multiscale investigation of ground water flow at Clear Lake, Iowa

Ground water flow was investigated at Clear Lake, a 1468-ha glacial lake in north-central Iowa, as part of a comprehensive water quality study. A multiscale approach, consisting of seepage meters (and a potentiomanometer), Darcy's law, and an analytic element (AE) model, was used to estimate gr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ground water 2006-01, Vol.44 (1), p.35-46
Main Author: Simpkins, William W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
analytic element method
analytical element models
Calibration
Ecosystem
Environmental Monitoring - methods
Finite Element Analysis
Fresh Water
Geological Phenomena
Geology
GFLOW model
groundwater discharge
Groundwater flow
groundwater inflow
groundwater outflow
hydraulic conductivity
hydrogeology
hydrologic models
Iowa
Lakes
mathematical models
seepage
Soil Pollutants - analysis
Water Movements
Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
Water quality
Water Supply
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Summary:Ground water flow was investigated at Clear Lake, a 1468-ha glacial lake in north-central Iowa, as part of a comprehensive water quality study. A multiscale approach, consisting of seepage meters (and a potentiomanometer), Darcy's law, and an analytic element (AE) model, was used to estimate ground water inflow to and outflow from the lake. Estimates from the three methods disagreed. Seepage meters recorded a median-specific discharge of 0.25 micrometer/s, which produced a lake inflow rate between 90,750 and 138,200 m3/d, but no detectable outflow. A wave-induced Bernoulli effect probably compromised both inflow and outflow measurements. Darcy's law was applied to 11 zones around the lake, producing inflow and outflow values of 10,500 and 5000 m3/d, respectively. The AE model, GFLOW, coupled with the parameter estimation model, UCODE, simulated ground water flow in a 700-km2 region using 31 hydraulic head and base flow measurements as calibration targets. The model produced ground water inflow and outflow rates of 14,300 and 9200 m3/d, respectively. Although not a substitute for field data, the model's ability to simulate ground water flow to the lake and the region, estimate uncertainty for model parameters, and calculate a lake stage and associated lake water balance makes it a powerful tool for water quality management and an attractive alternative to the traditional methods of ground water/lake investigation.
ISSN:0017-467X
1745-6584
DOI:10.1111/j.1745-6584.2005.00084.x