Geology topics

Joseph S. Gates

Publications and source records attributed to Joseph S. Gates.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS2007

Effects of climatic extremes on ground water in western Utah, 1930-2005

Climatic extremes affect ground-water levels and quality in the basins of western Utah. The five droughts since 1930: 1930-36, 1953-65, 1974-78, 1988-93, and 1999-2004—resulted in much-less-than-average recharge, and the pronounced wet period of 1982-86 resulted in much-greater-than-average recharge. Decreased recharge lowered the ground-water level, and increased recharge raised it. These changes were largest in recharge areas—in discharge areas the water level is relatively constant and the primary effect is a change in the discharge area—smaller during a drought and larger during a pronounced wet period. The largest part of water-level change during climatic extremes, however, is not a result of changes in recharge but is related to changes in ground-water withdrawal. During a drought withdrawals increase to satisfy increased demand for ground water, especially in irrigated areas, and water levels decline. During a pronounced wet period, withdrawals decrease because of less demand and water levels rise. The amount of water-level change in representative observation wells in a basin is generally proportional to the basin’s withdrawal. In undeveloped Tule Valley, water-level changes related to climatic extremes during 1981-2005 are less than 2 feet. In Snake Valley (small withdrawal), Tooele Valley (moderate withdrawal), and Pahvant Valley (large withdrawal), water-level declines in representative wells from 1985-86 to 2005 were 13.4, 23.8, and 63.8 feet, respectively. Ground-water quality is also affected by climatic extremes. In six irrigated areas in western Utah, water-level decline during drought has induced flow of water with large dissolved-solids concentrations toward areas of pumping, increasing the dissolved-solids concentrations in water sampled from observation wells. During the 1982-86 wet period, increased recharge resulted in a later decrease in dissolved-solids concentrations in three basins.

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USGS1996

Ground-water development in Utah and effects on ground-water levels and chemical quality

Systematic ground-water development began in Utah shortly after settlement by Mormon pioneers in 1847. By 1939, about 230,000 acrefeet per year of ground water was being withdrawn from wells for irrigation, public supply, industrial use, and rural-domestic and stock supply. Withdrawals increased from about 600,000 to 700,000 acre-feet per year during 1963-67 to about 800,000 to 900,000 acre-feet per year during 1989-93, with a peak of 940,000 acre-feet in 1990. Most ground-water withdrawals from wells have been from unconsolidated basin-fill deposits in 13 areas along or near the eastern edge of the Basin and Range Province, which extends from the northern edge of Utah to its southwestern part. The proportions of withdrawals for various uses have changed; in 1964, 72 percent of withdrawals was for irrigation and II percent for public supply, whereas in 1993,64 percent was for irrigation and 21 percent for public supply. Long-term withdrawals from wells have caused declines in water levels in parts of western Utah from the 1940's and 1950's to 1994; the withdrawals apparently have caused local increases in dissolved-solids concentrations in ground water. Water levels have declined as much as 67 feet owing to withdrawals for public supply and industrial use in northwestern Utah, and as much as 88 feet owing to withdrawals for irrigation in southwestern Utah. Declines of this magnitude, however, are confined to local areas of large withdrawals. Withdrawals for irrigation apparently have caused increases in dissolved-solids concentrations in ground water in at least six irrigated areas of western Utah. Minor land subsidence related to compaction of basin-fill deposits caused by water-level declines has been observed locally in southwestern Utah.

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USGS1991

Ground-water conditions in Utah, spring of 1991

This is the twenty-eighth in a series of annual reports that describe ground-water conditions in Utah. Reports in this series, published cooperatively by the U.S. Geological Survey and the Utah Division of Water Resources, provide data to enable interested parties to keep abreast of changing ground-water conditions. This report, like the others in the series, contains information on well construction, ground-water withdrawal from wells, water-level changes, related changes in precipitation and streamflow, and chemical quality of water. Supplementary data, such as maps showing water-level contours, are included in reports of this series only for those years or areas for which applicable data are available and are important to a discussion of changing ground-water conditions. This report includes individual discussions of selected major areas of ground-water development in the State for the calendar year 1990. Water-level fluctuations and selected related data, however, are described from the spring of 1986 to the spring of 1991. Much of the data used in this report were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Division of Water Rights, Utah Department of Natural Resources.

Utah↗

USGS1988

U.S. Geological Survey ground-water studies in Utah

Ground water is an important natural resource in Utah. In the basins west of the Wasatch Front, and in many other parts of Utah, ground water is the primary source of water. In many of the basins of the western desert and in parts of the Colorado Plateau, ground water is the only reliable source of water. Along the Wasatch Front to the north and south of Salt Lake City, in the Uinta Basin, and in the Sevier River drainage, surface water is the primary source of water. Ground-water sources supply about 20 percent of all water used in Utah and about 63 percent of the water for public supply. Of the total amount of ground water used, 44 percent is for irrigation, 35 percent is for public supply, 11 percent is for industry, 5 percent is for rural domestic supplies, and 5 percent is for livestock. The major issues related to ground water in Utah are: -Development of additional ground-water supplies while protecting existing water rights and minimizing effects on water levels, water quality, and streamflow, and -Protection of ground-water resources from contamination by pollutants from various types of land-use and waste-disposal practices.

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USGS1984

Ground-water reconnaissance of the central Weber River area, Morgan and Summit Counties, Utah

During July 1978 to June 1980, the U.S. Geological Survey conducted a reconnaissance of ground-water conditions and ground- and surface-water relationships in the central Weber River area. This reconnaissance was done in cooperation with the Utah Department of Natural Resources, Division of Water Rights. The study area is a series of mountain valleys along the Weber River in the Wasatch Ranqe and between the Wasatch Range and the Uinta Mountains in north-central Utah (fig. 1). As defined for this study, the area includes the Weber River drainage from Hoytsville, just south of Coalville, to the western boundary of Morgan County at the western front of the Wasatch Range (pl. 1). The East Canyon Creek tributary drainage is included from the Weber River to the Morgan County-Summit County line. The study focused on the major valleys along and tributary to the Weber River with less emphasis on the upland tributary areas.

Utah↗

USGS1983

Aquifer systems in the Great Basin region of Nevada, Utah, and adjacent states: A study plan

The Great Basin Regional Aquifer Study includes about 140,000 square miles in parts of Nevada, Utah, California, Idaho, Oregon, and Arizona. Within that area, 240 hydrographic areas occupy structural depressions formed primarily by basin-and-range faulting. The principal aquifers are in basin- fill deposits; however, permeable carbonate rocks underlie valleys in much of eastern Nevada and western Utah and are significant regional aquifers. Anticipated future water needs require a better understanding of the resource so that wise management will be possible. In October 1980, the U.S Geological Survey started a 4-year study to (1) describe the ground-water systems as they existed under natural conditions and as they exist today, (2) analyze the changes that have led to the systems' present condition, (3) tie the results of this and previous studies together in a regional analysis, and (4) provide means by which effects of future ground-water development can be estimated. A plan of work is presented that describes the general approach to be taken in this study. It defines (1) the major task necessary to meet objectives and (2) constraints on the scope of work. The approach has been strongly influenced by the diverse nature of ground-water flow systems and the large number of basins. A detailed appraisal of 240 individual areas would require more resources than are available. Consequently, the general approach is to study selected "typical" areas and key hydrologic processes. Effort during the first 3 years will be directed toward describing the regional hydrology, conducting detailed studies of "type" areas, and studying selected hydrologic processes. Effort during the final year will be directed toward developing a regional analyses of results. Special studies that will address hydrologic processes, key components of the ground-water system, and improved use of technology include evaluations of regional geochemistry, regional hydrogeology, recharge, ground-water discharge, and the use of remote sensing. Areas selected for study using ground-water flow models include the regional carbonate-rock province in eastern Nevada and western Utah, six valleys Las Vegas, Carson, Paradise, Dixie, Smith Creek, and Stagecoach in Nevada, plus Jordan Valley, the Milford area, and Tule Valley in Utah.

Nevada, Utah↗

USGS1981

Hydrologic reconnaissance of the southern Great Salt Lake Desert and summary of the hydrology of west-central Utah

This report is the last of 19 hydrologic reconnaissances of the basins in western Utah. The purposes of this series of studies are (1) to analyze available hydrologic data and describe the hydrologic system, (2) to evaluate existing and potential water-resources development, and (3) to identify additional studies that might be needed. Part 1 of this report gives an estimate of recharge and discharge, an estimate of the potential for water-resources development, and a statement on the quality of water in the southern Great Salt Lake Desert part of west-central Utah. Part 2 deals with the same aspects of west-central Utah as a whole. Part 2 also summarizes the evidence of interbasin ground-water flow in west-central Utah and presents a theory for the origin of the water discharged from Fish Springs.

Utah↗

USGS1980

Ground-water data for the Salt Basin, Eagle Flat, Red Light Draw, Green River Valley and Presidio Bolson in westernmost Texas

From October 1971 through October 1974. the U.S. Geological Survey collected ground-water data in the basins in Texas west of the Pecos River drainage area and northwest of the Big Bend country. The basins included are, from east to west: The Presidio Bolson; the Salt Basin; Green River Valley, Eagle Flat, and Red Light Draw. These data, which were collected in cooperation with the Texas Department of Water Resources (formerly Texas Water Development Board), will provide information for a continuing assessment of water availability within the State.

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USGS1978

Developing a state water plan: Ground-water conditions in Utah, spring of 1978

This report is the fifteenth in a series of annual reports that describe ground-water conditions in Utah. Reports in this series, prepared cooperatively by the U.S. Geological Survey and the Utah Division of Water Resources, provide data to enable interested parties to keep abreast of changing ground-water conditions. This report, like the others (see References, p. 13), contains information on well construction, ground-water withdrawals, water-level changes, and related changes in precipitation and streamflow. Supplementary data such as graphs showing chemical quality of water and maps showing water-table configuration are included in reports of this series only for those years or areas for which applicable data are available and are important to a discussion of changing ground-water conditions. This report includes individual discussions of selected major areas of ground-water withdrawal in the State for the calendar year 1977. Water-level fluctuations, however, are described for the period spring 1977 to spring 1978. Much of the data used in this report were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Division of Water Rights, Utah Department of Natural Resources.

Utah↗

USGS1965

Reevaluation of the ground-water resources of Tooele Valley, Utah

This study of the geohydrology of Tooele Valley, Utah, was made by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Utah State Engineer during the period 1958-63. The purpose of the study was to update an earlier investigation of ground water in Tooele Valley made by the Geological Survey during 1940-42 (Thomas, 1946). The construction of approximately 256 wells in the valley since 1940, many of which are large-diameter pumped wells drilled since 1950, made available new data on water levels, well discharge, and chemical quality for interpretation of ground-water conditions. New data also were available on spring discharge, streamflow, aquifer characteristics, and geologic, geophysical, and climatic conditions. The earlier report by Thomas (1946) was freely used during the preparation of this report.

Utah↗

USGS1964

Developing a state water plan: Ground-water conditions in Utah, spring of 1964

This report is the first in a series of annual reports which will describe ground-water conditions in Utah. It was prepared cooperatively by the U.S. Geological Survey and the Utah Water and Power Board and was designed to provide the data for interested parties, such as legislators, administrators, and planners to keep abreast of changing ground-water conditions in the state. Because this report is the first of the series, it necessarily includes certain background and descriptive information which gives a broad general picture of ground-water conditions. Subsequent reports will discuss only changes that have taken place during the previous year. Many of the data used in the preparation of the report were collected by the Geological Survey in cooperation with the Utah State Engineer during past and continuing programs. The well-location map and some statistical information about numbers of wells in the State were prepared by digital computer from the Utah Resources Information System, University of Utah, utilizing records which were compiled largely from the files of the Utah State Engineer. R.E. Marsell, geological consultant to the Utah Water and Power Board, first suggested that this report be prepared.

Utah↗

USGS1963

Ground-water conditions in the southern and central parts of the East Shore area, Utah, 1953-61

The East Shore area is in north-central Utah between the Wasatch Range and Great Salt Lake, and it has been divided into the Bountiful, Weber Delta, and Brigham ground-water districts, from south to north. The area described in this report includes the Bountiful and Weber Delta districts and the southernmost part of the Brigham district. Long-term mean annual precipitation at Ogden is 17.07 inches, and the average annual temperature over the area is about 50°F. The population of the project area increased by 54 per cent from 1950 to 1960 and should increase rapidly in the future.

Utah↗

USGS1963

Selected hydrologic data, Tooele Valley, Tooele County, Utah

This report is intended to serve two purposes: (1) to make available to the public basic ground-water data useful in planning and studying development of water resources, and (2) to supplement an interpretive report that will be published later. Records were collected during the period 1958-63 by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Utah State Engineer as part of the investigation of ground-water conditions in Tooele Valley, Tooele County, Utah. Additional data, collected prior to this study, can be found in the reports listed in the bibliography, and in the Water-Supply Papers of the Geological Survey listed at the beginning of table 2. The interpretive material will be published in a companion report by Joseph S. Gates. This report is most useful in predicting conditions likely to be found in areas that are being considered as well sites. The person considering the new well can spot the proposed site on plate 1 and examine the records of nearby wells as shown in the tables and figures. From table I he can note such things as depth, diameter, water level, yield, drawdown, use of water, temperature of water, and depth of perforations. By comparing the depth of perforations with the drillers' logs in table 3 he can note the type of material that yields water to the wells. Table 2 and figures 2, 3, and 4 show the historic fluctuations and trends of water levels in the vicinity. From table 4 he can note the chemical quality of the water from wells in the vicinity. Table 5 shows the amount of water discharged during 1962 from the pumped wells. If the reader decides from his examination that conditions are favorable he can place an application to drill a well with the State Engineer. If the State Engineer believes unappropriated water is available, the application may be approved after minimum statutory requirements have been satisfied. The report is also useful when planning large-scale developments of water supply. This and other uses of the report will be helped by use of the interpretive report upon its release.

Utah↗