Plan of Study for the Regional Aquifer-System Analysis of the Northern RockyMountains Intermontane Basins, Montana and Idaho

摘要

The U.S. Geological Survey has begun a Regional Aquifer-System Analysis of theNorthern Rocky Mountains of western Montana and central and northern Idaho. The analysis will establish a regional framework of information for aquifers in about 70 intermontane basins in an area of 80,000 square miles. Alluvial and glacial deposits generally are the most productive shallow aquifers. In many areas, ground water is the only suitable source of supply, yet little information is available about this valuable resource on either a local or a regional scale. The report describes a plan of study for increasing and quantifying knowledge of the hydrogeology of aquifers in these intermontane basins. Specifically, the report describes the plan of study in terms of objectives and approach, work elements, and organization and staffing. In addition, the report delineates and describes the study area and the hydrogeologic framework in terms of the generalized geology and structure of bedrock, the type and character of Tertiary and Quaternary basin-fill deposits, and the ground-water flow.