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D.D. Harris

Publications and source records attributed to D.D. Harris.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS2007

Use of dye tracers to collect hydrologic data in Oregon

Dye tracers have been used in Oregon in the Collection of hydrologic data on 2,350 miles of stream channels in the Long Tom, Umpqua, Willmette, and John Day River basins, and in the Carmen‐Smith power tunnel. These investigations demonstrated the usefulness, of dye tracers for determining: (1) estimates of traveltimes and travel rates of water, (2) discharge where standard methods of measuring are not applicable, and (3) dispersion characteristics of streams. Illustrations are used to present the results of time‐of‐travel studies in simple, concise, and readily interpreted form.

Oregon↗
USGS1982

Magnitude and frequency of floods in eastern Oregon

A method for estimating the magnitude and frequency of floods is presented for unregulated streams in eastern Oregon. Equations relating flood magnitude to basin characteristics were developed for exceedance probabilities of 0.5 to 0.01 (2- to 100-year recurrence intervals). Separate equations are presented for four regions: Southeast, Northeast, North Central, and Eastern Cascades. Also presented are values of flood discharges for selected exceedance probabilities and of basin characteristics for all gaging stations used in the analysis. Included are data for 148 stations in Oregon, 3 stations in northern California, 3 stations in western Idaho, 4 stations in northern Nevada, and 4 stations in southern Washington. Drainage areas used in the analysis range from 0.47 to 11,300 square miles. Also included are maximum discharges for all eastern Oregon stations used in the analysis. (USGS)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1977

Water resources of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon

Water resources of the Umatilla Indian Reservation are poorly distributed both geographically and in time. On the reservation, only the Umatilla River and one of its principal tributaries, Meacham Creek, have significant perennial flows. Runoff of the principal streams is largely from snowmelt in the Blue Mountains and is highly variable. The principal aquifers are the Columbia River Basalt Group and the Quaternary alluvium. The basalt underlies the entire reservation to a depth of a few thousand feet, and most wells tap this source. The Quaternary alluvium is present only in the valleys of the principal streams. The alluvium averages about 12 feet (ft) in thickness in the Umatilla River valley, where it has the greatest extent; elsewhere it is generally thinner. Surface-water outflow from the reservation averages about 600 cubic feet per second (ft 3 /s), and the total stream inflow is about 540 ft 3 /s. About 480 ft 3 /s of the outflow is in the Umatilla River, 106 ft 3 /s is in McKay Creek, and 14 ft 3 /s is in other streams. Dependable streamflow, defined here as the 7-day mean low flow that will occur once every 50 years, on the average, is 30 ft 3 /s in Umatilla River above Meacham Creek near Gibbon, 5 ft 3 /s in Meacham Creek below Line Creek at the east boundary, 33 ft 3 /s in Umatilla River at Cayuse, and 14 ft 3 /s in Umatilla River at Pendleton. Monthly mean flows in Umatilla River above Meacham Creek near Gibbon in summer and fall frequently are less than the published recommended minimum flows for spawning and rearing of trout; in the reach of the Umatilla River near Pendleton the summer and fall flows generally are below those recommended minimum flows. Wells in the Columbia River Basalt Group range in depth from a few to 1,910 ft, and their yields range from less than 1 to more than 1,200 gallons per minute (gal/min). Small yields adequate for domestic needs can generally be obtained from the basalt. The depths required for successful wells may be extremely variable. Evaluation of specific-capacity data from wells in the basalt in four geographic areas suggests that the basalt is more permeable beneath the south reservation and the Umatilla River valley, that the permeability decreases on the north reservation, and that it is least in the Blue Mountains. Surface and ground waters generally are of good quality and suitable for most uses. Surface water is soft and generally contains less than 120 milligrams per liter (ug/L) of dissolved solids. Dissolved oxygen in streams is generally at or close to saturation levels at most stream temperatures and discharge rates. Ground water ranges from soft to very hard (28 to 280 mg/L), but it generally ranges between moderately hard to hard (61 to 180 mg/L). Dissolved solids in ground water range from 88 to 561 mg/L, but generally are between 200 and about 250 mg/L. During 1975, an estimated 11 million gallons per day (Mgal/d) of surface and ground water was withdrawn from the reservation for all uses. About 4 Mgal/d was from surface-water sources and 60 percent, or 7 Mgal/d, was from ground-water sources. About 7.2 Mgal/d was used for irrigation, 3.6 Mgal/d for public supply, and the remainder was for domestic and industrial use. About 4 Mgal/d, or 40 percent of the total water withdrawn, was for public supply and for irrigation use outside the reservation boundaries. Local seasonal declines of ground-water levels of 100 ft or more occur in shallow basalt wells in the Umatilla River valley between Mission and the west boundary. The declines are due chiefly to pumping from many small-capacity shallow wells in the basalt for irrigation of lawns and small acreages of pasture or hay. Future potential problems on the reservation include regional decline of ground-water levels in the basalt aquifer and local contamination of surface and ground water from accidental spills of deleterious substances.

Oregon↗
USGS1973

Hydrologic changes after clear-cut logging in a small Oregon coastal watershed

Preliminary graphical analysis indicates that clear-cut logging of a small Oregon watershed has significantly altered certain hydrologic characteristics. After logging, moderate increases were noted in annual runoff, but no significant changes were detected in either peak or minimum flow rates. Both the annual sediment yields and the maximum monthly water temperatures increased greatly after logging; sediment yields and temperatures in the unlogged control watershed actually decreased during the postlogging period.

Oregon↗
USGS1971

Floods of December 1964 and January 1965 in the Far Western States; Part 1 Description

The floods of December 1964 and January 1965 in the Far Western States were extreme; in many areas, the greatest in the history of recorded streamflow and substantially greater than those of December 1955. An unusually large area--Oregon, most of Idaho, northern California, southern Washington, and small areas in western and northern Nevada--was involved. It exceeded the area flooded in 1955. Outstanding features included recordbreaking peak discharges, high sediment concentrations, large sediment loads, and extensive flood damage. The loss of 47 lives and direct property damage of more than $430 million was attributable to the floods. Yet, storage in reservoirs and operation of flood-control facilities were effective in preventing far greater damages in many areas, particularly in the Central Valley in California and the Willamette River basin in Oregon. The floods were caused by three principal storms during the period December 19 to January 31. The December 19-23 storm was the greatest in overall intensity and areal extent. Crests occurred on many major streams December 23, 1964, 9 years to the day after the great flood of December 23, 1955. The January 2-7 storm produced extreme floods in some basins in California. The January 21-31 storm produced maximum stages in some streams in northeastern Oregon and southeastern Washington and a repetition of high flows in part of the Willamette River basin and in some basins in coastal Oregon. All the storms, and particularly the warm torrential rain December 21-23, reflected the combined effect of moist unstable airmasses, strong west-southwest winds, and mountain ranges oriented nearly at right angles to the flow of air. High air temperatures and strong winds associated with the storms caused melting of snow, and the meltwater augmented the rain that fell on frozen ground. The coastal areas of northern California and southern Oregon had measurable rain on as many as 50 days in December and January. A maximum precipitation of nearly 69 inches in the 2-month period was recorded in southern Oregon, and recorded runoff at several streamflow-measurement stations indicates that greater precipitation probably occurred at higher altitudes in these areas. Flood runoff in streams, not affected by regulation, exceeded any previously recorded throughout much of the area. Some streams that had particularly notable floods are: Deep and Plush Creeks in the Great Basin ix Oregon, where the maximum flows were nearly twice those of the record floods of 1963 ; Thomes Creek, a west-side Sacramento River tributary in the Central Valley, where the maximum flow was 160 percent of the record peak of 1955; Eel, Klamath, and Smith Rivers in north-coastal California, where the catastrophic peak flows were about 1-1/3 times the floods of 1955 and the legendary winter floods of 1861-62 and inundated, damaged, or destroyed nearly all communities along the main rivers; Grande Ronde River in the lower Snake River basin, where the peak discharge at La Grande was 1.6 times the previous maximum flow during 57 years of record; John Day River in the lower Columbia River basin, where the peak discharge at the McDonald Ferry gaging station exceeded the historic peak of 1894; many Willamette River tributaries, where maximum flows exceeded previous record flows; and the Rogue River in coastal Oregon, where the maximum flow of about 500,000 cfs below the Illinois River near Agness was 86,000 cfs greater than the previous maximum in a 74-year record. The partly regulated flow of the Willamette River far exceeded that in 1955. The suspended-sediment concentration and load of most streams greatly exceeded any that had been measured previously in the flood area. In Idaho, Washington, and Oregon, the ground thaw that preceded the period of high runoff resulted in conditions conducive to severe erosion of the uplands and subsequent deposition on flooded stream terraces. The greatest concentrations of suspended sedimen

Water Supply Paper↗
USGS1970

Water-surface elevations and channel characteristics for selected reaches of the Rogue River and Elk Creek, Jackson and Josephine Counties, Oregon

The central Rogue River valley, because of its mild climate, fertile soil, scenic attractions, and sport-fishery resource, has great potential for future population growth and industrial development. As the population grows and the area develops, zoning becomes necessary to assure the most beneficial use of the land, especially of the flood plains. To establish land-use zones on the flood plains, the area subject to inundation and elevation of floods must be considered. Areas flooded during the December 1964 flood and the approximate limits of the 1861 flood in Jackson and Josephine Counties are shown in two interim reports (Corps of Engineers, 1965); however, there are no published flood-elevation profiles to use as a basis for establishing meaningful land-use-zone boundaries or for delineating inundated areas of other floods.

Oregon↗
USGS1969

Willamette River at Lambert Bend, Oregon, bridge-site report

The proposed crossing of the Willamette River at Lambert Bend involves a 2.3-mile-wide flood plain. Two of the three principal tangents of the crossing will include bridges that will span the main channel and an overflow channel of the river, as shown in figure 1, page 3. The Oregon State Highway Department wants to know what flow will result when the water-surface elevation upstream from the bridges is 100.0 feet (mean-sea-level datum). This design elevation will be referred to as Condition 1 in this report. Also required in Condition 1 is how much backwater is represented in the 100-foot elevation and how often did this flow occur before the river became regulated in 1941. The Highway Department also wants to know what flow could be expected from a flood event equal to that of December 1964, but regulated by three additional reservoirs that have been completed since 1964. This design discharge will be referred to as Condition 2 in this report. Also required in Condition 2 is the amount of backwater caused by the two constrictions and how often the design flood occurred before regulation began in 1941.

Oregon↗
USGS1968

Evaporation study at Warm Springs Reservoir, Oregon

The mass transfer-water budget method of computing reservoir evaporation was tested on Warm Springs Reservoir, whose contents and surface area change greatly from early spring to late summer. The mass-transfer coefficient computed for the reservoir is two to three times greater than expected and results in a computed evaporation much greater than that from a land pan. Because of the remoteness of the area, the recommended study technique was modified, which could have reduced the accuracy of the results.

Oregon↗