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Effects of conjunctive use on streamflow at the Tamarack State Wildlife Area, northeastern Colorado

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dc.contributor.authorDonnelly, Erin, author
dc.contributor.authorStednick, John, advisor
dc.contributor.authorRonayne, Michael, committee member
dc.contributor.authorSale, Thomas, committee member
dc.contributor.authorKampf, Stephanie, committee member
dc.date.accessioned2007-01-03T08:11:03Z
dc.date.available2007-01-03T08:11:03Z
dc.date.issued2012
dc.description.abstractThe Tamarack Recharge Project in northeastern Colorado is intended to augment the streamflow of the South Platte River by 10,000 acre-feet between April and September to increase aquatic habitat for four federally threatened or endangered bird and fish species in Nebraska. The project goal is to retime surface water flows by pumping unappropriated alluvial groundwater into a recharge pond where it infiltrates and returns to the river at critical low flow periods. Retimed surface water flow will help maintain critical habitat for native aquatic species by increasing streamflow without harming water rights holders. To evaluate the effects of this managed groundwater recharge on streamflow in the South Platte River, the hydrologic environment was characterized and quantified through streamflow monitoring, water table elevation mapping, and a groundwater tracer study. Stream discharge measurements were taken at 4 cross sections on the South Platte River. Two cross sections were considered upgradient of the recharge pond and two were downgradient of the recharge pond. The mean flow of the upstream cross sections was 2.64 cubic meters per second (cms) compared to 2.66 cms at the downstream cross sections, which was not a significant difference. A fluorescein tracer study was used to estimate groundwater travel times and hydraulic conductivity. Based on the arrival time of the breakthrough curve at different piezometers, the mean hydraulic conductivity was estimated to be 331 m/d. Using this value, the estimated return time to the South Platte River at 4 cross sections ranged from 92 to 534 days. Measurements of discharge and water table elevations suggesting that Tamarack Project did not produce a measureable increase in streamflow in the South Platte River during the target period are not indicative of project functionality. The annual volume of water pumped into the recharge pond was less than 1% of the annual yield of the South Platte River. While the volume of return flows did not produce measureable results in the river, data from the tracer study and in-stream vertical hydraulic gradient data indicate a gaining stream condition during the fall and a losing stream during the winter and early spring. Potential source(s) of groundwater discharging to the stream include the recharge pond and irrigation return flows and warrant further study.
dc.format.mediumborn digital
dc.format.mediummasters theses
dc.identifierDonnelly_colostate_0053N_11336.pdf
dc.identifierETDF2012500216ECSS
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10217/68103
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherColorado State University. Libraries
dc.relationwwdl
dc.relation.ispartof2000-2019
dc.rightsCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.
dc.subjectconjunctive use
dc.subjectSouth Platte River
dc.subjectmanaged groundwater recharge
dc.titleEffects of conjunctive use on streamflow at the Tamarack State Wildlife Area, northeastern Colorado
dc.typeText
dcterms.rights.dplaThis Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights (https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/). You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
thesis.degree.disciplineEcosystem Science and Sustainability
thesis.degree.grantorColorado State University
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science (M.S.)

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