Geology topics

B. W. Drost

Publications and source records attributed to B. W. Drost.

24 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

USGS1982

Water resources of the Gig Harbor Peninsula and adjacent areas, Washington

The study area is a remnant of a glacial-drift plain nearly surrounded by marine embayments. A water-resources appraisal was made because the area is experiencing rapid population growth. Additional ground water is available for use in the study area. At least 11 cubic feet per second, five times the 1978 rate of use, can probably be obtained. Ground-water quality is generally very good, with minor problems of excess iron, manganese, dissolved solids, chloride, and coliform bacteria. Total flow through the hydrologic system is at an average rate of 254 cubic feet per second, which includes 93 cubic feet per second of ground-water recharge. (USGS)

Open-File Report↗

USGS1979

Progress report on water resources of the Tulalip Indian Reservation, Washington

Updated information on the Tulalip Indian Reservation 's resources indicates that the newly developed tribal well field yielded about 100 million gallons of water during August 1975-October 1976. At 16 or 17 streamflow sites, mean annual discharges during the 1976 water year exceeded those of the 1975 water year by a median value of 25 percent. The levels of John Sam, Ross, and Weallup Lakes rose from 0.6 to 1.0 feet during the period October 1974-October 1976; the increase in volume stored in the three lakes was about 14.5 million gallons. The quality of surface water sampled was generally good. Nitrite and total-nitrogen concentrations tended to be greater during periods of high streamflow than during periods of low flow, whereas total-phosphorus concentrations tended to show the opposite relationship. (Woodard-USGS)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗

USGS1979

Water resources of the Swinomish Indian Reservation, Washington

The Swinomish Indian Reservation occupies 17 mi 2 on Fidalgo Island, northwestern Washington. Six square miles are underlain by mudflats or low-lying alluvial deposits, and are not part of the study area. An appraisal of the water resources of the reservation was made because the Swinomish Tribal Community expects rapid economic and population growth in the near future. Average inflow to the hydrologic system of the reservation is 24 ft 3 /s (cubic feet per second). Outflow consists of evapotranspiration (15 ft 3 /s), subsurface outflow (5 ft 3 /s), and surface-water outflow (4 ft 3 /s). Recharge to the ground-water reservoir is 8 ft 3 /s. Most of the study area is a remnant of a glacial drift plain underlain by three types of unconsolidated deposits. The uppermost unit consists primarily of till, the intermediate unit is predominantly sand and gravel, and the lowermost unit is nearly all clay and silt. The total storage capacity is about 6.3 billion cubic feet of water. During 1976 human interaction with the hydrologic system was negligible, with an average rate of water use of 0.19 ft 3 /s. Seventy percent of this was pumped from the ground-water reservoir and the rest was imported. Water levels in six wells extending below mean sea level were found to fluctuate as much as 2.8 feet in response to tidal fluctuations, representing maximum tidal efficiencies of 42 percent. Below sea level is a freshwater-saltwater zone of diffusion at least 150 feet thick. Dissolved-solids concentrations are estimatd to be 10-20 mg/L (milligrams per liter) in precipitation, increase to 15-35 mg/L due to evapotranspiration, reach 45 mg/L in direct runoff, and increase to about 160 mg/L in shallow ground water and about 245 mg/L in deep ground water. In the zone of saltwater diffusion concentrations up to 1,570 mg/L were measured. Human interaction with the hydrologic system has had little apparent effect on water quality. Ground-water quality is generally within the acceptable limits of the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act. The maximum contaminant levels for turbidity, arsenic, and coliform bacteria have been exceeded in a few samples. Recommended limits have been exceeded for iron, manganese, chloride, dissolved solids, pH, and color. Most of the large concentrations of these constituents were in water from the zone of saltwater diffusion. The ground-water reservoir can be developed to a greater degree. If 20 percent of the 8 ft 3 /s of ground-water recharge can be intercepted, a net rate of ground-water withdrawal of 1.6 ft 3 /s can be attained. Aquiculture development is possible on the two largest streams in the reservation in the form of incubation stations handling 600,000 eggs each.

Washington↗

USGS1979

Seepage study for unnamed tributary to Alder Creek, Stevens County, Washington

Analysis of seepage measurements in the Alder Creek basin, Stevens County, Wash., shows that approximately 50% of 0.2 cubic foot per second taken from an unnamed tributary and used for the 1978 irrigation season would have reached Alder Creek as surface flow. Differences in discharge and specific conductance are explained by the basin geology, physical characteristics, climate, and water use. Only general conclusions could be made from data collected for five seepage measurements because irrigation activities could not be scheduled to allow the hydrologic system to reach equilibrium. (USGS)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗

USGS1977

Preliminary assessment of the water resources of the Tulalip Indian Reservation, Washington

In 1974 about 30 percent of the nearly 600 acre-feet of water used on the Tulalip Indian Reservation was obtained from a surface-water reservoir, while nearly 70 percent was obtained from ground-water sources. Domestic use accounted for about 93 percent of total water use. Nutrient (phosphorus) concentrations measured in most surface-water samples were less than the maximum limit recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, whereas the recommended maximum limit for total coliform bacteria was never exceeded. Ground water is withdrawn from aquifers in unconsolidated deposits. Shallow aquifers, which provide about 45 percent of the total ground-water supply, are tapped by about 250 wells and yield 5 to 20 gallons per minute to 30- to 42-inch diameter dug wells. Deeper aquifers yield about 55 percent of the ground-water supply to about 125 wells that are mostly between 100 and 150 feet deep. Yields are generally at least 20 gallons per minute to 6- to 8-inch wells, and several wells have yields exceeding 300 gallons per minute. Water in the shallow aquifers generally had an excessive concentration of dissolved iron, often exceeding the recommended maximum limit of 0.30 milligram per litre, and total coliform bacteria in water from six wells exceeded 1 colony per 100 millilitres of water. Some wells in the deeper aquifers yield water with dissolved iron and (or) manganese concentrations exceeding the recommended maximum limit of 0.30 and 0.05 milligram per litre, respectively. Although many deep coastal wells bottom far below sea level, only two wells indicated local saltwater intrusion. An aquifer underlying the central plateau and an artesian aquifer in the northeastern part of the reservation appear to offer the best potential for development of additional ground-water supplies.

Washington↗

USGS1977

Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie aquifer, Washington and Idaho

The Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie aquifer is composed of unconsolidated Quaternary glaciofluvial deposits underlying an area of about 350 square miles. Transmissivities in the aquifer range from about 0.13 million to 11 million feet squared per day and ground-water velocities exceed 60 feet per day in some areas. The water-table gradient ranges from about 2 feet per mile to more than 60 feet per mile, and during a year the water table fluctuates on the order of 5 to 10 feet. For most of the aquifer the water table is between 40 and 400 feet below land surface. The aquifer is recharged and discharged at an average rate of about 1,320 cubic feet per second. Water is presently (1976) pumped from the aquifer at an average rate of about 239 cubic feet per second for domestic, industrial, and agricultural uses. Most of this is discharged to the Spokane River, lost to evapotranspiration, or applied to the land surface with little or no change in quality. However, about 34 cubic feet per second becomes waste water generated by domestic and industrial activities and is returned to the aquifer by percolation from cesspools and drain fields. The quality of water in the aquifer is generally good. Less than one-half of 1 percent of the 3,300 analyses available exceeded the maximum contaminant levels specified in the National Interim Primary (or Proposed Secondary) Drinking Water Regulations (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1975) for constituents which may be hazardous to health. Of the 6,300 analyses for constituents considered detrimental to the esthetic quality of water, about 1.4 percent have yielded values which exceeded the recommended levels. Alternative water sources for the area supplied by the aquifer are the Spokane and Little Spokane Rivers, lakes adjacent to the aquifer, and other aquifers. All of these potential sources are less desirable than the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie aquifer because of insufficient supplies, poor water quality, and (or) remoteness from the areas of need.

Idaho, Washington↗