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Research about Montana

Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including Montana.

At least 811 records · Page 45Linked to original sources
USGS1979

Water resources data for Montana, water year 1978

Water resources data for the 1978 water year for Montana consist of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams; stage, contents and water quality of lakes and reservoirs; and water levels in wells. This report contains discharge records for 211 gaging stations; stage only records for 1 lake station; stage and contents for 9 lakes and reservoirs; water quality for 129 stations, 3 lakes; water levels for 23 observation wells. Also included are 173 crest-stage partial-record stations and 52 smaller reservoirs. Additional water data were collected at various sites, not part of the systematic data collection programs, 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 Montana.

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USGS1979

Water quality of selected streams in the coal area of east-central Montana

In October 1975 the U.S. Geological Survey established a network of nine data-collection stations on eight streams in Montana to monitor water quality in potential coal-mining areas. The report summarizes and evaluates the water-quality data that have been collected during the first 2 years (3 years for 1 station) of network operation. Big Dry Creek, Little Dry Creek, Timber Creek , and Nelson Creek are the principal streams forming the Big Dry Creek basin, which is tributary to the Missouri River. These streams all contain water of the sodium sulfate type. Concentrations were high for dissolved solids (433-4,570 mg/L) and generally low for nutrients and trace elements. Prairie Elk Creek, Sand Creek, and the Redwater River flow directly into the Missouri River. Prairie Elk and Sand Creeks have mainly sodium bicarbonate water, whereas the Redwater River is predominately sodium sulfate water. All three streams contained water of high dissolved-solids concentration (160-3,370 mg/L) and generally low nutrient and trace-element concentrations. Burns Creek is tributary to the Yellowstone River. The water type is generally sodium sulfate during the spring and summer and sodium bicarbonate during the fall and winter. Water from Burns Creek ranged from 382 to 1,420 mg/L dissolved solids. (Woodard-USGS)

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USGS1979

Saline-seep development in the Hailstone Basin, northern Stillwater County, Montana

As a result of an increase in saline seep occurrence in Montana, a study was begun in 1974 to determine the hydrogeology of saline seeps in the Hailstone basin. The aquifer is composed of colluvium of Holocene age. The impermeable Cretaceous Niobrara Formation underlies the saturated zone basinwide. The ground-water system is shallow, unconfined, and locally recharged. Ground-water levels and size of the saline seeps respond rapidly to precipitation in the basin. The appearance and growth of saline seeps are related to precipitation patterns; the agricultural practice of summer follow; topography; the presence of a shallow, unconfined, and locally recharged ground-water system; and a soluble salt source. Continuous cropping could reduce the amount of water percolating beneath local recharge areas, and thus minimize the water available for seep formation and growth. The lateral variation in chemical quality of water from wells suggests a shallow flow system. The field specific conductance of 29 ground-water samples collected in 1976 ranged from 2,160 to 14,000 micromhos per centimeter and averaged 6,660 micromhos per centimeter. Water from saline seeps in the study area contains principally sodium, magnesium, calcium, and sulfate. Nitrate is present in the ground water in concentrations of as much as 855 milligrams per liter. The high nitrate concentrations are interpreted to originate primarily from oxidation of organic material once native sod is broken by cultivation. (USGS).

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USGS1979

Water resources of shallow aquifers in the Upper Poplar River basin, northeastern Montana

The aquifer system studied in the upper Popular River basin in Montana ranges in age from Late Cretaceous to Holocene. Most wells obtain water from the Paleocene Fort Union Formation or younger rocks. The potentiometric surface of the Fort Union and overlying rocks indicates movement of water from the high interstream areas toward principal stream valleys. Recharge is principally through sand and gravel deposits of the Flaxville Formation, which occur as large terrace remnants, and the Wiota Gravel. Water in these formations locally recharges the underlying Fort Union Formation. Water in the gravel also emerges around the edge of the terraces as seeps and springs. Water samples from wells tapping the aquifers are of the sodium bicarbonate, magnesium bicarbonate, or calcium bicarbonate type. The range in dissolved-solids concentration for the various aquifers is: Fox Hills-Hell Creek aquifer, 940 to 1,300 mg/L; Fort Union Formation, 520 to 1,470 mg/L; glacial outwash deposits, 570 to 770 mg/L, and alluvium, 880 to 1,490 mg/L. The dissolved-solids concentration of one water sample from the Flaxville Formation was 400 mg/L. Seepage measurements of the Poplar River and East Fork Poplar River from the international boundary to the south edge of the study area in October 1977 showed a net gain of 2.84 cubic feet per second from a total flow of 11.7 cubic feet per second. This gain is discharge of water from the alluvium to the rivers. (Woodard-USGS)

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USGS1978

Mineralogical analyses of drill core samples from Midlands Gas Corporation wells, Federal 0370 No. 1 and Federal 2962 No. 1, Phillips County, Montana

This report records the mineralogy of core samples from two wells in Phillips County, Montana. These wells are located in the Bowdoin gas field in north-central Montana. The gas is produced from low-permeability reservoirs at shallow depths (less than 610 m) over an area of 1554 km 2 . This information is being released to aid in improving recovery technology and well log interpretation. We acknowledge the financial support of the Department of Energy Tight Gas Sands program.

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USGS1978

Map showing depth to water table, September 1976, and area inundated by the June 1975 flood, Helena Valley, Lewis and Clark County, Montana

Depth to water table, September 1976, and area inundated by the June 1975 flood in the Helena valley, Montana, are mapped on two sheets, Helena and East Helena 7.5-minute quadrangles, at scale 1:48,000. Depth to water table was mapped using water-level measurements from existing shallow observation wells and selected domestic wells, and from field reconnaissance of topography. A hydrograph shows water-level fluctuation in two wells located in different parts of the valley. Area inundated by the June 1975 flood was mapped from aerial photos along Prickly Pear and Tenmile Creeks and by field reconnaissance along Silver Creek. (Woodard-USGS)

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USGS1978

Water-quality investigation near the Chico and Hunters geothermal lease-application areas, Park and Sweet Grass counties, Montana

Water quality in and adjacent to geothermal lease-application areas near Chico and Hunters Hot Springs was investigated during two surveys in October 1976 and April 1977. The resulting data were needed to evaluate the effects of proposed geothermal exploration and development on the Yellowstone River and its tributaries. Waters from the two hot springs, the Yellowstone River, and its tributaries that drain the proposed lease areas are generally suitable for drinking, except for excessive concentrations of fluoride and hydrogen sulfide in waters from Hunters Hot Springs. The water from Chico Hot Springs is suitable for irrigation, but the water from Hunters Hot Springs presents a very high sodium and a medium salinity hazard and is generally unsatisfactory for irrigation. The effect of the thermal waters on streamflow and chemical discharge of the Yellowstone River during the surveys was negligible and less than the accepted error of measurement. Production of higher volumes of more concentrated water can be expected to accompany testing and development of the geothermal resource.

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USGS1978

Water resources of the central Powder River area of southeastern Montana

Water for domestic, stock, and public use is available from the Fox Hills-lower Hell Creek aquifer of Late Cretaceous age. Water for domestic and stock use is available from the upper part of the Hell Creek Formation of Late Cretaceous age and the lower part of the Fort Union Formation of Paleocene age. Water for irrigation can be obtained from alluvium of Holocene and Pleistocene age along the Powder River. The Fox Hills-lower Hell Creek aquifer yields as much as 188 gallons per minute to wells as deep as 999 feet, but most well yields are 20 gallons per minute or less. The upper part of the Hell Creek Formation yields as much as 12 gallons per minute to wells as deep as 465 feet. The lower part of the Fort Union Formation yields a maximum of 25 gallons per minute to wells as deep as 373 feet. The alluvium of the Powder River yields 600 gallons per minute to the only known irrigation well, which is 40 feet deep. Water from the Fox Hills-lower Hell Creek aquifer generally contains sodium and bicarbonate or sulfate as the major ions; dissolved-solids concentration is as much as 1,700 milligrams per liter. Sodium, bicarbonate, and sulfate were the major ions in two samples from the upper part of the Hell Creek Formation; the dissolved-solids concentration was 840 milligrams per liter in both samples. Water from the Fort Union Formation contains principally sodium, sulfate, and bicarbonate ions; the dissolved-solids concentration ranges from 780 to 2,300 milligrams per liter. One water sample from the alluvium contained principally sodium and sulfate ions and had a dissolved-solids concentration of 2,300 milligrams per liter. The Powder River is the only perennial stream in the study area. The average annual discharge of the Powder River near Locate for the period of record, 1938-69, was 601 cubic feet per second. instantaneous discharge ranged from 0 to 31,000 cubic feet per second. Dissolved-solids concentration of water from the Powder River for the period of record, 1949-63, ranged from 278 to 5,430 milligrams per liter. Calcium, sodium, and sulfate were the major ions.

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USGS1978

Overburden chemistry and mineralogy at Hanging Woman Creek, Big Horn County, Montana, and recommendations for sampling at similar sites

Cored overburden rock of the Fort Union Formation at the Hanging Woman Creek potential coal mine site was classified in hand specimen on the basis of color and grain size into 3 types: sandstone. siltstone-plus-shale, and dark shale. The samples were analyzed for bulk chemistry and mineralogy. In general the samples of sandstone contain the lowest concentrations of elements of environmental concern (arsenic, beryllium, mercury. molybdenum, selenium and sulfur), and samples of the dark shale contain the highest. Comparison of samples within each rock type shows that chemical composition does not change systematically across the study site (a distance of 5 km), and almost as much information about overburden chemistry could have been obtained from a single hole drilled anywhere on the site. Overburden data from other sites in the region show that rocks at the Hanging Woman Creek site are chemically similar to those of the region as a whole, which suggests that the rock chemistry at other sites in the region could also be estimated from a low-density drilling and sampling pattern.

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USGS1978

Water-resources investigations of the U.S. Geological Survey in Montana, October 1977 through September 1978

The U.S. Geological Survey was established as an agency in the Department of the Interior on March 3, 1879, 30 years to the day after establishment of the Department itself. The initial purpose of the Survey was to prepare a plan that would secure the best possible results at the least possible cost for surveying and mapping the Territories of the United States. One mission of the Geological Survey is to provide the hydrologic information and understanding needed for the optimum utilization and management of the Nation's water resources for the overall benefit of the people of the United States.

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USGS1978

Selected data from thermal-spring areas, southwestern Montana

During 1975-77 the Montana district of the U.S. Geological Survey collected and assembled data describing the flow, temperature, and chemical characteristics of thermal and related waters. The work was part of an assessment of the geothermal resources of southwestern Montana, excluding Yellowstone Park. The purpose of this report is to present representative data from 24 thermal springs and 3 deep wells where water temperatures exceed 38°C (100°F).

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USGS1978

Geology and coal resources of the Hanging Woman Creek Study Area, Big Horn and Powder River Counties, Montana

In an area of 7,200 acres (29 sq km) In the Hanging Woman Creek study area, the Anderson coal bed contains potentially surface minable resources of 378 million short tons (343 million metric tons) of subbituminous C coal that ranges in thickness from 26 to 33 feet (7.9-10.1 m) at depths of less than 200 feet (60 m). Additional potentially surface minable resources of 55 million short tons (50 million metric tons) are contained in the 9-12 foot (2.7-3.7 m) thick Dietz coal bed which lies 50-100 feet (15-30 m) below the Anderson. Analyses of coal from 5 core holes indicates that the Anderson bed contains 0.4 percent sulfur, 5 percent ash, and has a heating value of 8,540 Btu/lb (4,750 Kcal/kg). The trace element content of the coal is generally similar to other coals in the Powder River Basin. The two coal beds are in the Fort Union Formation of Paleocene age which consists of sandstone, siltstone, shale, coal beds, and locally impure limestone. A northeast-trending normal fault through the middle of the area, downthrown on the southeast side, has displaced the generally flat lying strata as much as 300 feet (91 m). Most of the minable coal lies northwest of this fault.

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