| CAULK |
Caulkins Water Farm Pilot Project |
Brian Collins |
WQM |
bcollins |
31-JAN-2015 |
|
The Caulkins water farm (WF) is a pilot project for the Dispersed Water Management Program, and consists of a surface water impoundment of approximately 414 acres areas with an estimated annual storage of 6,780 acre-feet adjacent to the St. Lucie Canal in southern Martin County.The Hydrogeology Section was asked by the Dispersed Water Management program to initiate a project to estimate the impoundment seepage quantity and direction of groundwater flow into the adjacent aquifer, adjacent canals, or the St. Lucie Canal. In addition, water quality samples will be collected from within the aquifer by the Water Quality Monitoring Section to better characterize the source of water. A water budget is also being developed that will quantify flow into the WF from pumpage from the St. Lucie Canal and rain, and flow out of the WF via evapotranspiration and seepage. In an effort to conserve on additional expenditures, existing land owner survey data was combined with District LIDAR data. This data was complemented by site-specific surveys which included a small scale C-44 bathymetric survey. Overall results allowed District staff to establish a stage-storage relationship that will be used for the water budget.
Beginning in September 2014, fourteen (14) groundwater monitoring wells were installed in the surficial aquifer and six surface water stage monitoring stations were installed in the WF, adjacent canals, and St. Lucie River. Four shallow wells approximately 15 feet below ground surface (bgs), three intermediate wells approximately 30 feet bgs, and three deep wells approximately 80 to 130 feet bgs were installed adjacent to the WF and the St. Lucie Canal. One well cluster consisting of one shallow, one intermediate, and two deep wells were recently (February 2015) installed in the center of the WF on an elevated platform. Slug tests were conducted for estimation of hydraulic conductivity, and data loggers were installed at each station for water level monitoring. Comparison of water levels between wells and adjacent surface water, along with estimated hydraulic conductivity, will allow for estimation of flow velocities and direction.
Current monitoring consists of monthly site visits for downloading water level data from each station. In addition, beginning this month, two water quality sampling events are planned. Each well and select surface water stations will be sampled for nutrients, cations and anions. One sampling event will occur during the dry season (low stage), and one sampling event is planned during the wet season. |
