Evaluation of the Hydrologic System and Selected Water-Management Alternatives in the Owens Valley, California

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Contents

Abstract (PDF, 18KB)

Introduction (PDF, 564KB)

Purpose and Scope

Previous Investigations

Methods of Investigation

Acknowledgments

Description of Study Area (PDF, 1.2MB)

Physiography

Geologic Setting

Climate

Vegetation

Land and Water Use

Hydrologic System (PDF, 3.3MB)

Precipitation and Evapotranspiration (PDF, 1.1MB)

Precipitation

Evapotranspiration

Surface-Water System (PDF, 1.3MB)

Tributary Streams

Percent Valleywide Runoff

Tributary Stream Recharge

Ungaged Runoff

Mountain-Front Runoff between Tributary Streams

Runoff from Bedrock Outcrops within the Valley Fill

Owens River and the Los Angeles Aqueduct

Lower Owens River

Reservoirs and Small Lakes

Reservoirs

Small Lakes

Canals, Ditches, and Ponds

Canals and Ditches

Ponds

Owens Lake

Ground-Water System (PDF, 1MB)

Geometry and Boundary Conditions

Hydrogeologic Units and Subunits

Hydraulic Characteristics

Movement of Ground Water

Ground-Water Budget

Discharge from Pumped and Flowing Wells

Springs and Seeps

Underflow

Irrigation and Watering of Livestock

Ground-Water Quality

Ground-Water Flow Model

General Characteristics

Representation of the Aquifer System

Approximation of Recharge and Discharge

Simulation Periods

Calibration

Verification

Sensitivity Analysis

Use, Limitations, and Future Revisions

Discussion of Simulated Results, Water Years 1963-88

Evaluation of Selected Water-Management Alternatives (PDF, 1.5MB)

General Water-Management Considerations

Simulation of Selected Water-Management Alternatives

Alternative 1: Continue 1988 Operations

Alternative 2: Continue 1988 Operations with Long-Term Changes in Climate

Alternative 3: Increase or Decrease Long-Term Average Pumpage

Alternative 4: Manage Periodic Variations in Runoff and Pumpage

Optimal Operation of Well Fields

Reliability of Results

Potential Changes in Operation

Need for Further Studies (PDF, 25KB)

Aquifer System

Ground-Water Flow

Surface-Water Flow

Water Budgets

Native Vegetation

Water Management

Summary and Conclusions (PDF, 59KB)

Selected References (PDF, 80KB)

 

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Plates

1. Hydrographs showing measured ground-water levels and simulated hydraulic heads for selected wells in the Owens Valley, California (PDF, 564KB)
2. Maps showing hydrogeologic model zones and hydraulic parameters for each layer of the ground-water flow model in the Owens Valley, California (PDF, 1.4MB)
3. Maps showing locations and average values of simulated ground-water recharge and discharge in the Owens Valley, California, for water years 1970-84 (PDF, 3MB)

 

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Figures

Frontispiece. Vertically exaggerated perspective and oblique view of the Owens Valley, California, showing the dramatic difference in topographic relief between the valley and the surrounding mountains. (PDF, 149KB)
1.	Map showing drainage areas and physiographic and cultural features of the Owens Valley and the Mono Basin, California (PDF, 302KB)
2.	Map showing location of detailed hydrologic investigations and ground-water flow models for the Owens Valley, California, 1982-88 (PDF, 228KB)
3.	High-altitude infrared imagery showing major geologic, hydrologic, and cultural features of the Owens Valley, California (PDF, 636KB)
4.	Map showing generalized surficial geology of the Owens Valley drainage basin, California (PDF, 250KB)
5.	Typical hydrogeologic sections of the Owens Valley, California (PDF, 124KB)
6.	Photographs of native plant communities in the Owens Valley, California (PDF, 164KB)
7.	Map, graph, and table showing contours of mean annual precipitation, relation between recent mean annual precipitation and altitude, and data for selected precipitation stations in the Owens Valley, California (PDF, 170KB)
8.	Graph showing annual precipitation at Bishop and Independence, California (PDF, 28KB)
9.	Map showing estimated average annual transpiration by native vegetation during water years 1983-87 in the Owens Valley, California (PDF, 895KB)
10.	Photographs of major surface-water features in the Owens Valley, California (PDF, 161KB)
11.	Map showing location of the Owens River-Los Angeles Aqueduct system, the lower Owens River, tributary streams, lakes, reservoirs, spillgates, major gaging stations, and selected pumped wells in the Owens Valley, California (PDF, 200KB)
12, 13.	Graphs showing: 12. Annual-runoff probability for the Owens Valley, California (PDF, 29KB) 13. Streamflow relations for selected tributary streams in the Owens Valley, California (PDF, 34KB)
14-17.	Maps showing: 14. Ground-water conditions in the defined aquifer system of the Owens Valley, California, spring 1984 (PDF, 231KB) 15. Transmissivity of valley-fill deposits as determined from aquifer tests in the Owens Valley, California (PDF, 189KB) 16. Average horizontal hydraulic conductivity of valley-fill deposits in the Owens Valley, California (PDF, 189KB) 17. Location of springs, seeps, pumped or flowing wells, and approximate area of well fields in the Owens Valley, California (PDF, 183KB)
18.	Graph showing relation between annual pumpage and annual runoff for the Owens Valley, California (PDF, 27KB)
19-20.	Maps showing measured and simulated potentiometric surfaces in the Owens Valley, California, spring 1984, for: 19. Hydrogeologic unit 1 (upper model layer) (PDF, 235KB) 20. Hydrogeologic unit 3 (lower model layer) (PDF, 236KB)
21.	Map and graphs showing simulated ground-water recharge and discharge during water years 1963-88 in the Owens Valley, California (PDF, 173KB)
22.	Graphs showing sensitivity of simulated hydraulic heads in the Owens Valley, California, to variations in recharge and pumpage at wells in recharge areas, near well fields, and distant from both (PDF, 47KB)
23.	Map showing simulated change in water-table altitude in the Owens Valley, California, between water years 1963 and 1984 (PDF, 165KB)
24.	Diagram and graph showing simulated ground-water flow rates near the fast-drawdown site at Independence, California (PDF, 55KB)
25.	Schematic section across the Owens Valley near Independence, California, showing ground-water flow under different pumping conditions (PDF, 39KB)
26.	Map showing simulated change in water-table altitude in the Owens Valley, California, between water year 1984 conditions and 1988 steady-state conditions (PDF, 149KB)
27.	Graph showing simulated ground-water budgets for the aquifer system of the Owens Valley, California, for water years 1963-69, water years 1970-84, and 1988 steady-state conditions (PDF, 32KB)
28-29.	Sections showing the simulated water table in the Owens Valley, California, for 1988 steady-state conditions with different quantities of: 28. Runoff (PDF, 42KB) 29. Pumpage (PDF, 42KB)
30.	Diagram of water-management alternative 4 for the Owens Valley, California (PDF, 16KB)
31-33.	Maps showing simulated change in water-table altitude in the Owens Valley, California, for water-management alternative 4 at the end of: 31. Period I, representing 3 years of drought (PDF, 149KB) 32. Period II, representing 3 years of recovery (PDF, 143KB) 33. Period III, representing 3 years of wet conditions (PDF, 146KB)
34, 35.	34. A unit increase in pumpage at each well field (PDF, 348KB) 35. Maximum pumpage at each well field (PDF, 436KB)

 

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Tables

1. Ground-water and vegetation study sites in the Owens Valley, California, 1982-88 (PDF, 12KB)
2. Characteristics and purpose of ground-water flow models developed for the Owens Valley, California (PDF, 10KB)
3. Native plant communities in the Owens Valley, California (PDF, 13KB)
4. Historical periods of similar water use in the Owens Valley, California (PDF, 13KB)
5. Composition of native plant communities, ground-water-level and precipitation data, and range in evapotranspiration estimates at vegetation study sites in the Owens Valley, California (PDF, 10KB)
6. Selected surface-water gaging stations and pumped wells in the Owens Valley, California (PDF, 11KB)
7. Percent of long-term average annual runoff for the Owens Valley, California, water years 1935-88 (PDF, 11KB)
8. Mean annual discharge at selected gaging stations on the Owens River-Los Angeles Aqueduct system in the Owens Valley, California (PDF, 11KB)
9. Location of wells and values from aquifer tests in the Owens Valley, California (PDF, 915KB)
10. Ground-water budget for the aquifer system of the Owens Valley, California (PDF, 13KB)
11. Simulated ground-water budget for the aquifer system of the Owens Valley, California water years 1963-88 (PDF, 273KB)
12. Map coordinates for the ground-water flow model of the aquifer system of the Owens Valley, California (PDF, 12KB)
13. Recharge and discharge approximations for the ground-water flow model of the aquifer system of the Owens Valley, California (PDF, 12KB)
14. Simulated water-management alternatives for the Owens Valley, California (PDF, 11KB)
15. Average pumpage from well fields in the Owens Valley, California (PDF, 12KB)