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At least 1,153 records · Page 64Linked to original sources
USGS1996

Water-quality assessment of the Rio Grande Valley, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas: Occurrence and distribution of selected pesticides and nutrients at selected surface-water sites in the Mesilla Valley, 1994-95

The Rio Grande Valley study unit of the U.S. Geological Survey National Water-Quality Assessment Program conducted a two-phase synoptic study of the occurrence and distribution of pesticides and nutrients in the surface water of the Mesilla Valley, New Mexico and Texas. Phase one, conducted in April-May 1994 during the high-flow irrigation season, consisted of a 6-week time- series sampling event during which 17 water-column samples were collected at 3 main-stem sites on the Rio Grande and a synoptic irrigation-run sampling event during which 19 water-column samples were collected at 7 main-stem sites, 10 drain sites, and 2 sites at the discharges of wastewater-treatment plants. Three samples are included in both the time-series and irrigation-run events. Phase two, conducted in January 1995 during the low-flow non-irrigation season, consisted of a non-irrigation synoptic sampling event during which 18 water-column samples were collected at seven main-stem sites, nine drain sites, and two sites at the discharges of wastewater-treatment plants and a bed- material sampling event during which 6 bed-material samples were collected at six sites near the mouths of drains that discharge to the Rio Grande. The 51 water-column samples were analyzed for 78 pesticides and metabolites and 8 nutrients along with other constituents. The six bed-material samples were analyzed for 21 pesticides and metabolites, gross polychlorinated biphenyls, and gross polychlorinated naphthalenes. The presence of dissolved pesticides in the surface water of the Mesilla Valley is erratic. A total of 100 detections of 17 different pesticides were detected in 44 of the water-column samples. As many as 38 percent of these detections may be attributed to pesticide use upstream from the valley or to nonagricultural pesticide use within the valley. There were 29 detections of 10 different pesticides in 17 samples during the irrigation run and 41 detections of 13 pesticides in 16 samples during the non-irrigation run. Nine pesticides were detected during both phases of the study. The most commonly detected pesticides in the water-column samples were DCPA, which was detected in 29 samples, and metolachlor, which was detected in 17 of the samples. DCPA was detected throughout the Mesilla Valley, whereas metolachlor was detected mainly in the northern and central parts of the valley. The maximum pesticide concentration found during the study was 0.75 microgram per liter of carbofuran, which was detected at the East Side Drain site during the irrigation run. No water-column pesticide concentration exceeded U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's drinking-water standards or any applicable Federal or State criteria or guidelines. A total of 21 occurrences of six pesticides and metabolites were found in the bed-material samples. Chlordane, diazinon, and methyl parathion were detected once each, whereas DDD, DDE, and DDT were detected at all six bed-material sites. Water-column samples for the analysis of nutrient concentrations were collected at all sampling sites during both phases of the study. The concentrations of each nutrient ranged from at or below the individual minimum reporting level to as much as two or three orders of magnitude larger than the minimum reporting level. The concentration of each nutrient was left skewed with most of the values toward the lower end of the range. The larger concentrations of each nutrient, except dissolved nitrite plus nitrate, were associated with wastewater-treatment- plant sites 4 and 16. The larger concentrations of dissolved nitrite plus nitrate were generally associated with the non- irrigation run; however, the largest concentration was at site 4 during the irrigation run. During this study, the Mesilla Valley as a unit was a source of nutrients to the Rio Grande. Wi

New Mexico↗
USGS1987

Ground-water levels in the alluvial aquifer at Louisville, Kentucky, 1982-87

Water level data have been collected in the alluvial aquifer at Louisville, Kentucky by the U.S. Geological Survey since 1943. Interpretations of these data have been published in several reports by the Survey, but none have been published since 1983. Contour maps and hydrographs are presented in this report to document and to help interpret water level changes for the period 1982-87. Maps and hydrographs show that groundwater levels generally stabilized in the 1980 's after rising for many years. Two areas of groundwater withdrawals are apparent in the maps and hydrographs. Withdrawals in an industrial area in west Louisville disrupt the typical pattern of the contours to curve landward around the area of withdrawal. Resumption of pumping of groundwater for heating and cooling of some buildings in the downtown area in 1985 caused declines of about 3 to 4 ft in the downtown area. (Author 's abstract)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1997

Enhancements to the Branched Lagrangian Transport Modeling System

The Branched Lagrangian Transport Model (BLTM) has received wide use within the U.S. Geological Survey over the past 10 years. This report documents the enhancements and modifications that have been made to this modeling system since it was first introduced. The programs in the modeling system are arranged into five levels?programs to generate time-series of meteorological data (EQULTMP, SOLAR), programs to process time-series data (INTRP, MRG), programs to build input files for transport model (BBLTM, BQUAL2E), the model with defined reaction kinetics (BLTM, QUAL2E), and post processor plotting programs (CTPLT, CXPLT). An example application is presented to illustrate how the modeling system can be used to simulate 10 water-quality constituents in the Chattahoochee River below Atlanta, Georgia.

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1978

Unsteady solute-transport simulation in streamflow using a finite-difference model

This report documents a rather simple, general purpose, one-dimensional, one-parameter, mass-transport model for field use. The model assumes a well-mixed conservative solute that may be coming from an unsteady source and is moving in unsteady streamflow. The quantity of solute being transported is in the units of concentration. Results are reported as such. An implicit finite-difference technique is used to solve the mass transport equation. It consists of creating a tridiagonal matrix and using the Thomas algorithm to solve the matrix for the unknown concentrations at the new time step. The computer program pesented is designed to compute the concentration of a water-quality constituent at any point and at any preselected time in a one-dimensional stream. The model is driven by the inflowing concentration of solute at the upstream boundary and is influenced by the solute entering the stream from tributaries and lateral ground-water inflow and from a source or sink. (Woodard-USGS)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1984

Use of selected basin characteristics to estimate mean annual runoff and peak discharges for ungaged streams in drainage basins containing strippable coal resources, northwestern New Mexico

Equations in this report can be used to estimate mean annual runoff and peak discharges for 2-, 5-, 10-, 25-, and 100-year recurrence intervals for ungaged streams in drainage basins containing strippable coal resources in northwestern New Mexico. These streamflow characteristics are related to basin characteristics that were found to be significant, using regression techniques. Mean annual runoff for ephemeral streams is related to drainage area, active-channel width, main-channel slope, basin slope, and silt-clay percentage in active-channel banks. Peak discharges for ephemeral, intermittent, and perennial streams are related to drainage area, active-channel width, main-channel length, basin slope, and silt-clay percentage in active-channel banks. (USGS)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1988

Tides, and tidal and residual currents in Suisun and San Pablo bays, California, results of measurements, 1986

Current meter data collected at 11 stations and water level data collected at one station in Suisun and San Pablo Bays, California, in 1986 are compiled in this report. Current-meter measurements include current speed and direction, and water temperature and salinity (computed from temperature and conductivity). For each of the 19 current-meter records, data are presented in two forms. These are: (1) results of harmonic analysis; and (2) plots of tidal current speed and direction versus time and plots of temperature and salinity versus time. Spatial distribution of the properties of tidal currents are given in graphic form. In addition, Eulerian residual currents have been compiled by using a vector-averaging technique. Water level data are presented in the form of a time-series plot and the results of harmonic analysis. (USGS)

California↗
USGS2000

Effect of Georgetown Lake on the water quality of Clear Creek, Georgetown, Colorado, 1997-98

Georgetown Lake is a recreational reservoir located in the upper Clear Creek Basin, a designated Superfund site because of extensive metal mining in the past. Metals concentrations in Clear Creek increase as the stream receives runoff from mining-affected areas. In 1997, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, began a study to determine the effect of the reservoir on the transport of metals in Clear Creek. A bathymetric survey determined the capacity of the reservoir to be about 440 acre-feet of water, which remained constant during the study. Average water residence time in the reservoir is about 1-3 days during high flow. During low flow (10 cubic feet per second), average residence is about 22 days without ice cover and about 15 days with a 3-foot-thick ice cover. Sediment samples collected from the bottom of Georgetown Lake contained substantial concentrations of iron (average 25,500 milligrams per kilogram), aluminum (average 12,300 milligrams per kilogram), zinc (2,830 milligrams per kilogram), lead (618 milligrams per kilogram), manganese (548 milligrams per kilogram), and sulfide minerals (average 602 milligrams per kilogram as S). Sediment also contained abundant sulfate-reducing bacteria, indicating anoxic conditions. Algae and diatoms common to cold-water lakes were identified in sediment samples; one genus of algae is known to adapt to low-light conditions such as exist beneath ice cover. Vertical profiles of temperature, specific conductance, pH, and dissolved-oxygen concentrations were measured in the reservoir on July 28, 1997, when inflow to the reservoir was about 170 cubic feet per second and average residence time of water was about 1.3 days, and on February 13, 1998, when the reservoir was covered with about 3 feet of ice, inflow was about 15 cubic feet per second, and average residence time was about 12 days. The measurements on July 28, 1997, showed that the reservoir water was well mixed, although pH and dissolved-oxygen concentrations were increased by photosynthesis near the bottom of the reservoir. Measurements on February 13, 1998, indicated thermal and chemical stratification with warmer water (about 4 degrees Celsius) beneath colder water and increases in pH and dissolved-oxygen concentrations generally occurring near the top of the warmer layer. Concentrations of dissolved oxygen were saturated to over-saturated throughout the water column on both dates, although the concentrations were greater on February 13, 1998, because of colder temperature and photosynthesis. Median pH was about 0.5 unit higher on February 13, 1998, than on July 28, 1997, largely because the longer residence time on February 13, 1998, allowed greater cumulative effects of photosynthesis. Samples of inflow and outflow water were collected from August 1997 to August 1998. Dissolved cadmium and dissolved lead in inflow and outflow samples exceeded acute and chronic water-quality standards during some of the sampling period, whereas dissolved zinc exceeded both standards in inflow and outflow samples during the entire sampling period. Chromium, nickel, and silver were detected in a few samples at small concentrations. Arsenic, selenium, and thallium were not reported in any water samples. Georgetown Lake removes some metals from inflow water and releases others to outflow water. From August 1997 to August 1998, Georgetown Lake estimated outflow loads were about 21 percent less than the inflow load of cadmium and about 11 percent less than the inflow load of zinc. Estimated inflow loads were about 18 percent less than the outflow load of copper, about 13 percent less than the outflow load of iron, and about 27 percent less than the outflow load of manganese. Inflow and outflow loads of lead were essentially balanced. The outflow load of nitrite plus nitrate was about 14 percent less than the inflow load, probably because of plant uptake.

Colorado↗
USGS1985

Availability and quality of water from the bedrock aquifers in the Rapid City area, South Dakota

An evaluation made in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation of the availability and quality of water from the bedrock aquifers in the Rapid City area, South Dakota, concluded that Madison aquifer has the greatest potential for additional development of the three major aquifers investigated (the Inyan Kara, the Minnelusa, and the Madison). Ground-water availability and quality were evaluated on the basis of unit thickness and depth, potentiometric-surface altitudes and gradients, estimated recharge and discharge rates, estimated aquifer transmissivities and storage coefficients, reported yields of existing wells, and concentrations of ions in the water that may affect its use as a community supply. The Inyan Kara aquifer has the least potential for additional development because of reported small well yields , the proximity of the outcrop, and concentration of radium-226 exceeding 5 picocuries per liter. The Minnelusa aquifer is unsuitable for development in the eastern two-thirds of the study area because the concentrations of dissolved solids and sulfate commonly exceed the recommended maximum level for community water supplies. The Madison aquifer has the greatest potential for additional development because it has the greatest recharge rate, has areas with significant fracture permeability, yields as much as 500 gallons per minute to wells, and has satisifactory water quality, though it is hard (hardness 120 to 180 milligrams per liter) to very hard (hardness greater than 180 milligrams per liter). (USGS)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1996

Fishes of the White River basin, Indiana

Since 1875, researchers have reported 158 species of fish belonging to 25 families in the White River Basin. Of these species, 6 have not been reported since 1900 and 10 have not been reported since 1943. Since the 1820's, fish communities in the White River Basin have been affected by the alteration of stream habitat, overfishing, the introduction of non-native species, agriculture, and urbanization. Erosion resulting from conversion of forest land to cropland in the 1800's led to siltation of streambeds and resulted in the loss of some silt-sensitive species. In the early 1900's, the water quality of the White River was seriously degraded for 100 miles by untreated sewage from the City of Indianapolis. During the last 25 years, water quality in the basin has improved because of efforts to control water pollution. Fish communities in the basin have responded favorably to the improved water quality.

Indiana↗
USGS1983

Identification and classification of perennial streams of Arkansas

Perennial streams are identified in a map and classified according to the relative magnitude of their 7-day, 10-year low flows. Perennial streams are identified for the entire State of Arkansas with the exception of the Mississippi Alluvial Plain. Also presented are the 7-day, 10-year low flow values at continuous-record and low-flow partial-record stations statewide. Perennial streams are defined in this report as having 7-day, 10-year low flows greater than zero. The perennial stream drainage was delineated using data from continuous-record and low-flow partial-record stations, and reconnaissance-site observations. The reconnaissance was conducted during the unusually dry summer of 1980. In analysis, the State was divided into hydrologic regions; they were used in conjunction with index stations to establish the recurrence intervals of flow observed, during the reconnaissance. When necessary, relations were developed by region to adjust observed flow to 10-year recurrence interval flows. (USGS)

Arkansas↗
USGS1988

Streamflows in Wyoming

A description of the occurrence and availability of surface waters in Wyoming is presented along with explanations of both streamflow-data collection and methods for estimating streamflow characteristics at gaged and ungaged sites. Mountain ranges separate the major drainage basins and have a significant effect on the quantity of precipitation and the volume of runoff that occurs in Wyoming. Perennial streams that originate in the mountains provide the most dependable source of runoff; streams that originate in the plains and deserts generally are intermittent or ephemeral and have extended periods of no flow. Streamflow data for several hundred gaged sites in the State are available for engineering and management purposes. When gaged data are not available, methods for estimating streamflow characteristics are needed. Methods presented in this report for estimating streamflow characteristics have been improved over previous methods through the use of refined analytical techniques and an updated data base. Peak-flow characteristics and mean annual runoff at ungaged sites can be estimated by using regression equations, with either basin characteristics or channel width being independent variables. Log-linear regression equations are used for estimating streamflow characteristics in the mountains; whereas, curvilinear equations of double-exponential form were determined to be more appropriate than log-linear relations for depicting peak flows in the plains and deserts. (USGS)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1996

Thickness of unconsolidated deposits in the Puget Sound lowland, Washington and British Columbia

The Puget-Willamette Lowland is located in western Washington, western Oregon, and a small part of southwestern British Columbia, Canada. The Puget-Willamette Lowland study area is composed of two distinct subareas, the Puget Sound Lowland and the Willamette Lowland. This report presents the results of mapping the thickness of the unconsolidated deposits in the Puget Sound Lowland. The thickness of the unconsolidated deposits ranges from a discontinuous veneer in areas of bedrock outcrop to more than 3,600 feet. Available information shows that the unconsolidated deposits are thickest in the Fraser-Whatcom, Everett, Seattle, and Tacoma Basins. The mapped thickness of the unconsolidated deposits in the Tacoma Basin is probably underestimated because of the scarcity of wells penetrating the full thickness of the unconsolidated deposits and the lack of sufficient marine-seismic data.

British Columbia, Washington↗
USGS1978

The Tuscaloosa Aquifer system in Mississippi

A three-sheet map report describes the Tuscaloosa aquifer system in Mississippi. The Tuscaloosa aquifer system, of Cretaceous age , is in the interconnected irregular sand and gravel beds in the Coker and Gordo Formations. The aquifer contains freshwater in an area of about 9,000 sq mi in northeastern Mississippi. Water produced from the aquifer by about 90 water systems and numerous industries in 1975 averaged about 47 Mgal/d. Regional water level declines have averaged less than two feet per year and the aquifer has a large potential for future development. The aquifer is used in some areas where the dissolved-solids concentration is more than 500 mg/L and where wells exceed 2,000 ft in depth. The most common problems in water supplies are excessive chloride and iron. (Woodard-USGS)

Mississippi↗
USGS2003

Water-quality characteristics of urban storm runoff at selected sites in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, February 1998 through April 2002

Water was sampled at four watersheds for continued evaluation of urban storm runoff in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, during February 1998 through April 2002. Eighteen samples were collected from four watersheds representing land uses characterized predominantly as established commercial, industrial, new commercial, and residential. Results of water-quality analyses enabled calculation of event-mean concentrations and estimated annual contaminant loads and yields of storm runoff from nonpoint sources for 12 water-quality properties and constituents. The following water-quality data are reported: physical and chemical-related properties, fecal coliform and enterococci bacteria, major inorganic ions, nutrients, trace elements, and organic compounds. The residential land-use is the largest of the watersheds (550 acres), which resulted in high estimated annual contaminant loads compared to other watersheds for 8 of the 12 water-quality properties and constituents. This may indicate that the size of the watershed and runoff from residences with their associated contaminants had substantial effects on annual loads within this land use. The industrial land-use area had the highest estimated annual contaminant loads for metals, followed by the residential landuse area. However, when comparing yields among the watersheds, the industrial watershed had the highest yield for 9 of the 12 water-quality properties and constituents, whereas the residential watershed had the lowest yield for 7 of the 12. The industrial watershed yielded more metals per acre per year than any other watershed. Zinc yields were 2.71 pounds per acre per year from the industrial watershed, compared to 0.35 pounds per acre per year from the residential watershed, which was the lowest of all the watersheds. Lead concentrations exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Maximum Contaminant Level of 15 micrograms per liter for drinking water standards in 10 of 18 samples. Low-level concentrations of mercury were detected twice at both the new commercial and residential sites, with all concentrations at or just above reporting limits. The average dissolved phosphorus concentrations from each land use were two to four times higher than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency criterion of 0.05 milligrams per liter. Diazinon, which is widely used as a general-purpose insecticide for lawns and gardens, was detected in all 18 samples. The maximum diazinon concentration detected, 2.7 micrograms per liter, was from the residential site. Malathion, another insecticide used on lawns, gardens, and plants, was also detected at least once from each site, but all concentrations were below the minimum detection limit of 0.1 micrograms per liter.

Loiusiana↗
USGS2000

Water Resources Data for Florida, 1999, Volume 4: Northwest Florida

This report series for the 1999 water year for the State of Florida consists of records for continuous or daily discharge for 354 streams, periodic discharge for 17 streams, continuous or daily stage for 121 streams, periodic stage for 1 stream, peak stage and discharge for 38 streams; continuous or daily elevations for 21 lakes, and periodic elevations for 42 lakes; continuous ground-water levels for 408 wells, and periodic ground-water levels for 1,715 wells; quality-of-water for 131 surface-water sites and 198 wells. This volume (Volume 4, Northwest Florida) contains records of continuous or daily discharge for 54 streams, periodic discharge for 1 stream, continuous or daily stage for 15 streams, periodic stage for 1 stream, peak stage and discharge for 30 streams; continuous or daily elevations for 1 lake, periodic elevations for 1 lake; continuous ground-water levels for 1 well, periodic ground-water levels for 0 wells; and quality-of-water for 2 surface-water sites and 0 wells. These data represent the National Water Data System records collected by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating local, State, and Federal agencies in Florida.

Water Data Report↗
USGS1997

Interim results of quality-control sampling of surface water for the Upper Colorado River National Water-Quality Assessment Study Unit, water years 1995-96

Quality-control samples provide part of the information needed to estimate the bias and variability that result from sample collection, processing, and analysis. Quality-control samples of surface water collected for the Upper Colorado River National Water-Quality Assessment study unit for water years 1995?96 are presented and analyzed in this report. The types of quality-control samples collected include pre-processing split replicates, concurrent replicates, sequential replicates, post-processing split replicates, and field blanks. Analysis of the pre-processing split replicates, concurrent replicates, sequential replicates, and post-processing split replicates is based on differences between analytical results of the environmental samples and analytical results of the quality-control samples. Results of these comparisons indicate that variability introduced by sample collection, processing, and handling is low and will not affect interpretation of the environmental data. The differences for most water-quality constituents is on the order of plus or minus 1 or 2 lowest rounding units. A lowest rounding unit is equivalent to the magnitude of the least significant figure reported for analytical results. The use of lowest rounding units avoids some of the difficulty in comparing differences between pairs of samples when concentrations span orders of magnitude and provides a measure of the practical significance of the effect of variability. Analysis of field-blank quality-control samples indicates that with the exception of chloride and silica, no systematic contamination of samples is apparent. Chloride contamination probably was the result of incomplete rinsing of the dilute cleaning solution from the outlet ports of the decaport sample splitter. Silica contamination seems to have been introduced by the blank water. Sampling and processing procedures for water year 1997 have been modified as a result of these analyses.

Colorado↗
USGS1999

Geohydrology of monitoring wells drilled in Oasis Valley near Beatty, Nye County, Nevada, 1997

Twelve monitoring wells were installed in 1997 at seven sites in and near Oasis Valley, Nevada. The wells, ranging in depth from 65 to 642 feet, were installed to measure water levels and to collect water-quality samples. Well-construction data and geologic and geophysical logs are presented in this report. Seven geologic units were identified and described from samples collected during the drilling: (1) Ammonia Tanks Tuff; (2) Tuff of Cutoff Road; (3) tuffs, not formally named but informally referred to in this report as the 'tuff of Oasis Valley'; (4) lavas informally named the 'rhyolitic lavas of Colson Pond'; (5) Tertiary colluvial and alluvial gravelly deposits; (6) Tertiary and Quaternary colluvium; and (7) Quaternary alluvium. Water levels in the wells were measured in October 1997 and February 1998 and ranged from about 18 to 350 feet below land surface. Transmissive zones in one of the boreholes penetrating volcanic rock were identified using flowmeter data. Zones with the highest transmissivity are at depths of about 205 feet in the 'rhyolitic lavas of Colson Pond' and 340 feet within the 'tuff of Oasis Valley.'

Nevada↗
USGS1982

Chloride Concentration in Water from the Upper Permeable Zone of the Tertiary Limestone Aquifer System, Southeastern United States

INTRODUCTION The tertiary limestone aquifer system of the southeastern United States is a sequence of carbonate rocks referred to as the Floridan aquifer in Florida and the principal artesian aquifer in Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina. More than 3 billion gallons of water are pumped daily from the limestone aquifer; and the system is the principal source of municipal, industrial, and agricultural water supply in south Georgia and most of Florida. The aquifer system includes units of Paleocene to early Miocene age that combine to form a continuous carbonate sequence that is hydraulically connected in varying degrees. In a small area near Brunswick, Ga., a thin sequence of rocks of Late Cretaceous age is part of the system. In and directly downdip from much of the outcrop area, the system consists of one continuous permeable unit. Further downdip the aquifer system generally consists of two major permeable zones separated by a less-permeable unit of highly variable hydraulic properties (very leaky to virtually nonleaky). Conditions for the system vary from unconfined to confined depending upon whether the argillaceous Miocene and younger rocks that form the upper confining unit have been removed by erosion. This report is one of a series of preliminary products depicting the hydrogeologic framework, water chemistry, and hydrology of the aquifer system. The map shows the distribution of chloride ions in water from the upper permeable zone of the limestone aquifer system. The upper permeable zone consists of several formations, primarily the Tampa, Suwannee, Ocala, and Avon Park Limestones (Miller 1981a, b). Chloride concentrations of water within the upper permeable zone vary from nearly zero in recharge areas to many thousands of milligrams per liter (mg/L) in coastal discharge areas. Where the aquifer system discharges into the sea, the upper permeable zone contains increasing amounts of seawater. In these areas, wells that fully penetrate the upper permeable zone will yield water with chloride concentrations that approach that of seawater, about 19500 mg/L.

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗