Skip to main content
Log in

Augmentation of seasonal low stream flows by artificial recharge in the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie aquifer of Idaho and Washington, USA

Augmentation du débit d′étiage des cours d′eau due à la recharge artificielle dans la vallée de Spokane et de l′aquifère Prairie dans les états de l′Idaho et de Washington, Etats Unis d′Amérique

Aumentos estacionales de flujos de base por recarga artificial en el acuífero de Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie de Idaho y Washington, EEUU

美国爱达荷州和华盛顿州Spokane Valle-Rathdrum Prairie含水层人工补给条件下季节性低径流河流流量的增加

Aumento dos fluxos reduzidos sazonais por recarga artificial em cursos de água, no aquífero do Vale Spokane-Pradaria de Rathdrum, em Idaho e Washington, EUA

  • Repot
  • Published:
Hydrogeology Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Conjunctive management of surface water and groundwater requires sophisticated spatial and temporal analysis. In situations involving multiple jurisdictions such as state boundaries, management problems are magnified due to often conflicting regulations and policies. A transient MODFLOW model of the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie (SVRP) aquifer/river system mutually accepted by both the states of Idaho and Washington, USA, was used to evaluate regional solutions to potential water shortages through the use of strategically placed infiltration basins or injection wells. Artificial recharge of the SVRP aquifer was simulated using diversions from Lake Pend Oreille during winter periods when flows are high and excess water is available. Alternative locations for potential wells and detention basins were examined. Lag times for the water to impact stream/groundwater interaction areas along the Spokane River were evaluated to assess the potential for augmenting stream flows from July through September. Results indicated that the aquifer could be used to improve low-flow season streamflow values utilizing both infiltration basins and injection wells with winter surface water diversions. Depending on the location, as much as 30% of the winter diversion rate could be lagged to improve summer flows at the Spokane gage. Thus, a regional mitigation strategy is scientifically feasible.

Résumé

La gestion conjointe des eaux de surface et des eaux souterraines nécessite une analyse spatio-temporelle détaillée. Dans des situations impliquant plusieurs juridictions telles que des limites d’état, les problèmes de gestion sont souvent amplifiés liés à des règlements et des politiques de l’eau pouvant être conflictuels. Un modèle transitoire développé sous MODFLOW pour le système aquifère/rivière de la vallée de Spokane et l’aquifère de Rathrum Prairie (SVRP) accepté par les états de l’Idaho et de Washington (Etats-Unis d’Amérique) a été utilisé afin d’évaluer les solutions à un niveau régional vis-à-vis de problèmes de manque d’eau, en ayant recours à des basins d’infiltration ou des puits d’injection. La recharge artificielle de l’aquifère SVRP a été simulée intégrant des déviations des flux du Lac Pend Oreille pendant les périodes hivernales lorsque de l’eau en excès est potentiellement disponible. Plusieurs emplacements concernant des puits d’injection et des basins de rétention ont été examinés. Les temps nécessaires pour qu’un impact sur les interactions rivière/eaux souterraines le long de la rivière Spokane ont été analysés afin d’évaluer l′augmentation potentielle des débits d’étiage du cours d’eau pour la période comprise entre les mois de juillet et de septembre. Les résultats montrent que l’aquifère peut être utilisé pour améliorer les débits d’étiage du cours d’eau en ayant recours à des bassins d’infiltration et à des puits d’injection en ayant recours à des déviations d’eau du lac en période hivernale. Jusqu’à 30% des flux déviés au cours de cette période selon les emplacements, pourraient contribuer aux débits d’étiage au niveau de la station de jaugeage de la rivière Spokane. Ainsi, une stratégie de gestion des eaux au niveau régional est possible du point de vue scientifique.

Resumen

El manejo conjuntivo del agua superficial y subterránea requiere un análisis espacial y temporal complejo. En situaciones que involucran jurisdicciones múltiples tales como límites entre estados, los problemas de manejos se magnifican debido a políticas y regulaciones a menudo conflictivas. Se usó un modelo MODFLOW transitorio del sistema acuífero / río del Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie (SVRP) mutuamente aceptado por los estados de Idaho y Washington, EEUU para evaluar soluciones regionales a una escasez potencial de agua a través del uso de cuencas de infiltración estratégicamente ubicadas o pozos de inyección. La recarga artificial del acuífero SVRP fue simulada usando desvíos provenientes del Lago Pend Oreille durante períodos invernales cuando los flujos son altos y hay un exceso de agua potencialmente disponible. Se examinaron sitios alternativos para pozos potenciales y cuencas de retención. Se evaluaron los tiempos de retardo del agua para impactar áreas de la interacción curso / aguas subterráneas a lo largo del Río Spokane para evaluar el potencial aumento del flujo de la corriente desde Julio hasta el final de Septiembre. Los resultados indicaron que el acuífero podría ser usado para mejorar los valores de flujo de base estacionales utilizando tanto cuencas de infiltración como pozos de inyección con desvíos invernales de aguas superficiales. Dependiendo del sitio, tanto como hasta el 30% del ritmo de los desvíos invernales podrían ser retardados para mejorar los flujos del verano en la estación de aforos de Spokane. Así, una estrategia de mitigación regional es científicamente factible.

摘要

地表水和地下水的联合管理需要复杂的时空分析。在多个管辖权之下, 如州界处, 管理问题常因不同的法规和政策而愈加复杂。利用同时被美国爱达荷州和华盛顿州接受的Spokane Valle-Rathdrum Prairie含水层 (SVRP) 含水层/河流系统的非稳定流MODFLOW模型, 评价通过战略意义上布置的入渗盆地或注入井解决潜在缺水问题的区域解决方法。调用Pend Oreille 湖冬季流量较大时多余的水作为补给水源进行SVRP含水层的人工补给模拟。考察了不同井和滞留盆地位置。通过估算补给水影响沿Spokane河的河水/地下水相互作用区域的延迟时间, 评价七月到九月间河流流量增加的潜力。结果表明, 可通过入渗盆地和注入井将冬季地表水调水补入含水层来增加低径流季节的河流流量。因位置不同, 最多30%的冬季调水量可通过延迟来提高Spokane水文站的夏季流量。因此, 区域缓解策略是科学可行的。

Resumo

A gestão integrada das águas superficiais e subterrâneas exige uma sofisticada análise espacial e temporal. Em situações que envolvam múltiplas jurisdições, tais como os limites estaduais, os problemas de gestão são muitas vezes ampliados, devido a regulamentos e políticas conflituantes. Um modelo MODFLOW em regime transitório do sistema aquífero/rio Vale Spokane-Pradaria de Rathdrum (SVRP), mutuamente aceite por ambos os Estados de Idaho e Washington, EUA, foi utilizado para avaliar as soluções regionais com potencial escassez da água, através da utilização de bacias de infiltração ou poços de injecção estrategicamente localizados. A recarga artificial do aquífero SVRP foi simulada usando desvios do Lago Pend Oreille durante os períodos de inverno, quando os fluxos são elevados e o excesso de água se encontra potencialmente disponível. Localizações alternativas para potenciais poços e bacias de retenção foram avaliadas. Foram avaliados igualmente os intervalos de tempo necessários para que se fizessem sentir os impactes da água nas áreas de interacção curso de água/águas subterrâneas ao longo do Rio Spokane, de modo a estimar o potencial de aumento dos fluxos do curso de água desde Julho até Setembro. Os resultados indicaram que o aquífero pode ser utilizado para melhorar os valores de caudal dos fluxos reduzidos sazonais, utilizando, quer bacias de infiltração, quer poços de injecção com águas superficiais no período de inverno. Dependendo da localização, tanto como 30% das taxas de desvio de inverno poderiam ser desfasadas para melhorar os fluxos de verão na estação hidrométrica de Spokane. Nestas condições, uma estratégia regional de mitigação é cientificamente possível.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barlow PM, Ahlfeld DP, Dickerman DC (2003) Conjunctive-management models for sustained yield of stream-aquifer systems. ASCE J Water Resour Plan Manage 129(1):35–48

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bartolino JR (2007) Assessment of areal recharge to the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie aquifer, Spokane County, Washington, and Bonner and Kootenai Counties, Idaho. US Geol Surv Sci Invest Report 2007-5038, Reston, VA

    Google Scholar 

  • Bolke EL, Vaccaro JJ (1981) Digital-model simulation of the hydrologic flow system with emphasis on ground water in the Spokane Valley, Washington and Idaho. US Geol Surv Open-File Report 80-1300, Tacoma, WA

    Google Scholar 

  • Buchanan JP (2000) Unified groundwater flow model of the Rathdrum Prairie-Spokane Valley Aquifer System. Eastern Washington University, Cheney, WA

    Google Scholar 

  • Buchanan JP, Olness IA (1994) Groundwater flow model of the Spokane Valley Portion of the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer System. Technical report submitted to the Water Quality Management Program. Spokane County Engineers, Spokane, WA

    Google Scholar 

  • Caldwell RR, Bowers CL (2003) Surface-water/ground-water interaction of the Spokane River and the Spokane Valley/Rathdrum Prairie aquifer, Idaho and Washington. US Geol Surv Water Resour Invest Report 03-4239, Reston, VA

    Google Scholar 

  • Covert JJ, Band TL, Gregory GJ (2005) Data Report - 2005 six minute study, Spokane Valley Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer Area, Spokane County, WA. Washington Department of Ecology Memorandum, Spokane, WA

    Google Scholar 

  • Fu G, Barber ME, Chen S (2007) The impacts of climate change on regional hydrological regimes in the Spokane River watershed. ASCE J Hydrol Eng 12(5):452–461

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gearhart CM, Buchanan JP (2000) The hydraulic connection between the Spokane River and the Spokane Aquifer - gaining and losing reaches of the Spokane River from State Line, Idaho to Spokane, Washington. Technical Report, Spokane County Public Works Water Quality Management Program, Spokane, WA

    Google Scholar 

  • Hseih PA, Barber ME, Contor BA, Hossain MA, Johnson GS, Jones JL, Wylie AH (2007) Ground-water flow model for the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie aquifer, Spokane County, Washington, and Bonner and Kootenai Counties, Idaho. USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2007-5044, Reston, VA

    Google Scholar 

  • Kahle SC, Caldwell RR, Bartolino JR (2005) Compilation of geologic, hydrologic, and ground-water flow modeling information for the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie aquifer, Spokane County, Washington, and Bonner and Kootenai Counties, Idaho. US Geol Surv Sci Invest Report 2005-5227, Reston, VA

    Google Scholar 

  • Oldow J, Sprenke KF (2006) Gravity acquisition and depth to basement modeling of the Spokane Valley and Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer, Northeastern Washington and Northwestern Idaho, Technical report prepared for the Idaho Dept of Water Resources and Washington State Dept of Ecology, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID

  • Prudic DE, Konikow LF, Banta ER (2004) A new streamflow-routing (SFR1) package to simulate stream-aquifer interaction with MODFLOW-2000. USGS Open-File Report 2004-1042

  • Stovall SH, Entz R, Maroney J, Cole P, Corsi C, Hayden J, Horner N, Maiolie M, Brengle C, Ashley P, Whalen J, Shuhda TH (2001) Pend Oreille subbasin summary. Prepared for the Northwest Power Planning Council, Portland, OR

    Google Scholar 

  • Winter TC, Harvey JW, Franke OL, Alley WM (1998) Groundwater and surface water—a single resource. US Geol Surv Circ 1139, Denver, Colorado

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was made possible by a grant provided by the US Environmental Protection Agency. The authors wish to extend their gratitude to Paul Hseih and Allen Wylie for their efforts in helping develop the original MODFLOW model. We also want to thank Jim Bartolino, Bryce Contor, Gary Johnson, Allen Jones, and Sue Kahle for their persistence in collecting and interpreting input data for the original model calibration process.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael E. Barber.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Barber, M.E., Hossain, A., Covert, J.J. et al. Augmentation of seasonal low stream flows by artificial recharge in the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie aquifer of Idaho and Washington, USA. Hydrogeol J 17, 1459–1470 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-009-0467-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-009-0467-6

Keywords

Navigation