Assessment of coal geology, resources, and reserves in the Southwestern Powder River Basin, Wyoming
Lee M. Osmonson, David C. Scott, Jon E. Haacke, James A. Luppens, Paul E. Pierce
2011, Open-File Report 2011-1134
The availability of abundant new borehole data from recent coal bed natural gas development was utilized by the U.S. Geological Survey for a comprehensive evaluation of coal resources and reserves in the southwestern part of the Powder River Basin in Wyoming. This report on the Southwestern Powder River Basin assessment...
Objectives, priorities, reliable knowledge, and science-based management of Missouri River interior least terns and piping plovers
Mark Sherfy, Michael J. Anteau, Terry Shaffer, Marsha Sovada, Jennifer Stucker
2011, Open-File Report 2011-1236
Supporting recovery of federally listed interior least tern (Sternula antillarum athalassos; tern) and piping plover (Charadrius melodus; plover) populations is a desirable goal in management of the Missouri River ecosystem. Many tools are implemented in support of this goal, including habitat management, annual monitoring, directed research, and threat mitigation. Similarly,...
U.S. Geological Survey Science for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative-2010 Annual Report
Zachary H. Bowen, Cameron L. Aldridge, Patrick J. Anderson, Timothy J. Assal, Laura Biewick, Steven W. Blecker, Gregory K. Boughton, R. Sky Bristol, Natasha B. Carr, Anna D. Chalfoun, Geneva W. Chong, Melanie L. Clark, Jay E. Diffendorfer, Bradley C. Fedy, Katharine Foster, Steven L. Garman, Steve Germaine, JoAnn Holloway, Collin G. Homer, Matthew J. Kauffman, Douglas Keinath, Natalie Latysh, Daniel J. Manier, Robert R. McDougal, Cynthia P. Melcher, Kirk A. Miller, Jessica Montag, Christopher J. Potter, Spencer Schell, Sarah L. Shafer, David B. Smith, Lisa L. Stillings, Michele L. Tuttle, Anna B. Wilson
2011, Open-File Report 2011-1219
This is the third report produced by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI) to detail annual work activities. The first report described activities for 2007 and 2008, and the second report covered work activities for FY09. This third report covers work activities conducted in...
Comprehensive summary of beach renourishment and offshore sand removal impacts for Florida
A. W.J. Demopoulos, D.J. Gualtieri, A. Neils, D. Huge
2011, Open-File Report 2011-1135
This report is temporarily unavailable pending review. An essential first step in the scope of environmental impacts for a sediment mining project is a formulation of specific purpose, precise needs, and estimated impacts. For each individual project, scope must be described, acceptable alternatives must be determined, critical environmental issues must be...
Preliminary geologic map of the island of Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
David J. Weary, William C. Burton
2011, Open-File Report 2011-1234
This map provides an update and reinterpretation of the geology of the island of Saipan. The geology of the island was previously documented in 1956 in U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Professional Paper 280-A by Preston E. Cloud, Jr., and others. This report includes a geologic map at a scale of...
Assessment of soil-gas, soil, and water contamination at the former 19th Street landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2009-2010
W. Fred Falls, Andral W. Caldwell, Wladmir B. Guimaraes, W. Hagan Ratliff, John B. Wellborn, James Landmeyer
2011, Open-File Report 2011-1145
Soil gas, soil, and water were assessed for organic and inorganic constituents at the former 19th Street landfill at Fort Gordon, Georgia, from February to September 2010. Passive soil-gas samplers were analyzed to evaluate organic constituents in the hyporheic zone and flood plain of a creek and soil gas within...
Quality assurance and quality control of geochemical data—A primer for the research scientist
Nicholas J. Geboy, Mark A. Engle
2011, Open-File Report 2011-1187
Geochemistry is a constantly expanding science. More and more, scientists are employing geochemical tools to help answer questions about the Earth and earth system processes. Scientists may assume that the responsibility of examining and assessing the quality of the geochemical data they generate is not theirs but rather that of...
Bathymetry and acoustic backscatter: Elwha River Delta, Washington
David P. Finlayson, Ian M. Miller, Jonathan A. Warrick
2011, Open-File Report 2011-1226
Between February 22 and March 3, 2010, scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center (PCMSC), acquired bathymetry and acoustic-backscatter data from the Elwha River Delta, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Washington, under PCMSC Field Activity ID S-6-10-PS. Three ancillary surveys were conducted when sea...
Inorganic chemical analysis of environmental materials—A lecture series
J.G. Crock, P. J. Lamothe
2011, Open-File Report 2011-1193
At the request of the faculty of the Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado, the authors prepared and presented a lecture series to the students of a graduate level advanced instrumental analysis class. The slides and text presented in this report are a compilation and condensation of this series of...
Capacitively coupled resistivity survey of the levee surrounding the Omaha Public Power District Nebraska City Power Plant, June 2011
Bethany L. Burton, James C. Cannia
2011, Open-File Report 2011-1211
This report is a release of digital data from a capacitively coupled resistivity survey conducted on June 13, 2011, on the flood-protection levees surrounding the Omaha Public Power District Nebraska City power plant. The U.S. Geological Survey Crustal Geophysics and Geochemistry Science Center and the Nebraska Water Science Center performed...
Water-quality monitoring for a pilot piling removal field evaluation, Coal Creek Slough, Washington, 2008-09
Elena B. Nilsen, David A. Alvarez
2011, Open-File Report 2011-1233
Significant Findings Water and sediment quality monitoring was conducted before and after the removal of a piling field located in Coal Creek Slough near Longview, Washington. Passive chemical samplers and continuous water-quality monitoring instruments were deployed at the piling removal site, Coal Creek Slough Site 1 (CCS1), and at a comparison...
A multi-year analysis of passage and survival at McNary Dam, 2004-09
Noah S. Adams, C. E. Walker, R.W. Perry
2011, Open-File Report 2011-1230
We analyzed 6 years (2004–09) of passage and survival data collected at McNary Dam to determine how dam operations and environmental conditions affect passage and survival of juvenile salmonids. A multinomial logistic regression was used to examine how environmental variables and dam operations relate to passage behavior of juvenile salmonids...
Geomorphic and ecological effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on coastal Louisiana marsh communities
Sarai C. Piazza, Gregory D. Steyer, Kari F. Cretini, Charles E. Sasser, Jenneke M. Visser, Guerry O. Holm, Leigh A. Sharp, D. Elaine Evers, John R. Meriwether
2011, Open-File Report 2011-1094
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita made landfall in 2005, subjecting the coastal marsh communities of Louisiana to various degrees of exposure. We collected data after the storms at 30 sites within fresh (12), brackish/intermediate (12), and saline (6) marshes to document the effects of saltwater storm surge and sedimentation on marsh...
Analyses of potential factors affecting survival of juvenile salmonids volitionally passing through turbines at McNary and John Day Dams, Columbia River
John Beeman, Hal Hansel, Russell Perry, Eric Hockersmith, Ben Sandford
2011, Open-File Report 2011-1227
This report describes analyses of data from radio- or acoustic-tagged juvenile salmonids passing through hydro-dam turbines to determine factors affecting fish survival. The data were collected during a series of studies designed to estimate passage and survival probabilities at McNary (2002-09) and John Day (2002-03) Dams on the Columbia River...
Abbreviated bibliography on energy development—A focus on the Rocky Mountain Region
Jessica M. Montag, Carolyn J. Willis, Levi W. Glavin
2011, Open-File Report 2011-1206
Energy development of all types continues to grow in the Rocky Mountain Region of the western United States. Federal resource managers increasingly need to balance energy demands, effects on the natural landscape and public perceptions towards these issues. To assist in efficient access to valuable information, this abbreviated bibliography provides...
Lagrangian sampling of wastewater treatment plant effluent in Boulder Creek, Colorado, and Fourmile Creek, Iowa, during the summer of 2003 and spring of 2005— Hydrological and water-quality data
Larry B. Barber, Steffanie H. Keefe, Dana W. Kolpin, Douglas J. Schnoebelen, Jennifer L. Flynn, Gregory K. Brown, Edward T. Furlong, Susan T. Glassmeyer, James L. Gray, Michael T. Meyer, Mark W. Sandstrom, Howard E. Taylor, Steven D. Zaugg
2011, Open-File Report 2011-1054
This report presents methods and data for a Lagrangian sampling investigation into chemical loading and in-stream attenuation of inorganic and organic contaminants in two wastewater treatment-plant effluent-dominated streams: Boulder Creek, Colorado, and Fourmile Creek, Iowa. Water-quality sampling was timed to coincide with low-flow conditions when dilution of the wastewater treatment-plant...
Constraints to connecting children with nature--Survey of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees sponsored by the National Conservation Training Center, Division of Education Outreach
Joan M. Ratz, Rudy M. Schuster
2011, Open-File Report 2011-1192
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) names "connecting people with nature" as one of its top six priorities in the online Service Employee Pocket Guide. The National Conservation Training Center (NCTC) took the initiative to identify issues that impede greater progress in addressing constraints to connecting children with nature....
A critical review of published coal quality data from the southwestern part of the Powder River Basin, Wyoming
James A. Luppens
2011, Open-File Report 2011-1148
A review of publicly available coal quality data during the coal resource assessment of the southwestern part of the Powder River Basin, Wyoming (SWPRB), revealed significant problems and limitations with those data. Subsequent citations of data from original sources often omitted important information, such as moisture integrity and information needed...
Assessment of soil-gas, soil, and water contamination at the former hospital landfill, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2009-2010
Fred W. Falls, Andral W. Caldwell, Wladmir B. Guimaraes, W. Hagan Ratliff, John B. Wellborn, James Landmeyer
2011, Open-File Report 2011-1144
Soil gas, soil, and water were assessed for organic and inorganic constituents at the former hospital landfill located in a 75-acre study area near the Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Fort Gordon, Georgia, from April to September 2010. Passive soil-gas samplers were analyzed to evaluate organic constituents in the...
Summary report of responses of key resources to the 2000 Low Steady Summer Flow experiment, along the Colorado River downstream from Glen Canyon Dam, Arizona
Barbara E. Ralston
2011, Open-File Report 2011-1220
In the spring and summer of 2000, a series of steady discharges of water from Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River were used to evaluate the effects of aquatic habitat stability and water temperatures on native fish growth and survival, with a special focus on the endangered humpback chub...
Probability and volume of potential postwildfire debris flows in the 2011 Wallow burn area, eastern Arizona
Barbara C. Ruddy
2011, Open-File Report 2011-1214
This report presents a preliminary emergency assessment of the debris-flow hazards from drainage basins burned in 2011 by the Wallow wildfire in eastern Arizona. Empirical models derived from statistical evaluation of data collected from recently burned drainage basins throughout the intermountain western United States were used to estimate the probability...
Spring runoff water-chemistry data from the Standard Mine and Elk Creek, Gunnison County, Colorado, 2010
Andrew H. Manning, Philip L. Verplanck, M. Alisa Mast, Joseph Marsik, R. Blaine McCleskey
2011, Open-File Report 2011-1159
Water samples were collected approximately every two weeks during the spring of 2010 from the Level 1 portal of the Standard Mine and from two locations on Elk Creek. The objective of the sampling was to: (1) better define the expected range and timing of variations in pH and metal...
Reported historic asbestos mines, historic asbestos prospects, and other natural occurrences of asbestos in California
Bradley S. Van Gosen, John P. Clinkenbeard
2011, Open-File Report 2011-1188
The map (Plate.pdf), pamphlet (Pamphlet.pdf), and the accompanying datasets in this report provide information for 290 sites in California where asbestos occurs in natural settings, using descriptions found in the geologic literature. Data on location, mineralogy, geology, and relevant literature for each asbestos site are provided. Using the map and...
Estimating 1970-99 average annual groundwater recharge in Wisconsin using streamflow data
Warren A. Gebert, John F. Walker, James L. Kennedy
2011, Open-File Report 2009-1210
Average annual recharge in Wisconsin for the period 1970-99 was estimated using streamflow data from U.S. Geological Survey continuous-record streamflow-gaging stations and partial-record sites. Partial-record sites have discharge measurements collected during low-flow conditions. The average annual base flow of a stream divided by the drainage area is a good approximation...
Probability and volume of potential postwildfire debris flows in the 2011 Horseshoe II burn area, southeastern Arizona
Barbara C. Ruddy
2011, Open-File Report 2011-1197
This report presents a preliminary emergency assessment of the debris-flow hazards from drainage basins burned in 2011 by the Horseshoe II wildfire in southeastern Arizona. Empirical models derived from statistical evaluation of data collected from recently burned drainage basins throughout the intermountain western United States were used to estimate the...
