USGS Geological Research Activities with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management

Geologic Mapping

Modern digital geologic maps provide fundamental scientific information on which land use, water use, and living resource use decisions are based. The National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program represents nearly a decade of successful cooperation among Federal, State, and university partners. The USGS geologic mapping projects:

• Study Federal lands to help land management agencies wisely manage the resources of the public lands
• Develop new applications for the resolution of basic earth science processes
• Build the National Geologic Map Database on the Internet to enable public access to geologic map information

Determine Geologic Controls on Groundwater Resources- Southwestern Desert Basins

Rapid population growth and urbanization in the Desert Southwest has resulted in the region's ground water resources being among the most overused resource in the United States. Much of the Southwest depends on ground water for municipal, industrial, and agricultural supplies. Natural recharge to the aquifers is low and pumping in many areas has resulted in lowering of water tables. The consequences of large-scale removal of water from storage are becoming increasingly evident. These include land subsidence; loss of springs, streams, wetlands and associated habitat; and degradation of water quality.

Ground water also supports diverse riparian zones that are highly valued. Riparian habitats have been disappearing in the Southwest as a result of human influence since the turn of the century. Residents and natural resource managers are now seeking better ways to manage ground water resources. Loss of riparian habitat in the Upper San Pedro Basin, specifically the BLM San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area is one of the focus study areas of the USGS. The area supports large population of migratory songbirds and numerous endangered species. Ground water withdrawals have lowered the water levels in the basin six to 15 centimeters per year since 1940, and raised concerns about depletion of flow of the San Pedro River. To characterize the effects of pumping, the USGS, working in close coordination with Federal, State, and local entities, has begun a characterization study of the uppermost part of the basin. The study will categorize and characterize complex regional hydro geologic frameworks and develop three-dimensional geologic maps of the ground-water basin. This will be followed by a more detailed study based on the potential impacts from human influences such as population demographics, agricultural development, and natural resource extraction.

Develop GIS databases and Decision Support Systems

The USGS is cooperating with the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys to undertake reconnaissance geologic mapping and data compilation as an initial step in assessing geologic mapping needs for a proposed transportation corridor in Alaska. The project will be conducted in cooperation with existing groups, including BLM. Land management policy in Alaska must be responsive to the need to preserve traditional lifestyle and protect fragile ecosystems while also serving society's need for sustainable development of land, mineral, and energy resources. The projected societal impact of increasing oil prices has raised interest in developing gas reserves under Alaska's North Slope and adjacent Yukon Territory. Critical to the development of these vast gas resources is identification and geologic characterization of a transportation corridor for the proposed gas pipeline. The evaluation of potential corridor routes will require detailed geologic information, including information on natural hazards and engineering issues along the route.

The USGS is also compiling and digitizing existing geologic maps of the northern foothills of the Brooks Range, from the Chukchi Sea eastward to the Canadian Border. The map products will cover key areas where both oil and mineral exploration development efforts are focused including large parts of the National Petroleum Reserves and the Lead-Zinc-Silver belt. The activity is a cooperative pilot project between the USGS and the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys. The maps will be used extensively by the petroleum and mining industry, Federal and State land managers, Native organizations, and others. These maps will provide the geologic basis for evaluating energy and environmental resources and for planning infrastructure required for new petroleum discoveries in the region.