The Fall and Rise of an Aquifer: Stakeholders Unite to Conserve and Monitor the Sparta Aquifer in South Arkansas

1. The Fall and Rise of an Aquifer--Stakeholders Unite to Conserve and Monitor the Sparta Aquifer in South Arkansas Dave Freiwald Assistant Director USGS Arkansas Water Science Center U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey

3. Union County Water Conservation Board Cooperative Partners Arkansas Geological Commission

4. Overview Arkansas water-use; water-level declines Sparta aquifer description; early ground-water model results Public education; Union County Water Conservation Board; conservation/alternate supply Sparta Aquifer Recovery Study monitoring networks Updated model simulations; water-level changes

5. Pope County Nuclear One: 9% of total • Arkansas County: 10% of total for irrigation Total Water Use, in MGD 0.7- 1 1- 10 10 - 100 100 - 1,000 1,000 - 2,000 Ground Water-Use Facts For Arkansas Withdrawals began in early 1900’s equal to9 inchesof water over DC area daily • Total water-use~10.9 billion gallonsof water per day (BGD) Substantial declines in ground-water levels documented by USGS since late 1920’s • Irrigation water-use was 7.9 BGD (72% of total) Arkansas ranked 4th in the Nation for ground-water use (CA,TX,NE)

6. Withdrawals from the Sparta Aquifer in Arkansas and Louisiana, 1975-95

7. In 2000, water levels in the Sparta aquifer reached the lowest recorded level of -220 feet below sea level decline in water level of 360 feet since the 1920’s Sparta Aquifer Recovery Project- Union County, Arkansas and Adjacent Area Study Area Well 17S15W18DBB1 Union County, Arkansas Water Level, in feet above NGVD of 1929 Sparta aquifer water-level surface- Union County, Arkansas 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

8. 100 – 500 gallons/minute Sparta Extent Arkansas Mississippi 100-1,000 ft 100-1000 ft Louisiana Sand, silt, clay Sparta Aquifer • Deep, confined system • Municipal/industrial use • > 300 water-level measurements/year

9. Hays, P.D., 2000, • Sustainable-yield estimation for the Sparta aquifer in Union County, Arkansas, • U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 99-4274, 17p. Early Model Studies • Fitzpatrick, D.J., Kilpatrick, J.M., and McWreath, Harry, 1990,Geohydrologic characteristics and simulated response to pumping stresses in the Sparta aquifer in east-central Arkansas: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 88- 4201, 50 p. • McWreath, H.C., III, Nelson, J.D., and Fitzpatrick, D.J., 1991,Simulated response to pumping stresses in the Sparta aquifer, northern Louisiana and southern Arkansas: Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Water Resources Technical Report No. 51, 51 p. Hays, P.D., Lovelace, J.K., and Reed, T.B., 1998,Simulated response to pumping stress in the Sparta aquifer of southeastern Arkansas and north-central Louisiana, 1998-2027: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 98-4121, 25 p. Kilpatrick, J.M., 1992,Simulated response to future pumping in the Sparta aquifer, Union County, Arkansas: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 91-4161, 25 p.

10. Sparta Aquifer Sustained Yield Model Results Sustainable yield for the Sparta aquifer in Union County— achieving water levels above the top of the formation reduce by 72% of the current (1997) withdrawal rate Withdrawal Rate Future Past 72% reduction Sustainable-yield

11. Union County, Arkansas- Economic Future Union County addresses problem: water education and gaining public support The Union County Water Conservation Board (UCWCB) formed in 1999 UCWCB plans for conservation methods and an alternate water supply Union County residents approve taxes to fund conservation and alternate water supply UCWCB with Burns & McDonnell, Inc. develop a Water System Master Plan Press conference announcing conservation plans by industry

12. Conservation and Alternate Water Supply Recycled or reused industrial water of 2.3 million gallons per day and conservation methods decrease withdrawals Ouachita River Alternative Water Supply Project provide 10 million gallons per day to large industrial users in El Dorado Water intake structure on the Ouachita River

13. 2005 SPARTA AQUIFER RECOVERY STUDY A study to document the recovery of ground-water resources as a result of implementing conservation measures and importing surface water in Union County, Arkansas • USGS STUDY APPROACH • Eight wells in and around Union County form a ground-water level monitoring network. • Water-quality samples collected from 12 wells and analyzed for temperature, specific conductance, and chloride. Water levels measured using a pressure transducer, digital data logger, and telephone modem. “Real-time” water-level data available via the Internet at: http://ar.water.usgs.gov Union County Water Conservation Board

14. SPARTA AQUIFER RECOVERY STUDY • Union County Conservation District (UCCD) • Automated data logger wells • Daily water levels • Web accessible: • www.ucwcb.org Daily water levels Real-time water levels Water quality Union County Water Conservation Board

15. Public Awareness “Real-time” well located at Arkansas Welcome Center • High visibility wells located at schools • Union Academy of Health and Wellness and the Charles L. • Lovett Study Well

16. USGS Ground-Water Flow Models • Sparta Model • McKee and others, 2003 • Sustained pumping at 1990-1997 rates Alluvial and Sparta 1998/1997 Water-Level Surface

17. 5- Year Simulated Water-Level Rise2003 to 2008 Water-level change 2003-2008 (feet) El Dorado Arkansas Louisiana

18. El DoradoIndustry Converts to Surface Water Dec 2004 (Lion Oil) Feb 2005 (El Dorado Chemical) Oct 2005 (Chemtura Chemical)

19. Water-Level Rises Alternate Water Supply Starts Alternate Water Source Starts +15 feet +20 feet

20. Water education- public support Water-level declines Sustainable yield Model simulations Water-use and water-level data Future Alternate water supply Past Water-level recovery 72% reduction Sustainable-yield the end Summary