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United

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Geological

Survey 

Yearbook,

Fiscal

Year

1980

The two cover photographs, taken from approximately the same spot about 7 

miles north-northeast of Mount St. Helens, graphically show the enormous change 

that the eruption caused. The photograph on the front cover depicts the crater 

created by the catastrophic eruption of May 18, 1980.

The eruption removed about 1,300 feet of the mountain top; the highest point is 

now 8,364 feet, compared to the former summit elevation of 9,677 feet. Spirit Lake 

(middle ground), formerly beautifully clear and bordered by lush forest, now is 

largely covered by a floating stinking mat of decaying downed trees and other 

debris.

The photograph on the back cover, taken in April 1980, shows minor steam venting. Spirit Lake (middle ground) has a light coating of ash from intermittent minor 

eruptions in March and April. (Photographs by John Marshall).

The cover maps show the Mount St. Helens area before and after the May 18 

eruption. The pre- and posteruption maps were extracted from the Mount St. Helens 

and vicinity Washington-Oregon maps published at the 1:100,000 scale (1 centimeter = 1 kilometer). The terrain is shown by contours at a 50-meter interval.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

CECIL D. ANDRUS, Secretary

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

H. William Menard, Director

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents 

U.S. Government Printing Office 

Washington, DC 20402
Table of Contents

iv Acknowledgments

v Preface

1 The Year in Review

6 Perspectives

6 The Eruption of Mount St. Helens Entering the Era of Real-Time

Geology 

16 Ground-Water Contamination No "Quick Fix" in Sight

20

26

42

60

76

90

102

108

112

Missions; Organization, and Budget

National Mapping, Geography, and Surveys

Geologic and Mineral Resource Surveys and Mapping

Water Resources Investigations

Conservation of Lands and Minerals

Office of Earth Sciences Applications

National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska

Program Support Divisions

Organizational and Statistical Data

112 Chart of Organization

114 U.S. Geological Survey Offices

120 Cooperators and Other Financial Contributors

130 Budgetary and Statistical Data

134 Index

Table of Contents I iii
Acknowledgments

We express our appreciation to the following persons who contributed 

to and assisted in the preparation of the Yearbook for fiscal year 1980: 

John Adams, Star Addess, Archie Ansell, Ralph J. Archuleta, Bryan G. 

Bailey, Joanne Barnes, Paul B. Barton, Jr., Helen M. Beikman, Wenonah 

E. Berquist, Philip M. Bethke, Paula Bowman, Skip Braden, Hank Brown, 

Conni Bryan, Kevin Burke, James Caldwell, Russell H. Campbell, 

Paul R. Carlson, Bob Carter, Paul Clarke, Kate Cook, Alan K. Cooper, 

Theodore R. Countee, James Cullom, Larry R. Cullumber, Gary C. Curtin, 

Bonnie D'Agostino, Donald Dant, Spencer Dean, Boots DiCarlantonio, 

J.ewel Dickson, Dona Dolan, Allison R. Duncan, William R. Eggleston, 

Bruce Fiedler, Susie Fleisig, Gina Fletcher, Ralph Goerner, Paula L Gori, 

Bob Graves, Kathryn Gunderson, E. R. Hampton, George F. Hargrove, Jr., 

Harold Harris, Dennis Hood, Carolyn Hulett, Manny James, John E. Jones, 

F. A. Kilpatrick, Michael E. King, Tom Kugel, Dorothy Lathrop, Donald T. 

Lauer, Eugene LeGrande, M. W. Lenox, Scotty Livingston, Stephen G. 

Lynch, Rich McDonald, Thomas A. McDonald, Richard A. McKenney, 

Francis A. McKeown, Michael Maccini, Philip A. Marcus, Michael S. 

Marlow, M. F. Meier, G. Meyer, James Mitchell, D. W. Moody, John 

Moore, Donald T. Morgan, Joseph O. Morgan, Marilyn Murrow, A. N. Ott, 

Martin B. Peed, Sue Philips, Wanda Jo Preece, Marty Quigley, Wayne 

Rohde, Christopher Rojahn, Kathleen B. Rutledge, Janet Sachs, Richard 

Sanchez, Lynn Schlaff, William A. Schmidt, Robert Schneider, Anita G. 

Sellers, Betty Shallcross, Robert V. Sharp, Clement Shearer, Ocie V. 

Smedley, Ethan T. Smith, Geoff Steele, Thomas A. Steven, Janice Swartz, 

Harry Tibbs, Jr., Robert Tilling, Gene A. Thorley, Will Ulman, Jesse R. Upperco, Madison Wade, Alta Walker, John Watson, Pamela H. Wetlaufer, 

Dan Wiggins, Russ Wiley, Richard S. Williams, Jr., Richard Winner, Herb 

Wolford, Priscilla Woll, Irene A. Wood, and Val Zadnick. 

Photographs on pages 5, 21, 43, and 61 by Dawn Reed. 

Photographs on page 97 by Alta Walker. 

The photographs on pages 7 and 11 were taken by J. 

Friedman. The photographs on pages 8, 9,12, and 15 were 

taken by C. Dan Miller.

iv I Yearbook 1980
Preface

The fiscal year 1980 Yearbook summarizes the activities of the U.S. Geological Survey in response to its 

scientific and regulatory missions and its responsibility 

for exploration of the National Petroleum Reserve in 

Alaska.

The main sections of this Yearbook are:

 The Year in Review a brief overview of the significant events of the Geological Survey during fiscal 

year 1980.

 Perspectives essays focusing on specific events

(rather than scientific topics) and programs involving 

multi-Division participation.

 Missions, Organization, and Budget a description of 

the Geological Survey's major duties and assignments 

and of the organizational structure that supports its 

missions.

 Division Chapters a description of the significant accomplishments (rather than a comprehensive program 

by program discussion) of each of the eight operating 

Divisions and Offices.

 Appendices provide supplementary information regarding key personnel, cooperators, and selected summary budgetary tables and an index. 

Professional Paper 1175, Geological Survey Research

1980, the latest in a series of annual reviews of technical

results of the Geological Survey's research programs,

supplements the Yearbook.

Year in Review

It is not very often that a single event is so overwhelming that it changes public perceptions of natural 

hazards for generations. Perhaps for the U.S. Geological 

Survey, the explosive volcanic activity of Mount St. Helens 

began such a change. After 101 years of careful science of 

the Earth's past and meticulous observations and 

assessments of the present, predictive earth science was in 

full public view. However vague and faint the glimpse of 

the future made possible by earth science, it was enough. 

Warnings were issued, thousands of lives were saved, and 

the age of real-time geology began.

The Survey's basic mission has not changed, but the 

power of our analytical tools has increased by several 

orders of magnitude. The Survey's efforts to understand 

Earth processes and hydrologic principles continued with 

the collection, during fiscal year 1980, of valuable new 

data on the geologic origin and framework, seismicity, and 

mineral and energy resources of the United States. The 

Survey is also responsible for classification of the leasable 

minerals on Federal lands and the regulation of mineral 

exploration and development activities on Federal and Indian lands. As the principal earth science fact-gathering 

agency, the Survey provides information for sound decisionmaking by government and private industry. Industry 

uses the Survey's information in exploring for energy and 

minerals and improving their efforts to make development 

of energy and minerals compatible with environmental 

protection standards. Government uses the Survey's information in conducting leasing operations on public lands, 

in regulating the safe design and siting of nuclear plants, 

and in establishing guidelines for determining and locating 

areas that are subject to geologic hazards such as landslides, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions.

The Yearbook reports a broad range of the Survey's accomplishments during the past fiscal year and provides an 

overview of future directions. Many of the topics covered 

will continue to be important natural resource and earth 

science issues of the 1980's.

Energy

The Geological Survey provides the earth science information needed to support the Department of the Interior's 

energy leasing programs both on the Outer Continental 

Shelf and onshore. Providing the geologic-hydrologic and 

mining information to support the Federal Coal Management Program will make it possible for the Department of 

the Interior to carry out the Secretary's June 1979 decision 

to resume leasing Federal coal. Regulation of the private 

sector's development of the public's vast energy resources 

is also a Survey responsibility. During fiscal year 1980, $4.1 

billion in bonuses and $2.7 billion in royalty payments 

were collected from all Federal oil and gas, coal, and 

other leases and deposited in the U.S. Treasury.

Aerial view of eruption of Mount St. Helens, May 18, 1980.

The Geological Survey conducted a variety of activities 

in support of the Department's Outer Continental Shelf 

(OCS) oil and gas leasing program. These activities included tract selection decisions for eight future sales and 

resource evaluations on 357 tracts involving four sales. In 

the course of these activities, over 66,000 line miles of 

high resolution and common depth point geophysical data 

were acquired and analyzed. Under Geological Survey 

supervision, an industry-financed deep stratigraphic test 

well was drilled in the Norton Basin of Alaska to provide 

potential private sector bidders and the government with 

down-hole data prior to OCS lease sale No. 57. The 

resource-evaluation processes were modified to include 

the consideration of net profit share bidding in sale A-62, 

Gulf of Mexico, according to the provisions of the Outer 

Continental Shelf Lands Act Amendments of 1978. Pursuant to those Amendments, a process was established to 

provide geological and geophysical data to the nearby 

coastal states.

The Survey's OCS regulatory workload also increased in 

the form of exploratory and production activities on 2,300 

OCS leases in effect during fiscal year 1980, an increase of 

6 percent over fiscal year 1979. These leases produced 9 

percent of the Nation's oil and 23 percent of the gas in 

that year. A total of 1,040 new exploratory and development wells were started, and 8,856 inspections were conducted on both a scheduled basis and "random" unannounced basis. Royalties of $1.98 billion were collected 

from OCS production and were deposited in the U.S. 

Treasury.

Coal

Fiscal year 1980 saw a significant increase in the 

Survey's program efforts to better understand the Nation's 

coal resources. The Coal Folio Program was accelerated 

and now includes 27 folio studies in progress. These 

studies currently are focused on the identification and 

delineation of coal beds in the Western United States and 

on beds of low-sulphur coal in the central and southern 

Appalachian Basin. Investigations of coal stratigraphy and 

structure permit the projection of coal quality and quantity point-source information throughout a coal basin and 

enable a quantitative assessment of a basin's coal 

resources. Data generated by these investigations are incorporated in the National Coal Resources Data System. 

The Coal Folio Program is designed to provide geologic 

and resource information about Federal coal lands subject 

to the Federal Coal Leasing Amendments Act of 1975. The 

key elements of the program, in part accomplished 

cooperatively with State Geological Surveys, are core drilling on coal lands which are distant from coal bed outcrops, subsurface mapping of coal beds using well logs 

and geophysical exploration techniques, and geochemical 

analyses of core samples. These studies, compiled in 

loose-leaf folios, will assist (1) leasing and regulatory programs of the Department of the Interior, including the 

Bureau of Land Management, (2) national energy policy 

planning, (3) siting and technology development for coal 

energy-conservation programs of the Department of 

Energy, and (4) coal extraction technology development by 

the Bureau of Mines.

The Year in Review I 1
Another portion of the Coal Folio Program includes an 

evaluation of the geologic constraints to coal development on Federal lands such as the identification of 

geologic hazards. In addition, the Program aims to 

delineate alluvial valley floors in coal producing regions 

and to analyze chemical trace elements that might be 

released into the environment by mining. Analyses were 

prepared on 85 high-priority areas located in the Western 

States that are being considered by the Department for 

coal leasing. The data will be used to support land-use and 

socioeconomic planning efforts by other Federal, State, 

and local agencies and the private sector in addressing 

production targets and environmental consequences of 

mining.

The first in a series of 35 reports that provide information on existing hydrologic conditions and identify sources 

of hydrologic information about coal mine areas of the 

Eastern United States was prepared. The report, entitled 

Hydrologic Assessment: Eastern Coal Province Area 23, 

Alabama, is designed for use by mine owners, mine 

operators, and consulting engineers in evaluating the 

potential effects of surface coal mining operations on the 

hydrology of the area. Also prepared were three parts of a 

special five-volume index that will provide information on 

the availability of data on water resources in the several 

coal provinces of the United States. This index will help 

resource developers in obtaining data for evaluating the 

effects of coal mining on water resources and in developing plans for meeting water needs. The information also 

will assist agencies at all levels by identifying sources of 

data on quality and quantity of water supplies.

The Survey conducted a study to permit Department 

decisions on one land exchange on which Emergency 

Criteria Sales were held. The Survey also participated in 

the preparation of three environmental impact statements 

related to future coal lease sales. Development and coal 

mining was underway on 103 leases on Federal lands during fiscal year 1980. In addition, Geological Survey inspectors made 790 inspections of the 575 coal leases, and $28 

million in royalties were collected on the 79 million tons 

(10 percent of U.S. production) of coal mined during the 

year. Investigations culminated in the publication of U.S. 

Geological Survey Professional Paper 1164 which 

documented results of environmental studies conducted in 

the Sheridan, Wyo., area. These studies suggest that 

modern surface mining of coal causes less damage than 

underground mining. The latter triggers subsidence depressions, pits, and underground fires, all of which pose 

serious hazards to the environment and to man's activities 

in the mined-out areas.

Oil and Gas Onshore

Onshore oil and gas leases were supervised by the 

Geological Survey and involved approvals on 4,539 wells, 

23,106 field inspections, and the collection of $691 million 

in royalties. Operations on these leases resulted in more 

than 14 percent of the oil and roughly 29 percent of the 

gas produced in the United States.

The Geological Survey also implemented a number of 

provisions of the Natural Gas Policy Act(NGPA). Because 

the Act permits various higher prices to be charged for 

several different categories of gas (including newly 

discovered, stripper, and high-cost), the Geological Survey 

must approve or disapprove each application for a specific 

category, then collect the proper royalty on this increased 

price. The Survey made final determinations on 2,750 applications under NGPA in fiscal year 1980 for onshore 

Federal and Indian wells.

Petroleum exploration activities continued on the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPRA). Seven exploration wells were completed, including four that had been 

started in earlier years. Two geophysical parties acquired 

1,110 line miles of seismic data. The Survey continued to 

operate and to maintain the South Barrow gas field that 

supplies natural gas to the village of Barrow and Federal 

installations in the vicinity of Barrow. One gas development well was completed by September 30,1980. Husky 

Oil NPR Operations, Inc., continued as the principal contractor for all phases of the exploration program.

Geothermal Resources

Geothermal energy utilization for both electrical power 

generation and direct heat applications is increasing and 

will make a significant contribution to the Nation's energy 

supply in the next decade. During fiscal year 1980, the 

Survey started a major regional assessment of the geothermal potential of the Cascade Range in northern California, 

Oregon, and Washington. A quantitative evaluation of lowtemperature geothermal waters was initiated which should 

encourage the use of these waters for direct heat applications.

During fiscal year 1980, five new geothermal projects 

were brought in to operation. Three of the projects 

involved use of geothermal power for the generation of 

electricity, and the remaining two used geothermal 

resources directly. Approximately 640 acres of land (1 

square mile) are required to site each 50-megawatt electric 

plant. On the average, roughly 10 wells are needed to supply the required geothermal energy for operation of a 

typical generation plant.

During fiscal year 1980, 38 applications for permit to 

drill were approved. By year end, 4 leases covering 3,238 

acres were actively producing, and a total of 2,546,304 

acres of Federal and Indian lands, subject to 1,463 

separate leases, was under supervision. Approximately 

500,000 acres of these lands are classified in Known 

Geothermal Resource Areas. During the year, 34 geothermal wells were drilled on Federal lands, compared to 11 

wells drilled during the previous year.

Nuclear Energy

A variety of geologic and hydrologic investigations is being conducted on behalf of the Department of Energy in 

regions where the Department of Energy is considering 

locating repository sites for high level nuclear wastes. 

These regions include the Nevada Test Site and vicinity; 

Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in southeastern New Mexico; 

Hanford Reservation Region in Washington; Paradox Basin 

in Utah; Gulf Coast Salt Dome region in north Louisiana, 

Mississippi, and northeast Texas; and Salinas Basin in New 

York and Ohio. The geohydrologic controls on the movement of waste solutes and the potential hazards from 

future volcanic activity are under study at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory where transuranic wastes 

have been stored and disposed.

The Survey continued its efforts in support of the 

Department of Energy's National Uranium Resource 

Evaluation Program. These efforts are concentrated on 

conducting geologic studies in 24 selected 1°X2° 

quadrangles in the conterminous United States to assist

2 I Yearbook 1980
the Department of Energy in assessing the uranium potential in each quadrangle and to develop uranium-resource 

assessment methodologies. Maps showing the results of 

these studies have been submitted to the Department of 

Energy.

Royalty Management

The present royalty collection system evolved over a 

period of years and was developed when mineral production was minimal, pricing structures simple, and workloads 

small. It relies entirely on monthly, manual, account 

reconciliation which requires long, labor-intensive, and 

costly procedures. Field personnel who are principally 

responsible for both offshore or onshore technical program 

activities currently try to keep up with the constantly 

growing demands of royalty collection. To correct the inadequacies of both the existing royalty management organization and the royalty collection system, it is planned 

to separate accounting operations from the Conservation 

Division's onshore and offshore field operations and consolidate them into a headquarters component located in 

Reston, Va., a national Accounting Center located in Lakewood, Colo., and four Review and Analysis Offices located 

at Albuquerque, N.M., Metairie, La., Tulsa, Okla., and 

Lakewood, Colo.

A Geological Survey Task Force aided by outside contractors finished a design for a new approach to royalty 

collection and management. This new system, which will 

be phased in over the next 2 years, will make greater use 

of computers; will centralize collection, partially to speed 

the deposit of royalty checks; and will emphasize financial 

analysis of accounts. By adopting this system, it is expected that the number of sales and collection reports 

now required from mineral companies will be reduced, erroneous billing account balances eliminated, and Survey 

royalty accounting operation costs minimized.

Minerals

Compilation of a bedrock geologic map of 

Massachusetts was completed, and the map is being processed for publication, culminating nearly 40 years of 

cooperative effort by the Geological Survey and the 

Department of Public Works, Commonwealth of 

Massachusetts, and augmented by geologists from various 

universities. A companion map showing the surficial 

geology of the State will be completed in early fiscal year 

1981. Geologic maps for the States of Colorado and North 

Dakota (in cooperation with the North Dakota Geological 

Survey) were also published during fiscal year 1980.

Investigations of wildernesslike areas continued on two 

fronts during fiscal year 1980. In a significant increase 

over the fiscal year 1979 level, approximately 5 million 

acres of Forest Service land were surveyed for their 

mineral potential. On a reimbursable basis, the Survey also 

conducted mineral surveys on behalf of the Bureau of 

Land Management on 800,000 acres.

Research, demonstration projects, and production were 

underway on approximately 1,200 geology-re I a ted projects. 

These projects included basic geologic mapping, 152° 

quadrangles in the Conterminous United States Minerals 

Assessment Program, and 14 Alaska Minerals Resources 

Assessment Program quadrangles.

Water Resources

Water-quantity and water-quality data were collected at 

about 25,500 surface-water sites. Data on ground-water 

level and pumpage were collected at an additional 30,000 

sites. A satellite data relay stream-gaging network was initiated in 1980, which will be operated by COMSAT 

General Corporation under contract to the Geological 

Survey. This "test" network will be in operation by 

February 1981 with a total of 105 stations located in 

Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Texas, and Arizona. The operating network will test the feasibility of establishing a full-scale 

system of collecting hydrologic data, such as stream stage 

and water quality, and of transmitting the data almost instantaneously to receiving stations by commercial satellite.

Three additional Regional Aquifer Systems Analyses 

were started: the Atlantic Coastal Plain, the .Snake River 

Plain, and the Southeastern Coastal Plain. During the same 

period, work continued on six aquifer systems begun in 

previous years: the northern Great Plains, the High Plains, 

the California Central Valley, the Southeastern Carbonates, 

the Northern Midwest, and the Southwest Alluvial Basin. A 

number of interim reports were published or released to 

the Open File. A significant accomplishment in the 

Regional Aquifer-System Analysis Program has been the 

definition of the relationship between annual pumpage 

and irrigated crop acreage. Results from the High Plains 

study indicate that pumpage could be estimated by identifying irrigated acreage through use of imagery from the 

Landsat satellite.

The National Water-Use Data Program, which began in 

1978 with 15 States participating, had 47 States 

cooperating by mid-1980. Water-use plans have been completed for all the participating States, and each State has 

begun a program of data collection. The National WaterUse Data System has been developed and implemented 

and is now part of the Survey's WATSTORE data system. 

A methods manual for the collection of irrigation wateruse data has been developed by the South Florida Water 

Management District. This manual will serve to promote 

national consistency in the collection of such data. Additional manuals are being prepared by State cooperators 

for the collection of water-use data for municipal, 

domestic, commercial, industrial, and public uses.

The Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility in Bay St. Louis, 

Miss., was opened. The facility combines, under one roof, 

instrument development, supply, repair, quality assurance, 

and inventory control. The objective is to provide a more 

efficient supply and repair of instruments for the water 

field activities.

Studies conducted as part of the Climate Program provided new information on climatically induced erosion and 

deposition that have brought about geomorphic changes in 

the Earth's surface. Such changes have occurred primarily 

during times of rapid worldwide deglaciation. The most recent deglaciation occurred about 10,000 years ago, and 

glacial cycles appear to have a recurrence that ranges 

from a few thousand years to tens of thousands of years. 

Thus, such studies provide data critical to assessing and 

predicting the impact that future major climatic change 

will have on the United States.

The Year in Review I 3
Mapping and Earth 

Imagery

A number of steps were taken at the Earth Resources 

Observation System (EROS) Data Center in Sioux Falls, S. 

Dak., to permit the eventual processing of thematic mapper data from ;Landsat D, scheduled for launch in 1981. 

Changes were made to improve delivery time of multispectral data from the Landsat satellite as well as to increase 

the involvement of academic institutions and remotesensing technology.

The EROS Data Center acquired 296,402 satellite images 

and frames of aerial photography, bringing the total to 6.4 

million. The sales of both satellite data and aircraft 

photography increased in fiscal year 1980: satellite imagery and computer compatible tapes, $2.4 million (a 

12-percent increase), and aerial photographs, $0.9 million 

(a 6-percent increase). Forty training courses were offered 

in remote-sensing technology with 402 people being 

trained.

Topographic map coverage of the Nation at 1:24,000 

scale increased from 61.2 percent to 63.0 percent (excluding Alaska) with the publication of 1,139 new maps at 

that scale. An additional 1,355, mostly 1:24,000 scale, 

maps were revised. In total, 5,053 topographic maps at 12 

different scales were printed, and 9 million copies were 

distributed.

Natural Hazards

Significant progress has been made in recent years in 

the development of techniques and systems to provide 

warnings of the possibility of impending natural disasters 

such as floods, landslides, and earthquakes. The Disaster 

Relief Act of 1974 gave the Geological Survey the responsibility for warning State and local officials of impending 

geologic hazards in their areas. To help meet this responsibility, a communications network for the transmission of 

technical information has been established in a majority 

of States.

During fiscal year 1980, the Survey made considerable 

progress in implementing the Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program; 151 earthquake hazards delineation studies 

were conducted.

Many years of carefuj>earth science investigations 

enabled the Geological Survey to warn people of the impending Mount St. Helens hazard and to persuade other 

government agencies to enforce measures to keep people 

away. As a result, one estimate indicates that as many as 

10,000 lives may have been saved from this special application of earth science in "real time."

During fiscal year 1980, the Survey prepared floodprone-area maps in 222 areas subject to urban flooding. In 

response to the Flood Insurance Act of 1968, Housing and 

Urban Development flood-insurance studies were completed.

Management Initiatives

Several significant organizational changes were planned 

and (or) implemented during fiscal year 1980 that will have 

long-term implications for the ability of the Geological 

Survey to carry out its programs. The first of these 

involved forming a new National Mapping Division from 

the former Topographic Division, parts of the former

Publications Division, and the Geography Program from 

the former Land Information and Analysis Office. During 

the last few years, demand from both governmental and 

nongovernmental users for specialized land-resource information has increased dramatically. Rapidly expanding 

technology in mapping, printing, automated data systems, 

and related equipment has required the installation of 

sophisticated equipment to satisfy ever-increasing user 

demands. Intensification of these efforts to supply 

clientele with the best products has led to an integrated 

research program in areas of data-base design; digital data 

preparation, analysis, and interpretation; remotely sensed 

data interpretation; and application with respect to 

geography and cartography. The new National Mapping 

Division provides an improved framework within which to 

accomplish these important objectives.

The second major reorganization involved the structure 

of the Conservation Division. During the last decade, the 

Conservation Division's responsibilities and prominence in 

implementing the Nation's energy policy on Federal and 

Indian lands have grown exponentially. The Division now 

regulates the production of over 28 percent of the 

Nation's natural gas, 14 percent of its oil, 10 percent of its 

coal, and significant percentages of other selected 

minerals. In parallel with the growth in the quantity of 

commodities it regulates, has been a growth in the range 

of its regulatory responsibilities for the environment, 

human health and safety, diligent development of 

resources, fair economic return to the Nation for public 

resources, and the conservation of resources. The Division 

has had to respond to a growing number of constituencies, 

including congressional committees, other Federal agencies, State and local governments, and a broad range of 

nongovernmental organizations and interests. All evidence 

indicates that the growth pattern of the last decade will 

continue, and it seems certain that interest in the efficient 

management of the energy and mineral resources of 

public and Indian lands will intensify in the future. The 

organizational structure of the Division was extensively 

modified; boundaries of the field offices were changed to 

provide for the following:

 Separation of onshore from offshore program management.

 Increase in the number of geographic service areas from 

4 to 10 and realinement of service area boundaries to 

conform to State boundaries.

 Separation of royalty management functions from the 

onshore and offshore field operations and centralization of the royalty functions.

 Integration of technical disciplines to achieve a multidisciplinary approach to regulating industry mineral 

operations.

 Colocation of functions at regional and, where possible,

at district locations of the organization. 

The third organizational change involved the Office of 

the Director, specifically the various Assistant Directors 

and the former Land Information and Analysis Office. 

Evaluation of current and anticipated future Survey activities revealed a strong and continuing need to improve 

its capability to carry out high-priority multidisciplinary 

multidivision programs; coordinate programs of national 

significance, particularly mineral-, water-, and energyresource programs; enhance its ability to strengthen 

cooperation among scientific disciplines; achieve a wellrounded approach to earth science problems; respond to 

increasing demands for earth science information and 

broaden the scope and utility of its information products; 

and strengthen the delivery of administrative and 

automatic data processing support services to its scientific 

programs.

4 I Yearbook 1980
Accordingly, the Land Information and Analysis Office 

was renamed the Office of Earth Sciences Applications 

and given more specific responsibilities to coordinate 

multidisciplinary multidivision programs and broaden its 

scope of activities to provide specialized staff support to 

the Directorate. Also, elements of the former Publications 

Division were added to that reorganized Office to 

strengthen the Survey's capability to transfer basic science 

products to planners, decisionmakers, and the public.

The position of Assistant Director for Mineral and Water 

Resources was renamed Assistant Director for Resource 

Programs, and the duties modified to reflect responsibilities broader than mineral and water resources. The 

position of Assistant Director for Land Resources was 

renamed the Assistant Director for Research with broader 

duties to recognize the need to provide a focal point at 

the Directorate level for research program planning, 

review and analysis, and coordination and monitoring of 

the Survey's research programs and projects. The functions 

of the Assistant Directors for Engineering Geology, Programs, and Administration were virtually unchanged.

Several key position vacancies were filled during the 

year. Doyle Frederick became the Associate Director 

(replacing Joseph Cragwall). At the Assistant Director level, 

Robert Wesson became Assistant Director for Research 

(replacing James Balsley); James Devine became Assistant 

Director for Engineering Geology (replacing Henry 

Coulter); and Betty Miller became Assistant Director for 

the Eastern Region (replacing William Overstreet). At the

Division Chief level, Rupert Southard became Chief of the 

National Mapping Division, and Philip Cohen was 

designated the Chief of the Water Resources Division.

Equal Opportunity Office

Primary efforts of the Equal Opportunity Office (EEO) at 

the start of fiscal year 1980 were directed at fulfilling Affirmative Action Program planning requirements placed by 

Management Directive 702, issued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The directive, which 

targeted on determining the extent of underrepresentation 

for minorities and women and establishing hiring goals for 

the organization, was further supplemented by guidance 

from the Department of the Interior. Interaction and coordination between EEO specialists, personnelists, and 

managers brought about fruitful results in the form of 

realistic hiring and recruitment goals for the major occupations within the Survey.

Other efforts during fiscal year 1980 resulted in the 

resolution of 90 percent of the formal EEO complaints 

received, as well as a high percentage of resolutions of 

complaints at the informal stage. The Federal Women's 

Program and the Hispanic Employment Program established and trained Regional Committees which are made 

up of representatives of each of the Survey's operating 

divisions.

Lab technician Water Resources Division.

The Year in Review I 5

The Eruption of Mount St. HelensEntering the Era of Real-Time Geology

By Robert L Wesson

With sections by the Office of Earth Sciences Applications, 

the Geologic Division, the Water Resources Division, 

and the National Mapping Division.

Time generally means something different to geologists 

than it does to others. The geologists' common view of 

time is like looking through the wrong end of a pair of 

binoculars. All the myriad events that mark the passing of 

our daily lives the passage of the seasons, rains and 

thaws, floods and droughts, growth and death are tightly 

compressed into a murky record of mountain building and 

erosion, of the deposition of sediments and the weathering 

of exposed rocks, of evolution and extinction. The 

geologic history which has been pieced together by the investigations of geologists extends back 4.5 billion years to 

the origin of the Earth. This history is characterized by 

spatial changes on a grand scale the movement of continents, the opening and filling of ocean basins. Generally, 

however, these movements take place so slowly as to be 

virtually imperceptible to man without the aid of instruments developed only recently. The general uniformity 

and continuity of geologic processes through this 4.5 

billion years are central to geologists' approach to 

understanding the Earth, its resources, and its hazards. 

However, not all geologic processes occur at continuous 

imperceptibly slow rates. Indeed major geologic changes 

can be accomplished in days or even minutes. No more 

powerful recent reminder of the Earth's capacity for sudden and catastrophic change can be cited than the explosive and disasterous eruption of Mount St. Helens on 

May 18, 1980.

U.S. Geological Survey scientists had their collective 

eye on Mount St. Helens over the years and, as a consequence, were able to advise local, State, and Federal officials about the threats from the volcano such that many 

hundreds, perhaps thousands, of lives were saved. This experience of warning vividly demonstrates the geologist's 

increasing capability to switch his geologic vision from the 

long view, thousands or millions of years, to the short 

view, days and weeks; from a history of Mount St. Helens 

over the last 40,000 years and especially the last 4,500 

years to an estimate of what the mountain will do 

today and tomorrow.

In the past, geologists and the Geological 

Survey have used their understanding of geologic history, 

and the processes which shape it, principally to answer 

"where" and "what" questions questions about the location and physical description of geologic deposits or 

features, such as, where are mineral deposits or petroleum 

resources located? Increasingly, geologists are being asked 

"when" questions: When will the next major earthquake 

strike California? When will we run out of ground water in 

the high plains of the west? When will the next Cascade

Devastated area in the valley of the North Toutle River 

showing deforestation, reordered drainage, and the 

surface of debris flow and blast deposits of May 18.

Range volcano erupt explosively? The new tenor of these 

questions presents serious challenges to the earth sciences, 

and to the Geological Survey in particular. The scientific 

challenges are severe, requiring answers to questions, 

many of which, so far, at least, are beyond our grasp: but 

no less difficult are the challenges to the Geological 

Survey, and to society, of how to use predictive information about geologic hazards.

What are these challenges? and how is the Geological 

Survey meeting them? The scientific challenges are the 

challenges of understanding; the institutional and societal 

challenges are of communication, education, and the 

understanding of risk.

Research and the Long View: Basis for 

Prediction

There can be no scientifically credible warning without 

a thorough understanding of the geologic history and of 

the geologic processes at work. The path leading to this 

understanding is not a straight one nor one which can be 

cut short. It is, in all likelihood, a circuitous and torturous 

path which must be followed step by step, flashes of insight followed by deadends and backtracking, each step 

whether forward or backward, adding some small bit to 

the total understanding. The investment of research does 

not always pay off immediately, nor is the final payoff 

always evident while the work is being done. With the 

eruption of Mount St. Helens, three long-term research efforts paid off handsomely. Only one of these was aimed 

directly at the volcanic hazards posed by Mount St. 

Helens. Perhaps even that was a long shot. What were 

these areas of research? and how did they come to pay 

off?

Hazard Studies of Mount St. Helens

Geologic studies of the volcanoes of the Cascade Range 

began in 1841 with Charles Wilkes' U.S. Exploring Expedition. However, the documentation of the hazards posed, by 

them, and particularly by Mount St. Helens, was done by 

the career-long efforts of Geological Survey geologists 

Dwight R. Crandell, Donal R. Mullineaux, and their collaborators. The investigations of Crandell and Mullineaux 

included the construction of a detailed history of the activity of Mount St. Helens over the last 4,500 years. During 

this time, the volcano experienced several apparently dormant intervals of about 100 to 150 years and some dormant intervals as long as 400 to 500 years. Throughout this

Perspectives | 7
4,500 year period, however, the dormant intervals were 

repeatedly interrupted with periods of activity which included numerous explosions, eruptions of ash, hot avalanches of rock debris, the building of domes, emission of 

lava and the flows of volcanic debris, and mud and ice off 

the glacier-mantled slopes of the volcano. This history led 

Crandell and Mullineaux to conclude in their hazards 

report, published in 1978, that, "Mount St. Helens has 

been more active and more explosive during the last 4,500 

years than any other volcano in the conterminous United 

States . . . Mount St. Helens has had a long history of 

spasmodic explosive activity, and we believe it to be an 

especially dangerous volcano because of its past behavior 

and the relatively high frequency of its eruptions during 

the last 4,500 years. In the future, Mount St. Helens will 

probably erupt violently and intermittently just as it has in 

the recent geologic past, and these future eruptions will 

affect human life and health, property, agriculture, and 

general economic welfare over a broad area."

The record of Mount St. Helens history was deciphered 

by a combination of classical geologic mapping and 

stratigraphic studies with modern techniques. These 

studies included geochemical analysis to trace deposits 

from prehistoric falls of ash by their "mineralogical fingerprints" and to determine the age of deposits by radiocarbon analyses of pieces of wood found within them. Soils 

beneath the ferns and Douglas fir of the forests contain 

deposits of volcanic ash and hold the clues to determine 

the pattern of past eruptions of the volcano. Deposits of 

rock debris from prehistoric eruptions were examined in 

the area around the volcano to determine their origin, extent, and age. By mapping the distribution of these 

deposits and analyzing their mineral content and grain 

size, it is possible to trail them back to their source: the 

volcano from which they were spewn.

But how, from the record of past eruptions, can future 

hazards be estimated? A critical assumption was made 

that eruptions in the future will be of the same general 

type and have the same general effects as those in the 

.past. Using this kind of approach, Crandell and Mullineaux

A seismologist installs monitoring equipment April 12, 1980.

described a set of "hazard zones," first, on the flanks of 

the volcano and along valleys leading from it, which 

would be endangered by lava flows, mudflows, pyroclastic 

flows (avalanches of hot rock debris ash), and floods and 

second, in the nearby and downwind areas which would 

be endangered by the ash fall. These zones were further 

differentiated by the frequency with which parts of the 

zone were affected by past eruptions. The potential for 

flooding caused by flows of mud into the reservoirs behind 

power dams on the Lewis River, which drains the south 

and east sides of the mountain, was viewed as a particularly serious problem. Finally, Crandell and Mullineaux 

concluded their analysis of potential hazards by indicating 

what hints might be given by the volcano if it were preparing for an eruption, such as the occurrence of numerous 

small earthquakes or swelling of the volcano, both caused 

by the underground movement of molten rock, and by 

listing actions that could reduce possible effects on people and property should warning signs appear or an eruption begin.

The published work of Crandell and Mullineaux was circulated in December 1978 to Federal, State, and local officials and was supplemented by a meeting with key officials and with personal discussions. But, understandably, 

concern about an event in a sparsely settled region an 

event which might have localized impact and be of passing interest only every 100 years or so and have impacts 

distant from the volcano itself only every 500 to 3,000 

years was accorded relatively little attention. The probability of a catastrophic event was low compared to frequent floods, not to mention the day to day crises that affect us all.

Studies at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory

Fountains, cascades, and rivers of glowing lava are images of the active volcanoes of Kilauea and Mauna Loa on 

the Island of Hawaii. Since 1912, Geological Survey scientists have studied, and been trained, in this unique natural 

laboratory of volcanic processes. The very fluid lava of 

Hawaii, as contrasted with the thick viscous lava of most 

Cascade Range volcanoes, is revealed by the smooth gently sloping forms of the Hawaiian volcanoes as compared 

with the steep, sometimes rugged character of the 

Cascade Range volcanoes. The difference in the fluidity of 

lava also accounts for the difference in the behavior of 

the volcanoes. The investigations at the Hawaiian Volcano 

Observatory have demonstrated that eruptions in Hawaii 

are preceded by systematic swelling of the volcano, 

swarms of small earthquakes, and a periodic trembling 

detected on seismographs called "harmonic tremor." Eruptions of Hawaiian-type volcanoes are rarely explosive but, 

nevertheless, have potentially serious impacts for residents 

on the island. Repeated successful warnings of impending 

eruptions based on swelling of the volcano and swarms of 

earthquakes gave a generation of Geological Survey scientists experience, not only with the active science of 

volcanology, albeit in quite a different geologic setting 

from Mount St. Helens, but also experience in dealing with 

officials, the press, and the public before, during, and after 

an eruption.

Earthquake and Geothermal Studies in the Cascade 

Range

The active geologic process in the Cascades of which 

Mount St. Helens is a part has other manifestations: 

earthquakes and geothermal energy. Since 1973, the scientists at the University of Washington, supported by and in

8 I Yearbook 1980
cooperation with the Geological Survey, have studied the 

occurrence of earthquakes in the Puget Sound-Cascade 

region of Washington State. The core of these studies has 

been the establishment of a tool for basic research, a 

seismographic network. Studies of the potential for 

geothermal power associated with the active volcanic 

regions of the Cascade Range led to an expansion of the 

network, with the motive of using the occurrence of earthquakes and studies of the propagation of seismic waves 

from them for locating "hot" regions of the Earth's crust 

and of developing an understanding of the origin of these 

hot regions. As it turned out, this seismic network and the 

joint University of Washington-Geological Survey project 

were to give the first clues that Mount St. Helens was 

about to awaken from her 123-year sleep.

Earth Scientists Refocus From the Long 

View to the Short View

On March 20, 1980, the vicinity of Mount St. Helens was 

shaken by a magnitude-4 earthquake. The location of the 

earthquake, as determined by the seismograph network 

which included one station near the volcano, was at 

shallow depth immediately northwest of the summit. 

However, this earthquake was only the first of an intense 

sequence or swarm of earthquakes. Both the magnitude 

and number of these earthquakes were unusual for the 

Pacific Northwest, and their location directly beneath the 

volcano was immediately recognized as the possible symptoms of an impending eruption. What was the probability 

of an eruption? and, if the mountain did become active, 

what precisely would happen? No one knew. The possible 

scenarios for an eruption, or noneruption, were many, but 

no one knew how to assess the relative probabilities of the 

possible scenarios. Geological Survey and University of

Washington scientists, working together, began to install 

portable seismograph equipment and to expand the permanent seismograph network, an exercise which has become 

commonplace following almost every significant earthquake or earthquake sequence in the United States. One 

of the principal aims of this effort was to try to determine 

whether this earthquake sequence was indeed symptomatic of molten rock moving beneath the volcano. As the 

days passed, the number of earthquakes increased, and 

the comparison with preemptive sequences at other 

volcanoes became more compelling. Snow avalanches, 

triggered by the earthquakes, led to the closing of the upper slopes of the volcano by the U.S. Forest Service. By 

March 25, the frequency of magnitude-4 earthquakes 

reached a level of as many as eight per hour. Sightseers 

flocked to the area hoping for a glimpse of some activity. 

On March 26, the immediate vicinity of the volcano was 

closed on the basis of the potential hazards from an eruption.

On March 27, the Geological Survey issued a cautiously 

worded but formal "Hazards Watch," indicating that 

Survey scientists did not "have adequate hard information 

to determine whether an immediate volcanic eruption will 

or will not occur. Furthermore, it is not possible at this 

time to indicate which of the possible geologic effects of 

the eruption might take place or whether these effects 

might be experienced only very locally on the volcano or 

over a wider area." However, the Hazards Watch summarized potential dangers as indicated in the work of 

Crandell and Mullineaux.

That day the volcano began to erupt steam and ash. 

Following the actions recommended in the Survey publication, U.S. Forest Service and State and local and emergency officials evacuated people from the immediate area.

It was a chaotic time. The event captured the imagination of the Pacific Northwest and the Nation. No volcano

The "bulge" May 5, 1980.

Perspectives | 9
The hazards warning, preparedness, 

and technical assistance program is a 

relatively new responsibility of the U.S. 

Geological Survey stemming from the 

Federal Disaster Relief Act of 1974. The 

hazards warning activity is designed to 

develop public awareness of geologicrelated hazards and encourage longrange mitigation measures, In addition, a 

hazards warning dissemination service 

has been developed to insure" timely and 

effective warnings of geologic hazards to 

affected Federal, State, and local governments. Where possible, technical 

assistance and advice is made available 

also. The system for evaluating and 

transmitting notifications of hazards includes Notices of Potential Hazards, 

Hazard Watches, and Hazards Warnings 

(Predictions). The responsibility for the 

hazards warning, preparedness, and 

technical assistance program lies in the 

Office of Earth Sciences Applications, 

the Survey's unit involved in multidisciplinary projects concerned with the 

application of earth sciences information 

to natural resource planning and 

management.

When Mount St. Helens began showing signs of renewed activity in midMarch 1980, the Geologic and Water 

Resources Divisions began collecting and 

assessing data and, with the Office of 

Earth Sciences Applications, determined 

that the possibility of an eruption was 

great enough to issue a hazard announcement to State and local officials. 

The Office issued a Hazard Watch on 

March 31, 1980, the day of the initial 

eruption. Subsequently, the Office 

became the focal point for dissemination 

of information on the geologic and 

hydrologic activity at Mount St. Helens 

to Federal, State, and local authorities 

outside the immediate area of the 

volcano.

The May 18, 1980, eruption was, for 

most people, unexpectedly violent and 

damaging. The Geological Survey was 

overwhelmed by the need to assess the 

event and to meet the public and 

government needs for information and 

advice. This was particularly so for the 

Survey's field office in Vancouver, Wash. 

A representative of the Office of Earth 

Sciences Applications arrived in Vancouver on May 19, 1980, to assist as field 

liaison to Federal, State, and local 

governments and to help handle the extremely large demand for information. 

When the Federal Emergency Management Agency assumed leadership of the 

Federal Government's response to the 

eruption, the Office helped to establish 

and run the Mount St. Helens' technical 

information network. They also provided 

daily briefings to disaster-response officials and backed up the Survey press 

spokesman.

. Representatives of the Office remained in the field through June 1980 

when the Federal Government's response

became sufficiently advanced to allow it 

to resume more "normal" operations. 

Since June 1980, the Office has been 

given the responsibility for coordinating 

the development of a Survey Emergency 

Response Plan for future volcanic eruptions of other Cascade Range and 

Alaskan volcanoes. This plan has been 

completed and is in effect.

Drawing upon its experience in issuing 

hazard warnings and assisting in coordinating emergency response activities, 

the Office has found that the public and 

the States could better be served by a 

more positive information program. 

Although the Office first issued a notice 

of the potential hazards from an eruption of Mount St. Helens in December 

1978, the area was not as well prepared 

for the 1980 eruptions as it might have 

been. Therefore, the Office is developing 

plans for a series of workshops for 

Federal, State, and local emergency 

response officials which will help them 

to better understand and prepare for 

potential eruptions at the other Cascade 

Range volcanoes. In addition, the Office 

is working with public and private 

emergency management organizations to 

exchange, evaluate, and make use of information tfbout how people and organizations respond to the threat of natural 

hazards and to document the many 

lessons to be learned from the 1980 

eruptions of Mount St. Helens.

had been active in the contiguous United States since 

1921. The pressure from the news media was intense. 

Demands for interviews were so great that scientists could 

not comply with all and still perform their work. Sightseers 

jammed the roads leading from the volcano and blocked 

possible evacuation routes. In addition, many sightseers 

evaded road blocks hoping to get a closer look.

Analyses of ash indicated that so far only old rock 

fragments were involved; no new molten rock had been 

ejected. But, on April 1 and again on April 2, University of 

Washington and Geological Survey scientists recognized 

the first sign of harmonic tremor, which normally is 

associated with the movement of molten rock. On April 3, 

the Geological Survey updated its Hazards Watch, indicating that "the harmonic tremors... are the best indications so far that magma (molten rock) is involved and 

moving underground. We still cannot predict, however, 

whether this apparent subsurface movement of magma 

will break through the surface to produce an eruption of 

molten material." The Governor of Washington called out 

the National Guard to help maintain the closure of an 

area around the volcano to all but property owners and 

scientists. These moves were unpopular and contested, 

particularly by loggers excluded from the forest.

Following the first phase of the steam and ash eruption 

of March 27, a major system of cracks across the summit 

crater was observed, suggesting the spreading of the north 

flank of the mountain. Throughout the first 3 weeks of 

April, evidence of the bulging of the northern slope of the 

mountain accumulated; visual observations of the cracking 

and slumping of the glaciers and bedrock were substantiated by photogrammetric surveys and geodetic measurements. By April 25, instruments were in place to monitor 

the expansion of the bulge on a daily basis. The 

measurements carried on through early morning on May 

18 indicated steady nprthward expansion of the bulge at 

rates of 0.5 to 2 meters per day. As the bulge grew, so did 

concern about the potential hazards it posed. On April 30, 

the Geological Survey again updated its Hazards Watch, 

indicating that the apparently unstable mass, if triggered 

by an eruption or earthquake, could lead to a massive 

avalanche, which in turn could lead to mudflows and 

floods in the valleys draining the north side of the mountain. "USGS scientists cannot pinpoint the exact cause of 

the bulge with the available data," the press release said, 

"but suspect that the bulging may reflect a combination 

of swelling from the upward movement of viscous (sticky) 

magma and gravitationally induced downward creep. . . ."

Did the U.S. Geological Survey tell or indeed recognize the whole story? In hindsight, it seems possible to 

say that the appearance and expansion of the bulge added 

substantial weight to the hypothesis that significant 

molten material was accumulating in the volcano and, 

consequently, that the odds of a significant eruption were 

substantially increased. However, the scientists could not 

reach a consensus. Although many individual geologists 

and geophysicists made this judgment, even aloud at the 

volcano, the Survey, through its institutional procedures of 

hazard warning, was not moved to reach this judgment. 

Why? Scientific uncertainty, institutional fear of being 

wrong, substitution of the more visible threat of a massive 

avalanche for the less visible threat of an eruption? Herein

10 I Yearbook 1980
quantifiable uncertainty? Where does an established scientific interpretation stop and hunch begin?

Reacting to the advice from the Geological Survey, Governor Ray established two "hazard zones" around the 

volcano. A "red zone" included the area within a radius of 

approximately five miles from the mountain. Admission to 

this zone, which included the vacation community of 

Spirit Lake, was prohibited to all except law enforcement 

officials and scientists. A "blue zone," which extended 5 

miles beyond the red zone in some places, was under the 

same prohibitions as the red zone except that logging 

operations and visits by property owners were permitted, 

but no overnight stays were permitted. The zones were unpopular. They were violated by journalists and scientists in 

helicopters and by curiosity seekers. Loggers and property 

owners, excluded from their homes, were particularly 

critical. The bulge, ominous as it was to geologists, did not 

seem to bother old timers of the region, who seemed 

unable to grasp the danger from a potentially explosive 

volcano, or even some of the scientists who worked in its 

shadow.

As scientists monitored the bulge and considered its implications, and as picnickers gathered at road blocks 

waiting for a view of a plume of steam or ash, owners of 

private property began to demand access to their cabins 

and houses to gather their possessions. Finally on May 17, 

property owners were allowed into the red zone by signing 

releases and agreements that they would be out before 

nightfall.

View to the south from vicinity of the north shore of Spirit 

Lake toward caldaralike amphitheatre of Mount St. Helens 

in background.

The Picnic Becomes a Nightmare

On the morning of May 18, the picnic became a 

nightmare. Mount St. Helens erupted catastrophically. The

north side of the mountain collapsed in an avalanche, 

almost certainly triggered by a magnitude-5 earthquake, 

releasing the pent-up power of the magma with its gas 

under high pressure. The suddenly unconfined molten rock

 Immediately following the first major 

earthquake on March 20, U.S. Geological 

Survey specialists in volcanic hazards 

assessment began intensive consultations 

and meeting with officials of the Gifford 

Pinchot National Forest, the land 

managers for Mount St. Helens, as well 

as many other Federal, State, and local 

officials involved in emergency preparedness and contingency planning. Through-

, out the week before the eruption, scien-

 tists from the Survey and the University 

, of Washington arrived on the scene to 

increase surveillance and to assess 

volcanic hazards. Indeed, by the time 

the eruption entered its second week of 

activity, 25 to 30 scientists were on hand 

r carrying out a wide variety of monitoring 

: and volcanic hazards assessment investigations. By March 31, the onsite 

; volcanic hazards assessment was 

I presented at a major meeting of agen- 

: cies responsible for public safety, and,

on April 1, a large-scale volcanic hazards 

; map was prepared for use by these agen- 

: cies and the general public. Survey scienj tists participated in daily meetings and

 briefings with U.S. Forest Service and 

t other officials and advised them on the 

locations of roadblocks to control access 

to hazardous areas around the volcano. 

Survey scientists contributed essential

geotechnical and volcanic hazards information used in the preparation of the 

"Mount St. Helens Contingency Plan" 

issued by the U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, on April 9.

Since the devastating May 18 eruption, 

Mount St. Helens has continued to erupt 

intermittently. Significant eruptions occurred on May 25, June 2, July 22, 

August 7, August 15, and October 16-17. 

These eruptions produced steam and ash 

columns, pyroclastic and pumice flows, 

and small mudflows and were commonly 

followed by extrustions of bulbous 

volcanics composed of viscous pasty 

lava into the bottom of the crater. The 

first of these domes followed the June 

12 eruption and was largely destroyed by 

the July 22 eruption. A second dome 

formed after the August 15 activity and 

was later obliterated by the October 

16-17 eruptions. The third volcanic 

dome grew immediately after cessation 

of the October eruptions and persists (as 

of late November) as a muffin-shaped 

mound; incandescent rock can be 

observed at night through cracks in its 

crusted surface.

During the course of the 1980 eruptive 

activity of Mount St. Helens, significant 

advances in both the development and 

application of monitoring techniques, as

well as in the understanding of Cascade 

Range volcanism, were made by both 

Survey and non-Federal scientists. Since 

the inception of activity in late March, 

nearly continuous gas-composition 

monitoring by Survey and Dartmouth 

College scientists indicates that the 

monitoring of sulphur dioxide, carbon 

dioxide, and hydrogen shows real potential as predictive tools, particularly for 

the lesser eruptions of June through 

August. Detailed analysis of the accompanying earthquake activity indicates 

that characteristic seismic patterns 

herald the close of each eruptive 

episode. Gradual changes in the ash and 

lava chemistry during the course of the 

1980 activity provide a basis for anticipating the possible general character 

of future eruptions. Studies of the 

pumice-flow eruptions and deposits are 

providing new insights into the mechanisms of their emplacement and cooling 

history. Indeed, the 1980 Mount St. 

Helens activity has provided a veritable 

scientific workshop and laboratory that 

will undoubtedly yield important new advances in the field of volcanology and 

will provide new insights necessary for 

the prediction of future volcanic hazards 

in the Cascade Range.

1

Perspectives 11
and gas exploded like a bottle of warm champagne suddenly uncorked. The resulting blast devastated everything 

in a sector extending as far as 16 miles north of the 

volcano and nearly 20 miles wide. A massive debris avalanche filled the valley of the North Fork Toutle River for 

a distance of about 17 miles downstream. Mudflows continued on down the Toutle carrying extremely large loads 

of sediment, logs, and debris on to the Cowlitz and Columbia Rivers. The deposited sediments blocked the shipping 

channel in the Columbia and dangerously reduced the 

ability of the Cowlitz River to carry water within its banks, 

without flooding. Volcanic ash streamed higher than 12 

miles into the atmosphere by the force of the explosion 

and was carried eastward by the wind to deposit ash in a 

plume across eastern Washington and into Idaho and 

beyond. What had formerly been a symmetrical conethe "Mount Fuji of the United States" was now a truncated cone, marred by a gaping north-facing amphitheater. 

The questions of "when" and "how big" had finally been 

answered. Geological Survey scientists, prior to the eruption, in describing the range of possibilities, had sometimes, in passing, mentioned the explosion of Mount 

Mazama, which formed the famous Crater Lake in Oregon, 

as an example of an eruption well beyond that which 

could reasonably be expected at Mount St. Helens. Indeed, the 6-mile-wide Crater Lake is a vivid example of 

raw destructive power of the explosive Cascade volcanoes. 

The eruption of Mount St. Helens was small by comparison, but closer than the public had seemed willing to 

believe was likely.

What was the most "expectable" size of the eruption 

and how did the May 18 eruption compare? So far, our 

understanding of the history of Cascade volcanoes is insufficient to answer the question of the most expectable size, 

either on the basis of statistics of past eruptions or on the 

basis of the kinds of premonitory phenomena observed; 

that is, the earthquakes, the bulge, the steam eruptions. 

But Crandell and Mullineaux did make some estimates 

about the range of possible eruptions and their relative 

probabilities based on their 4,500 year history of Mount St. 

Helens. They estimated that eruptions depositing an inch 

or less of ash within 50 miles or so of the volcano would 

have a frequency of 1 per 100 years. They estimated that 

eruptions depositing a few inches of ash at distances of 

100 miles and more, as did the May 18 eruption, would 

have a frequency of 1 per 2,000 to 3,000 years or less. So 

the May 18 eruption was not a "common" event, but 

closer to the "worst case." Previous eruptions, however, 

have erupted much larger volumes of ash.

The course of potentially catastrophic geologic processes such as eruptions and earthquakes may depend on 

many random factors. Indeed, the most surprising aspect 

of the eruption was the magnitude of the disastrous lateral 

blast, which devastated the landscape north of the mountain. Although some evidence for much smaller prehistoric 

lateral blasts was available, geologists had expected the 

main force of an eruption to be directed vertically upward. Consequently, it may be very difficult, if not impossible, to know in advance from the symptoms of an impending event whether the event will be a "common one" 

or a "worst case." We would like to think we can solve 

this problem, perhaps by determining the volume of 

molten material available in a volcano or the size of the 

area over which anomalous phenomena are observed 

before an earthquake, but there is certainly no guarantee 

that these ideas will be right. Indeed, prior to May 18, 

some geologists began to feel that the molten rock, indicated inside the volcano by the bulge and the earthquakes, might solidify inside the volcano in a system of 

what geologists call "dikes" and, aside from the threat of 

avalanches and mudflows, be of no particular threat at all. 

Will the observed symptoms of a geologic process lead to 

a "worst case," a "common" event or a "nonevent?" This 

is another key dilemma facing the real-time geologist.

On May 18 and the days after, impacts of the eruption 

that had not been anticipated by the public were keenly 

felt by residents of the Pacific Northwest. Although Governor Ray, at the end of April, had declared the entire State 

an emergency area because of the possibility of 

widespread ash fall, the volume of the ash which settled 

like an ominous dark snow over eastern Washington and 

Idaho created problems of unexpected proportion and 

nature. Who had prepared for the problems of operating 

motor vehicles and machinery in an atmosphere of constant dust stirred up by wind or the movement of vehicles, 

an atmosphere in which the particles of ash are far more 

abrasive than common dust? And who in Portland, Oreg., 

where the spectacular plume of ash on May 18 had provided a thrilling display, expected that the mud and rocky 

debris carried down the Toutle and Cowlitz Rivers would 

block the shipping channel in the Columbia River, temporarily closing the important port facilities in Portland? 

Or who anticipated the added impact of the thousands of 

logs stacked at loading yards along the Toutle Valley 

which were picked up by the mudflows and swept away 

the bridges along the river as if they were made of paper? 

Because many of the phenomena dealt with by the realtime geologist occur so infrequently from the perspective 

of man the impacts are commonly unexpected. Preparations require preparing for the unexpected.

Dramatic before (April 1980) and after (May 24, 1980) photographs of the North Fork Toutle Bridge near Al Rought Park.
The devastation caused by rock, mud, ash, 

and other debris from the violent eruption of 

Mount St. Helens was highly publicized by 

the news media. Less attention was devoted 

to the potential flood hazards. This can be explained by the fact that many of the water 

problems which result from a volcanic eruption are not so dramatically or immediately 

obvious. Frequently, the effects on water 

resources require scientific investigation and 

the passage of time before their full implications are understood. When the Division combines its accumulated data of many years 

with its on-the-spot investigations at Mount St. 

Helens, it is anticipated there will be better 

understanding of the longer term effects of 

sediment transport and mudflows, chemical 

and biological changes in water quality, and 

changes in channel morphology.

When the major eruption occurred on May 

18, the Water Resources Division was geared 

to provide immediate water information. 

Following the initial earthquakes of March 27, 

1980, the Division installed 25 water-quality 

monitoring sites designed to detect changes in 

water quality that might result from volcanic 

activity. These sites provided data to supplement that already being obtained in the area 

from the U.S. Geological Survey's National 

Stream Quality Accounting Network and the 

cooperative programs with the Washington 

State Department of Ecology and the Tacoma 

City Light Department. At some of the sites, 

continuous water-quality monitors were installed which were equipped with GOES 

satellite telemetry to transmit temperature, 

specific conductance, and pH data eight 

times a day. Also, on March 27, after a small 

ash eruption, the Division selected tentative 

sites on streams draining Mount St. Helens for 

indirect measurements of floods and mudflows.

When the major eruption occurred, a variety of potential water-related hazards required 

immediate attention. The on-the-scene investigations of Division crews served many 

purposes, among them allaying fears of present danger and monitoring eruption-related 

phenomena which could present problems 

after a period of days, weeks, months, or 

perhaps even years.

In the area of the mountain, the field crews 

were able, in many instances, to provide 

assistance at once. They began discharge 

measurements at vital points on the afternoon 

of May 18 and furnished valuable data for the 

flood forecasting of the National Weather 

Service. A significant Division installation was 

GOES satellite telemetry at the North Fork of 

the Toutle River. It was able to transmit every 

5 minutes if the gage exceeded a preset level. 

The data were automatically received by the 

National Weather Service River Forecast 

Center in Portland, Ore., and the National 

Weather Service office in Seattle, Wash.

Immediately after the eruption, it was also 

important to be able to conduct on-the-spot 

evaluations of the potential for disastrous 

floods caused by the destruction of glaciers, 

sediment accumulation, mudflows, and debris. 

Water Resources Division crews investigated 

the tremendous quantity of sediment 

deposited in rivers in the area. In the Cowlitz 

River, they estimated that about 25,000 acrefeet of sediment clogged the channel between 

the mouth of the Toutle River and the Columbia River. (This volume of sediment would 

cover 1 square mile to a depth of nearly 40 

feet.)

Because the eruption destroyed the glaciers 

on the north slope of the volcano, the 

Survey's Glaciology Project office estimated 

that approximately 140,000 acre-feet of 

glacier and snowpack water was removed 

from the mountain. The snowpack and much 

of the glacier ice, probably mixed with rock 

and debris, produced massive mudflows in the 

Toutle River system and lower Cowlitz. Debris 

raised the level of Spirit Lake on the North 

Fork of the Toutle River by 200 feet.

Huge deposits of mud and debris in parts of 

the Cowlitz River made the available floodplain delineation maps and river profiles obsolete. By May 26, the Division had completed the first up-to-date river profiles and 

flood delineation maps. Cooperation from the 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and private 

firms facilitated and expedited the field 

survey and mapping effort. New stream gaging stations were installed to provide floodwarning data.

The future Water Resources Division program has a dual purpose: to better understand 

the hydrologic and geomorphic processes involved in the devastation and recovery of the 

affected area and to provide sound information for hazard warning and resource planning. The program aims to define pre- and 

post-eruption conditions and to monitor 

hydrologic changes. This will involve new 

surveillance networks, additional gaging stations, glacier study by periodic aerial 

photography, calculations related to flood 

profiles and inundation maps, production of 

mathematical models to reflect improved 

knowledge related to mudflows, improvement 

of sediment transport models, investigation of 

the effects of ashfall on soil water and runoff, 

and the susceptibility of ground water to contamination. Advancement of knowledge from 

these studies, together with development of 

improved scientific techniques, will bring additional expertise to managing water problems 

caused by future volcanic eruptions.

As an example, the Cowlitz River channel was found to 

be clogged with sediment deposits following the floods of 

May 18 average flows would cause flooding. Meanwhile, 

snowmelt runoff from the higher elevations of the 

Cascades was rapidly filling upstream reservoirs. Any 

significant runoff either from accelerated snowmelt or 

rainfall would exceed reservoir capacity and result in 

flooding along the clogged reach of the lower river. 

Geological Survey hydrologists created a computer model 

of the river system using new channel surveys, parts of 

which were provided by the Corps of Engineers and 

private engineering firms. Output of the model allowed 

immediate assessment of inundation limits for any Cowlitz 

River flow rates and provided a realistic basis for warning 

and evacuating flood-threatened residents.

Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of lives were saved by the 

establishment of the hazard zones. Some of those who 

died were in the closed areas in defiance of the closure. 

However, people are skeptical about statements contrary 

to their common experience, particularly when their 

livelihood is at stake. Fortunately, the eruption occurred 

on Sunday when logging operations permitted in the "blue 

zone," much of which was devastated, were shut down. 

Real-time geologists must learn that they, like Dr. 

Stockmann of Henrik Ibsen's An Enemy of the People, will

not always be either popular or even believed by segments 

of society.

Questions in the Aftermath

What would the volcano do next? Was the debris flow 

stable? Would the waters dammed behind it be released in 

further floods? Would the now clogged Cowlitz River be 

able to contain, without flooding, more water should the 

reservoir upstream become full? These were the questions 

asked immediately after May 18. The prospect of the 

volcano continuing to be active for 10 to 20 years, as it 

had in the 19th century, forms a background against which 

a whole new set of questions began to take shape. When 

could people go back in to salvage and rebuild? What 

should be rebuilt and what should be relocated? Would 

the volcano give a short-term warning of further eruptions 

as it seemed not to have done on May 18? Could the 

geologists predict subsequent eruptions in time for people 

to be evacuated safely from the hazard zones? What 

would be the effects of the ash on crops and on the 

health of animals and humans in the affected regions? 

Would the easily credible mass of ash and debris in the 

tributaries of the Cowlitz be mobilized and eroded by 

winter rains, carrying yet more debris into the Cowlitz and 

Columbia?

Perspectives | 13
As the months passed, some questions were answered, 

others deferred. Measurements were made in the clogged 

channels of the Cowlitz River, and computer models 

calculated to determine the amount of water which could 

be released safely from upstream reservoirs and to determine the inundation limits for potential floods. How long 

will the activity last? Will the volcano rebuild itself? The 

volcano, as expected from experience elsewhere, continued its activity, with eruptions on May 25, June 12, July 

22 and 28, August 7 and 15, and October 16-17. 

Volcanic domes were erupted into the crater, then exploded during eruptions of ash. Varying patterns, of seismic activity have emerged which seem, so far, diagnostic of 

these continuing eruptions, enabling warning and evacuation of workers in endangered zones. Other possible 

precursors, such as gas emissions, seem promising. The 

debate about the efficacy of attempts to contain sediment 

in the Toutle Valley and to preserve the gains made by 

dredging in the Cowlitz and Columbia Rivers continues. 

Flash floods from new mudflows or the breach of dammed 

lakes were recognized as a threat. An elaborate system of 

stream and lake gages equipped with real-time data 

transmission systems has been installed to monitor the 

movement of water and sediment downstream. It is hoped 

that sufficient warning of floods can be given to communities along the Cowlitz.

Prior to the eruption, Geological Survey scientists 

worked closely with the U.S. Forest Service and, as the 

situation developed, with State and local officials. After 

the eruption, the number of individuals and entities

needing contact with the Geological Survey scientists, 

elected officials, and their staffs grew rapidly the Federal 

Emergency Management Agency, the Corps of Engineers, 

the Environmental Protection Agency, and many more. 

The real-time geologist works in a fish bowl. Important 

decisions must be made by a multitude of persons based 

upon individual interpretation. Commonly, the decisions 

must be made immediately, and, even more commonly, 

questioners must be given help the rephrase their questions so that meaningful answers are possible. The realtime geologist requires a capability for translation and 

public relations so that the results of his scientific investigations and interpretations can be used by people 

needing the answers.

Sharpening the Near Vision: Lessons and 

Challenges for the Real-Time Geologist

The eruption of Mount St. Helens bears many lessons 

for the Geological Survey and for practitioners of realtime geology. Certainly some lessons are yet to be made 

clear. Implicit in each of these lessons is a challenge for 

the future. The lessons and challenges are not limited to 

'the prediction of volcanic eruptions but have wide applicability to anyone who would try to forecast the future 

behavior of the Earth and the processes which shape it, 

the prediction of earthquakes, glacier surges or retreats, 

ground water exhaustion or contamination, or future 

climatic changes.

When something happens to the land, 

one of the first things people reach for is 

a good topographic map. When seismic 

tremors began to alert people of the 

potential for a volcanic eruption, maps 

of the area were "on-the-shelf" and 

ready for use. The area had been initially 

mapped by the National Mapping Division of the U.S. Geological Survey in the 

late 1950's when 15-minute maps at a 

scale of 1:62,500 were first published. 

Aerial photographs obtained in 1975 and 

1979 had been processed into 7.5-minute 

orthophotoquads, which are scaleaccurate photographic "maps" with 

minimal cartographic annotations showing the immediate mountain area at a 

scale of 1:24,000. These photographs 

were used to generate preeruptive digital 

elevation model data.

Surveying and mapping activities were 

directed from the Division's Western 

Mapping Center, which worked closely 

with the Washington State Department 

of Natural Resources and the U.S. Forest 

Service, Department of Agriculture.

Prior to the eruption, initial special 

mapping efforts involved compiling five 

"bulge" maps at the 1:24,000 scale to 

record the developing preeruption 

topographic changes. These maps 

showed the growth of the northernmost 

portion of the volcano and were used by 

geologists to monitor the rate of expansion leading to the eruption.

Immediately after the eruption, existing maps were used to prepare a

special topographic vicinity map at a 

scale of 1:100,000 (1 inch equals about 

1.6 miles) that provided coverage for 

about 3,000 square miles, showing parts 

of Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, and Skamania 

Counties in Washington and Columbia 

County in Oregon. This map aided general planning in the devastated areas by 

scientists, land managers, law enforcement officers, and emergency support 

personnel. The map, published in four 

colors, was compiled and published 

within 3 weeks after the eruption of the 

volcano.

Division cartographers immediately 

ordered posteruption aerial photography 

to prepare new cartographic materials 

for the Mount St. Helens area. They included nine new 7.5-minute orthophotoquads at the 1:24,000 scale posteruption 

digital elevation model data and a 

1:50,000-scale mosaic of the orthophotoquads to provide a base for compiling 

scientific and resource data. Additional 

7.5-minute orthophotoquads for the 

Toutle and Cowlitz Rivers were prepared 

later for evaluations of drainage.

During July and August, two special 

crater maps were compiled at the 

1:24,000 scale with 20-foot contour intervals to show the configuration. These 

maps portrayed development of a new 

volcanic cone within the erupted crater 

basin before and after its subsequent 

eruption.

Cartographers also used the new aerial 

photography to revise the special vicinity

map published in early April to reflect 

surface changes that have occurred as a 

result of the eruption. The posteruption 

map will include extensive text, photographs, and diagrams on the reverse side 

and is expected to be published early in 

1981.

Plans call for new 7.5-minute 

topographic quadrangle maps at the 

1:24,000 scale to cover nearby or adjacent areas not yet mapped at that scale. 

Previously published maps of the series 

are being inspected and revised as needed to show changes brought about by 

the eruption.

Assistance is being provided to the 

Water Resources Division in preparation 

of large-scale, 4-foot contour-interval 

topographic channel maps at the 1:4,800 

scale. Assistance involves establishing 

precise vertical control at nine gaging 

stations. The maps, which will meet 

stringent accuracy standards, will be 

compiled by the National Mapping Division with assistance from commercial 

firms.

Such a large aerial survey and mapping program involved substantial coordination by the National Mapping Division 

with other Survey units as well as a wide 

variety of other Federal, State, and local 

agencies which depend on the maps for 

planning and analysis work. To aid the 

effort, the National Mapping Division's 

Resident Cartographer in Washington 

served as the onsite aerial survey or 

mapping coordinator and liaison official.

14 I Yearbook 1980
Septum from northeast, Summit Crater May 30, 1980.

The capability for looking into the future, even in an 

uncertain probabilistic way, will come from basic research 

into the nature of the geologic processes which may present future hazards; research to determine the history of 

past events, their nature, their frequency, and their effects; 

and research into the mechanics, the fundamental physics, 

and chemistry of the processes. Only through improved 

understanding can we improve our ability to take the 

Earth's pulse and estimate its future activity, benign or 

deadly. It will not be easy to know exactly what research 

to do, and the value of the research may not be obvious 

as it is being done. But the experience of Mount St. Helens 

emphasizes the value of combining the classical methods 

of investigation with the modern, of combining historical 

investigations with the process oriented, and of combining 

the geological, geophysical, and geochemical approaches. 

The real-time geologist must utilize the best of the 

classical methods along with the best of the most modern.

For a long time to come, problems of real-time geology 

will be at the leading edge of understanding in earth 

science. From a scientific point of view, this will make 

them fascinating. From the point of view of society, this 

will make these problems very difficult because uncertain 

scientific judgments will require flexible public policies, 

policies which may not always be as cost effective as they 

might be if their scientific basis were certain. The possibility must be faced squarely that a predicted event may fail 

to occur. The science of real-time geology is new. Little, if 

any, public policy is in place to utilize its results. Policy is 

exceedingly difficult to develop in advance, in the 

abstract. The challenge to the real-time geologist is that 

the public policy will be developed as we go along. Further, the real-time geologist will be asked to help make 

the policy, an area where geologists have little experience 

or expertise.

Many problems in real-time geology involve phenomena 

which pose substantial hazards to life and property. Consequently, the public pays much closer attention to studies 

in real-time geology than to classical investigations. This 

poses many problems for the earth scientist unaccustomed 

to doing his research under the bright lights of the television cameras. The pressures of the media can easily distort 

the perspectives of the scientists. In other cultures where 

less value is placed on openness, public attention need 

not be a problem, particularly if the impending phenomenon has few if any symptoms visible to the naked eye. But

in the United States, the public is perceived as having "a 

right to know," even to know many things which at that 

moment may be unknowable or, at least, very uncertain. 

Emergency preparedness requires leadership. Preparations 

against an unseen hazard, such as earthquakes, rarely spring from enlightened self interest. So public attention to 

the scientific findings, uncertain as they may be, is required to motivate public action. At the same time, the 

public attention and discussion can magnify sometimes 

subtle differences in judgment among scientists, reducing 

credibility in the public eye. Intense public attention 

makes the job of the real-time geologist no easier.

The natural instinct of a scientist is to follow his intuition, wherever the scent of discovery may lead him. Commonly, this instinct creates a tension with the need to 

plan. Contingency plans, however, must be in place to respond quickly and effectively to the threat or occurrence 

of a potentially hazardous geologic event.

The list of scientific problems ahead for real-time 

geologists in the Geological Survey is immensely challenging. What does the future hold for the other potentially explosive volcanoes of the Cascade Range and Alaska? 

When and where will the next major earthquake strike 

California? When will the Ogallala aquifer supplying water 

to the High Plains be exhausted? How can systems be 

designed and monitored to assure that hazardous wastes 

do not reach ground water supplies? What is the future of 

our climate?

The eruption of Mount St. Helens is only the beginning. 

We have entered the era of real-time geology. The 

challenges before the U.S. Geological Survey will require 

the highest quality of geologic research. However, these 

challenges will also require substantial growth in our ability to communicate our results and to assist in their interpretation and implementation.

" T ' " \ --_

Devastated area in the valley of the North Toutle River 

showing deforestation, reordered drainage, and the surface 

of debris flow and blast deposits of May 18.

Perspectives | 15
Ground-Water Contamination No "Quick Fix" in Sight

The Problem in Perspective

The full magnitude of ground-water contamination in 

the United States is not known, and Federal and State efforts to assess and address the problem more fully are being mobilized. Health concerns aroused by the large 

number of contamination cases discovered in recent years 

and the spectre of a more widespread problem likely to be 

revealed by systematic areal inventory have accelerated 

policy, management, regulatory, investigative, and public 

information initiatives.

Additionally, the local and aggregate impacts of these 

unsettling underground discoveries have evoked greater 

recognition of the important role of ground water in the 

national water supply. Contamination events, which commonly lead to closure of supply wells and attendant hardships to users, are unhappy but vivid reminders that half 

the population of the Nation is served by ground water 

and 41 percent of agricultural irrigation water is pumped 

from ground-water reservoirs and that in many localities 

ground water is the only economical source of high-quality 

water. Contaminated ground water has limited utility, and, 

practically speaking, deterioration in quality constitutes a 

permanent loss of water resource because treatment of 

the water or rehabilitation of the aquifers is presently 

generally impractical.

The contamination situation has also brought under 

scrutiny the role of the land and underlying aquifers in the 

growing national waste-management predicament. Landuse practices have placed ground-water quality in jeopardy on a wider front than earlier perceived as the result of 

both deliberate and unintentional release of waste liquids 

into soils and rocks and subsequently into ground water 

(fig. 1). Several decades of vigorous and generally successful reduction in waste discharge into the atmosphere

and into surface bodies of water have stimulated land 

disposal as an economically attractive and readily accessible alternative practice, which is sanctioned and encouraged by the Government with suitable precautions. 

However, as threats to water, environment, and health are 

recognized, stricter requirements are being imposed, and 

the door to the remaining waste-disposal domain the 

land and the subsurface is closing. The land has always 

been an inadvertent or deliberate recipient of human and 

animal wastes, and likely it always will be. Complete control of all sources of ground-water contamination will 

never be economically or physically possible. It is the 

levels of protection that must be decided.

In attempts to characterize the seriousness of the situation for legislators and the public, the known cases of 

underground hazardous waste contamination have been 

described collectively as "the tip of the iceberg," with the 

prediction that "this will become the environmental issue 

of the 1980's," or, more direly, "the environmental horror 

story of the eighties." And, indeed, the list of contaminated sites is lengthening as the intensity of search 

mounts.

What, then, can the earth scientist contribute to rational 

perspective and practicable solutions for this unwieldy 

perplexing public problem?

Earth scientists have established a record of contribution to public and governmental understanding of naturalresources and land-management issues. Much of the earth 

science information now produced by the U.S. Geological 

Survey is directly usable in planning for the management 

of the Nation's minerals, water, land, and environment. 

Also, the relevance of supporting programs of fundamental research to resource and environmental concerns is

EXPLANATION

Intentional route Waste disposal practices most directly 

 ^ Unintentional route L affecting ground-water quality

FIGURE 1. Waste disposal practices and the routes of contaminants from solid and liquid wastes. (Adapted from The 

Report to Congress: Waste Disposal Practices and Their Effects on Ground Water: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 

January 1977, p. 7, fig. 1.)

16 I Yearbook 1980
readily demonstrable. The Geological Survey's hydrological and water-resources contributions, particularly, are 

commonly problem oriented or problem related, stemming 

from the intimate relations of water with human 

endeavors and the local and areal studies engendered by 

the long-standing cooperative water-resources program 

with State agencies. These "grass roots" investigations are 

especially compatible with the localized nature of wastedisposal contamination of ground water.

The ground-water contamination problem is rooted in 

our vigorous agroindustrial society, with accompanying 

population growth, urbanization, and increasing stress on 

land and water. In reality, at issue are a multitude of 

distinctive and overlapping problems, irregularly 

distributed throughout the country, for which future 

preventive actions are much more promising than remedial 

reclamation measures. New legal, institutional, and 

technical ground will need to be paved. Viewed by the 

scientist, then, ground-water contamination is deep seated 

and not amenable to "quick fixes" or nostrums. Instead, 

long-term, expensive, and complex protective, preventive, 

and corrective measures lie ahead which, to be effective 

and affordable, must be designed around a working 

knowledge of controlling field conditions socioeconomic, 

hydrogeologic, and geographic.

Contamination of ground water by land practices and 

malpractices is not a new phenomenon in the United 

States. Events in the 1800's are on record. Two centuries 

of development undoubtedly invoked a significant 

cumulative tolj on the quality of shallow ground water 

even before the advent of the exotic pernicious chemicals 

ushered into the environment in the post World War II 

period. Despite the resource's history of chemical and 

hydraulic stress, the volume of ground water significantly 

degraded can still be assumed to be extremely small compared to the enormous volumes of unaffected water in 

storage nationally. Intensified inventory may allow an 

estimate of the portion degraded, but it seems apparent 

that the resource historically has demonstrated resiliency 

except under the harshest treatment. Without minimizing 

the seriousness of cases of contamination recorded to 

date, these events have served to sound the alert at a 

relatively early stage that finds the overall safety and 

usefulness of the Nation's ground-water resources largely 

undiminished.

For much of the country, then, there is time for informed planning and program design. The following sections of this paper chronicle governmental programs, 

authorized, legislated, and implemented, including a comprehensive national strategy for ground-water protection 

now in preparation under the leadership of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that will set forth an 

organized countrywide rationale for systematic attention 

to ground-water quality.

Federal and State Programs

The Nation has made advances in the reduction of some 

sources of ground-water contamination, but the bulk of 

the effort lies ahead. Comprehensive management of the 

Nation's ground water is a pioneer enterprise. Policy, 

managerial, regulatory, and technical precedents are rare. 

Local and State management is uneven effective in some 

States and in various stages of evolvement in others. The 

States now have environmental protection laws and waterquality legislation generally suitable at least for exercise 

of protective measures for ground-water quality, if not for 

more comprehensive management. Organizational and 

program improvements are in evidence; although similar 

to the Federal record, ground-water quality protection and

management has been given second-class priority compared to surface water.

Recent State initiatives are identical to those spurring 

Federal efforts, concern for loss of usable water, endangerment of health and environment, and the compelling incentives imparted by publicized "horror stories." Specific 

"point sources" that lead to localized cases of groundwater contamination are receiving more attention initially 

than "nonpoint" areal and regional contamination 

originating from more widespread activities, including the 

collective diffused effects of large clusters of point-source 

contamination events. Nonpoint problems pose the greater 

managerial and technical challenge. By virtue of the 

localized occurrence of many ground-water quality problems, it can be anticipated that the national ground-water 

protection strategy now under development by the Environmental Protection Agency will install a prominent 

frontline role for the States.

Existing Federal water-quality legislation pertains 

primarily to the Nation's surface water; ground water is addressed rarely. A few statutes pertain specifically to 

ground water, and interpretative ingenuity has yielded 

others that, by intent or phraseology, are concluded to embrace the ground-water resource. The record of Federal 

legislation concerning water quality provides a chronicle 

of evolving programs that consider the ground-water 

resource and its protection.

The Refuse Act, one section of the River and Harbor Act 

of 1899, has been employed with success during the past 

decade as authority to regulate discharge of wastes to 

navigable streams. Though primarily focused on rivers, 

provisions of the act address land management as an influence on environmental and water quality and, 

therefore, have ground-water quality significance. Further 

progress toward national water-quality management is 

reflected in passage of the Water Pollution Control Act of 

1948. Here, too, the primary emphasis is on stream-quality 

improvement, but, by a passing reference to ground water, 

the act was a precursor of broader amended legislation to 

follow in several decades.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Energy 

Research and Development Administration of the U.S. 

Department of Energy, and the Environmental Protection 

Agency share responsibilities and collaborate in the control of radioactive materials and emissions and in other actions necessary to protect the public health and environment from harmful radioactivity. The Atomic Energy Act 

of 1954 assigns principal regulatory responsibility to the 

Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The Environmental Protection Agency establishes standards for protection of the 

general environment from radioactivity. Water is the 

primary agent for transport of nuclear contaminants 

disposed of on the land. Disposal of radioactive waste 

materials without serious jeopardy to the environment and 

water resources is a societal and technical challenge.

Environmental impact analyses and statements required 

before initiation of certain Federal activities or construction under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 

have drawn attention to the functions of water in the 

biosphere and to the's'usceptibility of the water resources 

to contamination. Water concerns and hydrologic investigations precipitated by the act undoubtedly have 

served to raise consciousness of the existence of the 

ground-water resource and its significant role in land and 

water management. /

The Federal Water Pollution Control Act, which was 

amended in 1972 and which established a major nationwide program of waste management, pointed to surfacewater quality improvement and protection. Ground-water

Perspectives | 17
relevance is left to inference in most of the act, but 

several sections clearly apply to that resource, and implementing programs are evolving. Section 208 is the most 

pertinent. It supports and encourages statewide and areal 

planning for waste management for the purposes of environmental and water-quality protection. The broad planning promoted by the act is especially appropriate to the 

solution of areally extensive ground-water contamination 

problems of nonpoint origin.

Two other sections of the amended act clearly apply to 

ground water. Section 304(e) requires that the Environmental Protection Agency issue guidelines to State and Federal 

agencies on how to deal with both nonpoint contamination and a long list of specific potential sources, including 

waste-disposal wells, surface impoundments, landfills, septic waste systems, saltwater intrusion, and the degradation 

of water quality attributable to pumping water from wells. 

Section 402 makes provision for issuance of permits by the 

States to regulate disposal of wastes in wells. However, 

the requirement is limited in both interpretation and application to deep waste-injection wells only.

The goal of the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 is evident in its name; it is intended to assure safe drinking 

water for all persons supplied by public water systems. It 

includes provisions intended specifically to protect 

aquifers utilized as sources of drinking water and to control and protect them from subsurface waste discharge 

(underground injection). Special protection is afforded to 

"sole-source" or "principal drinking-water-source" aquifers. 

Requirements of the act apply only to Federal and 

Federally supported activities that endanger drinking-water 

sources, but it serves as a base or model for parallel State 

controls. As of now, sole-source aquifers have been 

designated for the following localities: Fresno, Calif., 

Miami, Fla. (Biscayne aquifer), San Antonio, Tex. (Edwards 

Limestone), Spokane-Rathdrum Prairie, Wash.-Idaho, 

Passaic River Basin, N.J. (buried valley), Long Island, N.Y., 

and Ten Mile Creek, Md. Four others are being initiated: 

southwestern Missouri, karst aquifer system, Cape Cod, 

Mass., New Jersey coastal plain, and Scott Valley, Calif. A 

number of additional localities have been proposed.

The Resources Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 

regulates the management, storage, transportation, and 

disposal of hazardous wastes. The main thrust is improved 

land-disposal practices, which would have obvious potential benefits to ground-water quality protection.

These legislated programs do not constitute an exhaustive listing of Federal actions benefiting ground-water 

quality. The Environmental Protection Agency administers 

the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 and the Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act of 1972 as well as 

other programs whose broad purpose is to limit release of 

harmful chemicals to the environment, though they may 

not address the ground-water domain directly. And many 

Federal Departments carry mission-oriented responsibilities 

for land and resource management and environmental protection that include water-resources concerns. The Surface 

Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 administered 

by the Department of the Interior is one example, and innumerable relevant activities can be identified in programs 

of the Department of Agriculture, the Army Corps of 

Engineers, and the Department of Commerce.

Thus, the array of Federal and State programs that deal 

with the environment and water contains some measure of 

ground-water quality protection, and, collectively, these 

programs constitute the foundation for expanded effort. 

However, it should be noted that fundamental policies 

concerning how the Nation should address this broad complex issue are yet to be formulated. The Environmental

Protection Agency is engaged in development of a national ground-water protection strategy to define policies 

and national program goals. Because of the far-reaching 

effects of contamination, the strategy is being devised 

with State and broad public participation.

U.S. Geological Survey Investigations

Knowledge of the makeup and workings of the Earth is 

a basic requirement for the design of technically sound 

economic measures for the management of ground-water 

quality. Land usage determines the nature, source, and 

severity of contamination events in the subsurface, and 

management of the Nation's ground-water quality is tied 

to land-use practices. Figure 2 illustrates the hydrologic 

connection diagrammatically. Ground-water quality cannot 

be addressed in isolation.

The Water Resources Division of the Geological Survey 

addresses water-information requirements of the Nation 

through comprehensive programs of investigation, data 

collection, and research. Collaboration with the States and 

with a number of Federal agencies enables local, State, 

regional, and national levels of work. Multidiscipline 

technical teams pursue hydraulic, chemical quality, and 

geochemical investigations in tandem or integrally, and 

ground water is infused among these programs. The work 

of the Water Resources Division cannot be separated 

clearly into surface- and ground-water components, but 

ground water is estimated to constitute about 40 percent 

of the organization's total program.

The "grass roots" Cooperative Program with State 

geological and water agencies (see pages 120-129) is particularly conducive to ground-water investigation because 

a large share of the problems is of localized areal extent. 

These jointly funded investigations deal with an array of 

general and specific water concerns. The increasing 

number of investigations concerned specifically with 

ground-water contamination is a measure of the 

Cooperative Program's response to that growing problem. 

During the 1950's, 6 contamination reports were published; 

during the 1960's, there were 42 reports; and, during the 

1970's,121.

Broader programs of national scope, funded solely with 

Federal funds, include investigations of regional and national scale, systematic hydrologic observations, and 

research. "Thrust" programs address critical national water 

problems. In 1978, the Geological Survey initiated the major Regional Aquifer-System Analysis Program for the purpose of providing regional hydrologic descriptions for the 

28 principal aquifer systems of the country. These regional 

studies complement the State cooperative investigations; 

together, they provide a foundation of technical information on flow systems and quality of water to aid all levels 

of planning and management. With regard to contamination problems, an effort is being made in the Regional 

Aquifer-System Analysis Program to interpret water-quality 

and geochemical information integrally with knowledge of 

the flow systems to predict large-area water-quality problems of the future and to aid in the design of preventive, 

management, and, where practicable, corrective measures.

A number of other national Geological Survey programs 

deal with critical water- and waste-management problems 

involving ground-water quality and contamination. The 

decade-old Subsurface Waste Storage Program addresses 

hydrologic principles and terrane suitability associated 

with practices of subsurface waste disposal, contamination, and ground-water-quality management. A major program concerned with nuclear energy hydrology is yielding 

scientific information required to manage, store, and

18 I Yearbook 1980
Recharge of

contaminated

water

Aquiclude

FIGURE 2. Diagram showing contamination of an aquifer by leaching of surface solids. (Adapted from Ground Water Contamination and Legal Controls in Michigan, by Morris Deutsch: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 7697, 7963, p. 35, fig. 14.)

dispose of radioactive waste materials. These programs 

represent efforts of substantial proportions but are only a 

small version of the investigative and research effort likely 

to be required to provide adequate earth science information for management of ground-water quality.

The immensity of the Nation, the chemical and physical 

diversity of its terrane, and intensity of land usage pose 

major challenges for ground-water quality management, 

and much remains to be learned. Special challenges rest 

with geochemical hydrology and predictive methodologies. 

Simulation methods have become basic tools of groundwater hydrology, but only hydraulic flow models are well 

established and fully operational. Solute transport models 

that aid prediction of the movement of inorganic constituents in ground water are in hand, but additional field 

testing and verification are needed. Accuracy and reliability are dependent on improved methods for acquiring the 

physical and chemical data from study sites utilized in the 

mass transport equations. Transport models for organic 

solutes pose still additional difficulties that will entail 

more extensive laboratory and field study.

The Outlook

Ground-water contamination problems now attracting 

wide governmental and public concern in this country are 

rooted in land- and water-management practices. Solutions 

rest largely in changing these practices to take into account the susceptibility of the ground-water resources to 

degradation. Federal and State actions are now in 

evidence, and more comprehensive policies and programs 

are being devised. Although restoration of contaminated 

ground water is generally impractical, legal and physical 

means to limit further influx of contaminants are available 

and improving.

Seriously degraded ground water probably constitutes 

only a minor fraction of the total national ground-water 

supply. Local predicaments notwithstanding, the bulk of 

the resource remains unaffected, and there remains time 

for carefully conceived plans based, to the extent practicable, on adequate and accurate information. No "quick 

fixes" are likely. As the known dimensions of the problem 

expand, State and Federal geological and water agencies 

can expect accelerated demands for scientific and 

technical information to cope with site cases, areal nonpoint problems, and broader regional and national 

management measures.

Perspectives | 19

Missions, Organization, 

and Budget

Missions

When the U.S. Geological Survey was established by an 

act of Congress in 1879, it was charged with the responsibility for the "classification of public lands and examination of the geological structure, mineral resources, and 

products of the national domain." Over the years, the 

evolution of the earth sciences, the need to carefully 

manage the Nation's nonrenewable resources and to find 

new sources of scarce energy and mineral commodities, 

and the mounting concern regarding the impact of man on 

the Nation's environment have added numerous other 

duties including topographic and geologic mapping, 

chemical and physical research, stream-gaging and waterresource assessments, and supervision of mineral exploration and development activities on Federal and Indian 

lands.

In general, the Survey's activities are oriented toward 

two basic missions, scientific and regulatory. The first mission is to collect, to analyze, and to publish information 

about the Nation's energy, mineral, land, and water 

resources; to conduct research to determine the geologic 

structure of the United States; and to develop an 

understanding of Earth processes arid history. The second 

is to classify Federal lands as to their water and mineral 

potential and to supervise the activities of lessees who explore for and develop the mineral resources of Federal and 

Indian lands and the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). Both 

missions and their supporting activities are directed 

towards the goal of assuring that the Nation's mineral 

resources are identified, conserved, and developed in an 

orderly, timely, and diligent fashion; that the American 

people receive a fair return on the value of their leased 

resources; and that mineral exploration and production activities on Federal and Indian lands are conducted with 

due regard for the interests of the communities directly affected and with minimum damage to other resource and 

environmental values.

Right Mitten, Monument Valley, Utah and Arizona.

Organization

The Geological Survey is headquartered at Reston, Va., 

and maintains a nationwide organization consisting of 

three Regions and more than 200 Offices located 

throughout the United States. The Survey is organized into 

four Program Divisions (National Mapping, Geologic, 

Water Resources, and Conservation), two major Offices 

(Earth Sciences Applications and National Petroleum 

Reserve in Alaska), and two support Divisions (Administrative and Computer Center), each reporting to the 

Director of the Survey as shown in the diagram appearing 

on pages 112 and 113 in the section entitled "Organizational 

and Statistical Data." Information on the reorganization of 

the Geological Survey during fiscal year 1980 appears in 

the "Year in Review" chapter.

A number of Assistant Directorships coordinate the activities and relations among the Divisions and the three 

Regional Offices and render staff services to the Director 

and Associate Director in certain specified areas such as 

program analysis; energy, mineral, and water resources 

and management; geologic engineering; and regulation.

The Geological Survey's field organization is made up 

of Regional Offices at Reston, Va., Denver, Colo., and 

Menlo Park, Calif., and a network of field and specialpurpose offices. These offices coordinate and administer 

the work of the Survey's widely dispersed activities. The 

Water Resources Division, for example, has District Offices in 45 of the 50 States and 1 in Puerto Rico. The Conservation Division maintains 70 Area, District, and Inspection Offices close to its areas of work on the public lands 

and adjacent to areas of petroleum development on the 

Outer Continental Shelf. A directory of the Survey's National Center and selected field offices begins on page114.

Missions, Organization, and Budget | 21
Budget

Total obligations incurred by the 

Geological Survey in fiscal year 1980 

were $782 million, an increase of $17 

million over those for the preceding 

year. Obligations for "Surveys, Investigations, and Research" were $469 million, 

an increase of $51 million over those for 

fiscal year 1979. Included in this increase 

were new or expanded programs for 

wilderness mineral surveys, coal programs, regional aquifer analyses, Earth 

Resources Observation Systems, volcano 

hazards, and onshore and Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas programs. 

Obligations for "Exploration of National 

Petroleum Reserve in Alaska" were $170 

million in fiscal year 1980, a decrease of 

$47 million over those for the previous 

year.

Funds from other Federal agencies, 

States, and non-Federal sources 

amounted to $143 million, an increase of 

$13 million over those for fiscal year 

1979. Included in this amount were $47 

million from States, counties, and 

municipalities under the "Federal-State 

Cooperative Program," $3 million more 

than that for fiscal year 1979.

Just as the Survey performs services 

within its own field of expertise for other 

agencies by means of reimbursable 

agreements, outside sources are relied 

upon by the Survey for the accomplishment of an increasing share of its 

workload. Funds obligated for grants and 

contractual services have risen from less 

than $25 million in fiscal year 1973 (11.5 

percent of total funds) to $150 million in 

fiscal year 1980 (24.5 percent of total 

funds, excluding National Petroleum 

Reserve in Alaska). The $170 million 

obligated under "Exploration of National 

Petroleum Reserve in Alaska" was 

almost entirely for contractual services.

The table shows a comparison of 

obligations in fiscal year 1979 and 1980 

by major budget activity, and figure 1 

depicts the annual obligations incurred 

by each activity from 1970 to 1980.

A 10-year comparative analysis of 

obligations incurred under direct and 

reimbursable program activities is 

presented in figure 2.

Detailed supplementary budget and 

statistical tables are available upon request from the Program Office, U.S. 

Geological Survey, 105 National Center, 

Reston, VA 22092.

Direct Federal funds $639.10

I'MTKI) STATES »rA.MKl{|l(

E 6760il

Miscellaneous

non-Federal

sources $16.80

Other Federal 

agencies $79.30

U.S. Geological Survey obligations for fiscal years 

7979 and 1980, by activity

[Dollars in millions. Data may differ from that in statistical tables 

because of founding]

Activity

Fiscal year 

1979

Total __________ $764.72

Federal share $46.80 State share $46.80 

Federal-State Cooperative Program

SOURCE OF FUNDS

TOTAL $782.10 MILLION

National Mapping, 

Geography, and 

Surveys $82.68

I

Geologic and 

Mineral Resource 

Surveys and 

Mapping $193.65

Fiscal year 

1980

$782.12

Direct programs ____ 634.89 639.13 

Reimbursable programs. 129.83 142.99

Alaska Pipeline Related

Investigations _______ ____________

National Mapping Geography

and Surveys _________ 74.56____82.68

Direct programs ______ 65.58 72.76 

Reimbursable programs _ 8.98____9.92

Geologic and Mineral 

Resource Surveys and 

Mapping __________ 178.56 193.65

Direct programs ______ 134.85 146.96 

Reimbursable programs- 43.71 46.69

Water Resources

Investigations _______ 168.60 184.87

Direct programs ______ 96.85 108.66 

Reimbursable programs_ 71.75____76.21

Conservation of Lands and

Minerals __________ 85.48 106.40 

Direct programs ______ 85.36 105.93 

Reimbursable programs_____.12_____.47

Office of Earth Sciences

Applications ________ 23.96 23.73

Direct programs ______ 19.96 18.93 

Reimbursable programs_ 4.00____4.80

General administration ___ 3.66____3.77 

Facilities ___________ 11.74 12.27

Miscellaneous services to

other accounts ______ 1.26____4.91

National Petroleum

Reserve in Alaska _____ 216.89 169.85

Direct programs ______ 216.89 169.85 

Allocation transfer ____ __ ____

Conservation of Lands 

and Minerals $106.40

Water 

Resources 

Investigations 

$184.87

Office of Earth 

Science 

Applications $23.73

National 

Petroleum 

Reserve in 

Alaska $169.85

USE OF FUNDS General administration facilities and 

miscellaneous services $20.95

22 Yearbook 1980
o.

03cO.tou>

OBLIGATIONS (dollars in millions)

OBLIGATIONS (dollars in millions!

 o 

S

ID

it

O g 3 5"

?

a- 5

oI
Personnel

Although the workload of the Survey has grown dramatically during the past 6 

years, its permanent employment has risen very little from 8,357 at the end of 

fiscal year 1974 to 9,309 at the end of fiscal year 1980, an increase of 11 percent. 

The increased responsibilities related to the Survey's scientific activities have been 

accomplished with an essentially level full-time work force; virtually all of the increases in full-time personnel have been directed to the rapid increases in 

regulatory activities. These are principally related to energy exploration and 

development on Federal lands. Although much of the nonregulatory program increases have been "contracted out" as described in the preceding section, a 

substantial share of the additional work is being performed by the Survey's otherthan-permanent employees. The number of these part-time positions has more 

than doubled since fiscal year 1973, as shown in figure 1. The Survey has profited 

greatly from its utilization of other-than-permanent employees. Many eminent 

specialists have been employeed on a part-time basis and have afforded the 

Survey great flexibility in meeting surges in the workload. The arrangement also 

has unique advantages in bringing the academic community into close and continuing contact with government on a personal level.

Staff distribution among the several Divisions is shown in figure 2. Scientists, 

engineers, and other professionals comprise roughly one-half of the Survey's total 

permanent staff, and technical specialists account for an additional 22 percent 

Hydrologists and geologists predominate among the professional corps, 17 percent 

of whom have doctoral degrees. These and other aspects of the Survey's permanent work force are presented graphically in figure 3.

24 I Yearbook 1980
13-

12-

11

Total employment

Permanent full-time employment

T3 

C 

CD

O

.c 

c

10

Mini

Hill

1970

11111

END OF FISCAL YEAR

1980

Water Resources

Division

2,805

National

Mapping

Division

1,740

FIGURE 1. U.S. Geological Survey end-of-year employment 

for fiscal year 1970 to 1980.

ice of Earth 

Sciences Applications

125

Directors Office,

Administrative Division,

and Facilities

552

Computer Center Division

185 

Publications Division

139

_ of National Petroleum 

Reserve in Alaska 

24

iTAL PERMANENT FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT 9,309

Figure 2. Distribution of permanent full-time U.S. 

Geological Survey employees as of the end of fiscal year 

1980, by organization. (Publications Division number 

represents remainder of personnel to be reassigned to other 

organizational units.)

Professional 

5,007

Administrative 

1,954

Hydrologists 

1,384

Permanent full-time

employees by 

position category Cartographers

513

physicists 317 

Petroleum engineers 

232

Engineers 160 

Chemists 

219

Permanent full-time

professional employees

Permanent full-time by occupation

employees by

education

FIGURE 3. Permanent full-time U.S. Geological Survey employees, by type.

Missions, Organization, and Budget 25
26 I Yearbook 1980
/

National Mapping, Geography, 

and Surveys

A New Era

Perhaps not since application of aerial 

photography to mapping has the science 

and technology of portraying the things 

of the Earth been in such a state of 

change. Growing and more sophisticated 

demands for earth science information 

and the opportunities for handling the information through computer technology 

have created a new era in cartography 

and geography.

The U.S. Geological Survey is acutely 

aware of changes in public expectations 

and technology related to mapping. As 

the Nation's principal earth sciences 

agency, it has led many of the developments and, in fiscal year 1980, brought 

into being a new National Mapping Division to continue that leadership role , 

through the remaining years of the 20th 

century.

In fall 1979, the Department of the Interior approved a Geological Survey 

recommendation establishing a National 

Mapping Division from units within the 

agency. The proposal brought together 

Survey components with mapping and 

map-related responsibilities, including 

the Topographic Division, most elements 

of the Publications Division, and the 

Survey's Geography Program. The purpose was to form a broad-based mapping 

organization built on the scientific disciplines of cartography and geography, incorporating related technical and 

physical resources of map printing and 

distribution. The new Division also included an important new component for 

managing and disseminating cartographic and geographic information.

The National Mapping Division was 

established on an interim basis in 

January 1980. Work has since proceeded 

on details of the organization and personnel and financial arrangements 

necessary to bring the unit into formal 

operation by the start of fiscal year 1981.

Organization Highlights

There are several significant organizational developments for the new Division.

The Research staff has undergone 

perhaps the most substantial change. It 

was previously organized into major 

functions associated with mapping field surveys, cartography, and 

photogrammetry. It is now composed of 

three major offices, two of which are for 

basic and applied research in cartography and geography and the third of

which is primarily designed for providing 

engineering and technical assistance for 

production activities. Research activities 

are being strengthened and more clearly 

separated from on-going production 

needs.

A central Plans and Operations staff 

plans and budgets the Division's programs, oversees accomplishments, 

manages international activities, and 

coordinates and manages various 

management information systems.

Previously separate components have 

been brought together into a single 

organization responsible for planning 

and developing policies and procedures 

for scientific information and product 

distribution services. It consists of a new 

product distribution policy office, a National Cartographic and Geographic Information Service, an Office of Publications Liaison and Review, and the 

Geological Survey's Public Inquiries Offices. The organization reflects the 

Survey's desire to improve the flow of 

earth sciences information to the public. 

Particular emphasis is being placed on 

complete information programs, such as 

digital spatial data (geographic and cartographic data in computer formats).

Field Units

The National Mapping Division's field 

organization carries forward the former 

Topographic Division's four mapping 

centers as principal locations for map 

production. These centers continue to be 

points of contact and coordination for 

mapping on a regional basis, working 

with other Federal agencies and coordinating joint mapping activities with the 

States.

A fifth center includes the printing and 

distribution units of the former Publications Division and is situated in Reston, 

Va. It is also responsible for warehouses 

in Arlington, Va., Denver, Colo., and Anchorage, Alaska, as well as the Survey's 

printing plant at the National Center, 

Reston.

The Survey's mapping centers are 

situated in Reston, Va., Rolla, Mo., 

Denver, Colo., and Menlo Park, Calif.

Major Activities

The National Mapping Division conducts the National Mapping Program of 

the United States, which includes the 

following major activities:

 Quadrangle mapping and revision, including production and revision of 

7.5-minute maps at 1:24,000 scale in 

Inch-Pound System Units and 

1:25,000 scale in metric units for the 

conterminous United States, Hawaii, 

and developing areas in Alaska, and 

maps at 1:63,360 scale (Inch-Pound 

System Units) and 1:50,000 scale 

(metric units) for Alaska.

 Small-scale and special mapping, including preparation of maps and 

map products from the intermediate 

scale (1:50,000 and 1:100,000) series 

to the small-scale U.S. base maps 

(1:250,000).

 Information and data services, which 

include acquisition and dissemination of information about the Nation's maps, charts, aerial and space 

photographs; geodetic control, cartographic and geographic (spatial) 

data, and other related information; 

distribution of earth science information to the public; and sale of 

map and map-related products ' 

through nearly 2,000 private 

retailers.

 Advanced development and engineering, including modernization of 

mapping to improve the quality of 

standard products; to provide new 

products, such as digital cartographic data, that make maps and 

map-related information more useful 

to people; to reduce costs and to increase productivity of mapping activities; to acquire innovative and 

more useful equipment; and to 

design and develop new techniques 

and systems, such as building and 

testing components for an advanced 

airborne system designed to speed 

surveying important areas of the Nation.

 Digital cartographic and geographic 

research with particular emphasis on 

spatial data techniques for multidisciplinary studies employing methods 

of modern geographic analysis and 

to develop new and improved cartographic concepts and techniques.

 Digital mapping is a program to produce base categories of cartographic data in standard scales, accuracies, and formats suitable for 

computer-based analysis in response 

to high-priority Federal requirements.

National Mapping, Geography, and Surveys | 27
Budget and Personnel

For fiscal year 1980, National Mapping Division obligations amounted to $82.68 million, an increase of about 7 

percent over fiscal year 1979. Included are funds from 40 

States, which, when matched by Federal funds, amounted 

to more than $6.4 million for cooperative mapping. The 

cooperative projects mutually benefit the State and national program by ensuring completion of map coverage 

sooner than would otherwise be possible.

The National Mapping Program of the Geological 

Survey is carried out through a combination of in-house 

and cooperative efforts and contracts. The in-house effort 

involves about 1,994 career employees, many with special 

training in geography, cartography, data processing, 

engineering, photographic technology, and the physical 

sciences. About 254 additional employees, many on workstudy programs, serve as temporary aids.

SOURCE OF FUNDS

TOTAL $82.68 MILLION

Miscellaneous non- Other Federal 

Federal $0.60\ agencies 

Direct Federal funds $72.76 $6.24

?' TIIK I'XITKll STATES OFAMKltH A

E67604508 

5

E6760U508C V;J

1^ I 1 I j fi ^ T! . fcfc . . . . .... ~ »

Federal share7

$3.08 

Federal-State Cooperative program

State share 

$3.08

National Mapping Division activity obligations for 

fiscal years 7979 and 1980, by subactivity

[Dollars in millions. Data may differ from that in statistical tables 

because of rounding]

Program

Fiscal year Fiscal year 

1979 1980

Total __________ $74.57

Quadrangle Mapping and 

Revision _____________

Direct programs ______ 

Reimbursable programs __ 

States, counties, and 

municipalities _______

Miscellaneous nonFederal sources ____ 

Other Federal agencies ___

Small-Scale and Special

Mapping ____________

Direct programs _______

Reimbursable programs ___ 

States, counties, and 

municipalities _____

Miscellaneous nonFederal sources ______

Other Federal agencies __

National Cartographic

Information Center _____

Direct programs _ __ 

Digital Mapping ________

Direct programs ___ _ 

Reimbursement programs _

States, counties and 

municipalities _______

Miscellaneous nonFederal sources ____

Other Federal agencies _

Geography program ________

Direct programs __ _ 

Reimburseable programs _

States, counties, and 

municipalities _______

Miscellaneous nonFederal sources __ 

Other Federal 

_____agencies ______

60.53

54.52

6.01

2.83

.24 

2.94

11.02

8.05

2.97

.54

.36 

2.07

3.02

3.02

$82.68

63.88

56.02

7.86

2.70

.42 

4.74

10.05

8.13

1.92

.38

.16 

1.38

2.93

2.93

2.29

2.23 

.06

0

.02 

.04

3.53

3.45 

.08

0

0

08

USE OF FUNDS

Small Scale and Special Mapping

^ $10.05 

-Quadrangle Mapping and Revision $63.88-

Tin: rxiTKD STATES OFA>

t»TrNational Cartographic Information 

Center Direct $2.93

Geography 

Program $3.53

Direct $3.45

^Reimbursable 

$0.08

I Reimbursable 

Direct $2.23 $0.06 

Digital Mapping $2.29

28 | Yearbook 1980
Quadrangle Mapping and Revision

During the fiscal year, 1,111 new standard topographic maps were published, 

covering 63,327 square miles. Most of the maps were in the 7.5-minute 

1:24,000-scale series (1:63,360-scale series in Alaska). There are 16 States with complete published topographic map coverage at 1:24,000 scale. These maps also are 

used to prepare small-scale and special maps.

As national coverage in the 7.5-minute series increases, the map revision 

workload grows. The need for revision of individual maps is set by the amount of 

change detected when published maps are compared to new aerial photographs. 

Maps are reviewed cyclically with emphasis on urban areas, coastal zones, airports, major transportation corridors, and other areas of high national interest. 

During the fiscal year, 2,919 7.5-minute maps were reviewed, and 1,355 revised 

maps were published.

Orthophotographs are produced by processing aerial photographs to correct image displacement caused by camera tilt and terrain variations. In a standard 

quadrangle format with grid and name information superimposed, orthophotographs become orthophotoquads, which have many applications as a 

map substitute or as companions to published line maps. In fiscal year 1980, 2,579 

orthophotoquads were prepared. Copies produced by printing are available for a 

limited number with the bulk available in nonlithographic form (diazo print) on request to regional mapping centers.

The orthophotoquad program was undertaken by the U.S. Geological Survey to 

produce rapidly a minimal cartographic product covering areas of the Nation yet 

to be mapped at 1:24,000 scale. The program, started in 1973, is now virtually 

complete in terms of initial coverage. Orthophotoquads continue to be made, 

though, from new aerial photography to meet substantial public demand for these 

scale-accurate and distortion-free map complements.

EXPLANATION

Orthophotoquads available

In program

HAWAII

°&0

Status of orthophotoquad production.

National Mapping, Geography, and Surveys 29
»

. - HI 

^ sn^

EXPLANATION

1 5' Mapping 

7.5 Mapping 

Revision in progress

PUERTO RICO& 

VIRGIN ISLANDS

Status of standard topographic mapping and revision.

30 | Yearbook 1980
Mapping production for fiscal year 1980

[In square miles]

State

1:24,000-scale 

topographic

1:24,000-scale 

orthophotoquads

1:24,000-scale 

revisions

Intermediate 

scale

Alabama __________

Alaska ___________

Arizona ___________

Arkansas __________

California _________

Colorado _________

Connecticut _______

Delaware _________

District of Columbia 

Florida ___________

Georgia __________

Hawaii ___________

Idaho _____:____

Illinois ___________

Indiana ___________

Iowa _____________

Kansas ___________

Kentucky _________

Louisiana _________

Maine ____________

Maryland _________

Massachusetts _____

Michigan _________

Minnesota ________

Mississippi ______

Missouri __________

Montana __________

Nebraska _________

Nevada ___________

New Hampshire __.

New Jersey _____. 

New Mexico ____. 

New York ______. 

North Carolina ___. 

North Dakota ___.

Ohio ________. 

Oklahoma _____. 

Oregon _______. 

Pennsylvania ___. 

Rhode Island ___.

South Carolina ___. 

South Dakota ___. 

Tennessee ____. 

Texas ________. 

Utah ________.

Vermont ______. 

Virginia _______. 

Washington ____. 

West Virginia ___. 

Wisconsin _____. 

Wyoming ______.

Guam ________. 

Puerto Rico ______

Samoa _______. 

Virgin Islands ___.

3,701

948

4,155

490

3,852

2,085

2,203

1,152

2,673

5,808

630

377

64

3,562

3,682

1,287

4,563

104

1,316

1,182

303

1,588

1,220

2,351

2,112

1,186

48

6,104

1,033

4

247

2,233

108

262

1,998

16,471

16,655

321

1,167

1,000

708

6,612

1,848

906

24,533

11,165

1,816

5,516

581

280

2,065

2,348

561

1,256

5,455

14,555

325

184

2,326

886

18,256

1,008

1,178

1,281

5,499

4,466

58

1,827

2,322

855

1,653

389

3,920

1,357

3,648

2,088

2,200

486

1,820

1,323

1,580

765

952

108

4,674

2,090

1,513

2,576

2,964

3,757

486

2,034

56

1,550

1,284

2,904

3,904

406

4,425

354

116

159

3,325

3,913

954

1,592

51,735

4,848

5,871

5,200

7,876

6,986

53

27,342

6,737

11,435

1,174

4,029

154

5,107.

447

1,264

7,152

22,913

3,234

6,996

187

139

49,391

4,027

1,722

7,448

6,872

6,402

7,084

2,390

3,957

5,900

2,059

15,306

14,827

5,812

3,009

3,557

16,438

32,149

National Mapping, Geography, and Surveys | 31
I ntermediate-Scale 

Mapping

The U.S. Geological Survey publishes 

an intermediate-scale series of maps at 

scales of 1:50,000 and 1:100,000 to meet 

a variety of customer requirements for 

formats and detail that cannot be met 

with the 1:24,000- and 1:250,000-scale 

series.

These intermediates have a number of 

innovative features, including multiple 

feature-separation drawings that can be 

combined in various ways to produce 

special maps with varying levels of content. Feature symbolization has been 

designed for data capture, computer

storage, and output. By the end of the 

fiscal year, intermediate-scale maps for 

approximately 60 percent of the conterminous United States were completed, 

an increase of 50 percent from those of 

fiscal year 1979.

Under a joint agreement with the 

Defense Mapping Agency, the Geological Survey produced an additional 89 

15-minute 1:50,000-scale metric 

topographic maps, compared to 87 the 

prior year. Total program goal is completion of about 2,100 maps, prepared in accordance with jointly developed specifications and yielding map materials that 

are being used directly in preparation of 

other intermediate-scale maps. Of the 

2,100 maps in the program, 193 have 

been published to date.

EXPLANATION 

In program

Published 

Status of the Intermediate-Scale Mapping Program

32 I Yearbook 1980
Small-Scale and 

Special-Purpose 

Mapping

Small-Scale Mapping

The 1:250,000-scale map series provides the largest scale of complete 

topographic coverage available for the 

United States. These maps are widely 

used by Federal and State agencies as 

well as by the U.S. Geological Survey for 

preparing State base maps, various

geologic maps, and special-purpose 

maps, such as those showing land-use 

and land-cover information. During the 

fiscal year, 25 revisions were published, 

compared to 48 the prior year. Terrain 

data digitized from contours on the 

1:250,000-scale maps are available on 

magnetic tape from the National Cartographic Information Center, Reston, 

Va.

Topographic and 

Bathymetric Mapping

The joint Geological Survey-National 

Ocean Survey program for producing 

coastal area maps combining topography 

of the land with bathymetry of the

ocean floor continued to progress during 

the year. The series includes maps at the 

Survey's three basic scales: 1:24,000, 

1:100,000, and 1:250,000. By fiscal year's 

end, two, zero, and four maps at those 

respective scales had been published. 

The maps, used by State as well as 

Federal agencies, are a valuable tool for 

coastal area planning.

EXPLANATION 

l:250,000-scale products

Maps in progress (revision

Status of 1:250,000-scale mapping production.

National Mapping, Geography, and Surveys 33
Land-Use and Land-Cover Mapping

Land-use and land-cover maps for more than 250,000 square miles of the United 

States were completed by the end of the fiscal year, bringing total coverage to 1.5 

million square miles. By 1982, maps will be completed for the entire Nation, except Alaska, for which maps are to be completed by 1984.

Land-use and land-cover maps are a relatively new base map product of the 

U.S. Geological Survey. In 1975, the Survey undertook to publish current reliable 

land-use and land-cover maps in standard formats compiled from high-altitude 

aerial photographs as primary source materials. The maps use a land-use and landcover classification system developed by the Survey that is becoming the standard 

for the Nation.

The maps are being published in a new "L" series. The land-use and land-cover 

and associated maps are also available from the Survey's Open-File Services Section, Box 25425, Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225. Published versions are 

available through normal map ordering channels of the Survey.

The land-use and land-cover maps are also being digitized and placed in a 

Geographic Information Retrieval and Analysis System. Digital data products include statistical summaries by counties, hydrologic units, and Census county subdivisions and for Federally owned land. Analysis of such data to determine landuse trends and patterns helps solve land-resource problems. The digital formats 

are essential for efficient use and multipurpose applications of the information.

34 I Yearbook 1980
EXPLANATION 

Maps on open file

Planned land use and cover mapping fiscal year 1980

1:100,000-scale (heavier outline) and 

1:250,000-scale quadrangles shown

Status of land-use and land-cover mapping production.

National Mapping, Geography, and Surveys | 35
Research and Development

An active research and development 

program is conducted by the National 

Mapping Division to improve the quality 

and efficiency of map production and to 

evolve new technology supporting national earth science needs. During the 

year, major emphasis continued in areas 

applying computer technology to production of cartographic and geographic 

data, materials, and information.

 Geographic Information Retrieval and 

Analysis System. The Geographic 

Information Retrieval and Analysis 

System (GIRAS) is used to 

manipulate land-use, land-cover, 

and associated map information as 

digital data. During the fiscal year, 

a total of 580,000 square miles of 

land-use and land-cover map data 

was processed and included in 

GIRAS. Using the data bank, people can quickly produce statistical 

summaries for counties, hydrologic 

units, Census county subdivisions, 

and Federally owned land and 

computer-plot variable-scale blackand-white or color-shaded graphic 

summaries of the information. 

GIRAS is becoming an important 

tool for people who must determine land-use trends and patterns 

to aid resource analyses.

 Land-use map and data applications. 

Cooperative research efforts continued with the Survey's Water 

Resources Division on a 5-year 

study to estimate the extent of irrigated cropland and pasture in the 

High Plains aquifer area of the 

United States using Landsat digital 

image data. A major purpose of 

the study is to develop ways to 

estimate the rate at which the High 

Plains aquifer is being depleted by 

irrigation. Data from the continuing tests provide information on irrigated cropland in map, statistical, 

and digital formats for direct input 

into a ground-water model. Techniques developed in this research 

effort can be applied to update the 

irrigated cropland information and 

ground-water data base in the 

future, as well as to serve as an example of similar studies elsewhere.

 Landsat remote-sensing applications. 

Landsat 3 return beam vidicon (RBV) 

imagery has been used in two specific remote sensing applications: for 

production of an image-base-controlled map and as an intermediatescale map revision tool.

In the first application, the National Mapping Division experimented with the production of a 

precisely controlled Landsat 3 RBV

map of the Cape Cod, Mass., area at 

1:100,000 scale. To determine the 

feasibility of using RBV imagery as 

a map revision tool, images of 

specific mapped areas were examined to determine what map information could be seen. The selected 

scenes were enlarged without rectification to 1:100,000 scale and 

registered to maps for the correction 

of cartographic detail. Current map 

revision policies guided the revision. 

At this scale, results indicate that 

the RBV imagery can be used successfully to update specific features 

such as highways, streams, and 

woodland in a timely and costeffective manner.

Interactive compilation and editing. The National Mapping Division has been evaluating the compilation and revision potential of 

using a stereoplotter online with an 

interactive editing system. Two objectives were pursued: to develop 

procedures for an interactive 

(online) digital map compilation and 

editing system and to evaluate the 

potential of the interactive system 

for new map compilation and for 

photorevision of existing digital 

files.

Online digitization-compilation 

resulted in a 31-percent reduction in 

the time needed to compile and edit 

a quadrangle as compared to offline 

compilation methods. Online digitization-revision by digital methods 

proved to be technically feasible as 

well as cost effective when compared to manual photorevision 

methods.

Computer-assisted map symbol placement The placement of letters 

and symbols on topographic and 

thematic maps represents a significant activity in the map-finishing 

operation. In a continuing effort to 

reduce these labor requirements, a 

digitizer, in a single step, is assigning the x and y coordinates of a 

symbol with 0.003-inch accuracy, 

their identification, and their correct 

orientation within 0.5 degree precision at least five times faster than 

by manual methods. A flatbed plotter uses a custom photohead symbol 

disk with 70 of the most frequently 

used Survey map symbols. Operational speed is in excess of 50 times 

the rate of manual symbol placement methods.

Screen/ess printing. Orthophotoquads 

are monocolor photographic image 

maps in standard quadrangle format without topographic detail.

They contain extensive image detail 

at National Map Accuracy Standards. However, the standard halftone lithographic process degrades 

the image into a grid structure of 

dots.

The screenless lithographic method structures the image as random 

dots equivalent to the very fine 

chemical grain structure of a commercially presensitized anodized 

aluminum lithographic plate. The 

screenless plates are used on conventional offset lithographic presses 

at the Survey's National Center in 

Reston, Va. In addition to the improved resolution of image detail, 

the monocolor screenless orthophotoquad gives the impression that the 

image is printed with two ink colors 

rather than one. The combination of 

an apparent two-color (duotone) 

process and the fine random-dot 

structure results in a significantly 

more usable product.

 Aerial Profiling of Terrain System. 

The Geological Survey is developing 

the concept of measuring accurate 

terrain profiles from low-flying aircraft using a Jaser altimeter and inertial guidance technology the 

Aerial Profiling of Terrain (APT) 

System. The system-design accuracy 

of 6 inches vertically and 24 inches 

horizontally can be achieved for extended missions if positional updates are provided at 3-minute time 

intervals. The project has progressed 

from a development phase beginning in 1974, through completion of 

system design, to the midpoint of 

fabrication of a prototype system. 

Along with the fabrication effort 

is the effort to obtain an aircraft 

suitably modified to carry the APT 

System. A Twin Otter already in the 

fleet of the Office of Aircraft Services has been selected for the project and will be made available in 

June 1981 when extensive aircraft 

modifications will begin.

 Seasat. A study to analyze the performance of the Seasat radar 

altimeter in overland tracking was 

completed under a contract jointly 

funded and monitored by the National Geodetic Survey and the National Mapping Division. Although 

the Seasat altimeter had been 

designed for open-ocean tracking 

with little consideration given to 

overland data acquisition, it was 

noted that the altimeter acquired 

meaningful data over smooth terrain 

and large ice sheets.

36 I Yearbook 1980
The altimeter acquired topographic profiles agreeing within a 

few feet with large-scale topographic maps or Doppler satellite 

positioning (geoceiver) elevations. 

Comparison with GEOS-3 profile intersections, however, indicated that 

improvement approaching 4-inch 

precision could be obtained by additional analysis of the recorded radar 

waveform data.

Another contract has been 

awarded to study the waveform 

retracking that may provide 

geodetic quality terrain profiles. Initial results indicate that a radar 

altimeter optimized for overland 

tracking from a near-polar-orbiting 

satellite could provide terrain profiles of mapping quality over most 

nonmountainous areas at relatively 

low cost.

WBWL: 5!J^iP5,''

10 15 20 25

Cartographer operates computer system used for transferring geographic and cartographic images into digital spatial 

data for earth science analyses and modeling.

MILES

EXPLANATION

 Center pivot, actively irrigated cropland

 Noncenter pivot, actively irrigated cropland 

O Center pivot, not actively irrigated cropland

Computer processing of Landsat image data produced this 

map showing extent and type of irrigation for two counties 

in Nebraska in studies on the rate of depletion of the High 

Plains aquifer, a major source.of irrigation water.

National Mapping, Geography, and Surveys I 37
Digital Cartography

A major fundamental change is occurring in the cartographic sciences. The wealth of information portrayed 

since antiquity only on maps is now being ingested by 

computers, and the capability for applying the data has 

multiplied severalfold. Many public and private organizations involved in land and resource planning and management are making increased use of cartographic data in 

computer-based analyses to weigh the complex alternatives they face. The U.S. Geological Survey is collecting, 

organizing, and disseminating digital cartographic data in 

such a way that a common data base will serve a wide 

range of applications and users. Following are several examples of applications of digital cartographic data:

 The Bureau of Land Management is developing systems 

to determine rapidly which areas of the public lands 

are appropriate for grazing, to discern the best ways 

to manage timber resources, and to identify areas appropriate for specific recreational uses. These 

analyses require the combination of various types of 

data: slope of the land, location of water, transportation routes, soil types, and vegetation types. Digital 

cartographic data produced as part of the National 

Mapping Program describe the elevation of the 

ground, the surface hydrography network, public land 

survey net, and transportation routes. The various 

Bureau of Land Management State Offices produce 

digital thematic resource data within their resource 

management programs for use in preparing environmental impact statements on lands managed by 

the Bureau of Land Management. Essentially, all 

public lands are subject to this type of analysis.

 The Bureau of Land Management is also developing a 

land-records information system to replace the current paper-oriented systems that are very awkward 

and difficult to work with. The new system requires 

digital positions of public land survey section corners 

and political boundaries as a framework to which 

land status information can be added. These data 

(land net and boundaries) will be digitized as part of 

the National Mapping Program's digital cartographic 

mapping for the use of the Bureau of Land Management. This information will be added to the digital 

cartographic data base. All lands managed %y the 

Bureau of Land Management will ultimately be included in this land records information system.

 The Geological Survey's National Coal Resources Data 

System combines digital elevation data, boundaries, 

and public land survey section corners with data 

regarding subsurface coal deposits. This information 

will be used to compute overburden and to evaluate 

the economic feasibility of developing these resources 

in different areas.

 The National Park Service is developing a computerbased analysis system to monitor and evaluate air 

quality as part of their program to assure preservation 

of resources as prescribed by the Clean Air Act. Information about air flow, velocity, and direction are 

combined with digital terrain data provided by the 

Survey to model regions in and around parks and 

other areas to determine the effect of air pollution 

sources. All Class I Federal areas are subject to this 

type of analysis.

 The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has a computer-based 

analysis system which requires digital cartographic 

data. Wildlife management activities require thorough

analysis of habitat to include requirements for water 

sources, range availability, and cover and concealment to develop location criteria (site location of 

dams for water source and habitat for aquatic 

species). Predators, development, encroachment, 

hunting, and pollution are all factors entering into 

analysis. Currently identified major areas requiring 

digital cartographic data include the Columbia River 

mouth, the San Francisco Bay region, the Mississippi 

River Delta, the Dakota Pothole region, and many 

other coastal regions.

 The U.S. Forest Service has also developed several

systems that require digital cartographic data. Timber 

management activities require analysis of the best 

routes for locating logging roads, projections of optimum management sites, vegetative growth on different locations, environmental considerations, and 

preservation of scenic and recreational opportunities 

especially in "clear cutting" areas. Digital cartographic data such as elevation models, boundaries, 

public land survey nets, transportation networks, and 

surface hydrography are necessary to do the analysis 

required for effective timber management. Digital cartographic data are needed over all national forests to 

support this system.

 The Tennessee Valley Authority needs digital terrain 

data to conduct air pollution studies as part of their 

effort to reduce the effects of pollution from coalfired electric generating plants. Immediate requirements include areas surrounding 12 powerplants with 

long-range requirements covering the whole Tennessee Valley Authority Service Area. 

The primary objective of the digital mapping program is 

to provide digital cartographic data at the equivalent scale 

of 1:24,000 for those major data categories shown on 

7.5-rninute topographic maps. Fiscal year 1980 efforts were 

directed at meeting the immediate requirements of Federal 

agencies.

Digital cartographic data files are grouped into two 

categories, Digital Elevation Models (OEM's) and Digital 

Line Graphs (DLG's) (see figures). OEM's consist of a 

sampled array of elevations for a number of grouped positions that are usually at regularly spaced intervals. In 

fiscal year 1980, OEM's were produced for 568 7.5-minute 

quadrangles. DLG's consist of line map information in 

digital form and include such linear features as streams, 

boundaries, and transportation systems. In fiscal year 

1980, 3903 DLG's were produced. The categories of map 

data digitized on most quadrangles were land net (section 

lines) and political boundaries.

In a related effort, work neared completion on a smallscale data base containing digital data from the 

1:2,000,000-scale National Atlas sectional maps to meet 

the need for a digital data base at that scale covering the 

entire United States. This project, initiated in 1979, will be 

completed in 1981, and the data will be available for 

distribution. Included will be political boundaries, Federal 

lands, transportation networks (roads and railroads), hydrographic features (streams and water bodies), populated 

places and miscellaneous cultural features (airports and so 

forth).

38 I Yearbook 1980
A Digital Elevation Model is a digitized file of ground position elevations normally at 30-meter intervals over a 7.5-minute 

quadrangle.

A Digital Line Graphic is line map information in digital form. This status map shows 7.5-minute quadrangles where at least one 

category, such as transportation, hydrography, or boundaries, has been digitized.

National Mapping, Geography, and Surveys | 39
Public Services

The amount of earth science information required by the Nation is enormous. 

Managing it, maintaining it, and disseminating it in all of its variety data tapes, 

maps, books, leaflets, scientific and technical reports is a major undertaking.

National Cartographic Information Center

Cartographic and geographic information represent a wide variety of products 

and services, virtually the entire range of items that either go into or are produced 

by the process of compiling and publishing maps. It is the role of the National 

Cartographic Information Center (NCIC) to make cartographic and geographic 

data available to the public. NCIC also makes available information about cartographic and geographic holdings of other public agencies and private organizations.

NCIC offices handled more than 200,000 requests for information and 

assistance during the year. Key centers are operated by the four mapping centers 

and two Federal affiliates at the National Space Technology Laboratories, Bay St. 

Louis, Miss., and the Tennessee Valley Authority in Chattanooga, Tenn.

There are also affiliated offices operated by agencies of State governments. 

Agreements with the States were signed for six new NCIC offices during the year, 

bringing the total to 27.

Public Inquiries Offices

Maps and reports of the Geological Survey are available to the public through 

Public Inquiries Offices. Office personnel also provide general assistance to the 

public in locating Survey earth science information.

Private Retailers

Nearly 2,000 private retailers are authorized map dealers of the Survey and account for about one-third of agency map sales in the Nation. During the year, the 

Survey's map dealer program included various point-of-purchase promotional 

items. A special effort was undertaken to inform college and university book 

stores of the benefits of becoming authorized map dealers.

Customers purchase maps over-thecounter from one of 10 Survey Public Inquiries Offices.
Guide to 

Information and 

Publications

Throughout this report, reference has been 

made to information services and publications 

of the U.S. Geological Survey. During fiscal 

year 1980, the Survey produced over 10,783 

new and revised topographic, hydrologic, and 

geologic maps; printed 14,975,712 copies of 

5,984 different maps; distributed 9,295,804 

copies of maps; and sold 6,210,878 copies for 

$5,790,792. The number of reports approved 

for publication by the Geological Survey continues to increase 4,799 reports prepared in 

fiscal year 1980 with 54 percent designated 

for publication in professional journals and 

monographs outside the Survey with the remainder scheduled for publication by the 

Survey. In addition, 452,165 copies of 

technical reports were distributed of which 

79,874 copies were sold for $146,869, and 

1,640 open-file reports were released of which 

39,924 copies were sold for $293,844.

To buy Survey book publications or to re 

quest Survey circulars, catalogs, pamphlets, 

and leaflets (limited quantities free), write or 

visit:

U.S. Geological Survey 

Branch of Distribution 

604 S. Pickett St. 

Alexandria, VA 22304

To buy maps of areas east of the Mississippi River, write or visit: 

U.S. Geological Survey 

Eastern Distribution Branch 

1200 S. Eads St. 

Arlington, VA 22202

To buy maps of areas west of the Mississippi River and to request Survey catalogs, pamphlets, and leaflets (limited quantities free), 

write or visit:

U.S. Geological Survey 

Western Distribution Branch 

Box 25286, Bldg. 41, Federal Center 

Denver, CO 80225

To buy Alaskan maps,.residents of Alaska 

may write or visit:

U.S. Geological Survey 

Alaska Distribution Section 

101 12th Avenue, Box 12 

Fairbanks, AK 99701

To obtain information on the availability of 

microfiche or paper-duplicate copies of openfile reports, write:

U.S. Geological Survey 

Open-File Services Section 

Box 25425, Federal Center 

Denver, CO 80225

To get on the mailing list for the monthly 

list of New Publications of the Geological 

Survey (free), write:

U.S. Geological Survey 

Mailing List Unit 

329 National Center 

12201 Sunrise Valley Drive 

Reston, VA 22092

To subscribe to the Earthquake Information 

Bulletin, write:

Superintendent of Documents 

Government Printing Office 

Washington, DC 20402

To obtain information on programs, 

publications, and services or to obtain copies 

of reports and maps, visit the U.S. Geological 

Survey Public Inquiries Offices at the following addresses:

Alaska:

108 Skyline Bldg. 

508 2nd Avenue 

Anchorage, AK 99501

California:

7638 Federal Bldg. 

300 No. Los Angeles St. 

Los Angeles, CA 90012

122 Bldg. 3

345 Middlefield Rd.

Menlo Park, CA 94025

504 Customhouse

555 Battery St.

San Francisco, CA 94111

Colorado: 

169 Federal Bldg. 

1961 Stout St. 

Denver, CO 80294

Texas:

1C45 Federal Bldg. 

1100 Commerce St. 

Dallas, TX 75242

Utah:

8105 Federal Bldg. 

125 S. State St. 

Salt Lake City, UT 84138

Virginia:

1C402 National Center 

12201 Sunrise Valley Dr. 

Reston, VA 22092

Washington:

678 U.S. Courthouse 

W. 920 Riverside Ave. 

Spokane, WA 99201

Washington, DC:

1028 General Services Bldg. 

19th and F Sts., N.W. 

Washington, DC 20244

To obtain information on cartographic 

data, write or visit the U.S. Geological Survey, 

National Cartographic Information Centers 

(NCIC), in the following States:

California:

Western Mapping Center 

National Cartographic Information Center 

345 Middlefield Rd. 

Menlo Park, CA 94025

Colorado:

Rocky Mountain Mapping Center 

National Cartographic Information Center 

Box 25046, Stop 501 

Bldg. 25, Federal Center 

Denver, CO 80225

Mississippi:

National Space Technology Laboratories

National Cartographic Information Center

U.S. Geological Survey

Bldg. 3101

NSTL Station, MS 39529

Missouri:

Midcontinent Mapping Center 

National Cartographic Information Center 

1400 Independence Rd. 

Rolla, MO 65401

Virginia:

National Cartographic Information Center 

507 National Center 

12201 Sunrise Valley Dr. 

Reston, VA 22092

Eastern Mapping Center

National Cartographic Information Center

536 National Center

12201 Sunrise Valley Dr.

Reston, VA 22092

To obtain information on satellite and 

space photography, write or visit:

U.S. Geological Survey 

EROS Data Center 

Sioux Falls, SD 57198

To obtain assistance in locating sources of 

water data, identifying sites at which data 

have been collected, and specific data, write:

U.S. Geological Survey 

National Water Data Exchange 

421 National Center 

12201 Sunrise Valley Dr. 

Reston, VA 22092

To obtain information on ongoing and 

planned water-data acquisition activities of all 

Federal agencies and many non-Federal 

organizations, write:

U.S. Geological Survey

Office of Water Data Coordination

417 National Center

12201 Sunrise Valley Dr.

Reston, VA 22092

To obtain information on water resources in 

general and about the water resources of 

specific areas of the United States, write:

U.S. Geological Survey 

Water Information Group 

420 National Center 

12201 Sunrise Valley Dr. 

Reston, VA 22092

To obtain information on geology topics 

such as earthquakes, energy and mineral 

resources, the geology of specific areas, and 

geologic maps and mapping, write:

U.S. Geological Survey 

Geologic Inquiries Group 

907 National Center 

12201 Sunrise Valley Dr. 

Reston, VA 22091

National Mapping, Geography, and Surveys | 41

Geologic and Mineral Resource 

Surveys and Mapping

Mission

The Geologic Division conducts programs to 

assess energy and mineral resources, to identify and 

to predict geologic hazards, and to investigate the 

effects of climate. The assessments resulting from 

these programs are vital to planning for the wise use 

and management of our natural resources and to 

mitigating the disastrous effects from geologic 

hazards.

In the last several years, the Survey's responsibility in assessing the Nation's resources has increased 

markedly, especially in the areas of energy oil and 

gas, coal, geothermal, and uranium. Large areas 

designated by Congress for inclusion as Wilderness 

Areas have required mineral assessments, and additional areas are likely to be designated in the future. 

Studies are being done to evaluate the energyresource potential of offshore areas and the environmental hazards that pose problems to the 

development of that energy. In addition, a major 

program for earthquake hazard mitigation and 

prediction is now well underway. Geologic hazards 

related to nuclear reactor siting are being investigated.

In support of these extremely important mission 

programs, extensive basic research is done continually on geologic processes and events. Basic 

research continues to be an important and strong 

part of the Division's programs and provides the 

capability needed to respond to emerging national 

problems.

The Geologic Division budget is presented to Congress under four subactivities that fulfill the above 

programs. A brief description of these subactivities 

is given below.

Spider Rock, a monolith composed of the De Chelly Sandstone of Permian age, Canyon De Chelly National Monument, Ariz.

Land Resource Surveys supply basic data in the 

form of geologic, geophysical, and geochemical 

maps and reports. Research is conducted to predict 

and to delineate earthquake and volcano hazards, 

to identify environmental problems related to coal 

development and nuclear reactor siting, and to identify, to map, to report on, and to date geologic 

processes and historical natural events, including 

climatic changes and landslides.

Mineral Resource Surveys provide an assessment 

of the distribution, quantity, and quality of the 

mineral resources of the United States. During fiscal 

year 1980, these surveys were concentrated in 

Alaska, Wilderness Areas, and other public and Indian lands. Research is also conducted on the fundamental geologic processes that result in mineral 

formation.

Energy Resource Surveys provide assessments of 

the distribution, quantity, and quality of the 

Nation's coal, oil and gas, oil shale, uranium and 

thorium, and geothermal resources. Assessments of 

these resources are continually updated so that information is kept current.

Offshore Geologic Surveys investigate the continental margins of the United States and its territories to assess the potential mineral and energy 

resources and to identify environmental hazards 

that must be considered when siting offshore drilling platforms and pipelines.

The following eight articles describe some of the 

research and assessments done by the Geologic 

Division in fiscal year 1980. Although they reflect 

only a small portion of the current programs, these 

articles represent typical ongoing activities of the 

Division.

Geologic and Mineral Resource Surveys and Mapping | 43
 ^ r^f'^HBS^TM1 ''

Budget and Personnel

In fiscal year 1980, obligations of the Geologic and Mineral Resources Surveys 

and Mapping activity were $193.66 million. This amount was supplemented by approximately $640,000 from 11 States and $46 million from other Federal agencies 

and non-Federal sources.

At the end of fiscal year 1980, the Geologic Division had 2,038 permanent fulltime employees and 951 temporary or part-time employees.

Miscellaneous non-Federal sources $13.26 Otner Federal

agencies 

Direct Federal funds $146.96 $32.80

FIIK I'MTKI) STATES OF AM Kit

Federal share $0.64 State share $0.64 

Federal-State Cooperative program

SOURCE OF FUNDS

TOTAL $193.66 MILLION

-Land Resource Surveys * 

$72.91

Reimbursable $16.06 

-Direct $56.85

Mineral Resource 

Surveys $49.95

Reimbursable 

$15.67

Direct $34.28

Energy Resource 

Surveys $43.19

Reimbursable 

$7.51 

Direct $35.68

Offshore 

Geologic 

Surveys $27.61

I

Reimbursable 

$7.46, I

Geological and Mineral Resource Surveys and Mapping activity obligations for fiscal years 1979 and 

7980, by subactivity

[Dollars in millions. Data may differ from that in statistical tables 

because of rounding]

Subactivity

Total

Land Resource Surveys

Reimbursable programs _

States, counties, and 

municipalities

Miscellaneous nonFederal sources

Other Federal agencies _

Mineral Resource Surveys _

Direct programs

Reimbursable programs _

States, counties, and 

municipalities

Miscellaneous nonOther Federal agencies _

Energy Resource Surveys ____

Direct programs

Reimbursable programs _

States, counties, and 

municipalities

Miscellaneous nonOther Federal agencies _

Offshore Geologic Surveys _

Direct programs

Reimbursable programs ___

States, counties, and 

municipalities

Miscellaneous nonOther Federal agencies _

Fiscal year 

1979

$178.55

69.50

57.50

12.00

.22

.10

11.68

54.32

31.81

22.51

.20

10.71

11.60

36.57

30.18

6.39

.02

.02

6.35

18.16

15.36

2.80

.14

.09

2.57

Fiscal year 

1980

$193.66

72.91

56.85

16.06

.24

.06

15.76

49.95

34.28

15.67

.14

13.20

2.33

43.19

35.68

7.51

.03

7.48

27.61

20.15

7.46

.23

7.23

USE OF FUNDS

44 I Yearbook 1980
Scouting for Minerals on Indian Lands

In recent years, Indian tribes have become increasingly 

aware of the economic importance of the mineral 

resources on their reservations. With this increased 

awareness, the Indians recognized the necessity of knowing the nature and the extent of these resources. Optimum 

planning, leasing, and development that will assure a fairmarket-value return to the tribes for these resources depend on knowledge of the resources. In response to the Indians' "need-to-know," the U.S. Geological Survey 

developed a two-phase program of inventorying mineral 

resources on Indian lands. Both phases are sponsored and 

funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

The intent of the program is to provide a level of 

geological information that, should the tribes decide to do 

so, can be used to encourage exploration companies to 

conduct more detailed studies of specific sites, which, in 

turn, could lead to actual exploration and mining. Indian 

tribes are greatly interested in knowing the amount of 

their resources, so that they can do long-range planning, 

and the Bureau of Indian Affairs believes that the Survey's 

studies will aid them.

The first phase of this minerals inventory, which is conducted jointly with the Bureau of Mines, consists of 

gathering existing information from the literature and from 

files. Phase I is designed to produce reports on mineral 

resources, known and potential, of each Indian reservation 

in the conterminous United States. These reports are excellent starting points for further work because they summarize what is already known and contain good bibliographies. Some of these Phase I reports conclude that a 

reservation has few or no resources; however, even such 

negative information is useful. Initially, Phase I reports are 

administratively released to the tribal council of each 

reservation studied and to the Bureau of Indian Affairs; 

any other release must be authorized by the tribal council.

Phase I of the Indian lands program is nearing completion, and all reports should be released administratively by 

the end of fiscal year 1981. A complete set of these 

feports will constitute a convenient reference to what is 

presently known about the geology and mineral resources 

of all Indian reservations in the conterminous United 

States. Those reservations determined to have good 

mineral-resource potential become candidates for further 

study through geological field investigations.

The objectives of Phase II of the Geological Survey's inventorying program on Indian lands, which consists of 

field investigations, are to assess actual resources, such as 

coal, and to evaluate the potential for other mineral 

resources. These other resources include uranium, metals, 

industrial minerals, and geothermal. The Survey not only 

tries to provide the tribe with a wide variety of geological 

and geophysical data but, whenever possible, also provides advice on how to use it. Additionally, for reservations, such as the Papago and the Navajo, where a large 

amount of data has been collected, the Survey is developing a computerized mineral- and energy-information 

system.

The decision as to whether further studies of a particular reservation will be done is based on several factors, 

which include determination of resource potential in a 

Phase I study, the willingness of a tribe to have such an investigation, and the availability of funding from the 

Bureau of Indian Affairs. All the field studies contribute to 

the broader scale objectives of the Geologic Division of 

the Survey, which are the geological mapping and mineralresource evaluation of the United States.

The Phase II geological field studies began in 1976 with 

a $150,000 program on the Papago Reservation, and, in 

1980, the Geological Survey had a $4-million-per-year program, funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs involving 

about 57 man years of effort. The program includes 

studies on 18 reservations in the Western States (50,000 

square miles) and on 18 smaller reservations in the Great 

Lakes region (3,000 square miles). Coal-resource studies are 

underway on 11 reservations Blackfoot, Crow, Ft. Peck, 

Wind River, Acoma, Canoncito, Ramah, Alamo, Jicarilla, 

Zuni, and Navajo. Studies of metallic mineral deposits are 

underway on four Papago, Flathead, Colville, and 

Mescalero. Studies concerning metals and uranium are being conducted on several small reservations in the Great 

Lakes region. A report on the mineral occurrences in the 

Ft. Belknap Reservation has been completed, as have 

reports on zeolites in the Rosebud and Pine Ridge Reservations.

As a part of the Survey's program, a special effort is being made to involve young tribal members in each of 

these projects by offering on-the-job training when possible (see figure) and by fostering an interest in the earth 

sciences among the young Indians. It is hoped that these 

young Indians will seek higher education in the earth 

science field; therefore, a high-school-level descriptive text 

of the geology of the Navajo Nation is being prepared. If 

successful in attracting their attention and interest, it will 

be followed by similar geologic descriptions for other 

reservations and will help foster interest and, in turn, will 

accelerate the availability of inhouse expertise for future 

inventories of mineral resources on Indian lands.

Indian student working for the U.S. Geological Survey on the 

Navajo Reservation. [Photograph courtesy of Cheryl Kyllonen, 

a geologist employed by the Navajo Tribe.)

Geologic and Mineral Resource Surveys and Mapping 45
Minerals for the 21st Century Where They Are

The United States is beginning to realize that it is facing 

a period of decreasing metal reserves and a growing 

dependence on foreign sources for such critical metals as 

chromium, nickel, tin, cobalt, manganese, aluminum, 

titanium, mercury, and platinum. Many of these foreign 

sources are in parts of the world that are politically 

unstable and that most likely will remian so in the 

foreseeable future; thus, reliance on foreign imports may 

be in jeopardy.

To update and increase the mineral inventory of the 

United States, the U.S. Geological Survey initiated the 

Conterminous United States Mineral Resource Assessment 

Program (CUSMAP) in 1978 as a companion to the Alaska 

Mineral Resource Assessment Program, which was initiated 

in 1974. This program is unique because it is the first in 

which systematic regional studies are being made of the 

mineral resources of the conterminous United States. 

CUSMAP is providing new informatioin on present and 

potential mineral supplies nationwide and is producing important data to guide our national minerals policy and for 

land-use planning by Federal, State, and local governments. The program also provides a regional geological 

and mineral-resource framework for site-specific studies 

such as wilderness projects.

The goal of this program is to complete, by the year 

2000, a mineral resource inventory of the 125 most 

mineralized 1:250,000-scale quadrangles that contain 

significant amounts of Federal land in the conterminous 

United States. The results of these inventories will be published in folio format. The main components of the folios 

are a mineral-resource map and report that outline and 

describe mineral occurrences of significant size. Where 

possible, the report includes probabilistic estimates of tK 

number, size, and grade of deposits that may occur within 

the given quadrangle. The folios also contain detailed 

geological, geochemical, geophysical, and remote sensing 

maps and reports as well as a short report that summarizes 

the different elements of the folio. The folios for the 

Choteau, Mont., Iron River, Mich., and Rolla, Mo., 

quadrangles will be published in early 1981, and field 

studies will be completed in seven additional quadrangles 

during fiscal year 1981 and submitted for publication (see 

figure). In all, 16 quadrangles have been studied or are 

under study at the present time.

Some highlights of the program in fiscal year 1980 

as follows:

 Geological and geochemical studies in the Dillion 

quadrangle, Montana, revealed a previously undiscovered molybdenum occurrence in the east 

Pioneer Mountains and several possible occurrences 

in the west Pioneer Mountains, the Hecla district, the 

Beaverhead Mountains, the southern Highland Mountains, the Anaconda Range, and the Tobacco Root 

Mountains. These discoveries possibly could augment 

our reserves of molybdenum, an important metal used 

in strengthening and hardening steel.

 Studies within and southwest of the Rolla

quadrangle, Missouri, have defined a possible new 

and previously unknown and untested belt for mineral 

occurrences in an area just southwest of the Rolla 

quadrangle. Analyses of drill cores from widely spaced drill holes show that there are anomalous amounts 

of molybdenum, arsenic, lead, copper, nickel, cobalt, 

and silver in the Potosi and the Eminence Formations 

in this area.

 Three major mineralized shear zones have been

identified in and adjacent to the Kings Mountain belt 

in the southern part of the Charlotte, N.C., 

quadrangle. One of the zones, informally named the 

Kings Mountain shear zone, influenced the location of 

a belt of spodumene pegmatites that constitute the 

most important source of lithium in the world. Two 

major potential energy uses for lithium are as a 

primary constituent in batteries to power electric 

automobiles and as a direct energy source to breed 

tritium for more efficient use of nuclear energy.

 New gold occurrences have been discovered in

Tertiary gravels in the Sapphire Range in the western 

part of the Butte, Mont., quadrangle. Gold, largely 

associated with sapphires, is distributed through 

thicknesses ranging from 30 to more than 90 feet of 

gravel veneer in the Sapphire Range. The gravels had 

not been prospected previously because they are on 

the flanks of ridges where no water was easily 

available for washing them.

46 I Yearbook 1980
Field studies completed 

Currently under study 

Quadrangles for future study 

Mineralized area

Quadrangles being investigated under the Conterminous United States Mineral Resource Assessment Programs.

Geologic and Mineral Resource Surveys and Mapping | 47
Most of the world's operating mines were found by prospectors who diligently pursued indications of mineralization they found at the surface until they located an ore 

body. (Unfortunately, the prospectors usually went broke.) 

In the central San Juan Mountain region of Colorado, prospectors in the early 1890's found high-grade silver veins 

(the Amethyst vein system) high in the walls of the canyons of Willow Creek (figs. 1, 2) just north of the present 

town of Creede. Development and mining proceeded 

quickly in a typical boom town-ghost town cycle. The 

best high-grade silver ran out early in this century, but persistent exploration encouraged by occasional additional 

finds eventually lead to the discovery of two new veins 

(the OH and P veins) that were mined for lead, zinc, copper, and gold, as well as silver. Production along these 

veins ceased by the middle to late 1970's, and mining in 

the Creede district would have ended except for a new 

factor detailed studies of the geology.

In the early 1950's, the U.S. Geological Survey initiated 

a detailed study of the mineralization in the central San 

Juan Mountains to relate the mineralization to the volcanic and structural evolution of these mountains. In 1960, investigations revealed that a system of fractures similar to 

that containing the highly productive Amethyst system 

also was present less than a mile west of the old mines 

but had been covered by younger deposits and thus was 

never adequately prospected. Industry moved quickly to 

discover and to develop the Bulldog Mountain Mine which 

for the past 15 years has produced 1.5 million to 2 million 

ounces of silver annually.

Because of exceptionally good exposures of the mineralization in the district, the OH vein at Creede was chosen 

by the Survey in the late 1950's as a site for additional 

detailed topical studies to attempt to understand the 

"anatomy and physiology" of a typical ore deposit. These 

studies were pursued intermittently due to periodic manpower limitations, but, by 1975, studies of the vein and 

wallrock minerals revealed that the known ore deposit was 

merely the top of a former huge circulating geothermal 

system that had "lived" about 25 million years ago during 

the dying stages of the intensive volcanism that created 

the rocks of the San Juan Mountains. Much of the geothermal system was apparently barren of valuable minerals. As 

shown in figure 3, the geothermal system involved 

southward-flowing waters from higher land in the vicinity 

of the Continental Divide to the north, and northwardcirculating waters from the sediment-filled volcanic basin 

of the Creede caldera to the south. The waters boiled at 

the top of the system where they deposited metals and 

subsequently discharged to the south through a gravelfilled old stream valley. This model induced renewed interest by industry explorationists who, within the last 5 

years, have discovered large silver resources that are now 

under development for possible production.

The current focus of the Creede studies is on fluid inclusion (fig. 4) measurements that document the evolution of 

this old geothermal system. When a crystal forms in a 

geothermal system such as this, some of the fluid may be 

trapped within. When fluid inclusions cool from their 

original temperature of formation, the fluid in the inclusions contracts more than the crystal itself, thereby forming a bubble in the inclusion. When such inclusions are 

heated under the microscope, the expanding fluid once 

again eventually completely fills the inclusion; the 

temperature of this complete filling indicates the

temperature at which the crystal grew around some of its 

"mother" fluid, thereby trapping the fluid in the inclusion. 

By computing the freezing point of the fluid to that for 

pure water, a fairly accurate measure of the total salinity 

of the fluid may be obtained. Fluid inclusions from the 

Creede ore deposit show that the ores formed at about 

250°C from brines containing common salt about twice as 

concentrated as sea water. Some groups of fluid inclusions 

that obviously represent a single stage of growth of the 

host crystal show drastically different bubble sizes and 

homogenize (the gas bubble disappears) over a wide 

temperature range. Such inclusions grew in a boiling environment where they trapped liquid and gas in variable 

relative amounts. This evidence of boiling is particularly 

useful because it permits fairly accurate calculation of the 

pressure (and, therefore, the depth) at the time of 

mineralization. At Creede, this depth was about 1,500 feet 

below the land surface at the time of mineralization. 

Isotope studies of the inclusions have shown thus far that 

the fluids in the ore-forming system were dominantly surface waters, as is the case in present-day geothermal 

systems.

The Creede studies have accelerated understanding the 

mechanisms that form vein-type ore deposits and have 

served as a critical test for the application of laboratory 

studies to field problems. Creede has become an almost 

unique field laboratory in which to examine such topics as 

(1) the variations of the physical and chemical environment of ore deposition with both time and space, (2) the 

sources and migration routes of the ore-forming fluids and 

the metals contained therein, and (3) why one part of the 

system deposited rich silver ore, while another part produced mainly base metals, and while still another produced only barren veins. Comparative studies of modern 

geothermal systems with the no-longer-active Creede 

geothermal system has provided valuable information. 

Ore-deposit studies can document the detailed evolution 

in time and space of a small part of a fossil geothermal 

system, whereas studies of modern geothermal systems 

reveal the "instantaneous" near-surface patterns of active 

systems analogous to those that have produced ores. It is 

clearly recognized that the ore deposit represents only a 

small part of the entire geothermal system that was 

responsible for its formation. An attempt is being made to 

devise and sharpen concepts and techniques that will permit the explorationist to recognize whether the prospect 

he is examining is the promising top, the unpromising bottom, or some distal fringe of a former circulating system; 

or, perhaps, whether elsewhere in the same system one 

might anticipate additional concentrations of valuable 

materials.

Creede is a good example of the appropriate and effective role of the Survey with respect to industry. The Survey 

is not in the business of finding ore; that role properly 

belongs to industry. However, the Survey does perform 

broad-scale technical investigations that may result in the 

identification of opportunities for the private sector to 

engage in exploration. As more and more of the easily 

located mineral deposits are discovered and mined out, 

more intensive and imaginative searches for the resources 

necessary to maintain the economy must be made. 

Knowledge of the processes by which mineral deposits 

form and application of that information to exploration 

and mineral-resource appraisal will assure that society can 

make the optimum use of the resources at its disposal.

It is usually difficult to calculate precisely the potential 

monetary benefits of a scientific program with as broad a 

range as that of the Creede district. The central San Juan 

Mountain studies, which have also contributed significantly to fundamental information on volcanism and ore 

genesis in many other deposits besides Creede, have cost 

on the order of $2 million to $3 million (1980); the recently

48 | Yearbook 1980
identified silver resources alone range well into several 

billions of 1980 dollars. Even allowing for the fact that industry has invested many times the Government's expenditure, the present and potential return on the taxpayer's 

dollar is very appreciable in dollars, in materials added to 

the economy, in resources developed, and in productive 

employment within the mining industry.

EXPLANATION

jji'pil Fisher quartz latite ____ Rhyolite and 

^^^ Tf Flow quartz latite 

Tfi Volcanic neck

FIGURE 1. Abandoned portals of the Commodore Mine. The Amethyst vein crops 

out along the edge of the hillside just beyond the prominent rocky knob to the 

right.

FIGURE 2. Location of Creede and diagram showing the major veins of the district

FIGURE 3. Generalized geologic and hydrologic model showing the circulation and 

mixing of fluids in response to local heating by an igneous intrusion. This model is 

strongly supported by isotopic studies of hydrogen and oxygen in fluid inclusions 

in vein minerals which indicate the former presence of different waters from several 

sources.

FIGURE 4. Fluid inclusions in sphalerite (zinc sulfide) form the OH vein, Creede. 

The largest inclusion is about 0.2 inch long, is filled with a saline solution, and 

shows a gas bubble. Some irregularities of the walls of the inclusion are also visible.

4.

il 3

0 -

North South
Anatomy of a 

Basin The 

Exploration of 

Navarin Basin

In 1970, a geophysical reconnaissance 

cruise in the Northern Bering Sea led to 

the discovery of the Navarin Basin (see 

figure). The initial mapping was conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey 

and the Department of the Navy; subsequently, surveys by the Geological 

Survey and by private industry have 

revealed that the Navarin Basin province 

is of exceptional size, encompassing 

more than 11 million acres. Even more 

important in terms of potential 

petroleum resources is the fact that the 

basin contains 6 to 9 miles of sediment 

which is comparable to that of the Gulf 

of Mexico. These investigations have led 

to the inclusion of the Navarin Basin in 

the current Outer Continental Shelf 

(OCS) lease sale schedule (sale date 

December 1984).

Resource Potential

The Navarin Basin is one of the most 

favorable offshore U.S. basins for future 

oil and gas discoveries. The undiscovered recoverable oil and gas 

potential ranges from 0 to 11.8 billion 

barrels of oil and 0 to 38.3 trillion cubic 

feet of gas with a mean estimate of 3.8 

billion barrels and 14.2 trillion cubic 

feet, respectively. For comparison, the 

United States consumes about 6 billion 

barrels of oil and 20 trillion cubic feet of 

gas per year.

The Navarin Basin province comprises 

a series of northwest-trending basins and 

ridges with 6 to 9 miles of sediment fill. 

Although Mesozoic (the Mesozoic Era 

ranges from 280 million-70 million years 

before present) rocks may form part of 

the basin fill, the greater part of the sequence is probably of Cenozoic age (the 

Cenozoic Era ranges from 70 million 

years to the present).

Numerous possible traps for hydrocarbons exist in the Narvarin Basin. Geophy 

sical data indicate that large anticlinal 

structures 6 to 9 miles across occur in 

the northern half of the province. 

Growth faults flank the basins, and 

stratigraphic pinch-outs and unconformities are present throughout the basins.

The geologic evolution of the basin 

suggests that it has adequate oil and gas 

reservoir rocks. In early Cenozoic time, 

the infant basins were flanked by coastal 

mountains, peninsulas, and islands.

Those relatively high land masses probably shed coarse debris to the adjacent 

basins. Reservoir rocks of shallow-water 

origin are likely to be present because 

the basins were fed sediment by major 

Alaskan and Siberian rivers, including the 

Yukon, Kiskokwim, and Anadyr. The 

shelf was swept by numerous marine 

transgressions and regressions. All these 

factors suggest the likely deposition of 

good reservoir rocks; because the 

Navarin province has not been drilled or 

sampled yet, little is known about possible source rocks.

Tertiary (65 million-1 million years 

before present) mudstone dredged from 

the continental slope adjacent to the 

Navarin Basin averages more than 0.25 

percent organic carbon (0.50 percent is 

commonly considered potential source 

rock), and Mesozoic mudstone along the 

nearby continental slope in Pribilof Canyon contains as much as 1 percent 

organic carbon.

Onshore Soviet 

Exploration

The U.S.S.R. has drilled about 25 onshore wells in the Anadyr Basin in 

eastern Siberia, which is adjacent to the 

Navarin Basin. In the Anadyr Basin, gas 

was found in Miocene (25 million-10 

million years before present) sandstone, 

and oil shows were present in lower Tertiary strata. A single well drilled in the 

Khatyrka Basin, northwest of the Navarin 

province, flowed commercial quantities 

of gas as high as 1.06 million cubic feet

per day from three Oligocene (40 

million-25 million years before present) 

sandstone units. Our geophysical data indicate that the Anadyr, Khatyrka, and 

Navarin Basins are juxtaposed features 

and probably share a common geologic 

history.

Further exploration is needed to define 

the province and to provide deep 

stratigraphic samples for analyses. The 

first major step will be a stratigraphic 

test well and then leasing which is 

scheduled for 1984.

Environmental Hazards

Numerous features that are potentially 

hazardous to development exist in the 

Navarin Basin province, including nearsurface faults, submarine slumps, 

shallow zones of gas-charged sediment, 

and extensive fields of large sand waves. 

The province is covered by ice during 

the winter months. During 1980, about 

2,160 miles of high-resolution 

geophysical data as well as 115 seafloor 

sediment samples were collected during 

a cooperative cruise with the Department of Commerce and the Bureau of 

Land Management. These data will be 

combined with previously collected data 

to make a preliminary map of the 

geologic hazards within the province. 

This environmental information will be 

utilized, along with information on the 

resource base, by the Secretary of the 

Department of the Interior in making 

decisions on the selection of tracts to be 

offered to industry under the December 

1984 OCS lease sale.

Map showing location of Navarin Basin province. Heavy dashed line indicates 

600-foot water depth.

50 I Yearbook 1980
"Mudslides" 

in Southern 

California

Floods and "mudslides" once again 

struck southern and central California 

with disastrous results during a series of 

severe rainstorms from January through 

March 1980. The storm damage extended 

south into northern Baja California, Mexico, and east into central Arizona. In 

southern California alone, damage from 

the several kinds of slope movements, 

popularly called mudslides, is estimated 

at several hundred million dollars; and, 

even months after the storms ceased, 

losses have increased from the continuing movement of landslides activated 

when infiltrating storm water raised the 

ground-water table in sensitive slope 

areas. Storm-triggered landslides are 

natural events that pose recurring 

hazards in southern California. The 

winter rainy seasons of 1961-62, 

1965-66, 1968-69, 1977-78, and 1979-80 

each triggered tens of thousands of mudslides that took lives, caused injuries, 

and wreaked damage on structures, 

roads, and terranes. Large financial 

losses were incurred during each of these 

events; each event involved natural earth 

processes that are being studied from 

both a scientific and an engineering 

viewpoint.

Assessing the potential for hazard, 

forecasting or predicting the areas and 

times of greatest risk, and undertaking 

specific mitigating measures require the 

recognition that significantly different 

processes have been lumped under such 

commonly used terms as landslide, 

mudslide, and slump. For example, the 

events usually reported as mudslides in 

southern California have included such 

diverse types of sloped movement as:

 Rockfalls and rock topples from road 

cuts and bedrock cliffs (fig. 1);

 Rotational slumps in both bedrock and 

unconsolidated materials;

 Debris slides from steep slopes

covered with colluvium, talus, or 

old landslide deposits;

 Debris flows and mud flows generated 

by rapid runoff and sheetwash from 

drainage basins denuded by brush 

and grass fires (fig. 2) or generated 

by soil slips (small debris slides) on 

unburned slopes (fig. 3); and

 Earth and debris falls and topples 

from stream banks (fig. 4) and 

coastal bluffs in unconsolidated 

sedimentary deposits. 

The foregoing examples include only a 

few of the large number of different 

kinds of slope movements, each with a 

distinctly different mechanism. The

hazards posed by different kinds of slope 

movements are also significantly different. The principal danger from falls 

and some topples derives from high 

speed and their potential for crushing 

impact. The principal hazard from 

slumps, lateral spreads, and creep is 

from differential displacements in the 

upper surfaces, which can tear apart the 

foundations of structures. Potential 

hazards from slope movements can be 

described under four general headings:

 High-speed impact Individual rocks 

or masses of debris are directed 

downward or laterally and strike 

structures and roads on or below 

steep slopes. Falls, topples, debris 

slides, and debris flows generated 

by soil slips are principal contributors to hazards from high-speed 

impact.

 Differential movement of ground beneath 

foundations. Structures built on 

the upper surfaces of slumps, lateral 

spreads, low-angle block slides, and 

some topples are endangered by this 

type of slope movement (fig. 5). 

Structures built on flat lands subject 

to ground failures caused by quick 

clay flows or liquefaction also are 

susceptible to foundation damage 

from this type of hazard.

FIGURE 1. A rock topple and fall halted 

traffic on this highway in the central Santa Monica Mountains of southern California. The sequence of failures began at the 

left with a small block slide on bedding 

surfaces dipping out of the roadcut. This 

slide removed support that resisted overturning of joint-bounded blocks higher in 

the roadcut, which then tumbled one 

after another onto the road. (Photograph 

courtesy of the Department of the County Engineer, Los Angeles County, Calif.)

FIGURE 2. An area in the San Bernard/no 

Mountains, southern California, that was 

burned over in fall 1979. The view shows 

rilling and other features typical of sheetwash surface erosion resulting from the 

heavy rainstorms; but no landslide scars 

occur. Mud flows and mud floods from 

this area were responsible for such inundation and burial effects as are seen in 

figure 7.

'-i.

I ,

>*
 Lateral pressure. Large landslide

masses moving at slow or moderate 

speeds tend to push erect structures 

over and shear them off at their 

bases (fig. 6).

 Inundation and burial. Debris flows, 

mud flows, and mud floods commonly inundate and bury structures 

in their paths; such buried structures 

are sometimes unusable even if no 

structural damage occurs. Inundation and burial by debris flows or 

mud flows can be difficult to 

distinguish from the similar effects 

of debris-laden flood flows (fig. 6). 

Of course, in a broad sense all kinds 

of slope movements result in deposits that bury some older surface 

downslope. The need for removal of 

these deposits from roadways is the 

most widely visible cleanup requirement (figs. 1 and 7). 

Landslide activity is not confined to 

southern California nor are severe 

rainstorms the sole triggers. Landslide activity is commonly clustered in time 

around some external triggering event 

such as a rainstorm, an earthquake, or 

construction activity. The large number 

of landslides that can occur in the short 

durations of some triggering events is impressive. In California's San Gabriel 

Mountains, more than 1,000 rock falls 

and debris slides were triggered within 

minutes of the 1971 San Fernando earthquake. The tens of thousands of 

southern California debris slides, soil 

slips, and debris flows triggered by 

rainstorms in 1969, 1978, and 1980 occurred within a few hours to a few days. 

Most falls, topples, debris slides, and 

debris flows cease activity within days or 

even minutes after a triggering event 

ends. In contrast, rotational slumps and 

many block slides move slowly and continue to move long after a triggering 

event ends. Many rotational slumps in 

southern Calfornia, apparently triggered 

by the rainfalls from January through 

March 1980, continued to move throughout the spring and summer. As long as 

displacement of material continues, its 

buttressing effect on adjacent slope 

materials at the head and upper sides is 

reduced, and the area of potential 

hazard commonly enlarges to include 

structures not threatened during or immediately after the triggering rainstorm 

(fig. 4).

Southern California is only a small 

part of the total area of our Nation in 

which slope movements are serious 

natural hazards. Major landslide hazard 

areas in the conterminous United States 

are indicated in figure 8.

Large parts of the Pacific Northwest, 

the Rocky Mountains, and the Appalachian Mountains lose millions of

dollars annually to slope movements. 

Current research by the U.S. Geological 

Survey includes efforts to improve the 

instrumental quantifications of engineering properties of slope materials and the 

identification and probability of occurrence of external events that have a 

potential for triggering slope movements 

and to provide more precise techniques 

for the evaluation of regional distributions of the various kinds of potential 

slope-stability hazards. Future research 

will attempt, using reliable and comprehensive regional data, to develop 

predictive models that will provide the 

basis for evaluating the relative risk in 

different parts of a region and to determine the most appropriate means to 

avoid selected levels of risk or to identify the most economical engineering 

methods that will minimize the potential 

hazards.

The Survey's research on slope movement, geologic hazards, and engineering 

geology paid two large dividends during 

fiscal year 1980. First, the compilation of 

a set of maps showing areas in the conterminous United States where different 

types of geologic constraints to construction exist and areas where construction 

could adversely affect the environment 

(for example, construction could increase 

an area's susceptibility to problems such 

as landslide and erosion) was completed. 

Second, the Survey was able to provide 

swift, competent, and effective guidance 

to the governmental authorities responsible for public safety and disaster relief 

during the Mount St. Helens eruptions 

and their associated debris flows 

because the potential hazards from such 

an event had been previously recognized 

and evaluated in the Survey's ongoing 

research.

IN'

FIGURE 3. An area of unburned natural vegetation in the eastern Santa Monica 

Mountains shows numerous soil-slip scars formed during the heavy rainstorms. Contrast this view with features of the burned area in figure 2. Shallow landslides can 

cause significant mud flows and mud floods to issue from unburned areas.

FIGURE 4. Undercutting of the unconsolidated deposits by stream flow has 

resulted in debris falls. Mixed with flood waters, these falls can cause surges of 

debris-flow consistency to be interspersed with the flood flow.

52 I Yearbook 1980
FIGURE 5. Scarps (S) and tension cracks 

(T) in the surface of a rock slump, Summit Road, Topanga area, Los Angeles 

County, that is undergoing headward 

enlargement, showing the kinds of > 

stresses imposed on buildings founded on 

such a deforming surface. (Photograph 

courtesy of the Department of the County Engineer, Los Angeles County, Calif.)

FIGURE 6. Deformation of a house in the Repetto Hills of southern California from 

 ^lateral pressure and partial burial by a debris flow originating from a small debris 

slide.

FIGURE 7. Inundation by a mud flood along the southside of the San Bernard/no 

Mountains. Houses have been buried nearly to their eaves by sand and silt mud 

deposited from mud floods. (Clearing of roads in the view has already taken place.) 

High-water marks no more than a few inches above the top of the deposits indicate 

that most of the material was emplaced by a flowing slurry. 

X Approximately 6 to 8 feet of sand, gravel, and silt accumulation.

FIGURE 8. Major areas where slope stability presents serious problems in the conterminous United 

States. (Map by W. E. Davies, based on U.S. Geological Survey Map MF-771, 1976.)

Geologic and Mineral Resource Surveys and Mapping | 53
Evidence of Ancient Rifting 

Discovered in the New 

Madrid; Missouri; Earthquake 

Zone

Earth scientists and the general public are becoming increasingly aware of the damage and loss of life that would 

be caused by a repetition of the major earthquakes that 

occurred near New Madrid, Mo., in 1811 and 1812. The intensities of these events ranged between X and XII on the 

Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale. Because of the greater 

thickness of the Earth's crust in the Central United States, 

the geographic area that would be affected by such earthquakes is much larger than that of the Western States. 

This unique characteristic of the Central United States is 

of critical importance in evaluating the seismic hazards of 

that area. A measure of the effects of this characteristic in 

the Central United States relative to the Western United 

States is to compare the population within the areas of 

damage for the New Madrid earthquake of February 7, 

1812, and the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. Census 

information for 1975 indicates that more than 12 million 

people live within the damage area for the New Madrid 

earthquake compared to about 4 million people for the 

area of the San Francisco earthquake. A major difficulty in 

evaluating potential seismic hazards in the Central United 

States is that, until recently, few adequate geologic and 

seismologic criteria were available. Application of criteria 

commonly used for seismic hazard assessments for earthquakes in the Western United States are not suitable for 

earthquakes in the area that is generally assumed to be 

the stable continental interior of the United States.

'A multidisciplinary effort that was started on a small 

scale in 1974 to investigate earthquakes in the New 

Madrid region has resulted in information that has greatly 

advanced understanding of the New Madrid earthquakes 

and has provided rational concepts useful for seismic 

hazard evaluation. The effort includes participation of 

Federal, State, and academic scientific communities funded largely under the Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program of the U.S. Geological Survey. In addition, the 

Nuclear Regulatory Commission has provided funding to 

States and academic organizations under a seven-State 

(Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, 

and Tennessee) cooperative program whose principal objective is to provide earth science information useful for 

the assessment of seismic hazards to nuclear powerplants 

in the region. The multidisciplinary effort has included acquisition of seismic, aeromagnetic, gravity, geomorphic, 

tectonic, seismic refraction, and seismic reflection data. 

Analysis of these data indicates that most earthquakes in 

the region are associated with an ancient intraplate rift in 

the Earth's crust, which may be similar to interplate rifts in 

East Africa or the Rhine River region in Germany. Major 

rifting in the New Madrid region appears to have occurred 

500 million to 700 million years ago. Intrusive igneous activity and faulting in or near the rift has occurred 

periodically at least three times since the initial major rifting.

The seismic data have provided the first subsurface indication of the approximate location of seismically active 

fault zones. Alinements of epicenters (surface location of 

earthquakes) have a prominent northeast trend; less prominent trends are north-northwest and west (see figure). Approximate delimitation of the buried rift is most evident in

aeromagnetic data. These data indicate a trough in the 

magnetic basement that trends northeast and is about 42 

miles wide and more than 120 miles long. The bottom of 

the trough is at a depth of about 3 miles, which is a little 

over 1 mile deeper than the flanks of the trough. The 

aeromagnetic data, along with evidence from exploratory 

drill holes and abundant outcrops of alkalic rocks commonly found in rifts all over the world, are the principal 

basis for inferring that the trough in the New Madrid 

region is an intraplate rift. Interpretation of seismic reflection profile data shows a fault zone with an aggregate vertical displacement of about 0.6 mile, which appears to be 

associated with the longest trend of seismic activity. This 

faulting occurred prior to the deposition of most Paleozoic 

(about 240 million-570 million years old) rocks. The location of the fault zone and longest trend of seismicity is 

along the axis of the inferred rift. All post-Paleozoic faults 

in the reflection profiles have less than 300 feet of vertical 

offset. The reflection profiles also indicate that some 

faults and slight bending of sedimentary rocks are 

associated with small masses of volcanic rocks which did 

not reach the surface of the Earth.

Subtle uplift (see green-shaded outline in the figure) of 

the alluvial flood plain in the New Madrid area has been 

identified, and uplift of subsurface rock units has also 

been identified. Analysis of the seismic reflection profile 

data shows that the Paleozoic rocks are uplifted conformably with the surface uplift. This correspondence clearly 

indicates that the geologic processes that deformed the 

subsurface strata are on-going today.

Mapping of a trench dug into a low-sloping scarp within 

the uplifted area resulted in the discovery of a number of 

faults with displacements ranging from several inches to 1 

to 2 feet; one fault had a displacement of more than 9 

feet. In this trench, crosscutting relations of sand-blow 

deposits (inferred to be associated with earthquakes) and 

age dating of sampled strata indicate a recurrence interval 

of about 600 years for earthquakes during the last 2,000 

years. This geologic evidence of a 600-year recurrence interval for major earthquakes is an independent confirmation of estimates of recurrence intervals derived from extrapolation of seismic data. The subsurface and surface 

deformation is the first evidence of very young tectonic 

activity observable at ground level in the Central United 

States.

Discovery of an association of earthquakes with an ancient intraplate rift that has had periodic volcanic and tectonic activity has broad implications. By comparison with 

technically active rifts studied in other parts of the world, 

the structural and seismologic characteristics of the rift in 

the New Madrid region may be inferred. Accurately identifying the exact extent of the rift is a basis for delineating 

the area in which earthquakes associated with the rift may 

occur. Because the three largest earthquakes during 

historic time in the Central United States occurred within 

the rift, areal constraints on their location have a large impact on earthquake-hazard evaluations.

Although the objectives of the investigations of the New 

Madrid region were designed to acquire an understanding 

of earthquakes, the results of the investigations have been 

advantageous to other geologic interests. The discovery of 

a trough a little over 1 mile deep raises the possibility that 

there may be thick sections of sedimentary rocks which 

may contain reservoirs of oil. Several oil companies, which 

are already using this information, are exploring the area. 

Chemical and mineralogical data have been obtained from 

samples collected by the Geological Survey from an exploratory hole drilled to measure in situ stress. These data

54 I Yearbook 1980
confirm the presence of elements and mineralization 

similar to that at Magnet Cove, Ark., where commercial 

and potentially commercial deposits of vanadium, 

titanium, molybdenum, and other minerals are currently 

being extracted or investigated. Thus, a 6-year 

multidisciplinary effort in basic earth science research has 

once again led to the discovery of previously unknown 

energy and mineral resources.

92° 90° 89°

EXPLANATION

- - Rift boundaries (approximate) 

.* Epicenters 

I I Mississippi embayment 

BUB! Area of uplift

ILLINOIS

37

50 MILES

EDGE OF MISSISSIPPI EMBAYMENT

36°

ARKANSAS

t 

I

35° O

Memphis

_L

Map showing the approximate boundaries of the rift as dashed line, the location of a subsurface 

fault zone, the area of uplift (green), and epicenters within the Mississippi embayment.

Geologic and Mineral Resource Surveys and Mapping 55
The 1979 Imperial Valley, 

California, Earthquake

On October 15, 1979, the largest earthquake in California in the last quarter century occurred on the Imperial 

fault near the international boundary between the United 

States and Mexico. The earthquake measured 6.6 on the 

Richter scale and was felt from Las Vegas, Nev., to northern Mexico. Surface movement on four fault zones accompanied the earthquake and caused approximately $30 

million in damage. From a scientific point of view, the 

earthquake is unprecedented. It generated the most comprehensive set of data on ground shaking and structural response yet recorded from a damaging earthquake anywhere in the world. It is also the first damaging earthquake in California's history for which the actual surface 

rupture zones had been defined by careful fault mapping 

prior to the seismic event.

The earthquake and its aftershocks were distributed 

along the Imperial and Brawley faults (fig. 1) which form 

part of the tectonic boundary between the North American and Pacific crustal plates. As the Pacific plate drifts 

slowly northwestward with respect to the North American 

plate, some of the crustal strain is released suddenly during moderately large earthquakes. The remaining strain is 

released gradually in the form of fault creep, which is 

often associated with small earthquakes. In the case of the 

1979 earthquake, the ground surface ruptured suddenly 

along a 19.3-mile segment of the Imperial fault, with additional surface movement along approximately 8 miles of 

the Brawley fault, as shown in figure 1. The maximum 

horizontal displacements reached 31 inches near the 

southern end of the rupture (10 miles from the main-shock 

epicenter) and decreased to 0.6 inch near the northern end 

of the fault.

Because of the frequent occurrence of seismic activity 

in the region and the possibility of a repeat of the 

magnitude 7.1 Imperial Valley earthquake of May 18, 

1940, the region has been under intensive study by scientists and engineers from the U.S. Geological Survey and 

other research institutions. In anticipation of strong earthquakes in the area, Survey engineers had devoted considerable attention to the design and installation of comprehensive accelerograph networks capable of recording 

strong shaking in the ground and in buildings and other 

structures. Such data are essential for establishing 

engineering design criteria for structures in seismically active areas. When the 1979 Imperial Valley earthquake occurred, significant ground-motion and structural response 

records were obtained from 32 sites [4 of which are maintained by the California Division of Mines and Geology 

(CDMG)] located near the surface rupture zone. In addition, ground-motion data were also obtained from nine stations in Mexico installed under a cooperative program by 

the University of California, San Diego, and the National 

University of Mexico, Mexico City. The records from both 

countries are of considerable interest in the scientific and 

earthquake-engineering research community because they 

provide new and highly important information on ground 

motion and the response of structures.

The El Centro, Calif., ground-motion array, a 

13-accelerograph 28-mile-long array oriented perpendicular 

to and crossing the Imperial fault near El Centro, obtained 

data of particular interest. Strong-motion data from this array (fig. 2) show that the horizontal velocity of the ground

decreased with distance from the fault trace and that the 

velocity of ground shaking was greatest toward the northern end of the fault. Indepth studies of the data also indicate that the Earth's crust started to slip at a depth of 

about 5 miles below the surface east of Calexico, Baja 

California, Mexico, with the rupture breaking the surface 6 

miles northwest of the epicenter and then continuing to 

the northwest along the fault to an area near Brawley. As 

the Earth's crust ruptured in a northwestward direction, it 

generated at station VO6, which is within 0.6 mile of the 

fault trace, the largest amplitude of shaking yet recorded 

anywhere in the world, a vertical peak motion of 1.74 

times the force of gravity. This peak acceleration is of 

special interest in the engineering community because it is 

expected to have an impact on design criteria for critical 

structures such as nuclear powerplants. Overall, the data 

acquired from the El Centro ground-motion array during 

the October 15, 1979, earthquake are expected to be of 

immense value in predicting the characteristics of strong 

ground shaking in future damaging earthquakes.

From an engineering point of view, by far the most 

significant data from this earthquake are those obtained 

from the heavily damaged six-story Imperial County Services Building (fig. 3), which is the tallest building in El 

Centro and in the surrounding region. Though the extent of 

damage was so severe that it is now likely that the 

building, designed in 1968 and constructed in 1971 at a 

cost of $1.9 million, will have to be demolished; the fact 

that the building was instrumented with state-of-the-art 

earthquake recording instrumentation makes it a unique 

case study. The 13-channel strong-motion instrumentation 

network, designed by Survey personnel and installed and 

maintained by CDMG, accurately documented the partial 

collapse of the four reinforced-concrete columns at the 

east end between the second and ground floors, as well as 

the damage that was caused by the subsequent settlement 

(8 inches during the main shock). The data, plotted on the 

accompanying schematic of the building (fig. 4) provide a 

complete description of the response of the building to 

ground motion before, during, and after damage occurred. 

Moreover, these records are unprecedented, not only 

because this is the first occasion on which an extensively 

instrumented building has sustained earthquake-induced 

structural damage but because the time and mechanism of 

damage can be inferred from the recorded data. Already 

the subject of numerous research efforts, the data are expected to provide important information for improving 

building design and construction practice.

Since the October 15 earthquake, extensive geological 

and seismological investigations and monitoring efforts 

have been undertaken by scientists from the Survey and a 

number of other institutions. These investigations have 

yielded a number of new findings. Since the main shock, 

the fault has continued to creep with displacements increasing by as much as 1 foot, and surface faulting also 

occurred along the San Andreas and Superstition Hills 

faults located far to the north and west of the Imperial 

fault. The latter displacements, much smaller than those 

observed on the Imperial and Brawley faults nearer the 

shock epicenter, were probably "sympathetic" creep 

movements triggered by the earthquake or some of its 

aftershocks. Postearthquake studies also have shown that 

the 1979 surface rupture coincided with those of earlier 

historic and prehistoric offsets on the Imperial fault and 

that the surface rupture was confined to the fault segment 

northwest of the segment where exceptionally large 

horizontal shifts (up to 18 feet) occurred during the 1940 

earthquake.

56 I Yearbook 1980
Accelerometer 

(ground floor)

Partially collapsed 

reinforced concrete 

columns

FIGURE 4. Schematic of the Imperial County Services Building showing strong-motion accelerograph data recorded during the 1979 earthquake.

in

FIGURE 7. Heavy black line shows location of surface ruptures 

that occurred during the October 15, 1979, Imperial Valley, Calif., 

earthquake.

FIGURE 2. Recordings of horizontal ground velocity from the U.S. Geological Survey El Centre, Calif., ground-motion array and four other strong-motion accelerograph sites in the Imperial Valley.

115°45' 40' 30' 20' 

33°00'

FIGURE 3. Southeast view of heavily damaged 

six-story Imperial County Services Building A 

located near the center of El Centre, Calif. 

One of four partially collapsed reinforcedconcrete columns at the east end between the 

ground and second floors is shown, y

Strong motion 

instrument sites

Horizontal ground 

velocity recordings
The U.S. Geological Survey 

Overseas In Saudi Arabia

The U.S. Geological Survey's present 

program with the Saudi Arabian Ministry 

of Petroleum and Mineral Resources 

began in 1963 as a 3-year reconnaissance 

mineral-exploration and geologic mapping program in cooperation with the 

Ministry's Directorate General of Mineral 

Resources (DGMR). It has continued to 

the present without interruption through 

a series of extensions to the original 

work agreement, and a sixth extension, 

recently negotiated, will continue the 

program into 1985. The entire cost of the 

Survey Mission and all of its activities is 

borne by the Ministry of Petroleum and 

Mineral Resources.

As many as 35 full-time Survey personnel are stationed at the Jiddah Headquarters, supplemented by a large 

counterpart staff of the DGMR, and annually by as many as 17 Survey 

specialists who are detailed to Jiddah on 

short-term assignments. In contrast to 

the facilities available in the small port 

of Jiddah in 1963, the scientists and their 

families now live in comfortable airconditioned homes in the midst of a 

modern seaport city that is rapidly growing in size and population. The Ministry 

also has work agreements with Missions 

from France and the United Kingdom to 

carry out other phases of mineral exploration and evaluation. Those Missions 

have been established in a campuslike 

center in the foothiHs of the Hijaz Mountains at the eastern edge of Jiddah. A 

new headquarters complex is under construction at the campus area that will 

concentrate Survey offices, laboratories, 

living quarters, and recreational facilities 

all in one compound, in contrast to the 

present widely scattered homes and offices; this will facilitate cooperation with 

the other Missions.

To assist in accomplishing the DGMR 

objective of becoming a viable independent scientific organization capable of 

assessing and developing the Kingdom of 

Saudi Arabia's mineral resources, the 

Survey's Mission work is divided into 

several programs that run the gamut 

from administration to highly specialized 

scientific investigations: 

Program I, Management and administration. This program is responsible for 

management and technical administration of activities of the Survey 

Mission.

Program II, Study of basic geology of the 

Arabian Shield. This program includes geologic mapping and compilation at 1:100,000 scale (fig. 1) and synthesis and recompilation of geology at 

1:250,000 scale; studies of layered

rocks; igneous rock geochronology, 

genesis, structure, and economic 

potential; Phanerozoic sedimentary 

and volcanic rocks in relation to 

water supplies and industrial 

materials; geomorphology studies; and 

Red Sea coastal geology. 

Program III, Mineral exploration. All activities are directed toward three projects: regional evaluation of economic 

mineral potential of 1:100,000-scale 

quadrangles, regional and detailed 

evaluation of the economic potential 

of the plutonic igneous rocks of the 

Arabian Shield, and the identification 

and assessment of the evaporite deposits of the Kingdom. 

Program IV, Geophysics and geochemistry. This program includes regional 

geophysics of the Earth's crust, 

preparation of a gravity anomaly map 

of the Kingdom, ground and airborne 

geophysical surveys for regional 

mineral exploration, and seismic 

studies in the western part of the Arabian Shield to assess seismic risk, particularly for settled areas. 

Program V, Technical support. The 

Survey has helped to establish 

facilities capable of supporting a 

modern earth science institution, including laboratories specializing in 

geochemistry, petrology, mineralogy, 

and geophysics; a computer center; a 

remote sensing center; a library; a 

publications department consisting of 

editorial and cartographic sections 

and a photolaboratory; a dataprocessing system; a complete topographic service; and an exploration 

drilling service.

Program VI, Logistic support The Mission manages and acquires facilities 

for field support, vehicles, special 

equipment, and housing accomodations for its members. 

Program VII, Training. Training is emphasized in all phases of work of the 

Mission by on-the-job assignments or 

by specialized training in Saudi Arabia 

or in the United States to build up a 

staff of qualified Saudi Arabian scientists and technicians. 

More than 430 reports and maps by 

Survey and counterpart authors describing the work of the Survey Mission have 

been published since 1963 (see fig. 1 for 

status of geologic mapping); all the recent reports and multicolor geologic 

maps are now being published by the 

DGMR Publications Department, which 

has been built up largely under Survey 

guidance.

In the area of mineral resources, prospecting in igneous rocks has revealed a 

belt of tin-bearing granites in the southeastern part of the shield. One at Jabal 

al Gharra has been investigated, and 

three others will be studied for economic 

potential. Anomalous tungsten and molybdenite have been identified at several 

places, and these sites are being investigated. Some granites and related igneous rocks mapped in the Jizan-Abha 

area are possible host rocks for niobium, 

tantalum, and rare elements. The 

granites and associated rocks show 

geochemical anomalies and indications 

of radiometric anomalies, and some may 

be potential sources of uranium.

Over the past few years, the Survey 

has investigated large phosphate 

deposits at Turayf-Sakakah, large pyrite 

deposits overlain by a cover of ironbearing weathered material at Wadi 

Wassat and Wadi Qatan, silver deposits 

at the Samrah mine, and gold at the ancient Mahd adh Dhahab mine, which had 

been abandoned in 1954 when mining 

was no longer profitable. Through an extensive sampling and drilling program, 

the Survey discovered extensive areas of 

additional gold-bearing rock. Consolidated Gold Fields, Ltd., acquired an 

exploration license in 1975, has confirmed the Survey discovery, and found additional mineralized areas as much as 1.2 

million tons of ore containing 0.86 ounce 

of gold per ton may be recoverable.

In 1980, the Survey completed a 

special edition of the Landsat mosaic of 

the Arabian Peninsula and multicolor 

aeromagnetic maps of the Arabian 

Shield at scales of 1:2,000,000 and 

1:1,000,000 for display at the International Geological Congress in Paris. The 

Band-7 near-infrared channel was 

selected for superior delineation of 

geologic and geographic features of interest, and computer processed at the 

Survey Field Station at Flagstaff, Ariz. A 

digital filter was used to subdue extremely high contrasts between very dark lava 

and basaltic rock formations and the 

bright desert sands and to enhance lineaments and other fine details of structure. 

Figure 2 is the scene covering the area 

around the seaport of Jiddah on the Red 

Sea.

The eastern Red Sea margin and 

coastal plain is an area where large industrial and development projects are 

being constructed. This will inevitably 

lead to population expansion and urban 

growth. Because many small earthquakes 

were recorded during the shooting of an 

experimental seismic refraction profile in 

this supposedly seismically inactive area, 

the Survey has been asked to install a 

seismic and magnetic observatory at a 

site near At Ta'if (fig. 2) that will become

58 I Yearbook 1980
/^ Geologic map and . 

report completed

; To be mapped by 

United States 

Geological Survey

Figure l. The status of U.S. Geological 

Survey 1:100,000-scale geologic 

quadrangle mapping in the Arabian 

Shield, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

a modified Worldwide Standardized Seismograph Network station. This station 

will locate all seismic activity in the 

region and, in combination with stations 

in surrounding areas, will locate earthquakes throughout the peninsula. Data 

acquired by this station will indicate the 

amount of seismic risk involved and will 

allow building codes and construction 

practices to be appropriately modified, 

thus demonstrating the value of this 

cooperative program in relation to 

changing needs.

Figure 2. Landsat image of the seaport 

of liddah on the Red Sea.

Geologic and Mineral Resource Surveys and Mapping | 59

Water Resources Investigations

Mission and 

Organization

"... in the past decade significant 

achievements have been made in 

preserving water and harnessing its 

power. Although interest in water conservation and environmental protection 

is growing, still greater efforts are 

needed. Without intensified dedication 

to careful management of water 

resources, pressures from our 

technological society will continue to 

deplete and degrade the Nation's water 

supply."

Second National Assessment, 1979

Water Resources Council

The necessity for "careful management of water resources" as stated by 

the Water Resources Council is dependent upon the ready availablility of upto-date scientific hydrologic information. 

Such information is an imperative for 

planners and managers if they are to initiate programs to ameliorate serious 

water problems throughout the country. 

The Water Resources Division has the 

principal responsibility within the Federal 

Government for providing waterresources information. It conducts investigations and presents impartial data 

and scientific analyses of its findings.

The Federal Program

The water-data collection, resource investigation, and research activities of 

this program are carried out in areas 

where the Federal interest is paramount. 

These include bodies of water in the 

public domain, river basins and aquifers 

that cross State boundaries, and other 

areas of international or inter-State concern. Activities include operation of 

surface- and ground-water quantity and 

quality measurement stations throughout 

the country, the Survey's Central 

Laboratories System, hydrologic research 

and analytical studies, and a variety of 

supporting services.

Support of Missions of 

Other Federal Agencies

With funds transferred from other 

Federal agencies, the Geological Survey 

performs work related to specific needs 

of each agency. Examples of work done 

in cooperation with several of these 

agencies are as follows: 

Department of Agriculture

Hydrologic studies on small watersheds, sediment studies, stream 

discharge and quality.

Department of Defense Corps of

Engineers

Tidal flows in estuaries, subsidence 

studies, streamflow data, groundwater studies, sedimentation and 

water-quality studies.

Department of Energy

Hydrologic and water-supply exploration studies at nuclear-explosion 

sites and at both operating 

and potential nuclear-waste sites; 

research in field of radiohydrology 

related to interaction between 

radioactive materials and various 

geohydrologic environments, both 

above and below ground; 

hydrologic modeling.

Department of Housing and Urban

Development

Flood-plain delineation, flood 

profiles, flood-frequency 

studies related to floodinsurance programs.

Department of the Interior: 

Bureau of Indian Affairs 

Hydrologic data collection, water 

resources appraisal studies, 

water-supply investigations on 

reservations.

Bureau of Land Management 

Collection of hydrologic data, 

water-supply studies on public 

lands, effects of coal mining on 

hydrology. 

Bureau of Mines 

Collection of hydrologic data, 

hydrologic studies of abandoned 

coal mines.

Bureau of Reclamation 

Collection of hydrologic data, 

ground-water-resources, reservoir, 

and land-subsidence studies. 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

Collection of hydrologic data, 

ground-water recharge, water 

supply for fish hatcheries, instream flow evaluations, 

relation of ground water to 

lakes.

National Park Service 

Collection of hydrologic data, 

water-resources appraisals of 

National Parks and Monuments, 

flood-hazard, forest-geomorphology, and ground-water 

studies.

Environmental Protection Agency 

Studies related to energy research 

and development, municipal 

waste-disposal-site studies, 

relationship of ground water to 

lakes, collection of water-quality 

information.

Office of Surface Mining

Collection of hydrologic data in 

coal mining areas, hydrologic 

modeling, developments of methods 

for assessing hydrologic impacts.

Federal-State Cooperative 

Program

Under the Federal-State Cooperative 

Program, the Division works with State 

and local agencies as described in the 

essay beginning on page 16.

The breadth of the Division's activities 

results in an awareness of waterinformation needs at all levels of government and provides a background to 

develop programs responsive to those 

needs. Through a network of offices in 

50 States and in Puerto Rico and Guam 

(see figure), the Division works closely 

with State and local agencies. Addresses 

of District Offices are listed in the 

"Organizational and Statistical Data" 

chapter.

In addition a major responsibility was 

assigned to the Survey in 1964 when it 

was designated the lead agency for coordinating water-data acquisition activities 

of all Federal agencies, including information on streams, lakes, reservoirs, 

estuaries, and ground water. This coordination effort minimizes duplication of 

data collection among Federal agencies 

and strengthens the overall data base 

and its accessibility.

Water Resources Investigations I 61
NORTHEASTERN REGION

WRD 

HEADQUARTERS

W

SOUTHEASTERN 

REGION

PUERTO RICO

San Juan

Regional office 

 District office

EXPLANATION

A Field office

G Gulf Coast Hydroscience Center

O Subdistrict office L National Water-duality Laboratory

T USGS National Training Center

Regional Boundary

Location of principal offices of the U.S. Geological Survey's Water Resources Division in the conterminous United States. Cities 

named are those where Regional and District Offices are located. Puerto Rico is included in the Southeastern Region, and Alaska, 

Guam, and Hawaii are included in the Western Region.

62 I Yearbook 1980
Budget and Personnel

In 1979, the Water Resources Division employed 1,701 

full-time personnel. They included scientists and engineers 

representing all fields of hydrology and related sciences, 

technical specialists, and administrative, secretarial, and 

clerical employees. An additional 1,382 permanent parttime and intermittent employees assisted in the work of 

the Division.

The $184.9 million available in 1980 for the water 

resources investigations activities came from the following 

sources:

1. Direct congressional appropriations.

2. Congressional, State, and local appropriations for

50-50 funding in the Federal-State Cooperative Program.

3. Funds transferred from other Federal agencies.

4. Funds transferred from State and local agencies.

Water Resources Investigations activity obligations for 

fiscal years 7979 and 1980, by subactivity

[Dollars in millions. Data may differ from that in statistical tables because of 

round ing]

Subactivity

Total _ _ _ _ .

National Water Data System _ .

Federal share of 

Federal-State Cooperative

Reimbursable programs _ .

States, counties, and 

municipalities

Miscellaneous nonOther Federal agencies _

Energy Hydrology

Direct program _ _ _ _

Fiscal year 

1979

$168.6

153.3

81.5

42.7

38.8

71.8

40.2

1.7

29.9

15.3

15.3

Fiscal year 

1980

184.9

166.7

90.5

50.7

39.8

76.2

43.1

1.8

31.3

18.2

18.2

SOURCE OF FUNDS

TOTAL $184.90 MILLION

-Direct Federal funds $108.70 Federal-State 

Cooperative Program -

Federal share 

$39.80

State share 

$43.10

»t- Tm<: |-M'|'||:i> STATES (pFAMEltHl

| | 'sjr ~^& I E6760U508 

5

E 6760U508C 

\ 5 ,.. .-^. » <..

Miscellaneous 

non-Federal 

sources $1.80

Other Federal 

agencies $31.30

USE OF FUNDS

-National Water Data System $166.70-

-Direct $90.50-

'W! THE I'MTEDSll

»:wf^*

-Reimbursable $76.20-

!it V i-»s'< ' V » -AfB&&

Energy |

Hydrology

Direct

$18.20

E6760U508C

5 ,,. -r«, :..

Water Resources Investigations | 63
The National Stream Quality 

Accounting Network

At each of 518 stations of the National Stream Quality 

Accounting Network (NASQAN) (fig. 1.), systematic and 

continuing streamflow and baseline water-quality 

measurements are made to determine the quality of the 

Nation's streams. NASQAN is designed to provide balanced large-scale national and regional assessments of water 

quality that can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of 

programs implemented to control and improve water 

quality. The primary objectives are (1) to account for the 

quantity and quality of water moving within and from the 

United States, (2) to depict areal variability, (3) to detect 

changes in stream quality, and (4) to lay the groundwork 

for future assessments of changes in stream quality.

Prior to the implementation of NASQAN, it had not 

been possible, on a nationwide basis, to determine areal 

differences or changes in water quality over time. Areal 

coverage of the Nation's surface water displayed an 

uneven geographic distribution, and the majority of sampling sites were not long term (8 or more years of record). 

Many sites had measured only a limited number of 

characteristics and were sampled at a variety of intervals.

To counteract these shortcomings, NASQAN was 

created to form a nationwide network in which station 

location was based on a relatively uniform hydrologic subdivision of river basins. This design used the 21 hydrologic 

regions and 222 subregions established by the Water 

Resources Council as well as the U.S. Geological Survey's 

breakdown of the subregions into 352 accounting units. 

Starting with 50 stations in 1973, NASQAN reached its present complement of 518 stations in 1979, with at least 1 

stations in each of the 352 accounting units; streamflow is 

measured at all stations. On the water-quality side, an extensive suite of constituents was selected to meet general 

assessment needs. These included inorganic, organic, 

biologic, pesticide, and radiochemical parameters. The 

water quality characteristics and their frequency of 

measurement at NASQAN stations are shown in the table.

All data collected are published annually by each Water 

Resources Division district. Data also are available in a 

machine-readable format from the Survey's WATSTORE 

computer storage and retrieval system. Published summary 

reports for 1974 through 1976 provide annual statistics for 

each station and also show areal distribution of selected 

constituents in the Nation's surface water through the use 

of shaded maps and histograms.

NASQAN is a unique program for several reasons. The 

network is designed around a system of subdivided river 

basins so that the data generated can be related to conditions within a known area upstream and compared with 

that from adjacent or nearby areas. Stations or sites are 

operated uniformly, and analyses are performed by Survey 

Laboratories; therefore, results obtained can be compared 

because the same methods are used to collect and 

analyze the data at all stations in the network. Stations 

are committed to long-term objectives, so the length of 

record, the frequency of sampling, and the sampling locations will remain constant for extended periods of time. 

This uniformity allows for valid comparisons between stations and provides an opportunity to look for long-term 

changes.

In 1980, monthly water-quality data from more than 300 

NASQAN stations with 5 to 8 years of record were studied 

for trends, using a recently developed test, the Seasonal 

Kendall Test. This test was applied to time series of concentration values, instantaneous transport (load) values, 

and flow-adjusted concentration.

A recently published report based on the trend study, 

"A Study of Trends in Total Phosphorus Measurements at 

Stations in the NASQAN Network," indicated that flowadjusted phosphorus concentrations show an increasing 

trend at 40 stations, a decreasing trend at 45 stations, and 

no trend at 218 stations. These trends, considered on a nationwide basis (fig. 2) show that phosphorus increases occupy a region extending from the Midwest to the 

Southeast, while most of the decreasing trends occur in 

States in the west, north, and northeast.

Characteristics currently measured at National Stream

Quality Network stations

[Frequencies: C, continuous; D, daily; M, monthly; Q, quarterly; T, twice per

year]

Characteristics Frequency

Field measurements: 

Discharge 

Water temperature 

PH

Specific conductance 

Dissolved oxygen 

Bacteria:

Fecal coliform and fecal streptococci 

Common constituents:

Dissolved2 calcium, magnesium, sodium,

potassium chloride, sulfate, flouride,

silica, dissolved solids, hardness, and

noncarbonate hardness; total 3 alkalinity.

Turbidity 

Major nutrients: 

Phosphorus:

Total as P

Dissolved as P 

Nitrogen:

Total ammonia plus organic as N

Dissolved ammonia plus organic as N

Total organic as N

Total ammonia as N

Dissolved ammonia as N 

Nitrite plus nitrate, total as N 

Suspended sediment: 

Concentration 

Percent finer than 0.062-millimeter sieve

diameter

Trace constituents (total and dissolved): 

Arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium,

cobalt, copper, iron, lead, manganese,

mercury, nickel, selenium, silver, zinc. 

Organics and biological: 

Organic carbon, total 

Phytoplankton:

Total, cells/ml

Identification of three codominants

Three codominants, percent of total 

Periphyton:

Biomass, dry weight g/m 2

Biomass, ash weight g/m 2

Chlorophyll a

Chlorophyll b 

Pesticides:

Chlorophenoxy acid herbicides, organochlorine and organophosphorus insecticides, PCB, PCN.

Total

Bottom material 

Radiochemical:

Cross alpha, gross beta, radium-226, 

uranium

C

C, D, or M1

M 

C, D, or M

M

M

M

M

M 

M

M 

M 

M 

M 

M 

M

M 

M

M 

M 

M

Q 

Q 

Q 

Q

Q4

T4

' Continuous or daily, depending upon whether the station is equipped 

with a monitor or whether daily observations are made. Monthly 

measurements made at stations where a long-term record is available.

2 Dissolved constituents in water are those remaining after filtering 

samples through 0.45-micrometer membrane filters.

3 Total concentrations are those determined by analysis of unfiltered 

samples. They include both dissolved and suspended materials.

'Collected at 151 selected NASQAN stations. Cooperative program with 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

5 Collected at 53 selected NASQAN stations.

64 I Yearbook 1980
Figure 1. National Stream Quality Accounting Network stations in the United States and Puerto Rico, 7979.

y

EXPLANATION

Highly significant downward trend 

V Significant downward trend 

° No significant trend 

A Significant upward trend 

A Highly significant upward trend

HS'H IOS'H 95°« es'w 

1. Results of tests for trends in total phosphorus transport.

TS'H

Water Resources Investigations | 65
Icebergs and Oil Tankers: 

Predicting the Drastic 

Retreat of Columbia Glacier, 

Alaska

A new phenomenon has recently been added to the list 

of natural hazards that can be predicted the drastic 

retreat of a tidewater glacier. Glacial retreat normally 

would be considered of only academic interest, but the 

drastic retreat of Columbia Glacier, near Valdez, Alaska, 

will be accompanied by a large increase in the calving (the 

breaking away of a mass of ice from a glacier or ice shelf) 

of icebergs. Many of these icebergs will drift into Valdez 

Arm and cause increased hazards to shipping. Tankers carrying 1.6 million barrels of oil per day from the TransAlaska Pipeline pass only 8 nautical miles down the line of 

iceberg drift from the terminus of this immense glacier. 

Icebergs and smaller pieces of ice (bergy bits or growlers) 

now drift toward, and occasionally across, the navigation 

lanes but have not yet seriously impeded shipping. 

However, U.S. Geological Survey glaciologists predict that 

the drastic retreat of Columbia Glacier will soon begin and 

will cause a large increase in the annual discharge of 

icebergs. Consequently, the Survey is carefully monitoring 

this glacier.

Nearly all grounded iceberg-calving glaciers have exhibited large-scale advances and retreats that are 

unrelated to climatic changes. Survey glaciologists have 

determined that the reason for this unusual pattern of 

behavior lies in the relative stability or instability of the 

terminus; the critical factor is water depth. If the ice at 

the terminus is in shallow water, the glacier is generally 

stable; however, instability results when the glacier 

retreats into a deep fiord or basin. The glacier may then 

retreat very rapidly and irreversibly as unusual volumes of 

ice break away. The attention of glaciologists became 

focused on the Columbia Glacier because it appears to be 

on the verge of such instability.

The Columbia Glacier is a large calving glacier, 42 miles 

in length, 430 square miles in area, and up to 3,700 feet in 

thickness. It now ends on a moraine shoal (a shoal consisting of rock materials deposited at the terminus of the 

melting glacier) in shallow water (not more than 75 feet 

deep), but, upglacier from the terminus, the bed is about 

1,300 feet below sea level. To determine when and how 

fast the glacier might retreat and how much the iceberg 

discharge would be increased, an intensive study was 

begun by the Geological Survey in 1977. Thickness, velocity, slope, mass balance, and other variables were 

measured in the field, and these data were used in computer flow models. Studies made at other calving glaciers 

in Alaska led to an empirical relation for calculating the 

rate of iceberg calving, and a calving model was 

developed that uses these results to provide specific 

predictions.

Studies of the 52 calving glaciers in Alaska show that: 

 All glaciers with stationary, slowly advancing, or slowly 

retreating termini end in shallow water (less than 260 

feet deep). This shallow-water position is either at the 

head of a fiord or on an advanced terminal moraine 

shoal. Most glaciers have retreated back from an advanced position attained, in many cases, during the 

"Little Ice Age" (about 3,000 years before the present 

time).Only one glacier still remains in an advanced 

position the Columbia Glacier.

66 Yearbook 1980

 All glaciers undergoing rapid retreat (0.5 to 6 miles per 

year) terminate or terminated in deep water, and, in 

general, the deeper the water, the faster the retreat.

 No calving glaciers have been observed advancing 

rapidly.

 Advances or retreats of calving glaciers show no consistent or apparent relationship to changes in climate.

 Calving speed (the volumetric discharge of icebergs per 

year divided by the area of the terminus face) is simply 

proportional to water depth at the terminus.

These observations are consistent because the rate of 

advance or retreat is equal to the difference between the 

ice flow speed to the terminus and the calving speed of 

ice away from the terminus. In shallow water, the ice 

speed is increased because a given ice discharge must 

flow through a section of reduced thickness and, thus, 

must flow faster, and the calving speed is reduced to 

about the same as the ice speed. As ice flow approximately balances calving, the position of the terminus changes 

very little. If, on the other hand, the glacier were to retreat 

off a shoal into deeper water, the rate of ice movement 

down valley would be reduced, but calving speed would 

be increased. This is because the greater ice thickness requires less velocity to handle a given ice discharge. Calving then would exceed flow, the terminus would retreat into even deeper water, and instability would result.

In early 1980, Columbia Glacier still terminated on the 

moraine shoal, although it was becoming thinner at an accelerating rate near the terminus and was retreating at the 

rate of about 190 feet per year. Using the new calving 

model, Survey glaciologists have calculated that the rate 

of retreat is expected to increase at an ever-faster rate during the next few years and that, from 1982 to 1985, the 

iceberg discharge rate will also increase to a peak of 6 to 

8 times the present level. Now the main effort is on 

monitoring comparing observed flow and recession data 

with computer predictions to better calibrate the ice flow 

and calving models and, thus, to further define the timing 

and the amount of the large increase of iceberg discharge 

that is to come.

FIGURE 7.- Vertical aerial photograph of the terminus of 

Columbia Glacier, taken on February 29, 1980. Superimposed on the photograph are velocity vectors, determined 

for October 20, 1979, to February 29, 1980. The length of 

each arrow on this figure is equivalent to the motion over 

100 days. For a glacier, these speeds are very fast; the motion at midstream close to the terminus was 23 feet per 

day, whereas further upglacier it was only half as much. 

The glacier terminus retreated from Heather Island in 

December 1978 for the first time in recorded history. The 

gray shapes between Heather Island and the mainland are 

sea ice floes. In the upper left corner, an arm of Columbia 

Glacier dams and flows into the basin of Terentiey Lake, 

the surface of which is frozen and covered with icebergs.

-,// / ' .'<
FIGURE 4. Columbia Glacier (background) and its iceberg 

plume. The water body in the foreground, dotted with 

icebergs, is Valdez Arm.

FIGURE 2. This unusual map, which shows the altitude of 

the bedrock surface beneath Columbia Glacier, is based on 

measurements made by a specially designed glacier radar 

and computer analysis which combined these measurements with velocity and other measured data and 

calculated the most likely ice thickness at 2,056 points. 

Although the bed of the glacier is more than a thousand 

feet below sea level in some areas, the glacier is not 

floating because it is very thick. The area where the bed is 

below sea level is indicated by vertical lining. The deep 

new fiord, that will result after 30-50 years of drastic 

retreat will be several miles wide and about 26 miles long, 

rivaling Port Valdez in size. The direction of ice flow is 

shown by solid arrows; the direction of iceberg drift is 

shown by open arrows. V

FIGURE 5. Aerial photograph looking down Columbia 

Glacier to Columbia Bay and just beyond Valdez Arm.

FIGURE 3. The surface of Columbia Glacier is severely 

shattered, due to its relatively high rate of flow. Geological 

Survey photogrammetrists were able to identify distinct 

crevasse patterns, even in winter photography, to measure 

the motion. These interesting crevasse "streets" are not yet 

explained. T
Research on Using the 

Geohydrologic Environment 

for Isolating High-level 

Radioactive Wastes

Although the world entered the Atomic Age nearly 40 

years ago, none of the resulting high-level radioactive 

wastes 1 has been disposed in a manner that can be regarded as permanent. One disposal method considered to be 

feasible is burial in a mined repository. Many scientists 

agree, however, that elements of the geohydrologic environment, particularly ground-water flow, can result in 

undesirably rapid dissolution and release of radioactive 

wastes from some burial sites. Likewise, they agree that 

the diversity of environments makes it likely that suitable 

sites can be found whose geohydrologic characteristics 

could effectively isolate the wastes with very low risk of 

exposure to man.

Part of the U.S. Geological Survey's research on highlevel waste disposal is concerned with locating areas 

where the geologic and hydrologic conditions provide a 

series of natural, relatively independent, multiple barriers 

to radioactive waste transport (see figure). This concept 

was adopted to overcome deficiencies in the ability to 

characterize adequately the masses of rock around a 

respository and to predict waste-rock-water reactions, 

natural events, and radioactive waste transport. Another 

aspect of the research is to improve our knowledge in the 

areas of these deficiencies.

The topical nature of the Survey's research in high-level 

waste disposal is influenced significantly by the fact that 

the responsibility for selection and design of waste 

repository sites rests with the Department of Energy. The 

Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Environmental Protection Agency are responsible for licensing proposed 

facilities and establishing criteria for determining environmental acceptability. The Survey's research on highlevel wastes, a joint effort of the Water Resources and 

Geologic Divisions, is designed to complement and augment the Department of Energy's research programs with 

needed information from an agency that has neither 

operational nor regulatory responsibility for waste 

disposal.

The initial effort to identify potential respository sites 

involved analyzing alternative approaches to the 

systematic screening of broad geohydrologic environments. One approach under consideration was 

developed jointly with the Department of Energy. It is a 

nationwide screening process that begins with broad provinces which are subdivided into successively smaller land 

units. The screening would be done with the substantial 

participation of scientists from State agencies concerned 

with natural resources and earth sciences. An alternative 

approach would consider a very limited area, would involve a small number of Survey personnel, and would 

focus primarily on Federal lands in the West. Work has 

started on assembling a data base to support whichever 

regional screening process is ultimately selected and on 

identifying ways of recording and processing the large 

amount of data needed for the screening.

1 Includes fission products that initially have a high level of 

beta and gamma radiation; also transuranic elements with a long 

toxic life. Transuranic waste contains long-lived alpha emitters at 

concentrations greater than 10 nanocuries per gram.

Research on the nature of critical geologic and 

hydrologic properties and processes involved in radionuclide migration from a waste repository falls into 

three categories: studies of rock types and geohydrologic 

environments for emplacing wastes, methods for 

characterizing environments for emplacing the waste, and 

investigations and modeling of geologic and hydrologic 

processes.

The rock types and environments under study as possible host media for the wastes include shales of Cretaceous 

age in the West, the unsaturated zones beneath some 

western deserts, granite and related crystalline rocks, and 

anhydrite.

Several geophysical and geochemical methods are under 

study to improve our ability to characterize the 

geohydrologic environment of a potential waste repository. 

The emphasis in geophysics is on so-called nondestructive 

methods that will not compromise the containment properties of the site. Included are studies of surface seismic 

methods, acoustic and electric techniques, borehole 

geophysical logging, remote sensing, and neutron activation methods to measure the water content of salt 

deposits. In the area of geochemistry, efforts are directed 

to the improvement of carbon-14 techniques for dating 

ground water and carbonaceous materials and the extension of the capability for dating old ground water and 

sediments using the isotope techniques. Improvements in 

the accuracy of dating geologic events and features will 

help to refine our knowledge of the geologic history of an 

area and to improve our ability to make extrapolations into the future.

Among the studies of geologic and hydrologic properties 

and processes is a group related specifically to the thermal and mechanical stresses imposed on the surrounding 

rocks by the emplacement of high-level wastes. The effects of these stresses on the underground flow of fluids 

and heat cannot be modeled at present for fractured rocks 

and unsaturated alluvium. To accurately describe the flow 

of fluids in these media requires an understanding of rock 

mechanics, heat transport, saturated ground-water flow 

(fractured rock), water movement in the unsaturated zone 

under nonisothermal conditions, and combined unsaturated-saturated zone flow in thick alluvium. Except for 

heat transport, studies are under way on some aspects of 

all these topics. In addition, research is being done to 

define the chemical and hydrologic behavior of the transuranium elements (particularly plutonium) in ground 

waters, to determine oxidation-reduction potentials and 

reactions in ground water and the response of the transuranium elements to these potentials, to describe solute 

transport in the unsaturated zone, to develop radionuclide 

transport models in ground-water systems, and to synthesize information on recent tectonic conditions in the 

United States.

A variety of geologic and hydrologic investigations is being conducted on behalf of the Department of Energy in 

regions where the Department of Energy is considering 

locating respository sites. These regions include the 

Nevada Test Site and vicinity; the Waste Isolation Pilot 

Plant in southeastern New Mexico; Hanford Reservation 

Region in Washington; Paradox Basin in Utah; Gulf Coast 

Salt Dome Region in north Louisiana, Mississippi, and 

northeast Texas; and the Salina Basin in New York and 

Ohio. The geohydrologic controls on the movement of 

waste solutes and the potential hazards from future 

volcanic activity are under study at the Department of 

Energy's Idaho National Engineering Laboratory where 

transuranic wastes have been stored and disposed.

68 I Yearbook 1980
l2

:

The following are a few significant results of the 

research:

 Detailed geologic mapping combined with surface 

geophysical studies on the eastern edge of the 

Jackass Flats area of the Nevada Test Site showed 

that the underlying intrusive body of granodiorite was 

highly fractured and altered at the depths where a 

repository could be constructed. Consequently, the 

decision was made by the Department of Energy to 

discontinue additional exploration.

 Test drilling, surface geologic mapping, and regional 

and borehole geophysical surveys in the north-central 

part of Jackass Flats indicated that the depth to a 

suitable host rock for the wastes, inferred to be an intrusive body, was too great; also, the overlying rocks

apparently were extensively faulted and mineralized. 

On the basis of the Survey's research, the Department 

of Energy discontinued exploration.

The acoustic televiewer log (a sonic geophysical 

borehole log) was used to demonstrate that unfractured rocks are very rare even at depths of thousands 

of feet. This finding is of significance with regard to 

the search for repository sites in rocks of low 

hydraulic conductivity.

Hole-to-surface direct-current resistivity measurements 

at Salt Valley in the Paradox Basin, Utah, clearly 

defined relative variaitons in depth of the salt-caprock 

interface. Similar measurements in volcanics at the 

Nevada Test Site clearly defined fracture zones a few 

hundred feet laterally from a borehole.

i

tural Barriers 

Low rainfall

Deep water table

Nearly impermeable strata

Slow-moving Ground water

Long flow path

High adsorption or ion 

exchange capacity

Strong rock with few fractures 

Slow erosion rate

Low probability for geologic faulting 

or volcanic activity

Engineered Barriers 

(0Deep emplacement

^Strong, corrosion resistant 

canister

waste form with 

low soluability

^Effective shaftsealing

^Stable backfill with low permeability 

and high adsorption capacity

The multiple barrier approach to radioactive waste isolation.

Water Resources Investigations | 69
Coal Hydrology Program

The Water Resources Division of the U.S. Geological 

Survey began work in coal hydrology in fiscal year 1974 in 

response to a request from the Bureau of Land Management for assistance in assessing hydrologic problems 

associated with coal mining, particularly surface mining 

and reclamation. Such studies were needed for the environmental impact statements required for leasing Federal 

coal and for the management needs of the Bureau of Land 

Management. In fiscal year 1975, $1.2 million was appropriated directly to the Survey to investigate the relationships between coal development and water 

resources, primarily on Federal lands. Since then the 

Federal program has grown to more than $12 million. 

Much of the growth in the program, particularly in the 

East, is attributed to the enactment of Public Law 95-87, 

the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977. 

The coal hydrology program in support of the act is nationwide in scope and is designed to acquire, interpret, 

and disseminate information on the hydrology of the areas 

where mining exists or is likely to develop. Program emphasis is on water availability and the assessment of the 

impacts of mining on water resources. Accordingly, the 

Survey has expanded its data-collection programs on both 

Federal and non-Federal lands and has implemented 

research on a number of water-related subjects concerned 

with cause-and-effect relations of mining. In addition, 

studies to develop techniques for discriminating between 

the impacts of various types of land use have been 

started.

The above funding was provided, in part, to meet the 

stipulation in the act that a Federal agency would supply 

the hydrologic information necessary to describe the 

hydrology of the general area of mining. This, along with 

permittee-site data, would permit an assessment to be 

made of the probable consequences of a proposed mining 

operation. It would also allow the regulatory authority to 

appraise the cumulative impacts of a given mine in conjunction with other land uses that might cause impacts in 

what is referred to as the "general area."

The most coal mines exist in the Eastern and Interior 

coal provinces; hence, this is where there is the greatest 

need for hydrologic information for permitting purposes. 

The map shows these two provinces and the major subbasin delineations chosen for intensive hydrologic data 

collection and reporting. The first hydrology report on 

Area 23 in Alabama has been published. This report and 

the remaining 34 have been designed to summarize all 

pertinent hydrologic data on the areas in question. Approximately one-half of these reports will be published by early 1981, and the balance will be published in 1982.

Coal hydrology is also an element of the Federal-State 

Cooperative Program. Federal and State shares, which 

amount to $2.9 million each, support efforts to evaluate 

site-specific mining related hydrologic problems such as 

acid mine drainage, subsidence, impacts on local water 

supplies, excessive sediment in streams and reservoirs, 

pollution from coal washing and loading facilities, and impacts of dewatering identified by State and local governments. Federal-State cooperative projects number 77 in 31 

States, but, at present, many of the projects are not 

designed specifically to provide the hydrologic data needs 

that may result when State regulatory surface mining programs are put into effect. However, much of this data will 

be useful to the State surface mining program.

Much of the existing Federally funded coal hydrology 

network of the Water Resources Division is possible only

because a broad network of hydrologic data monitoring 

sites and water-resources investigation programs has existed for many years. These efforts have been funded 

through the Federal-State Cooperative Program and by 

other Federal agencies.

Agencies that have provided funds for the Water 

Resources Division coal program are principally the 

Bureau of Land Management, the Office of Surface Mining, the Bureau of Mines, and the Environmental Protection Agency. The Office of Surface Mining and the Bureau 

of Mines currently contribute $179,450 each for the study 

of flooding characteristics of the Big Sandy-Tug Fork 

basin in West Virginia and Kentucky. The Office of Surface Mining is also providing $100,000 to the Water 

Resources Division to develop the techniques for assessing 

cumulative impacts of mining. The Bureau of Land 

Management is the largest contributor of funds for coal 

hydrology, providing $3.8 million in fiscal year 1980 for 

studies on Federal lands in eight States. A number of 

studies assist the Bureau of Land Management in their 

coal tract delineations and in planning and managing the 

Federal coal reserves. Hydrologic modeling is being done 

to aid the Bureau of Land Management in determining 

hydrologic characteristics of selected basins and the effects of coal mining on areal hydrology. Presently, 

hydrologic data is being organized in 33 small basins to 

develop and calibrate the models; these studies are in 

Montana, North Dakota, Colorado, New Mexico, Alabama, 

Tennessee, Indiana, and Illinois.

Semino mine, Wyoming. (Photograph courtesy of the Bureau 

of Land Management.)

70 I Yearbook 1980
The principal use of coal is for steam generation for 

large-scale electric power generation. In recent months, 

much emphasis has been placed on synthetic fuels, and 

coal is expected to play a major role in the development 

of these fuels and oil shale. Plans are to convert solid coal 

into gaseous and liquid phases which would provide clean 

energy for applications now using large quantities of 

petroleum products.

The development of synthetic fuels from coal potentially will affect water resources in two basic ways: the 

various fuel conversion processes require large amounts of 

water and the handling of raw materials and the waste 

residuals from the extraction and conversion processes will 

produce major waste-disposal problems that may have 

long-term adverse impacts on the quantity and quality of 

water supplies.

The water requirements for fuels development and the 

demands of the increased population for the industry will 

be superimposed on existing, and largely agricultural, 

water use. Competition for the available water resources 

will increase, and, although, in the aggregate, sufficient 

water does exist for the various uses, the required amount 

may not always be available at a particular site. This is 

especially true in the Western States where major coal 

deposits are suitable for surface mining and plans are being developed for leasing large tracts for coal extraction.

All extraction and surface processes for development of 

synthetic fuels require large volumes of water, particularly 

for cooling. The wastes produced by the processes are 

disposed of by various techniques, all of which affect 

some element of the environment. For example, heated 

waters discharged to surface streams may change the 

ecological regimes of the streams and have major impacts

on the biota; spoil piles commonly result from the residual 

disposal of mining operations and are potential sources of 

toxic materials that may be leached by rainfall and introduced into either surface streams or underground 

waters; other forms of waste disposal include storage in 

lagoons and injection underground. The last, especially, 

has a tendency to produce temporary complacency in that 

"out of sight" results in "out of mind." Major impacts on 

fresh-water resources may occur as a result of improper 

well construction and completion, inadequate waste containment, and potential waste-aquifer reactions that would 

make injection hazardous.

Unique problems are associated with in situ developments of synthetic fuels. Although this approach would 

lessen the coal-handling and waste-disposal problems and 

lessen surface-pollution effects for air and water, other 

considerations arise concerning the impacts on groundwater systems and whether or not potential wastes will be 

contained and not reach surface sources. In situ coal 

gasification poses many questions related to impacts on 

ground-water systems such as subsidence, dewatering, 

movement and fate of residuals, and disruption of aquifers. The heat, pressure, and fracturing caused by in situ 

processes are likely to change aquifer characteristics affecting flow and transport of dissolved substances.

Extraction of energy from coal may have long-term 

adverse impacts, and it behooves government and scientists to establish a better understanding of natural conditions and of the potential effects of fuel development. 

With such understanding, problems can be addressed 

before they occur or before they have so adversely affected the environment that little remedial action can be 

taken.

NEW YORK

"6 "\MARYLAND

IOWA

INTERIOR 

PROVINCE \

EASTERN REGION

-A «*____.$

MISSISSIPPI / /A^)ALABAMA /\ / GEORGIA ^-x SOUTH CAROLINA

'^ EASTERN 1 PROVINCE

Map showing coal hydrology reporting subdivisions 

(numbered areas] in the Eastern and the Interior coal provinces.

Water Resources Investigations | 71
Aerial view showing surface mining operations underway. (Photograph courtesy of the Bureau of Land Management.)

72 I Yearbook 1980
The Federal-State

Cooperative

Program

The Water Resources Division's 

Federal-State Cooperative Program is the 

foundation of much of the waterresources management and planning activity in the country. In addition, it provides an early-warning system for the 

detection of emerging water problems.

How did this important program come 

into existence? and where is it headed? 

The Cooperative Program is rooted in the 

concept that Federal, State, and local 

governments have a mutual interest in 

evaluating, planning, developing, and 

managing the Nation's water resources. 

This concept dates back to the late 

1800's when problems associated with inland navigation, irrigation, and flood protection drew attention to the fact that 

water is a joint responsibility of all levels 

of government. The realization that 

many water problems begin locally led 

to the establishment of the Federal-State 

Cooperative Program as a major component to fulfill the U.S. Geological 

Survey's responsibilities to assess the Nation's water resources. In 1928, Congress 

established the principle of 50-50 matching funds within the program (Public Law 

70-100), and the Survey's relationship with 

the States became a partnership of 

equals and led to the initiation of the 

cooperative stream-gaging program.

The enormity and complexity of this 

task of appraising the Nation's water 

resources preclude accomplishing the 

task by Federal efforts alone. Similarly, 

State and local agencies working independently cannot relate to the larger 

regional aspects of the hydrologic 

system. Therefore, cooperation through 

the Federal-State Cooperative Program 

provides an economical means of assessing water resources. The Cooperative 

Program promotes the National interest 

by providing information and expertise 

to its clients. It is supportive of other 

Federal agency missions, of States' needs 

to meet Federal regulatory requirements, 

of interstate compacts and international 

treaties, and of Congressionally mandated programs. An ongoing exchange of 

ideas, data, and results between the 

Geological Survey and State water agencies aids State agencies in implementing 

planning, management, and regulatory 

activities and programs and assures that 

the Geological Survey's attention is 

directed towards significant water problems.

The Current Progam

The current Cooperative Program consists of a diverse mix of activities. In 

fiscal year 1980, it included over 2,000 

projects in cooperation with more than 

800 agencies. In addition to data collection, the program focuses on water use 

and availability, the impact of man's activities on the hydrologic "environment, 

the definition of hazards, and energyrelated water issues which may strain 

available water supplies as a result of 

new energy development.

Hydrologic data collection within the 

Cooperative Program remains a very 

significant aspect of the program. The 

Geological Survey is the Nation's principal water-data collection agency, and 

its reputation for accurate impartial data 

makes the Survey's data bases an important source of water information for 

other agencies. For example, the National Weather Service uses data from 

about 2,000 gaging stations operated by 

the Survey for their river forecasting program.

Of considerable significance is the 

role that the Cooperative Program plays 

in emergency situations. It is the foundation of the Geological Survey's rapid 

response capability to water-related 

crises. During the drought of 1976-77, 

the Water Resources Division was able 

to gather information with which the 

Congress and the Executive Branch could 

monitor events. When the drought began 

to affect west coast water supplies, Congress and the Executive Branch received 

requests for emergency assistance. 

Because it was difficult to assess the 

seriousness and validity of these requests, the White House established a 

task force of agencies to monitor the 

drought situation and to brief White 

House and Congressional Committee 

staffs on developments. The Water 

Resources Division provided the task 

force with daily reports on streamflow, 

reservoir storage, and other vital information associated with the drought. The 

Congress and the White House made use 

of these reports to allocate emergency 

funds. The Division's rapid response and 

assistance would not have been possible 

without the data accumulated by the 

Cooperative Program.

A more recent example of rapid 

response capability was the eruption at 

Mount St. Helens on May 18, 1980. For 

many years, the Survey has collected 

hydrologic data from stations in the 

vicinity of the volcano. Moreover, for 

several months before the major eruption, Survey Field Offices increased the

number of stations and the sampling frequency for water-quality samples 

throughout the State of Washington. 

When the major eruption occurred, the 

Survey was well prepared to begin immediate studies of the impact of ash 

falls on water quality, the impact of 

mudflows and other deposits on river 

flow, and the measurement of other 

types of hydrologic data. As with the 

drought, it would not have been possible 

to mount new data-collection programs 

in the northwest had not a sizable network of stations and a cadre of experienced personnel already been present. Perhaps more important, the program provided good hydrologic records 

before the event, so the preeruption 

hydrologic conditions were well 

established as a basis for determining the 

effects of the eruptions.

Program Planning 

A Continuous Process

How is such a large program with so 

many different facets effectively managed in the context of societal needs? A 

unique aspect of the program is the continuous nature of the planning process 

that permits the program to adjust to the 

changing world.

Each fiscal year, the Director of the 

Geological Survey reviews the priorities 

of the Department of Interior and issues 

a policy guidance statement for all programs. The Chief Hydrologist integrates 

the Director's policy guidance statement 

with local problem priority statements 

from the Regional Hydrologists. Program 

guidelines are then established and communicated to each Division District 

through the Regional Hydrologists. At 

the State level, the Districts and their 

Cooperating Agencies are constantly 

developing new project proposals to 

meet emerging problems and needs. The 

heads of State agencies are guided in 

their planning by the nature and severity 

of the water-management problems facing them.

All project proposals are first screened 

at the District level. Next, the proposals 

are reviewed at regional headquarters on 

the basis of technical merit, contribution 

to the hydrologic knowledge of the 

region, and consistency with National 

priorities. All proposals received by a 

Regional Hydrologist are supported by 

Cooperators. Priorities are assigned to all 

acceptable proposals within a region, 

and the proposals are funded until the 

Cooperative allocation to each region 

has been committed.

Water Resources Investigations | 73
Nature of the Program

Perhaps most important to those working with water policy is the fact that the 

Cooperative Program is "policy 

relevant," in that most projects provide 

interpretive hydrologic information 

necessary for developing guidelines for 

making decisions or for formulating 

plans. Most projects are responding to a 

recognized problem or are working to 

define a potential problem, as shown by 

the following examples:

 Ground-water management in the High 

Plains of Colorado regulation of 

ground-water pumping, (Colorado 

State Circular 34-1976.)

 Hydrology of the Piceance Creek

Basin, Colorado simulation of the 

effects of oil shale development. 

(Professional Paper 908-1974.)

 Ground-water model of the closed 

basin area of the San Luis Valley, 

Colorado lead to interstate compact. (Colorado State Circular 

29-1975.)

 Water-resources investigations of the 

Cook Inlet Hydrologic Unit, 

Alaska land-use planning, waste 

emplacement, and supply development.

 Evaluation of the Edwards Limestone 

Aquifer, Texas the study created 

interest in drafting legislation dealing with the protection oi aquifers 

which are the only source of public 

water supply.

 Beaver Creek Study, Kentuckypioneering work on the environmental impacts of surface mining. Surface mining laws and regulations 

based on this study. (Professional 

Paper 427-A, B, C; 1963, 1964, 

1970.)

 Indianapolis Ground-water Studycontroversy over water-supply 

availability and need for Highland 

Reservoir. The study appears to 

have saved the taxpayers over $100 

million.

 Highway Bridge Studies to avoid 

over and under design of bridges. 

Studies have saved taxpayers 

millions of dollars in construction. 

The program directly contributes to 

earth science knowledge by fostering the 

advancement of hydrologic science and 

by providing a major part of the Survey's 

water data base. As illustrated in table 1, 

many major advancements in groundwater science have been made within 

the Cooperative Program. The information in table 2 shows the importance of 

the Cooperative Program to the Survey's 

water-data base.

Finally, the Cooperative Program is a 

source of stability and strength for the 

total water-resources investigations program of the Division. Without the extensive and detailed knowledge of the 

hydrology of each State that has been 

accumulated over the years, the Geological Survey's goal of providing the Nation 

needed water information would be nearly impossible.

TABLE 1. Major advancements in 

hydrology supported by Cooperative 

Program

1890's

1899-1930's

1920's

1923

1935

G. K. Gilbert, N. H. Darton, W. D. Johnson: 

Qualitative description 

of major aquifers; 

established geology as 

the cornerstone of 

ground-water hydrolo'gy.

C. S. Slichter: Applied the 

mathematics of potential theory of groundwater flow and devised 

methods for measuring 

ratio of ground-water 

movement.

W. C. Mendenhall:

Developed quantitative 

technique for appraisal 

of ground-water 

resource.

O. E. Meinzer and V. C. 

Fishel: Experimentally 

established the validity 

of Darcy's law for low 

ground-water gradients 

and introduced the 

Thiem equation for 

steady-state analysis of 

aquifer tests.

F. W. Clarke: Compiled 

Data of Geochemistry, 

which was instrumental 

in guiding geochemical 

research and data collection through the next 

two decades.

O. E. Meinzer: The classic 

paper, The Occurrence 

of Ground-Water in the 

United States, With a 

Discussion of Principles, 

established groundwater hydrology as a 

scientific discipline.

C. V. Theis: Developed a 

mathematical equation 

describing the 

nonsteady flow of 

ground water to a well 

and opened the door to 

the modern era of 

quantitative groundwater hydrology.

1940's C. E. Jacob: Developed

the physical foundation 

of the ground-water 

flow equations and extended mathematical 

basis for analyzing 

aquifer-test data.

B. R. Colby: Advancement 

of use of Oden Theory 

as a standard technique 

for determining particlesized distribution of 

fluvial sediment.

P. C. Benedict: Development and advancement 

of the standardization 

of suspended-sediment 

samplers.

G. E. Ferguson: Development and use of creststage gages of peakstage measurement.

1940-1950's H. B. Kinnison, B. R. Colby, R. W. Carter, T. 

Dalrymple, W. B. Langbein, M. A. Benson: 

Development of techniques for the regionalization of flood-frequency 

information.

1950's H. E. Skibitzke, R. R. Bennett, R. W. Stallman: Introduced the use of 

numerical methods to 

analyze ground-water 

flow and develop concepts and techniques of 

simulating ground-water 

systems with 2- and 

3-dimensional electrical 

networks.

R. W. Carter and C. E. 

Kindsvater: Development of contractedopening methods of 

flow measurement.

J. S. Gatewood, T. W. 

Robinson, B. R. Colby, 

J. D. Hem, L. C. Halpenney: Documented water 

use by phreatophytes.

H. Wires, G. F. Smoot, 

and others: Development of the bubble 

gage for the measurement of stage.

B. R. Colby and C. H. 

Hembree: Development 

of Modified Einstein 

Theory for computing 

total sediment 

discharge.

B. R. Colby: Development 

of Visual-AccumulationTube analytical method 

for determining particlesized distribution of 

fluvial sediment.

74 I Yearbook 1980
TABLE 1. Major advancements in 

hydrology supported by Cooperative 

Program Continued

J. D. Hem: Developed 

simultaneously with 

other researchers of 

Eh-pH stability field 

concepts, systematized 

several thermodynamic 

relations for soliddissolved phase interactions of several 

minerals and techniques 

for similar interpretation of other minerals.

1950-1960's J. F. Poland, G. E. Davis, 

B. E. Lofgren: Investigated and described the mechanical 

deformation (subsidence) of earth 

material caused by the 

withdrawal of water by 

wells.

B. R. Colby and D. R. 

Dawdy: Documented 

the influence of streambed forms on stagedischarge relation.

1950-1970's W. B. Langbein, D. O.

Moore, R. E. Hedman, 

H. C. Riggs: Development of techniques for 

relating channel and 

flow characteristics.

1960's N. J. Luscynski, H. H. 

Cooper, Jr., F. A. 

Kohout: Developed 

variable density concepts and applications 

to saltwater intrusion in 

coastal aquifers. 

D. R. Dawdy: Advancement of rainfall-runoff 

modeling.

G. F. Smoot: Development 

of the moving-boat 

method of flow 

measurement.

1960-1970's J. D. Bredenhoeft, G.

Pinder, P. C. Trescott: 

Developed and encouraged the use of 

computer-based 

numerical models of 

complex ground-water 

flow systems. 

N. C. Matalas, C. H. Hardison, R. W. Carter, M. 

E. Moss: Development 

of methods for 

streamflow network 

design.

J. F. Wilson, Jr., F. A. 

Kilpatrick, N. Yotsukura, E. D. Cobb: 

Development of timeof-travel techniques for 

the transport and diffusion of solutes in river 

estuaries.

N. Yotsukura and W. 

Sayre: Development of 

stream-mixing concepts.

TABLE 2. Type of hydrologic data collection stations in the Water Resources Division

Percentage

Total number supported by 

Type of station of Federal-State 

collection Cooperative 

__ sites Program__

Surface-water: 

Continuous discharge 8,200 65 

Intermittent

discharge 7,400 90 

Lake-reservoir

sites 900 60 

Water-quality: 

Surface-water

sites 5,200 70 

Ground-water

sites 8,250 95 

Sediment

stations 1,400 60 

Ground-water

levels 27,900 55

Water Resources Investigations | 75
Conservation 

of Lands and 

Minerals

'8 

jli

ift*x«;
Mission

The Conservation Division performs several functions 

concerning the leasing, classification, and use of mineral 

and water resources on Federal and Indian lands. These 

functions have been delegated to the U.S. Geological 

Survey by the Secretary of the Interior and are accomplished through two major missions:

 Evaluation of resources, which includes the classification of public lands to identify areas containing 

potentially valuable leasable minerals and areas 

valuable for waterpower and water-storage purposes. 

Also included is the evaluation of mineral resources 

on tracts of public land that are exchanged, sold, or 

made available for development and production 

through a competitive leasing process.

 Supervision of operations associated with the exploration, development, and production of minerals from 

leased Federal, Indian, and Outer Continental Shelf 

(OCS) lands. A significant element of this mission is 

the collection of certain rentals and royalties for 

minerals produced.

The Geological Survey collects and analyzes data for 

the sound development of mineral resources, for protection of the environmental characteristics of public lands 

and to support the programs of other Federal agencies. 

Within the Department of the Interior, the Geological 

Survey supports the missions of the Bureau of Land 

Management, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the National Park Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the 

Water and Power Resources Service. Outside the Department, the Survey provides information to the Department 

of Defense, the Forest Service, the Department of 

Agriculture, the General Services Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of 

Energy. In addition, data from minerals production on 

Federal and Indian lands are compiled on a calendar year 

basis to be compatible with statistics published by the 

Department of Energy, State governments, and private industry. This information is helpful in gauging production 

performance and developing planning strategies.

In fiscal year 1980, minerals from Federal and Indian 

lands produced a significant portion of the Nation's 

mineral supplies. More than 13 percent of the oil, 31 percent of all natural gas, and 12 percent of the Nation's coal 

were produced from leases on Indian and Federal lands 

onshore and offshore. These production levels clearly 

demonstrate the value of Federal mineral deposits to the 

Nation's economy. In fiscal year 1980, the value of all 

mineral commodities produced from leased Federal and 

Indian lands exceeded $19.5 billion. Lease rentals and 

royalties resulting from production of minerals, combined 

with bonus payments from lease sales, provided roughly 

$6.9 billion in revenue for the Federal Government.

The authority to classify public lands and to regulate 

mineral development on Federal and Indian lands, to protect the environment, and to collect a fair return from extracted resources lies in a complex array of mineral and 

land laws, some dating back to the 1870's.

Congress stipulated in the Act of March 3, 1879, which 

created the Geological Survey, that the agency should

Parker Rig No. 163, operated under contract to Sun Oil 

Company, explores for oil and gas at a site more than 8,000 

feet up the side of Prater Mountain, near Jackson, Wyo. 

U.S. Geological Survey personnel frequently inspect drilling 

activities to assure that operations conform with the requirements of the approved plan of operations. (Photograph 

by James Cook, Wide World.)

study the Nation's mineral wealth, classify the public 

lands, and identify various land values. In 1906, the President directed the Secretary of the Interior to immediately 

withhold from other uses all valuable coal lands on the 

public domain. Federal coal lands in Alabama, Arkansas, 

and Wyoming were withdrawn and later classified under 

this directive. Subsequently, Congress passed the 

Withdrawal Act of 1910 which authorized the President to 

reserve public lands from settlement, location, or sale. 

This act resulted in the immediate withdrawal of about 

100 million acres of public lands and the preservation of 

their potential coal reserves. The Geological Survey began 

to examine and classify these lands. Lands found to have 

no coal were made available for other uses, and those 

found to contain potentially workable coal beds were appraised and priced at varying amounts per acre. Because 

the lands withdrawn included many areas that were 

valuable for farming, Congress passed the Separation Acts 

of 1909 and 1910 that provided for the separation of surface and subsurface ownership rights. This permitted the 

public to purchase or use surface areas, but guaranteed 

U.S. ownership of subsurface mineral deposits and the 

right to prospect and mine them.

The Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 ended the practice of 

selling public coal lands at appraised values and instead 

provided for the leasing of coal and other mineral commodities. Other minerals now produced from public and 

Indain lands include oil, gas, uranium, potash, sodium, 

phosphate, oil shale, asphaltic minerals, sulphur (only in 

New Mexico and Louisiana), and geothermal resources. 

Under the various provisions of the act, a permit may be 

obtained to explore public lands for minerals other than 

oil, gas, oil shale, and geothermal resources. If the land is 

determined by the Geological Survey to contain a known 

leasable mineral deposit, however, it becomes subject to a 

competitive bidding process. All minerals on acquired and 

Indian lands are leasable. After required permits are obtained and production begins, each lessee is required to 

pay the Federal Government a stipulated royalty based on 

the quantity or value of the minerals produced. Other laws 

authorize the leasing and management of metallic and 

nonmetallic minerals on Indian lands, railroad and other 

rights-of-way across public lands, acquired lands, and OCS 

lands.

In a manner consistent with these various statuatory 

authorities, the Secretary of the Interior has promulgated 

numerous rules and procedures pertaining to the development of minerals on the Federal and Indian lands. The 

principal laws governing operations on Federal mineral 

leases are contained in the Code of Federal Regulations 

and include:

 Outer Continental Shelf Leasing Regulations Part 3300 

of Title 43.

 Outer Continental Shelf Operating Regulations Parts 

225a, 250, and 260 (Proposed) of Title 30.

 Onshore Federal Lands Leasing Regulations Parts 3100, 

3200, and 3500 of Title 43.

 Onshore Federal Lands Operating Regulations Parts 

211, 221, 223, 225, 226, 231, 270, and 271 of Title 30.

 Indian Lands Leasing and Operating Regulations Parts 

171, 172, 173, 174, 176, and 177 of Title 25 and the 

pertinent onshore Federal operating regulations contained in Title 30.

Leasing regulations are issued by the Bureau of Land 

Management and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Some provisions of leasing regulations and all provisions of 

operating regulations are implemented and enforced by 

the Geological Survey.

Conservation of Lands and Minerals I 77
The Reorganization of the 

Conservation Division

During the last decade, the Conservation Division's 

responsibilities for implementation of the Nation's energy 

policies have grown exponentially. The Division now 

regulates production of almost one-third of the Nation's 

natural gas, 13 percent of its oil, more than 12 percent of 

its coal, and significant portions of other minerals. 

Paralleling the growth in the variety and quantity of commodities it regulates, there has been a growth in the array 

of the Division's regulatory responsibilities. In addition to 

the traditional mineral evaluation and operations management role, a growing number of responsibilities for protection or enhancement of the environment, human health, and 

safety; land-use planning coordination; and social values 

impacted by mineral production have been added. Finally, 

the Division has increased corrdination with a growing 

number of specialized constituencies, including Congressional committees, other Federal agencies, State and local 

governments, and a broad range of nongovernmental 

organizations and interest.

In this period, the Division experienced dynamic growth 

in the budget and number of personnel required to perform its mission. Over the past 5 years alone, employment 

rose from roughly 600 to nearly 2,000. In the same period, 

the annual budget grew from $18 million to more than 

$106 million. This rapid growth placed intense pressures 

on an organizational structure established when the 

regulatory environment was less diverse and dynamic. 

Although periodic adjustments were made in the structure 

and methods of operation, the Division lacked sufficient 

ability to perceive and respond to the massive escalation 

of responsibilities created by rapidly changing energy and 

environmental conditions. It was imperative that an entirely new organizational structure be divised.

During 1978-79, a new organizational structure was 

developed. This new framework had two principal goals:

1. To improve the day-to-day performance of resource 

evaluation and lease management activities.

2. To provide a substantially enhanced ability to conduct 

continuing analyses of changing regulatory and 

energy-demand conditions, to carry out longer range 

program planning, and to provide systematic ongoing 

program anlaysis.

Procedures developed with the new organization structure established clearer more functional lines of authority 

for managers at all levels; provided means to recruit, 

develop, and maintain a workforce with a much broader 

range of expertise and experience; and provided greater 

flexibility for accomodating dynamic, often sudden, 

changes in the nature and extent of mission responsibilities. For example, the traditional separation of 

resource evaluation and lease operations management 

responsibilities along functional lines has been eliminated.

Geophysical and environmental evaluation activities are 

now directly coordinated with day-to-day offshore and onshore lease management. In addition, stronger provision 

has been made for the downward delegation of decisionmaking authority through the designation of three Deputy 

Division Chiefs for onshore, offshore, and royalty management functions. Efforts to improve the contact with principal lessees have resulted in the establishment of three 

new regional offices in Casper, Wyo., Albuquerque, N. 

Mex., and Anchorage, Alaska, which has brought the Division total to 10. Regional Managers in 10 locations have 

been delegated significant authority and decisionmaking 

responsibility for all aspects of mineral evaluation and 

lease management. The new organizational procedures 

also will improve communication and coordination of 

functions with State and local governments, Federal agencies, and other constituencies and will enhance the collection, processing, and accounting of royalty payments to 

the Federal Government.

The aspect of personnel recruitment and training traditionally has been difficult because of intense industrygovernment competition for limited qualified personnel. 

Higher salaries and more favorable benefits offered by industry have hampered the ability of the Government to attract a sufficient number of geologists, geophysicists, 

engineers, and technicians. To counter this problem, a new 

broadly based recruitment and training program has been 

designed and centralized in Denver, Colo. Efforts are being 

redoubled to attract highly qualified personnel from other 

agencies and the private sector, as well as to upgrade and 

retrain existing personnel to meet Division mission needs.

The Division also is incorporating more advanced 

systems and procedures to improve worker productivity 

and general information management. A new data-base 

management system, greater use of word processing, and 

planned implementation of a Divisionwide records 

management system all promise to reduce labor intensiveness and increase the ability of personnel to perform 

their jobs.

All evidence indicates the growth patterns of the 

previous decade will intensify in the future. Congress and 

various Presidental Administrations continually consider 

new legislative initiatives and changes in current energy 

policies as world affairs, changing economic conditions, 

and scientific advancements dictate. In another spectrum, 

State and local governments, Indian tribes, and the public 

are demanding better more detailed information about the 

impacts of energy development on society so that potential resource and land-use conflicts can be avoided. The 

improved management system now in the final stages of 

development should provide the means to meet these 

challenges.

78 I Yearbook 1980
CONSERVATION DIVISION 

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF

ASSISTANT DIVISION CHIEF 

PLANNING AND 

ASSESSMENT

ASSISTANT DIVISION CHIEF 

MANAGEMENT SUPPORT

DEPUTY DIVISION CHIEF

ONSHORE MINERALS

REGULATION

DEPUTY DIVISION CHIEF 

ROYALTY MANAGEMENT

DEPUTY DIVISION CHIEF

OFFSHORE MINERALS

REGULATION

Conservation of Lands and Minerals I 79
Budget and Personnel

During fiscal year 1980, the Conservation Division of the 

U.S. Geological Survey broadened its personnel base and 

range of programs to more effectively manage responsibilities for administration of mineral leases on public 

lands. These programs in fiscal year 1980 required an expenditure of $106.4 million, a budget rise of 24.2 percent 

over the previous year.

More than one-half of all 1980 expenditures were 

dedicated to administration of leasing activities on Outer 

Continental Shelf (OCS) lands. This subactivity accounted 

for $66.1 million a 35-percent rise from the $49.1 million 

authorized in fiscal year 1979. This increase in budget 

authority was due to the implementation of additional programmatic requirements specified in the Outer Continental 

Shelf Lands Act Amendments of 1978 simultaneously with 

the acceleration of the rate of OCS leasing. Management 

of onshore leasing activities on Federal and Indian lands 

required $40.3 million, an increase of nearly 11 percent 

over the $36.4 million spent the previous year.

Barbara Harris, a U.S. Geological Survey 

geologist, inspects samples from a contract rig doing exploratory drilling on 

potential coal fields near Sheridan, Wyo. 

Analyses of rock cuttings found in the 

samples provide information on the type 

and composition of mineral deposits at 

various depths beneath the surface. 

(Photograph by lames Cook, Wide 

World.)

Significant personnel changes also occurred in 1980. Virtually all top management chose to convert their status 

from career civil servants to senior executives under the 

new Senior Executive Service Program of the Office of 

Personnel Management. Many tenured managers opted to 

retire. As a result, by the end of the fiscal year, 7 of the 

Division's 10 Regional Managers were new because of personnel changes and the creation of new offices. Because 

of the Division reorganization and expanded program 

management activities, the number of personnel employed 

increased to 1,807 during fiscal year 1980, a rise of 117 

over the preceding year. Although hiring was constrained 

by provisions of a freeze, the Division was able to acquire 

badly needed skills through the addition of persons in 

special exempted categories. More aggressive recruitment 

of experienced employees, combined with an intensive 

retraining program for already employed personnel, promises to ease the short-term demand for qualified people 

to staff expanding programs.

80 Yearbook 1980
Conservation of Lands and Minerals activity obligations for fiscal years 7979 and 1980, by subactivity

[Dollars in millions. Data may differ from that in statistical tables 

because of founding.]

Subactivity

Total

Outer Continental Shelf 

(OCS) lands

Direct programs

Reimbursable programs- _

States, counties, and

Miscellaneous nonOther Federal agencies _

Federal and Indian lands ____

Reimbursable programs _

States, counties, and

Miscellaneous nonFederal

Other Federal agencies _

Fiscal year 

1979

$85.5

49.1

49.1

36.4

36.3

.2

.2

Fiscal year 

1980

106.4

66.1

66.1

40.3

39.8

.5

.5

SOURCE OF FUNDS

TOTAL $106.40 MILLION

Other Federal agencies $0.5'

 Direct Federal funds $105.90

PUMjajIt * : « o : > : * < ft ; « : {--» :* : \ v .-l^CtK V

THE IMTEH STATES OF AMEHH A

USE OF FUNDS

 Outer Continental Shelf Lands (OCS) $66.10 Federal and Indian Lands-

$40.30 

Reimbursable program$0.50

THE IMTE1) STATES Ol

E676014508 ..\

Conservation of Lands and Minerals 81
Oil and Gas From Federal and Indian 

Lands

The number of leases on Federal and Indian lands, the total wells on those 

leases, and the royalties collected from oil production have continued to increase, 

even though the total domestic onshore production of oil has been declining since 

1969. Although onshore gas production has continued to increase gradually, 

royalties stemming from gas well operations have risen sharply since 1975 because 

of higher market prices. Private companies are attempting to offset the decline in 

oil production by stepping up exploration activities in frontier areas, including the 

western overthrust belt of Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana and the eastern 

overthrust belt located along the Appalachian Mountains. They are also conducting research aimed at discovering ways of increasing the amount of oil and gas 

recovered from older now declining reservoirs. Production from onshore Federal 

and Indian lands provided roughly 6.4 percent of the oil and 6.5 percent of the 

gas produced in the United States last year.

The U.S. Geological Survey conducted geological investigations, environmental 

analyses, and other studies related to the many aspects of exploration and 

development, safety of operations, collection and processing of royalties, and protection of the environment. During fiscal year 1980, the Geological Survey approved 3,830 applications for drilling permits to provide exploration and development 

wells on Federal leases. More than 3,840 environmental analyses of the potential 

impacts of oil and gas development operations on Federal lands were also 

prepared. In the same period, 3,095 new wells were started on Federal leases. 

Roughly 2,150 of those wells were completed as usable holes for the production 

of oil and gas, or for the injection or disposal of various fluids.

Other sources of oil and gas, like the "tight gas sands" and tar sands that occur 

in northwestern Colorado, eastern Utah, and northern Montana, have become 

more attractive prospects now that present market prices have made drilling and 

production from these deposits economically feasible. Exploration and development in newer more remote regions provide new challenges. Terrain especially 

in wilderness areas often is rugged; cold winters with deep snows can hamper 

drilling and supply operations, and the distance from existing pipelines limits 

delivery of new supplies to the marketplace. Some producible wells completed in 

these remote areas will likely be "shut-in" until pipelines or local processing 

facilities are built to serve them.

The development and use of enhanced recovery processes has been instrumental in the restoration of production at many oil fields formerly developed through 

natural production methods. Advanced secondary recovery procedures include the 

use of gas or water or the injection of steam into oil-bearing formations to 

separate the oil from sand or rock and move it toward recovery wells. Tertiary 

methods include flooding with chemical solvents or stimulation with heat to support continued production after secondary recovery becomes uneconomic. In addition, well completion techniques and formation stimulation processes constantly 

are being improved and will continue to add to the supplies of oil and gas 

produced.

82 I Yearbook 1980
U.S. Geological Survey petroleum engineering technician David Little inspects a daily operations report while visiting a Sun Oil 

Company rig conducting exploratory drilling on a portion of the overthrust belt near Jackson, Wyo. (Photograph by James Cook, 

Wide World.)

Conservation of Lands and Minerals | 83
Improved Royalty Management

During the past decade, a number of factors led to a reexamination of the procedures used by the Conservation Division to collect, process, and audit royalty 

payments resulting from minerals production on Federal and Indian lands. This 

review, completed in 1979, resulted in a proposal for a total restructuring of the 

royalty accounting system and has become the most critical element of the Division reorganization effort.

The traditional system for collecting and processing royalties proved to be inadequate when confronted by major increases in lease accounts and more complexity in the requirements for lease account administration. In the past decade, 

the number of producing leases administered by the Division grew by 66 percent. 

Royalty payments from those leases, however, rose by nearly 600 percent as a 

result of an increase in the number of producing wells combined with much 

higher market prices for mineral products, particularly oil and gas. Frequent continuing changes in lease ownership and an increase in multicompany joint development of leases added stress to the tracking ability of the system. Departmental 

establishment of variable royalty pricing schemes and recent additional requirements to collect windfall profits tax payments and compute royalties on the 

basis of net profits also provided complicated new requirements for accounting.

The existing system, based on a decentralized accounting scheme, placed the 

responsibility for account management and auditing in 14 separate offices. This 

was done to maintain accounting files along with other associated lease management information. Each office operated with independent procedures, using largely manual accounting methods which were partially supported by automated 

systems. With the responsibility to process 300,000 reports involving more than 2 

million entries annually, paperwork delays increased and check processing slowed. 

The Government was frustrated by an inability to force timely payment because 

of inadequate reporting requirements and the enormous records management 

load.

An intensive study by several Federal agencies, with industry cooperation, 

revealed many areas where improvements could be made. As a result of these efforts, an improved royalty management program is being developed and will be 

implemented beginning in 1981.

The new system will centralize all royalty collection and accounting functions 

for minerals in Lakewood, Colo. Substantial automated data processing capability 

will replace a major share of the manual tasks associated with the accounting process. Based on reports from the system, field review and analysis units, situated 

primarily in regional offices located close to major mineral royalty payors, will administer the royalty verification processes. Total royalty management staffing will 

rise from 200 to roughly 300 personnel, with additional outside support coming 

from private contractors.

Transition to the new program will occur over an 18-month period to provide 

adequate system testing under actual operating conditions and proper training of 

personnel. The Division expects to derive several significant operational benefits 

from the new program, including standardized policies and operating procedures, 

increased income from properly managed royalty accounts, timely availability and 

processing of funds, dramatic increases in personnel productivity, and a substantially reduced regulatory burden on private industry. From the control standpoint, 

the new system will assure greater security for information collected, will reduce 

the potential for fraud and abuse in royalty reporting, and will provide a better 

level of administrative control over activities and funds.

The royalty accounting study also revealed that royalty revenues may have 

been understated by as much as 10 percent. If predictions of a 670-percent rise in 

royalty collection levels in the next 15 years to the level of $20 billion annually 

by 1995 are correct, then timely installation of this new system will assure that 

the Conservation Division-is prepared to properly manage the rapid increase of 

royalty management workload resulting from expanded domestic mineral production.

84 I Yearbook 1980
Cognac Platform, Culf of Mexico. Heaviest, deepest water production platform in the world. (Photograph courtesy of Shell Oil 

Company.)

Conservation of Lands and Minerals ] 85
New Coal Program Efforts

During the period from 1973 to 1980, dramatic rises in 

oil prices and sudden shifts in energy-resource use patterns 

impacted domestic coal production. Because many of the 

known reserves of coal are found on Federal lands, 

pressures for leasing these resources have intensified. The 

Department of the Interior has responded by announcing a 

program to streamline and expand Federal coal leasing 

through a carefully monitored competitive leasing process.

The U.S. Geological Survey with its sister bureaus, the 

Bureau of Land Management and the Office of Surface 

Mining share the responsibility to support the Department's coal-management program in two ways: by issuing 

new coal development leases and by managing new and 

existing leases. The Geological Survey responsibilities are 

carried out in two phases: prelease identification and 

evaluation of the location, extent, and production potential of Federal coal resources and postlease management 

of certain exploration and mining activities. The Survey 

carries out these functions of providing geologic, engineering, and economic evaluation input during both phases of 

leasing.

Proper identification of Federal coal land areas with a 

high or moderate potential for coal mining is a critical 

component of effective land-use planning. Only these 

areas are considered for competitive leasing. The Survey 

personnel, using interrelated geologic and mineral 

economic criteria, classify coal areas according to their 

development potential and identify lands with minable 

coal as "Known Recoverable Coal Resource Areas" 

(KRCRA's). Under the Coal Resource Occurrence/Coal 

Development Potential (CRO/CDP) Assessment Program, 

these areas are mapped, using data from public, private, 

and industry sources, and tracts having minable coal are 

delineated.

Coal deposits located in the Green River-Hams Fork 

Coal Regions of Colorado and Wyoming and the Uinta 

Region of Colorado and southwest Utah and in the State 

of Alabama were delineated and appraised during 1980 in 

preparation for lease sales planned for the 1981-82 period. 

Other studies, covering known coal deposits in the Powder 

River Region of Wyoming and Montana, the Fort Union 

Region of Montana and North Dakota, and Mid-Continent 

(Oklahoma) regions, which began last year, are still underway. Detailed tract profile reports prepared by the Division provided extensive data on expected geologic, 

engineering, environmental, social, and economic impacts 

of mining in each area identified. Final tract selection, 

ranking,and detailed regional environmental impact 

assessments will follow these preliminary analyses, and 

tonnage goals for each sale will be determined from 

energy production goals established by the Department of 

Energy.

The Survey also has responsibility for establishing 

estimated fair market values for all lease tracts prior to 

sale through a variety of appraisal procedures. This process assures that the Government receives a fair price for 

resources produced.

In fiscal year 1980, the Survey performed 28 economic 

evaluations of coal deposits, completed mapping for 276 

quadrangles under the CRO/CDP Program, classified more 

than 1.8 million acres of coal as KRCRA's, completed administrative work on several land exchanges, and managed 

the drilling of more than 421 holes having a total depth of 

218,000 feet to determine the extent, quality, and 

economic development potential of various coal deposits.

The Survey also provided review and recommendations 

for approval of proposed mining plans for Federal and Indian lands and carried out inspections and enforcement of 

activities consistent with the mandated requirements of 

the Mineral Leasing Act. Those regulations promulgated 

under the mineral leasing laws concern the formation of 

logical mining units, diligent development and maximum 

economic recovery of coal resources, protection of other 

resources from damage due to mining operations, and 

systematic collection of royalties, which totaled $21.7 

million in fiscal year 1980 from Federal coal leases.

The Survey also provided the Bureau of Land Management with data and information required for the periodic 

adjustment of terms and conditions of leases, including 

land exchanges and changes in royalty rates. Although 

principal responsibilities for the environmental protection 

and land reclamation aspects of coal mining were transferred from the Geological Survey to the Office of Surface 

Mining in 1977, the Survey, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Office of Surface Mining coordinate all 

lease management activities to assure consistency and 

diligent supervision.

As part of the Survey's new emphasis on total resource 

management, several new coal program initiatives are 

underway. These include greater research into the use of 

geophysical modeling, supported by expanded drilling 

data, in economic evaluations, as well as more extensive 

use of computer systems for tract delineation, resource 

evaluation, lease management, royalty accounting and collection, and tactical planning for future coal development. 

Other new and important programs are aimed at identifying coal resources most suitable for use by the emerging 

synthetic fuels industry and at finding new ways to resolve 

land-use planning conflicts for areas having multiple 

potentially produceable or currently used resources.

These coal program adjustments and new initiatives, 

developed during 1980, provided mechanisms that will 

assist the Survey and other bureaus in the Department of 

the Interior in meeting the challenges of increasing 

domestic coal production in the coming years.

86 I Yearbook 1980
U.S. Geological Survey mining engineer Harvey C/oe (plaid shirt) and a foreman from the AMAX Coal Company inspect operations 

at the Belle Ayr surface mine near Gillette, Wyo. (Photograph by lames Cook, Wide World.)

Conservation of Lands and Minerals I 87
Oil and Gas From the Outer 

Continental Shelf

One industry estimate recently indicated that more than 

one-half of the still-undiscovered oil and gas resources in 

the Nation lie in offshore areas. Despite the greater expense and difficulty in establishing production in the offshore environment, there seems to be little doubt that oil 

and gas production from the Outer Continental Shelf 

(OCS) will continue to contribute a major portion of the 

Nation's energy supplies in the years ahead, especially as 

new deposits are located and developed. During fiscal 

year 1980, a total of 4 lease sales were held in which 293 

Federally managed tracts covering more than 1.2 million 

acres were leased by industry for exploration. Sale of 

these leases brought $5.94 billion to the Treasury.

The Gulf of Mexico (OCS) area continues to provide the 

majority of oil and gas production offshore. In 1980, more 

than 264.6 million barrels of oil and 4.6 trillion cubic feet 

of natural gas flowed into the Nation's energy system from 

this prolific region. The Gulf alone accounts for virtually 9 

percent of all oil and 24 percent of all U.S. domestic 

natural gas production.

Efforts started in fiscal year 1978 to explore the MidAtlantic OCS (Baltimore Canyon) area, off the coast of 

southern New Jersey, and, in fiscal year 1979, exploration 

began in the South Atlantic region off the coast of 

southern Georgia. Rigs operating in more than 450 feet of 

water roughly 100 miles offshore drilled several wells in 

the Baltimore Canyon. This effort resulted in encouraging 

indications of significant natural gas desposits. After formations in the area are further tested and defined, gas 

from the Mid-Atlantic OCS may provide an important new 

source of fuel for the industrialized East Coast. Results in 

the South Atlantic have not been as encouraging. Despite 

the existence of several promising geological formations in 

the area, only minor traces of oil and gas have been 

found.

Exploration activities also are continuing in the OCS 

areas of Alaska. One lease sale was held during fiscal year 

1980 in which 24 Federally managed tracts covering 85,776 

acres were leased in the Beaufort Sea off the State's northern coast. Promising geological characteristics make the 

Alaska OCS one of the brightest areas for potential major 

finds.

Additional leasing off the southern California coast is 

proceeding more slowly. Widely varying water depths and 

locally sensitive environmental conditions require 

sophisticated hardware and great diligence in drilling to 

assure that exploration and production occur in a safe 

manner.

New initiatives for exploration in OCS frontier areas, in 

the vicinity of densely populated coastal regions and other 

areas with sensitive environmental characteristics, have 

created new concerns among Federal, State, and local 

governments; the environmental constituency; and the 

public. Section 26 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands 

Act Amendments called for the establishment of a program to assemble information about OCS mineral 

developments and their onshore impacts and to make such 

information widely available. As a result, in 1978, the 

Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Information Program 

was established. Five Summary Reports have been published covering the Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic Regions, 

Gulf of Mexico, Pacific (South California), and Gulf of 

Alaska (including Lower Cook Inlet). In addition, four Indexes covering Federal reports and documents used by the

Government in th.e OCS decisionmaking process have been 

published for the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Pacific, and 

Alaska regions.

Each Summary Report is an anthology of currently 

known information about a particular region. When a 

significant event occurs, a new report is published to 

supercede a preceeding document. Indexes are revised annually. Compiling information available from a variety of 

Federal, State, and private sources into single regionally 

specific documents has provided a timely and valuable 

new source of information for planners at all levels. There 

has been a heavy demand for this series of reports among 

State and local governments and other constituency 

groups interested in planning for future onshore and offshore impacts of OCS exploration, development and production.

Section 102 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act 

Amendments, clarifies the intent "to balance orderly 

energy resource development with protection of the 

human, marine, and coastal environments." The amendments called for development of a program to meet this 

basic requirement and those of other emerging legislative 

mandates. A comprehensive geologic hazards program has 

been established to identify and evaluate geologic hazards 

prior to any oil and gas exploration and development activities.

The U.S. Geological Survey obtains geologic hazards information through a three-phase program. In the first 

phase, geologic data and high-resolution geophysical data 

are collected through reconnaissance surveys on a broad 

scale. Information derived from these regional surveys is 

used in preliminary tract selection and for an assessment 

of regional geologic hazards for the draft environmental 

statement.

The second phase consists of collecting high-resolution 

geophysical data for specific tracts tentatively selected for 

a proposed lease sale. These data are generally acquired 

under exclusive contract. Information is obtained by using 

a grid on a selective basis over those proposed tract areas 

where professional judgment indicates the presence of 

geologic hazards could preclude exploration and development activities. These geohazards are identified, mapped, 

and carefully evaluated. Recommendations are then made 

for withdrawal of specific tracts from a sale or, if 

necessary, for addition of appropriate lease stipulations. 

This assures the Secretary of the Interior and the public 

that any resources discovered can be developed without 

undue risk. The results of these more detailed examinations are included in the final environmental statement in 

response to the mandate* of Title II of National Environmental Protection Act for agencies to consult with 

the Council on Environmental Quality "to insure that environmental information is available to public officials and 

citizens before decisions are made and before actions are 

taken."

The third phase consists of requiring lessees to obtain 

detailed site-specific geologic hazards information for 

those locations on leased tracts where exploration and 

development activities are proposed. These data are 

reviewed in detail by the Survey to assure the safety of 

operations before approval of exploration and development plans.

88 I Yearbook 1980
A

During preparation of a Geologic Hazards Report for proposed Lease Sale No. 52, a supervisory geologist confers with two 

geophysicists in the Outer Continental Shelf Regional Office in Washington, D.C., to correlate and analyze seismic and b'athymetric 

data.

Subsea hazards information becomes part of a prelease issue document used by the Secretary of the Interior in the selection of 

tracts to be offered for eventual leasing. Lease Sale No. 52, scheduled for October 1982, involves acreage proposed for leasing on the 

Georges Bank, in water ranging in depth from 171 to 9,285 feet, located between 81 and 164 statute miles off the New England coast.

Conservation of Lands and Minerals 89
1
Office of Earth Sciences 

Applications

Mission

The Office of Earth Sciences Applications plans, develops, coordinates, directs 

evaluates, and implements the land-resources and environmental impact programs 

of the U.S. Geological Survey. This office was created in 1980 primarily from the 

principal functional units of the Land Information and Analysis Office.

Increased public interest in environmental quality and public awareness of the 

limited supply of nonrenewable resources has created a need for the communication of scientific and engineering data in a manner readily understandable to the 

general public. The communication of earth science information to the general 

public and to decisionmakers is an important goal of the Survey.

The Office of Earth Sciences Applications is composed of earth scientists as 

well as specialists in such diverse fields as urban planning, economics, and remote 

sensing. This Office manages multidisciplinary programs directly concerned with 

the techniques and methodologies that can be used to apply earth science information to land and resource planning. The major functions of the Office include:

 Developing resource planning methods to enhance the use of earth science 

information in the planning-decisionmaking process;

 Overseeing implementation of and compliance with environmental laws, including the preparation and review of environmental impact statements 

within the Survey;

 Providing earth science information for land-resources decisionmaking;

 Collecting, processing, and distributing remotely sensed data and applying 

remote-sensing technology in support of land-resource and environmental 

analyses;

 Developing visual products and services designed to inform both the scientific 

and nonscientific communities about applications of earth science information. 

The task of achieving these objectives is carried on by the following offices:

 Resource Planning Analysis Office (RPAO)

 Environmental Affairs Off ice (EAO)

 Earth Sciences Assistance Office (ESAO)

 Earth Resources Observation Systems Office (EROS)

 Visual Information Services Office (VISO)

Mount St. Helens, before and after. Viewed from space, the snow-capped peak of 

Mount St. Helens was a typical small bright volcanic feature in a September 11, 

1979, Landsat image (21693-18095). An August 19, 1980, Landsat image 

(22036-18201) of the same area shows the extent of devastation caused by the May 

18 and subsequent eruptions. Note the elongated crater, the blasted area where 

forested slopes had stood, and the extent of debris and mudflow along stream 

channels. The different tone of Swift Reservoir, to the southeast, is caused by 

deposition of 11 million acre-feet of water, mud, and debris. (Photograph courtesy 

of the EROS Data Center and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.)

Office of Earth Sciences Applications | 91
Budget and Personnel

Obligations for Office of Earth Sciences Applications 

activities in fiscal year 1980 amounted to $23.74 million, a 

decrease of 1 percent from fiscal year 1979 (see table).

The objectives of the Office of Earth Sciences Applications are accomplished partly through contracts to private 

industry and research grants. During fiscal year 1980, 

$10.65 million (45 percent) was expended on contracts. 

Contract services were the major source of operational 

support at the EROS Data Center in Sioux Falls, S. Dak. 

The Office of Earth Sciences Applications employed 213 

full-time career employees in 1980, of which 149 positions 

were assigned to the Office's programs and 64 were assigned to other Survey Divisions for supportive work. 

There were also 72 temporary or part-time employees. In 

addition, contract support services at the EROS Data 

Center amounted to 315 person years.

Office of Earth Sciences Applications obligations for fiscal 

years 7979 and 1980, by subactivity

[Dollars in millions. Data may differ from that in statistical tables 

because of founding]

Subactivity

Fiscal year 

1979

Total _________ $23.96

2.36 

.60

5.21

Earth Resources Observation

Systems Office ______ 12.87

Direct program ______ 9.91 

Reimbursable program _ 2.96

Miscellaneous nonFederal sources ______

Other Federal agencies _

Environmental Affairs Office

Direct Program _______

Reimbursable program ___ 

Other Federal agencies _

Land Resource Data Applications Program (ESAO and 

RPAO) _________________

Direct Program _______

Reimbursable program ___ 

Other Federal agencies _

4.29 

.92

.92

2.41

2.36 

.05

.05

Fiscal year 

1980

$23.74

15.28

11.78

3.50

2.80 

.70

5.90

4.70

1.20

1.20

2.56

2.46 

.10

.10

Direct Federal funds $18.94

T1IK lMTi:i) STATKS OF A.MKHH

E676045C

i> /!& £. ' "\

£ 67604508 C

rpi 5... - --

" ' ^ '

Miscellaneous nonFederal sources 

$2.80

Other Federal 

agencies $2.00

SOURCE OF FUNDS

TOTAL $23.74 MILLION

USE OF FUNDS

Earth Resources Observation Systems 

Program $15.28

Reimbursable $3.50

Direct $11.78

TIIK IMTKDSTATKSOF VMKKICA

Environmental

 \mpact Analysis-^

Program $5.90

Reimbursable $1.20

Direct $4.70

Land Resource Data 

Applications Program 

(ESAO and RPAO) $2.56

Direct 

$2.46

I

Reimbursable 

$0.10

92 I Yearbook 1980
Geologic Hazards Movie

It is human nature to look at damage from earthquakes, 

volcanoes, floods, landslides, and other geologic hazards 

and to say, "They can't happen to me," or "They can't 

happen here." But they can and do. A new motion picture, 

entitled When the Earth Moves and produced by the U.S. 

Geological Survey, describes both the geologic hazards 

prevalent in the United States and the measures and 

methods to reduce the damage they cause.

In uninhabited areas, some geologic processes are merely interesting phenomena; but when they take place where 

people live, they become hazards. Human suffering and 

financial loss result unless effective measures are taken 

beforehand to assess potential threats and to enact 

methods to limit the damage. When the Earth Moves 

describes how appropriate land uses, engineering techniques, and land-use and building regulations are being used 

in communities throughout the country to avoid or lessen 

the effects of geologic events.

The film uses animation and scenes from actual events 

to describe the hazards, associated dangers, and probable 

locations. In interviews, land-use planners, government officials, engineers, and geologists explain various ways now 

being used to cope with geologic hazards.

The film is especially useful for land-use planners, 

government officials, and members of the building industry. However, the film is also of interest to the general 

public, particularly high-school and college students and 

teachers.

The 26 minute, sound, color film can be borrowed or 

purchased from: 

U.S. Geological Survey 

303 National Center 

Reston, VA 22092 

Telephone (703) 860-6171

7he May 18, 1980, eruption of Mount St. Helens caused flooding and sedimentation along the Cowlitz River, Wash.

Office of Earth Sciences Applications 93
COOPERATIVE PROJECTS: APPLICATIONS OF REMOTELY 

SENSED DATA

The U.S. Geological Survey has ongoing cooperative projects with many Federal, State, and local government agencies; with 

colleges and universities; and with foreign governments and international organizations. These projects involve applications of 

data about the Earth gathered by several remote-sensing systems, including the Landsat satellites. During fiscal year 1980, Survey 

scientists were working on several such projects including preparing a satellite image poster of Cape Cod National Seashore with 

the National Park Service, monitoring and managing water resources in the Everglades National Park with the National Park Service, inventorying and mapping wildland vegetation in Arizona with the Bureau of Land Management, and improving petroleum 

exploration techniques and applying advanced remote sensing to arid land evaluation with the People's Republic of China.

Everglades National Park Cape Cod Project

The ecological balance of the Shark 

River Slough, a freshwater marsh in the 

Everglades National Park, depends on 

the flow of surface waters from north 

and east of the park. The Survey and the 

National Park Service are using Landsat 

data to monitor hydrologic conditions in 

the park, especially the spatial and temporal components of the surface water 

flow, and, thus, to improve the management of the water resources by providing 

more quantitative and timely 

measurements of the distribution of 

water.

The work has involved selecting a set 

of Landsat images that represent the 

wide range of hydrologic conditions in 

the park. Using computerized analysis 

techniques, the areal extent of the different hydrobiological zones, the space 

and time distribution of water inundation, and the variations in the volume of 

water stored within the slough were 

determined. This information was 

registered geometrically to a base map 

of the park for correlation with the 75 

monitoring stations within the slough. 

Subsequent Landsat images were then 

used to monitor the conditions in the 

slough through sophisticated data 

manipulation and analysis techniques.

The results of the project show that 

Landsat data can be used to monitor 

hydrological conditions in a freshwater 

marsh ecosystem and to determine the 

relationships between water deliveries to 

the Everglades National Park and the interactions of sheet surface-water movement through the slough. Landsat data 

can be applied to delineate the extent of 

Shark Slough's hydrobiological zones 

and the expansion and contraction of the 

slough's margins throughout "wet" and 

"dry" seasons. When combined with gaging station data, estimates of the volume 

of water stored in the slough can be 

made. This information obtained through 

the analysis and interpretation of Landsat data is being used to formulate a 

sound water-resources management program for Everglades National Park.

Since 1973, the Survey has been working with National Park Service personnel 

from the Cape Cod National Seashore 

and evaluating the use of Landsat data 

on the park. One project in which Landsat data are being used to monitor 

changes in the coastline is vividly 

demonstrated by a public exhibit at the 

Salt Pond Visitor Center at Eastham, 

Mass. The exhibit shows the effects of a 

severe winter storm in February 1978. 

During the storm, a 5,000-ft-wide breach 

opened on Monomy Island south of the 

cape's "elbow." Because of the interest 

generated by the exhibit, a poster showing a Landsat image of the cape was 

prepared and placed on sale at the 

Visitor Center to evaluate public 

response to using Landsat images to 

compliment more traditional topographic 

and thematic maps of the cape and the 

National Seashore. The idea was so well 

received that, during the first 3 months 

that the poster was available, 1,200 

copies were distributed to visitors.

Oblique aerial photograph looking north 

at the breach in Monomy Island caused 

by the February 1978 northeast storm.

Arizona Wildland 

Vegetation Inventory

The Bureau of Land Management requires a low-cost, quick, and accurate 

means of inventorying vegetation on 

thousands of acres of arid public land in 

the Southwest. The Federal Land Policy 

and Management Act of 1976 requires 

the Bureau of Land Management to 

maintain an inventory of resources on 

public lands.

In fiscal year 1980 the Survey and the 

Bureau of Land Management completed 

a cooperative demonstration project in 

Mojave County, Ariz. The objective was 

to determine the usefulness of Landsat 

data, combined with conventional aerial 

photography and data from ground 

surveys, for mapping and inventorying 

wildland vegetation. To achieve this objective, the project had to:

1. Determine to what extent vegetation 

classes could be mapped from 

Landsat data using a vegetation 

classification system supplied by 

the Bureau of Land Management, 

and

2. Evaluate the utility of Landsat-derived 

vegetation maps in combination 

with other information such as ter94 Yearbook 1980
rain data, soils data, ownership, and with the Landsat data, digital manipulaso forth.

To map the vegetation, Landsat digital 

data were used to classify 1,000,900 

acres of land into 76 classes according 

to the spectral response of the vegetation cover.

When terrain data for the area (elevation, slope, and aspect) were combined

tions of the data were possible, and the 

accuracy was 73 percent.

Combining the terrain data with the 

Landsat data produced a data base that 

could be used to produce map overlays 

that will be effective tools for managing 

land resources. Providing the location of 

suitable areas for different types of grazing, areas of mule deer summer and 

winter ranges, antelope and Desert 

Bighorn sheep habitats, and areas having 

a potential for pinyon-juniper clearing to 

improve grazing potential. The map 

overlays are geometrically correct and 

can be used with standard maps.

POTENTIAL MNYON X JUNIPER CHAINING AREAS

ARIZONA STRIP DISTRICT, ARIZONA

MAFMMQ CRITERIA*

( ) VEGETATION - EVERGREEN WOODLAND

-..* 

Coniferous 

'<*«»'

COVER TYPE DESCRIPTION BASED ON PHOTO DATA

Ponderosa pine 

UOebrush <1% 

Ponderosa pinePinyon-iumper 3% Mixed chaparral 2%

--1-acJ .___»:. ,

WILDLAND VEGETATION RESOURCE INVENTORY SYSTEM

NASA/BLM ASVT PHASE II

ANALYSIS COMPLETED MAY, 1979

BY US. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, EROS DATA CENTER

Reduced print of map overlay depicting potential pinyon-juniper chaining areas. The overlay was prepared from a digital data base 

that included Landsat-derived vegetation cover type, elevation, slope, and aspect. The mapping criteria were specified by Bureau of 

Land Management personnel.

Office of Earth Sciences Applications 95
Techniques for Petroleum Exploration 

in the People's Republic of China

Deserts and Desertification in the 

People's Republic of China

As part of a formal agreement between the United 

States and the People's Republic of China, scientific and 

technical geologists of the EROS Data Center and the Office of Energy Resources of the U.S. Geological Survey are 

cooperating with geologists from China on the use of 

remotely sensed data (different types of Landsat data, 

aerial photography, and radar data) to improve techniques 

for oil exploration.

The relationships between various geological 

parameters, especially regional structure and the occurrence of petroleum, are being studied in the Quidam 

Basin, a large sedimentary basin in a remote part of northwestern China. Using Landsat data and other available 

data and applying the current principles and techniques of 

the earth sciences (including remote sensing, sedimentation, structural geology, nonmarine biostratigraphy, 

organic geochemistry, geophysics, and mineral diagenesis) 

geologic models of the basin will be constructed. The 

models will be useful in studying the relationships between the occurrence of petroleum and the physical 

characteristics of the Earth's crust.

The effectiveness of existing Landsat image-analysis and 

other remote-sensing techniques will be evaluated in the 

studies of the Quidam Basin and will probably result in 

the development of new remote sensing techniques and 

applications specifically aimed at improving petroleum exploration capabilities.

These formal studies will carry on the work of informal 

projects begun in 1978. Structural geologic interpretations 

and models based on the study of Landsat data have been 

made for the western part of the basin. A predictive 

geologic structure model will help to determine the 

geologic features in the eastern part of the basin.

The interpretation of four Landsat images of the western 

Quidam Basin were checked in the field by American and 

Chinese geologists in June 1979 and were found to be in 

close agreement with actual field conditions. In fiscal year 

1980, the Survey enlarged the mosaic to 16 images which 

include the entire basin for which they made an interpretation overlay. Chinese counterparts purchased computercompatible tapes of the region. The joint project is 

planned to have a duration of 4 years during which 2 

years each will be devoted to studies of the Quidam Basin 

and the Tibetan Plateau.

Using Landsat and field data, geologists of the U.S. 

Geological Survey, in a project initially sponsored by the 

National Academy of Sciences Committee on Scholarly 

Communication with the People's Republic of China, are 

working with Chinese geologists and geographers of the Institute of Desert Research, at Lanzhou, Gausu Province, 

and of the Institutes of Geography and of Remote Sensing 

Application, at Beijing, to map and classify the deserts, to 

study desertification processes and land-reclamation 

methods, and to assess the feasibility of upgrading arid 

lands for agriculture.

During the project, western scientists for the first time 

have access to previously inaccessible field data. Quantitative information on eolian materials, including analysis 

of grain size, fabric, texture and mineralogic composition, 

and reflectivity will be compared with information acquired from analysis of Landsat imagery for three different 

types of deserts found in China. The size and composition 

of surficial sand material will be compared with the composition of atmospheric dust in major Chinese cities in a 

wind-pattern study. Knowledge and understanding of 

Chinese deserts and the processes that occur within these 

deserts will contribute to a better understanding of global 

arid ecosystems. Some desert borders and other semiarid 

lands are subject to desertification, which is the encroachment of desertlike conditions on formerly productive land 

due to human activity. Desertification currently affects 

more than 600 million people worldwide and one-third of 

the Earth's surface. Some Chinese scientists believe that 

entire deserts have been created in historical times by 

human misuse of the land. Although historical information 

on this subject is not readily available, a comparison of 

early (1972-73) Landsat images with more recent images 

can indicate where deserts are presently advancing and 

where recent human intervention to reclaim damaged land 

has been successful.

Analysis of Landsat imagery can rapidly locate fragile 

arid ecosystems and can monitor these areas to note both 

positive and negative changes. This technique is being used in three test areas in the People's Republic of China to 

assess the effectiveness of selected land-upgrading processes. The use of Landsat data provides a synoptic view 

of these areas where rapid detection of the encroachment 

of deserts can lead to the application of preventative 

measures.

Photographs from the People's Republic of China. A, The 

Turpan Depression, south of the Tien Shan Mountains in 

Xinjiang Province, is one of the lowest areas in China. By 

comparing this 1972 Landsat image with more recent 

images, changes in the dune field east of the depression and 

in land-use patterns in the black gob/ may be studied. B, 

Scientists at the Institute of Desert Research, Lanzhou, 

examine Landsat images as a potential tool for monitoring 

arid-land reclamation techniques. C, The line of trees, 

irrigated vegetation, and checkerboard dunal pattern are 

three methods used to halt the advancing Jengri Desert near 

the Shapotou Desert Research Station in M/ngx/a Province. 

D, Sand dune advancing on an alluvial plain north of the Tien 

Shan Mountains, Gurbantunggut Desert. E, A balloon 

captures a new heart.

96 I Yearbook 1980

Environmental Conflict Resolution: 

Powerplant Siting in New England

Conflicts over economic, energy, and environmental issues have become 

widespread in our society. These conflicts may relate to the leasing of minerals on 

the public lands, to the siting of hazardous-waste disposal facilities or 

powerplants, or to similar issues. Disputes among government, developers, and 

public interest groups can also occur over the adequacy or interpretation of earth 

science information. The U.S. Geological Survey is working with Federal, State, 

and local planners and decisionmakers to develop and apply methods for anticipating and mitigating environmental disputes.

The New England River Basins Commission is cosponsoring a powerplant siting 

project under this program. A Task Force, composed of people from public and 

private sectors, was convened in July 1979 to study four aspects of the site selection process: reconnaissance-level studies, alternative site identification, preferred 

site selection, and review and approval of the site and design of the station. Emphasis is on the water resource and related land-resource aspects.

The Task Force is run by a facilitator, a neutral third party who has no stake in 

the outcome but is a specialist in group problem-solving dynamics. This arrangement is designed to overcome difficulties encountered in the normal public participation process. Some of these difficulties are:

 The public has no opportunity to participate in early planning decisions.

 Those who may be affected ty the proposals feel that the range of siting alternatives are constrained by conditions and tradeoffs of which they are 

unaware of or do not understand.

 The hearing process predisposes people to polarization and hostility.

 Duplication of effort in the review and approval process causes delays and 

frustration and invites disruption.

 Most government agencies have been placed in reactive postures and lack impact on the planning process.

The Task Force has developed standards against which solutions can be 

measured and has identified additional major improvements in the public-government regional planning process. These techniques and standards will be refined 

and applied in the New England area and the methodology and results made 

available to other regional planning activities nationwide.

r

98 I Yearbook 1980
Coal Development 

Planning

Illinois Coal Basin

The U.S. Geological Survey is 

cooperating with the Indiana, Illinois, 

and Kentucky Geological Surveys and 

with the Indiana University School of 

Public and Environmental Affairs to 

assist planners and managers in meeting 

problems generated by coal development in the Illinois Coal Basin. The State 

Geological Surveys have assembled relevant earth science information for those 

areas affected and have provided these 

data in an understandable and usable 

form for planners and managers. The Indiana University School of Public and 

Environmental Affairs, through its Environmental Applications Center, is providing socioeconomic and related information to be used with the earth 

science information as a basis for conducting workshops for planners and 

managers in the three States. The 

workshops will demonstrate the use of 

earth science and other environmental, 

social, economic, and fiscal information 

in developing scenarios, identifying and 

assessing impacts, considering alternatives and consequences, and arriving 

at decisions.

Western Coal Planning 

Assistance Project

The Western Coal Planning Assistance 

Project, a cooperative program involving 

the Survey and the Missouri River Basin 

Commission, was designed to assist State 

and local government planners and decisionmakers to deal more effectively with 

problems associated with coal-energy 

development.

The project focussed on the major 

coal areas of Montana, North Dakota, 

and Wyoming and consisted of two major phases: (1) the development of a fourvolume Planning Reference System comprising a coal factbook, a guide to impact assessment methods, forecasts for 

Western coal development, and a 

sourcebook identifying funding and 

technical assistance sources and (2) the 

conduct of four participatory workshops 

to introduce the Planning Reference 

System and other similar information 

sources and to involve participants in 

case studies and simulation games patterned after actual problem situations. 

The workshops were held during the 

summer of 1980 in Billings, Mont., 

Bismarck, N. Dak., Jackson, Wyo., and 

Omaha, Neb. An average of 65 participants attended each session.

Surface mining at the Absaloka mine in southeastern Montana.

Office of Earth Sciences Applications | 99
The Puget Sound Regional 

Study

Since 1977, the U.S. Geological Survey has been making 

a multidisciplinary study of the wide range of geologic 

and hydrologic conditions in the 15,800-square-mile Puget 

Sound region. The objective of the study was to gather, 

analyze, and interpret earth science data for use by planners and decisionmakers confronted by an equally wide 

range of problems including management of land use in 

the coastal zone, ensuring energy supplies, avoidance or 

mitigation of natural geologic hazards, and safeguarding 

the quantity and quality of the water, mineral, and other 

resources of this region especially its unique environmental qualities. Because of the diversity of conditions and 

planning problems, the results of the project will be applicable to many other areas in the country where any 

similar conditions and problems exist.

The main thrust of the Survey's Puget Sound project is 

to produce maps and reports that interpret basic earth 

science information for use by the planning and decisionmaking community and to assist that community in applying the information to resolve current and future land-use 

conflicts.

In addition to increasing understanding of the region, 

the Puget Sound project:

 Promotes an understanding of the need for and advantages of using earth science information for planning 

land and resource development, hazard mitigation, 

resource conservation, and environmental protection;

 Increases the familiarity of planners, decisionmakers, 

and other citizens with geologic and hydrologic 

hazards and resources;

 Increases the availability and uses of the scientific, 

engineering, and planning information produced by 

the Geological Survey;

 Expedites the dissemination of information needed for 

urgent regional decisions;

 Helps ensure the correct and appropriate application of 

earth science information; and

 Helps supply the data needed by users to comply with

Federal and State statutes and regulations. 

Some of the significant interpretive reports produced by 

the study in fiscal year 1980 illustrate the wide variety of 

information being made available to achieve these objectives:

 A report on the availability of ground-water data

and its uses (U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 

80-430 by David Frank).

 A study of the phosphorus (a pollutant) concentrations 

in the lakes of the region (U.S. Geological Survey 

Open-File Report 80-328 by RJ. Cillion).

 A study of landsliding and slope stability in a part 

of the Cascade Mountains and map of the surficial 

geology of the same area (U.S. Geological Survey 

Open-File Reports 79-963 and 79-964 by P.L. Heller).

 A study of the potential effects of an oilspill on the

shoreline near Port Townsend (U.S. Geological Survey 

Open-File Report 80-724 by R.F. Keuler).

Diagrammatic view illustrating beach 

features and distribution of petroleum. 

Oil is deposited not only on the highest 

part of the beach face but can be 

deposited across the intertidal zone as 

the tide falls. At low tide, oil can flow 

down the beach and collect on the lowtide terrace.

100 I Yearbook 1980
The "Circuit-Rider" 

Geologist

The occurence of coastal erosion, 

landslides in steep terrain, and other 

geologic factors within Clallam, Jefferson, and Island Counties, Wash., makes 

them difficult areas to develop. In most 

other regions of the country where 

geologic factors are important considerations in land-use decisions, such as the 

San Francisco Bay and the Denver areas, 

local governments have staff geologists. 

These "county geologists" develop a 

knowledge of the specific local geology 

and geologic processes not generally attained by the traditional geologists. As a 

result, they are in a position to understand and apply their expertise to the 

local needs of the community. Equally 

important, they become personally acquainted with local officials, policymaking processes, and problems. The 

local orientation of the county geologist 

enables earth science to become an important aspect in local land-use decisionmaking. Unfortunately, there are no 

"county geologists" in Washington State.

Last year, the U.S. Geological Survey 

initiated a cooperative program with the 

Washington Department of Natural 

Resources to increase the understanding 

and use of earth science information by 

providing the services of a part-time 

"county geologist" or "circuit-rider" 

geologist. The circuit rider is an 

employee of the State's Division of 

Geology and Earth Resources and assists 

local governments of the three Puget 

Sound lowland counties in using earth 

science information to plan and regulate 

development.

The circuit-rider geologist performs 

many functions. He is teacher, consultant, and geologic mapper. As teacher, 

he may find himself discussing the principles of ground-water occurrence with 

local planners or explaining how to use a 

slope stability map. As consultant, he 

may be asked to review the 

hydrogeologic aspects of a development 

plan before the issuance of a building 

permit. At the same time, the circuitrider geologist is preparing a geologic 

map of Whidbey Island County and identifying the natural hazards of the area.

The circuit-rider geologist has been 

able to bring much-needed earth science 

information to localities that are in a 

position to apply it. However, the real 

value of this project will depend on 

whether these and other counties continue to obtain and properly apply earth 

science data in the decisionmaking process after the project is completed

Homes damaged by landslides.

Road damaged by coastal erosion.

Office of Earth Sciences Applications I 101
National Petroleum 

Reserve in Alaska

Mission

The U.S. Geological Survey continued petroleum exploration activities 

on the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPRA), which was transferred from the Department of the Navy to the Department of the Interior on June 1, 1977, under the Naval Petroleum Reserves Production 

Act of 1976 (90 Stat. 305; 42 U.S.C. 650 4(d)(3)). In accordance with the 

Act, the Survey was assigned the responsibility to explore and to 

evaluate the petroleum resources by drilling and geological and 

geophysical investigations, to build an information base to assist Congress in determining the best use of the land within the Reserve, to continue to develop and to produce natural gas from the South Barrow gas 

field or other fields as may be necessary and to supply gas at reasonable 

and equitable rates to the Native village of Barrow and other communities and installations of the Federal Government in the vicinity of 

Barrow, and to continue environmental rehabilitation of parts of the 

Reserve disturbed by previous exploration and construction activities.

Seven exploration wells were completed, including four that had been 

started in earlier years. Two geophysical parties acquired 1,110 line miles 

of seismic data. In addition, the Geological Survey continued to operate 

and to maintain the South Barrow gas field which supplies natural gas to 

the village of Barrow and Federal installations in the vicinity of Barrow. 

Three gas development wells were drilled in the East Barrow field. A 

pressure-reducing station was constructed at the East Barrow gas field to 

allow East Barrow wells to begin production during the winter of 

1980-81. Husky Oil NPR Operations, Inc., continued as the principal contractor for all phases of the exploration program during fiscal year 1980.

Drilling at night at Lisburne Test Well No. 1, 

February 1980.

102 I Yearbook 1980
Budget and Personnel

$169.8 million was appropriated for drilling and 

related activities within the National Petroleum 

Reserve in Alaska. Of this amount, $138.6 million was 

allocated to continue the ongoing evaluation and 

assessment of the Reserve; $28.4 million, to operate 

the South Barrow gas field and to explore for and to 

develop additional gas reserves in the Barrow area; 

and $2.4 million, for the Environmental Rehabilitation Program which consists of the normal cleanup of 

current exploration drilling sites and rehabilitation of 

areas of the Reserve disturbed during previous 

petroleum exploration and construction activities.

The Office of National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska 

was allocated 24 permanent full-time positions and 6 

part-time positions for the fiscal year. Of the 24 permanent full-time positions, 3 have been staffed by the Administrative Division in the Geological Survey to provide dedicated contract support to the program and to 

upgrade National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska 

petroleum-resource data as new information is acquired from the ongoing exploration program. The remaining 21 positions comprise the Operations, Exploration Strategy, and Liaison elements of the Office.

National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska activity obligations for 

fiscal years 7979 and 1980, by subactivity

[Dollars in millions. Data may differ from that in statistical tables because of 

rounding.]

Fiscal year Fiscal year 

__________Subactivity 1979 1980

Total _______________ $216.9 $169.8

Evaluation and Assessment of NPRA _ 194.1 138.6

Direct programs ___________ 194.1 138.6

Reimbursable programs ______ _ __ 

Barrow Area Gas Exploration

and Development _________ 20.2 28.4

Direct programs ___________ 20.2 28.4 

Reimbursable programs ______ _ _

Environmental Restoration ______ 2.6 2.8

Direct programs ___________ 2.6 2.8 

Reimbursable programs ______

SOURCE OF FUNDS

TOTAL $169.80 MILLION

-Direct Federal funds $169.80-

 ' THE rMTKDSTATKSOFAMKllirA

USE OF FUNDS

Barrow area gas exploration 

and development

 Evaluation and Assessment of NPRA $138.60 

Till: IMTKI) STATES OF AMERICA

rvrw

E 67604508 C 

5 -.. -.^, -

$28.40

.Environmental

restoration

$2.80

National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska I 103
Status of

Exploratory

Drilling

Tunalik Test Well No. 1, located 22 

miles southeast of Icy Cape, was started 

in November 1978 as a deep test in the 

western part of the National Petroleum 

Reserve in Alaska. Numerous gas shows 

were encountered at both shallow and 

moderate depths in sandstones which 

had low porosity. High-pressure gas, 

which was encountered at about 12,550 

and at 14,725 feet, created severe drilling problems. The heavy drilling mud 

and barite used to control the highpressure gas flow damaged the formation, and attempts to test the sand were 

unsuccessful. An unexpected and 

geologically significant sequence of igneous rocks was drilled within sedimentary rocks. Most stratigraphic units pentrated by this well were found to be 

thicker than equivalent strata in wells to 

the east. The well was drilled to 20,335 

feet and was plugged and abandoned in 

January 1980.

Ikpikpuk Test Well No. 1 was completed on February 28,1980, at 15,481 

feet in "argillite" basement. The well 

was drilled to test the Lisburne and preLisburne plays at their wedgeout on the 

north flank of the Ikpikpuk Basin. Nearly 

4,000 feet of tight nonprospective 

Lisburne and Endicott beds were drilled 

with scattered minor gas shows. Two of 

the shallow sands, the pebble shale sand 

and a Torok sand, were tested primarily 

for productive capacity and fluid content. Some gas was recovered on each 

test.

Lisburne Well No. 1 was completed on 

June 2, 1980, at 17,000 feet in the fifth 

penetration of the Lisburne limestone. 

The well was located on a seismic 

closure in the disturbed belt play, which 

borders the Brooks Range and is at least 

partly analogous to the overthrust play 

in the Western United States. The well 

drilled about 7,000 feet of highly deformed rocks before reaching the Jurassic to Mississippian prospective section 

exposed at the surface, immediately 

south of the well site. Ubiquitous dead 

oil occurrences demonstrate generation 

of hydrocarbons. Tests in two different 

Lisburne plates recovered only very 

small amounts of gas and some relatively fresh formation water.

Seabee Well No. 1 was completed on 

April 15, 1980, in the lower Cretaceous 

"pebble shale" at a total depth of 15,611 

feet. The well was drilled on the flank of 

the Umiat anticline, which contains the 

Umiat oil field discovered in 1950. The 

objective was to test for possible deeper

hydrocarbon reservoirs in Early Cretaceous (Fortress Mountain) strata. Good 

oil and gas shows were encountered in 

the shallow Umiat oil zone, but testing 

was not possible because of the largesized borehole. Minor oil and gas shows 

were found in the Nanushuk and upper 

Torok, and a significant show was found 

at 5,340 feet in the Torok. Tests of this 

zone gave flows of 2 million to 6 million 

cubic feet per day, but detailed analyses 

of the test data indicate a limited 

depleting reservoir. Minor gas shows 

were found in deeper thin nonporous 

sandstones.

Walakpa Well No. 1 was completed 

on February 7,1980, at a depth of 3,660 

feet in "argillite" basement. The objective of the well was a large structuralstratigraphic trap in the Jurassic Simpson 

sand. The Jurassic sand was not present, 

but a pebble shale-type sand tested gas 

in amounts significant to the local Barrow market.

West Dease Test Well No. 1 was completed on March 26, 1980, at a depth of 

4,170 feet in "argillite" basement. The 

well was drilled to test a seismic 

structural-stratigraphic trap in the Sag 

River sandstone. The Jurassic Barrow and 

the Triassic Sag River sands were cored 

with good oil and gas shows and fair 

porosity but with very poor permeability. 

A test in the Barrow sand recovered only 

mud with an oil sheen. Minor gas and oil 

shows were found in the Torok and pebble shale.

East Simpson Test Well No. 2 was 

completed on March 15, 1980, at a depth 

of 7,505 feet in "argillite" basement. 

Drilled 4 miles from the East Simpson 

No. 1, the objective was a seismically 

sensed thickened section of the porous 

and oil-stained Sadlerochit strata found 

in that well. Minor oil and gas shows 

were found in the Torok and Sag River 

Formations. A thin section of Sadlerochit 

was cored with a good oil show, but a 

test of the sand recovered 161 barrels of 

formation water with a sheen of oil. 

Small-scale faulting is indicated between 

the wells in the area and may account 

for the thin Sadlerochit section. Sandstones of probably Endicott age were 

cored with poor to fair porosity and with 

dead oil shows. An Endicott play similar 

to that in the Prudhoe Bay area may lie 

updip from the East Simpson No. 2.

Awuna Test Well No. 1, located approximately 152 miles south-southwest of 

Barrow in the central part of the 

Reserve, was started on March 1, 1980, 

to test for potential oil and gas accumulations on one of the highest structural positions along the prominent Carbon Creek-Awuna anticline which extends across much of the Reserve. The 

well will test sands of the Fortress Mountain and Torok Formations of Cretaceous

age and the Upper Kingak Formation of 

Jurassic age. The projected depth is 

15,000 feet. The well was suspended for 

the summer on May 8, 1980, at a depth 

of 5,300 feet before encountering the 

potential reservoir horizons.

Geophysical studies in the National 

Petroleum Reserve in Alaska continued 

during fiscal year 1980 with the acquisition, processing, and interpretation of 

1,110 line miles of fill-in and detailed 

seismic surveys in various parts of the 

Reserve using two field geophysical 

crews, one in the Southern Foothills area 

and one in the northern coastal area. Approximately 1,000 miles of previously acquired seismic data were processed for 

special stratigraphic evaluation. To date, 

12,517 line miles of seismic data have 

been collected and processed. In addition, various geologic studies are underway by the U.S. Geological Survey and 

by contractors to support oil exploration 

activities, which include structural and 

stratigraphic studies, geochemical investigations, and hydrologic and 

engineering studies.

The petroleum exploration activities in 

the National Petroleum Reserve in 

Alaska have been coordinated with two 

related studies mandated by Public Law 

94-258. One study completed in 

December 1979 relates to the best 

overall procedure to be used in the 

development, production, transportation, 

and distribution of the petroleum 

resources in the reserve. This study is 

referred to as the Presidential Study or 

the 105(b) Study. It consists of an 

economic analysis by the Office of 

Minerals Policy and Research Analysis in 

the Department of the Interior and an 

environmental analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey. The second study, conducted by the Bureau of Land Management, is to determine the values of and 

best uses for the lands contained in the 

Reserve, taking into consideration (1) the 

Natives who live or depend upon such 

lands, (2) the scenic, historical, recreational, fish and wildlife, and wilderness 

values, (3) mineral potential, and (4) 

other values of such lands. This study, 

referred to as the 105(c) Study, was compiled by the Bureau of Land Management and was submitted to Congress in 

April 1979.

The table lists wells drilled by the 

Navy between 1975 and 1977; wells 

drilled in fiscal years 1978, 1979, and 

1980; exploration wells planned for fiscal 

year 1981 by the Geological Survey; and 

development wells drilled in the Barrow 

gas fields in fiscal years 1977, 1978, and 

1980.

104 I Yearbook 1980
Summary of exploration drilling by the Department of the Navy and the U.S. Geological Survey

Name

Cape Halkett No. 1.

East Teshekpuk No. 1 

South Harrison Bay 

No. 1. 

Atigaru Point No. 1.

West Fish Creek No. 1. 

South Simpson No. 1. 

W. T. Foran No. 1.

Drew Point Test Well

No. 1. 

North Kalikpuk Test 

Well No. 1. 

South Meade Test Well 

No. 1.

Kugrua Test Well No. 1. 

Inigok Test Well No. 1.

Tunalik Test Well No. 1. 

Peard Test Well No. 1.

Ikpikpuk Test Well

No. 1. 

East Simpson Test Well

No. 1. 

J. W. Dalton Test Well

No. 1

Lisburne Test Well No. 1. 

Seabee Test Well No. 1.

Walakpa Test Well 

No. 1. 

West Dease Test Well 

No. 1. 

East Simpson Test Well

No. 2. 

Koluktak Test Well 

No. 1. 

Awuna Test Well No. 1.

Kuyanak Test Well 

No. 1. 

Walakpa Test Well

No. 2. 

North Inigok Test Well 

No. 1. 

Tulageak Test Well

No. 1.

Location

18 miles ESE of Lonely.

25 miles of Lonely. 

50 miles SE of Barrow.

44 miles SE of Lonely. 

51 miles SE of Lonely. 

41 miles WSW of Lonely. 

23 miles ESE of Lonely.

14 miles W of Lonely.

37 miles SE of Lonely.

45 miles S of Barrow. 

(Reentered 

12-1-78). 

67 miles SW of Barrow.

60 miles S of Lonely.

22 miles SE of Icy Cape. 

25 miles NE of

Wainwright.

55 miles SE of Barrow.

3 miles E of Lonely.

110 miles SW of Umiat. 

1 mile NW of Umiat. 

15 miles S of Barrow. 

28 miles SE of Barrow. 

50 miles SE of Barrow.

75 miles S of Smith Bay. 

150 miles S of Barrow.

38 miles S of Barrow 

17 miles S of Barrow.

45 miles S of Lonely. 

26 miles SE of Barrow.

Date 

spudded1

3-24-75

3-12-76 

11-21-76

1-12-77 

2-14-77 

3- 9-77 

3- 7-77

1-13-78

2-27-78 

2- 8-78

2-13-78 

6- 7-78

11-10-78 

1-27-79 

1-27-79

11 29 78

2-19-79

5- 7-79

6-11-79 

7-1-79 

12-25-79 

2-19-80 

1-28-80

Being 

planned. 

3- 1-80

Being 

planned. 

_ do

__do__ 

__do__

Date 

completed

5-23-75

5-11-76 

1-27-77

3-10-77 

4-21-77 

4-18-77 

4-16-77

3-13-78

4-14-78 

1-22-79

5-30-78 

5-22-79

1- 7-80 

4-13-79

2-28-80

4-10-79

8- 2-79

6- 2-80 

4-16-80 

2- 7-80 

3-26-80 

3-15-80

Total depth, 

in feet

9,900

10,664 

11,290

11,535 

11,427 

8,805 

8,864

7,946

7,395 

9,945

12,588 

20,102

20,335 

10,225

15,481

7,739

9,367

17,000 

15,611 

3,666 

4,170 

7,505

1 4,500 

2 15,000

2 6,700 

2 4,500

2 10,800 

1 4,500

Deepest horizon 

attained

Argillite basement 

(Devonian or older). 

Granite basement 

Lisburne Group 

(Mississippian). 

Argillite basement 

(Devonian or older). 

Kayak Shale 

(Mississippian). 

Argillite basement 

(Devonian or older). 

__ do _

_ do_ _

Kingak Shale (Jurassic).

Argillite basement 

(Devonian or older).

Lisburne Group 

(Mississippian). 

Kekiktuk Formation 

(Mississippian).

Argillite basement 

__ do_ __

_ do __

do __

do_ _

Lisburne-Endicott Group. 

Basal Cretaceous 

Argillite basement

Argillite basement 

(Devonian or older). 

__ do_ __

Torok Formation 

(Cretaceous). 

Lisburne Group 

(Mississippian).

Argillite basement 

do_ __

__ _do __

Remarks

Dry; plugged and 

abandoned. 

Do. 

Poor oil shows; plugged 

and abandoned. 

Do.

Poor oil shows; plugged 

and abandoned. 

Dry; plugged and 

abandoned. 

Oil and gas shows;

plugged and abandoned. 

Poor oil and gas shows;

plugged and abandoned. 

Do.

Poor gas shows; 

plugged and abandoned.

Dry; plugged and 

abandoned. 

Encountered hydrogen 

sulfide and sulfar at 

17,570 feet; poor gas 

shows; plugged and 

abandoned. 

Gas test; plugged and 

abandoned.

and abandoned.

plugged and abandoned. 

Do.

heavy oil recovered 

during testing; plugged 

and abandoned. 

Shows of gas; plugged 

and abandoned. 

Gas test; plugged and 

abandoned. 

Shows of gas; plugged 

and abandoned. 

Poor shows; plugged 

and abandoned. 

Do.

Planned for drilling in 

fiscal year 1981. 

Suspended at 5,300 feet; 

to be reentered and 

completed in fiscal 

year 1981.

 

1 Drilling began. 1 Projected.

National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska I 105
Barrow Area Gas Development 

Activities

The Geological Survey continued to operate and maintain 

the South Barrow gas field which supplies gas to the village 

of Barrow as well as Federal installations in the Barrow area 

(see table). Construction and installation of a production 

system at the newer East Barrow gas field is nearing completion which will double the amount of natural gas available to 

the Barrow area.

In compliance with Congressional direction, no new wells 

were drilled during fiscal year 1979 while studies of alternative fuel sources for Barrow were made. The studies were 

completed and established that the continued development 

of local gas reserves is the most cost-effective manner of providing energy to the Barrow area. Three wells are scheduled 

to be drilled in the East Barrow field during fiscal year 1980; 

the first well, Barrow Well No. 20, was suspended after producing oil on a drill stem test. Two additional wells are 

scheduled, Barrow Well No. 15 and Barrow Well No. 18, but 

drilling has not yet begun. An all-weather road network now 

connects the wells in the two fields, increasing the safety and 

efficiency of the Barrow gas field operation immeasurably.

Summary of drilling in the Barrow area by The Department of the Navy and the U.S. Geological Survey

Name Location

Date 

spudded'

Date 

completed

Total depth, 

in feet

Deepest horizon 

attained Remarks

South Barrow No. 13.

South Barrow No. 14. 

South Barrow No. 16.

South Barrow No. 17.

5 miles SE of Barrow. 12-17-76 1-16-77

12 miles ESE of Barrow. 

6 miles E of Barrow.

1-28-77 3- 3-77 

1-28-78 2-18-78

13 miles ESE of Barrow. 3- 2-78 4-13-78

2,535 Argillite Basement

(Devonian or older).

2,257 Sag River Sand (Triassic)

2,400 Argillite basement

(Devonian or older).

2,382 __do__

Shows of gas; suspended

as marginal gas well. 

Completed as a gas well. 

Dry; plugged and

abandoned. 

Suspended; edge well;

produces water with

gas.

South Barrow No. 19.

South Barrow No. 15. 

South Barrow No. 18.

10 miles ESE of Barrow. 

12 miles ESE of Barrow.

4-17-78

7- 1-80 

8-19-80 

4- 7-80

5- 1-78

5-10-80

2,300

2 2,400 

2 2,400 

2,356

do

Argillite basement * 

____ do2 __ 

do

as nonproducer.

' Drilling began ! Projected

Environmental Rehabilitation 

on NPRA

The U.S. Geological Survey environmental rehabilitation 

program at National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska consists of 

two parts, the collection and consolidation of litter and 

debris left from previous construction and oil exploration activities and the cleanup and revegetation of current drilling 

sites.

Early oil exploration and construction activities were accomplished with little consideration for environmental protection or effects of drilling operations on the tundra environCrushing empty fuel drums during environmental rehabilitation operations on 

the NPRA, summer 1980. [Photograph 

courtesy of Husky Oil NPR Operations, 

Inc.)

ment. Fuel drums, abandoned equipment and supplies, and 

other litter of exploration and construction were left in place 

at many sites. During fiscal year 1980, the Geological Survey 

collected over 1,760 tons of debris and waste materials from 

numerous old sites on and adjacent to the Reserve, including 

10,400 old barrels. These materials were consolidated and 

stockpiled at several collection points on the Reserve.

Current program site rehabilitation consists of an initial 

recontouring and revegetation of drilling sites with a second 

reseeding during the following year. During fiscal year 1980, 

initial rehabilitation work was performed at eight sites, and 

followup reseeding and refertilizing was completed at six 

sites. Seed and fertilizer were set out for next year's use at 

nine sites. Both cleanup and rehabilitation activities are accomplished by contract personnel.

106 I Yearbook 1980
BARROW 

Walakpa

ICY CAPE

Peard 

Kugrua* South Meade*

/rftXEast Simpson No. 2

V ^ East*' LONELY J. W. Dalton

Simpso'n_No.1/J "^~"Xr ^

* V/ Drew Point *iW. T. Foran 

South Simpson '/Cape Halkett

East Tesheknuk ,

North Kalikpik 

IkpikpukO South Harrison 

West Fish Creek*

Atigaru Point - '^S

PRUDHOE BAY

D North Inigok

NPRA

Inigok

O Koluktak 

(To be drilled in 

fiscal year 1981)

25 50 MILES

Awuna

(Fiscal year 1981 

completion)

Seabee . _

r~

NPRA

EXPLANATION

 Wells completed (Navy and Survey)

o Fiscal year 1980 wells to be 

completed in fiscal year 1981

D Fiscal year 1981 wells

 Prudhoe Bay field

 Barrow field

Lisburne OJ

V.

\

Map showing location of NPRA. /Access road from South Barrow gas field to East Barrow gas field.
Program Support Divisions

108 I Yearbook 1980
Computer Center 

Division

The use of automatic data processing 

(ADP) and data communications technology continues to grow at the U.S. 

Geological Survey. The acquisition and 

use of computers by the Survey to 

manipulate and to store the constantly 

enlarging volumes of digital data are increasing. During fiscal year 1980, the 

Computer Center Division achieved 

significant objectives in several areas, including advances in ADP management, 

hardware acquisition, and software 

development.

In fiscal year 1980, the Survey contracted with the Federal Computer 

Performance Evaluation and Simulation 

Center (FEDSIM) to develop and to 

demonstrate a formal methodology for 

ADP planning and management. FEDSIM 

is a Federal computer systems center 

that provides reimbursable technical 

assistance, support, and services for the 

simulation, analysis, performance evaluation, and management consultation for 

Federal Government computer systems. 

FEDSIM is a suitable consultant for the 

Survey effort to reduce costs of procuring and using complex computer and 

communications systems and to improve 

the productivity and efficiency of the 

systems. To accomplish its objectives, 

FEDSIM conducted interviews with data 

processing, project, and procurement 

personnel at the Survey in Reston, Va., 

Rolla, Mo., Lawrence, Kans., Denver, 

Colo., Flagstaff, Ariz., and Menlo Park, 

Calif. The purpose of these interviews 

was to acquire an indepth knowledge of 

the types, locations, uses, policies, procedures, constraints, and limitations affecting the existing computer configurations, as well as any planned acquisitions 

of the computers, software, and data 

communications equipment within the 

Survey. Having acquired this information 

during fiscal year 1980, FEDSIM is currently developing a methodology for 

management planning that considers 

large, small, and special-purpose computers; for local, regional, and national 

data; for computing and data communications requirements; and for 

developments in ADP and data communications technology.

Along with planning activities, other 

events occurred that affect the administration of ADP services at the 

Survey. During fiscal year 1980, the functions and responsibilities of the 

Washington Computer Center (WCC) 

were transferred to the Computer Center 

Division. WCC was under the supervision 

of the Office of the Assistant Secretary 

for Policy, Budget, and Administration.

The transfer of WCC to the Computer 

Center Division entailed a review of 

management positions, administrative 

and technical support positions, and programming positions to propose an initial 

organizational integration of WCC into 

the Survey. During these organizational 

and functional reviews, the Computer 

Center Division cited significant opportunities for improving the management 

of the ADP services supplied to the 

Department and to the Survey.

During fiscal year 1980, in accordance 

with the General Services 

Administration's Federal Property 

Management regulations and in compliance with the Secretary's memo on information technology policy, the Division planned for the collocation of the 

WCC with the Reston facility of the 

Computer Center Division. The majority 

of WCC's functions and personnel will 

be transferred to Reston. However, onsite ADP support will continue to be provided at the Interior Building for the Office of the Secretary and other Departmental offices. The remaining support 

group will serve as a field site, similar to 

the existing Denver, Menlo Park, and 

Flagstaff sites. Collocation of generalpurpose computer centers, such as WCC 

and the Division, encourages more effective sharing of ADP resources; saves 

money, space, and energy; and does not 

require extensive changes to operational 

management.

Another area for improvement of ADP 

management services is the Departmental Integrated Payroll/Personnel Service 

(DIPS). The DIPS system provides services to over 50,000 employees, primarily 

in the following organizations: the 

Department of Interior, Office of the 

Secretary; the U.S. National Park Service; 

the U.S. Geological Survey; the Fish and 

Wildlife Service; and the Environmental 

Protection Agency. These services are 

provided on a biweekly basis and produce over 150 reports. The system provides data needed to prepare payroll, 

tax, retirement, and statistical reports. 

During fiscal year 1980, the agency 

created the position of DIPS manager, 

who will report to the Chief, Computer 

Center Division. The DIPS manager will 

have complete responsibility for all 

aspects of DIPS including the coordination and direction of all efforts within 

the Survey and the Department of the 

Interior relating the DIPS. This position 

represents a significant advancement in 

the administration of the DIPS system. 

The transfer of the operation of the DIPS 

system to the Geological Survey offers 

the opportunity to solve problems with 

the system management that have been 

identified by the Survey and other user 

bureaus and by the consulting firm of 

Arthur Young and Company.

The accomplishments of an ADP center depend on physical considerations as 

well as administrative ones. During fiscal 

year 1980, the Survey procured an Amdahl 470V/7 computer to replace the 

IBM 370/155's. The Amdahl provides 

more computer power and will enable 

the Division to install up-to-date 

operating system software to meet the 

increasing needs for computer services.

The Computer Center Division also accomplished significant advances in the 

area of ADP software development. During fiscal year 1980, a new level of 

Multi-trieve, an interactive retrieval and 

report generation package for the 

Multics computer system developed by 

the Division, was released. With the new 

level of Multi-trieve, a user can develop 

any type of report format desired, in addition to using the standard column-type 

report facilities. The new level provides 

the user with considerably more power 

for designing the appearance of a report 

than was previously available.

During fiscal year 1980, the Division 

completed the final developmental work 

for a file-management system called 

TARUS, and the initial version was 

released. TARUS satisfies the need for an 

efficient easily expandable facility for 

file maintenance and is especially useful 

for handling a combination of variableand fixed-length records. Previous filemanagement systems for Multics were 

only suited for handling one type of 

record. In developing TARUS, the Division emphasized user-computer interface 

techniques, such as frequent prompting 

for the user, allowing easier computer 

access for scientists and administrators. 

Several groups within the Survey are using TARUS. The Technical Editing 

Unit, Geologic Division, uses TARUS 

to maintain lists of Survey publications 

and to produce catalogs of publications 

by State and year published. The Geographic Names Branch, National Mapping Division, produces catalogs from a 

TARUS data base. In addition, the Consolidated Universities of Bath, Bristol, 

and Avon in England requested a 

demonstration of the TARUS system. 

At the request of the Survey's Data 

Base Administrator (DBA), the Division 

assisted in the investigation of all current 

and major Data Base Management 

Systems (DBMS) to determine which 

system was best suited to meet agency 

needs. Model 204 was selected as the 

system that would best meet the requirements of the DBA, and it was acquired for the Amdahl. Model 204 is the 

only DBMS available that provides a 

single user language for data base creation, querying, and report writing. This 

unique qualification enables casual users 

to learn one language for all aspects of 

their data manipulation. In a scientific

Program Support Divisions | 109
environment, the ease of use of the 

DBMS, as with any ADP software tool, is 

of paramount importance.

The accomplishments of the Computer 

Center Division for fiscal year 1980 

represent significant initial steps toward 

providing an effective information 

technology in support of Departmental 

and Geological Survey goals. Fiscal year 

1980 saw growth in the ADP fields 

through organizational and management 

advancement, both in the short, and long 

term, as well as acquisition of more efficient machinery (hardware) and development or acquisition of more effective 

software for the Survey computer 

systems.

Administrative 

Division

General Administration

The cost of executive direction and 

coordination of U.S. Geological Survey 

programs and administrative services 

provided by the Administrative Division 

is funded by General Administrative Expenses. During fiscal year 1980, these expenses amounted to 2.7 percent of 

the Survey's budget. This funding was 

derived from the following sources: the 

General Administration budget activity, 

$3.8 million; assessments on the 

directly appropriated activities, 

$12.9 million; and assessments on 

the reimbursable programs, $4.3 

million. No assessments are made on 

cooperative funds from State and local 

governments.

Administrative 

Management

The activities of the Administrative 

Division are carried on at Survey Headquarters in Reston, Va., and at three major Regional Centers Eastern Region, 

also headquartered in Reston, Central 

Region, headquartered in Denver, Colo., 

and Western Region, headquartered in 

Menlo Park, Calif. Field offices are 

located in five areas: Atlanta, Ga.( Rolla., 

Mo., Metairie, La., Flagstaff, Ariz., and, 

Anchorage, Alaska. Principally, these offices provide support to Survey installations in the immediate or nearby areas 

on matters relating to personnel, 

facilities, procurement, and supply 

management.

During fiscal year 1980, the Administrative Division implemented and 

coordinated a variety of facilities, procurement, personnel, energy conservation, and financial management improvements. Highlights associated with 

these management improvements follow.

Facilities Improvements

The EROS (Earth Resources Observation Systems) Data Center is located on 

the outskirts of Sioux Falls, S. Dak. It is a 

special-purpose scientific facility primarily involved in remote sensing and 

satellite image data'interpretation and 

application. In addition, during fiscal 

year 1980, the facility became a model 

demonstration project for both solarenergy and waste-water recycling techniques.

 So/ar-energy application. The EROS 

Data Center uses more than 1 million 

gallons of water per month in 

photographic reproduction and development processes. The original oil-fired 

system for heating water required 8,000 

gallons of fuel oil per month. Its replacement, a solar hot-water heating system 

began operation in January 1980. It is 

one of the largest of its type in the 

United States and uses 9,200 square feet 

of solar energy collectors. The gross projected savings in the first year resulting 

from the conversion is currently 

estimated to be $100,000. These savings 

will produce a 6-year payback to the 

EROS Data Center for its solar hot-water 

heating system. This project represents 

the U.S. Department of the Interior's 

principal solar-energy model for 

demonstrating the practical application 

of solar energy for heating specialpurpose as well as domestic water.

 Waste-water recycling. A second 

natural-resource conservation project 

completed at the EROS Data Center is 

for recycling waste water for reuse in 

film processing and for use in connection with the air-conditioning system. 

Because of periodic near-drought conditions in the Sioux Falls area, the need to 

conserve water is at times extremely important. Waste water, photograph processing water, and sanitary waste is now 

collected in a series of biologically 

treated ponds with a capacity of 40 

million gallons. The recycling system 

generates water with a quality that approximates the city water supply. The 

recycled water also meets the guidelines 

established by the photograph-processing 

industry for film development. The 

waste-water recycling system produces 

12 million gallons of water annually for 

reuse purposes. Such a guaranteed water 

supply is essential for the increasingly 

specialized scientific programs of the 

EROS Data Center.

Civil Service Reform 

Continues

The Survey's performance appraisal 

system required by the Civil Service 

Reform Act was approved by the Department in May 1980. The system contains 

innovative provisions that have attracted 

attention from the Office of Personnel 

Management and other Federal agencies 

with research employees. A key element 

in the successful implementation of the 

Survey's performance appraisal system 

was the training provided to supervisors 

on how to develop performance standards using task-based job analysis. From 

February to August 1980, over 60 training 

sessions in 25 locations across the country were conducted for more than 1,400 

supervisors. In addition, the Bureau's 

Performance Appraisal Task Force (an 

inter-Division work group which was 

responsible for planning, developing, and 

implementing Survey's performance appraisal system) produced a handbook 

which included sample performance 

standards for the most populous occupational groups. With this training tool, 

which was made available to supervisors 

in August 1980, and with the classroom 

training provided, Survey supervisors and 

managers were exceptionally wellprepared to document employee performance standards by the Department's 

October 1, 1980, deadline.

As of July 31,1980, all employees in 

grades GS-13 through GS-15 had received 

notices from their Division management 

of the determination as to whether their 

positions would be covered by or excluded from the merit pay system. Scheduled 

for implementation during fiscal year 

1981, this system provides that pay for 

supervisors and management officials in 

the covered grade range will be determined based on performance appraisals 

which will be made as of June 30, 1981. 

The first payouts will be effective the 

first pay period on or after October 1, 

1981. So that these important and innovative changes could be implemented 

smoothly in the next fiscal year, indepth 

orientation to the features of both the 

merit pay and performance appraisal 

systems were planned for covered 

employees and their supervisors.

Advances in Procurement 

Activities

The Survey's fiscal year 1980 procure 

ment activity was highlighted by continued support of the minority business 

program and by the full implementation 

of an advance procurement planning 

system.

 Minority business. Building on impressive fiscal year 1979 minority 

business contractual awards totalling 

$9.2 million, the Survey's support of this 

special-emphasis program increased to 

$13.7 million. The Survey was the 

recipient of a special Departmental commendation for being the first Bureau to

110 I Yearbook 1980
access the Small Business Administration's Procurement Automated Source 

System (PASS). PASS was developed to 

give Federal agencies a quick reference 

of over 23,000 small businesses, 4,400 

minority businesses, and 1,800 womenowned businesses in connection with 

agencies' requirements for contractual 

support services. The firms included in 

PASS can be screened by commodity or 

service and by geographic area. The 

Survey continues to build an impressive 

small and disadvantaged business record. 

PASS utilization exemplifies the versatile 

approach taken by the Bureau in support 

of the Federal-wide minority business 

enterprise program.

 Advance procurement planning. 

The advance procurement planning 

system led to better communication and 

coordination in the processing of over 

$150 million in contracts, grants, 

and cooperative agreements. The new 

system has already gained Departmental 

recognition. It is viewed as a highly successful model whose components have 

improved the scheduling and subsequent 

timely award of contracts, grants, and 

cooperative agreements. Refinement of 

the system and full automation of the 

data elements involved in the advanceprocurement planning cycle are expected 

to further streamline an already effective 

and efficient approach to simplifying the 

entire procurement activity.

Other Highlights

 Facilities planning. An initial effort 

in developing a 5-year (fiscal years 

1982-86) facilities improvement plan for 

major construction, repair, and alteration 

projects for Survey-owned and other 

Survey-occupied facilities v^as completed. This first-time planning schedule 

included priority ranking for fiscal year 

1982 facilities projects. The facility requirements plan will provide top 

management with information required 

to make future construction, repair, and 

alteration decisions essential to the successful accomplishment of Survey 

research and scientific activities.

 Half-fare airline coupons. Big savings were reported by the Survey in its 

final report on the use of the half-fare 

coupons offered by United and 

American Airlines during late fiscal year 

1979 and early fiscal year 1980. Total net 

savings realized totalled over $105,000, 

which accounted for nearly one-fourth of 

the total savings compiled by the entire 

Department.

 Energy conservation results. The 

Survey surpassed the President's goals 

for reducing energy consumption in 

fiscal year 1980. Shown below are the 

results of the Bureau's energyconservation effort relative to White 

House directives and goals.

Energy reductions, fiscal year 1980

[In percent]

Energy reduction

Reduction Actual 

goal performance

Overall ________ 5 12.2

Automative fuels ___ 10 18.7

Mileage ________ 10 12.0

The Survey's facilities and automative 

operations continue to focus on energy 

conservation opportunities. The Bureau 

plans to continue to give energy conservation activities high priority and will 

continue to improve its already aggressive approach to energy conservation.

 Financial management improvements. Major changes in the 

Bureau's automated Financial Management System to enhance reporting 

capability in budget formulation, financial planning, and funds control were implemented. In fiscal year 1980, our financial reports have been expanded to 

reflect the border range of financial 

management requirements which face 

the Survey now and in the 1980's. A 

long-term contract was awarded in 

September 1980, to streamline this 

automated system, to develop revised 

guidelines and procedures for its use, 

and to conduct training sessions for 

managerial and technical staff.

Program Support Divisions I 111
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DIRECTOR

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Administration 

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Research

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Engineering Geology 

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Central Region 

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Washington Liaison 

Equal Opportunity 

Congressional Liaison 

Public Affairs

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Global Seismology 

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Ground Motion and Faulting 

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Network Operations

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Sedimentary Mineral Resources 

Uranium and Thorium Resources

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Atlantic-Gulf of Mexico Geology

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Central 

Western

Ataskan Geology 

Exploration Research 

Office of Resource Analysis

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Experimental Geochemistry and

Mineralogy

Field Geochemistry and PetrologyIsotope Geology 

Regional Geochemistry 

Analytical Laboratories 

Petrophysics and Remote

Sensing 

Electromagnetism and

Geomagnetism 

Regional Geophysics

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Latin American and African

Geology 

Middle Eastern ana Asian

Geology

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t * * i fc ».««* "? 1 ««* *'** I A, ft -2 i *»#** * 1 ft-- ft-*'' * ? « ,* * f I «. **-#** f 4 >t * *'f 4» »»«*«**? § 4 » #»* -*,4> >| 

I I ^t 11 .£ i f > ivVi » « PUBLIC INQUIRIES OFF^S^ » *> O^ f | *'JU * | I * «' | ,^;1 | * ^ * & S;» f |

p** t * *»f » f '* i *f it f r * :- » t * * 4 »s'**« * | I » *** '* ft » «' f ?: ,'- -* * t | I * * ***? *f 4t -«> * | 4. «».«*** | 4- * *' *' -!r *«"» * § f - *: » »'* 11 «*« ? 4 **'* 11 %..-»* * -f I * * * *3 * * * * i * *'* * I * ***** * I * * t % *»» »"" ** 1 > * * *' i,"^*5 "*;* I I »* ***.;?4 * f
OFFICE OF 

WE ASSISTANT DIVISION CHIEF

FOR 

PLANNING AND ASSESSMENT

Stall

Planning and Evaluation 

Scientific Projects 

Research and Development

OFFICE OF

THE DEPUTY DIVISION CHIEF

FOR ONSHORE MINERALS

REGULATION

Branches

Solid Minerals Management 

Coal Management 

Economic Evaluation 

Rules and Procedures 

Fluid Minerals 

Environmental Management

OFFICE OF

THE ASSISTANT DIVISION CHIEF

FOR MANAGEMENT SUPPORT

Branches 

Program and Budget

Management 

Manpower and Training 

ADP Management 

Information Management 

General Administrative Services

OFFICE OF

THE DEPUTY DIVISION CHIEF

FOR OFFSHORE MINERALS

REGULATION

Branches

Resource Evaluation 

Economic Evaluation 

Field Operations 

Rules and Procedures 

Environmental 

Management

OFFICE OF THE

DEPUTY DIVISION CHIEF

FOR ROYALTY ACCOUNTING

REGIONAL OFFICES

Eastern-Washington, DC 

Central-Denver, CO 

North Central-Casper. WY 

South Central Albuquerque,

NM

Western-Menlo Park, CA 

Alaska Anchorage, AK

Branches 

Systems Analysis and

Programming 

Computer Processing 

Computer Information

REGIONAL OFFICES

Atlantic DCS Washington, DC 

Gulf of Mexico OCS-Metairie, LA 

Pacific OCS-Los Angeles. CA 

Alaska OCS-Anchorage, AK

FFICES_____ V»'**»I***1*I*******<!* f ^« MANAGEMI

Branches 

Financial Management 

General Services 

Management Analysis 

Personnel 

Procurement and Contracts

.Vo* *
U.S. Geological Survey Offices 

Headquarters Offices

12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, 

National Center, Reston, VA 22092

As of September 30,1980.

Office of the Director

Official Name Telephone number

Director_______________________ H.William Menard (703)860-7411 

Associate Director _________________ Doyle G. Frederick (703)860-7412 

Special Assistant (Washington Liaison)

and Deputy Ethics Counselor__________ Jane H. Wallace (202) 343-3888

Assistant Director for Research __________ Robert L. Wesson (703) 860-7488

Assistant Director for Resource Programs _____ George H. Davis (703)860-7481

Assistant Director for Engineering Geology ___ James F. Devine (703) 860-7491

Assistant Director for Administration _______ Edmund J. Grant (703) 860-7201

Assistant Director for Programs __________ Dale Bajema (703) 860-7435

Assistant Director-Eastern Region ________ Betty M. Miller (703) 860-7414

Assistant Director Central Region ________ Robert E. Evans (303) 234-4630

Assistant Director Western Region _______ George E. Robinson (415)323-8111

Congressional Liaison Off icer ___________ Talmadge W. Reed (703)860-6438

Chief, Public Affairs Off ice_____________ Frank H. Forrester (703)860-7444

Staff Assistant (Special Issues) ___________ John N. Fischer, Jr. (703) 860-7413

Special Assistant to the Director __________ William W. Barnyvell (907)271-4398

National Mapping Division

Chief _________________________ Rupert B. Southard (703) 860-6231 

Associate Chief.___________________ Roy R. Mullen (703)860-6232 

Assistant Division Chief for Research _______ Lowell E. Starr, (Acting) (703) 860-6291 

Assistant Division Chief for Plans

and Operations __________________ Peter F. Bermel (703) 860-6281 

Assistant Division Chief for Information and

Data Services _______________.__ Gary W. North (703) 860-7181

Geologic Division

Chief Geologist ___________________ Dallas L. Peck (703)860-6531

Associate Chief Geologist _____________ Gordon P. Eaton (703) 860-6532

Deputy Chief Geologist, Operations __: _____ Penelope M. Hanshaw (703) 860-7429

Deputy Chief Geologist, Program and Budget __ David A. Seyler (703) 860-6544

Office of Scientific Publications, Chief ______ Robert E. Davis (703) 860-6575

Office of Environmental Geology, Chief ______ Douglas M. Morion (703)860-6411

Office of Earthquake Studies, Chief _______ John R. Filson (703) 860-6471

Office of Energy Resources, Chief _________ [Vacant] (703) 860-6431

Office of Marine Geology, Chief __________ Terence N. Edgar (703) 860-7291

Office of Mineral Resources, Chief ________ A. Thomas Ovenshine (703) 860-6561

Office of Geochemistry and Geophysics, Chief _ Robert I. Tilling (703) 860-6584

Office of International Geology, Chief ______ John A. Reinemund (703) 860-6418

Water Resources Division

Chief Hydrologist ___________________ Philip Cohen (703) 860-6921 

Associate Chief Hydrologist ___________ R. Hal Langford (703) 860-6921 

Assistant Chief Hydrologist, Scientific

Publications, and Data Management ______ Robert J. Dingman (703) 860-6877 

Assistant Chief Hydrologist, Operations ______ Thomas J. Buchanan (703) 860-6801 

Assistant Chief Hydrologist, Research and

Technical Coordination ______________ Leslie B. Laird (703) 860-6971 

Office of Water Data Coordination, Chief ____ Porter E. Ward, (Acting) (703) 860-6931 

Office of International Activities, Chief ______ Delia Laura, (Acting) (703) 860-6548

Conservation Division

Chief _____ _________________ Don E. Kash (703) 860-7581 

Associate Chief ____________________ Hillary A. Oden (703) 860-7581 

Deputy Division Chief, Offshore Minerals

Regulation _____________________ Robert L. Rioux (703)860-6141 

Deputy Division Chief, Onshore Minerals

Regulation _____________________ John J. Dragonetti (703)860-7533 

Assistant Division Chief, Management Support _ James V. Fare (703)860-6486 

Assistant Division Chief, Planning and

Assessments ____________________ Junius Walker (703)860-7591

Address

National Center, STOP 101 

National Center, STOP 102

Rm. 7343, Interior Bldg.,

Washington, DC 20240 

National Center, STOP 104 

National Center, STOP 171 

National Center, STOP 106 

National Center, STOP 201 

National Center, STOP 105 

National Center STOP 109 

Box 25046, STOP 101, Denver Federal

Center, Denver, CO 80225 

345 Middlefield Road

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

National Center, STOP 112 

National Center, STOP 119 

National Center, STOP 121 

218 E. St., Anchorage, Alaska 99501

National Center, STOP 516 

National Center, STOP 516 

National Center, STOP 519

National Center, STOP 514 

National Center, STOP 341

National 

National 

National 

National 

National 

National 

National 

National 

National 

National 

National 

National

National Center, STOP 409 

National Center, STOP 408

National Center, STOP 440 

National Center, STOP 441

National Center, STOP 414 

National Center, STOP 417 

National Center, STOP 470

National Center, STOP 610 

National Center, STOP 610

National Center, STOP 640

National Center, STOP 650 

National Center, STOP 630

National Center, STOP 620

114 I Yearbook 1980
Office Name Telephone number Address

Office of Earth Sciences Applications

Chief _________________________ Gene A. Thorley (703) 860-7471 

Associate Chief ____________________ [Vacant] (703) 860-7471 

Earth Resources Observations Systems

Office, Chief ___________________ Gene A. Thorley (703) 860-7471 

Resource Planning Analysis Office, Chief _____ Ethan T. Smith (703) 860-6717 

Environmental Affairs Office, Chief _______ Richard V. Watkins, (703) 860-7455

(Acting)

Earth Sciences Assistance Office, Chief _____ Jerry C. Stephens (703) 860-6961 

Visual Information Services Office, Chief _____ Theresa M. Sousa (703) 860-6981

Office of National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska

Chief _________________________ George Cryc (907)276-7422

Technical Officer ___________________ Valentine Zadnik (703) 860-6208 

Program Officer ___________________ Keith M. Beardsley (703) 860-6208

Computer Center Division

Chief _________________________ Carl E. Diesen (703) 860-7106

Office of Teleprocessing ______________ Ralph N. Eicher (703)860-7119

Administrative Division

Chief ___________________________ Edmund J. Grant (703)860-7201 

Administrative Operations Officer ________ George F. Hargrove, Jr. (703) 860-7204 

Personnel Officer ___________________ Maxine C. Millard (703) 860-6127 

Contracts Officer ___________________ William Burk (703) 860-7261

National Center, STOP 703 

National Center, STOP 703

National Center, STOP 703 

National Center, STOP 750 

National Center, STOP 760

National Center, STOP 720 

National Center, STOP 708

*2525 "C" St., Suite 400 

Anchorage, AK 99503 

National Center, STOP 151 

National Center, STOP 151

National Center, STOP 801 

National Center, STOP 805

National Center, STOP 201 

National Center, STOP 203 

National Center, STOP 215 

National Center, STOP 205

Selected Field Offices 

National Mapping Division 

Regional Centers

Eastern Roy E. Fordham (703) 860-6352 

Mid-Continent ______________ ___ Lawrence H. Borgerding (314)364-3680

Rocky Mountain _____ John D. McLaurin (303)234-2351

Western _______________ . John R. Swinnerton (415) 323-8111, ext. 2411 

Printing and Distribution Charles D. Kuhler (Acting) (703) 860-6761

Public Inquiries Office

Alaska _________________________ Margaret I. Erwin

California: 

Los Angeles Lucy E. Birdsall

Menlo Park _______ Bruce S. Deam

San Francisco ___________________ Patricia A. Shiffer

Colorado Irene V. Shy

District of Columbia Bruce A. Hubbard

Texas ____________________ John P. Donnelly

Utah __________ Wendy R. Mabey

* Office of National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska is headquartered in Anchorage, Alaska.

(907)277-0577

(213)688-2850 

(415)323-2817 

(415)556-5627 

(303)837-4169 

(202) 343-8073 

(214) 767-0198 

(801)524-5652

National Center, STOP 567 

1400 Independence Road,

Rolla MO 65401 

Box 25046, STOP 510,

Denver, Federal Center,

Denver, CO 80225 

345 Middlefield Road,

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

National Center, STOP 328

108 Skyline Bldg., 

508 2d Ave., 

Anchorage, AK 99503

7638 Fed. Bldg.,

300 N. Los Angeles St.,

Los Angeles, CA90012 

345 Middlefield Rd.,

STOP 33, Bldg 3, Rm. 122,

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

504 Customhouse,

555 Battery St.,

San Francisco, CA 94111 

169 Fed. Bldg.,

1961 Stout St.,

Denver, CO 80294 

1028 GSA Bldg.,

19th and F Sts., NW,

Washington, DC 20244 

1C45 Fed. Bldg.,

1100 Commerce St.,

Dallas, TX 75242 

8105 Fed. Bldg.,

125 S. State St.,

Salt Lake City, UT 84138

Organizational and Statistical Data I 115
Selected Field Offices Continued

Office Name Telephone number 

Virginia ______________ A. Ernestine Jones (703)860-6167

Washington ____________ Eula M. Thune (509) 456-2524

Distribution Branch Offices

Alaska ______________ Natalie Cornforth (907) 452-1951

Western ______________ Dwight F. Canf ield (303) 234-3832

Eastern _______________ George V. DeMeglio (703) 557-2781

Geologic Division

Regional Offices

Eastern ______________ Avery A. Drake, Jr. (703)860-6631

Central _______________ William R. Keefer (303) 234-3625

Western ______________ Joseph I. Ziony (415)323-8111

Water Resources

Regional Offices

Northeastern ___________ James E. Biesecker (703)860-6985

Southeastern ___________ James L. Cook (404)861-4395

Central ______________ Alfred Clebsch, Jr. (303) 234-3661

Western ______________ John W. Wark, (Acting) (415) 323-8111, ext. 2337

District Offices

Alabama ___ Charles A. Pascale

Alaska ______________ Harry Hulsing

Arizona ______________ Robert D. Mac-Nish

Arkansas _____________ Richard T. Sniegocki

California _____________ Richard M. Bloyd

Colorado ___^________ James F. Blakey

Connecticut ___________ David McCartney

Delaware _ _ ______ Herbert J. Freiberger

District of Columbia _______ Herbert J. Freiberger

Florida ______________ I. H. Kantrowitz

Georgia ______________ John R. George

Hawaii _______________ Benjamin L. Jones

Idaho _______________ Ernest F. Hubbard, Jr.

(205) 752-8104

(907)277-5526 

(602)792-6671

(501)378-5246

(415) 323-8111, ext. 2326

(303) 234-5029

(203)244-2528

(301)828-1535 

(301)828-1535 

(904)386-1118

(404)221-4858 

(808) 546-8331

(208)384-1750

Address

1C402 National Center,

STOP 302, 12201 Sunrise Valley Dr.,

Reston, VA 22092 

678 U.S. Courthouse

W. 920 Riverside Ave.,

Spokane, WA 99201

101 12th Ave., Box 12 

Fairbanks, AK 99701

Box 25286, STOP 306, 

Denver Federal Center 

Denver, CO 80225

1200 S. Eads St., 

Arlington, VA 22202

National Center, STOP 953 

Box 25046, STOP 911, 

Denver Federal Center 

Denver, CO 80225 

345 Middlefield Rd., 

Menlo Park, CA 94025

National Center, STOP 433 

1459 Peachtree St., NE,

Suite 200,

Atlanta, GA 30392 

Box 25046, STOP 406,

Denver Federal Center

Denver, CO 80225 

345 Middlefield Road,

Menlo Park, CA 94025

P.O. Box V, 202 Oil and Gas Board Bldg.

University of Alabama,

University, AL 35486 

218 E St.,

Anchorage, AK 99501 

Federal Bldg.,

301 W. Congress St.,

Tucson, AZ 85701 

2301 Federal Office Bldg.,

700 W. Capital Ave.,

Little Rock, AR 72201 

855 Oak Grove Ave.,

Menlo Park, CA 94205

Box 25046, STOP 415,

Denver Federal Center,

Denver, CO 80225 

135 High St., Rm. 235

Hartford, Ct 06103 

See Maryland District Office 

See Maryland District Office 

325 John Knox Rd.,

Suite F-240,

Tallahassee, FL 32303 

6481 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Suite B,

Doraville, GA 30360 

P.O. Box 50166,

300 Ala Moana Blvd.,

Honolulu, HI 96850 

Box 036 Federal Bldg.,

Rm. 365, 550 W. Fort St.,

Boise, ID 83724

116 I Yearbook 1980
Office

Illinois

Name

Larry G. Toler

Indiana ______________ Dennis K. Stewart

Iowa ________________ Donald K. Leifeste

Kansas ______________ Joseph S. Rosenshein

Kentucky ______ __ Philip A. Emery

Louisiana _____________ Albert N. Cameron

Maine _______________ Ivan C. James II 

Maryland _____________ Herbert j. Freiberger

Massachusetts __________ Ivan C. James II

Michigan .______________ T. Ray Cummings

Minnesota ____________ Donald R. Albin

Mississippi ____________ Carald C. Parker, Jr.

Missouri ______________ Donald L. Coffin

Montana _____________ George M. Pike

Nebraska _____________ William M. Kastner

Nevada ______________ Timothy J. Durbin

New Hampshire __________ Ivan C. James II 

New Jersey ____________ Donald E. Vaupel

New Mexico ____________ James F. Daniel

New York _____________ Lawrence A. Martins

North Carolina __________ Ralph C. Heath

North Dakota __________ Grady Moore

Ohio ________________ Steven M. Hindall

Oklahoma ____________ James H. Irwin

Oregon ______________ Stanley F. Kapustka

Pennsylvania ___________ David E. Clock

Telephone number

(217)359-3918

(317)269-7101

(319)338-0581, 

ext. 521

(913)864-4321 

(502)582-5241 

(504)389-0281

(617)223-2822 

(301)828-1535

(617)223-2822 

(517)372-1910, ext. 561

(612)725-7841 

(601)969-4600 

(314) 364-3680

(406) 449-5263 

(402)471-5082 

(702)882-1388

(617)223-2822 

(609)989-2162

(505) 766-2246 

(518)472-3107 

(919)755-4510 

(701)255-4011, ext. 601

(614)469-5553 

(405)231-4256 

(503)234-3361, ext. 4776

(717) 782-3468

Address

P.O. Box 1026,

605 N. Neil St.,

Champaign, II 61820 

1819 N. Meridian St.,

Indianapolis, IN 46202 

P.O. Box 1230,

400 S. Clinton St.,

Iowa City, IA 52240 

1950 Ave. A, Campus West,

University of Kansas,

Lawrence, KS 66045 

572 Federal Bldg.,

600 Federal PI.,

Louisville, KY 40202 

P.O. Box 66492

6554 Florida Blvd.,

Baton Rouge, LA 70896 

See Massachusetts District Office 

208 Carrol Bldg.,

8600 La Salle Rd.,

Towson, MD 21204 

150 Causeway St.,

Suite 1001.,

Boston, MA 02114 

6520 Mercantile Way,

Suite 5,

Lansing, Ml 48910 

1033 Post Office Bldg.,

St. Paul, MN 55101 

430 Bounds St.,

Jackson, MS 39206 

1400 Independence Rd.,

STOP 200,

Rolla, MO 65401 

Federal Bldg., Rm. 428

301 S. Park Ave.,

Drawer 10076

Helena, MT 59601 

406 Federal Bldg. and U.S. Courthouse,

100 Centennial Mall

North,

Lincoln, NE 68508 

227 Federal Bldg.,

705 N. Plaza St.,

Carson City, NV 89701 

See Massachusetts District Office 

P.O. Box 1238,

436 Federal Bldg.,

402 E. State St.,

Trenton, NJ 08607 

P.O. Box 26659, Western Bank Bldg., Rm. 809,

505 Marquette, NW.,

Albuquerque, NM 87125 

P.O. 1350,

343 U.S. Post Office and Courthouse Bldg.,

Albany, NY 12201 

P.O. Box 2857, Rm. 432,

Century Postal Station

Raleigh, NC 27602 

821 East Interstate Ave.,

Rm. 332, New Fed Bldg.,

3d St. and Rosser Ave.,

Bismark, ND 58501 

975 West Third Ave.,

Columbus, OH 43212 

201 NW 3d St., Rm. 621,

Oklahoma City, OK 73102 

P.O. Box 3202,

830 NE Holladay St.,

Portland, OR 97232

P.O. Box 1107, 4th Floor

Federal Bldg., 228 Walnut St., 

Harrisburg, PA 17108

Organizational and Statistical Data | 117
Selected Field Offices Continued

Office Name

Puerto Rico ____________ Craig B. Bentley

Rhode Island ___________ Ivan C. James II 

South Carolina __________ Rodney N. Cherry

South Dakota __________ Richard E. Fidler

Tennessee ____________ Stanley P. Sauer 

Texas _______________ I. Dale Yost 

Utah __ ___ ___ Theodore Arnow

Vermont ________ ___ Ivan C. James II

Virginia _______________ William E. Forrest

Washington ____________ Charles R. Collier

West Virginia ___________ David H. Appel

Wisconsin ____________ William B. Mann IV

Wyoming _____________ William W. Dudley, Jr.

Telephone number

(809) 783-4660

(617)223-2822 

(803)765-5966

(605)352-8651, ext. 258

(615)251-5424 

(512) 397-5766 

(801)524-5663

(617)223-2822 

(804)782-2427

(206)593-6510

(304)343-6181, 

ext. 310

(608)262-2488

(307)778-2220, ext. 2153

Conservation Division 

Regional Offices

Eastern/Atlantic OCS _ George F. Brown (202)254-3137

Address

P.O. Box 34168, Bldg. 652,

Ft. Buchanan, PR 00934 

See Massachusetts District Office 

2001 Assembly St.,

Suite 200,

Columbia, SC 29201 

P.O. Box 1412

200 4th St., SW,

Rm. 308,

Huron, SD 57350 

A-413 Federal Bldg.,

U.S. Courthouse,

Nashville, TN 37203 

649 Federal Bldg.,

300 E. 8th St.,

Austin, TX 78701 

8002 Federal Bldg.,

125 St. State St.,

Salt Lake City, UT84138 

See Massachusetts District Office 

200 W. Grace St., Rm. 304,

Richmond, VA 23220 

1201 Pacific Ave.,

Suite 600,

Tacoma, WA 98402 

3017 Federal Bldg. and U.S. Courthouse

500 Quarrier St. E.,

Charleston, W VA 25301 

1815 University Ave.,

Rm. 200,

Madison, Wl 53706 

P.O.Box 1125,

2120 Capitol Ave.,

Rm. 5017,

Cheyenne, WY 82001

1725 K St., NW, 

Suite 204, 

Washington, DC 20006

118 I Yearbook 1980
Office Name Telephone number Address

Central ______________ John B. Trippe (303)234-2855

NorthCentral ____________ Dwayne E. Hull (303) 265-5550, ext. 5746 

South Central __________ James W. Sutherland (505) 766-2841

Gulf of Mexico Outer 

Continental Shelf 

(OCS) Operations _. Lowell C. Hammons (504) 837-4720, ext. 9381

Pacific OCS ____________ Reid T. Stone, (Acting) (213) 688-6875 

Alaska/Alaska OCS ________ Joseph M. Jones, (Acting) (907) 271-4304

Office of Earth Sciences Applications

Earth Resources Observation Systems Data Center

South Dakota ___________ Alien H. Watkins (605) 594-6123

National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska

District Offices

NPRA Operations Office ____ Max Brewer (907) 276-7422

Exploration Strategy Office ___ Arthur Bowsher (415) 323-2917

Administrative Division 

Regional Management Offices

Eastern _____________ Roy Heinbuch (703) 860-7691 

Central ______________ Jack J. Stassi (303)234-3736

Western ______________ Avery W. Rogers (415)323-2211

Box 25046, STOP 609, 

Denver Federal Center, 

Bldg. 85, 

Denver, CO 80225

100 East B St, Rm. 4130, 

Casper, WY 82601

P.O. Box 26124,

505 Marquette, NW#815 

Albuquerque, NM 87125

P.O. Box 7944, 434 Imperial Office Bldg,

3301 N. Causeway Blvd.,

Metairie, LA 70010 

244 Federal Bldg.,

1340 West 6th St.

Los Angeles, CA 90017 

800 "A" St. Suite 201,

Anchorage, AK 99501

EROS Data Center, 

Sioux Falls, SD 57198

2525 "C" St., Suite 400, 

Anchorage, AK 99503

345 Middlefield Rd., 

Menlo Park, CA 94025

National Center, STOP 290 

Box 25046, STOP 201

Denver Federal Center,

Denver, CO 80225 

345 Middlefield Rd.,

STOP 11,

Menlo Park, CA 94025

Organizational and Statistical Data I 119
Cooperators and Other Financial Contributors

[Cooperators listed are those with whom the U.S. Geological Survey had a written agreement cosigned by Survey officials and the cooperating agency for 

financial cooperation in fiscal year 1980. Parent agencies are listed separately 

from their subdivisions whenever there are separate cooperative agreements 

for different projects with a parent agency and with a subdivision of it. Agencies with whom the Geological Survey has research contracts and to whom it 

supplied research funds are not listed.]

Cooperating office of the Geological Survey:

c Conservation Division

e Office of Earth Sciences Applications

g Geologic Division

n National Mapping Division 

w Water Resources Division

Federal Cooperators

Council on Environmental Quality (e)

Department of Agriculture:

Economics, Statistics, and Cooperatives Service (n)

Forest Service (e, n, w)

Graduate School (w)

Science and Education Administration (w)

Soil Conservation Service (g, n, w)

Department of the Air Force:

AFWL/PRP Kirtland Air Force Base (g, w) 

Air Force Academy (w) 

Headquarters, AFT AC/AC (g) 

Vandenberg Air Force Base (w) 

Wurtsmith Air Force Base (w)

Department of the Army:

Corps of Engineers (e, g, n, w) 

Electronic Proving Ground (e) 

Fort Belvoir (n)

Fort Carson Military Reservation (w) 

Rocky Mountain Arsenal (w)

Department of Commerce:

Coastal Plains Regional Action Planning Commission (g)

Four Corners Regional Commission (e)

National Bureau of Standards (g)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration:

National Environmental Satellite Service (e)

National Marine Fisheries Service (w)

National Ocean Survey (n)

National Weather Service (g, w) 

Old West Regional Action Planning Commission (e) 

Pacific Northwest Regional Action Planning Commission (e) 

Southwest Border Regional Action Planning Commission (e)

Department of Defense Agencies:

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (g) 

Defense Mapping Agency (n) 

Defense Nuclear Agency (g)

Department of Energy:

Albuquerque Operations Office (g, w) 

Argonne National Laboratory (c) 

Bonneville Power Administration (w) 

Brookhaven National Laboratory (c) 

Chicago Operations Office (w) 

Grand Junction Office (g) 

Idaho Operations Office (g, w) 

Lawrence Livermore Laboratory (g)

Department of Energy Continued

Los Alamos Science Laboratoy (g, w) 

Morgantown Energy Technology Center (g) 

Nevada Operations Office (g, w) 

Oak Ridge Operations Office (g, w) 

Office of Energy Research (g) 

Office of International Affairs (g) 

Richland Operations Office (c, g, w) 

San Francisco Operations Office (g, w)

Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (w) 

Department of Housing and Urban Development (w)

Department of the Interior:

Alaska State Office, Natural Gas Pipeline (g)

Bureau of Indian Affairs (e^ g, n, w)

Bureau of Land Management (e, g, n, w)

Bureau of Mines (e, g, n, w)

Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service (e)

National Park Service (e, g, n, w)

Office of the Secretary (e, g)

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (e, g, n, w)

Trans-Alaska Pipeline (e)

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (e, g, n, w)

Water and Power Resources Service (e, g, w)

Department of the Navy:

Naval Oceanographic Office (n, w) 

Naval Weapons Center, China Lake (g, w) 

U.S. Marine Corps, Camp Pendleton (w)

Department of State:

Agency of International Development (g, w) 

International Boundary and Water Commission, U.S.

and Mexico (w) 

International Joint Commission, U.S. and Canada (w)

Department of Transportation:

Federal Highway Administration (g, w)

St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (w)

Environmental Protection Agency (n): 

Corvallis Environmental Research Laboratory (w) 

Office of Energy, Minerals and Industry (g, w) 

Office of Monitoring and Technical Support (w) 

Office of Research and Development (c)

General Services Administration (w)

National Academy of Sciences Marine Board (c)

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (e, g, w)

National Science Foundation (g)

New England River Basin Commission (e)

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (g, w)

Tennessee Valley Authority (n, w)

United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (g)

Water Resources Council (e, w)

120 I Yearbook 1980
State, County, and Local Cooperators

Alabama:

Alabama Highway Department (w) 

Geological Survey of Alabama (c, n, w) 

Jefferson County Commission (w)

Alaska:

Alaska Department of Fish and Came (w)

Alaska Department of Natural Resources (w):

Division of Forests, Lands, and Water Management (w) 

Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys (w) 

Division of Policy Development and Planning (e, w)

Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (w)

Alaska Power Authority (w)

City and Borough of Juneau (w)

City of Craig (w)

Department of Environmental Conservation (w)

Fairbanks North Star Borough (w)

Kenai Peninsula Borough (w)

Municipality of Anchorage (w)

Thomas Bay Power Commission (w)

Arizona:

Arizona Bureau of Geology and Mineral Technology (e)

Arizona Department of Health Services (w)

Arizona Department of Water Resources (w)

Arizona Game and Fish Department (w)

City of Flagstaff (w)

City of Safford (w)

City of Tucson (w)

Flood Control District of Maricopa County (w)

Gila Valley Irrigation District (w)

Maricopa County Municipal Water Conservation District No. 1 (w)

Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (w)

Pima County Board of Supervisors (w)

Salt River Valley Water Users' Association (w)

San Carlos Irrigation and Drainage District (w)

Show Low Irrigation Company (w)

University of Arizona (w)

Arkansas:

Arkansas Department of Pollution Control and Ecology (w)

Arkansas Soil and Water Commission (w)

Arkansas Geological Commission (g, n, w)

Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (w)

California:

Alameda County Flood Control and Water

Conservation District, Zone 7 (w) 

Antelope Valley-East Kern Water Agency (w) 

California Department of Conservation (g):

Division of Mines and Geology (g) 

California Department of Fish and Game, Region 2 (w) 

California Department of Boating and Waterways (w) 

California Department of Transportation, District 3 (w) 

California Department of Water Resources (n, w) 

California Regional Water Quality Control Board (w):

Colorado River Basin Region (w)

Lahontan Region (w)

North Coast Region (w)

San Francisco Bay Region (w)

Santa Ana Region (w)

California Water Resources Control Board (w) 

Carpinteria County Water District (w) 

Casitas Municipal Water District (w) 

City and County of San Francisco (w):

Hetch Hetchy Water and Power (w)

California Continued

City of Los Angeles (w) 

City of Merced (w) 

City of Modesto (w):

Public Works Department (w) 

City of Santa Barbara (w):

Public Works Department (w) 

City of San Diego (w) 

City of Thousand Oaks (w) 

Coachella Valley County Water District (w) 

Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water

Conservation District (w) 

County of Modoc (w):

Public Works Department (w) 

County of San Diego (w):

Department of Sanitation and Flood Control (w)

Planning and Land Use (w) 

County of San Joaquin (w):

Flood Control and Water Conservation District (w) 

County of San Mateo (w):

Department of Public Works (w)

Planning Department (w) 

Crestline-Lake Arrowhead Water Agency (w) 

Desert Water Agency (w) 

East Bay Municipal Utility District (w) 

East Bay Regional Park District (w) 

Fresno County, Department of Public Works (w) 

Georgetown Divide Public Utility District (w) 

Goleta County Water District (w) 

Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District (w) 

Imperial County Department of Public Works (w) 

Imperial Irrigation District (w) 

Indian Planning Consortium Central California (w) 

Indian Wells Valley County Water District (w) 

Kern County Water Agency (w) 

Kings River Conservation District (w) 

Lake County Planning Department (w) 

Los Angeles County Flood Control District (w) 

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (w) 

Madera County Flood Control and Water Conservation Agency (w) 

Madera Irrigation District (w) 

Marin County Department of Public Works (w) 

Marin Municipal Water District (w) 

Mendocino County Department of Public Health (w) 

Merced Irrigation District (w) 

Mojave Water Agency (w) 

Montecito Water District (w) 

Monterey County Flood Control and Water Conservation

District (w)

Monterey Peninsula Water Management District (w) 

Napa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (w) 

Orange County Environmental Management Agency (w) 

Oroville-Wyandotte Irrigation District (w) 

Pancheco Pass Water District (w) 

Rancho California Water District (w) 

Paradise Irrigation District (w) 

Placer County Water Agency (w) 

Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation

District (w) 

Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District, Department

of Public Works (w) 

San Benito County Water Conservation and Flood Control

District (w)

San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District (w) 

San Francisco Water Department (w) 

San Luis Obispo County (w): 

Engineering Department (w)

Organizational and Statistical Data I 121
State, County, and Local Cooperators Continued

California Continued

Santa Barbara County Flood Control and Water Conservation

District (w)

Santa Barbara County Water Agency (w) 

Santa Clara Valley Water District (w) 

Santa Cruz City (w):

County Community Resources Center, Zone 4 (w) 

Santa Cruz County (w):

Flood Control and Water Conservation District (w) 

Santa Maria Valley Water Conservation District (w) 

Santa Rosa Band of Mission Indians (w)

Siskiyou County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (w) 

Sonoma County Planning Department (w) 

Soquel Creek County Water District (w) 

South San Joaquin County (w) 

Terra Bella Irrigation District (w) 

Tulare County Flood Control District (w) 

Turlock Irrigation District (w) 

United Water Conservation District (w) 

University of California (w):

Division of Environmental Studies (Davis) (w)

Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (c)

School of Forestry and Conservation (Berkeley) (w)

University of California (Santa Barbara) (c) 

Ventura County Flood Control District (w) 

Western Municipal Water District (w) 

Woodbridge Irrigation District (w) 

Yolo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (w)

Colorado:

Adams County Board of Commissioners (w)

Arapahoe County (w)

Arkansas River Compact Administration (w)

Central Yuma Ground Water Management District (w)

Cherokee Water District (w)

City and County of Denver (w)

City of Aspen (w)

City of Aurora (w)

City of Colorado Springs (w):

Department of Public Utilities (w)

Office of the City Manager (w) 

City of Glenwood Springs (w) 

City of Idaho Springs (w) 

City of Northglenn (w) 

Colorado Department of Health (w):

Water Pollution Control Division (w) 

Colorado Department of Highways (w) 

Colorado Department of Local Affairs (n) 

Colorado Division of Water Resources (w):

Office of the State Engineer (w) 

Colorado Division of Wildlife, Department of Natural

Resources(w)

Colorado Geological Survey (w) 

Colorado River Water Conservation District (w) 

Colorado Water Conservation Board (w) 

Denver Regional Council of Governments (w) 

Eagle County Commissioners (w) 

Elbert County Planning Department (w) 

El Paso County (w):

Board of Commissioners (w)

Frenchman Ground Water Management District (w) 

Larimer Weld Regional Council of Governments (w) 

Marks Butte Ground Water Management District (w) 

Metropolitan Denver Sewage Disposal District No. 1 (w) 

Northern Colorado Water Conservation District (w) 

Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments (w) 

Pitkin County Board of County Commissioners (w) 

Pueblo Area Council of Governments (w)

Colorado Continued

Purgatoire River Water Conservancy District (w)

Rio Grande Water Conservation District (w)

Sand Hills Ground Water Management District (w)

St. Vrain and Left Hand Water Conservancy District (w)

Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District (w)

Southwestern Water Conservation District (w)

Trinchera Conservancy District (w)

Uncompahgre Valley Water Users (w)

Upper Arkansas River Water Conservancy District (w)

Urban Drainage and Flood Control District (w)

White River Soil Conservation District (w)

Connecticut:

City of New Britain (w)

City of Torrington (w)

Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (g, n, w)

Midstate Regional Planning Agency (w)

Northwest Regional Planning Agency (w)

Town of Fairf ield (w)

Town of Manchester (w)

Town of Southbury (w)

Town of South Windsor (w)

Town of Woodbury (w)

Delaware:

Delaware Geological Survey (n, w)

Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (w)

New Castle County, Public Works Department (w)

District of Columbia:

Department of Environmental Services (w)

Florida:

Big Cypress Basin Board (w) 

Brevard County (w):

Board of County Commissioners (w) 

Broward County (w):

Environmental Quality Control Board (w)

Water Management Division (w) 

City of Boca Raton (w) 

City of Bradenton (w) 

City of Cape Coral (w) 

City of Clearwater (w) 

City of Cocoa (w) 

City of Fort Lauderdale (w) 

City of Fort Walton Beach (w) 

City of Gainesville (w) 

City of Hallandale(w) 

City of Hollywood (w) 

City of Pensacola (w) 

City of Perry (w) 

City of Pompano Beach (w):

Water and Sewer Department (w) 

City of Quincy (w) 

City of St. Petersburg (w) 

City of Sarasota (w) 

City of Tallahassee (w) 

City of Tampa (w) 

Collier County (w) 

Consolidated City of Jacksonville (w):

Department of Health and Environmental Services (w)

Department of Public Works (w) 

Coordinating Council on the Restoration of Kissimmee

River Valley and Taylor Creek-Nubbins Slough Basin (w) 

Englewood Water District (w) 

Escambia County (w):

Board of County Commissioners (w)

County Utilities Department (w)
Florida Continued 

Flagler County (w) 

Florida Bureau of Water Resources Management (w):

Florida Department of Environmental Regulation (w) 

Florida Department of Natural Resources (n) 

Florida Department of Transportation (w) 

Florida Division of Recreation and Parks (w) 

Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority (w) 

Hillsborough County (w) 

Jacksonville Electric Authority (w) 

Jupiter Inlet District (w)

Lake County (w):

Board of County Commissioners (w)

Pollution Control Department (w)

Water Authority (w) 

Lee County (w):

Board of County Commissioners (w) 

Leon County Public Works (w) 

Manatee County Board of County Commissioners (w) 

Marion County Board of County Commissioners (w) 

Metropolitan Dade County (w):

Department of Environmental Resources Management (w)

Planning Department (w)

Public Works Department (w) 

Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Authority (w) 

Monroe County Board of County Commissioners (w) 

Nassau County (w):

Ocean Highway and Port Authority (w) 

Northwest Florida Water Management District (w) 

Old Plantation Water Control District (w) 

Orange County Board of County Commissioners (w) 

Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners (w) 

Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners (w) 

Polk County Board of County Commissioners (w) 

Reedy Creek Improvement District (w) 

St. Johns County (w)

St. Johns River Water Management District (w) 

Sarasota County (w)

South Florida Water Management District (w) 

Southwest Florida Water Management District (w) 

Sumter County Recreation and Water Conservation and

Control Authority (w) 

Suwannee River Authority (w) 

Suwannee River Water Management District (w) 

Tampa Port Authority (w) 

Town of Highland Beach (w) 

Town of Juno Beach (w) 

Volusia County (w) 

Walton County (w)

West Coast Regional Water Supply Authority (w) 

Winter Haven Lake Region (w)

Georgia:

Bibb County Board of Commissioners (w)

Chatham County Board of Commissioners (w)

City of Albany (w)

City of Brunswick (w)

City of Covington (w)

City of Valdosta (w)

Clayton County Water Authority (w)

Consolidated Government of Columbus (w)

Department of Natural Resources (n, w):

Environmental Protection Division (w)

Geologic Survey (n, w) 

Department of Transportation (w) 

Macon-Bibb County Water and Sewage Authority (w)

Hawaii:

City and County of Honolulu (w):

Board of Water Supply (w)

Department of Public Works (w) 

State Department of Health (w) 

State Department of Land and Natural Resources (w):

Division of Water and Land Development (w) 

State Department of Transportation (n)

Idaho:

Idaho Department of Fish and Game (w) 

Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (w):

Bureau of Water Quality (w)

Idaho Department of Transportation, Division of Highways (w) 

Idaho Department of Water Resources (w) 

Idaho Water District No. 1 (w) 

Idaho Water Resources Board (w)

Illinois:

Bloomington and Normal Sanitary District (w) 

City of Springfield (w) 

Cook County (w):

Forest Preserve District (w) 

DuPage County Highway Department (w) 

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (w) 

Illinois Institute of Natural Resources (w):

State Water Survey Division (w) 

Illinois State Geological Survey (e, n) 

Kane County Highway Department (w) 

McHenry County Regional Planning Commission (w) 

Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago (w) 

Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission (w) 

State Department of Transportation (w):

Division of Highways (w)

Division of Water Resources (n, w)

Indiana:

City of Chicago, Board of Sanitation (w)

City of Columbus (w)

City of Fort Wayne (w)

City of Hammond (w)

City of Indianapolis (w)

City of Logansport (w):

Department of Public Works (w)

Flood Control Commission (w) 

Elkhart Water Works (w) 

Indiana Board of Health (w) 

Indiana Department of Natural Resources (w) 

Indiana Geological Survey (e) 

Indiana Highway Commission (w)

Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs (e) 

Town of Carmel (w) 

Vincennes Water Department (w)

Iowa:

City of Ames (w) 

City of Cedar Rapids (w) 

City of Charles City (w) 

City of Clear Lake (w) 

City of Des Moines (w) 

City of Fort Dodge (w) 

City of Harlan (w) 

City of Iowa City (w) 

City of Marshalltown (w) 

City of Sioux City (w) 

City of Waterloo (w) 

Des Moines Water Works (w)

Organizational and Statistical Data I 123
State, County, and Local Cooperators Continued

Iowa Continued

Iowa Department of Transportation (n, w):

Highway Division (w)

Highway Research Board (w) 

Iowa Geological Survey (n, w) 

Iowa Natural Resources Council (w) 

Iowa State University (w):

Department of Agricultural Engineering (w)

Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station (w) 

Ottumwa Water Works (w):

Sewage Disposal Plant (w) 

University of Iowa (w):

Institute of Hydraulic Research (w)

University Physical Plant (w) 

West-Central Iowa Rural Water Association (w)

Kansas:

City of Wichita (w)

Kansas Department of Transporation (n, w) 

Kansas Geological Survey (n, w) 

Kansas-Oklahoma-Arkansas River Commission (w) 

Kansas State Board of Agriculture (w):

Division of Water Resources (w) 

Kansas Department of Health and Environment (w) 

Kansas Water Resources Board (w)

Southwest Kansas Ground Water Management District No. 3 (w) 

Western Kansas Ground Water Management District No. 1 (w)

Kentucky:

City of Louisville (w)

Kentucky Department of Commerce (w):

Division of Research and Planning (w)

Kentucky Department for Natural Resources and Environmental 

Protection (w):

Division of Conservation (w)

Division of Water Quality (w)

Division of Water Resources (w) 

Kentucky Department of Transportation (w):

Division of Design (w)

Kentucky State Geological Survey, University of 

Kentucky (e, n, w)

Louisiana:

Capital Area Ground Water Conservation Commission (w) 

City of Parish Government (w) 

Louisiana Office of Highways (w):

Department of Transportation and Development (w) 

Louisiana Office of Public Works (n, w):

Department of Transportation and Development (w) 

Sabine River Compact Administration (w) (see a/so Texas)

Maine:

Androscoggin Valley Regional Planning Commission (w) 

Cobbossee Watershed District (w) 

Maine Department of Conservation (w):

Geological Survey (n, w)

Maine Department of Environmental Protection (w) 

Maine Public Utilities Commission (w) 

Town of Wilton (w)

Maryland:

Anne Arundel County (w) 

Baltimore County (w):

Department of Permits and Licenses (w)

Department of Public Works (w)

Office of Planning and Zoning (w) 

Calvert County (w) 

Caroline County (w)

Maryland Continued 

Carroll County (w) 

Howard County (w)

Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (w) 

Maryland Department of Transportation (w):

The State Highway Administration (w) 

Maryland Energy Administration (w) 

Maryland Geological Survey (e, n, w) 

Maryland Water Resources Administration (w) 

Montgomery County (w) 

St. Mary's County (w) 

Town of Poolesville (w)

Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (w) 

Upper Potomac River Commission (w)

Massachusetts:

Barnstable County (w)

Cape Cod Planning and Economic Development Commission (w)

Department of Public Works (g, n, w):

Division of Research and Materials (w) 

Executive Office of Energy Resources (w) 

Lower Pioneer Valley Regional Planning Commission (w) 

Metropolitan District Commission (w) 

New England Interstate Pollution Control Commission (w):

Water Division (w) 

.State Water Resources Commission (w):

Division of Water Pollution Control (w)

Division of Water Resources (w) 

Michigan:

Branch County (w)

City of Ann Arbor (w)

City of Battle Creek (w)

City of Clare (w)

City of Coldwater, Board of Public Utilities (w)

City of Flint (w)

City of Jackson (w)

City of Kalamazoo, Department of Public Utilities (w)

City of Lansing, Board of Water and Light (w)

City of Mason (w)

City of Portage (w)

City of St. Johns (w)

City of St. Louis (w)

City of Ypsilanti (w)

Department of Agriculture (w):

Soil and Water Conservation Division (w) 

Department of Natural Resources (e, n, w):

Bureau of Management Services (w)

Geological Survey Division (e) 

Department of Transportation (w) 

Dickinson County Board of Road Commissioners (w) 

East-Central Michigan Planning and Development Region (w) 

Genesee County Drain Commission (w) 

Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority (w) 

Imlay City (w)

Kalamazoo County Metropolitan Planning Commission (w) 

Kent County Airport (w) 

Macomb County (w) 

Oakland County Drain Commission (w) 

Otsego County Road Commission (w) 

Roscommon County Board of Commissioners (w) 

Van Buren County Road Commission (w) 

Village of Clarkston (w) 

Washtenaw County (w)

Minnesota:

City of Apple Valley (w)

City of Eagan (w)

City of Lakeville (w)

Coon Creek Watershed District (w)

124 I Yearbook 1980
Minnesota Continued

Elm Creek Conservation Commission (w) 

Metropolitan Council of the Twin Cities Area (w) 

Metropolitan Waste Control Commission (w) 

Minnesota Department of Health (w):

Division of Environmental Health (w) 

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (w) 

Minnesota Department of Transportation (w) 

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (w) 

Minnesota State Planning Agency (e) 

Red Clay Project (w)

Mississippi:

City of Jackson (w)

Department of Natural Resources (w):

Bureau of Geology and Energy Resources (w)

Bureau of Land and Water Resources (w)

Bureau of Pollution Control (w) 

Harrison County (w):

Board of Supervisors (w)

Development Commission (w) 

Jackson County (w):

Board of Supervisors (w)

Port Authority (w)

Mississippi Research and Development Center (n, w) 

Mississippi State Highway Department (w) 

Pat Harrison Waterway District (w) 

Pearl River Valley Water Supply District (w)

Missouri:

City of Springfield (w):

Sanitary Services Department (w) 

Department of Natural Resources (w):

Division of Environmental Quality, Laboratory 

Services Program (w)

Division of Geology and Land Survey (n, w) 

Little River Drainage District (w) 

Missouri Department of Conservation (w) 

Missouri State Highway Commission (w) 

St. Louis County (w):

Department of Highways and Traffic (w)

Montana:

Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (w)

Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology (c, w)

Montana Department of Health and Environmental Sciences (w)

Montana Department of Highways (w)

Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (w)

Montana State University (w)

Wyoming State Engineer (w) (see a/so Wyoming)

Nebraska:

Central Platte Natural Resources District (w) 

Kansas-Nebraska Big Blue River Compact Administration (w) 

Lower Loup Natural Resources District (w) 

Lower Republican Natural Resources District (w) 

Nebraska Department of Environmental Control (w) 

Nebraska Department of Water Resources (w) 

Nebraska Natural Resources Commission (w) 

University of Nebraska (w):

Conservation and Survey Division (w)

Water Resources Center (w)

Nevada:

Carson City Department of Public Works (w)

Clark County, Department of Comprehensive Planning (w)

Douglas County, Department of Planning (w)

Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology (g, n, w)

Nevada Continued

Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (w):

Division of Environmental Protection (w)

Division of Water Resources (w) 

Nevada Department of Transportation (w) 

Washoe County (w)

New Hampshire:

New Hampshire Water Resources Board (w)

New Jersey:

Bergen County (w) 

Camden County (w):

Board of Chosen Freeholders (w)

Delaware River Basin Commission (w) (see a/so Pennsylvania) 

Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority (w) 

New Jersey Department of Agriculture (w):

State Soil Conservation Committee (w) 

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (w):

Bureau of Fisheries (w)

Division of Fish, Game, and Shell Fisheries (w)

Division of Water Resources (w) 

North Jersey District Water Supply Commission (w) 

Passaic Valley Water Commission (w) 

Somerset County (w):

Board of Chosen Freeholders (w) 

Township of Bridgewater (w):

Environmental Commission (w) 

Township of Cranford (w) 

West Windsor Township (w):

Environmental Commission (w)

New Mexico:

Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority (w)

City of Albuquerque (w)

Costilla Creek Compact Commission (w)

Elephant Butte Irrigation District (w)

New Mexico Bureau of Economic Development (e)

New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources (c, w)

New Mexico Environmental Improvement Division (w)

New Mexico Natural Resources Department (w)

New Mexico State Highway Department (w)

Pecos River Commission (w)

Pueblo Indians of Zuni (w)

Rio Grande Compact Commission (w)

New York:

Central New York State Park and Recreation Commission (w) 

City of Albany (w):

Department of Water and Water Supply (w) 

City of Auburn (w) 

City of New York (w):

Department of Environmental Protection (w) 

City of Rochester (w):

Department of Public Works (w) 

County of Chautauqua (w):

Department of Planning and Development (w) 

County of Cortland (w) 

County of Duchess (w) 

County of Monroe (w):

Water Authority (w) 

County of Nassau (w):

Department of Public Works (w) 

County of Onondaga (w):

Department of Public Works (w)

Water Authority (w) 

County of Oswego Planning Board (w) 

County of Putnam (w)

Organizational and Statistical Data I 125
State, County, and Local Cooperators Continued

New York Continued 

County of Rockland (w):

Drainage Agency (w) 

County of Suffolk (w):

Department of Health Sciences (w)

Water Authority (w) 

County of Ulster (w) 

County of Westchester (w):

Department of Public Works (w) 

Hudson River-Black River Regulating District (w) 

Irondequoit Bay Pure Waters District (w) 

Long Island Regional Planning Board (w) 

New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (w) 

New York State Department of Education (w):

Museum and Science Service (w)

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (w) 

(see also Pennsylvania):

Bureau of Standards and Compliance (w)

Division of Water (w)

New York State Energy, Research and Development Authority (w) 

New York State Department of Health (w):

Division of Sanitary Engineering (w) 

New York State Department of Transportation (w):

Bridge Planning and Railroads Bureau (n, w) 

Oswegatchie River-Cranberry Reservoir Commission (w) 

Power Authority of the State of New York (w) 

Susquehanna River Basin Commission (w) (see a/so Pennsylvania) 

Town of Clarkstown (w) 

Town of Warwick (w) 

University of Virginia (w) (see a/so Virginia):

Departmentof Environmental Sciences (w) 

Village of Nyack (w)

North Carolina:

Agricultural Experiment Station (w) 

City of Burlington (w) 

City of Charlotte (w) 

City of Durham (w):

Department of Water Resources (w) 

City of Greensboro (w) 

City of Raleigh (w) 

City of Rocky Mount (w)

State Board of Transportation, Division of Highways (w) 

State Department of Natural Resources and Community 

Development (n, w)

North Dakota:

North Dakota Geological Survey (w) 

Oliver County Board of Commissioners (w) 

State Department of Health (w) 

State Water Commission (n, w)

Ohio:

City of Canton (w):

Water Department (w) 

City of Columbus (w):

Department of Public Service (w)

Division of Water (w) 

Cuyahoga County (w) 

Geauga County (w) 

Miami Conservancy District (w) 

Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (w) 

Ohio Department of Natural Resources (w):

Division of Geological Survey (w)

Division of Reclamation (w)

Division of Water (w) 

Ohio Department of Transportation (n, w):

Division of Highways'(w) 

Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (w)

Oklahoma:

Central Master Conservancy District (w)

Cherbkee Indian Tribe (w)

City of Ada (w)

City of Altus (w)

City of Claremore (w)

City of Edmond (w)

City of Guthrie (w)

City of Lawton (w)

City of Oklahoma City (w)

City of Sapulpa (w)

City of Tulsa (w)

Foss Cobb Reservoir Master Conservancy District (w)

Lugert-Altus Irrigation District (w)

Oklahoma Department of Highways (n)

Oklahoma Department of Transportation (w)

Oklahoma Geological Survey (w)

Oklahoma State Health Department (w)

Oklahoma Water Resources Board (w)

Oregon:

Burnt River Irrigation District (w) 

City of Corvallis (w) 

City of Eugene (w):

Water and Electric Board (w) 

City of Lakeside (w):

Lakeside Water District (w) 

City of McMinnville (w):

Water and Light Department (w) 

City of Medford (w):

Public Works Department (w) 

City of Portland (w):

Department of Public Utilities (w)

Department of Public Works (w) 

City of Reedsport (w) 

City of Salem (w)

Confederated Tribes of Umatilla Indian Reservation (w) 

Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Indian Reservation (w) 

Coos Bay-North Bend Water Board (w) 

Coos County (w):

Board of Commissioners (w) 

Douglas County (w):

Department of Public Works (w) 

Lane Council of Governments (w) 

Lane County (w):

Office of the Chief Administrator (w) 

Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments (w) 

Multnomah County (w):

Board of Commissioners (w) 

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (w) 

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (w) 

Oregon Department of Geology and Minerals (w) 

Oregon State Highway Division (w) 

Oregon Water Resources Department (w) 

Rogue Valley Council of Governments (w) 

Wasco County (w):

Planning Office (w)

Pennsylvania:

Allegheny County (w):

Department of Planning and Development (w) 

Chester County (w):

Board of Commissioners (w)

Health Department (w)

Water Resources Authority (w) 

City of Bethlehem (w) 

City of Harrisburg (w):

Department of Public Works (w)

126 I Yearbook 1980
Pennsylvania Continued Tennessee Contin ued

City of Philadelphia (w):

Water Department (w)

Delaware River Basin Commission (w) (see a/so New Jersey) 

Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (w) 

Green County Commissioners (w) 

Letort Regional Authority (w) 

New York State Department of Environmental

Conservation (w) (see a/so New York) 

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources (w):

Bureau of Surface Mine Reclamation (w)

Bureau of Topographic and Geologic Survey (n, w)

Bureau of Water Quality Management (w)

Office of Resources Management (w) 

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (w) 

Pennsylvania State University, Department of Agriculture,

Economy and Rural Sociology (e) 

Slippery Rock State College (w)

Susquehanna River Basin Commission (w) (see a/so New York) 

Warminster Township (w)

Rhode Island:

City of Providence (w):

Department of Public Works (w) 

State Department of Environmental Management (w):

Division of Land Resources (w)

Division of Water Resources (w) 

State Water Resources Board (w)

University of Rhode Island Center for Ocean Management 

Studies (e)

South Carolina:

City of Lancaster (w) 

City of Myrtle Beach (w) 

Commissioners of Public Works (w):

Spartanburg Water Works (w) 

State Appalachian Council of Governments (w) 

State Department of Highways and Public Transportation (w) 

State Geological Survey (w) 

State Health and Environmental Control (w) 

State Public Service Authority (w) 

State Water Resources Commission (w)

South Dakota:

Black Hills Conservancy Subdistrict (w)

City of Sioux Falls (w)

City of Watertown (w)

East Dakota Conservancy Subdistrict (w)

South Dakota Department of Transportation (n, w)

South Dakota Department of Water and Natural Resources (w):

Division of Geological Survey (w)

Division of Water Rights (w) 

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (w) 

South Dakota State University (n)

Tennessee:

City of Franklin (w) 

City of Lawrenceburg (w) 

City of Memphis (w):

Light, Gas and Water Division (w)

Public Works Division (w)

Water Division (w)

Lincoln County Board of Public Utilities (w) 

Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County (w):

Department of Public Works (w) 

Murfreesboro Water and Sewer Department (w) 

Shelby County (w)

Tennessee Department of Conservation (e, w):

Division of Geology (e, n, w)

Division of Water Resources (w) 

Tennessee Department of Public Health (w):

Division of Water Quality Control (w) 

Tennessee Department of Transportation (w):

Bureau of Highways (w)

Bureau of Planning and Programming (w)

Office of Research and Planning (w) 

University of Tennessee (w)

Texas:

Athens Municipal Water Authority (w) 

Bexar-Medina-Atacosa Counties Water Improvement

District No. 1 (w)

Bistone Municipal Water Supply District (w) 

Brazos River Authority (w) 

City of Abilene (w) 

City of Alice (w) 

City of Arlington (w) 

City of Austin (w) 

City of Brady (w) 

City of Cleburne (w) 

City of Clyde (w) 

City of Corpus Christi (w) 

City of Dallas (w) 

City of El Paso(w) 

City of Garland (w) 

City of Gainesville (w) 

City of Graham (w) 

City of Houston (w) 

City of Nacogdoches (w) 

City of San Angelo (w) 

City of San Antonio (w):

Engineering Department (w)

Public Service Board (w) 

City of Wichita Falls (w) 

Colorado River Municipal Water District (w) 

County of Dallas (w) 

County of Orange (w) 

County of Wood (w) 

Edwards Underground Water District (w) 

Franklin County Water District (w) 

Greenbelt Municipal and Industrial Water Authority (w) 

Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (w) 

Harris County Flood Control District (w) 

Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District (w) 

Labaca-Navidad River Authority (w) 

Lower Colorado River Authority (w) 

Lower Neches Valley Authority (w) 

Mackenzie Municipal Water Authority (w) 

North Central Texas Municipal Water Authority (w) 

Northeast Texas Municipal Water District (w) 

Nueces River Authority (w)

Palo Pinto County Municipal Water District No. 1 (w) 

Pecos River Commission (w)

Reeves County Water Improvement District No. 1 (w) 

Sabine River Authority of Texas (w)

Sabine River Compact Administration (w) (see a/so Louisiana) 

San Antonio City Water Board (w) 

San Antonio River Authority (w) 

San jacinto River Authority (w) 

Tarrant County (w) 

Texas A & M (e)

Texas Department of Water Resources (n, w) 

The University of Texas at Austin (w) 

Titus County Fresh Water Supply District No. 1 (w)

Organizational and Statistical. Data I 127
State, County, and Local Cooperators Continued

Texas Continued 

Tom Green County Water Control and Development District

No. 1 (w)

Trinity River Authority (w) 

Upper Cuadalupe River Authority (w) 

Upper Neches Municipal Water Authority (w) 

Upper Trinity Basin Water Quality Compact (w) 

West Central Texas Municipal Water District (w) 

Wichita County Water Improvement District No. 2 (w)

Utah:

Bear River Commission (w) 

Salt Lake County (w):

Board of County Commissioners (w)

Department of Water Quality and Water Pollution Control (w) 

State Department of Natural Resources (w):

Division of Water Resources (w)

Division of Water Rights (w)

Division of Wildlife Resources (w)

Utah Geological and Mineral Survey (c, g, n. w)

Vermont:

Agency of Environmental Conservation (n) 

State Department of Water Resources (w) 

Town of Springfield (w)

Virginia:

City of Alexandria (w):

Department of Transportation and Environmental Services (w) 

City of Newport News (w):

Department of Public Utilities (w) 

City of Roanoke (w):

Utilities and Operations (w) 

City of Staunton (w)

Southeastern Public Service Authority of Virginia (w) 

University of Virginia (w) (see a/so New York):

Department of Environmental Sciences (w) 

Virginia Department of Conservation and Economic 

Development (w):

Division of Mineral Resources (n)

Virginia Department of Highways and Transportation (w) 

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (e) 

Virginia State Water Control Board (w)

Washington:

City of Bellevue, Public Works Department (w) 

City of Everett (w) 

City of Seattle (w):

Department of Lighting (w)

Water Department (w) 

City of Tacoma (w):

Department of Public Utilities (w)

Department of Public Works (w) 

Clallam County Board of Commissioners (w) 

Clark County (w):

Department of Public Works (w)

Public Utility District (w) 

Cowlitz County Public Utility District (w) 

Hoh Indian Tribe (w) 

Intercounty River Improvement (w) 

Island County Planning Department (w) 

King County Department of Public Works (w) 

Lewis County Board of Commissioners (w) 

Makah Tribal Council (w) 

Muckleshoot Indian Tribe (w)

Washington Contin ued 

Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle (w) 

Nisqually Indian Community Council (w) 

Pend Oreille County Public Utility District No. 1 (w) 

Pierce County Board of Commissioners (w) 

Quinault Indian Business Council (w) 

Shoalwater Bay Tribal Council (w) 

Skagit County (w) 

State of Washington (w):

Department of Ecology (w)

Department of Natural Resources (g) 

Town of Fircrest (w)

University of Washington, Fisheries Research Institute (w) 

Walla Walla County Board of Commissioners (w) 

Washington Public Power Supply Service (w) 

Washington State Department of Fisheries (w) 

Washington State Department of Natural Resources (e, n) 

Washington State Department of Transportation (w) 

Washington State University (w):

Department of Agricultural Engineering (w) 

Whatcom County Board of Commissioners (w) 

Yakima Tribal Council (w)

West Virginia:

City of Buckhannon (w) 

City of Morgantown (w):

Water Commission (w) 

Upshur County (w)

West Virginia Department of Highways (w) 

West Virginia Department of Natural Resources (n, w):

Division of Forestry (w)

Division of Water Resources (w) 

West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey (n, w)

Wisconsin:

Brown County Regional Planning (w) 

City of Middleton (w) 

Dane County (w):

Department of Public Works (w)

Regional Planning Commission (w) 

Madison Metropolitan Sewage District (w) 

Madison Water Utility (w)

Sokaogon Chippewa (Mole Lake) Community of Wisconsin (w) 

Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (w) 

State Department of Natural Resources (g, n, w) 

State Department of Transportation (n, w):

Bridge Section (w)

Division of Highways (w) 

Town of Schleswig (w) 

University of Wisconsin Extension Geological and Natural

History Survey (n, w) 

Village of Oregon (w)

Wyoming:

Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities (w) 

University of Wyoming (e, w):

Water Resources Research Institute and Institute for

Policy Research (e, w) 

Wyoming Department of Agriculture (w):

Wyoming Conservation Commission (w)

Wyoming Department of Economic Planning and Development (w) 

Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (w) 

Wyoming Game and Fish Department (w) 

Wyoming Highway Department (w) 

Wyoming State Engineer (n, w) (see a/so Montana)

128 I Yearbook 1980
Other Cooperators and Contributors

Government of American Samoa (w)

Government of Guam (w)

Government of the Northern Mariana Islands (w)

Government of Saudi Arabia (w)

Missouri River Basin Commission (e, w)

New England River Basin Commission (e)

Old West Regional Commission (e)

Puerto Rico:

Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (w)

Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture (w)

Puerto Rico Department of Health (w)

Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources (w)

Puerto Rico Department of Transportation and Public Works (w)

Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (w)

Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board (w)

Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company (w)

Puerto Rico Land Authority (w)

Puerto Rico Planning Board (w)

Puerto Rico Sugar Corporation (w)

Southwest Border Regional Commission (e) 

Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (w)

United Nations:

United National Development Program (w)

Virgin Islands:

College of the Virgin Islands (w)

Virgin Islands Department of Public Works (w)

Virgin Islands Planning Office (w)

Organizational and Statistical Data I 129
Budgetary and Statistical Data

[Data in these tables may differ slightly from data in the individual division chapters because of rounding; and totals may sometimes 

not add because of rounding]

TABLE 1. Geological Survey budget for fiscal years 1975 to 1980, by activity and sources of funds

[In thousands of dollars]

Budget activity

Total __ __ _____ _ ______

Direct program _ _ ______ ______

Reimbursable program __ _ _ __ _______

States, counties, and municipalities ___ _

Miscellaneous non-Federal sources ___ _

Other Federal agencies _ _____ ___

Alaska Pipeline Related Investigations _ _ _

Direct program __ __ __ _________

Reimbursable program _ _ _ _ ________

Other Federal agencies ____ __ _

National Mapping, Geography and Surveys ___

Direct program _ __ _ __ __ __ ____

Reimbursable program _ _____ ____

States, counties, and municipalities _____

Miscellaneous non-Federal sources _____ 

Other Federal agencies _ _ _______

Geologic and Mineral Resource Surveys and 

Mapping1 ____ _ __ _ __ _______

Direct program _ _ __ _ ____ _ __ _

Reimbursable program _ _ __ ____ _

States, counties, and municipalities _ _

Miscellaneous non-Federal sources _ _

Other Federal agencies _ _ _______

Water Resources Investigations2 _ _ _ ____

Direct program __ __ ____ _ __ _ _ __ _

Reimbursable program __ _ ___________

States, counties, and municipalities _ _

Miscellaneous non-Federal sources _____

Other Federal Agencies _______ _

Conservation of Lands and Minerals4 ________

Direct program _ ____ ___ __ ____

Reimbursable program _ __ ____________

Miscellaneous non-Federal sources ____

Other Federal agencies _______________

Office of Earth Science Applications _ ______

Direct program _ __ ______ ____

Reimbursable program _ . ____________ ____

States, counties, and municipalities _ _

Miscellaneous non-Federal sources _ _

Other Federal agencies _____ ____

National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska _ __ _

Direct program ___ __ _ _ _ _ ____

Allocation transfer _ ___ __ _______

Reimbursable program (Federal) ____ _

General Administration* __ _ __ _ _______

Direct program ________ _ _ _ ____

Facilities __ _ __ _ __ _____ _ __

Direct program ____ ____ __ _ __ ____

1975

$338,764

253,605

85,159

35,124

6,399

43,636

344

344

52,597

45,350

7,247

4,995

594 

1,658

114,477

89,018

25,459

1,550

3,751

20,158

101,437

53,420

48,017

28,546

901

18,570

36,082

36,032

50

4

46

16,994

15,461

1,533

33

1,093

407

3,671

3,671

10,309

10,309

1976

$353,970

264,434

89,536

35,006

7,923

46,607

287

287

52,220

43,354

6,866

3,675

501 

2,690

115,554

92,322

23,232

1,467

4,936

16,829

112,480

57,176

55,304

29,735

940

24,629

41,677

41,489

188

1

187

17,278

14,908

2,370

130

1,496

744

3,398

3,398

9,500

9,500

Transition 

quarter

$102,858

77,570

25,288

8,956

1,991

14,341

85

85

13,289

11,548

1,741

882

133 

726

32,194

24,829

7,365

383

1,120

5,862

30,716

15,916

14,800

7,672

260

6,868

13,386

13,375

6

6

8,919

7,795

6,124

19

469

636

1,491

1,491

2,530

2,530

1977

$433,403

319,460

113,943

39,621

10,229

64,093

317

317

57,073

50,311

6,762

3,268

601 

2,893

130,269

100,007

30,262

1,403

6,439

22,420

131,509

68,555

62,954

34,761

1,331

26,862

67,427

67,239

188

16

172

23,476

17,698

5,778

189

1,741

3,848

9,154

2,079

7,063

12

3,760

3,760

9,494

9,494

1978

$698,272

576,393

121,879

40,784

12,825

68,270

272

272

69,520

61,356

8,164

3,320

499 

4,345

163,193

123,830

39,363

956

8,510

29,897

146,014

3 78,487

67,527

36,457

1,429

29,641

77,409

77,299

110

9

101

23,226

18,132

5,094

51

2,153

2,890

202,704

202,598

106

3,650

3,650

10,769

10,769

1979

$764,718

634,886

129,832

44,124

15,789

69,919

74,566

65,584

8,982

3,371

597 

5,014

178,556

134,846

43,710

584

10,914

32,212

168,598

96,847

71,751

40,156

1,673

29,922

85,484

85,362

122

122

23,965

19,959

4,006

13

2,333

1,660

216,886

216,886

3,661

3,661

11,741

11,741

1980

$782,136

639,143

142,993

46,849

16,817

79,327

82,683

72,759

9,924

3,083

610 

6,231

193,652

146,963

46,689

640

11,258

34,791

184,871

108,664

76,207

43,126

1,778

31,303

106,395

105,928

467

12

455

23,734

18,935

4,799

2,808

1,991

169,845

169,845

3,776

3,776

12,273

12,773

See footnotes at end of table.

130 I Yearbook 1980
TABLE 1. Geological Survey budget for fiscal years 1975 to 1980, by activity and sources of funds Continued

Budget activity

Miscellaneous services to other accounts __

Reimbursable program ________ __

Miscellaneous non-Federal sources _______

Other Federal agencies _ ________ _

1975

$2,853

2,853

56

2,797

1976

$1,576

1,576

49

1,527

Transition 

quarter

$253

253

10

243

1977

$924

924

102

822

1978

$1,515

1,515

225

1,290

1979

$1,261

1,261

272

989

1980

$4,907

4,907

351

4,556

' Includes: Mineral Discovery Loan Program activity for fiscal year 1975; and parts of 

Geothermal Investigations. Minerals Policy, and Arctic Environmental Studies components of the Special Resource and Environmental Projects activity for fiscal year

1975. Funds exclude the Land Resource Analysis program for fiscal years 1974 to 1976. 

1 Excludes Employee Compensation Payments subactivity for fiscal years 1975 to

1976.

9 Funds for the Airborne Positioning System, appropriated to Water Resources Investigations are included as obligations of Topographic Surveys and Mapping ($2,172 

Thousand).

' Includes parts of Geothermal Investigations component of the Special Resource 

and Environmental Projects activity for fiscal year 1975.

8 Budget activity funds are reconstructed for fiscal year 1975 and include: Earth 

Resources Observation System activity for fiscal year 1975; Urban Area Studies and 

Energy Impact Evaluation components of the Special Resource and Environmental Projects activity for fiscal year 1975. Land Resources Analysis Program of the Geologic and 

Mineral Resource Surveys and Mapping activity for fiscal year 1975; and the Land Use 

Data and Analysis activity for fiscal year 1975.

 Funds include Employee Compensation Payments subactivity of the Water 

Resources Investigations activity for 1975 to 1976.

TABLE 2. Geological Survey Federal-State Cooperative Program funds for fiscal years 1975 to 1980, by State

[In thousands of dollars]

State

Total 1 _ ____________ .

Total State share2 ______

Alabama _ _ _______ ____ _.

State share ______________________

Alaska _ ___ ___ ____________

State share ______ _ ____ __

Arizona _ __________________________

State share __ _ _________ __

Arkansas ____ ______ ____

State share __________ ____

California __________ __ __

State share _ _ __________________

Colorado __ _____________________

State share ____ __ __ ______

Connecticut ________________________

State share _______________________

Delaware _____ _______________

State share _ _ ___________________

District of Columbia __ _____________

State share _______________________

Florida ____ ___________ _

State share ____ ______________

Georgia _______ _______ __

State share ____ __ __ __ ____

Hawaii ___ ___ _________

State share _____ _____________

Idaho _______________ ___

State share ___ ________ _

Illinois _____ __________ _

State share ___ ____ _ __ _

Indiana ____ _______ ______

State share ____ _____ ____

Iowa ____ _____________________

State share _ ___________________

Kansas ___ ___ _______________

State share _ _________ _____

Kentucky _______ ____ _ ___

State share _______________________

Louisiana _____ ____ _______

State share _________ _______

1975

. ___ $70,151

. ___ 35,124

1,212

. ___ 623

1,162

. ___ 410

. ___ 1,248

646

887

. ___ 410

4,690

2,337

___ 2,445

___ 1,324

___ 1,069

___ 523

___ 194

106

3

___ 1

5,575

___ 2,781

___ 3,083

___ 1,531

___ 697

341

___ 749

___ 366

___ 645

__ 323

1,288

632

617

__ 302

___ 1,424

716

2,728

____ 1,229

_____ 1,740

902

1976

$69,252

35,007

1,124

550

782

407

1,255

639

811

371

4,825

2,473

2,199

1,196

858

415

213

116

3

2

5,763

2,851

2,510

1,243

896

501

852

417

848

459

1,519

779

822

405

1,525

752

2,828

1,300

1,694

862

Transition 

quarter

$17,482

8,956

171

87

202

101

335

177

190

94

1,271

675

662

349

241

108

54

30

1

1,481

735

552

275

191

101

223

111

208

120

366

182

241

121

442

220

717

297

440

227

1977

$79,163

39,622

1,234

607

1,141

561

1,393

700

1,033

481

5,336

2,714

3,052

1,564

871

421

225

. 121

4

2

6,428

3,202

2,452

1,209

897

460

952

465

1,109

592

1,987

981

1,004

494

1,721

849

3,015

1,433

2,628

1,319

1978

$80,598

40,784

1,074

532

1,275

654

1,552

783

1,118

543

6,079

3,091

3,036

1,561

864

411

192

109

4

2

7,219

3,667

1,706

866

1,000

518

1,131

611

1,092

575

2,006

1,078

1,031

521

2,237

1,113

2,407

1,018

1,856

929

1979

$86,962

44,123

1,075

537

1,421

753

1,721

878

1,315

695

6,003

3,135

3,581

1,784

1,242

576

157

92

4

2

7,415

3,819

1,919

942

1,294

646

1,024

480

1,324

718

2,210

1,107

1,060

531

2,378

1,163

1,425

709

2,027

1,015

1980

$91,090

46,849

1,134

569

1,675

903

2,229

1,165

1,224

639

5,768

2,963

3,244

1,598

1,164

678

127

64

4

2

8,118

4,428

2,129

1,174

1,368

699

1,234

617

1,299

717

1,893

1,058

1,102

646

2,295

1,237

1,242

665

2,146

1,148

See footnotes at end of table.

Organizational and Statistical Data I 131
TABLE 2. Geological Survey Federal-State Cooperative Program funds for fiscal years 1975 to 1980, by State Continued

State 1975 1976 Transition 

quarter 1977 1978 1979 1980

Maine ______________________ $ 248 $ 313 $ 89 $ 333 $ 382 $ 566 689

State share __________________ 127 181 50 179 191 290 369

Maryland ____________________ 1,011 1,016 243 1,176 1,174 1,393 1,559

State share _________________ 530 517 125 602 605 706 805

Massachusetts ________________ 1,618 1,627 368 1,402 1,593 1,837 1,461

State share __________________ 810 779 191 684 801 847 903

Michigan_____________________ 1,054 1,078 252 1,101 1,203 1,497 1,280

State share __________________ 505 521 123 541 596 761 700

Minnesota ___________________ 1,639 1,191 320 1,082 1,759 2,330 1,614

State share __________________ 817 625 198 566 949 1,249 938

Mississippi ____________________ 743 646 170 713 754 747 817

State share __________________ 415 316 85 349 407 374 413

Missouri _____________________ 678 642 207 827 635 713 763

State share __________________ 337 316 105 420 316 341 446

Montana _____________________ 587 596 146 1,330 676 734 800

State share __________________ 287 301 76 673 338 402 417

Nebraska ____________________ 731 785 187 957 1,048 1,175 1,176

State share __________________ 358 396 95 469 522 579 582

Nevada _____________________ 846 922 244 1,063 1,440 1,488 1,151

State share __________________ 332 367 103 415 456 535 676

New Hampshire ________________ 172 230 63 248 187 150 176

State share __________________ 73 99 28 103 92 68 88

New Jersey ___________________ 977 1,090 276 1,269 1,437 1,427 1,404

State share __________________ 501 565 143 642 851 800 723

New Mexico ___________________ 1,439 1,510 338 1,537 1,621 1,841 1,841

State share __________________ 714 768 175 778 838 942 939

New York _____________________ 2,977 2,822 727 3,008 3,363 3,871 4,083

State share __________________ 1,585 1,615 407 1,573 1,893 2,377 2,363

North Carolina _________________ 1,885 1,462 379 1,805 1,713 1,633 1,523

State share __________________ 942 724 197 894 858 817 910

North Dakota __________________ 998 990 246 834 1,023 1,029 1,101

State share __________________ 489 489 125 408 505 498 572

Ohio _______________________ 1,093 1,255 336 1,598 1,799 1,962 1,885

State share __________________ 563 671 175 838 973 1,075 1,093

Oklahoma ______________________ 748 786 196 846 936 1,131 1,078

State share __________________ 368 386 98 414 462 577 582

Oregon _____________________ 902 899 287 1,230 1,214 1,391 1,551

State share __________________ 443 449 163 639 610 674 817

Pennsylvania __________________ 2,415 2,510 554 2,718 2,688 2,847 2,766

State share __________________ 1,209 1,269 284 1,365 1,366 1,301 1,470

Rhode Island __________________ 110 124 31 145 160 233 260

State share __________________ 54 60 16 72 80 117 130

South Carolina _________________ 574 557 142 603 625 832 967

State share __________________ 284 272 71 296 329 363 506

South Dakota __________________ 515 528 146 562 662 766 1,048

State share _________________ 251 259 73 275 331 382 546

Tennessee ____________________ 952 1,035 280 1,255 1,383 1,509 1,612

State share __________________ 470 508 139 615 686 729 804

Texas _______________________ 4,261 4,351 1,102 4,621 4,525 4,588 4,276

State share __________________ 2,100 2,148 550 2,354 2,244 2,299 2,140

Utah _______________________ 1,361 1,314 334 1,631 1,451 1,657 1,955

State share __________________ 838 745 186 810 726 842 1.094

Vermont _____________________ 130 138 28 134 142 166 173

State share __________________ 64 68 14 70 70 81 90

Virginia ______________________ 858 737 142 768 778 897 813

State share __________________ 442 378 78 393 397 548 477

Washington ___________________ 2,208 2,115 509 3,271 2,537 2,859 2,782

State share __________________ 1,104 1,066 265 1,653 1,243 1,378 1,453

West Virginia __________________ 775 716 175 830 688 752 694

State share __________________ 448 418 105 472 388 402 369

Wisconsin ____________________ 1,706 1,874 552 1,703 1,883 1,969 1,953

State share __________________ 883 999 297 935 1,026 1,022 1,074

Wyoming ____________________ 853 754 167 903 901 819 859

State share __________________ 514 397 86 391 381 412 437

132 I Yearbook 1980
TABLE 2. Geological Survey Federal-State Cooperative Program funds for fiscal years 1975 to 1980 by State 

Continued

State

American Samoa __________ .

State share ____________ .

Guam ________________ .

State share _ _________ .

Northern Marianas _________ .

State share ___________ __.

Puerto Rico _________ __ .

State share _____________

Trust Territories ___________ .

State share ____________ .

Virgin Islands ____________ .

State share _________ __ .

1975

. ____ 70

32

. ___ $ 65

. ___ 32

. __ _ 1,293

. ___ 585

. ____ 170

84

33

. ___ 31

1976

40

20

$ 68

33

1,016

451

170

84

18

9

Transition 

quarter

9

4

$ 18

9

185

84

44

22

2

1

1977

60

30

$ 70

33

843

396

173

84

32

16

1978

64

32

$ 85

47

18

9

922

459

180

90

70

35

1979

47

23

$ 104

56

40

21

1,083

518

184

92

94

43

1980

50

25

$ 123

80

42

21

1,344

691

196

98

78

39

'Includes Federal Funds from direct program.

1 Includes reimbursable program funds from States, counties, and municipalities.

3 Included with Puerto Rico funds.

TABLE 3. Geological Survey reimbursable program funds from other Federal agencies for fiscal years 1975 to 1980, by 

agency

[In thousands of dollars]

Agency

Total _____________________________

Appalachian Regional Commission _________

Department of Agriculture _________________

Department of Commerce _________________

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration _______________________

Ozarks Regional Commission ____________

Department of Defense __ ___ ___ __ _

Department of Energy2 _________ _

Bonneville Power Administration ____ _

Department of Housing and Urban

Development __________________________

Department of the Interior _________________

Bureau of Indian Affairs _________________

Bureau of Land Management __ _ _ _ _ _

Bureau of Mines _______________________

Bureau of Reclamation __________________

National Park Service ___________________

Office of the Secretary __________________

Office of Surface Mining _________________

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ____________

Department of State ____________ _

Department of Transportation ______________

Environmental Protection Agency ____ __

National Aeronautics and Space

Administration _________________________

National Science Foundation ______ ___

Nuclear Regulatory Commission ___________

Tennessee Valley Authority ____ _ _ _ _ _

Miscellaneous Federal agencies ____________

Miscellaneous services to other accounts ____

1975

$43,636

179

891

154

434

49

11,247

3,854

(105)

3,069

9,361

697

5,114

1,735

721

617

372

1,698

4

1,389

3,449

1,928

1,195

252

1,686

2,797

1976

$46,607

2,008

2,205

1,513

11,965

4,704

(130)

4,624

6,290

759

3,682

148

790

576

205

949

470

1,921

3,584

1,650

1,439

216

1,542

1,527

Transition 

quarter

$14,347

605

36

772

3,195

1,926

(32)

1,873

2,362

277

1,467

267

230

44

45

221

240

777

1,051

40

427

70

499

253

1977

$57,017

2,130

334

1,947

12,308

8,573

(141)

6,003

12,186

915

9,011

200

1,199

542

178

1,075

313

2,137

2,648

2,712

1,758

297

1,774

822

1978

$68,164

2,727

183

1,708

15,655

14,980

(138)

3,789

16,528

2,385

10,791

108

1,871

791

135

447

1,010

193

3,074

2,763

848

1,318

216

1,882

1,290

1979

$69,919

2,619

141

1,464

16,760

15,338

(48)

1,967

17,746

4,345

9,712

240

1,975

771

82

21

600

1,455

149

2,873

4,033

896

1,583

261

1,645

989

1980

$79,326

3,878

276

2,388

76

17,447

14,406

(61)

302

9,295

7,807

297

2,257

818

203

1,563

686

2,449

291

2,645

2,793

1,211

1,325

243

2,105

4,556

1 Included in miscellaneous Federal agencies.

2 Shown as Energy Research and Development and Federal Energy Administration

prior to October 1,1977; includes Atomic Energy Commission funds for fiscal year 1974. 

See also funds from Nuclear Regulatory Commission in fiscal year 1975.

Organizational and Statistical Data | 133
Index

Act of March 3, 1879-77

Aerial photography. See Remote sensing.

Aerial Profiling of Terrain (APT) 36

Alaska

Alaska Mineral Resource Assessment Program 3, 46

environmental rehabilitation, NPRA 106

exploratory drilling, status 104-105

glacial retreat 66-67

National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska 

(NPRAJ-2, 102-107

South Barrow gas field activities 2, 106 

Alaska Mineral Resource Assessment Program

(AMRAP)-3, 46 

Automatic data processing (ADP) 109

Budget by source and use

Conservation of Lands and Minerals 80

Geologic and Mineral Resource Surveys and 

Mapping 44

Geological Survey 22

National Mapping Division 28

National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPRA)-103

Office of Earth Sciences Applications 92

Water Resources Investigations 63 

Budget of the Geological Survey 22

California

earthquake 56-57

mudslides 51-53 

Climate Program 3 

Coal

coal development planning 99

coal economic evaluation 86

coal folios 1-2

coal hydrology program 70-72

coal leases, Federal and Indian lands 86

Coal Resource Occurrence/Coal Development Potential 

(CRO/CDP) Program-86

development, geologic constraints 1-2

digital cartography, applications 38

energy leasing program 1-2

environmental impact studies^2

Federal and Indian lands 86

Federal coal management program 86

hydrologic assessment, coal mine areas 2

Known Recoverable Coal Resources Areas 

(KRCRA's)-86

Mineral Leasing Act of 1920-77, 86

National Coal Resource Data System 1

resource assessment 86

role in synthetic fuels development 71

supervision of operations 86

Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 

1977-70

Western Coal Planning Assistance Project 99 

Coal folio program 1-2 

Coal Resource Occurrence/Coal Development Potential

(CRO/CDP) Program-86 

Computer Center Division 109 

Conservation of Lands and Minerals

authority 77

budget 80

coal policy implementation 86 

 evaluation of resources 77

land classification responsibilities 77

missions 77

Conservation of Lands and Minerals Continued

oil and gas activities 82, 88

personnel 80

reorganization 78-79

royalty collection 77, 82, 84

supervision of operations 77, 86 

Conterminous United States Mineral Resource Assessment

Program (CUSMAP)-3, 46

Cooperators and contributors, other, list of 129 

Cooperators, Federal, list of 120 

Cooperators, State, County, and local, list of 121-128

Digital cartography

applications 38

digital cartographic data files 38

Digital Elevation Models (DEM's)-38

Digital Line Graphs (DLG's)-38 

Digital Elevation Models (DEM's)-38 

Digital Line Graphs (DLG's) 38 

Disaster Relief Act of 1974 4

Earth Resources Observation Systems (EROS) Program 3 

See a/so Digital map data, Landsat, Remote sensing. 

Earthquake and geothermal studies 2, 8-9 

Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program 4, 54 

Earthquakes

California 56-57

Missouri 54-55

studies-4, 8-9 

Energy leasing programs 1-2 

Energy Resource Surveys 43 

Environmental conflict resolution 98 

Environmental impact statements (EIS's) 70 

EROS. See Earth Resources Observation Systems Program. 

EROS Data Center (EDQ-4

Federal and Indian lands

coal-86

minerals inventory 45

oil and gas-45, 82, 102-107

supervision of operations 77 

Federal coal management program 86 

Federal cooperators, list of 120 

Field offices, U.S. Geological Survey, selected, list 

of-115-119

Geographic Information Retrieval and Analysis

System 36 

Geohydrology 68-69 

Geologic and Mineral Resource Surveys and Mapping

budget 44

Energy Resource Surveys 43

international cooperation 58-59

Land Resource Surveys 43, 51-57

Mineral Resource Surveys 43, 45, 46, 48-49

mission 43

Mount St. Helens, hazards assessment 11

Offshore Geologic Surveys 43, 50

personnel 44 

Geologic hazards

coal development, constraints 1-2

Disaster Relief Act of 1974 4

earthquake and geothermal studies 8-9

Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program 4, 54

earthquakes-54-55, 56-57

evaluating seismic hazards 54-55

flood-prone-area maps 4

Geological Survey responsibilities 5, 51-52, 56, 88

glacial retreat, effects 66-67

134 I Yearbook 1980
Geologic hazards Continued

hazard studies, Mount St. Helens 7-8

hydrologic monitoring, Mount St. Helens 13

identification 50, 51, 56, 88

motion picture 93

Mount St. Helens-7-15

Office of Earth Sciences Applications, role 10

prediction-7, 8, 12-15, 51, 56

slope movement 51-53

volcanic hazards assessment 11

volcano studies, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory 8 

Geologic time 7 

Geological Survey

budget 22

cooperative and multidisciplinary studies 58-59, 96-97

geologic hazards, role 4

missions 21

organization 21

personnel 24

reorganization 4-5

responsibilities 1, 43, 77, 86 

Geophysical studies 50, 68-69 

Geothermal energy 2 

Geothermal resources

Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 77

studies 2, 8-9 

Glacial retreat 66-67 

Ground-water contamination 16-19 

Gulf of Mexico 88 

Guide to information and publications 41

Headquarters offices, U.S. Geological Survey 114-115

Intermediate-scale mapping 32 

International cooperation 58-59, 96-97

Known Recoverable Coal Resource Areas (KRCRA's) 86

Land Resource Surveys

assessing slope movement 51-53

digital cartography applications 38

evaluating seismic hazards 54-55

monitoring earthquakes 56

objectives 43

Land use and land cover maps 34-35 

Landsat satellites

monitoring water resources 4, 94

remote sensing applications 36, 91, 94-97 

Leases

energy leasing programs 1-2

Federal and Indian lands 77, 82

Federal regulations 77

Geological Survey role 77

Management initiatives of the Geological Survey

administrative and technical support 110

data base administration 109

Equal Opportunities Office 5

reorganization within the Geological Survey 4-5 

Mapping

Coal Resource Occurrence/Coal Development Potential 

(CRO/CDP) Mapping Program-86

digital cartography 38

flood-prone-area maps 4

intermediate, small-scale, and special mapping 32-33

land use and land cover maps 34-35

Mount St. Helens 14

National Cartographic Information Center (NCIQ 40

orthophotoquads 36

research and development 36-37

Mapping Continued

See a/so Landsat satellites, National Mapping Division, 

Remote sensing.

Mineral Leasing Act of 1920-77, 86 

Mineral resource appraisal

Alaska Mineral Resource Assessment Program

(AMRAP)-3, 46

Conterminous United States Mineral Assessment Program (CUSMAP)-3, 46 

Geological Survey responsibilities 43, 77 

inventory program, highlights 46 

oil and gas, off shore 50, 88 

See a/so Conservation of Lands and Minerals, 

Geological and Mineral Resource Surveys and 

Mapping.

Mineral Resource Surveys 

Geological Survey role 43 

Indian lands, minerals inventory 45 

inventory program, highlights 46 

ore deposit study 48-49 

Wilderness Mineral Surveys 3

See a/so Geologic and Mineral Resource Surveys and

Mapping, Mineral resource appraisal. 

Mineral resources 

conservation 77 

Federal regulations governing 77 

Federal lands classification 77 

offshore oil and gas resources, appraisal 50, 88 

Minerals 

coal-86

Federal and Indian lands 45, 77, 82 

leasing and regulations 77 

resources recovery techniques 82 

shortages 46 

See a/so Mineral resource appraisal, Mineral Resource

Surveys.

Missions of the Geological Survey 21 

Mount St. Helens

eruption, May 18, 1980 12-13

hazard studies 7-8

Hazard Watch-9-11

hazards assessment 11

history, report 7-8

hydrologic monitoring 13, 73

mapping 14

monitoring 9

Office of Earth Sciences Applications, related

activities 10

posteruptive activities 13-14 

preeruptive sequences 9-11

National Cartographic Information Center (NCIC) 40 

National Mapping Division

activities 27

budget-28

digital cartographic data files 38

digital cartography 38

Digital Elevation Models (DEM's)-38

Digital Line Graphs (DLG's)-38

guide to information and publications 41

intermediate-scale mapping 32

land use and land cover maps 34-35

mapping centers 27

Mount St. Helens, mapping 14

National Cartographic Information Center (NCIC) 40

organization 27

orthophotoquads 36

personnel 28

Public Inquiries Offices 40

public services 40-41

Index I 135
National Mapping Division Continued

quadrangle mapping and revision 29

research and development 36-37

small-scale mapping 38

special mapping 33 

National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska

budget-103

environmental rehabilitation 106

exploration drilling, status 2, 104-105

mission 102

personnel 103

South Barrow gas field activities 2, 106 

National Stream Quality Accounting Network

(NASQAN)-64-65 

National Water Data Storage and Retrieval System

(WATSTORE)-3

Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 2 

Nuclear energy

National Uranium Resource Evaluation Program 2-3

radioactive waste, disposal 2, 68-69 

Nuclear waste, disposal. See Radioactive waste, disposal.

Office of Earth Sciences Applications 

budget 92 

coal development 99 

cooperative projects 94-97 

Earth Resources Observation Systems (EROS)

Program 4

environmental conflict resolution 98 

EROS Data Center (EDQ-4 

geologic hazards movie 93 

mission 91

Mount St. Helens, data collection and distribution 10 

personnel 92 

Puget Sound regional study 100-101

Offshore Geologic Surveys 43, 50 

Oil and gas, offshore

energy leasing programs 1

exploration activities 50, 88

geologic hazards analyses 50, 88

leasing activities 1, 2

offshore resources, appraisal 50, 88

royalties 3 

Oil and gas, onshore

Alaska-2, 102-107

energy leasing programs 2

environmental rehabilitation, NPRA 106

exploratory drilling, NPRA 102, 104-105

Federal and Indian lands 7, 82

Mineral Leasing Act of 1920-77

National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska 

(NPRAJ-2, 102-107

royalties 3

South Barrow gas field activities 2, 106 

Orthophotoquads 36 

Organization of the Geological Survey 21 

Outer Continental Shelf lands. See Oil and gas, offshore.

Personnel

Conservation of Lands and Minerals 80

Geologic and Mineral Resource Surveys and 

Mapping 44

Geological Survey 24

National Mapping Division 28

National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPRA) 103

Office of Earth Sciences Applications 92

Water Resources Investigations 63 

Powerplant siting 98 

Public Inquiries Offices 40

Quadrangle mapping and revision 29

Radioactive waste, disposal 2, 68-69 

Regional Aquifer Systems Analyses 3 

Remote sensing

Aerial Profiling of Terrain (APT) 36

cooperative projects 94-97

monitoring water resources 4, 94

orthophotoquads 36

return beam vidicon (RBV) images 36

See a/so Landsat satellites, National Mapping Division. 

Research and development

Aerial Profiling of Terrain (APT) 36

enhanced recovery processes, oil and gas 82

geophysical mapping 86

National Mapping Division 36-37

return beam vidicon (RBV) images 36

Seasat radar altimeter 36-37

See a/so Digital map data. 

Return beam vidicon (RBV) imagery 36 

Royalties-3, 77, 82, 84

Seasat radar altimeter 36-37

Slope movement 51-53

Small-scale mapping 33

Special mapping 33

State, County, and local cooperators, list of 121-128

Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 70

Synthetic fuels 71

Topographic and bathymetric mapping 33 

U.S. Geological Survey. See Geological Survey.

Volcanic studies

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory 8 

hazards assessment 11 

Mount St. Helens 7-15

Waste, nuclear. See Radioactive waste, disposal. 

Water quality. See Ground-water contamination, Water

Resources Investigations. 

Water Resources Investigations

budget 63

Climate Program 3

coal hydrology program 70-72

Federal program-17-18, 61, 70-72

Federal-State Cooperative Program 61, 70, 73-75

flood-prone-area maps 4

ground-water contamination 16-19

ground-water quality, Geological Survey investigations-18-19

hydrologic assessment, coal mine areas 2

hydrologic data collection 3

mission 61

monitoring glacial retreat 66-67

monitoring water resources 4, 94

Mount St. Helens, hydrologic monitoring 13

National Stream Quality Accounting Network 

(NASQAN)-64-65

National Water Data Storage and Retrieval System 

(WATSTORE)-3

National Water-Use Data Program 3

organization 61

personnel 63

radioactive waste, disposal 68-69

Regional Aquifer Systems Analyses 3

support of missions of other Federal agencies 61, 70

urban hydrology studies 4

136 I Yearbook 1980
Water Resources Investigations Continued

water-related crises, response capability 13, 73 

Water resources, appraisal 73-75 

Wilderness areas, mineral surveys 3

Year (1980) in review-1-5

 h U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I98I O 341-614/233 Index I 137
As the Nation's principal conservation agency, the 

Department of the Interior has responsibility for most of our 

nationally owned public lands and natural resources. This 

includes fostering the wisest use of our land and water resources, 

protecting our fish and wildlife, preserving the environmental 

and cultural values of our national parks and historical places, 

and providingJor the enjoyment of life through outdoor 

recreation. The Department assesses our energy and mineral 

resources and works to assure that their development is in the 

best interest of all our people. The Department also has a major 

responsibility for American Indian reservation communities and 

for people who live in Island Territories under U.S. 

Administration.
 > i \ ( ^- \ /"- r-O-
, -v*