The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1922-08-10
GEOLOGICAL REPORT
ON WATER SUPPLY


obtain survey and report from a
competent geologist. For this work
they engaged the services of Howard
E. Simpson, of the University OF
North Dakota, ground water geolo-
gist. Mr.. Simpson was enthusiastic
regarding the possibilities for water
in this city and, after making YER
bal report to the mayor, placed that
report in writing. AS it is of interest
to every citizen in the city we are
printing it herewith:
The Mayor and Council,
Valley City, N. Oak.
Gentlemen:
In response to your request, l visit
ed Valley City on May IA to consult
with you regarding the possible tu-
ture water supply for the city.
After making brief survey OF the
ground water conditions, reported
orally to you at the city hall and at
YOUR request l hereby present the
same in writing:
A REPORT ON THE VALLEY CITY
WATER SUPPLY
Topography
Valley City is located on the broad
alluvial floor of the Sheyenne River
Valley, which is in general about one
half mile in width, but which broad
ens here into tributary coulee on
each side. The valley is carved like
broad trench into the drift covered
nrairie plain which forms the upland
on either side. The valley sides are
cut by many small coulees and in sew
eral outcrops of shale, the bedrock OF
the region, are visible.
Geology
Soils. The soil of the upland on
either side of the valley is OF glacial
drift. chiefly till, a heterogeneous mix
ture of boulders, gravel, sand and
CLAW in which clay predomlnates.
There are in places on the upland, and
especially on some high level terraces
CLOSELY related to the valley, consider
ahle denosits Of coarse water laid gra-
vel These give rise to springs along
the line of contact with the underly-
mo drift, some of the most noted OF
which may be found high upon the
slopes a short distance southwest OF
the Northern Pacific "High Line de-
pot.
Other springs and much seepage
into the valley undoubtedly occur
along the line Of contact between the
drift and the underlying bedrock
shale.
Alluyium. The valley filling con-
sists chiefly of coarse sand and gravel
which, along the axis Of valley, rests
directly upon the bedrock shale; on
the upper slopes of the valley sides it
rests upon the edges of the glacial
till.
Overlying the sand and gravel and
forming the floor of the valley is
finer form of alluvurl known as silt.
The gravels and coarse sand were I'M
,doubtedly laid down by the larger
Sheyenne River which carved out this
valley and deposited the gravels and
sand upon it's floor during the closing
finer silts have been laid down by the
portion of the glacial period. The
present Sheyenne River during flood
stages in more recent years.
The depth of the alluvial deposits
varies from zero at the shale outcrops
in the walls Of tributary coulees to
fifty or more feet on the valley floor.
Shale. The bedrock of the region
is a soft shale which has thickness
of 500 or 900 feet below the river bed
and is, therefore, 1000 to 100 feet in
thickness beneath the drift of upland.
Sandstone. Beneath the shale is
the sandstone known as the Dakota.
This does not outcrop in North Dakota
but is the source of the high pressure
artesian waters of the Dakota Arte-
sian Basin which includes much of
eastern North and South Dakota.
Ground Water Horizons
There are four distinct water hori-
IONS in the vicinity Of Valley City:
% The alluvial gravels Of the Shey-
enne Valley; (2) The gravelly and
sandy portions of the drift underly-
ing the uplands; (3) The more porous
layers Of the shale; ~ The Dakota
Sandstone.
Numbers 2 and 3, the drift and the
shale, provide water only for homes
or farm wells and cannot be consld-
cred as a possible source of public
supply. Number l, the alluvial gra-
vel, is now being used as the source
of public supply for Valley City. This
water does not, as many believe, come
from the river but is the "underflow"
&c +ho -.;xyor va11ov fod hynt rainfall