Geology topics

Edward L. Oakes

Publications and source records attributed to Edward L. Oakes.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS1975

Water resources of Wisconsin — Upper Wisconsin River basin

Runoff is the water in a river or stream that results from precipitation falling on the drainage basin. It is the net discharge into the stream from surface-water and ground-water sources with losses occurring from evapotranspiration and other consumptive uses. Runoff can be expressed by a variety of numerical values, but average depth of water over the drainage basin, in inches per year, probably is the most widely used unit of measurement. The map of average annual runoff (fig. 1), in inches per year, shows the geographical distribution of runoff in tributary streams for the years 1951—80; it describes the magnitudes and variations of runoff nationwide. The map was prepared to reflect the runoff of tributary streams rather than in major rivers in order to represent more accurately the local or small scale variation in runoff with precipitation and other geographical characteristics. The 1951–80 period was selected to conform to the period chosen by the World Meteorological Organization for study of climatic variations. The map should not be used to estimate the streamflow for any specific site. More detailed information for a specific area can be obtained from streamflow data collected by the U.S. Geological Survey, other Federal agencies, and State agencies.

Wisconsin↗

USGS1975

Hydrology of the Lake Wingra basin, Dane County, Wisconsin

A water budget was prepared to identify the components of the hydrologic system in the Lake Wingra basin. The Lake Wingra basin, which includes a small eutrophic lake within the city of Madison, Wis., is partly a protected area and partly an urbanized area. Measured and estimated inflow and outflow to and from the lake in 1 year (June 1972 to May 1973) was about 4.5 metres (15 feet)—approximately twice the volume of the lake. Inflow to the lake is about 25 percent from direct precipitation on the lake surface, and the rest from nearly equal amounts of surface runoff and ground-water inflow. Outflow from the lake is about 10 percent ground-water outflow, 15 percent evaporation from the lake surface, and 75 percent discharge at the surface outlet. Increased withdrawal of water from municipal and industrial wells in Madison has slowed the rate of flow through the lake. The calculated 1972 water budget for the lake showed gains of about 3,560 millimetres (140 inches) and losses of about 3,500 millimetres (138 inches). A discrepancy of about 60 millimetres (2 inches) probably was caused in part by uncertainties in ground-water inflow and outflow. Effects of evapotranspiration and ground-water inflow in the marsh area southwest of the lake also probably contribute to the discrepancy.

Wisconsin↗

USGS1973

Water resources of Wisconsin: Menominee-Oconto-Peshtigo River basin

The purpose of this report is to describe the water resources of the Menominee-Oconto - Peshtigo River basin in Wisconsin in order to aid in planning future water management in the basin and in nearby areas. The physical setting, availability, distribution, movement, quality, and use of water are discussed. The report presents general information on the basin that was derived from data obtained from Federal, State, and other agencies. In addition, new data were collected from areas where available information was scarce and where there is important water use. For more detailed information the reader is referred to the section titled “Sources of Additional Information”, (sheet 4).

Wisconsin↗

USGS1968

Water resources of the Mississippi Headwaters Watershed, North-central Minnesota

The Mississippi Headwaters watershed is a 7,608 square mile area in north-central Minnesota which includes all land drained by the Mississippi River above the Crow Wing River. From its source in Lake Itasca, 1,460 feet above mean sea level, the Mississippi River follows a semicircular 376 mile course to where it leaves the watershed at an altitude of 1,150 feet. The origin of the river is in glacial moraine. The river flows through end moraines and rolling till plains, across an extensive outwash plain occupied by large reservoir lakes, and finally across an extensive marshy plain which is the bed of an ancient glacial lake. Glacial deposits in the watershed include till, lenses of sand and gravel in till, outwash deposits of sand and gravel, and lake deposits of fine sand, silt, and clay. Beneath the glacial drift is an uneven surface of Precambrian bedrock. Bedrock consists of igneous intrusives and metamorphosed sedimentary formations. Water resources in the area are abundant. Lakes and streams occupy about 8 percent of the surface of the area. Ground-water supplies are available from glacial drift and from bedrock.

Minnesota↗