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New Concepts for Groundwater Modeling in the Floridan Aquifer

New Concepts for Groundwater Modeling in the Floridan Aquifer. Hazlett-Kincaid, Inc. www.hazlett-kincaid.com. Global Underwater Explorers. www.gue.com. Todd R. Kincaid, Ph.D. Timothy J. Hazlett, Ph.D. Problem Overview. Degrading groundwater quality & increased demand Awareness

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New Concepts for Groundwater Modeling in the Floridan Aquifer

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  1. New Concepts for Groundwater Modelingin the Floridan Aquifer Hazlett-Kincaid, Inc. www.hazlett-kincaid.com Global Underwater Explorers www.gue.com Todd R. Kincaid, Ph.D. Timothy J. Hazlett, Ph.D.

  2. Problem Overview • Degrading groundwater quality & increased demand • Awareness • Incorporating caves into predictive models & management strategies - Photo by Wes Skiles

  3. Facts from the Field • 27 (>1/3) of the 78 largestsprings in North America discharge from the Floridan Aquifer • Average dischargefrom those springs> 6.5 billion gpd • All of those springs discharge from mapped underwater cave systems

  4. Permeability (K) Issues • Fractured Rock & Karst • Flow through 2 or 3 media • Anisotropic (Kx=Ky=Kz) • Flow trough fractures or conduits • Porous Media Assumptions • Flow through single media • Standard approach • Isotropy (Kx=Ky=Kz) • Radial flow to wells & spring

  5. Permeability in the Floridan Aquifer • Modified Double Porosity Model • High matrix permeability • Large and extensive dissolved conduits • Fractures of lesser importance

  6. Cave Types in the Floridan Aquifer Flow-dominated • discharge to springs • fast through-flow • e.g. - Wakulla, Ichetucknee, Manatee, Blue Springs, etc. Storage-dominated • no surface discharge • slow through-flow • e.g. - Dipolder, Blue Grotto Gunpowder, 40 Fathom Grotto, etc.

  7. Woodville Karst Plain • dual porosity system (matrix & conduit) • rapid recharge through sinkholes • discharge at springs

  8. Hydraulic Cave Development Model • cave orientation function of flow system not geology • caves aligned w/ gradient • caves will be smaller and more branched up-gradient • feedback loop between gradient & conduits • Caves can be included in groundwater flow models provided the model can handle permeability contrast (Huntoon, 1984)

  9. Potentials for Groundwater Modeling • Improved Predictions • groundwater flow patterns & velocities • spring catchment areas • contaminant transport times • Probable Cave Locations • iterative modeling • Understanding Cave Development

  10. Preliminary Modeling Wakulla Spring Sub-basin • Advanced Technology • finite-element grid • embraces anisotropy • high permeability contrasts • calibrate to spring discharge

  11. Preliminary Modeling – Hydraulic Head

  12. Preliminary Modeling - Velocity

  13. Preliminary Simulation – Particle Tracks Standard Methods / Modeling Our Modeling Including Cave Wakulla Spring Wakulla Spring

  14. Work in Progress • Applied • groundwater model of the Wakulla Spring sub-basin • adaptation to other spring basins • Theoretical • collaboration with FSU • developing new modeling code - Photo by Wes Skiles

  15. Concluding Remarks Critical Issue • Aquifer Protection • Contamination • Over use Critical Areas • Suwannee River Basin • Degrading water quality • North Florida • Aquifer management Need • Improved predictive capabilities - modeling that includes conduit flow www.hazlett-kincaid.com www.gue.com

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