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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: 973

Relations among sulfate, metals, sediment, and streamflow data for a stream draining a coal-mined watershed in East-Central Pennsylvania Relations among sulfate, metals, sediment, and streamflow data for a stream draining a coal-mined watershed in East-Central Pennsylvania

Streamflow and water-quality data for the northern part of Swatara Creek, which drains a 112-km2 area in the Southern Anthracite Field of east-central Pennsylvania, indicate iron, copper, and lead, and to a lesser extent manganese and zinc, are transported with suspended particles during stormflow conditions. During stormflow conditions, concentrations of these constituents typically...
Authors
Charles A. Cravotta

Detecting change in water quality from implementation of limestone treatment systems in a coal-minded watershed Detecting change in water quality from implementation of limestone treatment systems in a coal-minded watershed

During 1996-97, a variety of limestone-based treatment systems were implemented to neutralize acidic mine drainage and reduce the transport of dissolved metals in the northern part of the Swatara Creek watershed, which drains a 43-mi2 (112-km2) area in the Southern Anthracite Field upstream from Ravine, Pa. Since 1996, the current project has monitored water quality upstream and...
Authors
Charles A. Cravotta, Jeffrey B. Weitzel

Simulation of aquifer tests and ground-water flowpaths at the local scale in fractured shales and sandstones of the Brunswick Group and Lockatong Formation, Lansdale, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Simulation of aquifer tests and ground-water flowpaths at the local scale in fractured shales and sandstones of the Brunswick Group and Lockatong Formation, Lansdale, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

The U.S. Geological Survey, as part of technical assistance to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, has constructed and calibrated models of local-scale ground-water flow in and near Lansdale, Pa., where numerous sources of industrial contamination have been consolidated into the North Penn Area 6 Superfund Site. The local-scale models incorporate hydrogeologic structure of...
Authors
Daniel J. Goode, Lisa A. Senior

Procedures for scour assessments at bridges in Pennsylvania Procedures for scour assessments at bridges in Pennsylvania

Scour is the process and result of flowing water eroding the bed and banks of a stream. Scour at nearly 14,300 bridges(1) spanning water, and the stability of river and stream channels in Pennsylvania, are being assessed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). Procedures for bridge-scour assessments have been...
Authors
Peter J. Cinotto, Kirk E. White

Trends and status of flow, nutrients, and sediments for selected nontidal sites in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, 1985-98 Trends and status of flow, nutrients, and sediments for selected nontidal sites in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, 1985-98

Data from 30 stream sites in nontidal portions of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed were analyzed to document annual nutrient and sediment loads and trends for the period 1985 through 1998 as part of an annual water-quality update for the Chesapeake Bay Program. Annual loads were estimated by use of the U.S. Geological Survey ESTIMATOR model and are available upon request. Trends were...
Authors
Michael J. Langland, Joel D. Blomquist, Lori A. Sprague, Robert E. Edwards

Naturally occurring radionuclides in the ground water of southeastern Pennsylvania Naturally occurring radionuclides in the ground water of southeastern Pennsylvania

Naturally occurring radionuclides in the ground water of southeastern Pennsylvania may pose a health hazard to some residents, especially those drinking water from wells drilled in the Chickies Quartzite. Water from 46 percent of wells sampled in the Chickies Quartzite and 7 percent of wells sampled in other geologic formations exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)...
Authors
Ronald A. Sloto

Evaluation of geophysical logs and slug tests, phase II, at AIW Frank/Mid-County Mustang Superfund Site, Chester County, Pennsylvania Evaluation of geophysical logs and slug tests, phase II, at AIW Frank/Mid-County Mustang Superfund Site, Chester County, Pennsylvania

Between September 1997 and October 1998, nine monitor wells were drilled at the AIW Frank/Mid-County Mustang Superfund Site in Chester County, Pa., to determine the horizontal and vertical distribution of contaminated ground water migrating from known contaminant sources. The U.S. Geological Survey conducted borehole geophysical logging and borehole television surveys in these boreholes...
Authors
R.W. Conger, D.J. Goode, R. A. Sloto

Estimated water withdrawals and use in Pennsylvania, 1995 Estimated water withdrawals and use in Pennsylvania, 1995

In practical terms, water use is divided into two basic types: instream use and offstream use. Instream use is water used in its natural channel, basin, or behind a dam and includes activities such as fishing, boating, and other recreational activities. Instream use also includes hydroelectric power generation. Off-stream use is water pumped or diverted from its natural channel, basin, or...
Authors
Russell A. Ludlow, William A. Gast

Trends in surface-water quality during implementation of best-management practices in Mill Creek and Muddy Run Basins, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Trends in surface-water quality during implementation of best-management practices in Mill Creek and Muddy Run Basins, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Analyses of water samples collected over a 5-year period (1993-98) in the Mill Creek and Muddy Run Basins during implementation of agricultural best-management practices (BMP’s) indicate statistically significant trends in the concentrations of several nutrient species and in nonfilterable residue (suspended solids). The strongest trends identified were those indicated by a more than 50-...
Authors
Edward H. Koerkle

Hydrologic aspects of the 1998-99 drought in the Delaware River basin Hydrologic aspects of the 1998-99 drought in the Delaware River basin

A notable drought in the Delaware River Basin during late 1998 and most of 1999 had a major effect on surface and subsurface components of the hydrologic system. The drought conditions resulted from anomalous patterns in the general atmospheric circulation that diverted Gulf and subtropical Atlantic moisture away from the basin. From September 1998 to August 1999, the accumulated...
Authors
Gary N. Paulachok, Bruce E. Krejmas, Heidi L. Soden

Factors affecting nutrient trends in major rivers of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Factors affecting nutrient trends in major rivers of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Trends in nutrient loads and flow-adjusted concentrations in the major rivers entering Chesapeake Bay were computed on the basis of water-quality data collected between 1985 and 1998 at 29 monitoring stations in the Susquehanna, Potomac, James, Rappahannock, York, Patuxent, and Choptank River Basins. Two computer models-the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Model (WSM) and the U.S. Geological...
Authors
Lori A. Sprague, M. J. Langland, S.E. Yochum, R. E. Edwards, J. D. Blomquist, S.W. Phillips, G.W. Shenk, S. D. Preston
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