The Science Application for Risk Reduction (SAFRR) Scenario Retrospective 2006–21
Nora Lynn Smithhisler, Nina Burkardt
2023, Scientific Investigations Report 2023-5011
The U.S. Geological Survey Science Application for Risk Reduction (SAFRR) Project has created four major hazard scenarios—ShakeOut, ARkStorm, Tsunami Scenario, and HayWired—with multidisciplinary teams of scientists, academics, and practitioners. By presenting a clear and highly detailed narrative of potential damage from earthquakes, tsunamis, and winter storms, the scenarios are intended...
Flood-inundation maps for the Muddy River, near Moapa, Nevada
Christopher M. Morris, Hampton K. Childres
2023, Scientific Investigations Report 2023-5033
The Muddy River provides habitat for several wildlife and endemic aquatic species protected under the Endangered Species Act. Near Moapa, Nevada, in the Bureau of Land Management’s Muddy River Floodplain Restoration Project Area, a previously constructed levee on the east side of the river alters the natural hydrology and decreases...
External quality-assurance project report for the National Atmospheric Deposition Program’s National Trends Network and Mercury Deposition Network, 2019–20
Gregory A. Wetherbee, RoseAnn Martin, Alexander Liethen
2023, Scientific Investigations Report 2023-5045
The U.S. Geological Survey Precipitation Chemistry Quality Assurance project (PCQA) operated four distinct programs to provide external quality-assurance monitoring for the National Atmospheric Deposition Program’s (NADP) National Trends Network (NTN) and Mercury Deposition Network (MDN) during 2019–20. The NTN programs included (1) a field audit program to evaluate sample contamination...
Evaluating drivers of hydrology, water quality, and benthic macroinvertebrates in streams of Fairfax County, Virginia, 2007–18
James S. Webber, Jeffrey G. Chanat, Aaron J. Porter, John D. Jastram
2023, Scientific Investigations Report 2023-5027
In 2007, the U.S. Geological Survey partnered with Fairfax County, Virginia, to establish a long-term water-resources monitoring program to evaluate the hydrology, water quality, and ecology of Fairfax County streams and the watershed-scale effects of management practices. Fairfax County uses a variety of management practices, policies, and programs to protect...
Simulation of flow and eutrophication in the central Salem River, New Jersey
Frederick J. Spitz, Vincent T. DePaul
2023, Scientific Investigations Report 2022-5047
The central Salem River in New Jersey is subject to periods of water-quality impairment, marked by elevated concentrations of phosphorus and chlorophyll-a, and low concentrations of and large diurnal swings in concentrations of dissolved oxygen. These seasonal eutrophic conditions are controlling factors for water quality in lower reaches, where the...
Assessing potential effects of changes in water use in the middle Carson River Basin with a numerical groundwater-flow model, Eagle, Dayton, and Churchill Valleys, west-central Nevada
Eric D. Morway, Susan G. Buto, Richard G. Niswonger, Justin L. Huntington
2023, Scientific Investigations Report 2023-5008
During the economic boom of the mid part of the first decade of the 2000s in northwestern Nevada, municipal and housing growth increased use of the water resources of this semi-arid region. In 2008, when the economy slowed, new housing development stopped, and immediate pressure on groundwater resources abated. The...
2019 Volcanic activity in Alaska—Summary of events and response of the Alaska Volcano Observatory
Tim R. Orr, Cheryl E. Cameron, Hannah R. Dietterich, James P. Dixon, Max L. Enders, Ronni Grapenthin, Alexandra M. Iezzi, Matthew W. Loewen, John A. Power, Cheryl Searcy, Gabrielle Tepp, Liam Toney, Christopher F. Waythomas, Aaron G. Wech
2023, Scientific Investigations Report 2023-5039
The Alaska Volcano Observatory responded to eruptions, volcanic unrest or suspected unrest, increased seismicity, and other significant activity at 17 volcanic centers in Alaska in 2019. The most notable volcanic activity was an eruption of Shishaldin Volcano, featuring eruptive activity that produced lava flows, lahars, and ash. Weak explosive activity...
Development of an integrated hydrologic flow model of the Rio San Jose Basin and surrounding areas, New Mexico
Andre B. Ritchie, Shaleene B. Chavarria, Amy E. Galanter, Allison K. Flickinger, Andrew J. Robertson, Donald S. Sweetkind
2023, Scientific Investigations Report 2023-5028
The Rio San Jose Integrated Hydrologic Model (RSJIHM) was developed to provide a tool for analyzing the hydrologic system response to historical water use and potential changes in water supplies and demands in the Rio San Jose Basin. The study area encompasses about 6,300 square miles in west-central New Mexico...
Magnitude and frequency of floods on Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Maui, and Hawaiʻi, State of Hawaiʻi, based on data through water year 2020
Jackson N. Mitchell, Daniel M. Wagner, Andrea G. Veilleux
2023, Scientific Investigations Report 2023-5014
Accurate estimates of flood magnitude and frequency are needed to (1) optimize the design and location of infrastructure, including dams, culverts, bridges, industrial buildings, and highways, and (2) inform flood-zoning and flood-insurance studies. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation, estimated flood...
Assessment of conservation management practices on water quality and observed trends in the Plum Creek Basin, 2010–20
Judy A. Horwatich, Kevin Fermanich, Matthew A. Pronschinske, Dale M. Robertson, Sarah Kussow, Luke C. Loken, Paul C. Reneau, Jeremy Freund, Matthew J. Komiskey
2023, Scientific Investigations Report 2023-5043
The U.S. Geological Survey and University of Wisconsin–Green Bay collected hydrologic and water-quality data to assess the effectiveness of agricultural conservation management practice (CMP) implementation at mainstem Plum Creek and west Plum Creek in northeastern Wisconsin. These two subbasins cover 88 percent of the Plum Creek Basin (Hydrologic Unit Code...
2018 Volcanic activity in Alaska—Summary of events and response of the Alaska Volcano Observatory
Cheryl E. Cameron, Tim R. Orr, James P. Dixon, Hannah R. Dietterich, Christopher F. Waythomas, Alexandra M. Iezzi, John A. Power, Cheryl Searcy, Ronni Grapenthin, Gabrielle Tepp, Kristi L. Wallace, Taryn M. Lopez, Kimberly Degrandpre, John M. Perreault
2023, Scientific Investigations Report 2023-5029
The Alaska Volcano Observatory responded to eruptions, considerable and minor volcanic unrest, and seismic events at 15 volcanic centers in Alaska during 2018. The most notable volcanic activity came from Mount Cleveland, which had continuing intermittent dome growth and ash eruptions, and Mount Veniaminof, Great Sitkin Volcano, and Semisopochnoi Island,...
Simulation of groundwater flow at the former Badger Army Ammunition Plant, Sauk County, Wisconsin
Megan J. Haserodt, Howard W. Reeves, Martha G. Nielsen, Laura A. Schachter, Nicholas T. Corson-Dosch, Daniel T. Feinstein
2023, Scientific Investigations Report 2023-5040
To help support remedial efforts at the former Badger Army Ammunition Plant the U.S. Geological Survey built and calibrated a transient groundwater flow model using the Newton Raphson formulation (MODFLOW–NWT) of the U.S. Geological Survey’s modular three-dimensional finite-difference code. The model simulates the groundwater flow system at the site from...
Human factors used to estimate and forecast water supply and demand in the Upper Colorado River Basin
Nicole M. Herman-Mercer, Lucas Bair, Megan Hines, Diana Restrepo-Osorio, Veronica Romero, Aidan Lyde
2023, Scientific Investigations Report 2023-5015
Water availability is a result of complex interactions between regional water supply and demand and underlying environmental, institutional, and economic determinants. For this study, water availability is defined as “access to a specific quantity and quality of water at a point in time and space, for a specific use, recognizing...
Hydrogeologic characterization of Area B, Fort Detrick, Maryland
Phillip J. Goodling, Brandon J. Fleming, John Solder, Alexander M. Soroka, Jeff P. Raffensperger
2023, Scientific Investigations Report 2022-5054
Groundwater in the karst groundwater system at Area B of Fort Detrick in Frederick County, Maryland, is contaminated with chlorinated solvents from the past disposal of laboratory wastes. In cooperation with U.S. Army Environmental Command and U.S. Army Garrison Fort Detrick, the U.S. Geological Survey performed a 3-year study to...
Sediment transport in two tributaries to the San Joaquin River immediately below Friant Dam—Cottonwood Creek and Little Dry Creek, California
Dan R.W. Haught, Mathieu D. Marineau, Justin Toby Minear, Scott Wright, Joan V. Lopez
2023, Scientific Investigations Report 2023-5023
Two tributaries to the greater San Joaquin River watershed, Cottonwood and Little Dry Creeks, in California’s Central Valley, were assessed for sediment and streamflow dynamics between October 1, 2011, and September 30, 2019. The two systems deliver sediment to the San Joaquin River below Friant Dam, California. Dams create downstream...
Magnitude and frequency of floods for rural streams in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, 2017—Results
Toby D. Feaster, Anthony J. Gotvald, Jonathan W. Musser, J. Curtis Weaver, Katharine Kolb, Andrea G. Veilleux, Daniel M. Wagner
2023, Scientific Investigations Report 2023-5006
Reliable estimates of the magnitude and frequency of floods are an important part of the framework for hydraulic-structure design and flood-plain management in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Annual peak flows measured at U.S. Geological Survey streamgages are used to compute flood‑frequency estimates at those streamgages. However, flood‑frequency estimates...
Public-supply water use in 2010 and projections of use in 2020 and 2030, Tennessee
John A. Robinson, W. Scott Gain
2023, Scientific Investigations Report 2023-5041
Future water use was projected for public-water systems in Tennessee. Water-use information was compiled for Tennessee for 2010, and projections were made to 2020 and 2030. The water-use models were based on two primary datasets: baseline water-use information for 2010 for Tennessee and projected population in Tennessee.Population and water withdrawals...
Developing a habitat model to support management of threatened seabeach amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus) at Assateague Island National Seashore, Maryland and Virginia
Benjamin T. Gutierrez, Erika E. Lentz
2023, Scientific Investigations Report 2023-5034
Amaranthus pumilus (seabeach amaranth) is a federally threatened plant species that has been the focus of restoration efforts at Assateague Island National Seashore (ASIS). Despite several years with strong population numbers prior to 2010, monitoring efforts have revealed a significant decline in the seabeach amaranth population since that time, the...
Hydrology, water-quality, and watershed characteristics in 15 watersheds in Gwinnett County, Georgia, water years 2002–20
Brent T. Aulenbach, Joshua C. Henley, Kristina G. Hopkins
2023, Scientific Investigations Report 2023-5035
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources, established the Long-Term Trend Monitoring program in 1996 to monitor and analyze the hydrologic and water-quality conditions in Gwinnett County, Georgia. Gwinnett County is a suburban to urban area northeast of the city of Atlanta in north-central...
An integrated hydrologic model to support the Central Platte Natural Resources District Groundwater Management Plan, central Nebraska
Jonathan P. Traylor, Moussa Guira, Steven M. Peterson
2023, Scientific Investigations Report 2023-5024
The groundwater and surface-water supply of the Central Platte Natural Resources District supports a large agricultural economy from the High Plains aquifer and Platte River, respectively. This study provided the Central Platte Natural Resources District with an advanced numerical modeling tool to assist with the update of their Groundwater Management...
Documentation of linear regression models for computing water-quality constituent concentrations using continuous real-time water-quality data for the North Fork Ninnescah River and Cheney Reservoir, Kansas, 2014–21
Ariele R. Kramer, Kyle A. Puls
2023, Scientific Investigations Report 2023-5037
Cheney Reservoir, in south-central Kansas, was constructed to provide a reliable municipal water supply for the city of Wichita, Kansas, and to provide downstream flood control, wildlife habitat, and recreation. Cheney Reservoir will continue to be important for municipal water supply use as needs increase with ongoing population growth and...
Trends in environmental, anthropogenic, and water-quality characteristics in the upper White River Basin, Indiana
G. F. Koltun
2023, Scientific Investigations Report 2023-5025
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with The Nature Conservancy, undertook a study to update and extend results from a previous study (Koltun, 2019, https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20195119), using data from 3 additional years and newer estimation methods. Koltun (2019) assessed trends in streamflow, precipitation, and estimated annual mean concentrations...
Strontium isotope chronostratigraphic age of a sirenian fossil site on Santa Rosa Island, Channel Islands National Park, California
James B. Paces, Scott A. Minor, Kevin M. Schmidt, Jonathan Hoffman
2023, Scientific Investigations Report 2023-5026
Fossils in the order Sirenia (family Dugongidae) from Santa Rosa Island, part of Channel Islands National Park in southern California, provide rare temporal and spatial links between earlier and later evolutionary forms of dugongids, and add information about their dispersal into the northeastern Pacific region. Marine sedimentary rocks containing these...
Salinity and selenium yield maps derived from geostatistical modeling in the lower Gunnison River Basin, western Colorado, 1992–2013
Cory A. Williams, Rachel G. Gidley, Michael R. Stevens
2023, Scientific Investigations Report 2023-5013
Salinity is known to affect drinking-water supplies and damage irrigated agricultural lands. Selenium in high concentrations is harmful to fish and other wildlife. Land managers, water providers, and agricultural producers in the lower Gunnison River Basin in western Colorado expend resources mitigating the effects of these constituents. The U.S. Geological...
Visualization of petroleum exploration maturity for six petroleum provinces outside the United States and Canada
Emil D. Attanasi, Philip A. Freeman
2023, Scientific Investigations Report 2023-5010
Outside the United States and Canada, most of the world’s supplies of oil and natural gas are recovered from conventional (or discrete) oil and gas accumulations. This type of hydrocarbon accumulation remains a target for exploration. In this report, exploration and discovery data are used to visually assist in describing...
