Geology topics

Timothy H. Raines

Publications and source records attributed to Timothy H. Raines.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS2012

Streamflow gains and losses and selected water-quality observations in five subreaches of the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo del Norte from near Presidio to Langtry, Texas, Big Bend area, United States and Mexico, 2006

Few historical streamflow and water-quality data are available to characterize the segment of the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo del Norte (hereinafter Rio Grande) extending from near Presidio to near Langtry, Texas. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the National Park Service and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, collected water-quality and streamflow data from the Rio Grande from near Presidio to near Langtry, Texas, to characterize the streamflow gain and loss and selected constituent concentrations in a 336.3-mile reach of the Rio Grande from near Presidio to near Langtry, Texas. Streamflow was measured at 38 sites and water-quality samples were collected at 20 sites along the Rio Grande in February, March, and June 2006. Streamflow gains and losses over the course of the stream were measured indirectly by computing the differences in measured streamflow between sites along the stream. Water-quality data were collected and analyzed for salinity, dissolved solids, major ions, nutrients, trace elements, and stable isotopes. Selected properties and constituents were compared to available Texas Commission on Environmental Quality general use protection criteria or screening levels. Summary statistics of selected water-quality data were computed for each of the five designated subreaches. Streamflow gain and loss and water-quality constituent concentration were compared for each subreach, rather than the entire segment because of the temporal variation in sample collection caused by controlled releases upstream. Subreach A was determined to be a losing reach, and subreaches B, C, D, and E were determined to be gaining reaches. Compared to concentrations measured in upstream subreaches, downstream subreaches exhibited evidence of dilution of selected constituent concentrations. Subreaches A and B had measured total dissolved solids, chloride, and sulfate exceeding the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality general use protection criteria. Subreaches C, D, and E did not exceed the general use protection criteria for any constituent concentration criteria, but dissolved oxygen concentrations did not meet the general use criteria in these subreaches.

Chihuahua, Coahuila, Texas↗

USGS2002

Simulation of flow and water quality of the Arroyo Colorado, Texas, 1989-99

A model parameter set for use with the Hydrological Simulation Program—FORTRAN watershed model was developed to simulate flow and water quality for selected properties and constituents for the Arroyo Colorado from the city of Mission to the Laguna Madre, Texas. The model simulates flow, selected water-quality properties, and constituent concentrations. The model can be used to estimate a total maximum daily load for selected properties and constituents in the Arroyo Colorado. The model was calibrated and tested for flow with data measured during 1989–99 at three streamflow-gaging stations. The errors for total flow volume ranged from -0.1 to 29.0 percent, and the errors for total storm volume ranged from -15.6 to 8.4 percent. The model was calibrated and tested for water quality for seven properties and constituents with 1989–99 data. The model was calibrated sequentially for suspended sediment, water temperature, biochemical oxygen demand, dissolved oxygen, nitrate nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen, and orthophosphate. The simulated concentrations of the selected properties and constituents generally matched the measured concentrations available for the calibration and testing periods. The model was used to simulate total point- and nonpoint-source loads for selected properties and constituents for 1989–99 for urban, natural, and agricultural land-use types. About one-third to one-half of the biochemical oxygen demand and nutrient loads are from urban point and nonpoint sources, although only 13 percent of the total land use in the basin is urban.

Texas↗

USGS2002

Simulation of flow and effects of best-management practices in the upper Seco Creek basin, south-central Texas, 1991-98

The Hydrological Simulation Program— FORTRAN model was used to assess the effects of two best-management practices—brush management (removal of woody species locally known as cedar) and weather modification (rainfall enhancement)—on selected hydrologic processes in six subbasins that compose the upper Seco Creek Basin in south-central Texas. A parameter set for use with the model was developed to simulate surface-water-budget components for the six gaged subbasins. Simulation of brush management, represented by decreases in simulated evapotranspiration of 5 to 6 percent, resulted in increases of 1 to 47 percent in annual runoff and increases of 14 to 48 percent in surface runoff for the six subbasins. Simulation of weather modification, represented by a 10-percent increase in rainfall totals and intensities, resulted in increases of 5 to 6 percent in evapotranspiration, increases of 2 to 92 percent in annual runoff, and increases of 36 to 101 percent in surface runoff. Rainfall and runoff data for the study were collected during January 1, 1991–September 30, 1998. Data from 60 storms were used for the simulations. The model was calibrated with data from 33 storms (in two subbasins) and tested with data from 27 storms (in four subbasins). Twenty-one pervious land segments were defined for the study on the basis of geology and land cover. An error analysis and a sensitivity analysis were done on each subbasin, and the results were used to develop the final parameter set.

Texas↗

USGS2001

Indications and potential sources of change in sand transport in the Brazos River, Texas

Changes in the capacity of the Brazos River to transport sand can be identified within the context of Lane’s relation through changes in channel geometry, changes in the characteristics of suspended loads, and changes in discharge. The Brazos River channel has been undergoing continual adjustment since the 1940s. For a discharge of 5,000 cubic feet per second, the watersurface altitude has decreased 2 to 4 feet at the Hempstead and Richmond streamflow-gaging stations between 1940 and 1995. The characteristics of suspended-sediment samples at the Richmond streamflow-gaging station have changed between the periods 1969–81 and 1982– 95. The amount of sand-size sediment transported in suspension has decreased. The distribution of both daily and annual-peak discharges has changed. However, the computed annual loads of suspended sand indicate no statistically significant change in the median annual load. The transport of sand in the Brazos River depends on a complex set of factors, most of which are continually changing. Potential sources of change in sand transport in the Brazos River include the effects of reservoir construction, changes in land use, and instream sand and gravel mining. Extensive reservoir construction in the Brazos River Basin has reduced sand transport by trapping sediment and by reducing the magnitude of peak discharges. However, reductions in sand transport associated with reservoir construction apparently are compensated for by increases associated with tributary sediment inflow and localized bank erosion. The total area of harvested acres of non-hay crops in the lower Brazos River Basin during 1924–92 decreased more than 75 percent from about 32 percent to about 8 percent of the total area. Correspondingly, erosion potential has decreased substantially. Several sand and gravel mining sites are located on the Brazos River between Hempstead and Rosharon. The quantity of sediment extracted by instream sand and gravel mining operations could represent from 11 to 25 percent of the total sand transported by the Brazos River. The effects of mining on sand transport could not be quantified.

Texas↗

USGS2000

Municipal Stormwater Monitoring Program, Dallas-Fort Worth area, Texas: Summary of sampling, February 1997-February 2000

During 1992–94, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) collected stormwater runoff data for the cities and Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Districts in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area to meet the regulatory requirements of the application phase for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater permit. The Phase I permit requirements applied to cities with populations of 100,000 or greater and to TxDOT districts with population centers of 100,000 or greater (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1990). The following cities and districts in the DFW area met the population criteria: Arlington, Dallas, Fort Worth, Garland, Irving, Mesquite, Plano, TxDOT Dallas District, and TxDOT Fort Worth District. The permit applications were submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for approval.

Texas↗

USGS1999

Characterization and simulation of the quantity and quality of water in the Highland Lakes, Texas, 1983-92

The Highland Lakes, located in central Texas, are a series of seven reservoirs on the Colorado River (Lake Buchanan, Inks Lake, Lake Lyndon B. Johnson, Lake Marble Falls, Lake Travis, Lake Austin, and Town Lake). The reservoirs provide hydroelectric power for the area. In addition, Lake Austin and Town Lake also provide the public water supply for the Austin metropolitan area. Saline water released from Natural Dam Salt Lake during 1987–89 caused increased concern among water managers that high-salinity water entering the Highland Lakes could result in waterquality problems, necessitating additional treatment of the water. The maximum dissolved solids concentrations for the reservoirs after the saline inflow were about two to three times the average concentrations before the inflow. The maximum concentrations of chloride and sulfate after the inflow were about three to five times the average concentrations before the inflow. The concentrations of dissolved solids, chloride, and sulfate in Lake Buchanan, Inks Lake, Lake Lyndon B. Johnson, and Lake Marble Falls were less than the concentrations of the applicable water-quality standards by the end of 1990. Concentrations of these constituents in Lake Travis, Lake Austin, and Town Lake did not decrease to previous levels, which were less than the concentrations of the applicable waterquality standards, until the end of 1991. Constituent concentrations for Lake Buchanan and Inks Lake; for Lake Lyndon B. Johnson and Lake Marble Falls; and for Lake Travis, Lake Austin, and Town Lake were similar because of the relative storage capacities and location of tributary inflows. From the initial increase in constituent concentrations in Lake Buchanan (summer 1987) in response to the saline inflow, the high-salinity water passed through the entire Highland Lakes in about 3.5 years. A mathematical mass-balance model was used to simulate the input and movement of highsalinity water through the Highland Lakes and to estimate monthly mean concentrations of dissolved solids, chloride, and sulfate for wet, average, and dry hydrologic conditions. The simulated median monthly concentrations during the 10-year simulation period for each reservoir generally are larger for the average condition than for the wet condition and generally are larger for the dry condition than for the average condition. The simulated concentrations of dissolved solids, chloride, and sulfate decreased to levels less than the concentrations of the applicable water-quality standards in about 2 to 5 years after the saline water inflow of 1987–89 was simulated for the three hydrologic conditions. Results from the simulations indicate that saline inflows to the Highland Lakes similar to those of the releases from Natural Dam Salt Lake during 1987–89 are unlikely to cause large increases in future concentrations of dissolved solids, chloride, and sulfate in the Highland Lakes. The results also indicate that high-salinity water will continue to be diluted as it is transported downstream through the Highland Lakes, even during extended dry periods.

Texas↗

USGS1998

Floods in south-central Texas, June 1997

Severe flooding in parts of 18 south-central Texas counties resulted from heavy rainfall during June 21-22, 1997. Of the 18 counties in the study area (fig. 1), all except Kimble, Gillespie, and Travis were declared Federal disaster areas. Kimble and Gillespie Counties were later declared eligible for disaster assistance. The majority of the property damage occurred along Cibolo Creek in Kendall and Guadalupe Counties, the Medina River in Bandera County, and the Llano River in Mason and Llano Counties (Jack Quarrels, Federal Emergency Management Agency, oral commun., 1997). The total property damage for which owners were eligible for disaster assistance was estimated to be $10.4 million (Jack Quarrels, written commun., 1997). Several rain gages and streamflow-gaging stations located in the 18-county area were available for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to assess the magnitude and historical perspective of the flooding. This fact sheet summarizes maximum rainfall and streamflow and associated recurrence intervals for selected rain gages and streamflow-gaging stations (fig. 1) in the 18-county study area during June 21-23, 1997.

Fact Sheet↗

USGS1998

Peak-discharge frequency and potential extreme peak discharge for natural streams in the Brazos River basin, Texas

The 2-, 5-, 10-, 25-, 50-, and 100-year peak discharges were estimated for 186 streamflow-gaging stations with at least 8 years of data for natural streams in and near the Brazos River Basin, Texas. Multiple regression equations were developed to estimate peak-discharge frequency for the 2-, 5-, 10-, 25-, 50-, and 100-year recurrence intervals for each of three hydrologic regions that compose the Brazos River Basin. The equations for each region are a function of significant basin characteristics (explanatory variables). The significant explanatory variables among six that were tested are the contributing drainage area and stream slope for regions 1 and 2 and the contributing drainage area for region 3. For the three sets of equations, the coefficient of determination ranges from 0.59 to 0.93, and the standard error ranges from 0.184 to 0.391 log units. A larger coefficient of determination and a lower standard error generally are associated with the equations for hydrologic regions 2 and 3. Statistics from the regression analysis allow computation of the prediction interval associated with a given significance level for a peak-discharge frequency estimate. The regression equations can be used to estimate peak discharges for sites at, near, or away from sites with streamflow-gaging stations. The potential extreme peak-discharge curves as related to contributing drainage area were estimated for each of the three hydrologic regions from measured extreme peaks of record at 186 sites with streamflow-gaging stations and from measured extreme peaks at 37 sites without streamflow-gaging stations in and near the Brazos River Basin. The potential extreme peak-discharge curves generally are similar for hydrologic regions 1 and 2, and the curve for region 3 consistently is below the curves for regions 1 and 2, which indicates smaller peak discharges.

Texas↗

USGS1997

Time of travel of solutes in the Sabine River basin, Texas, August-November 1996

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Sabine River Authority, did a time-of-travel study in the Sabine River Basin during low flow from August to November 1996. The study was done to provide accurate estimates of the time-of-travel and dispersion characteristics for solutes during low flow in a 1.8-mile (mi) reach of Grace Creek, a 23.9-mi reach of the mainstem Sabine River, a 3.4-mi reach of Hawkins Creek, and a 1.9-mi reach of Rocky Creek. This report explains the approach and documents the results of the study. The results of the study will be used by the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission in a water-quality model to determine waste-load allocation in Segment 0505 of the Sabine River Basin. The time-of-travel and dispersion characteristics also provide useful information on the probable behavior of soluble contaminants that might be introduced into the streams measured in this study.

Texas↗

USGS1997

Analysis of minimum 7-day discharges and estimation of minimum 7-day, 2-year discharges for streamflow-gaging stations in the Brazos River basin, Texas

The minimum 7-day, 2-year discharge (7Q2) was estimated for each of 97 streamflow-gaging stations in the Brazos River Basin, Texas, with at least 10 years of unregulated or 10 years of regulated discharge data using the Pearson Type III distribution fitted by L-moment statistics of the annual minimum 7-day discharges. Forty-six stations have at least 10 years of unregulated discharge data only, 26 stations have at least 10 years of regulated discharge data only, and 25 stations have at least 10 years of unregulated and 10 years of regulated discharge data. Statistical tests were applied to the annual minimum 7-day discharges to determine if the unregulated and regulated data have trends; and to determine if the data before regulation are significantly different from the data after regulation. Results of the Mann-Kendall test indicate a significant trend at the 95-percent confidence level for 8 of the 46 unregulated-only stations, for 6 of the 26 regulated-only stations, and for 5 stations before regulation and for 10 stations after regulation of the 25 stations with both unregulated and regulated data. Results of the Wilcoxon rank-sum test indicate a significant difference between the unregulated and regulated annual minimum 7-day discharges at the 95-percent confidence level for 16 of the 25 stations with both types of data. The 7Q2 is zero for 31 of the 46 unregulated-only stations and for 9 of the 26 regulated-only stations. The 7Q2 also is zero for 9 stations before regulation and for 3 stations after regulation of the 25 stations with both unregulated and regulated data. The 7Q2 ranges from 33 to 631 cubic feet per second for the eight regulated-only stations on the mainstem Brazos River. For the seven stations on the mainstem Brazos River with at least 10 years of unregulated and 10 years of regulated discharge data, the 7Q2 ranges from 0 to 568 cubic feet per second before regulation and from 0.30 to 670 cubic feet per second after regulation. The 7Q2 increased during regulation for 19 of the 25 stations with both unregulated and regulated data. The effect of regulation for most stations generally was an increase in the magnitude of the 7Q2.

Texas↗