Ground Water - Surface Water Interactions in the Lower Virgin River Area, Arizona and Nevada
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations 1-1-1995 Ground water - surface water interactions in the lower Virgin River area, Arizona and Nevada Lynn Metcalf University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/rtds Repository Citation Metcalf, Lynn, "Ground water - surface water interactions in the lower Virgin River area, Arizona and Nevada" (1995). UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations. 502. http://dx.doi.org/10.25669/z90f-mtsv This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. This Thesis has been accepted for inclusion in UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Scholarship@UNLV. For more information, please contact [email protected]. INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type of computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely afreet reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand comer and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. Each original is also photographed in one exposure and is included in reduced form at the back of the book. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographicaily in this copy. Higher quality 6" x 9" black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. A Bel! & Howell Information Company 300 North Zeeb Road. Ann Arbor. Ml 48106-1346 USA 313/761-4700 800/521-0600 Ground Water - Surface Water Interactions in the Lower Virgin River Area Arizona and Nevada by Lynn Metcalf A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Water Resources Management Department of Geoscience University of Nevada, Las Vegas August 1995 UMI Number: 1376193 UMI Microform 1376193 Copyright 1995, by UMI Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 The thesis of Lynn Metcalf for the degree of Master of Science in Water Resources Management is approved. h ! L ^ . / j C / ) a a aJ2 Q srC\. Chairperson, Neil L. Ingraham, Ph.D. xamining Committee Member, David K. Kreamer, Ph.D. — f e n v ; <>}J Examining Committe^Mem^Sr, Steve A.Mizell, Ph.D. Grp^uate Faculty Representative, James E. Deacon, Ph.D. Interim Dean of the Graduate College, Cheryl L. Bowles, Ed. D. University of Nevada, Las Vegas August 1995 ABSTRACT This study assessed interactions between ground water and surface water in the lower Virgin River, Arizona and Nevada, using stable isotopes and major ions as environmental tracers. The study reach starts at the Virgin River Gorge in Arizona and terminates at Lake Mead in Nevada, 80 km downstream. Discharge data showed that major sources of water for the lower Virgin River were discharge from the upper Virgin River and the Littlefield Springs, with minor amounts from Beaver Dam Wash, a perennial tributary. No strong evidence was found for ground-water seepage into the channel. In general, dissolved solids concentrations increased downstream because of water loss due to evapotranspiration. From the environmental tracer results, three general water types were identified: (1) local water including springs and streams in surrounding mountains, surface water from Beaver Dam Wash, and ground water from the Beaver Dam Wash floodplain aquifer; (2) Virgin River water consisting of surface water from the Virgin River, ground water from the Virgin River floodplain, and flow from the Littlefield springs; and (3) ground water from deep aquifers underlying the floodplain aquifers. The local water is the most isotopically enriched (SD values between -91 and -70%o) and has the lowest dissolved solids concentrations of all the waters sampled. Deep ground water is the most isotopically depleted of the waters with 6D values ranging from -106 to -99%o. Virgin River water is isotopically intermediate (5D from -97 to -87%o) but has the highest dissolved solids of all waters sampled. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT.......................................................................................................... iii LIST OF TA B LE S................................................................................................. viii LIST OF FIGURES............................................................................................. ix ACKNOWLEDGMENTS..................................................................................... xi CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION...............................................................................1 Previous W ork ............................................................................................. 5 Investigations in the Study A re a ..................................................... 5 Ground Water-Surface Water Interactions .................................... 9 Stable Isotopes as Tracers ................................................... 9 Chlorides as Conservative Tracers ...................................12 CHAPTER 2 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING........................................................14 Physical Characteristics of the Study Area ............................................. 15 Physiographic Setting .................................................................... 15 Geographic Location ..........................................................15 Physiographic Location ......................................................15 C lim ate .................................................................................18 Geologic Setting .......................................................................................21 Stratigraphy .....................................................................................21 Geologic History ............................................................................ 23 S tructures .......................................................................................25 Hydrogeology ............................................................................................. 28 Unconsolidated Rocks ..................................................................29 Younger Alluvium ................................................................30 Beaver Dam Wash Aquifer ................................................. 31 Older Alluvium .................................................................... 32 Muddy Creek Formation ..................................................... 32 Consolidated Rocks ...................................................................... 34 Carbonate R o ck s ................................................................34 Noncarbonate Rocks ......................................................... 36 iv Surface Water Hydrology ........................................................................ 37 Inflows ............................................................................................. 37 Diversions ....................................................................................... 40 Water Quality - Previous Work ................................................................40 Ground W ater .................................................................................40 S prings .................................................................................40 Wells ...................................................................................43 Surface W a te r .................................................................................44 CHAPTER 3 METHODS.......................................................................................46 Physical Methods .......................................................................................46 Approach ......................................................................................... 46 Rationale ......................................................................................... 46 Methods ......................................................................................... 48 Discharge Measurements ................................................... 48 Water Quality Sampling ..................................................... 51 Flash Flood Sampling on Tributaries ................................54 Analytical Methods .....................................................................................56