Geology and Groun d 

Water Features of the 

Butte Valley Region 

Siskiyou County 

California

By P. R. WOOD

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1491

Prepared in cooperation with the 

California Department offf^ater Resources

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1960
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

FRED A. SEATON, Secretary

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

Thomas B. Nolan, Director

The U.S. Geological Survey Library catalog card for this publication appears after page 151.

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office 

Washington 25, D.C.
CONTENTS

Page

Abstract___.__-_-____________-____________-_____----_----------- 1

Introduction.___---____-______________________--_----------------- 3

Purpose and scope of the work._..._____________________----.._-- 3

Location of area.-_-___-_____________-______--_------_--------- 4

Culture and accessibility. ________-___.___-______-----_--------- 4

Previous investigations.________-_____-______-_-_---_----------- 4

Acknowledgments _________________-___-____-__------_--------- 6

Well-numbering system____-______________-______------_------- 6

Method of investigation._____-______________-__-----_---------- 7

Physical features of the area..___________________._____-___-.---_--- 10

Topography and drainage. __________________-____----_-----_--- 10

Cascade Range.--___________-__________-_-_---_-_--------- 10

Butte Valley_-___----._-_----_---_--_---_----------------- 11

Red Rock Valley area________-_--__---_-------------------- H

Oklahoma district. _____________________-___--------------- 12

Mahogany Mountain ridge_ __________________---__--_------ 13

Climate.-_----.-___...___.-_-__-._-______--__-_--_----------- 13

Geologic formations and their water-bearing properties.__________--_--_ 16

General character and age of the rocks.______________------------ 16

Volcanic rocks and their water-bearing properties._________________ 17

Volcanic rocks of the "Western Cascades" (Eocene through

Miocene)_________________________._-__-------_--------- 20

Older volcanic rocks of the ''High Cascades" (Pliocene and

Pleistocene?)__.________.__._______-.___-_---_--------- 21

Pyroclastic rocks (Pleistocene and Recent)___________--_--_--- 26

Butte Valley basalt (late Pleistocene and Recent) _____--__-___- 29

Basaltic lava flows (late Pliocene? and Pleistocene)_______-__-- 32

Basaltic flows northeast of Sharp Mountain (late Pleistocene and

Recent) ._-_.__________-_____._________-__.--__--------- 33

Younger volcanic rocks of the "High Cascades" (late Pleistocene

and Recent)________________--__-___-____--------------- 34

Sedimentary deposits and their water-bearing properties-___________ 35

Diatomite (Pliocene)________________________---_--_-------- 35

Glacial moraines and fluvioglacial deposits (late Pleistocene) _ _ _ _ 38

Lake deposits (Pleistocene and Recent)_________-_____--___- 39

Alluvial-fan deposits (Pleistocene and Recent)__________-__-- 44

Alluvium (Pleistocene and Recent)______________-__--------- 46

Talus (Pleistocene and Recent)_____________________----_-- 47

Dune sand (Recent)_____-________________-_--_--_--------- 48

Structure.. _ _______________-_---_-..-._--__--__..__________---__-_ 48

Ground water.-_--_-___-____________-_________-_____-----_--_----- 50

Occurrence and movement of ground water._________--__--------- 50

Fluctuations of water levels_._____-__._________--------------- 54

Recharge.____________________________________________________ 58

in
IV GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY

Ground water Continued

Discharge. _ ---------_-____--____________

Butte Valley.._____________________

Red Rock Valley and Oklahoma districtFlowing wells. _______________________

Springs. __-_-_---___________________-

Willow Creek spring______________

Cottonwood Creek springs._ _______

Sheepy Creek spring--___-____-___

Hot Creek springs,_______________

Water utilization-________________________

Quality of water______________________________

Water quality in relation to use. _______-___--__

References cited______________________________

Basic data__--______-___-.______--____-_____-

Index_______________________________________

Page 

58

58

59

59

60

60

61

61

62

63

63

65

67

69

149

ILLUSTRATIONS

[All plates in pocket]

PLATE 1. Geologic map of Butte Valley region, showing location of wells.

2. Probable subsurface extent of Butte Valley basalt, and wells that penetrate older volcanic rocks of the "High Cascades."

3. Geologic sections showing water-level profile for May 1954.

FIGURE 1. Map showing location of valleys investigated for upper Klamath Page 

basin program___-____-__-___-_----_---_--____-_-----__ 5

2. Subdivision of a section showing well-numbering system. ______ 7

3. Diagrammatic section across Butte Valley showing conditions

that govern occurrence of ground water.__________________ 25

4. Diagrammatic section showing the steepened hydraulic gradient

at the northeast side of Butte Valley near Dorris__-_____-__ 53

5. Fluctuations of water levels in wells along the north sMe of

Butte Valley______-_-___-__---____--__-_--__-_--__---_ 55

6. Fluctuations of water levels in wells in the central and eastern

partsof Butte Valley__-___-_----_----------_-------_--_ 56

7. Fluctuations of water levels in wells in the southern part of

Butte Valley and in Red Rock Valley.___---__________-___ 57

TABLES

TABLE 1. Annual precipitation at Macdoel, Mount Hebron, and Tule Lake, Page 

Calif _-__ __ -_ __--___ - . ------------ 14

2. Average monthly precipitation at Macdoel, Mount Hebro*1 , and

Tule Lake-----_.-----.---_--_--_---------------------- 15

3. Average monthly temperatures at Macdoel, Mount Hebroi, and

Tule Lake------_-_-_-__-__-_---_---------------------- 16
CONTENTS V

TABLE 4. Generalized stratigraphic section showing geologic units and their Page

water-bearing properties.-___________________--___-_---__ 18

5. Summary of yield characteristics for wells tapping the lake deposits in the eastern half of Butte Valley-__________________ 42

6. Summary of yield characteristics for wells tapping the lake deposits and Butte Valley basalt-___________________________ 43

7. Descriptions of wells in the Butte Valley region-_--____-______ 70

8. Drillers' logs and records of wells in Butte Valley______________ 93

9. Drillers' logs of wells in Red Rock Valley.____________________ 125

10. Drillers' logs of wells in the Oklahoma district-________________ 129

11. Periodic water-level measurements in wells in Butte Valley._ ___ 131

12. Chemical analyses of ground water in the Butte Valley region. __ 146

13. Chemical analyses of surface water in the Butte Valley region.__ 148
GEOLOGY AND GROUND-WATER FEATURES OF THE

BUTTE VALLEY REGION, SISKIYOU

COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

By P. E. WOOD

ABSTRACT

The Butte Valley region includes an area of about 600 square miles, between 

long 121°37' and 122°10' W. and lat 41°38' and 42° N., in northern Siskiyou 

County, Calif. U.S. Highway 97, connecting Weed with Klamath Falls, 

traverses the region in a northeasterly direction, and the Southern Pacific 

railroad serves several small farming communities in Butte Valley.

The region is near the west edge of the Modoc plateau. It includes along 

its western border a part of the Cascade Range, Butte and Red Rock Valleys, 

the Oklahoma district, and a prominent northwestward-trending fault block 

(the Mahogany Mountain ridge) which separates Butte Valley fro-n the Oklahoma district and the Lower Klamath Lake marshland.

Geologic units have been divided into two groups: Volcanic rocks which 

range in age from Eocene to Recent; and sedimentary rocks whi^h range in 

age from Pliocene to Recent.

From oldest to youngest the volcanic rocks include: (a) Predominantly 

andesitic lavas and pyroclastic rocks comprising the volcanic r?cks of the 

"Western Cascades"; (b) older volcanic rocks of the "High Cascades"; (c) 

basaltic flows and pyroclastic rocks east of the Cascade Rang^; and (d) 

younger volcanic rocks of the "High Cascades."

Volcanic rocks of the "Western Cascades" are the oldest rocks in the 

region. They range in age from late Eocene to late Miocene. These rocks 

are chiefly pyroxene andesite, and andesitic tuff-breccia, but include lesser 

amounts of basalt, rhyolite, and associated pyroclastic rocks. In most places 

they are badly decomposed and less permeable than the younger volcanic 

rocks. They are best exposed in the Klamath River canyon, wh^re the prevailing dips are to the east and northeast. The angle of dip d'minishes in 

these directions from about 15° near the base of the series to nearly zero 

where the rocks disappear beneath a younger series of volcanic rocks designated on plate 1 as the older volcanic rocks of the "High Cascades." The 

volcanic rocks of the "Western Cascades" are at least 12,000 feet thick.

The older volcanic rocks of the "High Cascades," which UE conformably 

overlie the volcanic rocks of the "Western Cascades," are Pliocene and Pleistocene (?) in age. They consist chiefly of basalt and basaltic andesite that 

spread out in successive sheets from a chain of northward-trendinr shield volcanoes built along the crest of the Cascade Range. Here the topography 

is almost wholly constructional, and even the oldest cones retain irnch of their 

original shape. East of the Cascade Range several large dome-shaped lava 

cones and most of the northwestward-trending fault block called Mahogany
2 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY

Mountain ridge are composed of volcanic rocks of similar litholojry. In most 

places the older volcanic rocks of the "High Cascades" are highly fractured 

and moderately permeable; they serve as a large intake area and groundwater reservoir.

East of the Cascade Range, basalt of Pleistocene and Recent age issued from 

vents and fissures and spread out over alluvial deposits and laVe sediments 

in the southern parts of Butte and Red Rock Valleys and the Lover Klamath 

Lake marshland. One of these flows the Butte Valley basalt forms the 

most productive water-bearing formation in the region. In the southwestern 

part of Butte Valley, where it is overlain by about 20 to 60 fee'; of alluvial 

materials and lake deposits, this basaltic flow is an excellent aquifer. Yields 

of more than 100 gpm (gallons per minute) for each foot of drawdown are 

common and yields of 1,000 gpm for each foot of drawdown have been 

recorded.

Late Pleistocene and Recent lava flows and cinder cones in the Cascade 

Range and extensive basaltic extrusions near Sharp Mountain are important 

chiefly as recharge (intake) areas for ground water.

Sedimentary deposits range in age from Pliocene to Recent. The oldest of 

these deposits is a massive fresh-water diatomite which under1 ies a large 

part of the Oklahoma district. The diatomite is impermeable, but wells 

penetrating interbedded sand or cindery lapilli lenses in the diftomite may 

yield moderate quantities of water. Glacial moraines and fluvioglacial outwash deposits of late Pleistocene age occur near the mouth of Butte Creek 

canyon. These deposits are unstratified or poorly sorted and commonly are 

only slightly permeable.

Semiconsolidated lake deposits, ranging in age from Pleistocene to Recent, 

underlie most of the Butte Valley plain. West of U.S. Highway 97 these 

deposits are composed principally of impermeable layers of clay, tfiatomaceous 

clay, and volcanic ash. However, east of U.S. Highway 97, and especially 

near the eastern border of the valley, the lake deposits contain a larger 

percentage of sand, and permeabilities range from about 50 to 230 gpd per 

square foot as determined from tests made in 3 pumped wells.

Alluvial-fan deposits on the west side of Butte Valley range from Pleistocene to Recent in age. They are composed of poorly sorted rock debris derived from the Cascade Range and are only slightly permeable.

Areas mapped as alluvium include thin beds of gravel, sand, dry, and peat 

covering older lake deposits in Butte Valley and the area around Lower 

Klamath Lake. They include also small playa deposits, poorly sorted alluvium 

collected in broad, shallow basins and depressions, and alluvluir in present 

intermittent stream channels. In most places alluvium forms a thin cover 

resting on lava flows or lake deposits. In general the alluviuir is slightly 

permeable and of little hydrologic importance except in the southwestern part 

of Butte Valley, where it consists of sand and gravel, ranging in thickness 

from 20 to 60 feet and rests on the Butte Valley basalt. In tl is area the 

alluvium probably yields moderate quantities of water to wells. Elsewhere the 

alluvium is largely above the saturated zone and is important chiefly because 

of its ability to absorb precipitation and surface runoff which percolate 

through it into underlying rocks.

Linear wedge-shaped talus strips, formed at the foot of precipitous fault 

scarps, are partly concealed beneath and probably interfinger with alluvium 

and lake deposits. The blocky talus debris is very permeable and, where saturated, yields water readily to wells.
INTRODUCTION 6

East of the Cascade Range, block faulting is the dominant structural 

feature. The faults are normal and displacement is almost wholly vertical. 

Vertical displacements range from a few feet along minor faults to perhaps 

several thousand feet along major faults; there are no appreciable horizontal 

displacements.

Butte Valley is a complexly downfaulted basin nearly surrounded by wellpreserved fault scarps of late Pleistocene and Recent age. Ground water 

moves eastward and northeastward across the valley into the buried talus 

and volcanic rocks that compose the Mahogany Mountain ridge, and may flow 

through that ridge to supply recharge to the area to the east. Th« direction 

of water movement in Red Rock Valley and in the Oklahoma district was not 

determined.

Records of water-level fluctuations in observation wells show that water 

levels recover each winter, and during the period 1951-54 there was little 

overall change in the height of yearly recovery.

Ground-water recharge in the southern part of the region occurs mainly 

by seepage loss from perennial spring-fed streams and unlined canals along 

the western margin of Butte Valley, by seepage loss from small spring-fed 

streams that discharge onto alluvial fans, and along the north, west, and south 

sides of the valley by lateral movement from the volcanic rocks. In irrigated 

tracts throughout the area some recharge probably occurs by deep percolation 

of irrigation water.

Ground water is discharged by natural means and by pumping. In Butte 

Valley about 21,000 acre-feet of ground water was used for irrigation in 

1953. In Red Rock Valley pumping of ground water for irrigation purposes 

was negligible. In the Oklahoma district ground water for irrigation and 

domestic requirements is supplied by springs and flowing and punped wells.

The quality of most of the ground water in the region is satisfactory for 

most uses, but in the east-central part of Butte Valley some wells yield water 

containing high percentages of sodium, probably derived from buried playa 

deposits.

The chemical quality of the surface water is such that it can 1 ? used for 

most purposes. However, analyses of water from Meiss Lake shov high concentrations of dissolved solids, ranging from 473 to 1,380 ppm, and high percentages of sodium, ranging from 75 to 91. Here the salts have b?en concentrated by evaporation of the lake water.

INTRODUCTION

PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THE WORK

This investigation was begun by the U.S. Geological Survey in 

June 1953 in cooperation with the California Division (now Department) of Water Eesources to investigate the geology and groundwater features in the California part of the upper Klamath River 

basin. The investigation was to include: (a) Mapping the extent 

and thickness of the water-bearing rocks; (b) examining the physical character and hydrologic properties of the rocks; (c) studying 

the occurrence and movement of ground water; (d) determining the 

chemical character of the ground water and its relation to occurrence, movement, and use; and (e) estimating the gronnd-water
4 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY

storage capacity. The last phase estimating ground-water storage 

capacity was abandoned because of the difficulty in assigning 

reasonable specific-yield values to the volcanic rocks from which 

much of the ground water is pumped.

The investigation was made under the general supervision of 

J. F. Poland, district geologist in charge of the grounc1 -water investigations in California, and under the direct supervision of A. R. 

Leonard, geologist. The report was reviewed and revised by G. F. 

Worts, Jr., who succeeded Mr. Poland as district geologist.

LOCATION OF ABEA

The Butte Valley region is bounded by long 122° 10' and 121°37' 

W. and lat 41°38' and 42° N. in northern Siskiyou County, Calif, 

(fig. 1). This report relates primarily to the geology ard groundwater features of Butte Valley, but includes a reconnaissance examination of the geology and hydrology in Red Rock Valley and the 

Oklahoma district. Red Rock Valley is a small closed basin adjoining Butte Valley on the southeast; the Oklahoma district is an 

elongate structural depression east of Butte Valley. The reconnaissance was made to relate ground-water conditions in these areas 

with those in Butte Valley. For convenience the entire rrea shown 

on plates 1, 2, and 3 is called the Butte Valley region.

CULTUBE AND ACCESSIBILITY

The largest town in the Butte Valley region is Dorris, an important sawmill and farming center at the northeast end of Butte 

Valley (pi. 1). The two small villages of Macdoel and Mount 

Hebron lie a few miles south of Dorris. Small groups of buildings 

are clustered around the railroad sidings at Penoyar, Leaf, and Bray 

on the Southern Pacific railroad.

The region is served by the main line of the Southern Pacific 

railroad. U.S. Highway 97 links Weed with Dorris and Klamath 

Falls, Oreg., and crosses the region from southwest to northeast, 

roughly parallel to the railroad north of Macdoel. A somewhat 

inferior but passable road extends eastward from Macdoel through 

Red Rock Valley to the Lava Beds National Monument and the 

Medicine Lake highland. Other secondary roads brr.nch from 

U.S. Highway 97 and provide access to points in Butte Valley. 

Well-graded roads branching from Dorris lead to the Oklahoma 

district and the mountainous area west and northwest of Butte 

Valley.

PBEVTOUS INVESTIGATIONS

In 1909 Mackie described the soils of Butte Valley and discussed 

briefly the agricultural development. Diller (Diller and others,
 ^J-
6 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY

1916, p. 54-55) briefly discussed the geology and geography of the 

area traversed by the Southern Pacific railroad. Adams (1929) 

described the irrigation development and water supply of Butte 

Valley. Powers (1932), the first geologist to make a systematic 

study of the geology of the region, prepared a generalized geologic 

map and briefly described the geology and structure cf an area 

bounded by the long 121° and 122° W. and lat 41° and 42° N.

Callaghan (1933) and Callaghan and Buddington (1938) briefly 

described the structure and stratigraphy of the Cascade Range in 

Oregon, an area similar geologically to the western and northwestern 

parts of the Butte Valley region.

Moore (1937, p. 34-51) prepared a generalized geologic map and 

briefly described the geology and structure of the Klamatb diatomite 

district, in the Klamath Falls area. The diatomite deposits described by Moore may be the equivalent of deposits exposed in the 

northeastern part of the Butte Valley region.

In 1941, C. A. Anderson prepared a geologic map anc1 described 

in some detail the history, structure, and petrography cf the volcanoes of the Medicine Lake highland, 30 to 40 miles southeast of 

Macdoel.

Williams (1949) made a systematic study of the Cascade Range, 

which lies west of the Butte Valley region. He first mapped and 

described many of the geologic units recognized in this report.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The writer is grateful to the many persons and agencies who cooperated and assisted in the collection of field data us^d in this 

report. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation made available well-location 

maps, records of water-level measurements, drillers' log?, chemical 

analyses, logs of test wells, and other, valuable information. The 

California Department of Water Resources furnished many drillers' 

logs and all of the recent chemical analyses and assisted in many 

other ways. The Butte Valley Irrigation District made available 

drillers' logs, logs of test holes, and other pertinent data. The 

Southern Pacific railroad, Shasta Division, furnished data on wells. 

Residents and well drillers cooperated by furnishing valuable information on wells.

The part of the geologic map (pi. 1) west of long 122° W. is in 

large part after that of Williams (1949).

WELL-NUMBERING SYSTEM

The well-numbering system used by the Geological Survey in 

California since 1940 shows the locations of wells and springs according to the rectangular system for the subdivision of pnblic land. 

For example, in the number 46/2W-15Q1, which was assigned to a
INTRODUCTION

well about 4 miles west of Macdoel, the part of the number preceding the bar indicates the township (T. 46 N".); the part between 

the bar and the hyphen shows the range (R. 2 W.) ; the digits between the hyphen and the letter indicate the section (sec. 15); and 

the letter indicates the 40-acre subdivision of the section as shown in 

the accompanying diagram (fig. 2). Within each 40-acro tract the

D

E

M

N

C

F

L

P

B

G

K

Q

A

4

H

.<J

R

FIGURE 2. Subdivision of a section 

showing well-numbering system.

wells are numbered serially, as indicated by the final digit of the 

number. Thus, well 46/2W-15Q1 is the first well to be listed in the 

SW^4SE^4 sec. 15, T. 46 N., E. 2 W. As all the Butte Valley area 

is north of the Mount Diablo base line, the township lette1^ designation (N.) has been omitted. Inasmuch as the Mount Diablo meridian 

traverses the area of investigation, the range-letter designation (E. 

or W.) has been included in the well number. Wells in townships 

east of the Mount Diablo meridian include the range-lette1" designation (E.) in their location numbers; wells to the west include the 

range-letter designation (W.) in their location numbers.

Location of objects other than wells or springs may be- described 

conveniently by a number similar to a well-location number, but 

without the final digit. For example, a rock outcrop in the NW}4 

SW}4 sec. 31, T. 46 N. R. 2 W., on Ikes Mountain may be described 

as being in 46/2W-31M.

METHOD OP INVESTIGATION

This investigation was started in June 1953. The initial phase 

included the collection of drillers' logs, water-level measurements, 

and other pertinent data in the files of the Klamath Falls office of 

the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and drillers' logs and chemical 

analyses obtained by the California Department of Water Resources. 

Well logs, other well data, and information on local ground-water
8 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY

conditions were also obtained during interviews with local residents 

and well drillers.

During October and November 1953, the writer visited and recorded data on the irrigation wells and most domestic and stock 

wells in Butte Valley. During June and July 1954, K. P. Muir, of 

the Geological Survey, visited and recorded data on wells in Red 

Rock Valley and the Oklahoma district.

Locations of wells were obtained by measuring distances from 

wells to section lines, roads, or other easily identified cultural 

features shown on the base maps.

All depth-to-water measurements were made from a fixed measuring point at the top of each w-ell, using a steel tape graduated to 

hundredths of a foot. The altitudes of many of the wells in Butte 

Valley were determined by leveling to relate the ground-water surface to mean sea-level datum. The altitude of the masuring point 

for each well showrn in table 11 was determined by the U.S. Bureau 

of Reclamation. Altitudes of measuring points for other wells in 

Butte Valley were determined between June 9, and JunQ, 18, 1954, 

with an engineer's level and stadia rod by E. J. Barnes, junior civil 

engineer, California Department of Water Resources, assisted by the 

writer. All level circuits consisted of closed loops tied to bench 

marks established by the Geological Survey and the Bureau of 

Reclamation.

Field geologic mapping was done on aerial photographs of the 

Geological Survey. East of long 122° W. the scale of the photographs was about 1:31,680. West of that meridian the scale of 

the photographs was about 1:48,000. Data were transferred from 

the photographs to a base map made from the Geologic?! Survey's 

topographic maps of the Mount Dome, Dorris, Macdoel, Bray, and 

The Whaleback quadrangles, scale 1:62,500.

Samples of water from 17 wells in Butte and Red Rock Valleys 

were collected by the Quality of Water Section, California Department 

of Water Resources, during the 1953 field season. Samples of 

water from 3 wells in Butte Valley and 3 springs and 2 wells in the 

Oklahoma district were collected by the writer in July 1954. Sixteen analyses of ground water in the region were suppl: ed by the 

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

Analyses of surface water include the analyses of 11 samples collected in 1953-54 by the Quality of Water Section, California 

Department of Water Resources; 1 sample collected by the U.S. Geological Survey in 1954 from Indian Tom Lake; and 5 samples collected 

by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

Data shown in tables 5 and 6 were obtained in the fieH; the following definitions were used:
INTRODUCTION 9

Yield. Well discharge, in gallons per minute (gpm) was obtained 

from drillers' records or estimated by the trajectory method.

Drawdown. Drawdown is the difference between the "static" or 

nonpumping water level and the pumping water level in a well. 

For example, if the static level in a well is 42.3 feet below the 

measuring point and the pumping level is 75.7 feet, the drawdown 

is 33.4 feet.

Specific capacity. Specific capacity is the ratio of the yield of 

a well to the drawdovn and commonly is expressed in gillons per 

minute per foot of drawdown. Specific capacity is useful in comparing the yield of one well to another. If the yield and the pumping level are measured after the pump has been operating long 

enough for the pumping level to have become nearly stabilized, the 

specific capacity will remain fairly constant and will furnish a 

better comparison of yields.

Saturated thickness. Saturated thickness was obtained by subtracting the well depth from the static water level. Most wells in 

Butte Valley do not completely penetrate the aquifers in which 

they were drilled. Hence, the saturated thickness as shown in the 

tables may be tqo low if a well receives part of its supply from

sedimentary or

stance, a well penetrating only 40 feet of a 60-foot aquifer might

receive a large >art of its water supply from the 20-fcot section

not penetrated tyy the well. Water moves from areas of higher

hydrostatic pres^ 

and where a wel

Yield factor. [

yield factor was

olcanic rocks underlying the well bore. For iniure toward areas of lower hydrostatic pressure, 

is pumped the pressure is lowered in its vicinity

and water will njove toward it from all directions.

As originally introduced by Poland (1959, p. 32),

defined as the specific capacity of a well multiplied

by 100 and divided by the thickness of the water-bearing material 

yielding water to the well. In this report the yield factor was obtained by multiplying the specific capacity by 100 and dividing by 

the saturated thickness of all the deposits tapped by the well (depth 

of well minus static water level).

Yield factor = Specific capacity X 100 

Saturated thickness

The yield factor is an approximation of the permeability of the 

water-bearing material tapped by a well. It is a convenient index 

that can be used in comparing wells and the saturated materials 

penetrated by wells, regardless of variations in size of pcwerplants, 

size and type of pumps, drawdown, or well depths. By comparing 

yield factors in one area to those in another, much information can 

be obtained regarding the relative permeability of the water-bearing 

materials.
10 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY

The permeability of the lake deposits was estimated by use of 

brief drawdown and recovery tests made by the writer in August 

1954, in pumped wells. Data obtained from these tests were 

analyzed by P. C. Sun, engineer of the Geological Survey, and the 

results have been included in the section on wy ater-bearing properties of the lake deposits.

PHYSICAL FEATURES OF THE AREA

TOPOGRAPHY AND DRAINAGE

The Butte Valley region is within the Cascade Range and Modoc 

plateau geomorphic provinces of Jenkins (1943, figs. 36 and 37). 

The principal topographic units discussed below include a part of 

the eastern slope of the Cascade Range, Butte and Red Ro~k Valleys, 

the Oklahoma district, and the Mahogany Mountain ridge.

CASCADE RANGE

The Cascade Range in California, Oregon, and Washington is a 

deeply dissected, heavily forested range, composed almost wholly 

of volcanic rocks. That part of the range south of Mount Hood, 

in Oregon, and north of Mount Shasta, in California, has been 

divided longitudinally into two physiographic subprovirces, which 

have been designated "Western Cascades" and "High Cascades" 

(Callaghaii, 1933, p. 243; Williams, 1949, p. 13, 20).

The "Western Cascades" include the western and larger part of 

the range, composed of older Tertiary lava and pyroclrstic rocks. 

The topography is entirely erosional and bears no relation to the 

shape of the original cones from which the lava and pyroclastic 

rocks were erupted. The stream pattern is dendritic and drainage is 

toward the west.

North of Mount Shasta the "High Cascades" consist of a narrow 

belt along the east side of the range. They are characterized by a 

series of giant volcanic cones and remnants of cones ranging in 

altitude from 7,000 to more than 14,000 feet. The topography is 

almost wholly constructional, the landforms resulting cliefly from 

the outpouring of lava and the eruption of minor amounts of pyroclastic rocks during Pliocene and later time. The drainp.ge pattern 

is poorly defined, and streams that descend from this section of the 

range drain eastward where they lose much of their volume by 

infiltration into the porous lavas.

That part of the Cascade Range within the Butte Valley region 

consists of a series of northward- to northwestward-trending lava 

domes and volcanic ridges whose outlines have been altered by 

faulting and erosion. Volcanic vents, such as Mount Hebron (6,147 

feet), Ball Mountain (7,776 feet), Ikes Mountain (5,508 feet), McGavin Peak (5,478 feet), and Secret Spring Mountain (5,674 feet)
PHYSICAL FEATURES OF THE AREA 11

rise conspicuously above their connecting ridges. These ridges range 

in altitude from 4,700 feet in the saddle between Ikes Mountain and 

McGavin Peak to more than 5,600 feet west of U.S. Highway 97 

northwest of Mount Hebron (pi. 1). Four small spring-fed perennial streams, Prather, Muskgrave, Harris, and Ikes Creeks, head 

on the steep, talus-covered slopes of Ball Mountain and either discharge to alluvial fans built up by the streams at the valley margins 

or drain into Meiss Lake by way of shallow canals.

BUTTE VALLEY

Butte Valley, east of the Cascade Range, is a large structural 

depression nearly surrounded by youthful fault scarps. The valley 

floor is a featureless plain covering more than 130 square miles at 

an altitude of about 4,200 feet. Several flat-floored grabens, including Sams Neck and Pleasant Valley, project northward beyond 

the main valley depression.

The valley occupies a closed drainage basin. Meiss Lake, in the 

west-central part of the valley, is the remnant of a lake that occupied much of the depression during Pleistocene time. Several 

small playas can be seen in the eastern part of the valley r°,ar Inlow 

Butte and Cedar Point. The surfaces of these playas are smooth 

and hard, and the absence of any alkali crust on or arcnnd them 

indicates that these are dry-type playas that is, there is ro groundwater discharge by upward movement from the water table through 

the capillary fringe to the playa surface.

Butte Creek, the largest stream draining into Butte Valley, rises 

in rugged mountains northeast of Mount Shasta, flows northward 

through a glaciated valley, and enters the area of investigation at 

44/2W-26F at an altitude of about 4,800 feet. After having its 

glaciated canyon the stream flows eastward through a marshy plain, 

near Bray (44/1W-21J) it cascades over a basalt escarpment, turns 

northward near Orr Mountain, and enters the south end of Butte 

Valley near Jerome (45/1W-19H). The water not diverted for 

irrigation sinks into fractures in the porous lava underlying this 

part of the area.

RED ROCK VALLEY AREA

Red Rock Valley, which adjoins Butte Valley on the southeast, 

is a shallow closed basin or depression covering about 20 square 

miles and ranging in altitude from 4,300 to 4,400 feet. The valley 

is separated from Butte Valley by a rough, northward-sloping 

basalt-covered surface. Unintegrated ephemeral streams drain into 

Russel Lake, a dry-type playa.

South of Red Rock Valley and southeast of Butte Valley, an area 

comprising several hundred square miles is covered by rough, broken

546199 O 60 2
12 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY

basaltic lava. Orr, Cedar, Sharp, and Wild Horse Mountains are 

older, faulted lava cones that rise above this basalt surface.

Antelope Creek heads in the rugged mountains northeast of 

Mount Shasta, near the headwaters of Butte Creek, and flows northward past Tennant (about 9 miles south of Cedar Mountain), and 

disappears in Antelope Sink (44/1E-6) just south of Cedar Mountain.

OKLAHOMA DISTRICT

The Oklahoma district, east of Butte Valley and rortheast of 

Red Rock Valley, is an elongate depression covering about 25 square 

miles and ranging in altitude from 4,100 feet on Oklahoma Flat 

(47/2E-18) to more than 4,200 feet near Willow C^eek spring 

(46/2E-22R1) in the southern part of the district. At Oklahoma 

Flat the depression opens northward onto a wide, marshy plain 

surrounding Lower Klamath Lake. The western border of the depression is formed by a steep-sided northwestward-trending volcanic ridge called the Mahogany Mountain ridge in this report. The 

Oklahoma district is bordered on the east by steep-sided, basaltcapped plateaus known as Big Tableland and Little Tableland. 

South of this plateau, Mount Dome, a faulted lava dome (called 

Van Bremmer mountain by oldtime residents) rises steeply to an 

altitude of 6,512 feet.

Willow Creek rises on a volcanic plateau south of Mount Dome, 

flows northward along the east side of the Oklahoma district, and 

discharges into the marshy plain surrounding Lower Klr.math Lake. 

North of Willow Creek spring (46/2E-22R1) the stream is perennial and its water is diverted for irrigation.

Cotton wood Creek, a perennial stream in the north vrestern part 

of the Oklahoma district, is fed by many springs (47/1E-23H1) 

which rise near the base of the steep-sided Mahogany Mountain 

ridge at the Porterfield Ranch headquarters. Water from this springfed stream, after diversions for the irrigation of several hundred 

acres of farmland, drains northward into the marshy plain north 

of Oklahoma Flat. Hot Creek and Sheepy Creek, north of the 

Oklahoma district and near the western margin of the- marshland 

surrounding Lower Klamath Lake, are also fed by mr.ny springs. 

Sheepy Creek rises in a swampy lake (47/1E-1M1) near the base 

of a faulted volcanic ridge and flows northward into Sheepy Lake. 

Hot Creek is fed by a spring rising from faulted voV-anic rocks 

and talus near the D Ranch (47/1E-10B1). Water discharging 

from this spring is ponded in a small reservoir and used to irrigate 

hay and pasturelands. When not used for irrigation, the water 

drains northward through a shallow canal into Indian Tom Lake.
PHYSICAL FEATURES OF THE AREA 13 

MAHOGANY MOUNTAIN RIDGE

One of the most prominent topographic features in the area is a 

long northwestward-trending fault block that rises conspicuously 

above the east side of Butte Valley. This fault block, which separates Butte Valley from the Oklahoma district and the low, flat 

marshland surrounding Lower Klamath Lake, is called the Mahogany Mountain ridge (pi. 1). The name is derived from 

Mahogany Mountain (47/1E-34), an old faulted volcr.nic cone, 

6,255 feet in altitude, which has a precipitous westward-facing 

scarp that plunges nearly 2,000 feet to the floor of Butte Valley.

Mahogany Mountain ridge is about 20 miles long and ranges from 

1 to 3 miles in width. Throughout much of its length the ridge 

is bordered by steep, slightly dissected talus-covered farlt scarps. 

North of Mahogany Mountain differential movement along several 

in echelon faults has given the ridge a broken, serratei outline. 

South of Mahogany Mountain the ridge flattens and forms an 

irregular southwestward-sloping plateau.

In contrast to the comparatively fresh fault scarps, th?< upland 

area is much more eroded and seems to represent topography that 

predates the faulting. Partly disintegrated angular to snbrounded 

boulders and cobbles are scattered freely over the surface, Vegetation is sparse and in most places the soil is thin and rocky.

Another conspicuous feature related to the ridge is She«,p Mountain, a large lava dome surmounted by a flat-topped cinder cone 

more than 500 feet high.

CLIMATE

The Butte Valley region has a semiarid climate, characterized by 

warm, dry summers and cool, humid winters. Precipitation data 

from three U.S. Weather Bureau stations in and near tl *- area of 

investigation are summarized in tables 1 and 2. The Mrcdoel station, in the town of Macdoel at an altitude of 4,260 feet, is no 

longer in operation. The Mount Hebron station is at the U.S. 

Forest Service ranger station in Mount Hebron, at an altitude of 

4,250 feet. The Tule Lake station was formerly about 5 miles westsouthwest of the city of Tule Lake (in later references to this 

former station, 5WSW is used). In 1948 the station was moved 

to a new location, altitude 4,036 feet, about 1.2 miles southeast of 

Tule Lake.

The major factor in the distribution of precipitation if the periodic movement of cyclonic storms from west to east across the 

region. The precipitation is greatest during the winter and least 

during the summer (table 2). Altitude also is a contributing factor, 

as precipitation, mostly in the form of snow, increases with altitude.
14 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY

The average precipitation during the period of recced at three 

stations is shown in table 1. This table shows clearly that precipitation totals vary greatly from season to season. The average 

seasonal precipitation at Tule Lake (5WSW) for the 17 years of 

record is 10.15 inches, but only 4.78 inches of precipitation was 

recorded in 1932-33, whereas 13.97 inches was recorded in 1944-45.

TABLE 1. Seasonal precipitation, in inches, at Macdoel, Mount Hebron, and Tule

Lake, Calif.

[Records from U.S. Weather Bureau]

Year ending June 30

1907-08_-_--_________

1908-09__-__-_-___--_

1909-10_____-_____ _

1910-ll____--_.

1911-12---. _._____.__

1912-13-. ____________

1913-14________

1914-15.--. -. --------

1932-33____-_________

1933-34._. __._._.-._-

1934-35 - -----

1935-36. _____________

1936-37-_-_----______

1937-38

1938-39___________-__

1939-40__-----_______

1940-41 _ _____________

1941-42____-_____

1942-43-_-----_______

1943-44______________

1944-45. _____________

1945-46

1946-47_ ___----_-_ __

1947-48----------. _-_

1948-49_ --_----_.____

1949-50____________-_

1950-51--- -_-_-_-_-

1951-52__-_----______

1952-53--. ---_ 

1953-54. _____________

1954-55-__--_---_.___

Macdoel

11. 23

10. 62

24. 45

12. 33

11. 64

12. 76

21. 17

7.43

Mount Hebron

8. 35

11. 51

8. 68

12. 74

9. 68

11.00

4.37

Tule Lake 

5W8W

4. 78

6. 26

10.09

9. 28

5. 84

12. 34

5. 32

14. 18

12. 13

13.03

12. 19

9.02

13.97

9. 41

9. 77

13. 51

11. 43

Tule Lake

11.93

6.65

12. 69

11. 95

12. 38

5.02

NOTE. Macdoel, 1907-08 to 1914-15 average: 13.94.

Tule Lake 5WSW, 1932-33 to 1948-49 average: 10.15. 

Tule Lake, 1948-49 to 1953-54 average: 10.10. 

Mount Hebron, 1946-47 to 1953-54 average: 9.48.
PHYSICAL FEATURES OF THE AREA 15

TABLE 2. Average monthly precipitation, in inches, at Macdoel, Mov.nt Hebron,

and Tule Lake, Calif.

[Records from U.S. Weather Bureau]

January

February. __ _ ___

March. _ _ ___ _

April. _ . _ May ___

June_ _ _._ ___

July_--________._ ________ _ _

September

October. _ _

November

December.. _

Average yearly total .

Macdoel 

1908-15

2 37

1 34

52

82

84

54

76

42

47

90

2. 53

2. 43

13.94

Mount 

Hebron 

1946-55

0 97

74

99

52

81

1 08

34

12

49

59

1 26

1 57

9. 48

Tule Lake 

5W8W 

1932-49

0.91

.97

. 89

. 87

1.31

1.05

.32

. 15

. 57

.97

1.00

1. 14

10. 15

Tule Lake 

1948-55

1. 10

. 80

.92

.48

1. 11

1. 46

.21

.35

.55

.63

.94

1. 55

10. 10

The period of minimum precipitation begins in July and continues through September. The averages at the 3 stations for this 

3-month "dry" period are: Macdoel, 0.55 inch; Mount Hebron, 0.32 

inch; Tule Lake (5WSW), 0.35 inch; and Tule Lake, 0.37 inch.

The average monthly temperatures recorded at Macdoel, Mount 

Hebron, and Tule Lake are summarized> in table 3. T^ese data 

indicate that the mean annual temperature in the Butte Valley 

region (Macdoel and Mount Hebron stations) is 43.8° F. From 

June through September, the average temperatures at the 3 stations 

are: Macdoel, 57.8° F; Mount Hebron, 58.5° F; Tule Lake, 61.1° F. 

The average temperatures from November through March for these 

stations are: Macdoel, 31.6° F; Mount Hebron, 30.6° F; Tule Lake, 

34.1° F.

The length of the average growing season, or frost-free period, 

varies greatly. During 1946-55 at Mount Hebron, the frost-free 

period ranged from 36 days in 1948 to 1 day in 1952. During 1932- 

55 at Tule Lake, the frost-free period ranged from 144 days in 

1949 to 36 days in 1934.

The short growing season and the danger of frost during the 

summer limits field crops to the most hardy grains, quickly maturing 

row crops, and foliage plants.
16 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY

TABLE 3. Average monthly temperatures, in degrees Fahrenheit, at Macdoel, Mount 

Hebron, and Tule Lake, Calif.

[Length of record at Macdoel: 9 years; at Mount Hebron: 5 years; at Tule Lake: 21 years]

January _ _ __ _ _ _ __ _

February. _ _ _ __

March _ . _ _

April _ May __ _ _ . .

June _ ______

July______________________________

August _ _ _____

September _ ________

October _ _

November _ _

December

Annual _ _ __

Macdoel

27.8

30. 2

36. 4

41.9

47. 8

53.6

63.0

61. 6

53.2

45.5

36.5

27. 4

43.8

Mount Hebron

24. 0

30. 3

34.5

43.3

48. 4

53.3

62. 7

60.4

57. 6

46.2

37. 4

27.0

43.8

Tule Lake

29. 4

32. 9

39. 3

45.7

52.5

58.5

65.4

63.5

57.1

48. 1

38.0

32. 2

46. 8

GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS AND THEIR WATER-BEARING

PROPERTIES

GENERAL CHARACTER AND AGE OF THE ROCKS

For the purpose of this report the rocks in the Butte Valley 

region have been divided into two groups: Volcanic rocks, which 

range in age from Eocene to Recent, and sedimentary rocks, which 

range in age from Pliocene to Recent. Locally the sedimentary 

rocks mask older volcanic rocks and are intercalated vTith younger 

lava flows and associated pyroclastic deposits.

Volcanic rocks discussed in this report include, frcm oldest to 

youngest, the following: (a) Volcanic rocks of the "Y7estern Cascades,'1 predominantly massive, andesitic flows and tuff breccia, exposed only in the steep-walled canyons of the Klamath River and 

Shovel Creek; (b) older volcanic rocks of the "Higl Cascades," 

principally basalt and basaltic andesite which form large shield 

volcanoes in the Cascade Range and which compose long blockfaulted ridges and faulted lava domes east of the Cascade Range; 

(c) pyroclastic rocks, principally tuff and tuff-breccia exposed near 

Macdoel; (d) younger volcanic rocks of the "High Cascades," principally andesitic and basaltic lava flows and associated cinder cones; 

(e) the Butte Valley basalt, which forms one of the principal aquifers in Butte Valley; and (f) basaltic lava flows, which include a 

gray olivine basalt near Lower Klamath Lake, a black olivine 

basalt from Sheep Mountain, and an extensive basaltic flow of late 

Pleistocene and Recent age which enters the region in two places 

near Sharp Mountain and near Mount Dome.

Sedimentary deposits include massive diatomite, present chiefly 

in the Oklahoma district; glacial moraines and fluvioglacial de-
VOLCANIC ROCKS AND THEIR WATER-BEARING PROPERTIES 17

posits at the mouth of Butte Creek canyon; lake deposit?, unconsolidated alluvial-fan deposits, and alluvium, including local playa 

deposits; talus debris at the base of steep fault scarps; and dune 

sand (pi. 1).

Plate 1 shows the areal distribution and topographic expression 

of the rocks. Plate 3 shows stratigraphic relations and detailed 

lithology of the water-bearing units as determined from drillers' 

logs of water wells, and also shows the general structural relation 

of the rocks; table 4 summarizes their geologic sequence, general 

lithology, and water-bearing properties.

VOLCANIC BOCKS AND THEIR WATER-BEARING PROPERTIES

Most of the Butte Valley region is underlain by lava f ows and 

associated pyroclastic rocks ranging in age from Eocene to Recent. 

The oldest rocks are the lava flows and pyroclastic rocks of the 

"Western Cascades," ranging in age from late Eocene to late Miocene. In most places these older rocks are badly decomposed and, 

in comparison with the younger volcanic rocks, are poorly permeable. The volcanic rocks of the "Western Cascades" are unconformably overlain by the older volcanic rocks of the "High Cascades." According to Williams (1949, p. 9, 35), the Cascade Range 

was greatly uplifted and tilted at the close of the Miocene epoch. 

This upheaval was accompanied by the formation of several faults 

trending slightly northwestward and by the opening of northwardtrending fissures along and near the crest of the range. It was 

from these fissures that fluid basalt and basaltic andesite were issued 

to build the giant cones of the "High Cascades." In most places 

the volcanic rocks of the "High Cascades" are highly fractured and 

very permeable, and they serve chiefly as a large intake area and 

ground-water storage reservoir.

East of the Cascade Range other basaltic flows issued from fissures 

and spread out over alluvial deposits and lake sediments in the 

southern parts of Butte Valley, Red Rock Valley, and tH Lower 

Klamath Lake marshland. One of these the Butte Valley basalt 

forms the most important aquifer in Butte Valley.

Beginning in late Pleistocene time and continuing into tH Recent 

epoch, volcanic materials again issued from vents and fissures. In 

the Cascade Range, the Whaleback, Deer, Little Deer, Goosenest, 

and Willow Creek lava cones form mountains built upon the older 

Pliocene and Pleistocene shield volcanoes. Several of these volcanoes are capped by large cinder cones, some of which have wellpreserved craters. Along the eastern border of the range and on the 

Mahogany Mountain ridge, other cinder cones or scoria mounds 

protrude through older Pliocene and Pleistocene volcanic rocks.
18 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY

TABLE 4. Generalized stratigraphic section showing geologic units and their 

water-bearing properties

System

Quaternary

Series

"3

Pleistocene andRecent

Geologic unit 

and map symbol

Dune sand 

(Qds)

Talus 

(Qt)

Alluvium 

(Qal)

Alluvial-fan 

deposits 

(Qf)

Lake deposits 

(QD

Basaltic lava 

flows northeast 

of Sharp Mountain (Qbs)

Younger volcanic 

rocks of the 

'High Cascades" 

(Qvi,Qv2,Qv3)

Thickness 

(feet)

0-20±

0-360+

0-60+

0-350+

0-900+

Unknown

0-500±

General character

Sand, light-brown, windblown. Consists chiefly 

of subrounded quartz 

grains and rock fragments.

Jumbled blocks and fragments of rock intermixed 

with slope wash and 

windblown sand. Talus 

forms sloping wedgeshaped deposits at the 

base of steep fault scarps

Thin, lenticular beds of 

gravel, sand, clay and 

peat covering lake deposits in Butte Valley 

and the area around 

Lower Klamath Lake; 

poorly sorted gravel, 

sand, and silt collected 

in broad, shallow basins 

and underlying present 

stream channels; and 

beds of clay and silt deposited in temporary 

(playa) lakes.

Deposits consist of poorly 

sorted lenticular beds of 

clay, fine- to coarsegrained sand, gravel, 

and smoothly rounded 

cobbles of volcanic origin. Include several isolated remnants of alluvial-terrace deposits 

southwest of Bray, old 

dissected alluvial-fan deposits near Dorris and 

on Oklahoma Flat, and 

alluvial fans along the 

west side of Butte Valley.

Clay, volcanic ash, diatomite, diatomaceous clay, 

sand, and local stringers 

of gravelly sand. Along 

the east side of Butte 

Valley beach sand and 

talus debris interfinger 

with fine-grained deposits. South of Macdoel 

the lake deposits are interstratified with the 

Butte Valley basalt, and 

between Butte Valley 

and Red Rock Valley 

they underlie the basalt.

Olivine basalt near Sharp 

Mountain. Also a long, 

narrow tongue of basalt 

just east of Mount Dome.

Andesitic and olivine-rich 

basaltic flows. Their 

surfaces are rough, broken, and commonly scoriaceous. In many places 

parts of the flows are 

concealed by volcanic 

ash and cinders. Near 

their terminus they are 

covered by sandy outwash from adjacent hills 

of fluviolglacial debris.

Water-bearing properties

Deposits generally above 

the water table and not 

a source of water to wells.

Highly permeable, and 

where talus cones interfinger with saturated 

sedirrents may act as 

storage reservoirs, or may 

serve as ground-water 

condr'ts or drains.

In the southwestern part of 

Butte Valley, sand and 

gravel overlying the 

Butte Valley basalt yield 

moderate quantities of 

water to wells. Elsewhere the alluvium is 

poorl"r permeable and 

yield:' only small quantities of water to wells.

Older deposits are mostly 

above the zone of saturation. Alluvial fans are 

generally saturated, but 

are poorly permeable and 

yield water slowly.

Impermeable fine-grained 

beds predominate. Sand 

layers yield water sufficient for stock requirements. Sandy section 

along east side of Butte 

Valley is a source of water 

to many irrigation wells 

of moderate capacity. 

Penreability of sand is 

abou* 200 gpd per square 

foot near Cedar Point, 

but probably much 

greater in the area just 

nortt west of Inlow Butte.

Very permeable, with 

many interconnected 

open'ngs. Much of the 

outcrop area is above the 

saturated zone but serves 

as intake area for goundwater recharge.

Highly permeable, with 

numerous fractures, 

tuber-, channels, and 

other openings of diverse 

kinds. These rocks absorb precipitation readily 

and serve as intake area 

for ground-water recharge.
VOLCANIC ROCKS AND THEIR WATER-BEARING PROPERTIES 19

TABLE 4. Generalized stratigraphic section showing geologic units and their 

water-bearing properties Continued

System

>>

d

fc

ts

<y

&§i*

8

a?"2

i

>>

.3«

t*

Cj CH

>, &

r®

EH

Series

^

d

c

«

"2

9&

0)d

43

£

s

®

§o

'£

K

 a

^fl

~S°

M g'SCO

.2S

PH

e^.

§

§

< >

 a

s

PL,

 o

a03

8

.0

s

§

. 

S

I

II » u

®.2

§S

I

Geologic unit

and map symbol

Butte Valley

basalt

(Qb)

Pyroclastic rocks

(Qp)

Glacial moraines

(Qm) and fiuvioglacial deposits

(Qfo)

Basaltic lava flows

(QTb,, QTb2)

Older volcanic

rocks of the

"High Cascades"

(QTb)

 Unconformity

Diatomite

(Td)

Major 

 unconlormity 

Volcanic rocks of

the "Western

Cascades"

(Tvw)

Thickness

(feet)

0-80+

0-300±

0-400±

0-300+

Unknown

400+

0-15,000±

General character

Vesicular gray basalt containing tiny crystals of

olivine and plagioclase.

It is interstratified with

lake deposits in Butte

Valley and covers at

least 75 square miles

south of Butte and Red

Rock Valleys.

Lapilli tuff and tuff-breccia, well-consolidated,

massive to thin-bedded,

locally crossbedded.

Probably include tuff

deposits both younger

and older than the Butte

Valley basalt.

Moraines consist of unstratified, unconsolidated bouldery deposits

having a clayey matrix.

Fluvioglacial (outwash)

deposits consist of poorly sorted rounded to

angular fragments and

boulders, sand, silt, and

clay.

Massive coarsely vesicular

gray oli vine-basalt flows

(QTbi); include extensive basaltic flows south

of Lower Klamath Lake

and a basaltic flow about

20 ft thick capping Big

and Little Tablelands.

A coarsely vesicular

black aphanitic basalt

(QTbs) containing conspicuous anhedral phenocrysts of yellowish-green

olivine covers a small

area northeast of Sheep

Mountain.

Evenly bedded flows of

pale-gray olivine basalt

and basaltic andesite.

Include massive poorly

sorted, partly altered

basaltic tuff -breccia, and

lenticular layers of varicolored, partly decomposed lapilli tuff near

Ikes Mountain; discontinuous layers of yellowish tuff and tuff-breccia

north and northwest of

Ikes Mountain.

Diatomite, gray to white,

massive. Locally interbedded with volcanic

ash, cindery lapilli,

pumice, and sand.

Underlies much of the

Oklahoma district and

unconformably underlies basalt capping Big 

and Little Tablelands.

Chiefly hypersthene-augite andesites and lesser 

amounts of andesitic

tuff and tuff-breccia.

Locally contain lenticular masses of rhyolitic

tuff.

Water-bearing properties

Highly permerble because

of numerous openings.

South of Bitte Valley

the rough, broken surface

serves as a large intake

area for g-ound-water

recharge. Ir Butte Valley the buried section of

the flow is an excellent

aquifer.

In much of the outcrop

area the water-bearing

properties are above the

saturated zone. Important chiefly as intake

facility for recharge.

Mostly above the saturated zone. Moderate

supplies of water may be

obtained fron wells penetrating outwash deposits

bordering streams where 

recharge is available.

Probably permeable because of numerous interconnected openings.

Flows occur on elevated

lands and ir barren underdeveloped areas, and

serve mainly as intake

areas 1 5r pround-water

recharge.

Many of the 1 asaltic rocks

are highly fractured and

quite penreable. Tuffaceous bed"? are essentially not water-bearing,

except for vater in fractures and small perched

ground-water bodies contained in fractured basaltic flows intercalated

with the larger tuffaceous

masses. The highly

fractured basaltic rocks

serve chiefl;' as a large

intake facility and

ground-water storage

reservoir. Tapped by

wells along- margin of

Butte Valley.

Virtually not water bearing, except for local beds

of sand, cindery lapilli,

or fracture! parts. In

the Oklahoma district

most irrigation wells are

developed in sedimentary and volcanic rocks

underlying the diatomite.

Not tapped by wells.

Probably poorly permeable, except where highly

fractured.
20 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY

East of the Cascade Range the lava flows and pyroclastic rocks 

belonging to this period of volcanic activity were mostl 1^ discharged 

from the northern flank of the Medicine Lake highland. The 

younger lava flows are all highly permeable, but they are commonly 

above the saturated zone and serve chiefly as intake areas for groundwater recharge.

VOLCANIC ROCKS OF THE "WESTERN CASCADES" (EOCENE THROUGH

MIOCENE)

CHARACTER AND DISTRIBUTION

Volcanic rocks of the "Western Cascades" underlie a large area 

on the western flank of the Cascade Range and are well exposed 

in the steep-walled canyon of the Klamath River where they are 

overlain by basalt and basaltic andesite of the "High Cascades." 

Williams (1942, 1948, 1949) summarized the available evidence relating to the volcanic rocks of the "Western Cascades" and concluded that they range in age from late Eocene to late Miocene. 

Most of the rocks are pyroxene andesite and andesitic tuff-breccia, 

although basaltic and rhyolitic extrusive and associated pyroclastic 

rocks are common. Williams (1949, p. 20) reports:

* * * lavas and pyroclastic ejecta show prevailing dips to the east and northeast, the angle of dip diminishing in these directions from approximately 15° 

to almost zero where the series disappears beneath the cones of the High 

Cascades.

Near the California-Oregon boundary these volcanic rocks have a 

visible thickness of 12,000 to 15,000 feet.

In the Butte Valley region volcanic rocks of the "TVestern Cascades" have been recognized in the canyon of the Klamath River 

north and west of Secret Spring Mountain (48/2W-30) and along 

Shovel Creek north of Ikes Mountain (47/2W-31) (pi. 1). Along 

Shovel Creek Williams (1949) mapped a thick series of andesitic 

flows containing a rhyolite tuff lens (47/2W-18) and about 2 miles 

west of Secret Spring Mountain, a semicircular mass of andesitic 

tuff-breccia (48/3W-25). Most of the flows are hypersthene-augite 

andesite. Williams (1949, p. 21) distinguishes two types:

* * * one a pale-gray, pilotaxitic variety rich in large phenc<»rysts of basic 

plagioclase and pyroxene, and the other a much finer grained, dark-gray to 

black variety with fewer phenocrysts and a glassy matrix. * * * Few andesites 

are notably vesicular, and scoriaceous tops and bottoms of fi^ws are exceptional. * * * gome of the more glassy flows exhibit crude columnar jointing, 

but typically the lavas are marked either by widely spaced, ITocky joints or 

by closely set, platy joints that curve upward from the horizontal to the 

vertical. The latter are to be ascribed to shearing of the flows during the 

final stages of advance.
VOLCANIC ROCKS AND THEIR WATER-BEARING PROPERTIES 21

The rhyolite tuff exposed in Shovel Creek canyon (47/2W-18) 

was described by Williams (1949, p. 25) as follows:

* * * well-bedded white lapilli-tuffs * * * carry abundant lumps of rhyolite 

pumice and angular fragments of andesite in a matrix of crystal-vitric tuff. 

Their maximum thickness approximates 500 feet. These ejecta cannot have 

been laid down by glowing avalanches for they exhibit gravity sorting within 

individual layers, while successive layers vary greatly in coarseness and there 

is an almost complete lack of fine dust. Besides, the tuffs show a Irrge-scale 

cross-bedding suggestive of the influence of shifting winds on fallir«r ejecta. 

These features, taken together, suggest that the Shovel Creek tuffs were not 

discharged from fissures but by eruptions of vulcanian type from volcanic 

cones.

The andesitic tuff breccia about 2 miles west of Secret Spring 

Mountain was described by Williams (1949, p. 23, 24) as follows:

* * * well-stratified, coarse andesitic tuff-breccias and lapilli-tuffs * * * Most 

of the larger fragments measure a few inches across, but some reach a yard 

in greatest dimension; all are angular and lie in a groundmass of tuff. The 

outcrop of these beds is almost semicircular * * * and their quaquaversal dips 

range up to 50°. To some extent this curvature results from deformation, 

since it is shared by the associated lavas, but in the main it is a primary 

feature and indicates the former existence of a steep-sided fragmen tal cone 

at this locality.

WATER-BEARING PROPERTIES

In the Butte Valley region volcanic rocks of the "Western Cascades" probably have not been penetrated by wells. However, the 

rocks probably would yield water in quantities sufficient to supply 

domestic or stock requirements. Larger yields are unlikely because 

the rocks are decomposed. Wells penetrating similar rocks along the 

northeastern border of Shasta Valley (west of the Butte Valley 

region) yielded about 10 gpm.

OLDER VOLCANIC ROCKS OF THE "HIGH CASCADES" (PLIOCPNE AND

PLEISTOCENE? )

CHARACTER AND DISTRIBUTION

Older volcanic rocks of the "High Cascades" are predominantly 

basalt and basaltic andesite which were spread out in successive 

sheets over large areas. They unconformably overlie the volcanic 

rocks of the "Western Cascades" and locally are overlain by younger 

volcanic rocks, glacial deposits, lake deposits, and alluvium.

The older volcanic rocks of the "High Cascades" may be Pliocene 

in age (Callaghan and Buddington, 1938; Williams, 1949), although 

it is generally conceded that some of the last flows may be early 

Pleistocene.

In California, north of Mount Shasta, the principal volcanoes 

of the "High Cascades" are west of the area shown on plate 1. 

The basaltic rocks were erupted by Miller Mountain, th?< partly 

buried shields beneath the Quaternary lava cones of Willow Creek 

Mountain, known as the Goosenest, and Ball, Eagle Kock, aid Secret
22 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BTJTTE VALLEY

Spring Mountains, and McGavin Peak. East of these mountains, 

several smaller coeval basaltic volcanoes, much modified by faulting, 

form the western border of Butte Valley.

East of the Cascade Range, lithologically similar volcanic rocks 

compose most of the Mahogany Mountain ridge. Powers (1932, p. 

258) referred to these volcanic rocks as the Cedarville andesite and 

included them with more extensive outcrops east and northeast of 

the Butte Valley region.

The rocks composing the Mahogany Mountain ridge consist mostly 

of massive flows of basalt and basaltic andesite. In many places, 

especially north of Mahogany mountain (47/1E-34), the flows have 

been broken and tilted by differential movement along several faults 

in echel6n. The trace of these faults and any geologic contacts 

exposed on the steep scarps have been concealed by talus. A narrow, 

steep-sided ravine (47/1E-33J) carved in the steep wertward-facing 

Mahogany Mountain fault scarp has exposed a massive, well-compacted, poorly sorted, friable, gray-green volcanic sard containing 

angular fragments of vesicular basalt ranging in greatest dimension 

from less than 1 inch to about 1 foot. This sand unit dips about 

20° SW. and strikes N. 40° W. As it was not noted ekewhere along 

the westward-facing fault scarps bordering Butte Valley, the author 

believes the sedimentary material was carried up between faults that 

are parallel to the main fault.

Inlow Butte (46/1E-5) and the northward-trending ridge between Red Rock Lakes (46/1E-14) and Sheep Mountain (46/1E-29) 

are composed of a pale-red porphyritic andesite. The rock is glassy 

and contains anhedral phenocrysts of plagioclase and hornblende. 

Further study may show that these rocks are correlative with the 

andesitic rocks of Miocene (?) age in the Sprague River area (Moore, 

1937, p. 36).

In the southern part of the Butte Valley region the large domeshaped lava cones surrounded by younger basaltic rocks were referred to by Powers (1932, p. 259) as the "massive lava group." 

The surfaces of these lava cones are badly eroded and heavily 

forested. The rock comprising these cones is nearly everywhere 

porphyritic, with conspicuous phenocrysts of white plagioclase and 

altered reddish-brown olivine. The flows are massive and poorly 

jointed, breaking into irregular blocks 10 to 15 fe^.t in longest 

dimension. In this report these two groups of volcanic rocks are 

included with the volcanic rocks of the "High Cascac^s."

In discussing the origin of the older volcanic rocks of the "High 

Cascades" Williams (1949, p. 35) states:

Throughout the southern part of the High Cascades in Oregon and California, Pliocene and early Pleistocene times were characterized by the growth 

of a north-south chain of large, flattish shield volcanoes built by quiet effusions
VOLCANIC ROCKS AND THEIR WATER-BEARING PROPERTTES 23

of fluid olivine basalt and basaltic andesite * * * the volcanoes * * * were 

extremely uniform in their activity; fragmental explosions seldom interrupted 

the quiet outflow of lava, and the flows themselves varied only slightly in 

composition despite their wide extent.

The volcanic rocks consist almost entirely of evenly bedded massive flows of basalt and basaltic andesite. Williams (1949, p. 37) 

reports:

By far the dominant lava of all the shields is a massive, pale grry, microvesicular, holocrystalline basalt liberally sprinkled with granules of olivine. 

Flows that contain a little glass are generally darker and more coarsely 

vesicular, while the glass-rich tops and bottoms of a few flows are black and 

scoriaceous. Most of the flows vary in thickness between 10 and 50 feet; 

exceptionally they reach a thickness of 100 feet. Few are auto-brecciated and 

the crusts of most are smooth.

The flows commonly are broken by expansion joints into irregular 

polygonal or cuboidal blocks. The major faces of the blocks often 

are marked by secondary expansion joints and by fractures resulting 

from the various weathering processes.

In places north and northeast of Ikes Mountain (47/2T-33M) 

thin, partly altered (palagonitized) 1 layers of yellow-brown to gray 

tuff and tuff-breccia crop out between basaltic flows; mos* of the 

exposures are poor. At Ikes Mountain the tuffaceous rocks are 

extensive and are best exposed in grade cuts of old logging roads 

traversing the mountain. Their extent and thickness are not known.

Near the mouth of Ikes Creek (46/2W-6B) and along the northeastward-trending escarpment north of Harris Creek the lower part 

of an exposed section consists of massive, poorly sorted, ^ell-consolidated, basaltic tuff-breccia, cut by irregular dikes and discontinuous globular masses of dark-colored fine-grained basalt. The 

breccia is composed of dense, fine-grained black basalt containing 

scattered phenocrysts of white plagioclase. Most of the fragments 

are a few inches across but some reach a foot or more in greatest 

dimension; all are angular and firmly embedded in a matrix of 

partly altered, palagonitized yellowish-green-to-brown tuff.

This basaltic tuff-breccia is overlain by badly weathered cindery 

tuff-breccia, reddish agglomerate, highly vesicular to scoriaceous 

basalt, and lenticular masses of varicolored, partly decomposed 

lapilli tuff. Near the summit of Ikes Mountain these rocks have 

been intruded by several red brecciated basaltic dikes similar in 

composition to the agglomerate and intercalated basalt mentioned 

above. The features described here suggest that a large volcanic

1 Palagonite. Yellow or orange, isotropic mineraloid formed by hydration and other 

alterations of sideromelane (basaltic glass), and constituting a characteristic part of 

Palagonite tuffs. (Wentworth-Williams).

Palagonite tuff. An altered basaltic tuff containing inclusions of basaltic glass 

(Pay). (Definitions from C. M. Rice, "Dictionary of Geological Terms," 1953, p. 290).
24 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY

vent filled with fragmental rock probably existed beneath the red 

scoriaceous basalt that caps the summit of Ikes Mountain.

South of Meiss Ranch (46/2W-9Q) and east of Ball Mountain 

a large, massive, somewhat porphyritic basaltic flow of unknown 

thickness extends into Butte Valley. Its source was probably a vent 

or fissure in the peak near 46/2W-29A. The rock is a fine-grained 

gray to black plagioclase-rich basalt or basaltic andesite containing 

subhedral plagioclase laths and a few scattered pale-g^een anhedral 

grains of olivine. Most of the flow is massive and contains scattered, irregularly shaped vesicles; locally, especially rear its lower 

margin, the flow is platy, the individual plates ranging from less 

than 1, to more than 4 inches in thickness.

The steep front of this flow, facing Butte Valley, terminates so 

abruptly that it suggests faulting. However, a thick, viscous flow 

might have come to rest with a similarly steep front. The presence 

of the fault shown (pi. 1) along the edge of the flow, south of 

BM 4255 (46/2W-15Q), is based on the following evidence: (a) 

The edges of the basalt lobes terminate abruptly in nearly straight, 

steep-sided escarpments, as though the frontal lobes hs.d been sliced 

off, and (b) the flows or flow units exposed in these- escarpments 

seem to be hanging and very little talus has accumulated at the base 

of the scarps. North of bench mark 4255 the edges of the basalt 

lobes are rounded and do not seem to have been broken.

WATER-BEARING PROPERTIES

The older volcanic rocks of the "High Cascades" are exposed over 

most of the Cascade Range and serve as a large catchment area for 

rain and snow. Most of the catchment area is mantled with thin, 

rocky soils overlying highly fractured volcanic rocks and can readily 

absorb large quantities of water. Much of the precipitation absorbed 

seeps downward below the reach of native plants to the zone of 

saturation in the fractures and crevices within and between the 

interbedded lava flows. (For a more complete discussion of openings 

that allow ground water to move through lavas see the section on 

the water-bearing properties of the Butte Valley basalt.) Part of 

the water in the volcanic rocks is transmitted laterally to the alluvium and lake-bed sediments in Butte Valley, where it contributes 

to the ground-water supply. Small streams along the west side of 

Butte Valley such as Prather, Muskgrave, Harris, and Ikes Creeks, 

derive much of their perennial flow from springs and seeps issuing 

from the volcanic rocks. Butte and Antelope Creeks, the two principal streams in the region, derive much of their perennial flow from 

springs issuing from older volcanic rocks of the "High Cascades" 

southwest of the area investigated.
VOLCANIC ROCKS AND THEIR WATER-BEARING PROPERTIES 25

In the Cascade Kange, swarms of "feeder dikes" become progressively more abundant toward the hearts of the volcanoes. T'e finegrained, impermeable dikes cut through permeable beds of basalt and 

scoria and trap ground water at high levels in the intervenirg compartments. The surface of the ground-water body in a dike-enclosed 

compartment may be at a different height from the one next to it 

(fig. 3). Large supplies of ground water may be stored in pome of 

these reservoirs.

Most dikes contain sufficient crevices to allow water to move 

transversely through them. Even small cracks in dikes would allow 

the passage of a large amount of water to ground-water reservoirs 

having a much lower hydrostatic head. Water moves from the 

volcanic rocks into the sedimentary rocks, and the rate of movement 

is governed chiefly by the transmissibility of the rocks. Tie older 

volcanic rocks of the "High Cascades" extend across Butte Valley 

beneath the lake deposits, consequently water probably moves upward and laterally into the sediments beneath the valley (fig. 3).

Fine-grained lake deposits overlie volcanic rocks throughout much 

of Butte Valley and are less permeable than the porous lava. Ground 

water is confined beneath the lake deposits, and where it is tapped 

by wells, the water level will rise to the regional piezometric surface.

Wells that probably tap the volcanic rocks underlying the lake 

deposits are shown on plate 2. According to the owner, irrigation 

well 46/2W-26F3 tapped confined water in the volcanic bedrock.

EXPLANATION

Alluvial-fan deposits 

Talus debris

The clayey lake deposits are relatively impervious and hold 

water beneath them under pressure. A is a well developed in poorly sorted alluvial-fan deposits. B is a well 

that taps water confined in buried alluvial deposits. The 

water supply in these deposits is replenished through the 

talus rubble from water stored in the fractured volcanic 

rocks. C is an irrigation well that receives its wrter from 

volcanic rocks underlying the lake deposits. D is a "dry 

hole" drilled into lake deposits which transmit and yield 

water only in small quantities. £ is a well that penetrates 

sandy lake-shore or beach deposits. F is a well that penetrates blocky talus and colluvial deposits at the foot of a 

steep fault scarp

Dikes, diagrammatic 

Ground-water surface, diagrammatic, in dike complex

FIGURE 3. Diagrammatic section across Butte Valley from west to east showing some 

typical conditions that govern the occurrence of ground water.

Lake-shore deposits and sand 

Fine-grained lake deposits

Older volcanic rocks of the'High Cascades"
26 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY

(See table 8.) The well reportedly provided large quantities of 

water without excessive drawdown until the casing collapsed and 

the well was destroyed. Well 47/1E-32A1, near the base of Mahogany Mountain, just reaches the volcanic rocks (table 8). According to the driller, this well yielded more than 3,100 gpm with about 

22 feet of drawdown. Based on these data, the specific capacity 

of the well was about 140 gpm per foot of drawdown and the yield 

factor was 60 (p. 9). Yield factors obtained for wells penetrating alluvium and lake deposits (table 5) to the west are lower, 

suggesting that this .well receives a large part of its supply from 

the underlying bedrock or from talus debris, or from both.

Water in the basalt south of Meiss Ranch (46/2W-9Q) probably 

is confined by fine-grained lake-bed sediments deposited around the 

lower end of the flow. Near the Meiss Eanch headquarters, 4 wells 

penetrating this basalt obtained artesian flows after being drilled 

65 to 150 feet in alluvium. This alluvium consisted of gravel, sand, 

clay, and rubble derived from the basaltic flow. In 1954, the estimated natural discharge of the wells ranged from about 15 gpm 

in well 46/2W-9E2 to more than 500 gpm in wells 46/2W-9R1 and 

16A1. Well 46/2W-9Q1 flowed about 100 gpm. According to the 

driller, well 46/2W-9Q1 entered basalt at a depth of 150 feet. When 

pumped, this well reportedly yielded 3,000 to 4,000 gpm; the drawdown wras unknowrn. Well 46/2W-9R1 entered the basrlt at a depth 

of 65 feet and when pumped reportedly yielded about 1,300 gpm 

with a drawdown of about 30 feet.

The pyroclastic rocks near Ikes Mountain (47/2W-33M) are 

largely above the water table and are of little hydrologic importance. 

Locally, impermeable altered or welded pyroclastic rocks may cause 

springs in areas where these rocks are extensive anc1 overlain by 

fractured basaltic rocks. Ground water moves down gradient 

through the basaltic rocks and discharges at places where both the 

perched water table and the underlying impermeable layer intersect 

the land surface.

In 47/2W-31L, 46/2W-6B and 6G three small springs issue from 

rock debris, which mantles the steep slopes. Although their source 

was not determined, these springs are probably outlets for small 

perched ground-water bodies in local basaltic flows tl at are intercalated with altered, impermeable pyroclastic rocks.

PYROCLASTIC ROCKS (PLEISTOCENE AND RECENT)

CHARACTER AND DISTRIBUTION

Pyroclastic accumulations, mostly lithic tuff and cindery tuffbreccia, underlie a large area east and southeast of Macdoel. These 

rocks probably range in thickness from 0 to about 400 feet near 

Juniper Knoll (46/1W-16). Their areal distribution is shown on 

plate 1.
VOLCANIC ROCKS AND THEIR WATER-BEARING PROPERTIES 27

Drillers' logs of water wells indicate that in most places the 

pyroclastic rocks rest upon lake deposits of Pleistocene (?) age. In 

sees. 11, 14, and 21 (46/1W) the pyroclastic rocks seem to be overlapped by the Butte Valley basalt, In sees. 26, 27, 34, and 35 

(46/1W) the basalt may have been deflected around a chain of 

tuff cones which are alined over a northward-trending fissure. However, the presence of northwestward-trending cracks or fissures (pi. 

1) formed in the basalt during its cooling period, suggest that the 

flow extends across this area beneath the t pyroclastic rockr Near 

the point where a northeastward-trending trail turns northwest 

(46/1W-27H) part of the basalt containing a crack or fissure ranging from a few inches to about 4 feet across, is overlain by tuff and 

cindery tuff-breccia. Farther to the southeast (46/1W-27J) a small 

exposure of basalt (too small to be shown on pi. 1) was completely 

surrounded by tuffaceous material.

Thus, it seems that two widely spaced periods of volcanic activity 

may have contributed to the deposition of the pyroclastic rocks. 

The first period of explosive activity may be represented by the 

large saucer-shaped depression or crater about 200 feet d°-ep and 

one-half mile in diameter in 46/1W-16. This crater, which now 

contains a shallow ephemeral lake (pi. 1), is probably the source 

vent for much of the tuff and tuff-breccia. The second period of 

explosive activity, which may have occurred after the eruption of 

the Butte Valley basalt, probably is represented by the chain of 

hills in 46/1W-15, 22, 27, and 34. These hills are tuff cones built 

over a series of vents alined along a northward-trending f 'sure.

Two periods of explosive activity may have resulted fro^i phreatomagmatic explosions of the type described by Stearns (1954, p. 

599), that occur where hot magma comes suddenly into contact 

with surface or ground water. In discussing the origin of pyroclastic deposits and tuff cones, Stearns (Stearns and Clark, 1930, p. 

156; Stearns and Vaksvik, 1935, p. 16, 135-136; Stearns and others, 

1939, p. 32-36) theorized that rising magma, if abnormally charged 

with gas, could have exploded wherever it reached the surface as a 

result of rapid gas expansion. This gas soon would have been dissipated and would have been followed by a normal outflow of lava. 

According to Stearns the absence of any lava flow necessitates a 

search for a supplemental cause for the explosion. For example, 

if the magma rose slowly, ground water in the rocks surrounding 

the rising magma column would be quietly dissipated as ste^m, and 

the water would be forced to recede from the rising magma. On 

the other hand, if the magma rose rapidly and if the supply of 

ground water were plentiful, as in coarse gravel or fractured, brecciated, basaltic rocks, then great quantities of superheated steam

546199 O 60 3
28 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BTJTTE VALLEY

might generate sufficient pressure to blast a vent. Immediately, all 

the superheated water and large masses of rock overlying the magma 

body would be hurled from the vent. After this initial blast the 

consequent sudden relief of pressure on the gases in the magma 

column probably would cause the magma to froth or explode 

violently. Material collapsing from the walls of the newly formed 

crater, supplemented by cooled magma falling back irto it, would 

tend to make temporary talus plugs which would retard the explosive forces intermittently; water rushing into the crater then 

would cause new explosive spasms (Stearns and others, 1939, p. 32- 

38).

A third period of explosive activity is indicated at Juniper Knoll 

by a low dome-shaped mound of black basaltic cinders. Dips measured in the semiconsolidated tuff layers around the periphery of 

the dome-shaped mound reveal that the tuff layers slope outward 

30° to 40° in all directions, which indicates that the cinders were 

extruded through older pyroclastic rocks.

The pyroclastic rocks generally are composed of well-bedded to 

massive, gray-to-brown, lithic tuff and massive, poorly sorted, wellconsolidated, tuff-breccia containing abundant fragments of dark 

basalt and black scoria firmly embedded in a fine-grained tuffaceous 

matrix.

In 46/1W-3R borrow pit, dug to provide road metal, revealed 

cross-laminated beds composed of alternating layers of gray-tobrown lithic tuff and black, cindery, lapilli-tuff. Individual beds 

range in thickness from less than 1 to about 6 inches and from less 

than 1 to several feet in length. The cross-laminated beds probably 

were constructed by shallow-water currents reworking pyroclastic 

debris during or immediately after the three periods of volcanic 

activity mentioned above. This cross-laminated section is capped 

by evenly bedded, slightly consolidated brownish tuF alternating 

with black cindery lapilli-tuff in layers ranging in thickness from a 

few inches to about 1 foot.

Numerous angular blocks, slabs, and fragments, of Hack olivinerich fine-grained basalt cover the surface around the large crater 

in 46/1W-16. As these basaltic rocks cannot be correlated with 

basaltic flows in that area, they probably were blown out of the 

crater during explosive activity.

WATER-BEARING PROPERTIES

The coarse-grained beds of lithic tuff and the cindery lapilli-tuff 

layers are moderately permeable and can store large quantities of 

water. Many of these units are separated by thin layers of finegrained tuff, hence they probably can neither transmit water readily 

nor yield much water to wells. Most of the outcrop area lies above
VOLCANIC ROCKS AND THEIR WATER-BEARING PROPERTIES 29

the saturated zone and is mantled by coarse sand and cindery 

lapilli; it is important chiefly as catchment area for rain and snow.

BUTTE VALLEY BASALT (LATE PLEISTOCENE AND RECENT) 

CHARACTER AND DISTRIBUTION

A uniform sheet of gray vesicular olivine basalt occupies a large 

area in the southern and southeastern parts of Butte Valley and 

in Red Rock Valley. It is exposed over a 75-square-miIe area in 

the Butte Valley region (pi. 1). Its probable subsurface extent in 

Butte Valley is about 27 square miles as determined from logs of 

wells (pi. 2), and thus, it covers a total area of about 102 square 

miles. It was named the Butte Valley basalt by Williams (1949, 

p. 44) for exposures near Jerome (45/1W-19) at the south end of 

Butte Valley. Because of its extent and its importarce as an 

aquifer, the name Butte Valley basalt is adopted in this report.

The Butte Valley basalt overlies lake deposits of Pleistocene(?) 

age in Butte and Red Rock Valleys. In Butte Valley several extended lobes or tongues of the flow seem to be interstratified with the 

lake deposits (pi. 3). South and southwest of the town of Mount 

Hebron and along Butte and Antelope Creeks the basal4: is overlain by alluvium. Locally in Red Rock Valley the basalt ir overlain 

by alluvial and playa deposits, and locally northeast of th°- town of 

Mount Hebron it seems to lie between the older and younger units 

of the pyroclastic rocks. Accordingly, the age of the Butte Valley 

basalt probably is late Pleistocene or possible early Recent.

Wells in the lower end of the flow in Butte Valley (pi. 2) penetrated from about 6 to more than 80 feet of basalt. Th«- average 

thickness was about 40 feet. In Red Rock Valley a driller's log 

for well 45/1E-16P1 (table 9) showed about 60 feet of basalt overlying lake deposits.

Basalt commonly flows over the land as a viscous fluid r,nd moves 

down slopes and along stream channels or ravines often disrupting 

the drainage pattern. Frequently, thick basaltic flows completely 

obliterate preexisting topography. A flow may be many tens of 

feet thick where it fills an old canyon and a short distance away 

the same flow may be absent or only a few feet thick. Stratigraphic 

correlation is therefore difficult and the thickness varies as recorded 

in well logs within a small area.

Topographically the Butte Valley basalt is characterized by numerous northward- to northwestward-trending cracks or surface 

fissures and their accompanying scarps, and tumuli (aho known 

as pressure domes or schollendomes), pressure ridges, and collapse 

depressions. Collapse depressions are distributed sporadically over 

the flow. Some are elongated trenches bordered by IOVT cliffs or 

ridges; others are irregular in outline and contain thin alluvial
30 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY

deposits. The majority of the depressions probably were formed 

by the collapse of lava crusts over drained or partly drained lava 

tubes.

According to Went worth and MacDonald (1953, p. 45) tumuli 

are domical upbowings of the flow surface, typically elliptical in 

plan, which grade into elongated structures that are termed pressure ridges. These ridges commonly have gaping cracks or fissures 

on their crests. The cracks parallel the long axes of the structures 

and are several feet deep. Other, less regular, cracks extend down 

the flanks of the ridges.

Went worth and MacDonald (1953, p. 49) report that although 

some tumuli were formed by hydrostatic pressure of liquid lava 

under a congealed crust, many of them (particularly those with a 

very elongate form) and the majority of pressure ridger apparently 

were formed by the horizontal thrusting and buckling of the flow 

crust caused by the pressure of fluid lava.

The northward- to northwestward-trending cracks or f "sures range 

in width from a few inches to about 30 feet and frequently can be 

sounded or are visible to depths of 20 feet; many probably are open 

to much greater depths. The cracks range from less than 1 to more 

than 15 miles in length (pi. 1). In many places the cracVs or fissures 

blend into nearly vertical scarps. The scarps and the walls of the 

wider fissures are marked by numerous subparallel cracks of incipient landslides.

The origin of the large cracks is uncertain. They may be caused 

by shrinkage along marginal "levees" paralleling the main channels 

of the flow, or slump scarps (Finch, 1933) and tension cracks formed 

by subsidence of the general flow surface due to draining away of 

fluid lava from beneath a congealed crust as the still fluid lower part 

of the lava continued to move along established channels. They 

may be the surface expression of buried faults or shear zones in 

the volcanic bedrock beneath the semiconsolidated lal'e sediments 

which underlie the brittle basalt-covered surface. However, there 

is little evidence of shearing movement along the cracks; flow units 

(Nichols, 1936) ranging in thickness from a few inches to about 

10 feet revealed in the walls of the cracks or fissures show little or 

no offset. Where the walls have not been greatly modified by 

collapse, projections on one wall commonly correspond with concavities in the opposite wall.

The faulting hypothesis is strengthened by the observation that 

faults in the older volcanic rocks at Orr Mountain (44/1W-16) and 

at Cedar Mountain (45/1E-36) are continued as breaks, scarps, or 

fissures in the basalt-covered surface. East and northeast of the 

town of Mount Hebron a chain of cones alined along one of the
VOLCANIC KOCKS AND THEIK WATEK-BEAKING PROPERTIES 31

longer cracks clearly indicates a deep-seated fissure or series of 

vents from which cindery tuffs and lapilli-tuffs issued.

Whatever may be their origin, the numerous cracks or f ^sures in 

this extensive basalt-covered surface now serve as excellent avenues 

through which precipitation and surface water may enter the groundwater body.

The basalt is a highly vesicular gray olivine-rich augite basalt. 

Discontinuous patches of dark glassy, pahoehoe skins are common, 

and have a semicircular wavelike (festooned) or, sometimes a ropy 

surface.

As revealed in the many gaping cracks and fissures previously described, the basaltic flow consists of many parts or successive gushes 

of lava emitted during the course of a single eruption. These nearly 

contemporaneous subdivisions of basaltic flows have been called 

flow units (Nichols, 1936). The flow units range from less than 1 

to about 10 feet in thickness. They range from local gushes that 

moved a few tens of feet to sheets that flowed for thousands of 

feet partly or entirely over other flow units. The tops and bottoms 

of the flow units are generally rough, broken, and often clinkery or 

scoriaceous.

WATER-BEARING PROPERTIES

The Butte Valley basalt is the most productive aquifer in the 

region, because it consists of a series of comparatively thin flow 

units that have clinkery, slaggy, or cavernous contacts and that are 

broken by a system of nearly vertical joints or shrinkage cracks. 

Wells in these rocks generally yield abundant quantities of water. 

Specific capacities of more than 100 gpm per foot of drawdown are 

common, and specific capacities of 1,000 gpm per foot of drawdown 

have been recorded (table 6).

The following discussion relating to the movement of ground 

water through basaltic rocks is adapted from Stearns' discussion 

(Stearns and others, 1938, p. 58-61) of the relative importance of 

the openings and cavities in extrusive basaltic rocks through which 

ground water can move.

The upper crust of a lava flow is generally rough and broken 

because of movement within the flow after the crust has congealed. 

Inundation by later flows never completely fills these irregularities. 

Consequently many openings, some of which are extensive and capable of holding or transmitting large quantities of water, occur between successive flows. Nearly vertical cooling joints of varying 

widths intersect the flows and are the means by which ground water 

percolates readily downward to the zone of saturation.

In many places the basaltic flow has a subaqueous phase at its 

base. Drillers report that many of the more productive w^lls penetrate a layer of glassy clinker and cindery fragments at the base of
32 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY

the flow and that these clinkery layers yield large quantities of 

water. The glassy clinker and cindery fragments probably were 

formed by rapid cooling and brecciation as the flow advanced over a 

water-saturated surface.

Vesicles caused by the expansion of gases during the cooling 

process give the crust a spongy appearance. These cavities generally 

are disconnected, and the vesicular lava does not yield large quantities of water as is commonly believed. Instead, its presence in a 

well core indicates that the drill has passed from one flow to the 

top of another, and the water is obtained from cavities which occur 

at the contact between the flows.

BASALTIC LAVA FLOWS CLATE PLIOCENE? AND PLEISTOCENE)

Basaltic flows, east and southeast of Butte Valley include a massive, coarsely vesicular, gray olivine basalt about 20 feet thick that 

caps Big and Little Tablelands and covers an extensive area south 

of Lower Klamath Lake; and a black, coarsely vesicular, porphyritic 

basalt containing conspicuous anhedral phenocrysts of yellowishgreen olivine in a fine-grained matrix, from Sheep Mountain. On 

Big and Little Tablelands the basalt unconformably overlies diatomite of Pliocene age. South of Lower Klamath Lake basaltic 

flows of similar lithology and texture are overlapped by basaltic 

flows of Recent age.

These older basaltic flows were described by Powers (1932, p. 266) 

as the Warner basalt, which he traced eastward to the Warner 

Range where Russell (1928, p. 416) first applied the term "Warner 

basalt." If this correlation is valid, then according to Anderson 

(1941, p. 354) who summarized the available evidence relating to 

the age of the Warner basalt, it may be Pliocene or early Pleistocene 

in age.

The basalt in a small area northeast of Sheep Mountain apparently issued from a vent or fissure in 46/1E-20. In outcrops the 

basalt is fresh and ragged looking. In most places the rock is 

broken into rough cuboidal or hexagonal blocks by shrirkage cracks 

formed during cooling.

The flow ranges in thickness from a few feet to more than 300 

feet. In 46/1E-10 about 200 feet of basalt is exposed in a nearly 

vertical fault scarp. The owner of a dug well in 46/1E-10D reported that he penetrated 20 or 30 feet of alluvium and then "black 

rock" to the bottom of the hole at a depth of 85 feet. He reported 

finding many nearly horizontal "cracks" ranging from r, few inches 

to 1 foot or more across and extending inward as far as he could 

see. Deep irrigation wells north of Inlow Butte did not enter basalt. 

Owing to the appreciable thickness of the basalt in 46/1E-10D,
VOLCANIC ROCKS AND THEIR WATER-BEARING PROPERTIES 33

evidence suggests that this flow was ponded in a depression between Inlow Butte and Mahogany Mountain. If the topography 

east of Inlow Butte at the time of the basaltic eruption was similar 

to that of today (pi. 1) the flow would have spread out over the 

floor of Butte Valley. Because the evidence suggests that the flow 

did not enter the valley north of Inlow Butte, there probably was 

a topographic high between the butte and the western part of Mahogany Mountain that blocked the flow before late Pleistocene or 

Recent crustal displacements and erosion altered the topography.

WATER-BEARING PROPERTIES

These basaltic flows generally are highly permeable, but they are 

commonly above the zone of saturation. They serve chiefly as intake areas for ground water.

BASALTIC FLOWS NORTHEAST OF SHARP MOUNTAIN (LATE 

PLEISTOCENE AND RECENT)

The youngest volcanic rocks in the Butte Valley region are a 

group of basaltic flows and associated cinder cones east and northeast of Sharp Mountain (45/2E-32), including the long, narrow 

northwestward-trending tongue of basalt northeast of Mount Dome 

(46/2E-24). These rocks are the northernmost extension of the 

widespread basaltic flows that were discharged mostly from the 

north flank of the Medicine Lake highland. This large area of 

flows, which includes the lavas of the Lava Beds National Monument, was described by Powers (1932) as the Modoc basalt. Subsequent workers have used the term when discussing basalts of 

late Pleistocene and Recent age in this area.

The Recent age of the youngest of these rocks is indicated by the 

thin soil cover, the constructional nature of the lava surfaces, and 

by the association of the rocks with cones having well-preserved 

craters. The group of flows near Sharp Mountain all terminate with 

steep, blocky fronts. Their rough surfaces in many plrces have 

irregular, steep-sided channels or gutters, separated by branching 

ridges. One small flow in 45/2E-17N has well-defined crescentic 

ridges on its surface.

The vents or fissures from which some of these basaltic flows 

issued are capped by five cinder cones. One of the cones (45/2E16N) has a well-preserved summit crater. In three other cones (not 

shown on the geologic map) the crater walls have been breached 

on one side.

The long, narrow, tongue of basalt east of Mount Dome is the 

northernmost extension of the main mass of the Modoc basalt of 

Powers (1932). Its surface is rough, broken, and marked in many 

places by collapse depressions.
34 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY 

WATER-BEARING PROPERTIES

The rough, broken flows have a poorly developed soil cover, and 

the chaotic masses of blocky to clinkery lavas, the fissured, broken, 

cavernous lavas similar to the Butte Valley basalt, and the loose 

angular cinders form a highly permeable unit. They are generally 

above the saturated zone but serve as intake areas for ground water.

YOUNGER VOLCANIC BOCKS OF THE "HIGH CASCADES" (LATE 

PLEISTOCENE AND RECENT)

The younger volcanic rocks of the "High Cascades" probably are 

of late Pleistocene and Kecent age. In the Butte Valley region 

they include andesitic flows of Deer Mountain (south of the area 

shown on pi. 1), basaltic flows of Little Deer Mountain, and a 

narrow basaltic flow in Butte Creek canyon.

The andesitic flows of Deer Mountain are south of the Southern 

Pacific railroad and west of the glacial moraines in tlie southwest 

corner of the region (pi. 1). The flows were described by Williams 

(1949, p. 41) as hypersthene-rich hyalopilitic andesite containing 

abundant large phenocrysts of olivine and plagioclase. In most 

places the flows are heavily mantled with basaltic cinders and coarse 

ash blown from nearby vents.

The basaltic flows of Little Deer Mountain surround the Little 

Deer Mountain cinder cone and cover an area of more than 10 

square miles. Near the eastward-trending trail south of the Southern Pacific railroad the basalt overlaps andesitic flows of Deer 

Mountain. According to Williams (1949, p. 45):

The first flows spread eastward beyond Penoyar for about 5 miles. These 

are thin sheets of black vesicular olivine-augite basalt with smooth to gently 

undulating crusts dotted with sporadic schollendomes * * * Most of the flows 

are concealed by a mantle of fine ash, and close to their snouts they are 

also covered by sandy outwash from the adjacent hills of fluvio?lacial debris.

The principal flows were then discharged, accumulating to a depth of 500 

feet. Most of these issued from the breach on the south side of the cone, but 

some escaped from vents on the opposite side. Being more vis°ous than the 

earlier flows they only spread half as far and all terminate"1 with steep, 

blocky fronts. Their rough surfaces are marked by high crags and pinnacles 

and by irregular channels dividing branching ridges, and their scoriaceous, 

clinkery interiors are strongly autobrecciated * * * Like the first flows, they 

are rich in phenocrysts of olivine but contain only sparse phenocrysts of 

plagioclase. Porphyritic augite is lacking, but the mineral is abundant as 

minute granules between the microliths of labradorite in the g**oundmass.

Only the lower end of the narrow basaltic flow in Butte Creek 

canyon is shown on the geologic map (pi. 1). According to Williams (1949, p. 45-46), a flow of black vesicular olivine basalt issued 

from a fissure in the eastern wall of Butte Creek canyon at an altitude of about 6,000 feet, moved northward along the canyon floor 

for 10 miles, and terminated near the Soule Kanch (44/2W-24P).
SEDIMENTARY DEPOSITS AND THEIR WATER-BEARING PROPEFTIES 35

The lower part of the flow is largely concealed by fluviogT acial outwash and cinders. The best exposures can be seen below Mount 

Shasta Woods (outside the area shown on pi. 1), where Butte Creek 

has incised a youthful gorge between the east margin of the flow 

and the adjoining moraine. In this area the lava ranges in thickness from 10 to 150 feet. Most of the flow moved down the canyon 

through lava tubes beneath a smooth to gently undulating crust. 

Near Mount Shasta Woods and on the Grenada Rancl , copious 

springs of cold water now issue from the empty lava tub°,s.

The younger volcanic rocks of the "High Cascades" occur in 

rugged terrain, generally more than 5,000 feet in altitude. They constitute an important catchment area for rain and snow. T\e rough, 

broken, scoriaceous flows absorb precipitation readily anc? transmit 

water downward into the older volcanic rocks of the "High Cascades." Where geologic conditions and the ground-water gradient 

are favorable, part of this precipitation probably enters Butte Creek 

as water from subsurface seepage and springs.

SEDIMENTARY DEPOSITS AND THEIR WATER-BEAFING 

PROPERTIES

Sedimentary deposits in the Butte Valley region range from Pliocene to Recent in age. From oldest to youngest these deposits include: (a) An impermeable fresh-water diatomite which crops out 

over a large area east of the Mahogany Mountain ridge; (b) glacial 

moraines and fluvioglacial outwash deposits of low permeability 

near the mouth of Butte Creek canyon; (c) semiconsoli^ated lake 

deposits which underlie most of the Butte Valley plain and Red 

Rock Valley; (d) unconsolidated, poorly sorted, rock debris deposited in the form of alluvial fans along the west side of Butte 

Valley; (e) alluvium which in most places forms a thin cover 

resting on lava flows or lake deposits; (f) talus debris which forms 

linear wedge-shaped deposits along the foot of precipitous fault 

scarps; and (g) dune sand near the east edge of Butte Valley.

In general the sedimentary deposits are only slightly permeable 

and of little hydrologic importance, except along the eastern border 

of Butte Valley where the lake deposits contain large quantities 

of sand and probably yield moderate supplies of water to irrigation 

wells, and in the southwestern part of the valley where alluvium 

overlying the Butte Valley basalt probably yields moderate quantities of water to wells.

DIATOMITE (PLIOCENE) 

CHARACTER AND DISTRIBUTION

Massive diatomite deposits crop out over a large area ei'-st of the 

Mahogany Mountain ridge. The outcrop interpreted from aerial
36 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLE"r

photographs and from a brief geologic reconnaissance i? shown in 

plate 1.

Diatomite is composed of the microscopic siliceous cells, or frustules, of diatoms and, rarely the shells of other silica-secreting organisms. The diatomite in the Butte Valley area is of fresh-water 

origin. It is gray to dead white and forms beds ranging from a 

few inches to about 50 feet in thickness. Locally the diatomite is 

interbedded with volcanic ash, cindery lapilli, pumice, and sand.

Because the diatomite was deposited in the bed of an ancient 

Klamath basin lake, the area of outcrop (pi. 1) is a continuation of 

the diatomite in the Klamath diatomite district (Moore, 193T, p. 34- 

51). Near Klamath Falls, Oreg. (north of the area shown in pi. 1), 

diatomite is interbedded with older volcanic rocks of the "High 

Cascades" (Moore, 193T, p. 35-40). There the diatomite was assigned to the Pliocene on the basis of its stratigraplic position 

(Moore, 1937, p. 35-40) and vertebrate and invertebrate fossil content (Meyers and Newcomb, 1952, p. 39-40).

Diatoms collected by the writer from two localities 2 ir a prospect 

pit on a hillside (altitude about 4,280 feet) east of Willow Creek 

(46/2E-9F) were identified by K. E. Lohman of the Geological 

Survey (written communication, Aug. 31, 1955) as follows:

Frequency of diatom occurrence is indicated by: A, abundant; C, common; F,

frequent; R, rare.

USOS diatom 

localities

4076 4077

Achnanthes sp______________________________________________ R

Amphora lybica Ehrenberg.__________________________________ R

cf. A. ovalis Kutzing-___________________________________ R

Cocconeis placentula Ehrenberg___________-_--__-_____-_____-_ F

placentula var. euglypta (Ehrenberg) Cleve_________________ R R

Cyclotella aff. C. compta (Ehrenberg) Kutzing- _________________ A A

spp________________________________----_____-___-__--- C C

cf. C. meneghiana Kutzing_______________________________ F

ocellata Pantocsek. _____________________________________ F F

Cymbella cf. C. affinis Kutzing________________________________ R

ventricosa Kutzing-___________-_________---__----------_ R

Diatoma cf. D. vulgare Bory________________________________ R

Diploneis elliptica var. ostracodarum (Pantocsek) Cleve__________ F

Epithemia turgida (Ehrenberg) Kutzing_______________________ R

Fragilaria sp_-_-______________________________--_-___,_---- R

Gomphoneis elegans (Grunow) Cleve___________________________ R

Gomphonema sp______________________--__----___.---------- R

Melosira distans var. lyrate (Ehrenberg) Bethge________________ F F

cf. M. solida Eulenstein. ________________________________ R

Nitzechia angustata (Wm. Smith) Grunow_______---_____---__- R R

Opephora martyi Heribaud_____-___________-__-_-__-------_-_ R R

sp____________________________________________________ R

Rhoicosphenia curvata (Kutzing) Grunow_____________------__- R

Stephanodiscus astreaea (Ehrenberg) Grunow_______-_____--___- F

carconensis var. minor Grunow___________________________ C

carconensis var. pusilla Grunow_____________--_-_---_-_-- C C

2 Locality 4076 is 20 feet below the contact with the overlying cindery tuft-breccia, and locality 4077 is 20 

feet stratigraphically below locality 4076.
SEDIMENTARY DEPOSITS AND THEIR WATER-BEARING PROPERTIES 37

The diatom assemblages from the two collections are, in general, dominated by the same species, principally several hitherto unnamed species of the 

genus Cyclotella. For this reason, the most abundant species present have 

little value (at present) for age determination. Several other species, among 

which are Diploneis elliptica var. ostracodarum, Gomphoneis elegans, StepJianodiscus caronensis var. minor 8. carconensis var. pusilla are strongly indicative 

of late Pliocene age. Melosira solida is another species which became extinct 

in late Pliocene time, but is given less weight in the present instance, as only 

one doubtful specimen was found.

Most of the definitive species in these assemblages are also found in the 

diatomite exposed near the town of Sprague Jliver, Oregon, immediately to 

the north of the Swan Lake-Yonna valley, a short distance to tte north in 

Oregon (U.S.G.S. Diatom Locality 1061). It seems probable that your diatomite near Willow Creek in the Dorris Quadrangle may be correlated with 

the sedimentary beds between the lower and upper lava rocks in the Swan 

Lake-Yonna valleys in Oregon, although the Willow Creek diatomite may be 

slightly younger.

This is based on the fact that the dominant species in the Spngue River 

locality are Stephanodiscus carconensis and Melosira solida, botl of which 

reached their heyday in the middle Pliocene. Only the two varieties of the 

former, var. minor and var. pusilla were found in the Willow Creek material 

and these are known to extend to the top of the Pliocene. Melcsira solida 

occurred in the Willow Creek collections as one doubtful specimen.

The diatom assemblages identified by Mr. Lohman and vertebrate 

and invertebrate fossils collected from interbedded sedimentary 

deposits and diatomite in the Klamath Falls area suggest that the 

diatomite in this area is late Pliocene in age.

In the Butte Valley region the relation between the diatomite and 

the older volcanic rocks of the "High Cascades" is compHcated by 

faulting. Exposures in 47/1E-12 and 13 and along the westwardfacing scarp in 48/1E-27 and 34 suggest that the diatomite may be 

interbedded with the older volcanic rocks of the "High Cascades."

Local residents report that a well drilled on Oklahoma Flat near 

the east quarter corner of 47/2E-18 passed through about 1,000 feet 

of "chalk" (diatomite and ash) without entering other rock units. 

In the Oklahoma district the log of well 46/2E-7E1 (table 10) 

shows that 396 feet of diatomite unconformably overlies older volcanic rocks of the "High Cascades." The log of well 47/1E-25K1 

(table 10) indicates that diatomite in this area is interbeided with 

many feet of sedimentary deposits. On Big and Little Tablelands 

the diatomite is unconformably overlain by a nearly horizontal 

flow of coarsely vesicular gray olivine basalt. West of Little 

Tableland in 46/2E-4 and 9 the diatomite is overlain by wQ<ll-bedded 

to massive cindery lapilli-tuff and tuff-breccia which in turn are 

overlain by interbedded quartzitic sand and cindery lapilli. The 

interbedded sand and lapilli are capped by a peculiarly weathering, 

cliff-forming, quartz sandstone, in which the bonding silica cement 

has been deposited from solution. Quartz sandstone and lapilli-tuff
38 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLETr

deposits overlying the diatomite are similarly exposed on the hilltop near 47/2E-31R, and lapilli-tuff-breccia was noted nQ,ar the top 

of the conical hill northeast of the Fogle Kanch in 46/2E-7. Southwest of Mount Dome in 46/2E-33, 34, 35, and 36 the diatomite 

seems to be interbedded with basaltic and rhyolitic tuff-breccia.

WATER-BEARING PROPERTIES

The diatomite is friable and extremely porous, but because it is 

composed of minute siliceous particles, it has a low permeability. 

Wells penetrating these deposits enter sand or gravel lenses that 

supply moderate amounts of water in some areas. Water also occurs 

in ashy partings or layers between beds or in crevices.

GLACIAL. MORAINES AND FLUVIOGLACIAL DEPOSITS (LATE 

PLEISTOCENE)

CHARACTER AND DISTRIBUTION

The glacial moraines and fluvioglacial deposits along Putte Creek 

in the southwest corner of the Butte Valley region (pi. 1) were laid 

down during the last extensive glaciation (Wisconsin (?) stage) of 

the Pleistocene epoch. Williams (1949, p. 51) reports that:

An imposing Pleistocene glacier flowed down the canyons of Butte and 

Alder Creeks for a distance of approximately 12 miles. Although its source 

lay in cirques on the sides of Haight Mountain at elevations of little more than 

7,000 feet, its snout extended down to 4,800 feet, in the vicinity of the Soule 

Ranch. For most of its course, the glacier was only a mile wide, and it 

varied in thickness between 400 and 500 feet. It overflowed the western rim 

of the canyon near Grenada Ranch, and it crossed the opposite rim near 

Mount Shasta Woods. Below these points it left huge lateral moraines in 

its wake.

A hummocky terrace of coarse, bouldery, fluvioglacial outwash 

joins the end moraines at the mouth of Butte Creek canyon near 

the Soule Kanch (44/2W-24P). Near the end moraines the outwash 

deposits are a heterogeneous mixture in a matrix of gravel, sand, 

and clay. To the north and northeast the coarse boulc^ry terrace 

grades into a gravelly cinder covered plain. In some places many 

stone circles, 75 to 100 feet in diameter, appear on the surface of 

the outwash deposits. Similar stone circles or circular soil structures were noted on the surface of outwash deposits near Edgewood 

in Shasta Valley and elsewhere in northeastern Siskiyou County. 

As described by Masson (1949, p. 64) the processes in the formation 

of these stone circles are: (a) The concentration of clay into local 

centers; (b) the upfreezing of stones to the surface; anc1 (c) radial 

or centrifugal ' movement of stones away from the clay centers during freezing and thawing.
SEDIMENTARY DEPOSITS AND THEIR WATER-BEARING PROPERTIES 39 

WATER-BEARING PROPERTIES

No data are available regarding the potential yield of water from 

glacial moraines and fluvioglacial deposits. Moderate supplies of 

water probably can be obtained from wrells penerating tl n. fluvioglacial deposits bordering Butte Creek where recharge is available. 

The glacial moraines probably are poorly water bearing.

LAKE DEPOSITS (PLEISTOCENE AND RECENT)

CHARACTER AND DISTRIBUTION

Lake deposits underlie most of the Butte Valley plain and Red 

Kock Valley, indicating that at one time a large lake or lakes covered 

most of the Butte Valley region. Because of the scarcity cf surface 

exposures, the extent and character of these deposits were determined 

almost wholly from well logs, and the water-bearing properties by 

pumping tests. Drillers report that wells drilled in 45/1W-10A and 

46/1W-34K entered "chalk," clay, and sand after passing through 

a thick basaltic flow. Also a log of well 46/1W-22K2 (table 8) 

east of Macdoel and the logs of wells (45/1E-11C2, 45/1E-16P1, 

table 9) in Red Rock Valley shows that the lake once extended 

over that area. Later the lake may have been displaced by the advance of the Butte Valley basalt.

The lake deposits rest unconformably on the older volcanic rocks 

of the "High Cascades." In the southern part of Butte Valley they 

are overlain by the Butte Valley basalt. Along the eastern and 

western margins of the Valley they interfinger with alluvial fans 

and talus. In the central part of the valley much of the surface 

is underlain by a layer of hardpan which in most places i? exposed 

or is within 2 or 3 feet of the land surface. The hardpan consists 

of cemented clayey deposits in which the cement is principally calcium carbonate (CaCO3 ).

The maximum thickness of the lake deposits is not known. However, well 45/2W-3Q1, at the south end of Butte Valley, entered 

volcanic rock at a depth of 350 feet. North of Macdoel test well 

47/1W-31G1 bottomed in lake deposits at a depth of 498 feet. Near 

Inlow Butte, test well 46/1W-1A1 bottomed in lake deposits at a 

depth of 735 feet. West of Dorris, test well 47/1W-4D1 entered 

welded basaltic tuff at a depth of 390 feet. At Dorris a well drilled 

in 1908 for the California Northeastern Railroad passed through 

947 feet of alluvium and lake deposits before entering bard lava. 

The presence of Meiss Lake on the west side of this basin and the 

predominance of clay in the area west of U.S. Highway 97 suggest 

that the lake deposits thicken westward and probably reach a maximum thickness north of Meiss Ranch (46/2W-9Q).
40 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY

Most of the lake deposits are of Pleistocene age, although sediments now being deposited in Meiss Lake (a remnant of the lake in 

which the deposits accumulated) indicate that, locally at least, 

deposition has continued to the present. Williams (lO'M), p. 45) 

believes that the structural basin in which these beds were deposited 

was formed in late Pleistocene time. The following invertebrate 

fossils were collected by the writer from a highly fossiliferous volcanic sand in the lake deposits in 47/1E-8A, and identified as follows, by J. P. E. Morrison (written communication, Oct. 29, 1954) 

of the U.S. National Museum:

Gastropods:

Lanx (Lanx) sp. cf. moribundus Hanna 1922

 (Walkerola) sp. cf. patelloides (Lea) (with some color spots remaining )

ICarinifex newberryi (Lea) 

Parapholyx packardi Hannibal

 sp. (large, costate)

 sp. (small, high-spired)

NOTE. All three of these "Parapholyx" species are intermediate in umbilication between the Recent Parapholyx species and the Pleistocene Pompholopsis. I suspect they may eventually all be put together under the oldest valid 

name Pompholopsis.

Pelecypods:

Pisidium sp. cf. liljeborgi Clessin

Ostracodes from this same fossil locality were identified by I. G. 

Sohn (written communication, Jan. 13, 1955) of the Geological 

Survey, who states:

The ostracodes are mostly internal casts, but identifications of genera are 

possible on gross shape. Pliocene(?) age determination is based on the presence of one carapace and an additional cast of Tuberocyproides"! sp., a genus 

described from the Salt Lake formation (Pliocene) of Utah, of v*hich I have 

an additional species from Idaho determined as Pliocene(?). 

The following forms are represented:

Candona sp.

Limnocythere"! sp. ,

Tuberocyproidest sp.

Genus indet.

In a memorandum (Jan. 13, 1955) accompanying these reports, E. 

L. Yochelson of the Geological Survey states:

The age difference between Pliocene(?) in this report [I. G. Sohn]. and 

Pleistocene (?) in Mr. Morrison's report of Oct. 29, 1954 should not be taken as 

a statement of disagreement, but rather as an indication of tl ? extent of 

our knowledge of the stratigraphic ranges of late Tertiary fre^h-water invertebrates.

The character of the lake deposits penetrated by welh is shown 

on the geologic sections A-A', B-B', and C-C' (pi. 3) and described
SEDIMENTARY DEPOSITS AND THEIR WATER-BEARING PROPEPTIES 41

in tables 8 and 9. In general, the lake deposits are composed of 

partly consolidated clay, silt, and sand and a few thin lenses or 

stringers of coarse to gravelly sand.

In the southern part of Butte Valley, about 90 feet below the 

land surface, a thick basaltic flow overlies the lake deposits. Near 

the lower end of the flow, extended lobes or tongues s^em to be 

interstratified with the lake deposits (pi. 3, section A-A'). In the 

southwestern part of the valley, south of Macdoel, the basrlt is overlain by 20 to 60 feet of poorly sorted volcanic sand and gravel. In 

the northwestern part of the valley, west of U.S. Highway 97 and 

north of the eastward-trending road along the south line of sees, 23 

and 24, T. 46 N., R. 2 W., logs of test wells drilled by the U.S. 

Bureau of Reclamation and drillers' logs of test holes and water 

wells indicate that the lake deposits are predominantly silt and 

clay. The log of test well 47/1W-31G1 (table 8), drilled by the 

Bureau of Reclamation, revealed that after passing through about 

60 feet of fine sand and silt the drill bit entered clay and continued 

in clay to the point where the test well bottomed at a depth of 498 

feet. In the northern part of the valley, west of Dorris, the log of 

test well 47/1W-4D1 (table 8) indicates that about 390 feet of silt 

and clay overlie welded basaltic tuff and lava, which iray be the 

older volcanic rocks of the "High Cascades."

Logs of wells drilled in the northeastern part of Butte Valley, 

mostly east of U.S. Highway 97, indicate that the lake deposits are 

moderately permeable sand interbedded with silt, clay, and diatomaceous clay. Test well 46/1W-1A1 (table 8), drilled by the Bureau 

of Reclamation, penetrated three separate sand sections, separated 

by thick silt or clay sections.

Logs of irrigation wells and outcrop studies show that the percentage of sand in the lake deposits is highest near the eastern 

border of the valley. Some of this sand probably represents old 

lakeshore or beach deposits formed during the lake-filling period. 

Some of the sand may represent old dune sand which was reworked 

and redeposited during an advancing stage of the lake which formerly occupied the valley.

WATER-BEARING PROPERTIES

The lake deposits vary widely in their ability to transmit water. 

The fine-grained clayey deposits in the northwestern p",rt of the 

valley, generally west of U.S. Highway 97, although saturated, 

yield limited quantities of water to wells. Lake deposits in the 

northeastern part of the valley, east of U.S. Highway 97, contain 

a higher percentage of sand and supply moderate quantities of 

water to wells. The yield and drawdown figures in table 5 are 

based on drillers' logs and field measurements.
42 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLE"

TABLE 5. Summary of yield characteristics for wells tapping the lake 

the eastern half of Butte Valley

[Yield and drawdown data from U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, except as indicated]

Well

46/1 W- 2F1...__.._

2G1__.._._.

47/1E-29N1. _._..._

30R1_______.

31A12. ______

31J1___.____.

47/1W-13P1 *____._.

23A1._..___.

23H1._..____

24C1_.......

34Q1 *_______

34R1________

34H1.. _...._

Yield (gpm)

1,500

1,600

2,500

2,500

3,000

2,000

2,000

970

1,100

940

1,800

1,400

1,000

Drawdown

(feet)

100

105

40

50

70

47

58

62

35

49

124

100

108

Specific capacity (gpm 

per foot of 

drawdown)

15

15

62

50

43

42

34

16

31

19

15

14

9

Saturated 

thickness 

(feet)

280

36f

27f

300

300

300

140

114

190

16P

34?

272

Yield factor '

5

4

23

17

14

14

24

14

16

11

4

5

> Specific capacity divided by saturated thickness, times 100. 

2 Data from driller's log.

Drawdown and recovery tests as described by Wenzel (1942, p. 87- 

91) were made on three wells, 47/1W-23A1, 23H1, ard 24C1, to 

estimate the permeability of the lake deposits southwert of Cedar 

Point. These tests yielded only approximate results because they 

were short, because regional water-level trends could not be closely 

determined, and because pumping of nearby wells could not be controlled. The permeabilities obtained ranged from about 140 to 230 

gpd per square foot and averaged about 200 gpd per square foot. 

The yield factors for these 3 wells average nearly 14 (table 5). 

For these wells the ratio of permeability to yield factor is about 

15 to 1. Wells along the eastern margin of the valley between Cedar 

Point and Inlow Butte have an average yield factor of 17 (table 5), 

which suggests that permeabilities in this area may be about 200 

to 250 gpd per square foot. Yield factors for wells in the area between Inlow Butte and U.S. Highway 97 range between 4 and 5, 

suggesting that in this area the lake deposits may be abo^it one-third 

as permeable as the deposits along the eastern margin of the valley.

In the southern part of the valley the Butte Valley baralt is interstratified with the lake deposits and yields large quantit'<?,s of water 

to wells. Many of the wells in this area pass through the basalt 

and receive moderate supplies of water from the underlying lake 

sediments. Table 6 summarizes the yield characteristics for wells 

penetrating the lake deposits and Butte Valley basalt.

In the eastern part of the valley, wells 46/1E-6J1, 6N1, 7D1, 

46/1W-1G1 and 12H1, penetrate the easternmost lobe cf the Butte 

Valley basalt (pi. 2) but probably draw most of their water from 

the alluvium and the underlying lake deposits because the basalt in
SEDIMENTARY DEPOSITS AND THEIR WATER-BEARING PROPEETIES 43

TABLE 6. Summary of yield characteristics for wells tapping the lake deposits and

Butte Valley basalt

[Yield and drawdown data from U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, except as indicated]

Well

45/2W- 1Q1._______

3Ql_-...._.

46/1E 6J1 3 _____

6N1 3_______

7D1________

46/1W- lGl_-__.___

12H1 3 ______

17B1._______

17B2________

17G1 ____-

18Ql----.__

18Q2________

19G1.___.___

19H1_______

20B1 3_._____

28D1_____ __

28F1. _______

29G1 3 _._____

31J1_.______

31J2 3 _._____

46/2W-12Ql-_._.___

13A1 3_._____

25Rl-______

25R2________

36A1________

36H1_.______

36L1 3 ___.___

Yield (gpm)

1,400

800

3,000

2, 600

1,800

1,100

1,300

* 2, 000

4 4 000

1,500

2,000

1,900

1,300

1,700

1,500

1,600

2,000

2,000

1,400

1, 100

1,300

1,900

1,300

2,500

975

4,100

1,000

Drawdown

(feet)

7

63

64

68

43

*70

43

7

* 10

* 22

16

6

4

20

63

34

27

30

12

1

30

36

23

14

30

15

1

Specific capacity (gpm 

per foot of 

drawdown)

200

13

47

38

42

* 16

30 *300

* 400

* 68

125

317

325

85

94.

47

74

67

117

1, 100

43

53

56

179

32

273

1,000

Saturated 

thickness 

(feet)

45

2 398

177

176

177

190

146

40

* 45

76

60

130

74

56

56

63

86

61

83

51

113

Yield factor i

444

3

26

22

24

<8

20

<750

* 900

164

528

18

90

209

1,960

68

62

92

215

535

885

1 Specific capacity divided by saturated thickness, times 100.

2 Lake deposits largely clay in lower 330 feet of saturated section beneath the basalt, leaving 68 feet of 

water-yielding thickness.

3 Data from driller's log.

4 Estimated by author from field observation and from data on nearby wells.

the area is thin and commonly above the saturated zone (pi. 3, section B-B'). The average yield factor for these wells is about 20 

(table 6) and compares reasonably well with the average yield 

factor of about 14 (table 5) for wells on which the recornaissance 

permeability tests were made.

South of Macdoel the yields of irrigation wells range from about 

1,000 gpm to 4,000 gpm or more. In that area the interstratified 

basalt is largely within the saturated zone (pi. 3, section A-A'} and 

yields large quantities of water to wells.

The low yield factor of well 45/2W-3Q1 was based on the total 

saturated thickness of 398 feet. Most of the materials penetrated 

which were below a depth of 96 feet consisted of poorly permeable, 

clayey lake deposits (table 8). These materials probably furnish 

little water to the well and most of the water is supplied from the 

overlying Butte Valley basalt. Thus, using a saturated thickness 

of 68 feet for the upper 96 feet of the section penetrated by the well,
44 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLE"r

a yield factor of 19 is obtained for the water-yielding basalt, which 

is comparable with the yield factors of wells penetratirg the lessfractured flows of the interstratified basalt.

Wells 46/1W-17B1, 17B2, 18Q1, and 18Q2 near Macdoel and wells 

45/2W-1Q1, 46/1W-31J1, 31J2, 46/2W-25R2, 36H1, and 36L1 near 

the town of Mount Hebron have yield factors greater than 100. 

Wells having high yield factors that average more than 600 (table 

6) probably penetrate highly fractured or scoriaceous basalt. Wells 

having yield factors of less than 100 (average 65) probably enter 

more solid, less broken sections of the basalt and receive much of their 

water supply from ground water moving along the base of the flow 

and from the fine-grained lake deposits underlying the basalt.

ALLUVIALr-FAN DEPOSITS (PLEISTOCENE AN1> RECENT)

The alluvial-fan deposits shown on plate 1 include fan deposits 

of Recent age being built by Prat her, Muskgrave, Harris, and Ikes 

Creeks on the west side of Butte Valley and the isolated remnants 

of older alluvial-terrace deposits and older dissected alluvial-fan 

deposits of Pleistocene age.

OLDER TERRACE REMNANTS AND DISSECTED ALLUVIAL-FAN DEPOSITS

Older terrace remnants and dissected alluvial-fan deposits include 

several isolated bodies of clay, sand, and gravel that occur above the 

present floor of Butte Valley and above present stream grades. 

These deposits are thin and of small extent, and locally they cover 

older rock units on which they lie unconformably. No fossils were 

found in these beds, and based on stratigraphic position, they are 

probably Pleistocene in age.

The isolated terrace deposit southwest of Bray (44/1W-21J) may 

be a remnant of a flood-plain deposit built by Butte Creek when it 

was dammed by the Butte Valley basalt near Bray. The small terrace 

deposits near Cedar Point (47/1E-7) are probably remnants of 

former lake shore deposits which have been disturbed and uplifted 

by recent faulting along the steep scarps in this area. The deposit 

northwest of Dorris, largely in 48/1W-15, and the deporit on Oklahoma Flat in 47/2E-16 are older alluvial-fan deposits.

The deposits near Dorris and Oklahoma Flat consist of gray, 

unconsolidated, poorly sorted, locally crossbedded, lenticular beds 

of fine- to coarse-grained sand, gravel, and smoothly rounded cobbles of volcanic origin. Their thickness probably does not exceed 

30 feet. Near Cedar Point the terrace remnants are composed of 

unconsolidated brown sand and well-rounded basaltic cobbles. Loose, 

smoothly rounded basaltic cobbles, ranging from less than 1 to 

about 3 inches in diameter, were noted at several places along the
SEDIMENTARY DEPOSITS AND THEIR WATER-BEARING PROPERTIES 45

foot of the steep westward-facing scarp east of Dorri?. These 

cobbles, and the well-rounded "pea" gravel exposed in a small gravel 

pit a short distance southeast of well 48/1E-32Q1, are probably 

remnants of a former lakeshore or beach deposit. The terrace deposit southwest of Bray consists of fine- to medium-grained sand, 

silt, and volcanic ash. It is at least 15 feet thick, as grad0! cuts of 

that depth along the Southern Pacific railroad do not reveal the 

underlying material.

These older deposits are unconsolidated and moderately permeable. 

However, because they are commonly thin, are of limited extent, 

and commonly occur above the saturated zone, they are of little 

significance as a source of ground water.

ALLUVIAL-FAN DEPOSITS

Alluvial materials deposited on the Prather Creek fan and on 

the three coalescing fans of Muskgrave, Harris, and Ikes Creeks 

consist of a heterogeneous mixture of volcanic boulders, cobbles, 

and fragments in a matrix of poorly sorted gravel, sand, and ashy 

clay. Alluvial-fan deposits are coarse near the mountain front and 

grade into fine materials in the lower parts, of the fans. Most of 

the material is angular or subangular and poorly consolidated.

Although the maximum thickness of the alluvial-fan deposits is 

not known, the log of well 46/2W-5C1 (table 8) shows that the 

coalescing fans of Harris and Ikes Creeks are at least 346 feet thick. 

The log shows also, by the beds of blue clay and shells, that the 

alluvial-fan deposits interfinger with lake deposits. The age of 

these deposits is not known. However, the beds of blue clay and 

shells indicate that deposition may have been continuous since 

Pleistocene time.

Alluvial-fan deposits commonly are deposited under erratic conditions of streamflow at one time the fan may receive coarse materials carried by a raging flood and soon after may receive only 

the fine-grained sediments of a dissipated stream. Alluvial-fan 

deposits in the Butte Valley region are being laid down where 

streams emerge from confined channels in the older volcr.nic rocks 

of the High Cascades and enter the flat floor of Butte Valley. There 

the channels widen, the velocity of the water decreases, the streams 

lose their carrying power, and most of the bouldery debris is distributed over the head of the fan. As deposition proceeds downstream, poorly sorted alluvial debris is spread outward in a fan 

whose apex is the canyon from which the stream emerges. The 

stream channels become choked with alluvial debris an^ change 

course frequently. During flood new channels are formec1 , and the 

gravel beds of the abandoned channels become covered with poorly 

sorted alluvium from sheetflooding and rill wash. Fence, the
46 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY

alluvial-fan deposits consist of a thick mass of ill-sorted material 

containing a branching network of moderately sorted gravel. Meinzer (1923, p. 130) stated that these branching deposit? of gravel 

serve as the principal conduits for ground-water movement.

WATER-BEARING PROPERTIES

The alluvial-fan deposits absorb most of the low flow of their 

respective spring-fed streams. However, because the deposits are 

poorly sorted and highly lenticular, they are poorly permeable and 

transmit water slowly, except along buried channels or gravel 

stringers. The low permeability is demonstrated by well 46/2W5Cl, which did not obtain an appreciable quantity of water from 

more than 300 feet of saturated material.

ALLUVIUM (PLEISTOCENE! AND RECENT)

CHARACTER AND DISTRIBUTION

Material mapped as alluvium includes the following: Thin beds 

of gravel, sand, clay, and peat overlying older lake deposits in Butte 

Valley and the area surrounding Lower Klamath Lake; evenly 

stratified beds of clay and silt deposited in playa lakes; poorly sorted 

alluvium in the broad, shallow basins or depressions of Red Rock 

Valley, Long Prairie, and Round Valley, collected through the action 

of sheetflood, slope wash, and other types of erosion; and alluvial 

deposits underlying present stream channels.

The alluvium along the eastern border of Butte Valley consists 

mainly of fine- to coarse-grained sand of volcanic origin, deposited 

by sheetfloods, slope wash, rill wash, and other colluvial processes. 

Some of it probably represents lakeshore or beach deposits. In 

some places alluvium in this area has been redeposited as windblown or dune sand mantling parts of the steep fault scarps along 

the east side of Butte Valley. In the northern part of the valley 

the alluvium has been deposited chiefly by sheetfloods, slope wash, 

and other agents of erosion.

Volcanic sand and gravel exposed in the southwestern part of 

the valley probably were deposited by flood waters of F'ltte Creek; 

in part they may represent a delta built by Butte Oeek during 

high stages of the lake which formerly occupied the valley. Near 

Macdoel, volcanic sand seems to have been reworked by the wind 

and redeposited as dune sand. The dunes, stabilized long ago by 

native vegetation, are being leveled by power equipment and cultivated.

These sand and gravel deposits rest unconformably en the Butte 

Valley basalt and locally interfinger with the lake deposits (pi. 3). 

Along the margins of the valley they range in thickness from 0 to a 

maximum of about 60 feet.
SEDIMENTARY DEPOSITS AND THEIR WATER-BEARING PROPERTIES 47

The nearly flat surface surrounding Lower Klamath Lake is underlain by varying thicknesses of unconsolidated sand, silt, clay, 

and carbonaceous materials. Near Laird Landing (47/2E-35E), 

Lower Klamath Lake is bordered by an undetermined thickness of 

peat.

Sediments are being deposited in playas in many parts of the 

region. These sediments consist of clay, silt, and minor amounts 

of sand. They occupy the lowest parts of small closed basins and 

merge laterally into alluvial-slope deposits. The log of well 45/1E16P1 (table 9), near Russell Lake in Red Rock Valley, indicated that 

the playa deposits are at least 23 feet thick.

Elsewhere in the Butte Valley region, deposits mapped as alluvium 

consist of gravel, sand, and silt. Most of the material is poorly 

sorted and unconsolidated.

These deposits were derived from the decomposition and erosion 

of volcanic material in adjacent mountain areas and were collected 

in basins or depressions through the action of streams, sheetfloods, 

slope wash, and other agents of erosion.

The nearly flat floors of the basins occupied by Long Prairie, 

Round Valley, and the area south of Antelope Sink, suggest that in 

these areas the poorly sorted alluvium may be underlain by playa 

or lake deposits.

WATER-BEARING PROPERTIES

In the southwestern part of Butte Valley, sand and gravel overlying the Butte Valley basalt probably yield moderate quantities of 

water to wells.

Fine-grained playa deposits have low permeability and will yield 

only small quantities of water to wells. The water from these beds 

would probably be highly saline.

The unconsolidated, coarse-grained alluvium in shallow basins is 

important because it absorbs precipitation and runoff and transmits 

the water to underlying permeable beds.

TALTJS (PLEISTOCENE AND RECENT)

CHARACTER AND DISTRIBUTION

Talus along the foot of precipitous fault scarps formr narrow, 

linear, wedge-shaped deposits which in places are concealed beneath 

and probably interfinger with alluvial and lake-bed deports. The 

talus covers geologic contacts and traces of faults along the base of 

the steep escarpments. In places, for example along the westwardfacing scarps, the talus is covered by windblown sand.

The talus consists of unsorted, uncemented, angular blocks, boulders, and fragments of volcanic rocks that range in size frim a few 

inches to more than 6 feet. In places, the openings between the 

coarse material have been filled by sand. The thickness and lateral 

extent of the talus are not known. Well 48/1E-31A1 at the base
48 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY

of the steep escarpment bordering Butte Valley, near Dorris, penetrates at least 143 feet of talus. Well 48/1W-28C1, at the base of 

the steep escarpment facing Picard Cemetery, penetrates at least 

360 feet of talus.

WATER-BEARING PROPERTIES

The talus deposits are elongate, porous, highly permeable and are 

formed along fault scarps. East of Dorris, along the northeast side 

of Butte Valley, these permeable deposits are conduits for the movement of ground water from the lake deposits to the volcanic rocks 

of the Mahogany Mountain ridge, and thence to the valleys to the 

east (pi. 2).

DUNE SAND (RECENT)

Dune sand covers a small area in the eastern part of Futte Valley 

near Inlow Butte (pi. 1). It is composed primarily of fine-to-coarse, 

massive, loosely compacted crossbedded quartz sand. It has a maximum thickness of about 20 feet. In most places the dunes support 

a sparse cover of vegetation and seem to be stabilized, but in the 

WV2 sec. 20 and in the SW1^ sec. 32, T. 47 N., R. 1 E., sand is 

advancing upon older dunes, talus, and older volcanic rocks of the 

"High Cascades." The dune sand in this area was derived from 

the lake and alluvial deposits and has migrated eastward and northeastward from the abandoned shoreline in 47/1E-19, 30, and 31.

Elsewhere in the Butte Valley region, either the dune sand is too 

thin, or it occurs in scattered dunes too small, to be shown on the 

geologic map. Along the westward-facing escarpments bordering 

Butte Valley, dune sand mantles the older volcanic rocks of the 

"High Cascades," and east of Dorris the sand has blorm over the 

Mahogany Mountain ridge and mantles the steep eastern slope in 

48/1E-29 and 32. Dune sand occurs also along the northeastern 

shore of Indian Tom Lake.

WATER-BEARING PROPERTIES

The dune sand is above the zone of saturation and rot a source 

of ground-water supply. Wherever it overlies permeable older 

rocks, however, it facilitates their recharge by readier absorbing 

precipitation and transmitting it downward.

STRUCTURE

According to Callaghan (Callaghan and Buddingtcn, 1938, p. 

18), the volcanic rocks of the "Western Cascades" were deformed, 

probably in late Miocene time, by tilting, broad folding and minor 

normal faulting. Williams (1949, p. 35, 52) suggested that the 

entire Cascade belt was greatly upheaved at the close of the Miocene 

epoch and this upheaval was accompanied by the formation of 

several faults trending slightly northwestward. Although Williams
STRUCTURE 49

stated that there is no evidence of faulting of the volcanic rocks 

of the "Western Cascades" in the gorge of the Klamath Fiver, he 

pointed out (1949, p. 52) that northward-trending faults may underlie lava cones of the "High Cascades" farther south. In this area, 

along the western border of these cones the volcanic rocks of the 

"Western Cascades" rise to altitudes 1,000 to 1,500 feet higher than 

those along the east side of the range. This suggestion see^ns valid, 

because volcanic rocks of the "Western Cascades" have not been 

recognized on the east side of the range. More detailed wo^k in the 

Ikes Mountain area may disclose lavas or pyroclastic rocks equivalent to the rocks of the "Western Cascades."

The most easily recognized structural feature in the "Western 

Cascades" is the gentle eastward or northeastward dip. Williams 

(1949, p. 52) reports that for the most part the beds in the "Western 

Cascades" dip at angles that range from about 15° near the west 

edge of the outcrop area to about 5° where they disappear beneath 

the lavas of the "High Cascades." Williams (1949, p. 52) reports:

Only in one place, near the Hessig Ranch on the Klamath Riv?r, is this 

regional dip interrupted by a flexure. There the volcanic rocks fre arched 

into a gentle anticline pitching to the southeast, precisely where initial dips 

denote the former presence of a steep volcanic cone. [See the section on 

volcanic rocks of the "Western Cascades."]

The belt of volcanoes of the "High Cascades" trends northnorthwestward from Mount Lassen in California to Mount McLoughlin in southern Oregon, then northeastward toward Mount 

Hood, Oreg. Williams (1949) believes that the Pliocene and 

younger lavas comprising the volcanoes of the "High Cascades" 

issued from fissures which were alined along fault zones near the 

crest of the range.

East of the Cascade Range, block faulting is the dominant structural feature (pi. 3). The faults are normal and have only a minor 

horizontal component. Vertical displacements range fro^n a few 

feet along minor faults to perhaps several thousand feet along 

major faults, such as those along the foot of the Mahogary Mountain ridge. In most places, especially near Cedar Point (47/1E-T), 

the major faults comprise a number of subparallel slippage planes 

that divide the fault zones into "splinter" blocks. East of Cedar 

Point, nearly flat flows have been broken and tilted eastward and 

northeastward by differential movement along several in echelon 

faults.

The well-marked scarps follow two principal directions, one north 

and the other about northeast. In several places, such as near 

Meiss Ranch, the scarps show abrupt changes in trend v^here the 

northeastward-trending faults meet those which trend northward.
50 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY

Northward- to northwestward-trending cracks or fissures, ranging 

in width from a few inches to about 30 feet and in length from less 

than 1 to more than 15 miles, are prominent features in the surface 

of the Butte Valley basalt south and southeast of Butte Valley. To 

the north the cracks are concealed by alluvium. Although their 

origin is uncertain, the cracks may represent buried faults or shear 

zones in the volcanic bedrock, or tensional cracks developed during 

solidification of the basaltic rocks.

Butte Valley is a complexly downfaulted basin which probably 

is deepest along its western side. Although the total thickness of 

the valley fill is not known, well logs indicate that it exceeds 900 

feet. Wells penetrating volcanic bedrock are shown on plate 2.

Sams Neck and Pleasant Valley are grabens that project northward beyond the main structural depression of Butte Valley. Also, 

the area around Dorris may be a graben between horsts formed by 

Cedar Point and the Mahogany Mountain ridge.

The Oklahoma district and the marshland surrounding Lower 

Klamath Lake are part of a complexly downfaulted basin which 

structurally as well as topographically may be considered a part of 

the Klamath Lake basin.

GROUND WATER

OCCURKENCE AND MOVEMENT OF GBOUND W£ TEB

In the Butte Valley region all the voids in the rocks below a 

certain level, known as the water table or upper surface of the zone 

of saturation, are filled with water. This water is derived chiefly 

from precipitation that falls within the drainage area. However, 

not all the precipitation that falls on this or any other area reaches 

the ground-water body; some returns to the atmosphere by evaporation from exposed water and soil surfaces and by transpiration from 

the leaves and stems of plants; and some runs off directly at the 

surface. A part of the water that becomes surface runoff reaches 

the ground-water body by seepage loss from streams. The water 

supplied from these sources seeps down to the water tab^ and then 

percolates laterally through openings or interstices in the waterbearing formations, in conformance with the hydraulic gradient, 

from areas of replenishment to points of discharge. Eventually 

part of the water is evaporated and transpired, and the rest seeps 

into streams, helping to maintain their base flow.

Most of the formations that are shown on the geologic map (pi. 1) 

and described in this report contain ground water, but they differ 

greatly in extent, thickness, and lithologic character and, hence, in 

their ability to transmit and yield water. The water-bearing character of these formations is summarized on pages 18-48.
GROUND WATER 51

In sedimentary and alluvial deposits, the water table may be 

defined as the upper surface of the zone of saturation. If anywhere within the zone of saturation an extensive impermeable bed 

is situated so as to form a confining layer, water contained in deposits beneath the confining layer is said to be under artesian pressure. Under these circumstances the water is under sufficient pressure 

to cause water levels in tightly cased wells to rise above the base of 

the confining layer. Below the water table all openings in the rocks 

are filled with ground water. Thus, the part of a well that extends into the zone of saturation is filled with water, and the water 

surface in the well may be regarded either as the water table, or 

as the pressure surface if the water is confined.

In fractured, impervious rocks, such as the Butte Valley basalt 

and other volcanic rocks, the water table has been defined by Tolman (1937, p. 291) as:

* * * the surface at the contact between the water body in the fractures and 

the overlying ground air. This surface is interrupted by the impervious rock 

between fractures and constitutes only a small portion of the plane projected 

through the water-air contact in the network of fractures.

The open fractures in volcanic rocks may be regularly spaced and 

part of an oriented joint system, such as in columnar basalt. More 

commonly, the fractures are irregular and are caused by stresses 

developed by the fluid part acting on the solidified or partially 

solidified part of the flow, and by contraction due to differential 

cooling of the upper and lower surfaces. In general, the fractures 

are nearly vertical to the bedded flows and are an important factor 

in the development of the vertical permeability of basaltic flows.

The water table in fractured rocks generally slopes from the 

intake areas to points of discharge. The principal ground-water 

movement takes place in enlarged parts of fractures and along 

scoriaceous contacts between flows. The effective fractures and contact zones are large enough to permit ground-water movement with 

small frictional resistance. Thus, rocks having large openings in 

the interconnected fissure systems have high permeabilities and are 

capable of transmitting large quantities of water under a low hydraulic gradient.

According to Tolman (1937, p. 309) :

* * * the characteristic features governing ground-water movements and accumulation in lava are (1) vertical permeability due to fractures, (2) horizontal porosity and permeability in zones containing openings due to flow 

and gas expansion during solidification, and (3) occurrence of impervious 

horizons and dikes.

Some of these characteristics are discussed in more detail in the

section on the water-bearing properties of the Butte Valley basalt.

Plate 2 shows the location of all water wells and test wells in

which the depth to water was measured. The water-level contours
52 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLE"r

in Butte Valley are based on water-level measurements made during 

the first week in May 1954. Ground-water contours are not shown 

in Eed Rock Valley, the Oklahoma district, or elsewhere in the 

region, because of inadequate data. Most of the wells ir Red Rock 

Valley are stock wells whose casings have been covered with heavy 

metal plates and so are not accessible for measurements

The shape and slope of the surface of the ground-water body in 

Butte Valley is shown by the water-level contours (contour interval 

5 feet) on plate 2. Ground-water contours show the configuration 

of the ground-water surface in much the same way that topographic 

contours show the shape of a land surface. The direction of groundwater movement is always down the hydraulic gradient, or slope of 

the ground-water surface, at right angles to the contour lines.

Ground water moves northeastward across Butte Valley and discharges into buried talus material and volcanic rocks along the 

northeastern border of the valley near Dorris. Southwest of the 

town of Mount Hebron the ground-water gradient is about 20 feet 

per mile northeastward. Between the towns of Mount Hebron and 

Macdoel the ground-water surface is nearly flat as the water moves 

through the highly permeable Butte Valley basalt.

In the west-central part of the valley the ground-water surface 

slopes gently away from Meiss Lake. This lake originally occupied 

a topographic depression west of its present location. The depression was below the general ground-water level, hence the original 

lake was supplied in large part by ground-water seepage, and its 

surface reflected the general level of the adjacent ground-water 

surface. In recent years an earthen dike has been constructed on 

higher ground east of the lake, and water has been pumped from 

the lake and allowed to spread over poorly productive land. The 

original lake bed now is cultivated, but being an area of natural 

ground-water discharge, it must be kept drained to present waterlogging. Seepage loss from the present Meiss Lake is restricted 

by clayey lake deposits which underlie this part of the ^alley.

Northeast of Meiss Lake, ground water moves through the finegrained lake deposits under a gradient that ranges from less than 

2 to about 5 feet per mile. Near Cedar Point the gradient increases 

to about 10 feet per mile.

East of Dorris, ground water moves toward Mahogany Mountain 

ridge at gradients ranging from 30 to more than TO feet per mile 

(pi. 2). The geologic map suggests that one or more of the northwestward-trending faults between Cedar Point and Mahogany Mountain ridge may extend across this part of the valley. O~ie or more 

of these faults may cut the lake deposits at depth and create barriers to the eastward movement of ground water. Or, these sub-
GROUND WATER 53

w.

MAHOGANY MOUNTAIN 

RIDGr

Talus, locally contains dune sand 

Well

Thin-bedded, fine sand,f£j Lakeshore s 

diatomite (chalk), clay,f£ predominantly 

and silt of the lake de-*-S some silt, arn

posits "-" v.wv:.w

may be moving through fault 

zones or fractured or scoraceous 

basalt to the valleys to the east

FIGURE 4. Diagrammatic section showing the steepened hydraulic gradient at the 

northeast side of Butte Valley near Dorris.

siding faults may have uplifted sliver blocks and decreased the 

effective cross-sectional area through which the ground water could 

move, which also would cause a steepening of the gradient. The 

steepened gradient may also be caused by a sudden increase in the 

vertical permeability as water moves from stratified deposits to 

vertically fractured rocks adjacent to the ridge. Drillers' logs and 

other geologic evidence (pi. 1) suggest that in the eastern part of 

the valley, clayey lake deposits interfinger with sandy lakeshore 

deposits, and near the eastern border of the valley the lakeshore 

deposits interfinger with blocky talus debris adjoining the steep 

fault scarps.

The water-level profile (fig. 4) shows the steep slope forced when 

ground water contained in the lake deposits cascades to the water 

table of a lower body of ground water contained in the fractured 

volcanic rocks composing the Mahogany Mountain ridge. A similar 

ground-water cascade was described by Meyers (Meyers r.nd Newcomb, 1952) near the foot of Swan Lake ridge in Oregon. Ground 

water discharged from Butte Valley may move eastward through 

the fractured volcanic rocks composing the Mahogany Mountain 

ridge, or along northward-trending fault zones which might provide 

conduits to the valleys east of the ridge. Ground water may enter 

the flat plain bordering Lower Klamath Lake as subsurface inflow, 

possibly supplying the flow of springs 47/1E-1M1, 10B1, and 23H1.

Wells that draw large quantities of water from the ground-water 

reservoir often cause local depressions in the water table or in the 

piezometric surface. In Butte Valley, depressions have formed in
54 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY

two areas, one near Macdoel and another west of Inlow Butte. The 

depression near Macdoel was caused by heavy pumping of three 

closely spaced irrigation wells (46/1W-17B1, B2, and Gl). The 

hydraulic gradient toward the pumped wells increased to about 10 

feet per mile. West of Inlow Butte a shallow depression was caused 

by pumping seven closely spaced irrigation wells.

The ground-water depression west of the present Meiss Lake probably was formed after drainage ditches were constructed in the 

original lake bed. (See p. 52.) Ground water collected by the 

drainage ditches moves toward a pumping station located near the 

Ei,4 cor. sec. 2, T. 47 N., K. 2 W. and is pumped over an earthen 

dike into the present Meiss Lake. When additional water is needed 

for irrigation, it is caused to flow from the lake back into the drainage ditches on the former lake floor and is pumped from these 

ditches into shallow canals for distribution to irrigated areas.

In Red Rock Valley, the direction of movement and points of 

discharge of ground water were not determined. Tl Q, depth to 

water in measurable wells, given in plate 2, was obtained in June 

1954. The altitudes of the land surface and the water levels were 

interpolated from topographic contours.

In the Oklahoma district the shape of the ground-water body and 

direction of ground-water movement were not determined.

FLUCTUATIONS OF WATER LEVELS

The ground-water surface fluctuates in response to changes in 

the ground-water regimen. The rise or decline of this surface 

depends upon the relation between recharge into and discharge from 

the ground-water reservoir. Where withdrawal exceed? inflow the 

ground-water surface declines, and conversely, where inflow exceeds 

withdrawal, the ground-water surface rises. As pointed out by 

Stearns (Stearns and others, 1930, p. 116-117), the fluctuations of 

water levels in wells are an index to the inflow and outflow of water 

from the ground-water reservoir, somewhat as the fluctuation of the 

water level in a surface reservoir indicates the amount of water in 

it. However, in response to recharge or discharge of a given number of acre-feet of water the ground-water surface fluctuates through 

a larger range than does the water level in a surface reservoir.

The rate at which the ground-water surface rises or declines depends on the rate at which the underground supply is replenished 

or withdrawn. Some of the causes of a rise in the ground-water 

surface of Butte Valley are: (a) The precipitation that percolates 

downward through the soil to the ground-water body, (b) recharge 

by lateral movement of ground water from the fractured volcanic 

rocks of the Cascade Range west of Butte Valley, and (c) recharge 

by seepage loss from streams in the southern and western parts of
GROUND WATER 55

-> /^/ 

r--..

y 48/1W-28N1

^

47/2W-21D1

Use: U. S. Bureau of 

Reclamation test well

Altitude: 4237ft

Depth: 81 ft

Casing size: 2 in.; 

6 in. hole cinder 

packed

Perforations: 60-81 ft

47/1W-7M1

Use: U. S. Bureau of 

Reclamation test well

Altitude: 4242ft

Depth: 50ft

Casing size: 2 in.; 

6 in. hole cinder 

packed

Perforations: 26-50 ft

48/1W-28N1

Use: U. S. Bureau of 

Reclamation test well

Altitude. 4245ft

Depth: 50ft

Casing size: 2 in.; 

6 in. hole cinder 

packed

Perforations: 40-50 ft

48/1E-30M1

Use: Domestic well

Altitude: 4246ft

Depth: 41Eft

Not cased;? in. hole 

cinder packed

Hydrograph represents a 

composi! e head between 

two wate' bodies; water 

flows into an old dug 

well from the uncased 

6 in. well

FIGURE 5. Fluctuations of water levels in wells along the north side of Bitte Valley 

and monthly precipitation at Mount Hebron ranger station, 1951-54.

the valley. The principal causes of a decline in the ground-water 

surface of Butte Valley are: (a) The water lost through transpiration where the water table is within reach of plants, (b) the 

evaporation directly from the ground-water reservoir where it lies 

near the land surface, as near Meiss Lake, (c) the extractions from 

the ground-water reservoir by pumping, and (d) the discharge of 

water from the valley on the northeast near Dorris.

To determine the character and magnitude of the wp,ter-level 

fluctuations in Butte Valley the U.S. Bureau of Eeclamation made 

monthly measurements of the depth to water in about 45 wells from 

November and December 1951 to April 1953. Semiannual measurements of depth to wT ater in most measurable wells were mad 0! during 

the same period. The Geological Survey continued semiannual
56 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY

47/1W-2N1

-- ^ ~-" .

47/1W-27B1

^x'X X__ x" "^ ^"""~ .» 

47/1E-31E1

. 

^

-/"~V -^-r 

46/1W-2L1

. ______ ~-~-~~

Well pumping,--'

1 mile away

47/1W-2N1

Use: Stock well, unused 

Altitude: 4234ft 

Casing size: Sin.

47/1E-31E1

Use: Stock well, unused 

Altitude: 4231ft 

Casing size: 6 in.

46/1W-2L1

Use: Irrigation well, unused 

Altitude: 4255ft 

Casing size: \6 in, grave) 

packed

47/1W-27B1

Use: U. S. Bureau of

Reclamation test well 

Altitude: 4233ft 

Depth: 40ft 

Casing size: 2 in.;

6 in. hole cinder

packed 

Perforations: 30-40 ft

FIGURE 6. Fluctuations of water levels in wells in the central and ei stern parts of 

Butte Valley and monthly precipitation at Mount Hebron ranger stat'on, 1951-54.

measurements in most measurable wells in Butte Valley from the 

autumn of 1953 to that of 1954. The available recoris of water 

levels in these wells are given in table 11. The well locations are 

shown on plate 1.

Records of water-level fluctuations are useful for the interpretation of past and present hydrologic conditions. By comparing the 

water levels measured during late winter or early spring in successive 

years, the net rise or net decline of the ground-water surface can 

be determined. The records obtained for Butte Valley show little 

net change in water levels from year to year.

At the beginning of each irrigation season the water levels start 

to decline. In general they continue to decline until the end of 

the pumping season in late summer or autumn, indicating the effect
GROUND WATER 57

. 

^^^46/lW-6Ql

 ' vv /

\/ Irrigation well 6P1 approximately 80 ft 

^^^ west of test well, 6Q1. Pumping when 

1 water level observed. Depth to water in

^'^

i July 28, 1952

\

^S 45/2W-3H1 ""~->.x/'

^^'

Well 3H1 pumping^

,k /\ /'"

45/1E-11C1 Red wRock Valley

^46/lW-32Ll "

- 

46/1W-6Q1

Use: U. S. Bureau of 

Reclamation test well

Altitude: 4237ft

Depth: 36ft

Casing size: 2 in.; 

6 in. hole cinder 

packed

Perforations: 26-36 ft

45/2W-3H1

Use: Irrigation well 

Altitude: 4260ft 

Depth: 270ft 

Casing size: 18 in.;

gravel packed 

Perforations: 15-270 ft

45/2W-3H2

Use: Unused test well 

Altitude: 4262ft 

Depth: 238ft 

Casing size: 12 in.

46/1W-32L1

Use: Domestic well 

Altitude: 4254ft 

Casing size: 6 in.

4V1E-11C1

Use: Domestic and

s'ock well 

Alti'ude: 4395.7ft 

Depth: 221 ft 

Cas'ng size: 12 in.

FIGURE 7. Fluctuations of water levels in wells in the southern part of T-itte Valley 

and in Red Rock Valley and monthly precipitation at Mount Hebron ranger station, 

1951-54.

both of pumping and of deficient precipitation. At the end of the 

irrigation season the water levels start to rise and continue upward 

until the following spring, indicating both recovery from pumping 

and recharge from winter precipitation. Hydrographs drr.wn from 

water-level measurements indicate that the average range between 

summer and winter water levels varies greatly throughout the 

valley.

Figures 5, 6, and T show fluctuations of water levels in 13 selected wells and monthly precipitation at the Mount Hebron ranger 

station (46/1W-32K) for the period 1951-54. The hyc'rographs 

on figure 5 are for wells along the northern border of Butte Valley 

and indicate that the seasonal water-level fluctuations range from
58 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY

about 2 to 8 feet; the wells represented on figure 6 are in the central and eastern parts of the valley and indicate that the seasonal 

fluctuations range from less than 1 to about 10 feet; those represented on figure T are in the southern part of Butte Vflley and in 

Red Rock Valley and indicate that the seasonal fluctuations range 

from about 1 to 5 feet. The well locations are shown on plates 1 

and 2.

RECHARGE

Recharge is the addition of water to the ground-water reservoir. 

In the Butte Valley region ground water is replenished from precipitation, either directly through percolation of rain or melting 

snow in the catchment areas or indirectly by seepage loss from 

stream beds or canals crossing the valley floors.

Much of the water from rain and melted snow that is absorbed 

by the soil is later returned to the atmosphere by evaporation or 

is consumed by vegetation, but virtually all the water that penetrates below the root zone reaches the ground-water body.

A large amount of recharge is supplied by seepage loss from 

perennial streams and unlined canals in the southern part of the 

region and from small spring-fed streams discharging onto alluvial 

fans along the western border of Butte Valley.

Owing to the low permeability of the deposits, recharge by subsurface inflow from the alluvial fans probably is low. Subsurface 

inflow from Butte and Antelope Creeks probably is high because 

much of the water either sinks into fractured volcanic rocks or is 

absorbed by coarse alluvial materials mantling the volcanic rocks 

near the mouths of the streams.

Because water levels in wells rise during periods of winter precipitation (figs. 5-7) and because water-level contours (pi. 2) 

indicate that recharge is supplied to Butte Valley from the volcanic rocks along the north, west, and south sides of the valley, the 

ground-water reservoir is probably recharged in part by the deep 

percolation of local precipitation. This precipitation seeps down 

through the fractures to the zone of saturation and then moves 

laterally into the sedimentary deposits beneath the valley floor.

DISCHARGE 

BUTTE VAUUBY

In most closed basins in the semiarid parts of the West all excess 

ground water is discharged by evaporation and transpiration from 

shallow lakes or swampy tracts in the lowest parts of the valleys. 

Although Butte Valley is a closed basin, it has an underground 

outlet, through the fractured, permeable, volcanic rocks forming the 

eastern border of the valley.
GROUND WATER 59

Before wells were drilled in the valley the ground-water reservoir was in equilibrium. The annual inflow or recharge to the 

reservoir was balanced by the annual outflow or discharge, and 

except for small seasonal fluctuations, the water table remained 

moderately stable. Discharge took place by subsurface outflow 

through the Mahogany Mountain ridge, by evaporation from the 

surface of Meiss Lake and the shallow water table in its vicinity, and 

by transpiration from vegetation.

To the natural discharge of ground water from Butte Valley now 

must be added a substantial quantity of water pumped from wells. 

No records are available of the amounts of water pumped for irrigation in the area, but the California Division of Water resources 

(Horn and others, 1954, table 22) estimated that the mean seasonal 

water requirements in 1953, including supplies used for agricultural, industrial, domestic, and stock use, amounted to abont 30,000 

acre-feet. The pumping is balanced by a decrease in natural discharge, by a reduction in storage, and perhaps in part by air increase 

in recharge. The latter would occur locally where abundant water 

is available from precipitation or streamflow, and where the lowering 

of the water table by pumping increases the opportunity for infiltration of water that formerly ran off or evaporated.

BED ROCK VAWiEY AND OKLAHOMA DISTRICT

Although Red Rock Valley topographically is a closed basin, there 

is no evidence of surface discharge of ground water. As the depth 

to water ranges from 166 to 184 feet below the land surface, there 

is no discharge by evaporation and transpiration. No data were 

obtained regarding the recharge or the discharge which probably 

occurs by subsurface outflow from the valley. In the past, groundwater discharge by pumping has been restricted to that needed for 

domestic and stock requirements. During the summer of 1954, however, wells 45/1E-2L1, 9C2, and 11C2 were drilled to provide ground 

water for irrigation.

No estimates of ground-water discharge were made in the Oklahoma district. Natural discharge includes discharge frorr springs, 

losses from evaporation and transpiration, and discharge of "rising" 

ground water in the marshlands around Lower Klamath Lake. 

Artificial discharge includes ground water pumped for irrigation, 

domestic and stock requirements, and discharge from flowing wells.

FLOWINO WELi,S

Butte Valley has four flowing wells near the Meiss Ranch headquarters (46/2W-9Q). When visited in 1954, their estimated natural discharge ranged from about 15 gpm (46/2W-9R2) to more

546199 O 60 5
60 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLETr

than 500 gpm (46/2W-9R1, 16A1). Well 46/2W-9Q1 flowed about 

100 gpm (p. 24).

The Oklahoma district has three flowing wells. Well 46/2E-22Q1, 

just west of Mount Dome, discharged about 11 gpm on August 23, 

1954, from a 2-inch pipe 2 feet above the ground surface. The 

temperature of the water was 52°F. This well penetrates about 

100 feet of "shale" and bottoms in sand. Water under sufficient 

hydrostatic head to flow was found at the base of the shale section.

On August 23, 1954, well 47/1E-14L1, north of the Porterfield 

Ranch, was discharging a small quantity of water from beneath 

the deep-well turbine pump base. The temperature of the water 

was 56°F. Although the log of this well is not available-, the water 

is probably derived from fractured volcanic rocks or talus debris 

associated with the extensive fault that forms the eastern border 

of Mahogany Mountain ridge.

Well 47/2E-7N1 at the Langer Ranch headquarters flows about 

40 gpm. When pumped this well yields about 925 gpm with a drawdown of 140 feet. According to the driller's log (table 10), the 

well penetrated about 180 feet of sedimentary material containing 

a few intercalated beds of lava and cinders before entering volcanic rocks which may be the older volcanic rocks of the "High Cascades." From 180 to 290 feet the well was drilled in volcanic rocks 

and probably most of the water is yielded from fractured zones 

in these rocks.

SPRINGS

Many small springs in the Cascade Range feed the streams that 

recharge the ground-water body in the Butte Valley region. In 

the Oklahoma district four springs discharge large quantities of 

water.

WILLOW CREEK SPRING

Willow Creek spring (46/2E-22R1) issues from an elongate Lishaped area between two drainage canals as shown on plate 1. The 

turf in this area is water saturated and "springy" to the step. Water 

trickles through shallow channels, collects in pools, and moves 

through shallow drains into the main drainage ditches, The material from which the springs issue consists of gray poorly sorted 

gravelly sand of volcanic origin.

On July 30, 1954, the temperature of the water ranged from 52°F 

for water flowing from 1 of 2 old 12-inch well casings to 60°F for 

water flowing from a small vent in the east bank of the easternmost 

drainage ditch. The discharge, measured at the bridge where the 

main access road crossed Willow Creek (46/2E-9K, near BM 4156), 

is shown below.
GROUND WATER 61

Discharge of Willow Creek spring 

[Data from California Division of Water Resources]

Date

Dec. 3, 1954. ________

Dec. 30, 1954___ _____

Feb. 26, 1955. _______

Mar. 31, 1955_ _______

Discharge (cfs)

7.1

5.4

6. 1

4.7

Remarks

Some water may have been stored in a

small reservoir upstream froir measuring

point.

Most of the water flowing from this spring is used either for 

irrigation or for stock. The remainder of the flow runs off in 

Willow Creek and discharges into the marshy area north of Oklahoma Flat.

COTTONWOOD CREEK SPRINGS

Cottonwood Creek springs (47/1E-23H1), at the head of Cottonwood Creek near the Porterfield Eanch headquarters, issue from 

sand and talus debris at the base of the Mahogany Mountain ridge. 

Two small reservoirs and several short ditches collect wter from 

several openings and distribute it to canals for use in irrigating 

farm and pasturelands. The discharge of these springs, measured 

near the source, is shown in the following table.

Discharge of Cottonwood Creek springs 

[Data from California Division of Water Resources]

Date

Nov. 19, 1954_. __....

Dec. 30, 1954. __ _____

Feb. 26, 1955. _______

Mar. 31, 1955________

May 25, 1955. _______

Discharge (cfs)

5.2

9.7

10.0

10.5

10.4

Remarks

Collective measurement of 4

Do.

Do.

3 v?nts.

The temperature of the water ranged from 61 °F on August 23, 

1954, to 55 °F on February 26, 1955. An analysis of thir water is 

given in table 12.

SHEEPY CREEK SPRING

Sheepy Creek spring (47/1E-1M1) issues from a flat mrrshy area 

north and east of two low outcrops of volcanic rocks. Water flows 

northward from several shallow interconnected ponds. Water does 

not seem to enter the ponds from the surrounding "sprirgy" turf, 

as no small channelways have been developed. Apparently the 

water rises in the bottom of the ponds. The water is v<ry clear, 

the ponds seem to be shallow, and* only the waving of mofsy plants 

gives an indication of water moving beneath the surface. The temperature on July 29, 1954, was 68°F, on February 26, 1955, it was 

50°F, and March 26, 1955, it was 62°F. The discharge measured
62 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLETr

at the point where the road to Sheepy Creek island crorses Sheepy 

Creek (48/1E-35R) is shown below.

Discharge of Sheepy Creek spring 

[Data from California Division of Water Resources]

Date 

Nov. 19, 1954________. ___________ .._ ___________

Dec. 30, 1954________. _______ ___ ___ ___________

Feb. 26, 1955_-_--___________ ___ ___ ___________

Mar. 31, 1955-___.___________ ___ ___ ___________

Mav 25. 1955_-__-___________ ___ _______________

Discharge 

(cfs)

_______________ 15.6

_______________ 17.7

_______________ 17.6

___-_____--__-- 17.3

_______________ 12.4

Analysis of the water from Sheepy Creek spring (47/lE-lMl) is 

shown in table 12.

HOT CREEK SPRINGS

Hot Creek springs (47/1E-10B1) issue at the head of Hot Creek, 

near the old D Ranch headquarters. The springs discharge into a 

small, elongate, earth-filled reservoir from many outlets in the sand 

and talus debris near the base of the canyon wall in the headwater 

amphitheater. Four wells, three of which flow, have Hen drilled 

in the spring area. The easternmost well nearest the ranch buildings has an 8-inch casing which protrudes about 5 fee* above the 

ground. On June 29, 1954, this well was discharging about 150 

gpm. The water temperature on that date was 67°F. The chemical analysis shown in table 12 was made of water from this well. 

A 6-inch well, about 40 feet west of the above well, was discharging 

about 470 gpm from an open casing extending about 28 inches above 

the ground. Another 6-inch well, the casing extending p.bout 2 feet 

above the land surface, is about 40 feet west of the flowing 6-inch 

well and about 80 feet west of the 8-inch well. Wher visited on 

June 29, 1954, this well was not flowing, but water in the casing 

stood about 1 foot above the land surface. The water temperature 

was 86°F. The air temperature near the casing was 76°F. The 

westernmost well of this group is at the southwest end cf the reservoir, about 300 feet west of the other 3 wells. This well has a 6-inch 

casing which protrudes about 4 feet above the ground, and when 

visited the well was flowing about 370 gpm. The temperature of 

the water was 69°F.

The combined discharge of wells, springs, and seep^, measured 

at the outlet control gate, in the empty reservoir by the, California 

Division of Water Resources on December 30, 1954, wrs 5.6 cfs.

Water discharged by the flowing wells and springs in the north 

end of the Oklahoma district probably is derived fro^n water in 

fractured volcanic rocks underlying Mahogany Mourtain ridge. 

Furthermore, it is possible that these springs are outletr for a part 

of the ground water moving into the ridge from Butte Valley (pi. 

2; fig. 4).
QUALITY OF WATER 63 

WATER UTILIZATION

The California Division of Water Eesources interim report on 

the Klamath Eiver basin (Horn and others, 1954) contairs data on 

water utilization and the present land-use pattern in relation to 

water requirements in Butte Valley. Three categories of land use 

are listed:

1. Irrigated lands which include all agricultural lands dependent 

upon surface application of water, as well as those agricultural 

lands utilizing water from a shallow water table or from winter 

flooding.

2. Urban lands, which include the developed areas of towns within 

the valley.

3. Miscellaneous water-service areas, which include farmsteads, 

cemeteries, airports, and industrial sites where such places were not 

within urban boundaries.

In 1953 the mean seasonal consumptive requirement for the above 

three uses totaled about 30,000 acre-feet. Of this, about 29,100 

acre-feet was for the irrigated land group, about 300 acre-feet was 

for urban lands, and about 200 acre-feet was for miscellaneous 

water-service areas (Horn and others, 1954, p. 76). Horn reported 

that in 1953 irrigated areas in the valley totaled 10,440 acres (1954, 

p. 34) and that the irrigation water-service area efficiency was estimated to be about 45 percent (1954, p. 74).

During the 1953 irrigation season about 7,800 acre-feet of water 

was diverted from Butte and Antelope Creeks to provide part of 

the required water for a service area of about 4,000 acres at the 

south end of the valley. The remainder of the required water was 

pumped from wells (Horn and others, 1954, p. 21-22).

The above information suggests that pumpage of ground water 

for irrigation of 10,400 acres in 1953 was the total mean consumptive water requirement of 29,100 acre-feet less the 7,800 acre-feet 

diverted from surface sources or about 21,000 acre-feet. Applying 

the irrigation efficiency of 45 percent the net draft was about 10,000 

acre-feet.

Subirrigated lands in Butte Valley constituted about 1,000 acres 

in 1953, and the estimated surface and ground water consumed was 

about 1,600 acre-feet.

QUALITY OF WATER

Eocks, minerals, and organic substances are dissolved wholly or 

in part by: (a) Water at the land surface, (b) water that infiltrates the soil and seeps downward to the zone of saturation, and 

(c) water moving through the interstices in rocks anc* deposits 

within the zone of saturation. The solvent action of water is 

assisted by the presence in solution of carbon dioxide, dissoVed from
64 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLET

the atmosphere and the soil and by organic substance^1 dissolved 

from the soil. The character and concentration of th? dissolved 

mineral matter are thus closely related to the mineral composition 

of the soils and bedrock through which the water move?, although 

they are affected also by the precipitation and rate of recharge and 

by the geomorphic and geologic history of the area.

The relation of the mineral content of ground water to the mineral composition of the rocks through which the water moves depends on such factors as the chemical character of the infHent water, 

the chemical character of the rocks, and the rate of movement.

The principal cations in natural waters are calcium, magnesium, 

sodium, and potassium; the principal anions are bicarHnate, sulfate, and chloride. Anions that generally occur in only minor 

amounts are carbonate, nitrate, and fluoride. Silicon commonly is 

found in natural waters and is reported as the dioxide, SiO2 . Iron 

is a necessary element in plant nutrition and generally is present 

in most soils. In natural waters iron in concentrations that exceed 

0.3 ppm (part per million) causes reddish-brown stains on fixtures 

and clothing. Boron, too, is a necessary element for ncmial plant 

growth, but at concentrations only slightly above optimum it is 

exceedingly toxic to many plants. Natural waters containing more 

than 2 ppm are likely to cause injury to most plants.

Chemical analyses of waters are expressed quantitatively in: (a) 

Parts per million (ppm), (b) equivalents per million (epm), and 

(c) percentage equivalents per million. A part per million is a 

unit weight of the constituent in a million unit weights of water. 

An equivalent per million is a unit equivalent weight of an element, 

ion, or a compound in a million unit weights of water. '"Tie equivalent weight, in any unit, of an element or compound is the quantity 

that will exactly react with 8 units of oxygen, or its equivalent. 

Thus, 23 parts, or 1 equivalent, of sodium combines with 35.5 parts, 

or 1 equivalent, of chloride to form sodium chloride (ordinary table 

salt). To change an analysis reported in parts per million to 

equivalents per million, the concentration of each ion in parts per 

million is divided by its equivalent weight. The equivalent weights 

of the common constituents are as follows:

Cation, or basic radical

Calcium (Ca) ____ _ _ _ _ Magnesium (Mg) __ ___

Sodium (Na)_____ _._ __

Potassium (K)_

Equivalent 

weight

on (\A.

12. 16

22. 991

39. 100

Anion, or acidic radical

Bicarbonate (HCO3) -------

Carbonate (CO3) ----------

Sulfate (SO4) -----------

Chloride (Cl)___-------_-_

Nitrate (NO3) ----------

Equivalent 

weight

61. 018

30. 005

48.03

35. 457

62. 008
WATER QUALITY IN RELATION TO USB 65

The third method of expressing chemical analyses is in terms of 

the percentage equivalents per million of the cations ard anions. 

This value is calculated from the equivalents per million of the 

individual anion or cation and the sum of the equivalerts of the 

anions or cations. 

For example:

~ . . . Ca (expressed as epm) Percentage epm of calcium^ Ca+Mg+Na4.K (erpMBBe4 as epm)

WATER QUALITY IN RELATION TO USF

The chemical character of the ground and surface water in the 

Butte Valley region is indicated in tables 12 and 13. The analyses 

show only the dissolved mineral content and do not indicate the 

sanitary condition of the water. In general the analyses show that 

the water is chemically and physically satisfactory for domestic and 

irrigation purposes.

The physical, chemical, and bacterial quality of drinking water in 

the United States is judged in relation to the U.S. Publ^- Health 

Service Drinking Water Standards of 1946. Although th?se standards apply only to drinking water and water-supply systems used 

by interstate carriers and others subject to Federal quarantine regulations, they have been accepted voluntarily by most of the State 

departments of public health as criteria for all public water supplies. The recommended limits in concentration for the more common mineral constituents are shown below:

Parts per million

Iron and manganese together (Fe and Mn) _________________ 0.3 

Magnesium (Mg) ___________________ __ 125

Chloride (Cl) _____________________________________ 250 

Sulfate (SO4> ___________________________________ 250 

Dissolved solids __________________________________* 500

1 In water of good chemical quality dissolved solids should not exceed 500 ppm; if 

such water is not available a content of 1,000 ppm is permissible.

According to the Public Health standards, the mandatory upper 

limit in concentration of fluoride is 1.5 ppm.

Systems for classifying waters in terms of their effect- on soils 

and growing crops have been proposed by Scofield (1936), Wilcox 

(1948, 1955), Thorne and Thorne (1951), the Califorria Water 

Pollution Control Board (1952), Doneen (1954), and the U.S. 

Salinity Laboratory (1954). In using these methods for classifying 

ground waters of the Butte Valley region it was deteririned that 

most of the waters were satisfactory for domestic and irrigation 

purposes.

The characteristics of water that generally determine its suitability for irrigation are total concentration of soluble salt*; relative
66 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLETr

proportion of sodium to other cations; concentration of boron or 

other elements that may be toxic; and, under some conditions, the 

bicarbonate concentration as related to the concentration of calcium 

plus magnesium (U.S. Salinity Laboratory, 1954, p. 69).

Ground-water samples from the Butte Valley region had a calcium content of 7.4 to 36 ppm and a magnesium contert of 4.5 to 

39 ppm. Hardness, as CaCO3 , ranged from 42 to 243 pjm.

Concentrations of sodium ranged from 6 to 602 ppm and of potassium, from 1.9 to 42 ppm. The percent sodium rang3d from 15 

to 82. In 30 samples the percent sodium was 36 or less, in 9 samples it was between 36 and 70, and in 2 samples it was 80 and 82.

The concentration of dissolved solids (sum of determined constituents) ranged from 109 to 1,890 ppm; in all but 3 samples the 

concentration of dissolved solids was less than 360 ppm. A sample 

from well 48/1E-31K1 contained 510 ppm and samples from wells 

47/1W-23G1 and 23A1 contained 1,200 and 1,890 ppm, respectively. 

The high content of dissolved solids in these latter tvo samples, 

together with the large amounts of sodium, potassium, bicarbonate, 

sulfate, and chloride, indicates that these wells receive th°ir supplies 

from waters passing through local playa deposits.

Bicarbonate, the predominant anion in the ground water, ranged 

in concentration from 70 to 1,310 ppm. The range in concentration 

of the remaining anions was as follows: Sulf ate, 1 tc 379 ppm; 

chloride, 0.2 to 174 ppm; and nitrate, 0.1 to 44 ppm.

The specific conductance ranged from 134 to 2,640 micromhos, and 

the boron content from 0 to 1.1 ppm. Samples from wells 47N/1W23A1 and 23G1 were relatively high in dissolved minerals, having a 

specific conductance of 1,940 and 2,640, respectively. Tv<vse waters 

are predominantly of the sodium bicarbonate type; the boron content was 0.91 and 1.1 ppm, respectively. Water from these wells 

probably is derived from buried playa deposits similar to the ones 

found presently along the eastern border of the valley between 

Cedar Point and Inlow Butte.

Analyses of 17 surface-water samples from the Butte Valley region 

indicate that the water except for that of Meiss and Indian Tom 

Lakes is satisfactory for most purposes.

The analyses of samples from Antelope, Butte, P-ather, and 

Shovel Creeks showed that the percent sodium ranged from 13 to 

26, boron content from 0 to 0.1 ppm, the specific conductance from 

55 to 144 micromhos; and the dissolved solids from 60 to 125 ppm.

The water samples from Meiss and Indian Tom Lal es were of 

the sodium bicarbonate type. Percent sodium ranged from 75 to 

91, boron content from 0 to 3.4 ppm, specific conductance from 747 

to 4,110 micromhos, and dissolved solids from 473 to 2,540 ppm.
REFERENCES CITED 67

of specific conductance, percent sodium, and boron of surface and ground 

waters in the Butte Valley region

Surface streams

Meiss and Indian Tom Lakes _ _____

Normal ground water in Butte Valley. ___

More highly mineralized ground waters in 

Butte Valley______ _____________________

Red Rock Valley__-----_-_______ ___.

Oklahoma district _ _

Specific 

conductance 

(micromhos 

at 25°C)

55-144

747-4, 110

159-615

1, 940-2, 640

150-153

134-348

Percent 

sodium

13-26

75-91

15-55

80-82

32-44

34-68

Boron 

(ppm)

0. 0 -0. 1

. 0 -3. 4

. 0 -0. 2

. 91-1. 1

.03

. 0 -0. 23

REFERENCES CITED

Adams, Frank, 1929, Irrigation districts in California: California Dept. Public 

Works, Div. Eng. and Irrig., Bull. 21, p. 53-55.

Anderson, C. A., 1941, Volcanoes of the Medicine Lake highland, California: 

California Univ., Dept. Geol. Sci. Bull., v. 25, p. 347-422.

California Water Pollution Control Board, 1952, Water quality criteria: Pub. 

3, 512 p.

Callaghan, Eugene, 1933, Some features of the volcanic sequence in the Cascade 

Range in Oregon: Am. Geophys. Union Trans., p. 243-249.

Callaghan, Eugene, and Buddington, A. F., 1938, Metalliferous rnneral deposits of the Cascade Range in Oregon: U.S. Geol. Survey Bull. 893, 

141 p.

Diller, J. S., and others, 1916, Guidebook of the Western United States: U.S. 

Geol. Survey Bull. 614, p. 54-56.

Doneen, L. D., 1954, Salination of soil by salts in the irrigation vjater: Am. 

Geophys. Union Trans., v. 35, no. 6, pt. 1, p. 943-950.

Finch, R. H., 1933, Slump scarps: Jour. Geology, v. 41, p. 647-649.

Horn, W. L., and others, 1954, Interim report of Klamath Rive" basin investigation, water utilization and requirements: California Water Resources Board.

Jenkins, O. P., 1943, Geologic formations and economic development of the oil 

and gas fields of California: California Div. Mines Bull. 118.

Mackie, W. W., 1909, The soils of Butte Valley, Siskiyou County [California] : 

U.S. Dept. Agriculture, Bur. Soils, Field Operations.

Masson, P. H., 1949, Circular soil structures in northeastern California: California Div. Mines Kept. 149, p. 60-71.

Meinzer, O. E. 1923, The occurrence of ground water in the United States, 

with a discussion of principles: U.S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 

489, 321 p.

Meyers, J. D., and Newcomb, R. C., 1952, Geology and ground-water resources 

of the Swan Lake-Yonna Valleys area, Klamath County, Oreg.: U.S. 

Geol. Survey open-file report, 151 p.

Moore, B. N., 1937, Nonmetallic mineral resources of eastern Oregon: U.S. 

Geol. Survey Bull. 875, p. 34-51.

Nichols, R. L., 1936, Flow units in basalt: Jour. Geology, v. 44, p. 617-630.

Poland, J. F., 1959, Hydrology of the Long Beach-Santa Ana area, California, 

with special reference to the Newport-Inglewood structural zone: U.S. 

Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 1471, 252 p.
68 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY

Powers, H. A., 1932, The lavas of the Modoc lava-bed quadrangle, California: 

Am. Mineralogist, v. 17» no. 7, p. 253-294.

Rice, C. M., 1953, Dictionary of geological terms: Ann Arbor, Mich., Edwards 

Bros., 465 p.

Russell, R. J., 1928, Basin Range structure and stratigraphy of the Warner 

Range northeastern California: California Univ., Dept. Geo1 , Sci. Bull., 

v. 17, no. 11, p. 387-496.

Scofield, C. S., 1936, The salinity of irrigation water: Smithsonian Inst. Ann. 

Rept., p. 275-285.

Stearns, H. T., 1954, Causes of basaltic explosions: Geol. Soc. America Bull., 

v. 64, no. 5, p. 599.

Stearns, H. T., Bryan, L. L., and Crandall, Lynn, 1939, Geology and water 

resources of the Mud Lake region, Idaho, including the Mane1 Park area: 

U.S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 818, 125 p.

Stearns, H. T., and Clark, W. O., 1930, Geology and water resources of the 

Kau district, Hawaii (including parts of Kilauea and Mau^a Loa Volcanoes) : U.S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 616, 194 p.

Stearns, H. T., Crandall, Lynn, and Steward, W. G., 1938, Geology and groundwater resources of the Snake River Plain in southeastern Idaho: U.S. 

Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 774, 268 p.

Stearns, H. T., Robinson, T. W., and Taylor, G. H., 1930, Geolog^ and water 

resources of the Mokelumne area, California: U.S. Geol. Survey WaterSupply Paper 619, 402 p.

Stearns, H. T., and Vaksvik, K. N., 1935, Geology and ground-water resources 

of the island of Oahu, Hawaii: Hawaii Div. Hydrography, B '11. 1, 479 p.

Thorne, J. P., and Thorne, D. W., 1951, Irrigation waters of Utah: Utah Agr. 

Bxpt. Sta. Bull. 346, 64 p.

Tolman, C. F., 1937, Ground water: New York and London, McGraw-Hill 

Book Co., 583 p.

U.S. Salinity Laboratory Staff, 1954, Diagnosis and improvement of saline and 

alkali soils: U.S. Dept. Agriculture, Agr. Handbook 60, 160 r

Wentworth, C. K., and Macdonald, G. A., 1953, Structures and forms of basaltic rocks in Hawaii: U.S. Geol. Survey Bull. 994, 97 p.

Wenzel, L. K., 1942, Methods for determining permeability of vater-bearing 

materials, with special reference to discharging-well methods: U.S. Geol. 

Survey Water-Supply Paper 887, 192 p.

Wilcox, L. V., 1948, The quality of water for irrigation use: U.S Dept. Agriculture, Tech. Bull., no. 962.

 1955, The classification and use of irrigation waters: U.S, Dept. Agriculture, Agr. Research Service Circ. 969,19 p.

Williams, Howel, 1942, The geology of Crater Lake National Park, Oreg.: 

Carnegie Inst. Washington Pub. 540.

 1948, The ancient volcanoes of Oregon: Condon Lecture, Prb. 1, Oregon 

System Higher Education.

 1949, Geology of the Macdoel quadrangle: California Div. Mines Rept.

149.
BASIC DATA
in -J CO 

r ® a 

Starr John .......... Irri- Butte ValleyDistrict. gation 

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to : 

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access No ........... 

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to to to 

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completed Year 

and well, of Type 

diameter casing 

(inches)

(feet) Depth 

(feet) casing of Depth 

~ll Top 

° M "> 

1 [> 01 

S- P -^ 

o> - | Bottom 

a

power and pump, of Type 

Use

(gpm) Discharge 

(feet) Drawdown 

g Description 

rt)

p:

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TO

"§ be- or above Distance 

S_' land-surface low(-) 

" (feet) datum 

measuring of Altitude 

(feet) point 

below water to Depth 

point measuring 

(feet)

measurement of Date 

available data Other 

^ H H c! g) 

* -8 S "g 5' v * n .w «' B 

>^ fl |^fl> "S- 0] ^S-

?p|a|Se.a§ i? s 

£ ^P-ll* g-al-g S? 

§ £ 1 H ^ 1 - § - o a, 

w ! S3?aS'§p 1 »^5=

m S.|3 B 1< M OJC 9- <D HiqiIHgl3 »oa>_<!3o^3Cf2. 

2^TOOp m S-|a- 

§ w 5f- a 2- a 5' q- "' 3 5' 

?. M- t-H w . " hJl *-* Ci 3 "' 

F P 3 n.tSotlO 

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«2^^ Vi|3o»^ 

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g. »2."o ff- r^e 

r ^ o o- 5- H a *o r §. ° a 

2 " «,*< « w . 3 1 ^ re^a^ 9a ^S 

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g ls"£?i^ If 

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a-^.Bg^s'ffi il 

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M> ^" TO 3 a S £r J5 l^ 

o <L o o> to f m 

ilPli?! s I "s" ' "S 

QNV ajsuioao ' aij<na AHTIVA 
T. 45 N., R. 2 W.

1 fM

1 rf^O

1L1

1P1

1 T>9

1Q1

2G1

2P1

3H1

3H2

^ T1

3P1

3Q1

gation District.

Delos Mills ........

.....do.................

.....do.................

gation District.

.....do.................

.....do.................

.....do.................

.....do.................

.....do.................

.....do.................

1947

1 Q9R

1953

IQm

1953

1929

1949

1953

1948

1948

1948

1953

1948

P, 16

P, 8

P. 12

P,G, 16

P, 18

P, 16

P

P, 16

P,G, 18

P, 12

P, 12

P, 16

P, 22

80

11\

130

140

170

80

130

145

270

238

400

140

425

18

18

35

1\

2?,

370

18

28

15

ed

270

T, 25

T, 75

T, 50

T, 30

I

U

U

I

U

U

o

U

I

U

D

U

I

el, 240

..

..

..

T

T

T

See footnotes at end of table.
T3 01 

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p

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to

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to to to to to to 

enencnencncocncnen

r r r ^ 

completed Year 

and well, of Type 

diameter casing 

(inches)

(feet) Depth 

(feet) casing of Depth 

Top

Bottom

power and pump, of Type 

Use

(gpm) Discharge 

(feet) Drawdown 

Description

be- or above Distance 

land-surface low(-) 

(feet)_____ datum 

measuring of Altitude 

(feet) point 

below water to Depth 

point measuring 

(feet)

Measurement of Date 

available data Other 

AOO^O!E[O ai«v CLNUIOHO .L3TIVA
6J1

6N1

7D1

7H1

8C1

8E1

.....do.................

L. Luzzi ............

R. L. Meglasson ..

.....do.................

M. Cross ............

.....do.................

1953

1950

1950

1949

1937

P, 18

P,G,18

P, 18

P, 8

P, 12

P, 10

200

200

200

118

200

200

150

200

12

60

30

20

200

150

180

T, 60

T, 60

T, 50

J, 1

J, 1

I

I

I

D

D,S

D,S

e3,150

e2,600

el, 200

e700

64

68

40

A

T

H

T

T

T

T. 46 N., R. 1 W.

glAl

glA2

1G1

1G2

Reclamation. 

.....do.................

.....do.................

1954

1951

1947

R

P,G,18

P.G.14

735

207

250

80

300

19?,

250 150 250

T, 40

Wm

O

o

I

s

e2,000

e2,000

60

55

T

..

T

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 7. Description of wells in the Butte Valley region, Sis

Well Owner or user Year completed Type of well, and 

casing diameter 

(inches)

"S 

£

.5

G.

a

1u

<D

Depth of casing (1

Perforated

interval 

(feet)

a

0

H

Bottom

(H

1

a

c 

a

a 

S

s 

a

"8

(U

a 

>> H

(U

w

P

Discharge (gpm) Drawdown (feet)

T. 46 N., R. 1 W. Continued

1P1

1Q1

2F1

2G1

2L1

4N1

4N2

5H1

6P1

C. Cross ............

Mettler and

Sheyne.

.....do.................

.....do.................

.....do.................

U. S. Dept. Agriculture, Soil

Conservation

Service.

1952

1953

1953

1953

1951

1949

R.G.16

R.G.18

R.G.18

R.G.18

G, 16

P, 12

P, 6

P, 6

P, 16

311

300

380

220

100

65

300

380

100

100

300

380

T, 75

T, 75

T.100

T.100

T, 20

J, 1

T, 40

I

I

I

I

U

I

U

s

I

f2,100

e20

e3,250

16

28

.

.

.

.
6Q1

9A1

12B1 

12H1

17B1

17B2

17G1

17L1 

17Q1 

18Q1

18Q2

Reclamation.

culture, Soil

Conservation

Service.

Sons.

.....do.................

.....do.................

gation District.

. ....do..... ............

1951

1951

1949

1953

1947

1926

1948

1931

P, 2

P, 6

P, 8

P,G, 18

P, 20

P, 20

P, 20

P

P

P

P, 16

36

100

189

80

84

51

98

82

3fi

152

60

51

40

26

44

31

36

152

51

L

T, 50

T, 75

T, 30

T, 25

T, 30

.........

el, 350

e3,500

.........

.....

43

8

T

.

N

T

T

T

T

N

T

A

See footnotes at end of table.
00 CD CD CD CD CD CD CD 

,C OW ffiffiO £ fe 

oo ^i-» to i to ^ M 

a a 

) 0 

CO 0 

u 4* K- tn 

jfl TJ 

05 » 

0)

U

O)

H H 

to to 

en cj> 

2. 2. 

) O 

CD CD 

*. CJ 

CD l 

TJ ID 

0)

-a

0

to

00

H

s

1. 

)

T)

0)

Ol

1 P

School Elementary Butte Irri-Valley 

District. gation

.....do.. ...............

T) 

»

J-3

u 

o

JO 13 

05 1 

O)

jLj

d ~c! O - C _ _ 

(B (B 

4* 4* 

O O 

O O 

| i 

H H 

o , o 

'O 2- T3 

£-0 o 

M) ft Sj 

o o 

(B {U 

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5' 5' 

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ra : 

tu : 

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4*4* 4* 

"to "to "to 

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oo 4* en 

(B Q. 

cotocotococototototo

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o ~] CD tn tn 

tocnotocnoi cDoii-' 

to co to to to 

cncncncncncncnmcnm

4^4^U4^4^UtO4^4^U

i

concrete Toppump

east side. bas,of ...... Top casingNo access ...........

-

*. *. 

to to 

*. *. 

CD CD 

o w 

D. 

to to to to to 

cn CD -J 4^ -4 

4* en -a oo w 

o u cn 4^ 

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to co to co to 

cn cn cn m cn 

U 4^ 4^ U 4^ 

H Z 

*% ° 

W ( ft) 

o £ « H. « 0 

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tn

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to to to 

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01 01 cn 

U 4^ 4^ 

- -o 

 46 1W.Continued T. RN.,

3

a

1

A

1

5 

C 

01

n>

i

completed Year 

and well, of Type 

diameter casing 

(inches)

(feet) Depth 

(feet) casing of Depth 

>0

15 5' _ TOP 

i ^ ra 

ff £. "^ Bottom 

Q.

power and pump, of Type 

Use

(gpm) Discharge 

(feet) Drawdown 

g Description 

m(U

tn 

^ 5' 

(W

^ be- or above Distance 

3' land-surface low(-) 

" ffeetl datum 

measuring of Altitude 

(feet) point 

below water to Depth 

point measuring 

(feet)

measurement of Date 

available data Other 

 Table in 7.ofwells theButte Calif. Continued Description Valley region, Siskiyuu County, 

9Z Jiooioao QNV anaoHo ' aj*iaa 
20B1

20D1 

20D2

20N1

21F1 

22K1 

22K2 

28D1

28F1

28L1 

29D1

29G1 

31B1

Se

R. Tucker ..........

.....do.................

Butte Valley Irrigation District.

.....do.................

.....do.................

W. Kandra ..........

Butte Valley Irrigation District.

W. Kandra ..........

Butte Valley Irrigation District.

e footnotes at end o

1951

1946 

1948

1948 

1954

1937

1953 

1947

f tabl«

P, 14

P, 6 

P, 10

P, 18

P.G.18 

P, 6 

P, 6 

P.G.18

P, G

P 

P

P.G.18 

P, 18

>

165

65 

115

115

182 

56 

113

104 

101

161

40

182

82

20

162

10

161

182

82

T, 40

T, 15

T

Wm 

T, 50

T, 75

T 

T, 25

T 

T, 25

I

D

I

I

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U

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I

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I

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el, 200

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e2,000

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63

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 46 1T.RW.Continue N., 

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(inches)

(feet) Depth 

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T3

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power and pump, of Type 

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(gpm) Discharge 

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nT Description 

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^ be- or above Distance 

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point measuring 

(feet)

measurement of Date 

available data Other 

H 

ft

C

(

8

r 

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£

£

?

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5

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5

6

c

c

T

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r

£

w

c 

f

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32 Kl

32L1

Q O TJ 1

U. S. Forest

Service.

Co.

1 Q9fi

1927

P, 10

P, 6

P, 12

214

9 1 e; 200

^ i

135

105

190

L

J, 1

D

D

RR

T. 46 N., R. 2W.

4E1

^(" 1

9Q1

9R1

9R2

12Q1

13A1

14Q1

15Q1

16A1

Reclamation.

.....do.................

.....do.................

.....do.................

.....do.................

.....do.................

1 Q^l

1946

1947

1945

1944

1947

1948

1947

1947

P, 2

P, 12

P, 12

P, 12

P, 8

P, 12

P, 16

P, 6

P, 12

P, 16

41

346

180

90

93

93

278

345

93

41

335

38

44

rnS2

6?,

80

20 41

T, 30

T, 25

T, 30

T, 40

T, 20

T, 15

O

u

I

I

I

I

I

u

I

I

fl,270

fl,900

el, 100

el,350

33

50

1

..

See footnotes at end of table.
to to to to to to to to to 

co to cjicn cji cncncncn 

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completed Year 

and well, of Type 

diameter casing 

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(feet) Depth 

(feet) casing of Depth 

Top

Bottom

power and pump, of Type 

Use

(gpm) Discharge 

(feet) Drawdown 

Description

be- or above Distance 

land-surface low(-) 

(feet)_____ datum 

measuring of Altitude 

(feet) point 

below water to Depth 

point measuring 

(feet)

measurement of Date 

at

available data Other 

08 ' ai»iaa 
26J1

26N1

26Q1

27H1

35B1

35C1

35C2

35G1

35R1

Edsell ...............

Edsell. ...............

.....do.................

.....do.................

.....do.................

A. Hoyt ..............

1952

1944

1946

1946

1949

1954

P, 12

P, 8

P, 12

P, 10

P, 12

P, 16

P, 12

P, 10

P, fi

315

300

120

55

100

104

194

107

110

100

RO

?A

95 0

50

10

95

T

Wm

T, 15

T, 30

T, 20

T, 20

I

U

U

S

I

I

I

I

U

el, 300

el, 100

el, 100

e700

60

RO

100

See footnotes at end of table.
O1 O5 O5 

hj JP* Q 

.....do................. Wilkinson ....... R. 

'"U *"d 

H H 

o

G. AStewart ......

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o

to 

o

a ~~ 

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to

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 2 46R.TContinued W. N.,

s»

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and well, of Type 

diameter casing 

(inches)

(feet) Depth 

(feet) casing of Depth 

3.' To? 

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(gpm) Discharge 

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g Description 

(i

p 

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73 be- or above Distance 

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5- (feet) datum 

measuring of Altitude 

(feet) point 

below water to Depth 

point measuring 

(feet)

measurement of Date 

available data Other 

 Table 7. inthe Butteof wellsCaif. Continued region, Siskiyou County, Description Valley

QJSTV amoHD 'HHLLVAI 
6H1

17N1

19M1

29H1

29H2

29N1

30R1

0 1 A 1

31E1

31J1

32A1

Reclamation.

Reclamation.

K, Holbrook ........

.....do.................

Wilkerson.

.....do.................

K. Holbrook ........

1951

1951

1926

1952

1952

1952

1952

1952

P, 2

P, 8

P, 2

D, 3 ft

P, 8

R.G.18

R,G,18

R,G,18

P, 6

R,G,18

R.G.18

60

97

46

26

60

300

320

320

320

265

60

46

300

300

300

300

265

40

36

100

70

70

70

65

60

46

300

300

300

300

265

Wm

L

Wm

T, 75

T, 75

T, 75

T, 75

T, 50

O

s

0

u

s

I

I

I

u

I

I

e3,200

e3,000

eS.OOO

e3,150

80

95

90

54

..

..

T

..

A

T. 47 N., R. 1 W.

1A1 

1A2

1D1

2N1 

3D1

g4Dl

R. Wilkinson .......

Southern Pacific 

Co. 

U. S. Bureau of 

Reclamation.

U. S. Bureau of 

Reclamation. 

.....do.................

1926- 

1927 

1951

1951 

1954

P 

P, 12

P, 2 

P, 8

P, 2

R

250 

60

50 

460

250 

60

50 

80

90 

40

35

250 

60

50

T

Wm

I

U

O

s

0 

O

..

..

..

See footnotes at end of table.
CO t^ *J 

222

.....do................. Bureau of U.S

Reclamation. 

.....do.................

CD CO CD 

en en ui 

P M Va 

0

en en ith 

o o en 

en en ith 

o o en 

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d > g a o ^ o 

P P : w 

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s- S s c ? ' ^ 

3 .<> § o 8 : i 

Bureau ofU.S

Reclamation. 

.....do................. 

.....do.................

CO CO CO CD CO 

; en en ; en ui en 

00 N O 

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r r 

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completed Year 

and well, of Type 

diameter casing 

(inches)

(feet) Depth 

(feet) casing of Depth 

Top

Bottom

power and pump, of Type 

Use

(gpm) Discharge 

(feet) Drawdown 

Description

be- or above Distance 

land-surface low(-) 

(feet)____ datum 

measuring of Altitude 

(feet) point 

below water to Depth 

point measuring 

(feet)

measurement of Date 

"Sh

f

r

available data Other 

aMV aNnono ' 3i*ina 
19L1

20R1

22P1

23A1

23G1

23H1

OQTiyf 1

24C1

O7TJ1

28M1

g31Gl

31N1

Agriculture, Soil 

Conservation 

Service. 

.....do.................

.....do.................

.....do.................

Reclamation.

.....do.................

1950

1952

1952

1Q4Q

1952

1953

1 Q^l

10M

1954

P

P, 8

P, 10

P.G.16

P, 8

P, 16

P, 20

P.G.18

P, 2

P, 2

R

P, 8

100

23

136

107

210

198

190

40

50

498

18

136

100

110

110

190

40

50

180

60

18

30

35

136

190

40

50

Wm

J. 1

Wm

T, 40

J, 1

T, 30

T, 50

Wm

S

S

S

T

n

T

TT

I

0

0

0

S

el, 500 

e2,000

el, 600

RR

97

T

T

..

..

See footnotes at end of table. 
Table 7. Description of wells in the Butte Valley region, Siski

Well Owner or user

T3 

4)

"aS

o

h 

nj

t-,

T) 4)

3 rt

41 "5 ^-.

H

t!

4) 

.C

a

Q

^

4) 

4)

bo

ID

rt

o

"3 

a

Q

Perforated

interval

(feet)

a

H

ottom

ffl

Q,

CO 1

3

a. 

<t-i o

4) 

Q,

H

0) 

ID

E 

a

4)

a

0 

»3

Q

rawdown (feet

Q

T. 47 N., R. 1 W. Continued

31N2

g32Rl

g32R2

33Q1

34H1

34Q1

34R1

^<iP1

35Q1

36D1

36L1

U. S. Bureau of

Reclamation. 

.....do.................

. ....do... ............. .

.....do.................

D. West .............

.....do.................

U. S. Bureau of

Reclamation. 

C. Crawford .......

1952

1954

1951

1953

1952

1952

1952

1951

1951

P, 20

R

P, 2

P.G.18

P.G.18

P,G,16

R.G.20

R.G.20

P, 2

P, 18

87

198

70

358

334

320

320

40

187

52

60

180

70

304

3?,0

300

300

40

187

50

60

40

100

100

30

70

304

320

300

300

40

T

T, 40

T, 75

T, 75

T, 125

T, 50

TT

0

0

0

T

T

T

T

T

0

T

e4,000

el, 800

e2,600

eS.OOO

3,000

1,800

124

114

90

90

100

...

...

...

...

...
T. 47 N.. R. 2 W.

4G1

9H1

13B1

14L1

16L1

16P1

20G1

21D1

21H1

22Q1

23D1

23F1

97T 1

23M1

27A1

2SN1

29J1

Reclamation.

R. Fogle.............

.....do.................

Reclamation.

.....do.................

Reclamation.

1951

1929

1946

1951

1951

1946

1951

1946

P, 2

D

P, 8

P, 6

P, 12

D

P, 6

P, 2

P, 14

P, 6

P, 18

P, 6

P, 16

D

P, 6

P 2

P, 12

50

34

182

260

10

33

81

60

326

35

281

11

150

50

12

128

81

20

150

41

40

60

20

50

81

41

Wm

Wm

T

L

Wm

J, 1

1 T

L

T

Wm

T

0

s

TT

n,s

T

TT

TT

0

R

r>

T

TT

T

TT

S

0

T

el, 000

e800

e600

60

To

To

....

....

....

....

See footnotes at end of table. 
 a 

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ii^comcD toeni-> J tn 

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^

 2 47Continued R. WTN.,

(D

O

C 

m

completed Year 

and well, of Type 

diameter casing 

(inches)

(feet) Depth 

(feet) casing of Depth 

J g _ Top 

° < 2. 

« », ^ Bottom 

a

power and pump, of Type 

Use

(gpm) Discharge 

(feet) Drawdown 

g Description 

(DP>

01

c

"§ be- or above Distance 

5' land-surface low(-) 

measuring of Altitude 

(feet) point 

below water to Depth 

point measuring 

(feet)

measurement of Date 

available data Other 

 the Table 7.in Butteof wells Continued Calif. Description Valley region, Siskiyou County, 

88 a^v aNaoHO ' aiina 
31K1

31L1

31M1

31R1

32A1

32N1

^9P1

32Q1

.....do.................

.....do.................

.....do.................

.....do.................

1935

1954

1930

1948

1949

P, 10

R.G.18

P, 6

P.G.16

D

D

P, 12

P, 6

126

200

75

150

44

400

375

150

150

50 150

J. 1

T

T, 30

Wm

Wm

J. 1

D

I

D

I

U

U

I

D

el, 250

el, 200

80

....

....

T. 48 N., R. 1 W.

25H1

25Q1

26D1

26N1

26Q1

28C1

28F1

28J1

28J2

28N1

29R1

33C1

.....do.................

Reclamation.

.....do.................

Reclamation.

1937

1953

1951

1952

1Q"i9

1947

1951

1951

1953

P,G,12

P,G,16

P, 16

P, 10

P, 2

P, 12

P, 16

P, 16

P, 6

P, 2

P, 6

P, 12

480

150

375

50

560

632

350

230

50

50

120

150

8

50

100

H7Q

240

91

50

80

30

30

60

180

40

120

150

50

100

240

50

T, 30

T, 25

T

T, 60

T, 40

T, 5

Wm

T

I

I

U

U

o

I

I

I

I

o

s

I

e2,000

e900

el, 200

el, 200

fiO

60

....

.. ..

. ...

....

....

See footnotes at end of table. 
fro cn co co i H- r r o o o 

L. Parsons .... D. 

tt 

ito

pr a. D

co co co 

LO cn LO 

cn *. -4 

O3

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-4 CO frO O -4 HCO« t ^

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O

-a a a 0 o

0 

H- 3

OK)

O !0 O Jl 

"oo 

-4

00

pj pj P pj p3 

cn cn cn cn cn O3 -4 

to cn 03 cn cn co cn O O3 O CO CO CO LO 

cn

-4 *- frO 1-" LO CO O3 

LO *- *- *- frO O --4 4 CO cn ~4 ^ 

cn cn cn cn cn cn cn 

r r r "^ o 

LO LO 

t^ O3 

dd d w 5) g § » & 

2.^ o

pr

CO8

co 

cn

LO

"0

05O

fro

frOOii

o 

ji

J3

T3wH t! 

d«33 n !« 33

ftU

0

H> o1o

(D 

COD

«5

CO

in

O3

r

completed Year 

and well, of Type 

diameter casing 

(inches)

(feet) Depth 

(feet) casing of Depth 

Top

Bottom

J? 3 ^ 

power and pump, of Type 

Use

(gpm) Discharge 

(feet) Drawdown 

Description

be- or above Distance 

land-surface low(-) 

(feet) datum 

measuring of Altitude 

(feet) point 

below water to Depth 

point measuring 

(feet)

measurement of Date 

rip

kiy

available data Other 

06 A3TIVA
11C2 

14J1 

16P1 

18G1 

24A1

.....do.................

L. D. Parsons .....

.....do.................

1953

1923 

1949

P 

P, 10

P, 6 

P, 6 

P

232

155 

247 

180

IS

133 

8

ot cas

155

,ed

L T

Wm

L. g 

T

I 

qU 

S 

S 

D.S

el, 300 2

...

...

T. 45 N., R. 2 E.

6G1

6N1

7G1

17D1 R Clark

1927

1952

1926

P

P, 8

P, 6

P

367

211

199

Wm

L

L, g

D

D

U

S

T. 46 N., R. 1 E.

31P1 

35J1

J

T TTMIOV 1926 

1942

P, 8 

P, 6

172 

237 214

Wm 

L, S

D,S 

S ...

T. 46 N., R. 2 E.

31E1 J A 11 on 1918 P, 6 283 17 Wm S 

OKLAHOMA DISTRICT 

T. 46 N., R. 2 E.

 7 "EM

15F1

22Q1

28Q1

S4T 1

L. H. Fogle ........

O'Keef ...............

Land 

Managprnpnt.

1951

1 049

1953

P 1 ">

P

P, 6

P, 6

D

52 1

105

100

190

72

9 1

101

IT

L

Wm

T 9

D

S

S

U

el, 100 19

...

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 7. Description of wells in the Butte Valley region, Siski

Well Owner or user

 o

V

a

u 

cd

5J

H*

%?

4)

c2

X

a

^

0)

«*-!

W)

(0

cd

u

"S

X

a

Perforated

interval

(feet)

a 

o

H

Bottom

fi

a

a

a 

a

u 

a

X

H

0) 

(0

.-.

a

*"

Discharge

^.

0) 

0)

^^

Drawdown

T. 47 N., R. 1 E.

11M1 

14L1 

25K1

Porterfield .........

.....do.................

.....do.................

1952

1952

P 

P 

P. 20 295 20

T, 40 

T. 30 

T, 60

I

I 

I

T. 47 N., R.

7N1 1952 P, 18 290 20 T, 3 S

el,400 76

2 E.

e925 140

1 Diesel. 

2 Inches.
BASIC DATA 93

Table 8. Drillers' logs and records of wells in Butte Valley, Calif.

[Stratigraphic correlations by P. R. Wood. Land surface altitudes approximate and 

with respect to mean sea-level datum of 1929 through the medium of the Pacific 

Northwest Supplementary Adjustment of 1947]

Thickness 

(feet)

Depth 

(feet)

45/1W-5L1

[J. Starr. On alluvial plain, about 1.1 miles southeast of Mount Hebron. Altitude 4,270 

ft. Drilled by J. A. Van Meter, 1952. Cased to 24 ft, cemented on bottom. Static 

water level, when drilled, about 41 ft below land surface]

Alluvium: 

Topsoil .........................................................................

Clay .............................................................................

Clay .............................................................................

Butte Valley basalt:

2.5

.5

12

2.5

1.5

3.5

34.5

13

2.5

3

15

17.5

19

22.5

57

70

45/2W-1P2

[D. Mills. On alluvial plain, about 1.5 miles southwest of Mount Hebron. Altitude 

4,265 ft. Drilled by George Hartley, 1953. Cased to 18 ft. Static water level when 

drilled, about 43 ft below land surface]

Alluvium: 

Soil ..............................................................................

Butte Valley basalt:

Lake deposits:

Olav

18

71

3

33

15

30

18

89

92

125

140

170

45/2W-3H1

[D. Mills. On alluvial plain, about 2.4 miles west-southwest of Mount Hebron. Altitude 

4,260 ft. Drilled by George Hartley, 1948. Casing perforated 15-270 ft, g~avelpacked]

Alluvium:

Butte Valley basalt:

Lake deposits:

50

55

5

145

15

50

105

110

255

270

45/2W-3J1

[D. Mills. On alluvial plain, about 2.7 miles west-southwest of Mount Hebron. Altitude 

4.261 ft. Drilled by J. S. Wilson, 1948]

Alluvium: 

Soil ..... 25 25
94 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY

Table 8. Drillers' logs and records of wells in Butte Valley, Calif. Continued

Thickness 

(feet)

Depth 

(feet)

45/2W-3J1 Continued

Butte Valley basalt:

Lake deposits:

Sand .............................................................................

eiay....... .......................................................................

Sand .............................................................................

Clay .............................................................................

Sand .............................................................................

Clay .............................................................................

Sand .............................................................................

Clay .............................................................................

71

29

65

10

15

20

25

20

5

10

105

96

125

190

200

215

235

260

280

285

295

400

45/2W-3P1

[D. Mills. On alluvial plain, about 3.2 miles west-southwest of Mount Hebron. Altitude 

4,262 ft. Drilled by George Hartley, 1953. Cased to 18 ft. Static level, when 

drilled, about 27 ft below land surface]

Alluvium:

Butte Valley basalt:

Lake deposits: 

Sand .............................................................................

Clay .............................................................................

Sand .............................................................................

18

56

2

49

15

18

74

76

125

140

45/2W-3Q1

[D. Mills. On alluvial plain, about 2.8 miles west-southwest of Mount Hebron. Altitude 

4,263 ft. Drilled by J. S. Wilson, 1948. Cased to 28 ft]

Alluvium:

Butte Valley basalt:

Lake deposits: 

Sand .............................................................................

Volcanic rocks of the "High Cascades'^?):

28

67

1

254

75

28

95

96

350

425

45/2W-10F1

[D. Mills. On alluvial plain near mountain front, about 3.5 miles southwest of Mount 

Hebron. Altitude 4,262 ft. Drilled by George Hartley, 1952]

Soil ................................................................................. 20

53

2

50

20

73

75

125
BASIC DATA 95

Table 8. Drillers' logs and records of wells in Butte Valley, Calif. Continued

Thickness 

(feet)

Depth 

(feet)

45/2W-10M1

[Mrs. J. O'Kane, Juniper Lodge. On alluvial plain, near mountain front, abo-at 3.7

miles southwest of Mount Hebron. Altitude 4,265 ft. Static water level, when drilled, 

about 45 ft below land surface]

Butte Valley basalt:

Lake deposits: 

Clay..............................................................................

79

6

20

72

5.5

79

85

105

177

182.5

46/1E-6J1

[M. Cross. On alluvial plain, near Inlow Butte, about 5.8 miles northeast of Macdoel. 

Altitude 4,244 ft. Drilled by J. A. Van Meter, 1953. Casing perforated 60-200 ft. 

Static water level, when drilled, about 23 ft below land surface]

Alluvium: 

Topsoil .........................................................................

Butte Valley (?) basalt:

Lake deposits:

Sand, black ...................................................................

8

7

2

10

8

1

5

30

8

13

10

19

15

2

62

8

15

17

27

35

36

41

71

79

92

102

121

136

138

200

46/1E-6N1

[L. M. Luzzi. On alluvial plain, about 4.7 miles northeast of Macdoel. Altit'ide 4,242 

ft. Drilled by F. J. Hilton. Ceased to 150 ft, perforated 30-150 ft. Static level, 

when drilled, about 24 ft below land surface]

Topsoil .........................................................................

Butte Valley basalt:

Lake deposits:

Sand .............................................................................

Clay, blue .....................................................................

Sand .............................................................................

Sand .............................................................................

3.5

14

16

1

15.5

10

4

23

12

46

9

3.5

17.5

33.5

34.5

50

60

64

87

99

145

154
96 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLDY

Table 8. Drillers' logs and records of veils in Btttte Valley, Calif. Continued

Thickness 

(feet)

Depth 

(feet)

4 6/IE-6 Nl Continued

Sand .............................................................................

Sand .............................................................................

2

16

4

24

156

172

176

200

46/1W-1A1

[U. S. Bureau of Reclamation. On alluvial plain, about 5 miles northeast of Macdoel. 

Altitude 4,238 ft. Drilled by U. S. Bureau of Reclamation, 1954. Hole logged by 

R. J. Rongey, geologist, USER]

Sand, very fine to fine, moderately pervious, loose, massive, 

well-sorted, slight silt content. Moderate brown .................

Sand, very fine to fine, silty; friable, numerous root openings, 

ill-sorted with a high silt content, very calcareous. 

Moderate yellowish-brown ...............................................

Sand, very fine, silty; poorly pervious, friable, ill-sorted.

Moderate yellowish-brown ...............................................

Sand, medium; loose, well-sorted, chiefly volcanic glass with 

some olivine ..................................................................

Silt, clayey; poorly friable to firm, massive ill-sorted.

Moderate yellowish-brown ...............................................

Clay, poorly pervious, brittle to slightly plastic, massive, 

well-sorted, predominantly weathered volcanic ash. 

Moderate yellowish-brown ................................................

Sand, fine to medium; highly pervious, loose, slightly bedded as 

indicated by variable basaltic glass content. Moderately 

well-sorted with some olivine. Moderate yellowish-brown.....

Sand, fine to medium; friable, massive ill-sorted with a silt 

binder, noncalcareous. Moderate yellowish-brown ...............

Clay and sand, interbedded silty clay and fine to medium sand, 

clays brittle, sands friable and moderately well-sorted. 

Interbeds are 0.1 to 0.6 ft thick .........................................

Sand, fine to medium, highly pervious, loose, slight bedding 

indicated by dark basaltic glass concentrations, well-sorted. 

Moderate yellowish-brown ...............................................

Sand, fine to very fine, silty; poorly to slightly pervious, 

friable to firm, slight bedding indicated by variable silt 

content, ill-sorted. Moderate yellowish-brown ....................

Sand, fine, moderately pervious, easily friable, bedded with 

several half-inch medium sand layers, well-sorted, 

predominantly light volcanic glass shards. Dark 

greenish-gray ................................................................

Silt, clayey, fine sandy; poorly pervious, moderately friable, 

massive, ill-sorted with occasional medium sand grains. Dark 

greenish-gray ..............................................................

Sand, fine to very fine; moderately pervious, easily friable, 

slightly bedded by short medium sand lenses, moderately 

well-sorted, predominantly light volcanic glass. Dark 

greenish-gray ..............................................................

Sand, medium; highly pervious, very loose, massive,

well-sorted, predominantly light and dark volcanic glass 

with much olivine. Dark-gray.........................................

2.5

1.5 

1.5 

1.5 

3.5

1 

3.5

2.5 

2.5 

3.5

4.5 

1.5

2.5

2.5

4

5.5

7

10.5

16.5

17.5

21

23.5

26

29.5

34

35.5

38

47
BASIC DATA 97

Table 8. Drillers' logs and records of wells in Butte Valley, Calif. Continued

Thickness 

(feetv

Depth 

(feet)

46/1W-1A1 Continued

Sand, fine to very fine, silty; poorly pervious, firm, slightly 

bedded with loose sand streaks, ill-sorted, well cemented 

with a glassy silt-binder. Predominantly light volcanic 

glass with many red and black cinders and olivine. 

Dark-gray .....................................................................

Sand, medium to coarse, highly pervious, loose, slight bedding 

indicated by variable grain size, well-sorted. Dark-gray ......

Sand, fine; poor to very pervious, loose to firm, interbedded. 

Predominantly a friable fine volcanic sand with numerous 

thin 1/16- to 1-in. interbeds of clay. Dark gray to dark 

greenish-gray ................................................................

Clay, silty; poorly pervious, firm, nonplastic, massive,

moderately well-sorted. Moderate yellowish-brown grading 

to dark greenish-gray......................................................

Sand, very fine; moderately pervious, loose, massive,

well-sorted. Dark-gray...................................................

Clay and sand, interbedded clay and fine sand; interbeds

range from 0.1 to 0.3 ft in thickness...................................

Sand, fine to very fine; moderately pervious, easily friable, 

massive, well-sorted, predominantly light volcanic glass with 

olivine and dark basaltic cinders. Dark-gray ......................

Sand, fine to medium, highly pervious, loose to easily friable, 

slight bedding indicated by variable grain size, well-sorted. 

Dark-gray. A firm silt layer occurs between 83.8-84.0 ft. 

Grades to medium to coarse sand between 85.2 85.9 ft ..........

Sand, fine to medium; loose to easily friable, massive; 

well-sorted; predominantly light volcanic glass with 

olivine. Dark-gray. Very fine sand at 89.5 90.1 ft...............

Sand, fine to very fine; very pervious, easily friable, bedded 

with occasional 1 in. interbeds of highly pervious granule 

gravel. Dark-gray. Grades to medium sand at 98 ft. 

Granule gravel at 93.5-94.2 ft ...........................................

Clay, sandy or with very thin sandy streaks; poorly

pervious, bedded. Predominantly a brittle bentonitic clay. 

Yellowish-brown ............................................................

Sand, coarse; possibly highly pervious, friable.......................

Clay and sand, interbedded clay and medium sand; clay is 

bentonitic, brittle, yellowish-brown. Sand is friable, 

well-sorted. Dark-gray...................................................

Clay and sand, interbedded clay and medium to coarse sand, 

interbeds range from 1 to 2 ft in thickness ..........................

Clay, poorly pervious, brittle, nonplastic, massive,

moderately well-sorted with occasional pumice fragments. 

Light yellowish-brown. Interval includes a medium to 

coarse sand bed at 139-140 ft ...........................................

Clay and sand, interbedded medium sand and brittle clays.

Individual beds range from 1 to 2 ft in thickness ..................

Clay, poorly pervious, brittle, nonplastic. Contains several 

thin interbeds of fine to medium sand, moderately 

well-sorted with occasional pumice fragments. Light 

yellowish-brown .............................................................

Clay, poorly pervious, brittle, nonplastic, moderately 

well-sorted with occasional pumice fragments. Light 

yellowish-brown .............................................................

10

6

10.5

1

2.5

1

8.5

11.5

6

10

9

11

10

57

63

73.5

74.5

77

78

81

89.5

93.5

105

112

114

120

130

139

150

160

167
98 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLFY

Table 8. Drillers' logs and records of wells in Butte Valley, Calif. Continued

Thictness 

(feet)

46/ 1W-1 Al Continued

Clay and sand, interbedded brittle clay and medium sand.

Sand is predominantly volcanic glass with some olivine .......

Clay, poorly pervious, brittle, interbedded gray sandy

clay and light yellowish-brown clay..................................

Sand, fine to medium; highly pervious, loose, massive with 

only occasional thin interbeds of ash cemented material, 

well-sorted predominantly volcanic glass with olivine. 

Dark gray....................................................................

Clay, poorly pervious, nonplastic, massive, medium-gray.......

Clay, soft, nonplastic to slightly plastic, ill-sorted with a

slight fine sand content. Dark greenish-gray.....................

Clay, soft, nonplastic, massive, ill-sorted, contains a

considerable fine sand content. Brownish-gray ..................

Sand, medium to coarse, highly pervious, friable, massive 

moderately well-sorted, chiefly volcanic glass with 

olivine. Several thin clay layers occur between 288 290 ft...

Sand, fine to medium, highly pervious, loose, massive, 

well sorted with only occasional very coarse sand size 

grains. Predominantly light and dark volcanic glass 

with accessory olivine ...................................................

Sand, fine; moderately pervious, loose to friable, massive, 

moderately well-sorted with occasional medium size grains 

and occasional very coarse size pumice fragment. 

Dark gray ...................................................................

Sand, fine to medium; highly pervious, loose to friable,

massive, moderately well-sorted ....................................

Clay, poorly pervious, soft, nonplastic, bedded,

moderately well-sorted with occasional white pumice 

fragments. Interbedded grayish-olive and dark gray clay.....

Clay, poorly pervious, soft, nonplastic, massive, wellsorted. Grayish-black to black .......................................

Clay, poorly pervious, soft, nonplastic, slightly bedded 

with occasional thin 1-in. streaks of sand size pumice. 

Dark-gray becoming interbedded with grayish-olive 

clay near the base .........................................................

Clay, soft, nonplastic, massive, well-sorted with

occasional pumice grains. Dark gray to black ...................

Clay, poorly pervious, soft, nonplastic, ill-sorted with

some fine sand. Light brownish-gray ...............................

Clay, poorly pervious, soft, nonplastic, ill-sorted with

numerous pumice fragments. Olive-gray ..........................

Clay, poorly pervious, soft, nonplastic, moderately wellsorted with occasional white pumice fragments. Olive-gray 

to light brownish-gray ...................................................

Clay, poorly pervious, soft, massive, moderately

well-sorted. Light brownish-gray grading to grayishblack ..........................................................................

Clay, poorly pervious, soft, nonplastic, massive,

moderately well-sorted with only occasional pumice 

fragments. Dark-gray to black .......................................

Clay, poorly pervious, soft, nonplastic, well-sorted. 

Grades from grayish-black to dark greenish-gray 

toward the base ............................................................

3

19

45

6

20

10

20

20

20

10

10

10

20

28

2

10

10

10

20

10
BASIC DATA 99

Table 8. Drillers' logs and records of wells in Butte Valley, Calif. Continued

Thickness 

(feet)

Depth 

(feet)

46/ 1W-1A1 Continued

Clay, poorly pervious, soft, well-sorted. Grayish-black

with occasional streaks of dark greenish-gray ..................

Clay, poorly pervious, soft, well-sorted. Dark-gray

to grayish-black ..........................................................

Clay, poorly pervious with thin pervious pumice streaks,

soft, nonplastic. Grayish-black .....................................

Clay, poorly pervious, soft, ill-sorted with many pumice

grains. Grayish-black .................................................

Clay, nonplastic, ill-sorted, many pumice fragments. Dark 

greenish-gray to olive-gray...........................................

Clay, soft, bedded, moderately well-sorted with occasional 

pumice fragments. Interbedded dark greenish-gray 

and medium bluish-gray clays .......................................

Clay, poorly pervious, soft, slightly bedded, moderately 

well-sorted. Interbedded dark greenish-gray and 

olive-gray clays ..........................................................

Clay, poorly pervious, soft, moderately well-sorted with

some pumice. Dark greenish-gray .................................

Clay, poorly pervious, nonplastic, massive, ill-sorted 

with many pumice and basaltic glass fragments. Dark 

greenish-gray .............................................................

Clay, poorly pervious, nonplastic, massive, ill-sorted 

with many basaltic glass and pumice fragments. Dark 

greenish-gray .............................................................

Clay, poorly pervious, soft to slightly brittle, nonplastic* 

moderately well-sorted. Dark greenish-gray....................

Clay, nonplastic, with occasional layers of slightly brittle 

clay; moderately well to ill-sorted with pumice 

fragments. Dark greenish-gray .....................................

Clay, silty; poorly pervious, nonplastic, massive, ill-sorted 

with considerable silt and some very fine sand. Occasional 

pumice grains and to probable calcareous shell fragments 

noted. Dark greenish-gray ...........................................

Clay, poorly pervious, soft, nonplastic, massive, moderately 

well-sorted with many pumice and basaltic glass shards. 

Olive-gray .................................................................

Clay, silty; poorly pervious, firm, nonplastic, massive, 

moderately well-sorted. Dark greenish-gray. Becomes 

slightly plastic and color changes to olive-gray 

between 731.8-733.50 ft.................................................

10 

SO 

10 

10 

20

10

10 

?0

20

10

30

20

35

10

480

510

520

530

550

560

570

590

610

630

640

670

690

725

735

46/1W-1G1

[C. Cross. On alluvial plain about 4.5 miles northeast of Macdoel. Altitude 4,235 ft. 

Drilled by J. A. Van Meter, 1951]

Alluvium:

Topsoil, mostly wind-blown sand ............

Clay, hard, and sand ............................

Butte Valley basalt:

Lava rock, broken and porous (vesicular) 

Lake deposits:

"Quicksand;" water ..............................

Sand, gravel and pumice; water .............

Sand, black, and pumice mixed ...............

80

95

20

3

8

12

92

187

207
100 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY

Table 8. Drillers' logs and records of wells in Butte Valley, Calif. Continued

Thickness 

(feetv

Depth 

(feet)

46/1W-1P1

[Johnson. On alluvial plain, about 4 miles northeast of Macdoel. Altitude 4,250 ft.

Drilled by Scott Co., 1952]

Alluvium: 

Soil ..............................................................................

Butte Valley basalt: 

Lava, slightly creviced, rotary lost 800 gal of mud

Lake deposits: 

"Chalk" ........................................................................

Sand, black, fine below 200 ft ...............................................

10

30

10

2«1

10

40

50

311

46/1W-12H1

[L. M. Luzzi. On alluvial plain, near basalt-covered surface, about 4.5 miles 

northeast of Macdoel. Altitude 4,260 ft. Drilled by C. F. Enloe, 1951. Cased to 

152 ft, perforated 44-152 ft]

Alluvium: 

Soil ..............................................................................

Butte Valley basalt:

Lake deposits:

8

22

42

8

42

8

10

3

46

8

30

72

80

122

130

140

143

189

46/1W-17B1

[Osborn. On alluvial plain about 0.4 mile north of Macdoel. Altitude 4,244 ft. Drilled

by George Hartley, 1949]

Alluvium:

Butte Valley basalt:

Lake deposits:

10

10

35

15

10

10

20

55

70

80

46/1W-18Q2

[Butte Valley Irrigation District (Frothingham well). On alluvial plain, abcut 1 mile 

west of Macdoel. Altitude 4,248 ft. Drilled by Van Meter Bros., 1931. Cased to 

40 ft. Static water level in February 1931 was about 23 ft below land surface]

Alluvium: 

Sandy soil......................................................................

Lake deposits:

14

10

1

14

24

25
BASIC DATA 101 

Table 8. Drillers' logs and records of wells in Butte Valley, Calif. Continued

Butte Valley basalt:

46/ 1W-18Q2 Continued

Thickness Depth 

(feet) (feet)

6 31

39 70

12 82

46/1W-19J1

[Butte Valley Irrigation District. On alluvial plain, about 1.1 miles south o* Macdoel. 

Altitude 4,250 ft. Drilled by Van Meter Bros., 1931. Cased to 36 ft. Stale water 

level, when drilled, about 26 ft below land surface]

Alluvium: 

Soil..............................................................................

Lake deposits:* 

"Chalk".........................................................................

Sand.............................................................................

"Chalk".........................................................................

Sand .............................................................................

Butte Valley basalt:

13

5

3

5

8

1

11

14

1

13

18

21

26

34

35

46

60

61

46/1W-20D1 

[H. M. Andrus. On alluvial plain, about 0.6 mile south of Macdoel. Altitude 4,246 ft]

Alluvium: 

Soil..............................................................................

Butte Valley basalt: 

Lava..... ........ . . ... ....................................................

Lake deposits: 

Clay .............................................................................

25 

40

25 

65

46/1W-21F1

(C. W. Drew, Jr. On gentle hill slope, near ridge, about 1.1 miles southeast of Macdoel. 

Altitude 4,282 ft. Drilled by C. F. Enloe, 1954. Casing perforated 62-182 ft]

Clay ................................................................................

10 

42 

88 

35 

4 

3

10 

52 

140 

175 

179 

182

46/1W-22K2

[Merle Goode. On basalt-covered surface, about 2.3 miles southeast of Macdoel. 

Altitude 4,272 ft. Drilled by Van Meter Bros., 1937]

Alluvium: 

Soil .............................................................................. 'J '

s.s 7.5
102 QEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY

Table 8. Drillers' logs and records of wells in Butte Valley, Calif. Continued

Thickness 

(feet)

Depth 

(feet)

46/ 1W-22K2 Continued

Butte Valley basalt:

Lake deposits:

"Chalk".........................................................................

10.5

31

9

24

2

6

.5

6.5

15

1

18

49

58

82

84

90

90.5

97

112

113

46/1W-29G1

[Bill Kandra. On low ridge about 1.7 miles south of Macdoel. Altitude 4,2*9 ft. 

Drilled by C. F. Enlpe, 1953. Cased to 82 ft. Perforated 10-82 ft]

Alluvium: 

Topsoil .........................................................................

Butte Valley basalt:

Lake deposits:

14

23

8

21

8

6

24

14

37

45

66

74

80

104

46/1W-31J1

[Butte Valley Irrigation District. On alluvial plain, about 0.7 mile southwrst of Mount 

Hebron. Altitude 4,257 ft. Drilled by Van Meter Bros., 1931. Cased to 52 ft. Static 

water level, when drilled, about 32 ft below land surface]

Soil ..............................................................................

Lake deposits:

"Chalk".........................................................................

Butte Valley basalt:

3

13

10

14

8

3

16.5

6.E

5

7

2

3

16

26

40

48

51

67.5

74

79

86

88

46/1W-32R1

[Southern Pacific Co. On alluvial plain, about 0.6 mile south of Mount Heb^on. 

Altitude 4,255 ft. Drilled by J. Van Meter, 1926-27. Cased to 200 ft. Perforated 

35-105 ft, 135-190 ft. Static water level, when drilled, about 26 ft below land surface]

Alluvium: 

Sandy loam 28 28
BASIC DATA 103

Table 8. Drillers' logs and records of wells in Butte Valley, Calif. Continued

Thickners 

(feet)

Depth 

(feet)

46/1W-32R1 Continued

Butte Valley basalt:

Rock, red ..........................

Lava, black .......................

Lake deposits:

Volcanic cinders, black .......

Clay, sandy, white ..............

Clay, hard .........................

Clay, sandy, white ..............

Clay, sandy, black, cemented

Gravel ..............................

Clay .................................

2

50

22

24

2

17

39

10

21

30

80

102

126

128

145

184

194

215

46/2W-5C1

[Farnum Bros. (Meiss Ranch). On alluvial fan about 6.6 miles west of Macdoel.

Drilled by Buckner, 1946]

Alluvial-fan and lake deposits, undifferentiated: 

Soil .......................................................

Clay, yellow............................................

Boulders ................................................

Clay, yellow............................................

Boulders ................................................

Mud, blue sandy.......................................

Boulders ................................................

Clay, yellow............................................

Boulders ................................................

Clay, yellow............................................

Mud, blue and shells ................................

Clay, gray ..............................................

Boulders ................................................

Sand, brown ............................................

Boulders ................................................

Sand, brown ............................................

Boulders ................................................

Sand, blue and shells ................................

Boulders ................................................

Clay and boulders ....................................

Boulders ................................................

Clay, red ...............................................

Boulders ................................................

Clay, brown ............................................

Boulders, large .......................................

Lava ledge..............................................

Lava boulders, hard..................................

4

5

21

5

7

16

14

11

12

11

6

13

4

11

6

16

22

60

8

43

8

18

6

6

5

2

6

4

9

30

35

42

58

72

83

95

106

112

125

129

140

146

162

184

244

252

295

303

321

327

333

338

340

346

46/2W-9R1

[Farnum Bros. (Meiss Ranch) near edge of hills, about 4.9 miles west of Macdoel. 

Altitude 4,245 ft. Drilled by J. S. Wilson, 1945]

Alluvium and lake deposits, undifferentiated: 

Topsoil ...............................................

Clay, sandy, little water .........................

Chalk, blue .........................................

Gravel ................................................

10

8

17

5

10

18

35

40
104 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY

Table 8. Drillers' logs and records of wells in Butte Valley, Calif. Continued

Thickr^ss 

(feet)

Depth 

(feet)

46/2W-9R1 Continued

Gravel, coarse, water............................

Gravel, brown ......................................

Older volcanic rocks of the"High Cascades". 

Rock, black .........................................

Lava(?) ..............................................

Rock; black .........................................

Red clay and cinders .............................

Lava, gray...........................................

Lava...................................................

3

2

2

4

11

3

8

17

43

45

47

51

62

65

73

90

46/2W-13A1

[Farnum Bro's. (Meiss Ranch). On alluvial plain, about 1.7 miles west of Macdoel. 

Altitude 4,246 ft. Drilled by J. S. Wilson, 1948]

Alluvium:

Topsoil and sand ..................

Butte Valley basalt:

Lava rock, very hard.............

Lake deposits:

Sand, coarse and gravel-water

Gravel, sand and shale...........

40

40

20

175

40

80

100

275

46/2W-23C1

fW. Dixon. On alluvial plain, about 3.1 miles west of Macdoel. Altitude 4,237 ft.

Drilled by Van Meter]

Alluvium and lake deposits, undifferentiated:

Soil .............................................................................. 2.5 2.5

"Hardpan" ..................................................................... 1 3.5

Sand, yellow................................................................... 5.5 9

Mud, volcanic................................................................. 106 115

"Chalk" and pumice......................................................... 20 135

Sand, coarse, and pumice ................................................. .5 135.5

"Chalk"......................................................................... 8.5 144

Sand ............................................................................. 1 145

"Chalk"......................................................................... 67 212

46/2W-25H1

[L. Naught. On alluvial plain, about 2.6 miles southwest of Macdoel. AltHude 4,255 ft]

Alluvium and lake deposits, undifferentiated:

Sand, fine ...................................................................... 33 33

Water sand, with gravel, fine ............................................ 4 37

Sand, fine, with gravel, fine .............................................. 6 43

Water sand, with gravel, fine ............................................ 2 45

Sand, fine ...................................................................... 6 51

"Chalk" and sand ............................................................ 7 58

Water sand, with gravel, fine ............................................ 12 70

"Chalk"......................................................................... 26 96
BASIC DATA 105

Table 8. Drillers' logs and records of wells in Butte Valley, Calif. Continued

Thickness- 

(feet)

Depth 

(feet)

46/2W-25R2

[Butte Valley Irrigation District. On alluvial plain about 3 miles southwest of Macdoel. 

Altitude 4,256 ft. Drilled by J. A. Van Meter, 1950]

Alluvium and lake deposits, undifferentiated:

Butte Valley basalt:

Lake deposits:

3

5

47

13

2

12

5

3

14

5

4

3

3

8

55

68

70

82

87

90

104

109

113

116

46/2W-26F3

[W. Dixon. On alluvial plain, about 3.6 miles southwest of Macdoel. Altitude 4,246 ft. 

Drilled by George Hartley, 1945]

Alluvium and lake deposits,

Clay ...........................

Older volcanic rocks of the

undifferentiated:

"High Cascades'^?).

240 240

5 245

186 431

56 487

46/2W-26J1

[Caruthers. Alluvial plain, about 3.8 miles southwest of Macdoel. Altitude 4,250 ft. 

Drilled by George Hartley, 1952]

Topsoil and sand...........................................................

Sand, coarse and pumice, mixed ......................................

Clay, blue, muck...........................................................

Clay, blue, thin layers fine sand .....................................

Clay, blue, some sand not too much water..........................

Clay, blue, muck ..........................................................

Gravel, some broken lava rock .......................................

Gravel, some porous (vesicular) lava rock, most water here

17

20

3

45

100

15

50

65

17

37

40

85

185

200

250

315

46/2W-35G1

[A. Hoyt. On alluvial plain about 4 miles southwest of Macdoel. Altitude 4,256 ft. 

Drilled by J. A. Van Meter 1954. Cased to 95 ft. Perforated 50-95 ft]

Alluvium and lake deposits, undifferentiated:

5

17

11

8

14

5

22

33

41

55
106 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY

Table 8. Drillers' logs and records of wells in Butte Valley, Calif. Continued

Thickness 

(feet)

Depth 

(feet)

46/2W-35G1 Continued

Alluvium and lake deposits, undifferentiated: Continued

"Chalk" ......................................................................... 2 57

Sand, packed .................................................................. 6 63

"Chalk"......................................................................... 3 66

Sand, packed .................................................................. 11 77

"Chalk" .......................................................................... 12 89

Butte Valley basalt:

Lava, broken ................................................................. 5 94

Lake deposits:

"Chalk," green .............................................................. 13 107

46/2W-36L1

[P. Robinson. On alluvial plain, about 3.6 miles southwest of Macdoel. Altitude 

4,257 ft. Drilled by George Hartley, 1946. Static water level, when drilled, about 

37 ft below land surface]

Alluvium:

Soil and gravel ............................................................... 61 61

Butte Valley basalt:

Lava, shattered .............................................................. ?0 91

Lake deposits:

Clay ............................................................................. ?9 130

Sand, black .................................................................... 1 131

Clay ............................................................................. 19 150

47/1E-31A1

[Dalton and Wilkerson. On alluvial plain about 6.4 miles northeast of Macdoel. Altitude 

4,246 ft. Drilled by C. F. Enloe, 1952. Casing perforated 70-300 ft]

Sand and clay with occasional sand streak .............................. 260 260

Sand, coarse, and pumice .................................................... 20 280

"Quicksand," black............................................................. 40 320

47/1E-32A1

[K. Holbrook. On alluvial plain, near foot of Mahogany Mountain. Altitude 4,250 ft. 

Drilled by C. F. Enloe, 1952. Casing perforated 65-265 ft]

Sand and clay mixed, more sand than clay, last 60 80 ft

coarse sand, bottomed in basalt ........................................ 265 265

47/1W-1A2

[Southern Pacific Co. On alluvial plain, about 1 mile south of Dorris. Altitude 4,238 ft. 

12-in. casing 0-201 ft, 8-in. liner 90-250 ft. Perforated at 90-250 ft]

Sandy loam (water surface 26 ft) .......................................... 40 40

Clay, gray ........................................................................ 83 123

Sand, black, fine ................................................................ 37 160

Clay, gray, and streaks of sand ............................................ SO 250
BASIC DATA 107 

Table 8. Drillers' logs and records of welts in Butte Valley, Calif. Continued

Thickness 

(feet)

Depth 

(feet)

47/1W-4D1

[U. S. Bureau of Reclamation. On alluvial plain about 4 miles west of Dorris. Altitude 

4,242 ft. Drilled by U. S. Bureau of Reclamation, 1954. Hole logged by B, J. Rongey, 

geologist, USER]

Silt, fine sandy; friable to firm, massive, ill-sorted, slight clay 

content, noncalcareous. Light brownish-gray.......................

Clay, silty, fine sandy; firm and locally quite hard, massive with 

only occasional root holes, ill-sorted, slightly calcareous.......

Silt, very fine to fine sandy; moderately pervious, friable, massive, moderately well-sorted, slightly calcareous. Moderate 

yellowish-brown..............................................................

Sand, very fine, silty; moderately pervious, friable, massive, 

moderately well-sorted, variable clay content. Predominantly 

grains of light volcanic glass, calcareous. Moderate 

yellowish-brown..............................................................

Silt, very fine sandy; poorly to moderately pervious, friable, 

massive, ill-sorted, very slight clay content. This section 

appears to be predominantly volcanic ash. Numerous vertical 

gas vesicles, slightly calcareous. Light yellowish-brown.......

Clay, poorly pervious, brittle, massive. Light yellowish-brown...

Sand, coarse to very coarse; highly pervious, loose, massive, 

moderately well-sorted. Predominantly light pumice fragments, calcareous. Moderate yellowish-brown......................

Sand, fine to very fine, silty; poorly to moderately pervious, 

friable, massive, ill-sorted, may have a slight clay content. 

Appears to be predominantly volcanic glass, calcareous, small 

vertical gas vesicles present. Light yellowish-brown grading 

to dark greenish-gray at 30.2 ft..............................;...........

Sand, very fine, silty; poorly to slightly pervious, friable, massive, ill-sorted to moderately well-sorted, variable silt 

content, occasional pumice fragment to medium sand size, 

many vertical gas vesicles, calcareous. Dark greenish-gray....

Silt, clayey, fine sandy; friable, nonplastic, slightly brecciated 

near base, ill-sorted. Core indicated the brecciated section 

was inplace. Occasional gas hole, slightly calcareous to highly 

caleareous. Dark greenish-gray.........................................

Clay, poorly pervious, brittle, brecciated near base, nonplastic, 

calc.areous......................................................................

Silt, poorly pervious, finn,massive, moderately well-sorted, 

exclusively volcanic glass. Several vertical gas vesicles present. Gastropod valve noted at 42.0 ft. Dark greenish-gray, 

calcareous ......................................................................

Clay, silty; poorly pervious, brittle, nonplastic, has been brecciated in place then slightly reindurated, moderately wellsorted, calcareous. Dark greenish-gray...............................

Silt, clayey; poorly pervious, massive, brittle to friable, moderately well-sorted, variable clay content, calcareous. Dark 

greenish-gray..................................................................

Clay, silty; massive to slightly brecciated, moderately wellsorted, many medium to coarse size pumice fragments at 

49.5 ft, slightly calcareous. Dark greenish-gray....................

Clay, silty, poorly pervious, brittle, moderately well-sorted. 

Medium-gray with streaks of dark greenish-gray...................

Silt, very fine, sandy; poorly pervious, firm, massive, moderately well-sorted, slight clay content. Numerous gas holes, 

slightly calcareous. Medium-gray to dark greenish-gray........

10

4.5 

2.5

3.5

3.5

4.5

2.5

3

5

10

20

24.5

27

30.5

34.5

36.5

40

44.5

45.5

48

50

59

61

66

546199 O i
108 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY

Table 8. Drillers' logs and records of veils in Butte Valley, Calif. Continued

Thickness 

(fee*.)

Depth 

(feet)

47 / 1W-4D1 Continued

Clay, silty; poorly pervious, firm, massive, moderately wellsorted, slightly calcareous, gas vesicles present. Medium 

gray to dark greenish-gray................................................

Clay, poorly pervious, firm brittle, nonplastic, massive, wellsorted, slightly calcareous. Light brownish-gray ..................

Clay, silty; poorly pervious, friable to slightly plastic, massive, 

moderately well-sorted. Slight carbonaceous content, noncalcareous. Medium dark-gray..........................................

Silt, very fine sandy; poorly pervious, friable, massive, moderately well-sorted, very slightly calcareous. Grades downward 

to a soft silt (core loss in this interval). Medium dark-gray....

Silt, interbedded silt, clayey silt and very fine sandy silt.

6-in. to 1-ft interbeds with gradational boundaries. Mediumgray grading to medium dark gray on base...........................

Clay, poorly pervious, friable to very slightly plastic, wellsorted. Contains several thin interbeds of black carbonaceous 

clay. Several half-inch pumice beds. Light brownish-gray......

Silt, very fine sandy; poorly pervious, friable, massive, moderately well-sorted.............................................................

Clay, silty; poorly pervious, massive, well-sorted. Moderate 

olive-brown grading downward to medium dark-gray..............

Clay, interbedded moderate olive-brown and dark greenish-gray 

clays; poorly pervious. Occasional interbeds of medium-gray, 

brittle clay. Many pumice fragments noted do not appear to 

be interbedded.................................................................

Clay, bedded, well-sorted. Medium-gray with occasional thin 

streaks of dark greenish-gray. Several pumice fragments 

noted.............................................................................

Clay, massive, well-sorted. Medium-gray with occasional light 

brownish-gray streaks......................................................

Clay, poorly pervious, bedded with layers of medium-gray and 

dark greenish-gray clay. Occasional white shell fragment 

present..........................................................................

Clay, poorly pervious, massive. Very hard and brittle between 

144-146 ft. Medium-gray..................................................

Clay, poorly pervious, well-sorted with occasional pumice fragments of medium to coarse sand size. Interbedded mediumgray and dark greenish-gray..............................................

Clay, very fine sandy; poorly pervious, massive, moderately 

well-sorted with grains of black basaltic glass. Several thin 

shell fragments noted. Dark greenish-gray..........................

Clay, similar to bed at 160-170.,......,.,........ ,.,...,. ,.........,.,.,

Clay, poorly pervious, bedded, well-sorted. Olive-gray at ISO182 ft. Dark greenish-gray at 182-186 ft. Medium-gray at 

186 190 ft. Numerous shell fragments throughout the interval.

Clay, poorly pervious, massive, well-sorted. Predominantly 

light olive-brown becoming interbedded downward with 

medium-gray..................................................................

Clay, soft, plastic, bedded, well-sorted, occasional pumice 

grains and gastropod shell fragments. Light olive-brown interbedded with medium-gray..............................................

Clay, soft, quite plastic, massive, well-sorted with only occasional pumice fragments to coarse sand size. Numerous thin 

walled gastropod shell fragments. Light olive brown..............

Clay, interbedded clay as at 220-225 ft with medium-gray and 

dark greenish-gray clays. The latter is quite firm, but 

brittle. Many shell fragments at this interval.......................

4.5 

3

6.5

3.5

2

2.5

6

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

20

70.5

73.5

81

86

89.5

91.5

94

100

110

120

130

140

150

160

170

180

190

200

220

225

230
BASIC DATA 109

Table 8. Drillers' logs and records of wells in Butte Valley, Calif. Continued

Thickness 

' (feet)

Depth 

(feet)

47/ 1W-4D1 Continued

Clay, interbedded clay as at 220-225 ft with medium-gray and 

dark greenish-gray clays. The latter is quite firm, but

Clay, soft, plastic, fairly massive, well-sorted, occasional

Clay, soft, plastic, well-sorted. Many thin walled shell fragments throughout the interval. Light olive-brown at 260 267ft 

changing to medium dark-gray between 267 270 ft.................

Clay, soft, plastic, massive, well-sorted. Light olive-brown.

Clay, soft, massive, well-sorted with only occasional pumice

Clay, soft, massive, well-sorted, occasional shell and pumice 

fragments. Light olive-brown............................................

Clay, soft, bedded, well-sorted, thin interbeds of soft light 

brownish-gray clay in a section of predominantly light-olive 

clays.............................................................................

Clay, 330 336 ft is similar to previous interval, changing to a 

brittle, well-sorted, medium-gray clay at 336 340 ft.............

Clay, as previous interval. Light-olive at 340 342 ft changing to 

medium-gray at 342-345 ft, changing to dark greenish-gray at 

345-350 ft. Cuttings are soft, but their size indicates a firm 

or brittle clay.................................................................

Clay, soft to moderately friable, bedded, well-sorted, many thin 

walled shell fragments in this interval. Thin interbeds of 

medium-gray to dark-gray clay in a predominant light-olive 

section..........................................................................

Clay, friable, well-sorted, grades from material similar at 

350 360 ft downward to a friable to soft medium dark-gray 

clay. Abundant shell fragments throughout the interval..........

Clay, at 370-378 ft medium dark-gray to dark greenish-gray, 

friable to soft, moderately well-sorted, occasional thin shell 

fragments. Between 378-380 ft the clay becomes brittle, firm, 

well-sorted, medium dark-gray .........................................

Clfey, friable to slightly brittle, massive, ill-sorted, slight silt 

and very fine sand content, numerous thin walled shell fragments. Becomes quite soft at 387 390 ft. Dark greenish-gray. 

Basaltic tuff, interlayered hard and soft drilling. Cuttings indicate abundant cinder with dark greenish-gray clay fragments.. 

Basaltic tuff, firm drilling, fragments of volcanic cinders and 

occasional pieces of dark greenish-gray clay present, PerWelded basaltic tuff, firm to hard, locally brecciated, considerable pore space. Post-depositional solutions have caused considerable alteration adjacent to all lines of fracture. Alteration products appear to be bluish-green and light greenishgray clay materials with numerous crystals and crystal clusters of possible chalcoprite. Throughout much of the unaltered 

areas the vesicular cavities are lined with a thin film of colloidal azure blue material with a slightly reniform structure.. 

Basalt, cuttings indicate hard to brittle fragments of both cinders 

and firm basalt, drills quite hard. Red cinder types are 

absent throughout this interval............................................

Basalt, dark-gray to black; hard, rings when struck. Slightly 

vesicular. Vesicles occasionally exhibit a mineral lining of 

probable azurite. Aphanitic with occasional altered crystals 

of questionable olivine. No visible felspars. Lower part of

5

25

10

20

10

20

10

10

10

10

10

10

10 

10

10

30 

10

235

260

270

290

300

320

330

340

350

360

370

380

390 

400

410

440 

450
110 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY

Table 8. Drillers' logs and records of wells in Butte Valley, Calif. Continued

Thickness 

(fee*)

Depth 

(feet)

47/ 1W-4D1 Continued

interval becomes increasingly vesicular. Vertical fracturing 

occurs with the fracture surfaces lined with calcareous

10 460

47/1W-9D1

[U. S. Bureau of Reclamation. On alluvial plain about 4.5 miles southwest of Dorris. 

Altitude 4,243 ft. Drilled by U. S. Bureau of Reclamation, 1954. Hole logged by 

R. J. Rongey, geologist, USER]

Sand, fine to very fine, silty; easily friable, massive, ill-sorted,

Clay, silty, very fine to fine sandy; brittle, thinly bedded. Many 

small vertical gas vesicles present, ill-sorted, calcareous,

Sand, fine to very fine, silty; friable, massive, ill-sorted, variable silt content, slightly calcareous, composed of light colored volcanic glass fragments. Moderate yellowish-brown.........

Sand, coarse to very coarse, silty; moderately pervious, loose,

Clay, silty; poorly pervious, friable, nonplastic, calcareous.

Sand, very fine; poor to moderately pervious, loose to friable,

Silt, fine to very fine sandy; poor to moderately pervious, 

friable, massive, ill-sorted, calcareous.. ............................

Silt, friable, nonplastic, massive, well-sorted, very slight

Clay, firm brittle, nonplastic, massive, well-sorted, calcareous, 

possible diatomaceous. Dusky-yellow .................................

Silt, very fine sandy; poorly friable to firm, massive, moderately 

well to ill-sorted, predominantly shards of volcanic glass.

Clay, silty; friable to very firm and brittle nonplastic, massive, 

calcareous, moderately well-sorted. Abundant well-preserved

Sand, fine to very fine, silty; moderately pervious, friable, massive, moderately well-sorted. Primarily very fine glass 

shards. Many vertical gas vesicles with some secondary carClay, silty; brittle, slightly bedded with streaks of fine sandy 

clay, moderately well-sorted, slightly calcareous, many gas 

vesicles. Grades from dusky-yellow to dark greenish-gray at 

33 ft..............................................................................

Silt, clayey, fine sandy; brittle, slightly bedded, ill-sorted, variable clay content. Occasional narrow-banded concentrations of 

fine sand. Many small vertical gas vesicles. Gastropod valve

Clay, silty, sandy; brittle, massive, ill-sorted, variable silt content, calcareous. Considerable fine pumice scattered throughout. Dark greenish-gray. ..................................................

Silt, poorly pervious, friable, massive, well-sorted, slightly 

calcareous. Predominantly very finely divided glass shards 

with some fish scales noted. Dark greenish-gray ..................

Clay, pumaceous; friable to brittle, massive, ill-sorted. Clay 

with many granule size pumice grains imbedded. Several fish 

scales and a small fish vertebrate noted. Dark greenish-gray.

2

3

5

.5

.5

3

1.5

3.5

1.5

3

5

6.5

3.5

1.5

1.5

.5

2

5

10

10.5

11

11.5

14.5

16

20.5

22

25

30

36.5

40

41.5

43

43.5
BASIC DATA 111

Table 8. Drillers' logs and records of wells in Butte Valley, Calif. Continued

Thicknesr 

(feet)

Depth 

(feet)

47/ 1W-9D1 Continued

Silt, clayey; friable to slightly brittle, massive, calcareous, moderately well-sorted, variable clay content. Dark greenish-gray

Clay, poorly pervious, brittle, slightly brecciated, well-sorted, 

calcareous. Contains a 0.4-ft bed of fine silt at 48.0 ft. Dark 

greenish-gray.................................................................

Sand, medium; poor to moderately pervious, friable, massive, 

calcareous, well-sorted. This sand composed entirely of brittle clay fragments which appear to have been slightly water 

worn. Dark greenish-gray ................................................

Clay, silty; poorly pervious, brittle, brecciated, non to slightly 

calcareous, moderately well-sorted. Dark greenish-gray with 

a 1-in. reddish-brown oxidized layer on the base..................

Silt, poor to slightly pervious, friable, massive, well-sorted. 

Contains several thin 1/32-in. beds of fine volcanic sand. 

Dark greenish-gray grading to dark-gray near the base..........

Clay, brittle, somewhat brecciated, nonplastic, well-sorted. Dark 

coloration suggests some carbonaceous material. Light olivegray to medium-gray.......................................................

Clay, poorly pervious, brittle, nonplastic, bedded, well-sorted. 

Contains thin 1/8- to 1/4 in. interbeds of dark-gray and light 

brownish-gray which probably relate to, a variable bentonite 

content.........................................................................

Clay, poorly pervious, brittle nonplastic, brecciated, wellsorted. Dark-gray...........................................................

Silt, slightly clayey; friable to brittle, thin bedding indicated by 

color variations, well-sorted. Appears to be finely divided 

glass shards. Contains a very coarse sand-size pumice beds 

at 72-73 ft and 76.6-76.8 ft which have extremely high permeabilities. Occasional fish scales, abundant gas vesicles. Olivegray to dark greenish-gray................................................

Sand, very fine, silty; firm to poorly friable, ill-sorted, variable 

silt content......................................................................

Silt, clayey, very fine sandy; friable, massive, ill-sorted, noncalcareous. Olive-gray.....................................................

Clay, silty; friable, nonplastic, bedded, well-sorted. Appears to 

be a thick bed of fine volcanic ash thinly bedded with 1/16- to 

1/8-in. bentonitic layers. Light brownish-gray......................

Sand, very fine; poor to slightly pervious, friable, well-bedded 

with silty very fine sand layers and a thin 1/4-in. peat bed at 

86.5 ft. Dark-gray............................................................

Clay, poorly pervious, friable, nonplastic, massive, well-sorted. 

Olive-gray with a dark yellowish-brown bed of clayey silt at 

90.2-90.4 ft.....................................................................

Silt, clayey; friable to slightly plastic, massive on top becoming 

clayey and brecciated toward the base, moderately wellsorted. Grayish-black........................................................

Clay, poorly pervious, friable, becoming slightly plastic near the 

base, massive, calcareous, well-sorted. Greenish-gray...........

Silt, clayey; friable, nonplastic, bedding indicated by numerous 

1/16- to 1/4-in. beds. Silty clay layers, well-sorted. Light 

brownish-gray grading to greenish-gray toward 100 ft.............

Clay, firm, brittle, contains numerous pumice fragments and may 

include several thin pumice beds. Dark greenish-gray to moderate yellowish-brown........................................................

Clay, lost circulation, no cuttings available. Probably as at 120- 

130 ft with several thin pumice beds.....................................

2.5

6.5

1.5

6.5

4.5

7

3,5

1.5

4.5 

2

3.5

10

10

46

52.5

53.5

55

61.5

66

70

77

80.5

.82

86

87

90

94.5

96.5

100

110

120
112 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLE"r

Table 8. Drillers' logs and records of wells in Butte Valley, Calif. Continued

Thickness 

(feet)

Depth 

(feet)

47/ 1W-9D1 Continued

Silt, clayey; bedded, well-sorted, fine sand beds at 120.1-120.2 

and 122.5-123.1 ft............................................................. 6 126

47/1W-13G1

[E. Harrison. On alluvial plain about 3.5 miles south of Dorris. Altitude 4,236 ft. 

Drilled by J. A. Van Meter, 1952. Casing perforated 36-48 ft, 60-72 ft, 108-208 ft]

Alluvium and lake deposits, undifferentiated: 

Soil ..............................................................................

"Chalk".........................................................................

"Chalk".........................................................................

2

3.5

8.5

7

4

73

16

22

16

11

4

10

30

2

5.5

14

21

25

98

114

136

152

163

167

177

207

47/1W-14B1

[U. S. Bureau of Reclamation. On alluvial plain, about 3.4 miles south of Dorris. 

Altitude 4,234 ft. Drilled by George Hartley, 1951. Cased to 50 ft, perforated 

35.5 ft. Static level, when drilled, about 19 ft below land surface]

Soil ................................................................................. 3

4

32

.2

10.8

3

7

39

39.2

50

47/1W-23A1

[E. Harrison. On alluvial plain, about 4.3 miles south of Dorris. Altitude 4,236 ft. 

Drilled by J. A. Van Meter, 1952]

Alluvium and lake deposits, undifferentiated:

"Chalk" .........................................................................

Sand, fine ......................................................................

1

9

6

9

15

15

7

6

4

12

12

9

15

4

12

1

10

16

25

40

55

62

68

72

84

96

105

120

124

136
BASIC DATA 113

Table 8. Drillers' logs and records of wells in Butte Valley, Calif. Continued

Thickness 

(feet)

Depth 

(feet)

4T/1W-24C1

[A. L. Hardman. On alluvial plain, about 4.3 miles south of Dorris. Altitude 4,238 ft. 

Drilled by J. A. Van Meter, 1953. Cased to 172 ft. Static water level, when drilled, 

about 18 ft below land surface]

Alluvium and lake deposits, undifferentiated:

"Chalk".........................................................................

2.5

1.5

20

9

1

5

9

3

16

56

2

42

23

2.5

4

24

33

34

39

48

51

67

123

125

167

190

47/1W-31G1

[U. S. Bureau of Reclamation. On alluvial plain about 3.5 miles northwest of Macdoel. 

Altitude 4,235 ft. Drilled by U. S. Bureau of Reclamation, 1954. Hole logged by 

R. J. Rongey, USER]

Sand, silty; moderately pervious, easily friable, ill-sorted, sand ' 

ranges from medium to very fine size, calcareous. Mediumbrownish-gray.................................................................

Silt, clayey, sandy; poorly pervious, moderately to poorly friable; ill-sorted, sand ranges to medium size, calcareous. 

Moderate yellowish-brown.................................................

Sand, fine to very fine; moderately to highly pervious, at 5.0 

5.6 ft clayey and moderately friable; at 5.6 7.1 ft loose, moderately well-sorted and composed of dark basaltic glass. Clay 

layer at 7.1-8.1 ft............................................................

Sand, coarse to very coarse, highly pervious, loose, massive, 

moderately well-sorted, small amount of fine and medium 

sand. Predominantly volcanic glass with some felspar, olivine 

and possible hypersthene...................................................

Sand, very fine to medium; moderately to highly pervious, interbedded with silty phases, moderately well-sorted, consists 

of dark basaltic glassy sand. Dark greenish-gray to moderate 

yellowish-brown..............................................................

Clay, silty; poorly pervious, brittle, easily brecciated, no plasticity. Appears to be composed of volcanic ash and diatomite, 

calcareous. Gray.............................................................

Silt and sand, silts are clayey and sands, fine and silty, silts are 

plastic and sands are easily friable and moderately previous. 

Interbedded. Occur as interbeds 2 to 4 in. thick. Silty intervals 

carry much volcanic ash, calcareous...................................

Silt, very fine sandy with occasional clayey interbeds; poorly 

pervious, bedded, friable, ill-sorted, no volcanic ash, 

calcareous......................................................................

Silt, slightly clayey and sandy; poorly pervious, brecciated, nonplastic, ill-sorted with grains of dark glassy basaltic sand. 

Dark-greenish gray, calcareous.........................................

7.5

3.5

2.5

3.5

14.5

18

20.5

24.5

28

29
114 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY

Table 8. Drillers' logs and records of wells in Butte Valley, Calif. Continued j

Thickness 

(fe-.t)

Depth 

(feet)

47/ 1W-31G1 Continued

Sand, fine to medium; highly pervious, lost considerable drilling 

fluid at 34.0 ft. No core recovery this interval......................

Silt, clayey, fine sandy; poorly pervious, massive, slightly plastic, contains numerous dark-brown fish scales. Medium 

olive-gray.......................................................................

Clay, silty, fine sandy; slightly plastic, massive, ill-sorted, 

contains numerous small freshwater gastropod shells.............

Sand, very fine, silty; moderately pervious, loose, contains

many small gas vesicles 1/32-in. diam., occasional thin interbeds of fine sandy silt 1/2 to 2 in. thick with gradational contacts. May contain much carbonaceous material, calcareous. 

Medium dark-gray............................................................

Silt, very fine sandy and clayey; contains much volcanic ash, 

shell fragments...............................................................

Sand, fine to very fine; moderately pervious, loose to friable, 

bedded with silty layers containing gas vesicles, moderately 

well-sorted, variable silt content, chiefly composed volcanic 

glass fragments, calcareous. Dark greenish-gray to black. 

Grades to coarse sand near the base. Calcareous..................

Sand, very fine, silty; loose, bedded in 6-in. intervals as indicated by a variable silt content. Many small gastropod 

shells. Clay at 57.2-57.7 ft................................................

Silt, fine and very fine sandy; poorly pervious, friable, illsorted, variable clay content. Contains numerous shell fragments; gas vesicles. Dark greenish-gray.............................

Clay, silty; poorly pervious, brittle, nonplastic, massive^moderately well-sorted, occasional thin one-sixteenth-in. streaks of 

very fine volcanic sand. Clay appears to be predominantly 

volcanic ash. Many small vertical gas vesicles, calcareous. 

Dark-gray.......................................................................

Silt, very fine sandy; poorly pervious, friable, nonplastic, bedded 

with occasional thin clayey silt and silty fine sand lenses. Illsorted with some clay and fine sand. Occasional fish scales 

and calcareous shell fragments, calcareous. Dark greenishgray to medium dark-gray.................................................

Clay, silty; poor to moderately pervious, very brittle, highly 

brecciated, moderately well-sorted, appears diatomaceous, 

calcareous. Medium dark-gray..........................................

Silt, fine sandy; poorly pervious, friable, well-bedded with thin 

clayey silt layers 1/4 to 1/2 in. thick, silty very fine sand 

layers 1 to 2 in. thick. Moderately well-sorted. Appears to 

contain much volcanic ash at 84.8 85.8 ft. Occasional small, 

platy, metallic fragments noted. Dark greenish-gray.............

Silt, very fine to fine sandy; poorly pervious, friable to brittle, 

bedded with 2- to 4-in. sandy and clayey intervals. Occasional 

concentrations of oxidized organic debris. Large fish scales 

and shell fragments noted at 87.4 ft; 4 in. of volcanic ash at 

88 ft. Many small, silver, metallic particles noted throughout 

the interval. Dark gray grading to dark olive-brown at 91.0 ft. 

Very fine sand at 85.8 86.5 ft, calcareous............................

Clay, silty;.firm to brittle, slightly bedded with thin 1/4- to 1/8-in. 

streaks of light-colored, glassy, volcanic sand. Clay appears 

to be 100 percent bentonite. Contains many threadlike plant 

remains (tules?) dark olive-gray........................................

5 

1.5

10

3.5

3.5

3.5 

6.5
BASIC DATA 115

Table 8. Drillers' logs and records of wells in Butte Valley, Calif. Continued

Thickness 

(feet)

Depth 

(feet)

47/1W-31G1 Continued

Silt, clayey, fine sandy; poorly pervious, slightly plastic, massive, ill-sorted. Contains a 0.3 ft concentration of oxidized 

organic material at 98 ft. Occasional shell fragment and fish 

scale present. Many threadlike leaf materials throughout the 

interval. Slight odor of H2 S noted. Dark-gray......................

Clay, silty; poorly pervious, slightly plastic, slight bedding indicated by sandy clay intervals, moderately well-sorted, some 

fine sand present. May be quite diatomaceous. 

Note: A determination of the CaCO3 contents of the cutting 

samples by the HC1 test was unsatisfactory because of high 

degree of drilling-fluid contamination..................................

Clay, silty, fine sandy; poorly pervious, plastic, moderately 

well-sorted. Medium-gray................................................

Sand, fine to very fine, silty; poorly pervious, hard, moderately 

well-sorted, carbonate cemented.........................................

Clay, silty; poorly pervious, plastic, well-sorted. Medium

dark-gray........................................................................

Clay, silty; plastic, well-sorted, occasional streaks of light 

brownish-gray bentonite clay. Dark greenish-gray to light 

brownish-gray.................................................................

Clay, well -sorted. Predominantly light brownish-gray bentonitic 

material.........................................................................

Clay, well-sorted. Predominantly light brownish-gray bentonitic 

material. Becomes interlayered with dark greenish-gray clays 

at 174-178 ft. Pumice fragments at 176 ft. Occasional shell 

fragments and fish scales throughout the interval..................

Clay, well-sorted bentonitic, occasional pumice fragment. Light 

brownish-gray................................................................

Clay, interbedded light brownish-gray bentonitic clay and dark 

greenish-gray clays between 193 197 ft. Dark-gray clay at 

197-198 ft......................................................................

Clay, soft, bedded, well-sorted. Interlayered light brownish-gray 

bentonitic clay and dark greenish-gray clay. Occasional 

pumice fragment............................................................

Clay, soft, well-sorted. Predominantly dark-gray clay in upper 

part of interval grading to light brownish-gray clay at 212 ft....

Clay, well-sorted, dark-gray to brownish-gray clay with a

slight purple tint..............................................................

Clay, soft, bedded, moderately well-sorted. Interbedded dark 

greenish-gray and light brownish-gray clays. Occasional shell 

and pumice fragment.........................................................

Clay, soft, massive, moderately well-sorted, occasional very 

fine to fine sand grains, fish scales and shell fragments. Few 

pumice fragments. Medium-gray to medium bluish-gray.........

Clay, soft, moderately well-sorted to ill-sorted with scattered 

sand grains to medium size, chiefly dark basaltic glass fragments. Considerable light brownish-gray bentonitic material 

in this interval. Few shell fragments and fish scales. Lightgray to light brownish-gray................................................

Clay, soft, bedded,, well-sorted. Interbedded light brownish-gray 

bentonitic clay and dark greenish-gray clay. Occasional fish 

scale and shell fragment. Few glassy basalt fragments...........

Clay, silty; massive, occasional shell fragment. Dark greenishgray......................................................... ......................

3

29

2

4

20

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

20

10

10

20

10

100

103

132

134

138

158

168

178

188

198

208

218

228

258

268

278

298

308
116 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY

Table 8. Drillers' logs and records of wells in Butte Valley, Calif. Continued

Thickness 

(feet)

Depth 

(feet)

47/1W-31G1 Continued

Clay, soft, bedded, moderately well-sorted with some silt. Occasional shell fragment and fish scale. Greenish-gray to dark 

greenish-gray..................................................................

Clay, soft, bedded, moderately well-sorted with occasional 

grains of dark basaltic glass. Interlayered greenish-gray and 

medium light gray clays with the latter becoming predominant 

toward bottom of interval...................................................

Clay, soft, massive, moderately well-sorted, occasional calcareous shell fragment. Dark greenish-gray.............................

Clay, slightly plastic, bedded, moderately well-sorted with occasional shell fragments. At 362 ft a 6- to 12-in. layer of white 

pumice fragments, possibly quite pervious............................

Clay, massive, interbedded greenish-gray and light-gray...........

Clay, soft, bedded, well-sorted. Dark-gray to black clay with 

occasional streaks of medium-gray clay. The black clays may 

or may not be organic; may possibly be finely divided basaltic 

glass?............................................................................

Clay, soft, bedded, well-sorted. Predominantly black sticky 

clay, but includes thin interbeds of dark greenish-gray clay.....

Clay, soft, massive, well-sorted. Contains many white calcareous shell fragments, occasional pumice particle. Black to 

dark-gray.......................................................................

Clay, soft, massive, well-sorted. Black clay with occasional 

shell fragments. Binocular microscope observations suggest 

that these black clays consist of dark basaltic glass fragments.

Clay, soft, bedded, moderately well-sorted. Contains occasional 

pumice and shell fragments. Dark gray to black. Interbedded 

with dark greenish-gray clays at 468-478 ft..........................

Clay, slightly plastic, bedded, moderately well-sorted, occasional black basaltic glass fragment and white shell particle. Interlayered black and dark greenish-gray.....................

10

10

20

30

10

30

20

318

338

358

368

378

388

408

438

448

478

498

47/1W-31N2

[Farnum Bros. (Meiss Ranch). On alluvial plain near Meiss Lake, about 3.2 miles 

northwest of Macdoel. Altitude 4,234 ft. Drilled by C. F. Enloe, 1952. Cased 

to 52 ft]

Alluvium and lake deposits, undifferentiated; 

Soil and clay....................................................................

Butte Valley basalt:

Lake deposits: 

Clay...............................................................................

49

32

6

49

81

87

47/1W-32R1

[U. S. Bureau of Reclamation. On alluvial plain, about 3 miles north of M-rcdoel. 

Altitude 4,238 ft. Drilled by U. S. Bureau of Reclamation, 1954. Hole logged by 

R. J. Rongey, geologist, USER]

Sand, fine to very fine; moderately pervious, loose, massive, 

moderately well-sorted, some silt and occasional medium sand 

grains. Lower portion is calcareous. Light-gray...................

Sand, fine to very fine; silty, poorly pervious, friable to firm, 

massive, ill-sorted, calcareous. Moderate yellowish-brown....
BASIC DATA 117

Table 8. Drillers' logs and records of wells in Butte Valley, Calif. Continued

Thickness 

(feet)

Depth 

(feet)

47/1W-32R1 Continued

Silt, fine to very fine sandy; poor to moderately pervious, friable, massive, ill-sorted. Sand grains are predominantly light 

volcanic glass. Occasional centers of MnO2 staining. Calcareous. Dusky yellow to moderate yellowish-brown..................

Sand, fine to medium; moderately to highly pervious, loose to 

easily friable, moderately well-sorted. Predominantly volcanic glass fragments. Calcareous. Moderate yellowishbrown............................................................................

Clay, silty; poorly pervious, friable to brittle, nonplastic, moderately well-sorted. Appears to be entirely finely divided volcanic ash slightly calcareous in spots. Light brownish-gray...

Sand, fine to medium; loose, massive, moderately well-sorted, 

highly pervious. Consists of dark-gray and black volcanic 

glassy sand, light glassy material and carbonate fragments. 

Dark greenish-gray.........................................................

Sand, fine to very fine, silty; poorly pervious, friable, massive, 

ill-sorted, high silt content, calcareous. Dark greenish-gray..

Silt, clayey, fine sandy; poorly pervious, friable to brittle, brecciated, ill-sorted, calcareous. Olive-gray............................

Sand, fine to medium; highly pervious, loose, massive, wellsorted. Fragments of clear volcanic glass, olivine and 

possibly hypersthene, occasional felspars, many dark basaltic 

cinders with a reddish irridescent surface. Calcareous.........

Silt, clayey; poorly pervious, friable to firm, massive, well to 

ill-sorted, carries occasional pumice fragments to 1/8-in. 

diameter. Slightly calcareous............................................

Sand, fine to very fine. Loose, bedded with slightly silty phases 

1 to 2 in. thick, moderately well-sorted, variable silt content. Occasional shell fragment. Olive-gray. Becomes calcareous and well-cemented at 32.2 32.8 ft................................

Sand, interbedded fine to very coarse; highly pervious, firm to 

hard, moderately well-sorted. Consists of interbedded fine to 

medium and coarse volcanic cinders with large interstitial 

pore spaces. Black..........................................................

Silt, fine to very fine sandy, clayey; firm, massive, poorly

pervious, very ill-sorted, calcareous..................................

Silt, poor to moderately pervious, loose to easily friable, no 

plasticity, very well-sorted, appears to be a basaltic cinder 

ash. Dark-gray...............................................................

Clay, poorly pervious, nonplastic, massive, firm, very wellsorted, no apparent clay minerals, probably only ash and 

diatomite. Medium-gray...................................................

Sand, medium to very coarse with occasional granules; highly 

pervious, loose, moderately well-sorted. Consists almost 

wholly of dark-gray to black volcanic cinders. Dark-gray......

Clay, poorly pervious, firm, nonplastic, well-sorted. Darkgray. Interbedded very fine sand and clay at 54.5 55.3..........

Silt, clayey, fine sandy; poorly pervious, moderately friable, 

massive, ill-sorted, calcareous, many shell fragments. Many 

1/16- to 1/32-in. gas vesicles. Dark-greenish-gray..............

Clay, poor to moderately pervious, brittle, highly brecciated, 

well-sorted, calcareous. Dark greenish-gray.......................

Clay, silty, very fine sandy, poorly pervious, non to slightly 

plastic, bedded with several 1/2- to 1-in fine volcanic sand 

lenses. Calcareous. Many shell fragments. Several vertical 

gas holes noted. Dark greenish-gray..................................

3.5

1

1

1

3.5

8.5 

2

4.5

4

6

1.5 

5.5

3.5

10

16

19.5

20.5

21.5

22.5

26

30

32

40.5

42.5

47

50

54

60

61.5

67

70.5
118 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY

Table 8. Drillers' logs and records of wells in Butte Valley, Calif. Continued

Thickness 

(feet)

Depth 

(feet)

47 / 1W-3 2 Rl Continued

Clay, poorly pervious, loose, highly brecciated and brittle, 

slightly calcareous. Olive-gray with greenish-gray streaks. 

Clayey and sandy silt at 70.8 to 72.0 ft.................................

Sand, fine to very fine, silty; poor to moderately pervious, 

moderately well-sorted, friable, massive. Predominantly 

fine volcanic ash. Greenish-gray........................................

Silt, clayey; poorly pervious, friable, bedded, moderately wellsorted. Few lenses of fine sand 1 to 2 in. thick with a silt 

m at rix. Dark greenish -gray ..............................................

Clay, poorly pervious, brittle, nonplastic, brecciated, moderately well-sorted. Dark greenish-gray................................

Silt, fine sandy; poorly pervious, friable to loose, bedded with 

streaks of fine volcanic sand and well-sorted silt and thin 

clays. Occasional white pumice fragment to 1/2-in. diameter. Calcareous. Dark greenish-gray................................

Clay, silty, friable, massive, moderately well-sorted, occasional 

sand grains, few shell fragments, calcareous. Greenish-gray..

Silt, fine to very fine sandy, poorly to slightly pervious, friable, 

bedded with 1- to 3-in. fine to medium sand beds. Occasional 

white shell fragment. Calcareous. Dark-gray.......................

Silt and clay, interbedded, poorly pervious, friable to firm, 

well-sorted. Consists of two clay layers on each end with a 

silty central portion. Dark-gray.........................................

Clay, poorly pervious, massive, well-sorted. Nonplastic, but 

has a slick feel. Light olive-gray .......................................

Clay, moderately well-sorted. Contains thin 1- to 2-in. streaks 

of fine pumice with individual fragments to 1/8-in. diameter. Dark greenish-gray...................................................

Clay, bedded, well-sorted, interbedded medium-gray and dark 

greenish-gray clays..........................................................

Clay, massive, well-sorted, calcareous, several shell fragments noted. Medium-gray................................................

Clay, bedded, well-sorted, interbedded light brownish-gray 

pumaceous clay and dark greenish-gray clay. Very soft 

between 143 and 145 ft. Occasional thin calcareous shell 

fragments.......................................................................

Clay, bedded, moderately well-sorted. Interbedded light

brownish-gray bentonitic clay and dark greenish-gray clay.....

Clay, bedded, moderately well-sorted, occasional basaltic glass 

grains to medium size. Interbedded dark greenish-gray and 

light yellowish-brown.......................................................

Clay, bedded, brittle, well-sorted. Interbedded dark greenishgray, light yellowish-brown and dark gray clays....................

5.5 

2.5

2

1

7.5 

2.5

1

2 

3.5

20

10

10

20

20

10

10

76

78.5

80.5

81.5

89

91.5

92.5

94.5

98

118

128

138

158

178

188

198

47/1W-34Q1

[W. S. Edwards. On alluvial plain, about 3.4 miles northeast of Macdoel. Altitude 

4,237 ft. Drilled by J. A. Van Meter, 1953. Cased to 305 ft. Perforated 60-304 ft]

Alluvium and lake deposits, undifferentiated: 

Soil.....................................................

"Hardpan"............................................

Sand and clay........................................

Sand and pumice....................................

"Chalk"...............................................

Sand, packed.........................................

Streaks of "chalk" and sand.....................

5

.5

11.5

1

8

13

114

5 

5.5

17

18

26

39

153
BASIC DATA 119

Table 8. Drillers' logs and records of wells in Butte Valley, Calif. Continued

Thickness 

(feet)

Depth 

{feet)

47/1W-34Q1 Continued

Alluvium and lake deposits, undifferentiated: Continued 

Mud............................................................................... 1

14

5

19

166

154

168

173

192

358

47/1W-35Q1

[Dale West. On alluvial plain about 4.1 miles northeast of Macdoel. Altitude 4,234 ft. 

Drilled by C. F. Enloe, 1952. Cased to 300 ft. Perforated 100-300 ft, gravel-packed]

Alluvium and lake deposits, undifferentiated:

260

20

40

260

280

320

47/1W-36D1

[U. S. Bureau of Reclamation. On alluvial plain, about 5 miles northeast of Macdoel. 

Altitude 4,229 ft. Drilled by George Hartley, 1951. Perforated 30 40 ft. ff.atic 

water level, when drilled, about 10 ft below land surface]

Sand, fine gravel, water here ................................................

Lake sediment............................................................. .....

28

2

10

28

30

40

47/1W-36L1

[C. E. Crawford. On alluvial plain, about 5 miles northeast of Macdoel. Altitude 

4,230 ft. Drilled by K. Hartley, 1951]

Alluvium and lake deposits, undifferentiated: 

Sand and fine gravel mixed................................................ 170

17

170

187

47/2W-16L1

[Rocco. On alluvial plain about 7.7 miles northwest of Macdoel. Altitude 4,242 ft. 

Drilled by Buckner, 1946. Cased to 128 ft]

Alluvium and lake deposits, undifferentiated: 

Soil...............................................................................

Clay, blue................................................................ . .

Clay, blue sandy..............................................................

Clay, blue......................................................................

Older volcanic rocks of the "High Cascades".

Lava, black cinders .........................................................

Lava, hard.............. ........................

Lava, black cinders...................................................

6

2

8?

<i

147

2

6

4

£

6

8

on

Q1

9dn

949

OA.H

959

260
120 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY

Table 8. Drillers' logs and records of wells in Butte Valley, Calif. Continued

Thicloess 

(fe»t)

Depth 

(feet)

47/2W-29J1

[F. Voelker. On alluvial plain near the western border of the valley. About 7.1 miles 

northwest of Macdoel. Altitude 4,240 ft]

Alluvium and lake deposits, undifferentiated:

118

8

12

12

118

126

138

150

47/2W-23L1

[J. Rocco. On alluvial plain about 6 miles northwest of Macdoel. Altitude 4,239 ft. 

Drilled by Buckner, 1946. Cased to 150 ft]

Alluvium and lake deposits, undifferentiated: 

Soil..............................................................................

Clay, blue .....................................................................

Older volcanic rocks of the"High Cascades".

3

17

236

3

11

11

3

20

256

259

270

281

48/1E-30M2

[J. Liskey. On alluvial plain, at the north edge of Dorris. Altitude 4,24f ft. Drilled 

by J. A. Van Meter, 1941. Uncased. Water allowed to flow into old du? well (30M1) 

located just north of this well. Static water level, when drilled, about 45 ft below 

land surface]

Alluvium and lake deposits, undifferentiated:

Plav

Older volcanic rocks of the "High Cascades". 

Basalt ..........................................................................

1

64

84

29

191

7

10

19

6

4

1

65

149

178

369

376

386

405

411

415

48/1E-31A1

[J. Liskey. On alluvial plain near foot of fault scarp, about 0.7 mile eas*: of Dorris. 

Altitude 4,258 ft. Drilled by J. A. Van Meter, 1951]

Talus:

14

5.5

1

7.5

20

3

8

14

19.5

20.5

28

48

51

59
BASIC DATA 121

Table 8. Drillers' logs and records of wells in Butte Valley, Calif. Con*inued

Thickness 

(feet)

Depth 

(feet)

48/ IE-31 Al Continued

Talus: Continued

Older volcanic rocks of" High Cascades".

5

12

5

24

23

5

2

2,5

5,5

3

3

3

4

4

6

8

17

8

2

64

76

81

105

128

133

135

137.5

143

146

149

152

156

160

166

174

191

199

201

48/1E-31J1

[E. A. McColluxn. On alluvial plain, about 1 mile southeast of Dorris. Altituie 

4,244 ft. Drilled by J. Van Meter, 1935. Test hole, 16-in. hole to 58 ft; 3-in. hole 

to 313 ft. Static water level, when drilled, about 40 ft below land surface]

Lake deposits: 

Soil................................................................................

Clay...............................................................................

Clay...............................................................................

13

7

23

13

39

1

10

14

193

13

20

43

56

95

96

106

120

313

48/1W-25Q1

[T. Cavenor. On alluvial plain, about 0.7 mile west of Dorris. Altitude 4,240 ft. 

Drilled by J. A. Van Meter, 1953. Casing perforated 30-150 ft, gravel-pacVed. 

Static water level, when drilled, about 32 ft below land surface]

Alluvium and lake deposits: 

Topsoil...... .....................................................................

"Chalk" and sand.............................................................

"Chalk" __ , . .. . ...................................................

"Chalk" and sand.............................................................

"Chalk".........................................................................

Sand, fine.......................................................................

15

32

6

24

10

5

26

15

47

53

77

87

92

118
122 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY

Table 8. Drillers' logs and records of wells in Butte Valley, Calif. Continued

Thickness 

(feet)

Depth 

(feet)

48/ 1W-25Q1 Continued

Alluvium, and lake deposits: Continued 

"Quicksand," fine...........................

"Chalk"........................................

27

5

145

150

48/1W-28C1

[J. Liskey. Near foot of steep fault scarp about 3.6 miles northwest of Do*ris.

Altitude 4,275 ft. Drilled by J. S. Wilson, 1947 from 0-360 ft. Deepened by Kenneth 

Hartley, 1951,from 360-560 ft]

Alluvium and talus:

Sand and clay mixed ........................................................ 20 20

Clay and rock formation .................................................. 80 100

Sand and rock, mixed, water-bearing.................................. 150 250

Sand and rock, mixed, and water-bearing ............................ 110 360

Older volcanic rocks of "High Cascades".

Rock formation with layers of red shale .............................. 140 500

Mud or clay, red............................................................. 60 560

48/1W-28F1

[J. Liskey. On alluvial plain, about 3.8 miles northwest of Dorris. Altitude 4,260 ft. 

Drilled by J. A. Van Meter, 1951]

Topsoil ......................................................................... 2.5 2.5

"Hardpan" ..................................................................... 4.5 7

Sand, brown, fine ............................................................ 5 12

Clay, yellow................................................................... 18 30

Shale, blue..................................................................... 128 158

Shale, green................................................................... 43 201

Shale, gray .................................................................... 17 218

Bank sand, fine .............................................................. 17 235

Shale, blue..................................................................... 43 278

Gravel .......................................................................... 5 283

Shale, light blue.............................................................. 18 301

Shale, blue..................................................................... 50 351

Gravel .......................................................................... 6 357

Bank sand with streaks of gray shale.................................. 22 379

Gravel, fine, and sand...................................................... 9 388

Bank sand...................................................................... 12 400

Gravel .......................................................................... 2 402

Shale, gray .................................................................... 7 409

Bentonite clay, very hard and sticky................................... 9 418

Shale, blue..................................................................... 8 426

Shale, gray .................................................................... 5 431

Shale, chocolate-colored .................................................. 12 443

Bentonite soil or sticky clay ............................................. 3 446

Clay, brown ................................................................... 13 459

Shale, blue..................................................................... 35 494

Clay, brown ................................................................... 5 499

Shale, blue..................................................................... 4 503

Clay, brown ................................................................... 32 535

Shale, blue sticky ........................................................... 31 566

Streaks of gravel and shale, blue ....................................... 7 573
BASIC DATA 123

Table 8. Drillers' logs and records of wells in Butte Valley, Calif. Contiiued

48/ 1W-28F1 Continued

Older volcanic rocks of the "High Cascades".

Thickness 

(feet)

5

3

31

20

Depth 

(feet)

578

581

612

632

546199 O 
124 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY

Table 9. Drillers' logs of wells in Red Rock Valley, Calif,

[Stratigraphic correlations by P. R. Wood. Land-surface altitudes approximate and 

with respect to mean sea-level datum of 1929 through the medium of the Pacific 

Northwest Supplementary Adjustment of 1947]

Thickness 

(feet)

Depth 

(feet)

45/1E-9C2

[A. Beck. On gently sloping hillside, about 6.3 miles east of Mount Hebron. Altitude 

4,380 ft. Drilled by J. A. Van Meter, 1954. Cased to 181 ft. Perforated 131-181 ftj

Topsoil .........................................................

Boulders .......................................................

Hardpan ........................................................

Sand .............................................................

Sand and boulders ...........................................

Sand .............................................................

Sand and boulders ...........................................

Sand .............................................................

Boulders .......................................................

Sand and boulders ...........................................

Sand with scattered boulders.............................

Pumice .........................................................

Boulders and sand...........................................

Pumice, pink..................................................

Boulders .......................................................

Sand and boulders ...........................................

Lava, black, boulders and sand .........................

Lava, shattered, gravel and sand .......................

Lava boulders, red and black ............................

Boulders, red, cinders and clinkers ...................

Boulders, black and red (very hard) ...................

Lava, creviced, red.........................................

Sand, cinders and small boulders, water-bearing.. 

Lava boulders, hard red and black, water-bearing 

Sandstone, volcanic .........................................

Lava, creviced, hard, live water........................

3

2

3

11

2

23

2

5

4

5

23

1

7

10

2

4

15

2

4

.12

19

10

7

8

4

3

5

8

19

21

44

46

51

55

60

83

84

91

101

103

107

122

124

128

140

159

169

176

184

188

197

45/1E-11C2

[L. D. Parsons. On low flat ridge, about 9.2 miles east of Mount Hebroi. Altitude 

4,396 ft. Drilled by J. A. Van Meter, 1953. Not cased. Static water level, when 

drilled, about 178 ft below land surface]

Alluvium and lake deposits, undifferentiated:

Topsoil ...............................................

Gravel, cemented..................................

Sand and clay........................................

Sand, gravel and pumice.........................

Gravel and sand....................................

Pumice, pink........................................

Pumice, white ......................................

Boulders and sand.."...............................

Older volcanic rocks of the"High Cascades".

Creviced lava.......................................

Lava, red, creviced...............................

1

16

16

32

5

38

3.5

59.5

52

1

17

33

65

70

108

111.5

120.5

180

232
BASIC DATA 125

Table 9. Drillers' logs of wells in Reef Rock Valley, Calif. Continued

Thickness 

(feet)

Depth 

(feet)

45/1E-16P1

[L. D. Parsons. Near the shoreline of a small temporary lake or playa (Russell 

Lake), about 8 miles southeast of Mount Hebron. Altitude 4,347 ft. Drilled by Van 

Meter, 19231

Playa deposits:

Soil .............................................................................. 5 5

"Hardpan" ..................................................................... 3 8

Clay ............................................................................. 3 11

Boulders and clay............................................................ 12 23

Butte Valley basalt:

Basalt........................................................................... 9 32

Lava............................................................................. 13 45

Basalt........................................................................... 4 49

Lava............................................................................. 36 85

Lake deposits:

"Hardpan" ..................................................................... 37 122

Gravel, water................................................................. 2 124

Gravel and clay with streaks of water gravel ....................... 26 150

Good water gravel........................................................... 5 155

46/1E-35J1

[R. J. Taylor. On alluvial slope near valley margin, about 9.5 miles east of Mount 

Hebron. Altitude 4,440 ft. Drilled by Van Meter, 1942]

Soil ................................................................................. 5 5

Red rock (basaltic tuff-breccia)............................................ 16 21

Boulders .......................................................................... 3 24

Red rock (basaltic tuff-breccia)............................................ 4 28

Boulders .......................................................................... 4 32

"Hardpan" ........................................................................ 29 61

Boulders .......................................................................... 7 68

Diorite, gray (basalt or andesite?) ........................................ 3 71

Lava................................................................................ 11 82

Lava, creviced .................................................................. 25 107

"Hardpan" ........................................................................ 4 111

"Chalk" (diatomite?) .......................................................... 19 130

Sandstone ......................................................................... 4 134

"Chalk" (diatomite?) .......................................................... 6 140

Lava, creviced, mud in seams (cracks).................................. 8 148

Conglomerate, soft ............................................................ 5 153

Boulders and mud .............................................................. 12 165

Basalt.............................................................................. 21 186

Lava, red ......................................................................... 8 194

Red cinder conglomerate..................................................... 3 197

Conglomerate, red, hard ..................................................... 6 203

Lava................................................................................ 3 206

Lava, creviced, water-bearing ............................................. 5 211

Boulders and cinders, water-bearing..................................... 3 214

Lava, creviced .................................................................. 23 237
126 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLFY

Table 9. Drillers' logs of wells in Red Rock Valley, Calif. Continued

Thickness 

(feet)

Depth 

(feet)

46/2E-31E1

[J. Alien. On gentle slope near hills bordering alluvial plain, about 4.8 rules east of 

Mount Hebron. Altitude 4,440 ft. Drilled by Van Meter, If 18]

Soil.................................................................................

" Chalk" (diatomite?) ...........................................................

(210-223 water in lava)

14

56

50

75

7

21

17

13

5

25

14

70

120

195

202

223

240

253

258

283
BASIC DATA 127

Table 10. Drillers' logs of wells in the Oklahoma district, Calif.

[Stratigraphic correlations by P. R. Wood. Land-surface datum approximate and with 

reference to mean sea-level datum of 1929. Through the medium of the Pacific 

Northwest Supplementary Adjustment of 1947]

Thickness 

(feet)

Depth 

(feet)

46/2E-7E1

[L. H. Fogel. On low hill near foot of steep volcanic ridge, about 10.6 miles east of 

Macdoel. Altitude 4,200 ft. Drilled by Storey Bros., 1951. Cased to 21 ft. Water 

first encountered at 510 ft below land surface]

Topsoil.............................................................................

"Chalk," blue (diatomite) ....................................................

Rock................................................................................

Rock................................................................................

Rock................................................................................

"Chalk," blue, hard ............................................................

Rock ................................................................................

Rock, very hard.................................................................

1

19

376

4

4

37

3.5

.5

14

1

14

2

13

2

10

20

1

20

396

400

404

441

444.5

445

459

460

474

476

489

491

501

521

46/2E-28Q1

[U.S. Bureau of Land Management. On alluvial plain of a small valley, about 13.2 miles 

east of Mount Hebron. Altitude 4,330 ft. Drilled by J. A. Van Meter, 19f3. Cased 

to 101 ft. Water first encountered 178 ft below land surface]

Soil ................................................................................. 1

3

13

4

66

2

83

7

4

7

1

4

17

21

87

89 172'

179

183

190

47/1E-25K1

[Porterfield Ranch. On alluvial plain near foot of a steep-sided volcanic ridge, about 

10.7 miles northeast of Macdoel, Altitude 4,160 ft. Drilled by J. A. Van Meter, 

1951. Cased 20 ft]

" Chalk," (diatomite) ...........................................................

2.5

12.5

2

72

23

12

39

9

2.5

15

17

89

112

124

163

172
128 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY

Table 10. Drillers' logs of wells in the Oklahoma district, Calif. Continued

Thickness 

(feet)

Depth 

(feet)

47/ 1E-25K1 Continued

"Chalk," (diatomite)............................................................

Shale ...............................................................................

Sand ................................................................................

41

2

24

3

3

4

27

19

213

215

239

242

245

249

276

295

47/2E-7N1

[P. Langer. On alluvial plain near foot of a volcanic ridge, about 6.6 mil^s southeast of 

Dorris. Altitude 4,100 ft. Drilled by C. F, Enloe, 1952. Cased 20 ft]

Basalt..............................................................................

8

32

5

25

7

16

3

10

12

7

15

5

35

51

7

20

18

14

8

40

45

70

77

93

96

106

118

125

140

145

180

231

238

258

276

290
BASIC DATA 129

Table 11. Periodic water level measurements in wells in Butte Valley, Calif.

[Table 11 contains records of periodic water-level measurements made in 45 observation wells from December 1951 to September 1954. Except where noted, all 

measurements were by the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation. Water levels are reported 

as depth below measuring point. Pumping or recovery levels that depart appreciable from static conditions are not shown in this table. Distances of wells from 

section line, roads, or other cultural features were measured in the field or were 

scaled from topographic maps]

Date Water 

level Date

Water 

level Date

Water 

level

45/1E-11C1

[L. D. Parsons. About 9.2 miles east of Mount Hebron, 0.33 mile east and 0.05 mile 

south of section line, 1.75 ft north of ranchhouse, well located in the southwest 

corner of a large pumphouse. Domestic and stock well, diam. 12 in., depth reported 

221 ft. Measuring point, access hole in steel plate, south side of pump, 4,395.7 ft 

above mean sea level and 0.5 ft above land surface]

Feb. 8, 1952

Mar. 8

Apr. 3

May 13

June 5

179.5

179.5

179.1

178.4

177.8

July 9, 1952

28

Aug. 29

Sept. 26

Dec. 17

177.4

177.3

177.4

177.4

178.0

Jan. 8, 1953

Feb. 12

Mar. 5

June 24, 1954

177.9

177.7

177.6

UTS.SS

1 By U. S. Geological Survey.

45/1W-19H1

[R. Lutz. About 3.6 miles south of Mount Hebron, 0.20 mile west and 0.44 mile south of 

section line, 20 ft west of Butte Creek, 300 ft south of dwelling, beneath an elevated 

water-storage tank. Unused domestic well, diam. 6 in. Measuring point, top of 

casing which is 4,314.8 ft above mean sea level and 1 ft above land surface]

Jan. 3, 1952

Feb. 6

Mar. 4

Apr. 2

May 2

June 4

26.4

24.0

25.7

20.1

21.95

22.8

July 9, 1952

28

Aug. 27

Sept. 23

Nov. 13

Dec. 15

26.2

26.0

30.5

32.5

34.5

39.8

Jan. 9, 1953

Feb. 10

Mar. 4

Apr. 3

Oct. 21

28.3

26.1

39.2

39.1

isg.i

1 By U. S. Geological Survey

45/2W-3H1

[Delos Mills. About 2.4 miles west-southwest of Mount Hebron, 0.11 mile west of U. S. 

Highway 97, 70 ft south of section-line road (Prather Lane). Irrigation well, diam. 

18 in., reported depth 270 ft. Measuring point, top of casing which is 4,262.6 ft above 

mean sea level and about 2.5 ft above land surface]

Dec. 10, 1951

Jan. 3, 1952

Feb. 5

Mar. 4

Apr. 2

37.5

38.8

38.2

37.1

36.5

May 2, 1952

Nov. 7

Dec. 15

Jan. 9, 1953

36.0

38.7

37.6

36.8

Feb. 10, 1953

Mar. 4

Apr. 3

Oct. 20

35.6

35.3

35.0

X 38.43

1 By U. S. Geological Survey.
130 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BTJTTE VALLEY 

Table 11. Periodic water level measurements in wells in Botte Valley, Calif. Cont

Date Water 

level Date Water

level Date Water 

level

45/2W-24A1

[R. Lutz. About 6.2 miles south of Mount Hebron, 0.10 mile west and 0.13 mile south of 

section line, 300 ft southeast of large wooden barn, beneath a steel windmill tower, 

200 ft west of an irrigation well. Unused stock well, diam. 6 in., reported depth 

105 ft. Measuring point, top of casing which is 4,314.9 ft above mean sea level and 

about 1 ft above land surface]

Dec. 6, 1951

Jan. 3, 1952

Feb. 6

Mar. 4

Apr. 2

May 2

97.0

95.5

95.4

95.2

94.8

94.1

June 4, 1952

July 9

28

Aug. 27

Sept. 23

Nov. 13

93.3

92.6

92.9

93.4

93.7

94.0

Dec. 15, 19*2

Jan. 9, 1953

Feb. 9

Mar. 4

Apr. 3

Oct. 21

94.0

94.1

93.6

93.45

93.35

iQz.i

xBy U. S. Geological Survey.-

46/1E-5M1

[M. Cross. About 5.9 miles northeast of Macdoel, 0.12 mile south and 0.15 mile east of 

section line road, near southwest corner of an old wooden barn. Stock well, diazn^.6 

in., reported depth 50-60 ft. Measuring point, top of casing which is 4.239.7 ft above 

mean sea level and 0.3 ft above land surface.

Feb. 18, 1952

Mar. 3

Apr. 2

May 1

June 4

July 9

26.0

20.4

20.15

17.9

17.3

16.8

July 28, 1952

Aug. 28

Sept. 25

Nov. 10

Dec. 18

Jan. 7, 1953

17.9

11.3

12.3

12.4

15.1

16.3

Feb. 9, 19'SJ

Mar. 5

Apr. 3

Nov. 2

May 5, 19^4

Sept. 28

17.1

17.5

18.1

U4.22

ilB.26

Hs.so

U. S. Geological Survey.

46/1W-2L1

[Mettler and Sheen. About 3.4 miles northeast of Macdoel, 0.3 mile east and 0.26 mile 

north of section-line road, 450 ft northeast of an old barn, 300 ft nortl- of an old 

machinery shed. Unused irrigation well, diam. 16 in. Measuring poirt, top of casing 

which is 4,255.9 ft above mean- sea level and 1 ft above land surface]

Dec. 6, 1951

Jan. 10, 1952

Feb. 11

Mar. 3

Apr. 2

May 1

June 4

34.5

34.0

33.8

34.0

33.9

33.6

33.5

July 9, 1952

28

Aug. 27

Sept. 25

Nov. 12

Dec. 18

Jan. 7, 1953

33.6

33.7

34.1

36.6

34.1

34.0

34.0

Feb. 9, 19*3

Mar. 5

Apr. 3

Oct. 30

May 5, 19T4

Sept. 28

34.0

33.9

33.7

^s.gs

134.75

*33.35

x By U. S. Geological Survey.
BASIC DATA 131

Table 11. Periodic water-level measurements in wells in Butte Valley, Calif. Cont

Date Water 

level Date Water 

level Date Water 

level

46/1W-4N1

[L. Logan. About 1.9 miles north of Macdoel, 0.18 mile north of section line, 40 ft east 

of section-line road, 200 ft south of well 46/1W-4N2. Irrigation well, diair. 12 in. 

Measuring point, top of casing which is 4,237.3 ft above mean sea level anc" about 

0.5 ft above land surface]

Dec. 6, 1951 

Jan. 9," 1952 

Feb. 6

Mar. 6

14.0 

14.5 

14.4

14.2

Apr. 1, 1952 

May 2 

June 3

13.0 

12.3 

14.5

July 9, 1952 

28 

Oct. 27, 1953

H7.6 

2 19.5 

3 14.14

1 By U. S. Geological Survey. 

2Pumped recently. 

3Pumping.

46/1W-4N2

[L. Logan. About 2 miles north of Macdoel, 0.22 mile north and 40 ft east of section 

line, 200 ft north of well 46/1W-4N1. Unused well, diam. 6 in., reported d?pth 

220 ft. Measuring point, top of casing which is 4,238.1 ft above mean sea level and 

about 1 ft above land surface]

June 3, 1952

July 9

28

Aug. 29

Sept. 23

14.5

2 17.6

3 19.5

15.3

319.9

Nov. 12, 1952

Dec. 15

Jan. 6, 1953

Feb. 10

Mar. 2

15.6

13.9

13.8

12.9

12.7

Apr. 2, 1953

Oct. 27

May 5, 1954

Sept. 28

12.5

H4.35

1 13.81

1 8.Q3

1 By U. S. Geological Survey. 

2Well 4N1 pumped recently. 

3Well 4N1 pumping.

46/1W-6Q1

[U. S. Bureau of Reclamation. About 2 miles northwest of Macdoel, 5 ft east and 60 ft 

north of a section-line fence, 80 ft east of an irrigation well. Observation well, 

diam. 2 in., reported depth 36 ft. Measuring point, top of casing which is 4,238.6 ft 

above mean sea level and 1 ft above land surface]

Nov. 21, 1951

Jan. 1, 1952

Feb. 6

Mar. 7

Apr. 1

May 2

June 3

16.8

16.5

16.35

15.8

15.2

2 13.8

16.8

July 9, 1952

28

Aug. 27

Sept. 23

Nov. 12

Dec. 15

16.0

3 31.6

18.2

16.1

14.2

14.4

Jan. 6, 1953

Feb. 10

Mar. 2

Apr. 2

Oct. 27

May 5, 1954

14.5

13.4

13.1

12.4

^4.24

1 12.04

x By U. S. Geological Survey. 

2Well 6P1 pumped recently. 

3 Well 6P1 pumping.
132 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY 

Table 11. Periodic water level measurements in wells in Butte Valley, Calif. Cont.

Date Water 

level Date Water 

level Date Water level

46/1W-12B1

[Johnson. About 4.3 miles northeast of Macdoel, 200 ft south of section-line road, 200 

ft east of half-section-line fenco, about 50 ft south of small dwelling. Domestic well, 

diam. 8 in. Measuring point, top of casing which is 4,250.2 ft above m^an sea level 

and 0.5 ft above land surface]

Dec. 10, 1951

Jan. 10, 1952 

Feb. 4

Mar. 3 

Apr. 2 

May 1

31.2

31.1 

31.1

30.9 

31.5 

30.15

June 4, 1952

July 9 

28

Aug. 27 

Sept. 25 

Nov. 10

30.4

30.9 

31.7

31.9 

31.6 

31.2

Dec. 18, 1952

Jan. 7, 1953 

Feb. 9

Mar. 5 

Apr. 3

31.0

29.5 

30.6

30.5 

30.3

46/1W-22K1

[M. Goode. About 2.3 miles southeast of Macdoel, 0.35 mile west of section line, 400 ft 

south of half-section-line road (Red Rock Road), 150 ft northeast of 22K2, near southeast corner of an old shed. Unused well, diam. 6 in., reported depth 56 ft. Measuring 

point, top of casing which is 4,272.6 ft above mean sea level and 0.5 ft above land 

surface]

May 29, 1937

July 30, 1952

Aug. 29

Sept. 26

Nov. 17

51

51.0

51.0

53.2

52.9

Dec. 17, 1952

Jan. 8, 1953

Feb. 9

Mar. 5

52.7

52.7

35.4

35.0

Apr. 6, 1953

Oct. 21

May 6, 1954

Sept. 28

35.0

1 52.7

isi.es

ise.o

1 By U. S. Geological Survey.

46/1W-32L1

[W. Sturgess. About 0.3 mile southwest of Mount Hebron, 0.30 mile east of section line, 

0.38 mile north of section-line road (Prather Lane), about 500 ft west of school 

 buildings, 40 ft northwest of the northwest corner of an old wooden house. Domestic 

well, diam. 6 in. Measuring point, top of casing which is 4,255.0 ft above mean sea 

level and about 1 ft above land surface]

Dec. 6, 1951

Jan. 3, 1952

Feb. 5

Mar. 4

Apr. 2

May 2

June 4

37.0

33.8

35.8

36.8

32.5

32.9

34.9

July 9, 1952

28

Aug. 27

Sept. 25

Nov. 14

Dec. 17

Jan. 9, 1953

34.8

40.5

40.2

34.3

31.6

31.9

32.0

Feb. 10, 1953

Mar. 4

Apr. 3

Oct. 22

May 5, 19f4

Sept. 27

30.8

30.6

30.6

^l.SS

^9.03

!32.7

U. S. Geological Survey.
BASIC DATA 133

Table 11. Periodic water level measurements in wells in Butte Valley, Ca'iY. Cont.

Date Water 

level Date Water level Date Water 

level

46/2W-4E1

[U. S. Bureau of Reclamation. About 5.9 miles northwest of Macdoel, 0.42 nnle south 

and 0.10 mile east of section line, 50 ft north of junction of north-south drainage canal 

and an east-west drainage canal. Observation well, diam. 2 in., reported depth 41 ft. 

Measuring point, top of casing which is 4,234.2 ft above mean sea level an-) 1 ft above 

land surface]

Dec. 10, 1951

Jan. 3, 1952

Feb. 6

Mar. 4

July 10

22.4

18.4

15.6

12.5

7.4

Aug. 26, 1952

Sept. 25

Nov. 7

Dec. 18

7.5

8.1

7.9

7.6

Apr. 6, 1953

Oct. 29

May 6, 1954

Sept. 28

4.6

!7.57

14.8

18.56

1By U. S. Geological Survey.

46/2W-14Q1

[Gritzmaker. About 2.8 miles west of Macdoel, 0.26 mile west of section lire, 200 ft 

north of section-line road, 20 ft north of a small dwelling. Unused domestic well, 

diam. 6 in. Measuring point, top of casing which is 4,238.0 ft above mean sea level 

and about 0.5 ft above land surface]

Dec. 10, 1951

Jan. 3, 1952

Feb. 6

Mar. 4

Apr. 2

May 2

27

6.2

6.0

4.75

5.5

5.85

5.9

5.9

July 9, 1952

31

Sept. 23

Nov. 20

Dec. 15

Jan. 9, 1953

6.1

6.1

6.2

5.7

5.5

5.3

Feb. 10, 1953

Mar. 4

Apr. 2

Oct. 26

May 4, 1954

Sept. 27

4.0

4.5

4.1

1 1.2G

4.3

!4.37

J By U. S. Geological Survey.

47/1E-6H1

[U. S. Bureau of Reclamation. About 1.7 miles southeast of Dorris, 40 ft west of 

section-line road, 20 ft north of half-section-line fence. Observation well. diam. 

2 in., reported depth 60 ft. Measuring point, top of casing which is 4,246.3 ft above 

mean sea level and 1 ft above land surface]

Dec. 6, 1951

Jan. 10, 1952

Feb. 4

Mar. 7

Apr. 3

May 1

June 4

44.5

43.9

42.9

43.85

43.85

43.95

44.0

July 9, 1952

28

Aug. 27

Sept. 25

Nov. 10

Dec. 18

Jan. 7, 1953

44.1

44.1

44.2

44.2

44.3

44.4

44.25

Feb. 8, 1953

Mar. 5

Apr. 3

Nov. 10

May 5, 1954

Sept. 28

44.25

44.25

44.25

144.77

1 44.6

M4.7

: By U. S. Geological Survey.
134 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY 

Table 11. Periodic water level measurements in wells in Butte Valley, Calif. Cont.

Date Water 

level Date Water level Date Water 

level

47/1E-17N1

[C. Green. About 3.9 miles south of Dorris, 0.24 mile north and 0.10 mile east of the 

southwest corner of section 17, beneath a wooden windmill tower. Stock well, diam. 

8 in. Measuring point, top of casing which is 4,241.4 ft above mean sea l?vel and 

0.64 ft above land surface]

Dec. 6, 1951

Jan. 10, 1952

Feb. 4

Mar. 3

Apr. 3

May 2

June 3

33.5

36.1

36.25

36.3

36.0

35.8

35.8

July 9, 1952

28

Aug. 27

Sept. 25

Nov. 10

Dec. 18

Jan. 7, 1953

35.9

35.9

35.8

35.8

35.8

35.8

35.6

Feb. 9, 1953

Mar. 5

Apr. 3

Nov. 4

May 5, 1954

Sept. 28

35.6

35.5

35.4

1 36.52

iSS.SO

36.1

ifiy U. S. Geological Survey.

47/1E-19M1

[U. S. Bureau of Reclamation. About 4.6 miles south of Dorris, 0.60" mile fouth of 

section-line fence, 35 ft east of section-line fence. Observation well, dirm. 2 in., 

reported depth 46 ft. Measuring point, top of casing which is 4,236.9 ft above mean 

sea level and 0.5 ft above land surface]

Nov. 26, 1951

Jan. 3, 1952

Feb. 4

Mar. 3

Apr. 14

May 1

June 4

21.0

21.5

21.55

19.3

21.3

21.2

21.1

July 9, 1952

28

Aug. 28

Sept. 25

Nov. 10

Dec. 18

21.1

21.1

21.2

21.2

21.2

21.3

Jan. 7, 1953

Feb. 9

Mar. 5

Apr. 6

Nov. 4

May 5, 1954

21.3

21.2

21.2

21.2

1 21.69

121.4

iBy U. S. Geological Survey.

47/1E-29H2

[K. Holbrook. About 5.6 miles southeast of Dorris, 0.23 mile west of section-line road, 

0.28 mile south of section line, about 300 ft southwest of a large wooden barn, beneath 

a wooden windmill tower. Stock well, diam. 8 in., reported depth 60 ft. Measuring 

point, top of casing which is about 4,238 ft above mean sea level and abovt 1 ft above 

land surface]

Feb. 18. 1952

Mar. 3

Apr. 3

May 1

June 4

July 9

23.0

25.5

25.3

25.1

25.0

24.9

July 28, 1952

Aug. 28

Sept. 25

Nov. 10

Dec. 18

Jan. 7, 1953

24.9

25.0

24.9

25.0

25.1

25.2

Feb. 9, 1953

Mar. 5

Apr. 3

Nov. 2

May 5, 1954

Sept. 28

25.1

25.1

25.1

121.67

120.93

27.4

*By U. S. Geological Survey.
BASIC DATA 135

Table 11. Periodic water-level measurements in wells in Butte Valley, Calif. Cont.

Date Water 

level Date Water level Date Water 

level

47/1E-31E1

[Cross. About 6.3 miles south of Dorris, 0.32 mile south and 0.20 mile east of section 

line. Unused stock well, diam. 6 in. Measuring point, top of casing which is 4,233.1 ft 

above mean sea level and 2 ft above land surface]

Nov. 26, 1951

Jan. 10, 1952

Feb. 4

Mar. 3

Apr. 3

May 1

15.6

14.2

13.8

12.3

11.9

12.4

June 4, 1952

July 9

28

Aug. 28

Sept. 25

Nov. 10

13.0

13.4

13.5

14.1

14.1

14.7

Dec. 18, 1952

Feb. 9, 1953

Mar. 5

Apr. 6

Nov. 4

May 5, 1954

14.3

12.9

12.7

12.5

iU.VO

Ms.gs

*By U. S. Geological Survey.

47/1W-1D1

[U. S. Bureau of Reclamation. About 1.5 miles southwest of Dorris, 25 ft south of a 

section-line road, 3 ft east of a north-south fence, 40 ft east of a northeastwardtrending telephone line. Observation well, diam. 2 in., reported depth 60 ft. 

Measuring point, top of casing which is 4,239.9 ft above mean sea level a^ 1 ft above 

land surface]

Nov. 21, 1951

Jan. 9, 1952

Feb. 7

Mar. 6

Apr. 3

May 2

June 2

28.0

26.6

25.9

25.7

25.7

25.7

25.8

July 9, 1952

28

Aug. 27

Sept. 23

Nov. 6

Dec. 16

Jan. 7, 1953

25.8

25.9

26.0

26.0

25.9

25.9

25.85

Feb. 11, 1953

Mar. 2

Apr. 2

Oct. 27

May 5, 1954

Sept. 28

25.6

25.8

25.7

^e.oq

^25.92

26.3

*By U. S. Geological Survey.

47/1W-2N1

[E. Marshall. About 2.7 miles southwest of Dorris, 0.13 mile north and 0.04 mile east 

of section line, beneath a wooden windmill tower. Unused stock well, diam. 8 in. 

Measuring point, top of casing which is 4,235.2 ft above mean sea level and 1 ft above 

land surface]

Nov. 30, 1951

Jan. 5, 1952

Feb. 1 1

Mar. 6

Apr. 1

May 2

June 3

14.85

14.8

13.9

13.8

13.9

13.2

13.2

July 9, 1952

28

Aug. 27

Sept. 23

Nov. 6

Dec. 16

Jan. 7, 1953

13.1

13.1

13.1

13.2

13.3

13.4

13.4

Feb. U, 1953

Mar. 3

Apr. 3

Oct. 27

May 5, 1954

Sept. 28

12.6

12.5

12.6

1 12.80

Hi. 4

12.4

U. S. Geological Survey.
136 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY 

Table 11. Periodic water level measurements in wells in Butte Valley, Ca'i/. -Cent.

Date Water 

level Date Water level Date

Water 

level

47/1W-3D1

[U. S. Bureau of Reclamation. About 3.2 miles west of Dorris, 30 ft east and 30 ft south 

of section line, about 100 ft southeast of the northwest corner of section 3. 

Observation well, diam. 2 in., reported depth 50 ft. Measuring point, top of casing 

which is 4,241.9 ft above mean sea level and 1 ft above land surface]

Dec. 28, 1951

Jan. 9, 1952

Feb. 7

Mar. 6

Apr. 14

May 12

June 2

16.0

17.4

17.25

17.1

16.5

16.1

16.0

Ju.y 10, 1952

31

Aug. 27

Sept. 23

Nov. 6

Dec. 16

Jan. 7, 1953

15.7

15.6

15.5

15.5

15.4

15.4

15.3

Feb. 11, 1953

Mar. 2

Apr. 2

Nov. 1 1

May 5, 1954

Sept. 28

15.1

14.9

14.6

1 14.28

1 13.77

13.6

U. S. Geological Survey.

47/1W-6A1

[U. S. Bureau of Reclamation. About 5.2 miles west of Dorris, located in the northeast 

corner of section 6, 3 ft south of an east-west fence line along the south side of 

section-line road. Observation well, diam. 2 in., reported depth 52 ft. Measuring 

point, top of casing which is 4,244.8 ft above mean sea level and 1 ft above land 

surface]

Nov. 28, 1951

Jan. 9, 1952

Feb. 7

Mar. 6

Apr. 14

May 12

June 2

11.5

12.4

11.6

9.4

5.0

5.8

6.5

July 10, 1952

31

Aug. 26

Sept. 24

Nov. 6

Dec. 16

Jan. 7, 1953

7.4

8.0

8.4

8.9

9.2

9.4

9.5

Feb. 11, 1953

Mar. 2

Apr. 2

Nov. 1 1

May 5, 1954

Sept. 28

2.6

2.9

3.1

1 8.14

: 4.44

7.15

1 By U. S. Geological Survey.

47/1W-7M1

[U. S. Bureau of Reclamation. About 6.5 miles southwest of Dorris, 10 ft ea=t of

section-line fence, 0.20 mile south of half-section-line road. Observation well, diam. 

2 in., reported depth 50 ft. Measuring point, top of casing which is 4,242.3 ft above 

mean sea level and 0.5 ft above land surface]

Dec. 28, 1951

Jan. 9, 1952

Feb. 7

Mar. 7

Apr. 14

May 12

June 3

13.6

13.9

12.1

6.7

5.8

7.2

7.8

July 10, 1952

29

Aug. 26

Sept. 24

Nov. 6

Dec. 16

Jan. 6, 1953

8.4

8.8

9.1

9.5

10.0

10.45

10.5

Feb. 11, 1953

Mar. 2

Apr. 2

Nov. 1 1

May 5, 1954

Sept. 28

5.8

6.0

6.6

iS. 35

*7.4

9.2

1 By U. S. Geological Survey.
BASIC DATA 137

Table 11. Periodic water level measurements in wells in Butte Valley, Calif. Cont.

Date Water 

level Date Water level Date Water 

level

47/1W-9J1

[U. S. Bureau of Reclamation. About 4.2 miles southwest of Dorris, 0.30 mile north and 

0.23 mile west of section line, 40 ft east of northeastward-trending road. Observation 

well, diam. 2 in., reported depth 40 ft. Measuring point, top of casing which is 

4,239.9 ft above mean sea level and 1.5 ft above land surface]

Nov. 21, 1951

Jan. 9, 1952

Feb. 1 1

Mar. 6

Apr. 1

May 2

June 3

18.3

18.6

17.1

16.9

15.9

16.2

16.4

July 9, 1952

28

Aug. 27

Sept. 23

Nov. 12

Dec. 16

Jan. 7, 1953

16.5

16.6

16.8

16.9

17.0

17.0

17.0

Feb. 11, 1953

Mar. 3

Apr. 3

Oct. 27

May 5, 1954

Sept. 28

16.0

15.9

15.8

1 16AO

^S.SS

15.8

U. S. Geological Survey.

47/1W-14B1

[U. S. Bureau of Reclamation. About 3.4 miles southwest of Dorris, 120 ft west of U. S. 

Highway 97, 40 ft south of section-line fince, 0.33 mile west of section line. 

Observation well, diam. 2 in., reported depth 50 ft. Measuring point, top of casing 

which is 4,234.3 ft above mean sea level and 0.5 ft above land surface]

Nov. 26, 1951

Jan. 9, 1952

Feb. 5

Mar. 7

Apr. 1

May 7

June 2

19.0

15.5

14.8

14.35

14.5

14.5

14.6

July 10, 1952

29

Aug. 26

Sept. 25

Nov. 12

Dec. 15

Jan. 5, 1953

14.6

14.7

14.8

14.9

14.8

15.1

15.1

Feb. 9, 1953

Mar. 3

Apr. 6

Oct. 27

May 5, 1954

Sept. 28

13.9

13.9

14.2

iH.SO

1 14.42

14.8

!By U. S. Geological Survey.

47/1W-17R1

[U. S. Bureau of Reclamation. About 5.7 miles southwest of Dorris, located ir the 

southeast corner of section 17, 0.65 mile south of a northeastward-trending road. 

Observation well, diam. 2 in., reported depth 45 ft. Measuring point, top of casing 

which is 4,240.3 ft above mean sea level and 0.5 ft above land surface]

Nov. 21, 1951

Jan. 9, 1952

Feb. 6

Mar. 6

Apr. 14

May 2

June 3

18.5

17.2

18.5

18.3

17.5

17.3

17.3

July 9, 1952

Aug. 27

Sept. 23

Nov. 12

Dec. 16

Jan. 7, 1953

17.2

17.2

17.2

17.9

17.1

17.1

Feb. 11, 1953

Mar. 3

Apr. 3

Oct. 27

May 5, 1954

Sept. 28

16.6

16.6

16.5

He. 34

iie.io

16.0

*By U. S. Geological Survey.
138 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY

Table 11. Periodic water level measurements in wells in Butte Valley, Calif. Cont.

Date Water 

level Date

Water 

level Date

Water 

level

47/1W-19L1

[U. S. Dept. Agriculture. About 7.2 miles southwest of Dorris, 300 ft vest and 75 ft 

south of half-section-line road, beneath a metal windmill tower. Stcck well. 

Measuring point, top of casing which is 4,238.2 ft above mean sea le^'el and 0.5 ft 

above land surface]

Nov. 30, 1951

Jan. 5, 1952

Feb. 6

Mar. 5

Apr. 1

May 12

June 3

12.6

13.9

13.8

13.3

12.5

12.1

13.8

July 10, 1952

31

Aug. 26

Sept. 24

Nov. 18

Dec. 16

Jan. 6, 1953

Z 15.3

13.4

11.9

11.9

12.0

11.9

11.95

Feb. 11, 1953

Mar. 2

Apr. 2

Oct. 27

May 5, 1954

Sept. 28

11.7

11.5

11.4

^l. 42

2 10.9

10.8

!By U. S. Geological Survey. 

2 Pumping.

47/1W-27B1

[U. S. Bureau of Reclamation. About 5.6 miles south of Dorris, 60 ft south of sectionline road, 60 ft west of U. S. Highway 97, 30 ft southwest of USC and GS triangulation 

station (Meiss, 1948). Observation well, diam. 2 in., reported depth 40 ft. Measuring 

point, top of casing which is 4,233.8 ft above mean sea level and 0.5 ft above land 

surface]

Nov. 26, 1951

Jan. 9, 1952

Feb. 5

Mar. 7

Apr. 1

May 7

28

15.6

13.5

12.7

11.4

12.25

12.55

12.7

July 10, 1952

29

Aug. 26

Sept. 25

Nov. 12

Dec. 15

Jan. 6, 1953

12.9

13.1

13.3

13.5

13.6

13.6

13.55

Feb. 9, 1953

Mar. 3,

Apr. 3

Oct. 26

May 5, 1954

Sept. 28

11.5

12.0

12.3

1 13.62

U2.67

13.4

J By U. S. Geological Survey.

47/1W-28M1

[U. S. Bureau of Reclamation. About 4 miles north of Macdoel, 0.70 irile south and 50 ft 

east of section-line road. Observation well, diam. 2 in., reported depth 50 ft. 

Measuring point, top of casing which is 4,238.2 ft above mean sea level and 0.5 ft 

above land surface]

Nov. 21, 1951

Jan. 9, 1952

Feb. 6

Mar. 6

Apr. 1

May 2

June 3

16.8

17.2

17.4

17.1

16.7

16.5

16.5

July 9, 1952

28

Aug. 27

Sept. 23

Nov. 12

Dec. 15

Jan. 6, 1953

16.3

16.3

16.3

16.4

16.4

16.4

16.4

Feb. 10, 1953

Mar. 2

Apr. 2

Oct. 27

May 5, 1954

Sept. 29

16.1

16.0

15.9

I 15.\5

H5.60

16.0

J By U. S. Geological Survey.
BASIC DATA 139

Table 11. Periodic water-level measurements in wells in Butte Valley, Calif. Cont.

Date Water 

level Date

Water 

level Date

Water 

level

47/1W-33Q1

[U. S. Bureau of Reclamation. About 2.9 miles north of Macdoel, 0.40 mile west of 

section-line road, 100 ft west of U. S. Highway 97. Observation well, diam. 2 in., 

reported depth 70 ft. Measuring point, top of casing which is 4,239.9 ft pbove mean 

sea level and 0.5 ft above land surface]

Nov. 21, 1951

Jan. 9, 1952

Feb. 5

Mar. 7

Apr. 1

May 7

28

17.0

17.6

17.6

17.4

17.2

17.0

16.7

July 10, 1952

29

Aug. 26

Sept. 25

Nov. 12

Dec. 15

Jan. 7, 1953

16.6

16.8

17.0

17.2

16.7

16.4

16.45

Feb. 9, 1953

Mar. 3

Apr. 3

Oct. 20

May 5, 1954

Sept. 28

16.5

16.5

16.3

he.ss

H6.46

17.4

U. S. Geological Survey.

47/1W-36D1

[U. S. Bureau of Reclamation. About 5 miles northeast of Macdoel, 235 ft south of 

section-line fence, 20 ft east of section-line fence. Observation well, dirm. 2 in., 

reported depth 40 ft. Measuring point, top of casing which is 4,229.7 ft above mean 

sea level and 0.5 ft above land surface]

Dec. 6, 1951

Jan. 3, 1952

Feb. 2

Mar. 3

Apr. 14

May 1

7.6

8.6

7.8

7.8

a.2

8.15

June 4, 1952

July 9

31

Aug. 28

Sept. 25

Nov. 10

8.1

8.3

8.4

8.8

9.2

9.3

Dec. 18, 1952

Jan. 7, 1953

Apr. 6

Nov. 4

May 5, 1954

9.5

9.55

8.2

!9.32

17.96

U. S. Geological Survey.

47/2W-4G1

[U. S. Bureau of Reclamation. About 9.4 miles west of Dorris, 0.15 mile east and 20 ft 

north of half-section-line road. Observation well, diam. 2 in., reported depth 50 ft. 

Measuring point, top of casing which is 4,251.0 ft above mean sea level and 0.5 ft 

above land Surface]

Nov. 8, 1951

Jan. 4, 1952

Feb. 7

Mar. 6

Apr. 1

May 12

June 3

13.0

13.5

13.1

13.7

11.6

10.8

10.7

July 10, 1952

29

Aug. 26

Sept. 24

Nov. 7

Dec. 16

Jan. 6, 1953

10.7

10.9

11.1

11.5

12.0

12.4

12.5

Feb. 12, 1953

Mar. 2

Apr. 2

May 27

Nov. 11

May 6, 1954

11.9

11.1

10.5

10.4

hi.ss

18.90

1 By U. S. Geological Survey.

546199 O 60 10
140 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY

Table 11. Periodic water-level measurements in wells in Butte Valley, Calif. Cont.

Date Water 

level Date Water level Date Water 

level

47/2W-9H1

[J. Fleming. About 9.5 miles west of Dorris, 0.25 mile east and 50 ft north of

half-section-line road, beneath a wooden windmill tower. Stock well, diam. 4 5 ft. 

Measuring point, top of well platform which is 4,248.6 ft above mean sea level and 

about 0.5 ft above land surface]

Dec. 3, 1951

Jan. 4, 1952

Feb. 7

Mar. 5

May 12

June 3

July 10

19.25

14.9

12.1

7.4

0.0

4.5

5.7

July 29, 1952

Aug. 26

Sept. 24

Nov. 7

Dec. 16

Jan. 6, 1953

8.1

8.4

8.9

13.2

14.5

14.6

Feb. 12, 1953

Mar. 2

Apr. 2

Nov. 1 1

May 6, 1954

Sept. 28

2.6

1.8

2.1

HO. 8

1 3.8

11.7

1 By U. S. Geological Survey.

47/2W-13B1

[About 7 miles southwest of Dorris, 0.15 mile south and 0.40 mile west of section line, 

100 ft east of road along west side of valley. Unused stock well, diam. 8 in., reported 

depth 34 ft. Measuring point, top of casing which is 4,253.5 ft above mean sea level 

and 0.6 ft above land surface]

Dec. 10, 1951

Jan. 9, 1952

Feb. 7

Mar. 7

Apr. 1

May 12

June 3

18.1

17.8

17.5

14.7

8.9

9.4

9.9

July 10, 1952

29

Aug. 26

Sept. 24

Nov. 7

Dec. 16

Jan. 6, 1953

11.1

12.1

12.6

13.1

13.8

14.3

14.3

Feb. 11, 1953

Mar. 2

Apr. 2

Nov. 1 1

May 6, 1954

Sept. 28

19.0

9.0

9.3

1 14.27

ill. 48

12.8

J By U. S. Geological Survey.

47/2W-16P1

[Rocco. About 10.4 miles southwest of Dorris, 120 ft north of section-line road, 0.30 

mile east of section. Unused well, diam. 3 4 ft, reported depth 10 ft. Measuring 

point, top of well platform which is 4,238.4 ft above mean sea level and 0.3 ft above 

land surface]

Dec. 10, 1951

Jan. 4, 1952

Feb. 7

Mar. 5

Apr. 1

May 12

June 3

5.7

2.5

1.0

1.4

1.0

2.5

3.1

July 10, 1952

29

Aug. 26

Sept. 24

Nov. 7

Dec. 16

Jan. 6, 1953

4.0

4.6

5.2

5.5

5.9

5.8

6.2

Feb. 11, 1953

Mar. 2

Apr. 2

Nov. 1 1

May 6, 1954

Sept. 28

1.0

1.2

1.5

^.e

J 2.7

5.2

J By U. S. Geological Survey.
BASIC DATA 141

Table 11. Periodic water-level measurements in wells in Butte Valley, Calif. Cont. '

Date Water 

level Date Water II 

level Date Water 

level

47/2W-21D1

[U. S. Bureau of Reclamation. About 10.6 miles southwest of Dorris, 0.12 mile east of 

section line, 20 ft south of section-line road, about 1,000 ft east of farm buildings. 

Observation well, diam. 2 in., reported depth 81 ft. Measuring point, top o* casing 

which is 4,237.3 ft above mean sea level and 0.5 ft above land surface]

Dec. 3, 1951

Jan. 4, 1952

Feb. 7

Mar. 6

Apr. 1

May 12

June 3

5.2

3.9

1.0

1.8

1.0

1.15

1.7

July 10, 1952

29

Aug. 26

Sept. 24

Nov. 6

Dec. 16

Jan. 6, 1953

2.8

3.3

4.0

4.4

4.8

4.8

4.9

Feb. 11, 1953

Mar. 2

Apr. 2

Nov. 1 1

May 6, 1954

Sept. 28

1.4

1.6

1.4

U.gO

il.SS

4.6

*By U. S. Geological Survey.

47/2W-23M1

[About 9.2 miles southwest of Dorris, 200 ft east of section-line road, 50 ft south of 

half-section-line road, beneath an old wooden windmill tower. Unused stock well. 

Measuring point, top of well curbing which is 4,239.4 ft above mean sea le*'el and at 

ground level. (Well caved in prior to November 1953)]

Nov. 28, 1951

Jan. 5, 1952

Feb. 6

Mar. 5

Apr. 1

May 12

8.6

9.5

8.3

7.3

4.8

5.85

June 3, 1952

July 10

29

Aug. 26

Sept. 24

Nov. 6

6.3

6.9

7.2

7.7

8.0

8.4

Dec. 16, 1952

Jan. 6, 1953

Feb. 1 1

Mar. 2

Apr. 2

8.7

8.8

5.4

5.4

5.6

47/2W-28N1

[U. S. Bureau of Reclamation. About 6.7 miles northwest of Macdoel, 0.24 mile north of 

section line, 6 ft east of section-line fence. Observation well, diam. 2 in., reported 

depth 41 ft. Measuring point, top of casing which is 4,238.7 ft above mean sea level 

and 0.6 ft above land surface]

Dec. 14, 1951

Jan. 5, 1952 

Feb. 11

Mar. 5

Apr. 22

4.8

3.1 

1.1

.7

.3

June 3, 1952

July 10 

Aug. 26

Sept. 25

0.5

1.5 

4.4

4.9

Nov. 6, 1952

Dec. 17 

Jan. 6, 1953

Apr. 3

4.0

3.7 

3.4

.7
142 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY

Table 11. Periodic water level measurements in wells in Butte Valley, Calif. Cont.

Date Water 

level Date

Water 

level Date

Water 

level

47/2W-29J1

[Voelker. About 7.1 miles northwest of Macdoel, 0.46 mile north and 0.27 mile west of 

section line, 0.10 mile southeast of ranch buildings. Irrigation well, diam. 12 in., 

reported depth 150 ft. Measuring point, top of casing which is 4,240.6 ft above mean 

sea level and at land surface]

Dec. 3, 1951

Jan. 5, 1952

Feb. 7

Mar. 5

Apr. 1

May 12

June 3

3.0

3.0

1.5

1.2

.2

.4

.8

July 10, 1952

31

Aug. 26

Sept. 24

Nov. 6

Dec. 16

1.5

2.0

2.3

2.5

2.2

2.4

Jan. 6, 1953

Feb. 11

Mar. 2

Apr. 2

Oct. 29

May 6, 1954

2.5

.6

.8

.7

1 2.54

^S

*By U. S. Geological Survey.

47/2W-32N1

[L. Luzzi. About 7.1 miles northwest of Macdoel, 0.90 mile west of section line, 0.20 

mile north of section line, 0.20 mile southwest of ranch buildings. Unused stock well, 

casing 4 ft square. Measuring point, top of well platform which is 4,297.8 ft above 

mean sea level and about 3 ft above land surface]

Dec. 3, 1951

Jan. 5, 1952

Feb. 7

Mar. 5

Apr. 1

May 12

June 3

12.5

10.4

9.7

4.8

2.7

3.0

5.1

July 16, 1952

31

Aug. 26

Sept. 24

Nov. 20

Dec 16

7.1

8.6

10.0

11.2

12.8

13.0

Jan. 6, 1953

Feb. 11

Mar. 2

Apr. 2

Oct. 29

May 6, 1954

13.1

4.9

2.8

2.5

1 15.53

1 5.B1

!By U. S. Geological Survey.

48/1E-30M1, M2

[J. Liskey. In Dorris, 100 ft east of section line (Butte St.), 0.40 mile no~th of section 

line (First St.), on the south side of a small concrete pumphouse. Well 30M1 is an 

old dug well, about 4 ft in diam., depth unknown and is connected to well 30M2, diam. 

6 in., depth 415 ft, by a short conduit. Measuring point, top of concrete platform 

which is 4,246.1 ft above mean sea level and at land surface. (Water flows from the 

deep well into the shallow well and water levels measured in 30M1 reflect a 

composite head between two water bodies)]

Dec. 6, 1951

Jan. 10, 1952

Feb. 5

Mar. 7

Apr. 3

May 7

June 2

46.5

46.2

46.4

46.9

45.7

46.8

49.3

July 10, 1952

31

Aug. 27

Sept. 24

Nov. 18

Dec. 18

50.3

50.5

50.6

49.0

47.1

47.0

Jan. 7, 1953

Feb. 1 1

Mar. 4

Apr. 3

Nov. 10

May 5, 1954

47.8

46.6

46:5

46.3

!49.22

148.4

U. S. Geological Survey.
BASIC DATA 143

Table 11. Periodic water level measurements in wells in Butte Valley, Calif. Cont.

Date Water 

level Date Water level Date Water level

48/1E-32N1

[Moore. About 1.2 miles southeast of Dorris, 50 ft east of section-line roadr 0.26 mile 

south of half-section-line road, beneath an old wooden windmill tower. U.iused stock 

and domestic well, diam. 3 ft, depth reported 44 ft. Measuring point, metal ring at top 

of well curbing which is 4,243.7 ft above mean sea level and 1 ft above land surface]

Feb. 4, 1952

Mar. 7

Apr. 3

May 1

June 4

42.5

41.7

41.85

41.65

42.1

July 9, 1952

Nov. 10

Dec. 18

Jan. 7, 1953

Feb. 9

42.1

43.1

42.9

42.3

42.0

Mar. 5, 1953

Apr. 6

Nov. 10

Sept. 28, 1954

42.0

41.9

1 41.5

41.6

U. S. Geological Survey.

48/1W-26Q1

[U. S. Bureau of Reclamation. About 1.6 miles west of Dorris, 0.50 mile ea^t of 

section-line road, 50 ft north of section-line road, 0.45 mile west of section line. 

Observation well, diam. 2 in., reported depth 50 ft. Measuring point, top of casing 

which is 4,243.7 ft above mean sea level and 1 ft above land surface]

Dec. 28, 1951

Jan. 9, 1952

Feb. 1 1

Mar. 6

Apr. 3

May 7

June 2

16.0

16.1

13.0

13.0

8.7

9.0

10.7

July 10, 1952

31

Aug. 26

Sept. 24

Nov. 18

Dec. 18

11.4

11.5

1-2.0

12.3

12.S

13.2

Jan. 7, 1953

Feb. 1 1

Mar. 4

Apr. 3

Nov. 12

May 5, 1954

13.3

9.1

9.7

9.7

1 11.48

110.05

1 By U. S. Geological Survey.

48/1W-28N1

[U. S. Bureau of Reclamation. About 4 miles west of Dorris, 0.17 mile north of

section-line road, 175 ft south of an old wooden barn, 5 ft east of a north-south fence 

paralleling the section-line road. Observation well, diam. 2 in., reported depth 50 ft. 

Measuring point, top of casing which is 4,244.9 ft above mean sea level and at land 

surface]

Nov. 28, 1951

Jan. 9, 1952

Feb. 11

Mar. 6

Apr. 14

May 12

June 2

7.1

7.9

6.3

5.9

3.1

3.9

4.5

July 10, 1952

29

Aug. 26

Sept. 24

Nov. 18

Dec. 18

Jan. 7, 1953

5.2

5.8

6.4

7.0

7.4

7.35

7.65

Feb. 11, 1953

Mar. 4

Apr. 3

Nov. 12

May 5, 1954

Sept. 28

2.5

2.0

2.7

1 5.75

!3.27

3.7

1 By U. S. Geological Survey.
144 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLFY

Table 12. Chemical analyses of ground water in

Well Date 

sampled

Constituents in parts per million

Silica 

(Si02 )

Iron 

(Fe)

Calcium 

(Ca)

Magnesium 

(Mg)

Sodium 

(Na)

Potassium 

(K)

Bicarbonate 

(H'C03 )

Car- 

' onate 

(COS)

Sulfate 

(S04)

BUTTE VALLEY

45/2W- 3H11

3Q1 

46/1E- 8E1

1W- 1G11 

6P11 

17B1 

18Q21 

19J1 

20N1 

22K2

32L11 

2W- 9R1 

9R21 

12Q1 

15Q1 

25R2 

47/1E- 29H21 

1W- 23A1 

23G1 

35Q1 

2W- 16P11

20G1 1 

48/1E- 30N1

31R11 

1W-28J1 :

10- -52 

10- 1-53 

5-13-53 

5-13-53 

10- 1-53 

10- -52 

10- -52 

5-13-53 

10- -52 

5-13-53 

5-13-53 

5-13-53 

10- 1-53 

10- -52 

10- 1-53

5-13-53 

5-13-53 

5-13-53 

10- -52 

7-16-54 

7-16-54 

7-16-54

10- 1-53 

10-17-52 

10- 1-53 

5-13-53 

10- -52 

10- -52

49 

49 

51 

48

34

46 

47 

32 

33

31

49 

40 

46

43 

52 

40 

22 

33

38 

41

0.0

.1

.0 

.2 

.0

.1 

.0 

.2

.0

.0

20 

17 

14 

26 

27 

19 

27 

18 

27 

18 

14 

18 

18 

14 

15 

16 

32 

14 

24 

27 

13 

33 

21 

25 

30 

20 

12 

16 

16 

36

13 

13 

11 

18 

19 

13 

25 

14 

25 

17 

12 

9.2 

8.7 

8 

8.9 

9 

34 

9.6 

12 

9 

27 

39 

17 

14 

19 

16 

14 

20 

27 

21

22 

24 

18 

17 

16 

20 

16 

22 

14 

11 

10 

17 

17 

6 

8 

8 

37 

10 

10 

37 

365 

602 

34 

34 

37 

20 

23 

24 

84 

26

5.2 

3.9 

5.5 

5.3

3.5

3.8 

3.7 

3.4 

3.6

1.9

8.7 

2.0 

3.8

42 

39 

7.7 

7.6 

8.6

7.3 

7.7

174 

166 

138 

152 

142 

165 

227 

181 

220 

160 

125 

144 

142 

84 

110 

114 

344 

117 

150 

179 

674 

1,310 

228 

182 

238 

156 

158 

188 

312 

224

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

10 

0 

0 

0 

4 

0 

0 

Trace 

0

1 

3.7 

1.6 

11 

12 

3 

6 

2.6 

15 

10 

5.7 

4.6 

4.7 

10 

3.9 

1 

5.1 

1.6 

12 

5 

199 

379 

4.3 

41 

37 

2 

10 

15 

18 

6

RED ROCK VALLEY

45/1E- 11C1 1 

46/1E- 31P1 1

10- -52 

10- -52 

5-13-53 39 0.0

10 

10 

9.2

8 

8 

7.5

12 2~0 

12 2.1

87 

91 

96

0 

0 

0

2 

1 

1.5

OKLAHOMA DISTRICT

46/2E- 7E1 

22Q1 

47/1E- 1M11

10B11 

23H1 1

7-16-54 

7-16-54 

12- -52 

7-16-54 

12- -52 

7-16-54 

12- -52 

7-16-54

41 

37

33

45

40

.......

7.4 

9.4 

10 

7.8 

9 

8.9 

11 

7.8

6.0 

4.5 

7 

5.7 

8 

6.0 

8 

6.2

11 

11 

27 

14 

52 

37 

16 

13

2.5 

2.3

2.4

9.5

2.3

74 

70 

111 

78 

177 

146 

103 

85

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

2 

0 

1

2.1 

2.1 

14 

3.8 

13 

4.1 

4 

1.0

U. S. Bureau of Reclamation, Sacramento. 

2 Dissolved solids by evaporation.
BASIC DATA 145

the Batte Valley region, Siskiyou County, Calif.

Constituents in parts per million Continued

Chloride 

(Cl)

Fluoride 

(F)

Nitrate 

(N03)

Boron 

(B)

Dissolved solids

Residue on 

evaporation

Sum of 

determined 

constituents

Hardness as 

calcium 

carbonate 

(CaC03 )

Per 

cent 

sodium

Specific 

conductance 

(micromhos at 

25°C)

pH

BUTTE VALLEY Continued

1.8 

1.2 

15 

17 

5 

7 

2.0 

5 

2.5 

.8 

3.5 

2.0 

1 

.5 

Trace 

7.0 

.2 

.8 

14 

174 

83 

7.0 

.8 

1.5 

12 

2.5 

8.5 

53 

27

0.1 

.1 

.0 

.0

.1

.2 

.2 

.1 

.2

.0

.2 

.0 

.2

.6 

.4 

.2 

.1 

.2

.3 

.3

8.3 

4.9 

24 

44

.5

.7 

1.2 

.2 

.5

.1

13 

.1 

.5

.5 

3.1 

5.0 

3.2 

1.9

1.4 

7.3

<0.1 

.05 

.02 

.03 

.00 

.1 

^.1 

.05 

0 

.01 

.05 

.04 

.00 

.1 

.04 

0 

.06 

.03 

.02 

.2 

.91 

1.1 

.11 

.20 

.12

.05 

.06

(2)

(2) 

(2)

(2)

(2)

(2)

(2)

(2)

(2)

(2) 

(2)

230 

204 

172 

242 

258 

225 

308 

186 

306 

188 

156 

159 

158 

123 

124 

148 

356 

135 

183 

271 

1,200 

1,890 

248 

237 

285 

230 

186 

232 

510 

340

103 

96 

80 

139 

145 

101 

170 

102 

170 

115 

84 

83 

81 

68 

74 

77 

220 

74 

109 

104 

144 

243 

122 

120 

153 

116 

88 

122 

151 

176

31 

34 

31 

20 

19 

30 

17 

31 

15 

17 

20 

30 

30 

16 

19 

18 

26 

22 

16 

43 

80 

82 

36 

36 

33 

26 

34 

28 

55 

24

278 

277 

227

377 

272 

362 

281 

370 

268 

209 

233 

233 

159 

176 

176 

549 

178 

256 

337 

1,940 

2,640 

351 

374 

446 

301 

277 

345 

615 

403

7.4 

7.2 

7.2

7.5 

8.1 

8.0 

7.6 

8.1 

7.5 

7.3 

7.7 

7.8 

7.8 

7.7 

8.3 

7.5 

7.6 

7.4 

8.1 

8.0 

8.3 

8.1 

8.0 

7.7 

8.3 

8.0 

7.5 

8.2 

7.9

RED ROCK VALLEY Continued

17 

11 

3.2 0.1 0.2 0.03

(2) 

(2)

136 

141 

122

58 

58 

54

32 

44 

32

150 

152

153

7.9 

7.1 

7.4

OKLAHOMA DISTRICT Continued

6.0 

8.0 

5 

6.5 

8 

9.0 

2 

4.0

0.2 

.2

.2

.4

.2

0.4 

.1

.3

.3

.4

0.13 

.15 

0 

.23 

Trace 

.05 

Trace 

.11

(2)

(2)

(2)

113 

109 

174 

112 

267 

194 

144 

118

43 

42 

54 

43 

55 

47 

60 

45

34 

35 

53 

40 

68 

58 

37 

37

134 

138 

223 

151 

318 

348 

176 

139

8.0 

8.0 

7.9 

8.1 

8.3 

8.3 

7.6 

8.3
146 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, BUTTE VALLEY

Table 13. Chemical analyses of surf ace water in

Location and source

43/1W- 12 1 

24K

45/1W- 17 1 

29G

45/2W- 8 1 

8C

46/2W- 2E

11 

11E1 

47/3W-251 

48/1E- 17Q

Antelope Creek 

near Tennant, 

Calif. 

Antelope Creek 

at U.S.G.S. 

gaging station 

about 0.4 mile 

southwest of 

TennanU

Butte Creek.,.,.. 

Butte Creek, 

about 7.2 

miles south 

of Macdoel.

Prather Creek.. 

Prather Creek, 

about 2.5 

miles west of 

U. S. Highway 

97, 100 feet 

south of 

section- line 

road (Prather 

Lane).

Date 

sampled

10- -52 

2-26-53

9-25-53 

10-17-52 

2-26-53

9-25-53 

10-17-52 

10- 1-53

Constituents in parts per million

Silica 

(SiOa)

28

30 

29

27

31

Calcium 

(Ca)

7 

6.0

6.1 

7 

6.4

6.9 

14

14

Magnesium 

(Mg)

2

1.5

2.1 

3 

2.3

3.6 

9 

7.0

Sodium 

(Na)

4 

3.6

3.0 

4 

4.1

4.1 

5 

5.8

Potassium 

(K)

0.9 

.8

1.3 

1.4

1.7

Bicarbonate 

[HCOs)

43 

34

38 

57 

42

49 

95 

92

Car-, 

bonate 

[COs)

0 

0

0 

0 

0

0 

0 

0

Sulfate 

(S04)

2 

1.8

1.6

1.6

1.6

1 

.6

MEISS LAKE

Indian Tom 

Lake.

5- 5-54 

6- 9-54 

7-13-54 

8- 5-54 

9-21-54 

9-21-54 

10- 7-52

8-13-54

36 

29 

31 

26 

24 

19

9.6

18 

17 

16 

18 

16 

16 

16 

11 

8

12 

12 

12 

12 

18 

19 

11 

6 

7.8

232 

148 

268 

336 

432 

430 

360 

4 

891

14 

11 

18 

22 

30 

28

163

696 

476 

740 

841 

1,050 

1,080 

895 

76 

1,090

0 

0 

20 

56 

110 

63 

41 

0 

362

8.1 

6.8 

8.5 

12 

14 

18 

9 

1 

173

1 Analysis by U. S. Bureau of Reclamation, Sacramento.

2 Dissolved solids by evaporation.
BASIC DATA

the Butte Valley region, Siskiyou County, Calif.

147

Constituents in parts per million Continued

Chloride 

(Cl)

4 

0.8

1.0 

1 

.5

1.0 

1 

.8

Fluoride 

(F)

0.1 

-C.1

.1 

.2

.0

Nitrate 

(N03 )

0.2 

.2

.4 

.3

.1

Boron 

(B)

0.02

.03 

.1 

.03

.01 

0 

.00

Dissolved solids

Residue on 

evaporation

(2)

(2)

(2)

Sum of 

determined 

constituents

62 

60

64 

72 

66

70 

125 

106

Hardness as 

calcium 

carbonate 

(CaCOs)

21 

24

25 

32

64

Per

cent 

sodium

22 

26

21 

20 

25

21 

13 

16

Specific 

conductance 

(nicrorrhos at 

25°C)

64 

55

61 

78 

65

78 

143 

144

pH

7.6 

7.1

7.1 

8.0 

7.2

7.1 

8.2 

7.7

MEISS LAKE Continued

28 

14 

31 

33 

48 

45 

52

388

0.5 

.2 

.6 

.2 

1.4 

1.0

1.6

1.3 

.8 

1.0 

.6 

4.0 

3.4

1.5

0.0 

.11 

.12 

.29 

.11 

.09 

Trace 

0 

3.4

(2) 

(2)

693 

473 

770 

930 

1,210 

1,180 

1,384 

98 

2,540

94 

92 

90 

94 

112 

118

52

82 

75 

84 

86 

86 

86 

91 

13 

88

1,100 

747 

1,220 

1,440 

1,920 

1,830 

1,540 

118 

4,110

8.1 

7.9 

8.6 

8.9 

9.0 

8.7 

9.0 

8.1 

9.5
INDEX

Page 

Acknowledgements_ ------_-------- 3,4,6

Alder Creek-------------------------------- 38

Alluvial-fan deposits-------___-.___- 45-46

water-bearing properties- ____ ____ 46 

Alluvium, character and distribution_____ 46-47

water-bearing properties__________ 47 

Andesitlc flows. - .. 16,17,20,34 

Antelope Creek--.------------------ 12,29,58,63,66

Antelope Sink............................... 12,47

Artesian pressure _ ._____---- 51

Ball Mountain------............... 10,11,21,24

Basalt flows, water-bearing properties.-___ 33,34 

Basaltic andesite. 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

Big Tableland ------------------------ 12,32,37

Bray...----...-------_---.-. ---- 4,11,44,45

Butte Creek - 11,12,17, 29,34,35,38,45, 58,63, 66

Butte Valley, location ___________ 4, 29

structure.---------__ -__ _ 5,50

Butte Valley basalt, age __-__-- 29

character and distribution.------___ 16,29-31

lithology.. _ .--._---.__-_ - - 31

stratigraphic relations- - - ____. 29,31,42,45

water-bearing properties__- 17,31-32,42,43,52

Butte Valley Irrigation District_._______ 6

Cascade Kange._--._---.-.-_-_-----.--_.. 5,10

physiography,.._-_-----------__ . 10

structual history.--.____________. 17

volcanic features_ .--_..-_____-- 10

cinder cones. ___ _ _ __ 13,16,17,33

cones . 10,12,13, 21, 22,30, 49 

lava domes... _________ 10,13,16 

scoria mounds.-_-...___----_-._.. 17

shield volcanoes _________ 16,17,22 

vents.. 10

Cedar Mountain..._______________ 12,30 

Cedar Point-------------- 11, 42, 44, 49, 50, 52, 66

Cedarville andesite______________-- 22 

Cirques....______.___________ 38

Collapse depressions-_____. ___. ___ 29,33 

Consumption of water_------_____.... 63

Cottonwood Creek-..__._.._...._........ 12,61

Crops.-. _..---__-_-----_-____...__ 15,65

Deer Mountain........__................ 17,34

Definitions of hydrologic terms. - _--__.. 9 

Diatom assemblages---.________.___ 36 

Diatomite -- 5,16,32,35-38

age.. - .. 36,37

character and distribution..___.--._. 35-38 

fossil content.--------_ ___..... 36,37

origin and composition...__------_ 36,37,38

stratigraphic relations'--_..._-__.__ 36,37,38 

Dorris ..................... 44, 45, 48,50, 52, 55

D Kanch.____________________ 12,62

Drawdown, definition and computatkn.. __ 9 

of wells-------------------- 26,31,41,42,43

Drinking-water standards. ----- 65

Dune Sand. ------------- 17,35,41,46,48

water-bearing properties. - - _ _______ - 48

Eagle Kock Mountain. 

Edgewood-_____ 

Expansion joints.

Fault scarps.

----------------- 21

 ----.- 38

................. 23

 - - 11,

13,17, 24,30,32, 35,37,44, 45, 47, 49, 53

Faults, in echelon. 

Feeder dikes__ 

Fieldwork___.. 

Fogle Kanch------

25

38

Qlaciation... - - 11,38-39

Goosenest----------------------- ----- 17

Grabens- ------------------------------ 11,50

Grenada Kanch....-------. --------- 35,38

Ground water, collection of samples---------- 8

mineral content------ ----- ----- 64

recharge 20,48,54,57,58,59,64

Growing season___-------_.... -.... 15

Haight Mountain.---. -------- 38

Harris Creek.-- 11,23,24,44,45

Hessig Ranch-.-.-- . - 49 

Horsts 50

Hot Creek 12,62

Hydraulic gradient.- ---------- 52, 53, 54

Ikes Creek..-.. . .. 11,24,44,45

Ikes Mountain.--- -.- 7,10,11, 20, 23,24, 26, 49 

Indian Tom Lake------------------------- 12,48,66

InlowButte---- ---------- 11,?3,42,48, 54,66

Irrigation. ------------- 5,11,12,54,59,61,63,65

Jerome.------------------ ----- 11,29

Juniper Knoll-.-- --- 26, 28

Klamath diatomite district 36 

Klamath Falls, Oreg.-- 4,5,36,37

Klamath River....... ......... 16,20,49

Klamath River basin, investigation-,.. 3

Laird Landing-.-_______ - 47 

Lake deposits.------------ 24,25,5T?, 30,35,39-44

age------------_ __.__-------_---._------_ 40

character and distribution _- - 39-41 

fossil content.-.--_-_---------- - 40

stratigraphic relations.. _. 39, 41,45,47, 52, 53

water-bearing properties---. - 41,52

Landslides--.----------- ------------------ 30

Land use, categories.- 63 

Langer Ranch_ 60 

Lava Beds National Monument. . 4,33

149
150 INDEX

Page

Lava tubes. __________________ 30,34 

Leaf .......- 5

Little Deer Mountain.__.T _................ 17,34

Little Tableland............. .... 12,32,37

Long Prairie - -._.. .....__ 46,47

Lower Klamath Lake......... 12,32,46,47,50,53,59

Macdoel 4,13,16, 26,39,41,43,44,46, 52, 54

Mahogany Mountain..__________ 13,26,33

Mahogany Mountain ridge___ ____ _ 10,

12,13,17,35,48, 52, 59,62

lithologic composition __________ 22,53

structure... -.__________ 22,49,50,60

McOavin Peak.........................__ 10,11

Medicine Lake highland ............... 4,5,20,33

MeissLake. ........... 11,39,40,52,54,55,59.66

Meiss Ranch.... ................ 24,26,39,49,59

Miller Mountain.___...._____.___ 21

Modoc basalt.__________._____.. 33 

Moraines . . 16,34,35,38,39 

Moraines and fluvioglacial deposits, character

and distribution______. ___ 38 

water-bearing properties...._______ 39

Mount Dome.---.----.----.----... 12,16,33,38,60

Mount Hebron ... 4,10,11,13,29,30,52 

Mount Hood, Oreg ...... . 10.49

Mount Lassen. __._...........______ 49

Mount McLoughlin, Oreg..___......___ 49

Mount Shasta ...................... 10,11,12

Mount Shasta Woods--.....-.-.-.....-..... 35,38

Muskgrave Creek..........._....._... 11,24,44

Oklahoma district-... ... 4,8,12,37,50,52,54,60 

Oklahoma Flat 12,37,44,61

Older terrace remnants and dissected alluvialfan deposits..........._._.... 44-45

Older volcanic rocks of the "High Cascades,"

age 17,19,21

character and distribution_............. 21-24

lithology-- ............... 17,19,21,22-23

stratigraphic relations........ 17,23,37,41,48,60

water-bearing properties. ____ _ 17,19,24-26 

Olivine basalt- -. -.-- 16,23,29,31,32,34,37 

Orr Mountain .._.________..___. 12,30

Pahoehoe..............._._._______ 31

Palagonite...__...._._.___....__ 23

Peat .- . 47

Penoyar__...___._._.___....__ 4,34

Permeability tests......................... 10,42,43

Playas-.-. ... 11,17,29,46,47,66 

Pleasant Valley... . ............. 11,50

Porterfleld Ranch---.------.------..--.... 12,60

PratherCreek . .. 11,24,44,45,66

Precipitation data................ 13,14,15,56,57,59

Pressure ridges..........._ ...._._____ 29,30

Pumping, effect on water table _...... 55,56,57,59

Pyroclastic rocks, age__..__._______ 26,27 

character and distribution__....___ 26-28

lithology---- . 26,28

origin. _.....__.________ 27

stratigraphic relations-.________ 26,27,28 

water-bearing properties--..._______ 28-29

Quality of water________________ 65-67

Page

Reconnaissance studies. .._. 4 

Red Rock Lakes. 22 

Red Rock Valley. 4,11,12,2f, 39,46,47, 52,54,58 

Round Valley 46,47

Russel Lake 11,47

Salt Lake formation. 40 

Sams Neck...___. .. ..... 11,50

Saturated thickness, definition ard computatation____._________ 9 

Secret Spring Mountain ......... .. 10,20,21

Sharp Mountain__ _____________ 12,33 

Shasta Valley.--- 21,38

Sheep Mountain-.-..------.-------. . 16,22,32

Sheepy Creek.. 12,61,62

Shovel Creek .... 16,20,21,66

Soils 4,13,24,65

Soule Ranch-.. 34,38

Specific capacity, definition and computation. 9 

of wells 26,31,42,43

Sprague River area___.... 22,37

Spring-fed streams__________- 12,24,58,60,61 

Stone circles- ....... 38

Surface water, collection of samples 58 

Swan Lake, Oreg 3

Talus, character and distribution........ 47-48

water-bearing properties_____.. .... 48

Temperature data____ _____ 15,16,60,61,62 

Tennant-..- . 12 

Tuff.._ -. ___...... 16 23,27,28,31,37,38

Tuff breccia . 16,20,21.23,26,27,28,37,38 

Tule Lake . . 13

Tumuli... _ - . - 29,30

U.S. Weather Bureau stations, Macdoel___ 13 

Mount Hebron.__.__ _..._...... 13,57

Tule Lake 13

Van Bremmer Mountain...._____.. 12

Volcanic rocks of the "Western Cascades,"

age 17,19,20

lithology----.. 19,20,21

stratigraphic relations........... 17,20, 21,48,49

water-bearing properties. 21

Warner basalt __ . 

Water table, definitionperched...... .

Weed.... ...........

................. 32

... 51

... 26 

. - 4

Well-numbering system.. . 6-7 

Whaleback lava cone... 17 

Wild Horse Mountain..__.__.. ..... 12

Willow Creek....................... 12,36,37, 60,61

Willow Creek Mountain... 17,21

Yield, definition and computation. . 9 

of wells 21,26,28, 32,35,41.42,43,46, 59, 60, 62

Yield factor, definition and computation... .. 9 

of wells... .. . 26,42,43,44

Younger volcanic rocks of the "High Cascades," age._.__ 34 

lithology ...__..... . 34 

stratigraphic relations.. . 34-35 

water-bearmg properties. 35

o
The U.S. Geological Survey Library has cataloged this publication as follows:

Wood, Perry Rowley, 1920-

Geology and ground-water features of the Butte Valley 

region, Siskiyou County, California. Washington, U.S. 

Govt. Print. Off., 1960.

v, 151 p. illus., maps (1 col.) diagrs., tables. 24 cm, (U.S. Geological Survey. Water-supply paper 1491)

Part of illustrative matter in pocket.

Prepared in cooperation with the California Divisio^ of Water 

Resources.

Bibliography: p. 67-68.

(Continued on next card)

Wood, Perry Rowley, 1920- Geology and ground-water 

features of the Butte Valley region, Siskiyou County, California. 1960. (Card 2)

1. Geology-California-Siskiyou Co. 2. Water, Under^round-California-Siskiyou Co. 3. Water-supply-California-Siskiyou Co. 4. 

Water-Composition. I. California. Division of Water Resources. 

(Series)