USGS Newsroom

Determining Rivers Vulnerable to Asian Carp Spawning in the Great Lakes Basin

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:00:00 EDT

Great Lakes resource managers can now determine rivers that may be vulnerable to Asian carp spawning if they were to spread into the Great Lakes Basin, according to a new U.S. Geological Survey report.

Findings indicate that two species of Asian carp—silver and bighead carp—may be able to spawn in more Great Lakes tributaries than previously estimated. This information could help resource managers implement control measures and potentially prevent Asian carp from becoming established in the Great Lakes.

This forward-looking study characterized the minimum habitat requirements for successful Asian carp spawning. Results indicate that Asian carp can successfully spawn in river stretches as short as 16 miles, which is considerably shorter than the 62 miles previously thought to be required. Scientists analyzed water temperature, streamflow and water quality in two Lake Michigan tributaries (the Milwaukee and St. Joseph rivers) and two Lake Erie tributaries (the Maumee and Sandusky rivers). Findings and techniques from this report can be used to identify other rivers vulnerable to Asian carp spawning in the future.

"If Asian carp spread into the Great Lakes, knowing where to expect them to spawn is a critical step in controlling these invasive species," said USGS scientist Elizabeth Murphy. "Our study combines the biology of Asian carp early life stages with the physics of rivers to identify potential spawning tributaries, thus giving managers an opportunity to develop targeted control strategies."

Although Asian carps primarily live in slow-moving water, they require streams with a fast current, sufficient length and turbulence to spawn. After eggs are released, they drift in the current while developing. The eggs are slightly heavier than water and require turbulent flowing water to remain adrift. A long stretch of uninterrupted river provides a better chance for the eggs to survive and hatch. If the eggs sink to the bottom and gather in areas with slower flows, known as "settling zones," they generally die. Dams, for example, could help prevent eggs from drifting and developing by slowing water current and creating settling zones.

All four Great Lakes tributaries studied exhibited sufficient temperatures, water-quality characteristics, turbulence and transport times outside of settling zones for Asian carp eggs to mature and hatch. Even though all four rivers had settling zones, findings indicate that under the right temperature and flow conditions, river reaches as short as 16 miles may allow Asian carp eggs sufficient time to develop to the hatching stage.

Two species of Asian carps (bighead carp and silver carp) are threatening to spread into the Great Lakes from the Mississippi River Basin. Asian carp are invasive species that could pose substantial environmental risks and economic impacts to the Great Lakes if they become established.

This USGS report was funded by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative as administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Preventing establishment remains the main objective of ongoing efforts of the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (ACRCC), a partnership of federal and state agencies, municipalities and other groups, led by the White House Council on Environmental Quality. Actions of the ACRCC are diverse; they include aggressive tracking and monitoring of Asian carp, evaluating electric dispersal barriers in the Chicago Area Waterways System preventing movement toward Lake Michigan, and developing new technologies to control the abundance and distribution of Asian carp.

Naturally Occurring Methane Found in Some Sullivan County Water

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 9:30:00 EDT

The report is posted online.

NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa. – Two of 20 randomly selected and tested household wells used for drinking water in Sullivan County, Pa., produced groundwater with elevated concentrations of naturally occurring dissolved methane, the most common component of natural gas, according to a new U.S. Geological Survey study conducted in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Topographic and Geological Survey.

The concentrations of dissolved methane in the two wells were high enough – above one milligram per liter – to allow for an isotopic analysis of the methane to confirm it was from a natural gas source. One of the wells tested at a level above 28 milligrams per liter, a level that can lead to possible explosive conditions.

A total of seven of the 20 wells tested contained dissolved methane. The rock formation or sediment unit that is the source of the gas was not determined and was not a part of this study. None of the wells tested were located near currently producing natural gas wells. All of the well owners were notified of the results.

In this study, scientists from the USGS and the PAGS collected water samples from 20 household wells during August and September 2012. The water samples were analyzed for 47 constituents and properties, including nutrients, major ions, metals and trace elements, radioactivity, and dissolved gases, including methane. The wells were randomly selected to provide an even geographical distribution.

"Water-quality data were lacking in this part of Sullivan County," said USGS scientist Ronald Sloto, who led the study. "Without baseline water-quality data, it would not be possible to determine whether a relationship exists between gas production activities and the well-water chemistry in the area. This study provides a pre-gas well drilling groundwater-quality baseline for the central and southern parts of Sullivan County. Although the number of water samples was small, the analytical results show the presence of naturally occurring methane in some private drinking water wells."

Methane is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas that can be flammable or even explosive. At certain levels, it can trigger an explosion in enclosed or confined spaces containing oxygen coupled with an ignition source such as an open flame or electrical spark. Methane can also displace air in structures and act as an asphyxiate at high concentrations, replacing oxygen in the circulatory system. The burning of methane can also produce toxic gases.

Methane is also the primary component of natural gas produced from the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania. One of the societal concerns with unconventional gas production is the possible migration of methane into drinking water aquifers. This study shows that naturally occurring methane can be found in drinking water wells in areas where no natural gas development is occurring. These findings provide background information on the presence of dissolved methane in Sullivan County's groundwater. Because the sample size was small -- only 20 wells -- additional sampling would be necessary to provide a broader picture of naturally occurring methane in the region.

Measuring Landscape Disturbance of Gas Exploration in Somerset and Westmoreland Counties

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 17:40:46 EDT

Landscape change in Pennsylvania's Somerset and Westmoreland counties resulting from construction of well pads, new roads and pipelines for natural gas and coalbed methane exploration is being documented to help determine the potential consequences for ecosystems and wildlife, according to a new U.S. Geological Survey report.

Using geospatial data and high resolution aerial imagery from 2004-2010, USGS researchers documented spatially explicit patterns of disturbance, or land use, related to natural gas resource development, such as hydraulic fracturing, particularly disturbance patterns related to well pads, roads and pipeline construction.

Spatially explicit data on the level of landscape disturbance -- which is geographic information systems data, mapped to a high degree of spatial accuracy -- is critically important to the long-term study of the potential impacts of natural gas development on human and ecological health.

Through programs such as the National Land Cover Database, and Land Cover Trends, USGS has a long record of studying the consequences of land-use and land-cover changes. The current level of natural gas development in much of the country, and its effects on the landscape, is an important contemporary land-use/land-cover issue.

"Landscape disturbance can have a major impact on ecological resources and the services they provide. This study examines the footprint of natural gas development on the earth's surface and provides a quantitative analysis of its relationship to the surrounding land cover, particularly changes in forest," said Lesley Milheim, lead author of the study.

Data from this report will be used to assess the effects of disturbance and land-cover change on wildlife, water quality, invasive species and socioeconomic impacts, among other investigations.

The study found that in Somerset County, 23 natural gas extraction sites resulted in more than 45 hectares of disturbance, including 4.8 kilometers (2.98 miles) of new roads and 1.7 (1.05 miles) kilometers of new pipelines. Disturbance in Somerset County is minimal and is widely dispersed throughout the southern portion of the county. This disturbance is attributable to both Marcellus and non-Marcellus development.

In Westmoreland County, 1658 natural gas extraction sites resulted in more than 1073 hectares of disturbance, including over 448 kilometers (278.37 miles) of new roads and 28 kilometers (17.39 miles) of new pipelines. Disturbance in Westmoreland County is concentrated in the west and central portions of the county. This disturbance is related mostly to non-Marcellus natural gas extraction.

The study, "Landscape consequences of natural gas extraction in Somerset and Westmoreland Counties, Pennsylvania, 2004-2010," by, L.E. Milheim, E.T. Slonecker, C.M. Roig-Silva and A.R. Malizia, Open File Report 2013-1126, is part of the series planned relating to natural gas landscape disturbance and is available online.

Measuring Landscape Disturbance of Gas Exploration in Fayette and Lycoming Counties

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 3 Jun 2013 15:41:55 EDT

Landscape change in Pennsylvania's Fayette and Lycoming counties resulting from construction of well pads, new roads and pipelines for natural gas and coalbed methane exploration is being documented to help determine the potential consequences for ecosystems and wildlife, according to a U.S. Geological Survey report released today.

"Large-scale landscape disturbance can have a significant impact on ecological resources and the services they provide. This study provides a quantitative look at the levels of disturbance, forest loss and other changes to land use and land cover," said Terry Slonecker, lead author of the research.

Data from this report will be used to assess the effects of disturbance and land-cover change on wildlife, water quality, invasive species and socioeconomic impacts, among other investigations.

The study found that in Fayette County, 1297 natural gas extraction sites resulted in more than 1765.1 hectares of disturbance, including 466.9 kilometers (290 miles) of new roads and 3.7 kilometers (2 miles) of new pipelines. Disturbance in Fayette County occurs on the western side of the county.

In Lycoming County, 83 natural gas extraction sites resulted in more than 421 hectares of disturbance, including 37 kilometers (22 miles) of new roads and 73.7 kilometers (45 miles) of new pipelines. Disturbance in Lycoming County is scattered with most of it occurring in clusters in the eastern and western edges of the county.

The study, "Landscape consequences of natural gas extraction in Fayette and Lycoming Counties, Pennsylvania, 2004-2010," by E.T. Slonecker, L.E. Milheim, C.M. Roig-Silva, A.R. Malizia, and B.H. Gillenwater Open File Report 2013-1119, is the fourth of a series planned relating to natural gas landscape disturbance and is available online.

Citizen Cooperation Requested in Lake Erie Yellow Perch Tagging Effort

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EDT

All Hands on Deck

Reporters: Do you want to accompany field crews as they tag yellow perch on Lake Erie during the week of April 29^th? Please contact Holly Muir at 734-214-9318 or hmuir@usgs.gov.

Sandusky, Ohio – With help from local anglers and fishermen, the U.S. Geological Survey and Ohio Department of Natural Resources will kick-start a five-year collaborative fish-tagging effort this week to better understand movement of yellow perch across Lake Erie.

Biologists are tagging adult yellow perch with tiny devices called Passive Integrated Transponders, or PIT tags, to track fish migration, and are asking for assistance from anglers and commercial fishermen to make fish available for scanning. Throughout the spring, summer, and fall fishing seasons, the USGS and ODNR biologists will frequent recreational access points, such as boat ramps and fish-cleaning stations, in order to interview anglers and scan fish. Commercial fishermen will be contacted based on the real-time information they provide to the ODNR catch reporting system.

"We are excited to be working with the ODNR to enhance scientific information on fish movement patterns," said Dr. Richard Kraus, chief of the USGS Lake Erie Biological Station. "Our Canadian partners in the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources are also tagging yellow perch with PIT tags, so there will be mutual benefits for both countries with the potential to detect north-south movements."

PIT tags are a miniaturized version of the electronic toll-collection technology used on turnpikes. Each tag is about the size of a grain of rice and is uniquely coded per specific fish. It is placed in an inedible portion of the fish, so it does not affect the ability of the fish to be eaten. The scanning process only takes several seconds per cooler or 100-pound fish box, which hold 300-400 fish each. The angler interviews, or creel surveys, are critical to collecting data because it is impossible to tell if a fish is tagged without scanning it.

Tagging will occur from the ODNR’s 43-foot Research Vessel Grandon with other small agency vessels assisting the Grandon during the effort.

"The ODNR is pleased to be pursuing this collaborative research project with USGS, the Lake Erie Committee agencies, and stakeholder groups," said Jeff Tyson, ODNR, administrator for the Division of Wildlife Lake Erie Program. "Movement patterns of yellow perch have been identified as an information gap by resource management agencies and stakeholder groups, and this research will help the Lake Erie Committee agencies responsibly manage the valuable Lake Erie yellow perch resources."

This work is funded through the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act and administered through the ODNR, Division of Wildlife. The Sport Fish Restoration Program was created to restore and better manage fishery resources with funds originating from excise taxes on fishing equipment, motorboat, and small engine fuels.

High Arsenic Levels Found in 8 Percent of Groundwater Wells Studied in Pennsylvania

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 9:00:00 EDT

The report and maps are posted online.

NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa. – Eight percent of more than 5,000 wells tested across Pennsylvania contain groundwater with levels of arsenic at or above federal standards set for public drinking water, while an additional 12 percent – though not exceeding standards – show elevated levels of arsenic.

These findings, along with maps depicting areas in the state most likely to have elevated levels of arsenic in groundwater, are part of a recently released U.S. Geological Survey study done in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Departments of Health and Environmental Protection.

The results highlight the importance of private well owners testing and potentially treating their water. While public water supplies are treated to ensure that water reaching the tap of households meets federal drinking water standards, private wells are unregulated in Pennsylvania, and owners are responsible for testing and treating their own water.

For this study, USGS scientists compiled data collected between 1969 and 2007 from industrial, public, and private wells. Arsenic levels, along with other groundwater quality and environmental factors, were used to generate statewide and regional maps that predict the probability of elevated arsenic. The study examined groundwater from carbonate, crystalline, and shale/sandstone bedrock aquifers, and from shallow glacial sediment aquifers. Similar maps have been produced for other states.

"This research is not intended to predict arsenic levels for individual wells; its purpose is to predict the probability of elevated levels of arsenic in groundwater to help public health efforts in Pennsylvania," said USGS scientist Eliza Gross, who led the study. "The study results and associated probability maps provide water-resource managers and health officials with useful data as they consider management actions in areas where groundwater is most likely to contain elevated levels of arsenic."

The Pennsylvania Department of Health plans to use the maps as an educational tool to inform health professionals and citizens of the Commonwealth about the possibility of elevated arsenic in drinking water wells and to help improve the health of residents, particularly in rural communities.

Arsenic occurs naturally and, in Pennsylvania, is most common in shallow glacial and shale/sandstone type aquifers, particularly those containing pyrite minerals. Arsenic can also result from human activities. Geologic conditions, such as fractures, and chemical factors in groundwater, such as low oxygen, extreme pH, and salinity, can cause arsenic to leach from rocks, become mobile, and contaminate wells distant from the source. Groundwater with elevated arsenic levels – more than 4 micrograms per liter -- can be found in scattered locations throughout Pennsylvania.

Arsenic in drinking water has been linked to several types of cancer, reproductive problems, diabetes, a weakened immune system, and developmental delays in children. Arsenic can be reduced or eliminated in tap water through treatment.

Private well owners can find testing and other information on Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Arsenic in Drinking Water website.

Measuring Landscape Disturbance of Gas Exploration in Allegheny and Susquehanna Counties

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 12:03:26 EDT

Landscape change in Pennsylvania's Allegheny and Susquehanna counties resulting from construction of well pads, new roads and pipelines for natural gas and coalbed methane exploration is being documented to help determine the potential consequences for ecosystems and wildlife, according to a U.S. Geological Survey report released today.

USGS researchers, using geospatial data and high resolution aerial imagery from 2004-2010, documented spatially explicit patterns of disturbance, or land use, related to natural gas resource development, such as hydraulic fracturing, particularly disturbance patterns related to well pads, roads and pipeline construction.

Spatially explicit data on the level of landscape disturbance -- which is geographic information systems data, mapped to a high degree of spatial accuracy -- is critically important to the long-term study of the potential impacts of natural gas development on human and ecological health.

Through programs such as the National Land Cover Database, and Land Cover Trends, USGS has a long record of studying the consequences of land-use and land-cover changes. The current level of natural gas development in much of the country, and its effects on the landscape, is an important contemporary land-use/land-cover issue.

"Large-scale landscape disturbance can have a significant impact on ecological resources and the services they provide. This study provides a quantitative look at the levels of disturbance, forest loss and other changes to land use and land cover," said Terry Slonecker, lead author of the research.

Data from this report will be used to assess the effects of disturbance and land-cover change on wildlife, water quality, invasive species and socioeconomic impacts, among other investigations.

The study found that in Allegheny County, 647 natural gas extraction sites resulted in more than 531 hectares of disturbance, including 226 kilometers (140 miles) of new roads and 13 kilometers (8 miles) of new pipelines. Disturbance in Allegheny County occurs mostly on the eastern side of the county with some minor activity in the northwestern corner of the county.

In Susquehanna County, 294 natural gas extraction sites resulted in more than 705 hectares of disturbance, including 55 kilometers (34 miles) of new roads and 86 kilometers (53 miles) of new pipelines. Disturbance in Susquehanna County is concentrated in the southwestern quadrant and dispersed sparsely throughout the remainder of the county.

The study, "Landscape Consequences of Natural Gas Extraction in Allegheny and Susquehanna, Counties, Pennsylvania, 2004 to 2010," Open File Report 2013-1025, is the third of a series planned relating to natural gas landscape disturbance and is available online.

Tool Estimates Streamflow for Pennsylvania Waterways

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 7:51:22 EDT

Editors: The BaSE tool and supporting documentation can be found online.

NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa. -- Water resource managers can now estimate daily baseline streamflows in a matter of minutes for any location along Pennsylvania's waterways. The Baseline Streamflow Estimator, called "BaSE," provides users with estimated daily mean streamflow, minimally altered by human activities, for locations on Pennsylvania streams that don’t have streamgages. Pennsylvania is one of the first states in the nation to have such a tool.

"BaSE provides water-resource managers with nearly 50 years of daily mean streamflow for ungaged sites in a matter of minutes that they can use for their projects. These daily values can then be used to generate a number of streamflow statistics that may be needed for decision making," said Marla Stuckey, USGS hydrologist and project lead in Pennsylvania.

Water-resource managers use daily mean streamflow to evaluate withdrawal, allocation, and wastewater permit applications and to assess the health of the Commonwealth's streams. Historically, it has been difficult, costly, and time intensive to estimate daily mean streamflow for stream locations that were not gaged, or monitored. Now, BaSE allows users to estimate daily mean streamflow values and daily hydrographs by entering a few basic basin characteristics in an easy-to-use tool. The output is a summary spreadsheet, containing information about the location of interest, including daily mean streamflow for every day from 1960 to 2008.

BaSE relies on a methodology that uses flow-duration curves, which illustrate the percentage of time, or probability, that a flow value in a stream will equal or exceed a particular value. Flow-duration curves are generated for reference streamgage locations with monitored streamflow and the curves are transferred to ungaged locations to estimate daily mean streamflow.

BaSE chooses the most appropriate reference streamgage for the ungaged location and applies newly developed regression equations to convert the transferred flow duration curve to streamflow at the ungaged location.

A USGS Scientific Investigations Report describing BaSE can be found online.

Mining Waste Byproduct Capable of Helping Clean Water

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 13:49:17 EDT

LEETOWN, W.Va. – A byproduct resulting from the treatment of acid mine drainage may have a second life in helping clean waters coming from agricultural and wastewater discharges, according to a recent study by scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey Leetown Science Center.

The report, published in the Journal Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, shows that dried acid mine drainage sludge, or residuals, that result from treating acid mine drainage discharges can be used as a low-cost adsorbent elsewhere to efficiently remove phosphorus from agricultural and municipal wastewaters. The phosphorus that has been adsorbed by the mine drainage residuals can later be stripped from the residuals and recycled into fertilizer. The mine drainage residuals can be regenerated and reused for a number of additional treatment cycles. Application of this novel, patented technology has the potential to simultaneously help to decrease acid mine drainage treatment costs, prevent degradation of aquatic ecosystems, and recycle valuable nutrients.

"This wonderful result shows the inventive application of some very sophisticated environmental chemistry to create a new life cycle for what otherwise would have been some problematic waste products," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "It sets the bar high for future studies in environmental remediation."

Acid mine drainage is produced whenever sulfide minerals associated with coal and metal deposits are exposed to air and moisture. The resulting acid and dissolved metals are toxic to most forms of aquatic life, and untreated acid mine drainage has impacted more than 5000 miles of streams in the Appalachian region, with associated economic impacts of millions of lost dollars in the tourism and sport fishing industries.

When acid mine drainage is remediated, it is neutralized with a base, such as limestone or lime, and an iron-rich sludge is formed that must be disposed of, sometimes at considerable cost. The new process of using the sludge to filter wastewaters has the potential to reduce the need to dispose of the sludge, while providing an added and previously unknown benefit of using the residuals to effectively reduce phosphorus from wastewater discharges wherever needed.

Excess phosphorus releases to the environment from agricultural and municipal wastewaters have resulted in significant impairment of aquatic ecosystems such as the Chesapeake Bay and other bodies of water worldwide. At the same time, as depletion of high-grade phosphorus-bearing deposits continues, the possibility of future shortages of fertilizer phosphorus has been suggested.

Current technology for the removal of phosphorus from wastewater consists of addition of aluminum or iron salts to precipitate and adsorb phosphorus, but this is too expensive for the low concentrations and high volumes often encountered in many wastewaters. This new technology provides a more efficient and cost effective option.

"As environmental scientists, we kind of hesitate to use this analogy, but it really is like killing two birds with one stone," says Philip Sibrell, lead author of the study. "This new technology could reduce or eliminate the need to dispose of acid mine drainage sludge, instead making that same sludge useful in addressing the urgent need to reduce the amount of phosphorus going into aquatic ecosystems; it's a win-win situation."

Study citation:

Sibrell, P. L. and Tucker, T. W. 2012. Fixed bed sorption of phosphorus from wastewater using iron oxide-based media derived from acid mine drainage. Water, Air and Soil Pollution, 223:5105-5117.

Measuring Landscape Disturbance of Gas Exploration in Greene and Tioga Counties

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 13:37:42 EDT

Image from the USDA National Agricultural Imagery Program (NAIP) from 2010. It is located in McKean County, in northwest Pennsylvania and the scale is approximately 1:35,000. (High resolution image)

RESTON, Va. — Landscape change in Pennsylvania's Greene and Tioga counties resulting from construction of well pads, new roads and pipelines for natural gas and coalbed methane exploration is being documented to help determine the potential consequences for ecosystems and wildlife, according to a U.S. Geological Survey report released today.

USGS researchers, using geospatial data and high resolution aerial imagery from 2004-2010, documented spatially explicit patterns of disturbance, or land use, related to natural gas resource development, such as hydraulic fracturing, particularly disturbance patterns related to well pads, roads and pipeline construction.

Spatially explicit data on the level of landscape disturbance -- which is geographic information systems data, mapped to a high degree of spatial accuracy -- is critically important to the long-term study of the potential impacts of natural gas development on human and ecological health.

"The widespread use of hydraulic fracturing to produce natural gas and coalbed methane in these counties has unlocked new sources of energy, but it is also modifying the landscape at an unprecedented rate compared with other forms of energy development," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "The value of this study is that it documents emerging issues with a rapidly expanding practice, so that all involved in decision making can make informed choices."

Through programs such as the National Land Cover Database, and Land Cover Trends, USGS has a long record of studying the consequences of land-use and land-cover changes. The current level of natural gas development in much of the country, and its effects on the landscape, is an important contemporary land-use/land-cover issue.

"Large-scale landscape disturbance can have a significant impact on ecological resources and the services they provide. This study provides a quantitative look at the levels of disturbance, forest loss and other changes to land use and land cover," said Terry Slonecker, lead author of the research.

Data from this report will be used to assess the effects of disturbance and land-cover change on wildlife, water quality, invasive species and socioeconomic impacts, among other investigations.

The study found that in Greene County, 663 natural gas extraction sites resulted in more than 775 hectares of disturbance, including 241 kilometers (149 miles) of new roads and 126 kilometers (78 miles) of new pipelines. Disturbance in Greene County occurs mostly at the eastern side of the county with some activity at the north and south, and minor activity at the west of the county.

In Tioga County, 151 natural gas extraction sites resulted in more than 362 hectares of disturbance, including 46 kilometers (28 miles) of new roads and 78 kilometers (48 miles) of new pipelines. Disturbance in Tioga County is concentrated in the eastern half and through the central part of the county, almost in a linear fashion, in an east-west direction.

The study, "Landscape Consequences of Natural Gas Extraction in Greene and Tioga Counties, Pennsylvania, 2004 to 2010," Open File Report 2012-1220, is the second of a series planned relating to natural gas landscape disturbance and is available online.

USGS Releases First Assessment of Shale Gas Resources in the Utica Shale: 38 trillion cubic feet

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Thu, 4 Oct 2012 17:24:04 EDT

The Utica Shale contains about 38 trillion cubic feet of undiscovered, technically recoverable natural gas (at the mean estimate) according to the first assessment of this continuous (unconventional) natural gas accumulation by the U. S. Geological Survey. The Utica Shale has a mean of 940 million barrels of unconventional oil resources and a mean of 208 million barrels of unconventional natural gas liquids.

The Utica Shale lies beneath the Marcellus Shale, and both are part of the Appalachian Basin, which is the longest-producing petroleum province in the United States. The Marcellus Shale, at 84 TCF of natural gas, is the largest unconventional gas basin USGS has assessed. This is followed closely by the Greater Green River Basin in southwestern Wyoming, which has 84 TCF of undiscovered natural gas, of which 82 TCF is continuous (tight gas).

"Understanding our domestic oil and gas resource potential is important, which is why we assess emerging plays like the Utica, as well as areas that have been in production for some time" said Brenda Pierce, USGS Energy Resources Program Coordinator. "Publicly available information about undiscovered oil and gas resources can aid policy makers and resource managers, and inform the debate about resource development."

The Utica Shale assessment covered areas in Maryland, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Some shale rock formations, like the Utica and Marcellus, can be source rocks – those formations from which hydrocarbons, such as oil and gas, originate. Conventional oil and gas resources gradually migrate away from the source rock into other formations and traps, whereas continuous resources, such as shale oil and shale gas, remain trapped within the original source rock.

These new estimates are for technically recoverable oil and gas resources, which are those quantities of oil and gas producible using currently available technology and industry practices, regardless of economic or accessibility considerations.

This USGS assessment is an estimate of continuous oil, gas, and natural gas liquid accumulations in the Upper Ordovician Utica Shale of the Appalachian Basin. The estimate of undiscovered oil ranges from 590 million barrels to 1.39 billion barrels (95 percent to 5 percent probability, respectively), natural gas ranges from 21 to 61 TCF (95 percent to 5 percent probability, respectively), and the estimate of natural gas liquids ranges from 4 to 16 million barrels (95 percent to 5 percent probability, respectively).

USGS is the only provider of publicly available estimates of undiscovered technically recoverable oil and gas resources of onshore lands and offshore state waters. The USGS Utica Shale assessment was undertaken as part of a nationwide project assessing domestic petroleum basins using standardized methodology and protocol.

The new assessment of the Utica Shale may be found online. To find out more about USGS energy assessments and other energy research, please visit the USGS Energy Resources Program website, sign up for our Newsletter, and follow us on Twitter.

The Utica Shale is a formation in the Appalachian Basin that lies beneath the Marcellus Shale. It was recently assessed for the first time by the USGS, and is estimated to contain 38 TCF of natural gas, 940 MMB of oil, and 9 MMB of natural gas liquids.

Measuring Landscape Disturbance of Gas Exploration in Bradford and Washington Counties

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Wed, 5 Sep 2012 12:02:59 EDT

This aerial view, from northwest Pennsylvania, shows well pads and associated roads, and visually demonstrates the level of disturbance that natural gas activities can have on forests and other natural resources. (High resolution image)

RESTON, Va. — Landscape change resulting from construction of well pads, new roads and pipelines for natural gas and coalbed methane exploration in Pennsylvania's Bradford and Washington counties is being documented to help determine the potential consequences for ecosystems and wildlife, according to a U.S. Geological Survey report released today.

Using geospatial data and high resolution aerial imagery from 2004-2010, USGS researchers documented spatially explicit patterns of disturbance, or land use, related to natural gas resource development, such as hydraulic fracturing, particularly disturbance patterns related to well pads, roads and pipeline construction.

Spatially explicit data on the level of landscape disturbance -- which is geographic information systems data, mapped to a high degree of spatial accuracy -- is critically important to the long-term study of the potential impacts of natural gas development on human and ecological health.

"The widespread use of hydraulic fracturing to produce natural gas and coalbed methane in these counties has unlocked new sources of energy, but it is also modifying the landscape at an unprecedented rate compared with other forms of energy development," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "The value of this study is that it documents emerging issues with a rapidly expanding practice, so that all involved in decision making can make informed choices."

Through programs such as the National Land Cover Database, and Land Cover Trends, USGS has a long record of studying the consequences of land-use and land-cover changes. The current level of natural gas development in much of the country, and its effects on the landscape, is an important contemporary land-use/land-cover issue.

"Large-scale landscape disturbance can have a significant impact on ecological resources and the services they provide. This study provides a quantitative look at the levels of disturbance, forest loss and other changes to land use and land cover," said Terry Slonecker, lead author of the research.

These data will be used to assess the effects of disturbance and land-cover change on wildlife, water quality, invasive species and socioeconomic impacts, among other investigations.

Because of their underlying geology, Bradford and Washington counties are exceptionally productive areas of Marcellus Shale natural gas development and were specifically chosen for this initial report.

The study found that in Bradford County, 642 natural gas extraction sites resulted in more than 1500 hectares of disturbance, including 74 kilometers (45 miles) of new roads and 178 kilometers (110 miles) of new pipelines.

In Washington County, 949 natural gas extraction sites resulted in more than 1800 hectares of disturbance, including 277 kilometers (172 miles) of new roads and 216 kilometers (134 miles) of new pipelines.

The study, "Landscape Consequences of Natural Gas Extraction in Bradford and Washington Counties, Pennsylvania, 2004 to 2010," Open File Report 2012-1154, is the first of a series planned relating to natural gas landscape disturbance.

Increased Sediment and Nutrients Delivered to Bay as Susquehanna Reservoirs Near Sediment Capacity

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 9:00:00 EDT

This USGS report can be found online.

Reservoirs near the mouth of the Susquehanna River just above Chesapeake Bay are nearly at capacity in their ability to trap sediment. As a result, large storms are already delivering increasingly more suspended sediment and nutrients to the Bay, which may negatively impact restoration efforts.

Too many nutrients rob the Bay of oxygen needed for fish and, along with sediment, cloud the waters, disturbing the habitat of underwater plants crucial for aquatic life and waterfowl.

"The upstream reservoirs have served previously to help reduce nutrient pollutant loads to the Chesapeake Bay by trapping sediment and the pollutants attached to them behind dams," explained USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "Now that these reservoirs are filling to capacity with sediment, they have become much less effective at preventing nutrient-rich sediments from reaching the Bay. Further progress in meeting the goals for improving water quality in the Chesapeake will be more difficult to achieve as a result."

"It has been understood for many years that as the reservoirs on the Lower Susquehanna River fill with sediment, there will be a substantial decrease in their ability to limit the influx of sediment and nutrients, especially phosphorus, to the Chesapeake Bay," said Bob Hirsch, research hydrologist and author of the report. "Analysis of USGS water quality data from the Susquehanna River, particularly the data from Tropical Storm Lee in September 2011, provides evidence that the increases in nutrient and sediment delivery are not just a theoretical issue for future consideration, but are already underway."

According to a new USGS report, the Susquehanna River delivered more phosphorus and sediment to the Bay during 2011 than from than any other year since monitoring began in 1978. Flooding from Tropical Storm Lee made up a large fraction of the Susquehanna River's inputs to the Bay for both 2011 and over the last decade. During the flooding the Susquehanna River delivered about 2 percent of total water to the Bay for the last decade; however, it delivered 5 percent of the nitrogen, 22 percent of the phosphorus, and 39 percent of the suspended sediment.

According to the report, from 1996-2011 total phosphorus moving into the Bay has increased by 55 percent, and suspended sediment has increased by 97 percent. Over this time period, total nitrogen decreased by about 3 percent overall, but showed increases during large events.

These results represent the combined effects of the changes in sediment within the reservoirs, as well as changes in the sources of these constituents upstream. Another recent USGS study reported about a 25 percent reduction in nutrients and sediment concentrations just upstream of the reservoirs, reflecting the benefit of actions to improve water quality in the upper portion of the Susquehanna River watershed.

"Progress on reducing loadings of these pollutants from the Susquehanna River Basin depends on efforts made to limit the loadings in the watershed, as well as the effects of the downstream reservoirs," said Hirsch. "In general, the changes we have observed in the reservoirs and the resulting greater impact of storms are already overshadowing the ongoing progress being made in the watershed to reduce the amount of nutrients and sediments entering the Bay."

Sediment and nutrient loadings from the Susquehanna River are crucial to understanding the status and progress of water quality in the Chesapeake Bay. On average, the Susquehanna River contributes nearly 41 percent of the nitrogen, 25 percent of the phosphorus, and 27 percent of the sediment load to the Bay.

"The findings of this USGS study increase the urgency of identifying and implementing effective management options for addressing the filling reservoirs," said Bruce Michael, director, Resource Assessment Service for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. "The Lower Susquehanna River Watershed Assessment study, a 3-year partnership of federal, state, private sector, and non-governmental organizations, is developing potential management options for extending the sediment-holding capacity of the reservoirs. The USGS information is critical for guiding the strategies undertaken by the Chesapeake Bay Program to assure that the actions taken in the watershed will serve to meet restoration goals."

The lower reaches of the Susquehanna River, just upstream from Chesapeake Bay, include three reservoirs: Safe Harbor Dam and Holtwood Dam in Pennsylvania and Conowingo Dam in Maryland. Over the past several decades these reservoirs have been gradually filling with sediment.

While the reservoirs are filling, they are a trap for sediment and the nutrients attached to that sediment. As a reservoir approaches its sediment storage capacity, it can't hold as much sediment. When reservoirs are near capacity, significant flow events, such as flooding from Tropical Storm Lee, have greater potential to cause scour, or the sudden removal of large amounts of sediment, allowing that sediment and attached nutrients to flow out of the reservoirs and into the Bay.

Additionally, as the reservoir becomes filled, the channel that water flows through gets smaller. As a result, for any given amount of flow, the water moves through the channel faster, further increasing the likelihood of scour. Higher velocities also result in lower rates of settling, decreasing the amount of sediment that will be deposited.

This new report is based on 34 years of monitoring streamflow and water quality for the Susquehanna River by the USGS and its state and local partners. The report compares nutrients and sediment behavior during high flow events, such as the flood after Tropical Storm Lee in September of 2011, the high flows of March 2011, and Hurricane Ivan in 2004, with high flow conditions of the past.

This research was conducted as part of The USGS National Research Program in Water Resources and the USGS Chesapeake Bay Ecosystems Program. The report, titled Flux of nitrogen, phosphorus, and suspended sediment from the Susquehanna River Basin to the Chesapeake Bay during Tropical Storm Lee, September 2011, as an indicator of the effects of reservoir sedimentation on water quality, can be found online.

Information about the Lower Susquehanna River Watershed Assessment is available online.

Results of monitoring in the Chesapeake Bay watershed are available online.

Man-Made Chemicals Found at Low Concentrations in Pennsylvania Waters

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Wed, 1 Aug 2012 13:42:55 EDT

The report is posted online.

EXTON, Pa. – Low concentrations of different contaminants, including pharmaceuticals, hormones and organic wastewater compounds, were detected in rivers and streams throughout Pennsylvania during a four year study, according to a U.S. Geological Survey and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection publication released todayIn addition to the types and concentrations of contaminants found, the study also looked at their likely sources as well as potential impact on aquatic life.

In addition to the types and concentrations of contaminants found, the study also looked at their likely sources as well as potential impact on aquatic life.

"These findings are intended to help wastewater and drinking water managers to make decisions about water treatment options given the ever increasing number of new compounds that come into use and end up in the state’s waterways each year," said Andrew Reif, the USGS scientist who led the study.

The 10 most frequently detected compounds represent a wide variety of uses, but all were derived from human sources. None of the most commonly detected compounds are typically used in agricultural operations; most entered the stream environment from municipal wastewater-treatment facilities or septic systems.

Throughout the state, the most commonly found compounds in streamwater were caffeine; acetaminophen; carbamazepine – a seizure medication; sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim – antibiotics; and the hormone estrone. Other commonly detected compounds include the antihistamine diphenhydramine; the antibiotics azithromycin, erythromycin, and ofloxacin; the flame retardant tri(dichloroisopropyl) phosphate; and the insecticide DEET.

In the heavily agricultural south-central part of the state, the most commonly detected contaminants in streamwater samples were carbamazepine, sulfamethoxazole, and tri(dichloroisopropyl)phosphate–a flame retardant. The contaminants most commonly detected in sediment samples were the antibiotics ofloxacin and trimethoprim, estrone, and the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons benzo[a]pyrene, fluoranthene, phenanthrene, and pyrene.

Tests of waters downstream from wastewater discharge sites showed higher concentrations and numbers of compounds detected than from tests of water upstream of those sites, indicating that wastewater discharges are a source of contaminants.

The concentrations of individual contaminants were generally very low, less than 50 nanograms per liter, or the equivalent of less than one drop of water in an Olympic-size swimming pool. Concentrations and compounds found near some of the state’s sources of drinking water were consistent with compounds and concentrations found in other studies throughout the nation.

When used for drinking water, the amounts of many of the contaminants can be eliminated or reduced by conventional or advanced treatments at water treatment facilities. However, drinking-water standards have not been established for the individual compounds or for the mixtures found, so the potential human-health risk of chemicals that may be present in drinking water after treatment is not known.

The sites near drinking-water intakes that had the greatest number contaminants of emerging concern, were generally on mid-sized to large rivers with mixed urban and agricultural land use and a large number of identifiable sources of point discharges per unit of drainage area.

Sites on the Schuylkill River, Beaver River, Ohio River, and Swatara Creek had more than 20 contaminants detected. Sites with the fewest numbers of contaminants of emerging concern were generally on small- to mid-size streams in heavily forested watersheds with few point discharges. Brodhead Creek, East Licking Creek, East Branch Antietam Creek, George Run, and Pitchpine Run had three or fewer contaminants per site.

The researchers evaluated possible effects of contaminants on fish health, but determined the effects of long-term exposure to the contaminants present in the water was largely unknown. Water-quality criteria for the protection of aquatic life have not been established for the compounds studied, so there are no benchmarks by which to judge the concentrations measured. However, these chemicals may pose a risk to aquatic life in these waters that are constantly exposed to the mixture of compounds that can suppress immunity and have been linked to feminization of fish.

Asian Carp Pose Substantial Risk to the Great Lakes

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 13:11:12 EDT

Bi-National Risk Assessment Released

Asian carp pose substantial environmental risk to the Great Lakes if they become established there, according to a bi-national Canadian and United States risk assessment released today.

Bighead and silver carps -- two species of Asian carp -- pose an environmental risk to the Great Lakes within 20 years, with the risk increasing over time. Lakes Michigan, Huron and Erie face the highest risk relative to the other lakes.

The risk assessment report was led by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and included a team of scientists from Canada and the United States. Two U.S. Geological Survey scientists were among the co-authors of the report.

The report examined the likelihood of the survival and establishment of Asian carp in the lakes. It relied on prevention measures under way through November 2010, and did not take into account extensive preventive actions implemented since that time. The authors also assessed the probable ecological consequences should the fish invade the Great Lakes.

"Ever since these non-native fish first escaped and began to breed prolifically in the rivers of the Midwest, the questions everyone has been asking are: 'Can a breeding population survive in the Great Lakes and would it be a significant problem if they did?’" said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "Now we know the answers and unfortunately they are ‘yes and yes.' This study will help scientists and resource managers in Canada and the U.S. determine how and where to redouble their efforts as they continue to prevent the establishment of these invasive fish."

The reason for the high risk of invasion is because portions of the Great Lakes offer sufficient food and habitat to enable these invasive fish to spawn, survive and spread, the report’s authors noted. They identified the most likely pathway for Asian carp to enter the Great Lakes is via the Chicago Area Waterway System.

The report suggests that the major ecological consequence resulting from the establishment and spread of Asian carp into the Great Lakes would likely be an overall decline in certain native fish species, including some commercially and recreationally important ones. Such declines could occur because Asian carp would compete with prey fish that primarily eat plankton. This could lead to reduced growth rates and declines in abundance of prey fish species, and thus predatory fish would also likely decline. Asian carp also reduce survival of open-water fish larvae -- like those of walleye and yellow perch -- most likely through competition for plankton or by preying on the larvae.

However, the authors emphasized that the establishment of Asian carp in the Great Lakes and resulting ecosystem damage are not foregone conclusions. Preventing the establishment of Asian carp in the Great Lakes is the best means of avoiding harmful ecological and economic effects.

The new report, developed with input from resource managers, decision makers and researchers from federal, provincial and state agencies, and other groups, provides a science-based assessment of the risk these fish pose to the Great Lakes. By involving both Canadian and U.S. scientists, the report drew upon the wealth of Asian carp expertise in both countries. The report will allow managers to make informed decisions for management of Asian carp and for prevention of their spread.

Ongoing efforts of the coordinating committee are described in the newly released “FY2012 Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework.” Actions of the ACRCC are diverse; they include aggressive tracking and monitoring of Asian carp, evaluating electric dispersal barriers in the Chicago Area Waterways System preventing movement toward Lake Michigan, and developing new technologies to control the abundance and distribution of Asian carp.

The Binational Asian Carp Risk Assessment can be accessed at

English (PDF)
French (PDF)

The 2012 Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework can be accessed at asiancarp.us.