The influence of depositional environment and landscape evolution on groundwater flow in Columbia River Basalt—Examples from Mosier, Oregon

Groundwater-Surface Water Interactions near Mosier, Oregon

“…Previous research has shown significant declines of up to 40 to 60 m in groundwater levels since the 1960s and 1970s in the Mosier area (Lite and Grondin, 1988;Burns et al, 2012;Lite, 2013). Groundwater is utilized extensively for the commercial irrigation of cherry orchards and as drinking water for the entire watershed.…”

“…Surface streams can serve as groundwater flow system boundaries where they intersect surface exposures of aquifers due to streambed erosion (Lite, 2013). A better understanding of surface water -groundwater interactions and the control exerted on these interactions by stratigraphy and local structures is needed for better flow system modeling and sound resource management.…”

“…Although not labeled, the Rocky Prairie anticline is just north of the thrust fault. The shaded portion is the OWRD Administrative area and the circles are the Mosier area wells (Burns et al, 2012, compiled from Newcomb (1969, Swanson et al (1981), Lite and Grondin (1988), Kienle (1995), and Jervey (1996) Lite and Grondin, 1988;Reidel et al, 2002;Tolan et al, 2009;and Lite, 2013). Newcomb (1969), Lite and Grondin (1988), McClaughry et al (2012), and Lite (2013 Newcomb (1969), Lite and Grondin (1988), and Burns et al (2012).…”

“…The watershed lies within one Yakima fold, the Mosier Syncline; thus, it may provide the best opportunity to characterize CRBG flow systems as a whole (Lite, 2013). The study of Mosier area hydrogeology is also important in that its findings would likely be applicable to other regions similarly situated within the Yakima Fold Belt (Figure 1).…”

“…In doing so, this research attempts to test the hypothesis that the top of the Pomona interflow zone exposed in Mosier Creek represents the lowest point in which groundwater exits the CRBG aquifers in the Mosier area, thus controlling the local head elevations (Lite, 2013).…”