The formation and failure of natural dams
John E. Costa, Robert L. Schuster
1988, Geological Society of America Bulletin (100) 1054-1068
Of the numerous kinds of dams that form by natural processes, dams formed from landslides, glacial ice, and late-neoglacial moraines present the greatest threat to people and property. Landslide dams form in a wide range of physiographic settings. The most common types of mass movements that form landslide dams are...
Effects of surface coal mining and reclamation on the geohydrology of six small watersheds in west-central Indiana
Jeffrey D. Martin, Richard F. Duwelius, Charles G. Crawford
1987, Open-File Report 87-210
The watersheds studied include mined and reclaimed; mined and unreclaimed; and unmined, agricultural land uses, and are each < 3 sq mi in area. Surface water, groundwater, and meteorologic data for the 1981 and 1982 water years were used to describe and compare hydrologic systems of the six watersheds and...
Transport of dissolved and suspended material by the Potomac River at Chain Bridge, at Washington, D.C., water years 1978-81
Stephen F. Blanchard, D. C. Hahl
1987, Water Supply Paper 2234-B
The measuring station Potomac River at Chain Bridge at Washington, D.C., is located at the upstream end of the tidal Potomac River. Water-quality data were collected intensively at this site from December 1977 through September 1981 as part of a study of the tidal Potomac River and Estuary. Analysis of...
Documentation of computer program VS2D to solve the equations of fluid flow in variably saturated porous media
E.G. Lappala, R. W. Healy, E.P. Weeks
1987, Water-Resources Investigations Report 83-4099
This report documents FORTRAN computer code for solving problems involving variably saturated single-phase flow in porous media. The flow equation is written with total hydraulic potential as the dependent variable, which allows straightforward treatment of both saturated and unsaturated conditions. The spatial derivatives in the flow equation are approximated by...
Comparison of conceptually based and regression rainfall-runoff models, Denver Metropolitan area, Colorado, and potential applications in urban areas
J. B. Lindner-Lunsford, S. R. Ellis
1987, Water-Resources Investigations Report 87-4104
Multievent, conceptually based models and a single-event, multiple linear-regression model for estimating storm-runoff quantity and quality from urban areas were calibrated and verified for four small (57 to 167 acres) basins in the Denver metropolitan area, Colorado. The basins represented different land-use types - light commercial, single-family housing, and multi-family...
Effects on water quality due to flood-water detention by Barker and Addicks Reservoirs, Houston, Texas
Fred Liscum, R.L. Goss, E.M. Paul
1987, Water-Resources Investigations Report 86-4356
The Barker and Addicks Reservoirs, located about 16 miles west of Houston, Texas, provide flood-detention storage for storm runoff. Of interest are the water-quality characteristics in the study area and changes in water quality during detention. Study area sampling sites were selected upstream along Buffalo Bayou for Barker Reservoir and...
Application of techniques to identify coal-mine and power-generation effects on surface-water quality, San Juan River basin, New Mexico and Colorado
C. L. Goetz, Cynthia G. Abeyta, E.V. Thomas
1987, Water-Resources Investigations Report 86-4076
Numerous analytical techniques were applied to determine water quality changes in the San Juan River basin upstream of Shiprock , New Mexico. Eight techniques were used to analyze hydrologic data such as: precipitation, water quality, and streamflow. The eight methods used are: (1) Piper diagram, (2) time-series plot, (3) frequency...
Adequacy of NASQAN data to describe areal and temporal variability of water quality of the San Juan River drainage basin upstream from Shiprock, New Mexico
C. L. Goetz, Cynthia G. Abeyta
1987, Water-Resources Investigations Report 85-4043
Analyses indicate that water quality in the San Juan River drainage basin upstream from Shiprock, New Mexico, is quite variable from station to station. Analyses are based on water quality data from the U.S. Geological Survey WATSTORE files and the New Mexico Environmental Improvement Division 's files. In the northeastern...
Effects of agricultural best-management practices on total phosphorus yields in the Johnson Brook and Lovejoy Pond watersheds, Kennebec County, Maine, 1980-84
Thomas J. Maloney, John W. Sowles
1987, Water-Resources Investigations Report 87-4118
Analysis of daily phosphorus yield and streamflow data collected before and after implementation of agricultural best management practices in the Johnson Brook watershed in south-central Maine indicated statistically significant reductions in phosphorus loading in all flow categories. Reduction of median loadings for five flow categories ranged from 26% to 90%....
Determination of benthic-invertebrate indices and water-quality trends of selected streams in Chester County, Pennsylvania, 1969-80
C.R. Moore
1987, Water-Resources Investigations Report 85-4177
The trends of biological and chemical data collected for 12 years (1969-80) from 46 sites in Chester County were evaluated by using the sea- sonal Kendall test. Brillouin's diversity index was calculated and plotted against time for each site. The diversity index at 7 sites had upward trends significant at...
Simulation of flood hydrographs for Georgia streams
Ernest J. Inman
1987, Water Supply Paper 2317
Flood hydrographs are needed for the design of many highway drainage structures and embankments. A method for simulating these flood hydrographs at ungaged sites in Georgia is presented in this report. The O'Donnell method was used to compute unit hydrographs and lagtimes for 355 floods at 80 gaging stations. An...
Hydrologic monitoring of selected streams in coal fields of central and southern Utah — Summary of data collected, August 1978-September 1984
Don Price, G.G. Plantz
1987, Water-Resources Investigations Report 86-4017
The U.S. Geological Survey conducted a coal-hydrology monitoring program in coal-field areas of central and southern Utah during August 1978-September 1984 to determine possible hydrologic impacts of future mining and to provide a better understanding of the hydrologic systems of the coal resource areas monitored. Data were collected at 19...
Analysis of sediment production from two small semiarid basins in Wyoming
J.G. Rankl
1987, Water-Resources Investigations Report 85-4314
Data were collected at two small, semiarid basins in Wyoming to determine the relation between rainfall, runoff, and sediment production. The basins were Dugout Creek tributary and Saint Marys Ditch tributary. Sufficient rainfall and runoff data were collected at Dugout Creek tributary to determine the source of sediment and the...
Sediment discharge in Muddy Creek and the effect of sedimentation rate on the proposed Wolford Mountain reservoir near Kremmling, Colorado
B. C. Ruddy
1987, Water-Resources Investigations Report 87-4011
Stream-discharge data collected from May 1982 through October 1985 and sediment data collected from March 1985 through October 1985 at stream flow-gaging station 09041500 Muddy Creek at Kremmling, Colorado, were used to determine total-sediment discharge into the proposed Wolford Mountain Reservoir. The data were divided on a seasonal basis, and...
Application of the precipitation-runoff model in the Warrior coal field, Alabama
Robert E. Kidd, C. R. Bossong
1987, Water Supply Paper 2306
A deterministic precipitation-runoff model, the Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System, was applied in two small basins located in the Warrior coal field, Alabama. Each basin has distinct geologic, hydrologic, and land-use characteristics. Bear Creek basin (15.03 square miles) is undisturbed, is underlain almost entirely by consolidated coal-bearing rocks of Pennsylvanian age (Pottsville...
Water-quality assessment of Peruque Creek, St Charles County, Missouri, July 1983 and July 1984
W.R. Berkas
1987, Water-Resources Investigations Report 87-4079
Physical, chemical, and biological data collected along the downstream 24.1-river-mi reach of Peruque Creek, Missouri, on July 18-19, 1983 and July 9-10, 1984, were used to characterize the water quality conditions in the creek. Wastewater discharges into the creek at the Lake St. Louis sewage-disposal ponds and at the O'Fallon...
Traveltime, reaeration, and water-quality characteristics during low-flow conditions in Wilsons Creek and the James River near Springfield, Missouri
W.R. Berkas
1987, Water-Resources Investigations Report 87-4074
Before upgrading the Southwest Wastewater-Treatment Plant near Springfield, Missouri, to tertiary treatment, adverse water quality conditions resulting from discharge of wastewater effluent to Wilson Creek were documented in the creek and in the James River. About 7 years after the upgrading of the treatment plant, traveltime, reaeration, and water quality...
An assessment of low flows in streams in northeastern Wyoming
G.W. Armentrout, J.F. Wilson
1987, Water-Resources Investigations Report 85-4246
Low flows were assessed and summarized in the following basins in northeastern Wyoming: Little Bighorn, Tongue, Powder, Little Missouri, Belle Fourche, Cheyenne, and Niobrara River, and about 200 river miles of the North Platte River and its tributaries. Only existing data from streamflow stations and miscellaneous observation sites during the...
Investigation of techniques to estimate rainfall-loss parameters for Illinois
L.S. Weiss, A. L. Ishii
1987, Water-Resources Investigations Report 87-4151
An attempt was made by the U.S. Geological Survey to develop parameter-estimation techniques for two rainfall-loss computation methods used in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ' flood-hydrograph model (HEC-1). Six rainfall-loss parameters were investigated - four for the Exponential Loss-Rate method and two for the Initial and Uniform Loss-Rate...
Effects of runoff controls on the quantity and quality of urban runoff at two locations in Austin, Texas
Clarence T. Welborn, Jack E. Veenhuis
1987, Water-Resources Investigations Report 87-4004
Rapid urban development in the Austin metropolitan area, Texas, is causing concern about increasing peak discharges from storm runoff and the degradation of the quality of water in receiving streams, lakes, and aquifers. In an attempt to decrease peak discharges and improve water quality, runoff controls are being required in...
Ground-water flow and water quality in northeastern Union County, Ohio
K. S. Wilson
1987, Water-Resources Investigations Report 87-4083
A study was done by the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Village of Richwood, Ohio, to determine directions of ground-water flow, ground-water-level fluctuations, and water quality in the northeastern part of Union County. The topography of the study area generally is featureless, and the land surfaces slopes gently eastward...
Relation between ground water and surface water in the Hillsborough River basin, west-central Florida
R. M. Wolansky, T. H. Thompson
1987, Water-Resources Investigations Report 87-4010
The relation between groundwater and surface water in the Hillsborough River basin was defined through the use of: seismic-reflection profiling along selected reaches of the Hillsborough River, and evaluation of streamflow, rainfall, groundwater levels, water quality, and geologic data. Major municipal well fields in the basin are Morris Bridge and...
A conceptual framework for ground-water solute-transport studies with emphasis on physical mechanisms of solute movement
Thomas E. Reilly, O. Lehn Franke, Herbert T. Buxton, Gordon D. Bennett
1987, Water-Resources Investigations Report 87-4191
Analysis of solute transport in groundwater systems involves a complex, multi-discipline study that requires intensive and costly investigation. Groundwater contamination, particularly from point sources, has been growing in importance in recent years. This report examines the physical mechanisms of solute transport, advection and dispersion, and explains how they relate to...
Surface-water hydrology of the Western New York Nuclear Service Center Cattaraugus County, New York
W. M. Kappel, W. E. Harding
1987, Water-Resources Investigations Report 85-4309
Precipitation data were collected from October 1980 through September 1983 from three recording gages at the Western New York Nuclear Service Center, and surface water data were collected at three continuous-record gaging stations and one partial-record gage on streams that drain a 0.7 sq km part of the site. Seepage...
Hydrology of area 59, northern Great Plains and Rocky Mountain coal provinces, Colorado and Wyoming
Neville G. Gaggiani, Linda J. Britton, Donald R. Minges, F. A. Kilpatrick, Randolph S. Parker, James E. Kircher
1987, Open-File Report 85-153
Hydrologic information and analysis aid in decisions to lease federally owned coal and to prepare necessary Environmental Assessments and Impact Study reports. This need has become even more critical with the enactment of Public Law 95-87, the "Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977." This act requires an appropriate...
