Hydrogeology and Ground-Water Avail., SW Mclean and SE Tazwell CO, Part 2 Aquifer Model
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Coop 19 Hydrogeology and Ground-Water Availability in Southwest McLean and Southeast Tazewell Counties Part 2: Aquifer Modeling and Final Report 1998 Cooperative Ground-Water Report 19 Department of Natural Resources ILLINOIS STATE WATER SURVEY ILLINOIS STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Hydrogeology and Ground-Water Availability in Southwest McLean and Southeast Tazewell Counties Part 2: Aquifer Modeling and Final Report Steven D. Wilson George S. Roadcap Beverly L. Herzog David R. Larson Derek Winstanley Title: Hydrogeology and Ground-Water Availability in Southwest McLean and Southeast Tazewell Counties, Part 2: Aquifer Modeling and Final Report Abstract: An assessment of the aquifer characteristics and ground-water availability has been completed for one of the largest sand-and-gravel aquifers in Illinois, the Sankoty-Mahomet Sand aquifer, in the confluence area of the Mahomet and Mackinaw Bedrock Valleys in McLean and Tazewell Counties. Based on data gathered during the field portion of the study, a ground-water flow model was developed that simulates the effects of a hypothetical well field for various locations within the study area. It was used to estimate the quantity of ground water that could be withdrawn from the aquifer within the study area. The model was calibrated to match water levels measured in area wells in 1994 and to match the baseflow gains and losses in the Mackinaw River and Sugar Creek. A hypothetical well field, pumping 15 million gallons a day (mgd), was simulated at four locations, The results varied from a maximum drawdown of 8 feet in the Hopedale scenario to 55 feet in the Armington scenario. If a well field similar to the well fields modeled were installed in the study area, as many as 400 private wells may be impacted. In certain areas near the Mackinaw River, a well field would greatly reduce the ground-water portion of baseflow entering the Mackinaw River. Pumping three of the well fields together, at a total rate of 37.5 mgd, indicated that the aquifer should be able to sustain withdrawals in excess of 37.5 mgd if the pumpage is distributed in the study area. Reference: Wilson, S.D., G.S. Roadcap, B.L. Herzog, D.R. Larson, and D. Winstanley. Hydro- geology and Ground- Water Availability in Southwest McLean and Southeast Tazewell Counties, Part 2: Aquifer Modeling and Final Report. Illinois State Water Survey and Illinois State Geological Survey Cooperative Ground-Water Report 19, Champaign, IL, 1998. Indexing Terms: aquifer assessment, ground-water availability, ground-water flow model, hydro- geologic assessment, Modflow, regional well field, Sankoty-Mahomet Sand aquifer, water supply Cover illustrations: Top left, representative cross section depicting the geology of the study area. Top right, representative hydrogeologic cross section of the study area depicting the simplifications made to the geologic interpretations for input into the ground-water flow model. Bottom, converted representative hydrogeologic cross section of the study area as utilized in the ground-water flow model. Aquifers are blue. 1998 Cooperative Ground-Water Report 19 ILLINOIS STATE WATER SURVEY 2204 Griffith Drive Champaign, IL 61820 ILLINOIS STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 615 East Peabody Drive Champaign, IL 61820 Printed by authority of the State of Illinois/1998/950 Printed with soybean ink on recycled paper CONTENTS Page EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .........................................................................................................................................................1 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ...........................................................................................................................................................3 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................................................4 Background ......................................................................................................................................................................4 Regional Setting ...............................................................................................................................................................5 Purpose and Scope ...........................................................................................................................................................5 MODEL DEVELOPMENT ........................................................................................................................................................5 Model Area ......................................................................................................................................................................5 Overview of the Modeling Process ..................................................................................................................................8 Quality Assurance ............................................................................................................................................................9 HYDROGEOLOGY .................................................................................................................................................................10 Geologic Database ......................................................................................................................................................11 Well Records ................................................................................................................................................11 New Field Data .............................................................................................................................................13 Physical Features of the Landscape ............................................................................................................................13 Bedrock Geology ........................................................................................................................................................13 Glacial Geology ..........................................................................................................................................................14 Banner Formation ......................................................................................................................................16 Glasford Formation ....................................................................................................................................18 Wedron Group ...........................................................................................................................................19 Hydrogeologic Layer Development ............................................................................................................................19 Hydrogeologic Layers .................................................................................................................................................21 HYDROLOGY ......................................................................................................................................................................31 Regional Ground-Water Flow System in the Sankoty-Mahomet Sand Aquifer Surrounding the Model Area .................................................................................................................................32 Hydrologic Data in the Model Area ............................................................................................................................34 Ground-Water-Level Database .....................................................................................................................34 Stream-Sediment Sampling ..........................................................................................................................36 Potentiometric Surfaces and Ground-Water Flow ......................................................................................................37 Glasford Aquifer Layer ................................................................................................................................41 Lower Glasford/Upper Banner Aquifer Layer ..............................................................................................41 Sankoty-Mahomet Sand Aquifer Layer ........................................................................................................42 Ground-Water-Level Fluctuations ..............................................................................................................................42 Ground-Water Recharge and Discharge .....................................................................................................................44 Previous Estimates ........................................................................................................................................45 Aquifer/Stream Interactions ..........................................................................................................................46 Ground-Water Use ......................................................................................................................................................47 Updated Conceptual Understanding of the Ground-Water Flow System ...................................................................49 MATHEMATICAL GROUND-WATER FLOW MODEL 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