30 Publications (Page 1 of 2)
2024
Regional water study: Water Demand and Availability in the Driftwood, Flatrock-Haw, and Upper East Fork White River WatershedsLetsinger, Sally L and Gustin, Andrew R{"type"=>"OTHER", "source"=>"COS", "source_type"=>"Report", "title"=>"Regional water study: Water Demand and Availability in the Driftwood, Flatrock-Haw, and Upper East Fork White River Watersheds", "authors"=>[{"seqno"=>1, "is_author"=>true, "surname"=>"Letsinger", "firstname"=>"Sally", "middlename"=>"L.", "guid"=>"741AA7C97F00000155C7539A3E369057"}, {"seqno"=>2, "is_author"=>true, "surname"=>"Gustin", "firstname"=>"Andrew", "middlename"=>"R."}], "other_data"=>{"publication"=>"Report to Indiana Finance Authority, Award 079396-00002B", "publisher"=>"https://www.in.gov/ifa/files/LetsingerGustin_I74CorridorWaterStudy_2024-02-14.pdf"}, "pubdate"=>"2024", "alternateIds"=>[{"source"=>"COS", "otherId"=>"http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.21349.17126", "type"=>"doi"}], "doi"=>"http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.21349.17126", "pages"=>"106", "abstract"=>"In this study, estimates of water demand were made for the Southeast-Central Indiana region for the next 50 years for the public supply sector. This was accomplished using a multiple regression-based approach to develop county-level models and project future water demand based on economic variables for baseline (minimum water demand) growth, and climate variables for estimates of seasonal water use.\nA watershed-based water inventory was developed for use in an analysis of current and future water availability. In addition to projections of future public-water-supply demand, future water use was projected for other water-use sectors (e.g., irrigation, industrial, animal agriculture, and self-supplied residential) using less rigorous methods than that for public supplies.\nA surface water-balance model was developed for both current (1985-2021, based on observations) and future (2021-2075, driven by global climate model outputs) conditions so that likely future seasonal variability could be represented for planning purposes.\nCurrent and future water-availability analyses were conducted to assess not only the spatial distribution of water resources in the study area, but to also evaluate the impact of the human element on current and anticipated future withdrawals and returns to the water cycle. Current and potential future limitations in available water are also identified and presented in the report."}. (pp. 106). https://www.in.gov/ifa/files/LetsingerGustin_I74CorridorWaterStudy_2024-02-14.pdf. 2024.
| Report
2021
Implications to aquifer storage from shifts in timing of water-balance partitioning: Indiana, United StatesLetsinger, Sally⋅Balberg, Allison and Gustin, Andrew{"type"=>"OTHER", "title"=>"Implications to aquifer storage from shifts in timing of water-balance partitioning: Indiana, United States", "authors"=>[{"seqno"=>1, "is_author"=>true, "surname"=>"Letsinger", "firstname"=>"Sally", "middlename"=>nil, "guid"=>"741AA7C97F00000155C7539A3E369057"}, {"seqno"=>2, "is_author"=>true, "surname"=>"Balberg", "firstname"=>"Allison", "middlename"=>nil}, {"seqno"=>3, "is_author"=>true, "surname"=>"Gustin", "firstname"=>"Andrew", "middlename"=>nil}], "other_data"=>{"publisher"=>"Indiana University Bloomington", "language"=>"English", "url"=>"https://search.datacite.org/works/10.13140/rg.2.2.22549.70881", "publication"=>"Report to Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Award #41486"}, "alternateIds"=>[{"source"=>"COS", "otherId"=>"10.13140/rg.2.2.22549.70881", "type"=>"doi"}, {"source"=>"COS", "otherId"=>"FETCH-datacite_primary_10_13140_rg_2_2_22549_708810", "type"=>"summonId"}, {"source"=>"COS", "otherId"=>"10_13140_rg_2_2_22549_70881", "type"=>"patentNumber"}], "doi"=>"10.13140/rg.2.2.22549.70881", "source_type"=>"Report", "pubdate"=>"2021", "year"=>"2021", "source"=>"COS", "pages"=>"90 p", "abstract"=>"In this study, water-balance data were assembled and analyzed for\nIndiana through the 40-year period between 1980 and 2019. The\nobjective was to understand water-related trends associated with\nwarmer and wetter conditions in the Midwest US, and how those trends\nare likely to affect the groundwater resources of Indiana.\nIndiana has a humid continental climate trending towards humid\nsubtropical towards the southern border of the state, and future\nprojections under a range of climate-change scenarios include warming\ntemperatures and increased, but seasonally redistributed, precipitation.\nIndiana uses a combination of surface- and groundwater sources for a\nnumber of sectors (public water supply, irrigation, industrial uses, etc.),\nand surface-water resources are generally better understood than\ngroundwater and aquifer storage.\nMany previous studies have found that precipitation is increasing, and\nchanges in intensity and seasonal timing of the precipitation have\nimplications for flooding, forced modifications to agricultural operations,\nand even public water supplies. Most of these studies have been local in\nnature, or national or global in scope; this study is specific to Indiana.\nIndiana has a surprisingly diverse set of hydrogeologic environments that\ngovern the distribution of aquifer resources in the subsurface. Therefore,\nconditions at the surface can have a variety of effects, some of which will\nbe felt immediately, and some of which might not be of concern for\ndecades or centuries.\nThis study employed a model to conduct water-balance calculations for\nthe entire state at a spatial resolution of 250 m x 250 m (about 800 ft x\n800 ft), using a daily time step from 1980 to 2019 (40 years). The model\noutputs provided estimates of amounts and timing of water-balance\ncomponents (e.g., amount of precipitation, evaporation and plant\ntranspiration, potential groundwater recharge, and surface-water\nrunoff). The spatial distribution of groundwater recharge in different\nseasons was mapped.\nResults show that the statewide average annual groundwater recharge is\nabout 6 inches per year, but it is not uniformly distributed – some areas\nreceive very little recharge (1 inch per year in southern Indiana), while\nothers receive more than 14 inches per year. Trend analyses show that\nrecharge is increasing most in near-stream aquifers (e.g., outwash\naquifers) as a result of intensified and episodic stormwater runoff. In the\nlast 20 years, recharge has shifted slightly from Spring to Winter.\nSome upland aquifers (sand and gravel lenses in glacial till in Central\nIndiana) could experience declining water levels from lower rates of\ngroundwater recharge over time."}. (pp. 90 p). Indiana University Bloomington. 2021.
| Report
2019
An assessment of the persistence of chloride in the pathway from source water to tap: A pilot studyLetsinger, Sally and Branam, Tracy{"type"=>"OTHER", "title"=>"An assessment of the persistence of chloride in the pathway from source water to tap: A pilot study", "authors"=>[{"seqno"=>1, "is_author"=>true, "surname"=>"Letsinger", "firstname"=>"Sally", "middlename"=>nil, "guid"=>"741AA7C97F00000155C7539A3E369057"}, {"seqno"=>2, "is_author"=>true, "surname"=>"Branam", "firstname"=>"Tracy", "middlename"=>nil}], "other_data"=>{"publisher"=>"Indiana University Bloomington", "language"=>"English", "url"=>"https://search.datacite.org/works/10.13140/rg.2.2.26524.05769", "publication"=>"Report to Indiana Finance Authority"}, "alternateIds"=>[{"source"=>"COS", "otherId"=>"10.13140/rg.2.2.26524.05769", "type"=>"doi"}, {"source"=>"COS", "otherId"=>"FETCH-datacite_primary_10_13140_rg_2_2_26524_057690", "type"=>"summonId"}, {"source"=>"COS", "otherId"=>"10_13140_rg_2_2_26524_05769", "type"=>"patentNumber"}], "doi"=>"10.13140/rg.2.2.26524.05769", "source_type"=>"Report", "pubdate"=>"2019", "year"=>"2019", "source"=>"COS", "abstract"=>"Chloride is a conservative constituent of surface and groundwater, occurring naturally from geologic processes and anthropogenically from substances applied to the land surface. Because chloride dissolves so completely, it is difficult to remove from the environment, especially water. This inquiry is not based on a concern about the ingestion of chloride, but its potential role in corrosion of metal infrastructure, including water-distribution systems. A pilot study is underway in Indiana where concern about lead contamination of drinking water, especially by vulnerable populations such as school-age children, has spurred statewide testing. Along with chloride, sulfate and alkalinity are used to assess potential corrosivity of metal pipes using various indices, such as the chloride-to-sulfate mass ratio (CSMR). Interpretation of CSMR data suggests that CSMR >0.5 in drinking-water distribution systems has increased potential to promote galvanic corrosion of lead solder connections. We are conducting a statewide assessment of chloride concentrations, trends, and corrosion potential in the source water in Indiana. Preliminary results show that increasing trends in chloride at long-term surface-water stations were observed between 1990 and 2010 at 46% of the sites analyzed. A commensurate increase in sulfate was not observed at most of these sites, suggesting that chloride increases are driving elevated CSMRs in surface water. It is notable that the main stem of the Wabash River is characterized by declining chloride concentration trends, whereas headwater catchments in that basin show increasing trends. This pattern has not been observed in other basins in Indiana, such as the White River Basin. Although trend data are not available for the groundwater-quality network in Indiana, 48% of unconsolidated wells and 35% of bedrock wells yield a CSMR >0.5. Work is currently underway to ascribe sources, or combinations of sources, of chloride in both surface and groundwater that could enter the drinking-water distribution system in Indiana. Initial work points to road de-icers in urban areas and septic systems and fertilizer (including land-application of manure) in more rural areas."}. Indiana University Bloomington. 2019.
| Report
Indiana Lead Sampling Program for Public SchoolsLetsinger, Sally L{"type"=>"OTHER", "source"=>"COS", "source_type"=>"Report", "abstract"=>"The Indiana Finance Authority (IFA), with assistance from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), developed the Lead Sampling Program for Public Schools to help schools assess if there is a presence of Lead (Pb) in drinking water within their facilities. This program is voluntary because current state and federal laws do not require schools that purchase water from a Public Water System to test for Lead. Out of over 1,700 eligible K-12 public schools and educational facilities in Indiana, 915 schools enrolled in the program. The program enrollment included 60% of all public school students in Indiana.\nLead is not commonly found in the drinking water entering school buildings from local utilities, but rather is related to the internal water-distribution system of the building. Lead primarily enters drinking water through corrosion of internal plumbing material; and in most cases, the issue is not system-wide, but specific to the fixture identified.\nFor this program, an elevated Lead level is a reading that meets or exceeds the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) “Action Level” (AL) of 15 parts per billion (ppb). The AL of 15 ppb is not a measure of health effects. It serves as a signal to the school to take steps to reduce the Lead concentration in the water. In this program, 57,000 samples were collected (an average of 60 samples per school), with 62% of schools having at least 1 fixture with Lead over 15 ppb (also called an “Action Level Exceedance,” or ALE). Seven percent of schools had more than 10 fixtures (out of an average of 40 fixtures per school) with ALEs.\nFaucets and water fountains were implicated as the highest proportion of fixtures with ALEs, and many of the highest values were related to infrequently used (e.g., commercial kitchen appliances) or seasonally used (e.g., athletic facilities, concession stands) fixtures. These results are consistent with other school Lead sampling programs.\nBecause the primary goal of the program was to provide schools with more information about how to better manage water quality within their facilities, the IFA worked closely with each school to identify remediation approaches specific to the fixture and the needs of the school. These actions resolved problems by removing or replacing fixtures, posting handwashing-only signs, or routinely flushing fixtures before use. No- or low-cost remediation actions were chosen for 43% of fixtures yielding elevated Lead concentrations in drinking water, whereas 46% of fixtures were repaired or replaced.", "pubdate"=>"2019", "authors"=>[{"seqno"=>1, "is_author"=>true, "surname"=>"Letsinger", "firstname"=>"Sally", "middlename"=>"L", "guid"=>"741AA7C97F00000155C7539A3E369057"}], "other_data"=>{"publication"=>"https://www.in.gov/ifa/2958.htm", "publisher"=>"Indiana Finance Authority"}, "title"=>"Indiana Lead Sampling Program for Public Schools"}. Indiana Finance Authority. 2019.
| Report
2018
Fault Angle Control on Potential Seismic Slip in the Illinois Basin RegionRupp, John A⋅Rupp, John A⋅Letsinger, Sally L⋅Letsinger, Sally L⋅Carlson, Grace and Carlson, GraceSeismological Research Letters, vol. 89, (no. 6), pp. 2461-2472, Nov 2018.
| Journal Article
2017
Controls on the occurrence and prevalence of floodplain channels in meandering riversDavid, Scott R⋅David, Scott R⋅Edmonds, Douglas A⋅Edmonds, Douglas A⋅Letsinger, Sally L and Letsinger, Sally LEarth Surface Processes and Landforms, vol. 42, (no. 3), pp. 460-472, Mar 15, 2017.
| Journal Article
Geological investigations of the distribution of arsenic in Indiana groundwaterLetsinger, Sally L{"type"=>"OTHER", "title"=>"Geological investigations of the distribution of arsenic in Indiana groundwater", "authors"=>[{"seqno"=>1, "is_author"=>true, "surname"=>"Letsinger", "firstname"=>"Sally", "middlename"=>"L", "guid"=>"741AA7C97F00000155C7539A3E369057"}], "other_data"=>{"publisher"=>"Indiana University Bloomington", "language"=>"English", "url"=>"https://search.datacite.org/works/10.13140/rg.2.2.25066.29123", "publication"=>"Report to Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Contract ARN A305-6-190"}, "alternateIds"=>[{"source"=>"COS", "otherId"=>"10.13140/rg.2.2.25066.29123", "type"=>"doi"}, {"source"=>"COS", "otherId"=>"FETCH-datacite_primary_10_13140_rg_2_2_25066_291230", "type"=>"summonId"}, {"source"=>"COS", "otherId"=>"10_13140_rg_2_2_25066_29123", "type"=>"patentNumber"}], "doi"=>"10.13140/rg.2.2.25066.29123", "source_type"=>"Report", "pubdate"=>"2017", "year"=>"2017", "source"=>"COS", "abstract"=>"The maximum contaminant level (MCL) of arsenic (As) concentration in drinking water is regulated by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as 10 µg/L and has been documented above this concentration in groundwater aquifers throughout the Midwest. In Indiana, natural As in groundwater is mobilized from its lithological hosts (either unconsolidated glacial or near-surface, bedrock aquifers) through ox/redox and corresponding dissolution or desorption reactions occur. This study characterized arsenic in glacial and bedrock sediments and clasts in 51 boreholes for which the Indiana Geological Survey had archived physical samples. The samples varied in quality and completeness, but were representative of different hydrogeologic settings in Indiana, many of which were in close proximity to elevated arsenic concentrations in groundwater. The overall finding is that there is no clear \"smoking gun\" geologic source that was revealed using the samples, data, and techniques that we used. From the clast and inclusion analyses that were conducted, we understand that pyritic materials do contain more arsenic that that found in the matrix material of most cores in glacial sediments. We did not find a \"fingerprint\" or unique elemental assemblage for any shale units known to host naturally-occurring arsenic. Our current working hypothesis is now focused on mobilization and transport mechanisms in groundwater systems, with high organic horizons or units possibly being a reservoir for biological activity with resulting reducing conditions."}. Indiana University Bloomington. 2017.
| Report
Hydrogeologic modeling of an area subjected to detailed geologic mapping in three dimensions: Do the details really matter?Medina, Cristian; LIn Quaternary Glaciation of the Great Lakes Region: Process, Landforms, Sediments, and Chronology, Process, Landforms, Sediments, and Chronology: Geological. Geological Society of America. 2017. | Book Chapter
2016
A hydropedological approach to quantifying groundwater recharge in various glacial settings of the mid-continental USA
S Naylor⋅SL Letsinger⋅DL Ficklin⋅KM Ellett and GA Olyphant
Hydrological Processes (Online), vol. 30, (no. 10), pp. 1594, May 15, 2016. | Journal Article
A multiagency and multijurisdictional approach to mapping the glacial deposits of the Great Lakes region in three dimensionsBerg, R C⋅Brown, S E⋅Thomason, J F⋅Hasenmueller, N R⋅Letsinger, S L⋅Kincare, K A⋅Esch, J M⋅Kehew, A E⋅Harvey, Thorleifson⋅Kozlowski, A L⋅Bird, B C⋅Pavey, R R⋅Bajc, A F⋅Burt, A K⋅Fleeger, G M and Carson, E CGeological Society of America. 2016.
| Report
2015
A climatic deconstruction of recent drought trends in the United StatesFicklin, Darren L⋅Ficklin, Darren L⋅Ficklin, Darren L⋅Maxwell, Justin T⋅Maxwell, Justin T⋅Maxwell, Justin T⋅Letsinger, Sally L⋅Letsinger, Sally L⋅Letsinger, Sally L⋅Gholizadeh, Hamed⋅Gholizadeh, Hamed and Gholizadeh, HamedEnvironmental Research Letters, vol. 10, (no. 4), pp. 44009, Apr 1, 2015.
| Journal Article
Assessing differences in snowmelt-dependent hydrologic projections using CMIP3 and CMIP5 climate forcing data for the western United StatesFicklin, Darren L⋅Ficklin, Darren L⋅Letsinger, Sally L⋅Letsinger, Sally L⋅Stewart, Iris T⋅Stewart, Iris T⋅Maurer, Edwin P and Maurer, Edwin PHydrology Research, vol. 47, (no. 2), pp. nh2015101, Sep 8, 2015.
| Journal Article
Incorporation of the Penman–Monteith potential evapotranspiration method into a Palmer Drought Severity Index ToolFicklin, Darren L⋅Ficklin, Darren L⋅Letsinger, Sally L⋅Letsinger, Sally L⋅Gholizadeh, Hamed⋅Gholizadeh, Hamed⋅Maxwell, Justin T and Maxwell, Justin TComputers and Geosciences, vol. 85, pp. 136-141, Dec 2015.
| Journal Article
Relationship of groundwater recharge rates to aquifer sensitivity to contamination in shallow aquifers in Indiana using multiple regression analysisLetsinger, Sally L{"type"=>"OTHER", "title"=>"Relationship of groundwater recharge rates to aquifer sensitivity to contamination in shallow aquifers in Indiana using multiple regression analysis", "authors"=>[{"seqno"=>1, "is_author"=>true, "surname"=>"Letsinger", "firstname"=>"Sally", "middlename"=>"L", "guid"=>"741AA7C97F00000155C7539A3E369057"}], "other_data"=>{"publisher"=>"Indiana University Bloomington", "language"=>"English", "url"=>"https://search.datacite.org/works/10.13140/rg.2.2.11644.51842", "publication"=>"Report to Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Contract ARN A305-2-52"}, "alternateIds"=>[{"source"=>"COS", "otherId"=>"10.13140/rg.2.2.11644.51842", "type"=>"doi"}, {"source"=>"COS", "otherId"=>"FETCH-datacite_primary_10_13140_rg_2_2_11644_518420", "type"=>"summonId"}, {"source"=>"COS", "otherId"=>"10_13140_rg_2_2_11644_51842", "type"=>"patentNumber"}], "doi"=>"10.13140/rg.2.2.11644.51842", "source_type"=>"Report", "pubdate"=>"2015", "year"=>"2015", "source"=>"COS", "abstract"=>"The goal of this project was to use an objective, reproducible methodology to estimate diffuse groundwater recharge rates in a glaciated environment and then relate recharge to near-surface aquifer sensitivity to contamination. A groundwater-recharge map was developed by conducting a multiple regression analysis of factors that control groundwater recharge. The groundwater recharge data used in the multiple regression analysis were derived from calculations of groundwater baseflow and surface-water runoff for 279 streams in Indiana. Estimates of groundwater baseflow were determined using hydrograph separation analysis using a local-minimums approach with a recession slope test (Institute of Hydrology, 1980). Following Wolock (2003), baseflow index (BFI) values were converted to estimated recharge by calculating the proportion of statewide interpolated estimates of runoff that was contributed by groundwater."}. Indiana University Bloomington. 2015.
| Report
2014
Climate change and stream temperature projections in the Columbia River basin: habitat implications of spatial variation in hydrologic driversFicklin, D⋅Barnhart, B⋅Knouft, J⋅Stewart, I⋅Maurer, E⋅Letsinger, S and Whittaker, GHydrology and Earth System Sciences, vol. 18, (no. 12), pp. 4897-4912, Dec 8, 2014.
| Journal Article
2007
A rapid method for calculating the spatial distribution of equilibrium surface temperatures in complex terrainLetsinger, Sally L and Olyphant, G.A.2007
Distributed energy balance modeling of snow cover evolution and melt in rugged terrain: Tobacco Root Mountains, Montana, USALetsinger, Sally LJournal of Hydrology, 2007.
| Journal Article
Distributed energy-balance modeling of snow-cover evolution and melt in rugged terrain: Tobacco Root Mountains, Montana, USALetsinger, Sally L and Olyphant, GAJournal of Hydrology (Amsterdam), vol. 336, (no. 1-2), pp. 48-60, 2007.
| Journal Article
2006
Dressing the Emperor (Groundwater-Flow Model) of Glacial Geology: A Tale of Three TailorsOlyphant, G.A.⋅Medina, C.R. and Letsinger, Sally LGeological Society of America Annual Meeting; Geological Society of America Annual Meeting. 2006.
| Conference Proceeding
Nitrogen loading of shallow groundwater aquifers in varying soil and topographic settings of southwestern IndianaReeder, M.D.⋅Olyphant, G.A. and Letsinger, Sally LGeological Society of America; Geological Society of America Annual Meeting. 2006.
| Conference Proceeding
The Role of Three-Dimensional Information Visualization Software in the Development of Three-Dimensional Hydrogeologic ModelsLetsinger, Sally L⋅Olyphant, G.A. and Medina, C.R.Geological Society of America; Geological Society of America Annual Meeting. 2006.
| Conference Proceeding
The Role of Three-Dimensional Information Visualization Software in the Development of Three-Dimensional Hydrogeologic ModelsMedina, C.R.⋅Olyphant, S.L. and Letsinger, Sally LGeological Society of America; Geological Society of America Annual Meeting. 2006.
| Conference Proceeding
2005
GIS-based hydrologic modeling for prioritizing riparian buffer restoration areas, Young's Creek Watershed, Johnson County, IndianaLetsinger, Sally L and Olyphant, G.A.American Water Resources Association; American Water Resources Association Annual Meeting, Seattle, November 7-10 2005. 2005.
| Conference Proceeding
2004
GIS-based hydrologic modeling for riparian buffer management, Young’s Creek Watershed, Johnson County, IndianaLetsinger, Sally L and Olyphant, G.A.30 Jul 2004
2003
Development of a method to assess riparian vegetated buffer zones using GIS and remote sensing in Young’s Creek watershed, Johnson County, IndianaLetsinger, Sally L and Olyphant, G.A.(pp. 78). Sep 2003
