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Research about Nebraska

Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including Nebraska.

At least 343 records · Page 19Linked to original sources
USGS1974

Characteristics of streamflow at gaging stations in the Loup River basin, Nebraska

Nearly 80 years of streamflow records have been collected in Nebraska. Such records are of immeasurable value and are essential if water resources are to be planned wisely and managed efficiently. Their value for planning and management can be greatly enhanced if the records are analyzed statistically. This report presents statistics on the flow of streams in the Loup River basin. As major irrigation projects have been constructed in the basin since gaging of streamflow was begun, the complete record of water discharge at some gaging stations includes periods before and after streamflow was first affected by diversions to an upstream project. Streamflow records presented in this report have been computed from data that represent current conditions of development and water use.

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USGS1974

Drainage area and river mileage of Nebraska streams part I

The value of stream discharge data for hydrologic studies is enhanced by the availability of accurate information on size of area drained, distance between selected sites along stream course, and hydraulic gradients. Information on the location of cultural and natural features that affect streamflow also is valuable for hydrologic studies, particularly those that involve engineering considerations. Although stream-discharge data have been collected for many years and at many points, relatively little accurate information on the physical features of the areas drained has been compiled. In the past, such information was compiled only when occasion demanded, and owing to a general lack of detailed topographic maps, many of the values obtained were not precise by present-day standards.

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USGS1974

Earthquake history of Nebraska

Nebraska is in a region of moderate seismicity occasionally punctuated by rather strong earthquakes. Most of the State is seismic risk zone 1, with a small part in the southeast corner in risk zone 2. the first significant earthquake felt in Nebraska occurred in 1867, the year that statehood was achieved. the tremor occurred on April 24, 1867, and was apparently centered near Lawrence, Kansas. It affected an area estimated at 780,000 km 2 including much of Nebraska. Since 1867, at least seven earthquakes of intensity V or greater have originated within Nebraska's boundaries. Several strong earthquakes centered in neighboring States have also been felt over limited portions of Nebraska. None of these caused damage.

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USGS1973

Use of ground water for irrigation in Seward County, Nebraska in 1971

Use of ground water for irrigation in Seward County west of the Big Blue River increased tremendously from 1945 to 1971. During that period, the number of irrigation wells increased from 5 to 614. Ground-water withdrawals prior to 1971 are estimated to have reduced ground-water storage by about 270,000 acre-feet, and withdrawals during 1971 continued to reduce storage. The values for changes in storage were computed from weighted-average net differences in ground-water levels. In 1971, average pumpage from the 32 wells for which well yield and hours of pumping were recorded indicates that pumpage from all wells totaled about 83,000 acre-feet.

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USGS1973

A plan for study of water resources in the Platte River basin, Nebraska: with special emphasis on the stream-aquifer relations

A "Level B" study is being made of the Platte River basin in Nebraska. The basin (approximately 40,800 square miles) extends the full length of the State, a distance of nearly 470 miles. The study is a Federal and State interagency effort to formulate a comprehensive plan for the conservation, development, and management of the water and related land resources of the Platte River basin. The technical information for the study will be provided by 14 task forces. This report describes the work of the Level B Stream-Aquifer Hydrology Task Force (Task Force 13). The U.S. Geological Survey is the lead agency for this task force. Task Force 13 will provide the agencies participating in the Level B study with a quantitative description of the operation of the hydrologic system with emphasis on the relation of ground water to surface water. A digital model will be developed to simulate the physical character and operation of the stream-aquifer system. After the model has been calibrated with field data, it will be used to evaluate the effect of proposed projects. Some of the uses of the model are evaluation of effects of proposed conjunctive use projects, effects of changes in water use, and study of future water problems such as water-logged areas, groundwater mining, and streamflow depletion.

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USGS1970

Late Miocene nonmarine diatoms from the Kilgore area, Cherry County, Nebraska

The Valentine Formation of A. L. Lugn, which is of late Miocene and early Pliocene age, contains diatomaceous and plant-bearing sediments at a locality on the north bluff of the Niobrara River, about 10 miles south of Kilgore, Cherry County, Nebr. The fossil flora has been studied by H. D. MacGinitie, who concluded that the deposit is of late Miocene age. Correlative strata near Valentine, Nebr., several miles east of this locality, are reported to contain a vertebrate fauna of late Miocene age. The Kilgore diatom assemblage consists of 45 taxa of nonmarine diatoms. Of these, four species are herein recorded as new, one species has been previously reported from the middle Pliocene of France, and the remaining 40 taxa are identified as still living in modern nonmarine environments. The diatom assemblage suggests deposition in a relatively shallow, small lake. The waters of this lake were probably hard, and perhaps at times somewhat alkaline or saline. It is difficult to separate the influences of ecology and geologic age on the composition of the diatom assemblage, but this problem should be resolved as other Tertiary assemblages are studied. The five presumably extinct species may prove to be useful for stratigraphic correlation when their geologic ranges are better known. The composition of the assemblage, the relative number of taxa, and the absence of several widespread modern genera and species of nonmarine diatoms should be of value in identifying other late Miocene assemblages and in distinguishing them from assemblages of different age.

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USGS1968

Geology and ground-water resources of Fillmore County, Nebraska, with a section on chemical quality of the water

Fillmore County, an area 24 miles square, lies in the eastern part of the Nebraska loess plain. Although tributaries of the Big Blue River have eroded valleys into this plain, much of the original surface is intact. Broad flats and numerous shallow undrained depressions characterize the plain. The county is underlain by unconsolidated deposits of Quaternary age to depths ranging from about 80 to 450 feet. The upper part of this depositional sequence consists largely of wind-deposited clayey silt, and the lower part of stream-deposited sand and gravel. In part of the county, deposits of glacial till also are included. The Quaternary deposits mantle an eroded surface of marine-deposited strata of Cretaceous age. The lower deposits of Quaternary age are saturated and constitute a highly productive aquifer throughout much of the county. The saturated zone ranges from about 20 to 350 feet in thickness. Replenishment to this aquifer, derived principally from precipitation, is believed to average about 1.4 inches per year. Because the quantity of ground water pumped per year exceeds the average annual quantity of recharge, some of the water used for irrigation is from storage. Consequently, water levels in wells .are declining. This trend is likely to continue. The ground water is of the calcium bicarbonate type and is hard, but it is chemically suitable for irrigation use on most soils in the county.

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USGS1967

Availability of water in eastern Saunders County, Nebraska

The sand and gravel deposits of Quaternary age constitute the most important ground-water reservoir and are the source of nearly all the water pumped from wells in the area. An estimated 3.5 million acre-feet for good quality water is stored in these deposits and an additional 1.5 million acre-feet is stored in the underlying Dakota Sandstone. Even larger quantities are stored at greater depths in the Paleozoic dolomites and sandstones, but the water is of poorer quality. Pumpage for irrigation since 1956 is estimated to have ranged from about 2,500 acre-feet (1962) to about 6,000 acre-feet (1957). The town of Wahoo annually pumps about 460 acre-feet, and other towns pump an estimated total of 180 acre-feet. In 1963 the City of Lincoln pumped 27,000 acre-feet from its well field alongside the Platte River in the southeast corner of the area; since then pumpage has increased and probably is likely to continue to do so. Pumping at Lincoln city well field induces recharge from Platte River. The quantity of ground water pumped to date is very small compared to the amount of water stored in the rocks. Furthermore, most of the ground water withdrawn has been replaced by infiltrating precipitation and by influent seepage from the Platte River. The large quantity of ground water in storage in addition to the flow of the Platte River indicates that the water resources of the area, if managed properly, can be developed much more extensively without appreciably depleting the supply.

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USGS1967

Availability of ground water in York County, Nebraska

York County, an area of 575 square miles, is situated on an upland plain in southeast Nebraska. Although tributaries of the Big Blue River have eroded valleys into this plain, much of the original surface is still intact and is characterized by broad shallow undrained depressions. The economy is based almost wholly on agriculture, and corn is the major crop. More than 111,000 acres of cropland was irrigated in 1964 with water pumped from 1,240 wells. The upland plain is underlain to depths of 100-450 feet by unconsolidated deposits of Quaternary age. The upper part of this depositional sequence consists largely of wind-deposited clayey silt, and the lower part consists of stream-deposited sand and gravel. In part of the county, the sequence includes some glacial till also. The unconsolidated Quaternary deposits mantle the eroded surface of marine strata of Cretaceous age. The lower unconsolidated rocks of Quaternary age are saturated and constitute a highly productive aquifer throughout much of the county. Replenishment to this aquifer, derived principally from precipitation, is believed to average about 1.5 inches per year. As the quantity of ground water pumped per year greatly exceeds the average annual quantity of recharge, most of the. water used for irrigation is from storage. Consequently, water levels have been trending downward. A comparison of 1964 water levels in wells with water levels measured in 1953 shows that the water table declined more than 10 feet beneath 42 square miles. The ground water is of the calcium bicarbonate type, and, though hard, is chemically suitable for irrigation use on most soils in the county.

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