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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: 19021

Comparison of pesticide concentrations in streams at low flow in six metropolitan areas of the United States Comparison of pesticide concentrations in streams at low flow in six metropolitan areas of the United States

To examine the effect of urban development on pesticide concentrations in streams under low-flow conditions, water samples were collected at stream sites along an urban land use gradient in six environmentally heterogeneous metropolitan areas of the United States. In all six metropolitan areas, total insecticide concentrations generally increased significantly as urban land cover in the...
Authors
Lori A. Sprague, Lisa H. Nowell

Influences of the unsaturated, saturated, and riparian zones on the transport of nitrate near the Merced River, California, USA Influences of the unsaturated, saturated, and riparian zones on the transport of nitrate near the Merced River, California, USA

Transport and transformation of nitrate was evaluated along a 1-km groundwater transect from an almond orchard to the Merced River, California, USA, within an irrigated agricultural setting. As indicated by measurements of pore-water nitrate and modeling using the root zone water quality model, about 63% of the applied nitrogen was transported through a 6.5-m unsaturated zone. Transport...
Authors
Joseph L. Domagalski, S.P. Phillips, E.R. Bayless, C. Zamora, C. Kendall, R.A. Wildman, J. G. Hering

Fractionation of Cu and Zn isotopes during adsorption onto amorphous Fe(III) oxyhydroxide: Experimental mixing of acid rock drainage and ambient river water Fractionation of Cu and Zn isotopes during adsorption onto amorphous Fe(III) oxyhydroxide: Experimental mixing of acid rock drainage and ambient river water

Fractionation of Cu and Zn isotopes during adsorption onto amorphous ferric oxyhydroxide is examined in experimental mixtures of metal-rich acid rock drainage and relatively pure river water and during batch adsorption experiments using synthetic ferrihydrite. A diverse set of Cu- and Zn-bearing solutions was examined, including natural waters, complex synthetic acid rock drainage, and...
Authors
Laurie S. Balistrieri, D.M. Borrok, R. B. Wanty, W.I. Ridley

Relation between species assemblages of fishes and water quality in salt ponds and sloughs in South San Francisco Bay Relation between species assemblages of fishes and water quality in salt ponds and sloughs in South San Francisco Bay

This study was conducted to characterize fishery resources inhabiting salt-evaporation ponds and sloughs in South San Francisco Bay, and to identify key environmental variables that influence distribution of fishes. The ponds, which were originally constructed and operated for commercial production of salt, have undergone preliminary modifications (installation of culverts, gates, and...
Authors
F. Mejia, M. K. Saiki, John Y. Takekawa

Source and transport controls on the movement of nitrate to public supply wells in selected principal aquifers of the United States Source and transport controls on the movement of nitrate to public supply wells in selected principal aquifers of the United States

In 2003–2005, systematic studies in four contrasting hydrogeologic settings were undertaken to improve understanding of source and transport controls on nitrate movement to public supply wells (PSW) in principal aquifers of the United States. Chemical, isotopic, and age tracer data show that agricultural fertilizers and urban septic leachate were the primary sources of large nitrate...
Authors
P.B. McMahon, J.K. Böhlke, L. J. Kauffman, K.L. Kipp, M.K. Landon, C. A. Crandall, K.R. Burow, C. J. Brown

Investigation and hazard assessment of the 2003 and 2007 Staircase Falls rock falls, Yosemite National Park, California, USA Investigation and hazard assessment of the 2003 and 2007 Staircase Falls rock falls, Yosemite National Park, California, USA

Since 1857 more than 600 rock falls, rock slides, debris slides, and debris flows have been documented in Yosemite National Park, with rock falls in Yosemite Valley representing the majority of the events. On 26 December 2003, a rock fall originating from west of Glacier Point sent approximately 200 m 3 of rock debris down a series of joint-controlled ledges to the floor of Yosemite...
Authors
G. F. Wieczorek, Gregory M. Stock, P. Reichenbach, J.B. Snyder, J. W. Borchers, J. W. Godt

Analysis of chlorothalonil and three degradates in sediment and soil Analysis of chlorothalonil and three degradates in sediment and soil

A method has been developed for the simultaneous extraction of chlorothalonil and three of its degradates (4-hydroxy-2,5,6-trichloroisophthalonitrile, 1-carbamoyl-3-cyano-4-hydroxy-2,5,6-trichlorobenzene, and 1,3-dicarbamoyl-2,4,5,6-tetrachlorobenzene) from soils and sediments; the compounds were extracted using sonication with acetone and isolation of the parent compound and matrix...
Authors
M.L. Hladik, K.M. Kuivila

Redox processes and water quality of selected principal aquifer systems Redox processes and water quality of selected principal aquifer systems

Reduction/oxidation (redox) conditions in 15 principal aquifer (PA) systems of the United States, and their impact on several water quality issues, were assessed from a large data base collected by the National Water-Quality Assessment Program of the USGS. The logic of these assessments was based on the observed ecological succession of electron acceptors such as dissolved oxygen...
Authors
P.B. McMahon, F. H. Chapelle

Multi-residue method for the analysis of 85 current-use and legacy pesticides in bed and suspended sediments Multi-residue method for the analysis of 85 current-use and legacy pesticides in bed and suspended sediments

A multi-residue method was developed for the simultaneous determination of 85 current-use and legacy organochlorine pesticides in a single sediment sample. After microwave-assisted extraction, clean-up of samples was optimized using gel permeation chromatography and either stacked carbon and alumina solid-phase extraction cartridges or a deactivated Florisil column. Analytes were...
Authors
K.L. Smalling, K.M. Kuivila

Hydrography and bottom boundary layer dynamics: Influence on inner shelf sediment mobility, Long Bay, North Carolina Hydrography and bottom boundary layer dynamics: Influence on inner shelf sediment mobility, Long Bay, North Carolina

This study examined the hydrography and bottom boundary-layer dynamics of two typical storm events affecting coastal North Carolina (NC); a hurricane and the passages of two small consecutive extratropical storms during November 2005. Two upward-looking 1200-kHz Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCP) were deployed on the inner shelf in northern Long Bay, NC at water depths of less...
Authors
L.A. Davis, L.A. Leonard, G.A. Snedden

Mercury sedimentation in lakes in western Whatcom County, Washington, USA and its relation to local industrial and municipal atmospheric sources Mercury sedimentation in lakes in western Whatcom County, Washington, USA and its relation to local industrial and municipal atmospheric sources

Concentrations of mercury (Hg) were measured in six dated cores from four lakes in western Whatcom County, Washington, USA, that were at various bearings from a chlor-alkali plant, two municipal waste incinerators and a municipal sewage sludge incinerator. The importance of atmospheric emissions of Hg from these local municipal and industrial sources was evaluating by comparing the...
Authors
A.J. Paulson, D. Norton
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