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Raymond M. Slade

Publications and source records attributed to Raymond M. Slade.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS2003

Major and catastrophic storms and floods in Texas: 215 major and 41 catastrophic events from 1953 to September 1, 2002

Many Texas storms represent some of the largest storms in the world. Flooding from large storms has affected Texas throughout its history, causing many deaths and much economic loss and hardship. Floods occur regularly in Texas, and destructive floods occur somewhere in the State every year. Many of these floods are destructive because they often occur in areas where extreme flooding had not occurred for many years. These floods often are perceived as unexpected or even unprecedented because their peak water-surface elevations (stages) can greatly exceed those of past floods. This report documents major and catastrophic storms and floods in Texas. Storms can be viewed by date, county, or maximum precipitation.

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USGS2002

Results of streamflow gain-loss studies in Texas, with emphasis on gains from and losses to major and minor aquifers, Texas, 2000

Data for all 366 known streamflow gain-loss studies conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey in Texas were aggregated. A water-budget equation that includes discharges for main channels, tributaries, return flows, and withdrawals was used to document the channel gain or loss for each of 2,872 subreaches for the studies. The channel gain or loss represents discharge from or recharge to aquifers crossed by the streams. Where applicable, the major or minor aquifer outcrop traversed by each subreach was identified, as was the length and location for each subreach. These data will be used to estimate recharge or discharge for major and minor aquifers in Texas, as needed by the Ground-Water Availability Modeling Program being conducted by the Texas Water Development Board. The data also can be used, along with current flow rates for streamflow-gaging stations, to estimate streamflow at sites remote from gaging stations, including sites where streamflow availability is needed for permitted withdrawals.

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USGS2001

Evaluation of the streamflow-gaging network of Texas and a proposed core network

The U.S. Geological Survey streamflowgaging network in Texas is operated as part of the National Streamgaging Program and is jointly funded by the Geological Survey and Federal, State, and local agencies. This report documents an evaluation of the existing (as of October 1, 1999) network with regard to four major objectives of streamflow data; and on the basis of that evaluation, proposes a core network of streamflowgaging stations that best meets those objectives. The objectives are (1) regionalization (estimate flows or flow characteristics at ungaged sites in 11 hydrologically similar regions), (2) major flow (obtain flow rates and volumes in large streams), (3) outflow from the State (account for streamflow leaving the State), and (4) streamflow conditions assessment (assess current conditions with regard to long-term data, and define temporal trends in flow). The network analysis resulted in a proposed core network of 263 stations. Of those 263 stations, 43 were discontinued as of October 1, 1999, and 15 were partial-record stations. Fifty-five of the proposed core-network stations meet two of the four major objectives, 16 stations meet three objectives, and 1 station meets all four. One-hundred eighty-five stations with a median record length of 33 years were selected to meet the regionalization objective. Ninety-two stations with a median record length of about 62 years were selected to meet the major-flow objective. Twenty-six stations with a median record length of 59 years were selected to meet the outflow from the State objective. Fifty stations with a median record length of 53 years were selected to meet the streamflow conditions assessment objective.

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USGS1998

Evaluation of water-quality data and monitoring program for Lake Travis, near Austin, Texas

Statistical analyses were made of selected water-quality properties and constituents for Lake Travis, northwest of Austin in central Texas. Objectives for the evaluation were: (1) to provide information on levels of selected water-quality properties or constituents to use as reference values for assessing the future effectiveness of the Lake Travis Nonpoint-Source Control ordinance of the Lower Colorado River Authority; and (2) to determine whether water-quality constituents at any of the sampling sites are statistically redundant with other sites and, thus, can be discontinued without loss of information. The data were grouped into two periods—the thermally stratified period (May through November) and the mixed period (December through April). Lake Travis is a biologically unproductive reservoir with acceptable water quality for virtually all current water uses. Nutrient (nitrogen, phosphorus) concentrations tend to be small in the reservoir throughout the year, indicating nutrient limitation of maximum phytoplankton biomass. On the basis of traditional limnological properties, Lake Travis exhibits small biological productivity and exceptional water transparency. However, dissolved oxygen concentrations for bottom samples often decrease to less than 5 milligrams per liter throughout the reservoir, especially during the thermally stratified period. Statistical comparisons were made between data collected at the surface and at the bottom at each sampling site to determine statistical similarities. The available data were insufficient to perform the comparisons for nitrite nitrogen and dissolved orthophosphate phosphorus. In addition, no bottom data were available at the most upstream site because the shallow bottom was commonly above the thermocline. The multiple-comparison tests indicate that, for some constituents, a single sampling site for a constituent or property might adequately characterize the water quality of Lake Travis for that constituent or property. However, multiple sampling sites are required to provide information of sufficient temporal and spatial resolution to accurately evaluate other water-quality constituents for the reservoir. For example, the water-quality data from surface samples and from bottom samples indicate that nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus) might require additional sampling sites for a more accurate characterization of their in-lake dynamics.

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USGS1998

Extreme precipitation depths for Texas, excluding the Trans-Pecos region

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation, conducted a study of extreme precipitation depths for various durations and storm areas for Texas, excluding the Trans-Pecos region. The extreme precipitation depth is an estimate, from documented storms, of the largest precipitation depth expected to occur over a given area. The extreme precipitation depth exceeds the precipitation depth associated with recurrence intervals greater than 100 years. Storm durations of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 days were investigated for this report. The extreme precipitation depth for a particular area is estimated from an “extreme precipitation curve” (an upper limit or envelope curve developed from graphs of extreme precipitation depths for each climatic region). The extreme precipitation curves were determined using precipitation depth-duration information from a subset (24 “extreme” storms) of 213 “notable” storms documented throughout Texas. The extreme precipitation curves can be used to estimate extreme precipitation depth for a particular area. The extreme precipitation depth represents a limiting depth, which can provide useful comparative information for more quantitative analyses.

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USGS1997

Regional equations for estimation of peak-streamflow frequency for natural basins in Texas

Peak-streamflow frequency estimates are needed for flood-plain management; for objective assessment of flood risk; and for cost-effective design of dams, levees, other flood-control structures, roads, bridges, and culverts. Peak-streamflow frequency represents the peak discharges for recurrence intervals of 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 years. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation, conducted an investigation to develop regional regression equations for the estimation of peak-streamflow frequency for ungaged sites in natural basins in Texas. Peak-streamflow frequency data from streamflow-gaging stations in natural drainage basins of Texas were used. Peak-streamflow frequency for 559 Texas stations with natural (unregulated and rural or nonurbanized) basins was estimated with annual peak-streamflow data through 1993. The peak-streamflow frequency and drainage-basin characteristics for the Texas stations were used to develop 16 sets of equations to estimate peak-streamflow frequency for ungaged natural stream sites in each of 11 regions in Texas. The relation between peak-streamflow frequency and contributing drainage area for 5 of the 11 regions is curvilinear, requiring that one set of equations be developed for drainage areas less than 32 square miles and another set be developed for drainage areas greater than 32 square miles. These equations, developed through multiple-regression analysis using weighted least squares, are based on the relation between peak-streamflow frequency and basin characteristics for streamflow-gaging stations. The regions represent areas with similar flood characteristics. The use and limitations of the regression equations also are discussed. Additionally, procedures are presented to compute the 50-, 67-, and 90-percent confidence limits for any estimation from the equations. Also, supplemental peak-streamflow frequency and basin characteristics for 105 selected stations bordering Texas are included in the report. This supplemental information will aid in interpretation of flood characteristics for sites near the state borders of Texas.

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USGS1996

Floods in Central Texas, December 1991

Record-breaking peak discharges were recorded at eight U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) streamflow-gaging stations in central Texas during December 1991 (fig. 1), and substantial peak discharges also occurred at numerous other stations. Large peak discharges during December are unusual in central Texas. The rainfall causing the flooding began on December 18, with 6-day totals exceeding 10 inches (in.) in the area of heaviest rainfall. This report documents peak discharges and runoff volumes during December 1991. Recurrence intervals were determined for the peak discharges and runoff volumes for 1-, 3-, and 7-day periods. A recurrence interval references the approximate number of years during which a given peak discharge or runoff volumes is expected to be equaled or exceeded only once. A flood of a given recurrence interval is defined on the basis of peak discharge – for example, a 100-year flood is defined as the peak discharge that has a 1-percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year.

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USGS1996

Techniques to estimate generalized skew coefficients of annual peak streamflow for natural basins in Texas

This report presents two techniques to estimate generalized skew coefficients used for log-Pearson Type III peak-streamflow frequency analysis of natural basins in Texas. A natural basin has less than 10 percent impervious cover, and less than 10 percent of its drainage area is controlled by reservoirs. The estimation of generalized skew coefficients is based on annual peak and historical peak streamflow for all U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging stations having at least 20 years of annual peak-streamflow record from natural basins in Texas. Station skew coefficients calculated for each of 255 Texas stations were used to estimate generalized skew coefficients for Texas. One technique to estimate generalized skew coefficients involved the use of regression equations developed for each of eight regions in Texas, and the other involved development of a statewide map of generalized skew coefficients. The weighted mean of the weighted mean standard errors of the regression equations for the eight regions is 0.36 log 10 skew units, and the weighted mean standard error of the map is 0.35 log 10 skew units. The technique based on the map is preferred for estimating generalized skew coefficients because of its smooth transition from one region of the State to another.

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USGS1995

Flood frequency in Texas; calculation of peak-streamflow frequency at gaging stations

In 1991, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) began a 5-year study of floods in Texas. The study, which is being done in cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation, uses streamflow data collected at streamflow-gaging stations to assess Texas flood characteristics. Two major objectives of the study are to determine for unregulated, rural basins (1) the most reliable method to calculate peak-streamflow frequency for Texas stations; and (2) a method to estimate peak-streamflow frequency at any Texas stream site (gaged or ungaged) using pertinent peak-streamflow information from nearby stations. This fact sheet pertains to the first objective of the study.

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USGS1995

Documented and potential extreme peak discharges and relation between potential extreme peak discharges and probable maximum flood peak discharges in Texas

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation, conducted a study of extreme flood potential for Texas. Potential extreme peak discharges, derived from the relation between documented extreme peak discharges and their contributing drainage areas, can provide valuable information concerning the maximum expected peak discharge that could occur at a stream site. Documented extreme peak discharges and associated data were aggregated for 832 sites with and without streamflow-gaging stations in natural basins in Texas. A potential extreme peak discharge curve was developed for each of 11 hydrologic regions in Texas and for the State as a whole, based on documented extreme peak discharges and associated contributing drainage areas. The curve envelops, for a large range of drainage areas, the largest documented extreme peak discharges. Potential extreme peak discharges estimated from the curves were compared to probable maximum flood peak discharges estimated from various simulation models.

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USGS1994

Interactive regional regression approach to estimating flood quantiles

In Texas, a computer program has been developed which will estimate flood quantiles for an ungaged site based on data from gaging stations with similar watershed characteristics. The user enters site location and watershed characteristics for an ungaged site and the program selects, from a data base of gaging stations, a subset of stations to be used in the regression analysis. The subset of stations are selected based on the similarity of their basin characteristics to the ungaged site's basin characteristics. This approach offers several advantages over the usual regional regression approach. For example, the estimation data includes only stations whose size, topography, and climate are similar to the ungaged site. Therefore, predictions tend to be made near the center of the space of the explanatory variables, and extrapolation errors are reduced. In addition, any violation of the assumption of linearity for the regression is less likely to cause problems. A new regression equation is developed for each prediction site, thus numerous calculations are necessary. However, today's desktop computers can make the calculations easily. A split sampling study is used to compare this technique with the more conventional regional regression approach.

Conference Paper↗
USGS1986

Hydrology and water quality of the Edwards Aquifer associated with Barton Springs in the Austin area, Texas

Urban development over the Edwards aquifer in the Austin, Texas, area has caused concerns about the availability and quality of water in the aquifer. The study area, the Edwards aquifer that discharges to Barton Springs, includes parts of Travis and Hays Counties and extends from the city of Kyle to the Colorado River. A large part of the aquifer lies within the Austin metropolitan area one of the fastest growing areas in the Nation. As of 1985, only about 30,000 people used water from the aquifer, however, according to recent official city of Austin population projections, about 86,000 more people will be living in the study area by the year 2000, many of whom will depend upon the aquifer for water. Barton Springs, which discharges from the aquifer, serves as a supplemental source of drinking water for Austin and as a major recreational attraction. The aquifer is a karst system composed of limestone and dolomite of Cretaceous age. The water occurs in solution channels in the Edwards and Georgetown Limestones. Yields of adjacent wells often differ by as much as four orders of magnitude. Storage within the aquifer is about 306,000 acre-feet, of which about 31,000 acre-feet is within the "transient" part of storage the change in volume occurring between high flow and the lowest known flow of Barton Springs. The average specific yield of the aquifer is 0.017. Within the study area, the Edwards aquifer covers 155 square miles, of which about 151 square miles discharge to Barton Springs, and the remaining 4 square miles discharge to Cold and Deep Eddy Springs. The westernmost 79 percent of the aquifer is under water-table conditions, and the remaining 21 percent is under confined conditions. Three geologic sections are presented in the report, as well as maps showing the altitudes of the base and the top of the Edwards aquifer. Recharge occurs predominantly along faults and fractures crossing six creeks in the recharge area, which covers the westernmost 90 square miles of the aquifer. Leakage probably occurs into the Edwards aquifer from the underlying upper Trinity aquifer. A small amount of subsurface recharge also occurs as "bad-water" encroachment during lovnflow periods. Monthly values for water levels, total surface-water recharge, and total discharge (springflow and pumpage) for the aquifer are available for 4 years. Water-budget analyses show that surface recharge and ground-water discharge (springflow and pumpage) are reasonably balanced, suggesting that the ground-water system is in dynamic equilibrium. Based on 65 years of measurements, Barton Springs has a long-term mean discharge of 50 cubic feet per second and a minimum and maximum discharge of 10 and 166 cubic feet per second. As of 1982, the estimated total ground-water pumpage of about 3,800 acre-feet per year represented just over 10 percent of the average annual discharge of 36,000 acre-feet to Barton Springs. Increased pumpage associated with future ground-water development could reduce the discharge at Barton Springs and reduce ground-water availability. Substantial pumpage increases could cause increased subsurface flow into the aquifer in the form of "bad-water" encroachment, leakage from underlying aquifers, or both. Water-quality data for 1979-83 are available for each creek that recharges the aquifer, from Barton Springs, and for 38 wells. Water quality from Barton Springs and the wells is better than the creeks providing surface recharge, which have fecal-bacteria values as high as 100,000 colonies per 100 milliliters. Significant densities of fecal bacteria have been found in water from Barton Springs. Significant concentrations of nitrate nitrogen, fecal-group bacteria, and fluoride have been identified in samples from wells. Fluoride originates in the aquifers that underlie the Edwards aquifer. Nitrate nitrogen and fecal-group bacteria originate in residential developments and cattle ranches located in the area.

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USGS1986

Recharge zone of the Edwards aquifer hydrologically associated with Barton springs in the Austin area, Texas

The Edwards aquifer extends in a narrow belt from Bell County in the northeast to Kinney County in the southwest (index map) and provides water for at least nine counties in south-central Texas. Hydrologic boundaries divide the Edwards aquifer in the Austin area for which Barton Springs is the major discharge point. This part of the Edwards aquifer provides the municipal, industrial, domestic, and agricultural water supplies for about 30,000 people in the Austin area (southern Travis and northern Hays counties). Discharge from Barton Springs sustains streamflow at the mouth of Barton Creek and flows into Town Lake. Much of the land use within the outcrop area of the Edwards aquifer near Austin is rapidly changing from natural woodland and grassland to commercial and residential developments. Because urban development can result in a substantial degradation of the quality of water that recharges the aquifer, the extent of the recharge zone of the Edwards aquifer was delineated to provide information to the City of Austin for their use in formulating a plan for protecting and managing groundwater quality. The purpose of this report is to define and delineate the areal extent of the recharge zone of the Edwards aquifer in southern Travis and northern Hays Counties. The areal boundary of the recharge zone was determined by: (1) geologic mapping of the aquifer area; (2) interpretation of aerial photographs; (3) field verification of existing geologic maps; and (4) streamflow-loss studies.

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1985

Simulation of the flow system of Barton Springs and associated Edwards Aquifer in the Austin area, Texas

A digital model of two-dimensional groundwater flow was used to estimate the hydraulic properties of the Edwards Aquifer in a 151 sq mi area near Austin, Texas. The transmissivity, hydraulic conductivity, and specific yield were estimated for the part of the aquifer that discharges at Barton Springs in Austin. The aquifer is composed of the Edwards and overlying Georgetown Limestones of Cretaceous age and ranges in thickness from about 100 ft to about 450 ft. More than 60 years of discharge measurements and 5 years of gaged discharge for Barton Springs were used to adjust springflow for the simulations. Barton Springs accounts for about 96% of springflow from the study area and 90% of the total discharge. The remaining discharge was pumpage from wells which was entered in the model. Four years of gaged recharge were used in the simulations. The potentiometric surfaces used by the models were constructed from water level measurements in as many as 75 wells. The transmissivity was calibrated through steady-state simulations that used the mean value of recharge and mean potentiometric surface to represent average conditions for the aquifer. The transmissivities vary from about 100 sq ft/day in the western part of the aquifer to > 1 million sq ft/day near Barton Springs. Specific yield was calibrated through transient-state simulations for 5 consecutive months using time-dependent data for recharge, discharge, and water levels. The mean specific yield for the aquifer is 0.014 and ranges from 0.008 to 0.064. Additional aquifer properties used in the simulations include storage coefficient, altitudes of the base and top of the aquifer, and hydraulic conductivity. A simulation for the year 2000 using projected pumping rates for municipal, industrial, agricultural, and domestic supplies indicates that the aquifer would be dewatered in the southwestern part of the study area and have large declines in the southeastern part of the study area. Another simulation of projected conditions using potential recharge enhancement predicts a rise in the potentiometric surface of about 50 feet in the southwestern part of the aquifer and moderate water-level declines in the southeastern part of the aquifer.

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USGS1984

Effects of storm-water runoff on water quality of the Edwards Aquifer near Austin, Texas

Analyses of samples collected from Barton Springs at approximately weekly Intervals and from Barton Creek and five wells in the Austin area during selected storm-runoff periods generally show that recharge during storm runoff resulted in significant temporal and area! variations in the quality of ground water in the recharge zone of the Edwards aquifer. Recharge during storm runoff resulted in significant increases of bacterial densities in the ground water. Densities of fecal coliform bacteria in samples collected from Barton Springs, the major point of ground-water discharge, ranged from less than 1 colony per 100 milliliters during dry weather in November 1981 and January and August 1982 to 6,100 colonies per 100 milliliters during a storm in May 1982. Densities of fecal streptococcal bacteria ranged from 1 colony per 100 miniliters during dry weather in December 1981 to 11,000 colonies per 100 miniliters during a storm in May 1982. Recharge during storm runoff resulted in significant decreases in the specific conductance and the concentration of total nitrate nitrogen in the ground water. Specific-conductance values of samples from Barton Springs ranged from 438 micromhos per centimeter at 25° Celsius after a storm in October 1981 to 682 micromhos after a relatively long period of deficient rainfall in September 1982. The specific-conductance values and, thus, the mineralization of the ground water in the recharge zone generally were inversely related to the quantity of recharge. Nitrate nitrogen was the most prevalent form of nitrogen in the ground water. Concentrations of total nitrate nitrogen in samples from Barton Springs ranged from 0.51 milligram per liter after a storm in October 1981 to 1.6 milligrams per liter during dry weather in February and September 1982. Although the values of these and other properties or constituents in ground water varied temporally and areally, available data indicate that the values of most of the major and minor elements in ground water in the recharge zone of the Edwards aquifer were significantly less than the primary maximum or secondary maximum contaminant levels set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for public water systems. Bacteriological data for Barton Springs and selected wells indicate that the ground water in the aquifer is susceptible to bacterial pollution, especially during storm runoff. The water may require disinfection if used for drinking or culinary purposes.

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1976

Time of travel of solutes in the East Fork Trinity River, November 1975; and Elm Fork Trinity River, December 1975; Trinity River basin, Texas

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the North Central Texas Council of Governments, the Trinity River Authority of Texas, and the Texas Water Development Board, conducted two time-of-travel studies in the Trinity River basin in November and December, 1975. Field data were collected on the East Fork Trinity River during November 18-22, 1975, and on the Elm Fork Trinity River during December 8-13, 1975. The purpose of these two studies was to provide data that could be used by the Trinity River Authority and the Texas Water Quality Board in the development of a mathematical water-quality model of the two streams. The model is to be used in a comprehensive water-quality management plan for the Trinity River basin.

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