DIRECTORY TO U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 

' 1974-76 

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1428 

Resources and Land Investigations (RALI) Program 
DIRECTORY TO U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTALAREAS 

1974-76 

PHILIP A. MARCUS, EDITOR 

GEOLOGICAL 

A description of 16 U.S. Geological 

Survey program ClC!ivities in 

Coastal areas during 1974-76 

SURVEY 

Resources and Land Investigations 

(RALI) Program 

BULLETIN 1 4 2 8 

.UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON: 1976 
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

THOMAS S. KLEPPE, Secretary 

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

V. E. McKelvey, Director 

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data 

United States. Geological Survey. 

Directory to Geological Survey program activities in coastal areas, 1974-76. 

(Geological Survey bulletin; 1428) 

Bibliography: p. 

Includes indexes. 

1. Coasts--Research--United States. 2. United States. Geological Survey. I. Marcus, 

Philip A. II. Title. III. Series: United States. Geological Survey. Bulletin; 1428. 

QE75.B9 no. 1428 [GB460.A2] 557.3'08s [557'.07'2] 76-23091 

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office 

Washington, D.C. 20402 

Stock Number 024-001-02851-4 
CONTENTS 

Page 

Abstract ------------------------------------------------------- 1 

Introduction ---------------------------------------------------- 1 

Recent concern for coastal resources ___ - __ -------------------- 1 

Definition of coastal area for documentary purposes ------------- 4 

Organization of the directory -------------------------------- 5 

Acknowledgments ___________________ ------------------------ 5 

Program activities of the Geological Surv.ey in coastal areas --------- 5 

I.-Topographic mapping and research ----------------------- 5 

Related activities ___ ------------------------------------ 17 

H.-Energy appraisals: resource estimates and environmental 

aspects of exploration and development ----------------- 20 

Related activities _______________________ --------_------- 35 

!!I.-Regional geologic and hydrologic surveys, mapping, and 

analysis --------------------------------------------- 48 

Related activities --------------------------------------- 50 

IV.-Earthquake and volcanic hazards ------------------------ 58 

Related activities ________________ --- ______ --- _- __ -- _---- 60 

V.-Engineering geology ------------------------------------ 68 

Related activities --------------------------------------- 69 

VJ.-Geochemical and geophysical studies --------------------- 72 

Related activities ______ --------------------------------- 74 

VII.-Geology of mineral occurrence and exploration technology __ 76 

Related activities ___ -·-.------- ____ ----------------------- 78 

VIII.-Marine and estuarine studies -------------------------- 82 

Related activities ------------------- _____ --------------- 84 

IX.-Ground-water studies ----------------------------------- 93 

Related activities --------------- _ ----------------------- 95 

X.-Surface-water studies --------------------:...---------~---- 107 

Related activities ------------------------------ _ ------ __ 109 

XI.-River-water quality and sedimentation studies ------------ 112 

Related activities --------------------------------------- 114 

XII.-General hydrologic studies ----------------------------- 117 

Related activities _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ 118 

XIII.-Earth- and other natural-science application studies ----- 127 

Related activities _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ __ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ __ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ____ 132 

XIV.-Earth Resources Observation Systems (EROS) program __ 141 

Related activities _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ 14.2 

XV.-Regulatory responsibilities -----~----------------------- 144 

Related activities _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ 145 

XVI.-National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) related 

activities _____________ -------- ________________ -------- 145 

Related activities ______________ ----- _ ------------------- 146 

III 
IV CONTENTS 

Page 

Indexes -------------------------------------------------------- 147 

Principal contact code index --------------------------------- 147 

State index ------------------------------------------------- 152 References cited __________________________________ ----- __ _ _ _ _ __ _ 154 

ILLUSTRATIONS 

PagE> 

FIGURE 1. Map showing coastal areas as designated in this diTABLE 

rectory _ ----- _ ____ _ __ _ _ _ __ __ _ __ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ __ _ 6 

2-14. Maps showing status of2. Standard topographic mapping in the north Atlantic and eastern Great Lakes coastal regions ---------------------------------- 10 

3. Standard topographic mapping in the western 

Great Lakes coastal region -------------- 12 

4. Standard topographic mapping in the south Atlantic and Gulf coastal regions ----------- 14 

5. Standard topographic mapping in the Pacific 

coastal region -------------------------- 16 

6. Standard topographic mapping in the Alaska 

coastal region -------------------------- 18 

7. Standard topographic mapping in Hawaii _____ 20 

8. Orthophotoquads of the north Atlantic and eastern Great Lakes coastal regions ----------- 22 

9. Orthophotoquads of the western Great Lakes 

coastal region --.------------------------ 24 

10. Orthophotoquads of the south Atlantic and 

Gulf coastal regions ------------------- 26 

11. Orthophotoquads of the Pacific coastal region 28 

12. The 1: 250,000-scale topographic mapping ____ 30 

13. 'National intermediate-scale topographic mapping 32 

14. Land-use/land-cover map production --------- 130 

TABLES 

Page 

1. Major topographic map series of the U.S. Geological 

Survey ----------------------------------------- 8 

2. Scales of geologic maps commonly produced by the U.S. 

Geological Survey ------------------------------- 49 
DIRECTORY TO U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

PROGRAM ACTIVITlES IN COASTAL AREAS 

1974-76 

PHILIP A. MARCUS, EDITOR 

ABSTRACT 

This report describes 16 U.S. Geological Survey program activities in coastal 

areas of the United Sta~s and its territories during 1974-76 and lists the 

products of each project in the programs. It provides access to the Earthscience and other natural-science investigations in which the Geological Survey is currently engaged and which are capable of supporting coastal zone 

planning activities. Responsible individuals who can provide further assistance concerning project activities are listed. The text is organized by subject, 

and an index is provided for direct reference of projects on a State or territorial basis. 

INTRODUCTION 

The Geological Survey, a bureau of the U.S. Department of the 

Interior, performs research directed at increasing the understanding of the Earth's natural processes, history, and physical resources, including fuels, minerals, land, and water. The objective 

of Geological Survey research is to provide better information 

about resources which will enable more informed decisions to be 

made concerning their use and conservation. The purpose of this 

report is to provide the public with information on the activities 

of the Geological Survey in coastal areas of the United States and 

its territories during 1974-76. 

This report is aimed at a broad audience, including Federal, 

State, and local officials, private interests, the scientific community, and the public, who are engaged in activities related to the 

use of coastal resources. 

RECENT CONCERN FOR COASTAL RESOURCES 

The use of coastal areas has recently emerged as a matter of 

high public concern for several reasons. Certain coastal ecosystems such as beaches, wetlands, and estuaries have been found to 

1 
2 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

be quite susceptible to alteration and damage as a result of man's 

activities. A high value has been placed on many coastal areas because of their pristine biological nature, their ability to support 

the juvenile stages of many valuable fish species, and the preference of the public to use shorelands and beaches for recreation 

activities, among others. 

Many coastal areas are suitable for industrial purposes also. In 

some ca.ses, their p·roximity to lands with energy, mineral or other 

development potential, and ready access to markets and transportation facilities, coupled with an already large population and 

industrial base, have made them subject to multiple demands for 

use of a limited area. Moreover, many of these demands on coastal 

areas are incompatible with each other or are capable of seriously 

affecting the resource base and future utility to man of the coastal 

zone. 

Two recent Congressional publications have d·ocumented present and anticipated multiple demands on the coastal zone (U.S. 

Senate ·committee on Commerce, 1975a, b). Rapid population 

growth with its attendant requirements for housing and services 

represents a prime demand on coastal lands. Industries, particularly those requiring large amounts of water, have long favored 

coastal sites. The electric power industry, which is the largest user 

of cooling water, has already sited and is planning to site many 

large powe·rplants, both fossil and nuclear fueled, in coastal areas 

adjoining both the oceans and the Great Lakes. Other energyrelated facilities which prefer or require coastal sites include 

deepwater ports, undersea pipeline routings. and their landfalls, 

refineries, liquid natural gas (LNG) storage and regasification 

facilities, and synfuels production facilities. 

Recent new demands on the use of coastal areas have arisen 

from the decision by the Departm-ent of the Interior to accelerate 

the leasing schedule for Federal energy lands on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The areas subject to leasing include those 

offshore of the East, Gulf, and Pacific Coast States and Alaska. 

All of these regions, with the exception of the gulf and parts of 

southern California, are considered "frontier" areas in that they 

have not yet experienced offshore oil and gas development. 

Large uncertainties presently exist as to the occurrence, location, and the amount of commercially recoverable hydrocarbons 

on the OCS and the extent of the impacts-either positive or negative-which may befall States and localities which will provide 

support for OCS energy development activities. The uncertainties 

concerning the amounts of developable hydrocarbons present on 
INTRODUCTION 3 

the OCS will begin to be resolved as exploratory drilling is completed on those tracts leased. The net social, economic, and environmental impacts of OCS development may be addressed both by inquiries into the real effects that such development incurs and by 

measures to mitigate those short or long-term negative impacts 

which might occur. 

These issues concerning the multiple use and guidance of development in the coastal zone are being addressed at both the Federal and State levels. The Coastal Zone Management Act of 

1972 provides Federal support for eligible States to develop and 

implement comprehensive management plans for coastal resources. Eligible States are those bordering the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Great Lakes and U.S. 

territories. Partial Federal support has been authorized for 

States whose management processes meet certain requirements. 

Bills have been passed in Congress to create funds for loans or 

grants to States which experience the onshore impacts of OCS 

energy development. 

The 1972 Federal legislation provides administrative grants to 

eligible States to develop a number of planning and management 

functions. These include creating methods and procedures for determining permissible land and water us~s, designating areas of 

particular concern, developing guidelines on the priority of uses in 

the coastal zone, and providing for the consideration of the national interest involved in the siting of facilities whose significance is more than local in nature. 

The ability of the, States to successfully develop the above 

methods and procedures will be determined in part by the adequacy of the earth- and natural-scien.ce information available to 

them. The information compiled, analyzed, and made available by 

the Geological Survey will be useful to the coastal States in their 

efforts to implement coastal zone management programs. Information is currently bei,ng provided by the Geological Survey for: 

(1) energy and mineral resource appraisals; (2) supervision of 

oil, gas, and mineral lease operations on Federal lands ; ( 3) environmental assessment of proposed development; ( 4) the production of accurate maps on a variety of themes; (5) studies of 

water quality and quantity; and (6) applied earth- and other natural-science studies into issues in land and water use, among 

others. 

As a directory to Geological Survey activities in coastal areas 

for the fiscal years of 1975 and 1976, (July 1974 to October 

1976), this report presents an overview of areas of Geological 
4 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

Survey investigation and a description of current research. Bibliographies and references to principal contacts who can provide inquirers with more detailed information concerning project status, 

methods, and results are included. 

Other p-rinted sources of information on Geological Survey 

activities include Geological Survey Research, which summarizes 

the significant results of each year's investigations, New Publications of the Geological Survey, published monthly, and Publications of the Geological Survey, which contains all the new publications that have appeared in a given year. 

This report will provide planners and decisionmakers access to 

earth-science and other natural-resources information that can 

serve as a basis for the resolution of issues associated with coastal 

resource management and use. · 

DEFINITION OF COASTAL AREA FOR DOCUMENTARY PURPOSES 

The Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 leaves the precise 

design.ation of the landward coastal zone boundary to State ·discretion but provides the following guidance for the landward 

boundary: "The coastal zone must include within it those lands 

which have any existing, projected or potential uses which have 

direct and significant impact upon the coastal water ... " (U.S. 

Dept. of Commerce, 1975). In 1976 many States are still in the 

process of defining their coastal zone. 

For this report, the inland margin of the coastal area is defined 

as the landward boundaries of the coastal counties, townships, or 

parishes within the States and territories eligible for grants under the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972. Geological Survey 

activities occurring outside that boundary have been included if 

the activity deals with processes or issues which have a direct and 

significant impact upon coastal water. In some cases the inland 

boundary of coastal wetlands or tidal waters exceeds the above defined boundary. In such situations, the inland margin of the coastal area will be described by the landward border of those counties, 

townships, or parishes which contain coastal wetlands. A separate 

definition was created for Alaska, which is not organized by counties. The Alaskan coastal area is defined to consist of the lands 

contained in the first two 15-minute topographic maps inland 

from the ,shore. In this report, the seaward margin of the coastal 

area will be the boundary of the OCS. Figure 1 is a map of the 

coastal areas for which current Geological Survey research is here 

being documented. All Geological Survey investigations that 

might be relevant to coastal zone planning that occur within, or 
INTRODUCTION 5 

that are pertinent to the coastal areas as defined above, are included in the lists of project references. 

ORGANIZATION OF THE DIRECTORY 

This directory is divided into 16 chapters describing program 

activities which are representative of broad Geological Survey research activities in coastal areas. A brief description is made of 

the program activity investigation, the issues, research needs, and 

goals which the program activities address, a description of 

characteristic products resulting from the program activity, and 

potential applications of study results for planning and management purposes. 

After each program activity description is a listing of all fiscal 

year 1975-76 projects in coastal areas for the subject activity. 

Each project description contains the following: a title, index 

reference number, geographic location, a principal contact code 

which is keyed to an appendix of addresses where further information on the project and its products may be obtained, a 

statement on study objectives which describes the goals and approach of the project, and a bibliographic listing of project products published in fiscal years 1975 and 1976. The order of the 

project descriptions within a program activity is first those projects which have a national scope, then projects with a multi-State 

scope, and finally on a State by State basis. 

An index lists all the project numbers on a State by State basis, 

so that direct reference may be made to the projects of interest. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

The text of this bulletin was compiled by the following individuals, whose efforts are greatly appreciated: Mark A. Boster, 

Wing L. Gee, Eugene R. Hampton, John L. Place, Edward J. 

Pluhowski, Stephen F. Pousardien, Michael 0. Steed, and Paul 

G. Teleki. 

PROGRAM ACTIVITIES OF THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

IN COASTAL AREAS 

I.-TOPOGRAPHIC MAPPING AND RESEARCH 

The Geological Survey publishes a number of standard topographic map series as well as several special maps of the United 

States and its territories. These maps are designed for general use 

and show the shape of the land and its drainage patterns, transportation and communications networks, other cultural developments, and timber coverage. Table 1 describes the major series of 

national topographic maps. 
6 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

I I I I I 1 I I I J.\ I I 

'-~ 1 \ 1 1\ "'------------1 "-J I I 

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/ "--"\ I t ;/ \ ___ ,r-- _________ _r---------------t~ 

! I I i 

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I I I I I I L_ I 

I I --;-------------1 ___ _ (\ I I -1 

\ I I I \ I ! ~--- ----------· 

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1 \ I I : \ I I I 

/ I I I 

/ I I l ~ I ! "~"-- I I ""\,.-""./'-' 

I I I I I I 

I r---------J 

r---------------~ ~ 

Ala ska 

FIGURE 1.--Map showing coastal areas as designated in this directory. 

Review of the 1: 24,000-scale maps in the coastal zone is underway to determine which ones require revision. Photoinspection, 

the most common procedure used, consists of comparing the exist-
I.-TOPOGRAPHIC MAPPING AND RESEARCH 7 

APPROXIMATE SCALE 

0 100 200 300 MILES 

I I I I 1 1 I 

0 100 200 300 KILOMETRES 

Po .. ,. ., ... , · 

Hawaii 

ing map with recent aerial photography. If sufficient changes are 

noted to warrant revision, the basic map is revised by using the 

same aerial photography. Changes are not usually field checked 
Series 

7%-minute -------------- 7%-minute, Puerto Rico __ 

15-minute --------------- Alaska, 1:63,360 ---------

Intermediate scales: 

County maps ---------

Quadrangle maps ___ _ 

u.s. 1:250,000 -----------

u.s. 1:1,000,000 ---------

Scale 

1:24,000 

1:20,000 

1:62,500 

1:63,360 

1:50,000 

1:100,000 

1:100,000 

1:250,000 

1:1,000,000 

TABLE !.-Topographic Maps. 

1 inch ~represents: 

2,000 feet 

About 1,667 feet ( 1 em equals 200 m) 

Nearly 1 mile 

1 mile 

About 0.8 mile (1 em equals 500 m) ___ _ 

About 1.6 miles (1 em equals 1,000 m) __ 

About 1.6 miles (1 em equals 1,000 m) __ 

Nearly 4 miles -----------------------

Nearly 16 miles ----------------------

1 Maps of Alaska and Hawaii vary from these standards. 

Standard 

quadrangle 

size 

(latitudelongitude) 

7% X 7% min __ 

7% X ·7% min __ 

15 X 15 min 

15X 20 to 36 

min 

Various 

Various 

30 min X 1° __ _ 

11 o X 2o --------

140 X 6o --------

Quadrangle area 

square 

miles) 

49 to 70 

71 

197 to 282 

207 to 281 

Various 

Various 

1,590 to 2,100 

4,580 to 8,669 

73,734 to 102,759 

00 

'"d 

~ 

0 

C) 

~ 

> 

a= 

> 0 

~ ...... 

< 

...... 

~ ...... 

t_:l:j 

rn. 

...... 

z 

0 

0 

> 

rn. 

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> t"4 

> 

~ 

t_:l:j 

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I.-TOPOGRAPHIC MAPPING AND RESEARCH 9 

and are printed in purple for easy identification. If the original 

map is very old or of questionable accuracy, more complete 

methods of revision (up to and including complete remapping) 

are sometimes used. Once updating is completed, a 5-year photoinspection/revision cycle i.s established. 

Many of the coastal areas not covered by 7.5-minute maps are 

covered by less current 15-minute 1: 62,500-scale topographic 

maps in the conterminous United States and 15-minute 1:63,360-

scale maps in Alaska. Most of the 15minute maps are more than 

20 years old. 

Figures 2-5 show the availability of standard quadrangle maps 

and the areas where new maps and revisions are in progress. The 

7 .5-minute series is emphasized on these graphics. The availability 

of the 15-minute series is shown only where the 7.5-minute series 

is not available, that is, only the 7.5-minute series is shown for 

areas where both series are available. Individual State topographic indexes should be consulted for more complete information 

on the availability of these two series. Figures 6 and 7 show the 

availability of the standard 1: 63,360-.scale topographic quadrangle· mapping of Alaska and the 1: 24,000-scale mapping of Hawaii, respectively. 

Another 1: 24,000-scale product available for many parts of the 

coastal zone is the orthophotoquad. An orthophotoquad is prepared from aerial photography in the standard 7.5-minute quadrangle format. The image is processed to eliminate distortion and 

to display each feature in its correct geographic position. These 

versatile products are used as interim maps for unmapped areas 

and as companions to published maps. Orthophotoquads often 

show the subtle changes in vegetative cover that may identify the 

margins of wetlands and certain other vegetative communities. 

Specific land-use patterns can also be identified and delineated 

with a great degree of accuracy. on this product. 

The availability of orthophotoquads is depicted in figures 8-11. 

Not all orthophotoquads are published. For those quadrangles not 

published, photographic and/or ozalid copy is available. The National Cartographic Information Center, described later, can 

provide more specific information on the availability of orthophotoquads. 

The National Park map series provides coverage for selected 

National Parks, monuments, and historic sites. Many of these 

maps are available with shaded relief for a three-dimensional 

effect. National Park maps in the coastal zone that are published 

or are in progress include: 
10 PRC>GRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

I 

I 

fl 

I 

I 

EXPLANATION 

7 1h-minute mapping available 

[};~:Y/it}}{j 15-minute mapping available 

- Work in progress 

~-- r= ;A f ~ '\--f////#ff/J: 

{ ' ; 

( 

/ 

(.. 

,,/ 

) 

~I 

( 

,/ 

'FIGURE 2.-Status of standard topographic mapping in the 

north Atlantic and eastern Great Lakes coastal regions. 
• I.-TOPOGRAPHIC MAPPING AND RESEARCH 11 

,-

/lf ---~--t I 

r 1 

r" \ 

I 

I 

( 

APPROXIMATE SCALE 

0 100 200 MILES 

0 100 200 KILOMETRES 
12 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

APPROXIMATE SCALE 

0 100 200 MILES 

I I I I I 

0 100 200 KILOMETRES 

71h-minute mapping available 

WH1.({%{:J 15-minute mapping available 

- Work in progress 

FIGURE 3.-Status of standard topographic mapping in the western Great 

Lakes coastal region. 

Acadia National Park, Maine 

Isle Royale National Park, Michigan 

Olympic National Park, Washington 

Point Reyes National Seashore, California 
I.-TOPOGRAPHIC MAPPING AND RESEARCH 13 

Nationwide coverage, including the complete coastal zone, is 

provided by the 1: 250,000-scale ( 1 inch= ,._,4 miles) topographic 

map series. Figure 12 shows the maps in this series that are currently being revised. 

Other series available include the intermediate 1 :50,000- and 

1 :100,000-scale topographic maps, 1:500,000- and 1:1,000,000-

scale State maps, and the 1: 1,000,000-scale International Map of 

the World (IMW) sheets. The recently introduced intermediatescale maps are published in two scales and formats. The quadrangle format, 30 minutes in latitude by 1 degree in longitude, is 

published at the 1:100,000 scale. Other maps are prepared in a 

county format, primarily at the 1:50,000 scale but at the 

1: 100,000 scale for larger counties. Intermediate-scale maps published and in progress are depicted in figure 13. The State maps 

are available in three editions: base or planimetric, topographic, 

and shaded relief. Shaded relief maps are not generally available 

for States such as Florida where the terrain is flat. The IMW 

series are topographic quadrangles that use color tints in conj unction with the contour lines to aid in distinguishing elevations. Information on topography and bathymetry are both shown in metric units. 

The Geological Survey and the National Ocean Survey (NOS) 

have entered into an agreement to combine topographic and hydrographic information on coastal maps and thus form a new product, the "topo-bathy" map. These maps are standard topographic 

maps, orthophotomaps, and orthophotoquads, together with as 

much bathymetry, including mean high water (MHW), mean low 

water (MLW), and other hydrographic data normally depicted on 

NOS products, as the published map scale permits. This product is 

designed to serve the map needs of land-use planners, physical 

scientists, conservationists, land surveyors, geologists, oceanographers, and others having an ·interest in management of the 

coastal zone, the wetlands, and the offshore environment. Two 

projects have been published to date. One is the Beauford, North 

Carolina-South Carolina 1: 250,000-scale topo-bathy map, and the 

other is a group of three prototype 1: 24,000-scale products, the 

orthophotoquad, the orthophotomap, and the topographic map, 

each with bathymetric data offshore. Other sheets in progress include five new intermediate-scale topo-bathy maps at the 

1:100,000 scale along the Georgia coast. 

In addition to the standard topographic maps, a number of special products and byproduct maps are also available. These include aerial photography, Landsat imagery and products, slope 
14 PROG~AM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

r-.._/ 

" ---..5--

-------, J 

I ~-· 1--------------'"\ n,_: ___ l \ 4 

\ 

1 c/ ~~----r-- .) 

~--"L l j L _____ _J 

I ,' 

I ~ l ~ 

\ / 

( L--

/ 

EXPLANATION 

7112-minute mapping available 

~}~j\;y:.:;@}~~ 1 5-minute mapping available 

- Work in progress 

FIGURE 4.-Status of standard topographic mapping in the- south Atlantic 

and Gulf coastal regions. 

maps, and large-scale maps (scales 1:1,200 to 1: 6,000) ; aerial 

photographic coverage for areas of 7.5-minute topographic and 

orthophoto quadrangle maps; digital data tapes containing the 

I 

I 

I 
• I.-TOPOGRAPHIC MAPPING AND RESEARCH 15 

\ ,I // 

_.I 

--------~------r--------------

~ 

,..r ~I 

,..-/ 

I 

.... -----, ----or--__ .L_ __ ~ 'L- \ ('\ -- \ 

\ \ 

........ 

\ " I 

\ 

\ 

( 

I 

) 

APPROXIMATE SCALE 

0 100 200 MILES 

0 100 200 KILOMETRES 

topographic data for the 1: 250,000-scale topographic maps; and 

reproducible copy of the color and feature overlay sheets for 

thematic maps. 
16 PRO.GRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

-------1 

I 

I 

~ ,..-----~ 

,.,-.- , ..... __,.. " 

,_ I 

r 

J 

I 

I -------r----.-J EXPLANATION 

APPROXIMATE SCALE 

0 100 200MILES 

0 100 200 KILOMETRES 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

l 

lV2-minute mapping available 

f{{;:;{{t~}}}j15-minute mapping available 

- Work in progress 

' ' " ' ' " ' ' " ' ' " 

FIGURE 5.-Status of standa1rd topographic mapping in the Pacific coastal 

region. 
I.-TOPOGRAPHIC MAPPING AND RESEARCH 17 

Indexes showing published topographic maps are available free 

of charge for each State and for Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, 

Guam, and American Samoa. These indexes contain lists of special 

maps, addresses of local map reference libraries, local map dealers, and Federal map distribution centers. Indexes are not yet 

available for the intermediate-scale county and quadrangle maps. 

Indexes can be ordered from the Branch of Distribution, U.S. Geological Survey, 1200 South Eads Street, Arlington, VA 22202, for 

States east of the Mississippi River and also for Minnesota, 

Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands; and from the Branch of Distribution, U.S. Geological Survey, Federal Center, Box 25286, 

Denver, CO 80225, for States west of the Mississippi River and 

also for American Samoa and Guam. 

The National Cartographic Information Center (NCIC) provides a central location for obtaining information on the cartographic data available for the Nation. The NCIC collects, organizes, and distributes, without charge, information about the 

maps, charts, aerial photography, survey monuments, and related 

cartographic data available from Federal and State government 

agencies and private sources. Information can be obtained by 

writing to the National Cartographic Information Center, 507 

National Center, Reston, VA 22092. Information can also be obtained by telephoning (703) 860-6045 (FTS 928-6045) from 8 

a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. A telephone answering 

and recording service is provided at all other times. 

RELATED ACTIVITIES 

Title: Coastal Mapping Handbook (1-1) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Coastal areas of the United States and its territories 

Principal Contact: TD-l 

Objective: To provide general information and guidance on mapping in coastal 

areas. The handbook provides information on mapping products and data 

sources as well as on sources of technical assistance. The handbook will 

assist planners and managers of coastal programs in determining their 

mapping requirements, selecting the best maps and charts for their particular needs, and communicating effectively with data-producing organizations. The handbook is a joint effort of the National Ocean Survey and 

Office of Coastal Zone Management of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Geological Survey. 

Product: 

Baxter, F. S., Ellis, M. Y., Fitzgerald, I. Y., and Stang, P. R., 1976, Coastal 

zone mapping handbook, 500 p., draft. 

Title: Remote Sensing and Mapping of Coastal Wetlands (1-2) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 
18 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

0 

0 

EXPLANATION 

71h-minute mapping available 

~J.jff}f{§SJ 15-minute mapping available 

- Work in progress 

APPROXIMATE SCALE 

100 200 MILES 

100 200 KILOMETRES 

~J ' ~"""Q~ FIGURE 6.-Status of standard topographic mapping in the 

Location: Sapelo Island, Georgia 

Principal Contact: TD-2 

Alaska coastal region. 

Objective: To investigate procedures for interpr·eting, delineating, and mapping coastal wetlands by using remote sensing and photogrammetric 

techniques. Orthophotoquads were prepared at the 1: 10,000 scale with a 

format of 2.5 minutes of latitude and 3. 75 minutes of longitude. Coastal 

wetland boundaries and species associations were interpreted from colorinfrared photographs and delineated on the orthophoto base. The study 

evaluates the accuracy, time, and cost for mapping coastal wetlands and 

the associated legal, engineering, and cartographic issues. 

Products: 

McEwen, R. B., Kosco, W. J., and Carter, Virginia, 1976, Coastal wetland 

mapping: Photogramm. Eng. and Remote Sensing, v. 42, no. 2, p. 221-

232. 

U.S. Geologic~} Survey, 1973, Coastal wetlands orthophotoquad, Do boy Sound 

7.5-min quadrangle: 6 sheets, scale 1:10,000. 
I.-TOPOGRAPHIC MAPPING AND RESEARCH 19 

' ' \ 

' ' \ 

' ' \ 

' ' 

Specific questions on planned and ongoing projects should be 

addressed to either the Chief of the Topographic Division or the 

Chief of the Mapping Center indicated below. Geographic areas 

of responsibility for each mapping center are as follows: 

Title: Topographic Mapping and Research, Eastern Mapping Center (1-3) 

Location: Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Maine, 

Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North 

Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, 

Virginia, and the Virgin Islands 

Principal Contact: TD-1, TD-2 

Title: Topographic Mapping and Research, Mid-Continent Mapping Center 

(1-4) 

Location: Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, and Wisconsin 

Principal Contact: TD-1, TD-3 
.20 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

EXPLANATION 

71f2-minute mapping available 

b\}\}\\LA\1 1 5-minute mapping available 

APPROXIMATE SCALE 

0 100 200 MILES 

0 100 200 KILOMETRES 

FIGURE 7.-Status of standard topographic mapping in HawaiL 

Title : Topographic Mapping and Research, Rocky Mountain Mapping Center (I-5) 

Location: Alaska and Texas 

Principal Contact: TD-1, TD-4 

Title: Topographic Mapping and Research, Western Mapping Center (I-6) 

Location: California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington 

Principal Contact: TD-1, TD-5 

H.-ENERGY APPRAISALS: RESOURCE ESTIMATES AND 

ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS OF EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT 

The Geological Survey is involved in qualitatively and quantjtatively assessing the Nation's energy resources, evaluating the environments in which these resources may be found, and the impacts which may result from energy exploration and development. 
H.-ENERGY APPRAISALS 21 

The energy resources which the Geological Survey is appraising 

are oil, gas, coal, oil shale, uranium, thorium, and geothermal. 

Energy-related activities are also discussed in several other sections in the text, particularly in "IV.-Earthquake and Volcanic 

Hazards," "V.-Engineering Geology," and "XIII.-Earth- and 

other Natural-science Application Studies." 

The main objective of the Geological Survey's energy-resources 

studies is to provide information which will enable sound decisions to be made regarding resource allocation and environmental protection. The Geological Survey provides technical assistance to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which is the 

Interior agency responsible for leasing Federal lands. The Geological Survey assists in the selection of general areas subject to 

inclusion in a lease sale and is responsible for appraising the energy 

resources of an area after it has been proposed for mineral leas-::. 

ing and for establishing a fair market value on tracts to be leased. 

Objectives of investigations relating to the oil and gas potential 

of Federal lands are: (1) to develop and apply technology capable 

of identifying and evaluating possible hydrocarbon source rocks; 

(2) to develop geophysical procedures for locating structural and 

stratigraphic traps likely to contain accumulations of oil and/or 

gas; and ( 3) to determine the recoverability of the oil and gas. 

Methods applied to meet these .objectives are numerous and include studies on porosity and permeability of potential and commercial reservoirs, on anomalies identified by trace-element analysis, and borehole measurements of physical and chemical properties of the strata. Data obtained from these and conjunctive 

investigations are used to predict reservoir quality and areal extent of the resource. 

Offshore oil and gas resource investigations focus on the assessment of potential oil and gas resources of the Outer Continental 

Shelf ( OCS) lease areas. Substantial data collection is required 

prior to leasing offshore tracts. The Geological Survey acquires 

geologic data by conducting ship and airborne surveys or by purchasing proprietary data from industry. This information is subsequently coordinated with data obtained by other Government 

agencies for resource and environmental assessment purposes. 

Objectives of these OCS oil and gas studies are: (1) to evaluate 

the regional oil and gas resources of the Continental Shelf, Slope, 

and Rise; (2) to determine local areas which have significant oil 

and gas potential and which may be included in additional OCS 

lease sales; and (3) to provide geological resource data and analysis to Federal and State Governments and the public. 
22 . PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

EXPLANATION 

71f2-minute orthophotoquads available 

FIGURE 8.-Status of orthophotoquads in the north Atlantic and eastern Great Lakes coastal region. 
·,-----; 

l . " \ I 

I l 

I 

\ 

) 

I l . ( lj Jl r---L1 

I 

I 

( 

/ ' J 

,-.rJ 

APPROXIMATE SCALE 

f 

!I.-ENERGY APPRAISALS 

/ -l._,...,...,.', // 1 

I 

I 

J 

0 100 200 MILES 

0 100 200 KILOMETRES 

23 
..24 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

0 

0 

"\ 

I 

' ''\....... 

___________ .,. 

APPROXIMATE SCALE 

100 200MJLES 

100 200 KILOMETRES 

I 

\ 

' ( 

' ... 

' \ 

I 

~-----

' I 

_r 

.............. ( 

FIGURE 9.-Status of orthophotoquads in the western 

G.reat Lakes coastal region. 
H.-ENERGY APPRAISALS 25 

EXPLANATION 

lV2-minute orthophotoquads available 

~ 

J 

I 

I J L_ /'~/ 

,...~ \, ...... 1"\.. ;·, ;' \ .... 

" '-,/'.f"'".i 
26 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

,~\w ... ... () 

·-----1 f ... ,, r--- r-------------~ y----

\ L-j 

t 

,~----r--

APPROXIMATE SCALE 

0 100 200 MILES 

0 100 200 KILOMETRES 

EXPLANATION 

71h-minute orthophotoquads available 

FIGURE 10.-Status of orthophotoquads in the south Atlantic and Gulf 

coast regions. 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 
\ ... ; 

,./ 

H.-ENERGY APPRAISALS 

. - --------.e= __ --.----------

I' 

,_rJ 

f ,./ . 

_, 

____ T_J_7-~~--'t __ ~, 

\ 

\ 

\ 

\ 

\ 

\ 

' ' ' \ \ 

' \ ' ' 

27 
28 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

------1--

' .... ,.,.--',;--' ... ,.. ---~ 'j 

I , 

I 

') 

I 

I 

______ l _____ l__ 

EXPLANATION 

7V2-minute orthophotoquads available 

APPROXIMATE SCALE 

0 100 200 MILES 

0 100 200 KILOMETRES 

FIGURE 11.-Status of orthophotoquads in the Pacific coast region. 
H.-ENERGY APPRAISALS 29 

The commonly used scientific approach in these "frontier" areas 

consists of delineation of sedimentary basins followed by the evaluation of the geologic conditions conducive to the accumulation of 

oil and gas in appreciable quantities, estimation of the area's 

potential volume of oil and gas, and the estimation of fair market 

value on a tract by tract basis. These activities have recently experienced considerable acceleration because of the Department of 

the Interior's accelerated OCS leasing schedule. Inhospitable environments, for example, that of Alaska, limit the necessary 

geophysical and environmental surveys to only a few months a 

year. 

Geological Survey geologists, geophysicists, and petroleum engineers are continually conducting investigations on the occurrence of mineral deposits in the OCS by means of seismic and subsurface geologic mapping. This mapping provides the necessary 

information in evaluating tracts prior to leasing and in determining reserves of mineral deposits. Results of these investigations 

by Geological Survey personnel are primarily for internal support 

and are not published because of the confidential nature of the 

basic data, much of which is obtained from both private geophysical data collecting and oil companies. 

The Geological Survey has received, and is currently receiving, 

information from deep stratigraphic tests drilled by industry on 

the OCS prior to leasing. These tests provide useful geological information which aids in making resource evaluations, as well as in 

the protection of the environment in the event of future resource 

development. Test holes are either underway or are planned in 

several OCS areas : Georges Bank, the Baltimore Canyon Trough, 

the Southeast Georgia Embayment and Blake Plateau, offshore 

from the Mississippi Delta and south Texas, the southern California Borderland, the Gulf of Alaska, and the Bering, Chukchi, and 

Beaufort Seas. Estimate ranges for recoverable oil and gas resources are developed on the basis of a comparison of the geologic 

history of the area to geologically similar areas with known oil 

and gas deposits. A detailed geophysical, geological, and engineering evaluation is conducted on a tract by tract basis prior to a 

lease sale in order to establish a fair market value for each tract. 

Each tract consists of a maximum of 5,760 acres (2,331 hectares). 

When a sale is held, companies or individuals may submit sealed 

bids for each tract offered. Bids which do not meet the minimum 

value established for a particular tract are subject to rejection. 

Geological Survey presale tract values are released on all tracts 

bid on after the sale has been held. Presale value for those tracts 
30 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

FIGURE 12.-Status of national 1: 250,000-scale topographic mapping. 
H.-ENERGY APPRAISALS 

APPROXIMATE SCALE 

0 100 200 300 MILES 

0 100 200 300 KILOMETRES 

EXPLANATION 

Coverage is complete 

~!~I:I~:I~I! Revision in progress 

31 
32 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

"0 

' Hawaii {) 

.-------------~ ~ 

FIGURE 13.-Status of national intermediate-scale topographic 

mapping. 
\ 

H.-ENERGY APPRAISALS 

EXPLANATION 

- Published maps 

r . A :j Maps in work 

t?··" 

APPROXIMATE SCALE 

0 100 200 300 MILES 

0 100 200 300 KILOMETRES 

33 
34 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

not receiving ·bids remains proprietary. Oil and gas reserves are 

calculated and continually updated as OCS energy development 

proceeds. 

Although the limited coal resources in coastal regions of the 

United States, are not being investigated at present, the processes 

of coal formation are under study in several States (South Carolina, Maine, and Florida) where peat deposits have been found, 

and their characteristics are being evaluated. In Florida they are 

being studied for what they may reveal about the origins of lowsulfur coal and lignite. 

The principal nuclear energy sources that are increasing in demand as fuel are uranium and thorium; both commodities have 

been under study by the Geological Survey since 1939. Uraniumand thorium-related studies are responsible for improving our 

understanding of the nature and distribution of nuclear fue.l resources. 

Research activities are centered on determining the origin of 

uranium- and thorium-rich sandstone and vein-type deposits. In 

addition, studies of geophysical and geochemical exploration techniques (including instrument development) are underway, along 

with research analyzing the characteristics of structural and sedimentary basins associated with these deposits. As part of the resource assessments, a National Uranium Resource Data Bank has 

been established. 

Studies relating to the environmental aspects of energy development complement the previously discussed energy-resource appraisal studies. The Geological Survey is responsible for providing 

environmental information on various aspects of energy-resource 

exploration and development on Federal lands including; geology, 

meteorology, oceanography, air and water quality, biological communities, and effects on alternative land or ocean uses. This information is provided BLM for inclusion in both draft and final 

environmental impact statements on energy mineral lease sales. 

For OCS lease sales, information is provided on terminal and storage facilities, refineries, ports, pipelines, and drilling and production platforms. This information assists in assessing the impact 

of oil and gas development in a particular area. During the detailed tract evaluation, potential geologic hazards which may 

threaten safe drilling are determined. Tracts where drilling stipulations will not adequately protect the environment are either 

withdrawn from the sale or are offered with additional stipulations on them. 
H.-ENERGY APPRAISALS 

RELATED ACTIVITIES 

Title: Resource Appraisal Group (Oil and Gas) (11-1) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Nationwide 

Principal Contact: CO-l 

35 

Objective: To develop betrl;er hydrocarbon appraisal methods; to apply these 

methods to making estimates of the oil and gas resources of the United 

States and the other countries of the world on a continuing basis; and to 

make these estimates available to interested Government agencies and to 

the public. 

Pro,duct: 

Miller, B. M., and others, 1975, Geological estimates of undiscovered recoverable oil and gas resources in the United States: U.S. Geol. Survey Circ. 

726, 78 p. 

Title: Characteristics of Chalk Reservoirs (11-2) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Federal Outer Continental Shelf 

Principal Contact: C0-1 

Objective: To develop .techniques for the recognition of potential oil and gas 

reservoirs in chalks. The · origin and physical characteristics of chalk 

reservoirs are being studied in rock bodies of different geologic settings 

using petrographic and electron-scanning microscopy techniques, well logs, 

and petrographical analyses. Theoretical studies are applied to chalkreservoir problems related to the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf province and other OCS areas where chalk reservoirs occur. 

Title: Atlantic Continental Margin Geophysics (11-3) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Atlantic Continental Shelf, Slope, and Rise 

Principal Contact: NR-7 

Objective: To investigate the deep &tructure of the Continental Shelf and 

Slope of ·the Atlantic margin of· the United States. Principal objectives 

include structural interpretations, and thickness and distribution evaluation of sedimentary rocks with emphasis on likely areas for petroleum 

exploration. The study is carried out using multichannel seismic profiles 

collected at grid intervals of 40 kilometres, with high-sensitivity aeromagnetic survey;s flown between the Canadian border and Florida, and 

.from the coast to 2,000 metres water depth. Gravity data, high-resolution seismic profiles, and seismic refraction data are also utilized. 

Title: Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Resources (11-4) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Offshore Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North 

Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. 

Principal Contact: NR-7 

Objective: To assess the petroleum potential of the Atlantic Outer Continental 

Shelf by coordinated geological and geophysical studies conducted in the 

area from Florida to the northeastern edge of Georges Bank. South of 

Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, outcrop and well data are used to pro-
36 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

vide control for marine geophysical surveys. Studies north of Cape 

Hatteras are designed to refine estimates of petroleum potential, that is, 

the stratigraphic interpretation of Mesozoic sediments which are expected 

to have the highest petroleum potential. In the Baltimore Canyon Trough 

and Georges Bank area, the study is examining the likelihood of petroleum 

traps. 

Products: 

Minard, J. P., Perry, W. J., Jr., Weed, E. G. A., Rhodehamel, E. C., Robbins, 

E. I., and Mixon, R. B., 1974, Preliminary report on geology along Atlantic continental margin of northeastern United States: Am. Assoc. 

Petroleum Geologists Bull. v. 58, no. 6, pt. 2, p. 1169-1178. 

Perry, W. J., Jr., Minard, J. P., Weed, E. G. A., Robbins, E. 1., and Rhodehamel, E. C., 1975, Stratigraphy of Atlantic coastal margin of United 

States north of Cape Hateras-brief survey: Am. Assoc.. Petroleum 

Geologists bull., v. 59, no. 9, p. 1529-1548. 

Weed, E. G. A., Minard, J. P., Perry, W. J., Jr., Rhodehamel, E. C., and 

Robbins, E. 1., 197 4, Generalized pre-Pleistocene geologic map of the 

northern United States Atlantic continental margin: U.S. Geol. Survey 

Misc. Inv. Ser. Map I-861, scale 1: 1,.000,000. 

Title: Geology of Oil Potential, Continental Margin (11-5) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Offshore Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North 

Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. 

Principal Contact: NR-7 

Objective: To examine and collect single and multichannel continuous seismic 

reflection profiles to be used to infer the geometry of basins beneath the 

Atlantic Continental Margin having petroleum potential. The project is 

concerned with the development of other "trailing" edge margins. The 

project seeks to outline the shape and thickness of Mesozoic and Cenozoic 

strata above the crystalline basement. The project aims to outline areas 

of anomalously thick accumulation of sediment, block-faulted basement, 

or any other conditions that could have a bearing on petroleum accumulation. 

Products: 

Schlee, John, 1975, Sand and gravel. With a section by Peter Sanko: MESA 

New York Bight Atlas Mon. 21, 2'6 p. (Albany, N. Y., New York Sea 

Grant Inst.) 

Title: Site Survey Atlantic OCS (11-6) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Offshore Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, 

Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, 

North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida 

Principal Contact: NR-7 

Objective: The primary purpose of this project is to generate possible future 

shallow coring (1,000 feet (305 metres) maximum) sites which can disclose most effectively the age and nature of the rocks forming the United 

States Atlantic Continental Shelf and Slope. Another function of the work 

is to assure that the sites selected are not petroleum traps which would 

conceiv~bly leak as a result of drilling and cause pollution of the ocean. 
·n.-ENERGY APPRAISALS 

Title: OCS Sale #42 (11-7) 

Status: Proposed sale date, 1977 

37 

Location: Offshore North Atlantic, Georges Bank area-Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut 

Principal Contact: DC-1 

Objective: Tract selection for Sale #42 includes 206 tracts totaling 1,172,796 

acr.es (475,000 hectares). Evaluation of these tracts is in progress and 

will be completed prior to the sale. 

Title: Environmental Assessment of the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf 

(11-8) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Offshore New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland 

Principal Contact: NR-7 

Objective: To outline the characteristics and variability of various environmental pan-ameters within selected areas of the Outer Continental Shelf 

which may be leased for petroleum exploration in the future. To date, 

the project has been concerned with bottom instability in the Baltimore 

Canyon Trough area (the Continental Shelf off New Jersey, Delaware, 

and Maryland). By means of high-resolution seismic reflection records, 

bathymetric maps, and bottom-sediment samples, both by grab and core 

techniques, the aim is to determine the equilibrium or nonequilibrium of 

the suTface sediments within the modern environment. Such determinations are important for decisions on specific areas to be leased and, subsequently, for safe drilling and transfer operations. 

Products: 

Knebel, H. J., 1974, Movement and effects of spilled oil over the Outer Continental Shelf-Inadequacy of existent data for the Baltimore Canyon 

Trough area: U.S. Geol. Survey Circ. 702, 17 p. 

Knebel, H. J., and Hardin, N. S., 1975, The res•ponsibilities and environmental 

programs of the U.S. Geological Survey in the Baltimore Canyon Trough 

area, in Outer Continental Shelf Conf. and Workshop on Marine Environmental Implications of OffshOO'e Oil and Gas Development in the Baltimore Canyon Region of Mid-Atlantic Coast, Proc.: Wachapreague, Virginia, Estuarine Research Federation, p. 7-17. 

Sheridan, R. E., and Knebel, H. J., 1975, Evidence of youthful faulting on 

the Outer Continental Shelf [Abs.]: Geol. Soc. America Abs. with Programs, no. 7, p. 1268. 

Title: OCS Sale #40 (11-9) 

Status: Proposed sale date, August 1976 

Location: Offshore mid-Atlantic Baltimore Canyon area-Maryland, Delaware, 

and New Jersey 

Principal C~mtact: DC-1 

Objective: Tract selection for Sale #40 includes 178 tracts totaling 1 million 

acres ( 404,858 hectares). Evaluation of these tracts is in progress and 

will be finished prior to the sale date. 

Title: Nat ural Resources and Tectonic Framework of the Caribbean Region 

(11-10) 

Status: Completed FY 75 

Location: Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands 
38 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To compile data and publish a series of maps for regional tectonic 

syntheses, to evaluate potential oil and gas basins, and to evaluate metallogenic belts. A tectonic map of the Caribbean Sea and surrounding land 

areas has. been compiled at ·a scale of 1: 2,500,000 which shows rock units, 

folds, faults, and structure contours on several horizons. In addition, 

free-air and Bouguer gravity, magnetic-intensity, seismicity, and heatflow data were compiled at that scale. 

Title: Appraisal of Thorium in Beach Placer Deposits (II-11) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida 

Principal Contact: NR-7 

Objective: To furnish data on thorium, rare-earth, and titanium resources, 

which represent an important source of thorium for use in nuclear 

generators. The app:roach is to study Holocene and Pleistocene beach 

placers of the southern Atlantic coast to determine their distribution, 

extent, total heavy-mineral content, amount of titanium minerals, mode 

of formation, source of heavy minerals, and the environmental impact if 

the placers were exploited. 

Title: Origin of Low-Sulfur Coal (II-12) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Florida, Georgia, and Louisiana 

Principal Contact: NR-7 

Objective: To map the occurrence and determine the geologic history of peat 

and other late Cenozoic sediments in the Everglades and other coastal 

swamps; to establish the geomorphic and hydrologic controls affecting 

the accumulation of various kinds of peat; to determine the compositional 

and areal variations in the properties of peat and associated sediments; 

to establish the sulfur content in the waters and peat and the relative 

importance of the various forms of sulfur; and to apply the knowledge 

gained to lignite deposits of the coastal plains and the Dakotas and 

to other ranks of coal. 

Title: OCS Sale #38-A (II-13) 

Status: Held July 1975 

Location: Offshore southwest Louisiana and southeast Texas from Matagorda 

Island to east Cameron area. 

Principal Contact: LA-2 

Objective: Sale #38-A consisted of 345 tracts totaling 1. 77 million acres 

(0.72 million hectares) Eighty tracts received bids for a total bonus of 

$171.4 million. Bids on i4 tracts were rejected as insufficient. Sixty-six 

tracts were leased. 

Product: 

U.S. Department of the Interior, 1975, Final environmental statement proposed 

1975 Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas general lease sale offshore 

central Gulf of Mexico, OCS sale No. 38: Washington, D.C., FES 75-37, 

2v. 

Title: OCS Sale #41 (II-14) 

Status: Held February 1976 
H.-ENERGY APPRAISALS 39 

Location: Gulf of Mexico offshore-Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, 

and Texas 

Principal Contact: LA-2 

Objective: Sale #41 consisted of 134 tracts totaling 687,604 acres (278,273 

hectares). Forty-one tracts received bids for a total bonus of $1.76 million. Bids on seven tracts were rejected as insufficient. Thirty-four tracts 

were leased. 

Product: 

U.S. Department of the Interior, 1976, Final environmental statement, proposed 1976 Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas general lease sale Gulf of 

Mexico, OCS sale No. 41: Washington, D.C., FES 75-101, 3 v. 

Title: OCS Sale #S-1 (II-15) 

Status: Held July 1974 

Location: Offshore Louisiana and southeast Texas 

Principal Contact: LA-2 

Objective: Sale #S--1 consisted of 258 tracts totaling 1.3 millions acres (5.26,000 

hectares). This sale consisted of tract-s which were not le·ased in the 

Louisiana deepwater Sale #33 and the Texas deepwater Sale #34. Bids 

were received on 49 tracts, 19 of which were accepted for a total high 

bonus bid of $30.2 million. Thirty bids that did not meet Geological Survey minimum evaluations were :rejected. 

Products: 

Adams, M. V., and others, 1974, Mineral resource management of the Outer 

Continental Shelf: U.S. Geol. Survey Circ. 720, 32 p. 

U.S. Department of the Interior, 1974, Final environmental statement, proposed 1974 Oute·r Continental Shelf oil and gas general lease sale offshore Louisiana, OCS sale No. 33: Washington, D.C., FES 74-6, 3 v. 

--- 1974, Final environmental statement, proposed 1974 Outer Continental 

Shelf oil and gas general lease sale offshore Texas, OCS sale No. 34: 

Washington, D.C., FES 74-14, 3 v. 

Title: Significance of Plate Tectonics to Petroleum Generation and Emplacement in Pacific Coast Provinces-Offshore California, Washington, 

and Oregon (II-16) 

Status: Completed FY 75 

Location: California, Washington, and Ore·gon 

Principal Contact: C0-1 

Objective: To apply current concepts concerning the interrelation of plate 

tectonics and petroleum occurrence to the geology of Pacific coast provinces and especially to the nonproductive and marginally productive provinces so as to arrive at estimates of the petroleum potential of the area. 

Title: Environmental Geologic Studies of the Oregon and Washington Continental Shelf and Margin (11-17) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Offshore Oregon and Washington 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To delineate and evaluate geologic hazards, such as fault disruption, sea-floor instability, excessive erosion, and deposition, along 

with the development of an inventory of potential sinks for introduced 

contaminants on the Oregon and Washington Outer Continental Shelf. 
40 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

The approach is to characterize the present geologic environment through 

the study of the distribution, lithology, and age of sediments and the 

location and character of major structural elements. 

Title: Oregon-Washington Continental Margin (11-18) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Offshore Oregon and Washington 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To perform geologic and geophysical map·ping of the OregonWashington Continental Margin so as to unravel the geologic history and 

the relation of this history to mineral resources accumulation, geologic 

hazards, and regional tectonic and igneouS! events. Two tectonically distinct areas selected for detailed studies are offshore central Oregon and 

northernmost Washington. In both areas shale diapirs which form structures suitable for oil and gas accumulation are being investigated, as 

are major faults on the Oregon shelf, deposits of sand and gravel on inner 

shelves, and the outwash sand and gravel on the Washington shelf and in 

the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Information is being summarized in a tectonic map of scale 1:500,000, being prepared for the Oregon and Washington Continental Margin using data acquired by the Geological Survey and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration contracts 

with Oregon Sta.te University and the University of Washington. 

Products: 

Snavely, P. D., Jr., and MacLeod, N. S., 1974, Yachats Basalt-An upper 

Eocene diffe·rentiated volcanic sequence in the Oregon Coast Range: U.S. 

Geol. Survey Jour. Research, v. 2, no. 4, p. 395-403. 

Snavely, P. D., Jr., MacLeod, N. S., Rau, W. W., Addicott, W. 0., and Pearl, 

J. E., 1975, Alsea Formation-an Oligocene marine sedimentary sequence 

in the Oregon Coast Range: U.S. Survey Bull. 1395-F, 21 p. 

Title: Arctic Environmental Studies (11-19) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Alaska 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To collect and synthesize pertinent engineering-geologic data made 

available during construction of the trans-Alaska hot oil pipeline and 

data of other related structures in order to determine the adequacy of 

preconstruction predictive· techniques related to geotechnical and environmental problems in arctic .areas. Special consideration is given to 

the character and distribution of surficial deposits and permafrost, Pleistocene and Holocene stratigraphy, glacial chronology, periglacial features, 

seismic phenomena, and geologic processes that are either unique to or 

are especially active in the arctic environment. 

Title: Cook Inlet (11-20) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Alaska 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To provide a geologic framework of the lower Cook Inlet (Kalgin 

Island southwest) for· offshore lease sales in that area. Project goals 

include obtaining a 500-mile (805-kilometre) network of geophysical 

lines involving the following: high-resolution (sparker) data, gravity 
H.-ENERGY APPRAISALS 41 

data, and magnetic data. In certain selected areas, onshore gravity and 

magnetic data are to be collected. In the Seldovia· area on the Kenai 

Peninsula and in the areas southwest of Iniskin Peninsula, Kamishak 

Hills, and Cape Douglas, mapping and measurement of stratigraphic sections are to be carried out. 

Title: Environmental Geologic Studies of the Beaufort and Chukchi S~as 

(11-21) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Offshore Alaska 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To obtain baseline geologic information for the poorly known environment of the Beaufort Sea. Goals are to determine the dynamic processes and avenues of sedimentation in the modern arctic environment 

including source areas, physical and chemical composition of bottom 

materials, paths and rates of movement of sediments, relation of sediment transport regime to river effluents, ice rafting, turbidity, ice gouging, and nearshore and bottom currents. The onshore portion of the 

project includes coring and outcrop examination for investigation of 

stability of geologic materials. 

Title: Environmental Geologic Studies of the Eastern Gulf of Alaska 

(11-22) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Offshore Alaska 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To investigate the Gulf of Alaska. Continental Shelf, which will 

lead to an understanding of the geologic processes that have shaped its 

development and resources and that might have an adverse effect on the 

exploration for mineral and petroleum resources on the Continental 

Shelf. Sediment sampling and high-resolution geophysical profiling are 

used to ascertain the distribution of surface faults, the seismic history 

of the gulf, the movement of modern sediment, the relationships among 

shelf sediments, the location of potentially unstable sediment deposits, 

and other environmental hazards to mineral resource development. 

P'roducts: 

Carlson, P. R., and Molnia, B. F., 1975, Massive submarine slide in the Gulf 

of Alaska [abs.]: Geol. Soc. America, Abs. with Programs, v. 7, no. 7, 

p. 1018. 

Molnia, B. F., 1975a, Geology of Pamplona Ridge, northern Gulf of Alaska 

(abs . .]: Am. Assoc. Petroleum Geologists Pacific Sec., Ann. Mtg. Long 

Beach, Calif., 1975, Program, p. 1203. 

--- 1975b, Surface sediment types of the northern Gulf of Alaska Continental Shelf [abs.], tn Symposium on Science, Resources,and Technology 

in the Gulf of Alaska, Oct. 1975: [2 p.]. 

Molnia, B. F., and Carlson, P. R., 1975, Shelf sediment distribution: Northern 

Gulf of Alaska [abs.]: Am. Assoc. Petroleum Geologists, Pacific Sec., 

Ann. Mtg. Long Beach, Calif., 1975, Program, p. 1203. 

Title: Environmental Geologic Studies of the Northern Bering Sea (11-23) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Offshore Alaska 
42 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To study transgressive marine and continental sediments containing potentially economic quantities of gold and possible toxic amounts 

of mercury in nearshore areas of the Bering shelf and in intrashelf Tertiary basins which are potential petroleum provinces. Inv·estigations focus 

on the age, provenance, dispersal, and depositional history of these sedimentary bodies and on defining placer and toxic metal concentrations in 

modern paralic environments and in ancient subsea beaches, alluvial 

channels and deltas. 

Title: Environmental Geologic Studies of the Western Gulf of Alaska 

(11-24) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Offshore Alaska 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To map the geophysics and geology of the sea floor and subsea 

floor and to assess environmental problems resulting from potential 

energy-mineral development of the Outer Continental Shelf of the western Gulf of Alaska. Sediment sampling and high-resolution geophysical 

profiling are being used to determine the distribution of surface· faults, the 

seismic history of the gulf, the movement of modern sediment, the relationship between shelf sediment types, the location of potentially unstable sedimen"t deposits, and other environmental hazards. 

Title: Geologic Framework and Resource Assessment of the Aleutian-Bering 

Sea Area (11-25) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Offshore Alaska 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To assess the resource potential of the summit basins of the Aleutian Ridge and the large basins of the Bering shelf. In addition, the 

origin of .the igneous crust of the Bering Sea Basin and the thickness of 

of its overlying sedimentary section are- being inv·estigated. Techniques 

used include shipborne geophysical and geological surveys of the southern Bering Sea Shelf and adjacent Slope and Basin. Data collected include 24-channel seismic-reflection data, gravity, magnetic, bathymetric, 

and intermediate and high-resolution seismic-reflection data, and dredge, 

core, and grab samples. 

Title: Geologic Framework and Resources Assessment of the BeaufortChukchi Seas (11-26) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Offshore Alaska 

Pr~ncipal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To perform a reconnaissance study of the geologic structure and 

mineral fuel potential of the Alaskan Continental Shelf and Slope in the 

Chukchi and Beaufort Seas using acoustic, magnetic, and gravity profiling and seabed sampling. Geophysical profile data now cover some 

450,000 square kilometres of the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas and ad'-

jacent Arctic Ocean areas. 
H.-ENERGY APPRAISALS 43 

Products: 

Grantz, Arthur, Holmes, M. L., and Kososki, B. A., 1975, Geologic framework 

of the Alaskan continental ter.race in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas, in 

Yorath, C. J., Parker, E. R., and Glass, D. J., eds., Canada's contitinental margins and offshore petroleum exploration: Canadian Soc. of 

Petroleum Geologists Mem. 4, p. 669-700. 

Title: Geologic Framework and Resource Assessment of the Eastern Gulf 

of Alaska (11-27) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Offshore Alaska 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To investigate both the Gulf of Alaska Continental Shelf, which 

will lead to an understanding of the geologic processes that have shaped 

its development, and the environmental hazards which might have an 

adverse effect on the development of mineral and petroleum resources on 

the Continental Shelf. The study is carried out through sediment sampling and high-resolution geophysical profiling. Emphasis is on environmental hazards, the distribution of surface faults, the seismic history 

of the gulf, the movement of modern sediment~ the relationship between 

shelf sediment types, and the location of potentially unstable sediment 

deposits. 

Product: 

Bruns, Terry, and Plafker, Ckorge, 1975, Preliminary results of a 1974 geophysical study of the offshore Gulf of Alaska Tertiary province [abs.]: 

Amer. Assoc. Petroleum Geologists, Pacific Sec., Ann. Mtg., Long Beach, 

Calif., 1975, Program, p. 32. 

Title: Geologic Framework and Resources Assessment of Western Gulf of 

Alaska (11-28) 

Status: Ongoing FY · 76 

Location: Offshore Alaska 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To delineate the geologic framework and the geologic history 

of the area between Hinchinbrook-Middleton Islands to Chirikof Island 

just south of Kodiak in order to provide the basic data from which 

mineral-resource potential can be evaluated. Longer range objectives are 

to prepare geologic, tectonic, and geophysical maps and to determine the 

geologic evolution of the areas. 

Title: Gulf of Alaska Tertiary Province (11-29) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Alaska 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To delineate the major geologic features of a potential petroleum 

province, including a unique sequence of late Cenozoic marine glacial 

sediments. Data have been collected on the history of shoreline deformation along the coast, the rate of glacier movement, and the nature of 

earthquake-related flood waves at Lituya Bay. Other goals include reconnaissance-scale mapping of newly discovered Tertiary rocks in the 

Chugach Mountains. Results will be published on geologic maps (1 :250,-

000 scale) for the entire 9,000-square-mile (23,310-square-kilometre) 
44 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

outcrop area of the Tertiary basin. Maps of scale 1: 63,360 or larger 

of selected quadrangles are also planned. 

Title: OCS Sale #39 (11-30) 

Status: Held April 1976 

Location: Offshore Gulf of Alaska from Icy Bay to Kayak Island 

Principal Contact: CA-2 

Objective: Sale #39 consisted of 189 tracts totaling 1.0 million acres ( 405,000 

hectares). Bids were received on 81 tracts for a total high bonus bid of 

$5·71.9 million. 

Product: 

U.S. Department of the Interior, 1976, Final environmental impact statement 

OCS proposed oil and gas leasing in the northern Gulf of Alaska, OCS 

sale No. 39: Washington, D.C., FES 75-93, 4 v. 

Title: Regional Petroleum Geology, Alaska-North Slope (11-31) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Alaska 

Principal Contact: CA-2 

Objective: To study the Carboniferous Lisburne Group rocks in the western 

Brooks Range and the Cretaceous rocks along the north flank of the 

Brooks Range. Goals are to determine the nature of thrust sheets along 

the mountain front and to evaluate the hydrocarbon reservoir potential 

of the subsurface Lisburne in the 'easltern North Slope. The work includes correlations between wells and outcrop, identification of porosity 

trends, and detennination of porosity and lithofacies relationships. North 

Slope geophysical data, both public and private, are used. Offshore 

seismic surveys in the Prudhoe Bay area are being correlated with available onshore data and wells. 

Title: Central California Continental Margin (11-32) 

. Status: Completed FY 75 

Location: Offshore California 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objectxive: To perform a geologic and grophysical study of the central California Continental Margin to evaluate the deep and shallow crustal structure, geologic history, relation to regional tectonics and the potential for 

economic commodities such as petroleum, glauconite, phosphorite, and 

nearshore placer deposits; and tectonic hazards of such major geologic 

features as the Santa Maria, Sur, Santa Cruz, Bodega, and Pt. Arena 

basins; the Santa Lucia, Farmallon, Santa Cruz, and Oconostota ridges; 

and the San Andreas, San Gregorio, and Santa Lucia bank-fault systems. 

Title: Environmental Geological Studies of the Northern and Central California Continental Shelf and Margin (11-33) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Offshore California 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To describe the geologic structure of the Continental Shelf and 

Slope, especially in areas of known and suspected active faulting. The 

project also includes the study of the flux of materials both natural and 

man-introduced, on the shelf and in adjacent estuaries, with emphasis 
H.-ENERGY APPRAISALS 45 

on processes and rates that act as sources and sinks for hydrocarbons, 

trace elements and trace metals, and synthetic organic compounds. Measurements of long- and short-term sediment flux in representative hydraulic 

environments and assessment of areas of sea-floor instability related to 

seismic and aseismic events will also be undertaken. 

Title: Environmental Geologic Studies of the Southern California Borderland (II-34) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Offshore California 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To delineate and evaluate the environmental conditions of the 

proposed California oil and gas lease area. Specific goals and approaches 

are: to determine the locations, distribution, and ages of faulting within 

the borderland and to relate active faulting to the seismicity of the region; to determine the locations and distribution of sea-floor instability 

features such as landslides and slumps; to evaluate engineering properties 

of surficial sediment on the sea floor in an attempt to estimate the loadbearing parameters and stability of these materials; to inventory the 

locations and distribution of hydrocarbon seeps; to devise techniques for 

sampling and analyzing sediment samples for hydrocarbons and to devise 

a method for tagging hydrocarbon sources; to evaluate effects of recent 

sedimentary processes, including identification of areas of erosion and 

sedimentation and bedrock exposures, microsedimentary structures, trace 

elements and benthic fauna distributions, and to determine the source, 

locations, and distribution of contaminant pathways and traps; to identify freshwater aquifers, determine the location and distribution of potential saltwater-intrusion entrance sites into ground-water bodies, and 

relate these entrance sites to contaminant pathways and traps. 

Title: Geologic Framework and Resources Assessment of the North and 

Central California Continental Shelf and Margin (II-35) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Offshore California 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To compile geologic and geophysial maps for the Outer Continental 

Shelf and Margin of California north of 34 o 30' and to establish the 

geologic history of this area. Five major offshore late Tertiary sedimentary basins exist in this area, and project goals include a determination 

of their structure, stratigraphy, geologic history, hydrocarbon sourcerock assessment, and the type, magnitude, and quality of potential reservoir rocks within each basin. Data from all available sources, from marine 

geological and geophysical investigations and offshore e,xploration wells, 

are being Compiled, interpreted, and synthesized into maps of regional 

scope. Complimentary investigations on the onshore extensions of these 

basins will also be conducted in order to determine whether offshore 

basins can be viewed as analogs of onshore production areas. 

Product: 

Taylor, J. C., 1976, Estimating potential oil resources in the central California coastal zone: Calif. Univ., Santa Cruz, Coastal Marine Studies 

Spec. Pub. 3, p. 21-36. 
46 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

Title: Geologic Framework and Resource Assessment of the Southern California Borderland (11-36) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Offshore California 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To compile geologic and tectonic maps of the continental borderland of southern California. Data from all available sources of marine 

geological and geophysical investigations are compiled, interpreted, and 

synthesized into maps of regional scope. These maps provide information 

to assist in the understanding of the stratigraphy, depositional history, 

structural evolution, and tectonic development of this critical area and 

to provide for preliminary resource and environmental evaluations. 

Title: OCS Sale #35 (11-37) 

Status: Held December 1975 

Location: Offshore southern California 

Principal Contact: CA-2 

Objective: Sale #35 consisted of 231 tracts totaling 1.3 million acres ( 52'6,000 

hectares). Seventy tracts received bids for a total bonus of $105.2 million. High bids on 14 tracts we.re rejected as insufficient. Sixty-six tracts 

were leased. 

Product: 

U.S. Department of the Interior, 1975, Final environmental statement, proposed 1975 Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas general lease sale offshore southern California, OCS sale No. 35: Washington, D.C., FES 75-

68,3 v. 

Title: Environmental Impact Statement, Ocala National Forest (11-38) 

Status: Completed July 1974 

Location: North-central Florida 

Principal Contact: DC-1 

Objective: To assess the environmental impact of oil and gas exploration. in 

the Ocala National Forest. The Department of the Interior authorized 

exploratory oil and gas operations in the Ocala National Forest in July 

1974 after all possible consequences of its approval were examined. On 

July 13, 1975, Amoco Production Company commenced drilling operations on well No. 1, USA 6-4 in the SW1!4SW1!4 sec. 6, T. 15 S., R. 20 

E., Marion County, Florida, with a projected total depth of 4,500 feet 

(1,370 metres). 

Product: 

U.S. Department of the Interior, 19·74, Final environmental statement, proposed oil and gas operations in the Ocala National Forest, Florida: Washington, D.C. FES 74-29. 

Title: OCS Sale #36 (11-39) 

Status: Held October 1974 

Location: Offshore Louisiana 

Principal Contact: LA-2 

Objective: Sale #36 consisted of 297 tracts totaling 1.37 million acres ( 554,000 

hectares). One hundred and fifty-seven tracts received bids for a total 

bonus of $1.44 billion: High bids on 13 tracts were rejected as insufficient. 

One hundred and forty-four tracts were leased. 
11.-ENERGY APPRAISALS 47 

Product: 

U.S. Department of the Interior, 1974, Final environmental statement, PJ:"Oposed 1974 Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas general lease sale offshore Louisiana, OCS sale No. 36: Washington, D.C., FES 74-41, 3 v. 

Title: OCS Sale #38 (11-40) 

Status: Held May 1975 

Location: Offshore of south-central and southeast Louisiana from Vermilion 

to Main Pass Area 

Principal Contact: LA-2 

Objective: Sale #38 consisted of 283 tracts totaling 1.34 million acres ( 542,000 

hectares). One hundred and two tracts received bids for a total bonus of 

$250 million. High bids on 16 tracts were rejected as insufficient. Eightysix tracts were leased. 

Product: 

U.S. Department of the Interior, 1975, Final environmental statement, proposed 1975 Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas general lease sale offshore 

central Gulf of Mexico, OCS sale No. 38: Washington, D.C., FES 75-37, 

2 v. 

Title: Core Sound Area, North Carolina (11-41) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: North Carolina 

Principal Contact: NR-7 

Objective: To evaluate environmental factors that influence the distribution, 

chemical composition, and diagenesis of peaty materials in recent sediments and to characterize peaty deposits that are progenitors of coal. 

The project is part of a long-range systematic study of the distribution 

of organic material in the· various environments of the Pamlico Sound 

area, North Carolina, of which Core Sound is a small part. Depositional 

environments studil3d in the project area are shallow-water estuarine, 

paludal, and littoral marine, containing largely carbonaceous sand and 

mud deposits with a high proportion of plant debris. 

Title: Environmental Geologic Studies, South Texas Outer Continental Shelf 

(11-42) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Offshore Texas 

Principal Contact: CO-l 

Objective: To study geologic processes on the Continental Shelf. Goals include 

mapping of Holocene surface sediments, regional thickness patterns, 

internal and biogenic structures, and erosional depositional patterns; 

determining the paleotopography of the upper Pleistocene surface and 

delineating the characteristics of its deposits and their facies relations 

across the shelf; determining late Pleistocene-Holocene sea-level fluctuations; mapping geologic features of hazardous nature to offshore engineering development (faults, sediments that have slumped or may be 

subject to slumping, and excessive erosional scour); determining the 

amounts of trace metals in suspended and surficial sea-floor sediments 

and mapping their regional distribution patterns. 
48 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

Title: OCS Sale #37 (11-43) 

Status: Held February 1975 

Location: Offshore of south Texas from Corpus Christi to South Padre Island 

P.rincipal Contact: LA-2 

Objective: Sale #37 consisted of 515 tracts totaling 2.9 million acres ( 1.2 

million hectares). One hundred and forty-three tracts received bids for a 

total bonus of $300 million. High bids on 30 of these tracts were rejected 

as insufficient. One hundred and thirteen tracts were leased. 

Product: 

U.S. Department of the Interior, 1975, Final environmental statement, proposed 19·7& Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas general lease offshore 

Texas, OCS sale No. 37: Washington, D.C., FES 74-63, 4 v. 

111.-REGIONAL GEOLOGIC AND HYDROLOGIC SURVEYS, MAPPING, 

AND ANALYSIS 

A fundamental aspect of all earth-science studies is the production of maps that display geologic or hydrologic data. Maps are 

regional representations of geologic knowledge, depicting the distribution of rocks, soils, streams, and ground water, identifying 

the age, origin, and physical and structural interrelationships. Information summarized in this manner is useful to the assessment 

of resources, to the prediction of environmental impacts, and to 

the planning of a rational use of the land. As an example of the 

utility of these products, several agencies of the State of California used Geological Survey geologic and hydrologic inventory 

maps in their recent formulation of coastal zone planning and 

legislation. 

The geologic mapping program produces geologic maps in 

various scales depending on their purpose and intended use. Common scales are 1:2,500,000, 1 :500,000, 1 :250,000, 1 : 100,000, and 

1 :24,000; additionally some maps are produced at scales 1 : 63,360, 

1 : 62,500, and 1 : 20,000. Table 2 indicates the types of· information 

usually associated with each scale. 

Fossils are commonly used to date the geologic strata in which 

they occur. Paleontologic and stratigraphic studies compile basic 

data on the distribution of fossils within the s~ratigraphic column, 

applying these data mainly to correlations with distant strata, but 

also to the study of the evolution of different forms and the interpretation of geologic history. 

Hydrologic Investigation Atlases, which summarize the water 

resources of a specific basin or depict areas inundated by past 

floods, are produced by the Geological Survey. These atlases are 

designed to display detailed hydrologic information using maps, 

geologic profiles, tables, graphs, and block diagrams. Short bibliographies are also included. Hydrologic Investigation Atlases are 
111.-REGIONAL GEOLOGIC AND HYDROLOGIC WORK 49 

TABLE 2.-Scales of geologic maps commonly produced by the U.S. 

Scale 

1:2,500,000 ---------- ( 1 inch=40miJes) 

1:500,000 ----------- (1 inch=S miles) 

1:250r000 ----------- (1 inch=4 miles) 

1:100,000 ----------- (1 inch= 1.6 miles), 

1: 63,360 (Alaska) 

(1 inch=1 mile), and 

1:62,500 ( 1 inch= 

0.99 miles) 

1:24,000 ------------ (1 inch=2,000 ft), 

1:20,000 (Puerto Rico) 

(1 inch=1,667 ft) 

Geological Survey 

Type of Information 

General distribution of 

limited number of large 

and heterogeneous rock 

units. No information on depth. No topographic base. 

General distribution of a larger number of some- what less heterogeneous 

rock units. Little 

information on depth. 

No topographic base. 

Semidetailed distribution 

of large numbers of 

fairly homogeneous rock 

units. Some information on depth. Often has 

topographic base. 

Detailed distribution of 

large number of homogeneous rock units with 

considerable information on thickness and 

depth. Generally has 

topographic base. 

Very Detailed distribution 

of large number of 

homogeneous rock units. 

Surficial deposits may 

be shown on separate 

map. Much information on thickness and vertical extent of rock units. 

Purpose 

General planning and resource evaluation over large regions 

(Federal regions and 

large States) . 

General planning and resource evaluation over large regions 

(large States and river 

basins) . Common scale 

for older State maps. 

More detailed planning 

and resource evaluation in medium-sized areas (small States, 

large counties, national 

forests, and mineralized belts). 

Detailed planning and 

land management 

(mining districts, 

urban areas, and 1Jlany 

counties). 

Detailed planning, zon- ing, site selection, 

and resource evaluation and exploration 

(cities and towns, 

subdivisions, mining 

districts, mine sites, 

and large construction 

projects). 

designed to assist planners and designers in the rapid and accurate appraisal of the salient hydrologic features of an area. Information is provided on a variety of hydrologic topics, including. 

local flood stages due to extraordinary storms, profiles of water 

surfaces during floods, availability of ground water and surface 

water, and the concentration of some chemical element or compound in a specific aquifer or watercourse. Map scales vary widely, depending on the size of the study area and the need for focusing on a particular hydrologic feature. 

The Geological Survey's flood-prone area mapping program began in 1969, in cooperation with the Federal Insurance Agency of 

the Department of Housing and Urban Development, to help 

establish approximate flood zones as required by the National 
50 ~ROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

Flood Insurance Act of 1968. The boundaries of the 100-year 

flood were prepared on 1: 24,000-scale Geological Survey topographic quadrangle maps. The 100-year flood boundary is used by 

the Federal Insurance Administration to determine areas which 

qualify for a federally supported flood-insurance guarantee. Maps 

of flood-prone areas covering nearly all urbanized parts of the N ation's coastal zone have been prepared. The maps are frequently 

requested by planners, developers, State and local officials, and the 

general public as an aid in resolving future flood-plain management problems. Copies of "flood-prone area" maps may be obtained free from district offices of the Geological Survey, located 

in each State. 

The passage of the Federal Disaster Protection Act of 1973 required highly detailed flood data to assist the Federal Insurance 

Adm.inistration in enforcing the Act's provisions. The Federal Insurance Administration requested that the. Geological Survey 

make flood-insurance studies of selected urban areas. These detailed studies are summarized in reports which provide 100-year 

and 500-year flood ·boundaries on the most accurate large-scale 

maps available, as well as profiles of selected floods from 10-year 

to 500-year recurrence intervals. The study areas are divided into 

zones, each having a specific flood potential or hazard. The special 

flood-flow characteristics of each zone are clearly outlined in the 

reports. In addition to assisting Federal authorities, these reports 

are of considerable interest to State and local officials and to the 

construction industry in developing flood-plain management policies. 

RELATED ACTIVITIES 

Title: Mesozoic and Cenozoic Marine Paleontologic Studies-Modern Foraminifers, Gulf and Atlantic Shelf (III-1) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Offshore Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North 

Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. 

Principal Contact: NR-7 

Objective: To determine the patterns and causes of the distribution of modern 

benthic foraminifers on the Continental Shelf and Slope of the Gulf of 

Mexico and western North Atlantic Ocean. Electron and optical microscopy and statistical methods will be used. 

Title: Recent Foraminifers, Atlantic Shelf (III-2) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Offshore Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North 

Carolina, South Carolina, .Georgia, and Florida. 
III.-REGIONAL GEOLOGIC AND HYDROLOGIC WORK 51 

Principal Contact: NR-7 

Objective: To evaluate distribution patterns and environmental controls, in 

terms of both relative and absolute abundances of the species, and to investigate species diversity and spatial distribution of the forminiferal 

assemblages. Foraminiferal faunas from over 2,000 recent samples on 

the Atlantic Margin from Maine to Florida are being studied. 

Title: Northern Coastal Plain (III-3) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina 

Principal Contact: NR-7 

Objective: To construct a skeletal geologic framework for the Atlantic Coastal 

Plain physiographic province which will aid in correlations along strike 

and downdip under the shelf, facilitating the location of mineral resources of possible economic significance. This information is pertinent 

to the relationship between offshore petroleum-resource development and 

the protection of environmental variables. 

Products: 

Minard, J. P., 1974, Geology of the Betterton quadrangle, Kent County, 

Maryland and a discussion of the regional stratigraphy: U.S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 8>16, 2.7 p. 

---, 1974, Slump blocks in the Atlantic Highlands of New Jersey: U.S. 

Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 898, 24 p. 

Minard, J. P., Perry, W. J., Jr., W·eed, E. G. A., Rhodehamel, E. C., Robbins, 

E. I., and Mixon, R. B., 1974, Preliminary report on geology along Atlantic continental margin of northeastern United States: Am. Assoc., 

Petroleum Geologists Bull., v. 58, No. 6, Pt., 2 p. 1169'-1178. 

Perry, W. J., Jr., and others, 1975·, Stratigraphy of Atlantic coastal margin 

of U.S. north of Cape Hatteras-brief survey: Am. Assoc. Petroleum· 

Geologists, v. 59, no. 9, p. 1529-1548. 

Weed, E. G. A., and others, 1974, Generalized pre-Pleistocene geologic map of 

the northern United States Atlantic continental margin: U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. Inv. Ser. Map I-861, 2 sheets, scale 1: 1,000,000. 

Title: Mesozoic and Cenozoic Marine Paleontologic Studies-Biostratigraphy 

of the Atlantic Continental Margin (III-4) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Offshore Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, M~ryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. 

Principal Contact: NR-7 

Objective: To collect and analyze dredge and core samples from the Atlantic 

Continental Margin. The goals of the project include: biostratigraphic 

analysis of Continental Margin deposits by the use of ostracodes and 

calcareous nannofossils; correlating of offshore and onshore Mesozoic and 

Cenozoic marine deposits; describing the paleobiogeography of ostracodes 

and calcareous nannofossils; and describing the paleoenvironment of the 

Continental Margin. 

Title: Cenozoic and Mesozoic Stratigraphy of Gulf and Atlantic Coastal 

Plains-Cretaceous Gastropods and Stratigraphies, Atlantic and Gulf 

Coastal Plains (III-5) 
52 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: New Jersey, South Carolina, Alabama, and Mississippi 

Principal Contact: NR-7 

Objective: To study the Cretaceous biostratigraphy and analyze the paleoenvironment of the New Jersey Coastal Plain and Cretaceous deposits of 

the Chattahoochee River region. The study is centered around the integration of the molluscan zonation of these deposits with the zonations based 

upon the planktonic Fovaminifera and nannofossils. Field activities include detailed collections of the fauna of the Eutaw Formation and Selma 

Group rocks in the Tombigbee River drainage area of western Alabama 

and east-central Mississippi. 

Title: Mesozoic and Cenozoic Marine Diatoms, Atlantic Coastal Plain (111-6) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and 

Florida 

Principal Contact: NR-7 

Objective: To determine the' stratigraphic ranges of diatom genera and species 

in the marine Mesozoic and Cenozoic strata of the Atlantic and Gulf 

Coastal Plains. Diatom assemblages from this area will be used in 

determining the paleoecology ~f the Coastal Plain sediments and in geologic 

age determination and stratigrap~ic correlation on a worldwide basis. 

Product: ' 

Andrews, G. W., 1974, Systematic position and stratigraphic occurrence of 

the marine Miocene diatom Raphidodiscus marylandicus Christian: Nova 

Hedwigia, Beiheft 45, p. 2'31-243. 

Title: Stratigraphic Studies of the Miocene, Atlantic Coastal Plain (111-7) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, and N orth"'-Carolina 

Principal Contact: NR-7 

Objective: To assist in the description of the tectonic history of the Atlantic 

Coastal Plain by studying the distribution, paleoenvironmental relationships, stratigraphic significance, and taxonomy of the Foraminifera and 

several groups of Mollusca in the Miocene strata of the Atlantic Coastal 

Plain. 

Title: Cenozoic and Mesozoic Stratigraphy of Gulf and Atlantic Coastal 

Plains Cenozoic Vertebrates, Eastern North America (III-8) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, 

Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana 

Principal Contact: NR-7 

Objective: To study the Cenozoic terrestrial and marine mammals from the 

Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains. Goals are to reconstruct land and sea 

paleoecology, make evolutionary studies of marine mammals, and to improve correlation··. with terrestrial deposits of the Rocky Mountain area 

(by studying land mammals) and the west coast of the United States. 

Title: Cenozoic and Mesozoic Stratigraphy of Gulf and Atlantic Coastal 

Plains-Upper Cenozoic Mollusks and Stratigraphy-Atlantic Coastal 

Plain (III-9) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 
III.-REGIONAL GEOLOGIC AND HYDROLOGIC WORK 53 

Location: Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and 

Virginia 

Principal Contact: NR-7 

Objective: A biostratigraphic and lithostratigraphic analysis is being performed on upper Cenozoic deposits of the Atlantic Coastal Plain to assist in reconstructing the geologic history of this area. Other tasks include the mapping and biostratigraphic and lithostratigraphic analysis 

of the rocks of the Coastal Plain. 

Products: 

Mcintyre, I. G., Blackwelder, B. W., Land L. S., and Stuckenrath, Robert, 

1975, North Carolina shelf-edge sandstone: Age, environment of origin, 

and relationship to pre-existing sea levels: Geol. Soc. America Bull., v. 

86,no. 8,p. 1073-1078. 

Ward, L. W., and Blackwelder, B. W., 1975, Chesapecten, a new genus ()f 

Pectinidae (Mollusca:Bivalvia) from the Miocene and Pliocene of eastern 

North America: U.S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 861, 24 p. 

Title: Cenozoic Stratigraphic Paleontology, Pacific Coast (111-10) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Looation: California, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska 

Principal Contact: CR--3 

Objective: To integrate previous paleontologic studies with multidisciplinary 

Geological Survey projects in the marine Cenozoic basins in the Pacific 

Coast States and Alaska. The primary research goal is the refinement of 

the marine invertebrate chronology of the Pacific Coast Cenozoic province 

through continuing biostratigraphic and taxonomic studies of shallowwater molluscan inverttebrate faunas. 8econdary objectives are paleoecological studies and environmental reconstruction, zoogeographic analysis, and paleoclimatic analysis. 

Title: Cenozoic and Mesozoic Stratigraphy, Pacific Coast and AlaskaCenozoic Vertebrates, Pacific Coast (III-11) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: California, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To provide age and faunal data for Tertiary and Quaternary formations in California, western Oregon, Washington, and Alaska. 

Products: 

Addicott, W. 0., 1975a, Early Miocene age of the Clallam Formation, western 

Washington: U.S. Geol. Survey Bull. 1405-A, p. A26. 

--- 1975b, Provincial age and correlation of the Clallam Formation, northwestern Washington [abs.]: Geol. Soc. America, Abs. with Programs, 

v. 7, no. 3, p. 289. 

Allison, R. C., and Addicott, W. 0.,. 19·76, The North Pacific Miocene record 

of Mytilus (Plicatomytilus), a new subgenus (Bivalvia), U.S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 962, 21 p. [in press]. 

Snavely, P. D., Jr., MacLeod, N. S., Rau, W. W., Addicott, W. 0., and Pearl, 

J. E., 1975, Alsea Formation-an Oligocene marine sedimentary sequence 

in the Oregon Coast Range: U.S. Geol. Survey Bull. 1395-F, 21 p. 

Title: Cenozoic Floras of Alaska and the Pacific Northwest (III-12) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Oregon, Washington, and Alaska 
54 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To study plant megafossils of TertiaJry age from Alaska, Oregon, 

and Washington. 

Title: Alaskan Gravity Surveys (111-13) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location : Alaska 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To pr·epare a Bouguer anomaly map of the State of Alaska with 

a 10-milligal contour interval at a scale of 1:2,500,000 which is similar to 

the pTesent gravity map of the conterminous United States. The map 

will be based ·primarily on data obtained from onshore and offshore 

traverses. The project includes a study of gravitational fields associated 

with the major topographic and geologic features, a study of isostatic 

adjustment, the estimation of regional gradients, and the location of thick 

sedimentary accumulations suitable for mOTe detailed petroleum exploration. A controlled network of base stations and gravimeter calibration 

loops now provides control for most commercial and university gravity 

surveys in Alaska. This network is now being converted to the datum 

of the International Gravity Standardization Net. 

Title: Craig 1:250,000 quadrangle (111-14) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Alaska 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To establish the necessary stratigraphic and structural controls, 

which will facilitate correlations around the northern Pacific. This will 

include the establishment of biostratigraphic standards for Paleozoic 

rocks of the Cor~illeran geosyncline in Alaska. A subtask will complete a 

modern geologic map of the Craig quadrangle at a scale of 1:250,000. 

Products: 

Churkin, Michael, Jr., 1974a, Deep sea drilling for landlubber geologistsThe southwest Pacific, an accordion plate tectonic analog for the Cordilleran geosyncline: Geology, v. 2, no. 7, p. 339-342. 

--- 197 4b, Paleozoic marginal ocean basin-volcanic arc systems in the 

Cordilleran foldbelt, im Modern and ancient geosynclinal sedimentation: 

Soc. Econ. Paleontologists and Mineralogists Spec. Pub. 19, p. 174-192. 

Churkin, Michael, Jr., and McKee, E. H., 1974a, Subcontinental crust of the 

Great Ba.sin,..--inherited from Paleozoic marginal ocean basins? [abs.]: 

Geol. Soc. America, Abs. with Programs v. 6, no. 3, p. 155. 

--- 1974b, Thin and layered subcontinental crust of the Great Basin, western North America, inherited from Paleozoic marginal ocean basins: Tectonophysics, v. 23, no. 1, p. 1-15. 

Tchudinova, I. I., Churkin, Michael, Jr., and Eberlein, G. D., 1974, Devonian 

syringoporoid corals from southeastern Alaska: Jour. Paleontology, v. 

48,no. 1,p. 124-134. 

Title: N orthem and Central California Tectonic Studies (111-15) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: California 

Principal Contact: CA-3 
III.-REGIONAL GEOLOGIC AND HYDROLOGIC WORK 55 

Objective: To determine the pre-Miocene history of the San Andreas 

fault and its influence on the tectonic and sedimentary history of California duing the Late Cretaceous and Tertiary periods. The history of 

movement is being studied by detennining offsets of strata that once 

extended across the fault but are now displaced by as much as hundreds 

of kilometres. By determining offsets of rocks of various ages along the 

San And.reas and other strike-slip faults, the pattern, am<runts, ana 

times of active movement can be determined. The influence of the fault 

on sedimentation and tectonics is being studied by careful sedimentologic 

and stratigraphic analyses, combined with detailed paleontologic work, . 

of various basins along, within, and adjacent to the San Andreas fault. 

These studies can delineate the activity and type of movement on the 

fault and its influence and effects on paleogeography. 

Products: 

Nilsen, T. H., Brabb, E. E., and Simoni, T. R., Jr., 1975, The Nation River 

Fonnation a late Devonian deep-sea fan deposit in east-central Alaska 

[abs.]: Abs. with Program Alaska Geol. Soc. Symposium on recent and 

ancient sedimentary environments in Alaska, Anchorage p. 7. 

Nilsen, T. H., and Clarke, S. H., Jr., 1975, Sedimentation and tectonics in 

the early Tertiary continental borderland of central California: U.S. Geol. 

Survey Prof. Paper 925, 64 p. 

Nilsen, T. H., Dibblee, T. W., Jr., and Howell, D. G., 1975, Offsets of lower 

Tertiary strata in the Transverse Ranges of California by the San Andreas fault [abs.]: Geol. Soc. America, Abs. with Programs, v. 7, no. 3, 

p. 356. 

Nilsen, T. H., and Link, M. H., 1975, Stratigraphy, sedimentology and offset 

along the San Andreas fault of Eocene to lower Miocene strata of the 

northern Santa Lucia Range and the San Emigd.io Mountains, Coast 

Ranges, central California [abs.]: Am. Assoc. Petroleum Geologists Pacific 

Sec. Ann. Mtg., Long Beach, Calif., 1975, Program, p. 629. 

Wright, R. H., and Nilsen, T. H., 1975, New U.S. Geological Survey map 

[MF-550] quantifies the distribution of landslides: California Geology, 

v. 28, no. 4, p. 2. 

Title: Environmental Geology San Francisco Bay Region Part C-Flatlands 

Materials (III-16) 

Status: Completed FY 75 

Location: California 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To map and differentiate the Quaternary geologic deposits of the 

San Francisco Bay. Engineering properties, geologic processes and hazards 

were investigated to assist future planning activities. 

Title: Connecticut Cooperative Geologic Program (111-17) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Connecticut 

Principal Contact: NR-7 

Objective: To map and publish the bedrock and surficial geology of the State 

at the 1 : 24,000 scale on an intermittent basis and compile bedrock and 

surficial maps of the State at the scale of 1: 125,000. 
56 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

Title: Flood Inundation Mapping, Northeastern Illinois (III-18) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Northeast Illinois 

Principal Contact: IL-l 

Objective: To provide readily understood flood information to decisionmakers. 

Title: Blue Hill and Catine Quadrangles (III-19) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Maine 

Principal Contact: NR-7 

Objective: To construct detailed bedrock geological maps containing information on major regional fault and fold patterns, regional stratigraphy, 

paleontologic and isotopic geochronology, and polymetamorphism. The 

relationship of base metal mines to the Castine Volcanics, granitic intrusions, faulting, and metamorphism is also being studie.d. 

Products: 

Stewart, D. B., 1974, Precambrian rocks of Seven Hundred Acre Islands and 

development of cleavage in the Islesboro Formations, in New England Intercollegiate Geol. Conf., 66th Ann. Mtg., Orono, Me., Oct. 12-13, 1974, 

Guidebook for fieldtrips in east-central and north-central Maine: Orono, 

Me., Univ. Maine, p. 86-98. 

Stewart, D. B., and Wones, D. R., 1974, Bedrock geology of northern Penobscot Bay area, in New England Intercollegiate Geol. Conf., 66th Ann. 

Mtg., Orono, Me., Oct. 12-13, 1974, Guidebook for fieldtrips in east-central 

and north-central Maine: Orono, Me., Univ. Maine, p. 223-239. 

Title: Orland Quadrangle, Lucerne Pluton, Maine (III-20) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Maine 

Principal Contact: NR-7 

Objective: To establish the geologic setting, chemistry, and crystallization 

history of Lucerne Pluton, Maine, aRd other granitic plutons in the New 

England States; to establish the stratigraphy, structure, and metamorphic 

rocks north of Penobscot Bay; and to determine the extent of the mineralized areas· and the relationship of those areas to bedrock geology. Information is coordinated with surficial geologic and geophysical data in 

order to contribute to geologic studies of Maine coastal areas and structur-es underlying the Gulf of Maine. 

Product: 

Wones, D. R., 1974, Igneous. petrology of some plutons in the northern part 

of the Penobscot Bay area in New England Intercollegif'.te Geol. Conf., 

66th Ann. Mtg. Orono, Me., Oct. 12-13, 1974, Guidebook for fieldtrips in 

east-central and north-central Maine: Orono, Me., Univ. Maine, p. 99-125. 

Title: Maryland Cooperative Project (III-21) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Maryland 

Princt"pal Contact: NR-7 

Objective: To produce a Bouguer gravity map of Maryland. This project is 

being conducted jointly by the Maryland Geological Survey and the U.S. 

Geological Survey. Gravity measurements are being made at an average 

spacing of about one per 2 square miles (5 square kilometres) in the 
III.-REGIONAL GEOLOGIC AND HYDROLOGIC WORK 57 

central part of the State where the crystalline rocks are at or near the 

surface and at somewhat wider spacing for the remaining area. The study 

will assist in the interpretation of the regional geological structure of 

Maryland. 

Title: Massachusetts Cooperative Geologic Program (111-22) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Massachusetts 

P1·incipal Contact: NR-7 

Objective: To map and publish the bedrock and surficial geology of Massachusetts at the 1:24,000 scale on an intermittent basis and compile 

bedrock and surficial maps of the Commonwealth at the scale of 1: 125,000. 

Aeromagnetic maps have been published for the entire Commonwealth except for the outer tip of Cape Cod and the offshore islands of Martha's 

Vineyard and Nantucket at the scale of 1:24,000. 

Products: 

Nelson, A. E., 1974a, Changes in nomenclature of upper Precambrian to 

lower Paleozoic (?) formations in the Natick quadrangle, eastern Massachusetts, and their tentative correlations with rocks in Rhode Island and 

Connecticut: U.S. Geol. Survey Bull. 1395-E, 14 p. 

--- 1974b, Surficial geologic map of the Natick quadrangle, Norfolk, and 

Middlesex Counties, Massachusetts: U.S. Geol. Survey Geol. Quad. Map 

GQ-1151, scale 1:24,000. 

Oldale, R. N., 1974a, Geologic map of the Dennis quadrangle, Barnstable 

County, Cape Cod, Massachusetts: U.S. Geol. Survey Geol. Quad Map 

GQ-1114, scale 1:24,000. 

--- 1974b, Geologic map of the Hyannis quadrangle, Barnstable County, 

Cape Cod, Massachusetts: U.S. Geol. Survey Geol. Quad Map GQ-1158, 

scale 1:24,000. 

--- 1975, Geologic map of the Sandwich quadrangle, Barnstable County, 

Cape Cod, Massachusetts: U.S. Geol. Survey Geol. Quad Map GQ-1222, 

scale 1:24,000. 

Volckmann, R. P., 1975, Surficial geologic map of the Medfield quadrangle, 

Norfolk and Middlesex Counties, Massachusetts: U.S. Geol. Survey Geol. 

Quad, Map GQ-1218, scale 1:24,000. 

Title: Flood Hazard Information, House Document 465 (III-23) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Michigan 

Principal Contact: ·MI-l 

Objective: To outline flood-prone areas on existing U.S. Geological Survey 

maps in response to the national program to provide flood-hazard information. 

Title: Puerto Rico Cooperative Geologic Mapping (111-24) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: ·Puerto Rico 

Principal Contact: NR-7 

Objective: To produce detailed, large-scale ( 1:20,000), multipurpose geologic 

quadrangle maps of Puerto Rico. The maps are intended to provide basic 

and derivative geologic data required by the Commonwealth for the effective use of rock, mineral, and land resources in programs of public works, 
58 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

conservation, recreation, and industrial and economic development. This 

project is a cooperative effort with the Puerto Rico Department of N atural Resources and will continue until geologic mapping of the island 

is complete. Special purpose and derivative maps pertinent to problems 

and prospects of land and mineral resource utilization in Puerto Rico 

will also be produced. 

Title: Cape Flattery Area, Washington (III-25) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Washington 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To establish the geologic evaluation of the Continental Shelf adjacent to parts of Washington. This project involves geologic mapping 

(scale 1: 48,000) and stratigraphic, s1Jructural, and petrologic studies of 

the Cape Flattery area, in the northwestern Olympic Peninsula of Washington, and also reconnaissance geologic ·studies of selected coastal areas 

in western Washington. Mineral resources potential, geologic hazards, 

and the land use problems are being evaluated. 

IV.-EARTHQUAKE AND VOLCANIC HAZARDS 

Nat ural disasters, such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, 

can cause serious loss to life and property. The average annual national loss from earthquakes is about $630 million, but a single 

large earthquake in a large metropolitan area could cause damages up to $50 billion. Events, such as the eruption of Mauna Loa, 

Hawaii, on July 5-6,· 1975, increased thermal emissions on 

Mount Baker since March 1975, and the San Fernando, California, 

earthquake of 1971, have accentuated the concern for better prediction of the events and the need for mitigation of their effects 

wherever possible. 

Coastal States which have experienced damaging earthquakes 

recently include California, Alaska, Hawaii, and Washington, but 

past records indicate that several other States and regions are susceptible to them. Most of the U.S. earthquake-prone regions are 

coastal : New England and the Southeast Atlantic and the Pacific 

coastal areas are most vulnerable. Because 15 percent of the population (31 million people) live in areas of high risk, the hazards 

to life are great. 

The earthquake hazard program has been established in response to these concerns. It evolved under the guidance of several 

agencies (Coast and Geodetic Survey, Environmental Science 

Services Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the National Science Foundation) and is conducted in cooperation with the Energy Research and Development 

Administration, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Advanced Research Projects Administration, and others. 
IV.-EARTHQUAKE AND VOLCANIC HAZARDS 59 

The Geological Survey is responsible for and conducts all earthscience studies on earthquake hazards and their reduction. The 

Geological Survey also conducts seismic-engineering studies on behalf of the National Science Foundation, the goal of which is to 

help mitigate the destructive effects of these events. Major program objectives include acquisition and dissemination of information on earthquake occurrences, mapping evaluation of earthquake 

hazards, and developing a capability to predict the place, time and 

magnitude of earthquakes. Seismic activities are monitored 

around the clock by va:r;ious recording systems and seismological 

observatories operated by the Geological Survey. The Geological 

Survey's National Earthquake Information Service (NElS) provides information on the location and magnitude of earthquakes 

using data from its seismic networks and those of cooperating 

institutions. NElS supplies a wide range of information services 

to the public in response to direct inquiry. Monitoring of local 

earthquake occurrences is done by networks of seismic instruments established in various States. California, Washington, 

Alaska, and South Carolina are four coastal States in which seismographs are located. A particularly well-known study site is 

near Hollister, Calif., where a dense network of seismometers, 

tiltmeters, magnetometers, and strain-recording instruments are 

deployed in an ongoing experiment to predict earthquakes in the 

California coastal area. In cooperation with the National Science 

Foundation, the Geological Survey also operates the Worldwide 

Network of Standard Seismographs consisting of 31 continuously 

recording stations in the United States and 85 other stations in 

68 countries. 

Volcano hazards studies are directed toward hazards prediction 

and mitigation in areas of active volcanoes in Hawaii and the Cascade Range. The major program effort is expended at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory where the active volcanoes of Kilauea 

and Mauna Loa are monitored. In cooperation with HUD, volcano 

hazards maps at a scale of 1:7,500,000 have been prepared for the 

Island of Hawaii. 

Selection of suitable sites for nuclear reactors must take geologic processes into account. Siting and design of reactors to avoid 

the hazards posed by volcanic eruptions and earthquakes can increase the cost of construction. It is critical to locate nuclear reactors in safe environments while also attempting to ensure low 

construction costs. As part of research into the environmental aspects of energy production, reactor hazards studies are designed 

to identify and to evaluate the geologic hazards to which reactors 
60 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

may be subject and in this manner to provide technical advice to 

both government and industry, assisting their efforts to assure 

safe siting of nuclear power facilities. The studies do not select 

specific sites for reactors, as this remains the responsibility of 

electric utilities. More than 75 percent of the reactors being built 

will be located in the eastern part of the Nation and many of them 

in the coastal zone. To help with site selection, the Geological Survey is studying the geologic structure and recency of faulting in 

New England, New York, and the Atlantic Coastal Plain. In the 

Gulf Coastal Plain, where surface faulting is a potential hazard, 

the relationship between ground-water withdrawal and surface 

faulting is undergoing examination. In the western region, geologic mapping is done in California, Washington, and Oregon in 

association with hazards assessment (faulting, earthquakes, volcanic activity, and ground-water withdrawal). 

Problems unique to arctic environments are being examined by 

arctic environmental studies and the Alaska pipeline related investigations activities. Construction of the Alaska pipeline from 

Prudhoe Bay to Valdez presented an opportunity to investigate 

the changes brought upon the pristine environment by man's activities. Special attention has been given to procedures for safeguarding against pollution and environmental damage related to 

permafrost, glaciers, and surficial deposits. The study has included monitoring of seismic activity and evaluation of potential 

flood and earthquake hazards. The program is also responsible for 

assessing engineerin-g problems such as locating geological materials suitable for construction. 

RELATED ACTIVITIES 

Title: Alaska Geologic Earthquake Hazards (IV-1) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Alaska 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To evaluate and suggest measures for reducing the risks resulting 

from ground displacement, seismic shaking, and the secondary geologic 

effects of earthquakes in Alaska. A more general goal is to gain an insight into tectonic processes within the seismically active zone of southern 

Alaska. Initial research efforts are in the highly seismic and more 

densely populated southern part of the State. The studies involve preparation of detailed maps of active surface faults and evaluation of geologic 

evidence for late Cenozoic fault movement; delineation of coastal areas 

that may be subjected to major earthquakes characterized by large-scale 

regional tectonic elevation changes and assessment of the hazards related 

to such movements; and identification and evaluation of secondary geologic 

hazards related to seismic shaking in critical areas of high population 

density and along transportation routes. 
IV.-EARTHQUAKE AND VOLCANIC HAZARDS 61 

Title: Alaska Seismic Studies (IV -2) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Alaska 

P'rincipal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To deHneate seismically active faults, to assess seismic risks, to 

determine the focal mechanism of earthquakes,. to investigate current tectonic deformation, and to study the structural and physical properties o:( 

the crust and upper mantle. Earthquakes in south-central Alaska are being 

recorded by a regional network of 51 seismograph stations extending from 

Yakutat through Prince William Sound, the Chugach Mountains . and 

Cook Inlet, to the Katmai National Monument. Data from the netwo·rk, 

as well as those from the worldwide network of seismographs, are used 

to locate earthquakes in the active seismic zone of southern Alaska and 

the Gulf of Alaska. The seismic studies are complemented by measurements of crustal deformation undertaken in cooperation with other 

studies. 

Product: 

Page, R. A., 1975, Evaluation of seismicity and earthquake shaking at offshore sites: Offshore Technology Conf., 7th, Houston, Texas, 1975, Proc., 

v. 3, p. 179-190. 

Title: Central California Seismicity Studies (IV -3) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: California 

P'rincipal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To construct models of the earthquake-generating process that will 

assist in predicting earthquakes in central California; to identify and 

delineate active faults in central California; to find methods of assessing 

the potential of these faults for produc~ng a damaging earthquake; and to 

provide catalogs and computer listings of the locations, . depths, origin 

times, and magnitudes of earthquakes in central California. 

Products: 

Bufe, C. G., Pfluke, J. H., and Wesson, R. L., 1974, Premonitory vertical 

migration of microearthquakes in central California-evidence of dilatancy biasing: Geophys. Research Letters, v. 1, no. 5, p. 221-224. 

Steppe, J. A., Bakun, W. H., and Bufe, C. G., 1975, Time-varying p-velocity 

anisotropy along the San Andreas fault [abs.] : EOS, v. 56, no. 6. p. 399. 

Title: Crustal Strain (IV -4) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: California 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To measure slip and elastic strain accumulation along faults and 

to seek premonitory deformation that might be useful for earthquake 

prediction. This project involves the measurement of crustal deformation near active faults by means of precise geodetic techniques such as 

geodimeter surveys for horizontal deformation and level surveys for vertical movement. 

Products: 

Castle, R. 0., Alt, J. N., Savage, J. C., and Balazs, E. I., 1974, Elevation 

changes preceding the San Fernando earthquake of February 9, 1971: 

Geology, v. 2, no. 2, p. 61-66. 
62 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

Prescott, W. H., and Savage, J. C., 1974, Absence of observable deformation 

on the Sargent Fault, California, 19'70-1973: Geol. Soc. America, A.bs. 

with Programs, v. 6, no. 3, p. 30'7. 

Savage, J. C., 1974a, A possible bias in the California State geodimeter data 

[Abs.] : EOS, v. 56, p. 1191. 

--- 1974, The California geodimeter network: measuring movement along 

the San Andreas fault [abs.] : Earthquake Information Bull., v. 6, no. 

3, p. 3. 

--- 1975a, A possible bias in the California State geodimeter data: Jour. 

Geophysical Research, v. 80, p. 4078-4088. 

--- 1975b, Crustal movement investigations: Rev. Geophys. Space Physics, 

v. 13, p. 263-265. 

--- 1975c, Evidence for afterslip on the San Fernando fault: Seismol. Soc. 

America Bull., v. 65, p. 829-834. 

Savage, J. C., and Prescott, W. H., 19'74, Geodimeter measurements of slip 

and strain accumulation along the San Andreas fault: Tectonophysics, 

v. 2.3, p. 407-418. 

Title: San Francisco Bay Region Earthquake Hazard Reduction (IV -5) 

Status: Completed FY 75 

Location: California 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To determine the geologic parameters that control seismic amplification. The main focus of the project was to determine the S- wave velocities and the bulk densities of the various geologic units in the southern 

San Francisco Bay region as a prototype example of this phenomenon. 

Eighteen 30-metre holes were drilled and logged in 6 different unconsolidated alluvial units and 12. semiconsolidated to well-indurated bedrock units. The seismic velocities and physical properties of each unit 

were determined. 

Title: Earthquake Hazards Reduction, Central Ventura County (IV -6) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: California 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To review and synthesize existing historic, seismic, geologic, geodetic, and marine geophysical records of all faults in central Ventura 

County having known or suspected late Quaternary earthquake activity. 

Satellite and high-altitude ( 1: 90;000 to 1:250,000 scale) photography 

and other imagery are analyzed for linear and other structural feature!"! 

that appear to reflect late Quaternary tectonic activity. Known or suspected young faults are examined by intermediate-scale aerial photographs 

and by techniques such as trenching, drilling, geophysical surveys, seismic and geodetic networks, and hydrologic and marine geophysical studies. 

These data are used to determine the length and width of each active 

fault, the distribution and nature of adjacent landslides, and the character, 

rate, and chronology of past displacements. 

Title: Earthquake Hazards Reduction, Los Angeles Region (IV-7) 

Status: Completed FY 75 

Location: California 

Principal Contact: CA-3 
IV.-EARTHQUAKE AND VOLCANIC HAZARDS 63 

Objective: To review and synthesize existing historic, seismic, geologic, geodetic, and marine geophysical records of all faults having known or suspected late Quaternary activity. Satellite, high-altitude, and intermediatescale imagery was used to recognize linear and other structural features 

that appeared to reflect late Quaternary tectonic activity; known or 

suspected active faults were studied by trenching, drilling, and geophysical 

studies; the distribution and nature of active faults and adjacent landslides were determined from the chronology of past displacements and 

the late Quaternary stratigraphic and geomorphic record. 

Title: Earthquake Hazard Reduction, San Francisco Bay Region (IV -8) 

Status: Completed FY 75 

Location: California 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To provide the basic geologic framework for the San Francisco Bay 

region. Seismic ground response, liquefaction, active faults, and slope 

stability were studied. 

Products: 

Clark, J. C., Dibblee, T. W., Jr., Greene, H. G., and Bowen, 0. E., Jr., 1974, 

Preliminary geologic map of the Monterey and ~easide 7.5' quadrangles, 

Monterey County, California with emphasis on active faults: U.S. Geol. 

Survey Misc. Field Studies Map MF-577, scale 1:24,000. 

DtU>re, W. R., 1975, Maps showing geology and liquefaction potential of 

Quaternary deposits in Santa Cruz County, California: U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. Field Studies, Map MF-648, scale 1:62,500. 

Hall, N. T., Sarna-Wojcicki, A. J., and Dupre, W. R., 19'75, Faults and their 

potential hazards in Santa Cruz County, California: U.S. Geol. Survey 

Misc. Field Studies Map MF -625, scale 1: 62,500. 

Title: Earthquake Hazard Reduction, San Francisco Bay Region-B, Faults 

and Fault Activity (IV-9) 

Status: Completed FY 75 

Location: Californi'a 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To identify, characterize, and map the earthquake hazards of the 

San Francisco Bay region; to develop criteria for recognizing geologic 

materials subject to landsliding, liquefaction, and other ground failures 

resulting from erthquakes; and to refine the techniques of estimating 

ground response to earthquakes for different geologic settings and seismic base motions. Various maps and reports to be used by planners 

and others concerned with earthquake hazards in the San Francisco Bay 

region were prepared. 

Title: Earthquake Hazards Reduction, Southwestern Ventura County (IV -10) 

Status:· Completed FY 75 

Location: California 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To map Quaternary stratigraphic units in the Oxnard Plain and 

adjacent foothills by using stratigraphic, geomorphic, and soil development c~riteria; to correlate Quaternary deposits by means of chemical 

tephrochronology; to map Quaternary faults and compile existing data 

on surface and subsurface geology, structure, and geophysical data; to 
64 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

date Quaternary faults by using relative and absolute age (radiocarbon 

and amino-acid racimization) data; and to map landslides in the foothills surrounding the Oxnard Plain. 

Title: Engineering Seismology (IV -11) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: California 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To develop sound methods for predicting strong earthquake ground 

motion and ground deformation in terms useful for the design of structures, the writing of codes, and the planning of land use. A secondary 

goal is to demonstrate how these methods can be applied on a regional 

basis for seismic hazard zonation, the San Francisco Bay region being 

used as a test case. Activities include analysis of existing strong-motion 

data; development of numericai methods for predicting site response under 

conditions of nonlinear soil deformation; determination of the depth to 

bedrock by means of seismic field surveys; and seismic measurements to 

determine the elastic properties of surficial materials. 

Title: Fault Zone Tectonics (IV -12) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: California 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To measure tectonic proce~.ses in fault zones, to develo·p a useful 

theory concerning the mechanics of such processes, and to seek evidence 

of fault zone activity that might be useful for earthquake prediction or 

for modification of fault zone behavior. This project involves measurement of fault slip in the form of aseismic creep and other processes and 

related phenomena, including nearfield strain response during both loading 

and failure intervals. Results will be interpreted, and theoretical investigations related to fault creep will also be made. 

Product: 

Savage, J. C., Burford, R. 0., and Kinoshita, W. T., 1975, Earth movements 

from geodetic measurements, in Oakshott, G. B., ed., San Fernando, California, earthquake of February 9, 197·1: California Div. Mines and 

Geology Bull. 196, p. 17 4-186. 

Title: Instrumental Strain (IV -13) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Californi;a 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To determine the nearfield modes of strain accumulation and release associated with earthquakes on active faults in the Western United 

States. These studies are necessary for understanding and predicting 

earthquakes. Instruments in use or being installed at present include 50 

tiltmeters, 12 strainmeters, and 7 magnetometers installed along 80 kilometers of the most active section of the San Andreas fault; portable differential magnetometers are in use at 120 sites along more than 1,200 

kilometres of the major faults in California and Nevada. 

Products: 

Byerlee, J. D., and Johnston, M. J. S., 1974, A magnetic method for determmmg the approximate size and orientation of hydraulic fractures 

[abs.] : EOS, v. 5·5, p. 1193. 
IV.-EARTHQUAKE AND VOLCANIC HAZARDS 65 

Johnston, M. J. S., 1974a, Tectonomagnetic effects in prog:ress, in Nagata 

Conference on Magnetic Fields: Pittsburgh, Pa., Univ. Pittsburgh, p. 

283-303. 

--- 1974b, Tectonomagnetic experiments in western U.S.A. [abs.]: EOS, 

v. 55, p. 1113 . 

. Johnston, M. J. S., Bakun, W. H., Pakiser, L. C., and Tarr, A. C., 1974, Earthquakes can they be predicted or controlled?: Industrial Research, v. 16, 

p. 31-37. 

Johnston, M. J. S., and Mortensen, C. E., 1974, Tilt precursors before earthquakes on the San Andreas fault, California: Science, v. 186, p. 1021-

1034. 

Johnston, M. J. S., Mortenson, C. E., Smith, B. E., and others, 1974, Tiltmeter, 

magnetometer and strainmeter arrays in California installation and some 

preliminary results [abs.]: EOS, v. 55, no. 4, p. 427. 

Johnston, M. J. S., Mortensen, C. E., Smith, B. F., and Stuart, W. D., 1975, 

Summary and implication of simultaneous observation of tilt and changes 

in local magnetic field prior to a magnitude 5.2 earthquake near Hollister, 

California [abs.] : EOS, v. 56, p. 40. 

Johnston, M. J. S., Myren, G. D., O'Hara, N. W., and Rogers, J. H., 1975, A 

possible seismomagnetic observation on the Garlock fault, California: 

Seismol. Soc. America Bull., v. 65, p. 1114-1119. 

Johnston, M. J. S., and Stuart W. D., 1974, The form of pre- and post-earthquake crustal deformation for moderate earthquakes on the San Andreas 

fault [abs.]: EOS, v. 55, p. 1196. 

Jones, Alan C., and Johnston, M. J. S., 1974, Earth strain measurements near 

the San Andreas fault, California [abs.] : EOS, v. 55, p. 1191. 

McHugh, S., Johnston, M. J. S., and Burford, R. 0., 1974, PreliminM'y results 

on the relation between surface tilt near the San Andreas fault [abs.]: 

EOS, v. 55, p. 1191. 

Mortensen, C. E., and Johnston, M. J. S., 1975, The nature of surface tilt 

along 85 km of the San Andreas fault--preliminary results from a 14-

instrument array: Pure Applied Geophysics, v. 75, p. 237-249. 

O'Hara, N. W., and Johnston, M. J. S., 1975, A tectonomagnetic study along 

the Garlock fault, California [abs.]: Geol. Soc. America Abs. with 

Programs, v. 7, no. 7, p. 1217. 

Raleigh, C. B., and Johnston, M. J. S., An elastic relaxation of earthquake 

induced tilts in central California [abs.]: EOS, v. 55, p. 1192. 

Smith, B. E., Johnston, M. J. S., and Myren, G. D., 1974, Results from a 

differential magnetometer array along the San Andreas fault in central 

California [abs.]: EOS, v. 55, p. 1113. 

Stuart, W. D., and Johnston, M. J. S., 1974, Tectonic implications of anomalous tilt before central California earthquakes [abs.]: EOS, v. 55, 

p. 1197. 

--- 1975, Intrusive origin of the MatsusMro earthquake swarm: Geology, 

v. 3, no. 2, p. 63-67. 

Title: San Andreas Earthquake (IV-14) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: California 

P'rincipal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To coordinate the development of equipment by private industry, 

to determine field techniques for measuring gravity changes to the 
66 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

highest accuracy possible, and to test the feasibility of developing a capability for mapping gravity changes over a significant region, such as 

the San Andreas fault. Continuous measurements are being made at 

selected points within the region and telemetered into a central recording 

facility in Menlo Park, California. 

Products: 

Oliver, H. W., Robbins, S. L., Grannell, R. B., Alewine, R. W., and Biehler, 

Shawn, 1975, Surface and subsurface movements determined by remeasuring gravity, in Oakshott, G. B. ed., San Fernando, California earthquake 

of February 9, 1971: California Div. Mines and Geology Bull. 196, p. 

195-211. 

Oliver, H. W., Wood, M. D., and Robbins, S. L., 1974, Evidence from gravity 

measurements for deformation during and after the San Fernando earthquake of February 9, 1971 [abs.] : EOS, v. 55, no. 4, p. 426. 

Robbins, S. L., Oliver, H. W., Holden, K. D., and Farewell, R. C., 1974, Principal facts, accuracies, and sources for 3046 gravity stations on the San 

Jose 1 oX 2 o quadrangle, California: U.S. Dept. Commerce·, N atl. Tech. 

Inf. Service PB-232 728/ AS, 106 p. 

Title: Southern California Microearthquake Network (IV-15) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Calif9rnia 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To study the seismicity of southern California in cooperation with 

the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). The project involves 

the installation, operation, maintenance, and systematic analysis of the 

southern California microearthquake net as distinct from the regional 

net operated by Caltech. Data from the network are available to both 

Geological Survey and Caltech researchers as well as to other institutions 

and researchers. Existing networks include the Imperial Valley net (20 

stations), the Mojave net (22 stations), the San Bernardino net (32 stations), and the Los Angeles Basin net (8 stations). 

Title: Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (IV-16) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Hawaii 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To provide warnings of impending eruptions and technical advice 

regarding volcano and related hazards. The eruptions of Kilauea and 

Mauna Loa Volcanoes are studied in detail; eruptive phenomena are 

documented photographically, eruptive products are sampled, and vents and 

flows are mapped. Seismic activity is monitored continuously by a network of about 37 stations. Deformation of the volcanoes is monitored by 

periodically reoccupying tilt stations, level lines, and trilateration (geodimeter) networks. Additional geophysical methods include resistivity, electromagnetic, magnetic, and gravity studies. Hypotheses of magmatic 

history and evolution are developed from petrographic and chemical i1}-

vestigations of lava samples. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory's geologic, geophysical, and geochemical studies contribute to an improved 

understanding of volcanic processes and to better forecasting techniques. 
IV.-EARTHQUAKE AND VOLCANIC HAZARDS 67 

Products: 

Tilling, R. I., 1975a, Review of "The making of the earth: volcanoes and continental drift" (by Haroun Tazieff) : Am. Scientist, v. 63, no. 6, p. 701-

702. 

--- 1975b, The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory: Babysitting Kilauea and 

Mauna Loa two of the world's most active volcanoes: Kilauea Times, 

June 23-Sept. 7, 1975, p. 4. 

Tilling, R. I., Holcomb, R. T., Lockwood, J. P., and Peterson, D. W., 1975, 

Recent eruptions of Hawaiian volcanoes and evolution of basaltic landforms: Internat. Colloquium Planetary Geology, Rome, Italy, Sept. 22-

30, 1975, Program, p. 149'-152. · 

Tilling, R. I., Koyanagi, R. Y., and Holcomb, R. T., 1975, Rockfall seismicity 

-correlation with field observations, Makaopuhi Crater, Kilauea Vol<;ano, 

Hawaii: U.S. Geol. Survey Jour. Research, v. 3, no. 3, p. 345-361. 

Title: Charleston Earthquake Regional Geophysical Studies (IV -17) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: South Carolina and Georgia 

Principal Contact: NR-7 

Objective: To determine if a unique structure is present in the epicentral area 

and to understand the tectonics of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. 

Detailed aeromagnetic and refraction and reflection seismic surveys spaced 

by 1.6 kilometres (1 mile) are being used to define Coastal Plain and 

crystalline basement lithology and structure. This project is part of a 

cooperative study with the. Nuclear Regulatory Commission using geology, 

geophysics, and earthquake seismology to investigate the possible causes 

of recurring earthquakes in the Chai'leston area of South Carolina. 

Products: 

Higgins, B. B., and Popenoe, Peter, 1974, A geologic and geophysical study 

of the Charleston, South Carolina, earthquake zone: Earthquake Inf. 

Bull. v. 6, no. 6, p. 16-23. · 

Popenoe, Peter, 1975a, Geophysical studies in the Charleston area of South 

Carolina [abs.]: Am. Soc. Photogrammetry, 41st Ann. Convention, Washington, D.C., Programs, p. 659. · 

--- 1975b, The Charleston earthquake-the search for a geologic causenew magnetic and gravity data [abs.]: Geol. Soc. America, Abs. with 

Programs, v. 7, no. 4, p. 524. 

Zeitz, I~idore, Higgins, M. W., Popenoe, Peter, and Higgins, Brenda, 1975, 

Geophysical surveys of the southeastern coastal plain, part II: Preliminary geologic interpretation of new aeromagnetic maps of part of the 

coastal plain of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia [abs.]: 

Geol. Soc. America, Abs. with Programs, v. 7, no. 7, p, 1327. 

Title: Charleston Geoelectric Studies (IV -18) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: South Carolina 

Principal Con·tact: NR-7 

Objective: To identify and delineate basement tectonic structures that may be 

related to the anomalously high earthquake .activity of the CharlestonSummerville area; to establish baseline electric, magnetic, and geodetic 

datums for future monitoring and checking of the applicability of 

dilatancy earthquake source models in this area; and to trace resistivity 
68 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

structures within the sUJI'ficial sediments that may be of geological and 

hydrological significance. 

Title: Geologic Investigation of the Charleston, South Carolina, Earthquake 

Area (IV-19) 

StatU8: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: South Carolina 

Principal Contact: NR-7 

Objective: To investigate the cause of the Charleston earthquake of 1886. 

The two-part study examines the basement beneath the Coastal Plain 

and the deformation within the Coastal Plain secions as an indicator of 

the probable earthquake cause. Both geologic and geophysical methods 

are applied within the epicentral areas of the 1886 earthquake. 

V.-ENGINEERING GEOLOGY 

Engineering geology studies apply geologic knowledge to civilengineering decisions and practices to assist in man's modification 

of his natural physical environment. Geological Survey objectives 

are to provide engineering geology information by means of field 

and laboratory research and to provide technical assistance and 

services to other governmental agencies. 

Engineering geology investigations in coastal regions are essential to ensure the safety of onshore and offshore structures. Topical studies on subjects such as the strength of materials, the 

availability and physical properties of rocks and sediments, and 

the distribution of various physical properties bear directly on 

the stability of engineered structures. Potentially catastrophic 

phenomena such as faulting, subaerial and submarine landslides 

and mudflows, subsidence of the ground surface, differential settlement, lateral spreading, liquefaction, differential erosion, and 

induced instability owing to changing load are all subjects for engineering geology studies. The potential for the occurrence of these 

phenomena affects the siting of such structures as drilling rigs, 

pipelines, port facilities, dwellings, transportation routes, energy 

transmission corridors, and population and service centers both on 

land and in the water. 

Examples of areas where engineering geology studies have contributed to the knowledge of earth-science constraints on development in coastal zones include: the southern California borderland 

(recency of faulting, reaction of earth materials to seismic shaking, and construction material resources) ; the San Francisco Bay 

area (construction material resources, liquefaction, stability of 

bay muds, reaction of earth materials to seismic shaking, and 

slope stability) ; the Puget Sound area of Washington, (slope 

stability, volcano hazards, excavatability, and construction found-
V.-ENGINEERING GEOLOGY 69 

ation conditions) ; and the Alaskan coastal communities, (reconstruction and safe siting of population centers following the 

Alaska earthquake of 1964). 

RELATED ACTIVITIES 

Title: Greater Anchorage Area Borough, Alaska (V-1) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location : Alaska 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To investigate geologic and hydrologic processes relevant to regional planning. As a consequence of the effects of the Alaska earthquake 

of 1964 and its impact on land development, a general geologic map of 

the Greater Anchorage Area Borough at a scale of 1: 63,360 has been 

prepared and is now in the final stages of compilation. Study of Quaternary deposits is emphasized because most development is concentrated on 

these deposits. Special-purpose maps concerning slope stability, construction materials, and foundation and excavation conditions are being prepared for use by planners and developers. 

Product: 

Dobrovolny, Ernest, and Schmoll, H. R., 1974, Slope-stability map of Anchorage and vicinity, Alaska: U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. Inv. Ser. Map I-787-E, 

scale 1:24,000. 

Title: Environmental Geology of the San Francisco Bay Region, Slope 

Stability (V -2) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: California 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To determine the nature, geographic distribution, and economic 

impact of landslides in the San Francisco Bay region. A landslide inventory was prepared. Selected areas were mapped to determine the regional factors involved in the formation of landslides, and studies were 

conducted to examine the relation of topography to slope stability. 

Products: 

Clark, J. C., Dibblee, T. W., Jr., Greene, H. G., and Bowen, 0. E., Jr., 1974, 

Preliminary geologic map of the Monterey and Seaside 7.5-minute quadrangles, Monterey County, California, with emphasis on active faults: 

U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. Field Studies, Map MF-577, scale 1:24,000. 

Dupre, W. R., 1975, Maps showing geology and liquefaction potential of 

Quaternary deposits in Santa Cruz County, California: U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. Field Studies Map MF-648, scale 1:62,500. 

Hall, N. T., Sarna-Wojcicki, A. J., and Dupre, W. R., 1974, Faults and their 

potential hazards in Santa Cruz County, California: U.S. Geol. Survey 

Misc. Field Studies Map MF -626, scale 1: 62,500. 

Sarna-Wojcicki, A. J., Pampeyan, E. H., and Hall, N. T., 1975, Map showing 

recently active breaks along the San Andreas fault between the central 

Santa Cruz Mountains and the northern Gabilan Range, California: 

U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. Field Studies Map MF-650, 2 sheets, scale 

1:24,000. 
70 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

Title: Geologic and Engineering Character of Hillside Materials, Environmental Geology of San Francisco Bay Region (V -3) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: California 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To describe the geologic and engineering character of semiindurated to hard bedrock and weathering products underlying the hillside 

terraces of the San Francisco Bay region and to detennine the relationship between the character of these materials and their topography. Together, these factors have a majOtr bearing on the stability of natural and 

artificial slopes and therefore on the feasibility of residential and other development of the terrane. Other aspects of the study involved reconnaissance observations of geologic character, measurements of geologic properties and their engineering characteristics and interrelationships,· examination and description of 300 mapped geologic formations, and compilation of a 1: 125,000-scale map of materials units. 

Title: Geologic Environmental Maps for Land Use Planning-Coastal California (V-4) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: California 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To prepare small-scale 1:250,000 maps of coastal California on 

behalf of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission showing major components 

of the geologic environment that are useful in land-use planning and 

that may be critical for siting nuclear reactors. Emphasis is placed on 

faults and the recency of their displacement, large landslides, ground 

subsidence, and engineering properties of rock and sediment units. 

Graphic and conceptual techniques that depict in map form the recency 

of fault displacement have been used in a pilot geologic-environmental 

map of the greater Los Angeles area. The study includes the recency of 

faulting in coastal southern California. 

Products: 

Hall, C. A., Jr., and Prior, S. W., 1975, Geologic map of the Cayucos-San 

Luis Obispo region, San Luis Obispo County, California; U.S. Geol. 

Survey Misc. Field Studies Map MF-686, 2 sheets, scale 1:24,000. 

Nichols, D. R., and Buchanan-Banks, J. M., 197 4, Reducing seismic hazards 

through land-use planning: U.S. Geol. Survey Earthquake Inf. Bull., 

v. 5, no. 6, p. 3-9. 

Pampeyan, E. H., 1975, Geologic map of the San Andreas fault zone in San 

Andreas Lake, San Mateo County, California: U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. 

Field Studies Map MF -652, scale 1: 6,000. 

Sarna-Wojcicki, A.M., Pampeyan, E. H., and Hall, N. T., 1975, Map showing 

recently active breaks along the San Andreas fault between the central 

Santa Cruz Mountains and the northern Gabilan Range, California: 

U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. Field Map MF-650, 2 sheets, scale 1:24,000. 

Title: Geology of the Point Dume Quadrangle and the Los Angeles County 

Part of the Triunfo Pass Quadrangle, Los Angeles County Cooperative, 

California (V -5) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: California 
V.-ENGINEERING GEOLOGY 71 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To map the densely urbanized portion of the Santa Monica Mountains, where slope stability is a major concern. About 70 percent of the 

area slopes at 26 o or more. General-purpose geologic maps produced at 

a scale of 1: 12,000 will emphasize the identification and evaluation of 

potential geologic hazards. Landslide classification and characterization 

will be made on slope maps at a scale of 1:24,000. Geologic maps produced at a scale of 1:24,000 will, when they are combined with those of 

adjoining areas, form the basis for a comprehensive report on the geology 

of the central Santa Monica Mountains. 

Products: 

Campbell, R. H., 1974, Debris flows originating from soil slips during rainstorms in southern California: Quart. Jour. Eng. Geology, v. 7, p. 217-218. 

--- 1975, Soil slips, debris flows, and rainstorms in the Santa Monica 

Mountains and vicinity, southern California: U.S. Geol. Survey Prof. 

Paper 851, 51 p. 

Campbell, R. H., Wolf, S. C., Hunter, R. E., Lee, W. H. K., Ellsworth, W. L., 

Wagner, H. C., Vedder, J. G., and Junger, Arne; 1975, The Santa Barbara 

Channel region, a review [abs.]: Geol. Soc. America, Abs. with Programs, 

v. 7, no. 3, p. 301-302. 

Morton, D. M., and Campbell, R. H., 1974, Spring mudflows at Wrightwood, 

southern California: Quart. Jour. Eng. Geology, v. 7, p. 377-384. 

Wright, R. H., Campbell, R H., and Nilsen, T. H., 1975, Preparation and use 

of isopleth maps of landslide deposits; reply [to comment by John D. 

Vitek] : Geology, v. 3, no. 4, p. 217-218. 

Title: Pacific Palisades Landslide Area, Los Angeles, California (V -6) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: California 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To study landslides in the Pacific Palisades area of the City of 

Los Angeles in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 

Title: Soil Engineering Research (V-7) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: California 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To investigate the application· of soil engineering principles and 

methods to problems in engineering geology. Emphasis is placed on the 

potential hazards associated with unconsolidated sediments, specifically, 

seh:;mic ground amplification, liquefaction susceptibility of granular deposits, static and seismic stability of slopes and dikes, total and differential settlement from overburden fills, and subsidence from groundwater extraction. The project also supports regional engineering geology 

and environmental geology studies to determine engineering classification 

and the in-place properties of unconsolidated earth deposits, to correlate 

these properties with geologic variables, and to interpret their significance for land-use planning and engineering purposes. Current emphasis 

is placed on the unconsolidated deposits and residual soils in the San 

Francisco Bay region. 
72 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

Products: 

Yerkes, R. F., Bonilla, M. G., Youd, T. L., and Sims, J. D., 1974, Geologic 

environment of the Van Norman Reservoirs area: U.S. Geol. Survey. Circ. 

691-A, p. A1-A35. 

Yerkes, R. F., Youd, T. L., and Alt, N. J. N., 1974, Deformation of the Van 

Norman Reservoirs area, northern San Fernando Valley, California: 

Fifth World Conf. Earthquake Eng., 5th, Rome, 1973, Proc., v. 2, p. 

2371-2380. 

Youd, T. L., 1975, Liquefaction, flow and associated ground failure: U.S. 

Nat. Conf. Earthquake Eng. 1975, Proc., p. 146-155. 

Title: Engineering Geology of Metropolitan Boston, Massachusetts (V-8) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Massachusetts 

Principal Contact: NR-7 

Objective: To prepare a series of maps aimed primarily at assisting city 

planners and engineers. These products include subsurface maps at a 

scale of 1: 6,000 of buried bedrock surface and principal Quaternary 

sedimentary units beneath Boston and parts of adjoining Cambridge and 

Brookline; standard 1: 24,000-scale maps of the surficial geology of six 

greater Boston quadrangles emphasizing subsurface and engineering 

data; a map of the submarine geology of Boston Harbor compiled by 

using sonar surveys; and a description of the geology of Boston, primarily as revealed by studies of construction excavations and in more 

than 25,000 foundation borings. 

Title: Sea-Cliff Erosion Studies, Massachusetts (V -9) 

Status: Ongoing FY 75 

Location: Massachusetts 

Principal Contact: NR-7 

Objective: To study the erosion of sea cliffs on Martha's Vineyard and in 

Boston Harbor and intertidal rock erosion at Nahant, Massachusetts. The 

many factors controlling the erosion necessitated an understanding of the 

geology of the cliffs. The work was extended, and, in consequence, the 

geology of Martha's Vineyard was studied in detail. 

VI.-GEOCHEMICAL AND GEOPHYSICAL STUDIES 

Studies of geochemical processes conducted by the Geological 

Survey have both hydrologic and geologic components. The basic 

objective of hydrologically oriented geochemical studies is to understand the chemical reactions between water and earth materials. Most of the known chemical elements have been identified in 

oceans, rivers, lakes, and ground water. Mineral-water reactions 

commonly take place over many years in ground-water systems, 

but rapid chemical changes may occur in surface waters, especially during floods. In addition to dissolved solids, gases such as carbon dioxide and methane may also become entrained and mixed 

with water and thereby further alter the water quality. 
VI.-GEOCHEMICAL AND GEOPHYSICAL STUDIES 73 

Geochemical field surveys have been used to assist water managers in the evaluation of complex hydrologic systems. For example, the general pattern of water movement among the recharge 

areas of central Florida, the underlying aquifer system, and the 

discharge of fresh ground water from submarine springs have 

been documented by geochemical and geophysical techniques. 

Studies are currently underway to evaluate the effects of pumping 

highly treated sewage into aquifers as a means of restoring water 

to ground-water reservoirs. The chemical reactions of mixing 

treated effluent with native ground water may result in the unintentional precipitation of solids. This precipitation, in turn, may 

lead to a sharp decrease in the ability of the aquifer to transmit 

water to wells. Laboratory experiments are currently being conducted to determine the effect on the chemical quality of water 

percolation through unsaturated soils above aquifers. 

The use of geochemical techniques in determining the time required for ground water to reach a particular site in an aquifer is 

currently being evaluated. This information is of considerable 

value in estimating the probable hazards that nuclear wastes injected upgradient will pose at any selected pumping site. 

Extensive studies are being conducted in estuarine and marine 

environments to define the processes that control water and sediment chemistry. These studies focus on trace metals introduced 

into surface waters as a result of man's activities. The purpose of 

this research is to enable managers to predict the movement, distribution, and fate of these potentially toxic substances in estuarine environments. 

The products of hydrologically oriented geochemical studies 

range from reports on highly technical aspects of specific reaction 

processes, both in the field and in the laboratory, to maps at 

various scales portraying the areal distribution of various chemical constitutents in aquifers, lakes, or watercourses. The reports 

may summarize the impact of waste disposal on the return of 

water by injection wells at a particular site. They may be oriented 

to a particular estuarine environment such as San Francisco Bay, 

where several geochemical projects are currently underway in 

conjunction with a large comprehensive study of the bay's environment. 

Geologically oriented studies are establishing geochemical baselines (datums and standards) on the distribution of elements in 

rocks, soils, and vegetation. The baselines are needed and used 

for measuring and predicting chemical and physical changes in 

the environment, and this program will form the foundation for a 
74 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

national geochemical survey. Future decisions on pollution control 

and environmental health will use the baselines established 

through the geochemical sampling activities. 

Geochemical baselines are the result of combined field and laboratory studies. In the field, the major objective is the development 

of a practical national statistical approach to geochemical sampling. Laboratory research is directed toward compilation of 

worldwide geochemical data from the literature and toward improving chemical analytical techniques and management of the 

data base. 

The isotope geology studies investigate, develop, and use 

methods for determining ages of rocks and minerals, and apply 

geochemical methods to mineral exploration. These objectives 

serve basic data needs for understanding the Earth's history and 

the geologic processes of the past and present. 

The objective of geophysical studies is to develop tools, techniques, and concepts for the various geophysical activities in the 

energy and mineral fields, in the volcano and earthquake hazards 

programs, and in environmental and engineering geology. The 

objectives of these studies are to interpret the geophysical force 

fields associated with different rocks and structures and to investigate the behavior of the Earth's past and present magnetic 

fields; Ongoing studies include gravity and magnetics, electrical 

and electromagnetic research, seismicity, heat-flow investigations, 

and the physical properties of rocks at high temperatures and 

pressures. 

Techniques are being investigated tor measuring the polarity 

reversal of the Earth's magnetic field, for determining crustal 

plate movement, for measuring the electrical conductivity of the 

Earth's crust, and for making global magnetic measurements 

from space. 

RELATED ACTIVITIES 

Title: Distribution of Elements in the Fluvial and Brackish Environments 

(VI-1) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Nationwide 

Principal Contact: NR-1 

Objective: To detect changes in the chemistry of water and sediments in 

selected environments. 

Products: 

Jones, B. F., Kennedy, V. C., and Zellweger, G. W., 1974, Comparison of 

observed and calculated concentrations of dissolved AI and Fe in stream 

water: Water Resources Research, v. 10, no. 4., p. 791-793. 
VI.-GEOCHEMICAL AND GEOPHYSICAL STUDIES 75 

Kennedy, V. C., Zellweger, G. W., and Jones, B. F., 1974, Filter pore-size 

effects on the analysis of AI, Fe, Mn, and Ti in water: Water Resources 

Research, v. 10, no. 4, p. 785-790. 

Title: Quaternary Dating Techniques (VI-2) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Nationwide 

P1·incipal Contact: CO-l 

Objective: To provide basic information on Quaternary dating techniques and 

time stratigraphies. A major part of this project involves reviewing 

· current dating techniques and local time stratigraphies for continued 

updating of the program and recommending areas of new research and 

support. Research goals include studies of weathering, volcanic-ash-bed 

dating, soil development, and local and regional soil-temperature measurements. 

Title: Spatial Distribution of Chemical Constituents in Ground Water (VI-3) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Locat·ion: Nationwide 

Principal Contact: NR-l 

Objective: To assess the chemical and physical changes that occur in an aquifer owing to either the injection of recharge or the withdrawals of water 

supplies. 

Title: Environmental Organic Geochemistry of Outer Continental Shelves 

(VI-4) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, 

New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi,. Louisiana, and Texas 

Principal Contact: NR-7 

Objective: To determine quantitatively and to distinguish qualitatively the 

low-level baseline concentrations of naturally occurring organic constituents such as hydrocarbons, asphaltics, fatty acids, sterols, and metalloorganic complexes in surface shelf and slope sediments; to differentiate 

and classify those naturally occurring organic substances and organometallic complexes that are related to specific geological and geochemical 

processes, such as major changes in rates of sedimentation, sediment 

lithification, temperature-redox potential, and lithofacies type; and to 

develop statistical models for predicting the fate and effects of synthetic 

chemical and petroleum products on the quality of the marine environment. 

Title: Geochemistry of Food Plants (VI-5) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: New York, New Jersey, Florida, Texas, Michigan, California, and 

Washington 

P'rincipal Contact: C0-1 

Objective: To determine typical concentrations of chemical elements in a 

variety of food plants grown commercially in widely separated areas of 

the United States, to relate these concentraions to the element content 

of the soils that support them, and to determine differences in elemental 
76 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

composition within each species of food plant as controlled by both internal (genetic) factors and site factors (geologic materials present, soil 

pH, climate, and so on). 

Title: Geochemistry of San Francisco Bay Waters and Sediments (VI-6) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: San Francisco Bay, California 

Principal Contact: WR-1 

Objective: To define the dominant processes that influence water and sediment 

chemistry in the San Francisco Bay estuarine system. 

Title: Pacific States Geophysical Studies (VI-7) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: California 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To collect and interpret gravity and aeromagnetic data· over northern California in order to gain a better understanding of regional tectonism and structure. Gravity surveys in the area covered by_ the Redding 

1: 250,000-scale map sheet and aeromagnetic surveys over the San Andreas 

fault and other faults in the San Francisco Bay area are being interpreted for the purpose of environmental applications. 

Title: Sierra Nevada Geophysical Investigations and Gravity Changes (VI-8) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: California 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To test isostasy in the Sierra Nevada and to determine the mechanism of isostatic compensation; to determine the feasibility of using geophysical methods to locate and trace gold-bearing placer deposits in the 

northern Sierra Nevada; to increase the accuracy of gravity data in the 

northern Sierra Nevada; and to increase the accuracy of gravity measurements in order to measure changes associated with tectonic movements. 

Products: 

Oliver, H. W., Robbins, S. L., Grannell, R. B., Alewine, R. W., and Beihler, 

Shawn, 1975, Surface and subsurface movements determined by remeasuring gravity, in Oakshott, G. B., ed., San Fernando earthquake of February 9, 1971: California Div. Mines and Geology Bull. 196, p. 195-211. 

Oliver, H. W., Wood, H. D., and Robbins, S. L., 1974, Evidence from gravity 

measurements for deformation during and after the San Fernando earthquake of February 9, 1971 [abs.]: EOS, v. 55, no. 4, p. 426. 

Robbins, S. L., Oliver, H. W., Holden, K. D., and Farewell, R. C., 1974, 

Principal facts, accuracies, and sources for 3,046 gravity stations on 

the San Jose 1 °X2° quadrangle, California: U.S. Dept. Commerce Natl. 

Tech. Inf. Service PB-232 728/ AS, 106 p. 

VII.-GEOLOGY OF MINERAL OCCURRENCE AND EXPLORATION 

TECHNOLOGY 

The economy of the Nation is dependent upon annual imports 

of raw and processed metallic and nonmetallic minerals exceeding 

$20 billion in value in addition to the $55 billion worth of minerals produced domestically. The Geological Survey's responsibility 
VII.-MINERAL OCCURRENCE AND EXPLORATION 77 

in discovering domestic mineral resources and identifying their 

character, economic value, and extractability is therefore more 

acute than ever because shortages and dependencies cannot be 

immediately alleviated. The search for new mineral resources is 

now being accelerated to meet anticipated increases in demand. 

Mineral-resource survey studies perform three important 

functions for government, industry, and the public. They (1) 

provide basic information and research expertise on the availability of metallic and nonmetallic mineral resources for the purpose of mineral policy decisions; (2) respond to legislative inquiries on energy and mineral policy decisions; and (3) conduct 

research on a broad spectrum of subjects relevant to mineral resources, using, in the process, expertise rendered by State geological surveys, private foundations, the minerals industry, and 

other Federal agencies (for example, the Bureau of Mines). 

Resource appraisals conducted by the Geological Survey are of 

three types: (1) general inventories of past production and resource activity, used to identify areas needing more detailed 

study; (2) reconnaissance-level appraisals to establish resource 

estimates useful in making decisions on land use and in formulating minerals policies; and (3) detailed geoscience investigations 

to gain an understanding of the geologic processes that form 

mineral deposits and to determine the reserves of certain minerals 

so that management decisions regarding leasing and the environmental consequences of minerals development can be made. 

The Alaska Mineral Resource Assessments Program, a 10-year 

effort that began in 1975 to evaluate Alaska's mineral resources, 

is an example of this activity. Using geoscience techniques, this 

program has already succeeded in discovering new mineral deposits and at the same time has systematically mapped the State. 

Similar concentrated research efforts are underway in mineralized 

areas of the coastal States of Michigan, Oregon, and Wisconsin. 

Another aspect of these activities involves studies of the geology of mineral occurrence that focus on the mechanics of mineralization processes and on the role played by environmental controls in the formation of minerals. Studies are conducted to trace 

the origin of both high- and low-grade mineral deposits, especially 

those containing much-needed mineral commodities; to determine 

the regional control on mineralization; to discover the physiochemical processes governing ore-forming fluids; to develop and use 

radiometric dating techniques; and to decipher the composition of 

metallic and nonmetallic deposits. In this manner, data on how 

minerals form can lead to concepts of how and where deposits 
78 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

(for example, orebodies) form, and thus the discovery of minerals 

on both local and global scales can be expedited. 

Many mineral deposits elude detection because their mineral 

contents are low grade and/ or they are too deeply buried. Exploration technology studies are concerned with developing geophysical and geochemical methods of discovering these deposits. 

Field investigations range from in-place chemical surveys of extremely subtle anomalies in a given area, through sampling stream 

sediments for trace-metal content, to airborne surveying to detect 

volatile compounds. Geophysics, particularly aeromagnetic and 

gravity surveys, coupled with satellite imagery, have also been 

useful in discovering new deposits in the United States and 

abroad. 

One consequence of these studies is the assembling of a large 

data base. In order to intelligently interpret the data gathered, 

computerized information systems have been developed. The objective of this activity is to make mineral-resource data available 

and interpretable for use in policy decisions. Planning alternatives 

for mineral development and use can be generated by this process. 

Two computer-based information systems are CRIB (Computerized Resource Information Bank) and DORIS (DecisionOriented Resource Information System). CRIB is compiling a file 

of the world's 1,000 largest mines, which represent 90 percent of 

the world's supply of 22 major minerals. DORIS consists of mathematical models and analyses of resource system and information 

on exploration processes, the economics of resource convertibility, 

and long-term mineral supply and demand. 

RELATED ACTIVITIES 

Title: ·computerized Resources Information Bank (CRIB) (VII-1) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Nationwide 

Principal Contact: NR-7 

Objective: To provide the user, in combination with GIPSY (General Information Processing System), with effective assistance in the organization, 

manipulation, and display of mineral-resource data. CRIB, the Geological Survey's mineral-resource data file, consists of a set of variable-length 

records on mineral deposits and commodities of the United States and, to 

some extent, of the world. CRIB uses GIPSY as the primary file management program to build, store, retrieve, and update Tecords. CRIB can 

organize and summarize mineral-resource information and can display 

the results in summary reports, tables, and maps. 

Product: 

Calkins, J. A., and Dieter, L. E., 1974, Uses of CRIB-A GIPSY-formatted 

mineral resources computer file [abs.] : Geol. Soc. America Abs. with 

Programs, v. 6, no. 7, p. 678-679. 
VII.-MINERAL OCCURRENCE AND EXPLORATION 79 

Title: Decision-Oriented Resource Information System (DORIS) (VII-2) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Nationwide 

Principal Contact: NR-7 

Objective: To provide substantial and quantitative data concerning mineral 

resources, derived from the interpretation of data from an infonnation 

bank, for a specific inquiry or policy decision. Decision-oriented capabilities will be developed in four major fields related to mineral commodities: (1) Geological availability, (2) technological availability, (3) general economic availability, and ( 4) alternative sources of supply and resources. The system has been designed for three main user groups: 

Scientists, administrators and policymakers. 

Title: High-Resolution Geophysical Data Interpretation (VII-3) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Federal Outer Continental Shelf lease areas. 

Principal Contact: DC-1, LA-2, and CA-2 

Objective: To evaluate, shallow high-resolution geophysical data in order to 

contribute to a detailed environmental assessment of the OCS areas. These 

data yield information on sea-bottom profiles, areas of unstable bottom 

conditions, shallow faulting, shallow gas pockets, and gas seeps. Such information is vital for the approval of drilling locations and the placement of drilling and production platforms. Only those data that have 

been obtained by sole source contract for the Geological Survey are available for inspection at the Gulf of Mexico Regional Office in Metairie, 

Louisiana. 

Title: Continental Offshore Stratigraphic Test (COST) Program (VII-4) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Federal Outer Continental Shelf ( OCS) lands off the shores of 

Alaska, California, Texas, New Jersey, and Massachusetts 

Principal Contact: DC-1, LA-2, CA-2 

Objective: To obtain subsurface geologic information in frontier OCS areas 

by means of stratigraphic test wells. At present, two wells, the Gulf of 

Mexico COST no. 1 and Gulf of Mexico COST no. 2, have been drilled 

in offshore southern Texas; one well, the Gulf of Alaska COST no. 1, has 

been drilled in the Gulf of Alaska; another, the COST no. 1, has been 

drilled in the Outer Banks region of southern California. On the Atlantic OCS, the COST B-2 well in the Baltimore Canyon was completed 

in March 1976, and the COST G-1 in the Georges Bank area began in 

spring of 1976. Data from the two Texas wells from the southern California well have been made public. Data from the other test wells will 

be released 60 days after _the issuance of the first Federal lease within 

50 geographic miles of the well or 5 years after the completion of the 

well, whichever comes first. 

T1:tle: Peat Studies (VII-5) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

T..~ocation: Maryland, New York, Maine, Florida, and North Carolina 

Princi7Jal Contact: NR-7 

Objective: To study peat deposits in 10 areas representing major terrain 

types typical of the Northeastern United States. Field studies w\11 be 
80 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

made of peat suitability as a soil conditioner and for horticultural use. 

Objectives of the study include discovering physiographic and geologic 

controls of the occurrence and size of peat deposits; determining the relation of stratigraphy and ecology to water movement and diagensis affecting peat-quality change; and cataloging major deposits according to 

new American Society for Testing and Materials standards for both current agricultural uses and anticipated uses in the manufacture of foodstuffs and pollution controls. These objectives are aimed at fa~ilitating 

exploration by private industry and at presenting quantitative data obtained on deposits to assist others in their ground-water, engineering, 

conservation, land-management, and geochemical-prospecting studies. 

Product: 

Cameron, C. C., 1975, Some peat deposits in Washington and southeastern 

Aroostook Counties, Maine: U.S. Geol. Survey Bull. 1317-C, 40 p. 

Title: Phosphate in the Southeastern United States (VII-6) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina 

Principal Contact: CO-l 

Objective: To perf orin a resource appraisal of the phosphate deposits of the 

Eastern United States. The goal of the project is to determine the economic geology of the phosphate deposits, including resources, reserves, 

stratigraphy, structure, mineralogy, chemistry, and, ultimately, the origin 

of the deposits. 

Title: Geology and Mineral Resources of the Ketchikan Quadrangle, Alaska 

(VII-7) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

JJocation: Alaska 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To publish a regional 1: 250,000-scale geologic map and to assess 

the mineral resources of the Ketchikan quadrangle. Significant mineral 

commodities in the project area are molybdenum, gold, silver, copper, 

lead, zinc, and tungsten. The study includes geologic mapping and surveys by geochemical and geophysical methods. 

Title: Nome Investigations (VII-8) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Alaska 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To establish the regional geological controls of all mineral deposits around Nome, Alaska, and to determine their qualitative potential. 

The approach consists of reconnaissance areal geologic mapping and integrated geochemical surveys and studies of the bedrock of a 5,000-

square-kilometre (1,930-square-mile) area that includes the most productive gold deposits of the past and those possessing the greatest potential 

for the future. 

Title: Southwestern Alaska (VII-9) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Alaska 

Principal Contact: CA-3 
VII.-MINERAL OCCURRENCE AND EXPLORATION 81 

Objective: To upgrade basic geologic knowledge and to obtain mineral-resource information in the Goodnews Bay and Magemeister Island 1: 250,-

000-scale quadrangles. The investigations include reconnaissance· mapping 

at the 1:250,000 and 1:63,360 scales and also geochemical, geophysical, 

and telegeological studies. The study area contains the only domestic 

platinum mine· and several dormant placer-gold mines. It also contains 

minor indications of mercury, copper, lead, and zinc mineralization. 

Title: Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness Study Area (VII-10) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Alaska 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To study, in cooperation with the Bureau of Mines, the potential 

mineral resources of the western flank of the Coast Range batholithic 

complex. The area is known to contain deposits of copper, lead, silver, 

zinc, and gold. The study includes reconnaissance geologic mapping, intensive geochemical sampling of bedrock and stream sediments, mapping 

and sampling of known prospects, and aeromagnetic mapping. The project is part of the U.S. Forest Service study of the suitability of the 

project area for classification in the National Wilderness System. 

Products: 

Brew, D. A., 1974, Preliminary results of studies in the Tracy Arm-Fords 

Terror Wilderness study area, in Carter, Claire, ed., U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Program, 1974: U.S. Geol. Survey Circ. 700, p. 56. 

Brew, D. A., Ford, A. B., Grybeck, D., and Nutt, C. J., 1975, Coast range 

transect in Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wild-erness study area contains seven 

major belts of rock, in Yount, M. E., ed., U.S. Geological Survey Alaska 

Program, 1975: U.S. Geol. Survey Circ. 722, p. 53. 

Title: Bradwell Bay Wilderness-Sopchoppy Study Area (VII-11) 

Status: Completed FY 75 

Location: Florida 

Principal Contact: NR-7 

Objective: To perform a mineral-resource evaluation of the Bradwell Bay 

Wilderness-Sopchoppy River study area of Florida in response to the 

Wilderness Act (Public Law 88-577) by means of reconnaissance geologic 

mapping and reconnaissance drilling for peat and sand in unconsolidated 

materials. 

Title: Medford-Coos Bay Quadrangles, Oregon (VII-12) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Oregon 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To prepare a mineral-resource analysis folio of the Medford quadrangle and the southern half of the Coos Bay quadrangle of southwestern 

Oregon, with primary emphasis on evaluating potential mineral resources 

and their relation to regional structure, tectostratigraphic units, and 

present plate-tectonic models; to reinterpret the stratigraphy, structure, 

and metamorphism of various Paleozoic and Mesozoic units.. ultr.amaficmafi.c sequences, and granitic intrusive rocks; and to evaluate platinumgroup metal potential in ultramafic rocks and the potential for massive 

sulfide deposits associated with belts of andesite-rhyolite volcanic rocks. 
82 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

Product: 

Page, N. J., Johnson, M. G., Haffty, Joseph, and Ramp, Len, 1975, Occurrence 

of platinum group metals in ultramafic rocks of the MedfOII'd-Coos Bay 

2o quadrangles, southwestern Oregon: U.S. Geol. Survey Map MF-694, 

scale 1:250,000. 

Title: Southeast Appalachian Sediments (VII-13) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Virginia 

Principal Contact: NR-7 

Objective: To map the Pleistocene beach deposits of southeastern Virginia 

at a scale of 1:250,000 in order to estimate titanium and monazite 

mineral resources and to produce information that may assist in sand 

and gravel exploration. 

VIII.-MARINE AND ESTUARINE STUDIES 

"An estuary is a semi-enclosed coastal body of water which has 

free access to the ocean and within which sea water is measurably 

diluted by fresh. water from land drainage" (Pritchard, 1967). 

Estuaries are subject to wide variations in their physical, biological, and chemical parameters, both seasonally and spatially. 

Tides, weather changes, wind-driven currents, and variations in 

freshwater inflow predispose estuarine ecosystems to rapid shortterm changes in salinity, nutrient content, turbidity, and temperature. Estuarine life forms have evolved to cope with such natural 

environmental changes, but human activities have imposed additional stresses that may impair or limit the development of a particularly valuable species of estuarine life. 

Man-induced stresses on estuarine ecosystems frequently result 

from increased urbanization. These stresses are manifested in the 

need for storm-runoff and sewage disposal, improved navigation 

facilities, expanded water supplies, and increased energy requirements. An evaluation of the hydraulic, chemical, and biotic 

changes induced by human activities is the primary purpose of 

the Geological Survey's water-related projects in estuaries. Related studies of estuarine processes are also discussed in the sections entitled "X.-Surface-water studies," "XI.-River-water 

quality and sedimentation studies," and "IlL-Regional geologic 

and hydrologic surveys, mapping, and analysis." 

Studies to evaluate the flow patterns, freshwater-saltwater 

balances, sediment transport, and ecologic composition of estuaries are currently being conducted by the Geological Survey in 

Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Texas, and 

California. Many of these studies are cooperative efforts with 

other Federal, State, and local agencies that are attempting to de-
VIII.-MARINE AND ESTUARINE STUDIES 83 

fine the consequences of planned changes in estuarine water balances. For example, freshwater inflow to the Charleston harbor 

estuary in South Carolina was greatly increased in 1941 by the 

diversion of water from the Santee River into the upper Cooper 

River, which flows into the harbor. This radical change in flow 

discharge increased the sediment load of the estuary, so that 

shoaling became a serious problem. To reduce dredging costs, arediversion canal is planned to reduce runoff to Charleston harbor. 

The Geological Survey is conducting studies to evaluate the impact of the proposed rediversion on the estuarine environment of 

Charleston harbor. 

Deep-channel dredging of Tampa Bay on the Florida gulf coast 

to accommodate large ships poses unique problems for local officials. Spoil from the dredging operations, which must be redeposited in the bay itself, create obvious water-quality and ecologic 

hazards. The Geological Survey has developed a digital flow model 

of the estuary that is currently being used to define changes in 

circulation patterns and to help predict how the redepositing of 

dredged material will affect water quality in the bay. 

The impact of waste disposal on estuaries is being studied in 

the Rhode River estuary, a tributary to the Chesapeak~ Bay, and 

in the Duwamish River estuary of Washington. This research is 

being conducted to evaluate the impact of various methods of 

waste disposal on the ecology of water adjacent to proposed sewage-treatment plants. These studies are designed to provide State 

and local officials with the information necessary to protect the 

delicate ecologic balances of estuaries. 

The Geological Survey's marine environment programs have 

expanded in the past 3 years as the Nation has increased its efforts 

to become self-sufficient with respect to oil and gas. Marine investigations are in part oriented to support oil and gas resource 

appraisals in proposed lease areas; environmental studies relating 

to ocean mining, seabed drilling, and coastal research are also 

being conducted. 

Objectives of the marine environmental investigation studies 

are: (1) To characterize geologic hazards in the marine environment, namely, earthquakes, faulting, slumping, excessive erosion, 

and weak foundation strength and (2) to identify sources, pathways, and sinks for contaminants on the ocean floor and their 

effect on the marine biota. Characterization of the environmental 

conditions includes regional, geological, geophysical, and sedimentological mapping of the OCS, the establishment of engineering 

criteria for the sea floor, and the evaluation of the environmental 
84 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

consequences of developing offshore oil and gas fields. Information 

collected in these environmental baseline studies is made available to Federal, State, and local planners and to the public. 

Coastal research is being carried out in Maine, Massachusetts, 

the Chesapeake Bay, Florida, Louisiana, Texas, California, Oregon, and Alaska. A major portion of this work is in the study of 

coastal geologic processes such as sediment transport, water circulation, and pollutant dispersal. Engineering properties of the 

sea floor are being investigated, in areas where tectonic events are 

frequent and where subaqueous sediments are unstable, in order 

to define the hazards associated with the siting of drilling platforms and pipelines. Other efforts are directed toward the identification and distribution of nonpetroleum resources such as sand 

and gravel, gold, phosphates, manganese, and heavy minerals by 

means of geophysical, geochemical, and sedimentological methods. 

One of the most important features governing the global climate is the extensive ice cover in the Arctic Ocean. The presence of 

the arctic icefield not only controls the climate of neighboring land 

masses but is also of vital importance to weather patterns in the 

entire Northern Hemisphere. Geological Survey scientists are developing computer models of sea-ice cover to define the impact of 

this major element of the Earth's heat balance. Data input to the 

model will be obtained by remote sensing techniques, which offer 

the best opportunity for obtaining information on sea-ice dynamics. 

RELATED ACTIVITIES 

Title: Hydrologic-Oceanographic Interrelations (VIII-1) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Atlantic and Gulf coasts 

Principal Cfmtact: NR-1 

Objective: To investigate water circulation patterns in the nearshore coastal 

waters and in submarine aquifer systems. 

Title: New England Coastal Zone (VIII-2) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Maine, New Hampshire·, Connecticut, and New York 

Principal Contact: NR-7 

Objective: To lend technical and financial assistance to State-supported investigations in New England. During the past several years, this support 

included a bottom-gravity survey of part of the eastern Gulf of Maine 

conducted by the University of New Hampshire, high-resolution seismic 

surveys of the southern part of Lake Champlain made by Middlebury 

College, and a high-resolution seismic survey of Muscongus Bay, Maine, 

done in cooperation with the Maine Geological Survey. Presently, the 

project supports a bedrock mapping program in the western Gulf of 
VIII.-MARINE AND ESTUARINE STUDIES 85 

. Maine conducted by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods 

Hole, Massachusetts. 

Title: Natural Resources and Tectonic Features, Gulf of Mexico (VIII-3) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, 

and Texas 

Principal Contact: C0-1 

Objective: To compile land and marine geological and geophysical data from 

the Gulf of Mexico region in cooperation with the U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office. Publication of five maps is planned: tectonic, free-air 

anomaly, Bouguer anomaly, total magnetic field, and residual magnetic 

field. The principal product will be a tectonic map of the gulf and its 

adjacent land areas that will summarize the present knowledge of this 

ocean basin in conventional mapping terms. The map will also extend 

the J.and geology into offshore areas. The map s-eries will provide an 

authoritative base for the appraisal of the gulf's mineral-resource potential. 

Title: Environmental Studies in Gulf of Mexico (VIII-4) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida 

Principal Contact: C0-1 

Objective: To study the distribution of trace elements in the Continental 

Margin transition zone in order to ascertain the spatial and temporal 

variations of trace elements in the coastal environment and the physiochemical processes that control them. This study includes laboratory and 

field investigations of partitioning trace elements and the rates by which 

these elements are introduced and removed from this zone. Particular attention is given to the environmental capacity of these elements-that 

is, the upper limit of concentration that the environment can effectively 

absorb without detrimental results. 

Products: 

Holmes, C. W., 1974, Maps showing distribution of selected elements in surface-bottom sediments of Corpus Christi and Baffin Bays, Texas: U.S. 

Geol. Survey Misc. Field Studies Map MF-571, 2 sheets. 

--- 1975, Natural versus anthropogenic contributions of trace metals to 

the sediments on the south Texas Continental Shelf [abs.]: Geol. Soc. 

America Abs. with Programs, v. 7, no. 7, p. 1119-1120. 

Holmes, C. W., Slade, E. A., and McLerran, C. J., 1974, Migration and redistribution of zinc and cadmium in a maTine estuarine system: Environmental Sci. and Technology, v. 8, p. 255-259. 

McLerran, C. J., and Holmes, C. W., 1974, Deposition of zinc and cadmium 

by marine bacteria in estuarine sediments: Limnology and Oceanography, 

v. 19,no. 6,p. 998-1001. 

Title: Oil Migration and Diagenesis of Argillaceous Sediments in Gulf of 

Mexico (VIII-5) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida 

Principal Contact: C0-1 
86 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

Objective: To study pelitic mineral distributions in the sediments of the Gulf 

coast Continental S.helf and Slope in order to ascertain the spatial and 

temporal variations of specific clay minerals and to investigate the physiochemical processes that control them. The study is based on both 

laboratory experimentation and field determination and includes examination of cores from 93 holes drilled in 196~68 on the Gulf of 

Mexico Continental Shelf and Slope. 

Title: Chalk Reservoir Appraisals (VIII-6) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Alabama, Texas, and Mississippi 

Principal Contact: NR-7 

Objective: To study the patterns of diagenesis of chalk under varying temperatures, pressures, loading rates, pore-water chemistries, primary depositional environments, and initial clay contents. The study is designed to 

predict the porosity and permeability of chalks at various depths, to discover the reasons for anomalously high porosities in chalk-oil reservoirs, 

to use chalk diagenesis to determine paleodepth of burial and paleogeothermal gradients, and to evaluate the utility of chalk diagenetic alternation gradients for predicting proximity to major sructural and thermal 

features. Techniques being used include porosity and permeability analysis, carbon and oxygen isotopic analysis, insoluble residues, strontium 

and magnesium trace-element analysis, scanning electron microscopy, petrographic microscopy, and measurement of vitrinite reflectance. These 

techniques should facilitate the prediction of oil and gas resources in 

chalks on the Outer Continental Shelves. 

Title: Instability Problems in Delta Front Sediments (VIII-7) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Louisiana and Texas 

Principal Contact: CO-l 

Objective: To gather knowledge on bottom instabilities, especially as evidenced 

around large modern deltas, in cooperation wi:th industry and academic 

institutions. Investigations are being conducted on the Mississippi Delta 

into the role of biogenic methane gas in diminishing the inherent strength 

of a sediment, the influence of storm-wave pressures on nonrigid sea 

bottoms as a triggering mechanism for slumps, the importance of cementing agents in the formation of the "crusts" that characterize certain delta 

sediments, and the part played by excess pore-water pressures in localizing 

instabilities. 

Product: 

Whelan, Thomas, III, Coleman, J. M., Suhayda, N.J. N., and Garrison, L. E., 

1975, The geochemistry of recent Mississippi River Delta sediments: gas. 

concentration and sediment stability: 1975 Offshore Technology Conf. 

Paper OTC 2342. 

Title: Continental Margin Sediment Dynamics (VIII-8) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: California, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska 

PrinCipal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To study the mechanisms that induce sediment transport on the 

Western Continental Margin of the United States. Processes investigated 
VIII.-MARINE AND ESTUARINE STUDIES 87 

include internal waves, wind waves, long surface waves, density currents, 

wind-driven currents, and tidal currents. Types of transport investigated 

include both suspended sediment and bedload. This information will increase understanding of the locations and rates of erosion and deposition 

and the direction and rate of sediment transport. 

Title: Geochemistry of San Francisco Bay Waters and Sediments (VIII-9) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: California, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To define the dominant processes that influence water and sediment 

chemistry in the San Francisco Bay estuarine system and, in certain cases, 

to evaluate the rates of these processes. Systematic field sampling being 

done on the physical and chemical properties of the inflow to and water 

mass within the bay includes tests of the salinity, temperature, and pH 

of water and detection and measurement of dissolved oxygen, plant nutrients, and elements associated with suspended particles and bottom sediments. Fiel~ observations are being combined with parallel investigations 

of biotic productivity, benthic population, and water circulation within 

the estuary. 

Products: 

Conomos, T. J., and Peterson, D. H., 1974, Biological and chemical aspects of 

the San Francisco Bay turbidity maximum: Inst. Geologie Bassin d' Aquitaine Mem. no. 7, 15 p. 

Peterson, D. H., Conomos, T. J., Broenkow, W. W., and Scrivani, E. P., 1975, 

Processes controlling the dissolved silica distribution in San Francisco 

Bay, in Cronin, L. ·E., ed., Estuarine research, vol. 1, Chemistry, biology, 

and the esturene system: New York, Academic Press, p. 153-187. 

Title: Hydrology of Estuarine Intertidal Environments (VIII-10) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Selected estuaries in the Pacific Northwest, Oregon and Washington 

Principal Contact: OR-1 

Objective: To identify the sources of sediments in estuaries and the changes 

stemming from--man's activities and to provide data for predicting natural 

and man-induced stresses on estuaries. 

Title: Pacific Coast Sediments (VIII-11) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: California, Oregon, and Washington 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To study depositional processes and facies that occur on and near 

the open coast along the west coast of the United States in order to compare and evaluate environmental parameters from selected settings and 

determine their influence on depositional processes. Other goals are to 

identify and analyze those coastal processes that relate to man's use of 

the coastal zone; to determine the effect of depositional processes and 

settings on the accumulation of natural resources; to catalog the sedimentological environments that categorize the west coast; and to compare these parameters with those of other coastal areas. 
88 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

Products: 

Clifton, H. E., 1975a, Recognition of ancient beaches and beach environments 

[abs.]: Am. Assoc. Petroleum Geologists and Soc. Econ. Paleontologists 

and Mineralogists Ann. Mtg., Proc., v. 2, p. 12. 

--- 1975b, Sedimentary 'Structures produced by shoaling waves [abs.] : 

Am. Assoc. Petroleum Geologists and Soc. Econ. Paleontologists and 

Mineralogists Ann. Mtg., Proc. v. 2, p. 12. 

Hill, G. W., and Hunter, R. E., 1975, Interaction of biological and geological 

processes in the beach and nearshore, northern Padre Island, Texas 

[abs.]: J\.m. Assoc. Petroleum Geologists and Soc. Econ. Paleontologists 

and Mineralogists Ann. Mtg., Proc. v. 2, p. 35. 

Title: San Francisco Bay (VIII-12) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: California, Oregon, and Washington 

Principal Contact: CA-l 

Objective: To describe the geological, seismological, biological, geochemical, and 

hydrographical processes active in the bay region. Specifically, the goals 

are to describe the geology, tectonic history, seismic environment, and 

distribution of unconsolidated sediments in the fault-bounded bay basin 

and the adjacent Continental Shelf; to describe gross water-circulation 

patterns in the bay and the adjacent Pacific waters in order to understand the movement of natural and man-introduced dissolved and solid 

constituents; to describe the species composition and areal distribution of 

major benthic organism communities and establish the absorption ~ates 

of trace elements, trace metals, and synthetic organic compounds by 

benthic organisms, phytoplankton, and marine algae; and to study the 

distribution of modern bay sediments and the major modes of sediment 

transport and to evaluate rates of deposition and erosion. 

Products: 

Conomo, T. J., 1975, Movement of spilled oil as predicted by estuarine nontidal drift: Limnology and Oceanography; v. 20, no. 2, p. 159-173. 

Carlson, P. R., and McCollough, D. S., 1974, Aerial observations of suspendedsediment plumes in San F!l'ancisco Bay and the adjacent Pacific Ocean: 

U.S. Geol. Survey Jour. Research, v. 2, no. 5, p. 519-526. 

Peterson, D. H., Conomos, T. J., Broenkow, W. W., Doherty, P. C., 1975, 

Location of the non-tidal current null zone in Northern San Francisco 

Bay: Estuarine and Coastal Science, v. 3, p. 1-11. 

Title: Alaskan Coastal Environment (VIII-13) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76. 

Location: Alaska 

Principal Contact: CA-l 

Objective: To perform an integrated study of sedimentation in Turnagain 

Arm, a 70-kilometre-long estuary near Anchorage, Alaska. 

Products: 

Bartsch-Winkler, Susan,- Ovenshine, A. T., and Lawson, D. E., 1975, Sedimentological maps of the Gridwood Bar, Turnagain Arm, Alaska, for 

July-August, 1973; U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. Field Studies Map MF-672, 

1 sheet. 

Ovenshine, A. T., Lawson, D. E., and Bartsch-Winkler, Susan, 1974, Subsidence, inundation and sedimentation: Environmental consequences of the 
VIII.-MARINE AND ESTUARINE STUDIES 89 

1964 Alaska earthquake in the Portage, Alaska area: U.S. Geol. Survey 

Earthquake Inf. Bull., v. 6, no. 6, p. 3-9. 

--.- 1975, An earthquake-caused transgressive deposit in Turnagain Arm, 

Alaska, USA: Intern. Cong. Sedimentology, 9th Nice 1975, Theme II, 

Proc., p. 10. 

Title: Arctic Nearshore Processes (VIII-14) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Alaska 

Principal Contact: CA-l 

Objective: To investigate the marine geologic and sedimentary processes of 

the inner shelf and shore of the Beaufort Sea in northern Alaska. The 

project goal was to study the nature, distribution, and thickness of Holocene sediments and their relationship to sources, dispersal mechanisms, 

and bottom processes. Emphasis was placed on processes unique to arctic 

shelves and their sedimentary environment, where sea ice and peqnafrost play important roles in and are of vital interest to offshore development. Field studies used side-scan sonar, sounding techniques, geophysical surveys, bottom sampling, and thermal measurements. Landsat 

imagery was also used extensively. 

Title: Polar Ice Remote Sensing (VIII-15) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Arctic Ocean 

Principal Contact: WR-1 

Objective: To develop the accurate remote sensing methods required to test 

numerical models of sea ice. 

Title: Sea-Ice Dynamics (VIII-16) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Arctic Ocean and surrounding land masses 

Principal Contact: WR-1 

Objective: To create arctic ice pack mathematical models to test several theories related to the pack, to develop models of glaciers, and to test these 

models with field observations. 

Title: Circulation Patterns and Sediment Transport in San Francisco Bay 

and Adjacent Ocean (VIII-17) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Northwestern California 

Principal Contact: WR-1 

Objective: To evaluate the seasonal variations in the water quality of the bay. 

The mass movement of sediment and selected chemical constitutents between the bay and the ocean will be computed. 

Title: Coastal Processes (VIII-18) 

Status: Completed FY 75 

Location: California 

Principal Contact: CA-3 

Objective: To study coastal processes and conditions primarily as they related to land-use considerations. The study involved inventorying coastal 

tectonics such as deformed marine terraces and regional variability in 
90 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

Holocene eustatic curves; documenting changes in coastal configuration 

from historical records and identifying the extent of various erosional 

processes such as landslides and direct wave attack; and identifying the 

extent of and changes in natural coastal environments such as sand 

dunes, beaches, and estuaries. 

Title: Monterey Bay (VIII-19) 

Status: Completed FY 75 

Location: California 

Principal Contact: CA-3 · 

Objective: To map the geologic structures of Monterey Bay, to establish the 

geology, structure,. tectonic history, genesis, thickness, and depositional 

history of bay sediments; to determine the distribution and location of 

freshwater aquifers in the bay; to determine the origin of Monterey Submarine Canyon and its significance as related to the geology of the bay; 

and to map faults along the Continental Shelf between Point Ano Nuevo 

and Point Sur and to determine their significance as related to onshore 

geology, recent seismic events, and modern-day geologic working hypotheses such as sea-floor spreading. 

Title: Deposition and Diagenesis of Carbonate Sediments (VIII-20) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Florida 

Principal Contact: NR-7 

Objective: To investigate sedimentary and diagenetic processes and patterns 

in carbonate Continental Shelf and Margin environments. Modern sediments and sediments of late Pleistocene age are being investigated to 

determine: Two- and three-dimensional distribution of marine carbonate 

facies with application to older mineral and hydrocarbon-bearing deposits; 

the relationship between water chemistry and hydrologic regimen as it 

relates to leaching (porosity enhancement) and cementation (porosity 

destruction) ; the criteria for recognizing and distinguishing the origin . 

of the various kinds of cements peculiar to ancient limestones; and the 

relationship between organic sediment p_roduction and micro- and macroorganism activities. 

Title: Environmental Effects in Coral Reef Areas (VIII-21) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Florida 

Principal Contact: NR-7 

Objective: To determine the environmental parameters of past prepollution 

conditions through the study of annual banding in massive head corals. A 

chronology of shallow marine corals will be developed to assist in determining the effects of turbidity and pollutants on corals and coral 

reefs. Environmental maps of the Florida reef tract showing the distribution of major living and dead reef builders are being prepared. 

Title: Estuarine Hydrology of Tampa Bay (VIII-23) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Central gulf coast, Florida 

Principal Contact: FL-1 
VIII.-MARINE AND ESTUARINE STUDIES 91 

Objective: To provide a comprehensive hydrological investigation of Tampa 

Bay and to assess the impact of a proposed channel-dredging project on 

the hydrobiologic system of the bay. 

Title: Sedimentation and Diagenesis of Modern and Pleistocene Age Limestone (VIII-24) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Florida 

Principal Contact: NR-7 

Objective: To investigate the development and destruction of porosity and 

permeability in modern limestones and limestones of ·Pleistocene age in 

marine subaerial and phreatic environments. The purpose is to evaluate 

and describe processes that may be useful in studying oil and gas reservoirs and to provide information pertinent to seismic modeling and to resource appraisal. Underwater core drilling is conducted in modern reefs 

to determine porosities, and cores are taken from onshore Pleistocene 

limestone to study diagenetic cements and leaching resulting from exposure to freshwater in the vadose and phreatic zones and mixed freshwater and saltwater in the lower phreatic zone. · 

Title: Water-Quality Modeling of Selected Florida Estuaries (VIII-25) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Florida gulf coast 

Principal Contact: FL-1 

Objective: To develop digital water-quality models for eight estuaries along 

the Florida gulf coast. The models will evaluate the effect of waste 

discharge on dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, and chloride. 

Title: Effects of Water-Quality Changes on Estuarine Biota (VIII-26) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Central Maryland 

Principal Contact: NR-1 

Objective: To understand the effects of man's activities on the ecology of 

estuaries by studying the biota and its relation to natural and altered 

environments. 

Title: Massachusetts Cooperative Project (VIII-27) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Massachusetts 

Principal Contact: NR-7 

Objective: To generate geologic maps of the offshore area adjacent to eastern 

Massachusetts. Goals are to reconstruct the geologic history of the area 

and to tie the offshore geology to that already mapped on the land. The 

Commonwealth's interest is in acquiring basic information on offshore 

sand and gravel resources. Sonic profiles, magnetometer profiles, and 

core and grab samples are the data base of mapped information on sediment distribution and thickness, the distribution of glacial deposits and 

older sedimentary formations of Tertiary and Cretaceous age, the distribution of sedimentary and metasedimentary rocks of Triassic age 

and older, and the patterns of water movement through the area. 
92 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

Title: Collection of Records of Tidal Stage (VIII-28) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southern New Jersey 

Principal Contact: NJ-1 

Objective: To obtain continuous measurements on tidal stage and discharge 

in the Delaware River estuary. 

Title: Remote Sensing of Long Island Sound (VIII-29) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Long Island Sound, Conneeticut shore 

Principal Contact: CT-1 

Objective: To analyze circulation patterns in Long Island Sound near the 

Connecticut River outlet. 

Title: Flow Modeling of the Chow an River Estuary (VIII-30) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Northeastern North Carolina 

Principal Contact: NC-1 

Objective: To prepare a flow model that wili assist investigators studying 

biological processes and the cycling of nutrients in the estuary. 

Title: Hydrology of Estuaries and Sounds of North Carolina, With Emphasis on Seawater Encroachments (VIII-31) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Coastal North Carolina 

Principal Contact: NC-1 

Objective: To consolidate, summarize, and interpret available data on the 

chemical and physical hydrology of the estuaries and sounds of North 

Carolina. 

Title: Geological Survey-Puerto Rico Cooperative Project in Marine Geology 

(VIII-32) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Puerto Rico 

Principal Centact: NR-7 

Objective: To initiate a program of geologic investigation and mapping of 

the insular shelf surrounding Puerto Rico and to train marine geologists 

and technicians. The study includes collection and analysis of bottom 

samples, ·underwater photography, seismic profiling, and bathymetric 

mapping at a scale of 1: 40,000. The work will increase knowledge of 

sand and gravel resources, help locate potentially hazardous geological 

faults around the island, assess potential oil and gas resources, and update the geological history of the Greater Antilles. 

Title: Reconnaissance Investigations of South Carolina Estuaries (VIII-33) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: East Coast of South Carolina 

Principal Contact: SC-1 

Objective: To define saltwater movement in and out of estuaries and the interrelation of saltwater and freshwater in coastal embayments. 
IX.-GROUND-WATER STUDIES 

Title: Coastal Geologic Environmental Studies (VIII-34) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Texas 

Principal Contact: CO-l 

93 

Objective: To establish a sound base of environmental geologic data that can 

be used for planning the future development of the Continental Shelf. 

These activities will assist coastal and inner-shelf engineering projects, 

including the planning of nuclear power sites and deep-water ports and 

developing the petroleum resources of the Outer Continental Shelf. Emphasis is placed on understanding the sedimentary processes operative 

on the Continental Shelf (especially the inner segment), the Holocene 

sedimentary history of the shelf, the processes and patterns of sediment movement, the geochemistry of the sediments, and the characteristics 

of the various sedimentary environments. 

Product: 

Cosby, S. M., 1975. Environmental geologic map of the Harbor Island area, 

Texas: U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. Field Studies Map MF-687, 1:24,000, 2 

sheets and text. 

Title: Quality of Water in Texas Bays and Estuaries (VIII-35) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Texas gulf coast 

Principal Contact: TX-1 

Objective: To define the physical, inorganic, and organic water-quality characteristics of Texas coastal waterways. Emphasis will be placed on nutrients, suspended sediment, and freshwater movement through the coastal 

waters. 

Title: Influence of Industrial. and Municipal Wastes on Estuarine and Offshore Waters (VIII-36) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Seattle, Washington 

Principal Contact: W A-1 

Objective: To determine the effects of municipal and industrial wastes on 

coastal waters. Emphasis is placed on planned treatment facilities discharging wastes into the Puget Sound and the Duwamish River estuary. 

IX.--GROUND-WATER STUDIES 

Geological Survey ground-water studies can make direct contributions to the solution of local and regional water problems. 

These water problems include declining ground-water levels, contamination of fresh ground water by salty water or by domestic 

or industrial pollutants, and lowering of land surfaces (subsidence) owing to the excessive pumping of underlying artesian 

aquifers. Cooperative agreements with State, county, and municIpal agencies result in jointly planned and supported studies designed to provide the data needed to assess and manage groundwater systems. In addition to defining ground-water availability, 

cooperative studies provide for long-term monitoring of water 
94 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

levels, detection of movement of salty ground water, and acquisition of data on the chemical and physical factors needed to develop ground-water simulation models. 

Recent Federal and State legislation directed toward improving 

ground-water protection and management has prompted local and 

regional planning agencies to seek solutions for complex groundwater problems. The use of simulation models to analyze such 

problems has yielded accurate solutions at reasonable costs. Resistor-capacitor analogs and digital computer models are applied 

in aquifer studies. These models can provide solutions to problems 

ranging from the drawdown of the water table caused by pumpage from one well or more to the prediction of the impact that a 

number of alternative water-management strategies will have on 

preserving the integrity of a freshwater aquifer system. 

The Geological Survey has constructed about 101) different resistor-capacitor analog models to aid in resolving ground-water 

problems, and the number of digital computer models is growing 

rapidly. Documentation of most of the ground-water models used 

by the Geological Survey, including a description of the computer 

program and the various input parameters, is available. In some 

instances, the documentation includes the results of analyses made 

to assess model accuracy. 

A substantial quantity of the precipitation falling in many 

areas infiltrates into the ground and recharges ground-water reservoirs. Intensive ground-water development in coastal areas, 

particularly when it is compounded with the loss of natural recharge to storm sewers, will probably induce salty ground water 

to move landward and thereby contaminate freshwater supplies. 

Practically all ground water pumped for man's use is treated and 

frequently disposed of in the nearest watercourse or in the ocean. 

This practice results in a direct loss of recharge to the groundwater system. Moreover, intensive pumping of ground water to 

supply increasing demands often results in marked imbalances in 

freshwater aquifers. 

The Geological Survey is currently involved in several studies 

to explore the impact of urbanization on recharge in the coastal 

zone. These research projects are centered principally on Long 

Island, New York, and in Florida, Texas, and California where 

serious ground-water problems have evolved. Much of the work 

centers on the use of diffusion wells to pump highly treated waste 

water back into the liround-wat~r reservoir. Research efforts 

focus on field investigations of the physical and chemical processes 

associated with the recharge of aquifers, the feasibility of artifi-
IX.-GROUND-WATER STUDIES 95 

cial recha.rging, and the development of chemical and physical 

treatment methods to remove particulate matter from water prior 

to recharge. Much of the work is done in close collaboration with 

State and county officials who frequently supply funds, manpower, 

facilities, and data to assist Geological Survey personnel. 

As with most other water-related studies, the results of groundwater projects are published as comprehensive reports in Geological Survey publications series or in State, county, or municipal 

periodicals or as short articles in scientific journals featuring 

some particular phase of the work. 

RELATED ACTIVITIES 

Title: Mathematical Modeling of Geothermal Systems (IX-1) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Nationwide 

Principal Contact: NR-1 

Objective: To examine the computer simulation of heat transport in porous 

media. A major application is the modeling of geothermal resources to 

predict the response of the reservoirs to commercial development. 

Products: 

Mercer, J. W., Faust, C. R., and Pinder, G. F., 1974, Geothermal reservoir 

simulation: Natl. Sci. Foundation Conf. on Research for the Development 

of Geothennal Energy Resources, Pasadena, California 1974, Proc., p. 

256-267. 

Mercer, J. W., and Pinder, G. F., 1974, Finite element analysis of hydrothermal systems, in Finite element methods in flow problems: Oden, J. 

T., Zienkiewicz, 0. C., Gallagher, R. H., and Taylor, C., eds., Univ. of 

Alabama Press, p. 401-414. 

Mercer, J. W., Pinder, G. F., and Donaldson, I. G., 1975, A Galerkin-finite 

element analysis of the hydrothennal system at Wairakei, New Zealand: 

Jour. Geophys. Research, v. 80, no. 17, p. 2608-2621. 

Title: Geohydrology of the Potomac-Raritan-Magothy Aquifer System, Trenton to Salem (IX-2) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southern New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and New Castle, 

Delawa;re 

Principal Contact: NJ-1 

Objective: To determine the geologic and geochemical characteristics and 

water-quality potential of this important aquifer system as an aid to 

water management. 

Title: Hydrodynamics and Geochemistry of the Gulf Coast Geopressured 

Aquifers (IX-3) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Gulf coast 

Principal Contact: NR-1 

Objective: To define the chemical and other significant processes affecting 

ground-water flow and to prepare a simulation model that can be used 

to predict man's effect on geopressured aquifer systems. 
96 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

Product: 

Trescott, P. C., 1975, Documentation of finite-difference model for simulation 

of three-dimensional ground water flow: U.S. Geol. Survey Open File 

Rept. 75-438, 32 p. and 6 appendices. 

Title: Development and Use of Digital Ground-Water Flow and Quality 

Models of the Salinas Valley, Monterey County, California (IX-4) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: West-central California 

Principal Contact: CA-l 

Objective: To develop models of ground-water flow and quality to assist the 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in assessing the effect of alternative 

plans for managing the area's water resources. 

Title: Geology and Ground Water in Santa Cruz County, California (IX-5) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Central coastal California 

Principal Contact: CA-l 

Objective: To describe the ground-water system in sufficient detail to allow 

planners to evaluate the impact on the system of proposed management 

decisions. 

Product: 

Muir, K. S., 1974, Sea water intrusion, ground-water pumpage, ground-water 

yield, and artificial recharge of the Pajaro Valley area, Santa Cruz and 

Monterey Counties, California: U.S. Geol. Survey Water-Resources Inv. 

9-74, 31 p. 

Title: Monitoring Ground-Water Quality in the Suisun Bay Area, Contra 

Costa, Solano, and Sacramento Counties, California (IX-6) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Central coastal California 

Principal Contact: CA-l 

Objective: To evaluate the consequences to the ground-water system of deepening a ship channel in the Suisun Bay area. 

Product: 

Akers, J. P., 1974, The effect of proposed deepening of the John F. Baldwin 

and Stockton Ship Channels on salt-water intrusion, Suisun Bay and 

Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta areas, California: U.S. Geol. Survey 

Water-Resources Inv. 56-73, 10 p. 

Title: Biscayne Aquifer Analog Model Study in Southeastern Florida 

(IX-7) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southeastern Florida 

Principal Contact: FL-1 

Objective: To use an analog model to analyze alternative decisions for regulating an existing aquifer-canal system. 

Product: 

Appel, C. A., 1966, Approximating steady linear flow in a confined aqu-ifer 

of nonuniform thickness: U.S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 550-D, 214-216. 
IX.-GROUND-WATER STUDIES 

Title: City of Sarasota, Disposal Test Well, Phase 1 (IX-8) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southwestern Florida 

Principal Contact: FL-1 

97 

Objective: To investigate the possibility of disposing of waste in a deep 

saline aquifer. 

Title: Deep Well Injection, Fort Lauderdale, Florida (IX-9) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southeastern Florida 

Principal Contact: FL-1 

Objective: To evaluate the capability of a deep aquifer to receive large quantities of effluent and to determine the impact of construction and operation of the injection well on overlying aquifers. 

Title: Digital Model for Determining Aquifer Response in Southeastern 

Palm Beach County, Florida (IX-10) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southeastern Florida 

Principal Contact: FL-1 

Objective: To develop a mathematical model simulating the ground-water 

reservoir underlying the county for the purpose of predicting the effect 

on the saltwater-freshwater interface of increased freshwater pumping. 

Title: Effects of Ground-Water Withdrawals on Water Quality Along Tampa 

Bay, Southwestern Hillsborough County (IX-11) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: West-central Florida 

Principal Contact: FL-1 

Objective: To provide background information on the water-resource problems of this rapidly growing area. The data will be helpful in defining the 

extent of the regulation that may be needed to protect ground-water 

supplies. 

Title: Effects of Solid-Waste L.andfi.Us on Ground-Water Quality, Dade 

County, Florida (IX-12) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southeastern Florida 

Principal Contact: FL-1 

Objective: To determine the pollutants in leachate, their direction and movement, and the filter effect of limestone aquifers on leachate in an effort 

to minimize the threat posed to the Dade County water supply by the 

disposal of solid wastes. 

Title: Feasibility of Artificial Recharge, Tricounty Area of Hillsborough, 

Pasco, and Pinellas Counties, Florida (IX-13) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: West-central Florida 

Principal Contact: FL-1 

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of using artificial recharge as a management tool to minimize water-user conflicts and to provide for a more 

efficient water-supply system. 
98 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

Title: Ground-Water Conditions in the Cocoa Well Field Area (IX-14) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Central Florida 

Principal Contact: FL-1 

Objective: To provide the city of Cocoa with water infonnation that will 

protect it from future saltwater problems, such as the increase in the 

amount of chlorides in water pumped by the city that forced the abandonment of some wells. 

Title: Ground-Water Studies in Central Broward County, Florida (IX-15) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southeastern Florida 

Principal Contact: FL-1 

Objective: To assess the impact of increased ground-water withdrawals and 

to monitor the freshwater-saltwater boundary in the important Floridan 

aquifer. 

Title: Hydrogeologic Factors Affecting the Availability and Quality of 

Ground Water in Temple Terrace Area, Florida (IX-16) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: West-central Florida 

Principal Contact: FL-1 

Objective: To develop guidelines that will aid Temple Terrace in expanding 

its water supply and minimizing the water-quality problems that accompany rapid urbanization. 

Title: Hydrogeology of the Varna Well Field, Sarasota, Florida (IX-17) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southwestern Florida 

Principal Contact: FL-1 

Objective: To determine the most efficient method of removing water from 

the water-table aquifer and to evaluate the effectiveness of various methods 

of inducing the recharge of surface water into shallow aquifers. 

Title: Hydrologic Effects of Injecting Treated Waste Water into a Deep 

Saline Aquifer at West Palm Beach, Florida (IX-18) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southeastern Florida 

Principal Contapt: FL-1 

Objective: To evaluate the potential use of a deep saline aquifer as a wastemanagement site for the disposal of sewage. 

Title: Hydrology and Geochemistry of Artificial Recharge and Reuse of 

Freshwater Stored in Deep Saline Aquifers in Southeastern Florida 

(IX-19) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southeastern Florida 

Princial Contact: FL-1 

Objective: To evaluate the hydrologic and geochemical factors related to the 

use of saline aquifers for the storage, conservation, and recovery of 

freshwater. 
IX.-GROUND-WATER STUDIES 

Title: Hydrology, Central Vol usia County, Florida (IX-20). 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: East-central Florida 

Principal Contact: FL-1 

99 

Objective: To create a model that will assess the impact of land-use decisions 

on ground-water development. 

Title: Hydrology of Sarasota County (IX-21) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southwestern Florida 

Principal Contact: FL-1 

Objective: To evaluate the availability of fresh ground water in a specific 

part of Sarasota County. 

Title: Hydrology of the Sand-and-Gravel Aquifer, Pensacola, Florida (IX22) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Northwestern Florida 

Principal Contact: FL-1 

Objective: To determine the quantity and quality of water in the only freshwater aquifer in the Pensacola area. 

Title: Investigation of the Use of Deep Wells for Waste Disposal Near 

Pensacola, Florida (IX-23) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Western Florida panhandle 

Principal Contact: FL-1 

Objective: To provide the means for evaluating some of the hydrologic and 

geochemical effects of injeeting acidic industrial wastes into a limestone 

aquifer. 

P'roduct: 

Faulkner, G. L., and Pascale, C. A., 1975, Monitoring regional effects of rig 

pressure injection of industrial waste water in a limestone aquifer: 

Ground Water, v. 13, no. 2, p. 197-208. 

Title: Potential of the Shallow Aquifer in Brevard County (IX-24) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: East-central Florida 

P'rincipal Contact: FL-1 

Objective: To evaluate the total freshwater potential of the Titusville well 

field. 

Title: Storage and Use of Storm Waters, St. Petersburg, Florida (IX-25) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: West-central Florida 

P'rincipal Contact: FL-1 

Objective: To determine the hydrogeological effects of injecting storm runoff 

into aquifers. 

Title: Subsurface Disposal, Pinellas County, Florida (IX-26) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: West-central Florida 
100 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

Principal Contac~: FL-1 

Objective: To determine whether it is feasible to inject highly treated sewage 

into shallow parts of the Flordian aquifer as a means of disposing of 

sewage effluent somewhere other. than at sea. 

Title: Urban Hydrology of the Englewood Water District (IX-27) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southwestern Florida 

Principal Contact: FL-1 

Objective: To identify the various aquifers capable of yielding high-quality 

water in this rapidly growing area. 

Title: Water Resources of Martin County, Florida (IX-28) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southeastern Florida 

Principal Contact: FL-1 

Objective: To analyze the aquifer system underlying Martin County. 

Title: Water Resources of Riviera Beach, Florida (IX-29) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southeastern Florida 

Principal Contact: FL-1 

Objective: To establish monitoring wells around the existing Riviera Beach 

well field to detect saltwater intrusion and to assist planners in their 

efforts to increase pumpage. 

Title: Water Resources of Tequesta Area, Florida (IX-30) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southeastern Florida 

Principal Contact: FL-1 

Objective: To seek methods of increasing the capacity of the Tequesta well 

field without inducing further saltwater encroachment. 

Title: Water Resources of the Hallandale Area, Florida (IX-31) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southeastern Florida 

Principal Contact: FL-1 

Objective: To determine locations that will probably yield the maximum volume 

of good-quality water. The continued growth of Hallandale has necessitated expansion of its well field. 

Title: Water Resources of the Hollywood, Florida, Area (IX-32) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southeastern Florida 

Principal Contact: FL-1 

Objective: To determine areas most likely to yield the best supplies of ground 

water. 

Product: 

Bearden, H. W., 1974, Ground water resources of the Hollywood area, 

Florida: Fla. Dept. of Nat. Resources, Bur. of Geol. Rept. of Inv., no. 

77, 35 p. 
IX.-GROUND-WATER STUDIES 

Title: Water Resources of Palm Beach County, Florida (IX-33) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southeastern Florida 

Principal Contact: FL-1 

101 

Objective: To delineate the extent of saltwater encroachment in coastal 

aquifers and the effect of sanitary landfills on ground-water quality. 

Title: Ground-Water Resources of the North Windham-Freeport Area, 

Maine (IX-34) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southeastern Maine 

Principal Contact: MA-1 

Objective: To determine the location, extent, quantity, and quality of aquifers 

underlying the North Windham-Freeport area. 

Title: Aquifer Studies in Maryland (IX-35) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Coastal plain of Maryland 

Principal Contact: MD-1 

Objective: To predict the hydraulic effects and water-quality changes resulting from pumping. Models of the ground-water system will be developed 

to assist the State in providing effective ground-water management. 

Product: 

Papadopulos, S. S., and others, 1974, Water from the coastal plain aquifers 

in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area: U.S. Geol. Survey Circ. 

697, 11 p. 

Title: A Digital Simulation Model of the Cape Cod Aquifer, Massachusetts 

(IX-36) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Eastern Massachusetts 

Principal Contact: MA-1 

Objective: To develop a computer model of the ground-water system to demonstrate the changes that proposed water-development schemes will have 

on ground-water supplies. 

Title: Ground-Water Modeling of Muskegan County Wastewater Treatment 

Facility (IX-37) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: West-central Michigan 

Principal Contact: MI-l 

Objective: To obtain data on ground-water characteristics in the immediate 

vicinity of the treatment facility to ensure development of an accurate 

predictive model. 

Title: Ground-Water Resources of Western Upper Peninsula, Michigan 

(IX-38) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Northw.estern Michigan 

P'rincipal Contact: Ml-1 

Objective: To provide information on the quantity and quality of ground 

water so that its potential sources can be used and protected. 
102 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

Title: Geology and Ground-Water Resources of Camden County (IX-39) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southwestern New Jersey 

Principal Contact: NJ-1 

Objective: To investigate the extent of man's impact on the aquifer system 

as a result of -industrial and suburban development in Camden County. 

Title: Geohydrologic Analysis of the Mount La ural-Wenonah Formations 

(IX-40) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southern New Jersey 

Principal Contact: NJ-1 

Objective: To quantitatively assess the geohydrologic character and water 

quality of this aquifer system to provide. planners with a means of assessing its optimal development. 

Title: Geohydrology of the Potomac-Magothy Aquifer System, Trenton to 

Perth Amboy (IX-41) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Northern coastal New Jersey 

Principal Contact: NJ-1 

Objective: To determine the geologic and geochemical characteristics. and 

water-quality potential of this important aquifer system. 

Product:· 

Winograd, I. J., and Farlekas, G. M., 1974, Problems in carbon-14 dating 

of water from aquifers of deltaic origin-an example from the New 

Jersey coastal plain: Internat. Atomic Energy Symposium on Isotope 

Techniques in Ground Water Hydrology, Vienna March 1974, Proc., p. 

69-93. 

Title: Test Drilling, Geophysical Logging, and New Observation Wells, 

Coastal Plain (IX-43) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southern New Jersey 

Principal Contact: NJ-1 

Objective: To aid in defining the areal extent and thickness of coastal aquifers 

and the location of the freshwater-saltwater interface. 

Title: Appraisal of Hydrologic Conditions in Suffolk County, New York 

(IX-44) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Suffolk County, New York 

Principal Contact: NY-1 

Objective: To combine the results of previous studies with recent information 

to evaluate the ground-water resources of the area. 

Title: Artificial Recharge of Treated Sewage Water at Bay Park, New York 

(IX-45) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Nassau County, New York 

Principal Contact: NY-1 
IX.-GROUND-WATER STUDIES 103 

Objective: To test the feasibility of injecting treated sewage into a deep 

fresh-water aquifer. The study will assist in assessing the mechanics, 

difficulties, and costs associated with the artificial recharge of highly 

treated sewage. 

Title: Changes in Natural and Artificial Ground-Water Recharge on Long 

Island, New York (IX-46) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Long Island, New York 

Principal Contact: NY -1 

Objective: To evaluate the overall effectiveness. of recharging the ground:-

water system on Long Island by about 2,000 open pits, whose prime 

purpose is to allow rapid infiltration of storm runoff. 

Title: Design and Support of Suffolk County, New York, Water-Quality Observation Well Program (IX-4 7) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Long Island, New York 

Principal Contact: NY -1 

Objective: To establish a baseline water-quality data bank to help assess 

future water-quality deterioration. The water quality of the groundwater reservoir (especially the shallow water-table aquifer) is of major 

concern in this area. 

Title: Evaluation of Feasibility of Deep-Well Waste Disposal in Western 

New York and Prediction of Reaction of Aquifer System to Applied 

Stresses (IX-48) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Western New York 

Principal Contact: NY -1 

Objective: To provide an understanding of the interactions of injected waste 

water with the carbonate rocks that underlie parts of western New York. 

Title: Laboratory Column Studies of the Effects of Percolation of Reclaimed 

Sewage Effluent Through Native Soil Materials (IX-49) 

Statu,s: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Long Island, New York 

Principal Contact: NY -1 

Objective: To define the infiltration characteristics of surficial deposits in 

Nassau County under the application of reclaimed sewage effluent. 

Title: Prototype Electrical Analog Model of Western Long Island, New 

York (IX-50) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Long Island, New York 

Principal Contact: NY-1 

Objective: To construct a model that will provide decisionmakers with quantitative estimates of changes in . the ground-water system resulting from 

various proposed water-management schemes. 
104 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

Title: Water Quality of Selected Solid-Waste Disposal Cites, Suffolk County, 

Long Island, New York (1~-51) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Long Island, New York 

Principal Contact: NY -1 

Objective: To document the nature and extent of changes in the quality of 

ground water in the vicinity of solid-waste disposal sites. There is concern about leachate percolating into the shallow aquifer system. 

Products: 

Kimmel, G. E., and Braids, 0. C., 1974, Leachate plumes in a highly permeable aquifer: Ground Water, v. 12, no. 6, p. 388-393. 

--·- 1975, Preliminary findings of a leachate study on two landfills in 

Suffolk County, New York: U.S. Ge<>l. Survey Jour. of Research, v. 3, 

no. 3, p. 2.73-280. 

Title: Hydrology of Dune Aquifers near Coos Bay, Oregon (IX-52) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southern Oregon coast 

Principal Contact: OR-1 

Objective: To minimize the adverse effects of extensive anticipated industrial 

and recreational development on the area's ground-water sources by making a thorough study of the underlying aquifer system. 

Title: Hydrology and Geology of Erie Co~nty (IX-53) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Northwestern Pennsylvania 

Principal Contact: PA-l 

Objective: To determine the availability and quality of ground water in Erie 

County. 

Title: Low Country Capacity Use Study (IX-54) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southeastern South Carolina 

Principal Contact: SC-1 

Objective: To assess the availability of ground water and to provide meaningful data for water-management decisions. 

Title: Continuing Quantitative Ground-Water Studies in the Houston District (IX-55) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Houston, Texas 

Principal Contact: TX-1 

Objective: To provide this Texas coastal area with current information on 

. its ground-water resources. 

Products: 

Gabrysch, R. K., Naftel, W. L., and McAdoo, G. D., 1974, Ground-water data 

for Harris County, Texas, v. III, Chemical analyses of water from 

wells, 1922-71: Texas Water Devel. Board Rept. 178, 87 p. 

Gabrysch, R. K., Naftel, W. L., McAdoo, G. D., and Bonnet, C. W., 1974, 

Ground-water data for Harris County Texas, v. II, Records of wells, 

1892-1972: Texas Water Devel. Board Rept. 178, 181 p. 
IX.-GROUND-WATER STUDIES 

Title: Ground-Water Resources of Galveston County (IX-56) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Galveston, Texas 

Principal Contact: TX-1 

105 

Objective: To provide a continuing program of basic-data collection to ensure 

an adequate data base for water-management decisions. 

Title: Hydrogeology of the Wilcox Group, Texas (IX-57) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Gulf Coastal Plain, Texas 

Principal Contacts TX-1 

Objective: To assess the suitability of this geologic formation for storing 

liquid wastes. 

Title: Continuing Ground-Water Studies in Orange County and Adjacent 

Areas (IX-58) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: East-central Texas 

Principal Contact: TX-1 

Objective: To gather current information on the ground-water resources of 

Orange County and to monitor and suggest methods of avoiding saltwater 

encroachment of freshwater aquifers. 

Title: Land-Surface Subsidence, Texas City and 'seabrook Areas, Texas 

(IX-59) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southeastern Texas 

Principal Contact: TX-1 

Objective: To predict the amounts and rates of subsidence for planning, 

constructing, and maintaining levees used for flood protection. 

Title: Model Study, Chicot and Evangeline Aquifers, Texas Gulf Coast 

(IX-60) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Texas gulf coast 

Principal Contact: TX-1 

Objective: To develop a ground-water model that will define the quantitative 

relationship between the geologic framework and the hydrologic system. 

The results will be presented to water-supply planners. 

Title: Model Study of the Jasper and Catahoula Aquifers in the Gulf Coastal 

Region of Texas (IX-61) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Texas gulf coast 

Principal Contact: TX-1 

Objective: To use a model simulating the flow in the Jasper-Catahoula aquifer 

system in order to provide information for use in planning and managing 

the water supply obtained from the system. 

Title: Saltwater Encroachment, Houston Area, Texas (IX-62) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southeastern Texas 
106 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

Principal Contact: TX-1 

Objective: To locate the freshwater-saltwater interfaces in aquifers and to 

isolate the sources of contamination to shallow wells. 

Title: Chemical Quality of Ground Water in Coastal Plain of Virginia 

(IX-63) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southeastern Virginia 

Principal Contact: V A-1 

Objective: To make the extensive chemical data on ground water in the 

Geological Survey District Office files available to the public and to 

Federal, State, and local agencies. 

Title: Ground-water Resources South of the James River, Virginia (IX-64) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southeastern Virginia 

Principal Contact: V A-1 

Objective: To evaluate the freshwater supply and the impact of heavy pumping on aquifer water levels, in this area, where heavy ground-water 

withdrawals have caused concern about the future usefulness of the 

supply. 

Title: Occurrence and Quality of Ground ·Water in the Coastal Plain of 

Virginia (IX-65) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Eastern Virginia 

Principal Contact: VA-l 

Objective: To define the aquifer system in the coastal plain, specifically by 

mapping water-quality characteristics, water levels and pressure heads, 

and areas of recharge and discharge. 

Title: Ground-Water Resources of the Long Beach Peninsula, Pacific 

County, Washington (IX-66) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Washington 

Principal Contact: W A-1 

Objective: To describe the present ground-water conditions and to estimate 

the amount of water that can be developed· in this area of rapid population growth. 

Title: Ground-Water Resources of the Squaxin Indian Reservation (IX-67) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: West-central Washington 

Principal Contact: WA-1 

Objective: To define the ground-water conditions on the reservation and to 

enable the Indians to protect their water rights by estimating the usable 

supply and suggesting sites for pumping. 

Title: Test Drilling (IX-68) 

Status: Ongoing. FY 76 

Location: Washington 

Principal Contact: WA-1 

Objective: To monitor saltwater intrusion in coastal areas. 
X.-SURFACE WATER STUDIES 107 

Title: Digital Computer Model Study of the Sandstone Aquifer in Southeastern Wisconsin (IX-69) 

Location: Southeastern Wisconsin 

Principal Contact: WI-1 

Objective: To simulate the aquifer responses to various planned pumping 

alternatives. 

Title: Geology and Ground-Water Resources of Washington and Ozaukee 

Counties, Wisconsin (IX-70) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southeastern Wisconsin 

Principal Contact: WI-1 

Objective: To collect and evaluate hydrologic and geologic data pertaining to 

the ground-water resources of both counties. 

Title: Ground-Water Contamination Potential in the Dolomite Aquifer of 

Eastern Wisconsin (IX-71) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Locatf.on: Eastern Wisconsin 

Principal Contact: WI-1 

Objective: To determine areas where ground-water quality is, or will be, a 

problem. The types and sources of the contamination will be identified by 

water-quality analyses. 

X.-SURFACE-WATER STUDIES 

The U.S. Geological Survey measures the surface-water discharge to the Great Lakes, the Gulf of Mexico, and the oceans at 

774 gaging stations. Through September 1960, surface-water records were published in an annual series of Geological Survey 

Water Supply Papers. Begjnning October 1960, annual Water Resources Data reports for each State have been released by the 

Geological Survey. Average daily discharges are published for 

each stream-gaging station as well as the extreme highest and 

lowest flows both for a particular reporting year and for the entire period of record. For lake and reservoir stations, records of 

stage and the quantity of water impounded are published. 

Surface-water data are used for many purposes such as evaluating the water supply available to a town or city, in designing 

bridges and culverts, or assessing the flood potential along a 

particular watercourse. A well-designed streamflow-gaging network is of considerable value in studies attempting to assess 

man~s impact on the hydrologic cycle. For example, urbanization 

will change streamflow patterns because of street paving, home 

and building construction, and the installation of sewers. These 

activities alter such important water-basin characteristics as 

infiltration rates, generated volume of ·storm flow, and the time 

required for water to move from any point in the basin to the 
108 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

stream channel. To assess the extent to which the flow patterns 

in an urbanized basin are altered, a sufficiently long record covering the period of accelerated land use change is necessary. The 

impact of urbanization on runoff patterns is currently being 

evaluated in coastal areas of New York, Florida, South Carolina, and Texas. 

One of the principal problems faced by highway engineers is 

the need for flood data on drainage areas of less than 50 square 

miles ( 130 square kilometres) . Flood information is usually 

available on larger streams because they are normally monitored by one or more stream-gaging stations. Peak-discharge 

information for small streams are required for the design of culverts, bridges, and other highway drainage facilities. The Geological Survey has developed a rainfall/runoff computer model capable of predicting peak flows at a specific streamflow site. 

Because of tidal currents, shifting winds, and varying amounts 

of freshwater inflow, the movement of water in estuaries, bays, 

and coastal waterways is difficult to measure. For example, diverting a large supply of freshwater into an estuary may completely alter its flow patterns resulting in shoaling, siltation of 

ship channels, and unwanted changes in the aquatic ecosystem. 

The development of large computers has permitted modeling 

of flow in complex water bodies. Flow models enable managers 

to predict the consequences that changes or adjustments in the 

hydrologic or physical environment will have on water movement in an estuary. Flow models of Tampa Bay were used to 

predict the impact of channel dredging on flushing rates in the 

bay. Modeling of Savannah Bay will permit an evaluation of 

benefits from a reduction in dredging resulting from the rediversion of upstream runoff. 

High-altitude photography and satellite imagery are being 

used to define circulation patterns and to assist hydrologists in 

improving estimates of streamflow at ungaged sites. Circulation patterns along the south shore of Lake Ontario and the 

Connecticut River estuary are identified by turbid plumes formed 

at the mouths of large discharging watercourses. Remote sensors 

are also capable of detecting longshore plumes which are indicative of active beach erosion. Improved estimates of streamflow at 

ungaged sites were obtained for the Delmarva Peninsula by incorporating land use information derived from high-altitude 

photographs into standard Geological Survey gaging-station 

analyses. 
X.-SUR:FACE-WATER STUDIES 109 

One of the major problems confronting flood fo·recasters and 

water managers is the lack of instantaneous data on rapid hydrologic changes which may be occurring within their jurisdictions. By using the Landsat satellites, Geological Survey scientists 

have been able to relay river-stage information from remote 

radio transmitters, called Data Collection Platforms, to the N ationa! Headquarters in Reston, Va. Implementation and continued 

development of this emerging technology will yield near real-time 

data available for rapid retrieval and dissemination. Thus, riverstage data from carefully placed remote stations can be made 

available to any interested agency with sufficient speed to ensure 

improved flood forecast accuracy and to facilitate management decisions. 

RELATED ACTIVITIES 

Title: Hydrodynamic Study on the Transport of Thermal, Physical, and 

Chemical Constituents in Turbulent Surface Water (X-1) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Nationwide-emphasis on east coast watercourses 

Principal Contact: NR-1 

Objective: To develop mathematical models to stimulate such factors as thermal diffusion and nutrient transport. 

Title: Numerical Simulation of Hydrodynamic Processes in Rivers, Estuaries and Embayments (X-2) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Nationwide--emphasis on east coast watercourses 

Principal Contact: NR-1 

Objective: To develop computer-simulation models which will explore solutions 

to problems involving waste movement and dispersion in rivers, estuaries, 

and embayments. 

Title: Near Real-Time Water Resources Data for Delaware River Basin 

Management using the Landsat Satellite (X-3) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Delaware River basin-New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and 

Delaware 

Principal Contact: PA-l 

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of using satellites as a means of transmitting water information in near real-time to water-resources agencies. 

Title: Surface-Water Stations-Connecticut (X-4) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Connecticut 

Principal Contact: CT-1 

Objective: To collect surface-water data sufficient to satisfy the needs of 

users for purposes of surveillance, planning, design, hazard-warning 

operation, and management. 
110 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

Title: Hydrology of Urban Areas in the Tampa Bay Region (X-5) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: West central Florida 

Principal Contact: FL-1 

Objective: To assess the effect on water resources of continued urbanization, 

which has· increased storm runoff, by investigating streamflow, rainfall, 

and water quality of runoff. 

Title: Flood Insurance Studies for Federal Insurance Administration, Dept. 

of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) (X-6) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Northeastern Illinois 

Principal Contact: IL-l 

Objective: To conduct the necessary flood studies of areas assigned by the 

Federal Insurance Administration. 

Product: 

Camp, J. D., 1974, Flood insurance study (Type 15) Des Plaines, Illinois: 

Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, Federal Insurance Adm. Flood 

Insurance Rept. 

Title: Flood Insurance Studies for Federal Insurance Administration, HUD 

(X-7) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Michigan 

Principal Contact: MI-l 

Objective: To conduct the necessary flood studies of areas assigned by the 

Federal Insurance Administration. 

Product: 

Knutilla, R. L., and Herreid, W. D., 1974, Flood insurance study of Monroe, 

Michigan: Dept. of Housing and Urban Deyelopment, Federal Insurance 

Adm. Flood Insurance Rept. 

Title: Operational Models of Surfac~-Water Systems (X-8) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location : Southern Mississippi 

Principal Contact: GA-l 

Objective: To develop operational models of surface-:water systems. 

Products: 

Bauer, D. P. and Mackenroth, E., 1974, One-dimensional stream excess· temperature analysis: U.S. Geol. Survey computer contribution, [Nov. 1974], 

35 p. 

Jeffcoat, H. H., Jennings, M. E., and Peterson, J. B., 1974, Lakes MarionMoultrie stream system investigation: Part !-Model selection calibration, and error analysis: U.S. Geol. Survey Water-Resources Inv. Rept., 

25-74. 

Moench, A. F., Sauer, V. B. and Jennings, M. E., 1974, Modification of 

routed stre.amflow by channel loss and base flow: Water Resources Research, v. 10, no. 5, p. 963-968. 

Title: The Determination of the Frequency of Drought Flows of Varying 

Degrees of Severity and Duration (X-9) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 
X.-SURF ACE-WATER STUDIES 

Location: New Jersey 

Principal Contact: NJ-1 

111 

Objective: To provide information on drought flows to assist in water-supply 

analyses, waste-dilution studies, and the adequacy of surface supplies for 

cooling water and power generation. 

Title: Flood Insurance Studies for Federal Insurance Administration, HUD 

(X-10) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: New York 

Principal Contact: NY-1 

Objective: To conduct the necessary flood studies of areas assigned by the 

Federal Insurance Administration 

Title: Flood Investigation-New York (X-11) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: New York 

Principal Contact: NY-1 

Objective: To provide information on the magnitude and frequency of floods 

to agencies and individuals involved in various phases of flood planning. 

Title: Hydrologic Interpretations Based on Remote-Sensing Techniques 

(X-12) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: New York-Lake Ontario basin 

Principal Contact: NR-1 

Objectit·e: To perform studies of circulation patterns along the south shore of 

Lake Ontario which will assist in model verification and in defining waste 

movement in the lake. 

Product: 

Pluhowski, E. J., 1975, Dynamics of turbidity plumes in Lake Ontario: Am. 

Soc. of Civil Engineers Natl. Conv., Denver, Colo., Nov. 1975, Mtg. Preprint 2602, 28 p. 

Title: Surface-Water Inflow to Lake Ontario (X-13) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: New York-Lake Ontario basin 

Principal Contact: NY-1 

Objective: To determine the surface-water flow into Lake Ontario from New 

York State. This work was done in connection with the International 

Field Year for the Great Lakes. 

Title:Surface-Water Stations, New York (X-14) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: New York 

Principal Contact: NY-1 

Objective: To collect surface-water data sufficient to satisfy the need$ for 

current-purpose uses such as assessment of water resources, operation of 

reservoirs, forecasting, or the disposal of wastes. 

Title: Flow and Quality Water Model of Santee River (X-15) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Eastern South Carolina 
112 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

Principal Contact: SC-1 

Objective: To develop a digital computer model capable of predicting discharge 

in the lower Santee River prior to and following rediversion of flow from 

the Cooper River. 

Title: Urban Hydrology Study-Houston, Texas (X-16) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Texas 

Principal Contact: TX-1 

Objective: To provide hydrologic data for urban studies to delineate floodhazard areas, and to define the effects of urbanization on flood discharge. 

Title: Hydrologic Effects of Dredging Small Spring Ponds (X-17) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Northeast Wisconsin 

Principal Contact: WI-1 

Objective: To determine the effects of dredging small ponds on the hydrology 

of the ponds and the surrounding areas. 

XI.-RIVE·R-WATER QUALITY AND SEDIMENTATION STUDIES 

One of the principal objectives of the Geological Survey's 

water-quality and river-sedimentation research is to detect and 

monitor contamination of water resources due to man's activities. Degradation ·of the Nation's water sources is capable of 

adversely affecting living organisms. By way of illustration, an 

increasing number of pesticides have been banned or severely 

limited in application because of their documented or suspected 

adverse effects on plants and animals. These effects vary from 

a lowering of the survival rate of newly hatched fish to causing 

cancer and birth defects in humans. 

The introduction and expanded use of laundry detergents during the 1950's and early 1960's resulted in frequent complaints 

of foaming and unpleasant drinking waters obtained from shallow wells in part of Long Island, New York. The ensuing public 

clamor and legislation banning sales of suspected detergents in 

Suffolk County, New York, did much to force manufacturing 

changes designed to reduce the unwanted persistence of detergent foaming. Since the mid-19'60's when detergent manufacturers altered their products, there has been a marked reduction 

in the number of complaints made regarding drinking-water 

foaming. 

These are but a few of the types of problems associated with 

man-induced water contamination. Reconnaissance and monitoring of any water-quality constituent requires a comprehensive, 

well-planned network of water-quality measuring stations to 

provide the basic data needed to prepare interpretive studies. 
XL-RIVER-WATER QUALITY AND SEDIMENTATION 113 

The Geological Survey has been engaged in water-quality 

studies since 1911. Currently, water-quality measurements of 

streamflow to the Great Lakes, Gulf of Mexico, and the oceans 

·are collected at 369 gaging stations. Periodic measurements of 

suspended-sediment concentration are made at numerous sites 

in the coastal zone to define stream scour and deposition, beach 

replenishment and erosion, and reservoir and lake siltation. Man's 

impact on sediment production is being actively studied at 

several sites in the coastal zone, as are changes in water chemistry due to suspended waterborne matter. 

Several studies are being conducted to determine the amount of 

sediment being carried into the Great Lakes. Shoaling, siltation 

of harbor facilities, and sharply increased nutrient loading are 

some of the problems associated with stepped-up sediment production due to changing land use practices. The objective of 

these studies is to evaluate natural levels of sediment production 

an<l to determine the impact on erosion rates of clearing forestlands for agricultural and urban development. 

Computer models simulating water quality are being developed 

to predict changes in water chemistry stemming from man's 

activities. Research toward development of a water-quality model 

capable of predicting the effect that heated waters discharged 

from powerplants will have on stream temperatures is nearly 

completed. Models predicting the impact on dissolved-oxygen 

levels resulting from dumping waste water and sewage into 

estuaries are currently being researched. Plans are being formulated to develop models capable of predicting the movement and 

dispersion of phosphorous and nitrogen in lakes and estuaries. 

These nutrients are often responsible for the proliferation of 

algal blooms in lakes and estuaries. Algal blooms are aesthetically displeasing and frequently result in fish kills and offensive 

odors. Bioenvironmental models capable of predicting the impact 

of man-induced water-quality alterations on freshwater and estuarine ecosystems are a long-term goal of the Geological Survey's 

water-quality modeling research. 

An expanding part of the Geological Survey's water-quality 

research has been directed toward understanding the role of 

organic chemicals in water. Particular emphasis i,s placed on 

defining the impact of these chemicals on aquatic biology. Organic 

substances contain compounds of carbon and hydrogen and are 

important in water for many reasons. The bacteriological oxidation of organic carbon from natural sources and from municipal, 

industrial, and agricultural wastes is a major factor leading to 

the depletion of life .. supporting oxygen in streams and estuaries. 
114 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

Natural organic substances may impart color and odor to water 

and often act as carriers of toxic trace metals, pesticides, and 

nutrients by chemically combining with them or by facilitating 

their adsorption on suspended sediment. 

Geological Survey. research projects having primary emphasis 

on aquatic biology are widely varied in their objectives and approaches. They are mostly problem oriented and, in the coastal 

zone, focus primarily on wetlands and estuaries. Aquatic studies 

along the east coast center on the Rhode River estuary of Maryland and the Great Dismal Swamp of. Virginia. Remote-sensing 

data are being applied 'to the Great Dismal Swamp to provide 

a relatively inexpensive,. ·rapid method of wetland classification, 

and to evaluate the impact of man's activities on vegetation within 

the swamp. Studies in Alaska are directed toward evaluating the 

potential impact of the Alaska pipeline and its associated terminal facilities on estuarine and stream biotic communities. 

Research in water chemistry is directed principally toward 

improving our ability to provide accurate quantitative descriptive information about the Nation's water resources. Several 

projects are oriented toward development of better methods of 

chemical analysis or techniques for analyses of important substances never previously measured. Another objective in waterchemistry research is. to learn more about the chemical controls 

that govern the behavior of constituents we can measure. An 

understanding of these controls helps, for example, to design 

environmental studies by providing a guide as to where and when 

to sample, and how to interpret the results. 

RELATED ACTIVITIES 

Title: Water-Quality Model Development and Implementation (XI-1) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Nationwide 

Principal Contact: NR-1 

Objective: To develop computer-simulation models capable of evaluating the 

interactions of waste matter in surface-water and ground-water sysems. 

Product: 

Leendertse, J. J., and Liu, S. K., 1974, Comparison of observed tide data of 

Jamaica Bay with hydraulic model data by use of cross-spectral density 

functions: The Rand Corp., WN-8703-NYC. 

Title: Rates and Processes of Erosion and Sedimentation in Natural and 

Disturbed Forested Drainage Basins in the Douglas Fir Region of the 

Pacific Coast (XI-2) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location : California and Oregon coasts 

Principal Contact: WR-1 
XI.-RIVER-WATER QUALITY AND SEDIMENTATION 115 

Objective: To understand the processes and rates of erosion and to assess 

man's impact on these processes and rates. 

Title: Levee Erosion Studies, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta area, California 

(XI-3) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: West-central California 

Principal Contact: CA-l 

Objective: To provide the California Department of Water Resources with 

information on erosive damage to levees caused by boat wakes. 

Product: 

Limerinos, J. T., and Smith, W., 1974, Evaluation of the causes of levee 

erosion in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California: U.S. Geol. 

Survey Water-Resources Inv. Rept. 28-74. 

Title: Sediment-Transport Studies in Redwoods National Park, California 

(XI-4) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Northwestern California 

Principal Contact: CA-l 

Objective: To determine whether increased sediment and nutrient loading of 

the park ma.y result from nearby lumbering operations. 

Title: Digital Model of Loxahatchee River· Environmental Control District 

(XI-5) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southeast Florida 

Principal Contact: FL-1 

Objective: To determine the impact of a proposed sewage treatment facility 

on surface-water and ground-water systems. A digital model of the hydrologic system will be created to identify potential water-quality problems. 

Title: Effects of Manmade Contaminants in Water Quality in the Central 

Florida Flood Control District and the South Florida Flood Control 

District System, Broward County (XI-6) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southeast .Florida 

Principal Contact: FL-1 

Objective: To provide water-quality and nutrient data which can be used by 

water management officials in evaluating the water resources of conservation areas. 

Title: Effects of Manmade Contaminants in Water Resources of Broward 

County, Florida (XI-7) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southeast Florida 

Principal Contact: FL-1 

Objective: To determine the nature and amount of contaminants in canals 

and the Biscayne aquifer in a highly urbanized area of southeast Florida. 
116 PROGRAM ACT-IVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

Title: Investigation of Contaminants in Storm-Water Runoff in Broward 

County, Florida (XI-8) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southeast Florida 

Principal Contact: FL-1 

Objective: To determine the nature and amou}J.t of contaminants in stormwater runoff in a highly urbanized area of southeast Florida. 

Title: Water Quality in the South New River Canal Basin, Florida (XI-9) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southeast Florida 

Principal Contact: FL-1 

Objective: To determine the water quality of representative subbasins within 

the South New River Canal System. 

Title: A Baseline Water-Quality Assessment of the Indiana Dunes National 

Shoreline (XI-10) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Northwest Indiana 

Principal Contact: IN-1 

Objective: To collect baseline data on chemical and bacteriological quality of 

water." Recommendations will be made to the National Park Service for 

a water-quality monitoring program. 

Product: 

Arihood, L. D., 1975, Water-quality assessment of the Indiana Dunes National 

Lakeshore, 1973-74: U.S. Geol. Survey Water-Resources Inv. Rept. 14-75. 

Title: Oxygen Cycle in Streams, Lakes, and Estuaries (XI-11) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southern Mississippi 

Principal Contact: MS-1 

Objective: To study dissolved oxygen in surface waters in order to define the 

factors controlling those levels. 

Title: Quality of Water Stations, New York (XI-12) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: New York 

Principal Contact: NY-1 

Objective: To provide a national bank of water-quality data to provide average 

chemical concentrations, loads, and time trends as required by planning 

and management agencies. 

Title: Quaternary Sedimentation at the Marine-Fluvial Interface (XI-13) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southwest Oregon 

Principal Contact: OR-1 

Objective: To evaluate the processes governing erosion and sedimentation along 

the southwestern Oregon coast. 

Product: 

Carlson, P. R., 1975, Principal sources and dispersion patterns of suspended 

particles in nearshore surface waters of the northeastern Pacific Ocean 

and the Hawaiian Islands: NTIS Rept. N75-22877, 145 p. 
XII.-GENERAL HYDROLOGIE STUDIES 

Title: Modeling Waste Load Assimilation in Wisconsin (XI-14) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Wisconsin 

Principal Contact: WI-1 

117 

Objective: To develop an oxygen computer model for str.eams at selected sewage-treatment plant sites in Wisconsin for regulatory, planning, and research purposes. 

Title: Nemadji River Sediment Study (XI-15) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Northwest Wisconsin 

Pn'ncilpal Contact: WI-1 

Objective: To collect information on the amount, type, and chemical quality 

of sediment transported by the Nemadji River into Lake Superior. 

Title: Sed.iment Transport in the Menomonee River Basin (XI-16) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southeast Wisconsin 

P·rincitpal Contact: WI-1 

Objective: To collect data on the amount and character of stream-transported 

sediment throughout the Menomonee River basin. 

XII.-GENERAL HYDROLOGIC STUDIES 

Comprehensive regional or basinwide studies covering all 

phases of the hydrologic cycle are being conducted in many areas 

of the coastal zone. These studies are designed to provide the 

data, information, and methodology required to manage the 

water resources of a region .or local area and to predict how these 

resources will respond to stresses placed upon them. In general, 

their purpose is to assess the water resources of a selected basin 

or region taking into account all forms of water in its passage 

through the hydrologic cycle from precipitation to surface flow to 

ground water and its return to the atmosphere by evapotranspiration. Accurate appraisals of all elements of the hydrologic cycle 

are stressed with emphasis placed on defining the interaction between ground water and surface water. A primary objective is 

to evaluate ground-water and surface-water quality by identifying and quantifying organic and inorganic constituents and thermal, sediment, and nutrient loading~ as well as aquatic, biochemical, and trace element composition. Another objective of 

many of these broad-based projects is to interpret, analyze, and 

translate water data from many sources into products useful to 

water managers for the solution of specific problems. The products are usually in the form of reports published by the Geological Survey or by a cooperating agency. 

Practically all comprehensive regional studies are made in 

highly urbanized areas and seek to identify man's impact on 
118 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

various parts of the hydrologic cycle. For example, in conjunction with other agencies in the Department of the Interior, the 

Geological Survey has published a report summarizing the effects 

on the environment of intensive urbanization in south Dade 

County, Florida. Urbanized and agricultural land uses have 

been rapidly replacing the original natural ecosystems. The resulting impact of greatly increased demand for water has created 

imbalances along freshwater-saltwater boundaries. · These imbalances cause contamination of freshwater aquifers by landward moving salty water. 

Some of the general hydrologic studies emphasize a particular 

bay or estuary. Intensive land changes for both urban and agricultural development have generated greatly increased contamination from sewage, sediment, nutrients, and toxic trace elements. 

The bulk of these contaminants are dumped directly into bays and 

estuaries or are borne by rivers and streams. In cooperation with 

HUD, the Geological Survey has undertaken a study of the environmental factors in the San Francisco Bay region related 

to urbanization. 

RELATED ACTIVITIES 

Title: Applications of Aerial Measurement Techniques (XII-1) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Nationwide 

Principal Contact: WR-1 

Objective: To apply airborne remote-sensing techniques to specific hydrologic 

P'roblems :SIU.ch. as circulation patterns, heat diffus,ion, a.nd the detection of 

pollutants. 

Title: General Hydrologic Research (XII-2) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Nationwide 

Principal Contact: GA-l 

Objective: To study the water balance of continental areas, with stress placed 

upon freshwater outflow to the oceans. 

Products: 

Nace, R. L., 1974, Environmental hazards of large-scale water developments, 

in Leversedge, F. M., Priorities in water management: Victoria, British 

Columbia, Canada, Victoria Univ., v. 18, p. 3-18. 

--1974, Historical development of hydrology in North America, in 

UNESCO Contributions to the development of the hydrological cycle: 

Paris, UNESCO DOC. SC 74!/CONF/COL 1, p. 9'-23. 

--1974, Pierre Perrault: The man and his contribution to scientific hydrology: Water Resources Bull., v. 10, no. 4, p. 633-647. 

--197 4, The hydrological cycle-historical evaluation of the concept, in 

UNESCO/WMO/IAHS, Three centuries of scientific hydrology: Paris, 

UNESCO, p. 41-5,1. 

--1975·, Book review of World water balance and water resources of the 

Earth: Am. Geophys. Union, EOS, v. 5, no. 4, p. 25>1-252. 
XII.-GENERAL HYDROLOGIC STUDIES 

Title: National Water Data Exchange (NAWDEX) (XII-3) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Locatior~J: Nationwide 

Principal Contact: WRD-1 

119 

Objective: To assist those needing water data in the identification, location, 

and acquisition of the data, a National Water Data Exchange (NAWDEX) will consist of water-oriented organizations throughout all levels 

of the Federal, State, and local governments, and pr.ivate sectors of the 

water-data. community. These organizations will work together to make 

their water data more readily available in a timely and efficient manner. 

All activities and services are coordinated by a c•entral program office located within the U.S. Geological Surve.y. Assi.stance in the location of desired water data and the referral of requests to the most expedi.ent source 

from which data can be acqui~ed will be provided by the NAWDEX 

Program Office and a nationwide network of Local Assistance Centers 

·established within the NAWDEX membership in nearly all States and 

major population centers. A computerized system is being established for 

a water Data Sources Directory containing information pertinent to the 

sources, location, types and availability of water data and for a Master 

Data Index containing more detailed information pertinent to the identification and definition of the types of water data held by NAWDEX 

members. Membership in NAWDEX is voluntall'y and open to those who 

wish to take an active role in its activities. 

Product: 

Mason, F. D., 1975, Support in the .implementation of a national water data 

exchange (NA WDEX): McLean, Va., PRC Systems Sciences Co., 24.0 p. 

Title: Remote-Sensing Research in Wetlands (XII-4) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Locatior~J: Nationwide 

Pr1'ncipal Contact: WRD-1 

Objective: To utilize high-altitude and satellite remote-sensing products to 

identify plant species and seasonal changes in wetland vegetation. Emphasis is placed on coastal wetlands. 

Products: 

Carter, V.irginia, 1974, Remote-sensing applications to the Dismal Swamp: 

The Great Dismal Swamp Symposium, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, 

Va., Mar. 14, 1974, Proc., 34 p. 

Carter, Virginia, and Schubert, Jane, 1974, Coastal wetlands analysis from 

ERTS MSS digital data and field spectral measurements: Internat. Symposium on Remote Sensing of Environment, 9th Ann Arbor, Mich. 1974, 

Proc., p. 1241-1260. 

McEwen, R. B., Kosco, W. J., and Carter, Virginia, 1976, Coastal wetland 

mapping: Photogramm. Eng. and Remote Sensing, v. 42, no. 2, p. 221-232. 

Title: Microwave Remote Sensing (XII-5) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Arctic Ocean; Lake Ontario, New York; and Gulf of St. Lawrence 

Principal Contact: WR-1 

Objective: Detection of ice with microwave-sensing equipment to provide 

precise and rapid detection of its areal extent. 
120 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

Title: Long Island Sound Regional Study (Xll-6) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Long Island Sound, New York and Connecticut 

Principal Contact: NY-1 

Objective: To describe the ground-water, stream, and estuarine system of 

Long Island Sound and prepare these data in forms easily useable by 

decisionmakers in planning optimum uses of land and water resources. 

Title: Water Resources of the Maumee River Basin, with Emphasis on the 

Fort Wayne, Indiana, Area (XII-7) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Northeast Indiana, southeast Michigan, and northwest Ohio 

Principal Contact: IN-1 

Objective: To evaluate existing water-resources data in the basin, and to 

identify water problems and suggest alternative water-supply sources. 

Title: Geohydrology of the Anchorage Area, Alaska (XII-8) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Anchorage, Alaska 

Principal Contact: AK-1 

Objective: To inventory the area's water resources. Special attention will be 

given to determine if aquifer yields can be increased by use of artificial 

recharge. 

Product: 

Zenone, C., Donaldson, D. E., and Grunwaldt, J. S., 1975, Ground-water 

quality beneath solid-waste disposal sites at Anchorage, Alaska: Ground 

Water, v. 13, no. 2, p. 182-190. 

Title: Hydrology of the Cordova Area, Alaska (XII-9) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southeastern Alaska 

Principal Contact: AK-1 

Objective: To assist the city of Cordova in evaluating the ground-water potential of the area by applying geophysical-logging techniques to identify 

aquifers. 

Title: Water Resources of the City and Borough of Juneau, Alaska (XII-10) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Juneau, Alaska 

Principal Contact: AK-1 

Objective: To assess the availability of ground water and surface water for 

future development. Man's impact on water quality and quantity will be 

evaluated. 

Product: 

Balding, G. 0., 1974, Hydrologic investigations of Salmon Creek Reservoir 

and drainage basin near Juneau, Alaska: U.S. Geol. Survey Admin. Rept. 

2. 

Title: Water Resources Investigation of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Area, 

Alaska (XII-11) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Kenai Peninsula, Alaska 
XII.-GENERAL HYDROLOGIC STUDIES 121 

Principal Contact: AK-1 

Objective: To evaluate the water-supply potential of the Kenai Peninsula 

Borough and man's impact on water resources. Data will be made available to assist water managers in operational decisions. 

Title: Water ReS()urces Investigations of the Valdez-Copper Center Area, 

South-Central Alaska (XII-12) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Alaska pipeline terminus 

Principal Contact: AK-1 

Objective: To make a hydrologic appraisal of water availability and quality 

as related to man's activities along the Alaska pipeline corridor from 

Valdez to Copper Center. 

Title: San Francisco Bay Region Environment and Resource Planning Study 

Coordination (XII-13) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: San Francisco Bay, California 

Principal Contact: WR-1 

Objective: To determine what earth-sciences data are needed by urban planners and to demonstrate the use of earth-sciences data and concepts in 

actual urban planning situations. 

Title: San Francisco Bay Region Environmental Studies (XII-14) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: San Francisco Bay ·Region 

P1·incipal Contact: CA-l 

Objective: To provide assistance to planners, in solving problems related to 

floods, water supply, water use, erosional processes, and storm design 

criteria by using a multidisciplinary approach to water problems. 

Prod~tcts: 

Carlson, P. R., and McCulloch, D. S., 1974, Aerial observations of suspended 

sediment plumes in San Francisco Bay and the adjacent Pacific Ocean: 

U.S. Geol. Survey, Jour. Research, v. 2, p. 519-526. 

Conomos, T. J, 1975, Movement of spilled oil as predicted by estuarine nontidal drift: Limnology and Oceanography, v. 20, p. 159-173. 

Conomos, T. J., and Peterson, D. H., 1974, Biological and chemical aspects of 

the San Francisco Bay turbidity maximum: Institut de Geologie du 

Bassin d' Aquitaine Mem., no. 7, p. 45-52. · 

---1974, Movement of spilled oil in San Francisco Bay as predicted by 

estuarine nontidal drift, in Marine Pollution Monitoring (Petroleum), 

Symposium proceedings, May 1974, Gaithersburg, Md.: National Bureau 

of Standards Pub. 409, p. 97-100. 

Peterson, D. H., Conomos, T. J., Broenkow, W. W., and Doherty, P. C., 1975, 

Location of the nontidal current null zone in northern San Francisco 

Bay: Estuarine and Coastal Marine Sci., v. 3, p. 1-11. 

Peterson, D. H., Conomos, T. J., Broenkow, W. W., and Scrivani, E. P., 1975, 

Processes controlling the dissolved silica distribution in San Francisco 

Bay, in Cronin, L. E., ed., Estuarine research-chemistry and biology: 

Academic Press, v. 1, p. 153-187. 
122 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

Title: Environmental and Resource Demonstration Study of the Connecticut 

Valley Urban Area (XII-15) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Connecticut Valley 

Principal Contact: CT-1 

Objective: To demonstrate how hydrologic data can be used in urban planning, what types of hydrologic data are most useful, and what the relation of such data is to current and planned zoning. 

Title: Water Resources of the Lower Connecticut River Basin (XII-16). 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Lower Connecticut River basin 

Principal Contact: CT-1 

Objective: To investigate the water resources of the lower Connecticut River 

basin. 

Product: 

Bingham, J. W., Paine, F. D., and Weiss, L. A., 1975, Hydrogeologic data for 

the lower Connecticut River basin, Connecticut: Connecticut Water Resources Bull. no. 30. 

Title: An Evaluation of the Water Resources in Duval and Nassau Counties, 

Florida (XII-17) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Northeast Florida 

Principal Contact: FL-1 

Objective: To evaluate the potential of all water resources in the area that 

can be used in the future and to monitor changes in the quality and 

quantity of ground water and surface water. 

Title: Effects of Urbanization on Hydrologic Parameters at Jacksonville, 

Florida (XII-18) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Northeast Florida 

Principal Contact: FL-1 

Objective: To evaluate available information on streamflow, ground water, 

and near-surface geology. The data will be used to show areas where 

little or no change in the hydrology should be made in order to protect 

water supplies. 

Title: Geohydrologic Study of a Landfill and Septic Tank Effluent Operation in a Coastal Limestone Environment, St. Petersburg, Pinellas 

County, Florida (XII-19) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: West-central Florida 

Principal Contact: FL-1 

Objective: To determine the effects on water resources of solid-waste disposal 

and septic-tank effluent in a coastal area with a high water table. 

Title: Hydrologic Base for Water Management, Dade County, Florida 

(XII-20) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Miami, Florida 
XII.-GENERAL HYDROLOGIC STUDIES 123 

Principal Contact: FL-1 

Objective: To summarize hydrologic conditions in Dade County as urbanization continues and to assist local agencies in specific water-management 

problems. 

Title: Hydrology of Western Collier County, Florida (XII-21) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southwest Florida 

Principal Contact: FL-1. 

Objective: To determine the locations which would most likely yield the greatest quantities of high-quality water to supply the ultimate municipal 

needs of western Collier County. 

Title: Miami Canal Infiltration (XII-22) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southeastern Florida 

Principal Contact: FL-1 

Objective: To evaluate the value of corrective measures to improve infiltration from the canal. The recharge capacity of the freshwater portion of 

the canal must be increased to prevent saltwater contamination of nearby 

well fields. 

Title: Water Resources of Broward County, Florida (XII-23) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Locat·ion: Southeast Florida 

P·rincipal Contact: FL-1 

Objective: To monitor the movement, storage, and quality of the groundwater and surface-water systems in this urbanizing area. The effects of 

such factors as sewage and pumping on water resources will be evaluated. 

Title: Water Resources of Lee County, Florida (XII-24) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southwest Florida 

Principal Contact: FL-1 

Objective: To define the nature and extent "of man's impact on water supplies 

in Lee County. Rapid urbanization has increased the magnitude and complexity of. problems related to water use, floods, and saltwater contamination of aquifers. 

Title: Water Resources in the Waccasassa River Basin, Florida (XII-25) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: West north-central Florida 

Principal Contact: FL-1 

Objective: To describe the basin's water resources using all available published 

and unpublished data. 

Title: Early Warning for and Evaluation of Effects on National Park Service 

Property of Proposed Dewatering at NIPSCO's Bailly #1 Construction 

Site (XII-26) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Northwest Indiana 

P·rincipal Contact: IN-1 

Objective: To assess whether dewatering operations of the site for a nuclear 

powerplant may adversely affect the water resources of a national park. 
124 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

Title: Status of Hydrologic Conditions-Baton Rouge Area (XII-27) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southeast Louisiana 

Principal Contact: LA-1 

Objective: To determine the adequacy of ground-water resources to meet expanding demands. Ground water is the principal water source for public 

supplies, whereas surface water is used by industry, especially aiong the 

Mississippi. 

Title: Status of Hydrologic Conditions--New Orleans Area (XII-28) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southern Louisiana 

Principal Contact: LA-1 

Objective: To monitor the water-level declines and saltwater encroachment of 

selected aquifers. 

Title: Water Resources of the Coastal Basins of Southeastern Massachusetts 

(XII-29) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southeast Massachusetts 

Principal Contact: MA-l 

Objective: To provide information on the quality and quantity of water that 

is available to meet the future water needs of towns, cities, and industry. 

Title: Geology and Hydrology for Environmental Planning in Michigan 

(XII:....30) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Michigan 

Principal Contact: MI-l 

Objective: To describe the geologic and hydrologic resources of selected counties so that land use alternatives with regard to water resources can be 

evaluated. 

Product: 

Fleck, W. B., 1974, Geology and hydrology for environmental planning in 

Washtenaw County, Michigan: Mich. Geol. Survey, Environmental Geology Series Rept. 1. 

Title: Water Resources of River Basins in Southeastern Michigan (XII-31) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southeast Michigan 

Principal Contact: MI-l 

Objective: Streamflow data and information on dams and lakes will be summarized in basin gazetteers and hydrologic atlases. The· impact of alternative waste-water management systems on the ground-water reservoir will 

be assessed. · 

Product: 

Twenter, F. R., Knutilla, R. L., and Cummings, T. R., 1974, Water resources 

of basins for minor streams draining into St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair, 

Detroit River and Lake Erie, Southeastern Michigan: U.S. Geol. Survey 

Hydro!. Inv. Atlas HA-546. 
XII.-GENERAL HYDROLOGIC STUDIES 125 

Title: Environmental Impact Assessment of Copper-Nickel Mining Development in Northeastern Minnesota (XII-32) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Northeast Minnesota 

P'rincipal Contact: MN-1 

Objective: To describe the hydrology of the area in order to obtain baseline 

information. An assessment of the copper-nickel mining operation on the 

area's water resources will then be made. 

Title: Hydrology of Watersheds in the Lake Superior Basin (XII-33) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Northeast Minnesota 

PrinciJJal Contact: MN-l 

Objective: To assess data on the availability of surface-water and groundwater, quality, and water usage for municipal, industrial, agricultural, 

and recreational development. 

Title: Water for Industrial Development in George, Hancock, Pearl River, 

and Stone Counties, Mississippi (XII-34) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southern Mississippi 

P'rincipal Contact: MS-1 

Objective: To determine the location, depth, and yield of aquifers, "dependable" flow of streams, the quality of water in streams and aquifers, and 

the potential for water supply from streams. 

Title: Selection and Appraisal of Storm-Water Recharge Basins for Supplemental Recharge of Highly Treated Sewage in Nassau County, Long 

Island (XII-35) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Long Island, New York 

Principal Contact: NY-1 

Objective: To assess the suitability of the county's network of recharge basins 

to use their unused capacity to increase :recharge rates. 

Title: Snow Hydrology and Soil Moisture, Lake Ontario (XII-36) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Lake Ontario basin, New York 

Principal Contact: NY -1 ' 

Objective: To determine the manner, rate, and infiltration to the soil during 

snowmelt periods, and the volume of water retained as soil moisture 

storage. 

Title: Survey of Hydrogeology and Water Quality of That Part of Southeast 

Nassau County to be Served by Wantagh Sewage Treatment Plant 

(XII-37) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Long Island, New York 

Principal Contact: NY -1 

Objective: To gather hydrologic, water quality, and precipitation data before 

completion of sewering. 
126 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

Title: Water Resources of the South Fork of Long Island, New York 

(XII-38) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Long Island, New York 

Principal Contact: NY -1 

Objective: To describe the occurrence and movement of freshwater on the 

South Fork by investigating the interaction of surface-water and groundwater systems. 

Title: Effect of Land Clearing and Drainage on Hydrology of the AlbemarlePamlico Area (XII-39) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Northeast North Carolina 

Principal Contact: NC-1 

Objective: To determine the extent to which the water balance and water quality of runoff are changed by land clearing and drainage activities. 

PToduct: 

Heath, R. C., 1975, Hydrology of the Albemarle-Pamlico region, North 

Carolina-a preliminary report on the impact of agricultural developments: U.S. Geol. Survey Water-Resources Inv. 9-75, 98 p. 

Title: Water Resources Potential of Northeast North Carolina Above Cape 

Lookout (XII-40) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Northeast North Carolina 

PTincipal Contact: NC-1 

Objective: To prepare a hydrologic appraisal of the water resources of the 

area with special emphasis on water problems such as floods and saltwater 

encroachment. 

Title: Water Resources Appraisal, Lincoln County Coast, Oregon (XII-41) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: West-central Oregon 

Principal Contact: OR-1 

Objective: To appraise the availability and quality of ground water and surface water with special reference to urbanization and water limitation. 

Title: Cooper River Rediversion (XII-42) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southeast South Carolina 

Principal Contact: SC-1 

Objective: To monitor and evaluate changes in siltation in Charleston Harbor 

stemming from the rediversion of Cooper River flow into the Santee 

River. 

P'roduct: 

Spiers, C. A., 1974, Preliminary report of the effect of the Cooper River 

Rediversion Canal on the ground-water regimen of the St. Stephens 

area: U.S. Geol. Survey Admin. Rept., 53 p. 

Title: Water Resources of the Tulalip Reservation (XII-43) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Northwestern Washington 
XIII.-EARTH AND OTHER NATURAL SCIENCES 127 

Principal Contact: W A-1 

Objective: To provide technical information concerning the water resources 

of the reservation in terms of quality and areal distribution which will 

assist the Tulalip Indians in water-supply management. 

Title: Departmental Planning and Great Lakes Hydrology (XII-44) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Madison, Wisconsin 

P1·incipal Contact: WI-1 

Objective: To guide Geological Survey field offices in project planning for 

the Great Lakes Basin. 

Title: Hydrology of the Menomonee River Basin (XII-45) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Southeast Wisconsin 

Principal Contact: WI-1 

Objective: To investigate ground-water occurrence and availability, waterpollution sources, sediment transport in streams, and the oxygen available in the river. 

Title: Hydrology of Wetlands in Wisconsin (XII-46) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Wisconsin 

PTincipal Contact: WI-1 

Objective: To study the effects of wetlands on runoff, sedimentation, and the 

chemical nature of streams and lakes and to define the relation of wetlands to ground water. 

XIII.-EARTH- AND OTHER NATURAL-SCIENCE APPLICATION 

STUDIES 

The purpose of these studies is to develop and evaluate data 

and information products;· techniques, and methodologies which 

can provide assistance to land use and natural resources planners 

and decisionmakers at all levels of government, and the private 

sector. Four discipline areas receive the greatest emphasis in 

these studies: urban geohydrology, natural science, geography, 

and cartography. The thrust of many of these studies is to provide insight into the environmental implications of alternative 

proposals for land and resources use. Study products are specifically designed to be understood and utilized by land use planners 

and decisionmakers who require natural resources information. 

Many of these individuals have had varying amounts of natural 

resources training, yet they are being increasingly involved in 

issues concerning the use of land and resources. They often require interpretive data products to facilitate their use of this 

information. 

The successful completion of these application-oriented studies 

requires input from the scientific, planning, and decisionmaking 
128 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

communities. The basic perspectives of producers of natural resources information and the community of users of such information may differ. The products of these studies have been and can 

be used in formulating land use ordinances, drafting natural 

hazards reduction legislation, developing facilities-siting policies 

and methodologies, in the identification and management of critical areas, and in the development of natural resources information systems. 

Urban geohydrologic studies are concerned with the severe demands imposed by urbanization and development on land and 

water resources in rapidly growing metropolitan areas. Land 

and water use allocations in these high-demand areas can be 

most effectively met with the application of technically . sound 

geohydrologic data to assist planning and decisionmaking groups. 

Geohydrologic topics of concern include water-supply sources and 

their physical, chemical, and biological composition, waste-water 

treatment issues, erosion and sediment transport, sources of construction materials, and the identification of geologic, soils, and 

hydrologic constraints to intensive land uses, among others. The 

objective of these studies is to explore alternative techniques of 

collecting, interpreting, and displaying earth-science data to a 

nontechnical user group. 

The principal products of the urban geohydrologic studies are 

single-factor basic-data maps which display the spatial distribution of various geologic and hydrologic characteristic and facts, 

including depth to bedrock, slope, thickness of unconsolidated deposits, landslide susceptibility, location of aquifers, productivity 

of aquifers, chemical quality of ground and surface waters, floodprone areas, potentially valuable metallic and nonmetallic minerals deposits, depth to ground water, seasonal wetlands, and many 

others In addition, interpretive reports, from which the singlefactor maps were derived, are published as well as others which 

evaluate the utility of the data maps to land use planners and decisionmakers. Scales of maps range from 1:500,000 for regional 

areas to 1:24,000 for local areas. The common regional-.scale map 

for the San Francisco Bay region study, for example, is 1:125,000. 

Many natural resources planning issues are multidisciplinary 

in nature, and require for their resolution information from 

many fields, including the natural sciences, life sciences, economics, sociology, law, and data processing. The field of comprehensive natural resources planning is relatively new, and 

many individual practitioners were trained in some other field or 

in a single discipline. Communications links between planning 
XIII.-EARTH AND OTHER NATURAL SCIENCES 129 

groups at all levels of government and in the private sector are 

often not highly developed. A common body of needs or issues 

of this group is emerging as the profession evolves. One of these 

needs pertains to the development, application, evaluation, and 

transfer of methodologies for such land planning purposes as 

the siting of powerplants, utility corridor location, siting the 

onshore facilities required by offshore energy development, State 

land resource inventory programs, and environmental impact assessment. Methodological studies have been completed or are 

currently underway which take a five-phase approach to these 

topics. This approach consists of: ( 1) a bibliographic searcli of 

available literature and methodologies; (2) methodology development, if required; ( 3) case-study application of methodology; 

( 4) evaluation and revision of phases· 2 and 3 ; and ( 5) transfer 

of knowledge developed in phases 1-4 through publications, workshops, and symposia. It is hoped that this process can make a contribution to planning techniques in both terms of review and 

dissemination of what has already been accomplished and also 

as an extension of the state of the art. 

Another need in the natural resources planning field is improved communication between the producers of data, who are 

often Federally oriented, and the data users, who often have a 

State or local orientation. Studies have been started to identify 

and evaluate the utility to the State and local planning community 

of selected data and information products. Work is underway 

to produce a national product-evaluation survey and to conduct 

a series of workshops, attended by Federal and State representatives, to discuss data-product deficiencies, and to identify data 

and information gaps and procedures to alleviate them. 

A prerequisite for competent decisions concerning natural resource use is access to e~isting information. Much natural resources information within the Department of the Interior is 

not readily accessible. Much data of great potential utility have 

not been cataloged or. documented in such a way as to facilitate 

their wide dissemination. Projects are currently underway to develop and disseminate secondary information products to serve 

as directories to Department of the Interior data holdings, information systems, and data bases, and ongoing and completed 

research efforts. 

The Geological Survey is _currently engaged in a nationwide 

land use and land cover mapping and data compilation effort. 

The coastal zone has been given priority in production scheduling 

of land use maps (Fig. 14). The maps overlay the 1:250,000-
130 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

EXPLANATION 

• Completed 

D In production 

D Source material available 

Fairbanks, Alaska sheet-In production 

FIGURE 14.-Land use/land cover map production. 

scale standard topographic series, which is being used as the mapping base. Land use and land cover is categorized according to the 

classification presented in U.S. Geological Survey Professional 

Paper 964. All urban and built-up features, feed lots, water 

sur,faces, and strip mines, quarries, and gravel pits are being 

mapped using 10-acre ( 4-hectare) minimum mapping units, while 

other land features are being mapped in 40-acre (10-hectare) 
XIII.-EARTH AND OTHER NATURAL SCIENCES 131 

APPROXIMATE SCALE 

0 100 200 300 MILES 

0 100 200 300 KILOMETRES 

minimum mapping units. The land use and land cover information is available in map format after compilation and on digital 

tapes after digitizing in order to facilitate handling of land use 

data in conjunction with other data sets for the study of problems related to land use. Computer programs for geographic 

information systems are being developed to support land use 

data processing, as well as techniques for the handling and overlay of other information, such as census data, with the digitized 

land use data sets. Summary tabulations of land use are produced 
132 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

for political units, census county subdivisions, hydrologic units 

and areas of Federal land ownership. 

Demonstration mapping of land use at scales larger than 

1:250,000 and more detailed levels of classification are being 

performed to test various aspects of data compilation. Research 

in the development of automatic techniques for land use mapping 

from remotely sensed data will probably improve the efficiency 

of land use and land cover mapping and the detection of land 

use change. 

RELATED ACTIVITIES 

Title: Critical Environmental Areas Guidebook (XIII-1) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Locati:on: Nationwide 

Principal Contact: NR-5 

Objective: To provide guidance to the States about alternative definitions, 

methods, and techniques that are available for developing and managing 

a critical environmental area program. Issues and options for developipg 

a critical areas program are being investigated, .along with several casestudy evaluations of State approaches. 

Title: Land Use Information Systems Guidebook (XIII-2) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

LocaN:on: Nationwide 

Principal Contact: NR-5 

Objective: To provide guidance to individual States which will assist them 

in determining their land and natural resource information and data 

handling .requirements. This is intended to enable States to consider 

feasible alternatives for information acquisition and data handling, to 

enhance their capability to support land use and natural resource 

planning responsibilities and policy decisions. Several case-study assessments of State experiences are being undertaken. 

Title: Regional Workshops on Critical Environmental Areas and State Land 

Inventory Guidebooks (XIII-3) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Nationwide, with regional meetings in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, 

Denver, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. 

Principal Contact: NR-5 

Objective: To have State planners review critically two methodological guidebooks, one on critical areas and the other on State and land inventory 

systems, at a series of six regional workshops. The workshops are designed for technology transfer to insure the information in the guidebooks reaches the audience for whom they were designed. 

Title: Land Use Mapping and Data Compilation at 1 :125,000-Scale (XIII-4) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Nationwide Gulf, Atlantic, and Pacific coastal area will be· given 

priority in FY 76. 

Principal Contact: NR-2 
XIII.-EARTH AND OTHER NATURAL SCIENCES 133 

Objective: To inventory current land use and land cover, and to provide an 

update on this material every 5-10 years. Aerial photographs, satellite 

images, and maps are used to compile land use maps which are digitized, 

along with other data, such as boundaries of States, counties, census 

subdivisions, Federal ownership areas, and drainage basins. 

P'roduct: 

Anderson, J. R., Hardy, E. E., Roach, J. T., and Witmer, R. E., 1976, A 

land use classification system for use with remote sensor data: U.S. 

Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 964, 28 p. 

Title: Methodologies for Environmental Analysis (XIII-5) 

Status: Completed FY 75 

Location: Nationwide 

Principal Contact: NR-5 

Objective: To produce a set of documents which presents current techniques 

of environmental planning and analysis. Three areas were of concern: 

Environmental assessment, utility corridor selection, and powerplant 

siting. Each volume presents an overview of the basic techniques in use, 

a review of relevant regulatory and legislative requirements, and an 

annotated bibliography of pertinent documents. 

Products: 

Bennington, G., Lubore, S., and Pfeffer, J., 1974, Methodologies for environmental analysis, V. I, Environmental assessment: McLean, Va., The 

MITRE Corp., 160 p. Prepared for U.S. Geological Survey under contract No. 14-08-0001-14715. 

Graf-Webster, E., Lubore, S., and Pfeffer, J., 1974, Methodologies for environmental analysis, V. I, Utility corridor selection: McLean, Va., The 

MITRE Corp., 84 p. PI'Iepared for U.S. Geological Survey under contract No. 14-08-0001-14715. 

Graf-Webster, E., Haus, S., Pfeffer, J., and Watson, J., 1974 Methodologies 

for env.ironmental analysis, V. III, Power plant siting: McLean, Va., The 

MITRE Corp., 449 p. Prepared for U.S. Geological Survey under contract No. 14-08-0001-14715. 

Title: Utility Corridor Study (XIII-6) 

Status: Completed FY 75 

Location: Nationwide 

Principal Contact: NR-5 

Objective: To investigate factors arul methods of ass1essing the impacts of 

utility corridor proposals. Siting issues are considered for corridors and 

rights-of-way for electric power transmission lines and pipelines through 

which energy commodities of all types (gases, liquids, and slurry) flow. 

Case-study ·evaluations are made of utility corridor route location methodologies and their applications. 

Product: 

Holberger, R., Lubore, S., Morrow, L., Watson, J., and Williams, F., 1975, 

Resource and land inv·estigations ( RALI) program: Considerations in 

evaluating utility line proposals: McLean, Va., The MITRE Corp., 347 

p. Prepared for the Bureau of Land Management with U.S. Geological 

Survey support under contract No. 08550-CT5-3. 
134 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

Title: Council of State Governments Task Force (Vlll-7) 

Status: Completed FY 75 

Location: Nationwide 

Principal Contact: NR-5 

Objective: To study State land use programs and policies by the Task Force 

on Natural Resource and Land Use Information and Technology, appointed by the Council of State Governments. 

Products: 

Council of State Governments, 1974, Land use management, proceedings of 

the national symposium on resource and land information: Lexington, 

Ky., Council of State Governments, 127 p. 

Task Force on Natural Resourc,es and Land Use Information and Technology, 1975, Land, State alternatives for planning and management: 

Lexington, Ky., Council of State Governments, 100 p. 

---, 1975, Land use policy and program analysis, numbe·r 1, Intergovernmental relations in state land use planning: Lexington, Ky., 

Council of State Governments, 40 p. 

---, 1975, Land us,e policy and program analysis, number 2, Data needs 

and resources for state land use planning: Lexington, Ky., Council of 

State Governments, 35 p. 

---, 1975, Land use policy and program analysis, number 3~ Organization, 

management, and financing of State land use programs: Lexington, Ky., 

Council of State Governments, 84 p. 

---, 1975, Land use policy and, program analysis, number 4, State-of-theart for designation of areas of critical environmental concern : Lexington, Ky., Council of State Governments, 52 p. 

---, 1975, Land use policy and program analysis, number 5, Issues and 

recommendations-State critical are,as programs: Lexington, Ky., Council of State Governments, 45 p. 

---, 1975, Land use policy and program analysis, number 6, Manpower 

needs for State land use planning, and public involvement in State land 

use planning: Lexington, Ky., Council of State Governments, 30 p. 

Title: Product Evaluation Project (XIII-8) 

Status: Compl,eted FY 76 

Location: Nationwide 

Principal Contact: NR-5 

Objective: To design and initiate a feedback process between selected State 

land and natural resource data users and the Geological Surv,ey. The 

Council of State Governments, as the contractor, canvassed State data 

users to determine: ( 1) the UJsability to these persons of a number 

of selected Federally prepared .data products; (2) the current use of 

natural resource data by these users; and (3) the best means for continuing a product evaluation feedback mechanism that would facilitate 

communication between State users and Federal p.roducers of data. 

Product: 

Council of State Governments, 1976, Natural resource data needs recommendations: Lexington, Ky., Council of State Governments, 25 p. 

Title: Coordinating State and Federal Data Programs: Product Evaluation 

Workshops (XIII-9) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 
XIII.-EARTH AND OTHER NATURAL SCIENCES 135 

Location: Nationwide 

Principal Contact: NR-5 

Objective: The results of the Product Evaluation Project (XIII-8) performed by the Council of State Governments will be used as the basis 

for a series of workshops involving State land use and resource planners 

and Federal data producers. The workshop will provide the forum for 

the exchange of information, ideas, and issues faced by data producers 

(largely at the Federal level) and data users (largely at the State and 

regional levels) relating to the use of these data in solving land and 

resource probems. It is anticipated ·that out of these workshops a plan 

for· systematic communications with State agencies and the evaluation 

of new products, systems, and sources, will emerge. 

Title: Department of the Interior Information Services Directory (XIII-10) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Nationwide 

Principal Contact: NR-5 

Objective: To provide, for Federal, State, and local land use and resource 

planners, a guide to the information services of the Department of th~ 

Interior. Much information currently exists in the Department but a 

guide is presently lacking which will assist the generalist who needs 

a broad spectrum of data on water, geology, mines, fish and wildlife, remote sensing, public lands, reclamation, hydroelectric resources, Tribal 

activities, and other areas of Departmental activity. 

Title: Mined Area Reclamation and Related Land Use Planning (XIII-11) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Nationwide 

Principal Contact: NR-5 

Objective: To pr~pare a report which summarizes, for land and resource 

planners, the processes, methodologies, and alternative choices that arise 

as land is converted to surface mining and is later reconverted into an 

asset or is left as a liability. The report will be based on a literature 

review and study of representative case studies. The methodology will 

assist planners in the integration of land use plans with mining and 

.reclamation plans. 

Product: 

Imhoff, E. A., Friz, T. 0., and LaFevers, J. R., 1976, A guide to State programs for the reclamation of surface mined areas: U.S. Geol. Survey 

Circ. 731, 33 p. 

Title: National Environmental Statistical Report (XIII-12) 

Status: Completed FY 75 

Location: Nationwide 

Principal Contact: NR-5 

Objective: To provide a single source of generalized environmental data. 

About 200 tabl·es hav-e been compiled which provide data on characteristics such as air and water quality, pesticides, land use, energy, food, 

and transportation, among others. The data are organized principally 

by State, but some information is presented by watershed or standard 

metropolitan statistical area. 
136 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

Title: Development and Application of a Methodology for Siting Onshore 

Facilities Associated with Outer Continental Shelf Energy Development (XIII-13) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut 

Principal Contact: NR-5 

Objective: To develop a methodology to assist the States in planning for the 

onshore facilities anticipated from Oute.r Continental Shelf energy dev.elopment. It is done under contract with the New England River Basins 

Commission. The methodology will include, as major components, the 

development of ( 1) energy resource scenarios; ( 2) estimates of numbers 

and kinds of required onshore· energy facilities; (3) a siting procedure 

for the generation of alternative siting policies and strategies; and ( 4) 

the data and information requirements for sound siting decisions. The 

methodology will then be applied in the New England States and the 

experience of that application will be used for its refinement and transfer to other States experiencing OCS energy development. 

Title: Census Cities Project (XIII-14) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: California, Massachusetts, Washington, and the District of 

Columbia 

Principal Contact: NR-2 

Objective: To test the utility of satellite data and aerial photographs in 

mapping land use and land use changes around the cities of San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. 

Product: 

Wray, J. R., 1974, Folio of land us.e in the Washington, D.C., urban area: 

U.S. Geol. Survey Map Folio I-858, scale 1:100,000, 3 p. 

Title: Central Atlantic Regional Ecological Test Site (XIII-15) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Vi.rginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. 

Principal Contact: NR-2 

Objective: To test the utility of NASA satellite images and aerial photographs in mapping land use, as well as, geologic and hydrologic information. Both curr.ent land use and changes in land use are being mapped. 

Title: Baltimore-Washington Urban Area Study (XIII-16) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Baltimore-Washington, D.C., area 

Principal Contact: NR-3 

Objective: To provide earth-science information needed by land use planners 

and· decisionmakers in the National Capital area so that thei.r choices 

among alternative land use possibilities consider the natural resources 

and hazards of the area. 

Products: 

Cleaves, E. T., Crowley, W. P., and Kuff, K. R., 1974, Towson quadrangle 

geologic and environmental atlas: Maryland Geological Survey, five 

maps, scale 1:24,000. 

Froelich, A. J., 1975, Surface materials map of Montgomery County, Maryland: U.S. Geol. Surve·y Misc. Inv. Map 1-920-A, scale 1:62,500. 
XIII.-EARTH AND OTHER NATURAL SCIENCES 137 

, 1975, Thickness of overburden map of Montgomery County, Maryland: U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. Inv. Map I-920-B, scale 1:62,500. 

---, 1975, Map showing contours on base of saprolite, Montgomery 

County, Maryland: U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. Inv. Map I-920-C, scale 

1:62,500. 

---, 1975, Bedrock map of Montgomery County, Maryland: U.S. Geol. 

Survey Misc. Inv. Map I-920-D, scale 1:62,500. 

---, 1975, Mineral resources map of Montgomery County, Maryland: 

U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. Inv. Map I-920-E, scale 1:62,500. 

Glaser, J. D., 1973, Bowie quadrangle, geologic and environmental atlas: 

Maryland Geological Survey, four maps with text, scale 1:24,000. 

Hack, J. T., and Froelich, A. J., 1974, Geology and soils in the Washington, 

D.C., area (abs.) : Geol. Soc. America Abs. with Prog.rams, v. 5, no. 1, 

p. 32-33. 

Withington, C. F., and Froelich, A. J., 1974, Preliminary geologic map of the 

Beltsville quadrangle, Prince Georges, Montgomery, and Howard Counties, Maryland: U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. Field Studies Map MF-582. 

Title: San Francisco Bay Region Study (XIII-17) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: San Francisco Bay area 

Principal Contact: CA-4 

Objective: To demonstrate the application of earth-science information to 

regional planning needs. The San Francisco Bay region, selected for 

study jointly by the Geological Survey and the Department of Housing 

and Urban Development as a pilot study area, has special relevance 

because of its rapid population growth and its broad spectrum of natural 

hazards including landslides, earthquakes, and floods. 

Products: 

Blake, M. C., Jr., and others, 1974, Prelimil'!ary geologic map of Marin and 

San Francisco Counties, and parts of Alameda, Contra Costa, and Sonoma 

Counties, Calif.: U.S. G.eol. Survey Misc. Field Studies Map MF-574, 

scale 1 : 62,500. 

Borcherdt, R. D., ed., 1975, Studies for seismic zonation of the San Francisco Bay region: U.S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 941-A. 

Frizzell, V. A., Jr., 1974, Reconnaissance photointerpretation map of landslides in parts of the Hopland, Kelseyville, and Lower Lake 15-minute 

quadrangles, Sonoma County, Calif.: U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. Field 

Studies Map MF-694, scale 1:62,500. 

Frizzell, V. A., Jr., Sims, J. D., Nilsen, T. H., and Bartow, J. A., 1974, 

Preliminary photointerpretation map of landslide and other surficial 

deposits of the Mare Island and Caroline Strait 15-minute quadrangles, 

Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, Solano, and Sonoma Counties, Calif.: U.S. 

Geoi. Survey Misc. Field Studies Map MF-595, scale 1:62,500. 

Goss, Joseph, 1974, Availability of data on surface water quantity and quality 

in the San Francisco Bay region, Calif., with a summary of beneficial 

uses and implications for land use: U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. Field 

Studies Map MF-626, scale 1:250,000. 

Hall, N. T., Sarna-Wojcizki, A. M., and Dupre, W. R., 1974 [1975], Faults 

and their potential hazards in Santa Cruz County, Calif.: U.S. Geol. 

Survey Misc. Field Studies Map MF-626, scale 1 :62.,500. 
138 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

Lajoie, K. R., Helley, E. J., Nichols, D. R., and Burke·, D. B., 1974, Geologic 

map of unconsolidated and moderately consolidated deposits of San 

Mateo County, Calif.: U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. Field Studies Map 

MF-575, scale 1:62,500. 

Nichols, D. R., and Buchanan-Banks, J. M., 1974, Seismic hazards and land 

use planning: U.S. Geol. Survey Circ. 690, 33 p. 

Radbruch, D. H., and Crowther, K. C., 1974, Map showing areas· of estimated 

relative amounts of landslides in California: U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. 

Inv. Map I-7 4 7, scale 1:500,000. 

Radbruch-Hall, D. H., 1974 [1975], Map showing recently active breaks along 

the Hayward fault zone and the southern part of the Calaveras fault 

zone, California: U.S. Geol. Surve·y Misc. Inv. Map I-813, scale 1 :24,0QO. 

Sorg, D. H., and McLaughlin, R. J., 1975, Geologic map of the SargentBerrocal fault zone between Los Gatos and Los Altos Hills, Santa Clara 

County, Calif.: U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. Field Studies Map MF-643, 

scale 1:24,000. 

Title: Connecticut Valley Urban Area Study (XIII-18) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Connecticut Valley 

Principal Contact: CT-2 

Objective: To demonstrate, for areas of diverse topographic, geologic, and 

hydrologic conditions, the importance, necessity, and usefulness of incorporating adequate knowledge of earth resources into regional planning 

for solving urban growth problems related to the· development and 

management of land and water resources. To present fundamental scientific knowledge of e·a.rth processes and . resources in new formats that 

will be easily understandable and readily useable by decisionmakers 

with nontechnical backgrounds. The Connecticut Valley area was selected for study because ( 1) it represents a glaciated area (one of the 

complex geologic terrains address·ed by the urban area studies) within 

the densely populated "northeast corridor," (2) it faces major problems 

and decisions with respect to planning for urban growth and use of 

water and land for such conflicting purposes as solid-waste disposal, 

liquid-waste disposal, industrial development, sources of construction 

materials, and water supply, and ( 3) the curr.ent availability of up-todate data collected by the State of Connecticut and by the Connecticut 

Cooperative Geologic P.rogram (III-7) would allow rapid progress in 

providing planners with information needed to resolve problems. 

Products: 

Bingham, J. W., 1975, Contour map of the bedrock surface, Middletown quadrangle, Connecticut: U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. Field Studies Map MF639-B, scale 1:24,000. 

Brown, C. E., 1974, Contour map of the bedrock surface, Branford quadrangle, Connecticut: U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. Field Studies Map MF560-C, scale 1:24,000. 

---, 1974, Resources of coarse aggregate, Branford quadrangle, Connecticut: U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. Field Studies Map MF-560-B, scale 

1:24,000. 

---, 1974, Unconsolidated materials, Branford quadrangle, Connecticut: 

U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. Field Studies Map MF-560-A, scale 1:24,000. 
XIII.-EARTH AND OTHER NATURAL SCIENCES 139 

Goldsmith, R., 1974, Unconsolidated materials, Montville quadrangle, Connecticut: U.S. GeoL Survey Misc. Field Studies Map MF-580-A, scale 

1:24,000. 

---, 1974, Unconsolidated materials, Niantic quadrangle, Connecticut: 

U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. Field Studies Map MF-593-A, scale 1:24,000. 

Haeni, F. P., 1974, Contour map of the bedrock surface, Clinton quadrangle, 

Connecticut: U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. Field Studies Map MF-553-A, 

scale 1:24,000. 

---, 1974, Contour map of the bedrock surface, Guilford quadrangle, 

Connecticut: U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. Field Studies Map MF-583-A, 

scale 1 :24,000. 

----, 1974, Contour map of the bedrock surface, Mount Carmel quadrangle, 

Connecticut: U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. Field Studies Map MF-540-A, 

scale 1:24,000. 

---, 1974, Contour map of the bedrock surface, Wallingford quadrangle, 

Connecticut: U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. Field Studies Map MF-554-A, 

scale 1:24,000. 

---, 1975, Contour map of the bedrock surface, Meriden quadrangle, Connecticut: U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. Field Studies Map MF-661-A, scale 

1:24,000. 

Haeni, F. P., and Sanders, J. E., 1974, Contour map of the bedrock surface, 

New Haven-Woodmont quadrangles, Connecticut: U.S. Geol. Survey 

Misc. Field Studies Map MF-557-A, scale 1 :24;000. 

Handman, E. H., and Ginsberg, M. H., 1975, Depth to bedrock, Mt. Carmel 

quadrangle, Connecticut: U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. Field Studies Map 

MF-540-B, scale 1:24,000. 

Mazzaferro, D. L., 1975, Contour map of the bedrock surface., Southington 

quadrangle, Connecticut: U.S. Geol. Survey· Misc. Field Studies Map 

MF-660-A, scale 1:24,000. 

Meade, D. B., and Melvin, R. L., 1974, Contour map of the bedrock surface, 

Old Lyme quadrangle, Connecticut: U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. Field 

Studies Map MF-558-A, scale 1 :24,0QO. 

Naylor, R. G., 1974, Contour map of the bedrock surface, Essex quadrangle, 

Connecticut: U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. Field Studies Map MF-587-C, 

scale 1:24,000. 

---, 1974, Resources of coarse aggregate, Essex quadrangle, Connecticut: 

U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. Field Studies Map MF-587-B, scale 1:24,000. 

---, 1974, Unconsolidated materials, Essex quadrangle, Connecticut: U.S. 

Geol. Survey Misc. Field Studies Map MF-587-A, scale 1:24,000. 

O'Leary, D. W., 1974, Resources of coarse aggregate, Moodus quadrangle, 

Connecticut: U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. Field Studies Map MF-510-B, 

scale 1 :24,000. 

---, 1974, Unconsolidated materials, Moodus quadrangle, Connecticut: 

U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. Field Studies Map MF-510-A, scale 1:24,000, 

2 sheets. 

Thomas, M. P., 1974, Drainage areas, Essex quadrangle, Connecticut: U.S. 

Geol. Survey Misc. Field Studies Map MF-587-D, scale 1:214,000. 

---., 1974, Drainage areas, Moodus quadrangle, Connecticut: U.S. Geol. 

Survey Misc. Field Studies Map MF-510-C, scal.e 1:24,000. 

---, 1975, Drainage areas, New Haven-Woodmont quadrangle, Connecticut: U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. Field Studies Map MF-557-B, scale 1: 

24,000. 
140 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

---, 1975, Drainage areas, Marlborough quadrangle, Connecticut: U.S. 

Geol. Survey Misc. Field Studies Map MF-645-B, scale 1:24,000. 

---, 1975, Drainage areas, Niantic quadrangle, Connecticut: U.S. Geol. 

Survey Misc. Field Studies Map MF-593-B, scale 1:24,000. 

---, 1975, Drainage areas, Old Lyme quadrangle, Connecticut: U.S. Geol. 

Survey Misc. Field Studies Map MF-558-C, scale 1:24,000. 

Thomas, M. P., and Meade, D. B., 1974, Drainage areas, Deep River quadrangle, Connecticut: U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. Field Studies Map MF542-C, scale 1 :24,000. 

Thomas, M. P., and Palmer, J. E., 1974, Drainage areas, Clinton quadrangle, 

Connecticut: U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. Field Studies Map MF-553-B, 

scale 1:24,000. 

---, 1974, Drainage areas, Middle Haddam quadrangle, Connecticut: U.S. 

Geol. Survey Misc. Field Studies Map MF-630-A, scale 1:24,000. 

---, 1974, Drainage areas, Middle Haddam quadrangle, Connecticut: U.S. 

Geol. Survey Misc. Field Studies Map MF-630-A, scale 1:24,000. 

---, 1975, Drainage areas, Branford quadrangle, Connecticut: U.S. Geol. 

Survey Misc. Field Studies Map MF-560-D, scale 1:24,000. 

---, 1975, D.rainage areas, Guilford quadrangle, Connecticut: U.S. Geol. 

Survey Misc. Field Studies Map MF-583-B, scale 1:24,000. 

---, 1975, Drainage areas, Haddam quadrangle, Connecticut: U.S. Geol. 

Survey Misc. Fi.eld Studies Map MF-638-A, scale 1 :24,000. 

---, 1975, Drainage areas, Middletown quadrangle, Connecticut: U.S. 

Geol. Survey Misc. Field Studies Map MF-639-A, scale 1:24,000. 

Title: Puget Sound Urban Area Study (XIII-19) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

. Location: Puget Sound area, Washington 

Principal Contact: W A-2 

Objective: To provide earth-science and other natural-science information to 

aid .rational land use decisions. The Puget Sound area is one of substantial population growth, sometimeS' into areas that pose natural 

hazards to man's use of the land for siting of structures and vario.us 

works. In addition, r.ecent and expected increases in oil exploration- in 

Alaska and the Gulf of Alaska have affected and will continue to affect 

land-based activities in the Puget Sound region. 

Products: 

Bortleson, G. C., and Foxworthy, B. L., 197 4 [1975], Relative susceptibility 

of lakes to water-quality degradation in the southern Hood Canal are·a, 

Washington: U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. Inv. Ser. I-853-B, scale 1:62,500. 

Miller, R. D., 1974, Map showing rrelative compressibility of earth materials 

in part of west-central King County, Washington: U.S. Geol. Survey 

Misc. Inv. Map I-852-C. 

Rice, William, 1975, Map showing nonmetallic mineral resources in part 

of west-central King County, Washington: U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. Inv. 

Map I-852-D. 

Richardson, Donald, 1974, Streamflow in the southern Hood Canal area, 

Washington, as related to land use planning: U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. 

Inv. Ser. Map I-853-C. 

Tubbs, D. W., 1974, Landslides and associated damage during early 1972 in 

part of west-central King County, Washington: U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. 

Geol. Inv. Map 1-852-B. 
XIV.-EROS PROGRAM 

Title: South Florida Environment Study (XIII-20) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: South Florida 

Principal Contact: NR-5 

141 

Objective: To synthesize the results· of 51 previously completed environmental reports and to serve as background for the development of land 

management alternatives for the region. This study .involved many 

bureaus of the Department of the Interior and dealt with the relationship between the natural environment of south Florida and man's activities. 

Title: History of the Oil and Gas Industry on the Louisiana Coast (XIII-21) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Louisiana coast 

Principal Contact: NR-2 

Objective: To study the development and impact of shore facilities such 

as service bases and associated activities which serve the offshore oil 

industry. Maps, photographs, and economic and labor statistics from 

the past 30 years will be reviewed. 

Title: Fairfax County, Virginia, Earth-Sciences Applications Study (XIII22) 

Status: Ongoing in FY 76 

Location: Fairfax County, Virginia 

Principal Contact: NR-4 

Objective: To provide land use planners and decisionmakers geohydrologic 

information to aid rational land use decisions. As part of the Nation's 

capital area, Fairfax County is experiencing a continuing rapid increase 

in population that is outstripping facilities for providing a water supply 

and waste-water .treatment. Geologic materials in many areas of the 

county possess characteristics that make them poorly suitable as building foundations, a.s sources of ground. water, or as sites for liquid waste 

disposal. When presented in carefully chosen formats, geohydrologic information provides land use decisionm.akers a documented rationale for 

land use decisions. 

XIV.-EARTH RESOURCES OBSERVATION SYSTEMS (EROS) 

PROGRAM 

The Earth Resources Observation Systems (EROS) Program, 

a Department of the Interior program administered by the Geological Survey, in cooperation with the National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration, the Department of Commerce, and other 

~gencies, is developing, demonstrating, and assisting in the application of remote sensing data acquired from aircraft and spacecraft to aid in the resolution of national and regional issues, 

among them mineral resource exploration, inventories of renewable natural resources, and environmental monitoring. 

Three major areas of activity within EROS are: (1) remotesensing applications demonstration and research, (2) user as-
142 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

sistance and training, and (3) data reproduction and dissemination. Over the past several years research has found many useful 

applications for Landsat (formerly ERTS) and other remotesensing imagery. Examples of these applications include Statebase photomosiac maps, monitoring of surging glaciers, systematic flood surveys and other disaster surveys, analysis. of vegetation and surface-water features in coastal and interior wetlands, 

and mapping of volcanoes and faults. Research is continuing in 

the development of methodologies for automatic cartographic 

handling of the digital Landsat data on magnetic tape. These 

procedures enable investigators to extract automatically land 

cover classes and relate these classes to their coordinate points 

on the Earth's surface. 

The second major focus of the EROS Program is on the training of resource managers, both within the Department of the 

Interior and from other agencies, in the use of remotely ·sensed 

imagery and data. Training is provided in methods of remotesensing data analysis and feature extraction of various resource 

topics. 

The EROS Data Center is the principal outlet for sale of Landsat and other satellite imagery, NASA aerial photography, and 

USGS aerial photography, both to the public and to other agencies of the Federal Government. Archives. through June 1975 

include about 600,000 items of satellite imagery, 1,800,000 items 

of NASA aircraft imagery and 3,600,000 items of aerial photography. Order .forms for procuring imagery may be obtained by 

writing: 

EROS Data Center 

U.S. Geological Survey 

Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57198 

RELATED ACTIVITIES 

Title: ERTS-:-1, A New Window on Our Planet (XIV-1) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 . 

Location: Nationwide 

· Principal Contact: NR-6 

Objective: "ERTS-1, .a new Window on Our Planet" is a publication which 

organiz·es the results of Geological Survey, other agency, and university research utilizing ERTS imagery. A number of the studies cited 

deal with coastal resources. 

Product: 

Williams, R. S., Jr., and Carter, W. D., eds., 1976, ERTS-1, a new window 

on our planet: U.S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 929, 362 p. [In press.] 
XIV.-EROS PROGRAM 143 

Title: Optical and Computer Processing and Interpretation Techniques for 

Landsat Hydrology and Environmental Applications (XIV-2) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Lake Ontario, New York; southern Alabama; northwest Florida; 

Santa Barbara Channel, California: Atlantic Ocean area; and Delaware 

P'rincipal Contact: NR-6 

Objective: To demonstrate new hydrologic and environmental applications 

of Landsat data employing specialized optical reprocessing techniques 

and analog computer analysis. 

Products: 

Bukata, R. P., Harris, G. P., and Bruton, J. E., 1974, Detection of suspen_ded 

solids and chlorophyll A using digital multispectral ERTS-1 data: 

Proc., Canadian Symposium on Remote Sensing, 2d, Guelph, Ontario 

1974, p. 551-564. 

Buka:ta, R. P., Bruton, J. E., Jerome, J. H., Bobba, A. G., .and Harris, G. P., 

1975, Application of Landsat I digital data to a study of coastal hydrography: Canadian Symposium on Remote Sensing, 3d, Edmonton, 

Alberta 1975, Proc. p. 331-337. 

Title: Detection of Oil in Coastal Waters (XIV -3) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Offshore Delaware and Santa Barbara Channel, California 

P-rincipal Contact: NR-6 

Objective: To determine whether oil spills and natural oil seeps in coastal 

areas could be detected on Landsat data. Oil was detected floating on 

the waters of the Atlantic east of Delaware, the Mediterranean Sea, and 

the Gulf of Suez. In the latter study, employing digital analysis at full 

electronic r:esolution of the analog computer, the drilling platforms in 

the area of floating oil were detected. 

Title: Coastal and Estuarine Flooding Resulting from Tropical Storms 

(XIV-4) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Offshore Florida and Alabama 

P-rincipal Contact: NR-6 

Objective: To determine whether areas of coastal and estuarine flooding resulting from tropical storms could be delineated on Landsat imagery. 

Inspection of preliminary Landsat data collected over parts of the Gulf 

of Mexico coastline in Florida and Alabama indicates that a signature 

of the flooded area can be detected more than 2 weeks after the waters 

have receded. Dev>elopment of an operational capability to map coastal 

and estuarine flooding will be of value in assessment of damages, in delineation of disaster areas for relief, for reconstruction and insurance purposes, and in the engineering design of structures in the affected areas. 

Title: Applications of Remote Sensing to the International Field Year for 

the Great Lakes (IFYGL), International Hydrological Decade (XIV-5) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Looation: Lake Ontario Basin, New York 

P-rincipal Contact: NR-6 

Objective: To determine the utility of remotely sensed data toward meeting 

the objectives of assessing the water resources, water quality, and 
144 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

water dynamics of both the land and water portions of the Lake Ontario 

Basin of Canada and the United States. Of direct application to coastal 

zone problems was the demonstrated capability to determine the source, 

movement, and probable fate of natural and manmade pollutants in the 

waters of Lake Ontario. The studies employed photographic and thermal data collected from high-flying NASA and Canadian aircraft as 

well as multispectral scanner data from Landsat. 

XV.-REGULATORY RESPONSIBILITIES 

The U.S. Geological Survey is assigned the responsibility for 

regulating exploration and production of minerals on the Outer 

Continental Shelf ( OCS). The Geological Survey's lease-management mission is concerned with personnel and equipment safety, 

conservation of resources, and prevention of pollution. Supervision is carried out through a set of rules and regulations that 

are implemented through field inspections and by review of applications and proposed plans. 

The basic law governing these offshore activities is the Outer 

Continental Shelf Lands Act, Public Law 83-212, enacted in 

1953. It establishes Federal jurisdiction over the submerged 

lands of the OCS and authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to 

l.ease such lands for the exploration and development of mineral 

deposits. Regulations promulgated under the act for leasing OCS 

lands for oil, gas, and sulfur are contained in Title 43, Part 

3300 of the Code of Fed~ral Regulations and are administered by 

the Bureau of Land Management. Regulations governing drilling 

and producing operations are found in Titles 30 and 43 of the 

Code. The operating regulations are applicable to all OCS areas. 

They are supplemented by OCS Orders which deal specifically 

with proble·ms unique to a certain area. 

The orders and regulations deal with safety and pollution control operations of oil and gas exploration and development, including surface and subsurface well controls, production facility 

controls, and pipeline controls. Regulations exist covering oil 

royalty payments and leasing regulations, among others. 

Before drilling can be initiated, the lessee must submit an 

Application for a Permit to Drill, which details the plans for 

exploration and development and for handling emergencies. This 

plan is reviewed by the Geological Survey for compliance with 

orders and regulations. 

If exploration is successful and commercially exploitable 

amounts of hydrocarbons have been located, the lessee must make 

application to install development drilling rigs and production 

platforms. These applications are also reviewed to insure that 
XVI.-NEPA RELATED ACTIVITIES 145 

the design of the structures and plans for operation are in compliance with safety standards. 

Once operation has begun the Geological Survey has the responsibility to inspect, monitor and document the activities and 

operations of the petroleum industry on the OCS. The inspectiqn 

procedure seeks to verify that safety controls are in place and 

are capable of operation. Incidents of noncompliance require that 

prescribed enforcement actions be taken, which can result in 

warnings to operators or possible shutdowns of operations. Inspections are also performed to detect and investigate pollution 

incidents, such as oil spills and accidents on platforms. 

RELATED ACTIVITIES 

Title: Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Orders (XV-1) 

Status: Current FY 76 

Location: Federal OCS 

Principal Contact: DC-1, LA-2, and CA-2 

Objective: Mine.ral exploration and production on the OCS are conducted 

under the Code of Federal Regulations supplemented by OCS Orders 

and Notices issued to lessees and operators. The rules and regulations 

are frequently reviewed and revised by the public, State and local government, and industry. These rules and regulations reflect changing technology, environmental and safety positions, and standards. These regulations define the responsibility and authority of the Geological Survey to 

regulate oper~tions, to exercise control over drilling and production, 

and to require adequate safety equipment. 

P'roduct: 

U.S. Dept. of the Interior, 1975, Regulations pertaining to mineral ·leasing, 

operations and pipelines on the OC$ as contained in Title 30 and Title 

43 of the Code of Federal Regulations and the OCS Lands Act ( 67 Stat. 

462): Washington, D.C., 1975, OCS Orders 1 through 12 governing 

oil, gas, and sulfur leases in the OCS Gulf of Mexico area. 

XVI.-NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT (NEPA) 

RELATED ACTIVITIES . 

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 · 

(Public Law 91-190) is the most comprehensive legislative statement of the Nation's commitment to protect the environment. The 

act requires that a Federal agency contemplating an action that 

could significantly affect the quality of t~e human environment must prepare a detailed statement of the environmental 

effects of the action. This statement must comprise a description 

of the proposed action, a description of the existing environment, a discussion of the impacts the proposal will have on the 

environment, the measures that are available to mitigate or lessen the impacts, the impacts that cannot be avoided, the re-
146 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

sources that will be committed irreversibly and irretrievably by 

the proposal, a description of available alternatives to the proposal and their environmental impacts, and a discussion of the 

relationship between the short-term uses of the environment and 

the maintenance and enhancement of long-term productivity. The 

act further requires that statements be reviewed by other Federal agencies having pertinent jurisdiction or expertise. In final 

form, the statement plays an essential role in an agency's decisionmaking process. 

The Environmental Impact Analysis Program provides an integrated Geological Survey response to the requirements of the 

National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The program (1) 

provides direction, coordination, and expertise in the preparation 

of environmental impact statements for which the Geological Survey has lead or joint responsibility; (2) provides technical information and expertise in support of the preparation of statements for which the Geological Survey has contributing responsibility; (~) provides required or requested technical analysis, 

review, and comment on statements and related documents prepared by other agencies; ( 4) prepares manuals, guidelines, and 

training courses on the preparation and review of statements; 

and ( 4) stimulates, promotes, and conducts environmental research directly related to the work and anticipated needs of the 

·program. 

Currently, the Geological Survey has lead agency responsibility for two environmental impact statements in coastal zone 

areas. In addition, staff members are contributing expertise to 

several statements dealing with OCS development in which the 

Bureau of Land Management has lead responsibility. The review 

unit of the program annually comments on numerous coastal zone 

related environmental impact statements. 

RELATED ACTIVITIES 

Title: Oil and Gas Development in the Santa Barbara Channel Outer Continental Shelf off California (XVI-1) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: California 

Principal Contact: NR-8 

Objective: To produce an environmental impact statement to examine impacts of further oil and gas development in the Santa Barbara Channel. 

Product: 

U.S. Geol. Survey, 1975, Draft environmental statement on oil and gas development in the Santa Barba.ra Channel Outer Continental Shelf off 

California: DES 75-35, 3 v. 
INDEXES 147 

Title: Proposed Regulations Pursuan.t to Geological and Geophysical Explorations in the Outer Continental Shelf (XVI-2) 

Status: Ongoing FY 76 

Location: Federal Outer Continental Shelf 

Principal Contact: NR-8 

Objective: To produce an environmental impact statement to examine impacts of proposed regulations governing Outer Continental Shelf geological and geophysical exploration. 

Product: 

U.S. Geol. Survey, 1975, Draft environmental impact statement on proposed regulations pursuant to geological and geophysical explorations 

in the Outer Continental Shelf: DES 75-30, 180 p. 

INDEXES 

PRINCIPAL CONTACT CODE INDEX 

Principal contact 

Harry Hulsing, District Chief 

Water R·esources Division 

U.S. Geological Survey 

218 "E" Street 

Anchorage, Alaska 99501 

Lee R. Peterson, District Chief 

Water Resource's Division 

U.S. Geological Survey 

855 Oak Grove Avenue 

Menlo Park, Califo.rnia 94025 

Code reference 

AK-1 

CA-l 

Conservation Manager, Western Region ---------------------- CA-2 

U.S. Geological Survey 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, California 94025 

Regional Geologist, Western Region ----.-------------------- CA-3 

U.S. Geological Survey 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, California 94025 

Project Director ----- _ ___ __ ___ _ _ _ ___ ____ ___ _ _ __ __ __ ____ ___ CA-4 

San Francisco Bay Region Study 

U.S. Geological Survey 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, California 94025 

Regional Geologist, Central Region 

U.S. Geological Survey 

Building 25, Denver Federal Center 

Denver, Colorado 80225 

CO-l 

Frederick H. Ruggles, Jr., District Chief ------------------- CT-1 

Water Resources Division 

U.S. Geological Survey 

Room 235, Post Office Building 

135 High Street, PO Box 715 

Hartford, Connecticut 06101 
148 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

PRINCIPAL CONTACT CODE INDEX-Continued 

Principal contact Code reference 

Chief, Connecticut Valley Urban 

U.S. Geological Survey 

Area Study ---------------- CT-2 

PO Box 470, Main Street 

Middletown, Connecticut 06457 

Conservation Manager, Eastern Region --------------------- DC-1 

U.S. Geological Survey 

1725 K Street, NW, Suite 43 

Washington, D.C. 20244 

Clyde S. Conover, District Chief 

Water Resources Division 

U.S. Geological Survey 

325 John Knox Road 

Suite F-240 

Tallahassee, Florida 32303 

FL-1 

Leslie B. Laird, Regional Hydrologist ------------------------ GA-l 

Water Resources Division, Southeastern Region 

U.S. Geological Survey 

1459 Peachtree Street, NE 

Suite ZOO 

Atlanta, Georgia 30309 

Lawrence A. Martins, District Chief ------------------------ IL-l 

Water Resources Division 

U.S. Geological Survey 

605 N. Neil Street, PO Box 1026 

Champaign, Illinois 61820 

James L. Cook, District Chief 

Water Resources Division 

U.S. Geological Survey 

1819 North Meridian Street 

Indianapolis, Indiana 46202 

IN-1 

Albert N. Cameron, District Chief -------------------------- LA-1 

Water Resources Division 

U.S. Geological Survey 

PO Box 66495 

6554 Florida Blvd. 

Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70806 

Conservation Manager, Gulf of Mexico Operations 

U.S. Geological Survey 

PO Box 7944 

Metairie, Louisiana 70011 

LA-2 

John A. Baker, District Chief ------------------------------ MA-l 

Water Resources Division 

U.S. Geological Survey 

150 Causeway Street, Suite 1001 

Boston, Massachusetts 02114 
INDEXES 149 

PRINCIPAL CONTACT CODE INDEX-Continued 

Principal contact Code reference 

Walter F. White, District Chief ---------------------------- MD-1 

Water Resources Division 

U.S. Geological Survey 

8809 Satyr Hill Road 

Parkville, Maryland 21234 

Ray T. Cummings, District Chief --------------------------- MI-l 

Water Resources Division 

U.S. Geological Survey 

2400 Scienc.e Parkway 

Okemos, Michigan 48864 

Charles R. Collier, District Chief --------------------------- MN-1 

Water Resources Division 

U.S. Geological Survey 

1033 Post Office Building 

St. Paul, Minnesota 55101 

Lamar E. Car.roon, District Chief --------------------------

Water Resources Division 

U.S. Geological Survey 

430 Bounds Street 

Jackson, Mississippi 3.9206 

MS-1 

Ralph C. Heath, District Chief ----------------------------- NC-1 

Water Resources Division 

U.S. Geological Survey 

PO Box 2857, Room 440, Century Sta. 

Post Office Building 

Raleigh, North Carolina 27602 

Harold Meisler, District Chief ------------------------------ NJ-1 

Wat.er Resources Division 

U.S. Geological Survey 

PO Box 1288, Room 420, Federal Bldg. 

402 East State Street 

Trenton, New Jersey 08607 

Joseph T. Callahan, Regional Hydrologist ------------------

Water Resources Division, Northeastern R·egion 

U.S. Geological Survey 

433 National Center 

Reston, Virginia 22092 

James R. Anderson, Chief, Geography Program --------------

U.S. Geological Survey 

710 National Center 

Reston, Virginia 22092 

Chief, Baltimore-Washington Urban Area Study -------------

U.S. Geological Survey 

720 National Center 

Reston, Virginia 22092 

NR-1 

NR-2 

NR-3 
150 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

PRINCIPAL CONTACT CODE INDEX-Continued 

Principal contact Code reference 

Chief, Fairfax County Earth Sciences Applications Study ---- NR-4 

U .S. Geological Survey 

926 National Center 

Reston, Virginia 22092 

J. Ronald Jones, Chief, Resource and Land ------------------ NR-5 

Investigations Program 

U.S. Geological Survey 

750 National Center 

Reston, Virginia 22092 

John M. DeNoyer, Chief, Earth Resources ------------------ NR-6 

Observation Systems Prog.ram 

U.S. Geological Survey 

1925 Newton Square, East 

Reston, Virginia 22090 

Regional Geologist, Eastern Region ------------------------- NR-7 

U.S. Geological Survey 

953 National Center 

Reston, Virginia 22092 

Herbert G. Stewart --------------------------------------- NR-8 

Special Assistant for Environmental Analysis 

Office of the Director 

U.S. Geological Survey 

108 National Center 

Reston, Virginia 22092 

Robert J. Dingman, District Chief -------------------------- NY-1 

Water Resources Division 

U.S. Geological Survey 

PO Box 1350 

343 Post Office & Court House 

Albany, New York 12201 

Stanley F. Kapustka, District Chief ------------------------ OR-1 

Water Resources Division 

U.S. Geological Survey 

PO Box 3202 

830 NE Holladay Street 

Portland, Oregon 97208 

Norman H. Beamer, District Chief ------------------------- PA-l 

Water Resources Division 

U.S. Geological Survey 

PO Box 1107, 4th Floor, Federal Bldg. 

228 Walnut Street 

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17108 

John S. Stallings, District Chief 

Water Resources Division 

U.S. GEological Survey 

2001 Assembly Street, Suite 200 

Columbia, South Carolina 29201 

SC-1 
INDEXES 

PRINCIPAL CONTACT CODE INDEX-Continued 

Principal contact 

Chief, Topographic Division 

U.S. Geological Survey 

516 National Center 

Reston, Virginia 22092 

151 

Code reference 

TD-1 

Chief, Eastern Mapping Center ----------------------------- TD-2 

U.S. Geological Survey 

567 National Center 

Reston, Virginia 22092 

Chief, Mid-Continent Map·ping Center ------------------------- TD-3 

U.S. Geological Survey 

USGS Building 

1400 Independence Road 

Rolla, Missouri 65401 

Chief, Rocky Mountain Mapping Center ---------------------- TD-4 

U.S. Geological Survey 

Topographic Division (5-10) 

Box 250·46, Denver Federal Center 

Denver, Colorado 80225 

Chief, Western Mapping Center ---------------------------- TD-5 

U.S. Geological Survey 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, California 94025 

Dale I. Yost, District Chief 

Water Resources Division 

U.S. Geological Survey 

630 Federal Building 

30'0 East 8th Street 

Austin, Texas 78701 

TX-1 

William E. Forrest, District Chief -------------------------- VA-l 

Water Resources Division 

U.S. Geological Survey 

2(}0 West Grace Street 

Room 304 

Richmond, Virginia 2322.0 

Chief, Puget Sound Urban Area Study ---------------------- WA-2 

U.S. Geological Survey 

Room 2110 

1305 Tacoma A venue South 

Tacoma, Washington 98402 

C.L.R. Holt, Jr., District Chief 

Water Resources Division 

U.S. Geological Survey 

18,15 University Avenue 

Room 200 

Madison, Wisconsin 5-37(}0 

WI-1 
152 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

PRINCIPAL CONTACT CODE INDEX-Continued 

Principal contact 

Regional Hydrologist, Western Region 

Water Resources Division 

U.S. Geological Survey 

345 Middlefield Road 

Menlo Park, California 94025 

Edward A. Moulder, Asst. Chief Hydrologist, 

Research and Technical Coordination 

Water Resources Division 

U.S. Geological Survey 

414 National Center 

Reston, Virginia 2209'2 

STATE INDEX 

Code reference 

WR-1 

WRD-1 

All projects occurring within a State's boundaries or in offshore 

waters are indexed. Index numbers refer to project descriptions in the text. In addition, figures 2 through 14 show the status 

of topographic and land use mapping in the coastal States and 

Territories. 

Alaska: I-3, 5; II-1-3, 19-31; III-10-14; IV -1-2; V -1; VI-1-3; 

VII-1-4, 7-10; VIII-8-9, 13-16; IX-1; X-1-2; XI-1; 

XII-1-5, 8-12; XIII-1-12; XIV -1; XV -1; XVI-2. 

Alabama: I-1, 5; II-1-2, 14; III-5, 8; VI-1-4; VII-1-3; 

VIII-1-3, 5-6; IX-1, 3; X-1-2; XI-1; XII-1-4; XIII-1-12; 

XIV-1-2, 4; XV-1; XVI-2. 

California: I-4-5; II-1, 16, 32-37; III-10-11, 15-16; IV-3-15; 

V-2-7; VI-1-3, 5-8; VII-1-4; VIII-8-9, 11-12, 17-19; IX-1, 

4-6; X-1-2; XI-1-4; XII-1-3, 13-14; XIII-1-12, 14, 17; 

XIV-1-3; XV-1; XVI-1-2. 

Connecticut: I-1, 5; II-1-7; III-1-2, 17; VI-1-4; VII-1-3; 

VIII-1-2; IX-1; X-1-2, 4; XI-1; XII-1-4, 6, 15-16; XIII1-13, 18; XIV-1-2; XV-1; XVI-2. 

Delaware: I-1, 5; II-1-6, 8-9; III-1-4; VI-1-4; VII-1-3; VIII1; IX-1-2; X-1-3; XI-1; XII-1-4; XIII-1-12, 15; XIV-1-3; 

XV-1; XVI-2. 

Florida: I-1, 5; II-1-6, 11-12, 14, 38; III-1-2, 4, 6, 8-9; VI-1-5; 

VII-1-3, 5-6, 11; VIII-1, 3-6, 20-24; IX-1-3, 7-33; X-1-2, 

5; XI-1, 5-9; XII-1-4, 17-25; XIII-1-12, 20; XIV -1-2, 4; 

XV-1; XVI-2. 
INDEXES 153 

Georgia, 1-1, 5-6; 11-1-6; 11-12; 111-1-2, 4, 6, 8-9; IV-17; 

VI-1-4; Vll-1-3, 6; Vlll-1, 3; IX-1; X-1-2; Xl-1; XII1-4; XIII-1-12; XIV -1-2; XV -1; XVI-2. 

Hawaii: 1-1-5; II-1; IV-16; VI-1-3; VII-1-2; IX-1; X-1-2; 

XI-1; Xll-1-4; XIII-1-12; XIV -1. 

Illinois: 1-2, 5; 11-2; III-18; VI-1-3; VII-1-2; IX-1; X-1-2, 6; 

XI-1; XII-1-4; XIII-1-12; XIV -1. 

Indiana: I-1, 5; Il-l; VI-1-3; VII-1-2; IX-1; X-1-2; XI-1, 10; 

XII-1-4, 7, 26; XIII-1-12; XIV-1. 

Louisiana: I-2, 5; II-1-2, 12-15, 39, 40; III-8; · VI-1-4; VII-1-3; 

VIII-1, 3-7; IX-1-3; X-1-2; Xl-1; Xll-1-4, 27-28; XIII1-12, 21 ; XIV -1 ; XV -1 ; XVI-2. 

Maine: 1-1, 5; II-1-7; III-1-2, 10, 19-20; VI-1-4; Vll-1-3, 5; 

VIII-1-2; IX-1, 34; X-1-2; Xl-1; XII-1-4; XIII-1-13; 

XIV-1-2; XV--1; XVI-2. 

Maryland: I-1, 5; II-1-6, 8-9; 111-1-4, 6, 7-9, 21; V1-1-4; 

VII-1-3, 5; VIII-1, 25; IX-1, 35; X-1-2; XI-1; Xll-1-4; 

XIII-1-12, 15-16; XIV--1-2; XV-1; XV1-2. 

Massachusetts: 1-1, 5; 11-1-7; III-1-4, 22; V-8-9; VI-1-4; 

VII-1-4; VIII-1, 26; IX-1, 36; X-1-2; XI-1; Xll-1-4, 29; 

XIII-1-14; XIV -1-2; XV -1; XVI-2. 

Michigan :I-1-2, 5; II-1; III-23; VI-1-3, 5; VII-1-2; IX-1, 37-38; 

X-1-2, 7; XI-1; XII-1-4, 7, 30-31; XIII-1-12; XIV-1. 

Minnesota: I-2, 5; Il-l; VI-1-3; VII-1-2; IX-1; X-1-2; Xl-1; 

XII-1-4, 32-33; XIII-1-12; XIV-1. 

Mississippi: I-2, 5; II-1-2, 14; III-5, 8; VI-1-4; VII-1-3; VIIII, 3~6; IX-1-3; X-1-2, 8; Xl-1, 11; XII-1-4, 34; XIII-1-12; 

XIV -1; XV -1; XVI-2. 

New Hampshire: 1-1, 5; 11-1-7; III-1-2; Vl-1-4; VII-1-3; 

VIII-1-2; IX-1; X-1-2; XI-1; Xll-1-4; XIII-1-13; XIV1-2; XV-1; XVI-2. 

New Jersey: I-1, 5; II-1-6, 8-9; III-1-5, 7; VI-1-5; VII-1-4; 

VIII-1, 27; IX-1-2, 39-42; X:...l-3, 9; Xl-1; XII-1-4; XIII1-12, 15; XIV-1-2; XV-1; XVI-2. 

New York: 1-1, 5; II-1-6; III-1-4; VI-1-5; VII-1-3, 5; VIII1-2, 28; IX-1, 43-50; X-1-3, 10-14; XI-1, 12; XII-1-6, 

35-38; XIII-1-12; XIV -1-2, 5; XV -1; XVI-2. 

North Carolina: I-1, 5; II-1-6, 11, 41; 111-1-4, 6-9; VI-1-4; 

VII-1-3, 5-6; VIII-I, 29-30; 1X-1; X-1-2; XI-1; XII-1-4, 

39-40; Xll1-1-12; XIV -1-2; XV -1; XVI-2. 
154 PROGRAM AC'fiVITIES IN COASTAL AREAS 1974-76 

Ohio: 1-1, 5; 11-1; VI-1-3; Vll-1-2; IX-1; X-1-2; Xl-1; XII1-4, '7; XIII-1-12; XIV -1. 

Oregon: 1-4-5; 11-1, 16-18; 111-10-12; Vl-1-3; VII-1-3, 12; 

VIII-8-12; IX-1, 51; X-1-2; XI-1-2, 13; XII-1-4, 41; 

Xlll-1-12; XIV -1; XV -1; XVI-2. 

Pennsylvania: I-1, 5; Il-l; Vl-1-3; VII-1-2; IX-1-2, 52; 

X-1-3, 12; XI-1; XII-1-4; XIII-1-:-12; XIV-1. 

Puerto Rico: 1-1, 5; 11-1-10; 111-24; VI-1-3; VII-1-2; VIII-31. 

Rhode Island: 1-1, 5; 11-1-7; 111-1-2; VI-1-4; Vll-1-3; VIII-1; 

IX-1; X-1-2; XI-1; XII-1-4; XIII-1-13; XIV -1-2; 

XV-1; XVI-3. 

South Carolina: 1-1, 5; 11-1-6, 11; III-1-2, 4-6, 8-9; IV-17-19; 

VI-1-4; Vll-1-3, 6; Vlll-1, 3, 32; IX-1, 53; X-1-2, 15; 

XI-1; XII-1-4, 42; X:III-1-12; XIV -1-2; XV -1; XVI-2. 

Texas: 1-3, 5; II-1-2, 13-~5, 42-43; VI-1-5; VII-1-4; VIII-1, 

3-7, 33-34; IX-1-3, 54-61; X-1-2, 16; XI-1; XII-1-4; 

XIII-1-12; XIV-1; XV-1; XVI-2. 

Virginia: I-1, 5; 11-1-6, 11; III-1-4, 6-9; VI-1-4; VII-1-3, 13; 

VIII-1; IX-1, 62-64; X-1-2; Xl-1; XII-1-4; XIII-1-12, 

15, 22; XIV -1-2; XV -1; XVI-2. 

Virgin Islands: I-1, 5; Il-l, 10; VI-1-3; VII-1-3. 

Washington: 1-4-5; 11-1, 16-18; III-10-12, 25; VI-1-3, 5; VII1-3; VIII-8-12, 35; IX-1, 65-67; X-1-2; XI-1; XII-1-4, 43; 

XIII-1-12, 19; XIV-1; XV-1; XVI-2. 

Wisconsin: I-2, 5; 11-1; VI-1-3; VII-1-2; IX-1, 68-70; X-1-2, 

17; XI-1, 14-16; Xll-1-4, 44-46; XIII-1-12; XIV -1. 

REFERENCES CITED 

U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 19·75, Coastal zone management program administrative grants: 

notice of final rulemaking. Federal Register, v. 40, no. 6, part 1, Washington, D.C., p. 1683-1695. 

Plritchard, D. W., 1967, What is an estuary?, in Lauff, G. H., ed., Estuaries: 

Washington, D.C., Am. Assoc. Adv. Sci., pub. 83, p. 3-5. 

Senate Committee on Commerce, 1975a, Coast zone management act amendments of 1975: Report of the Senate Committee on Commerce on S586: 

Washington, D.C., U.S. Government Printing Office, 70 P: 

-- 1975b, Energy facility siting in coastal areas: Washington, D.C., U.S. 

Government Printing Office, 126 p.