San Antonio Creek Groundwater Availability Project

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1 San Antonio Creek Groundwater Availability Project David O Leary, Claudia Faunt, and Matt Landon California Water Science Center U.S. Geological Survey March 25, 2015

2 Presentation Outline 2 USGS overview and project staff Project objectives Project Tasks New monitoring sites/wells Groundwater level monitoring Streamflow monitoring Groundwater/surface-water flux measurements Groundwater and surface-water chemistry Analysis Recharge estimates Integrated hydrologic model Estimated timeline Questions

of earth, physical, and life sciences Established in 1879 based on four

3 What is the U.S. Geological Survey? The science bureau of the Department of the Interior Unique combination of earth, physical, and life sciences Established in 1879 based on four previous western surveys in the tradition of Lewis & Clark Today, conducts surveys, investigations, and research 3

4 U.S. Geological Survey Mission: Serve the Nation by providingreliable scientific information to support efforts to: Describe and understand the earth; Minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; Manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources; Enhance and protect our quality of life 4

5 USGS PRIMARY PROJECT STAFF: Claudia Faunt: Supervisory Hydrologist; PhD, P.E. Matt Landon: Supervisory Hydrologist; MS David O Leary: Hydrologist; MS, P.G. Donald Sweetkind: Geologist; PhD John Traum: Hydrologist; MS, P.E. 5

6 Selected Recent Similar Studies Central Valley Aquifer, California Santa Rosa Plain Watershed, California Cuyama Valley, California

7 Study Area 7

8 Pre-development water levels (1943) (Martin, 1985) 8

9 Generalized Stratigraphic Section (Martin, 1985) (Dibleeet al., 1994) Cross section through geologic framework model 9

10 Project Objectives (1)Refine the geohydrologic framework of the San Antonio Creek Valley, (2)Quantify the hydrologic budget of the valley, and (3)Develop hydrologic and geohydrologic tools to evaluate, analyze, and manage the groundwater resources, including identification of optimum recharge areas. 10

11 Project Tasks (1) Data compilation (2)New data acquisition Drilling and monitoring well installation Increase groundwater level monitoring network Install stream gages Instrumentation for groundwater/surface-water interaction Groundwater chemistry sampling (3) Analysis and model development Analysis and development of recharge estimates Integrated hydrologic and geohydrologic model (3) Analysis of water availability (4) Report preparation and website 11

12 Existing Data Compilation 64 foot decline 117 foot decline 42 foot decline 44 foot decline 61 foot decline 12

13 Collection of New Hydrologic Data Drilling and monitoring well installation Expand groundwater level monitoring network Stream gage installation Instrumentation for groundwater/surface-water

13 13 Collection of New Hydrologic Data Drilling and monitoring well installation Expand groundwater level monitoring network Stream gage installation Instrumentation for groundwater/surface-water interaction Groundwater chemistry sampling Note: Cooperation of local residents will be instrumental in the success of these tasks, particularly access to wells, streams, and right of ways for shallow drilling/augering

Drilling and new monitoring wells Up to eight shallow monitoring wells drilled using auger methods Situated close to deeper wells currently monitored for water levels and stream gages Monitor

14 Drilling and new monitoring wells Up to eight shallow monitoring wells drilled using auger methods Situated close to deeper wells currently monitored for water levels and stream gages Monitor water-level gradients between surface water, shallow groundwater, and deeper groundwater Two multiple-well monitoring sites drilled using mud-rotary methods Los Alamos (~1,000 ft) Harris Canyon (~600 ft) 14

15 15 New wells installed for monitoring Two multiple-well and eight shallow monitoring wells

16 Multiple-well sites Two multiple-well monitoring sites drilled using mud-rotary methods Los Alamos (~1,000 ft) Harris Creek (~600 ft) 16

17 Observation Well -Cuyama Example Foothill Road Multiple-Well Monitoring Site 17

18 Groundwater Levels Currently, yearly water levels monitored in about 30 wells. About 15 wells to be added to existing network. Frequency of measurements to be increased to quarterly. 18

19 Streamflow Gaging Casmalia Proposed Los Alamos 19

20 Streamflow Gaging Existing gage on San Antonio Creek at Los Alamos (11135800) Re-establishment of gage on San Antonio Creek near Casmalia (on VAFB) in

20 20 Streamflow Gaging Existing gage on San Antonio Creek at Los Alamos ( ) Re-establishment of gage on San Antonio Creek near Casmalia (on VAFB) in November 2014 (last operated in 2003) New gage proposed on Harris Creek Heat-dissipation probes to be installed to monitor vertical shallow movement of recharge.

21 21 Groundwater / Surface-water Flux

22 Streambed Electrical Resistance Sensors (SERS) About 25 sensors proposed Measure streamflow duration using an electrical resistance sensor Mounted on metal T-post Temporary installation 22

23 Streambed Electrical Resistance Sensors (SERS) 23

24 Groundwater / Surface-water Flux Infiltrometer tests Double-ring infiltrometer Measurement of surficial infiltration rates in streambed Combined with streamflow duration information 24

25 Water Chemistry Sampling Existing groundwater chemistry quality data collected from existing wells (includes historical and GAMA). To be augmented with data from newly installed wells and existing wells added to the network plus surface-water samples. 25

Analyses: Major ions & salinity Selected trace elements (including arsenic, iron,

26 Water Chemistry Sampling Groundwater chemistry used to identify regional flow patterns and rates. Analyses: Major ions & salinity Selected trace elements (including arsenic, iron, manganese, molybdenum) Nutrients Combustible gases (including methane) Oxygen & hydrogen isotopes Strontium isotopes 26 Age dating (tritium and carbon)

Significant variability in precipitation which can

different methods/models for estimating recharge

Models PRMS, BCM, INFIL Hydrochemical data Field

for optimal recharge 27 Present Possible future

27 Significant variability in precipitation which can lead to highly variable recharge Comparison of different methods/models for estimating recharge Analytical/Empirical methods surface water fluxes Models PRMS, BCM, INFIL Hydrochemical data Field data Analysis of geologic and hydrologic conditions for optimal recharge 27 Present Possible future sites Analysis and Development of Recharge Estimates From other USGS Studies

Integrated Hydrologic and MODFLOW with Farm Processes (Schmid and Hanson, 2014) Geohydrologic Model Finite Difference Integrated Hydrologic Model Three

28 Integrated Hydrologic and MODFLOW with Farm Processes (Schmid and Hanson, 2014) Geohydrologic Model Finite Difference Integrated Hydrologic Model Three dimensional representation of aquifer(s) and zones Simulates recharge, evapotranspiration, flow to wells, flow through different zones (Sweetkind et al., 2013) 28

29 Hydrologic Analysis Central Valley Example 29

30 Hydrologic Analysis Central Valley Example 30

31 Estimated Timeline Project approval: Fall, 2014 Project kickoff: Fall, 2014 Existing data compilation: Drill dedicated observation wells and auger holes: Expand water level and water quality monitoring network: Testing of hydraulic properties: Groundwater model development: Analysis and report, project complete:

32 Questions?

ABSTRACT & POWERPOINT PRESENTATION

ABSTRACT & POWERPOINT PRESENTATION Design, Construction, and Use of Instrumented Boreholes and DC Resistivity Surveys to Measure Artificial Recharge in Thick Unsaturated Zones, Antelope Valley, California