Scientific Investigations Report 2005–5288
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Scientific Investigations Report 2005–5288
Rates of Evapotranspiration, Recharge from Precipitation Beneath Selected
Areas of Native Vegetation, and Streamflow Gain and Loss in Carson Valley, Douglas
County, Nevada, and Alpine County, California
Prepared in cooperation with Douglas County, Nevada
By Douglas K. Maurer, David L. Berger, Mary L. Tumbusch, and Michael J. Johnson
Table of Contents
Conversion Factors, Datums, and Abbreviations
Abstract
Introduction
Geographic Setting
Geologic Setting
Hydrologic Setting
Estimated Rates
Summary and Conclusions
Acknowledgments
References Cited
Appendix A. Estimated and predicted
daily monthly evapotranspiration for eight evapotranspiration sites, Carson
Valley, Nevada and California, April 2003–November 2004.
Appendix B. Lithologic description
of soil penetrated by nine soil-chloride test holes, Carson Valley, Nevada and
California.
Appendix C. Panel, stream, and
streambed temperature data for 37 sites, Carson Valley, Nevada and California.
Appendix D. Adjusted stream and
streambed temperatures at gaining sites, losing sites, and neutral sites, and
periods used to determine the amplitude of stream and streambed temperature
fluctuations, and time difference between peaks for selected sites, Carson Valley,
Nevada and California.
Figures
Figure 1. Location of Carson River
Basin and Carson Valley Hydrographic Area, Nevada and California.
Figure 2. Location of Carson Valley
subarea, evapotranspiration sites, and soil-chloride test holes, Nevada and
California.
Figure 3. Geologic units and faults
in Carson Valley subarea, and location of soil-chloride test holes relative
to geologic units, Nevada and California.
Figure 4. Annual precipitation at Minden,
Nevada, for period of record 1928–2004, and average annual precipitation for
1971–2000, Carson Valley, Nevada and California.
Figure 5. Instrumentation used to collect
micrometeorological data for estimating evapotranspiration showing relative
direction of energy-budget components during daytime.
Figure 6. Instrumentation used at each
site and the type of vegetation, Carson Valley, Nevada and California.
Figure 7. Relation between daily net
radiation and natural log of evapotranspiration at Bowen-ratio and eddy-correlation
sites, Carson Valley, Nevada and California.
Figure 8. Relation between measured
daily net radiation and average daily net radiation at Bowen-ratio sites ET-2,
ET-3, and ET-8, and eddy-correlation sites, Carson Valley, Nevada and California.
Figure 9. Residual and predicted natural
log of evapotranspiration, Carson Valley, Nevada and California.
Figure 10. Estimated and predicted
daily evapotranspiration rates for Bowen-ratio and eddy-correlation sites, Carson
Valley, Nevada and California.
Figure 11. Relation between chloride
concentration in pore water and depth for nine test holes in Carson Valley,
Nevada and California.
Figure 12. Relation between cumulative
water content and depth for nine test holes in Carson Valley, Nevada and California.
Figure 13. Relation between cumulative
chloride content and depth for nine test holes in Carson Valley, Nevada and
California.
Figure 14. Relation between cumulative
water content and cumulative chloride content for nine test holes in Carson
Valley, Nevada and California.
Figure 15. Location of streambed temperature
sites and gaining, losing, or neutral conditions at 37 sites in Carson Valley,
Nevada and California.
Figure 16. Effects of rapid changes
in panel temperature on stream and streambed temperature, and unadjusted and
adjusted stream and streambed temperatures at site ST-3b, Carson Valley, Nevada
and California.
Tables
Table 1. Location, instrumentation type,
period of record, descriptions of vegetation, and depth to water table at eight
evapotranspiration sites, Carson Valley, Nevada and California.
Table 2. Monthly and annual evapotranspiration
at eight sites, Carson Valley, Nevada and California, water year 2004.
Table 3. Location, altitude, test-hole
depth, and description of vegetation at nine soil-chloride test holes, Carson
Valley, Nevada.
Table 4. Cumulative chloride, time required
for accumulation, and estimated recharge at soil-chloride test holes, Carson
Valley, Nevada and California.
Table 5. Uncertainty in estimates of
recharge rates at three test holes, Carson Valley, Nevada and California.
Table 6. Location and description of
streambed temperature sites, Carson Valley, Nevada.
Table 7. Temperature data, estimated
infiltration rates at stream sites, and estimated gain/loss conditions at stream
sites, Carson Valley, Nevada and California.
Table 8. Loss and gain rates for selected
stream sites, Carson Valley, Nevada and California.
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Send questions or comments about this report to the author, D.K.
Maurer, (775) 887-7631.
For more information about USGS activities in Nevada, visit the USGS
Nevada Water Science Center home page.
U.S.
Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological
Survey
