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Hydrogeochemistry and simulated solute transport, Piceance Basin, northwestern Colorado

Oil-shale mining activities in Piceance basin in northwestern Colorado could adversely affect the ground- and surface-water quality in the basin. This study of the hydrology and geochemistry of the area used groundwater solute-transport-modeling techniques to investigate the possible impact of the mines on water quality. Maps of the extent and structure of the aquifer were prepared and show that a saturated thickness of 2,000 feet occurs in the northeast part of the basin. Ground-water recharge in the upland areas in the east, south, and west parts of the basin moves down into deeper zones in the aquifer and laterally to the discharge areas along Piceance and Yellow Creeks. The saline zone and the unsaturated zone provide the majority of the dissolved solids found in the ground water. Precipitation, ion-exchange, and oxidation-reduction reactions are also occurring in the aquifer. Model simulations of groundwater pumpage in tracts C-a and C-b indicate that the altered direction of groundwater movement near the pumped mines will cause an improvement in groundwater quality near the mines and a degradation of water quality downgradient from the tracts. Model simulations of mine leaching in tract C-a and C-b indicate that equal rates of mine leaching in the tracts will produce much different effects on the water quality in the basin. Tract C-a, by virtue of its remote location from perennial streams, will primarily degrade the groundwater quality over a large area to the northeast of the tract. Tract C-b, by contrast, will primarily degrade the surface-water quality in Piceance Creek, with only localized effects on the groundwater quality. (USGS)

Open-File Report

Surface-geophysical investigation of a formerly used defense site, Machiasport, Maine, February 2003

Surface-geophysical surveys were conducted in February 2003 at a formerly used defense site in Maine, where residual chlorinated solvents are affecting off-site domestic water-supply wells. The U.S. Geological Survey and Argonne National Laboratory used surface-geophysical methods, including ground-penetrating radar and seismic-refraction tomography, to characterize the lithology and structure of the bedrock at the site and to identify highly fractured areas that may provide pathways for ground-water flow and contaminant transport. Multifrequency electromagnetic and inductive terrain-conductivity methods also were evaluated, but these techniques were adversely affected by a nearby naval computer and telecommunications station. Interpretation of the data from ground-penetrating radar indicates that depth to the weathered bedrock surface is approximately 0.5 to 3 meters. Reflections from within the bedrock are visible throughout all ground-penetrating radar profiles, and zones of scattered electromagnetic energy may correlate to zones of highly fractured bedrock. Interpretation of the data from seismic-refraction tomography inversion indicates that zones of relatively low seismic velocity and topographic lows may correlate with fractured and water-producing intervals within the bedrock. Integrated interpretation of the results from ground-penetrating radar and seismic-refraction tomography was used to locate boreholes along the surface-geophysical profiles. An integrated analysis of information obtained from the surface- and borehole-geophysical surveys and test drilling will be used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to develop a conceptual model of ground-water flow and solute transport at the site.

Maine

Spatiotemporal variations in copper, arsenic, cadmium, and zinc concentrations in surface water, fine-grained bed sediment, and aquatic macroinvertebrates in the upper Clark Fork Basin, western Montana—A 20-year synthesis, 1996–2016

The legacy of mining-related contamination in the upper Clark Fork Basin created an extensive longitudinal gradient in metal concentrations, extending from Silver Bow Creek to Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho. Downstream metal concentrations continue to decline, but, despite such improvements, the ecological health of much of the river remains uncertain. Understanding the long-term consequences of the Clark Fork River mining legacy may be supported by environmental monitoring techniques that include a holistic assessment of biological health or response to define organism exposure to complex contaminant mixtures and the consequences of such exposures. This report presents the spatiotemporal patterns of mining-related contaminants, copper, arsenic, cadmium, and zinc, in surface water, fine-grained bed sediment, and macroinvertebrate (aquatic insect) tissue in the upper Clark Fork from near Butte to Missoula, Montana. Overall, the patterns in water column sample concentrations observed in this study were consistent with previously observed trends, but bed sediment concentrations and concentrations of copper and arsenic varied more in tissue samples among sites. Trace element concentrations, especially copper, often exceeded the chronic aquatic life criteria and consistently exceeded the sediment probable effects level PEL for copper, particularly in the upper and middle river segments. The 20 years considered here were the wettest period since remediation started, and this increase in precipitation may have affected patterns in contaminant concentrations. Results of this study demonstrated the utility of a continued, comprehensive biomonitoring program to help guide and evaluate future environmental cleanup activities in the Clark Fork. Despite variation in defining complete restoration in these watersheds, using multiple lines of evidence in this study provided quantifiable measures of the timing and completeness of recovery relative to reference conditions. Successful recovery in the Clark Fork may benefit from an adaptive management strategy to continue collecting a comprehensive, multivariate dataset to evaluate whether established goals are being met and for subsequent adjustments and management, as needed.

Montana

Antimicrobial residues in animal waste and water resources proximal to large-scale swine and poultry feeding operations

Expansion and intensification of large-scale animal feeding operations (AFOs) in the United States has resulted in concern about environmental contamination and its potential public health impacts. The objective of this investigation was to obtain background data on a broad profile of antimicrobial residues in animal wastes and surface water and groundwater proximal to large-scale swine and poultry operations. The samples were measured for antimicrobial compounds using both radioimmunoassay and liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS) techniques. Multiple classes of antimicrobial compounds (commonly at concentrations of >100 μg/l) were detected in swine waste storage lagoons. In addition, multiple classes of antimicrobial compounds were detected in surface and groundwater samples collected proximal to the swine and poultry farms. This information indicates that animal waste used as fertilizer for crops may serve as a source of antimicrobial residues for the environment. Further research is required to determine if the levels of antimicrobials detected in this study are of consequence to human and/or environmental ecosystems. A comparison of the radioimmunoassay and LC/ESI-MS analytical methods documented that radioimmunoassay techniques were only appropriate for measuring residues in animal waste samples likely to contain high levels of antimicrobials. More sensitive LC/ESI-MS techniques are required in environmental samples, where low levels of antimicrobial residues are more likely.

Science of the Total Environment

Evaluating the use of video cameras to estimate bridge scour potential at four bridges in southwestern Montana

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Montana Department of Transportation, installed cameras and large-scale particle image velocimetry (LSPIV) recording equipment at four sites where the U.S. Geological Survey and Montana Department of Transportation are monitoring bridge scour using other methods. Determination of stream velocities is an important component of hydraulic engineering, river ecology, and fluvial geomorphology. LSPIV is an emerging technique that can be used to estimate stream surface velocities and streamflow using video cameras. Video from the camera is referenced to known locations on streambanks, and postprocessed using computer software that calculates water surface velocity and flow direction between video frames. The goal of the study was to determine if LSPIV can increase the accuracy of current bridge scour prediction methods using video recordings from 2019 to 2021. Scour around piers is one of the primary failure mechanisms for bridges and poses threats to public safety and interstate commerce. LSPIV installations can capture the flow velocities and directions near bridge piers where other measurement methods might fail or be too dangerous. Additional benefits to the LSPIV technique were continuous data collection throughout the hydrologic cycle and enhanced safety of the methods for estimating velocity magnitude and direction during flood events. Limitations of the LSPIV technique included the angle of the camera to incoming flow; video recordings that were not usable because of ice cover, night, or high winds; and vegetation along the streambank that interfered with water flow analysis. Future applications of the LSPIV technique may continue to improve the processing of the video and reduce limitations for this process.

Montana

Hydrologic indices for nontidal wetlands

Two sets of hydrologic indices were developed to characterize the water-budget components of nontidal wetlands. The first set consisted of six water-budget indices for input and output variables, and the second set consisted of two hydrologic interaction indices derived from the water-budget indices. The indices then were applied to 19 wetlands with previously published water-budget data. Two trilinear diagrams for each wetland were constructed, one for the three input indices and another for the three output indices. These two trilinear diagrams then were combined with a central quadrangle to form a Piper-type diagram, with data points from the trilinear diagrams projected onto the quadrangle. The quadrangle then was divided into nine fields that summarized the water-budget information. Two quantitative "interaction indices" were calculated from two of the six water-budget indices (precipitation and evapotranspiration). They also were obtained graphically from the water-budget indices, which were first projected to the central quadrangle of a Piper-type diagram from the flanking trilinear plots. The first interaction index (l) defines the strength of interaction between a wetland and the surrounding ground- and surface-water system. The second interaction index (S) defines the nature of the interaction between the wetland and the surrounding ground- and surface-water system (source versus sink). Evaluation of these indices using published wetland water-budget data illustrates the usefulness of the technique.

Wetlands

Inferring watershed hydraulics and cold-water habitat persistence using multi-year air and stream temperature signals

Streams strongly influenced by groundwater discharge may serve as “climate refugia” for sensitive species in regions of increasingly marginal thermal conditions. The main goal of this study is to develop paired air and stream water annual temperature signal analysis techniques to elucidate the relative groundwater contribution to stream water and the effective groundwater flowpath depth. Groundwater discharge to streams attenuates surface water temperature signals, and this attenuation can be diagnostic of groundwater gaining systems. Additionally, discharge from shallow groundwater flowpaths can theoretically transfer lagged annual temperature signals from aquifer to stream water. Here we explore this concept using multi-year temperature records from 120 stream sites located across 18 mountain watersheds of Shenandoah National Park, VA, USA and a coastal watershed in Massachusetts, USA. Both areas constitute important cold-water habitat for native brook trout ( Salvelinus fontinalis ). Observed annual temperature signals indicate a dominance of shallow groundwater discharge to streams in the National Park, in contrast to the coastal watershed that has strong, apparently deeper, groundwater influence. The average phase lag from air to stream signals in Shenandoah National Park is 11 d; however, extended lags of approximately 1 month were observed in a subset of streams. In contrast, the coastal stream has pronounced attenuation of annual temperature signals without notable phase lag. To better understand these observed differences in signal characteristics, analytical and numerical models are used to quantify mixing of the annual temperature signals of surface and groundwater. Simulations using a total heat budget numerical model indicate groundwater-induced annual temperature signal phase lags are likely to show greater downstream propagation than the related signal amplitude attenuation. The measurement of multi-seasonal paired air and water temperatures offers great promise toward understanding catchment processes and informing current cold-water habitat management at ecologically-relevant scales.

Virginia

The U. S. Geological Survey's Albemarle-Pamlico National Water-Quality Assessment Study; background and design

The Albemarle-Pamlico Study Unit is one of 20 National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) studies begun in 1991 by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to assess the Nation's water quality. One of the missions of the USGS is to assess the quantity and quality of the Nation's water resources. The NAWQA program was established to help accomplish this mission. The Albemarle-Pamlico Study Unit, located in Virginia and North Carolina, drains an area of about 28,000 square miles. Four major rivers, the Chowan, the Roanoke, the Tar-Pamlico and the Neuse, all drain into the Albemarle-Pamlico Sound in North Carolina. Four physiographic regions (areas of homogeneous climatic, geologic, and biological characteristics), the Valley and Ridge, Blue Ridge, Piedmont and Coastal Plain Physiographic Provinces are included within the Albemarle-Pamlico Study Unit. Until 1991, there was no single program that could answer the question, 'Are the Nation's ground and surface waters getting better, worse, or are they staying the same?' A program was needed to evaluate water quality by using standard techniques to allow assessment of water quality at local, regional, and national scales. The NAWQA Program was implemented to answer questions about the Nation's water quality using consistent and comparable methods. A total of 60 basins, or study units, will be in place by 1997 to assess the Nation's water quality.

Open-File Report

Challenges of using electrical resistivity method to locate karst conduits-A field case in the Inner Bluegrass Region, Kentucky

Conduits serve as major pathways for groundwater flow in karst aquifers. Locating them from the surface, however, is one of the most challenging tasks in karst research. Geophysical methods are often deployed to help locate voids by mapping variations of physical properties of the subsurface. Conduits can cause significant contrasts of some physical properties that can be detected; other subsurface features such as water-bearing fractures often yield similar contrasts, which are difficult to distinguish from the effects of the conduits. This study used electrical resistivity method to search for an unmapped karst conduit that recharges Royal Spring in the Inner Bluegrass karst region, Kentucky, USA. Three types of resistivity techniques (surface 2D survey, quasi-3D survey, and time-lapse survey) were used to map and characterize resistivity anomalies. Some of the major anomalies were selected as drilling targets to verify the existence of the conduits. Drilling near an anomaly identified by an electrical resistivity profile resulted in successful penetration of a major water-filled conduit. The drilling results also suggest that, in this study area, low resistivity anomalies in general are associated with water-bearing features. However, differences in the anomaly signals between the water-filled conduit and other water-bearing features such as water-filled fracture zones were undistinguishable. The electrical resistivity method is useful in conduit detection by providing potential drilling targets. Knowledge of geology and hydrogeology about the site and professional judgment also played important roles in locating the major conduit. ?? 2011 Elsevier B.V.

Journal of Applied Geophysics

Spatial and temporal variations in silver contamination and toxicity in San Francisco Bay

Although San Francisco Bay has a "Golden Gate", it may be argued that it is the "Silver Estuary". For at one time the Bay was reported to have the highest levels of silver in its sediments and biota, along with the only accurately measured values of silver in solution, of any estuarine system. Since then others have argued that silver contamination is higher elsewhere (e.g., New York Bight, Florida Bay, Galveston Bay) in a peculiar form of pollution machismo, while silver contamination has measurably declined in sediments, biota, and surface waters of the Bay over the past two to three decades. Documentation of those systemic temporal declines has been possible because of long-term, ongoing monitoring programs, using rigorous trace metal clean sampling and analytical techniques, of the United States Geological Survey and San Francisco Bay Regional Monitoring Program that are summarized in this report. However, recent toxicity studies with macro-invertebrates in the Bay have indicated that silver may still be adversely affecting the health of the estuarine system, and other studies have indicated that silver concentrations in the Bay may be increasing due to new industrial inputs and/or the diagenetic remobilization of silver from historically contaminated sediments being re-exposed to overlying surface waters and benthos. Consequently, the Bay may not be ready to relinquish its title as the "Silver Estuary".

California

Effects of hydraulic borehole mining on ground water at a test site in northeast St Johns County, Florida

An experimental mining project was conducted in northeast St. Johns County, Florida, to determine the feasibility of extracting deeply buried phosphate ore by hydraulic borehole mining techniques. The phosphate zone is between 232 and 250 feet below land surface and consists of approximately equal proportions of fine-grained phosphate, sand, and clay. Six wells were constructed at the test site to monitor effects of the mining operation on the ground-water resources of the area. One well penetrated the Floridan aquifer beneath the phosphate zone, another was completed in the phosphate zone, and the other four were finished in water-bearing zones above the phosphate zone. The mining project consisted of three separate tests in which different mining methods were used. Changes in water levels, other than in the mined zone, were detected only in the overlying monitored zone during the first two tests as a result of roof failures in cavities formed by the mining operation. Water-quality changes were observed only in the mined zone and resulted from the injection of water from the deeper Floridan aquifer as part of the mining operation. (USGS)

Water-Resources Investigations Report

Tolerance of developing salmonid eggs and fry to nitrate exposure

This paper reports on tests which show significant effects on early salmonid life stages of nitrates at levels commonly found in groundwaters in geographical areas that are influenced by fertilizer application. It has long been known, from fish cultural experience, that in certain site specific locations, chronic problems can be expected with salmonid egg development and early fry mortality. However, fingerlings which survive usually grow normally. A complete explanation is lacking although several environmental factors have been proposed to account for this phenomenon. One, which has so far received little attention, is that nitrate levels in the ground and surface waters of many areas have been increasing significantly over historical background levels. Ammonia, urea, and other potential sources of nitrate can enter natural waters from a variety of sources, such as domestic or industrial sewage, animal feedlots, or seepage and return flows from agricultural lands. The latter may be the largest contributor, since billions of tons of nitrate fertilizers are applied to agricultural crops on a worldwide basis each year. In addition, intensive forest management techniques include the aerial application of nitrate fertilizer to increase the yield of wood products, while range management practices call for use of nitrates to increase forage production. The nitrate that is not taken up by plants ultimately appears in ground or surface waters.

Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxico

Field techniques for fluorescence measurements targeting dissolved organic matter, hydrocarbons, and wastewater in environmental waters: Principles and guidelines for instrument selection, operation and maintenance, quality assurance, and data reporting

The use of field deployable fluorescence sensors by the U.S. Geological Survey has become increasingly common for a wide variety of surface water and groundwater investigations. This report addresses field deployable fluorometers that measure the fluorescence response of various substances in water exposed to incident light generated by the sensor. An introduction to the basic principles of field measurements of fluorescence is provided, as well as technical background information on sensors that target dissolved organic matter, wastewater, and hydrocarbons, including sensor selection, operating principles, key features, and design elements. General deployment, operation and maintenance protocols, quality-assurance techniques, and suggestions for data reporting are presented to facilitate and standardize the collection and accurate communication of data collected by the U.S. Geological Survey across studies, sites, and sensor types. Sensor performance issues and common interferences are also described. An appendix is included to describe sensor calibration criteria and procedures, reporting units, and specific approaches to correct for interferences for fluorescence of dissolved organic matter sensors.

Techniques and Methods

Low-flow characteristics of streams in the Lahaina District, West Maui, Hawai'i

The purpose of this study was to characterize streamflow availability under natural low-flow conditions for streams in the Lahaina District, west Maui, Hawaiʻi. The study-area streams included Honolua Stream and tributary Pāpua Gulch, Honokahua Stream and tributary Mokupeʻa Gulch, Kahana Stream, Honokōwai Stream and tributaries Amalu and Kapāloa Streams, Wahikuli Gulch and tributary Hāhākea Gulch, Kahoma Stream and tributary Kanahā Stream, Kauaʻula Stream, Launiupoko Stream, Olowalu Stream, and Ukumehame Gulch. The results of this study can be used to assist in the determination of technically defensible instream-flow standards for the study-area streams. Low-flow characteristics for natural (unregulated) streamflow conditions were represented by flow-duration discharges that are equaled or exceeded between 50 and 95 percent of the time. Partial-record sites were established on 10 main streams and 5 tributary streams, mainly upstream from existing surface-water diversions. Flow characteristics were determined using historical and current streamflow data from continuous-record streamflow-gaging stations and miscellaneous sites, and additional data collected as part of this study. Based on strategically scheduled observations, six of the study-area streams were ephemeral streams that were observed to remain dry at least 50 percent of the time: Pāpua Gulch, Honokahua Stream and its tributary Mokupeʻa Gulch, Kahana Stream, and Wahikuli Gulch and its tributary Hāhākea Gulch. For the remaining streams with measurable flow, Honolua, Honokōwai, Kahoma, Kanahā, Kauaʻula, Launiupoko, and Olowalu Streams, and Ukumehame Gulch, flow-duration discharges were computed for the 30-year base period (water years 1984–2013), using two record-augmentation techniques. The 95-percent flow-duration discharges ranged from 0 to 4.8 cubic feet per second (ft 3 /s). The 50-percent flow-duration discharges ranged from 0.47 to 9.5 ft 3 /s. This study also estimated the streamflow gains and losses downstream of surface-water diversions using seepage-run measurements. A majority of the streams lost flow downstream from diversions. Measured seepage-loss rates ranged between 0.045 and 1.6 ft3/s per mile of stream reach. Seepage gains mostly occurred upstream from diversions and the measured seepage-gain rates generally ranged between 0.75 and 5.1 ft3/s per mile of stream reach. Under natural-flow conditions, Honolua Stream is estimated to flow to the ocean less than 80 percent of the time and Honokōwai Stream is estimated to flow to the ocean less than 50 percent of the time. Kahoma Stream, Kauaʻula Stream, Olowalu Stream, and Ukumehame Gulch are estimated to flow to the ocean at least 95 percent of the time.

Hawai'i

Hydrologic-information needs for oil-shale development, northwestern Colorado

Hydrologic information is not adequate for proper development of the large oil-shale reserves of Piceance basin in northwestern Colorado. Exploratory drilling and aquifer testing are needed to define the hydrologic system, to provide wells for aquifer testing, to design mine-drainage techniques, and to explore for additional water supplies. Sampling networks are needed to supply hydrologic data on the quantity and quality of surface water, ground water, and springs. A detailed sampling network is proposed for the White River basin because of expected impacts related to water supplies and waste disposal. Emissions from oil-shale retorts to the atmosphere need additional study because of possible resulting corrosion problems and the destruction of fisheries. Studies of the leachate materials and the stability of disposed retorted shale piles are needed to insure that these materials will not cause problems. Hazards related to in-situ retorts, and the wastes related to oil-shale development in general also need further investigation. (USGS)

Water-Resources Investigations Report

Updated statewide abundance estimates for the Florida manatee

Knowing how many manatees live in Florida is critical for conservation and management of this threatened species. Martin et al. (2015) flew aerial surveys in 2011–2012 and estimated abundance in those years using advanced techniques that incorporated multiple data sources. We flew additional aerial surveys in 2015–2016 to count manatees and again applied advanced statistical techniques to estimate their abundance. We also made several methodological advances over the earlier work, including accounting for how sea state (water surface conditions) and synchronous surfacing behavior affect the availability of manatees to be detected and incorporating all parts of Florida in the area of inference. We estimate that the number of manatees in Florida in 2015–2016 was 8,810 (95% Bayesian credible interval 7,520–10,280), of which 4,810 (3,820–6,010) were on the west coast of Florida and 4,000 (3,240–4,910) were on the east coast. These estimates and associated uncertainty, in addition to being of immediate value to wildlife managers, are essential new data for incorporation into integrated population models and population viability analyses.

Florida

Hydrologic data for Indian Creek basin, Fayette and Westmoreland counties, Pennsylvania, 1985-87

Hydrologic data were collected in the Indian Creek basin, Fayette and Westmoreland Counties, Pennsylvania. Since the early 1900's, coal in the basin has been extensively mined by both underground and surface-mining techniques. Data-collection sites were located in mined and unmined areas of the basin. The hydrologic data presented are from 5 continuous-record surfacewater data-collection sites, 1 ground-water well, 23 partial-record surfacewater sites, and 2 continuous-record precipitation gages. Data from the five continuous-record surface-water sites include discharge, specific conductance, temperature, pH, and suspended-sediment concentration. Results of laboratory analyses are reported. Benthic macroinvertebrates collected at 23 sites are listed.

Open-File Report

Inverse modeling of surface-water discharge to achieve restoration salinity performance measures in Florida Bay, Florida

The use of numerical modeling to evaluate regional water-management practices involves the simulation of various alternative water-delivery scenarios, which typically are designed intuitively rather than analytically. These scenario simulations are used to analyze how specific water-management practices affect factors such as water levels, flows, and salinities. In lieu of testing a variety of scenario simulations in a trial-and-error manner, an optimization technique may be used to more precisely and directly define good water-management alternatives. A numerical model application in the coastal regions of Florida Bay and Everglades National Park (ENP), representing the surface- and ground-water hydrology for the region, is a good example of a tool used to evaluate restoration scenarios. The Southern Inland and Coastal System (SICS) model simulates this area with a two-dimensional hydrodynamic surface-water model and a three-dimensional ground-water model, linked to represent the interaction of the two systems with salinity transport. This coastal wetland environment is of great interest in restoration efforts, and the SICS model is used to analyze the effects of alternative water-management scenarios. The SICS model is run within an inverse modeling program called UCODE. In this application, UCODE adjusts the regulated inflows to ENP while SICS is run iteratively. UCODE creates parameters that define inflow within an allowable range for the SICS model based on SICS model output statistics, with the objective of matching user-defined target salinities that meet ecosystem restoration criteria. Preliminary results obtained using two different parameterization methods illustrate the ability of the model to achieve the goals of adjusting the range and reducing the variance of salinity values in the target area. The salinity variance in the primary zone of interest was reduced from an original value of 0.509 psu2 to values 0.418 psu2 and 0.342 psu2 using different methods. Simulations with one, two, and three target areas indicate that optimization is limited near model boundaries and the target location nearest the tidal boundary may not be improved. These experiments indicate that this method can be useful for designing water-delivery schemes to achieve certain water-quality objectives. Additionally, this approach avoids much of the intuitive type of experimentation with different flow schemes that has often been used to develop restoration scenarios. ?? 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Journal of Hydrology