Prepared in cooperation with the
U.S. AIR FORCE
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
R 12 W
118°07'30"
WATER-RESOURCES INVESTIGATIONS REPORT 99–4262
Christensen, A.H., 1999, Generalized water-table and water-level data at the
U.S. Air Force Plant 42 and vicinity, Palmdale, California, March–April 1997
118°02'30"
R 11 W
AVE K
2,
15
0
29H1
2,173
25
26
30
29
28
29N1
2,159
L
35
Direction of ground-water movement
Fault
32A2
2,163
2,190
30th ST
31M1
2,148
36
27Q1
2,189
AVE L
27N1
20th ST
10th ST E
2,1
40
34
28Q1
2,171
32
31
33
35
34
35N1
T7N
32P1
2,167
AVE M
34°38'45"
32P4
2,168
32Q2
2,172
.
ek
Amagosa Cre
3
2,140
6G2
2,131
5G5
2,172
6H4
2,112
6F1
2,142
1
2
2,120
2,130
6
6H3
2,146
6L1
2,150
1K1
2,145
Study
Area
0
20
2,
BO
5
U
Y
AR
ND
OF
R
AI
R
FO
CE
A
PL
NT
3C1
2,188.34
42
Sea level: In this report, "sea level" refers to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929
a geodetic datum derived from a general adjustment of the first-order level nets of the
United States and Canada, formerly called Sea Level Datum of 1929.
Conversion Factors
Multiply
3E1
2,198
4H1
4
3E3
2,197
3
3Q1
2,212.28
10C1
2,217
9C1
11C1
2,212.74
8
10
10
2,1
0
13
2,
18H1
2,073
14H1
2,111.57
14
13
18
16
15
?
?
2,210
2,170
2,160
2,
26
0
2,200
2,
27
0
u
Fa
U
n
m
na
lt
ed
?
?
?
?
na
?
me
dF
au
lt
25
Palmdale Blvd
26
?
?
28
29
30
?
?
PALMDALE
?
31A1
2,362
?
?
?
?
AVE R
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
26
27
?
Unna
med
Fault
?
SCALE 1:24,000
0
State well No.: See "Well-Numbering System" section on map; some numbers subject to change upon verification. U.S. Geological Survey
(USGS) identification No.: latitude, longitude, and sequence number; well depth, perforated interval, and water-level depth in feet below land
surface; altitude of land surface and altitude of water level in feet above sea level. Measurement method: R, reported by local water agencies;
S, steel tape; V calibrated electric tape. --, no data. Status: P, pumping; R, recent pumping
Table 1. Water levels and well-construction information for Plant 42 and surrounding area, Palmdale, California
State well No.
USGS
identification No.
Well
depth
Perforated
interval
Altitude of
land surface
6N/11W-3C1
6N/11W-3E1
6N/11W-3E3
6N/11W-3Q1
6N/11W-4H1
6N/11W-5G5
6N/11W-6F1
6N/11W-6G2
6N/11W-6H3
6N/11W-6H4
6N/11W-6L1
6N/11W-7E1
6N/11W-7E2
6N/11W-7E3
6N/11W-8H1
6N/11W-8L1
6N/11W-8R1
6N/11W-9C1
6N/11W-9D1
6N/11W-9H1
6N/11W-10C1
343845118015201
343819118022401
343819118020801
343754118013901
343820118022601
343826118035701
343822118051901
343829118050301
343821118043601
343829118044101
343811118050601
343738118053401
343735118053601
343738118053301
343727118034401
343714118040101
343700118034301
343745118025601
343752118031201
343717118023201
343740118015301
335
--330
722
749
820
1,200
800
800
-462
462
462
--708
-334
500
--
290-335
--285-330
170-650
-400-800
-400-800
500-800
-422-462
422-462
422-462
----289-334
200-500
--
2,485.04
2,491
2,493
2,505.01
2,489
2,482
2,490
2,480
2,483
2,479
2,490
2,516.35
2,519.83
2,516.81
2,508
2,505
2,522
2,503
2,497
2,513
2,510
Water level
Date of
measurement
Depth
4/1/97
3/27/97
3/27/97
4/1/97
4/1/97
3/27/97
3/24/97
3/25/97
3/27/97
3/27/97
3/24/97
3/25/97
3/24/97
3/24/97
3/27/97
3/27/97
4/1/97
3/28/97
4/1/97
4/1/97
3/27/97
296.70
293.44
296.04
292.73
-310.01
347.70
348.63
336.91
366.87
339.56
386.50
391.26
387.08
399.55
---268.08
-292.73
Altitude
2,188.34
2,198
2,197
2,212.28
-2,172
2,142
2,131
2,146
2,112
2,150
2,129.85
2,128.57
2,129.73
2,108
---2,229
-2,217
Method
V
V
S
V
V
V
S
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
Status
P
R
R
R
R
P
P
P
P
1
Table 1. Continued.
3 MILES
2
2
1
0
3 KILOMETERS
Table 1. Continued.
State well No.
USGS
identification No.
Well
depth
Perforated
interval
Altitude of
land surface
6N/11W-10P1
6N/11W-11C1
6N/11W-13D1
6N/11W-15A1
6N/11W-16J1
6N/11W-17B1
6N/11W-17D1
6N/11W-18H1
6N/11W-19E2
6N/11W-19E4
6N/11W-19F1
6N/11W-19F2
6N/11W-19G1
6N/11W-19L1
6N/11W-20D1
6N/11W-20G2
6N/11W-21R1
6N/11W-31A1
6N/12W-1K1
6N/12W-9H1
6N/12W-12M2
343701118020501
343751118005801
343659118001501
343700118012801
343628118022701
343648118034401
343647118041601
343644118044701
343544118053001
343553118053201
343542118050701
343554118050501
343542118044801
343541118051901
343554118043001
343542118034101
343528118022601
343419118044401
343811118055401
343726118085201
343717118063601
-335
290
331
630
-600
800
848
900
838
920
920
857
540
694
400
444
-597
801
-290-335
245-280
281-331
322-630
--
2,530
2,512.79
2,542.36
2,538.15
2,547
2,531
2,531
2,536
2,584
2,575
2,571
2,563
2,569
2,580
2,558
2,568
2,588
2,633
2,505
2,610
2,560
500-800
396-848
450-900
480-830
570-900
570-900
496-856
480-540
310-694
360-400
--237-597
500-801
Date of
measurement
4/1/97
4/1/97
4/1/97
4/1/97
3/4/97
3/24/97
3/26/97
3/26/97
12/96
12/96
12/96
12/96
12/96
12/96
4/1/97
12/96
4/1/97
3/4/97
3/26/97
4/1/97
3/24/97
Water level
Depth
Altitude
-300.05
252.01
290.65
307.43
-405.96
463.35
548
550
535
505
510
545
497.07
445
352.29
271.37
359.71
444.92
433.48
-2,212.74
2,290.35
2,247.50
2,240
-2,125
2,073
2,036
2,025
2,036
2,058
2,059
2,035
2,061
2,123
2,236
2,362
2,145
2,165
2,127
Method
V
V
V
S
S
S
R
R
R
R
R
R
V
R
V
S
S
V
V
Status
P
P
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
State well No.
6N/12W-12R1
6N/12W-13N1
6N/12W-14H1
6N/12W-24C1
7N/11W-27N1
7N/11W-27Q1
7N/11W-28Q1
7N/11W-29H1
7N/11W-29N1
7N/11W-31M1
7N/11W-32A2
7N/11W-32P1
7N/11W-32P4
7N/11W-32Q2
7N/11W-33N1
7N/11W-34R1
7N/11W-35N1
7N/12W-26K3
7N/12W-27H1
7N/12W-27H7
USGS
identification No.
Well
depth
343711118054001
880
343609118063801
885
343644118065201
343600118061001 1,275
690
343939118021401
650
343939118013701
-343939118025201
679
344006118033001
-343939118041901
386
343909118053601
823
343933118033001
-343846118041301
800
343846118040101
704
343847118040101
-343846118031301
-343852118013101
-343859118011901
674
343951118065902
500
344004118075901
724
344003118074803
Perforated
interval
Altitude of
land surface
380-800
420-800
525-885
504-900
-300-650
-319-679
--360-823
------310189684-704
2,538
2,591
2,586.69
2,583
2,461
2,467
2,453
2,442
2,446
2,468
2,453
2,472
2,473
2,474
2,474
2,484
2,484
2,459
2,449
2,449
By Allen H. Christensen
1999
Water level
Date of
measurement
Depth
Altitude
Method
3/27/97
Dec-96
3/27/97
12/96
3/27/97
3/3/97
3/27/97
3/3/97
3/26/97
4/17/96
3/26/97
3/28/97
3/26/97
3/26/97
3/26/97
3/28/97
3/28/97
4/4/96
4/8/96
4/8/96
420.7
550
475.12
550
-278.24
282.29
269.05
286.99
319.62
289.72
305.2
305.04
302.46
-292.92
-319.97
310.56
309.32
2,117
2,041
2111.57
2,033
-2,189
2,171
2,173
2,159
2,148
2,163
2,167
2,168
2,172
-2,191
-2,139
2,138
2,140
V
R
V
R
GENERALIZED WATER-TABLE AND WATER-LEVEL DATA AT THE U.S. AIR FORCE PLANT 42 AND VICINITY,
PALMDALE, CALIFORNIA, MARCH–APRIL 1997
D
C
B
G
H
L
K
J
P
Q
R
7
8
9
10
11
12
E
F
18
17
16
15
14
13
M
N
T6N
19
20
21
22
23
24
30
29
28
27
26
25
31
32
33
34
35
36
T5N
A
31
Water-level data were collected from 48 wells during
March-April 1997 and used in combination with historical
data to define a generalized water-table surface and the
direction of ground-water movement in the study area.
The study area, which is approximately 55 mi , extends
from just west of 10th Street, eastward to 70th2 Street
(about 8 mi) and from Avenue K southward to Avenue R
in Palmdale (about 7 mi). The water table is defined as
the surface of an unconfined water body at which the fluid
pressure in a porous medium is exactly atmospheric. The
location of this surface is revealed by the level at which
water stands in a shallow well open along its length and
penetrating the surficial deposits just deep enough to
encounter standing water in the bottom (Freeze and
Cherry, 1979). Most water-level measurements were
made by the USGS with calibrated steel or electric tapes.
Some water levels were reported by local water agencies
(table 1). Water-table altitudes were calculated by
subtracting the measured depth to water from the landsurface datum (determined from a leveling survey or
estimated from topographic maps). In areas where watertable data were unavailable for 1997, the general shape of
the contour was defined on the basis of regional watertable maps developed for Antelope Valley (Carlson and
others, 1998).
23
22
21R1
2,236
1
Ground-Water Levels
?
21
2
Acknowledgment
The author thanks the personnel of the U.S. Air Force,
various defense contractors, Los Angeles Department of
Airports, Palmdale Water District, and Los Angeles County
Sanitation District who provided water-level data and
access to their wells for this study.
?
AVE Q
Un
27
2,190
2,040
?
2,150
0
05
2,
?
2,140
?
2,130
?
19G1
2,059
19L1
2,035
20G2
2,123 .
20
2,120
?
19
19E2
2,036
2,110
?
24
2,100
?
23
2,090
22
10th ST W
?
2,180
19F1
2,036
2,030
2,08
0
?
20D1
2,061
19F2
2,058
19E4
2,025
2,070
13N1
2,041 24C1
2,033
2,06
0
2,050
2,060
2,070
2,080
2,090
AVE P
14
2,220
2,230
2,240
2,
11
0
2,1
00
14
13D1
2,290.35
16J1
2,240
17
138
15A1
2,247.50
0
25
2,
17B1
20
2,1
15
17D1
2,125
3
The U.S. Air Force Plant 42 (Plant 42) which is in the
Antelope Valley about 1.5 miles northeast of Palmdale and
3 miles southeast of Lancaster in Los Angeles County.
Historically, ground water has been the primary source of
water owing, in large part, to the scarcity of surface water
in the region. Since 1972, supplemental surface water
has been imported from the California Water Project to
help meet the demand for water. Despite the importation
of surface water, ground-water withdrawal for both
municipal and agricultural uses is affecting ground-water
levels in the vicinity of Plant 42. To better understand the
effects of ground-water withdrawal on ground-water levels
and movement in the area, the U.S. Geological Survey
(USGS), in cooperation with the U.S. Air Force,
constructed a generalized water-table-contour map of the
aquifer system underlying Plant 42 and the surrounding
area.
2,240
10P1
4
6N/11W-5G5
T7N
T6N
5
Introduction
11
70th ST E
12R1
2,117
9H1
9
8H1
2,108
8L1
7
2,
29
0
12
8R1
0
12
2,
SECTION 5
Wells are identified and numbered according to their location in the rectangular system for the subdivision of
public lands. Identification consists of the township number, north or south; the range number, east or west;
and the section number. Each section is divided into sixteen 40-acre tracts lettered consecutively (except I and
O), beginning with "A" in the northeast corner of the section and progressing in a sinusoidal manner to "R" in
the southeast corner. Within the 40-acre tract, wells are sequentially numbered in the order they are inventoried.
The final letter refers to the base line and meridian (S). All wells and springs in the study area are referenced
to the San Bernardino base line and meridian (S). Numbers consist of 15 characters and follow the format
006N011W005G05S. In this report, well numbers are abbreviated and written 6N/11W-5G5. Wells in the same
township and range are referred to by only their section designation, 5G5.
2,230
2,
28
0
2,160
7E2
2,128.57
?
6
RANGE
R13W R12W R11W
2,220
2,
30
0
2,150
9D1
2,229
7E1
7E3
2,130.31
2,129.73
12M2
2,127
meter
kilometer
hectare
square kilometer
Well-Numbering System
2
10
2,2
11
To obtain
0.3048
1.609
259.0
2.590
foot (ft)
mile (mi)
square mile (mi 2)
AVE N
10
By
R11W
AVE N
34°36'15"
San Diego
34R1
2,191
BOUNDARY OF AIR FORCE PLANT 42
9H1
2,165
Los
Angeles Co
Los Angeles
Vertical Datum
33N1
T6N
0
2,15
San
Francisco
sh
Wa
ock
le R
Litt
wy
S ie rr a H
10th ST W
AVE
2,190
2,200
40th ST
26K3
2,139
4H1
2,180
60
2,1
2,1
70
Well and number- Bottom number
is water-table altitude, in feet
above sea level. Water level reported to the nearest hundredth
of a foot for wells with surveyed
land-surface datum
Well was being pumped at time
of measurement
Water-table contour- Shows
generalized water-table altitude,
in feet above sea level. Dashed
where approximately located
26
27
TOWNSHIP
27H1
2,138
27
17D1
2,125
50th ST
27H7
2,140
EXPLANATION
V
V
S
S
Status
R
R
P
References Cited
Blodgett, J.C., 1996, Precipitation depth-duration and frequency
characteristics for Antelope Valley, Mojave Desert, California: U.S.
Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 95-4056,
33 p.
V
V
S
S
S
S
V
V
V
Ground-Water Movement
Ground water flows from areas of higher to areas of
lower water-level and perpendicular to lines of equal
water-table altitude (see arrows shown on the map).
Water-table depressions (1) north of Palmdale, (2) just
east of Plant 42, and (3) near the northern boundary of
Plant 42, have formed as a result of ground-water
withdrawal. Ground-water movement within the southern
half of Plant 42 is toward the ground-water depression
north of Palmdale. The pattern of the water-table contours indicates that some faults in the study area are
barriers to ground-water flow. The barrier effect of faults
is probably caused by compaction and deformation of
water-bearing deposits immediately adjacent to the faults
and by cementation of the fault zone by mineral deposits
from ground water (Londquist and Martin, 1991). For
example, the water level is approximately 300 ft lower in
well 6N/11W-19G1 than in well 6N/11W-31A1 (table 1) on
opposite sides of the unnamed northwest-trending fault
just north of Palmdale.
P
P
Carlson, C.S., Leighton, D.A., Phillips, S.P., and Metzger, L.F., 1998,
Regional water table (1996) and water-table changes in the Antelope
Valley ground-water basin, California, U.S. Geological Survey WaterResources Investigations Report 98-4002, 2 map sheets, scale
1:125,000.
Freeze, A.R., and Cherry, J.A., 1979, Groundwater: Englewood Cliffs,
New Jersey, Prentice-Hall, 604 p.
Londquist, C.J., and Martin, Peter, 1991, Geohydrology and groundwater-flow simulation of the Surprise Spring Basin aquifer system, San
Bernardino County, California: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources
Investigations Report 89-4099, 41 p.