WRIR 01-4210: Hydraulic-Property Estimates for Use With a Transient Ground-Water Flow Model of the Death Valley Regional Ground-Water Flow System, Nevada and California

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CONTENTS

Abstract

Introduction

Location and Topography

Purpose and Scope

Previous Work

Acknowledgments

Hydrogeologic Setting

Regional Ground-Water Hydrology

Hydrogeologic Units

Data Analysis and Synthesis

Methods Used to Analyze Aquifer Tests

Statistical Analyses

Fractured Media and Equivalent Porous Media

Effects of Test Scale on Determination of Hydraulic Properties

General Limitations

Limitations Regarding Hydraulic Conductivity Estimates

Hydraulic Properties

Younger Alluvial Aquifer and Older Alluvial Aquifer

Alluvial Confining Unit

Lava Flow Unit

Younger Volcanic Unit and Volcaniclastic and Sedimentary Rocks Unit

Tertiary Volcanic Rocks

Older Volcanic Unit

Intrusive Confining Unit

Sedimentary Rocks Confining Unit

Upper Carbonate Aquifer and Lower Carbonate Aquifer

Upper Clastic Confining Unit and Lower Clastic Confining Unit

Crystalline Confining Unit

Relation of Hydraulic Conductivity with Depth

Summary and Conclusions

References Cited

Appendix: Hydraulic Properties Database

 

PLATE

Plate 1: Generalized stratigraphic columns for the Death Valley regional ground-water flow system and vicinity

 

FIGURES

Figure 1: Geographic features and boundaries of the Death Valley regional ground-water flow system.

Figure 2: Locations of wells and boreholes used to determine estimates of hydraulic property.

Figure 3: Surface distribution of hydrogeologic units in the Death Valley region.

Figure 4: Relation between hydraulic conductivity and depth for hydrogeologic units in the Death Valley region.

 

TABLES

Table 1: Geologic units and hydrogeologic units in the Death Valley regional ground-water flow system.

Table 2: Hydraulic conductivity distribution in Death Valley regional ground-water flow system hydrogeologic units.

Table 3: Analysis of variance for log₁₀ hydraulic conductivity for estimates from aquifer tests as influenced by hydrogeologic unit and depth.

CONVERSION FACTORS, VERTICAL DATUM, AND ACRONYMS

Temperature: Degrees Celsius (°C) can be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (°F) by using the formula °F = [1.8(°C)] + 32. Degrees Fahrenheit can be converted to degrees Celsius by using the formula °C = 0.556(°F - 32).

Sea level: In this report, "sea level" refers to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD of 1929, formerly called "Sea-Level Datum of 1929"), which is derived from a general adjustment of the first-order leveling networks of the United States and Canada.

Acronyms:

ACU	Alluvial confining unit
ANCOVA	Analysis of covariance
BRU	Belted Range unit
CFVU	Crater Flat volcanic unit
CHVU	Calico Hills volcanic unit
DOD	U.S. Department of Defense
DOE	U.S. Department of Energy
DVRFS	Death Valley regional ground-water flow system
HGU	Hydrogeologic unit
HRMP	Hydrologic resources management program
ICU	Intrusive confining unit
LCA	Lower carbonate aquifer
LCCU	Lower clastic confining unit
LFU	Lava flow unit
NTS	Nevada Test Site
NWIS	National Water Information System
OAA	Older alluvial aquifer
OVU	Older volcanics unit
PVA	Paintbrush volcanic aquifer
SCU	Sedimentary confining unit
SWNVF	Southwest Nevada volcanic field
TMVA	Thirsty Canyon/Timber Mountain volcanic aquifer
TV	Tertiary volcanics
UCA	Upper carbonate aquifer
UCCU	Upper clastic confining unit
UGTA	Underground Testing Area
USGS	U.S. Geological Survey
VSU	Volcaniclastics and sediments unit
WVU	Wahmonie volcanic unit
YAA	Younger alluvial aquifer
YMP	Yucca Mountain Project
YVU	Younger volcanic unit
XCU	Crystalline confining unit

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