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USGS2008

Physicochemical properties and chemical characteristics of water, bed sediment, and mussel tissue from selected streams near the Redleg and Peason Ridge impact areas, Fort Polk Military Reservation, Louisiana, June 2001 - November 2003

At the request of the U.S. Army Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk, the U.S. Geological Survey collected and analyzed water, bed-sediment, and mussel-tissue samples from selected streams near the Redleg impact area (RIA) and Peason Ridge impact areas (PRIA) at the Fort Polk Military Reservation (Reservation), Louisiana. from June 2001 through November 2003. Samples were collected from 13 sites, including 2 reference sites. Water was analyzed for physicochemical properties; water and bed sediment were analyzed for major inorganic ions, cyanide, perchlorate, trace elements, total organic carbon, nutrients, and explosive compounds; and mussel tissue from three sites was analyzed for explosive compounds only. The two reference sites, one near the RIA and one near the PRIA, were selected to provide baseline data for these areas. Streams near the RIA were acidic and low in buffering capacity. with pH measurements ranging from 5.0 to 6.6. Cation concentrations were less than or equal to E3.3J mg/L (E, estimated; J, method blank contamination; milligrams per liter), and anion concentrations were less than or equal to E7.3 mg/L. Field measurements and major inorganic ions concentrations were similar to the RIA reference site and to previously sampled nearby streams, indicating streams near the RIA were typical of streams near the eastern part of the Main Post. Streams near the PRIA were slightly acidic to neutral and low in buffering capacity, with pH measurements ranging from 5.7 to 6.9. Cation concentrations were less than or equal to 6.2 mg/L, and anion concentrations were less than or equal to 16 mg/L. Streams near the PRIA were higher than the RIA for most physicochemical properties and constituents, hut typical of streams near the headwaters of the Calcasieu River. All concentrations of sulfate, chloride, and fluoride were less than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Secondary Drinking-Water Regulations (SDWR) of 250, 250, and 2.0 mg/L, respectively. Concentrations of cations calcium, magnesium. and potassium for sites near both the RIA and PRIA were higher in depositional bed-sediment samples than in bulk samples. Higher cation concentrations were likely due to higher clay and organic content in the depositional samples. The trace elements detected in the highest concentrations in water and bed sediment were aluminum, iron, and manganese. All aluminum concentrations in water were within the range or greater than the USEPA SDWR range from 50 to 200 ug/L (micrograms per liter). All but four iron concentrations in water exceeded the SDWR. Manganese concentrations in seven water samples at the RIA sites and four samples at the PRIA sites were greater than the SDWR. These concentrations of cations were consistent with soil characteristics and low pH measurements of stream water and rainfall in the area. All other trace-element concentrations in water were less than regulatory guidelines and regulations except the USEPA Maximum Contaminant Level Goal of 0 ug/L for arsenic and lead and 0.5 u/L for thallium. Arsenic, lead, and thallium concentrations were similar to those detected in blank samples or those reported for the reference sites. The Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) has established bed-sediment guidelines for seven trace elements: arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, and zinc. No concentrations exceeded the CCME Probable Effect Level, and only one arsenic concentration of 8.87 mg/kg (milligrams per kilogram), in a depositional sample from one of the RIA sites, exceeded the CCME Interim Sediment Quality Guideline of 5.9 mg/kg. The median concentrations of total organic carbon in water were 5.3 mg/L at the RIA and 4.0 mg/L at the PRIA, and both concentrations were less than the average dissolved organic carbon concentration of 5.75 mg/L for all world rivers. All detected nutrient concentrations in water were less than USEPA guidelines and regulations. The largest nutrient concentrations in water and bed-sediment samples were total organic nitrogen, measured as total Kjeldahl nitrogen; they included a maximum concentration of 0.53 mg/L in water at the RIA sites, E0.38 mg/L in water at the PRIA sites, 294 mg/kg in hulk bed sediment. and 1,740 mg/kg in depositional bed sediment. Four explosive compounds, 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, RDX (hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5- triazine), and tetryl, were detected in water near the RIA; one compound, HMX (octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7- tetrazocine), was detected in bed sediment near the PRIA; and one compound, nitroglycerin, was detected in mussel tissue near the RIA. The most frequently detected explosive compound, RDX, was detected in 10 water samples from 5 sites near the RIA. Concentrations of explosive compounds in water were less than USEPA Health Advisories available for reference.

Louisiana↗

USGS1995

Effect of predation by Sacramento squawfish (Ptychocheilus grandis) on habitat choice of California roach (Lavinia symmetricus) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in artificial streams

We studied the effects of predatory Sacramento squawfish ( Ptychocheilus grandis ) on habitat choice of juvenile California roach ( Lavinia symmetricus ), adult roach, and juvenile rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ) in artificial streams. In single-prey trials, the proportion of fish found in pool habitat declined in the presence of squawfish for juvenile roach (from 0.55 to 0.00), adult roach (from 0.88 to 0.13), and juvenile rainbow trout (0.70 to 0.15). The presence of squawfish did not affect the use of riffle and edge habitats. Of the fish found in shallow water, the proportion found in edge habitat declined from juvenile roach (0.95) to adult roach (0.80) to juvenile rainbow trout (0.23). We also conducted experiments designed to simulate invasion of an area by squawfish, in which adult roach and juvenile rainbow trout were tested together in the presence and absence of squawfish. The proportion of prey in pool habitat in the presence of squawfish was greater in the two-prey trials than in the single-prey trials for both adult roach (0.31 and 0.13, respectively) and juvenile rainbow trout (0.33 and 0.15, respectively). These results support field evidence that squawfish are an important force in determining the spatial structure of native stream fish assemblages.

California↗

USGS1973

Hydrology of the Bayou Bartholomew alluvial aquifer-stream system, Arkansas

The study area comprises about 3,200 square miles of the Mississippi Alluvial Plain in southeast Arkansas. About 90 percent of the area drains south to the Ouachita River in Louisiana. The alluvial aquifer and the streams are hydraulically connected and are studied as an aquifer-stream system. Bayou Bartholomew is a principal stream of the system. The aquifer is underlain by confining strata of the Jackson Group and Cockfield Formation. The mean annual surface-water yield of the area that drains to the Ouachita River basin is nearly 2 million acre-feet. Flood-control projects have significantly reduced flooding in the area. Basin boundaries and low-flow characteristics of streams have been altered as a result of the flood-control projects and streamflow diversion for irrigation. The direction of ground-water flow generally is southward. Bayou Bartholomew functions mostly as a drain for ground-water flow from the west and as a recharge source to the aquifer east of the bayou. As a result of navigation pools, the Arkansas River is mostly a steady-recharge source to the aquifer. Pumpage from the aquifer and streams increased from about 20,000 acre-feet in 1941 to 237,000 acre-feet in 1970. Estimates of flow, derived from analog analysis but lacking field verification, indicate that recharge to the aquifer in 1970 was about 161,000 acre-feet. About 70 percent of the recharge was by capture from streams as a result of ground-water pumpage. Discharge from the aquifer was about 233,000 acre-feet. About 80 percent of the discharge was through wells. Stream diversion in 1970 from capture and open channel, excluding capture from the Arkansas and Mississippi Rivers, was about 110,000 acre-feet. Return flow to streams from rice irrigation and fishponds was about 60,000 acre-feet. The chemical quality of streamflows is excellent for irrigation. Water from the aquifer generally ranges from permissible to excellent for irrigation. The use of water from the aquifer in the flood-plain area, exclusive of irrigation, is severely limited unless it is treated to remove the iron and reduce the hardness.

Arkansas↗

USGS2026

Relating glassy rind thicknesses to ambient air temperatures at the Lost Jim flow field in the Imuruk Lake volcanic field, Alaska

The Lost Jim flow field, in the Imuruk Lake volcanic field, Alaska, extends west ~34 km from a single vent, crossing subarctic tundra and currently touches several lakes and streams. The weighted mean of five 36Cl cosmogenic exposure ages from the Lost Jim pāhoehoe flow is 7.73 ± 0.37 ka, indicating this eruption occurred substantially after the eruption of the underlying Camille flow, which was emplaced at 39.7 ± 1.3 ka. Paleoclimate records indicate the period when the Lost Jim flow field was emplaced was after deglaciation, and the climate was similar to today. We propose that the emplacement of lava in these cold subarctic conditions can lead to faster cooling of the lava surface compared to lava emplaced in warmer locations such as mid- latitude cold deserts. Glass abundance in the outermost rinds at the Lost Jim flow field was on average 74 % with 6.4 mm thick rims, compared to 60 % with 2.9 mm rims for cold mid-latitude desert samples. We interpret increased glass content as a proxy for rapid cooling likely occurring partly during winter. Glassiness values varied less across vent, margin, and mid-flow locations when compared to the mid-latitude flows suggesting the Lost Jim flow field was broadly impacted by the subarctic climate as opposed to responding to local microclimates. Our results indicate that lava glassiness may be a useful environmental indicator of cooler (in this case subarctic) conditions.

Alaska↗

USGS2016

Geologic map of the Murray Quadrangle, Newton County, Arkansas

This map summarizes the geology of the Murray quadrangle in the Ozark Plateaus region of northern Arkansas. Geologically, the area is on the southern flank of the Ozark dome, an uplift that has the oldest rocks exposed at its center, in Missouri. Physiographically, the Murray quadrangle is within the Boston Mountains, a high plateau region underlain by Pennsylvanian sandstones and shales. Valleys of the Buffalo River and Little Buffalo River and their tributaries expose an approximately 1,600-ft-thick (488-meter-thick) sequence of Ordovician, Mississippian, and Pennsylvanian carbonate and clastic sedimentary rocks that have been mildly deformed by a series of faults and folds. The Buffalo National River, a park that encompasses the Buffalo River and adjacent land that is administered by the National Park Service is present at the northwestern edge of the quadrangle. Mapping for this study was carried out by field inspection of numerous sites and was compiled as a 1:24,000 geographic information system (GIS) database. Locations and elevation of sites were determined with the aid of a global positioning satellite receiver and a hand-held barometric altimeter that was frequently recalibrated at points of known elevation. Hill-shade relief and slope maps derived from a U.S. Geological Survey 10-meter digital elevation model as well as orthophotographs were used to help trace ledge-forming units between field traverses within the Upper Mississippian and Pennsylvanian part of the stratigraphic sequence. Strike and dip of beds were typically measured along stream drainages or at well-exposed ledges. Structure contours, constructed on the top of the Boone Formation and the base of a prominent sandstone unit within the Bloyd Formation, were drawn based on the elevations of field sites on these contacts well as other limiting information for their minimum elevations above hilltops or their maximum elevations below valley bottoms.

Arkansas↗

USGS2019

Evaluating the factors responsible for post-fire water quality response in forests of the western USA

Wildfires commonly increase nutrient, carbon, sediment, and metal inputs to streams yet the factors responsible for the type, magnitude and duration of water quality effects are poorly understood. Prior work by the current authors found increased nitrogen, phosphorus and cation exports were common the first five post-fire years from a synthesis of 159 wildfires across the western United States. In the current study, an analysis is undertaken to determine factors that best explain post-fire streamwater responses observed in those watersheds. Increased post-fire total nitrogen and phosphorus loading were proportional to the catchment extent of moderate and high burn severity. Post-fire dissolved metal concentrations increased in catchments with < 2% pre-fire soil organic matter. In contrast, in catchments with > 2% soil organic matter, post-fire dissolved metal concentrations decreased compared to pre-fire conditions. Where post-fire normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), a remote sensing indicator of live green vegetation, was low, total metal concentrations increased by 25% on average and by > 100% in some cases. When pre-fire soil field capacity exceeded 17%, there was a 750% median increase in total metals export to streams. Overall, the current analysis identified burn severity, post-fire vegetation cover, and several soil properties as the key variables explaining extended post-fire water quality response across a broad range of conditions found in the western US.

Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New↗

USGS2004

Occurrence of riverine wetlands on floodplains along a climatic gradient

The relation between the occurrence of riverine wetlands in floodplains along a humid to semi-arid climatic continuum was studied in two regions. The first included 36 mid-reach streams from Colorado to Iowa, USA, a region with a broad range of PET ratios (potential evapotranspiration/precipitation) from 0.70 to 1.75. The second region included 16 headwater streams in eastern North Carolina with PET ratios ranging from 0.67 to 0.83. Wetland boundaries were identified in the field along transects perpendicular to the floodplain. The width of jurisdictional wetlands was compared with flood-prone width (FPW) and expressed as a percent. An increase in PET ratio corresponded to an exponential decrease in the percentage of the FPW that is wetland. Soil texture, duration of overbank flow, and stream order did not correlate with percentage of FPW that was wetland. Streams with a PET ratio greater than 0.98 did not have wetlands associated with them. Greater channel cross-sectional areas correlated positively with greater wetland widths in both study regions. Overbank flow did not appear to contribute to wetland prevalence. Supplemental ground-water sources, however, as indicated by greater base flows, could not be ruled out as sources contributing to wetland occurrence. ?? 2004, The Society of Wetland Scientists.

Wetlands↗

USGS1996

Geologic Map of the Cascade Head Area, Northwestern Oregon Coast Range (Neskiwin, Nestucca Bay, Hebo, and Dolph 7.5 minute Quadrangles)

The geology of the Cascade Head area bridges the geology in the Tillamook Highlands to the north (Wells and others, 1994; 1995) with that of the Newport Embayment on the south (Snavely and others, 1976 a,b,c). The four 7.5-minute quadrangles (Neskowin, Nestucca Bay, Hebo, and Dolph) which comprise the Cascade Head area include significant stratigraphic, structural, and igneous data that are essential in unraveling the geology of the northern and central part of the Oregon Coast Range and of the adjacent continental shelf Earlier studies (Snavely and Vokes, 1949) were of a broad reconnaissance nature because of limited access in this rugged, densely forested part of the Siuslaw National Forest. Also, numerous thick sills of late middle Eocene diabase and middle Miocene basalt mask the Eocene stratigraphic relationships. Previous mapping was hampered by a lack of precise biostratigraphic data. However, recent advances in biostratigraphy and radiometric age dating and geochemistry have provided the necessary tools to decipher stratigraphic and structural relationships in the Eocene sedimentary and volcanic rock sequences (W.W. Rau, personal communication, 1978 to 1988; Bukry and Snavely, 1988). Many important stratigraphic and igneous relationships are displayed within the Casacde Head area: (1) turbidite sandstone of the middle Eocene Tyee Formation, which is widespread in the central and southern part of the Oregon Coast Range (Snavely and others, 1964), was not deposited in the western part of the Cascade Head, and is of limited extent north of the map area (Wells and others, 1994); (2) the late middle Eocene Yamhill Formation, which crops out along the west and east flank of the Oregon Coast Range, overlaps older strata and overlies an erosional unconformity on the lower Eocene Siletz River Volcanics (Snavely and others, 1990; 1991); (3) thick sills of late middle Eocene diabase (43 Ma) are widespread in the Cascade Head area and also form much of the eastern flank of the Tillamook Highlands (Wells and others, 1994), but are rare south of the map area; (4) Cascade Head is the northernmost eruptive center of late Eocene alkalic basalts--85 km north of the eruptive center of correlative alkalic flows of the Yachats Basalt in the Newport Embayment (Snavely and Vokes, 1949; Snavely and others, 1990; Barnes and Barnes, 1992; Davis and others, 1995); (5) early Oligocene (33 Ma) sills and dikes of nepheline syenite and camptonite present in the Newport Embayment (Snavely and Wagner, 1961) are not found in the Cascade Head area; (6) extensive middle Oligocene (30 Ma) granophyric gabbro sills that are widespread in the central part of the Oregon Coast Range (Snavely and Wagner, 1961; MacLeod, 1969) are not present in the Cascade Head area. The Cascade Head area is the last segment of the Oregon Coast to receive detailed geologic mapping. Increased logging operations in the 1970's and 1980's created numerous new roadcut exposures and access to exposures in stream beds. More importantly, microfossil biostratigraphic control, available since 1970, based upon foraminifer determinations by W.W. Rau and nannofossil determinations by David Bukry provided critical information on stratigraphic succession as well as on depositional environments of the deep water (bathyal) siltstone units present in much of the Cascade Head area. These paleontologic data also permitted correlations with other sedimentary sequences mapped in the Newport Embayment and in the Tillamook Highlands as well as in western Washington. New 7.5-minute topographic maps and aerial photographs which became available in the late 1980's provided detailed topography which can be related to the distribution of thick sills and broad landslide areas, as well as a precise geographic relationship of geologic observations in this densely forested and brush-covered terrain. New geographic information systems (GIS) technology has produced a digitized color map of the Cascade Head area that combines the four 7.5-minute quadrangles that previously were open-filed as separate black and white 7.5-minute quadrangles (Snavely and others, 1990; 1990a; 1991; 1993). The tectonic framework and stratigraphic architecture presented on the map of the Cascade Head area was obtained by classic geologic field methods. This information could have been obtained only through detailed observation and sampling along stream beds, road cuts, and outcrops. Remote sensing techniques were of minor help in unraveling the geology in this poorly exposed and complex terrain, a terrain that characterizes much of the Oregon and Washington Coast Ranges.

Oregon↗

USGS2007

Major Turbidity Events in the North Santiam River Basin, Oregon, Water Years 1999-2004

Multiple high-turbidity events with values greater than 250 Formazin Nephelometric Units occurred in streams of the North Santiam River basin during water years 1999-2004. By using a combination of field reconnaissance, aerial photography, and geographic information systems, eight of these high-turbidity events were investigated and linked to at least one likely source area and became known as 'major turbidity events.' Sediment source type and location, the amount of material transported, and the results of any follow-up investigation of the source area were recorded for each event. Significant findings from this study include: * Although heavy precipitation caused basinwide erosion that increased turbidity in streams, a major turbidity event often required at least one landslide or similar type of contributing source to introduce enough sediment to raise the turbidity value to greater than 250 Formazin Nephelometric Units. * Different processes drove sediment loading at different times. In general, precipitation eroded sediment from source areas or induced landslides. However, in two cases, warm temperatures caused rapid snowmelt, which supplied the water necessary to erode unconsolidated glacial soils or other sediment material and increase turbidity. * Some source areas, such as existing earthflows, repeatedly supplied a large volume of sediment to streams, whereas other sources, such as landslides or debris flows, were unpredictable and sporadically supplied large volumes of sediment to streams. * Major turbidity events were well distributed throughout the North Santiam River basin; discrete events were observed in each of the five subbasins along unregulated streams. * Suspended-sediment loads and clay-water (persistently turbid water) volume estimates were event-specific and varied greatly between major turbidity events, even though, in some cases, the source area was the same; however, high yields generally were observed for events in the Blowout Creek, Breitenbush River, and Little North Santiam River subbasins. * Suspended-sediment loads for each 3-day precipitation-driven major turbidity event supplied greater than 36 percent of the annual load, and snowmelt-driven events supplied greater than 27 percent of the annual load in a single day. * Clay-water yields for event periods generally were highest in the Little North Santiam River subbasin. In addition, average annual percentage of clay-water volume during the period of record was highest in the Little North Santiam River. The second highest average was in Blowout Creek.

Scientific Investigations Report↗

USGS2015

Potential for real‐time understanding of coupled hydrologic and biogeochemical processes in stream ecosystems: Future integration of telemetered data with process models for glacial meltwater streams

While continuous monitoring of streamflow and temperature has been common for some time, there is great potential to expand continuous monitoring to include water quality parameters such as nutrients, turbidity, oxygen, and dissolved organic material. In many systems, distinguishing between watershed and stream ecosystem controls can be challenging. The usefulness of such monitoring can be enhanced by the application of quantitative models to interpret observed patterns in real time. Examples are discussed primarily from the glacial meltwater streams of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. Although the Dry Valley landscape is barren of plants, many streams harbor thriving cyanobacterial mats. Whereas a daily cycle of streamflow is controlled by the surface energy balance on the glaciers and the temporal pattern of solar exposure, the daily signal for biogeochemical processes controlling water quality is generated along the stream. These features result in an excellent outdoor laboratory for investigating fundamental ecosystem process and the development and validation of process‐based models. As part of the McMurdo Dry Valleys Long‐Term Ecological Research project, we have conducted field experiments and developed coupled biogeochemical transport models for the role of hyporheic exchange in controlling weathering reactions, microbial nitrogen cycling, and stream temperature regulation. We have adapted modeling approaches from sediment transport to understand mobilization of stream biomass with increasing flows. These models help to elucidate the role of in‐stream processes in systems where watershed processes also contribute to observed patterns, and may serve as a test case for applying real‐time stream ecosystem models.

Water Resources Research↗

USGS2018

Karst hydrogeology of Tuckaleechee Cove and the western Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee and North Carolina

The geology of Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM) in Tennessee and North Carolina is dominated by siliciclastics and metamorphic strata. However, in the western portion of GRSM, a series of carbonate fensters (windows) expose the Lower Ordovician–age section of the Knox Group, a series of dolomite and limestone units that are partially marbleized as a result of contact metamorphism from the Great Smoky fault. The fensters create opportunities for allogenic recharge to occur at points along the contact of the surrounding insoluble strata with the underlying soluble carbonates. The combination of chemically aggressive surface recharge and vertical relief has resulted in the formation of deep caves, many of which have active streams and water resources. Though the karst is limited in extent and the number of caves is fairly small, the significance of the resources is substantial, with several of the caves in the area over 150 m in depth and at least two being major bat hibernacula. In 2017, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) began a study to better understand the hydrologic behavior of these karst systems through hydrologic and geochemical monitoring, groundwater tracing using fluorescent dyes, and seepage runs. Stage and water-quality instrumentation was installed in two caves in GRSM, the main stream of Bull Cave, and in a sump pool in Whiteoak Blowhole, at 173 m and 70 m below land surface, respectively. Following setup of the cave sites, dye injections were conducted to determine discharge points for four of the deep cave systems on Rich Mountain and Turkeypen ridge. Results show water in these systems has an extremely rapid travel time, with tracers detected from caves to springs in less than 24 h for each of the systems. This field guide describes the complex geology, regional hydrogeology, and unique landscape characterized by high-gradient subterranean streams, carbonate fensters, and deep caves of the GRSM karst.

North Carolina, Tennessee↗

USGS2013

Phosphorus losses from agricultural watersheds in the Mississippi Delta

Phosphorus (P) loss from agricultural fields is of environmental concern because of its potential impact on water quality in streams and lakes. The Mississippi Delta has long been known for its fish productivity and recreational value, but high levels of P in fresh water can lead to algal blooms that have many detrimental effects on natural ecosystems. Algal blooms interfere with recreational and aesthetic water use. However, few studies have evaluated P losses from agricultural watersheds in the Mississippi Delta. To better understand the processes influencing P loss, rainfall, surface runoff, sediment, ortho-P (orthophosphate, PO 4 –P), and total P (TP) were measured (water years 1996–2000) for two subwatersheds (UL1 and UL2) of the Deep Hollow Lake Watershed and one subwatershed of the Beasley Lake Watershed (BL3) primarily in cotton production in the Mississippi Delta. Ortho-P concentrations ranged from 0.01 to 1.0 mg/L with a mean of 0.17 mg/L at UL1 (17.0 ha), 0.36 mg/L at UL2 (11.2 ha) and 0.12 mg/L at BL3 (7.2 ha). The TP concentrations ranged from 0.14 to 7.9 mg/L with a mean of 0.96 mg/L at UL1, 1.1 mg/L at UL2 and 1.29 mg/L at BL3. Among the three sites, UL1 and UL2 received P application in October 1998, and BL3 received P applications in the spring of 1998 and 1999. At UL1, ortho-P concentrations were 0.36, 0.25 and 0.16 for the first, second and third rainfall events after P application, respectively; At UL2, ortho-P concentrations were 1.0, 0.66 and 0.65 for the first, second and third rainfall events after P application, respectively; and at BL3, ortho-P concentrations were 0.11, 0.22 and 0.09 for the first, second and third rainfall events after P application, respectively. P fertilizer application did influence P losses, but high P concentrations observed in surface runoff were not always a direct result of P fertilizer application or high rainfall. Application of P in the fall (UL1 and UL2) resulted in more ortho-P losses, likely because high rainfall often occurred in the winter months soon after application. The mean ortho-P concentrations were higher at UL1 and UL2 than those at BL3, although BL3 received more P application during the monitoring period, because P was applied in spring at BL3. However, tillage associated with planting and incorporating applied P in the spring (BL3) may have resulted in more TP loss in sediment, thus the mean TP concentration was the highest at BL3. Ortho-P loss was correlated with surface runoff; and TP loss was correlated with sediment loss. These results indicate that applying P fertilizer in the spring may be recommended to reduce potential ortho-P loss during the fallow winter season; in addition, conservation practices may reduce potential TP loss associated with soil loss.

Mississippi↗

USGS2011

Project plan-Surficial geologic mapping and hydrogeologic framework studies in the Greater Platte River Basins (Central Great Plains) in support of ecosystem and climate change research

The Greater Platte River Basin area spans a central part of the Midcontinent and Great Plains from the Rocky Mountains on the west to the Missouri River on the east, and is defined to include drainage areas of the Platte, Niobrara, and Republican Rivers, the Rainwater Basin, and other adjoining areas overlying the northern High Plains aquifer. The Greater Platte River Basin contains abundant surficial deposits that were sensitive to, or are reflective of, the climate under which they formed: deposits from multiple glaciations in the mountain headwaters of the North and South Platte Rivers and from continental ice sheets in eastern Nebraska; fluvial terraces (ranging from Tertiary to Holocene in age) along the rivers and streams; vast areas of eolian sand in the Nebraska Sand Hills and other dune fields (recording multiple episodes of dune activity); thick sequences of windblown silt (loess); and sediment deposited in numerous lakes and wetlands. In addition, the Greater Platte River Basin overlies and contributes surface water to the High Plains aquifer, a nationally important groundwater system that underlies parts of eight states and sustains one of the major agricultural areas of the United States. The area also provides critical nesting habitat for birds such as plovers and terns, and roosting habitat for cranes and other migratory birds that travel through the Central Flyway of North America. This broad area, containing fragile ecosystems that could be further threatened by changes in climate and land use, has been identified by the USGS and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as a region where intensive collaborative research could lead to a better understanding of climate change and what might be done to adapt to or mitigate its adverse effects to ecosystems and to humans. The need for robust data on the geologic framework of ecosystems in the Greater Platte River Basin has been acknowledged in proceedings from the 2008 Climate Change Workshop and in draft reports by researchers developing a multidisciplinary science plan for the Greater Platte River Basin.

Open-File Report↗

USGS2013

Development of a database-driven system for simulating water temperature in the lower Yakima River main stem, Washington, for various climate scenarios

A model for simulating daily maximum and mean water temperatures was developed by linking two existing models: one developed by the U.S. Geological Survey and one developed by the Bureau of Reclamation. The study area included the lower Yakima River main stem between the Roza Dam and West Richland, Washington. To automate execution of the labor-intensive models, a database-driven model automation program was developed to decrease operation costs, to reduce user error, and to provide the capability to perform simulations quickly for multiple management and climate change scenarios. Microsoft© SQL Server 2008 R2 Integration Services packages were developed to (1) integrate climate, flow, and stream geometry data from diverse sources (such as weather stations, a hydrologic model, and field measurements) into a single relational database; (2) programmatically generate heavily formatted model input files; (3) iteratively run water temperature simulations; (4) process simulation results for export to other models; and (5) create a database-driven infrastructure that facilitated experimentation with a variety of scenarios, node permutations, weather data, and hydrologic conditions while minimizing costs of running the model with various model configurations. As a proof-of-concept exercise, water temperatures were simulated for a "Current Conditions" scenario, where local weather data from 1980 through 2005 were used as input, and for "Plus 1" and "Plus 2" climate warming scenarios, where the average annual air temperatures used in the Current Conditions scenario were increased by 1degree Celsius (°C) and by 2°C, respectively. Average monthly mean daily water temperatures simulated for the Current Conditions scenario were compared to measured values at the Bureau of Reclamation Hydromet gage at Kiona, Washington, for 2002-05. Differences ranged between 1.9° and 1.1°C for February, March, May, and June, and were less than 0.8°C for the remaining months of the year. The difference between current conditions and measured monthly values for the two warmest months (July and August) were 0.5°C and 0.2°C, respectively. The model predicted that water temperature generally becomes less sensitive to air temperature increases as the distance from the mouth of the river decreases. As a consequence, the difference between climate warming scenarios also decreased. The pattern of decreasing sensitivity is most pronounced from August to October. Interactive graphing tools were developed to explore the relative sensitivity of average monthly and mean daily water temperature to increases in air temperature for model output locations along the lower Yakima River main stem.

Washington↗

USGS2002

Long-term sand supply to Coachella Valley Fringe-toed Lizard Habitat in the Northern Coachella Valley, California

The Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard ( Uma inornata ) is a federally listed threatened species that inhabits active sand dunes in the vicinity of Palm Springs, California. The Whitewater Floodplain and Willow Hole Reserves provide some of the primary remaining habitat for this species. The sediment-delivery system that creates these active sand dunes consists of fluvial depositional areas fed episodically by ephemeral streams. Finer fluvial sediments (typically sand size and finer) are mobilized in a largely unidirectional wind field associated with strong westerly winds through San Gorgonio Pass. The fluvial depositional areas are primarily associated with floodplains of the Whitewater—San Gorgonio Rivers and Mission Creek—Morongo Wash; other small drainages also contribute fluvial sediment to the eolian system. The eolian dunes are transitory as a result of unidirectional sand movement from the depositional areas, which are recharged with fine-grained sediment only during episodic floods that typically occur during El Niño years. Eolian sand moves primarily from west to east through the study area; the period of maximum eolian activity is April through June. Wind speed varies diurnally, with maximum velocities typically occurring during the afternoon. Development of alluvial fans, alteration of stream channels by channelization, in-stream gravel mining, and construction of infiltration galleries were thought to reduce the amount of fluvial sediment reaching the depositional areas upwind of Uma habitat. Also, the presence of roadways, railroads, and housing developments was thought to disrupt or redirect eolian sand movement. Most of the sediment yield to the fluvial system is generated in higher elevation areas with little or no development, and sediment yield is affected primarily by climatic fluctuations and rural land use, particularly livestock grazing and wildfire. Channelization benefits sediment delivery to the depositional plains upwind of the reserves by minimizing in-channel sediment storage on the alluvial fans. The post-development annual sediment yield to the Whitewater and Mission Creek—Morongo Wash depositional areas are 3.5 and 1.5 million ft 3 /yr, respectively, covering each depositional area to a depth of 0.2 to 0.4 in. Given existing sand-transport rates, this material could be depleted by eolian processes in 8 to 16 months, a rate consistent with the presence of persistent sand dunes. However, these depletion times are likely minimum estimates, as some eolian sand is seen to persist in the immediate vicinity of depositional areas for longer time periods. Transport rates may be reduced by the presence of vegetation and other windbreaks. Because they are perpendicular to prevailing winds, the infiltration galleries on Whitewater River trap fluvial and eolian sediment, reducing sediment availability. Also, the presence of the railroad and Interstate 10 redirect eolian sand movement to the southeast along their corridors,potentially eliminating the Whitewater depositional area as a sand source for the Willow Hole Reserve. Using directional wind data, we discuss the potential for eolian sand transport from the Mission Creek—Morongo Wash depositional area to Willow Hole.

California↗

USGS1946

Water utilization in the White River Basin

This report presents briefly the results of an investigation of the water and power resources of the White river made in 1943 primarily for the purpose of classification of lands adjacent to the stream that have been withdrawn for power purposes. About three days were spent by the writer in field examination of the river basin during August and September. A survey of the river from its confluence with the Deschutes River to the Mt. Hood Loop Highway is published by the Survey. Nearly all of this map was surveyed in 1932. The entire basin is shown on quadrangle sheets. A record of discharge is available for the period 1917-43 at a station near the mouth of the river, and several short records are available at points upstream and on tributary streams.

Oregon↗

USGS2007

Bankfull Regional Curves for Streams in the Non-Urban, Non-Tidal Coastal Plain Physiographic Province, Virginia and Maryland

Natural-channel design involves constructing a stream channel with the dimensions, slope, and plan-view pattern that would be expected to transport water and sediment and yet maintain habitat and aesthetics consistent with unimpaired reaches. The adequate description of channel geometry in unimpaired reaches often is an important component of natural-channel design projects and can be facilitated through empirical regression relations, or regional curves, relating bankfull geometry to drainage area. One-variable, ordinary least-squares regressions relating bankfull discharge, bankfull cross-sectional area, bankfull width, and bankfull mean depth to drainage area were developed based on data collected at 20 streamflow-gaging stations in Virginia and Maryland. These regional curves can be used to estimate the bankfull discharge and bankfull channel geometry when the drainage area of a watershed is known. Field data collected at the site for each streamflow-gaging station included one longitudinal profile of bankfull features and channel-bed slope, two riffle cross-section surveys of channel geometry, cross-section pebble counts, and one site sketch with photographs of the channel and bankfull features. The top of the bank was the bankfull feature most indicative of bankfull geometry. Field data were analyzed to determine bankfull cross-sectional area, bankfull width, bankfull mean depth, and D50- and D84-particle sizes for the two riffles at each site. The bankfull geometry from the 8 sites surveyed during this study represents the average of two riffle cross sections for each site, and the bankfull geometry from the 12 Maryland sites represents one cross section for each site. Regional curves developed for the 20 sites had coefficient of determination (R2) values of 0.945, 0.890, 0.871, and 0.793 for bankfull cross-sectional area, width, mean depth, and discharge, respectively. The regional curves represent conditions for streams with defined channels and bankfull features in Virginia and Maryland with drainage areas ranging from 0.28 to 113 square miles. All sites included in the development of the regional curves were located on streams with U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging stations. These curves can be used to verify bankfull features identified in the field and bankfull stage for ungaged streams in non-urban areas.

Scientific Investigations Report↗

USGS1998

Major-ion, nutrient, and trace-element concentrations in the Steamboat Creek basin, Oregon, 1996

In September 1996, a water-quality study was done by the U.S. Geological Survey, in coordination with the U.S. Forest Service, in headwater streams of Steamboat Creek, a tributary to the North Umpqua River Basin in southwestern Oregon. Field measurements were made in and surface-water and bottom-sediment samples were collected from three tributaries of Steamboat Creek--Singe Creek, City Creek, and Horse Heaven Creek--and at one site in Steamboat Creek upstream from where the three tributaries flow into Steamboat Creek. Water samples collected in Singe Creek had larger concentrations of most major-ion constituents and smaller concentrations of most nutrient constituents than was observed in the other three creeks. City Creek, Horse Heaven Creek, and Steamboat Creek had primarily calcium bicarbonate water, whereas Singe Creek had primarily a calcium sulfate water; the calcium sulfate water detected in Singe Creek, along with the smallest observed alkalinity and pH values, suggests that Singe Creek may be receiving naturally occurring acidic water. Of the 18 trace elements analyzed in filtered water samples, only 6 were detected--aluminum, barium, cobalt, iron, manganese, and zinc. All six of the trace elements were detected in Singe Creek, at concentrations generally larger than those observed in the other three creeks. Of the detected trace elements, only iron and zinc have chronic toxicity criteria established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for the protection of aquatic life; none exceeded the USEPA criterion. Bottom-sediment concentrations of antimony, arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, zinc, and organic carbon were largest in City Creek. In City Creek and Horse Heaven Creek, concentrations for 11 constituents--antimony, arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, manganese (Horse Heaven Creek only), mercury, selenium, silver, zinc, and organic carbon (City Creek only)--exceeded concentrations considered to be enriched in streams of the nearby Willamette River Basin, whereas in Steamboat Creek only two trace elements--antimony and nickel--exceeded Willamette River enriched concentrations. Bottom-sediment concentrations for six of these constituents in City Creek and Horse Heaven Creek--arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, and zinc--also exceeded interim Canadian threshold effect level (TEL) concentrations established for the protection of aquatic life, whereas only four constituents between Singe Creek and Steamboat Creek--arsenic, chromium, copper (Singe Creek only), and nickel--exceeded the TEL concentrations.

Oregon↗