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L. R. Larson

Publications and source records attributed to L. R. Larson.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS1988

Coal-spoil and ground-water chemical data from two coal mines; Hanna Basin and Powder River basin, Wyoming

Data are presented describing chemical and mineralogical composition of spoil material and chemical quality of groundwater at 2 Wyoming mine sites. Samples were collected at Medicine Bow-Seminoe Number 1 mining area in the Hanna basin and at the Cordero Mine in the Powder River basin. The data collected from these sites, along with similar data from other coal-mining states in the West, are used to evaluate methods used in predicting post-mining groundwater quality. The data include mineral-composition analyses, paste-extract analyses, and sulfur-forms analyses of coal spoil, chemical analyses of water from batch-mixing experiments; and analyses of water samples collected from wells in the coal aquifers and from wells in the saturated spoils. (USGS)

Open-File Report↗
USGS1985

Hydrology of Area 52, Rocky Mountain coal province, Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho, and Utah

This report is one of a series designed to characterize the hydrology of drainage basins within coal provinces, nationwide. Area 52 (in the Rocky Mountain Coal Province) includes the Green River Basin upstream from the Yampa River, and the Bear River upstream from the Bear Lake - a total of 23,870 sq mi. Area 52 contains over 3 billion tons of strippable coal, most of which is located in the arid and semiarid plains. The report represents a summary of results of the water resources investigations of the U.S. Geological Survey, carried out in cooperation with State and other Federal agencies. More than 40 individual topics are discussed in a brief text that is accompanied by maps, graphs, photographs, and other illustrations. Primary topics in the report are: general features, resources and economy, surface-water quantity and quality, and groundwater. (USGS)

Colorado, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming↗
USGS1985

Water quality of the North Platte River, east-central Wyoming

This report is a statistical summary of 40 different constituents and physical characteristics that describe the water quality of the North Platter River between Alcova Dam and Orin, Wyoming, a distance of 143 river miles. Data from seven stations are summarized for 1970-79. Water entering the North Platte River upstream from Casper generally is more mineralized and degraded than the water in the North Platte River or in the tributaries entering the river downstream from Casper. The average dissolved solids concentration was about 320 mg/L at the upper sampling station and about 430 mg/L just downstream from Casper. This increase is typical of many other constituents. The mean fecal-coliform concentration at the upper station was about 8 colonies/ml and about 4,000 colonies/100 ml at the station downstream from Casper. Concentrations of some constituents periodically were greater than maximum recommended for drinking water supplies. About 24% of the dissolved solids concentrations were more than 500 mg/L. Some selenium concentrations exceeded the limit of 10 micrograms/L mandated for public water supplies. Large concentrations of copper, zinc, and ammonia indicate that these constituents might be a problem for sensitive aquatic life. (USGS)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1984

Ground-water-quality data from the Powder River structural basin and adjacent areas, northeastern Wyoming

Water-quality data for wells and springs in the Powder River basin in northeastern Wyoming are presented in three tables. The first table lists results of analyses of common constituents for 748 ground-water sites. The second table presents dissolved-trace-metal data for 220 ground-water sites. Radiochemical data are listed in the third table for 65 ground-water sites. The locations of the sites listed in the tables are shown on a map of the area.

Wyoming↗
USGS1984

Time of travel and dispersion of solutes in a 36.4-mile reach of the North Platte River downstream from Casper, Wyoming

Time-of-travel and dispersion measurements made during a dye study November 7-8, 1978, are presented for a reach of the North Platte River from Casper, Wyo., to a bridge 2 miles downstream from below the Dave Johnston Power Plant. Rhodamine WT dye was injected into the river at Casper, and the resultant dye cloud was traced by sampling as it moved downstream. Samples were taken in three equal-flow sections of the river 's lateral transect at three sites, then analyzed in a fluorometer. The flow in the river was 940 cubic feet per second. The data consist of measured stream mileages and time, distance, and concentration graphs of the dye cloud. The peak concentration traveled through the reach in 24 hours, averaging 1.5 miles per hour; the leading edge took about 22 hours, averaging 1.7 miles per hour; and the trailing edge took 35 hours, averaging 1.0 mile per hour. Data from this study were compared with methods for estimating time of travel for a range of stream discharges.

Wyoming↗
USGS1984

Ground-water quality in Wyoming

This report graphically summarizes ground-water quality from selected chemical-quality data for about 2,300 ground-water sites in Wyoming. Dissolved-solids, nitrate, fluoride, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, selenium, iron, and manganese concentrations are summarized on a statewide basis. The major chemical-quality problem that limits the use of Wyoming ground-water is excessive dissolved-solids concentrations. The aquifers with the best quality water, based on the lowest median dissolved-solids concentration of water in aquifers with 20 or more sampled sites, are Holocene lacustrine deposits, the upper Testiary Ogallala Formation and Arikaree Formation, and the Mississippian Madison Limestone. The counties with the best quality water, based on the lowest median dissolved-solids concentrations are Teton County and Laramie County. Hot Springs County and Natrona County have the highest median dissolved-solids concentrations. About 3 percent of the nitrate concentrations of ground-water samples exceeded the national primary drinking-water standard of 10 milligrams per liter. Fluoride concentrations exceeded the national primary drinking-water standard in 14 percent of the ground-water samples. Except for selenium, toxic trace elements generally have not been found in concentrations in excess of the drinking-water standards. About 19 percent of the iron and about 30 percent of the manganese concentrations in ground-water samples exceeded the national secondary drinking-water standards. (USGS)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1982

A plan for hydrologic investigations of in situ, oil-shale retorting near Rock Springs, Wyoming

The recovery of shale oil by the in-situ retort process may cause hydrologic impacts, the most significant being ground-water contamination and possible transport of contaminants into surrounding areas. Although these impacts are site-specific, many of the techniques used to investigate each retort operation commonly will be the same. The U.S. Geological Survey has begun a study of hydrologic impacts in the area of an in-situ retort near Rock Springs, Wyoming, as a means of refining and demonstrating these techniques. Geological investigations include determining the areal extent and thickness of aquifers. Emphasis will be placed on determining lithologic variations from geophysical logging. Hydrologic investigations include mapping of potentiometric surfaces, determining rates of ground-water discharge, and estimating aquifer properties by analytical techniques. Water-quality investigations include monitoring solute migration from the retort site and evaluating sampling techniques by standard statistical procedures. A ground-water-flow and solute-transport model will be developed to predict future movement of the water plume away from the retort. (USGS)

Open-File Report↗
USGS1981

Water resources of Upper Separation Creek Basin, south-central Wyoming

Expected development of coal in the 85-square-mile upper Separation Creek basin of south-central Wyoming will greatly increase the demands on water resources. Flows in Separation Creek are seasonal and highly variable. Streamflow is primarily caused by snowmelt. Very light snowpack in the spring of 1977 resulted in annual runoff being only 10 percent of that for the previous year. Surface-water quality is variable in both time and space. Dissolved-solids concentrations ranged from less than 100 to more than 1,500 milligrams per liter. Flushing of accumulated salts occurs during a rising stage. Ground water is obtainable from the Mesaverde Formation, the Lance and Fort Union Formations, and from alluvium. Yields from wells and springs are usually less than 10 gallons per minute, though some springs flow as much as 35 gallons per minute. Ground-water quality varies with the formation. Stream biota are governed by the intermittent nature of the stream and by habitat. Daily mean sediment concentrations ranged from 34 to 11,900 milligrams per liter. (USGS)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗