Ground-Water Conditions in Las Vegas Valley, Clark County, Nevada Part 2, Hydrogeology and Simulation of Ground-Water Flow
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Ground-Water Conditions in Las Vegas Valley, Clark County, Nevada Part 2, Hydrogeology and Simulation of Ground-Water Flow United States Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 2320-B Prepared in cooperation with the Clark County Department of Comprehensive Planning AVAILABILITY OF BOOKS AND MAPS OF THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Instructions on ordering publications of the U.S. Geological Survey, along with prices of the last offerings, are given in the current- year issues of the monthly catalog "New Publications of the U.S. Geological Survey." Prices of available U.S. Geological Survey publications released prior to the current year are listed in the most recent annual "Price and Availability List." 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BY MAIL OVER THE COUNTER Books Books and Maps Professional Papers, Bulletins, Water-Supply Papers, Tech Books and maps of the U.S. Geological Survey are available niques of Water-Resources Investigations, Circulars, publications over the counter at the following U.S. Geological Survey offices, of general interest (such as leaflets, pamphlets, booklets), single all of which are authorized agents of the Superintendent of Docu copies of Earthquakes & Volcanoes, Preliminary Determination of ments. Epicenters, and some miscellaneous reports, including some of the foregoing series that have gone out of print at the Superin ANCHORAGE, Alaska-^230 University Dr., Rm. 101 tendent of Documents, are obtainable by mail from LAKEWOOD, Colorado Federal Center, Bldg. 810 U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services Box 25286, Federal Center MENLO PARK, California Bldg. 3, Rm. 3128, 345 Mid- Denver, CO 80225 dlefield Rd. 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U.S. Geological Survey, Earth Science Information Center 101 Twelfth Ave., Box 12 Fairbanks, AK 99701 STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Mississippi Bldg. 3101 Ground-Water Conditions in Las Vegas Valley, Clark County, Nevada Part 2, Hydrogeology and Simulation of Ground-Water Flow By DAVID S. MORGAN AND MICHAEL D. DETTINGER Prepared in cooperation with the Clark County Department of Comprehensive Planning U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 2320-B U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY GORDON P. EATON, Director Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1996 For sale by the U.S. Geological Survey Information Services Box 25286, Federal Center Denver, CO 80225 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Plume, Russell W. Ground-water conditions in Las Vegas Valley, Clark County, Nevada. (U.S. Geological Survey water-supply paper; 2320-A-B) "Prepared in cooperation with the Clark County Department of Compre hensive Planning." Five folded maps in pocket, pt. 1. Includes bibliographical references. Contents: pt. 1. Hydrogeologic framework / by Russell W. Plume pt. 2. Hydrogeology and simulation of ground-water flow / by David S. Morgan and Michael D. Dettinger. 1. Groundwater Nevada Las Vegas Valley. 2. Geology Nevada Las Vegas Valley. I. Morgan, David S. II. Dettinger, M.D. III. Clark County (Nev.). Dept. of Comprehensive Planning. GB1025.N4P54 1989 87-600029 CONTENTS Abstract................................................................^ Bl 1.0 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................. 3 1.1 Objectives and Scope...................................................................................................................................... 4 1.2 Problem Identification .................................................................................................................................... 6 1.2.1 Overdraft of Water from Aquifer ....................................................................................................... 6 1.2.2 Water Logging and Water-Quality Degradation................................................................................. 9 1.3 Methods of Study............................................................................................................................ 13 1.3.1 Field and Analytical Techniques ........................................................................................................ 13 1.3.2 Data Availability................................................................................................................................. 15 1.4 Acknowledgments........................................................................................................................................... 18 2.0 Description of the Area............................................................................................................................................. 19 2.1 Land Forms..................................................................................................................................................... 20 2.2 Hydrogeologic Framework............................................................................................................................. 22 2.3 Hydrogeologic Conditions and Water Budget................................................................................................ 24 2.3.1 Predevelopment Conditions ............................................................................................................... 24 2.3.2 Postdevelopment Conditions.............................................................................................................. 26 2.4 Land Use ....................................................................................................................^ 28 2.5 Water Use.......................................................................................................^^ 31 3.0 Model Development................................................................................................................................................. 33 3.1 Modeling Approach ........................................................................................................................................ 34 3.1.1 Conceptual Model of Ground-Water Flow System............................................................................ 34 3.1.2 Mathematical Simulation Program .................................................................................................... 36 3.1.3 Mathematical Simulation Model........................................................................................................ 39 3.2 Physical and Hydrologic Processes ................................................................................................................ 41 3.2.1 Evapotranspiration ............................................................................................................................. 41 3.2.2 Spring Discharge................................................................................................................................ 44 3.2.3 Interaction Between Ground Water and Surface Water ..................................................................... 46 3.2.4 Subsidence ......................................................................................................................................... 48 3.2.5 Secondary Recharge........................................................................................................................... 50 3.2.6 Ground-Water Pumpage..................................................................................................................... 54 3.3 Hydraulic Characteristics of Valley Fill.......................................................................................................... 56 3.3.1 Transmissivity.................................................................................................................................... 56 3.3.2 Vertical Leakance ............................................................................................................................... 59 3.3.3 Elastic-Storage Coefficient and Specific Yield .................................................................................