158 Alaskan Science Conference 



5. Test drilling and inventory of wells has been started in the 

 Anchorage area. Experimentation with jet drill equipment indi- 

 cates possibilities for use of such equipment in areas underlain 

 by gravels. 



There is every reason to believe that extensive ground water 

 supplies are available in many areas, and frequently these sup- 

 plies may be developed more readily and economically than 

 nearby surface sources. Because there are very few existing 

 wells an extensive program of test drilling and geologic study 

 is necessary to define the major occurrences. Pumping tests 

 would then define safe withdrawal rates. The availability of 

 equipment and transportation problems are physical problems 

 that must be met. It is evident, however, that many communi- 

 ties seeking to improve their water supplies, particularly under 

 the Alaska Community Facilities Act, would do well to give 

 serious consideration to study of possible ground water sources 

 before developing remote or expensive surface water supplies. 

 Fairbanks, Sitka, Anchorage and Talkeetna are examples of 

 communities in this category. 



At present the Survey's quality of water investigations in 

 Alaska relate to determinations of the chemical quality of sur- 

 face and ground waters. The analyses are made in a laboratory 

 established at Palmer. Sediment sampling is to be included 

 in the program. 



The problem of sediment discharge of streams assumes major 

 proportions in connection with streams draining glaciers. The 

 channels of such streams are usually full of glacial debris, and 

 construction of dams and reservoirs is complicated by con- 

 siderations of dam-foundation problems and possible early 

 filling of reservoirs by sediments. The rock flour remaining in 

 suspension even after long periods of storage, as in lakes, may 

 cause rapid wearing of waterwheels and turbines. Further, sedi- 

 ment discharge into tidal estuaries affects navigation. In order 

 to obtain appropriate basic facts for use in the study of these 

 problems the Corps of Engineers is collecting information on 

 sediment discharge at a number of locations. 



There is, of course, a close relationship between the occur- 



