{"id":1738,"date":"2022-03-16T19:01:10","date_gmt":"2022-03-16T19:01:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cwcedb.utah.edu\/?page_id=1738"},"modified":"2025-06-02T16:33:28","modified_gmt":"2025-06-02T16:33:28","slug":"aquifers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cwc.utah.gov\/central-wasatch-dashboard\/geology-soils\/aquifers\/","title":{"rendered":"Aquifers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What is an aquifer?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

An aquifer is a geologic material (rocks and sediments) capable of delivering groundwater in usable quantities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What aquifers are within Utah?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Within Utah there are three major aquifer areas: Colorado Plateau, Basin and Range, and the Central Mountains. The Central Wasatch is part of the Central Mountains aquifer area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Central Mountains region of northeastern and central Utah consists of mountainous terrain, stream valleys, and alluvial<\/abbr> basins. It includes the north-south-trending Wasatch Range, composed mainly of pre-Cenozoic sedimentary and Cenozoic silicic plutonic rocks, and the east-west-trending Uinta Mountains, composed mainly of Precambrian sedimentary and metamorphic rocks (541 million years old and older).<\/p>\n\n\n

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Source: UGS<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Alluvial aquifers from rivers and floodplains occur throughout the Central Mountains region in thin deposits of Quaternary-age<\/abbr> valley fill, like Ogden Valley and Round Valley. Aquifers are also present in sedimentary rocks (i.e., limestone and sandstone), although less commonly. (Source: Utah Geological Survey)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Click here for more information on groundwater and aquifers<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Click here for more information on Aquifers of Utah<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Explore the map below which depicts three different types of recharge areas and one discharge area as defined by:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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  • Bedrock recharge areas<\/strong> \u2013 Generally considered to occupy the primary recharge zone but may locally discharge large amounts of water at springs or seeps.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Primary Recharge<\/strong> \u2013 Basin or valley-fill area with a significant downward groundwater gradient lacking confining layers thicker than 20 feet.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Secondary Recharge<\/strong> \u2013 Basin or valley-fill area with a downward groundwater gradient with a confining layer thicker than 20 feet.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Discharge<\/strong> -Basin or valley-fill area where the groundwater gradient is upward.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n