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K. S. Muir

Publications and source records attributed to K. S. Muir.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS1981

Assessment of the Santa Margarita Sandstone as a source of drinking water for the Scotts Valley area, Santa Cruz County, California

Scotts Valley, Calif., is a rural residential area with a rapidly expanding population. Its mediterranean-type climate yields an average annual rainfall of 40 inches. The Santa Margarita Sandstone is the principal aquifer in the area, supplying about 90 percent of all water for domestic purposes. Sources of recharge for the Santa Margarita Sandstone are natural recharge, subsurface inflow from adjacent areas, artificial recharge, and deep penetration of excess irrigation water. Total domestic water use in 1979 was about 2,600 acre-feet. The quantity of ground water pumped for domestic use is expected to increase at a rate of 7 percent per year. Evapotranspiration, estimated to be about 29 inches per year, is the largest form of ground-water discharge. Ground water from the Santa Margarita Sandstone is generally suitable for domestic use. Potential for water-quality degradation exists from urban runoff, leachates from a solid-waste disposal site, and liquid wastes. Several agencies and individuals monitor surface-water and ground-water quality in the Scotts Valley area. Water from streams and the city of Santa Cruz are potential alternate sources of drinking water for the Scotts Valley area. (USGS)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1981

Tracing ground-water movement by using the stable isotopes of oxygen and hydrogen, upper Penitencia Creek alluvial fan, Santa Clara Valley, California

Starting in 1965 the Santa Clara Valley Water District began importing about i00,000 acre-feet per year of northern California water. About one-half of this water was used to artificially recharge the Upper Penitencia Creek alluvial fan in Santa Clara Valley. In order to determine the relative amounts of local ground water and recharged imported water being pumped from the wells, stable isotopes of oxygen and hydrogen were used to trace the movement of the imported water in the alluvial fan. To trace the movement of imported water in the Upper Penitencia Creek alluvial fan, well samples were selected to give areal and depth coverage for the whole fan. The stable isotopes of oxygen-16, oxygen-18, and deuterium were measured in the water samples of imported water and from the wells and streams in the Santa Clara Valley. The d18oand dD compositions of the local runoff were about -6.00 o/oo (parts per thousand) and -40 o/oo, respectively; the average compositions for the local native ground-water samples were about -6.1 o/oo and -41 o/oo, respectively; and the average compositions of the imported water samples were -10.2 o/oo and -74 o/oo, respectively. (The oxygen isotopic composition of water samples is reported relative to Standard Mean Ocean Water, in parts per thousand.) The difference between local ground water and recharged imported water was about 4.1 o/oo in d18o and 33 o/oo in dL. The isotopic data indicate dilution of northern California water with local ground water in a downgradient direction. Two wells contain approximately 74 percent northern California water, six wells more than 50 percent. Data indicate that there may be a correlation between the percentage of northern California water and the depth or length of perforated intervals in wells.

Water Supply Paper↗
USGS1980

Seawater intrusion and potential yield of aquifers in the Soquel-Aptos area, Santa Cruz County, California

Seawater has intruded the Purisima Formation in the interval 0-100 feet below sea level in the Soquel-Aptos area. It occurs in the central part of the area and extends inland about half a mile. The potential yields of the two principal aquifers in the Soquel-Aptos area are 4,400 acre-feet per year from the Purisima Formation and 1,500 acre-feet per year from the Aromas Sand. Pumping from the Purisima Formation, averaging about 5,400 acre-feet per year since 1970, has caused water levels along the coast to decline below sea level and has allowed seawater to enter the aquifer. Seawater intrusion and ground-water storage could be monitored in all depth zones by expanding the observation-well network to include a number of shallow wells, one deep well inland from the coast, and three deep wells along the coast.

California↗
USGS1979

Classification of ground-water recharge potential in three parts of Santa Cruz County, California

Ground-water recharge potential was classified in the Santa Cruz coastal area, North-central area, and Soquel-Aptos area in Santa Cruz County, Calif., for three data elements that affect recharge; slope, soils, and geology. Separate numerical maps for each element were composited into a single numerical map using a classification system that ranked the numbers into areas of good , fair, and poor recharge potential. Most of the Santa Cruz coastal area and the Norht-central area have a poor recharge potential, and much of the Soquel-Aptos area has a good to fair recharge potential. (Kosco-USGS)

Open-File Report↗
USGS1977

Geohydrology of part of the Round Valley Indian Reservation, Mendocino County, California

The Round Valley Indian Reservation in northern California obtains most of its water from the ground-water reservoir. The ground-water reservoir is made up of continental deposits, alluvium, and stream-channel deposits ranging in age from Pliocene to Holocene. Most of the water is pumped from the alluvium. Most ground water (about 20,000 acre-feet or 25 cubic hectometers per year) is derived from stream seepage. Natural discharge (discharge to streams, evapotranspiration, and underflow) has averaged about 21,000 acre-feet per year. Pumping and flow from artesian wells has averaged about 2,750 acre-feet per year. Ground water occurs in both confined and unconfined aquifers. The ground-water reservoir is full, and about 230,000 acre-feet of water is stored in the depth interval 10-200 feet. The water is chemically and biologically suitable for domestic or irrigation use, although hardness is high for domestic use and, locally, dissolved iron is a problem. There is potential for developing additional ground-water supplies. (Woodard-USGS)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1977

Initial assessment of the ground-water resources in the Monterey Bay region, California

The Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments (AMBAG) has been designated as the areawide waste-treatment-management planning agency for the Monterey Bay region under Sec. 208 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 (Public Law 92-500). Sec. 208 establishes the authority and responsibility of the designated local agency to investigate water-quality problems and plan solutions to them. In developing a waste-management program all aspects of water resources must be evaluated. AMBAG's 208 work plan established an initial problem assessment phase designed to serve as the basis for subsequent 208 program tasks. AMBAG requested that the U.S. Geological Survey make that portion of the initial assessment that was concerned with ground water. This report presents the findings of the assessment.

California↗
USGS1977

Ground water in the Fresno area, California

The Fresno area of California uses about 140,000 acre-feet of ground water a year for municipal and domestic purposes. An average of 2,000,000 acre-feet of water a year is pumped for irrigation. Major sources of recharge are deep penetration of irrigation water (80 percent) and seepage from canals, rivers, and streams (15 percent). Ground water occurs under unconfined and confined conditions; most water is pumped from the unconfined, alluvial aquifer. Ground-water quality is generally suitable for domestic and irrigation uses, although hardness and concentrations of nitrates and dissolved solids are of local concern. Water levels in the unconfined aquifer declined about 25 feet in the period 1947-1976. Levels in the confined aquifer declined about 100 feet in the period 1954-1976. Increased reliance on ground water for irrigation during the drought period will accelerate water-level declines.

California↗
USGS1974

Seawater intrusion, ground-water pumpage, ground-water yield, and artificial recharge of the Pajaro Valley area, Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties, California

The Pajaro Valley area, California, covering about 120 square miles (310 km 2 ), extends from the southern part of Santa Cruz County to several miles south of the county line into Monterey County. It borders the Pacific Ocean on the west and the Santa Cruz Mountains on the east. The city of Watsonville is the largest center of population. Seawater intrusion is occurring in the Pajaro Valley area from several miles north to several miles south of the mouth of the Pajaro River and in a small area about 4 miles (6.5 km) north of the river. The intrusion extends inland about 1 mile (1.6 km). Two water-bearing zones are being intruded--the depth intervals 100-200 feet (30-60 m) and 300-600 feet (90-180 m). Ground-water pumpage averaged 49,100 acre-feet per year (60.6 hm 3 /yr) for the 9-year period 1963-71. The long-term ground-water yield of the Pajaro Valley is about 44,000 acre-feet per year (54.3 hm 3 /yr). Artificial recharge can be effected through modified streambeds at infiltration rates as high as 3 feet per day (0.9 m/d). Injection wells may have recharge capabilities of as much as 500 gallons per minute (1.9 m 3 /min).

California↗
USGS1968

Ground-water reconnaissance of the Santa Barbara-Montecito area, Santa Barbara County, California

This is the third interpretive report prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Santa Barbara County Water Agency on the groundwater resources of areas along the south coast of the county. The two previous reports--one by J. E. Upson in 1951 and another by R. E. Evenson, H. D. Wilson, Jr., and K. S. Muir--were on ground-water conditions in the Goleta and Carpinteria basins. The Santa Barbara-Montecito area is between those two basins-the Goleta basin on the west and the Carpinteria basin on the east. This area of about 30 square miles extends from the Pacific Ocean on the south to the Santa Inez Mountains on the north. The city of Santa Barbara and the towns of Montecito and Summerland are within the area. The Santa Barbara-Montecito area is a low-lying flat section of the coastal plain. Farther inland are highlands of consolidated rock and terrace deposits. The highlands are areas of uplift, folding, and faulting, and the lowlands are structural depressions. Most of the urban development in the area has been in the lowlands. The unconsolidated deposits that have partly filled the structural depressions make up the ground-water reservoir of the Santa Barbara-Montecito area. They include the Santa Barbara Formation of Pliocene and Pleistocene age, the Casitas Formation of Pleistocene age, and the alluvium of late Pleistocene and Recent age. These deposits underlie an area of about 20 square miles and have a maximum thickness of about 2,000 feet. The consolidated rocks of Tertiary age that underlie and form the boundaries of the ground-water reservoir contain ground water in fractures and in sandstone beds. However, the consolidated rocks are not an important source of ground water. In 1959, a year the ground-water basins were full and ground water in storage was at a maximum, storage in the Santa Barbara area was 184,000 acre-feet, and storage in the Montecito area was 97,000 acre-feet. By 1964, in response to below-average recharge and continued withdrawal by pumping, the quantity of ground water in storage in the Santa Barbara area had decreased to 178,000 acre-feet. Because of a reduction in pumpage, there was little change in storage in the Montecito area between 1959 and 1964. Deep percolation of rain, seepage from streams, and subsurface inflow from consolidated rocks are the main sources of recharge to the ground-water reservoir in the Santa Barbara-Montecito area. The most important discharge is by pumping.The long-term perennial yield of the ground-water reservoir of the Santa Barbara area is estimated to be 1,700-2,000 acre-feet. Present data are insufficient to accurately determine the perennial yield of the reservoir in the Montecito area, but it is estimated to be about 2,500 acre-feet. Most ground water in the Santa Barbara-Montecito area is suitable for general use. However, ground water in some of the consolidated rocks and in the shallow unconsolidated deposits adjacent to the coast is too saline for most uses. Seawater intrusion has occurred in the Santa Barbara area and the western part of the Montecito area. The intrusion, however, is limited to the upper part of the nearshore shallow alluvial deposits and contaminates only wells which were constructed without a near-surface seal.

California↗
USGS1964

Water levels in observation wells in Santa Barbara County, California, 1963

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Santa Barbara County Water Agency, continued the study of the ground-water resources of Santa Barbara County (fig. 1) in 1963. As part of the study, the Geological Survey made monthly water-level measurements in 247 wells; 17 of which were equipped with automatic water-level recorders. These measurements and measurements made by the Santa Maria Valley Water Conservation District are included in this report— In addition, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation measured the water levels in wells along the Santa Ynez River between Cachuma Dam and Rucker Crossing, but the measurements have not been included herein. In addition to the observation-well program, the Geological Survey is preparing interpretive reports on the ground-water conditions in the Ellwood-Gaviota area, the Lompoc and Santa Ynez upland areas of the Santa Ynez River basin, the Santa Barbara-Summerland area, and the Santa Maria Valley. The basic data from which these reports are being prepared can be consulted at the Santa Barbara office of the Geological Survey. This report was prepared by the Geological Survey, Water Resources Division, under the general supervision of Fred Kunkel, district geologist in charge of ground-water investigations In California, and under the immediate supervision of C. P. Zones, geologist in charge of the Santa Barbara subdistrict office. Measurements for the period 1941-55 were published in U.S. Geological Survey water-supply papers; measurements for the period 1956-62 were released locally in duplicated form.' A report by G. A. LaRocque, Jr., and others (1950) contains descriptions of 2,246 wells in the ground-water basins of the county in 1942. It also contains many water-level measurements made before 1942 by the city of Santa Barbara, the Santa Maria Valley Water Conservation District, the San Joaquin Power Division of the Pacific Gas and Electric Co., the Union Sugar Co., the Union Oil Co., and other organizations and individuals. Comprehensive reports on the geology and ground-water resources of the Santa Ynez River basin (Upson, Thomasson, and others, 1951; Wilson, 1959), the south-coast basins (Upson and others, 1951), the Santa Maria Valley area (Worts, 1951), the Cuyama Valley (Upson and Worts, 1951) and the San Antonio Creek valley (Muir; 1964) were published as Geological Survey water-supply papers. A report on stream runoff and ground-water storage capacity of the Santa Ynez River valley (Troxell and Wilson, 1952) was released to the open file in October 1952. A complete bibliography of reports of investigations made by the Water Resources Division, U.S. Geological Survey, in Santa Barbara County since 1940 is included in this report.

California↗
USGS1963

Water levels in observation wells in Santa Barbara County, California, in 1962

Investigation of the ground-water resources of Santa Barbara County was continued during 1962 by the U. S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Santa Barbara County Water Agency. Monthly water-level measurements were made in 201 wells, in 9 of which automatic water-level recorders were operated. Earlier measurements, covering the period 1941 through 1955, have been published in U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Papers (19)43-1957); those for 1:56 through 1961 have been released locally in duplicated form (Muir and Merritt, 1957; Evenson 1950; Miller, 1959; Muir, Merritt, and Miller, 1960; Merritt, 1961; and Muir, 1962). LaRocque, Jr., and others (1950) contains tabulated descriptions of 2,246 wells in existence in 1942 in the several ground-water basins of the county. The same publication also contains many water-level measurements made prior to 1942 by the city of Santa Barbara, Santa Maria Valley Water Conservation District, San Joaquin Power Division of the Pacific Gas and Electric Co., Union Sugar Co., Union Oil Co., and other organizations and individuals. Comprehensive reports on the geology and and ground-water resources of the Santa. Ynez River basin (Upson and Thomasson, 1951, and Wilson, 1959), the south-coast basin (Upson, 1951), the Santa Maria Valley area (Worts, 1951), and the Cuyvma Valley (Upson and Worts, 1951) have been published as Water-Supply Papers 1107, 1467, 1108, 1000, and 1110-B, respectively. A similar report on the San Antonio Creek Valley is in preparation. A report on stream runoff and ground-water storage capacity of the Santa Ynez River Valley (Troxell and Wilson, 1952) was released to the open file in October 1952. In addition to the water-level measurements made by the Geological Survey in 1962, measurements made by the Santa Maria Valley Water Conservation District are included in this report. Not included in this report are miscellaneous measurements made by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in wells along the middle reach of the Santa Ynez River between Cachuma Dam and Rucker Crossing.

California↗
USGS1962

Water levels in observation wells in Santa Barbara County, California, in 1961

Investigation of the ground-water resources of Santa Barbara County was continued during 1961 by the U. S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Santa Barbara County Water Agency. Monthly water-level measurements were made in 190 wells, in 9 of which automatic water-level recorders were operated. Earlier measurements, covering the period 1941 through 1955, have been published in U. S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Papers (1943-1957); those for 1956 through 1960 have been released locally in duplicated form (Muir and Merritt, 1957; Evenson, 1958; Miller, 1959; Muir, Merritt, and Miller, 1960; and Merritt, 1961). LaRocque, Jr., and others (1950) contains tabulated descriptions of 2,246 wells in existence in 1942 in the several ground-water basins of the county. The same publication also contains many water-level measurements made prior to 1942 by the city of Santa Barbara, Santa Maria Valley Water Conservation District, San Joaquin Power Division of the Pacific Gas and Electric Co., Union Sugar Co., Union Oil Co., and other organizations and individuals. Comprehensive reports on the geology and ground-water resources of the Santa Ynez River basin (Upson and Thomasson, 1951, and Wilson, 1959), the south-coast basins (Upson, 1951), the Santa Maria Valley area (Worts, 1951), and the Cuyama Valley (Upson and Worts, 1951) have been published as Water-Supply Papers 1107, 1467, 1108, 1000, and 1110-B, respectively. A similar report on the San Antonio Creek Valley is in preparation. A report on stream runoff and ground-water storage capacity of the Santa Ynez River valley (Troxell and Wilson, 1952) was released to the open file on October 1952. In addition to the water-level measurements made by the Geological Survey in 1961, measurements made by the Santa Maria Valley Water Conservation District are included in this report. Not included in this report are miscellaneous measurements made by the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation in wells along the middle reach of the Santa Ynez River between Cachuma Dam and Rucker Crossing.

California↗
USGS1957

Water levels in observation wells in Santa Barbara County, California, in 1956

Investigation of the ground-water resources of Santa Barbara County was continued during 1956 by the Geological Survey in cooperation with the Santa Barbara County Water Agency. Monthly water-level recorders were operated. Earlier measurements, covering the period 1941 through 1953, have been published in Geological Survey water-Supply Papers; those for 1954 and 1955 are in press and have been released locally in duplicated form. Water-Supply Paper 1068 contains tabulated descriptions of 2,246 wells in existence in 1942 in the various ground-water basins of the county. The same publication contains also many water-level measurements made prior to 1942 by the city of Santa Barbara, Santa Maria Valley Water Conservation District, San Joaquin Power Division of the Pacific Gas and Electric Co., Union Sugar Co., Union Oil Co., and other organizations and individuals. Comprehensive reports on the geology and ground-water resources of the Santa Ynez River basin (Upson and Thomasson, 1951), the south-coast basins (Upson, 1951), the Santa Maria Valley area (Worts, 1951), and the Cuyama Valley (Upson and Worts, 1951) have been published as Water-Supply Papers 1107, 1108, 1000, and 1110-B respectively. A report on stream runoff and ground-water storage capacity of the Santa Ynez River valley (Troxell and Wilson, 1952) was released to the open file in October 1952. A report appraising the ground-water resources of the Santa Ynez River valley (Wilson, 1957) was released to the open file in October 1956.

California↗
USGS1955

Water levels in observation wells in Santa Barbara County, California; in 1954

The investigation of the ground-water resources of Santa Barbara County was continued (luring 1954 in cooperation with the Santa Barbara County Wallet Agency. Monthly water-level measurements were made in 182 wells in 6 of which automatic water-level recorders were operated. Earlier measurements covering the period 1941 through 1952 have been published in U. S. Geological Survey water-supply papers; those for 1953 are in press and have already been released locally in duplicated form. Water-Supply Paper 1068 contains tabulated descriptions for 2,246 wells in existence in 1942 in the various ground-water basins of the county. The same publication contains also many water-level measurements made prior to 1942 by the city of Santa Barbara, Santa Maria Valley Water Conservation District, San Joaquin Power Division of the Pacific GAB and Electric Co., Union Sugar Co., Union Oil Co., and other organizations and individuals. Comprehensive reports on the geology and ground-water resources of the Santa Time River basin (Upson and Thomasson, 1951), the south-coast basins (Upson, 1951), the Santa Maria Valley area (Worts, 1951), and the Cuyama Valley (Upson and Worts, 1951) have been published as Water-Supply Papers 1107, 1108 100U. and 1110-B respectively. In October 1952 "Reports on stream runoff and ground-water storage capacity, Santa Ynez River, Santa Barbara Count, Calif.," prepared respectively by Messrs. H. C. Troxell of the Surface Water Branch and H. D. Wilson, Jr., of the Ground hater Branch, U. S. Geological Survey, were released (Troxell and Wilson, 1952). In 1954 water-level measurements were made by the city of Santa Maria and the Santa Maria Valley Water Conservation District, in addition to those made by the Geological Survey, and are included in this report.

California↗