VERDE RIVER BASIN PARTNERSHIP Files

A Cautionary Tale of Two Streamgages

An analysis of streamflow gage records shows that groundwater pumping in the Big Chino Valley and the Verde Valley will cause the Verde River to go dry for many summer days in the future. View Document.

Ecological Flows Assessment Presentation

Presentation by the Nature Conservancy to the Verde Watershed Association describing the Ecological Flows Assessment project. July, 2006 View Document.

Ecological Implications of Verde River Flows – Full Report

Full report, 124 pages. The Verde River Ecological Flows study is a collaboration between The Nature Conservancy, Arizona Water Institute, and Verde River Basin Partnership. The purpose of the study is to develop a conceptual understanding of how the Verde River ecosystem would respond to variations in the river's hydrology—especially to decreases in river flows. The study team compiled and summarized what is known about the river's physical and ecological characteristics, drawing upon available data and what is known about hydrology-biology relationships on similar rivers. View Document.

Middle Verde Resource Analysis

Presentation slides describing VRBP project with USGS to better define water resources in the Verde Valley. View Document.

The Verde river – A Desert Treasure at Risk

A 4 page informational brochure written by the Verde River Basin Partnership: "The Verde River is an irreplaceable treasure viewed as unique by people around the world. Unfortunately, the continued existence of its year-round flow and the life and lifestyles it supports are at risk." Published by the Verde River Basin Partnership. View Document.

USGS Publishes Verde Valley Seepage-Run Report

Substantially more water than necessary is diverted from the River during every growing season to support irrigation of farm fields, gardens, and lawns. Increased efficiency of the diversions and the irrigation they support will be essential to keeping more water in the river and protecting the Verde Valley's habitat and lifestyle. Published by the Verde River Basin Partnership. View Document.

Verde River Basin Water-Resources Primer

Verde River Basin Water-Resources Primer -- Understanding Our Water and Our Verde River Basin

The Verde River Basin Water-Resources Primer grew from a series of PowerPoint presentations given by retired U.S. Geological Survey geologist Ed Wolfe to Watershed Steward classes at the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension of Yavapai County.

The Primer provides well-explained, well-illustrated, documented source material for interested citizens, public decision makers, teachers, and presenters of water-resource information that is directed, in particular, to understanding the workings of the interconnected groundwater and surface-water systems of the Verde River Basin. 

View the document.

Chapter 1: Introduction

  The Richness of the Verde River

  Sources of Verde River Streamflow

  Is Year-Round Flow of the Verde River at Risk?

  Can We Sustain Our Treasured Verde River?

Chapter 2: The Global Water Cycle

Chapter 3: Groundwater

  Groundwater Recharge

  Aquifers and the Water Table

  Groundwater Movement

Chapter 4: A Hydrology Tool Box

  Water-Table Maps

  Characterizing Confined Aquifers, Potentiometric Surfaces, and Artesian Wells

  Applications of Geologic Observations and Wells for Monitoring and Evaluating Groundwater Resources

  Geologic Properties of Aquifer Rocks and Sedimentary Deposits

  Measurement of Hydraulic Heads within Aquifers

  Historic Records of Water-Level Change

  Aquifer Tests

  Groundwater Chemistry

  Streamflow Measurements

  Stream gage Measurements

  Seepage Runs

  Geophysical Tools

  Seismology

  Regional Gravity and Magnetic Surveys

  Precise Gravity Measurements for Storage-Change Analysis

  Numerical Groundwater Models

Chapter 5: Regional Hydrogeologic Framework in the Upper and Middle Verde River Watersheds

  Geologic Setting

  Regional Hydrologic Setting

  Alluvial Basins

  General Relation: Geology and Groundwater in the Upper and Middle Verde River Watersheds

Chapter 6: Occurrence and Flow of Groundwater and Surface Water in the Upper and Middle Verde River Watersheds

  What is a watershed?

  The Upper and Middle Verde River Watersheds and Their Administrative Groundwater Sub-basins

  Prescott Active Management Area

  Verde River Groundwater and Surface-Water Systems

  Groundwater Flow

  Base Flow along the Verde River

  Annual Streamflow, Base Flow, and Runoff along the Verde River

  Seasonality of Base Flow along the Verde River

  Irrigation Diversions

Chapter 7: Pumping and Its Effect on Groundwater and Streamflow In the Upper and Middle Verde River Watersheds

  Streamflow Depletion: A Consequence of Groundwater Pumping

  Streamflow Depletion in Action: Del Rio Springs, Little Chino Wash, Sullivan Lake, and the Uppermost Verde River

  Streamflow Depletion: Looking Ahead in the Verde Valley

  Potential Effects of Groundwater Pumping or Artificial Recharge on Streamflow and Groundwater-Dependent Vegetation in the Verde Valley

  Human Effect on Base Flow in the Verde Valley

  Change in Base Flow—1910 Through 2005

  Forward-Looking Simulations - 2006 Through 2109

Human Effect on Depth to Groundwater in the Verde Valley

  Conclusions and Inferences

Chapter 8. The Verde River Ecosystem – Riparian and Aquatic Habitat

  Native Fish in Arizona

  Verde River Plants and Animals

  Verde River Water Needs

  Riparian Trees and Groundwater

  Wetland Plants and Groundwater

  Native Wildlife

  Fish

  Finding Balance

Chapter 9: Perennial Flow of the Verde River: Is It At Risk?

  Potential Future Groundwater Demand in the Upper and Middle Verde Watersheds

  Potential New Water Demand in the Little Chino Sub-basin

  Potential New Water Demand in the Big Chino Sub-Basin

Potential New Water Demand in the Verde Valley Sub-basin

  Summary of Potential Water Demands In the Upper and Middle Verde River Watersheds

The Role of Pumping From Wells in Meeting Water Demand in the Upper and Middle Verde River Watersheds

  Eventual Effect of Capture from Past, Current, and Potential New Water Demands on Verde River Base Flow

  Groundwater Model Results—Extended effects of Past, Current and Future Groundwater Pumping

  Future Water Demand in the Verde River Basin and Its Relation to the Stream Gage Records

  What Might the Future Hold?

The Primer is in the public domain; please feel free to learn from it and draw on it in whatever way may be useful.

Water Resource Notes 3: Groundwater Flow Models

In order to make well-founded long-term water- management decisions that support a sustainable supply of groundwater for our grandchildren and their grandchildren and that ensure the year-round flow of a healthy Verde River, we need to have the best available scientific tools.
The Northern Arizona Regional Groundwater-Flow Model (NARGFM) is such a tool. It can be used to guide our elected officials and resource managers in developing water-management strategies that will protect the long-term health of our groundwater, springs, and perennially-flowing streams. View Document.