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Michael F. Wong

Publications and source records attributed to Michael F. Wong.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS2008

Effects of the H-3 Highway stormwater runoff on the water quality of Halawa Stream, Oahu, Hawaii, November 1998 to August 2004

Since November 1998, water-quality data have been collected from the H-3 Highway Storm Drain C, which collects runoff from a 4-mi-long viaduct, and from Halawa Stream on Oahu, Hawaii. From January 2001 to August 2004, data were collected from the storm drain and four stream sites in the Halawa Stream drainage basin as part of the State of Hawaii Department of Transportation Storm Water Monitoring Program. Data from the stormwater monitoring program have been published in annual reports. This report uses these water-quality data to explore how the highway storm-drain runoff affects Halawa Stream and the factors that might be controlling the water quality in the drainage basin. In general, concentrations of nutrients, total dissolved solids, and total suspended solids were lower in highway runoff from Storm Drain C than at stream sites upstream and downstream of Storm Drain C. The opposite trend was observed for most trace metals, which generally occurred in higher concentrations in the highway runoff from Storm Drain C than in the samples collected from Halawa Stream. The absolute contribution from Storm Drain C highway runoff, in terms of total storm loads, was much smaller than at stations upstream and downstream, whereas the constituent yields (the relative contribution per unit drainage basin area) at Storm Drain C were comparable to or higher than storm yields at stations upstream and downstream. Most constituent concentrations and loads in stormwater runoff increased in a downstream direction. The timing of the storm sampling is an important factor controlling constituent concentrations observed in stormwater runoff samples. Automated point samplers were used to collect grab samples during the period of increasing discharge of the storm throughout the stormflow peak and during the period of decreasing discharge of the storm, whereas manually collected grab samples were generally collected during the later stages near the end of the storm. Grab samples were analyzed to determine concentrations and loads at a particular point in time. Flow-weighted time composite samples from the automated point samplers were analyzed to determine mean constituent concentrations or loads during a storm. Chemical analysis of individual grab samples from the automated point sampler at Storm Drain C demonstrated the “first flush” phenomenon—higher constituent concentrations at the beginning of runoff events—for the trace metals cadmium, lead, zinc, and copper, whose concentrations were initially high during the period of increasing discharge and gradually decreased over the duration of the storm. Water-quality data from Storm Drain C and four stream sites were compared to the State of Hawaii Department of Health (HDOH) water-quality standards to determine the effects of highway storm runoff on the water quality of Halawa Stream. The geometric-mean standards and the 10- and 2-percent-of-the-time concentration standards for total nitrogen, nitrite plus nitrate, total phosphorus, total suspended solids, and turbidity were exceeded in many of the comparisons. However, these standards were not designed for stormwater sampling, in which constituent concentrations would be expected to increase for short periods of time. With the aim of enhancing the usefulness of the water-quality data, several modifications to the stormwater monitoring program are suggested. These suggestions include (1) the periodic analyzing of discrete samples from the automated point samplers over the course of a storm to get a clearer profile of the storm, from first flush to the end of the receding discharge; (2) adding an analysis of the dissolved fractions of metals to the sampling plan; (3) installation of an automatic sampler at Bridge 8 to enable sampling earlier in the storms; (4) a one-time sampling and analysis of soils upstream of Bridge 8 for base-line contaminant concentrations; (5) collection of samples from Halawa Stream during low-flow conditions to determine base-line conditions; (6) addition of the dissolved fraction of the metals chromium and nickel to the sampling plan; (7) elimination of fecal coliform and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) analyses from the sampling plan; and (8) a study to examine the efficiency of the highway street sweeping.

Hawaii↗
USGS2005

Water Quality in the Halawa, Haiku, and Kaneohe Drainage Basins Before, During, and After H-3 Highway Construction, Oahu, Hawaii, 1983-1999

Selected water-quality data collected before, during, and after construction of the H-3 Highway at 13 water-quality stations were compared to the State of Hawaii Department of Health water-quality standards to determine the effects of highway construction on the water quality of the affected streams. Highway construction had no effect on the high concentrations of total nitrogen and nitrite plus nitrate nitrogen observed except for increased nitrite plus nitrate nitrogen concentrations at one station on Hooleinaiwa Stream. Exceedences of the 10- and 2-percent-of-the-time concentration standards for total phosphorus, total suspended solids, and turbidity, all constituents associated with sediment, occurred more commonly and at more stations during construction than either before or after. These exceedences may be, in part, due to land disturbance caused by highway construction. Highway construction had no effect on the physical water-quality properties of pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and specific conductance except at North Halawa and Kuou Streams, where specific-conductance values increased throughout the study period, most likely due to highway construction. No effects on selected trace metals and organic chemical compounds were observed due to highway construction. No effects due to highway construction were observed in the water quality of Waimaluhia Reservoir. Runoff from areas of urban land use in the Kaneohe drainage basin contributed more to the higher loads of selected water-quality constituents than did runoff from areas affected by highway construction.

Scientific Investigations Report↗
USGS2001

Sedimentation history of Waimaluhia Reservoir during highway construction, Oahu, Hawaii, 1983-98

Nine sedimentation surveys conducted from 1983 to 1998 at Waimaluhia Reservoir determined the rate of sediment accumulation in the reservoir during H-3 Highway construction upstream of the reservoir. Rates of storage-capacity loss ranged from 1.1 acre-feet per year between 1983 and 1988 to 4.9 acre-feet per year between 1988 and 1992. The average loss rate during the period of intensive construction between 1983 to 1992 was 2.7 acre-ft per year. The average loss rate during the study period between 1983 and 1998 equals the design loss rate of 2.0 acre-feet per year. The average bulk density of deposited sediments was 29 pounds per cubic foot. From the bulk density data, loss of storage capacity, and suspended-sediment data collected downstream of the reservoir, a total of 26,950 tons of sediment was delivered to the reservoir from 1983 to 1998, of which 19,100 tons were trapped in the reservoir. From these sediment loads, a sediment yield of 565 tons per square mile per year and trap efficiency of 71 percent were computed. A trap efficiency of 60 percent, bulk density of 65 pounds per cubic foot, and sediment yield of 1,500 tons per square mile per year were used to compute the design loss rate of 2.0 acre-feet per year.

Hawaii↗
USGS1999

Storage Capacity and Water Quality of Lake Ngardok, Babeldaob Island, Republic of Palau, 1996-98

A bathymetric survey conducted during March and April, 1996, determined the total storage capacity Lake Ngardok to be between 90 and 168 acre-feet. Elevation-surface area and elevation-capacity curves summarizing the current relations among elevation, surface area, and storage capacity were created from the bathymetric map. Rainfall and lake-elevation data collected from April 1996 to March 1998 indicated that lake levels correlated to rainfall values with lake elevation rising rapidly in response to heavy rainfall and then returning to normal levels within a few days. Mean lake elevation for the 22 month period of data was 59.5 feet which gives a mean storage capacity of 107 acre-feet and a mean surface area of 24.1 acre. A floating mat of reeds, which covered 58 percent of the lake surface area at the time of the bathymetric survey, makes true storage capacity difficult to estimate. Water-quality sampling during April 1996 and November 1997 indicated that no U.S. Environmental Protection Agency primary drinking-water standards were violated for analyzed organic and inorganic compounds and radionuclides. With suitable biological treatment, the lake water could be used for drinking-water purposes. Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements indicated that Lake Ngardok is stratified. Given that air temperature on Palau exhibits little seasonal variation, it is likely that this pattern of stratification is persistent. As a result, complete mixing of the lake is probably rare. Near anaerobic conditions exist at the lake bottom. Low dissolved oxygen (3.2 milligrams per liter) measured at the outflow indicated that water flowing past the outflow was from the deep oxygen-depleted depths of the lake.

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1995

Analysis of streamflow characteristics for streams on the island of Tutuila, American Samoa

Several methods for estimating streamflow characteristics for low and peak flows for streams on Tutuila, American Samoa are presented. These methods, derived from frequency, flow-duration, and regression analyses, allow the user to compute estimates for the 7-day low flow with 2-year and 10-year recurrence intervals; the median flow; the mean flow; and the 2-, 5-, 10-, 25-, 50, and 100- year peak flood flows at gaged and ungaged streams. In addition, frequency techniques using the log-Pearson type III distribution were also used to compute for gaged sites the 1-, 7-, 14-, 30-, 60-, 90-, 120-, and 183-day low flows with 2-, 5-, 10-, and 20-year recurrence intervals; the 1-, 7-, 15-, 30- day high flows with 2-, 5-, 10-, and 25-year recurrence intervals; and the 2-, 5-, 10-, 25-, 50-, 100- year peak flows. The regression equations and estimated streamflow characteristics are based on streamflow data collected from 1958 through 1990 at 11 continuous-record gaging stations with 9 to 32 years of record, 75 low-flow partial-record stations, and 49 miscellaneous sites. Low-flow regression analysis using the baseflow index basin characteristic provided results with standard errors of estimate ranging from 13.3 to 43.8 percent. These standard errors are comparable to the average values at the low-flow partial-record stations. Regional analysis, using the method of residuals, divided Tutuila into two hydrologic regions which correspond to differences in geology. Peak-flow regression equations had coefficients of determination ranging from 0.60 to 0.66 and standard errors of estimate ranging from 44.0 to 47.4 percent. The large standard errors result from the large variability of flood peaks compared with drainage area. The geology of Tutuila also affects the magnitude of observed flood peaks.

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1992

Estimation of Median Streamflows at Perennial Stream Sites in Hawaii

The most accurate estimates of median streamflows at perennial stream sites in Hawaii are those made at streamflow-gaging stations. Two alternative methods for estimating median streamflows at ungaged sites are described in this report. Multiple-regression equations were developed for estimating median streamflows at ungaged, unregulated, perennial stream sites. The equations relate combinations of drainage area, mean altitude of the main stream channel, and mean annual precipitation to median streamflow. Streamflow data from 56 long-term continuous-record gaging stations were used in the analysis. Median-streamflow data for all 56 sites were adjusted using record-extension techniques to reflect base period (1912 through 1986) conditions. Hawaii was subdivided into two geographic groups and multiple-regression equations were developed for each. The standard error of predication for the equation developed for the first group, the islands of Oahu, Molokai, and Hawaii, is 41 percent. The standard error of predication for the equation developed for the second group, the islands of Kauai and Maui, is 54 percent. A method for estimating median-streamflow, based on discharge measurements and data from nearby streamflow-gaging stations, was also developed for 27 regulated, perennial windward Oahu sites. Standard errors of prediction for 23 of the sites range from 5 to 34 percent. Median-streamflow estimates for the four remaining sites were considered poor and no measures of accuracy are provided. Discharge measurements can be used to make estimates of median streamflows at ungaged, regulated sites where the regression equations developed in this report are not applicable. Discharge measurements can also be used to make estimates of median streamflows at ungaged, unregulated sites. Estimates of median streamflows based on discharge measurements have greater standard errors than estimates based on continuous streamflow records and in general have smaller standard errors than estimates based on regression equations.

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗