USGS Science⌕ Search

SEARCH · USGS Science

Results for “Water Supply Paper”

Search indexed USGS publications on groundwater, aquifers, geologic maps, mineral resources and earthquakes. Explore source records by subject and place.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 685 records · Page 38Linked to original sources
USGS1961

Hydrology of the upper Cheyenne River basin: Part A. Hydrology of stock-water reservoirs in upper Cheyenne River basin; Part B. Sediment sources and drainage-basin characteristics in upper Cheyenne River basin

The objective of this investigation was to determine the effect on runoff of the many stock reservoirs in the Cheyenne River basin above Angostura Dam. As a first step it was necessary to determine, within reasonable limits of accuracy, the number of reservoirs in the basin, the storage capacity, the drainage area, and the water loss from each. A sampling method was adopted because the size of the basin, 9,100 square miles, prohibited examination of all reservoirs within the drainage area. Forty-nine sample areas of 9 square miles each were selected as a 5-percent sample of the 955 complete quarter townships within the basin above Angostura Dam. All reservoirs located within the sample quarter townships were surveyed.

South Dakota, Wyoming↗
USGS1966

Effects of agricultural conservation practices on the hydrology of Corey Creek basin, Pennsylvania, 1954-60

Analyses of data collected from two small basins in northern Pennsylvania during the period May 1954 to September 1960 indicated that changes in land use and land treatment have affected suspended- sediment discharge from the basins. Extensive land use and land-treatment changes have taken place in the 12.2-square-mile Corey Creek study basin, whereas such changes in the 10.2-square-mile Elk Run basin, which is adjacent to the northeast, have been relatively slight. Elk Run basin, which is topographically and hydrologically similar to Corey Creek basin, was used as an external control for the Corey Creek basin study. Multiple-regression analysis showed that of all the variables, runoff correlated most highly with the sediment yield of each basin. Surveys at selected cross-sections of the two streams indicated that most channel changes were in the banks rather than in the bed. At points where the stream channel slope was greater than 70 feet per mile, the average annual change in cross-sectional area at the measured ranges was less than +--2.5 square feet. Filling of the stream channel occurred where the slope was 70 feet per mile or less, and such filling was greater in Corey Creek than in Elk Run. Trend analyses of data from both basins indicated no persistent changers in quantity of runoff, precipitation, or runoff intensity (peakedness), although similar analyses indicated significant changes in the rate of suspended-sediment discharge from both basins. During the period September 1957 to September 1960, sediment discharge from Corey Creek basin decreased by 11 percent relative to the sediment discharge from Elk Run. All, or most, of this decrease was the result of a decrease in sediment discharge during the May to October growing seasons. No significant trends were detected in data collected d-ring the November to April dormant season. A factor, termed the relative erosion potential, was formulated for evaluating the effects of changes in the hydrologic cover conditions. This factor was adjusted for- the effects of diversion terrace construction in the Corey Creek basin. A rank correlation test of the adjusted relative erosion potential versus the growing season Corey Creek-Elk Run suspended-sediment discharge ratio resulted in a correlation coefficient, r=0.71, significant at the 3 percent level. The least-squares regression equation derived from the .same data. was Y=0.276 X - 6.89. where Y was the Corey Creek-Elk Run sediment-discharge ratio and X was the adjusted relative erosion potential. The correlation coefficient was 0.65. significant at the 12 percent level. Standard error of estimate was 0.44. or about ?20 percent of the observed variation in the sediment-discharge ratio.

Water Supply Paper↗
USGS1971

Hydrology and sedimentation of Corey Creek and Elk Run basins, north-central Pennsylvania

Analysis of data collected from two small agricultural basins in northcehtral Pennsylvania during the period May 1954 to September 1967 indicates that conservation measures reduced the quantity of suspended sediment leaving the Corey Creek basin as a result of frequent storms during the growing season. Extensive soil conservation treatments were applied in the 12.2-squaremile Corey Creek basin, but only minor treatments were applied in the adjacent 10.2-square-mile Elk Run basin. These treatments included the construction of ponds and diversion terraces and altering land use by such measures as establishing permanent hay land and changing marginal pasture land to wood lands. Elk Run basin, which is topographically and hydrologically similar to the Corey Creek basin, was used as an external control to assist in detecting and evaluating the hydrologic changes in Corey Creek. Trend analyses of data from both basins indicate a 47-percent decrease in sediment discharge from Corey Creek during the frequent storms that occur in the May to October growing season. Six percent of the sediment discharged from Corey Creek during the period of this investigation (1954-67) was discharged during these frequent growing-season storms. The remaining 94 percent of the sediment was discharged during the November to April dormant season and during two major events during the growing season, one October 1955 and one May 1961. No decrease in sediment discharge was observed for these events or for this period. The adjacent basin of similar size, topography, and hydrologic characteristics, Elk Run, was not scheduled for extensive conservation treatment; it was selected as a control for this study "because of the assumption that any changes in precipitation and runoff patterns would affect both basins in a similar manner. Rainfall, runoff, sediment, and stream-channel data are used in this report to estimate the probable hydrologic behavior of the Corey Creek basin provided the intensive conservation program had not been undertaken.~

Water Supply Paper↗
USGS1972

Appraisal of stream sedimentation in the Susquehanna River basin

The Susquehanna River presently transports about 3.0 million tons of sediment annually (110 tons per square mile). Only about 1.8 million tons of sediment enters the head of Chesapeake Bay annually because some sediment is trapped behind the power dams on the lower Susquehanna. Measured annual sediment yields from subbasins in the Susquehanna range from 40 to 440 tons per square mile. The highest yields are from parts of the glaciated section of the basin, in the anthracite coal region, and the Piedmont province. The lowest yields are from parts of the glaciated section of the basin and the Appalachian high plateau. Available data indicate that there has been a downward trend of sediment discharge in recent years. In the future, the high sediment yields associated with urbanization may offset this present downward trend.

Susquehanna River↗
USGS1974

Sediment transport by streams draining into the Delaware Estuary

The quantity of sediment transported by streams draining into the Delaware estuary from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware varies areally according to geology, physiography, and land use. Of the estimated total sediment load of 1.6 million tons entering the Delaware estuary annually, about 48 percent is contributed by the Delaware River main stem at Trenton, NJ; 34 percent by Pennsylvania tributaries; and 18 percent by New Jersey and Delaware tributaries.

Water Supply Paper↗
USGS1979

Effects of converting sagebrush cover to grass on the hydrology of small watersheds at Boco Mountain, Colorado

Changes in runoff and sediment yield caused by changing sagebrush cover to grass cover were studied at four small watersheds in western Colorado during a 9-year period, from 1965 to 1978. Measurements of runoff and sediment yield from the four watersheds were made for 8 years, at which time two watersheds were plowed and seeded to beardless bluebunch wheatgrass. The same measurements were then continued for an additional 6 years. Measurements indicated that conversion to grass caused a reduction in runoff from summer rainstorms of about 75 percent. Runoff from spring snowmelt increased about 12 percent, and annual runoff from treated watersheds decreased about 20 percent when compared to control watersheds. Sediment yield from the seeded watersheds was reduced by about 80 percent; most of this reduction is related to the decrease in runoff from summer rainstorms. The size of barren interspaces between plants was reduced on the converted water- sheds to about 30 percent of those on the untreated watersheds. Linear regression analysis indicates that a reduction of 38 percent in the amount of bare soil resulting from planting grass would result in a decrease of 73 percent in sediment concentration.

Colorado↗
USGS1961

Progress report on wells penetrating artesian aquifers in South Dakota

Artesian aquifers underlie most of South Dakota and large areas in adjacent States. About 15,000 wells have been completed since 1881 in these aquifers within South Dakota. Many wells that originally flowed have ceased to flow and have been abandoned, and others have been equipped with pumps. Many thousands, however, continue to flow. This report presents data collected through June 1958 and includes records of 1,045 flowing and nonflowing artesian wells Sufficient information is not available at present (1958) to permit a detailed description of the geologic and hydrologic properties of artesian aquifers or their correlation in South Dakota. The description of the various aquifers given in this report is, therefore, necessarily a general one.

South Dakota↗
USGS1961

Geologic control of mineral composition of stream waters of the eastern slope of the Southern Coast Ranges, California

Chemical analyses of waters of streams that drain the semiarid eastern slope of the southern Coast Ranges in California demonstrate that differences in the anion composition, especially in the ratio of bicarbonate to sulfate, are related chiefly to the lithologic character of the rocks exposed in the tributary drainage area. Where more than hall the drainage area of a typical eastern-slope stream is underlain by clastic marine sedimentary rocks of Jurassic and Cretaceous age, bicarbonate generally predominates over sulfate; the ratio of bicarbonate to sullate, both expressed in equivalents per million, in samples of the streams at low-flow stage ranges from 0.8 to 6. Conversely, where more than hall the drainage area is underlain by marine and continental deposits of Tertiary age and continental deposits of Quaternary age, sulfate predominates over bicarbonate, and the ratio of bicarbonate to sulfate in samples taken during the low-flow stage ranges from 0.02 to 0.7. Organic siliceous marine shale of Tertiary age deposited in a reducing environment is probably the primary source of sullate in the region. Secondary deposits of sulfate minerals, chiefly gypsum, which are abundant in the continental deposits of late Tertiary and Quaternary age, also contribute sullate to the stream waters.

Water Supply Paper↗