Description
Since 1973, groundwater in the Coachella Valley, California, has been artificially recharged with water from the Colorado River, which has a higher salinity than native water. Groundwater levels have risen over 100 m in response and TDS has increased. SUTRA (Saturated-Unsaturated Transport) was used to construct a vertically-oriented, flow and transport model for the period 1973-1989. The model indicates that a low-conductivity layer impedes solute transport. Solute moves more quickly and is less dispersed above the layer than below it. The model also indicates that the regional flow gradient prohibits westerly movement of the solute. The model accurately simulates flow and less accurately simulates transport. Model parameters used are a compromise between flow and transport accuracy. A true three-dimensional model is needed to accurately simulate transport.
