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Groundwater Depletion in the United States (1900−2008)

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Groundwater Depletion in the United States (1900−2008) Groundwater Depletion in the United States (1900–2008) Scientific Investigations Report 2013–5079 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Cover: Map showing groundwater depletion in the 48 conterminous States of the United States from 1900 through 2008 (see figure 2 of this report and related discussion for more information). Groundwater Depletion in the United States (1900−2008) By Leonard F. Konikow Scientific Investigations Report 2013−5079 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior SALLY JEWELL, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Suzette M. Kimball, Acting Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2013 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, 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: Konikow, L.F., 2013, Groundwater depletion in the United States (1900−2008): U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2013−5079, 63 p., http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2013/5079. iii Contents Abstract ...........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1 Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................................1 Methods...........................................................................................................................................................2 Individual Depletion Estimates ....................................................................................................................4 Atlantic Coastal Plain ...........................................................................................................................6 Georgia and Northeast Florida ..................................................................................................6 Long Island, New York .................................................................................................................9 Maryland and Delaware ...........................................................................................................11 New Jersey .................................................................................................................................12 North Carolina ............................................................................................................................13 South Carolina ............................................................................................................................14 Virginia .........................................................................................................................................15 Atlantic Coastal Plain: Total .....................................................................................................16 Gulf Coastal Plain ................................................................................................................................16 Coastal Lowlands of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi ..................................16 Houston Area and Northern Part of Texas Gulf Coast .........................................................17 Central Part of Gulf Coast Aquifer System in Texas .............................................................19 Winter Garden Area, Southern Part of Texas Gulf Coast ....................................................20 Mississippi Embayment of the Gulf Coastal Plain ................................................................21 Gulf Coastal Plain: Total ............................................................................................................21 High Plains Aquifer .............................................................................................................................22 Central Valley, California ....................................................................................................................22 Western Alluvial Basins .....................................................................................................................25 Alluvial Basins, Arizona ............................................................................................................25 Antelope Valley, California .......................................................................................................26 Coachella Valley, California ......................................................................................................26 Death Valley Region, California and Nevada ........................................................................27 Escalante Valley, Utah ...............................................................................................................29 Estancia Basin, New Mexico ...................................................................................................30 Hueco Bolson, New Mexico and Texas .................................................................................30 Las Vegas Valley, Nevada ........................................................................................................32 Los Angeles Basin, California ..................................................................................................32 Mesilla Basin, New Mexico .....................................................................................................33 Middle Rio Grande Basin, New Mexico .................................................................................34 Milford Area, Utah .....................................................................................................................35 Mimbres Basin, New Mexico ..................................................................................................36 Mojave River Basin, California ................................................................................................36 Pahvant Valley, Utah ..................................................................................................................37 Paradise Valley, Nevada ...........................................................................................................38 Pecos River Basin, Texas .........................................................................................................39 San Luis Valley, Colorado .........................................................................................................40 iv Tularosa Basin, New Mexico ...................................................................................................40 Western Alluvial Basins: Total .................................................................................................41 Western Volcanic Aquifer Systems .................................................................................................41 Columbia Plateau Aquifer System ..........................................................................................41 Oahu, Hawaii...............................................................................................................................42 Snake River Plain, Idaho ...........................................................................................................43 Deep Confined Bedrock Aquifers ....................................................................................................45 Black Mesa Area, Arizona .......................................................................................................45 Midwest Cambrian-Ordovician Aquifer System ...................................................................46 Dakota Aquifer, Northern Great Plains...................................................................................47 Denver Basin, Colorado ............................................................................................................48 Agricultural and Land Drainage in the United States ...................................................................48 Discussion of Results ..................................................................................................................................50 Conclusions...................................................................................................................................................51 References Cited..........................................................................................................................................51 Figures 1. Map of the United States (excluding Alaska) showing the location and extent of 40 aquifer systems or subareas in which long-term groundwater depletion is assessed, 1900–2008 ....................................................................................................................2
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