Mapping zones of aquifer recharge and discharge based on correlation of naturally occurring hydrologic features, Central Texas

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dc.contributor.advisorDutton, Alan R.
dc.contributor.authorLupton, Daniel M.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberDutton, Alan R.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberHammon, Weldon W.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberMurray, Kyle E.
dc.date.accessioned2024-02-12T14:52:00Z
dc.date.available2024-02-12T14:52:00Z
dc.date.issued2009
dc.descriptionThis item is available only to currently enrolled UTSA students, faculty or staff. To download, navigate to Log In in the top right-hand corner of this screen, then select Log in with my UTSA ID.
dc.description.abstractDefining vertical flow of groundwater is important for developing conceptual hydrologic/hydrogeologic models and water budgets. Defining vertical flow components can be difficult with sparse well data. This concept is of particular interest when attempting to predict the flow path (local-, intermediate- or regional-scale) that additional recharging surface water will take when phreatophytes (water intensive species) are removed in support of landscape restoration. A GIS-based analysis of dynamic pressure increments (DPI) and proximity of wells to streams of different Strahler order maximizes the use of sparse data to map upward- and downward-directed flow. The method was tested in a part of the Pedernales River watershed in Central Texas to study recharge and discharge and movement of groundwater between the Trinity Hill Country and the Llano Uplift aquifers. A dynamic pressure increment (DPI) as defined by Tóth measures departure from hydrostatic and indicates where groundwater flow is directed upward (+DPI; discharge) or downward (-DPI; recharge). Posting DPI on a GIS-based topographic map showed an obvious correlation--positive values in tributary valleys and negative values in upland settings. Correlation of DPI and well distance is statistically significant for 2nd - to 5th-Strahler order streams. Recharge and discharge areas for individual streams were mapped as a function of distance from each stream and considered the linear regression's prediction interval. In an attempt to further understand the link between stream order and local-, intermediate- and regional-scale flow paths, an elevation-depth-DPI plot was made of all wells within the study area. Patterns showed a regional hydrostatic (DPI = 0) divide between recharging (downward vertical component) and discharging (upward vertical component) at an elevation of approximately 1450 ft. Intermediate-scale systems of groundwater flow were identified by the occurrence of hydrostatic (DPI = 0) conditions as subsets of the regional system.
dc.description.departmentEarth and Environmental Science
dc.format.extent98 pages
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.isbn9781109540604
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12588/4300
dc.languageen
dc.subjectdynamic pressure increment
dc.subjectgroundwater basin
dc.subjectpreatophyte removal
dc.subjectrecharge and discharge
dc.subjectregional-scale flow
dc.subjectvertical flow paths
dc.subject.classificationGeology
dc.subject.classificationWater resources management
dc.subject.classificationEnvironmental science
dc.subject.classificationHydrologic sciences
dc.subject.lcshGroundwater flow -- Texas -- Texas Hill Country
dc.subject.lcshGroundwater flow -- Texas -- Llano Uplift
dc.subject.lcshGroundwater recharge -- Texas -- Texas Hill Country
dc.subject.lcshGroundwater recharge -- Texas -- Llano Uplift
dc.titleMapping zones of aquifer recharge and discharge based on correlation of naturally occurring hydrologic features, Central Texas
dc.typeThesis
dc.type.dcmiText
dcterms.accessRightspq_closed
thesis.degree.departmentEarth and Environmental Science
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Texas at San Antonio
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science

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