Geological Survey in connection with an investigation of water wells and general hydrologic conditions throughout much of the desert region of southern California. The study has been financed in part by Federal funds for Arid Regions studies and in part by cooperation with the California Department of Water Resources. The desert regions of California are characteristically regions of barren mountain ranges and isolated hills surrounding broad valleys or basins which are underlain by alluvial debris derived from the surrounding mountains and hills. These basins generally contain ground water, having a wide range of chemical quality, which can be and in some areas has been developed for beneficial use. The general objective of the cooperative investigation is to collect and to tabulate all available hydrologic data for the desert basins in order to provide public agencies and the general public with data for use in planning water utilization and development works, and for use in subsequent groundwater investigations. Accordingly, the scope of the work carried out "by the Geological Survey in each area has included: (l) Very brief reconnaissance mapping of major geologic features to define the extent and general character of the deposits that contain the groundwater bodies; (2) visiting and examining virtually all the water wells in the area, determining and recording their locations in relation to geographic and cultural features and the public land net, wherever possible, and recording well depths and sizes, types and capacities of installed equipment, usas of the water, and other pertinent information available at the well; (3) measurement of the depth to the water surface below an established and described measuring point at or near the land surface; (U) selection of representative wells to be measured periodically in order to detect and record changes of water levels and ground water in storage; and (5) collection and assembly of well records, including well logs, water-level measurements, chemical analyses, and other data. The work has been carried on by the U. S. Geological Survey under the general supervision of G. F. Worts, Jr., district geologist in charge of groundwater investigations in California, and under the immediate supervision of Fred Kunkel, geologist in charge of the Long Beach subdistrict office. The field work was carried on, by the authors, in the spring of 1958 from the southern California subdistrict office of the Ground Water Branch at Long Beach.
Joshua Tree National Monument is in a mountainous part of the desert region of southern California. The geographic center of the monument is about 130 miles east of Los Angeles, Calif.; the area investigated, covering almost 1,000 square miles in area, is included between 115°20' and Il6°28' vest longitude, and 33°H ! and 3l4-°OT f north latitude.
Part of the Upper Mojave Valley area is shown on the geologic map of the Bar stow quadrangle by 0. E. Bowen, Jr. (195*0 The writers wish to express their appreciation for the cooperation given by the many ranchers, well owners, drillers, and other persons visited during the investigation, and for the assistance and information provided by several public agencies.
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