Projecting the effect of changed stream stages on the water table

Abstract

The position and shape of the water table under certain conditions may be considered to be the sum of two components of head, namely, the boundary component and the accretion component. In an aquifer of given hydraulic characteristics, the boundary component of head is determined by the stream stage and areal shape of the aquifer; the accretion component of head is determined by vertical gain or loss of water to the aquifer and by the areal shape of the aquifer. The boundary component may be obtained by electric-analog methods. By subtracting the boundary component from the observed position of the water table, the accretion component can be obtained. A change in river stage imposes a new boundary component on the system. The effect of changed stream stages on the water table may be obtained by adding the accretion component to a new boundary component caused by changed stream stages.