Hydrogeology of the Little River Animal Agriculture Environmental
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University of Tennessee, Knoxville Trace: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange Masters Theses Graduate School 12-2013 Hydrogeology of the Little River Animal Agriculture Environmental Research Unit and Impacts of Dairy Operations on Groundwater Robert Wesley Hunter University of Tennessee - Knoxville, [email protected] Recommended Citation Hunter, Robert Wesley, "Hydrogeology of the Little River Animal Agriculture Environmental Research Unit and Impacts of Dairy Operations on Groundwater. " Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, 2013. https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/2611 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at Trace: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses by an authorized administrator of Trace: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. For more information, please contact [email protected]. To the Graduate Council: I am submitting herewith a thesis written by Robert Wesley Hunter entitled "Hydrogeology of the Little River Animal Agriculture Environmental Research Unit and Impacts of Dairy Operations on Groundwater." I have examined the final electronic copy of this thesis for form and content and recommend that it be accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, with a major in Geology. Larry D. McKay, Major Professor We have read this thesis and recommend its acceptance: Edmund Perfect, Jaehoon Lee Accepted for the Council: Carolyn R. Hodges Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School (Original signatures are on file with official student records.) Hydrogeology of the Little River Animal Agriculture Environmental Research Unit and Impacts of Dairy Operations on Groundwater A Thesis Presented for the Master of Science Degree The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Robert Wesley Hunter December 2013 Copyright © 2013 by Robert Wesley Hunter All rights reserved. ii DEDICATION I dedicate this work to my children, Wes, Alle, and Anne, in the hope that you will always understand that you can accomplish anything if you are willing to dedicate yourself, set your mind to the task and apply the energy and time required to complete your goal. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Family, friends and faculty, thank you all for your support, prayers and encouragement during this thesis. Without it, this accomplishment would not have been possible. This thesis would not have been possible without the graduate assistanceship for Mr. Tim Gangaware, Institute for a Secure and Stainable Environment, Tennessee Water Quality Research Center. I would also like to acknowledge my committee members Dr. Larry McKay, Dr. Ed Perfect and Dr. Jaehoon Lee for your kindness and patience with me. I will be forever grateful for this. I would also like to thank UT AgResearch, UTIAI and the staff at the Little River Dairy Farm for their collective kindness and cooperation on this project. In particular, I would like to thank Dr. Bobby Simpson who I admire and respect. iv ABSTRACT This thesis describes the development of an integrated hydrogeologic/hydrologic site assessment and groundwater/surface water quality monitoring program at the University of Tennessee – Little River Dairy Farm, located near Townsend, TN. Hydrologic/hydrogeologic investigations of streams and groundwater at the site have been underway for more than 5 years, and these are expected to provide background data for assessing impacts of dairy wastes. The lower half of the ~180 ha site consists of low-relief fields used for row crops, which are underlain by 4 – 9 m of alluvial deposits on top of black shale or limestone that include sinkhole features. The fields are bounded on two sides by the Little River and on the third side by Ellejoy Creek, which is on the state’s 303(d) list for impairment by nutrients, sediment and fecal microorganisms. These fields are now being fertilized with treated dairy wastes and are the main area of concern for offsite migration of contaminants through groundwater, drainage ditches and a tile drain system. Long term water quality monitoring of runoff, streams, drainage ditches and groundwater is planned, with the intent of measuring environmental impact of dairy operations and testing the effectiveness of different management practices. Research findings indicate groundwater flow systems move toward the central ditch, Little River and Ellejoy Creek. Well hydrographs show rapid recharge in the floodplain. Geochemistry shows seasonal and short term variations, which are consistent with rapid recharge. Nitrate levels vary across the floodplain and in a few cases appear to be increasing slightly. E. coli is present before and after application of manure and major sinkholes could provide fast pathways to the Little River. v TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 ................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Agriculture: Sources of Surface and Groundwater Contamination .............................. 1 1.2 Federal and State Regulatory Environment for Dairy Farming .................................... 3 1.3 Contaminants Associated with Agricultural Production and Dairy Farming ............... 5 1.4 Dairy Farming Past, Present and Future ....................................................................... 7 CHAPTER 2 – UT LITTLE RIVER DAIRY FARM .................................................................. 11 2.1 History and Site Development .................................................................................... 11 2.2 Watershed Characteristics ........................................................................................... 20 2.3 Previous Investigations ............................................................................................... 25 2.4 Surface Water Stream Sampling Program .................................................................. 26 2.5 Storm Event Surface Water Sampling Program ......................................................... 30 2.6 Climate and Weather – LRDF .................................................................................... 37 2.7 Geology - Overview Wildwood Quadrangle .............................................................. 44 2.8 Geology - Site ............................................................................................................. 46 2.9 Soils............................................................................................................................. 54 2.10 Summary ................................................................................................................... 58 vi CHAPTER 3 – HYDROGEOLOGY AND WATER QUALITY MONITORING IN THE ALLUVIAL FLOODPLAIN ........................................................................................................ 59 3.1 – Introduction .............................................................................................................. 59 3.2 Methods....................................................................................................................... 60 3.2.1 Statistics ....................................................................................................... 60 3.2.2 Boreholes and Well Installation ................................................................... 61 3.2.3 Characterization of Sediments – Grainsize Distribution ............................. 66 3.2.4 Hydraulic Conductivity Estimates from Grainsize Distribution .................. 67 3.2.5 Hydraulic Conductivity Measurements – Slug Tests................................... 68 3.2.6 Hydraulic Conductivity Measurements - Pumping Tests ............................ 69 3.2.7 Water Level Monitoring – Hydrographs ...................................................... 70 3.2.8 Water Sampling ........................................................................................... 72 3.2.9 Water Quality Testing .................................................................................. 75 3.3 Results and Discussion ............................................................................................... 78 3.3.1 General Characteristics and Features of the Little River Floodplain ........... 78 3.3.2 Grainsize Distributions for the Floodplain Sediments ................................. 85 3.3.3 Stratigraphic Cross-sections through the Floodplain Sediments ................. 97 3.3.4 Hazen and Shepherd Method Hydraulic Conductivity Estimates.............. 109 vii 3.3.5 Slug Test Results........................................................................................ 111 3.3.6 Pump Test Results...................................................................................... 116 3.3.7 Water Level Monitoring Results – Hydrographs ....................................... 127 3.3.8 Hydrostratigraphic Groundwater Flow Patterns ........................................ 140 3.3.9 Water Quality ............................................................................................. 151 3.4 Summary ................................................................................................................... 175 REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................... 177 APPENDICES ............................................................................................................................ 185 Appendix A - 2007 Borehole Logs in Floodplain Sediments ........................................