level monitoring and a groundwater model in the od River Valley d by Mike McVay November 5, 2012
Feb 24, 2016
Water-level monitoring and a groundwater model in the Big Wood River Valley
Presented by Mike McVay November 5, 2012
IDWR Data Logger Network
• 13 wells have been instrumented; 5 candidates for future deployment.
• Data loggers are collecting water level readings two times per day.
• Downloaded every six months.
Water level trends 1980’s - current
Upper Wood River WMD Well Network
•36 wells have been identified as monitoring locations.
•Semi-annual measurements are proposed for the monitoring frequency.
USGS Synoptic
Network
Over 90 wells were measured in 2006 and re-measured in October 2012.
Ground Water Model of the
Big Wood Valley • Collaboration with
the USGS.• 2006 synoptic
water levels show ground water flow is from north to south.
Why a Model of the Big Wood?• Fully allocated resource– Designated GWMA in 1991
• Water rights distribution problem– Most proposed transfers involve up-basin movement of
PODs• Conjunctive administration/management on its way– Delivery calls imminent (Big Wood Canal Company)– 2009 petition for CGWA– Measurement district created in 2011
Why a Model of the Big Wood (cont’d)• IDWR needs unbiased, public domain groundwater
flow model to evaluate transfers and mitigation requirements
• Timing good because USGS study nearing completion– Synoptic water level measurement and trend analysis
in 2006– Water Budget report in 2009– Hydrogeologic Framework report in 2012
The Model• A three-year timeframe• IDWR collaborating with USGS to develop groundwater
flow model with oversight from Technical Advisory Committee
• Water Board financing with USGS match • Used for administration of water– Evaluation of Transfers– Determine Curtailment– Evaluate Mitigation– Won’t be used to determine injury
Technical Advisory Committee• Provides transparency and is a vehicle for stakeholder
input• Likely participants:– Previous USGS Cooperators
• Cities of Bellevue, Hailey, Ketchum, Sun Valley• Nature Conservancy• Blaine Soil Conservation District• Citizens for Smart Growth• Sun Valley Water and Sewer
– Big Wood Canal Company– Water District 37?– Technical representatives for others
Summary of Work Plan• Additional data collection
– Water level synoptic in October 2012– Streamflow gain/loss surveys in August and October 2012 and
March 2013– Additional wells
• Form Technical Advisory Committee• Construct and calibrate groundwater flow model
– Update water budget– Model discretization– Initial parameterization– Calibration
• Convert Steady State model to transient model
Activities to Date• Sponsored 4 new USGS gages in 2010 (North Fork,
East Fork, Trail Creek, Warm Springs)• Expanded monitoring well network from 6 wells to
18• USGS seepage analysis to quantify reach
gains/losses• Synoptic water level measurement in 2012• Developed modeling work plan w/ budget and
schedule
Products• Numerical groundwater flow model• Final Report describing model and development• Reports describing results of scenarios– Drought– Change in land use– Climate change
• USGS Fact Sheet• Response function maps
Questions?