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Research about Wisconsin

Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including Wisconsin.

At least 811 records · Page 45Linked to original sources
USGS1977

Geology and ground water in Door County, Wisconsin, with emphasis on contamination potential in the Silurian dolomite

Door County, a recreational and fruit-growing area bordering Lake Michigan in northeastern Wisconsin, has had a long history of ground-water contamination from surface and near-surface sources. Contamination is most severe in late summer when fruit-canning operations and the influx of tourists create additional wastes. Silurian dolomite is the upper bedrock unit in the county and yields generally adequate supplies of very hard water with locally objectionable concentrations of iron and nitrate. Thin soil cover and well-fractured dolomitic bedrock give easy entry to ground-water contaminants throughout large parts of Door County. Many contaminants enter the dolomite by surface or near-surface seepage. There is little attenuation of contamination concentrations in the well-jointed dolomite, and contaminants may travel long distances underground in a relatively short time. The major source of ground-water contamination is bacteria, from individual waste-disposal systems, agricultural, industrial, and municipal wastes. Areas of the county underlain by contaminated zones include only a small percentage of the total ground-water system and are separated by large volumes of ground water free of contamination. (Woodard-USGS)

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USGS1977

Hydrologic considerations associated with dredging spring ponds in Wisconsin

Spring ponds (small spring-fed bodies of water) are natural features of some glaciated areas and have a continuous flow of ground water entering through their bottoms and exiting through surface outlets. Dredging has been used to restore ponds that have been filled in part or totally by sediment. The purpose of the study was to determine the hydrology of selected spring ponds and the effect that dredging has had on the ponds. Three ponds, Maxwell, Sunshine, and Krause Ponds, in northeastern Wisconsin were studied. Sediments were dredged from Sunshine and Krause Ponds. Maxwell Pond, which was not dredged, was a hydrologic control to aid in distinguishing changes produced by dredging from those that were natural. Ground water from glacial deposits is the source of most of the water flowing in spring ponds and streams in the study area. Average annual ground-water recharge in the study area is about 13 inches. Ground-water discharge contributed 97 percent of the total flow in the Red River, a typical stream in the study area, during the 1973 water year. Ground water and surface water in the study area are of a calcium magnesium bicarbonate type. Dissolved-solids concentration ranges from 170 to 250 milligrams per liter. Temperature of ground water discharging into the spring ponds in the study ranged from 6 to 7 Celsius.

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USGS1977

Low-flow characteristics at gaging stations on the Wisconsin, Fox, and Wolf rivers, Wisconsin

Low-flow characteristics are presented at eleven gaging stations on the main stem of the Wisconsin, Fox, and Wolf Rivers in this report. The low-flow characteristics presented are the annual minimum 7-day mean flow below which the flow will fall on the average of once in 2 years (Q7, 2) and the annual minimum 7-day mean flow below which the flow will fall on the average of once in 10 years (Q7, I0). To provide accurate and consistent low-flow characteristics for uniform evaluation of waste effluent, a long-term period of streamflow record was used for the analyses. The record selected for the study was 1915-75. This was found to be the most representative that included longterm streamflow conditions and various degrees of regulation by storage reservoirs. The Q7, 10 discharge on the Wisconsin River ranged from lUO cubic feet per second at the Wisconsin River at Rainbow Lake near Lake Tomahawk gaging station to 2,790 cubic feet per second at the Wisconsin River at Muscoda gaging station. On the Fox-Wolf Rivers, the Q7, 10 ranged from 360 cubic feet per second at Fox River at Berlin to 950 cubic feet per second at Fox River at Rapide Croche dam near Wrightstown. Low-flow characteristics that reflect unregulated and regulated conditions on the upper Wisconsin River were compared. This analysis showed no apparent difference in Q7, 10 discharge values due to regulation at the Wisconsin River at Merrill gaging station, although a more detailed study is warranted to fully evaluate the effect of storage. The magnitude of the low-flow characteristics are in some instances affected by the period of record. These characteristics can vary as much as ±30 percent at some gaging stations depending on whether or not the severe drought of the 1930's was included in the analysis.

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USGS1976

The survival of coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) eggs in two Wisconsin tributaries of Lake Michigan

Natural reproduction of coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) in two Wisconsin tributaries of Lake Michigan (Little Scarboro Creek, Kewaunee Co., and Fischer Creek, Manitowoc Co.), is limited by an unusually high mortality of eggs and preemergent embryos. Of approximately 1800 coho salmon eggs planted in six study redds (spawning beds) within Fischer Creek (November 1972), none survived to hatching. The 1500 eggs planted in five study redds within Little Scarboro Creek produced 21 sac fry. The bottom materials of both streams are comprised of at least 15% (by volume) particles smaller than 0.84 mm in diam. Streambed gravels containing this quantity of sand, silt and clay do not allow for intragravel water of sufficient dissolved oxygen concentration or velocity to meet the oxygen requirements of developing salmon eggs. Water surrounding eggs planted in Fischer Creek and Little Scarboro Creek had mean dissolved oxygen concentrations of 3.96 and 6.22 mg/liter, respectively. The extremely low mean (2.83 C and 2.67 C) water temperatures of Fischer Creek and Little Scarboro Creek were an added cause of egg loss. In response to low temperature, planted eggs hatched after a prolonged development period of approximately 145 days. Gravel shifts caused by variable stream flow in Fischer Creek may also be responsible for killing naturally deposited eggs there

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USGS1976

Low-flow study of the Pike River Basin, Racine and Kenosha counties, Wisconsin

The low-flow characteristics of the Pike River basin, Racine and Kenosha Counties were studied to determine the feasibility of Public Law 566 watershed-protection practices. Two seepage runs, one in October 1973, and the other in September 1974, showed that most of the low flow is combined treated-sewage and industrial cooling-water discharge. This effluent was 4.66 cubic feet per second (1.3 cubic metres per second) on September 19, 1974, and discharged into the headwaters of the Pike River; near the mouth the discharge was essentially the same. During drought this effluent could be lost gradually by evapotranspiration and by seepage to the ground-water reservoir. The Q7,2 discharge estimate near the mouth is 0.0 cubic foot per second. Water temperatures October 25-26, 1973, ranged from 9.5 to 16 degrees Celsius, whereas those for. September 19-20, 1974, ranged from 10 to 22 degrees Celsius. Dissolved oxygen October 25-26, 1973, ranged from 4 to 13.5 milligrams per litre; for September 19-20, 1974, the range was from 6.0 to 12.5 milligrams per litre. Specific conductance October 25-26, 1973, ranged from 480 to 1,350 micromhos; for September 19-20, 1974, the range was from 380 to 1,400 micromhos.

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USGS1976

Low-Flow Characteristics and Mean Annual Discharge of North Branch Manitowoc River at Potter, Wisconsin

The low-flow characteristics presented in this report are the annual minimum 7-day mean flows at the 2-year recurrence interval and 10-year recurrence interval. They were determined just downstream from the confluence of the three streams forming the North Branch Manitowoc River and, based on natural-flow conditions, are 0.0 cubic foot per second (0.0 cubic metre per second). Observations made in October 1974 showed that the natural discharge of the three streams forming the North Branch Manitowoc River was 0.0 cubic foot per second (0.0 cubic metre per second). A discharge of 0.30 cubic foot per second (0.008 cubic metre per second) was measured in the tributary from Hilbert but this was predominantly effluent from the sewage-treatment plant and a cheese factory in Hilbert. The mean annual discharge for the North Branch Manitowoc River at Potter is 27 cubic feet per second (0.76 cubic metre per second). This was based on the estimated and recorded discharge for June 1, 1974, to May 31, 1975, for the North Branch Manitowoc River at Potter site and an adjustment based on the long-term mean annual discharge at gaging station 04086000, Sheboygan River at Sheboygan.

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USGS1976

Waste-assimilation study of Koshkonong Creek below sewage-treatment plant at Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

A waste-load-assimilation study of a reach of Koshkonong Creek below the Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, sewage-treatment-plant outfall indicated that a high level of treatment would be required to meet Wisconsin water-quality standards. To maintain a minimum dissolved-oxygen concentration of 5 mg/liter during the critical summer low-flow period, 5-day carbonaceous biochemical-oxygen demand in waste discharges should not exceed 5 mg/liter and ammonium nitrogen should not exceed 1.5 mg/liter. Advanced treatment with denitrification is required because stream-reaeration coefficients are not high enough to offset deoxygenation caused by an abundance of attached biological slimes. The slimes apparently consumed dissolved oxygen at a rate of about 110 mg/liter per day at the time of the stream survey. During the critical summer low-flow period, natural stream discharge is very small compared to waste-water discharge , so benefits of dilution are insignificant. An evaluation of two proposed alternative waste-water discharge sites indicated that the present discharge site is hydraulically superior to these sites. Stream-reaeration coefficients used in the study were based on measurements using the radioactive-tracer method. (Woodard-USGS)

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USGS1976

Probable maximum flood at Lake Chippewa near Winter, Wisconsin

The probable maximum flood was computed for Lake Chippewa, Wisconsin, and routed through the lake to determine maximum lake stage. The peak discharge of the probable maximum flood at Lake Chippewa was computed to be about 75,000 cubic feet per second, primarily caused by rainfall on the lake. A secondary peak of about 41,000 cubic feet per second was due to streamflow entering Lake Chippewa. The 14-day volume of this flood was 450 ,000 acre-feet. Using an assumed operating procedure for Winter Dam, the maximum lake stage for the probable maximum flood was computed to be about 1,318 feet above mean sea level--about 3 feet below the dam crest and 6 feet above the proposed normal summer operating level. The probability of this flood occurring in any year is less than 1 in 10,000. (Woodard-USGS)

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USGS1976

Regional flood limits of lower Yahara River, Lake Waubesa and south, in Dane County, Wisconsin

The purpose of this report is to provide information on the extent , depth, and frequency of flooding of the lower Yahara River in Dane County, Wis. The report contains discharge-frequency data for flood peaks, flood–frequency profiles, and the regional flood– (100-year flood) inundation limits for the lower Yahara River. The study reach is in southern Dane County extending from part of the shoreline of Lake Waubesa downstream through Lake Kegonsa to the Dane-Rock County line. Specifically the parts of the shoreline of Lake Waubesa included are those in and south of section 8, T. 6 N., R. 10 E. on the west shore and the south half of section 3, , T. 7 N., R. 10 E. on the east shore. (See figure 2.) The reach is 21 river miles (31 km) long. The Wisconsin Legislature has enacted flood–plain–Zoning legislation (1965) to encourage economic use of flood plains and to minimize flood losses. This act gave counties, cities, and villages the responsibility of enacting, administering, and enforcing reasonable and effective flood-plain regulations. This report is a sequel to earlier reports by Lawrence and Holmstrom (1971) and Holmstrom and Lawrence (1971). The earlier reports provided much of the same information, but the scale of the maps defining limits of flooding was much smaller. This report , using Orthophotographs at a scale of 1 in - 100 ft., provides greater detail. The report is based on conditions existing in 1971. All elevations are referenced to mean sea level, datum of 1929.

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USGS1976

Measurement and prediction of sediment yields in Wisconsin streams

Sediment data of some form have been collected by the U.S. Geological Survey at 118 stream-gaging sites throughout Wisconsin, beginning in 1935. The average concentration of suspended sediment for Wisconsin streams is low in comparison with that of many streams in the United States—110 milligrams per litre for Wisconsin, as compared with 600 milligrams per litre for 50 percent of the United States (Rainwater, 1962). Enough data have been collected at 84 of the 118 sites to calculate an average annual suspended-sediment yield at those sites. Measured average annual yields range from about 680 tons per square mile (238 tonnes per square kilometre) in the "Driftless Area" to 3.1 tons per square mile (1.1 tonnes per square kilometre) in the Northern Highland province. The average suspended-sediment yield for Wisconsin is about 80 tons per square mile per year (28 tonnes per square kilometre per year). Only three areas in the State may be considered to have a sediment problem. They are sections of the "Driftless Area" of southwestern Wisconsin, the Lake Superior red-clay area, and areas of expanding urbanization in southeastern Wisconsin. Sediment-yield prediction equations have been developed for the Northern Highland province, the Central Plain province, the Eastern Ridges and Lowlands province, and the "Driftless Area" (Martin, 1932 and Thwaites, 1956). These four equations make it possible to predict average annual suspendedsediment yields at any point on about 95 percent of the streams in the State. The prediction technique involves regression equations that relate average annual suspended-sediment yields to factors, such as topography, soils, land use and cover, stream hydraulics, and climatic conditions. The standard error of estimate for these equations, which only represents the accuracy of an estimated sediment yield at an ungaged site, ranges from 28 to 38 percent.

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USGS1976

Simulation of streamflow of Flambeau River at Park Falls, Wisconsin to define low-flow characteristics

Daily streamflows of the Flambeau River at Park Falls, Wisconsin , were simulated for a 31-year period. Streamflow was simulated using a streamflow-routing model. These simulated daily flows were analyzed for summer (June 1-October 31) low-flow frequency. The resultant 7-day, 10-year summer low flow is 260 cubic feet per second. The standard error of estimate for this 10-year-frequency low flow is equivalent to the standard error of estimate for 16 years of gaging-station records.

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