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Alan W. Burns

Publications and source records attributed to Alan W. Burns.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS1983

Hydrologic data from the Tamarack Wildlife Area and vicinity, Logan County, Colorado

Hydrologic data were collected from the Tamarack Ranch Wildlife area and vicinity near Crook, Colo., during the period September 1979 to August 1981. These data will aid in the analysis of the effects of proposed water-development projects on the hydrologic system of the wildlife area. The data collected included a reconnaissance evaluation of specific conductance, a 24-hour sampling of air and water temperature at 6 sites, and periodic measurements of water levels, temperature, and specific conductance at 57 sites.

Open-File Report↗
USGS1981

Simulated hydrologic effects of possible ground-water and surface-water management alternatives in and near the Platte River, south-central Nebraska

Digital computer models were developed and used to simulate the hydrologic effects of hypothetical water-management alternatives on the wetland habitat area near Grand Island, Nebr. Areally distributed recharge to and discharge from the aquifer system adjacent to the Platte River between Overton and Grand Island were computed for four hypothetical water-management alternatives. Using stream-aquifer response functions, the stream depletions resulting from the different alternatives ranged from 53,000 acre-feet per year for increased surface-water irrigation to 177,000 acre-feet per year for increased ground-water pumpage. Current conditions would result in stream depletions of 125,000 acre-feet per year. Using the relationship between discharge and river stage, frequency curves of the stage in the river near the wildlife habitat area were computed using a 50-year sequence of historical streamflow at Overton, minus the stream depletions resulting from various management practices. For the management alternatives previously discussed, differences in the stage-frequency curves were minimal. For comparative purposes, three additional water-management alternatives whose application would change the incoming streamflow at Overton were simulated. Although in these alternatives the amounts of water that were diverted or imported were similar to the amounts in the previous alternatives, their effects on the stage-frequency curves were much more dramatic. (USGS)

Nebraska↗
USGS1981

Simulated interactions between the proposed Narrows Reservoir and the water-table aquifer along the South Platte River, Morgan County, Colorado

A computer model, including a ground-water-flow component and a mass balance reservoir-operations component, was developed to simulate the proposed Narrows Reservoir and the adjacent alluvial aquifer of the South Platte River, Morgan County, Colo. This model, using a weekly time step, simulated the transient interactions of these two systems for an initial-fill condition and general-operational condition. A sensitivity analysis was made to test the effects of possible errors in the description of aquifer characteristics on the model results. The initial-fill simulation indicated that to fill the reservoir when hydraulic connection between the surface-water system and the aquifer is simulated would take 2 additional years than if no connection was assumed. Simulated ground-water return flow to the river downstream of the proposed dam was about 85 percent of the estimated maximum values, computed under steady-state conditions in an earlier study. The general operation simulation indicated that during the period of lowest reservoir contents the aquifer provided about 80,000 acre-feet of recoverable storage to the reservoir 's capacity. Average return flow was only about 70 percent of the estimated maximum values computed in the earlier, steady-state analysis. Monthly ground-water outflow from the reservoir to the aquifer ranged from 55,200 to -10,400 acre-feet. Parameters tested for sensitivity, in order of decreasing sensitivity, were: Hydraulic conductivity, specific yield, hydraulic connection between reservoir and aquifer, local recharge, boundary conditions, and dam permeability. The probable error in the parameters tested would not seem to warrant significant new data collection. (USGS)

Colorado↗
USGS1980

Hydrologic analysis of the proposed Badger-Beaver Creeks artificial-recharge project: Morgan County, Colorado

A hydrologic analysis of the proposed Badger-Beaver Creeks artificial-recharge project in Morgan County, Colo., was made with the aid of three digital computer models: A canal-distribution model, a ground-water flow model, and a stream-aquifer model. Statistical summaries of probable diversions from the South Platte River based on a 27-year period of historical flows indicate that an average-annual diversion of 96,000 acre-feet and a median-annual diversion of 43,000 acre-feet would be available. Diversions would sustain water in ponds for waterfowl habitat for an average of about five months per year, with a miximum pond surface area of about 300 acres with the median diversions and a maximum pond surface area of about 1,250 acres at least one-half of the years with the historic diversions. If the annual diversion were 43,000 acre-feet, recharge to the two alluvial aquifers would raise water levels sufficiently to create flowing streams in the channels of Beaver and Badger Creeks while allowing an increase in current ground-water pumping. The only area of significant waterlogging would be along the proposed delivery canal on the west edge of Badger Creek valley. If the total water available were diverted, the aquifer system could not transmit the water fast enough to the irrigation areas to avoid considerable waterlogging in the recharge areas. The impact of the proposed project on the South Platte River basin would be minimal once the ground-water system attained steady-state conditions, but that may take decades with a uniform diversion of the 43,000 acre-feet annually.

Colorado↗
USGS1974

Evaluation of data availability and examples of modeling for ground-water management on Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Cape Cod is a seashore resort area of national renown. It is a hookshaped peninsula which extends 40 miles into the Atlantic Ocean and is separated from the mainland by Cape Cod Canal, a salt-water channel connecting Buzzards Bay and Cape Cod Bay (fig. 1). It is 440 square miles in area and is underlain by unconsolidated earth materials that contain a lens-like reservoir of fresh ground water "floating" on salty ground water. The fresh ground-water reservoir is the principal source of supply for the rapidly growing population of Cape Cod. Because of increasing resident population and increasing numbers of summer vacationers, there is local and State concern for problems of meeting increased water demands, deterioration of water quality, changes of water table and pond levels, and changes in ecology owing to changes in salinity of water in brackish-water bodies.

Massachusetts↗