Proceedings of the Guidelines for Seismometer Testing Workshop, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 9-10 May 2005 ("GST2")
Charles R. Hutt, Robert L. Nigbor, John R. Evans
2009, Open-File Report 2009-1055
Testing and specification of seismic and earthquake-engineering sensors and recorders has been marked by significant variations in procedures and selected parameters. These variations cause difficulty in comparing such specifications and test results. In July 1989, and again in May 2005, the U.S. Geological Survey hosted international public/private workshops with the goal...
Concentrations of elements in fish fillets, fish muscle plugs, and crayfish from the 2007 Missouri Department of Conservation General Contaminant Monitoring Program
Thomas W. May, Michael J. Walther, William G. Brumbaugh, Michael J. McKee
2009, Open-File Report 2009-1091
This report presents the results of a contaminant monitoring survey conducted annually by the Missouri Department of Conservation to examine the levels of selected elemental contaminants in fish fillets, fish muscle plugs, and crayfish. Fillets of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), bass (Micropterus salmoides, Micropterus dolomieu, Morone chrysops), walleye (Sander vitreus),...
Integrated analysis of flow, temperature, and specific-conductance logs and depth-dependent water-quality samples from three deep wells in a fractured-sandstone aquifer, Ventura County, California
John H. Williams, Kevin D. Knutson
2009, Open-File Report 2009-1023
Analysis of flow, temperature, and specific-conductance logs and depth-dependent water-quality samples collected under ambient and pumped conditions provided a preliminary delineation of flow zones and water quality in three deep abandoned water-supply wells. The integrated analysis was completed as part of the characterization of a fractured-sandstone aquifer in the mountainous...
Publications of the Volcano Hazards Program 2007
Manuel Nathenson
2009, Open-File Report 2009-1071
The Volcano Hazards Program of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is part of the Geologic Hazards Assessments subactivity as funded by Congressional appropriation. Investigations are carried out in the Geology and Hydrology Disciplines of the USGS and with cooperators at the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys, University of...
Summary of Migration and Survival Data from Radio-Tagged Juvenile Coho Salmon in the Trinity River, Northern California, 2008
John W. Beeman, Hal Hansel, Steve Juhnke, Greg Stutzer
2009, Open-File Report 2009-1092
The survival of hatchery-origin juvenile coho salmon from the Trinity River Hatchery was estimated as they migrated seaward through the Trinity and Klamath Rivers. The purpose of the study was to collect data for comparison to a similar study in the Klamath River and provide data to the Trinity River...
Abundance Trends and Status of the Little Colorado River Population of Humpback Chub: An Update Considering Data From 1989-2008
Coggins Jr., Carl J. Walters
2009, Open-File Report 2009-1075
Mark-recapture methods have been used for the past two decades to assess trends in adult abundance and recruitment of the Little Colorado River (LCR) population of humpback chub. These methods indicate that the adult population declined through the 1980s and early 1990s but has been increasing for the past decade....
Developing a Vision: Incorporating Ecosystem Services into Decision Making - Proceedings of a Workshop
Dianna Hogan, Greg Arthaud, Iris Goodman, Malka Pattison, Roger G. Sayre, Carl Shapiro, Bea Van Horne
2009, Open-File Report 2009-1062
The production, location, use, and value of ecosystem services have become an important factor in resource management. Decisions relating to resource conservation and restoration, as well as development, require an understanding of the services provided by natural systems and the response of these systems to natural and human-induced change. Increased...
Environmental Impact of the Helen, Research, and Chicago Mercury Mines on Water, Sediment, and Biota in the Upper Dry Creek Watershed, Lake County, California
James J. Rytuba, Roger L. Hothem, Jason T. May, Christopher S. Kim, David Lawler, Daniel Goldstein, Brianne E. Brussee
2009, Open-File Report 2008-1382
The Helen, Research, and Chicago mercury (Hg) deposits are among the youngest Hg deposits in the Coast Range Hg mineral belt and are located in the southwestern part of the Clear Lake volcanic field in Lake County, California. The mine workings and tailings are located in the headwaters of Dry...
Annual Peak-Flow and Peak Dam-Pool-Elevation Frequency Characteristics of Selected Dry Dams in the Great Miami River Basin, Ohio
G. F. Koltun
2009, Open-File Report 2009-1069
This report describes the results of a study to determine frequency characteristics of post-regulation annual peak flows at streamflow-gaging stations near the Taylorsville, Huffman, and Germantown dry dams in the Miami Conservancy District flood-protection system (southwestern Ohio), and of annual peak elevations of the corresponding dam pools. Log-Pearson Type III...
Occurrence of Selected Pharmaceutical and Organic Wastewater Compounds in Effluent and Water Samples from Municipal Wastewater and Drinking-Water Treatment Facilities in the Tar and Cape Fear River Basins, North Carolina, 2003-2005
G.M. Ferrell
2009, Open-File Report 2009-1046
Samples of treated effluent and treated and untreated water were collected at 20 municipal wastewater and drinkingwater treatment facilities in the Tar and Cape Fear River basins of North Carolina during 2003 and 2005. The samples were analyzed for a variety of prescription and nonprescription pharmaceutical compounds and a suite...
Implementation of the SSHAC Guidelines for Level 3 and 4 PSHAs - Experience gained from actual applications
Thomas C. Hanks, Norm A. Abrahamson, David M. Boore, Kevin J. Coppersmith, Nichole E. Knepprath
2009, Open-File Report 2009-1093
In April 1997, after four years of deliberations, the Senior Seismic Hazard Analysis Committee released its report 'Recommendations for Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analysis: Guidance on Uncertainty and Use of Experts' through the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission as NUREG/CR-6372, hereafter SSHAC (1997). Known informally ever since as the 'SSHAC Guidelines', SSHAC...
Questa Baseline and Pre-mining Ground-Water Quality Investigation, 7. A Pictorial Record of Chemical Weathering, Erosional Processes, and Potential Debris-flow Hazards in Scar Areas Developed on Hydrothermally Altered Rocks
Geoffrey S. Plumlee, Steve Ludington, Kirk R. Vincent, Philip L. Verplanck, Jonathan S. Caine, K. Eric Livo
2009, Open-File Report 2006-1205
Erosional scar areas developed along the lower Red River basin, New Mexico, reveal a complex natural history of mineralizing processes, rapid chemical weathering, and intense physical erosion during periodic outbursts of destructive, storm-induced runoff events. The scar areas are prominent erosional features with craggy headwalls and steep, denuded slopes. The...
Methods of Mmax Estimation East of the Rocky Mountains
Russell L. Wheeler
2009, Open-File Report 2009-1018
Several methods have been used to estimate the magnitude of the largest possible earthquake (Mmax) in parts of the Central and Eastern United States and adjacent Canada (CEUSAC). Each method has pros and cons. The largest observed earthquake in a specified area provides an unarguable lower bound on Mmax in...
Examining Submarine Ground-Water Discharge into Florida Bay by using 222Rn and Continuous Resistivity Profiling
Peter Swarzenski, Chris Reich, David Rudnick
2009, Open-File Report 2008-1342
Estimates of submarine ground-water discharge (SGD) into Florida Bay remain one of the least understood components of a regional water balance. To quantify the magnitude and seasonality of SGD into upper Florida Bay, research activities included the use of the natural geochemical tracer, 222Rn, to examine potential SGD hotspots (222Rn...
Benthic foraminiferal census data from Louisiana continental shelf cores, Gulf of Mexico
Lisa E. Osterman, Wendy S. Kelly, John P. Ricardo
2009, Open-File Report 2008-1348
An area of oxygen-depleted bottom- and subsurface-water (hypoxia = dissolved oxygen < 2 mg/L-1) occurs seasonally on the Louisiana Shelf near the Mississippi River. The area of hypoxia, also known as the “dead zone,” forms when spring and early summer freshwater flow from the Mississippi River supplies a large amount...
Drilling and testing the DOI-04-1A coalbed methane well, Fort Yukon, Alaska
Arthur Clark, Charles E. Barker, Edwin P. Weeks
2009, Open-File Report 2009-1064
The need for affordable energy sources is acute in rural communities of Alaska where costly diesel fuel must be delivered by barge or plane for power generation. Additionally, the transport, transfer, and storage of fuel pose great difficulty in these regions. Although small-scale energy development in remote Arctic locations presents...
Aeromagnetic survey map of the central California Coast Ranges
V.E. Langenheim, R.C. Jachens, K. Moussaoui
2009, Open-File Report 2009-1044
This aeromagnetic survey was flown as part of a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the Pacific Gas and Electric Company and is intended to promote further understanding of the geology and structure in the central California Coast Ranges by serving as a basis for geophysical interpretations and by...
Preliminary assessment of vertical stability and gravel transport along the Umpqua River, southwestern Oregon
Jim E. O'Connor, J. Rose Wallick, Steven Sobieszczyk, Charles Cannon, Scott W. Anderson
2009, Open-File Report 2009-1010
This report addresses physical channel issues related to instream gravel mining on the Umpqua River and its two primary tributaries, the North and South Umpqua Rivers. This analysis constitutes a “Phase I” investigation, as designated by an interagency team cochaired by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District, and...
Minimum Pool and Bull Trout Prey Base Investigations at Beulah Reservoir - Final Report for 2008
Brien P. Rose, Matthew G. Mesa
2009, Open-File Report 2009-1068
Beulah Reservoir in southeastern Oregon provides irrigation water to nearby farms and supports an adfluvial population of threatened bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus). Summer drawdowns in the reservoir could affect forage fish production and overwintering bull trout. To assess the impacts of drawdown, we sampled fish, invertebrates, and water-quality variables seasonally...
Investigation into the Origin and Character of Surficial Sedimentary Deposits at the Midshore Regional Solid Waste Facility near Easton, Maryland
Joseph P. Smoot, Wayne L. Newell, Benjamin D. DeJong
2009, Open-File Report 2009-1052
A temporary exposure at the Midshore Regional Solid Waste Facility near Easton, MD, provided an opportunity to document the characteristics of the complex assemblage of surficial facies in that area. This unusually large cross section allowed interpretation of the changing processes that shaped the landscape in response to climate change...
Transient electromagnetic soundings near Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, San Luis Valley, Colorado (2006 field season)
David V. Fitterman, Oderson A. de Souza Filho
2009, Open-File Report 2009-1051
Time-domain electromagnetic (TEM) soundings were made near Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in the San Luis Valley of southern Colorado to obtain subsurface information of use to hydrologic modeling. Seventeen soundings were made to the east and north of the sand dunes. Using a small loop TEM system,...
Hurricane Ike: Observations and analysis of coastal change
Kara S. Doran, Nathaniel G. Plant, Hilary F. Stockdon, Asbury H. Sallenger Jr., Katherine A. Serafin
2009, Open-File Report 2009-1061
Understanding storm-induced coastal change and forecasting these changes require knowledge of the physical processes associated with the storm and the geomorphology of the impacted coastline. The primary physical processes of interest are the wind field, storm surge, and wave climate. Not only does wind cause direct damage to structures along...
St. Louis Area Earthquake Hazards Mapping Project— A progress report-November 2008
D. Karadeniz, J.D. Rogers, R. A. Williams, C.H. Cramer, R.A. Bauer, D. Hoffman, J. Chung, G.L. Hempen, P.H. Steckel, O.L. Boyd, C.M. Watkins, N.S. McCallister, E. Schweig
2009, Open-File Report 2009-1059
St. Louis has experienced minor earthquake damage at least 12 times in the past 200 years. Because of this history and its proximity to known active earthquake zones, the St. Louis Area Earthquake Hazards Mapping Project (SLAEHMP) is producing digital maps that show variability of earthquake hazards, including liquefaction and...
Nutrients, Dissolved Organic Carbon, Color, and Disinfection Byproducts in Base Flow and Stormflow in Streams of the Croton Watershed, Westchester and Putnam Counties, New York, 2000-02
Paul M. Heisig
2009, Open-File Report 2009-1054
The Croton Watershed is unique among New York City's water-supply watersheds because it has the highest percentages of suburban development (52 percent) and wetland area (6 percent). As the City moves toward filtration of this water supply, there is a need to document water-quality contributions from both human and natural...
Comparison of NLCD with NWI Classifications of Baldwin and Mobile Counties, Alabama
Larry Handley, Chris Wells
2009, Open-File Report 2009-1058
An assessment of the accuracy of National Land Cover Data 2001 as compared to National Wetlands Inventory mapping of Mobile and Baldwin Counties conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) National Wetlands Research Center (NWRC). Both classifications were checked against stratified randomly selected ground-based sites and with each other to...
