Continuous-record networks for collection of hydrologic data in Ohio
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Geology topics
Publications and source records attributed to S. M. Hindall.
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The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with other Federal, State, and local agencies, has been collecting fluvial sediment data from Ohio streams since April 1950. This report summarizes the data collected for the period April 1950 through 1987. In addition, trends in annual suspended-sediment discharge in Ohio streams are examined and discussed, and a technique is presented for estimating discharge at ungaged points on Ohio streams. (USGS)
Information on national and regional water well drilling activity is important for water resource planning and management and for water related equipment marketing. A study was conducted to analyze drilling trends on the basis of data for selected years from 1964 through 1984. The study focused primarily on the years 1964 and 1980-84, but also included data from 1960. Approximately 397,000 water wells were drilled in the United States in 1984. Seven states--Florida, Texas, New York, Michigan, North Carolina, Virginia, and Ohio--accounted for 39% of all the wells drilled in the United States in 1984. Florida led the nation in drilling activity with 45,600 new wells. The 1984 national drilling total was 2.6% > the total for 1980 (387,000) and 8.5% < the total for 1964 (434,000). However, these moderate differences do not reflect substantial year-to-year fluctuations that may have occurred during that 20-yr period. Qualitative comparisons suggest that drilling activity for a given year is closely related to the number of housing starts for that year. If so, there may have been peaks in drilling activity in 1972 and 1977-78 (corresponding to peaks in housing starts) that are not identified in this study because of a lack of available well drilling data for those years. Well drilling data for 1964 and the 1980-84 period probably represent a low to moderate level of drilling activity, and, if compared to earlier data, suggest that there has been no substantial growth or decline in the water well industry as a whole since the 1940's. (Author's abstract)
The Ohio District of the Water Resources Division, U.S. Geological Survey, provides information on Ohio 's water resources for the overall benefit of the State and the Nation. An integral part of the Survey 's mission is to conduct investigations of the Nation 's land, mineral, and water resources, and to publish and disseminate the information needed to understand, to plan the use of, and to manage these resources. The activities fall into eight broad categories: collection of hydrologic data; water resources investigations and assessments; basic and problem-oriented hydrologic and water related research; acquisition of information useful in predicting and delineating water related natural hazards; coordination of the activities of all Federal agencies in the acquisition of water data, and operation of water information centers; dissemination of data and the results of investigations; provision of scientific and technical assistance in hydrologic studies; and the administration of the State Water Resources Research Institute Program and the National Water Resources Research Grant Program. (Lantz-PTT)
Abandoned surface coal mines in southeastern Ohio have caused degradation of the area's water resources. A study began in 1981 to determine the effects of abandoned-mine reclamation on water quality in the 'Yost tract' near Nelsonville, Ohio. Data on streamflow, water quality, and sedimentation were collected in Yost Run before, during, and after reclamation of the Yost tract. Results of the study indicate that there has been very little change in the chemical quality of Yost Run 10 months after reclamation; pH remains low, about 3.2-4.1, whereas specific conductance continues to be high, about 1,000 to 2,600 micromhos per centimeter (at 25?) Concentrations of sulfate and dissolved iron also show no appreciable change, remaining about 550 to 1,800 milligrams per liter and 1,300 to 17,000 micrograms per liter, respectively. The suspended-sediment yield for Yost Run is 2,830 tons per square mile per year. The results of the study reflect water-quality conditions for a 10-month period after reclamation, but do not necessarily indicate that the reclamation will prove to be unsuccessful. A longer period of data collection is likely to be needed to measure trends in water quality that may occur as a result of the reclamation.
Sediment data from 76 stream-gaging sites throughout New Jersey indicate that suspended sediment yields in New Jersey streams range from less than 10 tons per square mile per year to about 700 tons per square mile per year. Sixty to 100 percent of the material transported as suspended sediment is finer than 0.062. (USGS)
Analysis of 2,071 ground-water samples from 970 wells throughout Wisconsin indicate large variations in ground-water quality. Ground water in Wisconsin is generally suitable for most uses, but in some areas concentrations of chemical constituents exceed recommended drinking-water standards. Iron, manganese, and nitrate commonly exceed recommended drinking-water standards and dissolved solids, sulfate, heavy metals, and phenolic materials may present local problems. (USGS)
An abundance of ground water of excellent chemical quality for irrigating crops is available from glacial outwash sand and gravel and from the underlying sandstones in the Rice Lake-Eau Claire area. Thick deposits of glacial outwash sand and gravel in the valleys of the Red Cedar and lower Chippewa Rivers yield more than 1,000 gallons per minute (63 lit res per second) to many wells. Large tracts of irrigable soils, delineated in two subareas (Rice Lake and Cameron) in Barron County and one subarea (Menomonie) in Dunn County, lie within the outwash plains where ground water is available in large quantities. Yields are especially large in the Rice Lake and Cameron subareas where the sand and gravel is highly permeable and the thickness of saturated aquifer exceeds 250 feet (75 metres). Yields generally are less than 1,000 gallons per minute (63 litres per second) in the Menomonie subarea where large amounts of clay locally reduce the permeability of the aquifer and the thickness of saturated aquifer is less than 200 feet (60 metres). Adequate water for irrigation is available also from sandstone underlying the glacial outwash plains. Because the two aquifers generally are connected hydraulically, wells penetrating the sandstone also withdraw water indirectly from the glacial drift. Most irrigation wells in Barron County withdraw water from glacial outwash; more than half the irrigation wells in Dunn County withdraw water from sandstone. In most years, recharge to the ground-water reservoir is 6 to 8 inches (150 to 200 millimetres), which is more than ample to sustain pumping for irrigation without lowering the water table significantly. Ground water in the area is a calcium bicarbonate water that ranges in dissolved-solids concentration from 35 to 330 milligrams per litre. Concentrations of sodium and' boron are very low.
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.
Sediment in Wisconsin streams causes economic and engineering problems in water management and reduces the value of water for nearly all uses. Sediment produces problems such as reduced reservoir capacity, navigation hazards, increased cost of water treatment, property damage, temporary loss of farmland, destruction of feeding and nesting grounds of fish, and destruction of wildlife habitat. Sediment in water also reduces the aesthetic value of surface waters and is detrimental to the State's tourist and recreation industry. The yield of sediment from a drainage basin is subject to many environmental influences. Most sediment results from the weathering and erosion of soil and rock materials. Other factors such as rainfall intensity, runoff rate, topography, rock type, soil characteristics, vegetal cover, and land use also influence the rate of sediment production and movement. An understanding of the many parameters that influence sediment yield is a basic need for managing the State's water resources. The purpose of this report is to describe the magnitude and variability of sediment in Wisconsin streams, to relate sediment yields to the local environment, and to identify areas that need further study. The report is based on sediment data from 44 stream-gaging sites throughout the State. Determination of local areas of erosion and deposition are beyond the scope of the report.