Prepared in cooperation with the Caddo Nation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Bureau of Reclamation Evaluation of Groundwater and Surface-Water Interactions in the Caddo Nation Tribal Jurisdictional Area, Caddo County, Oklahoma, 2010–13 Scientific Investigations Report 2014–5082 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Cover: Background, Rush Springs aquifer outcrop near Binger, Oklahoma, 2010. Photograph taken by Shana Mashburn. Top right, Real-time well near Hinton, Oklahoma, 2010. Photograph taken by Shana Mashburn. Top left, Rush Springs aquifer outcrop near Binger, Oklahoma, 2010. Photograph taken by Shana Mashburn. Bottom left, Spring near Colony, Oklahoma, 2011. Photograph taken by S. Jerrod Smith. Bottom right, Rush Springs aquifer outcrop near Binger, Oklahoma, 2010. Photograph taken by Shana Mashburn. Evaluation of Groundwater and Surface- Water Interactions in the Caddo Nation Tribal Jurisdictional Area, Caddo County, Oklahoma, 2010–13 By Shana L. Mashburn and S. Jerrod Smith Prepared in cooperation with the Caddo Nation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Bureau of Reclamation Scientific Investigations Report 2014–5082 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior SALLY JEWELL, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Suzette M. Kimball, Acting Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2014 For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment, visit http://www.usgs.gov or call 1–888–ASK–USGS. For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod To order this and other USGS information products, visit http://store.usgs.gov Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also may contain copyrighted materials as noted in the text. Permission to reproduce copyrighted items must be secured from the copyright owner. Suggested citation: Mashburn, S.L., and Smith, S.J., 2014, Evaluation of groundwater and surface-water interactions in the Caddo Nation Tribal Jurisdictional Area, Caddo County, Oklahoma, 2010–13: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2014–5082, 54 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20145082. ISSN 2328-031X (print) ISSN 2328-0328 (online) ISBN 978-1-4113-3791-6 iii Acknowledgments The authors are indebted to Polly Edwards, Environmental Director of the Caddo Nation, who had the vision for this study and realized the benefits that would be provided to the Caddo Nation for long-term water planning. The U.S. Geological Survey Oklahoma Water Science Center and Caddo Nation appreciate the funds provided for this study by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Reclamation Native American Affairs Technical Assistance Program. The authors also thank the private landowners who provided access to their lands for data collection. Progress on the study could not have been made without the landowners’ cooperation. v Contents Acknowledgments .......................................................................................................................................iii Abstract ..........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................2 Purpose and Scope ......................................................................................................................................2 Study Area Characteristics .........................................................................................................................2 Hydrogeology of the Study Area ................................................................................................................5 Base Flow from the Rush Springs Aquifer ................................................................................................6 Interaction between Groundwater and Surface Water of the Rush Springs Aquifer .....................23 Streambed Hydraulic Conductivity .................................................................................................23 Hydraulic Head in Streams and Alluvium ......................................................................................26 Volumetric Flow Rates from Seepage Meters ..............................................................................28 Interaction between Groundwater and Surface Water at Cobb Creek near the Eakly, Oklahoma, Streamflow-Gaging Station ............................................................................30 Springs Inventory and Location of Wetlands .........................................................................................34 Potentiometric Surface and Regional Groundwater Flow, 2010 .........................................................38 Groundwater-Level Fluctuations, 2010–13 ..............................................................................................41 Summary .......................................................................................................................................................52 References ...................................................................................................................................................53 Figures 1. Map showing study area, surficial geologic units, and locations of water-level monitoring wells and Mesonet stations, southwestern Oklahoma .....................................3 2. Graph showing precipitation for Oklahoma Climatological Survey Climate Division 7 Southwest, 1935–2011 .................................................................................................................4 3. Pie diagram showing water use from the Rush Springs aquifer, 2005 ...............................5 4. Graph showing groundwater withdrawals in Caddo County, Oklahoma, 1985–2005 ......................................................................................................................................5 5. Graph showing example of base flow determined by using the PART method and streamflow at streamflow-gaging station 07325850 (Lake Creek near Eakly, Oklahoma), March–July 2007 ....................................................................................................6 6. Map showing location of U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging stations in the vicinity of the Rush Springs aquifer ...................................................................................8 7. Graph showing daily streamflow and base flow derived by using the PART method for streamflow-gaging station 07325840 (Lake Creek near Sickles, Oklahoma), 2006–12 .....................................................................................................................9 8. Graphs showing (A) average annual streamflow and base flow, (B) base-flow index, (C) average annual streamflow and base-flow volume, and (D) monthly mean streamflow, base flow, and runoff at streamflow-gaging station 07325840 (Lake Creek near Sickles, Oklahoma), 2006–12 ....................................................................10 9. Graph showing daily streamflow and base flow derived by using the PART method for streamflow-gaging station 07325850 (Lake Creek near Eakly, Oklahoma), 1970–77 ...................................................................................................................11 vi 10. Graph showing (A) average annual streamflow and base flow, (B) base-flow index, (C) average annual streamflow and base-flow volume, and (D) monthly mean streamflow, base flow, and runoff at streamflow-gaging station 07325850 (Lake Creek near Eakly, Oklahoma), 1970–77 ........................................................................12 11. Graph showing daily streamflow and base flow derived by using the PART method for streamflow-gaging station 07325850 (Lake Creek near Eakly, Oklahoma), 2005–12 ...................................................................................................................13 12. Graph showing (A) average annual streamflow and base flow, (B) base-flow index, (C) average annual streamflow and base-flow volume, and (D) monthly mean streamflow, base flow, and runoff at streamflow-gaging station 07325850 (Lake Creek near Eakly, Oklahoma), 2005–12 ........................................................................14 13. Graph showing daily streamflow and base flow derived by using the PART method for streamflow-gaging station 07325860 (Willow Creek near Albert, Oklahoma), 1971–77 ...................................................................................................................15 14. Graph showing (A) average annual streamflow and base flow, (B) base-flow index, (C) average annual streamflow and base-flow volume, and (D) monthly mean streamflow, base flow, and runoff at streamflow-gaging station 07325860 (Willow Creek near Albert, Oklahoma), 1971–77 ..................................................................16 15. Graph showing daily streamflow and base flow derived by using the PART method for streamflow-gaging station 07325860 (Willow Creek near Albert, Oklahoma), 2005–12 ...................................................................................................................17