Assessment of Ground Water Exchange in Two Stream Channels and Associated Riparian Zones, Jocko Valley, Western Montana
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University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 2007 Assessment of Ground Water Exchange in Two Stream Channels and Associated Riparian Zones, Jocko Valley, Western Montana Aaron A. Fiaschetti The University of Montana Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Fiaschetti, Aaron A., "Assessment of Ground Water Exchange in Two Stream Channels and Associated Riparian Zones, Jocko Valley, Western Montana" (2007). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 1210. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/1210 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ASSESSMENT OF GROUND WATER EXCHANGE IN TWO STREAM CHANNELS AND ASSOCIATED RIPARIAN ZONES JOCKO VALLEY, WESTERN MONTANA. By Aaron A. Fiaschetti B.A., SUNY Potsdam Potsdam, New York, 2000 Thesis Presented in partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of Masters of Science in Geology The University of Montana Missoula, MT Autumn 2006 Approved by: Dr. David A. Stroble, Dean Graduate School Dr. William W. Woessner, Chair Geology Dr. Scott Woods Forestry and Conservation Dr. Manny Gabet, Geology Fiaschetti, Aaron, M.S., December 2006 Geology Assessment of Ground Exchange in Two Steam Channels and Associated Riparian Zones, Jocko Valley, Western Montana Chairperson: William W. Woessner Degraded riparian habitat is a concern throughout the United States. Repairing anthropogenic damage to river channels and wetlands is becoming increasingly popular, though including design features to re-establish ground water and surface water exchange rates and timing are rarely implemented. The goal of this project is to characterize the surface water/ ground water exchange rates of two stream and riparian systems that have been altered by agriculture use. Hydrogeological and hydrological field experiments were performed to better understand the location and magnitude of ground water and surface water exchange throughout each site. These data were compiled into a water balance for the Sque-que study site. Vertical hydraulic gradients, temperature monitoring and ground water chemistry were key components used to identify areas of surface water/ground water exchange.I concluded that surface water/ground water interactions are occurring on sub-reach scales throughout the Sque-que study site. The riparian water table position changed little throughout the year and remained within two meters of the land surface. At the Jocko River site a net gain of ground water along the 1 km reach was not detectable. Modeling suggests the position of current water table will rise if drainage ditches are filled at the study sites and that recovery of wetlands is possible. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS: 1.Introduction……………………………………………………………………………...1 2. Goal and objectives……………………………………………………………………..2 3. Site Conditions………………………………………………………………………….3 Climate…………………………………………………………………………….4 Geology……………………………………………………………………………5 Hydrology…………………………………………………………………………7 Hydrogeology….………………………………………………………………...10 Wetlands…………………………………………………………………………12 Ecological/Cultural Importance………………………………………………….12 4. Finely Creek Site………………………………………………………………………13 5. Sque-que Site………………………………………………………………………….15 6. Methods……………………………………………………………………………….19 7. Results: Finley Creek………………………………………………………………….27 Geologic Setting………………………………………………………………….27 Hydrogeolgic Setting…………………………………………………………….29 Ground Water Flow Analysis……………………………………………………32 Surface Water Exchange…………………………………………………………35 Ground Water and Surface Water Chemistry……………………………………37 Wetlands…………………………………………………………………………38 8. Results: Sque-que……………………………………………………………………...40 Geologic Setting………………………………………………………………….40 Hydrogeolgic Setting…………………………………………………………….42 Ground Water Flow Analysis……………………………………………………45 Surface Water Analysis…………………………………………………………..47 Surface Water/Ground Water Exchange…………………………………………48 Vertical Hydraulic Gradients…………………………………………………….48 Stream Discharge Measurements………………………………………………...51 Ground Water and Surface Water Chemistry……………………………………54 Hydraulic Properties of the Sediment……………………………………………57 iii Borehole Dillution……………………………………………………………….58 Heat Transport Modling………………………………………………………….59 Point Bar Study Site……………………………………………………………...62 Water Balance for Sque-que Site………………………………………………...74 Wetlands…………………………………………………………………………76 Ground Water Modeling…………………………………………………………76 9. Finley Creek Discussion………………………………………………………………87 10. Sque-que Discussion…………………………………………………………………88 11. Conclusions…………………………………………………………………………..91 12. References……………………………………………………………………………94 iv LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS: Figure Page 1: The intermountain Jocko Valley and surrounding mountains………………….……4 2: Locations of major Quaternary Glacial fans in the Jocko valley………………..…...6 3: Map of the Jocko water and Finley Creek watershed………………………………..7 4: Hydrograph of the South Fork of the Jocko River…………………………………...8 5: Median Monthly Discharge of South Fork of the Jocko River………………………9 6: Potentiometric Map of the Jocko Valley……………………………………………..11 7: Showing location of Finley Creek Site ………………………………………………14 8: Showing the location of the Sque-que………………………………………………..15 9: Locations of Drainage Ditches at Sque-que Site……………………………………..17 10: Historic Channel Traces of the Jocko River ………………………………………..18 11: Diagram of PVC and steel sandpoint and Levelloger installation…………………..20 12: Steel piezometers in river bed……………………………………………………….23 13: Locations of borehole velocities on point bar……………………………………….24 14: Map showing location of domestic well logs..............................................................27 15: Well logs from the Finley Creek Site ……………………………………………….28 16: Well locations on Finley Creek Site…………………………………………………29 17: Hydrograph of Finley Creek Wells………………………………………………….30 18: Graph of continuous water level recorders at Finely Creek Site…………………….31 19: Finley Creek Potentiometric Map, June 2004………………………………………32 20: Finley Creek Potentiometric Map, January 2005…………………………………...33 21: Geologic Controls on ground water flow at Finley Creek Site………………………34 22: Stage Elevation of Finley Creek……………………………………………………..35 23: Locations of piezometers and Staff gauge at Finley Creek Site…………………….36 24: Vertical hydraulic gradients over time………………………………………………36 25: Ground Water and Surface Water Chemistry at Finley Creek Site………………….38 26: Finley Creek Wetlands Delineations Map…………………………………………...39 27: Locations of Domestic Well Logs used for Geologic Cross Section at Sque-que site……………………………………………………….40 28: Well log data…………………………………………………………………………41 29: Location of monitoring wells on the Sque-que site………………………………….43 30: Hydrograph of Sque-que wells………………………………………………………44 31: Continuous Water Level Recorder Hydrograph……………………………………..44 32: Water Level Responses of Selected Wells…………………………………………..45 33: Poteniometric map during low water (January 2005)……………………………….46 34: Poteniometric map during high water (June 2004)………………………………….47 35: Hydrograph of the Jocko River 2004-2005………………………………………….48 36: Location of Peizometers at the Sque-que site………………………………………..49 37: Vertical Hydraulic Gradients Over Time…………………………………………….50 38: Location of stream gauging on Measurements at the Sque-que …………………….52 39: Ground Water and Surface Water Chemistry………………………………………..55 40: Water Chemistry Along A Flow Path (DOand pH)………………………………….56 v 41: Location and Average Hydraulic Conductivity for Selected Wells…………………57 42: Spatial Variability in Borehole Velocity Results……………………………………58 43: Boundary Conditions for Heat Transport Model…………………………………….61 44: Heat Transport Modeling Results Graph…………………………………………….62 45: Well locations with temperature buttons…………………………………………….64 46: Conceptual Model of Temperature Regimes of Ground Water Flow Paths…………65 47: Jocko River temperature……………………………………………………………..66 48: Daily temperature fluctuation of the Jocko River……………………………………67 49: Ground Water Temperatures at 0.7 to 0.9 m below the Water Table………………..68 50: Gound Water Temperatures at 1.5 to 2.0 m below the Water Table………………...69 51: Ground Water Temperatures at 2.0 to 2.6 m below the Water Table………………..69 52: Conceptual Model of Surface Water/Ground Water Exchange along a Cut bank…………………………………………………………………………...70 53: Variation is Temperature Signals, Well 8……………………………………………71 54: Variation is Temperature Signals, Well 9……………………………………………72 55: Temperature Regime of Regional Ground Water Flow……………………………..74 56: Sque-que Wetlands Delineations Map………………………………………………77 57: Graph of Depth of the Water Table Below Land Surface…………………………...78 58: Grid spacing and model boundaries of Sque-que ground water model……………...79 59: Flux Boundaries of the Model ………………………………………………………80 60: Distribution of hydraulic conductivies for the model………………………………..81 61: Map of Zone Budget Zones………………………………………………………….83 62: Head Calibration Data……………………………………………………………….85 vi LIST OF TABLES: Table Page Table 1: Stream gauging results………………………………………………………..51 Table 2: List of Flow and Transport Parameters……………………………………….60 Table 3: One day water balance at the Sque-que site…………………………………..75 Table 4: Showing error