Circular 1340
ABSTRACTThe Pawcatuck River Basin in southwestern Rhode Island and southeastern Connecticut is an important high-quality water resource for domestic and public supplies, irrigation, recreation, and the aquatic ecosystem. Concerns about the effects of water withdrawals on aquatic habitat in the basin have prompted local, State, and Federal agencies to explore water-management strategies that minimize the effects of withdrawals on the aquatic habitat. As part of this process, the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Rhode Island Water Resources Board completed a study to assess the effects of current (2000–04) and potential water withdrawals on streamflows and groundwater levels using hydrologic simulation models developed for the basin. The major findings of the model simulations are:
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First posted August 2009 For additional information contact:
Director, Rhode Island Water Science Center 42 Albion Road, Suite 107 Lincoln, RI 02865 http://ri.water.usgs.gov/ Part or all of this report is presented in Portable Document Format (PDF); the latest version of Adobe Reader or similar software is required to view it. Download the latest version of Adobe Reader, free of charge. |
Breault, R.F., Zarriello, P.J., Bent, G.C., Masterson, J.P., Granato, G.E., Scherer, J. E., Crawley, K. M., 2009, Effects of water-management strategies on water resources in the Pawcatuck River Basin, southwestern Rhode Island and southeastern Connecticut: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1340, 16 p.; available online at https://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/circ1340/.
Abstract
Introduction
Water Resources
Water Use
Assessment of Water-Management Strategies
Effects of Current Water Use on Streamflow
Effects on Streamflow of Replacing Surface-Water Withdrawals with Groundwater Withdrawals
Effects of Groundwater Pumping on the Water Table
Effects of Potential Changes in Land Use and Water Use
Summary
References Cited