Author(s): Shalamu Abudu; Zhuping Sheng; James Phillip King; Chunliang Cui
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: RiverWare model; Groundwater objects (GWOs); Surface and groundwater interaction
Abstract: A RiverWare model was developed to simulate interaction between surface water and groundwater in Rincon Valley, New Mexico, USA and to evaluate the hydrologic effects of different water management alternatives by incorporating regional groundwater flow model (MODFLOW) results to define the deep aquifer hydrological conditions, irrigation and drainage system and crop water use in the area into the models. Multiple groundwater objects (GWOs) were used to simulate interaction of surface water and groundwater, namely seepage losses from the canals and the river (the Rio Grande), groundwater pumping, and return flows from the drains. Water demands for crop consumptive uses were estimated using crop acreage, crop patterns and crop ET coefficients to generate a more accurate assessment, which in turn allows the model to simulate diversion requests and diversions more accurately. The daily data from 2001 to 2003 were used to conduct calibration of the model using a daily time step. The Rincon Valley model was calibrated to the historical flow values at the Rio Grande above Leasburg gaging station. The results indicate that the model adequately reproduced the historic flows at the selected sites for the period studied. It is recommended that the model performance can be further improved by acquiring more accurate crop data, improving return flow estimation and integration of the model with calibration of extended historic data. The current extreme drought period likely is triggering surface water-groundwater interaction processes not seen in the calibration data set.
Year: 2013