Geology topics

Lawrence J. Mansue

Publications and source records attributed to Lawrence J. Mansue.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS1996

Suspended-sediment characteristics of Indiana streams, 1952-84

Suspended-sediment concentration and discharge data were collected at 7 daily record stations and 70 partial-record stations during 1952- 84. Median suspended-sediment concentrations ranged from 24 to 61 milligrams per liter at daily record stations; concentrations ranged from 6 to 539 milligrams per liter at partial-record stations. Most suspended sediment transported in Indiana streams is silt and clay size (particles between 0.062 and 0.004 millimeter in diameter and particles less than 0.004 millimeter in diameter). Large suspended-sediment concentrations were associated with storm runoff but not always with peak streamflow. Some peak concentrations of suspended sediment preceded peak streamflow by as much as 18 to 30 hours during storms. Suspended-sediment concentrations frequently were largest during a storm that occurred after a period of low streamflow, when large amounts of sediment were eroded and transported into the stream and little base flow was available for dilution. For most of the streams studied, reliable predictive equations could not be developed to quantify the relation between suspended-sediment concentration and streamflow because of the extreme variability in the data. Annual suspended-sediment yields at four daily record stations ranged from 186 to 1,914 tons per square mile. Annual suspended-sediment yields for 70 partial-record stations, estimated by use of the suspended-sediment transport, flowduration-curve method, ranged from 11 to 2,310 tons per square mile. However, because of the poor correlation between suspended-sediment discharge and streamflow, these estimates are imprecise. Periods of record at 4 daily record and 32 partial-record stations were sufficient to test for trends. The trend in suspended-sediment concentration, adjusted for streamflow, was significant for only 9 of the 36 stations. At six of the nine stations, flow-adjusted suspended-sediment concentrations decreased with time.

Indiana↗

USGS1991

Well-construction and hydrogeologic data for observation wells in the vicinity of a low-level radioactive-waste disposal site near Sheffield, Illinois

The U.S. Geological Survey conducted hydrogeologic studies at the low-level radioactive-waste disposal site near Sheffield, Illinois, from 1976 through 1987. During that period, 108 observation wells were installed in the vicinity of the disposal site in glacial and post-glacial deposits of Quaternary age and bedrock of Pennsylvanian age. Data in this report include the location of each well, the date each well was drilled, the geologic units penetrated by each well, the physical measurements of each well, the elevations of the top (measuring point) of each well and geologic-unit contacts at each well, and the highest and lowest recorded water levels in each well.

Open-File Report↗

USGS1974

Sediment transport by streams draining into the Delaware Estuary

The quantity of sediment transported by streams draining into the Delaware estuary from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware varies areally according to geology, physiography, and land use. Of the estimated total sediment load of 1.6 million tons entering the Delaware estuary annually, about 48 percent is contributed by the Delaware River main stem at Trenton, NJ; 34 percent by Pennsylvania tributaries; and 18 percent by New Jersey and Delaware tributaries.

Water Supply Paper↗

USGS1974

Effects of land use and retention practices on sediment yields in the Stony Brook basin, New Jersey

The average annual rate of suspended-sediment discharge of the Stony Brook at Princeton, N.J. (44.5 square miles) is about 8,800 tons, or 200 tons per square mile. Annual yields within the basin, which is in the Piedmont Lowlands section of the Piedmont physiographic province in west-central New Jersey, range from 25 to 400 tons per square mile. Storm runoff that transports suspended materials in excess of a ton carries 90 percent of the total suspended-sediment discharge from the basin. Observations of particlesize distributions indicate that the suspended material carried during storms is 55 percent silt, 40 percent clay, and 5 percent sand. A trend analysis of sediment records collected at Princeton between 1956 and 1970 indicated an increase in suspended-sediment discharge per unit of water discharge during 1956-61. From early 1962 to late 1967, sediment trends were difficult to interpret owing to complicating factors, such as reservoir construction, urbanization, and extreme drought. After 1967, yields decreased. Variations in sediment yields during the study are attributed to the integrated influence of several factors. A 2.9 percent decrease in croplands and an increase of 5.1 percent in idle and urban land use probably produced a net increase in sediment yields. Construction of seven sediment-retention reservoirs under Public Law 566 resulted in temporary increases in sediment yields. However, based on a trap-efficiency investigation at 1 site, the combined effect of operation of these 7 reservoirs is estimated to result in a 20 percent reduction in sediment discharge from the basin. Other factors that influence the noted decrease include reduction in yields during 5 years of drought, 1962-66, and reduced construction and development during the latter part of the study period resulting from a general economic slowdown.

Water Supply Paper↗

USGS1972

Suspended sediment yield of New Jersey coastal plain streams draining into the Delaware estuary

An investigation was begun in 1965 by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Philadelphia District to meet the Corps’ need for information on sediment transport in the Delaware River basin in relation to the maintenance of navigable channels in the river 's estuarine areas. Sediment records were needed by the Corps to identify the principal sources and amounts of suspended sediment transported by New Jersey tributary streams into these estuarine areas. In order to meet the project's objective, a daily sediment sampling program at streamflow- gaging stations on Crosswicks Creek, Cooper River, Maurice River, and Raccoon Creek was established. Because of protracted drought, which resulted in unusually low sediment discharges, the period of data collection at these daily stations was extended. Upon reviewing these records, three partial-record stations were established on the Pennsauken, Big Timber, and Mantua Creeks in 1970 to complete the areal coverage. Records at two additional stations, Delaware River at Trenton and McDonalds Branch in Lebanon State Forest, collected as part of other cooperative projects were available also for use in this study. The purpose of this report is to summarize sediment data collected at selected stream-sampling sites in southern New Jersey. Computations of excepted average annual yields at each sampling site were made and utilized to estimate the annual yield at ungaged sites. Similar data currently are being compiled for streams draining Pennsylvania and Delaware. It is planned to report on the combined information at a later date in the Geological Survey's Water-Supply Paper series.

New Jersey↗