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: 19018
Shifting currents: Progress, setbacks, and shifts in policy and practice Shifting currents: Progress, setbacks, and shifts in policy and practice
The Wisconsin Academy’s initial Waters of Wisconsin project (WOW I) facilitated a statewide conversation between 2000 and 2003 around one main question: How can we ensure healthy aquatic ecosystems and clean, abundant water supplies for tomorrow’s Wisconsin? Robust participation in this conversation underscored the important role citizens have in the stewardship of our waters, and we...
Authors
Charles Dunning, Dale M. Robertson
New organic reference materials for hydrogen, carbon, and nitrogen stable isotope-ratio measurements: caffeines, n-alkanes, fatty acid methyl esters, glycines, L-valines, polyethylenes, and oils New organic reference materials for hydrogen, carbon, and nitrogen stable isotope-ratio measurements: caffeines, n-alkanes, fatty acid methyl esters, glycines, L-valines, polyethylenes, and oils
An international project developed, quality-tested, and determined isotope−δ values of 19 new organic reference materials (RMs) for hydrogen, carbon, and nitrogen stable isotope-ratio measurements, in addition to analyzing pre-existing RMs NBS 22 (oil), IAEA-CH-7 (polyethylene foil), and IAEA-600 (caffeine). These new RMs enable users to normalize measurements of samples to isotope−δ...
Authors
Arndt Schimmelmann, Haiping Qi, Tyler B. Coplen, Willi A. Brand, Jon Fong, Wolfram Meier-Augenstein, Helen F. Kemp, Blaza Toman, Annika Ackermann, Sergey Assonov, Anita Aerts-Bijma, Ramona Brejcha, Yoshito Chikaraishi, Tamim Darwish, Martin Elsner, Matthias Gehre, Heike Geilmann, Manfred Groning, Jean-Francois Helie, Sara Herrero-Martin, Harro A.J. Meijer, Peter E. Sauer, Alex L. Sessions, Roland A. Werner
Nitrapyrin in streams: The first study documenting off-field transport of a nitrogen stabilizer compound Nitrapyrin in streams: The first study documenting off-field transport of a nitrogen stabilizer compound
Nitrapyrin is a bactericide that is co-applied with fertilizer to prevent nitrification and enhance corn yields. While there have been studies of the environmental fate of nitrapyrin, there is no documentation of its off-field transport to streams. In 2016, 59 water samples from 11 streams across Iowa were analyzed for nitrapyrin and its degradate, 6-chloropicolinic acid (6-CPA), along...
Authors
Emily Woodward, Michelle Hladik, Dana W. Kolpin
Controls on the geochemical evolution of Prairie Pothole Region lakes and wetlands over decadal time scales Controls on the geochemical evolution of Prairie Pothole Region lakes and wetlands over decadal time scales
One hundred sixty-seven Prairie Pothole lakes, ponds and wetlands (largely lakes) previously analyzed chemically during the late 1960’s and early to mid-1970’s were resampled and reanalyzed in 2011–2012. The two sampling periods differed climatically. The earlier sampling took place during normal to slightly dry conditions, whereas the latter occurred during and immediately following...
Authors
Martin B. Goldhaber, Christopher T. Mills, David M. Mushet, R. Blaine McCleskey, Jennifer Rover
Selected streambed sediment compounds and water toxicity results for Westside Creeks, San Antonio, Texas, 2014 Selected streambed sediment compounds and water toxicity results for Westside Creeks, San Antonio, Texas, 2014
Introduction The Alazán, Apache, Martínez, and San Pedro Creeks in San Antonio, Texas, are part of a network of urban tributaries to the San Antonio River, known locally as the Westside Creeks. The Westside Creeks flow through some of the oldest neighborhoods in San Antonio. The disruption of streambed sediment is anticipated during a planned restoration to improve and restore the...
Authors
Cassi L. Crow, Jennifer T. Wilson, James L. Kunz
Response of fish assemblages to decreasing acid deposition in Adirondack Mountain lakes Response of fish assemblages to decreasing acid deposition in Adirondack Mountain lakes
The CAA and other federal regulations have clearly reduced emissions of NOx and SOx, acidic deposition, and the acidity and toxicity of waters in the ALTM lakes, but these changes have not triggered widespread recovery of brook trout populations or fish communities. The lack of detectable biological recovery appears to result from relatively recent chemical recovery and an insufficient...
Authors
Barry P. Baldigo, Karen Roy, Charles T. Driscoll
An experimental study of the role of subsurface plumbing on geothermal discharge An experimental study of the role of subsurface plumbing on geothermal discharge
In order to better understand the diverse discharge styles and eruption intervals observed at geothermal features, we performed three series of laboratory experiments with differing plumbing geometries. A single, straight conduit that connects a hot water bath (flask) to a vent (funnel) can originate geyser-like periodic eruptions, continuous discharge like a boiling spring, and fumarole...
Authors
Atsuko Namiki, Yoshinori Ueno, Shaul Hurwitz, Michael Manga, Carolina Munoz-Saez, Fred Murphy
Comment on “Reconciliation of the Devils Hole climate record with orbital forcing” Comment on “Reconciliation of the Devils Hole climate record with orbital forcing”
Moseley et al. (Reports, 8 January 2016, p. 165) postulate an increase in dissolved thorium isotope 230Th with depth below the water table as the explanation for the differing ages of Termination II. Flow of geothermal water through the Devils Hole caverns precludes this explanation. Deposition of younger secondary calcite into the initial porosity of the calcite comprising their cores...
Authors
Isaac J. Winograd
The 2016 groundwater flow model for Dane County, Wisconsin The 2016 groundwater flow model for Dane County, Wisconsin
A new groundwater flow model for Dane County, Wisconsin, replaces an earlier model developed in the 1990s by the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey (WGNHS) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). This modeling study was conducted cooperatively by the WGNHS and the USGS with funding from the Capital Area Regional Planning Commission (CARPC). Although the overall conceptual...
Authors
Michael J. Parsen, Kenneth R. Bradbury, Randall J. Hunt, Daniel T. Feinstein
Perspectives on bay-delta science and policy Perspectives on bay-delta science and policy
The State of Bay–Delta Science 2008 highlighted seven emerging perspectives on science and management of the Delta. These perspectives had important effects on policy and legislation concerning management of the Delta ecosystem and water exports. From the collection of papers that make up the State of Bay–Delta Science 2016, we derive another seven perspectives that augment those...
Authors
Michael Healey, Michael D. Dettinger, Richard Norgaard
Prediction of fish and sediment mercury in streams using landscape variables and historical mining Prediction of fish and sediment mercury in streams using landscape variables and historical mining
Widespread mercury (Hg) contamination of aquatic systems in the Sierra Nevada of California, U.S., is associated with historical use to enhance gold (Au) recovery by amalgamation. In areas affected by historical Au mining operations, including the western slope of the Sierra Nevada and downstream areas in northern California, such as San Francisco Bay and the Sacramento River–San Joaquin...
Authors
Charles N. Alpers, Julie L. Yee, Joshua T. Ackerman, James L. Orlando, Darrell G. Slotton, Mark C. Marvin-DiPasquale
Statistically extracted fundamental watershed variables for estimating the loads of total nitrogen in small streams Statistically extracted fundamental watershed variables for estimating the loads of total nitrogen in small streams
Accurate estimation of total nitrogen loads is essential for evaluating conditions in the aquatic environment. Extrapolation of estimates beyond measured streams will greatly expand our understanding of total nitrogen loading to streams. Recursive partitioning and random forest regression were used to assess 85 geospatial, environmental, and watershed variables across 636 small (
Authors
Scott C. Kronholm, Paul D. Capel, Silvia Terziotti