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Publications

All of our publications are accessible through the USGS Publication Warehouse. Publications by scientists of the Oregon Water Science Center are listed below.

Filter Total Items: 755

The effects of two multipurpose reservoirs on the water temperature of the McKenzie River, Oregon

A one dimensional, unsteady-state temperature model using the equilibrium temperature approach (with air temperature used to estimate equilibrium temperature) is used to evaluate the effects of two Army Corps of Engineers dams and resulting reservoirs on the McKenzie River, from Delta Park (River Kilometer 99.9) to Leaburg Dam (River Kilometer 62.4). Both Corps of Engineers projects are on tributa
Authors
R. P. Hansen

Geohydrology and digital simulation of the ground-water flow system in the Umatilla Plateau and Horse Heaven Hills area, Oregon and Washington

The Columbia Plateau is underlain by massive basalt flows, with a composite thickness of about 10,000 ft. Structural features within the study area include a series of anticline-syncline pairs. The main avenues of groundwater movement in the basalt are the interflow zone between basalt flows. Individual interflow zones may be rather extensive in the lateral direction and are largely isolated from
Authors
A. Davies-Smith, E.L. Bolke, C. A. Collins

Water-quality variations in the Bull Run Watershed, Oregon, under 1978 to 1983 management conditions

During the period October 1978 to September 1983, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the City of Portland (Oregon) Water Bureau, conducted a study in the Bull Run River basin to define the hydrologic characteristics of the basin, and to examine relations between basin characteristics (both natural and man-made) and stream water quality and quantity within the basin. Hydrologically, th
Authors
F. A. Rinella

Appraisal of storm-water quality near Salem, Oregon

Stormwater runoff for the period December 1979 to May 1981, at 13 sites (12 basins) in the vicinity of Salem, Oregon, was sampled and analyzed for water quality. Constituent concentrations for urban storm water were relatively small when compared to samples from Portland and Medford, Oregon and to samples from Denver, Colorado. The data indicated that levels of suspended sediment, ultimate CBOD (c
Authors
T. L. Miller

Flood hazards along the Toutle and Cowlitz rivers, Washington, from a hypothetical failure of Castle Lake blockage

A recent evaluation of groundwater and material in the blockage impounding Castle Lake shows that the blockage is potentially unstable against failure from piping due to heave and internal erosion when groundwater levels are seasonally high. There is also a remote possibility that a 6.8 or greater magnitude earthquake could occur in the Castle Lake area when groundwater levels are critically high.
Authors
Antonius Laenen, L.L. Orzol

Low streamflow conditions in the western states during 1987

Drought conditions prevailed throughout the States of California , Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington during the summer of 1987. Streamflows were the lowest since the drought of 1977. Many streams had less discharge in August-September 1987 than in August-September of 1977. At some sites flows for July, August, and September were the minimum ever recorded for those months. The reason for the lo
Authors
L.L. Hubbard

Water quality of the Malheur Lake system and Malheur River, and simulated water-quality effects of routing Malheur Lake water into Malheur River, Oregon, 1984-85

Above average precipitation and runoff between 1980 and 1985 have raised the water-surface elevation of Harney, Mud, and Malheur Lakes in eastern Oregon to the highest levels recorded and have caused mixing and interflow of water among the three lakes. A 50% increase in specific conductance throughout Malheur Lake from 1984 to 1985 resulted from an increase in sodium and chloride concentrations, p
Authors
L. A. Fuste, S. W. McKenzie

Ground-water pumpage from the Columbia Plateau Regional Aquifer System, Oregon, 1984

Groundwater pumpage was estimated for 1984 for an area of about 8,000 sq mi in north-central Oregon. Pumpage data were collected from irrigation, industrial and public supply users and analyzed as part of the Columbia Plateau Regional Aquifer System Analysis (RASA) study. Groundwater is pumped from Tertiary basalts and interflow material of the Columbia River Basalt Group and the overlying Tertiar
Authors
C. A. Collins

Variable delay miniservo-control unit

No abstract available. 
Authors
M.A. Uhrich

Hydrologic hazards along Squaw Creek from a hypothetical failure of the glacial moraine impounding Carver Lake near Sisters, Oregon

A hydrologic hazard exists that could create a large-magnitude, but short-duration, flood in the Squaw Creek drainage and inundate areas in and around the community of Sisters, Oregon. There is a 1 to 5% probability that Carver Lake, located at elevation 7,800 ft above sea level on the east slope of South Sister mountain, Oregon, could catastrophically empty. At the U.S. Geological Survey gage (14
Authors
Antonius Laenen, K. M. Scott, J. E. Costa, L.L. Orzol