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At least 433 records · Page 24Linked to original sources
USGS1974

Water resources of Wisconsin: Lower Wisconsin River basin

This report describes the physical environment, availability, distribution, movement, quality, and use of water in the upper Wisconsin River basin as an aid in planning and water management. The report presents general information on the basin derived from data obtained from Federal, State, and local agencies, New field data were collected in areas where information was lacking. More detailed studies of problem areas may be required in the future, as water needs and related development increase. The upper Wisconsin River basin is the headwaters of the Wisconsin River drainage and includes about 2,730 square miles in northern Wisconsin (upstream from the gage on the Wisconsin River at Merrill). An additional 50 square miles of the basin lies in Michigan and is not covered by this report. The report area includes parts of Forest, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Oneida, Price, Taylor, and Vilas Counties, Many organizations and persons assisted the study by providing data. Among the contributors were the University of Wisconsin-Extension, Geological and Natural History Survey, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin Valley Improvement Company, Municipal water officials furnished water-supply information and well records, Many individuals allowed access to their wells for water-level measurements and collection of water samples for chemical analysis.

Wisconsin↗
USGS1998

Water quality, hydrology, and invertebrate communities of three remnant wetlands in Missouri, 1995-97

This report presents the results of a study conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources from December 1995 through May 1997 to describe the water quality, hydrologic, and invertebrate characteristics of three remnant wetlands. These data may be used to help develop selected water-quality standards for wetlands in Missouri. Wetlands monitored in this study include Spile Lake, Vernon County; Little Bean Marsh, Platte County; and Forker Oxbow, Linn County, Missouri. Extremes in physicochemical properties in these wetlands were greatly affected by thermal stratification, hydrologic fluctuations, biological activity, and ice formation. The wetlands had dissolved-oxygen concentrations below the 5-milligrams-per-liter State water-quality standard from 40 to 60 percent of a selected 1-year period, corresponding to periods of thermal stratification. Hydrologic fluctuations were common as the water-surface elevation changes in these systems ranged up to 12 feet during the course of the study. Photosynthesis and respiration are likely causes of diurnal fluctuations in pH and dissolved oxygen throughout the study period, but particularly in the summer months. Periods of ice formation were short lived in the wetlands, but corresponded with maximum values of specific conductance and dissolved oxygen in all three systems. Analyses of invertebrate results using the Jaccard Coefficient of Community Similarity indicated mixed results. Woody snag sample results showed little similarities between sites, while sweep net sample results indicated similarities existed. Most of the families detected at these sites are considered organic tolerant as indicated by the Hilsenhoff Biotic Index. Analysis of the dominant taxon indicates that one or two invertebrate families that are tolerant to organic enrichment generally dominate the wetlands. The hydrologic, water quality, and invertebrate information analyzed in this study indicate that while there are similarities among wetlands, these are unique systems. The statistical comparisons between water-quality constituents in wetlands and streams indicate dissimilarities are common. Including the presence of thermal stratification in these wetlands, the exclusions and modifications in State standards that are applied to lakes and reservoirs also may be applicable.

Missouri↗
USGS1964

Water levels in observation wells in Santa Barbara County, California, 1963

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Santa Barbara County Water Agency, continued the study of the ground-water resources of Santa Barbara County (fig. 1) in 1963. As part of the study, the Geological Survey made monthly water-level measurements in 247 wells; 17 of which were equipped with automatic water-level recorders. These measurements and measurements made by the Santa Maria Valley Water Conservation District are included in this report— In addition, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation measured the water levels in wells along the Santa Ynez River between Cachuma Dam and Rucker Crossing, but the measurements have not been included herein. In addition to the observation-well program, the Geological Survey is preparing interpretive reports on the ground-water conditions in the Ellwood-Gaviota area, the Lompoc and Santa Ynez upland areas of the Santa Ynez River basin, the Santa Barbara-Summerland area, and the Santa Maria Valley. The basic data from which these reports are being prepared can be consulted at the Santa Barbara office of the Geological Survey. This report was prepared by the Geological Survey, Water Resources Division, under the general supervision of Fred Kunkel, district geologist in charge of ground-water investigations In California, and under the immediate supervision of C. P. Zones, geologist in charge of the Santa Barbara subdistrict office. Measurements for the period 1941-55 were published in U.S. Geological Survey water-supply papers; measurements for the period 1956-62 were released locally in duplicated form.' A report by G. A. LaRocque, Jr., and others (1950) contains descriptions of 2,246 wells in the ground-water basins of the county in 1942. It also contains many water-level measurements made before 1942 by the city of Santa Barbara, the Santa Maria Valley Water Conservation District, the San Joaquin Power Division of the Pacific Gas and Electric Co., the Union Sugar Co., the Union Oil Co., and other organizations and individuals. Comprehensive reports on the geology and ground-water resources of the Santa Ynez River basin (Upson, Thomasson, and others, 1951; Wilson, 1959), the south-coast basins (Upson and others, 1951), the Santa Maria Valley area (Worts, 1951), the Cuyama Valley (Upson and Worts, 1951) and the San Antonio Creek valley (Muir; 1964) were published as Geological Survey water-supply papers. A report on stream runoff and ground-water storage capacity of the Santa Ynez River valley (Troxell and Wilson, 1952) was released to the open file in October 1952. A complete bibliography of reports of investigations made by the Water Resources Division, U.S. Geological Survey, in Santa Barbara County since 1940 is included in this report.

California↗
USGS1972

Ground-water levels in observation wells in Oklahoma, 1969-70

The investigation of the ground-water resources of Oklahoma by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Oklahoma Water Resources Board includes a continuing program to collect records of water levels in selected observation wells on a systematic basis. These water-level records: (1) provide an index to available ground-water supplies; (2) facilitate the prediction of trends in water levels that will indicate likely changes in storage; (3) aid in the prediction of the base flow of streams; (4) provide information for use in basic research; (5) provide long-time continuous records of fluctuations of water levels in representative wells; and (6) serve as a framework to which other types of hydrologic data my be related. Prior to 1956, measurements of water levels in observation wells in Oklahoma were included in water-supply papers published annually by the U.S. Geological Survey. Beginning with the 1956 calendar year, however, Geological Survey water-level reports will contain only records of a selected network of observation wells, and will be published at 5-year intervals. The first of this series, for the 1956-59 period was published in 1962. In addition to the water-supply papers, the U.S. Geological Survey, cooperation with the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, has published the following informal reports on water levels in Oklahoma. Ground-water levels in observations wells in Oklahoma, 1956-60 Ground-water levels in observations wells in Oklahoma, 1961-62 Ground-water levels in observations wells in Oklahoma, 1963-64 Ground-water levels in observations wells in Oklahoma, 1965-66 Ground-water levels in observations wells in Oklahoma, 1967-68 Records of water-level measurements in wells in the Oklahoma Panhandle, 1966-70 Records of water-level measurements in wells in the Oklahoma Panhandle, 1971-72 The basic observation-well network in Oklahoma during the period 1969-70 included the following counties: Alfalfa, Beaver, Beckham, Caddo, Cimarron, Cleveland, Garfield, Garvin, Grady, Greer, Harmon, Jackson, Kingfisher, LeFlore, Major, Muskogee, Oklahoma, Payne, Pontotoc, Rogers, Sequoyah, Texas, Tillman, Wagoner, Washita, and Woodward. Table 2 includes the basic observation-well network and other wells measured by the U.S. Geological Survey. The data in this report were compiled and prepared for publication under the cooperative agreement for ground-water investigations in Oklahoma between the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Oklahoma Geological Survey, and the U.S. Geological Survey.

Oklahoma↗
USGS1994

Use of landsat thematic mapper data to identify crop types and estimate irrigated acreage, Uvalde and Medina counties, Texas, 1991

Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) data were used to estimate that about 51,000 acres of crops were irrigated with water pumped from the Edwards aquifer in Uvalde and Medina Counties, Texas in 1991. Bands 2, 3,4, and 5 from a TM image for August 10,1991, were classified using the maximum-likelihood, unsupervised-classification procedure to identify the areas of crops irrigated in the two counties. Detailed vegetation distribution maps of two calibration sites in the study area, and boundaries of the areas probably irrigated in 1991, were used to interpret the results and to separate probable irrigated areas by county from the rest of the image. Areas calculated for irrigated crops were 31,000 acres for Uvalde County, about 35 percent less than the area calculated using Landsat multispectral scanner (MSS) data in 1989, and 20,000 acres for Medina County, about 13 percent less than in 1989, a total decrease of about 28 percent for the two counties. Quantities of water pumped from the Edwards aquifer to irrigate crops in 1991 were estimated as 65,000 acre-feet for Uvalde County and 18,000 acre-feet for Medina County, a total decrease of about 56 percent from the value calculated using crop acreages from MSS data for 1989. Differences were attributed primarily to greater precipitation in 1991 than in 1989, resulting in smaller irrigation water requirements and less supplemental irrigation in 1991. Differences between results from 1989 and 1991, and between results from Uvalde and Medina Counties in 1991, were attributed primarily to greater precipitation in 1991, particularly in Medina County. The total number of acres of irrigated crops estimated using Landsat TM data was about 9 percent lower in Uvalde County and about 13 percent lower in Medina County than the number of acres calculated from data reported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS). The total quantity of water pumped from the Edwards aquifer for irrigation in the two counties in 1991, about 83,000 acre-feet, was about 5 percent greater than the quantity calculated from data reported by the ASCS.

Texas↗
USGS1998

Optimization of ground-water withdrawal in the lower Fox River communities, Wisconsin

Pumping from closely spaced wells in the Central Brown County area and the Fox Cities area near the north shore of Lake Winnebago has resulted in the formation of deep cones of depression in the vicinity of the two pumping centers. Water-level measurements indicate there has been a steady decline in water levels in the vicinity of these two pumping centers for the past 50 years. This report describes the use of ground-water optimization modeling to efficiently allocate the ground-water resources in the Lower Fox River Valley. A 3-dimensional ground-water flow model was used along with optimization techniques to determine the optimal withdrawal rates for a variety of management alternatives. The simulations were conducted separately for the Central Brown County area and the Fox Cities area. For all simulations, the objective of the optimization was to maximize total ground-water withdrawals. The results indicate that ground water can supply nearly all of the projected 2030 demand for Central Brown County municipalities if all of the wells are managed (including the city of Green Bay), 8 new wells are installed, and the water-levels are allowed to decline to 100 ft below the bottom of the confining unit. Ground water can supply nearly all of the projected 2030 demand for the Fox Cities if the municipalities in Central Brown County convert to surface water; if Central Brown County municipalities follow the optimized strategy described above, there will be a considerable shortfall of available ground water for the Fox Cities communities. Relaxing the water-level constraint in a few wells, however, would likely result in increased availability of water. In all cases examined, optimization alternatives result in a rebound of the steady-state water levels due to projected 2030 withdrawal rates to levels at or near the bottom of the confining unit, resulting in increased well capacity. Because the simulations are steady-state, if all of the conditions of the model remain the same these withdrawal rates would be sustainable in perpetuity.

Wisconsin↗
USGS1967

Reconnaissance of the chemical quality of water in western Utah, Part I: Sink Valley area, drainage basins of Skull, Rush, and Government Creek Valleys, and the Dugway Valley-Old River Bed area

This report presents data collected during the first part of an investigation that was started in 1963 by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Utah Geological and Mineralogical Survey. The investigation has the purpose of providing information about the chemical quality of water in western Utah that will help interested parties to evaluate the suitability of the water for various uses in a broad area of Utah where little information of this type previously has been available. The area studied includes the Sink Valley area, the drainage basins of Skull, Rush, and Government Creek Valleys, and the Dugway Valley-Old River Bed area (fig. 1). Osamu Hattori and G. L. Hewitt started the investigation, and the author completed it and prepared the report.

Utah↗
USGS1999

Arsenic in ground water of the Willamette Basin, Oregon

In response to increasing demands on ground-water resources in the Willamette Basin, Oregon (fig. 1), the Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) began a cooperative study of the basin’s ground-water resources in 1996. This study was designed to increase the current understanding of the ground-water resource, and to better characterize the distribution of naturally occurring poor quality ground water in the basin. Essential components of the study of the physical ground-water resource are the development of a quantitative understanding of regional ground-water availability and flow, and of ground-water/surface-water interactions. Of paramount interest in the characterization of naturally occurring poor-quality ground water in the Willamette Basin is the distribution of arsenic in ground water, the subject of this report. Arsenic contaminates many regional aquifer systems worldwide (Cantor, 1996; Thornton, 1996), and arsenic commonly is detected in ground water of the Willamette Basin at concentrations exceeding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) current drinking water Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 50 µg/L (micrograms per liter) (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1996). Arsenic is associated with a number of adverse effects on human health. The USEPA considers arsenic to be a human carcinogen (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1996). Examples of other adverse health effects attributed to consumption of arsenic range from weakness and abdominal pain to neurological and cardiovascular problems. A review of health effects associated with consumption of arsenic is given in a report by World Health Organization (1996).

Oregon↗
USGS1995

Water-resources activities in Utah by the U.S. Geological Survey, October 1, 1992, to September 30, 1993

This report contains summaries of the progress of water-resources studies in Utah by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Water Resources Division, Utah District, from October 1, 1992, to September 30, 1993. The program in Utah during this period consisted of 21 projects; a discussion of each project is presented in the main body of the report. The USGS was established by an act of Congress on March 3, 1879, to provide a permanent Federal agency to conduct the systematic and scientific classifi- cation of the public lands, and examination of the geologic structure, mineral resources, and products of national domain. An integral part of that original mission includes publishing and dissemi- nating the earth-science information needed to understand, to plan the use of, and to manage the Nation's energy, land, mineral, and water resources.

Utah↗
USGS1984

Water-resources appraisal of the upper Arkansas River basin from Leadville to Pueblo, Colorado

Water used for agriculture and stock and municipal supplies in the upper Arkansas River basin is derived mostly from the Arkansas River and its tributaries. The flow regime of the river has been altered by increased reservoir capacities and importation of 69,200 acre-feet per year from the Colorado River drainage through transmountain diversions. An estimated 10.2 million acre-feet of hydrologically recoverable water is present in the first 200 feet of basin-fill alluvium. Well yields of 300 gallons per minute have been reported for the Dakota-Purgatoire aquifer aquifer located east of Canon City. Water quality of ground- and surface-water resources are generally acceptable for agriculture and stock watering, but concentrations of iron, manganese, sulfate, pH, and hardness may exceed recommended drinking-water criteria during periods of river low flow. Concentrations of mercury, selenium, and select radiochemical constituents also were high in the Dakota-Purgatoire aquifer. Dissolved solids increased downstream and in local areas as a result of water use and in the Leadville area because of mine drainage. (USGS)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1981

1980 Water resources program in Oregon

The Water Resources Division investigates and reports on the occurrence, quantity, quality, distribution, and movement of surface and underground water. Work of the Division is described in detail later in this report.

Oregon↗
USGS1985

Management of ground water and evolving hydrogeologic studies in New Jersey : a heavily urbanized and industrialized state in the northeastern United States

New Jersey is the most densely populated and one of the most industrialized states in the United States. An abundance of freshwater and proximity to major northeastern metropolitan centers has facilitated this development. Pumpage of freshwater from all aquifers in the State in 1980 was 730 million gallons per day (2.76 million cubic meters per day). Management and efficient development of the ground-water resources of the State are the responsibility of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Laws have been enacted and updated by the State legislature to manage water allocation and to control the disposal of hazardous wastes. Present resource management is guided by the New Jersey Water-Supply Master Plan of 1981. Funding for management activities is partially derived from the sale of state-approved bonds. Effective planning and regional management require accurate and up-to-date hydrologic information and analyses. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the New Jersey Geological Survey, is conducting three intensive ground-water studies involving the collection and interpretation of hydrologic data to meet the urgent water-management needs of New Jersey. These studies are part of a long-term cooperative program and are funded through the Water-Supply Bond Act of 1981. They began in 1983 and are scheduled to be completed in 1988. The project areas are situated in the New Jersey part of the Atlantic Coastal Plain in and near Atlantic City, Camden, and South River. They range in size from 400 to 1,200 mil (1,040 to 3,120 km2). The studies are designed to define the geology, hydrology, and geochemistry of the local ground-water systems. The results of these studies will enable the State to address more effectively major problems in these areas such as declining water levels, overpumping, saltwater intrusion, and ground-water contamination resulting from the improper disposal of hazardous wastes. Specific objectives of these studies by the U.S. Geological Survey are to (1) develop an accurate and up-to-date hydrogeologic data base, (2) design and implement a data-collection program and establish a computerized information management system, (3) refine the conceptualization of the ground-water flow system, and (4) define the geochemistry of the aquifer system by conducting a water-quality appraisal. The objectives are accomplished by standard hydrogeologic methods. Information concerning hydrogeologic framework, ground-water levels, water use, hydraulic characteristics, and water quality in the study areas is compiled from all available sources. Additional data needed are collected through well inventories, surface geophysical surveys, water-quality samplings, water-level measurements, and a well-drilling program. Interpretation of the flow system is based on the use of standard analytical techniques and digital flow modeling. Calibrated flow models will provide ground-water managers with a mechanism to develop and test regional water-supply strategies. Definition of the geochemistry of the aquifer system is accomplished through a variety of methods which depend on the problems and available data in the particular study area. The approach includes statistical analysis of water-quality data, reaction-path modeling, and determination of the movement of chemical constituents using analytical and numerical modeling techniques. A combined staff of 25 to 30 professionals and technicians from the New Jersey District office of the U.S. Geological Survey is committed to the three studies. The staff has specialists in geohydrology, numerical modeling, geochemistry, geophysics, and computer science. The findings of these studies will be published in data reports, interpretive reports, instructional manuals and journal articles.

New Jersey↗
USGS1991

Water-resources activities in Utah by the U.S. Geological Survey, October 1, 1989, to September 30, 1990

This report contains summaries of the progress of water-resources studies in Utah by the U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Division, Utah District, from October 1, 1989, to September 30, 1990. The program in Utah during this period consisted of 25 projects; a discussion of each project is given in the body of the report. The following sections outline the basic mission and program of the Water Resources Division, the organizational structure of the Utah District, the distribution of District funding in terms of source of funds and type of activity funded, and the agencies with which the District cooperates. The last part of the introduction is a list of reports produced by the District from October 1989 to September 1990.

Utah↗
USGS2003

Water Resources Data, Florida, Water Year 2002, Volume 4. Northwest Florida

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with Federal, State, and local agencies, obtains a large amount of data on the water resources of the State of Florida each water year. These data, accumulated during many water years, constitute a valuable database that is used by water-resources managers, emergency-management officials, and many others to develop an improved understanding of water resources within the State. This report series for the 2002 water year for the state of Florida consists of records for continuous or daily discharge for 392 streams, periodic discharge for 15 streams, continuous or daily stage for 191 streams, periodic stage for 13 streams, peak stage and discharge for 33 streams, continuous or daily elevations for 14 lakes, periodic elevations for 49 lakes, continuous ground-water levels for 418 wells, periodic ground-water levels for 1,287 wells, and quality-of-water for 116 surface-water sites and 291 wells. This volume (Volume 4, Northwest Florida)contains records of continuous or daily discharge for 67 streams, periodic discharge for 1 stream, continuous or daily stage for 16 streams, periodic stage for 1 stream, peak stage and discharge for 29 streams, continuous or daily elevations for 1 lake, periodic elevations for 3 lakes, continuous ground-water levels for 2 wells, periodic ground-water levels for 3 wells, and quality-of-water for 5 surface-water sites and 0 wells. These data represent the National Water Data System records collected by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating local, State, and Federal agencies in Florida.

Water Data Report↗
USGS1987

Methods for the determination of organic substances in water and fluvial sediments

This manual describes analytical methods used by the U.S. Geological Survey to determine organic substances in water, water-suspended-sediment mixtures, and bottom material. Some of the analytical procedures yield determinations for specific com-pounds, whereas others provide a measure of the quantity of groups of compounds present in the sample. Examples of the first category are procedures for the organochlorine and organophosphate insecticides, chlorophenoxy acid and triazine herbicides, and specific substituted phenols. Examples of the second category are the various organic carbon analyses and the polychlorinated biphenyl methods. The analytical methods are presented in a standard format; topics covered include conditions for application of the method, a summary of the method, interferences, required apparatus and reagents, analytical procedures, calculations, reporting of results, and estimation of precision.

Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations↗
USGS1987

Pesticide data for selected Wyoming streams, 1976-78

In 1976, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Wyoming Department of Agriculture, started a monitoring program to determine pesticide concentrations in Wyoming streams. This program was incorporated into the water-quality data-collection system already in operation. Samples were collected at 20 sites for analysis of various insecticides, herbicides, polychlorinated biphenyls, and polychlorinated napthalenes.\ The results through 1978 revealed small concentrations of pesticides in water and bottom-material samples were DDE (39 percent of the concentrations equal to or greater than the minimum reported concentrations of the analytical methods), DDD (20 percent), dieldrin (21 percent), and polychlorinated biphenyls (29 percent). The herbicides most commonly found in water samples were 2,4-D (29 percent of the concentrations equal to or greater than the minimum reported concentrations of the analytical method) and picloram (23 percent). Most concentrations were significantly less than concentrations thought to be harmful to freshwater aquatic life based on available toxicity data. However for some pesticides, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency water-quality criteria for freshwater aquatic life are based on bioaccumulation factors that result in criteria concentrations less than the minimum reported concentrations of the analytical methods. It is not known if certain pesticides were present at concentrations less than the minimum reported concentrations that exceeded these criteria.

Wyoming↗