Evaluation of the water supply at six sites in the Curecanti Recreation Area, southwestern Colorado
Boettcher AJ. 1971. Evaluation of the water supply at six sites in the Curecanti Recreation Area, southwestern Colorado. U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Open-File Report. 71005. USGS, Water Resources Division. Denver, CO
An evaluation of the water resources was made at six sites within the National Park Service Curecanti Recreation area west of Gunnison, Colo. These six areas are to be used for picnic areas or campgrounds. The study, which was made by the U.S.Geological Survey during the summer of 1970, consisted of mapping the geology, evaluating existing supplies, selecting test-hole drilling sites, test pumping of wells, and analyzing the chemical quality of the water.Rocks exposed at the sites range in age from Precambrian to Quaternary. The Precambrian crystalline rocks contain water only in fractures. In the areas of investigation at or near steep canyons, the fractures are drained and the crystalline rocks are not known to yield water to wells. The consolidated sedimentary deposits of Jurassic and Cretaceous ages yield either little or no water to wells. Wells drilled into the volcanic rocks of Tertiary age generally yield less than 5 gallons per minute. Wells drilled into the landslide deposits of Quaternary age yield as much as 10 gallons per minute, whereas the valley-fill deposits yield as much as 50 gallons per minute to wells. The terrace deposits generally are drained and yield no water to wells.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Boettcher, Arnold
- Date of Issue
- 1971-09
- Publisher
- USGS, Water Resources Division
- Units
- CURE , WRD
- Keywords
- Geology, Hydrology, test hole drilling sites, water chemical quality, Water Resources, WRBIB