DERR-2024-008199

Groundwater Recharge, Movement
and Discharge in Salt Lake Valley
Bert Stolp, U.S. Geological Survey
Groundwater Recharge
From mountain precipitation 45%
From valley precipitation 25%
From streams and canals 15%
From irrigation 15%
Total 300,000 acre-feet/year
Groundwater Recharge and
Movement
Groundwater Recharge and
Movement
VERTICAL
Down and INTO the aquifer at
the mountains
Up and OUT of the aquifer in
the central and northern areas
of the valley
~10 miles
~0.20
miles
~0.20
miles
No vertical exaggeration
Detailed view of vertical flow
Groundwater Movement
HORIZONTAL
From mountains to
streams and
vegetation in the
central and northern
areas of the valley
Groundwater Discharge
To wells 50%
To Jordan River 30%
To vegetation 10%
To springs, drains, and canals 10%
Total 300,000 acre-feet/year
Groundwater Discharge
vegetation
Questions