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G. L. Giese

Publications and source records attributed to G. L. Giese.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS1996

Magnitude and frequency of floods in the Suwannee River Water Management District, Florida

Flood-frequency statistics for 2-, 5-, 10-, 25-, 50-. 100-, 200-, and 500-year recurrence intervals, based on three methods of analysis, are presented for 25 continuous-record and seven peak flow partial-record gaging stations in the Suwannee River Water Management District. The first method, for gaged stations, utilizes station records; the second method, for ungaged sites, utilizes regional regression analysis; and the third method uses a weighted combination of the station and regional values. Because the weighted values utilize two more or less independent estimates of the peak flow statistic, they are considered more accurate than the station estimates or the regression estimates alone. Also, the use of another weighting scheme to improve estimates of flood frequency statistics at ungaged sites is demonstrated. The karstic nature of much of the Suwannee River Water Management District significantly attenuates flood peaks in some streams by providing substantial subsurface storage when river stages are high. At such times, springs discharging into rivers may reverse flow temporarily and become sinks.

Florida↗
USGS1996

Magnitude and frequency of low flows in the Suwannee River Water Management District, Florida

Low-flow frequency statistics for 20 gaging stations having at least 10 years of continuous record and 31 other stations having less than 10 years of continu ous record or a series of at least two low- flow measurements are presented for unregulated streams in the Suwannee River Water Management District in north-central Florida. Statistics for the 20 continuous-record stations included are the annual and monthly minimum consecutive-day average low- flow magnitudes for 1, 3, 7, 14, and 30 consecutive days for recurrence intervals of 2, 5, 10, 20, and, for some long-term stations, 50 years, based on records available through the 1994 climatic year.Only theannual statistics are given for the 31 other stations; these are for the 7- and 30-consecutive day periods only and for recurrence intervals of 2 and 10 years only. Annual low-flow frequency statistics range from zero for many small streams to 5,500 cubic feet per second for the annual 30- consecutive-day average flow with a recurrenceinterval of 2 years for the Suwannee River near Wilcox (station 02323500). Monthly low-flow frequency statistics range from zero for many small streams to 13,800 cubic feet per second for the minimum 30-consecutive-day average flow with a 2-year recurrence interval for the month of March for the same station. Generally, low-flow characteristics of streams in the Suwannee River Water Management District are controlled by climatic, topographic, and geologic fac tors. The carbonate Floridan aquifer system underlies, or is at the surface of, the entire District. The terrane's karstic nature results in many sinkholes and springs. In some places, springs may contribute greatly to low streamflow and the contributing areas of such springs may include areas outside the presumed surface drainage area of the springs. In other places, water may enter sinkholes within a drainage basin, then reappear in springs downstream from a gage. Many of the smaller streams in the District go dry or have no flow for several months in many years. In addition to the low-flow statistics, four synoptic low-flow measurement surveys were conducted on 161 sites during 1990, 1995, and 1996. The measurements were made to provide "snapshots" of flow conditions of streams throughout the Suwannee River Water Management District. Magnitudes of low flows during the 1990 series of measurements were in the range associated with minimum 7-consecutive-day 50-year recurrence interval to the minimum 7-consecutive-day 20-year recurrence interval, except in Taylor and Dixie Counties, where the magnitudes ranged from the minimum 7-consecutive-day 5-year flow level to the7-consecutive-day 2-year flow level. The magnitudes were all greater than the minimum 7- consecutive-day 2-year flow level during 1995 and 1996. Observations of no flow were recorded at many of the sites for all four series of measurements.

Florida↗
USGS1995

Statistical summaries of surface-water hydrologic data collected in the Suwannee River Water Management District, Florida, 1906-93

Since 1906, hydrologic data have been collected systematically on streams and lakes in the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the SRWMD, and other agencies. Records of stream discharge and stream and lake stage in the SRWMD (fig. 1), collected largely in cooperation with the SRWMD since 1975, have been published for many years in the USGS annual report series "Water Resources Data for Florida." Streamflow and stream and lake elevation statistics are given in this report for sites shown in figure 1. All 27 daily streamflow stations shown are (or were) operated by the USGS in cooperation with the SRWMD; all 18 lake stage stations shown are now (1994) operated by the SRWMD, but were operated until the late 1970’s by the USGS in cooperation with the SRWMD. All unregulated stream stations which have three or more years of continuous record are included in this report. All unregulated lake stations having at least three years of intermittent lake elevation readings are also included. There are many other sites in the SRWMD for which shorter records or miscellaneous measurements are available but are not included because statistical summaries for such stations require interpretive analysis beyond the scope of this report. Basic hydrologic data have long been recognized as fundamental to the analysis of magnitude and frequency of floods, availability of water supplies, potential for reservoir storage, and permitting of waste discharges. Also, in recent times, scientists and water managers have become more aware of the complex relations between flows and water levels and the terrestrial and aquatic plant and animal life in wetland ecosystems. In 1994, the SRWMD and the USGS began a long-term program of cooperative studies designed to better understand minimum and maximum flow and water levels needed to manage the surface and ground water resources of the District and maintain or improve the various ecosystems therein. Information presented in this report, together with frequency analysis of station data, flow regionalization, studies of the relation of salinity to flow in the lower Suwannee River, definition of ground-water surface-water interactions, surface- and ground-water quality studies, and studies of interaction between surface-water bodies and wetlands, will provide the basis for the SRWMD to establish minimum flow and level requirements for streams and lakes in the SRWMD area. This report is a necessary first step in the longterm program of study because it contains basic stream discharge and stream and lake elevation statistics, most of which are not contained in the annual report "Water Resources Data for Florida." These statistics, most of which were generated using a U.S. Geological Survey computer program, ADAPS, Automatic Data Processing System, characterize normal flows and levels and departures from normal due to floods and droughts or seasonal climatic variations. Specifically, the report presents for the period of record of each stream or lake gaging station, as appropriate: Minimum, maximum, and mean of monthly mean stream elevations and discharges in graphical and tabular form. For streams, annual mean discharge, highest and lowest annual mean discharge, highest and lowest daily mean discharge, minimum annual seven-day mean discharge, instantaneous peak discharge and elevation, instantaneous minimum discharge, and basin yield. Duration of annual daily mean stream elevation and discharge. Duration of daily values are shown in both graphical and tabular form. Duration of daily mean stream elevations and discharge, by months, in tables. Minimum and maximum 1-,3-,7-,14-,30-, 60-, 90-,120-, and 183-consecutive day stream elevations and discharges (with rankings) for each year of record. Mean monthly lake elevations and statistics by month, including number of monthly values, mean, variance, standard deviation, skewness, and coefficient of variation. For convenience, a GLOSSARY of commonly used terms related to the collection and reporting of surface-water elevations and discharge is included before the Introduction section of this report. The authors wish to acknowledge Natalie Rackley, formerly of the U.S. Geological Survey, and T.W. Grubbs, U.S. Geological Survey, for their computer assistance in the compilation of station records, and Jim Tomberlin, U.S. Geological Survey, for the mapping of stream and lake gaging stations.

Florida↗
USGS1995

Recharge to the surficial aquifer system in Lee and Hendry counties, Florida

Protection of ground-water recharge areas against contamination is of great interest in Florida, a State whose population depends heavily on ground water and that is experiencing rapid growth. The Florida Legislature is considering implementation of a tax incentive program to owners of high-rate recharge lands that remain undeveloped. High-rate recharge was arbitrarily set at 10 or more inches per year. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the South Florida Water Management District, conducted a study to investigate the efficacy of several methods for estimating recharge to the surficial aquifer system in southwestern Florida and to map recharge at a scale of 1:100,000. Four maps were constructed at a scale of 1:100,000 for Lee and Hendry Counties, depicting the configuration of the water table of the surficial aquifer system, direction of ground-water flow, general soil characteristics, and recharge rates. Point recharge rates calculated for 25 sites in Lee County from comparisons of chloride concentrations in precipitation and in water from the surficial aquifer system ranged from 0.6 to 9.0 inches per year. Local recharge rates estimated by increases in flow along theoretical flow tubes in the surficial aquifer system were 8.0 inches per year in a part of Lee County and 8.2 inches per year in a part of Hendry County. Information on oxygen isotopes in precipitation and water from the surficial aquifer system was used to verify that the source of chlorides in the aquifer system was from precipitation rather than upward leakage of saline water. Soil maps and general topographic and hydrologic considerations were used with calculated point and local recharge rates to regionalize rates throughout Lee and Hendry Counties. The areas of greatest recharge were found in soils of flatwoods and sloughs, which were assigned estimated recharge rates of 0 to 10 inches per year. Soils of swamps and sloughs were assigned values of 0 to 3.0 inches per year; soils of tidal areas and barrier islands, soils of the Everglades, and soils of sloughs and freshwater marshes were assigned values of 0 to 2.0 inches per year; lastly, soils of manmade areas were assigned values of 0.5 to 1.5 inches per year. Small isolated areas of high-rate recharge (greater than 10 inches per year) might exist in Lee and Hendry Counties, but the maximum rate calculated in this study was 9.0 inches per year. Despite low natural recharge rates, lowering of the water table through pumping or canalization could create a potential for induced recharge in excess of 10 inches per year in parts of Lee and Hendry Counties.

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1993

Low-flow characteristics of streams in North Carolina

Ten low-flow hydrologic areas were defined for North Carolina by relating topography, geology, mean annual runoff, and other features to low-flow frequency characteristics for 122 continuous-record streamflow stations and 396 partial-record streamflow stations. Regression equations relating low-flow characteristics to mean annual discharge were developed for five of the hydrologic areas covering 40% of the State, and statistical summaries of low-flow characteristics are given for all 10 hydrologic areas. Low-flow characteristics selected for analysis were the low-flow 7Q10, which is the annual minimum 7-day consecutive low flow, which on average will be exceeded in 9 out of 10 years--or stated another way, the probability is 10% that the 7-day consecutive low flow in any year will be less than the 7Q10; the low-flow W7Q10, which is similar to the low-flow 7Q10 except that it takes into account only the months from November through March; the low-flow 7Q2; and the low-flow 30Q2. Low-flow 7Q10's ranged from zero in some hydrologic areas in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont physiographic areas to a maximum value of 1.06 cu ft/sec/sq mi for a station in the western Piedmont and mountains physiographic area.

North Carolina↗
USGS1992

Two-dimensional circulation modeling of the Pamlico River estuary, North Carolina

A two dimensional, vertically averaged, unsteady flow model was applied to a 50- kilometer reach of the Pamlico River estuary, North Carolina. The model computational grid, which consists of about 16,000 square cells, each 200 meters on a side, was developed from more than one million depth soundings. Information from a comprehensive data-collection network, including six water-level stations, six temperature and salinity measurement stations, and one wind measurement station, was used to provide data for boundary conditions and for model calibration. Preliminary model results for this ongoing study were sensitive to the presence of a lateral water-level gradient at the downstream boundary. For the simulation period, water-level oscillations at the downstream boundary were much more important in controlling Pamlico River flows than were local winds blowing over the surface of the estuary. Average absolute differences between observed and simulated water levels at two measurement sites were less than 2 centimeters for the 8-day calibration period.

North Carolina↗
USGS1991

Simulation of ground-water flow in the coastal plain aquifer system of North Carolina

A 3-D finite difference digital model was used to simulate groundwater flow in the 25,000 sq mi aquifer system of the North Carolina Coastal Plain. The model was developed from a geohydrologic framework that is based on an alternating sequence of 10 aquifers and 9 confining units, which comprise a seaward-thickening wedge of sediments that form the Coastal Plain aquifer system in North Carolina. The model was calibrated by comparing observed and simulated water levels. The maximum transmissivity of an individual aquifer in the calibrated model is 200,000 sq ft/d in a part of the Castle Hayne aquifer, which is composed predominately of limestone. The maximum simulated vertical hydraulic conductivity in a confining unit was 2.5 ft/d in a part of the confining unit overlying the upper Cape Fear aquifer. Analysis indicated the model is highly sensitive to changes in transmissivity and leakage near pumping centers; away from pumping centers, the model is only slightly sensitive to changes in transmissivity but is moderately sensitive to changes in leakance. Recharge from precipitation to the surficial aquifer ranges from about 12 in/yr in areas having clay at the surface, to about 20 in/yr in areas having sand at the surface. Most of this recharge moves laterally to streams, with only about 1 in/yr moving down to the confined parts of the aquifer system. Groundwater level declines, which are the result of water taken from storage, are extensive in some area and minimal in others. Water level declines exceeding 100 ft have occurred in the Beaufort County area because of withdrawals for a mining operation and water supplies for a chemical plant. Head declines have been less than 10 ft in the shallow surficial and Yorktown aquifers and in the updip parts of the major confined aquifers distant from areas of major withdrawals. A water-budget analysis using the model simulations indicates that much of the water removed from the groundwater system by pumping ultimately is made up by a reduction in water leaving the aquifer system, which discharges to streams as base flow.

North Carolina↗
USGS1985

Hydrology of major estuaries and sounds of North Carolina

Hydrology-related problems associated with North Carolina 's major estuaries and sounds include contamination of some estuaries with municipal and industrial wastes and drainage from adjacent, intensively farmed areas, and nuisance-level algal blooms. In addition, there is excessive shoaling in some navigation channels, salt-water intrusion into usually fresh estuarine reaches, too high or too-low salinities in nursery areas for various estuarine species, and flood damage due to hurricanes. The Cape Fear River is the only major North Carolina estuary having a direct connection to the sea. Short-term flow throughout most of its length is dominated by ocean tides. Freshwater entering the major estuaries is, where not contaminated, of acceptable quality for drinking with minimum treatment. However, iron concentrations in excess of 0.3 milligrams per liter sometimes occur and water draining from swampy areas along the Coastal Plain is often highly colored, but these problems may be remedied with proper treatment. Nuisance-level algal blooms have been a recurring problem on the lower estuarine reaches of the Neuse, Tar-Pamlico, and Chowan Rivers where nutrients (compounds of phosphorous and nitrogen) are abundant. The most destructive blooms tend to occur in the summer months during periods of low freshwater discharge and relatively high water temperatures. Saltwater intrusion occurs from time to time in all major estuaries except the Roanoke River, where releases from Roanoke Rapids Lake and other reservoirs during otherwise low-flow periods effectively block saline water from the estuary. New shoaling materials found in the lower channelized reaches of the Cape Fear and Northeast Cape Fear Rivers are primarily derived, not from upstream sources, but from nearby shore erosion, from slumping of material adjacent to the dredged channels, from old spoil areas, or from ocean-derived sediments carried upstream by near-bottom density currents.

North Carolina↗
USGS1979

Hydrology of major estuaries and sounds of North Carolina

Hydrology-related problems associated with North Carolina's major estuaries and sounds include contamination of some estuaries with municipal and industrial wastes and drainage from adjacent intensively- farmed areas, and nuisance-level algal blooms. In addition, there is excessive shoaling in some navigation channels, saltwater intrusion into usually fresh estuarine reaches, too-high or too-low salinities in nursery areas for various estuarine species, and flood damage due to hurricanes. The Cape Fear River is the only major North Carolina estuary having a direct connection to the sea. Short-term flow throughout most of its length is dominated by ocean tides. The estuarine reaches of the Neuse-Trent, Tar-Pamlico, Chowan, and Roanoke River systems are at least partly shielded from the effects of ocean tides by the Outer Banks and the broad expanses of Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds. With the probable exception of the Roanoke River, winds are usually the dominant short-term current-producing force in these estuaries and in most of Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds. Freshwater entering the major estuaries is, where not contaminated, of acceptable quality for drinking with minimum treatment. However, iron concentrations in excess of 0.3 milligrams per liter sometimes occur and water draining from swampy areas along the Coastal Plain is often highly colored, but these problems may be remedied with proper treatment. Nuisance-level algal blooms have been a recurring problem on the lower estuarine reaches of the Neuse, Tar-Pamlico, and Chowan rivers where nutrients (compounds of phosphorous and nitrogen) are abundant. The most destructive blooms tend to occur in the summer months during periods of low freshwater discharge and relatively high water temperatures.

North Carolina↗
USGS1974

The effect of heated water on the temperature and evaporation of Hyco Lake, North Carolina, 1966-72

Three levels of thermal loading of Hyco Lake by heat from two steam-electric generators have resulted in higher temperatures and increased evaporation in the 3,750-acre (1,518 square hectometer) lake. During the winter, local temperature increases of 34°F (19°C) were sometimes observed at the surface as heated water spread out on top of the cooler, more-dense, lake water, affecting areas as large as 2,590 acres (1,048 square hectometers) with temperature increases averaging up to 12°F (6.7°C) higher than natural lake temperatures. In the summer average temperature increases at the surface seldom exceeded 6°F (3.3°C) and the maximum area affected was 2,570 acres (1,040 square hectometers). Forced evaporation from the heated part of Hyco Lake increased in proportion to the added heat, reaching a maximum of 23.1 inches (586 millimeters) in 1970, as compared to 55.6 inches (1,412 millimeters) of natural evaporation for that year. In 1969, over the heated area, 210,600 British thermal units per square foot per year or 2,407,510,000 joules per square meter per year of heat were added to the lake. Of this amount, about 58 percent of the heat was utilized for evaporation, 24 percent for back radiation, 8.0 percent was conducted as sensible heat from the lake, 1.0 percent was removed through outflow, and 0.04 percent was advected by the evaporated water. These percentages are fairly typical of the first three stages of thermal loading.

North Carolina↗
USGS1973

Evaporation from Lake Michie, North Carolina 1961-71

The Geological Survey, in cooperation with the city of Durham, N. C., collected evaporation data at Lake Michie, Durham's 480-acre water-supply reservoir, for 10 consecutive years from September 1961 to September 1971. Wind speed, air temperature, and water temperature-collected continuously-were used in conjunction with water-budget data to calibrate the semi-empirical mass-transfer equation, E Nu(e o - e a ), where E is evaporation; N is the mass-transfer coefficient, which is a constant for a given lake; u is wind speed; e o is the vapor pressure of the saturated air at the water surface; and e a is the vapor pressure of the surrounding air. For evaporation expressed in inches, the mass-transfer coefficient for Lake Michie is 0.0036. During the study period the average annual evaporation from Lake Michie was 37.9 inches. Within-year variation of evaporation from the lake is sinusoidal, with a high during July averaging 4.71 inches and a low during January averaging 1.45 inches. Evaporation from Lake Michie was 0.72 (or about three-quarters) of the evaporation from the National Weather Service evaporation pan at Chapel Hill. This ratio, called a pan coefficient, was not constant throughout the year, ranging from an average of 0.57 for April to 1.09 for December.

North Carolina↗