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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: 19116

From deposition to erosion: Spatial and temporal variability of sediment sources, storage, and transport in a small agricultural watershed From deposition to erosion: Spatial and temporal variability of sediment sources, storage, and transport in a small agricultural watershed

The spatial and temporal variability of sediment sources, storage, and transport were investigated in a small agricultural watershed draining the Coast Ranges and Sacramento Valley in central California. Results of field, laboratory, and historical data analysis in the Willow Slough fluvial system document changes that transformed a transport-limited depositional system to an effective...
Authors
J.L. Florsheim, B.A. Pellerin, N.H. Oh, N. Ohara, P.A.M. Bachand, Sandra M. Bachand, B.A. Bergamaschi, P.J. Hernes, M.L. Kavvas

Projected evolution of California's San Francisco bay-delta-river system in a century of climate change Projected evolution of California's San Francisco bay-delta-river system in a century of climate change

Background: Accumulating evidence shows that the planet is warming as a response to human emissions of greenhouse gases. Strategies of adaptation to climate change will require quantitative projections of how altered regional patterns of temperature, precipitation and sea level could cascade to provoke local impacts such as modified water supplies, increasing risks of coastal flooding...
Authors
James E. Cloern, Noah Knowles, Larry R. Brown, Daniel R. Cayan, Michael D. Dettinger, Tara L. Morgan, David H. Schoellhamer, Mark T. Stacey, Mick Van der Wegen, R.W. Wagner, Alan D. Jassby

The influence of irrigation water on the hydrology and lake water budgets of two small arid-climate lakes in Khorezm, Uzbekistan The influence of irrigation water on the hydrology and lake water budgets of two small arid-climate lakes in Khorezm, Uzbekistan

Little is known regarding the origins and hydrology of hundreds of small lakes located in the western Uzbekistan province of Khorezm, Central Asia. Situated in the Aral Sea Basin, Khorezm is a productive agricultural region, growing mainly cotton, wheat, and rice. Irrigation is provided by an extensive canal network that conveys water from the Amu Darya River (AD) throughout the province...
Authors
J. Scott, Michael R. Rosen, L. Saito, D.L. Decker

Precision of two methods for estimating age from burbot otoliths Precision of two methods for estimating age from burbot otoliths

Lower reproductive success and older age structure are associated with many burbot (Lota lota L.) populations that are declining or of conservation concern. Therefore, reliable methods for estimating the age of burbot are critical for effective assessment and management. In Lake Erie, burbot populations have declined in recent years due to the combined effects of an aging population (...
Authors
W.H. Edwards, M.A. Stapanian, A.T. Stoneman

A comparison of methods to assess long-term changes in Sonoran Desert vegetation A comparison of methods to assess long-term changes in Sonoran Desert vegetation

Knowledge about the condition of vegetation cover and composition is critical for assessing the structure and function of ecosystems. To effectively quantify the impacts of a rapidly changing environment, methods to track long-term trends of vegetation must be precise, repeatable, and time- and cost-efficient. Measuring vegetation cover and composition in arid and semiarid regions is...
Authors
S.M. Munson, R. H. Webb, J.A. Hubbard

Factors affecting stream nutrient loads: A synthesis of regional SPARROW model results for the continental United States Factors affecting stream nutrient loads: A synthesis of regional SPARROW model results for the continental United States

We compared the results of 12 recently calibrated regional SPARROW (SPAtially Referenced Regressions On Watershed attributes) models covering most of the continental United States to evaluate the consistency and regional differences in factors affecting stream nutrient loads. The models – 6 for total nitrogen and 6 for total phosphorus – all provide similar levels of prediction accuracy...
Authors
Stephen D. Preston, Richard B. Alexander, Gregory E. Schwarz, Charles G. Crawford

A comparison of recharge rates in aquifers of the United States based on groundwater-age data A comparison of recharge rates in aquifers of the United States based on groundwater-age data

An overview is presented of existing groundwater-age data and their implications for assessing rates and timescales of recharge in selected unconfined aquifer systems of the United States. Apparent age distributions in aquifers determined from chlorofluorocarbon, sulfur hexafluoride, tritium/helium-3, and radiocarbon measurements from 565 wells in 45 networks were used to calculate...
Authors
P.B. McMahon, Niel Plummer, J.K. Böhlke, S.D. Shapiro, S.R. Hinkle

Effects of humic substances on precipitation and aggregation of zinc sulfide nanoparticles Effects of humic substances on precipitation and aggregation of zinc sulfide nanoparticles

Nanoparticulate metal sulfides such as ZnS can influence the transport and bioavailability of pollutant metals in anaerobic environments. The aim of this work was to investigate how the composition of dissolved natural organic matter (NOM) influences the stability of zinc sulfide nanoparticles as they nucleate and aggregate in water with dissolved NOM. We compared NOM fractions that were...
Authors
Amrika Deonarine, Boris Lau, George R. Aiken, Joseph N. Ryan, Heileen Hsu-Kim

Field flume reveals aquatic vegetation's role in sediment and particulate phosphorus transport in a shallow aquatic ecosystem Field flume reveals aquatic vegetation's role in sediment and particulate phosphorus transport in a shallow aquatic ecosystem

Flow interactions with aquatic vegetation and effects on sediment transport and nutrient redistribution are uncertain in shallow aquatic ecosystems. Here we quantified sediment transport in the Everglades by progressively increasing flow velocity in a field flume constructed around undisturbed bed sediment and emergent macrophytes. Suspended sediment 100 μm was dominant in the lower...
Authors
J. W. Harvey, G.B. Noe, L. G. Larsen, D.J. Nowacki, L.E. McPhillips

Flow structures and sandbar dynamics in a canyon river during a controlled flood, Colorado River, Arizona Flow structures and sandbar dynamics in a canyon river during a controlled flood, Colorado River, Arizona

In canyon rivers, debris fan constrictions create rapids and downstream pools characterized by secondary flow structures that are closely linked to channel morphology. In this paper we describe detailed measurements of the three‐dimensional flow structure and sandbar dynamics of two pools along the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon during a controlled flood release from Glen Canyon Dam...
Authors
Scott Wright, M. Kaplinski

Effects of human-induced alteration of groundwater flow on concentrations of naturally-occurring trace elements at water-supply wells Effects of human-induced alteration of groundwater flow on concentrations of naturally-occurring trace elements at water-supply wells

The effects of human-induced alteration of groundwater flow patterns on concentrations of naturally-occurring trace elements were examined in five hydrologically distinct aquifer systems in the USA. Although naturally occurring, these trace elements can exceed concentrations that are considered harmful to human health. The results show that pumping-induced hydraulic gradient changes and...
Authors
J. D. Ayotte, Z. Szabo, M. J. Focazio, S. M. Eberts
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