Preliminary evaluation of water-quality conditions of Johnson Creek, Oregon
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Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
Geology topics
D. A. Curtiss
Publications and source records attributed to D. A. Curtiss.
Water-resources of western Douglas County, Oregon
In western Douglas County, Quaternary coastal dune sands and marine terrace deposits may have the best potential for ground-water development. Yields of 200 gallons per minute have been reported from wells completed in Quaternary fluvial deposits along the lower Umpqua River. The entire area is underlain by Tertiary marine sediments that yield quantities of water barely adequate for domestic use. On the basis of wells sampled and the constituents analyzed, ground-water quality was generally good, but the recommended criteria level of 300 micrograms per liter for iron was exceeded in about one-third of the samples. Average annual runoff from eight streams in western Douglas County was estimated to range from 2.4 cubic feet per second per square mile for Elk Creek to 6.8 cubic feet per second per square mile for Scholfield Creek. The estimated 7-day , 20-year low flow ranges from 0.01 cubic foot per second per square mile for Weatherly Creek to 3.6 cubic feet per second per square mile for the Smith River. The dissolved-solids of the Umpqua River is small and stable, with little seasonal and yearly variation. Likewise, the eight small streams in the project area have small dissolved-solids but have noticeably higher nitrite plus nitrate nitrogen concentrations than those of the Umpqua River. All the lakes in the project area have dissolved-solids concentrations of less than 100 milligrams per liter and, except for Loon Lake, have limited phosphorus available for algal production. Tahkenitch and Elbow Lakes are considered to be the most active in terms of biological productivity.
Oregon↗
An evaluation of suspended sediments and turbidity in Cow Creek, Oregon
During a 6-month period from December 1980 through May 1981, samples were collected from Cow Creek near Azalea, Oreg., and analyzed for suspended sediment, particle-size distribution, and turbidity. Of the estimated suspended-sediment discharge of 4,270 tons for the 1981 water year, 95 percent (4,050 tons) was transported during a major storm event, December 2-4, 1980. The 1981 water year suspended-sediment discharge of 4,270 tons is well below the average annual suspended-sediment discharge of 22,000 tons reported earlier by Curtiss (1974). A clay-sediment transport curve was used in conjunction with the flow-duration curve to estimate average annual clay discharge of 3,700 tons for Cow Creek near Azalea. Turbidity in Cow Creek near Azalea is estimated to be equal to or less than 15 NTU (nephelometric turbidity units) 90 percent of the time. A method for predicting turbidity values in a hypothetical impoundment is presented in this report. This method utilizes a suspended-sediment transport curve of the fine (<0.002 mm) material and measures residual-turbidity values. This method probably could be used to assess the impact of proposed reservoirs on stream turbidities in basins similar to that of Cow Creek basin.
Open-File Report↗
Sediment yields of streams in the Umpqua River Basin, Oregon
This report summarizes sediment data collected at 11 sites in the Umpqua River basin from 1956 to 1973 and updates a report by C. A. Onions (1969) of estimated sediment yields in the basin from 1956-67. Onions' report points out that the suspended-sediment data, collected during the 1956-67 period, were insufficient to compute reliable sediment yields. Therefore, the U.S, Geological Survey, in cooperation with Douglas County, collected additional data from 1969 to 1973 to improve the water discharge-sediment discharge relationships at these sites. These data are published in "Water resources data for Oregon, Part 2, Water quality records," 1970 through 1973 water years. In addition to the 10 original sites, data were collected during this period from the Umpqua River near Elkton station, and a summary of the data for that station is included in table 1.
Oregon↗
Lakes of Oregon, Volume 1: Clatsop, Columbia, and Tillamook Counties
An inventory of lakes and reservoirs in Oregon has been needed for many years. Records have long been collected throughout the State to assess the quantity and quality of water from streams, but few data have been collected on water stored in Oregon's lakes and reservoirs. Such data are essential for a complete evaluation of the total surface-water supply of the State and to provide a basis for answering questions about Oregon's lakes. Much of the information on lakes and reservoirs previously collected by Federal and State agencies has never been published. These data were compiled and used as a basis for collecting additional information. This report provides information for use by city, county, and State planning groups as well as for sportsmen, tourists, and others interested in preserving the recreational value of Oregon's lakes. Because of the large number of lakes and reservoirs in Oregon, a single report covering the State would be bulky. Therefore, the best approach seemed to be to publish several volumes on a county or multicounty basis, and Clatsop, Columbia, and Tillamook Counties were selected for the first report. (See fig. 1.) In addition to office compilation of existing data, most lakes were visited at least once. Visits were made in late summer or early fall when lakes were most accessible and when water temperature and biological activity are at a maximum. Some lakes previously studied by other Federal or State agencies and included in this report were not visited during the study.
Oregon↗
Chemical quality of surface water in the Umpqua River Basin, Oregon
In July 1967, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with Douglas County, began a 2-year study of the chemical quality of surface water in the Umpqua River basin. The purpose of this report is to present an interpretive summary of the data collected, which will provide answers to the following questions: What is the chemical quality of the water in the basin? What areal and seasonal differences exist? What causes the differences? What chemical constituents, if any, are present in the water that would affect its usefulness for domestic, industrial, or agricultural purposes? Data are presented on maps, graphs, and charts. All data collected and analyzed during the study period, together with historical data on file with the Geological Survey, are included in tables 3 through 6 (p. 14, 19, 23, 24). All water samples were collected and analyzed by using standard U.S. Geological Survey methods (Rainwater and Thatcher, 1960) and "Standard methods for examination of water and waste water" (American Public Health Assoc. and others, 1965).
Oregon↗