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Water quality and supply on Cortina Rancheria, Colusa County, California

Water-Resources Investigations Report 89-4004
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https://doi.org/10.3133/wri894004

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Abstract

Cortina Rancheria covers an area of 1 sq mi in Colusa County, California, near the western edge of the Sacramento Valley. Local sources of water for residents of the rancheria are of poor quality or limited availability. Domestic needs are presently met by water from a hand-dug well and from a drilled well with a potential yield of 15 gal/min. Water from both wells fails to meet California State drinking-water standards, primarily because of high concentrations of chloride and dissolved solids. High concentrations of sodium and boron pose additional problems for agricultural use of the water. The dissolved ions originate in Upper Cretaceous marine sediments of the Cortina Formation, which occurs at or near land surface throughout the rancheria. Small quantities of fresh groundwater may occur locally in the Tehama Formation which overlies the Cortina Formation in the eastern part of the rancheria. Canyon Creek, the largest stream on the rancheria, flows only during winter and spring. Water from one of the rancheria 's three springs meet drinking water standards, but it almost stops flowing in summer. The generally poor quality of ground and surface water on the rancheria is typical of areas along the west side of the Sacramento Valley. Additional hydrologic information could indicate more precisely the quantity and quality of surface and groundwater on Cortina Rancheria. Principal features of a possible data-collection program would include monitoring of discharge and water quality in three springs and in Canyon Creek, electromagntic terrain conductivity surveys, and monitoring of water levels and quality in two existing wells and several proposed test wells. (USGS)
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Water quality and supply on Cortina Rancheria, Colusa County, California
Series title Water-Resources Investigations Report
Series number 89-4004
DOI 10.3133/wri894004
Edition -
Year Published 1989
Language ENGLISH
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey ; Copies may be purchased from U.S. Geological Survey Books and Open-File Reports Section,
Description iv, 28 p. :ill. ;28 cm.
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