Sustainability and Groundwater Management in Western …...School of Natural Resources University of Nebraska-Lincoln Myth: Groundwater Management • Groundwater and Surface Water

School of Natural Resources University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Sustainability and Groundwater

Management in Western Nebraska

Steve Sibray, Doug Hallum

Conservation and Survey Division


Water issues are political


Outline

• Sustainability and GW Management in Western Nebraska

– Groundwater Use

– Sustainability

– The High Plains System

• What we’ve learned

• Remaining questions


Idea #1: Unlimited pumping

• Can we mine the aquifer dry?

– NO!

• Economic Limits

• Survival of the Deepest

• Recharge & Renewable


Survival of the deepest


Geology Provides the Framework


Groundwater Decline (red) and Rise (blue)


Idea #2: Pumping = Recharge

• Pumping < unlimited

• Water Budget / “Safe Yield”


Pumpkin Creek


Pumpkin Creek Irrigation Wells, 1975


Pumpkin Creek Irrigation Wells, 1999


Pumpkin Creek History

Natural Flow Rights - 1890’s

• Flow ~21,000 ac–ft/yr

• Closed to SW - 1979

• Closed to new Wells - 2001

• Groundwater Allocation 12”

Stream Flow (Banner-Morrill Line)

• 1939: 14 cfs

• 1976: 5.7 cfs

• 1999: dry


The Paradox of Safe Yield


The Water Budget Myth


Documenting Stream/Groundwater

Interaction in the South Platte River

-5

-4

-3

-2

-1

0

1

2

37/2

8

8/1

0

8/2

3

9/5

9/1

9

10/2

10

/15

10/2

8

11/1

0

11/2

3

12/7

12/2

0

1/2

1/1

5

1/2

8

2/1

0

2/2

4

3/9

Gro

undw

ate

r/S

tream

Gra

die

nt

(ft)

Big Springs Gradient Paxton Gradient North Platte Gradient


Atmosphere

Surface Soils Surface Water

Saturated Zone

IN OUT

Gro

undw

ate

r P

um

pin

g


Idea #3: Dynamic Equilibrium

ΔR = ΔD + ΔS - Qp

“Change in Recharge

equals

Change in Discharge plus Change in Storage minus

Pumping”

• As we approach equilibrium, storage change goes to zero

• Pumping will affect natural discharge 1:1


Nebraska’s Water Budget (millions of acre-feet)

3.7

7.85.0

82.293.3

9.1

1.7

8.7


Stream Discharge is Changing

Wen and Chen, 2006, Journal of Hydrology, v. 327


Discharge Depletion Takes Time!


Myth: Groundwater Management

• Groundwater and Surface Water are one resource

– Each affects the other

– The difference is timing

– Timing is specific to the region/local condition

• We should manage them together!

– In an integrated way

– Adapt as we learn

– Build consensus among (local) stakeholders


Sustainability

What the heck is sustainability? Define it locally

– Of economic growth?

– Of crop production?

– Of rivers and wetlands?

– Of canal deliveries?

– Of industry?

– Of recreation?

Which of these is less important to the good life?


Water is our Future, Not a Fight

http://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/1987/07/13


Water Issues are Political


Thank You!

Doug Hallum

West Central Research and

Extension Center, North Platte

[email protected]

Steve Sibray

Panhandle Research and

Extension Center, Scottsbluff

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Sustainability and Groundwater Management in Western …...School of Natural Resources University of Nebraska-Lincoln Myth: Groundwater Management • Groundwater and Surface Water

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