TITLE:
Role of Multiple High-Capacity Irrigation Wells on a Surficial Sand and Gravel Aquifer
AUTHORS:
Logan C. Seipel, Eric W. Peterson, David H. Malone, Jason F. Thomason
KEYWORDS:
Bedrock Valley, Glacial Sediments, Numerical Modeling, Agriculture, Groundwater Management
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.4 No.5,
May
6,
2016
ABSTRACT: Within
McHenry County, IL, the fastest growing county in Illinois, groundwater is used
for 100% of the water needs. Concerns over water resources have prompted the
investigation of the surficial sand and gravel aquifers of the county. While
the eastern portion of the county is urbanizing, the western portion remains
devoted to agriculture. High-capacity irrigation wells screened within the
surficial sand and gravel aquifer are used for crop production. To assess the
impacts of the irrigation wells on the aquifer, a groundwater flow model was
developed to examine five different scenarios reflecting drought conditions and
increased pumping. Results show that the surficial sand and gravel aquifer is
capable of meeting current water demands even if recharge is decreased 20% and
pumping is increased 20%. The additional loss of discharge and increases in
pumping result in head differences throughout the aquifer.