Report Title: Preliminary projections of the effects of chloride-control
structures on the quaternary aquifer at Great Salt Plains, Oklahoma
Report Number: WRI 80-120
Author: J.E. Reed
Abstract
About 1,200 tons of chloride per day are added to the salt load of the
Salt Fork of the Arkansas River at Great Salt Plains Lake from natural
sources. The source of this chloride is brine discharge from the rocks
of Permian age in the vicinity of the lake. The U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers has planned a chloride-control project. The Corps requested
that the U.S. Geological Survey use a digital model to project the
effects of the chloride-control plan on ground water. Ground-water
flow and ground-water transport models were calibrated to represent
the Quaternary aquifer that is the near-surface part of the flow
system. The models were used to project the effects of planned
chloride-control structures. Based on model results, ground-water
levels are projected to rise as much as 19 feet. However, these
water-level rises will occur only in areas near three
reservoirs. Changes in ground-water level caused by the project will
be small throughout most of the area. Chloride concentration of ground
water is projected to increase by more than 90,000 milligrams per
liter at one location. However, significant increases in chloride
concentration during the 50-year period simulated are projected to be
limited to areas where the ground water already contains excessive
chloride concentrations.
http://ok.water.usgs.gov/abstracts/wri80-120.html
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Last modified: Mon May 24 15:36:24 1999