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Research about Idaho

Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including Idaho.

At least 703 records · Page 39Linked to original sources
USGS1989

Hydrologic and chemical data for selected thermal-water wells and springs in the Indian Bathtub area, Owyhee County, southwestern Idaho

This report presents data collected during January through September 1989 from 86 thermal-water wells and 5 springs in the Indian Bathtub area, southwestern Idaho. The data include well and spring locations, well-construction and water level information, hydrographs of water levels in 9 wells, hydrographs of discharges in 4 springs, and chemical and isotopic analysis of water from 33 thermal-water wells and 5 springs. These data were collected as part of a continuing study to determine the cause or causes of decreased discharge at Indian Bathtub Spring and other thermal springs along Hot Creek.

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USGS1989

Selected ground-water quality data for the southern part of the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, southeastern Idaho, July 1989

Concentrations of nitrogen compounds were analyzed in groundwater in the southern part of the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, Idaho. The study area included that part of the reservation southeast of American Falls Reservoir and north of the Owl Canal. The scope of the study was limited to inventorying 56 wells and making onsite determinations of depth to water, specific conductance, pH, water temperature, and concentrations of total alkalinity, dissolved chloride, and dissolved nitrite plus nitrate as nitrogen. When onsite nitrite plus nitrate concentrations exceeded about 4 mg/L nitrogen, groundwater samples were collected for nitrite plus nitrate as nitrogen ammonia, and ammonia plus organic nitrogen as nitrogen analyes at the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory. Selected well-inventory and water-quality data for the 56 groundwater samples collected in July 1989, and a statistical summary of selected water quality data are also presented. (USGS)

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USGS1989

Water resources data for Idaho, water year 1988

Water resources data for the 1988 water year for Idaho consist of records ofstage, discharge, and water quality of streams; stage, contents, and water quality of lakes and reservoirs; discharge of irrigation diversions; and water levels and water quality of ground water. This report contains discharge records for 208 stream-gaging stations; 36 irrigation diversions; stage only records for 2 stream-gaging stations; stage only for 8 lakes and reservoirs; contents only for 23 lakes and reservoirs; water quality for 25 stream-gaging stations, 64 wells, and 1 lake; and water levels for 452 observation wells. Additional water data were collected at various sites, not involved in the systematic data collection program, and are published as miscellaneous measurements. These data represent that part of the National Water Data System operated by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating State and Federal agencies in Idaho, adjacent States, and Canada.

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USGS1989

Hydrology of the Oakley Fan Area, south-central Idaho

The Oakley Fan area is a broad, crescent-shaped lowland along the southern margin of the Snake River Plain in south-central Idaho. Intensive groundwater development for irrigation has resulted in rapid water-level declines and, as a consequence, designation by the State of four Critical Groundwater Areas. Principal aquifers are in limestone, rhyolite, basalt, and alluvium. Annual water-level declines range from 3 ft to about 5 ft. Recharge to the groundwater system is from infiltration of surface water used for irrigation, precipitation on the surrounding mountains, infiltration of localized runoff, and upward movement of thermal water. Groundwater pumpage during the period 1979-84 averaged 173,000 acre-ft/yr. Surface and groundwater is predominantly a calcium bicarbonate type with variable concentrations of dissolved solids. Comparisons of silica and chloride concentrations and isotopic composition of groundwater were useful in determining areal extent of aquifers and movement of groundwater. A three-dimensional mathematical model of the Oakley Fan area was developed. The aquifer system was simulated in three phases: (1) Average 1979-84 hydrologic conditions, (2) 1910 hydrologic conditions, and (3) 1910-84 hydrologic conditions. Model simulation indicated that, for the period 1945-79, subsurface outflow declined from 327,000 acre-ft/yr to 215,000 acre-ft/yr. Simulated groundwater pumpage during the period 1945-79 was 3,000,000 acre-ft; simulated change in storage was 250,000 acre-ft. Simulations with the model approximate natural conditions and probably can be used to evaluate future changes in the hydrologic system.

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USGS1989

The hydrothermal system in central Twin Falls County, Idaho

Thermal water in Twin Fall County has been used for space heating, large-scale greenhouse operations, and aquaculture since the mid-1970's. More recently, increased utilization of the thermal water has caused aquifer pressures to decline. Near the city of Twin Falls, water levels in some formerly flowing thermal wells have declined to below land surface. The thermal water is principally in the silicic volcanic rocks of the Idavada Volcanics. Electrical resistivity soundings indicate that thickness of the rocks ranges from about 700 to 3,000 ft and averages about 2,000 ft. Temperatures of water sampled range from 26 C to nearly 50 C in wells completed in the upper part of the reservoir near Twin Falls. Water from deeper parts of the reservoir may be warmer than 50 C. Most of the thermal water is a sodium bicarbonate type. The maximum fluoride concentration was 22 mg/L. Chloride concentrations between about 50 and 150 mg/L are the result of mixing of deep water with shallower, cooler water that has been affected by percolation of irrigation water. Carbon-14 concentrations in selected thermal water samples indicate ages of 1,000 to 15,000 years. The water becomes progressively older northward along proposed groundwater flowpaths. On the basis of transit times in the system of 10,000 to 15,000 years and the reservoir volume, recharge is estimated to be about 5 to 7 cu ft/sec. Net heat flux in the area is about 2.2 heat flow units.

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USGS1989

Water resources of the upper Big Wood River basin, Idaho

Mean annual water yields, estimated using a water-budget method, for the upper Big Wood River basin above Glendale Road and for Trail Creek, Warm Springs Creek, and East Fork Big Wood River, Idaho were 410,000, 50,000, 60,000 and 50,000 acre-ft, respectively. Yields also were estimated for 1986 and 1987 water years when data were collected for comparison with long-term average values. During 1986, yields estimated for upper Big Wood River basin, Trail Creek, Warm Springs Creek, and East Fork Big Wood were 580,000, 61,000, 83,000 and 60,000 acre-ft, respectively. During 1987, yields estimated for the respective basins were 230,000, 26,000, 32,000 and 28,000 acre-ft. Availability of surface and groundwater varies seasonally; the greatest quantity is available during spring snowmelt, and the least is available during mid-winter to late winter. Nutrient concentrations in sampled ground and surface water were near or below detection levels throughout the basin, which indicates that water quality has not been impaired by increased development. Fluoride concentrations were elevated in Warm Springs Creek, probably due to inflow of thermal water.

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USGS1989

Tritium concentrations in flow from selected springs that discharge to the Snake River, Twin Falls-Hagerman area, Idaho

Concern has been expressed that some of the approximately 30,900 curies of tritium disposed to the Snake River Plain aquifer from 1952 to 1988 at the INEL (Idaho National Engineering Laboratory) have migrated to springs discharging to the Snake River in the Twin Falls-Hagerman area. To document tritium concentrations in springflow, 17 springs were sampled in November 1988 and 19 springs were sampled in March 1989. Tritium concentrations were less than the minimum detectable concentration of 0.5 pCi/mL (picocuries/mL) in November 1988 and less than the minimum detectable concentration of 0.2 pCi/mL in March 1989; the minimum detectable concentration was smaller in March 1989 owing to a longer counting time in the liquid scintillation system. The maximum contaminant level of tritium in drinking water as established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is 20 pCi/mL. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sample analyses indicate that the tritium concentration has decreased in the Snake River near Buhl since the 1970's. In 1974-79, tritium concentrations were less than 0.3 +/-0.2 pCi/mL in 3 of 20 samples; in 1983-88, 17 of 23 samples contained less than 0.3 +/-0.2 pCi/mL of tritium; the minimum detectable concentration is 0.2 pCi/mL. On the basis of decreasing tritium concentrations in the Snake River, their correlation to cessation of atmospheric weapons tests tritium concentrations in springflow less than the minimum detectable concentration, and the distribution of tritium in groundwater at the INEL, aqueous disposal of tritium at the INEL has had no measurable effect on tritium concentrations in springflow from the Snake River Plain aquifer and in the Snake River near Buhl.

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USGS1989

Avulsion of the brachial plexus in a great horned owl (Bubo virginaus)

Avulsion of the brachial plexus was documented in a Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus). A fractured scapula was also present. Cause of these injuries was not known but was thought to be due to trauma. Differentiation of musculoskeletal injury from peripheral nerve damage can be difficult in raptors. Use of electromyography and motor nerve conduction velocity was helpful in demonstrating peripheral nerve involvement. A brachial plexus avulsion was suspected on the basis of clinical signs, presence of electromyographic abnormalities in all muscles supplied by the nerves of the brachial plexus and absence of median-ulnar motor nerve conduction velocities.

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USGS1988

Water-quality data for the Boise River, Boise to Star, Idaho, January to March 1988

Physical and chemical data were collected at six sites and biological data were collected at five sites on the Boise River between Veterans Memorial Parkway in Boise and Star, Idaho, from January to March 1988. Data were collected to determine the effect of sewage effluent from two Boise wastewater treatment facilities on the water and biological quality of the Boise River. Similar data were collected from October to December 1987. Results of all data analyses will be discussed in an interpretive report.

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USGS1988

Selected water-quality data for the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, southeastern Idaho

This report presents July 1988 water quality data, principally dissolved nitrite plus nitrate (as nitrogen), and depth-to-water measurements for 60 wells in the Fort Hall Indian Reservation north of Pocatello, southeastern Idaho. Nitrogen concentrations ranged from 0.7 to 24 mg/L; the median concentration was 3.1 mg/L. Nitrogen concentrations in 11 samples exceeded the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency public drinking water limit of 10 mg/L. (USGS)

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USGS1988

Analytical results and sample locality map of jasperoid samples from Mackay, Idaho

This report presents the results of a partial geochemical survey of a part of the Idaho Falls and Dubois 1 x 2 degree quadrangles, Idaho. Samples for geochemical analysis were collected as one of several multidisciplinary studies associated with a U.S. Geological Survey Conterminous United States Mineral Appraisal Program (CUSMAP) to evaluate the mineral resources of the Hailey 1 x 2 degree quadrangle and a part of the Idaho Falls 1 x 2 degree quadrangle, Idaho.

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