Search USGS⌕ Search

Geology topics

Ronald G. Borman

Publications and source records attributed to Ronald G. Borman.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS1981

Effects of a cattle feedlot on ground-water quality in the South Platte River Valley near Greeley, Colorado

Changes in water quality in an alluvial aquifer resulting from the operation of a feedlot stocked with 90,000 cattle have been minimal. Monitoring water quality in 19 observation wells from April 1974, prior to the operation of the feedlot, to June 1978, after about 4 years of operation, indicates that chloride concentrations have increased slightly in one well downgradient from a runoff-retention pond. Chemical analyses of water from two lysimeters installed in the unsaturated zone indicate that leachate from the feedlot has percolated to a depth of at least 5 feet but has not percolated to a depth of 20 feet. The small changes in ground-water quality caused by the feedlot are likely the result of the limited available recharge, a relatively impermeable manure pack, soil clogging under the cattle pens resulting in slow vertical movement of leachate through the unsaturated zone, soil clogging under the unlined runoff-retention ponds, and denitrification in the unsaturated zone.

Colorado↗
USGS1978

Water-level records for the northern High Plains of Colorado, 1974-78

Water-level measurements were made in more than 600 wells in January 1978 in the northern High Plains of Colorado. Changes in water levels from January 1977 to January 1978 ranged from a rise of about 22 feet in Phillips County to a decline of about 14 feet in Yuma County. Measurements for January 1978 and the four preceding winters are given in a table.

Colorado↗
USGS1978

Ground-water resources and geology of Columbia County, Wisconsin

The increasing need for water of good Quality in Columbia County, caused by a steadily increasing population, can be met from the sand-and-gravel and sandstone aquifers. As much as 15 gallons per minute can be obtained from wells almost everywhere. Yields of more than 1,000 gallons per minute are available from drift where it contains a sufficient thickness of saturated sand and gravel (the sand-and-gravel aquifer). The sandstone aquifer underlies nearly all the county except for areas west of the Wisconsin River and northwest of Pardeeville. It is more than 700 feet thick in the south-central part. The sandstone aquifer includes all bedrock younger than Precambrian age and is capable of yielding more than 1,000 gallons per minute to wells in about three-fourths of the county. It is the principal source of municipal-water supply. The chemical quality of water from the two aquifers is similar. It is very hard (mean concentration of about 300 milligrams per liter as calcium carbonate), and much of it contains excessive amounts of iron and manganese. Concentrations of dissolved solids and chloride are higher in areas underlain by bedrock of Ordovician age than elsewhere. About 5.0 million gallons per day of water was pumped in the county in 1974, 90 percent from the sandstone aQuifer. About 45 percent of the total water pumped was for industrial and commercial purposes~ 37 percent was for residential use, 16 percent for municipal use, and 2 percent for irrigation.

Wisconsin↗
USGS1977

Water-level changes in the northern high plains of Colorado, 1964 to 1976 and 1972 to 1976

The northern High Plains of Colorado is an area of about 9,500 mi 2 (24,600 km 2 ) in the eastern part of the State (index map). The boundaries of the High Plains of Colorado are the State line and the limit of the Ogallala Formation of late Tertiary age. The Ogallala Formation is an unconsolidated or partly consolidated deposit of sand, gravel, clay, and silt and is the major aquifer in the northern High Plains.

Colorado↗
USGS1976

Ground-water resources and geology of Walworth County, Wisconsin

Population growth in Walworth County, Wisconsin, requires an increasing amount of ground water. Good quality water is available from the sand-and gravel, Niagara, Galena-Platteville, and sandstone aquifers in the county. As much as 15 gallons per minute (0.95 liters per second) can be obtained from individual wells almost everywhere in the county. Well yields of 1,000 gallons per minute (63 liters per second) are available from glacial drift where it contains sufficient thickness of saturated sand and gravel. The sand-and-gravel aquifer is an important source of municipal water. Estimated well yields from most of the Niagara aquifer, a Silurian age dolomite as thick as 125 feet (38.1 meters), exceed 100 gallons per minute (6.3 liters per second). The Niagara aquifer occurs in the eastern third of the county. The Galena-Platteville aquifer, chiefly dolomite, is present in the western half of the county where it is as thick as 325 feet (99.1 meters). Estimated yields from this aquifer exceed 500 gallons per minute (32 liters per second). The sandstone aquifer underlies the entire county and ranges from less than 800 feet (240 meters) thick in the northwest corner to more than 2,200 feet (670 meters) in the east. This aquifer is capable of yielding 1,000 gallons per minute (63 liters per second) to individual wells and is a principal source of municipal water.

Wisconsin↗
USGS1976

Ground-water resources and geology of St. Croix County, Wisconsin

The increasing need for good-quality ground water in St. Croix County, caused by a steadily increasing population, can be met from the sand-and-gravel and sandstone aquifers. As much as 15 gallons per minute (0.95 litres per second) can be obtained from wells almost everywhere in the county. Yields of more than 1,000 gallons per minute (63 litres per second) are available from glacial deposits and alluvium where there is sufficient thickness of saturated sand and gravel. The sandstone aquifer underlies the entire county and is more than 1,000 feet (300 metres) thick in the southwest near River Falls. In St. Croix County the sandstone aquifer is all bedrock younger than Precambrian age and includes, in ascending order, from oldest to youngest, sandstones of Cambrian age (in ascending order, the Mount Simon, Eau Claire, Galesville, and Franconia Sandstones, and the Trempealeau Formation); and the Prairie du Chien Group, St. Peter Sandstone, and Galena-Platteville unit (Platteville and Decorah Formations and Galena Dolomite, undifferentiated), all of Ordovician age. This aquifer is capable of yielding more than 1,000 gallons per minute (63 litres per second) to wells in much of the county and is the principal source of municipal water. The chemical quality of water from the two aquifers is similar. The water from both aquifers is hard to very hard, having a median hardness between 180 and 190 milligrams per litre. Iron and manganese are locally present in botherSome amounts (combined total exceeding 0.3 milligrams per litre). Nitrate is a minor problem in both aquifers, with median concentrations more than 10 milligrams per litre, possibly indicating some contamination of ground water by organic matter. About 3.83 million gallons per day (0.168 cubic metres per second) of ground water was pumped in the county in 1974, of which 94 percent was from the sandstone aquifer. About 44 percent of the total water pumped was for industrial and commercial use, 42 percent for residential

Wisconsin↗
USGS1975

Ground-water resources and geology of Jefferson County, Wisconsin

A steadily increasing population in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, is expanding the need for good-quality ground water. This need can be met by good-quality water available from the sand-and-gravel, Galena-Platteville, and sandstone aquifers. As much as 15 gallons per minute (0.95 liters per second) can be obtained from wells almost everywhere in the county. Yields of more than 1,000 gallons per minute (63 liters per second) are available from glacial drift where it contains a sufficient thickness of saturated sand and gravel. The Galena-Platteville aquifer is a dolomite that occurs mainly in the eastern one-half of the county and is locally more than 300 feet (90 meters) thick. Estimated well yields from this aquifer exceed 500 gallons per minute (32 liters per second). The sandstone aquifer underlies nearly the entire county except for small areas in the northwest corner. It is more than 1,100 feet (330 meters) thick in the southwest along the Dane-Jefferson County line. This aquifer is capable of yielding more than 1,000 gallons per minute (63 liters per second) to wells in much of the county and is the principal source of municipal water. The chemical quality of water from the three aquifers is similar. The water is very hard, having a median hardness between 315 and 325 milligrams per liter. Median values for dissolved solids range between 325 and 349 milligrams per liter. Iron and manganese commonly are present in bothersome amounts (combined total exceeding 0.3 milligrams per liter. About 13.0 million gallons per day (0.570 cubic meters per second) of ground water was pumped in the county in 1972, 87 percent from the sandstone aquifer. About 62 percent of the total water pumped was for industrial and commercial purposes, 26 percent for residential use, and 12 percent for municipal, irrigation, and institutional use.

Wisconsin↗
USGS1974

Water resources of Wisconsin: Lower Wisconsin River basin

This report describes the physical environment, availability, distribution, movement, quality, and use of water in the upper Wisconsin River basin as an aid in planning and water management. The report presents general information on the basin derived from data obtained from Federal, State, and local agencies, New field data were collected in areas where information was lacking. More detailed studies of problem areas may be required in the future, as water needs and related development increase. The upper Wisconsin River basin is the headwaters of the Wisconsin River drainage and includes about 2,730 square miles in northern Wisconsin (upstream from the gage on the Wisconsin River at Merrill). An additional 50 square miles of the basin lies in Michigan and is not covered by this report. The report area includes parts of Forest, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Oneida, Price, Taylor, and Vilas Counties, Many organizations and persons assisted the study by providing data. Among the contributors were the University of Wisconsin-Extension, Geological and Natural History Survey, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin Valley Improvement Company, Municipal water officials furnished water-supply information and well records, Many individuals allowed access to their wells for water-level measurements and collection of water samples for chemical analysis.

Wisconsin↗