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Effect of Groundwater Withdrawals, River Stage, and Precipitation on Water-Table Elevations in the Iowa River Alluvial Aquifer near Tama, Iowa, 2017–20

Open-File Report 2021-1019
Prepared in cooperation with the Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa
By:  and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20211019

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Abstract

The Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa is the only federally recognized Tribe in the State of Iowa and is commonly known as the Meskwaki Nation. The Tribe owns more than 8,100 acres, referred to as the “Meskwaki Settlement.” The Meskwaki Settlement uses a well field that withdraws water from the Iowa River alluvial aquifer (IRAA) to supply drinking water to members of the Tribe. Increased severity and timing of flooding and drought conditions, coupled with water-quality concerns in the Iowa River, have prompted the Meskwaki Nation to start identifying tools to provide a better understanding of how extreme climate events (changes in streamflow, flood frequency, and magnitude and persistence of drought conditions), increasing water-supply demands, and groundwater storage depletion will affect water availability in the IRAA.

From June 2017 through September 2020, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Meskwaki Nation, collected continuous and discrete groundwater level data from 11 wells in a U.S. Geological Survey monitoring-well network. Groundwater level data collected at these wells were assessed with daily precipitation data and compared to changes in stream level elevations and daily groundwater withdrawals to determine how these changes affect groundwater-table elevations. Results from this study could be used to guide the development of a conceptual model for groundwater flow and a groundwater flow model for the IRAA to quantify and forecast the effect of groundwater withdrawals, Iowa River streamflow, and local precipitation on the water table in the IRAA.

Suggested Citation

Gruhn, L.R., and Haj, A.E., 2021, Effect of groundwater withdrawals, river stage, and precipitation on water-table elevations in the Iowa River alluvial aquifer near Tama, Iowa, 2017–20: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2021–1019, 11 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20211019.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Acknowledgments
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Methods
  • Hydrologic Effect of Groundwater Withdrawals, River Stage, and Precipitation on the Iowa River Alluvial Aquifer
  • Summary and Conclusions
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Effect of groundwater withdrawals, river stage, and precipitation on water-table elevations in the Iowa River alluvial aquifer near Tama, Iowa, 2017–20
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2021-1019
DOI 10.3133/ofr20211019
Year Published 2021
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Central Midwest Water Science Center
Description Report: vi, 11 p.; Data Release; Dataset
Country United States
State Iowa
County Tama County
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
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