Summary of hydrologic conditions at Joshua Tree National Monument, Riverside County, Calif, 1956-59
Kunkel F. 1960. Summary of hydrologic conditions at Joshua Tree National Monument, Riverside County, Calif, 1956-59. Open-File report. United States Department of The Interior, Geological Survey. Long Beach, CA
Since 1956, the United States Geological Survey, at the request of the National Park Service, had been monitoring wells in the Pinto Basin. The Park Service was concerned about pumpage by Kaiser Steel Corporation: a lowering of water levels in the basin could alter native conditions. The study concludes that sufficient water is available, and that as it was already deep enough that native vegetation did not depend on or use it, there is no need to limit pumping. Tables show well water levels, chemical analyses, and pumpage rates. The plates consist of maps (area and detail), and three well hydrographs. This report supplements a similar, previous one by the same author (1956).