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Groundwater Flow Systems at the Nevada Test Site, Nevada: a Synthesis of Potentiometric Contours, Hydrostratigraphy, and Geologic Structures

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Groundwater Flow Systems at the Nevada Test Site, Nevada: a Synthesis of Potentiometric Contours, Hydrostratigraphy, and Geologic Structures Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, Nevada Site Office, Office of Environmental Management under Interagency Agreement, DE-A152-07NA28100 Groundwater Flow Systems at the Nevada Test Site, Nevada: A Synthesis of Potentiometric Contours, Hydrostratigraphy, and Geologic Structures Nevada Test Site Oasis Valley Flow System Ash Meadows Flow System Alkali Flat- Furnace Creek Ranch shallow part Flow System deep part Regional carbonate aquifer Regional alluvial-volcanic aquifer Confining unit Professional Paper 1771 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Groundwater Flow Systems at the Nevada Test Site, Nevada: A Synthesis of Potentiometric Contours, Hydrostratigraphy, and Geologic Structures By Joseph M. Fenelon, Donald S. Sweetkind, and Randell J. Laczniak Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, Nevada Site Office, Office of Environmental Management under Interagency Agreement, DE-A152-07NA28100 Professional Paper 1771 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior KEN SALAZAR, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Marcia K. McNutt, Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2010 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, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report. Suggested citation: Fenelon, J.M., Sweetkind, D.S., and Laczniak, R.J., 2010, Groundwater flow systems at the Nevada Test Site, Nevada: A synthesis of potentiometric contours, hydrostratigraphy, and geologic structures: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1771, 54 p., 6 pls. iii Contents Abstract ...........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................2 Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................2 Description of Study Area ...................................................................................................................4 Geologic and Hydrologic Setting .......................................................................................................4 Study Methods ...............................................................................................................................................7 Delineation of Aquifers .......................................................................................................................7 Analysis of Water Levels ...................................................................................................................10 Estimation of Predevelopment Hydraulic Heads ...........................................................................13 Assignment of Hydraulic Heads to Subsurface Hydrologic Unit Types ....................................13 Development of Potentiometric Contours ......................................................................................15 Potentiometric Contours and Conceptualization of Flow ......................................................................15 Alluvial–Volcanic Aquifer ..................................................................................................................16 Nature and Extent ......................................................................................................................17 Hydraulic Heads and Contours ................................................................................................18 Regional Aquifers .............................................................................................................18 Local Aquifers ...................................................................................................................21 Flow Systems ..............................................................................................................................22 Black Mountain Tributary Flow System ........................................................................22 Pahute Mesa Tributary Flow System .............................................................................22 Oasis Valley Flow System ................................................................................................22 Upper Amargosa Desert Tributary Flow System .........................................................23 Crater Flat Tributary Flow System ..................................................................................23 Fortymile Wash Tributary Flow System .........................................................................23 Alkali Flat–Furnace Creek Ranch Flow System ..........................................................24 Belted Range Tributary Flow System .............................................................................24 Carbonate Aquifer...............................................................................................................................24 Nature and Extent ......................................................................................................................25 Hydraulic Heads and Contours ................................................................................................29 Flow Systems .............................................................................................................................31 Ash Meadows Flow System ............................................................................................32 Spring Mountains Tributary Flow System .....................................................................32 Shoshone Mountain Tributary Flow System .................................................................32 Yucca Flat Tributary Flow System ..................................................................................34 Rock Valley Tributary Flow System ................................................................................36 Belted Range and Sarcobatus Flat Tributary Flow Systems......................................37 Limitations and Considerations .................................................................................................................38 Summary........................................................................................................................................................40 References Cited..........................................................................................................................................43 iv Contents—Continued Appendix 1. Water Levels Measured in the Nevada Test Site Area, Nevada, 1941–2008. ..............51 Appendix 2. Mean Water Levels, Hydraulic Heads, Well Characteristics, and Selected Water Temperatures for Wells Used to Develop Potentiometric Contours in the Nevada Test Site Area. ..................................................................................................................52 Appendix 3. Hydrostratigraphic Units and Subsurface Hydrologic Unit Types for Wells in the Nevada Test Site Area, as Projected from Hydrostratigraphic Framework Models..............................................................................................................................................53 Plates Plate 1. Map showing location of boreholes with water-level measurments that were used to develop potentiometric contours in the Nevada Test Site area, Nevada. Plate 2. Hydrogeologic sections showing distribution of subsurface hydrologic unit types and designations of local and regional aquifer and confining units in the Nevada Test Site area, Nevada. Plate 3. Map showing predevelopment hydraulic heads and potentionmetric contours for the alluvial-volcanic aquifer in the Nevada Test Site area, Nevada. Plate 4. Map showing predevelopment hydraulic heads and potentiometric contours for the carbonate aquifer in the Nevada Test Site area, Nevada. Plate 5. Map showing groundwater flow systems of the regional alluvial-volcanic aquifer in the Nevada Test Site area, Nevada. Plate 6. Map showing groundwater flow systems of the regional carbonate aquifer in the Nevada Test Site area, Nevada. Figures Figure 1. Map showing local geographic, hydrographic, and physiographic features of the Nevada Test Site region ……………………………………………………… 3 Figure 2. Chart showing aquifer and confining unit classification system used to conceptualize groundwater flow in the Nevada Test Site area, Nevada ………… 6 Figure 3. Chart showing correlation of subsurface hydrologic unit types (SHUT) and hydrostratigraphic units (HSU) for the Nevada Test Site area, Nevada ………… 8 Figure 4. Example from appendix 1 Excel workbook showing water levels that were analyzed in well ER-12-4 main, Nevada Test Site
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