Aquifers are complex mosaics of geologic and hydrologic phenomena. When humans remove large qunatities of water from aquifers, there are drastic changes that take place: The connections with surface water, the direction of flows, hydrostatic pressure, the discharges at springs, and so much depend on a steady state condition.
Iron County water officials want to take more water from the Great Salt Lake Desert than exists in Pine Valley. This will have far-reaching, sweeping impacts on valleys throughout a massive region. We were able to use USGS data to simulate the span and reach of drawdown and aquifer impacts because of efforts like the Cedar City Pipeline and Water Grab.
Watch the simulation and get a sense of what will happen underground. What you can’t see below will have big impacts on what you can see above ground.
