Date:
30 September 1999
To:
Interested Parties
From:
Jerry Grondin, OWRD Hydrogeologist
Subject:
Bonanza Area Ground Water Investigation Progress
Progress Memo 11: May through September 1999 Period
General Information
This is the eleventh quarterly summary memo about the Bonanza area groundwater investigation being
conducted by Oregon Water Resources Department staff. The purpose is to keep you informed about the
investigation’s progress. Your questions and comments are welcomed.
Project Schedule Revision
Bonanza area ground water investigation data collection and data analyses were originally scheduled to end
by 31 December 1999. Approximately 1-year of project time was lost due to time needed to conduct other
Oregon Water Resources Department assignments. In compensation, OWRD management agreed to extend
the Bonanza area ground water investigation 1-year by changing the project deadline to 31 December 2000.
Project data collection is nearly completed. It should end by 31 December 1999 except for the “monthly”
water level measurements that will decrease in 2000 to bi-monthly measurements at fewer wells. Data
analyses will begin in January 2000. Approximately 1-year is needed for the data analyses.
The additional project time for data analyses is needed to provide technical findings as required by 36
Bonanza area ground water permits issued in 1996 under the alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process.
The permits require the technical findings for determining whether the permits can mature into certificates
or water use under these permits should be suspended. See Appendix A for the permit conditions.
Currently, the use of ground water under the 36 permits is valid through July 2001. The original project
deadline would have allowed 18 months for the Oregon Water Resources Department and the permit
holders to resolve the fate (positive or negative) of the 36 permits. Currently, the new project deadline
provides 6 months to resolve the fate of the 36 permits.
Protecting Your Permit Standing
The 36 Bonanza area ground water permits issued in 1996 under the alternative dispute
resolution (ADR) process require a finding of whether permit holders have submitted water level
data, water use data, and (for some permit holders) alternative water supply plans (see Appendix
A). These permit holders need to protect their permit standing by checking their permit
conditions and making sure the information required is submitted.
Project Activities: May-September 1999
and
Projected Future Activity
Activity Summary
Activity during the May-September period included:

Conducting monthly water level measurements;

Preparing for the fall synoptic ground water measurements.

Servicing water level recording equipment (annual service);

Preparing for an anticipated 1,000-foot well to be drilled near Lorella;

Conducting “seepage” flow measurements at 8 canal/ditch segments;

Consolidating maps of project wells for an electronic map coverage.
Activity during the October-December period is scheduled to include:

Conducting synoptic and monthly water level measurements;

Conducting selective aquifer tests;

Cooperating in the construction and use of 1,000-foot well;

Completing a consolidated electronic map of project wells;

Conducting data entry into a database;

Starting data analyses.
Project data collection (except “monthly” water level data) is scheduled to end by the end of December
1999. Monthly water level data collection will decrease to bi-monthly (January, March, May, July,
September, and November) measurements in 2000. During 2000, project activity will focus upon data
analyses.
Surface Water Flow Measurements
May-September 1999 Activity

Measured flow in 8 “representative” canal/ditch segments with the Klamath County Watermaster, Del
Sparks.
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East Malone Dam Lateral (Langell Valley, near Malone Dam)
West Canal (Langell Valley, near Malone Dam)
High Line Canal (Langell Valley, West Langell Valley Road near Teare Lane)
North Canal (Langell Valley near Lorella)
Yonna Ditch (north of Bonanza)
Yonna Ditch (Yonna Valley, east of Haskins Road)
Ditch south of Highway 70 (Yonna Valley)
E-Canal (Poe Valley, Olene Gap to Stevenson Park)
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The canal segments were chosen to represent possible seepage conditions for basalt, sediment, and
“chalk rock”. This information is needed to assess possible ground water recharge from canals.

Obtained canal seepage information from CH2Mhill consultants.
Projected October-December 1999 Activity
Begin data analyses.
Wells
May-September 1999 Activity


Preparations with the Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) for the construction
of a 1,000-foot deep well.
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Meetings with (DOGAMI) staff, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) staff, Oregon Water Resources
Department (OWRD) staff, and well drillers regarding location and construction of the well.
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Wrote and revised the specifications for constructing the well.
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Helped select well driller to construct the well.
Began investigating alternatives for obtaining wellhead elevations.
Projected October-December 1999 Activity

Begin entering well site information into database. A total of 204 wells have been identified, located,
and visited to date (10 wells for continuous recorders, 38 wells for monthly water level measurements,
and 156 wells for Fall/Spring synoptic water level measurements).

Add an anticipated 1,000-foot deep well to project water level measurement wells if the well is
constructed as a water well.

Possibly locate and visit 1 or 2 more wells for the fall synoptic water level measurements. The wells
are located along Gerber Reservoir Road and Harpold Road.

Complete investigating alternatives for obtaining wellhead elevations.
Project Maps
May-September 1999 Activity
Began updating the map of project wells.
Projected October-December 1999 Activity
Complete updating the map of project wells.
Ground Water and Surface Water Elevations
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May-September 1999 Activity

Measured water levels at 39 monthly wells and 10 recorder wells in May, June, July, August, and
September 1999.

Download data from all 10 continuous water level recorders in July and September. The data is
available via the Internet by going to http://www.wrd.state.or.us, then to "file pickup", then to,
"studies", then to "bonanza". Updated graphs of water level, rainfall, and barometric pressure data are
attached.
Projected October-December 1999 Activity

Measure water levels at 204 wells and 13 surface water sites during the October/Fall 1999 synoptic
scheduled for the week of:
October 25 to 29, 1999

Measure ground water elevations at the 38 monthly wells and 10 recorder wells during the weeks of:
December 6 to 10, 1999
January 10 to 14, 2000

Begin a preliminary potentiometric/water table map based upon synoptic water level measurements.

Begin entering water level data into the database.
Geology
May-September 1999 Activity

Began constructing geologic cross-sections for Langell Valley.

The Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) began geologic mapping.
Dairy Quadrangle
DOGAMI-USGS STATEMAP program
Bonanza Quadrangle
DOGAMI-USGS STATEMAP program
Lorella Quadrangle
Hatfield Working Group directed ORCA funding
Langell Valley Quadrangle
Hatfield Working Group directed ORCA funding
Bryant Mountain Quadrangle
Hatfield Working Group directed ORCA funding

Hatfield Working Group directed ORCA funding paid for the University of Oregon to conduct
Controlled Source Audio Magneto-Telluric (CSAMT) geophysical work near Lorella. The CSAMT
work was conducted along two transect lines that crossed. The CSAMT data with deep well data can
provide information about geologic layers, their extent, and geologic structures from near land surface
to depths exceeding 1 mile.

Made preparations with DOGAMI to construct a 1,000-foot deep exploratory well for hydrogeologic
information. Hatfield Working Group directed ORCA funding will pay for the well construction. The
well will be located near the end of one CSAMT transect line.
Projected October-December 1999 Activity
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
Help the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) conduct downhole geophysical logging of the 1,000 foot
well. Hatfield Working Group directed ORCA funding will pay for the geophysical logging.

Convert the exploratory well to a water level monitoring well.

Help the USGS conduct downhole geophysical logging of two other wells. The USGS-OWRD
cooperative ground water investigation of the Upper Klamath Basin will pay for this geophysical
logging.
Aquifer Characteristics
May-September 1999 Activity

Obtained aquifer test data from CH2MHill consultants.
Projected October-December 1999 Activity

Conduct 1 to 3 aquifer tests. Conducting an aquifer test involves pumping a well and measuring the
ground water level response at the pumping well and neighboring wells. The data can help determine
how easily water flows through the aquifer, how water is stored in the aquifer (water table conditions or
under pressure), and the presence of ground water flow boundaries (no-flow or recharge).

Collect additional aquifer test data.
Meetings
May-September 1999 Activity

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
May 1999:
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Meeting with supervisor to discuss project status/progress.
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Meeting with DOGAMI hire to discuss project area geology.
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Meeting with DOGAMI to discuss suitable locations for the CSAMT transects and the 1,000-foot
exploration well.
June 1999:
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Attended a USGS ground water-surface water interaction workshop.
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Meeting with USGS and OWRD staff to discuss suitable locations for the CSAMT transects,
suitable location and construction of the 1,000-foot deep exploration well, and to coordinate
downhole geophysical logging of the well.
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Meetings with 5 drillers about specifications for the 1,000-foot deep exploration well.
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Meetings with supervisor and OWRD well inspectors about specifications for the 1,000-foot deep
exploration well.
July 1999:
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Meeting with DOGAMI to discuss suitable locations for the CSAMT transects and the 1,000-foot
exploration well.
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Meeting with OWRD staff about suitable locations for the CSAMT transects and the 1,000-foot
exploration well.
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Meeting with CH2MHill to obtain canal seepage and aquifer test data.
August 1999:
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Meeting with DOGAMI to discuss suitable locations for the CSAMT transects and the 1,000-foot
exploration well.
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Meeting with OWRD staff about suitable locations for the CSAMT transects and the 1,000-foot
exploration well.
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Meetings with OWRD well inspectors about revised specifications for the 1,000-foot deep
exploration well.
September 1999:
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Meeting with the City of Bonanza to discuss project progress and preliminary data.
Projected October-December 1999 Activity

Attend an October 18-22, 1999 U.S. Geological Survey ground water modeling training: Calibration
and Uncertainty of Ground Water Models.
Humor
Scientific measurements indicate the moon is moving away at a tiny, although measurable distance from the
earth every year. If you do the math, you can calculate that 85 million years ago the moon was orbiting the
earth at a distance of about 35 feet from the earth's surface. This would explain the death of the
dinosaurs...the tallest ones, anyway.
Conclusion
I hope you find this progress memo useful. Please contact me at 503-378-8455 (ext. 214) or 800-624-3199
(ext. 214) or via e-mail at Gerald.H.GRONDIN@wrd.state.or.us if you have any questions or comments.
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Appendix A
Conditions found in 36 Bonanza area ground water permits issued in 1996 under
the alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process
The use of water under this permit may expire or be extended five years from issuance of the permit. A
water right certificate shall be issued at the end of the five year period if the Director finds:
A.
River stage or Bonanza Big Springs flows are not significantly diminished by use of water
under this permit as determined by the Oregon Water Resources Department, in
consultation with the Bureau of Reclamation and Oregon Department of Fish and
Wildlife, using quantifiable groundwater and hydrologic science that stands up to peer
review;
B.
Within two years of permit issuance for primary use, the permittee/appropriator has
submitted a plan to the Department indicating potential economic sources for an
alternative long-term water supply;
C.
Periodic water level reports have been submitted; and
D.
Excessively declining ground water levels have not occurred due to well use and
determined by the Oregon Water Resources Department, in consultation with the Bureau
of Reclamation and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, using quantifiable
groundwater and hydrologic science that stands up to peer review.
…Measurement, recording and reporting conditions:
A.
Before water use may begin under this permit, the permittee shall install a meter or other
suitable measuring device as approved by the Director. The permittee shall maintain the
meter or measuring device in good working order, shall keep a complete record of the
amount of water used each month and shall submit a report which includes the recorded
water use measurements to the Department annually by April 15, or more frequently as
may be required by the Director. Further, the Director may require the permittee to report
general water use information, including place and nature of use of water under this
permit…
…A static water level measurement shall be made and submitted before any use of water may commence
from the well.
The permittee shall obtain a static water level measurement for each well during March and October of each
year and report the measurements to the Department…The water user shall report the static water level(s) in
the well(s) to the Groundwater/Hydrology Section of the Water Resources Department by April 15 and
November 15, respectively, of each year.
If substantial interference with a senior surface or ground water right occurs due to withdrawal of water
from well(s) listed on this permit, then use of water from such well(s) shall be discontinued or reduced or
the schedule of withdrawal shall be regulated until the Department approves or implements an alternative
administrative action to mitigate such interference.
Failure to comply with any of the provisions of the permit may result in action including, but not limited to,
restrictions on the use, civil penalties, or cancellation of the permit.
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Appendix B
Graphs
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