Nevada Test Site, Nye County, Nevada
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Summary of Hydrogeologic Controls on Ground-Water Flow at the Nevada Test Site, Nye County, Nevada By Randell J. Laczniak, James C. Cole, David A. Sawyer, and Douglas A. Trudeau US. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Water-Resources Investigations Report 96-4109 Prepared in cooperation with the OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION AND WASTE MANAGEMENT U.S. Department of Energy Nevada Operations Off ice, under Interagency Agreement DE-A108-91NV11040 DISCLAIMER This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsi- bility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Refer- ence herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recom- mendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof. Carson City, Nevada 1996 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary U.S.. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY -GORDON P. EATON, Director Any use of trade names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Government For additional information Copies of this report can be write to: purchased from: District Chief U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Geological Survey Information Services 333 West Nye Lane, Room 203 Box 25286, MS 517 Carson City, NV 89706-0866 Denver Federal Center Denver, CO 80225-0046 DISCLAIMER Portions of this document may be illegible in electronic image products. Images are produced from the best available original document. CONTENTS Abstract .................................................................................................................................................................................. 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................ 1 Background ................................................................................................................................................................ 1 Purpose and Scope ..................................................................................................................................................... 7 Regional Flow System........................................................................................................................................................... 8 Hydrogeologic Units .................................................................................................................................................. 10 Ground-Water Flow and Subbasins............................................................................................................................ 16 Ash Meadows Subbasin .................................................................................................................................. 16 Oasis Valley Subbasin .................................................................................................................................... 18 Alkali Flat-Furnace Creek Ranch Subbasin ................................................................................................... 19 Flow Rates and Summary ............................................................................................................................... 20 Underground Test Areas ........................................................................................................................................................ 21 Yucca Flat and Frenchman Flat .................................................................................................................................. 21 Hydrogeologic Units ....................................................................................................................................... 23 Ground-Water Flow ........................................................................................................................................ 26 Pahute Mesa and Rainier Mesa .................................................................................................................................. 32 Hydrogeologic Units ....................................................................................................................................... 33 Ground-Water Flow ........................................................................................................................................ 37 Effects of Underground Testing on Ground-Water Flow ........................................................................................... 42 Yucca Flat and Frenchman Flat ...................................................................................................................... 45 Pahute Mesa and Rainier Mesa ...................................................................................................................... 45 Summary and Considerations for Environmental Restoration .............................................................................................. 50 References Cited .................................................................................................................................................................... 54 PLATES [Plates in pocket at back of report] 1. Map showing major controls on regional ground-water flow at and near Nevada Test Site. southern Nevada and southeastern California 2. Sections showing major controls on ground-water flow at and near Nevada Test Site. southern Nevada and southeastern California 3. Map showing major controls on ground-water flow and distribution of hydrogeologic units at water table in Yucca Flat and Frenchman Flat areas. southern Nevada 4. Map and sections showing water levels. underground tests. and principal water-bearing units in upper 2. 000 feet of saturated rock in Pahute Mesa area, southern Nevada FIGURES 1.6 . Maps showing: 1. Location of Nevada Test Site and local physiographic and geographic features.................................................... 3 2 . General areas of underground nuclear testing and other potential sources of subsurface contamination at Nevada Test Site ............................................................................................................................................... 4 3. Location of Death Valley ground-water flow system in relation to local geographic features and areas of Federal land administration .............................................................................................................................. 6 4. Surface distribution of rocks in and near Nevada Test Site .................................................................................... 9 5. General features of volcanic-rock aquifer system in and adjacent to northwestern part of Nevada Test Site ........ 34 6. Major controls on ground-water flow in Pahute Mesa area .................................................................................... 38 7. Diagrammatic section showing mechanical and hydrologic effects that may result from underground test detonated below water table ...................................................................................................................................... 43 CONTENTS 111 ~ . ~ .. ~-..... _- .. ......... I 8. Generalized longitudinal hydrogeologic section across central Yucca Flat showing mechanical effects of underground testing ............................................................................................................................................... 46 9. Map showing general areas within Yucca Flat where sustained, local hydrologic effects may have resulted from underground testing .......................................................................................................................................... 48 TABLES 1. Principal stratigraphic and associated hydrogeologic units of Nevada Test Site and vicinity .......................................... 11 2. Nomenclature for hydrogeologic units of Nevada Test Site and vicinity.......................................................................... 14 3. General characteristics of ground-water subbasins of Nevada Test Site and vicinity ....................................................... 17 4. Distribution of underground tests relative to water table and estimated number of tests that have introduced test-generated contaminants into the ground-water flow system by major test area at the Nevada Test Site ............ 22 5. Water levels, underground tests, and associated test and hole parameters used to determine general position of test relative to the water table ................................................................................................................................. 30 CONVERSION FACTORS AND VERTICAL DATUM Multiply BY To obtain Length foot (ft) 0.3048 meter mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer Area square mile (mi*) 2.590 square kilometer Volume acre-foot (acre-ft) 1,233 cubic meter cubic mile (mi3)