Preliminary Field Investigations

A preliminary soil investigation was conducted in to identify soil suitable for packing 4 lysimeters (3 disturbed and 1 undisturbed) which are 2 m x 2 m x 3 m deep. Soil physical and chemical analyses were conducted on several core holes from a field site in El Dorado Valley near Boulder City, NV. The soil lithological and structural characteristics will be identified to obtain information on soil classification, soil dynamics, and interpretation of depositional environment for detritus as well as leachates and diagenetic mineralization.

Precipitation Events

From November 2008 to November 2010, there were 14 precipitation events registering over 5 mm of precipitation. The greatest precipitation event was on January 18, 2010 with 50 mm and by March 20010, there was nearly 100 mm of precipitation. The wetting front reached 100 cm depth. Subsequent rain events occurred in the fall of 2010 totaling 17 mm.