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J. C. Petersen

Publications and source records attributed to J. C. Petersen.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Trends and comparison of water quality and bottom material of northeastern Arkansas streams, 1974-85, and effects of planned diversions

Water quality of several rivers in Arkansas was compared using median values at individual water quality stations. Differences were detected in several properties, including common dissolved constituents, alkalinity, nutrients, fecal coliform bacteria, trace metals, pesticides, and sediment. In bottom material, organochlorine pesticides were detected much more frequently than organophosphorus pesticides and were higher in rivers with beds of fine-gradient particles. Time trends were examined using the Seasonal Kendall test. Trends in conductance, sodium adsorption ratio, chloride, phosphorus, and ammonia were usually not detectable. Sulfate concentrations were increasing at approximately one-half of the stations studied while fecal-coliform bacteria concentrations decreased at approximately one-half of the stations. The most potentially detrimental effects upon water quality resulting from surface water diversions were related to increases of common dissolved constituents. From available data, the largest of these increases would be caused by diversion from the Arkansas River. Potential effects not specifically examined include resuspension of bottom materials resulting from construction and operation of the diversion system. Use of some surface waters for artificial recharge of the alluvial aquifer may adversely affect the recharge systems or the aquifer. Possible effects include plugging of the injection well and the aquifer. (USGS)

Water-Resources Investigations Report

Statistical summary of selected water-quality data (water years 1975 through 1985) for Arkansas rivers and streams

Descriptive statistics were calculated for selected water quality data for 116 water quality stations on Arkansas rivers and streams. Water quality properties summarized included pH, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, total alkalinity, total hardness, common dissolved constituents, phosphorus, nitrogen, biochemical oxygen demand, bacteria, turbidity, suspended sediment, and several trace metals. Regression equations and related statistics describing the relation between specific conductance and total alkalinity and several dissolved constituents also were calculated. Typical water quality (based upon median values at individual stations) of physiographic sections and major rivers of Arkansas also is discussed. Discernible differences in water quality exist between sections and major rivers. The regression analysis indicated that the usefulness of specific conductance as a predictor of other water quality values is variable. The relation between specific conductance and the other property is not statistically significant (p>0.05) about 30% of the time. (USGS)

Water-Resources Investigations Report

Compilation of data collected and derived for water years 1980 and 1981 for the purpose of water-quality modeling of the lower Ouachita River and selected tributaries, south-central Arkansas

This report represents water-quality, sediment oxygen demand, phytoplankton, periphyton, bacteria, instantaneous and mean-daily discharge, stream geometry, time of travel, reaeration data and other water quality collected on the lower Ouachita River (from just upstream of Little Missouri River to Lock and Dam 6), West Two Bayou, Smackover Creek, Haynes Creek and selected tributaries. The data were collected primarily between August 1980 and September 1981. Over 100 sites were sampled, but most were sampled only during two intensive sampling periods in mid-August of 1980 and mid-September of 1981. The water-quality data include measurements of pH, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, water temperature, whole-water nitrogen species, total phosphorus, total orthophosphorus, dissolved chlorides, dissolved sulfate, ultimate biochemical oxygen demand and organic carbon. The phytoplankton and periphyton data include measurements of chlorophyll a and b, taxonomic identification cell counts and weights. Limited precipitation data are also included. Maps and schematic diagrams of the lower Ouachita River, West Two Bayou, Smackover Creek and Haynes Creek drainage systems show the location of the data-collection sites within the area. (USGS)

Open-File Report