Geology topics
Janet Hren
Publications and source records attributed to Janet Hren.
Water-quality data-collection activities in Colorado and Ohio: Phase III-evaluation of existing data for use in assessing regional water-quality conditions and trends
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Water-quality data-collection activities in Colorado and Ohio; Phase III, evaluation of existing data for use in assessing regional water-quality conditions and trends
During the past several years, a growing number of questions have been raised by members of Congress and others about the status of current waterquality conditions in the Nation, trends in water quality, and the major factors that affect water-quality conditions and trends. One area of particular interest and concern has been the suitability of existing water-quality data for addressing these types of questions at regional and national scales. In response to these questions and concerns, the U.S. Geological Survey began a pilot study in Colorado and Ohio to (1) determine the characteristics of current water-quality data-collection activities of Federal, State, regional, and local agencies and universities; and (2) determine how well the data from these activities, collected for various purposes and using different procedures, can be used to improve our ability to address the aforementioned questions. Colorado and Ohio were chosen for the pilot study because they represent regions with different types of water-quality issues and programs. The results of the study are specific to the two States and are not intended to be extrapolated to other States. The study was divided into three phases whose objectives were: Phase I Identify and inventory 1984 water-quality data-collection programs, including costs, in Colorado and Ohio, and identify those programs that meet a set of broad criteria for producing data that potentially are appropriate for water-quality assessments of regional and national scope. Phase II Evaluate the quality assurance of field and laboratory procedures used to produce the data from programs that met the broad criteria of Phase I. Phase III Compile the qualifying data from Phase II and evaluate the extent to which the resulting data base can be used to address selected water-quality questions for the two States. This report presents the results of Phase III, focusing on (1) the number of measurements made at each data-collection site for selected constituents, (2) the areal distribution of those sites that have sufficient data for selected types of analyses, and (3) the availability of key ancillary information such as streamflow to address broad-scope questions such as: What are existing water-quality conditions? Has the water quality changed? and How do existing water-quality conditions and changes in these conditions relate to natural factors and human-induced activities?
Water-quality data-collection activities in Colorado and Ohio: Phase II- evaluation of 1984 field and laboratory quality-assurance practices
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Water-quality data-collection activities in Colorado and Ohio; Phase II, Evaluation of 1984 field and laboratory quality-assurance practices
Serious questions have been raised by Congress about the usefulness of water-quality data for addressing issues of regional and national scope and, especially, for characterizing the current quality of the Nation's streams and ground water. In response, the U.S. Geological Survey has undertaken a pilot study in Colorado and Ohio to (1) determine the characteristics of current (1984) water-quality data-collection activities of Federal, regional, State, and local agencies, and academic institutions; and (2) determine how well the data from these activities, collected for various purposes and using different procedures, can be used to improve our ability to answer major broad-scope questions, such as: A. What are (or were) natural or near-natural water-quality conditions? B. What are existing water-quality conditions? C. How has water quality changed, and how do the changes relate to human activities? Colorado and Ohio were chosen for the pilot study largely because they represent regions with different types of waterquality concerns and programs. The study has been divided into three phases, the objectives of which are: Phase I--Inventory water-quality data-collection programs, including costs, and identify those programs that met a set of broad criteria for producing data that are potentially appropriate for water-quality assessments of regional and national scope. Phase II--Evaluate the quality assurance of field and laboratory procedures used in producing the data from programs that met the broad criteria of Phase I. Phase III--Compile the qualifying data and evaluate the adequacy of this data base for addressing selected water-quality questions of regional and national scope. Water-quality data are collected by a large number of organizations for diverse purposes ranging from meeting statutory requirements to research on water chemistry. Combining these individual data bases is an appealing and potentially cost-effective way to attempt to develop a data base adequate for regional or national water-quality assessments. However, to combine data from diverse sources, field and laboratory procedures used to produce the data need to be equivalent and need to meet specific qualityassurance standards. It is these factors that are the focus of Phase II, which is described in this report. In the first phase of this study, an inventory was made of all public organizations and academic institutions that undertook water-quality data-collection activities in Colorado and Ohio in 1984. Water-quality programs identified in Phase I were tested against a set of broad screening criteria. A total of 44 waterquality programs in Colorado and 29 programs in Ohio passed the Phase-I screen and were examined in Phase II. These programs accounted for an estimated 165,000 analyses in Colorado and 76,300 analyses in Ohio for 20 selected constituents and properties. Although qualifying programs included both surface- and ground-water sampling, they emphasized surface waters and produced few groundwater analyses (3,660 for Colorado and 470 for Ohio). For Phase II, information about field and laboratory qualityassurance practices was provided by each organization and its supporting laboratories through questionnaires. This information was evaluated against a set of specific criteria for field and laboratory practices. The criteria were developed from guidelines published by public agencies and professional organizations such as the American Public Health Association, the U.Sc, Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Geological Survey. Each of the eight criteria that comprise the Phase-II screen fall into one of two major categories--field practices or laboratory practices.
Water-quality data-collection activities in Colorado and Ohio; Phase I-inventory and evaluation of 1984 programs and costs
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Changes in ground-water quality resulting from surface coal mining of a small watershed in Jefferson County, Ohio
Two samples were collected from each of six wells in a small watershed in Jefferson County, Ohio, in 1984. The watershed was mined and reclamation begun in 1980. Data collected from 1976 through 1982 indicate that ground-water quality was still changing at that time. The purpose of this study was to determine to what extent ground-water quality continued to change 4 years after mining. The upper saturated zone was destroyed by mining and replaced by spoiled material during reclamation. A new saturated zone then formed in the spoils material. The premining median concentrations of sulfate, manganese, and dissolved solids in the upper saturated zone were 84 milligrams per liter (mg/L). 30 micrograms per liter (?g/L), and 335 mg/L, respectively. The postmining median concentrations of these constituents in the upper-zone wells disturbed by mining were 360 mg/L, 595 ?g/L, and 814 mg/L, respectively. Concentrations of these constituents were still increasing in 1984 in the upper saturated zone. In the area not disturbed by mining, concentrations have remained nearly at premining levels. The premining median concentrations of sulfate, manganese, and dissolved solids in the middle saturated zone were 47 mg/L, 10 ?g/L and 405 mg/L, respectively. The postmining median concentrations were 390 mg/L, 490 ?g/L, and 959 mg/L, respectively. In the middle saturated zone, concentrations of these constituents also were still increasing in 1984, probably due to mixing with water if the upper saturated zone.
Water-quality data-collection activities in Colorado and Ohio; Phase I, Inventory and evaluation of 1984 programs and costs
Pilot projects are being conducted in Colorado and Ohio to determine the extent to which existing water quality data, collected by different groups for various purposes and using different procedures, can be aggregated for use in addressing selected water quality questions of regional and national scope. The project has been divided into three phases; this report presents the results of the first phase that characterizes current water quality data collection activities in Colorado and Ohio, including costs of sample analysis, and identifies those data potentially applicable and readily available for addressing selected water quality questions of regional and national scope. An estimated $63 million was spent during 1984 in the two States for only the laboratory analysis of water quality samples. For many agencies, total program costs are believed to be more than twice the laboratory costs. About four times more samples were reported for Ohio than for Colorado. Water quality data collection programs were tested against a set of five screening criteria. In Colorado, 34 percent of all samples met all five criteria; whereas, in Ohio, 5 percent of all samples met all five criteria. In Colorado, analyses from 114,300 samples (34 percent of the total), and in Ohio, analyses from 57,000 samples (5 percent of the total) potentially are applicable and readily available for addressing water quality questions of regional and national scope. These samples represent about $8 million in estimated laboratory costs. (USGS)
A statistical approach to evaluate the relation of coal mining, land reclamation, and surface-water quality in Ohio
Base-flow data from 779 sites in Ohio 's coal region were analyzed statistically to relate land use to selected water-quality characteristics. Sites were classified into five categories: unmined (100 percent unmined land), abandoned (50 percent or more abandoned surface mines), reclaimed (50 percent or more reclaimed surface mines), deep-mined (50 percent or more underground mines), and mixed (all others). Specific conductance , pH, alkalinity, acidity, sulfate, dissolved iron, total iron, and total manganese in streams draining basins in the coal region were the eight characteristics selected for analysis. (USGS)
Determination of reaeration coefficients for Ohio streams
The hydrocarbon-gas tracer technique was used to determine reaeration coefficients on 30 reaches of Ohio streams. The studies were done from September 1979 through August 1982 to determine the reaeration coefficients for the individual reaches and to develop general equation that could be used to estimate the coefficients. Multiple linear regression was used to determine relationships among the reaeration coefficients and physical stream characteristics. Four special equation based on the general equation were developed from various combinations of discharge, slope, width, depth, measured velocity, and estimated velocity. The standard errors of estimate for these equations ranged from 37 to 47 percent. The variables that resulted in the lowest standard error of estimate were discharge, slope, width, depth, and measured velocity. The most significant variables were depth and velocity.
Measurement of the reaeration coefficients of the North Fork Licking River at Utica, Ohio by radioactive tracers
Reaeration coefficients of the North Fork Licking River at Utica, Ohio were measured by the radioactive-tracer method. The tests were conducted on a 2.1-mile reach on September 23 and October 7, 1981, during low-flow conditions. Krypton-85 gas and tritium were the radioopactive tracers, which were used in conjunction with rhodamine-WT dye. The reaertion coefficients determined on September 23 were 3.09 days -1 (subreach 1-2) and 3.32 days -1 (subreach 2-3). On October 7, the values were 2.04 days -1 and 2.23 days -1 respectively.
Potential impacts of a proposed reservoir on hydrologic and water-quality conditions in Little Rush Creek watershed, Fairfield County, Ohio
Water-quality and discharge measurements were made at three sites on Indian Run and one site on Little Rush Creek between February and December, 1979. Indian Run was observed above and below the U.S. Soil Conservation Service Reservoir, VI-D. Little Rush Creek was observed 1.1 miles downstream from the proposed U.S. Soil Conservation Reservoir, VI-A, site. Data from the Indian Run sites were used to predict the potential water-quality conditions in and downstream from the proposed Little Rush Creek Reservoir. Temperatures measured in Indian Run at the reservoir outflow were as much as 4oc greater than those at the inflow. Dissolved-oxygen saturation ranged from 62 to 110 percent in the inflow and from 57 to 120 percent in the outflow. Indian Run and Little Push Creek are characterized by moderately hard to very hard calcium bicarbonate water. The concentration of dieldrin in water samples from both Little Rush Creek and the outflow from the reservoir on Indian Run was 0.01 micrograms per liter, and in reservoir-surface samples it was 0.02 micrograms per liter. Chlordane concentration in a bottom material sample from the reservoir was 26 micrograms per kilogram. Catfish taken from the reservoir contained 190 micrograms per kilogram chlordane. All sites showed a good diversity in benthic invertebrate communities. Blue-green algal blooms occurred in the reservoir, indicating nutrient-enriched conditions. Because of similarities in land use and watershed characteristics, water in the proposed reservoir VI-A is expected to be similar in quality to that of reservoir VI-D. The new reservoir will not significantly affect downstream water quality.