Robert T Ourso

Science and Products

• Science
  Label

  link

  

  August 20, 2015

  NAWQA Cook Inlet Basin Study Unit

  The Cook Inlet Basin (COOK) study unit in southcentral Alaska, is part of the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program. The long-term goals of this program are to describe the status and trends in the quality of a large, representative part of the Nation's surface- and ground-water resources, and to provide a sound, scientific understanding of the primary factors...

  By

  Alaska Science Center

  link

  August 20, 2015

  NAWQA Cook Inlet Basin Study Unit

  The Cook Inlet Basin (COOK) study unit in southcentral Alaska, is part of the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program. The long-term goals of this program are to describe the status and trends in the quality of a large, representative part of the Nation's surface- and ground-water resources, and to provide a sound, scientific understanding of the primary factors...

  Learn More
• Publications
  Label

  March 16, 2016

  Estimating flood magnitude and frequency at gaged and ungaged sites on streams in Alaska and conterminous basins in Canada, based on data through water year 2012

  Estimates of the magnitude and frequency of floods are needed across Alaska for engineering design of transportation and water-conveyance structures, flood-insurance studies, flood-plain management, and other water-resource purposes. This report updates methods for estimating flood magnitude and frequency in Alaska and conterminous basins in Canada. Annual peak-flow data through water year 2012 we

  Authors

  Janet H. Curran, Nancy A. Barth, Andrea G. Veilleux, Robert T. Ourso

  By

  Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center, StreamStats

  March 29, 2013

  Water quality of streams draining abandoned and reclaimed mined lands in the Kantishna Hills area, Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska, 2008–11

  The Kantishna Hills are an area of low elevation mountains in the northwest part of Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska. Streams draining the Kantishna Hills are clearwater streams that support several species of fish and are derived from rain, snowmelt, and subsurface aquifers. However, the water quality of many of these streams has been degraded by mining. Past mining practices generated a

  Authors

  Timothy P. Brabets, Robert T. Ourso

  By

  Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

  December 4, 2011

  Water quality of the Chokosna, Gilahina, Lakina Rivers, and Long Lake watershed along McCarthy Road, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska, 2007-08

  The Chokosna, Gilahina, and Lakina River basins, and the Long Lake watershed are located along McCarthy Road in Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve. The rivers and lake support a large run of sockeye (red) salmon that is important to the commercial and recreational fisheries in the larger Copper River. To gain a better understanding of the water quality conditions of these watersheds, th

  Authors

  Timothy P. Brabets, Robert T. Ourso, Matthew P. Miller, Anne M. D. Brasher

  By

  Water Resources Mission Area, Ecosystems Mission Area, Utah Water Science Center, Alaska Science Center

  October 30, 2006

  Water-Quality Conditions of Chester Creek, Anchorage, Alaska, 1998-2001

  Between October 1998 and September 2001, the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water-Quality Assessment Program evaluated the water-quality conditions of Chester Creek, a stream draining forest and urban settings in Anchorage, Alaska. Data collection included water, streambed sediments, lakebed sediments, and aquatic organisms samples from urban sites along the stream. Urban land use ranged from l

  Authors

  Roy L. Glass, Robert T. Ourso

  By

  Water Resources Mission Area, Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

  September 21, 2006

  Water Quality, Physical Habitat, and Biology of the Kijik River Basin, Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, Alaska, 2004-2005

  The U.S. Geological Survey and the National Park Service conducted a water-quality investigation of the Kijik River Basin in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve from June 2004 to March 2005. The Kijik River Basin was studied because it has a productive sockeye salmon run that is important to the larger Kvichak River watershed. Water-quality, physical habitat, and biological characteristics were

  Authors

  Timothy P. Brabets, Robert T. Ourso

  By

  Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

  January 1, 2006

  Water quality of the Crescent River basin, Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, Alaska, 2003-2004

  The U.S. Geological Survey and the National Park Service conducted a water-quality investigation of the Crescent River Basin in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve from May 2003 through September 2004. The Crescent River Basin was studied because it has a productive sockeye salmon run that is important to the Cook Inlet commercial fishing industry. Water-quality, biology, and limnology character

  Authors

  Timothy P. Brabets, Robert T. Ourso

  By

  Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

  June 1, 2004

  Water quality in the Cook Inlet Basin Alaska, 1998-2001

  This report contains the major findings of a 1998?2001 assessment of water quality in the Cook Inlet Basin. It is one of a series of reports by the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program that present major findings in 51 major river basins and aquifer systems across the Nation. In these reports, water quality is discussed in terms of local, State, and regional issues. Conditions

  Authors

  Roy L. Glass, Timothy P. Brabets, Steven A. Frenzel, Matthew S. Whitman, Robert T. Ourso

  By

  Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

  January 1, 2003

  Photographic techniques for characterizing streambed particle sizes

  We developed photographic techniques to characterize coarse (>2-mm) and fine (≤2-mm) streambed particle sizes in 12 streams in Anchorage, Alaska. Results were compared with current sampling techniques to assess which provided greater sampling efficiency and accuracy. The streams sampled were wadeable and contained gravel—cobble streambeds. Gradients ranged from about 5% at the upstream sites to ab

  Authors

  Matthew S. Whitman, Edward H. Moran, Robert T. Ourso

  By

  Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

  January 1, 2003

  Identification of linear and threshold responses in streams along a gradient of urbanization in Anchorage, Alaska

  We examined biotic and physiochemical responses in urbanized Anchorage, Alaska, to the percent of impervious area within stream basins, as determined by high-resolution IKONOS satellite imagery and aerial photography. Eighteen of the 86 variables examined, including riparian and instream habitat, macroinvertebrate communities, and water/sediment chemistry, were significantly correlated with percen

  Authors

  Robert T. Ourso, S.A. Frenzel

  By

  Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

  March 1, 2000

  Stream and aquifer biology of south-central Texas — A literature review, 1973-97

  This report summarizes in table format 32 aquatic vertebrate (primarily fish), 54 aquatic invertebrate, and 13 aquatic plant studies available for the area of the South-Central Texas study unit of the U.S. Geological Survey National Water-Quality Assessment. The studies, published mostly during 1973–97, pertain to the Guadalupe, San Antonio, and Nueces River Basins, the San Antonio-Nueces and Nuec

  Authors

  Robert T. Ourso, C. E. Hornig

  By

  Water Resources Mission Area, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center

  February 1, 1999

  Monitoring of Selected Water-Quality Constituents Near the Freshwater/Saline-Water Interface of the Edwards Aquifer, July 1996-December 1997

  The Edwards aquifer is the sole source of water for about 1.3 million people in and near San Antonio, Texas, as well as for ranchers and farmers throughout south-central Texas. Because of the demand for this resource, various studies have been conducted to better understand the Edwards aquifer and how the aquifer reacts to environmental changes and human influences. In July 1996, the U.S. Geologic

  Authors

  J.R. Cederberg, Patricia B. Ging, Robert T. Ourso

  By

  Water Resources Mission Area, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center

  January 1, 1994

  Effects of urbanization on benthic macroinvertebrate communities in streams, Anchorage, Alaska

  The effect of urbanization on stream macroinvertebrate communities was examined by using data gathered during a 1999 reconnaissance of 14 sites in the Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska. Data collected included macroinvertebrate abundance, water chemistry, and trace elements in bed sediments. Macroinvertebrate relative-abundance data were edited and used in metric and index calculations. Population

  Authors

  Robert T. Ourso