As part of a research study in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army at Fort Irwin National Training Center, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) evaluated unsaturated zone soil property data of cores from a newly drilled monitoring well site near a dry well and Four-plex baseball field. Measurements and observations are presented for cores from an initial drilling attempt (site ESW2A), which stopped at 85 feet below land surface due to equipment issues, and data are presented for cores from the successful drilling attempt (ESW2B) down to 240 feet below land surface. The two core sites are located approximately 6 feet from each other. Data measured on core material included gravimetric measurements of bulk water content, matric potential, and specific conductance of soil leachate samples.

As part of a research study in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army at Fort Irwin National Training Center, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) evaluated unsaturated zone soil property data of cores from a borehole for a newly drilled monitoring well near a dry well and Four-plex baseball field. Cores were continuous from land surface down to 240 feet below land surface and were drilled by consultants to EPA using sonic rotary–a fluidless drilling technique. Data on this page consist of: 1) field drilling notes from USGS and consultants to EPA (GeoSystems Analysis, Inc., Tucson, Arizona); 2) field descriptions of core lithology–including grain size, sorting, color, mineralogy, moisture content and other distinguishing characteristics–done on site by USGS personnel; and 3) photos of the cores taken by USGS personnel–consisting of bagged cores in original core liners, and subsampled cores in plastic core boxes.

As part of a research study in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army at Fort Irwin National Training Center, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) evaluated unsaturated zone soil property data of cores from a borehole for a newly drilled monitoring well near a dry well and Four-plex baseball field. Cores were continuous from land surface down to 240 feet below land surface and were drilled by consultants to EPA using sonic rotary–a fluidless drilling technique. Data on this page consist of: 1) field drilling notes from USGS and consultants to EPA (GeoSystems Analysis, Inc., Tucson, Arizona); 2) field descriptions of core lithology–including grain size, sorting, color, mineralogy, moisture content and other distinguishing characteristics–done on site by USGS personnel; and 3) photos of the cores taken by USGS personnel–consisting of bagged cores in original core liners, and subsampled cores in plastic core boxes.

The U.S. Army Fort Irwin National Training Center (NTC), approximately 35 miles north-northeast of Barstow, California, obtains all of its potable water supply from three groundwater basins (Irwin, Langford, and Bicycle Basins) within the NTC boundaries. In these basins, groundwater withdrawals exceed natural recharge, resulting in water-level declines. However, managed aquifer recharge using recycled water (treated wastewater) has offset water-level declines in Irwin Basin. Additionally, localized water-quality changes have occurred in some parts of Irwin Basin as a result of human activities (for example, wastewater disposal practices, landscape irrigation, and (or) leaking pipes). As part of a research study in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) evaluated unsaturated zone soil property data of cores from a borehole for a newly drilled monitoring well near a dry well and irrigated Four-plex baseball field. Measurements and observations are presented for cores from an initial drilling attempt (site ESW2A), which stopped at 85 feet below land surface due to equipment issues, and data are presented for cores from the successful drilling attempt (ESW2B) down to 240 feet below land surface. The two boreholes are located approximately 6 feet from each other. The grain size measurements were compared to a reference sample HMR2 collected as part of a previous study near Barstow.

The U.S. Army Fort Irwin National Training Center (NTC), approximately 35 miles north-northeast of Barstow, California, obtains all of its potable water supply from three groundwater basins (Irwin, Langford, and Bicycle Basins) within the NTC boundaries. In these basins, groundwater withdrawals exceed natural recharge, resulting in water-level declines. However, managed aquifer recharge using recycled water (treated wastewater) has offset water-level declines in Irwin Basin. Additionally, localized water-quality changes have occurred in some parts of Irwin Basin as a result of human activities (for example, wastewater disposal practices, landscape irrigation, and (or) leaking pipes). As part of a research study in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) evaluated unsaturated zone soil property data of cores from a borehole for a newly drilled monitoring well near a dry well and irrigated Four-plex baseball field. Measurements and observations are presented for cores from an initial drilling attempt (site ESW2A), which stopped at 85 feet below land surface due to equipment issues, and data are presented for cores from the successful drilling attempt (ESW2B) down to 240 feet below land surface. The two boreholes are located approximately 6 feet from each other. The grain size measurements were compared to a reference sample HMR2 collected as part of a previous study near Barstow.

As part of a larger groundwater research study conducted at the U.S. Army Fort Irwin National Training Center (NTC), located approximately 35 miles north-northeast of Barstow, California, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Army, and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) have cooperated to evaluate unsaturated zone soil property data of cores from the borehole for a newly drilled monitoring well (ESW2B). Specific horizons of interest were identified and selected for detailed grain-size distribution analysis using the Fritsch Analysette A28 Image Sizer (particle analyzer) located at the USGS California Water Science Center (CAWSC) in San Diego, CA. The particle analyzer identified circularity and grain size (feret diameter) for individual grains in each subsample. Ten core subsamples from the ESW2B site were analyzed with the particle analyzer. Quality-assurance data collected as part of this task included measurements of National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) standard 8010, and custom reference materials (including a sample of alluvium from the Mojave River, and a combination of round silica beads and plastic bugle beads) created in the USGS San Diego office. A sieve analysis was done on one core subsample using ASTM International method D6913 (method A; 2017) as additional quality assurance method.

As part of a larger groundwater research study conducted at the U.S. Army Fort Irwin National Training Center (NTC), located approximately 35 miles north-northeast of Barstow, California, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Army, and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) have cooperated to evaluate unsaturated zone soil property data of cores from the borehole for a newly drilled monitoring well (ESW2B). Specific horizons of interest were identified and selected for detailed grain-size distribution analysis using the Fritsch Analysette A28 Image Sizer (particle analyzer) located at the USGS California Water Science Center (CAWSC) in San Diego, CA. The particle analyzer identified circularity and grain size (feret diameter) for individual grains in each subsample. Ten core subsamples from the ESW2B site were analyzed with the particle analyzer. Quality-assurance data collected as part of this task included measurements of National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) standard 8010, and custom reference materials (including a sample of alluvium from the Mojave River, and a combination of round silica beads and plastic bugle beads) created in the USGS San Diego office. A sieve analysis was done on one core subsample using ASTM International method D6913 (method A; 2017) as additional quality assurance method.

This data set consists of in-situ point measurements of soil moisture within three 25-km by 25-km Meso-cell Study Areas (MSAs) in northern Colorado (Fraser, North Park , and Rabbit Ears).

This dataset “Broad-scale assessment of biophysical features in Colorado: Soil salinity using electrical conductance” presents information extracted from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) gridded surface soils geographic database (gSSURGO). Fields retained and presented here include map unit (MU) codes and component (COMP) codes that may be used to reference records in the original, NRCS, data. Soil salinity is typically measured and evaluated based on electrical conductance (EC), and values presented here include the representative value for the map unit component (ECR) and the highest estimated value (ECH). Soils with high salinity can affect the composition of vegetation and can limit production of plants through effects on leaf water potential and water use efficiency. Elevated salinity is often created by geologic and soil moisture relations that promote movement of salts. Salt levels can increase as a result of cropping, irrigation and land management. Salinity is typically measured using electrical conductance in wet soils; soils with electrical conductance less than 2 millimhos (mmhos)/centimeter (cm) are non-saline, 2 to less than 4 mmhos/cm are very slightly saline, 4 to less than 8 mmhos/cm are slightly saline, 8 to less than16 mmhos/cm are moderately saline, and greater than or equal to 16 mmhos/cm are strongly saline. Millimhos/centimeter is the traditional unit for soil EC measurement; it is equivalent to the accepted scientific unit, decisiemens/meter (dS/m). Review of information regarding EC and salinity from the source (NRCS) is suggested: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/home/?cid=nrcs144p2_065177 and (or) https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs142p2_053280.pdf.