Geohydrology and potential for artificial recharge in the western part of the U.S. Marine Corps Base, Twentynine Palms, California, 1982-83

Water-Resources Investigations Report 84-4119
Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Marine Corps, Department of the Navy
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  • Document: Report (pdf)
  • Plates:
    • Plate 1 (pdf) Configuration of surface on bedrock complex at base of sediments, and area used for estimating ground-water storage, U.S. Marine Corps Base, Twentynine Palms, California
    • Plate 2 (pdf) Ground-water-level contours, 1982; well locations, and potential recharge areas; U.S. Marine Corps Base, Twentynine Palms, California
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Abstract

A recent gravity survey indicates that sedimentary deposits in the Deadman Lake area of the Twentynine Palms Marine Corps Base, California, are as much as 10,500 feet thick. These deposits fill an ancient valley in the bedrock complex. This valley is alined east-west in the Surprise Spring area and north-south in the Deadman Lake area.

Water levels in the Ames Dry Lake area of the Surprise Spring subbasin have changed little between earliest measurements in 1952-53 and in 1982. Water levels in three Marine Corps Base supply wells in the same subbasin near Surprise Spring declined an average of 78 feet during the past 30 years. Water levels in the same timespan in Deadman subbasin and water quality in the base supply wells, drilled in 1952-53 and 1978, have remained virtually unchanged.

Ground water in storage, suitable for domestic use, in the top 200 feet of saturated sediments in Surprise Spring subbasin was estimated to be 810,000 acre-feet in the early 1950's. About 60,000 acre-feet of this has been removed, mostly for use at the Marine Corps Base, which leaves about 750,000 acre-feet of recoverable water of good quality still stored in the 200-foot interval considered. For planning purposes, it would be safe to use a conservative figure of 300,000 acre-feet for storage in the Deadman subbasin, which contains water having fluoride concentrations greater than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's standards for drinking water.

Three sites in the general area of the present well fields seem favorable for recharging the ground-water system in the Surprise Spring subbasin. Further exploration of these sites is suggested.

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Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Geohydrology and potential for artificial recharge in the western part of the U.S. Marine Corps Base, Twentynine Palms, California, 1982-83
Series title Water-Resources Investigations Report
Series number 84-4119
DOI 10.3133/wri844119
Year Published 1986
Language English
Publisher U.S.Geological Survey
Publisher location Sacramento, CA
Contributing office(s) California Water Science Center
Description Report: iv, 18 p.; 2 Plates: 32.07 x 35.21 inches and 32.18 x 34.70 inches
Country United States
State California
City Twentynine Palms
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