The Mojave River: From the Mountains to Beneath Our Feet
November 20, 2025
The Mojave River
From the Mountains to Beneath Our Feet
From the Mountains to Beneath Our Feet
The Mojave River and associated groundwater aquifers are important water supplies in the Mojave Desert of Southern California. The river and the aquifer are connected, and when hydrologic conditions change in one, the other is usually affected. This new web tool explores the connections between precipitation, streamflow, groundwater, subsurface geology, and water quality in the Mojave River.
Use the interactive maps to explore:
- The connection between precipitation, streamflow, and the presence of water in the Mojave River
- A cross-sectional view of the subsurface geology, regional water table, and annual streamflow at the Lower Narrows streamgage along the Mojave River from 1992-2020
- An interactive three-dimensional model of the subsurface geology along 90 miles of the Mojave River
- Groundwater monitoring wells and streamgages along the river
Related
Water-Level, Water-Quality and Land-Subsidence Studies in the Mojave River and Morongo Groundwater Basins
Groundwater has been the primary source of domestic, agricultural, and municipal water supplies in the southwestern Mojave Desert, California, since the early 1900s. The population of the Mojave River and Morongo groundwater basins has grown rapidly during the last several decades, increasing from an estimated population of almost 273,000 in 1990 (Mojave Water Agency, 2004) to more than 453,000 in...
Regional Water Table (2020) in the Mojave River and Morongo Areas, Southwestern Mojave Desert, California Regional Water Table (2020) in the Mojave River and Morongo Areas, Southwestern Mojave Desert, California
Data for groundwater-levels measured in 616 wells during water year 2020 (November 2019-June 2020) by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the Mojave Water Agency (MWA), and other local water districts were compiled to construct a regional water-table shapefile for 2020. The regional water-table shapefile shows the elevation of the water table in and around the Mojave River and...
Regional Water Table (2018) in the Mojave River and Morongo Areas, Southwestern Mojave Desert, California Regional Water Table (2018) in the Mojave River and Morongo Areas, Southwestern Mojave Desert, California
Data for groundwater-levels measured in 707 wells during January-July 2018 by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the Mojave Water Agency (MWA), and other local water districts were compiled to construct a regional water-table shapefile for 2018. The regional water-table shapefile shows the elevation of the water table in and around the Mojave River and Morongo areas, in San...
Regional water table Contours of the Antelope Valley and Fremont Valley groundwater basins, Southwestern Mojave Desert, California, March 2014 Regional water table Contours of the Antelope Valley and Fremont Valley groundwater basins, Southwestern Mojave Desert, California, March 2014
Water levels were measured during March 2014 in wells in the Antelope Valley and Fremont Valley groundwater basins, southwestern Mojave Desert, California, in cooperation with the Antelope Valley-East Kern Water District, Palmdale Water District, and Littlerock Creek Irrigation District. These data document recent conditions and, when compared with previous data, changes in groundwater...
Regional Water Table (2014) in the Mojave River and Morongo Groundwater Basins, Southwestern Mojave Desert, California (ver. 1.2, September 2020) Regional Water Table (2014) in the Mojave River and Morongo Groundwater Basins, Southwestern Mojave Desert, California (ver. 1.2, September 2020)
During 2014, the U.S. Geological Survey and other agencies made approximately 2,500 water-level measurements in the Mojave River and Morongo groundwater basins. These data document recent conditions and, when compared with previous data, changes in groundwater levels. A water-level contour map was drawn using data from about 610 wells, providing coverage for most of the basins. Twenty...
Regional Water Table (2016) in the Mojave River and Morongo Groundwater Basins, Southwestern Mojave Desert, California Regional Water Table (2016) in the Mojave River and Morongo Groundwater Basins, Southwestern Mojave Desert, California
During spring 2016, the U.S. Geological Survey and other agencies made water-level measurements in the Mojave River and Morongo groundwater basins. These data document recent conditions and, when compared with previous data, changes in groundwater levels. A water-level contour map was drawn using data from about 646 wells, providing coverage for most of the basins. In addition, a water...
Arsenic, chromium, uranium, and vanadium in rock, alluvium, and groundwater, Mojave River and Morongo Areas, western Mojave Desert, southern California Arsenic, chromium, uranium, and vanadium in rock, alluvium, and groundwater, Mojave River and Morongo Areas, western Mojave Desert, southern California
Trace elements within groundwater that originate from aquifer materials and pose potential public-health hazards if consumed are known as geogenic contaminants. The geogenic contaminants arsenic, chromium, and vanadium can form negatively charged ions with oxygen known as oxyanions. Uranium complexes with bicarbonate and carbonate to form negatively charged ions having aqueous chemistry...
Authors
John Izbicki, Krishangi Groover, Whitney Seymour
Natural and anthropogenic hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), in groundwater near a mapped plume, Hinkley, California Natural and anthropogenic hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), in groundwater near a mapped plume, Hinkley, California
The Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) Hinkley compressor station, in the Mojave Desert, 80 miles northeast of Los Angeles, California, is used to compress natural gas as it is transported through a pipeline from Texas to California. Between 1952 and 1964, cooling water was treated with a compound containing hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), to prevent corrosion of machinery within the...
Authors
John Izbicki, Krishangi Groover, Whitney Seymour, David M. Miller, John Warden, Laurence G. Miller
Natural and anthropogenic (human-made) hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), in groundwater near a mapped plume, Hinkley, California Natural and anthropogenic (human-made) hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), in groundwater near a mapped plume, Hinkley, California
Between 1952 and 1964, hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), was released into groundwater from the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) Hinkley compressor station in the Mojave Desert 80 miles (mi) northeast of Los Angeles, California. Remediation began in 1992, and in 2010, site cleanup was projected to require between 10 and 95 years and was expected to cost between $36 and $176 million. A...
Authors
John Izbicki
Regional water table (2014) in the Mojave River and Morongo Groundwater Basins, southwestern Mojave Desert, California Regional water table (2014) in the Mojave River and Morongo Groundwater Basins, southwestern Mojave Desert, California
Data for static water-levels measured in about 610 wells during March-April 2014 by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the Mojave Water Agency (MWA), and other local water districts were compiled to construct a regional water-table map. This map shows the elevation of the water table and general direction of groundwater movement in and around the Mojave River and Morongo groundwater...
Authors
Nick Teague, Meghan Dick, Sally House, Dennis Clark
Regional water table (2010) in the Mojave River and Morongo Groundwater basins, southwestern Mojave Desert, California Regional water table (2010) in the Mojave River and Morongo Groundwater basins, southwestern Mojave Desert, California
Since 1992, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Mojave Water Agency (MWA), has constructed a series of regional water-table maps for intermittent years in a continuing effort to monitor groundwater conditions in the Mojave River and Morongo groundwater basins. The previously published data, which were used to construct these maps, can be accessed on the interactive...
Authors
Gregory Smith, Christina L. Stamos, Carolyn Glockhoff, Sally F. House, Dennis Clark
Geospatial Data Used in Water-Level and Land-Subsidence Studies in the Mojave River and Morongo Groundwater Basins for 2008 Geospatial Data Used in Water-Level and Land-Subsidence Studies in the Mojave River and Morongo Groundwater Basins for 2008
During 2008, the U.S. Geological Survey and other agencies made approximately 2,500 water-level measurements in the Mojave River and Morongo groundwater basins. These data document recent conditions and, when compared with previous data, changes in groundwater levels. A water-level contour map was drawn using data from about 700 wells, providing coverage for most of the basins. Twenty...
Authors
Carolyn Glockhoff, Christina L. Stamos
Ground-water recharge from small intermittent streams in the western Mojave Desert, California Ground-water recharge from small intermittent streams in the western Mojave Desert, California
Population growth has impacted ground-water resources in the western Mojave Desert, where declining water levels suggest that recharge rates have not kept pace with withdrawals. Recharge from the Mojave River, the largest hydrographic feature in the study area, is relatively well characterized. In contrast, recharge from numerous smaller streams that convey runoff from the bounding...
Authors
John A. Izbicki, Russell Johnson, Justin T. Kulongoski, Steven Predmore
Regional water table (2004) and water-level changes in the Mojave River and Morongo ground-water basins, Southwestern Mojave Desert, California Regional water table (2004) and water-level changes in the Mojave River and Morongo ground-water basins, Southwestern Mojave Desert, California
The Mojave River and Morongo ground-water basins are in the southwestern part of the Mojave Desert in southern California. Ground water from these basins supplies a major part of the water requirements for the region. The continuous population growth in this area has resulted in ever-increasing demands on local ground-water resources. The collection and interpretation of ground-water...
Authors
Christina L. Stamos, Julia A. Huff, Steven Predmore, Dennis Clark
Regional water table (2002) and water-level changes in the Mojave River and Morongo ground-water basins, southwestern Mojave Desert, California Regional water table (2002) and water-level changes in the Mojave River and Morongo ground-water basins, southwestern Mojave Desert, California
The Mojave River and Morongo ground-water basins are in the southwestern part of the Mojave Desert in southern California. Ground water from these basins supplies a major part of the water requirements for the region. The continuous population growth in this area has resulted in ever-increasing demands on local ground-water resources. The collection and interpretation of ground-water...
Authors
Gregory Smith, Christina L. Stamos, Steven Predmore
Regional water table (2000) and ground-water-level changes in the Mojave River and the Morongo ground-water basins, southwestern Mojave Desert, California Regional water table (2000) and ground-water-level changes in the Mojave River and the Morongo ground-water basins, southwestern Mojave Desert, California
The Mojave River and Morongo ground-water basins are in the southwestern part of the Mojave Desert in southern California. Ground water from these basins supplies a major part of the water requirements for the region. The continuous population growth in this area has resulted in ever-increasing demands on local ground-water resources. The collection and interpretation of ground-water...
Authors
Gregory Smith
Regional water table (1998) and ground-water-level changes in the Mojave River and the Morongo ground-water basins, San Bernardino County, California Regional water table (1998) and ground-water-level changes in the Mojave River and the Morongo ground-water basins, San Bernardino County, California
The Mojave River and the Morongo ground-water basins are in the southwestern part of the Mojave Desert in southern California. Ground water from these basins supplies a major part of the water requirements for the region. The rapid and continuous population growth in this area has resulted in ever-increasing demands on local ground-water resources. The continuing collection and...
Authors
Gregory Smith, M. Pimentel
Regional water table (1996) and water-level changes in the Mojave River, the Morongo, and the Fort Irwin ground-water basins, San Bernardino County, California Regional water table (1996) and water-level changes in the Mojave River, the Morongo, and the Fort Irwin ground-water basins, San Bernardino County, California
The Mojave River, the Morongo, and the Fort Irwin ground-water basins lie in the southwestern part of the Mojave Desert Region of southern California. These basins supply ground water to local water districts, military bases, and private wells. The rapid growth in population in these basins, which is due, in part, to their proximity toLos Angeles, has increased the demand for water and...
Authors
Gregory Mendez, Allen Christensen
The Mojave River: From the Mountains to Beneath Our Feet The Mojave River: From the Mountains to Beneath Our Feet
The Mojave River and associated groundwater aquifers are important water supplies in the Mojave Desert of Southern California. The river and the aquifer are connected, and when hydrologic conditions change in one, the other is usually affected. This new web tool explores the connections between precipitation, streamflow, groundwater, subsurface geology, and water quality in the Mojave River.
The Mojave River: Lifeblood of the Desert The Mojave River: Lifeblood of the Desert
Take a 3D tour along the Mojave River and learn about its contribution to groundwater and surface water supply and the geologic characteristics that control it.
Mojave Groundwater Data Mojave Groundwater Data
Interactive map of the Mojave and Morongo groundwater basins. Data layers include sites and data for groundwater levels, water quality, and land subsidence. Groundwater data spans 1994 to the present.
Related
Water-Level, Water-Quality and Land-Subsidence Studies in the Mojave River and Morongo Groundwater Basins
Groundwater has been the primary source of domestic, agricultural, and municipal water supplies in the southwestern Mojave Desert, California, since the early 1900s. The population of the Mojave River and Morongo groundwater basins has grown rapidly during the last several decades, increasing from an estimated population of almost 273,000 in 1990 (Mojave Water Agency, 2004) to more than 453,000 in...
Regional Water Table (2020) in the Mojave River and Morongo Areas, Southwestern Mojave Desert, California Regional Water Table (2020) in the Mojave River and Morongo Areas, Southwestern Mojave Desert, California
Data for groundwater-levels measured in 616 wells during water year 2020 (November 2019-June 2020) by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the Mojave Water Agency (MWA), and other local water districts were compiled to construct a regional water-table shapefile for 2020. The regional water-table shapefile shows the elevation of the water table in and around the Mojave River and...
Regional Water Table (2018) in the Mojave River and Morongo Areas, Southwestern Mojave Desert, California Regional Water Table (2018) in the Mojave River and Morongo Areas, Southwestern Mojave Desert, California
Data for groundwater-levels measured in 707 wells during January-July 2018 by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the Mojave Water Agency (MWA), and other local water districts were compiled to construct a regional water-table shapefile for 2018. The regional water-table shapefile shows the elevation of the water table in and around the Mojave River and Morongo areas, in San...
Regional water table Contours of the Antelope Valley and Fremont Valley groundwater basins, Southwestern Mojave Desert, California, March 2014 Regional water table Contours of the Antelope Valley and Fremont Valley groundwater basins, Southwestern Mojave Desert, California, March 2014
Water levels were measured during March 2014 in wells in the Antelope Valley and Fremont Valley groundwater basins, southwestern Mojave Desert, California, in cooperation with the Antelope Valley-East Kern Water District, Palmdale Water District, and Littlerock Creek Irrigation District. These data document recent conditions and, when compared with previous data, changes in groundwater...
Regional Water Table (2014) in the Mojave River and Morongo Groundwater Basins, Southwestern Mojave Desert, California (ver. 1.2, September 2020) Regional Water Table (2014) in the Mojave River and Morongo Groundwater Basins, Southwestern Mojave Desert, California (ver. 1.2, September 2020)
During 2014, the U.S. Geological Survey and other agencies made approximately 2,500 water-level measurements in the Mojave River and Morongo groundwater basins. These data document recent conditions and, when compared with previous data, changes in groundwater levels. A water-level contour map was drawn using data from about 610 wells, providing coverage for most of the basins. Twenty...
Regional Water Table (2016) in the Mojave River and Morongo Groundwater Basins, Southwestern Mojave Desert, California Regional Water Table (2016) in the Mojave River and Morongo Groundwater Basins, Southwestern Mojave Desert, California
During spring 2016, the U.S. Geological Survey and other agencies made water-level measurements in the Mojave River and Morongo groundwater basins. These data document recent conditions and, when compared with previous data, changes in groundwater levels. A water-level contour map was drawn using data from about 646 wells, providing coverage for most of the basins. In addition, a water...
Arsenic, chromium, uranium, and vanadium in rock, alluvium, and groundwater, Mojave River and Morongo Areas, western Mojave Desert, southern California Arsenic, chromium, uranium, and vanadium in rock, alluvium, and groundwater, Mojave River and Morongo Areas, western Mojave Desert, southern California
Trace elements within groundwater that originate from aquifer materials and pose potential public-health hazards if consumed are known as geogenic contaminants. The geogenic contaminants arsenic, chromium, and vanadium can form negatively charged ions with oxygen known as oxyanions. Uranium complexes with bicarbonate and carbonate to form negatively charged ions having aqueous chemistry...
Authors
John Izbicki, Krishangi Groover, Whitney Seymour
Natural and anthropogenic hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), in groundwater near a mapped plume, Hinkley, California Natural and anthropogenic hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), in groundwater near a mapped plume, Hinkley, California
The Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) Hinkley compressor station, in the Mojave Desert, 80 miles northeast of Los Angeles, California, is used to compress natural gas as it is transported through a pipeline from Texas to California. Between 1952 and 1964, cooling water was treated with a compound containing hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), to prevent corrosion of machinery within the...
Authors
John Izbicki, Krishangi Groover, Whitney Seymour, David M. Miller, John Warden, Laurence G. Miller
Natural and anthropogenic (human-made) hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), in groundwater near a mapped plume, Hinkley, California Natural and anthropogenic (human-made) hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), in groundwater near a mapped plume, Hinkley, California
Between 1952 and 1964, hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), was released into groundwater from the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) Hinkley compressor station in the Mojave Desert 80 miles (mi) northeast of Los Angeles, California. Remediation began in 1992, and in 2010, site cleanup was projected to require between 10 and 95 years and was expected to cost between $36 and $176 million. A...
Authors
John Izbicki
Regional water table (2014) in the Mojave River and Morongo Groundwater Basins, southwestern Mojave Desert, California Regional water table (2014) in the Mojave River and Morongo Groundwater Basins, southwestern Mojave Desert, California
Data for static water-levels measured in about 610 wells during March-April 2014 by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the Mojave Water Agency (MWA), and other local water districts were compiled to construct a regional water-table map. This map shows the elevation of the water table and general direction of groundwater movement in and around the Mojave River and Morongo groundwater...
Authors
Nick Teague, Meghan Dick, Sally House, Dennis Clark
Regional water table (2010) in the Mojave River and Morongo Groundwater basins, southwestern Mojave Desert, California Regional water table (2010) in the Mojave River and Morongo Groundwater basins, southwestern Mojave Desert, California
Since 1992, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Mojave Water Agency (MWA), has constructed a series of regional water-table maps for intermittent years in a continuing effort to monitor groundwater conditions in the Mojave River and Morongo groundwater basins. The previously published data, which were used to construct these maps, can be accessed on the interactive...
Authors
Gregory Smith, Christina L. Stamos, Carolyn Glockhoff, Sally F. House, Dennis Clark
Geospatial Data Used in Water-Level and Land-Subsidence Studies in the Mojave River and Morongo Groundwater Basins for 2008 Geospatial Data Used in Water-Level and Land-Subsidence Studies in the Mojave River and Morongo Groundwater Basins for 2008
During 2008, the U.S. Geological Survey and other agencies made approximately 2,500 water-level measurements in the Mojave River and Morongo groundwater basins. These data document recent conditions and, when compared with previous data, changes in groundwater levels. A water-level contour map was drawn using data from about 700 wells, providing coverage for most of the basins. Twenty...
Authors
Carolyn Glockhoff, Christina L. Stamos
Ground-water recharge from small intermittent streams in the western Mojave Desert, California Ground-water recharge from small intermittent streams in the western Mojave Desert, California
Population growth has impacted ground-water resources in the western Mojave Desert, where declining water levels suggest that recharge rates have not kept pace with withdrawals. Recharge from the Mojave River, the largest hydrographic feature in the study area, is relatively well characterized. In contrast, recharge from numerous smaller streams that convey runoff from the bounding...
Authors
John A. Izbicki, Russell Johnson, Justin T. Kulongoski, Steven Predmore
Regional water table (2004) and water-level changes in the Mojave River and Morongo ground-water basins, Southwestern Mojave Desert, California Regional water table (2004) and water-level changes in the Mojave River and Morongo ground-water basins, Southwestern Mojave Desert, California
The Mojave River and Morongo ground-water basins are in the southwestern part of the Mojave Desert in southern California. Ground water from these basins supplies a major part of the water requirements for the region. The continuous population growth in this area has resulted in ever-increasing demands on local ground-water resources. The collection and interpretation of ground-water...
Authors
Christina L. Stamos, Julia A. Huff, Steven Predmore, Dennis Clark
Regional water table (2002) and water-level changes in the Mojave River and Morongo ground-water basins, southwestern Mojave Desert, California Regional water table (2002) and water-level changes in the Mojave River and Morongo ground-water basins, southwestern Mojave Desert, California
The Mojave River and Morongo ground-water basins are in the southwestern part of the Mojave Desert in southern California. Ground water from these basins supplies a major part of the water requirements for the region. The continuous population growth in this area has resulted in ever-increasing demands on local ground-water resources. The collection and interpretation of ground-water...
Authors
Gregory Smith, Christina L. Stamos, Steven Predmore
Regional water table (2000) and ground-water-level changes in the Mojave River and the Morongo ground-water basins, southwestern Mojave Desert, California Regional water table (2000) and ground-water-level changes in the Mojave River and the Morongo ground-water basins, southwestern Mojave Desert, California
The Mojave River and Morongo ground-water basins are in the southwestern part of the Mojave Desert in southern California. Ground water from these basins supplies a major part of the water requirements for the region. The continuous population growth in this area has resulted in ever-increasing demands on local ground-water resources. The collection and interpretation of ground-water...
Authors
Gregory Smith
Regional water table (1998) and ground-water-level changes in the Mojave River and the Morongo ground-water basins, San Bernardino County, California Regional water table (1998) and ground-water-level changes in the Mojave River and the Morongo ground-water basins, San Bernardino County, California
The Mojave River and the Morongo ground-water basins are in the southwestern part of the Mojave Desert in southern California. Ground water from these basins supplies a major part of the water requirements for the region. The rapid and continuous population growth in this area has resulted in ever-increasing demands on local ground-water resources. The continuing collection and...
Authors
Gregory Smith, M. Pimentel
Regional water table (1996) and water-level changes in the Mojave River, the Morongo, and the Fort Irwin ground-water basins, San Bernardino County, California Regional water table (1996) and water-level changes in the Mojave River, the Morongo, and the Fort Irwin ground-water basins, San Bernardino County, California
The Mojave River, the Morongo, and the Fort Irwin ground-water basins lie in the southwestern part of the Mojave Desert Region of southern California. These basins supply ground water to local water districts, military bases, and private wells. The rapid growth in population in these basins, which is due, in part, to their proximity toLos Angeles, has increased the demand for water and...
Authors
Gregory Mendez, Allen Christensen
The Mojave River: From the Mountains to Beneath Our Feet The Mojave River: From the Mountains to Beneath Our Feet
The Mojave River and associated groundwater aquifers are important water supplies in the Mojave Desert of Southern California. The river and the aquifer are connected, and when hydrologic conditions change in one, the other is usually affected. This new web tool explores the connections between precipitation, streamflow, groundwater, subsurface geology, and water quality in the Mojave River.
The Mojave River: Lifeblood of the Desert The Mojave River: Lifeblood of the Desert
Take a 3D tour along the Mojave River and learn about its contribution to groundwater and surface water supply and the geologic characteristics that control it.
Mojave Groundwater Data Mojave Groundwater Data
Interactive map of the Mojave and Morongo groundwater basins. Data layers include sites and data for groundwater levels, water quality, and land subsidence. Groundwater data spans 1994 to the present.