Mississippi Embayment Regional Aquifer Study (MERAS) Completed
Short Title: MERAS Model
Project Chief: Brian Clark
Cooperator: U.S. Geological Survey Office of Ground-Water Resources Program
Project Time Frame: January 2006 - 2009
Fresh ground-water in the Mississippi embayment can be found in alternating formations of sand, silt and clay. Decades of pumping from the Mississippi River Valley alluvial aquifer for irrigation and from the Sparta-Memphis aquifer for industry and public-water supply have affected ground-water levels throughout the Mississippi embayment in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee.
Ground-water withdrawals for agriculture have caused water-level declines in the alluvial aquifer in Arkansas of at least 40 feet in 40 years while withdrawals from the Sparta-Memphis aquifer have resulted in declines of more than 390 feet since the 1920's. These declines have prompted concerns over water availability and quality for both agriculture and industry.
The purpose of the Mississippi Embayment Aquifer Study (MERAS) is to assess the ground-water availability (status and trends) of the Mississippi embayment aquifer system. The study area covers portions of eight states including Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. The MERAS study involves the refinement of model framework, input data compilation, model calibration, simulation of climate variability impacts, and ground-water availability estimation. The active model grid covers approximately 70,000 square miles and incorporates some 6,000 miles of major rivers and over 100,000 water wells. Additional objectives of the study are to systematically estimate water budget components for the ground-water flow system and evaluate the existing water-level monitoring and recommend improvements in monitoring network design.
For more information on the Mississippi Embayment Regional Aquifer Study (MERAS) project please visit the project's web page at the following URL: https://apps.usgs.gov/lmg/lmgweb/meras/
Publications
Scientific Investigations Report 2009-5172
The Mississippi Embayment Regional Aquifer Study (MERAS): Documentation of a Groundwater-Flow Model Constructed to Assess Water Availability in the Mississippi Embayment,
By Brian R. Clark and Rheannon M. Hart
Scientific Investigations Report 2008-5192
Geophysical Log Database for the Mississippi Embayment Regional Aquifer Study (MERAS),
by Rheannon M. Hart and Brian R. Clark
Scientific Investigations Report 2008-5149
Summary of Aquifer Test Data for Arkansas--1940-2006,
by Aaron L. Pugh
Scientific Investigations Report 2008-5138
Evaluation of Selected Model Constraints and Variables on Simulated Sustainable Yield from the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer System in Arkansas,
By John B. Czarnecki
Scientific Investigations Report 2008-5098
Digital Surfaces and Thicknesses of Selected Hydrogeologic Units within the Mississippi Embayment Regional Aquifer Study (MERAS),
by Rheannon M. Hart, Brian R. Clark, and Susan E. Bolyard
Scientific Investigations Map 3014
Potentiometric Surface in the Sparta-Memphis Aquifer of the Mississippi Embayment, Spring 2007,
By T.P. Schrader
Water-Resources Investigations Report 2003-4233
Conjunctive-use Optimization Model of the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer of Southeastern Arkansas,
by John B. Czarnecki, Brian R. Clark, and Greg P. Stanton
Water-Resources Investigations Report 2003-4232
Recalibration of a Ground-water Flow Model of the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer in Southeastern Arkansas, 1918, with Simulations of Hydraulic Heads Caused by Projected Ground-Water Withdrawals,
by Greg P. Stanton and Brian R. Clark
Water-Resources Investigations Report 2003-4231
Conjunctive-Use Optimization Model and Sustainable-Yield Estimation for the Sparta Aquifer of Southeastern Arkansas and North-Central Louisiana,
by Paul W. McKee, Brian R. Clark, and John B. Czarnecki
Water-Resources Investigations Report 2003-4230
Conjunctive-Use Optimization Model of the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer of Northeastern Arkansas,
by John B. Czarnecki, Brian R. Clark, and Thomas B. Reed
Water-Resources Investigations Report 2003-4132
Development and Calibration of a Ground-Water Flow Model for the Sparta Aquifer of Southeastern Arkansas and North-Central Louisiana and Simulated Response to Withdrawals, 1998-2027,
by Paul W. McKee, Brian R. Clark, and John B. Czarnecki
Water-Resources Investigations Report 2003-4109
Recalibration of a Ground-Water Flow Model of the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer of Northeastern Arkansas, 1918-1998, with Simulations of Water Levels Caused by Projected Ground-Water Withdrawals,
by Tom B. Reed
- Overview
Short Title: MERAS Model
Project Chief: Brian Clark
Cooperator: U.S. Geological Survey Office of Ground-Water Resources Program
Project Time Frame: January 2006 - 2009
Fresh ground-water in the Mississippi embayment can be found in alternating formations of sand, silt and clay. Decades of pumping from the Mississippi River Valley alluvial aquifer for irrigation and from the Sparta-Memphis aquifer for industry and public-water supply have affected ground-water levels throughout the Mississippi embayment in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee.
Ground-water withdrawals for agriculture have caused water-level declines in the alluvial aquifer in Arkansas of at least 40 feet in 40 years while withdrawals from the Sparta-Memphis aquifer have resulted in declines of more than 390 feet since the 1920's. These declines have prompted concerns over water availability and quality for both agriculture and industry.
The purpose of the Mississippi Embayment Aquifer Study (MERAS) is to assess the ground-water availability (status and trends) of the Mississippi embayment aquifer system. The study area covers portions of eight states including Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. The MERAS study involves the refinement of model framework, input data compilation, model calibration, simulation of climate variability impacts, and ground-water availability estimation. The active model grid covers approximately 70,000 square miles and incorporates some 6,000 miles of major rivers and over 100,000 water wells. Additional objectives of the study are to systematically estimate water budget components for the ground-water flow system and evaluate the existing water-level monitoring and recommend improvements in monitoring network design.
For more information on the Mississippi Embayment Regional Aquifer Study (MERAS) project please visit the project's web page at the following URL: https://apps.usgs.gov/lmg/lmgweb/meras/
Publications
Scientific Investigations Report 2009-5172
The Mississippi Embayment Regional Aquifer Study (MERAS): Documentation of a Groundwater-Flow Model Constructed to Assess Water Availability in the Mississippi Embayment,
By Brian R. Clark and Rheannon M. HartScientific Investigations Report 2008-5192
Geophysical Log Database for the Mississippi Embayment Regional Aquifer Study (MERAS),
by Rheannon M. Hart and Brian R. ClarkScientific Investigations Report 2008-5149
Summary of Aquifer Test Data for Arkansas--1940-2006,
by Aaron L. PughScientific Investigations Report 2008-5138
Evaluation of Selected Model Constraints and Variables on Simulated Sustainable Yield from the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer System in Arkansas,
By John B. CzarneckiScientific Investigations Report 2008-5098
Digital Surfaces and Thicknesses of Selected Hydrogeologic Units within the Mississippi Embayment Regional Aquifer Study (MERAS),
by Rheannon M. Hart, Brian R. Clark, and Susan E. BolyardScientific Investigations Map 3014
Potentiometric Surface in the Sparta-Memphis Aquifer of the Mississippi Embayment, Spring 2007,
By T.P. SchraderWater-Resources Investigations Report 2003-4233
Conjunctive-use Optimization Model of the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer of Southeastern Arkansas,
by John B. Czarnecki, Brian R. Clark, and Greg P. StantonWater-Resources Investigations Report 2003-4232
Recalibration of a Ground-water Flow Model of the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer in Southeastern Arkansas, 1918, with Simulations of Hydraulic Heads Caused by Projected Ground-Water Withdrawals,
by Greg P. Stanton and Brian R. ClarkWater-Resources Investigations Report 2003-4231
Conjunctive-Use Optimization Model and Sustainable-Yield Estimation for the Sparta Aquifer of Southeastern Arkansas and North-Central Louisiana,
by Paul W. McKee, Brian R. Clark, and John B. CzarneckiWater-Resources Investigations Report 2003-4230
Conjunctive-Use Optimization Model of the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer of Northeastern Arkansas,
by John B. Czarnecki, Brian R. Clark, and Thomas B. ReedWater-Resources Investigations Report 2003-4132
Development and Calibration of a Ground-Water Flow Model for the Sparta Aquifer of Southeastern Arkansas and North-Central Louisiana and Simulated Response to Withdrawals, 1998-2027,
by Paul W. McKee, Brian R. Clark, and John B. CzarneckiWater-Resources Investigations Report 2003-4109
Recalibration of a Ground-Water Flow Model of the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer of Northeastern Arkansas, 1918-1998, with Simulations of Water Levels Caused by Projected Ground-Water Withdrawals,
by Tom B. Reed