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At least 379 records · Page 21Linked to original sources
USGS1984

Hydrology of Area 62, Northern Great Plains and Rocky Mountain Coal Provinces, New Mexico and Arizona

This report summarizes available hydrologic data for Area 62 and will aid leasing decisions, and the preparation and appraisal of environmental impact studies and mine-permit applications. Area 62 is located at the southern end of the Rocky Mountain Coal Province in parts of New Mexico and Arizona and includes approximately 9,500 square miles. Surface mining alters, at least temporarily, the environment; if the areas are unreclaimed, there can be long-term environmental consequences. The land-ownership pattern in Area 62 is complicated. The checkerboard pattern created by several types of ownership makes effective management of these lands difficult. The climate generally is semiarid with average annual precipitation ranging from 10 to 20 inches. Pinons, junipers, and grasslands cover most of the area, and much of it is used for grazing by livestock. Soils vary with landscape, differing from flood plains and hillslopes to mountain slopes. The major structural features of this area were largely developed during middle Tertiary time. The main structural features are the southern San Juan Basin and the Mogollon slope. Coal-bearing rocks are present in four Cretaceous rock units of the Mesaverde Group: the Gallup Sandstone, the Dileo Coal Member, and the Gibson Coal Member of the Crevasse Canyon Formation, and the Cleary Coal Member of the Menefee Formation. Area 62 is drained by Black Creek, the Puerco River, the Zuni River, Carrizo Wash-Largo Creek, and the Rio San Jose. Only at the headwaters of the Zuni River is the flow perennial. The streamflow-gaging station network consists of 25 stations operated for a variety of needs. Streamflow changes throughout the year with variation related directly to rainfall and snowmelt. Base flow in Area 62 is zero indicating no significant ground-water discharge. Mountainous areas contribute the highest mean annual runoff of 1.0 inch. Very few water-quality data are available for the surface-water stations. Of the nine surface-water stations that have water-quality data, only one has chemical analyses from more than 10 samples. Therefore, sufficient data to characterize the area in detail are not available. Suspended sediment data are available only for a few surface- water stations in the area. Erosion rates generally are less than 1 acre-foot per square mile per year. Greater erosion rates are found within the badland areas. Water levels are periodically measured at 21 selected wells in Area 62. These observation wells are located mostly along the Rio San Jose and northeast of Gallup, New Mexico. The recharge to ground-water aquifers generally coincide with areas of greater precipitation in the mountainous areas. Depth to water below land surface is generally less than 200 feet. Well yields of 100 gallons per minute are common in most of the area. Ground-water quality is variable both within each aquifer and between aquifers. Water quality generally is best near recharge areas. Historical and current data related to stream discharge, water quality, and suspended sediment are available from computer files in the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water Data Storage and Retrieval System (WATSTORE) and through the National Water Data Exchange (NAWDEX).

Open-File Report↗
USGS1984

Hydrology of Area 62, Northern Great Plains and Rocky Mountain Coal Provinces, New Mexico and Arizona

This report summarizes available hydrologic data for Area 62 and will aid leasing decisions, and the preparation and appraisal of environmental impact studies and mine-permit applications. Area 62 is located at the southern end of the Rocky Mountain Coal Province in parts of New Mexico and Arizona and includes approximately 9,500 square miles. Surface mining alters, at least temporarily, the environment; if the areas are unreclaimed, there can be long-term environmental consequences. The land-ownership pattern in Area 62 is complicated. The checkerboard pattern created by several types of ownership makes effective management of these lands difficult. The climate generally is semiarid with average annual precipitation ranging from 10 to 20 inches. Pinons, junipers, and grasslands cover most of the area, and much of it is used for grazing by livestock. Soils vary with landscape, differing from flood plains and hillslopes to mountain slopes. The major structural features of this area were largely developed during middle Tertiary time. The main structural features are the southern San Juan Basin and the Mogollon slope. Coal-bearing rocks are present in four Cretaceous rock units of the Mesaverde Group: the Gallup Sandstone, the Dileo Coal Member, and the Gibson Coal Member of the Crevasse Canyon Formation, and the Cleary Coal Member of the Menefee Formation. Area 62 is drained by Black Creek, the Puerco River, the Zuni River, Carrizo Wash-Largo Creek, and the Rio San Jose. Only at the headwaters of the Zuni River is the flow perennial. The streamflow-gaging station network consists of 25 stations operated for a variety of needs. Streamflow changes throughout the year with variation related directly to rainfall and snowmelt. Base flow in Area 62 is zero indicating no significant ground-water discharge. Mountainous areas contribute the highest mean annual runoff of 1.0 inch. Very few water-quality data are available for the surface-water stations. Of the nine surface-water stations that have water-quality data, only one has chemical analyses from more than 10 samples. Therefore, sufficient data to characterize the area in detail are not available. Suspended sediment data are available only for a few surface- water stations in the area. Erosion rates generally are less than 1 acre-foot per square mile per year. Greater erosion rates are found within the badland areas. Water levels are periodically measured at 21 selected wells in Area 62. These observation wells are located mostly along the Rio San Jose and northeast of Gallup, New Mexico. The recharge to ground-water aquifers generally coincide with areas of greater precipitation in the mountainous areas. Depth to water below land surface is generally less than 200 feet. Well yields of 100 gallons per minute are common in most of the area. Ground-water quality is variable both within each aquifer and between aquifers. Water quality generally is best near recharge areas. Historical and current data related to stream discharge, water quality, and suspended sediment are available from computer files in the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water Data Storage and Retrieval System (WATSTORE) and through the National Water Data Exchange (NAWDEX).

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1987

Documentation of a deep percolation model for estimating ground-water recharge

A deep percolation model, which operates on a daily basis, was developed to estimate long-term average groundwater recharge from precipitation. It has been designed primarily to simulate recharge in large areas with variable weather, soils, and land uses, but it can also be used at any scale. The physical and mathematical concepts of the deep percolation model, its subroutines and data requirements, and input data sequence and formats are documented. The physical processes simulated are soil moisture accumulation, evaporation from bare soil, plant transpiration, surface water runoff, snow accumulation and melt, and accumulation and evaporation of intercepted precipitation. The minimum data sets for the operation of the model are daily values of precipitation and maximum and minimum air temperature, soil thickness and available water capacity, soil texture, and land use. Long-term average annual precipitation, actual daily stream discharge, monthly estimates of base flow, Soil Conservation Service surface runoff curve numbers, land surface altitude-slope-aspect, and temperature lapse rates are optional. The program is written in the FORTRAN 77 language with no enhancements and should run on most computer systems without modifications. Documentation has been prepared so that program modifications may be made for inclusions of additional physical processes or deletion of ones not considered important. (Author 's abstract)

Open-File Report↗
USGS1979

A plan for study of flood hydrology of foothill streams in Colorado

A comprehensive plan is presented for researching methods of flood-data analysis and informatin transfer for foothill areas, and for establishing a hydrologic data-collection network in the foothill areas of Colorado. The research will concentrate on three areas: (1) Developing methods to analyze flood peaks in foothill areas by using gaging-station records to obtan annual arrays of snowmelt and rainfall peaks; (2) investigating techniques for flood informatin transfer, using physical and climatic characteristics; and (3) testing and, if required, verifying hydrologic models. The available gaging-station data consists of records from 81 active and 43 discontinued gaging stations. The National Weather Service operates 53 recording and 70 non-recording precipitation gages, and has 476 storm observers within the project boundaries. The Soil Conservation Service is installing a network (SNOTEL) of 46 automated snowpack monitors. A data-collection network will be established in areas of data deficiencies, consisting of streamflow stations , crest-stage gages, and precipitation stations. (Kosco-USGS)

Open-File Report↗
USGS1979

Simulation of streamflow of Rock River at Lake Koshkonong, Wisconsin, to determine effects of withdrawal of powerplant-cooling water

A flow-routing model was used to simulate 44 years of stage data from Lake Koshkonong, Wis., and streamflow data from the Rock River downstream from the lake. The simulation was repeated for five possible degrees of consumptive use, ranging from zero to an annual average of 40 cubic feet per second. A minimum release rule was applied to the simulated operation of the dam at Indianford to guarantee at least the 7-day, 10-year low-flow discharge in the Rock River downstream from Lake Koshkonong. The simulated stage of Lake Koshkonong with consumptive use at 40 cubic feet per second was as much as 0.42 feet lower than the simulated stage with zero consumptive use for the same period. Duration of drawdown below the regulatory minimum stage of 11.8 feet, occurring once in 10 years, increased from 83 to 132 days as consumptive use increased from 0 to 40 cubic feet per second.

Wisconsin↗
USGS1978

Evaluation of thermograph data for California streams

Statistical analysis of water-temperature data from California streams indicates that, for most purposes, long-term operation of thermographs (automatic water-temperature recording instruments) does not provide a more useful record than either short-term operation of such instruments or periodic measurements. Harmonic analyses were made of thermograph records 5 to 14 years in length from 82 stations. More than 80 percent of the annual variation in water temperature is explained by the harmonic function for 77 of the 82 stations. Harmonic coefficients based on 8 years of thermograph record at 12 stations varied only slightly from coefficients computed using two equally split 4-year records. At five stations where both thermograph and periodic (10 to 23 measurements per year) data were collected concurrently, harmonic coefficients for periodic data were defined nearly as well as those for thermograph data. Results of this analysis indicate that, except where detailed surveillance of water temperatures is required or where there is a chance of temporal change, thermograph operations can be reduced substantially without affecting the usefulness of temperature records.

California↗
USGS2017

Hierarchical population monitoring of greater sage-grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus ) in Nevada and California—Identifying populations for management at the appropriate spatial scale

Population ecologists have long recognized the importance of ecological scale in understanding processes that guide observed demographic patterns for wildlife species. However, directly incorporating spatial and temporal scale into monitoring strategies that detect whether trajectories are driven by local or regional factors is challenging and rarely implemented. Identifying the appropriate scale is critical to the development of management actions that can attenuate or reverse population declines. We describe a novel example of a monitoring framework for estimating annual rates of population change for greater sage-grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus ) within a hierarchical and spatially nested structure. Specifically, we conducted Bayesian analyses on a 17-year dataset (2000–2016) of lek counts in Nevada and northeastern California to estimate annual rates of population change, and compared trends across nested spatial scales. We identified leks and larger scale populations in immediate need of management, based on the occurrence of two criteria: (1) crossing of a destabilizing threshold designed to identify significant rates of population decline at a particular nested scale; and (2) crossing of decoupling thresholds designed to identify rates of population decline at smaller scales that decouple from rates of population change at a larger spatial scale. This approach establishes how declines affected by local disturbances can be separated from those operating at larger scales (for example, broad-scale wildfire and region-wide drought). Given the threshold output from our analysis, this adaptive management framework can be implemented readily and annually to facilitate responsive and effective actions for sage-grouse populations in the Great Basin. The rules of the framework can also be modified to identify populations responding positively to management action or demonstrating strong resilience to disturbance. Similar hierarchical approaches might be beneficial for other species occupying landscapes with heterogeneous disturbance and climatic regimes.

California, Nevada↗
USGS1964

Water resources of the Green Bay area, Wisconsin

The Green Bay area comprises an area of about 525 square miles in eastern Wisconsin at the south end of Green Bay. It includes the western three-fourths of Brown County and the eastern one-ninth of Outagamie County. In 1960, the population of the area was estimated at 124,000. The most prominent topographic feature is the northwest-facing, southwestward trending Niagara escarpment. The area northwest of the escarpment drains into Green Bay via the Fox River, Suamico River, Duck Creek, and their tributaries. The area southeast of the escarpment is drained by streams that flow into Lake Michigan. The chief sources of surface water in the Green Bay area are the Fox River, Green Bay, and Lake Michigan. Smaller amounts of water are available from the East and Suamico Rivers and other streams. A sandstone aquifer is the principal source of the ground-water supply. The Niagara dolomite, although largely undeveloped, is potentially an important aquifer in the eastern part of the area. Small amounts of water are obtained also from the Platteville formation and from deposits of Pleistocene and Recent age. Water from the surfaceand ground-water sources is moderately hard to very hard. The Fox River, tributary to Lake Michigan at Green Bay, is a significant source of water for industrial use in the Green Bay area. The Menasha Dam, which controls release of water from the Lake Winnebago pool, is the major regulation on the Fox River, and it has considerable effect in reducing peak flows and supplementing low flows in the lower Fox River. The average discharge of the lower Fox River for the period 1898-1959, as measured at the gaging station at Rapide Croche Dam, was 2,687 mgd (million gallons per day). The longest consecutive period during which the discharge averaged less than 500 mgd was 80 days. The average discharge can be expected to fall below 700 mgd about once every 5 years for a 7-day period. In 1959, the average withdrawal of water from the Fox River was about 62 mgd. The water in the river is of the calcium magnesium bicarbonate type and is hard. The small streams in the area are utilized chiefly for stock watering; some of the water, however, is used for irrigation. The water in the small streams is more highly mineralized than the water in the Fox River and is very hard. Large quantities of water are available from Green Bay, but the disposal of industrial waste into the bay has restricted the use of the water. The major withdrawal is for condenser cooling, and, in 1959, it averaged about 415 mgd. The water from Green Bay is moderately hard but is of better chemical quality than the water from the Fox River and the small streams in the area. The only withdrawals of water from Lake Michigan for use in the Green Bay area are made by the city of Green Bay. In 1959, these withdrawals averaged 7.8 mgd. The lower Fox River is not subject to extremes of flow owing to the dampening effect of the Lake Winnebago pool and the regulation of flow at Menasha Dam. Cloudbursts over the lower Fox River valley below Menasha Dam, however, have occasionally caused extremely high water, as in 1922, when the discharge at the mouth of the Fox River was estimated to be about 50,000 mgd. Daily discharges greater than about 13,000 mgd occurred only 7 times in the period 1918-59. The 50-year flood of 15,500 mgd represents an average runoff of less than 2.6 mgd per square mile of drainage area, a relatively low runoff for a 50-year flood in Wisconsin. The sandstone aquifer is the principal source of ground water in the Green Bay area and furnishes water for public supply and industrial use. This aquifer includes rocks of Late Cambrian age, and the Prairie du Chien group and St. Peter sandstone of Ordovician age; it ranges in thickness from 550 to 640 feet. Ground water is found in openings along fractures and bedding planes and in the interstices between sand grains. The sandstone aquifer can support additional development of large supplies of ground water. Wells can be developed in most of the area that will yield 500 gpm (gallons per minute) or more, provided they are properly spaced and penetrate the entire thickness of the aquifer. It is estimated that the perennial yield of the sandstone in the Green Bay area could be at least 30 mgd if the aquifer is properly developed; only 5.4 mgd was withdrawn in 1959. The water from this sandstone aquifer is of the calcium magnesium bicarbonate type, is very hard, and, at a few places, contains objectionable amounts of iron. The Niagara dolomite, potentially a source of moderate to large quantities of water in the eastern part of the area, probably will yield 500 gpm or more to wells. In 1959, the average withdrawal of water for all uses was estimated at 495 mgd, of which 98.2 percent was from surface-water sources and 1.8 percent was from wells. About 485 mgd of water was withdrawn for industrial use, 6 mgd for public supply, and 4 mgd for rural use. The industrial use of water averaged 441 mgd for condenser cooling, 38 mgd fot processing by the paper industry, and 6 mgd for other industrial uses. The city of Green Bay used 7.8 mgd of water from Lake Michigan; other public supplies in the area used 2.6 mgd from wells. Of the withdrawals of water for rural use, about 75 percent was from wells and about 25 percent was from streams. The discharge of wastes into the lower Fox River and its tributary streams has altered the quality of the natural water. The wastes consist chiefly of treated municipal sewage and treated and untreated wastes from the paper industry, rendering plants, a sugar mill, and other industries. The industrial waste makes up about 90 percent of the oxygen-demand loading in the lower Fox River, and treated municipal sewage accounts for about 10 percent. The dissolved-oxygen concentration of water in the lower Fox River decreases rapidly in the vicinity of Green Bay during the summer when the river water is warm. If the periods when the river water is warmest, generally during July and early August, were to coincide with periods of lowest annual streamflow, generally in late August, the river would be unable to assimilate the loading of decomposable organic matter. In an emergency, industrial and public supply wells could supply at least 6 mgd for a sustained period and probably as much as 10 mgd for a period of several days. Six of the wells that formerly supplied the city of Green Bay are maintained in operating condition and could furnish about the same quantity of water as the industrial and other public supply wells. Small streams in the area would be supplemental sources of water, and the water in the Fox River and Green Bay is easily accessible.

Wisconsin↗
USGS2019

Catalog of earthquake parameters and description of seismograph and infrasound stations at Alaskan volcanoes—January 1, 2013, through December 31, 2017

Between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2017, the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) located a total of 28,172 earthquakes at volcanoes in Alaska. The annual totals are 3,840, 5,819, 5,297, 6,151, and 7,065 earthquakes for the years 2013 through 2017, respectively. This represents an average of 5,634 earthquakes per year, which is comparable to the yearly number of earthquakes AVO located in the previous decade when AVO monitored a similar number of volcanoes. During the reporting period, there was significant seismic activity at 20 of the 34 volcanoes monitored by a seismograph network (Akutan Peak, Aniakchak Crater, Augustine, Mount Cerberus, Mount Cleveland, Fourpeaked Mountain, Mount Gareloi, Great Sitkin, Ilimana, Kanaga, Korovin, Makushin, Mount Martin, Okmok Caldera, Pavlof, Shishaldin, Mount Spurr, Tanaga, Ugashik-Peulik, and Mount Veniaminof) and two volcanoes without a monitoring network (Mount Recheshnoi and Bogoslof Island). Instrumentation highlights for this period include the establishment of a new subnetwork on Mount Cleveland, an accelerated transition from analog to digital telemetry at most subnetworks, and an increased number of broadband and infrasound sensors throughout the AVO network. The operational highlight was the return of seismic monitoring at Korovin and Ugashik-Peulik Volcanoes following network repairs. This catalog includes hypocenters, magnitudes, and statistics of the earthquakes located in 2013–17, along with the associated station parameters, and velocity models.

Alaska↗
USGS1980

Summaries of data on and lists of references to metallic and selected nonmetallic mineral deposits in the Nabesna Quadrangle, Alaska

These summaries of data on metallic and selected nonmetallic mineral occurrences and lists of selected references to them in Geological Survey, U.S. Bureau of Mines, and State of Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys (and predecessor State and Territorial agencies) reports and maps and in one Geological Survey of Canada report are designed to aid in library research on the mineral resources of the Nabesna quadrangle, Alaska. The references listed are selected in the sense that mainly statistical reports such as the annual Minerals Yearbook of the U.S. Bureau of Mines and many annual and biennial reports of the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys and its predecessor agencies are not included. The cut-off date for reports and maps cited in this report is December 31, 1979. Data on claims about which little more than their locations is known (for example, most of the localities on p. 53 in MacKevett and Holloway, 1977 (OF 77169A)) are not included. These omissions should not be interpreted as a judgement that the claims are not on valid mineral occurrences, but only that there are insufficient data to describe any mineral deposit that might be present. Geochemical anomalies determined by analyses of rock and stream-sediment samples in which no metallic mineral was identified are also omitted. This report is divided into three parts: a section made up of summaries of data and reference lists arranged alphabetically by occurrence name; a second section that lists synonyms for names in the first section, the names of owners and operators of mines and prospects, and claim names; and a final section that lists alphabetically by author all references mentioned in the first section and in these introductory paragraphs.

Alaska↗
USGS2012

Biodegradation of chloroethene compounds in groundwater at Operable Unit 1, Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Division Keyport, Washington, 1999-2010

The U.S. Geological Survey evaluated the biodegradation of chloroethene compounds in groundwater beneath the former landfill at Operable Unit 1 (OU 1) of the U.S. Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC), Division Keyport. The predominant contaminants in groundwater are the chloroethene compounds trichloroethene, cis -1,2-dichloroethene, and vinyl chloride. The remedy selected for groundwater contamination at OU 1 includes phytoremediation and natural attenuation. In 1999, the U.S. Navy planted two hybrid poplar plantations, referred to as the northern and southern plantations, over the most contaminated parts of the landfill. The U.S. Navy monitors tree health, groundwater levels, and contaminant concentrations to assess the effectiveness of phytoremediation. The U.S. Geological Survey began a cooperative effort with the U.S. Navy in 1995 to monitor the effectiveness of natural attenuation processes for removing and controlling the migration of chloroethenes and chloroethanes. Field and laboratory studies from 1996 through 2000 demonstrated that biodegradation of chloroethenes and chloroethanes in shallow groundwater at OU 1 was substantial. The U.S. Geological Survey monitored geochemical and contaminant concentrations in groundwater annually from 2001 through 2010. This report presents groundwater geochemical and contaminant data collected by the U.S. Geological Survey during June 2010 and evaluates evidence for continued biodegradation of chloroethenes in groundwater. Geochemical and contaminant concentration data through 2010 indicate that biodegradation of chloroethenes in groundwater continued beneath the landfill at OU 1. Contaminant concentrations in groundwater decreased beneath most of the 9-acre landfill between 1999 and 2010. The evidence indicating that biodegradation was a primary cause for the decreased concentrations included decreasing ratios of more highly chlorinated compounds to less chlorinated compounds over time, and widespread detections of non-chlorinated biodegradation end-products ethane and ethene. No widespread changes in groundwater reduction-oxidation (redox) conditions were observed that could result in either more or less efficient biodegradation. Even with continued biodegradation, dissolved-phase contaminant concentrations in the tens of milligrams per liter have persisted beneath part of the 0.7-acre southern plantation. The magnitude and persistence of those concentrations indicate that non-aqueous phase liquid chloroethenes likely are present beneath the southern plantation and are not substantially affected by biodegradation. During 2010, chloroethenes continued to be measured in shallow groundwater samples from the southern part of the adjacent marsh, although at the lowest concentrations ever measured. Flux calculations based on 2010 data indicate that 95 percent of dissolved-phase chloroethenes in the upper aquifer beneath the southern landfill were degraded before discharging to surface water. Overall, biodegradation of chloroethenes in groundwater throughout OU 1 continued through 2010, and it prevented most of the mass of dissolved-phase chloroethenes in the upper aquifer beneath the landfill from discharging to surface water.

Washington↗
USGS1978

Hydrologic reconnaissance of the Fish Springs Flat area, Tooele, Juab and Millard counties, Utah

The Fish Springs Flat area includes about 590 square miles (1,530 square kilometers) in western Utah. Total annual precipitation on the area averages about 7 inches (180 millimeters) and totals about 232,000 acre-feet (286 cubic hectometers). Fish Springs Wash is the major drainage in the area; and, along with numerous smaller washes, it flows only in direct response to precipitation. Runoff from the area is estimated to be about 2,000 acre-feet (2.5 cubic hectometers) per year. The estimated amount of water recoverable from storage in the upper 100 feet (30 meters) of saturated valley fill is about 550,000 acre-feet (680 cubic hectometers), and most of this water is slightly to moderately saline. The water in the Fish Springs Flat area ranges from slightly saline to briny, and the predominant ions in the water are sodium and chloride. The water that underlies the mudflats in the northwest part of the area is briny. Water that issues from Fish Springs is slightly saline. The water in the Fish Springs Flat area is not suitable for drinking. The water that issues from Fish Springs is used for wildlife management, which includes ponding and irrigation of vegetation (chiefly saltgrass) in the Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge. The water from the wells in the area is used for livestock and mining operations. Ground-water recharge from precipitation is about 4,000 acre-feet (5 cubic hectometers) annually. Ground-water discharge is chiefly by springs and evapotranspiration. The largest springs in the Fish Springs group discharge about 26,000 acre-feet (32 cubic hectometers) annually. All other springs discharge about 600 acre-feet (0.74 cubic hectometer) per year, or only about 2 percent of the total spring discharge. Discharge by evapotranspiration is about 8,000 acre-feet (10 cubic hectometers) per year. Discharge by wells and by subsurface outflow is negligible. The difference between discharge and local recharge--approximately 31,000 acre-feet (38 cubic hectometers)--is assumed to enter the Fish Springs Flat area by interbasin flow.

Utah↗
USGS2022

Selenium in the Kootenai River Basin, Montana and Idaho, United States, and British Columbia, Canada

Selenium entering the 90-mile long transboundary Koocanusa Reservoir (also called Lake Koocanusa) in southeastern British Columbia, Canada, and northwestern Montana, United States, has been measured at concentrations above State and Federal water-quality and aquatic life standards. The reservoir is within the international Kootenai (or “Kootenay” in Canada) drainage basin, which contains critical habitat for native fish species and is impounded by Libby Dam 16 miles upstream from Libby, Montana. Since 1984, selenium concentrations have ranged from below detection to greater than 8 micrograms per liter in the Elk River, measured 2.2 miles above its discharge into Koocanusa Reservoir at a British Columbia environmental monitoring station (site 0200016). Selenium is a required micro-nutrient, but elevated concentrations in water bioaccumulate in egg-laying fish and birds, causing various sublethal effects and death. One possible source of selenium in the Kootenai River Basin is the excavation of bedrock in the Elk River Valley to access coal seams for metallurgical steelmaking and coal production. Five open-pit coal mines are operating in this region of southeastern British Columbia that produce about 21 million tons of metallurgical coal annually. Site-specific selenium standards were established for the reservoir in 2020 following collaborative work by the U.S. Geological Survey, Montana Department of Environmental Quality, the British Columbia Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, the Lake Koocanusa Monitoring and Research Working Group, and the Selenium Technical Subcommittee. The standards of 0.8 microgram per liter for dissolved selenium in the water column and 15.1 milligrams per kilogram dry weight for fish egg (ovary) tissue (in addition to the muscle and wholebody standards) were adopted into Montana State law in 2020 and approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2021.

British Columbia, Idaho, Montana↗
USGS2017

U.S. Geological Survey—Energy and wildlife research annual report for 2017

Introduction Terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems provide valuable services to humans and are a source of clean water, energy, raw materials, and productive soils. The Nation’s food supply is more secure because of wildlife. For example, native pollinators enhance agricultural crops, and insect-eating bats provide pest control services worth billions of dollars to farmers annually. Fish and wildlife are also vital to a vibrant outdoor recreation and tourism industry. Recreational activities, such as hunting, shooting, boating, and angling, generated \$1.1 billion in excise taxes paid to State wildlife agencies in 2017. National parks, wildlife refuges, and monuments accounted for $35 billion in economic output and 318,000 jobs nationwide in 2016. Additional economic benefits are generated from the use and enjoyment of wildlife in State-owned lands and waters. Although the United States is rich in natural resources, human activity continues to place new pressures on fish and wildlife and the habitats they rely on. The United States became the world’s top producer of petroleum and natural gas products in 2012, surpassing Russia’s natural gas production levels in 2009 and Saudi Arabia’s petroleum production in 2013. The U.S. Energy Information Administration projects that the demand for liquid fuel, natural gas, and renewable energy will show strong growth in the next 20 years. Wind energy has demonstrated consistent growth since 2007 with now more than 53,000 wind turbines contributing to power grids in 41 States, Guam, and Puerto Rico. Solar energy has seen rapid growth since 2013 and made up nearly one-third of the total electricity generation additions in 2016. Yet as our Nation works to advance energy security and sustain wildlife, some conflicts have surfaced. Impacts of an expanding energy infrastructure include fragmentation and loss of habitat as well as mortality of birds, bats, fish, and other animals from interactions with energy generation facilities. Because energy development can often occur in wildlife habitats, ecological science can help guide project siting and operational decisions to areas that present the lowest risk to wildlife and energy developers. To address these challenges and make the most of new opportunities, the U.S. Geological Survey is producing innovative science to develop workable solutions that can help sustain wildlife and the habitat they rely upon, while allowing informed development.

Circular↗
USGS1979

Hydrologic data for Mountain Creek, Trinity River basin, Texas, 1977

The collection of hydrologic data by the U.S. Geological Survey in the Mountain Creek watershed began on March 9, 1925, with the establishment of a stream-gaging station located about 2.5 miles upstream from the present site of Mountain Creek Lake Dam. The stream-gaging station was discontinued on July 5, 1933. Daily streamflow records obtained at this site are published in the annual series of Geological Survey Water-Supply Papers beginning in 1925. Monthly and yearly summaries are published in Water-Supply Paper 1312. In October 1960, the Geological Survey resumed collection of hydrologic data in the Mountain Creek watershed by establishing three stream-gaging stations and one reservoir-content station. The data-collection sites are on Mountain Creek near Cedar Hill, Walnut Creek near Mansfield, Mountain Creek at Grand Prairie, and Mountain Creek Lake near Grand Prairie (fig. 1). In October 1970, the Geological Survey assumed operation of the stage station Mountain Creek near Duncanville (fig. 1). Water-quality data for the 1977 water year for sites in the study area are presented in downstream order along with the streamflow data in the section "Compilation of data." A complete tabulation of data, including laboratory analyses, for the 1977 water year for the Trinity River basin is given in Water resources data for Texas, TX-77-1, 1977. The purpose of this report is to compile the records of streamflow and reservoir content for the year into a form which facilitates their use in detailed analyses of the Mountain Creek hydrologic system. This report contains basic-hydrologic data for the 1977 water year (Oct. 1, 1976-Sept. 30, 1977). Assistance in the form of funds or services was provided by the Texas Department of Water Resources and the Dallas Power and Light Company.

Texas↗
USGS2006

A preliminary assessment of mouflon abundance at the Kahuku Unit of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (HAVO) recently acquired the 115,653 acre Kahuku Ranch unit adjacent to the existing Mauna Loa section of HAVO. Kahuku contains numerous exceptional natural resources including many federally listed threatened and endangered species. An apparently large and growing population of alien mouflon sheep (Ovis gmelini musimon), however, threatens sensitive native plants and forest bird habitats. Population composition and abundance estimates were urgently needed to determine the magnitude of resources required to manage this species and justify costs. We surveyed 32,433 acres from helicopter over 2 days in November 2004 during breeding to determine the abundance and population structure. We estimated that there were more than 2,586 ? 705 (90% CI) mouflon at Kahuku. Overall, group sizes averaged 7.8 and the sex ratio was 1:2.4 rams:ewes, but approximately 44% of the population was concentrated in forested areas near ranching operations where group sizes averaged >15 and the sex ratio was 1:3.9 rams:ewes. The remaining 56% of the population occurred widely dispersed in subalpine shrubland and barren lava flows. Abundance estimates are likely to be conservative because they were not adjusted for detection probability. Ground-based surveys of lambs suggest upper biological limit to annual population increase of 33.1% under existing environmental conditions. Historical information used to calculate population trends indicated the apparent rate of population increase to be 21.1%. In the absence of removals, the population increment for 2004-2005, would be more than 546-856, and the population doubling time with these growth rates is 3-4 years.

Hawai'i↗
USGS1991

Streamflow entering and leaving Lake Bemidji, Beltrami County, Minnesota, July 1987 through September 1989

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, operated three streamflow-gaging stations from July 1987 through September 1989 to determine the volume of streamflow entering and leaving Lake Bemidji. Suspended- and bottom-sediment data were also collected at the gaging stations. Two gaging stations were located upstream and one was located downstream from the lake. Daily mean discharges were determined except for the November 1987 to March 1988 winter period. During the 1989 water year, the only complete year of data, the mean annual discharge for the two upstream stations was 111 ft /s (cubic feet per second) for Mississippi River at Bemidji and 71 ft /s for Schoolcraft River near Bemidji. The station downstream from Lake Bemidji, Mississippi River near Bemidji, had a mean annual discharge of 228 ft /s during water year 1989.

Minnesota↗
USGS1988

The US Geological Survey stream-gaging program in west-central Florida

The results of a study of the network of the stream-gaging program in west-central Florida are documented. Selected hydrologic data, including drainage area, period of record, and mean annual flow were compiled for the 57 continuous-record gaging stations which were active in 1985. Additionally, selected hydrologic data for 20 discontinued gaging stations are included. Data uses and funding sources were identified for the stations currently being operated in west-central Florida with a budget of $320,000. All stations have been identified as having valid and needed uses, all stations are properly funded, and no short-term project stations exist within the stream-gaging program. On the basis of the analysis, it was concluded that all stations in the present stream-gaging program should be continued in operation. Future studies also will be required because of changes in demands for streamflow information with subsequent addition and deletion of gaging stations. (USGS)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗