Arizona Water Science Center
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Welcome to the U.S. Geological Survey Arizona Water Science Center. Our mission is to collect and interpret high quality, impartial scientific information to provide resource managers and the public with the knowledge required to understand and manage the critical water resources of Arizona and the Southwest.
Featured Science
Changes in the amount of water stored in underground aquifers cause small changes in Earth’s gravitational field. Scientists measure these small changes to map changes in groundwater storage and to improve models that simulate groundwater flow.
Learn MoreNews
USGS Arizona Water Science Center publishes a series of reports that describe the groundwater resources of the Hualapai Plateau and Truxton Basin
The USGS Arizona Water Science Center has published three reports documenting the findings of a comprehensive groundwater study conducted from 2015 through 2018 on the Hualapai Indian Reservation and adjacent areas from 2015 through 2018 in cooperation with the Bureau of Reclamation.
USGS Prepares to Measure Flooding Across Arizona
Reporters: Do you want to accompany a USGS field crew as they measure flooding? Please contact Jennifer LaVista or Jim Leenhouts
Levels of Possible Human Carcinogen Declining in Most Wells in Tucson International Airport Superfund Site
Levels of a potential human carcinogen, 1,4-dioxane, have mostly declined in wells in the commercial and residential areas of the Tucson International Airport Area Superfund Site during 2002-2017, according to a new map published by the U.S. Geological Survey.
Publications
Rethinking groundwater flow on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, USA: Characterizing recharge sources and flow paths with environmental tracers
In the arid landscape south of the Grand Canyon, natural springs and seeps are a critical resource for endemic species and Native American tribes. Groundwater is potentially threatened by expanding populations, visitations, and mineral extraction activities. Environmental tracers including noble gases, stable isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen in...
Solder, John E.; Beisner, Kimberly R.; Anderson, Jessica; Bills, Donald J. Critical evaluation of stable isotope mixing end-members for estimating groundwater recharge sources: Case study from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA
Springs and groundwater seeps along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon serve an important function for the region’s ecosystems, residents (both human and wild animal), and economy. However, these springs and seeps are potentially vulnerable to contamination, increased groundwater extraction, or reduced recharge due to climate change. Protection of...
Solder, John E.; Beisner, Kimberly R. Geochemical characterization of groundwater evolution south of Grand Canyon, Arizona (USA)
Better characterization of the geochemical evolution of groundwater south of Grand Canyon, Arizona (USA), is needed to understand natural conditions and assess potential effects from breccia-pipe uranium mining in the region. Geochemical signatures of groundwater at 28 sampling locations were evaluated; baseline concentrations for select trace...
Beisner, Kimberly R.; Solder, John E.; Tillman, Fred; Anderson, Jessica; Antweiler, Ronald C.