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Creation of a Digital Aquifer Permeability Map for the Pacific Northwest
Citation:
Comeleo, R., P. Wigington, Jr., AND S. Leibowitz. Creation of a Digital Aquifer Permeability Map for the Pacific Northwest. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-14/431, 2014.
Impact/Purpose:
Hydrologic classification systems can provide a basis for broadscale assessments of the hydrologic functions of landscapes and watersheds and their responses to stressors such as climate change. One of the greatest challenges to this effort is obtaining consistent aquifer permeability information across states and regions. This document reviews the rationale and approach for creating digital hydrolithology and aquifer permeability maps for the Pacific Northwest using existing digital state geologic maps and accompanying descriptions of lithologies. The aquifer permeability map allows the identification of areas where shallow subsurface vs. deep groundwater flows and the loss or gain of water through groundwater export or import may be important. This approach provides a consistent method for creating digital statewide representations of aquifer permeability across the United States which can be used in evaluating regional hydrologic vulnerability due to climate change.
Description:
Hydrologic classification systems can provide a basis for broadscale assessments of the hydrologic functions of landscapes and watersheds and their responses to stressors such as climate change. One of the greatest challenges to this effort is obtaining consistent aquifer permeability information across states and regions. Here we review the rationale and approach for creating digital hydrolithology and aquifer permeability maps for the Pacific Northwest. The maps were created using existing digital state geologic maps and accompanying descriptions of lithologies. The aquifer permeability map allows the identification of areas where shallow subsurface vs. deep groundwater flows and the loss or gain of water through groundwater export or import may be important. This approach provides a consistent method for creating digital statewide representations of aquifer permeability across the United States which can be used in evaluating regional hydrologic vulnerability due to climate change.