Hydrogeologic study of groundwater-surface water interactions at Topaz Lake, Nevada

Abstract

A hydrologic study was conducted to investigate groundwater-lakewater interactions around Topaz Lake, Nevada, where an alluvial aquifer is hydraulically connected with the off-stream storage reservoir. Basic objectives of the study were: 1) the estimation of aquifer characteristics; 2) the estimation of recharge to the aquifer from the surrounding mountains; 3) the determination of the flux into the aquifer from the lake; and 4) the potential for contamination of the lake or groundwater from the other. Interpretation was done through the use of a two-dimensional groundwater flow computer model. While the lake was increasing in storage, aquifer recharge was determined to be 62 percent from the mountains and 38 percent from the reservoir substantiating the potential for degradation of the aquifer by the reservoir. Groundwater seepage to the reservoir represented only one percent of its total volume, thus, degradation of the reservoir by groundwater is unlikely.