News Release

U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Geological Survey

Release: June 13, 2006

Contact:
Myrtle Jones
253-552-1617

John Clemens
253-552-1635

New Maps Show Yakima Basin Geology, Aquifers

[Note: The report can be viewed on the Web at http://pubs.water.usgs.gov/sir2006-5116/. The project Web page is at http://wa.water.usgs.gov/projects/yakimagw/ ]

Hydrogeologic information needed to model ground-water flow in the Yakima River Basin is available in a new report published today by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The report was produced in cooperation with the Bureau of Reclamation, Washington State Department of Ecology, and the Yakama Nation.

Water managers in the Yakima River Basin will use the computer model to boost their understanding of the ground-water flow system and how it interacts with surface water. The model will also be used to test water management strategies.

Using information from about 4,700 wells, USGS scientists mapped the sedimentary deposits in six structural basins within the overall Yakima River Basin. The maps show where the deposits are and how thick they are, and identifies their water-bearing units. The sedimentary deposits were thickest in the Kittitas Basin, reaching a depth of greater than 2,000 ft, with Roslyn Basin the thinnest at about 700 feet.

The report, "Hydrogeologic framework of sedimentary deposits in six structural basins, Yakima River Basin, Washington," by M.A. Jones, J.J. Vaccaro, and A.M. Watkins, is published as U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2006-5116. The report can be viewed on the Web at http://pubs.water.usgs.gov/sir2006-5116/ . Printed copies will be available after July 25, 2006, for purchase from the U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services, Box 25286, Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225-0286, telephone 303-202-4200.

The USGS serves the nation by providing reliable scientific information to describe and understand the Earth; minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources; and enhance and protect our quality of life.

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