USGS CENTRAL REGION COST CENTERS

EASTERN REGION

ALABAMA

Studies underway on coal-related environmental problems, Alabama

Elise Irwin, Fishery Biologist, BRD-AL Coop

Brian Atkins, Humbert Zappia, WRD

Marty Goldhaber, Rob Lee, Alan Kolker, Jean Morrison, Jim Crock, GD-CR-MR

Joe Hatch, GD-ER-CR

Bob Finkelman, GD-ER-ER

GD, WRD, BRD

GD-Minerals Program-Backgrounds & Baselines

GD-Energy Program

BRD

Alabama State Agencies  

WRD scientists provide sampling expertise and data interpretation on stream waters; BRD scientists are working on the impact of acid drainage on biota from both low pH and elevated trace elements; GD scientists are evaluating the geochemistry of rocks and stream sediments in the drainages.

Series of online MF maps and abstracts have been published describing the origin and environmental impacts of elevated arsenic in Alabama coal.  Two journal articles are in preparation.

Aerial Photography

Larry Handley, Bill Jones, BRD-NWRC

Pat O’Neil, NMD-NWRC-MCMC

Lou Driber, NMD-MCMC

BRD, NMD

CWPPRA

Louisiana DNR

FWS

Mobile Bay National Estuary Program

AL Dept Envir.  Mgement

Acquisition of high resolution color infrared aerial photography for the Gulf Coastal states

Acquisition of aerial photos for five CWPPRA sites, Brown Marsh study area, two National Wildlife Refuges, and Mobile City, Alabama

CONNECTICUT

BRASS (Bedrock Aquifer Systematics Studies)

John Aleinikoff, Geologist, GD-MRT-CR

Janet Stone, WRD-CT District

GD, WRD

GD-NCGM

GD providing U-Pb geochronology, in conjunction with bedrock mapping (by R. Scott and G. Walsh), in the New Milford, Essex, and Old Lyme quadrangles.  These data will be incorporated with hydrologic data to derive hydrologic models.

Bedrock geologic map; co-authored article on geology, geochronology, and tectonics of eastern Hudson Highland, western CT; geology, geochronology, and tectonics of Bronson Hill and Avalon terranes, central CT

Bedrock Regional Aquifer Systematics Study Project (BRASS)

Robert B. Scott, Geologist, GD-ESP-CR

Janet Stone, Jeff Starn, WRD-CT District

Ralph Lewis, Connecticut State Geologist

GD, WRD

GD-NCGM

WRD

Identify hydrogeologic units that can be used to understand hydrologic flow in fractured crystalline rocks to better mitigate groundwater pollution problems.

Pump tests in areas where fracture characteristics are statistically collected can test models of flow.  Results will be coauthored and published in USGS, CT Survey publications, and/or outside publications.

FLORIDA

Tampa Bay Pilot Project

Jimmy Johnston, Branch Chief, Edward Proffitt, Branch Chief, BRD-NWRC

Kim Yates, John Brock, Oceanographer GD-CMG

WRD-FL District

Steve Dicks, Jim Griffin, Modeler, WRD-SW Florida Water Management District

Mike Crane, NMD-EDC

Dean Gesch, Senior Scientist, NMD-EDC, Raytheon ITSS

BRD, GD, WRD, NMD

Congressional add of $1M for integrated coastal science

Analyses of estuarine quality including linkage between mangrove mutation rates and pollutant history; water quality; seagrass distribution surveys; ecosystem productivity; use by nekton.

NMD will produce (1) a seamless high-resolution bathymetric-topographic data set for the Tampa Bay drainage basin for use in refining storm surge inundation estimates, (2) multi-temporal land cover and transportation data sets for the Tampa Bay region, (3) predicted urban growth states for the region at future timelines to serve as a basis for calculating impervious surfaces/runoff impacts to the ecology of the bay, and (4) a geographical analysis of the current and predicted future vulnerability and risk of the population and built environment from major hazards characterizing the region.

Initial reports and a August 2001 conference attended by partners and stakeholders in Tampa Bay. Additional work on-going this year.

Contributing geospatial data sets that project will integrate, manage, and make available to other scientists and collaborators.  Modeling and analytical results will feed other modeling efforts, and lead to an integrated assessment of the current and future state of the health of Tampa Bay.  The project hopes to develop a methodology that can be applied to other estuarine environments throughout the Gulf of Mexico.  Specific products include 2 open file reports, a minimum of one refereed journal article, and a collaborative integrated science project report.

Everglades Restoration Program, Mangrove Modeling

Tom Doyle, Wetland Ecologist, Ken Krauss, Wetland Ecologist, BRD-NWRC

BRD, NMD, WRD, GD

CESI, Cooperative Ecosystems Study Initiative

Upgrade USGS ecological models to assess freshwater alternatives for revitalizing the Florida Everglades.

Databases and simulation models capable of evaluating the impacts of different water delivery strategies on the ecology of the Everglades coastal margin ecosystems.

Gulf of Mexico integrated science project

Jimmy Johnston, Supervisory Biologist, BRD-NWRC

BRD, GD

GD, BRD, other state and federal agencies

Data clearinghouse for Tampa Bay reports; interactive map server

Human-Induced Land Cover Change, Biophysical Responses, and Implications for Land Resource Management: Chesapeake Bay and South Florida Case Studies

L.T. Steyaert, Remote Sensing Scientist, NMD-EDC

Deb Willard, Tom Cronin, Geologist, GD-ESP-ER

J.W. Jones, NMD

T. J. Smith III, Ecologist, BRD-FCSC

EDC, NMD, BRD, GD

FY01 funding through GRA Prospectus and GRA.  A Prospectus continuation proposal has been submitted for FY02

Interdisciplinary collaboration involves USGS (NMD, GD, BRD), Colo. State Univ. Dept. Atmospheric Science (land-atmosphere modeling), and the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (remote sensing science).  The study is investigating the potential effects of land use change on land surface processes and regional climate variability within sensitive ecosystems.

Publications

MAINE

Penobscot River: assessment of dioxins, furans, and PCBs in bed sediment and fish tissue

Carl Orazio, Chemist, BRD-CERC

BRD, WRD

Reimbursable funds

USGS Quality Assurance Officer for analytical methods

USGS publication; data to EPA on human health risk assessors and ecological risk assessors

MASSACHUSETTS

Toxicity testing of sediment from Massachusetts Bay

Scott Carr, Fisheries Biologist, BRD-CERC

BRD, GD

USGS (BRD, GD)

Joint toxicological assessment of marine sediments

Final report

MISSISSIPPI

Mississippi Science Center MOU

Greg Steyer, BRD-NWRC

Charles Demas, WRD-LA District Chief

BRD, WRD

State of Louisiana

US Army COE

BRD and WRD are partners with funding agencies to monitor large-scale restoration projects at Caernarvon and Davis Pond

Integration of WRD water quality and hydrologic monitoring with BRD landscape change analyses allows for improved evaluations of project effectiveness and management decision-making

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Characterization of Hydraulically-Conductive, Fractured Bedrock

K. J. Ellefsen, Geophysicist, GD-CICT

C Allen Shapiro, WRD-NH District

Pierre Lacombe, WRD-NJ District

GD, WRD

WRD Toxic Substances Hydrology Program

Characterization of fractured bedrock at field site near Mirror Lake, NH. Collected, processed, and analyzed well-to-well seismic data; final product was map showing probability of high hydraulic conductivity between wells. FY02 will characterize fracture bedrock at a contaminated industrial site near Trenton, NJ.

Developed software to process seismic data;  published on-line open-file report.  Published open-file report with seismic data and processing results (tomograms). Submitted an article to Jour. Applied Geophysics. Several presentations at technical conferences. For industrial site, expect a similar suite of articles.

NEW JERSEY

New Jersey Drinking Water – Land Use Change Study

Steven Helterbrand, Cartographer, NMD-MCMC

NMD, WRD

NMD-GAM

Work in collaboration with NJ WRD and various state agencies to focus on identifying potential sources of agricultural chemicals based on crop, yield, and chemical use practices.

Historic (decadal) land-use datasets spanning from the 40s through the 90s quantifying the changes in agricultural practices in a selected watershed in southern New Jersey and an open-file report on the land-use change technique and results already achieved will be written.

Characterization of Hydraulically-Conductive, Fractured Bedrock

K. J. Ellefsen, Geophysicist, GD-CICT

C Allen Shapiro, WRD-NH District

Pierre Lacombe, WRD-NJ District

GD, WRD

WRD Toxic Substances Hydrology Program

Characterization of fractured bedrock at field site near Mirror Lake, NH. Collected, processed, and analyzed well-to-well seismic data; final product was map showing probability of high hydraulic conductivity between wells. FY02 will characterize fracture bedrock at a contaminated industrial site near Trenton, NJ.

Developed software to process seismic data; published on-line open-file report.  Published open-file report with seismic data and processing results (tomograms). Submitted an article to Jour. Applied Geophysics. Several presentations at technical conferences. For industrial site, expect a similar suite of articles.

NEW YORK

Toxicity of sediments from the New York Bight

Scott Carr, Fisheries Biologist, BRD-CERC

BRD, GD

USGS (BRD, GD)

Joint toxicological assessment of marine sediments

TENNESSEE

Earthquake Hazards of the Central and Eastern United States

Eugene Schweig, Geologist, GD-GHT Memphis

WRD-TN District

Mike Bradley, Susan Hutson, Ank  Webbers

Randall Updike, Associate Regional Geologist-CR

GD, WRD

GD-Earthquake Hazards Program

Produce a 3D model of the Memphis area, using extensive subsurface data and stratigraphic interpretations. 

Subsurface data base of the entire Memphis area, on a GIS system, merging stratigraphic and geotechnical data; various journal publications in journals; input to ground motion and ground failure models and groundwater hydrologic models for a city entirely dependent on wells for water supply

VIRGINIA

Chesapeake Bay impact crater project

John Aleinikoff, Geologist, GD-MRT-CR

GD, WRD

GD-NCGM Program

WRD

 Hampton Roads Planning District Commission

Providing U-Pb geochronology, in conjunction with petrography and geochemistry of basement crystalline rocks and a felsite clast.  Numerous studies by GD, WRD, numerous outside collaborators.

Abstracts at national meetings; chapter in USGS Professional Paper

Human-Induced Land Cover Change, Biophysical Responses, and Implications for Land Resource Management: Chesapeake Bay and South Florida Case Studies

L.T. Steyaert, Remote Sensing Scientist, NMD-EDC

Deb Willard, Tom Cronin, Geologist, GD-ESP-ER

J.W. Jones, NMD

T. J. Smith III, Ecologist, BRD-FCSC

EDC, NMD, BRD, GD

FY01 funding through GRA Prospectus and GRA.  A Prospectus continuation proposal has been submitted for FY02

Interdisciplinary collaboration involves USGS (NMD, GD, BRD), Colo. State Univ. Dept. Atmospheric Science (land-atmosphere modeling), and the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (remote sensing science).  The study is investigating the potential effects of land use change on land surface processes and regional climate variability within sensitive ecosystems.

Publications

WEST VIRGINIA

West Virginia: Impact of coal fly ash on West Virginia geochemical landscape

Ted Callender, Doug Chambers, Hugh Bevins, WRD

Marty Goldhaber, GD-MR-CR

Rich Reynolds, GD-ESP-CR

Andrew Grosz, Robert Ayuso, GD-MRT-ER

GD, WRD

GD-Minerals Program, Energy Program

WRD (National Acid Deposition Program and Status and Trends Project)

Regional soil and stream sediment geochemistry studies in the northeast and focused studies in West Virginia on reservoir sediments.  Studies are designed to understand the timing and geochemical impacts of particulate coal fly ash in a portion of the northeastern U.S. impacted by acid deposition from coal combustion.

Oral presentation at GSA annual meeting in Boston, a second at an international geochemical meeting in Hawaii in March 2002.  Two journal articles are planned, one on impact of potentially toxic trace elements on the geochemical landscape of West Virginia, one on the atmospheric depositional history of arsenic in a series of reservoirs across the U.S. 

CENTRAL REGION

ARKANSAS

Tributary land use and aquatic habitat quality, Buffalo National River and Ozark National Scenic Riverways

Robert Jacobson, Hydrologist, BRD-CERC

Jim Petersen, Hydrologist, WRD-AR District

BRD, WRD

BRD base and Cyclical (NPS NRPP)

Data collection at same sites, co-writing reports, collegial interaction, co-writing proposals

Journal article reports; geospatial datasets; web dissemination

Land use and climate effects on the geomorphology of Ozark Highlands streams

Robert Jacobson, Hydrologist, BRD-CERC

BRD, GD

Appropriated base (BRD,GD)

Data collection at same sites, co-writing reports, collegial interaction

Journal article reports; web dissemination

Fish assemblages of the Buffalo River Basin and their relation to selected environmental factors

Jim Petersen, Hydrologist, WRD-AR District

WRD, BRD

NPS

Ozark National Forest

WRD DOI Cost Share

BRD is providing geomorphology and basin-characteristic data and in study design, fish collection, and interpretation

Coauthors on USGS WRIR report

Simulations of flooding on the White River in the vicinity of Clarendon

Jaysson Funkhouser, Hydrologist, WRD-AR District

WRD, NMD

WRD Coop (AR State Highway and Transportation Dept.)

NMD providing 10-m resolution DEM’s for use in compiling grid for model use

WRD authored report

Hydrodynamic and GW modeling of White River reservoirs

Reed Green, Hydrologist, WRD-AR District

WRD, NMD

WRD Coop

NMD preparing digital maps to construct computational grids for reservoirs

Fully functional hydrodynamic and QW simulation models of reservoirs—three USGS WRIR reports

COLORADO

Hatching success of two species of amphibians in northern Colorado in relation to water chemistry and climate and Characterization of amphibian habitats and environmental stressors in mountain west

Erin Muths, BRD-FORT

Don Campbell, Research Hydrologist, WRD-CO District

Stan Wilds, Jennifer Steffanacci, NMD

BRD, WRD, NMD

BRD base

WRD Toxic Program

BRD-monitoring of amphibian hatching success in breeding ponds; WRD-monitoring of water quality parameters in the same ponds; Collaboration to characterize habitat relative to landscape characteristics

Peer-reviewed publications; scientific presentations; co-authorship on journal articles

South Platte integrated assessment

Jill Baron, Ecologist, BRD-FORT

Jonathan Caine, GD-CICT

BRD, GD, WRD, NMD

BRD base

Workshop and planning for integrated assessment

Plans for integrated assessment

Loch Vale ecosystem study

Jill Baron, Ecologist, BRD-FORT

Don Campbell, Research Hydrologist, WRD-CO District

BRD, WRD

BRD base

BRD Global Climate Change

WRD (WEBB-Water, Energy, and Biogeochemical Budgets)

Ecosystem biogeochemical fluxes and responses; processes controlling weathering and snowpack chemistry.

Peer-reviewed publications; presentations to managers

Development of Geoenvironmental Models for Mineral Deposits (GEM) project

Rich Wanty, Chemist, GD-CICT

Briant Kimball, Research Hydrologist, WRD-UT District

Ken Bencala, Diane McKnight, WRD-NRP

GD, WRD

Mineral Resource Program, GEM project

salary coverage for WRD by Kimball’s project. WRD funding by the State of New Mexico.  

Working with UT District, CO District in SW Colorado, using an in-stream tracer method to quantitatively evaluate hydrology of a stream.  Cooperating with WRD/NRP, Menlo Park and Boulder on a project in the area around Montezuma, CO.

GD involved in geologic and structural characterization; WRD is evaluating flow through the thin soil zone on the slopes. 

Abstracts; internal publications; journal articles

Jefferson County, Colorado, Mountain Groundwater Resources Study

Jonathan Caine, Geologist, GD-CICT

Clifford Bossong, William Horak, Hydrologist, WRD-CO District

GD, WRD

GD, Mendenhall Postdoc

WRD Coop

Jefferson County, CO Planning Commission

EPA

Use of geologic mapping to map fractures and establish geologic framework in a complex Precambrian, fractured aquifer system for understanding and quantifying ground-water resources; use of highly innovative field and laboratory based fracture network data collection and analysis; probabilistic numerical model construction; discrete fracture network modeling fluid flow simulation for derivation of aquifer parameters; implementation of pumping tests, data analysis and interpretation; stream and ground-water- level data collection.

Collaborative preparation of manuscripts for scholarly journals; co-authorship of USGS reports and abstracts.  Reports to community at large, policy makers, planners, local health department officials, and the lay general public.

Abandoned Mine Lands

Bruce D Smith, Geophysicist, GD-CICT Katie Walton-Day, Research Hydrologist, WRD-CO District

Dana Bove, Stan Church, GD-MR-CR

Rich Wanty, Doug Yager, Stan Church, Tom Nash, Geologist, GD-MRT-CR

John Elliott, Rob Runkel, Alisa Mast, Research Hydrologist, WRD- CO District

David Nimick, Hydrologist, WRD-MT District

Win Wright, Paul von Guerard, Hydrologist, WRD, CO District

Carl Rich, Cartographer, NMD-RMMC

John Besser, Susan Finger, Aquatic Biologist, Aida Farag, Biologist, BRD-CERC

GD, WRD, NMD, BRD

GD Minerals Program

WRD Toxics

BLM

Geophysical input for subsurface characterization of ground-water modeling and ground-water resources for site remediation; use of natural tracers in delineated flow paths in mined areas; GD providing geologic expertise in support of tracer tests to characterize mining and pathways of mining contamination; For each of the two AMLI study sites (Boulder River, MT and Animas River, CO), NMD has collected base cartographic data and is integrating it with scientific information from BRD, GD, and WRD to create a GIS database, and a relational database of sample site data.  NMD is also creating a mine-related site inventory for each site, which will be included in each database.  The data will be published on a CD-ROM in a professional paper, and made available to the USFS and BLM for management of the affected areas.  NMD has also created and maintained the Initiative website, which provides publications and Initiative datasets to project scientists, and where appropriate, public visitors.

Cooperator report; integration into larger water shed USGS report; presentations at geological, geophysical, and hydrologic meetings; USGS publication on waste site characteristics; coauthorship on journal articles; chapters in USGS Professional Paper;

Professional Paper will be published for each study site.  NMD is contributing chapter on Mine Inventory and GIS and relational databases.  NMD is creating the CD-ROM (s) for each Professional Paper that will contain all data and information generated by the Initiative.

Irrigated land in the High Plains

Kevin Dennehy, Supervisory Hydrologist, WRD-CO District

Sharon Qi, Hydrologist, WRD-CO District

Alexandria Konduris, NMD

WRD, NMD

WRD NAWQA

NMD providing landsat thematic mapper satellite imagery

Coauthorship on USGS WRIR

Relation between GW movement and geologic structure in High Plains

Pete McMahon, Kevin Dennehy, Hydrologist, WRD-CO District

Carol Finn, GD-CICT

WRD, GD

Venture Capital

Using interferometric synthetic radar (IFSAR) elevation data

Journal article

Distributions of trace elements and microorganisms in soil horizons

Pete McMahon, Research Hydrologist, WRD-CO District

Dave Smith, GD-MRT-CR

WRD, GD

Venture Capital Proposal

Pilot study to map distributions

Effects of biosolids applications on the environment near Deer Trail, CO

Tracy Yager, Hydrologist, WRD, CO District

Dave B. Smith, J.G. Crock, GD-MR-CR

WRD, GD

WRD Coop funds (Metro Wastewater)

GD in-kind services

Collaboration on sampling and analysis

Co-authorship on quarterly reports and USGS reports

Investigation of Mancos Shale at the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area, CO

Richard Grauch, GD-MRT-CR

Paul von Guerard, John Elliott, Hydrologist, WRD-CO District

Dave Catts, Cartographer, NMD-RMMC

Steven Hamilton, Fishery Biologist, James F Fairchild, Ecologist, BRD-CERC

GD, WRD, NMD, BRD,

CR Regional Director Funds

BLM

Developing coordinated science activities in support of land management

Development of coordinated science strategy for NRCA; Development of a coordinated science strategy to support on-the-ground management; summarize current data  and data needs for developing integrated science-planning process; reconnaissance level data collection in FY02; planning document developed by USGS and BLM-NCA staff that outlines science needs, plans for meeting these needs, and scope of work for each research need identified in planning process.

BEST/NASQAN

Nancy Bauch, Hydrologist, WRD-CO District

Chris Schmitt, Fishery Biologist, BRD-CERC

WRD, BRD

BRD-BEST program

Development of approach for integrating components of the BEST and NASQAN programs

BRD Information and Technology report

Origin of clays in the San Juan Mountains

Dennis Eberl, WRD-NRP

Dana Bove, GD-MR-CR

WRD, GD

Co-authorship on paper

Applying Imaging Spectroscopy to Identify and Map Leafy Spurge in Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Ralph Root, Physical Scientist, NMD-RMMC

Susan, BRD-HDQ

Ray Kokaly, GD-CICT

NMD, BRD, GD

NASA

USGS SIR (BRD, GD, NMD)

Combine biological and physical science, remote sensing, and modeling expertise to map and model leafy spurge infestation.

Leafy Spurge maps of Theodore Roosevelt National Park and vicinity; periodic leafy spurge spread model.

Use of Hyperspectral Imaging Spectroscopy to Characterize Scoria deposits in Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Joe Sadlik, Cartographer, NMD-RMMC

K. Eric Livo, GD-CICT

NMD, GD

Prospectus, SIR (NMD, GD)

Using bighorn sheep horns to reconstruct historic changes in soil selenium availability from 1900 to present, Wyoming, Montana and Colorado

W. Ian Ridley, Geologist, GD-MRT-CR

David Naftz, WRD-UT District

GD, WRD

WRD

State agency funds

GD-Minerals Program

Provide laser ablation trace element analysis of sheep horn material and tree rings

Co-author a research paper

Location, distribution, and quality of infrastructure resources (aggregate, energy, water) in the Front Range urban corridor and the factors effecting reclamation and present and future resource availability.

Dan Knepper, Bill Langer, Geologist, GD-MRT-CR

Neil Fishman, Geologist, GD-ERT-CR

Rick Arnold, Hydrologist, WRD

Carol Mladinich, NMD-RMMC

James Roelle, Fish and Wildlife Biologist, BRD-FORT

GD, BRD, NMD, WRD

GD-Energy Program

WRD, NMD, BRD project funds

Implementation Team managed the integrated research and outreach activities of the Project.  The disciplines worked together to address various aspects of infrastructure resources, resulting in numerous joint publications

Conduct stakeholders meetings and field trips to demonstrate Project results and illustrate importance of resource considerations in land use planning in a rapidly growing urban area.

Project produced over 100 publications, many jointly authored in USGS Circular 1219.

Use of Oxygen-17 to Trace Atmospheric Sulfate Deposition to Surface Waters

Craig Johnson, Geologist, GD-CICT

M.A. Mast, WRD-CO District

GD, WRD

GD-Mineral Resources Program; WRD Water, Energy, and Biogeochemical Budgets Program; Venture Capital Fund

The recent discovery of excess 17-O in atmospheric sulfate by geochemists at UC-San Diego has opened the possibility that measurements of 17-O can provide a new tracer of atmospherically-deposited sulfate in surface waters.  GD analytical data and theoretical expertise in collaboration with WRD Colorado District hydrologists aimed at quantifying atmospheric sulfate deposition in alpine watersheds in the Rocky Mountain region.

Johnson, C.A., Mast, M.A., and Kester, C.L., 2001, Use of 17O/16O to trace stmospherically-deposited sulfate in surface waters:  a case study in alpine watersheds in the Rocky Mountains. Geophys. Res. Lett. 28, 4483-4486.  Anticipate a co-authored paper on the Loch Vale watershed to be published in Water Resources Research.

Spatial and temporal variability in DOC-mediated UV-B exposure in ROMO

Erin Muths, BRD-FORT

Paul Brooks, Univ. Arizona

Don Campbell, WRD

BRD, WRD, Univ. Arizona

ROMO

BRD-monitoring of amphibian hatching success in breeding ponds; WRD and UA-monitoring of water quality parameters in the same ponds

2 posters at AGU; peer reviewed publications

IOWA

Transport of nitrogen in the upper Miss. R. during the Spring 2001 flood

Stephen J. Kalkhoff, Douglas J. Schnoebelen, Hydrologists, WRD-IA District

Dave Soballe, Dennis Wasley, Biological Tech, BRD-UMESC

WRD, BRD

WRD (NASQAN)

Report product using combined WRD and BRD data to document amount of nitrate transported in Mississippi River during spring flood and relation to largest recorded hypoxic zone in Gulf of Mexico

Co-authors of journal article

Mississippi River Basin carbon cycling

Bob Stallard, WRD-NRP

WRD, GD, NMD, BRD

Application of TOPMODEL to Nishnabotna River Basin, Iowa

Related synthesis article

Assessment of the sources, fate, and transport of nitrate and bacteria in the Cedar River watershed of the eastern Iowa Basins NAWQA Unit

Doug Shnoebelen, Steve Kalkhoff, WRD-IA District

James Fairchild, Kathy Echols, B. Thomas Johnson, BRD-CERC

Sue Greenlee, Kris Verdin, NMD-EDC

BRD, WRD, NMD

BRD Central Region Integrated Science Partnership Funds

Field study

Report

KANSAS

Mississippi Basin carbon project

Dave Wolock, Hydrologist, WRD-KS District

Bob Stallard, Research Hydrologist, WRD-NRP

Norman Bliss, NMD

WRD, NMD

USGS--Global Change Research Project (WRD, NMD)

WRD helped with modeling landscape processes

No coauthorship on journal papers (Wolock served as a technical resource)

U.S. National Assessment

Dave Wolock, Hydrologist, WRD-KS District

Jill Baron, Ecologist, BRD-FORT

WRD, BRD

USGS—Global Change Research Project

WRD helped with modeling to look at climate-change impacts on water resources

Co-authorship on journal articles

LOUISIANA

NSF proposal investigating biocomplexity and the Mississippi  River

Charlie Demas, District Chief, WRD-LA District

Art Horowitz, Research Hydrologist, WRD-NRP

Rick Hooper, Hydrologist, WRD

Chris Barton, Frank Manhiem, Pete Swarzenski, GD-ER-CMG

Lee DeCola, NMD

Jill Jenkins, Microbiologist, BRD-NWRC

WRD, GD, NMD, BRD

NSF Grant to develop proposal

Tulane Univ. paid travel and per diem for USGS to participate

Assisting Tulane Univ. in collaborative effort to develop proposal

Proposal to Tulane; short article by GD

Wetlands/Nutrient retention/Carbon cycling

Tom Doyle, Wetland Ecologist, BRD-NWRC

Charlie Demas, District Chief, WRD-LA District

BRD, WRD

Clean Water Action Plan; NWRC base funds

Study designed to describe the role of coastal wetlands in nutrient retention and carbon sequestration

Products will help understand the processes that influence nutrient retention and the role of wetlands in reducing Gulf hypoxia.  A new component of this collaborative project involves the role of these wetlands as carbon sinks

Salt Marsh Dieback Syndrome Analyses

Karen McKee, Tommy Michot, Wildlife Biologist, B. Perez, S. Travis, Rebecca Howard, Ecologist, Larry Handley, Supervisory Geographer, S. Wilson, Electronics Engineer, BRD-NWRC

Chris Swarzenski, Hydrologist, WRD-LA District

ULL, LSA, UNO university faculty

BRD, WRD

Special emergency appropriation through NOAA and LA DNR. Initially redirected base funds.

Study and map extent of the dieback. Determine causes, needs, and techniques of large-scale restoration. Produce web site on the dieback.

Web site is operational and frequently updated with progress reports from studies.  An initial symposium was organized for 1/2000 and a second mid-term workshop was held 1/2001. Field surveys and experiments are in progress.

Atchafalaya Basin Advisory Committee

Sandra Thompson Decoteau, LA DNR

Charlie Demas, District Chief, WRD-LA District

Richard Day, Geographer, BRD-NWRC

BRD, WRD

State of Louisiana

Corps of Engineers

Advisory capacity, attend Quarterly meetings of the Water Management Working Group and Annual meetings of the Advisory Committee

Implementation of Projects by Corps of Engineers to redistribute water with its sediment and nutrient loads to improve water circulation and alleviate hypoxia within the Atchafalaya Basin.

Atchafalaya Basin Carbon Sequestration Integrated Study

Steve Hartley, Geographer, Richard Day, Geographer, BRD-NWRC

Cliff Hupp, Botanist, WRD-NRP

BRD, WRD

BRD appropriated

To integrate the GIS capabilities of NWRC with those of WRD field analyses to calculate carbon sequestration in backwater swamps

In early stages of project, however, a number of field maps have been prepared.  These include maps of soil, geology, vegetation, aerial photography, and locations of field study sites.

Investigation of sediment deposition patterns, nutrient reduction in forested wetlands, and carbon sequestration in river bottomland hardwood swamps

Charlie Demas, District Chief, WRD-LA District

Cliff Hupp, Research Botanist, WRD-NRP

Tom Doyle, Ecologist, Richard Day, Geographer, BRD-NWRC

Helene Markovich, GD-ESP-ER

WRD, BRD, GD

WRD (NAWQA)

COE

Venture Capital

CWAP

GD

BRD integrating productivity studies and GD integrating carbon work with Water studies; joint proposal writing; sharing results

Journal articles and conference presentation; carbon data will be used by WRD for journal articles

Monitoring potential impacts of freshwater diversions on peat marshes of Jean Lafitte National Park

Chris Swarzenski, Hydrologist, WRD-LA District

Tom Doyle, Ecologist, BRD-NWRC

Bill Orem, GD-ER-ER

WRD, BRD, GD

USGS/NPS Partnership funds (WRD, BRD, GD)

WRD supports BRD technician part time; BRD provides field and lab support for prime investigators—GD provides sulfur stable isotope analysis

Journal articles, future proposals

Investigation of the “brown marsh” phenomena that destroyed 100,000 acres of coastal salt marshes

Chris Swarzenski, Hydrologist, WRD-LA District

Don Cahoon, Ecologist, BRD-PWRC

Brian Perez, BRD-NWRC

WRD, BRD

WRD Coop (NOAA grant to Louisiana Dept of Natural Resources

WRD provides basic hydrologic data necessary for understanding this event

Journal article

Rectification and mosaic for Davis Pond and Caernarvon freshwater diversion projects in SE Louisiana

William Jones, BRD-NWRC

Louis Driber, NMD-MCMC

BRD, NMD

Army COE, New Orleans

Provide expertise in the generation of orthophotographs for Davis Pond and Caernarvon

Individual orthorectified frames and mosaic of entire project area

University of Louisiana, Lafayette and Midcontinent Mapping Center MOU

Larry Handley, BRD-NWRC

Pat O’Neil, NWRC-MCMC

Kari Craun, NMD-MCMC

BRD, NMD

BRD

Provide assistance to ULL/NASA Regional Application Center in development of digital data acquisition and archiving for coastal Louisiana

Development of an ESIC at ULL for distribution of digital data and preliminary acquisition of field data for LIDAR calibration site

Aerial Photography

Larry Handley, Bill Jones, BRD-NWRC

Pat O’Neil, NWRC-MCMC

Lou Driber, NMD-MCMC

BRD, NMD

CWPPRA

Louisiana DNR

FWS

Mobile Bay National Estuary Program

Alabama Dept Environmental Management

Acquisition of high resolution color infrared aerial photography for the Gulf Coastal states

Acquisition of aerial photos for five CWPPRA sites, Brown Marsh study area, two National Wildlife Refuges, and Mobile City, Alabama

Louisiana Topobathy

Larry Handley, BRD-NWRC

Pat O’Neil, NMD-NWRC-MCMC

Terry Felkerson, Mike Kling, NMD-MCMC

Dan Gesch, NMD-EDC

BRD, NMD

Army COE

NOAA

Produce seamless and consistent shoreline for coastal Louisiana using NOAA bathymetry and vertical data models and USGS topographic data

Development of a demonstration project at Port Fourchon and Grand Isle, Louisiana, merging bathymetric, topographic, LIDAR, and field surveys

National Technical Means

Larry Handley, BRD-NWRC

Doug Wheeler, BRD-ASC

BRD, NMD

BRD

Review and verification of NTM application to wetland resource management

Review integration of wetland habitat data from NWRC and shoreline developed by ASC for CWPPRA in Atchafalaya River delta

Topographic Map Revision

Larry Handley, NMD-NWRC

Pat O-Neil, NMD-NWRC-MCMC

Larry Jontz, NMD-MCMC

BRD, NMD

BRD

Provide review of 1:24,000 quadrangle revisions for coastal Louisiana

Review of eight quadrangles from 1998 infrared photography

Coastal Louisiana Restoration Monitoring Program

Greg Steyer, BRD-NWRC

Charlie Demas, District Chief, WRD-LA District

BRD, WRD

State of Louisiana

Army COE

BRD and WRD are partners with funding agencies to monitor large scale restoration projects at Caernarvon and Davis Pond

The integration of WRD water quality and hydrologic monitoring with BRD landscape change analyses allows for improved evaluation of project effectiveness and management decision-making

MINNESOTA

Ultraviolet radiation and environmental contamination as factors in the occurrence of amphibian deformities in Minnesota

Edward Little, Branch Chief, Biologist, BRD-CERC

Perry Jones, Hydrologist, WRD-MN District

BRD, WRD

BRD base

WRD Toxics

Assess toxicity and teratogenicity of environmental extracts from sites of deformity

Scientific presentations; technical report

Carbon cycle research on the waters and sediments of lakes and wetlands of the Shingobee River headwaters area of north-central Minnesota.

Walter E. Dean, Geologist, GD-ESP-CR

Tom Winter, Don Rosenberry, Jim LaBaugh, George Aiken, Mike Reddy, Rob Striegl, Research Hydrologist, WRD-NRP

GD, WRD

GD-Earth Surface Dynamics Program

WRD National Research Program

Cooperative research with on understanding and quantifying concentrations and transformations of carbon in lakes, and fluxes of carbon to and from the lakes and their sediments.  Studies also involve researchers from several universities.

Many research papers have been published, are in press, and will be published in outside journals.  Several USGS Fact Sheets have been prepared.  Winter, T. C., ed., 1997, Hydrological and biogeochemical research in the Shingobee River headwaters area north-central Minnesota:  U.S. Geol. Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 96-4215, 210 p.  Additional research papers will be published in a special issue of "Ground Water". 

Smallmouth bass in the Upper Mississippi River; reproductive success and quality of offspring

Donald Tillitt, Branch Chief, Chemist, BRD-CERC

Diana Papoulias, Fishery Biologist, BRD-CERC

Bob Goldstein, Biologist, WRD-MN District

Rod De Weese, BRD Coordinator for NAWQA

Jack Enblom and Phil Talmage, MN Dept Natural Resources

BRD, WRD

BRD

WRD-NAWQA

Study design, collection of fish, fish necropsies, transport of fish, reproductive study, biochemical analysis, histology, embryo rearing, report generation

Mercury cycling in Voyaguers National Park

Bob Goldstein, Biologist, Mark Brigham, Hydrologist, WRD-MN District

Laurel Woodruff, Bill Cannon, GD-MRT-ER

Jim Wiener, Fishery Biologist, Brent Knights, Biologist, BRD-UMESC

Jim Bennett, Wildlife Biologist, BRD-NWHC

Larry Kallemeyn, Aquatic Biologist, BRD-CERC

WRD, GD, BRD

MN Pollution Control Agency

NPS

BRD

GD

Gain better understanding of the factors that affect mercury levels in the Park

Coauthors of journal article

IRI study, MN

Tom Winter, Don Rosenberry, Research Hydrologist(s), WRD-NRP

Walt Dean, GD-ESP-CR

WRD, GD

Collaboration on study

Co-authorship on publications

Impact of global climate change on aquatic invertebrates in the northern Great Plains

Ned Euliss, BRD-NPWRC

Tom Winter, WRD-NRP

BRD, WRD

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

Data collection and analysis

Peer-reviewed manuscript

Areal extent of sediment overburden in restored prairie wetlands and the impact on recolonization by aquatic invertebrates and hydrophytes in the U.S. prairie pothole region

Ned Euliss, BRD-NPWRC

BRD, WRD, GD

USGS (BRD, GD, WRD)

Sample analysis

Ph.D dissertation; peer-reviewed manuscript; presentations

MISSOURI

Habitat dynamics in flood-plain wetlands and side-channel chutes, lower Missouri River

Robert Jacobson, Hydrologist, BRD-

CERC

Mike Slifer, District Chief, WRD-MO District

BRD, WRD, NMD

Appropriated Base (BRD), Quick Response

FWS Support Funds

Reimbursable

Data collection at same sites, co-writing reports, collegial interaction, co-writing proposals

Integrated surface water-groundwater models; journal article reports; web dissemination

Missouri River InfoLINK

Jeanne Heuser, Technical Information Specialist, BRD-CERC

Mark Laustrup, Geographer, BRD-CERC

Larry Robert Davis, Cartographer, NMD-MCMC

BRD, NMD

Base, Cyclical (NBII)

EPA Regions VII and VIII

COE

ESRI

NMD

Organization of meetings to develop protocols for the Ft. Peck experimental release (COE); development of base map themes and science themes using ESRI’s Internet Map.  MCMC is providing the technical expertise to BRD to convert all data holdings in INFOLINK to an upgraded ARCIMS implementation.

Maps; web pages; data summaries; report; easier access to INFOLINK information by the public and researchers, and ease-of-use feedback mechanisms to The National Map design and implementation teams.

The National Map – Missouri Pilot

Rick Bradford, Supervisory Cartographer, NMD-MCMC

NMD, GD

NMD-CTM

Provide geospatial and geologic data to support multi-hazards, risk assessment, mitigation, and emergency planning in the Cape Girardeau community in southeast Missouri

Geospatial and geologic data

Mark Twain National Forest Studies- Geochemical processes controlling the mobility and transport of trace elements in ground and surface water in the Viburnum Trend and Prospecting Permit Application Area and

Clearwater Lake Sediment Study

Mike Slifer, District Chief, Jeff Imes, Hydrologist, WRD-MO District

Martin Goldhaber, Geochemist, GD-CICT

David Leach, Geologist, GD-CR-MRT

Rob Lee, GD-CICT

Rich Harrison, GD-ER-ESP

Gary Krizanich, Physical Scientist, NMD-MCMC

Chris Schmitt, Fishery Biologist, BRD-CERC

GD, WRD, BRD, NMD

Senate add-on funding to the BRD appropriations

NMD-GAM

Providing information on potential impact of underground lead mining on the surface water quantity, drinking water quality and the possible effects on stream ecosystems in the Ozark region of Missouri.  Members of WRD, GD, BRD, and NMD are establishing the regional geologic framework, pre-mining baselines and backgrounds for fish and stream invertebrate habitat, the effects of current mining on water levels on drinking water wells metals in the bedrock, and the affects of mining-related metal contents in streams. Collaborate with WRD, GD, and BRD to quantify the long-term effects of lead mining on water quality in the Mark Twain National Forest. Sediment cores will be analyzed to determine the history of contaminant deposition from time of impoundment to the present. This information, along with mining practices used during that same period, will be used to predict the impact of similar mining operations in other parts of the Viburnum Trend.

Open-files have been released that provide the geochemical databases for the region.  The geologic maps have been prepared and are being released.  A final report integrating the studies is anticipated during the final year of the 5- year project (FY05). In FY02, sediment project is in planning and data collection step. Publication planned for next year.

Toxicity of Fire Retardant Chemicals to Fish

Craig Johnson, Geologist, GD-CICT

Edward Little, Branch Chief, Ecology, BRD-CERC

GD, BRD

GD-Minerals Program

BRD project funds

US Forest Service)

Cyanide is an important and potentially toxic constituent in some of the fire retardant chemicals that are being studied.  My role in the project has been to serve as a consultant on cyanide chemistry and on cyanide analytical techniques to BRD scientists in Columbia, MO.

A series of reports authored by Edward Little.

Impact of lead mining in the Ozarks, southern Missouri

Bill Brumbaugh, Chemist, BRD-CERC

Jeff Imes, Mike Kleeschulte , Hydrologist, WRD-MO District

Chris Schmitt, Fishery Biologist, BRD-CERC

BRD, WRD GD, NMD,

Congressional

USGS appropriated funds

(BRD, WRD GD, NMD)

Integrated studies of mining and its effects; assessment of impacts of mining activity on US Forest Service lands

Peer-reviewed joint publications; web pages

Geohydrology of  Fort Leonard Wood Military Reservation

Jeff Imes, Hydrologist, WRD-MO District

Doug Mugel, WRD

WRD, GD, NMD

OFA

GD conducting detailed bedrock geology and fracture mapping and preparing composite geologic map; NMD will develop and interactive computer database of digital maps and interpretive and analytical data

WRD—two reports published, one in preparation; GD—one report published and one in preparation

Changes in the hydrology and QW of the upper Osage Basin

Dale Blevins, Hydrologist, WRD-MO District

WRD, BRD

WRD Coop funds with Missouri Dept of Conservation and Missouri Dept of Natural Resources

BRD funds and assistance

Collaborated work with the Missouri Dept of Conservation to study the changes in hydrology, QW, and habitat because of installation of water impoundments in Kansas

Gaging stations have been installed; four reports are expected from the project

Applying Spatial Understanding to River Issues

Jeff Spooner, Geographer, NMD-MCMC

NMD

BRD

NMD-GAM

MCMC will collaborate with the Missouri District Office – WRD and the Columbia Environmental Research Center River Studies Station – BRD to develop riverine habitat model parameterization techniques, and apply the lessons learned in the Evolution of the Lower Missouri River Study to wetland rehabilitation and restoration.

Case studies to be included in an NMD status and trends publication. In FY02, if the results of the first project are available to be applied to this next step, then an open-file report will document yearly accomplishments

Impacts of confined animal feeding operations on aquatic resources

James Fairchild, Ecologist, BRD-CERC

BRD, WRD MO District

BRD base

Joint proposals; share data

2 AFS symposium presentations

MONTANA

Greater Yellowstone landscape ecology

Doug Ouren, Physical Scientist, BRD-NRMSC

Ray Watts, Geographer, NMD-RMMC

Ed du Bray, Geologist, GD-MRT-CR

BRD, NMD, GD

USGS Place-Based Studies Program (BRD, WRD GD, NMD)

Interdisciplinary Greater Yellowstone Initiative (jointly-planned activity)

Web pages, compilation of data and metadata on natural resources, journal publications

Effects of channel modification on fish habitat in the upper Yellowstone River

Dana Bovee, GD-CR-MRT

BRD, WRD

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Survey of Upper Yellowstone River for shallow habitat under different flows

Mapping of shallow habitat

Ecological causes and consequences of land cover change in the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem

Andrew Hansen, Assoc. Professor, Montana State Univ. (coop agreement with NRMSC)

NMD, BRD

NMD-HQ

CRO

Journal publications, geographic data summaries, web pages

Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI) in the Northern Rocky Mountains

Steve Corn, Zoologist, BRD-NRMSC

Alisa Gallant, Geographer, NMD-EDC

BRD, NMD

NMD and BRD ARMI Program

Application of remote sensing to identify and characterize amphibian habitats

Journal publications

Integrated watershed characterization of abandoned mine lands in the Prickly Pear Creek, southwestern Montana.

Joanna Thamke and Mike Cannon, Hydrologist, WRD-MT District

Aida Farag, David Harper, Fishery Biologist, BRD-CERC

USDA-USFS.

National Biological Information Infrastructure for the Northern Rockies

Doug Ouren, Physical Scientist, BRD-NRMSC

Lance Clampitt, Geographer, NMD-NRMSC/RMMC

BRD, NMD

BRD NBII Program

Development of web-based, multi-disciplinary natural resource information

Web pages, metadata, mapping tools for use by resource managers and educators, among others

Integrated geohydrology information and models for management of montane wetlands

Rick Sojda, Wildlife Biologist, BRD-NRMSC

Ken Pierce, Geologist, GD-CR-ESP

BRD, GD, WRD

BRD base

CRO

Interdisciplinary effort to characterize geology and hydrology of National Wildlife Refuge wetlands in relation to ecology

Inventory of GIS data; NWR maps of quadrangles, watershed delineation, wetland units, ownership, hydrology, DEM; poster; web site

USGS-MSU Earthquake Science Laboratory

David Lageson, Professor, Montana State Univ. (coop agreement with NRMSC)

GD, BRD

GD GHT, Golden, CO

Establishment of seismic lab using computers and software from GD with technical support from MT Bureau of Mines and Geology

Availability of real-time seismic data for education and research at Montana State Univ.

Floods and debris flows after the fires of 2000 in Montana

Kenneth Pierce, Geologist, GD-ESP-NRMSC

Charles Parrett, Hydrologist, WRD-MT District

Sue Cannon, Geologist, GD-GHT

GD, WRD

Landslide Program

CINDI

USFS

Worked on floods and debris flows that occurred in forests burned in the wildfires of 2000 in the Ashland, Canyon Ferry, and Bitterroot areas of Montana.  Rain gauges were installed and flood events described and measured.  Design data collection networks in three burn areas and document numerous debris flows in 2001

A report on three different types response to storms after forest fires in three areas of Montana

Coauthors on several journal articles

Investigation of abandoned mine lands in the Boulder River and Prickly Pear watersheds

David Nimick, Mike Cannon, Tom Cleasby, Joanna Thamke, Hydrologist, WRD-MT District

Aida Farag, John Besser, David Harper, Fisheries Biologist BRD-CERC

T.L. Klein, David Fey, Geologist, GD-MRT,

WRD, GD, BRD

USGS AML Initiative

USFS (BRD, WRD, GD)

Joint research efforts to assess the ecological impacts of metals associated with abandoned mine lands. Characterizing the geochemistry of stream sediments, mine waste, lake sediment, and cores of surficial materials as part of a interdisciplinary effort to understand the effects of abandoned mines and natural point sources of heavy metals on the water quality and biota of the Prickly Pear watershed, Montana.   Study design, field activities, data analysis, and report writing

Two Open-file report data releases; USGS Professional Paper and USGS Water Supply Paper are planned.  At least one journal article is planned.  Presentation made to the USDA-USFS and other interested parties in March, 2001 summarizing work to date.

Investigating the processes that cause concentrations of trace metals in small mountain streams to exhibit diel cycles

David Nimick, Tom Cleasby, Hydrologist, WRD-MT District

WRD, GD

USGS Venture Capitol

Design study and analyze data

Coauthors on several journal articles

Investigating the impact of the development of coal bed methane on the natural resources of the Powder River Basin

Robert Davis, District Chief, John Kilpatrick, Hydrologist, WRD-MT District

Romey Flores, Cyndi Rice, Vito Nuccio, GD-ERT-CR

Doug Posson, BRD-FORT

 Lance Clampitt, NMD-RMMC

WRD, GD, BRD, NMD

USGS Venture Capitol,; Funding requested from BIA for drilling project on Northern Cheyenne Reservation with hydrologic and geologic aspects

Attempt to develop integrated projects on various aspects of the issue

Development of integrated projects; study area in Wyoming was selected

Examining the cumulative impact of numerous channel modifications along the Yellowstone R on stream hydraulics and ecology

Charles Parrett, Steve Holnbeck, Hydrologist, WRD, MT District

Zach Bowen, Fishery Biologist, BRD-FORT

WRD, BRD

MT Dept of Natural Resources and Conservation

Army Corps of Engineers

Design of study to compliment work being done by Zach Bowen and provide him with needed information

Co-authors on several USGS reports

Application of stable isotope and trace element data to quantify food habits of the Yellowstone grizzly bear

Chuck Schwartz, Wildlife Biologist, BRD-NRMSC

Bob Rye, GD-CICT

Charles Robbins, Univ. Washington

BRD, GD

CRO

GD is providing lab facilities and training for UW student to conduct analyses of samples from captive bears fed diets of fish and other natural foods

Journal publications and technical assistance to resource management agencies on the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee

Geologic controls on ecology of Greater Yellowstone ecosystem

Don Despain, Ecologist, BRD-NRMSC

Ken Pierce, Geologist, GD-NRMSC/ESP

GD, BRD

CRO

Investigation of the relationship between surficial geology and plant community structure

Journal publications, information transfer to National Park Service

Integrated geoscience within the Greater Yellowstone area project: interpreting the ecological significance of recent geological findings

Lisa Morgan, GD-MRT-CR

Chuck Schwartz, Wildlife Biologist, BRD-NRMSC

GD, BRD

CRO

Provide ecological interpretation of geologic findings and collaborate on product development

Web pages, posters, information transfer to National Park Service, journal publications

Development of Tools and Methodologies for Emergency Assessments of Debris-Flow and Sediment-Laden Streamflow Hazards From Watersheds Recently Burned by Wildfire

S.H. Cannon, Geologist, GD-GHT

MT and ID District personnel (Al Rea, Steve Garcia, Jack Doyle, Chuck Parrett

GD, WRD

Landslide Hazards Program

CINDI

USDA Forest Service Adaptive Management Program

Develop methodologies for post-fire emergency hazards assessments and monitoring response basins burned by wildfire.  Monitoring data will lead to models for predicting peak discharges from burned areas as a function of basin characteristics.

Journal article on emergency methodologies to Environmental and Engineering Geoscience; produce a web page for CINDI; articles on peak discharge relations to Water Resources Research.

Using bighorn sheep horns to reconstruct historic changes in soil selenium availability from 1900 to present, Wyoming, Montana and Colorado

W. Ian Ridley, Geologist, GD-MRT-CR

David Naftz, WRD-UT District

GD, WRD

WRD

State agency funds

Minerals Program

Provide laser ablation trace element analysis of sheep horn material and tree rings

Co-author a research paper

Controls of geology on ecology of the Greater Yellowstone area

Kenneth L. Pierce, Geologist, GD-ESP-CR 

Don Despain, BRD-NRMSC

GD, BRD

RD provided 20 K to Don Despain (BRD) and Ken Pierce from late year funds for integrated science. 

Relations between geology and ecology in the greater Yellowstone area.  Correspondence between surficial geologic maps and vegetation maps have be investigated in the field, particularly the grassland-forest boundary.  Fine grained glacial sediment is associated with grasslands, and recording soil moisture probes have been installed across the grassland meadow boundary. 

Professional Paper chapter titled “The Yellowstone Hotspot, Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and Human Geography”, by Kenneth L. Pierce, Don G. Despain, Lisa A. Morgan, and John M. Good

Geomorphology and hydrology of wetlands in National Wildlife Refuges in the northern Rockies. 

Kenneth Pierce, Geologist, GD-ESP-CR   

Rick Sojda, BRD-NRMSC

GD, BRD

RD provided $20 K last summer from late-year funds

How surficial geology relates to surface and ground water hydrology of wetlands and wetlands ecology; work with NWR managers and scientists at two of the refuges (Grays Lake, ID, and Red Rock Lakes, MT) 

Surficial geologic maps of either the Grays Lake, ID or the Red Rock Lakes MT National Wildlife Refuge, and factors important to the wetland hydrology.  Masters thesis on hydrologic model of one of these refuges under advisor Professor Steve Custer

Abandoned Mine Lands

Carl Rich, Cartographer, NMD-RMMC

Stan Church, Geologist, GD-MRT-CR

David Nimick, Hydrologist, WRD-MT District

Paul von Guerard, Hydrologist, WRD-CO District, Western Slope Subdistrict Chief

Susan Finger, Supervisory Aquatic Biologist, BRD-CERC

Aida Farag, Biologist, BRD-CERC

NMD, GD, WRD, BRD

SIR (BRD, WRD, GD, NMD)

For each of the two AMLI study sites (Boulder River, MT and Animas River, CO), NMD has collected base cartographic data and is integrating it with scientific information from BRD, GD, and WRD to create a GIS database, and a relational database of sample site data.  NMD is also creating a mine-related site inventory for each site, which will be included in each database.  The data will be published on a CD-ROM in a professional paper, and made available to the USFS and BLM for management of the affected areas.  NMD has also created and maintained the Initiative website, which provides publications and Initiative datasets to project scientists, and where appropriate, public visitors.

Professional Paper will be published for each study site.  NMD is contributing chapter on  Mine Inventory and on  GIS and relational databases.  NMD is creating the CD-ROM (s) for each Professional Paper that will contain all data and information generated by the Initiative.

NEBRASKA

Relationships between hydrology and biotic communities of riparian grasslands in the Central Platte River floodplain

Jane Austin, Gary Krapu, BRD-NPWRC

Randy Parker, Hydrologist, WRD-CO District

BRD, WRD, NMD

USGS (BRD, WRD, NMD)

Data collection and analysis

Peer-reviewed manuscript; presentations

Geochemical and microbiological characterization of soils from areas of differing land use

Jill Frankforter, Hydrologist, Robert Joseph, District Chief, WRD, NE District

David Smith, NMD

WRD, NMD

USGS Venture Capital

Use of data by WRD for NAWQA

Evaluation of atrazine exposure to the Pallid Sturgeon on the Platte River

Ingrid Verstraeten, Hydrologist,

Robert Joseph, District Chief, WRD, NE District

Timothy Gross, BRD- FCSC

WRD, BRD

USGS/USFWS—Joint call for proposal

CNBR NAWQA will collect additional QW samples during the FWS tissue sampling

QW data will be used to evaluate the relationship between atrazine exposure and sturgeon health

Platte River Ecosystem Study

Steven Helterbrand, Cartographer, NMD-MCMC

NMD

WRD

NMD-GAM

MCMC will assist the USGS Platte team will concentrate on the Cottonwood Ranch site in the creation of cross-sections and historical ortho-rectified aerial photos over this small area. WRD will continue to work with the thermal imagery to develop a new technique to gather bird (sandhill cranes) counts.

Creation of cross-sections and historical ortho-rectified aerial photos; a National Map compatible ARC IMS site to make all the available geo-spatial data for the ecosystem; if the thermal imagery technique yields useful results, the technique will be published; and if MCMC produces a National Map Pilot report, the IMS version of Platte web site will be submitted as a section.

Infra-red aerial photography and computation flow models of Platte River to assess crane habitat

Jonathan Nelson, WRD- NRP

WRD, BRD

Supporting BRD biologists

NEW MEXICO

Ecological, Hydrological, and Geological Consequences of Burn Severity and Social Application of those Results

Raymond Kokaly, GD-CICT

Sandra Haire, Wildlife Biologist, BRD-FORT

John Moody, Research Hydrologist, WRD-NRP

Carl Key, BRD-NRMSC

GD, BRD, WRD, NMD

Director's Venture Capital Fund

Multidisciplinary study to assess abiotic and biotic responses to Cerro Grande Fire, NM.  Applying remote

sensing to assess fire severity across the landscape.  Will be linking these assessments with field studies of vegetation and animal recovery, runoff potential and debris flow hazard.

Series of peer-reviewed journal articles; new methods of quantifying burn severity and its impact on the recovery of the landscape; additional finding opportunities.

Investigate the factors that control fault-related GW flow in Middle Rio Grande aquifer system

Doug McAda, Hydrologist, WRD-NM District

Tien Grauch, Jonathan Caine, GD-CICT

WRD, GD

WRD Office of Ground Water

Collaboration on use of GW flow-modeling techniques

Coauthored journal article

Middle Rio Grande Basin Study

Dave Hester, Physical Scientist, NMD-RMMC

Jim Bartolino, Hydrologist, WRD-NM District

 Jim Cole, GD-CR-ESP

 Dave Abrams, University of New Mexico

Amy Budge, Stan Morain, UC- Santa Barbara, Dept. Geography

Keith Clarke

WRD, NMD

SIR (prior to FY 2002)

(WRD, GD, NMD)

NMD roles for MRGB Study are: (1) provide scientific information for MRGB land use and water resource planning, (2) produce base cartographic data for geologic mapping and enhancing the Ground-water Flow Model, (3) characterize landscape processes and develop techniques for determining change, (4) research prediction methods in order to forecast which areas are likely to urbanize, (5) model alternative land use scenarios for sustaining the region's urban development, and (6) establish an Internet site for disseminating USGS MRGB Study information.

MRGB USGS Circular 1222; MRGB Fact sheet; long-term maintenance agreement for the USGS MRGB Study web site; publish two landscape analysis posters (Landscape Change Modeling and Quantifying Landscape Change); publish two landscape analysis papers; publish land use transition web pages; complete land use modeling for the Albuquerque (28) 24K quad pilot area; serve landscape analysis data

Geologic framework of Rio Grande Basins

Jonathan Caine, Geologist, Tien Grauch, Geophysicist, GD-CICT

Douglas McAda, Jim Bartolino, Hydrologist, WRD-NM District

GD, WRD

NCGMP

WRD Office of Ground Water

Beginning a collaboration to develop a series of numerical ground-water flow model simulations to test hypotheses about the interaction of faults and ground water, and to analyze the sensitivity of fault zone parameters on the occurrence and flow of ground water. Compiling hydrogeologic information on basins and coordinating program activities of NRP, GD, and WRD

Collaborative preparation of a manuscript for publication in a scholarly journal, a WRIR, presentation of results at appropriate USGS workshops and Earth science meetings; Online data bases, GIS databases, journal articles and/or USGS reports

Molycorps, Questa Mine—Background ground water quality

Cheryl Naus, Hydrologist, WRD-NM District

Kirk Nordstrom, Research Hydrologist, WRD-NRP

Geoff Plumlee, Jeffry Lucius, Eric Livo, GD-CICT

WRD, GD

WRD Coop with New Mexico Environment Dept.

Collaborative work to determine geochemical processes controlling generation of trace elements in GW and SW downgradient from natural mineral outcrops and sites of mining activity

Journal articles and USGS reports

Impacts of Climate Change and Land Use on Southwestern U.S. —Arroyo cutting and alluviation in the Rio Puerco, N.M.

Milan Pavich, Geologist, GD-ER-ESP

Jim Yount, Geologist, GD-CR-ESP

Allen Gellis, Hydrologist, WRD-NM District

John Elliott, Hydrologist, WRD-CO District

Kirk Vincent, Hydrologist, WRD-NRP

Ray Watts, Physical Scientist, NMD-RMMC

Allen Gellis, WRD-MD District

Jonathan Friedman, Hydrologist, BRD- FORT

GD, NMD, WRD, BRD

Earth Surface Dynamics Program

BRD Global Climate Change

Integrated research to investigate natural and human-related impacts on erosion and sedimentation in the Rio Grande watershed.  Includes development of high-resolution (Lidar) DEM’s for modeling hydrologic processes (NMD), detailed hillslope and channel response monitoring and modeling (WRD), and Holocene history of cut-and-fill cycles and paleohydrology (GD, BRD).

Project studies (1) rates of erosion and sediment transport and (2) the linkages between sedimentary processes and climate in the southwestern U.S.  Research  involves extraction of geomorphic parameters from LIDAR cross-section arroyo measurements; comparative scale-dependent measurement of incision volumes for the Arroyo Chavez, NM catchment area; and incision volume mapping for northern NM.

Multiple investigator integration of dendrochronology, stratigraphy, and modeling

Numerous abstracts, web sites, and publication completed and anticipated in the future.

Papers on the iterative method used to extract inner-channel LIDAR returns from the ungridded data set, including longitudinal profiles extracted for the four LIDAR-characterized areas in the Rio Puerco basin; comparison of LIDAR-derived cross-sections with earlier, surveyed cross-sections; and scaling of incision-volume estimates.

NORTH DAKOTA

North Dakota Gap Analysis

Larry Strong, BRD-NPWRC

Russ Harkness, Supervisory Hydrologic Technician, WRD-ND District