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G. C. Johnson

Publications and source records attributed to G. C. Johnson.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS2010

Viruses and bacteria in karst and fractured rock aquifers in east Tennessee, USA

A survey of enteric viruses and indicator bacteria was carried out in eight community water supply sources (four wells and four springs) in East Tennessee. Seven sites derived their water from carbonate aquifers and one from fractured sandstone. Four of the sites were deemed "low-risk" based on prior monitoring of fecal indicators and factors such as presence of thick layers of overlying sediments. The remaining sites were deemed "high-risk." Enteric viruses (enterovirus and reovirus) were detected by cell culture at least once in seven of the eight wells or springs including all but one of the four low-risk sites. Viral RNA, however, was not detected in any of the samples by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Conventional indicators of microbial contamination (Escherichia coli and total coliform bacteria) were detected together with culturable viruses in seven of nine virus positive samples. Bacteroides, an alternative fecal indicator which has not previously been used in groundwater investigations, was also detected in all but one of the samples containing E. coli or total coliform bacteria, as well as in one sample where viruses were present in the absence of other bacterial indicators. The study highlights some of the challenges involved in surveys of virus occurrence and indicates that culturable enteric viruses in East Tennessee karst aquifers may be more widespread than previously observed in studies of karst aquifers in Pennsylvania (8%), the Ozark region of Missouri (< 1%), or several other states covered in a national microbial water quality survey conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (43%). Copyright ?? 2010 The Author(s). Journal compilation ?? 2010 National Ground Water Association.

Ground Water↗
USGS2001

Shallow ground-water quality adjacent to burley tobacco fields in northeastern Tennessee and southwestern Virginia, spring 1997

In 1994, the U.S. Geological Survey began an assessment of the upper Tennessee River Basin as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program. A ground-water land-use study conducted in 1996 focused on areas with burley tobacco production in northeastern Tennessee and southwestern Virginia. Land-use studies are designed to focus on specific land uses and to examine natural and human factors that affect the quality of shallow ground water underlying specific types of land use. Thirty wells were drilled in shallow regolith adjacent to and downgradient of tobacco fields in the Valley and Ridge Physiographic Province of the upper Tennessee River Basin. Ground-water samples were collected between June 4 and July 9, 1997, to coincide with the application of the majority of pesticides and fertilizers used in tobacco production. Ground-water samples were analyzed for nutrients, major ions, 79 pesticides, 7 pesticide degradation products, 86 volatile organic compounds, and dissolved organic carbon. Nutrient concentrations were lower than the levels found in similar NAWQA studies across the United States during 1993-95. Five of 30 upper Tennessee River Basin wells (16.7 percent) had nitrate levels exceeding 10 mg/L while 19 percent of agricultural land-use wells nationally and 7.9 percent in the Southeast had nitrate concentrations exceeding 10 mg/L. Median nutrient concentrations were equal to or less than national median concentrations. All pesticide concentrations in the basin were less than established drinking water standards, and pesticides were detected less frequently than average for other NAWQA study units. Atrazine was detected at 8 of 30 (27 percent) of the wells, and deethylatrazine (an atrazine degradation product) was found in 9 (30 percent) of the wells. Metalaxyl was found in 17 percent of the wells, and prometon, flumetralin, dimethomorph, 2,4,5-T, 2,4-D, dichlorprop, and silvex were detected once each (3 percent). Volatile organic compounds were detected in 27 of 30 wells. Although none of the volatile organic compound concentrations exceeded drinking water standards, the detection frequency was higher than the average for the other NAWQA study units.

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1996

Detection of and response to a probable volcanogenic T-wave event swarm on the western Blanco Transform Fault Zone

The East Blanco Depression (EBD), a pull-apart basin within the western Blanco Transform Fault Zone (BTFZ), was the site of an intense earthquake T-wave swarm that began at 1317Z on January 9, 1994. Although technically generated earthquakes occur frequently along the BTFZ, this swarm was unusual in that it was preceded and accompanied by periodic, low-frequency, long-duration acoustic signals, that originated from near the swarm epicenters. These tremor-like signals were very similar in character to acoustic energy produced by a shallow-submarine eruption near Socorro Island, a seamount several hundred km west of Baja, California. The ∼69 earthquakes and ∼400 tremor-like events at the EBD occurred sporadically, with two periods of peak activity occurring between January 5–16 and 27–31. The swarm-like character of the earthquakes and the similarity of the tremor activity to the Socorro eruption indicated that the EBD was undergoing an intrusion or eruption episode. On January 27, six CTD/rosette casts were conducted at the site. Water samples from two of the stations yielded anomalous ³He concentrations, with maxima at ∼2800 m depth over the main basin. In June 1994 two camera tows within the basin yielded evidence of pillow-lava volcanism and hydrothermal deposits, but no conclusive evidence of a recent seafloor eruption. In September 1994, deployments of the U.S. Navy's Advanced Tethered Vehicle resulted in the discovery of an active hydrothermal mound on the flanks of a pillow-lava volcano. The hydrothermal mound consists of Fe-rich hydrothermal precipitate and bacterial mats. Temperatures to 60°C were measured 30 cm below the surface. This is the first discovery of active hydrothermal vents along an oceanic fracture zone. Although no conclusive evidence of volcanic activity associated with the T-wave event swarm was found during these response efforts, the EBD has been the site of recent seafloor eruptions.

Geophysical Research Letters↗
USGS1996

A seepage investigation of an area at and near Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, March through August 1993

A seepage investigation was conducted of an area surrounding the Oak Ridge National Laboratory from March through August 1993. The project was divided into three phases: a reconnaissance to inventory and map seeps, springs, and stream-measurement sites; a high base flow seepage investigation; and a low base flow seepage investigation. The reconnaissance consisted of following each tributary to its source to inventory each site where water was issuing from the ground. Stream- measurement sites were also located along stream reaches at 500-foot intervals. A total of 822 sites were identified. A global positioning system was used to locate 483 sites to within 3- to 5-meter accuracy. The high base flow seepage investigation was conducted from April 29 through May 3, 1993, and from May 7 through May 10, 1993. During the high base flow seepage investigation, sites identified during the reconnaissance were revisited. At almost all sites with flowing water, discharge, pH, specific conductance, and temperature were recorded. Two hundred and fourteen sites were dry. The low base flow seepage investigation was conducted from August 8 through August 10, 1993, and consisted of revisiting the seeps and springs that were flowing during the high base flow seepage investigation. Stream- measurement sites were not revisited. One hundred and forty-one sites were dry.

Open-File Report↗
USGS1996

Results of a seepage investigation at Bear Creek Valley, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, January through September 1994

A seepage investigation was conducted of 4,600 acres of Bear Creek Valley southwest of the Y-12 Plant, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, for the period of January through September 1994. The data were collected to help the Y-12 Environmental Restoration Program develop a better understanding of ground-water and surface-water interactions, recharge and discharge relations, and ground-water flow patterns. The project was divided into three phases: a reconnaissance and mapping of seeps, springs, and stream-measurment sites; a high base flow seepage investigation; and a low base flow seepage investigation. The reconnaissance was conducted from January 6 to March 1, 1994, to identify and map the locations of seeps, springs, and stream-measurement sites. A total of 701 sites were identified. They consisted of 382 stream- measurement sites, 265 seeps, 48 springs, and 6 wetlands. A global positioning system was used to locate 680 sites to within 3- to 5-meter accuracy. The high base flow seepage investigation was conducted from March 14 through March 19, 1994. Measurements were made at 579 of the 701 sites identified in the reconnaissance that still had flowing water. Flow rates ranged from less than 0.005 to 6.89 cubic feet per second for the streams, from less than 0.005 to 0.13 cubic foot per second for the seeps, and from less than 0.005 to 1 cubic foot per second for the springs. pH ranged from 5.0 to 8.4 for the streams, from 5.1 to 8.2 for the seeps, from 5.3 to 8.0 for the springs, and from 6.7 to 6.8 for the wetland sites. Specific conductance ranged from 16 to 1,670 microsiemens per centimeter for the streams, from 17 to 1,710 microsiemens per centimeter for the seeps, from 14 to 1,150 microsiemens per centimeter for the springs, and from 102 to 160 microsiemens per centimeter for the wetland sites. Temperature ranged from 4.5 to 16.0 degrees Celsius for the streams, from 5.0 to 21.0 degrees Celsius for the seeps, from 6.0 to 13.5 degrees Celsius for the springs, and from 13.0 to 19.5 degrees Celsius for the wetland sites. Dissolved oxygen ranged from 4.8 to 11.2 milligrams per liter for the streams, 1.2 to 11.3 milligrams per liter for the seeps, and from 0.6 to 11.0 milligrams per liter for the springs. Dissolved oxygen at a wetland site measured 3.8 milligrams per liter. The low base flow investigation was conducted from September 9 through September 29, 1994. The stream sites, seeps, and springs that had flow during the high base flow seepage investigation were revisited. One-hundred seventy-six of the stream sites visited still had flow. Discharge ranged from less than 0.005 to 0.76 cubic foot per second; pH, from 4.8 to 8.3; specific conductance, from 47 to 2,030 microsiemens per centimeter; temperature, from 13.5 to 22.5 degrees Celsius; and dissolved oxygen, from 3.6 to 8.7 milligrams per liter. Twenty-five of the seeps visited were flowing and had discharge ranging from less than 0.005 to 0.01 cubic foot per second; pH, from 6.0 to 7.7; specific conductance, from 36 to 395 microsiemens per centimeter; temperature, from 16.0 to 21.0 degrees Celsius; and dissolved oxygen, from 2.2 to 9.0 milligrams per liter. Thirty springs visited were flowing and had discharge ranging from less than 0.005 to 0.37 cubic foot per second; pH, from 6.5 to 7.7; specific conductance, from 26 to 1,220 microsiemens per centimeter; temperature, from 14.0 to 20.0 degrees Celsius; and dissolved oxygen, from 1.0 to 9.2 milligrams per liter. All of the wetland sites visited were dry.

Open-File Report↗