WRD Highlights, March 2-6, 1998 Date: Mon, 09 Mar 1998 17:50:13 -0500 To: " Outreach_highlight , " , "Robert R Reynolds Jr., Social Scientist, Reston, VA" From: Joanne Taylor Subject: WRD Highlights, March 2-6, 1998 Cc: "A - Division Chief and Staff", "B - Branch Chiefs and Offices", "DC - All District Chiefs" WRD HIGHLIGHTS, March 2-6, 1998 PRESS/MEDIA Wealth of USGS Water Information Now Available Online: Information on streamflow across the country and spanning more than a century is now available on the World Wide Web. On March 4, speaking at the annual Water Policy Roundtable of the Interstate Council on Water Policy and the Western States Water Council, Robert M. Hirsch, Chief Hydrologist, USGS, announced the on-line availablility of historical and real-time streamflow files on the the Web: /nwis-w/US. More than 400,000 station years and 160 million daily records of streamflow files are a valuable resource to planners and managers. With this no-cost service, users can download daily flow records to their own computers without the need to involve USGS staff. (Robert M. Hirsch, Reston, VA, 703/648-5215; Press Release, March 4, 1998) USGS Web Site Available on Amargosa Desert Research Site: USGS and cooperating scientists will make published results of ongoing studies at the Amargosa Desert Research Site, south of Beatty, NV, available on the World Wide Web. Processes affecting fate and migration of contaminants at the site are being investigated as part of the USGS Toxic Substances Hydrology Research Program. The Program seeks to develop methods and understanding needed to predict (and if possible, prevent) contaminant transport in a variety of geologic settings. The new internet site, released on March 4, is accessible from the Toxic-Substances Hydrology home page (http://toxics.usgs.gov/toxics) or at the Amargosa Desert Research Web Site: http://wwwnv.wr.usgs.gov/adrs/ (Brian Andraski, Carson City, NV, 702-887-7636; David Stonestrom, Menlo Park, CA, 650-329-4528; Press Release, March 4, 1998). A&E Channel Inquires About USGS Hydrogeologic Study Related to Upcoming Movie, "A Civil Action": Virginia deLima, Connecticut District Chief, was contacted by the Arts & Entertainment channel for information on the hydrogeologic study described in the best seller (and soon to be movie) "A Civil Action" by Jonathan Harr. The information will be used in an upcoming episode of the "American Justice" program. (Air time not known; will be updated when available.) (Virginia deLima, Hartford, CT, 860-240-3060) BUREAU ACTIVITIES National Focus on Public Agencies in the Marketplace: On March 9, Robert M. Hirsch, Chief Hydrologist, USGS, participated in a panel discussion on "Public and Quasi-Public Agencies Practicing in the Engineering Design Marketplace: New Competition or New Collaborators?" Senior executives from approximately 40 of the largest U.S. consulting engineering firms attended. Panel participants included the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation, Virginia Power, and the USGS. The panel was hosted by the Design Professionals Coalition. (Robert M. Hirsch, Reston, VA, 703/648-5215) El Nino Watch -- Rains and Floods Results Alabama: USGS field crews measured flood flows at several locations in southern Alabama on Sunday, March 8. Heavy rains, between 6 and 12 inches, fell in the southern portions of Alabama causing widespread flooding. A dike near Elba, Alabama, ruptured causing extensive flooding and forcing the evacuation of approximatley 2000 residents of that Town located in the Pea River basin. USGS crews continue to work in South Alabama today (3/9/98). (Jess D. Weaver, Montgomery, AL, 334/213-2332) El Nino Watch -- USGS Monitors Flooding on Suwannee River, Florida: USGS field staff in Florida continue to monitor flood conditions in north Florida, where recent heavy rains caused the Suwannee River to rise more than 7.5 feet above flood stage at White Springs on February 26, with downstream peaks more than 2 feet above flood stage at Ellaville and Branford in following days. The Sante Fe and Steinhatchee Rivers rose above flood stage due to El Nino-driven rainfalls of as much as 20 inches during a 2-week period in February (an area that normally gets 2 inches for the entire month). Continued heavy rains in March could mean that record floods will again occur on the Suwannee River and many of its tributaries. (Marvin Franklin, Tallahassee, FL, 850/942-9500, x3058) El Nino Watch -- USGS Reports All-time High Streamflow Records Set in Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River: February streamflow in the Potomac River at Washington, D.C., and total flow into the Chesapeake Bay were the highest on record for February. The record February flows follow January flows that were the second highest on record. The high flows in January and February have caused large amounts of nutrients and sediment to be delivered to the Chesapeake Bay, which may cause extensive algal blooms this spring, and lead to low dissolved oxygen levels in the Bay this summer, having adverse effects fish and other aquatic life. Flow in the Potomac River at Washington, D.C., averaged nearly 40 billion gallons per day, nearly four times the normal, and a new February record. Total inflow to the Chesapeake Bay averaged more than 150 billion gallons per day, nearly two times the normal, and also a new February record. (James M. Gerhart, Baltimore, MD, 410/238-4200)