Document Type

Conference Paper

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Water: Laws and Management

Publisher

American Water Research Association

Publication Date

9-17-1989

First Page

118-29

Last Page

118-43

Abstract

Effective management of the water resources of the Mississippi Alluvial Plain in eastern Arkansas involves understanding the nature of existing problems, estimating total water demands, predicting how much of the total demand can be provided by the underlying aquifer and available surface-water sources, and deducing how much water must come from alternate sources. Various Federal and State agencies have cooperatively provided hydrologic information for the area to evaluate water-resources development alternatives ensuring that (1) the use of water from the aquifer be maximized while maintaining a minimum of 20 feet of saturated thickness, (2) the use of surface water be maximized where it is currently available, and (3) alternate sources of water (surplus surface water) be identified for use in deficit areas. Water-resources development alternatives are being evaluated by using digital groundwater flow and optimization models. The optimization model is used to maximize withdrawals from the aquifer and from available surface-water sources, while maintaining a minimum saturated thickness in the aquifer. The validity of predictions in both the flow and optimization models depends on the accuracy of historic and projected water use. Optimization model by-products include estimates of unmet water-use demands and the location of surplus surface water that would be available for transport to and utilization in deficient areas.

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