Geology topics

Research about Wisconsin

Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including Wisconsin.

At least 775 records · Page 43Linked to original sources

USGS1980

Sediment deposition in the White River Reservoir, northwestern Wisconsin

The history of deposition in the White River Reservoir was reconstructed from a study of sediment in the reservoir. Suspended-sediment concentrations, particle size, and streamflow characteristics were measured at gaging stations upstream and downstream from the reservoir from November 1975 through September 1977. Characteristics of the sediments were determined from borings and samples taken while the reservoir was drained in September 1976. The sediment surface and the pre-reservoir topography were mapped. Sediment thickness ranged from less than 1 foot near the shore to more than 20 feet in the old stream channel. The original reservoir capacity and the volume of deposited sediment were calculated to be 815 acre-feet and 487 acre-feet, respectively. Sediment size ranged from clay and silt in the pool area to large cobbles and boulders at the upstream end of the reservoir. Analyses of all samples averaged 43 percent sand, 40 percent silt, and 17 percent clay, and particle size typically increased upstream. Cobbles, boulders, and gravel deposits were not sampled. The average density of the deposited sediment was about 80 pounds per cubic foot for the entire reservoir. The reservoir was able to trap about 80 percent of the sediment entering from upstream, early in its history. This trap efficiency has declined as the reservoir filled with sediment. Today (1976), it traps only sand and silt-sized sediment, or only about 20 percent of the sediment entering from upstream. Data collected during this study indicate that essentially all of the clay-sized sediment (<0.062 mm) passes through the reservoir. The gross rate of deposition was 7.0 acre-feet per year over the reservoir history, 1907-76. Rates during 1907-63 and 1963-76 were 7.4 and 5.7 acre-feet per year, respectively, determined by the cesium-137 method. Based on scant data, the average annual sediment yield of the total 279 square mile drainage area above the gaging station at the powerhouse was about 50 tons per square mile. Analysis of the drainage-basin characteristics indicates that most of this sediment was derived from less than 10 percent of the total drainage area and from steep unvegetated streambanks.

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USGS1980

Type C botulism losses at Horicon National Wildlife Refuge, 1978

Avian botulism was responsible for the death of over 6,000 waterfowl at Horicon National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin in 1978. The outbreak occurred in early fall on a flooded 250 hectare fallow agricultural area on the northeast end of the refuge. The species most severely affected was the green-winged teal ( Anas carolinensis ), which made up almost 45% of the total birds found. Carcass pick-up, mouse toxicity tests, and antitoxin injections of waterfowl are discussed.

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USGS1980

Ground-water resources and geology of Washington and Ozaukee Counties, Wisconsin

Population growth is placing increased demands on water supplies in Washington and Ozaukee Counties. Water from three principal aquifers supplies most municipal, industrial, irrigation, residential, and farm water needs in these counties. These are the sand-and-gravel, Niagara, and sandstone aquifers. As much as 15 gallons per minute can be obtained from wells almost everywhere in these counties. Yields of 500 to 1,000 gallons per minute are available from the sand-and-gravel aquifer in parts of Washington County. The Niagara aquifer underlies most of the area and can yield as much as 500 gallons per minute in most of Ozaukee and eastern Washington Counties. It yields less than 100 gallons per minute in some areas, notably eastern Mequon in Ozaukee County and parts of western Washington County. The sandstone aquifer underlies the entire area and generally can yield more than 1,000 gallons per minute to wells. However, yields of less than 500 gallons per minute are common in southwestern Washington County, where the aquifer is thinnest.

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USGS1979

Availability of supplemental water supplies at salmonid fish-propagation stations in Wisconsin

Supplemental water supplies are available at all the 12 fish-propagation stations. At seven of the stations water may be obtained by diverting or impounding streams. Ground water is available from glacial sand-and-gravel aquifers at all the stations and from sandstone aquifers at 7 of the 12 stations. Probable well yields range from 100 to 1,000 gallons per minute from the sand and gravel and from 50 to 1,000 gallons per minute from the sandstone. The response of pumping 1,600 gallons per minute from a ground-water source at Crystal Springs, Langlade, Nevin, and Osceola was estimated by a digital model. Estimated drawdown after 10 years of pumping ranged from 10 to 28 feet (6 to 35 percent of the saturated thickness of the aquifers).

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USGS1979

Urban storm-runoff modelling; Madison, Wisconsin

The Illinois Urban Drainage Area Simulator was used to analyze the effects that (1) physical changes to storm-sewer conduits, and (2) increased runoff detention and infiltration would have on storm runoff in four urban basins in Madison, Wisconsin. The model was calibrated using monitoring data for the four basins collected over a 1-year period. A brief evaluation was made of a modified version of the model that simulates quality of urban runoff. Additional monitoring and computer analysis are necessary to calibrate the water-quality portion of the model before it can be used as a management tool in Madison. This study was done in cooperation with the Dane County Regional Planning Commission (DCRPC). Tables presenting results of various storm-water-management options are included. Some notable simulation results were that a 25 percent storm-sewer slope reduction yielded only a 3 percent peak-discharge reduction, and increasing storm-sewer roughness by increasing Manning's "n" from 0.013 to 0.0^0 decreased peak discharge about 10 to 20 percent. Detention of 10 percent of runoff throughout each basin yielded peak-discharge reductions of about 10 to 20 percent. Infiltration of all parking-lot runoff reduced peak discharges 5 to 2h percent. Peak discharges were reduced by 71 to 88 percent by substituting porous pavement for conventional pavement. Draining 90 percent of the residential rooftops onto lawns instead of driveways reduced peak discharge from 7 to 31 percent. Runoff-volume reduction was similarly reduced for the induced infiltration simulations. Storage requirements for hypothetical storm-water-treatment plants ranged from 2.6 to 29 acre-feet for the smallest and largest basins, respectively, with a treatment capacity of 25 cubic feet per second. A brief inconclusive evaluation of the water-quality subroutines of the model was made. Close agreement was noted between observed and simulated loads for nitrates, organic nitrogen, total phosphate, and total solids. Ammonia nitrogen and orthophosphate computed by the model ranged 7 to 11 times greater than the observed loads. Observed loads are doubtful because of the sparsity of water-quality data.

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USGS1979

Low-flow characteristics of streams in the Pecatonica-Sugar River basin, Wisconsin

The purpose of this report is to describe low-flow characteristics of streams in the Pecatonica-Sugar River basin, Wisconsin, where streamflow data have been collected, and to present equations for estimating low-flow characteristics at ungaged sites. Low-flow characteristics were estimated for 11 gaging stations, 25 low-flow partial-record stations, and 207 miscellaneous sites in the basin. Estimates of flow duration were made at the 11 gaging stations. Also, low-flow discharge measurements are listed for 16 miscellaneous sites where insufficient data were available to estimate low-flow characteristics. Four equations are provided to estimate low-flow characteristics at ungaged sites and at sites where one base-flow discharge measurement is available. The equations were determined from multiple-regression analyses that related low-flow characteristics at gaging stations and partial-record stations to basin characteristics. Drainage area and base-flow index were the most significant parameters for these analyses. The standard error of estimate of the 7-day, 10-year low flow was provided. The average SE-j f iQ in the basin ranged from 10 to 64 percent and was dependent on the amount of low-flow data available.

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USGS1979

Streamflow Estimates in Selected Wisconsin Streams

The Wisconsin Department of natural Resources needs streamflow information in lake basins where lake-rehabilitation programs are implemented but where long-term stream-gaging stations are not justified. The U.S. Geological Survey provided streamflow estimates for 24 streams in Wisconsin. The estimates were made by the use of (1) midmonthly measurements, (2) basin characteristics, and (3) drainage-area-discharge relations. The midmonthly measurement technique probably provides the best estimtes of streamflow in streams that may be affected by storage in lakes. However, it is costly, requires 1 year of measurements, and results cannot be obtained until streamflow data from gaging stations in the area have been processed. The basin-characteristics technique is quicker and provides good estimates, but defining the basin parameters is difficult. The drainage-area-discharge technique also provides good streamflow estimates, and it is quick, convenient, and inexpensive. However , the streamflow estimates obtained from drainage-area-discharge relations may be biased because the technique is based on gaging-station records for large steams that do not have the variability of smaller streams and that typically do not reflect the influence of lake storage.

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USGS1979

Sediment deposition in the White River Reservoir, northwestern Wisconsin

The history of deposition in the White River Reservoir was reconstructed from a study of sediment in the reservoir. Suspended-sediment concentrations, particle size, and streamflow characteristics were measured at gaging stations upstream and downstream from the reservoir from November 1975 through September 1977- Characteristics of the sediments were determined from borings and samples taken while the reservoir was drained in September 1976. The sediment surface and the prereservoir topography were mapped. Sediment thickness ranged from less than 1 foot near the shore to more than 20 feet in the old stream channel. The original reservoir capacity and volume of deposited sediment were calculated to be 815 acre-feet and 487 acre-feet, respectively. Sediment size ranged from clay and silt in the pool area to large cobbles and boulders at the upstream end of the reservoir. Analyses of all samples averaged 43 percent sand, 40 percent silt, and 17 percent clay, and particle size typically increased upstream. Cobbles, boulders, and gravel deposits were not sampled. The average density of the deposited sediments was about 80 pounds per cubic foot for the entire reservoir. The reservoir was able to trap about 80 percent of the sediment entering from upstream early in its history. This trap efficiency has declined as the reservoir filled with sediment. Today (1976) it traps only sand and silt-sized sediment, or only about 20 percent of the sediment entering from upstream. Data collected during this study indicate that essentially all of the clay-sized sediment (<0.062 mm) passes through the reservoir. The gross rate of deposition was 7.0 acre-feet per year over the reservoir history, 1907-76. Rates during 1907-63 and 1963-76 were 7.4 and 5.7 acre-feet per year, respectively, determined by the Cesium-137 method. Based on scant data, the average annual sediment yield of the total 279 square mile drainage area above the gaging station at the powerplant was about 50 tons per square mile. Analysis of the drainage-basin characteristics indicates that most of this sediment was derived from less than 10 percent of the total drainage area and from steep unvegetated streambanks.

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USGS1979

Ground-water quality in selected areas of Wisconsin

Analysis of 2,071 ground-water samples from 970 wells throughout Wisconsin indicate large variations in ground-water quality. Ground water in Wisconsin is generally suitable for most uses, but in some areas concentrations of chemical constituents exceed recommended drinking-water standards. Iron, manganese, and nitrate commonly exceed recommended drinking-water standards and dissolved solids, sulfate, heavy metals, and phenolic materials may present local problems. (USGS)

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USGS1979

Simulation of streamflow of Rock River at Lake Koshkonong, Wisconsin, to determine effects of withdrawal of powerplant-cooling water

A flow-routing model was used to simulate 44 years of stage data from Lake Koshkonong, Wis., and streamflow data from the Rock River downstream from the lake. The simulation was repeated for five possible degrees of consumptive use, ranging from zero to an annual average of 40 cubic feet per second. A minimum release rule was applied to the simulated operation of the dam at Indianford to guarantee at least the 7-day, 10-year low-flow discharge in the Rock River downstream from Lake Koshkonong. The simulated stage of Lake Koshkonong with consumptive use at 40 cubic feet per second was as much as 0.42 feet lower than the simulated stage with zero consumptive use for the same period. Duration of drawdown below the regulatory minimum stage of 11.8 feet, occurring once in 10 years, increased from 83 to 132 days as consumptive use increased from 0 to 40 cubic feet per second.

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USGS1979

Contamination potential in the Silurian Dolomite aquifer, eastern Wisconsin

The Silurian dolomite aquifer is used for water supply in much of a 14-county area bordering Lake Michigan in eastern Wisconsin. Because of the rapidity of ground-water movement, the aquifer is susceptible to contamination by waters percolating downward from surface sources. Maps showing the distribution of permeability, the thickness of unconsolidated materials, and the depth to the water table are combined to show areas where the dolomite aquifer has the greatest contamination potential. Several areas have above-normal potential for contamination. These include the Casco-Luxemburg area of Kewaunee County, the area south of Chilton in Calumet County, a part of western Manitowoc County, drainageway areas in Sheboygan County, the Byron-Campbellsport area of Fond du Lac County, the Sussex-Lannon-Cedarburg areas of Waukesha and Ozaukee Counties, and the Racine-Burlington areas of Racine County.

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USGS1979

Monthly and annual water budgets of Lake Wingra, Madison, Wisconsin, 1972-77

This report presents estimated annual and monthly water budgets for Lake Wingra and the adjacent wetland area for January 1972 through September 1972. Annually, inputs from precipitation, surface runoff, and groundwater inflow are approximately equal (31, 34, and 35 percent, respectively). Outputs include outflow from the lake into Murphy Creek (70 percent), evapotranspiration from the lake and wetland (26 percent), and ground-water outflow (4 percent). The inputs and outputs vary seasonally. In months when snowmelt occurs, surface runoff is a major input (56 percent in March; 46 percent in April). In fall and winter ground-water inflow is a major input (57 percent in November). Precipitation comprises 41 percent of the input in August but only 18 percent in January. Lake outflow is the major output except from July through September. Combined evaporation and evapotranspiration is a major output in summer (45 to 58 percent) but minor in winter (less than 13 percent). Ground-water outflow is a small part of the budget each month, ranging from 2 percent in March and April to a maximum of 7 percent in September. The water budget is based on field data collected from January 1972 through June 1973, and on fragmentary data and estimates for July 1973 through September 1977. The budget terms differ from those published by Oakes, Hendrickson, and Zuehls (1975, table 10) because springflow has been included in total ground-water inflow and estimated on a monthly basis in this report. Previously only annual estimates were provided.

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USGS1979

Red Cedar River basin, Wisconsin: Low-flow characteristics

Low-flow characteristics in the Red Cedar River basin, Wis., where surplus water may be diverted, and methods to determine low-flow characteristics at additional sites are presented. The low-flow characteristics were determined by various methods at 71 sites. For the three gaging stations in the basin, frequency analysis was used to determine the low-flow characteristics. At 17 partial-record sites correlation analyses were used to estimate the low-flow characteristics. Where only a single base-flow measurement was available (41 sites), equations were developed to estimate low-flow characteristics. The relationships were determined from multiple-regression analyses that related low-flow characteristics at gaging stations, low-flow partial-record stations, and sewage-treatment-plant sites to the drainage area and base-flow index values. The standard errors of estimate were determined to be 25 percent for the Q7,2 equation and 34 percent for the Q7,10 equation. For the main stem of the Red Cedar River where only one discharge measurement was available the low-flow characteristics were determined from a drainage area-discharge relationship. Low-flow characteristics were determined at an additional 30 sites in the Red Cedar River basin by various methods. The method used for these sites depended upon the type and amount of data available at each site.

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USGS1979

Low-flow characteristics of Wisconsin streams at sewage-treatment plants and industrial plants

Low-flow characteristics of Wisconsin streams at 397 sewage-treatment plants and 143 industrial plants in 30 river basins are presented in this report. The low-flow characteristics are the annual minimum 7-day mean flow below which the flow will fall on the average of once in 2 years (Q 7,2 ) and the annual minimum 7-day mean flow below which the flow will fall on the average of once in 10 years (Q 7, 10 ). The low-flow characteristics at most sewage-treatment and industrial plants (project stations) were determined by correlating base-flow measurements at the project stations with the concurrent daily mean flow at continuous-record gaging stations in the area. The Q 7, 2 and Q 7,10 discharges determined by a frequency analysis at the continuous-record gaging stations were used to estimate the Q 7,2 and Q 7,10 at the project stations. For some project stations the low-flow characteristics also were determined by frequency analysis at nearby continuous-record gaging stations or correlation analysis at nearby low-flow partial-record stations. The Q 7, 2 values ranged from 0 to 3,770 ft 3 /s and Q 7, 10 values ranged from 2,790 ft 3 /s. The accuracy of the estimated low-flow characteristics is evaluated according to the type and amount of data used to determine the low-flow characteristics. The accuracy determined by the standard error of estimate for the 10-year low flow (SE 7, 10 )) ranged from an average of 18 percent at continuous-record gaging stations to an average of h6 percent when only three base-flow measurements were available.

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USGS1979

Low-flow characteristics of streams in the Lake Superior Basin, Wisconsin

Low-flow characteristics of streams in the Lake Superior basin include estimates of low-flow frequency and flow duration at 9 gaging stations, low-flow frequency at 16 low-flow partial-record stations and 38 miscellaneous sites; and a list of base-flow discharge measurement is available. The equations were determined from multiple-regression analyses that relate low-flow characteristics. The standard error of estimate is provided for each method of estimating the annual minimum 7-day mean flow below which the flow will fall on the average of once in 2 years and once in 10 years. Standard error provides the user with the expected degree of accuracy for each method. (Woodard-USGS)

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USGS1979

Water-table map of Kenosha County, Wisconsin

A map (scale 1:100,000) of the water table in Kenosha County in southeastern Wisconsin was prepared using water levels from more than 200 wells. The work was done as a cooperative project between the U.S. Geological Survey and the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission. The map shows the altitude of the water table in increments of 20 feet, with supplemental 10-foot contours. The altitude ranges from less than 580 feet at a point near Lake Michigan to more than 840 feet at a point near the western border of the county. (Woodard-USGS)

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USGS1979

Water-table map of Waukesha County, Wisconsin

A map (scale 1:100,000) was prepared of the water table in Waukesha County in southeastern Wisconsin using water levels from more than 1,700 wells. The work was done as part of a cooperative project between the U.S. Geological Survey, the University of Wisconsin-Extension, Geological and Natural History Survey, and the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission. The map shows the altitude of the water table in increments of 20 feet, with supplemental 10-foot contours. The altitude ranges from less than 670 feet at a point along the east border of the county to more than 1,000 feet above sea level at three points in the central part of the county. (Woodard-USGS)

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USGS1979

Low-flow characteristics of streams in the Trempealeau-Black River basin, Wisconsin

Lov-flov characteristics of streams in the Trempealeau-Black River "basin are presented. Included are estimates of low-flow frequency and flow duration at 9 gaging stations, and low-flow frequency characteristics at 20 low-flow partial-record stations and 119 miscellaneous sites. Ten equations are provided to estimate low-flow characteristics at ungaged sites and at sites where one "base-flow discharge measurement is available. The low-flow characteristics determined were the annual minimum T-day mean flow below which the flow will fall on an average of once in 2 years (Qj 2) a>n<3. once in 10 years (Q7 9io)« The equations were determined from multiple-regression analyses that related the low-flow characteristics at gaging stations and low-flow partial-record stations to basin characteristics. Drainage area, soil-infiltration rate, transmissivity, precipitation, snowfall, and base-flow index were the most significant parameters for these analyses.

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