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In the 1990's, the U.S. Geological Survey sponsored a multidisciplinary, multiagency investigation of the Gulf of the Farallones, which lies offshore of the San Francisco Bay region. This book discussess the results of the endeavor, covering the topics of oceanography and geology, biology and ecological niches, and issues of environmental...

In 1998, 175 metric tons (t) of refined gold was recovered by U.S. refiners from old and new scrap. The overall recycling rate was 29 percent when scrap consumption was compared with apparent domestic supply. Sources of old scrap includes discarded jewelry, dental materials, plating solutions, and electronic equipment. A...

Water-level measurements from observation wells are the principal source of information about the effects of hydrologic stresses on ground-water systems. Long-term water-level data are required to address the effects of aquifer development and to compile a hydrologic record of water-level monitoring, uses of long-term water-level data, and improvements in the...

In the United States, catalytic converters are the major source of secondary platinum for recycling. Other sources of platinum scrap include reforming and chemical process catalysts. The glass industry is a small but significant source of platinum scrap. In North America, it has been estimated that in 1998 more than...

Above-normal snowfall throughout the winter of 1996-97, combined with excessive precipitation during the fall of 1996 and additional moisture from a spring blizzard on April 5-6, 1997, caused the worst flooding in more than 100 years in several areas in central and eastern North Dakota, western Minnesota, and central eastern...

Winter snowfall of 1996-97, combined with the spring floods of 1997, caused one of the worst natural disasters in recent history on the Northern Plains. The flow volumes for water year 1997 at selected streamflow-gaging stations on the Red River of the North, the Minnesota River, and the James River...

Understanding the links between land-use changes and physical stream habitat responses is of increasing importance to guide resource management and stream restoration strategies. Transmission of runoff and sediment to streams can involve complex responses of drainage basins, including time lags, thresholds, and cumulative effects. Land-use induced runoff and sediment yield...

For the 21st century, the USGS and many others throughout government, academia, and the private sector carry a hopeful vision of better solutions to the problems of depleting natural resources and creating excessive wastes. For this effort, investigators are engaging in whole system views of the human condition using the...

The water quality in rivers and streams and in selected aquifers in eastern Iowa and part of southern Minnesota is described and illustrated. Major ions, nitrogen and other nutrients, and pesticides and some of their breakdown compounds were analyzed in both surface and ground water. Biological communities that included fish,...

The water quality in rivers and streams and in selected aquifers in central Arizona basins in Arizona is described and illustrated. Major ions, nitrogen and other nutrients, and pesticides and some of their breakdown compounds were analyzed in both surface and ground water. Biological communities that included fish, invertebrates, and...

The report summarizes major findings about water quality in part of the upper Mississippi River basin that emerged from an assessment conducted from 1995 to 1998 by the NAWQA Program. Water quality is discussed in terms of local and regional issues and compared to conditions in the other 36 NAWQA...

This report summarizes major findings about water quality in the upper Tennessee River basin that emerged from an assessment conducted between 1994 and 1998 by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program. Water quality is discussed in terms of local and regional issues and compared to conditions...

This report summarizes the results of the 1998 National Mineral Resource Assessment that estimated the gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc in undiscovered deposits in the United States. This project also estimated the identified resources and past production of these five metals. Assessment results include the following: (1) It is...

This report summarizes major findings about water quality in the Kanawha-New River basin that emerged from an assessment conducted between 1996 and 1998 by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program. Water quality is discussed in terms of local and regional issues and compared to conditions found...

Major influences and findings for ground water quality, surface water quality, and biology in the Allegheny and Monongahela River basins are described and illustrated. Samples were collected in a variety of media to determine trace elements, sulfate, pesticides, nitrate, volatile organic compounds, organochlorine compounds, and radon-222. This report discusses the...

This report summarizes major findings about water quality in the Lake Erie-Lake Saint Clair Drainages that emerged from an assessment conducted between 1996 and 1998 by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program. Water quality is discussed in terms of local and regional issues and compared to...

This report summarizes major findings about water quality in the Sacramento River basin that emerged from an assessment conducted between 1994 and 1998 by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program. Water quality is discussed in terms of local and regional issues and compared to conditions found...

This report summarizes major findings about water quality in the upper Colorado River basin that emerged from an assessment conducted between 1996 and 1998 by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program. Water quality is discussed in terms of local and regional issues and compared to...

Major influences and findings for water quality and biology in central Illinois, including the Illinois River from Ottawa, Illinois to Valley City, Illinois, are described and illustrated. Samples were collected to determine nitrate, phosphorus, pesticides, volatile organic carbon compounds, and radon-222 in streams and ground water. Agricultural and other land-use...

Puget Sound basin streams during 1995-98 met most guidelines and criteria. Seventy-four manmade compounds were detected and different mixtures linked to land use. Urban expansion into forested areas is changing stream habitats--urban and agricultural streams are warmer and support less diverse insect populations than streams in forested areas. Elevated nitrate...

Surface water sampled in the Santee River basin and coastal drainages generally meets existing Federal and State guidelines for drinking-water quality and protection of aquatic life. However, urban and agricultural land uses have affected water quality, as indicated by elevated concentrations of bacteria, pesticides, and nutrients in basins dominated by...

Major influences and findings for water quality and biology in southern Florida, including the Everglades, are described and illustrated. Samples were collected to determine total phosphorus, dissolved organic carbon, pesticides, mercury, nitrate, volatile organic carbon compounds, and radon-222. Water-management, agricultural, and land-use practices are discussed. Sixty-three species of fish in...

This report describes the environmental characteristics and water-quality characteristics of 14 benchmark basins in the west-central United States. The information was compiled to aide in the interpretation and application of historical water-quality data collected through the Hydrologic Benchmark Network Program....

This report describes the environmental characteristics and water-quality characteristics of 12 hydrologic benchmark network streams in the Western United States. This information was compiled to aide in the interpretation and application of water-quality data collected as part of the Hydrologic Benchmark Network Program....

The USGS Coastal and Marine Geology Program has large-scale national and regional research projects that focus on environmental quality, geologic hazards, natural resources, and information transfer. This Circular highlights recent scientific findings of the program, which play a vital role in the USGS endeavor to understand human interactions with the...