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William M. Brown

Publications and source records attributed to William M. Brown.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
USGS1973

Streamflow, sediment, and turbidity in the Mad River basin, Humboldt and Trinity Counties, California

The Mad River discharged an average suspended-sediment load of 2,710,000 tons per year during a 13-year period beginning October 1957. Preliminary analysis of data collected during the 1971 water year indicated that about 66 percent of the suspended sediment was derived from sources upstream from a proposed reservoir site on the Mad River near Butler Valley. The high rate of suspended-sediment discharge and the corresponding sediment-induced turbidity of the streamflow constitute potential problems in the operation of the proposed reservoir. This study is part of an ongoing study by the U.S. Geological Survey intended to determine streamflow, sediment discharge, and turbidity characteristics as they relate to the proposed reservoir and the river system downstream from it. Data from 15 sites in the Mad River basin available through the 1970 water year were reviewed, and the collection of additional data at three of the sites was begun in the 1971 water year. Reconnaissance trips were made in 1971 and 1972 to locate existing or potential problem areas related to sediment and turbidity in the basin. This report presents the interpretations of the data available through September 1971, and indicates the intended direction of the ongoing study.

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USGS1972

Sedimentation of Williams Reservoir, Santa Clara County, California

Fifty-two acre-feet of sediment was ·deposited in Williams Reservoir between 1913 and 1971. From calculations of the sediment yields in other nearby drainage basins in Santa Clara County, it was determined that 24 to 38 acre-feet of sediment would have been transported to Williams Reservoir between 1961 and 1971 under natural conditions. The difference (14 to 28 acre-ft) is probably a consequence of increased sediment yield due to a fire that destroyed much of the vegetation in the drainage basin in 1961.

California↗
USGS1971

Turbidity and suspended-sediment transport in the Russian River Basin, California

The Russian River in north coastal California has a persistent turbidness, which has reportedly caused a decline in the success of the sports fishermen. As a consequence, the number of sports fishermen angling in the river has declined, and industries dependent on their business have suffered. To determine the source of the turbidity and the rate of sediment transport in the basin, a network of sampling station was established in February 1964 along the river, on some of its tributaries, and near Lake Pillsbury in the upper Eel River basin.

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