SIR 2018–5144: Land Subsidence Along the California Aqueduct In
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Land Subsidence Along the California Aqueduct in West-Central San Joaquin Valley, California, 2003–10 C a li fo r nia Aq ue du ct Scientific Investigations Report 2018–5144 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey A B C FRONT COVER: A: Photograph showing U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientist inspecting well 12S/12E-16H5. Photograph by Michelle Sneed, USGS, 2018. B: Photograph showing USGS scientist inspecting extensometer/well 20S/18E-6D1. Photograph by Claudia Faunt, USGS, 2012. C: Photograph showing groundwater-level measurement using a calibrated steel tape at well 14S/15E-5J1. Photograph by Michelle Sneed, USGS, 2017. A B BACK COVER: A: Photograph showing the California Aqueduct. Photograph by Michelle Sneed, USGS, 2015. B: Photograph showing the California Aqueduct. Photograph by Michelle Sneed, USGS, 2017. Land Subsidence Along the California Aqueduct in West-Central San Joaquin Valley, California, 2003–10 By Michelle Sneed, Justin T. Brandt, and Mike Solt Prepared in cooperation with the California Department of Water Resources Scientific Investigations Report 2018–5144 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior RYAN K. ZINKE, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey James F. Reilly II, Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2018 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 https://www.usgs.gov or call 1–888–ASK–USGS. For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit https://store.usgs.gov. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also may contain copyrighted materials as noted in the text. Permission to reproduce copyrighted items must be secured from the copyright owner. Suggested citation: Sneed, M., Brandt, J.T., and Solt, M., 2018, Land subsidence along the California Aqueduct in west-central San Joaquin Valley, California, 2003–10: U.S. Geological Survey Scientfic Investigations Report 2018–5144, 67 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20185144. ISSN 2328-0328 (online) iii Acknowledgments This study was done in cooperation with the California Department of Water Resources; the authors gratefully acknowledge their support and assistance during this study. We thank the University NAVSTAR (Navigation Satellite Timing and Ranging) Consortium (UNAVCO) for allowing free access to continuous Global Positioning System data. Radar data used to produce the interferograms shown in this report were acquired by the European Space Agency and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency and distributed by Western North America Interfero- metric Synthetic Aperture Radar Consortium, GeoEarthScope, and the Alaska Synthetic Aperture Radar Facility for purposes of research and development. Geodetic surveys along Highways 152 and 198 were done by the California Department of Transportation and the National Geodetic Survey. The Global Positioning System surveys along the California Aqueduct were done by the California Department of Water Resources. Extensometer data from 13S/15E-31J17 (Fordel) and water-level data from wells 13S/15E-31J3 and 13S/15E-31J6 were provided by Luhdorff and Scalmanini Consulting Engineers. Extensometer and water-level data from other sites were obtained from the U.S. Geological Survey and California Department of Water Resources data- bases and Westlands Water District. iv Contents Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................................................iii Conversion Factors .....................................................................................................................................viii Datums ..........................................................................................................................................................viii Abbreviations.................................................................................................................................................ix Well-Numbering System ...............................................................................................................................x Abstract ...........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................2 Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................6 Description of Study Area ...................................................................................................................6 Previous Land-Subsidence Studies ...................................................................................................7 Hydrogeologic Framework ...........................................................................................................................7 Geology and Aquifer System ..............................................................................................................7 Groundwater Levels and Movement .................................................................................................9 Land Subsidence...................................................................................................................................9 Mechanics of Pumping-Induced Land Subsidence ...............................................................................10 Measurements and Methods.....................................................................................................................12 Land-Surface Elevation and Elevation Change .............................................................................12 Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) ..............................................................12 Continuous Global Positioning System Network ..................................................................17 Geodetic (Global Positioning System and Spirit-Level) Surveys ......................................19 Aquifer-System Compaction Measurements Using Borehole Extensometers ........................19 Water Levels ........................................................................................................................................24 Land Subsidence, Aquifer-System Compaction, and Groundwater Levels .......................................24 Patterns of Land Subsidence, Compaction, and Groundwater Levels During 2003–10 ..........28 Oro Loma–Madera (El Nido) ....................................................................................................28 Subsidence and Aquifer-System Compaction .............................................................28 Groundwater Levels .........................................................................................................31 Relation of Subsidence and Groundwater Levels .......................................................36 Panoche Creek ...........................................................................................................................37 Subsidence and Aquifer-System Compaction .............................................................37 Groundwater Levels .........................................................................................................37 Relation of Subsidence and Groundwater Levels .......................................................38 San Joaquin–Huron ...................................................................................................................38 Subsidence and Aquifer-System Compaction .............................................................38 Groundwater Levels .........................................................................................................39 Relation of Subsidence and Groundwater Levels .......................................................39 Kettleman City ............................................................................................................................40 Subsidence and Aquifer-System Compaction .............................................................40 Groundwater Levels .........................................................................................................40 Relation of Subsidence and Groundwater Levels .......................................................40 Comparison to Historical Land Subsidence ...................................................................................40 Oro Loma–Madera (El Nido) ....................................................................................................42 Panoche Creek ...........................................................................................................................42 v Contents—Continued San Joaquin–Huron ...................................................................................................................42 Kettleman City ............................................................................................................................44 Effects of Land Subsidence on Infrastructure ...............................................................................44