Water Level Decline in White Bear Lake, Minnesota – USGS, in cooperation with the White Bear Lake Conservation District and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, relates historic lows in White Bear Lake to low precipitation and groundwater pumping for municipal use. (Read more…also highlighted in the USGS Minnesota Newsletter)

New Evapotranspiration (ET) website in Nevada - USGS hydrologists typically measure evapotranspiration (ET) to help quantify water budgets. (Evapotranspiration (ET) is the process that transfers water from land surface to the atmosphere as evaporation (or sublimation when below freezing) from open water, soil, and plant canopies and as transpiration by plants.) Developing accurate water budgets for a basin or region improves our understanding of ground-water flow systems. The Nevada Water Science Center has developed a web site (in progress) to consolidate information about ET. ET rates have been measured by USGS hydrologists in Nevada since the early 1960’s. A clickable map shows locations where ET rates have been measured, allowing immediate access to data, photos, and location information.

Groundwater availability in the mountain valleys of Idaho - On April 10, USGS, in cooperation with Blaine County, Idaho, will release a report and press release on groundwater resources in the mountainous Wood River Valley supporting Blaine County and the cities of Sun Valley, Ketchum, Hailey, and Bellevue, Idaho.  The entire population of the area depends on groundwater for domestic supply, either from domestic or municipal-supply wells. Rapid population growth since the 1970s has caused concern about the long-term sustainability of the groundwater resource.  USGS data and interpretations about the water resources of the Wood River Valley enable county and local governments to make informed decisions about water resources to meet future needs. (Read more)

Projecting groundwater declines through 2037 in eastern Arkansas - USGS, in cooperation with the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission, released a report and developed a groundwater-flow model that evaluates changes in water-level altitudes from potential future pumping from the Sparta aquifer in the Bayou Meto-Grand Prairie area of eastern Arkansas for the 30-year period from 2007 through 2037. (View a short animation of water level decline from the USGS youtube page
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v12i04psF2c).

Reservoir storage losses in Kansas - USGS, in cooperation with the Kansas Water Office, showed that two federal reservoirs in Kansas, which serve as a water supply to more than a third of the States’ population, have been losing significant amounts of water storage capacity because of sedimentation. At least 95 percent of the sediment that flowed into Kanopolis Lake and Tuttle Creek reservoirs stayed in those reservoirs from October 2008 through September 2010. Kanopolis and Tuttle Creek reservoirs were built more than 50 years ago for water storage, flood control and recreation. USGS findings are expected to help the Kansas Water Office, which helps coordinate water planning in Kansas with the Kansas Water Authority, evaluate how best to manage sediment and slow down sedimentation in the reservoirs. (USGS Report; Press release; Article)

A switch to river water allows aquifer to recharge in Albuquerque, New Mexico - USGS monitoring in New Mexico, in concert with the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority, shows that river water use is allowing the aquifer underlying Albuquerque to recharge. A total of 15 of 18 USGS groundwater monitoring wells show rising water levels after years of decline. The aquifer recovery is consistent with a USGS study done before the switch to river water began, about 3 years ago, which concluded the water table would rise 25 feet or more across Albuquerque’s Northeast Heights as holes left by past pumping fill in.  The drinking water project by the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority uses water imported into the Rio Grande Basin via dams and a pipeline from the headwaters of the San Juan River in the mountains of southern Colorado.

Managing aquifer recharge from a Utah reservoir - USGS, in cooperation with Utah’s Washington County Water Conservancy District, assessed the quantity and quality of groundwater recharge from the Sand Hollow Reservoir, which was completed in 2002 and operated primarily for managed aquifer recharge. Impacts of surface-water diversions, groundwater pumping, and French drains on the timing, quality, and location of recharge to the underlying Navajo Sandstone aquifer were evaluated from 2002 through 2009. From 2002 through 2009, about 86,000 acre-feet of water seeped beneath the reservoir to recharge the underlying Navajo Sandstone aquifer. Findings showed that by 2010, this recharge arrived at monitoring wells within about 1,000 feet of the reservoir. (USGS report)

A Water Availability Tool for Environmental Resources (WATER) was developed by the USGS Kentucky Water Science Center in cooperation with the Kentucky Division of Water to provide a consistent and defensible method of estimating streamflow, water availability, and other hydrologic information in ungaged basins. WATER automatically incorporates and processes large amounts of basic and custom geospatial data to quantitatively describe topography, soil-water storage, climate, streamflow, and other parameters. WATER is also designed so that it can be expanded for other science and regulatory applications including, but not limited to, sediment and nutrient loads, evaluation of surface mining effects (Cumulative Hydrologic Impact Assessments), as well as flows that are necessary for ecological viability.

Ecological flows in the Tennessee and Cumberland River Basins, Tennessee - USGS research, done in collaboration with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, and the Tennessee chapter of The Nature Conservancy, was published in a journal article in Ecohydrology and shows modeled ecological flow regimes in the Tennessee and Cumberland River Basins. Predictive equations were developed for 19 ecologically relevant streamflow characteristics within five major groups of flow variables (magnitude, ratio, frequency, variability, and date) for use in the Tennessee and Cumberland River basins.

Irrigation use data for the Middle and Lower Chattahoochee and Flint River Basins, Georgia - USGS, in cooperation with the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission (Commission), released a report on the Georgia Agricultural Water Conservation and Metering Program. Since receiving jurisdiction from the State Legislature in June 2003 to implement the metering program, the Commission by year-end 2010 installed more than 10,000 annually read water meters and nearly 200 daily reporting, satellite-transmitted, telemetry sites on irrigation systems located primarily in southern Georgia. Geostatistical models facilitated estimation of irrigation water use for unmetered systems and demonstrated usefulness in redesigning the telemetry network.

Consumptive water use in irrigated agricultural settings in Central Colorado - Water management and determination of consumptive water use in irrigated agricultural settings depend on understanding factors such as surface-water diversions, groundwater withdrawals, evapotranspiration, tail-water runoff, and deep-percolation return flow of water beneath irrigated fields. To improve understanding of deep-percolation return flow beneath irrigated fields, USGS, in cooperation with the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District, conducted a study to estimate deep-percolation return flow at two irrigated sites in the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District during the 2008 and 2009 irrigation seasons.

 Water-use conservation scenarios in the Mississippi Delta in northwestern Mississippi – USGS, in cooperation with the Yazoo Mississippi Delta Joint Water Management District, developed conservation scenarios for the alluvial aquifer underlying the Delta region in northwestern Mississippi to assess where the implementation of water-conservation efforts would have the greatest effect on future water availability. The Mississippi River alluvial plain in northwestern Mississippi (referred to as the Delta), once a floodplain to the Mississippi River covered with hardwoods and marshland, is now a highly productive agricultural region of large economic importance to Mississippi. Water for irrigation is supplied primarily by the Mississippi River Valley alluvial aquifer, and although the alluvial aquifer has a large reserve, there is evidence that the current rate of water use from the alluvial aquifer is not sustainable.

Predicted effects of groundwater irrigation on stream flow in the Elkhorn and Loup River Basins, Nebraska - USGS, in cooperation with the Lewis and Clark, Lower Elkhorn, Lower Loup, Lower Platte North, Lower Niobrara, Middle Niobrara, Upper Elkhorn, and Upper Loup Natural Resources Districts, simulated groundwater underlying a 30,000-square-mile area of the High Plains aquifer (referred to collectively as the Elkhorn-Loup Model) to help estimate the effects of groundwater irrigation on stream base flow in the Elkhorn and Loup River Basins, Nebraska. Simulations described the stream-aquifer system from predevelopment through 2005 and future hypothetical development conditions (2006 through 2033 or 2055). Predicted changes to stream base flow that result from groundwater irrigation help in the development of strategies for water-supply management. (USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2010-5149)

Groundwater flow and interactions with rivers and streams in the Yakima River Basin, Washington - USGS, in cooperation with the Washington State Department of Ecology, the Yakama Nation, and the Bureau of Reclamation, released a report and the first comprehensive groundwater flow model for the entire Yakima River. The new computer model simulates the groundwater system and its interaction with rivers and streams, incorporating information on hydrogeology, pumping, recharge, and flow, and integrating groundwater resource assessments done over the past 12 years. Some of this information was released in a series of earlier reports, and this thirteenth report in the series documents the model and various scenarios simulating conjunctive management of groundwater and surface-water resources. (Press release, September 2011)

New methods for measuring reservoir storage capacity and sedimentation in Santa Cruz, California - A new report, done in cooperation with the City of Santa Cruz, presents a method of measuring the storage capacity and sedimentation of Loch Lomond Reservoir, Santa Cruz and shows promise to help water managers more effectively assess changes in water-storage capacity in similar basins with steep, narrow drainages in mountainous terrain. The method employs a combination of bathymetric scanning using multibeam-sidescan sonar, and topographic surveying using laser scanning. The techniques employed in the study help improve understanding of the quantitative effects of increased sedimentation rates on reservoir storage capacity. Understanding the resulting reductions in storage capacity can also help water managers more effectively adjust storage dynamically to prevent flooding.

Sustaining high quality fresh groundwater on the islands of Hawai`i  - Two USGS reports were released that assess current and future groundwater sustainability in freshwater-lens systems overlying saline coastal waters in the islands of Hawai`I, controlled in large part of volcanic rocks that form the aquifers. Specifically, USGS, in cooperation with the County of Maui Department of Water Supply, released a report and model of groundwater flow and effects on saline transport in the freshwater lens underlying West Maui under different pumping scenarios through 2030. Because of population growth, groundwater withdrawals from wells in this area are expected to double by 2030, which has led to concern over unpalatable saline waters and the long-term sustainability of withdrawals from existing and proposed wells.  USGS, in cooperation with the Honolulu Board of Water Supply, released a report on the availability of freshwater in the heavily used Pearl Harbor aquifer in southern O`ahu, Salinity profiles are collected from wells that penetrate the freshwater lens into underlying saltwater to monitor changes in the freshwater-lens thickness.

Tracking Flow in the Rio Grande, North-Central New Mexico, 2010 - USGS, in cooperation with the Coalition of Six Middle Rio Grande Basin Pueblos, conducted a comprehensive survey and released a report on numerous models developed by Federal, State, and local agencies in New Mexico to simulate, understand, and (or) manage flows in the Middle Rio Grande upstream from Elephant Butte Reservoir.  The six Middle Rio Grande Pueblos have prior and paramount rights to deliveries of water from the Rio Grande for their use. The survey of hydrologic models will help water-resource managers at the Pueblos and the Bureau of Indian Affairs Designated Engineer make informed water-resource-management decisions that affect water use. Analysis of 4 publicly available surface-water models and 13 publicly available groundwater models shows that, although elements from many models can be helpful in tracking flow in the Rio Grande, numerous data gaps and modeling needs indicate that accurate, consistent, and timely tracking of flow on the Rio Grande could be improved.

New web site highlights water availability projects in Louisiana – Learn more about Louisiana water use, groundwater resources in each of the Louisiana parishes, and wetland hydrology.

Water use in the Apalachicola- Chattahoochee-Flint River Basins, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida –  USGS, in cooperation with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, summarized water withdrawals, wastewater discharge, and water consumption in the 20,500 square mile basins. Total withdrawals were tracked for 35 years, from 1970 through 2005. (USGS report)

Groundwater Flow in the Arbuckle-Simpson Aquifer, South-Central Oklahoma  - USGS, in cooperation with the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, Bureau of Reclamation, Oklahoma State University, and the University of Oklahoma, characterized the hydrogeology and simulated groundwater flow in the Arbuckle-Simpson aquifer to help determine the volume of water that could be withdrawn while protecting springs and streams. The Arbuckle-Simpson aquifer provides water for public supply, farms, mining, wildlife conservation, recreation, and scenic beauty. (USGS report)

StreamStats is a Web-based Geographic Information System (GIS) that allows users to easily obtain streamflow statistics, drainage-basin characteristics, and other information for user-selected sites on streams. The national system is supported by the USGS Office of Surface Water; separate applications have been established for many States, often in cooperation with State agencies through the Cooperative Water Program. As of October 2011, StreamStats was available to the public (fully implemented) for 26 states – Alabama (partial), California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland (partial), Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico (partial), New York, North Carolina (partial), Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, and Washington. The application also was undergoing quality assurance in preparation for public release in South Dakota and Rhode Island.   Plans for fiscal year 2012 include completing state-wide implementation of Alabama, Maryland, Rhode Island, and North Carolina, and implementing five new states - Arkansas, Arizona, Mississippi, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. In addition, updates to regression equations and/or supporting GIS datasets will be made to the applications for Hawaii, Kentucky, Maryland, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, and Washington.  Map shows StreamStats for North Carolina, developed in cooperation with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT).

Stream flow gains and losses in the Salt Basin, southeastern New Mexico – A USGS report, done in cooperation with the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission, estimates mean-annual streamflow for selected channels in the Salt Basin, southeastern New Mexico. As much as 57 million acre-feet of groundwater may be stored in the subsurface of the New Mexico part of the Salt Basin in southern Otero County, New Mexico. Recharge to a system such as the Salt Basin aquifer can result largely from focused recharge of surface water in channels and at mountain fronts.

Groundwater conditions throughout Utah— USGS, in collaboration with the Utah Department of Natural Resources, Division of Water Resources and Division of Water Rights and the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Water Quality, describe groundwater conditions throughout Utah, published in a Cooperative Investigations Report (no. 51). This report includes maps depicting comparisons of 30-year changes (1980 to 2010) in water levels for each of the major areas of groundwater development. Groundwater chemistry associated with water samples collected from each area of groundwater development were compared to State of Utah maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) and secondary drinking-water standards of routinely measureable substances present in water supplies.

Groundwater recharge to aquifers in northern Arizona - A USGS report, done in cooperation with the Arizona Department of Water Resources and Yavapai County, simulated how recharge from rainfall and snowmelt moves through the region's aquifers and eventually provides water to rivers, streams, and springs, and wells. The model (referred to as the "Northern Arizona Regional Groundwater-Flow Model”) was developed as a tool for communities and water managers to better understand the possible long-term effects of future groundwater use on aquifers and connected watercourses.

Regional and local withdrawals in a fractured-bedrock groundwater system in Northern Wake County, North Carolina – USGS, in cooperation with the Wake County Department of Environmental Services, released a study on the effects of dewatering a fractured-bedrock aquifer on privately owned wells and monitoring wells in a localized area of east-central North Carolina, which were intermittently dry. Although the study itself was localized in nature, the resulting water-resources data and information produced from the study will help enable resource managers to make sound water-supply and water-use decisions in similar crystalline-rock aquifer setting in parts of the Piedmont and Blue Ridge Physiographic Provinces.

Low-flow statistics for unregulated streams in Kentucky – A USGS study, done in collaboration with the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, Division of Water, provides estimates of, and presents methods for estimating, selected low-flow frequency statistics for unregulated streams in Kentucky.

Streamflow statistics for selected streams in Pennsylvania and surrounding States -  A USGS report, done in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, presents updated streamflow statistics for 526 USGS continuous-record streamgages in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, and Ohio using data collected through 2008.

Seasonal streamflow statistics for unregulated streams in West Virginia - A USGS report, done in cooperation with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Water and Waste Management, estimates seasonal low-flow frequency values for unregulated streams in West Virginia

Statewide estimates on withdrawals and return flows in Vermont and New Hampshire– USGS, in cooperation with New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services and the Vermont Geological Survey, projected 2020 water use for each state. Data, available online, were collected and evaluated at the census-block level and have been aggregated by county, town (MCD), and 12-digit hydrologic unit (watershed). 

Water budgets for abandoned underground mines in Pennsylvania - A USGS report, prepared in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation, and the Dauphin County Conservation District, provides estimates of water budgets and groundwater volumes stored in abandoned underground mines in the Western Middle Anthracite Coalfield, which encompasses an area of 120 square miles in eastern Pennsylvania.

Allocated and projected effects of groundwater withdrawals in Gloucester and Northeastern Salem Counties, New Jersey -  USGS, in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, released a report that demonstrates simulated effects of allocated and projected (2025) withdrawals from the Potomac-Raritan-Magothy Aquifer system, a principal source for water supplies in Gloucester and Northeastern Salem Counties, New Jersey.  Groundwater levels have declined in response to pumping. With increased population growth and development expected in Gloucester County and parts of Salem County over the next 2 decades (2005–2025), withdrawals from these aquifers also are expected to increase. Increased withdrawals also have threatened saline intrusion and the potability of groundwater supplies derived from the Potomac-Raritan-Magothy aquifer system in the study area. Particle tracking was used to define groundwater flow paths, and a budget analysis of the withdrawal zones was conducted to assess the movement of saline water and the likelihood of continued saltwater intrusion.