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<br />SUMMARY OF USGS PILOT STUDY <br /> <br />· A significant amount of logistical effort by Jefferson County, USEPA, and USGS has been <br />directed toward accomplishing Phase I of the pilot study. Volunteer efforts were critical to <br />implementation. <br /> <br />· Many data available from previous works, that added important insights, were compiled, <br />summarized and interpreted. <br /> <br />· Geologic, rock fracture, water-quality, climatic, evapotranspiration, aquifer hydraulics, <br />ground-water level, and streamflow data were collected, compiled, summarized, and <br />interpreted. <br /> <br />· Water-quality data indicate that the quality of water is generally good; however, <br />concentrations for many constituents in ground water have increased since the 1970s, and <br />concentrations for certain constituents, such as nutrients, are elevated and occasionally <br />exceed drinking water standards. <br /> <br />· Geologic and rock-fracture data were used to define 3 main rock groups. Results indicate <br />that potential storage capacity in the fractured aquifer is very low compared to conventional <br />non-fractured aquifers. <br /> <br />· Runoff and rock-fracture modeling indicate that the basin can be characterized or divided into <br />distinct hydrologic settings to estimate inputs to the ground-water system. <br /> <br />· Evapotranspiration measurements at a typical forested site in the basin were about 70% of <br />precipitation during 1999, which has significant implications for ground water recharge. <br /> <br />· Runoff modeling indicates that about 90 percent of runoff quickly leaves the Turkey Creek <br />basin as shallow subsurface flow. <br /> <br />· Runoff modeling also indicates that, on an annual basis, the amount of water that percolates <br />to long-term ground-water storage is similar to the amount of water currently (2000) <br />withdrawn for domestic use. <br /> <br />REFINING THE CONTEMPORARY UNDERSTANDING <br /> <br />· Encourage technical committee activities to maintain exchange of findings in a timely and <br />effective manner. <br /> <br />· Continue operation of the evapotranspiration tower. <br /> <br />· Continue collection of basic hydrologic data with. some modifications. <br /> <br />· Initiate water-quality monitoring to track long-term changes and answer specific questions. <br /> <br />· Implement a more definitive ground-water level program that includes continuous <br />measurements at a few sites and a few synoptic coverages of seasonal conditions in the <br />Turkey Creek basin. <br /> <br />· Implement aquifer testing to better define site-specific hydraulic characteristics. <br /> <br />· Implement streamflow measurements in distinct hydrologic settings to better define <br />integrated hydrologic responses. <br /> <br />MGWRS Water Study Report <br /> <br />Page 2 <br />