Publications

Analysis of 2,071 ground-water samples from 970 wells throughout Wisconsin indicate large variations in ground-water quality. Ground water in Wisconsin is generally suitable for most uses, but in some areas concentrations of chemical constituents exceed recommended drinking-water standards. Iron, manganese, and nitrate commonly exceed recommended drinking-water standards and dissolved...

A network for monitoring the quality of water in the 13 principal aquifers in Minnesota has been designed and more than 400 wells and springs selected for sampling. The network organization includes four major elements; (1) point sampling, (2) point monitoring, (3) regional monitoring, and (4) site-specific monitoring. These elements constitute monitoring strategies designed to define...

A flow-routing model was used to simulate 44 years of stage data from Lake Koshkonong, Wis., and streamflow data from the Rock River downstream from the lake. The simulation was repeated for five possible degrees of consumptive use, ranging from zero to an annual average of 40 cubic feet per second. A minimum release rule was applied to the simulated operation of the dam at Indianford to...

This report presents estimated annual and monthly water budgets for Lake Wingra and the adjacent wetland area for January 1972 through September 1972. Annually, inputs from precipitation, surface runoff, and groundwater inflow are approximately equal (31, 34, and 35 percent, respectively). Outputs include outflow from the lake into Murphy Creek (70 percent), evapotranspiration from the...

The intense thunderstorm of July 5-6, 1978, caused record flooding on the South Fork Zumbro River at Rochester, Minnesota. The peak discharge on July 6 was 30,500 cubic feet per second compared with 19,600 cubic feet per second for the flood of March 1965, which was the largest previously known. The 1965 flood had a recurrence interval of about 30 years, whereas the 1978 flood had a...

Low-flow characteristics of Wisconsin streams at 397 sewage-treatment plants and 143 industrial plants in 30 river basins are presented in this report. The low-flow characteristics are the annual minimum 7-day mean flow below which the flow will fall on the average of once in 2 years (Q7,2) and the annual minimum 7-day mean flow below which the flow will fall on the average of once in 10...

An investigation of flood flows from small drainage basins in Minnesota is being made to aid in the design of bridges, culverts and other highway drainage structures. Results of the investigation provide peak-flow data on streams generally with drainage areas less than 50 square miles, placing particular emphasis on those with drainage areas less than 10 square miles. Basin parameters...

Water samples were collected from three lakes in Voyageurs National Park to assess chemical and biological water quality in March and August 1977. Bottom material samples were also collected and analyzed for chemical quality. Results of the analyses show that the water system was dilute; specific conductance ranged from 32 to 111 micromhos. Blue-green algae, particularly Oscillatoria...

The Nederlo Creek basin, in the "Driftless Area" of southwest Wisconsin, is geographically and hydrologically similar to other small basins in the area. Topography is rugged, with approximately 400 feet of relief between the boundary ridge tops and the valley floor. The water-retention structures (a dry floodwater- retention structure and a 43-acre reservoir) are to provide recreation...

Lov-flov characteristics of streams in the Trempealeau-Black River "basin are presented. Included are estimates of low-flow frequency and flow duration at 9 gaging stations, and low-flow frequency characteristics at 20 low-flow partial-record stations and 119 miscellaneous sites. Ten equations are provided to estimate low-flow characteristics at ungaged sites and at sites where one "base...

No abstract available.

The Wisconsin Department of natural Resources needs streamflow information in lake basins where lake-rehabilitation programs are implemented but where long-term stream-gaging stations are not justified. The U.S. Geological Survey provided streamflow estimates for 24 streams in Wisconsin. The estimates were made by the use of (1) midmonthly measurements, (2) basin characteristics, and (3)...