Evaluation of simulations to understand effects of groundwater development and artificial recharge on the surface water and riparian vegetation Sierra Vista subwatershed, Upper San Pedro Basin, Arizona

Leake, Stanley A.; Gungle, Bruce

Abstract:

In 2007, the U.S. Geological Survey documented a five-layer groundwater flow model of the Sierra Vista and Sonoran subwatersheds of the Upper San Pedro Basin. The model has been applied by a private consultant to evaluate the effects of projected groundwater pumping through 2105 and effects of artificial recharge at three near-stream sites for 2012-2111. The main concern regarding simulations of long-term groundwater pumping is the effect of artificial model boundaries on modeled response, particularly for pumping near Cananea, Sonora, Mexico, which is adjacent to an artificial no-flow boundary. Concerns regarding the simulations of the effects of artificial recharge near streams include the resolution of the model and the representation of the model properties at the site scale; a possible limited ability of the model to correctly apportion recharge response between increased streamflow and increased evapotranspiration; a limited ability of the model to simulate detailed geometries of artificial recharge areas and evapotranspiration areas; and stream locations with the 820-foot grid spacing of the basin-scale model. In spite of these concerns, use of the U.S. Geological Survey five-layer groundwater flow model by the consultant are reasonable and valid.

Genre:

USGS Numbered Series

ProdID:

70040124

Citation Author:

Leake, Stanley A.; Gungle, Bruce

Citation Contributing Office:

Arizona Water Science Center

Citation Datum:

North American Datum of 1983

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Citation Language:

English

Citation Larger Work Title:

Citation LatN:

33.4300

Citation LatS:

29.4900

Citation LonE:

-109.0500

Citation LonW:

-110.8000

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Citation Phsyical Description:

vi, 11 p.

Citation Projection:

Universal Transverse Mercator, Zone 12

Citation Public Comments:

Prepared in cooperation with the City of Sierra Vista

Citation Publisher:

U.S. Geological Survey

Citation Series:

Open-File Report

Citation Series Code:

OFR

Citation Series Number:

2012-1206

Citation Search Results Text:

Evaluation of simulations to understand effects of groundwater development and artificial recharge on the surface water and riparian vegetation Sierra Vista subwatershed, Upper San Pedro Basin, Arizona; 2012; OFR; 2012-1206; Leake, Stanley A.; Gungle, Bruce