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At least 1,207 records · Page 67Linked to original sources
USGS1983

Trends and fluctuations in the potentiometric surface of the Floridan aquifer, west-central Florida 1961-80

Trends and fluctuations of water levels in wells tapping the Floridan aquifer in west-central Florida during 1961-80 are described in this report. Water levels in most of the study area have not changed appreciably, except in parts of Hardee, Hillsborough, Manatee, Polk, and Sarasota Counties. In these areas, ground-water pumpage by industry and agriculture caused long-term declines of water levels. The largest declines are centered in the agricultural area of southern Hillsborough and northern Manatee Counties where pumpage lowered water levels more than 30 feet since 1964. Hydrographs of 10 wells show that, during 1976-80, the downward water-level trend discontinued in areas of heavy pumpage and, in areas not affected by pumping, water levels remained fairly unchanged. Water levels rose more than 20 feet from May 1975 to May 1980 in southwest Polk, Hardee , northeast Sarasota, northeast Manatee, and southwest Hillsborough Counties. In the heavily pumped area of northern Hillsborough County, water levels rose 5 to 10 feet. From September 1975 to September 1980, water levels in southwest Polk County rose more than 10 feet. (USGS)

Florida↗
USGS2002

Variability of pesticide detections and concentrations in field replicate water samples collected for the National Water-Quality Assessment Program, 1992-97

Field replicate water samples (“field replicates”) collected for the U.S. Geological Survey National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program during 1992 to 1997 were used to assess the variability of pesticide detections and concentrations in environmental water samples collected from the surface-and ground-water-quality networks of the NAWQA Program. Field replicates are two or more identically collected, processed, and analyzed environmental water samples that are used to assess the overall variability of field and laboratory procedures. Variability is the degree of random error in independent measurements of the same quantity and is the opposite of precision—the degree of mutual agreement. Information on variability can be used to estimate the reproducibility of individual measurements, the concentration needed to be assured of exceeding a water-quality standard, and the likelihood that two measurements of water quality are different. Variability of pesticide detections was assessed by calculating the mean percentage detection of a pesticide and the percentage of inconsistent replicate sets. Variability of pesticide concentrations was assessed by pooling estimates of the standard deviation and relative standard deviation in replicate sets. Variability of pesticide detections and concentrations was a function of concentration, and estimates of variability were developed for discrete ranges of concentration. Reliability of estimates of variability was assessed by calculating 90-percent upper confidence bounds for the percentage of inconsistent replicate sets and for the pooled estimates. The variability of detection for most pesticides is high at concentrations less than the minimum reporting level, but the variability of detection decreases dramatically at higher concentrations. In view of the highly diverse sources of water submitted as field replicates for the NAWQA Program and the generally low concentrations (concentrations in 79 percent of replicate sets were less than 0.1 microgram per liter) of pesticides in most replicates, inconsistent detections in replicate sets likely were caused by variability in the analytical method and by water-matrix interferences (or other loss processes) that result in false-negative errors. Consequently, estimates of the frequency of detection of pesticides in environmental water samples collected for the NAWQA Program probably are biased low because of false-negative errors at concentrations near the minimum reporting level. Correlation analysis indicates that for most pesticides and concentrations, pooled estimates of relative standard deviation rather than pooled estimates of standard deviation should be used to estimate variability because pooled estimates of relative standard deviation are less affected by heteroscedasticity. The 2 Variability of Pesticide Detections and Concentrations in Field Replicate Water Samples, 1992–97 median pooled relative standard deviation was calculated for all pesticides to summarize the typical variability for pesticide data collected for the NAWQA Program. The median pooled relative standard deviation was 15 percent at concentrations less than 0.01 micrograms per liter (µg/L), 13 percent at concentrations near 0.01 µg/L, 12 percent at concentrations near 0.1 µg/L, 7.9 percent at concentrations near 1 µg/L, and 2.7 percent at concentrations greater than 5 µg/L. Pooled estimates of standard deviation or relative standard deviation presented in this report are larger than estimates based on averages, medians, smooths, or regression of the individual measurements of standard deviation or relative standard deviation from field replicates. Pooled estimates, however, are the preferred method for characterizing variability because they provide unbiased estimates of the variability of the population. Assessments of variability based on standard deviation (rather than variance) underestimate the true variability of the population. Because pooled estimates of variability are larger than estimates based on other approaches, users of estimates of variability must be cognizant of the approach used to obtain the estimate and must use caution in the comparison of estimates based on different approaches.

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1989

Ground-water levels in the alluvial aquifer at Louisville, Kentucky, 1987-88

Water-level data have been collected in the alluvial aquifer at Louisville, Kentucky by the U.S. Geological Survey since 1943. Summaries and analysis of these data are published periodically to update the record and to help public officials who must manage this groundwater supply. Maps and hydrographs are presented in this report to update the record for 1987-88 and to interpret recent trends in water levels. The data show that groundwater levels were stable for the period 1980-86 after rising rapidly in the 1970's. There has been a slight decline in the water levels during 1987-88 because of below normal precipitation for the period 1985-88. The decline has been about 1 to 3 ft in wells along the Ohio River and about 3 to 6 ft in wells away from the influence of the river. Groundwater withdrawals have also caused slight declines in the water table in three areas in Louisville. Declines in downtown Louisville due to pumpage seem to be stabilizing at or slightly below the normal pool stage of the Ohio River which indicates that water is probably being induced from the river into the aquifer. (USGS)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1989

Geohydrology and susceptibility of major aquifers to surface contamination in Alabama; area 10

This report delineates and describes the geohydrology and susceptibility of major aquifers to contamination in Area 10--Choctaw, Clarke, and Washington Counties in southwest Alabama. The major aquifers in the study area are the Nanafalia-Clayton, Lisbon, and Pliocene-Miocene aquifers of Tertiary age. The recharge areas for these aquifers generally coincide with their areas of use. Each aquifer is a source of public water supply in one or more of the three counties. All recharge areas for the major aquifers are susceptible to contamination from the surface. However, large parts of the recharge areas are rural areas that are used for timberlands, farms, and pastures; these areas have low potential for contamination and are several miles from pumping centers. (USGS)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1989

Geohydrology and susceptibility of aquifers to surface contamination in Alabama; area 5

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, is conducting a series of geohydrologic studies to delineate the major aquifers and their susceptibility to contamination in Alabama. This report delineates and describes the geohydrology and susceptibility of the major aquifers to contamination in Area 5--Chambers, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Lee, Randolph, and Tallapoosa Counties. Little groundwater is used for public water supplies in Area 5. Groundwater withdrawals for public supply in 1985 were 0.88 million gal/day. Most cities and towns that formerly used groundwater presently use surface water. None of the sedimentary rocks or unconsolidated deposits is tapped by public supply wells. None of the igneous and metamorphic rocks are considered a major aquifer because of low yields. Aquifers in the study area are susceptible to surface contamination throughout their entire outcrop area. Areas that are highly faulted and valley areas where groundwater is at or near land surface have potential to be highly susceptible to surface contamination. (USGS)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1994

Hydrogeology of the Chickasaw National Recreation Area, Murray County, Oklahoma

The Travertine District (Park) of the Chickasaw National Recreation Area, operated and maintained by the National Park Service, is near the City of Sulphur in south-central Oklahoma. The Park was established in 1902 because of its unique hydrologic setting, which includes Rock Creek, Travertine Creek, numerous mineralized and freshwater springs, and a dense cover of riparian vegetation. Since the turn of the century several flowing artesian wells have been drilled within and adjacent to the Park. Discharge from many of these springs and the numbers of flowing wells have declined substantially during the past 86 years. To determine the cause of these declines, a better understanding of the hydrologic system must be obtained. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the National Park Service, has appraised hydrologic information obtained for the Park from several studies conducted during 1902-87. The principal geologic units referred to in this report are the Arbuckle Group and the overlying Simpson Group. These rocks are of Upper Cambrian to Middle Ordovician age and are composed of dolomitic limestone, with some sandstones and shales in the Simpson Group. Surface geologic maps give a general understanding of the regional subsurface geology, but information about the subsurface geology within the Park is poor. The Simpson and Arbuckle aquifers are the principal aquifers in the study area. The two aquifers are not differentiated readily in some parts of the study area because of the similarity of the Simpson and Arbuckle rocks; thus, both water-bearing units are referred to frequently as the Arbuckle-Simpson aquifer. The aquifers are confined under the Park, but are unconfined east and south of the Park. Precipitation on the outcrop area of the Arbuckle aquifer northeast and east of the Park recharges the freshwater springs (Antelope and Buffalo Springs) near the east boundary of the Park. The source of water from mineralized springs located in the central part of the Park, and flowing wells within and north of the Park, is believed to be a mix of waters from rocks of the Arbuckle and Simpson Groups. The source of water from two highly mineralized springs, Bromide and Medicine, that ceased to flow in the early 1970’s is believed to be from the Simpson Group. Water-quality characteristics reflect the sources of ground water in the study area. The highly mineralized springs near the western end of the Park are a sodium chloride type with dissolved solids greater than 4,500 mg/L. The freshwater springs near the eastern end of the Park are a calcium bicarbonate type with total dissolved solids of less than 400 mg/L. Flow from the artesian wells has declined substantially during the past 86 years and the wells are estimated to currently discharge only about 10 percent of the total flow reported in 1939. The depletion is believed to be caused by a gradual lowering of the hydraulic head within the aquifer. The influence on the hydrologic system of local municipal and industrial pumping from the Arbuckle-Simpson aquifer is difficult to discern because the system is much more sensitive to precipitation than to pumpage. Ground-water levels and spring flows in this region respond rapidly to precipitation. The effects of withdrawals from the City of Sulphur and Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company power-plant water-well fields are not discernible at wells and springs. The hydrologic system may be influenced by pumping, particularly during extended dry periods of several years, but the impact of pumping on the system cannot be determined without further investigation.

Oklahoma↗
USGS1982

Magnitude and frequency of floods from selected drainage basins in South Dakota

The 2-, 5-, 10-, 25-, 50-, and 100-year floods are determined for gaged sites on 120 selected, small drainage basins in South Dakota. These estimates are from the frequency curves defined from the streamflow records. Short-term records for 66 sites were extended on the basis of long-term climatic records and a rainfall-runoff model. These frequency curves may provide the best estimates of floods at these gaged sites. Analyses of flood-frequency information from these gaged sites have been the basis for techniques (published previously) used in estimating flood magnitude and frequency at ungaged sites in South Dakota. This report supplements flood-frequency information published earlier. It presents: Annual peak discharges colected during a 25-year period at 124 crest-stage partial-record stations; maximum observed and unit discharges determined for 124 crest-stage and 120 continuous-record gaging stations; updated flood-frequency curves for 120 crest-stage gages; a documentation of analytical procedures used; and a summary of the small-streams flood-peak data collection program in the State from 1955 to 1981. Maximum flood peaks determined at 244 partial- and continuous-record gaging stations and at 52 miscellaneous sites are compared with regional flood relationships.

South Dakota↗
USGS1996

A three-dimensional method-of-characteristics solute-transport model (MOC3D)

This report presents a model, MOC3D, that simulates three-dimensional solute transport in flowing ground water. The model computes changes in concentration of a single dissolved chemical constituent over time that are caused by advective transport, hydrodynamic dispersion (including both mechanical dispersion and diffusion), mixing (or dilution) from fluid sources, and mathematically simple chemical reactions (including linear sorption, which is represented by a retardation factor, and decay). The transport model is integrated with MODFLOW, a three-dimensional ground-water flow model that uses implicit finite-difference methods to solve the transient flow equation. MOC3D uses the method of characteristics to solve the transport equation on the basis of the hydraulic gradients computed with MODFLOW for a given time step. This implementation of the method of characteristics uses particle tracking to represent advective transport and explicit finite-difference methods to calculate the effects of other processes. However, the explicit procedure has several stability criteria that may limit the size of time increments for solving the transport equation; these are automatically determined by the program. For improved efficiency, the user can apply MOC3D to a subgrid of the primary MODFLOW grid that is used to solve the flow equation. However, the transport subgrid must have uniform grid spacing along rows and columns. The report includes a description of the theoretical basis of the model, a detailed description of input requirements and output options, and the results of model testing and evaluation. The model was evaluated for several problems for which exact analytical solutions are available and by benchmarking against other numerical codes for selected complex problems for which no exact solutions are available. These test results indicate that the model is very accurate for a wide range of conditions and yields minimal numerical dispersion for advection-dominated problems. Mass-balance errors are generally less than 10 percent, and tend to decrease and stabilize with time.

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1980

Water-quality monitoring of three major tributaries to the Chesapeake Bay: Interim data report

The U.S. Geological Survey is monitoring the water quality of three major tributaries to Chesapeake Bay at their fall lines to obtain estimates of constituent inputs potentially available to the bay. The monitoring sites are: Susquehanna River at Conowingo, Md.; Potomac River at Washington, D.C.; and James River at Cartersville, Va. Water-quality data collected from October 1978 to April 1980 are presented in tables. Concentrations of major ions, nutrient and carbon species, metals, pesticides, suspended sediment, and other selected constituents are presented for a range of flows. The mean, standard deviation, minimum, maximum, and median values for each constituent were determined by standard methods and are presented for each sampling station. Bivariate linear regressions were run for all constituents versus streamf low, specific conductance, and suspended sediment. Those relationships exhibiting coefficients of determination (R ) greater than 0.50 are tabulated.

James River, Potomac River, Susquehanna River↗
USGS1980

Type curves for selected problems of flow to wells in confined aquifers

This report presents type curves and related material for 11 conditions of flow to wells m confined aquifers. These solutions, compiled from hydrologic literature, span an interval of time from Theis (1935) to Papadopulos, Bredehoeft, and Cooper (1973). Solutions are presented for constant discharge, constant drawdown, and variable discharge for pumping wells that fully penetrate leaky and nonleaky aquifers. Solutions for wells that partially penetrate leaky and nonleaky aquifers are included. Also, solutions are included for the effect of finite well radius and the sudden injection of a volume of water for nonleaky aquifers. Each problem includes the partial differential equation, boundary and initial conditions, and solutions. Programs in FORTRAN for calculating additional function values are included for most of the solutions.

Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations↗
USGS1978

Technique for estimating the magnitude and frequency of floods in St. Louis County, Missouri

Equations and nomographs in.this report can be used to estimate peak flood-discharges having recurrence intervals up to 100 years in rural and urban areas of St. Louis County, Mo. The basin characteristics significant at the 5-percent probability level were drainage area and percentage imperviousness. Drainage area can be measured from maps, while percentage of imperviousness can either be measured from aerial photographs or estimated from land-use projections. These equations are based upon the analysis of hydrologic data collected at 30 continuous-recording gaging stations with drainage areas ranging from 0.8 to 39.0 square miles, and with impervious areas ranging from 1 to 32 percent.

Missouri↗
USGS1999

Selected aquatic biological investigations in the Great Salt Lake basins, 1875-1998, National Water-Quality Assessment Program

This report summarizes previous investigations of aquatic biological communities, habitat, and contaminants in streams and selected large lakes within the Great Salt Lake Basins study unit as part of the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Water-Quality Assessment Program (NAWQA). The Great Salt Lake Basins study unit is one of 59 such units designed to characterize water quality through the examination of chemical, physical, and biological factors in surface and ground waters across the country. The data will be used to aid in the planning, collection, and analysis of biological information for the NAWQA study unit and to aid other researchers concerned with water quality of the study unit. A total of 234 investigations conducted during 1875-1998 are summarized in this report. The studies are grouped into three major subjects: (1) aquatic communities and habitat, (2) contamination of streambed sediments and biological tissues, and (3) lakes. The location and a general description of each study is listed. The majority of the studies focus on fish and macroinvertebrate communities. Studies of algal communities, aquatic habitat, riparian wetlands, and contamination of streambed sediment or biological tissues are less common. Areas close to the major population centers of Salt Lake City, Provo, and Logan, Utah, are generally well studied, but more rural areas and much of the Bear River Basin are lacking in detailed information, except for fish populations.

Idaho, Utah, Wyoming↗
USGS1979

Chemical quality of ground water in the eastern Sacramento Valley, California

The study area is about 1,300 square miles in the eastern Sacramento Valley, Calif., extending from the latitude of Roseville on the south to thelatitude of Chico on the north. Considering the increased agricultural development of the area, this report documents the chemical character of the ground water prior to water-level declines that could result from extensive pumping for irrigation or to changes caused by extensive use of imported surface water. Chemical analyses of samples from 222 wells show that most of the area is underlain by ground water of a quality suitable for most agricultural and domestic purposes. Ninety-five percent of the water sampled has dissolved-solids concentrations of less than 700 milligrams per liter. The general water type for the area is a calcium and magnesium bicarbonate water and there are negligible amounts of toxic trace elements. The potential for water-quality problems exists in the area south of Yuba City along the west bank of the Feather River. There, concentrations of chloride, sulfate, and dissolved solids are higher than in other parts of the area, and they could limit future agricultural activities if chloride- and sulfate-sensitive crops are grown. (Woodard-USGS)

California↗
USGS1983

Shallow ground water in the Boulder-Fort Collins-Greeley area, Front Range urban corridor, Colorado, 1975-77

Shallow ground water may limit the location of construction and excavation projects in parts of the Front Range Urban Corridor. A shallow water table occurs from 0 to 50 feet below the land surface principally in the alluvial deposits along the streams and rivers in the Boulder-Fort Collins-Greeley area. This shallow water table underlies approximately 400 square miles and is maintained by natural recharge within the South Platte River basin and by the infiltration of irrigation water that is diverted into the basin from streams and reservoirs in the Colorado and the Laramie River basins. Return flow from irrigation, which is mostly ground water, helps maintain the flow of the South Platte River and its tributaries. The report includes a map from which depth to water table and the direction of ground-water movement can be determined. The map, compiled on a topographic base, shows the areal extent of the saturated materials and the altitude and configuration of the ground-water surface. The water-table contour map was prepared using data from approximately 400 wells. Monitoring of shallow ground-water within the study area shows depths to water have changed only slightly over the last 20 years, except for some seasonal and drought-related fluctuations. Gradients, computed from ground-water measurements, range from 27.7 feet per mile in Lone Tree-Spring Creek valley to 10.3 feet per mile in the South Platte River valley. The shallow ground-water underflow from the major tributaries in the basin is about 29,000 acre-feet per year, and underflow calculated at a cross section near Kersey is about 12,000 acre-feet per year.

Colorado↗
USGS1990

Hydrogeology of aquifers in Cretaceous and younger rocks in the vicinity of Onslow and southern Jones counties, North Carolina

Unconsolidated sediments in Onslow and Jones Counties, North Carolina overlie crystalline basement rocks and range in thickness from about 700 ft to more than 1,800 ft, thickening toward the east. This material is composed of permeable sand and limestone interlayered with relatively impermeable clay and silt beds. Sediments are divided into two groups: aquifers in Quaternary-, and Tertiary-aged rocks and aquifers in Cretaceous-aged rocks. Aquifers in the Cretaceous rocks provide most of the groundwater for public supplies and are the focus of this report. The aquifers in Cretaceous rocks are the Peedee, Black Creek, upper Cape Fear, and lower Cape Fear aquifers, which are composed of beds or groups of beds of sand and gravel. Each aquifer is overlain by a clay and silt bed, that impedes the flow of water between aquifers. The thickness of Cretaceous hydrogeologic units ranges from about 700 ft to more than 1, 300 ft. Hydrogeologic units are correlated using 60 geophysical logs and accompanying drillers ' logs along with water level and water quality data. Three hydrogeologic sections demonstrate the continuity of the aquifers and confining units, show water levels and chloride concentration in water from test intervals, and delineate where chloride concentration in water exceeds 250 mg/L within each aquifer. Maps of each aquifer in Cretaceous rocks show altitude of its top, thickness, sand percentage, and the transition from freshwater to saltwater. Maps of the confining units show thickness and sand percentage of each.

North Carolina↗
USGS1980

Streamflow characteristics of the Yellowstone River Basin, Montana, through 1976

Statistical summaries of streamflow data for selected stream-gaging and crest-stage gage sites are presented in this report to aid in appraising the hydrology of the Yellowstone River basin, Montana. Streamflow records presented for 45 gaging stations and 45 crest-stage gages for the period of record. Streamflow record collection in the Yellowstone River basin began in 1889. For each gaging station selected for this report, a brief description is given for station location, drainage area , period of record, revisions of previously published records, type and history of gages, regulation and diversions, and extremes of discharge. These data are followed by tables of monthly and annual flow statistics, high-flow and low-flow frequency data, flood-frequency data, flow-duration information, and for natural-flow sites selected basin characteristics. For each crest-stage gage, the brief description consists of location, drainage area, period of record, and type and history of gage. This information is followed by tables of flood-frequency data and selected basin characteristics.

Montana↗
USGS1985

Analysis of water-level fluctuations of the U.S. Highway 90 retention pond, Madison, Florida

A closed basin stormwater retention pond, located 1 mile west of Madison, Florida, has a maximum storage capacity of 134.1 acre-feet at the overtopping altitude of 100.2 feet. The maximum observed altitude (July 1982 to March 1984) was 99.52 feet (126.7 acre-feet) on March 28, 1984. This report provides a technique for simulating net monthly change-in-altitude in response to rainfall and evaporation. A regression equation was developed which relates net monthly change in altitude (dependent variable) to rainfall and evaporation (independent variables). Rainfall frequency curves were developed using a log-Pearson Type III distribution of the annual, January through April, June through August, and July monthly rainfall totals for the years 1908-72, 1974, 1976-82. The altitude of the retention pond increased almost 7 feet during the 4-month period January through April 1983. The rainfall total was 35.1 inches, and the recurrence interval exceeded the 100-year January-April rainfall.

Florida↗
USGS1979

Water-resources investigations of the U.S. Geological Survey in Wyoming, fiscal year 1979

This report contains lists of surface-water stations, ground-water stations, water-quality stations, sediment stations , and peak-flow partial-record stations in Wyoming. The locations of the data-collection sites are shown on maps. Water-resources projects in Wyoming are also described, including many that are related to development of energy resources. The general locations of the projects are shown on maps. The U.S. Geological Survey is striving to coordinate its water-resources investigations with those of other agencies. This report serves as an annual progress report to cooperators and the public.

Wyoming↗