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analyzed, in hopes of addressing what future conditions may hold for the valley. Groundwater becomes available via percolation from various intermittent streams, such as Coyote Creek, which flow from the mountains in the northwest. It is estimated that a total 5,500,000 acre feet of groundwater can be stored in the
Borrego Springs sub-basin, but as much time has passed, and over-drafting has occurred, the storage capacity may be more limited. The Ocotillo Wells sub-basin was estimated to be able to hold roughly 6,250,000 acre feet, but a similar situation to Borrego Springs plays into the shrinkage of capacity.
124:, located in the very southern region of California, is one of the driest basins in the state. With climate change predicted to have strong effects into foreseeable future, the region is viewed with a skepticism in the sustainable use of water at current rates of consumption. Both natural and man-made geographic divisions within this basin allow for a closer inspection of the various management techniques implemented throughout the years, and provide a basis for what may be pursued for an uncertain future.
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subsidence, seawater intrusion and downstream interconnected water impacts," all by July 2019. Estimates made in 2015 by the U.S. Geological Survey say that the over draft of the basin is about 13,000 acre feet per year (4.2 billion gallons). This is adds up to be around 70% of the current use of water throughout the entire basin, so the GSA associated with the
Borrego Valley Groundwater Basin aims to reduce yearly water usage from 19,100 acre feet down to 5,700 is needed for sustainability.
165:, the prominent collection point for runoff, that sometimes overflows into the San Felipe Wash. Flow between the sub-basins is inhibited due to the immense alluvial sediments in Borrego Springs being cut off from the San Felipe Wash by the presence of large geologic structures. The effect had on each sub-basin is a reduced influence of groundwater pumping; the pumping of water from one area will not easily effect the next area.
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will become greater in groundwater stocks that are decreasing in volume. One issue that is associated with this is that as groundwater levels fluctuate, their ability to flow from underlying aquifers to wells is impacted, and can cause erratic amounts of present toxicants to either increase or decrease in the water. An analysis on historic water quality data from the
Borrego Valley Groundwater Basin performed by the
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for the
Borrego Valley. Beneath this layer lies the middle and lower aquifers, containing Pleistocene-age continental deposits such as consolidated sand, gravel, and boulders. The middle aquifer is thickest in the center of the valley, measuring 700 feet, while the lower aquifer reaches depths of 1800 feet in the southern portion.
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requires that each basin deemed high or medium priority in the state forms a
Groundwater Sustainability Agency, in which the Borrego Valley Groundwater Basin falls. The goals for these GSA's are to "avoid “undesirable results” in groundwater elevations, storage levels, water quality degradation, land
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Groundwater quality is extremely important to this region, as it is the only source of water available for agriculture, recreation, and general public use. Groundwater quality in this region is mostly affected by the available quantity. This is to be expected, as the concentration of dissolved solids
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The natural landscape of this area consists mostly of shrublands, rocky outcrops and sediment, with sparse forested areas. The altitudes in this region ranges from 30 feet below sea level in the Lower
Borrego Valley, and exceeds 4,500 ft above sea level in the San Ysidro Mountains. The average amount
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Unlike
Borrego Springs, this sub-basin lies in both San Diego and Imperial counties. The westernmost region of Ocotillo Wells lies along Fish Creek and the Coyote Mountains, and a surface drainage divide extending from the Coyote Mountains to the Superstition Mountains provides the eastern boundary.
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This region lies exclusively in San Diego County, with its northernmost edge in the Santa Rosa
Mountains, and the San Felipe / Yaqui Ridge anticline and San Felipe fault in the south. At the western boundary, the San Ysidro Mountains provide the demarcation, while the eastern edge is defined by both
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The valley contains three aquifers: the upper, middle, and lower. The uppermost aquifer is made of alluvial, fan, playa and eolian deposits from the time between the
Holocene and Pleistocene, and is up to 1,000 feet thick at the northern end of the basin. This layer provides the main source of water
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area, where much development was taking place. The
Borrego Water District (BWD) is the only body to serve the needs of about 800 customers with nearly 1,600 acre feet per year thru 2,100 metered water connections, provides sewage treatment, flood control, and pest (gnat) management in select zones
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cumulatively required four times as much water as what can naturally recharge in the basin. Due to this, the U.S. Geological Survey and Borrego Water District began working together to develop a better understanding of Borrego Valley's hydrogeology, in order to know what hydrologic effects might
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for the basin, and found that very little is actually occurring, mostly attributed to changing climatic conditions. Instead of water percolating down into this basin, the water has been shifted in its area of deposition, so that recharge is happening adjacent to the bordering mountain ranges.
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concluded that total dissolved solids (TDS) and nitrate in the upper level of the aquifer exceeded the water-quality thresholds for each given substance (500mg/L and 10 mg/L respectively). TDS, sulfates, and nitrates were found to have variable levels throughout the upper aquifer as well as
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Groundwater availability is worrisome for the Borrego Valley because water levels have decreased more than 100 feet in some areas of the basin. The Borrego Valley Hydrologic Model was created to recreate historic conditions so that past movement and use of both surface and groundwater could be
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While this region consists of desert, seemingly counter-intuitive uses of water persist. These include irrigation, not only of agricultural fields, but also vegetated landscapes like golf resorts. Another main water use, though a bit more practical, is the use of septic systems to dispose of
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The Borrego Valley Groundwater Basin is housed underneath the Borrego Valley, which lies in both San Diego and Imperial counties of southern California. It reaches from the San Ysidro Mountains in San Diego County, to the east, where it enters Imperial County. As of 2016, the
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As of 2010, a total of 50 wells were used for agricultural purposes, while eight service golf courses, and residential users rely on 14. More wells exist or are planned, but only 20 of the existing ones are monitored in their usage.
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of precipitation gained in the Borrego Valley basin is usually less than 5 inches, and falls throughout the year, due to the climate being mostly the same year-round. It is mostly arid and dry, with a slightly cooler winter.
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split this basin into two sub-basins, Borrego Springs and Ocotillo Wells. The total surface area of this basin is 150,000 acres (240 square miles), encompassing three aquifers throughout the valley.
309:"Status of Groundwater Quality in the Borrego Valley, Central Desert, and Low-Use Basins of the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts Study Unit, 2008–2010: California GAMA Priority Basin Project"
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wastewater. From 1945 to 2010, a decline of up to two feet per year in groundwater levels occurred, mainly in the northern area of Borrego Valley, where agriculture predominates.
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The creation of the Borrego Water District in 1962 stemmed from the community wanting to protect the valley's groundwater from being sent to
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Groundwater in this basin is sourced from the mountains to the northeast, similar to the Borrego Springs sub-basin.
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This scenic area provides ample opportunity for hiking, observing nature, golfing, and trips to the nearby
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the Coyote Creek and Superstition Mountain faultlines. Coyote Creek flows into the valley toward
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440:"Groundwater Availability in the Borrego Valley | USGS California Water Science Center"
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Groundwater use by the agricultural sector, recreation, municipalities, and even
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geographic location within the basin. This same study examined the rate of
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415:"Borrego Valley Water Quality | USGS California Water Science Center"
472:"Borrego Valley Groundwater | USGS California Water Science Center"
283:"Thinking Strategically About Water Supply for the Borrego Valley"
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Borrego Valley is groundwater basin 7-24 with California's
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Survey, California Water Science Center, U.S. Geological.
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Center, U.S. Geological Survey California Water Science.
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Center, U.S. Geological Survey California Water Science.
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494:: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
385:"Basin Boundary Modification Request System"
616:Geography of San Diego County, California
510:"Ocotillo-Clark Valley Groundwater Basin"
109:Learn how and when to remove this message
142:California Department of Water Resources
16:Southern California geographical feature
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361:"Borrego Valley Groundwater Basin"
335:"Borrego Valley Groundwater Basin"
281:Brecht, Lyle A. (March 27, 2010).
58:"Borrego Valley groundwater basin"
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129:Colorado River hydrologic region
122:Borrego Valley Groundwater Basin
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204:Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
184:Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
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253:within the service area.
156:Borrego Springs Sub-Basin
290:Applied Ecology Research
169:Ocotillo Wells Sub-Basin
626:San Diego Bay watershed
621:Landforms of California
631:Aquifers in California
558:Borrego Water District
531:Borrego Water District
365:www.sandiegocounty.gov
307:Parsons, Mary (2014).
232:U.S. Geological Survey
554:"Sustainability Plan"
592:33.1620°N 116.1891°W
344:. February 27, 2004.
237:groundwater recharge
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190:Uses of groundwater
135:Geography of region
597:33.1620; -116.1891
476:ca.water.usgs.gov
444:ca.water.usgs.gov
419:ca.water.usgs.gov
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