(Ver. 1.1): Hydrogeologic Controls and Geochemical Indicators Of
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Prepared in cooperation with the East Bay Municipal Utility District, City of Hayward, and Alameda County Water District Hydrogeologic Controls and Geochemical Indicators of Groundwater Movement in the Niles Cone and Southern East Bay Plain Groundwater Subbasins, Alameda County, California Scientific Investigations Report 2018–5003 Version 1.1, February 2019 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Hydrogeologic Controls and Geochemical Indicators of Groundwater Movement in the Niles Cone and Southern East Bay Plain Groundwater Subbasins, Alameda County, California By Nick Teague, John Izbicki, Jim Borchers, Justin Kulongoski, and Bryant Jurgens Prepared in cooperation with the East Bay Municipal Utility District, City of Hayward, and Alameda County Water District Scientific Investigations Report 2018–5003 Version 1.1, February 2019 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior DAVID BERNHARDT, Acting Secretary U.S. Geological Survey William H. Werkheiser, Deputy Director exercising the authority of the Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2019 First release: February 2018 Revised: February 2019 (ver. 1.1) 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://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: Teague, Nick, Izbicki, John, Borchers, Jim, Kulongoski, Justin, and Jurgens, Bryant, 2018, Hydrogeologic controls and geochemical indicators of groundwater movement in the Niles Cone and southern East Bay Plain groundwater subbasins, Alameda County, California (ver 1.1, February 2019): U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2018–5003, 62 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20185003. ISSN 2328-0328 (online) iii Contents Abstract ...........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................2 Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................2 Description of the Study Area ............................................................................................................2 Hydrogeology................................................................................................................................4 The Upper Aquifer System ................................................................................................5 Deep Aquifer ........................................................................................................................5 Recharge and Discharge ...................................................................................................6 Groundwater Management ........................................................................................................6 Methods...........................................................................................................................................................7 Groundwater-Level Measurement .....................................................................................................7 InSAR Data Processing .......................................................................................................................8 Streamflow Gains and Losses Estimation ........................................................................................8 Water Sample Collection and Analysis ...........................................................................................10 Collection and Analysis of Core and Cuttings Material ................................................................10 Hydrogeology................................................................................................................................................11 Groundwater Movement ...................................................................................................................11 Local Short-Term Land-Surface Displacement .............................................................................11 Streamflow Gains and Losses in Alameda Creek .........................................................................15 Geochemistry................................................................................................................................................18 Chemistry of Groundwater ................................................................................................................18 Physical Properties and Chemical Characteristics of Groundwater ................................18 Major-Ion Composition .............................................................................................................21 Chloride-to-Iodide Ratios .........................................................................................................21 Geochemical Indicators of Groundwater Movement ..........................................................23 Noble-Gas and Tritium Analysis .......................................................................................................23 Tritium and Helium .....................................................................................................................25 Tritium-Helium-3 Ages ...............................................................................................................25 Helium-4 Ages ............................................................................................................................26 Isotopic Composition of Groundwater ............................................................................................27 Oxygen-18 and Deuterium ........................................................................................................27 Carbon-14 and Carbon-13 .........................................................................................................29 Interpretation of Carbon-14 Data ...................................................................................30 Limitations of Carbon-14 Interpretations ......................................................................33 Summary........................................................................................................................................................34 References Cited..........................................................................................................................................35 Appendix 1. Location and Construction Data and Water-Level Measurements Collected by the U.S. Geological Survey During 2002 for Wells Drilled in the Niles Cone and Southern East Bay Plain Groundwater Subbasins .............................................................................................41 Appendix 2. U.S. Geological Survey National Water-Quality Laboratory Analytical Methods and Reporting Levels for Analysis of Groundwater and Surface-Water Samples ..............45 References Cited.................................................................................................................................45 iv Contents—Continued Appendix 3. Aquifer Mineralogy, Niles Cone Groundwater Subbasin, Alameda County, California ..........................................................................................................................................47 References Cited.................................................................................................................................47 Appendix 4. Streamflow Data Collected by the U.S. Geological Survey during April 2002 ..........51 Appendix 5. Physical Property, Major-Ion, Trace-Element, and Isotopic Data for Groundwater, Stream-Water, and Precipitation Samples Collected and Analyzed by the U.S. Geological Survey...............................................................................................................................................53 Appendix 6. Noble Gas and Tritium Data for Groundwater Samples Collected and Analyzed by the U.S. Geological Survey ...........................................................................................................59 Appendix 7. Measured and Interpreted Carbon-13 and Carbon-14 Data for Groundwater Samples Collected and Analyzed by the U.S. Geological Survey ..........................................61 Figures 1. Map showing location of the Niles Cone and southern East Bay Plain groundwater subbasins and municipal wells, including aquifer reclamation program wells, Alameda County, California .........................................................................................................3 2. Graph showing generalized A–A’ cross section showing groundwater aquifers of Niles Cone and southern East Bay Plain groundwater subbasins and well location and well construction for wells sampled