Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Donald Bills

Don joined the USGS Arizona Water Science Center in 1978 and is currently a Scientist Emeritus.

Donald Bills is a Scientist Emeritus with over 34 years of experience in basic data programs and projects studying the surface water, groundwater, and water chemistry of Northern Arizona and the western US. Don’s recent works include regional groundwater flow and contaminate hydrology (uranium and trace metals) of the Grand Canyon watershed, geohydrology of large regional flow systems in Northern Arizona, and groundwater-resources assessment and development support for Tribal Lands in Northern Arizona. 

Don’s special interests are in large regional groundwater-flow systems and regional springs. Don has an interest in borehole and surface geophysics. 

Professional Experience

  • In 2009, Don was appointed to a national team developing observation well and streamflow-gaging station abandonment guidelines for the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.

  • In 2011, Don was selected as a team member for the Energy and Minerals Mission Area Strategic Science Planning Team.

Education and Certifications

  • BS, Physical Science, California State University-Chico, 1976.

Affiliations and Memberships*

  • USGS representative to the Coconino Plateau Water Advisory Council since 2000.

  • Member, International Association of Hydrogeologists, since 2001

  • Reviewer, Hydrogeology Journal, 2007, 2008

  • Member, the Groundwater Foundation, 1996-2009

  • Member, American Water Resources Association since 1992

  • Reviewer, Journal of American Water Resources, 1996-98, 2005-06, 2009-2012

  • Member, Association of Groundwater Scientists and Engineers, NWWA since 1992.

  • Reviewer, Groundwater, 1996-97, 2002, 2009, 2011

  • Member, Arizona Hydrological Society since 1989.  Flagstaff Chapter Officer 1989- 2007. Corporate officer 1990-1991,1994-1996, and 1998 to 2005. Corporate Treasurer 1998-2002. 

  • Member, Ground-Water Resources Association of California since 2003.

  • Member, American Geophysical Union since 2012.

Science and Products

Filter Total Items: 25

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 water, tritium, and carbon-14 were used to characteriz
By
Water Resources, Arizona Water Science Center, New Mexico Water Science Center, Utah Water Science Center

Hydrogeologic characterization of the Hualapai Plateau on the western Hualapai Indian Reservation, northwestern Arizona

This study was developed to assess if groundwater from the western Hualapai Plateau could be used to supply developments in the Grand Canyon West area of the Hualapai Indian Reservation and to collect hydrogeologic data for future use in a numerical groundwater model for the reservation. Ground-based geophysical surveys; existing well, spring, and other hydrogeologic information from previous stud
By
Water Resources, Arizona Water Science Center, Office of Tribal Relations

Geology and hydrology of the Truxton basin and Hualapai Plateau, northwestern Arizona

The geology of northwestern Arizona is prominently displayed on the canyon and cliff walls that compose the high-desert landscape of the Hualapai Plateau and that border the Truxton basin. The Truxton basin is a small topographic basin filled with Quaternary and Tertiary deposits and volcanic rock (about 1,600 feet thick near Truxton, Arizona) that overlie Proterozoic crystalline metamorphic rocks
By
Water Resources, Arizona Water Science Center

U.S. Geological Survey Energy and Minerals science strategy: A resource lifecycle approach

Executive SummaryThe economy, national security, and standard of living of the United States depend heavily on adequate and reliable supplies of energy and mineral resources. Based on population and consumption trends, the Nation’s use of energy and minerals can be expected to grow, driving the demand for ever broader scientific understanding of resource formation, location, and availability. In a
By
Energy and Minerals, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Geochemistry and hydrology of perched groundwater springs: assessing elevated uranium concentrations at Pigeon Spring relative to nearby Pigeon Mine, Arizona (USA)

The processes that affect water chemistry as the water flows from recharge areas through breccia-pipe uranium deposits in the Grand Canyon region of the southwestern United States are not well understood. Pigeon Spring had elevated uranium in 1982 (44 μg/L), compared to other perched springs (2.7–18 μg/L), prior to mining operations at the nearby Pigeon Mine. Perched groundwater springs in an area
By
Water Resources, Ecosystems, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program, Arizona Water Science Center

Hydrogeologic framework and characterization of the Truxton Aquifer on the Hualapai Reservation, Mohave County, Arizona

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Bureau of Reclamation, developed this study to determine an estimate of groundwater in storage in the Truxton aquifer on the Hualapai Reservation in northwestern Arizona. For this study, the Truxton aquifer is defined as the unconfined, saturated groundwater in the unconsolidated to semiconsolidated older and younger basin-fill deposits of the Tr
By
Water Resources, Arizona Water Science Center

Energy and Minerals Science at the U.S. Geological Survey

The economy, national security, and standard of living of the United States depend on adequate and reliable supplies of energy and mineral resources. Based on population and consumption trends, the Nation’s and World’s use of energy and minerals is expected to grow, driving the demand for scientific understanding of resource formation, location, and availability. The importance of environmental st
By
Energy and Minerals, Energy Resources Program, Mineral Resources Program

Aquifer test at well SMW-1 near Moenkopi, Arizona

The Hopi villages of Lower Moencopi and Upper Moenkopi are on the Hopi Indian Reservation south of Tuba City in northern Arizona. These adjacent Hopi villages, located west and north of the confluence of Pasture Canyon Wash and Moenkopi Wash, are dependent on groundwater withdrawals from three wells that penetrate the N aquifer and from two springs that discharge from the N aquifer. The N aquifer
By
Water Resources, Arizona Water Science Center

Spatial and seasonal variability of base flow in the Verde Valley, central Arizona, 2007 and 2011

Synoptic base-flow surveys were conducted on streams in the Verde Valley, central Arizona, in June 2007 and February 2011 by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Verde River Basin Partnership, the Town of Clarkdale, and Yavapai County. These surveys, also known as seepage runs, measured streamflow under base-flow conditions at many locations over a short period of time. Surve
By
Water Resources, Arizona Water Science Center

U.S. Geological Survey energy and minerals science strategy

The economy, national security, and standard of living of the United States depend heavily on adequate and reliable supplies of energy and mineral resources. Based on current population and consumption trends, the Nation's use of energy and minerals can be expected to grow, driving the demand for ever broader scientific understanding of resource formation, location, and availability. In addition,

Breccia-pipe uranium mining in northern Arizona: Estimate of resources and assessment of historical effects

About 1 million acres of Federal land in the Grand Canyon region of Arizona were temporarily withdrawn from new mining claims in July 2009 by the Secretary of the Interior because of concern that increased uranium mining could have negative impacts on the land, water, people, and wildlife. During a 2-year interval, a Federal team led by the Bureau of Land Management is evaluating the effects of wi
By
Water Resources, Arizona Water Science Center

Hydrogeology of the Coconino Plateau and adjacent areas, Coconino and Yavapai Counties, Arizona

Two large, regional ground-water flow systems occur in the Coconino Plateau and adjacent areas: the C aquifer and the Redwall-Muav aquifer. The C aquifer occurs mainly in the eastern and southern parts of the 10,300-square-mile Coconino Plateau study area, and the Redwall-Muav aquifer underlies the entire study area. The C aquifer is a water-table aquifer for most of its occurrence with depths to
By
Water Resources, Arizona Water Science Center

Airborne electromagnetic and magnetic survey, western Hualapai Indian Reservation near Grand Canyon West and Peach Springs, Arizona, 2018

Airborne electromagnetic (AEM) and magnetic survey data were collected during March 2018 along 1,637 line line-kilometers over the western Hualapai Indian Reservation and surrounding areas. The survey was conducted as part of a study of the groundwater resources of the Truxton basin and Hualapai Plateau. The survey was designed to improve the understanding of the geometry of the major hydrostratig
By
Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center
The former Pigeon Mine in northern Arizona is seen here looking towards the northeast.
link
Photo of Pigeon Canyon just before it merges with Snake Gulch in northern Arizona. 
link
Pigeon Canyon in northern Arizona is just north of the Grand Canyon
link

Science and Products

*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government