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The Physical Hydrogeology of the Broader Historical Irwin Prairie Wetland System

Groat, Lucas Matthew
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1470251155

Abstract Details

2016, Master of Science, University of Toledo, Geology.
Wetland prairies are smaller components of a broader hydrogeologic system, therefore their hydrology is affected by surrounding sub-systems. The Historic Irwin Prairie in Holland, Ohio, was an ideal place to study the interactions between ground water and surface water in a wetland prairie and its role within a broader hydrologic system. Historic Irwin Prairie is comprised of upland sand ridges, intermediate transitional areas, and the wet prairies themselves. The overall objective of this study was to systematically investigate the groundwater flow regime of the Irwin Prairie unconfined aquifer and the interactions with the wet prairie as groundwater flows from its recharge area of upland dunes through the transitional zone to the wet prairie around Wiregrass Lake. The head fluctuations of these systems were monitored during the transition from fall into spring to observe the effects of changes in groundwater recharge and discharge on the groundwater/surface-water interactions. Groundwater flow regimes and fluxes were quantified using fields of piezometers in each of the subsystems, monitoring head or water table elevations, and performing pocket pumping tests to calculate hydraulic conductivity. Darcy’s Law was used to quantify the groundwater fluxes, and discharge. Water-table rise during precipitation events and specific yields provide the information used to calculate episodic recharge. Diurnal fluctuations during water table recession are used to calculate the effects of evapotranspiration from the groundwater in the three subsystems. These data were used to quantify groundwater/ surface-water interactions, as well as map flow paths within the subsystems and the larger system as a whole. The aquifer in the Upland Study Area aquifer was discharge-dominant from September 2015 through November 2015, then recharge dominant from December 2015 through May 2016. The Upland Study Area consistently discharged groundwater in the Northwest direction towards the Transitional Study Area. The Transitional Study Area consistently discharged groundwater to the west towards the wet prairie and drainage ditch parallel to Eber Road. This consistent groundwater discharge to the ditch indicates that, while the Transitional Area does receive recharge from the uplands and discharges groundwater to the adjacent wet prairie, the drainage ditch and pond hydraulically disconnect the Transitional Area from the Wiregrass Lake Area. Wiregrass Lake recharges surrounding groundwater during dry summer months. During wetter periods this flow reverses, and Wiregrass Lake is recharged by groundwater. Drainage ditches to the east and west of the Wiregrass Lake Study Area suppressed the elevation of the water table throughout the course of the study.
James Martin-Hayden, Dr. (Committee Chair)
David Krantz, Dr. (Committee Member)
Todd Crail, Dr. (Committee Member)
77 p.
Environmental Geology; Geology; Hydrology

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Groat, L. M. (2016). The Physical Hydrogeology of the Broader Historical Irwin Prairie Wetland System [Master's thesis, University of Toledo]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1470251155

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Groat, Lucas. The Physical Hydrogeology of the Broader Historical Irwin Prairie Wetland System. 2016. University of Toledo, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1470251155.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Groat, Lucas. "The Physical Hydrogeology of the Broader Historical Irwin Prairie Wetland System." Master's thesis, University of Toledo, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1470251155

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

toledo1470251155
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