Alluvial Aquifers
Sand and gravel deposits associated with Iowa's major river valleys are important sources of abundant good quality groundwater. Alluvial sediments tend to be deposited in a variable fashion along a river system and thus, all locations are not equal when considering availability, particularly for large withdrawals. There have been several detailed studies of water availability and quality for Iowa's interior alluvial aquifers, primarily in western Iowa. These reports include 1) details on thickness of sand and gravel and any overlying fine-grained alluvium, 2) aquifer characteristics needed to evaluate yield potential (when available), and 3) water quality analyses for points throughout the aquifer. These investigations utilize not only extant data, but also include data collected during the course of the investigations, such as geophysical information, well borings, and water quality from test wells.
Publications are available for the following alluvial aquifers: