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: 18472
Relations between introduced fish and environmental conditions at large geographic scales
Data collected from 20 major river basins between 1993 and 1995 as part of the US Geological Survey's (USGS) National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program were analyzed to assess patterns in introduced and native fish species richness and abundance relative to watershed characteristics and stream physicochemistry. Sites (N = 157) were divided into three regions-northeast, southeast, and west-
Authors
M. R. Meador, L. R. Brown, T. Short
Interaction of lateral baroclinic forcing and turbulence in an estuary
Observations of density and velocity in a channel in northern San Francisco Bay show that the onset of vertical density stratification during flood tides is controlled by the balance between the cross-channel baroclinic pressure gradient and vertical mixing due to turbulence. Profiles of velocity, salinity, temperature, and suspended sediment concentration were measured in transects across Suisun
Authors
J.R. Lacy, M.T. Stacey, J.R. Burau, Stephen G. Monismith
Temporal connectivity in a prairie pothole complex
A number of studies have noted the occurrence of intermittent surface-water connections between depressional wetlands in general and prairie potholes in particular. Yet, the ecological implications of such connections remain largely unexplored. In 1995, we observed spillage into and out of a North Dakota wetland during two field visits. Between May 3 and May 26, there was a positive relationship b
Authors
S.G. Leibowitz, K.C. Vining
Geomorphic and hydrologic assessment of erosion hazards at the Norman municipal landfill, Canadian River floodplain, central Oklahoma
The Norman, Oklahoma, municipal landfill closed in 1985 after 63 years of operation, because it was identified as a point source of hazardous leachate composed of organic and inorganic compounds. The landfill is located on the floodplain of the Canadian River, a sand-bed river characterized by erodible channel boundaries and by large variation in mean monthly discharges. In 1986, floodwaters erode
Authors
Jennifer A. Curtis, John W. Whitney
Dissolved nickel and benthic flux in South San Francisco Bay: A potential for natural sources to dominate
No abstract available.
Authors
B.R. Topping, J.S. Kuwabara
The site-scale saturated zone flow model for Yucca Mountain: Calibration of different conceptual models and their impact on flow paths
This paper presents several different conceptual models of the Large Hydraulic Gradient (LHG) region north of Yucca Mountain and describes the impact of those models on groundwater flow near the potential high-level repository site. The results are based on a numerical model of site-scale saturated zone beneath Yucca Mountain. This model is used for performance assessment predictions of radionucli
Authors
G. Zyvoloski, E. Kwicklis, A.-A. Eddebbarh, B. Arnold, C. Faunt, B.A. Robinson
The saturated zone at Yucca Mountain: An overview of the characterization and assessment of the saturated zone as a barrier to potential radionuclide migration
The US Department of Energy is pursuing Yucca Mountain, Nevada, for the development of a geologic repository for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste, if the repository is able to meet applicable radiation protection standards established by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Effective performance of such a reposito
Authors
A.-A. Eddebbarh, G.A. Zyvoloski, B.A. Robinson, E. M. Kwicklis, P.W. Reimus, B.W. Arnold, T. Corbet, S.P. Kuzio, C. Faunt
Simplified method for detecting tritium contamination in plants and soil
Cost-effective methods are needed to identify the presence and distribution of tritium near radioactive waste disposal and other contaminated sites. The objectives of this study were to (i) develop a simplified sample preparation method for determining tritium contamination in plants and (ii) determine if plant data could be used as an indicator of soil contamination. The method entailed collectio
Authors
Brian J. Andraski, Mark W. Sandstrom, R. L. Michel, J.C. Radyk, David A. Stonestrom, M. J. Johnson, C.J. Mayers
Modeling flow and transport in unsaturated fractured rock: An evaluation of the continuum approach
Because the continuum approach is relatively simple and straightforward to implement, it has been commonly used in modeling flow and transport in unsaturated fractured rock. However, the usefulness of this approach can be questioned in terms of its adequacy for representing fingering flow and transport in unsaturated fractured rock. The continuum approach thus needs to be evaluated carefully by co
Authors
H.-H. Liu, C.B. Haukwa, C.F. Ahlers, G.S. Bodvarsson, A. L. Flint, W.B. Guertal
Effects of stormwater infiltration on quality of groundwater beneath retention and detention basins
Infiltration of storm water through detention and retention basins may increase the risk of groundwater contamination, especially in areas where the soil is sandy and the water table shallow, and contaminants may not have a chance to degrade or sorb onto soil particles before reaching the saturated zone. Groundwater from 16 monitoring wells installed in basins in southern New Jersey was compared t
Authors
D. Fischer, Emmanuel G. Charles, Arthur L. Baehr
Rime and graupel: Description and characterization as revealed by low-temperature scanning electron microscopy
Snow crystals, which form by vapor deposition, occasionally come in contact with supercooled cloud droplets during their formation and descent. When this occurs, the droplets adhere and freeze to the snow crystals in a process known as accretion. During the early stages of accretion, discrete snow crystals exhibiting frozen cloud droplets are referred to as rime. If this process continues, the sno
Authors
A. Rango, J. Foster, E.G. Josberger, E.F. Erbe, C. Pooley, W.P. Wergin
Modeling precipitation and sorption of elements during mixing of river water and porewater in the Coeur d'Alene River basin
Reddish brown flocs form along the edge of the Coeur d'Alene River when porewater drains into river water during the annual lowering of water level in the basin. The precipitates are efficient scavengers of dissolved elements and have characteristics that may make metals associated with them bioavailable. This work characterizes the geochemistry of the porewater and models the formation and compos
Authors
Laurie S. Balistrieri, S. E. Box, J.W. Tonkin