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Use of a Numerical Model for Management of Shallow Ground‐Water Levels in the Yuma, Arizona Area
Author(s) -
Hill Bradley M.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
groundwater
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.84
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1745-6584
pISSN - 0017-467X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-6584.1996.tb02020.x
Subject(s) - groundwater recharge , hydrology (agriculture) , environmental science , groundwater , irrigation , drainage , evapotranspiration , aquifer , water resource management , geology , geotechnical engineering , biology , ecology
The Yuma area has experienced agricultural development since the late 1890s and ground‐water levels have risen over 70 feet due to recharge from heavy application of irrigation water, unlined canals and flooding along the Colorado and Gila Rivers. The resulting shallow water levels have seriously impacted residential areas and prime agricultural land. The Arizona Department of Water Resources in conjunction with Yuma County Flood Control District developed a regional three‐dimensional ground‐water flow model of the Yuma area. The purpose of the model is to assist local agencies in evaluating remedial water management alternatives to mitigate the shallow ground‐water level problems. The model domain incorporates over 900 mi 2 of Arizona, California, and Mexico and simulates ground‐water pumpage, deep percolation from agricultural irrigation, evapotranspiration from phreatophytes and flow in 12 canals, 16 drains, and the Colorado and Gila Rivers. The model contains four layers with over 30,000 model cells ranging in size from 40 acres to 640 acres. Different model scenario simulations were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of proposed water management alternatives on lowering ground‐water levels within the northern portion of Yuma Valley. These scenarios include lining a portion of the East Main canal and pumping two drainage wells, lining the All‐American canal, and simulating a decrease in deep percolation from agricultural irrigation on the Yuma Mesa and northern portion of Yuma Valley.