Baja

subarea

Alto

subarea

Este

subarea

Warren

subbasin

Centro

subarea

Oeste

subarea

River

Transition

Zone

Mojave River

ground-water

basin

Morongo

ground-water

basin

Lucerne

subbasin

Open File Report 02-354

Prepared in Cooperation with the Mojave Water Agency

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Lithologic and Ground-Water Data for Monitoring Sites in

the Mojave River and Morongo Ground-Water Basins, San

Bernardino County, California, 1992–98

Mojave
Lithologic and Ground-Water Data 

for Monitoring Sites in the Mojave River 

and Morongo Ground-Water Basins, 

San Bernardino County, California, 1992–98

By Julia A. Huff, Dennis A. Clark, and Peter Martin

Prepared in cooperation with the

MOJAVE WATER AGENCY

Sacramento, California

2002

Open-File Report 02-354

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
For additional information write to:

District Chief

U.S. Geological Survey

Placer Hall, Suite 2012

6000 J Street

Sacramento, CA 95819-6129

http://ca.water.usgs.gov/

Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does 

not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Copies of this report can be purchased from:

U.S. Geological Survey

Information Services

Building 810

Box 25286, Federal Center

Denver, CO 80225-0286

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

GALE A. NORTON, Secretary

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Charles G. Groat, Director
Contents iii

CONTENTS

Abstract ................................................................................................................................................................ 1

Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 1

Purpose and Scope ...................................................................................................................................... 3

Description of Study Area........................................................................................................................... 3

Acknowledgments....................................................................................................................................... 3

Location and Design of Monitoring Sites ............................................................................................................ 5

Data Collection..................................................................................................................................................... 5

Geologic Data.............................................................................................................................................. 5

Lithologic Descriptions...................................................................................................................... 5

Geophysical Logs............................................................................................................................... 8

Core Measurements............................................................................................................................ 11

Water-Level Data Collection ...................................................................................................................... 11

Water-Quality Data Collection ................................................................................................................... 11

Data Presentation.................................................................................................................................................. 13

Mojave River Ground-Water Basin ............................................................................................................ 13

Oeste Subarea..................................................................................................................................... 13

Alto Subarea....................................................................................................................................... 13

Transition Zone Subarea .................................................................................................................... 13

Centro Subarea................................................................................................................................... 13

Baja Subarea ...................................................................................................................................... 13

Morongo Ground-Water Basin ................................................................................................................... 13

Lucerne Subbasin............................................................................................................................... 13

Warren Subbasin ................................................................................................................................ 14

Accessing Data..................................................................................................................................................... 14

Summary ........................................................................................................................................................ 14

References Cited .................................................................................................................................................. 14

Appendix A. Lithologic Data and Ground-Water Data for the Mojave River Ground-Water 

Basin—Oeste Subarea.................................................................................................................... 17

Appendix B. Lithologic Data and Ground-Water Data for the Mojave River Ground-Water 

Basin—Alto Subarea...................................................................................................................... 27

Appendix C. Lithologic Data and Ground-Water Data for the Mojave River Ground-Water 

Basin—Transistion Zone Subarea ................................................................................................. 83

Appendix D. Lithologic Data and Ground-Water Data for the Mojave River Ground-Water

Basin—Centro Subara ...................................................................................................................181

Appendix E. Lithologic Data and Ground-Water Data for the Mojave River Ground-Water

Basin—Baja Subarea .....................................................................................................................295

Appendix F. Lithologic Data and Ground-Water Data for the Morongo Ground-Water

Basin—Lucerne Subbasin .............................................................................................................369

Appendix G. Lithologic Data and Ground-Water Data for the Morongo Ground-Water

Basin—Warren Subbasin ..............................................................................................................395
iv Figures

FIGURES

Figure 1. Map showing Mojave River and Morongo ground-water basins, San Bernardino County, 

California............................................................................................................................................... 2

Figure 2. Map showing location of monitoring sites within the Mojave River and Morongo ground-water 

basins, southern California.................................................................................................................... 4

Figure 3. Generalized diagram showing example of well construction at multiple-well monitoring site RS-1 

(4N/3W-19G2–6), San Bernardino County, California ........................................................................ 8

Figure 4. Diagram showing nomenclature used to describe texture..................................................................... 9

Figure A1. Map showing location of the monitoring site in the Oeste subarea of the Mojave River 

ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California.................................................................... 18

Figure A2. Graph showing geophysical log, lithology, and well diagram for monitoring site MSCW 

(well 5N/7W-28L1) in the Oeste subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California..................................................................................................... 24

Figure B1. Map showing location of monitoring sites in the Alto subarea of the Mojave River 

ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California.................................................................... 28

Figure B2. Graph showing geophysical logs, lithology, and well diagram for monitoring site Del Oro 1 

(wells 4N/3W-12A1–3) in the Alto subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California..................................................................................................... 32

Figure B3. Graph showing geophysical logs, lithology, and well diagram for monitoring site RS-1 

(wells 4N/3W-19G2–6) in the Alto subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California..................................................................................................... 34

Figure B4. Graph showing geophysical logs, lithology, and well diagram for monitoring site Deep Creek 

(wells 4N/3W-31L6–9) in the Alto subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California .................................................................................................... 37

Figure B5. Graph showing geophysical logs, lithology, and well diagram for monitoring site JR-1 

(wells 4N/4W-1C2–5) in the Alto subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California .................................................................................................... 40

Figure B6. Graph showing geophysical logs, lithology, and well diagram for monitoring site SF-1 

(wells 4N/4W-3A2–5) in the Alto subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California .................................................................................................... 43

Figure B7. Graph showing geophysical log, lithology, and well diagram for monitoring site MOGW 

(well 4N/5W-21H1) in the Alto subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California .................................................................................................... 47

Figure B8. Graph showing geophysical logs, lithology, and well diagram for multiple-well monitoring site 

UN-1 (wells 5N/4W-14D1–4) in the Alto subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California .................................................................................................... 49

Figure B9. Graph showing geophysical logs, lithology, and well diagram for multiple-well monitoring site 

Phelan-1 (wells 5N/6W-22E1–3) in the Alto subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California .................................................................................................... 51

Figure C1. Map showing location of monitoring sites in the Transition Zone subarea of the Mojave River 

ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ................................................................... 84

Figure C2. Graph showing geophysical log, lithology, and well diagram for multiple-well monitoring site 

EPA IV-A (wells 6N/5W-1L1 and 2) in the Transition Zone subarea of the Mojave River 

ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ................................................................... 89
Figures v

Figure C3. Graph showing geophysical log, lithology, and well diagram for monitoring site EPA VI 

(well 6N/5W-12F1) in the Transition Zone subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California .................................................................................................... 91

Figure C4. Graph showing lithology and well diagram for multiple-well monitoring site 

EPA II (wells 6N/5W-12G2 and 3) in the Transition Zone subarea of the Mojave River 

ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ................................................................... 93

Figure C5. Graph showing lithology and well diagram for monitoring site EPA III 

(wells 6N/5W-12G4) in the Transition Zone subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California .................................................................................................... 95

Figure C6. Graph showing geophysical log, lithology, and well diagram for monitoring site EPA VII 

(well 6N/5W-12L5) in the Transition Zone subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California .................................................................................................... 97

Figure C7. Graph showing lithology and well diagram for multiple-well monitoring site 

EPA I (wells 6N/5W-13B1 and 2) in the Transition Zone subarea of the Mojave River 

ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ................................................................... 99

Figure C8. Graph showing lithology and well diagram for monitoring site B-1 

(well 7N/4W-6F4) in the Transition Zone subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California .................................................................................................. 101

Figure C9. Graph showing lithology and well diagram for monitoring site B-2 

(well 7N/4W-6F5) in the Transition Zone subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California .................................................................................................. 103

Figure C10. Graph showing lithology and well diagram for monitoring site B-3 

(well 7N/4W-6F6) in the Transition Zone subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California .................................................................................................. 105

Figure C11. Graph showing geophysical logs, lithology, and well diagram for multiple-well monitoring 

site Daily (wells 7N/4W-19Q5–7) in the Transition Zone subarea of the Mojave River 

ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ................................................................. 108

Figure C12. Graph showing lithology and well diagram for multiple-well monitoring site 

EPA V-A (wells 7N/5W-13H1 and 2) in the Transition Zone subarea of the Mojave River 

ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ................................................................. 110

Figure C13. Graph showing lithology and well diagram for monitoring site EPA V-B 

(well 7N/5W-13H3) in the Transition Zone subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California .................................................................................................. 112

Figure C14. Graph showing geophysical logs, lithology, and well diagram for multiple-well monitoring site 

Older-2 (wells 7N/5W-23R1–4) in the Transition Zone subarea of the Mojave River 

ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ................................................................. 115

Figure C15. Graph showing geophysical logs, lithology, and well diagram for multiple-well monitoring site 

Older-1 (wells 7N/5W-24R5–8) in the Transition Zone subarea of the Mojave River 

ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ................................................................. 119

Figure C16. Graph showing geophysical logs, lithology, and well diagram for multiple-well monitoring site

Helendale 4 (wells 8N/4W-19G1–4) in the Transition Zone subarea of the Mojave River 

ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ................................................................. 121

Figure C17. Graph showing geophysical logs, lithology, and well diagram for multiple-well monitoring site 

Helendale 2 (wells 8N/4W-20Q7–11) in the Transition Zone subarea of the Mojave River 

ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ................................................................. 123

Figure C18. Graph showing geophysical logs, lithology, and well diagram for multiple-well monitoring site 

Helendale 3 (wells 8N/4W-29E3–6) in the Transition Zone subarea of the Mojave River 

ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ................................................................. 125

Figure D1. Map showing location of monitoring sites in the Centro subarea of the Mojave River 

ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ................................................................. 182
vi Figures

Figure D2. Graph showing geophysical logs, lithology, and well diagram for multiple-well monitoring site 

Helendale 1 (wells 8N/4W-21M1–4) in the Centro subarea of the Mojave River ground-water 

basin, San Bernardino County, California ....................................................................................... 187

Figure D3. Graph showing geophysical logs, lithology, and well diagram for multiple-well monitoring site 

Barstow-1 (wells 9N/1W-4M4–7) in the Centro subarea of the Mojave River ground-water 

basin, San Bernardino County, California ....................................................................................... 189

Figure D4. Graph showing geophysical logs, lithology, and well diagram for multiple-well monitoring site 

Barstow-2 (wells 9N/1W-4R2–4) in the Centro subarea of the Mojave River ground-water 

basin, San Bernardino County, California ....................................................................................... 191

Figure D5. Graph showing geophysical logs, lithology, and well diagram for multiple-well monitoring site 

Barstow-3 (wells 9N/1W-9D5–8) in the Centro subarea of the Mojave River ground-water 

basin, San Bernardino County, California ....................................................................................... 193

Figure D6. Graph showing geophysical logs, lithology, and well diagram for multiple-well monitoring site 

MC-1 (wells 9N/1W-10J12–15) in the Centro subarea of the Mojave River ground-water 

basin, San Bernardino County, California ....................................................................................... 196

Figure D7. Graph showing geophysical logs, lithology, and well diagram for multiple-well monitoring site 

MC-4 (wells 9N/1W-11K12–15) in the Centro subarea of the Mojave River ground-water 

basin, San Bernardino County, California ....................................................................................... 198

Figure D8. Graph showing geophysical logs, lithology, and well diagram for monitoring site F-2 

(well 9N/2W-2E1) in the Centro subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California .................................................................................................. 200

Figure D9. Graph showing geophysical logs, lithology, and well diagram for multiple-well monitoring site 

F-1 (wells 9N/2W-3A1 and 2) in the Centro subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California .................................................................................................. 202

Figure D10. Graph showing geophysical logs, lithology, and well diagram for multiple-well monitoring site 

F-3 (wells 9N/2W-3E1–3) in the Centro subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California .................................................................................................. 204

Figure D11. Graph showing geophysical log, lithology, and well diagram for monitoring site Lenwood 5 

(well 9N/2W-6H6) in the Centro subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California .................................................................................................. 206

Figure D12. Graph showing geophysical logs, lithology, and well diagram for multiple-well monitoring site

Lenwood 1 (wells 9N/2W-6L11–14) in the Centro subarea of the Mojave River 

ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ................................................................. 208

Figure D13. Graph showing geophysical log, lithology, and well diagram for monitoring site Lenwood 2 

(well 9N/2W-6M7) in the Centro subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California .................................................................................................. 210

Figure D14. Graph showing geophysical log, lithology, and well diagram for monitoring site Lenwood 3 

(well 9N/2W-6P1) in the Centro subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California .................................................................................................. 212

Figure D15. Graph showing geophysical log, lithology, and well diagram for monitoring site Lenwood 4 

(well 9N/2W-6P2) in the Centro subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California .................................................................................................. 214

Figure D16. Graph showing geophysical logs, lithology, and well diagram for multiple-well monitoring 

Vernola 1 (wells 9N/3W-1R5–7) in the Centro subarea of the Mojave River ground-water 

basin, San Bernardino County, California ....................................................................................... 217

Figure D17. Graph showing lithology and well diagram for monitoring site B-7 

(well 9N/3W-14N1) in the Centro subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California .................................................................................................. 219
Figures vii

Figure D18. Graph showing lithology and well diagram for monitoring site Hodge-2 

(well 9N/3W-23C1) in the Centro subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California .................................................................................................. 221

Figure D19. Graph showing lithology and well diagram for monitoring site B-6 

(well 9N/3W-23D2) in the Centro subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California .................................................................................................. 223

Figure D20. Graph showing lithology and well diagram for monitoring site B-4 

(well 9N/3W-23D3) in the Centro subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California .................................................................................................. 225

Figure D21. Graph showing geophysical logs, lithology, and well diagram for multiple-well monitoring site

Hodge-1 (wells 9N/3W-23F1–4) in the Centro subarea of the Mojave River ground-water 

basin, San Bernardino County, California ....................................................................................... 227

Figure D22. Graph showing lithology and well diagram for monitoring site Hodge-3 

(well 9N/3W-23H1) in the Centro subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California .................................................................................................. 229

Figure D23. Graph showing lithology and well diagram for monitoring site Hodge-4 

(well 9N/3W-23L1) in the Centro subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California .................................................................................................. 231

Figure E1. Map showing location of monitoring sites in the Baja subarea of the Mojave River 

ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ................................................................. 296

Figure E2. Graph showing geophysical logs, lithology, and well diagram for multiple-well monitoring site 

YEMBB (wells 9N/1E-4K1–3) in the Baja subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California .................................................................................................. 300

Figure E3. Graph showing geophysical logs, lithology, and well diagram for multiple-well monitoring site 

YEMRR (wells 9N/1E-10Q2–4) in the Baja subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California .................................................................................................. 303

Figure E4. Graph showing geophysical logs, lithology, and well diagram for multiple-well monitoring site 

YEMRIV (wells 9N/1E-16F1–4) in the Baja subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California .................................................................................................. 305

Figure E5. Graph showing geophysical logs, lithology, and well diagram for multiple-well monitoring site 

MC2 (wells 9N/1W-12L2–5) in the Baja subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California .................................................................................................. 308

Figure E6. Graph showing geophysical logs, lithology, and well diagram for multiple-well monitoring site 

MC3 (wells 9N/1W-12N4–7) in the Baja subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California .................................................................................................. 311

Figure E7. Graph showing geophysical logs lithology, and well diagram for multiple-well monitoring site 

Calico East (wells 9N/2E-3G6–9) in the Baja subarea of the Mojave River ground-water 

basin, San Bernardino County, California ....................................................................................... 315

Figure E8. Graph showing geophysical logs, lithology, and well diagram for multiple-well monitoring site 

Calico West (wells 9N/2E-3K5–9) in the Baja subarea of the Mojave River ground-water 

basin, San Bernardino County, California ....................................................................................... 318

Figure E9. Graph showing geophysical logs, lithology, and well diagram for multiple-well monitoring site 

NS-2 (wells 9N/3E-22R4–7) in the Baja subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California .................................................................................................. 321

Figure E10. Graph showing geophysical logs, lithology, and well diagram for multiple-well monitoring site 

CALFAN (wells 10N/1E-20M1–2) in the Baja subarea of the Mojave River ground-water 

basin, San Bernardino County, California ....................................................................................... 323

Figure E11. Graph showing geophysical logs, lithology, and well diagram for multiple-well monitoring site 

NS-1 (wells 10N/3E-27J1–5) in the Baja subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California .................................................................................................. 326
viii Figures

Figure F1. Map showing location of monitoring sites in the Lucerne subbasin of the Morongo 

ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ................................................................. 370

Figure F2. Graph showing geophysical logs, lithology, and well diagram for multiple-well monitoring site 

LUV-1 (wells 4N/1E-23K1 and 2) in the Lucerne subbasin of the Morongo ground-water 

basin, San Bernardino County, California ....................................................................................... 374

Figure F3. Graph showing geophysical logs, lithology, and well diagram for multiple-well monitoring site 

LUV-2 (wells 4N/1E-23R1 and 2) in the Lucerne subbasin of the Morongo ground-water 

basin, San Bernardino County, California ....................................................................................... 376

Figure F4. Graph showing geophysical logs, lithology, and well diagram for multiple-well monitoring sites 

RL-1 and RL-2 (wells 4N/1W-1R4–9) in the Lucerne subbasin of the Morongo ground-water 

basin, San Bernardino County, California ....................................................................................... 379

Figure F5. Graph showing geophysical logs, lithology, and well diagram for multiple-well monitoring site 

Pipeline 1 (wells 4N/1W-13R1–4) in the Lucerne subbasin of the Morongo ground-water 

basin, San Bernardino County, California ....................................................................................... 381

Figure F6. Graph showing geophysical logs, lithology, and well diagram for multiple-well monitoring site 

North Side Rd-1 (wells 5N/1E-8N3 and 4) in the Lucerne subbasin of the Morongo 

ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ................................................................. 383

Figure G1. Map showing location of monitoring sites in the Warren subbasin of the Morongo 

ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ................................................................. 396

Figure G2. Graph showing geophysical logs, lithology, and well diagram for multiple-well monitoring site 

YV-1 (wells 1N/5E-36G1–4) in the Warren subbasin of the Morongo ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California .................................................................................................. 400

Figure G3. Graph showing geophysical logs, lithology, and well diagram for multiple-well monitoring site 

YV-2 (wells 1N/5E-36M1–3) in the Warren subbasin of the Morongo ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California .................................................................................................. 403
Tables ix

TABLES

Table 1. Summary of individual and multiple-well monitoring sites in the Mojave River and Morongo 

ground-water basins, San Bernardino County, California....................................................................... 6

Table 2. List of individual and multiple-well monitoring sites in the Mojave River and Morongo 

ground-water basins, San Bernardino County, California, for which core samples are available ........ 11

Table A1. Well-construction data for monitoring site MSCW (well 5N/7W-28L1) in the Oeste subarea 

of the Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ..................................... 19

Table A2. Lithologic log for monitoring site MSCW (well 5N/7W-28L1) in the Oeste subarea of the 

Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California .............................................. 20

Table A3. Water-level data for monitoring site MSCW (well 5N/7W-28L1) in the Oeste subarea of the 

Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California .............................................. 25

Table A4. Water-quality data for monitoring site MSCW (well 5N/7W-28L1) in the Oeste subarea of the 

Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California .............................................. 26

Table B1. Well-construction data for monitoring sites in the Alto subarea of the Mojave River ground-water 

basin, San Bernardino County, California ............................................................................................ 29

Table B2. Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site Del Oro 1 (wells 4N/3W-12A1–3) in the 

Alto subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ............... 31

Table B3. Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site RS-1 (wells 4N/3W-19G2–6) in the Alto 

subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ....................... 33

Table B4. Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site Deep Creek (wells 4N/3W-31L6–9) in the 

Alto subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ............... 35

Table B5. Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site JR-1 (wells 4N/4W-1C2–5) in the Alto 

subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ....................... 38

Table B6. Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site SF-1 (wells 4N/4W-3A2–5) in the Alto 

subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ....................... 41

Table B7. Lithologic log for monitoring site MOGW (well 4N/5W-21H1) in the Alto subarea of the 

Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California .............................................. 44

Table B8. Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site UN-1 (wells 5N/4W-14D1–4) in the Alto 

subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ....................... 48

Table B9. Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site Phelan-1 (wells 5N/6W-22E1–3) in the Alto 

subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ....................... 50

Table B10. Water-level data for monitoring sites in the Alto subarea of the Mojave River ground-water 

basin, San Bernardino County, California ............................................................................................ 52

Table B11. Water-quality data for monitoring sites in the Alto subarea of the Mojave River ground-water 

basin, San Bernardino County, California ............................................................................................ 75

Table C1. Well-construction data for monitoring sites in the Transition Zone subarea of the Mojave River 

ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ...................................................................... 85

Table C2. Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site EPA IV-A (wells 6N/5W-1L1 and 2) in the 

Transition Zone subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California ....................................................................................................... 88

Table C3. Lithologic log for monitoring site EPA VI (well 6N/5W-12F1) in the Transition Zone subarea 

of the Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California .................................... 90

Table C4. Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site EPA II (wells 6N/5W-12G2 and 3) in the 

Transition Zone subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California ....................................................................................................... 92
x Tables

Table C5. Lithologic log for monitoring site EPA III (well 6N/5W-12G4) in the Transition Zone subarea 

of the Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California .................................... 94

Table C6. Lithologic log for monitoring site EPA VII (well 6N/5W-12L5) in the Transition Zone subarea 

of the Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California .................................... 96

Table C7. Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site EPA I (wells 6N/5W-13B1 and 2) in the 

Transition Zone subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California ....................................................................................................... 98

Table C8. Lithologic log for monitoring site B-1 (well 7N/4W-6F4) in the Transition Zone subarea 

of the Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California .................................. 100

Table C9. Lithologic log for monitoring site B-2 (well 7N/4W-6F5) in the Transition Zone subarea 

of the Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California .................................. 102

Table C10. Lithologic log for monitoring site B-3 (well 7N/4W-6F6) in the Transition Zone subarea 

of the Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California .................................. 104

Table C11. Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site Daily (wells 7N/4W-19Q5–7) in the 

Transition Zone subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California ..................................................................................................... 106

Table C12. Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site EPA V-A (wells 7N/5W-13H1 and 2) in the 

Transition Zone subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California ..................................................................................................... 109

Table C13. Lithologic log for monitoring site EPA V-B (well 7N/5W-13H3) in the 

Transition Zone subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California ..................................................................................................... 111

Table C14. Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site Older-2 (wells 7N/5W-23R1–4) in the 

Transition Zone subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California ..................................................................................................... 113

Table C15. Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site Older-1 (wells 7N/5W-24R5–8) in the 

Transition Zone subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California ..................................................................................................... 116

Table C16. Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site Helendale 4 (wells 8N/4W-19G1–4) in the 

Transition Zone subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California ..................................................................................................... 120

Table C17. Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site Helendale 2 (wells 8N/4W-20Q7–11) in the 

Transition Zone subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California) ................................................................................................... 122

Table C18. Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site Helendale 3 (wells 8N/4W-29E3–6) in the 

Transition Zone subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, 

San Bernardino County, California ..................................................................................................... 124

Table C19. Water-level data for monitoring sites in the Transition Zone subarea of the Mojave River 

ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California .................................................................... 126

Table C20. Water-quality data for monitoring sites in the Transition Zone subarea of the Mojave River 

ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California .................................................................... 157

Table D1. Well-construction data for monitoring sites in the Centro subarea of the Mojave River 

ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California .................................................................... 183

Table D2. Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site Helendale 1 (wells 8N/4W-21M1–4) in the 

Centro subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ......... 186

Table D3. Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site Barstow-1 (wells 9N/1W-4M4–7) in the Centro 

subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ..................... 188

Table D4. Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site Barstow-2 (wells 9N/1W-4R2–4) in the Centro 

subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ..................... 190
Tables xi

Table D5. Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site Barstow-3 (wells 9N/1W-9D5–8) in the Centro 

subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ..................... 192

Table D6. Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site MC-1 (wells 9N/1W-10J12–15) in the Centro 

subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ..................... 194

Table D7. Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site MC-4 (wells 9N/1W-11K12–15) in the Centro 

subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ..................... 197

Table D8. Lithologic log for monitoring site F-2 (well 9N/2W-2E1) in the Centro subarea of the 

Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ............................................ 199

Table D9. Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site F-1 (wells 9N/2W-3A1 and 2) in the Centro 

subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ..................... 201

Table D10.Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site F-3 (wells 9N/2W-3E1–3) in the Centro 

subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ..................... 203

Table D11.Lithologic log for monitoring site Lenwood 5 (well 9N/2W-6H6) in the Centro subarea of the 

Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ............................................ 205

Table D12.Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site Lenwood 1 (wells 9N/2W-6L11–14) in the 

Centro subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ......... 207

Table D13.Lithologic log for monitoring site Lenwood 2 (well 9N/2W-6M7) in the Centro subarea of the 

Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ............................................ 209

Table D14.Lithologic log for monitoring site Lenwood 3 (well 9N/2W-6P1) in the Centro subarea of the 

Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ............................................ 211

Table D15. Lithologic log for monitoring site Lenwood 4 (well 9N/2W-6P2) in the Centro subarea of the 

Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ............................................ 213

Table D16.Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site Vernola 1 (wells 9N/3W-1R5–7) in the Centro 

subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ..................... 215

Table D17.Lithologic log for monitoring site B-7 (well 9N/3W-14N1) in the Centro subarea of the 

Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ............................................ 218

Table D18.Lithologic log for monitoring site Hodge-2 (well 9N/3W-23C1) in the Centro subarea of the 

Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ............................................ 220

Table D19.Lithologic log for monitoring site B-6 (well 9N/3W-23D2) in the Centro subarea of the 

Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ............................................ 222

Table D20.Lithologic log for monitoring site B-4 (well 9N/3W-23D3) in the Centro subarea of the 

Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ............................................ 224

Table D21.Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site Hodge-1 (wells 9N/3W-23F1–4) in the Centro 

subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ..................... 226

Table D22.Lithologic log for monitoring site Hodge-3 (well 9N/3W-23H1) in the Centro subarea of the 

Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ............................................ 228

Table D23.Lithologic log for monitoring site Hodge-4 (well 9N/3W-23L1) in the Centro subarea of the 

Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ............................................ 230

Table D24.Water-level data for monitoring sites in the Centro subarea of the Mojave River ground-water 

basin, San Bernardino County, California .......................................................................................... 232

Table D25. Water-quality data for monitoring sites in the Centro subarea of the Mojave River 

ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California .................................................................... 271

Table E1. Well-construction data for monitoring sites in the Baja subarea of the Mojave River 

ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California .................................................................... 297

Table E2. Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site YEMBB (wells 9N/1E-4K1–3) in the Baja 

subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ..................... 299

Table E3. Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site YEMRR (wells 9N/1E-10Q2–4) in the Baja 

subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ..................... 301

Table E4. Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site YEMRIV (wells 9N/1E-16F1–4) in the Baja 

subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ..................... 304
xii Tables

Table E5. Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site MC2 (wells 9N/1W-12L2–5) in the Baja 

subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ..................... 306

Table E6. Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site MC3 (wells 9N/1W-12N4–7) in the Baja 

subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ..................... 309

Table E7. Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site Calico East (wells 9N/2E-3G6–9) in the Baja 

subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ..................... 312

Table E8. Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site Calico West (wells 9N/2E-3K5–9) in the Baja 

subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ..................... 316

Table E9. Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site NS-2 (wells 9N/3E-22R4–7) in the Baja 

subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ..................... 319

Table E10. Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site CALFAN (wells 10N/1E-20M1–2) in the Baja 

subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ..................... 322

Table E11. Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site NS-1 (wells 10N/3E-27J1–5) in the Baja 

subarea of the Mojave River ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ..................... 324

Table E12. Water-level data for monitoring sites in the Baja subarea of the Mojave River ground-water 

basin, San Bernardino County, California .......................................................................................... 327

Table E13. Water-quality data for monitoring sites in the Baja subarea of the Mojave River ground-water 

basin, San Bernardino County, California .......................................................................................... 361

Table F1. Well-construction data for monitoring sites in the Lucerne subbasin of the Morongo 

ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California .................................................................... 371

Table F2. Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site LUV-1 (wells 4N/1E-23K1 and 2) in the 

Lucerne subbasin of the Morongo ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ............ 372

Table F3. Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site LUV-2 (wells 4N/1E-23R1 and 2) in the 

Lucerne subbasin of the Morongo ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ............ 375

Table F4. Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring sites RL-1 and RL-2 (wells 4N/1W-1R4–9) in the 

Lucerne subbasin of the Morongo ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ............ 377

Table F5. Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site Pipeline 1 (wells 4N/1W-13R1–4) in the 

Lucerne subbasin of the Morongo ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ............ 380

Table F6. Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site North Side Rd-1 (wells 5N/1E-8N3 and 4) in 

the Lucerne subbasin of the Morongo ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California ...... 382

Table F7. Water-level data for monitoring sites in the Lucerne subbasin of the Morongo ground-water 

basin, San Bernardino County, California .......................................................................................... 384

Table F8. Water-quality data for monitoring sites in the Lucerne subbasin of the Morongo ground-water 

basin, San Bernardino County, California .......................................................................................... 391

Table G1. Well-construction data for monitoring sites in the Warren subbasin of the Morongo 

ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California .................................................................... 397

Table G2. Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site YV-1 (wells 1N/5E-36G1–4) in the Warren 

subbasin of the Morongo ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California .......................... 398

Table G3. Lithologic log for multiple-well monitoring site YV-2 (wells 1N/5E-36M1–3) in the Warren 

subbasin of the Morongo ground-water basin, San Bernardino County, California .......................... 401

Table G4. Water-level data for monitoring sites in the Warren subbasin of the Morongo ground-water 

basin, San Bernardino County, California .......................................................................................... 404

Table G5. Water-quality data for monitoring sites in the Warren subbasin of the Morongo ground-water 

basin, San Bernardino County, California .......................................................................................... 407
Conversion Factors, Vertical Datum, Acronyms, and Well-Numbering System xiii

CONVERSION FACTORS, VERTICAL DATUM, ACRONYMS, AND 

WELL-NUMBERING SYSTEM

CONVERSION FACTORS

Temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) may be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (°F) as follows: 

°F = (1.8 × °C) + 32

Vertical Datum

Sea level: In this report, "sea level" refers to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD of

1929)—a geodetic datum derived from a general adjustment of the first-order level nets of both the

United States and Canada, formerly called Sea Level Datum of 1929.

Altitude, as used in this report, refers to distance above or below sea level.

Specific conductance is given in microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius (μS/cm at 25  ̊C).

Water Quality Units

Concentrations of constituents in water samples are given in either milligrams per liter (mg/L) or

micrograms per liter (μg/L). Milligrams per liter is equivalent to "parts per million" and micrograms

per liter is equivalent to "parts per billion."

Acronyms

MWA Mojave Water Agency

NWIS Web National Water Information System Web page

ODEX overburden drilling by the excenter method

PES polyethersulfone

PVC polyvinyl chloride

RASA California Regional Aquifer-System Analysis

USGS U.S. Geological Survey

Multiply By To obtain

acre 0.4047 hectare

foot (ft) 0.3048 meter

inch (in.) 2.54 centimeter

inch per year (in/yr) 25.4 millimeter per year

mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer

square mile (mi2) 2.590 square kilometer 
xiv Conversion Factors, Vertical Datum, Acronyms, and Well-Numbering System

Well-Numbering System

Wells are identified and numbered according to their location in the rectangular system for the subdivision of public lands. Identification consists of the township number, north or south; the range number, east or west; and the section number. Each section is divided into sixteen 40-acre tracts lettered

consecutively (except I and O), beginning with "A" in the northeast corner of the section and progressing in a sinusoidal manner to "R" in the southeast corner. Within the 40-acre tract, wells are sequentially numbered in the order they are inventoried. The final letter refers to the base line and meridian.

In California, there are three base lines and meridians; Humboldt (H), Mount Diablo (M), and San

Bernardino (S). Well numbers consist of 15 characters and follow the format 009N001E10Q004S. In

this report, well numbers may be abbreviated and written 9N/1E-10Q4. The following diagram shows

how the number for well 9N/1WE-10Q4 is derived.

D C B A

E F G H

M L K J

N P Q R

6 5 4 3 2 1

7 8 9 10 11 12

18 17 16 15 14 13

19 20 21 22 23 24

30 29 28 26 25

31 32 33 34 35 36

27

R1E R2E

T8N

T9N

T10N

R1W

RANGE

TOWNSHIP

R3W R3W

T7N

T6N

R1E

Well-numbering diagram (Note: maps in this report use abbreviated well numbers such as "10Q4") San Bernardino Meridian

SECTION 10

T9N

4N/2W-10G1 9N/1E-10Q4
Introduction 1

Lithologic and Ground-Water Data for Monitoring Sites 

in the Mojave River and Morongo Ground-Water Basins, 

San Bernardino County, California, 1992–98

By Julia A. Huff, Dennis A. Clark, and Peter Martin

ABSTRACT

Lithologic and ground-water data were 

collected at 85 monitoring sites constructed in the 

Mojave Water Agency Management area in San 

Bernardino County, California, as part of a series 

of cooperative studies between the U.S. 

Geological Survey and the Mojave Water Agency. 

The data are being used to evaluate and address 

water-supply and water-quality issues. This report 

presents a compilation of the data collected at 

these sites from 1992 through 1998, including 

location and design of the monitoring sites, 

lithologic data, geophysical logs, ground-waterlevel measurements, and water-quality analyses.

One to five small (generally 2-inch) 

diameter wells were installed at each of the 

85 monitoring sites to collect depth-dependent 

hydrologic data. Lithologic logs were compiled 

from descriptions of drill cuttings collected at each 

site and from observations recorded during the 

drilling of the borehole. Generalized stratigraphic 

columns were compiled by grouping similar 

lithologic units. Geophysical logs provide 

information on the character of the lithologic units 

and on the presence of ground water and the 

chemical characteristics of that water. Water-level 

and water-quality data were collected periodically 

from the sites during 1992 through 1998.

INTRODUCTION

The Mojave River and the Morongo groundwater basins are in the southwestern part of the Mojave 

Desert in southern California (fig. 1). The proximity of 

the area to the highly urbanized Los Angeles area has 

stimulated population growth and associated water use 

since the 1960s. Ground water is the primary source of 

water supply in most of the study area because surface 

water is unreliable for direct water supply. Water 

managers in the region are faced with many watersupply and water-quality issues, including groundwater overdraft, conjunctive use of ground water and 

surface water, quantity and quality of natural and 

artificial recharge, and anthropogenic and naturally 

occurring chemical constituents at concentrations 

exceeding drinking-water standards. In 1992, the U.S. 

Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the 

Mojave Water Agency (MWA) began a series of studies 

to address these issues in the Mojave River and 

Morongo ground-water basins. The Mojave River basin 

studies were part of the U.S. Geological Survey 

Southern California Regional Aquifer-System Analysis 

(RASA) study. The objective of the RASA study was to 

analyze the major problems and issues that affect the 

use of ground water in southern California (Martin, 

1986). 
2 Lithologic and Ground-Water Data for Monitoring Sites in the Mojave River and Morongo Ground-Water Basins, San Bernardino County, CA

Figure 1. Mojave River and Morongo ground-water basins, San Bernardino County, California.

e

Harper

Lake

Coyote

Lake

Lucerne

Lake

Cuddleback

Lake

Troy

Lake

Emerson

Lake

Deadman

Lake

Upper

Johnson

Emerson

Mesquite

Mainside

Copper

Mountain

Deadman

Surprise Spring

Reche

Giant

Rock

Mean

Johnson s

Fry

Joshua Tree Twentynine Palms rren

Lucerne

San Bernardino County

Canyon

Barstow

Victorville

Lucerne

Valley

Apple

Valley Hesperia

San Bernardino

County

Los

Angeles

County

San Bernardino

County

U.S. Marine Corps

Air/Ground

Combat Center

U.S. Army Fort Irwin

National Training Center

Hector

Landers

Ft Irwin

Baja

Alto

Este

Centro

ucc

Valle

Mojave River Forks

Reservoir

Oeste

117°00' 116°00'

35°00'

34°30'

117°30' 116°30'

20 MILES

0 20 KILOMETERS

0 10

10

Mojave

River

Calico Mts

Iron Mtn

Newberry Mts

California

Aqueduct

AntelopeValley

Shadow Mts

Newberry

Springs

Granite

Mts

EXPLANATION

Mojave Water Agency subarea

boundary and name

Mojave Water Agency

management area

Mojave River

drainage basin

Alto

Pipes

Transition

Zone Ord Mts

Bullion Mts

Los Angeles

Antelope Valley

CALIFORNIA

San

Francisco

San Diego

Mojave

Desert

Mojave Water Agency

management area

A

Mojave River

ground-water

basin

Morongo

ground-water

basin

15

15

40

395

18

62

58

247

247

18

Little San Bernardino Mts
Introduction 3

Purpose and Scope

To help evaluate and address water-supply and 

water-quality issues in the Mojave River and Morongo 

ground-water basin, the USGS and MWA 

cooperatively constructed 85 ground-water monitoring 

sites within the MWA management area (fig. 2). 

Construction of these monitoring sites provided data on 

lithology, water levels, ground-water quality, and 

aquifer properties at multiple depths in the aquifer 

systems within the Mojave River and Morongo groundwater basins. Most of the monitoring sites consist of 

multiple wells completed at different depths in the 

aquifer system. Prior to the construction of these 

monitoring sites, most geohydrologic data were 

collected from long-screened production wells or from 

shallow monitoring wells.

The purpose of this report is to present a 

compilation of the data collected at the monitoring sites 

from 1992 (when the first site was constructed) through 

1998 (when data collection for the RASA study was 

completed). The data presented in this report include 

location and design of the monitoring sites, lithologic 

data, geophysical logs, ground-water levels, and waterquality analyses. 

Description of Study Area

The climate of the area is typical of the Mojave 

Desert region of southern California; it is characterized 

by low precipitation, low humidity, and high summer 

temperatures. Most areas of the basin floor receive less 

than 6 in/yr of precipitation, although annual 

precipitation can be greater than 40 in. in the southern 

and eastern San Bernardino and San Gabriel Mountains 

(Lines, 1996). Most of the area is undeveloped; 

however, many of the desert communities increased in 

population in the 1980’s as growth in the Los Angeles 

area spread into the high desert (Umari and others, 

1995). Agriculture is concentrated in the areas along 

the Mojave River, near El Mirage Lake (dry), near 

Harper Lake (dry), near Newberry Springs, and in 

Lucerne Valley. 

The Mojave River ground-water basin is 

bounded by the San Bernardino and San Gabriel 

Mountains to the south, Afton Canyon to the northeast, 

the Lucerne Valley to the southeast, and Antelope 

Valley to the west (fig. 1). The ground-water basin 

encompasses about 1,400 mi2 and is divided into six 

management subareas; Oeste, Este, Alto, Transition 

zone of the Alto (referred to in this report as the 

Transition Zone subarea), Centro, and Baja (fig. 2).

The Morongo ground-water basin covers about 

1,000 mi2 and is surrounded by the Ord and the Granite 

Mountains to the north, the Bullion Mountains to the 

east, the San Bernardino Mountains to the southwest, 

and the Pinto and Little San Bernardino Mountains to 

the south (fig. 2). The basin consists of 17 subbasins; 

Copper Mountain, Deadman, Emerson, Fry, Giant 

Rock, Johnson, Joshua Tree, Lucerne, Mainside, 

Means, Mesquite, Pipes, Reche, Surprise Spring, 

Twentynine Palms, Upper Johnson, and Warren (fig. 1). 

The Lucerne subbasin lies within the Este subarea of 

the Mojave River ground-water basin; however, ground 

water east of the Helendale Fault (fig. 2) is considered 

part of the Morongo ground-water basin (fig. 1).

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the personnel from the Mojave 

Water Agency, the U.S. Marine Corps, Victor Valley 

Water Reclamation Authority, Baldy Mesa Water 

District, the city of Barstow, Apple Valley Ranchos 

Water District, Jess Ranch, and the Hi Desert Water 

District for providing data, access to property, and 

permission to drill the monitoring sites. The authors 

also thank the many private well owners that provided 

information and allowed access to their property for 

construction of the monitoring sites. Funding for 

construction of the monitoring sites was provided by 

the Mojave Water Agency, the U.S. Marine Corps, and 

the city of Barstow. This report was completed with the 

help and suggestions of Callie Mack and Phil 

Contreras, both Scientific Illustrators with the U.S. 

Geological Survey, San Diego, California. William D. 

Littschwager compiled the lithologic logs for many of 

the monitoring sites presented in this report.
4 Lithologic and Ground-Water Data for Monitoring Sites in the Mojave River and Morongo Ground-Water Basins, San Bernardino County, CA

Figure 2. Location of monitoring sites within the Mojave River and Morongo ground-water basins, southern California.

T11N

T12N

T13N

T14N

T15N

T16N

T10N

T9N

T8N

T6N

T7N

T5N

T4N

T3N

N

N

S

R8E

R8W R7W R R2W

T28S

T29S

T30S

T31S

T32S

T11N

T10N

T9N

T8N

T7N

T6N

T4N

T3N

T2N

T1N

T12N

0E R46E

Meridian San

Cuddleback

Lake

N

15

15

40

395

18

58

247

247

18

Helendale

Fault

Baja

Alto

Este

Warren

subbasin

Centro

Y

V

Mojave River Forks

Reservoir

este

117°00' 116°00'

35°00'

34°30'

117°30' 116°30'

Mojave

River

Calico Mts

Iron Mtn

Newberry Mts

Ord Mts

California

Aqueduct

AntelopeValley

San Gabriel Mts

Shadow Mts

Newberry

Springs

GraniteMts

Transition

Zone

Baja

EXPLANATION

Mojave Water Agency subarea

boundary and name

Monitoring site — See each subarea

location figure for site names.

Mojave River

drainage basin

Barstow

Victorville

Lucerne

Valley

Apple

Valley

Hesperia

San Bernardino

County

Los

Angeles

County

Kern

County

San Bern

U S Marine Corps

r/Ground

mbat Center

U.S. Army Fort Irwin

National Training Center

Hector

Landers

Ft Irwin

Lucerne

subbasin

Mojave River

ground-water

basin

Morongo

ground-water

basin

Mojave Water Agency

management area

Afton Canyon

Los Angeles

Antelope Valley

CALIFORNIA

San

Francisco

San Diego

Mojave

Desert

Mojave Water Agency

management area

A

20 MILES

0 20 KILOMETERS

0 10

10
Location and Design of Monitoring Sites 5

LOCATION AND DESIGN OF MONITORING 

SITES

Between 1992 and 1998, 210 monitoring wells 

were installed at 85 sites in the Mojave Water Agency 

Management area, San Bernardino County, California. 

Most of the monitoring sites consist of more than one 

well; sites with more than one well are referred to as 

multiple-well monitoring sites. The multiple-well 

monitoring sites typically consist of three to five small 

(generally 2-in.) diameter wells installed at different 

depths in the same borehole. Each well in the borehole 

is screened over a specific interval (generally 20 ft) and 

is isolated from the other wells by a low-permeability 

bentonite grout seal. The construction of these wells 

enables the collection of depth-specific water-level, 

water-quality, and aquifer-property data. The common 

site name, state well number, site identification 

number, and the subarea or subbasin location of the 85 

individual and multiple-well monitoring sites 

constructed for this study are presented in table 1.

The boreholes at the monitoring sites were 

drilled using mud rotary, air rotary, and auger methods; 

and ODEX (overburden drilling by the excenter 

method), also referred to as the reamer method. After 

total hole depth was attained, geophysical logs were 

made for most of the uncased boreholes; the logs, as 

well as the cuttings collected from each borehole, were 

used to design each monitoring site. The monitoring 

wells were constructed using 2-inch-diameter 

polyvinyl chloride (PVC) casing. The screened interval 

of each monitoring well typically consists of a 20-foot 

section of slotted PVC (slot size is 0.020-in.) at the 

bottom. Once the well was set to the desired depth, a 

filter pack was placed around the screened interval 

using Monterey #3 sand. A low-permeability bentonite 

grout then was placed to seal the borehole and 

effectively isolate the monitoring well. This process 

was repeated for each successive well. A wellconstruction diagram for a typical multiple-well 

monitoring site is presented in figure 3.

After completion, drilling fluid was evacuated 

from each monitoring well using compressed air. 

Extensive airlifting and a surging technique with 

compressed air were employed to break down the 

mudcake that had developed between the borehole and 

the surrounding formation during drilling. Specific 

conductance, pH, temperature, apparent color, and 

turbidity, along with the discharge rate and total 

volume, were recorded during this process. 

Development was continuous until no discernible 

drilling mud was present and field measurements had 

stabilized.

DATA COLLECTION

Geologic Data 

Geologic information was collected at each site 

to characterize and correlate stratigraphic units and 

boundaries associated with the regional aquifer 

systems. The geologic information includes lithologic 

descriptions of the drill cuttings and a suite of 

geophysical logs. Selected core, or drill cutting 

samples, were analyzed at some of the monitoring sites 

for physical properties and mineralogy.

Lithologic Descriptions 

Detailed lithologic logs were compiled from 

descriptions of drill cuttings collected at each borehole 

site and from observations recorded during drilling. For 

monitoring sites constructed using the mud-rotary 

method, cutting samples were collected at 20-foot drill 

intervals using a #120 sieve. At most sites, additional 

cutting samples were collected at intervals showing 

distinguishable changes in lithology. For the 

monitoring sites constructed using the ODEX and 

auger methods, cutting samples were collected at 1-

foot intervals. 
6 Lithologic and Ground-Water Data for Monitoring Sites in the Mojave River and Morongo Ground-Water Basins, San Bernardino County, CA

Table 1. Summary of individual and multiple-well monitoring sites in the Mojave River and Morongo ground-water basins, San Bernardino County, 

California

Common name State well No. Site identification No. Subarea or subbasin

Mojave Ground-Water Basin Sites

A1-1 6N/4W-18N2–3 343604117204501–2 Transition Zone subarea

A2 6N/5W-24A2–3 343559117210101–2 Transition Zone subarea

B1 6N/5W-12H2–3 343723117205401–2 Transition Zone subarea

B-1 7N/4W-6F4 344334117202501 Transition Zone subarea

B2 6N/5W-12H4–5 343723117205601–2 Transition Zone subarea

B-2 7N/4W-6F5 344334117202701 Transition Zone subarea

B3 6N/5W-12K4–5 343723117210401–2 Transition Zone subarea

B-3 7N/4W-6F6 344334117203001 Transition Zone subarea

B-4 9N/3W-23D3 345147117101201 Centro subarea

B-6 9N/3W-23D2 345136117101201 Centro subarea

B-7 9N/3W-14N1 345157117101201 Centro subarea

Barstow-1 9N/1W-4M4–7 345351116593301–4 Centro subarea

Barstow-2 9N/1W-4R2–4 345339116584501–3 Centro subarea

Barstow-3 9N/1W-9D5–7 345328116594301–3 Centro subarea

C1-1 6N/5W-1B4–5 343842117210501–2 Transition Zone subarea

C2-1 6N/5W-1B6–7 343842117211101–2 Transition Zone subarea

C3-1 6N/5W-1B8–9 343842117211801–2 Transition Zone subarea

C4-1 6N/5W-1C1–2 343840117212701–2 Transition Zone subarea

CALFAN 10N/1E-20M1–2 345631116541401–2 Baja subarea

Calico East 9N/2E-3G6–9 345416116451601–4 Baja subarea

Calico West 9N/2E-3K5–9 345404116451801–5 Baja subarea

CAMP CADY NO 1 10N/3E-26H1 345549116373701 Baja subarea

CAMP CADY NO 2 10N/4E-19M4 345630116362101 Baja subarea

CHERIES 8N/4W-20Q12 344546117185901 Transition Zone subarea

Daily 7N/4W-19Q5–7 344030117201101–3 Transition Zone subarea

Deep Creek 4N/3W-31L6–9 342318117141101–4 Alto subarea

Del Oro 1 4N/3W-12A1–3 342726117082401–3 Alto subarea

EPA I 6N/5W-13B1–2 343655117210701–2 Transition Zone subarea

EPA II 6N/5W-12G2–3 343733117210801–2 Transition Zone subarea

EPA III 6N/5W-12G4 343730117210401 Transition Zone subarea

EPA IV-A 6N/5W-1L1–2 343815117211901–2 Transition Zone subarea

EPA IV-B 6N/5W-1K1 343815117211101 Transition Zone subarea

EPA V-A 7N/5W-13H1–2 344159117205701–2 Transition Zone subarea

EPA V-B 7N/5W-13H3 344200117205001 Transition Zone subarea

EPA VI 6N/5W-12F1 343726117213001 Transition Zone subarea

EPA VII 6N/5W-12L5 343721117213001 Transition Zone subarea

F-1 9N/2W-3A1–2 345421117035301–2 Centro subarea

F-2 9N/2W-2E1 345407117034701 Centro subarea

F-3 9N/2W-3E1–3 345406117044001–3 Centro subarea

Helendale 1 8N/4W-21M1–4 344609117182901–4 Centro subarea

Helendale 2 8N/4W-20Q7–11 344546117190101–5 Transition Zone subarea

Helendale 3 8N/4W-29E-3–6 344524117193401–4 Transition Zone subarea

Helendale 4 8N/4W-19G1–4 344611117200801–4 Transition Zone subarea
Data Collection 7

Hodge-1 9N/3W-23F1–4 345124117094301–4 Centro subarea

Hodge-2 9N/3W-23C1 345146117094301 Centro subarea

Hodge-3 9N/3W-23H1 345126117091101 Centro subarea

Hodge-4 9N/3W-23L1 345123117094301 Centro subarea

JR-1 4N/4W-1C2–5 342814117150501–4 Alto subarea

Lenwood 1 9N/2W-6L11–14 345350117074001–4 Centro subarea

Lenwood 2 9N/2W-6M7 345448117075101 Centro subarea

Lenwood 3 9N/2W-6P1 345347117074101 Centro subarea

Lenwood 4 9N/2W-6P2 345345117074901 Centro subarea

Lenwood 5 9N/2W-6H6 345402117070401 Centro subarea

Lower Narrows 6N/4W-30J5 343435117195501 Transition Zone subarea

MANIX-1 10N/4E-11E1–2 345828116321101–2 Baja subarea

MANIX-2 10N/4E-11C1–2 345841116313801–2 Baja subarea

MANIX-3 10N/4E-11E3–4 345833116315901–2 Baja subarea

MC-1 9N/1W-10J12–15 345251116574201–4 Centro subarea

MC2 9N/1W-12L2–5 345251116560601–4 Baja subarea

MC3 9N/1W-12N4–7 345242116562101–4 Baja subarea

MC-4 9N/1W-11K12–15 345254116570401–4 Centro subarea

MOGW 4N/5W-21H1 342519117240701 Alto subarea

MSCW 5N/7W-28L1 342923117370601 Oeste subarea

NS-1 10N/3E-27J1–5 345542116383901–5 Baja subarea

NS-2 9N/3E-22R4–7 345104116384001–4 Baja subarea

Older-1 7N/5W-24R5–8 344028117210601–4 Transition Zone subarea

Older-2 7N/5W-23R1–4 344036117215201–4 Transition Zone subarea

Palisades No 1 7N/5W-25C2 344028117212401 Transition Zone subarea

Phelan-1 5N/6W-22E1–3 343030117300901–3 Alto subarea

Regional Park 5N/4W-23B1 343046117155801 Alto subarea

RS-1 4N/3W-19G2–6 342514117134801–5 Alto subarea

SF-1 4N/4W-3A2–5 342805117164501–4 Alto subarea

UN-1 5N/4W-14D1–4 343145117163501–4 Alto subarea

Vernola 1 9N/3W-1R5–7 345341117082101–3 Centro subarea

YEMBB 9N/1E-4K1–3 345356116523001–3 Baja subarea

YEMRIV 9N/1E-16F1–4 345224116525701–4 Baja subarea

YEMRR 9N/1E-10Q2–4 345259116514201–3 Baja subarea

Morongo Ground-Water Basin Sites

LUV-1 4N/1E-23K1–2 342518116505401–2 Lucerne subbasin

LUV-2 4N/1E-23R1–2 342504116503801–2 Lucerne subbasin

North Side Rd 1 5N/1E-8N3–4 343155116543401–2 Lucerne subbasin

Pipeline 1 4N/1W-13R1–4 342544116555001–4 Lucerne subbasin

RL-1 4N/1W-1R4–7 342738116553901–4 Lucerne subbasin

RL-2 4N/1W-1R8–9 342738116553905–6 Lucerne subbasin

YV-1 1N/5E-36G1–4 340746116244201–4 Warren subbasin

YV-2 1N/5E-36M1–3 340737116250801–3 Warren subbasin

Common name State well No. Site identification No. Subarea or subbasin

Table 1. Summary of individual and multiple-well monitoring sites in the Mojave River and Morongo ground-water basins, San Bernardino County, 

California—Continued
8 Lithologic and Ground-Water Data for Monitoring Sites in the Mojave River and Morongo Ground-Water Basins, San Bernardino County, CA

Drill cuttings were examined in the office 

(where they were described in greater detail) by 

grain size, texture, sorting, rounding, color, and any 

other noticeable features, such as wood or shell 

fragments. Texture (fig. 4) was determined on all 

cuttings using a method developed by Folk (1954), 

and particle-size description follow the National 

Research Council (1947) classification. This 

classification allows for correlation of grain-sized 

terms (such as “sand”) to size limits in millimeters or 

inches. For samples containing fine-graned matieral, 

the terms “silt” and (or) “clay” are used in lieu of 

“mud.” Color, determined on moist samples, follows 

the numerical color designations in Munsell Soil 

Color Charts (Munsell Color, 1994). Lithologic 

information for each monitoring site is presented 

graphically in the appendixes of this report; raw data 

are available at back of report.

Generalized stratigraphic columns were 

prepared for each monitoring site by grouping 

similar lithologic units as determined from detailed 

lithologic descriptions. The lithologic units were 

categorized into textural groups, such as gravels or 

sands (fig. 4)—based on estimated percentages of 

gravel and (or) sand, and the ratios of sand, silt, and 

clay present—following the nomenclature of Folk 

(1954). The information collected from the borehole 

geophysical logs also was used to help identify 

contact depths between major lithologic units.

Geophysical Logs 

Borehole geophysical surveys were conducted 

at each site to provide information on the nature of 

the lithologic units and on the chemical character of 

ground water. Geophysical logs were made shortly 

after attaining total hole depth in the uncased, fluidfilled borehole. These surveys generally include 

caliper, natural gamma ray, spontaneous potential, 

16-inch and 64-inch normal resistivity, and 

electromagnetic induction logs. Sonic, single-point, 

and guard- resistivity logs were made at some of the 

monitoring sites. Geophysical logs for selected 

monitoring sites are referenced in the “Data 

Presentation” section and presented graphically in 

the appendixes; raw data can be obtained at back of 

report.

Figure 3. Example of well construction at multiple-well monitoring site RS-1 

(4N/3W-19G2–6), San Bernardino County, California.

0

100

200

300

400

500

620 feet

600

Total depth

DEPTH, IN FEET BELOW LAND SURFACE

Cement

seal

Bentonite

grout seal

Bentonite

grout seal

Bentonite

grout seal

Sand

Sand

Sand

2-inch PVC

screen

2-inch PVC

casing

9 7/8-inch borehole

G2 G3 G4 G5 G6
Data Collection 9

Figure 4. Nomenclature used to describe texture. (From Folk, 1954, fig. 1.)

GRAVEL

Greater than 2 millimeters (mm)

SAND

0.0625 to

2 millimeters (mm)

SLIT AND CLAY

Greater than

0.0625 millimeters (mm)

80

30

5

9:1 1:1

MUD:SAND Ratio

1:9

GRAVEL, IN PERCENT

Gravel

Silty

gravel

Gravelly

silt

Gravelly

silty

sand

Silty

sandy

gravel

Slightly

gravelly sand Slightly

gravelly silt

Slightly gravelly

sandy silt

Slightly gravelly

silty sand Trace Trace

SAMPLES

CONTAINING

GRAVEL

SAND

CLAY SILT

2:1

CLAY:SILT Ratio

1:2

SAND, IN PERCENT

Clay

Sandy

clay

Clayey

sand

Silty

sand

Silty

sand

Sandy

silt

Sandy

silt

Silt

Sand

Silt

90

50

10

SAMPLES

LACKING

GRAVEL

Sandy

gravel

Sandy

gravel

Gravelly sand

Gravelly

sand

Sandy silt Sandy mud Silty sand Muddy sand
10 Lithologic and Ground-Water Data for Monitoring Sites in the Mojave River and Morongo Ground-Water Basins, San Bernardino County, CA

Caliper devices measure the diameter of the 

borehole. The caliper log can be used to show the 

existence of unconsolidated cave-in sand or the 

presence of swelling clay. The caliper log can also be 

used to calculate the volume of filter pack and sealing 

materials needed to fill the annulus of the borehole.

Natural gamma-ray logs measure the intensities 

of gamma-ray emissions resulting from the natural 

decay of potassium-40 and of the daughter products of 

uranium and thorium (Schlumberger, 1972). Gammaray logs are used primarily to define lithology 

indicators and for geologic correlation. Clay, feldsparrich gravel, and granite generally emit higher intensity 

gamma rays. 

Spontaneous potential (SP) devices measure 

voltage differences that exist between non-porous and 

porous beds. An SP log usually has a baseline that 

corresponds to impermeable beds such as clay or shale. 

Deflections to the left of this baseline correspond to the 

positions of permeable strata if the formation water is 

less resistive (more saline) than the drilling mud. 

Deflections to the right of the baseline correspond to 

the positions of permeable strata if the formation water 

is more resistive (less saline) than the drilling mud.

Resistance devices, such as the single-point 

device, measure the resistance of the earth materials 

lying between an in-hole electrode and a surface 

electrode. The main uses of single-point resistance logs 

are for geologic correlation (for example, determining 

bed boundaries and changes in lithology) and fracture 

identification in resistive rocks (Keys and MacCary, 

1985).

Resistivity devices also were used for the 

resistivity surveys; they measure the apparent 

resistivity of a volume of rock under the direct 

application of an electric current (Keys and MacCary, 

1983). These logs are used to determine formation and 

fluid resistivity and to estimate formation porosity. In 

an alluvial aquifer system, low resistivity generally 

indicates water higher in dissolved solids and (or) finegrained deposits such as silt, clay, and shale, whereas 

high resistivity indicates water lower in dissolved 

solids and (or) coarser material, such as sand or gravel. 

Therefore, resistivity can be used as an indicator of 

water quality—as dissolved-solids concentration 

increases, resistivity decreases. For example, the 

presence of high-dissolved-solids water in a formation 

would result in a low value of apparent resistivity. For 

this study, short (16-in.) normal and long (64-in.) 

normal devices were routinely used. In some 

boreholes, guard-resistivity devices also were used. 

The short-normal device records the apparent 

resistivity of the zone invaded by drilling fluid and the 

long-normal device records the apparent resistivity 

beyond the invaded zone. Guard devices are designed 

to define the boundaries of thin beds, particularly 

resistive ones, and to measure their resistivity (Doll, 

1951).

Electromagnetic induction logs yield detailed 

information on the vertical electrical conductivity of a 

formation and of pore water (McNeill, 1986). These 

logs can be used to identify water-bearing units of 

different electrical conductivity through both PVC 

casing and screen, and in open boreholes. Because the 

electromagnetic induction tool responds to changes in 

the dissolved-solids concentration of ground water, it is 

possible to repeatedly track and map electrical 

anomalies associated with changes in dissolved-solids 

concentration of ground water over time (Williams and 

others, 1993).

Sonic logs, also known as acoustic and acousticvelocity logs, are designed to measure the time it takes 

for a pulsed compressional sound wave to travel 1 ft. In 

unconsolidated material, sonic logs are principally 

used to measure porosity of the aquifer materials. 

Variations in porosity, and therefore in transit time, can 

help to identify contacts between lithologic units 

throughout the borehole. Transit time also can indicate 

cementation of geologic materials. Faster transit times 

indicate more cementation within the pore spaces.
Data Collection 11

Core Measurements 

Core samples were collected at various depths at 

selected monitoring sites (table 2). Whole-core sections 

(approximately 6 in. in length) were subsampled from 

a limited number of cores to measure the physical 

properties of the soil material from monitoring sites 

MSCW in the Oeste subarea (figure A1) and MOGW in 

the Alto subarea (figure B1) of the Mojave River 

ground-water basin. Physical properties, such as water 

content, bulk density, porosity, water potential, particle 

size, water retention, and chemical composition of 

leachate were measured at the Desert Research 

Institute, University of Nevada, Reno, and the USGS 

laboratory in San Diego, California, following 

procedures defined by Soeder (1996). The results of the 

physical-property determinations are presented in 

Izbicki and others (2000). Selected drill-cutting 

samples were submitted to the USGS, Geologic 

Division, Branch of Geochemistry, in Denver, 

Colorado, to determine bulk mineralogy, using x-ray 

diffraction described in Klug and Alexander (1974).

Water-Level Data Collection

Ground-water levels were measured periodically 

at the monitoring sites, and also prior to water-quality 

sample collection. Water levels were measured to an 

accuracy of 0.01 ft using a calibrated steel tape or a 

calibrated electric tape.

Water-Quality Data Collection 

Water-quality samples were collected 

periodically at each monitoring site after they were 

adequately developed. Sampling was conducted by 

USGS personnel; all samples were collected, handled, 

and preserved following written USGS field procedures 

by Sylvester and others (written commun., 1990). 

Purge logs, field measurements, and other information 

related to sample collection are on file at the USGS 

office in San Diego, California. 

Table 2. List of individual and multiple-well monitoring sites in the Mojave River and Morongo ground-water basins, San Bernardino County, California, 

for which core samples are available

[Core-sample data available at the U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Discipline office, San Diego, California]

Common name State well No. Subarea or subbasin

Mojave Ground-Water Basin sites

EPA I 6N/5W-13B1–2 Transition Zone subarea

EPA II 6N/5W-12G2–3 Transition Zone subarea

EPA III 6N/5W-12G4 Transition Zone subarea

EPA IV-A 6N/5W-1L1–2 Transition Zone aubarea

EPA IV-B 6N/5W-1K1 Transition Zone subarea

EPA V-A 7N/5W-13H1–2 Transition Zone subarea

EPA V-B 7N/5W-13H3 Transition Zone subarea

EPA VI 6N/5W-12F1 Transition Zone subarea

MANIX-1 10N/4E-11E1–2 Baja subarea

MANIX-2 10N/4E-11C1–2 Baja subarea

MC2 9N/1W-12L2–5 Baja subarea

MOGW 4N/5W-21H1 Alto subarea

MSCW 5N/7W-28L1 Oeste subarea

NS-1 10N/3E-27J1–5 Baja subarea

UN-1 5N/4W-14D1–4 Alto subarea

YEMRIV 9N/1E-16F1–4 Baja subarea

Morongo Ground-Water Basin sites

Pipeline 1 4N/1W-13R1–4 Lucerne subbasin

YV-2 1N/5E-36M1–3 Warren subbasin
12 Lithologic and Ground-Water Data for Monitoring Sites in the Mojave River and Morongo Ground-Water Basins, San Bernardino County, CA

Prior to each sampling, water-level 

measurements were made and at least three well-casing 

volumes were purged from the well using a portable 

submersible pump. Specific conductance, pH, and 

water temperature were monitored during the purging 

process. Samples were collected only after these 

parameters had stabilized. Stability was attained when 

three successive measurements taken at intervals of 5 

minutes or more differed by less than 5 percent for 

specific conductance, 0.1 units for pH, and 0.2oC for 

water temperature.

Portable meters were used to make the field 

measurements for specific conductance, pH, and 

alkalinity; the measurements were made using methods 

outlined by Wilde and Radtke (1998). All instruments 

were calibrated in the field prior to sample collection. 

Dissolved-oxygen measurements were made by 

Winkler titration. Water temperature was measured 

using a hand-held alcohol-filled thermometer that had a 

full-scale accuracy of 0.5oC or using a built-in 

thermistor attached to the conductivity probe (which 

had an accuracy of plus or minus 0.1oC). Both 

measuring devices were frequently checked against an 

American Standard Laboratory and Materials standard 

mercury thermometer and were within 0.5oC. 

Instrument log and calibration data are on file at the 

USGS office in San Diego, California.

Most water samples intended for routine 

analyses (major ions, nutrients, and trace elements) 

were pressure filtered in the field using a membrane 

polyethersulfone (PES) filter capsule that has a pore 

size of 0.45 μm. Laboratory samples intended for the 

analysis of pH, specific conductance, and acidneutralizing capacity were not filtered. Polyethylene 

bottles were used to contain most of the samples and 

were rinsed three times using sample site water prior to 

filling. Samples collected for nutrient determinations 

were contained in a dark, opaque polyethylene bottles, 

and preserved on ice to inhibit bacterial growth. 

Samples for cation and selected trace element 

determinations were collected in acid-rinsed 

polyethylene bottles and preserved by acidifying the 

sample to a pH less than 2 using a small volume of 

concentrated nitric acid. Samples were shipped to the 

USGS National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) in 

Arvada, Colorado, for analysis following standard 

methods outlined by Fishman (1993), Faires (1993), 

and Struzeski and others (1996). 

Water samples for analysis of the stable isotopes 

deuterium and oxygen-18 were collected in 60-

milliliter glass bottles. The samples were not filtered. 

The bottles were not rinsed, but were sealed with a 

polyseal (conical) cap to minimize exchange with the 

atmosphere. These samples were shipped to the USGS 

Stable Isotope laboratory in Reston, Virginia, for 

analysis according to methods outlined by Coplen and 

others (1991). The result of these analyses are 

expressed in terms of per mil relative to Vienna 

Standard Mean Ocean Water (Gonfiantini, 1984). The 

estimate of precision (two sigma) for deuterium and 

oxygen-18 is 2 per mil and 0.2 per mil, respectively.

Water samples intended for the analysis of 

tritium were collected in 1-liter polyethylene bottles. 

The samples were not filtered. Bottles were not rinsed, 

and care was taken not to aerate the sample during 

collection. Samples were sealed with a polyseal 

(conical) cap to minimize exchange with the 

atmosphere. These samples were analyzed by USGS 

laboratories or by laboratories under contract 

arrangements with the USGS. The activity of tritium is 

reported in terms of tritium units (TU) with a twosigma estimate of precision. Each tritium unit equals 

1 atom of 3H in 1018 atoms of hydrogen.

Water samples for analysis of carbon-13 and 

carbon-14 isotopes were collected in 1-liter amber 

glass bottles. Samples were filtered in the field using a 

membrane (PES) filter capsule with a 0.45-μm pore 

size. The bottle was bottom-filled and allowed to 

overflow an amount several times the bottle volume, 

then sealed with a Teflon-septa cap and held on ice. 

Carbon-13 and carbon-14 isotopes of the dissolved 

inorganic carbon were analyzed by contract 

laboratories approved by the USGS. Results of the 

carbon-13 analyses are reported in per mil relative to 

the Vienna PeeDee belemnite standard (Coplen, 1994). 

The activity of carbon-14 is reported with a one-sigma 

estimate of precision relative to the 1950 National 

Bureau of Standards for oxalic acid standard (Stuiver 

and Polach, 1977; Wigley and Muller, 1981).
Data Presentation 13

DATA PRESENTATION

Mojave River Ground-Water Basin

Seventy-seven monitoring sites were constructed 

in the Oeste, Alto, Transition Zone, Centro, and Baja 

subareas of the Mojave River ground-water basin (fig. 

2).Data for these monitoring sites are presented by 

subarea in appendixes A through E in graphic (figs. 

A1–E11) and tabular (tables A1–E13) format.

Oeste Subarea

One monitoring site (a single well) was 

constructed within the Oeste subarea; the location of 

the subarea and of this monitoring site is shown in 

figure A1. Well-construction data are given in table 

A1, and a detailed lithologic log is shown in table A2. 

The gamma-ray log for this site, the generalized 

stratigraphic column, and the well diagram are shown 

in figure A2. Water-level and water-quality data are 

presented in tables A3 and A4, respectively.

Alto Subarea

Nine monitoring sites were constructed within 

the Alto subarea; the location of the subarea and of the 

monitoring sites is shown in figure B1. Wellconstruction data are given in table B1, and detailed 

lithologic logs, for those wells with logs, are given in 

tables B2 through B9. Any geophysical logs of the 

boreholes, generalized stratigraphic columns, and well 

diagrams are shown in figures B2 through B9. Waterlevel and water-quality data are given in tables B10 and 

B11, respectively.

Transition Zone Subarea

Thirty monitoring sites were constructed within 

the Transition Zone subarea; the location of the subarea 

and of the monitoring sites is shown in figure C1. Wellconstruction data are given in table C1, and detailed 

lithologic logs, for those wells with logs, are given in 

tables C2 through C18. Any geophysical logs made of 

the boreholes, generalized stratigraphic columns, and 

well diagrams are shown in figures C2 through C18. 

Water-level and water-quality data are given in tables 

C19 and C20, respectively.

Centro Subarea

Twenty-two monitoring sites were constructed 

within the Centro subarea; the location of the subarea 

and of the monitoring sites is shown in figure D1.Wellconstruction data are given in table D1, and detailed 

lithologic logs are given in tables D2 through D23. 

Geophysical logs made of the boreholes, generalized 

stratigraphic columns, and well diagrams are shown in 

figures D2 through D23. Water-level and water-quality 

data are given in tables D24 and D25, respectively.

Baja Subarea

Fifteen monitoring sites were constructed within 

the Baja subarea; the location of the subarea and of the 

monitoring sites is shown in figure E1. Wellconstruction data are given in table E1, and detailed 

lithologic logs, for those wells with logs, are given in 

tables E2 through E11. Any geophysical logs made of 

the boreholes, generalized stratigraphic columns, and 

well diagrams are shown in figures E2 through E11. 

Water-level and water-quality data are given in tables 

E12 and E13, respectively.

Morongo Ground-Water Basin

Eight monitoring sites were constructed within 

the Lucerne and Warren subbasins of the Morongo 

ground-water basin (fig.2). Data for these sites are 

presented by subbasin in appendixes F and G in 

graphic (figs. F1–F6 and G1–G3, respectively) and 

tabular (tables F1–F8 and G1–G5, respectively) 

format. 

Lucerne Subbasin

Six monitoring sites were constructed within the 

Lucerne subbasin; the location of the subbasin and of 

the monitoring sites is shown in figure F1. Wellconstruction data are given in table F1, and detailed 

lithologic logs are given in tables F2 through F6. 

Geophysical logs of the boreholes, generalized 

stratigraphic columns, and well diagrams are shown in 

figures F2 through F6. Water-level and water-quality 

data are given in tables F7 and F8, respectively.
14 Lithologic and Ground-Water Data for Monitoring Sites in the Mojave River and Morongo Ground-Water Basins, San Bernardino County, CA

Warren Subbasin

Two monitoring sites were constructed within 

the Warren subbasin; the location of the subbasin and 

of the monitoring sites is shown in figure G1. Wellconstruction data are given in table G1, and detailed 

lithologic logs are given in tables G2 and G3. 

Geophysical logs of the boreholes, generalized 

stratigraphic columns, and well diagrams are shown in 

figures G2 and G3. Water-level and water-quality data 

are given in tables G4 and G5, respectively.

ACCESSING DATA 

Users of the data presented in this report are 

encouraged to access information through the USGS 

National Water Information System Web page 

(NWISWeb) located at http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/

NWISWeb serves as an interface to a database 

network of site information, real-time, ground-water, 

surface-water, and water-quality data collected from 

locations throughout the 50 states and elsewhere. Data 

are updated from the database network on a regularly 

scheduled basis.

Data are retrieved by category and geographic 

area and can be selectively refined by specific location 

or parameter field. NWISWeb can output water-level 

and water-quality graphs, site maps, data tables (in 

HTML and ASCII format) and develop site-selection 

lists.

Updates to data presented in this report after 

publication are made to the U.S. Geological Survey’s 

NWIS. Additional geophysical logs, sample collection 

notes, and other information not contained in NWIS 

are kept on file at the USGS office in San Diego, 

California. Formal requests for specific data should be 

directed to the U.S. Geological Survey, California 

District Office, Hydrologic Data Center located in 

Sacramento, California.

SUMMARY

Eighty-five ground-water monitoring sites were 

constructed in the Mojave River and Morongo groundwater basins of San Bernardino County, California, as 

part of a series of cooperative studies between the U.S. 

Geological Survey and the Mojave Water Agency to 

help evaluate and address water-supply and waterquality issues. One to five small (generally 2-in.) 

diameter wells were installed at each of the monitoring 

sites to collect depth-dependent hydrologic data. 

Lithologic logs were compiled from descriptions of 

drill cuttings and cores collected during the drilling at 

each site and from observations recorded during the 

drilling of the boreholes. Generalized stratigraphic 

columns were compiled by grouping similar lithologic 

units. Geophysical logs provide information on the 

character of the lithologic units and the presence and 

chemical characteristics of ground water. Water-level 

and water-quality data were collected periodically at 

the sites from 1992 through 1998.

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