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Geology topics

J.E. Moore

Publications and source records attributed to J.E. Moore.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS2007

Bedrock aquifers and population growth in the Denver Basin, Colorado, USA

The Denver Basin bedrock aquifer system consists of Tertiary and Cretaceous age sedimentary rocks known as the Dawson, Denver, Arapahoe and Laramie-Fox Hills aquifers. The number of bedrock wells has increased from 12,000 in 1985 to over 33,700 in 2001 and the withdrawal of groundwater has caused water level declines in excess of 75 meters. Water level declines now range from 3 to 12 meters per year in the critical Arapahoe Aquifer. The groundwater supplies were once thought to be sufficient for 100 years but there is concern that they may be depleted in 10 to 15 years in areas on the west side of the basin. Groundwater is being mined from the aquifer system because the withdrawal through wells exceeds the rate of recharge. Increased groundwater withdrawal will cause further water level declines, increased costs to pump groundwater, and reduced yield from existing wells. In the Denver Basin, hydrologists have some capability to monitor declines in water levels for the Arapaho Aquifer, but generally have a limited ability to monitor water use. More complete and accurate water use data are needed to predict groundwater longevity for the Arapahoe Aquifer. The life of the Arapahoe Aquifer can be extended with artificial recharge using imported surface water, water reuse, restrictions on lawn watering, well permit restrictions and other conservation measures. Availability of groundwater may limit growth in the Denver Basin over the next 20 years unless residents are willing to pay for additional new sources of supply.

Episodes↗
USGS2004

Groundwater mining of bedrock aquifers in the Denver Basin - Past, present, and future

The Denver Basin bedrock aquifer system is an important source of water for municipal and agricultural uses in the Denver and Colorado Springs metropolitan areas. The Denver area is one of the fastest growing areas in the United States with a population of 1.2 million in 1960 that has increased to over 2.4 million by 2000. This rapid population growth has produced a corresponding increase in demand for potable water. Historically, the Denver area has relied on surface water, however, in the past 10 years new housing and recreation developments have begun to rely on groundwater from the bedrock aquifers as the surface water is fully appropriated and in short supply. The Denver Basin bedrock aquifer system consists of Tertiary and Cretaceous age sedimentary rocks known as the Dawson, Denver, Arapahoe and Laramie-Fox Hills Aquifers. The number of bedrock wells has increased from 12,000 in 1985 to 33,700 in 2001 and the withdrawal of groundwater has caused water level declines of 76 m. Water level declines for the past 10 years have ranged from 3 to 12 m per year. The groundwater supplies were once thought to last 100 years but there is concern that the groundwater supplies may be essentially depleted in 10 to 15 years in areas on the west side of the basin. Extensive development of the aquifer system has occurred in the last 25 years especially near the center of the basin in Douglas and El Paso Counties where rapid urban growth continues and surface water is lacking. Groundwater is being mined from the aquifer system because the discharge by wells exceeds the rate of recharge. Concern is mounting that increased groundwater withdrawal will cause water level declines, increased costs to withdraw groundwater, reduced well yield, and reduced groundwater storage. As the long-term sustainability of the groundwater resource is in doubt, water managers believe that the life of the Denver Basin aquifers can be extended with artificial recharge, water reuse, restrictions on lawn watering, well permit restrictions and conservation measures.

Environmental Geology↗
USGS1990

Report planning, preparation and review guide

The guide describes critical steps in the planning, preparation, and review of hydrologic projects and reports. Project and report planning and organization are discussed first. Report writing and guidelines for writing selected parts of the report are covered next. The last topics covered are editorial and technical review. The guide contains examples of good and poor writing, report checklists, and source references to assist authors in the various stages of report preparation.

Open-File Report↗
USGS1987

Hydrogeological concepts in the United States: a historical perspective.

Reviews the development of hydrogeological concepts in the USA from 1879 to 1987, from early qualitative reconnaissance investigations to modern qualitative and multi-disciplinary studies involving predictive analytical techniques and a consideration of management practices. The authors present a sampling of historical milestone papers in US hydrology in the form of an annotated bibliography.-Authors

Episodes↗
USGS1986

Two-hundred years of hydrogeology in the United States

The Hydrogeology Division of the Geological Society of America (GSA) sponsored a symposium entitled ' Hydrogeology in the United States, 1776- 1976 ' at the annual meeting of the GSA on November 9, 1976. The symposium was organized to provide a forum for discussion of major eras in the history of American hydrogeology and to contribute to the bicentennial celebration of the founding of the United States. Presentations were broken down into 3 sections: The Early Era (with a tribute to Oscar E. Meinzer), 1776-1920; Meinzer Era, 1910-1940; and the Modern Era (including scientific advantages; the quantification of hydrogeology; geochemistry; surface and borehole geophysics; and hydrogeology, policy, and politics) 1940-1976. (Lantz-PTT)

Open-File Report↗
USGS1983

Ground-water models for water resource planning

In the past decade hydrogeologists have emphasized the development of computer-based mathematical models to aid in the understanding of flow, the transport of solutes, transport of heat, and deformation in the ground-water system. These models have been used to provide information and predictions for water managers. Too frequently, ground-water was neglected in water resource planning because managers believed that it could not be adequately evaluated in terms of availability, quality, and effect of development on surface-water supplies. Now, however, with newly developed digital ground-water models, effects of development can be predicted. Such models have been used to predict hydrologic and quality changes under different stresses. These models have grown in complexity over the last ten years from simple one-layer models to three-dimensional simulations of ground-water flow, which may include solute transport, heat transport, effects of land subsidence, and encroachment of saltwater. Case histories illustrate how predictive ground-water models have provided the information needed for the sound planning and management of water resources in the USA. ?? 1983 D. Reidel Publishing Company.

GeoJournal↗
USGS1983

National Water‐Use Information Program

The US National Water-Use Information Program is a cooperative program between the states and the Federal Government. The purpose of the program is to determine how much fresh and saline surface water and ground water is withdrawn and for what purpose, how much water is consumed during use, and how much water is returned to a water body after use. To accomplish its purpose, the program's goals are to: 1) collect and compile water-use data; 2) develop and refine computerized water-use data systems; 3) improve the collection and analysis of water-use information; and 4) disseminate information.-from ASCE Publications Information

Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management↗
USGS1979

Contribution of groundwater modeling to planning

The consideration of groundwater in water-resource planning frequently has been neglected because many planners believed that groundwater could not be adequately evaluated in terms of availability, quality, cost of development, or effect of development on the surface-water supply. The development of predictive groundwater models now provides the water planner with tools to evaluate these problems. Highly sophisticated digital models can be used in planning the development of groundwater and the conjunctive use of ground- and surface water. About 250 digital models have been used to evaluate groundwater problems: The models are powerful tools for predicting the response of groundwater systems to stresses. They can also clarify the cause and progress of past stresses. With these developments it is now possible to integrate the utilization of groundwater into water-resource planning with a high degree of confidence.

Journal of Hydrology↗
USGS1978

Summary of U.S. Geological Survey investigations and hydrologic conditions in the Southwest Florida Water Management District for 1977

This report summarizes the activities of the Southwest Florida Subdistrict of the U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Division for fiscal year 1977. The organization and mission of the subdistrict office are described. The cooperative program for fiscal year 1977 included 41 interpretive investigations. Abstracts of twenty reports released by the subdistrict during 1977 and an extensive bibliography of reports released from 1933 to 1977 are included. The hydrologic setting of southwest Florida is outlined followed by discussions of surface-water, ground-water, and quality-of-water conditions. Hydrologic conditions in southwest Florida in 1977 are shown by the presentation of hydrographs from selected surface-water, ground-water, and lake-stage data collection sites.

Florida↗
USGS1973

A plan for study of water resources in the Platte River basin, Nebraska: with special emphasis on the stream-aquifer relations

A "Level B" study is being made of the Platte River basin in Nebraska. The basin (approximately 40,800 square miles) extends the full length of the State, a distance of nearly 470 miles. The study is a Federal and State interagency effort to formulate a comprehensive plan for the conservation, development, and management of the water and related land resources of the Platte River basin. The technical information for the study will be provided by 14 task forces. This report describes the work of the Level B Stream-Aquifer Hydrology Task Force (Task Force 13). The U.S. Geological Survey is the lead agency for this task force. Task Force 13 will provide the agencies participating in the Level B study with a quantitative description of the operation of the hydrologic system with emphasis on the relation of ground water to surface water. A digital model will be developed to simulate the physical character and operation of the stream-aquifer system. After the model has been calibrated with field data, it will be used to evaluate the effect of proposed projects. Some of the uses of the model are evaluation of effects of proposed conjunctive use projects, effects of changes in water use, and study of future water problems such as water-logged areas, groundwater mining, and streamflow depletion.

Nebraska↗
USGS1964

Chemistry and movement of ground water, Nevada Test Site

Three chemical types of ground water are distinguished at the Nevada Test Site and vicinity. A sodium-potassium water is related to tuff (in part zeolitized) and to alluvium containing detrital tuff. A calcium-magnesium water is related to limestone and dolomite, or to alluvium containing detritus of these rock types. A mixed chemical type, containing about as much sodium and potassium as calcium and magnesium, may result from the addition of one of the first two types of water to the other; to passage of water first through tuff and then through carbonate rock, or vice versa; and to ion-exchange during water travel. Consideration of the distribution of these water types, together with the distribution of sodium in the water and progressive changes in the dissolved solids, suggests that the ground water in the Nevada Test Site probably moves toward the Amargosa Desert, not into Indian Spring Valley and thence southeastward toward Las Vegas. The low dissolved solids content of ground-water reservoirs in alluvium and tuff of the enclosed basins indicates that recharge is local in origin.

Open-File Report↗