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S. S. Sumioka

Publications and source records attributed to S. S. Sumioka.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

Groundwater/surface-water interactions in the Tunk, Bonaparte, Antoine, and Tonasket Creek Subbasins, Okanogan River Basin, North-Central Washington, 2008

An investigation into groundwater/surface-water interactions in four tributary subbasins of the Okanogan River determined that streamflows and shallow groundwater levels beneath the streams varied seasonally and by location. Streamflows measured in June 2008 indicated net losses of streamflow along 10 of 17 reaches, and hydraulic gradients measured between streams and shallow groundwater indicated potential recharge of surface water to groundwater at 11 of 21 measurement sites. In September 2008, net losses of streamflow were indicated along 9 of 17 reaches, and potential recharge of surface water to groundwater was indicated at 18 of 21 measurement sites. The greatest losses of streamflow occurred near the confluences with the Okanogan River, likely due to the presence of thick layers of unconsolidated deposits in the flood plain of the Okanogan River. Based on available geologic information compiled from drillers' logs, a surficial geologic map, and streamflow records, the extensive and thick deposits of unconsolidated material in the Tunk and Bonaparte Creek subbasins are factors in sustaining the almost perennial streamflow in those creeks. The less extensive and generally thinner unconsolidated deposits in the Tonasket and Antoine subbasins are contributing factors to the occasional extended periods of zero flow (a dry stream channel) in those creeks. Even though groundwater withdrawals would affect streamflows, relatively low precipitation in the area, along with limited groundwater storage capacity and the presence of permeable, unconsolidated deposits underlying the stream channels, would likely lead to loss of surface water to the groundwater system without any withdrawals.

Scientific Investigations Report↗

Estimates of ground-water pumpage from the Yakima River Basin aquifer system, Washington, 1960-2000

Ground-water pumpage in the Yakima River Basin, Washington, was estimated for eight categories of use for 1960-2000 as part of an investigation to assess groundwater availability in the basin. Methods used, pumpage estimates, reliability of the estimates, and a comparison with appropriated quantities are described. The eight categories of pumpage were public water supply, self-supplied domestic (exempt wells), irrigation, frost protection, livestock and dairy operations, industrial and commercial, fish and wildlife propagation, and ground-water claims. Pumpage estimates were based on methods that varied by the category and primarily represent pumpage for groundwater rights. Washington State Department of Ecology’s digital database has 2,874 active ground-water rights in the basin that can withdraw an annual quantity of about 529,231 acre-feet during dry years. Irrigation rights are for irrigation of about 129,570 acres. All but 220 of the rights were associated with well drillers’ logs, allowing for a spatial representation of the pumpage. Five-hundred and sixty of the irrigation rights were estimated to be standby/reserve rights. During this study, another 30 rights were identified that were not in the digital database. These rights can withdraw an annual quantity of about 20,969 acre-feet; about 6,700 acre-feet of these rights are near but outside the basin. In 1960, total annual pumpage in the basin, excluding standby/reserve pumpage, was about 115,776 acre-feet. By 2000, total annual pumpage was estimated to be 395,096 acre-feet, and excluding the standby/reserve rights, the total was 312,284 acre-feet. Irrigation accounts for about 60 percent of the pumpage, followed by public water supply at about 12 percent. The smallest category of pumpage was for livestock use with pumpage estimated to be 6,726 acre-feet. Total annual pumpage in 2000 was about 430 cubic feet per second, which is about 11 percent of the surface-water demand. Maximum pumpage is in July and August and during 2000, was about 100 cubic feet per second each month averaged over the Yakima River Basin aquifer system. During 2000, non-standby/reserve pumpage associated with ground-water rights was estimated to total 253,454 acre-feet, or about 198,290 acre-feet less than the appropriated quantity. The unused part of the appropriated value is about equivalent to the irrigation pumpage for primary rights.

Washington↗

Estimating ground-water recharge from precipitation on Whidbey and Camano islands, Island County, Washington, water years 1998 and 1999

Ground-water recharge from precipitation to unconsolidated deposits on Whidbey and Camano Islands, Washington, was estimated for water years 1998-99 using a near-surface water-balance method and a chloride mass-balance method. A daily near-surface water-balance method, the Deep Percolation Model (DPM), was used to simulate water budgets for October 1, 1997 through September 30, 1999 (water years 1998-99) for six small drainage basins-four on Whidbey Island and two on Camano Island. Adjusted parameters from the DPM for each small basin were then used in island-wide DPM simulations. A spatial distribution of annual recharge was simulated for each island, with island averages of 5.71 inches per year for Whidbey Island and 5.98 inches per year for Camano Island. The spatial distribution of simulated annual recharge for each island reflects variations in precipitation amounts and the distribution of surficial materials. DPM results indicate that recharge generally is higher in areas underlain by coarse-grained deposits (outwash) than in areas underlain by fine-grained deposits (till). A chloride mass-balance method was used to estimate combined recharge to unconsolidated deposits on Whidbey and Camano Islands. The average combined recharge for Whidbey and Camano Islands estimated by this method was 2.00 inches per year. The range of chloride concentrations in ground-water samples from selected wells indicates that the average recharge to unconsolidated deposits ranges from 0.78 to 7.81 inches per year. Sources of chloride in ground water other than from the atmosphere would cause recharge estimated by the chloride mass-balance method to be less than the actual recharge, therefore, these estimates may represent lower limits.

Washington↗

A survey of ground-water quality in the Toppenish Creek basin, Yakama Indian Reservation, Washington, 1989-91

Ground-water quality in the Toppenish Creek Basin, near Yakima, Washington, is generally good with respect to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency drinking water standards. Of 487 wells sampled during one phase of the study, only 2 produced water with nitrite-plus-nitrate concentrations greater than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standard of 10 milligrams per liter as nitrogen. Ground-water samples with elevated nitriteplus-nitrate concentrations (greater than 5 milligrams per liter as nitrogen) were obtained from wells located in the eastern and southern parts of the basin and in areas underlain by the Touchet Beds, in the central part of the basin. In another phase of the study, in which 60 wells were sampled, atrazine, an herbicide used on asparagus and corn, was detected in water samples from 4 wells, and 2 insecticides, diazinon and disulfoton, were detected in separate samples from 2 wells. Bacteria, indicators of the sanitary water quality, were detected in samples from 64 wells, suggesting that ground water may be contaminated in some areas. However, other sources of bacteria may include leaks in the plumbing of the well or residence, or improper well construction. Small seasonal variations in nitrite-plus-nitrate concentrations in ground water appeared to be related to fertilizer use in the basin, indicating that the potential exists for more serious contamination of ground water. Groundwater quality is affected by agricultural activities in some parts of the basin. However, widespread degradation in ground-water quality was not detected.

Washington↗

Magnitude and frequency of floods in Washington

Annual maximum instantaneous discharge data for 527 gaging stations with at least 10 years of peak-discharge record on unregulated streams were used to compute the magnitude and frequency of floods on Washington streams. Flood magnitudes having exceedance probabilities of 0.5, 0.1, 0.04, 0.02, and 0.01 were related to physical and climatic characteristics for 504 of the 527 gaging stations using generalized least-squares regression analyses. The regression relations can be used to estimate flood discharges having these exceedance probabilities for ungaged stream basins.

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗

Occurrence and quality of ground water in southwestern King County, Washington

The 250-square mile study area in southwestern King County, Washington is underlain by sediments as much as 2,200 feet thick, deposited during at least four continental glacial/interglacial periods. Published surficial geologic maps and drillers' lithologic logs from about 700 field-located wells were used to prepare 28 geologic sections; these sections were used to delineate 9 hydrogeologic units--5 aquifers, 3 confining beds, and a basal, undifferentiated unit. Two aquifers in these sediments occur at the land surface. Maps depicting the configuration of the tops of three buried aquifers show the extent and the geometry of those aquifers. Maps showing the thickness of two of the three buried aquifers also were prepared. Potentiometric-surface maps for the major aquifers are based on water levels measured in about 400 wells during April 1987. Hydraulic characteristics of the major aquifers are mapped using more than 1,100 specific-capacity calculations and about 240 hydraulic-conductivity determinations from selected wells. Estimates of the average annual recharge to the ground-water system from precipitation for the entire study area were based on relations determined from modeling selected basins. Discharges from the ground-water system were based on estimates of springflow and diffuse seepage from the bluffs surrounding the uplands, and on the quantity of water withdrawn from high-capacity wells. A total of 242 water samples was collected from 217 wells during two mass samplings and analyzed for the presence of common constituents. Samples also were collected and analyzed for heavy metals, boron, detergents, and volatile organic compounds. These analyses indicated there was no widespread degradation of ground-water quality in southwestern King County.

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗

Reconnaissance investigation of petroleum products in soil and ground water at Longmire, Mount Rainier National Park, Washington, 1990

The removal of an underground waste-oil storage tank in Mount Rainier National Park, at Longmire, Washington, led to the discovery that soil surrounding the tank was saturated with unidentified petroleum hydrocarbons. Subsequent investigations by the National Park Service indicated that a petroleum product smelling like diesel oil was present in the unsaturated zone as far as 120 feet from the tank site. A study was conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the National Park Service to determine the extent to which the petroleum hydrocarbons have affected the unsaturated zone and ground water in the Longmire area. Measurements of water levels in wells and of water-surface elevations of the Nisqually River and a wetland west of Longmire indicate that ground water does not flow from the maintenance area to the river or to the wetland. Waste oil and diesel oil were detected in soil samples from the site closest to the waste-oil storage-tank site. Diesel oil was also detected in samples from a site about 200 feet northwest of the storage-tank site. Organic compounds of undetermined origin were detected in soil samples from all of the other sites. Waste oil was not conclusively detected in any of the ground-water samples. Diesel oil was detected in water samples from the well closest to the storage tank and from a well about 200 feet west of the storage-tank site. Ground-water samples from all of the other wells contained organic compounds of undetermined origin.

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗

Water quality of selected lakes in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington with respect to lake acidification

Thirteen lakes in Mount Rainier National Park were evaluated for general chemical characteristics, sensitivity to acidification by acidic precipitation, and degree of existing acidification. The lakes studies were Allen, one of the Chenuis group, Crescent , Crystal, Eleanor, Fan, one of the Golden group, Marsh, Mowich, Mystic, Shriner, and two unnamed lakes. The lakes were sampled in August 1983. Specific conductance values were generally 21 microsiemens/cm at 25 C or less, and dissolved solids concentrations were generally 20 mg/L or less. The major cations were calcium and sodium, and the major anion was bicarbonate. Alkalinity concentrations ranged from 2.1 to 9.0 mg/L in 12 of the lakes. Allen Lake was the exception, having an alkalinity concentration of 27 mg/L. The pH values for all of the lakes ranged from 5.8 to 6.5. In most of the lakes, vertical profiles of temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and specific conductance were relatively uniform. In the deeper lakes, temperature decreased with depth and dissolved-oxygen concentrations increased to about 20 feet, remained constant to 80 ft, then decreased with increasing depth. Exceptions to general water quality patterns were observed in three lakes. Allen Lake had a specific conductance value of 58 Microsiemens/cm. The lake of the Golden group was anaerobic at the bottom and had relatively high concentrations of dissolved organic carbon and dissolved metals, and a lower light transmission than the other lakes studied. One of the unnamed lakes had relatively high concentrations of phytoplankton and dissolved organic carbon and relatively low levels of light transmission. Comparisons of lake data to acid-sensitivity thresholds for specific conductance and alkalinity indicated that all of the lakes except Allen would be sensitive to acidic precipitation. The small sizes of the lakes, and their locations in basins of high precipitation and weathering-resistant rock types, enhance their sensitivity. None of the lakes in this study appeared to be presently acidified. (Lantz-PTT)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗

Groundwater-surfacewater relationships in the Bonaparte Creek basin, Okanogan County, Washington, 1979-1980

Ground water-surface-water relationships were studied in five morphological segments in the Bonaparte Creek basin, Washington during 1979 and 1980. In one segment, kettle lakes were found to be closely associated with the ground-water system. In the other four segments, a close relationship was found between streamflow and ground water. It was concluded that additional ground-water development would adversely affect lake levels and streamflow, thereby reducing surface-water resources already closed to further appropriation. The ground-water divide between the Bonaparte and Sanpoil basins was 6 miles southeast of where it was estimated to be. (USGS)

Open-File Report↗

General hydrology and external sources of nutrients affecting Pine Lake, King County, Washington

An adjusted water budget prepared for Pine Lake, a candidate for lake-quality restoration, indicates that of approximately 790 acre-feet of water that enters the lake in a typical year, 410 acre-feet is from precipitation, 350 acre-feet is from surface inflow, and 30 acre-feet is from ground-water seepage. A nearly equal amount of water leaves the lake and of this, 130 acre-feet is by evaporation, 659 acre-feet is by surface runoff, and less than one acre-foot is by ground-water seepage. Based on these amounts of inflow and outflow, the theoretical water-renewal time of the lake is calculated to be 2.2 years. The contributions of inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus to the lake in a typical year from precipitation, surface inflow, and ground-water inflow is about 2,500 pounds of nitrogen and 49 pounds of phosphorus. (USGS)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗