Publications

Over a 1.5-year period, water-quality data were collected for seven small drainage basins in urban aeas of Portland, Oreg. Analysis of the data followed three approaches. First, the constituent concentrations were analyzed. Average concentrations of suspended sediment, settleable solids, and fecal coliform bacteria generally exceeded levels expected for secondary waste-treatment plant effluent, wh

In the Portland-Vancouver area, storms and floods are presently being studied in 16 basins with drainage areas ranging from 0.21 to 6.63 square miles and with various basin slopes, degrees of imperviousness, and mixes of land use. Fanno Creek basin in Portland has the longest period of rainfall-runoff record, starting in 1973; Tryon Creek basin in Portland is next with a record starting in 1974. R

Storm-water-quality samples were collected from four subbasins in the Bear Creek basin in southern Oregon. These subbasins vary in drainage size, channel slope, effective impervious area, and land use. Automatic waterquality samplers and precipitation and discharge gages were set up in each of the four subbasins. During the period October 1977 through May 1978, 19 sets of samples, including two ba

Water quality was monitored in the Willamette and Columbia Rivers during a pilot dredging operation on December 16, 1977. Monitoring included in-situ measurements of pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and conductivity in the Willamette and Columbia Rivers; analyses of dissolved ammonia, dissolved manganese, suspended-sediment concentration and particle size, loss on ignition, and total organic car

Surface and core sediments from Tillamook Bay, Oregon, have been analyzed to determine modern and Holocene sediment sources and sedimentation history. Heavy mineral analyses established three sediment sources: (1) the five major rivers draining the volcanic and associated sedimentary rocks of the Coast Range, (2) small streams draining the sedimentary uplands that form the shoreline adjacent to Ti

A map of the Winston area, Douglas County, Oreg., shows areal geology and locations and chemical diagrams of wells with water analyses. Another map of the area has diagrams showing the depth to water, pumping level, total depth, and yields of selected wells. Reported yields of wells range from less than 1 to as much as 70 gallons per minute; the average is less than 10. A table listing chemical an

Water resources of the Umatilla Indian Reservation are poorly distributed both geographically and in time. On the reservation, only the Umatilla River and one of its principal tributaries, Meacham Creek, have significant perennial flows. Runoff of the principal streams is largely from snowmelt in the Blue Mountains and is highly variable. The principal aquifers are the Columbia River Basalt Group

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Rogue Valley Council of Governments, is studying surface-water-quality problems and their causes in the Bear Creek basin of southwestern Oregon. Two specific areas of investigation include: measurements of the quality and quantity of water in the irrigation canals and drainage system and the diel (during a 24-hour period) variation of water-quali

The bottom material of the Willamette River, Portland Harbor, was sampled in duplicate on February 1, 1977. Results are reported on the following analyses of the material: immediate and long-term oxygen demand; particle size; percent moisture; residue, loss on ignition; and chemical.

Bottom material from the Willamette River was collected and mixed with Willamette and Columbia River waters on May 17, 1977. The elutriate, as well as each sample, was analyzed for selected nutrients, metals, and pesticides. Results show that the average dissolved ammonia, manganese, and zinc concentrations would require dilution by receiving water to achieve aquatic-life criteria levels. 

For nearly half a century the Willamette River in Oregon experienced severe dissolved-oxygen problems related to large loads of organically rich waste waters from industries and municipalities. Since the mid-1950 's dissolved oxygen quality has gradually improved owing to low-flow augmentation, the achievement of basinwide secondary treatment, and the use of other waste-management practices. As a

For nearly half a century the Willamette River in Oregon experienced severe dissolved-oxygen problems related to large loads of organically rich waste waters from industries and municipalities. Since the mid-1950 's dissolved oxygen quality has gradually improved owing to low-flow augmentation, the achievement of basinwide secondary treatment, and the use of other waste-management practices. As a