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Lester Ray Kister

Publications and source records attributed to Lester Ray Kister.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS1973

Quality of the ground water in the lower Colorado River region, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah

This atlas presents data on the areal and vertical distribution of the dissolved-solids and fluoride concentrations in ground water for the lower Colorado River region, an area of about 140,000 square miles in parts of Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. The maps were prepared using data from previously established reports, data collected by other Federal, State, and local agencies, and data from the files of the U.S. Geological Survey offices in Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. These data have been compiled as a part of the lower Colorado River region Type I framework study made in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah↗
USGS1966

Salinity of the ground water in western Pinal County, Arizona

The chemical quality of the ground water in western Pinal County is nonuniform areally and stratigraphically. The main areas of highly mineralized water are near Casa Grande and near Coolidge. Striking differences have been noted in the quality of water from different depths in the same well. Water from one well, (D-6-7) 25cdd, showed an increase in chloride content from 248 ppm (parts per million) at 350 feet below the land surface to 6,580 ppm at 375 feet; the concentration of chloride increased to 10,400 ppm at 550 feet below the land surface. This change was accompanied by an increase in the total dissolved solids as indicated by conductivity measurements. The change in water quality can be correlated with sediment types. The upper and lower sand and gravel units seem to yield water of better quality than the intermediate silt and clay unit. In places the silt and clay unit contains zones of gypsum and common table salt. These zones yield water that contains large amounts of the dissolved minerals usually associated with water from playa deposits. Highly mineralized ground water in an area near Casa Grande has moved southward and westward as much as 4 miles. Similar water near Coolidge has moved a lesser distance. Good management practices and proper use of soil amendments have made possible the use of water that is high in salinity and alkali hazard for agricultural purposes in western Pinal County. The fluoride content of the ground water in western Pinal County is usually low; however, water from wells that penetrate either the bedrock or unconsolidated sediments that contain certain volcanic rocks may have as much as 9 ppm of fluoride.

Water Supply Paper↗
USGS1956

Saline-water resources of Texas

Large quantities of saline water are available in the world, both on the surface and underground; however, these waters have not been studied extensively as sources of potable water. Saline water is defined herein as water containing more than 1,000 parts per million of dissolved solids, or, with certain mineralized irrigation waters whose exact dissolved solids content is not known, water containing more than 60 percent sodium. Saline ground water occurs as connate water or other saline water that entered an aquifer in the geologic past and has not been flushed from the aquifer; as the result of solution of soluble materials in aquifers by percolating ground water; as a result of salt-water encroachment into aquifers which are in hydrologic connection with saline waters; or as the result of concentration by evaporation, especially in the vicinity of playa lakes. Surface water may become saline as a result of seepage of highly mineralized ground water; solution of salts from rocks over which the streams flow; intrusion of sea water in tidal reaches of a stream; and discharge of saline wastes from industrial operations. Most of the aquifers in Texas contain saline water in some parts, and a few are capable of producing large quantities of saline water. Of the early Paleozoic formations, the Hickory sandstone member of the Riley formation of Cambrian age and the Ellenburger group of Ordovician age are potential sources of small to moderate supplies of saline water in parts of central and west-central Texas.

Water Supply Paper↗