Groundwater availability of the Mississippi embayment

Abstract

R iv e rFor 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.Suggested citation: Clark, B.R., Hart, R.M., and Gurdak, J.J., 2011, Groundwater availability of the Mississippi embayment: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1785, 62 p. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication DataClark, Brian R. Groundwater availability of the Mississippi Embayment / by Brian R. Clark, Rheannon M. Hart, and Jason J. Gurdak. p. cm. --(Professional paper ; 1785) ISBN 978-1-4113-3134-1 (soft cover) 1. Groundwater--Mississippi Embayment. 2. Groundwater--Southern States. 3. Water table--Mississippi Embayment. 4. Water table--Southern States. 5. Aquifers--Mississippi Embayment. 6. Aquifers--Southern States. I. Hart, Rheannon M. II. Gurdak, Jason J. III. Title. IV. Series: U.S. Geological Survey professional paper ; 1785. GB1018. C53 2011 551.490975--dc23 2011021667 iii ForewordAlthough often overlooked, groundwater is increasingly important to all our lives. Groundwater is the Nation's principal reserve of freshwater. It provides half our drinking water and is essential to U.S. food production while facilitating business and industry in promoting economic wellbeing. Groundwater is also an important source of water for sustaining the ecosystem health of rivers, wetlands, and estuaries throughout the country.Large-scale development of groundwater resources with accompanying declines in groundwater levels and other effects of pumping have led to concerns about the future availability of groundwater to meet all our Nation's needs. The depletion of groundwater to satisfy the country's thirst and the compounding effects of recent droughts emphasize the need for an updated status of the Nation's groundwater resources. Assessments of groundwater resources provide the science and information needed by the public and decision makers to evaluate water availability and its effects on the water supply, as well as, to manage and use the water resources responsibly. Adding to this already complex task of resource assessment is the analysis of potential future effects due to climate variability, which can further exacerbate an already challenging situation.The U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Groundwater Resources Program is conducting largescale multidisciplinary regional studies of groundwater availability, such as this study of the Mississippi embayment aquifer system. These regional studies ...

Groundwater level response in U.S. principal aquifers to ENSO, NAO, PDO, and AMO

“…Such multi-model GCM projections or probabilistic forecasts coupled with knowledge about local hydroclimatic response in groundwater resources, such as those responses presented here, may help to expand the dynamic and usable "toolbox" of innovative approaches (McNeeley et al, 2012) that can be used by groundwater managers and scientists to improve resource planning and operations in the context of the "death of stationarity" (Milly et al, 2008) and future climate uncertainty. For example, Clark et al (2011) used future projections of PDO variability in precipitation records to drive numerical groundwater simulations and evaluate future changes to water levels and groundwater availability in the Mississippi Embayment PA. Such hybrid modeling approaches may help groundwater management in other aquifers, but the statistical analyses presented here are a critical first step in establishing a local understanding of groundwater level response to hydroclimatic forcings.…”

“…However, the effects of interannual to multidecadal climate variability on recharge rates and mechanisms and other subsurface hydrologic processes that affect groundwater quantity and quality are largely unknown in most aquifers of the United States (U.S.) (Gurdak et al, 2009) and other regions of the world (Green et al, 2011;Treidel et al, 2012). High-frequency (synoptic to seasonal) climate variability creates short-term hydrologic responses, but groundwater levels and recharge are partially controlled by complex interactions of low frequency (interannual to multidecadal) climate variability (Dickinson et al, 2004;Hanson et al, 2004;Pool, 2005;Fleming and Quilty, 2007;Gurdak et al, 2007;Anderson and Emanuel, 2008;Holman et al, 2009;2011;Clark et al, 2011;Figura et al, 2011;Perez-Valdivia and Sauchyn, 2011;Tremblay et al, 2011;Venencio and Garcia, 2011;Perez-Valdivia et al, 2012). Improved understanding of the long-term fluctuations in groundwater availability that is dominated by low frequency climate variability is essential for best informed management and policy decisions, particularly within the context of the increasing use of groundwater for human consumption and irrigation (Wada et al, 2010) and the uncertainty of climate change and related impacts on groundwater quantity and quality (Hanson et al, 2006;Holman et al, 2006;Earman and Dettinger, 2011;Stoll et al, 2011;Gurdak et al, 2012).…”

Groundwater recharge from an oxbow lake‐wetland system in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain

“…Groundwater models of the region have variably considered oxbow lakes as sources or sinks of groundwater. Sumner and Wasson () and Arthur () included large oxbow lakes near the Mississippi River that likely incise the MRVAA in Mississippi, whereas Clark, Hart, and Gurdak () did not explicitly include oxbow lakes in a regional model of the larger Mississippi Embayment Aquifer system.…”

Aquifer Depletion in the Lower Mississippi River Basin: Challenges and Solutions

“…Based on model projections, groundwater withdrawals are expected to increase to more than 394 m 3 s −1 (9,000 Mgal d −1 ) by 2050 (Clark and Hart ; Clark et at. ; Clark et al ; ANRC ). Water level declines below one‐half of the saturated thickness are forecasted across the MRVAA under current rates of pumping, indicating large areas of depleted aquifer in parts of the Grand Prairie and Cache River Critical Groundwater Areas (CGA) (Clark et al ) (Figure b).…”

“…The projects have been under construction since the 1990s and will capture excess surface water from the Arkansas and White Rivers, respectively, to supply and supplement a network of on‐farm R‐TWRS. Modeling results from the USGS Mississippi Embayment Regional Aquifer Study (MERAS) indicate that when in operation, the Bayou Meto and GPADP will meet approximately 73% and 100%, respectively, of the current groundwater demand of its service area (Clark et al ). Both projects have experienced construction delays owing to environmental‐impact concerns and funding hindrances.…”