Geology topics

J.E. Veenhuis

Publications and source records attributed to J.E. Veenhuis.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS2012

The effects of wildfire on the peak streamflow magnitude and frequency, Frijoles and Capulin Canyons, Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico

In June of 1977, the La Mesa fire burned 15,270 acres in and around Frijoles Canyon, Bandelier National Monument and the adjacent Santa Fe National Forest, New Mexico. The Dome fire occurred in April of 1996 in Bandelier National Monument, burned 16,516 acres in Capulin Canyon and the surrounding Dome Wilderness area. Both canyons are characterized by extensive archeological artifacts, which could be threatened by increased runoff and accelerated rates of erosion after a wildfire. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the National Park Service monitored the fires' effects on streamflow in both canyons. Copyright 2004 ASCE.

Conference Paper↗

USGS1994

Computer simulation of storm runoff for three watersheds in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Rainfall-runoff data from three watersheds were selected for calibration and verification of the U.S. Geological Survey's Distributed Routing Rainfall-Runoff Model. The watersheds chosen are residentially developed. The conceptually based model uses an optimization process that adjusts selected parameters to achieve the best fit between measured and simulated runoff volumes and peak discharges. Three of these optimization parameters represent soil-moisture conditions, three represent infiltration, and one accounts for effective impervious area. Each watershed modeled was divided into overland-flow segments and channel segments. The overland-flow segments were further subdivided to reflect pervious and impervious areas. Each overland-flow and channel segment was assigned representative values of area, slope, percentage of imperviousness, and roughness coefficients. Rainfall-runoff data for each watershed were separated into two sets for use in calibration and verification. For model calibration, seven input parameters were optimized to attain a best fit of the data. For model verification, parameter values were set using values from model calibration. The standard error of estimate for calibration of runoff volumes ranged from 19 to 34 percent, and for peak discharge calibration ranged from 27 to 44 percent. The standard error of estimate for verification of runoff volumes ranged from 26 to 31 percent, and for peak discharge verification ranged from 31 to 43 percent.

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗

USGS1990

Relation between urbanization and water quality of streams in the Austin area, Texas

Selected water-quality properties and constituents of stormflow and base flow were compared to determine the relation between the degree of urbanization and the water quality in a drainage basin. Samples were collected during three flow categories (rising stage and falling stage of stormflow and base flow) at 18 sites on 11 streams. The degree of urbanization is indicated by grouping the sample sites by development based on the percent of impervious cover in the drainage basin. Four development classifications rural, mostly rural, partly urban, and urban were identified based on ranges of impervious cover in the drainage basins. For each site and development classification, the concentrations and densities in samples collected during the rising stage and falling stage of stormflow and during base flow were compared. Samples were collected for physical organics and inorganics, nutrients, indicator bacteria, inorganic trace elements, synthetic organic compounds, and radiochemical constituents. Except for dissolved solids, the concentrations in samples collected during the rising stage of stormflow were larger than in samples collected during the falling stage. The concentrations in stormflow were larger than in base flow. The concentrations and densities of suspended solids, biochemical oxygen demand, total organic carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, fecal coliforms, and fecal streptococci increased with increased impervious cover. For the five sample sites that had a sufficient number of samples from each flow category for statistical comparisons, the median concentrations in samples collected during the rising stage and falling stage of stormflow were significantly larger than the base-flow median concentrations. In addition, the concentrations in samples collected during the rising stage were more variable and significantly larger than in those collected during the falling stage of stormflow. Statistical differences between the median concentrations in samples collected during the rising stage and falling stage of stormflow were not evident for the site with the mostly rural drainage basin. Except for dissolved solids, the median concentrations in samples collected during the rising stage and falling stage of stormflow increased with increasing development classifications. For base flow, the median concentrations were also larger for more urban classifications than for the other classifications. The ratio of the number of samples with detectable concentrations to the total number of samples analyzed for 18 inorganic trace elements and the concentrations of many of these minor constituents increased with increasing development classifications. Twenty-two of the 42 synthetic organic compounds for which samples were analyzed were detected in one or more samples. The compounds were detected more frequently and in larger concentrations at the sites with more urban classifications.

Texas↗

USGS1989

Monitoring and design of stormwater control basins

The City of Austin, Texas, has played a pioneering role in the control of urban nonpoint source pollution by enacting watershed and stormwater ordinances, overseeing detailed monitoring programs, and improving design criteria for stormwater control methods. The effectiveness of the methods used in Austin, and perhaps in other areas of the United States, to protect urban water resources has not yet been fully established. Therefore, detailed monitoring programs capable of quantitatively determining the effectiveness of control methods and of stormwater ordinances, are required. The purpose of this report is to present an overview of the City of Austin's stormwater monitoring program, including previous monitoring programs with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Geological Survey, and to describe the relation of monitoring to design of stormwater control basins.

Conference Paper↗

USGS1984

Hydrologic data for urban studies in the Austin, Texas, metropolitan area, 1982

Hydrologic investigations of urban watersheds in Texas were begun by the U.S. Geological Survey in 1954. Studies are now in progress in Austin, and Houston. Studies have been completed in the Dallas, Fort Worth, and San Antonio areas. The Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Texas Department of Water Reources, began hydrologic studies in the Austin urban area in 1954. In cooperation with the city of Austin, the program was expanded in 1975 to include additional streamflow and rainfall gaging stations, and the collection of surface water-quality data. In 1978, the program was expanded to include a ground-water resources study of the South Austin metropolitan area in the Ealcones Fault Zone. The objectives of the Austin urban hydrology study are as follows: To determine, on the basis of historical data and hydrologic analyses, the magnitude and frequency of flood peaks and flood volume. To determine the effect of urban development on flood peaks and volume. To determine the variations in water quality during different seasons and flow conditions in representative watersheds under various types of urban development. To quantitatively appraise the grouna-water resources along the Balcones Fault Zone, the effect of urbanization on the quality and quantity of recharge and discharge, and the extent of contamination in the Edwards aquifer that is in hydrologic circulation with Barton Springs. This report presents the basic hydrologic data collected in the Austin urban area for the 1982 water year (Oct. 1, 1981 to Sept. 30, 1982). Additional explanations of terms related to streamflow, water quality, and other hydrologic data used in this report are defined in the U.S. Geological Survey annual report Water Resources Data for Texas, TX-82-3, 1982.

Texas↗

USGS1984

An evaluation of rainfall-runoff data for the Denver Federal Center, Lakewood, Jefferson County, Colorado

An investigation was made to monitor the storm runoff in McIntyre Gulch basin to determine the rainfall-runoff chracteristics. Results may now be used to evaluate the effects of future development on storm runoff from the Denver Federal Center, which is located in the McIntyre Gulch basin in Lakewood , CO. Rainfall and runoff data were collected at eight streamflow stations and three auxiliary rainfall stations in and adjacent to the Denver Federal Center. The outflow peak discharges from McIntyre Gulch in the Denver Federal Center were higher than the inflow peak discharges for eight of the storms by an average of 38 percent. Outflow peak discharges for eight of the storms were lower by an average of 12 percent. The study demonstrated that runoff varies with location of a storm--even for a relatively small basin. Peak discharges of McIntyre Gulch outflow from the Denver Federal Center were 27 percent greater than the inflow for all storms, but only 15 percent greater for evenly distributed storms. Runoff from the Denver Federal Center increased storm-runoff volumes in McIntyre Gulch by an average of 46 percent. Proper management of storm runoff in the Denver Federal Center requires that proposed improvements to the existing storm-runoff system maintain peak flows at their present levels. (USGS)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗

USGS1983

Rainfall-runoff data from small watersheds in Colorado, October 1977 through September 1980

Rainfall-runoff data from small watersheds in Colorado are being collected and analyzed for the purpose of defining the flood characteristics of these and other similar areas. Rainfall-runoff collected from October 1977 through September 1980 at a total of 37 urban stations, 10 Denver Federal Center stations, and 41 rural (or highway) stations are presented in tabular form along with station descriptions and methods of data collection and analysis. (USGS)

Open-File Report↗

USGS1983

Hydrologic data for urban studies in the Austin, Texas, metropolitan area, 1981

Hydrologic investigations of urban watersheds in Texas were begun by the U.S. Geological Survey in 1954. Studies are now in progress in Austin, and Houston. Studies have been completed in the Dallas, Fort Worth, and San Antonio areas. The Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Texas Department of Water Resources, began hydrologic studies in the Austin urban area in 1954. In cooperation with the city of Austin, the program was expanded in 1975 to include additional streamflow and rainfall gaging stations, and the collection of surface water-quality data. In 1978, the program was expanded to include a ground-water resources study of the South Austin metropolitan area in the Balcones Fault Zone. The objectives of the Austin urban hydrology study are as follows: To determine, on the basis of historical data and hydrologic analyses, the magnitude and frequency of flood peaks and flood volume. To determine the effect of urban development on flood peaks and volume. To determine the variations in water quality during different seasons and flow conditions in representative watersheds under various types of urban development. To quantitatively appraise the ground-water resources along the Balcones Fault Zone, the effect of urbanization on the quality and quantity of recharge and discharge, and the extent of contamination in the Edwards aquifer that is is hydrologic circulation with Barton Springs. This report presents the basic hydroloqic data collected in the Austin urban area for the 1981 water year (Oct. 1, 1980 to Sept. 30, 1981). Additional explanations of terms related to streamflow, water quality, and other hydrologic data used in this report are defined in the U.S. Geological Survey annual report Water Resources Data for Texas, TX-81-3, 1981.

Texas↗

USGS1979

Hydrologic effects of annually diverting 131,000 acre-feet of water from Dillon Reservoir, central Colorado

Because of the increased demands for water in eastern Colorado, principally in the urbanizing Denver metropolitan area, increased diversions of water from Dillon Reservoir are planned. Estimates of end-of-month storage in Dillon Reservoir, assuming the reservoir was in place and 131,000 acre-feet of water were diverted from the reservoir each year, were reconstructed by mass balance for the 1931-77 water years. Based on the analysis, the annual maximum end-of-month drawdown below the elevation at full storage would have averaged 54 feet. The maximum end-of-month drawdown below the elevation at full storage would have been 171 feet. The mean-annual discharge-weighted dissolved-solids concentrations in the Colorado River near Glenwood Springs and Cameo, Colo., and Cisco, Utah, for the 1942-77 water years, were computed assuming an annual diversion of 131,000 acre-feet of water from Dillon Reservoir. The average increases in the dissolved-solids concentrations with the 131 ,000-acre-foot diversion were 15 to 16 milligrams per liter at the three sites. (Woodard-USGS)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗