Hydrogeologic Framework, Groundwater Movement, and Water
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Prepared in cooperation with the Skagit County Public Works Department, Washington State Department of Ecology, and Skagit County Public Utility District No. 1 Hydrogeologic Framework, Groundwater Movement, and Water Budget in Tributary Subbasins and Vicinity, Lower Skagit River Basin, Skagit and Snohomish Counties, Washington Scientific Investigations Report 2009–5270 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Cover: Lake Creek which connects Lake McMurray to Big Lake, lower Skagit River basin, Washington. Photograph taken May 9, 2006, courtesy of Skagit County Public Works. Hydrogeologic Framework, Groundwater Movement, and Water Budget in Tributary Subbasins and Vicinity, Lower Skagit River Basin, Skagit and Snohomish Counties, Washington By Mark E. Savoca, Kenneth H. Johnson, Steven S. Sumioka, Theresa D. Olsen, Elisabeth T. Fasser, and Raegan L. Huffman Prepared in cooperation with the Skagit County Public Works Department, Washington State Department of Ecology, and Skagit County Public Utility District No. 1 Scientific Investigations Report 2009–5270 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: 2009 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: Savoca, M.E., Johnson, K.H., Sumioka, S.S., Olsen, T.D., Fasser, E.T., and Huffman, R.L., 2009, Hydrogeologic framework, groundwater movement, and water budget in tributary subbasins and vicinity, lower Skagit River basin, Skagit and Snohomish Counties, Washington: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2009–5270, 46 p. iii Contents Abstract ...........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1 Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................2 Description of Study Area ...................................................................................................................2 Methods of Investigation ..............................................................................................................................4 Well Inventory and Water-Level Measurements ............................................................................4 Hydrogeology.........................................................................................................................................4 Streamflow .............................................................................................................................................5 Hydrogeologic Framework ...........................................................................................................................5 Geologic Setting ....................................................................................................................................5 Geologic Units .......................................................................................................................................6 Hydrogeologic Units .............................................................................................................................8 Hydraulic Conductivity .......................................................................................................................18 Groundwater Movement ............................................................................................................................20 Recharge .............................................................................................................................................20 Groundwater-Flow Directions ..........................................................................................................26 Discharge .............................................................................................................................................32 Groundwater/Surface-Water Interactions .....................................................................................34 Groundwater-Level Fluctuations ......................................................................................................34 Water Budget ...............................................................................................................................................40 Summary and Conclusions .........................................................................................................................42 Acknowledgments .......................................................................................................................................43 Selected References ..................................................................................................................................43 Plates Plate 1. Map showing locations of selected wells, streamflow-gaging stations, and streamflow-measurement sites, and map showing generalized surficial geology in tributary subbasins and vicinity, lower Skagit River basin, Washington. Plate 2. Map and hydrogeologic sections showing surficial hydrogeology, hydrogeologic units, and locations of selected wells in tributary subbasins and vicinity, lower Skagit River basin, Washington. iv Figures Figure 1. Map showing location of tributary subbasins and vicinity, lower Skagit River basin, Washington ………………………………………………………………… 3 Figure 2. Map showing extent and thickness of alluvial and recessional outwash aquifer (Qago) in tributary subbasins and vicinity, lower Skagit River basin, Washington 11 Figure 3. Map showing extent and thickness of till confining unit (Qgt) in tributary subbasins and vicinity, lower Skagit River basin, Washington …………………… 12 Figure 4. Map showing extent and thickness of advance outwash aquifer (Qga) in tributary subbasins and vicinity, lower Skagit River basin, Washington ………… 13 Figure 5. Map showing extent and thickness of glaciolacustrine and distal outwash confining unit (Qgl) in tributary subbasins and vicinity, lower Skagit River basin, Washington ………………………………………………………………… 14 Figure 6. Map showing extent and thickness of inter-glacial alluvial aquifer (Qco) in tributary subbasins and vicinity, lower Skagit River basin, Washington ………… 15 Figure 7. Map showing extent and thickness of older till confining unit (Qot) in tributary subbasins and vicinity, lower Skagit River basin, Washington …………………… 16 Figure 8. Map showing extent and thickness of older outwash and alluvial aquifer (Qooa) in tributary subbasins and vicinity, lower Skagit River basin, Washington 17 Figure 9. Map showing extent of sedimentary aquifer (OEc) and igneous and metamorphic bedrock unit (EJTP) in tributary subbasins and vicinity, lower Skagit River basin, Washington …………………………………………………… 19 Figure 10. Map showing average annual precipitation, canopy cover, and impervious surface across the tributary subbasins and vicinity, lower Skagit River basin, Washington, September 2006–August 2008 ……………………………………… 22 Figure 11. Graph showing precipitation-recharge relations used in this study, lower Skagit River basin, Washington …………………………………………………… 23 Figure 12. Map showing detail of distribution of impervious surfaces in tributary subbasins and vicinity, lower Skagit River basin, Washington, September 2006–August 2008 ………………………………………………………………… 24 Figure 13. Map showing distribution of average annual groundwater recharge from precipitation in tributary subbasins and vicinity, lower Skagit River basin, Washington, September 2006–August 2008 ……………………………………… 25 Figure 14. Map showing water-level altitudes and direction of groundwater flow in alluvial and recessional outwash aquifer (Qago) in tributary subbasins and vicinity, lower Skagit River basin, Washington, August 2006–September 2008 …… 27 Figure 15. Map showing water-level altitudes and direction of groundwater flow in advance outwash aquifer (Qga) in tributary subbasins and vicinity, lower Skagit River basin, Washington, August 2006–September 2008 ………………… 28 Figure 16. Map showing water-level altitudes and direction of groundwater flow in inter-glacial alluvial aquifer (Qco) in tributary subbasins and vicinity, lower Skagit River basin, Washington, August 2006–September 2008 ………………… 29 Figure 17. Map showing water-level altitudes and direction of groundwater flow in older outwash and alluvial aquifer (Qooa) in tributary subbasins and vicinity, lower Skagit River basin, Washington, August 2006–September 2008 ………………… 30 Figure 18. Map showing water-level altitudes and direction of groundwater flow in the sedimentary aquifer (OEc) in tributary subbasins