Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

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

Use of an integrated flow model to estimate ecologically relevant hydrologic characteristics at stream biomonitoring sites Use of an integrated flow model to estimate ecologically relevant hydrologic characteristics at stream biomonitoring sites

We developed an integrated hydroecological model to provide a comprehensive set of hydrologic variables representing five major components of the flow regime at 856 aquatic-invertebrate monitoring sites in New Jersey. The hydroecological model simulates streamflow by routing water that moves overland and through the subsurface from atmospheric delivery to the watershed outlet. Snow...
Authors
J.G. Kennen, L. J. Kauffman, M. A. Ayers, D.M. Wolock, Susan J. Colarullo

Human-induced changes in the hydrology of the Western United States Human-induced changes in the hydrology of the Western United States

Observations have shown that the hydrological cycle of the western United States changed significantly over the last half of the 20th century. We present a regional, multivariable climate change detection and attribution study, using a high-resolution hydrologic model forced by global climate models, focusing on the changes that have already affected this primarily arid region with a...
Authors
T.P. Barnett, D.W. Pierce, H.G. Hidalgo, Celine Bonfils, B.D. Santer, T. Das, G. Bala, A.W. Wood, T. Nozawa, A.A. Mirin, D.R. Cayan, M. D. Dettinger

Temporal downscaling of decadal sediment load estimates to a daily interval for use in hindcast simulations Temporal downscaling of decadal sediment load estimates to a daily interval for use in hindcast simulations

In this study we used hydrologic proxies to develop a daily sediment load time-series, which agrees with decadal sediment load estimates, when integrated. Hindcast simulations of bathymetric change in estuaries require daily sediment loads from major tributary rivers, to capture the episodic delivery of sediment during multi-day freshwater flow pulses. Two independent decadal sediment...
Authors
N. K. Ganju, N. Knowles, D. H. Schoellhamer

Fecal indicator bacteria and Salmonella in ponds managed as bird habitat, San Francisco Bay, California, USA Fecal indicator bacteria and Salmonella in ponds managed as bird habitat, San Francisco Bay, California, USA

Throughout the world, coastal resource managers are encouraging the restoration of previously modified coastal habitats back into wetlands and managed ponds for their ecosystem value. Because many coastal wetlands are adjacent to urban centers and waters used for human recreation, it is important to understand how wildlife can affect water quality. We measured fecal indicator bacteria...
Authors
G.G. Shellenbarger, N.D. Athearn, John Y. Takekawa, A.B. Boehm

Effects of turbulence on hydraulic heads and parameter sensitivities in preferential groundwater flow layers Effects of turbulence on hydraulic heads and parameter sensitivities in preferential groundwater flow layers

A conduit flow process (CFP) for the Modular Finite Difference Ground‐Water Flow model, MODFLOW‐2005, has been created by the U.S. Geological Survey. An application of the CFP on a carbonate aquifer in southern Florida is described; this application examines (1) the potential for turbulent groundwater flow and (2) the effects of turbulent flow on hydraulic heads and parameter...
Authors
W. Barclay Shoemaker, Kevin J. Cunningham, Eve L. Kuniansky, Joann F. Dixon

Estimation of groundwater and nutrient fluxes to the Neuse River estuary, North Carolina Estimation of groundwater and nutrient fluxes to the Neuse River estuary, North Carolina

A study was conducted between April 2004 and September 2005 to estimate groundwater and nutrient discharge to the Neuse River estuary in North Carolina. The largest groundwater fluxes were observed to occur generally within 20 m of the shoreline. Groundwater flux estimates based on seepage meter measurements ranged from 2.86??108 to 4.33??108 m3 annually and are comparable to estimates...
Authors
T.B. Spruill, J.F. Bratton

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

Near-decadal changes in nitrate and pesticide concentrations in the South Platte River alluvial aquifer, 1993-2004 Near-decadal changes in nitrate and pesticide concentrations in the South Platte River alluvial aquifer, 1993-2004

The lower South Platte River basin of Colorado and Nebraska is an area of intense agriculture supported by surface-water diversions from the river and ground-water pumping from a valley-fill alluvial aquifer. Two well networks consisting of 45 wells installed in the South Platte alluvial aquifer were sampled in the early 1990s and again in the early 2000s to examine near-decadal ground...
Authors
S.S. Paschke, K.R. Schaffrath, S.L. Mashbum

Regional nitrate and pesticide trends in ground water in the eastern San Joaquin Valley, California Regional nitrate and pesticide trends in ground water in the eastern San Joaquin Valley, California

Protection of ground water for present and future use requires monitoring and understanding of the mechanisms controlling long-term quality of ground water. In this study, spatial and temporal trends in concentrations of nitrate and pesticides in ground water in the eastern San Joaquin Valley, California, were evaluated to determine the long-term effects of agricultural and urban...
Authors
K.R. Burow, James L. Shelton, N. M. Dubrovsky

Herpetological Monitoring Using a Pitfall Trapping Design in Southern California Herpetological Monitoring Using a Pitfall Trapping Design in Southern California

The steps necessary to conduct a pitfall trapping survey for small terrestrial vertebrates are presented. Descriptions of the materials needed and the methods to build trapping equipment from raw materials are discussed. Recommended data collection techniques are given along with suggested data fields. Animal specimen processing procedures, including toe- and scale-clipping, are...
Authors
Robert Fisher, Drew Stokes, Carlton Rochester, Cheryl Brehme, Stacie Hathaway, Ted Case

Effects of urbanization on stream ecosystems in the Willamette River basin and surrounding area, Oregon and Washington Effects of urbanization on stream ecosystems in the Willamette River basin and surrounding area, Oregon and Washington

This report describes the effects of urbanization on physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of stream ecosystems in 28 watersheds along a gradient of urbanization in the Willamette River basin and surrounding area, Oregon and Washington, from 2003 through 2005. The study that generated the report is one of several urban-effects studies completed nationally by the U.S...
Authors
Ian R. Waite, Steven Sobieszczyk, Kurt D. Carpenter, Andrew J. Arnsberg, Henry M. Johnson, Curt A. Hughes, Michael J. Sarantou, Frank A. Rinella
Was this page helpful?