Exploration and Groundwater Development from the DEEP Regional Carbonate Aquifer (RDCA) of Southeastern Nevada

Bushner, Greg

Exploration and Groundwater Development from the DEEP Regional Carbonate Aquifer (RDCA) of Southeastern Nevada

Thursday, May 8, 2014: 11:00 a.m.

Greg Bushner, RG , Vidler Water Company, Carson City, NV

Ryan Hoerth, P.E. , Vidler Water Company, Carson City, NV

All of the tools at hand were used to explore and develop the groundwater resources of several basins in southeastern Nevada by the Lincoln County Water District and Vidler Water Co. (Lincoln/Vidler). The groundwater basins of interest that were explored extensively included the Tule Desert, Kane Springs Valley, Clover Valley, and Dry Lake Valley. Exploration tools used included the drilling and testing of monitor wells and test wells that ranged in depths from 815 feet below land surface (bls) to more than 3800 feet bls. Production wells range in depths from 1810 to 2732 feet bls that yield from 600 up to 2000 gallons per minute (gpm) on a sustainable basis. To gain knowledge of aquifer characteristics, lithologic samples were collected along with down-hole geophysics. Water quality sampling was completed in all wells during aquifer testing, and in some cases zonal water quality sampling was conducted. Water sampled was analyzed for cations, anions, total dissolved solids, Oxygen-18, Deuterium, Carbon-13 and -14, as well as field parameters. Test pumps used included a lineshaft vertical turbine driven pump with bowls set to a depth of 1200 feet bls, to a submersible pump set at a depth of 1800 feet bls for a production rate of approximately 2000 gpm.

Other exploration techniques used included Natural Source Audio-Frequency Magnetotulluric (NSAMT) and Controlled Source Audio-Frequency Magnetotulluric (CSAMT) geophysical surveys that were used in combination with the down-hole geophysical data from each well to better understand the subsurface geology for siting new wells and understanding the RDCA in each basin. All of this information was used to develop a conceptual model and a numerical groundwater flow model in support of new groundwater appropriations from these basins. Efforts by Lincoln/Vidler to develop these water resources are entirely on federal lands with approvals for groundwater appropriations under the purview of the Nevada State Engineer.

Greg Bushner, RG, Vidler Water Company, Carson City, NV

Greg Bushner received a B.S. in geology from Northern Arizona University. He is currently the Chief Hydrogeologist for Vidler Water Co. His consultant career included serving as Practice Leader for Groundwater Resources at URS Corp. from 2002 to 2006, and Associate Hydrogeologist with HydroSystems Inc. from 1994 to 2002. Bushner specializes in hydrogeology, artificial groundwater recharge projects, water well drilling, and state permitting. Prior to consulting, Bushner was with the Arizona Department of Water Resources from 1985 through 1994. At ADWR he managed the Surface Water/Recharge Section of the Hydrology Division.

Ryan Hoerth, P.E., Vidler Water Company, Carson City, NV

Ryan Hoerth is a Project Manager with Vidler Water Co. where he is responsible for and in charge of all recharge and groundwater data collection activities for basins in Lincoln County, Nevada. He is a Professional Engineer in the state of Nevada. Prior to joining Vidler, he worked for Applied Soil Water Technologies LLC and Kleindfelder Group Inc. as a Project Manager and as a Staff Engineer. Hoerth’s work has included slope stability analyses, seepage analysis, wastewater retention basin design, settlement analyses, lateral earth pressures for retaining wall designs, seismic site class determination, and ET cover evaluations.