Donald Sweetkind
I am a research geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, stationed in Lakewood, CO. I received my Ph.D. in geology from the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, CO in 1994 and have worked full-time as a geologist for the USGS in Denver since then.
My work involves creation of geologic maps and digital three-dimensional geologic models for framework geologic and hydrogeologic studies. I work in the western US, primarily in CA, NV, UT, and NM. In the past decade, I have been the lead within USGS Geologic Discipline with work on several major water resource-related projects in Nevada, Utah, and California, in collaboration with colleagues in the USGS Water Mission Area. I also conduct geologic mapping studies in California with USGS staff in Menlo Park; I have worked on the evolution of volcanic fields and sedimentary basins in response to the development through time of the San Andreas and related faults. I have also used subsurface geologic mapping to address groundwater-based issues in northern and central California.
Current research projects
Geologic maps and 3D geologic framework models of the western US I am involved in multiple projects that are creating geologic maps and 3D geologic framework models in the western US, funded by the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program.
Groundwater availability studies in California groundwater basins. I am creating digital 3D hydrogeologic framework models that portray the geometry and lithologic variability (a proxy for inferring hydraulic properties) of hydrostratigraphic units for input into numerical ground-water flow models. (work conducted with USGS CA WSC).
National Geologic Synthesis. I am compiling data and developing methods for mapping subsurface geology at regional and National scales funded by the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program.
Professional Experience
October 2013 – present Research Geologist, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, USGS, Denver
October, 1999—October, 2013 Research Geologist, Central Mineral Resources, USGS, Denver
October, 1994—September, 1999 Geologist, Yucca Mountain Project Branch, USGS, Denver
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., 1994, in Geology with minor in geochemistry, Colorado School of Mines Golden, CO
M.S., 1986, in Geology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX
B.A., 1981, in Geology with minors in chemistry and physics, Western State College, Gunnison, CO
Science and Products
Hydrogeologic data of the Russian River Watershed, Sonoma and Mendocino Counties, California (ver. 1.1, July 2023)
Digital data for the Salinas Valley Geological Framework, California
Digital subsurface database of previously published well tops, structural features, and contour maps of the Inyan Kara Group, Minnekahta Formation, Minnelusa Formation, Madison Group, and Deadwood Formation, Black Hills region, South Dakota and Wyoming
Spatial data from An Inventory of U.S. Geological Survey Three-Dimensional Geologic Models, Volume 1, 2004–2022
Data Release - Digital subsurface data from previously published contoured maps of the tops of the Mowry Shale, Morrison Formation, and Minnelusa Formation, Powder River basin, Wyoming and Montana
Digital subsurface data from previously published maps of the base and thickness of post-Eocene continental deposits in the Sacramento Valley, California
Digital subsurface data from previously published contour map of the top of the Wilcox Group, northern Gulf of Mexico coastal region
Digital subsurface data from previously published contoured maps of the top of the Dakota Sandstone, Uinta and Piceance basins, Utah and Colorado
Data Release of hydrogeologic data from the San Antonio Creek Valley watershed, Santa Barbara County, California, 2015-2019
Data release of geologic and geophysical maps of the Santa Maria and northern part of the Point Conception 30' x 60' quadrangles, California
Petaluma Model GIS Data
Elevation of top of Precambrian rocks from previous USGS studies of the Colorado Plateau
Using a GIS to populate 3D geocellular geologic models
Hydrogeology of Lower Amargosa Valley and groundwater discharge to the Amargosa Wild and Scenic River, Inyo and San Bernardino Counties, California, and adjacent areas in Nye and Clark Counties, Nevada
Digital 3D geologic framework of the Las Cruces area
Investigating the landscape of Arroyo Seco—Decoding the past—A teaching guide to climate-controlled landscape evolution in a tectonically active region
Three-dimensional hydrogeologic framework model of the Rio Grande transboundary region of New Mexico and Texas, USA, and northern Chihuahua, Mexico
Testing the suitability of geologic frameworks for extrapolating hydraulic properties across regional scales
Simulating regional groundwater flow in the vicinity of the Nevada National Security Site, Nye County, Nevada
Knowledge, transparency, and refutability in groundwater models, an example from the Death Valley regional groundwater flow system
Kirschenmann Road multi-well monitoring site, Cuyama Valley, Santa Barbara County, California
Geology and geochemistry of volcanic centers within the eastern half of the Sonoma volcanic field, northern San Francisco Bay region, California
Deep permeable fault–controlled helium transport and limited mantle flux in two extensional geothermal systems in the Great Basin, United States
Introduction: Tectonics, volcanism, and stratigraphy within the evolving transform margin north of San Francisco Bay, California
Science and Products
- Science
- Data
Filter Total Items: 30
Hydrogeologic data of the Russian River Watershed, Sonoma and Mendocino Counties, California (ver. 1.1, July 2023)
This data release contains digital data generated by the U.S. Geological Survey under cooperative agreements with Sonoma County Water Agency and the California State Water Resources Control Board to characterize the three-dimensional hydrogeology and water quality of the Russian River Watershed, located in the northern part of the California Coast Ranges section of the Pacific Border province. ThiDigital data for the Salinas Valley Geological Framework, California
This digital dataset was created as part of a U.S. Geological Survey study, done in cooperation with the Monterey County Water Resource Agency, to conduct a hydrologic resource assessment and develop an integrated numerical hydrologic model of the hydrologic system of Salinas Valley, CA. As part of this larger study, the USGS developed this digital dataset of geologic data and three-dimensional hyDigital subsurface database of previously published well tops, structural features, and contour maps of the Inyan Kara Group, Minnekahta Formation, Minnelusa Formation, Madison Group, and Deadwood Formation, Black Hills region, South Dakota and Wyoming
This digital data release presents multiple previously published elements of the structural configuration of the Black Hills regional subsurface. The original data within this geodatabase is sourced from multiple U.S. Geological Survey Open File Reports into the hydrology of the Black Hills, stored on the USGS Water Mission Area NSDI Node (Driscoll, 1992; Strobel et al., 1999; Williamson et al., 2Spatial data from An Inventory of U.S. Geological Survey Three-Dimensional Geologic Models, Volume 1, 2004–2022
Within the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), three-dimensional (3D) geologic models are created as part of geologic framework studies, to support energy, minerals, or water resource assessments, and to inform geologic hazard assessments. Such models are often used within the organization as digital input into process and predictive models. 3D geological modeling typically supports research and projecData Release - Digital subsurface data from previously published contoured maps of the tops of the Mowry Shale, Morrison Formation, and Minnelusa Formation, Powder River basin, Wyoming and Montana
This digital data release contains previously published contours on the tops of the Mowry Shale, Morrison Formation, and Minnelusa Formation. The maps are from a series of U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies (MF) showing computer-generated structure contours, isopachs, and cross sections of selected formations in the Powder River basin, Wyoming and Montana (Crysdale 1990, 1991a, 199Digital subsurface data from previously published maps of the base and thickness of post-Eocene continental deposits in the Sacramento Valley, California
Post-Eocene (predominantly Pliocene) continental sedimentary rocks of the Sacramento Valley, CA are up to 1,200 m thick beneath the valley. These rocks contain most of the fresh ground water in the valley, forming a key component of the total water budget for the valley. A 1974 study by the U.S. Geological Survey was an early attempt to develop detailed knowledge of the subsurface geology of the SDigital subsurface data from previously published contour map of the top of the Wilcox Group, northern Gulf of Mexico coastal region
The lower Paleogene Wilcox Group crops out around the northern edge of the Gulf of Mexico Basin and is a major coal-bearing unit and a primary oil and gas producer in the lower Paleogene section of the Gulf Coast region. The outcrop distribution of the Wilcox Group and other coal-bearing strata of the Gulf Coast region was compiled as part of a U.S. Geological Survey National Coal Assessment (WarwDigital subsurface data from previously published contoured maps of the top of the Dakota Sandstone, Uinta and Piceance basins, Utah and Colorado
The top of the Upper Cretaceous Dakota Sandstone is present in the subsurface throughout the Uinta and Piceance basins of UT and CO and is easily recognized in the subsurface from geophysical well logs. This digital data release captures in digital form the results of two previously published contoured subsurface maps that were constructed on the top of Dakota Sandstone datum; one of the studies aData Release of hydrogeologic data from the San Antonio Creek Valley watershed, Santa Barbara County, California, 2015-2019
The San Antonio Creek Valley watershed (SACVW) is located in western Santa Barbara County about 15 miles (mi) south of Santa Maria, California and 55 mi north of Santa Barbara, California. The SACVW, is about 140 square miles and encompasses the San Antonio Creek Valley groundwater basin. Since the late 1800s, groundwater has been the primary source of water for agricultural, military, municipal,Data release of geologic and geophysical maps of the Santa Maria and northern part of the Point Conception 30' x 60' quadrangles, California
This dataset accompanies geologic map publication " Geologic and geophysical maps of the onshore parts of the Santa Maria and Point Conception 30' x 60' quadrangles, California "; U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3473. Data presented here include the digital geologic map database, paleontological sample locations and descriptions, and point data sets from magnetic and gravity dPetaluma Model GIS Data
This data release contains 3 land use shapefiles (years 1959, 1979, and 1986) and 1 model grid shapefile for the Petaluma River Watershed in California.Elevation of top of Precambrian rocks from previous USGS studies of the Colorado Plateau
For use as part of a regional petroleum assessment, the USGS in the early 1990's developed a dataset reporting elevation on the surface of the Precambrian basement of the central and southern Colorado Plateau and vicinity (Butler, 1991). This dataset was released as paper report that included a table of basement elevations at more than 3,700 control points, including outcrop data of Precambrian ro - Maps
- Multimedia
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 49
Using a GIS to populate 3D geocellular geologic models
No abstract availableAuthorsDonald S. Sweetkind, Geoffrey CromwellHydrogeology of Lower Amargosa Valley and groundwater discharge to the Amargosa Wild and Scenic River, Inyo and San Bernardino Counties, California, and adjacent areas in Nye and Clark Counties, Nevada
In 2009, Congress designated certain reaches of the Amargosa River in Inyo County, California between the town of Shoshone and Dumont Dunes as a Wild and Scenic River. As part of the management of the Amargosa Wild and Scenic River, the Bureau of Land Management cooperated with the U.S. Geological Survey to assess the surface and groundwater resources of the Tecopa basin. Groundwater is the primarAuthorsWayne R. Belcher, Donald S. Sweetkind, Candice B. Hopkins, Megan E. PoffDigital 3D geologic framework of the Las Cruces area
No abstract available.AuthorsDonald S. SweetkindInvestigating the landscape of Arroyo Seco—Decoding the past—A teaching guide to climate-controlled landscape evolution in a tectonically active region
IntroductionArroyo Seco is a river that flows eastward out of the Santa Lucia Range in Monterey County, California. The Santa Lucia Range is considered part of the central California Coast Range. Arroyo Seco flows out of the Santa Lucia Range into the Salinas River valley, near the town of Greenfield, where it joins the Salinas River. The Salinas River flows north into Monterey Bay about 40 milesAuthorsEmily M. Taylor, Donald S. Sweetkind, Jeremy C. HavensThree-dimensional hydrogeologic framework model of the Rio Grande transboundary region of New Mexico and Texas, USA, and northern Chihuahua, Mexico
As part of a U.S. Geological Survey study in cooperation with the Bureau of Reclamation, a digital three-dimensional hydrogeologic framework model was constructed for the Rio Grande transboundary region of New Mexico and Texas, USA, and northern Chihuahua, Mexico. This model was constructed to define the aquifer system geometry and subsurface lithologic characteristics and distribution for use inAuthorsDonald S. SweetkindTesting the suitability of geologic frameworks for extrapolating hydraulic properties across regional scales
The suitability of geologic frameworks for extrapolating hydraulic conductivity (K) to length scales commensurate with hydraulic data is difficult to assess. A novel method is presented for evaluating assumed relations between K and geologic interpretations for regional-scale groundwater modeling. The approach relies on simultaneous interpretation of multiple aquifer tests using alternative geologAuthorsBenjamin B. Mirus, Keith J. Halford, Donald S. Sweetkind, Joseph M. FenelonSimulating regional groundwater flow in the vicinity of the Nevada National Security Site, Nye County, Nevada
No abstract available.AuthorsWayne Belcher, Donald S. Sweetkind, Claudia C. FauntKnowledge, transparency, and refutability in groundwater models, an example from the Death Valley regional groundwater flow system
This work demonstrates how available knowledge can be used to build more transparent and refutable computer models of groundwater systems. The Death Valley regional groundwater flow system, which surrounds a proposed site for a high level nuclear waste repository of the United States of America, and the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS), where nuclear weapons were tested, is used to explore modAuthorsMary C. Hill, Claudia C. Faunt, Wayne Belcher, Donald S. Sweetkind, Claire R. Tiedeman, Dmitri KavetskiKirschenmann Road multi-well monitoring site, Cuyama Valley, Santa Barbara County, California
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Water Agency Division of the Santa Barbara County Department of Public Works, is evaluating the geohydrology and water availability of the Cuyama Valley, California (fig. 1). As part of this evaluation, the USGS installed the Cuyama Valley Kirschenmann Road multiple-well monitoring site (CVKR) in the South-Main subregion of the Cuyama VallAuthorsR.R. Everett, R. T. Hanson, D. S. SweetkindGeology and geochemistry of volcanic centers within the eastern half of the Sonoma volcanic field, northern San Francisco Bay region, California
Volcanic rocks in the Sonoma volcanic field in the northern California Coast Ranges contain heterogeneous assemblages of a variety of compositionally diverse volcanic rocks. We have used field mapping, new and existing age determinations, and 343 new major and trace element analyses of whole-rock samples from lavas and tuff to define for the first time volcanic source areas for many parts of the SAuthorsDonald S. Sweetkind, James J. Rytuba, Victoria E. Langenheim, Robert J. FleckDeep permeable fault–controlled helium transport and limited mantle flux in two extensional geothermal systems in the Great Basin, United States
This study assesses the relative importance of deeply circulating meteoric water and direct mantle fluid inputs on near-surface 3He/4He anomalies reported at the Coso and Beowawe geothermal fields of the western United States. The depth of meteoric fluid circulation is a critical factor that controls the temperature, extent of fluid-rock isotope exchange, and mixing with deeply sourced fluids contAuthorsAmlan Banerjee, Mark Person, Albert Hofstra, Donald S. Sweetkind, Denis Cohen, Andrew Sabin, Jeff Unruh, George Zyvoloski, Carl W. Gable, Laura Crossey, Karl KarlstromIntroduction: Tectonics, volcanism, and stratigraphy within the evolving transform margin north of San Francisco Bay, California
No abstract available.AuthorsVictoria E. Langenheim, Donald S. Sweetkind - Web Tools