Hydrogeology and hydrologic conditions of the Ozark Plateaus aquifer system

Abstract

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Challenges for creating a site-specific groundwater-use record for the Ozark Plateaus aquifer system (central USA) from 1900 to 2010

“…As part of a regional-scale analysis of the Ozark Plateaus aquifer system (Ozark system) in the central US, a groundwater-use record was required for quantifying the hydrologic budget and developing a groundwater-flow model of the system (USGS 2015a; Hays et al 2016). The Ozark system is being modeled with 2.6-km 2 grid cells, which requires spatially accurate site-specific groundwater-use data.…”

“…2;Imes and Emmett 1994). The Ozark aquifer is generally unconfined where units are exposed on the Salem Plateau and confined where overlain by the Ozark confining unit (Hays et al 2016;Westerman et al 2016a). The Ozark aquifer has a median thickness of 576 m and owing to variable hydraulic properties is sub-divided into upper, middle, and lower sections (Westerman et al 2016a;Westerman et al 2016b).…”

“…The Ozark aquifer has a median thickness of 576 m and owing to variable hydraulic properties is sub-divided into upper, middle, and lower sections (Westerman et al 2016a;Westerman et al 2016b). The middle Ozark aquifer includes low permeability dolomites and regionally acts as a confining unit for the lower Ozark aquifer (Hays et al 2016). The Springfield Plateau aquifer is generally unconfined where units are exposed on the Springfield Plateau and confined where overlain by the Western Interior Plains confining system (Hays et al 2016).…”

“…The middle Ozark aquifer includes low permeability dolomites and regionally acts as a confining unit for the lower Ozark aquifer (Hays et al 2016). The Springfield Plateau aquifer is generally unconfined where units are exposed on the Springfield Plateau and confined where overlain by the Western Interior Plains confining system (Hays et al 2016). Carbonate units of the Ozark system, including the Springfield Plateau aquifer and portions of the Ozark aquifer, have undergone karstification, resulting in variable hydraulic properties between primary bedrock porosity (low permeability and storativity) and secondary porosity from fractures and dissolution-enlarged conduits (higher localized permeability; Hays et al 2016).…”

“…2; Jorgensen et al 1993;Hays et al 2016). The ultimate source of water to the Ozark system is precipitation, where approximately 24% of precipitation falling over the Ozark Plateaus contributes to recharge, the remainder being lost to evapotranspiration, interception by vegetation, and flow out of the modeled area (Hays et al 2016).…”