Sources of springs supplying base flow to the Verde River headwaters, Yavapai County, Arizona

Wirt, Laurie; Hjalmarson, H.W.

doi:10.3133/ofr99378

Cited by 12 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…That study was undertaken with the City of Prescott in order to examine the relation between groundwater in the Big Chino subbasin and base flow in the Verde, and resulted in two calibrated, steady state models (Ewing and others, 1994b). Wirt and Hjalmarson (2000) evaluated the source of the upper Verde River springs that provide base flow to the Verde River from Granite Creek to Perkinsville; they determined the source to be mainly Big Chino subbasin groundwater. Navarro (2002) constructed a two-layer, three-aquifer groundwater flow model Ostenaa and others (1993) of the Bureau of Reclamation conducted 21 resistivity soundings intended to delineate the extent of the clay and silt sediments of the Big Chino subbasin basin fill and to develop a general sense of the electrical properties and structure of the subbasin.…”

Section: Previous Investigationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of Big Chino subbasin hydrogeology near Paulden, Arizona, using controlled source audio-frequency magnetotelluric surveys

Macy¹,

Gungle²,

Mason³

2019

Scientific Investigations Report

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Cover. A, Outcrop of Devonian Martin Formation along south side of Verde River, just south of study area 1. B, Outcrop of fractured and jointed Tertiary basalt flow along Verde River, near south edge of study area 1. C, Outcrop of Precambrian crystalline and metasedimentary rocks in road cut along Williamson Valley Road, south of study area 2. D, Outcrop of Mississippian Redwall Limestone in road cut along Highway 89 where it cuts through the southeast end of Big Black Mesa, north of Paulden, Arizona. E, Outcrop of Quaternary fanglomerate in road cut along Highway 89, approximately 6 miles

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Section: Previous Investigationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of Big Chino subbasin hydrogeology near Paulden, Arizona, using controlled source audio-frequency magnetotelluric surveys

Macy¹,

Gungle²,

Mason³

2019

Scientific Investigations Report

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“…E1). Wirt and Hjalmarson (2000) compiled and interpreted 18 O, 2 H, 3 H, and 13 C data compiled from earlier studies, along with new samples from upper Verde River springs. These stable-isotope data were used in a mass balance calculation to estimate the relative proportion of inflow to the Verde River from the Big and Little Chino aquifers.…”

Section: Geochemistry Of Major Aquifers and Springsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These stable-isotope data were used in a mass balance calculation to estimate the relative proportion of inflow to the Verde River from the Big and Little Chino aquifers. On the basis of the mass balance results, Wirt and Hjalmarson (2000) concluded that the Big Chino aquifer supplied at least 80 percent of the base flow in the upper Verde River. This estimate was compared with their water budget for the upper Verde River based on historical precipitation, stream discharge, ground-water levels, and pumping records.…”

Section: Geochemistry Of Major Aquifers and Springsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geologic framework of aquifer units and ground-water flowpaths, Verde River headwaters, north-central Arizona

DeWitt¹,

Langenheim²

2005

Open-File Report

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In this chapter, graphical methods to plot geochemical and isotopic data are used to characterize major aquifers and springs discharging to the upper Verde River and to identify changes in water chemistry along the main groundwater flowpath from Big Chino Valley to upper Verde River springs. Samples were analyzed for major and trace elements, δ 18 O, δD, 3 H, 14 C, and 13 C. Groundwater samples are grouped by aquifer, altitude, and geographic location to identify important processes and trends. Sample groups include (a) high-altitude areas west and south of Big Chino Valley, (b) the carbonate aquifer north of Big Chino Valley and the upper Verde River (Mississippian-Devonian, or M-D sequence), (c) the Little Chino basin-fill aquifer, (d) the Big Chino basin-fill aquifer, (e) the carbonate aquifer near the outlet of the Big Chino basin-fill aquifer (Devonian-Cambrian, or D-C zone), and (f) low-altitude springs discharging to the upper Verde River. Limitations of the stable-isotope data used in this study include not being able to volumetrically weight contributions from different areas of the groundwater system. Also, evaporation has had a significant effect on the stable-isotope composition of spring-fed lakes and some samples from the M-D carbonate aquifer. Despite these drawbacks, the Little Chino basin-fill aquifer and the M-D sequence still could be largely excluded as major sources to upper Verde River springs. Low-altitude springs discharging from the Little Chino basin-fill aquifer are ~0.4 per mil (‰) enriched in δ 18 O, with high dissolved strontium (> 450 µg/L Sr) resulting from contact lati-andesite in northern Little Chino Valley. In contrast, the M-D sequence is depleted by about 1.3‰ δ 18 O and 7.9‰ δD and is low in strontium (less than 120 µg/L Sr), compared to moderate values for upper Verde River springs (346 to 440 µg/L Sr). Water chemistry of upper Verde River springs has characteristics of both the Big Chino basin-fill aquifer and the D-C zone of the carbonate aquifer near Paulden. Values of-10.3±0.2‰ δ 18 O and-74.4±2.0‰ δD were used to trace a flowpath from the Big Chino basin-fill aquifer near Paulden through the D-C zone to upper Verde River springs. Disproportionate increases of the boron and lithium along the flowpath of 274 percent B versus 188 percent Li (with no corresponding change in δ 18 O, δD, Ca, and Sr values) indicate the major process responsible for increases in trace elements is water-rock interaction. The upper Verde River springs samples have moderately high values of 17-29 µg/L As, 136-270 µg/L B, and 28-49 µg/L Li, attributed to water-rock contact with marine shale within the D-C zone. The highest concentrations in the study area of 33-38 µg/L As, 330-460 µg/L B, and 54-86 µg/L Li are found in the D-C zone. The presence of measurable tritium and elevated 14 C activity near the outlets of the basins indicates that recharge is occurring beneath major drainages, including Williamson Valley Wash, lower Big Chino Wash, Granite Creek, and Little Chino Creek. Carbon-14 activiti...

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“…2). Wirt and Hjalmarson (2000) propose that the northwest-trending Big Chino fault, which offsets the Paleozoic limestones along the base of Big Black Mesa (Fig. 2), serves as a conduit for ground-water exiting Big Chino Basin and supplying base flow to the upper Verde River.…”

Section: Geologic Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preliminary report on geophysical data in Yavapai County, Arizona

Langenheim¹,

Hoffmann²,

Blasch³

et al. 2002

Open-File Report

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Recently acquired geophysical data provide information on the geologic framework and its effect of groundwater flow and on stream/aquifer interaction in Yavapai County, Arizona. High-resolution aeromagnetic data reflect diverse rock types at and below the topographic surface and have permitted a preliminary interpretation of faults and underlying rock types (in particular, volcanic) that will provide new insights on the geologic framework, critical input to future hydrologic investigations. Aeromagnetic data map the western end of the Bear Wallow Canyon fault into the sedimentary fill of Verde Valley. Regional gravity data indicate potentially significant accumulations of low-density basin fill in Big Chino, Verde, and Williamson Valleys. Electrical and seismic data were also collected and help evaluate the approximate depth and extent of recent alluvium overlying Tertiary and Paleozoic sediments. These data will be used to ascertain the potential contribution of shallow groundwater subflow that cannot be measured by gages or flow meters and whether stream flow in losing reaches is moving as subflow or is being lost to the subsurface. The geophysical data will help produce a more robust groundwater flow model of the region.

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Sources of springs supplying base flow to the Verde River headwaters, Yavapai County, Arizona

Cited by 12 publications

References 12 publications

Characterization of Big Chino subbasin hydrogeology near Paulden, Arizona, using controlled source audio-frequency magnetotelluric surveys

Characterization of Big Chino subbasin hydrogeology near Paulden, Arizona, using controlled source audio-frequency magnetotelluric surveys

Geologic framework of aquifer units and ground-water flowpaths, Verde River headwaters, north-central Arizona

Preliminary report on geophysical data in Yavapai County, Arizona

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