Apr 5, 2017 - and transmit groundwater in quantities sufficient .... Road sign in Pinal County, Arizona (thanks Robert G
Groundwater/Hydrology 101 Harney County CBWP Water Availability Work Group Meeting Michael E. Campana Oregon State University 5 April 2017
Some Wisdom? “Human beings were invented by water to transport it uphill.” “The meek shall inherit the earth but not its water rights” – apologies to J. Paul Getty “When the water chokes you what are you to drink to wash it down?” - Aristotle
The Hydrologic Cycle (courtesy Robert Glennon)
Groundwater Subsurface water occurring beneath the water table Aquifers: subsurface materials that store and transmit groundwater in quantities sufficient to supply wells Occurs under confined and unconfined conditions
Groundwater Facts Far more fresh groundwater than (liquid) fresh surface water (maybe 60-90 times more!) Groundwater flow – much slower than surface water (important – response time is greater than surface water) Connected to surface water
Why Groundwater? • Drought or dry season resistant • Close to point of use • O6en excellent natural quality • Can be developed incrementally • Technology simple • Naturally protected from contamina?on
Problems with Surface Water
• O6en polluted near where we need it • Usually fully or nearly-fully exploited • Unreliable seasonally; dams for storage • Highly impacted by storm events
Streamflow – McKenzie River Basin 1948-52, 2001-05, Future (Jefferson et al., 2008: http://bit.ly/2eAXtcb)
Peak flow has shifted from spring into winter – possible flood hazard and storage issues
Decline begins earlier and summer flows are lower
Umatilla Basin Groundwater (courtesy Todd Jarvis, OSU)
Harney Basin Groundwater - 1 (by Lauren Smitherman - http://bit.ly/2phGH6w)
Harney Basin Groundwater - 2 (by Lauren Smitherman - http://bit.ly/2phGH6w)
NW-SE Hydrostratigraphic Cross Section beneath Memphis, Tennessee (TN) and Adjacent States of Arkansas (AR) and Mississippi (MS) (note vertical exaggeration – strata dip more like 1%)
[Courtesy of the Department of Geosciences, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS; modified from Brahana et al. (1987)]
Pumping Well Cone of Depression (Cameron 2009)
Three-Dimensional Representation of the Cones of Depression Created by MLGW’s Memphis Sand Aquifer Pumping
[Cameron 2009]
What Happens When A Well Pumps from a Confined Aquifer (Alley et al. 1999)
Memphis Sand Aquifer Flow Net showing Groundwater Movement (red arrows) from Mississippi to MLGW Well Fields Note: Natural Flow is Generally East to West
[Cameron 2009]
Groundwater: Recharge and Discharge Recharge – inflow Water from land surface or from surface water (streams, lakes) that enters the saturated zone and replenishes groundwater Discharge – outflow Groundwater leaving the saturated zone and exiting at the land surface or to surface water
Discharge - Outflow Springs and seeps Flow to surface water Via evaporation and transpiration Wells
a gaining stream(A), (A),water water discharges discharges from In aIngaining stream fromthe surroundingtosoil the stream, but in a losing stream (B), groundwater theinto stream. In a losing stream (B), stream water infiltrates the ground. (courtesy Robert Glennon) water flows to groundwater.
Groundwater: R, D Under natural conditions, groundwater flows from recharge areas to discharge areas at lakes, streams, wetlands, etc. Flow system is in balance or at equilibrium. The natural water budget is:
Recharge = Discharge Symbolically:
R=D
Groundwater Myths Some believe that the previous water budget can be used to determine the amount of groundwater that can be pumped. This fallacy has been called
The Water Budget Myth
Groundwater Pumping I Groundwater pumpage (Q) alters natural flow system, disrupting the balance Source of water being discharged from wells: • Increase in natural recharge • Reduction in natural discharge • Decrease in stored groundwater • Some combination of the above
Groundwater Pumping II
ΔR - ΔD – Q = ΔS Q = pumping rate ΔS = change in storage ΔD = change in discharge ΔR = change in recharge
The Santa Cruz River (from R. Glennon)
The Santa Cruz River (from R. Glennon)
Groundwater Quality: A Question ‘When water chokes you, what are you to drink to wash it down?’ --Aristotle
Groundwater Quality Definition – Groundwater Quality The chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of groundwater with respect to its suitability for a particular use.
GW Quality Parameters Temperature, taste, color, turbidity, presence of organisms (benign or pathogenic), chemicals (natural and anthropogenic), pH, Eh, dissolved oxygen, etc.
Groundwater Quality and Use Groundwater quality and use are interrelated: Quality determines use Use can affect quality
Wellhead/Source Water Protection Certain source or recharge areas provide water to wells Must protect these areas from contamination
Land Subsidence Associated with high amounts of pumping and certain geological conditions Severe cases: San Joaquin Valley, CA; México, D.F. – land surface has dropped up to 9-10 meters (c. 29-33 feet) Extreme examples: sinkholes (‘cenotes’) Irreversible
Land subsidence in the San Joaquin Valley of California. Subsidence fissure in Pinal County, Arizona. Road sign in Pinal County, Arizona (thanks Robert Glennon)
Groundwater and Surface Water Interconnected Groundwater pumping can affect streamflow (water rights) Ecosystem alteration May take long time for effects to be felt
a gaining stream(A), (A),water water discharges discharges from In aIngaining stream fromthe surroundingtosoil the stream, but in a losing stream (B), groundwater theinto stream. In a losing stream (B), stream water infiltrates the ground. (courtesy Robert Glennon) water flows to groundwater.
Groundwater Sustainability ‘Development and use of groundwater in a manner that can be maintained for an indefinite time without causing unacceptable environmental, economic or social consequences.’ (W. Alley et al., 1999)
AWWA Presentation
Collaboration and Science: Driving the Martis Valley Groundwater Management Plan
October 2 | 2013
Two key questions kept surfacing: How do you know changes in built environment are not impacting long-term water supply and quality?
How do you know climate change will not render your answer to #1 moot?
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Collaboration Drives the Snowball Effect ~$1M ► Successful past collaborations ► Timely
Joint GW Management Plan
communications
+ Public outreach Support + Modeling
$250K PCWA Northstar CSD TDPUD
~$250K
Effort
Lawrence Livermore National Lab (LLNL) radioactive isotope aging study
~$250K BoR/DRI
Climate change simulation overlay
~$250K
BoR/Desert Research Institute (Truckee River Basin Study integrated watershed modeling)
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Project Organization Water Purveyor Partnership
Brown & Caldwell GMP
Placer County Water Agency Northstar CSD Truckee Donner PUD
Stakeholder Groups
BoR/DRI Modeling + LLNL Model Support & Review
General Public Public Outreach for GMP
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The Public Outreach Mantra ► GMP
is multi-agency framework to ensure long-term quality & availability of water supply § Reflects current water resource planning § Alignment of groundwater policy
► GMP § § § § § §
is NOT:
Mandatory Confidential Regulations Enforcement of regulations Land use planning Zoning ordinances
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Public outreach critical factor in GMP development ► Stakeholder
Working group of 18 members ► Five SWG meetings, two public workshops ► Newsletters, news releases, www.martisValleyGMP.org ► Email updates to interested public
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BC used DRI’s PRMS raw data to develop recharge maps Wet year 1995
Average Annual (1983-2011)
Dry year 1988
Unlike water balance methods, PRMS data provides insight to annual variability – but supports previous water balance study
PRMS
From DRI
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GSFLOW Model – Simulates Hydrologic Processes
From Markstrom et al., 2008
PRMS Integrated Watershed Model
From Markstrom et al., 2008 46
Groundwater Management is SIMPLE • • • • • •
Sustainable long-term aquifer yields Integrated water resources management Maintenance of ecosystems Protection of groundwater quality Large storage volume utilization Equitable and Ethical
The Source Magazine View article at: http://bit.ly/2dytvnj
Thank You! WaterWired blog: http://www.waterwired.org WaterWired Twitter: http://twitter.com/waterwired @waterwired “W dry we -
“When the well is dry we know the worth of water.” - Ben Franklin (?)
