Abstract
Introduction
Purpose and Scope
Location and Physiography
Previous Studies and Data Networks
Acknowledgments
Hydrogeology
Hydrogeologic Units
Water-Supply Wells
Ground-Water Levels and Flow
Surface-Water Levels and Streamflow
Water Quality
Hydrologic Components and Budget
Inflow Components
Outflow Components
Hydrologic Budget
Development of Steady-State and Transient Numerical Models
Steady-State Model
Spatial Discretization
Hydrologic Boundary Conditions and Stresses
Hydraulic Conductivity
Calibration
Transient Model
Temporal Discretization and Initial Conditions
Storage Properties of Aquifer
Hydrologic BoundaryConditions and Stresses
Calibration
Simulated Effects of Ground-Water Withdrawals
Predevelopment Conditions
Conditions for 1964–98
Hypothetical Ground-Water Withdrawal Scenarios
Summary and Conclusions
References
1, 2. Maps showing:
1. Location of the Big River study area, distribution of stratified sand-and-gravel deposits, and the boundary of the Big River Management Area, Rhode Island
2. Location of U.S. Geological Survey continuous streamflow-gaging stations, observation wells, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration climatological station used to estimate hydrologic conditions in the Big River study area, 1964–98
3. Graph showing record of total monthly precipitation and distribution of monthly precipitation measurements for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration climatological station 14266, Kingston, Rhode Island, 1964–98
4. Map showing location of selected partial-record streamflow-gaging stations, observation wells, and streambed piezometers used to collect hydrologic data to develop and calibrate simulation models of the Big River study area
5–12. Graphs showing:
5. Water-level altitude measurements and the average of water-level altitudes measured in selected wells in the Big River study area, 1996–98
6. Record of monthly water-level altitudes and distribution of water-level altitudes recorded at wells (A) EXW 6, (B) SNW 6, and (C) COW 411, Big River study area, 1964–98
7. Water-level altitude measurements and the average of water-level altitudes measured in selected streambed piezometers in the Big River study area, 1996–98
8. Water-level altitude measurements and the average of water-level altitudes measured at selected ponds in the Big River study area, 1996–98
9. Paired surface-water-level altitudes and ground-water-level altitudes measured at selected streambed piezometers on the (A) Big River, (B) the Mishnock River, and (C) the Nooseneck River, 1997–98
10. Record of daily streamflow and boxplot of streamflow statistics at gaging stations on the (A) Hunt River, (B) Pawcatuck River, (C) Wood River, (D) Nipmuc River, (E) Nooseneck River, and (F) Carr River, 1964–98
11. Estimated long-term average monthly streamflow at the Nooseneck River, Carr River, and Big River partial-record gaging stations compared to average monthly flows for the 1964–79 period of record for the Nooseneck River and Carr River gaging stations and an area-weighted estimate for the Big River from continuous-gage records at the Nooseneck River and Carr River tributaries
12. Distribution of specific conductance measurements in samples of ground water and surface water in the Big River study area, 1996–99
13. Map showing spatial extent of the hydrologic-budget area, active area of simulation model, specified stream-inflow locations, and location of model-calculated streamflows out of the Big River study area
14. Diagram of the sources and sinks of water along the boundaries of the numerical models of the Big River study area
15. Graph showing distributions of annual and monthly recharge estimated from streamflow records for the Hunt River near East Greenwich, Rhode Island, 1964–98
16. Map showing grid and boundary conditions of the active model cells for the simulation model of the Big River study area
17. Schematic section showing active model cells and model layers for the simulation model of the Big River study area
18. Map showing model-calculated steady-state water table, Big River study area
19–21. Graphs showing:
19. Distribution of differences between estimates of average monthly water levels during 1964–98 and model-calculated water levels, in feet, at the 21 well sites used for model calibration in the Big River study area
20. Estimated average monthly and model-calculated streamflows at six partial-record streamflow-gaging stations within the Big River study area
21. Model-calculated steady-state streamflows and streamflow depletions for the 1964–98 period in the (A) Congdon and Big Rivers, (B) Carr River, (C) western unnamed tributary to the Carr River, (D) Mishnock River, and (E) Old Hickory Brook
22, 23. Maps showing:
22. Model-calculated steady-state contributing areas for Lake Mishnock and for public- water-supply wells KC01 and KC02 for simulated conditions during 1964–98
23. Location of current and hypothetical ground-water-development sites and streamflow sites selected for examination of streamflow depletion in the Big River study area
24–30. Graphs showing:
24. Model-calculated steady-state streamflow depletion at the Lake Mishnock outfall, Mishnock River Basin (at Route 3), Carr River above Capwell Mill Pond, and the Big River Basin (at Hill Farm Road) for conditions during 1964–98 and 14 withdrawal scenarios, Big River study area
25. Total model-calculated steady-state streamflow depletion for the Mishnock River Basin (at Route 3), and the Big River Basin (at Hill Farm Road) for conditions during 1964–98 and 14 withdrawal scenarios, Big River study area
26. Model-calculated monthly average August streamflow at the Lake Mishnock outfall, the Mishnock River at Route 3, the Carr River above Capwell Mill Pond, and the Big River at Hill Farm Road for the predevelopment conditions, conditions during 1964–98, and 14 withdrawal scenarios, Big River study area
27. Model-calculated steady-state streamflows and streamflow depletions in scenarios 9A and 9B for the (A) western unnamed tributary to the Carr River, and (B) Old Hickory Brook
28. Model-calculated steady-state streamflows and streamflow depletions for scenario 10 in the (A) Congdon and Big Rivers, (B) Carr River, (C) western unnamed tributary to the Carr River, (D) Mishnock River, and (E) Old Hickory Brook
29. Estimated monthly average and model-calculated ground-water altitudes at 21 observation wells within the Big River study area
30. Model-calculated monthly average streamflow at the Lake Mishnock outfall, the Mishnock River at Route 3, the Carr River above Capwell Mill Pond, and the Big River at Hill Farm Road for the predevelopment conditions, conditions during 1964–98, and 14 withdrawal scenarios, Big River study area
1. Summary of monthly withdrawals from public water-supply wells in the Mishnock River Valley of the Big River study area, Rhode Island, 1964–98
2. Continuous-record streamflow-gaging stations and summary statistics used to estimate long-term average streamflows in the Big River study area
3. Partial-record streamflow-gaging stations, streamflow statistics during the study period (1996–98), and estimates of associated streamflow statistics during the simulation period (1964–98) in the Big River study area
4. Estimated average annual hydrologic budget for the Big River model area, 1964–98
5. Model-calculated steady-state water-level altitudes, statistical estimates of long-term mean water-level altitudes, and measured water-level altitudes in August 1998 and December 1997 at observation wells in the Big River study area
6. Model-calculated steady-state streamflows and statistical estimates of long-term average streamflow at partial-record stations in the Big River study area
7. Model-calculated steady-state average annual hydrologic budget for the Big River study area
8. Model-calculated steady-state and transient average annual hydrologic budgets for the Big River study area
9. Model-calculated hydrologic budget for predevelopment and conditions for 1964–98 in the Big River study area
10. Hypothetical ground-water withdrawal scenarios in the Big River study area
11. Estimated aquatic base flow, 7-day 10-year low flow, and model-calculated transient streamflows for August for withdrawal scenario evaluation in the Big River study area
This report is presented in Portable Document Format (PDF).
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The citation for this report, in USGS format, is as follows:
Granato, G.E., Barlow, P.M., Dickerman, D.C., 2003, Hydrogeology and Simulated Effects of Ground-Water Withdrawals in the Big River Area, Rhode Island: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 03-4222, 76 p.
For more information about USGS activities in Massachusetts-Rhode Island District, visit the USGS Massachusetts-Rhode Island Home Page.
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