New projects

Methods Assessment and Improvement of Infiltration Analyses to Support Estimates of Recharge and Initial Abstraction

PI: Michael Young, DHS/DRI; Co-PI: Steve Mizell, DHS/DRI; COE Collaborators: Brian Skahill, USACE ERDC, Coastal & Hydraulics Lab.; Steven Grant, USACE ERDC, Cold Regions Research & Engineering Lab.

Progress Report

Upper portions of the Las Vegas Wash valley, which have been classified as “Undeveloped Land / Open Desert,” are of greatest concern to CCRFCD because of the potential impacts that surface runoff from these surfaces could have to downstream structures. Also, the ongoing construction of flood control structures has not been completed in this area of the valley, so the potential for floods at regional scale is higher.

The Corn Creek Fan Complex was subdivided into three general zones: the positions of the fan, based on general position relative to the Mormon Wells Wash, which drains the upland areas and feeds surface runoff on the fan. Proximal positions are located near the source of material, and distal positions are located toward the bottom of the fan. The fan was further subdivided into geologic units. More than 60 measurements using the tension infiltrometer were made on the proximal portion of the fan. These 60 measurements encompass four locations on each of the five surfaces, with triplicate measurements taken at each location. Data reduction and numerical analyses are ongoing.