Santa Cruz AMA Groundwater Conditions

Major aquifers, well yields, estimated natural recharge, number of index wells and date of last water-level sweep are shown in Table 8.4-6.  Figure 8.4-6 shows aquifer flow direction and water-level change between 1995 and 2004-2005.  Figure 8.4-7 contains hydrographs for selected wells shown on Figures 8.4-6.  Figure 8.4-8 shows well yields in five yield categories.  There are no Underground Storage Facilities (USFs) in the Santa Cruz AMA.   A description of aquifer data sources and methods as well as well data sources and methods, including water-level changes and well yields are found in Volume 1, Appendix A. 

Major Aquifers

• Refer to Table 8.4-6 and Figure 8.4-6
• The major aquifers in this AMA are recent stream alluvium and basin fill.
• Groundwater flow is to the north, toward and along the Santa Cruz River drainage.
• Groundwater is stored in smaller, fault delimited micro-basins.

Well Yields

• Refer to Table 8.4-6 and Figure 8.4-8
• One source of well yield information, based on 115 reported wells, indicates that the median well yield is 800 gpm.
• Well yields are typically higher in the recent stream alluvium and lower in the basin fill.

Natural Recharge

• Refer to Table 8.4-6
• Natural recharge in the Santa Cruz AMA is estimated at 61,050 acre-feet per year.
• Sources of natural recharge include infiltration from the Santa Cruz River, mountain front recharge and groundwater inflow from the south.

Water Level

• Refer to Figure 8.4-6. Water levels are shown for wells measured in 2004-2005.
• The Department annually measures 52 index wells in the AMA.  Hydrographs for five of these wells are shown on Figure 8.4-7. 
• The deepest and shallowest water levels shown are along Highway 289 at 323 feet and two feet, respectively. 

Figure 8.4-8 Santa Cruz AMA Well Yields

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