US Aquifer Database

However, despite their importance, no regionally relevant map of aquifers was available for the United States.

We created a new database of more than 400 aquifers across the United States.

These spatial data can help improve water quality and quantity management.

Next, let's explore 12 aquifers.

AQUIFER 1 OF 12 THE CENTRAL VALLEY AQUIFER SYSTEM

Groundwater pumping from the Central Valley Aquifer System supports extensive irrigated agriculture.

The aquifer is made up of thick poorly consolidated sediments underlain by granitic and metamorphic rocks.

To learn more about the Central Valley, we recommend  USGS Professional Paper 1766 

AQUIFER 2 OF 12 THE CUYAMA VALLEY AQUIFER SYSTEM

The Cuyama Valley is a ~700 square kilometer area in California where groundwater is used to support ranching and crop production.

Unconsolidated materials overlie a semi-consolidated to consolidated clastic sedimentary rock formation (the Morales Formation). Together, these rock units create a productive, thick aquifer system.

To learn more about the Cuyama Valley, we recommend  USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2013-5108 

AQUIFER 3 OF 12 THE MOJAVE BASIN

The Mojave Basin is located in an arid area in southern California. Groundwater is the primary water source for communities in the area.

Alluvial fill creates a thick unconsolidated sedimentary aquifer, which is tapped to support agriculture and provide public water supplies in the region.

To learn more about the Mojave Basin, we recommend  USGS Water-Resources Investigations Report 01-4002 

AQUIFER 4 OF 12 THE MILK RIVER AQUIFER SYSTEM

The Milk River Aquifer System is a transboundary aquifer system that spans the border between the US and Canada.

Aquitards are common in the Milk River Aquifer System. High yielding wells tap the Milk River Formation, a clastic sedimentary rock aquifer.

To learn more about the Milk River Aquifer System, we recommend research by  Petre et al. (2016) 

AQUIFER 5 OF 12 THE DENVER BASIN

The Denver Basin is an important water supply to communities and farms surrounding the city of Denver.

The aquifer system is comprised of a stacked sequence of consolidated clastic sedimentary bedrock aquifers and aquitards.

To learn more about the Denver Basin, we recommend USGS  Professional Paper 1770 

AQUIFER 6 OF 12 THE DAKOTA AQUIFER SYSTEM

The Dakota Aquifer System has been extensively studied for over a century, and is a valuable case study of a confined aquifer system (see pp. 195 by Darton, 1905)

The confined Dakota Aquifer is comprised of sandstones, and many of the wells that were first drilled into this formation in the late 1800s and early 1900s were artesian flowing wells (i.e., groundwater flowed out of the top of the well without pumping).

To learn more about the Dakota Aquifer System, we recommend  USGS Water Supply Paper 2237 

AQUIFER 7 OF 12 THE HIGH PLAINS AQUIFER SYSTEM

The High Plains Aquifer System is an expansive and important food producing region in the central United States.

Shallow unconsolidated and semi-consolidated materials form the primary aquifers. Deeper depths are dominated by low-permeability rocks known as 'aquitards'.

To learn more about the High Plains Aquifer System, we recommend  USGS Professional Paper 1400-B 

AQUIFER 8 OF 12 THE CARRIZO-WILCOX AQUIFER SYSTEM

The Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer System spans across Texas, extending into Louisiana and Mexico.

The aquifer system is comprised of dipping clastic sedimentary formations, some of which are poorly consolidated.

To learn more about the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer System, we recommend  research by the Texas Water Development Board  

AQUIFER 9 OF 12 THE MISSISSIPPI EMBAYMENT AQUIFER SYSTEM

The Mississippi Embayment Aquifer System is one of the most intensively pumped aquifer systems in the United States, with the majority of pumped groundwater used to support irrigated agriculture.

The shallow and unconsolidated alluvial aquifer is the dominant groundwater source tapped by irrigation wells, whereas the underlying Claiborne clastic sedimentary formations are often tapped by domestic and municipal wells.

To learn more about the Mississippi Embayment Aquifer System we recommend  USGS Professional Paper 1785 

AQUIFER 10 OF 12 THE BLACK WARRIOR RIVER AQUIFER SYSTEM

The Black Warrior River Aquifer System is located just east of the Mississippi Embayment Aquifer System, underlying western Alabama and eastern Mississippi.

The aquifer system is comprised of southwest-dipping clastic sedimentary sequences, including the Ripley and Eutaw-McShan aquifers.

To learn more about the Black Warrior River Aquifer System, we recommend  USGS Hydrologic Atlas 730-G 

AQUIFER 11 OF 12 THE FLORIDAN AQUIFER SYSTEM

The Floridan Aquifer System underlies the states of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, and is a vital water supply to numerous large cities (e.g., Jacksonville).

The aquifer system is comprised of unconsolidated materials that overlie clastic sedimentary aquitards and carbonate rock aquifers (e.g., the Upper and Lower Floridan Aquifers).

To learn more about the Floridan Aquifer System, we recommend  USGS Professional Paper 1807 

AQUIFER 12 OF 12 THE NORTH ATLANTIC COASTAL PLAIN

The North Atlantic Coastal Plain extends from North Carolina to New Jersey, and is an important water supply for numerous municipalities in the northeastern United States.

The aquifer system includes poorly consolidated and eastward-dipping clastic sedimentary sequences, including numerous confined aquifers at deeper depths.

To learn more about the North Atlantic Coastal Plain, we recommend  USGS Professional Paper 1829 

These data can support water research in the United States.

We have made these data freely available to download via CUAHSI's HydroShare portal here:  https://www.hydroshare.org/resource/d2260651b51044d0b5cb2d293d21af08/