Evaluation of the Hydrologic System and Selected Water-Management Alternatives in the Owens Valley, California United States Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 2370-H Prepared in cooperation with Inyo County and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power EVALUATION OF THE HYDROLOGIC SYSTEM AND SELECTED WATER-MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVES IN THE OWENS VALLEY, CALIFORNIA Pleasant Valley Reservoir VVolcanicolcanic TTablelandableland Bishop Mountains ADA W24XX NEVNEVADA Frontispiece White 30 X 32 picas Big Pine Crater Mtn SIERRA Red Mtn Tinemaha Reservoir Mt Whitney Mountains River Independence Inyo Owens N Alabama Hills Lone Pine Los Angeles Aqueduct Owens Lake Frontispiece. Vertically exaggerated perspective and oblique view of the Owens Valley, California, showing the dramatic difference in topographic relief between the valley and the surrounding mountains. Chapter H Evaluation of the Hydrologic System and Selected Water-Management Alternatives in the Owens Valley, California By WESLEY R. DANSKIN Prepared in cooperation with Inyo County and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 2370 HYDROLOGY AND SOIL-WATER-PLANT RELATIONS IN OWENS VALLEY, CALIFORNIA 1998 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Charles G. Groat, Acting Director The use of firm, trade, and brand names in this report is for identification purposes only and does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Government. Library of Congress Cataloging in Publications Date Danskin, Wesley R. Evaluation of the hydrologic system and selected water-management alternatives in the Owens, Valley, Cal- ifornia / by Wesley R. Danskin. p. cm.—(U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 2370-H) “Prepared in cooperation with Inyo County and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.” Includes bibliographical references. Supt. of Docs. no. : I 19.13: 2370-H 1. Water-supply—California—Owens River Valley—Management. 2. Groundwater—California—Owens River Valley. I. Inyo County (Calif.) II. Los Angeles (Calif.). Dept. of Water and Power. III. Title. IV. Series. TD225.085D36 1998 333.91’15’0979487—dc21 98-29438 CIP ISBN.0-607-90059-8 For sale by U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services Box 25286, Federal Center Denver, CO 80225 CONTENTS Abstract.................................................................................................................................................................................. 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Purpose and Scope....................................................................................................................................................... 5 Previous Investigations ................................................................................................................................................ 7 Methods of Investigation ............................................................................................................................................. 10 Acknowledgments ....................................................................................................................................................... 12 Description of Study Area ..................................................................................................................................................... 12 Physiography ............................................................................................................................................................... 12 Geologic Setting .......................................................................................................................................................... 13 Climate......................................................................................................................................................................... 20 Vegetation .................................................................................................................................................................... 20 Land and Water Use..................................................................................................................................................... 21 Hydrologic System ................................................................................................................................................................ 24 Precipitation and Evapotranspiration........................................................................................................................... 24 Precipitation....................................................................................................................................................... 24 Evapotranspiration............................................................................................................................................. 25 Surface-Water System ................................................................................................................................................. 33 Tributary Streams .............................................................................................................................................. 34 Percent Valleywide Runoff ...................................................................................................................... 35 Tributary Stream Recharge...................................................................................................................... 39 Ungaged Runoff................................................................................................................................................. 43 Mountain-Front Runoff between Tributary Streams ............................................................................... 43 Runoff from Bedrock Outcrops within the Valley Fill ............................................................................ 44 Owens River and the Los Angeles Aqueduct..................................................................................................... 45 Lower Owens River ........................................................................................................................................... 48 Reservoirs and Small Lakes............................................................................................................................... 49 Reservoirs ................................................................................................................................................ 49 Small Lakes ............................................................................................................................................. 50 Canals, Ditches, and Ponds................................................................................................................................ 51 Canals and Ditches .................................................................................................................................. 51 Ponds ....................................................................................................................................................... 52 Owens Lake ....................................................................................................................................................... 53 Ground-Water System ................................................................................................................................................. 53 Geometry and Boundary Conditions ................................................................................................................. 54 Hydrogeologic Units and Subunits.................................................................................................................... 54 Hydraulic Characteristics .................................................................................................................................. 58 Movement of Ground Water .............................................................................................................................. 59 Ground-Water Budget........................................................................................................................................ 64 Discharge from Pumped and Flowing Wells ........................................................................................... 65 Springs and Seeps.................................................................................................................................... 67 Underflow ................................................................................................................................................ 70 Irrigation and Watering of Livestock....................................................................................................... 71 Ground-Water Quality ....................................................................................................................................... 71 Ground-Water Flow Model................................................................................................................................ 72 General Characteristics............................................................................................................................ 73 Representation of the Aquifer