Kilometer-Scale Hydrologic Exchange Flows in a Gravel Bed River Corridor and Their Implications to Solute Migration

Zachara, John M.; Chen, Xingyuan; Song, Xuehang; Shuai, Pin; Murray, Christopher J.; Resch, Charles Tom

doi:10.1029/2019WR025258

Kilometer-Scale Hydrologic Exchange Flows in a Gravel Bed River Corridor and Their Implications to Solute Migration

Journal Article · Tue Jan 21 00:00:00 EST 2020 · Water Resources Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/2019WR025258· OSTI ID:1605551

^[1]; ^[1]; ^[1]; ^[1]; ^[1]; Resch, Charles Tom ^[1]

Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

In this work, a well-characterized field site along a major river corridor was used to investigate the dynamic pathways and impacts of subsurface hydrogeologic structures on kilometer-scale hydrologic exchange flows between river water and groundwater. A aqueous uranium (U_aq) plume exists at the site that discharges to the Columbia River. We performed temporally intensive monitoring of specific conductance (SpC) and U_aq concentrations within the plume at increasing distances from the river shoreline and at locations both within and outside a presumed subsurface pathway of lateral hydrologic exchange. Specific conductance and U_aq were utilized as in-situ tracers of hydrologic exchange and associated groundwater-surface water mixing. Monitoring data was collected for an approximate two year period during which seasonal river elevations varied by more than 2 m causing distinct events of river water intrusion and retreat from the near-shore aquifer, and large temporal variations in well-water analyte concentrations. Statistical clustering analysis was applied to identify well groupings exhibiting common time series behaviors. PFLOTRAN was implemented within a modeling domain of 3.3 x 1.9 km with dynamic flow boundary conditions and accurate subsurface topography for the basal aquitard underlying the aquifer. In-silico calculations of river water tracer behavior were performed to assess predominant flow directions and velocities influenced by river stage variations and variable aquitard topography, and their collective influences on SpC and U_aq concentrations. We demonstrate complicated multidirectional flow behaviors at the kilometer scale resulting from hydrologic exchange and subsurface structure that influence plume dynamics and determine the overall system behavior.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER) (SC-23)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830

OSTI ID:: 1605551

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1598723

Report Number(s):: PNNL-SA--137616

Journal Information:: Water Resources Research, Journal Name: Water Resources Research Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 56; ISSN 0043-1397

Publisher:: American Geophysical Union (AGU)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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