Er-4348 and Numerical Models for the Jackson Hole
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ER-4348 p r o c e d u r e s f o r t h e development o f c o n c e p t u a l AND NUMERICAL MODELS FOR THE JACKSON HOLE ALLUVIAL AQUIFER, TETON COUNTY, WYOMING USING ARC/INFO GIS AND MODFLOW by Carma San Juan ProQuest Number: 10781218 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a com plete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. uest ProQuest 10781218 Published by ProQuest LLC(2018). Copyright of the Dissertation is held by the Author. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States C ode Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106- 1346 ER-4348 This engineering report is submitted to the faculty and Board of Trustees of the Colorado School of Mines in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering (Geological Engineer). Golden, Colorado Date:^ ^ ./* v /# y Signed: Approved: Dr. Kenneth Kolm Thesis Advisor Golden, Colorado Date: Dr. Roger Slatt Department Head, Department of Geology and Geological Engineering ARTHUR 1/.K2S USHKOT ii COLORADO SCHOOL OF GOLOEfi CO 80401 ER-4348 ABSTRACT Jackson Hole, a rapidly developing region of northwest Wyoming, is experiencing increased surface and ground-water related disputes. Currently, no basin-encompassing model to assess ground-water resources of the shallow ground-water system has been satisfactorily completed. The purpose of this study was to conceptualize and characterize the Jackson Hole hydrologic system using a procedure advocated by Kolm (1993), the ARC/INFO Geographic Information System (GIS) for data management and analysis, and MODFLOW (McDonald and Harbaugh, 1988), a finite-difference numerical model. The study area encompassed the Jackson Hole valley from Jackson Lake south to the Grand Canyon of the Snake River, Teton County, Wyoming. Published data, collected in disparate formats and scales, were integrated into an ARC/INFO database that included geographic, geologic, and hydrologic data. Each data set was analyzed in ARC/INFO to characterize surface and subsurface conditions and the hydrologic system. A water table map was developed from well, river, natural lake, spring, vegetation and topography information. The flow system, conceptualized as three inter-connected systems, was estimated from the water table distribution, landforms, surface water features, and/or geology (depositional patterns, faulting). iii ER-4348 Conceptual models were numerically tested by interfacing the ARC/INFO database with MODFLOW. Mass balance estimates and a water table were predicted by MODFLOW for the shallow hydrologic system. The MODFLOW model was calibrated to estimates of recharge, discharge, baseflow, and the water table map. A state-of-the-art database of the Jackson Hole hydrologic system was developed. The hydrologic system was characterized to the full potential of the available data. A basin-encompassing conceptual and numerical model, which simulates the hydrologic system in Jackson Hole, was satisfactorily completed. GIS technology was proven to be a viable technique for supporting the hydrologic investigation and the modeling process. Since the numerical model was not designed for ground-water management purposes, the development of a more complex, numerical model for management decisions, and additional data gathering are recommended. iv ER-4348 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT.........................................................................................................................iii LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................. x LIST OF TABLES.......................................................................................................... xiii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS............................................................................................ xiv CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................... 1 1.1 Purpose ................................................................ 1 1.2 Scope ........................................................................................................ 2 1.3 Research Procedure .................................................................................. 4 CHAPTER 2 GIS BACKGROUND, DEVELOPMENT, AND LINKAGE TO THE NUMERICAL MODEL.............................................. 8 2.1 Geographic Information Systems Background ...................................... 8 2.2 Vector Versus Raster GIS ............. 8 2.3 Available GIS Softw are ........................................................................... 9 2.3.1 GIS Selection ............................................................................. 11 2.3.2 ARC/INFO Description .......................................................... 11 2.4 Database Development ............................................................................. 12 2.4.1 Data Sources ............................................................................. 12 2.4.2 Data Acquisition ........................................................................ 13 2.4.3 Data Conversion to Digital F o rm a t ........................................ 16 2.5 GIS Construction ....................................................................................... 18 2.6 Data Inspection ......................................................................................... 19 v ER-4348 2.7 GIS - Numerical Model Linkage ........................................ 20 2.7.1 Data Conversion - Vector to Raster F o rm a t ........................... 21 2.7.2 ARC/INFO Interface with MODFLOW ........................... 22 2.7.3 Visualization of MODFLOW Results ..................................... 22 2.7.4 Inspection of MODFLOW Output .......................... 23 2.8 Other ARC/INFO Pre- and Post- MODFLOW Procedures ................. 24 CHAPTER 3 SURFACE CHARACTERIZATION........................................... 26 3.1 Overview .............................................................. 26 3.2 Site Description and Physiography ........................................................ 26 3.3 Topography and Landforms ................................................................... 28 3.4 Surface Water System ............................................................................. 33 3.4.1 Drainage Density and Patterns ................................................ 35 3.4.2 B aseflow ................ 38 3.4.3 Lakes ...................................... 42 3.4.4 Springs ....................................................................................... 43 3.5 Climate ..................................................................................................... 45 3.6 Vegetation Type and Distribution ......................................................... 52 3.6.1 Consumptive Use/Evapotranspiration .......................... 55 3.7 Soils .......................................................................................................... 59 3.7.1 Soil Infiltration Properties ....................................................... 60 CHAPTER 4 HYDROGEOLOGIC CHARACTERIZATION ........................ 63 4.1 O verview .................................................................................................. 63 4.2 Previous Geologic Work ....................................................................... 63 4.2.1 Lithology .............................. 64 4.2.2 Quaternary Geology ................................................................. 69 4.2.3 Subsurface Basin G eom etry ..................................................... 74 4.2.4 Structure . ............................................................................. 75 vi ER-4348 4.2.5 L ineam ents........................................................... 77 4.3 Previous Hydrogeologic Work ............................................................... 79 4.3.1 Aquifers ....................................................................................... 79 4.3.2 Aquifer Flow Parameters ......................................................... 81 CHAPTER 5 HYDROLOGIC SYSTEM CHARACTERIZATION ............ 85 5.1 Recharge Type, Distribution, and Amount ........................................... 85 5.2 Discharge Type, Distribution, and Amount ........................................... 92 5.3 Water Table and Flow System ............. 93 5.3.1 Previous W o rk ........................................................................... 94 5.3.2 Revised Flow System and Water T able ................................... 94 5.3.3 Incorporation of Well D ata ....................................................... 98 CHAPTER 6 NUMERICAL MODELING BACKGROUND AND SIMULATION OF HYDROLOGIC SYSTEM USING MODFLOW AND ARC/INFO ................................................. 102 6.1 Numerical Model Theory ...................................................................... 102 6.1.1 Numerical Model Selection .................................................. 103 6.1.2 MODFLOW Description ....................................................... 103 6.2 Model D esign .................... 105 6.2.1 Steady State Simulation ......................................................... 105 6.2.2 Aquifer Representation in MODFLOW ..................