Search USGS⌕ Search

Geology topics

G.A. Miller

Publications and source records attributed to G.A. Miller.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS2011

Effects of handling and aerial exposure on the survival of unionid mussels

We conducted a relocation study of unionid mussels in Navigation Pool 7 of the upper Mississippi River (river mile 713.2) to evaluate survival after handling and aerial exposure. Two separate studies were conducted to compare seasonal differences in mussel survival; the first was initiated in June and the second in October. Amblema plicata plicata (subfamily Ambleminae) and Obliquaria reflexa (subfamily Lampsilinae) were studied. Mussels were marked, held out of water for either 0, 1, 4, or 8 h, and then placed into a 3 × 3 m grid (divided into nine 1-m 2 units). The mussels were re-examined after four-five months to measure mortality in the control and treatment groups. Mussels of both species had >90% survival after aerial exposure up to 4 h in both studies. However, survival (number recaptured live/number recaptured live and dead) of mussels showed a decreasing trend with duration of exposure in the first study, but not in the second study. The overall recovery of marked mussels (number recaptured/number marked) was 91% in the first study and 87% in the second study. However, only 37% of O. reflexa mussels in the 8-h treatment were recovered in the first study; the adjusted survival (number live recaptured/number marked) of this treatment group was significantly (p < 0.05) lower (35%) than all other treatments.

Journal of Freshwater Ecology↗
USGS1984

Brief comparison of some technological and environmental aspects of large-scale surface and underground mining of oil shale, Piceance Creek Basin, Colorado

Comparison of several aspects of surface and underground methods of mining for large-scale oil shale extraction in the Piceance Creek Basin suggests that surface mining techniques may have several advantages over underground methods. For a production level of one million barrels of shale oil per day, potential advantages include those related to economics, environmental effects, and the overall national interest. One million barrels of shale oil per day could be produced from 2-3 large surface mines compared to perhaps 10-20 large underground mines. Fewer surface mines would result in: (1) fewer roads and utility corridors, (2) less acres disturbed per barrel of oil pro duced, (3) reduced detrimental effects on ground water and surface water, (4) less wildlife distur bance, (5) a safer overall operation, (6) a greater opportunity to achieve stable long-term land and water reclamation, (7) potential economic advantages related to scale and materials handling, and (8) a three- to five-fold increase in resource recovery. Advantages to underground (including modified in situ [MIS]) mines include: (1) more flexibility of mine siting, (2) mining and handling a minimum of waste rock, and (3) simplified ore grade control for processing.

Colorado↗
USGS1982

Water for western oil shale development: Potential local supplies

Commercial-scale development of western oil shale resources will require a supply of water for both extraction and reclamation purposes. This paper summarizes some of the information on the occurrence of potential local supplies of water in the Piceance Creek Basin-Uinta Basin areas of northwest Colorado and northeast Utah. The discussion is somewhat hypothetical in that it is restricted to the physical occurrence of water with emphasis on water resources in each basin. Of course, the many potential constraints on water use (including economics, water quality, legal and other institutional factors) are necessarily secondary to the ultimate constraint, its physical occurrence. Perhaps the most obvious constraint is that of water rights and water laws. For example, "mining" of some of the ground water is herein assumed to be necessary for technically sound management and utilization of the water resource, but the hydrologic effects of such "mining" would require accommodation under water laws and agreements.

Colorado, Utah↗
USGS1966

Utilization of ground water in the Santa Maria Valley area, California

Overdraft in the Santa Maria Valley ground-water basin since about 1946 has resulted in a significant decline in water levels throughout the basin as ground water has been removed from storage. In 1959 approximately 2,200,000 acre-feet of ground water was in storage above sea level in the ground-water reservoir. Estimates of storage depletion are not consistent with estimates of groundwater recharge and discharge. The natural perennial yield of the basin probably is about 50.000 acre-feet, on the basis of estimated recharge and natural discharge. The augmented perennial yield probably is about 70,000 acre-feet and includes 21,200 acre-feet of water per year released at Twitchell Dam. Storage depletion, not estimated in the seaward ends of the aquifers, will result as the fresh watersea water interface moves landward in response to the continuing decrease in hydraulic gradient in the aquifer system. Evidence of sea-water intrusion into the basin has not been observed, but limited sea-water encroachment may have occurred at the offshore ends of the aquifers. Additional observation wells will be necessary to provide supplemental data to insure that hydraulic heads and gradients in the deeper aquifers are properly monitored.

Water Supply Paper↗
USGS1959

Water levels in observation wells in Santa Barbara County, California, in 1958

Investigation of the ground-water resources of Santa Barbara County was continued during 1958 by the U. S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Santa Barbara County Water Agency. Monthly water-level measurements were made in 201 wells, in 11 of which automatic water-level recorders were operated. Earlier measurements, covering the period 1941 through 1955, have been published in Geological Survey Water-Supply Papers; those for 1956 and 1957 have been released locally in duplicated form. Water-Supply Paper 1068 contains tabulated descriptions of 2,246 wells in existence in 1942 in the various ground-water basins of the county. The same publication also contains many water-level measurements made prior to 1942 by the city of Santa Barbara, Santa Maria Valley Water Conservation District, San Joaquin Power Division of the Pacific Gas and Electric Co., Union Sugar Co., Union Oil Co., and other organizations and individuals. Comprehensive reports on the geology and ground-water resources of the Santa Ynez River basin (Upson and Thomasson, 1951), the south-coast basins (Upson, 1951), the Santa Maria Valley area (Worts, 1951), and the Cuyama Valley (Upson and Worts, 1951) have been published as Water-Supply Papers 1107, 1108, 1000, and 1110-B, respectively. A report on stream runoff and ground-water storage capacity of the Santa Ynez River valley (Troxell and Wilson, 1952) was released to the open file in October 1952. A report appraising the ground-water resources of the Santa Ynez River valley (Wilson, 1957) has been mimeographed and released locally. In addition to the water-level measurements made by the Geological Survey in 1958, measurements made by the Santa Maria Valley Water Conservation District are included in this report. Not included in this report are miscellaneous measurements made by the Geological Survey in wells along the middle reach of the Santa Ynez River between Cachuma Dam and Rucker Crossing.

California↗