Hydrogeologic and Geochemical Characterization of Groundwater Resources in Rush Valley, Tooele County, Utah
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Prepared in cooperation with the State of Utah Department of Natural Resources Hydrogeologic and Geochemical Characterization of Groundwater Resources in Rush Valley, Tooele County, Utah Scientific Investigations Report 2011–5068 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Cover: Groundwater-supplied stock tank in southwestern Rush Valley, Utah. Hydrogeologic and Geochemical Characterization of Groundwater Resources in Rush Valley, Tooele County, Utah By Philip M. Gardner and Stefan Kirby Prepared in cooperation with the State of Utah Department of Natural Resources Scientific Investigations Report 2011–5068 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior KEN SALAZAR, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Marcia K. McNutt, Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2011 For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment, visit http://www.usgs.gov or call 1-888-ASK-USGS For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod To order this and other USGS information products, visit http://store.usgs.gov Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report. Suggested citation: Gardner, P.M., and Kirby, S.M., 2011, Hydrogeologic and geochemical characterization of groundwater resources in Rush Valley, Tooele County, Utah: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2011–5068, 68 p. Acknowledgements The USGS acknowledges the support and cooperation of the municipalities and private land owners in Rush Valley that granted access to wetland areas, springs, and wells. Their time and interest and discussions of their respective water works and water-use practices are greatly appreciated. iii Contents Abstract ......................................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 2 Purpose and Scope ............................................................................................................................. 2 Physical Characteristics of the Study Area .................................................................................... 2 Population and Land Use .......................................................................................................... 4 Precipitation ................................................................................................................................ 4 Streamflow .................................................................................................................................. 6 Geology ........................................................................................................................................ 7 Groundwater Hydrology .............................................................................................................................. 9 Hydrogeology ....................................................................................................................................... 9 Basin Fill ....................................................................................................................................... 9 Bedrock ...................................................................................................................................... 12 Hydrogeologic Cross Sections ..................................................................................... 13 Aquifer Properties ............................................................................................................................. 16 Basin Fill .................................................................................................................................... 16 Bedrock ...................................................................................................................................... 18 Occurrence and Movement of Groundwater ............................................................................... 18 Northern Rush Valley ............................................................................................................... 20 Vernon Area ............................................................................................................................... 20 Southeastern Rush Valley ....................................................................................................... 20 Groundwater Budget ........................................................................................................................ 21 Recharge .................................................................................................................................... 22 Infiltration of Precipitation ............................................................................................. 22 Unconsumed Irrigation Water ....................................................................................... 24 Discharge ................................................................................................................................... 24 Evapotranspiration .......................................................................................................... 24 Mountain Springs and Baseflow to Mountain Streams ............................................ 26 Well Withdrawals ............................................................................................................ 26 Subsurface Outflow to Tooele and Cedar Valleys ...................................................... 26 Water-Level Fluctuations ................................................................................................................. 28 Groundwater Geochemistry ..................................................................................................................... 35 Sample Collection and Analysis ...................................................................................................... 35 Environmental Tracer Methods ....................................................................................................... 35 Tritium and Helium .................................................................................................................... 35 Carbon-14 ................................................................................................................................... 38 Oxygen-18 and Deuterium ...................................................................................................... 39 Dissolved Gases ....................................................................................................................... 39 Results ................................................................................................................................................ 40 Major Ions, Nutrients, and Selected Trace Metals ............................................................. 40 Tritium and Helium .................................................................................................................... 43 Carbon-14 .................................................................................................................................. 46 Oxygen-18 and Deuterium ....................................................................................................... 47 Dissolved Gases ........................................................................................................................ 49 iv Discussion ................................................................................................................................................... 52 Summary ...................................................................................................................................................... 56 References Cited ........................................................................................................................................ 57 Appendix 1. Data Tables ............................................................................................................................ 63 Appendix 2. Groundwater-Budget Uncertainty ..................................................................................... 68 Figures 1. Map showing location of the Rush Valley study area, Tooele County, Utah ...................... 3 2. Map showing average annual precipitation, 1971–2000, Rush Valley, Tooele County, Utah .............................................................................................................................. 5 3. Graph showing long-term annual precipitation recorded at three weather stations in or near Rush Valley, Tooele County, Utah ........................................................................ 6 4. Graph showing annual streamflow of Clover Creek for 1986–2001 and Vernon Creek for 1959–2009, Rush Valley, Tooele County, Utah .................................................... 8 5. Map showing surficial extent of hydrogeologic units and prominent structural