Geology topics

Jason C. McVay

Publications and source records attributed to Jason C. McVay.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS2015

Evaluation of the Ott Hydromet Qliner for measuring discharge in laboratory and field conditions

The U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with the University of Iowa IIHR – Hydroscience and Engineering, evaluated the use of the Ott Hydromet Qliner using laboratory flume tests along with field validation tests. Analysis of the flume testing indicates the velocities measured by the Qliner at a 40-second exposure time results in higher dispersion of velocities from the mean velocity of data collected with a 5-minute exposure time. The percent data spread from the mean of a 100-minute mean of Qliner velocities for a 40-second exposure time averaged 16.6 percent for the entire vertical, and a 5-minute mean produced a 6.2 percent data spread from the 100-minute mean. This 16.6 percent variation in measured velocity would result in a 3.32 percent variation in computed discharge assuming 25 verticals while averaging 4 bins in each vertical. The flume testing also provided results that indicate the blanking distance of 0.20 meters is acceptable when using beams 1 and 2, however beam 3 is negatively biased near the transducer and the 0.20-meter blanking distance is not sufficient. Field testing included comparing the measured discharge by the Qliner to the discharge measured by a Price AA mechanical current meter and a Teledyne RDI Rio Grande 1200 kilohertz acoustic Doppler current profiler. The field tests indicated a difference between the discharges measured with the Qliner and the field reference discharge between -14.0 and 8.0 percent; however the average percent difference for all 22 field comparisons was 0.22, which was not statistically significant.

Iowa↗

USGS2009

Water-Quality and Biological Assessment of the Iowa River and Tributaries Within and Contiguous to the Meskwaki Settlement of the Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa, 2006-07

In cooperation with the Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa (Meskwaki Nation), the U.S. Geological Survey conducted a 2-year baseline assessment of the chemical and biological quality of streams within the Meskwaki Settlement in central Iowa. The Meskwaki Nation is a federally recognized tribe that wishes to establish water-quality standards to safeguard the integrity of surface waters and aquatic biota within the settlement for the health and welfare of the tribal community. The settlement is drained by the Iowa River and four tributaries (Onion, Cattail, Raven, and Bennett Creeks). Water-quality samples were collected at three sites on the Iowa River, two sites on Onion Creek, and one site each on Cattail, Raven, and Bennett Creeks from April 2006 through July 2007. Biological and habitat assessments were conducted at all three sites on the Iowa River and the downstream-most site on Onion Creek from June through August 2007. Analysis of physical properties, major ions, nutrients, trace compounds, bacteria, and total suspended solids in water, and trace metals and organic compounds in streambed sediment provided information about the effects of anthropogenic (human related) activities on the water quality of settlement streams. Analysis of biological samples collected during the summer of 2007, including fish community, benthic macroinvertebrates, and periphyton samples, as well as physical habitat characteristics, provided information on the effects of water quality on the condition of the aquatic environment. The majority of surface water sampled within the settlement was predominately a calcium bicarbonate type. Nitrates (nitrate plus nitrite as nitrogen) exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) primary drinking-water Maximum Contaminant Level of 10 ug/L in 19 of 36 samples from sites on the Iowa River and Raven and Bennett Creeks but not in samples from Onion and Cattail Creeks. None of the samples analyzed for pesticides, trace metals, wastewater, or fuel contaminants were found to exceed drinking-water regulations for the USEPA or State of Iowa targeted constituents. Bacteria densities for Escherichia coli (E. coli) ranged from less than 10 to more than 600,000 colony-forming units per 100 milliliters of water and were largest following intense rainfall runoff. The largest densities were recorded in samples collected from the tributaries, most notably from Cattail Creek downstream from the tribal headquarters area and Onion Creek downstream from the sewage lagoons. Arsenic and nickel concentrations in bottom sediment from Onion Creek exceeded the USEPA threshold effects level in a composite sample collected during the habitat assessment in July 2007. Suspended-sediment concentration was estimated in terms of total suspended solids. Overall, Onion and Bennett Creeks were the least turbid, whereas the ephemeral Cattail Creek had the most turbid samples. Aquatic-community data were collected at four sites on the Meskwaki Settlement during the summer of 2007 to provide a baseline biological assessment of stream conditions. This assessment was based on sampling of the fish, benthic macroinvertebrate, and periphyton communities along with physical habitat characteristics. Individual biological metrics were derived from the data collected during the community surveys. These metrics were used to calculate Indexes of Biological Integrity (IBIs). The calculated values from the IBIs provided a numerical value that was used to provide an assessment of the biological condition at each biological sampling site. The fish community samples indicated that all of the sampling sites would be considered in fair condition, with one exception being a collection site on the Iowa River at Highway 49 near Tama, Iowa, which was classified in poor condition. The benthic macroinvertebrate IBI indicated a classification of good for three of the four biological sampling sites, with the Iowa River near Montour, Iowa,

Scientific Investigations Report↗

USGS2003

Bathymetric mapping, sediment quality, and water quality of Lake Delhi, Iowa, 2001-02

Lake Delhi was formed in 1929 when the Interstate Power Company dammed the Maquoketa River near Delhi, Iowa, for generation of hydroelectric power. The resulting 450-acre lake became a popular area in eastern Iowa for boating, swimming, and fishing. Hydroelectric power generation ended in 1973, and lakeside residents purchased the dam to maintain the recreational opportunities of the lake. Increasing concerns about sediment deposition and water quality by lakeside residents led to a 2-year study that included a bathymetric survey, an assessment of sediment quality, and an assessment of water quality of Lake Delhi. A bathymetric map of Lake Delhi was constructed using more than 300,000 data points from echo sounding results and GIS (geographic information system) software. Results of bathymetric mapping showed that the upstream reach through most of the upstream-middle reach of Lake Delhi (approximately 3 miles) from about 0.25 mile upstream from the Greenslades coring site through Clair View Acres were particularly affected by sedimentation, with water depths ranging from less than 1 foot to a few areas that were as much as 10 feet deep. Numerous areas in the upstream-most 1-mile of the lake (about 0.25 mile upstream from the Greenslades coring site to just downstream from The Cedars coring site) had depths of only 1 to 2 feet and were nearly impassable by boats. The middle reach of Lake Delhi (an approximately 2.5-mile segment) from about one-half mile upstream from the Linden Acres coring site to just downstream from the Hartwick Dredge coring site was less affected by sedimentation with water depths from less than 1 to 16 feet. The deepest section (26 feet) of the lake was near the dam. Eleven trace metals and phosphorus were analyzed in 20 samples from seven lake-bottom sediment cores. The median and average traceelement concentrations from the sediment cores were less than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency threshold-effects-level and probableeffects-level guidelines for toxic biological effects. Water-quality samples from eight sites (Maquoketa River, three lake sites, and four tributaries) were collected for five sampling periods (June 2001–July 2002). Water-quality samples were analyzed for physical properties (specific conductance, pH, temperature, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, and alkalinity), nutrients (nitrate, ammonia, and phosphorus), bacteria (total coliform and E. coli ), and suspended sediment. Selected water samples were analyzed for major ions, trace elements, and pesticides. Water-quality sampling results indicate areas affected by elevated nutrient and bacteria concentrations in the lake and tributary streams. The tributary streams had the highest median nitrate concentrations (12.1 milligrams per liter) when compared to median nitrate concentrations in the lake (8.7 milligrams per liter) or the Maquoketa River (10.5 milligrams per liter). The maximum nitrate concentrations detected for Maquoketa River, lake, and tributary sites were 13.5, 13.5, and 18.6 milligrams per liter, respectively. Nitrate concentrations in the late summer decreased from 2 Bathymetric Mapping, Sediment Quality, and Water Quality of Lake Delhi, Iowa, 2001–02 the upstream (7.8 milligrams per liter) to the downstream (5.0 milligrams per liter) one-third of Lake Delhi and most likely were the result of uptake of nitrate by algae and aquatic biota in the lake. Median concentrations of total coliform and E. coli bacteria for the lake sites were 450 and 17 colonies per 100 milliliters of sample, respectively. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency criteria for full body contact (swimming or bathing) are 200 colonies per 100 milliliters for fecal bacteria and 126 colonies per 100 milliliters for E. coli bacteria. The highest bacteria concentrations in the lake occurred after a rain and were 25,000 colonies per 100 milliliters total coliform and 1,900 colonies per 100 milliliters E. coli .

Iowa↗