Drainage Streams Research Articles

Phosphorus Associated With Sediments in Irrigation and Drainage Waters for Two Large Tracts in Southern Idaho

AbstractPhosphorus was measured in irrigation and surface drainage waters for two large irrigation tracts, and inorganic, water‐soluble PO4‐P and total P inputs and outputs were computed. The present irrigation practices on both irrigation tracts conserve P by removing more P from the Snake River in irrigation water than is returned in drainage water. Even greater P conservation could be attained by implementing new practices. Approximately 90% of the P in waters diverted to irrigate the Northside Tract remained in the tract. About 50% of the amount diverted remained in the Twin Falls Tract. Particle size segregation takes place in some drainage streams and the finer sediments returning to the river contain higher total and NaHCO3‐extractable P concentrations than the soils from which they were eroded. The importance of defining sampling methods and procedures for P analyses is illustrated by comparative data on irrigation and drainage waters. The PO4‐P concentration in samples filtered through a 0.45 µm membrane filter was independent of the sediment concentration in waters, whereas the total P concentration of unfiltered samples was proportional to the sediment concentration.

Fractional Water‐Sediment Sampler

AbstractThe fractional water‐sediment sampler enables collecting large‐volume representative samples of water and sediment from surface drainage streams. Free fall‐flow, such as obtained at drop structures, is required for the operation of the sampler. The total sediment‐laden water flow sampled can be split to 50 or 25% of the original sampled flow before being directed to containers by adding one or two splitting stages.

The Northwest Avard Pressure Maintenance Project

Given an honest explanation of the unique problems involved in producing the gas cap of this combination reservoir, the working interest owners, the gas purchasers, and the royalty owners all rose to the challenge, voluntarily agreeing to restrict sales until a unit could be formed. The fruits of their cooperation amount to an estimated 3 million barrels of additional oil. Introduction and Geology The Northwest Avard Hunton limestone reservoir lies approximately 10 miles west of the town of Alva, Woods County, Okla. Fig. 1 is a structure map of the top of the Hunton in the field. First Hunton production in the general area was established in March, production in the general area was established in March, 1967, in Section 23, T27N-Rl5W. Later development has proved this well to be geologically separated proved this well to be geologically separated from the unit area. A gas well in Section 16, completed in May, 1967, was the first producer from the eventual unit. The first oil production was in July, 1967, from Section 21. A total of nine oil wells and three gas wells was completed in the unit area. The average depth to the Hunton is approximately 6,200 ft. The Hunton reservoir producing in the Northwest Avard field is correlative with the Silurian Chimney Hill section in other areas where the entire Hunton group is present. This area of the Anadarko basin contains the extreme northern edge of the Hunton formation, which is truncated against the unconformity immediately overlying it. The accumulation of oil and gas in this field is associated with a stratigraphic trap characterized by truncation of the total Hunton zone in all directions except to the south where a water table is present. General dip of the Hunton is approximately 80 ft/mile to the south. (See Fig. 1.) The eastern and western limits of the reservoir are fairly well defined by dry holes or thin Hunton intervals. These limits were possibly formed by erosional channels, or drainage streams, during the time of the unconformity. The reservoir's northern limit appears by the unconformity to be defined by either a cross-drainage stream or complete Hunton erosion. Pressure surveys show a definite separation between the Hunton outlier in Sections 7 and 8 and the main reservoir. Electric logs of Unit Well 5–3 indicated the water-oil contact at a subsea elevation of −4,694 ft. The size of the aquifer is indicated by water recovery on DST's of correlative Hunton zones in dry holes from 3 to 10 miles from the field. A gas-oil contact at a subsea elevation of −4,633 ft was established by well completion data and by early performance history of some of the oil wells. Unit Well 4–1 originally produced with a high GOR until extremely high produced with a high GOR until extremely high withdrawal rates from the gas cap caused upward movement of the gas-oil contact. Subsequently, the GOR in this well fell from approximately 2,200 to 525 cu ft/bbl. A similar but less pronounced drop in GOR was exhibited by Well 5–1. Reservoir Characteristics Fig. 2 is an isopachous map of the gross Hunton zone. Most of the better porosity results from dolomitization of the original limestone. Intervals of porosity in excess of 20 percent occur randomly in porosity in excess of 20 percent occur randomly in the section, along with intervals as low as 2 percent. Core analysis indicates good permeability, even in the lower porosity ranges. P. 1074

Effects of Forest Cutting and Herbicide Treatment on Nutrient Budgets in the Hubbard Brook Watershed‐Ecosystem

All vegetation on Watershed 2 of the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest was cut during November and December of 1965, and vegetation regrowth was inhibited for two years by periodic application of herbicides. Annual stream—flow was increased 33 cm or 39% the first year and 27 cm or 28% the second year above the values expected if the watershed were not deforested. Large increases in streamwater concentration were observed for all major ions, except NH4+, SO4 = and HCO3—, approximately five months after the deforestation. Nitrate concentrations were 41—fold higher than the undisturbed condition the first year and 56—fold higher the second. The nitrate concentration in stream water has exceeded, almost continuously, the health levels recommended for drinking water. Sulfate was the only major ion in stream water that decreased in concentration after deforestation. An inverse relationship between sulfate and nitrate concentrations in stream water was observed in both undisturbed and deforested situations. Average streamwater concentrations increased by 417% for Ca++, 408% for Mg++, 1558% for K+ and 177% for Na+ during the two years subsequent to deforestation. Budgetary net losses from Watershed 2 in kg/ha—yr were about 142 for NO3—N, 90 for Ca++, 36 for K+, 32 for SiO2—Si, 24 for Al+++, 18 for Mg++, 17 for Na+, 4 for Cl—, and 0 for SO4—S during 1967—68; whereas for an adjacent, undisturbed watershed (W6) net losses were 9.2 for Ca++, 1.6 for K+, 17 for SiO2—Si, 3.1 for A1+++, 2.6 for Mg++, 7.0 for Na+, 0.1 for C1—, and 3.3 for SO4—S. Input of nitrate—nitrogen in precipitation normally exceeds the output in drainage water in the undisturbed ecosystems, and ammonium—nitrogen likewise accumulates in both the undisturbed and deforested ecosystems. Total gross export of dissolved solids, exclusive of organic matter, was about 75 metric tons/km2 in 1966—67, and 97 metric tons/km2 in 1967—68, or about 6 to 8 times greater than would be expected for an undisturbed watershed. The greatly increased export of dissolved nutrients from the deforested ecosystem was due to an alteration of the nitrogen cycle within the ecosystem. The drainage streams tributary to Hubbard Brook are normally acid, and as a result of deforestation the hydrogen ion content increased by 5—fold (from pH 5.1 to 4.3). Streamwater temperatures after deforestation were higher than the undisturbed condition during both summer and winter. Also in contrast to the relatively constant temperature in the undisturbed streams, streamwater temperature after deforestation fluctuated 3—4°C during the day in summer. Electrical conductivity increased about 6—fold in the stream water after deforestation and was much more variable. Increased streamwater turbidity as a result of the deforestation was negligible, however the particulate matter output was increased about 4—fold. Whereas the particulate matter is normally 50% inorganic materials, after deforestation preliminary estimates indicate that the proportion of inorganic materials increased to 76% of the total particulates. Supersaturation of dissolved oxygen in stream water from the experimental watersheds is common in all seasons except summer when stream discharge is low. The percent saturation is dependent upon flow rate in the streams. Sulfate, hydrogen ion and nitrate are major constituents in the precipitation. It is suggested that the increase in average nitrate concentration in precipitation compared to data from 1955—56,as well as the consistent annual increase observed from 1964 to 1968, may be some measure of a general increase in air pollution.

Recent Studies of Early Man in the Southwestern Part of the United States

THE opportunities for the study of early man are particularly promising in the southwestern part of the United States. From the time of the initiation of the present topography, drainage streams originating in the Rocky MAountains have built successive terraces as they lowered their valleys into the plains region across which they flowed. Influenced possibly by the glacial period, but beyond the limits of destruction by glacial ice, the stream terraces in parts of the region attained a wonderful development and have been well preserved. If man lived in this region in early time, he should have left some trace of his presence in these stream deposits, either as skeletal remains or as artifacts. \Man early acquired the art of working stone into implements. These stone implements, capable of withstanding disintegration for a long period of time, must occasionally have become included in such accumulating stream deposits. These deposits vary in age from the relatively late terraces, barely above the present high water stage, to the high terraces much above the present stream level. Vertebrate fossils are found in many of these terraces. The present paper is concerned chiefly with occurrence of artifacts in a low, and hence relatively late, terrace in central Texas. The principal locality is near the town of Round Rock in Williamson County. The discovery of artifacts in the terrace at this locality was made by Professor James E. Pearce, of the Department of Anthropology of the University of Texas, and the archeological material obtained will be described by him. This paper, accordingly, is confined to the geologic relations of the terrace deposits.

The Ancient Lakes of Western America, their Deposits and Drainage*

The Ancient Lakes of Western America, their Deposits and Drainage*