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Subregional Basin Hydrogeologic Characterization for the Central Everglades Restoration Project Regional Aquifer Storage and Recovery Final Hydrogeologic Framework Study

Project Chief: Ronald S. Reese
Cooperator: U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and South Florida Water Management District
Period of Project: October 2011 - September 2012

Problem Statement

Figure 1. Study area, hydrogeologic cross-section lines and wells on the sections, and basins or subregions. Cross sections extend from the surface to a depth of 2,500 ft.

Planning and prediction of the effects of aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) projects on a regional scale for the Central Everglades Restoration Project (CERP) requires a comprehensive understanding of the hydrogeologic framework of the Floridan Aquifer System (FAS) and how that framework influences the movement of water within the FAS. The area of interest for CERP ASR includes four subregions or surface water basins around Lake Okeechobee that are targeted for potential ASR development (fig. 1). Since a preliminary CERP framework study was completed, a number of CERP or water management district test wells, deep injection wells, and Floridan water supply wells have been drilled in this area of interest, and several other CERP Regional ASR hydrogeologic studies have been conducted, including marine seismic data acquisition and interpretation in Lake Okeechobee and surrounding canals. Based on this new well control and other studies, hydrogeologic structure and other characteristics that are important to ASR implementation, such as storage capacity and recovery efficiency, need to be refined in the subregional areas, and the results incorporated into the Final Hydrogeologic Framework Study.

Objectives

1) Characterize the hydrogeology of the area of interest and subregions described above using the new well data and other studies with emphasis on improved structural definition of several important hydrostratigraphic horizons.

2) Compare the hydrogeologic characteristics of the four subregions around Lake Okeechobee in terms of the structure and other characteristics important to the implementation of ASR on a large scale.

Approach

• Interpret the position of major permeable zone boundaries in the FAS in new wells and the position of important lithostratigraphic or marker horizons in all wells with data.
• Construct six hydrogeologic cross-sections through and around Lake Okeechobee showing the above boundaries in the new wells and in older previously drilled wells.
• Construct maps showing the structural altitude of the horizons.
• Review and integrate the Lake Okeechobee marine seismic data and its interpretation from a previous CERP Regional ASR study.
• Compare the hydrogeologic characteristics of the four subregions in terms of the structure of the key lithostratigraphic horizons and other characteristics important to the implementation of ASR on a large scale, such as the thickness, nature of porosity and permeability, and transmissivity of the target storage zones.

Results

Six hydrogeologic sections have been constructed that extend from the surface to Lower Floridan aquifer of the FAS. Maps showing variations in altitude of three lithostratigraphic horizons have been completed. The deepest of these three horizons is at or near the top of the FAS.

Information Product

A U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report – “Hydrogeologic characterization of the Floridan aquifer system in the Lake Okeechobee area, central Florida and potential for regional-scale aquifer storage and recovery” is planned.