Preliminary geologic map of the Baugh Creek southwest 7.5-minute quadrangle, Idaho
No abstract available.
Idaho↗
Geology topics
Research about Idaho
Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including Idaho.
Geology, geochronology, and potential volcanic hazards in the Lava Ridge-Hells Half Acre area, eastern Snake River Plain, Idaho
The evaluation of volcanic hazards for the proposed Safety Test Reactor Facility (STF) at the Argonne National Laboratory-West (ANLW) site, Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL), Idaho, involves an analysis of the geology of the Lava Ridge-Hells Half Acre area and of K-At age determinations on lava flows in cored drill holes. The ANLW site at INEL lies in a shallow topographic depression bounded on the east and south by volcanic rift zones that are the locus of past shield-type basalt volcanism and by rhyolite domes erupted along the ring fracture of an inferred rhyolite caldera. The K-At age data indicate that the ANLW site has been flooded by basalt lava flows at irregular intervals from perhaps a few thousand years to as much as 300,000-400,000 years, with an average recurrence interval between flows of approximately 80,000-100,000 years. At least five major lava flows have covered the ANLW site within the past 500,000 years.
Idaho↗
Suspended- and bedload-sediment transport in the Snake and Clearwater rivers in the vicinity of Lewiston, Idaho, August 1976 through July 1978
Impoundment of water in the Snake River and Clearwater River arms behind Lower Granite Dam (see cover map) began in June 1975. At this time, Lower Granite Reservoir and Lock facilities, constructed by the USACE (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers), Walla Walla District, became operational. Construction and operation of this facility necessitated collection of hydrologic data that did not exist prior to construction. The USACE requested the USGS (U.S. Geological Survey) to collect hydraulic- and channel-geometry data and describe sediment-transport characteristics, beginning in the spring of 1972. This report summarizes information collected during August 1976 through July 1978 and is the fifth in a series of reports designed to release hydrologic data on a timely basis. Although some of the data were collected during the late summer and fall periods (August through December) of 1976 and 1977, most were collected during the spring runoff periods of 1977 and 1978. Therefore, for convenience, data contained in this report will be referred to as the 1977-78 data. Because this is primarily a basic-data report, no interpretation of the data is provided. This report presents tables of selected data collected and computations compiled since the 1976 report (Seitz, 1976). Most of the tabular data are also presented on graphs. Some of the graphs show plots of data since 1972~ others show plots of only the 1977-78 data. Relatively minor amounts of bedload were transported during the 1977 drought period. Therefore, regular scheduled sampling of the bedload was impractical. Only two bedload samples were collected from the Clearwater River in 1977. The resultant data are included in tables 10, 12, and 14, and figure 6. All bedload data in this report should be considered tentative, pending completion of sampler-calibration studies and possible adjustment of the data to correct for sampler efficiency. An analysis of the middle Snake River streamflow record was made during 1977. The streamflow rating for the Snake River near Anatone, Washington, gage was found to be in error at high stages. The streamflow record for water years 1974 and 1975 was revised and published with 1976 water-year data (Water Resources Data for Idaho, Water Year 1976). The revised Snake River near Anatone streamflow rating was used to recompute the sediment-discharge rating curve (fig. 3). This study program is funded by the USACE through a cooperative agreement with the USGS. All field work, laboratory analysis, and compilation of data are being conducted by the USGS. Data collection is scheduled to terminate at the end of the 1979 runoff season. A reanalysis of all data collected since the start of the program will correct all provisional records since 1972, including the 1974, 1975, and 1976 years for the Snake River near Anatone station.
Idaho↗
Geologic map of the Lava Ridge-Hells Half Acre area, eastern Snake River plain, Idaho
No abstract available.
Idaho↗
Chemical analyses of ground water related to geothermal investigations in the Teton River area, eastern Idaho
Water samples were collected from 31 wells and springs in eastern Idaho and western Wyoming to help evaluate the potential geothermal resources in the Teton River area, Idaho. The water analyses included the common anions and cations, oxygen-18, deuterium, and several minor elements. Actual temperatures of the sampled thermal waters ranged from 23° to 49°C. Estimated aquifer temperatures, as derived from geochemical thermometers, ranged from 45° to 145°C based on silica concentrations and 45° to 205°C based on sodium-potassium-calcium ratios. Using the cation thermometer, two analyses indicated aquifer temperatures that were lower than the actual measured temperatures. Estimated temperatures using a mixing-model method ranged from 205° to 320°C, the higher temperature being of questionable value. The different methods used to estimate aquifer temperatures showed little correlation. On the basis of isotope data, the warm waters may be of local meteoric origin and have not been heated enough to react significantly with the aquifer rocks, or they originated as precipitation at high altitude and great distance from the area.
Idaho↗
Water resources data for Idaho, water year 1977
Water resources data for the 1977 water year for Idaho consist of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams; stage, contents, and water quality of lakes and reservoirs; and water levels and water quality of ground water. This report contains discharge records for 190 gaging stations; stage only records for 2 gaging stations; stage for 6 lakes; contents for 24 lakes and reservoirs; water-quality for 95 gaging stations, 76 partial-record stations, and 287 wells; and water levels for 6 observation wells. Also included are data for 57 crest-stage partial-record stations and 187 low-flow partial-record stations. Additional water data were collected at various sites, not involved in the systematic data collection program, and are published as miscellaneous measurements. These data represent that part of the National Water Data System operated by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating State and Federal agencies in Idaho.
Idaho↗
Water resources data for Idaho, water year 1978: Volume 1. Great Basin and Snake River basin above King Hill
Water resources data for the 1978 water year for Idaho consist of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams; stage, contents, and water quality of lakes and reservoirs; and water levels and water quality of ground water. This report in two volumes contains discharge records for 192 gaging stations; stage only records for 2 gaging stations; stage for 6 lakes; contents for 24 lakes and reservoirs; water-quality for 103 gaging stations, 48 partial-record stations, and 179 wells; and water levels for 429 observation wells. Also included are data for 57 crest-stage partial-record stations and 191 low-flow partial-record stations. Additional water data were collected at various sites, not involved in the systematic data collection program, and are published as miscellaneous measurements. These data represent that part of the National Water Data System operated by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating State and Federal agencies in Idaho.
Idaho↗
Water resources data for Idaho, water year 1978: Volume 2. Upper Columbia River basin and Snake River basin below King Hill
Water resources data for the 1978 water year for Idaho consist of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams; stage, contents, and water quality of lakes and reservoirs; and water levels and water quality of ground water. This report in two volumes contains discharge records for 192 gaging stations; stage only records for 2 gaging stations; stage for 6 lakes; contents for 24 lakes and reservoirs; water-quality for 103 gaging stations, 48 partial-record stations, and 179 wells; and water levels for 429 observation wells. Also included are data for 57 crest-stage partial-record stations and 191 low-flow partial-record stations. Additional water data were collected at various sites, not involved in the systematic data collection program, and are published as miscellaneous measurements. These data represent that part of the National Water Data System operated by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating State and Federal agencies in Idaho.
Idaho↗
Ground-water quality in Bannock, Bear Lake, Caribou, and part of Power counties, southeastern Idaho
This report provides information about the current quality of ground waters in southeastern Idaho and discusses the natural and manmade environmental controls on that quality. This information will be useful in planning and monitoring the development and use of the ground-water resources of southeastern Idaho. The southeastern corner of Idaho, as described in this report, encompasses an area of about 4,000 mil in Bannock, Bear Lake, Caribou, and part of Power Counties. The popu- lation of the area in 1975, based on best estimates by the Idaho Division of Budget, Policy Planning, and Coordination (1976) was 75,200. About 80 percent of the population is in and near the city of Pocatello, which is the second largest population center in the State. Pocatello's economy depends largely on manufacturing and industrial processing, which includes chemicalfertilizer plants. The econ- omy in the rural areas depends largely on agriculture--both dry and irrigated farming are practiced. Mining is important and expected to dominate the economy in the eastcentral part of the area in the future. Natural resources include phosphate ore, which makes up about 35 percent of the U.S. reserves (U.S. Department of Interior and U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1977); ground water, which mostly underlies the several intermontane valleys that dissect the area; and hot springs, which indicate that geothermal energy sources may underlie part of the area. Also, current (1978) speculation is that petroleum reserves may be present in the vicinity of Bear Lake. Development of more sprink- ler-irrigated lands, increases in population, and growth of phosphate mining are expected to place stress on the ground-water resources, both in quality and quantity. The purpose of this report is to present the results of a study whose primary objectives were (1) to provide current waterquality data representative of the water in several different aquifers (water- bearing formations) in the study area, and (2) to relate these data to natural and manmade environmental controls. The wells sampled during this study establish a quasi-network, which could be resampled in the future to document and analyze changes (if any) in ground-water quality. Based on this information, planners and water managers could better understand the causeand-effect relations controlling water quality and could better manage land and water-resource development. The report is designed for ease of reading and presentation. It uses maps, tables, and abbreviated text to describe geology, hydrology, and ground-water quality and how they are interrelated. Some practical ways for improving water quality are discussed for the benefit of individual water users. The field data collected in making the study are contained in the Data Section of this report. The authors gratefully acknowledge the many individual well owners, municipal officials, and private industries that provided well information and allowed access to their properties and collection of water samples. Without their help, this work could not have been done. Water samples were collected at 103 well sites. Waterlevel measurements were made at 98 of these sites during July, August, and September of 1976. This study was made by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Idaho Department of Water Resources. A similar study is being made (1978) in north Idaho. Other studies are planned, specifically to obtain ground-water-quality data in areas where land and water-resource development is expected or accelerating.
Idaho↗
Thermal ground-water discharge and associated convective heat flux, Bruneau-Grand View area, southwest Idaho
The Bruneau-Grand View area occupies about 1,100 square miles in southwest Idaho. The area has a rural population dependent on ground-water irrigation. Temperature of the ground water ranges from 15 C to more than 80 C. Ground water for irrigation is obtained from flowing and pumped wells. Discharge of thermal ground water from 104 irrigation wells and from 5 hot springs in 1978 was about 50,500 acre-feet. Convective heat flux from the geothermal system associated with this discharge was 4.97 x 10 to the 7th power calories per second. (Woodard-USGS)
Idaho↗
Probable hydrologic effects of a hypothetical failure of Mackay Dam on the Big Lost River Valley from Mackay, Idaho to the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory
Mackay Dam is an irrigation reservoir on the Big Lost River, Idaho, approximately 7.2 kilometers northwest of Mackay, Idaho. Consequences of possible rupture of the dam have long concerned the residents of the river valley. The presence of reactors and of a management complex for nuclear wastes on the reservation of the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL), near the river , give additional cause for concern over the consequences of a rupture of Mackay Dam. The objective of this report is to calculate and route the flood wave resulting from the hypothetical failure of Mackay Dam downstream to the INEL. Both a full and a 50 percent partial breach of this dam are investigated. Two techniques are used to develop the dam-break model. The method of characteristics is used to propagate the shock wave after the dam fails. The linear implicit finite-difference solution is used to route the flood wave after the shock wave has dissipated. The time of travel of the flood wave, duration of flooding, and magnitude of the flood are determined for eight selected sites from Mackay Dam, Idaho, through the INEL diversion. At 4.2 kilometers above the INEL diversion, peak discharges of 1,550.2 and 1,275 cubic meters per second and peak flood elevations of 1,550.3 and 1,550.2 meters were calculated for the full and partial breach, respectively. Flood discharges and flood peaks were not compared for the area downstream of the diversion because of the lack of detailed flood plain geometry. (Kosco-USGS)
Idaho↗
The flood in southeastern Idaho from the Teton Dam failure of June 5, 1976
The failure of the Teton Dam near Newdale, Idaho, June 5, 1976, caused a flood of unprecedented magnitude on the Teton River, lower Henrys Fork, and Snake River upstream from American Falls Reservoir. Eleven lives were lost. More than 180 square miles were inundated and damages reportedly were about $400 million. At the time of failure, the Teton Reservoir contained 251,700 acre ft of water. Approximately 173,000 acre-ft drained through the breached dam within 143 minutes, resulting in a peak discharge of 2.3 million ft 3 /s. A total of about 240,000 acre-ft drained from the reservoir within an 8-hour period. Between Teton Dam and American Falls Reservoir on Snake River, about 100 miles, the peak discharge and flood volume attenuated to 53,500 ft 3 /s is and 160,000 acre-ft, respectively. American Falls Reservoir stored the entire floodflow. The report presents peak discharges, flood volumes, profiles of the water surface, time-of-travel data, and geometric properties of 25 transverse cross sections. Hydrographs of groundwater levels at 50 sites adjacent to the flood area are presented. Analyses of surface water and ground water samples show the effect of the flood flow on quality of water within the flooded area.
Idaho↗
Selected hydrologic data, Camas Prairie, south-central Idaho
This report presents data collected during a 1-year study of the water resources of Camas Prairie, Idaho. Included are records of wells, discharge measurements of streams, hydrographs of water levels in wells, water-quality data, and drillers' logs of wells. The data are conveniently made available to supplement an interpretive report, which will be published separately.
Idaho↗