Effects of groundwater pumping on the sustainability of a mountain wetland complex, Yosemite National Park, California
Study Region: We analyzed the effects of groundwater pumping on a mountain wetland complex, Yosemite National Park, California, USA. Study Focus: Groundwater pumping from mountain meadows is common in many regions of the world. However, few quantitative analyses exist of the hydrologic or ecological...
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doaj-4802474388474acca82257e0798060eb2020-11-24T22:33:43ZengElsevierJournal of Hydrology: Regional Studies2214-58182015-03-01387105Effects of groundwater pumping on the sustainability of a mountain wetland complex, Yosemite National Park, CaliforniaDavid J. Cooper0Evan C. Wolf1Michael J. Ronayne2James W. Roche3Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, United States; Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 970 491 5430.Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, United StatesDepartment of Geosciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, United StatesDivision of Resources Management and Science, Yosemite National Park, PO Box 700W, El Portal, CA 95318, United StatesStudy Region: We analyzed the effects of groundwater pumping on a mountain wetland complex, Yosemite National Park, California, USA. Study Focus: Groundwater pumping from mountain meadows is common in many regions of the world. However, few quantitative analyses exist of the hydrologic or ecological effects of pumping. New Hydrological Insights for the Region: Daily hydraulic head and water table variations at sampling locations within 100 m of the pumping well were strongly correlated with the timing and duration of pumping. The effect of pumping varied by distance from the pumping well, depth of the water table when the pumping started, and that water year's snow water equivalent (SWE). Pumping in years with below average SWE and/or early melting snow pack, resulted in a water table decline to the base of the fen peat body by mid summer. Pumping in years with higher SWE and later melting snowpack, resulted in much less water level drawdown from the same pumping schedule. Predictive modeling scenarios showed that, even in a dry water year like 2004, distinct increases in fen water table elevation can be achieved with reductions in pumping. A high water table during summers following low snowpack water years had a more significant influence on vegetation composition than depth of water table in wet years or peat thickness, highlighting the impact of water level drawdown on vegetation. Keywords: Fen, Groundwater pumping, Modeling, Mountain meadow, Water table, Wetlandshttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221458181400038X |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
David J. Cooper Evan C. Wolf Michael J. Ronayne James W. Roche |
spellingShingle |
David J. Cooper Evan C. Wolf Michael J. Ronayne James W. Roche Effects of groundwater pumping on the sustainability of a mountain wetland complex, Yosemite National Park, California Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies |
author_facet |
David J. Cooper Evan C. Wolf Michael J. Ronayne James W. Roche |
author_sort |
David J. Cooper |
title |
Effects of groundwater pumping on the sustainability of a mountain wetland complex, Yosemite National Park, California |
title_short |
Effects of groundwater pumping on the sustainability of a mountain wetland complex, Yosemite National Park, California |
title_full |
Effects of groundwater pumping on the sustainability of a mountain wetland complex, Yosemite National Park, California |
title_fullStr |
Effects of groundwater pumping on the sustainability of a mountain wetland complex, Yosemite National Park, California |
title_full_unstemmed |
Effects of groundwater pumping on the sustainability of a mountain wetland complex, Yosemite National Park, California |
title_sort |
effects of groundwater pumping on the sustainability of a mountain wetland complex, yosemite national park, california |
publisher |
Elsevier |
series |
Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies |
issn |
2214-5818 |
publishDate |
2015-03-01 |
description |
Study Region: We analyzed the effects of groundwater pumping on a mountain wetland complex, Yosemite National Park, California, USA. Study Focus: Groundwater pumping from mountain meadows is common in many regions of the world. However, few quantitative analyses exist of the hydrologic or ecological effects of pumping. New Hydrological Insights for the Region: Daily hydraulic head and water table variations at sampling locations within 100 m of the pumping well were strongly correlated with the timing and duration of pumping. The effect of pumping varied by distance from the pumping well, depth of the water table when the pumping started, and that water year's snow water equivalent (SWE). Pumping in years with below average SWE and/or early melting snow pack, resulted in a water table decline to the base of the fen peat body by mid summer. Pumping in years with higher SWE and later melting snowpack, resulted in much less water level drawdown from the same pumping schedule. Predictive modeling scenarios showed that, even in a dry water year like 2004, distinct increases in fen water table elevation can be achieved with reductions in pumping. A high water table during summers following low snowpack water years had a more significant influence on vegetation composition than depth of water table in wet years or peat thickness, highlighting the impact of water level drawdown on vegetation. Keywords: Fen, Groundwater pumping, Modeling, Mountain meadow, Water table, Wetlands |
url |
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221458181400038X |
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