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Assessment of Managed Aquifer Recharge at Sand Hollow Reservoir, Washington County, Utah, Updated to Conditions Through 2016

Open-File Report 2018-1140
Prepared in cooperation with the Washington County Water Conservancy District
By:  and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20181140

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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 2016, surface-water diversions of about 256,000 acre-feet (acre-ft) to Sand Hollow Reservoir have allowed the reservoir to remain nearly full since 2006. Groundwater levels in monitoring wells near the reservoir rose through 2006 but have fluctuated more recently because of variations in reservoir stage and nearby pumping from production wells. Between 2004 and 2016, about 37,000 acre-ft of groundwater was withdrawn by these wells for municipal supply. In addition, about 37,000 acre-ft 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 2016, about 141,000 acre-ft of water seeped beneath the reservoir to recharge the underlying Navajo Sandstone aquifer, which includes about 14,200 acre-ft of recharge during the 2015–16 time period since the last report published in 2016.

Water quality continued to be monitored at various wells in Sand Hollow during 2015–16 to evaluate the timing and location of reservoir recharge as it moved through the aquifer. Changing geochemical conditions at monitoring wells WD 4 and WD 12 indicate rising groundwater levels and mobilization of vadose-zone salts, which could be a precursor to the arrival of reservoir recharge.

Suggested Citation

Marston, T.M., and Nelson, N.C., 2018, Assessment of managed aquifer recharge at Sand Hollow Reservoir, Washington County, Utah, updated to conditions through 2016: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2018–1140, 38 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20181140.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

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Table of Contents

  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Assessment of Managed Aquifer Recharge at Sand Hollow Reservoir
  • Groundwater and Surface-Water Quality in Sand Hollow
  • Summary
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Assessment of managed aquifer recharge at Sand Hollow Reservoir, Washington County, Utah, updated to conditions through 2016
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2018-1140
DOI 10.3133/ofr20181140
Publication Date November 09, 2018
Year Published 2018
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Utah Water Science Center
Description vi, 38 p.
Country United States
State Utah
County Washington County
Other Geospatial Sand Hollow Reservoir
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional publication details