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Ground-Water Flow Simulation of the Columbia Plateau Regional Aquifer System, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho

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Ground-Water Flow Simulation of the Columbia Plateau Regional Aquifer System, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho GROUND-WATER FLOW SIMULATION OF THE COLUMBIA PLATEAU REGIONAL AQUIFER SYSTEM, WASHINGTON, OREGON, AND IDAHO By A. J. Hansen, Jr., J. J. Vaccaro, and H. H. Bauer A Contribution of the Regional Aquifer-System Analysis Program U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Water-Resources Investigations Report 91-4187 Tacoma, Washington 1994 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Gordon P. Eaton, Director Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. For more information Copies of this report may be write to: purchased from: District Chief U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Geological Survey Earth Science Information Center 1201 Pacific Avenue, Suite 600 Open-File Reports Section Tacoma, Washington 98402-4384 Box 25286, MS 517 Denver Federal Center Denver, CO 80225 CONTENTS Page Abstract............................................................^^ 1 Introduction........................................................................................................................................................^ Purpose and scope................................................................................................................................................ 3 Description of study area...................................................................................................................................... 3 Hydrogeology....................................................................................................................................................^ Geologic setting.................................................................................................................................................... 6 Basalt ......................................................................... Overburden................................................................................................................................................ 10 Structural features...................................................................................................................................... 10 Conceptual model for ground-water movement and numerical simulation....................................................... 11 Movement of water ............................................................................................................................................ 13 Basalt units................................................................................................................................................. 13 Overburden aquifer.................................................................................................................................... 14 Lateral hydraulic conductivity............................................................................................................................ 14 Model construction..................................................................................................................................................... 17 Description of model.......................................................................................................................................... 17 Modifications to model...................................................................................................................................... 18 Model grid system.............................................................................................................................................. 18 Boundary conditions........................................................................................................................................... 19 Hydrologic stresses............................................................................................................................................. 20 Pumpage..................................................................................................................................................... 21 Recharge.................................................................................................................................................... 21 Change in storage....................................................................................................................................... 23 Calibration .......................................... Parameters.................................................................................................................................................. 24 Lateral hydraulic conductivity .......................................................................................................... 25 Overburden aquifer................................................................................................................... 25 Basalt units ...............................................................................................................................26 Transmissivity................................................................................................................................... 28 Vertical hydraulic conductance per unit area.................................................................................... 29 Storage coefficient............................................................................................................................ 32 Stream-leakage coefficients.............................................................................................................. 34 Drain-leakage coefficients ................................................................................................................ 36 Streams..................................................................................................................................... 36 Farm drains............................................................................................................................... 37 Lake-leakage coefficients.................................................................................................................. 37 General head boundary coefficients.................................................................................................. 38 Results of model calibration...................................................................................................................... 38 Special simulation problems and solutions.................................................................................................................43 Vertical head gradient problems......................................................................................................................... 43 Lateral head gradient problems.......................................................................................................................... 44 Area-specific problems....................................................................................................................................... 45 Numerical problems, model limitations, and sensitivity.................................................................................... 47 Discussion of the regional flow system on the basis of model simulations................................................................ 54 Predevelopment conditions................................................................................................................................ 55 1983-1985 time-averaged conditions................................................................................................................. 61 Flow system............................................................................................................................................... 61 Discharge to basins and streams................................................................................................................ 65 Effects of water development based on model simulations ............................................................................... 68 Summary and conclusions ..........................................................................................................................................73 Selected references............................................................................................................................................. 76 in ILLUSTRATIONS [Plates are located in jacket at end of report] PLATE 1. Maps showing the geologic framework for the Columbia Plateau aquifer system, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. 2. Maps showing the model grid system and boundary conditions for the Columbia Plateau aquifer system, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. 3. Maps showing average ground-water pumpage 1983-85 in the Columbia Plateau aquifer system, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. 4. Maps showing the mean annual precipitation and estimates of recharge for the Columbia Plateau aquifer system, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. 5. Maps showing model-derived distribution of lateral hydraulic conductivity in the model layers for the Columbia Plateau aquifer system, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. 6. Maps showing model-derived distribution of transmissivity in the model layers for the Columbia Plateau aquifer system, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. 7. Maps showing model-derived distribution of vertical hydraulic conductance per unit area between model layers for the Columbia Plateau aquifer system, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. 8. Maps showing locations and types of cells or areas where model-calculated
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