Geology Reports⌕ Search

SEARCH · Geology Reports

Results for “Hydrological Data”

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 1,117 records · Page 62Linked to original sources
USGS1995

Hydrologic and water-quality data for the lower Bradley River, Alaska, March 1993 to April 1994

A dam constructed at the outlet of Bradley Lake near Homer, Alaska has blocked natural flows to the lower Bradley River. To protect salmon egg incubation habitat during the period November 2 to April 30, a fish-water bypass was incorporated into the design of the dam to ensure a minimum discharge of 40 cubic feet per second in the lower river. This minimum flow determination was based on an open-water instream flow study that did not take into account effects of ice formation. A study was begun in March 1993 to determine winter flow conditions in the lower Bradley River. As a part of this study, data were collected at sites in the lower Bradley River to measure discharge, wetted perimeter, cross-sectional area, water depth, flow velocity, and specific conductance, as well as temperature and dissolved oxygen from both surface water and intragravel water. Discharge and specific conduc- tance in the Middle Fork Bradley River below North Fork Bradley River were also measured. This report presents data collected between March 1993 and April 1994.

Alaska↗
USGS1997

Hydrologic and water-quality data, Guanella Pass area, Colorado, water year 1995

Water quality of streams and lakes in the Guanella Pass area could be affected by the proposed reconstruction of the existing road through the area. During water year 1995 (October 1, 1994, to September 30, 1995), data were collected that provide reconnaissance information about thehydrology, water quality, sediment transport, biology, and bulk atmospheric-deposition in the Guanella Pass study area. Data were collected at 5 stream monitoring stations, 23 synoptic-stream sites, 11 road-runoff sites, 8 ground-water sites, 4 lake/reservoir sites, 2 snow-precipitation sites, 11 biological sampling sites, and 12 bulk atmospheric- deposition sites.

Open-File Report↗
USGS1998

Hydrologic and water-quality data for the lower Bradley River, Alaska, November through April 1995-98

A dam constructed at the outlet of Bradley Lake near Homer, Alaska has blocked natural flows to the lower Bradley River. To protect salmon egg incubation habitat during the period of November 2 to April 30, a fish-water bypass was incorporated into the design of the dam to ensure a minimum discharge of 40 cubic feet per second in the lower river. This minimum flow determination was based on an open-water instream flow study that did not take into account effects of ice formation. A study was begun in March 1993 to determine winter flow conditions in the lower Bradley River. As a part of this study, data were collected at sites in the lower Bradley River to measure discharge, wetted perimeter, water depth, flow velocity, and specific conductance, as well as temperature and dissolved oxygen from both surface water and intragravel water. This report presents data collected between November 1995 and April 1998.

Open-File Report↗
USGS1998

Hydrologic and water-quality data from Mountain Island Lake, North Carolina, 1994-97

Continuous-record water-level gages were established at three sites on Mountain Island Lake and one site downstream from Mountain Island Dam. The water level of Mountain Island Lake is controlled by Duke Power Company releases at Cowans Ford Dam (upstream) and Mountain Island Dam (downstream). Water levels on Mountain Island Lake measured just downstream from Cowans Ford Dam fluctuated 11.15 feet during the study. Water levels just upstream from the Mountain Island Lake forebay fluctuated 6.72 feet during the study. About 3 miles downstream from Mountain Island Dam, water levels fluctuated 5.31 feet. Sampling locations included 14 sites in Mountain Island Lake, plus one downstream river site. At three sites, automated instruments recorded water temperature, dissolved-oxygen concentration, and specific conductance at 15-minute intervals throughout the study. Water temperatures recorded continuously during the study ranged from 4.2 to 35.2 degrees Celsius, and dissolved-oxygen concentrations ranged from 2.1 to 11.8 milligrams per liter. Dissolved-oxygen concentrations generally were inversely related to water temperature, with lowest dissolved-oxygen concentrations typically recorded in the summer. Specific conductance values recorded continuously during the study ranged from 33 to 89 microsiemens per centimeter; however, mean monthly values were fairly consistent throughout the study at all sites (50 to 61 microsiemens per centimeter). In addition, vertical profiles of water temperature, dissolved-oxygen concentration, specific conductance, and pH were measured at all sampling locations during 24 site visits. Water-quality constituent concentrations were determined for seven reservoir sites and the downstream river site during 17 sampling trips. Water-quality samples were routinely analyzed for biochemical oxygen demand, fecal coliform bacteria, hardness, alkalinity, total and volatile suspended solids, nutrients, total organic carbon, chlorophyll, iron, calcium, and magnesium; the samples were analyzed less frequently for trace metals, volatile organic compounds, semivolatile organic compounds, and pesticides. Maximum dissolved nitrite plus nitrate concentrations determined during the study were 0.348 milligram per liter in the mainstem sites and 2.77 milligrams per liter in the coves. Maximum total phosphorus concentrations were 0.143 milligram per liter in the mainstem sites and 0.600 milligram per liter in the coves. Fecal coliform and chlorophyll a concentrations were less than or equal to 160 colonies per 100 milliliters and 13 micrograms per liter, respectively, in all samples. Trace metals detected in at least one sample included arsenic, chromium, copper, lead, nickel, zinc, and antimony. Concentrations of all trace metals (except zinc) were 5.0 micrograms per liter or less; the maximum zinc concentration was 80 micrograms per liter. One set of bottom material samples was collected from Gar Creek and McDowell Creek for chemical analysis and analyzed for nutrients, trace metals, organochlorine pesticides, and semivolatile organic compounds. The only organochlorine pesticide identified in either sample was p,p'-DDE at an estimated concentration of 0.8 microgram per kilogram. Twenty semivolatile organic compounds, mainly polyaromatic hydrocarbons and plasticizers, were identified.

North Carolina↗
USGS2011

Estimated loads of suspended sediment and selected trace elements transported through the Clark Fork basin, Montana, in selected periods before and after the breach of Milltown Dam (water years 1985-2009)

Milltown Reservoir is a National Priorities List Superfund site in the upper Clark Fork basin of western Montana where sediments enriched in trace elements from historical mining and ore processing have been deposited since the completion of Milltown Dam in 1908. Milltown Dam was breached on March 28, 2008, as part of Superfund remediation activities to remove the dam and excavate contaminated sediment that had accumulated in Milltown Reservoir. In preparation for the breach of Milltown Dam, permanent drawdown of Milltown Reservoir began on June 1, 2006, and lowered the water-surface elevation by about 10 to 12 feet. After the breach of Milltown Dam, the water-surface elevation was lowered an additional 17 feet. Hydrologic data-collection activities were conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to estimate loads of suspended sediment and trace elements transported through the Clark Fork basin before and after the breach of Milltown Dam. This report presents selected results of the data-collection activities.

Scientific Investigations Report↗
USGS2000

Water-quality assessment of part of the Upper Mississippi River Basin, Minnesota and Wisconsin - Ground-water quality in an agricultural area of Sherburne County, Minnesota, 1998

The quality of shallow ground water in a 75-mi 2 agricultural area of the Anoka Sand Plain aquifer in central Minnesota is described as part of the National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program - a national-scale assessment of the quality of water resources within large study units in various hydrologic settings. Data were collected during 1998 from 29 wells completed in the aquifer, which predominantly consists of surficial glacial sand and gravel sediments. The depth below land surface to the water table ranged from 3.3 to 44 ft (median of 15.5 ft). Ground water was of the calciummagnesium bicarbonate type. Ionic constituents also included sodium, sulfate, and chloride. Iron and manganese concentrations generally were not greater than their U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels (300 and 50 ug/L, respectively). About 38 percent of 29 samples had nitrate-N (nitrogen) concentrations greater than the USEPA Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 10 mg/L. About 72 percent of the samples had nitrate-N concentrations greater than the presumed natural background level of 3 mg/L. The maximum nitrate-N concentration was 47 mg/L. The median nitrate-N concentration of 7.1 mg/L, although not greater than the MCL, exceeded the natural background level. Nitrogen isotope ratios indicate that the sources of nitrate were commercial fertilizer and soil organic matter. Concentrations of total dissolved phosphorus and orthophosphate were generally less than 1 mg/L. About 86 percent of 29 samples had detectable concentrations of at least 1 of 13 pesticide compounds. The samples were analyzed for 83 pesticide compounds. Frequencies of detection of these compounds were: deethylatrazine-79 percent; atrazine-76 percent; metolachlor-41 percent; metribuzin and bentazon-21 percent; prometon-10 percent; tebuthiuron-7 percent; and alachlor, 2,6-diethylaniline, dicamba, dinoseb, malathion, and simazine-3 percent. The detected pesticide compounds had concentrations less than 1 ug/L. Detected compounds with USEPA MCLs (atrazine, bentazon, alachlor, dinoseb, and simazine) had concentrations less than their respective MCLs. About 50 percent of 20 samples analyzed for 86 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) had detectable concentrations of at least 1 of 7 VOCs. Frequencies of detection of these 7 VOCs were: 1,2,3,4-tetramethylbenzene-40 percent; and trichlorofluoromethane, styrene, chloromethane, benzene, methylbenzene, and trichloromethane-5 percent. The detected VOCs had concentrations less than 0.120 ug/L. Detected VOCs with USEPA MCLs - styrene, benzene, methylbenzene, and trichloromethane - were present at concentrations 2-4 orders of magnitude less than their respective MCLs. Tritium concentrations had a range of from 7.5 to 18.8 tritium units (TUs) and a median of 12.5 TUs. These concentrations indicate that the ground water predominantly recharged after testing of thermonuclear weapons during the early 1950's.

Minnesota↗
USGS1995

Preliminary assessment of injection, storage, and recovery of freshwater in the lower Hawthorn aquifer, Cape Coral, Florida

A preliminary assessment of subsurface injection, storage and recovery of fresh canal water was made in the naturally brackish lower Hawthorn aquifer in Cape Coral, southwestern Florida. A digital modeling approach was used for this preliminary assessment, incorporating available data on hydrologic conditions, aquifer properties, and water quality to simulate density-dependent ground-water flow and advective-dispersive transport of a conservative ground-water solute (chloride ion). A baseline simulation was used as reference to compare the effects of changing various operational factors on the recovery efficiency. A recovery efficiency of 64 percent was estimated for the baseline simulation. Based on the model, the recovery efficiency increases if the injection rate and recovery rates are increased and if the ratio of recovery rate to injection rate is increased. Recovery efficiency decreases if the amount of water injected is increased; slightly decreases if the storage time is increased; is not changed significantly if the water is injected to a specific flow zone; increases with successive cycles of injection, storage, and recovery; and decreases if the chloride concentrations in either the injection water or native aquifer water are increased. In everal hypothetical tests, the recovery efficiency fluctuated between 22 and about 100 percent. Two successive cycles could bring the recovery efficiency from 60 to about 80 percent. Interlayer solute mass movement across the upper and lower boundaries seems to be the most important factor affecting the recovery efficiency. A sensitivity analysis was performed applying a technique in which the change in the various factors and the corresponding model responses are normalized so that meaningful comparisons among the responses could be made. The general results from the sensitivity analysis indicated that the permeabilities of the upper and lower flow zones were the most important factors that produced the greatest changes in the relative sensitivity of the recovery efficiency. Almost equally significant changes occurred in the relative sensitivity of the recovery efficiency when all porosity values of the upper and lower flow zones and the leaky confining units and the vertical anisotropy ratio were changed. The advective factors are the most important in the Cape Coral area according to the sensitivity analysis. However, the dispersivity values used in the model were extrapolated from studies conducted at the nearby Lee County Water Treatment Plant, and these values might not be representative of the actual dispersive characteristics of the lower Hawthorn aquifer in the Cape Coral area.

Florida↗
USGS2018

Assessing the impact of site-specific BMPs using a spatially explicit, field-scale SWAT model with edge-of-field and tile hydrology and water-quality data in the Eagle Creek watershed, Ohio

The Eagle Creek watershed, a small subbasin (125 km 2 ) within the Maumee River Basin, Ohio, was selected as a part of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) “Priority Watersheds” program to evaluate the effectiveness of agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) funded through GLRI at the field and watershed scales. The location and quantity of BMPs were obtained from the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service National Conservation Planning (NCP) database. A Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was built and calibrated for this predominantly agricultural Eagle Creek watershed, incorporating NCP BMPs and monitoring data at the watershed outlet, an edge-of-field (EOF), and tile monitoring sites. Input air temperature modifications were required to induce simulated tile flow to match monitoring data. Calibration heavily incorporated tile monitoring data to correctly proportion surface and subsurface flow, but calibration statistics were unsatisfactory at the EOF and tile monitoring sites. At the watershed outlet, satisfactory to very good calibration statistics were achieved over a 2-year calibration period, and satisfactory statistics were found in the 2-year validation period. SWAT fixes parameters controlling nutrients primarily at the watershed level; a refinement of these parameters at a smaller-scale could improve field-level calibration. Field-scale modeling results indicate that filter strips (FS) are the most effective single BMPs at reducing dissolved reactive phosphorus, and FS typically decreased sediment and nutrient yields when added to any other BMP or BMP combination. Cover crops were the most effective single, in-field practice by reducing nutrient loads over winter months. Watershed-scale results indicate BMPs can reduce sediment and nutrients, but reductions due to NCP BMPs in the Eagle Creek watershed for all water-quality constituents were less than 10%. Hypothetical scenarios simulated with increased BMP acreages indicate larger investments of the appropriate BMP or BMP combination can decrease watershed level loads.

Ohio↗
USGS2003

A proposed international watershed research network

An “International Watershed Research Network” is to be an initial project of the Sino-U. S. Centers for Soil and Water Conservation and Environmental Protection. The Network will provide a fundamental database for research personnel of the Centers, as well as of the global research community, and is viewed as an important resource for their successful operation. Efforts are under way to (a) identify and select candidate watersheds, (b) develop standards and protocols for data collection and dissemination, and (c) specify other data sources on erosion, sediment transport, hydrology, and ancillary information of probable interest and use to participants of the Centers. The initial focus of the Network will be on water-deficient areas. Candidate watersheds for the Network are yet to be determined although likely selections include the Ansai Research Station, northern China, and the Walnut Gulch Experimental Watershed, Arizona, USA. The Network is to be patterned after the Vigil Network, an open-ended group of global sites and small drainage basins for which Internet-accessible geomorphic, hydrologic, and biological data are periodically collected or updated. Some types of data, using similar instruments and observation methods, will be collected at all watersheds selected for the Network. Other data from the watersheds that may reflect individual watershed characteristics and research objectives will be collected as well.

Conference Paper↗