Water-resources activities of the U.S. Geological Survey in North Dakota, fiscal year 1985
No abstract available.
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Geology topics
Research about North Dakota
Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including North Dakota.
The geohydrologic system and probable effects of mining in the Sand Creek-Hanks lignite area, western Williams County, North Dakota
The investigation was undertaken to define the geohydrology of the Sand Creek-Hanks area and to project probable hydrologic effects of lignite mining on the area. Aquifers occur in sandstone beds in the Fox Hills Sandstone and the Hell Creek Formation of Cretaceous age and in sandstone lenses and lignite beds in the Tongue River and Sentinel Butte Members of the Fort Union Formation of Tertiary age. The top of the Fox Hills aquifer ranges from about 1,200 to 2,000 feet below land surface. Yields of wells completed in the aquifer could be as much as 60 gallons per minute. Water in the Fox Hills aquifer is a sodium bicarbonate type and generally Depths to the top of the Hell Creek aquifer range from about 900 to 1,600 feet. Well yields range from less than 10 to 40 gallons per minute. Water in the aquifer is a sodium bicarbonate type and generally contains between 1,000 and 2,200 milligrams per liter dissolved solids. Depths to aquifers in the Tongue River and Sentinel Butte Members of Fort Union Formation range from near land surface to about 1,000 feet below land surface. Wells completed in the aquifers may yield as much as 40 gallons per minute of sodium bicarbonate or a sodium sulfate type water that contains about 800 to 4,100 milligrams per liter dissolved solids. Glacial drift covers most of the study area. The drift thickness ranges from a veneer to about 380 feet. Well yields range from a few gallons per minute to 900 gallons per minute. Dissolved-solids concentrations in water from the glacial drift generally range from 477 to 2,050 milligrams per liter. Mining of lignite will destroy all aquifers in and above the mined lignite and will expose overburden to oxidation. Leaching will cause an increase in dissolved solids in ground water immediately beneath the mines and possibly will cause some increase in the dissolved solids in low flows in area streams.
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Updating range surveys using a geographic information system
A spatial database was developed for the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota to demonstrate the use of a geographic information system for natural resource management. A key component of the digital database was a detailed soil survey. Range site boundaries were derived by aggregating soil mapping units on the basis on interpretations from the published soil surveys. The problem was that no range survey data including stocking rates and condition class were available for the soil-survey-derived range sites. The only available range survey was a survey that was based on range site delineations from a Missouri River Basin Inventory (MRBI) program conducted in 1961, prior to the availability of soil survey data. The MRBI survey information was correlated with the revised range sites derived from the soil surveys to device stocking rates and condition classes. A 1:24,000-scale map which included revised range site boundaries and management boundaries was produced for each township within the reservation. All polygons on the maps were uniquely labeled to permit discrimination of the potential differences in range site stocking rates due to grazing management practices. The maps and the associated polygon attribute data were merged with maps of the MRBI transect information to derive the stocking rate and condition class for each revised range site within a management unit. The resulting database components were a map of revised range site boundaries within management units and an associated tabular file containing attribute information including stocking rate and condition class.
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Swainson's hawk nesting ecology in North Dakota
Swainson's Hawks (Buteo swainsoni) were studied at 270 occupied nest sites in south-central North Dakota on a 1,259-km2 intensive study block and on a surrounding study area (16,519 km2) during three breeding seasons. On the intensive study block the number of occupied nests ranged from 46 in 1977 to 100 in 1979. Average nest densities were highest on ground moraine (0.119 nest/km2) and on eolian sand deposit (0.102 nest/km2 landforms. Pasture and haylands made up 75% of the land-use within 1.0 km of a sample of 27 nests. Some pairs nested successfully in sites characterized by intensive agriculture and human activity; about 75% of all nests were in sites attributable to human activities. The most common nesting sites (43%) were in shelterbelts. Cottonwoods (Populus deltoides) were the most frequently used (44%) nest trees. At least 50% of the pairs constructed new nests each year. Mean nest success was 64% and mean number of young fledged per occupied nest was 1.5. Wind and hail caused over 30% of the nest failures each of the three years. Northern pocket gophers (Thomomys talpoides) were the most frequent prey, accounting for 44% of all animal remains found at nests. Man-made changes in central North Dakota during the last century have provided many nesting sites in areas previously sparsely populated by Swainson's Hawks.
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Nest spacing, habitat selection, and behavior of waterfowl on Miller Lake Island, North Dakota
The nesting behavior of a concentration of nesting mallards ( Anas platyrhynchos ) and gadwalls ( A. strepera ) was studied on a 4.5-ha island in Miller Lake, North Dakota, in 1977. A single 0.59-ha clump of thick shrub contained 225 simultaneously active mallard nests on 10 May. During the peak nesting period, mallard nests were spaced an average of 2.7 m from conspecifics. Active nests of all species peaked at 327, spaced an average of 2.1 m apart. Nests were clustered in thick shrub with moderate numbers in open shrub and few in grassland. Nest placement was significantly related to the amount of vegetative screening although mammalian predators were absent on the island. Cover density appeared to be important to the nesting hens as vegetation screened nests from potential avian predators and from harassment by other conspecific nesting hens and drakes. Mallards and gadwalls nesting on this island used wetlands in >100 km2 around Miller Lake. During daylight hours in late April 1978, an average of 4.9 mallards/minute arrived at the island; a peak of 17.2 mallards/minute arrived at 0800. In late April 1978, as many as 26 mallard pairs/ha occurred on favored wetlands and behavioral aggression was intense. Yet, most mallard hens maintained adequate space to acquire food and other requisites. Mallards and gadwalls were sufficiently adaptable to successfully exploit the Miller Lake island and environments that resulted in high reproductive success. Other local breeding Anatidae because of behavioral constraints were unable to exploit the same situation.
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Ecological distribution and crude density of breeding birds on prairie wetlands
Breeding populations of 28 species of wetland-dwelling birds other than waterfowl (Anatidae) were censused on 1,321 wetlands lying within the prairie pothole region of North Dakota. Ecological distribution and two crude measures of relative density were calculated for the 22 commonest species using eight wetland classes. Semipermanent wetlands supported nearly two-thirds of the population and were used by all 22 species, whereas seasonal wetlands contained about one-third of the population and were used by 20 species Semipermanent, fen, and temporary wetlands contained highest bird densities on the basis of wetland area; on the basis of wetland unit, densities were highest on semipermanent, permanent, alkali, and fen wetlands. The highest ranking of semipermanent wetlands by all three measures of use was probably because these wetlands, as well as being relatively numerous and large, were vegetatively diverse. The fairly large proportion of the bird population supported by seasonal wetlands was a result of wetland abundance and moderate vegetative diversity. Increased vegetative diversity results from the development of characteristic zones of hydrophytes at sites where water persists longer during the growing season. Frequent cultivation of prairie wetlands results in the replacement of tall, robust perennials by bare soil or stands of short, weak-stemmed annuals that likely are unattractive to nesting birds.
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Wood duck and hooded merganser nesting on Arrowwood NWR, North Dakota
No abstract available.
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Water resources data, North Dakota, water year 1983
Water resources data for the 1983 water year for North Dakota 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 112 gaging stations; stage only records for 17 gaging stations; stage and contents for 10 lakes and reservoirs; water quality for 109 gaging stations; 5 lakes, 29 wells, and water levels for 31 observation wells. 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 North Dakota.
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Evaluation of the hydrologic system and potential effects of mining in the Dickinson lignite area, eastern slope and western Stark and Hettinger counties, North Dakota
The investigation of the water resources of the Dickinson lignite area, an area of about 500 square miles, was undertaken to define the hydrologic system of the area and to project probable effects of coal mining on the system. Aquifers occur in sandstone beds in: the Fox Hills Sandstone and the lower Hell Creek Formation of Cretaceous age, the upper Hell Creek Formation of Cretaceous age and the lower Ludlow Member of the Fort Union Formation of Tertiary age, and the upper Ludlow and lower Tongue River Members of the Fort Union Formation of Tertiary age. Aquifers also occur in the sandstone and lignite lenses in the upper Tongue River Member and the Sentinel Butte Member of the Fort Union Formation. Depths to the Fox Hills-lower Hell Creek aquifer system range from about 1,300 to 1,710 feet. Well yields range from 18 to 100 gallons per minute. The water is soft and is a sodium bicarbonate type. Dissolvedsolids concentrations in samples collected from the aquifer system ranged from 1,230 to 1,690 milligrams per liter. Depths to the upper Hell Creek-lower Ludlow aquifer system range from about 720 to 1,040 feet. Well yields generally are less than 30 gallons per minute but may be as much as 150 gallons per minute. The water is soft and a sodium bicarbonate type. Dissolved-solids concentrations in samples collected from the aquifer system ranged from 1,010 to 1,450 milligrams per liter. Depths to the upper Ludlow-lower Tongue River aquifer system range from about 440 to 713 feet. Well yields may range from about 1 to 100 gallons per minute. The water generally is soft and a sodium bicarbonate type but may be moderately hard and a sulfate type in the southwestern part of the area. Dissolved-solids concentrations in samples collected from the aquifer system ranged from 995 to 1,990 milligrams per liter. Depths to the upper Tongue River-Sentinel Butte aquifer system range from near land surface to about 530 feet below land surface. Well yields generally range from about 1 to 185 gallons per minute. Yields from the lignite parts of the system range from about 2 to 60 gallons per minute. The water generally is a sodium bicarbonate type, but locally sulfate is the dominant anion. Dissolved-solids concentrations in samples collected from the aquifer system generally ranged from 574 to 2,720 milligrams per liter.
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Notes on mortality of American white pelicans at Chase Lake, North Dakota
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Atmospheric deposition: Sample handling, storage, and analytical procedures for chemical characterization of event-based samples in North Dakota
The North Dakota atmospheric-deposition network uses HASL-type collectors to sample wet and dry deposition on an event basis for analysis of 8 principal mineral, 3 nutrient, and 15 trace constituents. Comparison of the compositions of wet deposition collected in adjacent collectors sampled on weekly and event bases indicates that weekly sampling leads to significant contamination of wet deposition samples with dry deposition. Elevation of the collectors 10 feet above ground surface may decrease wind-blown soil contamination significantly. This manual presents a summary of the research procedures adopted by the North Dakota District of the U.S. Geological Survey to investigate the consequences of increased fossil-fuel combustion on the quality of atmospheric deposition. The manual has been tested by field operatives for 3 years and shown to be an effective field guide and management tool.
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The effect of variable spring water conditions on mallard reproduction
Mallard ( Anas platyrhynchos ) breeding densities in the prairie pothole habitat of eastern North Dakota during 1961-1980 varied from 2.28 birds/km 2 in 1977 to 9.47 birds/km 2 in 1963 and were correlated with pond abundance ( r = 0.543, P < 0.05). The number of basins used by pairs declined with drought, as did home-range size. Nesting activity also varied with the number of ponds holding water/km 2 , ranging from high (including substantial renesting) under favorable water conditions to low during extreme drought. The span between first and last nest initiations declined by 19 days from a wet to a dry year. With severe drought conditions during spring 1977 on the Medina Study Area, pairs returned to attempt nesting but were unsuccessful, and most abandoned activity centers by mid-May. Although the average clutch size declined by about 0.7 egg from a wet to a dry year on the Interstate Study Area, hatchability of eggs remained constant. We describe the adaptive strategy of Mallards for breeding under variable water conditions and food resources in the semiarid prairie environment of midcontinent North America.
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Ferruginous hawk populations and habitat use in North Dakota
Ferruginous hawks ( Buteo regalis ) were studied in central North Dakota on a 1,259-km 2 intensive study block and on a surrounding study area (16,519 km 2 ) from 1977 to 1979. A total of 629 occupied nests was examined. Highest nest densities (0.08 nest/km 2 ) were in the Missouri Coteau in 1979. Few nests were found on the more intensively cultivated Drift Plain. We estimated the breeding population in the study area each year using 148 sample plots ( x̄ = 440 nesting pairs). Pairs that nested on the ground selected only sites on rugged landforms in isolated areas, mostly end and dead-ice moraines. Land use within 1.0 km of nests was mostly (76.5%) pasture and haylands. About 95% of the area around ground nests was grassland. Tree and tower nesting birds appeared less sensitive to surrounding land use. Pairs on the intensive study block used a wide variety of nest sites including trees (63.6%), ground (20.9%), power line towers (8.0%), haystacks (5.4%), and rock piles, utility poles, and shrubs (2.1%). Reoccupancy rates were higher (63.7%) for tower nests than for other sites. Nest success was related to the type of nest site and was highest (86.7%) in certain power line towers. Mean number of young fledged per occupied nest was highest (2.8) for ground nests. Summer storms were a major cause of loss; tree nests were particularly vulnerable. Richardson's ground squirrels ( Spermophilus richardsonii ) were taken as prey most often. Ferruginous hawks are closely associated with grasslands, particularly native prairie.
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Concentrated nesting of mallards and gadwalls on Miller Lake Island, North Dakota
Island-nesting mallards ( Anas platyrhynchos ) and gadwalls ( A. strepera ) were studied on a 4.5-ha island in 385-ha Miller Lake in northwestern North Dakota during 1976-80. During the 5-year study, 2,561 duck nests of 9 species were found on Island A located 180 m offshore; 59% were mallard and 34% were gadwall. In patches of shrub cover, which contained the greatest concentrations of nests, densities ranged from 241 to 389 mallard nests/ha and from 139 to 237 gadwall nests/ha. Over 97% of the nests were placed in 4 patches of shrubs totaling about 1 ha of western snowberry ( Symphoricarpos occidentalis )--Woods rose ( Rosa woodsii ) cover, which composed about 30% of the island's vegetation. Average hatching success was 85% for clutches of all species. Abandonment averaged 14% (348 of 2,426 nests) and was the major cause of egg failure. Only 15 nests (<1%) were destroyed, primarily by ring-billed ( Larus delawarensis ) or California gulls ( L. californicus ). A minimum of 15,960 ducklings including 9,300 mallards and 5,150 gadwalls hatched on 4.5-ha Island A. Hatching rates of eggs in successful nests averaged 83% for mallards and 87% for gadwalls. Despite the close spacing of nests, most individual hens maintained normal nesting regimes. Eighty-one percent of the mallard clutches contained 7-13 eggs and 81% of the gadwall clutches contained 8-14 eggs. Island A in Miller Lake provides an outstanding example of the potential for high reproduction levels of mallards and gadwalls nesting in small areas of predator-free habitats.
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Structural-stratigraphic framework and correlation of coal beds in the Tongue River and Sentinel Butte Members of the Fort Union Formation, Daglum 15-minute quadrangle, Billings, Stark, and Slope Counties, North Dakota
The Daglum quadrangle of southwestern North Dakota (see index map) is underlain by 11 lignite beds that exceed 5 ft in thickness within the Sentinel Butte and Tongue River Members of the Fort Union Formation. Six of these bed crop out within the quadrangle. This report illustrates the stratigraphic position, correlation, extent, and structural attitude of the lignite beds.
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Linear features determined from Landsat imagery in North Dakota
The report consists of a map (scale 1:500,000) that shows the linear features determined from Landsat imagery in North Dakota. The linear features, sometimes called linear trends or lineaments, are not identified as to type or origin. Most probably represent fractures or fracture zones, which may affect the movement of water or other fluids through the rocks. The linear features are classified as to length--less than 30 miles, 30 to 200 miles, 200 to 500 miles, and more than 500 miles. (USGS)
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