Hydrogeologic Investigation of the Sheep Creek Fans Regional Aquifer and Chromium's Origins and Impacts on Water Quality, San Bernardino County, California

The Sheep Creek Fan is located in the Mojave Desert between the towns of Wrightwood and El Mirage dry lake. The hydrogeology of the fan was modeled in 3D to determine what areas dictated by the Mojave Water Agency 1.5mi buffer zone from the California aqueduct is favorable for artificial recharge. The sand vs. clay ratios created by the subsurface litholigies being categorized as sand, silt, and clay indicated that the southern middle portion of the fan is suitable for recharge. Chromium impacts the water quality and the concentrations were graphed to determine the concentration versus distance traveled from the source. The chromium source is likely from the mineral actinolite from the Pelona Schist. Chromium was found to be in high concentrations in sediments at the base of the Wrightwood watershed in Sheep Creek and decreased with distance from the source. The correlation between our sediment samples and the concentrations of chromium in water is an inverse relationship.