Geologic Framework of the Central Death Valley Region

The central Death Valley region is the area of principal discharge for regional groundwater flow from an extensive groundwater system encompassing greater than 15,000 square miles in southern Nevada and southeastern California. This project is one component of a multi-year, -disciplinary, -agency collaborative effort to develop an integrated tectonic, geologic and hydrogeologic data model for the central and southern Death Valley region.

The goal of this project is to provide the three-dimensional structural and stratigraphic framework for the southern and western terminus of this flow system, centered about the Death Valley Junction 30x60-minute quadrangle, including the principal spring-discharge areas and southern Amargosa River drainage in Death Valley National Park. Integration of this geologic framework into regional-scale, steady-state and transient hydrologic flow models forms the basis of this GD/WRD collaborative effort.

Additionally, the National Park Service has a requirement to develop a regional geologic map database for Death Valley National Park, assess geologic hazards associated with NPS facilities management projects, provide detailed 1:24,000-scale geologic map coverage in areas of principal spring discharge in support of Park management issues related to water quality and quantity, and develop interpretive geologic material for public dissemination.

The project addresses these issues on an individual case basis and responds to requests for information as funding allows.