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Publications

Publications are the cornerstone of the Pennsylvania Water Science Center’s dissemination of scientific data and conclusions. 

Filter Total Items: 936

Flow routing in the Susquehanna River Basin: Part I - Effects of Raystown Lake on the low-flow frequency characteristics of the Juniata and lower Susquehanna Rivers, Pennsylvania

A flow-routing model was used to simulate 17 water years of daily streamflows at five sites. The sites were Mapleton Depot and Newport, Pennsylvania, on the Juniata River, and Harrisburg and Marietta, Pennsylvania, and Conowingo, Maryland, on the Susquehanna River. The purpose for the simulations was to determine the effects of a new reservoir, Raystown Lake, on the low-flow frequency characterist
Authors
Jeffrey T. Armbruster

Limnological studies of the major streams in Chester County, Pennsylvania

The major streams in Chester County, Pennsylvania were studied to determine their environmental state, and to relate this condition to land- use patterns. A biological numerical rating system on a scale of 1 to 10 was developed to classify stream conditions. One indicates extremely toxic conditions and 10 balanced biological conditions. The majority of the streams studied had ratings between 4 and
Authors
Bruce W. Lium

Environmental geology, Allegheny County and vicinity, Pennsylvania: Description of a program and its results

Past land-use practices, including mining, in Allegheny County, Pa., have resulted in three principal environmental problems, exclusive of air and water contamination. They are flooding, landsliding, and subsidence over underground mines. In 1973, information was most complete relative to flooding and least complete relative to landsliding. Accordingly, in July 1973, the U.S. Geological Survey (US
Authors
Reginald Peter Briggs

Water consumption by nuclear powerplants and some hydrological implications

Published data show that estimated water consumption varies with the cooling system adopted, being least in once-through cooling (about 18 cubic feet per second per 1,000 megawatts electrical) and greatest in closed cooling with mechanical draft towers (about 30 cubic feet per second per 1,000 megawatts electrical). When freshwater is used at this magnitude, water-resources economy may be affected
Authors
Ennio V. Giusti, E.L. Meyer

Ground-water resources of Chester County, Pennsylvania

Fifty gallons per minute (3 liters per second) or more may be obtained from wells in almost all parts of the county, but not at all locations. Adequate exploration to find fracture or solution openings is required. Five hundred gallons per minute (30 liters per second) or more may be obtained from some of the carbonate rocks. Linear features are visible on 1:1,000,000-to 1:24,000-scale aerial imag
Authors
Laurence J. McGreevy, Ronald A. Sloto

Water loss from Jordan Creek near Allentown, Pennsylvania - 1973 to 1976

Results of water-loss studies for Jordan Creek near Allentown, Pa. are presented in both tabular and graphical form. The reach studied is approximately 24 miles long and extends from a point near Lowhill, Pa. to a point in Allentown, Pa. The drainage area at Allentown is about 76 square miles. In portions of the study area, Jordan Creek loses considerable parts of its flow to the permeable limesto
Authors
Robert E. Steacy

Water-quality study of Tulpehocken Creek, Berks County, Pennsylvania, prior to impoundment of Blue Marsh Lake

Blue Marsh Lake is planned as a multipurpose impoundment to be constructed on Tulpehocken Creek near Bernville, Berks County, Pennsylvania. Prior to construction, samples of water, bed material, and soil were collected throughout the impoundment site to determine concentrations of nutrients, insecticides, trace metals, suspended sediment, and bacteria. Analyses of water suggest the Tulpehocken Cr
Authors
James L. Barker

Sediment characteristics of five streams near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, before highway construction

Rainfall, streamflow, sediment, and turbidity data are being collected as part of a study to evaluate the effects of highway construction on sediment discharge. The study is also designed to determine the effectiveness of different erosion-control measures in reducing sediment discharges. The study area, near Enola, Pa., consists of five adjacent drainage basins, four of which will be crossed by I
Authors
Lloyd A. Reed

Hydrology and sedimentation of Bixler Run Basin, central Pennsylvania

Rainfall, streamflow, stream chemical, and sediment discharge data were collected from Bixler Run near Loysville, Pa., during the period from February 1954 to September 1969 as part of a project to evaluate sediment discharge from an agricultural area in which soil-conservation techniques were being adopted at a moderate rate. The study was conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation wi
Authors
Lloyd A. Reed

Limnological data for the major streams in Chester County, Pennsylvania

Limnological data on major streams in Chester County, Pennsylvania are tabulated to provide a base line as to the present stream conditions. As land-use patterns change and further urbanization takes place, it is anticipated that these data will serve as a basis for comparison of conditions in the future. The 13 basins encompass a total drainage area of 1,812 km2 (697 mi2) of the 1,976 km2 (760 mi
Authors
Bruce W. Lium