Geology topics

K. K. Fowler

Publications and source records attributed to K. K. Fowler.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS2010

Flood-inundation maps for a 15-mile reach of the Kalamazoo River from Marshall to Battle Creek, Michigan

Digital flood-inundation maps for a 15-mile reach of the Kalamazoo River from Marshall to Battle Creek, Michigan, were created by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to help guide remediation efforts following a crude-oil spill on July 25, 2010. The spill happened on Talmadge Creek, a tributary of the Kalamazoo River near Marshall, during a flood. The floodwaters transported the spilled oil down the Kalamazoo River and deposited oil in impoundments and on the surfaces of islands and flood plains. Six flood-inundation maps were constructed corresponding to the flood stage (884.09 feet) coincident with the oil spill on July 25, 2010, as well as for floods with annual exceedance probabilities of 0.2, 1, 2, 4, and 10 percent. Streamflow at the USGS streamgage at Marshall, Michigan (USGS site ID 04103500), was used to calculate the flood probabilities. From August 13 to 18, 2010, 35 channel cross sections, 17 bridges and 1 dam were surveyed. These data were used to construct a water-surface profile for the July 25, 2010, flood by use of a one-dimensional step-backwater model. The calibrated model was used to estimate water-surface profiles for other flood probabilities. The resulting six flood-inundation maps were created with a geographic information system by combining flood profiles with a 1.2-foot vertical and 10-foot horizontal resolution digital elevation model derived from Light Detection and Ranging data.

Michigan↗

USGS1998

Geohydrology and quality of ground water in unconsolidated aquifers near South Bend, Indiana

Introduction The water supply for the City of South Bend, Indiana, and much of surrounding St. Joseph County is provided by 36 municipal and community well fields. Some of these well fields are located near known or potential sources of ground-water contamination that could affect ground-water supplies in the near future. As population and industry grow, it will be necessary to find additional sources of water and determine their quantity and quality. Geohydrologic and water-quality data are available to identify areas for developing additional ground-water supplies, but these data have not been compiled into one source accessible to area water-resource managers. This report presents a compilation of these geohydrologic and water-quality data for the ground-water system in and near South Bend that can be used to identify potentially favorable areas for developing additional ground-water supplies for municipal use. The data were compiled by the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the South Bend Water Works, for a study area of approximately 535 square miles that includes all of St. Joseph County and the eastern part of La Porte County. A map format has been used to facilitate comparison between geohydrologic and water-quality information. Previously published geologic maps and cross sections describe the geologic setting and aquifer deposits of the study area, the hydrogeology of northeastern St. Joseph County, and the ground-water quality of northeastern St. Joseph County. Beaty (1990) and Clendenon and Beaty (1987) produced water-resource-availability reports for the St. Joseph and Kankakee River Basins.

Indiana↗

USGS1996

Low-flow characteristics of Indiana streams

Knowledge of low-flow characteristics of streams is essential for management of water resources. Low-flow characteristics are presented for 229 continuous-record, streamflow-gaging stations and 285 partial-record stations in Indiana. Low- flow-frequency characteristics were computed for 210 continuous-record stations that had at least 10 years of record, and flow-duration curves were computed for all continuous-record stations. Low-flow-frequency and flow-duration analyses are based on available streamflow records through September 1993. Selected low-flow-frequency curves were computed for annual low flows and seasonal low flows. The four seasons are represented by the 3-month groups of March-May, June-August, September-November, and December- February. The 7-day, 10-year and the 7-day, 2 year low flows were estimated for 285 partial-record stations, which are ungaged sites where streamflow measurements were made at base flow. The same low-flow characteristics were estimated for 19 continuous-record stations where less than 10 years of record were available. Precipitation and geology directly influence the streams in Indiana. Streams in the northern, glaciated part of the State tend to have higher sustained base flows than those in the nonglaciated southern part. Flow at several of the continuous-record gaging stations is affected by some form of regulation or diversion. Low-flow characteristics for continuous-record stations at which flow is affected by regulation are determined using the period of record affected by regulation; natural flows prior to regulation are not used.

Indiana↗

USGS1995

Characteristics, transport, and yield of sediment in Juday Creek, St. Joseph County, Indiana, 1993-94

Juday Creek is a tributary of the St. Joseph River in St. Joseph County, north-central Indiana. The creek has been identified as one of the few streams in the State that can support a naturally reproducing brown trout population. A recent study of benthic invertebrates shows a decline in the production rate of insect species and suggests that this decline may be caused by increased sedimen- tation. This report presents the results of a study of the sediment conditions in Juday Creek from April 1993 through June 1994. Measurements of streamflow, suspended sediment, and bedload were made at six sampling sites during three storms and a period of low flow. A total of 11 samples were collected during storms, and 1 sample was collected during low flow at each site. Bed-material samples were collected at the six sites. Sediment cores were collected from the delta of an instream pond and at a sediment trap near the mouth of the stream. Scour and fill at the six sites were monitored by means of scour chains and surveyed cross sections. The instream pond was surveyed twice, and the volume weight of the sediment was determined to estimate the yield of sediment for the upper reach of Juday Creek. Particle-size distributions indicate that the bed material is predominantly sand and gravel and that very little of the bed material is silt or finer (less than 0.062 millimeter). Analysis of sediment cores showed that most of the sediment deposited in the sediment trap and instream pond was sand. Sediment sampling during a period of low flow detected only minimal concentrations of suspended sediment; the maximum concentration was 6 milligrams per liter, equivalent to a daily load of 0.32 ton. Bedload ranged from 5.2 to 76.7 grams per cross- channel sampling, equivalent to 0.11 to 1.70 tons per day. Sediment sampling during the storms indicates that bedload discharge is the primary mode of sediment transport. Suspended-sediment concentration ranged from 4 to 67 milligrams per liter; the median was 17 milligrams per liter. Bedload ranged from 3.4 to 862 grams per cross- channel sampling; the median was 109 grams. Only 15 percent of the samples were less than 50 grams. Scour chains and surveyed cross sections documented some scour and fill at most of the sites.Scour and fill tended to balance out; after a 1-year period, the net change in the streambed altitude was minimal. Some infilling was the net result at most of the sites. Surveys of the instream pond determined that the volume of sediment delivered to the pond from April 1993 to April 1994 was approximately 26,500 cubic feet. The average volume weight of the sediment was determined to be 102 pounds per cubic foot. The sediment yield for the upper reach of Juday Creek from April 1993 to April 1994 was estimated to be 48 tons per square mile.

Indiana↗

USGS1992

Description and effects of 1988 drought on ground-water levels, streamflow, and reservoir levels in Indiana

Documentation of the 1988 drought in Indiana was undertaken to aid water-management agencies and planners concerned with periods of below-normal precipitation and their effect on commercial, agricultural, and residential water use. Precipitation, temperature, Palmer Drought Severity Indices, and ground- and surface-water levels from water years 1988 and 1989 were compared to the historical record to evaluate severity, extent, and duration of the 1988 drought in Indiana. Three types of drought-climatological, hydrologic, and agricultural--occurred in most of Indiana during water years 1988 and 1989. The drought began toward the end of calendar year 1987 as annual precipitation decreased to 4.6 inches below the long term mean. By the end of September 1988, statewide precipitation deficits had increased to almost 8 inches below normal. High temperatures during the summer months increased the stress on crops, livestock, and people. Northwest Indiana experienced the second warmest June-August on record. Palmer Drought Severity Indices indicated that a moderate-to-severe drought had occurred in Indiana during most of 1988. Ground-water levels were affected substantially in many areas of the State. Record low-water levels were observed at 12 of the 20 monitoring wells included in this report. A go-day ground-water emergency was declared in parts of northwestern Indiana. Streamflow throughout the State was affected to varying degrees by the drought. Annual mean discharge in some rivers was only slightly less than the mean annual discharge, while others flowed at less than half that value. The effects of low streamflows were felt by many as electric power plants reduced or ceased production and public-water utilities requested conservation measures by their customers. Major reservoirs in the State approached or reached record low levels, causing water supplies as well as recreational activities to be diminished. Most major crops produced in Indiana were affected by the dry conditions. Average yields in 1988 ranged from 50 to 86 percent of 1987 yields.

Indiana↗