““That’s Not A Levee Boil !” That’s Not A Levee Boil !”

oror “How to do more with “How to do more with

less”less” ByByGlen Pearson , Northern DistrictGlen Pearson , Northern District

2005 Annual2005 Annual Geology and Groundwater MeetingGeology and Groundwater Meeting

Marconi Center Marconi Center November 15-17, 2005. November 15-17, 2005.

1984 - 19871984 - 1987It was the Best of Times It was the Best of Times

andandIt was the Worst of TimesIt was the Worst of Times

It was Good - because I It was Good - because I was young and was young and enthusiastic;enthusiastic;

It was bad - because It was bad - because Funding was Tight Funding was Tight

Sacramento River Sacramento River Seepage Seepage

InvestigationInvestigation

Study ObjectivesStudy Objectives

• Identify the Extent and Causes of Saturated Ground from the Sacramento River to the Colusa Basin Drain.

• Define Alternative Solutions.

• Document Findings in a Summary Report

Previous StudiesPrevious Studies• USBR Seepage Investigations 1941-48• Seepage Survey of 1952 – U.C. Extension• DWR Sacramento River Seepage Investigation 1953-

1955.• DWR Sacramento River Seepage Investigation 1959-

1967.• DWR Colusa Basin Drain Investigation 1964• USBR Seepage and Drainage Investigation 1980

LocationLocationMapMapSeepage

Study Area

N

Seepage Study Areas – 1984-1987Seepage Study Areas – 1984-1987

Erdman Study AreaErdman Study Area(Borrowed Flight)(Borrowed Flight)

Colusa Basin Drain

Sacramento River

Study ParticipantsStudy Participants• California Department of Water Resources

• U. S. Bureau of Reclamation

• U.S.D.A. – Soil Conservation Service (now NRCS)

• Colusa County Resource Conservation District

What Did We Do?What Did We Do?

Visit the Site - Zone 2 Levee RoadVisit the Site - Zone 2 Levee Road(looking North)(looking North)

Sacramento River – Flood Stage

River Seepage

From Zone 2 Levee RoadFrom Zone 2 Levee Road(looking West over Prune Ochard)(looking West over Prune Ochard)

Note Clear Water

From Zone 2 Levee RoadFrom Zone 2 Levee Road(looking West over Prune Ochard)(looking West over Prune Ochard)

Seepage

From Zone 2 Levee RoadFrom Zone 2 Levee Road(Prune Ochard w/ Drain System)(Prune Ochard w/ Drain System)

No Seepage

Geologic MapGeologic Map

((From Soils Mapping & From Soils Mapping & Confirmed by Harwood Confirmed by Harwood

and Helly, 1985)and Helly, 1985)

Geologic UnitsOrange = Flood Plain DepositsDark Green = Flood Basin DepositsLime Green = Flood Channel DepositsLight Green = Younger Basin DepositsPink = Older Basin Deposits

1985 Land Use Map1985 Land Use Map

LegendLite Green = RiceYellow = FallowLite Blue = WheatTurquoise = Sugar BeetsBrown = Row CropsDark Greens = OrchardReds = Safflower & vines

Sacramento River Stream Gage Sacramento River Stream Gage Winter 1986Winter 1986

Staff Gage in DrainStaff Gage in Drain(Monitoring Drain Water Levels – scrounged 2X4)(Monitoring Drain Water Levels – scrounged 2X4)

SCS – Truck Mounted AugerSCS – Truck Mounted AugerMonitoring Well InstallationMonitoring Well Installation

SCS Trailer Mounted AugerSCS Trailer Mounted AugerMonitoring Well InstallationMonitoring Well Installation

USBR Contractor – Hollow Stem AugerUSBR Contractor – Hollow Stem Auger

USBR Contractor – Hollow Stem AugerUSBR Contractor – Hollow Stem AugerIs This A Fat Clay?Is This A Fat Clay?

Developing Wells

With Landowner’s

Air Compressor

Backwater from Colusa Basin Drain &Backwater from Colusa Basin Drain &Monitoring Well InstallationMonitoring Well Installation

Monitoring Well

Colusa Basin Drain

Installed Monitoring Wells w/ Borrowed Stevens F-Type Installed Monitoring Wells w/ Borrowed Stevens F-Type recordersrecorders

Shallow Zone Aquifer TestShallow Zone Aquifer Test

120 Ft deep extraction well120 Ft deep observation well

Hand Augered 20 Ft deep Obs. well

Monitoring Well Monitoring Well Location MapLocation Map

Types of WellsShallow (Augered 20 Ft +/-)Intermediate (HS 40 Ft +/-) Deep (Rotary 120 Ft +/-)Private (Dom – 150 +/-; Irr – 300 +/-)

July 22, 1985July 22, 1985

GW flow Towards or GW flow Towards or Parallel to the Parallel to the

Sacramento RiverSacramento River

Depth to GroundwaterRed = 0-2 feetGreen = 2-5 feetYellow = Greater than 5 feet

December 12, 1985December 12, 1985

GW flow Towards the GW flow Towards the Sacramento RiverSacramento River

(No Rain, No Irrigation, Low (No Rain, No Irrigation, Low Flow )Flow )

Depth to GroundwaterRed = 0-2 feetGreen = 2-5 feetYellow = Greater than 5 feet

February 20, 1986February 20, 1986

GW flow Away from the GW flow Away from the Sacramento RiverSacramento River

Depth to GroundwaterRed = 0-2 feetGreen = 2-5 feetYellow = Greater than 5 feet

March 22, 1986March 22, 1986

GW flow is Away from GW flow is Away from Sacramento RiverSacramento River

Depth to GroundwaterRed = 0-2 feetGreen = 2-5 feetYellow = Greater than 5 feet

April 16, 1986April 16, 1986

GW flow is Away from GW flow is Away from Sacramento RiverSacramento River

Depth to GroundwaterRed = 0-2 feetGreen = 2-5 feetYellow = Greater than 5 feet

May 15, 1986May 15, 1986

GW flow Towards or GW flow Towards or Parallel to the Parallel to the

Sacramento RiverSacramento River

Depth to GroundwaterRed = 0-2 feetGreen = 2-5 feetYellow = Greater than 5 feet

Possible AlternativesPossible Alternatives• Improve Sacramento River Operations

• Improve Local Surface Water Drainage

• Well Point– Shallow Wells with Conjunctive Use– Farm Subsurface Drainage Systems– Regional Collectors

• Perforated Pipe

• Open Ditch

Study AlternativesStudy Alternatives• Alternative 1

– Pump Discharge to Colusa Basin Drain

• Alternative 1– Pump Discharge to Sacramento River & Colusa Basin

Drain

• Alternative 3– Gravity Conveyance & Pump Discharge to Sacramento

River

• Alternative 4– Gravity Conveyance & Discharge to Colusa Basin Drain,

and Pump Discharge to Sacramento River

A SolutionA Solution

Relief Wells & Relief Wells & Subsurface Drains to Subsurface Drains to Colusa Basin DrainColusa Basin Drain

A SolutionA Solution

Subsurface Drains w/ Subsurface Drains w/ Water Pumped into Water Pumped into Sacramento RiverSacramento River

During 1987-92 Drought During 1987-92 Drought Studies TerminatedStudies Terminated

1997 Flood Event - Reports 1997 Flood Event - Reports from Colusa County About from Colusa County About Boils All Along Toe of LeveesBoils All Along Toe of Levees

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned• Seepage is a Groundwater Problem• There is a lot you can do without spending a

lot of money• You can use CDEC to determine sampling

times• Partnering with others can pool resources• Having Landowners Cooperation is worth its

weight in Gold• Use Existing Data and Make Decisions on

the Data that are available. Why We Get Paid the Big Bucks.

When You Are District Chief of the

Northern District…..

There is No Job Too Small or Insignificant.