Professional Paper 1656-C

2007

Prepared in cooperation with the
Suwannee River Water Management District


Exchanges of Water between the Upper Floridan Aquifer and the Lower Suwannee and Lower Santa Fe Rivers, Florida

J.W. Grubbs and C.A. Crandall



COVER OF REPORT

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Contents

Abstract
Introduction
      Purpose and Scope
      Description of Study Areas
      Previous Studies
      Acknowledgments
Surface-Water Hydrology
      Lower Suwannee and Lower Santa Fe Rivers
            Channel and Floodplain Characteristics
            Flow Characteristics
            Water-Level Characteristics
      Smaller Rivers and Streams
Ground-Water Hydrology
      Hydrogeologic Framework
      Ground-Water Flow System Boundaries
            Lateral Boundaries
            Upper and Lower Flow-Sysem Boundaries
      Patterns of Ground-Water Levels and Flow
      Hydraulic Properties
      Sources and Sinks of Water
Evaluation of Ground-Water and Surface-Water Exchanges Using Hydrologic Data
      Temporal Characteristics
      Spatial Characteristics
Evaluation of Ground-Water and Surface-Water Exchanges Using a Hydrologic Model
      Model Construction
            Ground-Water Flow Model
            Surface-Water Flow Model
      Model Calibration
      Model Evaluation
      Model Limitations
Summary
Selected References

Abstract

      Exchanges of water between the Upper Floridan aquifer and the Lower Suwannee River were evaluated using historic and current hydrologic data from the Lower Suwannee River Basin and adjacent areas that contribute ground-water flow to the lowest 76 miles of the Suwannee River and the lowest 28 miles of the Santa Fe River. These and other data were also used to develop a computer model that simulated the movement of water in the aquifer and river, and surface- and ground-water exchanges between these systems over a range of hydrologic conditions and a set of hypothetical water-use scenarios.
      Long-term data indicate that at least 15 percent of the average annual flow in the Suwannee River near Wilcox (at river mile 36) is derived from ground-water discharge to the Lower Suwannee and Lower Santa Fe Rivers. Model simulations of ground-water flow to this reach during water years 1998 and 1999 were similar to these model-independent estimates and indicated that ground-water discharge accounted for about 12 percent of the flow in the Lower Suwannee River during this time period.
      The simulated average ground-water discharge to the Lower Suwannee River downstream from the mouth of the Santa Fe River was about 2,000 cubic feet per second during water years 1998 and 1999. Simulated monthly average ground-water discharge rates to this reach ranged from about 1,500 to 3,200 cubic feet per second. These temporal variations in ground-water discharge were associated with climatic phenomena, including periods of strong influence by El Niņo-associated flooding, and La Niņa-associated drought. These variations showed a relatively consistent pattern in which the lowest rates of ground-water inflow occurred during periods of peak flood levels (when river levels rose faster than ground-water levels) and after periods of extended droughts (when ground-water storage was depleted). Conversely, the highest rates of ground-water inflow typically occurred during periods of receding levels that followed peak river levels.


Suggested Citation:

Grubbs, J.W., and Crandall, C.A., 2007, Exchanges of Water between the Upper Floridan Aquifer and the Lower Suwannee and Lower Santa Fe Rivers, Florida: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1656-C, 83 p.

For additional information, contact:

U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Geological Survey
Florida Integrated Science Center
2010 Levy Avenue
Tallahassee, FL 32310
850-942-9500

Jack Grubbs   tgrubbs@usgs.gov



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