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Results for “Hydrologic Unit”

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At least 1,171 records · Page 65Linked to original sources

USGS1964

Specific yield - laboratory experiments showing the effect of time on column drainage

Open-File Report↗

USGS2002

Watershed models for decision support in the Yakima River basin, Washington

A Decision Support System (DSS) is being developed by the U.S. Geological Survey and the Bureau of Reclamation as part of a long-term project, the Watershed and River Systems Management Program. The goal of the program is to apply the DSS to U.S. Bureau of Reclamation projects in the western United States. The DSS was applied to the Reclamation's Yakima Project in the Yakima River Basin in eastern Washington. An important component of the DSS is the physical hydrology modeling. For the application to the Yakima River Basin, the physical hydrology component consisted of constructing four watershed models using the U.S. Geological Survey's Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System within the Modular Modeling System. The implementation of these models is described. To facilitate calibration of the models, mean annual streamflow also was estimated for ungaged subbasins. The models were calibrated for water years 1950-94 and tested for water years 1995-98. The integration of the models in the DSS for real-time water-management operations using an interface termed the Object User Interface is also described. The models were incorporated in the DSS for use in long-term to short-term planning and have been used in a real-time operational mode since water year 1999.

Open-File Report↗

USGS1986

Hydrologic data from Roan Creek and Parachute Creek basins, northwestern Colorado

Hydrologic data obtained from a comprehensive study of the Roan Creek and Parachute Creek basins are presented in this report. The purpose of this study was to inventory and appraise the predevelopment hydrologic conditions in these basins. The study was conducted from October 1975 through September 1981 and was one of several studies of oil-shale areas in the Western United States conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey. Data collected prior to October 1975 are presented, and references to other reports covering this area are given. Data collected include information from 58 wells, 286 springs, 14 streamflow-gaging stations and 24 miscellaneous surface water sites. Surface-water discharge, chemical-quality, and sediment data from streamflow-gaging stations in the basin are published in other reports listed in the references. (USGS)

Open-File Report↗

USGS2009

Hydrogeology of the Lake Tahoe Basin, California and Nevada

Ground water in the Lake Tahoe basin is the primary source of domestic and municipal water supply and an important source of inflow to Lake Tahoe. Over the past 30-40 years, Federal, State, and local agencies, and research institutions have collected hydrologic data to quantify the ground-water resources in the Lake Tahoe basin. These data are dispersed among the various agencies and institutions that collected the data and generally are not available in a format suitable for basin-wide assessments. To successfully and efficiently manage the ground-water resources throughout the Lake Tahoe basin, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) compiled and evaluated the pertinent geologic, geophysical, and hydrologic data, and built a geodatabase incorporating the consolidated and standardized data for the Lake Tahoe basin that is relevant for examining the extent and characteristics of the hydrogeologic units that comprise the aquifers.

California, Nevada↗

USGS1984

Conceptual hydrologic model of flow in the unsaturated zone, Yucca Mountain, Nevada

The unsaturated volcanic tuffs beneath Yucca Mountain, Nevada, are being evaluated as a host rock for a potential repository for high-level radioactive waste. A conceptual hydrologic model is proposed to describe the flow of fluids through these rocks. Thickness of the unsaturated zone is about 500 to 750 meters and consists of three welded units interlayered with two nonwelded units. Compared to nonwelded units, welded units have low matrix porosities and permeabilities, high fracture densities, and high bulk hydraulic conductivities. The principal repository area is bounded by normal fault zones. Of the average annual precipitation of 150 millimeters per year, 0.5 to 4.5 millimeters per year becomes net infiltration. Percolation through the matrix of the welded units is principally vertical and is less than 1 millimeter per year. Percolation through nonwelded units occurs both vertically and laterally and has variable rates (0.1 to 100 millimeters per year). Fracture flow is predominant in the uppermost welded unit during intense pulses of infiltration, but is insignificant in the welded unit that forms the potential host rock. Lateral flow in the upper nonwelded unit, enhanced by existence of a capillary barrier, probably is the factor controlling the low fluxes in the host rock and relatively high fluxes in the structural features. (USGS)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗

USGS1986

Geology of the surficial aquifer system, Dade County, Florida: Lithologic logs

The geologic framework of the surficial aquifer system in Dade County, Florida, was investigated as part of a longterm study by the USGS in cooperation with the South Florida Water Management District, to describe the geology, hydrologic characteristics, and groundwater quality of the surficial aquifer system. Thirty-three test wells were drilled completely through the surficial aquifer system and into the underlying, relatively impermeable units of the Tamiami and Hawthorn Formations. Detailed lithologic logs were made from microscopic examination of rock cuttings and cores obtained from these wells. The logs were used to prepare geologic sections that show the lithologic variations, thickness of the lithologic units, and different geologic formations that comprise the aquifers system.

Florida↗

USGS1965

Specific yield - laboratory experiments showing the effect of time on column drainage

The increasing use of ground water from many major aquifers in the United States has required a more thorough understanding of gravity drainage, or specific yield. This report describes one phase of specific yield research by the U.S. Geological Survey's Hydrologic Laboratory in cooperation with the California Department of Water Resources. An earlier phase of the research concentrated on the final distribution of moisture retained after drainage of saturated columns of porous media. This report presents the phase that concentrated on the distribution of moisture retained in similar columns after drainage for various periods of time. Five columns, about 4 cm in diameter by 170 cm long, were packed with homogenous sand of very fine, medium, and coarse sizes, and one column was packed with alternating layers of coarse and medium sand. The very fine materials were more uniform in size range than were the medium materials. As the saturated columns drained, tensiometers installed throughout the length recorded changes in moisture tension. The relation of tension to moisture content, determined for each of the materials, was then used to convert the tension readings to moisture content. Data were then available on the distribution of retained moisture for different periods of drainage from 1 to 148 hours. Data also are presented on the final distribution of moisture content by weight and volume and on the degree of saturation. The final zone of capillary saturation was approximately 12 cm for coarse sand, 13 cm for medium sand, and 52 cm for very fine sand. The data showed these zones were 92 to 100 percent saturated. Most of the outflow from the columns occurred in the earlier hours of drainage--90 percent in 1 hour for the coarse materials, 50 percent for the medium, and 60 percent for the very fine. Although the largest percentage of the specific yield was reached during the early hours of drainage, this study amply demonstrates that a very long time would be required to reach drainage equilibrium. In the layered columns the middle (medium sand) layer functioned as a hanging water column accelerating the drainage of the overlying coarse-sand layer. After the middle layer started to drain, the moisture distribution as retained in all three layers showed trends similar to that obtained when the same materials were tested in homogenous columns.

Water Supply Paper↗

USGS1988

Calibration of water-velocity meters

The U.S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior, as part of its responsibility to appraise the quantity of water resources in the United States, maintains facilities for the calibration of water-velocity meters at the Gulf Coast Hydroscience Center's Hydraulic Laboratory Facility, NSTL, Mississippi. These meters are used in hydrologic studies by the Geological Survey, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Department of Energy, state agencies, universities, and others in the public and private sector. This paper describes calibration facilities, types of water-velocity meters calibrated, and calibration standards, methods and results.

Conference Paper↗

USGS2021

Model structural uncertainty quantification and hydrogeophysical data integration using airborne electromagnetic data

A irborne electromagnetic (AEM) data are used to estimate large - scale model structural geometry, i.e. the spatial distribution of different lit hological units based on assumed or estimated resistivity - lithology relationships, and the uncertainty in those structures given imperfect measurements. Geophysically derived estimates of model structural uncertainty are then combined with hydrologic obse rvations to assess the impact of model structural error on hydrologic calibration and prediction errors. Using a synthetic numerical model, we describe a sequential hydrogeophysical approach that: (1) uses Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo (McMC) methods to produce a robust estimate of uncertainty in electrical resistivity parameter s , (2) combines geophysical parameter uncertainty estimates with borehole observations of lithology to produce probabilistic estimates of model structural uncertainty over the e ntire AEM survey area using geostatistical sequential indicator simulation algorithms, and (3) uses model structural estimates along with hydrologic observations to quantify both hydrologic parameter and prediction uncertainty using a second McMC sampling algorithm. Results of simulations will be presented that illustrate the complete workflow from geophysical parameter uncertainty analysis to the impact of model structural uncertainty on hydrologic parameter estimates.

Conference Paper↗

USGS1983

Hydrology of Area 61, Northern Great Plains and Rocky Mountain Coal Provinces, Colorado and New Mexico

Area 61 is located on the Colorado-New Mexico boundary in Huerfano and Las Animas Counties, Colorado, and Colfax County, New Mexico, and includes the Raton Mesa coal region. The 5 ,900-square-mile area is an asymmetrical structural trough bounded by the Rocky Mountains on the west and the Great Plains on the east. The area is drained by the Huerfano, Apishapa, Purgatoire, and Canadian Rivers (and their tributaries), all tributary to the Arkansas River. The principal coal-bearing formations are the Vermejo Formation of Late Cretaceous age and the Raton Formation of Late Cretaceous and Paleocene age. Much of the coal in the area is of coking quality, important to the metallurgical industry. Topographic relief in the area is greater than 8,700 feet, and this influences the climate which in turn affects the runoff pattern of area streams. Summer thunderstorms often result in flash floods. Virtually all geologic units in the region yield water. Depth to ground water ranges from land surface to 400 feet. Surface and ground water in the area contain mostly bicarbonate and sulfate ions; locally in the ground water, chloride ions predominate. Potential hydrologic problems associated with surface coal mining in the area are water-quality degradation, water-table decline, and increased erosion and sedimentation.

Open-File Report↗

USGS1983

Hydrology of Area 61, Northern Great Plains and Rocky Mountain Coal Provinces, Colorado and New Mexico

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗

USGS2012

Influence of permafrost distribution on groundwater flow in the context of climate-driven permafrost thaw: Example from Yukon Flats Basin, Alaska, United States

Understanding the role of permafrost in controlling groundwater flow paths and fluxes is central in studies aimed at assessing potential climate change impacts on vegetation, species habitat, biogeochemical cycling, and biodiversity. Recent field studies in interior Alaska show evidence of hydrologic changes hypothesized to result from permafrost degradation. This study assesses the hydrologic control exerted by permafrost, elucidates modes of regional groundwater flow for various spatial permafrost patterns, and evaluates potential hydrologic consequences of permafrost degradation. The Yukon Flats Basin (YFB), a large (118,340 km 2 ) subbasin within the Yukon River Basin, provides the basis for this investigation. Model simulations that represent an assumed permafrost thaw sequence reveal the following trends with decreasing permafrost coverage: (1) increased groundwater discharge to rivers, consistent with historical trends in base flow observations in the Yukon River Basin, (2) potential for increased overall groundwater flux, (3) increased spatial extent of groundwater discharge in lowlands, and (4) decreased proportion of suprapermafrost (shallow) groundwater contribution to total base flow. These trends directly affect the chemical composition and residence time of riverine exports, the state of groundwater-influenced lakes and wetlands, seasonal river-ice thickness, and stream temperatures. Presently, the YFB is coarsely mapped as spanning the continuous-discontinuous permafrost transition that model analysis shows to be a critical threshold; thus, the YFB may be on the verge of major hydrologic change should the current permafrost extent decrease. This possibility underscores the need for improved characterization of permafrost and other hydrogeologic information in the region via geophysical techniques, remote sensing, and ground-based observations.

Alaska↗

USGS1988

Hydrogeology and preliminary assessment of regional flow in the upper Cretaceous and adjacent aquifers in the northern Mississippi embayment

On a regional scale, the ground-water system of the northern Mississippi embayment is composed of a series of nonindurated elastic sediments that overlie a thick sequence of Paleozoic carbonates, sandstones, and shales. Precambrian crystalline rocks form both the structural and the hydrogeologic basement throughout the northern embayment. The units that comprise the hydrogeologic framework of this study are the alluvium-lower Wilcox aquifer, the Midway confining unit, the Upper Cretaceous aquifer, the Cretaceous-Paleozoic confining unit, and the Ozark-St. Francois aquifer. The Upper Cretaceous aquifer of Late Cretaceous age is the primary focus of this investigation; the study is part of the Gulf Coast Regional Aquifer-System Analysis. A ground-water flow model was developed as the main tool to refine the concepts of deep regional flow in the northern Mississippi embayment. This four layer finite-difference model enabled testing of alternative boundary concepts and provided a refined definition of the hydrologic budget of the deep aquifers. The alluvium-lower Wilcox aquifer, the Upper Cretaceous aquifer, and the Ozark-St.Francois aquifer form layers 2 through 4, respectively. Layer 1 is an inactive layer of constant heads representing shallow water levels, which are a major control on recharge to and discharge from the regional system. A matrix of leakance values simulates each confining unit, allowing vertical interchange of water between different aquifers. The model was calibrated to 1980 conditions by using the assumption that 1980 was near steady-state conditions; it was calibrated to simulate observed heads within acceptable limits. For this preliminary model, calculated heads were found to be most sensitive to pumping, and least sensitive to the leakance. By using all available water-quality and water-level data, alternative boundary conditions were tested by comparing model simulated heads to observed heads. Simulation indicated that the major discharge zone for the Upper Cretaceous aquifer occurred along a narrow area coincident with the boundary of a buried rift. The results of the early modeling effort also contribute to a better understanding of the regional hydrologic budget, indicating that upward leakage from the Ozark-St. Francois aquifer to the Upper Cretaceous aquifer is about 43 cubic feet per second, with about 30 cubic feet per second occuring west of the western margin of the embayment. Calculations suggest upward recharge of about 68 cubic feet per second occurs to the lower Wilcox-alluvium aquifer from the Upper Cretaceous aquifer. Simulation results also indicate that the Midway is an effective regional confining unit.

northern Mississippi embayment↗

USGS2017

Case studies of riparian and watershed restoration in the southwestern United States—Principles, challenges, and successes

Globally, rivers and streams are highly altered by impoundments, diversions, and stream channelization associated with agricultural and water delivery needs. Climate change imposes additional challenges by further reducing discharge, introducing variability in seasonal precipitation patterns, and increasing temperatures. Collectively, these changes in a river or stream’s annual hydrology affects surface and groundwater dynamics, fluvial processes, and the linked aquatic and riparian responses, particularly in arid regions. Recognizing the inherent ecosystem services that riparian and aquatic habitats provide, society increasingly supports restoring the functionality of riparian and aquatic ecosystems. Given the wide range in types and scales of riparian impacts, approaches to riparian restoration can range from tactical, short-term, and site-specific efforts to strategic projects and long-term collaborations best pursued at the watershed scale. In the spirit of sharing information, the U.S. Geological Survey’s Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center convened a workshop June 23-25, 2015, in Flagstaff, Ariz. for practitioners in restoration science to share general principles, successful restoration practices, and discuss the challenges that face those practicing riparian restoration in the southwestern United States. Presenters from the Colorado River and the Rio Grande basins, offered their perspectives and experiences in restoration at the local, reach and watershed scale. Outcomes of the workshop include this Proceedings volume, which is composed of extended abstracts of most of the presentations given at the workshop, and recommendations or information needs identified by participants. The organization of the Proceedings follows a general progression from local scale restoration to river and watershed scale approaches, and finishes with restoration assessments and monitoring.

Open-File Report↗

USGS1995

Environmental Setting and Implications on Water Quality, Upper Colorado River Basin, Colorado and Utah

The Upper Colorado River Basin in Colorado and Utah is 1 of 60 study units selected for water-quality assessment as part of the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water-Quality Assessment program, which began full implementation in 1991. Understanding the environmental setting of the Upper Colorado River Basin study unit is important in evaluating water-quality issues in the basin. Natural and human factors that affect water quality in the basin are presented, including an overview of the physiography, climatic conditions, general geology and soils, ecoregions, population, land use, water management and use, hydrologic characteristics, and to the extent possible aquatic biology. These factors have substantial implications on water-quality conditions in the basin. For example, high concentrations of dissolved solids and selenium are present in the natural background water conditions of surface and ground water in parts ofthe basin. In addition, mining, urban, and agricultural land and water uses result in the presence of certain constituents in the surface and ground water of the basin that can detrimentally affect water quality. The environmental setting of the study unit provides a framework of the basin characteristics, which is important in the design of integrated studies of surface water, ground water, and biology.

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗

USGS2005

Hydrologic changes in urban streams and their ecological significance

Urban development modifies the production and delivery of runoff to streams and the resulting rate, volume, and timing of streamflow. Given that streamflow demonstrably influences the structure and composition of lotic communities, we have identified four hydrologic changes resulting from urban development that are potentially significant to stream ecosystems: increased frequency of high flows, redistribution of water from base flow to storm flow, increased daily variation in streamflow, and reduction in low flow. Previous investigations of streamflow patterns and biological assemblages provide a scale of ecological significance for each type of streamflow pattern. The scales establish the magnitude of changes in streamflow patterns that could be expected to produce biological responses in streams. Long-term streamflow records from eight streams in urbanizing areas of the United States and five additional reference streams, where land use has been relatively stable, were analyzed to assess if streamflow patterns were modified by urban development to an extent that a biological response could be expected and whether climate patterns could account for equivalent hydrologic variation in the reference streams. Changes in each type of streamflow pattern were evident in some but not all of the urban streams and were nearly absent in the reference streams. Given these results, hydrologic changes are likely significant to urban stream ecosystems, but the significance depends on the stream's physiographic context and spatial and temporal patterns of urban development. In urban streams with substantially altered hydrology, short-term goals for urban stream rehabilitation may be limited because of the difficulty and expense of restoring hydrologic processes in an urban landscape. The ecological benefits of improving physical habitat and water quality may be tempered by persistent effects of altered streamflow. In the end, the hydrologic effects of urban development must be addressed for restoration of urban streams. ?? 2005 by the American Fisheries Society.

American Fisheries Society Symposium↗

USGS2011

Statistical Comparisons of watershed scale response to climate change in selected basins across the United States

In an earlier global climate-change study, air temperature and precipitation data for the entire twenty-first century simulated from five general circulation models were used as input to precalibrated watershed models for 14 selected basins across the United States. Simulated daily streamflow and energy output from the watershed models were used to compute a range of statistics. With a side-by-side comparison of the statistical analyses for the 14 basins, regional climatic and hydrologic trends over the twenty-first century could be qualitatively identified. Low-flow statistics (95% exceedance, 7-day mean annual minimum, and summer mean monthly streamflow) decreased for almost all basins. Annual maximum daily streamflow also decreased in all the basins, except for all four basins in California and the Pacific Northwest. An analysis of the supply of available energy and water for the basins indicated that ratios of evaporation to precipitation and potential evapotranspiration to precipitation for most of the basins will increase. Probability density functions (PDFs) were developed to assess the uncertainty and multimodality in the impact of climate change on mean annual streamflow variability. Kolmogorov?Smirnov tests showed significant differences between the beginning and ending twenty-first-century PDFs for most of the basins, with the exception of four basins that are located in the western United States. Almost none of the basin PDFs were normally distributed, and two basins in the upper Midwest had PDFs that were extremely dispersed and skewed.

Earth Interactions↗

USGS2015

Soil greenhouse gas emissions and carbon budgeting in a short-hydroperiod floodplain wetland

Understanding the controls on floodplain carbon (C) cycling is important for assessing greenhouse gas emissions and the potential for C sequestration in river-floodplain ecosystems. We hypothesized that greater hydrologic connectivity would increase C inputs to floodplains that would not only stimulate soil C gas emissions but also sequester more C in soils. In an urban Piedmont river (151 km 2 watershed) with a floodplain that is dry most of the year, we quantified soil CO 2 , CH 4 , and N 2 O net emissions along gradients of floodplain hydrologic connectivity, identified controls on soil aerobic and anaerobic respiration, and developed a floodplain soil C budget. Sites were chosen along a longitudinal river gradient and across lateral floodplain geomorphic units (levee, backswamp, and toe slope). CO 2 emissions decreased downstream in backswamps and toe slopes and were high on the levees. CH 4 and N 2 O fluxes were near zero; however, CH 4 emissions were highest in the backswamp. Annual CO 2 emissions correlated negatively with soil water-filled pore space and positively with variables related to drier, coarser soil. Conversely, annual CH 4 emissions had the opposite pattern of CO 2 . Spatial variation in aerobic and anaerobic respiration was thus controlled by oxygen availability but was not related to C inputs from sedimentation or vegetation. The annual mean soil CO 2 emission rate was 1091 g C m −2  yr −1 , the net sedimentation rate was 111 g C m −2  yr −1 , and the vegetation production rate was 240 g C m −2  yr −1 , with a soil C balance (loss) of −338 g C m −2  yr −1 . This floodplain is losing C likely due to long-term drying from watershed urbanization.

Virginia↗