Geology topics

L.E. Brooks

Publications and source records attributed to L.E. Brooks.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS2003

Hydrology and simulation of ground-water flow in Kamas Valley, Summit County, Utah

Kamas Valley, Utah, is located about 50 miles east of Salt Lake City and is undergoing residential development. The increasing number of wells and septic systems raised concerns of water managers and prompted this hydrologic study. About 350,000 acre-feet per year of surface water flows through Kamas Valley in the Weber River, Beaver Creek, and Provo River, which originate in the Uinta Mountains east of the study area. The ground-water system in this area consists of water in unconsolidated deposits and consolidated rock; water budgets indicate very little interaction between consolidated rock and unconsolidated deposits. Most recharge to consolidated rock occurs at higher altitudes in the mountains and discharges to streams and springs upgradient of Kamas Valley. About 38,000 acre-feet per year of water flows through the unconsolidated deposits in Kamas Valley. Most recharge is from irrigation and seepage from major streams; most discharge is to Beaver Creek in the middle part of the valley. Long-term water-level fluctuations range from about 3 to 17 feet. Seasonal fluctuations exceed 50 feet. Transmissivity varies over four orders of magnitude in both the unconsolidated deposits and consolidated rock and is typically 1,000 to 10,000 feet squared per day in unconsolidated deposits and 100 feet squared per day in consolidated rock as determined from specific capacity. Water samples collected from wells, streams, and springs had nitrate plus nitrite concentrations (as N) substantially less than 10 mg/L. Total and fecal coliform bacteria were detected in some surface-water samples and probably originate from livestock. Septic systems do not appear to be degrading water quality. A numerical ground-water flow model developed to test the conceptual understanding of the ground-water system adequately simulates water levels and flow in the unconsolidated deposits. Analyses of model fit and sensitivity were used to refine the conceptual and numerical models.

Utah↗

USGS2001

Selected hydrologic and water-quality data for Kamas Valley and vicinity, Summit County, Utah, 1997-2000

This report contains hydrologic and water-quality data collected in the Kamas Valley vicinity during a study from 1997 to 2000. The study area is in Summit County in north-central Utah and is part of the Middle Rocky Mountains Physiographic Province described by Fenneman (1931). Data were collected in Kamas Valley between the Uinta Mountains on the east and the West Hills on the west, the upper Weber River area, the Samak area along Beaver Creek, the Woodland area, and the Indian Hollow area. These areas, where population growth and water demand are concentrated, encompass about 70 square miles and include the Weber River, Beaver Creek, and Provo River drainages. Surface water is the dominant hydrologic resource. The combined average flow from these three drainages is about 345,000 acre-feet per year. Ground water is present in the unconsolidated deposits in Kamas Valley, in stream alluvium along Beaver Creek and the upper Weber River, and in the consolidated rocks surrounding Kamas Valley.

Utah↗

USGS1995

Hydrology and simulation of ground-water flow in southern Utah and Goshen Valleys, Utah

The ground-water resources of southern Utah and Goshen Valleys were assessed from 1988 to 1993 to determine the effects that additional ground-water withdrawals would have on water levels, surface water, and water quality. Recharge, movement, and discharge of ground-water were emphasized. The main ground-water system in southern Utah and Goshen Valleys is in the unconsolidated basin-fill deposits. Recharge to the ground-water system from streams, canals, irrigation, precipitation, intermittent and ephemeral runoff, and subsurface inflow was estimated to be 120,000 acre-feet in southern Utah Valley and 30,000 acre-feet in Goshen Valley in 1990. Discharge from the ground-water system to springs and drains, by evapotranspiration, to wells, streams, canals, Utah Lake, and sewer systems was estimated to be 130,000 acre-feet in southern Utah Valley and 33,000 acre-feet in Goshen Valley in 1990. Release from storage from March 1990 to March 1991 was estimated to be 9,800 acre-feet in southern Utah Valley and 3,400 acre-feet in Goshen Valley. Observed water-level fluctuations indicate that irrigation is not a major source of recharge in either valley and that precipitation is not a major source in Goshen Valley. In southern Utah Valley, water levels in March 1991 were not significantly different from water levels in March 1965. In Goshen Valley, water levels in March 1991 were higher than water levels in March 1965. A three-dimensional, finite-difference, ground-water flow model was used to simulate the ground-water system in the unconsolidated basin-fill deposits of southern Utah and Goshen Valleys. The steady-state conditions of 1949 and annual transient-state conditions from 1949 to 1990 were used to calibrate the model. Model-computed water-level declines of less than 20 feet are projected if municipal well withdrawals increase by 10,000 acre-feet per year. Model-computed water-level declines of 20 feet in southern Utah Valley and 40 to 80 feet in Goshen Valley are projected if well withdrawal is increased by 200 percent of the 1990 withdrawals.

Utah↗