USBR Long-term Water Transfers EIS/EIR

MBK Engineers worked as part of a project team to complete the modeling and technical analysis in support of the Long-Term Water Transfer environmental document and Record of Decision. This document was developed to provide coverage for multiple water transfers over a ten year period. MBK’s role was modeling and analysis of stream-groundwater interaction in the Sacramento Valley. Analysis was conducted using a variety of modeling tools including SACFEM2013, a finite-element groundwater model of the Sacramento Valley, CalSim II, and a transfer operations model developed by MBK. MBK was one of the developers of SACFEM2013 and developed many of the surface water inputs to the model. Inputs included estimates of deep percolation and groundwater pumping developed with the DWR’s Integrated Water Flow Model Demand Calculator (IDC) that simulates root zone processes. MBK also developed inputs for river stage and a representation of areas flooded in the Yolo and Sutter bypasses and Butte Sink.

MBK worked closely with the project team to develop and test the sensitivity of SACFEM2013’s representation of stream-groundwater interaction to a variety of model inputs. This work improved the understanding of stream-groundwater interaction in the Sacramento Valley by stakeholders.

MBK also developed tools to better understand the potential effects of stream-groundwater interaction on the operation of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project.

Location: Sacramento, CA

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