UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations 1-1-1992 Isotope hydrology of Lehman and Baker creeks drainages, Great Basin National Park, Nevada Stephen Yaw Acheampong University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/rtds Repository Citation Acheampong, Stephen Yaw, "Isotope hydrology of Lehman and Baker creeks drainages, Great Basin National Park, Nevada" (1992). UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations. 195. http://dx.doi.org/10.25669/3kmp-t8wo This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. 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Ann Arbor, MI 48106 ISOTOPE HYDROLOGY OF LEHMAN AND BAKER CREEKS DRAINAGES, GREAT BASIN NATIONAL PARK, NEVADA by Stephen Yaw Acheampong A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Geoscience Department of Geoscience University of Nevada, Las Vegas August, 1992 The thesis of Stephen Yaw Acheampong for the degree of Master of Science Geoscience is approved. n /( / tu I' tj ,yi -1 U Chairperson, Neil L. Ingraham, Ph.D. Examining Committee Member, Frederick W. Bachhuber, Ph.D. Examining Committee Member, John W. Hess, Ph.D. / U CL Graduate Faculty Representative, Stanley C. Grenda, Ph.D. Graduate Dean, Ronald W. Smith, Ph.D. University of Nevada, Las Vegas July, 1992 Abstract Environmental isotope techniques have been used to study the water resources in Great Basin National Park in east-central Nevada in an attempt to understand the recharge and mixing characteristics of the creeks, lakes and shallow groundwater in the park. The results have been used to trace the sources of the springs and creek discharges and also to determine the isotopic behavior of the alpine lakes, as well as groundwater exchange with the lakes. Isotopic evidence shows that winter snow is the major contributor to groundwater and makes up about 80% of groundwater recharge while summer rains contribute about 20%. Similarly, Lehman Creek is observed to be recharged mainly by variable contributions of shallow groundwater and lake water. Groundwater recharge to the creek ranges from about 90% in the summer to about 60% in the winter while the lakes’ contribution varies from 10 to 20% in summer and winter respectively. Three different types of lake systems have been identified in the park. These are open lakes which have both surface inflow and outflow, closed lakes which have inflow but no outflow, and partially closed lakes which have outflows during certain times of the year. The isotopic compositions of the lakes are quite dependent on the evaporation-inflow rates and are shown to be a qualitative measure of the degree of openness or closure of the particular lake. Three different values of maximum isotopic enrichment attainable in the park were obtained using three different methods. The differences in values suggest two kinds of closed lakes which behave isotopically differently. Water balance calculation using stable isotopes was performed for a closed alpine lake, Brown Lake, which showed that the lake has considerable interaction with groundwater and is not a completely closed lake. iii Table of Contents ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................... iii LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................ vi LIST OF TABLES .......................................................................................................... viii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .............................................................................................. ix INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 1 Purpose ................................................................................................................... 1 Objectives ............................................................................................................... 2 A pproach ................................................................................................................. 2 Previous Work in Great Basin National Park ................................................ 4 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING ................................................................................... 6 Historical Background ......................................................................................... 6 Climate and Physiography ................................................................................. 8 G eology................................................................................................................... 11 Hydrogeology ........................................................................................................ 11 THEORY OF ISOTOPE GEOCHEMISTRY ........................................................... 14 Stable Isotopes in the Hydrologic Cycle ......................................................... 16 METHODOLOGY .......................................................................................................... 19 Field W o rk ............................................................................................................. 19 Precipitation Collection ....................................................................................... 20 Surface Water Collection .................................................................................... 20 Ground-water Collection ..................................................................................... 22 Laboratory Experiment ........................................................................................ 22 Laboratory Analysis ............................................................................................. 23 RESULTS .......................................................................................................................... 26 Isotopic Composition of Precipitation .............................................................. 26 Surface and Groundwater D ata .......................................................................... 31 Lehman Creek ............................................................................................ 31 Baker Creek ................................................................................................ 33 Cave Springs Creek .................................................................................. 33 Lakes ............................................................................................................ 34 iv Springs ......................................................................................................... 36 Time Series Data ................................................................................................... 38 Temperature and Electrical Conductivity Data .............................................. 39 DISCUSSION ................................................................................................................... 42 Isotopic Variation in Precipitation .................................................................... 42 Isotopic Composition of Surface and Groundwater .......................................