Verde River Basin Water-Resources Primer
Description
Verde River Basin Water-Resources Primer -- Understanding Our Water and Our Verde River Basin
The Verde River Basin Water-Resources Primer grew from a series of PowerPoint presentations given by retired U.S. Geological Survey geologist Ed Wolfe to Watershed Steward classes at the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension of Yavapai County.
The Primer provides well-explained, well-illustrated, documented source material for interested citizens, public decision makers, teachers, and presenters of water-resource information that is directed, in particular, to understanding the workings of the interconnected groundwater and surface-water systems of the Verde River Basin.
Chapter 1: Introduction
The Richness of the Verde River
Sources of Verde River Streamflow
Is Year-Round Flow of the Verde River at Risk?
Can We Sustain Our Treasured Verde River?
Chapter 2: The Global Water Cycle
Chapter 3: Groundwater
Groundwater Recharge
Aquifers and the Water Table
Groundwater Movement
Chapter 4: A Hydrology Tool Box
Water-Table Maps
Characterizing Confined Aquifers, Potentiometric Surfaces, and Artesian Wells
Applications of Geologic Observations and Wells for Monitoring and Evaluating Groundwater Resources
Geologic Properties of Aquifer Rocks and Sedimentary Deposits
Measurement of Hydraulic Heads within Aquifers
Historic Records of Water-Level Change
Aquifer Tests
Groundwater Chemistry
Streamflow Measurements
Stream gage Measurements
Seepage Runs
Geophysical Tools
Seismology
Regional Gravity and Magnetic Surveys
Precise Gravity Measurements for Storage-Change Analysis
Numerical Groundwater Models
Chapter 5: Regional Hydrogeologic Framework in the Upper and Middle Verde River Watersheds
Geologic Setting
Regional Hydrologic Setting
Alluvial Basins
General Relation: Geology and Groundwater in the Upper and Middle Verde River Watersheds
Chapter 6: Occurrence and Flow of Groundwater and Surface Water in the Upper and Middle Verde River Watersheds
What is a watershed?
The Upper and Middle Verde River Watersheds and Their Administrative Groundwater Sub-basins
Prescott Active Management Area
Verde River Groundwater and Surface-Water Systems
Groundwater Flow
Base Flow along the Verde River
Annual Streamflow, Base Flow, and Runoff along the Verde River
Seasonality of Base Flow along the Verde River
Irrigation Diversions
Chapter 7: Pumping and Its Effect on Groundwater and Streamflow In the Upper and Middle Verde River Watersheds
Streamflow Depletion: A Consequence of Groundwater Pumping
Streamflow Depletion in Action: Del Rio Springs, Little Chino Wash, Sullivan Lake, and the Uppermost Verde River
Streamflow Depletion: Looking Ahead in the Verde Valley
Potential Effects of Groundwater Pumping or Artificial Recharge on Streamflow and Groundwater-Dependent Vegetation in the Verde Valley
Human Effect on Base Flow in the Verde Valley
Change in Base Flow—1910 Through 2005
Forward-Looking Simulations - 2006 Through 2109
Human Effect on Depth to Groundwater in the Verde Valley
Conclusions and Inferences
Chapter 8. The Verde River Ecosystem – Riparian and Aquatic Habitat
Native Fish in Arizona
Verde River Plants and Animals
Verde River Water Needs
Riparian Trees and Groundwater
Wetland Plants and Groundwater
Native Wildlife
Fish
Finding Balance
Chapter 9: Perennial Flow of the Verde River: Is It At Risk?
Potential Future Groundwater Demand in the Upper and Middle Verde Watersheds
Potential New Water Demand in the Little Chino Sub-basin
Potential New Water Demand in the Big Chino Sub-Basin
Potential New Water Demand in the Verde Valley Sub-basin
Summary of Potential Water Demands In the Upper and Middle Verde River Watersheds
The Role of Pumping From Wells in Meeting Water Demand in the Upper and Middle Verde River Watersheds
Eventual Effect of Capture from Past, Current, and Potential New Water Demands on Verde River Base Flow
Groundwater Model Results—Extended effects of Past, Current and Future Groundwater Pumping
Future Water Demand in the Verde River Basin and Its Relation to the Stream Gage Records
What Might the Future Hold?
The Primer is in the public domain; please feel free to learn from it and draw on it in whatever way may be useful.