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Research about Colorado, Utah

Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including Colorado, Utah.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
USGS1984

Simulated effects of proposed reservoir-development alternatives on streamflow quantity in the White River, Colorado and Utah

Numerous reservoirs have been proposed for the White River basin in Colorado and Utah, primarily to provide water for oil-shale development. A multireservoir-flow model was used to simulate the effects of streamflow withdrawal at four of the proposed reservoirs using historical streamflow data from the 1932-81 water years. The proposed reservoirs considered in the study were Avery, Powell Park, Taylor Draw, and White River Reservoirs; construction of Taylor Draw Dam was completed during the study. Annual streamflow depletions from the White River ranging from about 93,000 to 226,000 acre-feet were simulated for the 50 year period. Simulated streamflow throughout the year generally became smaller and more constant as streamflow throughout the year generally became smaller and more constant as streamflow depletion increased. Minimum streamflow requirements would not have been met for a maximum of 13 years and water-use requirements associated with the proposed reservoirs would not have been met for a maximum of 3 years. The current water-use pattern, which depletes about 40,000 acre-feet per year and is dominated by irrigation of hay meadows and pastureland, was maintained in the simulation. Relations between reservoir active capacity and yield applicable to the White River also were developed. These relations show that reservoir storage of about 400,000 acre-feet is the maximum practicable for the White River.

Colorado, Utah↗
USGS1983

Ground water in the southeastern Uinta Basin, Utah and Colorado

The potential for developing oil-shale resources in the southeastern Uinta Basin of Utah and Colorado has created the need for information on the quantity and quality of water available in the area. This report describes the availability and chemical quality of ground water, which might provide a source or supplement of water supply for an oil-shale industry. Ground water in the southeastern Uinta Basin occurs in three major aquifers. Alluvial aquifers of small areal extent are present in valley-fill deposits of six major drainages. Consolidated-rock aquifers include the bird's-nest aquifer in the Parachute Creek Member of the Green River Formation, which is limited to the central part of the study area; and the Douglas Creek aquifer, which includes parts of the Douglas Creek Member of the Green River Formation and parts of the intertonguing Renegade Tongue of the Wasatch Formation; this aquifer underlies most of the study area. The alluvial aquifers are recharged by infiltration of streamflow and leakage from consolidated-rock aquifers. Recharge is estimated to average about 32,000 acre-feet per year. Discharge from alluvial aquifers, primarily by evapotranspiration, also averages about 32,000 acre-feet per year. The estimated volume of recoverable water in storage in alluvial aquifers is about 200,000 acre-feet. Maximum yields to individual wells are less than 1,000 gallons per minute. Recharge to the bird's-nest aquifer, primarily from stream infiltration and downward leakage from the overlying Uinta Formation, is estimated to average 670 acre-feet per year. Discharge from the bird's-nest aquifer, which is primarily by seepage to Bitter Creek and the White River, is estimated to be 670 acre-feet per year. The estimated volume of recoverable water in storage in the bird's-nest aquifer is 1.9 million acre-feet. Maximum yields to individual wells in some areas may be as much as 5,000 gallons per minute. A digital-computer model of the flow system was used to evaluate the effects of oil-shale development on the bird's-nest aquifer at the Federal lease tracts Ua and Ub. Results of model simulations indicate that during construction of a vertical access shaft, a pumping rate of about 900 gallons per minute would be required to dewater the aquifer. The model also indicates that the construction of a proposed reservoir on the White River may raise water levels in the bird's-nest aquifer near the reservoir site by as much as 45 feet. The flow model was used to evaluate the potential ground-water supply available for oil-shale development in the vicinity of the Federal lease tracts Ua and Ub. The results of the simulation indicate that the bird's-nest aquifer could supply about 10,000 acre-feet of water per year at that site, for a period of 20 years. Drawdown after 20 years of pumping would exceed 250 feet near the simulated well field. Based on the results of the model simulation, it is estimated that the aquifer could simultaneously supply another 10,000 acre-feet of water per year in the northern part of the study area, but some interference between well fields could be expected. The Douglas Creek aquifer is recharged by precipitation and stream infiltration at an average rate of about 20,000 acre-feet per year. Discharge is estimated to be about the same and is primarily through springs and diffuse seepage. The estimated volume of recoverable water in storage is 16 million acre-feet. Maximum yields to individual wells are estimated to be less than 500 gallons per minute. A model of the flow system in the Douglas Creek aquifer indicates that the aquifer could supply about 700 acre-feet of water per year for oil-shale development at Federal lease tracts Ua and Ub and at the TOSCO Corp. site. After 20 years of pumping, water levels in production wells would be near the base of the aquifer. Based on the results of the model simulation, it is estimated that the aquifer could supply another 700 acre-feet of water per year in the southern part of the modeled area, but some interference between wells could be expected. Chemical quality of the ground water in the southeastern Uinta Basin varies considerably. Water from alluvial wells ranges from about 440 to 27,800 milligrams per liter of dissolved solids. Water from two consolidated- rock aquifers has dissolved-solids concentrations ranging from 870 to 5,810 milligrams per liter in the bird's-nest aquifer, and from 640 to 6,100 milligrams per liter in the Douglas Creek aquifer. Water from alluvial wells generally is a sodium sulfate type, whereas water in both the consolidated- rock aquifers generally changes from a sodium sulfate type to a sodium bicarbonate type. All ground water is very alkaline, and the alluvial aquifers contain very hard water. None of the water is suitable for public supply, but all the water could be used for industrial purposes such as washing and cooling. Changes in chemical composition of the ground water can be attributed to several physiochemical processes, including mineral precipitation and dissolution, oxidation and reduction, mixing, ion exchange, and evaporative concentration. Mass-transfer modeling of these processes shows how they can account for the variability in the ground-water quality. The mass-transfer model of the Bitter Creek alluvial aquifer shows that evaporative concentration, combined with precipitation of calcite, dolomite, gypsum, and release of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere results in the documented changes in pH and dissolved solids in the water. The water-quality changes in the consolidated-rock aquifers are a result of precipitation of calcium carbonate and perhaps dolomite (calcium magnesium carbonate) with the reduction of sulfate by organic carbon, as well as ion exchange of magnesium for sodium. These processes result in large values of pH and alkalinity in the water.

Colorado, Utah↗
USGS1982

Water for western oil shale development: Potential local supplies

Commercial-scale development of western oil shale resources will require a supply of water for both extraction and reclamation purposes. This paper summarizes some of the information on the occurrence of potential local supplies of water in the Piceance Creek Basin-Uinta Basin areas of northwest Colorado and northeast Utah. The discussion is somewhat hypothetical in that it is restricted to the physical occurrence of water with emphasis on water resources in each basin. Of course, the many potential constraints on water use (including economics, water quality, legal and other institutional factors) are necessarily secondary to the ultimate constraint, its physical occurrence. Perhaps the most obvious constraint is that of water rights and water laws. For example, "mining" of some of the ground water is herein assumed to be necessary for technically sound management and utilization of the water resource, but the hydrologic effects of such "mining" would require accommodation under water laws and agreements.

Colorado, Utah↗
USGS1982

Selected climatic characteristics of the southeastern Uinta Basin, Utah and Colorado

The southeastern Uinta Basin in Utah and Colorado contains large reserves of oil shale, the mining of which could affect the area 's water resources. Climatic characteristics of the area, which were evaluated as one phase of a comprehensive hydrologic study, are presented to help provide the means of evaluating the impact of mining on the area 's water resources. Data for precipitation , air temperature, and evaporation obtained by the U.S. Geological Survey from October 1974 to September 1978, and similar short-term data obtained by other Federal agencies at sites in and near the study area, were tabulated and adjusted to a 1941-70 base period. For all sites with incomplete records for 1941-70, the data were adjusted by relating them to concurrent data collected at one or more long-term National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration sites. Maps were prepared showing areal variance for normal annual precipitation, normal annual air temperature, and normal annual pan evaporation.. The normal annual precipitation ranges from less than 8 inches for altitudes under 5,000 feet to more than 20 inches above 9,000 feet. The normal annual air temperature ranges from 37 to 47 degrees Fahrenheit and varies inversely with altitude and latitude. The normal annual pan evaporation ranges from 42 to 60 inches and varies directly with normal annual air temperature. Although not mapped, it is shown that the normal April 1 water content of the snowpack increases from about 5 inches at 7,000 feet to about 11 inches at 9,000 feet. In addition, the year-to-year and within-year variances of some climatic characteristics are illustrated. The standard error of estimate when relating normal annual precipitation to altitude is 17%, which is equivalent to the standard error when relating the average for 5 years of observed record at a site to the long-term mean at the site. Thus, it appears that additional observation points would not improve areal coverage unless the observation sites were continued for 5 years or longer. (USGS)

Colorado, Utah↗
USGS1981

Preliminary paleomagnetic poles and correlation of the Proterozoic Uinta Mountain Group, Utah and Colorado

Stable paleomagnetic directions have been obtained from seven sites spanning much of the 7-km-thick middle Proterozoic Uinta Mountain Group. The characteristic magnetization is carried partly by detrital(?) and secondary specularite and partly by hematite pigment. Preliminary paleomagnetic poles for six of the seven sites are closely grouped and their mean pole is 0.6°N, 157.2°E ( N = 6, α 95 = 5.4°). The pole for the seventh and stratigraphically highest site lies to the west, 4.6°N, 140.1°E, and ( n = 8, α 95 = 15.9°). On the basis of the poles, revisions to correlations of the Uinta Mountain Group with other sequences are proposed. The Uinta Mountain Group appears to correlate with the Chuar Group and perhaps the upper member of the underlying Nankoweap Formation, and post-dates the Unkar Group of the Grand Canyon Supergroup. In addition, the upper part of the Uinta Mountain Group appears to correlate with the Little Dal Group of the Northwest Territories, Canada. The Uinta Mountain Group appears to entirely post-date the Belt Supergroup of Montana and Idaho. Correlation of the Uinta Mountain Group with the Chuar and Little Dal Groups is supported by the presence of the fossil Chuaria and by apparently overlapping isotopic ages. A maximum age range for the Uinta Mountain Group, extrapolated from the Grand Canyon Supergroup and the Little Dal Group, extends from <1100 to > 770 m.y.

Colorado, Utah↗
USGS1981

Selected biological characteristics of streams in the southeastern Uinta Basin, Utah and Colorado

Biological sampling was carried out during 1976-78 in five streams in the southeastern Uinta Basin, Utah and Colorado, in order to provide baseline water-quality data for an area of potential oil-shale development. The biological activity in the streams sampled generally is limited by physical factors more so than by chemical constituents and plant nutrients. Characteristics of streamflow, such as high turbidity, fluctuating water levels, and moderate to high salinity, limit production of flora and fauna biomass. Samples were collected for the determination of bacterial and periphyton concentrations and benthic-invertebrate communities. Bacterial concentrations were generally small, with some fecal contamination, primarily from livestock and wildlife. Members of the order Chlorophyta (green algae) were the major periphytic algae present in three of the streams sampled. Bitter Creek was dominated by members of the order Cyanphyta (blue-green algae), and pennate diatoms were the predominant algae in Willow Creek. The benthic-invertebrate communities generally reflect a nonpolluted environment. Shannon-Weiner diversity indices ranged from 1.14 to 3.08.

Colorado, Utah↗
USGS1981

Geochemistry of spring water, southeastern Uinta Basin, Utah and Colorado

The chemical quality of water in the southeastern Uinta Basin, Utah and Colorado, is important to the future development of the abundant oil-shale resources of the area. This report examines the observed changes in chemistry as water circulates in both shallow and deep ground-water systems. Mass-balance and mass- transfer calculations are used to define reactions that simulate the observed water chemistry in the mixed sandstone, siltstone, and carbonate lithology of the Green River Formation of Tertiary age. The mass-transfer calculations determine a reaction path particular to this system. The early dominance of calcite dissolution produces a calcium carbonate water. After calcite saturation, deeper circulation and further rock-water interaction cause the reprecipitation of calcite, the dissolution of dolomite and plagioclase, and the oxidation of pyrite; all combining to produce a calcium magnesium sodium bicarbonate sulfate water. The calculations suggest that silica concentrations are controlled by a kaolinite-Ca-montmorillonite phase boundary. Close agreement of mineral-saturation indices calculated by both an aqueous-equilibrium model and the mass-transfer model support the selection of reactions from the mass-transfer calculations.

Colorado, Utah↗
USGS1980

Hydrologic and climatologic data, southeastern Uinta Basin, Utah and Colorado, water year 1978

This report contains data collected in the vicinity of the oil-shale area in the southeastern Uinta Basin, Utah and Colorado, from Oct. 1, 1977, to Sept. 30, 1978. The data presented in tables, include monthly precipitation, depth-duration of rainfall, snow depth and water content, air temperature, daily streamflow records, water-quality data from continuous-recording gaging sites, water-quality data for wells and springs, and water levels, temperature, and specific conductance for selected wells. (USGS)

Colorado, Utah↗