analyzed for N and phosphorus (P), among other water quality indicators. Flow to each system was continuously metered to estimate nutrient loads. Results from the first 25 months of monitoring for 13 systems with at least a full year of data are presented in terms of 1) reductions in nutrient concentrations and mass loads and 2) reliability of the systems for meeting a performance goal of total N (TN) < 10 mg/L. Discussion supports consideration of where and how these technologies may be successfully used to manage excess N in sensitive watersheds.

Massachusetts↗
USGS1982

Mineral resource potential of the Granite Chief Wilderness Study Area, Placer County, California

A mineral resource survey of the Granite Chief Wilderness Study Area in the Tahoe National Forest and Lake Tahoe Management Area was conducted between 1979 and 1981. The mineral resource potential of the area was evaluated from geologic and geochemical studies by the U.S. Geological Survey, and from the examination of existing published and unpublished records of mining prospects and field examination of prospects, mineralized rocks, and placer deposits by the U.S. Bureau of Mines. These investigations indicate that the study area has a low potential for mineral resources. Analyses of samples taken from prospect pits, altered outcrops, and stream-sediment samples indicate no minable quantities of precious or base metals. Placer deposits are too small and too low in grade to be considered a resource. Substantial deposits of sand, gravel, and glacial till suitable for construction materials occur within the area, but their inaccessibility and remoteness from major markets preclude their being classified as a resource. No potential for oil, gas, coal, or geothermal resources was identified.

California↗
USGS2015

Decomposition of sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus carcasses: temperature effects, nutrient dynamics, and implications for stream food webs

Anadromous fishes serve as vectors of marine-derived nutrients into freshwaters that are incorporated into aquatic and terrestrial food webs. Pacific salmonines Oncorhynchus spp. exemplify the importance of migratory fish as links between marine and freshwater systems; however, little attention has been given to sea lamprey ( Petromyzon marinus Linnaeus, 1758) in Atlantic coastal systems. A first step to understanding the role of sea lamprey in freshwater food webs is to characterize the composition and rate of nutrient inputs. We conducted laboratory and field studies characterizing the elemental composition and the decay rates and subsequent water enriching effects of sea lamprey carcasses. Proximate tissue analysis demonstrated lamprey carcass nitrogen:phosphorus ratios of 20.2:1 (±1.18 SE). In the laboratory, carcass decay resulted in liberation of phosphorus within 1 week and nitrogen within 3 weeks. Nutrient liberation was accelerated at higher temperatures. In a natural stream, carcass decomposition resulted in an exponential decline in biomass, and after 24 days, the proportion of initial biomass remaining was 27% (±3.0% SE). We provide quantitative results as to the temporal dynamics of sea lamprey carcass decomposition and subsequent nutrient liberation. These nutrient subsidies may arrive at a critical time to maximize enrichment of stream food webs.

Hydrobiologia↗
USGS2013

Monitoring sea lamprey pheromones and their degradation using rapid stream-side extraction coupled with UPLC-MS/MS

Pheromones guide adult sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) to suitable spawning streams and mates, and therefore, when quantified, can be used to assess population size and guide management. Here, we present an efficient sample preparation method where 100 mL of river water was spiked with deuterated pheromone as an internal standard and underwent rapid field-based SPE and elution in the field. The combination of field extraction with laboratory UPLC-MS/MS reduced the sample consumption from 1 to 0.1 L, decreased the sample process time from more than 1 h to 10 min, and increased the precision and accuracy. The sensitivity was improved more than one order of magnitude compared with the previous method. The influences of experimental conditions were assessed to optimize the separation and peak shapes. The analytical method has been validated by studies of stability, selectivity, precision, and linearity and by the determination of the limits of detection and quantification. The method was used to quantify pheromone concentration from five streams tributary to Lake Ontario and to estimate that the environmental half-life of 3kPZS is about 26 h.

Journal of Separation Science↗