HR: 1340h
AN: H13B-1340    [Abstracts]
TI: Evaluation Of The Hydrologic Connection Between Mammoth Creek And Mammoth Community Water District Water Supply Wells, Mono County, California
AU: * Burak, S
EM: sburak@psln.com
AF: Snow Survey Associates, P.O. Box 8544, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546 United States
AU: Farrar, C
EM: cdfarrar@usgs.gov
AF: United States Geological Survey, P.O. Box 1360, Carnelian Bay, CA 96140 United States
AB: Groundwater-surface water interactions are examined at several locations in the Mammoth Lakes Basin in the eastern Sierra Nevada. The study sites include three streamflow gauging stations and five water supply and monitor wells located near Mammoth Creek. Major ion chemistry and stable isotope composition of groundwater and surface water were determined and analysis provides evidence that surface and groundwater at the study locations share similar isotopic signatures and seasonal differences due to snowmelt runoff. Streamflow records, well water levels and production well pumpage data were used to qualitatively assess stream-aquifer relationships and suggest that pumpage from production wells located close to Mammoth Creek influences water levels in monitor wells and Mammoth Creek discharge primarily in the fall and early winter. Previous and widely held assumptions that groundwater pumping from deep volcanic aquifers had no effect on stream flows must be revised with the results of the stable isotope analysis. Results suggest there is a connection and this information can be used manage timing and magnitude of groundwater extractions.
DE: 1830 Groundwater/surface water interaction
SC: Hydrology [H]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005