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Scientific Investigations Report 2011–5142

Prepared in cooperation with the Washington County Water Conservancy District

Assessment of Managed Aquifer Recharge from Sand Hollow Reservoir, Washington County, Utah, Updated to Conditions in 2010

By Victor M. Heilweil and Thomas M. Marston

Thumbnail of and link to report PDF (3.5 MB)Abstract

Sand Hollow Reservoir in Washington County, Utah, was completed in March 2002 and is operated primarily for managed aquifer recharge by the Washington County Water Conservancy District. From 2002 through 2009, total surface-water diversions of about 154,000 acre-feet to Sand Hollow Reservoir have allowed it to remain nearly full since 2006. Groundwater levels in monitoring wells near the reservoir rose through 2006 and have fluctuated more recently because of variations in reservoir water-level altitude and nearby pumping from production wells. Between 2004 and 2009, a total of about 13,000 acre-feet of groundwater has been withdrawn by these wells for municipal supply. In addition, a total of about 14,000 acre-feet of shallow seepage was captured by French drains adjacent to the North and West Dams and used for municipal supply, irrigation, or returned to the reservoir.

From 2002 through 2009, about 86,000 acre-feet of water seeped beneath the reservoir to recharge the underlying Navajo Sandstone aquifer. Water-quality sampling was conducted at various monitoring wells in Sand Hollow to evaluate the timing and location of reservoir recharge moving through the aquifer. Tracers of reservoir recharge include major and minor dissolved inorganic ions, tritium, dissolved organic carbon, chlorofluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride, and noble gases. By 2010, this recharge arrived at monitoring wells within about 1,000 feet of the reservoir.

First posted September 27, 2011

For additional information contact:
Director, Utah Water Science Center
U.S. Geological Survey
2329 Orton Circle
Salt Lake City, Utah 84119-2047
http://ut.water.usgs.gov/

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Suggested citation:

Heilweil, V.M. and Marston, T.M., 2011, Assessment of managed aquifer recharge from Sand Hollow Reservoir, Washington County, Utah, updated to conditions in 2010: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2011–5142, 39 p.



Contents

Abstract

Introduction

Assessment of Managed Aquifer Recharge from Sand Hollow Reservoir

Evaluation of the Movement of Managed Aquifer Recharge and Geochemical Mixing in the Navajo Sandstone

Summary

References Cited


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