Conceptual models of the formation of acid-rock drainage at road cuts in Tennessee
Mike Bradley, Scott Worland, Tom Byl
2015, Conference Paper, Proceedings of the 2015 Tennessee Water Resources Symposium
Pyrite and other minerals containing sulfur and trace metals occur in several rock formations throughout Middle and East Tennessee. Pyrite (FeS2) weathers in the presence of oxygen and water to form iron hydroxides and sulfuric acid. The weathering and interaction of the acid on the rocks and other minerals at...
Multilevel groundwater monitoring of hydraulic head and temperature in the eastern Snake River Plain aquifer, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho, 2011-13
Brian V. Twining, Jason C. Fisher
2015, Scientific Investigations Report 2015-5042
From 2011 to 2013, the U.S. Geological Survey’s Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Project Office, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy, collected depth-discrete measurements of fluid pressure and temperature in 11 boreholes located in the eastern Snake River Plain aquifer. Each borehole was instrumented with a multilevel monitoring system...
Desert tortoise use of burned habitat in the Eastern Mojave desert
K. Kristina Drake, Todd C. Esque, Kenneth E. Nussear, Lesley DeFalco, Sara J. Scoles-Sciulla, Andrew T. Modlin, Philip A. Medica
2015, Journal of Wildlife Management (79) 618-629
Wildfires burned 24,254 ha of critical habitat designated for the recovery of the threatened Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) in southern Nevada during 2005. The proliferation of non-native annual grasses has increased wildfire frequency and extent in recent decades and continues to accelerate the conversion of tortoise habitat across the Mojave...
Climatology of extreme daily precipitation in Colorado and its diverse spatial and seasonal variability
Kelly M. Mahoney, F. Martin Ralph, Klaus Walter, Nolan Doesken, Michael D. Dettinger, Daniel Gottas, Timothy Coleman, Allen White
2015, Journal of Hydrometeorology (16) 781-792
The climatology of Colorado’s historical extreme precipitation events shows a remarkable degree of seasonal and regional variability. Analysis of the largest historical daily precipitation totals at COOP stations across Colorado by season indicates that the largest recorded daily precipitation totals have ranged from less than 60 mm day−1 in some areas...
Reconnaissance investigation of the Lisburne Group in the Cobblestone Creek area, Chandler Lake quadrangle, Alaska
Julie A. Dumoulin, Michael T. Whalen
M. A. Wartes, P. L. Decker, editor(s)
2015, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Preliminary Interpretive Report 2015-2
A reconnaissance investigation of the Carboniferous Lisburne Group in the Cobblestone Creek area, Chandler Lake Quadrangle, yields insights into its resource potential and regional relations. Locally porous vuggy dolostone with hydrocarbon reservoir potential occurs in the lower Lisburne in the three most southerly of five thrust sheets, and contains traces...
Seismic source dynamics of gas-piston activity at Kı̄lauea Volcano, Hawai‘i
Bernard A. Chouet, Phillip B. Dawson
2015, Journal of Geophysical Research B: Solid Earth (120) 2525-2560
Since 2008, eruptive activity at the summit of Kı̄lauea Volcano, Hawai‘i has been confined to the new Overlook pit crater within the Halema‘uma‘u Crater. Among the broad range of magmatic processes observed in the new pit are recurring episodes of gas pistoning. The gas-piston activity is accompanied by seismic signals...
Changes in distribution of Canada geese nesting in Arkansas
David G. Krementz, M. Eliese Ronke
2015, Human-Wildlife Interactions (9) 101-109
The reintroduced Canada goose (Branta canadensis) population in Arkansas has grown in range and abundance in recent decades. We determined the geographic range of Arkansas resident Canada geese from 2004 to 2012 using volume contour maps from citizen science observations using eBird, a citizen science website, and hunter recovery locations...
Pairing call-response surveys and distance sampling for a mammalian carnivore
Sara J. K. Hansen, Jacqueline L. Frair, Harold B. Underwood, James P. Gibbs
2015, Journal of Wildlife Management (79) 662-671
Density estimates accounting for differential animal detectability are difficult to acquire for wide-ranging and elusive species such as mammalian carnivores. Pairing distance sampling with call-response surveys may provide an efficient means of tracking changes in populations of coyotes (Canis latrans), a species of particular interest in the eastern United States....
Field-based description of rhyolite lava flows of the Calico Hills Formation, Nevada National Security Site, Nevada
Donald S. Sweetkind, Shiera C. Bova
2015, Scientific Investigations Report 2015-5022
Contaminants introduced into the subsurface of Pahute Mesa, Nevada National Security Site, by underground nuclear testing are of concern to the U.S. Department of Energy and regulators responsible for protecting human health and safety. The potential for contaminant movement away from the underground test areas at Pahute Mesa and into...
Biological indicators of changes in water quality and habitats of the coastal and estuarine areas of the Greater Everglades Ecosystem; Chapter 11
Anna Wachnicka, G. Lynn Wingard
James A. Entry, Andrew D. Gottlieb, Krish Jayachandran, Andrew Ogram, editor(s)
2015, Book chapter, Microbiology of the Everglades Ecosystem
This chapter summarizes the application of various biological indicators to studying the anthropogenic and natural changes in water quality and habitats that have occurred in the coastal and estuarine areas of the Greater Everglades ecosystem....
Geophysical log analysis of selected test and residential wells at the Shenandoah Road National Superfund Site, East Fishkill, Dutchess County, New York
Richard J. Reynolds, J. Alton Anderson, John H. Williams
2015, Scientific Investigations Report 2014-5228
The U.S. Geological Survey collected and analyzed geophysical logs from 20 test wells and 23 residential wells at the Shenandoah Road National Superfund Site in East Fishkill, New York, from 2006 through 2010 as part of an Interagency Agreement to provide hydrogeologic technical support to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,...
Estimated freshwater withdrawals in Washington, 2010
Ron C. Lane, Wendy B. Welch
2015, Scientific Investigations Report 2015-5037
Every 5 years since 1950, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has compiled data on the amount of water used in homes, businesses, industries, and farms throughout the State. This water-use data, combined with other related USGS information, has facilitated a unique understanding of the effects of human activity on the...
California State Waters Map Series: Offshore of Refugio Beach, California
Samuel Y. Johnson, Peter Dartnell, Guy R. Cochrane, Nadine E. Golden, Eleyne L. Phillips, Andrew C. Ritchie, Lisa M. Krigsman, Bryan E. Dieter, James E. Conrad, H. Gary Greene, Gordon G. Seitz, Charles A. Endris, Ray W. Sliter, Florence L. Wong, Mercedes D. Erdey, Carlos I. Gutierrez, Mary M. Yoklavich, Amy E. East, Patrick E. Hart
Samuel Y. Johnson, Susan A. Cochran, editor(s)
2015, Scientific Investigations Map 3319
In 2007, the California Ocean Protection Council initiated the California Seafloor Mapping Program (CSMP), designed to create a comprehensive seafloor map of high-resolution bathymetry, marine benthic habitats, and geology within California’s State Waters. The CSMP approach is to create highly detailed seafloor maps through collection, integration, interpretation, and visualization of...
Development, evolution, and destruction of the saline mineral area of Eocene Lake Uinta, Piceance Basin, western Colorado
Ronald C. Johnson, Michael E. Brownfield
2015, Scientific Investigations Report 2013-5176
Halite and the sodium bicarbonate mineral nahcolite were deposited in Eocene-age saline Lake Uinta in the Piceance Basin, northwestern Colorado. Variations in the areal extent of saline mineral deposition through time were studied using descriptions of core and outcrop. Saline minerals have been extensively leached by groundwater, and the original...
The distribution of submersed aquatic vegetation and water lettuce in the fresh and oligohaline tidal Potomac River, 2007
Sarah Hunter Campbell, Nancy B. Rybicki, Edward R. Schenk
2015, Open-File Report 2014-1259
Surveys documenting the composition of species of submersed aquatic vegetation (SAV) have been conducted in the Potomac River for decades. These surveys can help managers assess the proportion of native and exotic plants in the river or can be used to determine relationships between native and exotic plants, environmental conditions,...
Understanding nutrients in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and implications for management and restoration: The Eastern Shore
Scott W. Ator, Judith M. Denver
2015, Circular 1406
The Eastern Shore includes only a small part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, but contributes disproportionately large loads of the excess nitrogen and phosphorus that have contributed to ecological and economic degradation of the bay in recent decades. Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States and a...
Geochemical maps of stream sediments in central Colorado, from New Mexico to Wyoming
Robert G. Eppinger, Stuart A. Giles, Terry L. Klein
2015, Open-File Report 2015-1025
The U.S. Geological Survey has completed a series of geologic, mineral resource, and environmental assessment studies in the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado, from Leadville eastward to the range front and from New Mexico to the Wyoming border. Regional stream-sediment geochemical maps, useful for assessing mineral resources and environmental effects...
Life history strategies of fish species and biodiversity in eastern USA streams
Michael R. Meador, Larry M. Brown
2015, Environmental Biology of Fishes (98) 663-677
Predictive models have been used to determine fish species that occur less frequently than expected (decreasers) and those that occur more frequently than expected (increasers) in streams in the eastern U.S. Coupling life history traits with 51 decreaser and 38 increaser fish species provided the opportunity to examine potential mechanisms...
Geotechnical aspects in the epicentral region of the 2011, Mw5.8 Mineral, Virginia earthquake
Russell A. Green, Samuel Lasley, Mark W. Carter, Jeffrey W. Munsey, Brett W. Maurer, Martitia P. Tuttle
2015, GSA Special Papers (509) 151-172
A reconnaissance team documented the geotechnical and geological aspects in the epicentral region of the Mw (moment magnitude) 5.8 Mineral, Virginia (USA), earthquake of 23 August 2011. Tectonically and seismically induced ground deformations, evidence of liquefaction, rock slides, river bank slumps, ground subsidence, performance of earthen dams, damage to public infrastructure...
Stochastic reservoir simulation for the modeling of uncertainty in coal seam degasification
C. Özgen Karacan, Ricardo A. Olea
2015, Fuel (148) 87-97
Coal seam degasification improves coal mine safety by reducing the gas content of coal seams and also by generating added value as an energy source. Coal seam reservoir simulation is one of the most effective ways to help with these two main objectives. As in all modeling and simulation...
Geochronology of Cenozoic rocks in the Bodie Hills, California and Nevada
Robert J. Fleck, Edward A. du Bray, David A. John, Peter G. Vikre, Michael A. Cosca, Lawrence W. Snee, Stephen E. Box
2015, Data Series 916
The purpose of this report is to present geochronologic data for unaltered volcanic rocks, hydrothermally altered volcanic rocks, and mineral deposits of the Miocene Bodie Hills and Pliocene to Pleistocene Aurora volcanic fields of east-central California and west-central Nevada. Most of the data presented here were derived from samples collected...
Delicate balance of magmatic-tectonic interaction at Kilauea Volcano, Hawai`i, revealed from slow slip events: Chapter 13
Emily Montgomery-Brown, Michael P. Poland, Asta Miklius
Rebecca Carey, Valerie Cayol, Michael P. Poland, Dominique Weis, editor(s)
2015, Book chapter, Hawaiian volcanoes: From source to surface
Eleven slow slip events (SSEs) have occurred on the southern flank of Kilauea Volcano, Hawai’i, since 1997 through 2014. We analyze this series of SSEs in the context of Kilauea’s magma system to assess whether or not there are interactions between these tectonic events and eruptive/intrusive activity. Over time, SSEs...
Plethodon cinerius (eastern red-backed salamander) movement
Sean Sterrett, Adrianne B. Brand, William R. Fields, Rachel A. Katz, Evan H. Campbell Grant
2015, Herpetological Review (46) 71-71
Lungless salamanders (family Plethodontidae) are relatively sedentary and are presumed to have limited dispersal ability (Marsh et al. 2004. Ecology 85:3396–3405). Site fidelity in Plethodontidae is high, and individuals displaced 90 m return to home territories (Kleeberger and Werner 1982. Copeia 1982:409–415). Individuals defend territories (Jaeger et al. 1982. Anim....
Two magma bodies beneath the summit of Kilauea Volcano unveiled by isotopically distinct melt deliveries from the mantle
Aaron J. Pietruszka, Daniel E. Heaton, Jared P. Marske, Michael O. Garcia
2015, Earth and Planetary Science Letters (413) 90-100
The summit magma storage reservoir of Kīlauea Volcano is one of the most important components of the magmatic plumbing system of this frequently active basaltic shield-building volcano. Here we use new high-precision Pb isotopic analyses of Kīlauea summit lavas—from 1959 to the active Halema‘uma‘u lava lake—to infer the number, size,...
Distribution and floral hosts of Anthophorula micheneri ( Timberlake, 1947) and Hylaeus sparsus (Cresson, 1869), (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila), with new staterecords in Giles and Loudoun counties, Virginia, eastern USA
Elizabeth A. Sellers, David McCarthy
2015, Check List (11)
New collection records for Anthophorula micheneri (Timberlake, 1947) from Loudoun County and other locations in Virginia, USA document an approximately 1,350 km extension of its previously recorded geographic range. New state records for the rarely seen Hylaeus sparsus (Cresson, 1869) collected in Giles County and from a blue vane trap in Loudoun County, Virginia...
