Geology topics

Loren A. Wittenberg

Publications and source records attributed to Loren A. Wittenberg.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS1980

Water quality of Bear Creek basin, Jackson County, Oregon

Water-quality data identify surface-water-quality problems in Bear Creek basin, Jackson County, Oreg., where possible, their causes or sources. Irrigation and return-flow data show pastures are sources of fecal coliform and fecal streptococci bacteria and sinks for suspended sediment and nitrite-plus-nitrate nitrogen. Bear Creek and its tributaries have dissolved oxygen and pH values that do not meet State standards. Forty to 50% of the fecal coliform and fecal streptococci concentrations were higher than 1,000 bacteria colonies per 100 milliliters during the irrigation season in the lower two-thirds of the basin. During the irrigation season, suspended-sediment concentrations, average 35 milligrams per liter, were double those for the nonirrigation season. The Ashland sewage-treatment plant is a major source of nitrite plus nitrate, ammonia, and Kjeldahl nitrogen, and orthophosphate in Bear Creek. (USGS)

Open-File Report↗

USGS1978

Hydrologic data in Bear Creek Basin and western Jackson County, Oregon, 1976-77

To determine irrigation return flow impacts on Meyer Creek and Griffin Creek, 12 sites were sampled prior to and during the irrigation season. Thirty-three sets of samples, consisting of irrigation inflow and outflow samples on farms, were collected to determine if the use of irrigation water was improving or degrading the water quality. One hundred fifty visits were made to tributaries and Bear Creek to collect and analyze samples to help isolate the source of water-quality problems. Three diel studies were made on six main-stem Bear Creek sites, two during and one after the irrigation season, to help identify main-stem water-quality problems. Rainfall and runoff data from five small basins as well as water-quality data from four of the basins were collected during storm events.

Oregon↗

USGS1978

Storm-water data for Bear Creek basin, Jackson County, Oregon 1977-78

Storm-water-quality samples were collected from four subbasins in the Bear Creek basin in southern Oregon. These subbasins vary in drainage size, channel slope, effective impervious area, and land use. Automatic waterquality samplers and precipitation and discharge gages were set up in each of the four subbasins. During the period October 1977 through May 1978, 19 sets of samples, including two base-flow samples, were collected. Fecal coliform bacteria colonies per 100-milliliter sample ranged from less than 1,000 to more than 1,000,000. Suspended-sediment concentrations ranged from less than 1 to more than 2,300 milligrams per liter. One subbasin consisting of downtown businesses and streets with heavy vehicular traffic was monitored for lead. Total lead values ranging from 100 to 1,900 micrograms per liter were measured during one storm event.

Open-File Report↗

USGS1977

1976 water-quality data in Bear Creek basin, Medford, Oregon

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Rogue Valley Council of Governments, is studying surface-water-quality problems and their causes in the Bear Creek basin of southwestern Oregon. Two specific areas of investigation include: measurements of the quality and quantity of water in the irrigation canals and drainage system and the diel (during a 24-hour period) variation of water-quality parameters in the main stem of Bear Creek. The irrigation and drainage study involves 25 sites in canals and natural drainageways. One hundred thirty-three samples were collected for analysis, and discharge was determined at the time of collection. The diel study includes six sites on Bear Creek. On August 23-24, four parameters were monitored at all six sites during a 24-hour period.

Oregon↗