Browsing by Author "Kanivetsky, Roman"

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    Groundwater Recharge Rates in Minnesota as Related to Precipitation
    (Water Resources Research Center, University of Minnesota, 1983-03) Kanivetsky, Roman; Palen, Barbara
    Quantitative estimates of recharge rates and storage coefficients in sufficient detail are essential to any meaningful state water-resources management, policies, plans and legislation. A methodology was developed to derive quantitative estimates of groundwater recharge rates and storage coefficients for unconfined aquifers in the various hydrologic regions of Minnesota. Recharge estimates are based on information from groundwater hydrographs. Statistical analysis of groundwater level fluctuations and their correlation with precipitation, evaporation, stream discharge were evaluated. Harmonic analysis and autoregression analysis of water levels were done. Storage coefficients were estimated from pumping test data, soil moisture method and empirical equations. Groundwater recharge rates were determined by combining data on groundwater level fluctuations and storage coefficient evaluation for unconfined aquifers in Minnesota. This work is fundamental to the ultimate goal of an interactive water resources model of the state.
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    RI-22 Regional Approach to Estimating the Ground-Water Resources of Minnesota
    (Minnesota Geological Survey, 1979) Kanivetsky, Roman
    The feasibility of making regional estimates of ground-water resources has been demonstrated in Minnesota. Average annual ground-water recharge rates were used as an indicator of groundwater resources. Ground-water resources are defined here as the amount of ground water that can be withdrawn from water-table aquifers for a long period of time without irreversible depletion of the ground-water reservoir. In contrast ground-water reserves are a function of the areal extent, thickness and hydrogeologic parameters of the aquifers and confining beds. Data from three research approaches were used to estimate ground-water resources: ( 1) ground-water contribution to the streamflow; (2) 3D-day lowflow characteristics of Minnesota streams; (3) ground-water hydrographs. Comparison of results of the three methods shows that values derived from ground-water hydrographs and data on groundwater contribution to streams are relatively close. Values derived from low-flow data, however, were consistently smaller. This discrepancy is related to two factors: (1) the limited time for which records of low-flow measurements were available; (2) the severely limited accuracy of low-flow estimates. However, the use of all three methods in conjunction does provide meaningful estimates of ground-water resources; The study shows regional distribution of ground-water resources in the 39 watersheds in Minnesota. The general distribution of ground-water resources is due to three major factors -- hydrogeologic environment, geomorphology and climate. The general trend is a decrease in ground-water resources from southeast to west and north in Minnesota.