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Quantification of Ground-Water Seepage Beneath Levee 31N, Miami-Dade County, Florida

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Frequently-anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
Quantification of Ground-Water Seepage Beneath Levee 31N, Miami-Dade County, Florida
Abstract:
The primary objective of this investigation was to quantify seepage below Levee L31N. The amount of water lost to the L-31N Canal versus the fraction that flows below the canal was estimated. A conceptual model was developed for the site based upon results from an on-going stable isotope (oxygen -18 and deuterium) study. Quantification of seepage rates were based upon a computer model, MODBRANCH, which couples both groundwater and surface water flows. Particular attention was devoted to model performance under transient conditions caused by fluctuations in the stage of the L-31N Canal and pumping operations of the West Wellfield. In addition, an alternative leakage relationship based on reach transmissivity was incorporated into MODBRANCH; this relationship was believed to be more suitable for transient conditions. The reach transmissivity relationship was evaluated in comparison to MODBRANCH's existing leakage relationship, which is based on Darcian flow through the bed of the surface water channel. Modeling results were used to develop an algorithm for real time estimation of seepage beneath Levee L31N. It was expected that this algorithm would estimate seepage using head differences at monitoring stations in the vicinity of the levee.
Supplemental_Information:
This project was completed in 1999. The results are reported in Water-Resources Investigations Report 00-4066.
  1. How should this data set be cited?

    Solo-Gabriele, Helena M. , 2000, Quantification of Ground-Water Seepage Beneath Levee 31N, Miami-Dade County, Florida.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -80.58
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -80.43
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 25.83
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 25.6

  3. What does it look like?

    <http://fl.water.usgs.gov/PDF_files/wri00_4066_nemeth.pdf> (PDF)
    Figure 1. shows the location of study area

  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

    Beginning_Date: 1950
    Ending_Date: Sep-1999
    Currentness_Reference: ground condition

  5. What is the general form of this data set?

    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: report

  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?

    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?

      Indirect_Spatial_Reference: Levee 31N

    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
    Data collected for use in the model to estimate the seepage rates beneath Levee 31N included geologic data, vertical seepage measurements, surface-water stage and discharge measurements, and continuous ground-waterlevel readings. The data were used to define model boundary conditions and parameters and to calibrate the model
    Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: WRIR 00-4066

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)

  2. Who also contributed to the data set?

    Project personnel included Mark Nemeth, Walter Wilcox, Alberto Herrera, Gurdun Ibler, Jennifer Loschak, Naila Hosein, and Timothy Desmarais

  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?

    Helena Solo-Gabriele
    University of Miami
    Professor and Associate Dean for Research
    Department of Civil, Arch., and Environmental Engineering

    P.O. Box 248294
    Coral Gables, FL 33124-0630
    USA

    305 284 2908 (voice)
    hmsolo@miami.edu

Why was the data set created?

Plans to restore historical hydrologic conditions in the northeast section of Everglades National Park (ENP) include the raising of water levels in ENP and water conservation area 3B, which overlie the Biscayne aquifer, an extremely permeable aquifer. The increase in water levels is likely to cause an increase in seepage losses to the east. Quantifying this seepage loss is necessary for water management purposes as well as for models of the Everglades and coastal systems. Levee L-31N has been identified as a critical area for potential water losses. The L-31N study site included a wetland area within ENP on the west; the L-31N Canal flows from north to south through the longitudinal center of the site, and the eastern portion of the region is a suburban area of Miami which included a major municipal wellfield, the West Wellfield, and rock mining activities.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

    Date: 2000 (process 1 of 1)
    Work at Levee 31N began during the summer of 1997. The five AVM stations located along the levee were resurveyed to a consistent set of benchmarks. Data were been compiled for 3 rain gauging stations, 5 AVM stations, and 29 existing shallow groundwater monitoring stations. Five additional deep wells were been installed for water quality monitoring. One of the five deep wells was also utilized for continuous measurements of stage. Six vertical seepage meters were been installed along a transect that cuts across L31N. Several experiments were been conducted under different hydrologic conditions. Sampling and analysis for the stable isotopes and hydrologic data collection continued through February 1999. Computer input files were developed. Collected data were utilized in the development and calibration of a transient 3-dimensional groundwater/surface water model (MODBRANCH) to determine seepage rates beneath Levee 31N. The MODBRANCH code was modified to incorporate a "reach transmissivity" leakage option between the river and groundwater. This "reach transmissivity" relationship was successfully used for steady conditions at this site in a previous study. Calculation of canal seepage rates and calibration of the Levee 31N flow model were completed by February 1999. An empirical relationship between field data and seepage rates was determined for the site. The water resources investigation report describing the results of the Levee 31N study was completed and published in 2000.

    Seepage meter tests were performed at 6 sites in the vicinity of the L-31N Levee. These sites were located from 1.5 miles west to 0.2 miles west of Levee 31N within northeast Everglades National Park.

    Samples were collected during a period ranging from January 1996 to December 1998. The monitoring network was modified over time with an emphasis placed on sites within the focus area. Early during the sampling program only a few sites were tested on a non-regular basis. Beginning in February 1997, samples were collected on a regular monthly schedule. Furthermore, it is important to note that as the research continued, sites were continually added until the completion of sampling. Overall, 580 samples were collected at 26 different sites, which included the two lakes.

    Sample Collection All samples were collected in duplicate using glass scintillation vials. These vials were filled to the top with sample water and sealed with a screw-on top. A layer of parafilm was then wrapped around the vials in order to prevent evaporation. Samples were collected from groundwater, municipal pumping wells, surface water (including lakes), and rainwater. Groundwater samples were collected using a portable pump connected to a 12-volt battery. The intake end of the pump hose was lowered into the well casing while the outflow end was allowed to flow into the scintillation vial for sample collection. For shallow wells, the pump was allowed to draw water from the well for five minutes prior to sample collection to assure that a representative sample was collected. For deep groundwater sites, the well was purged for fifteen minutes. The production well samples were taken directly from a spigot attached to the pumping well. These samples were obtained from either Well 29 or Well 30 at the West Wellfield, depending upon which pump was in operation on the day of sampling. Surface water samples from the Everglades and canal sites were collected by immersing the scintillation vials below the water surface. At the lakes, a submersible pump was used to collect water from ten-foot depth intervals from the approximate center of each lake.

    Rainwater collection for isotope analysis provided a somewhat unique problem, as collected rainwater must be shielded from evaporation effects. In order to accomplish this, rainwater collection bottles were filled with a two inch deep layer of mineral oil prior to use. These bottles were fitted with a collection funnel and an air release port. As rain entered the collection apparatus, the buoyant mineral oil floated on top of the collected rain, preventing rainwater interaction with the air and insuring the isotopic integrity of the sample. Once the rainwater was collected, a syringe was used to transfer the rainwater from below the mineral oil layer into the scintillation vials.

    Sample Analysis Oxygen-18 analysis included a CO2 equilibration procedure utilizing a syringe as described by Matsui, 1980. This syringe technique was compared with the more traditional CO2 equilibration procedure (Epstein and Mayeda 1953) with good results (Standard deviation 0.18). Samples for deuterium determinations were processed using one of two methods. The first method utilized a uranium furnace as outlined by Bigeleisen et al.1952. The second method involved the use of a chromium furnace (Gehre et al. 1996).

    See Water-Resources Investigations Report 00-45066 for complete details of data collection and analysis.

    Person who carried out this activity:

    Helena Solo-Gabriele
    University of Miami
    Professor and Associate Dean for Research
    Department of Civil, Arch., and Environmental Engineering

    P.O. Box 248294
    Coral Gables, FL 33124-0630
    USA

    305 284 2908 (voice)
    hmsolo@miami.edu

  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?

    Nemeth, Mark S. Wilcox, Walter M.; Solo-Gab, 2000, Evaluation of the Use of Reach Transmissivity to Quantify Leakage Beneath Levee 31N, Dade County, Florida: USGS Water-Resources Investigations Report 00-4066, U.S. Geological Survey, Tallahassee, FL.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: accessed as of 11/16/2010
    Solo-Gabriele, Helena Wilcox, Walter, 2000, An Isotopic Study of Northeast Everglades National Park and Adjacent Urban Areas: University of Miami, Dept. Of Civil, Arch, and Environmental Engineering, Coral Gables, Florida.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    Third Interim Technical Report for Isotopoic Study, Phase I

    accessed as of 11/17/2010

    file is 23 Mb

    Nemeth, Mark S. Solo-Gabriele, Helena M., 200304, Evaluation of the use of reach transmissivity to quantify exchange between groundwater and surface water: Journal of Hydrology v. 274, issues 1-4, Elsevier B. V., Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    accessed as of 11/16/2010

    The full article is available via journal subscription or single article purchase. The abstract may be viewed on the website below by selecting the volume and issue number.

    Bigeleisen, J. Perlman, M. L.; Prosser, H. C., 1952, Conversion of hydrogenic materials to hydrogen for isotopic analysis: Analytical Chemistry v. 24, n. 8, p. 1356-1357, American Chemical Society, Washington, DC.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    accessed as of 11/17/2010

    The full article is available via journal subscription or single article purchase. The first page may be viewed on the website below.

    Epstein, S. Mayeda, T., 1953, Variation of O-18 content of waters from natural sources: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta v. 4, n. 5, p. 213-224, Geochemical Society, Oxon, United Kingdom.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    accessed as of 11/17/2010

    The full article is available via journal subscription or single article purchase. The abstract may be viewed on the website below by selecting the volume and issue number.

    Gehre, M. Hoefling, R.; Kowski, P.; Strau, 1996, Sample preparation device for quantitative hydrogen isotope analysis using chromium metal: Analytical Chemistry v. 68, n.24, p. 4414-4417, American Chemical Society, Washington, DC.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    accessed as of 11/17/2010

    The full article is available via journal subscription or single article purchase. The abstract may be viewed on the website below.

    Matsui, E., 1980, A simple method using a disposable syringe to prepare samples for 18 O measurements in water samples: Analytica Chimica Acta v. 120, p. 423-425, Elsevier Science, B. V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    accessed as of 11/17/2010

    The full article is available via journal subscription or single article purchase. The abstract may be viewed on the website below by selecting the volume number.

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?

  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

    No test was performed but locations were determined using a "hand-held" GPS receiver which has an accuracy of roughly 100 feet.

  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?

    not available

  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?

    not available

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access_Constraints: None.
Use_Constraints: None.

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 06-Dec-2010
Metadata author:
Heather Henkel
U.S. Geological Survey
600 Fourth Street South
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
USA

727 803-8747 ext 3028 (voice)
727 803-2030 (FAX)
sofia-metadata@usgs.gov

Metadata standard:
Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)

This page is <http://sofia.usgs.gov/metadata/sflwww/solomet.faq.html>

U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey
Comments and suggestions? Contact: Heather Henkel - Webmaster
Generated by mp version 2.8.18 on Mon Dec 06 16:46:13 2010