HA 730-C Basin and Range aquifers

GROUND WATER ATLAS of the UNITED STATES
Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah
HA 730-C

Basin and Range aquifers

(figures 31-51)

Introduction (Click to view thumbnails and download figures)

Figure 31 Map showing extent of the Basin and Range aquifers
Figure 32 Photograph showing the Basin and Range Physiographic Province

Hydrogeologic Units (Click to view thumbnails and download figures)

Figure 33 Diagram showing the formation of the alternating basin and range topography
Figure 34 Diagram showing the location and composition of basin fill
Figure 35 Map showing the four principal hydrogeologic units of the Basin and Range aquifers
Figure 36 Map showing the location of the remnants of Lake Bonneville that existed during the great ice age in Utah

Recharge and Discharge (Click to view thumbnails and download figures)

Figure 37 Cross section showing the five principal components of ground-water recharge into the Basin and Range aquifer
Figure 38 Cross section showing the five principal components of ground-water discharge from the Basin and Range aquifer
Figure 39 Map showing area of shallow ground-water discharge by evapotranspiration

Water-level Conditions (Click to view thumbnails and download figures)

Figure 40 Map showing the altitude of the potentiometric surface and general direction of ground-water movement in the Basin and Range aquifers before ground-water development
Figure 41 Cross section showing ground-water flow through basin fill and permeable bedrock
Figure 42 Map showing the location of large basin-fill aquifers
Figure 43 Map and charts showing long-term water-level decline through 1980

Ground-water Quality (Click to view thumbnails and download figures)

Figure 44 Map and graphs showing the dissolved-solids concentrations in water in the basin-fill aquifers
Figure 45 Map showing the dissolved fluoride concentrations in water in southern Arizona

Fresh Ground-water Withdrawals (Click to view thumbnails and download figures)

Figure 46 Graph showing annual ground-water withdrawal from wells in the Arizona and Utah parts of the Basin and Range aquifers
Figure 47 Graph showing changes in ground-water use in Arizona and Utah over time
Figure 48 Map showing fresh ground-water withdrawals from the Basin and Range aquifers during 1985

Effects of Withdrawals (Click to view thumbnails and download figures)

Figure 49 Graph showing that water level decline in the basin-fill aquifers can cause the compaction of aquifer sediments
Figure 50 Photograph showing earth fissures caused by compaction and subsidence
Figure 51 Photograph showing earth fissures enlarged by erosion

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