Geology and hydrology of the shallow alluvial aquifer, West Sharrard Gulch, Colorado

Journal Article · Mon Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Mountain Geologist; (USA)

OSTI ID:5595479

Smuin, D R ^[1]

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1. Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)

A hydrogeologic investigation was conducted during the winter and spring of 1987 by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in West Sharrard Gulch adjacent to the former site of the Anvil Points Oil Shale Processing Facility (APF). The purpose of the investigation was to evaluate potential environmental impacts from past waste disposal operations. Complex relationships exist between the surface water, groundwater, alluvium, and bedrock along a small intermittent tributary of the Colorado River in western Colorado. Interactions between the alluvial groundwater and surface water is West Sharrard Creek were studied during a series of investigations prompted by concerns over former waste disposal sites along the drainage. The investigations involved well installations, groundwater monitoring and surface water studies. The studies revealed that surface water and groundwater along West Sharrard Gulch are linked by a series of alternating recharge and discharge zones. These zones are in turn directly related to the gradients controlled by the differential erosion of various bedrock layers. Groundwater seeps were found at predictable locations related to the intersection of alluvial groundwater at streambed nickpoints. The nickpoints result when streambed erosion exposes sandstone lenses in the underlying Wasatch Formation. Information from well logs, groundwater monitoring, and topographic maps was combined to form a conceptual model of the flow relationships.

• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 5595479
• Journal Information: Mountain Geologist; (USA), Journal Name: Mountain Geologist; (USA) Vol. 27:4; ISSN MOGEA; ISSN 0027-254X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
041000* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Environmental Aspects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540350 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (1990-)
ALLUVIAL DEPOSITS
ANVIL POINTS RESEARCH FACILITY
AQUIFERS
BASEMENT ROCK
COLORADO
COLORADO RIVER
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
EROSION
FEDERAL REGION VIII
FLUID FLOW
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
GEOLOGIC MODELS
GEOLOGY
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROLOGY
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
MANAGEMENT
MONITORING
NORTH AMERICA
OIL SHALE PROCESSING PLANTS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PICEANCE CREEK BASIN
RECHARGE
RIVERS
ROCKS
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SITE SELECTION
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
TOPOGRAPHY
USA
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WATER
WATER WELLS
WELL LOGGING
WELLS