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: 19035
Isotope-abundance variations and atomic weights of selected elements: 2016 (IUPAC Technical Report) Isotope-abundance variations and atomic weights of selected elements: 2016 (IUPAC Technical Report)
There are 63 chemical elements that have two or more isotopes that are used to determine their standard atomic weights. The isotopic abundances and atomic weights of these elements can vary in normal materials due to physical and chemical fractionation processes (not due to radioactive decay). These variations are well known for 12 elements (hydrogen, lithium, boron, carbon, nitrogen...
Authors
Tyler B. Coplen, Yesha Shrestha
Occurrence and effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in the St. Croix River Occurrence and effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in the St. Croix River
The St. Croix River is one of the last undisturbed, large floodplain rivers in the upper Mississippi River System. The Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway encompasses 255 river miles from the St. Croix Flowage and Namekagon River to the confluence of the St. Croix River with the Mississippi River at Prescott, Wisconsin. The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 includes protection of the
Authors
Sarah M. Elliott, Kathy Lee
High nitrate concentrations in some Midwest United States streams in 2013 after the 2012 drought High nitrate concentrations in some Midwest United States streams in 2013 after the 2012 drought
Nitrogen sources in the Mississippi River basin have been linked to degradation of stream ecology and to Gulf of Mexico hypoxia. In 2013, the USGS and the USEPA characterized water quality stressors and ecological conditions in 100 wadeable streams across the midwestern United States. Wet conditions in 2013 followed a severe drought in 2012, a weather pattern associated with elevated...
Authors
Peter C. Van Metre, Jeffrey W. Frey, MaryLynn Musgrove, Naomi Nakagaki, Sharon L. Qi, Barbara Mahler, Michael E. Wieczorek, Daniel T. Button
Using continuous underway isotope measurements to map water residence time in hydrodynamically complex tidal environments Using continuous underway isotope measurements to map water residence time in hydrodynamically complex tidal environments
Stable isotopes present in water (δ2H, δ18O) have been used extensively to evaluate hydrological processes on the basis of parameters such as evaporation, precipitation, mixing, and residence time. In estuarine aquatic habitats, residence time (τ) is a major driver of biogeochemical processes, affecting trophic subsidies and conditions in fish-spawning habitats. But τ is highly variable...
Authors
Bryan D. Downing, Brian A. Bergamaschi, Carol Kendall, Tamara E. C. Kraus, Kate J. Dennis, Jeffery A. Carter, Travis von Dessonneck
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
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
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
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
Response of fish assemblages to declining acidic deposition in Adirondack Mountain lakes, 1984–2012 Response of fish assemblages to declining acidic deposition in Adirondack Mountain lakes, 1984–2012
Adverse effects of acidic deposition on the chemistry and fish communities were evident in Adirondack Mountain lakes during the 1980s and 1990s. Fish assemblages and water chemistry in 43 Adirondack Long-Term Monitoring (ALTM) lakes were sampled by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation during three periods (1984–87, 1994...
Authors
Barry P. Baldigo, Karen Roy, Charles T. Driscoll
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 E. Woodward, Michelle Hladik, Dana W. Kolpin
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