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Research about Washington

Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including Washington.

At least 1,531 records · Page 85Linked to original sources
USGS1979

Flood elevations for the Sooes River at proposed fish hatchery, Clallam County, Washington; a surface-water site study

Water-surface elevations were derived for various combinations of selected river discharges and tide elevations along a reach of the Sooes River 3 miles upstream from the mouth at the site of a proposed fish hatchery in Clallam County, Washington. Flood-frequency analyses determined river discharges having exceedence probabilities of 1, 2, 4, 10 and 20 percent (100-, 50-, 25-, 10-, and 5-year recurrence intervals) and tide elevations having exceedence probabilities of 1 and 50 percent (100- and 2-year recurrence intervals). A relationship was developed for determining river water-surface elevation for different combinations of river discharge and tide elevations. Seven different combinations of river flood-plain conditions that may be expected to occur during and after construction were simulated and water-surface elevations determined by use of the step-backwater computer program.

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USGS1979

Physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of Ross Lake, Snohomish County, Washington

A study of the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of Ross Lake in 1975 showed that the lake has no well-defined surface-water inflow and that thermal stratification is well established in summer. The water is of a calcium bicarbonate type, which is typical of lakes in western Washington. Biological productivity in the lake was low, as indicated by low to moderate chlorophyll a concentrations, by the general lack of submersed plants on the lake bottom, and by the moderate dissolved-oxygen depletion in the deeper zones during thermal stratification. The productivity probably was limited by the amount of phosphorus available. Increased productivity and the resulting growth of nuisance plants can be avoided by limiting phosphate inputs to the lake to their present or lesser rates.

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USGS1979

Flood profiles along the Cedar River, King County, Washington

Flood profiles on the Cedar River, King County, Wash., were developed from 21.1 to 33.65 miles upstream from the mouth for the flood of December 3-4, 1975, and for a 100-year flood. Estimated water-surface elevations during a 100-year flood indicate virtually all the flow would be contained in the river channel. Since 1914, Cedar River flows have been affected by impoundment and release of storage from Chester Morse Lake at river mile 35.6, and since 1901 by diversion for water supply at river mile 21.6. Flood-frequency analysis, based on 62 years of regulated flows (period 1915-76), indicate the 100-year flood would have a discharge of 8,600 cubic feet per second at river mile 23.4 and 6,870 cubic feet per second at river mile 33.2. The highest flood since regulation began occurred December 3 and 4, 1975, and was 7,930 cubic feet per second at river mile 23.4 and 6,860 cubic feet per second at river mile 33.2. Recurrence interval of this flood is about 70 years at river mile 23.4 and about 100 years at mile 33.2 under present conditions of storage and regulation.

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USGS1979

Water resources of the Swinomish Indian Reservation, Washington

The Swinomish Indian Reservation occupies 17 mi 2 on Fidalgo Island, northwestern Washington. Six square miles are underlain by mudflats or low-lying alluvial deposits, and are not part of the study area. An appraisal of the water resources of the reservation was made because the Swinomish Tribal Community expects rapid economic and population growth in the near future. Average inflow to the hydrologic system of the reservation is 24 ft 3 /s (cubic feet per second). Outflow consists of evapotranspiration (15 ft 3 /s), subsurface outflow (5 ft 3 /s), and surface-water outflow (4 ft 3 /s). Recharge to the ground-water reservoir is 8 ft 3 /s. Most of the study area is a remnant of a glacial drift plain underlain by three types of unconsolidated deposits. The uppermost unit consists primarily of till, the intermediate unit is predominantly sand and gravel, and the lowermost unit is nearly all clay and silt. The total storage capacity is about 6.3 billion cubic feet of water. During 1976 human interaction with the hydrologic system was negligible, with an average rate of water use of 0.19 ft 3 /s. Seventy percent of this was pumped from the ground-water reservoir and the rest was imported. Water levels in six wells extending below mean sea level were found to fluctuate as much as 2.8 feet in response to tidal fluctuations, representing maximum tidal efficiencies of 42 percent. Below sea level is a freshwater-saltwater zone of diffusion at least 150 feet thick. Dissolved-solids concentrations are estimatd to be 10-20 mg/L (milligrams per liter) in precipitation, increase to 15-35 mg/L due to evapotranspiration, reach 45 mg/L in direct runoff, and increase to about 160 mg/L in shallow ground water and about 245 mg/L in deep ground water. In the zone of saltwater diffusion concentrations up to 1,570 mg/L were measured. Human interaction with the hydrologic system has had little apparent effect on water quality. Ground-water quality is generally within the acceptable limits of the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act. The maximum contaminant levels for turbidity, arsenic, and coliform bacteria have been exceeded in a few samples. Recommended limits have been exceeded for iron, manganese, chloride, dissolved solids, pH, and color. Most of the large concentrations of these constituents were in water from the zone of saltwater diffusion. The ground-water reservoir can be developed to a greater degree. If 20 percent of the 8 ft 3 /s of ground-water recharge can be intercepted, a net rate of ground-water withdrawal of 1.6 ft 3 /s can be attained. Aquiculture development is possible on the two largest streams in the reservation in the form of incubation stations handling 600,000 eggs each.

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USGS1979

Environmental features, general hydrology, and external sources of nutrients affecting Wilderness Lake, King County, Washington

A water budget prepared for Wilderness Lake, a candidate for lake-quality restoration, indicates that of the 530 acre-feet of water that enters the lake each year, 170 acre-feet is from precipitation and 360 acre-feet is from groundwater inflow. An equal amount leaves the lake, and of this, 380 acre-feet is by surface runoff, 8 acre-feet is by groundwater seepage, and 140 acre-feet is by evaporation. Based on these amounts of inflow and outflow, the theoretical water-renewal time of the lake is calculated to be 2.6 years. The annual contributions of nitrogen and phosphorus to the lake from precipitation, natural ground water, and septic-tank leachate are about 920 kilograms nitrogen and 38 kilograms phosphorus. Nitrogen and phosphorus contributions from other sources were not assessed but could be significant. (Woodard-USGS)

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USGS1979

Estimation of floods of various frequencies for the small ephemeral streams in eastern Washington

Equations were developed to estimate the magnitude of floods for various occurrence frequencies at ungaged sites on ephemeral streams that drain small, relatively undeveloped basins in the semiarid part of eastern Washington. The equations were developed from regression analyses that used the logarithms of the longitude indexes of gaged sites, forest cover, and drainage areas of the upstream basins as independent variables and the logarithms of the discharges for selected exceedance-probabilities at the gaged sites were used as dependent variables. These equations may be used to estimate floodflows with probabilities of being exceeded in any year of 50, 20, 10, 4, 2, and 1 percent in natural-flow ephemeral streams that drain relatively undeveloped basins with areas and forest covers less than about 40 square miles and 30 percent, respectively. The standard errors of estimate for the equations range from 57 to 100 percent. Equations that use longitude index as a surrogate for a precipitation index more accurately estimate floods than do equations that use mean annual precipitation, which, in turn, are better than the equations that use the 24-hour precipitation with an exceedance probability of 50 percent. (Kosco-USGS)

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USGS1979

Water resources of the Lower Elwha Indian Reservation, Washington

The Lower Elwha Indian Reservation covers 372 acres at the mouth of the Elwha River in Clallam County, Washington. The land of the reservation is used principally for residential purposes and growing forage for cattle. The population of the reservation is largely dependent upon fisheries resources for its economic health. This study was made to assess the availability and suitability of ground water on the reservation for domestic use and for fish propagation, to determine the streamflow characteristics of the Elwha River and Bosco Creek, and to determine the chemical and physical quality of the area's surface and ground waters. Existing wells on the reservation range in depth from about 30 to about 80 feet, and produce water of excellent chemical quality. Properly constructed wells in favorable locations on the reservation should be capable of large yields, up to 5,000 gallons per minute. Intrusion of seawater into the aquifers of the reservation has not occurred. However, if massive quantities of ground water are withdrawn, intrusion could occur. The Elwha River, which flows along the western margin of the reservation has a mean annual flow of about 1,500 cubic feet per second (ft 3 /s). The recorded minimum daily discharge was 10 ft 3 /s, and the maximum was 41,600 ft 3 /s. The river floods the lower parts of the reservation annually, and extensive flooding is common. Water in the Elwha River is of excellent chemical quality, and its recorded temperature has ranged from 36° to 64°F. Bosco Creek, the only other stream on or adjacent to the reservation, has an estimated mean annual flow of 1.1 ft 3 /s.

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USGS1978

Evaluation and design of a streamflow-data network in Washington

A method of evaluating the transferability of streamflow information by regional regression analysis was applied in Washington to several streamflow variables. The annual mean and annual standard deviation were chosen to represent the development potential of the water resource, while the mean, standard deviation, and the 50-year recurrence interval of the annual flood series were chosen to represent flood potential. Low-flow characteristics were not used because of the inability to model them by regression analysis. Ephemeral streams in the vicinity of the Columbia Plateau were ignored for the same reason. The results of the study indicate that the standard errors of estimate of the regression relations were good approximations of the medians of the Bayesian distributions of estimates of inaccuracy and that for the streamflow variables used in the study, little if any improvement can be expected in the regression relations by the collection of additional streamflow data. Improved transferability of streamflow information for these variables has a prerequisite of more accurate information-transfer models. It is therefore recommended that the future streamflow-data network contain only those streamflow stations needed to provide data for (1) the design or operation of water-resources projects, (2) the investigation and study of water resources, and (3) monitoring long-term trends in streamflow.

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USGS1978

Sediment transport by irrigation return flows on the Yakima Indian Reservation, Washington 1975 and 1976 irrigation seasons

As determined from data collected at 10 sites on the Yakima Indian Reservation during the 1975 and 1976 irrigation seasons (April-September), seasonal sediment discharges in irrigation return flows ranged from 11,000 tons from Marion Drain and Satus Drain 302, to 400 tons from Coulee Drain. There was little variation between the sediment discharges of the 1975 and 1976 irrigation seasons except those from Satus Drain 302. Due to the lack of natural runoff during those seasons, no distinction could be made between sediment discharges from irrigated and nonirrigated areas. No significant or usable relationships were found between suspended-sediment concentration and concurrent water turbidity or discharge.

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USGS1978

Water resources data for Washington, water year 1977: Vol. 1 - Western Washington

Water resources data for the 1977 water year for Washington, 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 and spring. This report, in two volumes, contains discharge records for 258 gaging stations; stage only records for 4 gaging stations; stage and contents for 44 lakes and reservoirs; water quality for 162 stations, and 7 lakes; and water levels for 173 observation wells. Also included are 146 crest-stage partial-record stations. Additional water data were collected at various sites, not part of 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 Washington.

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USGS1978

Water resources data for Washington, water year 1977, Vol. 2 - Eastern Washington

Water resources data for the 1977 water year for Washington consist of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams; stage, contents, and water quality of lakes and reservoirs; and water levels and water-quality of ground water. This report, in two volumes, contains discharge records for 258 gaging stations; stage only records for 4 gaging stations; stage and contents for 44 lakes and reservoirs; water quality for 162 gaging stations, 7 lakes, 50 wells and 71 miscellaneous sites; and water levels for 173 observation wells. Also included are 146 crest-stage partial-record stations and 19 low-flow partial-record stations. 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 collected by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating State and Federal agencies in Washington.

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USGS1978

Preliminary water-quality characterization of lakes in Washington

This report describes a method for comparing and characterizing lakes in Washington on the basis of water quality. The method can aid in selecting lakes for lake-restoration efforts. To simplify comparisons, a characteristic value (CV) was developed for each of 617 lakes in Washington using principal-component analysis. Three of 14 water-quality properties measured were used in this analysis because the principal component of the three properties accounted for 63 percent of the variance in the correlation matrix. The three properties were Secchi-disc visibility and concentrations of phosphorus and organic nitrogen. The significance of the derived CV's was evaluated by regression of chlorophyll a concentration against CV. The resulting standard error of estimate of +1.8 micrograms per liter of chlorophyll a indicated that the CV can be a useful index in assessing relative water-quality and trophic conditions among lakes.

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