Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Hydrostratigraphy And Groundwater Flow In The Sumas Area, Whatcom County, Washington, Sue Culton Kahle

WWU Graduate School Collection

Three types of groundwater systems occur within glacial sediments in a 10 mi² (25 km²) area near Sumas, Washington: an unconfined sand and gravel aquifer, a confined sand and gravel aquifer, and a generally unproductive clay aquitard. Water levels in the area were mapped from measurements of wells and points along stream courses in October 1988 and March 1989. The water-level configurations for the two aquifers roughly parallel surface topography. Water level maps were used to estimate direction of groundwater flow, which is generally to the southeast in the unconfined aquifer and to the northeast in the …