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Research about Washington

Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including Washington.

At least 1,621 records · Page 90Linked to original sources
USGS1974

Flood profiles and inundated areas along the Lower Nisqually River, Washington

Nisqually River flood profiles, covering the reach from near the river mouth to river mile 6.4, were developed in a 2-year field study (1970-72) as part of a continuing program with the State of Washington Department of Ecology. The main channel of the reach will convey without overflow discharges as large as about 21,000 cubic feet per second, which have a 6-year recurrence interval. The banks in some areas will be overtopped at 25,500 cubic feet per second, which has a 13-year recurrence interval. The areas where overbank flooding will first occur, and water-surface profiles of a 3.4-year and 100-year flood were determined for six flood-profile stations. The largest flood for which data are available was that of December 1933; the approximate area that would be presently inundated by such a flood is shown. Alder and La Grande Reservoirs can reduce the magnitude of lower annual flood peaks downstream to some extent, but insufficient data are available to predict their effects on very large floods.

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USGS1974

Flood profiles and inundated areas along the White River, Chelan County, Washington

Flood profiles covering the main stem to river mile 11.0 (kilometer 17.7) of the White River in Chelan County, Wash., were developed in a 3-year field study (1970-72) in cooperation with the State of Washington Department of Ecology. Flood-frequency curves based on an average of a regional computation and a Log-Pearson Type III analysis of 18 years of record indicate that the 100-year flood will have a discharge of about 6,600 cubic feet per second, or about 186 cubic meters per second,at river mile 6.4.or kilometer 10.3. Discharge of a 50-year flood was computed to be about 6,300 cubic feet per second, or about 178 cubic meters per second. The greatest flood discharge during the study period occurred on June 10, 1972, and was 5,310 cubic feet per second, or about 150 cubic meters per second; such a discharge has a recurrence interval of 4 years. Most of the flood plain of the White River probably is inundated during a 100-year flood.

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USGS1974

A method for the relative classification of lakes in the State of Washington from reconnaissance data

The classification system developed allows a rapid assessment of the eutrophic potential and condition of more than 750 Washington lakes and reservoirs. The potential for nutrient enrichment from natural sources is evaluated on the basis of the interactions of physical and hydrologic factors that play a role in controlling the trophic condition of lakes, such as: (1) mean depth, (2) volume, (3) bottom slope, (4) shoreline configuration ratio, (5) ratio of drainage area to volume, (6) altitude, and (7) water-renewal time. The potential for nutrient enrichment from cultural sources is evaluated on the basis of (1) total phosphorus loading from nonpoint sources and point sources, (2) volume of water per nearshore home, and (3) percentage of shore developed. Total phosphorus loading for the lakes is calculated using criteria based on phosphorus exports from various nonpoint sources in the lake basin. Indicators of eutrophication and water quality are evaluated from phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations, specific conductance, dissolved-oxygen depletion in the hypolimnion, Secchidisc visibility, fecal-doliform bacteria, and the abundance of rooted aquatic plants. The classification system, applied to seven Washington lakes, shows that a high enrichment potential from natural and (or) cultural factors is a good indicator of eutrophication and water-quality conditions for the lake.

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USGS1974

Digital-model study of ground-water hydrology, Columbia Basin Irrigation Project Area, Washington

Since 1952 water diverted from the Columbia River at Grand Coulee Dam has been used to irrigate parts of the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project area in eastern Washington, and as a result ground-water levels generally have risen in the area. The rapid increases in ground-water inflow, outflow, and storage from irrigation have created a need for a better understanding of the ground-water system before and after the start of irrigation to establish guidelines necessary for management of the area's ground-water resource. Data and information from previous geologic and hydrologic studies were used as a basis for quantitative analyses of ground-water inflow and outflow by means of digital computer models representing three major areas--Quincy Basin, Pasco Basin, and Royal Slope.

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USGS1973

Earthquakes near Mount St. Helens, Washington

Seismic monitoring around Mount St. Helens, Washington, for 28 days during the summer of 1970 showed that the frequency of local earthquakes was from 3 to 13 per day and very similar to the activity previously observed near Mount Rainier, Washington. The epicenters of the well-recorded earthquakes form a roughly linear pattern trending northeast from the summit area. This is the only obvious trend in the epicenter distribution. Recent geological investigations have not revealed faults or other major geological discontinuities along this trend. This pattern of epicenters seems to be approximately aligned with the remnants of five ancestral St. Helens plug domes that trend southwest from the summit region.

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USGS1973

Age and correlation of the Windermere Group in northeastern Washington

Greenstone of basaltic composition forms the middle part of the Windermere System in southern British Columbia and the correlative Windermere Group in northeastern Washington. The greenstone, together with the rest of the Windermere in this region, is highly sheared, altered, and metamorphosed, except for a small exposed mass of relatively unaffected rocks near the community of Chewelah, Washington. K-Ar ages on whole rocks and mineral separates from the Chewelah area indicate the greenstone was probably extruded between 827 and 918 m.y. ago.

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USGS1973

Climatic factors related to land-use planning in the Puget Sound basin, Washington

Climate is a basic part of the natural environment and exerts a strong influence on many of man's activities. In the Puget Sound basin especially, effective land-use planning requires consideration of climatic influences, for the climate differs significantly in the various parts of the area. However, climatic information may not be given adequate consideration in the planning process if pertinent data are not readily available or if the importance of some climatic features is not apparent. The purpose of this study is to review available data related to the climate of the Puget Sound basin and to present selected climatic information along with an evaluation of its significance and general adequacy for planning purposes. This is part of continuing efforts aimed at imporving the accessibility and usefulness of environmental and other data needed for land-use planning, resource development, and environmental protection.

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USGS1973

Water resources data for Washington, water year 1972; Part 1, Surface water records

Surface-water records for the 1972 water year for Washington, including records of streamflow or reservoir storage at gaging stations, partial-record stations, and miscellaneous sites, are given in this report and their locations shown in figures 1, 2. Records for a few pertinent gaging stations in bordering States also are included. The records were collected and computed by the Water Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey under the direction of L. B. Laird, district chief. These data represent that portion 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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USGS1973

Water resources data for Washington, water year 1972; Part 2, Water quality records

Water resources data for the 1972 water year for Washington include records of data for the chemical and physical characteristics of surface water. Data on the quality of surface water (chemical, temperature, and sediment) were collected from designated sampling sites at predetermined intervals such as once daily, weekly, monthly or less frequently. Records are given for 123 sampling stations of which 119 are continuous record stations and 4 are partial-record stations. Locations of the continuous-record sampling stations are shown in Figure 1. A few pertinent stations (not included above) in bordering States are also included. The records were collected by the Water Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey under the direction of L. B. Laird, district chief. These data represent that portion 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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USGS1973

Sediment transport by streams in the Upper Columbia River Basin, Washington, May 1969-June 1971

This report presents the results of a reconnaissance evaluation of the fluvial-sediment transport by streams in the 28 ,000 - square-mile upper Columbia River basin in eastern Washington. The basin ranges in altitude from about 340 to 9,000 feet, and receives annual precipitation ranging from more than 150 inches in the mountains to less than 10 inches at the lower altitudes. A good vegetative cover is sustained in the mountains by the high precipitation, whereas vegeta tion is sparse in the lower semiarid parts of the basin. In the mountainous areas snowmelt runoff transports most of the sediment during April through June. In the semiarid parts of the basin, little runoff occurs during most years, and most of the sediment is transported when heavy, warm rains fall on extensive accumulations of snow. During the 1970 and 1971 water years, the measured suspended-sediment concentrations in the upper Columbia River basin ranged from less than 1 milligram per liter in many streams to more than 200,000 milligrams per liter in Providence Coulee. The estimated long-term annual suspended-sediment yields range from less than 10 tons per square mile in many basins to more than 500 tons per square mile in Providence Coulee. Man's activities have caused only a slight increase in the magnitude of the sediment discharge to the Columbia River. Although cultivation has initiated a large increase in erosion on the Columbia Plateau, and winds there move some of the loosened or easily eroded soils to depressions and runoff channels, sediment transport by streams has not increased greatly. This is because the little surface runoff on the plateau does not transport the soils to streams and to the Columbia River.

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