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U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2011–5159

In cooperation with the Arizona Department of Water Resources

Groundwater Budgets for Detrital, Hualapai, and Sacramento Valleys, Mohave County, Arizona, 2007–08

By Bradley D. Garner and Margot Truini

Thumbnail of and link to report PDF (17.3 MB)Abstract

The United States Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Arizona Department of Water Resources, initiated an investigation of the hydrogeology and water resources of Detrital, Hualapai, and Sacramento Valleys in northwestern Arizona in 2005, and this report is part of that investigation. Water budgets were developed for Detrital, Hualapai, and Sacramento Valleys to provide a generalized understanding of the groundwater systems in this rural area that has shown some evidence of human-induced water-level declines. The valleys are within the Basin and Range physiographic province and consist of thick sequences of permeable alluvial sediment deposited into basins bounded by relatively less permeable igneous and metamorphic rocks. Long-term natural recharge rates (1940–2008) for the alluvial aquifers were estimated to be 1,400 acre-feet per year (acre-ft/yr) for Detrital Valley, 5,700 acre-ft/yr for Hualapai Valley, and 6,000 acre-ft/yr for Sacramento Valley. Natural discharge rates were assumed to be equal to natural recharge rates, on the basis of the assumption that all groundwater withdrawals to date have obtained water from groundwater storage. Groundwater withdrawals (2007–08) for the alluvial aquifers were less than 300 acre-ft/yr for Detrital Valley, about 9,800 acre-ft/yr for Hualapai Valley, and about 4,500 acre-ft/yr for Sacramento Valley. Incidental recharge from leaking water-supply pipes, septic systems, and wastewater-treatment plants accounted for about 35 percent of total recharge (2007–08) across the study area. Natural recharge and discharge values in this study were 24–50 percent higher than values in most previously published studies. Water budgets present a spatially and temporally “lumped” view of water resources and incorporate many sources of uncertainty in this study area where only limited data presently are available.

Figures 9, 10, and 11 from this report present water budgets for Detritial, Hualapai, and Sacramento Valleys in Northwestern Arizona. These figures show average values for each water-budget component. Uncertainty is discussed but not shown on these report figures. As an aid to readers, these figures have been implemented as interactive, web-based figures here. Water-budget parameters can be varied within reasonable bounds of uncertainty and the effects those changes have on the water budget will be shown as they are varied. This can aid in understanding sensitivity—which parameters most or least affect the water budgets—and also could provide a generally improved sense of the hydrologic cycle represented in these water budgets.

  • This report is available only on the Web.

For additional information contact:
Office information, Arizona Water Science Center
U.S. Geological Survey
520 N. Park Avenue
Tucson, AZ 85719
http://az.water.usgs.gov/

Part of this report is presented in Portable Document Format (PDF); the latest version of Adobe Reader or similar software is required to view it. Download the latest version of Adobe Reader, free of charge.


Suggested citation:

Garner, B.D., and Truini, Margot, 2011, Groundwater budgets for Detrital, Hualapai, and Sacramento Valleys, Mohave County, Arizona, 2007–08: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2011–5159, 34 p., available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2011/5159/.



Contents

Abstract

Introduction

Approach to Water-Budget Calculations

Detrital Valley Water Budget

Hualapai Valley Water Budget

Sacramento Valley Water Budget

Discussion

Summary

fourteen figures including three interactive water-budget figures

two appendixes


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