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Great Basin Carbonate-Alluvial Aquifer System (GBCAAS) Water Availability

Project Number:
Project Chief: Victor Heilweil, USGS Salt Lake City, Utah
Cooperators: USGS California Water Science Center, USGS GD-Denver
Period of Project:

Base Map (Click map for a larger view)

Purpose

The objective of the USGS Water Availability Program is to assess water availability in the Nation’s major aquifer systems. The Great Basin Carbonate and Alluvial Aquifer System (GBCAAS) is part of this federally funded program. Specific objectives of this study include quantifying current ground-water resources, evaluating how those resources have changed over time, and developing tools to assess system responses to stresses from future human uses and climate variability.

Description of the Study Area

The GBCAAS study covers an area of more than 100,000 mi² encompassing most of the Great Basin regional aquifer system. The area is characterized by numerous arid to semi-arid basins with unconsolidated alluvial aquifers separated by mountain ranges often comprised of carbonate aquifers. Population is concentrated within 100 miles of Salt Lake City and in the Las Vegas area and is growing rapidly. In the less populated areas, ranching and irrigated farming are the main economies. The area includes two national parks and numerous national wildlife refuges.

Approach

This study will compile and interpret pertinent information related to the region’s geology and hydrology to develop a conceptual understanding of water movement within the system and then use the knowledge to construct a numerical model for better understanding the current system response to natural and human stresses. This tool will also be used to forecast how the system might respond to future climate variability and water use.

Timeline and Products

The first year of this four-year (FY2007-FY2010) study focused on compiling hydrogeologic information and analyzing a previous Regional Aquifer Systems Analysis (RASA) numerical ground-water flow model for guidance in prioritizing additional data needs. During the second and third years (FY2008, FY2009), water budget components are being evaluated and a generalized hydrogeologic framework model has been constructed and incorporated into a steady-state ground-water flow model. The water budget data and hydrogeologic framework model are described in a USGS Scientific Investigations Report (currently under review). A transient ground-water flow model will be developed during the latter half of the third year (FY2009) and described in a USGS Scientific Investigations Report that will be submitted for review in FY2010. Future projection simulations will be conducted during the fourth year and all water budget information will be summarized and interpreted in the context of both current and future ground-water availability in a USGS Professional Paper that will be submitted for review in FY2010. In addition, all GIS data will be archived.