A Geochemical Mass-Balance Method for Base-Flow Separation, Upper Hillsborough River Watershed, West-Central Florida, 2003-2005 and 2009

Abstract

For more information on the USGS-the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment, visit http://www.usgs.gov or call 1-888-ASK-USGS For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit http://www.usgs.gov/pubprodTo order this and other USGS information products, visit http://store.usgs.gov Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report. AcknowledgmentsThe authors gratefully acknowledge the cooperation and assistance of Michael Hancock from the Southwest Florida Water Management District for suggestions and comments on early drafts of the report and Patrick Potts, Park Services Specialist, Hillsborough River State Park, who provided logistical support during data-collection activities. Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83).Altitude, as used in this report, refers to distance above the vertical datum.Specific conductance is given in microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius (µS/cm at 25 °C). AbstractGeochemical mass-balance (GMB) and conductivity mass-balance (CMB) methods for hydrograph separation were used to determine the contribution of base flow to total stormflow at two sites in the upper Hillsborough River watershed in west-central Florida from [2003][2004][2005] and at one site in 2009. The chemical and isotopic composition of streamflow and precipitation was measured during selected local and frontal low-and high-intensity storm events and compared to the geochemical and isotopic composition of groundwater. Input for the GMB method included cation, anion, and stable isotope concentrations of surface water and groundwater, whereas input for the CMB method included continuous or pointsample measurement of specific conductance.The surface water is a calcium-bicarbonate type water, which closely resembles groundwater geochemically, indicating that much of the surface water in the upper Hillsborough River basin is derived from local groundwater discharge. This discharge into the Hillsborough River at State Road 39 and at Hillsborough River State Park becomes diluted by precipitation and runoff during the wet season, but retains the calciumbicarbonate characteristics of Upper Floridan aquifer water.Field conditions limited the application of the GMB method to low-intensity storms but the CMB method was applied to both low-intensity and high-intensity storms. The average contribution of base flow to total discharge for all storms ranged from 31 to 100 percent, whereas the contribution of base flow to total discharge during peak discharge periods ranged from less than 10 percent to 100 percent.Although calcium, magnesium, and silica were consistent markers of Upper Floridan aquifer ...

Use of Groundwater Levels with the PULSE Analytical Model

“…A classic paper is Pinder and Jones (1969) and recent studies include Stewart et al (2007), Kish et al (2010), and Sanford et al (2012). A classic paper is Pinder and Jones (1969) and recent studies include Stewart et al (2007), Kish et al (2010), and Sanford et al (2012).…”

“…In recent years, groundwater scientists have shown renewed interest in methods for estimating the groundwater component of streamflow from stream water quality. A classic paper is Pinder and Jones (1969) and recent studies include Stewart et al (2007), Kish et al (2010), and Sanford et al (2012). PULSE could be relevant to the comparisons between methods.…”

Evaluating Complex Hydrogeological Settings in a Constructed Wetland: An Isotopic/Chemical Mass Balance Approach

“…6A). The groundwater and rainwater sources were combined in one as "GW" because the local meteoric water line had a tendency to approach the Upper Floridan groundwater line (Swancar and Hutchinson 1995;Kendall and Coplen 2001;Kish et al 2009). When these water sources are considered as endmembers to the wetland water (i.e., have unique chemical composition compared to the mixture), it is possible to estimate mixing proportions between them waters using a mass-balance approach (e.g., Christophersen and Hooper 1992;Clark and Fritz 1997;Doctor et al 2006).…”

“…δD vs δ 18 O for the wetland a, SA-8 and N-15 b, and monitoring wells c Note: WP = wetland water from pump; WS = wetland water from surface; CP = cooling pond; EF = effluent; N-15 and SA-8 = water bodies to the north and south of the wetland; MW-1 to MW-6 = monitoring wells; GW* = Floridan ground water from the Intermediate Aquifer (well ROMP 45,Sacks and Tihansky 1996); RW* = rain water(Kish et al 2009). Local meteoric water line (LMWL) is fromKendall and Coplen (2001).…”

Controls on Temperature in Salmonid‐Bearing Headwater Streams in Two Common Hydrogeologic Settings, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska

“…In headwater streams, groundwater discharge can play an important role in streamflow generation by continuing to provide water to offset losses to evapotranspiration (Winter, ). Groundwater discharge, by definition, is the sole component of base flow and has been shown to contribute up to half of total storm flow and >80% of storm flow at a given moment in time, including in some headwater settings (Winter et al ., ; Burns et al ., ; Kish et al ., ). With such extensive contributions to streamflow, groundwater temperature can act as a baseline temperature in headwater streams (Sullivan and Adams, ).…”