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This study will be accomplished as separate but coordinated tasks over a 30-month period which began in December 2004 (timeline). The tasks are designed to provide specific information needed to quantify basin ground-water budgets and develop a conceptualization of regional ground-water flow.
Task 1 – Geology
Evaluate hydrogeologic controls on ground-water flow through carbonate and alluvial aquifers. Determine the approximate volume of water stored in those aquifers by evaluating data on aquifer thickness, extent, and structural characteristics; and hydraulic properties.
Task 2 – Recharge and Discharge
Develop estimates of mean annual recharge and discharge, including discharge by evapotranspiration (ET), pumpage, streamflow, and springflow using geographic information system (GIS) analysis, the collection of new atmospheric data, and remote-sensing techniques.
Task 3 – Ground-Water Flow
Evaluate principal ground-water flow paths using existing and new water-level data that represent the regional ground-water flow system. Develop maps that represent the altitude of static water levels in wells within the flow system.
Task 4 – Geochemistry
Describe the chemical quality of ground water using existing data for major ions, trace metals, and pesticides. Collect and analyze new data to enhance the understanding and to support hydrologic evaluations of the magnitude and distribution of recharge, ground-water flow direction, and ground-water travel times.
Task 5 – Data Integration
Compile and collect existing and new hydrologic data from each task to be stored in the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS). Develop a central database for storage and dissemination of spatial data sets. Develop a public web site for dissemination of study information and data.
Task 6 – Data Synthesis and Evaluation
Synthesize and evaluate the results of all tasks to estimate basin water budgets, develop a three-dimensional conceptual description of regional ground-water flow, and prepare a final report documenting the results of the study.
