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Groundwater Recharge in Texas

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Groundwater Recharge in Texas Bridget R. Scanlon, Alan Dutton, Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin, and Marios Sophocleous, Kansas Geological Survey, Lawrence, KS 1 Abstract ............................................................................................................................... 4 Introduction......................................................................................................................... 5 Techniques for Estimating Recharge .................................................................................. 6 Water Budget .................................................................................................................. 6 Recharge Estimation Techniques Based on Surface-Water Studies............................... 7 Physical Techniques.................................................................................................... 7 Tracer Techniques....................................................................................................... 9 Numerical Modeling ................................................................................................. 10 Recharge Estimation Techniques Based on Unsaturated-Zone Studies ....................... 10 Physical Techniques.................................................................................................. 10 Tracer Techniques..................................................................................................... 12 Numerical Modeling ................................................................................................. 14 Recharge Estimation Techniques Based on Saturated-Zone Studies ........................... 15 Physical Techniques.................................................................................................. 15 Tracer Techniques..................................................................................................... 16 Numerical Modeling ................................................................................................. 18 Comparison of Range of Recharge Rates and Spatial and Temporal Scales of the Various Techniques....................................................................................................... 19 Application of Multiple Techniques ............................................................................. 20 Recharge Rates for the Major Aquifers Based on Review of Existing Data .................... 21 Evaluation of Techniques Used to Quantify Recharge in the Major Aquifers ................. 22 Conceptual Models of Recharge Processes for the Major Aquifers ................................. 23 Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer ............................................................................................ 25 Cenozoic Pecos Alluvium Aquifer ........................................................................... 25 Edwards Aquifer....................................................................................................... 26 Edwards-Trinity Plateau Aquifer.............................................................................. 26 Gulf Coast Aquifer.................................................................................................... 27 Hueco Mesilla Bolson Aquifer ................................................................................. 28 Ogallala Aquifer........................................................................................................ 28 Seymour Aquifer....................................................................................................... 29 Trinity Aquifer .......................................................................................................... 29 Techniques for Modeling Recharge .................................................................................. 30 Simulating Recharge Fluxes Using Various Approaches in Modflow......................... 30 Specified Head .......................................................................................................... 30 Specified Flow .......................................................................................................... 31 Head-Dependent Flow .............................................................................................. 32 Inverse Modeling ...................................................................................................... 33 Spatial Variability in Recharge ................................................................................. 33 Groundwater Discharge ............................................................................................ 34 Specific Comments Related to Modeling Recharge in the Major Aquifers ............. 34 Recommended Approaches for Quantifying Recharge for the Major Aquifers ............... 37 Carrizo Wilcox and Gulf Coast Aquifers...................................................................... 38 Ogallala Aquifer............................................................................................................ 40 Cenozoic Pecos Alluvium Aquifer ............................................................................... 41 Edwards Aquifer........................................................................................................... 41 2 Edwards-Trinity Plateau Aquifer.................................................................................. 42 Seymour Aquifer........................................................................................................... 42 Trinity Aquifer .............................................................................................................. 43 Hueco Mesilla Bolson Aquifer ..................................................................................... 43 Conclusions ....................................................................................................................... 44 References......................................................................................................................... 46 3 ABSTRACT Groundwater recharge is critical in evaluating water resources. Recharge estimates are required for groundwater models being developed as part of the Groundwater Availability Modeling program at the Texas Water Development Board. The purpose of this study was to assess the status of data on recharge for the major aquifers in Texas, evaluate the reliability of the recharge estimates, develop conceptual models for recharge for each of the aquifers, review techniques for quantifying recharge, and recommend appropriate techniques for quantifying the recharge of each of the major aquifers. Recharge rates for all major aquifers were compiled from published reports. The Edwards aquifer is the most dynamic, and recharge rates are highly variable spatially and temporally. Recharge is fairly accurately quantified using stream-gauge data. Estimates of recharge rates in the Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer range from 0.1 to 5.8 in/yr. The higher recharge rates occur in the sandy portions of the aquifer (i.e., the Carrizo and Simsboro Formations). Reported recharge rates for the Gulf Coast aquifer (0.0004 to 2 in/yr) are generally lower than those for the Carrizo- Wilcox aquifer. In both the Carrizo-Wilcox and Gulf Coast aquifers, higher recharge rates are estimated in upland areas containing sandy soils. Regional recharge rates in the High Plains aquifer, outside irrigated areas, are generally low (0.004 to 1.7 in/yr), whereas playa-focused recharge rates are much higher (0.5 to 8.6 in/yr). Irrigated areas also have fairly high recharge rates (0.6 to 11 in/yr). Recharge rates in the Trinity and Edwards-Trinity Plateau aquifers generally range from 0.1 to 2 in/yr. The Seymour aquifer has recharge rates that range from 1 to 2.5 in/yr. Recharge rates for the Hueco-Mesilla Bolson and the Cenozoic Pecos Alluvium are represented as total recharge along mountain fronts and valley floors. The main techniques that have been used for estimating recharge are Darcy’s Law, groundwater modeling, base-flow discharge, and stream loss. Darcy’s Law is widely applied in the confined sections of the Carrizo-Wilcox and Gulf Coast aquifers; however, these recharge estimates may not be very reliable because of uncertainties in estimates of regional hydraulic conductivity. Groundwater modeling has been used to estimate recharge in most aquifers; however, only hydraulic-head data were available to calibrate the models. Model calibration based on hydraulic head data alone can only be used to estimate the ratio of recharge to hydraulic conductivity. Additional information, such as groundwater-age data or base-flow discharge data, is required for estimating recharge using groundwater models. Base-flow discharge has been used to estimate recharge primarily in the Trinity, Edwards-Trinity, Seymour, and Cenozoic Pecos Alluvium aquifers. Stream loss has been used to quantify recharge to the Edwards aquifer. Environmental tracers have been used only to a limited extent (chloride mass balance, tritium, and carbon-14) in the Ogallala and Carrizo Wilcox aquifers. This review of existing data indicates that additional studies are required to provide more quantitative estimates of recharge to the major aquifers. Techniques for quantifying groundwater recharge have been subdivided into surface water, unsaturated-, and saturated-zone techniques and include those based on physical, chemical, and modeling data. The range of recharge rates and spatial and temporal scales
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