Search USGS⌕ Search

Geology topics

John R. Ritter

Publications and source records attributed to John R. Ritter.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS1981

Sediment data for streams near Mount St. Helens, Washington; Volume 1, 1980 water year

This report presents fluvial sediment data collected primarily in response to the eruption of Mount St. Helens. To monitor the sediment transported by streams in the Mount St. Helens area and the particle-size distributions of the sediment, the Water Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey initially established 18 fluvial sediment stations. In this report, concentrations and discharges of suspended sediment are given for 16 fluvial-sediment stations (5 are in the Toutle River basin) and for 11 miscellaneous sampling sites. Also included are particle-size distributions of suspended sediment and bed material, water discharge, and water temperature for many of the sediment samples. Daily sediment discharges for the period May 18 to September 30 were calculated for Toutle River at Highway 99 near Castle Rock and Cowlitz River at Castel Rock. Over 150 million tons of sediment are estimated to have passed the Toutle River at Highway 99 station on May 18-19, 1980. High concentrations of suspended sediment persisted at several stations throughout the spring and summer of 1980. (USGS)

Open-File Report↗
USGS1977

Reconnaissance of sedimentation in the Rio Pilcomayo Basin, May 1975, Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay

The Río Pilcomayo "Alto" (Bolivia) and "Superior" (Bolivia, Argentina, and Paraguay) transport large quantities of sediment for the size of the basin. The Río Pilcomayo "Inferior" (Argentina and Paraguay) seems to carry little sediment. The large loads of the "Alto" and "Superior" must be considered before dams or irrigation projects are started. The shifting channel and flooding of the Río Pilcomayo "Superior" also are problems to be considered before development. The Río Pilcomayo "Alto" basin has relatively little deposition whereas the "Superior" basin has considerable deposition. A part of the "Superior" channel is filled with sediment to the top of its banks. The upstream limit of filling is moving farther upstream each year causing the place of overbank flooding to move upstream also. More data must be collected and more observations made before a complete analysis of the sediment movement in the basin can be made.

Open-File Report↗
USGS1974

The effects of the Hurricane Agnes flood on channel geometry and sediment discharge of selected streams in the Susquehanna River basin, Pennsylvania

The Hurricane Agnes flood seems to have hardly changed the channel geometry of the Pennsylvania streams studied in this report. The 10 sites studied generally showed that the width of the stream channels had been changed little by the flood and that streambed altitudes had been lowered less than a foot (0.3 m). The velocity of the streams at a given discharge had decreased. In comparison, the sediment deposited by the December 1964 flood in northwestern California commonly raised the streambed altitudes several feet. The differences in the effects of the two floods may have been produced by the availability of sediment for transport, by the relative size of sediment carried in suspension or bedload, or by the relative magnitudes of the floods.

Pennsylvania↗
USGS1971

Turbidity and suspended-sediment transport in the Russian River Basin, California

The Russian River in north coastal California has a persistent turbidness, which has reportedly caused a decline in the success of the sports fishermen. As a consequence, the number of sports fishermen angling in the river has declined, and industries dependent on their business have suffered. To determine the source of the turbidity and the rate of sediment transport in the basin, a network of sampling station was established in February 1964 along the river, on some of its tributaries, and near Lake Pillsbury in the upper Eel River basin.

California↗
USGS1970

A summary of preliminary studies of sedimentation and hydrology in Bolinas Lagoon, Marin County, California

The U.S. Geological Survey is investigating sedimentary and hydrologic conditions in Bolinas Lagoon, a 1,100-acre lagoon 15 miles northwest of San Francisco. The program began in May 1967 and will continue into 1970. Only the study results analyzed before June 1968 are summarized in the report. Two series of measurements of suspended-sediment load and water discharge in the lagoon inlet showed that much of the suspended sediment is sand and that the average velocity was as much as 4.7 feet per second. Littoral drift near the inlet was generally toward the inlet, whereas farther from the inlet the pattern is irregular. Circulation velocities in the lagoon decrease rapidly away from the inlet, but probably remain high enough to erode bottom sediment along the channels. In most of the lagoon median size of bottom sediment was fine sand. Sediment was derived chiefly from Monterey Shale.

Circular↗