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Philip J. Zarriello

Publications and source records attributed to Philip J. Zarriello.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Simulating the effects of ground-water withdrawals on streamflow in a precipitation-runoff model

Precipitation-runoff models are used to assess the effects of water use and management alternatives on streamflow. Often, ground-water withdrawals are a major water-use component that affect streamflow, but the ability of surface-water models to simulate ground-water withdrawals is limited. As part of a Hydrologic Simulation Program-FORTRAN (HSPF) precipitation-runoff model developed to analyze the effect of ground-water and surface-water withdrawals on streamflow in the Ipswich River in northeastern Massachusetts, an analytical technique (STRMDEPL) was developed for calculating the effects of pumped wells on streamflow. STRMDEPL is a FORTRAN program based on two analytical solutions that solve equations for ground-water flow to a well completed in a semi-infinite, homogeneous, and isotropic aquifer in direct hydraulic connection to a fully penetrating stream. One analytical method calculates unimpeded flow at the stream-aquifer boundary and the other method calculates the resistance to flow caused by semipervious streambed and streambank material. The principle of superposition is used with these analytical equations to calculate time-varying streamflow depletions due to daily pumping. The HSPF model can readily incorporate streamflow depletions caused by a well or surface-water withdrawal, or by multiple wells or surface-water withdrawals, or both, as a combined time-varying outflow demand from affected channel reaches. These demands are stored as a time series in the Watershed Data Management (WDM) file. This time-series data is read into the model as an external source used to specify flow from the first outflow gate in the reach where these withdrawals are located. Although the STRMDEPL program can be run independently of the HSPF model, an extension was developed to run this program within GenScn, a scenario generator and graphical user interface developed for use with the HSPF model. This extension requires that actual pumping rates for each well be stored in a unique WDM dataset identified by an attribute that associates each well with the model reach from which water is withdrawn. Other attributes identify the type and characteristics of the data. The interface allows users to easily add new pumping wells, delete exiting pumping wells, or change properties of the simulated aquifer or well. Development of this application enhanced the ability of the HSPF model to simulate complex water-use conditions in the Ipswich River Basin. The STRMDEPL program and the GenScn extension provide a valuable tool for water managers to evaluate the effects of pumped wells on streamflow and to test alternative water-use scenarios. Copyright ASCE 2004.

Conference Paper↗

Water use regimes: Characterizing direct human interaction with hydrologic systems

The sustainability of human water use practices is a rapidly growing concern in the United States and around the world. To better characterize direct human interaction with hydrologic systems (stream basins and aquifers), we introduce the concept of the water use regime. Unlike scalar indicators of anthropogenic hydrologic stress in the literature, the water use regime is a two‐dimensional, vector indicator that can be depicted on simple x‐y plots of normalized human withdrawals ( h out ) versus normalized human return flows ( h in ). Four end‐member regimes, natural‐flow‐dominated (undeveloped), human‐flow‐dominated (churned), withdrawal‐dominated (depleted), and return‐flow‐dominated (surcharged), are defined in relation to limiting values of h out and h in . For illustration, the water use regimes of 19 diverse hydrologic systems are plotted and interpreted. Several of these systems, including the Yellow River Basin, China, and the California Central Valley Aquifer, are shown to approach particular end‐member regimes. Spatial and temporal regime variations, both seasonal and long‐term, are depicted. Practical issues of data availability and regime uncertainty are addressed in relation to the statistical properties of the ratio estimators h out and h in . The water use regime is shown to be a useful tool for comparative water resources assessment and for describing both historic and alternative future pathways of water resource development at a range of scales.

Water Resources Research↗

Effects of water-management alternatives on streamflow in the Ipswich River basin, Massachusetts

Management alternatives that could help mitigate the effects of water withdrawals on streamflow in the Ipswich River Basin were evaluated by simulation with a calibrated Hydrologic Simulation Program--Fortran (HSPF) model. The effects of management alternatives on streamflow were simulated for a 35-year period (1961-95). Most alternatives examined increased low flows compared to the base simulation of average 1989-93 withdrawals. Only the simulation of no septic-effluent inflow, and the simulation of a 20-percent increase in withdrawals, further lowered flows or caused the river to stop flowing for longer periods of time than the simulation of average 1989-93 withdrawals. Simulations of reduced seasonal withdrawals by 20 percent, and by 50 percent, resulted in a modest increase in low flow in a critical habitat reach (model reach 8 near the Reading town well field); log-Pearson Type III analysis of simulated daily-mean flow indicated that under these reduced withdrawals, model reach 8 would stop flowing for a period of seven consecutive days about every other year, whereas under average 1989-93 withdrawals this reach would stop flowing for a seven consecutive day period almost every year. Simulations of no seasonal withdrawals, and simulations that stopped streamflow depletion when flow in model reach 19 was below 22 cubic feet per second, indicated flow would be maintained in model reach 8 at all times. Simulations indicated wastewater-return flows would augment low flow in proportion to the rate of return flow. Simulations of a 1.5 million gallons per day return flow rate indicated model reach 8 would stop flowing for a period of seven consecutive days about once every 5 years; simulated return flow rates of 1.1 million gallons per day indicated that model reach 8 would stop flowing for a period of seven consecutive days about every other year. Simulation of reduced seasonal withdrawals, combined with no septic effluent return flow, indicated only a slight increase in low flow compared to low flows simulated under average 1989-93 withdrawals. Simulation of reduced seasonal withdrawal, combined with 2.6 million gallons per day wastewater-return flows, provided more flow in model reach 8 than that simulated under no withdrawals.

Massachusetts↗

Quantity and quality of urban storm runoff in the Irondequoit Creek basin near Rochester, New York: Part 2,.Quality of storm runoff and atmospheric deposition, rainfall-runoff-quality modeling and potential of wetlands for sediment and nutrient retention

Water quality data collected at 17 sites in urbanized and rural parts of the 438 sq km Irondequoit Creek basin from July 1980 through August 1981 were used to compute annual loads of eight selected constituents. Of the total annual loads of these constituents, 50 to 70% was transported to Irondequoit Bay during a 3.5-month period from late January to early May. Of six mixed-land-use subbasins, the two most highly urbanized had the highest loads of all constituents. Of the four sites representing single land uses, the high density residential site and the housing construction site had the highest loads of all constituents except cadmium. A rainfall-runoff model was used to predict quantity and quality of storm runoff leaving one commercial site, two residential sites, and a large mixed-land-use subbasin. Predicted volume and peak discharges were within 10 to 30% of the measured values; predicted runoff loads of most constituents were within 40 to 60% of measured values. Stormflow modification in the Irondequoit Creek wetlands by two hypothetical control structures was simulated. Results indicate that outflow from the upper wetland could be decreased and stormflows dispersed to a greater part of the upper wetland to increase retention of suspended solids and associated chemical constituents.

New York↗

Quantity and quality of storm runoff in the Irondequoit Creek basin near Rochester, New York; Part 1. Data-collection network and methods, quality-assurance program, and description of available data

A 14-month data collection program of quantity and quality of storm precipitation and runoff was conducted in the Irondequoit Creek basin, a 438-sq km area along the south shore of Lake Ontario in north-central New York, from July 1980 through August 1981. The data from a basis for study of nutrient inflow to Irondequoit Bay. This report describes the methods used to collect and verify the data and includes some representative examples of the data base. Stream discharge and water quality data were collected at 17 sites representing rural and urban land uses. Precipitation data were collected at five continuous-record gages and 11 daily total gages. Evaporation data were collected at one site; chemical quality of precipitation and dustfall data were collected at four sites. Tables list watershed characteristics, precipitation data (including chemical quality of atmospheric deposition, monthly precipitation, and evaporation), and annual loadings of eight selected nutrients and heavy metals from the five major subbasins and three discrete land-use site. Examples of computer printouts of streamflow, precipitation, and water quality data available from the Geological Survey 's WATSTORE computer system are included. (USGS)

New York↗