U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Data Series 533

Version 9.0, February 2019

Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada 

Site Office, Office of Environmental Management under Interagency Agreement, DE-A152-07NA28100

Database of Groundwater Levels and Hydrograph 

Descriptions for the Nevada Test Site Area, 

Nye County, Nevada

Database of Groundwater Levels and 

Hydrograph Descriptions for the 

Nevada Test Site Area, Nye County, Nevada

By Peggy E. Elliott and Joseph M. Fenelon

Data Series 533

Version 9.0, February 2019

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy, National 

Nuclear Security Administration Nevada Site Office, Office of Environmental 

Management under Interagency Agreement, DE-A152-07NA28100
U.S. Department of the Interior

KEN SALAZAR, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Marcia K. McNutt, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia

First release: December 2010 

Revised: December 2011 (ver. 2.0)

Revised: October 2012 (ver. 3.0)

Revised: November 2013 (ver. 4.0)

Revised: October 2014 (ver. 5.0)

Revised: October 2015 (ver. 6.0)

Revised: October 2016 (ver. 7.0)

Revised: September 2018 (ver. 8.0)

Revised: February 2019 (ver. 9.0)

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Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to 

reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report.

Suggested citation:

Elliott, P.E., and Fenelon, J.M., 2010, Database of groundwater levels and hydrograph descriptions for the 

Nevada Test Site area, Nye County, Nevada (ver. 9.0, February 2019): U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 533, 13 p., 

https://doi.org/10.3133/ds533.
iii

Contents

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

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

Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................1

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

Groundwater-Level Database......................................................................................................................3

Methods and Data Sources ................................................................................................................4

Description of Database......................................................................................................................9

Acknowledgments.......................................................................................................................................13

References Cited..........................................................................................................................................13

Figures

1. Map showing areal distribution of wells in the water-level database for the Nevada

Test Site area, Nye County, Nevada ..........................................................................................2

2. Diagram showing relationships among data tables in the water-level database for

the Nevada Test Site area, Nye County, Nevada ..................................................................11

3. Screen shot showing an example of a worksheet with a hydrograph and well

information from the Microsoft® Excel workbook in Elliott and Fenelon (2018, 

ds533_NTS_hydrographs.xlsx).................................................................................................12

Tables

1. Equations used to correct water levels for borehole deviation in the Nevada Test

Site area, Nye County, Nevada...................................................................................................5

2. Descriptions of general and detailed hydrologic conditions assigned to water

levels in the Nevada Test Site area, Nye County, Nevada.....................................................7

3. Descriptions of tables in the water-level database for the Nevada Test Site area,

Nye County, Nevada...................................................................................................................10
iv

Conversion Factors, Datums, and Acronyms

Conversion Factors

Multiply By To obtain

inch (in.) 2.54 centimeter (cm)

foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m)

mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km)

foot squared per day (ft2/d) 0.09290 meter squared per day (m2/d) 

Transmissivity: The standard unit for transmissivity is cubic foot per day per square foot times 

foot of aquifer thickness [(ft3/d)/ft2]ft. In this report, the mathematically reduced form, foot 

squared per day (ft2/d), is used for convenience.

Datums

Vertical coordinate information is referenced to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 

(NGVD 29).

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83) 

unless otherwise stated.

Altitude, as used in this report, refers to distance above the vertical datum.

Acronyms 

DOE U.S. Department of Energy

NTS Nevada Test Site

NWIS National Water Information System

USGS U.S. Geological Survey
Database of Groundwater Levels and Hydrograph 

Descriptions for the Nevada Test Site Area, Nye County, 

Nevada

By Peggy E. Elliott and Joseph M. Fenelon

Abstract 

A database containing water levels measured from wells 

in and near areas of underground nuclear testing at the Nevada 

Test Site since 1941 was developed. The database provides 

information for each well including well construction, 

borehole lithology, units contributing water to the well, and 

general site remarks. Water-level information provided in 

the database includes measurement source, status, method, 

accuracy, and specific water-level remarks. Additionally, the 

database provides hydrograph narratives that document the 

water-level history and describe and interpret the water-level 

hydrograph for each well.

Water levels in the database were quality assured 

and analyzed. Multiple conditions were assigned to each 

water-level measurement to describe the hydrologic conditions 

at the time of measurement. General quality, temporal 

variability, regional significance, and hydrologic conditions 

are attributed to each water-level measurement. 

Introduction

The Nevada Test Site (NTS; currently called the Nevada 

National Security Site) is in Nye County, southern Nevada 

(fig. 1), about 65 mi northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada. From 

1951 to 1992, 828 underground nuclear tests were completed 

at the NTS (U.S. Department of Energy, 2000). Most of 

the tests were done in five areas: Pahute Mesa, Rainier 

Mesa, Yucca Flat, Shoshone Mountain, and Frenchman Flat 

(Laczniak and others, 1996, fig. 2; U.S. Department of Energy, 

2000, p. xviii; Wills, 2008, p. 14-1). All underground tests at 

Yucca Flat, Frenchman Flat, and Pahute Mesa were conducted 

in vertical shafts drilled into alluvial and volcanic rock, and in 

a few cases into carbonate and granitic rock. Nearly all tests 

at Rainier Mesa and Shoshone Mountain were conducted in 

tunnel complexes mined into low-permeability, zeolitized tuff 

(National Security Technologies, LLC, 2007).

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), National 

Nuclear Security Administration Nevada Site Office, under its 

Environmental Restoration Program, has a long-term program 

to investigate and remediate radionuclide contaminants 

generated on the NTS as a result of nuclear testing. As part of 

the program, DOE is evaluating what risk these contaminants 

may pose to the public. To help accomplish this objective, 

groundwater levels are being compiled and analyzed to 

better understand the groundwater flow system in areas of 

underground nuclear testing.

Purpose and Scope

This report documents and describes a comprehensive 

collection of water-level measurements made in and near areas 

of underground nuclear testing on the NTS since 1941. The 

water-level measurements and descriptions are stored in a 

Microsoft® Access database.

The process to develop the groundwater-level 

database (hereinafter water-level database) involved several 

steps. First, water-level measurements from wells in the 

study area and supporting information from various data 

sources were compiled and merged into the database. The 

supporting information, for use in interpreting the water-level 

measurements, includes site characteristics, well-construction 

information, lithologic logs, and contributing units for each 

well. Second, each water-level measurement was assigned 

multiple attributes to describe the hydrologic condition at 

the time of measurement. Third, a narrative was written for 

each well that provides information and comments about the 

well, water-level data for the well, and possible causes of 

water‐level fluctuations. 
2 Database of Groundwater Levels and Hydrograph Descriptions for the NTS Area, Nye County, Nevada

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CALIFORNIA

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Yucca Mountain

Shoshone Mountain

Pahute Mesa

Rainier Mesa

Yucca Flat

Frenchman Flat

Amargosa Desert

Oasis Valley

Emigrant Valley

NYE COUNTY

CLARK COUNTY

Gold

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116°50'W 116°30'W 116°10'W 115°50'W

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EXPLANATION

Well

Nevada Test Site-Number is administrative area

Area of underground nuclear testing-modified from Laczniak and others (1996) 

Map in Universal Transverse Mercator Projection, NAD27, Zone 11N. 

Base from U.S. Geological Survey(USGS) digital data, 1:100,000, 1979-89. 

Shaded relief base from 30-meter scale USGS Digital Elevation Model (DEM) 

23

Figure 1. Areal distribution of wells in the water-level database for the Nevada Test Site area, Nye County, Nevada.
Groundwater-Level Database 3

Water-level measurements, site characteristics, and 

well-construction information contained in the water-level 

database were obtained from the U.S. Geological Survey 

(USGS) National Water Information System (NWIS) database 

(U.S. Geological Survey, 2010a), available on the World Wide 

Web at http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nv/nwis/ (hereinafter NWIS 

database). Prior to merging the NWIS data into the water-level 

database, a systematic quality-assurance review of data stored 

in the NWIS database and USGS data files in Henderson, Nev. 

for the wells was completed. Erroneous water-level data or 

duplicate sites were removed from or corrected in the NWIS 

database, and additional water-level measurements and site 

and construction information obtained from the data files were 

added to the NWIS database. Well-construction data were 

compiled from driller’s logs, well completion reports, and 

other published and unpublished information. Lithologic data 

were obtained from Wood (2007) and units contributing water 

to the wells were modified after Fenelon and others (2010).

This report is the fifth in a series of studies by the 

USGS, in cooperation with DOE, to review NWIS data for 

quality assurance, add additional data previously missing 

from the NWIS database, and interpret historic water-level 

measurements in and near areas of underground nuclear 

testing on the NTS (Bright and others, 2001; Fenelon, 2000, 

2005, 2006). This report updates water-level data published in 

previous reports, adds data from many additional wells, and 

compiles all available water-level data from underground test 

areas into a single database.

Description of Study Area

The study area includes the NTS and surrounding area, 

and incorporates areas of past underground nuclear testing on 

the NTS (fig. 1). The topography of the NTS includes volcanic 

highlands, such as Pahute and Rainier Mesas, and surrounding 

alluvial-filled basins. Altitudes in the study area range from 

about 2,400 to 8,500 ft.

The climate of the study area is arid to semiarid. Annual 

precipitation ranges from less than 5 in. on the lowest valley 

floors to about 13 in. in the highest upland areas (Soulé, 2006). 

Precipitation falls primarily as rain, and as snow at higher 

altitudes during the winter months. Streams in the study area 

are ephemeral and flow only for brief periods after infrequent, 

intense rainfall and during and soon after spring snowmelt.

The geology of the NTS and surrounding area is 

stratigraphically and structurally complex (Winograd and 

Thordarson, 1975; Laczniak and others, 1996; Slate and 

others, 1999). Volcanic rocks dominate well completions 

in Pahute and Rainier Mesas, the Cactus Range, and some 

parts of Yucca, Frenchman, and Jackass Flats. The volcanic 

rocks predominantly consist of aquifers composed of welded 

ash-flow tuffs and lavas, and confining units composed of 

bedded air-fall and nonwelded ash-flow tuffs. Alluvial basin 

fill and carbonate rocks also are common in well completions, 

and typically are aquifers. Alluvial fill is penetrated in some 

well completions, primarily in Yucca and Frenchman Flats, 

Emigrant and Oasis Valleys, and Gold Flat. Carbonate rocks 

typically lie beneath the alluvial and volcanic rocks and most 

commonly are intersected by wells in Yucca Flat where the 

depth to the top of carbonate rock is not excessive. A few 

wells in the study area are completed in sedimentary clastic 

rock and granite, which typically are confining units.

Aquifers at the NTS have been mapped as 

alluvial-volcanic or carbonate, based on lithology and 

hydraulic connection (Fenelon and others, 2010). These 

aquifers have been further classified as (1) “regional” if they 

form continuous flow systems connecting areas of recharge 

with areas of discharge, or (2) “local” if they are isolated by 

confining units and flow predominately as vertical leakage into 

the adjacent confining units.

Groundwater-Level Database

The USGS collects and maintains water-level data for 

wells on and near the NTS (U.S. Geological Survey, 2010b, at 

http://nevada.usgs.gov/doe_nv). As part of this data-collection 

program, current and historic water-level data are compiled, 

reviewed, and stored in the NWIS database. The water-level 

database in this report contains water-level measurements 

retrieved from the NWIS database for wells throughout 

the study area. Water-level data for these wells have been 

collected periodically since 1941. 

Water-level data contained in the water-level database 

were collected from boreholes with single or multiple 

completions, or from measurement sites in mine shafts or 

tunnel complexes. As used in this report, the term “well” 

was chosen to represent a single, temporary or permanent 

completion in a borehole, where each completion defines a 

discrete open interval; a site used to measure depth to water in 

a flooded mine shaft; or a site in a tunnel used for measuring 

impounded tunnel water. Examples of multiple “well 

completions” in a single borehole may include (1) multiple 

temporary packed intervals, where each packed interval is 

considered a well completion, (2) multiple monitoring tubes 

or piezometers installed within the annulus of a main well 

completion, and (3) an open borehole that is monitored during 

a break in drilling (considered to be an initial well completion, 

as defined in this report) and then later deepened and 

completed (the only actual well completion in the borehole, 

but considered a second well completion in this report). 

A unique site identification number and site name were 

established in the NWIS database for each well. A “well,” 

as used in this report, is referred to as a “site” in the NWIS 

database. Well and site are interchangeable in this report. All 

well names in this report are derived from the NWIS database. 
4 Database of Groundwater Levels and Hydrograph Descriptions for the NTS Area, Nye County, Nevada

Naming conventions for “wells” in the water-level 

database are as follows. The first part of a well name is 

the USGS borehole name [Elliott and Fenelon (2018), 

ds533_NTS_WL.accdb (referred to as appendix A in previous 

versions), Well_Characteristics_Summary]; official NTS hole 

numbers also are provided in Well_Characteristics_Summary. 

If a well completion represents the sole or final completion 

interval in a borehole, the entire well name typically is 

identical to the USGS borehole name—for example: well 

UE-1a (well names in this report are italicized). In boreholes 

with multiple completions, well names typically are 

differentiated from each other by a parenthetical expression 

added after the borehole name—for example: well UE-2aa 

(2207 ft). A single number in the parenthetical expression 

refers to the depth of the well; two numbers separated by 

a dash refer to the depth of the top and bottom of the open 

interval in the well. In some cases, a well name consists of 

the borehole name and a non-parenthetical expression (main, 

piezometer) that follows the borehole name.

Methods and Data Sources

The water-level database in this report provides site 

information for each well, water-level and well-construction 

data, borehole lithology, units contributing water to the well, 

and information on the external conditions influencing each 

water level measured in the study area (Elliott and Fenelon, 

2018, ds533_NTS_WL.accdb). Information in the water-level 

database was derived from datasets created for this study 

and datasets available from the NWIS database. Boreholelithologic descriptions were obtained mostly from Wood 

(2007) and designation of units contributing water to the 

wells were modified after the subsurface hydrologic unit types 

described in Fenelon and others (2010). 

A systematic quality-assurance review of site information 

and water-level data in the NWIS database for wells in the 

study area, and for data not previously published in Bright and 

others (2001) and Fenelon (2000, 2005, 2006) was completed 

for this study. This review included removing or correcting 

duplicate sites or erroneous water-level data in the NWIS 

database, and adding water-level measurements and site and 

construction information obtained from USGS data files stored 

in Henderson, Nev. that were previously missing from the 

NWIS database. A summary of water-level measurements for 

the wells is shown in Elliott and Fenelon (2018, ds533_NTS_

WL.accdb, Water_Level_Measurements_Summary). 

Periodic water-level measurements in the water‐level 

database primarily were made by USGS or private contracting 

agencies working at the NTS using a calibrated electric tape, 

calibrated electric-cable unit (also known as iron-horse and 

wire-line device), and less commonly, a steel tape, fluiddensity geophysical log, airline, float recorder, pressure 

transducer, and pressure gage. Most water-level measurements 

prior to 1996 were made with an electric-cable unit (Garber 

and Koopman, 1968), whereas more recent measurements 

typically were made using an electric tape. Electric tapes 

are calibrated annually at different water-level depths with 

a USGS steel reference tape. At the time of measurement, a 

correction factor is applied to the depth-to-water reading based 

on the annual calibration. Post‐1995 measurements using 

electric tapes generally are more accurate (±0.1 ft) than older 

measurements using electric-cable units or other methods 

(±0.5–2 ft). 

Water-level measurements collected from wells in 

boreholes that deviated from vertical during drilling were 

corrected for borehole deviation (table 1). As a general 

rule, water levels are corrected for borehole deviation if 

the correction is greater than 1.0 ft. Corrections less than 

1.0 ft were not applied to water levels because at depths 

exceeding 1,000 ft for water levels in many wells on the 

NTS the uncertainty in the deviation correction can be 

as great or greater than the magnitude of the correction. 

Exceptions to this rule exist for some wells where the borehole 

deviation equations were developed under other water-level 

measurement programs. Water levels in these boreholes were 

corrected for borehole deviation although the corrections are 

less than 1 ft.

The equations used to calculate water-level corrections 

for borehole deviation are based on the source of information 

available, such as a drilling report or well diagram that 

reported the slant angle of the borehole or a borehole-deviation 

survey. When only the slant angle of the borehole is available, 

the angle of deviation along the measured depth interval is 

assumed constant and the correction equation is derived as 

follows:

Vd = Md * cos θ, (1)

where

Vd is corrected vertical water-level depth, in feet 

below land surface;

Md is measured water-level depth, in feet below 

land surface;

θ is angle of slant from the vertical.
Groundwater-Level Database 5

Table 1. Equations used to correct water levels for borehole deviation in the Nevada Test Site area, Nye County, Nevada.

USGS borehole name: USGS borehole name as shown in Elliott and Fenelon (2018, ds533_NTS_WL.accdb, Well_Characteristics_Summary). Names in 

bold are boreholes intentionally drilled at a slant angle. Equation used to derive borehole deviation equation: Borehole deviation equations were derived 

using equations (1) and (2), which are described in the “Groundwater-Level Database” section of the report. Depth interval over which correction applies:

Measured depth interval that bounds the minimum and maximum depths of historic water-level measurements. The depth interval is used in equation (2) to 

derive the borehole deviation equation. Borehole deviation equation used to correct water levels: Vd, corrected vertical water-level depth; Md, measured 

water-level depth along slant hole. Average water-level adjustment: Average amount of adjustment subtracted from measured water level (Md) to obtain 

corrected vertical water level (Vd); –, no adjustment applied.

USGS borehole 

name

Equation used to 

derive borehole deviation 

equation

Depth interval over which 

correction applies, 

in feet

Borehole deviation equation 

used to correct water levels

Average water-level 

adjustment, 

in feet

ER-6-2 2 1,701 – 1,877 Vd = (Md * 0.99771) + 2.12 2.0

ER-16-1 11, 2 3,926 – 4,532 Vd = (Md * 0.9563) + 101.18 81.1

ER-20-5-3 2 2,050 – 2,100 Vd = (Md * 0.994) + 6.22 6.1

ER-20-12 22 1,492 – 1,912 Vd = (Md * 0.99914) – 0.94 2.5

ER-EC-12 32 1,315 – 1,415 Vd = Md – 1.10 1.1

ME-2 1 0 – 274 Vd

 = Md * 0.6984 45.8

RNM-14 2 725 – 900 Vd = (Md * 0.94432) – 16.36 60.3

U-2bs PS 1DB 1, 2 1,838 – 2,188 Vd

 = (Md * 0.8038) + 239.62 180

U-2gg PS E3A 1 0 – 2,060 Vd

 = Md * 0.95106 93.7

U-3cn 5 2 1,429 – 1,970 Vd = (Md * 0.9954) + 5.42 2.0

U-4u PS 2A 2 1,485 – 1,665 Vd

 = (Md * 0.94500) - 4.46 98.1

U-7ba PS 1AS 5

2 926 – 1,476 Vd = (Md * 0.92489) + 24.99 68.4

U-19ad PS 1A 1 0 – 2,579 Vd

 = Md * 0.9310558 154

U-19v PS 1D 1 0 – 3,885 Vd

 = Md * 0.9338 186

U-20m PS 1DABCF 2 1,300 – 1,325 Vd

 = (Md * 0.9892) + 10.21 4.0

1,350 – 1,375 Vd = (Md * 0.986) + 14.49 5.0

U-20n PS 1DD-H6 2 2,050 – 2,100 Vd = (Md * 0.9361) + 86.88 46.8

2,150 – 2,200 Vd = (Md * 0.9349) + 89.38 52.2

UE-5 PW-17 2 770 – 775 Vd = (Md * 0.998) + 1.27 0.3

UE-5 PW-27 2 835 – 845 Vd = (Md * 0.999) + 0.17 0.7

UE-5 PW-37 2 755 – 920 Vd = Md - 0.06 0.06

UE-10j8 2 2,100 – 2,200 Vd = (Md * 0.9927) + 13.32 2.0

UE-25 WT 39 2 984 ± 25 Vd = Md - 0.89 0.89

UE-25 WT 13 2 950-1,000 Vd = Md - 0.04 0.04

UE-25 WT 149 2 1,135 ± 25 Vd = Md - 0.28 0.28

UE-25 WT 159 2 1,161 ± 25 Vd = Md - 0.62 0.62

UE-25p 1 PTH9 2 1,184 ± 25 Vd = Md - 0.07 0.07

WW-210 2 1,725 – 2,175 Vd = Md - 0.52 0.5

WW-A11 2 1,575 – 1,850 Vd = Md - 3.00 3.0

WW-C12 132 1,500 – 1,540 Vd = (Md * 0.99625) + 4.74 1.0

1,540 – 1,701 Vd = (Md * 0.96619) + 51.04 1.0

WW-C-1 1, 2 1,525 – 1,550 Vd = (Md * 0.9848) + 19.21 4.3

1,550 – 1,575 Vd = (Md * 0.9772) + 30.99 --

1,575 – 1,600 Vd = (Md * 0.966) + 48.63 5.7

1

 Source of data includes a borehole deviation survey completed to a depth of 3,926 ft, and an assumed constant angle of slant to 4,172 ft (bottom of borehole). 

The slant angle is based on the measured deviation at a depth of 3,926 ft.

2

Includes wells ER-20-12 m1; ER-20-12 p1; ER-20-12 p2; ER-20-12 p3; and ER-20-12 p4.

3

 Includes wells ER-EC-12 main (upper zone), ER-EC-12 deep, ER-EC-12 intermediate, and ER-EC-12 shallow.

4

 Includes wells RNM-1, RNM-1 (Zone I perfs), RNM-1 (Zone IV perfs), and RNM-1 (Zone V perfs).

5

 Sporadic borehole-deviation measurements were obtained from drilling records.

6

 Includes wells U-20n PS 1DD-H (3025 ft), U-20n PS 1DD-H (4309 ft), and U-20n PS 1DD-H (4470 ft).

7

 Borehole deviation information from National Security Technologies, LLC, 2011.

8

 Includes wells UE-10j (2232-2613 ft), UE-10j (2232-2297 ft), and UE-10j (2380 ft).

9

 Borehole deviation information from Savard, 2001.

10

 Includes wells WW-2 (2045 ft), WW-2 (2535 ft), WW-2 (2896 ft), WW-2 (3422 ft), and WW-2 (3422 ft, uncased). Borehole deviation information from 

Moore and others, 1963.

11 Includes wells WW-A (1730 ft) and WW-A (1870 ft).

12 Includes wells WW-C (1373-1701 ft) and WW-C (recompleted).

13 Source of data includes a borehole deviation survey completed to a depth of 1,540 ft, and an assumed constant angle of slant to 1,701 ft (bottom of borehole). The slant angle is 

based on the measured deviation at a depth of 1,540 ft.
6 Database of Groundwater Levels and Hydrograph Descriptions for the NTS Area, Nye County, Nevada

When a borehole-deviation survey is available, 

water-level corrections for selected depth intervals are 

developed based on cumulative measured borehole deviations 

from the survey. The true vertical water-level depth for 

a selected depth interval is determined by using a linear 

equation of the form:

Vd = (Md – M

top)*(∆Vint/∆Mint) + Vtop, (2)

where

Vd is corrected vertical water-level depth, in feet 

below land surface;

Md is measured water-level depth, in feet below 

land surface;

Mtop is measured depth to top of depth interval over 

which correction applies, in feet below land 

surface;

∆Vint is difference in true vertical depths between 

top and bottom of depth interval over which 

correction applies, in feet below land surface;

∆Mint is difference in measured depths between top 

and bottom of depth interval over which 

correction applies, in feet below land surface; 

and

Vtop is true vertical depth to top of depth interval 

over which correction applies, in feet below 

land surface.

As an example, a borehole deviation survey for borehole 

UE-10j (USGS data files, Henderson, Nev.) shows that a 

measured depth interval of 2,100–2,200 ft below land surface 

can be used to bound historic water-level measurements for 

well completions in this borehole (table 1). The corresponding 

true-vertical depths from the deviation survey at the top 

and bottom of this interval are 2,097.99 and 2,197.26 ft, 

respectively. Substituting these values into equation 2 gives 

the linear water-level adjustment for the depth interval that 

bounds historic water levels:

Vd = (Md – 2,100)*(99.27/100.00) + 2,097.99 (3)

In reduced form, equation 3 becomes:

Vd = (Md * 0.9927) + 13.32 (4)

Water levels in 49 wells in 29 boreholes in the study 

area were corrected for borehole deviation (table 1). Ten of 

these boreholes are slant holes that were intentionally drilled 

at an angle. The average water-level adjustments for borehole 

deviation in the slant holes and in borehole ER-16-1 are 

greater than 45 ft, with the exception of borehole U-20m PS 

1DABCF. In the remaining boreholes, the average water-level 

adjustments were less than about 6 ft.

Hydrologic conditions were used to describe the state 

of each water level that was measured in the study area. 

The conditions also describe the external factors that may 

have affected the measured depths-to-water. Hydrologic 

conditions were categorized as either general or detailed 

(table 2). General hydrologic conditions describe the state 

of a water level; examples are steady state, transient, and 

nonstatic. Detailed hydrologic conditions describe the 

effect that a factor may have on a water level, or denote the 

uncertainty of a water-level interpretation. Factors affecting 

water levels include pumping, recent well construction, 

and earthquake response. Water-level effects include abrupt 

change, equilibration, and rising trend. One general hydrologic 

condition and as many as six detailed hydrologic conditions 

were assigned to each water-level measurement in the study 

area.

The contributing units assigned to each well in the 

study area were based on subsurface hydrologic unit types as 

described in Fenelon and others (2010). A contributing unit 

represents the hydrologic unit at the open interval of the well 

that may contribute water to the well. A well may have been 

assigned more than one contributing unit code if multiple units 

are encountered by the open interval. All contributing unit 

codes are defined in Elliott and Fenelon (2018) in the Excel 

workbook named ds533_NTS_hydrographs.xlsx.

The water-level history of each well is documented in 

a hydrograph narrative. The narrative consists of comments 

or explanations about the well or water-level data measured 

in the well. An interpretation of the hydrograph and its 

hydrologic significance also is provided for most wells as part 

of the narrative. The narrative may include information about 

the open interval, testing done in the well, well productivity, 

specific influences near the well that may have affected 

water levels, and other details that may provide additional 

information about the conditions affecting past water-level 

measurements in the well. Basic information included in the 

narratives was derived from published reports or from USGS 

data files stored in Henderson, Nev.
Groundwater-Level Database 7

Table 2. Descriptions of general and detailed hydrologic conditions assigned to water levels in the Nevada Test Site area, Nye County, 

Nevada.

Condition name Description

General condition

Insufficient data Water level does not have sufficient supporting information to determine its general condition.

Localized conditions Water level represents non-steady, hydrologic conditions in a small part of the aquifer directly adjacent to the 

well; water level is affected by activities near or in the well such as a nuclear test or small-scale pumping.

None No water level was recorded because well is dry or obstructed, or site was visited but water level was not 

measured.

Nonstatic Water level represents non-steady hydrologic conditions in the well that are not representative of the 

surrounding aquifer; water level is affected by activities in the well, such as aquifer testing, well 

construction, or pumping.

Steady state Water level approximates pre-development, steady-state, hydrologic conditions in the groundwater flow system. 

The flow system can be fully saturated or perched. Water level is in dynamic equilibrium and considered to 

be steady state relative to long-term (50–100 years) climatic conditions. Water-level changes occurring as a 

result of natural conditions are considered steady state.

Suspect Water level is suspect or in error, and cannot be attributed to any known hydrologic cause. 

Transient Water level represents non-steady hydrologic conditions in the groundwater flow system that typically result 

from pumping in the well or a nearby well. The flow system can be fully saturated or perched. 

Detailed condition

Abrupt change Water level rapidly shifted or changed from previous measurement.

Anomalous - high Water-level altitude is unusually high relative to other measurements in the well or in nearby wells.

Anomalous - low Water-level altitude is unusually low relative to other measurements in the well or in nearby wells.

Borehole deviation Water level is corrected for borehole deviation.

Consistent Water level appears to be part of a reasonably consistent trend representative of general water-level conditions 

in the area.

Declining trend Water level appears to be part of a discernible, overall downward trend. Possible causes include nearby 

pumping, decreased recharge, equilibration following drilling, or depressurization after a nuclear test.

Destroyed Well was destroyed during site visit; no water-level measurement was made.

Dry No water level was recorded because well was dry at time of measurement.

Earthquake response Water level appears to be responding to a recent earthquake.

Elevated Water level is appreciably elevated relative to representative levels in the adjacent groundwater flow system. 

Elevated level is believed to result from naturally occurring, large vertical gradients in the area of the well. 

Representative levels in the adjacent flow system are based on Fenelon and others (2010) and Fenelon and 

others (2012).

Equilibration Water level appears to be part of a discernible, overall trend that is approaching an equilibrium level, either 

higher or lower than the current measurement. Equilibration commonly occurs following well construction, 

pumping, or nearby nuclear testing.

Erratic/Unstable Water level is erratic and unstable.

Evapotranspiration response Water level appears to be responding to evapotranspiration.

Floating oil Water-level measurement may be affected by floating oil in the well. Reported measurement is not corrected for 

variable density effects. 

Injection recovery Water level is equilibrating from an injection of water, mud, or other fluid into the well or hole.

Limited data Water level is one of a limited number. Therefore, the general condition assigned to water level is tentative.

Local infiltration Water level is responding to infiltration from a locally derived source of water, such as a nearby pond or stream 

channel.
8 Database of Groundwater Levels and Hydrograph Descriptions for the NTS Area, Nye County, Nevada

Table 2. Descriptions of general and detailed hydrologic conditions assigned to water levels in the Nevada Test Site area, Nye County, 

Nevada.—Continued.

Condition name Description

Detailed condition—Continued

Maximum estimate Water level or depth of attempted measurement (when well is dry or obstructed) represents a maximum 

estimate of the equilibrated water-level altitude in the monitored hydrologic unit.

Minimum estimate Water level represents a minimum estimate of the equilibrated water-level altitude in the monitored hydrologic 

unit.

NA No flag assigned.

Nearby drilling effect Water level is affected by drilling activities in a nearby hole.

Nuclear-test effect Water level appears to be or is suspected of being affected by nearby nuclear tests.

Obstruction Water-level measurement was attempted but could not be made because of an obstruction in the hole.

Packer test Water level was measured during a packer test.

Perched/semi-perched Water level appears to represent perched- or semi-perched conditions.

Precipitation response Water level appears to be responding to recharge from a large precipitation event or a wet winter.

Pumping area Well is in an area that may be impacted by groundwater withdrawals; however, no clear evidence of an impact 

on the water level was determined.

Pumping effect Water level is affected by active or recent pumping or bailing in the well or a nearby well, and appears lower 

than pre-pumping or pre-bailing water levels. If water-level measurement is missing, well was pumping at 

time of site visit and a measurement was not made.

Questionable accuracy Water level may not be accurate because of a poor measurement.

Rising trend Water level appears to be part of a discernible, overall rising trend. Possible causes include a decrease in nearby 

pumping, equilibration following drilling, and above-normal precipitation.

Seasonal effect Water level appears to be affected by a seasonal cycle. Seasonal cycles can be natural (evapotranspiration, 

atmospheric pressure) or anthropogenic (seasonal pumping).

Spring effect Water level may be affected by modifications or changes to a nearby spring.

Suspected unsaturated Water level is suspected to represent remnant fluid in the well. Hole is believed to be unsaturated.

Temperature effect Water level likely is affected by anomalously high or low water temperature; reported level is not adjusted for 

temperature effects.

Testing area Well is within one mile of one or more underground nuclear tests. Water level is not believed to be, but could 

be, affected by the testing.

Tunnel effect Water level may be affected by nearby tunneling.

Uncertain General condition assigned to water level is tentative because of uncertainty in interpreting water level or 

hydrograph.

Undeveloped Water level may not accurately represent hydrologic conditions in the monitored hydrologic unit because of 

insufficient or no well development.

Well-construction effect Water level appears to be equilibrating from, or is suspected of being affected by, prior well-construction and 

(or) development activities.
Groundwater-Level Database 9

Description of Database

The water-level database in Elliott and Fenelon (2018, 

ds533_NTS_WL.accdb, referred to as appendix A in previous 

versions) is comprised of 16 tables. Site, well-construction, 

and lithology information for the wells in the study area are 

stored in 9 tables, and water-level information, including 

water-level data, hydrologic conditions at the time of each 

water-level measurement, and a hydrograph narrative for each 

well are contained in 4 tables (table 3). A summary of selected 

well characteristics and water-level information retrieved 

from these tables is presented in 2 additional tables in the 

database: Well_Characteristics_Summary and Water_Level_

Measurements_Summary (Elliott and Fenelon, 2018).

The structure of the water-level database is shown in 

figure 2. Tables in the database are linked by the field USGS_

site_no (USGS site number), a unique 15-digit number used 

to identify each well; three tables also are linked by the field 

Water_level_date_time (water-level date and time). An effort 

was made to maintain a database structure that is similar to the 

structure of the NWIS database outlined in U.S. Geological 

Survey (2005). For example, the five construction tables from 

the NWIS database are preserved in the water-level database.

Hydrographs and well locations in the study area are 

interactively presented in a Microsoft® Excel workbook in 

Elliott and Fenelon (2018, ds533_NTS_hydrographs.xlsx). 

The workbook is designed to be an easy-to-use tool to obtain 

the water-level history for any well in the study area. It also 

can be used to filter water-level data by restricting the data 

to certain wells, dates, or hydrologic conditions. Figure 3 is 

an example of a worksheet from the workbook and shows 

well ER-2-1 piezometer (deep), which was selected with the 

pull-down list using the Microsoft® Excel built-in AutoFilter. 

Selected site information, water-level information and 

conditions, and the contributing unit from the water-level 

database are shown for this well. Additional information 

provided includes a short narrative that describes the well and 

hydrograph, and a hyperlink to the NWISWeb site home page 

for the well. 

Information for each water level shown in the example 

in figure 3, and for all water levels in the water-level database, 

includes water-level source, status, method, and accuracy 

(which pertains to the depth-to-water measurement and not 

the water-level altitude), and hydrologic conditions at the 

time of the water-level measurement. Interpretations for 

individual water-level measurements and for the period of 

record for a well have been incorporated into the water-level 

remark, hydrologic conditions, or hydrograph narrative 

(fig. 3). Abrupt water-level changes and long-term waterlevel declines are examples of typical hydrologic conditions 

that were interpreted. The components of the water-level 

record, including those shown in figure 3, are defined in 

table NTS14_field_descriptions in the water-level database in 

Elliott and Fenelon (2018, ds533_NTS_WL.accdb). Revisions 

made during the previous year to water-level data, general 

hydrologic-condition flags, or major changes to hydrograph 

narratives, are documented in table NTS16_revision_history in 

the water-level database.
10 Database of Groundwater Levels and Hydrograph Descriptions for the NTS Area, Nye County, Nevada

Table 3. Descriptions of tables in the water-level database for the Nevada Test Site area, Nye County, Nevada.

[NA, not applicable]

Table name Table grouping Type of data Remarks

NTS01_sitefile Site record Location and general information 

about a well

One unique record for each well

NTS02_construction Construction record General construction data for a well

NTS03_hole Construction record Hole diameter and interval May have multiple entries for each well 

that describe unique intervals of the 

hole

NTS04_casing Construction record Casing diameter, interval, and material May have multiple entries for each 

well that describe unique intervals of 

casing

NTS05_opening Construction record Open-interval diameter, interval, 

material, type, and size of opening

May have multiple entries for each well 

that describe unique open intervals of 

the hole and/or casing 

NTS06_measuring_point Construction record Information about stable points 

on or near a well from which 

measurements of depth-to-water are 

made

Populated with wells actively or recently 

measured by USGS

NTS07_water_levels Water-level record Basic water-level measurement data

NTS08_water_levels_gen_cond Water-level record General hydrologic condition 

at the time of the water-level 

measurement

NTS09_water_levels_det_cond Water-level record Detailed hydrologic conditions at the 

time of the water-level measurement 

that describe water-level trends, 

factors causing changes in water 

levels, or uncertainty of a waterlevel interpretation 

NTS10_hydrograph_narrative Water-level record The hydrograph narrative documents 

the water-level history of each well 

including comments or explanations 

about the well, hydrograph, or 

specific water levels

NTS11_remarks Miscellaneous record Meaningful data about a well for 

which no specific field is available

Remarks derived from a variety of 

sources including published reports, 

drilling records, or field notes

NTS12_lithology Geohydrologic record Detailed lithologic descriptions 

of cuttings, cores and sidewall 

samples, or from geophysical logs

The descriptions provided are original 

descriptions written by geologists and 

workers over more than 50 years and 

published in Wood (2007).

NTS13_aquifer Geohydrologic record Aquifer(s) or lithologic unit(s) 

contributing water to well

The designations for aquifers or waterbearing units are modified after the 

subsurface hydrologic unit types 

described in figure 3 and appendix 3 

of Fenelon and others (2010)

NTS14_field_descriptions NA Metadata for database tables NTS01-

NTS13

Descriptions of the components in each 

database table

NTS15_references NA References cited in the NTS10_

hydrograph_narrative table

NTS16_revision_history NA Documentation of revisions to waterlevel data, general condition flags, 

and major changes to hydrograph 

narratives

Revision history began with database 

updates in Data Series 533, version 

4.0, November 2013
Groundwater-Level Database 11

 NTS13_aquifer

 NTS02_construction

 NTS04_casing NTS03_hole

 NTS12_lithology

NTS06_measuring_point

 NTS05_opening

 NTS01_sitefile

 NTS11_remarks

NTS08_water_levels_gen_cond

NTS09_water_levels_det_cond

NTS10_hydrograph_narrative

 NTS07_water_levels

USGS_site_noUSGS_well_name

Casing_seq_noCasing_topCasing_bottomCasing_diameterCasing_materialCasing_thickness

USGS_site_noUSGS_well_nameHole_seq_no Hole_interval_topHole_interval_bottomHole_diameter

USGS_site_noUSGS_well_name

Lithology_seq_no

Top_of_unitBottom_of_unitLithology_descriptionLithology_data_source

USGS_site_noUSGS_well_nameMeas_pt_seq_noMeas_pt_begin_dateMeas_pt_end_dateMeas_pt_heightMeas_pt_description

USGS_site_noUSGS_well_name

Remarks_seq_no

Remarks_dateRemarks_text

Figure 2. Relationships among data tables in the water-level database for the Nevada Test Site area, Nye County, Nevada.

1

1

1 1

1

1

1

1

1

8 8

8

8

8 8

8

8

Sample_type

Lithology_report_referenceLithology_investigator

USGS_site_no

USGS_well_nameContributing_unit

8

USGS_site_noUSGS_well_nameConstruction_begin_dateConstruction_end_dateHole_depthWell_depth

Depth_data_source

Contractor_nameConstruction_data_sourceConstruction_method

Finish_typeSeal_typeSeal_bottom

USGS_site_noUSGS_well_nameUSGS_site_nameNTS_hole_numberLatitudeLongitudeLatitude_dec_degLongitude_dec_degLat_long_methodLat_long_accuracyStateCountyMap_nameAltitudeAltitude_methodAltitude_accuracyHydrographic_areaHydrologic_unitNTS_area_noSite_remarksPrimary_use_siteSecondary_use_sitePrimary_use_water

USGS_site_noUSGS_well_nameWater_level_date_timeWater_levelWater_level_altitude

Water_level_statusWater_level_methodWater_level_accuracy

Water_level_sourceWater_level_agencyWater_level_party 

Water_level_remarks

USGS_site_noUSGS_well_name

Water_level_date_time

General_condition

USGS_site_noUSGS_well_name

Water_level_date_time

Detailed_condition_seq_noDetailed_condition

USGS_site_noUSGS_well_nameHydrograph_narrative

USGS_site_noUSGS_well_nameOpen_seq_noOpen_interval_topOpen_interval_bottomOpen_interval_diameterOpen_interval_materialOpening_type

USGS_borehole_name

Water_level_date_time accuracy

Figure 2. Relationships among data tables in the water-level database for the Nevada Test Site area, Nye County, Nevada.
12 Database of Groundwater Levels and Hydrograph Descriptions for the NTS Area, Nye County, Nevada

nvtac10-4167_fig 03

USGS site 

number

LS 

alt 

(ft)

Water level (WL) 

date 

and time

WL 

depth 

(ft)

tude (ft)

WL 

source

WL 

status

WL 

accuracy

WL

mark

General 

condition

Detailed

condition

1

Detailed

condition

2

Detailed

condition

3

Detailed

condition

4

Detailed

condition

5

Detailed

condition

6

Contributing Hydro- graph 

narrative

Hyperlink

370725116033902 ER- 2-1 piezometer (deep) 4216 4/7/2003 10:28 676.77 3539.09 USGS Calib.Elec.Tap Nearest Nonstatic Well-construcEquilibration Rising trend Anomalous - hNA NA VCU Well ER- http://wa

370725116033902 ER- 2-1 piezometer (deep) 4216 6/16/2003 13:10 609.00 3606.86 USGS Calib.Elec.Tap Nearest Nonstatic Well-construcEquilibration Rising trend Anomalous - hNA NA

370725116033902 ER- 2-1 piezometer (deep) 4216 8/10/2003 0:00 603.23 3612.63 Other Rep Calib.Elec.Tap Nearest Nonstatic Well-construcEquilibration Rising trend Anomalous - hNA NA

370725116033902 ER- 2-1 piezometer (deep) 4216 8/12/2003 0:00 603.04 3612.82 Other Rep Calib.Elec.Tap Nearest Nonstatic Well-construcEquilibration Rising trend Anomalous - hNA NA

370725116033902 ER- 2-1 piezometer (deep) 4216 8/14/2003 16:25 602.12 3613.74 Other Rep Calib.Elec.Tap Nearest Nonstatic Well-construcEquilibration Rising trend Anomalous - hNA NA370725116033902 ER- 2-1 piezometer (deep) 4216 9/4/2003 9:25 603.38 3612.48 Reported Calib.Elec.Tap Nearest Nonstatic Well-construcEquilibration Rising trend Anomalous - hNA NA

370725116033902 ER- 2-1 piezometer (deep) 4216 9/10/2003 8:11 599.44 3616.42 USGS Calib.Elec.Tap Nearest Localized cDeclining trenAnomalous - Nuclear-test efNA NA NA

370725116033902 ER- 2-1 piezometer (deep) 4216 9/11/2003 11:55 599.96 3615.90 Reported Calib.Elec.Tap Nearest Localized cDeclining trenAnomalous - Nuclear-test efNA NA NA

370725116033902 ER- 2-1 piezometer (deep) 4216 10/17/2003 10:50 602.47 3613.39 Other Rep Calib.Elec.Tap Nearest Localized cDeclining trenAnomalous - Nuclear-test efNA NA NA

370725116033902 ER- 2-1 piezometer (deep) 4216 11/12/2003 13:39 601.41 3614.45 USGS Calib.Elec.Tap Nearest Localized cDeclining trenAnomalous - Nuclear-test efNA NA NA

370725116033902 ER- 2-1 piezometer (deep) 4216 2/12/2004 9:27 604.64 3611.22 USGS Calib.Elec.Tap Nearest Localized cDeclining trenAnomalous - Nuclear-test efNA NA NA370725116033902 ER- 2-1 piezometer (deep) 4216 3/10/2004 9:29 606.12 3609.74 USGS Calib.Elec.Tap Nearest Localized cDeclining trenAnomalous - Nuclear-test efNA NA NA370725116033902 ER- 2-1 piezometer (deep) 4216 6/14/2004 10:48 611.11 3604.75 USGS Calib.Elec.Tap Nearest Localized cDeclining trenAnomalous - Nuclear-test efNA NA NA

370725116033902 ER- 2-1 piezometer (deep) 4216 9/14/2004 12:51 615.89 3599.97 USGS Calib.Elec.Tap Nearest Localized cDeclining trenAnomalous - Nuclear-test efNA NA NA

370725116033902 ER- 2-1 piezometer (deep) 4216 11/10/2004 10:26 619.80 3596.06 USGS Calib.Elec.Tap Nearest Localized cDeclining trenAnomalous - Nuclear-test efNA NA NA

WL altiWell

information

Water-level

information

Water-level

conditions

Contributing

unit

Hyperlink

to NWISWeb

Hydrograph

narrative

USGS well name

reWL method

Map with selected

well location

unit

3400.03450.03500.03550.03600.03650.0

4/19/2001 1/14/2004 10/10/2006 7/6/2009 4/1/2012 12/27/2014 9/22/2017 6/18/2020

WATER-LEVEL ALTITUDE, IN FEET ABOVE

NATIONAL GEODETIC VERTICAL DATUM OF 1929 Well selected from pull-down list ER-2-1 piezometer (deep) Hydrograph for selected well

Figure 3. Example of a worksheet with a hydrograph and well information from the Microsoft® Excel workbook in Elliott and Fenelon (2018, 

ds533_NTS_hydrographs.xlsx).
References Cited 13

Acknowledgments

This study was prepared in cooperation with the 

U.S. Department of Energy under Interagency Agreement 

DE-A152-07NA28100. The authors wish to extend their 

appreciation to all who participated in data collection over 

many years, which has resulted in the abundance of data 

included in this report and associated database. Special thanks 

to Randell Laczniak (U.S. Geological Survey, retired) who 

was always there to discuss the meaning of a water level.

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Publishing support provided by the U.S. Geological Survey

Science Publishing Network, Tacoma Publishing Service Center

For more information concerning the research in this report, contact the

 Director, Nevada Water Science Center

U.S. Geological Survey

2730 N. Deer Run Road

Carson City, Nevada 89701

https://www.usgs.gov/centers/nv-water
Elliott and Fenelon—Database of Groundwater Levels and Hydrograph Descriptions for the NTS Area, Nye County, Nevada—Data Series 533, ver. 9.0