Prepared in cooperation with the Arizona Department of Water Resources and Yavapai County Regional Groundwater-Flow Model of the Redwall-Muav, Coconino, and Alluvial Basin Aquifer Systems of Northern and Central Arizona Scientific Investigations Report 2010-5180, v. 1.1 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Front Cover Cathedral Rock, Sedona, Arizona. View southeast from Oak Creek near Red Rock Crossing. (Photo courtesy of Ken Thomas.) Prepared in cooperation with the Arizona Department of Water Resources and Yavapai County Regional Groundwater-Flow Model of the Redwall-Muav, Coconino, and Alluvial Basin Aquifer Systems of Northern and Central Arizona By D.R. Pool, Kyle W. Blasch, James B. Callegary, Stanley A. Leake, and Leslie F. Graser Scientific Investigations Report 2010–5180, v. 1.1 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: 2011 Revised 2011 This report and any updates to it are available online at: http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2010/5180/ For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment: World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov/ Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS 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. Although this report is in the public domain, it may contain copyrighted materials that are noted in the text. Permission to reproduce those items must be secured from the individual copyright owners. Suggested citation: Pool, D.R., Blasch, K.W., Callegary, J.B., Leake, S.A., and Graser, L.F., 2011, Regional groundwater-flow model of the Redwall-Muav, Coconino, and alluvial basin aquifer systems of northern and central Arizona: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2010-5180, v. 1.1, 101 p. iii Contents Abstract ...........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................1 Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................3 Objectives...............................................................................................................................................3 Approach ................................................................................................................................................3 Description of Study Area ...................................................................................................................5 Physiography ................................................................................................................................5 Climate ...........................................................................................................................................5 Vegetation .....................................................................................................................................8 Land and Water Use ....................................................................................................................9 Population ............................................................................................................................9 Land Use ...............................................................................................................................9 Water Use ..........................................................................................................................10 Previous Studies ..........................................................................................................................................10 Hydrogeology.......................................................................................................................................10 Upper and Middle Verde River Watersheds..........................................................................10 Colorado Plateau .......................................................................................................................11 Models of Groundwater Flow in the Study Area ...........................................................................12 Prescott Active Management Area ........................................................................................12 Big Chino Valley .........................................................................................................................13 Colorado Plateau .......................................................................................................................13 Mogollon Rim ..............................................................................................................................14 Acknowledgments .......................................................................................................................................14 Regional Hydrogeology ...............................................................................................................................16 Hydrogeologic Units ...........................................................................................................................16 Proterozoic Basement ..............................................................................................................16 Paleozoic Rocks .........................................................................................................................17 Mesozoic Rocks .........................................................................................................................19 Cenozoic Rocks and Alluvial Basins .......................................................................................19 Geologic Structure and Tectonic History ........................................................................................20 Coconino Plateau and Plateaus North of the Colorado River ............................................21 Little Colorado River Plateau ...................................................................................................21 Mogollon Rim ..............................................................................................................................22 Transition Zone ...........................................................................................................................22 Aquifers and Aquifer Properties ......................................................................................................23 Proterozoic Basement ..............................................................................................................23 Estimation of the Top of Hydrologic Basement ............................................................24 Redwall-Muav Aquifer ..............................................................................................................24 Water Levels and Saturated Thickness ........................................................................25 Recharge and Discharge .................................................................................................27 Aquifer Properties and Well Yield ..................................................................................28 Coconino Aquifer .......................................................................................................................28 Water Levels and Saturated Thickness ........................................................................29 iv Recharge and Discharge .................................................................................................29 Aquifer Properties and Well Yield ..................................................................................30 Alluvial Basin Aquifers ..............................................................................................................31 Big Chino Sub-Basin ........................................................................................................31 Recharge and Discharge ........................................................................................32 Aquifer Properties ...................................................................................................32 Little Chino and Upper Agua Fria Sub-Basins ..............................................................32 Recharge and Discharge ........................................................................................33 Aquifer Properties ...................................................................................................33 Verde Valley Sub-Basin ...................................................................................................34 Recharge and Discharge ........................................................................................34 Aquifer Properties ...................................................................................................34 Tonto Sub-Basin ................................................................................................................34 Groundwater Budget Methods ..................................................................................................................35