Water balance between surface water and groundwater in the withdrawal process: a case study of the Osceola watershed

Abstract

A generalized hierarchical approach with a water balance function is introduced to simulate stream-flow depletion in a complex groundwater system in Osceola County. The groundwater flow system at the site, because of the complex interaction between ambient streams, exhibits a unique multi-scale pattern that proves to be difficult to simulate using standard modelling tools. The hierarchical modelling system was first calibrated to water level measurements collected from monitoring wells. Afterwards, systematic hierarchical simulations and integrated water budget analyses were performed to evaluate the adverse resource impact of the ongoing water withdrawal. The multi-scale process-based results from this generic hierarchical modelling system provided critical storage and flux information that can be used to comprehensively assess the pros and cons of water resource development and management, such as artificial water withdrawal.

The Metacoupling Framework Informs Stream Salmonid Management and Governance

“…For instance, the majority of Groundwater Council members (77%, n = 20; Supplementary Table S5) stated that groundwater withdrawal decisions should account for individual streams and their connections across aquifers and watersheds (i.e., intracouplings and pericouplings), linkages whereby groundwater extraction can affect hydrology of non-target streams (Hughes, 2006). Such intracoupling-and pericoupling-scale governance corresponds with scales at which groundwater modeling and aquifer recharge occur in the study area (Waco and Taylor, 2010;Li et al, 2015;Papadopulos & Associates, Inc, 2016), suggesting a metacoupling "winwin" scenario wherein governance preferences and hydrological phenomena are spatially aligned. However, this is not always the case.…”

“…In addition,ITAS data were partitioned into "members" and "non-members" of stream salmonid angling groups (i.e., Michigan Trout Unlimited, Anglers of the Au Sable, Federation of Fly Fishers), enabling assessment of attitudinal and behavioral differences (e.g., stream selection factors, preferred fishing regulations and tackle, salmonid management opinions) between these different "agents" of angling. Overall, findings from our groundwater, land-use, and stream temperature modeling (Waco and Taylor, 2010), Groundwater Council interviews (Hughes, 2006), and the ITAS (Carlson and Zorn, 2018) were integrated with other information sources (e.g., Li et al, 2015 [USGS], 2020a,b) using the metacoupling framework to identify ecologically and socially balanced strategies for groundwater governance and salmonid management. These balanced, metacoupled strategies were defined as those that holistically integrate environmental and human information across spatial scales and account for potential social-ecological trade-offs in groundwater and fisheries decision-making.…”

“…In Chippewa Creek, a baseflow decline of 0.0110 m 3 /s (173 gpm) reduced surface water levels by 3.7 cm. Research suggests that these hydrological changes have not altered salmonid thermal habitat quality, which is considered excellent in both streams and characterized by water temperatures and depths that are cold and deep enough to withstand 0.91 • C warming and a 9.8 cm water level decline (Waco and Taylor, 2010;Wesener, 2010;Li et al, 2015;Papadopulos & Associates, Inc, 2016).…”

“…[USGS], 2020a,b), discharge has remained relatively consistent beyond expected daily and seasonal fluctuations (Supplementary Figures S1, S2), suggesting minimal impacts of recent groundwater extraction on stream hydrology and salmonid thermal habitats. Intracoupled flows of fish (e.g., movement within Twin and Chippewa creeks) have been largely unaffected by groundwater withdrawal and land-use change (Waco, 2009;Waco and Taylor, 2010;Li et al, 2015;Papadopulos & Associates, Inc, 2016;Michigan Department of Natural Resources [MDNR], 2019), yet human subsystems in Twin and Chippewa creeks are marked by controversy over groundwater withdrawal. In particular, local anglers and landowners claim to have observed local reductions in stream water levels, salmonid abundance, and angling quality due to groundwater withdrawal since 2006, and they feel victimized by a groundwater governance process that has overlooked their ecological and recreational concerns about groundwater extraction (Hughes, 2006; Department of Environment Great Lakes and Energy [DEGLE], 2017).…”

“…Although Twin and Chippewa creeks each have intracoupled flows of water, information, fish, people, and money, the adjacency of these streams permits between-system, pericoupled flows (Figure 2). For instance, water moves between the streams via surface, hyporheic, and groundwater flows; salmonids and other fishes move naturally between the streams; and people (e.g., anglers, landowners, tourists) move between the watersheds, often causing additional flows of money and information ( Table 1; O'Neal, 1997;Li et al, 2015;Advanced Ecological Management [AEM], 2016;Papadopulos & Associates, Inc, 2016;Carlson and Zorn, 2018; Michigan Department of Natural Resources [MDNR], 2019). In addition, groundwater withdrawal generates pericoupled economic contributions, including 634 jobs and $71.9 million in total economic activity in the five-county region surrounding Twin and Chippewa creeks ( Table 2; Public Sector Consultants [PSC], 2017).…”