Streamflow depletion by wells--Understanding and managing the effects of groundwater pumping on streamflow

Abstract

Groundwater provides drinking water for millions of Americans and is the primary source of water to irrigate cropland in many of the Nation's most productive agricultural regions. Withdrawals in many aquifers throughout the United States have led to significant groundwater-level declines, resulting in growing concerns about sustainability and higher pumping costs. The U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Groundwater Resources Program has been instrumental in documenting groundwater declines and in developing groundwater-flow models for use in sustainably managing withdrawals. Groundwater withdrawals also can lead to a reduction in streamflow, affecting both human uses and ecosystems. The first clear articulation of the effects of groundwater pumping on surface water was by the well-known USGS hydrologist C.V. Theis. In a paper published in 1940 entitled "The Source of Water Derived from Wells," Theis pointed out that pumped groundwater initially comes from reductions in aquifer storage. As pumping continues, the effects of groundwater withdrawals can spread to distant connected streams, lakes, and wetlands through decreased rates of discharge from the aquifer to these surface-water systems. In some settings, increased rates of aquifer recharge also occur in response to pumping, including recharge from the connected surface-water features. Associated with this decrease in groundwater discharge to surface waters is an increased rate of aquifer recharge. Pumping-induced increased inflow to and decreased outflow from an aquifer is now called "streamflow depletion" or "capture." Groundwater discharge is a significant component of streamflow, with groundwater contributing as much as 90 percent of annual streamflow volume in some parts of the country. In order to effectively manage the entire water resource for multiple competing uses, hydrologists and resource managers must understand the effects (magnitude, timing, and locations) of groundwater pumping on rivers, streams, springs, wetlands, and groundwater-dependent vegetation. This circular, developed as part of the USGS Groundwater Resources Program, presents concepts relating to streamflow depletion, methods for quantifying depletion, and common misconceptions regarding depletion. Approaches for monitoring, understanding, and managing streamflow depletion also are described. The report is written for a wide audience interested in the development, management, and protection of the Nation's water resources. The Groundwater Resources Program provides objective scientific information and develops the interdisciplinary understanding necessary to assess and quantify the availability of the Nation's groundwater resources. Detailed assessments of regional aquifers have been completed in seven of the Nation's major aquifers, with several additional assessments ongoing or planned. The research and understanding developed through this program for issues such as streamflow depletion can provide the Nation's water-resource managers with the tools and information needed to manage thi...

Simulation of groundwater and surface-water flow in the upper Deschutes Basin, Oregon

“…This is of particular interest in areas where existing and potential future pumping stresses are close to gaining streams and spring complexes. Wells can diminish streamflow by inducing additional leakage from the stream to the aquifer in areas of losing streams, or by intercepting groundwater moving toward gaining streams and springs (Barlow and Leake, 2012). The latter process is more likely in the upper Deschutes Basin.…”

“…A thorough summary of streamflow depletion by wells discussing these factors is provided by Barlow and Leake (2012). The effects of well depth on pumping impacts in the upper Deschutes Basin are explored by Gannett and Lite (2004).…”

Hydrogeological framework, numerical simulation of groundwater flow, and effects of projected water use and drought for the Beaver-North Canadian River alluvial aquifer, northwestern Oklahoma

“…Stream base flow is defined in Barlow and Leake (2012) as the flow of groundwater into streams through the streambed. A gaining stream receives base flow, and a losing stream loses streamflow through infiltration to an aquifer.…”

Assessing the resiliency of surface water and groundwater systems under groundwater pumping

“…Groundwater is an important source of water for various needs, including public supply, agriculture, and industry (Barlow and Leake, 2012;Sankarasubramanian et al, 2017). As the demand for groundwater use continues to rise with increasing population, groundwater resources are depleting faster than they can be replenished (Gleeson et al, 2012).…”

“…Regardless of the type of simulation model (i.e., a groundwater model alone, or a coupled surface water and groundwater modeling approach), studies (Kendy and Bredehoeft, 2006;Zume and Tarhule, 2007;Barlow and Leake, 2012;Garner et al, 2013) primarily focused on estimating 10 the equilibrium state -a steady state having reduced streamflow and groundwater storageinduced by "continuous/periodic" pumping series. Further, transient groundwater withdrawal under a drought can cause adverse impacts such as depletions in streamflow and groundwater storage (Barlow and Leake, 2012;Garner et al, 2013).…”