Prepared in cooperation with the Arizona Department of Water Resources Groundwater Budgets for Detrital, Hualapai, and Sacramento Valleys, Mohave County, Arizona, 2007–08 Scientific Investigations Report 2011–5159 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey COVER: View of August 2010, monsoon thunderstorm over Hualapai Mountains, looking east from Sacramento Valley. Photo by Bradley D. Garner. Prepared in cooperation with the Arizona Department of Water Resources Groundwater Budgets for Detrital, Hualapai, and Sacramento Valleys, Mohave County, Arizona, 2007–08 By Bradley D. Garner and Margot Truini Scientific Investigations Report 2011–5159 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 For product and ordering information: World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS 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 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 material contained within this report. Suggested citation: Garner, B.D., and Truini, Margot, 2011, Groundwater budgets for Detrital, Hualapai, and Sacramento Valleys, Mohave County, Arizona, 2007–08: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2011-5159, 34 p. iii Acknowledgments The authors thank Jeff Corwin and George Sedich, City of Kingman, and Brian Henderson, Griffith Power LLC, who provided helpful information about the use and disposal of water within the study area. The authors also thank businesses and water suppliers who provided groundwater-withdrawal data to State agencies and provided verification of values when requested. iv This page left intentionally blank. v Contents Abstract ...........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1 Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................1 Description of the Study Area ............................................................................................................2 Previous Investigations........................................................................................................................5 Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................................5 Approach to Water-Budget Calculations...................................................................................................5 Natural Recharge (1940–2008) ............................................................................................................6 The Basin Characterization Model ...........................................................................................6 Calculation of Natural Recharge Using the Basin Characterization Model ......................7 Natural Recharge from Upgradient Streamflow and Underflow .........................................7 Natural Discharge (1940–2008) ...........................................................................................................8 Discharge to Lake Mead or the Colorado River .....................................................................8 Phreatic Evapotranspiration ......................................................................................................8 Groundwater Withdrawals ..................................................................................................................8 Incidental Recharge .............................................................................................................................8 Water-Supply Pipe Leakage.....................................................................................................10 Consumptive Use .......................................................................................................................10 Recharge from Septic Systems ...............................................................................................11 Recharge from Wastewater-Treatment Plants .....................................................................11 Groundwater Storage and Storage Changes .................................................................................11 Detrital Valley Water Budget .....................................................................................................................12 Natural Recharge................................................................................................................................12 Natural Discharge...............................................................................................................................12 Springs near Lake Mead....................................................................................................................12 Groundwater Withdrawals ................................................................................................................14 Incidental Recharge ...........................................................................................................................14 Groundwater Storage ........................................................................................................................14 Hualapai Valley Water Budget...................................................................................................................14 Natural Recharge................................................................................................................................14 Natural Discharge...............................................................................................................................14 Groundwater Withdrawals ................................................................................................................15 Incidental Recharge ...........................................................................................................................15 Groundwater Storage ........................................................................................................................16 Sacramento Valley Water Budget.............................................................................................................16 Natural Recharge................................................................................................................................16 Natural Discharge...............................................................................................................................17 Groundwater Withdrawals ................................................................................................................18 Incidental Recharge ...........................................................................................................................19 Groundwater Storage ........................................................................................................................19 vi Discussion ....................................................................................................................................................19 Comparison with Other Studies ........................................................................................................19 Effects of Groundwater Withdrawals ..............................................................................................20 Incidental Recharge and Water Quality ..........................................................................................20 Limitations and Uncertainty in Water Budgets ..............................................................................21 Natural Recharge ......................................................................................................................22 Natural Discharge .....................................................................................................................22 Groundwater Withdrawals .......................................................................................................23 Incidental Recharge ..................................................................................................................23 Total Groundwater Storage ......................................................................................................23 Summary........................................................................................................................................................23 References Cited..........................................................................................................................................24 Appendixes ...................................................................................................................................................29 Appendix 1. Historic Groundwater Withdrawal