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Linda J. Britton

Publications and source records attributed to Linda J. Britton.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS1987

Hydrology of area 59, northern Great Plains and Rocky Mountain coal provinces, Colorado and Wyoming

Hydrologic information and analysis aid in decisions to lease federally owned coal and to prepare necessary Environmental Assessments and Impact Study reports. This need has become even more critical with the enactment of Public Law 95-87, the "Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977." This act requires an appropriate regulatory agency to issue permits, based on the review of permit-application data to assess hydrologic impacts. This report, which partially fulfills this requirement, is one in a series of nationwide coal province reports that present information thematically, through the use of a brief text and accompanying maps, graphs, charts, or other illustrations for single hydrologic topics. The report broadly characterizes the hydrology of Area 59 in north-central Colorado and southeastern Wyoming. The report area, located within the South Platte River basin, covers a 16,000-square-mile area of diverse geology, topography, and climate. This diversity results in contrasting hydrologic characteristics. The South Platte River, the major stream in the area, and most of its tributaries originate in granitic mountains and flow into and through the sedimentary rocks of the Great Plains. Altitudes range from less than 5,000 feet to more than 14,000 feet above sea level. Precipitation in the mountains may exceed 40 inches annually, much of it during the winter, and produces deep snowpacks. Snowmelt during the spring and summer produces most streamflow. Transmountain diversion of water from the streams on the western slope of the mountains also adds to the streamflow. Precipitation in the plains is as little as 10 inches annually. Streams that originate in the plains are ephemeral. Streamflow quality is best in the mountains, where dissolved-solids concentrations are generally small. Concentrations increase in the plains as streams flow through sedimentary basins, and as urbanization and irrigation increase. The quality of some mountain streams is affected by drainage from previous metalmining areas, as indicated by greater trace-element concentrations and smaller pH values. However, the large trace-element concentrations decrease rapidly downstream from the metal-mining areas. Because the climate is semiarid in most of the area, the soils are not adequately leached; therefore, flows in ephemeral streams usually have larger concentrations of dissolved solids than flows in perennial streams. Ground water is available throughout the area; yields range from less than 0.1 gallons per minute in the fractured granite aquifer in the mountains to more than 2,000 gallons per minute in the alluvial aquifer of the South Platte River valley. Major bedrock aquifers in order of decreasing age are the Laramie-Fox Hills, Arapahoe, Denver, and Dawson; these aquifers are used for municipal, domestic, and livestock supplies. Alluvial aquifers supply the high-yield irrigation wells. The best quality ground water is found at the center of the major bedrock aquifers, where dissolved-solids concentrations are less than 200 milligrams per liter. The poorest-quality water is usually found near the edges of these aquifers. Water in the coal-bearing Laramie and Denver Formations is locally affected by coal deposits, causing dissolved-solids concentrations to be relatively large. Only one coal mine is now operating in Area 59, the Coors Energy Company surface coal mine, which produced 100,000 short tons of subbituminous coal from the Upper Cretaceous Laramie Formation in 1982. Past coal-mining operations removed more than 130 million tons of coal and lignite from Area 59,99 percent of which came from underground mines. The largest coal production was in Weld and Boulder Counties, Colorado. Hydrologic problems related to surface mining are erosion, sedimentation, decline in water levels, disruption of aquifers, and degradation of water quality. Because the semiarid mine areas have very little runoff, and the major streams have large buffer and dilution capacities, the effects of mining on surface water is minimal. However, effects on ground water may be much more severe and long-lasting.

Colorado, Wyoming↗
USGS1980

Water-quality characteristics of selected lakes and reservoirs in Colorado

During the summers and autumns of 1973, 1974, and 1975, water-quality data were collected and compiled for 56 lakes and reservoirs in Colorado. The lakes and reservoirs sampled range from large reservoirs in the eastern part of the State to smaller natural lakes in the higher western parts of the Colorado Plateaus. The smallest body of water sampled was Anderson Reservoir No. 1 with a surface area of 47 acres in Mesa County, and the largest was Najajo Reservoir with a surface area of 15,600 acres in Archuleta County. The report includes physical, chemical, and biological water-quality data collected as a part of each lake or reservoir reconnaissance. Also included are data on drainage area, water-surface altitude, surface area,depth, storage capacity, and principal uses, obtained from various governmental agencies or the owner or regulating agency of each lake or reservoir. A subjective evaluation of the trophic (enrichment) state is presented based on nutrient and phytoplankton concentrations and the dissolved-oxygen distribution. In addition, a numerical trophic-state index, based on Secchi-disk transparency (a measure of light penetration) is reported, to show trophic comparisons between lakes and reservoirs. (USGS)

Open-File Report↗
USGS1979

Reconnaissance evaluation of surface-water quality in Eagle, Grand, Jackson, Pitkin, Routt, and Summit Counties, Colorado

Water-quality data were collected from streams in a six-county area to determine if the streams were polluted and, if so, to determine the sources of the pollution. Eighty-three stream sites were selected for sampling in Eagle, Grand, Jackson, Pitkin, Routt, and Summit Counties. Also included are data from 28 sites in Routt County collected for a U.S. Geological Survey cooperative study on the Yampa River basin. A summary of data collected prior to this study, results of current chemical and biological sampling, and needs for future water-quality monitoring are reported for each county. The kinds of data collected were site specific depending upon land-use activities. Data collected at selected sites included temperature, pH, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, and stream discharge. Chemical data collected included nutrients, inorganics, organics, and trace elements. Biological data collected included counts and species composition of total and fecal-coliform bacteria, fecal-streptococcus bacteria, benthic invertebrates, and phytoplankton. Most of the sites were sampled three times: in April-June 1976, August 1976, and January 1977. The major water-quality problems at the 17 sites sampled in Eagle County are related to mining, recreation, and geology. The Eagle River and Cross Creek in the vicinity of Minturn have concentrations of trace elements that exceed water-quality standards. Gore Creek is influenced by winter recreational use and the water during the winter has total bacteria counts as great as 72,000 per 100 milliliters and concentrations of un-ionized ammonia greater than 0.02 milligrams per liter downstream from the sewage-treatment plant. Mineralized water in the downstream reaches of the Eagle River results from natural chemical processes. The water-quality problems in Grand County, especially on the Fraser River, are related to recreation and urban activities. Chemical and biological indications of water-quality degradation exist for the Fraser River downstream from Winter Park.

Colorado↗
USGS1979

Data compilation of periphyton colonized on artificial substrates placed in the Sacramento and Feather rivers, California, 1975

Periphyton was collected from artificial substrates placed in the Sacramento and Feather rivers, California, and analyzed to determine the rate of colonization and succession of periphyton types with time. Samples for determination of water-quality characteristics, especially suspended-sediment concentrations, that might have a direct effect on the growth of periphyton were collected during each station visit. This paper describes the methods of data collection and presents qualitative and quantitative findings of periphyton collected during two colonization periods (August 5-September 5, 1975, and November 28-December 29, 1975) and associated water-quality data.

California↗
USGS1978

Reconnaissance evaluation of water resources for hydraulic coal mining, Grand Hogback coal field: Garfield and Rio Blanco Counties, Colorado

Surface-water and ground-water data were compiled for the parts of the Colorado River and the White River basins in and adjacent to the Grand Hogback coal field. The data were evaluated to assess the quantity and quality of water resources available in the area for use in hydraulic coal mining. Based on discharge records, surface-water supplies of most streams should be adequate to meet the demands for hydraulic mining of 1 million tons of coal per year with a recycled water system. However, on some of the smaller streams in the area, some storage of water may be required for use during low-flow periods to meet minimum-flow requirements for downstream reaches. Other potential sources of water include Rifle Gap Reservoir, Harvey Gap Reservoir, and ground water from valley-fill deposits along major streams and rivers. The surface water and ground water should be of adequate quality for use in hydraulic mining, with the possible exceptions of suspended-sediment concentrations that periodically may be as much as 18,800 milligrams per liter in streams in the Rifle Creek drainage, and dissolved-solids concentrations greater than 20,000 milligrams per liter in some aquifers. Data are insufficient to assess the potential impact of hydraulic coal mining on downstream water quality. (Woodard-USGS)

Open-File Report↗
USGS1978

Reconnaissance evaluation of water resources for hydraulic coal mining, Crested Butte coal field, Gunnison County, Colorado

Available surface-water and ground-water data were compiled for the parts of the Gunnison River basin in and adjacent to the Crested Butte coal field. The data were evaluated to assess the quantity and quality of water resources in the area for use in hydraulic coal mining. Based on discharge records, surface-water supplies of most streams should be adequate to meet the demands for hydraulic mining of 1 million tons of coal per year with a recycled water system. However, on some of the smaller streams in the area, some storage of water may be required for use during low-flow periods to meet minimum-flow requirements for downstream reaches. Ground water from alluvium along major streams and rivers and, in certain parts of the study area, from the Dakota and Entrada Sandstones, is also a potential source of water for hydraulic coal mining. The surface and ground water in the study area should be of adequate quality for use in hydraulic coal mining, with the possible exception of Coal Creek which has excessive concentrations of iron, manganese, and zinc. Data are insufficient to assess the potential impact of hydraulic coal mining on downstream water quality.

Colorado↗
USGS1977

Periphyton and phytoplankton in the Sacramento River, California, May 1972 to April 1973

Periphyton and phytoplankton samples were collected monthly at five sites in the Sacramento River between May 1972 and April 1973. Periphyton were analyzed for species identification and biomass, and phytoplankton were analyzed for species identification and concentrations. The results were used to assess biological water-quality conditions in the river and to compare phytoplankton types and concentrations at three sites with those in 1960-61. Diatoms were the dominant group in both numbers and types of periphyton and phytoplankton. The number of genera and frequency of occurrence of periphyton increased downstream. The periphyton biomass decreased downstream and with succeeding monthly sampling periods. The highest productivity was at site B, below Red Bluff, probably because the Red Bluff Diversion Dam provides optimum conditions for periphyton growth. The decreasing productivity downstream is probably a function of higher sediment concentrations. The periphyton biomass ranged from 0.00 to 0.56 grams per square meter per day throughout the study period. Phytoplankton concentrations and diversity increased downstream. The highest phytoplankton concentration was 980 organisms per milliliter at site D, above Knights Landing, in September. The diversity indices ranged from 0.95 to 3.88 for all sites throughout the study period. Fewer phytoplankton genera were collected in 1972-73 than in 1960-61, but the generic composition was similar. Total phytoplankton concentrations were nearly always higher in 1960-61 than in 1972-73. Green algal concentrations were significantly higher ( p <0.05) at site C and diatoms were significantly higher at all three sites in 1960-61. Blue-green algal concentrations were higher in 1972-73, but differences between the two time intervals were not significant.

California↗
USGS1976

Variation in concentration of selected water-quality constituents in the Sacramento River at Bend Bridge, California

During an intensive water-quality study of the Sacramento River at Bend Bridge, Calif., from September 4 to 7, 1973, differences in selected water-quality constituent concentrations were evaluated at three locations at a single site in the river for two 24-hour periods. Water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, specific conductance, selected major ions and plant nutrients, and phytoplankton were measured and analyzed to determine thoroughness of mixing in the transection. Slight fluctuations in constituent concentrations occurred with time although the vertical and horizontal differences among sampling locations were not statistically significant at the 0.05 probability level. Consequently, one location probably would have been sufficient to obtain representative concentrations of most water-quality constituents at this site. The measured concentration differences, especially in the plant nutrients, may be of some biological importance where slight fluctuations in low concentrations may cause limiting conditions for plant growth. Phytoplankton concentrations were so erratic with time that if only one sample were collected, any collection time during a diel period would be as valid as any other.

California↗
USGS1974

Limnological data from selected lakes in the San Francisco Bay region, California

Limnological data were compiled on 21 lakes in the San Francisco Bay area. The data were obtained from regulating agencies and from recent surveys made by the U.S. Geological Survey. The history of each lake and of its respective regulating agency is presented, along with methods used for data collection and analyses. The largest reservoir, Lake Berryessa, has a volume of 1,600,000 acre-ft (1,975 hm 3 ), with a drainage. area of 576 mi 2 (1,490 km 2 ). Pilarcitos Lake is one of the smallest reservoirs, with a volume of 3,100 acre-ft (3. 8 hm 3 ) and a drainage area of 3. 80 mi 2 (9.84km 2 ). Eleven of the 21 reservoirs are open to the public for recreation. The most intensive shoreline development and use is at Lake Berryessa and Lake Merced. All but three of the 21 reservoirs (not including Upper Crystal Springs Reservoir) were thermally stratified during the summer. Eight of the reservoirs showed evidence of dissolvedoxygen depletion during the summer. Lafayette Reservoir and Loch Lomond are mechanically aerated in order to increase the dissolved-oxygen concentration and lower the surface water temperature. The lake waters ranged from the hard (320 mg/1 CaC0 3 ) of Calero Reservoir, to the soft (27 mg/1 CaC0 3 ) of Upper Crystal Springs Reservoir. Drainage from abandoned mercury mines in Santa Clara County has resulted in mercury concentrations in Calero and Lexington Reservoir fish which exceed U.S. Food and Drug limitations (0.5 &mu; /g) for acceptability of mercury in fish used for human food. In Loch Lomond, four major production periods of the blue-green algae, Anabaena sp . , occurred from May to October, 1967-69. Blue-green algae were the most numerous algae in Lake Del Valle from March through July 1971, with 5,400 blue-green algal organisms per millilitre collected in April.

California↗