STATE OF NEVADA
DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
Carson City
WATER RESOURCES-RECONNAISSANCE SERIES
REPORT 50
WATER-RESOURCES APPRAISAL OF THE LOWER MOAPA-LAKE MEAD
AREA, CLARK COUNTY, NEVADA
By
F. Eugene Rush
Prepared cooperatively by the
Geological Survey, U.S. Department of the Interior
DECEMBER 1968
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WATER RESOURCES - RECONNAISSANCE SERIES
REPORT 50
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WATER-RESOURCES APPRAISAL OF THE
LOWER MOAPA-LAKE MEAD AREA, CLARK COUNTY, NEVADA
By
F. Eugene Rush
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Hydrologist
Prepa:r·od cooper-atj vely by the
Geological Survey, U.S. Department of tho Interior
December
1968 •
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·. I:LMO J, OtRICCO
.ROLAND-D. WESTERGA11.()
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In rr.:pl'(
No.
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to
Addm!3s All Gommunil.:util.lnJ:S to
th.;o State En<Jin~-=l·, Divi~ion
of Water Rt-lSOuL·c:~~;
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FOREWORD
The program of reconnaissance water-resources studies .was
authorized by the 1960 Legislature to be carried on by the
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Division of
Water Resources, in cooperation with the U.s. Oeological Sur•vey.
This report is the 50th report prepared by the staff of' the
Nevada District of the U.s. Geolog.tcal Survey. These 50 reports
describe the hydrology of 155 valleys.
The reconnaissance surveys make available pertinent in!'ormatton
of great and immediate value to many state and Federal agencies,
the State cooperating agency, and the public. As development
takes place in any area, demands for more detailed information Will
arise, and studies to supply such in!'or~ation will be undertaken.
In the meantime, these reconnaissance-type studies are timely and
adequately meet the immediate needs !'or information on the water
.resources of' the areas covered by the reports.
l;?.ei..JPV~~~
·
Roland D. Westergar~
State Engineer
'_;,;r
Division of water Resources
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December 1968
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CONTENTS
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Summary • • . . •
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Introduction • •
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Purpose and scope of the study
Previous work
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Acknowledgments
Valley-fill reservoirs . • .
_General characteristics
Ground-water flow • , .
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Outflow from the valley-fill reservoirs
Irrigation . • • • • • . . .
Growing season . • • . . • •
Water consumption . • • . • .
Water used for leaching fields
Industrial use . . • . • . . . . •
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Evapotranspiration of ground water by nonbeneficial
ph rea tophytes . . . . •
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Evaporation from surface-water- bodies_ •
Pumpage from wells
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Springs
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40
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Chemical quality of the water, by A. 8. VmJ
General Chemical character • • •
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Suitability for domestic use
Suitability for agrjcultural nse
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Inflow to the valley-'fi:ll reservoirs
Precipitation . . , . • . • •
Surface water, by D. 0. Moore
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- Runoff
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Inflow of streams , , • .
Ground water • , • . • . . . •
Recharge from precipitation
Subsurface inflow • • . • •
Importation of water • . . • . •
Water budgets
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Hydrologic environment
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Physiography and drainage • • • •
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Geologic units and structural features
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Denbtn'gh
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48
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The available ground-water supply
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Sources of supply • • . • •
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System yield • • . • • .
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Perennial yield • • • • •
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Ground water in storage •
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Water use-1967
Future supply •
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Numbering system for hydrologic sites •
Selected well logs and data
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References cited
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List of previously publist1ed reports
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TABLES
Page
Table
1.
General topographic features • . • . • • • . .
8
2.
Flow volume and duration for Las Vegas Wash
at North Las Vegas, June 1962-September 1966
20
3.
Estimated average annual runoff from mountains
21
4.
Mean annual discharge of the Muddy River and
Las Vegas Wash .
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5.
Estimated average annual surface-water flow
between areas • .
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Estimated average annual precipitation and
ground-water recharge
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Estimated average annual subsurface flow bet1-1een
ar·eas " . . . . . . . . . . . . .. ,
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8.
Utilization of water imported by Moapa Valley
Water Company, 1967
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9.
Length of period between air temperature of
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28°
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Est:l.mated consumption of water by irrigated
crops .
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11.
Estimated evapotranspiration of gr•otmd water by
nonbeneficial phreatophytes • . • •
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Evaporation from surface-water bodies
13.
Selected springs
14.
Preliminary water budgets for the valley-fill
reservoirs of California Wash area, Lower
Moapa Valley, and Black Mounta:lJ1S Al'ea 1967 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
15.
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35
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Preliminary ground-water budget for the valleyfill reser·voirs of Hidden and Garnet Valleys,
Gold Butte Area, and t.lreasewood Basin-196'7 • • . 42
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Tables continued
Table 16.
17.
18.
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Chemical analyses
or
44,
water .
Yield and water consumption
50
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Estimated stored water in the upper 100 reet
or saturated valley fill
52
19.
Data of selected wells • , •
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20.
Drillers' logs of selected wells
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ILLUSTRATIONS
Page
Plate · 1.
Generalized hydrogeologic map of the Lower
Moapa-Lake Mead area, Clark County, Nevada •
Figure 1.
Map showing areas in Nevada described in
previous reports of the Water Resources
Reconnaissance Series and the area
deseri bed in this report . , • . • . • , • •.•
4
2.
Map showing location of nearby weather stations
and direction of ground-water flow • . • . • •
14
3.
Graph shO\'i:l.ng relation between precipitation
and altitude . • • . • . • . • . . • • . • •
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Back
of
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· WATER:..RESOURCES APPRAISAL OF. THE
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LOWER MOAPA-LAKE MEAD AREA, CLARK,COUNTY, NEVADA
By F.- Eugene .Rush
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SUMMARY:
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The lower Moapa-Lake Mead a.rea is in arid southeastei;ri
Nevada,· extending .from Las Vegas Valley ea_stward_ .to_ the ·.
Arizona State line.· That par.t of Lake Mead ln ·Nevada 'is,
included :i.n ·the report ·area. seven hydrographic area,s .-are
described·;. Hidden, Garnet, and· Lower l,lloapa.Valleys, -B:iack
Mountain's ·arid Gold Butte Areas,. ·California '·Wash, and GreasewO'od ·Bas1n'; arid.;.for each a .water .budget was compiled. .Surfacewater and. ground-water flow into the:· report area_ from. the Muddy
River Sprlngs Area, Lower Meadow Val-ley, and Las Vegas Valley.
All the areas' drain e·i ther in the· subsurface or on the· -·surface
to the'Muddy R1:ver .or
Lake· Mead.
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·: "Exclu'ding consi'de·ra.tlon of water stored, in .Lake Mead_,·
most of the areas have very limited water resources. The.
largest are domhlated by streamflow and include California
Wash Area, where the estimated average annual inflow and
outflow are about 43,000 acre-feet; for Lower Moapa Valley,
about 35,000 acre-feet; and for the Black Mountains Area,
12,000 acre-feet. In the other areas where runoff is minor,
estimated average annual recharge and discharge are about 1,000
acre-feet or less.
The largest element of inflow to three hydrographic areas,
California Wash, Lower Moapa Valley, and the Black Mountains Area,
is streamflow entering the area. Muddy River has as its source
springs in the Muddy River Springs Area north of California Wash
hydrographic area, 'rhe average annual Muddy River flow into
Califor·nia Wash area is about 33,000 acre-feet, The average
annual flow in the river from the CaHfornia Wash area to Lower
Moapa Valley ls about 34,000 acre-feet. From Las Vegatl Valley,
the estimated aver·age annual flow ]_n Las Vegas Wash to the Black
Mountai.ns area j_s 12,000 acr·e-f'eet. Most of this floH discharges
into Lake Mead,
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In the California Wash area, the dominant element of outflow,
excluding flood flows, is the 34,000 acre-feet of average annual
flow in the Muddy River to Lower Moapa Valley. About 7,000 acrefeet of water is consL\tned in CaJjf'rn·rlia Wash. In Lower Moapa
Valley, the tln·r;e l1n·ges t <'leulents of out.f'J.ow Rl'e nea.t•ly eqtlal;
1.
irrigation, 13 ;ooo··acre -feet, outflow· of;:,the_>, Muddy River, 10, ooq
acre-feet, and evapotranspiration of ground water by nonbene:t'icial
phreatophytesj .110:000· ac"re-feet..
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Ground -water qualify· ·re fleets ·the abundance of' soluble
minerals in the area; most·ground-water samples had high
concentrations of dissolved solids, The flow in Las Vegas
Wash, mostly water used in. ·La·s Vega's Valley, was h:i.gh in
dissolved solids, Muddy River water·, though having a hlgh
salinity hazard, has been proved chemically acceptable for
irrigation under good management and soil conditions.
Sys tern yield of the combined ·.t1U.i. f'ornia Wash-Lower Moapa
Valley ai•ea iB estimat<2d ·to be. 4o ;.ooo acre-feet,· of which, 22,000
acre'.: feet' was eonsumed ··in 1967 .' For "the'•.£l·aek :.Mountains AJ•ea,
the ~stimated system yield is 7,000 acre~feet~ •. Estimated·, ~
perennial yields of the remaining. areas ;are:· !Udclen Vall;ey, .
200 ··acre-feet, Garnet Valley, 400 acre-feet, Gold Butte Ar-ea,
500 acre.::reet, and GPeasewood Basin, 300 acre""feet.
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Water use in ·196"7 in all· areas was ·.less than,>the es.timated
yields. However, development of watet' .irr-Las.Vegas.Wash.may
be limited because of its poor quality. In areas adjoining Lake
Mead, Ellipplies can be. developed .f.t'OITI the lake·.•. "Llb,1ee·t to legal
limitatlons ,·
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INTRODUCTION
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The Lower Moapa-Lake Mead area is in southeastern Nevada,
as shown in figure 1, extending from Las Vegas Valley eastward
to the Arizona State line. Seven hydrographic. areas, ar,e
evaluated in this report: Hidden, Garnet, and Lower Moapa
Valleys, California Wash area, Black Mountains and Gold Butte
Areas~ and Greasewood Basin; .as defined by Rush and others
(1968), The report area covers about "2,070 square miles,
That part of Lake Mead in Nevada is part of the report area and
is included on plate 1. However, because of its unique nature
in relation to the hydrologic character of the southern Nevada
area, the lake is not included in the hydrologic budget or
any of its elements.
Lower Moapa Valley has the largest population of the
hydrographic areas included in this report," and is estimated
to be about 1,000. California wash area has an estimated
population of about 200, most of whom lj.ve al"ong the Muddy
River. Less than 50 people live in Garnet Valley; Hidden
Valley, the Gold Butte Area, and Greasewood Basin are nearly
uninhabited. Because the Black Mountains Area is mostly in
the Lake Mead National Recreation area, its population is
largely transient and varies with tourist and recreational
activity.
Purpose and Scope of the Study
Ground-water development in Nevada has shown a substantial
increase in recent years. A part of this increase is due to
the effort to bring .new land into cultivation, a renewed 5.nterest
in mining, and a rapidly growing p:>pulation. ·The increasing
interest in ground~water development has created ,a substantial
demand for information on gt'ound-water resollrces .throllghout the
State.
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Recognizing this need, the State Legislature enactedspecial legislation (Chapter 181, Stattltes of 1960) for
beginning a series of ·reconnaissance studies of the grollnd-water
resources of Nevada. As provided in the legislation, these
studies are being made by the u.s. Geological Survey in cooperation
with the Nevada Department o1' Conservation and Natural Resout'ces.
This is the 50t.h repopt; p1•epan0>d as part. of the reconnaissance
stlldies (fig. 1).
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NEVADA
~XPLANATION
Ar'~1:t d~~~(.:ribed
in this reporl
50
0oiiiiiiii.02c5::::=:J50 Mile;.
l=igurP. 1.-lndP.x m-=1p showing area!) in Nevadq described in previous reports of the Water Resuun::eo
Reconnaissance Series and the area clcscribcd in this report
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, .. The objectives of the reconnaissance.studies. and this
reiport''are ,to . ~1) descFibe. the hydrologic: enVironment i :)(2)
app'ratse:'tM source~ ··occurr>erice, ·movement, ·-ando:chemical' . "f
quality of water_ in the ar>ea, (3) estimate'-a:irer>age··annual•~ .,
r>ec,~arge to a11d di(lql}_a_rg~from ,the _ground;-wateJC: ,r>~servo~p.
. (4) _providE! prelim~ nary E!'Stimat~s. of yield 'and -ground~water .
.1, .l'ltorag~, ,aqd_ (5)· es;tim~tte'pre,Sent:aridevaluate'-·:Potential'····- --·- r
" ' water development ·in the area.
The 'field ·wor'l{ was" don·e···mostly.
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· -·'aurfng'Noveml:ier. i967.·
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Carpenter (1915) pr,es~nt~d a br:j.ef description of groundwater conditions of Lower Moapa. Valley. The University of .
. Nevaga., (],94~} ~nq Mi;Ller and others. (1953) published descriptions
of'.th~ .wat~r quality o:r Muddy RiVer:· The~·fl'ow··cliaracieristics
o f'"Muddy .Rive·r Springs, which :a.re'th~-- prindpal · sslUrow· qf. streamflow 'of :ttie Muddy RiVer~. were. described l5y ·Eakin ·and'"Moore (1964).
,f1o'ore '.(1948) reported on 'flood 'control"on"the lower reach ,6f•'the
.. · f1ildo~(Ri
·-~~amb~rger · (1954') _described the ·pasPand ·-po~ential
: -~qter 'use on 'the flood plain of the Muddy-River·.··· A pJ:an .for'
,, development. of' the··'Mqapa'Valley ..·Pumpfng· Project .was -presented
by thf,l··u. S ."·Bureau ·of Reclama-tion · (1962) ,. cA !:teasibili1ty_',report
·on water use by' a"':t:irop6sed power plant cnear· Glendale·was -wri·tten
by Bourns (1963). Eakin (1964} described the hydt'6logy·or the
Muddy River Springs Area, the headwater area of the Muddy River.
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Las Vegas Valley, which is tributary to Lake Mead through
Las Vegas Wash and the r>eport area, was the subject of sever>al
hydrologic studies, The most recent of these are a &eneral
analysis o!' the hydrology of the valley by.Malmberg (1965) and
a discussion of flood control on Las Vegas Wash by the u.s,
Army Corps of Engineers (1967).
Lake Mead hydrolog;y .is described in several reports.: Physical
limnology of the 1ake (Anderson and Pritchard, 195.1) , crus tal
subsidence associated with the impounding of water behind Hoover
Dam (Raphael, 1954), water loss (Harbeck and others, 1958), and
sedimentation of the lake (Smith and others, 1960).
·
The g;eoloe;y of' the Muddy Mountains was described by
Longwell (1928). A guidebook of the geology from Cedar City,
Utah, to Las Vegas, which includes part of the proJect area,
was published by the Utah Geological Society (1952), Recently,
a geologic map of Clark County was published. (Longwell· and
others, 1965). Geologic cross sections of Ga.r>net Valley .wer>e
included in a report hy Andel•son (1966) .
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Hayfork Peak, Henderson, ·Hoover Dam, IcebeFg:·canyCir1,' Las'·vegas,
Moapa, Muddy Peak, Over~9!1.";: OM~~to,n"Beach, Virgin Basin, and
Virgin Peak.
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HYDROLOGIC ENV~:RONMENT.
Physiography·and·Dra:i.nage
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The report area is .in ·the southern part of' the ;Great Basin.
The bordering mountains ..trend generally nor'th11ard arid are .
separated by valleys or alluvial· areas 'that are common;ty s: to
15 miles-wide.
Of' the seven hydrographic areas described in this :&'eport,
Hidden and Garnet Valleys, , as s\lown ..on plat_e 1;, ·aye topographically
closed. Greasewood Basin drains•·. to:·Grand ·wash Bay, ·a .small arm
of -Lake Mead in Arizona,· Only the Nevada part of.' Greasewood
. Basi.n is 1.ncluded in -•thi.s reporto. · The .oth<';:r are<)S drain·· to that
part of Lake Mead that is in Nevada. Stre·ams flow into the
·.report area from Las "Vegas: Valley, the Mud.cly Ri vei' Springs; Area,
and Lower ~1eadow Valley; as shown on plate 1. ·
· ·
1
.
California Wash.( area (p1.
and' rig. ·3), is· named' after
the drainage system that. drains most. of. the area.'· It enters
the Muddy River near:Glendal€ '. ·.The; Mu&ly ·Ri v.er frave-r.~es- the ::.
eastern part of the hydrogra~hic··ar~a 4nd ·is the ·so~rce o0most
of the water inflow Hated- in the water budget (table 1_4) •'
California Wash flows oi:\'ly: in response. to infx'equent rainfall
resulting largely from sudden.~ ihtense .storms·•.
,·
.
The subareas. are bounded by low- to medium-alti tu.de mountain
ranges, as shown on plate 1. · The highest 'peaks are tn· the Virgin
Mountains (altitude ~bout 8,000 feet) and the Las Vegas Rahge
(altitude about 7, 000 feet) . Present topographic relief is
largely the result of movement along many faults, some :of which
are shown on plate 1', eros~on. forming canyons,,, at;Jd volc'anic
..
ac ti vi ty. Table 1 sumniariz:es· the general ..topography features
of the area.
Three major geomorphic units are recognized in: the ar.ea:
Complexly folded and;:" raul toed. mountain ranges, valley f-loe>rs,
and aprons or intermediate' slopes betwe·en .the' mountain!J and
the valley floors. The,·aprons include both alluvial fans pnd
pediments, Pediments are erosional surfaces cut on bedrock
but commonly are mantled with a veneer of alluvium ranging
in thickness from a lew.to several tens of feet. By ~ontrast,
the alluvial fans are urider•la:ln by cthiCk depos.:l ts of allUVium
deposited by runoff from the mountains:
'~
.
.,
· Pediments have .formed; iri ma'ny :parts of the report area. For
example, pediments occur in much or: the area ;shown as,.allu:i.rium
on plate 1 in GreasewoodB.asin (T. •17 N., Rs .. ;7o;.and;7:l E,;),
in T. 17 N., R. 66 E~1, and\ ip T .. 19'N,,, R;;'64'·.E.:. '· ·.
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·Table
1.~ ... -General
top agraPhic features-
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Rydro~raphic
ConSol:ida'te_d
area
rock
Hidden Val~ey .
AlluviW~
.
California~ ''lash area
..
Black Hountains Area
0
2,100-4,200
0:
167
:. 35
240:
0
325
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53
,·,
3;000~6,000
.
1,250-1,400,
3 ;'ooo., s, ooo
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307
627
240...
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70
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1';200-3 ,400
a 1',221.
6 ,ooc
1~200~4 ,ooo
a i,221
6,000
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N<>;;,all_eY:. floor: present;" number is ~lti'i:.ude :of. io,re'st'·:.ailtivi.al ;;}rea at ma1,imum Lake Mead' level,;
:.
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i,600~4 ,000
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. 230
1~600~3,800
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236
183-
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2 '700-4 '000
115
·'
. Valley···
.
·,
·' floor .. · ·~Averag~ ·:·.consolidated r·ock(altitude
relie f' alluvium coritac t
· in feet)
(feet) (altitude in feet)
73
52
~ G<>ld Butte 1\]Cea
Grease-wood .Basin
Lake]/
,
Nead · Total
3G·
Garnet Val.l
ey .·
.
Adjcining
m6Uri·tains ·
·(altitude
·· in •feet).
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··' ~. · ·Snyder' -'and 'o-thers·· (1964') •have. prepared '.a• .map.:cthat• ·shows
Ple1stoceri€i•lakes
·in'
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.
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. .. Hi'dden.cand .Garnet .Valleys·
.
·essent'ially· were c·onfin·ed· ...to ·the;w.lcinity' of. p:nesent.:playas.• ;•
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· ', The . clfilia'te ;·of- '·the· area· is ••characterized: by.:,.'· .. arid ·condi:tj.ons,
'!on·g, 'hot ·s\inimers:, ·and· mild' w-inter·s ;• Free ipi·tation and ;growi!lg
.·.-season 'are·. 'discusse-d' below:;:
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:Rock~' ·~~}.':~-~~' ~~~o~t are·~: ·a~;~, di~id,~d~"into ·1~~r ·l'it'~~logic
units: Noncarbonate rocks, carboiwte rocks,,, .older .. alluvium," :.
and younger alluvium. This division is based largely on· their
hy(irologic properties; however, the hydrologic properties. of'
all four types may v·ary widely with differences in their
physical and chemical properties. The·areal extent of the
units is shown on plate 1. The geology is based principally
on the Clark County geologic map of Longwell and others (1965)
and on aerial-photo and drillers'-log interpretations.
··:···
.. ,-=----' .
Noncarbonate and carbonate rocks form the mountain masses
and underlie the younger and older alluvium at depth, The
carbonate rooks, Cambrian to Triassic in age, are mostlylimestone,
although.Longwell and others (1965) mapped some dolomite. As
shown on plate 1, carbonate rocks dominate in most of the mountain
ranges, except the River, Hiller, Black Mountains, and Hells
Kitchen.
In Nevada, carbonate rocks commonly conta.in fractures and
solution channels, and therefore the carbonate rocks of this
area probably are capable locally of transmitting water through
mountain blocks from one basin to another.
Noncarbonate rocks, Precambrian to Tertiary in age, are
mostly volcanic flows and tuff, gneiss, schist, granite, and
sandstone. The River and Black Mountains are mostly volcanic
flows and tuf'f', whereas Hells Kitchen and the Hiller Mountains
are mostly gneiss, schist, and gx•ani te. The noncarbonate rocks
are less·susceptible to solution than carbonate rocks and are
generally much less permeable.
Older alluvium, Cretaceous (?).to Pleistocene in age, is
composed mostly of clay, silt, sand, and gl'avel f'or•med from
debris washed from the adjacent mountain~. This unit includes
the Muddy Creek Formation, which contains abundant gypsum,
and alluvium of' Pleistocene (?)age that is moderately dfssected,
Older alluvium uncJerlies much of' the aprons and valley floors.
These deposits are characteristically semiconsolidated, dissected,
poorly sorted, and locally deformed,
9.
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·· ··· 'Younger -:;aHuvium;--in ccontrast:· to·\older -~alJ:uvciumhgenerally
is uncorisol::t!aatea·;' ..undissec.tedf·'moderately:.Me·ll; ,!'io:r:tea,., .and : ·
undef'or'med; ·· ·J:ct, is.· Qua ternar>y-:in ~age-.: and, ·:l:s; cpniposed ·o£:, -sand.•,
silt, and clay deposited by the.principal streams on the valley
•, ~f.loo:cs 'as. :shown' on: -pTate. ·1''· ·,.Younger .a1J:li,V"i.l<rn ~.a,l$9 . underlies
..
:.\'playa); •the <dep'os•:Hs· ·are: of late. :.Pletstocene ,and:){o1oc.ene (Reclint) ~
age. The coarse-grained material of. the.· yqunger• alluvi·um.Jn:obably
j_s more porous and more permeable than older ailuvium.
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Faults' have- been map~)ed b~( :Longwell· ai:Jd b.th"'ers · (1965)
and· :by ·the ·w:citer·"from: aerla1·-photos·· . •Qn!ly, t}1qse• <th~lt,.c,ut
a,l~;uV:i.~~· are:"shown. on •plat~--1~·:.'
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VALLEY!,FILlitRESERVOIRS
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· · • --,.:.,. -,~ ·~··-•: ··Gene:ral· Character'istics··
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Yo_unge~~:anp ~olde'r: alluvium--of the ..valley:s -_(pl. 1 ). f<()r!ll .the
vall'ey•T:l!Jil creser.votr.s and, _except .for'-_ the .large .sp;ring_s ,flo11:1ng
•f-rom o·carbonat·e-::rocks' ds· ·the principal" iwurce .of. ground l'{a1;f3r; in
the< -ar.ea','/;<:Few deep·: Wells have. been~drilled;: therefqpe-; lii<_tle
__ <:i:s· ltnbwn-·about:Jothe-·thickneases· of ·the. valley.-fill •ref!_ervoirs ._
- JThe reser:iroi'rs beneath:_ most .·val·ley_ floors. prob?Cbly,,.are ;a-)i_. _least
)•.6oo: fee't thick'•(Longwell, 1928, p. 90) •. - Alt_hqugh b~drocl{ . · _
·--:repor'tedly>·has :be·en.:'encountered. in wells. at "sh;:i:l,"lower depths,<
these wells, such as well 17/64-2·lc. ··(table 20.} .:were, ne_ar ,_tJle: ..
bedrock-alluvium contact where the valley-fil-l reservoirs are
generaf;ly thin';-: tA';well (Y7/64·d:9bd 9 ·-,tabl'e 20.). was dr;il;led to
a depth· of.''li500c feet· near ·the: center _of the· p-l'aya, in Ga-rnet.
-va_ney" and encountered clay, :gypsum,-- .and: sand_ --::,Howe.v.ep,-,.8., 1 ·,
nearbY weJ,1 (l•7/63'-f4ad, table. 20) pene,trated·, limestone. at a
dep-th or:·958 ·fe·e--t'· . .!' · -., --· ·- .. ,
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· ·· · '. 'E:iterh'al-hydr'~nilic :boundaries are formed·--by the consolidated
. -·'rocks (pl~: :J?)··,: 'which unde'rlie and f'ormoothe ,-sides o,f _the. vai;(ey•'fiH' reservoi"rs,·:Hv:e streams. and. lakes, s_uqh•-as the Muddy, River
'··.< and Lake Mead·.· -The consol1dated rocks, --particularly the, carbonate
.. :rocks'f ar>e- leaky' in that ·they may •_transm±t mod_erate amou_nts. of
·re-charge· from -the mountalns to ·the va1ley-f.-Hl reservoi·rs by
s'uJ::s_urface flow:,_·:·: ·-· :· · ·_ ·. . .
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·- ·"::The •-prin_ci-pa:'l· .internal•'hydraulic;_bound_aries _are tjle -faults
· ·' cutting- ttie· v'a·liFey fill,. as· •shown- . . on plat:e. 1 '' . and .litho.~ ogle ..
~-
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change's. 'l%§ extent to which' these pot,intiail barr':l,ers . im,p?de
:grbund-'water -:flow probably wiH not .be deter•mined• _until ._s_ubstantial
gr.ourid'..'.wa ter "deve'ropment -·occurs. · . .
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Transh(:Fss'4b.ili ty :of. the valley-fill> reservoirs has. nc~t: ._ been
measured at any sites, but has been estimated at sites of inter'-·•b'asti'l' ':now; -Howe~ver · i·t. is a·ssumed that the lake. and ,playa
. ; dep·osits •:Jon.· Hidden-arld Garnet VaTleys, have very low coefficients
'''·'·' 'o:f·:'t'ransni1ss1o:l!lity, but beneath· these beds, more.perme~ble.bf3dS
•m.ay-•b'e',' present~_r... :'Older al·iuvi'um' pr.obably has a- wid_e. range_ in
:-·traris\-n:L'ss:i-bli-ty, .. ·. 'l'he: f:!:ner grained, ,poorly sorted, ,_or partially
'Celutmtei-f mate·rials·· .of' 'the older alluvium ha:ve --lpW coef'-ficients.
- Tlie ·:saturat'ed coarser•. grained ·and: pcttep_ sor:ted :m.aterj.a;Ls, where
not•·cemen·ted,<"probably forrn producti-ve aqu_i.fers. However, .much
·of 'theolder' alluv:l!um. is Muddy.. Creek. Ilo~ornation,. which gepe:ra11y
is a poor aquifer. Younger alluvium (pl. 1), where.-it.. has ..
accumulated to a sufficient thickness and is saturated, probably
contains the best aquH'c1·s of the ar•ea.
11.
·-~
Water levels fn1 Lower ·Moapa'W<'rlTey} along the Muddy River
in California Wash area, along the shores of· Lake Mead, arid
along the banks of 'La~>' V&g@ ·wash• probabTy are higher than they
were under native conditlons·,--tiecau'se o'r 'the new ground-water
. _· J?a_sllevel c·r-~ated by Lake' Mead:; · Car.penter-'{:J:915)•,l;Lsts two
. wens J,n an areaLof Lower· Moapa Valley now cf,lo.Oded ;b)j..•La~e ,.. r
· · Mead._ A dug well, 16/68-3J; · had• a depth ~to;;wa,ter;of;, 2Q:.4 ,,fe,et,
'and'
drilled well 805 feet ·deep- at. St. 'rhomas.· · fpvobab{y, .in ·
•
, ]:7/68-lOd) ··first struck wat'er at 30 feet but ,was',cased out w·i.th
a·· 'finfll depth to cwater Of 284 feet :(neither.·:Well iS> .ShOW11 Ol1•'.pl.
1) . __ 'l'hese measurements ·-were made.'·in 1912•i•J'-:Todayr, on the flo,ad
pfa~ri: of the'-MU:ddy Ri ver>:Ln the: -report .. are'a/'"rio ·.depths .. ·t.o water
probabl'y are" as :great· as'.20 .Tee't..
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· ; ' ;p..~'- SL Thomas~ ·the apparf.'h·t\lo~s of hea~- w,ith depth !"Otlld
imply' it hat watr:!r' was movin·g :·downward' in: that ai:ea and t;ftep,·, ,!.
latera-11)/', probably•' tO: the •Colorado ·River..,.; ~The_ deep-well :site
Wjl,S probably at· an' altitude 'of about 1,·.150>'·-t:~et; the water leyel
WO\lld have been about at an altitude of 870.:f"'et. ,.. This is: ml!ch
. l.O)'I<OPthan the Virgin River, about 3 miles southeast', that war:i
f:Loimi.ng on-·a· f•lood ·-p:ta':in; at ·altitud_e,,l/lQP:.fee.t •. ~· :rn,[fac,t, the
Virgin River d'id not. :reach· an. altitude ·of' 870 teet· until 8 miles
north ·of its rr\outh.;or ·about 18· miles···. downstream .'f'r6rn S:t. Thomas.
·•· .:
Tfie;cfrculation ·system that causes the losS.!Qf head at· S.t. 'Thomas · _
iriay··'also have reduce·d the ·:flow:of' the Virgin Rivex' in _the,._.sam_e
.
are'a, the· water. reappearing again. at, -the:,s.urface ,along t}le channe:l ·
of· the Colorado River, the regions former discharge leve],. A.
. spring_ at the Syphus Ranch (about 19/68.:.16), as shoNn by Carpenter,,
·may have been a·d:i!scharge··p'oint; foD:the syst.em;,~·but-this·wri:ter's
e~.t.imat~~i:l altitude of the :spring. (about; .920.·:i:e.e_t}• is too high. to
dlscharge the system related to the .. st. ~Thomas··.·area. The, water
'·qiiali ty o'f this s·prihg and .of the -deep well. at ,St.· Thomas we,re ·
similar,. as listed by Carpenter:·.(l915, ·p.-.30), ... ,Elsewhe~e,,in,,
the. report area, near native conditions prevail. Pumping of
· '-~·H~~ls.has had a :r]egligible effect throughout· :th_e~;a·rea •.
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· · · ··The rocks in the area .contaln .mostiy-.cal•cium and· .magnesium
. earb'oi:Ja'tes and silicate mi:nerals. · In addi:tion,;- Longwell. and:·,
.
· othe'rs '(1965, 1\ppendix A and B) .... list many rrie.talid.c and nonmetallic
. mj,_neral depos;!,ts in the· area, inclwUng :· Me.talli-c,,_sul:fi.des- in
.·
the"Gold Butte• Area, borate deposits .. i·n the" Black Mo.untains A-rea,
'-·gyps\.im ·beds, the 'most ext;ensi ve of which :are; ;in ·.the·,B1f'ick Mountains .
····'Area, and· salt ·(halite) deposits, now inundated~ ,along the overton '
. Arm of Lake Mead·. · These- minerals, .there:fone -'· provide a ready.
s'o\i·rC'e, for most; of. tli'c <J5.sso1,iecl,•<'onst.1. tuent.3" :tn -the grotmd watei'.
of the· at'ea;
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Ground-Water Flow
Within the valley-fill reservoirs, ground water flows from
areas oi' recharge to areas of discharge, The reservoirs are
recharged in five ways: (1) seepage loss from local and interbasin streams into alluvium, (2) local underflow from consolirlnt:"rl
rocks of the mountains to valley-fill reservoirs, (3) leakage
beneath topographic divides from one basin to another, (4)
precipitation onalluvial areas, and (5) inflow from Lake Mead,
Locally, water may enter consolidated rocks from alluvium or
streams. Local streamflow and underflow have as a source,
precipitation within the drainage areas, as defined by the
topographic divides shown on plate 1. Most of these recharge
quantities are attributed to precipitation on the mountains.
Interbasin streamflow and the third type of recharge originate
as prec ipi tat ion beyond a drainage d;i vide and enter an area as
underflow either through consolidated rocks or alluvium and (or)
as streamflow. Type 4 is considered to be very small and in this
part of Nevada, probably not an important source, Inflow from
Lake Mead (type 5) to adjacent g!'Ound-water reservoil'S occurs
only when the lake stage is rising.
•
•·.
All the areas included in this report apparently drain in
the .subsurface to either the Muddy River or directly to Lake
Mead, as shown in figure 2. Hidden Valley probably drains to
Garnet Valley. whi.ch in turn probably drains eastward to California
Wash, as shown .tn figure 2. Subsurface dralnage may be both
northeastward from California wash Area toward the Muddy River
and southeastward toward Lake Mead, as shown on figure 2. Gl'ound
water may enter the report area at several places: {1) along
Meadow Valley Wash, flowhlg through alluvium, (2) along the
Muddy River, flowing through alluvium, and (3) from Las Vegas
Valley, near Lake Mead Base {Loeltz, 1963, fig,· 2), flowing
through carbonate rocks, and (4) fr•om Las Vegas Valley, along
Las Vegas Wash flowing through alluvium, All these flow
quantities probably are small.
Because of the abundance of carbonate rocks in the aPea and
the possibility that they may take water from or yield water to
the perennial streams, the Murldy R:\.ver was gaged with flow meters
at several locations near tvhi te Nax·rows And .Jackman NarTows, as
shown on plate l . On Febr-J.H'<l'Y 5, 1968, just above White Narrows
at l4/65-26ca, the gaged flow was 116,6 cfs (cubic feet per second).
Just below the na:r·r•ows at l4/6_5-26dc, a second measurement was
made within a few minutes; the flow was gaged at 48,3 of's, or
nearly 2 cfs larger, Ttds apparent increase in flow may be
caused by either or both of two conditions: (1) small cross
sectional aPea of tl··a!lsmissive younger alluvium at the narrows,
redueing the amoun~ of watel' that can flow in the subsurface
13.
•
!OXPLANATION
•
Weather station
___?
Mesquite •
VIRGIN
Dir~dion
of ground-wi."tter flow;
questioned where uncertain
j\
Drainaqe dividP.
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MUDDY RIVER
SPRINGS AREA
RIVER
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VALLEY
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GARNET
VALLEY
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CALIFORNIA
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VALLEY
GOLO
WASH
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.7'?
BUTH
AREA
BLACK MOUNTAINS AREA
~
McCarran
Field
LAS VEGAS VALLEY
•
0~==="5~""""""'""''~'0:-"==...15
Appro)(imate sc-?le
figure 2,-Loc:rJtion of ne<..~rby weather stations and riireclion
or ground-water tlow
Miles
••
and causing •tfi"fSi:water .to·. mdveahto~ the:.·strearn''channe~ between·
the gage sites; (2) migJ;"ation of water from undeJ;"lying ,carbonate .
rocks· throu"ghi alcluvium! to.-·the'\·Muddy• -Ri v:er • The. :sec_ofl.cll·e.xplana tion
is favored by •the·,writer.•... : .·. · ." :·>.··:,··· -,.-~ ·
''·--
,·
___
1
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r _ !··~·.-·:·:: ....;
n
. . ·._·,.·, . ·"
\ ..... ·
~ ·::.·:::t:--'•. · -~~.t
_J
· •<Farther ·downstreamc near. Jackman Narrows /:·measu;r-el)lent_s:J,W:.?.re
; ·· . made· •at 'three· sltes;on•:February ,6, 1968. -~At. th_e,.most _ups;t·ream
·. s:l't.e· n~ar- Glendale,. at.15/66-2aa; . thee gageq :f1ow. was. 48,(l_fs,-. At• -the: ·nai:'rows, 15/67-?ca\, the. flow. was.-.5!+ cfs, · and·, do~nstr~a_l)l
about one' mile, at 15/67 -17bd, the flow was. .!~h8 .(lJ'S •., ·', Th.~, ?-PPai:'ent
increase in flow above the narrows probably is caused. by contribution to streamflow from ground-water( sources, Whether this water
is' transmitted to this reach of the "Hver by consolidated rocks
.
. or 'a.J:luVitim•·:Ls•• hot ·known•·;··:but.: because the· increas.e:o··is .possibly
':' '_,, · 6 cfs. -(about ·4~300 acre-'feet-;on ·a.:-year:iy basi?) 1 4:t:·)Jl\1S:t•,;lJe.r:
'•:.1 ws.t"er •dr"aihing. from. a ·large· area..
Below.:. thei .nar.rowa ~th_e,:.fc1pw 1 ·
apparently.: decreases ·.by abou;t:.6 ,cfs. ·. · Becaua.e th.e. al_ly.vi}.lgl•-~ipng
this ·reach·· of.lthe' river:· iso"'Je:lnn1ted, .to .. a ·canyon that.: ;is-.-less~ ~,t_)lan
a quarter."of a mi"le-•wid"e .and: therefore~:probab).y, no_t ,able to,.. ·;
transmit 'large ·qu~ntities:· o:C: •ground: .water·, ':1t,.is•.. likeJy;,_t~at:"w,ater
· enters;,,carbonate· -'ro·cks .,-. _, If more :det-ailed •gaging .. were. ·don?.: .elsewhere on the Muddy. River,_ similar; conditi'ons · '!riight.',berdiscovered.
However, extensive seepage runs.on·the Muddy River were beyond
the 'a_copeJ of 'this aludy:•. · '·' ·. ·. ', - " . . - :
.... <
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.
. •1., INFLOW TO •THE·VALLEY.-FILL RESERVOIRS
f
t"•.
' '•.
·'
•
;
~~ ·;
' ,: :
· .:.· ·Inflow to the valley'-fi:l:l reservoirs is· estimated by
reconnaissance techniques developed b~the Geological·Survey
in cooperation with the Nevada Department of Conservation and
Natural· Resourc'es. The 'components~ oD.:innow .to .the va-lley-fill
·r·eservoirs inClude· prec'ipi.tation•, ·,•surface-water r.unoff, ·.subsurface
inflow through ·aliuvium··. and·· carbonate· rocks.,·· and: importation of • ·
water•· {table 14) , Lake Mead is not inc'luded in the hydraulic
·budi>;et' ..of·
:the area.·
·
·.:Precipitation
:r
1
· ; '· . The precipitation pattern. in Nevada. :is 'related:·principally
to 'the• topography; the;.weather stations··at higher altit,udes generally
r~'c'eiv'e 1 mope· precipitat·ion, than···those at 1ower altitudes (Hardman,
:1965}; •However, .th:l's'-relation may. 0be· considerably modified by
·
··local .'conditions. ·The .valley. floors of .the. report· area probably ·
·receive' ·an average of ·only ·about· 3:-to ·5. inehes of ·pre.eipitation
· · per·:yimr, whereas the• highest mountain areas ·may ·have an. average
.·annual 'preeipitation .of 12 inches,, or more•:·. Fi'gure·J· demonstrates
the increase ·in precipitation· Wi·th altitude,,'
.
·-·'
,,.-
Nearby weather stations· at Mesqui t~:.· ·:Soulder ·City, OVE!rton,
and MeCarran Field at Las Vegas are shown in figure 2. Five more
remote stations have the following·loeations:
.·
Littlefield, Arizona, 10 miles northeast of
Mesquite
Carp, 30 miles north of Glendale
Desert National Wildlife Range, 22 miles
northwest of Las Vegas
·
Mount Trumbull, 50 miles southeast of
Mesquite
Hidden Forest Camp, 32 miles·north of'
Las Vegas
Using the data recorded at these nine stations, an altitudepreeipitation ·relation, as shown by the dashed line in figure
3, was identified. This relation is used as a basis to compute
estimated average annual precipitat..ion and gJ'onnd-wato;:r recharge
in table 6.
On valley floors and aprons, where the average annual
precipitation is small, little preeipitation directly infiltrates
into ground-water reservoirs. !llost precipitation is evaporated
before infiltration and some adds to soil moisture. However,
intense precipitatio~; during thunderstorms may supply infrequent
recharge. Greater px•ecip1 tat ion in· the mountains provides most of
the recharge and runoff.
16.
.•.
---
I
I
I
1.-0vcrton (1953-66)
2.-Me:.quitf! (19-13-46, 5!:1-60, 63)
3.-Littlcticld (1952-58)
4.-Mc.:Carran Field L.as Venas (1949-1'!6)
5.-Boulder City (1932-66)
6.-Carp (1950, 52-54, 56, 62)
7.-ocscrt Nat. Wildlife Ranqe (1941-66)
8.-Mt. Trumbull (1931-57, 59-66)
9.-Hidden Forest Camp (1946-48, fi0-64)
BOOO
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6000 f-
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2000 f-
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L---------'L--------~'--------~'------~
0
'
8
12
16
ANNUAL PRECIPITATION, IN INCHES
Figu~e
3.-ReliJ.tlon between precipitation and altitude in and <.~djac:en l to lhl::!
study area. Data for the variOllS periods of full-yP.<H record h~we
bP.en <.~djusterl to lonq-term <JVP.rages for the perior.l 1931-61L
•
,.'
••
"'""'"~·
.
• •
~
..
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By D. 0. Moore
.·.
. -
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. '
·. ,..
.
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.
The domlnomf,:ti.y;s'(r,ologie Nature' of the: area ·:i's·. :Lake Mead.
The ,l"ake ·w!J.s ,:formed .behin'd 'Hoover Dam, .when .t;he.. bypass.,gates.· .
were :.ol9s.ed in 1935. ·. \\ritti. water' level at .the >spi·llwa;v.:,• aJ:t;Hude
1' ?1"1 ..feet J :the .maXimum. depth of- •'the .: resenvo:l:r '.w.oulrd 'be ,;571 .. f.eet
,, at· ~h!l... :da.m; the -:water-'surrace'ar'ea wi:mld be . l64jOOO.·acres·,,and
·· the reservoir c'apa'cltywould·be 29.,680;•000 acre-feet ..•{Ames ·an:d ·
· others, 1960, p, 87-91). The weight of Lake .Mead,· about;·4o .. :: ·
billion tons at. spillway level, has caused settlement of'' the
·;:· geriei-:?-1' ?:fea;.which 1 ~·y;'1950had' 1 reacJied a•maxinium of ?,'inches
(Rap(lael, ·1954) ,'··..'.This' ··se.ttlement is. still ''continulng, .but .. at
deer;.~s~ng :r;ate;' the. t:ota1 rriay· eventually. reach'lO inches,
•·.
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p
\>1?-ter fro'm .'Lake Mead· :i:nfiltrates·into,.·the •. adjoining •rocks
an,d sedimen,ts, c'aus:tn.§i"a'''·loc'al 'rise ·ifJ.ground"'water·levels;
Larig15ein (1'96o,' p. i6o-id8)''·estiniatea that 'bank-'storageamourits
to an average of about 12 percent more than Lake Mead capac:i!ty_
at a!lY .. gi V<fn, s t;agy.
.
.
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: . .'·
· The flood ·plain .:or the Muddy River is_ well watered beCi'J,\lSe
of irr;tgation by.water''f'rom· ttie Muddy'River; 'a perennia::L ~?tr<?am.
Las .. Vegas W:;:tsh, _j.n t;he,, report area, is also ·perenniaL . The -.· ·
remaining parts -of 'the repo:i-t- area have a few shor.t perennial
streams where they are 'si:iringfed. . . . ' '
;.. -. -·
"' '
The Muddy River has'''b~~m -.gagei.J· at five different sites
_Within . the. r_epor.t. area, Only one of these gages, Muddy River
-- q\')ar .'G~enda:J_e, · Js. stH+ _j:n· operation. -. Th:l!s gage·1s . ·at Jackman
.. N~r.r_ows. (15/67-::7oa~; p:j.. ·..l)·,aria ·has 'bei:m'operated •from April
throu~h October .1910; · Jul'y'l913' :.to 'February 1914-, .and from-:F
, Feqruary_ 1950 to. the prese'nt tfine, The location. •an'd• pel'iod. o.f
-·record· for the· f'6ur · disc<::n1tiriued gages od the. Muddy'•R:tvei'. a,re
. as 'follO'ws'·· ··'
· · · -· · -.-,
. "
. . ·-, ·;
.-~ .: :, '
_;' ':.,
. : \ .•. -
._· ' :. . ·;"'
' : !_ . . .: .
:
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·.• '
"•
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·. , ; .(~)' Mudqy'Ri·v~o·~ at railro?-d pumping plant: (15/66-::6d). ·
,·
Qperated from 1904 to 1906- anli 1914J to· 1917 •. · -· .: . :'
.
•
-
.. '
, .;.
··,
•
. .· • .· ·
·•
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.,
•
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-
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_
;', ... , .;. •
"\; -."
. ·:(2)' 'liiuddy.Hiv~t. above Moapa Indlan'Resenvat.±o)), (Jli/9S-26c);
This.gage'was'operl:!:t'ed !'rom· 1914.;to 1_918. · .. _ .: · ·
. • . ··
::'
.
'
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1.:,
~,,, •. ·;
·~'J.~··
(3)
Muddy River at· WeJ.t'iol; Raucli •(l:s;/66_;2bii)'.;
from 1915 t0 1.91'~·
·
(4)
Muddy River near overton (15/67-21ab).
intermittently from 1913 to 1954.
·..,. ''··- ...'
·ope.ratied;
Operated
18.
. "
:.
1. . ~
. :-.
Las Vegas Wash· (ne~r Henq.erson}. is gaged .about 3 miles
upstream from the bounda-ry for· this··report at 21/63-30cd.
Records have been obtained. at this site ·starting in 1957 and
continuing at this wi'iting.- ·
•,-
''":-
•. : .Runoff
~
Surface-water runoff in ephemeral channels of the report
.area' is variable with season, ·and year ... Because no records
of· ·gaged. streamf.low on ephemeral chan'neis of the 'area a.'re
ava'ilable' •.records' of' a .·nearby stream' :.a're u.'S'ed to show the
general intermittent flow 7.chara.cter. 'Tabie .2 sh'ows' the flow
volume . and' :flow :duration -for, <Las Vega's ',wash a.t :'No.rth La's Vegas,
about 5 •mfles west or the. 'area boundary" .during the peri'6'd JU:'ne
1962'-'Septeinber 1966, . ·,
.
· ... . . . . •
·. ·
,·
.
. . · ·.
.
·i
.-
.
' . : The amount of' runoff ri;m. the mountains· that r$aches the
.. valley-fili reservoirs. canno't,.,be cqmpljt¢:ct': directly because 'of the
absence of suffic.ient · streamf,low .data .i:n the area: ,The:r:'efore,
methods that were devised by MOO:r:'e {1968}' are Lised for estimating
the'•runoffc::a!):titude.•relations and .the r,elation.be.tween .channel
geometry .and mean annual runoff in' areas. where 'little 'o'r no
'streamflow. data ar'e available. Rurioff c.an be estimated using
·thes·e relations.
' · ·" ·'·
·,
. ·
The estimated mean annJ.tal runoff to vailey-fill reservoirs
'is' summarized in table 3 ... Only e,b()qt 2crp~rqen,t .or. the r;epo:t
area is: assumed•. to. contribu~e appreciably,,to. runoff •. OccasJ.onal
runoff may.. be 1ocail1y. developed on valley·. flo'or's and aprons, but
. this' type of; runoff generally. is' so. err~oi'tic., in frequerJCy and
dur'ation that i t has lithe
value.
•.
.
.
.... ' econothic:aevelopment
.
r6r
'.
'
Inf1ow of Streams
. Muddy RiV!"r', Meadow. valley w.ash, a~d Las 'Vegas Wash car:r:'y
. surface water in.to the, report are,a. The~ Muddy R~jrer also flows
. through two of,- the hydrograph:i,c areas,~ Cal;tforn;t"o(l,_'~ash and ·Lower
· :·Moapa . Va:tley, to·'•Lake Mead. At. the g~ge' oil. Las Vegas .vla:sh ... :c
<(21/63-3Qcd), the flow rate is generally. betwe~n '10 and 30 cfs
for the period of record but had been as high as· 1 ,!j.oo cfs •. ·
Most of the low flow is water' previously used in Las Vegas Valley.
For the'· gage site ·on the Muddy. River at ,Jackmar Nar'rows, (15/67-7ca)
during .the per'iod o.f record 1950-67~ the flow rate, generallY
.was between 30 and 50 i::fs, hut reac.hed a :r:'eco'rded peak flow of
'· · 7,38o· c·rs on November6, 1960. The .lo.~ .flow is .mostly from
springs in the Muddy River Springs J)rea,.noi:'th of California Wash
J)rea (pl. 1). The rriean Hrll'Hlal dtschargcs of' ··tiic 'Muddy River and
Las Vegas Wfl.'sh are liE'ted in table,.4.
:·;
'
'
•'
19.
·-· ..
-·
_::_:~~li>le. 2 •. .,.~flow volume and
.,,.
·--~~~:~.---.~;~=~:'.':~~--··•·\
,-,!
·· ..... •.·<.-.""
-.
•. ...,_ ..... ;,..
••••••••••
duration for
'.., ~ • .· -~<: -~ .~'"", ' •·' ~
"I •
c•~"~ ··~
La~ Ve11:01~ Wash
.......... ·' ,,...
-~- ..,...•.••. -·
,.,..... ~:- •. ~
'•~~tfl1....12..~t.Ye¢aa,··June 1962-~ptember
•···~4• ..-._
~-·:···.•·,; • ' ,,:..::;....__...,,.,~"'"" ,,,,.._.,,_,,
.....,_,,
·~·~•~,...
1966
'''"·:"'...,w......:•-~•··~-··
Flow
· ., · ·. ·.. Di.iraHciO:'
,;.:",:.P,.,_er"'1"'o<>d•~lf=-----+-:-W.,:(a~c~r:.!'e;.:.-..!f~e.::;,e.:::.t)~:-.
.
_ _ _.,.,.,.,..,-,•(c!ays)
·,;
~~
..•
;;; ,.
-
-.l
.. :
1962
-'
August
.
IJ. 7
11
. _",,!_ ~-.
,. -1963
~pin
1.2
'
May
1.4
+.'··
:~J:
---14.0
'··,·
......
~' ":J.
•;;: ::-.--.·,;.
•
.... ..
-.\
'· ' ... ~.:··
2
;$~..;. ,..• _j
.•• -2-':... ~ ... --~ .
., .·
2
::: J.'(.,t
~ ~2~:. . .
;;·..•;.. '. l ......
~·-·-
-
...
·'·
April
41,3
3
Novetaber
34.
1
-----------·-·-------·-----------1.
No flou ""s recordeJ during unlisted months,
'-
.,
'
~·
20.
.
·,
.•"'
..
Table
·...
3.~~Estimated
,,.
average annual runoff from
'
··Area
'\ .
Runoff area .
·{ricies) ·
· Hidden·.valley
. '".....
..
7 ,410·
· Gilrne.t valley
t,,no-
California Wash areal/
150
Lo~re:t
610
·Moapa Valley
Black Mountains Area
~
•'·'
.
mountain~
'
e
.
Runoff
.:.(acre-feet)
500
·,
· 3oo
<50
310
Gold BUtte Area
11,900
~ioo
Greasewood Basin
5 '720
500
1. Cslifornia ~-lash area has been the source area o£
many floods; these floods generally origi11ate "on "alfhvial
areas rather than in the mountains.
.
-.
·-..... '
21.
._ _._'
Table 4.--Mean annual discharge ...£!.J:.h.e HudCJy River and Las Veg_as Wash
.,,·.·
''.
.:
• -:''•'· ·._!_- '
-: . •.
·- ,-)
J.
....' ·.cO: ' Mupuy iRiye!!'.: .
. Year :,
, :. ,ate ).5/67-]ca
.,
,·
'. ~-•
'":·.,
..••••• r. ,.,
•
1952
•·.
•
.. '
1954
;;_c._-_,-
~ ·: .:
t955
)Q'5.§ .,
.
''T957'
'
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'
:-::. t ..
~
'·
)961
1962':
. 1963 ' ., 't.
"
''1'965
-'
"1964 ' ..
. '.
.
\
'··
.·.·
..•.
'19'67'
; "::
"! .... -
-,._ .
£,· -; • ~
15,2001
'·1•5 ;390
14 ,L,gO
14,3 70
'
:12' '230 '·;' . 11
'·
''115';493
:,•l6;,o21J,•, ..
~~ i 10 ~ 220
-~!
19,170
'19',1'60," .... j •
'. "
-·
;'
,.
{-•. ••J.
~
,~ ~
::.·:r.~· ·'·
.
', ," l
~·
··_,··
..
.,
:-
-.:·.
·'
~
'.
,.. ,,.
--.'
. ,..
''
....·
,.
_,' '·"r
:-:_,. f
.···- ·""; ..
.
.
~ ~
~
'
~.-:..
; r ;, ·
·~
; ...._t~· _;· __ ,
"' : 1
;
·,!
'
•j '1 ; '
;
I (
,•,j_ (
;
I
''
't•.:
.
,
.. '
o('.i'''
.. l.
"
.,
··- ... -,
.<
'·
··'·
·-:··
'
S.{:;i
_,"-(~'\-,··
'
' ..
)F$'J
~- __ :·t.~
.
:.
i
.• -I-~.-
,:, ' . . . . ,.' ;-_
1966
~-.r..r:.
--
··-~--~
J
1960
·•
I
''·'
1'958
_.
., r
1959'·.
·''
~- •'.
'·.'')
,,,;
..-
..
·.!f .. -.~
.... ,
'L
l_.u
-,
._;
:at:' 2i./63.:3p~;~~ .
.'_
. ,.; -~ .;
1953
1
~,
- ·
.. .Las ,Vegas ,Wash
·__ ·• _1j
t
·r i -.~ ,_- '· f ..
1951
'
.
I'
·r.··
,,
'·
,. 'i .:
":':
~..-
·• •.~ I
·_: :r:;'
22~
I
:r
: r·
('=:
+ • ..,
.,•~··
.'
.' ..
The. est.i.niated ·average annual surface-water·'flows between
the valleys of'the repovt area are listed in table 5; they are
based on str7ainf'low" records· from gages ·and measurements made of
flow at se,veral' :sites during the fall of" 1967 and winter of
1968. ()]:iv;i9u81y, inflow to one area·isoutflow from another.
·:·
Ground Water
Recharge from Precipitation
Water enters valley-fill reser.voirs from local precipitation,
by seepage loss from streams, and .b'y local underflo'w through
consolidated rocks. The amount ot' underflow generated within
each area and flowing to valley-fill' reservoirs from consolidated
rocks is not··known, but probably is a small part of the total
recharge.
·
. A method described by Eakin a~d others . (1951, 'p. 79-81) is
used to estimate recharge. The method .assumes that a percentage
of the average ..annual precipitation n\aY recharge the ground-water
reservoirs, Principally by seepage loss from streams,
Table 6 shows the values used to ·estimate prec;Lpitation and
ground-!'later recharge in the area. 'The estimates· of recharge
for the areas generally are ·ress than _1 ·perc.ent ·of the estimates
of total precipitation. These percentages 'gEmeral·ly are smaller
than the amounts-usually found by this method for desert valleys
of Nevada, where estimated recharge commonly range between 2 and
5-J;Jercent of estimated total precipitation. The lower amounts
computed for the report area are due to the _general lack of large
areas of substantial precipitation which occur largely above an
altitude of 4,000 feet,
'
-
,f,..
~"
.
V•;
-
Subsurface Inflow
Ground water probably is transmitted between areas through
consolidated rocks and alluvium, as suggested in figure 2. Table
7 summarizes the estimated average annual subsurface inflow and
outflow of the report area,
Importation of.Water
Water is imported to the California Wash Area from the Muddy
River Springs Area, In 1967, Nevada Power Company reported that
it had rights to and consumed water at the Reid-Gardner generating
plant from two sources: (1) about l,Soo acre-feet transported in
a pipeline from five wells in the Muddy River Springs Area, (2)
about 300 acre-feet from the Muddy River, diverted near the plant .,"
site (not imported), In late 1968, the Nevada._Power Company plans
23.
---
--~-
-------~
~~-
-·
__
..........
_ ..
"..
-··
•.
f•'"
:.
~
.
;
,,
'
~'
.
)- -i·
~:
Table· -5 ~~-"'Esti~ted aVerage :·:annUal' surface-~.,-a t~,... fl o",.,T beitJ9e·n li~TdrographiC ~~areas ·
.'
Estimated average
annual quantity
(acre-feet)
Out_floJ;./
from
LoCatfon
Stream
..
; liuddy I'-iver
.
.
ca:i.:oTnia Hash:Area I
L<:mer Headou Valley
~-!1.1 i
te: Nar ro1-rs
......
j_~leadoH Valley .Jash
Lo~rer:
Ja:c11.;:t:~an
!-bapa Valley
Las Vegas Valley
Blac!< Mountains Area' Las Vsgas Vash
Lo;-rer. _l-'Ioapa Valley
La!,e Head
Huddy River
Lake Mead.Y
Gold Butte Area
·,.•
•.·
Basin
Arizona
~
s Vegas \·!ash and
nunerous v.rashe s
~umerous ;1ashes
Blac!,)-iountains Area
Gtease~mod
do.
Narrm:-m-·
·,·
-"
'
~
.
'.
I
34. .:.. ., oco
..... ~ ..
At shoreline
, .,
:.,f.
c lC CJOcd
'
iC ,000
.·do.
At. Stat;e line
.o
,
.. . '
12-,COO
At rive_r mouth
l .'·
,·
.. ! .
.
;,,
'-:--- i
J 400
1. ~No s treamfl o"' out of Hidden and Garnet Valleys,
z. ::.N6 s treamnow into· Hidden and Garnet Valleys, G0ld Butte Area, and Greaseuood Basin.
3. For th!J . ~!Jrp oBes o~ this report, the -~i1orel ine of Lake !·lead is tal,en as of an a1 titude of
1,200 ·feet,. ·on J1ebruary1 1, ':196G the .actual altitude 'oi: the lake surface was .1;123. feet
(U.~S •. Bure~* of ~ claraa ti~n, · o !:al comiliu;t~). '
~
a. 'From Eakin {1%4).
b, · Fron P..ush (1964), · ·
! •··
c. ·Rough apprc::imation based on fel'.' data gathered in 1967,
I
'·
33,000
'·
·
a 33 ;000'
Glendale
Total (c:ounded)
California IIash :Area
{•.'
'.•
1
_;
...
Small
'·}
·,-
Small
.-'· '
:
.'
~
,.' '· ::
I
'·
r--i
I
.
•.
0
;
..
..
•c>-i
-...
'
..
Table 6.--Eatimated average annual precipitation aud ground-water"recharge
Precipitation
t:one
(feet)
Area
(acres)
Estimated precipitation
Range
Average
Average
(inches)
(feet) (acre-feet)
Estimated recharge
Percenfage of
precip i tatlon acre-feet..•••.
. ''·
.-
HIDDEN VALLEY
>6,000
4, 000~·6, 000
<4 ,000
1,390
12;350
33,200
1.1
.8
.s
Total (rounded) 46,900
7
3
.. 1 ,500
. 9, 900
17,600
Minor
28,000
.,,,
1,200
'9,400
47;ooo
7
3
100
300
·'
400
;·1;
r.ARNET VALLEY
>6,000
4,000-6,000
<4,000
Total
l ,080
1.1
11,740
94,500
• .5
.8
Mino1·
(rounded)
-
'
400
.58 ,ooo
107,000
'80
280
. CALIFORNIA WASH AREA
>4 ,000
<4,000
2,470 .
206,000.
Total
. (rounded}
208,000 .
>8
<8
.8
•s
:·2.,ooo
1oo,ooo
;3
60
,.
-
Mirwr
<100
100,000
LOWER MOAPA VALLEY
>6,000
'4 ,000-6,000
.<t,,ooo
150
1,230
tso,ooo·
Total
151,000
>12.
<8
7
160
1, opo
75,000
·. 1.1
.8
8-12
•5
3
10
30
Minor
······.-:.,'
.
.<so
76;0~0
(rounded)
BLACK MOUNTAINS
>4, 000
<4,000
Total
2,780
398,000
4ot';ooo
(rounded)
4,170
28,700
306,000
Total
(roundEd)
339,000
>6 ,000
4,000-6,000
<l, '000
2,630
14,400
. 55' 700 .
Total
(rounded)
72' 700:·
,8
<8
.5
AF.EJJI
2,200
200,000
3
GOLD BUTTE AREAl/
,:'r2 .
. 8~12
<100
<8
,.
4,600
23,000
150,000
1.1
.• 8
•5
7
3
Mi. nor
;12
<8
1.1
.8
.5
'
<- '
GREASEWQOD BASIN.Jj
8~;12"
;--
1,000
180,000 .
·.
70
·Minor
200,000
,.
.'
>6,000
,,,ooo-6,ooo
<4 ,000
>8
_.,,'
2,900
·12,000
. 28,000
43,000
•.
7
2oo
3
360
Minor
600
,.
· ,.·
The rar.E·;;ri:ii<l';;r.;-a· l.iflicfi'··i's 'i-aE'e"'M.§a<f-coverli.. 9'3";~ioo'·-a.,res··;;n;r--r:;,~c:;;r;;c;-s~·an >~~
average a'nnual> p~e.cipitation o'f about 46,000 acre~fce.t.
.
.
;·
··._ . . . . .~
1.
• l
....
''
~-
Table 7.--Esti=ted average annual subsur.f ace fl D"".f betw-:::::er._
Infl~v
Outflow
from
to~/
Location
Garnet
Valley
('.)
0\
i-16/64,
l
i
17/64
~
Muddy River i California ' White
Springs
1-/ash area
Narrows
Area
Lower oleado~r
i Glendale
!
Valley
t
Total (rounded)
r·zot63-7
Las Vegas
Black
Valley
Mountains I
Area
L21/63-ZZ
Total {rounded)
I
Black
Mountains
Area
Gold Butte
Area
I
j
Lake Mead
At
I
1
L
shoreline
do.
Estimated
hydraulic
gradient
Estimated flow · (feet per
Probable
mile)
transmitting width (miles) · ·
(I)
lithology
;:~:cas:
.,.--
Estimated
Estimat~d
coefficier,t of
inflodU
transmissibility (acre-feet
(gpd per foot) . ·. per ye.ar)
em
(T)
I
"7'
''i
Lower Mooap a
Valley
·creasewo od
Basin
Garnet
Valley
Lower Moapa
Valley
Lake Mead
Arizona
16/63
Jackman
Narrows
16/68
At State
line
(Q)
a 8DO
Carbonate
rock and
alluvium
Alluvium
Eti811;_/
--
Alluvium
c 1
Carbonate
rock
Alluviwn
Noncarbonate
rock and
alluvium
b 7,000
.5
c 15
c 1,000
e 80
,,10 ,ooo
8,000
cl 20
~400
.''400
:•
f dOO
,,
·~
.
''·.'
do,
f l,,ooo
~f-
'
1.,oooy
Total (rounded)
Hidden
Valley
California
l.Jash .area
.
Carbonate
rock
Alluvium
Alluvium
Alluvium
·--
·--
f' 400·
,.
· Sm~ll ':.
..
.
~
1
'
., e 20
,.
~
.,
-.,
-~
..
,,-so ,ooo·
..
--
1,100
~.
{ ·~
..
'·<
f 600
~
Footnotes
fo~;
table 7.• ,,
'
'
' 'L .'No . g~;ound-.,ater underflo>IS to Hidden
Valley, Gold Butte A~;ea; and
1 Greasewood Basin.
2. Q "
year.
3.
o. 00112
TIW; 0. 00112. converts gallons per day to
ac~;e-feet
per
Eat_imated by Eakin (1964, p. 24).
,.
•
1
' • -:'
"'
be
a.' Not- co.,Puted;; assumed to
equal to _·ground-'water techarge (table. 9)
· p'lus· subsurface flow· from Hidden Valley to Garnet Valley.
· ·.
b. Rush (1964, p. 24) estimates that for the Meadow Valley area·
subsu>Oface outflow plus evaporation from wet areas during the
nongrowing season is 7,000 acre-feet per year. Nearly all this
q\_\anti,ty pr9bably is sul:!surface inflow to California Wash.
c.
Based on data compiled by Loeltz '(1963, p. Q9 and QlO).
d. This outflow hom Las Vegaa Valley may not occur. LoelCll (1963, p. Q5)
states that if this subsurface outflot·r 0 ccm:s, the quantity of water is
very small.
·•
e, .Gradient is assumed 't:o be about equal eo the· slope of the land
. surface.
Not computed; assumed to be equal Co gt·ound-w.ater rechaxge, table 9.
f.
·,
<
.•·
'.
...
,,.,.
~
1-
'
.
'
~~-
L
27.
<
..
,•
·
.........
-~
..
.
0.~-
;• . .
~
'
~/.
'.·
~
.
;
-,. •..
.-.
..
to start utilizing water from a third source, diversion of 2,000
acre-feet from the"Muddy' R1ver:'at a.'site>'iri .the Muddy River
Springs Area and imported to the generating station by pipeline,
··The pow(!r Coll)papy,--reports-_ th:9-t this .. diver:sion,.will .be:'made .. only
in the winter; At the generating station, the water is consumed
'p-rincipally liy·'evaporation fiom· cooling towers.
!"'•·
.... •··.·. . . •J_~-~~-·:··~·:::._ . . . . ~---·
~----'.
""
............ ·-··
-·.
. Moapa V,alley Water Company reportedly imported about 520
aC"re-feet of·'water in 1967 from springs iri:·the Muddy 'River· Springs
·Area·, The wa-ter• .. was used for.. domestic, .. public"supply , ... and .....
stockwaterinK purposes along the flood plain of the I~uddy River
. in the Cali{ornia Wa.sh area and Lower Moapa Valley. Part "Of.:. the
used water .Percolates ft>om septic disposal systems and artificially
recharges thee. ground-water res·ervoirs. · ·. 'rable -.S suim:har~zes· the
· util1.zation ·of this impor.ted water. ..
__ ...
Water'' is imported 'into': CalifoJ;'>hia:' Wash ·ar·ea:, Lower Moapa
Valley, and Garnet Valley; ··arid'' the Bla'ck1 Mountains Area·. ·A·
small amount of drinking water is hauled to Valley of B'ire state
Park in the Black Mountains Area from "Lower Moapa> Valley and- ··to
a mining facility at Arrolime in Garnet Valley from Las Vegas
Valley, At Boulder Beach, Las Vegas Beach, Callville Bay,
and Echo Bay, water from Lake Mead is pumped to recreational
facilities along the shore for public supply, The net pumpage
(consumption) of lake water at these sites in 1967 probably
was on the order of 100 acre-feet. In addition, in 1967 about
275 acre-feet of lake water was piped to the Pabco Gypsum plant
at 20/64-18b and consumed in manufacturing gypsum products.
:-.-
"'····
"
;
~
28.
.,
Table 8.--Vtilbation of water imported b"i
'
.·..
....
Lower .Moapa
· · . Valley .
. (~c·,.:.;.:feet)
.·
' '
'
_
' ......
''•1. "•.
water tablel ,2/
top,
...·
270
'
.liJO
·,
520
.150
370
.
to
CaHfornia wash
Total .
~~ d· .... i~a~_e_a ,, ,
(acre:.·'feet),
(acre;. feet)
{··
Impor,t for public supply
.·' '"
_Percolates
. .::-:
.,
'5o
.. ,,.
.·
1,,,. Estimates by author; based on ,estimates. by
population and numb_er pf 'head,~'{ .-itve~toqk •.
~ocal
1
370
150
·re,s,i.dents ·of
.•J,'
'·
·2.-. Jlec.om_es ·artificial. recharge.
I.,
<..T·,
.···
·,-
·'?
_.,
....' ~ ,\ ~!
, '
....
29.
'
"· _.,,
"!.
'
'
. .-_ . .r, . /
OUTFLOW FROM THE VALLEY-FILL RESERVOIRS
The· co)'l1ponents,"of .outflow. are surface irrigation and ~ub~
irpigat:l:on, industr:j.:J_~ USe, evapOration fr:om SUrfa.c.~-:Water ~'OiJ1eR,
streamflow, ·evapotranspiration· of ground· water, pumpage;. stitisurface ou~flow, export, and public supply (lse. Q.utflow of.
streams, subsurf.ace outflow, export, and'public s\.lpply·qas..been
estimated•in ea~lier sections .{tables ~ •.• ~ •• B, and·p. 28)!
·
.
'
Irrigation·
Growing Season
Air temperature is a major factor in determining the length
of the growing season and is of interest to farmers and ranchers.
Other factors, such as wind movement, amount of daytime hours,
exposure and location of field, and type of crop are important,
but their consideration 1~ beyond the scope of this report.
Temperature data can be used as a rough guide in estimating the
growing-season length.
Temperature data for overton and Las Vegas Airport were
used to illustrate the period between the fall and spring
temperature of 28°F, a temperature at which killing frosts may
occur, and are summarized in table 9. Although the periods
ranged from 173 to 298 days at Overton, most years they were
be·tween 240 and 270 days. The data for Overton probably a.re
representative of the Muddy River flood plain, the principal
area of irrigation.
Water Consumption
In California Wash area and Lower Moapa Valley, the Muddy
Rj.ver is diverted for irrigation on its flood plain. Addit:Lonal
supplemental water iR provided by a shallow water tRble that is
reached by plant roots and by an il'ri.gation well (15/66-ldd) on
the Lewis Ranch. In California Hash Area, the flood plain ranges
from about a quartet' to three~quarters of a mile wide and has a
length of about 9 miles. About a third of the flood plain is
ir·rigated; the remainder is unculti.vated and commonly covered
by phreatophytes. (See "Evapo.transpiration" s.'>ction.) Irri.gation
is localized ln three ar<eas: (1) Moapa ludi.an Reser>vation, (2)
Hidd~n Valley Ranch, and (3) Lewis Ranch.
,
•..
. ">:
In Lower Moapa Valley, the flood plain of the Muddy River
ranges from about three-quax·tex·s to one and a quarter miles wide
and is about 9 mi"les long. lV!ost of the irrigated cropland is
north of Over-ton where about thrce-foul'ths of the flood plilin is
irr·igated, At Ovcl·ton and southeast to Lake Mead, only a few
----;;"'
30.
.
.
·~---- ~~.
·' '
.. '
'.\'
.
.,,
'' .• -~."·f.'
.
Hinimum
Maximum
Perioa·.
recorded . · ., 't'ecordi!d
LocaHoti.....__.·_,:(.,y""e"'il"'r.s::...)<-..__(.gyys)' > ' (days) ·
.
: . i.- '
20/61:.34'
Las Vega~ Airport
·/ ,,
l ' ·.
. '16/63'-19
OVerton
1941}•66
:~
232
'
~.
. .:
173
B!mcJtL
275
.-.,
·-.l
1948-66
..
Average
.--··.
·--~
J.
,.
.. ,
298 '· .
255
-- ...
l.
-.;
......., ....
._
_
_
··-.,
·._;
·--·
'.
'.
·,
., .
.. ,. '
,._,
".
•·.,
·-"
'·-~
'I
·.·
31.
•
~
'.
'
l-"
~ ~
r-.
·,,!
"-
small areas of •cropland, are irrigated, The irriga'ted- a-reas are
not shoin.on platel l,•but'are limited to areas shown as~joqnger
alluvium along thei Muddy River (pl. l). ~later is div€,-rted,into
a comple:£ system of ditches. Some water is temporari'ly stored :
in Bowman, Reserv'oir, which in the fall of l96r( was beir1g ei1larged
from a reportect:.:capacity· of about 1,000 acre-feet to abOut ·4,ooo
acre-feet.. At the1 downstream end of the Muddy River ·flood· p.li'\in,
the' State. Fish and~ Wildlife Commission maintains the ,oiertori ~~~
Wildlife. 'filan~gemen;t A-rea, :Part,.o:c_.whfch :~s irrigat.~d \<Ti~h wat~r
from the; Muddy River~ from' a shallow water table, ancl.,from ' '· ·
irrigation wells', ; Grass ,'is the main vegetation in 'irrigated .. ·
areas . \, ...
·;.·
-·
·
- . ·. .
; .,_ ,_
,,;;
~~
'.,
·-··.
.
'the average consumptive-use rates f'oi-- irrig_a~ed
crops ape·.- based ~-on findings of Houston and Blaney (1954-}, U; s~; ,
Bureau of, Reclall1atlon (1962), and Houston (1950), Fac,tors .. _· __ .. 1
considc'i'ed in a(signing use rates by these workers w~rc lengt;h ;
of grow;ing s,aason,' crop, _·geographic location, air temrerature•, _i
and length of da-ytime hour.s. Be.cause irrigation is less than: ·
optimum: itn tl)e wili:llife inanageme'nt area' the constuilpt_:j;v,e--:use : ;
rate l.s __ estimat~d :to be about 3 feet. 'l'able 10 summa,r1zes th~
- water c<)nsumpti9n by irrigation.
i'': ·"
In: 'tablj?
19•,
·'
,;
.
:*
_j
:0
~
j
t
,
I
W,ater Used .for Leaching Fields
~"'I
- ,_ .··
I
\
•
. i
1
Alqng the Muddy
River, leaching of soils to keep, salts··._
1
moving downward ;'be low thec··effect'ive root·· zone of the ··crop is :
a neces:sary irrj;'ga;tion pr:ac tice .' ·' LeaGhing requirci~ ~hat more )'Ia t;er
be appl'ied tp f;I,elds ·_than •is necessary to gx•ow the crop at i;;!J:<;,' ._
salt level intended. T6 estimate the amount of wata~"needed.· •
for lea"ch.ing, t6e !fol:lowing equation may be used (F'uller,; J9:65):
1-,•
t.:.
'
... ~
ECiw
,,
,
__
I
.,
!-'
;,•
.•·
LP "'
1•:'
~
2 ,EC
; e
..
:~
100
X
.',:j
·--
;:, : .
~: ; :. ::;(J.i)".
-~
-~-
'
\,
t:[;.
t_
'
l'"i.
; ; ,
where LP .. is ~the.-:le'aching percentage; ECiw, the specific'' ;opciuctance
of tha 1rrig;~tion ;water; and ECe, the specific conductahC~:~O:~ '
saturated-soil~paste extr>act associated with 50 pereent den1ernent:
of crot;{y;iel.d, ::B~rristein (1961+, p. 12) lists values of salt. ; ~­
toleran-ce_ (expre__ ss,cct': as_ ECe) for seve_ral crops·•_ A: few_. of .these
crops~.'(a~J:d thei,~ ~ce:. valU:es) are lisped be.low: :.
_.'
: .
,·_ ;
.:
-~
..
'•
·: ....
..•.
'
'
~""
.
·:.-
'···!
'.
.-.
"/
l
·1
..: ~-: . . ,
:: "· '
:...;
-1..:;
ECe-.·.
~:·-4ro'k_·_.~,;____
: ;i
Al'fal.fa·:
'
. ·_,
~-
~-~·"'
:: - __(!Jl.i«l:'?_lll_1j9~- p_e;:__ <;l'll_
;
-. . .. . . , ..
' ·.. :;8));00
_-;_: :-: ~.-. _..
· · Beets: . . { ~.-_.-!;.
, ;·:: Bermuda) gx!ss::J: ; ..
'· ~~- i.,.. Co,t to_n < ' •.....••
J
,_•
r: ,
.. I
Sorghum;: . n..
.
!
'""·
'.
•
.
II,
• .. ·;. ·:7~
t ·.
I
'!...
•
...
.;, ~. .
32.
··"
§ltg~_~Ql,
,.
-..... ·
.J.l, 500 '
18,000:
i6 000 ,,
'
'12,000
L
<'"
'-·
"''
-
,.··
Table 10. --Estimated consumption of vlater b· irrir~ted cropsl/
:,':'
. .,.,.-:CA~L~I,:..FO::;:RN~IA::::..,W:!!A"'S"'H:-·!:!.A~REA=...,.,.._·,_.--....,...--<,__;;-...-l:Lo:::OWE=R~MO~A~PA~·...lv~A~LL!::E~Y!;:·-'·:_·- - - - - -
:Alfalfa .and grass {pasture)
:ttoapa Ind~an : · ·'·
:Re-servation
:
; and Hidden
:
:Valley Ranch : Le-wis. Ranch
Crop
.•
..
.
:
':· · ·
:
:
. Cane,
'
!
:
(Wildlife
;
~lana gemen t
: Alfalfa and
sorghum, cotton :
, Area)
:grass (pasture):. be('t s, and mise; crop~: Mainly grass
;
Approximate area (acres) (1)
750
1,500
400
1.,500
Es timatecl ~1ater use rate
on above land
(feet:· per: year) :
.. ,
Surface ·water
4
2
4
·2,5'
Shallow.grotin~-~~ter!/
1
1
1
.s
l'umpage from wells
0
a 2
0
5
5
5
(2) .
Total
Estimated water use
(acre.,:i:e<it per year).
(1) X (2)
l~ '75~:___
"".
2.
irri:gation
r '7 ,soii
3
--~4-'...,500
1,200
' .
ti,ooil'
5,000 -
.,
3
J
\/-.
Total. (acra-feet per, year) .
1. ,; No
..:: 1 '25_(}__
·I
'
·~
in-Hidde~
and_ Garnet
'_.
Valieys,
Bl.:t~k Mountains an.<\ .~old:;But~e Areas; a_nd Gre.asewooc\ Basin•.
•
;~
·-_1
- .- - .
.
- _.
.
-_
Most . of the water,· is. frpm, seepage from nearby .fields and·< ditches . to a shall ow wate·r table, - :·
.
.
?
'
_.
-
•
-,
•
·-·'·
,
•
'
•
.,
)
_.
•
'-
•
-
~
•
•
a, Estimated net' pumpage (crop consumption) iii SOO acre-feet, Gross pumpage is computed to·be about
800 acre- feet and. is .based on information p r(JVid.o!d b~ the well.. o.wner • Most of tbe·'difference ~ercolates
back to the water table,
·
>
'·
'
,e· ' .
,.
i
. ' ...
•
'
i:
~,,'.
•··
\
;.;,
.'.
....
' •
!•
r
.... '
For California Wash area, the specific conductance of···.-·
ir>rigation wa.ter from the Muddy River> may average about 1,300 :.
micromhos. Using} the ECe value for alfalfa, the mos.t a_tunaant. ·.
cr>op of the a!'ea (table ll}, the computation of leaching .. ·
:·
per>centage is:·
i
· . :· ·
, .
I
1 , 300 X 100 ,
•··
8 percent
;LP"' 2 x 8,ooo
'
i'
'
I
With 60 ifl~h~s of water needed to grow the cr>ops (ta_ble 11)
65 inches have<:tol be applied annually to the fields so' that, 5 ,·
inches or near:J.'y 500 acre-feet is available for leacp~ing. :
,..
.
.
~
.
For LowerfiMo~pa Valley, the ~specificr"conductance of· ,irrigation
water fr>om the~:river may average 'about 1,.100 micromhos •' '·:For · •
crops of alfal~a knd gr>ass (table! 11), and using the' ECe,,value< ·.
for alfalfa, the lcomputation of leaching
per>centage is:
'
•.
.,
' ·
;LP-
~
~-
\
-·
..
,...
.. '
1·700 X 100
11 percent
t_2' X 8,000 ;.·; "'
·'
.
>' ·'
\
j.- .
. . i .· ..·•
'
'
•,.
., ··,
1 ,.,
l
,.'t~
About 0.6 foot·<~ of! leaching water is needed annually, i or ab~ut
900 acr>e-feet . .-> For the 1,500 acres of cane, sorghum:.. cotton,
beets, and misce*aneous crops (table 11) ;''the qu!"-ntitY, pf '
i.
leaching water::re}l.uired annually,' using Eqe of 12 ;po(): mic-rsmhos,
is about o .25 ·roo:t, or> ·400 acr>e-feet; for,, the Wil<;llif.e· Managemept
Area (tabl~. 11;), 'using ECe of 18,000 micromhos, abou't 0.15 rfoo);,
or 60 acr>e-feet. ..
'
·
'
,·
'·''
':,
..
.
In suinmary, ·the annual :'leaching.,-water> r>equir>ements !'or the
irrigated Wncl:: or; c.a~i~orniljl ":'ash is; ~o~ "acr>e~:r;e.~; ror Lower .' ·
Moapa Valley, .nearl-Y ,1 ,.4oo ac-r.e-feet. ,. · ..
· .
·.
!
··:
fl
\.
:.~
~-;·
'
'
l..,.
1 ·· . . ~·
'
~-··
,.:·
•:
~
;
:-;- ·:.
r::
-
.
;-·jo
.
The leaching w.~~~; is riot tdnslimed, .but:,pe~cola:t('JS thr:ough
the soil to· the W:at'er; table ,-.where' it. migrates ;·la,ter$.lly to ,ditches'
the Muddy R'i ver' :or\ phrieatophyte. areas.: Th<JreJore, this quant:I.:h
does not ·appeS:p i~n the<wat'er budget ._(tabl·e 14):-; .howe;ver, it mu'st
be availab~~ ·for :su~cessfl.il ·fa~ming .op·e·ratloris·: ,..
·
~·
~
•
,.
"J
,.
ll
..·:
{ _,
,, .
·-\.
(~
'
-·
'"
.~:
·'
i·'
~~;
.
...
''
Industrial .Use
, ..•
..._
~
,
I
.
In Lov:.or Moapa Valley, water from the Muddy River is used "
by Simp lot .~:Sil:ica, Produ,cts, Inc •.. at thei:t; two silica; plants .
near Overton, . The plant manager. reports c.that a~o'ut 160 acre,.feet
of water was t'fansported by ditches to the plants.' .. in' 1967 and ···
consumed. ;The'·;wa'ter was recycle(j througn: the plants; ';inany times,
with a ~ross c±rc'ulation of about. 1,000 a.'cre-feeti. !As described
in the 'Impbrtat:lion"
~.section, water
was impor>ted
f'or.:
a gypsum
,.
'
•. ,.
...
....
'
plant, a power generaj:;ing station, and a •mining oper.ation, ·.
Industrial ;use· in' the area totaled about 2,500 ac1'e-feet
in! 1967.
i
1
I
••
·~
:;.;
~
.:
.;·•
('_j
'
~
'
,,
1 .,.
~
... ~
_... i
34.
,....
·1 .•
'
Table 11.·-Estimated. evapotranspiration ·of ground water by nonbeneficial- phreatophytes
.;>{
·•
"'·'-
.
-Dep~b. ,·
,.
'_to · w~ ter·: ·Area
>(acres)
. (feet)
Phreatcphyte
~
--·
'
t'
Cali f ornia l:la
sb a rea
.•~-
.,
-·
~~:
VJ
\Jl
-
.
,~
-.
Gold :Butte Area·· and
, Grease wood •Ba-sin
~-- ~-~-
' ...
.;
~j-
-
.<. :...··.
.... :
.
1.
'
'. -. .
15-25
;·.·
<..-;. ~
•
%-
~~.
...
In Hi-dd{m and-'Garnet Valieys
·..-:
'""''·.
•. :
'":1~
~
-·
~-
0
~
:-~
,·
.~
.,
.
11,000.
'.
•·.'
-i.
'
.. o-5.: ·
.: .6
<---
o_-1o -·
-;,:
;
.
-,
..··
. ~- j: .
·'
,.
~-
_;-;
.
i'-".
, • /
Iio
.-.
-~
~J: ;; ...
:-r . .
•.
"•-e
..,>_
-,-
~-
.::
-water-is
discharged
by evapotraiispi ration.
.-, ---: ....
~
-'
~--.r~·
j ·•
:...t.
~
..
~:·
·:..::
-
.,
-....
-
~
,_
• t -.
Avejiige_'· d_epth to water .~s'les~ th'itn: _10 feet: ..,-, '~ "' : .,
.:;. ::<..
•-r:......;
--.:.:
.., ..... :f-.
·.
.
,
. -.·.
..
··-,
: ' ... :
·-~
:~.
'.
1,200
t·
:
_., ___·;;-
~.
a.
1,700
·:?
Cottoni:l'ood, wifi~w-,
gt:a~·s , .· ~ n~' tul e,s. ,.
n.,ar s~H: sp,rings
·
<·;: <. •• •
: '
~
~: ·~o
''
_,_
·"::'
',_-
~-
1
,.
Mostly saltbush
s~_it-gra~~; some - ;
- sai i:'ceda r ;: mesqtiite.
: ~ cottonwood~ and tules
Black J1ountains '·Area :. Hostly · tules arid , .:·
m~squite' aJong the:
banks ~f Las Vegas
...·_.wa'sh and near ''Rogers
:
'•
Sp_rin_g .' _
.. ,
_.-;
~
-'
1,700
~nd 1
. = .. ;
.
~-
~-
~
.
·Lob~r''}Jdap_a,valfei
i:".
a- 2-so
Mostiy ~altbush;
some saltgrass,
s~l t£edar? me sqliite,
and cottonwood
..
-Probable average. Approximate
G'romi.d
:J.aAnual rate oj: .. ·.: discharge
.cove~
• 'giound•water· use
(acre• feet
··l-'
(per,eent} -~(feet)
per veer)
:
Small
,_,_
-.
.
\:. ,;:Evap;transpi.rati~n of
.' '
.•
, ·, •
"~ • . :
•
-...
,.
·~
G~ound
,,...._.,,,,.,.._-.,,.
....
,.~_,,.,
..
.
,~,.......__
..,~~-·-,
. .-., . .....,_.,.
'·'
·• '""'-
Water by Non beneficial Phreatophytes
I
·. · · . ·. Ground water is.. discharged by evaporation .. f'r.om soil and
· t:ra·n·spfration'by· plants th-at ·:root· in· shallow watef:..:table ·areas.
These plants ·that tap the ground-'water reseriloir,·are called
phreatophytes. The phreatophytes :·essentially are limited to
the· flood plain of the Muddy River and in Las Vegas Wai:!!f •. The
principal types of phreatophytes are saltbush.·:(shadscale),
alfalfa, saltgrass, meadow grasses, saltcedar~ mesq~it~,.·,
cottonwood, and tules. For the purpose of this report, they
a:ne divided into two groups:
(1) beneficial· phreatpi:>]"lyt~s,
such.as alfalfa and meadowgrass, have been desc.vibed and are
shown in table 10, and (2) nonbeneficial phreatophytes, such
as saltbt.wh and mesquite. Discharge by nonbeneficiaYphreatophytes
is summarized in table 11. Rates used in table 11 are based on
work done in other areas by ·Lee {1912.), White (1932), Young
~f1d Blaney (1942) ~ and Robinson (1958, 1965), and on r.ate~. used
by Malmberg (1965 1 ih Las Vegas Valley. Phrea tophyt·e areas are
not shown on plate 1, _put a1ong,with irrigated fields,· they
generally are within -the areas shown as younger alluvium along
the Muddy River or elsewhere as ... indicated in table 11.
,•,
;·:·..I
Evaporation- f'rom. Surface-Water Bodies ....
·· ·
'~ohler ahd oth~-~ (1g59) estimS:te· that ·the average·:annual
lake evaporation f'or· the area· is about 80 '·inches, or fiea-r,ly
7feet per year. The evaporation from surface-water bodies
·is· listed in tabie--12~·- ,., · ·
· · ·
...
Lake ·Mead; at :spii'IWa·y re·vel, has an· area ,of' ·'157;000 ·acres
and at this level would lose· by evaporation· an· average'· o·f. about
1,000,000 acre-feet per year, or. equal to nearly 10 percent of
the average annual 'flow· p:l'sf .Hoover Dam. Evaporatiori from Lake
Mead is not included in table 12 or the water budget f'or the area:
Pumpage f'rom Wells
.
'\:;
••••
Only a few wells are utilized as a source of water in the
report area. Most are used to meet stock, £Ublic-supply, and domestic needs; in 1967 one irrigation well (15/66-ldd, table 19)
on the Lewis Ranch was pumped. Its pumpage is list<:>d in table 10.
Lower Moapa Valley and Black Mountains Area probably have less
than 10 active wells each, with a total estimated net pumpage of
less than 100 acre-feet per year in each area. The Moapa Valley
Water Company has two high-yield, public-supply wells (15/67-22bbl,
2, table 19), but because the water quality of these weils is
marginal, they are used only to supplement the piped-in spring
supply in emergencies. Not including the Lewis Ranch irrigation
well, all the other valleys have f'ewer than f'ive active wells
~-,
36.
-~
:!:able 12 .--Evagorat:lon from a\trface-warer bodies
......
.
water· hodxll
'.
LO'-'ER MOAPA VALLEY
., ·.
Average
.evaporat(onY
(acre-fee!:
eer year)
Estimated
average
arsa
(a'cres)
~'
'
.... '·· .
. a 50
llOWillan·Reservoir
JSO
. ,.
. . 10
·Ponds, Wi1i11ife Management Area
J
1.
70 .
b'llO
770
·17,0
1,2oo
Total (rounded).
··'
•
'"
.·
CALIFORNIA WASH. AREA
'·
.'Muddy River
·'
70
10 .
. ·-:· r-
BLACK.MOUNTAINS.AREA
Las Vegas Wash
10
'·,!h<.No.perennia1 'lurface-w~~er hod:l.es are.in lUdden and . Gar;net. Valleys,
.,Gold .,Jlutte Area, a,nd ,Greasewood Baa in.'
2, · Estimated average ann~tal evaporation. rate is .about 7 feet per year.
, a. When full, reservoir has an area of. about. !JO acres.
.Wllter-surface: area ·ia less,
••
<.
Average
; . ho· .. Estimated by, U.S. Bureau of Reclama'tion (196':1).
'.
.. '
;
·'
·'.
i;.
37.
',
""~-·
.· ,.;:.·_
--.,
... -
-,
~
. ,·
.
.'
;-~
I''
with esfimate'O. net -pumpages·:prpbably less than-10 acre:..reet per
year: ~idden,Valley has ·:on],y one -stack well..· In the ;Black'
Mountains Area,.mast of the,pumpage is froma well at Overton
Beach; iio .. pumpage· data were· available from the -National Park
Serv~ce, the owners of the well. :.The wel~ is used for: public
supp:Iyat:the
.
.
.park and recreational facil~ties
. there.
--~
;.·)"
:;
,,.
.•
,-,
,
c4"1
:t,..
;:;.springs
',
t../ ,.· , • ,I
spr'irigC); ,ar'~
• .·:
;; Only .:a few la):•ge
:in the..:; report a,rea. Data for
these springs:. are :summarize'd ;_in ·table 13•.- Their flow, in general,
support~ s'mall areas~ of ·pJ::r-~atophytes but mq~ tly ·seeps. back to
the .water -table. _ Their~net:. discharge is.; included.· in non beneficial
phre'ataphyte disch'arge est-ima,tes: in tab'le. 11..
:·
•
•
I:
.-
. .
, ,
••
'
' '
•
~-
. ~
~- -
"
.'
,.,
-l~
~ '·
-
l _.,
.-;~
'
-
'
··)
·Springs at the <Cansal:Lda.ted•-rook-alluvium contact, such as
Roger:s and, BlU,e Poi tit Spring~, ::probably' flow! to the surface
because .the alluvi'um at tlfe'" c·ontact is unable to ·reoei ve and
tran·~·m-~t~ the water. as rapidly as the- consolida,ted rock~ can supP,ly
1 t • .- As .a result:. water flows·· to the .Burface at· the- contact. and ·
flow~ on' t.lie land s.u'rf.aoe';t'o wtlere:i't' can be absm'bed by the
· allu\d\Jm, usually not :·f'ar'•ct"6wns'tream~-TroriJ where i t f.;i.rst appear,s·.
~
~
.
;~,
.'
~
'·
'
'
1.;
,.h.
--~; ·-
~
,.-·
'·
'
~ .
.; .·
'
-~·
·•
'.
··~
···.
.._-
-
'•
,;.
.-
.;
_"':;,~
.
~
...
,::
'·'
.
,.• . i.-: . -..
•'" ·.·-.r
~~·
'•· i
.. ':I
~-'"I
t
.: :;
-~
•..
.•.
·J
f
;: ' "'
'·
'
__, '··
··' :.
.-·
'
. ~~f
~
<>. '.
~·
.:J
·
r: .
'
,'
,,
'.,
i~
•·· '-'
,'-;_.'
'
~J..:
.....;,
• .: , -· So-l
~8
..
.,.-·
:•-.
Table 13.-·Selected sorings!l
'r ,·,
Name
_Estimated
flow
Location
·.number
.
. r
'
"'.:
.,
'Remarks
Rock source
(gpm)
CALIFORNIA WASH AREA
Rogan Spring
No ii)forma tion· aV,ailable;c
15/65-llcd
· LO\.i''ER YOAPA VALLEY.
L1nnarr.ed spring
Perkins Spring
Unnamed spring
Uncertain
16/68-7cb
17/67-2ac
Rogers Spring
18/67-12dd
Blue Point Spring
Bitter Spring
Sandstone Spring
Cottonwood Spring
18/68'"7ab
19/67-16bb
Red Blu%f Spring·
Numerous sprtxi.gs
17)69~1.4bb
Hotse Spring
"'hitney Ranch
spring complex
18/70-24cd
20/66~13d(?)
20/66-20bs·.
(b) ..
--: .(-•
'•'" .
···'; .,
·,,-'i,
•,
1.
a.
'··
p,.
·'
;-y .. '-'•.
.·
:
-.
wario' water~ Used fo.r sWimming. Hi'gh
· .niineral·izohtent, '
.
Carbonate rock.
. Warm' water.·'; H.igh minenil conten.'i:.> .
Carbonate rock? . .H.igh; min.e~al. cionter(~~
. ' . ; . ·. , , . : .
Noncarbonate' r.oclt• ,Reyp.rted: to ':b~p~'j:able. bY: Lo>:,g'f.\'~1 Jl928, P• 17),
Carbonate rock. ·· ccReported. to :be··good water by• Longwell
~•·.
~<fns;, p~ t7):;:" . ·
;
·~.·. :o'· .·
. GOLD BlJ'ITE~·AREA ·' ; .+. ;· ·'
•! ::~ _j
:·(~
~-:-:·- ·~ ,_. ~-::·
. sniai1
. i< ··< ·
. ·.
·
· · Carbonate ro'ck:'_:'· ,· Bra<ikis!l' .;iater ·:· ·
· .. · ~,. c ··• • Y.
. 'c6nsoiidated: rO"ck ~\~fyieldJi\ot~~}e wate~i:: :.~.••.' . t.: ..· .
GREASEWOOD 'BAS'rN "~ · '·'
u
•
•.
'
.
.
.
-- ~ ~: '.~ :' :..G,)od water according to" Lcin~;_,ell' (1928, p. 17) •. '
:~
·;, , .;
•'
16/71-22
:,J
SO to 100
Carbonate "rock
!
. - ';,:
-
,_,.
-.
...
,~· .~.
.....
·:,.
.· •·'
'
.''
.
. --.
~:;-,
p'
:. - - .
.., '
. '
Seven springs;, potab~e wa~~r. "·
':
',;
,
i.
No large springs we~e recorded· for Hidden or Garnet_ Valleys;
Flo'" measured, by U.S. Geological Survey, 2-s- 68. ,on·Io-is:-,63, measured 9ilw wa's 875 g{lm.
Southern part of area.
.<
·;.: ·.::.·
. t'·•
;:._. •"·. . .;.
.
150
10
Small
. 180
Small
~-~. ·~
Carbonate rock·
a 780
\D
,.
Reported as exc~llent lilater ~y Longwe 11
. _(1928; :P• )ij,' .
BLACK MOUNTAIN.AREA.
.
w
,,
Along Magnesite loiash (Longi<e'i 1, .1928, p. 17).
Older alluvium
Older alluvium .
Older alluy,itim
Small
5
Small
.
'
:.•.
,-;:
.
.·i-t'·
...
·- ,,
~
.
····•
'
••
~
·~.
<
•
.....
.
.
'•
':··:·- .•:A:/ ·..
'.
... . .
·......~ ''"..: '. . . ·~--.. ......
~
'
.
'
. . t.
' . ·. '1
.
:,
.
·'.
-.
WATER -:Buba:Eirs·.
~ondit'ions and over the
For cnaturaf
l'ong-term, in.flow to
and "i:Hit:tiow ·from·an area are· about· equaly .. assum:l:ng..:that·long·tern\ .·c-limat:I:c condi tiohs remain reasonably unchanged. Thus,
. a wate~_!>_udge~ .can be used (1) to compare the e'st:ltnates of
inflow to and outflow from each area;"· (2·) to· determine -the
magnitude of imbalances in the inflow and outflow estimate.s,
and (3) to select values that, within the Limits of- accuracy
of this reconnaissance, hopefully represent_both inflow and
outflow for· each ·area ·• These. Values -in· turn are .u:tili'zed in a
following sec_tion of the report to estimate .. the per'ennial yield
or system yield of eac)'l. ;area. Two types o:r: bu'dgets; a_fe presented
in this report, For areas where tti.e runoff (tapl~s. 3 and 5) is
sufficient-to be developed, the water budget includes·both
surface-water and ground-wate_I; .elements _(tablf.! .14) ·;. ·. II') those
areas where·the runoff ·and streamflow are niinimal,·only groundwater budgets ·are presented (table 15).
· ··
II'
·--
.'
'. ~
•,:
t"
-
·,.,
.. ,.
. : .
--~
40,
..
~-
Table 14.~•Preliminary wate~: ~udget for the valleY;fill reservoirs
__
of California Wash area, I.o'"ei: Moapa Valley,
. ·..
and Black M6unta~!'s-Area " 1967
'.·' '"' .. ,-..
·. ~\.
;_
.
,-,,·
:. ,-
'·I'· .,
'
.. INFLow:··
·•.
.-·
-~
'
.. i' '
' ,•, ,·..
. . ·-:.~.
' ,. ' .
'.·:'·. ,..,.
. ,,Estimated' ave'rage' annual run<>ff ·
.0 '
. ; . (taJ>1e 3) . · ·· ·
· . ·
·
<50
' "<50"
· · Inflo<"
(/£-_ .streams'
(tab"ie 5)
•a' •34· 000
a33i000
., • t
:··' \•
,,
.
'
•(c)'
,vrain· consolidated
rocks-: (p. 23)
. ( '?__")"~~- .- .. '; ..
~;.
.. ,
,.,
,,
Interl:iasin ground"'water ·inflow'
· . (tabt_'~- -i) '· ·..
-· ' · :- 1 1· ·., ·:
8 ~-oob . - '
'small ·
... ' . ' :
).
. .
,· .. · •. .,.,.', , I . · , f':·
'::.
Imported water, totat·:~P·. 23· and'
' t,:ble "8) ' · ·
·.· •·
t,•;sso
; .-
...,
r-
''
'
•
-
"
-
•
'
.
,.
__ f
•
•
'
:
• '
• •. •
'
'
'.
'
.
b
~-
<50
12,000
(c)
>,- _:. ·
400
, ___
375
r : '·.
Total (rounded) · (1)
34,000
13,000
13,000
160
275
11,000
1,200
1,200
70
OUTFLOW:
Ii:dgstion (table 10)
s,ooo
· Industrial consumption (p. 34)
2,100
Evapotranspiration by nonbeneficial
phrestophytes (table .11)
1,700
Evaporation from surface-water
hodies (table 12)
70
Nonirrigation pumpage from «ells
(p.
36)
Outflow of streams (table 5)
Interbasin ground-water outflow
(table 7)
EXported water (p. 30)
Public-supply consumption
(table 8 and p. :.w)
Total (rounded)
IMBALANCE=
(2)
(1) - (2)
<10
a 34,000
small
0
0
d
1,100
d
a.
b.
c.
d,
270
43,000
37,000
0
-3,000
0
100
--12,000
1,000
35,000
.... ~~---
12,000
Muddy River.
Las Vegas Pash,
Small in relation to the ground-water· recharge from precipitation,
Discharge to I.ake Mead.
J;l
.,
<100
·small
100
43,000
'
<100
<100
10 ,000,±- . bd 10,000
ad
~-·--...._..........
VALUE SElECTED TO REPRESENT
'BOTH,lNFLOW AND OUTFLO'il
.,,
·'':'
·-
,·
,._
· Table
ground-water budget for the
15.~-Preliminary
valley-fill reservoir of Hidden and
Garnet Valleys, Gold Butt~ 'Ariia,
and Greasewood.Basin
LA.n ·estimates 1;;
'
~
1967
acre-feet per yea!i.7
Gold
Hidden Garnet · Butte Greasewood
Valley Valley · Area• ' ·-Basin
Budget ·elements
.
•
'
'
RECHARGE:
'
•
.
'
J
":•·
.,, -.
··'
Recharge from precipitation
. (table ~)
·
-~J-
-
•
'.
•
400
400
__._0
a· 400
...
T,ooo·
: 600
.
.Subsurfa<;:e . inflow (p. 23. and·
table 7) ·
Total (rounded). · ·
~00
-800
400
800
-
0
"
0
..
600
l,OOOi
DISCHARGE:
•
-
.
Subsurface. outflow!/ (table ?) ·
.-
l
.
'-·
-
Evapotrilnspirat ion: by nonbene ficilil
phreai:;ophy'tea
(table 11): . ·..
·
.
'
.
'· '.,
Plllllpage :from wells (p. 36)
-.·-
. '
.
•
~- '.,
To.tat
. .
- '
• - •. 1 -
•
(~ounded)'
'>
•
~
,I-.
--:.;
•
. ·:,
o
· small· · small
---·
•
' ' 400
800
.
'
b l,CCO. c 600
' .
·;
; snuill
small' .
'i •000
600
•.
.,. ·'
.·
,,
VALUE SELECTED TO REPIU!SENT
BOTH RECHARGE A~D DISCHARGE
1,000
·400
Assumed .eqi,;al i:o ground-water. r;,cl:iarge '(tabi'es 6 and 7)/
li'rO)ll Hidden valley.
·· · · • . ·
·
b~ . Discharge ·to Lake Mead.
c. Flows across State line to Arizona.
.....
. 600
1•
a.
.,·
.,.
'.'
,.
.I
...
CHEMICAL QUALITY -OF THE; WATER
By A.
s ..
Van Denburgh
··.
...,,
..
,
--Chemical analyses of-. water from wells,. sp~ings, Muddy River>;
_and Lake Mead are listed:
table 16. Add1tiori'al analyses of
-- sam'ples-·collected pri'cir to 1950·, ·largely from the ·Muddy River,
are given by Hardman and Miller (1934, p. 41..:42) and .by;. Miller
and others {1953, p, 58-59). Most of the data in tabl~ 16 are
fop ground water adjacent to the Mudd~.River, ln .Lower Moapa
VaJ:ley and .along the northeastern margin of Ca'!-iforniaWash area,
In contrast, only two analyses at the most are availa-ble for
the. following ;;treas: Hidden and_ Garnet,Y?,lle:,:~, _G<;J;Ld B_utte Ar'ea,
Greas·ewood BasJ.n,- all but the northea·stern limJ.ts of California
Wash·- area, -and large parts . of the Black Jl'iimntains and Lower Moapa
Valley drainage areas, Thus, the chemi?tl;y of 1;110\t_er throughout
most of the study area is· largely unknown·,· · · · ·- · ·
in
General Chemical Character'
iri'ow
M-ost of the sampled' grot.ll'ld watei:s
the influence of
geologic units containing ~oluble .. and l1)pdeJ:'lit,ely solup;te
minerals, -such as halite (aodinm chloride) arid gypsum (calcium
sulfate}. Almost all of the sampled waters cont'ained·more than
700 mg/1· ,(milligrams per, lt.~er, which ap(;l equlyalent to parts per
million; -see footnote 1, table 16} of dissolved· solids', and many,
especiaLLy in the .Black MOllntains Area, .. contained. from 2,000 to ·
as ~mu_ch as '4,000 mg/1. Sodium and (or}' calcium' are Ch.a!'acteris:tj.cally the princ'i'pal posi'ti ve· Ion·s; ·and" sulfate is almost
alyvays the. predominant negative ion. · · -'·
·.
·-· .. ·'
·
'
'~
.
..
'
The dissolved -solids concentration and rclat1 ve abuf1dance
of sulfate'in JVJuddy Riv~r increase dowhsf.r>eam, ·due _to incr•ements
of more concentrated ground water and, during 'the gcbwiiig season,
irrigation return flow.
·
· ···
The chemical character of water in Las Vegas Wash is very
poor (table-16}, largely because the stream carries sewag<O-plant
effluents and industrial wastes fr•om l-as Vegas Valley, 'L'lle
greatest di.SRolved·-soJ.:f,:71"l P(ll.'Jte:~t~B goul-~J'~':l.l_.lJ.l' ('J'i,o .•.:~o.P du.t·~_tng
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•
'o'hc KHV~r.11 t.>o:·roWo. o,li•H•lLi ilc ~>CU U> _.,;cUCLL.: _ICiiiTKT~>·•. Mly, ]oc·•:i•<•OC ".ILC •oH•Ilili~-,· M .> ... ll!'·, (\•L iLLi~KU"" ~1"0 <1•po·1M. M ,·.;_I.,,LIICo ~~~C u£ >U.L.L,
Llnln•~o ,,,,.,.,,clcLiJL.Lc», vJ.~ul. l.yp~, Kn<1 ·'"~'"" M ~-•1·:<' ,~vHcLI.
•-.o or·,.,,. ;,._. 1,,.,," c•£ 'N~Ic' ~·-•.L.LLY lilT 1rTi~.AT1M .1ro oll<;·:~•ocU I;~ <.II~~--~­
:;.>11.,,.i:L;J l.ulournUT1" ::r•TI (1~;.1.1
!''·"""
~-
~:~nr:mr~O "' rOo• .,,111o·•I\'Ln1cul"OUL'-Jl(.~r OifTHo·"\'C' hL·,·ccl! t.1" OH~r">lioool '"":;•·'l·t~ uud I><>Kith·o ~Me;
''~I'LC>»d
HH
KL>Oium (r;:o ,,.,.,,.'CLLlrKi.lL>n :>1 F.~oiimo
~~n•r-•lly 1•. ·" l~u·.t 10 l.L~•• ~h•t M p~r.or.-.1 .... ,),
~UL:L[IULKI.I<>n ._.,..~"'· r'•·'l ,.,,,,cculcKt.l<>nH <>I ""'1oror•,J. 1,,.,J LLc·~uUvc .lun•--or.poo··I,11.J.y LL.LL.T~~·--.wo ''''·'11.
,\11 cuLilUL>Kl~ (1:11~) v..luoc 0 "';/! •.':H.C~pL:
l'lh~-•.. 11 1.7 "'~/l (.L.i; T:U~o/1); IJ/(•f-1~ilLI, 01 L.Llt;/1 •).ll.i mK/1); lh/lol-11.1,], II) ••~.'1 (2.i) LLLC/1).
l:u:a.,ulii<l Ku>O, .,;,t. l•1•:<\LlouL>ul~ "xpnKK><1 ·'" ,·,wt-.•JL~lc.
h''-~' "o 1' ,, ..,,,\co ux!.!mA~•O c»M.
~,,.. J .. 10 vc~"" ~·••h MI.', "''lL.c• ,·~;:rM~'·" l"hiduc ""
4,
·,.
OV.l£•"<'~1lc•».
I;,
II.
0.
10,
11.
L~li>U lh•n o"OM~h;o•ol '·'""'•
Ucl~L.LMO
l•hoT.,.OT~ U'"'}ph;
~nAI,·r.ir. 1._, :;\~lc ~c ~~~~"·'·
~LIO.L!.l<>n>l
o1oro•o·.,,LLLuL.ic•m
~Lii
!IKr~O
ho>•>lpi> b) !)liKKrl. l!~u•.>Tol 1 1LLoll!ul~.
tlcOdy R1uoo- ,,>.>l ... c• "'" U•l~O 1n Omrnr.Tf•'<'"L uL<lcL.
,\,.1~~-•:•)
l'dc•·•l 'llx':•T 1'~1J .. r1M C•mlLul ALIILl.loi•n>r1~n.
Lc·~~•C •nd hi~h~H v.ol .. c·~ 1•= ~~~.L"/K~K <>I 11, ~.. .,, 1,) •.-u c•·ll~cl":!
M
o\o•O(
vu~c.
u_,
hd"'~~"
~;"!•\mUc.L
2(•, 1•100
~~~~ 11,.~/oor
10,
1%~.
,,
•
'
..
Table lf.--Partial <i.:td Jecai.led chemical analyaE's of T,..'acer from T...·ells, s::.rings, seeps. anj streaos--Continued
AdCitional deterDin&tions from
Location
Milligrams per liter (upp.e:r nuic.ber) and
n:illi-<0:9uivalents E-=--==- liter (lower nuaJer} 12 /
SoPot as- ~luoBo~-i.::; iun:
Si lie a
e:ium
ride
trate ron
Ircn
(FJ ~~~0-:~) (H)
(Fe)'. 3 '' \Ha~
(K)
(S i02)
GROEND
14/6-5-2laa
15/f6-2b
-4c.
_,
?"
().03
;.l
.28
2. 3
. i2
2..2
~04
35
2.6
.0'"
39
2.3
15/ .s 7-22b b
17/6-5-23ab
18/67-12dd
-:2.7ba
43
L;J
17
21/65-9Cob
62.
3f!,
,.
.03
.07
244
10.61
61
13
L8
-1dc
.33
.09
5~5
.6
36
57
2.1
.03
14/65-lSJ
17/68-23
0"
'"
,l_,'
~32
T
T
.29
551
23.97
35
.89
2.2
.12
. 71
o·'
296
12.8-8
22
1.5
•8
.56
.OS
.01
.0
56
~4
1.1}
2.3
l
"J
LS
.08
.00
·~·JAIER
125
5.44
14
.36
93
4~2.6
11
2.~
1.5
.13
~02
4.9
.4
2.3
.13
G?
.G4
.4
.02
2~8
.4
.28
2.1/-63-14d.a
316.
22.45
loT..,' est.!_!_/
~ighes L!.2:_/
35
5. 4
54
.09-lldJ
20
~54
SURFACE
1.4
.Ol
16/6 7-lb-:::.
3.3
11.35
1.9
.09
-34ab
261
21
T 0.04
3.6
38
4.0
1.4
62
.02
-20bd
~()6
-5d
loc2tion
Mill.i_g:-allis per litt::r {u?per nt:.a:::.er) and
Di.lliegt:ivaler:: ts ocr liter ~ lm..•er QUrr.ber~ 12 /
?otas- FluoSoNc- BeSilica
Iron
dium
siuo
trate ron
rice
(Fe)!. 3 /
(S iO.-;}
(Na)
(>:)
(:W,)
(B)
(F)
.J.3
.04
-4d
a:1alvses
l6/68-7cb
~~'ATER
1D1
4.39
d.:::.tal~eJ
22/64-14
8.5
52
l. 33
818
88
2.55
lVi
5.5
.14
.se
4. 96
. 21
.05
. 00
12 ~
See footnote. 1
OL.
pre-:::.e.ding page.
l}.
Values rep:ceser. t iron in so.lution at tl:ne of san;:~le collection, unles= prece-:lcd C:Jy "T". T,Le. l'etter r 1 T" i~di_::ates a t:::.tal-iron value 1
,,.,,hi :::.h repres enc3 iron in .sciu tior, at time. oi colle.;::t_icn 1 plus any lron th2..-t Day ~L<:.ve ::Jecn ;?resent as a cOII::;JOT'.ent c f seC:imen t or turbid
material unavoidably collected as -part of the =aople.
;.'.
..
Suitability for Domestic ..,use.,·.;
,_.;::,:-<:· . . "_'
,_·;:;. ..:_.·
---~·-::.:::·:~.-~ ~£::·:- .....
.·,<. ~:
;'<f•:;·..-\::~-;~·~:·f:;·;.:·~l
The u.s. Public. "tiealth Service ·(r962·; p·;·'T-8)' has formula ted
drink:ing!.witer:standards ··that are genera'tly accepted as a gui'deline for public::supplies, The standards, as they apply to data
li.sted in table:·.16·;:nH•er1as follows:
.. ;
(
.... ' . • . -1
~
·.:-·:._"
,.
' --- \_ '
: ..... :
...
.
•
'
. ~' ..
a,
,.
'!
'
.
,..
,
'-
~
.
~:
-· f' .,
.~;- :~ .=·:
·'--Coilstitmint:
·~c., . .J".-;-~·;
.... -~ :~·
...-;
~~:.-.-·_;:r·:'.::--~
~~--'~f;.L~
..;·;,··-~:;·.;··i_'c:~,.,-"1~-·-.:-:
.:·1:1
The·' optimum c'onqentration· is." ab.o\lt,, 0. 7 mg/1.~·. ·J·~ .. ,.• ,
1
wa:ter 'contaLiing: .mo:i:>e than ab9,\l·t:·.hlf ,rpg/~· • ... :·:o
· sh6uild ··not ·'be>consumed r.egwlarlY:;·. ~,spe,cJally, .,·, ., ,.
by children.
"''~.; \ •: t
:'_1- •"
.... ,..~.-;
'.:.\:'•i .
.· ··'
-~.
_
··'
·.'
l.
·:;) ••:
.·.· . . ··,,,
___
•• ·.·.·<·,,,;_
-
~
.. '
'
'.· ...:\_!
;···~·-
"~
....··,·
•':
,. Among· the listed· constituents).' 'excessive .. il'On; caus_es .,;.s.j;;aining
of' porcelain ·rJ:.x-t:ures 'and;"c•lroth·es; whereas darge .Efni_o_unts,,,q1:; :· .·
chlor'icte•· and 'dJ..s'solved'•s'oTids • ±mpar.t. •an, uppleasant. :tastfl ,, ,apq,
·:-·sulfate' can:'ha'Ve'J:i> laxative .effect. on pel;S(WS. 'WhO: are drinking
•a .. water· .fot ·the -first .. time:; ·•' Ex:c·essi,v.e;:.,f1uoni~d§!· ~ten_d:::l.,to,,,.s·1;;ain
·teeth,' 'es·peciaJ.Iyr.of 'Chi'ldren,·: and large;. amoun,t:,s:,,of nit,:r::'a:t¢ .are
'dangerou1f; foJ::,:--·1nfants 'an'd· .pregnant .women .. bec.a,tjse:,_of.. the, ·•; ... !. ,,. :
possibility .. or.:J"blue:..t)a.by" .d:J:seas·e, :.~· .. : .•:• ·' .-:,.': ··:: ··,.,,~:. ,,:,;
-~·'
'
_! ..
.... :~"'
Recommended.maximum
concentration (milligrams
· per liter)
Most or' these; a:j:'e; on:ly!'f'ecoinmehded lirnits.f,: and wate,r· tl)_§!refore
may be· acceptab}!e · to' tnany•.us ers>desp:l!.te,•concen.tra·:t1pns,,,eJCc.e.€1d:1.ng
·the··g·rven va-l:ue,...s~, : ;·_--.,:
.· -~!.
:';:i·.:- -~~:tf''":"- :-:."·~ .. !.'J' _:·~--~;
:J,'j
'(
...
...
:
..
·, ·-: .
- ., ;: .-.- . r ;;
. ., . . ·. ·:~ .~- ',• _ ,·.I.
'
~ '
' . ) ·' . ' ' . J'
::
..._,
·-~ ···. ·,~·
...... '·
46.
. 1'·-
;
":
',
,._.__
•
•.
.,
.
. : .:
;
.. ·-;.-
:~
:'>-'~~~,
.'''·
····•
....
.- .-
(
· .,
~-
~·.r--~~·~--
·······:·.~;~.·:~--~
.. ··~-;-:.~
,_
-:.- ·.... ··'Soft·{suitable;for·.most
'• ... f •.·
uses:tW.i thou t ·.artificial,
· ,. · · • :·
· •• softening-}.' : , ·
Modera.tely hard (usable
except in some industrial .., .
applications; softening profitab;];e. for.laundries)
. ·.
Hard (soft~n:j.ng, ):'equired by
laundries ahd-some other
induifr~~s).
· ·
·
. ''' 121-180
.
:
•. 1.
'
~
.t·"·'
Very ha.pd:• bo(t<?ning desirable
·, -~ ' ) for\ mqs.t: ipurpos.es)
More than 180
.
"".~·
Hardnessi,r:ar:rge:.~·.: · . : :.·.::.:''. ·.:L:..
{milligrams· pe~ liter)
Rating. and remarks
....... 0'-6o··· ·
~--
.·'Tile bact<?r·i.oiagical quality at' aF·inkfng ..'water arso 1-s
.important, ·but· ';ts·, Ou-tside ;the scope >"·of,, this .. r<?port. ;u any
.do'ubt exlsts regar'ct:hig ~the acceptabil'Uy,-;of ·& ..drinking-water
. s'l{ppl;Y';' contact the Nevada Bur.eau· of Environmental Health,
Las Vegas.
. :· · . . .
.
•
, . ..... ·.· Alino.s t all •sampled~. waters rin: the prg;j ec t"§lrea· contain. mOJ;"e
· · • than· ,the •recommen·ded. amounts cif ·su1·fa.te•,.and__: tot.?-J; dissolved· ...,
solids, and they characteristically are .very .har.ct.:,.. ·. Nitrate does
not .seem· to be· a probl.em; ·with one exception: Water from well
17;/68"23ab• at Overton· Landing con,tained. ~~~- mg/1. ,....,J1en, sampled in
January; 1966•, ,' 'rhi's .water is. undes·irab1e in,;coth~r .respects asw.:of~ but is "the orily. avai:tabil:e dl.'ink~ng, s:uppJ.;y)::xq~pt J'or
.
:•nea.rby 'Lake' Mead" · More:.· impor•tant·., .howev.er,; ..this:: we 11 water may
.;b'e g;enerally ·characte'ristic·o~of .cond.itions• ·that ,would be encountered.
·,by 'wells in' 'other ·parts·· of the Black.·Mountains· Area·:·(for example, .
weU ·21;/65-9db ·n'ear. CaTlville· Bay. yields ·w,ater.. no.t much. better
.
chemically than· that of the overton LiJ,nding; wE'lll}. ;-:-; . ·
·
·~·:
'·
-·· .
.'
·• · FlUor'ide.' -miw 'he a probi):em :in •much, of ·the.,.study;.._area.•, on
· · tne 1 Nfsis' of ·limited- ·informa't:ton.. The Moapa· .spr:!:n'gs ·;(se.e, 14/~5-2laa,
· t.able 16), which provide the ·domestic supply for. neople ,living on
'the Muddy River flood plain, contain 2~0-2.5 mg/1· of fluoride
·
(the optimum concentration for drinking water in this area is
· '.
only about 0.7 mg/1). Likewi.se, sampled spring and well waters
in and adjacent to the BlackMountains Area contain from 1.5 to
.. ""
as .. much as 3.3 mg/1 of fluoride,
·
·
-
••
."-"i. ('
.
. .
·.
·. ;/;;.._
0
._,.
47.
·•
' "~--
.
;•..,·
'--~
Suitability for Agricultural Use
•
.1.'..'
.........
..
- '·"·""- .....
.. . , It;~_ ,<;>va].,ua,i(,ing ~-h"' /'!~.siz:~bility of a water t:or irrigation,
·the most .cri t'ical··•fac tors include· 'dissolved~solids •.concentration,
the.' re'lat'i ve ;·pro~p'6'rf1'6ri 6f; ?sod1um to ·'calcium.;.plus,•magnesi•um,-,\,
.
and 'tt:t"€?'ai:lundance'ot c'orfst'ituents 'such·•as tioron;'that .can.,be-,·.·
.•toxJ(;~·?:,pi'an;t::~r: ;~6'~::; J~C:tors qse_d '_by ~the ·u~s ;. salinity· ·Lat>qratory
, (~.95lf1 , ;:p •;"q9..:~~ )_. ft,o '.~v:~,J:ua te ~h,e ·su:tta~:l'l'iitY"<?f ·il:_'rigation :.water
are list·ed in ·tab:J& ;16 ,:' and 'are ·'dfscussect·,br;Letly 'in.'.footnote
2 of that' table.' B6rori,· though •essentiiU(to plant·:,riutdt:!:on·:in
minor amounts, is highly toxic to some plants when it exceeds
certain limits. The recomme-nded ·:.limits for boron in water
. 1.r.r+ga1;:t,llg~l?ensi1;i'::e, s.emitolerant, anq tolerant crops are
'about'~~-2; aJJ~''3 mg/r;· respecihvely;''acc6rdirig to:.. scof;:teld (1936).
~~.
:..~·~:-:_;:,•·
.-
" . . . .' •. '"_-(·-..
-·
--~-:·to.</).·
. - .. "::··
-l
.
'
'
:~.
. . _,··_.
~-
~:- ~·(ff·~- :~.:J•:;;_~, . .., ...... ,,,..,
,.•.-~
.• :', · "M~:d2ly ftlv:er;•;'«~t§fi .1?-re~entiy · S[l!)p~ies:a~.fri?.st ;an'· irr:liga~ion
wate~ .il1 the sl;,l!dy~:~r~(l, "has proved· acceptab[e~ chemica.l.J.y.~where
' \ls,ed ~@long· u~·:fl_66d' 1 p'l.airi':" Because'·:of'Jitsch'tgh salinity;hf!Zard,
· thl!l ·:~~t:~r:\lll~~~)b<;!'~:anP.;t;J;eq ·'9_~ref'ul1'y, ·an?'''bfilY.:.Cin a::eas•1of :adequate
s911 dr;~inage; ·t0 ·pr-e,v@nt .. sa'lt buHdup;·' Theseipotentia:t;;problems
.of' h~gJi 'sal';i!11;t!y.'~a.re:·l;las~d .' somewhat i :' howey~r; ,'by tfle.' riVer~s. low
sod 1 um fia zard tl'irougi16u t.!''iiios t . of' th.e· yea:f: 1.• , Bob:)ii,· apparently!c
;~~ .. n~·~·_;;_;a-.~rgt~~~·:~~·.·:'··~·1~.i:l.
.• ,
.
.
:.
•
.:··:·.:·\·,~·:
-!:",_,
'.
"~"1"'\;''~t· .. •-
.
._:, .·
-.~
.·••·•
··:h(·;_;f~;-·. f"~.-:~....
.·r:
. . . ··
·.:·.'
.,
. • ·. . .
, · :Most..ground.water'·beneath tne Muddy River Hood' plain 1s
less',:Ciesirabl'e'~for irrigation thair river:'waterJ, because:·of:--•·;,.
.cha)::aq1:;~#s~~.~at~Y:.l}~~h~r~P,~rtnl'ty'a.~?:· ~od;:J,~m l h~za:rd·•. ·Int. other
:.· .. ,. are.as the'.'su:!,tabili ty:· of: ground water' Tor 1 1r.rigation'is ·"Uncertain.
, Apalyses::<rt '.two. w({ii. w\i. ters' in': l7(64.-21cb sug'ge':'J'f 'that:>waten.
tr'&olighout 'large~ par"t$ 'of· a.'r;eicuF'suct\; as· Cal.Ho·rniarwa·sh~·area',
. "Gar'net Valley} and Hid'd'ei{'Vall'ey· \flay~ be ·gen'eraiJ.ly:·suitabl•e,
·but deep,
.':.::·,. ·y:··.· ·
. •'· .· ·. · 'ihe·'\.iat.~f.:or L'ake''Meaa, ·:·trlo"u'ii;h; high 1n sa'linity.. hazard,
.)
i$ 'citr(erwise''sulfabl'e"fO'f irrigatfon.; "' c::· ·; ,, ' '
• "'·h
!:·:···
l}•:~d~'>,'·: ,:;·,·1 ._.•_:.-r·,:~
'".'•~~~
.~",!")<~~' )'J~):,...J
•,;;<i'
..
'"";
·:·::,:· ..
'·
..,..,:;_:'
!-'lo.r?f'a'r)i_l)l:;il~Ei: ,ar:e- more' to':rerail:t of" pobr· water: tha:n man·~- .
Although avai·lable ·.data are'· somewhat·· ·ccin'fl~cting~ dissolved-.
SOlidS Conte'nts belOW 4, 000-7;.'000 mg/
. .1' appaioentlr :are~· sa. fle...· ,.
and acceptable. (McKee apd, Wo,lf, 1963, p. 112-113) • 'l'hus, all
sampled water within tlio".st:~Jny··.'.il.i·ea:· . i.s i'\u.t't':lo1 ently dilute for
1 1 ve s,tock.),,·,:_.,_..
.. ........ ·
:·~:
··~j
,~:.1\~····~
~~'
J~··.. ··~j -·~
,_.
.:."•
.. .· ,.·.~:· .>
..._~;-
,-_,j
.'~"·
.J
.(!}
···.;~,
. ::
·, .): ,l'
,~-
~
. i..
~:d ·Zt.::l·'.• .L-' f'1 i ~·-··t ::·
_; .. ::; ... _J.. ~>~ ·-r-ef F~~.i.r'.:
.._,.J.._i
!.. ~-~--.
·,
.::·-f·~;· :;r.·:r:"~:: -~··'-
~.~:; .. ··.\.~:.; ... ·;~<:
,C ~.;
\_~' ',,. "~
·::.·f.··:
-' •·
I
• I
~
~ '~
"" ,-.
·· ,..~
. j I"·; ..
..:.·c.-: ...
"
.
•
I.
..
:
~-
:-
~· .•
.·.::;. ·' •:, .:. ":':;,~~c
;; ·r . .
' , .._
.
~
?
::,.'·'':§.:•·,~~;"_;~; .
.. ·'...~ ~. -~>~t·,;·
~··u;,.;._ ~- ~..:'
~.
'
48.
-~·.
~
....
.
·.-
·.
THE AVAILABLE GROUND-WATER SUPPI:,Y
.~
-
"
''"•
-
•,.··
·:.·-
•. ··-··_
;,,
···,~,-.:·-
__;-
·,._.
)
_·
'j
.
· c.· · · ·:. ·.The avaHable •.water. B.l:\PPlY, . of: ca.J,if<;JPD,,ia _,w,~sh .are<l,, Lower
Moapa Vall:ey,,., and.r.the !Black Mountains, Area~.cons~sts .of: -two .
. inte.rrelated quantities:;,;, (~)-. tt1~ 7sY;st.\'~·.'#ei,:~;;~~·r,.:Pe,f..c~ilfal ,
c · •.. yte•-ld";;and · (2) gr.ound water, :w .,storage,. .;11,1/the,~other, 1;l,rea,s, ....
•.. :wh'ere .'insuffici•ent surface, waten
.ava:li'al5le (for' 'deve:lopn\ent,
tl-ie ~supply :.is, •.lirnited .to,_. (,U ,.t~e :pereriii'~.#>.;jifMd'bf .f,h~:igh;i'~nd- ·
•water .. system ,and {2) ;·gt•ound w:ate.r in sto~age. · .,. .,
.. .
: .
. ,' ~-- ·: ... :.
- .
·'·· ~· - ·.
. ._,_
'
'
'
. -.. ;_ . . ·. .
; ' .·<1" , . ·.: .-. . -~-~ . . (~!- .·:;•.~
··:.:· 1•'., ··:· ··;i.e;•· . ,
·,System.Yield,,·· . . ,.·:· ·,,_. ·•·:·. · ··r.--·
..
..,.,.
is
""
";
"
.~ '
-:;-
.·"
'
f
'J'
,;}''!.·, ·, ,;·~
:
.'
. .
."1 "''" t ·.···
• .·· _:, .. "'
_ · ..
, _· _··,,:
I..
c. ';
··,:system~ Yi~ld .. h£Ls. been·· defined :t)y ·'wo~t~ '4nd'M.iilmb·e~g ·:·(ig66}
as;: the maximum:· amount Of. SUrfaCe and" ground Wafer Of USable L
. '<,!chemical·
quali.ty,
that ,.can be,,obtain~d
econ6micaily,
~ach._;year
'·
- ':
-, ·-'
: - ' ··-··--'-!·
"'
"•
,.
. nf.rom ;sources.:wit)11p._ a ,.s.yi'lt~!l) for $,11_;il)?,~~~n:LEe jpef_:iod .. of .,time_.
· 'S]T;Stem•yield cannot.·J:?e.rpor,~_t,han th!'Je,\2'iltur:;e.;t.':~.np<;>w~~~·:9.r;, ,
·. · . ,outflow: from a. system-; ...;Under -practical 1·condi,tions .of dev.elopment,
· :· r <the:tyie ld:' isc 1 :i.mi t ~d t?.:: tr~ ina:x:1~U:m ~njqui:it;:<;t,;)s ujl-f{lqe ~wa:teJC, .
. ·' ground -y.-at,er, .a~~- ~?-tef·':vap 0 r, Ol,ltflow ,t,h,~t.;par::?!; :sf'\J, V<l,t?'7d qr .
di.verted econom~cally. and,, legally' each . yeac~:;;:tRr '\i€lnefic'la+ use.
-~
-•·.C~"-'·"-~'"·~-
~··
,,~.,--
;·
.
'
'
'·
'''". '·_
~- '. )-~-'-'-~- .~- ,-.-~:.':. ~-.:~~~~-
.
/"
'
-. ~:.' ·-
.The estimates of system yields listed in' table '17 are based
on data·,lis.tect in .. tabler.l4 and the. fOllowing.limitations and
·~s sumptions :,· Jl·) •_i:rrfga t~op. ,, ·tn~~~ t~f,.~l:'::an2:::i'l},fti~~~ ::~qPP~Y .
_, consumption,. is,. Bi'J.;t.vag<?;: . . (?) nor:\J~n~r:tc;,J,.~I, 1 p)1f7?:~0pQ;rte :¢!i.S(lharge .
~·cap" be. salvaged; (3)., hal-f, . ,of.. the .s.urfao'e-water::and.;_gp0upd_,water
·
...;>utnaw· can be ·.s~l va~~cl; ,(lf.) -:· ~\r:a.'pora.td.Zl~ '::fr9ri"~jirl~qe'fwatef ~bodies
cann;qt··be_,, sal,yag~9J•JJ.nd. (5),_.,nopii•.r;t,.gapio~.;yf.~1l ~·P}-(lJ1P·~ge ,in 1$67
ge.pera-Ily; was ...f.rom, ground water. i)1. ,storage anfi'"wa.s. not salv!J.ge
of· discharge,
· ·
... ... ..
•· ·
· · '' ' ·..... · · . . . · ·
'
'.:
:~,_ I
•
. :'.. Separate; .estimate.s pf,\sy;st~m ;y:i,g,;J,ct.,>;~9~ ··~Pt[9F!'li.a Wash ar~a
, <!!)d Lower Moapa Valley wez:~:not att~l)lpte,<r- J;l,e?a!-ltle.. flf t)'le \J.n;tfy:cng
. · a11d. dominating effect the" Muddy· River has' 60' the two· systems.
. . ·.
Tab}e: 17 11s.ts a cornl:Jj.ned sys tS";m, yt§' ld., fJ<?T.o tp.~,;;l;-;~9-ra.reas of 4p, 000
acre.o.feet•"· .'l':he·. sys,t~m ·yield. of. the Bla:.'?l:j: .Mol!ntfi.. :'-Ps.f, Area is. ]]JOStly
w~ter· flowine; in Las Vegas. Was.J:l.
........ ;· · " ..
~.
r f; ~<:: '· .·"1 ,.: ."J'
. t t _;'
~-1
-~.'·,"I_;··,··· ~ ... -.. <f\' .:--~~·(: ~~-·--,
~··:~-:~.l .. -;~i:·j ~--' ... 1',1 . J ·• ';·~
..
.. Per€mn1al. Yield,·;::;····,.";·.:; _., .·
l,,.
":s . ,;,...
: .•.•. !
'
•.
•
'
,.
-1, ;. . ·-
•
.. The perennial yield of a ground-water. reservoiJ:i·m;i.y' be·
defined as the maximum amount of na ttiral dischai•ge that .can
. b~' s";:ilvaged each year over the long term. by ptlmp:I.ng. without
bhn);i;ing about ·some etndesired result. Nearly au the dit3charge .
from 'Hidd(!n Valley, Garnet Valley, ·Gold Butte Area,· and Greasewood ·
Basin is subsurface outflow (table 15.), 'Ehe possibility of
"""
49.
:~.: :. '.
·~.
\.,-
.::.:·-·'~{;.·',f;i~::.:.-··.:. .~
,.~.
'
.\!'...
.
...
. .·
.;"'·
..
';
,:·..
.
-~
Table 17 ~--Yield and water consymption £rom the hydrologic system
~-· ,
__
.,
area.--r. :· ··
·•
•
~- ~-~r·
•Hydrogra?hic,
..
-· .LAtLquanti.ties, i:ounde;J./
".•~ t"" r_ - .
.
; ,,
...
···~
••
: :-(:· ,
"
••
'
: •• •
J
••
. Estimt~ted ,
sys,te~ yi,,!ld,
-. (ac_re~feet ,
.. · ..., pe'r· .year)_
,
. ..
~.
••
)
Garnet:Valley-,, :•.
l
•'!-
'
. ).. .
• '.
··J······'
~-_,:.
I'
.;· r'"t.:-
, . , . _.
·-
.
~o,ooo
_.
. ·'
,
-·,
b 7 ,ooo
"·' .....
22' 000
'i .
,"i. ~-
;Greas~woo~
1
--t
·"'1', ;;
".
·''
--a
',
~
~----r~·--
=
-,:.··
. ···~''
(,
_.
-... -.
a, ·. F;rom
water' '.system'. :.only,
.,..
.ground~.
-··
.
.
.b
.
<10
J ••
'Bii.id.n
. "' .. , '.•...
----
;-i 1 ~ f'"
'
·'.'
1"+". :_:
' Go],d ,Jlut~~ Are·~: . :·· ,
.! i , .
-
:,.: '·
,•
·~-·
.:_.,,
,,
~
... , I .
· ..
'",
~;"' _";
' ( .:
,.1
,.
,..
t -''·..
'.·! ·.
·.·
.
-.l
- '
• '
·-
..i ,<_' =~
,.,
·;..,
_,;.
,:),; "ir_;
-,
..
''
.'.
.
400
'•
. I,,
·;
alack Mountain~'-ii.r~a·
~
a <10
Ca.llJornia. Wash_-.. ar~.~-}- ·... _. ····
Lower Moppa Valley . , · .
.
.;
':,i •-. f ;_
I"; • ·• .•
.. 209
,.·,
:J,'p.··.
. ,:• . t
·: ,· ,,·
·,
:.-..·-';'··
. : . . . ••
•· ·· Estitiuited;water
'Estimated · ·.r: l eciriiiiriip'tion 'fi'om
p~r~rinial:·y{eid' : system• in '1967'
· (acr'e-'feei:) .· · (acre-feet)'·
'
Hidden Valley
-:"
~-
'·--
,. t.
.
';-
#. '
. '·'
_.,.
-. ·--
50.
..
..
:
,,
--
- . _,!_,~·-~ ..': . , ,..
',,
<
·... "'
~--
...
, ,
·:. '
~--~ ""•·--~'
. ~--
\
~·";
·.
.
'
salvaging all or part of the··oufflow·by. pumping is dependent
upon the nature- and extent of the'transmitting lithology, which
_ d.s; ·gene·raiiy-·unknown';·· .···For-·-the-purpcises .of, .this .reconnaissance .•
i t;dS. assumed .that •.the .subsurface '-'geohydl'ologic controls might
permit salvage ·of halt:_t_lie outf'l:qw ~.Y- pumping. Thus, pi'eHminax·y
estim?tes,of perennial yield-for these·four:hydrographie aPeas,
based· oil thts assumption; ·are- -lfs'ted On: .. table .. 17. ·
,
.
•
•
.'
'
";.
•
•
~ •::
•
"
' '"
•
'
,
•
.-••.•,
'
. ""'
'
' •
Ground Water in~Storage
<"
.
~
.
'
.
\
. ..
,,
•
... -· ·:.··
- ·.·•·
-
,II",•
The ''amount of gr6~~Jd water in stofage ln the "Lower·MoapaLake Mead ·Area ·ts. equal- to the volume of saturated valley fill
mul tipli(3.d by the spe-cific yield of the rna te'f:ial.· Specific
y:Leld is the ratio of (l) the- volum-e ··oY water :thHt will drain
by gravity from the .·zone· of saturation to- (2) ·the volume:•of the
satura-ted valley f'il·l drained, commonly expressed as a percentage.
.
.:
'
'
'
·: ..... '
·J'
'.::--~--.",_ .. .:...-:->
.....-·.:_' '' ... ~.;.
. In. t.he Lower Moapa-Lake Mead area, ·the specific yleld of
the uppermost 100 fee't ''of saturated valley f'il:i'· is assurrie'd •to
average. about 10 percent. The area mapped as alluvium having
100 feet or more of saturated thickness is est"imated'·to be'about
- '7o· percent of the alluvia·l area· -shown in .:table .. I. .. Shis:_ is,.,based
on .-topography, the subsurface distribut:Lon of the Hlluvium, depth
to water~, and the shape of the areas':··- 'ifl\e ·~areas '-iiiappea as'
alluviumon plate l, .. the. areas used to compute stol'age, and theestimated amount "or 'stored water ii:i:e ·'s'Jrinnadz'e'd' 1ib table 18. . . .
..s-
Although the estimates of ground water in·· stqrage are large,: - " ...
the'amount where the depth to water ls ·lsss :than 100 feet and
where suitable land is available for cultivation is·appre6iably
less. Mueh of this water ls highly mineralized and ls unsuitable
for irrigation or domestic uses. The amount of usable ground
water ln storage that is eeonomically available dependfl in part
on the distrlbution or water-storing aeposits, the distribution_
and r'ange in ehemieal quality oi' t-he ~);Pound watel', and the number
and_ distribution of pumped wells.
·
,.
.~
.
(
51.
.
• ?.,
·.
•;.
-
Table
lB.•~Eatimated
stored water in the upper 100 feet
of-asturated.valley fill
. Hy~rograph'ic .:.
.area
--
Estimated area having . ~ ·100 .feet or·more of
saturated thick,;e;SK/'
(acres)·
)
Hidden Valley·
'·
Ca.lifoi:nia. Wa~h area·
'' · Lower M9apa VaUej;
100,000
·.Gold Butte Area
100,000
. '
:
..
Greasewood Basin
··, ·,
20,000
,
.
'
52.
150,0~0
500,000
1. · Rounded.
2. Based on an assumed -specific yield of 10 percent.
a large p_ercent of poor-quality water •
.
(acri:Heet)
'
80,000.
150,000
.
.-
15 ,ooo.
.Black Mountains Area
.
Es~imatcd
ai:6red wnter~..l
. ·. so ;000
Garnet Valley
!
'-
l,OOQ.,OOO
.. SQO ;0_00
1,500,000
11
,oo& ,_ooo
200 ;ooo·
May include
~ '.'. •· .• !
"'·
.
• :
i
.
:._
'•.·
.
~ .'
•:
- ·..
• '>
,.,_ ...,.. "
-
· WATER 'USE..:1967
.
.
Table 17 lists·.the total estimated ·Water ·consumption in
1967, ,for the ..hydrographic ar,eas' .·..These quanti ties. are based
on the. estimates in. table 14 'a.nd include: · (1). frr:J,.gation
consumption, (2) industria,L consumption, (3) evaporation from
surface.,-water· bodies. This ·loss i·s not· preventable and therefore
,
is assumed to be a necesS?JCY loss associated with water:.,storage
and use.' ·Also included is '(4) nonirrigation pumpa'ge of· wells,
(5) e:xpol:"ted water, and (6) public -supply consumption, .
.
· ..~·
·.In addition, other quantities of water are used~but .ar'¥'
not consumed. They remain in the hydrologic· ··system ·and 'are
available for consumption .only downgradient q·om .th.•\Lu.se areas
in. the system. They include the following, irf·acre'.:.'feet:.
8)
'
California Wash area ··Lower I~ofu?a '\[gfiey Total·
100
l50 ,·
50
1:,goo.:
1;4oo
500
2,100
6oo
1,500
'•
:: ,.
'
Public supply (table
Leaching, (p. 34)
T6t<!l (rounded)
.. ,
'
~::
Tn the California Wash and• LoweP· Moapa· VaJ.ley--hydrographic ·areas,
nearly all the watRr' ls used or C0!18t!mcd 011 the flood plain of the
Muddy River.
,.,
'
•
-
,:..
~;
53.
.
:.,,~;""""
.
;
.
;
.j
.. ···
._;·,;
..... ..,,~ -.
·? .-.·,~,, "~ ~~ ·=; . •'·
·-~.
The· ilargest :fLiture'isuppiy. of -~~ter . is i~·,,.the ",~g~b~iJ.eci..
California Wash-Lower Moapa Valley area. The unused pep::t;, 8f::
the system yield, most of which is evapotranspiration losses
·by nonbeneficial phreatophytes:."al1d::Mudqy.·River,: f:Cl:pws tp_ Lake
Mead i . Ult1mateJ..y, most ·or :.this water.·. 1:s from ,t_he Muddy .Jiiver:.
Because· of· the ·enlargement .of: Bowman: Res.ervo:!:r,; r,mos:t,. of: .:the 1 (\.
salvable surface--water outflow to Lake ·;Mead. ;(an. estimat.eQ,;S,,POO
acre-feet per year)· could now be salvaged during .·the winter',
the period of principal loss. The salvage of principal losses
by pumping irrigation wells, that is·, surface-water and· g:t:'oundwater outflowand nonbeneficial phyreatophyte discha:t:'ge, is
impractical under the present water-quality .requirements. Ground
water in the discharge areas generally is not.suitable for
irrigation. However, phreatophyte losses {about. 13,000 acre-feet
per year) could be partly salvaged by denying them a plentiful
supply of water by lining mo:t:'e ditches, rese:t:'voirs, and the
Muddy River channel with an impermeable material and by
using more efficient irrigation practices., such as applying
water to fields With sprinklers rather than with ditches,
These more efficient water-use practices, however, .may not
be feasible under present economic conditi"ons.
·l .'
.
'
-..
··41
·:>
•• , ...
For flidden and Garnet Valleys, Gold Butte Area, and
Greasewood Basin, the only dependable source of water is the
gvound-water reservoir or springs, Salvage of ground-water outflow
is possible if wells are near the discharge areas, but. in salvaging
ground-water outflow, ground water in storage probably would
continue to be pumped.f'or a prolonged period of time as part of
the well discharge. The best areas to salvage ground-water
outflow are in Hidden and Garnet Valleys, along the southeastern
and eastern sides of the valley-fill :t:'ese:t:'voir; ln the Gold Butte
Area and Greasewood Basin, along the alluvial slopes between
reeharge and discharge areas.
The flow from springs issuing from consolidated rocks in the
Black Mountains and Gold Butte Areas and Greasewood Basin can be
diverted and consumed. This would dep:t:'ive the valley-fill reservoir
of some recharge and have much the same effect as salvaging water.
from the reservoir. Most of the larger·sp:t:'ings in these areas
are not potable, but some small, potable springs (table 13)
probably could be developed to supply the needs of campers and_
tourists in recreation areas. A comprehensive inventory of
springs and their hydvologic settings was not made, but it could
be accomplished by a hydrologist in a few weeks of field work,
including collection of water samples for chemical and bacterial
analyses,
In the. Black Mounta]in's';'Are'a';'~ lthe availability of water is.
similar to. that in the. Gold Butte irea,·. except that Las Vegas
Wash :·in ··1967 :wa's :·a· s(mro·e''·or•a, l·a:rge··,quantity of,:po,or-quali ty
··a-te. r·,·.·.·.
~. t_ ,...
-.c-~·.·•:
• . . ...
-·•· .···.. ~.'
_I.,
,..·.··.-<.:
... "'r.,_-·f··.,.~·}.'_· ....·.. ·j·•.·
,-•;.1
.:.;-. 1:
W
t
~~
f'~':. ·.· -~···.~:l·)·~·>·);;?.t~.';;-{)·','f:'.',
<.
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'
- ·'·.\· '. Iri' tho'ofe areas·.: ad'joinfng:.·La·ke · Mead·,:,,-t.he; lake: .. i_s, the ·ul tj.matc.
•SoU'rc'e .<6-r.:_any ,:.rarge 'water •s·upply;. subj ect.:·of.;_,c,Ou·r::;"' ,to any , . ·:
,;il~l!lcn~ t,~ o!l ~: 1mpO:feq'•:·b;yc.;the;Co lorado Riv"'.t;'<··Compact, and, the
•··!-SUpreme •Court ct·ecis1!ons ,,.,:;.,' -:-.·: c:~·.i • ··.•
'·J.,. ·'·'···,
,. ,
·tl\:t-:+~~·
•·•
'.·.·\~:[;'~; i.:~~~~·. ",j·..'·f.:.·~~:
j" ~-:J-t'·;
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55.
., __. l ..·..
.
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;,_,
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,•
'
NuMBERING-SYSTEM FOR-HYDROLOGIC SITES
· The·-numbering system for hydroJog:i:c .sites .in ·this. ·report
is bas'ed· on· the rectangular· subdivision of -the public lands·,
referenced.-· to· the· Mount· Diablo: base line and merid:loan. This .
location number consists of three units: the first is the
township south of 'the "base line-;' the second unit, separated
from the· firs·t by-· a' slant, ts··the ·range· east of .the ..meridian;
the third unit, separated from the second by a dash,! designates
the section number. The section number is followed by letters
that indicate the quarter section and quarter-quarter section,
the letters a, b, c, and d designate the northeast, northwest,
southwest, and southeast quarters, respectively. For example,
well 15/65-ldd (table 19) is the. well recorded in the· SEi-SE-k sec .•
1, T. 15 S., R. 65 E., Mount Diablo base line and mel:'idian •
.For sites that cannot be located accurately to the quarter-qual:'tel:'
section, only that part of the location number is given that
represents the ability to determine the location of the site,
Because of limitation or space, wells and springs are
identified on plate 1 only by section number and quarter-quaJ:>ter
section letters, Township and range number's are shown along the
margins of the area on plate 1 and apply only to Nevada;
~
..
-,.,
~·
~-~~'
56.
'
'
•
.t···
,:':
..
SELECTED WELL LOGs·· AND DATA"··
.
. Selected well data are listed in .table 19·, and selected
drillers •· logs of', wells in table 20:., . Most_. of the welL datA. and
logs are from the files of the· Nevada' State. Engineer.. .
.
..
"'J.--;'·
1
• ·. ·
..
.
in table .19-Wet'e selected to ·include most oi' the..
data available on wells in the .area. Tab~e. 20 c'ontains ·logs
for only a few wells.
. ..
:DR.t!l.
.·
.,
'•
1'-'
"i
.'
_._i.
>.• '
'.!
•
•'' ',
,.
;:."
.
.
'.
57.
•'
'
"""'"'~
Ow""'
RT,H, R,,,.,..,. rrl' la11d "'"""t:,."'"'"r.;
l\'}'S,
Ut"-"!;
NJ.tivn:~.l
C. ~un!llru~li:.m, ll 1
l, t:.-rig;:ttion; Ir.d,
vub1i~
rs,
1,7,
~<llPP1y;
:;cl:Vi~<'
l:';n·k
t.:, .,,...,1r_lt!:!lLr..m;
dlrm.,~tic;
indc~tri;:tl;
tc~t;
U, oil
r::~i1n•'-l.d;
l<fi,
:3
~l•-'di
1
111111>1"!1.1
iJ:~tt'r-levc1
L•-'1: 110Jir,[:>.,r;
l!le;:t:;urt':ncr,t; !-!., ~e;.~.nrc.i; ~{, I"C'POt:cd
L~>l: t)OJtnbt"r in Lilt' fil"!!l' <.!f th" E·l-~te [ul:itl"!>'t
..
---·~-·---------~ ~-----------·------~~--'.-J:~.t<:l'-I0::\'1:
L:.•r:d
v,.~(
r.,·,.--.-ll.l!lll
n ... l:ll•
'field (~pr.!)
.;md dr-~"'d(Nn
n;.~'""'l."r
~urf.~",.
:·t
;~lritr:dc
Dept;,
(ll.'n.-:>:__q_~~~~..:.!.!:.U.I~<i•:,c;,r:) __ i.~~)-.~~~i.!l'!!.!.:L__._(f~ct)
nunher
I
:r.c'-l.,;urcll":.'r.t
or
Cnil:' r
ii<JL>l tow
(depth
Lc>J.:
(fccl)_R_.k~~.!::.U "'·""'"'b"'~'---------"'"'""'"''"'"''-------
<.ARl\F,T VAlLEY
·,",'/63-llldr.!.
..
IJ.S.{;.:;. ll1·y T.xk"
;-lrr, 2
1//f,lr-l~)bd
U.S.G-.:;, JJry Ll.k,-,
!io. 1
Ut"1b-Suwart
C:"""'ln>r.:llon Co.
17/it'•-:'1<:;:
do.
l7/64-21cbl llLl10r'r p,.,·il i<:
l{ai1ro.:td i.'o, "'" 71
17/64-2!cb2
,J.,,
l'l/6"1-26
J~ck 1-'elh.-:cm
no
1 ~166
1'11>1>
., l'i/i>f,~;•lr:1
1,
1
~no
E
~· i}
c. u
1 ~15H
550
f're1!112
41il
8
195.3
532-7.1
1Li.'i8
1•n-·,·,o
41W>
F.~~t
:;·:Jn-~.~.;l
1769
·~·,.ler
C,IJ
?,060
272
0
2. 1·.'Ill
;•x1,
1 ~11 '/
"s. n
1951
,Oi:J
R
]1)/l:l
~ ,i).~()
::,:,1,
1967
1 :_i(_)/--
2 ,2:11!
1(,[)
I >I'd
Fir~l
,r FR.
lllO ft.
,_.,,:;t ,)t
t!'H.~.~>r.
bJ.d.
~:;~;~ell~
·...-ater "'t 297 ft.
F:.r:;t V;:ttr"!l' .n
].',() 1'1.
1955
li:\/6~-lbb2
Vinrl><\1 r."'l"'[.:ttiun
ll+/[rr;-33d
c' ll
1947
1'j/66- lrlr".
R. A. w·,.d
Pr... l L!!wi,;
J.ay !{ohio
HI dtl.,n V"llcy H+>rl''ll
lliddcn V+>11+:'y R;m~l·,,
I :>/~•6-1dd
1~/lif,~-.'H•
15/E-6-!,.,,.,
1 •,j(,f,~l-.
RT.M, HJ.rc.h.ll \ "'"11 16
l7/b'•<11r.1b
JJLN
lli/f>/r-25~a1
lll.M, Hr>d•Jv
we 11
lir
l.'l~
10/--
1, •,pi)
I /(1
7
1'>.12
i.JJOf(,y
114
1 1 64LI
ji,
I Wl/--
I 7\:l
1,·.:,!1
L(!
1,!_:
1(10
r:•
200/ --
1, 580
I. u
!,(111/--
u
1:! /--
15/64-2SJ..:./. AJ>~' l)i1 -...•ell
18/6S-IK(·• r.:u-~
~
194\1
16
.u
;;-, H, La:~.::,f.'lrr1
l',/f>7-22b
Lrm1>l
Ar\.~1111:;
I '>/h/-22bb1 ;-:o.:.p.1 1/11 llt"y ll'atcl:
Cr.:. lio. \
i.5/67-22bbi M"·'\'<1 V.:~1ley llillr... ,
11 2
l '15/
Lm
I 'iiri
154
1961
co. No. :•
15/67-26cb
lS/fi!-~.'1;.b
I 1>/1)7-1:0
16/i> /~ lhr
lil/67-.U.bd
16/(dl- ·:,~h
1 "!!HIJ~::t1"! CC~(:toll'''
'o'. Whtppl"
.
"""l
1(\1)
'157
fl. R.
J. C.
l·l+~tr.:;Jl£
1~66
1·10
80
1'Jid:\
'!"]l,.y ul' Fire :;t'-l.tc
.~l'S,
1~J /f.>,<;-6
14/MH>
toll'S, t:ch.:· ll.~y Nn
2(Jj{i4-1lklo
l<J6'i
IJvc:rrorl ll+ci!.,·lo
~~Hi>
1720
14iil
l'!',l)
11-l:!-6;• lil<lHO
I ~1:1~1
2.38-l;,~
&21i
7:10
',5?0
1 ~l.'r9
94'j-')',fl
2.s•w
1'14'1
Hl,~,-l:l51
1'!-3(1
~2~4
11!;'-11_17
]Q4.)
1 1112
'1:1'1
C;o1<1 ;.•H.- 1
Cnld 'ol'-l.tcr
/>,nF.
Dr il1':'d in r.pr1r1~!,. "'i1e 1\-~· Gf dr11r·y 1>><ru 1 250ft. w
,-,t t'1r•·~·in_~ well.
Fl>~l
S:~lt
:~I
22
l95iJ
1951
l:li:oi
15~-J·i4
'1111.
68"1".
16
PC:
2,500/JIJ4
11!110
,'l;>,
1967
1>!1~15-';
9716
(,~,~F
l'~'i7
·m-:;o
5-l0-50
5-11-'>11
I I "1 0-67
77 -',;,7
'
6 ,:.y >i
j .:-:::
12
7
:-1
8.•,1) .'1
1,1ml/--
~·lr~r
~qui.i:er
1, 370
1 ..~(,!)
,,
•..;r;11 ,.,
'I(!AI'A VALLI!l
1 -'r I I)
16,8
,,
1 ,2',(1
'
20
}~
13 .92 tl
1r-,.1
-'-Y<ili
~)J-140
~r.·.•L!!r :r.t (,(J
limo>.-<l<>trt',
c,,,l ~ro·atcr
lldllr"!d In 301J ft. d<::cp.
so
11-lll~i>i'
;•·!
R
194[1
'•.'!-73
l%4
U~-14:1
11 2JI)
:-ml--
175
47's
I{
l:':i,ll
1,3•)0
83
R
10
10
I'5, ~
I ''_l()(_)
125
lnd
!'./--
1,%0
40
1/--
1. '!ill
/.II
1:. ,lu
:;ps, E:r.:lll' I;.;:J.y lio.
l'ibrcbo,n.1 J>,lfi"l'
l'rr><lur;t~ Corp.
•.;c:ll ""·
:J
1]0
12
1uol
:~1/1i-'•-2lc.::
'~cll.~-:.;r .. wHrl
l'!',H
~30
10,fi
1:.11
Zl/fi',~~ldh
~;r5,
l'!li/
/(111
22/(;4-1!,.(.~.
NP:~,
Callville ll,1y
'
R
~:J-il !i
125-136
J~(l')
:.;,ll r ..·~r .. 1
J.510
5J.lt wJ.tcr
4h-',11
l,lr(ll
F 1""· ... ,.1 ,.,
441)2
Fh5t W.:l tcr ;:J.t :l'i fc.
2 ,:m·,
"
1958
30/--
l ,.'If!()
!•J•j
1 1 300
U.'i
247-'i">ll
''<1"'1'i:round
F.r'>u1olr=r De>~ch
195)
L\
1955
14.1-200
~:ell
QQJ..n "·UfTL~
ll><n M..:.~""
195.3
ilt)2
:• I
l'J/i0-17>~d
~()( ili-/r1~
i~
rs ,L'
IOO
1 '.!3e
l7/711-L'>r.<1
.:.t :l'.IJ II,
wr,,,_llai11
I
,,
w~tel:'
Slii,!.:ltl_,. ,.,.11'/ wCttcr.
1,4:m
1 1 41lli
Fibtebo;:J.rd I:'J.p>~l·
J'r•.>d>J.,:to; C!Jrp.
'"'"11 No . .'i
r:,,,;en (111, :-.:,,,
Mu:ldy l'<>~,.~
20/65-7bd
I{
S:'90
0-'l'j
I
·~·,.I
:/(1/id- 1 d'~
'J::·,_<)() _,j
238
7 'i-R~
61J-66
19%
·1, ':·0/31
II ,1_1
lnd
I f/hiJ<!3!:!b
1, '170
lCJb\)
!•;l,j
r·~
1t>/68-.l0b.1
17/lil-lith
'"
R
;•,n~
0
J>,~rk!u~
51mplor. Sllic.:1
l'rl.!ducr ... , Tnd,
2.57-:'l:!.'i
"
11
6
16
n
L.,.,.i,;
11- 9-67 3&9-505
·''
0
l '!4'1
LU\-.'1~!-:
13/67-~:?..:.,l
>i
l,t.00/60
-~'
HOUDtilill
n:,_ 7:;
:.o.• no~1
11ft
:-lo. 2
lJLN
16/bS-:n;;.>l
100/--
SOD ft. "-"~t -.i old ht~h"'"-Y •l1icl
300 r.,..,l :wrlil ~·( road to CJ.rnct
R1o.Je Bird Mine Co.
Ill,(>
2435
3/;1)
1', l'
:J ,fl\JO
llld
3,620
'l ~~ . I •, 'l
109
[(
I l - l !-·i• I
1956
109-11~
Galt '..;;:J.tcr
><I.
116 f'l,
fr.
Chid
log~ d
selcct<'>u 1z_el!g_
.
• [ Cbid •. aquifer__ r.tarl;.ef.< _by .. a s tar;J.
'rable 20·--}Jrill<'rs'
'
'rllick-
'rhicL~
·lH~·sd _ Lc;?.th
.,
.
,-~1csn
Depth
_ _ _-!ld-"a.!ote!O.-r~i~a"'1"----....l..(.c>,;f<';:o-esoti:.i)~:..,·-l(.;!:f~e"'c,t~L._ _ _ ;;;;:£,;·ii.,_,a,.,·1'----------'{£4_et) _ (feet)
_l5/65-1J<;!
,.
Clay, brm·m
Sand
Clay, brown
•.
lJ'
.. 1
. 11
blue~ $andy~ and
gravel
45
*Sinid and: gravel, water-bearing·
,!
14
Clay, gray, sandy
41
·: :s.
Gravel
.•. 13·
Clay !I gro.y 1 sandy
Gravel ~-lj·id sand
· -J
7
Clay, brovn, sandy:. and
gravel
15
:1::3
Sod .und gray clay
crhvel, "'atc·r-bearing
Clay, Y<':llo<J
*S.sLl1~ and ·gravel, 1'7:lterbearing
Clay, saftdy
Sandy silty
.Limes ton_e,~ white
Limestone, hard, rc.,;~
"Limestone, 11hite
Limestone, white, sandy
Limcstone:t ulti te, hard
Subsurface opening:~
wa ter·-fill"J
3
. 17
.!,
6H
<l
311
-13
6
4
....
.
•.
-~
Siltstone.;
clayey:
u:'
135
GY!-"sur.r1. rrnG. clay,
1'<3
155
iuterbeddeci
Cl"Y, silty '
Clay, calcareous...
,_
Clay, calcareou.s silty_
Limes tone~ :ytay
170
3
20
24
LiUie arul gypsum
Shale, gray :::.ml ,brcwn
Cl~..y:t reel
Shale, gray and blUI'>
Saud~ dry
Shale, blue
Clay, red
1~Sancl. 7 ..:oJ"ater .... bearing
Clay, red
60' .,
•I-,
'
1D_5
245
430
115
51•5
10
555
Z•J
13o
575
105
253
12
97o
958
Clay and,. some interbl,dded
. l(Jl-'SIID.
100
310
310
. 405
Cl·ay, calcareoun silty: ... 95
Clay and ·siltstone,
'int~~rhedd¢cl
34
-47
Clay, sil,ty
s,m,l fine to medium
quartz
Clay, calcareous silty
Clay, s i1ty
Clay and''gyp~um inter-
53
57
'139
152
35
"i2_5
J]/6l,-19bd
J ~"
4
13
...
For more Jeta.il.t~J l9g see
Jank'ins (1960, P• · ~5)-' ·
""
135
9J
cn.lcareo~s
Clay, calcareous silty
Limes tone ·and clay,
into,rbedded
- · S9
70.
1.··
2
35
Clay) calcareous silty
•75
bed~lc.d
Clay, silty
154
45
1;50
310'
760
. 40.
65
:wo
855
33:J
1,195
2G5
l,4DO
20
1,500
6
6
230
17 /M-2lcb ·
_16/65-33ac:_
-
liine~; ton~
3C
..
l?/67-22bb,_l
··sand and graval
.
·Peobles, mostly
19
Clay~
15/66-6
-
17/03-l4dd":"".
-·~-
~
J5
1,5
35
95
lM.t
175
20
73
59
220
240
313
372
u
"
300
20
f,()O
45
-~
Gravel
Clay, reJ and bl.us
Clay, llhitc
Clay, bro>m and gray
Sat1ds to·ue
Clay, red
~';Lim.es tone~ gray~ brok.en
,
-~
59.
221+
10
257
28
21,0
7
532
44
576
497
525
Table 20. -'·'Continued
-;
Thick!";ept:l
__-, -.
·ness ·Depth
uess
(feGt)
(feet)
-----c--,--'i'-"·iaec·t"'e"'r"'-;"'a"'-l-~---'--=="-l-.--''--'0.\=:L---__:_--'~:-'";,_oct'-'c~ro.OicSe-~l-------.:U:"'"-t) __ l_feetl~
Thid'-
.•..
..-..
.
'-
p/6G-2J,ab
Suncl an(i gtaVel
Clay s~ro.C ~ anJ gravel,
lOS
105
.33
.143
cemen te.d
Clay, blue
Gra.vel ant:l ·sandstone
Clay, b l.ue and ycollm·.'
Gravel, Cemcnt~~i:.
13
14
12.
1S6
Clay, :red
170
Gravel cen~nt~d _ •''
Clay t $al1d ~ tllid r6.c!-:.
Lime_, gray
)I
-s·,
\·Jater-be~:r.ing
Se.1id and -.:gr'ave.l,
be.ariug
Sandstone·
'"at~r·=··
llG
··
Sand and gravel
Clay and nar,d
F'~
p/7 o.:. ?~~.sA
S.:md~
Saiid and 8ru-v-el
6
sl~alc ~ red
1>65
Sh~le, blue and br.Otro- · 1231
. 2.,UD
Lime, hard and soft
,.
'.
G
Clay, sandy
Liinestonc
670
735,
20.5
15 ,.
15
~}20
10
L\45
im
851
Lime
9
i_j6J
131
0
"
131
139
142
113
21"'1'::
10
265
35
300
~~<'~,.,
90
7.63
I•Sand ~md. gravel
Cla.y:; .sr_.:tY
S!lnd am:-- gravel
Clay :,;hitS: a:nJ.- ·red
)I
Salt
n7
-, 33il
15
3.L~5
1'·,.·
;;.·
363
12
375
2
377
_Clily ~ -reG.
salt
Grav,~l, .cer.12nted.
Clay, yel)."", b luc, and
12
50~
Clay, red
20
-·c:tay ,- gray
Clay, blue
•J
525
530
i•S.;.i.nds tone·
'GOO
*Lime.stuita ~ broken
,-
r ,_,
T.O:d
Limestorto
'·,_
3
J-'
sandy} ,'lnd
116
Clay, sandy
56J
~5~)L~
3119
*Gr nVel 1 . ce.me:n ted
6"
·'
70
2!55
505
6
llU
''
2:)0
55,
llC
SanJ, wc.te :r..:.bcnriag
55
145
Clay
18
155
90
l·JO
1../t_/.;,.
'ss
Clay and. gr~vql,
~-Jater~bearing
Limeston~-~ black
90
.-1>71
1S/64-7bt_
Clay and ~ravel
Clay, streaks .of
: .f :limen to~u~.
Clay and~ graveL
Gra.vcl_;.. cemen.teJ.
Gravel·~
-·.
-=-·:
3
[)
264
27.2
297
25
2"u
225
325
550
-.:::.
60.
'
" ._. . . . . · ,. '
. . · REFERENC.ES-.CITED .. ·
•.
Ames, F. C., and others, 1960, Area and capacity c'ornpu ta tions for
1948-49 survey - Tables in Smith,· w. 0., ai:id 'others,
Comprehensive :survey:of sedimentation. in Lake.f1ead,.l94~-49:
u.s. Geol. Survey Prof •. Paper 295, P·.
·
Anderson, E. R., and Pritchard, D. w., 1951, Physical limnology
·
:of LakecMeact,··Lak~ Mead~sedimentatlon survey: u.s. ;Navy
· · Electronics-Lab.,•.San Diego, 153·p. 8.7-93. · ,· -~
··.
.
...
Anderson, R. E., 1966, Geology of the Dry r.ake and H5.dclen Val.ley
..
areas, Nevada:· u;s, ·Geol. Survey Rept. NTS-176., p.,15-30•
...
. ·•
Bernstein;· Leon;··Ig64; Salt tole~ance: of plants:
' Agricu:hure
23 p.
'.
..
.. Inf. .·Bull.· 283,
.
1,·.
u;s ~.Dept.
Bourns, c. T., 1963, Feasibility of ·exchange of wat~rs ·from the
Muddy River and wells of the Nevada rower Company at Glendale,
Nevadai '·Nevada .Univ. Agr. Ext,;Service, Reno,~·lO p.
·'
.
'
'
..
Carpenter, Everett, 1915, Ground .water .. fn southeast10rn Nevada:
U.S. Geol. ~urvey Water-Supply Paper 365, 86 P~
· .
·Eakin, T .. E., ·1964~- Ground-water :~ppralsa{. :of Coyote. Spr>:i.Jig and
Kane Spring Valleys and Muddy River Springs ·area,_Lincoln
.., and Clark C0.4t:Jties, Nevada: Nevada Dept. Conserv. and Nat.
Resources, • Ground-"W.ater: Resources - -Reconr). Ser. Rept •. 2_5,
40 ·p •
., .
.
. . . "; .· .
..
.
...
. . ' . ,. ' .
of
Eakin, T. E., and Moore, D, 0., 1964,' U~iformlty,
disc.harge of
Muddy River· Springs, . southeastern .Nevada; and :relation to
interbas:l:n movement;.of·'ground water: · U.-s ,-:,Geol. Survey Prof.
Paper 500-D, p. Dl71-Dl76.
Eakin; T~· E,:, arid.others; -1951, Contributions to t.he .hydrology of
,. eastern Nevada: Nevada: State Engineer,. i'{ater ,Reso~rces Bull.
12, 171 p,
(.
·Fuller, W~ H:-, · 1965, Water, soil, and:' crop management principles
for the contr·ol of salts·:· ·Arizona Univ. Agr. Expt. Sta.
and Coop. Ext. Service Bull. A-43, 22 p.
.
• •
Harbeck, G. E~, and otiJers~ 19-58, wate~-l~ss. iiwestj.gattons: .
Lake Mead Stucltes :- U.s. Gco.l ~ .Slli'vcy Prqf. .Paper 298, ·
. 100 p.
'
....
'
Hardman, George, and Miller·, M-•. :R. , .. -1934, The quality of' the
_waters of southeastern Nevada: Nevada Univ. Agr. Expt,
'sta~ Bull. i36, 62· p. ·
Hardman, George, 1965; 'Nevada··preci:pitatio~ .map 1· adapted from
map prepared by George Hardman .. and othe.r.s, -1936: Nevada
Univ.
Agr. Expt.. Sta. Bull. 183, 57 p.
·
. ' .. ·, '
.
'. ,.
Houstmi; ·c. ·E., 1950, ·consumptive· us~ of .irrigati~ri water by
crops in Nevada: . 'Nevada Univ. Agr. _Expt.- Sta ,- Bull. 185,
27 p~
_Houston, c. E., and-Blaney; H •. F., 1954; Consur[lpuve,use of water•
rates by the irrigated lands in_ the Colorado River Basin of·
Nevada, in· Shamberger;· H; ·A., 1954;- :PreseQt -and ,potential
use of the waters of the Colorado River and .tributaries
within Nevada: Carson City, Nevada State Engineer's Office,
140 p.
Jenkins; E. C., 1966,-· Lithologie logs of <:Jril-1 holes· in Dry Lake
and Hidden Valleys, Nevada: u.s. Geol. Survey Rept. NTS-176,
-..'
p. 31~53.
.
.
~
~
.
. .
:e·
Kohlerj_M. A., Nordenson, T • .J,, and Baker, D. R., 1959, Evaporation
· .: maps for the ·United States: , u.s. weather.Bur-. ·rech. Pub.
- : 37. 13 p.
.
'·'.
Langbein,·w. B., 1960) Water budget: in Smlth, ~~. ·o., and others,
Comprehensive survey of sedimentation in Lake Mead, 19li-8-49:
u.s. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 295, p. 95-102.
'
-
Le"';, C. H., "·1912, An ·intensive .study,of :the water resources of a
· part of 'Owens Valley;. Cal:ifornia: .·-U.s._ Geol. Survey WaterSupply Paper 294, 135 p. _
toeltz, o:'.J.~ 1963; 'Gr6und-wate~. conditions in.-the vicinity.of
·
·:Lake Mead Base," Las- Vegas, .. Nevada: · U.s;- Geol. Survey· WaterSupply Paper 1669-Q, 17 p,
Longwell, c. H., 1928, Geology of the-M.uddy-Mountair:s, Nevada:
U.S. Geol. Survey· Bull. 798, 152 p' t · · '
·"
Longwell, c. R,, rampcyan, E. H., Bowyer, Ben, and Roberts, R • .J,,
1965, Geology and mi llCl'al · depMli ts o.t" ClaPk County, Nevada:
.. Neivada Bur. Mines Bull. 62, 218 p.
,.
Malmberg, G. T., 1965, Available water supply of the Las Vegas
ground-water basin, Nevada: U.S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply
Paper 1780, 116 p.
.•
.
'·
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''--
62.
·,
w.
McKee, J. E:, ,-·arid Wolf,'. H.
·;-·1963/:water quaHty cri-teria:, 2nd
'
ed·.: Cal=ifornfa Water Qtial'ity -Control Board Pub:, -3-A,
548 p.
..
Miller; M·. ·R., ·Hardman, George,' and Mason, H;• G., 1953, Irrigation
_,_
waters'in-Nevada: Nevada Univ. Agr,:Expt;.Sta, Bu-11. 187,
63 p,
, t-
-Moore,. A. T. ·w.• , 1948, Interim report: on -survey,; .flood 'control,
·
-Meadow Valley •Wash ·and lower• Muddy River., Nevada:·> U.S.
Army Corps Eng., Los Angeles Dist., 44 p.
Moore, D, 0; ~ '1968, Es-timating mean . runoff ·in ungaged. semiarid
areas: Internat, Assoc. Sci. Hydrology, v. 13, no •. 1, p,
'29,.39.
·,·
....-.·
..
.... , ..
Raphael, J. M., 1954~ Crustal.disturbanc~s .of the Lake,Mead
. ·~·'
~
area:
·..·
U.S. Bur, Reclamation Eng, Mon. 21, 14 p,
·. ..
'.
Robinson~ T •. W., -1:958; ,Ptireatophytes:
Supply 'Paper T423·;· 84. p, o •
.~
..
~
·..
U.S.-' Geo1. ·Survey Water·. '
---:1965; _Water use. ·s-tudies utilizing ·evapotranspiration: tanks
· · · in Water•"re's·ources of. the• ·Humboldt River- Valley near
·winnemucca, N~vada: U,'S. Geol,- Survey Water-Supply· Paper
1795,
p. 83-104.
.
. ' ,.
. ..
,
Rush, F. E.;•-1964, Grounac.water appraisal of the' Meadow Valley
·
area-, Lincoln and 'Clark Counties, Nevada•: . Nevada Dept.
Conserv. and Nat·, Resources, ·around-Water Resources Reconn. Ser. Rept, 27, 43 p,
.
.
.
-.
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'
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Rush,· F. E.,. and -others, 1968, ·Hydrographic areas of Nevada:
Carson City, Nevada State Engineer's ·.Office•map.
Scofield, C.-- s·, ,' 1936; The sa Unity of irrigation water: .
· · Smithsonian· Ins't. ·Ann. Rept., 1~35, p. 275-287. ·
'
'
. i.".
Shamberger, H. A., 1954, Present and potential use of the waters
of the Colorado River and tributaries within Nevada: Nevada
State Eng,, 140 p.
•
-.
---
••
Smith, w. 0., and others, 1960, Comprehensive survey of sedimentation in Lake Mead, 1948-49: u.s. Geol, Survey Prof. Paper
295, 254 p.
Snyder, C. T., Hardman, George, and Zdenek, F. F., 1964, Pleistocene lakes in the Great Basin: U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. Geol,
Inv. Map I-416 •
' 63.
.University of Nev'~da>' · 1944, Ch.;;n:ica)' analyse_s·..?f municipal.
· water supplies,- bottled• minera.l_ .water.s, a,n,q hot :Springs
of Nevada: Reno, Nevada Uni v., 16 p.
,._
U.S. ·Army Corps of· Engineers, 19.67·, ,Water,-:resourc,es development
by· the U•.S. Army Corps· :ofr Engineers _i·n Nevada: , . Los Angeles
dist., u.s. Army Corps Eng., 35 p.
..
U;S.··Bureau·.of Rec•lamation, ·.:t962,.·Moapa Valley pumping projec:t:
·.·Boulder City.,.·Nevada, .. Bur.··Reclamation ·Rec.onn. ·Rep_t·;., 84 p. "
;
•
•
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•
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:....
••
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U.S. Public ·Health. Service, 1962,· Drinking water standards, ·1962:
· · ·U.S. Public ·Hea·lth~:Service Pub .•. mo•.-·956, 6l,P.• . · ·
..
u.s.
,.
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"
•
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·~'
:.
!I" "• •• .., • • •
'
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;''l - ~
.
. ''
Salinity Laboratory Staff, 1954, Diagnosis and improvement
of saline and· alkali soils: U.S. Dept. Agriculture Han db. ·
::no. 6o·,.160p·. ·., .,,_
·.
···_;· .,· ··'·
, ..
·. ~ -··
.
.
.· ·-:~~- -~ ~- ... ; ":· ·_'
·:.-:
Utah Geological Society, 1952, Guidebook to the geology of Utah,
· ., no. 7, Cedar. City, Qtah ..to Las,· ;iTega,s;•· Nevada:.·, salt- Lake.
City, Utah Geol. and Mineralqg •. :Sury:ey_, ·.1_~5, p ., · . . ·
..
. .,. .
_
-White;. W. N•, 1932.;;rA ·.meth'od of esttrnating_ gro.un_d,*wa,ter supplies
·based on· ·discharge:.:by.•plants· .and, evap,ora.tion·.from. soil':'
· · · U·.S. Geol.: ..Survey.,wat;er.-:SupplyJ Paper .659-A;,-;.p •. •1-105.
Worts, G. F., Jr., and Malmberg, G. T., i966, .Water-r~soi..trces
. :.;·.appraisal· of ··Eagle· Nalley ,._ ..ormsby· i'!n.q, Douglas Countie!3,
Nevada:· Nevada Dept. Conserv •• _.and Nat; •Re.sources., Water
Resources·- Reconn.·;Ser. Rept•.:.39, .55. p. ·:: .
~-
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Young, A. A., and Blaney, H. F., 1942, Use of water by native
vegetation: - California- pept. ·.Pub • .·.Works, .•Di v. Water:.Resources
Bull. 50, 15!.J.;p,, ·
·
Young, F. 0., and Ca!'penter, E-•. J., 192~ ,-::Soil.sllr:vey of the
Moapa ".Valley area, Ne.vada: U.S. Dept_. -Agricu1 ture, Bur.
Chern. and Soils, p. 749-774.
.,•,:
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LIST-;OF PREVl'OUSLY PUBLISHED RJ<:PORTS· IN: THI~ SERIES
.'
.
Report
Report
No. ---~--=-V.:::a.:::l.:::l.:::e"'-y_ _ _ _ _ __;;N~O:__,·~·---'--~~·~-c---:-Va 11 <O.Y ___ _,,._,..___
1
2
'
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
ll
12
1.3
14
15
··-
Newark (out of print)
P_ine (out of print)
Long (out of print)
Pine Forest·{out of print)
Imlay area (out of print)
Diamond (out of print)
Desert
Independence
Gabbs
Sarcobatus and Oasis
HLWlapai Flat
Ralston and Stonecabin
Cave
16
17
lfl
20
21
22
23
24
. .•
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..
,.;
26
2'7
29
30
31
32
"\''
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,,.
34
Dixie· ·Flat
.
Wb:ttesage Fiat -(out or pr.int)
36 Eldorado. - Pi~te Valley
(Nevada- and Calif'orn:i.a)
Grass
and Cariuo Lake ·
37
(Land ex• and Eur·cka Counties)
38 Hot Cr·eek
Little smoky
. Little Pisl1 Lal{e
39 Eagle (Ormsby County)
IJ.O Walker Lake
Rawhid•l Flats
Wh:,skey Flat
41. Washoe Valley
42 Steptoe Valley
Warm Spr·j_ngs
43 Honey Lake
Newcomb Lake Cold Spr·ing ·
Dry
Lemmon
Red Rock
Spanish Springs
Bedell Flat
Sun
Antelope
Smoke Creek Dese.r·t
41~
Sfm Fmidio I•oacrt
Pilgrim Flat
Pa.inters B'lat
Skedaddle Creek
Dry (ncar Sand Pass)
Jersey
Spr-:lng (near Paru:-tca)
Eagle
Dry
f.,:,J )~.)
---~
·-
~
'
.
.
(~ear Winn~~ucca)
Moni to.x•, Antelope, Kobeh
Upper Rees-e., ·
Lovelock _
.., .
Spr;tng' (n·,~ar Elyr _
(out of print)
Snalc_e _._
Hamlin
Antel'ope
Ple'asant .
35 Huntington
Sur.prise
Coleman
Guano
Cowkick
Lake
Coyote Spring
Kane Spr1.ng
HtldCly R:l ver Springs
Edwar-ds Creek
Lower !I!Cetl1 ow
Pattel'COn
Panaca
Clover
Smith Cre.ek and 1one
:Gras~
B'erguc;on Desert
(out o:f. print.)
lVJosquito
Boulder
Dry Lake and Delamar
Duck Lake
Garden and Coal
Middle Reese and Antelope
Black Rock Desert
Granite Basin
High Rock Lake
Summit Lake
Pahranagat and Pahroc
Pueblo
Continental Lake
Virgin
C.ridley Lake
Dixie
Stingaree
Fairview Pleasant
Eastgate
25
28
Amargos~>
Long
Massacr.e Lake
19
·--
·
6")
-
.
.JN''THl'S:;SERIES-~ ... ;.
OF PREVIOUSLY.' PUBLISHED REPORTS
LIST
'···.
Report
No.
.. Valle
45 :' Claytci'n Va·liey · ·· ·
:···Alkali; Spring 'VaH'ey
Lid·a· (Va:li'ey. · :, ·
· '·
Stonewall Fiat
Oriental Wash··
Grapevfrie ·canyon:··
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Mesquite Valley·. ·;
Ivanpah Valley ·
Jean Lake Vtrlley ···
Hidden Valley : ·
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47 .Thousal'/ct· Springs Valley
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UN ITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
m
me
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and some dolomite
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1 :250,000
---··
Drainage divide
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Playa (dry lake)
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Uncon solidated deposits; mainly
sa nd , silt, and clay
DEPARTMENT OF CONSE RVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES
STA TE OF NEVADA
Streamflow mea suring
site or gage
R.66 E.
TC CALIE NTE
d!i
R . 6~
Con solidated; mainly volcanic flows u >wo
and tuff, gnei ss, schist, granite,
and sandstone
p
g:rR.63 E.
T.
14
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R.62 E.
·;(
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~·- TO CEDAR. C I TY UTA H
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T.
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R.68 E.
s.
R 70 E.
R.71 E.
R 69 E.
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21
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21
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22
s.
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R.62 E.
R 63 E.
•/
R.6 t1 E.
R 6 5 E.
R.6 6 E.
R 67 E.
R 68 E.
R 69 E.
R 7 0 E.
R.7 1 E.
Hyd ro geo log y by F. E. Rush, 1968. Geology
ad apted fr om Lon gwell a nd others 1965)
Base: U.S . Geo log lc<tl Survey 1:250,000 lopog r<tphlc sorles ; Las Ve ga s (1954)
PLATE 1.-GENERALIZED HYDROGEOLOGIC MAP OF LOWER MOAPA-LAKE MEAD AREA, CLARK COUNTY, NEVADA