Bachand & Associates Publicationshttp://hdl.handle.net/1834/175412024-03-28T20:51:25Z2024-03-28T20:51:25ZMcMullin On-Farm Flood Capture and Recharge Project:
Hydrologic and Hydraulic Analyses (H&H), final reportBachand, P.A.M.Trabant, S.Vose, S.Mussetter, B.http://hdl.handle.net/1834/411972021-07-24T03:30:17Z2014-01-01T00:00:00ZMcMullin On-Farm Flood Capture and Recharge Project:
Hydrologic and Hydraulic Analyses (H&H), final report
Bachand, P.A.M.; Trabant, S.; Vose, S.; Mussetter, B.
Approval of a Hydrologic and Hydraulic Analyses (H&H) by California Department of Water Resources (DWR) is a pre-requisite for projects being funded through DWR’s Flood Corridor Program. The H&H needs to show early in the project schedule in analysis acceptable to DWR that the project will produce the anticipated flood risk reduction benefits. A Benefit:Cost (B/C) ratio provides a metric for comparing benefits from a project in relation to DWR costs for the project. In our analysis, we calculated a B/C of 1.86 for Phase 1, the diversion of 150 cubic feet per second (cfs) from the Kings River onto the project during flood flow conditions between December and May, and of 1.98 for Phase 2/3, the diversion of 500 cfs from the Kings River onto the project during the same conditions. We provide background on the project and the area that will be affected by the project (the study area), summarize our methods, and present our findings.Two large hydrologic issues face the Kings Basin: severe and chronic overdraft of about 0.16M ac-ft annually, and flood risks along the Kings River and the downstream San Joaquin River. Since 1983, downstream communities along the Kings and San Joaquin Rivers have suffered over $1B in flood damages (2013$). To help mitigate these two issues, this project proposes diverting and capturing Kings River floodwater at the James Bypass onto agricultural lands adjacent to the Kings River for conjunctive use purposes (e.g. recharge, in lieu recharge, irrigation). This project is planned in three phases: Phase 1 (Ph1) will divert 150 cubic feet per second (cfs) onto agricultural fields from December through May and 100 cfs from June through September. Fifty-five hundred acres are planned for enrollment in Ph1 with 375 acres under flood easements; 1,125 acres managed under dual purpose of accepting flood flows and being managed for farming; and the remaining acreage receiving flood flows when available for in lieu recharge. Phases 2 and 3 (Ph 2/3) together will expand enrollment to 16,000 acres with expected equivalent ratios for flood easements, dual purpose and farming. Ph2/3 is planned to have a 500 cfs flood diversion and capture capacity. We assessed hydrologic and hydraulics conditions and economics for these planned phases following the scope of work defined in Task Order 1 between Kings River Conservation District (KRCD) and Tetra Tech.
2014-01-01T00:00:00ZOn-Farm Flood Capture and Recharge (OFFCR) at an Organic Almond Orchard, Recharge Rates and Soil Profile Responses
Groundwater Recharge Project, 2016Bachand, S.M.Carlton, S.Bachand, P.A.M.http://hdl.handle.net/1834/411882021-07-24T03:29:23Z2017-04-18T00:00:00ZOn-Farm Flood Capture and Recharge (OFFCR) at an Organic Almond Orchard, Recharge Rates and Soil Profile Responses
Groundwater Recharge Project, 2016
Bachand, S.M.; Carlton, S.; Bachand, P.A.M.
Groundwater in much of California’s Central Valley (CV) has been critically over-drafted resulting in the implementation of the 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). As Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) work to comply with SGMA requirements and timelines, On-Farm Floodwater Capture and Recharge (OFFCR) is being studied to help increase recharge capacity. We implemented an OFFCR test on an organic almond orchard in the CV to assess achievable recharge rates attained through over-irrigation, and potential soil and water quality impacts. Irrigation water was applied via flood irrigation. We developed study sites and installed soil sensors for moisture and salinitymonitoring, took post-irrigation deep cores to assess changes in soil and porewater nitrogen and salt concentrations through the vadose zone, and monitored agronomic practices, recharge loading and crop yields.These studies were conducted on three recharge treatments with three replicated stations for each: 1) Control at about 6 inches of flooded water to meet ET as typical for irrigation (Control treatment), 2) Low Flooding of about 12 inches per irrigation application (Mid treatment), and 3) High Flooding of about 24 inches per irrigation application (High treatment).
2017-04-18T00:00:00ZTechnical report: Modeling nitrate leaching risk from specialty crop fields during on-farm managed floodwater recharge in the Kings Groundwater Basin and the potential for its managementBachand, P.A.M.Bachand, S.M.Waterhouse, H.Rath, J.Ung, M.Roy, S.Kretsinger, V.Dalgish, B.Horwath, W.Dahlke, H.Creamer, C.Choperena, J.Mountjoy, D.http://hdl.handle.net/1834/411892021-07-24T03:29:29Z2017-07-31T00:00:00ZTechnical report: Modeling nitrate leaching risk from specialty crop fields during on-farm managed floodwater recharge in the Kings Groundwater Basin and the potential for its management
Bachand, P.A.M.; Bachand, S.M.; Waterhouse, H.; Rath, J.; Ung, M.; Roy, S.; Kretsinger, V.; Dalgish, B.; Horwath, W.; Dahlke, H.; Creamer, C.; Choperena, J.; Mountjoy, D.
This project has focused on better understanding the potential impact of On-Farm Flood Capture and Recharge (OFFCR) on groundwater quality pertaining to salts and nitrate and on assessing potential management opportunities. To achieve these goals, we used a combination of field and modeling studies. For the field study, soil cores were taken to a depth of 30 feet in replicate across fields with three different specialty crops identified as important to the San Joaquin Valley (tomatoes, almonds, vineyards) and with potential suitability for OFFCR. A prime goal of the field study was to provide data for parameterizing two models developed to assess nitrate, salt and water transport through the vadose zone, prior to percolating into the groundwater aquifer.However, the field study also resulted in key findings that show its value as a stand-alone study: 1) Nitrate concentrations are highest in the upper vadose zone and affected by texture. Those effects are not evident in the deeper vadose zone. 2) Vadose zone nitrate concentrations are affected by the crop grown. These results suggest an opportunity for lower legacy mass transport for grapes and higher legacy mass transport for both tomatoes and almonds.3) Variability in individual farmers’ past and present fertilizer and water management practices contributes to different legacy salt and nitrate loads in the vadose zone.Data from the field study and other related and concurrent OFFCR field efforts were used during model development. The overall modeling approach was designed to model nitrate and salt transport for lands under OFFCR operation for different crop types, vadose zone characteristics and groundwater characteristics. The defined goals of this design and modeling approach were to: 1) model nitrate and salt movement through the vadose zone and into groundwater; 2) test the model against scenarios that consider different recharge rates, cultural practices, soil types, and depths to groundwater, assessing the timing and magnitude of loading through the vadose zone and the effects on underlying groundwater; and 3) recommend management practices to mitigate potential groundwater impacts. To achieve these goals, two models were integrated to simulate nitrate and salt transport through the vadose zone to groundwater under different scenarios: a 1D Hydrus model and an analytical groundwater model (AGM).
2017-07-31T00:00:00Z2017 OFR demonstration site monitoring and analyses:
Effects on soil hydrology and salinity, and potential implications on soil oxygenBachand, S.M.Hossner, R.Bachand, P.A.M.http://hdl.handle.net/1834/411872021-07-24T03:29:17Z2019-01-28T00:00:00Z2017 OFR demonstration site monitoring and analyses:
Effects on soil hydrology and salinity, and potential implications on soil oxygen
Bachand, S.M.; Hossner, R.; Bachand, P.A.M.
On-farm recharge (OFR) is a practice that uses surface water to alleviate demand on and replenish groundwater supplies. It can take on two forms: in lieu recharge and direct recharge. In lieu recharge utilizes surface water supplies instead of groundwater to irrigate crops. Direct recharge applies water beyond the needs of the crop and replenishes the groundwater supply. ...The present study examined OFR with grapes, walnuts, and pistachios at six sites in the San Joaquin Valley, plus one additional site from a previous study, also in the San Joaquin Valley. Each site was comprised of a recharge plot that received direct recharge paired with a control plot with the same crop and soil characteristics, but meant to receive in lieu recharge (via the flood system) or drip application with groundwater. At the end of the 2017 recharge demonstration, however, three control plots had also received direct recharge from water applications that exceeded the crop’s water demand. At another site, both control and test plots had only received in lieu recharge due to limited surface water amounts or the host growers’ more conservative volume of water application. ...The present study only covers one season of recharge. Long-term effects of recharge are not described by the present study and will require further monitoring. Further study is needed of the dynamics of soil oxygen during and after recharge events. Similarly, the fate of the water after it infiltrates past the root zone is not always known and the rate at which recharged water will reach an aquifer is seldom known for deep aquifers. A method to predict the fate of water quickly and broadly would be quite helpful in developing an on-farm recharge strategy. The present study does not look at the effects of recharge on soil biological processes, such as microbial respiration and plant oxygen demand. Further study of the recharge tolerance of specific species and rootstocks, as well as the impact on plant disease, is crucial.
2019-01-28T00:00:00Z