Salinity trends in the upper Colorado River basin upstream from the Grand Valley Salinity Control Unit, Colorado, 1986-2003
Kenneth J. Leib, Nancy J. Bauch
2008, Scientific Investigations Report 2007-5288
In 1974, the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act was passed into law. This law was enacted to address concerns regarding the salinity content of the Colorado River. The law authorized various construction projects in selected areas or "units" of the Colorado River Basin intended to reduce the salinity load...
Methods and Sources of Data Used to Develop Selected Water-Quality Indicators for Streams and Ground Water for the 2007 Edition of The State of the Nation's Ecosystems Report with Comparisons to the 2002 Edition
John T. Wilson, Nancy T. Baker, Michael J. Moran, Charles G. Crawford, Lisa H. Nowell, Patricia L. Toccalino, William G. Wilber
2008, Open-File Report 2008-1110
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) was one of numerous governmental, private, and academic entities that provided input to the report The State of the Nation?s Ecosystems published periodically by the Heinz Center. This report describes the sources of data and methods used by the USGS to develop selected water?quality indicators...
Hydrologic and water-quality characterization and modeling of the Onondaga Lake Basin, Onondaga County, New York
William F. Coon, James E. Reddy
2008, Scientific Investigations Report 2008-5013
Onondaga Lake in Onondaga County, New York, has been identified as one of the Nation’s most contaminated lakes as a result of industrial and sanitary-sewer discharges and stormwater nonpoint sources, and has received priority cleanup status under the national Water Resources Development Act of 1990. A basin-scale precipitation-runoff model of...
A multiscale analysis of nest predation on Least Bell's Vireos (Vireo bellii pusillus)
Barbara E. Kus, Bonnie L. Peterson, Douglas H. Deutschman
2008, The Auk (125) 277-284
We examined variables influencing nest predation on the endangered Least Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus) at three spatial scales to determine what nest-site, habitat, or landscape characteristics affect the likelihood of nest predation and to determine the spatial distribution of predation risk and the variables influencing it. We used MARK...
Understanding and predicting ecological dynamics: Are major surprises inevitable
Daniel F. Doak, James A. Estes, Benjamin S. Halpern, Ute Jacob, D. R. Lindberg, James R. Lovvorn, Daniel H. Monson, M. Tim Tinker, Terrie M. Williams, J. Timothy Wootton, Ian Carroll, Mark Emmerson, Fiorenza Micheli, Mark Novak
2008, Ecology (89) 952-961
Ecological surprises, substantial and unanticipated changes in the abundance of one or more species that result from previously unsuspected processes, are a common outcome of both experiments and observations in community and population ecology. Here, we give examples of such surprises along with the results of a survey of well-established...
Analysis of Dissolved Selenium Loading for Selected Sites in the Lower Gunnison River Basin, Colorado, 1978-2005
Judith C. Thomas, Kenneth J. Leib, John W. Mayo
2008, Scientific Investigations Report 2007-5287
Elevated selenium concentrations in streams are a water-quality concern in western Colorado. The U.S. Geologic Survey, in cooperation with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, summarized selenium loading in the Lower Gunnison River Basin to support the development of total maximum daily selenium loads at sites that represent...
Landsat still contributing to environmental research
Thomas R. Loveland, Mark A. Cochrane, Geoffrey M. Henebry
2008, Trends in Ecology and Evolution (23) 182-183
Landsat data have enabled continuous global monitoring of both human-caused and other land cover disturbances since 1972. Recently degraded performance and intermittent service of the Landsat 7 and Landsat 5 sensors, respectively, have raised concerns about the condition of global Earth observation programs. However, Landsat imagery is still useful for...
Development of the water-analysis screening tool used in the initial screening for the Pennsylvania State Water Plan update of 2008
Marla H. Stuckey
2008, Open-File Report 2008-1106
The Water Resources Planning Act, Act 220 of 2002, requires the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PaDEP) to update the State Water Plan by 2008. As part of this update, a water-analysis screening tool (WAST) was developed by the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the PaDEP, to provide assistance...
Ground-water-flow modeling of a freshwater and brine-filled aquifer in the Onondaga Trough, Onondaga County, New York: A summary of findings
William M. Kappel, Richard M. Yager
2008, Open-File Report 2007-1409
In 2007, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) completed a hydrogeologic study that included the development of a groundwater-flow model of the glacial-drift aquifer in the Onondaga Trough near Syracuse, N.Y., which extends from the Valley Heads Moraine near Tully, N.Y., to Onondaga Lake (fig. 1). Glacial sediments within the Onondaga...
Estimation of Constituent Concentrations, Loads, and Yields in Streams of Johnson County, Northeast Kansas, Using Continuous Water-Quality Monitoring and Regression Models, October 2002 through December 2006
Teresa J. Rasmussen, Casey J. Lee, Andrew C. Ziegler
2008, Scientific Investigations Report 2008-5014
Johnson County is one of the most rapidly developing counties in Kansas. Population growth and expanding urban land use affect the quality of county streams, which are important for human and environmental health, water supply, recreation, and aesthetic value. This report describes estimates of streamflow and constituent concentrations, loads, and...
Mid-Pliocene Planktic Foraminifer Census Data from Ocean Drilling Program Hole 1237C
Rocio Caballero, Harry Dowsett
2008, Data Series 336
INTRODUCTION The U.S. Geological Survey is conducting a long-term study of mid-Pliocene climatic and oceanographic conditions. One of the key elements of the study involves the use of quantitative composition of planktic foraminifer assemblages in conjunction with other proxies to constrain estimates of sea-surface temperature (SST) and to identify major oceanographic...
Questa baseline and pre-mining ground-water quality investigation 22 — Groundwater budget for the Straight Creek drainage basin, Red River Valley, New Mexico, with a section on Sulphur Gulch water budget
Douglas P. McAda, Cheryl A. Naus
2008, Scientific Investigations Report 2007-5149
In April 2001, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) began a cooperative study to infer the pre-mining ground-water chemistry at the Molycorp molybdenum mine site in the Red River Valley. The Molycorp mine has been in operation since the 1920s. Because ground-water conditions prior...
Geophysical characterization of the American River levees, Sacramento, California, with electromagnetics, capacitively coupled resistivity, and DC resistivity
Theodore H. Asch, Maria Deszcz-Pan, Bethany L. Burton, Lyndsay B. Ball
2008, Open-File Report 2008-1109
A geophysical characterization of a portion of American River levees in Sacramento, California was conducted in May, 2007. Targets of interest included the distribution and thickness of sand lenses that underlie the levees and the depth to a clay unit that underlies the sand. The concern is that the...
Methods for and estimates of 2003 and projected water use in the Seacoast Region, Southeastern New Hampshire
Marilee A. Horn, Richard B. Moore, Laura Hayes, Sarah M. Flanagan
2008, Scientific Investigations Report 2007-5157
New methods were developed to estimate water use in 2003 and future water demand in 2017 and 2025 in the Seacoast region in southeastern New Hampshire, which has experienced a 37-percent population increase during 1980 to 2000. Water-use activities for which estimates were developed include water withdrawal, delivery, demand, consumptive...
Methods for Monitoring Fish Communities of Buffalo National River and Ozark National Scenic Riverways in the Ozark Plateaus of Arkansas and Missouri: Version 1.0
James C. Petersen, B. G. Justus, H.R. Dodd, D.E. Bowles, L.W. Morrison, M.H. Williams, G.A. Rowell
2008, Open-File Report 2007-1302
Buffalo National River located in north-central Arkansas, and Ozark National Scenic Riverways, located in southeastern Missouri, are the two largest units of the National Park Service in the Ozark Plateaus physiographic province. The purpose of this report is to provide a protocol that will be used by the National Park...
Analysis of Pulsed Flow Modification Alternatives, Lower Missouri River, 2005
Robert B. Jacobson
2008, Open-File Report 2008-1113
The graphical, tabular, and statistical data presented in this report resulted from analysis of alternative flow regime designs considered by a group of Missouri River managers, stakeholders, and scientists during the summer of 2005. This plenary group was charged with designing a flow regime with increased spring flow pulses to...
Water-quality data for water- and wastewater-treatment plants along the Red River of the North, North Dakota and Minnesota, January through October 2006
William C. Damschen, John A. Hansel, Rochelle A. Nustad
2008, Data Series 328
From January through October 2006, six sets of water-quality samples were collected at 28 sites, which included inflow and outflow from seven major municipal water-treatment plants (14 sites) and influent and effluent samples from seven major municipal wastewater treatment plants (14 sites) along the Red River of the North in...
Water-Level Changes in Aquifers of the Atlantic Coastal Plain, Predevelopment to 2000
Vincent T. dePaul, Donald E. Rice, Otto S. Zapecza
2008, Scientific Investigations Report 2007-5247
The Atlantic Coastal Plain aquifer system, which underlies a large part of the east coast of the United States, is an important source of water for more than 20 million people. As the population of the region increases, further demand is being placed on those ground-water resources. To define areas...
Inventory of Well Yields in Avery and Watauga Counties, North Carolina
Brad A. Huffman, Melinda J. Chapman, Kirsten C. Tighe, Silvia Terziotti
2008, Open-File Report 2008-1104
More than 1,500 well records were compiled for Avery and Watauga Counties, North Carolina, as part of a study of ground-water resources. Wells in this area of the Blue Ridge Physiographic Province produce water from the fractured-bedrock aquifer. Prior to this study, only about 132 wells were included in the...
Reported Historic Asbestos Mines, Historic Asbestos Prospects, and Natural Asbestos Occurrences in the Southwestern United States (Arizona, Nevada, and Utah)
Bradley S. Van Gosen
2008, Open-File Report 2008-1095
This map and its accompanying dataset provide information for 113 natural asbestos occurrences in the Southwestern United States (U.S.), using descriptions found in the geologic literature. Data on location, mineralogy, geology, and relevant literature for each asbestos site are provided. Using the map and digital data in this report, the...
Clear-Water Contraction Scour at Selected Bridge Sites in the Black Prairie Belt of the Coastal Plain in Alabama, 2006
K.G. Lee, T.S. Hedgecock
2008, Scientific Investigations Report 2007-5260
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Alabama Department of Transportation, made observations of clear-water contraction scour at 25 bridge sites in the Black Prairie Belt of the Coastal Plain of Alabama. These bridge sites consisted of 54 hydraulic structures, of which 37 have measurable scour holes. Observed scour...
Factors Affecting Nitrate Delivery to Streams from Shallow Ground Water in the North Carolina Coastal Plain
Stephen L. Harden, Timothy B. Spruill
2008, Scientific Investigations Report 2008-5021
An analysis of data collected at five flow-path study sites between 1997 and 2006 was performed to identify the factors needed to formulate a comprehensive program, with a focus on nitrogen, for protecting ground water and surface water in the North Carolina Coastal Plain. Water-quality protection in the Coastal Plain...
Flow Durations, Low-Flow Frequencies, and Monthly Median Flows for Selected Streams in Connecticut through 2005
Elizabeth A. Ahearn
2008, Scientific Investigations Report 2007-5270
Flow durations, low-flow frequencies, and monthly median streamflows were computed for 91 continuous-record, streamflow-gaging stations in Connecticut with 10 or more years of record. Flow durations include the 99-, 98-, 97-, 95-, 90-, 85-, 80-, 75-, 70-, 60-, 50-, 40-, 30-, 25-, 20-, 10-, 5-, and 1-percent exceedances. Low-flow frequencies...
NetpathXL - An excel interface to the program NETPATH
David L. Parkhurst, Scott R. Charlton
2008, Techniques and Methods 6-A26
NetpathXL is a revised version of NETPATH that runs under Windows? operating systems. NETPATH is a computer program that uses inverse geochemical modeling techniques to calculate net geochemical reactions that can account for changes in water composition between initial and final evolutionary waters in hydrologic systems. The inverse models also...
Fast, Inclusive Searches for Geographic Names Using Digraphs
David I. Donato
2008, Techniques and Methods 7-A1
An algorithm specifies how to quickly identify names that approximately match any specified name when searching a list or database of geographic names. Based on comparisons of the digraphs (ordered letter pairs) contained in geographic names, this algorithmic technique identifies approximately matching names by applying an artificial but useful measure...
