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Summary of the Columbia Plateau Regional Aquifer-System Analysis, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho

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Summary of the Columbia Plateau Regional Aquifer-System Analysis, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho SUMMARY OF THE COLUMBIA PLATEAU REGIONAL AQUIFER-SYSTEM ANALYSIS, WASHINGTON, OREGON, AND IDAHO PROFESSIONAL PAPER 1413-A USGS tience for a changing world Availability of Publications of the U.S. Geological Survey Order U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) publications from the Documents. Check or money order must be payable to the offices listed below. Detailed ordering instructions, along with Superintendent of Documents. Order by mail from prices of the last offerings, are given in the current-year issues of the catalog "New Publications of the U.S. Geological Superintendent of Documents Survey." 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Minerals information is available electronically at http://minerals.er.usgs.gov/minerals/ Electronically Subscription to the catalog "New Publications of the U.S. Some USGS publications, including the catalog "New Publica­ Geological Survey" tions of the U.S. Geological Survey" are also available elec­ tronically on the USGS's World Wide Web home page at Those wishing to be placed on a free subscription list for the http://www.usgs.gov catalog "New Publications of the U.S. Geological Survey" should write to Preliminary Determination of Epicenters U.S. Geological Survey Subscriptions to the periodical "Preliminary Determination of 903 National Center Epicenters" can be obtained only from the Superintendent of Reston, VA 20192 Summary of the Columbia Plateau Regional Aquifer-System Analysis, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho fiyJ.J. VACCARO REGIONAL AQUIFER-SYSTEM ANALYSIS COLUMBIA PLATEAU U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 1413-A U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Charles G. Groat, 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. Reston, Virginia 1999 Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Vaccaro, J.J. Summary of the Columbia plateau regional aquifer-system analysis, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho/ by John J. Vaccaro. p. cm. (Regional aquifer-system analysis Washington, Oregon, Idaho) (U.S. Geological Survey professional paper; 1413-A) Includes bibliographical references. Supt. of Docs, no.: I 19.16:1413-A 1. Groundwater Columbia Plateau. 2. Water quality Columbia Plateau. I. Title. II. Series. III. Series: U.S. Geological Survey professional paper; 1413-A QE75.P9 no. 1413-A [GB1020] 557.3 s dc21 98-38920 [551.49'09795 CIP ISBN 0-607-90291-4 For sale by U.S. Geological Survey, Branch of Information Services, Box 25286, Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225 FOREWORD THE REGIONAL AQUIFER-SYSTEM ANALYSIS PROGRAM The Regional Aquifer-System Analysis (RASA) Program represents a systematic effort to study a number of the Nation's most important aquifer systems, which, in aggregate, underlie much of the country and which repre­ sent an important component of the Nation's total water supply. In general, the boundaries of these studies are identified by the hydrologic extent of each system and, accordingly, transcend the political subdivisions to which investi­ gations have often arbitrarily been limited in the past. The broad objective for each study is to assemble geologic, hydrologic, and geochemical information; to analyze and develop an understanding of the system; and to develop predic­ tive capabilities that will contribute to the effective management of the system. The use of computer simulation is an important element of the RASA studies to develop an understanding of the natural, undisturbed hydrologic system and the changes brought about in it by human activities, and to pro­ vide a means of predicting the regional effects of future pumping or other stresses. The final interpretive results of the RASA Program are presented in a series of U.S. Geological Survey Professional Papers that describe the geology, hydrology, and geochemistry of each regional aquifer system. Each study within the RASA Program is assigned a single Professional Paper number beginning with Professional Paper 1400. Charles G. Groat Director CONTENTS Page Page Forward............................................................................................ Ill Discharge................................................................................... 22 Abstract............................................................................................ Al Ground-water development............................................................ 29 Introduction..................................................................................... 2 Regional ground-water flow............................................................ 29 Purpose and scope ..................................................................... 2 Regional flow model................................................................... 29 Physical setting.......................................................................... 4 Predevelopment land-use conditions........................................ 31 Hydrogeologic framework ............................................................... 6 Current land-use conditions...................................................... 33 Geologic setting.......................................................................... 6 Effects of historical water-development practices......................... 35 Sedimentary units............................................................... 8 Effects of potential water-management alternatives.................... 41 Basalt units.......................................................................... 10 Equilibrium conditions.............................................................. 42 Imnaha and Picture Gorge Basalt................................ 10 Columbia Basin Irrigation Project expansion, 1983-85 Grande Ronde Basalt.................................................... 11 pumpage................................................................................ 44 Wanapum Basalt........................................................... 11 Columbia Basin Irrigation Project expansion, reduced Saddle Mountains Basalt.............................................. 11 pumpage................................................................................ 45 Structural features.............................................................. 12 Ground-water quality...................................................................... 45 Aquifer system........................................................................... 12 Water-quality characteristics.................................................... 46 Hydraulic characteristics.......................................................... 13 Geochemical model.................................................................... 48 Flow system............................................................................... 16 Selected references.......................................................................... 49 Recharge....................................................................................
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