Geology Reports⌕ Search

SEARCH · Geology Reports

Results for “Acoustics”

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 1,459 records · Page 81Linked to original sources
USGS2017

Response of currents and water quality to changes in dam operations in Hoover Reservoir, Columbus, Ohio, August 24–28, 2015

Hoover Reservoir, an important drinking water supply for the City of Columbus, Ohio, has been the source of a series of taste and odor problems in treated drinking water during the past few years. These taste and odor problems were caused by the compounds geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol, which are thought to have been related to cyanobacteria blooms. In an effort to reduce the phosphorus available for cyanobacteria blooms at fall turnover, the City of Columbus began experimenting with the dam’s selective withdrawal system to remove excess phosphorus in the hypolimnion, which is released from bottom sediments during summer anoxic conditions. The U.S. Geological Survey completed two synoptic survey campaigns to assess distributions of water quality and water velocity in the lower part of Hoover Reservoir to provide information on the changes to reservoir dynamics caused by changing dam operations. One campaign (campaign 1) was done while water was being withdrawn from the reservoir through the dam’s middle gate and the other (campaign 2) while water was being withdrawn through the dam’s lower gate. Velocities were measured using an acoustic Doppler current profiler, and water-quality parameters were measured using an autonomous underwater vehicle equipped with water-quality sensors. Along with the water-quality and water-velocity data, meteorological, inflow and outflow discharges, and independent water-quality data were compiled to monitor changes in other parameters that affect reservoir behavior. Monthly nutrient data, collected by the City of Columbus, were also analyzed for trends in concentration during periods of expected stratification. Based on the results of the two campaigns, when compared to withdrawing water through the middle gate, withdrawing water through the lower gate seemed to increase shear-driven mixing across the thermocline, which resulted in an increase in the depth of the epilimnion throughout the lower part of Hoover Reservoir. The observations from this study, if repeatable and driven primarily by changes in gate operations, can inform nutrient management strategies for Hoover Reservoir. Increased mixing across the thermocline may potentially supply nutrients from the hypolimnion to algae in the epilimnion. Although operation of the lower gate has the potential to export nutrients from the hypolimnion (where the concentrations of nutrients have typically been higher during summer months) through two mechanisms (direct withdrawal and mixing into the epilimnion), supply of nutrients to the epilimnion through enhanced mixing could lead to a short-term increase in algal populations. Therefore, further study is recommended to (1) test the repeatability of the results of gate changes on water-quality distributions and circulation patterns in lower Hoover Reservoir, (2) identify the immediate effect of gate changes on nutrient concentrations in the water column, and (3) identify the best management practices to reduce the nutrient storage in the hypolimnion of Hoover Reservoir without increasing the potential for nutrient transport to the highly productive epilimnion.

Ohio↗
USGS2017

Physical characteristics of the lower San Joaquin River, California, in relation to white sturgeon spawning habitat, 2011–14

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service confirmed that white sturgeon ( Acipenser transmontanus ) recently spawned in the lower San Joaquin River, California. Decreases in the San Francisco Bay estuary white sturgeon population have led to an increased effort to understand their migration behavior and habitat preferences. The preferred spawning habitat of other white sturgeon (for example, those in the Columbia and Klamath Rivers) is thought to be areas that have high water velocity, deep pools, and coarse bed material. Coarse bed material (pebbles and cobbles), in particular, is important for the survival of white sturgeon eggs and larvae. Knowledge of the physical characteristics of the lower San Joaquin River can be used to preserve sturgeon spawning habitat and lead to management decisions that could help increase the San Francisco Bay estuary white sturgeon population. Between 2011 and 2014, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, assessed selected reaches and tributaries of the lower river in relation to sturgeon spawning habitat by (1) describing selected spawning reaches in terms of habitat-related physical characteristics (such as water depth and velocity, channel slope, and bed material) of the lower San Joaquin River between its confluences with the Stanislaus and Merced Rivers, (2) describing variations in these physical characteristics during wet and dry years, and (3) identifying potential reasons for these variations. The lower San Joaquin River was divided into five study reaches. Although data were collected from all study reaches, three subreaches where the USFWS collected viable eggs at multiple sites in 2011–12 from Orestimba Creek to Sturgeon Bend were of special interest. Water depth and velocity were measured using two different approaches—channel cross sections and longitudinal profiles—and data were collected using an acoustic Doppler current profiler. During the first year of data collection (water year 2011), runoff was greatest, and gaged streamflow, measured as discharge, peaked at 875 cubic meters per second in the lower San Joaquin River. Also during that year, water velocity was generally between 0.6 and 0.9 meters per second, and depth was typically between 2.5 and 4.5 meters, but water depth exceeded 6 meters in several pools. Water year 2011 was classified as a “ wet ” year. Later water years were classified as either “ dry ” (water year 2012) or “ critical ” (water years 2013 and 2014). During the drier years, water was shallower, and velocities were slower. The streambed aggraded in several areas during the study. At Sturgeon Bend, for example, which had the deepest pool measured in 2011 (maximum depth was 14 meters), about 8 meters of sediment was deposited by 2014. The bed of the lower San Joaquin River was predominately sand, except in areas downstream from the mouth of Del Puerto Creek. A large amount of sand, gravel, and cobble was deposited at the mouth of Del Puerto Creek, and in the 9.5 kilometers downstream from the mouth of Del Puerto Creek, we encountered several gravel bars and patches of gravel-size (8–64 millimeters) bed material. Del Puerto and Orestimba Creeks drain from the Coast Ranges on the west side of the river. Only small quantities of gravel-size bed material were observed in the reach downstream from Orestimba Creek, indicating Orestimba Creek does not deliver much coarse sediment to the lower San Joaquin River. Del Puerto Creek appeared to be the primary source of gravels suitable for white sturgeon spawning in the lower San Joaquin River, and thus, it is important for the long-term spawning success of sturgeon in the San Joaquin River.

California↗
USGS2018

One-meter topobathymetric digital elevation model for Majuro Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands, 1944 to 2016

Atoll and island coastal communities are highly exposed to sea-level rise, tsunamis, storm surges, rogue waves, king tides, and the occasional combination of multiple factors, such as high regional sea levels, extreme high local tides, and unusually strong wave set-up. The elevation of most of these atolls averages just under 3 meters (m), with many areas roughly at sea level. The lack of high-resolution topographic data has been identified as a critical data gap for hazard vulnerability and adaptation efforts and for high-resolution inundation modeling for atoll nations. Modern topographic survey equipment and airborne lidar surveys can be very difficult and costly to deploy. Therefore, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) were investigated for collecting overlapping imagery to generate topographic digital elevation models (DEMs). Medium- and high-resolution satellite imagery (Landsat 8 and WorldView-3) was investigated to derive nearshore bathymetry. The Republic of the Marshall Islands is associated with the United States through a Compact of Free Association, and Majuro Atoll is home to the capital city of Majuro and the largest population of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. The only elevation datasets currently available for the entire Majuro Atoll are the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission and the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer Global Digital Elevation Model Version 2 elevation data, which have a 30-m grid-cell spacing and a 8-m vertical root mean square error (RMSE). Both these datasets have inadequate spatial resolution and vertical accuracy for inundation modeling. The final topobathymetric DEM (TBDEM) developed for Majuro Atoll is derived from various data sources including charts, soundings, acoustic sonar, and UAS and satellite imagery spanning over 70 years of data collection (1944 to 2016) on different sections of the atoll. The RMSE of the TBDEM over the land area is 0.197 m using over 70,000 Global Navigation Satellite System real-time kinematic survey points for validation, and 1.066 m for Landsat 8 and 1.112 m for WorldView-3 derived bathymetry using over 16,000 and 9,000 lidar bathymetry points, respectively.

Majuro Atoll↗
USGS2018

Completion summary for borehole TAN-2312 at Test Area North, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho

In 2017, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy, drilled and constructed borehole TAN-2312 for stratigraphic framework analyses and long-term groundwater monitoring of the eastern Snake River Plain aquifer at the Idaho National Laboratory in southeast Idaho. The location of borehole TAN-2312 was selected because it was downgradient from TAN and believed to be the outer extent of waste plumes originating from the TAN facility. Borehole TAN-2312 initially was cored to collect continuous geologic data, and then re-drilled to complete construction as a monitor well. The final construction for borehole TAN-2312 required 16- and 10-inch (in.) diameter carbon-steel well casing to 37 and 228 feet below land surface (ft BLS), respectively, and 9.9-in. diameter open-hole completion below the casing to 522 ft BLS. Depth to water is measured near 244 ft BLS. Following construction and data collection, a temporary submersible pump and water-level access line were placed near 340 ft BLS to allow for aquifer testing, for collecting periodic water samples, and for measuring water levels. Borehole TAN-2312 was cored continuously, starting at the first basalt contact (about 37 ft BLS) to a depth of 568 ft BLS. Not including surface sediment (0–37 ft), recovery of basalt and sediment core at borehole TAN-2312 was about 93 percent; however, core recovery from 170 to 568 ft BLS was 100 percent. Based on visual inspection of core and geophysical data, basalt examined from 37 to 568 ft BLS consists of about 32 basalt flows that range from approximately 3 to 87 ft in thickness and 4 sediment layers with a combined thickness of approximately 76 ft. About 2 ft of total sediment was described for the saturated zone, observed from 244 to 568 ft BLS, near 296 and 481 ft BLS. Sediment described for the saturated zone were composed of fine-grained sand and silt with a lesser amount of clay. Basalt texture for borehole TAN-2312 generally was described as aphanitic, phaneritic, and porphyritic. Basalt flows varied from highly fractured to dense with high to low vesiculation. Geophysical and borehole video logs were collected after core drilling and after final construction at borehole TAN-2312. Geophysical logs were examined synergistically with available core material to suggest zones where groundwater flow was anticipated. Natural gamma log measurements were used to assess sediment layer thickness and location. Neutron and gamma-gamma source logs were used to identify fractured areas for aquifer testing. Acoustic televiewer logs, fluid logs, and electromagnetic flow meter results were used to identify fractures and assess groundwater movement when compared against neutron measurements. Furthermore, gyroscopic deviation measurements were used to measure horizontal and vertical displacement for borehole TAN-2312. After construction of borehole TAN-2312, a single-well aquifer test was completed September 27, 2017, to provide estimates of transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity. Estimates for transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity were 1.51×102 feet squared per day and 0.23 feet per day, respectively. During the 220-minute aquifer test, well TAN-2312 had about 23 ft of measured drawdown at sustained pumping rate of 27.2 gallons per minute. The transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity estimates for well TAN-2312 were lower than the values determined from previous aquifer tests in other wells near Test Area North. Water samples were analyzed for cations, anions, metals, nutrients, volatile organic compounds, stable isotopes, and radionuclides. Water samples for most of the inorganic constituents showed concentrations near background levels for eastern regional groundwater. Water samples for stable isotopes of oxygen, hydrogen, and sulfur indicated some possible influence of irrigation on the water quality. The volatile organic compound data indicated that this well had some minor influence by wastewater disposal practices at Test Area North.

Idaho↗
USGS2019

Spatial distribution of nutrients, chloride, and suspended sediment concentrations and loads determined by using different sampling methods in a cross section of the Trenton Channel of the Detroit River, Michigan, November 2014–November 2015

The Detroit River separates the United States and Canada as it flows from Lake St. Clair to Lake Erie. The Trenton Channel is a 13-kilometer-long branch of the Detroit River that flows to the west of Grosse Ile before rejoining the Detroit River near its mouth, just before the Detroit River flows into Lake Erie. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has listed both the Trenton Channel and Detroit River as Areas of Concern because of a list of Beneficial Use Impairments such as interrupted drinking-water services, loss of aquatic life, and reduced recreational use. Phosphorus loading from tributaries such as the Trenton Channel is one of the primary drivers of eutrophication in Lake Erie. The complex flow patterns and variable distribution of chemical constituents in the Trenton Channel make it difficult to accurately characterize the concentrations and loads of nutrients and other constituents conveyed through the channel to Lake Erie. In order to better understand the Trenton Channel’s contributions of nutrients (total phosphorus, orthophosphate, total nitrogen, and ammonia), chloride, and suspended sediment to Lake Erie and evaluate differences in results obtained by using different sample methodologies, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Environment Canada, completed 12 sampling campaigns on the Trenton Channel in Detroit, Michigan, from November 2014 through November 2015. Acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) techniques were used to characterize the distribution of velocity components within a cross section corresponding to a transect of the Trenton Channel at U.S. Geological Survey station 041686401 Trenton Channel of Detroit River at Grosse Ile, Mich. Three methods of collecting water-quality data at the same transect of the Trenton Channel were used: multiple-vertical depth-integrated (MVDI), fixed-point, and discrete samples. Horizontal and vertical variations in concentrations of nutrients, chloride, and suspended sediment were analyzed from discrete samples to better understand distributions of these constituents throughout the channel. Constituent loads were calculated by using individual sample concentrations and ADCP measurements for discharge made on the same day that the water-quality samples were collected. Constituent loads calculated from MVDI and fixed-point sampling methods were compared. The relation between MVDI and fixed-point samples helped quantify the differences between the sampling methods. Linear regression equations depicting the relation between concentrations measured by using MVDI and fixed-point samples were prepared. ADCP data indicates that velocities throughout the sampled transect remain uniform except for one location around 200 meters from the west bank of the channel. Secondary flow vectors suggest the presence of counter-rotating helical flow cells, and these helical flow cells could affect the mixing of constituents in transport by preventing cross-channel mixing. Flow discharges throughout the sampling campaign showed small variations, although lower flow rates were observed in the early winter months than in the summer months. Discrete sampling methods results displayed both heterogeneity throughout the channel horizontally, representing limited horizontal mixing in the channel, and displayed homogeneity throughout vertical transects, indicating mixing vertically. Comparisons between MVDI and fixed-point methods found consistently higher concentrations were measured in MVDI samples compared to concentrations measured in fixed-point samples. To correct for this bias between MVDI and fixed-point sample results, simple linear-regression equations were developed for all major constituents to help estimate constituent concentrations from fixed-point samples equivalent to those measured by using MVDI sampling techniques. Instantaneous constituent loads were developed by using velocity and discharge data obtained from ADCPs and constituent concentrations obtained from MVDI and fixed-point samples.

Michigan↗
USGS2019

Estimating sediment flux to Jamaica Bay, New York

Tidal wetland loss in Jamaica Bay, New York, is well documented. Maintaining wetlands is important from an environmental and ecological perspective and because wetlands buffer coastal communities from storm damage. An estimate of suspended-sediment flux through Rockaway Inlet is needed to improve understanding of sediment dynamics in Jamaica Bay and could be used in salt marsh restoration efforts. To estimate sediment flux, an index-velocity station and turbidity sensor were installed and operated in Rockaway Inlet near the mouth of Jamaica Bay from November 2014 to December 2016 and point and cross-sectional suspended-sediment samples were collected and analyzed. Index-velocity data coupled with cross-sectional acoustic Doppler current profiler measurements were used to develop an index-velocity rating. A simple linear regression rating with a strong coefficient of determination (R 2 of 0.981) was developed. Discharge was computed from the stage-area and index-velocity relations, and a low-pass Godin filter was used to remove the tidal aliasing. A second simple linear regression (R 2 of 0.75) between fixed-point suspended-sediment concentration (SSC) samples and turbidity allowed for the calculation of SSC through Rockaway Inlet, and then sediment flux was found by multiplying SSC and discharge for continuous (6-minute) data. Turbidity values were low in the near-ocean conditions at Rockaway Inlet, with daily means ranging from 0.6 to 8.2 formazin nephelometric units during the period of November 2014 through December 2016. During this time, computed daily mean suspended-sediment concentrations ranged from 3 to 13 milligrams per liter. High sediment loads generally occurred during incoming tides, during both storm and nonstorm conditions, suggesting a net inward sediment flux into Jamaica Bay. The fate of sediment after it enters Jamaica Bay was not investigated. Trends in sediment flux during major storms could not be evaluated because no major storms occurred during this investigation.

New York↗
USGS2019

Transmissivity and geophysical data for selected wells at and near the Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho, 2017–18

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy, conducted aquifer tests during 2017–18 on 101 wells at and near the Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho, to define the hydraulic characteristics for individual wells. These were short-duration aquifer tests, conducted with a limited number of observations during routine sampling. Pumped intervals (water columns) for individual wells ranged from 12 to 790 feet (ft). Semi-constant discharge rates during aquifer testing ranged from 1 to 45 gallons per minute, water-level response to pumping ranged from no observed drawdown to 52.4 ft, and length of aquifer tests for individual wells ranged from 10 to 160 minutes. Individual well data were analyzed to estimate the capacity of the well to produce water (specific capacity) and to estimate values for transmissivity. Estimates of specific capacity for individual wells ranged from less than 1.0 to greater than (>) 3.0 × 10 3 gallons per minute per foot; estimates of transmissivity for individual wells ranged from 2.0 to >5.4 x 10 5 feet squared per day. Geophysical log data, well construction information, and general geology for individual wells were presented and included in this report. Basic hydrogeologic features for individual wells were described, along with a composite of natural gamma, neutron, gamma-gamma dual density, and acoustic televiewer data (when available). The geophysical and geologic data were used to suggest the location and thickness of sediment layers along with fractured and dense basalt areas for individual wells. Geophysical data were used to describe the general geology where geologic descriptions and (or) driller notes were not available.

Idaho↗
USGS2020

Bathymetric surveys of Morse and Geist Reservoirs in central Indiana made with a multibeam echosounder, 2016, and comparison with previous surveys

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with Citizens Energy Group, conducted a bathymetric survey of Morse and Geist Reservoirs in central Indiana in April and May of 2016 with a multibeam echosounder. Both reservoirs serve as water supply, flood control, and recreational resources for the city of Indianapolis and the surrounding communities. Morse and Geist Reservoirs were surveyed to create updated bathymetric maps, determine storage capacities (volume) at specified water-surface elevations, and compare current conditions to historical surveys. Bathymetric data were collected using a high-resolution multibeam echosounder, and supplemental data were collected in coves and other shallow areas using an acoustic Doppler current profiler. The data were processed and combined using HYPACK and ArcMap software to develop a triangulated irregular network, a 5-foot gridded bathymetric dataset, a reservoir capacity table, and a bathymetric contour map for each reservoir. The computed volume of Morse Reservoir was 23,136 acre-feet (7.54 billion gallons) with a surface area of 1,439 acres (62.7 million square feet). The computed volume of Geist Reservoir was 21,146 acre-feet (6.89 billion gallons) with a surface area of 1,853 acres (80.7 million square feet). Between 1996 and 2016, lake bottom elevations have increased by a mean of 0.32 feet in Morse Reservoir and 0.27 feet in Geist Reservoir. The data indicate higher sedimentation rates in the upper parts of each reservoir as compared to near the dam and higher sedimentation rates in Morse Reservoir (0.5 inch per year) than in Geist Reservoir (0.2 inch per year). The differences between the current and historical surveys may be due to sedimentation, differences in accuracy between previous surveys, or a combination of both.

Indiana↗
USGS2021

Assessment of water quality and discharge in the Herring River, Wellfleet, Massachusetts, November 2015 to September 2017

The U.S. Geological Survey, Cape Cod National Seashore of the National Park Service, and Friends of Herring River cooperated from 2015 to 2017 to assess nutrient concentrations and fluxes across the ocean-estuary boundary at a dike on the Herring River in Wellfleet, Massachusetts. The purpose of this assessment was to characterize environmental conditions prior to a future removal of the dike, which has restricted saltwater inputs into the Herring River watershed for more than 100 years. Water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and specific conductance were monitored continuously, and flow-weighted composite samples were collected approximately twice per month at the ocean-estuary boundary. Bidirectional discharge was computed for the U.S. Geological Survey Herring River at Chequessett Neck Road at Wellfleet, Massachusetts, streamgage (011058798) by using a stage-area rating and index-velocity ratings developed with acoustic Doppler current profile measurements made upstream and downstream from the dike. LOADEST regression modeling software was used to estimate nutrient fluxes (loads) from composite, paired nutrient concentration and discharge data in conjunction with continuous discharge data. Temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and specific conductance were also monitored continuously on two tributaries to the Herring River, Pole Dike Creek and Bound Brook, from late-May 2016 to mid-June 2017. Composite or discrete water samples were collected from the tributaries approximately twice per month in most months from late-May 2016 to mid-June 2017 and analyzed for total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and dissolved organic carbon. Flow-weighted concentrations of ammonium, nitrate, and total nitrogen on the Herring River at the dike on the ebb tide generally varied between 0.01 and 0.1, 0.003 and 0.03, and 0.3 and 0.7 milligram per liter as nitrogen, respectively. Flow-weighted concentrations of orthophosphate, total dissolved phosphorus, and total phosphorus generally varied between 0.002 and 0.02, 0.003 and 0.06, and 0.03 and 0.1 milligram per liter as phosphorus, respectively, on the ebb tide. Flow-weighted concentrations of silicate and dissolved organic carbon on the ebb tide generally varied between 0.08 and 3.0 milligrams per liter of silica (silicon dioxide), and 1.7 and 5.6 milligrams per liter of carbon, respectively. Ebb tide concentrations of nitrate were highest in winter and lowest in summer. By contrast, ebb tide concentrations of phosphorus species were highest in late summer and early fall and lowest in winter. Silica and dissolved organic carbon did not exhibit systematic variation in seasonal concentrations. There was uncertainty in estimates of nutrient fluxes, but the LOADEST-estimated fluxes indicated that annual (and in almost all cases seasonal) exports (ebb tides) exceeded inputs (flood tides). Ebb tide concentrations of ammonium, nitrate, total nitrogen, and silica were positively correlated with antecedent cumulative 7-day precipitation.

Massachusetts↗
USGS2022

Circulation, mixing, and transport in nearshore Lake Erie in the vicinity of Villa Angela Beach and Euclid Creek, Cleveland, Ohio, June 10–12, 2019, and August 19–21, 2019

Villa Angela Beach, on the Lake Erie lakeshore near Cleveland, Ohio, is just west of the mouth of Euclid Creek, a small, flashy stream that drains approximately 23 square miles and is susceptible to periodic contamination from combined sewer overflows (CSOs; 190 and 189 events in 2018 and 2019, respectively). Concerns about high concentrations of Escherichia coli ( E . coli ) in water samples collected along this beach and subsequent frequent beach closures led to the collection of water-quality and water-velocity data in the nearshore area to gain insights into nearshore mixing processes, circulation, and the potential for transport of bacteria and other CSO-related contaminants from nearby sources to the beach. Synoptic surveys were completed by the U.S. Geological Survey on June 10–12, 2019, and August 19–21, 2019, to observe conditions during early and late periods of the summer season. This study follows several studies in this area. Data-collection methods for this study included deployment of an autonomous underwater vehicle and use of a manned boat equipped with an acoustic Doppler current profiler and a multiparameter sonde. Spatial distributions of water-quality constituents and nearshore currents indicated that the mixing zone near the mouth of Euclid Creek and Villa Angela Beach is dynamic and highly variable in spatial extent. Similar observations around the Easterly Wastewater Treatment Plant 1.5 miles to the southwest of Villa Angela Beach indicated a mixing zone that was likewise dynamic and highly variable in spatial extent. Observed circulation patterns during synoptic surveys in summer 2019 indicated that contaminants from CSOs in Euclid Creek and at CSO discharge points along the Lake Erie lakefront (as traced using specific conductance as a surrogate) tended to be transported differently depending on the magnitude and direction of winds and longshore currents. The southwesterly longshore current that was responsible for driving a recirculation pattern along the beach during a previous study in summer 2012 was not observed during the summer 2019 synoptic surveys. That was not surprising because continuous velocity data collected near Villa Angela Beach indicated that longshore currents with a northeasterly component occurred most (65 percent) of the time from June 12 to August 28, 2019.

Ohio↗
USGS2021

Completion summary for boreholes USGS 148, 148A, and 149 at the Materials and Fuels Complex, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho

In 2019, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy, drilled and constructed boreholes USGS 148A and USGS 149 for stratigraphic framework analyses and long-term groundwater monitoring of the eastern Snake River Plain aquifer at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) in southeastern Idaho. Initially, boreholes USGS 148A and USGS 149 were continuously cored to allow the USGS and INL subcontractor to collect select geophysical and seismic data and evaluate properties of recovered core material. The USGS geophysical data and descriptions of core material are described in this report; however, data collected by the INL contractor, including seismic data, are not included as part of the report. The unsaturated zone at both borehole locations is relatively thick, depth to water was measured at approximately 663.6 feet (ft) below land surface (BLS) in USGS 148A, and at approximately 654.1 ft BLS at USGS 149. On completion of coring and data collection, both boreholes (USGS 148A and USGS 149) were repurposed as monitoring wells. Well USGS 148A was constructed to a depth of 759 ft BLS and instrumented with a dedicated submersible pump and measurement line; well USGS 149 was constructed to a depth of 974 ft BLS and instrumented with a multilevel monitoring system (Westbay TM ). Geophysical data, collected by the USGS, were used to characterize the subsurface geology and aquifer conditions. Natural gamma log measurements were used to assess sediment-layer thickness and location. Neutron and gamma-gamma source logs were used to confirm fractured and vesicular basalt identified for aquifer testing and multilevel monitoring well zone testing. Acoustic televiewer logs, collected for well USGS 149, were used to identify fractures and assess groundwater movement when compared with neutron measurements. Furthermore, gyroscopic deviation measurements were used to measure horizontal and vertical displacement for the constructed boreholes USGS 148A and USGS 149. A single-well aquifer test was done in well USGS 148A during November 6–7, 2019, to provide estimates of transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity. Estimates for transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity were 6.34×10 3 feet squared per day and 3.17 feet per day, respectively. The aquifer test was run overnight (21.3 hours) and measured drawdown was relatively small (0.09 ft) at sustained pumping rates ranging from 15.7 to 16.1 gallons per minute. The transmissivity estimates for well USGS 148A were slightly lower than those determined from previous aquifer tests for wells near the Materials and Fuels Complex, but well within range of other aquifer tests done at the INL. Water-quality samples, collected from well USGS 148A and from four zones in well USGS 149, were analyzed for cations, anions, metals, nutrients, volatile organic compounds, stable isotopes, and radionuclides. Water samples for most of the inorganic constituents showed similar chemistry in USGS 148A and all four zones in USGS 149. Water samples for stable isotopes of oxygen and hydrogen indicated some possible influence of irrigation on the water quality. Nitrate plus nitrite concentrations indicated influence from anthropogenic sources. The volatile organic compound and radiochemical data indicated that wastewater disposal practices at the Materials and Fuels Complex or from drilling had no detectable influence on these wells.

Idaho↗
USGS2021

Kootenai River white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) fine-scale habitat selection and preference, Kootenai River near Bonners Ferry, Idaho, 2017

To quantify fine-scale Kootenai River white sturgeon ( Acipenser transmontanus ) staging and spawning habitat selection and preference within a recently restored reach of the Kootenai River, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, integrated acoustic telemetry data with two-dimensional hydraulic model simulations within a 1.5-kilometer reach of the Kootenai River near Bonners Ferry, northern Idaho. Twenty-seven individual Kootenai River white sturgeon were detected in the study reach during May 6–June 30, 2017. The largest concentration of fish positions occurred near the edge of the gravel bar adjacent to the right bank pool-forming structure and additional concentrations of fish positions occurred near two recently constructed rock substrate clusters. The difference in preferred and available depth distributions quantifies that Kootenai River white sturgeon generally preferred depths of 7–11.5 meters, deeper than the most frequently available depths. About 71 percent of the detections occurred within the lower one-third of the water column, placing Kootenai River white sturgeon at or near the channel bed. The difference in available and preferred water velocities indicated that Kootenai River white sturgeon generally preferred a wide range of velocities from 0.0 to 1.0 meters per second, and generally preferred velocities that were less than the most frequently occurring available velocities. Kootenai River white sturgeon generally preferred the downstream part of the study area where water velocities were less than those in the upstream part. This study concludes that Kootenai River white sturgeon generally avoided shallow areas with increased velocities and generally favored deep areas with lower velocities near recently constructed restoration structures.

Idaho↗
USGS2022

Implementing a rapid deployment bridge scour monitoring system in Colorado, 2019

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Colorado Department of Transportation, installed and operated real-time scour monitoring instrumentation at two bridges in Colorado in 2016 and 2017 to measure streambed elevations in real-time. The instrumentation included acoustic echosounder depth sensors mounted to the bridge substructure units with rigid conduit and fittings. Although functional, the rigid mounting configuration took several days to install at each site, which limits the instrumentation to long-term deployments at previously determined sites. To address this limitation and allow for greater flexibility in bridge selection, a rapid deployment bridge scour monitoring system (RDBSMS) was developed by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Colorado Department of Transportation. The RDBSMSs were installed at two other bridges in Colorado in 2019, which were selected by using specific scoring criteria to rank candidate bridges and the potential for high streamflow based on accumulated snowpack. A matrix was developed to rank candidate bridges based on factors including depth, foundation type, average daily traffic, detour route, and scour critical condition. Colorado Department of Transportation bridges F-05-R and P-01-G were selected as the final candidate bridges for installation and testing of the rapid deploy scour monitoring system. Bridge F-05-R carries Colorado Highway 13 over the Colorado River near the town of Rifle, Colorado. Because of the misalignment of the pier wall with respect to the river, pier number 4 was instrumented on the left side (looking downstream) to monitor scour conditions. Bridge P-01-G carries U.S. Route 160 over the San Juan River near the Four Corners area in Colorado. Because of misalignment of the pier wall with respect to the river, pier number 4 was instrumented on the right side (looking downstream) to monitor scour conditions. The RDSMSs were installed in approximately 3 hours at each bridge. Scour conditions at both bridges were monitored during the snowmelt runoff period in 2019 using the installed RDBSMSs. No major scour events occurred at either structure, but minor scour and fill was measured at each. Sensor performance at F-05-R was excellent, with no missing or erroneous data. Sensor performance at P-01-G was good for most of the period, with some missing and erroneous data during periods of high turbidity. Both RDBSMSs were successfully deployed and produced reliable data, demonstrating that both the technology and the installation methods can work in two different riverine environments. Pre-installation of mounting plates would make the installation process faster at flood prone bridges. Having flood prone bridges preconfigured and several RDBSMSs ready to deploy could allow for rapid monitoring during floods such as those which occurred in 2013.

Colorado↗
USGS2023

Bathymetric contour maps, surface area and capacity tables, and bathymetric change maps for selected water-supply lakes in north-central and west-central Missouri, 2020

Bathymetric data were collected at 10 water-supply lakes in north-central and west-central Missouri by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and in collaboration with various local agencies, as part of a multiyear effort to establish or update the surface area and capacity tables for the surveyed lakes. The lakes were surveyed in June and July 2020. Seven of the lakes had been surveyed by the USGS between 2002 and 2007, and the recent surveys were compared to the earlier surveys to document changes in the bathymetric surface and capacity of the lake and produce a bathymetric change map. Bathymetric data were collected using a high-resolution multibeam mapping system mounted on a boat. Supplemental depth data at two of the lakes were collected in shallow areas with an acoustic Doppler current profiler on a remote-controlled boat. Data points from the various sources were exported at a gridded data resolution appropriate to each lake, either 0.82 foot or 1.64 feet. Data outside the multibeam survey extent and greater than the surveyed water-surface elevation generally were obtained from data collected using aerial light detection and ranging (lidar) point cloud data, except at Holden City Lake. A linear enforcement technique was used to add points to the dataset in areas of sparse data (the upper ends of coves where the water was shallow or aquatic vegetation precluded data acquisition) based on surrounding multibeam and upland data values. The various point datasets were used to produce a three-dimensional triangulated irregular network surface of lake-bottom elevations for each lake. A surface area and capacity table was produced from the three-dimensional surface for each lake showing surface area and capacity at specified lake water-surface elevations. Various quality-assurance tests were conducted to ensure quality data were collected with the multibeam, including beam angle checks and patch tests. Additional quality-assurance tests were conducted on the gridded bathymetric data from the survey, the bathymetric surface created from the gridded data, and the contours created from the bathymetric survey. If data from a previous bathymetric survey existed at a given lake, a bathymetric change map was generated from the elevation difference between the previous survey and the 2020 bathymetric survey data points. After reconciling any vertical datum disagreement between the previous survey and the 2020 survey, coincident points between the surveys were identified, and a bathymetric change map was generated using the coincident point data. A decrease in capacity was observed at nearly all the lakes for which a previous survey existed, and the mean bathymetric change between the surveys was positive at all the lakes. The decrease in capacity at the primary spillway elevation ranged from –0.4 percent at Edwin A Pape Lake to 9.4 percent at upper Higginsville Reservoir. The mean bathymetric change ranged from 0.03 foot at Garden City New Lake to 1.75 feet at Harrisonville City Lake, which corresponds to a time-averaged mean bathymetric change ranging from 0.002 foot per year at Garden City New Lake to 0.132 foot per year at Harrisonville City Lake. The computed volumetric sedimentation rate generally ranged from 0.04 to 4.91 acre-feet per year at Garden City New Lake and Holden City Lake, respectively; however, Harrisonville City Lake had a substantially larger volumetric sedimentation rate of 42.7 acre-feet per year, corresponding to the substantial mean bathymetric change of 1.75 feet and combined with the relatively shorter interval between surveys. Harrisonville City Lake also had the second-largest decrease in capacity at the spillway elevation of 5.9 percent. As with the 2019 surveys, some changes observed in the bathymetric change maps likely result from the difference in data collection equipment and techniques between the surveys. Certain apparent erosional features around the perimeter of certain lakes may be the result of wave action or compaction of sediments exposed to air during low-water years, or may indicate an unidentified but systemic error in the older singlebeam echosounder survey data.

Missouri↗
USGS2023

Bathymetric contour maps, surface area and capacity tables, and bathymetric change maps for selected water-supply lakes in northeastern Missouri, 2021

Bathymetric data were collected at 12 water-supply lakes in northeastern Missouri by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MoDNR) and various local agencies, as part of a multiyear effort to establish or update the surface area and capacity tables for the surveyed lakes. The lakes were surveyed in March through May 2021. Ten of the lakes had been surveyed previously by the USGS, and the recent surveys were compared to the earlier surveys to document the changes in the bathymetric surface and capacity of the lakes. Bathymetric data were collected using a high-resolution multibeam mapping system mounted on a boat. Supplemental depth data at five of the lakes were collected in shallow areas with an acoustic Doppler current profiler on a remote-controlled boat. Data points from the various sources were exported at a gridded data resolution appropriate to each lake, either 0.82 foot, 1.64 feet, or 3.28 feet. Data outside the multibeam survey extent and greater than the surveyed water-surface elevation were obtained from data collected using aerial light detection and ranging (lidar) point cloud data. A linear enforcement technique was used to add points to the dataset in areas of sparse data (the upper ends of coves where the water was shallow or aquatic vegetation precluded data acquisition) based on surrounding multibeam and upland data values. The various point datasets were used to produce a three-dimensional triangulated irregular network surface of the lake-bottom elevations for each lake. A surface area and capacity table was produced from the three-dimensional surface for each lake showing surface area and capacity at specified lake water-surface elevations. Various quality-assurance tests were conducted to ensure quality data were collected with the multibeam, including beam angle checks and patch tests. Additional quality-assurance tests were conducted on the gridded bathymetric data from the survey, the bathymetric surface created from the gridded data, and the contours created from the bathymetric survey. If there were data from a previous bathymetric survey for a given lake, a bathymetric change map was generated from the elevation difference between the previous survey and the 2021 bathymetric survey data points. After reconciling any vertical datum disagreement between the previous survey data and the 2021 survey datum, coincident points between the surveys were identified, and a bathymetric change map was generated using the coincident point data. The mean elevation change between all repeat surveys at most lakes was positive, indicating sedimentation. Relative to previous surveys, the change in capacity at the primary spillway elevation ranged from a 7.7-percent decrease at Memphis Reservoir to a 3.9-percent increase at Old Lake (Bowling Green West). The mean bathymetric change ranged from 0.03 foot at Hazel Creek and 0.07 foot at Shelbina Lake and Bowling Green Reservoir (Jack Floyd Memorial Lake) to 0.63 at Memphis Lake (Lake Showme) and 0.88 at Memphis Reservoir. The time-averaged mean bathymetric change ranged from 0.002 foot per year at Hazel Creek Lake to 0.044 foot per year at Memphis Reservoir. The computed volumetric sedimentation rate generally ranged from 0.14 to 6.80 acre-feet per year at Shelbina Lake and Memphis Lake (Lake Showme), respectively; however, Forest Lake had a substantially larger sedimentation rate of 17.0 acre-feet per year. Some changes observed in some bathymetric change maps are believed to result from the difference in data collection equipment and techniques between the previous and present bathymetric surveys, whereas other erosional features around the perimeter of certain lakes may be the result of wave action during low-water years.

Missouri↗
USGS2024

Seismic techniques and suggested instrumentation to monitor volcanoes

Introduction Changes in the pressure or location of magma can stress or break surrounding rocks and trigger flow of nearby waters and gases, causing seismic signals, such as discrete earthquakes and tremor. These phenomena are types of seismic unrest that commonly precede eruption and can be used to forecast volcanic activity. Mass movements at the surface, including avalanches, debris flows, and lahars, may also generate seismic signals that are specifically addressed in chapter H , this volume (Thelen and others, 2024). Our focus in this chapter is to determine the levels of instrumentation recommended to produce high-quality, well-constrained seismic observations important for early warning of impending eruptions, detecting changes in ongoing eruptions, and characterizing other hazardous volcanic events. There are emerging techniques and new types of instrumentation, such as distributed acoustic sensing or rotational seismometers, that we do not consider here. These types of instrumentation show promise for monitoring but still require maturation before being considered more generally in volcano monitoring. Most of the capabilities mentioned below are universal for all types of volcanic systems, although some are best applied to stratovolcanoes with an apical single vent. In some settings, such as calderas or shield volcanoes, we must broaden coverage to include multiple possible storage regions or vent locations. As an example, Thelen (2014) discretized the long rift zones of shield volcanoes in Hawaiʻi as a set of evenly spaced “vents.” In this construct, each vent comes with recommendations, and several thousand network configurations were simulated to assess the effect on network quality levels and to determine the most efficient network design. The same process could be applied in a caldera setting or a volcanic field, where an evenly spaced grid of potential vents is considered. Localized recommendations for each unique system are beyond the scope of this report and left up to local experts to assess based on the conditions, restrictions, and requirements of each volcano.

Scientific Investigations Report↗
USGS2024

Monitoring marine eruptions

Introduction Submarine volcanoes produce much of the same seismicity and eruptive activity as subaerial volcanoes and can pose hazards to society. Although they can be monitored with similar techniques and methods as described in other chapters of this volume, their submerged location brings unique challenges. This chapter addresses these challenges and provides recommendations for monitoring volcanoes fully or partly in marine environments to meet the capabilities described in other chapters of this volume. The United States and its territories host dozens of submarine volcanoes with most (around 60) in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Approximately 20 of the Northern Mariana Islands submarine volcanoes are known to be hydrothermally active, and 10 have confirmed eruptions since the 1950s (for example, Baker and others, 2008; Tepp and others, 2019a). Nine of those volcanoes were considered by the National Volcanic Threat Assessment (Ewert and others, 2018) to have a combination of eruptive type and summit depth that poses a higher risk of hazardous eruptions, although only one was listed as a moderate (level 3) threat. Other notable submarine volcanoes of interest to the United States that have historically erupted are Axial Seamount off the Washington State coast, Kamaʻehuakanaloa in Hawaiʻi, and Vailuluʻu seamount in American Samoa. All of these, however, have a low risk of hazards because of their depth (greater than 600 meters below sea level) and eruptive type and so are not included in the National Volcanic Threat Assessment. In addition to submarine volcanoes, the submerged flanks of island volcanoes can also be a source of hazardous submarine eruptions—for example, the 1877 eruption of Mauna Loa, Hawai‘i, in Kealakekua Bay (Wanless and others, 2006). The most notable submarine eruption in recent times was the 2022 eruption of Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai in Tonga, which was one of the largest eruptions on Earth in the past 100 years. It created a massive volcanic plume, unprecedented shock waves, and far-reaching tsunami (Lynett and others, 2022). Other recent submarine eruptions in the Pacific Ocean Basin have produced subaerial plumes that reached aircraft heights (Carey and others, 2014) and large pumice rafts that can affect marine traffic and harbors (for example, Jutzeler and others, 2014; Kornei, 2019). These examples illustrate the potential hazards of major submarine eruptions. Yet, submarine volcanoes are largely unmonitored, and many eruptions occur that are unnoticed or only identified hours or days afterward. Within U.S. territory, submarine volcanoes in the Northern Mariana Islands have been known to produce eruptive activity that can affect society. Reports from fishermen and other marine vessels in the Northern Mariana Islands have noted underwater explosions, sea-surface discoloration, and bubbling water, all of which are known to be signs of submarine volcanic activity. South Sarigan seamount, located about 160 kilometers (km) north of Saipan, erupted in 2010 from greater than 150 meters below the sea surface, resulting in a gas and ash plume that reached more than 11.9 km into the atmosphere (for example, Searcy, 2013; Embley and others, 2014), high enough to affect international air traffic. Precursory and co-eruptive seismicity was detected on the regional Northern Mariana Islands seismic network (Searcy, 2013) and on global monitoring instruments (Green and others, 2013). Monitoring of submarine volcanoes is best accomplished with marine-based instrumentation, which is also useful for monitoring small island volcanoes that may not have the land area necessary for comprehensive subaerial monitoring. The primary marine-based instrumentation used for submarine volcanoes includes ocean-bottom pressure sensors to assess sea-floor deformation, ocean-bottom seismometers (OBSs) to detect seismicity, and both moored and ocean-bottom hydrophones to detect submarine explosions. Other sensors offer important monitoring data, such as turbidity, temperature, and chemistry of hydrothermal emissions. Marine-based instruments are typically deployed in campaign-style networks with no real-time telemetry owing to cost considerations and technical limitations. However, when necessary, marine instruments can be operated in real time using cables to transmit data to land-based facilities; other technologies for this purpose are in use or in development, such as acoustic transmission from the instrument to a moored buoy (Matsumoto and others, 2016) and a winch-based system with a satellite antenna that is part of the instrument mooring (Matsumoto and others, 2019). Emerging technologies for marine-based monitoring may be considered as part of a future monitoring plan. These technologies include ocean gliders and floats with on-board hydrophones that have been used to record earthquakes and submarine eruptions (for example, Matsumoto and others, 2013; Sukhovich and others, 2015) and fiber-optic cables that have been used as strainmeters to detect earthquakes (for example, Marra and others, 2018; Lindsey and others, 2019). Land-based instruments and satellites can also provide some capability for monitoring submarine volcanoes, but they provide more limited observations than marine-based instrumentation.

Scientific Investigations Report↗
USGS2025

Bathymetric contour maps, surface area and capacity tables, and bathymetric change maps for selected water-supply lakes in Missouri, 2022–23

Bathymetric data were collected at 13 water-supply lakes around the periphery of Missouri by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and various local agencies, as part of a multiyear effort to establish or update the surface area and capacity tables for the surveyed lakes. Surveys were carried out during the months of April and May in 2022 and 2023. All but two of the lakes had been surveyed previously by the U.S. Geological Survey, and the recent surveys were compared to the earlier surveys to document the changes in the bathymetric surface and capacity of the lake. Bathymetric data were collected using a high-resolution multibeam mapping system mounted on a boat. Supplemental depth data at three of the lakes were collected in shallow areas with an acoustic Doppler current profiler on a remote-controlled boat. Data points from the various sources were exported at a gridded data resolution appropriate to each lake, either 0.82 foot, 1.64 feet, or 3.28 feet. Data outside the multibeam survey extent and greater than the surveyed water-surface elevation were obtained from data collected using aerial light detection and ranging (lidar) point cloud data. A linear enforcement technique was used to add points to the dataset in areas of sparse data (the upper ends of coves where the water was shallow or aquatic vegetation precluded data acquisition) based on surrounding multibeam and upland data values. The various point datasets were used to produce a three-dimensional triangulated irregular network surface of the lake-bottom elevations for each lake. A surface area and capacity table was produced from the three-dimensional surface for each lake showing surface area and capacity at specified lake water-surface elevations. Various quality-assurance tests were conducted to ensure quality data were collected with the multibeam, including beam angle checks and patch tests. Additional quality-assurance tests were conducted on the gridded bathymetric data from the survey, the bathymetric surface created from the gridded data, and the contours created from the bathymetric survey.

Missouri↗