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Geology topics

J. J. Vaccaro

Publications and source records attributed to J. J. Vaccaro.

30 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
USGS1999

Summary of the Columbia Plateau Regional Aquifer-System Analysis, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho

This report summarizes the results of the U.S. Geological Survey's Regional Aquifer-System Analysis program study of the Columbia Plateau aquifer system. The report describes the geologic framework, hydraulic characteristics of rock materials that compose the aquifer system, ground-water movement in the aquifer units, estimates of ground-water recharge, estimates of ground-water pumpage, and effects of surface-water irrigation and ground-water pumpage. The construction and use of a numerical ground-water flow model is described. Based on model results, the effects of potential water-development practices are presented. The ground-water quality and geochemistry of the aquifer system is then discussed.

Idaho, Oregon, Washington↗
USGS1998

Hydrogeologic framework of the Willamette Lowland aquifer system, Oregon and Washington

This report summarizes the hydraulic characteristics of the materials that make up the Willamette Lowland aquifer system, ground-water movement in the aquifer system, estimates of ground-water recharge, ground-water quality characteristics, construction and use of cross-sectional numerical ground-water flow models, hydrologic controls on ground-water movement, water budgets and flow paths, and a description and application of a conceptual model.

Professional Paper↗
USGS1998

Hydrogeologic framework of the Puget Sound aquifer system, Washington and British Columbia

This report presents the generalized hydrogeologic framework of the Puget Sound aquifer system in Washington and British Columbia. The framework includes a conceptual model of the division of the aquifer system into regional hydrogeologic units for describing on a regional basis the ground-water flow in the system. The conceptual model is based on an analysis of historical data and on results of cross-sectional numerical models of ground-water flow.

British Columbia, Washington↗
USGS1987

Documentation of a deep percolation model for estimating ground-water recharge

A deep percolation model, which operates on a daily basis, was developed to estimate long-term average groundwater recharge from precipitation. It has been designed primarily to simulate recharge in large areas with variable weather, soils, and land uses, but it can also be used at any scale. The physical and mathematical concepts of the deep percolation model, its subroutines and data requirements, and input data sequence and formats are documented. The physical processes simulated are soil moisture accumulation, evaporation from bare soil, plant transpiration, surface water runoff, snow accumulation and melt, and accumulation and evaporation of intercepted precipitation. The minimum data sets for the operation of the model are daily values of precipitation and maximum and minimum air temperature, soil thickness and available water capacity, soil texture, and land use. Long-term average annual precipitation, actual daily stream discharge, monthly estimates of base flow, Soil Conservation Service surface runoff curve numbers, land surface altitude-slope-aspect, and temperature lapse rates are optional. The program is written in the FORTRAN 77 language with no enhancements and should run on most computer systems without modifications. Documentation has been prepared so that program modifications may be made for inclusions of additional physical processes or deletion of ones not considered important. (Author 's abstract)

Open-File Report↗
USGS1986

Comparison of unregulated and regulated streamflow for the Yakima River at Union Gap and near Parker, Washington

Records of regulated daily mean discharge for 52 water years, 1926-77, at 13 stream gaging stations were adjusted for changes in storage contents in five reservoirs and flows diverted in 58 canals to estimate effects of reservoir storage and canal diversion on streamflow in the Yakima River at Union Gap and near Parker, Washington. Estimated composite error of computed unregulated discharges, based on analyses of several possible sources of error, was 10 percent. Unregulated streamflow at Union Gap and near Parker was shown to be basically equivalent. Regulation reduced unregulated 52-year mean annual discharge from 5,900 cu ft/sec to 3,800 cu ft/sec at Union Gap and 2,300 cu ft/sec near Parker. Losses were due primarily to diversion for agricultural irrigation and to export of water from Upper to Lower Yakima basin. Regulation reduced springtime high flows and increased August-September low flows at Union Gap, but three canals between Union Gap and Parker caused flow in the Yakima River to diminish to very low values. Coefficients of variation and distribution percentiles of mean discharges indicate that the relative variability of regulated means has generally decreased compared with unregulated means at Union Gap and increased compared with unregulated flow near Parker. (USGS)

Open-File Report↗
USGS1986

Plan of study for the Regional Aquifer-System Analysis, Columbia Plateau, Washington, northern Oregon, and northwestern Idaho

The U.S. Geological Survey began a 4-year study of the regional aquifer system underlying the Columbia Plateau, in central and eastern Washington, northern Oregon, and northwestern Idaho in October 1983, as part of the Regional Aquifer System Analysis program. The study will describe the geohydrology, geochemistry, and quality of water in the Columbia River Basalt Group, the Miocene rocks that underlie 70,000 square miles in three States. Water from the basalts is used for municipal and industrial purposes, and most importantly, for agriculture. As more land is brought under cultivation and surface water becomes totally allocated, the groundwater is an increasingly important supply for agriculture and related activities. In addition, the basalts are being considered as a repository site for high-level nuclear wastes. For management agencies to make the best decisions regarding the future development of this area, the regional groundwater flow system, its relation to the surfacewater system , and the quality of the water need to be quantified. This report describes the geohydrologic setting, hydrologic problems, objectives, and approach for the region. (USGS)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1986

Simulation of streamflow temperatures in the Yakima River basin, Washington, April-October 1981

The effects of storage, diversion, return flow, and meteorological variables on water temperature in the Yakima River, in Washington State, were simulated, and the changes in water temperature that could be expected under four alternative-management scenarios were examined for improvement in anadromous fish environment. A streamflow routing model and Lagrangian streamflow temperature model were used to simulate water discharge and temperature in the river. The estimated model errors were 12% for daily discharge and 1.7 C for daily temperature. Sensitivity analysis of the simulation of water temperatures showed that the effect of reservoir outflow temperatures diminishes in a downstream direction. A 4 C increase in outflow temperatures results in a 1.0 C increase in mean irrigation season water temperature at Umtanum in the upper Yakima River basin, but only a 0.01C increase at Prosser in the lower basin. The influence of air temperature on water temperature increases in a downstream direction and is the dominant influence in the lower basin. A 4 C increase in air temperature over the entire basin resulted in a 2.34 C increase in river temperatures at Prosser in the lower basin and 1.46 C at Umtanum in the upper basin. Changes in wind speed and model wind-function parameters had little effect on the model predicted water temperature. Of four alternative management scenarios suggested by the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Yakima Indian Nation, the 1981 reservoir releases maintained without diversions or return flow in the river basin produced water temperatures nearest those considered as preferable for salmon and steelhead trout habitat. The alternative management scenario for no reservoir storage and no diversions or return flows in the river basin (estimate of natural conditions) produced conditions that were the least like those considered as preferable for salmon and steelhead trout habitat. (Author 's abstract)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1983

Evaluation of water-quality characteristics of part of the Spokane Aquifer, Washington and Idaho, using a solute-transport digital model

The principal dissolved constituents in water in the Spokane aquifer are calcium and bicarbonate. These constituents (as well as dissolved solids, hardness, and magnesium) each correlate well with specific conductance, whereas chloride, sodium, and nitrate each do not. Specific conductance ranges from 73 to 820 micromhos per centimeter throughout the study area. Short-term variations in water quality in the Spokane aquifer are generally greater than long-term variations. Vertical variations in concentration of chemical constituents occurred in four of 15 wells used to sample the upper 50 feet of the aquifer along several cross sections. Changes in water quality from one cross section to another could not be directly related to land-use activities. A digital model was developed and used to simulate solute transport of conservative ions in the Spokane aquifer. Specifically, the model was used to estimate the impact of the chloride ion from recharge through septic tanks and from irrigation on the water quality of the aquifer. Analysis shows that the estimated impact on the aquifer from these two source loadings was less than a 1-milligram-per-liter increase throughout approximately 80 percent of the aquifer, but increases averaging about 3 milligrams per liter occurred in some peripheral areas. Various water-quality-management schemes based on manmade or natural stresses can be tested with the model.

Open-File Report↗