USGS ScienceSearch

Geology topics

Steven K. Predmore

Publications and source records attributed to Steven K. Predmore.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

HydroClimATe: hydrologic and climatic analysis toolkit

The potential consequences of climate variability and climate change have been identified as major issues for the sustainability and availability of the worldwide water resources. Unlike global climate change, climate variability represents deviations from the long-term state of the climate over periods of a few years to several decades. Currently, rich hydrologic time-series data are available, but the combination of data preparation and statistical methods developed by the U.S. Geological Survey as part of the Groundwater Resources Program is relatively unavailable to hydrologists and engineers who could benefit from estimates of climate variability and its effects on periodic recharge and water-resource availability. This report documents HydroClimATe, a computer program for assessing the relations between variable climatic and hydrologic time-series data. HydroClimATe was developed for a Windows operating system. The software includes statistical tools for (1) time-series preprocessing, (2) spectral analysis, (3) spatial and temporal analysis, (4) correlation analysis, and (5) projections. The time-series preprocessing tools include spline fitting, standardization using a normal or gamma distribution, and transformation by a cumulative departure. The spectral analysis tools include discrete Fourier transform, maximum entropy method, and singular spectrum analysis. The spatial and temporal analysis tool is empirical orthogonal function analysis. The correlation analysis tools are linear regression and lag correlation. The projection tools include autoregressive time-series modeling and generation of many realizations. These tools are demonstrated in four examples that use stream-flow discharge data, groundwater-level records, gridded time series of precipitation data, and the Multivariate ENSO Index.

Techniques and Methods

Regional water table (2002) and water-level changes in the Mojave River and Morongo ground-water basins, southwestern Mojave Desert, California

The Mojave River and Morongo ground-water basins are in the southwestern part of the Mojave Desert in southern California. Ground water from these basins supplies a major part of the water requirements for the region. The continuous population growth in this area has resulted in ever-increasing demands on local ground-water resources. The collection and interpretation of ground-water data helps local water districts, military bases, and private citizens gain a better understanding of the ground-water flow systems, and consequently, water availability. During 2002, the U.S. Geological Survey and other agencies made approximately 2,500 water-level measurements in the Mojave River and Morongo ground-water basins. These data document recent conditions and, when compared with previous data, changes in ground-water levels. A water-level contour map was drawn using data from about 600 wells, providing coverage for most of the basins. Twenty-eight hydrographs show long-term (up to 70 years) water-level conditions throughout the basins, and 9 short-term (1997 to 2002) hydrographs show the effects of recharge and discharge along the Mojave River. In addition, a water-level-change map was compiled to compare 2000 and 2002 water levels throughout the basins. In the Mojave River ground-water basin, about 66 percent of the wells had water-level declines of 0.5 ft or more since 2000 and about 27 percent of the wells had water-level declines greater than 5 ft. The only area that had water-level increases greater than 5 ft that were not attributed to fluctuations in nearby pumpage was in the Harper Lake (dry) area where there has been a significant reduction in pumpage during the last decade. In the Morongo ground-water basin, about 36 percent of the wells had water-level declines of 0.5 ft or more and about 10 percent of the wells had water-level declines greater than 5 ft. Water-level increases greater than 5 ft were measured only in the Warren subbasin, where artificial-recharge operations have caused water levels to rise almost 60 ft since 2000.

Scientific Investigations Report

Regional water table (2004) and water-level changes in the Mojave River and Morongo ground-water basins, Southwestern Mojave Desert, California

The Mojave River and Morongo ground-water basins are in the southwestern part of the Mojave Desert in southern California. Ground water from these basins supplies a major part of the water requirements for the region. The continuous population growth in this area has resulted in ever-increasing demands on local ground-water resources. The collection and interpretation of ground-water data helps local water districts, military bases, and private citizens gain a better understanding of the ground-water flow systems, and consequently, water availability. During March and April 2004, the U.S. Geological Survey and other agencies made almost 900 water-level measurements in about 740 wells in the Mojave River and Morongo ground-water basins. These data document recent conditions and, when compared with historical data, changes in ground-water levels. A water-level contour map was drawn using data from 500 wells, providing coverage for most of the basins. In addition, 26 long-term (as much as 74 years) hydrographs were constructed which show water-level conditions throughout the basins, 9 short-term (1992 to 2004) hydrographs were constructed which show the effects of recharge and discharge along the Mojave River, and a water-level-change map was compiled to compare 2002 and 2004 water levels throughout the basins. The water-level change data show that in the Mojave River ground-water basin, more than one half (102) of the wells had water-level declines of 0.5 ft or more and almost one fifth (32) of the wells had declines greater than 5 ft. between 2002 and 2004. The water-level change data also show that about one tenth (17) of the wells compared in the Mojave River ground-water basin had water level increases of 0.5 ft or more. Most of the water-level increases were the result of stormflow in the Mojave River during March 2004, which resulted in recharge to wells in the floodplain aquifer mainly along the river in the Alto subarea and the Transition zone, and along the river east of Barstow. In the Morongo ground-water basin, nearly one half (55) of the wells had water-level declines of 0.5 ft or more, and about one tenth (13) of the wells had declines greater than 5 ft. The Warren subbasin, where artificial-recharge operations in Yucca Valley (pl. 1) have caused water levels to rise, had water-level increases of as much as about 97 ft since 2002.

California

1994 Water-Table Contours of the Morongo Ground-Water Basin, San Bernardino County, California

This data set consists of digital water-table contours for the Morongo Basin. The U.S. Geological Survey constructed a water-table map of the Morongo ground-water basin for ground-water levels measured during the period January-October 1994. Water-level data were collected from 248 wells to construct the contours. The water-table contours were digitized from the paper map which was published at a scale of 1:125,000. The contour interval ranges from 3,400 to 1,500 feet above sea level.

Open-File Report

1996 Water-Table Contours of the Mojave River, the Morongo, and the Fort Irwin Ground-Water Basins, San Bernardino County, California

This data set consists of digital water-table contours for the Mojave River, the Morongo and the Fort Irwin Ground-Water Basins. The U.S. Geological Survey constructed a water-table map of the Mojave River, the Morongo and the Fort Irwin Ground-Water Basins for ground-water levels measured during the period January-September 1996. Water-level data were collected from 632 wells to construct the contours. The water-table contours were digitized from the paper map which was published at a scale of 1:175,512. The contour interval ranges from 3,400 to 1,550 feet above sea level.

California

1998 Water-Table Contours of the Mojave River and the Morongo Ground-Water Basins, San Bernardino County, California

This data set consists of digital water-table contours for the Mojave River and the Morongo Ground-Water Basins. The U.S. Geological Survey constructed a water-table map of the Mojave River and the Morongo Ground-Water Basins for ground-water levels measured during the spring of 1998. Water-level data were collected from 418 wells to construct the contours. The water-table contours were digitized from the paper map which was published at a scale of 1:175,512. The contour interval rangs from 3,400 to 1,500 feet above sea level.

California

2000 Water-Table Contours of the Mojave River and the Morongo Ground-Water Basins, San Bernardino County, California

This data set consists of digital water-table contours for the Mojave River and the Morongo Ground-Water Basins. The U.S. Geological Survey constructed a water-table map of the Mojave River and the Morongo Ground-Water Basins for ground-water levels measured during the spring of 2000. Water-level data were collected from 498 wells to construct the contours. The water-table contours were digitized from the paper map which was published at a scale of 1:175,512. The contour interval ranges from 3,400 to 1,500 feet above sea level.

California

Evaluation of artificial recharge in the Mojave River Ground-Water Basin, California

The Mojave River Basin relies almost entirely on ground water to meet the needs of its growing population and agriculture, which has resulted in overdraft conditions. Some of the ground-water management alternatives being proposed to mitigate the effects of overdraft include artificial recharge using water from the California State Water Project (SWP) and using SWP water in lieu of ground-water pumpage. A calibrated ground-water flow model was used to evaluate six proposed water-management alternatives using SWP water during a 20-year simulation period, 2000-2019, using constant rates from 1999 for recharge and pumpage (with the exception of recharge derived from Mojave River streamflows which were variable). The measured streamflow for the period of 1970-1989 was used to simulate the Mojave River streamflow. Water-management alternative 1 assumed that none of the Mojave Water Agency allocation of SWP water was available for mitigation measures and resulted in increases in hydraulic head in the floodplain aquifer in years of above-average streamflow (2008-2010, 2013) and decreases in years of below average streamflow. In general, simulated hydraulic heads in the regional aquifer declined with the exception of the El Mirage and Harper Lake areas. Also, average storage depletion for the entire ground-water basin over the 20-year simulation was 40,940 acre-feet per year. Water-management alternative 2 assumed that 30,000 acre-feet per year of SWP water was artificially recharged at Rock Springs Road Outlet (RSO). By 2019, the simulated hydraulic heads were as much as 75 feet higher in the Alto at the recharge site, 24 feet higher in the Transition zone, 15 feet higher in the Centro, and 17 feet higher in the Baja model subareas than the hydraulic heads resulting from water-management alternative 1. Water-management alternative 2 affected simulated hydraulic heads by as much as 5 feet in an area totalling 290 square miles; most of the change occurred in the Alto and Baja model subareas. Average storage depletion for water-management alternative 2 for the entire ground-water basin for the 20-year simulation period was 15,880 acre-feet per year, 25,060 acre-feet per year less than water-management alternative 1. Also, water-management alternative 2 indicated that the artificial recharge at RSO resulted in less simulated ground-water recharge from stream leakage in the Alto model subarea, which led to greater streamflow at the Lower Narrows, Barstow, and Afton Canyon streamflow gages. This increased streamflow resulted in an increase in simulated ground-water recharge from stream leakage, primarily in the Centro and Baja model subareas. Water-management alternative 3 assumed that 4,000 acre-feet per year of SWP water was artificially recharged at Manzanita and Oro Grande Washes (a total of 8,000 acre-feet per year) in the Alto model subarea. By 2019, the simulated hydraulic heads beneath the recharge sites were as much as 278 feet higher than heads resulting from water-management alternative 1. Changes in simulated hydraulic head greater than 5 feet covered almost 138 square miles in the Alto model subarea. Water-management alternative 3 had little effect on simulated hydraulic heads in the other model subareas. Model results indicated that the average storage depletion for the entire ground-water basin during the 20-year simulation was 32,940 acre-feet per year, about 8,000 acre-feet per year less than water-management alternative 1. Water-management alternative 3 had essentially no effect on simulated streamflows during the 20-year simulation period and, therefore, little effect on simulated net stream leakage. Water-management alternative 4 assumed 10,000 acre-feet per year of SWP water was artificially recharged near Newberry Springs in the Baja subarea. By 2019, the simulated hydraulic heads beneath the recharge site were as much as 193 ft higher in the Baja model subarea than the hydraulic heads resulting from water-management alternative 1. Increases in simulated hydraulic heads greater than 5 feet extended about 5 miles east of the Calico-Newberry Fault and affected about 71 square miles east of the Calico-Newberry Fault. Water-management alternative 4 had no effect on simulated hydraulic heads in the other model subareas. Model results indicated that the average storage depletion for the entire ground-water basin over the 20-year simulation period was 30,860 acre-feet per year, about 10,000 acre-feet per year less than water-management 1. Water-management alternative 4 had little effect on simulated streamflows during the 20-year simulation period and, therefore, essentially no effect on simulated net stream leakage. Water-management alternative 5 assumed 23,800 acre-feet per year of SWP water was delivered directly to municipal water districts in lieu of pumpage in the Alto model subarea. By 2019, the simulated hydraulic heads were as much as 98 feet higher in the Alto and 7 feet higher in the Centro and Baja model subareas than hydraulic heads resulting from water-management alternative 1. Changes in simulated hydraulic head were greater than 5 feet in an area of almost 245 square miles. Most of the change in simulated hydraulic heads occurred in the regional aquifer west of the Mojave River in the Alto model subarea. Average storage depletion for the entire ground-water basin over the 20-year simulation period was 19,170 acre-feet per year, 21,770 acre-feet per year less than water-management alternative 1. Results from water-management alternative 5 were similar to those of water-management alternative 2 in that they indicated that the in lieu replacement of ground water resulted in less simulated ground-water recharge from stream leakage in the Alto model subarea, and thereby streamflow at the Lower Narrows and Barstow gages. This increased streamflow resulted in an increase in simulated ground-water recharge from stream leakage primarily in the Baja model subarea. Water-management alternative 6 assumed 3,800 acre-feet per year of SWP water was delivered directly to municipal water districts in lieu of pumpage in the Transition zone model subarea. By 2019, the simulated hydraulic heads were as much as 30 feet higher in the Transition zone model subarea than the hydraulic heads resulting from water-management alternative 1. Changes in simulated hydraulic head were greater than 5 feet in an area of almost 16 square miles in the Transition zone model subarea. Water-management alternative 6 had little effect on simulated hydraulic heads in the other model subareas. Average storage depletion for the entire ground-water basin over the 20-year simulation period was 38,090 acre-feet per year, 2,850 acre-feet per year less than water-management alternative 1. Also, simulation of water-management alternative 6 indicated in-lieu replacement of ground water resulted in less ground-water recharge from stream leakage in the Alto, Transition zone, and Centro model subareas, and thereby greater streamflow at the Barstow gage. This increased streamflow resulted in an increase in simulated ground-water recharge from stream leakage, primarily in the Baja model subarea.

Open-File Report

Documentation and description of the digital spatial data base for southern California Regional Aquifer-System Analysis Program, Santa Clara-Calleguas Basin, Ventura County, California

This report documents the geographic information system map layers and data files generated for the Santa Clara-Calleguas Basin, Ventura County, as part of a Regional Aquifer- System Analysis of southern California from 1989 to 1995. Thirty-six map layers and four data files are maintained in this geographic information system data base. The map layers cover the Santa Clara-Calleguas drainage basin and are stored in a common map projection. Attributes of the map layers and data files are described and referenced. The map layers are grouped by geography, geology, and hydrology.

Open-File Report

Use of D-C resistivity to map saline ground water

It has been estimated in previous studies that 23 square miles of the Oxnard aquifer, a member of a multi-layered aquifer system beneath the Oxnard plain in Ventura County, California, has been contaminated as a result of seawater intrusion. To investigate this and other potential sources of saline water, a direct-current resistivity survey was made as an alternative to the costly and time-consuming method of well drilling in the part of the Oxnard plain where ground water is believed to be most affected by seawater. Findings from this survey and water-quality data collected from wells as part of this study suggest that the extent of seawater intrusion is much less than reported. A field inventory of the current monitoring-well network utilized by managing agencies suggests that the integrity of most of the well casings is questionable. Leakage of saline water from an unconfined `perched zone' through these and other failed or corroded well casings is a possible source of increasing chloride concentration in the underlying Oxnard aquifer. Saline water also may be present in fine-grained deposits along the eastern limit of the Oxnard aquifer. Pumping near this area could induce the lateral migration of saline water from these deposits.

California