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USGS1994

Documentation of Model Input and Output Values Used for Analyses of Simulated Development in Stagecoac Valley, Lyon and Storey Counties, Western Nevada

A previously published Geological Survey report (Professional Paper 1409-H) describes ground-water flow and simulated development scenarios in Stagecoach Valley, Lyon and Storey Counties, Nevada. This study was done as part of the Survey's Great Basin Regional Aquifer-Systems Analysis program. Documentation of model input and output values used for analysis of ground-water flow and simulated development scenarios in Stagecoach Valley, Lyon and Storey Counties, in western Nevada, has not been published previously. In this report, the documen- tation, consisting of a listing of input values and sample output, is contained on a 5-1/4-inch diskette in files presented according to the American International Standard Code for Information Inter- change (ASCII) format. These files require approxi- mately 760,000 bytes of disk space on an IBM- compatible microcomputer using the MS-DOS operating system.

Open-File Report↗

USGS2001

Apparent chlorofluorocarbon age of ground water of the shallow aquifer system, Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, Yorktown, Virginia

Apparent ages of ground water are useful in the analysis of various components of flow systems, and results of this analysis can be incorporated into investigations of potential pathways of contaminant transport. This report presents the results of a study in 1997 by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, Base Civil Engineer, Environmental Directorate, to describe the apparent age of ground water of the shallow aquifer system at the Station. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), tritium ( 3 H), dissolved gases, stable isotopes, and water-quality field properties were measured in samples from 14 wells and 16 springs on the Station in March 1997. Nitrogen-argon recharge temperatures range from 5.9°C to 17.3°C with a median temperature of 10.9°C, which indicates that ground-water recharge predominantly occurs in the cold months of the year. Concentrations of excess air vary depending upon geohydrologic setting (recharge and discharge areas). Apparent ground-water ages using a CFC-based dating technique range from 1 to 48 years with a median age of 10 years. The oldest apparent CFC ages occur in the upper parts of the Yorktown-Eastover aquifer, whereas the youngest apparent ages occur in the Columbia aquifer and the upper parts of the discharge area setting, especially springs. The vertical distribution of apparent CFC ages indicates that groundwater movement between aquifers is somewhat retarded by the leaky confining units, but the elapsed time is relatively short (generally less than 35 years), as evidenced by the presence of CFCs at depth. The identification of binary mixtures by CFC-based dating indicates that convergence of flow lines occurs not only at the actual point of discharge, but also in the subsurface. The CFC-based recharge dates are consistent with expected 3 H concentrations measured in the water samples from the Station. The concentration of 3H in ground water ranges from below the USGS laboratory minimum reporting limit of 0.3 to 15.9 tritium units (TU) with a median value of 10.8 TU. Water-quality field properties are highly variable for ground water with apparent CFC ages less than 15 years because of geochemical processes within local flow systems. Ground water with apparent CFC ages greater than 15 years represents more stable conditions in subregional flow systems. The range of apparent CFC ages is slightly greater than the ranges in time of travel of ground water calculated for shallow wells (less than 60- feet deep) from flow-path analysis. Calculated travel times to springs can be up to two orders of magnitude greater than the CFC-based apparent ages. Reasonable assumptions of values for hydraulic parameters can result in substantial overestimates for time of travel to springs. Recharge rates computed from apparent CFC ages range from 0.29 to 0.89 feet per year (ft/ yr) with an average value of 0.54 ft/yr. The analysis of apparent CFC ages in conjunction with geohydrologic data indicates that young water (less than 50 years) is present at depth (nearly 120 feet) and that both local and subregional flow systems occur in the shallow aquifer system at the Station. The addition of the dimension of time to the three-dimensional framework of Brockman and others (1997) will benefit current (2001) and future remediation activities by providing estimates of advective transport rates and how these rates vary depending upon geohydrologic setting and position within the ground-water-flow system. Estimated ground-water apparent ages and recharge rates can be used as calibration criteria in simulations of ground-water flow on the Station to refine and constrain future ground-water-flow models of the shallow aquifer system.

Virginia↗

USGS1965

Ground-water data of selected test holes and wells along the Arkansas river in Muskogee County, Oklahoma

The data in this report were collected during the period 1958-64 by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the U.S. Army, Corps of Engineers, as part of a comprehensive study of the ground-water resources of the alluvium along the Arkansas and Verdigris Rivers between Moffett and Catoosa, Oklahoma (fig. 1). The purpose of this report is to make the hydrologic data obtained during the study of ground water in the alluvium along the Arkansas River in Muskogee County readily available to the public. The data in this report should be useful in predicting geologic and hydrologic conditions when drilling new wells. Table 1 gives information on the sizes, depths, yields, and other characteristics of wells in the area. The table also provides a key to the additional information for each well site given in tables 2 through 6. Table 2 gives logs for the materials penetrated at test holes and wells in the report area; table 3 gives depths to water measured in wells; table 4 includes chemical analyses of water from wells; table 5 gives laboratory determinations of particle-size distribution of earth samples collected from test holes and wells; and table 6 gives coefficients of permeability and other hydrologic properties of earth samples from the selected test holes. Similar data for Sequoyah County, LeFlore-Haskell Counties, and Wagoner-Rogers Counties are available in other open-file reports. An interpretive report, 'Hydrology of the alluvium of the Arkansas River, Muskogee, Oklahoma, to Fort Smith, Arkansas,' by Harry H. Tanaka and Jerrald R. Hollowell will be published as U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 1809-T.

Open-File Report↗

USGS1965

Ground-water data of selected test holes and wells along the Arkansas River in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma

The data in this report were collected during the period 1958-64 by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the U.S. Army, Corps of Engineers, as part of a comprehensive study of the ground-water resources of the alluvium along the Arkansas and Verdigris Rivers between Moffett and Catoosa, Oklahoma (fig. 1). The purpose of this report is to make the hydrologic data obtained during the study of ground water in the alluvium along the Arkansas River in Sequoyah County readily available to the public. The data in this report should be useful in predicting geologic and hydrologic conditions when drilling new wells. Table 1 gives information on the sizes, depths, yields, and other characteristics of wells in the area. The table also provides a key to the additional information for each well site given in tables 2 through 6. Table 2 gives logs for the materials penetrated at test holes and wells in the report area; table 3 gives depths to water measured in wells; table 4 includes chemical analyses of water from wells; table 5 gives laboratory determinations of particle-size distribution of earth samples collected from test holes and wells; and table 6 gives coefficients of permeability and other hydrologic properties of earth samples from the selected test holes. Similar data for LeFlore-Haskell Counties, Muskogee County, and Wagoner-Rogers Counties are available in other open-file reports. An interpretive report, 'Hydrology of the alluvium of the Arkansas River, Muskogee, Oklahoma, to Fort Smith, Arkansas,' by Harry H. Tanaka and Jerrald R. Hollowell will be published as U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 1809-T.

Open-File Report↗

USGS1996

Effectiveness of highway-drainage systems in preventing road-salt contamination of ground water, southeastern Massachusetts

Road-salt contamination of public and private water supplies has become a serious and costly problem, particularly in the Northeast and Midwest. For example, reports of road-salt contamination from 100 of the 351 municipalities in Massachusetts from 1983 through 1990 required an expenditure of about 2.5 million dollar to investigate and remediate. Nationally, an estimated 10 million dollar are spent annual ly by State and local governments to prevent and remediate road-salt contamination. One method used by State highway agencies to reduce road- salt contamination of public-water supplies is to divert the salt-laden highway runoff through drainage systems from section of highway that pass near public-water supplies to less sensitive areas. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Massachusetts Highway Department (MHO), has conducted an investigation of the relative effectiveness of four highway-drainage systems in preventing road-salt contamination of ground water. This fact sheet describes the highway-drainage systems tested, the general hydrogeology of the study area, and the methods used to evaluate the drainage systems; and presents preliminary findings of the effectiveness of the systems in preventing road-salt contamination of ground water. These findings are based on data collected from November 1990 through May 1992. The re ult of this investigation will have wider application than just in the snow-belt regions of the United States, Canada, and Europe, as other contaminants in highway runoff either can be diverted from sensitive areas by drainage systems or allowed to seep into the ground, potentially contaminating ground water.

Massachusetts↗

USGS2003

Hydrogeologic Provinces for California based upon established groundwater basins and watershed polygons

Ten hydrogeologic provinces of California are represented by a region- class feature called 'provinces' within this digital data set. These provinces were identified and defined in the USGS Water Resource Investigation Report (WRIR) 03-4166 (Belitz and others, 2003) titled, 'Framework for a Ground-water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Plan for California'. Hydrogeologic provinces are generalized areas where hydrology and/or geology have similar characteristics. The Southern Cal Islands group was not previously defined as a province in WRIR 03-4166, and is therefore identified as a group in this dataset. These provinces were created by grouping polygons from two formally created digital data sets into respective provinces. New polygons were created where necessary. The two digital data set sources consisted of watershed polygons (calwater) and groundwater basin polygons (gw_basins) compiled to create an original publication of hydrogeologic province boundaries in the form of a region-class within the data set. By symbolizing on the region- class, the user can view the ten hydrogeologic provinces and one grouped province in their simplest representation, without watershed and ground- water basin boundaries obscuring the province areas. Original polygons for both the watershed data set and the ground-water basin data set were retained as much as possible.

Open-File Report↗

USGS2000

Probability of detecting atrazine/desethyl-atrazine and elevated concentrations of nitrate plus nitrate as nitrogen in ground water in the Idaho part of the western Snake River Plain

As ground water continues to provide an ever-growing proportion of Idaho?s drinking water, concerns about the quality of that resource are increasing. Pesticides (most commonly, atrazine/desethyl-atrazine, hereafter referred to as atrazine) and nitrite plus nitrate as nitrogen (hereafter referred to as nitrate) have been detected in many aquifers in the State. To provide a sound hydrogeologic basis for atrazine and nitrate management in southern Idaho—the largest region of land and water use in the State—the U.S. Geological Survey produced maps showing the probability of detecting these contaminants in ground water in the upper Snake River Basin (published in a 1998 report) and the western Snake River Plain (published in this report). The atrazine probability map for the western Snake River Plain was constructed by overlaying ground-water quality data with hydrogeologic and anthropogenic data in a geographic information system (GIS). A data set was produced in which each well had corresponding information on land use, geology, precipitation, soil characteristics, regional depth to ground water, well depth, water level, and atrazine use. These data were analyzed by logistic regression using a statistical software package. Several preliminary multivariate models were developed and those that best predicted the detection of atrazine were selected. The multivariate models then were entered into a GIS and the probability maps were produced. Land use, precipitation, soil hydrologic group, and well depth were significantly correlated with atrazine detections in the western Snake River Plain. These variables also were important in the 1998 probability study of the upper Snake River Basin. The effectiveness of the probability models for atrazine might be improved if more detailed data were available for atrazine application. A preliminary atrazine probability map for the entire Snake River Plain in Idaho, based on a data set representing that region, also was produced. In areas where this map overlaps the 1998 map of the upper Snake River Basin, the two maps show broadly similar probabilities of detecting atrazine. Logistic regression also was used to develop a preliminary statistical model that predicts the probability of detecting elevated nitrate in the western Snake River Plain. A nitrate probability map was produced from this model. Results showed that elevated nitrate concentrations were correlated with land use, soil organic content, well depth, and water level. Detailed information on nitrate input, specifically fertilizer application, might have improved the effectiveness of this model.

Idaho↗

USGS1986

Summary of available ground-water data for the island of Oahu, Hawaii

This report presents, in tabular form, descriptive information and information on the availability of chloride concentration, water level, pumpage, log, pump test and flow data for all wells , shafts and tunnels on Oahu, Hawaii. Descriptive data for each groundwater source include: identification number, map number, depth, diameter, year completed, owner, usage and status. The report is based on data currently available in the files of the U.S. Geological Survey and is a compilation of observations made by Survey personnel, and information gathered by other agencies and the private sector. (USGS)

Open-File Report↗

USGS1973

A review of proposed ground-water assessment studies in states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Mysore, India

This report documents the findings and recommendations of the author, who was detailed for 30 days to USAID Mission to India to assist in preparing the scope of work for a USAID contract for consultant services for ground-water evaluation. The proposed study, Soil and Water Management Sub-project 368.6, covered three specific areas in four states in central and southern India (See TOAID A-653 of July 31, 1970, revised description of the sub-project). The study areas and principal cities are shown in figure 1.

Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mysore↗

USGS1976

Availability and quality of ground water in the Drain-Yoncalla area, Douglas County, Oregon

The purpose of this report is to present information that may enable water users, potential water users, and planners to estimate the likelihood of obtaining ground water in adequate quantity and of suitable quality at desired locations within the study area. The Drain-Yoncalla area is in Douglas County in southwestern Oregon, includes about 340 mi 2 (880 km 2 ), and lies within the Umpqua River drainage basin.

Oregon↗

USGS1949

Index of surface-water records, part 12, Pacific slope basins in Washington and upper Columbia River basin, to September 30, 1948

The groundwater resources of Wood County, Wisconsin, are described. Groundwater is pumped only from wells drilled in Precambrian rock in the northern two-thirds of the county. The generally low permeability of this rock limits the availability of groundwater in this area. Saturated deposits of sand and gravel yield more than 500 gal/min to wells in the southern part of the county. Background groundwater quality and indicators of groundwater-quality problems, such as elevated concentrations of nitrate, chloride, hardness, and iron, are compared by aquifer for the entire county. An elevated concentration of iron is the major water quality problem in the county. Results of water quality analysis from observation wells drilled next to abandoned landfills throughout the county indicate that groundwater in the immediate vicinity of these landfills has been affected by leachate. The report includes maps of the thickness and saturated thickness of unconsolidated deposits, a water-table map, and tables of aquifer-production and well-production data from about 1,500 drillers ' well-construction reports. (USGS)

Circular↗

USGS2008

Current (2004-07) conditions and changes in ground-water levels from predevelopment to 2007, Southern High Plains aquifer, east-central New Mexico: Curry County, Portales, and Causey Lingo underground water basins

The Southern High Plains aquifer is the principal aquifer in Curry and Roosevelt Counties, N. Mex., and primary source of water in southeastern New Mexico. Successful water-supply planning for New Mexico's Southern High Plains requires knowledge of the current aquifer conditions and a context to estimate future trends given current aquifer-management policy. This report provides a summary of the current (2007) water-level status of the Southern High Plains aquifer in New Mexico, including a basis for estimating future trends by comparison with historical conditions. This report includes estimates of the extent of ground-water level declines in the Curry County, Portales, and Causey-Lingo Ground-water Management Area parts of the High Plains Aquifer in eastern New Mexico since predevelopment. Maps representing 2007 water levels, water-level declines, aquifer saturated thickness, and depth to water accompanied by hydrographs from representative wells for the Southern High Plains aquifer in the Curry County, Portales, and Causey Lingo Underground Water Basins were prepared in cooperation with the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer. The results of this mapping show the water level declined as much as 175 feet in the study area at rates as high as 1.76 feet per year.

New Mexico↗

USGS2007

Rock-Bound Arsenic Influences Ground Water and Sediment Chemistry Throughout New England

The information in this report was presented at the Northeastern Region Geological Society of America meeting held March 11-14, 2007, in Durham, New Hampshire. In the New England crystalline bedrock aquifer, concentrations of arsenic that exceed the drinking water standard of 10 ?g/L occur most frequently in ground water from wells sited in specific metamorphic and igneous rock units. Geochemical investigations indicate that these geologic units typically have moderately elevated whole-rock concentrations of arsenic compared to other rocks in the region. The distribution of ground water wells with As > 5 ?g/L has a strong spatial correlation with specific bedrock units where average whole-rock concentrations of arsenic exceed 1.1 mg/kg and where geologic and geochemical factors produce high pH ground water. Arsenic concentrations in stream sediments collected from small drainages reflect the regional distribution of this natural arsenic source and have a strong correlation with both rock chemistry and the distribution of bedrock units with elevated arsenic chemistry. The distribution of ground water wells with As > 5 ?g/L has a strong spatial correlation with the distribution of stream sediments where concentrations of arsenic exceed 6 mg/kg. Stream sediment chemistry also has a weak correlation with the distribution of agricultural lands where arsenical pesticides were used on apple, blueberry, and potato crops. Elevated arsenic concentrations in bedrock wells, however, do not correlate with agricultural areas where arsenical pesticides were used. These results indicate that both stream sediment chemistry and the solubility and mobility of arsenic in ground water in bedrock are influenced by host-rock arsenic concentrations. Stream sediment chemistry and the distribution of geologic units have been found to be useful parameters to predict the areas of greatest concern for elevated arsenic in ground water and to estimate the likely levels of human exposure to elevated arsenic in drinking water in New England. However, the extreme local variability of arsenic concentrations in ground water from these rock sources indicate that arsenic concentrations in ground water are affected by other factors in addition to arsenic concentrations in rock.

Open-File Report↗

USGS2006

Water resources data, Minnesota, water year 2005

Water resources data for the 2005 water year for Minnesota consist of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams; stage of lakes and reservoirs; ground-water quality; and water quality in wells. This report contains discharge records for 116 stream-gaging stations; stage for 11 lakes and reservoirs; water quality for 12 stream-gaging stations; peak flow data for 87 highflow partial-record stations, and water levels for 2 ground water observation wells. Additional water data were collected at various sites that are not part of the systematic data collection program, and are published as miscellaneous measurements. These data represent that part of the National Water Data System operated by the U.S. Geological Survey for cooperating State and Federal agencies in Minnesota.

Minnesota↗

USGS1996

Overview of surface-water resources at the U.S. Coast Guard Support Center Kodiak, Alaska, 1987-89

Hydrologic data at a U.S. Coast Guard Support Center on Kodiak Island, Alaska, were collected from 1987 though 1989 to determine hydrologic conditions and if contamination of soils, ground water, or surface water has occurred. This report summarizes the surface-water-discharge data collected during the study and estimates peak, average, and low-flow values for Buskin River near its mouth. Water-discharge measurements were made at least once at 48 sites on streams in or near the Center. Discharges were measured in the Buskin River near its mouth five times during 1987-89 and ranged from 27 to 367 cubic feet per second. Tributaries of Buskin River below Buskin Lake that had discharges greater than 1 cubic foot per second include Bear Creek, Alder Creek, Magazine Creek, Devils Creek and an outlet from Lake Louise. Streams having flows generally greater than 0.1 cubic foot per second but less than 1 cubic foot per second include an unnamed tributary to Buskin River, an unnamed tributary to Lake Catherine and a drainage channel at Kodiak airport. Most other streams flowing into Buskin River, and all streams on Nyman Peninsula, usually had little or no flow except during periods of rainfall or snowmelt. During a low-flow period in February 1989, discharge measurements in Buskin River and its tributaries indicate that three reaches of Buskin River below Buskin Lake lost water to the ground-water system, whereas two reaches gained water; the net gain in streamflow attributed to ground-water inflow at a location near the mouth was estimated to be 2.2 cubic feet per second. The 100-year peak flow for Buskin River near its mouth was estimated to be 4,460 cubic feet per second. Average discharge was estimated to be 125 cubic feet per second and the 7-day 10-year low flow was estimated to be 5.8 cubic feet per second.

Alaska↗

USGS2001

Water Resources Data Minnesota Water Year 2000

Water resources data for the 2000 water year for Minnesota consist of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams; stage of lakes and reservoirs; ground-water quality; and water quality in wells. This report contains discharge records for 97 stream-gaging stations; stage for 12 lakes and reservoirs; water quality for 16 stream-gaging stations; peak flow data for 87 highflow partial-record stations, and water levels for 3 ground-water observation wells. Additional water data were collected at various sites that are not part of the systematic data collection program, and are published as miscellaneous measurements. These data represent that part of the National Water Data System operated by the U.S. Geological Survey for cooperating State and Federal agencies in Minnesota.

Water Data Report↗

USGS1951

Ground water in the Cuyama Valley, California

This is the fourth of a series of interpretive reports on the water resources of the major valleys of Santa Barbara County, Calif., prepared by the Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior, in cooperation with Santa Barbara County. The first three reports described the other major valleys in the county: the south-coast basins, Goleta and Carpinteria, and the Santa Maria and Santa Ynez River valleys. This report deals with the Cuyama Valley in the northeastern part of the county and adjoining parts of San Luis Obispo, Kern, and Ventura Counties. It includes estimates of natural discharge, pumpage, and yield of ground water, and all data on water levels, well records, and water quality that were available up to June 1946.

California↗

USGS1983

Groundwater resources of the Dallas-Monmouth area, Polk, Benton, and Marion Counties, Oregon

The Dallas-Monmouth area is in the west-central Willamette Valley of western Oregon. It comprises a total of about 400 square miles in Polk, Benton, and Marion Counties. Tertiary consolidated rocks underlie the entire area. These rocks include marine sandstone, siltstone, shale, tuff, basalt, and gabbro. In the lowlands, the consolidated rocks are overlain by unconsolidated deposits of clay, silt, sand, and gravel which reach a maximum thickness of about 125 feet locally. The consolidated rocks generally are poor water-bearing formations and yield only small quantities of ground water to wells. From 1956 to 1976, about 6 percent of all wells completed in basalt and 14 percent of those completed in marine sedimentary rocks were reported to be "dry holes." The median yield of wells completed in the consolidated rocks was less than 10 gallons per minute, and the maximum reported yield was 200 gallons per minute. Shallow ground water in the consolidated rocks is generally of good quality, but with increasing depth in these rocks the water contains increasing concentrations of dissolved minerals. It is estimated that about 5 percent of all the wells completed in the consolidated rocks yield poor-quality water. The best water-bearing units are sand-and-gravel beds in the unconsolidated deposits. Near Independence, the sand-and-gravel beds are hydraulically continuous and exceed a saturated thickness of 10 feet over an area covering several tens of square miles chiefly within the Willamette River flood plain. Properly constructed wells in these deposits can generally obtain yields of 100 to 500 gallons per minute, and large quantities of additional ground water can be developed from this source. Outside the above area, sand-and-gravel beds generally are less than 10 feet thick, lenticular in shape, local in extent, and generally yield less than 30 gallons per minute to wells. Sand-and-gravel beds probably are absent in the Baskett Slough drainage basin, in the E. E. Wilson Wildlife Management area, and in the Luckiamute and Little Luckiamute River valleys upstream from the U.S. Highway 99W bridge.

Oregon↗