Publications
Browse the map above to filter and view publications by location. All of our publications are available through the USGS Publications Warehouse. USGS publications and journal articles by scientists of the Washington Water Science Center are listed below.
Filter Total Items: 800
Surface-water-quality assessment of the Yakima River basin, Washington: Project description Surface-water-quality assessment of the Yakima River basin, Washington: Project description
In April 1986, the U.S. Geological Survey began the National Water Quality Assessment program to: (1) provide a nationally consistent description of the current status of water quality, (2) define water quality trends that have occurred over recent decades, and (3) relate past and present water quality conditions to relevant natural features, the history of land and water use, and land...
Authors
S. W. McKenzie, J. F. Rinella
Flood hazards along the Toutle and Cowlitz rivers, Washington, from a hypothetical failure of Castle Lake blockage Flood hazards along the Toutle and Cowlitz rivers, Washington, from a hypothetical failure of Castle Lake blockage
A recent evaluation of groundwater and material in the blockage impounding Castle Lake shows that the blockage is potentially unstable against failure from piping due to heave and internal erosion when groundwater levels are seasonally high. There is also a remote possibility that a 6.8 or greater magnitude earthquake could occur in the Castle Lake area when groundwater levels are...
Authors
Antonius Laenen, L.L. Orzol
Quality of ground water in southeastern and south-central Washington, 1982 Quality of ground water in southeastern and south-central Washington, 1982
In 1982 groundwater was sampled at over 100 sites in the southeastern-south central region of Washington and analyzed for pH, specific conductance, and concentrations of fecal-coliform bacteria, major dissolved irons, and dissolved iron, manganese, and nitrate. Twenty percent of the samples were analyzed for concentrations of dissolved aluminum, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, cooper...
Authors
G. L. Turney
Comparison of unregulated and regulated streamflow for the Yakima River at Union Gap and near Parker, Washington Comparison of unregulated and regulated streamflow for the Yakima River at Union Gap and near Parker, Washington
Records of regulated daily mean discharge for 52 water years, 1926-77, at 13 stream gaging stations were adjusted for changes in storage contents in five reservoirs and flows diverted in 58 canals to estimate effects of reservoir storage and canal diversion on streamflow in the Yakima River at Union Gap and near Parker, Washington. Estimated composite error of computed unregulated...
Authors
J. J. Vaccaro
Snow chemistry of the Cascade-Sierra Nevada Mountains Snow chemistry of the Cascade-Sierra Nevada Mountains
This investigation assesses geographic variations in atmospheric deposition in Washington, Oregon, and California using snow cores from the Cascade-Sierra Nevada Mountains, collected from late February to mid-March 1983. A statistical analysis of the analytical and sampling precision was made. The snowpack in the higher Cascades and Sierra Nevada is not strongly influenced by...
Authors
L.B. Laird, Howard E. Taylor, V. C. Kennedy
Occurrence of dissolved sodium in ground waters in basalts underlying the Columbia Plateau, Washington Occurrence of dissolved sodium in ground waters in basalts underlying the Columbia Plateau, Washington
Basalt aquifers of the Columbia River Basalt Group are a principal source of water for agricultural, domestic, and municipal use. Concern has been expressed in this agriculture-dependent region about problems associated with the use of groundwaters with a high sodium concentration relative to the calcium and magnesium content (high sodium-adsorption ratio). Continued irrigation with such...
Authors
Gilbert C. Bortleson, S.E. Cox
Simulation of streamflow temperatures in the Yakima River basin, Washington, April-October 1981 Simulation of streamflow temperatures in the Yakima River basin, Washington, April-October 1981
The effects of storage, diversion, return flow, and meteorological variables on water temperature in the Yakima River, in Washington State, were simulated, and the changes in water temperature that could be expected under four alternative-management scenarios were examined for improvement in anadromous fish environment. A streamflow routing model and Lagrangian streamflow temperature...
Authors
J. J. Vaccaro
Channel geometry, flood elevations, and flood maps, lower Toutle and Cowlitz rivers, Washington, June 1980 to May 1981 Channel geometry, flood elevations, and flood maps, lower Toutle and Cowlitz rivers, Washington, June 1980 to May 1981
The volcanic eruption of Mount St. Helens on May 18, 1980, triggered mudflows that deposited upwards of 15 ft of sediment in the channels of the lower Toutle and Cowlitz Rivers. The major population areas along the lower Cowlitz River (Kelso, Longview,Lexington, and Castle Rock) were not flooded, but the channel capacity of the river was seriously reduced and the potential for unusually...
Authors
R.E. Lombard
Surficial geology, structure, and thickness of selected geohydrologic units in the Columbia Plateau, Washington Surficial geology, structure, and thickness of selected geohydrologic units in the Columbia Plateau, Washington
A 2-1/2 year study of the Columbia Plateau in Washington was begun in March 1982 to define spatial and temporal variations in dissolved sodium in the Columbia River Basalt Group aquifers and to relate these variations to the groundwater system and its geologic framework. This report describes the geologic framework , including the vertical and areal extent of the major basalt units...
Authors
B. W. Drost, K. J. Whiteman