Pre‐Development Groundwater Conditions Surrounding Memphis, Tennessee: Controversy and Unexpected Outcomes

Abstract

Reliance on groundwater resources by differing governing bodies can create transboundary disputes raising questions of ownership and apportionment as the resource becomes strained through overuse or threatened by contamination. Transboundary disputes exist at varying scales, from conflicts between countries to smaller disputes between intrastate jurisdictions. In 2005 within the United States, the State of Mississippi filed a lawsuit against its political neighbor and their utility, the City of Memphis and Memphis Light, Gas, and Water, for groundwater deemed owned by the State of Mississippi to be wrongfully diverted across the state line and into Tennessee by the defendants. The basis of the lawsuit was potentiometric maps of groundwater levels for the Memphis aquifer that showed under suggested pre‐development conditions no flow occurring across the Mississippi‐Tennessee state line, but subsequent historic potentiometric maps show a cone of depression under the City of Memphis with a clear northwesterly gradient from Mississippi into Tennessee. The suggested pre‐development conditions were derived from limited groundwater level observations between 41 and 74 years post‐development. A new pre‐development map is constructed using historic records that range 0‐17 years post‐development that shows the natural flow is northwesterly from Mississippi into Tennessee and transboundary groundwater quantities have actually decreased since pre‐development conditions.

Application of Environmental Tracers in the Memphis Aquifer and Implication for Sustainability of Groundwater Resources in the Memphis Metropolitan Area, Tennessee

“…The previous studies support a general conceptual model for groundwater flow in the Memphis area in which, prior to development, groundwater recharged into the Memphis aquifer in the hilly exposure belt of the Memphis Sand, 40 to 120 km southeast of the city of Memphis (Brahana and Broshears 2001). Groundwater flow was southeast to northwest toward the city of Memphis and supported flowing, artesian well conditions during the early years of water production from the aquifer in the late 1800's (Waldron and Larsen 2014). This groundwater is relatively old, with residence times ranging from about 1,000 to 3,000 years old based on 14 C data (data in Graham and Parks 1986).…”

“…The Flour Island Formation forms the lower confining layer for the Memphis aquifer and upper confining unit for the Fort Pillow aquifer, another water resource for the region. Waldron and Larsen (2014) used historical water level data to reconstruct the predevelopment (prior to 1906) water table and potentiometric surface for the Memphis aquifer. Early studies suggested that the primary source of recharge to the Memphis aquifer was infiltration in upland regions, east and southeast of Memphis (Hosman et al 1968), including the southeastern part of Shelby County (Criner et al 1964).…”

“…Memphis enjoys some of the lowest municipal and industrial water costs in the United States (Memphis Light, Gas, and Water online), making its water supply a significant asset for economic development. Waldron and Larsen 2014). Although the 2005 case was dismissed without prejudice by the U.S. Supreme Court, the State of Mississippi has filed a subsequent lawsuit against the State of Tennessee on similar grounds, which is currently in litigation (State of Mississippi v. State of Tennessee 2015).…”

Impact of Urban Growth and High Residential Irrigation on Streamflow and Groundwater Levels in a Peri‐Urban Semiarid Catchment

“…Commonly, it is recognized that urbanization decreases groundwater recharge due to higher imperviousness (Foster et al. ; Hutchinson and Woodside ; WMO ; Waldron and Larsen ). However, the effect of urbanization on groundwater systems is not always very clear, as it depends on the geological and hydrogeological setting, and the adopted stormwater management practices.…”

“…Furthermore, this impact is relevant, as it may affect the baseflow in urban streams and rivers (Paul and Meyer 2001;Rose and Peters 2001;Burns et al 2005;Schoonover et al 2006;Lan-Anh et al 2012;Bhaskar et al 2016a). Commonly, it is recognized that urbanization decreases groundwater recharge due to higher imperviousness (Foster et al 1994;Hutchinson and Woodside 2002;WMO 2008;Waldron and Larsen 2015). However, the effect of urbanization on groundwater systems is not always very clear, as it depends on the geological and hydrogeological setting, and the adopted stormwater management practices.…”