Balancing Water Supply and Flow in the Hunt River

1
Balancing Water Supply and Flow in the Hunt
River

• Allison Sobel
• Center for Environmental Studies
• Brown University
• February 10, 2005

2
(No Transcript)
3
(No Transcript)
4
Public Supply Wells

• 3 RIEDC wells supply 100 of water to Quonset
  Point
• 3 North Kingstown wells supply about 50 of town
  water (44 - 59 per month)
• 1 Kent County well supplies about 5 of total
  company needs

5
Summer Average 113.1 MG 3.8 MGD
Fall, Winter Spring Average 72.2 MG 2.4 MGD
Annual Average 82.4 MG 2.8 MGD
6
Is there a streamflow problem?

• 2001 USGS Hunt-Annaquatucket-Pettaquamscutt (HAP)
  study
• Hunt depletion infiltration from withdrawals
• Possible to restore 5-15 of flow to Hunt
• 7Q10 analysis Hunt River
• Measured 1.63 cfs
• Potential 8.2 cfs (6.6 9.8 cfs)
• RI ABF Hunt River
• Daily flows below ABF 49 of time
• In Summer months daily flows below ABF 66 of time

7
(No Transcript)
8
U.S. Fish Wildlife / DEM Fish Survey 1997
2004

• Species composition diverse at sites upstream of
  pumping wells
• Downstream species 94 macrohabitat
  generalistprimarily eels
• State takes position that fish community is
  degradedreasons are unclear

9
Record of water conflict in area

• In 2001 Hunt Wellhead Protection Committee
  formed, includes NK, EG, Warwick, KCWA, RIEDC
  guidance from WRB
• Zoning legislation pushed by NK supported by
  water supply companies and WRB
• East Greenwich town council vote opposes
  Warwick never drafts legislation
• Have not met as stakeholders since 2002

10
North Kingstown has green lawns

• Summer NK Hunt wells pump an average of 2 MGD
  (high of 2.2 MGD, 25 of total Hunt water pumped)
• Winter, Spring Fall wells pump an average of
  1.2 MGD
• Summer use increasing slightly every year due
  to lawn watering

11
North Kingstown Hunt July Withdrawals 1990-2004
North Kingstown Total July Withdrawals 1990-2004
12
RIEDC plans to grow Quonset

• Focal point for industrial growth in Rhode Island
  about 30 developed
• Currently uses an average of 0.7 MGDbelieves can
  use up to 4.6 MGD (full capacity of 3 wells in
  line with growth projections)
• In early 1940s Navy pumped wells at full
  capacityHunt flow was 0.1 cfs in 1943
• 2002 Grow Smart Report concludes enough water for
  future users only with Big River supply

13
The Hunt has low flows
August, 2004
14
Promulgation of Misinformation

• 1968 USGS report
• sustained yield of Hunt wells is 8 MGD
• In dry years will result in no flow for as much
  as 160 days in a sizable reach of the Hunt
• 1995 Hunt Aquifer Wellhead Protection Plan
• cites USGS study, but claims that safe yield of
  Hunt aquifer is 8 MGD
• Asserts that 8 MGD can be withdrawn without harm
  to Instream Flow
• 2003 Quonset Master Plan
• well pumping capacity is 4.6 MGD to projected
  demand
• cites USGS study of safe yield of Hunt Aquifer
  at 8 MGD
• room for full capacitycurrently only 2.4 - 4 MGD
  pumped

15
Potential for future conflict

• Hunt is border of 3 towns with prior record of
  water conflict
• Hunt aquifer supplies water to 3 companies
• Summer demand high increasing in NK
• Growth projected for Quonset mistaken belief of
  extra water
• DEM concerned about Hunt aquatic species
• WRB/ DEM/ USGS working to develop long-term flow
  standards Hunt will not likely meet them as per
  ABF 7Q10 calculations

16
What should we do? Recommendations

• New water source for RIEDC/Quonset
• North Kingstown needs to reduce consumption in
  the summer months
• State policy changes

17
RIEDC - Quonset Point

• State agency should take responsibility for
  upholding state environmental protection
  legislation already working on conservation
• Agency has economic potential to develop a new
  source
• Potential sources include
• New well most likely in lower Annaquatucket
  Basin
• Purchase from Providence Water Supply or Kent
  County (if Big River is available)
• Waste water reuse

18
North Kingstown - ideas

• Adopt policies similar to MA Stressed Basins
  Report
• Financial incentives to home-owners and
  commercial properties for installing conservation
  oriented lawn irrigation systems
• Incentives for Healthy Landscapes Initiative
• Electronic metering fines over a certain level
  of usage
• Inclining Block Pricing water rates

19
Statewide Policy Changes

• Add streamflow protection language to acts
  state guide plan
• WRB DEM set watershed-specific flow standards
  and develop a regional plan for adequate supply
• WRB DEM oversee new water source for Quonset

20
Conclusions

• State agencies and local stakeholders can ensure
  the health of the aquatic community in the Hunt
  adequate water supply for human consumption with
  careful management practice firm standards.

August, 2004half of the streambed of the Hunt
River is dry
21
Thank You

• Harold Ward, my advisor
• Kathy Crawley, WRB
• Alisa Richardson, DEM
• Caroline Karp
• Don Pryor
• Jim Campbell, USGS
• Meg Kerr, Rivers Council
• Sue Licardi, Dale Grogan, and Marilyn Cohen from
  NK
• Geoff Grout Bill Harritos from RIEDC
• Patti Caton, Betsy Barlow UEL staff
• My friends and colleagues here at CES