Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5155

Estimates of Natural Ground-Water Discharge and Characterization of Water Quality in Dry Valley, Washoe County, West-Central Nevada, 2002-2003

By David L. Berger, Douglas K. Maurer, Thomas J. Lopes, and Keith J. Halford

Report availability: Portable Document Format (PDF).

CONTENTS

Abstract

Introduction

Purpose and Scope

Acknowledgments

Geographic Setting

• Climate and Vegetation

Geologic Setting

Structural History

Geologic Units

Hydrologic Setting

Surface Water

Source and Movement of Ground Water

Ground-Water Discharge

Subsurface Outflow

Evapotranspiration

Discussion of Discharge Estimates

Water Quality and Geochemistry

Water Quality

Geochemistry of Ground Water and Streams

Summary

References Cited

Appendix-Selected ground-water levels measured in wells, Dry Valley, west-central Nevada

FIGURES

1. Map showing general location of Dry Valley, west-central Nevada
2. Map showing geographic features of study area, distribution of geologic units and faults, and locations of wells and springs used in this study
3. Map showing distribution of geologic units and faults in western part of the study area
4. Graphs showing example of borehole-geophysical and lithological logs collected from a borehole where well sites 14, 15, and 16 are installed along the State line, Dry Valley, west-central Nevada
5. Graphs showing time-distance curves and resultant velocity-depth cross section for seismic-refraction profile A-A', Dry Valley, west-central Nevada
6. Graphs showing water-level fluctuations for 2002 through 2003 in selected wells in Dry Valley, west-central Nevada
7. Graph showing hydrogeologic cross section B-B' near the mouth of Dry Valley, west-central Nevada
8. Satellite imagery showing area of phreatophytic vegetation and shallow depth to ground water
9. Graph showing ratios of major ion chemistry for water sampled in Dry Valley, west-central Nevada
10. Graph showing chloride as a function of dissolved-solids concentration, Dry Valley, west-central Nevada
11. Graph showing relation of deuterium to oxygen-18 in sampled ground water and springs in Dry Valley, west-central Nevada

TABLES

1. Site number, location, well construction, and type of data available for well and spring sites, Dry Valley, west-central Nevada
2. Estimates of subsurface outflow from Dry Valley, west-central Nevada
3. Estimates of ground-water discharge by evapotranspiration in areas of phreatophytic vegetation, Dry Valley, west-central Nevada
4. Estimates of natural ground-water discharge from Dry Valley, west-central Nevada
5. Results of chemical analyses for water samples from selected well and spring sites, Dry Valley, west-central Nevada
6. Comparison of selected inorganic constituents for primary and secondary drinking-water standards, Dry Valley, west-central Nevada
7. Saturation indices of calcite for ground water in Dry Valley, west-central Nevada

Return to SIR 2004-5155 or the Abstract.

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