Preferential flow occurs in unsaturated conditions
John R. Nimmo
2012, Hydrological Processes (26) 786-789
Because it commonly generates high-speed, high-volume flow with minimal exposure to solid earth materials, preferential flow in the unsaturated zone is a dominant influence in many problems of infiltration, recharge, contaminant transport, and ecohydrology. By definition, preferential flow occurs in a portion of a medium – that is, a preferred...
Biological assessment of environmental flows for Oklahoma
William L. Fisher, Titus S. Seilheimer, Jason M. Taylor
2012, Open-File Report 2012-1114
Large-scale patterns in fish assemblage structure and functional groups are influenced by alterations in streamflow regime. In this study, we defined an objective threshold for alteration for Oklahoma streams using a combination of the expected range of 27 flow indices and a discriminant analysis to predict flow regime group. We...
Invertebrate response to changes in streamflow hydraulics in two urban areas in the United States
Rodney R. Knight, Thomas F. Cuffney
2012, Scientific Investigations Report 2012-5035
Stream hydrology is foundational to aquatic ecosystems and has been shown to be a structuring element for fish and invertebrates. The relations among urbanization, hydraulics, and invertebrate communities were investigated by the U.S. Geological Survey, National Water-Quality Assessment Program by using measures of stream hydraulics in two areas of the...
Analyzing legacy U.S. Geological Survey geochemical databases using GIS: applications for a national mineral resource assessment
Douglas B. Yager, Albert H. Hofstra, Matthew Granitto
2012, Techniques and Methods 11-C5
This report emphasizes geographic information system analysis and the display of data stored in the legacy U.S. Geological Survey National Geochemical Database for use in mineral resource investigations. Geochemical analyses of soils, stream sediments, and rocks that are archived in the National Geochemical Database provide an extensive data source for...
Well network installation and hydrogeologic data collection, Assateague Island National Seashore, Worcester County, Maryland, 2010
William S.L. Banks, John P. Masterson, Carole D. Johnson
2012, Scientific Investigations Report 2012-5079
The U.S. Geological Survey, as part of its Climate and Land Use Change Research and Development Program, is conducting a multi-year investigation to assess potential impacts on the natural resources of Assateague Island National Seashore, Maryland that may result from changes in the hydrologic system in response to projected sea-level...
Stable isotope evidence for glacial lake drainage through the St. Lawrence Estuary, eastern Canada, ~13.1-12.9 ka
T. M. Cronin, J.A. Rayburn, J.-P. Guilbault, R. Thunell, D.A. Franzi
2012, Quaternary International (260) 55-65
Postglacial varved and rhythmically-laminated clays deposited during the transition from glacial Lake Vermont (LV) to the Champlain Sea (CS) record hydrological changes in the Champlain-St. Lawrence Valley (CSLV) at the onset of the Younger Dryas ∼13.1–12.9 ka linked to glacial lake drainage events. Oxygen isotope (δ18O) records of three species...
Fecal-indicator bacteria concentrations in the Illinois River between Hennepin and Peoria, Illinois: 2007-08
David H. Dupre, Jon Hortness, Paul J. Terrio, Jennifer B. Sharpe
2012, Open-File Report 2012-1075
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has designated portions of the Illinois River in Peoria, Woodford, and Tazewell Counties, Illinois, as impaired owing to the presence of fecal coliform bacteria. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission, examined the water quality in the Illinois River and...
Groundwater simulation and management models for the upper Klamath Basin, Oregon and California
Marshall W. Gannett, Brian J. Wagner, Kenneth E. Lite Jr.
2012, Scientific Investigations Report 2012-5062
The upper Klamath Basin encompasses about 8,000 square miles, extending from the Cascade Range east to the Basin and Range geologic province in south-central Oregon and northern California. The geography of the basin is dominated by forested volcanic uplands separated by broad interior basins. Most of the interior basins once...
Estimated water requirements for gold heap-leach operations
Donald I. Bleiwas
2012, Open-File Report 2012-1085
This report provides a perspective on the amount of water necessary for conventional gold heap-leach operations. Water is required for drilling and dust suppression during mining, for agglomeration and as leachate during ore processing, to support the workforce (requires water in potable form and for sanitation), for minesite reclamation, and...
Stability of infinite slopes under transient partially saturated seepage conditions
Jonathan W. Godt, Başak Şener-Kaya, Ning Lu, Rex L. Baum
2012, Water Resources Research (48) 1-14
Prediction of the location and timing of rainfall‐induced shallow landslides is desired by organizations responsible for hazard management and warnings. However, hydrologic and mechanical processes in the vadose zone complicate such predictions. Infiltrating rainfall must typically pass through an unsaturated layer before reaching the irregular and usually discontinuous shallow water...
Habitat persistence for sedentary organisms in managed rivers: the case for the federally endangered dwarf wedgemussel (Alasmidonta heterodon) in the Delaware River
Kelly O. Maloney, William A. Lellis, Randy M. Bennett, Terry J. Waddle
2012, Freshwater Biology (57) 1315-1327
1. To manage the environmental flow requirements of sedentary taxa, such as mussels and aquatic insects with fixed retreats, we need a measure of habitat availability over a variety of flows (i.e. a measure of persistent habitat). Habitat suitability measures in current environmental flow assessments are measured on a ‘flow by...
Characterization of nutrients and fecal indicator bacteria at a concentrated swine feeding operation in Wake County, North Carolina, 2009-2011
Stephen L. Harden, Shane W. Rogers, Michael A. Jahne, Carrie E. Shaffer, Douglas G. Smith
2012, Open-File Report 2012-1047
Hydrologic and water-quality data were collected during October 2009–January 2011 to characterize nutrient and bacteria concentrations in stormwater runoff from agricultural fields that receive wastewater originating at a swine facility at North Carolina State University's Lake Wheeler Road Field Laboratory (LWRFL) in Wake County, North Carolina. The swine facility consists...
Hydrologic and water-quality data at Government Canyon State Natural Area, Bexar County, Texas, 2002-10
J. Ryan Banta, Richard N. Slattery
2012, Data Series 681
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Edwards Aquifer Authority, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, collected rainfall, streamflow, evapotranspiration, and stormflow water-quality data at the Laurel Canyon Creek watershed, within the Government Canyon State Natural Area, Bexar County,...
Florida Bay salinity and Everglades wetlands hydrology circa 1900 CE: A compilation of paleoecology-based statistical modeling analyses
F.E. Marshall, G.L. Wingard
2012, Open-File Report 2012-1054
Throughout the 20th century, the Greater Everglades Ecosystem of south Florida was greatly altered by human activities. Construction of water-control structures and facilities altered the natural hydrologic patterns of the south Florida region and consequently impacted the coastal ecosystem. Restoration of the Greater Everglades Ecosystem is guided by the Comprehensive...
Preliminary assessment of channel stability and bed-material transport in the Coquille River basin, southwestern Oregon
Krista L. Jones, Jim E. O'Connor, Mackenzie K. Keith, Joseph F. Mangano, J. Rose Wallick
2012, Open-File Report 2012-1064
This report summarizes a preliminary study of bed-material transport, vertical and lateral channel changes, and existing datasets for the Coquille River basin, which encompasses 2,745 km2 (square kilometers) of the southwestern Oregon coast. This study, conducted to inform permitting decisions regarding instream gravel mining, revealed that:The 115.4-km-long study area on...
USGS Hydro-Climatic Data Network 2009 (HCDN-2009)
Harry F. Lins
2012, Fact Sheet 2012-3047
The U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Hydro-Climatic Data Network (HCDN) is a subset of all USGS streamgages for which the streamflow primarily reflects prevailing meteorological conditions for specified years. These stations were screened to exclude sites where human activities, such as artificial diversions, storage, and other activities in the drainage basin...
Hydrologic, water-quality, and biological characteristics of the North Fork Flathead River, Montana, water years 2007-2008
Taylor J. Mills, E. William Schweiger, M. Alisa Mast, David W. Clow
2012, Scientific Investigations Report 2011-5221
In water year 2007, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the National Park Service, began a 2-year study to collect hydrologic, water-quality, and biological data to provide a baseline characterization of the North Fork Flathead River from the United States-Canada border to its confluence with the Middle Fork of...
Geochemical and hydrologic data for San Marcos Springs recharge characterization near San Marcos, Texas, November 2008--December 2010
Cassi L. Crow
2012, Data Series 672
During 2008–10, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the San Antonio Water System, collected geochemical and hydrologic data in Bexar, Comal, and Hays Counties, Texas, to define and characterize the sources of recharge to San Marcos Springs. Precipitation samples were collected for stable isotope analysis at 1 site and...
Water quality and the composition of fish and macroinvertebrate communities in the Devils and Pecos Rivers within and upstream from the Amistad National Recreation Area, Texas, 2005-7
J. Bruce Moring
2012, Scientific Investigations Report 2012-5038
To gain a better understanding of the water quality and status of fish and macroinvertebrate communities, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the National Park Service and Amistad National Recreation Area, completed a reconnaissance-level survey of the water quality and fish and macroinvertebrate communities in the Devils and Pecos...
Water resources of the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, Genesee and Orleans counties, New York 2008-2010
William M. Kappel, Matthew B. Jennings
2012, Scientific Investigations Report 2012-5027
A 2-year study of the water resources of the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) in western New York was carried out in 2009-2010 in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to assist the Refuge in the development of a 15-year Comprehensive Conservtion plan. The study focused on Oak...
Threshold effects of flood duration on the vegetation and soils of the Upper Mississippi River floodplain, USA
Nathan R. De Jager, Meredith Thomsen, Yao Yin
2012, Forest Ecology and Management (270) 135-146
Most large rivers have experienced major changes in hydrology and land use over the past century, with concomitant effects on sedimentation, nutrient cycling and biodiversity. To restore and/or enhance these ecosystems, managers need to know where their efforts are most likely to succeed under current hydrologic regimes as well as...
Linking urbanization to the Biological Condition Gradient (BCG) for stream ecosystems in the Northeastern United States using a Bayesian network approach
Roxolana Kashuba, Gerard McMahon, Thomas F. Cuffney, Song Qian, Kenneth Reckhow, Jeroen Gerritsen, Susan Davies
2012, Scientific Investigations Report 2012-5030
Urban development alters important physical, chemical, and biological processes that define urban stream ecosystems. An approach was developed for quantifying the effects of these processes on aquatic biota, and then linking those effects to endpoints that can be used for environmental management. These complex, interacting systems are challenging to model...
Time series geophysical monitoring of permanganate injections and in situ chemical oxidation of PCE, OU1 area, Savage Superfund Site, Milford, NH, USA
Philip T. Harte, Thor E. Smith, John H. Williams, James R. Degnan
2012, Journal of Contaminant Hydrology (132) 58-74
In situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) treatment with sodium permanganate, an electrically conductive oxidant, provides a strong electrical signal for tracking of injectate transport using time series geophysical surveys including direct current (DC) resistivity and electromagnetic (EM) methods. Effective remediation is dependent upon placing the oxidant in close contact with the...
Simulation of streamflows and basin-wide hydrologic variables over several climate-change scenarios, Methow River basin, Washington
Frank D. Voss, Mark C. Mastin
2012, Scientific Investigations Report 2012-5031
The purpose of this project was to demonstrate the capabilities of an existing watershed model and downscaling procedures to provide simulated hydrological data over various greenhouse gas emission scenarios for use in the Methow River framework prototype. An existing watershed model was used to simulate daily time series of streamflow...
Assessing the potential hydrological impact of the Gibe III Dam on Lake Turkana water level using multi-source satellite data
Naga Manohar Velpuri, Gabriel B. Senay
2012, Hydrology and Earth System Sciences Discussions (16) 3561-3578
Lake Turkana, the largest desert lake in the world, is fed by ungauged or poorly gauged river systems. To meet the demand of electricity in the East African region, Ethiopia is currently building the Gibe III hydroelectric dam on the Omo River, which supplies more than 80% of the inflows...
