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USGS2023

Assessment of riparian vegetation patterns and change downstream from Glen Canyon Dam from 2014 to 2019

Changes in riparian vegetation cover and composition occur in relation to flow regime, geomorphic template, and climate, and can have cascading effects on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Tracking such changes over time is therefore an important part of monitoring the condition and trajectory of riparian ecosystems. Maintaining diverse, self-sustaining riparian vegetation comprised of mostly native species is identified in the Glen Canyon Dam Long-Term Experimental and Management Plan as a key resource objective for the section of the Colorado River between Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Mead. The U.S. Geological Survey Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center implemented an annual monitoring program in 2014 to assess the status and trends of riparian vegetation along this section of river, particularly as they relate to flow regime. In this report, we summarize plant species composition and cover data collected under the annual monitoring program from 2014 to 2019, with special consideration given to the hydrologic position, associated geomorphic feature class, local climate patterns, native and nonnative species, and floristic region for key vegetation metrics and species. We divided the study area into four river segments (referred to as Glen Canyon, Marble Canyon, eastern Grand Canyon, and western Grand Canyon) on the basis of geography and floristic composition and calculated each recorded plant species’ relative frequency and foliar cover by river segment. These data were then used to evaluate species composition relationships among river segments, hydrologic zones, geomorphic features, and sampling years through ordination analysis. Temporal trends in our focal resource objectives—species richness, total foliar cover, proportion of native to nonnative species richness, proportion of native to nonnative species cover, Tamarix cover, Pluchea sericea cover, and Baccharis species cover—were assessed using mixed-effects models. Four patterns related to species composition emerged: (1) species composition of fixed-site sandbars differed from that of randomly selected sites (including randomly selected sandbars), (2) species composition of Glen Canyon sites differed from that of other previously identified floristic regions, (3) species composition differed across hydrologic zones related to dam operations, and (4) species composition within river segments did not change across years. For temporal patterns, four main findings emerged: (1) trends differed between fixed-sites and randomly selected sites; (2) although few directional changes were observed from 2014 to 2019, Baccharis species cover increased at randomly selected sites in areas influenced by daily water fluctuations; (3) native species cover and richness were greater than nonnative species cover and richness across all hydrologic zones; and (4) the temporal trend metrics used here can be used across floristic groups, enabling assessment of the Colorado River ecosystem as a whole. In addition to these findings, lists of recorded plant species are included as appendixes. The variations and patterns in vegetation status and trends presented in this report can be used as a baseline against which future monitoring can be compared.

Arizona↗

USGS2023

Hazus Estimated Annualized Earthquake Losses for the United States: FEMA P-366, 2023

The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) Reauthorization Act of 2018 (Pub.L. 115–307) requires that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) “shall support the implementation of a comprehensive earthquake education, outreach, and public awareness program, including development of materials and their wide dissemination to all appropriate audiences and support public access to locality-specific information that may assist the public in preparing for, mitigating against, responding to and recovering from earthquakes and related disasters.” As one effort to satisfy the mission, this joint FEMA-U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) report provides nationwide and state-by-state estimates of annualized earthquake losses (AEL) based on the latest census and building stock data, as well as USGS earthquake hazard information.

Report↗

USGS1969

Hydrologic and climatologic data, 1968, Salt Lake County, Utah

An investigation of the water resources of Salt Lake County, Utah, was undertaken by the Water Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey in July 1963. This investigation is a cooperative project financed chiefly by equal contributions of the State of Utah and the Federal Government in accordance with an agreement between the Division of Water Rights, Utah Department of Natural Resources, and the Geological Survey. The investigation was financed during the period covered by this report by the following organizations: Utah Division of Water Rights (formerly State Engineer), Utah Division of Water Resources (formerly Water and Power Board), Salt Lake County, Salt Lake County Water Conservancy District, Central Utah Water Conservancy District, Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake City, City of Murray, Granger-Hunter Improvement District, Taylorsville-Bennion Improvement District, Holladay Water Company, Magna Water and Sewer District, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Geological Survey The investigation encompasses the collection and interpretation of a large variety of climatologic, hydrologic, and geologic data in and near Salt Lake County. Utah Basic-Data Releases 11-13 and 15 contain data collected through 1967. This release contains climatologic and surface-water data for the 1968 water year (October 1967 to September 1968) and ground-water data collected during the 1968 calendar year. This is the final annual release of basic data for this investigation. Interpretive reports summarizing the results are in preparation. Organizations that furnished data are acknowledged in station descriptions and footnotes to tables.

Utah↗

USGS2017

Flood-frequency characteristics of Wisconsin streams

Flood-frequency characteristics for 360 gaged sites on unregulated rural streams in Wisconsin are presented for percent annual exceedance probabilities ranging from 0.2 to 50 using a statewide skewness map developed for this report. Equations of the relations between flood-frequency and drainage-basin characteristics were developed by multiple-regression analyses. Flood-frequency characteristics for ungaged sites on unregulated, rural streams can be estimated by use of the equations presented in this report. The State was divided into eight areas of similar physiographic characteristics. The most significant basin characteristics are drainage area, soil saturated hydraulic conductivity, main-channel slope, and several land-use variables. The standard error of prediction for the equation for the 1-percent annual exceedance probability flood ranges from 56 to 70 percent for Wisconsin Streams; these values are larger than results presented in previous reports. The increase in the standard error of prediction is likely due to increased variability of the annual-peak discharges, resulting in increased variability in the magnitude of flood peaks at higher frequencies. For regulated streams, a graphical method for estimating flood-frequency characteristics was developed from the relations of discharge and drainage area for selected annual exceedance probabilities. Graphs for the major regulated streams in Wisconsin are presented in the report.

Wisconsin↗

USGS2005

Water withdrawals for irrigation, municipal, mining, thermoelectric-power, and drainage uses in Arizona outside of active management areas, 1991-2000

Economic development in Arizona is largely influenced by access to adequate water supplies owing to the State's predominantly semiarid to arid climate. Water demand is met by pumping ground water from aquifers or by conveying surface water through a system of reservoirs and canals. Water-withdrawal data provide important information on how water demand affects the State's water resources. Information on water withdrawals also can help planners and managers assess the effectiveness of water-management policies, regulations, and conservation activities. This report includes water-withdrawal data for irrigation, municipal, mining, thermoelectric-power, and drainage uses for 1991-2000, and describes the methods used to collect, compile, and estimate the data. Data are reported for the Arizona Department of Water Resources ground-water basins outside of Active Management Areas. Because of the climate, ground water and surface water are used to irrigate nearly all agricultural fields in Arizona. Irrigation accounted for the largest use of water in the study area during 1991-2000. The amount of water withdrawn for irrigation varies greatly from year to year for some of the basins, primarily because of differences in the consumptive water requirement for different crops and because of changes in irrigated acreage. The population of Arizona increased about 35 percent from 1991 to 2000-from about 3.79 million in 1991 to about 5.13 million in 2000. Correspondingly, water withdrawal for municipal use increased steadily in most of the basins during 1991-2000. Ground-water withdrawals for mining did not show any consistent trends during 1991-2000. Increases and decreases in withdrawals for mining were most likely due to variations in mineral production. Mineral prices and competition from mining in other States and foreign countries probably result in annual increases or decreases in mineral production in Arizona. Between 1991 and 2000, ground-water withdrawals for thermoelectric-power generation generally increased owing to an increase in production of electricity. Ground-water withdrawals for drainage of agricultural lands in the Lower Gila and Yuma Basins varied irregularly from year to year. Annual total water withdrawals are not presented in this report because for some years irrigation values for some of the basins are reported as "less than 1,000 acre-feet," and municipal and mining values for some of the basins are reported as "less than 300 acre-feet."

Arizona↗

USGS2007

Concentrations of Elements in Hellbender Blood and Fish Fillets from the Missouri Department of Conservation Monitoring Programs

This report presents the results of contaminant monitoring surveys conducted annually by the Missouri Department of Conservation to examine the levels of selected elemental contaminants in hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) blood and fish. Catfish (Ictalurus furcatus, Ictalurus punctatus, Pylodictis olivaris), redhorse (Moxostoma anisorum, Moxostoma erythrurum), bass (Micropterus salmoides, Micropterus punctulatus, Micropterus Lacepede, Ambloplites rupestris), walleye (Sander vitreus), and sunfish (Lepomis megalotis) were collected from 17 sites as part of the Department's General Contaminant Monitoring Program. Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) and other sunfish (Lepomis megalotis, Lepomis cyanellus) were collected from 18 sites as part of the Department's Resource Assessment and Monitoring Program. Blood from hellbenders was collected from seven sites as part of the Department's Hellbender Monitoring Program.

Open-File Report↗

USGS2022

Assessment of streamflow trends in the eastern Dakotas, water years 1960–2019

Hydrologic extremes, whether periods of drought or flooding, are occurring more frequently with greater severity and can have substantial economic impacts. Along with flooding, the timing and volume of streamflow also is changing across the United States. The focus of this report is to characterize a unique trend in mean annual streamflow occurring in eastern North and South Dakota, hereafter referred to as the eastern Dakotas, that is not being observed anywhere else in the conterminous United States. Streamflow records for 1,853 U.S. Geological Survey streamgages obtained from the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Information System database with a continuous record of mean annual streamflow during water years 1960–2019 were included in this study. Using a Kendall tau statistical test ( p -value less than or equal to 0.10), 573 streamgages had a statistically significant upward trend in mean annual streamflow and are primarily located in the Midwest and northeastern United States. Of the streamgages, 182 had a statistically significant downward trend and are located primarily in the western and southeastern States. Several sites had increases in streamflow between 100 and 500 percent. Most of the streamgages with the highest increases in mean annual streamflow are along the same rivers in the eastern Dakotas, regardless of basin size. A comparison of mean annual streamflow of the last decade (2010–19) to the first decade (1960–69) of the study period shows that the largest increases in annual streamflow volumes in the United States also are in the eastern Dakotas. Among all 1,853 streamgages in the United States, the Sheyenne River near Warwick, North Dakota (U.S. Geological Survey station 05056000), has the greatest percent change, with an increase of 486 percent. Several factors may be contributing to increasing trends in streamflow in the eastern Dakotas and may include, in part, precipitation changes owing to climatic variation within the region, geologic makeup of the subsurface, and land-use changes. A better understanding of these research areas will help producers, resource managers, and infrastructure engineers to make more informed environmental and economic decisions.

North Dakota, South Dakota↗

USGS2019

An evaluation of methods for computing annual water-quality loads

The U.S. Geological Survey publishes information on the mass, or load, of water-quality constituents transported through rivers and streams sampled as part of the operation of the National Water Quality Network (NWQN). This study evaluates methods for computing annual water-quality loads, specifically with respect to procedures currently (2019) used at sites in the NWQN. Near-daily datasets of chloride, total nitrogen, nitrate plus nitrite, total phosphorus, and suspended sediment were subset to determine the accuracy of various load-estimation methods, including linear interpolation, ratio estimators, and linear and weighted-regression methods. Water-quality loads are computed under different sampling strategies and at multiple sampling sites to provide a more complete evaluation of load-estimation methods. Estimation methods were less accurate when computing loads at annual rather than decadal time steps. Depending on the water-quality constituent, annual loads were within comparable accuracy thresholds 21 to 64 percent of the time relative to decadal loads. The accuracy of annual load estimates varied among water-quality constituents, sampling strategies, sampling sites, and estimation methods. Methods were most accurate when estimating chloride and decreased in accuracy when estimating total nitrogen, nitrate plus nitrite, total phosphorus, and suspended-sediment loads. Estimation methods were most likely to compute accurate annual loads when samples were collected frequently (26 samples per year) and when sampling strategies targeted high-flow conditions. For a given water-quality constituent, estimation accuracy differed substantially among sampling sites; estimates were more likely to be accurate at large rivers with less variability in concentration and (or) discharge conditions and were less likely to be accurate at smaller stream sites with more variable streamflow and (or) water-quality concentrations. The Weighted Regressions on Time, Discharge, and Season method with Kalman filtering (WRTDS_K) generally produced the most accurate annual load estimates among sampling sites and water-quality constituents. Although WRTDS_K was the most accurate generally, every estimation method evaluated had the potential to produce accurate (and inaccurate) load estimates depending on the site, constituent, and water year. Linear interpolation and ratio estimators that used samples exclusively from the year being estimated were among the best performing methods for total nitrogen and nitrate plus nitrite loads but were among the least accurate when estimating annual total phosphorus and suspended-sediment loads. Ratio estimation that considered samples from previous years and stratified based on streamflow conditions produced among the most accurate total phosphorus estimates but was among the least accurate for other constituents. Regression-based methods that assumed linear or quadratic relations among the logarithm of water-quality concentrations and streamflow conditions were among the least accurate methods generally, whereas regression-based methods that considered cubic relations among the logarithm of concentration and streamflow and the Weighted Regressions on Time, Discharge, and Season (WRTDS) method were typically more accurate. Methods that adjusted daily estimates computed from regression or weighted-regression methods based on departures from sampled values, such as WRTDS_K and the composite method, improved estimate accuracy for most sites and constituents, but especially for chloride, total nitrogen, nitrate plus nitrite, and suspended-sediment estimates. Investigation of the underlying causes of estimation method bias indicated that sites and years with more variability in concentration and loading conditions, higher slopes in the relation of the logarithm of concentration and discharge, and sampling plans that underrepresented high-flow conditions generally led to less accurate load estimates. Finally, because all methods indicated the capacity to produce biased load estimates, additional work is needed to identify the capacity of new technologies, such as continuous water-quality sensors, to improve the accuracy of annual or shorter term load estimates. Based on findings in this report, the NWQN will continue to publish water-quality loads using LOADEST-based methods that consider multiple transformations of streamflow, as well as season, time, and variables indicative of historical streamflow conditions to maintain consistent methods for stakeholders. However, the NWQN also plans to begin publishing annual load estimates using the WRTDS_K method in 2020 because this method was determined to be the most accurate for a given site, constituent, and water year.

Scientific Investigations Report↗

USGS2018

Simulation of potential groundwater recharge for the glacial aquifer system east of the Rocky Mountains, 1980–2011, using the Soil-Water-Balance Model

An understanding of the spatial and temporal extent of groundwater recharge is critical for many types of hydrologic assessments involving water quality, contaminant transport, ecosystem health, and sustainable use of groundwater. Annual potential groundwater recharge was simulated at a 1-kilometer resolution with the Soil-Water-Balance (SWB) model for the glacial aquifer system east of the Rocky Mountains, from central Montana east to Maine, for calendar years 1980–2011. The SWB model used high resolution meteorological, land cover, and soil hydrology datasets that are nationally consistent and publicly available. The SWB model computed daily potential groundwater recharge as precipitation in excess of interception, runoff, evapotranspiration, and soil-water storage capacity. Daily potential recharge values within each year of the simulation were summed to produce annual potential recharge rates. Potential recharge as described in this report is water that infiltrates vertically below the plant rooting zone and is assumed to reach the water table. The calibrated SWB model in this report is called the glacial SWB model. Model calibration assumed that the area contributing to groundwater discharge equaled the surface watershed. The model was calibrated to stream base flows from 39 watersheds throughout the model domain that had hydrologic conditions appropriate for hydrograph separation. Base flows were calculated from daily streamflow records with the HYSEP local minimum hydrograph separation method The glacial SWB model reproduced the mean annual base-flow calibration targets well; the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient was 0.94, and the root mean squared error was 1.28 inches per year. The glacial SWB model provides insight into the spatial and temporal variability in potential annual recharge across the glacial aquifer system. About 20 percent of the active model area had an average potential recharge rate of less than 1 inch per year. Total precipitation, total recharge, and recharge as a percentage of precipitation increased from west to east. A substantial amount of the recharge water (39 percent) entering the glacial aquifer system travels through developed (urbanized) and agricultural landscapes, which are known to cause water-quality impairments. Regional climatic events, such as the 1988 to 1989 drought, are apparent in the potential recharge time series. Potential recharge generally increased across the glacial aquifer system between 2001 and 2011. A comparison of the potential recharge from the glacial SWB model to previous broad-scale recharge estimates reveals several important considerations for future SWB modeling applications. Shifts in the overall distribution of potential recharge between separate models can be explained by methods used to generate base-flow calibration target datasets. Spatial patterns in potential recharge simulated by SWB models are strongly dependent on the data and assumptions used to assign model cells to hydrologic soil groups. A review of several SWB models used to estimate groundwater recharge (and not surface runoff) revealed that model results are most sensitive to input climatic data, followed by surface runoff (curve number) and root-zone depth parameters.

Scientific Investigations Report↗

USGS1978

Low-flow characteristics of small streams in proposed Public Law 566 basins

Low-flow characteristics of Wisconsin streams in basins considered for work under Public Law 566 are presented in this report. The low-flow characteristics presented are the annual minimum 1-day mean flow below which the flow will fall on the average of once in 2 years (Q7,2) and the annual minimum 7-day mean flow below which the flow will fall on the average of once in 10 years (Q7,10). The low-flow characteristics are presented for 278 project sites in 32 basins considered for work under Public Law 566. They were determined by correlating base-flow measurements at the project site to the concurrent daily mean flow at continuous-record gaging stations in the area. The Q7,2 and Q7,10 discharges determined by a frequency analysis at the continuous-record gaging stations were used to estimate the Q7,2 an Q7,10 at the project sites. The accuracy of the estimated low-flow characteristics is evaluated according to the type and amount of data available used. The statewide average of the accuracy determined by the standard error of estimate for the 10-year low flow (SE7,10)> based on three base-flow measurements, is 45 percent but differs within the State.

Wisconsin↗

USGS2014

Report of committee on relation of inch and meter

Those of you who attended the annual meeting of this Section on April 27, 1938, heard a paper entitled “A method for introducing a new standard of length” that was presented by Professor Philip Klssara, calling attention to the Bill then in Congress proposing to redefine the length of the inch. The paper has been published in the “Transactions of the American Geophysical Union“ [19th Annual Meeting, 1938, pp. 94–96]. Its closing paragraph is as follows: “As the American Geophysical Union has as one of its functions the duty of offering advice to the Congress on technical matters, I move, Mr. Chairman, that the Chairman be empowered to appoint a committee to study the matter and to report what recommendations should be made to Congress by the Union.”

Eos, Transactions, American Geophysical Union↗

USGS1974

Low-flow characteristics of Wisconsin streams at sewage-treatment plants

Low-flow characteristics of Wisconsin streams at 415 sewage -treatment plants are presented in this report. The low-flow characteristics presented are the annual minimum 7-day mean flow that occurs on the average of once in 2 years (Q7, 2) and the annual minimum 7 -day mean flow that occurs on the average of once in 10 years (Q7, 10). The low-flow characteristics at most sewage-treatment plants were determined by correlating base-flow measurements at the sewage- treatment plants to the concurrent daily mean flow at continuous-record gaging stations in the area. The Q7, 2 and Q7, 10 discharges determined by a frequency analysis at the continuous-record gaging stations were used to estimate the Q7, 2 and Q7,10 at the sewage-treatment plants. For some sewage-treatment plants the low-flow characteristics were also determined by frequency analysis at nearby continuous -record gaging stations or correlation analysis at nearby low-flow, partial-record stations. The accuracy of the estimated low-flow characteristics is evaluated according to the type and amount of data available used to determine the low-flow characteristics. The accuracy determined by the standard error of estimate for the 10-year low flow (SE10) ranged from 18 percent at continuous -record gaging stations to 70 percent when only three base-flow measurements were available. The SE10 of 70 percent is larger than anticipated when the project was initiated. This was the result of extremely poor base-flow conditions during the 2-year data-collection period.

Wisconsin↗

USGS2006

Geologic and hydrogeologic framework of the Espa?ola basin -- Proceedings of the 5th annual Espa?ola basin workshop, Santa Fe, New Mexico, March 7-8, 2006

This report presents abstracts of technical studies that are focused on the hydrogeologic framework of the Espa?ola basin, a major subbasin of the Cenozoic Rio Grande rift. The Rio Grande, Rio Chama, Santa Fe River, and their tributaries carry important surface water in the Espa?ola basin. Sediments and interbedded volcanic rocks fill the Espa?ola basin and form extensive aquifer systems for ground water. Surface and ground water provide the principal sources of water for most residents of the basin, including people in the cities of Santa Fe, Espa?ola, and Los Alamos as well as Native Americans in several Pueblos. The abstracts describe results of technical studies that were presented either as poster exhibits or oral presentations at the fifth-annual Espa?ola basin workshop, held March 7-8 of 2006 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The principal goal of this workshop was to share information about ongoing studies. The Espa?ola basin workshop was hosted by the Espa?ola basin technical advisory group (EBTAG) and sponsored by the U.S. Geological Survey, the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, and the Water Research Technical Assistance Office of Los Alamos National Laboratory. Abstracts in this report have been grouped into six information themes: Basic Water Data, Water Quality and Water Chemistry, Water Balance and Stream/Aquifer Interaction, Data Integration and Hydrologic Model Testing, Three-Dimensional Hydrogeological Architecture, and Geologic Framework. Abstracts submitted by U.S. Geological Survey authors in this report have had their technical content peer reviewed before they were included in the report. Technical reviews were not required for abstracts submitted by authors outside the USGS, although most did receive peer reviews within their originating agencies. Taken together, the abstracts in this report provide a view of the current status of hydrogeologic research within the Espa?ola basin.

Open-File Report↗

USGS1955

Quality of water of the Colorado River, 1925-40

The study of the quality of water of the Colorado River and its tributaries has been a continuing one since 1925. The data so obtained have been useful in the planning and construction of dams and reservoirs, the utilization of the water within the basin, and in planning the economy of areas outside of the basin, partially or wholly dependent on the diversion or importation of water from the Colorado River or its tributaries. Much chemical quality data of the Colorado River and its tributaries collected during the period from 1925 to 1940 have not been published in detail. The purpose of this report is to make available for consultation and ready reference those previously unpublished data collected for the period 1925 to 1940, mainly between 1930 and 1940. Included among these data are many detailed chemical analyses of composites of daily samples and single samples of the Colorado River and its main tributaries and less detailed analyses of many other samples. In a few instances, for continuity of the record, analyses are included that have been published in Survey reports. Discussions of the quality of water of the Colorado River basin either in published reports or in mimeograph form are available; therefore, this report will include only tabulated data. Data obtained for the period 1925 to 1930 for the most part were published in three Geological Survey Water-Supply Papers, 596-B, 636-A, and 638-D, all out of print. Summary data for the streams in the Colorado River basin for the period 1925 to 1943 were published in U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 970, "Quality of surface waters of the United States, 1943". These summaries consist mainly of annual weighted averages of chemical analyses, dissolved-solids loads, and extremes of dissolved solids and hardness. Analyses of samples from Lake Mead are available in a series of reports, "Lake Mead Density Currents Investigations", by the Bureau of Reclamation /1937 -1940, Vols. I and ll; 1940 -1946; Vol. III/. Data on the suspended sediment in the Colorado River for the period 1925-1941 were published in 1947, in U.S. Geological Survey Water -Supply Paper 998. Since 1940 results of water-quality investigations in the Colorado River basin have been published in the annual U.S. Geological Survey reports, "Quality of surface waters of the United States".

Colorado River↗

USGS1995

Water-use data by category, county, and water management district in Florida, 1950-90

The population for Florida in 1990 was estimated at 12.94 million, an increase of nearly 10.17 million (370 percent) from the population of 2.77 million in 1950. Consequently, water use (fresh and saline) in Florida increased nearly 510 percent (15,175 million gallons per day) between 1950 and 1990. The resident population of the State is projected to surpass 20 million by the year 2020. Through the cooperation of the Florida Department of Environ- mental Protection and the U.S. Geologial Survey, water-use data for the period between 1950 and 1990 has been consolidated into one publication. This report aggregates and summarizes the quantities of water withdrawn annually for all water-use categories (public supply, self-supplied domestic, self-supplied commercial-industrial, agriculture, and thermoelectric power generation), by counties, and water management districts in Florida from 1950 through 1990. Total water withdrawn in Florida increased from 2,923 million gallons per day in 1950 to 17,898 million gallons per day in 1990. Surface- water withdrawals during 1950 totaled 2,333 million gallons per day but were not differentiated between fresh and saline, therefore, comparisons between fresh and saline water were made beginning with 1955 data. Freshwater withdrawals increased 245 percent between 1955 and 1990. Saline water withdrawals increased more than 1,500 percent between 1955 and 1990. In 1955, more than 47 percent of the fresh- water used was withdrawn from ground-water sources and 53 percent was withdrawn from surface-water sources. In 1990, nearly 62 percent of the fresh- water withdrawn was from ground-water sources, while 38 percent was withdrawn from surface-water sources. The steady increase in ground-water withdrawals since the 1950's primarily is a result of the ability to drill and pump water more economically from large, deep wells and the reliability of both the quality and quantity of water from these wells. Water withdrawn for public supply in Florida increased 1,030 percent between 1950 and 1990. The population served by public supply increased from 1.66 million in 1950 to 11.23 million in 1990, and the percentage of the population served by public supply increased from 60 percent in 1950 to nearly 88 percent in 1990. Freshwater withdrawn for self- supplied domestic use in Florida increased 1,010 percent, self-supplied commercial-industrial uses increased 170 percent, and agriculture increased 915 percent between 1950 and 1990. Freshwater with- drawals for thermoelectric power generation decreased 8 percent between 1955 and 1990, while saline water withdrawals increased nearly 1,540 percent between 1955 and 1990. Between 1965 and 1990, total freshwater withdrawals increased in 58 of the 67 counties in Florida. Fresh ground-water was withdrawn in all 67 counties in 1965 through 1990, and increased in 65 counties between 1965 and 1990. Fresh surface-water was withdrawn in 60 counties from 1965 to 1990, and increased in 42 counties between 1965 and 1990. The change in total freshwater withdrawals within the water management districts between 1975 and 1990 were as follows: Northwest Florida Water Management District increased 3 percent, St. Johns River Water Management District decreased 6 percent, South Florida Water Management District increased 37 percent, Southwest Florida Water Management District decreased 1 percent, and Suwannee River Water Management District increased 8 percent.(USGS)

Open-File Report↗

USGS2015

Water resources during drought conditions and postfire water quality in the upper Rio Hondo Basin, Lincoln County, New Mexico, 2010-13

Stakeholders and water-resource managers in Lincoln County, New Mexico, have had long-standing concerns over the impact of population growth and groundwater withdrawals. These concerns have been exacerbated in recent years by extreme drought conditions and two major wildfires in the upper Rio Hondo Basin, located in south-central New Mexico. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with Lincoln County, initiated a study in 2006 to assess and characterize water resources in the upper Rio Hondo Basin. Data collected during water years 2010–13 are presented and interpreted in this report. All data presented in this report are described in water years unless stated otherwise. Annual mean streamflow at the Rio Ruidoso at Hollywood, N. Mex., streamflow-gaging station was less than 50 percent of the average streamflow during 2011–13 and was of similar magnitude to annual mean streamflow values measured during the drought of the 1950s. The first zero-streamflow values for the period of record (1954–2013) were recorded at the Rio Ruidoso at Hollywood, N. Mex., streamflow-gaging station on June 27–29, 2013. The lowest annual mean streamflow on record (1969–80; 1988–2013) occurred in 2011 at the Eagle Creek below South Fork near Alto, N. Mex., streamflow-gaging station, with the station recording zero streamflow for approximately 50 percent of the year. Discrete and continuous groundwater-level measurements indicated basinwide water-level declines during drought conditions in 2011–13. The average water-level change among 37 wells in which discrete groundwater-level measurements were collected was -7.6 ft from 2010 to 2013. The largest water-level declines were observed in the upper reaches of the Rio Bonito and Rio Ruidoso watersheds, and smaller declines were observed in the lower reaches of the watersheds. In general, water-level changes observed during 2010–13 were on the order of decadal-scale changes that previously have been observed in the upper Rio Hondo Basin. Stable-isotope data indicate that high-elevation winter precipitation generally contributes more to groundwater recharge than summer rains, except when there are large summer recharge events. This implies that little recharge is occurring at the lower elevations in the upper Rio Hondo Basin because these areas receive a smaller amount of total precipitation, receive a smaller proportion of the annual total falling as winter precipitation, and have higher average temperatures that result in more evaporative losses. Groundwater in the upper Rio Hondo Basin is a mix of younger and older water, and recharge likely is occurring primarily at higher elevations but there may be some areas where localized recharge is occurring at lower elevations. Surface-water- and groundwater-quality results from samples collected in 2012–13 were examined to characterize overall chemistry and were compared to historical waterquality data from streams in the upper Rio Hondo Basin collected during 1926–57. In general, specific conductance showed an increasing trend moving eastward (downstream) through the upper Rio Hondo Basin in surface-water and groundwater samples. Surface-water and groundwater samples appear to have similar overall major-ion chemical characteristics when compared to historical water-quality data. Geology was found to influence the chemical characteristics of surface-water and groundwater samples, with relatively higher concentrations of sulfate occurring in samples collected at lower elevations in the Permian regional aquifer system. Surface-water sample results also were analyzed to determine differences in unfiltered and filtered water-quality samples of streams in burned and unburned watersheds after the occurrence of the Little Bear Fire in June 2012. Samples were collected after postfire monsoon rain events and during periods of stable hydrologic conditions. The first postfire monsoon rain event in July 2012 generally produced the highest measured concentrations of selected fire-related constituents in unfiltered samples collected in the burned watersheds relative to later samples collected in burned watersheds and all samples collected in the unburned watershed. Monsoon rain events have impacted water quality by delivering larger sediment loads and fire-related constituents into streams in the upper Rio Hondo Basin. Changes in climate and increased groundwater and surface-water use are likely to affect the availability of water in the upper Rio Hondo Basin. Increased drought probably will increase the potential for wildfires, which can affect downstream water quality and increase flood potential. Climate-research predicted decreases in winter precipitation may have an adverse effect on the amount of groundwater recharge that occurs in the upper Rio Hondo Basin, given the predominance of winter precipitation recharge as indicated by the stable isotope results. Decreases in surface-water supplies because of persistent drought conditions and reductions in the quality of water because of the effects of wildfire may lead to a larger reliance on groundwater reserves in the upper Rio Hondo Basin. Decreasing water levels because of increasing groundwater withdrawal could reduce base flows in the Rio Bonito and Rio Ruidoso. Well organized and scientifically supported regional water-resources management will be necessary for dealing with the likely scenario of increases in demand coupled with decreases in supply in the upper Rio Hondo Basin.

New Mexico↗

USGS2005

Annual survival and site fidelity of northern pintails banded on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska

We banded northern pintails (Anas acuta; n = 13,645) at a single site on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta (YKD), Alaska, USA, from 1990 to 2001. We used recaptures from our site in combination with hunter recoveries to model annual survival, recovery rates, and fidelity to our capture location. Most recoveries (>90%) occurred in the Pacific Flyway with 64% reported from California's Central Valley. Our top candidate models allowed survival to vary by sex but not by age or year. Estimated annual survival was 77.6% (95% CI: 73.9-81.0%) for males and 60.2% (95% CI: 53.2-67.0%) for females. Reporting rates varied by age, sex, and year; estimates for adult males exceeded those for adult females by 3.5 times. Within sexes, reporting rates of hatch-year pintails exceeded those of adults. Estimated recovery rates were considerably lower than those estimated during the 1950s-1970s for winter banded pintails (Hestbeck 1993b), but there were no differences in survival rates. This suggests that changes in harvest regulations may not have influenced annual survival in this population. The propensity of banded pintails to return to our capture site (fidelity rate) varied between sexes and was positively correlated with water conditions in prairie Canada. Our estimates of fidelity rates varied from 77.4% to 87.2% for males and 89.8% to 94.3% for females. Our fidelity estimates suggest that some level of subpopulation structuring may exist for northern pintails. Additionally, our estimates of fidelity support previous observations of northern pintails overflying poor wetland habitat conditions on the Canadian prairies.

Journal of Wildlife Management↗

USGS2020

Potential duration of aftershocks of the 2020 southwestern Puerto Rico earthquake

Abstract Aftershocks (earthquakes clustered spatially and chronologically near the occurrence of a causative earthquake) are ongoing in southwestern Puerto Rico after a series of earthquakes, which include a magnitude 6.4 earthquake that occurred near Barrio Indios, Guayanilla, on January 7, 2020, and affected the surrounding area. This report estimates the expected duration of these aftershocks by incorporating observations of aftershocks as of January 17, 2020, into a well-established statistical model of how earthquake sequences behave. Aftershocks will persist for years to decades, although with decreasing frequency, and earthquakes will likely be felt on a daily basis for up to several months. These estimates have significant uncertainty owing to different scenarios of how the earthquake sequence may evolve over time and could also change if a new large aftershock occurs. This report also estimates the amount of time remaining until the annual probability of magnitude 5, 6, and 7 or greater aftershocks—which could cause additional damage—decreases to 50, 25, 10, 5, and 1 percent. As of this writing, the chance of having a magnitude 6 or greater earthquake within a given year, going forward, will not fall below 25 percent for another 3 months to 3 years. The chance of having a magnitude 5 or greater earthquake will not fall below 25 percent for a decade or more. The aftershocks discussed in this report would be located in the same general area as the aftershocks that have already occurred. Our results do not imply a change in the risk of earthquakes in other parts of Puerto Rico. Resumen Las réplicas (terremotos agrupados espacial y cronológicamente cerca de la ocurrencia de un terremoto causante) están en curso en el suroeste de Puerto Rico después de una serie de terremotos, que incluyen un terremoto de magnitud 6.4, ocurrido cerca del Barrio Indios, Guayanilla, el 7 de enero de 2020 y que afectaron las áreas circundantes. Este informe estima la duración esperada de las réplicas incorporando observaciones de réplicas a partir del 17 de enero de 2020 en un modelo estadístico bien establecido de cómo se comportan las secuencias de terremotos. Las réplicas persistirán durante años o décadas, aunque con una frecuencia decreciente, y los terremotos probablemente se sentirán a diario durante varios meses. Estos estimados tienen una incertidumbre significativa debido a diferentes escenarios de cómo la secuencia del terremoto puede evolucionar con el tiempo y también podrían cambiar si ocurre una nueva réplica grande. Este informe también estima la cantidad de tiempo restante hasta que la probabilidad anual de réplicas de magnitud 5, 6 y 7 o más - que podría causar daños adicionales- disminuya a un 50, 25, 10, 5 y 1 por ciento. Al momento de escribir este artículo, la posibilidad de tener un terremoto de magnitud 6 en un año determinado, en el futuro, no caerá por debajo del 25 por ciento durante otros 3 meses a 3 años. La probabilidad de tener un terremoto de magnitud 5 o mayor no será inferior al 25 por ciento durante una década o más. Las réplicas discutidas en este informe se ubicarían en la misma área general que las réplicas que ya han ocurrido. Nuestros resultados no implican un cambio en el riesgo de terremotos en otras partes de Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico↗