Hydrogeologic factors that influence ground water movement in the desert southwest United States

Open-File Report 2003-294
By: , and 

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Abstract

A project to study ground-water and surface-water interactions in the desert southwestern United States was initiated in 2001 by the Tucson, Arizona office of the Water Resources Division, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). One of the goals of the Southwest Ground-water Resources Project was to develop a regional synthesis that includes the use of available digital geologic data, which is growing rapidly due to the increasing use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Included in this report are the digital maps and databases of geologic information that should have a direct impact on the studies of ground-water flow and surface-water interaction.


Ground-water flow is governed by many geologic factors or elements including rock and soil permeability, stratigraphy and structural features. These elements directly influence ground-water flow, which is key to understanding the possible inter-connectivity of aquifer systems in desert basins of the southwestern United States. We derive these elements from the evaluation of regional geology and localized studies of hydrogeologic basins. These elements can then be applied to other unstudied areas throughout the desert southwest. This report presents a regional perspective of the geologic elements controlling ground-water systems in the desert southwest that may eventually lead to greater focus on smaller sub-regions and ultimately, to individual ground-water basins.

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Hydrogeologic factors that influence ground water movement in the desert southwest United States
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2003-294
DOI 10.3133/ofr03294
Edition Version 1.0
Year Published 2003
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center
Description 37 p.
Country United States
State Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah
Scale 2000000
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