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At least 1,495 records · Page 83Linked to original sources
USGS1987

Water quality of Fremont Lake and New Fork Lakes, western Wyoming: A progress report

Fremont Lake and New Fork Lakes in the New Fork River drainage of western Wyoming were selected for a comprehensive study of hydrologic processes affecting mountain lakes in the Rocky Mountains. Information is needed about lakes in this area to assess their response to existing and planned development. The concerns include regional issues such as acid precipitation from gas-sweetening plants, coal-fired powerplants, and smelters, as well as local issues, such as shoreline development and raising outlet control structures. Onsite measurements indicated strong thermal stratification in the lakes during the summer. Isothermal conditions occurred during December 1983 and May 1984. Mean phytoplankton concentrations were less than 5,000 cells/ml, and chlorophyll a concentrations were weakly correlated with phytoplankton concentrations. Zooplankton concentrations were small, less than 6 organisms/L. The numbers of benthic invertebrates/unit area in Fremont Lake were extremely small. The lake waters and inflow and outflow streams were chemically dilute solutions. Mean dissolved-solids concentrations were 13 mg/L in Fremont Lake and 24 mg/L in New Fork Lakes. Calcium and bicarbonate were the predominant ions. Concentrations of phosphorus and nitrogen usually were less than detection limits. Trace-metals concentrations in the lakes were similar to those in precipitation and generally were small. Dissolved organic-carbon concentrations were about 1 mg/L. Concentrations of fulvic and humic acids were relatively large in the inlet of Fremont Lake during the spring. Pine Creek has deposited 800 metric tons of sediment, on an annual average, to the delta of Fremont Lake. Most sediment is deposited during spring runoff.

Wyoming↗
USGS1995

Selected trace-element and organic contaminants in streambed sediments of the Potomac River Basin, August 1992

This report describes the occurrence and distribution of five selected contaminants in streambed sediments at 22 stream sites in the Potomac River Basin. Lead, mercury, and total DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) were detected at all sites, and chlordane and total PCB's (polychlorinated biphenyls) were detected at most sites. At six sites, streambed-sediment concentrations of contaminants were detected at levels with the potential to cause frequent adverse effects on aquatic organisms that live in the sediments. Chlordane was detected at these high levels at sampling sites on the Anacostia River, the North Branch Potomac River, Bull Run, and Accotink Creek; mercury was detected at these levels at sites on the South River and the South Fork Shenandoah River; and total PCB's were detected at these levels at the site on the South Fork Shenandoah River. The highest concentrations of all five contaminants generally occurred at sampling sites downstream from areas with industrial plants, urban centers, or orchard and agricultural activity. The occurrence of these contaminants in streambed sediments of the Potomac River Basin is of concern because the contaminants (1) are environmentally persistent, (2) are available for downstream transport during high streamflow periods, and (3) have the potential to cause adverse effects on the health of aquatic organisms and humans through bioaccumulation.

Potomac River Basin↗
USGS1996

Streamflow and Suspended-Sediment Loads Before and During Highway Construction, North Halawa, Haiku, and Kamooalii Drainage Basins, Oahu, Hawaii, 1983-91

Concern over potential effects from construction of the H-3 highway on Oahu, Hawaii, prompted a long-term study of streamflow and suspended-sediment transport at a network of five stream-gaging stations along the highway route. This report presents results for 1983-91, which included pre-construction and construction periods at all stream-gaging stations. Annual rainfall, streamflow, and suspended-sediment loads were generally higher during construction than before construction. Data collected before and during construction were compared using analysis of covariance to determine whether streamflow and suspended-sediment loads changed significantly during construction after accounting for effects of increased rainfall. Streamflow at stream-gaging stations was compared with streamflow at an index stream-gaging station unaffected by construction. Streamflow data were divided into low- and high-flow classes, and the two flow classes were analyzed separately. Low flows increased 117 percent during construction at one station. This increase probably was related to the removal of vegetation for highway construction. Low flows decreased 28 percent at another station, probably as a result of increased ground-water withdrawals and highway construction activities. No significant changes in low flows were detected at the other stations, and no significant changes in high flows were detected at any stations. Suspended-sediment loads increased significantly during construction at three stations. Highway construction contributed between 56 and 76 percent of the suspended-sediment loads measured at these stations during construction. Loads did not change significantly at a station downstream of a reservoir, and loads decreased at a station downstream of a drainage basin that was heavily used for agriculture before construction. Suspended-sediment concentrations were used to assess compliance with applicable State water-quality standards. State water-quality standards for suspended sediment frequently were exceeded during construction. Standards occasionally were exceeded before construction.

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1995

Geohydrology and water quality of the Durham Center Area, Durham, Connecticut

Contaminated ground water is widespread and persistent beneath the Durham Center area in the town of Durham, Conn. Most of the contaminants are organic halides, usually trichloroethene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, and tetrachloroethene. Less extensive chemical contamination of surface water, soil, and glacial sediments also has been detected. Two manufacturing companies, located at the northern and southern ends of this largely residential area, are believed to be the principal sources of the organic compounds detected in ground water. The contamination of water in the bedrock, the primary source of drinking water throughout the area, is the major environmental concern. Maximum concentrations of trichloroethene in three bed- rock wells range from 4,500 to about 5,500 mg/L (micrograms per liter). Concentrations of trichloroethene greater than 5 mg/L, the maximum contaminant level established for drinking water by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency, have regularly been detected in water samples from many other bedrock wells for at least 9 years. The geohydrology of the area is highly complex. Compact lodgment till that is up to 30 feet thick and probably fractured, overlies the bedrock. The bedrock is lithologically heterogeneous, and con- sists mostly of red fluvial sandstone, siltstone, and conglomerate; it is locally interbedded with black lacustrine shales and gray sandstones. Lithology and stratigraphy interpreted from borehole-geophysical logs at Durham Center are consistent with the Portland Formation subfacies described in earlier geologic studies. Beds strike nearly north-south and dip gently eastward. At least one high-angle normal fault transects the bedrock; it strikes northeast and dips northwest. Acoustic televiewer logs, measurements at out-crops, and azimuthal, square-array, resistivity data indicate a dominance of northeast-striking fractures that dip steeply northwest and southeast. Less prevalent strike directions are north to east-north-east. The till and sedimentary bedrock are dual-porosity, dual-permeability media. The hydraulic conductivity of the bulk mass of till is believed to be on the order of tenths of a foot per day to about 2.5 feet per day, with a total porosity of about 25 percent and an estimated average fracture porosity of less than 1 percent. The reported transmissivities of the bedrock range from less than 1 to about 17,000 feet squared per day and storativity is generally about 10-4, but the accuracy of these values is uncertain. The intergranular porosity of the sandstone units is estimated to average 5 percent, and estimates of fracture porosity from square-array, resistivity soundings at two sites were 1.1 and 2.7 percent. The bedrock has characteristics of both a single aquifer and a multi-unit, artesian or leaky aquifer system. A local ground-water-flow system that includes the upper part of the bedrock is unconfined. A large- scale flow system in deeper parts of the bedrock has transported organic compounds across topographic drainage divides. Borehole-geophysical logs and head measurements indicate that the natural ground- water-flow system in the bedrock has been altered by drilled wells that connect fractures and by with- drawals from wells. A conceptual model of the movement and fate of organic contaminants suggests that (1) nonaqueous phase organic halides are retained near their source; (2) flow is primarily through fractures in the till and through fractures and bedding-plane openings in the sedimentary rocks; (3) retardation of contaminants occurs primarily by diffusion from fractures into the aquifer matrix; and (4) transport directions of dissolved organic halides are controlled by a combination of natural hydraulic gradients, hydraulic gradients produced by the cyclical pumping of wells, and by the strike directions of bedrock faults, fractures, and bedding planes.

Connecticut↗
USGS1994

Hydrogeologic characterization of a proposed landfill expansion in Pickens County near Easley, South Carolina

This report presents the results of a hydrogeologic study in the Piedmont physiographic province of South Carolina to obtain geologic, hydrologic, and water-quality data from the site of a proposed landfill expansion in Pickens County near Easley, South Carolina. The geology of the study area is typical of the Piedmont region. The unconsolidated regolith on the site is soil and saprolite, which is a product of the weathered parent rock. The soil ranges in thickness from about 5 to 20 feet. The saprolite ranges in thickness from about 5 to 134 feet. The most abundant parent rock type in the area is a biotite gneiss. Ground- and surface-water data were collected at the site. Slug tests on the saprolite indicate a mean hydraulic conductivity of 3 x 0.000003 feet per second. Transmissivity ranges from 12 to 27 cubic feet per day per feet (squared per day). The ground-water velocity for the site ranges from 3 to 6 feet per year. The closest major stream to the site is Golden Creek. Based on low-flow data for Golden Creek, the estimated minimum 7 consecutive day flow that has a recurrence interval of 10 years (7Q10) at station 02186102 is 2.4 cubic feet per second. Water samples were collected from five monitoring wells at the proposed landfill expansion site and from one stream adjacent to the expansion site. Measured pH units ranged from 5.5 to 8.1, and alkalinity concentrations ranged from 5.1 to 73 milligrams per liter as CaCO3. Other water- quality data obtained included temperature and specific conductance, and 5-day BOD (biochemical oxygen demand), bicarbonate, ammonia-nitrogen, nitrite-nitrogen, nitrite plus nitrate, organic carbon, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, sulfate, fluoride, and selected trace metal concentrations.

South Carolina↗
USGS1987

Simulation of unsteady flow in the Milwaukee Harbor Estuary at Milwaukee, Wisconsin

This report describes the application and results of an unsteady-flow model for the Milwaukee Harbor Estuary. The model simulates unsteady and upstream flow occurring in the estuary as a result of Lake Michigan Seiche. The discharge computed by the model indicates that upstream flow occurs throughout the estuary during periods of lake seiche. Flow conditions are extremely unsteady and major flow reversals may occur within 1 hr. The simulated discharge indicates that both upstream and downstream flows four times greater than the average daily discharge can occur during the same day. An estimate of 5- or 15-minute average discharge was required during selected runoff events and at various locations in the estuary as part of the Milwaukee Harbor Estuary study. The model provides a method to estimate 5-minute average discharges at selected cross sections in the estuary. The U.S. Geological Survey 's Branch Network Model was used to simulate stage and discharge. A finite difference computation scheme is used to solve the one-dimensional flow equations. Model input requirements include channel geometry data, discharge at the upstream tributaries, and stage data at the estuary mouth. The model was used to simulate the flow during six selected time periods in 1982-84 using a 5- or 15-minute computation interval. (Author 's abstract)

Wisconsin↗
USGS1994

Lateral movement and stability of channel banks near four highway crossings in southwestern Mississippi

Channel meandering in alluvial streams has caused localized channel instability that has resulted in bridge failure and loss of human life in Mississippi. The U.S. Geological Survey, in coopera- tion with the Mississippi Department of Transpor- tation, conducted a study to develop a better methodology for defining and estimating channel meandering. For this report, river reaches near four bridge sites with current lateral movement of channel banks were selected for study. The lateral movement of channel banks was studied by mapping meanders from aerial photographs taken at various times, evaluating available discharge measurements, and measuring existing channel geometry and soil strength properties at these sites. Rapid, unre- stricted meander cuts and sandy banks are charac- teristic of the sites. Lateral movement was signi- ficant upstream from all four sites, and only one bridge site did not have significant lateral channel-bank movement during the study period. The development of cutbanks and localized channel-bank erosion have caused unstable conditions at three of the sites. Maps of tops of channel indicate significant lateral movement of channel banks upstream and downstream of all four sites and near the bridges at three of four sites. No significant movement occurred at the U.S. Highway 98 crossing of the Bogue Chitto near Tylertown from 1941 to 1991 despite large floods in 1983 and 1990. Slope stability analyses indicated this site to be marginally stable. The maximum lateral movement indicated from maps of tops of channel banks was 680 feet of northward movement of the right (north) bank of the Homochitto River near the State Highway 33 crossing at Rosetta from 1941 to 1983.

Mississippi↗
USGS2000

Water-quality characteristics for selected streams in Lawrence County, South Dakota, 1988-92

During the 1980’s, significant economic development and population growth began to occur in Lawrence County in the northern part of the Black Hills of western South Dakota. Rising gold prices and heap-leach extraction methods allowed the economic recovery of marginal gold ore deposits, resulting in development of several large-scale, open-pit gold mines in Lawrence County. There was increasing local concern regarding potential impacts on the hydrologic system, especially relating to the quantity and quality of water in the numerous streams and springs of Lawrence County. In order to characterize the water quality of selected streams within Lawrence County, samples were collected from 1988 through 1992 at different times of the year and under variable hydrologic conditions. During the time of this study, the Black Hills area was experiencing a drought; thus, most samples were collected during low-flow conditions. Streamflow and water-quality characteristics in Lawrence County are affected by both geologic conditions and precipitation patterns. Most streams that cross outcrops of the Madison Limestone and Minnelusa Formation lose all or large part of their streamflow to aquifer recharge. Streams that are predominantly spring fed have relatively stable streamflow, varying slightly with dry and wet precipitation cycles. Most streams in Lawrence County generally have calcium magnesium bicarbonate type waters. The sites from the mineralized area of central Lawrence County vary slightly from other streams in Lawrence County by having higher concentrations of sodium, less bicarbonate, and more sulfate. False Bottom Creek near Central City has more sulfate than bicarbonate. Nitrogen, phosphorous, and cyanide concentrations were at or near the laboratory reporting limits for most sites and did not exceed any of the water-quality standards. Nitrite plus nitrate concentrations at Annie Creek near Lead, Whitetail Creek at Lead, Squaw Creek near Spearfish, and Spearfish Creek below Robison Gulch were somewhat higher than at other sites. Mining activity, agricultural activity, and domestic development are possible sources of nitrogen to the streams. Increased mining activities were identified as the probable cause of increased nitrogen concentrations in Annie Creek. In the mineralized area of the northern Black Hills, detectable concentrations of trace elements are common in stream water, occasionally exceeding beneficial-use and aquatic-life criteria. In addition, many basins have been disturbed by both historical and recent mining operations and cleanup activities. The maximum dissolved arsenic concentration at Annie Creek near Lead (48 micrograms per liter) approached the current arsenic drinking-water standard. Concentrations at or greater than 5 micrograms per liter were found in samples from Annie Creek near Lead, Spearfish Creek above Spearfish, Whitetail Creek at Lead, and False Bottom Creek near Spearfish. Bear Butte Creek near Deadwood had one sample with a dissolved copper concentration that exceeded acute and chronic aquatic-life criteria. Bear Butte Creek near Deadwood had several manganese concentrations that exceeded the secondary maximum contaminant level of 50 micrograms per liter. Bed-sediment and water-quality data from selected sites in small drainage basins were used to determine if factors such as pH, arsenic concentrations in bed sediments, and calcite saturation control dissolved arsenic concentrations. Arsenic solubility is controlled by adsorption, mainly on ferrihydrite. In addition, adsorption/desorption of arsenic is controlled by the pH of the stream, with high arsenic concentrations appearing only at higher pH conditions (above 8). There are significant arsenic sources available to almost all the small streams of the northern Black Hills mining area, but arsenic is less mobile in streams that are not influenced to the higher pH values by calcite. Streams where arsenic is more mobile have lower iron concentrations in their bed sediments, and they have relatively high concentrations of calcite Additional water-quality data have been collected as part of other studies or monitoring programs by the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S. Geological Survey. Summaries of selected data from these other sources are included as additional information.

South Dakota↗
USGS1995

Variations in surface-water quality in the chain of lakes and its tributaries, Devils Lake basin, North Dakota, 1957-92

Located in the Devils Lake Basin, North Dakota, receives and stores runoff from the northern section of the basin and recharges Devils Lake. Hydrologic and water- quality conditions can vary greatly in the basin, resulting in potential economic damage. This report describes the seasonal and spatial variations in surface-water quality in the chain of lakes and its tributaries. Long-term trends in dissolved-solids and nutrient concentrations and instantaneous loads in tributaries upstream and downstream of the chain of lakes are not apparent. However,seasonal variations are apparent. Dissolved-solids concentrations were smaller, and nutrient concentrations were larger, during the spring than during the remainder of the year. Variations in dissolved-solids concentrations are caused by dilution and evaporation. Variations in nutrient concentrations are the result of biologic activity. Instantaneous dissolved-solids and nutrient loads were greater during the spring than during the remainder of the year because of seasonal differences in flow rates. Only minimal long-term trends and seasonal variations in dissolved-solids and nutrient concentrations in the chain of lakes are apparent. During the period of record, dissolved-solids concentrations in Sweetwater Lake generally increased, dissolved-solids concentrations in Lake Alice and Lake Irvine varied seasonally, and dissolved phosphorus concentrations in Lake Alice generally increased. Spatial variations in dissolved-solids and nutrient concentrations in the basin are apparent." The medians and ranges of dissolved-solids concentrations for the upstream stations were smaller than those for the lake stations and the downstream stations. Dissolved-solids concentrations were larger in Channel A than in Big Coulee, and nutrient concentrations were larger in Big Coulee than in Channel A.

North Dakota↗
USGS2003

Water quality and trend analysis of Colorado-Big Thompson system reservoirs and related conveyances, 1969 through 2000

The U.S. Geological Survey, in an ongoing cooperative monitoring program with the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, Bureau of Reclamation, and City of Fort Collins, has collected water-quality data in north-central Colorado since 1969 in reservoirs and conveyances, such as canals and tunnels, related to the Colorado–Big Thompson Project, a water-storage, collection, and distribution system. Ongoing changes in water use among agricultural and municipal users on the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, changing land use in reservoir watersheds, and other water-quality issues among Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District customers necessitated a reexamination of water-quality trends in the Colorado–Big Thompson system reservoirs and related conveyances. The sampling sites are on reservoirs, canals, and tunnels in the headwaters of the Colorado River (on the western side of the transcontinental diversion operations) and the headwaters of the Big Thompson River (on the eastern side of the transcontinental diversion operations). Carter Lake Reservoir and Horsetooth Reservoir are off-channel water-storage facilities, located in the foothills of the northern Colorado Front Range, for water supplied from the Colorado–Big Thompson Project. The length of water-quality record ranges from approximately 3 to 30 years depending on the site and the type of measurement or constituent. Changes in sampling frequency, analytical methods, and minimum reporting limits have occurred repeatedly over the period of record. The objective of this report was to complete a retrospective water-quality and trend analysis of reservoir profiles, nutrients, major ions, selected trace elements, chlorophyll- a , and hypolimnetic oxygen data from 1969 through 2000 in Lake Granby, Shadow Mountain Lake, and the Granby Pump Canal in Grand County, Colorado, and Horsetooth Reservoir, Carter Lake, Lake Estes, Alva B. Adams Tunnel, and Olympus Tunnel in Larimer County, Colorado. This report summarizes and assesses: Water-quality and field-measurement profile data collected by the U.S. Geological Survey and stored in the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Information System, Time-series trends of chemical constituents and physical properties, Trends in oxygen deficits in the hypolimnion of the reservoirs in the late summer season by the seasonal Kendall trend test method, Nutrient limitation and trophic status indicators, and Water-quality data in terms of Colorado water-quality standards. Water quality was generally acceptable for primary uses throughout the Colorado–Big Thompson system over the site periods of record, which are all within the span of 1969 to 2000. Dissolved solids and nutrient concentrations were low and typical of a forested/mountainous/crystalline bedrock hydrologic setting. Most of the more toxic trace elements were rarely detected or were found in low concentrations, due at least in part to a relative lack of ore-mineral deposits within the drainage areas of the Colorado–Big Thompson Project. Constituent concentrations consistently met water-quality standard thresholds set by the State of Colorado. Trophic-State Index Values indicated mesotrophic conditions generally prevailed at reservoirs, based on available Secchi depth, total phosphorus concentrations, and chlorophyll- a concentrations. Based on plots of time-series values and concentrations and seasonal Kendall nonparametric trends testing, dissolved solids and most major ions are decreasing at most sites. Many of the nutrient data did not meet the minimum criteria for time-series testing; but for those that did, nutrient concentrations were generally stable (no statistical trend) or decreasing (ammonia plus organic nitrogen and total phosphorus). Iron and manganese concentrations were stable or decreasing at most sites that met testing criteria. Chlorophyll- a data were only collected for 11 years but generally indicated quasi-stable or downward temporal trends.

Colorado↗
USGS1996

Physical and chemical characteristics of Lake Powell at the forebay and outflows of Glen Canyon Dam, northeastern Arizona, 1990-91

The physical and chemical characteristics of Lake Powell have a direct effect on the quality of water below Glen Canyon Dam. Understanding the physical and chemical characteristics of the lake and outflows from the dam is essential in order to effectively manage the operation of the dam. During August 1990 to September 1991, physical and chemical measurements were made and water samples were collected in the forebay of Lake Powell and at the outflows (draft tubes) of Glen Canyon Dam to document the physical and chemical characteristics of water entering the Colorado River. A persistent chemocline in the forebay of Lake Powell fluctuated seasonally during the study. Thermal stratification began in mid-April and persisted into late October. Spatial variation of specific conductance, pH, water temperature, and dissolved-oxygen concentration in the forebay was negligible. Sodium and sulfate were the dominant ions. Major ions, nutrients, and metals generally increased in concentration with depth in the forebay. Concentrations of dissolved nitrogen (as nitrite plus nitrate) in the forebay ranged from less than 0.02 to 0.58 milligrams per liter. Strontium and lithium were the most abundant metals. Dissolved organic carbon ranged from about 2.6 to 4.9 milligrams per. liter with larger concentrations generally occurring in the epilimnion. No diel variations of chemical constituents were observed. Vertical-attenuation coefficients of light penetration in the forebay ranged from 0.058 to 0.080 microeinsteins per meter squared per second, and the euphotic depth ranged from about 82 to 113 feet. Generally, the physical and chemical characteristics of outflows through the draft tubes of Glen Canyon Dam were similar to the physical and chemical characteristics of the water at penstock depth and deeper depths. Specific conductance ranged from 803 to 1,090 microsiemens per centimeter, and pH values ranged from about 7.2 to 8.0. Water temperatures measured in the outflows ranged from 7.0 to 9.0 degrees Celsius, and dissolved oxygen ranged from about 6.5 to 9.1 milligrams per liter. Concentrations of dissolved nitrogen (as nitrite plus nitrate) ranged from 0.13 to 0.74 milligrams per liter. Dissolved phosphorus (as orthophosphate) and ammonia (NH4) generally were less than the minimum reporting level of 0.01 milligrams per liter. Availability and Quality of Water from Drift Aquifers in Marshall, Pennington, Polk, and Red Lake Counties, Northwestern Minnesota By R.J. Lindgren Abstract Sand and gravel aquifers present within glacial deposits are important sources of water in Marshall, Pennington, Polk, and Red Lake Counties in northwestern Minnesota. Saturated thicknesses of the unconfined aquifers range from 0 to 30 feet. Estimated horizontal hydraulic conductivities range from 2.5 to 600 feet per day. Transmissivity of the unconfined aquifers ranges from 33 to greater than 3,910 feet squared per day. Theoretical maximum well yields for 6 wells with specific-capacity data range from 12 to 123 gallons per minute. Saturated thicknesses of shallow confined aquifers (depth to top of the aquifer less than 100 feet below land surface) range from 0 to 150 feet. Thicknesses of intermediate, deep, and basal confined aquifers (depths to top of the aquifer from 100 to 199 feet, from 200 to 299 feet, and 300 feet or more below land surface, respectively) range from 0 to more than 126 feet. Transmissivity of the confined aquifers ranges from 2 to greater than 210,000 feet squared per day. Theoretical maximum well yields range from 3 to about 2,000 gallons per minute. Recharge to ground water is predominantly from precipitation that percolates downward to the saturated zone. Recharge to unconfined aquifers in the study area ranged from 4.5 to 12.0 inches per year during 1991 and 1992, based on hydrograph analysis. Model simulations done for this study indicate that recharge rates from 8 to 9 inches per year to unconfined aquifers produce the best matches

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1986

Compilation and preliminary interpretation of hydrologic data for the Weldon Spring radioactive waste-disposal sites, St Charles County, Missouri — A progress report

The Weldon Spring Chemical Plant is located just north of the drainage divide separating the Mississippi River and the Missouri River in St. Charles County, Missouri. From 1957 to 1966 the plant converted uranium-ore concentrates and recycled scrap to pure uranium trioxide, uranium tetrafluoride, and uranium metal. Residues from these operations were pumped to four large pits that had been excavated near the plant. Small springs and losing streams are present in the area. Water overlying the residue in the pits has a large concentration of dissolved solids and a different chemical composition compared to the native groundwater and surface water. This difference is indicated by the concentrations of calcium, sodium, sulfate, nitrate, fluoride, uranium, radium, lithium, molybdenum, strontium, and vanadium, all of which are greater than natural or background concentrations. Water from Burgermeister Spring, located about 1.5 miles north of the chemical plant area, contains uranium and nitrate concentrations greater than background concentrations. Groundwater in the shallow bedrock aquifer moves northward from the vicinity of the chemical plant toward Dardenne Creek. An abandoned limestone quarry several miles southwest of the chemical plant also has been used for the disposal of radioactive waste and rubble. Groundwater flow from the quarry area is southward through the alluvium, away from the quarry and toward the Missouri River. The St. Charles County well field is located in the Missouri River flood plain near the quarry and the large yield wells are open to the Missouri River alluvial aquifer. Water from a well 4,000 ft southeast of the quarry was analyzed; there was no indication of contamination from the quarry. Additional water quality and water level data are needed to determine if water from the quarry moves toward the well field. Observation wells need to be installed in the area between the chemical plant, pits, and Dardenne Creek. The wells would be used to provide access for measurements of depth to ground water and for the collection of water samples from the shallow bedrock aquifer.

Missouri↗
USGS1998

An implicit dispersive transport algorithm for the US Geological Survey MOC3D solute-transport model

This report documents an extension to the U.S. Geological Survey MOC3D transport model that incorporates an implicit-in-time difference approximation for the dispersive transport equation, including source/sink terms. The original MOC3D transport model (Version 1) uses the method of characteristics to solve the transport equation on the basis of the velocity field. The original MOC3D solution algorithm incorporates particle tracking to represent advective processes and an explicit finite-difference formulation to calculate dispersive fluxes. The new implicit procedure eliminates several stability criteria required for the previous explicit formulation. This allows much larger transport time increments to be used in dispersion-dominated problems. The decoupling of advective and dispersive transport in MOC3D, however, is unchanged. With the implicit extension, the MOC3D model is upgraded to Version 2. A description of the numerical method of the implicit dispersion calculation, the data-input requirements and output options, and the results of simulator testing and evaluation are presented. Version 2 of MOC3D was evaluated for the same set of problems used for verification of Version 1. These test results indicate that the implicit calculation of Version 2 matches the accuracy of Version 1, yet is more efficient than the explicit calculation for transport problems that are characterized by a grid Peclet number less than about 1.0.

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1990

Ground-water levels, flow, and specific conductance in unconsolidated aquifers near Lake Erie, Cleveland to Conneaut, Ohio, September 1984

This report described ground-water levels, flow, and specific conductance in aquifer along the southern shore of Lake Erie from Cleveland to Conneaut, Ohio. The data were collected in September 1984 as part of the U.S Geological Survey's Northeast Glacial Buried Valley Regional Aquifer-System Analysis. The study area is about 60 miles long, extends inland from the lake about 10 miles, and encompasses parts of Cuyahoga, Lake, and Ashtabula Counties. Water levels were measured in 202 existing wells, all of which were completed in the glacial deposits or at the contact with the underlying shale. Specific conductance was measured in 59 of the wells. Results of the survey are presented in table and map form. Unconsolidated material throughout the area consists primarily of till, whereas the bedrock consists of Devonian shale. The till is composed chiefly o silt and clay with some sand and gravel, and is less than 50 feet thick in most areas. Some valleys are filled with as much as 200 feet of glacial till and outwash deposits that are mainly sand and gravel. Ground-water levels in much of the area within 20 feet of the land surface. Contours of ground-water levels resemble a subdued version of those of the land surface, which indicates that ground water generally flows from high areas to low areas following the land-surface gradient. Locally, ground water discharges into streams. Regionally, flow is towards the north-northeast, to Lake Erie. Specific conductance ranged from 160 to 2,900 μ S/cm (microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius) with a median of 540 μ S/cm. Ground water with a specific conductance greater than 650 μ S/cm is localized, with no specific spatial pattern; possible sources of elevated specific conductance are road-deicing salt, leachate from landfills, natural brings associated with oil and gas drilling, and the leakage of saline water from bedrock.

Ohio↗
USGS2002

Water quality, sediment quality, and stream-channel classification of Rock Creek, Washington, D.C., 1999-2000

Rock Creek Park is within the National Capital Region in Washington, D.C., and is maintained by the National Park Service. Part of Montgomery County, Maryland, and part of the District of Columbia drain into Rock Creek, which is a tributary of the Potomac River. Water quality in Rock Creek is important to biotic life in and near the creek, and in the Potomac River Basin and the Chesapeake Bay. The water quality of the Rock Creek Basin has been affected by continued urban and agricultural growth and development. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the National Park Service, investigated water quality and sediment quality in Rock Creek over a 2-year period (1998?2000), and performed a stream-channel classification to determine the distribution of bottom sediment in Rock Creek. This report presents and evaluates water quality and bottom sediment in Rock Creek for water years 1999 (October 1, 1998 to September 30, 1999) and 2000 (October 1, 1999 to September 30, 2000). A synoptic surface-water assessment was conducted at five stations from June 23 to June 25, 1999, a temporal surface-water assessment was conducted at one station from February 18, 1999 to September 26, 2000, and bed-sediment samples were collected and assessed from three stations from August 17 to August 19, 1999. The synoptic surface-water assessment included pesticides (parent compounds and selected transformation products), field parameters, nutrients, and major ions. The temporal surface-water assessment included pesticides (parent compounds and selected transformation products) and field parameters. The bed-sediment assessment included trace elements and organic compounds (including low- and high-molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, poly-chlorinated biphenyls, pesticides, and phthalates). Some, but not all, of the pesticides known to be used in the area were included in the synoptic water-quality assessment, the temporal water-quality assessment, and the bed-sediment assessment. In addition to the water-quality and sediment-quality assessments, a Rosgen stream-channel classification was performed on a 900-foot-long segment of Rock Creek. In the synoptic water-quality assessment, two pesticides were found to be above published criteria for the protection of aquatic life. In the temporal water-quality assessment, four pesticides were found to be above published criteria for the protection of aquatic life. In the bed-sediment assessment, 8 trace elements, 14 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, 6 pesticides, and 1 phthalate compound were found to be above published criteria for the protection of aquatic life. In the Rosgen classification, a comparison to a previous classification for this segment showed an increase in sands and other fine-grained sediments in the creek bed.

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS2000

Methodology for applying monitored natural attenuation to petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated ground-water systems with examples from South Carolina

Natural attenuation processes such as dispersion, advection, and biogradation serve to decrease concentrations of disssolved contaminants as they are transported in all ground-water systems. However, the efficiency of these natural attenuation processes and the degree to which they help attain remediation goals, varies considerably from site to site. This report provides a methodology for quantifying various natural attenuation mechanisms. This methodology incorporates information on (1) concentrations of contaminants in space and/or time; (2) ambient reduction/oxidation (redox) conditions; (3) rates and directions of ground-water flow; (4) rates of contaminant biodegradation; and (5) demographic considerations, such as the presence of nearby receptor exposure points or property boundaries. This document outlines the hydrologic, geochemical, and biologic data needed to assess the efficiency of natural attenuation, provides a screening tool for making preliminary assessments, and provides examples of how to determine when natural attenuation can be a useful component of site remediation at leaking underground storage tank sites. At a site in the Piedmont Physiographic Province (Laurens, South Carolina), hydrologic and water-chemistry data indicate that the natural attenuation capacity for benzene is approximately 5 percent per foot of flowpath. As a result, benzene concentrations would decrease from about 28,000 micrograms per liter in ground water at the source area to less than 5 micrograms per liter 200 feet downgradient and prior to discharging to a stream. Because of this rapid attenuation, contaminants do not presently impact the stream downgradient of the site. In contrast, at a site in the coastal Plain Physiographic Province (Charleston, South Carolina), hydrologic and water-chemistry data indicate that, even thought the site has a substantial natural attenuation capacity, it may not be sufficient to fully protect a nearby point of ground-water discharge. These two sites illustrate how the efficiency of natural attenuation processes acting on petroleum hydrocarbons can be systematically evaluated using hydrologic, geochemical, and microbiologic methods. These methods, in turn, can be used to assess the role that the natural attenuation of petroleum hydrocarbons can play in achieving overall site remediation.

South Carolina↗
USGS1987

Geohydrology and susceptibility of major aquifers to surface contamination in Alabama; area 1

This report delineates and describes the geohydrology and susceptibility of the major aquifers to contamination in Area 1 - Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limeston, Madison, and Morgan Counties. Most of the area is underlain by a Mississippian carbonate sequence that includes two major aquifers, the Tuscumbia-Fort Payne aquifer and the Bangor aquifer. A third major aquifer, the Tuscaloosa aquifer of Cretaceous age, occurs in the southwest part of the area. The Mississippi carbonate aquifers are the Tuscumbia-Fort Payne aquifer which includes most Tuscumbia Limestone and the Fort Payne Chert, and a small area of the Monteagle Limestone, and the Bangor aquifer which includes the Bangor Limestone and Hartselle Sandstone. Both of these aquifers possess highly-variable secondary porosity and permeability related to fractures that have been enlarged, sometimes to cavernous proportions, due to solution processes. The Tuscaloosa aquifer consists of the Tuscaloosa Group, an unconsolidated clastic deposit that has relatively uniform primary porosity and permeability. Significant quantities of groundwater are available from each of the aquifers. Water levels at nearly 2 ,000 wells indicate that, for each aquifer, general groundwater movement is from topographically high to low areas. Each of the aquifers is recharged throughout its outcrop in the study area and is susceptible to contamination within the outcrop. Generalized topographic settings such as closed-contour depressions are identified as areas that are highly susceptible to contamination. Specific features such as sinkholes also are identified as extremely susceptible to contamination.

Alabama↗
USGS1997

Water-quality assessment of the Rio Grande Valley, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas: Organic compounds and trace elements in bed sediment and fish tissue, 1992-93

The occurrence and distribution of contaminants in aquatic systems are major components of the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program. Bed-sediment samples were collected at 18 sites in the Rio Grande Valley study unit between September 1992 and March 1993 to characterize the geographic distribution of organic compounds, including chlorinated insecticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's), and other chlorinated hydrocarbons, and also trace elements. Two-millimeter-size- fraction sediment was analyzed for organic compounds and less than 63-micron-size-fraction sediment was analyzed for trace elements. Concentrations of p,p'-DDE were detected in 33 percent of the bed-sediment samples. With the exception of DDT-related compounds, no other organochlorine insecticides or polychlorinated biphenyls were detected in samples of bed sediment. Whole-body fish samples were collected at 11 of the bed- sediment sites and analyzed for organic compounds. Organic compounds were reported more frequently in samples of fish, and more types of organic compounds were found in whole-body fish samples than in bed-sediment samples. Concentrations of p,p'-DDE were detected in 91 percent of whole-body fish samples. Polychlorinated biphenyls, cis-chlordane, trans-chlordane, trans- nonachlor, and hexachlorobenzene were other organic compounds detected in whole-body samples of fish from at least one site. Because of the extent of mineralized areas in the Rio Grande Basin arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, selenium, and zinc concentrations in bed-sediment samples could represent natural conditions at most sites. However, a combination of natural conditions and human activities appears to be associated with elevated trace-element concentrations in the bed-sediment sample from the site Rio Grande near Creede, Colorado, because this sample exceeded the background trace-element concentrations calculated for this study. Fish-liver samples were collected at 12 of the bed-sediment sites and analyzed for trace elements. Certain trace elements were detected at higher concentrations in fish-liver samples than in bed-sediment samples from the same site. Both bed-sediment and fish-tissue samples are necessary for a complete environmental assessment of the occurrence and distribution of trace elements.

Colorado, New Mexico, Texas↗