Environmental Isotopic and Hydrogeochemical Investigation of Recharge and Subsurface Flow in Eagle Valley, Nevada

摘要

The general objective of this investigation is to use environmental isotope and major ion changes in Eagle Valley to determine recharge source areas and recharge rates and flow patterns and mixing in zones of essentially lateral flow and discharge areas. In addition, an assessment will be made of the uncertainties in the isotopic determination of average annual and average recharge. All of the aforementioned tasks will be accomplished using environmental isotopes and hydrogeochemical patterns. This type of study has not previously been done in Nevada's arid basins, so it will serve as a benchmark for similar studies in other basins of Nevada. In addition, the study will describe and quantify changes in water chemistry in the hydrologic cycle from precipitation, to infiltration, runoff, and finally, to groundwater flow.