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Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5254

Chemistry of Runoff and Shallow Ground Water at the Cattlemans Detention Basin Site, South Lake Tahoe, California, August 2000-November 2001

By David E. Prudic, Sienna J. Sager, James L. Wood, Katherine K. Henkelman, and Rachel M. Caskey

Report availability: Portable Document Format (PDF).

CONTENTS

Abstract
Introduction
Purpose and Scope
Acknowledgments
Description of Cold Creek
Location and Description of Cattlemans Detention Basin
Methods
Urban Runoff from Pioneer Trail
Well Location and Construction
Measurement of Water Levels in Wells and Stage of Cold Creek
Water Quality Sampling Procedures
  • Urban Runoff
  • Ground Water and Cold Creek
Analyses of Water Quality
Urban Runoff
Ground Water
Distribution of Unconsolidated Deposits
Direction of Ground-Water Flow
Seasonal Trends in Ground-Water Levels
Quality of Ground Water, Cold Creek, and Precipitation
  • Chemical Composition
  • Distribution of Total Dissolved Solids, Chloride, and Iron
  • Distribution of Nutrients and Organic Carbon
  • Seasonal Variations
Summary and Conclusions
References Cited

FIGURES

  1. Map showing location of Lake Tahoe and study area adjacent to Cold Creek, South Lake Tahoe, California
  2. Aerial view showing different channels of Cold Creek near Cattlemans detention basin prior to its construction
  3. Photographs showing Cold Creek in January 2001 at the first meander adjacent to Cattlemans detention basin prior to its construction, and Cold Creek in May 2001 downstream of detention basin prior to its construction
  4. Drawing of Cattlemans detention basin in relation to Cold Creek, Pioneer Trail, and Cattlemans Court, and location of wells drilled during November and December 2000
  5. Aerial view showing location of areas that contributed runoff to the area of the planned Cattlemans detention basin prior to its construction in August and September 2001
  6. Photographs showing selected features in the area of Cattlemans detention basin
  7. Diagram showing construction of wells in the area of the Cattlemans detention basin
  8. Vertical section showing distribution of shallow unconsolidated deposits beneath Cattlemans detention basin prior to its construction
  9. Graphs showing time-distance curves and velocity-depth profile for seismic-refraction line A-A' near Cattlemans detention basin
  10. Drawing of ground-water level contours for May 2001 in the area of Cattlemans detention basin prior to its construction
  11. Graphs showing trends of ground-water levels in wells with recording pressure transducers in the area of Cattlemans detention basin prior to and during its construction in relation to precipitation and air temperature, January through September 2001
  12. Graphs showing trends of ground-water levels from periodic measurements in wells without recording pressure transducers in the area of Cattlemans detention basin prior to and during its construction, December 2000 through October 2001
  13. Graph showing relation between stage of Cold Creek and ground-water level at well cc14 on west side of Cattlemans detention basin prior to and during its construction, June through September 2001
  14. Graph showing relation between total dissolved solids and dissolved chloride and bromide in ground water in the area of Cattlemans detention basin prior to and during its construction, January to November 2001
  15. Drawing of distribution of total dissolved solids, dissolved chloride, and dissolved iron in ground water from meadow deposits in the area of Cattlemans detention basin prior to its construction, late April and May 2001
  16. Vertical sections showing distribution of total dissolved solids, dissolved chloride, and dissolved iron in ground water beneath Cattlemans detention basin prior to its construction, late April and May 2001
  17. Drawing of distribution of dissolved ammonia plus organic nitrogen, dissolved phosphorus, and dissolved organic carbon in ground water from meadow deposits in the area of Cattlemans detention basin prior to its construction, late April and May 2001
  18. Vertical sections showing distribution of dissolved ammonia plus organic nitrogen, dissolved phosphorus, and dissolved organic carbon in ground water beneath Cattlemans detention basin prior to its construction, late April and May 2001
  19. Graph showing relation between the mean concentration of dissolved organic carbon to mean concentration of total dissolved nitrogen in ground-water samples from the area of Cattlemans detention basin prior to and during its construction, January to November 2001
  20. Graphs showing trends of major dissolved constituents in ground water from meadow deposits in the area of Cattlemans detention basin prior to and during its construction, January to November 2001
  21. Graphs showing trends of major dissolved constituents in ground water from deeper sand and gravel in the area of Cattlemans detention basin prior to and during its construction, January to November 2001
  22. Graphs showing trends of dissolved nitrogen and phosphorus in ground water from meadow deposits in the area of Cattlemans detention basin prior to and during its construction, January to November 2001
  23. Graphs showing trends of dissolved nitrogen and phosphorus in ground water from deeper sand and gravel in the area of Cattlemans detention basin prior to and during its construction, January to November 2001
  24. Graphs showing trends of dissolved organic carbon in ground water in the area of Cattlemans detention basin prior to and during its construction, January to November 2001

TABLES

  1. Well name, land-surface altitude, and construction data for wells in the area of Cattlemans detention basin, South Lake Tahoe, California
  2. Duration, total volume, nutrient mass, and total suspended solids of urban runoff from Pioneer Trail and Montgomery Estates subdivision, August 2000 to March 2001
  3. Median and mean concentrations of dissolved constituents in ground water and in Cold Creek in the area of Cattlemans detention basin prior to and during its construction, South Lake Tahoe, California, and in perennial and ephemeral springs in granitic rocks and snow in the Sierra Nevada
  4. Concentrations of principal dissolved inorganic constituents and dissolved organic carbon in ground water in the area of Cattlemans detention basin prior to and during its construction, South Lake Tahoe, California, January to November 2001
  5. Concentrations of dissolved inorganic trace elements in ground water in the area of Cattlemans detention basin prior to and after its construction, South Lake Tahoe, California, January to November 2001
  6. Concentrations of dissolved nutrients in ground water in vicinity of Cattlemans detention basin prior to and during its construction, South Lake Tahoe, California, January to November 2001

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