Simulated water-level declines caused by withdrawals from wells J-13 and J-12 near Yucca Mountain, Nevada
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Geology topics
J.B. Czarnecki
Publications and source records attributed to J.B. Czarnecki.
Hydrogeologic inferences from drillers' logs and from gravity and resistivity surveys in the Amargosa Desert, southern Nevada
The Amargosa Desert of southern Nevada, in the Basin and Range province, is hydraulically downgradient from Yucca Mountain, the potential site of a repository for high-level nuclear waste. Groundwater flow paths and flow rates beneath the Amargosa Desert are controlled in part by the total saturated thickness and the hydraulic properties of basin-fill alluvial sediments. Drillers' logs of water wells completed in alluvium were analyzed to help characterize the hydrogeologic framework underlying the Amargosa Desert. Fractions of coarse-grained sediments, calculated from each of these logs, were contoured using a universal-kriging routine to interpolate values. Results from a previous electrical sounding survey also were contoured, including the estimated depth to Paleozoic (?) basement rocks. The vertical electric sounding results were obtained from individual depth-to-resistivity profiles, from which the average resistivity of the total profile and the resistivity of the upper 75 m were calculated. The distribution and variations in average resistivity of the total depth correlated reasonably well with the distribution of variations in regional gravity. Patterns of contours of the resistivity of the upper 75 m of alluvium were similar to patterns of regional contours of the predominant cation (sodium) in ground water. Gravity lows correspond in some places to the presence of lacustrine, eolian, or marsh surface deposits, which may function as barriers to groundwater flow. Gravity lows also correspond to areas with thick basin-fill sediments, which was corroborated by depth-to-basement data determined from vertical electric soundings. Depths to Paleozoic (?) basement rocks may be as much as 1600 m based on data from the resistivity survey, which were corroborated in part by seismic-refraction survey data. Small variations exist in the percentage of the basin fill that is saturated. The unsaturated zone is always < 15% of the alluvial column. Analysis of depth-to-water and hydrochemical data, in conjunction with average resistivity data for the upper 75 m of alluvium, suggest a hydrologic barrier near the center of the Amargosa Desert.
Nevada↗
Simulated effects of increased recharge on the ground-water flow system of Yucca Mountain and vicinity, Nevada-California
A study was performed to assess the potential effects of changes in future climatic conditions on the groundwater system in the vicinity of Yucca Mountain, the site of a potential mined geologic repository for high-level nuclear wastes. These changes probably would result in greater rates of precipitation and, consequently, greater rates of recharge. The study was performed by simulating the groundwater system, using a two-dimensional, finite-element, groundwater flow model. The simulated position of the water table rose as much as 130 meters near the U.S. Department of Energy 's preferred repository area at Yucca Mountain for a simulation involving a 100-percent increase in precipitation compared to modern-day conditions. Despite the water table rise, no flooding of the potential repository would occur at its current proposed location. According to the simulation, springs would discharge south and west of Timber Mountain, along Fortymile Canyon, in the Amargosa Desert near Lathrop Wells and Franklin Lake playa, and near Furnace Creek Ranch in Death Valley, where they presently discharge. Simulated directions of groundwater flow paths near the potential repository area generally would be the same for the baseline (modern-day climate) and the increased-recharge simulations, but the magnitude of flow would increase by 2 to 4 times that of the baseline-simulation flow. (USGS)
California, Nevada↗
Finite-element simulation of ground-water flow in the vicinity of Yucca Mountain, Nevada-California
A finite-element model of the groundwater flow system in the vicinity of Yucca Mountain at the Nevada Test Site was developed using parameter estimation techniques. The model simulated steady-state ground-water flow occurring in tuffaceous, volcanic , and carbonate rocks, and alluvial aquifers. Hydraulic gradients in the modeled area range from 0.00001 for carbonate aquifers to 0.19 for barriers in tuffaceous rocks. Three model parameters were used in estimating transmissivity in six zones. Simulated hydraulic-head values range from about 1,200 m near Timber Mountain to about 300 m near Furnace Creek Ranch. Model residuals for simulated versus measured hydraulic heads range from -28.6 to 21.4 m; most are less than +/-7 m, indicating an acceptable representation of the hydrologic system by the model. Sensitivity analyses of the model 's flux boundary condition variables were performed to assess the effect of varying boundary fluxes on the calculation of estimated model transmissivities. Varying the flux variables representing discharge at Franklin Lake and Furnace Creek Ranch has greater effect than varying other flux variables.
California, Nevada↗