Oeste Hydrologic Atlas I S a Cul Minat Ion of O Ur Efforts
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Hydrologic Atlas 2 Background Preface and Contents Using the Atlas: If you are interested in the Oeste Hydrologic Sub-area in general, we suggest that you page Table of Contents: through this document and linger on the features that interest you. This atlas is organized by general heading and subdivided into more specific areas. Preface and Contents ................................................... 2 General information about the Oeste Hydrologic Sub-area and the region can be found on pages 6-11. Introduction Discussions on the water cycle and the Oeste Hydrologic Sub-area watershed are found on pages 4 and 10. Overview ............................................................................. 3 The geology in the Oeste Hydrologic Sub-area, including an overview of the sediments Hydrologic Cycle ............................................................. 4 within the watershed, is discussed on pages 12-14. Groundwater Basins ...................................................... 5 Information regarding surface water and groundwater in the Oeste Hydrologic Sub- area can be found on pages 15-18. Background Groundwater quality standards and analyses can be found on pages 19 - 26. Physiography .................................................................... 6 A general map explanation, information tables and a glossary of terms used in this atlas can be found on pages 27-36. Regional Climate ............................................................... 7 Vegetation .......................................................................... 8 ● Key words, included in the glossary, are bold-italicized in the text. Land Use ............................................................................. 9 Watershed .......................................................................... 10 California State University, Fullerton Faults and Seismic Activity ......................................... 11 College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Department of Geological Sciences July 2009 Geology General Geology .............................................................. 12-13 El Mirage Clay Zone ....................................................... 14 Groundwater 224 50 H ead quart ers Drive ◊ Apple Val ley, CA 9230 7-00 19 Phone (76 0) 946-70 00 ◊ Fax (760) 240- 2642 ◊ w ww.moja ve water. or g Groundwater Occurence ............................................ 15 Movement ........................................ 16 Production and Usage ................ 17 Budget ............................................... 18 July 8, 200 9 Groundwater Chemistry The Mo jav e Water Ag ency (MWA) has b een entrusted wi th ma nag in g the lon g-t er m Aquifer Water Quality ................................................... 19 rel iab ility o f wat er r es ource s with in an app roximat el y 5,00 0 sq ua r e mi le are a of th e Moj ave De sert. The MWA has w orked clo sel y with ac ad emic fa culty and s tud en ts o f Water Quality Standards and the Geo log ical Sc ien ce s De partm ent from t he Ca li for nia St ate Un ive rsity at Full erto n (C SU F) to bui ld a sy nergis ti c r el ations hip. This c ommi tment has result ed in th e abi lity for profess io na l staff fro m the M WA to ca ll upon t he a ca dem ic r es ources Ion Water Chemistry 20 ..................................... prov id ed by CSUF t o assist wi th study in g grou ndwa ter res our ce ma nag ement issues. Ion Water Chemistry In or der to su pport scientif ic based de cisi on m aki ng relat ed t o wate r re so urces Magnesium and Sodium ............................ 21 ma nag em ent wit hin t he Oeste Su b-area, the MWA and CSUF embarked on a data gath eri ng miss ion t o obta in a nd int egrat e geo log ic and hyd ro logic info rmatio n Calcium and Chloride ................................... 22 ava ila ble f or the re gi on. The Oeste Hydrologic Atlas i s a cul minat ion of o ur efforts. This hyd roge olo gic assess men t of th e Oeste Sub-area ha s p rovi ded u s with infor ma ti on re ga rd in g gr oun dwa te r i n sto rage, aquif er spa ce av ail ab le for water Nitrate and Sulfate ........................................ 23 ban ki ng, r eview of the bas in wate r bu dget, g rou ndwater flow di recti on(s), fl ow r ates, and wat er qu ality dat a. In addit ion, we ll s id entified du ri ng the cour se of this s tudy Chromium ......................................................... 24 have be en inco rpo rate d into the MWA’s Key Well P rog ram, which is used to monitor water le vel s and wa ter qu ality with in the MWA servi ce a rea. Arsenic and Total Dissolved Solids ......... 25 The fi ndi ngs of thi s coll abo rativ e en dea vor betwee n MWA pro fe ssio nal s taff an d CSU F p rofesso rs an d stud ents will he lp wit h the pr ope r lo ng-te rm ma nag em ent o f Constituent Totals and Chemistry water re so urces with in the Oes te Suba rea. Spider Radar Graphs for Sinc erely, Lower and Upper Aquifer Wells .................................................... 26 Lan ce Ec kh art, PG, CHG, REA Prin cip al Hydr oge ol og ist Information Tables ......................................................... 27 Glossary ......................................................... 28-36 References ........................................................ 37-40 Acknowledgments ........................................................ 41 Mojave Water Agency Introduction Adjudicated Boundary Cuddeback Lake Sub-area Overview Superior Lake Sub-area This atlas presents an overview of previously published data Centro Sub-area and new data on the geography, climate, geology, hydrology , Baja Sub-area hydrogeology , and groundwater chemistry of the Oeste Hydro - N. Oeste Sub-area logic Sub-area. An awareness of the challenges in watershed management and possible solutions is imperative to the Mojave Alto Transition Zone Sub-area Desert region where precipitation is low and demands for O frese hs - - t e S u b a r e a water are high. This attention to overall watershed issues, Este Sub-area especially those that affect vital groundwater resources, cannot be overstated. In order to address these issues, several goals Alto Sub-area have been considered for this investigation: ± S u b - a r e a 1. Provide basic information on the basin’s geography. M o r o n g o B a s i n / MWA Adjudicated Boundary J o h n s o n V a l l e y 2. Construct geologic cross-sections through the basin . 3. Examine surface and groundwater flow conditions. MWA Sub-areas 0 5 10 20 Miles 4. Delineate the basin’s aquifers (upper/lower). 5. Assess groundwater flow within the basin. 6. Determine the hydrologic budget of the basin. 7. Assess groundwater quality conditions. reviewed by members of MWA and that their comments and recommendations were incorporated into this final atlas. This atlas has been prepared by students and faculty associated with the Applied Geosciences in the Department of Geological The Oeste Hydrologic Sub-area (also referred to as El Mirage Sciences at California State University Fullerton under contract Valley) is located just north of the San Gabriel Mountains along to the Mojave Water Agency (MWA). This atlas is a condensed the southern edge of the Mojave Desert, San Bernardino version of the Oeste Hydrologic Sub-area Report and is County, California and is part of the Oeste Sub-area boundary of intended to provide generalized information for public consump - the Mojave Water Agency (MWA). El Mirage Valley lies approxi - tion. This report was prepared with the understanding that the mately 25 miles west of Victorville. El Mirage Valley can be results will be used to help manage the water resources of the accessed by way of either, highway 18, highway 395 via the city area. It is also significant that the draft of this atlas was critically of Victorville or highway 138 through the community of Phelan. 11 9 ° W 11 8 ° W 11 7 ° W 11 6 ° W Southern California and the 0 20 40 80 Kilometers Oeste HydrologicC Sub-areau d d e b a c k L a k e 0 10 20 40 Miles S u b - a r e a Sa n Be r na rd i n o Co Superior Lake Sub-area N. Oeste Sub-area 35 ° N 35 ° N Centro Sub-area Ke rn Co Baja Sub-area Alto Tran- O e s t e S u b - a r e a sition Zone Lo s An g el e s Co Sub-area Este Ve n tu r a Co Alto Sub-area Sub-area S u b - a r e a M o r o n g o B a s i n / J o h n s o n V a l l e y P a c i f i c O c e a n 34 ° N 34 ° N CALIFORNIA Ri v er s i d e Co $ ^ Or a ng e Co 11 9 ° W 11 8 ° W 11 7 ° W 11 6 ° W 3 4 Introduction Earth’s Water Distribution Hydrologic Cycle Oceans (saltwater) 97% Groundwater The endless circulation of water between the oceans, atmo - 14.18% sphere, and land is called the hydrologic cycle. The term refers to Surface Water the constant movement of water above, on, and below the Earth’s 0.79% Icecaps & Glaciers surface. The concept of the hydrologic cycle is elementary to any Freshwater 85% understanding of the occurence, development, and management 3% of water. The movement of water through the hydrologic cycle consists of Air & Soil 0.04% many processes working together to keep Earth’s water circulat - ing. Six processes are at work in the hydrologic cycle: evapora - tion, evapotranspiration, condensation, precipitation, infiltration, runoff. These occur simultaneously, and except for precipitaion, also occur continuously. Aquifer Recharge First and foremost in the hydrologic cycle is the sun, the great heat engine which drives the hydrologic cycle.