Mammoth Groundwater Extraction:

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Mammoth Groundwater Extraction A Hydrological
Analysis of Potential Recharge to an Eastern
Sierra Nevada Watershed
Andrew D. Breibart Robin E. Cathcart Karin A.
Didriksen J. Lauren Everett Dr. John M. Melack
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Research Question

• Our research question is to determine whether the
  Mammoth Community Water District and Mammoth
  Mountain Ski Area can rely on the Dry Creek
  watershed as a sustainable water source to
  provide annually the 3.7 x 106 m3 yr-1 (3,000
  AFY) of water they wish to extract.

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Dry Creek Watershed Delineation
Owens River
Mammoth Lakes
MMSA
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Hydrologic Balance
?S P - ET- CU Error
?S Groundwater storage P Precipitation ET
Evapotranspiration CU Consumptive Use Error
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Years Chosen to Evaluate1992 1996
Source California Data Exchange
Mammoth Pass Snow Pillow
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Well field and Basin water balance areas
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Upper and lower rainfall zones and location of
rainfall gauges
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SWE zones within the Dry Creek basin
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1992 Well Field Error Results
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1996 Well Field Error Results
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Results
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Recommendations

• Extraction amount 3,000 AFY
• Phase in extraction approach
• Recommend extracting 1,500 AF the first year
• 1,000 AF each year thereafter, until the maximum
• 3,000 AF is reached
• Monitoring further data collection
• Surface and groundwater monitoring
• Chemical and temperature analysis

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Acknowledgements

• Thom Heller, MMSA
• Gary Sisson, MCWD
• Professor John Melack
• USFS
• USGS
• LADWP
• SNARL
• Snow Survey Associates
• UCSB Faculty