The hydrogeology of first-order streams have been evaluated from 2007 to 2009 as part of the Whitetail Basin Watershed Restoration Project in Hay Creek Canyon located 25 km north of Whitehall Montana, USA. An in-depth...The hydrogeology of first-order streams have been evaluated from 2007 to 2009 as part of the Whitetail Basin Watershed Restoration Project in Hay Creek Canyon located 25 km north of Whitehall Montana, USA. An in-depth study of the riparian area hydrogeology started in the fall of 2007 with the installation of more than 40 hand-augered deeper （〉 1 m） wells to complement preexisting driven metal pipe piezometers （± 1 m） installed in four first-order drainages. Two zones within the shallow alluvial systems were identified. This paper presents the results of a concentrated study conducted in the Hay Creek drainage within the tWO zones. Data loggers placed in some of the wells led to a gradual understanding of the water-level patterns in different vegetative types （Douglas Fir, Aspen, Willow-Alder. and Grass-Sagebrush） over the various seasons. The deeper water-level responses change from seasonal patterns to strongly diurnal during summer months. Diurnal patterns continue until leaves drop from riparian vegetation. This was expected, however, the Douglas fir trees show the same pattern. Near the end of the study a full year of water-level data showing the seasonal behavior changes were collected. Resaturation of the upper zone occurs in the fall with sources of recharge coming from up-drainage. A detailed evaluation of water-level responses from up-drainage to down-drainage piezometers occurs in a ＂wave-like＂ resaturation phenomenon that allows one to estimate the bulk hydraulic conductivity of the ＂alluvial system＂ aquifer using principles of Darcy＇s Law. The methods used to evaluate the hydraulic properties and seasonal water-level patterns are presented.展开更多
文摘The hydrogeology of first-order streams have been evaluated from 2007 to 2009 as part of the Whitetail Basin Watershed Restoration Project in Hay Creek Canyon located 25 km north of Whitehall Montana, USA. An in-depth study of the riparian area hydrogeology started in the fall of 2007 with the installation of more than 40 hand-augered deeper （〉 1 m） wells to complement preexisting driven metal pipe piezometers （± 1 m） installed in four first-order drainages. Two zones within the shallow alluvial systems were identified. This paper presents the results of a concentrated study conducted in the Hay Creek drainage within the tWO zones. Data loggers placed in some of the wells led to a gradual understanding of the water-level patterns in different vegetative types （Douglas Fir, Aspen, Willow-Alder. and Grass-Sagebrush） over the various seasons. The deeper water-level responses change from seasonal patterns to strongly diurnal during summer months. Diurnal patterns continue until leaves drop from riparian vegetation. This was expected, however, the Douglas fir trees show the same pattern. Near the end of the study a full year of water-level data showing the seasonal behavior changes were collected. Resaturation of the upper zone occurs in the fall with sources of recharge coming from up-drainage. A detailed evaluation of water-level responses from up-drainage to down-drainage piezometers occurs in a ＂wave-like＂ resaturation phenomenon that allows one to estimate the bulk hydraulic conductivity of the ＂alluvial system＂ aquifer using principles of Darcy＇s Law. The methods used to evaluate the hydraulic properties and seasonal water-level patterns are presented.
