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Publications

This list of Water Resources Mission Area publications includes both official USGS publications and journal articles authored by our scientists. A searchable database of all USGS publications can be accessed at the USGS Publications Warehouse.

Filter Total Items: 18322

National water resources and problems

Water problems exist in all parts of the United States. Furthermore, the problems are becoming more acute and widespread as population and industry grow. The need is pressing for wider appreciation of the nature of water problems. This requires a background of basic facts about the occurrence of water, its quantity and quality, and the manner in which it is used. This report records some of these
Authors
Roy E. Oltman, Kenneth A. MacKichan, Glennon N. Mesnier, Frank H. Rainwater, Horace G. Thomasson

Geology and ground-water resources of Medina County, Texas

The Edwards limestone of Cretaceous age is the principal water-bearing formation in Medina County and makes up the major part of a ground-water reservoir, or aquifier, which in places includes thinner limestone formations both above and below the Edwards. The Glen Rose limestone, also of Cretaceous age, yields moderate amounts of water to wells and springs in the northern part of the county. Other
Authors
Charles Lee Roy Holt

Summary of floods in the United States during 1952

Extensive flooding occurred in the basins of the Missouri and upper Mississippi Rivers and the Red River of the North. Other large floods were confined mainly to the States of Texas, Utah, Nevada, and California. The most intense of the large floods was the September flood in south-central Texas, which resulted from rains ranging from 5 to 26 inches in 48 hours on an area of about 1,000 square mil
Authors
J. V. B. Wells

Some preliminary notes on the ground water in the Columbia River basalt

The Columbia River basalt carries groundwater by percolation, largely along tabular interflow zones of variable permeability and continuity. At various places the water occurs under perched, unconfined, and confined conditions; at some places it occurs under all three conditions at different depths. Both initial and tectonic structural features, such as inclination of the flows, anticlines and syn
Authors
R. C. Newcomb

Floods in North and South Dakota: Frequency and magnitude

The magnitude of a flood of a selected frequency for any point in the two states may be determined by methods outlined in this report, with two limitations. These methods are not applicable for regulated streams or for small-drainage areas (in general, less than 100 square miles). The determination of the magnitude of a flood of a selected frequency in the two-state area is accomplished by the use
Authors
John A. McCabe, Orlo A. Crosby

Study and interpretation of the chemical characteristics of natural water

The chemical composition of natural water is derived from many different sources of solutes, including gases and aerosols from the atmosphere, weathering and erosion of rocks and soil, solution or precipitation reactions occurring below the land surface, and cultural effects resulting from activities of man. Some of the processes of solution or precipitation of minerals can be closely evaluated by
Authors
John David Hem

Summary of floods in the United States during 1953

Major floods occurred in four areas in the United States during 1953: western Oregon and northwestern California, Louisiana and adjacent States, the Missouri River basin in Montana, and northwestern Iowa.Monetary loss from floods in 1953 was much lower than in any one of the preceding 3 years and was less than half the national annual average as computed by the Weather Bureau.
Authors
J. V. B. Wells