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Judy A. Reeves, Ph.D. Hydrogeologist, High Plains Water District Ken Rainwater, Ph.D., P.E., DEE

Management Application: Volume of Water in Storage (An Ogallala Example with Applicability to All Aquifers in Texas). Judy A. Reeves, Ph.D. Hydrogeologist, High Plains Water District Ken Rainwater, Ph.D., P.E., DEE Director, Water Resources Center Texas Tech University.

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Judy A. Reeves, Ph.D. Hydrogeologist, High Plains Water District Ken Rainwater, Ph.D., P.E., DEE

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  1. Management Application:Volume of Water in Storage(An Ogallala Example with Applicability to All Aquifers in Texas) Judy A. Reeves, Ph.D. Hydrogeologist, High Plains Water District Ken Rainwater, Ph.D., P.E., DEE Director, Water Resources Center Texas Tech University

  2. Storage Volumes: Calculation Methods • Planimeter method • Mass balance • GIS • MODFLOW (or other) models • GAM model with GIS

  3. Texas Tech Modflow Model • Pre-GAM model for Region O • Contract stipulated high calibration standards, variable Sy • Emphasized distribution of pumping and irrigation return flow (IRF) • High recharge values attributed to IRF • Reported unmet demands • Dry cell problem

  4. LERWPG “Cedar Pencil Model” • Areas between contour lines on saturated thickness map by planimeter • Multiplied area by mean saturated thickness, Sy = 0.15 • Accurate for year mapped • Unable to project into the future

  5. GAM Run 03-22 • Steady-state model • Predevelopment conditions (1940) • Calibrate hydraulic conductivity and recharge • Transient model • Built on steady-state calibration • Uniform pumping distribution on irrigated lands • Refined calibration mainly through enhanced recharge (both irrigated and nonirrigated lands) • Margins of model domain have many dry or flooded cells

  6. GAM Run 04-05 • Used new demand numbers approved by the TWDB in Sept 2003 • No recalibration of previous GAM model

  7. Mass Balance • Not a hydrologic model • Annual volumetric calculations • Begin with initial storage volume • Subtract new demand volumes • Add average recharge

  8. Water managers selling volumes to their constituents ….

  9. Data Gaps • Recharge • Pump distribution • Specific yield • Base of aquifer

  10. Recharge Issues • Predevelopment or without cultivation • Regional values <0.5 in/yr • Playa lakes focus recharge • Model calibration • Pre-GAM model for 1985-95 • <0.5 in/yr in uncultivated lands • Average 2.75 in/yr in irrigated, cultivated lands • Also calibrated pumpage distribution • GAM runs • Calibrated recharge, but not pumpage distribution

  11. Recharge Issues • Need for field observations • Know • Winter depth to water (-> saturated thickness) • Crop patterns • Need • Local withdrawal estimates • Local precipitation measurements • Find • Combination of recharge and IRF

  12. Pumping Distribution • Greatest uncertainty in planning process • Irrigation estimates for maximum yield tend to be much larger than actual • Metering underway in several conservation districts • Some IRF needed to flush salts • Withdrawal will cease when saturated thickness gets too small

  13. Specific Yield • Original estimates from Knowles et al. (1984) field and modeling work • Range 0.08 < Sy < 0.24 • Relatively insensitive for head calibration over long periods • Directly proportional to storage volume • Can be refined if recharge, IRF, and withdrawals are precise

  14. Base of Aquifer Map • Thousands of well logs for dataset • Occasional debate about pick for aquifer bottom • Ogallala/Cretaceous • Ogallala/Dockum • GIS tools allow easier review of data • Bottom topography affects flow

  15. Conclusions • Groundwater management plans accept uncertainties • Uncertainties can be tested and refined with modern modeling techniques • Model results must be compared to real data • Real data drive refinement of the modeling tools

  16. Recommendations • Local involvement with process • Local districts and landowners are closest to local storage and production data • Large production areas can be broken down into understandable pieces • Interaction with modelers • Critical review of model results • Refinement of calibrated parameters

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