Hualapai Valley Basin Groundwater Aquifer Conditions and Engineering Efforts for Improvements Date: 2/20/2018
Basin-Fill Aquifers of Mohave County
Statement of Problem; Aquifer at Risk
In the Hualapai Basin Aquifer the Outflow from the Aquifer (discharge) historically has exceeded the Inflow to the Aquifer (recharge), creating a Water Budget deficit
According to USGS estimate, in 2011 the annual
- Inflow to the Aquifer (recharge) was 9,900 acre-feet; Outflow from the Aquifer (discharge) was 15,500 acre- feet, thus
- creating an annual water deficit of 5,600 acre- feet
(Reference: USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2013-5122; Preliminary Groundwater-Flow Model of the Basin-Fill Aquifers in Detrital, Hualapai, and Sacramento Valleys, Mohave County, Northwestern Arizona)
According to AWDR estimate, in 2016 the annual agricultural use of groundwater, and the associated Outflow (discharge) from the Aquifer increased by an additional 32,000 acre-feet, thus increasing the annual water deficit in the Aquifer to 37,600 acre-feet
(Reference: ADWR Northwest Basins Planning Area Water Demand Update, Stakeholders Meeting, May 18, 2017)
Geology and Hydrology Background
- Mohave County’s Basin and Range, basin-fill type aquifers consist primarily of sediment-filled basins separated by mountain ranges
- Basin-fill deposits typically range from about 1,000 to 7,000 feet in thickness but are thinner or thicker in some locations
- Groundwater is mostly unconfined
Functions of Groundwater Systems
For the major Mohave County groundwater aquifers:
- Most precipitation is lost to evapotranspiration
- Groundwater is recharged from infiltration of mountain streams along the foothills of the mountains
- Groundwater flow through the sediments of the aquifer can take years or decades
USGS Model to Establish the Groundwater Conditions
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) MODFLOW model will assess the impacts of increased withdrawals on aquifer conditions and predict the effectiveness of potential increased groundwater infiltration;
It will be used to predict the impact of the increased well pumping in specific areas of the basin, and more importantly, the anticipated time frames for the change of water levels in specific areas of the aquifer;
It will also be used to predict the impact of anticipated different scenarios of water discharging and enhanced infiltration.
Mohave County will provide input to the model:
- Assist with locating areas where the County is most concerned with future drawdown, such as the City of Kingman's well field, etc.; and
- Provide the locations of potential enhanced infiltration areas.
Mitigating Methods to Facilitate Enhanced Infiltration
Shallow or Spreading Infiltration Basins:
- May be developed by spreading the water on the ground surface over a large area; or
- Enhanced by excavation and by filling series of berms.
Deeper Infiltration Basins; possibly enhanced with the addition of Vadose Zone Wells:
Constructed by excavation and placement of free-draining gravel and/or vadose zone well.
Engineering Work
- For each wash, check and comply with potential surface water right allocations
- For each wash, establish by engineering hydrology the anticipated surface flow and quantities (10% annual probability)
- Engineering calculations for the available amount of water at each location
- Sites containing underlying subsurface soils of clean sand and gravel with negligible fines content will be suitable for infiltration without any further engineering measures
- For sites consisting of near-surface soils with relatively high fines content (silt or clay), the installation of more complex facilities will be required
- Evaluate site geometry and suitability for construction
- Conceptual engineering design
- Engineering cost estimate
- Cost-benefit evaluation of the specific site location
POTENTIAL PROJECTS
- Quail Run Flood Control Infiltration Basin
- Valle Vista Flood Control Infiltration Basin
- Kingman Monsoon Park Infiltration Basin
- Rattlesnake Wash Infiltration Basins
- Peacock Mountains Shallow Infiltration Basins
- Mohave Agrarian Property Shallow Infiltration Basins
- Bank St. at Kingman High School Flood Control Infiltration Basin
- City of Kingman Reclaimed Water Project
Quail Run Flood Control Infiltration Basin Constructed by Mohave County Flood Control District
Valle Vista Flood Control Infiltration Basin
The project is being constructed in cooperation with Mohave County Public Works to reduce future road maintenance and prevent flooding of down-stream areas.
Kingman Monsoon Park Infiltration Basin
Rattlesnake Wash Infiltration Basins
Location of Proposed Freeway Interchange
Rattlesnake Wash Infiltration Basins
Proposed Infiltration Basins with alternatives 1 through 3
| Basin | 10-Year Inflow (CFS) |
10-Year Outflow (CFS) |
Volume Retained (Acre Ft) |
100-Year Inflow (CFS) |
100-Year Outflow (CFS) |
Volume Retained (Acre Ft) |
| A | 1213 | 0 | 65 | 3494 | 1046 | 84 |
| B | 382 | 0 | 19 | 1201 | 111 | 46 |
| C | 707 | 0 | 25 | 2199 | 31 | 48 |
| Basin | 10-Year Inflow (CFS) |
10-Year Outflow (CFS) |
Volume Retained (Acre Ft) |
100-Year Inflow (CFS) |
100-Year Outflow (CFS) |
Volume Retained (Acre Ft) |
| A | 1213 | 0 | 65 | 3494 | 1046 | 84 |
| B | 382 | 0 | 19 | 1201 | 111 | 46 |
| C | 707 | 0 | 25 | 2199 | 31 | 48 |
| D (Small) | 777 | 0 | 68 | 2973 | 526 | 229 |
| Basin | 10-Year Inflow (CFS) |
10-Year Outflow (CFS) |
Volume Retained (Acre Ft) |
100-Year Inflow (CFS) |
100-Year Outflow (CFS) |
Volume Retained (Acre Ft) |
| A | 1213 | 0 | 65 | 3494 | 1046 | 84 |
| B | 382 | 0 | 19 | 1201 | 111 | 46 |
| C | 707 | 0 | 25 | 2199 | 31 | 48 |
| E | 637 | 0 | 64 | 2910 | 616 | 231 |
Proposed Infiltration Basins with alternatives 4 through 6
| Basin | 10-Year Inflow (CFS) |
10-Year Outflow (CFS) |
Volume Retained (Acre Ft) |
100-Year Inflow (CFS) |
100-Year Outflow (CFS) |
Volume Retained (Acre Ft) |
| D (Big) | 1524 | 0 | 150 | 5336 | 326 | 379 |
| Basin | 10-Year Inflow (CFS) |
10-Year Outflow (CFS) |
Volume Retained (Acre Ft) |
100-Year Inflow (CFS) |
100-Year Outflow (CFS) |
Volume Retained (Acre Ft) |
| D (Small) | 1524 | 0 | 150 | 5336 | 1890 | 229 |
| Basin | 10-Year Inflow (CFS) |
10-Year Outflow (CFS) |
Volume Retained (Acre Ft) |
100-Year Inflow (CFS) |
100-Year Outflow (CFS) |
Volume Retained (Acre Ft) |
| E | 1421 | 0 | 147 | 5193 | 2487 | 231 |
Peacock Mountains Infiltration Sites Utilizing Existing Ponds on Private Properties
Potential Infiltration Sites on Mohave Agrarian Property
Bank St. at Kingman High School Flood Control Infiltration Basin
Quail Run Flood Control Infiltration Basin Constructed by Mohave County Flood Control District
City of Kingman
Design Concept Report
Reclaimed Water Recharge Project
Hazen Project 20090-000
DRAFT - October 10, 2017
The City of Kingman commissioned an engineering design concept report (DCR) for injection wells to recharge a portion of their treated waste water to the aquifer.
Based on the DCR, the total cost of an injection well would be in the range of $1 Million. With the additional system components of pumps, piping, contingency, engineering, etc., a system with a single well would cost about $1.8 Million and with two wells about $3.3 Million.
Kingman Wastewater Plant Capacity Average Daily Flow is 1.6 MGD that is about 4.9 AFD and would result in approx. 1,800 AF per year. That would amount to about 22% of Kingman’s average annual water demand of approx. 8,000 AF.