Faunt, Claudia C. 2006 vector digital data Digital geospatial data sets for the hydrogeologic framework and transient ground-water flow model, Death Valley regional ground-water flow system, Nevada and California model_layers Reston, Virginia U.S. Geological Survey http://water.usgs.gov/lookup/getspatial?sir045205_model_layers Belcher, W.R. and Sweetkind, D.S. (editors) 2010 U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1711 Reston, Virginia U.S. Geological Survey 6 chapters, 2 appendices, 2 plates, 403 p. http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/pp1711 Belcher, W.R. (editor) 2004 U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5205 Reston, Virginia U.S. Geological Survey 6 chapters, 2 appendices, 2 plates, 408 p. http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2004/5205/ This digital data set defines the altitudes of the tops of 16 model layers simulated in the Death Valley regional ground-water flow system (DVRFS) transient flow model. The area simulated by the DVRFS transient ground-water flow model is an approximately 45,000 square-kilometer region of southern Nevada and California. The thickness of model layers is derived by sequentially subtracting the altitudes of the uppermost to the lowermost model layers. Most model layers range in thickness from 50 to more than 300 meters, and thickness generally increases with depth (Faunt and others, 2004). The upper model layers are used to simulate relatively shallow flow primarily through basin-fill sediments and volcanic rocks and adjacent mountain ranges. The lower layers predominantly simulate deep flow through a regional carbonate-rock aquifer beneath the basin fill and mountain ranges in the DVRFS. The DVRFS transient ground-water flow model is one of the most recent in a number of regional-scale models developed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to support investigations at the Nevada Test Site (NTS) and at Yucca Mountain, Nevada (see "Larger Work Citation", Chapter A, page 8). The altitudes of the top of simulated model layers were used to develop input to MODFLOW-2000, the USGS 3D finite-difference code used to simulate ground-water flow in the DVRFS. Model layer altitudes are also used to define model layer thicknesses. The model-layer data set is one of many layers in a geospatial data base supporting the USGS DVRFS project. During this 5-year (1998-2004) project the USGS, in cooperation with DOE and other Federal, State, and local agencies, developed this geospatial data base for a regional-scale, 3D hydrogeologic framework model (HFM) and a ground-water flow model. The models are intended to address water-resource issues and the potential movement of radioactive material from the Nevada Test Site and the proposed high-level nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. Data from two previous ground-water flow models of the greater Death Valley region (see "Larger Work Citation", Chapter A, p. 7) were the foundation of the DVRFS geospatial data base. These and other data were reexamined through a series of regional-scale hydrologic investigations to provide updated and spatially consistent interpretations for the DVRFS study. In some cases, new data were collected to augment the existing information. Data compiled from the studies include natural ground-water discharge occurring through evapotranspiration and spring flow; ground-water pumping for the period 1913-98; ground-water recharge simulated as net infiltration; ground-water inflow and outflow at lateral model boundaries; hydraulic conductivity and its relation to depth and other rock properties; and the estimation of water levels representative of prepumped and pumped conditions in the region. Digital elevation models, geologic maps, borehole information, cross sections, and other 3D models were used to develop the HFM which represents the geometry of 27 hydrogeologic units and structural features. The resulting geospatial data base supports characterization and conceptualization of the DVRFS, construction of 3D hydrogeologic framework and ground-water flow models, and visualization of analysis and model results. 2004 publication date Complete None planned -117.718697 -114.981308 38.120690 35.481569 USGS Water Basics Glossary. Accessed May 3, 2005 at http://capp.water.usgs.gov/GIP/h2o_gloss/; American Geological Institute Glossary of Geology Death Valley regional ground-water flow system flow model ground water hydrogeology hydrology model layers model-layer thickness MODFLOW-2000 steady state ground-water model transient ground-water model U.S. Board of Geographic Names (BGN) and Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Amargosa Desert Ash Meadows California California Valley Chicago Valley China Ranch Clark County Clayton Valley Coal Valley Death Valley Esmeralda County Eureka Valley Franklin Lake Franklin Well Garden Valley Inyo County Kern County Las Vegas Valley Lincoln County Mesquite Valley Mineral County Mono County Nevada Nevada Test Site Nye County Oasis Valley Owlshead Mountains Pahranagat Range Pahrump Valley Panamint Range Penoyer Valley Railroad Valley Resting Spring Saline Valley San Bernadino County Sarcobatus Flat Sheep Range Shoshone Silurian Valley southern Nevada Spring Mountains Stewart Valley Stone Cabin Valley Tecopa Yucca Mountain None Data have been checked to ensure the accuracy of the data. If any errors are detected, please notify the originating office. The U.S. Geological Survey strongly recommends that careful attention be paid to the metadata file associated with these data. The U.S. Geological Survey shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and (or) contained herein. Acknowledgement of the U.S. Geological Survey would be appreciated in products derived from these data. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this Federal Geographic Data Committee-compliant metadata file is intended to document the data set in nonproprietary form, as well as in ArcGIS format, this metadata file may include some ArcGIS-specific terminology. U.S. Geological Survey Claudia Faunt mailing and physical address

California Water Science Center

San Diego Projects Office

4165 Spruance Road

San Diego California 92101 USA (619) 225-6142 (619) 225-6101 ccfaunt@usgs.gov http://water.usgs.gov/GIS/browse/sir045205_model_layers.jpg Illlustration of data set jpg Spatial data sets supporting the Death Valley regional ground-water flow system (DVRFS) project were developed in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration/Nevada Site Office (NNSA/NSO) Underground Test Area (UGTA) project of the Office of Environmental Management, the NNSA/NSO Hydrologic Resource Management Program (HRMP), the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management (OCRWM) Yucca Mountain Project (YMP), the NNSA/NSO Maintenance of Test Capability (MTC) program, and the National Park Service (NPS). Microsoft Windows XP Version 5.1 (Build 2600) Service Pack 2; ESRI ArcCatalog 9.1.0.722 Attributes added by the GIS and the data-set author were checked by inspection using a GIS. In addition, attributes were checked and evaluated as part of the review process associated with the publication of the source report. Lines forming polygons join at endpoints to completely enclose defined areas. Lines not enclosing areas do not intersect. No duplicate line features exist and all nodes are represented by a single coordinate pair which indicates the beginning or end of a line. All vertices that define the shape of the line are represented by a unique coordinate pair. The polygon features in this data set are computer-generated and represent the model grid and model layers of the DVRFS numerical flow model. The data set is complete and is not anticipated to change. Horizontal positional accuracy of line features in the data set was tested by visually comparing to digital source maps using a GIS system. Faunt, C.C. Blainey, J.B. Hill, M.C. D'Agnese, F.A O'Brien, G.M. 2004 Chapter F Belcher, W.R. (ed.) 2004 document U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5205 Reston, Virginia U.S. Geological Survey http://water.usgs.gov/pubs/sir/2004/5205/ 250,000 online 2004 publication date Faunt and others (2004) Transient numerical model A GIS was used to develop a polygon layer representing the flow-model grid. Altitudes of the tops of 16 model layers, numbered from the top layer down, were specified for cells within the model-simulation area (Faunt and others, 2004). Model layers were simulated under confined flow conditions and the top and thickness of each layer were specified. Initially, model layers of uniform thickness were hung off a smoothed version of the potentiometric surface, and thickness increased with depth (Faunt and others, 2004, table F-1). For example, the bottom of layer 1 (top of layer 2) was set to be 50 meters below the simulated potentiometric surface and the remaining model-layer altitudes were calculated by subtracting a uniform layer thickness from that reference surface (Faunt and others, 2004, table F-1). The base of the model (layer 16) was set at -4000 meters below sea level, thus, the thickness of model layer 16 varied. As modeling progressed, the altitude of the top of layer 1 was reset to the altitude of the steady-state potentiometric surface of layer 1 simulated in the DVRFS transient flow model (see Faunt and others, 2004, p. 266). Deviations from the uniform layer thicknesses and original layer altitudes occurred where the initial smoothed version of the potentiometric surface deviated too far from the simulated potentiometric surface. In some places, the surface was lowered enough to cause some of the lower layers to also be adjusted. Therefore, model-layer altitudes and thicknesses were reset iteratively during calibration until the simulated potentiometric surface was assumed to have stabilized. Faunt and others (2004) 2004 Vector G-polygon 31040 Universal Transverse Mercator 11 0.999600 -117.000000 0.000000 500000.000000 0.000000 coordinate pair 0.000512 0.000512 meters North American Datum of 1927 Clarke 1866 6378206.400000 294.978698 model_layers Index of the model grid in the vertical direction. Metadata author FID Internal feature number. Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI) Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated. Shape Feature geometry. ESRI Coordinates defining the features. COLUMN Flow-model grid column number Metadata author 1 160 Integer ROW Flow-model grid row number Metadata author 1 194 Integer LAY1_TOP Altitude of top of model layer 1 (in meters referenced to North American Vertical Datum of 1988) Metadata author -83.00 2774.97 Meter LAY2_TOP Altitude of top of model layer 2 (in meters referenced to North American Vertical Datum of 1988) Metadata author -209.00 2646.80 Meter LAY3_TOP Altitude of top of model layer 3 (in meters referenced to North American Vertical Datum of 1988) Metadata author -259.00 2596.80 Meter LAY4_TOP Altitude of top of model layer 4 (in meters referenced to North American Vertical Datum of 1988) Metadata author -309.00 2546.80 Meter LAY5_TOP Altitude of top of model layer 5 (in meters referenced to North American Vertical Datum of 1988) Metadata author -409.00 2446.80 Meter LAY6_TOP Altitude of top of model layer 6 (in meters referenced to North American Vertical Datum of 1988) Metadata author -509.00 2346.80 Meter LAY7_TOP Altitude of top of model layer 7 (in meters referenced to North American Vertical Datum of 1988) Metadata author -609.00 2246.80 Meter LAY8_TOP Altitude of top of model layer 8 (in meters referenced to North American Vertical Datum of 1988) Metadata author -709.00 2146.80 Meter LAY9_TOP Altitude of top of model layer 9 (in meters referenced to North American Vertical Datum of 1988) Metadata author -809.00 2046.80 Meter LAY10_TOP Altitude of top of model layer 10 (in meters referenced to North American Vertical Datum of 1988) Metadata author -909.00 1946.80 Meter LAY11_TOP Altitude of top of model layer 11 (in meters referenced to North American Vertical Datum of 1988) Metadata author -1009.00 1846.80 Meter LAY12_TOP Altitude of top of model layer 12 (in meters referenced to North American Vertical Datum of 1988) Metadata author -1159.00 1696.80 Meter LAY13_TOP Altitude of top of model layer 13 (in meters referenced to North American Vertical Datum of 1988) Metadata author -1359.00 1496.80 Meter LAY14_TOP Altitude of top of model layer 14 (in meters referenced to North American Vertical Datum of 1988) Metadata author -1609.00 1246.80 Meter LAY15_TOP Altitude of top of model layer 15 (in meters referenced to North American Vertical Datum of 1988) Metadata author -1859.00 996.80 Meter LAY16_TOP Altitude of top of model layer 16 (in meters referenced to North American Vertical Datum of 1988) Metadata author -2159.00 696.80 Meter LAY16_BOT Altitude of bottm of model layer 16 (in meters referenced to North American Vertical Datum of 1988) Metadata author -4000 Base of flow model Citation author IBOUND Flow-model variable that designates which model cells are active Metadata author 0 Non-active flow model cell Citation author 1 Active flow model cell Citation author Each model grid polygon feature has 22 attributes. Two attributes are automatically generated by the GIS (FID, Shape) for internal software purposes. The remaining attributes were assigned by the author (Citation Originator) to define the altitude of the top of model layers within the model domain (where IBOUND = 1). Model cells outside the model domain (IBOUND = 0) are assigned a null value of -9999. Model layer altitudes were used for analysis and for developing input files for the DVRFS numerical ground-water flow model. - U.S. Geological Survey Ask USGS - Water Webserver Team mailing and physical address

445 National Center

Reston VA 20192 USA 1-888-275-8747 http://water.usgs.gov/user_feedback_form.html Contact via email or phone. Digital geospatial data sets for the transient ground-water flow model and hydrogeologic framework model, Death Valley regional ground-water flow system, Nevada and California Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the U.S. Geological Survey, no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the accuracy or utility of the data on any other system or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. This disclaimer applies both to individual use of the data and aggregate use with other data. These data should be directly acquired from a U.S. Geological Survey server, and not indirectly through other sources that may have altered the data in some way. Shapefile 1.0 Unzip 1.635 Kilobytes http://water.usgs.gov/GIS/dsdl/model_layers.zip None 20070814 U.S. Geological Survey mailing address

445 National Center

Reston Virginia 20192 USA 1-888-275-8747 (1-888-ASK-USGS) http://answers.usgs.gov/cgi-bin/gsanswers?pemail=h2oteam&subject=GIS+Dataset+sir045205_model_layers FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata FGDC-STD-001-1998