Massachusetts-Rhode Island Water Science Center


Use of Computer Programs STLK1 and STWT1 for Analysis of Stream-Aquifer Hydraulic Interaction

U.S. Geological Survey, Water-Resources Investigations Report 98-4212

By Leslie A. Desimone and Paul M. Barlow

A product of the Ground-Water Resources Program


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Abstract

Quantifying the hydraulic interaction of aquifers and streams is important in the analysis of stream base fow, flood-wave effects, and contaminant transport between surface- and ground-water systems. This report describes the use of two computer programs, STLK1 and STWT1, to analyze the hydraulic interaction of streams with confined, leaky, and water-table aquifers during periods of stream-stage fuctuations and uniform, areal recharge. The computer programs are based on analytical solutions to the ground-water-flow equation in stream-aquifer settings and calculate ground-water levels, seepage rates across the stream-aquifer boundary, and bank storage that result from arbitrarily varying stream stage or recharge. Analysis of idealized, hypothetical stream-aquifer systems is used to show how aquifer type, aquifer boundaries, and aquifer and streambank hydraulic properties affect aquifer response to stresses. Published data from alluvial and stratifed-drift aquifers in Kentucky, Massachusetts, and Iowa are used to demonstrate application of the programs to field settings. Analytical models of these three stream-aquifer systems are developed on the basis of available hydrogeologic information. Stream-stage fluctuations and recharge are applied to the systems as hydraulic stresses. The models are calibrated by matching ground-water levels calculated with computer program STLK1 or STWT1 to measured ground-water levels.

The analytical models are used to estimate hydraulic properties of the aquifer, aquitard, and streambank; to evaluate hydrologic conditions in the aquifer; and to estimate seepage rates and bank-storage volumes resulting from flood waves and recharge. Analysis of field examples demonstrates the accuracy and limitations of the analytical solutions and programs when applied to actual ground-water systems and the potential uses of the analytical methods as alternatives to numerical modeling for quantifying stream-aquifer interactions.

Contents

Abstract

Introduction

Computer Programs STLK1 and STWT1

Conceptualization of Stream-Aquifer Interaction

Assumptions

Discretization of Stream-Stage and Recharge Stresses

Analysis of Stream-Aquifer Hydraulic Interaction in Idealized Systems

Analysis of Stream-Aquifer Hydraulic Interaction in Field Applications

Tennessee River Alluvial-Aquifer System, Calvert City, Kentucky

Site Description

Analysis of Response of Stream-Aquifer System to Stream-Stage Fluctuations

Blackstone River Stratified-Drift Aquifer System, South Grafton, Massachusetts

Site Description

Analysis of Response of Stream-Aquifer System to Stream-Stage Fluctuations

Cedar River Alluvial-Aquifer System, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Site Description

Analysis of Response of Stream-Aquifer System to a 1-day Stream-Stage Fluctuation

Analysis of Response of Stream-Aquifer System to a Simultaneous 55-day Stream-Stage Fluctuation and Recharge

Summary

References Cited

Appendix—Input and Output Files for Selected Simulations

Figures

1. Schematic diagrams showing types of aquifers to which computer programs STLK1 and STWT1 may be applied: (A) Confined; (B) Leaky, with a constant head overlying the aquitard; (C) Leaky, with an impermeable layer overlying the aquitard; (D) Leaky, overlain by a water-table aquitard; and (E) Water table (unconfined)

2-11. Graphs showing

2. Stream-stage fluctuation and recharge used for simulations of hypothetical aquifers: (A) Sinusoidal, 1-day fluctuation in stream stage; and (B) Linear, 1-day recharge event

3. Effect of aquifer type on the response of hypothetical semi-infinite aquifers to a sinusoidal stream-stage fluctuation: (A) Ground-water levels, 100 feet from streambank; (B) Seepage rate; and (C) Bank storage

4. Effect of observation-well distance from the streambank and lateral extent of the aquifer on the response of ground-water levels in hypothetical confined aquifers to a sinusoidal stream-stage fluctuation: (A) Semi-infinite aquifer; and (B) Finite-width aquifer with lateral boundary 2,000 feet from the stream

5. Effect of the lateral extent of the aquifer on seepage and bank storage in hypothetical, confined aquifers in response to a sinusoidal stream-stage fluctuation: (A) Seepage rate; and (B) Bank storage

6. Effect of observation-well distance from the streambank and the lateral extent of the aquifer on the response of ground-water levels in a hypothetical leaky aquifer with a water-table aquitard and a hypothetical water-table aquifer to a sinusoidal stream-stage fluctuation: (A) Leaky aquifer with a water-table aquitard; and (B) Water-table aquifer

7. Effect of aquifer hydraulic properties on ground-water levels at 100 feet from the streambank in a hypothetical, semi-infinite confined aquifer in response to a sinusoidal stream-stage fluctuation

8. Effect of aquifer hydraulic properties on seepage rate and bank storage in a hypothetical, semi-infinite confined aquifer in response to a sinusoidal stream-stage fluctuation: (A) Seepage rate; and (B) Bank storage

9. Effect of aquifer hydraulic properties on the response of a hypothetical, semi-infinite water-table aquifer to a sinusoidal stream-stage fluctuation: (A) Ground-water levels, 100 feet from streambank; (B) Seepage rate; and (C) Bank storage

10. Effect of streambank properties on the response of a hypothetical, semi-infinite confined aquifer to a sinusoidal stream-stage fluctuation: (A) Ground-water levels, 100 feet from streambank; (B) Seepage rate; and (C) Bank storage

11. Response of a hypothetical water-table aquifer to a 1-day linear recharge event and a 1-day sinusoidal stream-stage fluctuation: (A) Seepage rate; and (B) Bank storage and ground-water discharge

12. Map showing location of the Tennessee River study site, extent of the alluvial aquifer, and potentiometric surface in the aquifer system near Calvert City, Kentucky

13. Hydrogeologic section through the Tennessee River alluvial aquifer near the study site

14. Graph showing stream stage and ground-water levels measured in an observation well located 125 feet from the streambank in the Tennessee River alluvial aquifer near Calvert City, Kentucky

15. Schematic diagram showing conceptual model of the Tennessee River alluvial aquifer near Calvert City, Kentucky, used for simulation with computer program STLK1

16. Graphs showing calculated ground-water levels, seepage rate, and bank storage in the Tennessee River alluvial aquifer near Calvert City, Kentucky, in response to a 38-day stream-stage fluctuation: (A) Calculated and measured ground-water levels; (B) Seepage rate; and (C) Bank storage

17. Map showing location of the Blackstone River study site, South Grafton, Massachusetts

18. Graph showing stream stage and ground-water levels measured in an observation well located 95 ft from the streambank in the Blackstone River stratified-drift aquifer, South Grafton, Massachusetts

19. Schematic diagram showing conceptual model of the Blackstone River stratified-drift aquifer, South Grafton, Massachusetts, used for simulation with computer program STWT1

20, 21. Graphs showing

20. Calculated ground-water levels in the Blackstone River stratified-drift aquifer, South Grafton, Massachusetts, in response to three daily stream-stage fluctuations under water-table and confined conditions: (A) Water-table conditions; and (B) Confined conditions

21. Calculated seepage rate and bank storage in the Blackstone River stratified-drift aquifer, South Grafton, Massachusetts, in response to three daily stream-stage fluctuations: (A) Seepage rate; and (B) Bank storage

22. Map showing location of the Cedar River study site near Cedar Rapids, Iowa

23. Hydrogeologic section of the Cedar River study site near Cedar Rapids, Iowa

24. Graph showing stream stage and calculated and measured ground-water levels in observation wells located at three distances from the streambank in the Cedar River alluvial aquifer near Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for a 1-day stream-stage fluctuation: (A) Stream stage; (B-D) Ground-water levels at (B) 33 feet; (C) 98 feet; (D) and 164 feet from the streambank

25. Schematic diagram showing conceptual model of the Cedar River alluvial aquifer near Cedar Rapids, Iowa, used for simulation with STWT1

6-28.Graphs showing

26. Stream stage and ground-water levels resulting from recharge at the Cedar River alluvial aquifer site near Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for a 55-day stream-stage fluctuation

27. Calculated and measured ground-water levels in observation wells located three distances from the streambank in the Cedar River alluvial aquifer near Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for a simultaneous 55-day stream-stage fluctuation and recharge: (A) 33 feet from the streambank; (B) 98 feet from the streambank; and (C) 164 feet from the streambank

28. Calculated seepage rate and bank storage in the Cedar River alluvial aquifer near Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in response to a simultaneous 55-day stream-stage fluctuation and recharge: (A) Seepage rate; and (B) Bank storage

Tables

1. Physical and hydraulic properties of idealized stream-aquifer systems and other data used in simulations of hypothetical aquifers

2. Physical and hydraulic properties of stream-aquifer systems used in calibrated models for three alluvial and stratified-drift aquifers in Kentucky, Massachusetts, and Iowa


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Suggested Citation:

Desimone, L.A. and Barlow, 1999, Use of Computer Programs STLK1 and STWT1 for Analysis of Stream-Aquifer Hydraulic Interaction, United States Geological Survey, Water-Resources Investigations Report 98-4212, 61 p.


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