Publications
Browse more than 150,000 publications authored by our scientists over the past 100+ year history of the USGS. Publications available are: USGS-authored journal articles, series reports, book chapters, other government publications, and more.
Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center Publications
Filter Total Items: 3226
Development of a depth-integrated sample arm to reduce solids stratification bias in stormwater sampling
A new depth-integrated sample arm (DISA) was developed to improve the representation of solids in stormwater, both organic and inorganic, by collecting a water quality sample from multiple points in the water column. Data from this study demonstrate the idea of vertical stratification of solids in storm sewer runoff. Concentrations of suspended sediment in runoff were statistically greater using a
Authors
William R. Selbig, Roger T. Bannerman
Use of instantaneous streamflow measurements to improve regression estimates of index flow for the summer month of lowest streamflow in Michigan
In Michigan, index flow Q50 is a streamflow characteristic defined as the minimum of median flows for July, August, and September. The state of Michigan uses index flow estimates to help regulate large (greater than 100,000 gallons per day) water withdrawals to prevent adverse effects on characteristic fish populations. At sites where long-term streamgages are located, index flows are computed dir
Authors
David J. Holtschlag
cloudPEST - A python module for cloud-computing deployment of PEST, a program for parameter estimation
This report documents cloudPEST-a Python module with functions to facilitate deployment of the model-independent parameter estimation code PEST on a cloud-computing environment. cloudPEST makes use of low-level, freely available command-line tools that interface with the Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2(TradeMark)) that are unlikely to change dramatically. This report describes the preliminary se
Authors
Michael N. Fienen, Thomas C. Kunicki, Daniel E. Kester
Endocrine active chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and other chemicals of concern in surface water, wastewater-treatment plant effluent, and bed sediment, and biological characteristics in selected streams, Minnesota: Design, methods, and data, 2009
This report presents the study design, environmental data, and quality-assurance data for an integrated chemical and biological study of selected streams or lakes that receive wastewater-treatment plant effluent in Minnesota. This study was a cooperative effort of the U.S. Geological Survey, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, St. Cloud State University, the University of St. Thomas, and the U
Authors
Kathy Lee, Susan K. Langer, Larry B. Barber, Jeff H. Writer, Mark L. Ferrey, Heiko L. Schoenfuss, Edward T. Furlong, William T. Foreman, James L. Gray, Rhiannon C. ReVello, Dalma Martinovic, Olivia R. Woodruff, Steffanie H. Keefe, Greg K. Brown, Howard E. Taylor, Imma Ferrer, E. Michael Thurman
In-stream water-quality estimation: Case studies in real-time stream and lake monitoring in the central USA
Five U.S. Geological Survey case studies in real-time stream and lake monitoring are presented. The emphases of the case studies are in-stream biological characteristics, fecal coliform bacteria, atrazine, phosphorus, and taste-and-odor compounds.
Authors
Victoria G. Christensen, Andrew C. Ziegler, Jennifer L. Graham, Rachel A. Esralew
MODFLOW-style parameters in underdetermined parameter estimation
In this article, we discuss the use of MODFLOW-Style parameters in the numerical codes MODFLOW_2005 and MODFLOW_2005-Adjoint for the definition of variables in the Layer Property Flow package. Parameters are a useful tool to represent aquifer properties in both codes and are the only option available in the adjoint version. Moreover, for overdetermined parameter estimation problems, the parameter
Authors
Marco D. D'Oria, Michael N. Fienen
Predicting lake trophic state by relating Secchi-disk transparency measurements to Landsat-satellite imagery for Michigan inland lakes, 2003-05 and 2007-08
Inland lakes are an important economic and environmental resource for Michigan. The U.S. Geological Survey and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment have been cooperatively monitoring the quality of selected lakes in Michigan through the Lake Water Quality Assessment program. Sampling for this program began in 2001; by 2010, 730 of Michigan’s 11,000 inland lakes are expected
Authors
L. M. Fuller, R.S. Jodoin, R. J. Minnerick
Water availability and use pilot: A multiscale assessment in the U.S. Great Lakes Basin
Beginning in 2005, water availability and use were assessed for the U.S. part of the Great Lakes Basin through the Great Lakes Basin Pilot of a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) national assessment of water availability and use. The goals of a national assessment of water availability and use are to clarify our understanding of water-availability status and trends and improve our ability to forecast t
Authors
Howard W. Reeves
Approaches to highly parameterized inversion: Pilot-point theory, guidelines, and research directions
Pilot points have been used in geophysics and hydrogeology for at least 30 years as a means to bridge the gap between estimating a parameter value in every cell of a model and subdividing models into a small number of homogeneous zones. Pilot points serve as surrogate parameters at which values are estimated in the inverse-modeling process, and their values are interpolated onto the modeling domai
Authors
John E. Doherty, Michael N. Fienen, Randall J. Hunt
Source apportionment of atmospheric trace gases and particulate matter--Comparison of log-ratio and traditional approaches
No abstract available.
Authors
Mark A. Engle, Bernhard Peucker-Ehrenbrink, Josep M. Martín-Fernández, David P. Krabbenhoft, Paul J. Lamothe, Michael H. Bothner, Ricardo A. Olea, Allan Kolker, Michael T. Tate
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Energy Resources Program, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Mercury Research Laboratory
Nutrient inputs to the Laurentian Great Lakes by source and watershed estimated using SPARROW watershed models
Nutrient input to the Laurentian Great Lakes continues to cause problems with eutrophication. To reduce the extent and severity of these problems, target nutrient loads were established and Total Maximum Daily Loads are being developed for many tributaries. Without detailed loading information it is difficult to determine if the targets are being met and how to prioritize rehabilitation efforts. T
Authors
Dale M. Robertson, David A. Saad
Biomarkers of mercury exposure in two eastern Ukraine cities
This study evaluates biomarkers of mercury exposure among residents of Horlivka, a city in eastern Ukraine located in an area with geologic and industrial sources of environmental mercury, and residents of Artemivsk, a nearby comparison city outside the mercury-enriched area. Samples of urine, blood, hair, and nails were collected from study participants, and a questionnaire was administered to ob
Authors
H. Gibb, C. Haver, K. Kozlov, J.A. Centeno, V. Jurgenson, Allan Kolker, Kathryn M. Conko, Edward R. Landa, H. Xu