Ground-Water Use, Locations of Production Wells, and Areas Irrigated Using Ground Water in 1998, Middle Humboldt River Basin, North-Central Nevada

U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey

Water-Resources Investigations Report 03–4227

Prepared in cooperation with the NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES (Back of Cover) Ground-Water Use, Locations of Production Wells, and Areas Irrigated Using Ground Water in 1998, Middle Humboldt River Basin, North-Central Nevada

By Russell W. Plume

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Water-Resources Investigations Report 03–4227

Prepared in cooperation with NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Carson City, Nevada 2003 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR GALE A. NORTON, Secretary

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CHARLES G. GROAT, Director

Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government

For additional information Copies of this report can be contact: purchased from:

District Chief U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Geological Survey Information Services 333 West Nye Lane, Room 203 Building 810 Carson City, NV 89706–0866 Box 25286, Federal Center Denver, CO 80225–0286 email: [email protected] http://nevada.usgs.gov CONTENTS

Abstract...... 1 Introduction...... 2 Background ...... 2 Purpose and Scope ...... 2 Approach...... 2 Acknowledgments...... 4 Irrigation Pumpage ...... 5 1998 Irrigation Season ...... 5 Comparison of 1998 Irrigation Season with 1994-97 Seasons ...... 10 Ground-Water Use in 1998...... 10 Summary...... 16 References Cited...... 16 Plate in pocket at back of report

1. Map showing locations of production wells and areas irrigated using ground water, 1998, middle Humboldt River Basin, north-central Nevada.

Figures

1. Map showing hydrographic areas in the middle Humboldt River Basin, north-central Nevada...... 3 2. Graph showing total monthly precipitation January through June 1994-98, Battle Mountain, Nevada...... 10 3. Graph showing distribution of (A) Total ground-water pumpage, and (B) Total mine dewatering pumpage, 1998, middle Humboldt River Basin, north-central Nevada...... 12

Tables

1. Hydrographic areas in the middle Humboldt River Basin, north-central Nevada ...... 4 2. Power consumption, pump discharge, and estimated 1998 irrigation season pumpage for selected irrigation wells in the middle Humboldt River Basin, north-central Nevada ...... 6 3. Pump discharge and estimated 1998 irrigation season pumpage for three wells serving two flood-irrigated fields in Pumpernickel Valley, Nevada...... 9 4. Comparison of power consumption during the 1994-97 irrigation seasons with power consumption during the 1998 season at selected irrigation wells and estimated water use during an average irrigation season in the middle Humboldt River Basin, north-central Nevada ...... 11 5. Area irrigated with ground water, types and numbers of actively used production wells, and total ground- water use in 1998 in hydrographic areas of the middle Humboldt River Basin, north-central Nevada...... 13 6. Ground-water pumpage for mining purposes in 1998, middle Humboldt River Basin, north-central Nevada ..... 15

CONTENTS III CONVERSION FACTORS AND VERTICAL DATUM

Multiply By To obtain

acre 4,047 square meter acre-foot (acre-ft) 0.001233 cubic hectometer acre-foot per day (acre-ft/d) 0.001233 cubic hectometer per day foot (ft) 0.3048 meter -5 gallons per minute (gal/min) 6.309X10 cubic meter per second inch (in.) 25.4 millimeter kilowatthour (kWh) 3,600,000 joule kilowatthour per day (kWh/d) 3,600,000 joule per day kilowatthour per acre-foot (kWh/acre-ft) 2,919 joule per cubic meter mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer square miles (mi2) 2.59 square kilometer watthour (Wh) 3,600 joule

Temperature: Degrees Celsius (oC) can be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (oF) by using the formula oF = [1.8(oC)]+32. Degrees Fahrenheit can be converted to degrees Celsius by using the formula oC = 0.556(oF-32).

Sea level: In this report, “sea level” refers to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD of 1929, formerly called “Sea-Level Datum of 1929”), which is derived from a general adjustment of the first-order leveling networks of the United States and Canada.

IV Ground-Water Use, Locations of Production Wells, and Areas Irrigated Using Ground Water in 1998, Middle Humboldt River Basin Ground-Water Use, Locations of Production Wells, and Areas Irrigated Using Ground Water in 1998, Middle Humboldt River Basin, North-Central Nevada

By Russell W. Plume Abstract precipitation exceeded long-term monthly averages by as much as four times. As a result, the In 1998, ground water was being pumped health of crops was affected by over-saturated from about 420 production wells in the middle soils, and most irrigation wells were only used Humboldt River Basin for a variety of uses. Prin- sporadically in the first part of the irrigation cipal uses were for agriculture, industry, mining, season. Power consumption at 19 of the 20 wells municipal, and power plant purposes. This report in the 1994-97 irrigation seasons was 110 to 235 presents a compilation of the number and types of percent of the power consumption in the 1998 production wells, areas irrigated by ground water, irrigation season. If the amount of water applied to and ground-water use in 14 hydrographic areas of fields during the 1998 irrigation season were the middle Humboldt River Basin in 1998. adjusted to account for these differences in power Annual pumping records for production consumption, the average amount of water applied wells usually are reported to the Nevada Division to a field during a typical season using center-pivot of Water Resources. However, operators of irriga- and wheel-line sprinkler systems would be 3.1 feet tion wells are not consistently required to report and 3.7 feet, respectively. annual pumpage. Daily power-consumption and Total ground water pumped in the middle pump-discharge rates measured at 20 wells during Humboldt River Basin during 1998 was about the 1998 irrigation season and total power use at 298,000 acre-feet. This pumpage was distributed each well were used to estimate the amount of as follows: 78 percent for mining, 19 percent for water, in feet of depth, applied to 20 alfalfa fields. irrigation, and 3 percent for industrial, municipal, These fields include about 10 percent of the total and power plants combined. Mining pumpage is area, 36,700 acres, irrigated with ground water in by far the largest source of ground-water use the middle Humboldt River Basin. In 1998 an because several large gold mines have extended average of 2.0 feet of water was applied to 14 below local ground-water levels and the area fields irrigated using center-pivot sprinkler sys- around each mine must be dewatered in order to tems, and an average of 2.6 feet of water was maintain a dry and workable mine. Total mining applied to 6 fields irrigated using wheel-line sprin- pumpage in 1998 was 233,000 acre-feet, of this kler systems. A similar approach was used to esti- total, 23,600 acre-feet was for consumptive use mate the amount of water pumped at three wells and 209,000 acre-feet was for dewatering eight using pumps powered by diesel engines. The two mines. Excess water from the mines being dewa- fields served by these three wells received 3.9 feet tered was distributed as follows: 74,500 acre-feet of water by flood irrigation during the 1998 irriga- was returned to aquifers by infiltration; 33,100 tion season. acre-feet was used for irrigation and for consump- The amount of water applied to the fields tive use at two mines and a power plant; 96,700 irrigated by center-pivot and wheel-line irrigation acre-feet was released to the Humboldt River or systems during the 1998 irrigation season was less one of its tributaries; and 5,260 acre-feet was lost than what would have been applied during a typi- to evaporation. cal irrigation season because late winter and spring

Abstract 1 Introduction principal tributaries to this reach of the river are Pine Creek, Rock Creek, and the Reese River. Within the Background middle Humboldt River Basin there are 16 mines of varying size (15 gold mines and a barite mine), eight of The Humboldt River Basin covers an area of which were being dewatered in 1998, several areas of nearly 17,000 mi2 in Nevada, and it is the only major differing size where ground water is used for irrigating river basin that is entirely in the State (fig. 1). Stream- crops, several municipalities that rely on ground water, flow of the Humboldt River and its tributaries and and the Valmy Power Plant and Beowawe Geothermal ground water are used by diverse, and sometimes com- Power Plant. petitive interests. Streamflow historically has been used for agricultural purposes—mainly irrigation of Purpose and Scope crops and meadows and watering stock. However, wet- lands along the river and its tributaries provide wildlife The purpose of this report is to document the habitat, and infiltration of streamflow is a source of results of a study on ground-water use in the middle recharge to shallow aquifers underlying the river flood- Humboldt River Basin during 1998 (fig. 1). The study plain. Prior to 1980, most ground-water pumped in the objectives were to (1) identify areas where ground Humboldt River Basin was used for municipal and water is used for irrigation, (2) identify the principal domestic use, irrigation of crops, watering stock, and crop type in each area, (3) determine irrigation applica- for use at a few mines. During the last 20 years, pump- tion rates for each crop type, (4) use these rates to deter- ing in the basin has increased as a result of the expan- mine total pumpage for irrigation in each hydrographic sion of irrigated areas, the development of two power area, and (5) develop a compilation of all production plants, a general increase in population, and develop- wells and associated ground-water pumpage in the ment of large gold mines (fig. 1). middle Humboldt River Basin. Agencies of Federal, State, and local government For purposes of this report, production wells are and other groups are concerned about the long-term defined as those wells used for generating electricity, viability of the water resources of the Humboldt River municipal use, mining including dewatering, industrial Basin because of the increased demand for ground purposes other than mining, and agricultural. Produc- water and the need to dewater some of the gold mines. tion wells typically are pumped at rates ranging from In response to this concern, the U.S. Geological hundreds to thousands of gallons per minute. Domestic Survey, in cooperation with the Nevada Department wells and stock wells were not inventoried as part of of Conservation and Natural Resources, initiated the this study because they typically are pumped at rates Humboldt River Basin Assessment. The objectives of of only a few tens of gallons per minute or less. Total the assessment are to (1) provide scientific appraisals pumpage from domestic and stock wells had less of the ground-water and surface-water resources of potential to affect ground water than pumpage from each hydrographic area in the Humboldt River Basin, production wells. (2) determine the contribution of each hydrographic area to the quantity and timing of flow in the Humboldt Approach River, and (3) determine the effects of all major water uses in the basin. The approach used for this study was to first So far, assessment activities have focused on the complete inventories of all production wells and of middle Humboldt River Basin, which consists of 14 lands being irrigated with ground water in 1998 in the hydrographic areas1 that cover 7,480 mi2 (fig. 1 and middle Humboldt River Basin. Locations of production table 1). The 14 areas are tributary to the reach of the wells were obtained from Nevada Division of Water Humboldt River that extends from the mouth of Pine Resources (NDWR) records and from well owners. Creek on the east to Preble on the west (plate 1). The Locations of irrigated lands and irrigation wells were determined from field inventories completed as part of this study. Most operators of production wells rou- 1Formal hydrographic areas in Nevada were delineated sys- tinely report annual volumes of ground-water pumpage tematically by the U.S. Geological Survey and Nevada Division of to the NDWR. This agency is the source for all pump- Water Resources in the late 1960’s for scientific and administrative age information listed in this report, except for irriga- purposes (Cardinalli and others, 1968; Rush, 1968). The official tion pumpage. hydrographic-area names, numbers, and geographic boundaries continue to be used in Geological Survey scientific reports and Division of Water Resources administrative activities.

2 Ground-Water Use, Locations of Production Wells, and Areas Irrigated Using Ground Water in 1998, Middle Humboldt River Basin NEVADA 120 118 116 114 42

Humboldt River Basin Area of figure 40

. Reno . Carson City . Ely

Tonopah 38 .

Jarbidge Mountains 117 116 Las. Vegas 36 115 Creek

Marys

North

River River Fork Humboldt Midas Martin WCWC

Humboldt

Maggie Susie Wells 118 Creek RockR KCKC Creek River Little o

c Preble k RCRC 41 ge n CreekC a Winnemucca r HumboldtH e R u e t Golconda m k HUMBOLDT COUNTY b ld o CACA Elko o ld b PERSHING COUNTY PVPV t m BFBF u H t River as Rye Patch Carlin E Reservoir Imlay BattleBattle WVWV RiverRiver MountainMountain

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CreekC u R RubyRuby Humboldt ne LakeLake PinePi Lovelock MRMR ELKO COUNTY r e v i PNPN WHITE PINE COUNTY

RiverR Y PERSHING COUNTY Y 40 CHURCHILL COUNTY CLCL

Humboldt AVAV

Sink LANDER COUNT LANDER

EUREKA COUNT EUREKA

119 WHITE PINE

L IL CH R R U DE H N AustinAustin C A EXPLANATION L URUR Middle Humboldt River Basin

e s e e Hydrographic area two letter ReeseR Y identifier, name, and number LANDER COUNT AV Antelope Valley 57 NYE COUNTY BF Boulder Flat 61 39 CA Clovers Area 64 CL Carico Lake Valley 55 Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1:100,000, 1977-88; Universal Transverse Mercator projection CV Crescent Valley 54 Zone 11 KC Kelly Creek Area 66 LR Lower Reese River Valley 59 MR Middle Reese River Valley 58 0 1020 30 40 50 MILES PN Pine Valley 53 PV Pumpernickel Valley 65 0204010 30 50 KILOMETERS RC Rock Creek Valley 62 UR Upper Reese River Valley 56 WC Willow Creek Valley 63 WV Whirlwind Valley 60

Humboldt River Basin boundary Hydrographic-area boundary

Active mine

Active mine dewatered in 1998

Figure 1. Hydrographic areas in the middle Humboldt River Basin, north-central Nevada.

Introduction 3

Table 1. Hydrographic areas in the Middle Humboldt River Basin, north- central Nevada (see fig. 1 for locations).

Hydrographic area 1

Area 2 Area2 Identifier Name Number (square (acres) miles)

AV Antelope Valley 57 450 288,000 BF Boulder Flat 61 540 346,000 CA Clovers Area 64 720 461,000 CL Carico Lake Valley 55 380 243,000 CV Crescent Valley 54 750 480,000

KC Kelly Creek Area 66 300 192,000 LR Lower Reese River Valley 59 600 384,000 MR Middle Reese River Valley 58 320 205,000 PN Pine Valley 53 1,010 646,000 PV Pumpernickel Valley 65 310 198,000

RC Rock Creek Valley 62 450 288,000 UR Upper Reese River Valley 56 1,140 730,000 WC Willow Creek Valley 63 410 262,000 WV Whirlwind Valley 60 100 64,000

Totals 7,480 4,790,000

1 Formal hydrographic areas in Nevada were delineated systematically by the U.S. Geological Survey and Nevada Division of Water Resources in the late 1960’s (Cardi- nalli and others, 1968, and Rush, 1968). These areas have been the basic units for assem- bling hydrologic data and for regulating water use in the State since 1968. The official hydrographic area names, numbers, and geographic boundaries continue to be used in Geological Survey scientific reports and Division of Water Resources administrative activities. 2 Areas, in square miles, from Berger (2000, p. 4). Areas in acres and totals rounded to three significant figures.

Owners of most irrigation wells are not required Acknowledgments to report annual pumpage to the State of Nevada. Thus, an additional task was to estimate the amount of ground The successful completion of this report water pumped for irrigation in each hydrographic area depended, in large part, on the assistance, cooperation, in 1998. Total ground water pumped at selected wells and contributions of many people. Private landowners during the 1998 irrigation season was estimated from and managers or owners of large ranches in the middle (1) measurements of the amount of power used to pump Humboldt River Basin granted the author access to one acre-ft of ground water, and (2) total power used at their lands and wells. Personnel at the Betze, Genesis, each of the wells during the irrigation season. The Cortez, Pipeline, Lone Tree, McCoy, Twin Creeks, application rates at the fields served by these wells, in Getchell, Pinson, Copper Canyon, and Marigold Mines feet of water, were then used to estimate total ground provided locations of production and dewatering wells water pumped for irrigation in each hydrographic area at the mines. Support for the Humboldt River Basin during the 1998 irrigation season. These totals are Assessment was provided by Barrick Goldstrike based on average application rates and on the inven- Mines, Newmont Mining Corporation, Getchell Gold tories of irrigated acreage. Company, and Glamis Gold Limited.

4 Ground-Water Use, Locations of Production Wells, and Areas Irrigated Using Ground Water in 1998, Middle Humboldt River Basin Irrigation Pumpage sprinklers attached to a supply pipe that is mounted on wheels. The entire system revolves in a circle of about 1998 Irrigation Season 1/4-mile radius from a center pivot. The area irrigated Total amounts of ground water, in feet of water, by a center-pivot system is about 126 acres, but the area applied during the 1998 irrigation season, was esti- of individual fields can range from 120 to 130 acres. mated for 20 fields consisting of 3,850 acres of alfalfa Total ground water, in feet, applied during the 1998 irri- and minor amounts of oats (table 2). This area repre- gation season by the 14 center-pivot sprinkler systems sents about 10 percent of the total area of 36,700 acres listed in table 2 ranged from 1.7 to 2.2 ft. The average, irrigated by ground water in the middle Humboldt weighted by irrigated area, was 2.0 ft. River Basin. The 20 fields are served by 20 irrigation Wheel-line sprinkler systems are gradually being wells from which total volumes of ground water replaced in the middle Humboldt River Basin by the pumped during the 1998 irrigation season were esti- more efficient center-pivot sprinkler systems. Even mated using daily power-consumption and pump-dis- though wheel-line sprinkler systems are not as com- charge rates and total power used during the season. mon as center-pivot systems, they are still widely used. Both rates were measured one or more times during the A wheel-line sprinkler system also consists of sprin- irrigation season. The rates were used to compute a klers attached to a supply pipe that is mounted on ratio that is the estimated amount of power required to wheels; however, this type of system does not revolve pump one acre-ft of ground water. Instantaneous pump around a center-pivot. Instead, a series of several wheel discharge was measured with an acoustic flowmeter lines advance in a straight line from one side of a field and converted to an estimated daily pumpage rate, in to the other side. Total ground water, in feet, applied acre-feet per day. Power consumption, in kilowatt- during the 1998 irrigation season by the six wheel-line hours per day, was estimated by making an instanta- sprinkler systems listed in table 2 ranged from 2.1 to neous measurement of the rate at which the disk on the 3.1 ft. The average, weighted by irrigated area, was electrical meter was revolving. The equation for con- 2.6 ft. verting this rate to an estimated daily power consump- Flood irrigation is used extensively in the middle tion rate, P, is Humboldt River Basin where streamflow is diverted P = (86.4 x Kh x T x rev)/t, (1) from the Humboldt River or one of its tributaries. How- f ever, there are two reasons why this irrigation method where Kh is the electrical meter constant in watt-hours is not commonly used in areas where irrigation water per disk revolution (this value is shown on the must be pumped. First, more water must be applied to meter face); a flood-irrigated field than to a field of equal size irri- T is the transformer factor, a dimensionless ratio pro- f gated by a center-pivot or wheel-line sprinkler system. vided by the local power company; One rancher stated that flood irrigation requires at least rev is the number of revolutions the electrical meter twice the amount of water needed for a center-pivot disk turns in time (t), in seconds; and sprinkler system. Second, flood irrigation is more labor 86.4 is a conversion factor that yields a value of P in intensive and requires more care than the center-pivot kilowatt-hours per day. or wheel-line irrigation systems. This equation is a variation of one used by Hurr In Pumpernickel Valley, three wells are used to and Litke (1989, p. 13). Values for daily pump-dis- flood irrigate two 320-acre fields (plate 1). The pump charge, power-consumption rates, and for the amount for each of these wells is driven by a diesel engine of power needed to pump an acre-foot of water are equipped with a meter that records hours of operation. listed in table 2. These meters were read before and after the 1998 irri- The total volume of ground water, in acre-feet, gation season. The total volume of water pumped at pumped at each irrigation well during the 1998 irriga- each of the wells during the season is computed as the tion season was computed as the total power used daily pumpage, in acre-feet per day, multiplied by the during the year divided by the average power-use to number of days the diesel engine was in operation pumpage ratio for the year (table 2). Finally, the (table 3). The amount of water, in feet, applied to the amount of water, in feet of depth, applied to each field, two fields during the irrigation season was computed was computed as total volume of ground water pumped by dividing total pumpage from the three wells by the during the 1998 irrigation season divided by total area area of the two fields. The total amount of water of the field, in acres. applied to these fields was 3.9 ft during the 1998 The most common irrigation method using irrigation season (table 3). ground water in the middle Humboldt River Basin is the center-pivot sprinkler system, which consists of

Irrigation Pumpage 5 10 ------2.1 2.1 1.7 2.1 2.2 2.0 1.8 2.2 (feet) Water used 9 ------528 521 418 254 267 511 456 554 Pumpage (acre-feet) mboldt River Basin, mboldt River mboldt River Basin, north-River mboldt 1998 irrigation season 8 ------use Power (kw-hr) 192,288 183,744 202,368 103,680 102,240 197,376 179,328 249,312 rrigation season. Total pumpage from the 8 pumpage from Total rrigation season. 7 364 353 484 408 383 386 393 450 , weighted by irrigated area, was 2.0 feet. , weighted area, by irrigated 366 361 351 355 478 491 401 371 391 395 458 442 11 11 11 12 12 11 11 11 ratio pumpage Power use to Power (kw-hr/acre-ft) 6 ------6.67 6.98 7.33 7.20 5.78 5.24 5.29 6.00 7.56 8.04 8.67 8.58 8.49 8.44 Daily per day) per (acre-feet pumpage 5 acres of alfalfa during the 1998 i of alfalfa acres ------use Daily 2,440 2,522 2,574 2,556 2,765 2,574 2,158 2,297 3,035 2,986 3,393 3,393 3,888 3,732 power (kw-hr/d) 4 f ------96 96 96 96 96 96 96 96 96 96 96 96 96 96 T nged from 1.7 to and the average 1.7 2.2 to feet, nged from 18

17 3

ion season pumpage for selectedseasonion pumpage irrigationfor in the middle wells Hu 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 16 Kh

Center-Pivot Sprinkler Systems Center-Pivot 15

14 2

lls, were used to irrigate 1,760 lls, were 30.6 29.6 29.0 29.2 27.0 29.0 34.6 32.5 24.6 25.0 22.0 22.0 19.2 20.0 Time 12

(seconds) Electrical meter 11

2 10

estimated1998irrigation selectedseason pumpage irrigation for in the Middle wells Hu 9 1998 Irrigation Season 1998 Irrigation Season 1998 Irrigation Season 1998 Irrigation Season 1998 Irrigation Season 1998 Irrigation Season

5/5/98 5/5/98 5/5/98 5/6/98 5/6/98 5/6/98 Date 8

7/13/98 7/13/98 7/13/98 7/20/98 7/20/98 7/13/98 7/13/98 7/13/98 7

to the 14 fields, in feet of depth,rain feet of to the 14 fields, supplied by 8 we 6

249 249 251 251 248 248 121 123 254 254 257 257 256 256 area 3 (acres)

Irrigated 2

number USGS site identification 400607117092801 400509117103201 400514117112401 400501117113701 400445117113701 400410117140101 400317117131001 400316117123401 Power consumption, pump discharge, anddischarge, pump consumption, Power Power consumption, pump discharge, and estimated andpump consumption, discharge, 1998irrigat Power 8 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Well number (see plate 1) Summary--14 center-pivot sprinkler systems, sprinkler systems, Summary--14 center-pivot water applied Total wells was 3,510 acre-feet. Table 2. north-central Nevada Table 2. Table Nevada--Continued central

6 Ground-Water Use, Locations of Production Wells, and Areas Irrigated Using Ground Water in 1998, Middle Humboldt River Basin 10 ------2.6 2.6 2.5 (feet) Water used 9 ------834 21 1,661 416 397 692 501 256 904 14 16 (acre-feet) Pumpage mboldt River Basin,mboldt north-River 1998 irrigation season 8 ------use Power 14,784 (kw-hr) 267,744 361,536 277,440 159,456 133,392 353,376 7 644 707 910 401 318 522 391 655 632 895 926 400 402 312 333 308 514 531 382 411 379 11 12 11 11 11 11 11 ratio pumpage Power use to Power (kw-hr/acre-ft) 6 6.13 6.22 3.91 5.56 5.56 7.78 7.60 6.40 5.87 6.13 3.09 2.93 10.4 9.47 9.47 Daily per day) (acre-feet pumpage 5 use Daily 4,013 3,929 2,765 4,977 5,148 3,110 3,059 1,996 1,954 1,885 1,588 1,555 3,971 3,888 3,589 power (kw-hr/d) 4 f 96 96 96 96 96 96 96 96 48 48 96 96 96 T 192 192 18 season pumpage for selectedirrigation seasonin pumpage the for wells middle Hu 17 3 1.8 1.8 1.8 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 16 Kh

Wheel-LineSystems Sprinkler 15

14 2

18.6 19.0 27.0 15.0 14.5 12.0 12.2 37.4 38.2 39.6 23.5 24.0 18.8 19.2 20.8 Time 12

(seconds) Electrical meter Electrical 11

1998 irrigation season 1998 irrigation season 1998 irrigation season 1998 2 10

1998 irrigation 1998 irrigation season 1998 irrigation season 1998 irrigation season 9

5/1/98 5/1/98 5/4/98 5/4/98 5/4/98 5/4/98 Date 8 9/1198

7/10/98 7/10/98 7/10/98 7/13/98 7/13/98 9/11/98 7/13/98 9/11/98 7

(13) (13) (13) (15) (15) (15) 316 270 270 653 area 3 (acres)

Irrigated 2

1 1 number USGS site USGS Totals for Field for Totals Field for Totals identification 410621117134301 410606117134901 410542117135001 400615117082501 400539117092101 400513117093801 400519117095601 Power consumption, pump discharge, and estimated 1998consumption, irrigationdischarge, pump Power 1 2 3 7 9 10 11 Well number (see plate 1) Table 2. Table central Nevada--Continued Nevada--Continued central

Irrigation Pumpage 7 10 ------2.8 3.1 2.1 (feet) Water used 9 ined as perma- ined as ------1,551 658 186 707 485 306 18 (acre-feet) Pumpage ite identification number mboldt River Basin, north-River mboldt 1998 irrigation season 8 it number is reta forevery revolutionthe of meter ------use Power (kw-hr) 351,360 164,352 361,344 198,240 156,192 grid. This 15-dig nd grid. For example, s alfa and 160 acres of oats) during the 1998 the oats) during of 160 acres alfa and 7 ranged from 2.1 to 3.1 feet, and the average, average, the and 3.1 feet, 2.1 to from ranged 534 883 511 409 510 514 553 959 807 502 520 427 391 11 11 11 11 12 ratio pumpage Power use to Power (kw-hr/acre-ft) lculation of energy consumption rate when electrical supply supply electrical rate when consumption energy lculation of f 15 digits.First six digits denote degrees, minutes, and seconds 6 urs of electricity being consumed consumed being electricity of urs rded in that 1-second 9.07 8.44 2.84 2.89 12.3 11.3 5.60 5.91 4.09 al information. Daily dentify sites within 1-seco per day) per (acre-feet pumpage 5 ach number consists o consists ach number any. Number is used in ca any. use Daily 4,666 4,666 2,724 2,333 6,169 5,878 2,393 2,311 2,085 power (kw-hr/d) 4 f in indicated time, in seconds. 96 96 96 96 96 96 96 T 192 192 18 longitude, and it is first site reco

″ 17 3

28 ′ ion season pumpage for selectedseasonion pumpage irrigationfor in the middle wells Hu 9 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 is constantwatt-hothe number indicates of 16 Kh °

latitude and longitude. E latitude and longitude. (1989, p. 10-13 and fig. 5) for addition st two digits (assigned sequentially) i Wheel-Line Sprinkler Systems 15

used to irrigate a total of 2,090 acres (1,930 acres of alf acres (1,930 acres used to irrigate a total of 2,090 et. Total water applied to the 6 fields, in feet in of depth, feet water applied to the 6 fields, et. Total 14 2

obtained from local power comp 13

16.0 16.0 27.4 32.0 24.2 25.4 31.2 32.3 35.8 Time 12

(seconds) latitude and 117 Electrical meter ″ ured rate of five revolutions 11 7

′ 1998 irrigation season irrigation 1998 season irrigation 1998 season irrigation 1998 season irrigation 1998 6 2 10 °

5/6/98 5/6/98 5/6/98 6/4/98 Date 8

7/13/98 7/15/98 7/15/98 7/14/98 7/14/98 7

actor that usually must be must that usually actor 5

ached to the face of electrical meter. Th ached to the face of electrical meter. 4

(17) (17) (17) 554 156 156 145 area 3 (acres)

Irrigated 2

through electrical meter. See Hurr and Litke through electrical meter. 1 shown in this table are based on grid system of system grid on are based table this in shown ees, minutes, and seconds of longitude; and la and of longitude; and seconds ees, minutes, titude and longitude are determinedand later. titude 1 number USGS site Totals for Field identification 400418117114201 400339117112401 400327117112701 400249117151301 400158117151601 Power consumption, pump discharge, and estimated andpump consumption, discharge, 1998irrigat Power 19 20 21 22 23 On indicated date, disk on electrical meter was turning at meas Dimensionless number called the transformer f USGS site identification numbers attconstantimprinted on a metal tag Meter Well 1 2 3 4 number (see plate 1) irrigation season. Total pumpage from the 12 wells was 5,530 acre-fe from pumpage irrigation season. Total Summary--6 wheel-line sprinkler systems, supplied by 12 wells, were weighted by irrigated area, was 2.6 was 2.6 feet. area, by irrigated weighted for well number 8 is 400607117092801. This number refers to 40 refers number This 8 is 400607117092801. well number for of latitude; next seven digits denote degr denote latitude; next seven digits of nent identifier even if more precise la lines for pump motor do not pass directly disk. Table 2. Table Nevada--Continued central

8 Ground-Water Use, Locations of Production Wells, and Areas Irrigated Using Ground Water in 1998, Middle Humboldt River Basin pump one acre- Company with permission of 5 mpage, in acre-feet,total irri- by power needed to

86.4 is a constant that yields a value that yields a a constant 86.4 is

- -

(feet) Water use mined seconds seconds numberfor 4 577 159 t site recorded in that (acre-feet) Pumpage ned from Sierra Pacific Power 1998 irrigation season by average ratio of power use to pump- power ratio of by average season irrigation 1998 cal flow meter. x rev) / time, where Kh is meter constant in watt-hoursconstant perin meter meterwhere x rev) / time, Kh is 3 estimate of amount of electrical 1998 irrigation season ason. Computed by dividing total pu total dividing by Computed ason. longitude.number consists Each 81.3 20.2 ample, site identification (days) Time of pumping latitude and longitude are deter latitude ts denote degrees, minutes, and lutions) measured in time, in seconds, and longitude, and it is the firs ″ 2 41 ′ 27 7.1 7.87 ° Daily e-foot (kw-hr/acre-ft), is an per day) (acre-feet pumpage ithin 1-second grid. For ex on the pump discharge pipe with on the pump discharge an acoustical flow meter. d on grid system of latitude and on grid system d identifier even if more precise latitude and 117 ″ Date this/these well(s) during 1998 irrigation se 7/11/98 7/12/985/2/98 7/11/98 12.0 11.1 85.7 63.3 1,030 703 - - econds of latitude; next seven digi 13 ′ mping determined from hour meter on each engine. 46 ° (6) (6) (6) ed from the following equation: equation: the following ed from P x Kh x Tf = (86.4 6) er of meter revolutions (in this table, 5 revo table, this (in revolutions meter of er ( area (acres) Irrigated irrigate two 320-acre fields of alfalfa. of fields two 320-acre irrigate by pump motor at well during 1998 irrigation season. Data obtai season. irrigation 1998 during at well motor pump by e. Ratio, in kilowatt-hours per acr rrigation season. Computed by dividing total power used during used during power total dividing by Computed season. rrigation by measuring the instantaneous pump discharge with an acousti discharge pump the instantaneous by measuring sequentially) identify sites w sequentially) identify sites pumpage by time of pumping. 1 mbers shown in this table are base er is retained as a permanent le 653-acrefield. number USGS site USGS identification h, used to irrigate field(s) supplied by 404613117274101 404546117274101 to irrigate a single 554-acre field. r 1998 irrigation season because site was visited only once during season. during once only was visited site because season irrigation 1998 r to irrigate a sing Pump discharge and estimated 1998 irrigation three serving wells season pumpage for flood- two 5 404614117270901 4 6

USGSsite identification nu measured day, per in acre-feet discharge, pump daily Estimated Pumps are driven by dieselof pu engines. Time Computed by multiplying daily area. by irrigated total pumpage dividing by Computed to together and 6 are used 5, 4, Wells 1 2 3 4 5 6 Totals for 1998 irrigation season 1998 irrigation for Totals 640 - - - 2,470 3.9 Well number Well mer factor, a dimensionless ratio, rev is the numb mer factor, later. 1-second grid. This 15-digit numb 15-digit This grid. 1-second of longitude; and last two digits (assigned last two digits and of longitude; 40 to refers number This well 4 is 404613117274101. of 15 digits. First six digits denote degrees, minutes, and s Table 3. Table irrigated fields in Pumpernickel Valley, Nevada. irrigated fields in Valley, Pumpernickel Assumed to represent average ratio fo field. a single 316-acre to irrigate 3 are used together and 1, 2 Wells season. irrigation 1998 3 during and 2, wells 1, from pumpage Total are used together 9, 10,and 11 Wells season. irrigation 1998 during and 11 10, wells 9, from pumpage Total 19, 20, and 21 are used together Wells season. irrigation 1998 21 during and 20, wells 19, from pumpage Total Estimated amount of water, in feet of dept of in feet water, of amount Estimated Average of ratios determined during 1998 irrigation season. irrigation 1998 during determined ratios of Average Daily pump in discharge, acre-feet per day (acre-ft/d), estimated daily pumpag by use daily power dividing by Ratio is determined consumed (kw-hr), in kilowatt-hours electrical of Amount power, i 1998 during pumped in acre-feet, water, ground total Estimated Power consumption rate, in kilowatt-hours per day (kw-hr/d) is comput is (kw-hr/d) day per kilowatt-hours in rate, consumption Power 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 of P, in kilowatt-hours per day. per kilowatt-hours in P, of well owner. age. gated area, in acres. foot of water on indicated date. indicated on water of foot disk revolution, Tf is transfor

Irrigation Pumpage 9 Comparison of 1998 Irrigation Season with sumption records for 1994-97 for well 8 were not avail- 1994-97 Seasons able. The factors for each year were determined by dividing power use for a specific sprinkler system by A typical irrigation season in the middle Hum- power use in 1998. The factors indicate that power use boldt River Basin usually begins in early April and in 1998 was consistently exceeded by power use in the ends in early September with the final cutting of alfalfa. 1994-97 irrigation seasons at all of the irrigation sys- The typical season not only includes years of average tems listed in table 4. or near average precipitation, but also includes years of Water used at each of the irrigation systems below average precipitation. The 1998 irrigation sea- during a typical irrigation season was estimated by son was not a typical irrigation season because winter multiplying the amount of water used by the system and spring precipitation were well above average in the in 1998 by the average factor for the 1994-97 seasons middle Humboldt River Basin. Precipitation at Battle (table 4). Ground water applied to fields during the Mountain was about twice the monthly average from 1998 irrigation season ranged from 1.7 to 2.2 ft using January through April and in June, and was more than the center-pivot sprinkler systems and ranged from four times the monthly average in May (fig. 2). Conse- 2.1 to 3.1 ft using the wheel-line sprinkler systems. quently, soil moisture was well above normal by early Estimated amounts of ground water applied to the same April when pumping of ground water should have fields during the previous four irrigation seasons begun. Most center-pivot and wheel-line sprinkler sys- ranged from 2.4 to 4.8 ft and 3.2 to 4.2 ft for center- tems were idle, or only used sporadically, in April, pivot and wheel-line sprinkler systems, respectively. May, and early June because soils were so saturated The area-weighted averages for a typical season are that the growth and health of the alfalfa crops were 3.1 ft for the center-pivot systems and 3.7 ft for the being affected. Thus, the amounts of ground water wheel-line systems. applied to the 20 different fields listed in table 2 do not represent the amount of ground water that would have Ground-Water Use in 1998 been used in a typical year. Power-consumption records for the four irriga- Locations of production wells and areas irrigated tion seasons preceding 1998 were compared with 1998 with ground water in each hydrographic area in the records and used to adjust 1998 water use (table 2) to middle Humboldt River Basin are shown on plate 1. an estimated use for the 1994-97 irrigation seasons, all Types and numbers of production wells, irrigated acre- of which were typical years. Table 4 lists comparisons age, and water use for each hydrographic area are listed of power consumption during each of the 1994-97 irri- in table 5. gation seasons with 1998 power consumption for 19 of the 20 irrigation systems listed in table 2. Power-con-

1994 1997 5 1995 1998 1996 Average 1944-2000

2 PRECIPITATION, IN INCHES PRECIPITATION,

0 JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE

Figure 2. Total monthly precipitation January through June, 1994-98, Battle Mountain, Nevada.

10 Ground-Water Use, Locations of Production Wells, and Areas Irrigated Using Ground Water in 1998, Middle Humboldt River Basin Table 4. Comparison of power consumption during the 1994-97 irrigation seasons with power consumption during the 1998 season at selected irrigation wells and estimated water use during an average irrigation season in the middle Humboldt River Basin, north-central Nevada. 1 2 3 4

Ratio of 1994-97 power consumption to Water use 1998 power consumption1 (feet of depth) Well Irrigated numbers Area Average (see plate 1) (acres) 1998 1994 1995 1996 1997 Average2 irrigation (see table 2) season3

Center-Pivot Sprinkler Systems 12 251 - 1.29 1.60 1.35 1.41 2.1 3.0 13 248 - - 1.48 1.32 1.40 1.7 2.4 14 121 2.26 2.14 2.22 2.23 2.21 2.1 4.6 15 123 2.25 2.02 2.11 2.35 2.18 2.2 4.8 16 254 - 1.33 1.76 1.38 1.49 2.0 3.0 17 257 - - - 1.49 1.49 1.8 2.7 18 256 1.64 1.28 1.35 1.19 1.36 2.2 3.0 Total Area 1,510 Weighted Average 2.04 3.14 Wheel-Line Sprinkler Systems 1, 2, and 3 316 - - 1.10 1.33 1.22 2.6 3.2 7 270 - - - 1.34 1.34 2.6 3.5 9, 10, and 11 653 - - - 1.39 1.39 2.5 3.5 19, 20, and 21 554 1.56 1.38 1.51 1.52 1.49 2.8 4.2 22 156 - - - 1.25 1.25 3.1 3.9 23 145 - - - 1.63 1.63 2.1 3.4 Total Area 2,100 Weighted Average 2.64 3.74

1 Power consumption data at selected wells for 1994-97 irrigation seasons obtained from Sierra Pacific Power Company with well owner's permission. Ratios computed by dividing power consumption for indicated year by 1998 power consumption. Dash indicates power consumption data not available for that year. 2 Average power consumption for 1994-97 irrigation seasons. When only one value was available for 1994-97 period, that value was used as average. 3 Amount of water, in feet of depth, used in an average irrigation season. Computed by multiplying average ratio by amount of water, in feet of depth, applied in 1998. 4 This is a weighted average where the weighting is by irrigated area.

Total ground-water pumpage from 420 produc- Dewatering totals in 1998 at the eight mines ranged tion wells in the middle Humboldt River Basin in 1998 from 90 acre-ft at the Pinson Mine to 95,400 acre-ft was about 298,000 acre-ft (table 5). This pumpage was at the Betze Mine (table 6). distributed as follows—78 percent for mining, 19 per- Managing this excess water can be difficult, cent for irrigation, and 3 percent for power plant, indus- especially when the volumes of water are large. The trial, and municipal needs combined (fig. 3A). NDWR policy requires the excess water be returned to The largest single source of ground-water pump- the aquifer in the same basin from which it was pumped age in the middle Humboldt River Basin is mining. either by infiltration or reinjection. However, these methods do not always work because the properties of Total ground water pumped at 16 gold mines in 1998 soils and shallow alluvium may not be suitable for infil- was 233,000 acre-ft (tables 5 and 6) and exceeded the tration, and the unsaturated zone may not have the total of all other ground-water pumpage by about four capacity to store the large volumes of ground water that times (fig. 3A). Consumptive use for mining purposes must be pumped. Therefore, a second alternative for was 23,600 acre-ft, and the excess of 209,000 acre-ft managing excess water is to substitute it for ground was pumped for the dewatering of eight gold mines.

Ground-Water Use in 1998 11 water being pumped for another purpose in another part However, releases from the Betze Mine ended in of the basin. If neither infiltration nor substitution of February 1999. Finally, a total of about 5,260 acre-ft use is feasible, the third alternative is to release excess (2 percent) of excess water was lost to evaporation. water to the Humboldt River or one of its tributaries. An estimated 57,800 acre-ft of ground water was Table 6 and figure 3B show how water from the pumped during 1998 for irrigation purposes (table 5). eight mines being dewatered was distributed in 1998 This pumpage is widely scattered in the middle Hum- according to the alternatives discussed above. A total of boldt River Basin, and except for Rock Creek and about 74,500 acre-ft (36 percent) of excess ground Willow Creek Valleys, each hydrographic area has water was returned to aquifers by infiltration at Boulder some area irrigated by ground water (plate 1). Irrigation Flat (Betze and Genesis Mines), Crescent Valley (Pipe- pumpage is concentrated in relatively large areas in line Mine), Lower Reese River Valley (McCoy Mine), Antelope and Middle Reese River Valleys and to a and the Kelly Creek Area (Getchell, Pinson, and Twin lesser extent in Upper and Lower Reese River Valleys, Creeks Mines). A total of about 33,100 acre-ft (16 per- the Clovers Area, and the Kelly Creek Area. The largest cent) of excess water was being substituted for other irrigated area by far is in Boulder Flat where center- uses. Of this total, 28,100 acre-ft of excess water from pivot sprinkler systems are used to irrigate about the Betze Mine was for irrigation use in Boulder Flat, 10,100 acres of alfalfa and pasture. However, all of and 5,020 acre-ft from the Lone Tree Mine was for con- the water used for irrigating these fields comes from sumptive use at the Marigold Mine, and the Valmy wells used to dewater the Betze Mine about 10 miles Power Plant in the Clovers Area, and the Trenton to the north. Canyon Mine located outside the study area. A total of Municipal wells serve the towns of Austin, Battle 96,700 acre-ft (46 percent) of excess water was Mountain, Crescent Valley, and Beowawe. They also released to the Humboldt River or one of its tributaries serve groups of residences at a Nevada Department of from the Betze, Lone Tree, and Twin Creeks Mines. Transportation maintenance station on the eastern side

A B

Evaporation Municipal, power plant, 2% and industrial 3%

Infiltration Mine dewatering 36% Irrigation 70% Surface-water 19% release 46%

Substitution of use 16%

Mining consumptive use 8%

Figure 3. Distribution of (A) Total ground-water pumpage, and (B) Total mine dewatering pumpage, 1998, middle Humboldt River Basin, north-central Nevada. Total pumpage was 298,000 acre-feet and total mine dewatering pumpage was 209,000 acre-feet

12 Ground-Water Use, Locations of Production Wells, and Areas Irrigated Using Ground Water in 1998, Middle Humboldt River Basin 79 585 196 1,580 5,240 6,790 6,940

36,200 12,200 16,900 35,800 54,300 18,400 feet) Total (acre 103,000 298,000 pumpage - - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 23 173 130 feet) 6 9 (acre 1,070 1,370 Pumpage 14 Municipal 0 4 0 7 0 0 6 0 2 0 2 3 0 0 24 Number ydrographic areas of ydrographic the Middle 30

29 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

254 261 515 feet) 3 (acre 28

Pumpage 27

Industrial 26

1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 25

Number 24

eline Mine. ection wells. 23

0 0 0 0 0 ms times 2.6 feet plus area, in acres, of flood-irrigation systems times systems flood-irrigation of in acres, feet plus area, ms times 2.6 71 79 22

196 419 17 22 21 26 21 35,100 28,600 51,400 14,900 feet)

(acre 5 102,000 233,000 13 28 30 19 Pumpage 20

Mining 18

0 0 0 0 0 3 1 4 3 9 42 19 87 51 219 Production wells Production 17 l-line irrigation syste

Number 16 the localaquifer way by inj of

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14

feet) (acre 13 6,670 1,480 8,150

and 32,700 acre-feet was for dewatering Pip dewatering for was acre-feet 32,700 and Pumpage 16 25 12

ea, in acres, of whee ly used production wells, and total ground-water use in 1998 use inandh in total ly used production ground-water wells, 11

Power plant 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 21 24

16 9

Number 8

). This water was returned to 7

1 6

0 0 47 5

896 585 390 15 4 7 4 1,330 5,110 9,000 3,970 2,880 3,490 18

2 8 12,200 16,900 57,800 feet) 12 24 27 29 (acre 3

10 11 2 Pumpage

vots and 221 acres irrigated by lines. by wheel acres irrigated and 221 vots lines. by wheel acres irrigated and 250 vots Irrigation 4 2 3 1 1 0 0 4 17 29 42 19 17 11 150 vot irrigation systems times 2 feet plus ar plus times 2 systems feet vot irrigation Number nsumptive use at Cortez and Pipeline Mines Mines and Pipeline at Cortez use nsumptive 0 0 cent Valley and Beowawe School. Beowawe and Valley cent 36 600 380 300 860 area 2,310 4,780 7,490 3,650 1,910 1,360 (acres) Irrigated 10,100 36,700

Area irrigated with ground water, Areatypes irrigated and of active numbers with ground water,

Computed as area, in acres, of center-pi by center pi irrigated 378 acres based on Value p. 48 1999, (Davis, oil production of as a by-product pumped Water by center pi irrigated 123 acres based on Value Of this total, 2,420 acre-feet was for co for town of Cressupply Water 1 2 3 4 5 6 Hydrographic area Hydrographic Pine Valley Crescent Valley Carico Valley Lake Valley Upper Reese River Antelope Valley Valley Middle Reese River Valley Reese River Lower Valley Whirlwind Flat Boulder Rock Creek Valley Creek Valley Willow Clovers Area Valley Pumpernickel Creek Area Kelly Totals Table 5. Table feet. 3.9 Humboldt Basin, north-centralRiver Nevada

Ground-Water Use in 1998 13

tering total, 2,880 acre-feet ulder Flat. See next footnote. Flat. ulder age volumes not not reported. age volumes 00 acre-ft released to Humboldt River by surface water for one-half of one-half for water by surface ine. the McCoy Mine. Of the dewatering total, 88 acre-feet was astern Boulderastern Flat. Pump ed for irrigation in central Bo rom theHumboldt River. d after passing through cooling tower and 1,020 acre-feet lost , and Pinson Mines. Of the dewa Mines. and Pinson , ason. r mine dewatering mostly at the Betze Mine. Of the dewatering the irrigation season. acre-ft used at Marigold Mine (220 acre-ft according to version for one half the season. f which 760 acres is irrigated is irrigated acres f which 760 ft used for watering stock, and 44,0 and stock, watering for used ft s at 73 center-pivot sprinkler systems, 5,170 evaporated from infiltration ponds, infiltration from evaporated 5,170 systems, sprinkler s at 73 center-pivot 95,700 acre-feet was fo Of the dewatering total, 176 for an estimated one-half of l, 5,650 acre-feetre-injecte is at Valmy Power Plant, 21 acre- at Valmy for irrigation on 10,100 acre d McCoy Mines and 25,200 acre-feet for dewatering for acre-feet 25,200 and Mines McCoy d ee, and Carlin Mines and and 138 acres of flood that supplements surface-water di aquifers by infiltration. rmal Power Plant. Of this tota Nevada Department of Transportation Maintenance in e station Maintenance of Transportation Department Nevada one-half of the season to supplement streamflow diversions f diversions streamflow to supplement season of the one-half Flat. However, part of the waterFlat. However, pumped from Betze Mine is us at supplements streamflow diversions for one-half of each each se of for one-half diversions streamflow at supplements acre-ft was for mine dewatering. to supplement streamflow runoff supplement streamflowto runoff acre-feet was for mine dewatering at the Twin Creeks, Getchell acre-feet was for mine dewatering at the Twin s irrigated by wheel lines, and 1,110 acresirrigated irrigateds bylines, wheelflood.1,110 by and o by flood acres 1,160 irrigated by wheel lines, and s irrigated irrigated by wheel lines, and 187 acres irrigated by by flood irrigated acres 187 and lines, wheel by irrigated ide study area, 4,740 acre-ft used tion, 28,100 acre-feet was used r. Discharges to Humboldt River ceased Discharges early in 1999. r. Valmy Power Plant. An additional 4,760 acre-feet was delivered from the Lone Tree M Tree Lone the from was delivered acre-feet 4,760 Power Plant. An additional Valmy -ft released to Kelly Creek. , 261 acres of wheel lines, -feet was returned to local Mine. Pumpage not reported. tive use at Mule Canyon Mine. tive use at gold Mine. Does not include 220 acre-ft delivered from Lone Tree Mine. See footnote 28. 28. See footnote Mine. Tree Lone delivered from acre-ft 220 Does not include Mine. gold was for consumptive was for consumptive use at the Copper Canyon an was for consumptive use at the Betze, Genesis, D das. Pumpage not reported. not Pumpage das. ed to local aquifers by infiltra of Battle Mountain. of infiltration, and 4,090 acre iltration ponds and 25,100 acre Value based on 2,770 acres irrigated by center pivots, 900 acre 900 by center pivots, irrigated acres 2,770 on based Value acre 1,610 by center pivots, irrigated acres 880 on based Value Of this total, 1,640 acre-feet supply for town Water based36 on acres wheel of lines. Ground waterused is about Value is total withdrawal from geothermal wells at Beowawe Geothe Value consump for water pumped Ground Boulder southern by wheel line in irrigated acres 150 for Pumpage Of this total, 6,340 acre-feet and at at small residents Dunphy of groups wells serving Municipal Permitted consumptive use at Rossi Mine. Gold use at Joint Venture Midas Consumptive supply for town of Mi Water acresof center pivots based1,510 on Value at purposes cooling for water pumped Ground Consumptive use pumpage at Mari based250 onacres of center pivots610 and acres offlood. Value 48,900 use and consumptive was for acre-feet 2,470 total, Of this th flood of 95 acres of wheel lines, and acres 1,270 on based Value 6,970 use and consumptive was for acre-feet 7,960 total, Of this Value based 4,280 onacres irrigated by center pivotsand 3,210 acres irrigatedValue wheel by lines. Value based on 300 acres irrigated by flood. Ground water is used water Ground flood. by acres irrigated based on 300 Value acres 230 pivots, center by acres irrigated based on 1,890 Value supply for town of Austin. Water 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 by way of the Iron Point Relief Canal. Marigold reports), 66 acre-ft used Canyon at Trenton Mine outs total, 13,800 acre-feet was return and 48,600 acre-feet was discharged to the Humboldt Rive evaporatedinf from as evaporation. the season. as returned to aquifers was

14 Ground-Water Use, Locations of Production Wells, and Areas Irrigated Using Ground Water in 1998, Middle Humboldt River Basin

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Table 6. Ground-water pumpage for mining purposes in 1998, Middle Humboldt River Basin, north-central Nevada. [All values in acre-feet, rounded to three significant figures if more than 100 acre-feet and two significant figures if less.]

Distribution of excess water Total Consumptive Excess Mine name mining Release to use water1 Substitution pumpage Infiltration Humboldt River Evaporation of use or tributary Betze 101,000 5,610 95,400 13,500 128,100 248,600 5,170 Carlin 94 94 - - - - - Copper Canyon 1,790 1,790 - - - - - Cortez 407 407 - - - - - Dee 427 427 - - - - - Genesis 490 205 285 285 - - - Getchell 4,360 1,610 2,750 2,750 - Lone Tree 51,400 2,470 48,900 - 35,020 444,000 - Marigold 419 5639 - - - - - McCoy 26,800 1,630 25,200 25,100 88 Midas Joint Venture 79 79 - - - - - Mule Canyon 71 71 - - - - - Pinson 1,120 1,030 90 90 - - - Pipeline 34,700 2,010 32,700 32,700 - - - Rossi66196 196 - Twin Creeks 9,450 5,320 4,130 40 74,090 Totals 233,000 23,600 209,000 74,500 33,100 96,700 5,260

1 Used to irrigate 10,100 acres by center pivot in Boulder Flat. 2 Released to Humboldt River near Dunphy. No releases since February 1999. 3 Water delivered to Valmy Power Plant and Marigold and Trenton Canyon Mines. 4 Water released to Iron Point Relief Canal. 5 Total includes 220 acre-ft of water delivered from Lone Tree Mine. 6 The Rossi Mine is a small barite mine. The total pumpage shown was not reported. Instead, the value is the permitted pumpage. 7 Released to Kelly Creek, a tributary of Humboldt River. All of this water infiltrates the stream channel before reaching the Humboldt River.

of Boulder Flat, at Dunphy in southern Boulder Flat, ate electricity. The total water withdrawn in 1998 was and at Valmy in the western part of the Clovers Area. 6,670 acre-ft, of which 85 percent was returned to the Total municipal use was 1,370 acre-ft in 1998 (table 5). geothermal reservoir by re-injection, and the balance Ground water is used in the Clovers Area and in was lost to evaporation. Whirlwind Valley for generation of electricity. In 1998, Ground-water pumpage for industrial purposes is 1,480 acre-ft of ground water was pumped at 21 wells not common in the middle Humboldt River Basin. The in the Clovers Area for cooling purposes at the Valmy only industrial pumpage that could be confirmed from Power Plant (table 5). However, since 1998 these cool- State of Nevada records was 254 acre-ft of water ing water needs have been met mostly with excess pumped as a by-product of oil production in Pine water from the nearby Lone Tree Mine. Three geother- Valley and 261 acre-ft pumped at a chemical plant in mal wells at the Beowawe Geothermal Power Plant in western Boulder Flat (table 5). Whirlwind Valley produce steam that is used to gener-

Ground-Water Use in 1998 15 Summary Comparison of 1998 power-consumption records with those for 1994-97 shows that 1998 power con- Ground water is pumped in the middle Humboldt sumption was consistently exceeded during the previ- River Basin for a variety of uses, the principal of which ous four years by 110 to 235 percent. If the amounts of are agricultural, industrial, mining, municipal, and water applied to fields during the 1998 irrigation sea- power plant purposes. Ground water also is pumped at son are adjusted to account for this, the average amount a number of domestic and stock wells, but these two of water applied to a field using center-pivot and wheel- uses are relatively small when compared with the prin- line sprinkler systems during a typical year would be cipal uses. The purpose of this report is to develop a 3.1 ft and 3.7 ft, respectively. compilation of all production wells and areas irrigated Total ground water pumped in the middle Hum- by ground water, and to quantify 1998 ground-water boldt River Basin during 1998 was about 298,000 acre- use in each of the 14 hydrographic areas of the middle Humboldt River Basin. ft, and was distributed as follows: 78 percent for mining Annual pumping records for production wells (including 70 percent for dewatering), 19 percent for generally are reported to the Nevada Division of Water irrigation, and 3 percent for industrial, municipal, and Resources. However, operators of irrigation wells are power plants combined. Mining pumpage was by far not consistently required to report annual pumpage. In the largest because several gold mines have extended order to make reasonable estimates of pumpage for irri- below local ground-water levels and the area around gation use, daily power-consumption and pump-dis- each mine must be dewatered in order to maintain a dry charge rates were measured at 20 wells used to irrigate and workable mine. Excess water from the eight mines 3,850 acres of alfalfa and minor amounts of oats by was distributed as follows: (1) A total of about 74,500 center-pivot and wheel-line sprinkler systems. This acre-ft of excess ground water was returned to aquifers area represents about 10 percent of the total area of by infiltration at Boulder Flat, Crescent Valley, Lower 36,700 acres irrigated by ground water in the middle Reese River Valley, and the Kelly Creek Area; (2) A Humboldt River Basin. The two rates were used to total of 33,100 acre-ft was being substituted for irriga- compute a ratio that would estimate the amount of tion use in Boulder Flat and for consumptive use at power required to pump one acre-foot of water at each a mine and a power plant in the Clovers Area and at of the wells. The estimated total volume of ground a mine outside the study area; (3) A total of 96,700 water pumped at each well during the irrigation season acre-ft was released to the Humboldt River or one of its was determined by dividing total power use at the well tributaries from three mines; and (4) A total of 5,260 during the season by the ratio. A similar approach was acre-ft was lost to evaporation. used to estimate total water pumped at three wells using pumps powered by diesel engines to flood-irrigate two References Cited fields. Finally, the total amount of water, in feet, applied to the irrigated fields was estimated by dividing Berger, D.L., 2000, Water Budget Estimates for the 14 area, in acres, irrigated by total amount of water, in Hydrographic Areas in the Middle Humboldt River acre-feet, that was pumped. Basin, North-Central Nevada: U.S. Geological Survey The amount of water applied to the fields irrigated Water-Resources Investigation Report 00-4168, 55 p. by center-pivot and wheel-line sprinkler systems in Cardinalli, J.L., Roach, L.M., Rush, F.E., and Vasey, B.J., 1998 ranged from 1.7 to 2.2 ft and 2.1 to 3.1 ft, respec- comps., 1968, State of Nevada hydrographic areas: tively. The averages were 2.0 and 2.6 ft, respectively. Nevada Division of Water Resources map, scale The amount of water, in feet of depth, applied to the 1:500,000. flood-irrigated fields was 3.9 ft, about twice the amount Davis, D.A., 1999, Oil and Gas, in The Nevada Mineral of that used by a center-pivot sprinkler system. Industry 1998: Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology The amounts of water applied to these fields Special Publication MI-1998, 58 p. during the 1998 irrigation season were less than what Hurr, R.T., and Litke, D.W., 1989, Estimating pumping time would have been applied during a typical irrigation and ground-water withdrawals using energy consump- season. Late winter and spring precipitation in 1998 tion data: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources exceeded long-term monthly averages for January Investigations Report 89-4107, 27 p. through June by almost two to four times. As a result, Rush, F.E., 1968, Index of hydrographic areas in Nevada: most irrigation wells were used only sporadically in the Nevada Division of Water Resources Information first part of the 1998 irrigation season. Report 6, 38 p.

16 Ground-Water Use, Locations of Production Wells, and Areas Irrigated Using Ground Water in 1998, Middle Humboldt River Basin Plume—GROUND-WATER LOCATIONS USE, WELLS,AREA PRODUCTION AND OF S IRRIGATED GROUND WATER USING BA RIVER HUMBOLDT 1998, MIDDLE IN

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