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USGS2017

Season, molt, and body size influence mercury concentrations in grebes

We studied seasonal and physiological influences on mercury concentrations in western grebes (Aechmophorus occidentalis) and Clark's grebes (A. occidentalis) across 29 lakes and reservoirs in California, USA. Additionally, at three of these lakes, we conducted a time series study, in which we repeatedly sampled grebe blood mercury concentrations during the spring, summer, and early fall. Grebe blood mercury concentrations were higher among males (0.61 ± 0.12 μg/g ww) than females (0.52 ± 0.10 μg/g ww), higher among Clark's grebes (0.58 ± 0.12 μg/g ww) than western grebes (0.51 ± 0.10 μg/g ww), and exhibited a strong seasonal pattern (decreasing by 60% from spring to fall). Grebe blood THg concentrations exhibited a shallow, inverse U-shaped pattern with body size, and was lowest among the smallest and largest grebes. Further, the relationship between grebe blood mercury concentrations and wing primary feather molt exhibited a shallow U-shaped pattern, where mercury concentrations were highest among birds that had not yet begun molting, decreased approximately 24% between pre-molt and late molt, and increased approximately 19% from late molt to post-molt. Because grebes did not begin molting until mid-summer, lower grebe blood mercury concentrations observed in late summer and early fall were consistent with the onset of primary feather molt. However, because sampling date was a much stronger predictor of grebe mercury concentrations than molt, other seasonally changing environmental factors likely played a larger role than molt in the seasonal variation in grebe mercury concentrations. In the time series study, we found that seasonal trends in grebe mercury concentrations were not consistent among lakes, indicating that lake-specific variation in mercury dynamics influence the overall seasonal decline in grebe blood mercury concentrations. These results highlight the importance of accounting for sampling date, as well as ecological processes that may influence mercury concentrations, when developing monitoring programs to assess site-specific exposure risk of mercury to wildlife.

California↗

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↗

USGS2002

Water resources data, Nevada, water year 2001

Water resources data published herein for the 2001 water year comprise the following records: o Water discharge for 168 gaging stations on streams, canals and drains. o Discharge for 146 peak-flow stations and miscellaneous sites, and 14 springs. o Stage and contents for 20 lakes and reservoirs. o Water-quality data for 95 stream, lake, canal, spring, and drain sites, and 53 wells. o Water levels for 97 primary/continuous record wells, and 654 secondary observation wells. o Water withdrawals for 12 wells o Precipitation totals for 31 stations. Additional water-data, collected at various sites that are not part of the systematic data-collection program, are published as miscellaneous measurements. These data represent that part of the National Water Information System operated by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating State and Federal agencies in Nevada.

Nevada↗

USGS1998

Water resources data, Nevada, water year 1997

Water resources data published herein for the 1997 water year comprise the following records: o Water discharge for 173 gaging stations on streams, canals and drains. o Discharge for 170 peak-flow stations and miscellaneous sites, and 6 springs. o Stage and contents for 21 lakes and reservoirs. o Water-quality data for 64 stream, lake, canal, spring, and drain sites, and 115 wells. o Precipitation totals for 36 stations. o Water levels for 34 continuous record wells, and 924 observation wells. o Water withdrawals for 14 wells Additional water-data, collected at various sites that are not part of the systematic data-collection program, are published as miscellaneous measurements. These data represent that part of the National Water Data System operated by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating State and Federal agencies in Nevada.

Nevada↗

USGS1977

Limnology of selected lakes in Ohio, 1975

Water-quality reconnaissance by the U.S. Geological Survey and Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, to evaluate the status of Ohio's lakes and reservoirs was begun in 1975 with studies of 17 lakes. Spring and summer data collections for each lake included: profile measurements of temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and specific conductance; field and laboratory analyses of physical, biological, chemical organic characteristics; (nutrient), and concentrations of major and minor chemical constituents from composites of the water column; and physical and chemical data from major inflows. Light penetration (secchi disk) ranged from 9.4 feet (2.9 meters) in Lake Hope to 0.4 feet (0.1 meter) in Acton Lake. Seasonal thermal stratification or stability is shown for 10 lakes deeper than 15 feet (4.6 meters). Unstable or modified temperature profiles were observed in shallow lakes (depths less than 15 feet) or lakes controlled through subsurface release valves. Dissolved oxygen saturation ranged from 229 percent (20.8 milligrams per liter) in the epilimnion of Paint Creek Lake to zero in the bottom waters of all thermally stabilized lakes. Marked chemical and physical differences and nutrient uptake and recycling developed within different thermal strata. Anaerobic zones were frequently characterized by hydrogen sulfide and ammonia. Calcium was the dominant or codominant cation, and bicarbonate and(or) sulfate were the major anions in all lakes sampled. Only Hope and Vesuvius Lakes had soft water (hardness less than 61 milligrams per liter as CaCO3 ), and both lakes were further characterized by low pH (less than 7.0). Specific conductance ranged from 510 micromhos (Deer Creek and Salt Fork Lakes) to 128 micromhos (Lake Hope). Pesticide residues were detected in Acton Lake, and concentrations of one or more trace metals were at or above Ohio Environmental Protection Agency recommended limits in 11 lakes. Fecal coliform colony counts were below 400 colonies per 100 milliliters in 13 lakes; higher counts were observed in Acton, Cowan, Harrison, and Paint Creek Lakes in samples taken during runoff events. Phytoplankton densities greater than 100,000 cells per milliliter were observed in 12 lakes and reached a maximum of over 2,800,000 cells per milliliter in Grand Lake St. Marys. Summer domination of the algal community by blue-green algae (Cyanophyta) was indicated for 16 of the 17 lakes. Streams are a major source of macronutrients to Ohio's lakes. Concentrations of nitrite plus nitrate and total Phosphorus in 38 inflow samples to the 17 lakes averaged 2.17 milligrams per liter as N and 0.29 milligrams per liter as P, respectively.

Ohio↗

USGS2009

Rehabilitation of Delavan Lake, Wisconsin

A comprehensive rehabilitation plan was developed and implemented to shift Delavan Lake , Wisconsin, from a hypereutrophic to a mesotrophic condition. The plan was threefold: (1) reduce external phosphorus (P) loading by applying Best Management Practices in the watershed, enhance an existing wetland, and short-circuit the inflows through the lake , (2) reduce internal P loading by treating the sediments with alum and removing carp, and (3) rehabilitate the fishery by removing carp and bigmouth buffalo and adding piscivores (biomanipulation). The first and second parts of the plan met with only limited success. With only minor reductions in internal and external P loading, P concentrations in the lake returned to near pre-treatment concentrations. The intensive biomanipulation and resulting trophic cascade (increased piscivores, decreased planktivores, increased large zooplankton populations, and reduced phytoplankton populations) eliminated most of the original problems in the lake (blue-green algal blooms and limited water clarity). However, now there is extensive macrophyte growth and abundant filamentous algae. Without significantly reducing the sources of the problems (high P loading) in Delavan Lake , the increased water clarity may not last. With an improved understanding of the individual components of this rehabilitation program, better future management plans can be developed for Delavan Lake and other lakes and reservoirs with similar eutrophication problems.

Wisconsin↗

USGS1982

Water resources data, Louisiana, water year 1982: Volume 1. Central and northern Louisiana

Water resources data for the 1982 water year for Louisiana consist of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams; stage, contents, and water quality of lakes and reservoirs; and water levels and water quality of ground water. This report, in two volumes, contains records for water discharge at 77 gaging stations (including stage for 65 of these stations); stage only for 64 gaging stations and 9 lakes; contents for 1 reservoir; water quality for 104 surface-water stations (including 31gaging stations) 20 miscellaneous sites, and 8 lakes, and 223 wells; and water levels for 526 observation wells. Also included are data for 209 cres-stage and flood-profile partial-record stations. Additional water data were collected at various sites not involved in the systematic data-collection program, and are published as miscellaneous measurements. Records for a few pertinent stations in bordering states are also included in this report. These data represent that part of the National Water Data System operated by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating State and Federal agencies in Louisiana.

Louisiana↗

USGS2011

Hypolimnetic dissolved-oxygen dynamics within selected White River reservoirs, northern Arkansas-southern Missouri, 1974-2008

Dissolved oxygen is a critical constituent in reservoirs and lakes because it is essential for metabolism by all aerobic aquatic organisms. In general, hypolimnetic temperature and dissolved-oxygen concentrations vary from summer to summer in reservoirs, more so than in natural lakes, largely in response to the magnitude of flow into and release out of the water body. Because eutrophication is often defined as the acceleration of biological productivity resulting from increased nutrient and organic loading, hypolimnetic oxygen consumption rates or deficits often provide a useful tool in analyzing temporal changes in water quality. This report updates a previous report that evaluated hypolimnetic dissolved-oxygen dynamics for a 21-year record (1974-94) in Beaver, Table Rock, Bull Shoals, and Norfork Lakes, as well as analyzed the record for Greers Ferry Lake. Beginning in 1974, vertical profiles of temperature and dissolved-oxygen concentrations generally were collected monthly from March through December at sites near the dam of each reservoir. The rate of change in the amount of dissolved oxygen present below a given depth at the beginning and end of the thermal stratification period is referred to as the areal hypolimnetic oxygen deficit. Areal hypolimnetic oxygen deficit was normalized for each reservoir based on seasonal flushing rate between April 15 and October 31 to adjust for wet year and dry year variability. Annual cycles in thermal stratification within Beaver, Table Rock, Bull Shoals, Norfork, and Greers Ferry Lakes exhibited typical monomictic (one extended turnover period per year) characteristics. Flow dynamics drive reservoir processes and need to be considered when analyzing areal hypolimnetic oxygen deficit rates. A nonparametric, locally weighted scatter plot smooth line describes the relation between areal hypolimnetic oxygen deficit and seasonal flushing rates, without assuming linearity or normality of the residuals. The results in this report are consistent with earlier findings that oxygen deficit rates and flushing-rate adjusted areal hypolimnetic oxygen deficit in Beaver and Table Rock Lakes were decreasing between 1974 and 1994. The additional data (1995-2008) demonstrate that the decline in flushing-rate adjusted areal hypolimnetic oxygen deficit in Beaver Lake has continued, whereas that in Table Rock Lake has flattened out in recent years. The additional data demonstrate the flushing-rate adjusted areal hypolimnetic oxygen deficit in Bull Shoals and Norfork Lakes have declined since 1995 (improved water quality), which was not indicated in earlier studies, while Greers Ferry Lake showed little net change over the period of record. Given the amount of data (35 years) for these reservoirs, developing an equation or model to predict areal hypolimnetic oxygen deficit and, therefore, areal hypolimnetic oxygen content, on any given day during future stratification seasons may be useful for reservoir managers.

Missouri;Arkansas↗

USGS1979

Water resources data for Louisiana, water year 1979, volume 1. Central and northern Louisiana

Water resources data for the 1979 water year for Louisiana consist of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams; stage, contents, and water quality of lakes and reservoirs; and water levels and water quality of ground water. This report, in three volumes, contains records for water discharge at 78 gaging stations (including stage for 72 of these stations); stage only for 42 gaging stations and 10 lakes; contents for 1 reservoir; water quality for 146 surface-water stations (including 22 gaging stations, 52 miscellaneous sites, and 24 lakes), and 335 wells; and water levels for 685 observation wells. Also included are data for 212 crest-stage and flood-profile partial record stations. Additional water data were collected at various sites not involved in the systematic data-collection program, and are published as miscellaneous measurements. Records for a few pertinent stations in bordering States are also included in this report. These data represent that part of the National Water Data System operated by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating State and Federal agencies in Louisiana.

Louisiana↗

USGS1979

Water resources data for Louisiana, water year 1979, volume 2. Southern Louisiana

Water resources data for the 1979 water year for Louisiana consist of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams; stage, contents, and water quality of lakes and reservoirs; and water levels and water quality of ground water. This report, in three volumes, contains records for water discharge at 78 gaging stations (including stage for 72 of these stations); stage only for 42 gaging stations and 10 lakes; contents for 1 reservoir; water quality for 146 surface-water stations (including 22 gaging stations, 52 miscellaneous sites, and 24 lakes), and 335 wells; and water levels for 685 observation wells. Also included are data for 212 crest-stage and flood-profile partial-record stations. Additional water data were collected at various sites not involved in the systematic data-collection program, and are published as miscellaneous measurements. Records for a few pertinent stations in bordering States are also included in this report. These data represent that part of the National Water Data System operated by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating State and Federal agencies in Louisiana.

Louisiana↗

USGS1979

Water resources data for Louisiana, water year 1979, volume 3. Coastal Louisiana

Water resources data for the 1979 water year for Louisiana consist of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams; stage, contents, and water quality of lakes and reservoirs; and water levels and water quality of ground water. This report, in three volumes, contains records for water discharge at 78 gaging stations (including stage for 72 of these stations); stage only for 42 gaging stations and 10 lakes; contents for 1 reservoir; water quality for 146 surface-water stations (including 22 gaging stations, 52 miscellaneous sites, and 24 lakes), and 335 wells; and water levels for 685 observation wells. Also included are data for 212 crest-stage and flood profile partial-record stations. Additional water data were collected at various sites not involved in the systematic data-collection program, and are published as miscellaneous measurements. Records for a few pertinent stations in bordering States are also included in this report. These data represent that part of the National Water Data System operated by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating State and Federal agencies in Louisiana.

Louisiana↗

USGS1980

Water resources data for Louisiana, water year 1980: Volume 2. Southern Louisiana

Water resources data for the 1980 water year for Louisiana consist of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams; stage, contents, and water quality of lakes and reservoirs; and water levels and water quality of ground water. This report, in three volumes, contains records for water discharge at 75 gaging stations (including stage for 71 of these stations); stage only for 38 gaging stations and 11 lakes; contents for 1 reservoir; water quality for 124 surface-water stations (including 34 gaging stations), 107 miscellaneous sites, and 15 lakes, and 268 wells; and water levels for 506 observation wells. Also included are data for 271 crest-stage and flood-profile partial-record stations. Additional water data were collected at various sites not involved in the systematic data-collection program, and are published as miscellaneous measurements. Records for a few pertinent stations in bordering States are also included in this report. These data represent that part of the National Water Data System operated by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating State and Federal agencies in Louisiana.

Louisiana↗

USGS1981

Water resources data, Louisiana, water year 1981, volume 1. Central and northern Louisiana

Water resources data for the 1981 water year for Louisiana consist of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams; stage, contents, and water quality of lakes and reservoirs; and water levels and water quality of ground water. This report, in three volumes, contains records for water discharge at 81 gaging stations (including stage for 76 of these stations); stage only for 37 gaging stations and 10 lakes; contents for 1 reservoir; water quality for 142 surface-water stations (including 35 gaging stations), 27 miscellaneous sites, and 10 lakes, and 286 wells; and water levels for 679 observation wells. Also included are data for 250 crest-stage and flood-profile stations. Additional water data were collected at various sites not involved in the systematic data-collection program, and are published as miscellaneous measurements. Records for a few pertinent stations in bordering states are also included in this report. These data represent that part of the National Water Data System operated by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating State and Federal agencies in Louisiana.

Louisiana↗

USGS1981

Water resources data, Louisiana, water year 1981, volume 2. Southern Louisiana

Water resources data for the 1981 water year for Louisiana consist of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams; stage, contents, and water quality of lakes and reservoirs; and water levels and water quality of ground water. This report, in three volumes, contains records for water discharge at 81 gaging stations (including stage for 76 of these stations); stage only for 37 gaging stations and 10 lakes; contents for 1 reservoir; water quality for 142 surface-water stations (including 35 gaging stations), 27 miscellaneous sites, and 10 lakes, and 286 wells; and water levels for 679 observation wells. Also included are data for 250 crest-stage and flood-profile partial-record stations. Additional water data were collected at various sites not involved in the systematic data-collection program, and are published as miscellaneous measurements. Records for a few pertinent stations in bordering states are also included in this report. These data represent that part of the National Water Data System operated by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating State and Federal agencies in Louisiana.

Louisiana↗

USGS1981

Water resources data, Louisiana, water year 1981, volume 3. Coastal Louisiana

Water resources data for the 1981 water year for Louisiana consist of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams; stage, contents, and water quality of lakes and reservoirs; and water levels and water quality of ground water. This report, in three volumes, contains records for water discharge at 81 gaging stations (including stage for 76 of these stations); stage only for 37 gaging stations and 10 lakes; contents for 1 reservoir; water quality for 142 surface-water stations (including 35 gaging stations), 27 miscellaneous sites, and 10 lakes, and 286 wells; and water levels for 679 observation wells. Also included are data for 250 crest-stage and flood-profile partial-record stations. Additional water data were collected at various sites not involved in the systematic data-collection program, and are published as miscellaneous measurements. Records for a few pertinent stations in bordering states are also included in this report. These data represent that part of the National Water Data System operated by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating State and Federal agencies in Louisiana.

Louisiana↗

USGS1983

Water resources data, Louisiana, water year 1983, volume 2. Southern Louisiana

Water resources data for the 1983 water year for Louisiana consist of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams; stage, contents, and water quality of lakes and reservoirs; and water levels and water quality of ground water. This report, in two volumes, contains records for water discharge at 79 gaging stations (including stage for 69 of these stations); stage only for 50 gaging stations and 11 lakes; contents for 1 reservoir; water quality for 110 surface-water stations (including 33 gaging stations), 10 miscellaneous sites, and 12 lakes, and 213 wells; and water levels for 679 observation wells. Also included are data for 195 crest-stage and flood-profile partial-record stations. Additional water data were collected at various sites not involved in the systematic data-collection program, and are published as miscellaneous measurements. These data represent that part of the National Water Data System operated by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating State and Federal agencies in Louisiana.

Louisiana↗

USGS2005

Water resources data, Nebraska, water year 2004

The Nebraska water resources data report for water year 2004 includes records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams; water elevation and/or contents of lakes and reservoirs; and water levels and quality of ground water in wells. This report contains records of stream stage for 3 stations; stream discharge for 101 continuous and 5 crest-stage gaging stations, and 6 miscellaneous sites; stream water quality for 7 gaging stations and 40 miscellaneous sites; water elevation and/or contents for 2 lakes and 1 reservoir; ground-water levels for 74 observation wells; and ground-water quality for 200 wells. These data represent that part of the National Water Data System collected in and near Nebraska by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating Federal, State, and local agencies.

Water Data Report↗

USGS2004

Contaminant trends in reservoir sediment cores as records of influent stream quality

When reconstructing water-quality histories from lake and reservoir cores, it is sometimes assumed that the chemical signatures in the cores reflect historical water quality in the influent streams. To investigate this assumption, concentrations of metals, PAHs, and organochlorine compounds in sediment cores were compared to those associated with an influent-stream suspended sediment for three reservoirs in Fort Worth, TX, and two reservoirs in Boston, MA, U.S.A., and interpreted in light of land-use and regulation histories. In evaluating relations between suspended sediments and cores, three levels of preservation were indicated: (1) influent concentrations and historical trends are preserved in cores (metals at all sites; some organic contaminants at some sites); (2) some loss occurs during transport and initial deposition but relative historical trends are preserved in cores (some organic contaminants at some sites); and (3) neither stream concentrations nor relative historical trends are preserved (dieldrin and p,p???-DDT). The degree of preservation of influent concentration histories varied between lakes, particularly for PAHs. The results support the use of sediment cores to infer streamwater-quality histories for many contaminants but indicate that reservoir-bottom sediment samples might underestimate concentrations of organic contaminants in some streams.

Environmental Science & Technology↗