Review of Field Hydrology: The Geological Field Guide Handbook

This book is a detailed feild guide to initiating and successfully completing a project on hydrology and hydrogeology. This 294-page yet pocket-sized book is easy to carry around, especially during field investigations. Although every project poses unique and unexpected challenges, this book provides logical sequences for developing a conceptual model to successfully implement a groundwater investigation project. The target audiences for this book are the field engineers, faculty, and students of hydrogeology, geology, earth sciences, water science and management, hydrology, and civil engineering courses. Field Hydrology consists of 10 chapters, 12 appendices, seven tables, and references. Chapter 1 begins with an introduction to groundwater systems but quickly moves into developing a conceptual model from scratch—using available information and subsequently strengthening it by field investigations—for initiating a groundwater project. A detailed flow chart provides a very useful guide to the steps, possible sources of information, and activities required to build a comprehensive conceptual model for a groundwater study. Chapter 1 also presents a brief overview of the MODFLOW groundwater model, how to write a groundwater report, and the duties and responsibilities of an expert witness. Chapter 2 is on the “Desk Study” and provides a systematic guide to examining the hydrogeology of the study area using all available information. Water inputs and outputs are presented through easy-to-understand but comprehensive tables. Chapter 2 is a useful precursor to the next chapters, which deal with field evaluations. Chapter 3 provides simple aquifer classifications and methods to determine several aquifer properties for sand and rock strata, including transmissivity from pumping tests and tracer migration. Chapter 4 describes different measurement devices for monitoring phreatic surfaces, as well as procedures for analyzing errors in groundwater table measurements, drawing groundwater contour maps, and interpreting flow maps and flow directions. Chapter 4 also presents a case history on the interpretation of groundwater strikes and on groundwater level interpretations. Some components of the hydrologic cycle, including precipitation, evaporation, springs and stream flows, are explained in Chapter 5. This chapter also provides guidance on how to choose the best method for spring or stream flow measurements, and explains the velocity area method, thin-plate weirs, and gauge-discharge relationships concisely but adequately. A case history on measuring flows with low heads is also presented in Chapter 5. Pumping tests are usually required to get information on aquifer properties and groundwater flows. Chapter 6 provides a checklist of equipment required for pumping tests. Various types of pumps are described for a quick memory refresher. Data validation and analysis during pumping and recovery periods are covered as well as single borehole tests for falling and rising heads. Groundwater sampling during and after pumping tests are introduced in Chapter 6 but described in detail in Chapter 7. Groundwater chemistry determines the suitability of water for various uses, and can also help identify the types and sources of water contamination. Groundwater sampling protocols are needed to make sure the water chemistry does not check change during sampling. Chapter 7 provides detailed checklists for groundwater sampling, sampling equipment, the use of depth samplers vs. an M.K. Shukla, New Mexico State Univ., Las Cruces, NM 88003. *Corresponding author (shuklamk@nmsu.edu.)