Well-Induced Stream Depletion and Groundwater Return Flow: Estimating Impact Schedules with a Finite-Difference Spreadsheet
Publication: Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 146, Issue 7
Abstract
Allocation of water from stream-aquifer systems must account for stream depletion from well withdrawal and for accretion from groundwater return flow. Both are subject to attenuation and delay. Transient impact assessment tools include: simplified analytical solutions; special finite-difference groundwater modeling software, such as MODFLOW; and the Delayed Impact Calculator (Calculator), a spreadsheet programmed by the author for streamlined finite-difference estimation of dynamic schedules. Well-induced stream depletion results from the Calculator are compared to results from established tools for a previously documented scenario. Similar comparisons are described for modified cases. Calculator results match MODFLOW (version 1.12.00) results (, , 3 sets, 90 pairs each). The finite-difference tools estimate somewhat quicker stream response to groundwater impulse than do analytical solutions derived for ideal semi-infinite aquifers. A previously documented schedule estimate for a simple groundwater return flow scenario is confirmed by the Calculator. An example of Calculator utility is given, treating return flow to a reach above an active surface diversion.
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Data Availability Statement
All data used herein appear in the manuscript, figures, and tables. The computational tools can each be obtained for free online from the addresses given. The subject Calculator can be found in the HydroShare repository (Robinson 2020). It is a product of initiative without funding.
Mathematical processes employed by the Delayed Impact Calculator are described by the text. Visual Basic code that implements the calculations is protected to preserve integrity. All procedures of the code can be executed upon opening the workbook in a recent version of Excel with macros enabled.
Acknowledgments
The Delayed Impact Calculator Methods section includes material adapted from the instruction manual, another work by this author. Both include source references for citations of fact. Janet Alcon of Mesa County Libraries earned appreciation by facilitating access to literature. Anonymous reviewers and journal editors earned the gratitude of the author by making insightful suggestions for manuscript improvement.
References
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 146 • Issue 7 • July 2020
Copyright
This work is made available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
History
Received: Feb 19, 2019
Accepted: Jan 13, 2020
Published online: Apr 30, 2020
Published in print: Jul 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Sep 30, 2020
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