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
Nitrous oxide fluxes from cultivated areas and rangeland: U.S. High Plains Nitrous oxide fluxes from cultivated areas and rangeland: U.S. High Plains
Concentration profiles of N2O, a greenhouse gas, and the conservative trace gases SF6 and the chlorofluorocarbons CFC-11, CFC-12, CFC-113, and were measured periodically through thick vadose zones at nine sites in the U.S. High Plains. The CFC and SF6 measurements were used to calibrate a one-dimensional gas diffusion model, using the parameter identification program UCODE. The...
Authors
Edwin P. Weeks, Peter B. McMahon
A simulation-based approach for estimating premining water quality: Red Mountain Creek, Colorado A simulation-based approach for estimating premining water quality: Red Mountain Creek, Colorado
Regulatory agencies are often charged with the task of setting site-specific numeric water quality standards for impaired streams. This task is particularly difficult for streams draining highly mineralized watersheds with past mining activity. Baseline water quality data obtained prior to mining are often non-existent and application of generic water quality standards developed for...
Authors
Robert L. Runkel, Briant A Kimball, Katherine Walton-Day, Philip L. Verplanck
Assessing the concentration, speciation, and toxicity of dissolved metals during mixing of acid-mine drainage and ambient river water downstream of the Elizabeth Copper Mine, Vermont, USA Assessing the concentration, speciation, and toxicity of dissolved metals during mixing of acid-mine drainage and ambient river water downstream of the Elizabeth Copper Mine, Vermont, USA
The authors determine the composition of a river that is impacted by acid-mine drainage, evaluate dominant physical and geochemical processes controlling the composition, and assess dissolved metal speciation and toxicity using a combination of laboratory, field and modeling studies. Values of pH increase from 3.3 to 7.6 and the sum of dissolved base metal (Cd + Co + Cu + Ni + Pb + Zn)
Authors
Laurie S. Balistrieri, R.R. Seal, N.M. Piatak, B. Paul
Multiple-method estimation of recharge rates at diverse locations in the North Carolina Coastal Plain, USA Multiple-method estimation of recharge rates at diverse locations in the North Carolina Coastal Plain, USA
Recharge rates determined at diverse study sites in a shallow, unconfined aquifer differed from one another depending on the analytical method used and on each method's applicability and limitations. Total recharge was quantified with saturated-zone methods using water-table fluctuations at seven sites in North Carolina, USA and using groundwater-age dating at three of the seven sites...
Authors
A. L. Coes, T.B. Spruill, M.J. Thomasson
Geohydrologic assessment of fractured crystalline bedrock on the southern part of Manhattan, New York, through the use of advanced borehole geophysical methods Geohydrologic assessment of fractured crystalline bedrock on the southern part of Manhattan, New York, through the use of advanced borehole geophysical methods
Advanced borehole-geophysical methods were used to assess the geohydrology of fractured crystalline bedrock in 31 of 64 boreholes on the southern part of Manhattan Island, NY in preparation of the construction of a new water tunnel. The study area is located in a highly urbanized part of New York City. The boreholes penetrated gneiss, schist, and other crystalline bedrock that has an...
Authors
F. Stumm, A. Chu, P. K. Joesten, J.W. Lane
Use of carboxylated microspheres to assess transport potential of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts at the Russian River water supply facility, Sonoma County, California Use of carboxylated microspheres to assess transport potential of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts at the Russian River water supply facility, Sonoma County, California
Carboxylated microspheres were employed as surrogates to assess the transport potential of Cryptosporidium parvumoocysts during forced- and natural-gradient tests conducted in July and October 2004. The tests involved poorly-sorted, near-surface sediments where groundwater is pumped from an alluvial aquifer underlying the Russian River, Sonoma County, CA. In an off channel infiltration...
Authors
David W. Metge, Ronald W. Harvey, Robert Anders, Donald O. Rosenberry, Donald Seymour, Jay Jasperse
Widespread natural perchlorate in unsaturated zones of the southwest United States Widespread natural perchlorate in unsaturated zones of the southwest United States
A substantial reservoir (up to 1 kg ha-1) of natural perchlorate is present in diverse unsaturated zones of the arid and semi-arid southwestern United States. The perchlorate co-occurs with meteoric chloride that has accumulated in these soils throughout the Holocene [0 to 10−15 ka (thousand years ago)] and possibly longer periods. Previously, natural perchlorate widely believed to be...
Authors
Balaji Rao, Todd A. Anderson, Greta J. Orris, Ken A. Rainwater, Srinath Rajagopalan, Renee M. Sandvig, Bridget R. Scanlon, David A. Stonestrom, Michelle Ann Walvoord, W Andrew Jackson
Geoelectrical evidence of bicontinuum transport in groundwater Geoelectrical evidence of bicontinuum transport in groundwater
Bicontinuum models and rate-limited mass transfer (RLMT) explain complex transport behavior (e.g., long tailing and rebound) in heterogeneous geologic media, but experimental verification is problematic because geochemical samples represent the mobile component of the pore space. Here, we present geophysical evidence of RLMT at the field scale during an aquifer-storage and recovery...
Authors
K. Singha, Frederick D. Day-Lewis, John W. Lane
DOM in recharge waters of the Santa Ana River Basin DOM in recharge waters of the Santa Ana River Basin
Assessment of the composition, reactivity, and potential health effects of dissolved organic matter (DOM) is an important issue in the regulation and operation of groundwater recharge projects. The composition of DOM in various natural surface waters and reclaimed waters used to recharge the alluvial aquifers of the lower Santa Ana River Basin in California was derived primarily from...
Authors
J.A. Leenheer, G. R. Aiken, G. Woodside, K. O’Connor-Patel
Nitrification in the euphotic zone as evidenced by nitrate dual isotopic composition: Observations from Monterey Bay, California Nitrification in the euphotic zone as evidenced by nitrate dual isotopic composition: Observations from Monterey Bay, California
Coupled measurements of nitrate (NO3−), nitrogen (N), and oxygen (O) isotopic composition (δ15NNO3 and δ18ONO3) were made in surface waters of Monterey Bay to investigate multiple N cycling processes occurring within surface waters. Profiles collected throughout the year at three sites exhibit a wide range of values, suggesting simultaneous and variable influence of both phytoplankton...
Authors
Scott D. Wankel, Carol Kendall, J.T. Pennington, Francisco P. Chavez, Adina Paytan
Microcystin distribution in physical size class separations of natural plankton communities Microcystin distribution in physical size class separations of natural plankton communities
Phytoplankton communities in 30 northern Missouri and Iowa lakes were physically separated into 5 size classes (>100 µm, 53-100 µm, 35-53 µm, 10-35 µm, 1-10 µm) during 15-21 August 2004 to determine the distribution of microcystin (MC) in size fractionated lake samples and assess how net collections influence estimates of MC concentration. MC was detected in whole water (total) from 83%...
Authors
J.L. Graham, J.R. Jones