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Predictive modeling of effects of the planned Kindred Lake on ground-water levels and discharge, southeastern North Dakota
No abstract available.
Analysis of historical water-quality data and a network plan for the Central and Southern Florida Flood Control District
Historical water quality data from about 100 sampling stations on streams, canals and lakes in central and southern Florida were analyzed for areal and temporal variations in water quality, statistical measures of the data, relationships between water quality variables, and long term changes or trends in water quality. Included in the analysis were data on the major inorganic chemical constituents, temperature, nitrogen and phosphorus species, trace metals, pesticides, organic carbon and biochemical oxygen demand. Based on the results of the analysis, a network was designed which would provide data to meet six specific objectives: (1) water quality accounting, (2) areal assessments (3) detection of gross long-term trends, (4) detection of toxic and deleterious substances, (5) establish a limnological data base on lakes and (6) furnish data on chemical inputs from the atmosphere.
Plan of study for the northern Great Plains regional aquifer-system analysis in parts of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming
The Northern Great Plains, an area of about 250,000 square miles in parts of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming, is underlain by an accumulation of sediments eroded from the Black Hills and from mountains to the west. Principal aquifers are areally extensive beds of sandstone within these sedimentary rocks, some at great depths. Anticipated future water needs dictate that available ground-water supplies be evaluated for management of this natural resource. The U.S. Geological Survey has started (1978) a 4-year study of the Northern Great Plains aquifer system. The objective of this study is to define availability and quality of ground water and to predict the effects of using this resource. To achieve this objective, the ground-water system will be described in terms of spatial distribution, hydraulics, geology, and geochemistry. Once described, the ground-water system will be simulated by mathematical models that will be used to define responses of the system to various management alternatives and assumed development patterns.
Geology and hydrology for environmental planning in Marquette County, Michigan
Marquette County, in the glaciated area of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, includes 1,878 square miles. Precipitation averages 32 inches per year. Bedrock and glacial deposits contain materials that are good aquifers. Sedimentary bedrock units generally yield sufficient water for domestic supply and, in places, may yield more than 100 gallons per minute to large-diameter wells. In the glacial deposits, sand and gravel beds are the principal aquifers; yields to wells range from less than 10 to 200 gallons per minute. Igneous and metamorphic rocks yield little or no water to wells. Suitable sewage and refuse disposal sites are not readily available because of the abundance of wetlands, streams, and lakes susceptible to infiltrating leachate.
Hydrologic information for land-use planning, Badger Road area, Fairbanks, Alaska
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Hydrogeology for land-use planning: the Peters Creek area, Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska
Wells currently provide all water supplies in the area. Most wells obtain enough water for individual household needs from unconsolidated, principally glacial and glacioalluvial deposits. In some places, however, wells must be drilled into the underlying bedrock to obtain adequate supplies. It may be possible to develop small community supplies--for individual trailer courts or subdivisions--in areas where yields of 20 gallons per minute or greater are reported for private, domestic wells. Peters Creek is a potential source of surface-water supply, but it would have to be treated to remove glacial silt during summer months. The chemical quality of both ground water and surface water in the area in generally acceptable for most uses. Foundation and excavation conditions, the potential for water pollution from onsite disposal of wastewater through septic tank systems, and the suitability of specific areas for certain types of development may be affected by the following factors: wetlands and areas of shallow ground water underlie about 30 percent of the study area; landslope exceeds 20 percent in about a third of the area; areas of fine-grained, low-permeability sediments are present locally; bedrock is within 25 feet of the land surface in about a third of the area. (USGS)
Phase I summary and phase II plan for comparing regulated with unregulated streamflow in the Yakima River at Union Gap, Washington
A preliminary investigation of the effects of reservoir storage and canal diversion on the flow of the Yakima River at Union Gap , Washington indicates that those effects are measurable and substantial--on the average causing a reduction of roughly one-quarter from the unregulated flow. Preliminary computations of the unregulated flow of the Yakima River at Parker (near Union Gap) for the 1978 water year using the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation 's SSARR model indicate, however, that the computed flow figures contain inaccuracies. Further investigation of the model indicates that the inaccuracies can be substantially reduced by data checking and by using additional discharge records to improve the estimation of local inflows. (USGS)
Estimating highest ground-water levels for construction and land use planning — A Cape Cod, Massachusetts, example
High ground water is a major cause of septic-system failures, wet basements, and other problems for suburban and rural residents. A technique for estimating the level to which groundwater can rise as a consequence of weather and seasonal factors has been developed. Water-level records from about 160 sites were used to make four maps of ranges of annual water-level change: 0-2 feet, 2-3 feet, 3-4 feet, 4-5 feet, and 5-6 feet. Nine observation wells with 16 or more years of record were used to index water-level fluctuations throughout Cape Cod. To estimate high water levels, measurements of the current depth to water at test sites are cross referenced with current depth to water in the index wells. The technique assumes good correlation between water-level fluctuations at septic-system sites and the index wells. Eighty-seven percent of the correlation coefficients determined from correlating water-level fluctuations from 146 sites with water-level fluctuations in the index wells were greater than 0.8.
Salinity characteristics and distribution and effects of alternative plans for freshwater withdrawal, Little Manatee River estuary and adjacent areas of Tampa Bay, Florida
The Little Manatee River, a coastal stream that empties into Tampa Bay, Florida, may be used as a source of freshwater. Reduction of streamflow will result in upstream movement of saltwater in the stream. Data on streamflow, tide stage, and specific conductance describe the salinity distribution of the estuary. Vertical conductivity profiles indicate that the river is vertically homogeneous during low flow. The maximum upstream location of the saltwater-freshwater interface (800 micromhos) in the river was described by multiple regression analysis involving mean daily streamflow and high-high tide. The coefficient of determination is 0.94 with a root mean square error of + or - 0.4 mile. The location on the river where the estuarine system ends and the riverine system begins is at about 9.9 miles above the reference station at Shell Point. Duration analysis of conductivity indicates that the maximum upstream location of the interface exceeded 9.7 miles about 17 percent of the days for the period of study. Reduction by 50 percent of streamflow for the 90day, 2-year and 20-year recurrence-interval low flow would relocate the maximum intrusion of the interface at the 2-year and 20-year flows upstream by 0.7 and 0.2 mile, respectively.
Plan of study for the Regional Aquifer-System Analysis, Columbia Plateau, Washington, northern Oregon, and northwestern Idaho
The U.S. Geological Survey began a 4-year study of the regional aquifer system underlying the Columbia Plateau, in central and eastern Washington, northern Oregon, and northwestern Idaho in October 1983, as part of the Regional Aquifer System Analysis program. The study will describe the geohydrology, geochemistry, and quality of water in the Columbia River Basalt Group, the Miocene rocks that underlie 70,000 square miles in three States. Water from the basalts is used for municipal and industrial purposes, and most importantly, for agriculture. As more land is brought under cultivation and surface water becomes totally allocated, the groundwater is an increasingly important supply for agriculture and related activities. In addition, the basalts are being considered as a repository site for high-level nuclear wastes. For management agencies to make the best decisions regarding the future development of this area, the regional groundwater flow system, its relation to the surfacewater system , and the quality of the water need to be quantified. This report describes the geohydrologic setting, hydrologic problems, objectives, and approach for the region. (USGS)
Ground-water quality in east-central New Jersey, and a plan for sampling networks
Groundwater quality was evaluated in seven confined aquifers and the water table aquifer in east-central New Jersey based on 237 analyses of samples collected in 1981-82, and 225 older analyses. Investigation of the effect of land use on water quality and several sampling network proposals for the region are reported. Generally, water in the confined aquifers is of satisfactory quality for human consumption and most other uses. Iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) concentrations exceed U.S. EPA drinking water standards in some wells screened in the Potomac-Raritan-Magothy aquifer system. Sodium (Na) concentrations in samples from three wells more than 800 ft deep in the Englishtown aquifer exceed the standard. Iron and Mn concentrations in this aquifer may also exceed the standards. Iron concentrations in the Wenonah-Mount Laurel aquifer exceed the standard. Based on 15 analyses of water from the Vincetown aquifer, Mn is the only constituent that exceeds the drinking water standard. In the Manasquan aquifer, 4 of the 16 Na determinations exceed the standard, and 8 of 16 Fe determinations exceed the standard. Water quality in the Atlantic City 800-ft sand is generally satisfactory. However, 12 Fe and 1 of 12 Mn determinations exceed the standards. For the Rio Grande water-bearing zone, 1 of 3 Fe determinations exceed the standard. The Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system (the water table aquifer) was the most thoroughly sampled (249 chemical analyses from 209 wells). Dissolved solids, chloride, Fe, nitrate, and Mn concentrations exceed drinking water standards in some areas. The results of chi-square tests of constituent distributions based on analyses from 158 wells in the water table aquifer indicate that calcium is higher in industrial and commercial areas; and Mg, chloride, and nitrate-plus-nitrite is higher in residential areas. (Author 's abstract)
Planning report for the Caribbean Islands Regional Aquifer-System Analysis project
No abstract available.
Planning report for the Edwards-Trinity Regional Aquifer-System analysis in central Texas, southeast Oklahoma, and southwest Arkansas
The Edwards-Trinity regional aquifer system supplies more than 0.78 million acre-feet per year (700 million gallons per day) of water for central Texas and small adjacent parts of southeast Oklahoma and southwest Arkansas. The system consists of three major aquifers and at least three minor aquifers in predominantly Cretaceous rocks, which together have an areal extent of about 80,000 square miles. The major aquifers are the Edwards-Trinity (Plateau) in west-central Texas, the Edwards (Balcones Fault Zone) in south-central Texas, and the Trinity in north-central Texas, southeast Oklahoma, and southwest Arkansas. Current (1986) and future concerns about the aquifer system involve the ever-increasing demand for water, most of which is associated with rapid population increase. Decreases in or elimination of spring discharges and encroachment of water from downdip salinewater zones into updip freshwater zones are of primary concern in the area underlain by ttie Edwards (Balcones Fault Zone) aquifer. Water-level declines of several hundred feet in the Trinity aquifer are a serious concern in some metropolitan areas. The Edwards-Trinity regional aquifer-system analysis project, begun in October 1985 and scheduled to be completed by October 1991, is one of a series of similar projects being conducted nationwide. The project is intended to define the hydrogeologic framework, and to describe the geochemistry and groundwater flow of the aquifer system in order to provide a better understanding of the system's long-term water-yielding potential. A multidisciplinary approach will be used in which computer-based digital simulation of flow in the system will be the principal method of hydrogeologic investigation.
Trends and comparison of water quality and bottom material of northeastern Arkansas streams, 1974-85, and effects of planned diversions
Water quality of several rivers in Arkansas was compared using median values at individual water quality stations. Differences were detected in several properties, including common dissolved constituents, alkalinity, nutrients, fecal coliform bacteria, trace metals, pesticides, and sediment. In bottom material, organochlorine pesticides were detected much more frequently than organophosphorus pesticides and were higher in rivers with beds of fine-gradient particles. Time trends were examined using the Seasonal Kendall test. Trends in conductance, sodium adsorption ratio, chloride, phosphorus, and ammonia were usually not detectable. Sulfate concentrations were increasing at approximately one-half of the stations studied while fecal-coliform bacteria concentrations decreased at approximately one-half of the stations. The most potentially detrimental effects upon water quality resulting from surface water diversions were related to increases of common dissolved constituents. From available data, the largest of these increases would be caused by diversion from the Arkansas River. Potential effects not specifically examined include resuspension of bottom materials resulting from construction and operation of the diversion system. Use of some surface waters for artificial recharge of the alluvial aquifer may adversely affect the recharge systems or the aquifer. Possible effects include plugging of the injection well and the aquifer. (USGS)
Interactions of metallic substances and acidic ground water in the New Jersey Coastal Plan
Four ancillary studies were undertaken in support of an investigation into the extent and distribution of corrosive ground water in the Kirkwood- Cohansey aquifer system of southern New Jersey.The ancillary studies were (1) analysis of tap-water samples for metals and the acquisition of metal data from a county study, (2) leaching experiments in which copper pipe with various types of solder were exposed to a variety of ground-water types, (3) analysis of pipe-scale deposits on plumbing from houses with wells that tap the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, and (4) measurement of corrosion rates for carbon steel and copper exposed to shallow ground water from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system. The results studies indicate that substantial concentrations of lead, copper, and zinc can leach from plumbing materials exposed to corrosive water from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, and that leaching appears more pronounced during the summer than during the winter. The leaching experiments indicate that the corrosiveness of water, as estimated by the calculation of a corrosion index (the Aggressive Index), is related to the concentration of trace metals in the leachate.Further, although the leaching of lead-bearing solders produced lead concentrations in leachate above the Primary Drinking Water Criterion in effect at the time of the study (50 micrograms per liter), no potentially toxic levels of metals were leached from lead-free solders, although copper concentrations in some leachate samples were in excess of the Secondary Drinking Water Criterion of 1,000 micrograms per liter. Analyses of pipe-scale deposits indicate the formation of iron oxide coatings on some copper-pipe interiors exposed to untreated well water. Treated water from a public-supply system precipitated copper carbonate and copper chloride minerals. Corrosion rates measured for copper exposed to corrosive water from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system were slow (less than 0.0254 millimeters per year). Carbon-steel corrosion rates were faster; the fastest rate (0.229 millimeters per year) was measured in oxygen-saturated water.
Plan of study for the regional aquifer-system analysis of the Appalachian Valley and Ridge, Piedmont, and Blue Ridge physiographic provinces of the eastern and southeastern United States, with a description of study-area geology and hydrogeology
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