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At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources
USGS1978

Summary of references to mineral occurrences (other than mineral fuels and construction materials) in the Afognak, Karluk, Kodiak, and Trinity Islands quadrangles, Alaska

These summaries of references are designed to aid in library research on metallic and nonmetallic (other than mineral fuels and construction materials) mineral occurrences in the Afognak, Karluk, Kodiak, and Trinity Islands quadrangle, Alaska. References to most reports of the Geological Survey, the U.S. Bureau of Mines, and the State of Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys and its predecessor State and Territorial agencies released before January 1, 1979, are summarized. Certain, mainly statistical, reports such as the annual Minerals Yearbook of the U.S. Bureau of Mines and biennial and annual reports of the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys and its predecessor State and Territorial agencies are not included. Also not included are data on many claims about which little more than their locations is known (for example, MacKevett and Holloway, 1977, p. 18). These omissions should not be interpreted as a judgement on my part that the claims are not valid mineral occurrences, but only that there are insufficient data to describe any mineral deposit that might be present. This report is divided into three parts: a section made up of summaries of references arranged alphabetically first by occurrence name; a section that lists synonyms for names in the first section, claim names, and the names of operators and owners of mines and prospects; and a section that lists, by author, all references in the first section and in these introductory paragraphs.

Alaska↗
USGS1993

Water-quantity, water-quality, soil, and sediment data collected at Goose Egg Spring, Natrona County, Wyoming, May and July 1992

Recent, apparent increases in sediment accumulation in Goose Egg Spring, southwest of Casper, Wyoming, may have been the result of natural environmental processes or quarry operations near the spring in late 1991. Goose Egg Spring is the sole source of water for the Dan Speas Fish Rearing Station. This facility is operated by the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission and produces about 77,000 kilograms of stockable fish annually. Samples of the spring water, surrounding soils, and bottom sediment were collected. Methods used in obtaining all samples are discussed. Results of chemical analyses of the spring water, stratigraphic description of core samples, particle-size distribution analysis, visual mineralogical assessment, and X-ray diffraction analysis were used to characterize Goose Egg Spring and the immediately surrounding area in May and July 1992.

Open-File Report↗
USGS2006

Idaho and Montana non-fuel exploration database 1980-1997

This report describes a relational database containing information about mineral exploration projects in the States of Idaho and Montana for the years 1980 through 1997 and a spatial (geographic) database constructed using data from the relational database. The focus of this project was to collect information on exploration for mineral commodities with the exception of sand, gravel, coal, geothermal, oil, and gas. The associate databases supplied with this report are prototypes that can be used or modified as needed. The following sources were used to create the databases-serial mining periodicals; annual mineral publications; mining company reports; U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) publications; an Idaho mineral property data base developed by Dave Boleneus, USGS, Spokane, Washington; Montana state publications; and discussions with representatives of Montana, principally the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology and the Department of Environmental Quality. Fifty commodity groups were reported between the 596 exploration projects identified in this study. Precious metals (gold, silver, or platinum group elements) were the primary targets for about 67 percent of the exploration projects. Information on 17 of the projects did not include commodities. No location could be determined for 51 projects, all in Idaho. During the time period evaluated, some mineral properties were developed into large mining operations (for example Beal Mountain Mine, Stillwater Mine, Troy Mine, Montana Tunnels Mine) and six properties were reclaimed. Environmental Impact Statements were done on four properties. Some operating mines either closed or went through one or more shutdowns and re-openings. Other properties, where significant resources were delineated by recent exploration during this time frame, await the outcome of important factors for development such as defining additional reserves, higher metal prices, and the permitting process. Many of these projects examined relatively minor mineral occurrences. Approximately half of the exploration projects are located on Federal lands and about 40 percent were on lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service. More than 75 percent of the exploration occurred in areas with significant previous mineral activity.

Data Series↗
USGS2015

Survival and recovery rates of mottled ducks banded in Texas and Louisiana

The Western Gulf Coast population of the mottled duck (Anas fulvigula) is dependent on the Gulf coastal marsh to complete its entire life cycle. Band recovery data can be used to monitor mottled duck populations by estimating annual survival, indexing harvest rate, and assessing movements. Band returns from hunting seasons 1997–2013 were used to evaluate factors influencing annual survival, recovery rates, and movements of mottled ducks in Texas and Louisiana. For banding years of 1997–2013, 58,349 normal, wild mottled ducks were banded and released in Texas and Louisiana. Since 2002, 86% of mottled duck bandings have occurred on the Chenier Plain of Texas and Louisiana. Hunters shot, recovered, and reported 7,061birds with bands during this period. Direct recovery rates were greater for juveniles than adults but changed little since the 1970s. Estimates of annual survival did not differ between Texas and Louisiana, but did among years and between sex and age classes. Adult male and juvenile female mottled ducks had the greatest and lowest annual survival rates, respectively. Recovery of birds banded on the Chenier Plain was four times greater for birds banded in Texas and harvested in Louisiana than banded in Louisiana and harvested in Texas. Much of the current inference of results from banding mottled ducks is limited to the Chenier Plain. To monitor the entire Western Gulf Coast population of mottled ducks, managers can consider expanding operational banding operations with annual quotas, which would improve survival and recovery estimates and allow for inference beyond the Chenier Plain region.

Louisiana, Texas↗
USGS2021

Winter flooding to conserve agricultural peat soils in a temperate climate: Effect on greenhouse gas emissions and global warming potential

This study investigated the CO 2 and CH 4 emission rates from agricultural operations on peat soils in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, comparing two common soil management treatments: leaving the field fallow in the winter and flooding the field in winter. Winter flooding is intended to reduce the oxidative loss of soil organic matter to CO 2 , as well as other putative benefits. The goal of the study was to assess if winter flooding lowers overall net carbon loss from the field and if it increases the net CH 4 emissions to a degree that results in a net increase in Global Warming Potential (GWP). The two treatments had similar annual carbon emissions (1.7–1.8 g C/m 2 /d) with the measured annual CO 2 flux rates for both among the highest previously reported, indicating that the flooding treatment did not effectively mitigate subsidence and loss of soil carbon. The flooded treatment had among the highest annual CH 4 emissions previously reported (64.1 mg C/m 2 /d), an order of magnitude greater than that measured on the fallow treatment (5.9 mg C/m 2 /d). Despite the much larger flux of CH 4 from the flooded treatment, when the net carbon export associated with grain harvest and hydrologic transport is included, the differences in the carbon balance and GWP (equivalent to CO 2 emissions of ~775 g C/m 2 /yr) between treatments is insignificant. Total greenhouse gas emissions and GWP of both sites are among the largest previously documented from cultivated peat systems, putting their climatic effect on par with freshwater wetlands, but without the concomitant soil conservation and carbon sequestration benefits of continuous flooding.

Book chapter↗
USGS2011

How systematic age underestimation can impede understanding of fish population dynamics: Lessons learned from a Lake Superior cisco stock

Systematic underestimation of fish age can impede understanding of recruitment variability and adaptive strategies (like longevity) and can bias estimates of survivorship. We suspected that previous estimates of annual survival ( S ; range = 0.20-0.44) for Lake Superior ciscoes Coregonus artedi developed from scale ages were biased low. To test this hypothesis, we estimated the total instantaneous mortality rate of adult ciscoes from the Thunder Bay, Ontario, stock by use of cohort-based catch curves developed from commercial gill-net catches and otolith-aged fish. Mean S based on otolith ages was greater for adult females (0.80) than for adult males (0.75), but these differences were not significant. Applying the results of a study of agreement between scale and otolith ages, we modeled a scale age for each otolith-aged fish to reconstruct catch curves. Using modeled scale ages, estimates of S (0.42 for females, 0.36 for males) were comparable with those reported in past studies. We conducted a November 2005 acoustic and midwater trawl survey to estimate the abundance of ciscoes when the fish were being harvested for roe. Estimated exploitation rates were 0.085 for females and 0.025 for males, and the instantaneous rates of fishing mortality were 0.089 for females and 0.025 for males. The instantaneous rates of natural mortality were 0.131 and 0.265 for females and males, respectively. Using otolith ages, we found that strong year-classes at large during November 2005 were caught in high numbers as age-1 fish in previous annual bottom trawl surveys, whereas weak or absent year-classes were not. For decades, large-scale fisheries on the Great Lakes were allowed to operate because ciscoes were assumed to be short lived and to have regular recruitment. We postulate that the collapse of these fisheries was linked in part to a misunderstanding of cisco biology driven by scale-ageing error.

Thunder Bay↗
USGS2025

Report of the River Master of the Delaware River for the period December 1, 2017–November 30, 2018

Executive Summary A Decree of the Supreme Court of the United States entered June 7, 1954 ( New Jersey v. New York , 347 U.S. 995), established the position of Delaware River Master within the U.S. Geological Survey. In addition, the Decree authorizes the diversion of water from the Delaware River Basin and requires that compensating releases from certain reservoirs owned by New York City be made under the supervision and direction of the River Master. The Decree stipulates that the River Master provide reports to the Court, not less frequently than annually. This report is the 65th annual report of the River Master of the Delaware River. The report covers the 2018 River Master report year, from December 1, 2017, to November 30, 2018. During the report year, precipitation in the upper Delaware River Basin was 60.39 inches or 136 percent of the long-term average. On December 1, 2017, combined useable storage in the New York City reservoirs in the upper Delaware River Basin was 193.230 billion gallons or 71.3 percent of the combined useable storage capacity of 270.837 billion gallons. The reservoirs had a usable capacity of 99.5 percent on May 31, 2018. Combined storage remained high (above 80 percent combined capacity) and did not decline below 80 percent of combined capacity through November 30, 2018. River Master operations during the year were conducted as stipulated by the Decree and the Flexible Flow Management Program. Diversions from the Delaware River Basin by New York City and New Jersey fully complied with the Decree. Reservoir releases were made as directed by the River Master at rates designed to meet the flow objective for the Delaware River at Montague, New Jersey, on 42 days during the report year. Interim Excess Release Quantity banks and conservation releases, designed to relieve thermal stress and protect the fishery and aquatic habitat in the tailwaters of the reservoirs, were also made during the report year.

Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania↗
USGS2014

External quality-assurance project report for the National Atmospheric Deposition Program/National Trends Network and Mercury Deposition Network, 2009-2010

The U.S. Geological Survey operated six distinct programs to provide external quality-assurance monitoring for the National Atmospheric Deposition Program/National Trends Network (NTN) and Mercury Deposition Network (MDN) during 2009–2010. The field-audit program assessed the effects of onsite exposure, sample handling, and shipping on the chemistry of NTN samples; a system-blank program assessed the same effects for MDN. Two interlaboratory-comparison programs assessed the bias and variability of the chemical analysis data from the Central Analytical Laboratory (CAL) and Mercury (Hg) Analytical Laboratory (HAL). The blind-audit program was also implemented for the MDN to evaluate analytical bias in total Hg concentration data produced by the HAL. The co-located-sampler program was used to identify and quantify potential shifts in NADP data resulting from replacement of original network instrumentation with new electronic recording rain gages (E-gages) and precipitation collectors that use optical sensors. The results indicate that NADP data continue to be of sufficient quality for the analysis of spatial distributions and time trends of chemical constituents in wet deposition across the United States. Results also suggest that retrofit of the NADP networks with the new precipitation collectors could cause –8 to +14 percent shifts in NADP annual precipitation-weighted mean concentrations and total deposition values for ammonium, nitrate, sulfate, and hydrogen ion, and larger shifts (+13 to +74 percent) for calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and chloride. The prototype N-CON Systems bucket collector is more efficient in the catch of precipitation in winter than Aerochem Metrics Model 301 collector, especially for light snowfall.

Scientific Investigations Report↗
USGS1979

Summary of references to mineral occurrences (other than mineral fuels and construction materials) in the Gulkana Quadrangle, Alaska

These summaries of references are designed to aid in library research on metallic and nonmetallic (other than mineral fuels and construction materials) mineral occurrences in the Gulkana quadrangle, Alaska. All references to most reports of the Geological Survey, the U.S. Bureau of Mines, and the State of Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys and its predecessor State and Territorial agencies released before June 1, 1979, are summarized. Certain, mainly statistical, reports such as the Annual Minerals Yearbook of the U.S. Bureau of Mines and the biennial and annual reports of the State of Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys and its predecessor agencies are not included. Also not included are data on many claims about which little more than their locations is known (for example, some of those in MacKevett and Holloway, 1977 (OF 77-169A), p. 20). These omissions should not be interpreted as a judgement on my part that the claims are not valid mineral occurrences, but only that there are insufficient data to describe any mineral deposit that might be present. This report is divided into three parts: a section made up of summaries of references arranged alphabetically by occurrence name; a section that lists synonyms for names in the first section, the names of operators and owners of mines and prospects, and claim names; and a section that lists, by author, all references summarized in the first section or mentioned in intruductory remarks.

Alaska↗
USGS2019

Report of the River Master of the Delaware River for the period December 1, 2009–November 30, 2010

A Decree of the Supreme Court of the United States, entered June 7, 1954, established the position of Delaware River Master within the U.S. Geological Survey. In addition, the Decree authorizes diversion of water from the Delaware River Basin and requires compensating releases from certain reservoirs, owned by New York City, to be made under the supervision and direction of the River Master. The Decree stipulates that the River Master will furnish reports to the Court, not less frequently than annually. This report is the 57th Annual Report of the River Master of the Delaware River. It covers the 2010 River Master report year, the period from December 1, 2009, to November 30, 2010. During the report year, precipitation in the upper Delaware River Basin was 49.38 inches or 112 percent of the long-term average. Combined storage in Pepacton, Cannonsville, and Neversink Reservoirs remained high much of the year and did not decline below 80 percent of combined capacity until September 2010. A lower basin drought warning was issued by the Delaware River Basin Commission on September 24, 2010. It automatically ended on October 31, 2010, when the reservoir contents rose above drought levels, due in large part to heavy rainfall during the last week of September. River Master operations during the year were conducted as stipulated by the Decree and the Flexible Flow Management Program. Diversions from the Delaware River Basin by New York City and New Jersey were in full compliance with the Decree. Reservoir releases were made as directed by the River Master at rates designed to meet the flow objective for the Delaware River at Montague, New Jersey, on 81 days during the report year. Interim Excess Release Quantity and conservation releases, designed to relieve thermal stress and protect the fishery and aquatic habitat in the tailwaters of the reservoirs, were made during the report year. The quality of water in the Delaware Estuary between Trenton, New Jersey, and Reedy Island Jetty, Delaware, was monitored at various locations. Data on water temperature, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, and pH were collected continuously by electronic instruments at four sites.

Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylv↗
USGS1978

Progress report on Black Mesa monitoring program; 1977

Monitoring activities of coal mine operations on Black Mesa were started in 1971 for the purpose of monitoring the effects of strip mining on the water resources of the area. Black Mesa is located in northeastern Arizona near the center of the Navajo Indian Reservation and is a prominent topographic high about 500 to 1,000 feet above the surrounding area. Monitoring on and near the mesa consists of measurements of ground-water levels, ground-water quality, and measurements of the quantity, sediment concentration, and chemical quality of surface water. The surface-water monitoring consists of: (1) rainfall-runoff characteristics in the immediate vicinity of the mine, and (2) surface-flow conditions and water-quality characteristics at a site on Moenkopi Wash at the village of Moenkopi. Three small watersheds of about 400 acres each are instrumented for the collection of flow data, precipitation data, and water samples for determination of chemical quality and sediment concentration. Each watershed is equipped with a data-collection platform that transmits the data via satellite to a computer that in turn provides near-real time information on rainfall and runoff. Available data at this time are insufficient to assess the effects of mining on the quantity, sediment concentration, or chemical quality of surface-water runoff. Water levels in seven wells, measured annually, have not shown significant declines. The water levels in some of the other wells in the network have declined as much as 7 feet, and others have fluctuated in response to seasonal pumping by nearby wells.

Arizona↗
USGS1979

Summary of references to mineral occurrences (other than mineral fuels and construction materials) in the Anchorage Quadrangle, Alaska

These summaries of references are designed to aid in library research on metallic and nonmetallic (other than mineral fuels and construction materials) mineral occurrences in the Anchorage quadrangle, Alaska. All references to most reports of the Geological Survey, the U.S. Bureau of Mines, and the State of Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys and its predecessor State and Territorial agencies released before January 1, 1979, are summarized. Certain, mainly statistical, reports such as the annual Minerals Yearbook of the U.S. Bureau of Mines and the biennial and annual reports of the State of Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys and its predecessor State and Territorial agencies are not included. Also not included are data on many claims about which little more than their locations is known (for example, MacKevett and Holloway, 1977 (0F77-169A), p. 8-10). These omissions should not be interpreted as a judgment on my part that the claims are not valid mineral occurrences, but only that there are insufficient data to describe any mineral deposit that might be present. This report is divided into three parts: a section made up of summaries of references arranged alphabetically by occurrence name; a section that lists synonyms for names in the first section, claim names, and the names of operators and owners of mines and prospects; and a section that lists, by author, all references summarized in the first section.

Alaska↗
USGS1979

Summary of references to mineral occurrences (other than mineral fuels and construction materials) in the Valdez Quadrangle, Alaska

These summaries of references are designed to aid in library research on metallic and nonmetallic (other than mineral fuels and construction materials) mineral occurrences in the Valdez quadrangle, Alaska. All references to most reports of the Geological Survey, the U.S. Bureau of Mines, and the State of Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys and its predecessor State and Territorial agencies released before April 1, 1979, are summarized. Certain, mainly statistical, reports such as the annual Minerals Yearbook of the U.S. Bureau of Mines and the biennial and annual reports of the State of Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys and its predecessor State and Territorial agencies are not included. Also not included are data on many claims about which little more than their locations is known (for example, MacKevett and Holloway, 1977 (OF 77-169A), p. 83). These omissions should not be interpreted as a judgment on my part that the claims are not valid mineral occurrences, but only that there are insufficient data to describe any mineral deposit that might be present. This report is divided into three parts: a section made up of summaries of references arranged alphabetically by occurrence name; a section that lists synonyms for names in the first section, claim names, and the names of operators and owners of mines and prospects; and a section that lists, by author, all references summarized in the first section.

Alaska↗
USGS1980

Summary of references to mineral occurrences (other than mineral fuels and construction materials) in the Mount McKinley Quadrangle, Alaska

These summaries of references are designed to aid in library research on metallic and nonmetallic (other than mineral fuels and construction materials) mineral occurrences in the Mount McKinley quadrangle, Alaska. All references to most reports of the Geological Survey, the U.S. Bureau of Mines, and the State of Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys and its predecessor State and Territorial agencies released before November 1, 1979, are summarized. Certain, mainly statistical, reports such as the annual Mineral Yearbook of the U.S. Bureau of Mines and the biennial and annual reports of the State of Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys and its predecessor State and Territorial agencies are not included. Also not included are data on many claims about which little more than their locations is known (for example, MacKevett and Holloway, 1977 (OF 77-169A), p. 48). These omissions should not be interpreted as a judgment on my part that the claims are not valid mineral occurrences, but only that there are insufficient data to describe any mineral deposit that might be present. This report is divided into three parts: a section made up of summaries of references arranged alphabetically by occurrence name; a section that lists synonyms for names in the first section, claim names, and the names of operators and owners of mines and prospects; and a section that lists, by author, all references summarized in the first section and in these introductory paragraphs.

Alaska↗
USGS1979

Summary of references to mineral occurrences (other than mineral fuels and construction materials) in the Seldovia Quadrangle, Alaska

These summaries of references are designed to aid in library research on metallic and nonmetallic (other than mineral fuels and construction materials) mineral occurrences in the Seldovia quadrangle, Alaska. All references to most reports of the Geological Survey, the U.S. Bureau of Mines, and the State of Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys and its predecessor State and Territorial agencies released before September 1, 1979, are summarized. Certain, mainly statistical, reports such as the annual Mineral Yearbook of the U.S. Bureau of Mines and the biennial and annual reports of the State of Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys and its predecessor State and Territorial agencies are not included. Also not included are data on many claims about which little more than their locations is known (for example, MacKevett and Holloway, 1977 (OF 77-169A), p. 55). These omissions should not be interpreted as a judgment on my part that the claims are not valid mineral occurrences, but only that there are insufficient data to describe any mineral deposit that might be present. This report is divided into three parts: a section made up of summaries of references arranged alphabetically by occurrence name; a section that lists synonyms for names in the first section, claim names, and the names of operators and owners of mines and prospects; and a section that lists, by author, all references summarized in the first section and in these introductory paragraphs.

Alaska↗
USGS2019

Stochastic model for simulating Souris River Basin regulated streamflow upstream from Minot, North Dakota

The Souris River Basin is a 24,000 square-mile basin in the Provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba in Canada, and the State of North Dakota in the United States. Above-average snowpack during the winter of 2010–11, along with record-setting rains in May and June of 2011, led to record flooding that caused extensive damage to Minot, North Dakota, and numerous smaller communities in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and North Dakota. As a result, the International Souris River Board created the Souris River Flood Task Force to evaluate potential reservoir operation changes and flood control measures to manage future floods and droughts. Part of this evaluation involved identifying a need for a stochastic streamflow model to estimate the likelihood of future flooding or drought. A stochastic natural (unregulated) streamflow simulation model described in a previous report was built upon in this report to include the effects of regulation of four reservoirs (Rafferty, Alameda, and Boundary Reservoirs and Lake Darling) and their operation guidelines. First, a regulated reservoir storage/streamflow routing model was developed and calibrated from when all four reservoirs were in operation until the end of the reconstructed natural streamflow dataset provided by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (1992–2011). The regulated reservoir storage/streamflow routing model then was combined with the stochastic natural (unregulated) streamflow model to provide a stochastic regulated streamflow simulation model for the Souris River Basin upstream from Minot, North Dakota. The stochastic regulated streamflow simulation model was used to estimate regulated flood frequency curves, which are useful for feasibility and design of critical structures such as levees or bridges. Three potential future climatic conditions were considered in this analysis: condition A (wet equilibrium), representing wet (similar to 1970–2017) climatic conditions; condition B (transition), representing transition from wet to dry (similar to 1912–69) climatic conditions; and condition C (dry equilibrium), representing dry climatic conditions. Comparison of the estimated flood frequency curves for regulated flow among the three climatic conditions indicated large differences in flood magnitudes for the more extreme (1-percent or less) annual exceedance probabilities. The estimated 0.2-percent annual exceedance probability flood magnitude for the Souris River upstream from Minot, N. Dak., was 29,300 cubic feet per second for condition A (wet equilibrium), compared to 14,800 cubic feet per second for condition C (dry equilibrium). For comparison, the recorded peak streamflow for 2011 for the Souris River upstream from Minot, N. Dak., was 26,900 cubic feet per second. Although it is not possible to predict how long the current (1970–2017) wet climatic conditions may persist, flood risk for at least the next 25 years, or until about 2040, may be represented best by climatic condition A.

North Dakota↗
USGS2006

Water resources data--North Dakota water year 2005, Volume 1. Surface water

Water-resources data for the 2005 water year for North Dakota consists of records of discharge, stage, and water quality for streams; contents, stage, and water quality for lakes and reservoirs; and water levels and water quality for ground-water wells. Volume 1 contains records of water discharge for 107 streamflow-gaging stations; stage only for 22 river-stage stations; contents and/or stage for 13 lake or reservoir stations; annual maximum discharge for 31 crest-stage stations; and water quality for 93 streamflow-gaging stations, 6 river-stage stations, 15 lake or reservoir stations, and about 50 miscellaneous sample sites on lakes and wetlands. Data are included for 8 water-quality monitor sites on streams and 2 precipitation-chemistry stations. These data represent that part of the National Water Data System operated by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating Federal, State, and local agencies in North Dakota.

Water Data Report↗
USGS2024

Report of the River Master of the Delaware River for the period December 1, 2015 - November 30, 2016

Executive Summary A Decree of the Supreme Court of the United States, entered June 7, 1954 ( New Jersey v. New York , 347 U.S. 995), established the position of Delaware River Master within the U.S. Geological Survey. In addition, the Decree authorizes the diversion of water from the Delaware River Basin and requires compensating releases from reservoirs owned by New York City to be made under the supervision and direction of the River Master. The Decree stipulates that the River Master provide reports to the Court not less frequently than annually. This report is the 63rd annual report of the River Master of the Delaware River. The report covers the 2016 River Master report year, which is the period from December 1, 2015, to November 30, 2016. During the report year, precipitation in the upper Delaware River Basin was 38.6 inches or 87 percent of the long-term average. Combined storage remained high (above 80 percent of combined capacity) for much of the year and did not decline below 80 percent of combined capacity until August 2016. The lowest combined storage was 106.406 billion gallons or 39 percent of combined capacity on November 28, 2016. Delaware River Basin Commission Resolution 2016–07 necessitated a basinwide drought watch on November 23, 2016. The drought watch continued through the remainder of the 2016 report year. Delaware River Master operations during the year were conducted as stipulated by the Decree and the Flexible Flow Management Program. New York City and New Jersey fully complied with the terms of the Decree and, during drought watch conditions, with the Delaware River Basin Commission Resolution 2016–07 terms. Diversions from the Delaware River Basin by New York City and New Jersey fully complied with the Decree. The reservoir releases were made as directed by the River Master at rates designed to meet the flow objective for the Delaware River at Montague, New Jersey, on 126 days during the report year. Interim Excess Release Quantity and conservation releases, designed to relieve thermal stress and protect the fishery and aquatic habitat in the tailwaters of the reservoirs, were also made during the report year. Water quality in the Delaware River estuary between the streamgages at Trenton, New Jersey, and Reedy Island Jetty, Delaware, was monitored at several locations. Data on water temperature, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, and pH were collected continuously by electronic instruments at four sites.

Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylv↗