Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2004OK29B

Springs in Time: Comparison of Present and Historical Flows

Institute: Oklahoma
Year Established: 2004 Start Date: 2004-03-01 End Date: 2005-08-31
Total Federal Funds: $50,000 Total Non-Federal Funds: $105,348

Principal Investigators: Aondover Tarhule, Elizabeth Bergey

Project Summary: Groundwater is an important commodity in Oklahoma, with extensive use by agriculture, industry, municipalities, and private landowners. Recently regional plans have been developed to further tap aquifers and streams for water sales to distant municipalities. This poses a risk to maintenance of minimum stream flows to protect stream invertebrate communities. This study will determine whether spring discharge in each of five aquifers is being impacted by groundwater mining and document the faunal biodiversity of Oklahoma springs that are at risk from groundwater mining based on historical and predicted future trends.