Current Water-Resources Activities
Recent Publications of the Ohio District
Since 1879, the research and fact-finding role of the USGS has evolved to meet the changing needs of the Nation it serves. As part of that evolution, the USGS has become the Federal government's largest earth-science research agency, the Nation's largest civilian map-making agency, the primary source of data on the Nation's water resources, and the employer of the largest number of professional earth scientists.
Along with its continuing commitment to meet the evolving earth-science needs of the Nation, the USGS remains dedicated to its original mission to collect, analyze, interpret, and disseminate information about the natural resources of the Nation--providing "Science for a Changing World."
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The National Mapping Division provides accurate, up-to-date cartographic data and information for the United States; these data products and information constitute a framework of spatial information needed by Federal, State, and local government agencies, as well as the private sector, to address such problems as conserving natural resources, identifying and mitigating hazards, defining and studying ecosystems, and supporting economic development.
The Geologic Division is responsible for geologic and mineral resource surveys and mapping for the Department of the Interior in order to provide objective, reliable earth-science information on geologic hazards, geologic resources, and geologic framework.
The Biological Resources Division develops scientific and statistically reliable methods of assessing the status and trends of the Nation's biological resources and uses existing tools from the biological, physical, and social sciences to understand the causes of biological and ecological trends and to predict the ecological consequences of management practices.
The Water Resources Division provides the hydrologic information needed for the optimum use and management of the Nation's water resources. This is accomplished largely through cooperation with other Federal and non-Federal agencies.
All of these divisions enter into partnerships with scientific collaborators within and outside the USGS to produce high-quality scientific information and to ensure this information's relevance and application to real problems.
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The Ohio District is one of 48 districts in the Water Resources Division that have been set up largely according to state boundaries. The Ohio District consists of the district office in Columbus and a field office in New Philadelphia. James R. Morris District Chief, is responsible for the overall operation and management of the district.
Funds to support the work of the Ohio District are derived from three principal sources:
Cooperators: Ohio Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Miami Conservancy District, City of Akron, City of Columbus, City of Canton, City of Lima, City of Fremont, Madison County, Ross County, Washington County, Eastgate Development Corp., University of Toledo, NE Ohio Regional Sewer District
The Hydrologic Surveillance Section is responsible for continual long-term basic data collection, analysis, storage, and dissemination. Within the Hydrologic Surveillance Section is the Basic Records Unit, which is responsible for operation and maintenance of hydrologic networks and dissemination of the data collected therein. Long-term studies and hydrologic networks managed by the Hydrologic Surveillance Section have been designed for collection of the following types of data:
The Hydraulic and Water-Quality Studies Section, under the leadership of an Assistant District Chief, is responsible for overseeing process- and problem-oriented hydraulic, water-quality, ecological, and surface-water modeling studies, along with applied research and resource appraisals of processes within the hydrologic cycle; effects of human activity on Ohio surface-water resources; biological, bacteriological, and chemical quality of surface- and ground-water systems; hydraulics of stream channels; and the magnitude and frequency of floods and droughts. Specific studies currently being done or recently completed by this section are listed below.
FEMA Flood Studies (continuous)
Cooperator: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
These studies provide FEMA the necessary hydrologic and hydraulic
evaluations to determine flood-insurance premium rates for
selected areas. A study for Fayette County is currently in progress
and is due to be completed in September 1998. A study for Ross
County will be completed and forwarded to FEMA as soon as funding
for additional work is available.
Hydraulics of Bridge Sites (continuous)
Cooperator: Ohio Department of Transportation
This ongoing project allows for the Ohio District to evaluate, on
an as-needed basis, the effects of highway construction or other
types of construction within the floodway of a stream on the flood
profile or to document outstanding hydrologic events. This
documentation is used by various agencies for water-resources
planning and management.
Highway Deicing Chemicals and Ground Water
Cooperator: Ohio Department of Transportation
The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of
highway-deicing chemicals on the ground-water quality of shallow,
unconfined aquifers near State highways and to determine the chloride
concentration in the soil and unsaturated zone. At eight sites,
movement of salt-related constituents is being monitored in each
aquifer through time.
Bridge-Scour Data Collection at Selected Sites in
Ohio
Cooperator: Ohio Department of Transportation
During a previous USGS/ODOT cooperative research investigation, results
from 45 of 47 real-time measurements indicated the presence of scour
at the respective sites. Approximate recurrence intervals of the
streamflows measured during scour measurements at unregulated sites
were determined; 77 percent of these flows were less than the estimated
2-year flood, and only one was greater than the estimated 50-year flood.
Collection and analysis of scour data on larger floods is needed to
verify whether conclusions determined in the previous study would hold
for larger floods. The objectives of the current study are (1) collect
streambed cross-sectional data and bed-material samples annually at
five of the previously established bridge-scour measurement sites,
(2) reduce and assess the streambed data for indication of potential
change in streambed elevation, (3) visually inspect the remaining
bridge-scour measurement sites not surveyed to determine whether debris
has accumulated, (4) dispatch USGS personnel to previously established
measurement sites to attempt to collect bridge-scour measurements when
floods are estimated to be of 10-year recurrence interval or greater,
and (5) reduce and conduct a preliminary scour analysis on the data
collected during any scour measurements, and archive the data for
potential subsequent detailed scour analyses.
Summit County Surface-Water Modeling
Cooperator: Summit County
The major objective of this study is to provide Summit County
engineers with a means of accurately testing the effects of
proposed development and runoff- controlling mechanisms on the
flood characteristics of two drainage basins and numerous
subbasins in west-central Summit County. The analytical tool to
be developed will be a calibrated streamflow model based on onsite
streamflow and rainfall data. The calibrated model in combination
with long-term rainfall data will provide detailed information on
peak-discharge frequency, volume-duration frequency, flood
profiles, flood hydrographs, and flow velocities.
Low-Flow Characteristics of Ohio Streams
Cooperator: Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Information on the magnitude and frequency of low streamflow is
needed for planning and developing water-supply systems,
wastewater treatment and disposal systems, and management of water
supplies during periods of water shortage. Well defined low-flow
characteristics are currently available only at sites where either
continuous-record or partial-record gaging stations have been
operated. The objective of this study is to define the low-flow
characteristics at about 180 additional stream sites where flow is
virtually unregulated. About 30 sites have drainage areas from 75
to 130 square miles and about 150 have drainage areas from 45 to
75 square miles.
Ohio's Streamflow-Gaging Network Analysis.
Cooperator: Ohio Department of Natural Resources
The purpose of this project is to evaluate the effectiveness of
the streamflow-gaging station network in Ohio by determining the
contributions of all unregulated streamflow-gaging stations to regional
analysis information. The evaluation uses a generalized least
squares regression model to analyze the contribution of each gaging
station to the regional regression equation based on selected
streamflow and basin characteristics by minimizing the average
sampling-error variance associated with each station after
collecting data for hypothetical periods of time. Operation
of the most cost-effective streamflow-gaging station network that
provides adequate regional information is important if fiscal
and human resources are limited.
Joint Probability of Flooding
Cooperator: Ohio Department of Transportation
The objectives of this study are to (1) provide information to aid
decisions on when paired streams can, on average, be considered to
react independently during floods, (2) identify factors most
closely related to concurrency of flooding on paired streams and
quantify those relations, and (3) determine the bivariate
frequency distribution of discretized streamflows for paired sites
having assorted drainage areas and proximity and, if possible,
draw generalizations from those data.
Bacteria in Sediment at Beaches
Cooperators: Ohio Water Development Authority, Cuyahoga
County Board of Health, Cuyahoga County Sanitary Engineers,
Cuyahoga River Community Planning Organization, Ohio Lake Erie
Office
Water-quality advisories or beach closings in response to elevated
concentrations of bacteria are common at Lake Erie beaches and
elsewhere. The goal of this investigation is to determine the
effects of sediment-stored fecal-indicator bacteria on the
recreational water quality of nearshore zones of public bathing
beaches of Lake Erie. To achieve these goals, the investigators
are determining (1) the association of fecal-indicator bacteria
with lake-bottom sediments and suspended sediment, (2) the
distribution and concentrations of fecal-indicator bacteria in
water and lake-bottom sediments throughout the recreational
season, (3) the association between increased concentrations of
fecal-indicator bacteria in bathing waters and physical
disturbances of lake-bottom sediments, and (4) the relation
between fecal-indicator concentrations and concentrations of
suspended sediment and turbidity.
Biology of Springs in Ohio
Cooperator: Ohio Biological Survey
A systematic evaluation of springwater quality and biota is being
done for selected Ohio springs to identify biota that can provide
an indication of ground-water quality. Biological criteria have
been developed for evaluating surface-water quality using
macroinvertebrates, and these criteria could potentially be
adapted to assess the quality of the ground water that flows from
springs. Among the objectives of this study are the following:
(1) select locations and geologic settings of as many as 10
springs for sampling, (2) collect macroinvertebrates and algae
from Ohio spring sites and make field measurements of water
quality, (3) create a data base of taxonomic occurrence and
distribution along with field water-quality measurements, and (4)
evaluate the methods and results for the design of future studies.
Microbial Sampling--National Water-Quality
Assessment (NAWQA)
Cooperator: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Information is needed on the occurrence and distribution of
microbiological waterborne pathogens and their indicators in our
Nation's water resources to aid in developing drinking-water
regulations. The Ohio District coordinated sampling and
testing for total coliform, Escherichia coli, coliphage,
and Clostridium perfringens in six NAWQA study units in
1997. The data gathered will be used to design a plan for
long-term microbiological monitoring of surface water and ground
water that can be accomplished through the NAWQA Program. The
objectives of the sampling and testing for microbiological
pathogens and indicators are to (1) determine which
microbiological sampling and analysis procedures are technically
feasible for incorporation into the long-term NAWQA monitoring
plan, (2) begin to describe the occurrence and distribution of
selected microbiological pathogens and their indicators in streams
and aquifers in relation to human and natural factors that may
affect the sanitary quality of water, and (3) provide baseline
microbiological data for future long-term monitoring of
drinking-water source trends.
Hydrologic and Hydraulic Analyses of Selected Streams in
Erie County
Cooperators: Erie County and Vermilion Township of Erie
County
The current and anticipated development in the upper basins of
four streams in the vicinity of the city of Vermilion will likely
increase peak flood discharges and the potential for flood damages
along these streams. The Erie County Department of Engineering is
considering various options to reduce potential downstream flood
damages. Specific hydraulic and hydrologic data are needed as a
basis for future decisions. The objectives of this study are to
provide Erie County with (1) peak flood discharge estimates, (2)
water-surface elevation profiles, and (3) mapping that reflects
flood-plain boundary widths for the four streams of interest.
Habitat Design for Mussel Restoration
Cooperator: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Great Lakes
National Program Office
Protection and restoration of freshwater mussel populations is
difficult if knowledge of their habitat and water-quality
requirements is lacking. With the increasing number of endangered
mussel species, it is important to identify the characteristics of
suitable habitat, water quality, and food resources so that freshwater
mussels can be protected and eventually restored. The objectives of
this study are to characterize (1) mussel habitat, (2) food
resources, (3) water and bed-sediment quality, (4) fish host
availability, and (5) ground-water contribution in the selected
tributaries of the St. Joseph River in Indiana and Ohio. Twelve
sites with similar mussel composition (or classes) and sufficient
diversity will be assessed using the qualitative habitat evaluation
index. Additionally, assessments of streamflow, algae, and
bacteria will used to identify significant associations between
habitat, water-quality variables, and the diversity of the mussel
populations.
Macroinvertebrate Survey at Ravenna Arsenal
Cooperator: Ohio Army National Guard
Previous surveys of the flora and fauna at the Ravenna Arsenal did
not include aquatic macroinvertebrates from the class Insecta other
than the members of the order Odonata. The study objective is to survey
macroinvertebrates living in streams in Areas A through H and J at the
arsenal. This survey will establish a taxonomic list of
macroinvertebrates surveyed quantitatively and qualitatively and
will determine the Invertebrate Community Index (ICI) for each site
sampled. The survey will also generate a collection of voucher
specimens and a geographic-information-system point coverage that
includes ICI values in its attribute table.
Validation of Methods for Water-Quality Indicators at
USGS Surface-Water Sites
Cooperator: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)
Microbiological monitoring is used to determine the sanitary quality
of water and the public health risk from waterborne disease. New
monitoring methods for microbial pathogens and indicators are
continuously being developed, and these new methods need to be
validated (field tested) as part of the USEPA approval process.
The Ohio District is coordinating sampling and testing for total
coliforms, Escherichia coli (E. coli), enteric viruses, and
Cryptosporidium in six National Water-Quality Assesment study
units and two other USGS projects to field test new microbiological
methods in surface waters. The objectives of the microbiological
sampling and testing are to (1) compare recoveries of total coliforms
and E. coli on MI agar and recoveries of E. coli on
modified mTEC agar to recoveries found by use of the USEPA-approved
method in a variety of surface waters, (2) determine the recovery
efficiency of new methods, as they are developed, for microbial
pathogens, including enteric viruses and Cryptosporidium, in
a variety of surface waters, and (3) evaluate the performance of
the new methods for microbial pathogens and indicators in different
types of surface waters collected over a range of streamflows and
collected from sites in various hydroclimatic and land-use settings.
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The Geohydrologic and Environmental Investigations Section is responsible for problem-oriented hydrologic studies, along with research and resource appraisals, of the geohydrologic framework of regions of Ohio, effects of human activity on Ohio ground-water resources, and matters associated with or pertaining to hazardous waste disposal, removal, remediation, and cleanup. Specific studies currently being done or recently completed by this section are listed below.
Flue-Gas Desulfurization Byproducts and Ground Water
Cooperator: The Ohio State University Research
Foundation
Flue gas desulfurization (FGD) at coal-fired electric utilities
creates tons of byproduct that must be stockpiled and eventually
disposed of. Disposal is expensive; use as a soil and spoil
amendment for surface-mine reclamation is an alternative to
landfilling. The purpose of the USGS study (part of a larger,
multifaceted study) is to (1) determine short-term changes and
develop the capability to detect long-term changes in ground-water
quality beneath surface mines reclaimed with FGD byproduct, and
(2) describe the occurrence and mobility of elements in ground
water that are derived from FGD byproduct.
Columbus Well Field
Cooperator: City of Columbus
The objectives of this study are to (1) determine current water
quality at the
municipal well field, (2) determine any temporal changes in water
quality in the study area for the period of record, (3) determine
the effects of quarry operations on aquifer flowpaths through and
under a quarry pit adjacent to municipal wells, (4) predict the
zones of contribution for the municipal wells, including
ground-water flowpaths that travel through and under the existing
and proposed quarry pit, and (5) provide the city with analytical
techniques to enable them to optimize site selection for additional
wells.
Air Force Plant 85
Cooperator: U.S. Air Force
This study includes the collection and interpretation of data
collected during drilling and during sampling of ground water and
surface water. The approach was designed to define the
hydrogeologic framework and to characterize any surface- and
ground-water contamination that may exist at Air Force Plant 85.
The investigation follows a Surface- and Ground-Water Monitoring
Work Plan.
Former Air Force Plant 36
Cooperator: U.S. Air Force
This program is designed to support the existing Air Force
environmental effort at the former Air Force facility. The current
program includes technical assistance for the Air Force as needed,
continuous monitoring of water levels, and ground-water-quality
sampling. The water-quality data will be used to evaluate the current
remediation effort at the plant and to support risk assessment and
future remediation planning.
Phytoremediation of TCE in a Shallow Alluvial Aquifer--A
Field Demonstration
Cooperators: U.S. Air Force and Department of Defense Environmental
Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP)
The effectiveness and cost of using trees in the remediation of
contaminated ground water is being evaluated in a multiagency field
study in Fort Worth, Tex. The study involves the planting and
cultivation of eastern cottonwood (poplar) trees above a plume of
dissolved trichloroethylene (TCE) in a shallow aquifer. Data are
being collected to determine the trees' ability to perform as a
natural pump-and-treat system. Ohio District personnel are invovled
in ground-water modeling to help determine (1) the point in time when
hydraulic control of the plume might occur, (2) the relative importance
of various processes in the aquifer for reducing concentrations of TCE,
and (3) the fate of TCE at the field site.
Ground-Water Levels in Geauga County
Cooperator: Geauga County Commissioners
The objectives of the current phase of this study are (1)
operate and maintain a long-term water-level monitoring network
in the glacial deposits, the Pottsville Formation, the Cuyahoga
Group, and the Berea Sandstone and (2) compare ground-water-level
data to precipitation data and analyze for trends over time and
seasonal fluctuations.
Mine/Void Detection
Cooperator: Ohio Department of Transportation
This pilot study investigated the effectiveness of surface
geophysical techniques to adequately define the location of
abandoned underground mines and other voids in Ohio. Because many
lane miles of roadway in Ohio are potentially underlain by mines
or voids, the focus of this pilot study was on those techniques
where rapid data collection is possible and interpretation of the
results is relatively straightforward. The specific objectives of
this project were to (1) identify previous work that might be
useful in determining applicability of techniques, (2) use
applicable geophysical techniques in various geologic settings,
and (3) summarize the results in a Water-Resources Investgations
Report.
Ground Water near Cortland
Cooperator: City of Cortland
Because the hydrogeology of the Cortland area had not been studied
in detail, the overall objective of this study was to develop
a conceptual model that illustrates the behavior of the
ground-water flow system. This conceptual model will be the basis
for addressing issues related to ground-water withdrawals in the
Cortland area. The objectives of this study were as follows: (1)
better define the framework of the aquifer system, (2) develop
maps that show water levels in the Cussewago Sandstone and local
and regional ground-water flow patterns, (3) characterize
ground-water availability and the long-term productivity of the
aquifer, and, (4) determine whether the hydrogeologic system is
uniform enough to be simulated using a semianalytical model.
Spatial Digital Data
Cooperator: U.S. Army
The objective of this study was to expand the coverage of existing
digital data sets to all of Ravenna Arsenal. Army Industrial
Operation Command will use these data in remediation and
privatization efforts.
Water Quality in the Vicinity of Mosquito Creek Lake,
Trumbull County, in Relation to the Chemistry of Locally Occurring
Oil, Gas, and Brine
Cooperators: City of Warren and Ohio Department of Natural
Resources
The purpose of this study is to assess the effects of oil and gas
well drilling and production on water quality in the Mosquito
Creek Lake area. Objectives of the study are to (1) collect
water-quality and subsurface-gas data that can be used for any future
evaluation of effects oil and gas wells, (2) characterize current
surface- and ground-water quality as it relates to the natural
occurrence of oil, gas, and brine and to the release of any oil, gas,
or brine from drilling and production, (3) sample and chemically
"fingerprint" the oil in the shallow Mecca oil pool, natural gas
from the Berea and Cussewago Sandstone aquifers, and the oil, gas,
and brine from the "Clinton" sands near Mosquito Creek Lake, and
(4) identify areas where aquifers are likely vulnerable to
contamination from surface spills from oil and gas drilling and
production.
Ohio Ground-Water Vulnerability
Cooperator: Ohio Department of Agriculture
Estimates of ground-water vulnerability to agricultural chemicals
in rural areas of Ohio were derived from three spatial data
sources: USGS versions of GIRAS land-use data, U.S. Department
of Agriculture STATSGO soils data, and USGS data on agricultural
chemical and land use. The objectives of this study were to
provide (1) a state-scale map that indicates areas in rural Ohio
most vulnerable to ground-water contamination by agricultural
chemicals and (2) county-based maps indicating areas of
ground-water pollution potential.
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The NAWQA Program was implemented in 1991 to address the need for consistent and scientifically sound information for managing the Nation's water resources. The objectives of the NAWQA Program are to (1) describe current water-quality conditions for a large part of the Nation's freshwater streams, rivers, and aquifers, (2) describe trends in water quality over time, and (3) improve understanding of the primary natural and human factors that affect water-quality conditions.
The Lake Erie-Lake St. Clair Basin (LERI) and the Great and Little Miami River Basins (MIAM) NAWQA study units are the management and cost centers for their respective NAWQA project activities in Ohio and adjacent states. The principal responsibilities of the study units include planning, managing, and implementing the projects. USGS investigators from Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and New York conduct complex, interdisciplinary water-quality studies in ground water, surface water, and aquatic biology.
The study units also are responsible for all technical aspects of the LERI and MIAM NAWQA projects from planning and field activities to data analysis, interpretation, report writing, and publication. Data and information management are major components of the study units' activities.
Close interaction is maintained with liaison committees that provide technical guidance to each study unit. Each liaison committee is composed of representatives from a diverse cross section of organizations outside of the USGS, including other Federal, state, local, and regional government agencies; academic institutions; citizen groups; and public nonprofit and private organizations. Coordination and communication of project activities is maintained with other organizational units of the USGS.
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The Information Management Unit (IMU) functions as a work group whose responsibilities include the following activities: (1) oversight and assistance in preparation, processing, and distributing Ohio District reports, (2) operation and maintenance of the District's computer hardware, software, and data bases, (3) response to information requests from inside and outside the WRD, and (4) coordination of the District's outreach activities. The Ohio Water Use project currently is administered by IMU personnel.
Water Use (continuous)
The Water-Use program in Ohio is an integral part of the U.S.
Geological Survey's National Water-Use Information Program. This
Program is responsible for compiling and disseminating the
Nation's water-use data. The USGS works in cooperation with
local, State, and Federal environmental agencies to collect
water-use information at a site-specific level. National
water-use information, which includes water-use estimates for the
state of Ohio, has been compiled every 5 years since 1950.
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