Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 1999. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 91-95). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

Groundwater flow in alluvial valleys consists of two components, baseflow and underflow. The baseflow component of the Darcy flux flows normal to the river and contributes to the surface flow. The underflow component moves downstream in the same direction as the river but at a much slower rate. Underflow is important in Texas because the conjunctive use of groundwater and surface water is regulated by controlling the diversion of underflow by wells. Land owners in Texas are legally entitled to unrestricted use of the underground water beneath their property. Stream underflow, however, has been expressly excluded from the definition of underground water. The distinction is important because it allows the State to legally restrict the non-domestic pumpage of groundwater (in an "underflow zone") near streams. Regulators are interested in controlling pumpage near rivers in order to prevent streamflow depletion. Historically, the underflow exemption has not been well recognized by the courts. In large measure, this may be due to the fact that our understanding of underflow in alluvial valleys is incomplete. If the underflow rule is to be successfully implemented, a complete understanding of the nature and occurrence of underflow is imperative. This study was initiated to: 1) determine the hydrogeologic factors that control underflow (and baseflow) in alluvial valley aquifers in Texas and the United States; and 2) to examine the suitability of the underflow criterion as a management tool for the prevention of streamflow depletion by wells. To accomplish this, a data base of 23 alluvial river basins was compiled and a 3-dimensional digital model of a hypothetical alluvial valley aquifer was constructed. Examples from the data base indicate that alluvial aquifers can be classified into three types based on the predominant regional groundwater flow direction: baseflow-dominated, underflow-dominated, and mixed flow. Flow patterns can be transient, however, and respond rapidly to changing river stage if the aquifer and the riverbed are highly permeable. Therefore, the distinction must be made between local, transient underflow and baseflow occurring near the river and regional, steady state underflow and baseflow away from the river. Underflow dominated aquifers are found in classic bedload depositional settings which are characterized by high channel gradient, high width to depth ratio, low channel sinuosity, and low river penetration. Linear regressions performed on the parameter values in the data base verify the validity of the data. The degree of correlation provides the basis for a method of estimating the predominant regional groundwater flow direction in an alluvial aquifer based on geomorphologic and morphometric data. The results from the digital model agree with the findings from the data base. Digital simulations indicate that the amount of underflow is directly related to the channel gradient, the amount of recharge, the aquifer hydraulic conductivity, and the streambed hydraulic conductivity. The riverbed hydraulic conductivity is the most critical hydraulic factor controlling the amount of underflow. The output from the model is 100 percent underflow at low values of riverbed permeability. Both the model results and published field data do not support the existence of a significant local "underflow zone" adjacent to rivers in large alluvial systems. Close to the river, the baseflow component may predominate even in regionally underflow-dominated systems due to the influence of high transverse valley gradients. There are many problems associated with the use of underflow as a management tool. The definition is vague and ambiguous. Underflow can be transient and spatially variable. Texas alluvial systems are baseflow dominated and there is probably no significant "underflow zone" near rivers. Lastly, the presence of underflow has been difficult to prove in court. It is the finding of this study that the underflow criterion is insufficient to prevent streamflow depletion by wells. The underflow rule in the Texas Water Code should be reconsidered, or perhaps abandoned, in favor of criteria that are more justifiable. / text

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The Upper San Pedro River aquifer in Southern Arizona has been modeled using MODFLOW several times. The current model improves upon previous models by switching stream packages, adding a third season to represent the summer monsoon, and thereby creating a seasonalized steady-state oscillatory model. Recharge was seasonalized using a method to develop seasonal recharge estimates using ratios of seasonal precipitation to seasonal actual or potential evapotranspiration (ET). Maximum ET was seasonalized according to estimates of riparian groundwater consumption by vegetation in the study area. The model was run with inputs of 80%, 100% and 120% of base values for recharge and maximum ET rates to assess the sensitivity of the groundwater system and river to the seasonal timing and quantity of recharge and ET. The greatest amount of baseflow, 47%, occurred during the wet winter season, 35% occurred during the dry summer, and 18% during the wet summer (monsoon) season.

In recent years, wireline temperature profiling methods have evolved to offer new insight into fractured rock hydrogeology. An important advance in temperature logging makes use of boreholes temporarily sealed with flexible impervious fabric liners so that the water column is static and effects of cross-connection are eliminated. For this project a characterization technique was developed based on combining fibre optic distributed temperatures sensing (DTS) with active heating within boreholes sealed with underground liners. DTS systems provide a temperature profiling method that offers improved temporal resolution when compared with wireline trolling based techniques. The ability to collect temperature profiles rapidly in time can improve understanding of transient processes. In this study the advantage of a sealed borehole environment for temperature investigations is demonstrated. Evidence for identifying active groundwater flow under natural gradient conditions using DTS heat pulse testing is presented through a comparison with high resolution geologic logging and hydraulic datasets.

<p>Results from this study enables a better understanding of groundwater surface water interactions in the TMG, particularly regarding aquatic ecosystems. It has also highlighted the necessity to do proper impact assessments before proceeding with bulk abstraction from this important aquifer. The results also demonstrated the importance of differentiating between real groundwater and non-groundwater discharge contributions to surface hydrology and where these interface areas are located.</p>

Hydrogeologists collect data through studies that originate from a diverse and growing set of instruments that measure, for example, geochemical constituents of surface and groundwater. Databases store and publish the collected data on the Web, and the volume of data is quickly increasing, which makes accessing data problematic and time consuming for individuals. One way to overcome this problem is to develop ontology to formally and explicitly represent the domain (e.g., contaminant hydrogeology) knowledge. Using OWL and RDF, contaminant hydrogeology ontology (CHO) is developed to manage hydrological spatial data for Georgia, USA. CHO is a conceptual computer model for the contaminant hydrogeology domain in which concepts (e.g. contaminant, aquifer) and their relationships (e.g. pollutes) are formerly and explicitly defined. Cyberinfrastructure for exposing CHO and datasets (i.e., CHKb) as Linked Data on the Web is developed. Cyberinfrastructure consists of storing, managing, querying, and visualizing CHKb that can be accessed from URL: cho.gsu.edu.

Isotopes and hydrochemistry were used to define groundwater flow systems and better understand the hydrogeological setting of the Karijini National Park within the Central Pilbara region, this study was initiated because of the near proximity of the Marandoo iron ore mine to the National Park. Based on the stable isotope composition of the water samples, two main groups of water can be identified. Groundwater is characterised by depleted δD and δ¹⁸O, suggesting no significant evaporation effect. Surface water on the other hand is more enriched in δD and δ¹⁸O due to evaporation. The relatively high concentration of Cl- compared to rainfall and depleted δD and δ¹⁸O values of groundwater indicate that recharge of the aquifers is occurring during intense rainfall events when rapid infiltration occurs. Evapotranspiration then acts to concentrate ionic species prior to recharge. The presence of CFCs in the groundwater indicates the presence of modern recharge water. Relationships between various ionic species has shown that infiltration through the Tertiary sequence and subsquent dissolution of carbonate minerals is main influence on increasing concentrations of Ca²⁺ , Mg²⁺ , HCO₃⁻ . The TDS concentration of the groundwater in the Marra-Mamba Iron Formation that hosts the Marandoo ore body is higher than most of the water bodies surrounding the mining area. This suggests that either significant chemical modification is occuring or it is recharged by different mechanisms to that of the Karijini groundwater. Relationships between the major ion concentration and catchment area, surficial Tertiary cover and distance between recharge and discharge were identified. The results show that the hydrochemistry of the water discharging at each location within the National Park can be justified by groundwater evolution within it’s own catchment.

The Hamersley Province, located approximately 1200 km north of Perth, Western Australia forms part of the southern Pilbara craton, an extensive area of Band Iron Formations (BIF). The area has a high economic significance due to several enrichment stages of the country rock (BIF) resulting in several large high-grade iron ore deposits. Mount Whaleback near Newman and Mount Tom Price are the largest deposits, where reserves have been estimated at 1400 Mt and 900 Mt respectively. These ore bodies have been quantified as being high grade resources at approximately 64 % iron, with a high lump to fines ratio, and low impurities. The Mount Tom Price ore body is a hematite-rich ore, associated with a variety of shale and some dolomitic units (MacLeod et al., 1963, MacLeod, 1966, Taylor et al., 2001, Morris, 1980). The local hydrogeology of the Mount Tom Price area involves two main aquifer systems. The Dales Gorge member of the Brockman Iron Formation with contributions from the upper mineralised section of Footwall zone make up the main semi confined aquifer within the area. The underlying low permeability Mount McRae Shale and Mount Sylvia Shale lithologies separate a secondary aquifer which is located within the Wittenoom Formation. A dewatering program within Mount Tom Price has been ongoing since installation in 1994. Within the open pit mining industry, pits depths are increasingly being deepened as the easily accessible surface ore has been removed. This involves excavating pit walls below the existing groundwater table, which can lead to instabilities within pit walls. Added to this is the timing and economic considerations which need to be accounted for in a working mine. As dewatering and depressurisation are pivotal to the extraction of ore resources below the groundwater table, there can often be considerable time pressures to maintain planned mine developments (Hall, 2003). The South East Prongs pit, located within the Mount Tom Price mine, holds some of the most valued low impurity, high grade hematite ore. Structurally the South East Prongs is unique as the deposit lies in the base of a steeply dipping double plunging syncline, intersected by the Southern Batter Fault which runs parallel in strike to the Turner Syncline. The current pit floor of South East Prongs is located at 600 mRL. The long term development plan for the western end of this pit includes a further 30 m of excavation to a final depth of 570 mRL. This currently poses a number of stability issues that require resolution before any development can be undertaken. A conceptual understanding of flow dynamics within structurally complex wall rock environment has been generated through the utilisation of finite element numerical modelling. The complex structural setting within the northern wall of the South East Prongs has shown to interact with high conductivity lithologies to promote preferential flow of groundwater from the underling Wittenoom Formation aquifer. Recharge to the semi confined DG aquifer occurs as groundwater travels up shear zones within the South East Prongs Fault Zone before migrating along Brunos Band. An investigation into alternative methods of depressurisation has been recommended to ensure the ongoing management of pore water pressures within the northern pit wall during planned pit cut backs. Limiting recharge from the WF to the pit through stated preferential flow paths has been identified as a potential issue when the remaining DG aquifer is removed. Maintaining the proposed dewatering buffer will be difficult to achieve using the current system. The ability to design optimal pit shells for access and ore recovery as well as an effective dewatering and depressurisation system relies heavily on the a sound geological model. Further to this, time allocations to ensure forward planning deadlines are met can be significantly interrupted if adjustments to initial plans are required.

The impact of septic tank effluent disposal on groundwater quality was investigated at Oxford. The Oxford township can be regarded as typical of many small communities on the Canterbury Plains which have a high density of septic systems serviced by soakage pit drainage. The primary concern with grouped septic systems is the potential for both chemical and microbial groundwater contamination. The alluvial gravel aquifers of the Canterbury Plains are especially susceptible to microbial contamination due to the high rates of groundwater flow which may transport both bacteria and viral contaminants over large distances. Geological investigations established the presence of an areally extensive, tuff derived, clay unit which forms an aquitard beneath the unconfined aquifer in the north of the Oxford area. Recharge of the unconfined aquifer above the clay unit is exclusively from rainfall infiltration while to the south, groundwater levels respond to rainfall infiltration and influent seepage from the Eyre River. The presence of two hydrogeologically distinct gravel units within the unconfined aquifer was determined by application of the column dilution technique. Point dilution tests showed the average groundwater velocity of 130 m/day in the upper gravel unit to be significantly higher than the 40 m/day measured in the underlying gravels. The presence of discrete channels of preferred flow within the unconfined aquifer system was also established by point dilution tests, intrachannel velocities ranging from 210 to 400 m/day. A resistivity salt tracing test indicated groundwater flow in an easterly direction with a velocity of 250 m/day through an observed channel feature. Groundwater quality monitoring showed a significant degree of groundwater contamination close to the Oxford township. Concentrations of faecal coliform bacteria in excess of drinking water standards were detected up to 900 m downgradient of the nearest septic tank. Elevated levels of chemical indicators (N03-N, CL-) were also detected in all monitoring wells. The pattern of groundwater contamination was complex, reflecting both the heterogeneity of groundwater flow through the unconfined aquifer system and the influence of monitoring well location. Predictive modelling indicated the potential for the transport of faecal coliform bacteria up to 2.6 km downgradient of Oxford. Modelling also suggested increased urban development within Oxford to have a relatively minor effect on the overall extent of groundwater contamination. Additional hydrogeological and water quality data, aided by the application of numerical solute transport modelling techniques, may provide a more accurate estimate of the impact of septic tank effluent disposal on groundwater quality. Future sewage disposal options for Oxford have to balance the low potential for microbial contamination of drinking water supplies outside the groundwater zone delineated by this study, against the environmental acceptability continuing contamination of this zone. This study has identified the need for further research into the effects of septic tank effluent discharge on groundwater quality in the Canterbury region, to provide a sound base for future resource management decisions.