New Releases by Mike Lowe

This 116-page report presents the results of an investigation by the Utah Geological Survey of land subsidence and earth fissures in Cedar Valley, Iron County, Utah. Basin-fill sediments of the Cedar Valley Aquifer contain a high percentage of fine-grained material susceptible to compaction upon dewatering. Groundwater discharge in excess of recharge (groundwater mining) has lowered the potentiometric surface in Cedar Valley as much as 114 feet since 1939. Groundwater mining has caused permanent compaction of fine-grained sediments of the Cedar Valley aquifer, which has caused the land surface to subside, and a minimum of 8.3 miles of earth fissures to form. Recently acquired interferometric synthetic aperture radar imagery shows that land subsidence has affected approximately 100 mi² in Cedar Valley, but a lack of accurate historical benchmark elevation data over much of the valley prevents its detailed quantification. Continued groundwater mining and resultant subsidence will likely cause existing fissures to lengthen and new fissures to form which may eventually impact developed areas in Cedar Valley. This report also includes possible aquifer management options to help mitigate subsidence and fissure formation, and recommended guidelines for conducting subsidence-related hazard investigations prior to development.

This report characterizes the relationship of geology to groundwater occurrence and flow, with emphasis on determining the thickness of the valley-fill aquifer and water yielding properties of the fractured rock aquifers. Develops a water budget for the drainage basin and classifies the groundwater quality and identifies the likely sources of nitrate in groundwater.

This report (79 p. + 49 p. appendices and 2 plates) evaluates the feasibility of artificial groundwater recharge by surface spreading of water from the Weber River.

"This CD consists of a report (40 pages, 6 plates) of an evaluation by the Utah Geological Survey of threats to the Salt Lake Valley wetlands posed by changes in climatic conditions and by increased ground-water withdrawals accompanying population growth"--Back label of container.

This CD-ROM contains a 50 page report and a map at 1:24,000 scale in PDF format that describes the ground-water conditions in the Bothwell Pocket''s basin-fill aquifer and addresses 1- whether a decline in water levels during different pumping seasons has occurred 2- the relationship of ground-water to geology and land use in the drainage basin 3- if water-quality degradation due to encroachment of poor quality ground water is occurring 4- the relative age of water from selected water wells and 5- if the potentiometric surface of the basin-fill aquifer is declining.

The purpose of this study is to provide tools for water-resource management and land-use planning; to accomplish this purpose we (1) characterize the relationship of geology to ground-water conditions in the Glen Canyon and the unconsolidated valley-fill aquifers, (2) classify the groundwater quality of the Glen Canyon (east of the valley only) and valley-fill aquifers to formally identify and document the beneficial use of ground-water resources, and (3) apply a ground-water flow model using a mass balance approach to determine the potential impact of projected increased numbers of septic-tank systems on water quality in the valley-fill aquifer and thereby recommend appropriate septic-system density requirements to limit water-quality degradation

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recommended that states develop Pesticide Management Plans for four agricultural chemicals - alachlor, atrazine, metolachlor, and simazine - used in Utah as herbicides in the production of corn and sorghum, and to control weeds and undesired vegetation (such as along right-of-ways or utility substations). This report and accompanying maps are intended to be used as part of these Pesticide Management Plans to provide local, state, and federal government agencies and agricultural pesticide users with a base of information concerning sensitivity and vulnerability of ground water in the basin-fill aquifer (bedrock is not evaluated) to agricultural pesticides in the central Virgin River basin, Washington and Iron Counties, Utah. We used existing data to produce pesticide sensitivity and vulnerability maps by applying an attribute ranking system specifically tailored to the western United States using Geographic Information System analysis methods. 24 pages + 2 plates

This study indicates that wetlands in Tooele Valley are endangered. The threats posed are from drought and increased development due to population growth, which could dramatically affect the amount of water the wetlands receive. -- sticker on back of disc cover.

This 23-page report and two maps at scale 1:65,000 in PDF format, addresses ground-water sensitivity and vulnerability to pesticides for the Tooele Valley in Tooele County.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recommended that states develop Pesticide Management Plans for four agricultural chemicals - alachlor, atrazine, metolachlor, and simazine - used in Utah as herbicides in the production of corn and sorghum, and to control weeds and undesired vegetation (such as along right-of-ways or utility substations). This report and accompanying maps are intended to be used as part of these Pesticide Management Plans to provide local, state, and federal government agencies and agricultural pesticide users with a base of information concerning sensitivity and vulnerability of ground water in the basin-fill aquifer (bedrock is not evaluated) to agricultural pesticides in the southern Sevier Desert and Pahvant Valley, Millard County, Utah. We used existing data to produce pesticide sensitivity and vulnerability maps by applying an attribute ranking system specifically tailored to the western United States using Geographic Information System analysis methods. 28 pages + 2 plates

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the potential for future movement of the landslides during earthquakes to determine the hazard these features may pose. Goals of the study were to: (1) determine when landslide movement occurred, (2) determine the failure mode (lateral spread versus flow failure), (3) determine if recurrent movement has occurred, (4) correlate, where possible, through radiocarbon dating, the timing of landslide movement(s) with the paleoseismic record from fault studies along the Wasatch Front, and (5) assess the current hazard from liquefaction-induced landslides along the Wasatch Front. Once the study was underway, it became evident that not all 13 landslides were liquefaction induced, or even landslides at all. Thus, an additional goal of the study became determining which of the 13 mapped landslides were liquefaction induced, which were not liquefaction induced, and which were formed by other processes. 40 pages + 16 plates

Contains a report and accompanying maps to be used with the Pesticide Management Plans for local, state, and federal government agencies and agricultural pesticide users, giving a base of information concerning sensitivity and vulnerability of ground water.

"This CD-ROM contains a report and 10 maps at 1:100,000-scale in easily readable PDF format that address ground-water quality in Cache Valley''s basin-fill aquifer and provide recommendations for septic tank soil-absorption-system densities based on potential water-quality degradation associated with usage of these systems. The maps are described in detail in the report and show total-dissolved-solids, nitrate, iron, sulfate, and chloride concentrations, and recommended septic tank soil-absorption-system densities."--sticker on back of case.

The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of septic tank soil-absorption systems on ground-water quality for three areas in Cedar Valley where septic tank soil-absorption systems are typically used for wastewater disposal. These areas have some existing development, but we anticipate that there will be additional development in the future. The Utah Geological Survey evaluated the potential impact of the projected potential development on ground-water quality based on septic-tank-system densities using a mass-balance approach similar to an analysis conducted by Hansen, Allen, and Luce for Heber and Round Valleys, Wasatch County, Utah. The selection of the evaluated areas was made in consultation with local government officials. This study may be used as a model for other evaluations of the impact of proposed subdivision site(s) on ground-water quality and allow planners to more effectively determine appropriate development densities.

In Grand County, ground water has been withdrawn primarily from two types of aquifers: fractured rock and unconsolidated deposits. Some of the better water-yielding rock units are grouped together into nine aquifers, including: the Lower Paleozoic aquifer, the Cutler aquifer, the Wingate aquifer, the Navajo aquifer, the Entrada aquifer, the Morrison aquifer, the Dakota aquifer, the Wasatch aquifer, and the Parachute Creek aquifer. This report summarizes published information regarding ground-water conditions in Grand County. During the preparation of this report we identified several types of information that are not presently available, but can be useful for evaluating ground-water resources, including: (1) structure contour maps showing the depth to aquifers, (2) isopach maps showing the thickness of aquifers, and (3) fracture domain maps showing the predominant orientations of rock discontinuities.

Many lots in Weber County presently cannot be developed because adverse site characteristics (such as soil that percolates outside acceptable rate ranges or shallow ground water) make them unsuitable for conventional wastewater disposal systems (septic tank soil-absorption systems). The Weber-Morgan District Health Department and the Utah Division of Water Quality have developed designs for alternative wastewater disposal systems that may be used in such areas if hydrogeologic soil conditions are suitable, ground- and surface-water quality will not be degraded, and humans will not be exposed to wastewater pathogens. To demonstrate conformance with these criteria, hydrogeologic and soil studies of proposed sites will need to be conducted and results submitted to the Weber-Morgan District Health Department. Suitable hydrogeologic conditions include (1) site slopes no steeper than 4 percent, (2) soil percolation rates bewteen 60 minutes/inch and 1 minute/inch (5 minutes/inch for both Ogden Canyon and Ogden Valley), (3) depth to seasonal shallow ground water at least 2 feet (0.6 m) below the bottom of soil-absorption drain-field trenches or beds and 1 foot (0.3 m) below the original ground surface (location of trenches and beds with respect to original ground surface varies with alternative system type), (4) depth to bedrock or unsuitable soil at least 4 feet (1.2 m) belowthe bottom of soil-absorption drain-field trenches, (5) topographic and geologic conditions that prevent wastewater from surfacing or reaching surface-water bodies or culinary wells within 250 days ground-water time of travel, (6) ground-water flow available for mixing in the zone of mixing in the aquifer below the site such that average nitrate concentrations will not be increased more than 1 mg/L under the anticipated wastewater loading, and (7) nitrate in high concentration zones (plumes) will not exceed 10 mg/L at any depth or location when it reaches the alternative wastewater disposal system owner''s property line, as determined using a defendable solute transport model. Additionally, soil conditions should be such that wastewater will be adequately treated before reaching ground or surface water.

The Farmington Siding landslide complex is in Davis County, Utah, about 25 kilometers north of Salt Lake City. The landslide complex covers approximately 19.5 square kilometers and is one of 13 late Pleistocene/Holocene features along the Wasatch Front mapped by previous investigators as possible liquefaction-induced lateral spreads. The Farmington Siding landslide complex is in a largely rural area, but state and interstate highways, railroads, petroleum and natural-gas pipelines, and other lifelines cross the complex. Continued population growth along the Wasatch Front increases the likelihood of urban development within and adjacent to the landslide complex. Development along the Wasatch Front has proceeded with little consideration of hazards associated with liquefaction-induced landslides. Slope-failure mechanisms, extent of internal deformation, and timing of landslide events are poorly understood, and these factors must be evaluated to enable local governments to effectively plan for development and implement hazard-reduction strategies as needed. The purpose of this study is to assess the hazard associated with future liquefaction-induced landsliding within and adjacent to the Farmington Siding landslide complex by evaluating slope-failure modes and extent of internal deformation within the complex, inferring the geologic and hydrologic conditions under which landsliding occurred, determining the timing of landsliding, and evaluating the relative likelihood of various earthquake source zones to trigger liquefaction-induced landsliding. We chose the Farmington Siding landslide complex for this study because of the distinctiveness of geomorphic features on the northern part of the complex and the presence of landslide deposits that are clearly of different ages. Furthermore, because much of the area is rural, appropriate land-use planning measures can still be implemented to protect future development.