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<br />1 <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br /> <br />1.4.3 Confined Aquifer System <br /> <br />In a large portion of the San Luis Valley, a confined or artesian aquifer system is found below <br /> <br /> <br />the unconfined aquifer. A confined aquifer is defined as a saturated zone where the water level <br /> <br /> <br />in a well penetrating it, will rise above the shallowest adjacent ground water surface. This <br /> <br /> <br />aquifer system is found in the valley below one or more substantial clay layer( s) and in some <br /> <br /> <br />cases, below layer(s) of volcanic rock flow(s). A map (Emery, 1970) of the valley showing the <br /> <br /> <br />location of the clay series below which confined conditions are commonly found is included as <br /> <br /> <br />Figure 1-4. The water supply to the confined aquifer system enters primarily near the edge of the <br /> <br /> <br />valley where seepage from streams, rivers and irrigation canals flow under the edges of the clay <br /> <br />lenses. There is also likely to be some water that enters fractured volcanic rocks on the western <br /> <br /> <br />side of the valley in areas of high precipitation and flows through these fractured layers into the <br /> <br />valley at considerable depths. <br /> <br />1-6 <br />