Scientific Investigations Report 2008–5162
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Scientific Investigations Report 2008–5162
Version 1.1, December 2008
Hydrologic and Water-Quality Responses in Shallow Ground Water Receiving Stormwater Runoff and Potential Transport of Contaminants to Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada, 2005–07
Prepared in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management
By Jena M. Green, Carl E. Thodal, and Toby L. Welborn
Download PDF (5 MB)
Figures
Figure 1. Location of study area, South Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada.
Figure 2. Generalized geology of study area, South Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada.
Figure 3. Location of data collection sites, South Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada.
Figure 4. Detention basin bathymetry diagrams and site information, Park Avenue detention basins, South Lake Tahoe, California.
Figure 5. Layer 1 boundary conditions in steady-state ground-water flow model, South Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada.
Figure 6. Cross section of the modeled area along row 71, South Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada.
Figure 7. Upgradient watersheds used to calculate mountain-front recharge, South Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada.
Figure 8. Measured water levels compared with model-simulated water levels, South Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada.
Figure 9. Calibrated model simulated water-level contours, monitoring well residuals (simulated–average observed values), and simulated annual ground-water discharge to South Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada.
Figure 10. Estimated ground-water budget for model area, South Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada.
Figure 11. Relative sensitivity of model parameters.
Figure 12. Statistical distribution of nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in water samples grouped by source, Park Avenue detention basin, South Lake Tahoe, California.
Figure 13. Relations among net change in the volume of stormwater accumulated in PA1, precipitation, and unfiltered concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus in sampled stormwater inflow, Park Avenue detention basin, South Lake Tahoe, California.
Figure 14. Relations among filtered concentrations of (A) nitrogen and (B) phosphorus and water-level changes in Park Avenue detention basin and nearby observation wells, South Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada.
Figure 15. Relation between stable isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen in lake-water and ground-water samples collected near Park Avenue stormwater collection system, South Lake Tahoe California, 2005–07.
Figure 16. Relative contribution of nutrient species that constitute mean concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus, South Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada.
Tables
Table 1. Information regarding data-collection sites used to investigate responses of shallow ground water receiving stormwater runoff from Park Avenue stormwater control system, South Lake Tahoe, California, 2005–07.
Table 2. Estimated results of monitoring well slug tests near Park Avenue stormwater control system, South Lake Tahoe, California.
Table 3. Constituents determined in water and sediment samples and laboratory reporting levels.
Table 4. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds determined in bottom-sediment samples collected from stormwater control basin, site PA1, South Lake Tahoe, California, and laboratory reporting levels.
Table 5. Model parameters and their calibrated values, in order of sensitivity for original model, South Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada.
Table 6. Statistical summary of nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in water samples grouped by source, Park Avenue stormwater collection and detention system, South Lake Tahoe, California, water years 2006–07.
Table 7. Concentrations of selected chemicals of potential concern in bottom sediment collected on August 31, 2005 from Park Avenue detention basin 1, South Lake Tahoe, California, and sediment toxicity screening values for protection of benthic aquatic life.
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Send questions or comments about this report to the author, J.M. Green, (775) 887-7692.
For more information about USGS activities in Nevada, visit the
USGS Nevada Science Center home page.