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Leonard M. Nelson

Publications and source records attributed to Leonard M. Nelson.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS1979

Water resources of the Lower Elwha Indian Reservation, Washington

The Lower Elwha Indian Reservation covers 372 acres at the mouth of the Elwha River in Clallam County, Washington. The land of the reservation is used principally for residential purposes and growing forage for cattle. The population of the reservation is largely dependent upon fisheries resources for its economic health. This study was made to assess the availability and suitability of ground water on the reservation for domestic use and for fish propagation, to determine the streamflow characteristics of the Elwha River and Bosco Creek, and to determine the chemical and physical quality of the area's surface and ground waters. Existing wells on the reservation range in depth from about 30 to about 80 feet, and produce water of excellent chemical quality. Properly constructed wells in favorable locations on the reservation should be capable of large yields, up to 5,000 gallons per minute. Intrusion of seawater into the aquifers of the reservation has not occurred. However, if massive quantities of ground water are withdrawn, intrusion could occur. The Elwha River, which flows along the western margin of the reservation has a mean annual flow of about 1,500 cubic feet per second (ft 3 /s). The recorded minimum daily discharge was 10 ft 3 /s, and the maximum was 41,600 ft 3 /s. The river floods the lower parts of the reservation annually, and extensive flooding is common. Water in the Elwha River is of excellent chemical quality, and its recorded temperature has ranged from 36° to 64°F. Bosco Creek, the only other stream on or adjacent to the reservation, has an estimated mean annual flow of 1.1 ft 3 /s.

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USGS1978

Sediment transport by irrigation return flows on the Yakima Indian Reservation, Washington 1975 and 1976 irrigation seasons

As determined from data collected at 10 sites on the Yakima Indian Reservation during the 1975 and 1976 irrigation seasons (April-September), seasonal sediment discharges in irrigation return flows ranged from 11,000 tons from Marion Drain and Satus Drain 302, to 400 tons from Coulee Drain. There was little variation between the sediment discharges of the 1975 and 1976 irrigation seasons except those from Satus Drain 302. Due to the lack of natural runoff during those seasons, no distinction could be made between sediment discharges from irrigated and nonirrigated areas. No significant or usable relationships were found between suspended-sediment concentration and concurrent water turbidity or discharge.

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USGS1978

Sediment transport by the White River into Mud Mountain Reservoir: Washington, June 1974-June 1976

This reconnaissance evaluation of the sediment transport by the White River into the Mud Mountain Reservoir, in Washington, during the period June 1974-June 1976 showed that the river transported 430,000 tons of suspended sediment into the reservoir during the first year of the study and 1,400,000 tons in the second year. Daily mean suspended-sediment concentrations generally were less than 500 milligrams per liter; the highest daily mean concentration was 6,200 milligrams per liter on December 1, 1975. A good relation exists between daily suspended-sediment discharge and daily mean water discharge except during periods of runoff from glacial melt. Data from samples obtained by the use of the Helley-Smith bedload sampler indicate that the bedload measured using the sampler is about 4 percent of the suspended-sediment discharge. Potential deposition in the reservoir was estimated at 750 acre-feet during the 2 years of study. (Kosco-USGS)

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USGS1973

Sediment transport by streams in the Upper Columbia River Basin, Washington, May 1969-June 1971

This report presents the results of a reconnaissance evaluation of the fluvial-sediment transport by streams in the 28 ,000 - square-mile upper Columbia River basin in eastern Washington. The basin ranges in altitude from about 340 to 9,000 feet, and receives annual precipitation ranging from more than 150 inches in the mountains to less than 10 inches at the lower altitudes. A good vegetative cover is sustained in the mountains by the high precipitation, whereas vegeta tion is sparse in the lower semiarid parts of the basin. In the mountainous areas snowmelt runoff transports most of the sediment during April through June. In the semiarid parts of the basin, little runoff occurs during most years, and most of the sediment is transported when heavy, warm rains fall on extensive accumulations of snow. During the 1970 and 1971 water years, the measured suspended-sediment concentrations in the upper Columbia River basin ranged from less than 1 milligram per liter in many streams to more than 200,000 milligrams per liter in Providence Coulee. The estimated long-term annual suspended-sediment yields range from less than 10 tons per square mile in many basins to more than 500 tons per square mile in Providence Coulee. Man's activities have caused only a slight increase in the magnitude of the sediment discharge to the Columbia River. Although cultivation has initiated a large increase in erosion on the Columbia Plateau, and winds there move some of the loosened or easily eroded soils to depressions and runoff channels, sediment transport by streams has not increased greatly. This is because the little surface runoff on the plateau does not transport the soils to streams and to the Columbia River.

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