Simulation of proposed increases in ground-water withdrawals from the Atlantic City 800-foot sand, New Jersey Coastal Plain

The confined Atlantic City 800-foot sand and the unconfined Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system (surficial aquifer) are major sources of water for southeastern New Jersey. Because of concerns about streamflow depletion resulting from ground-water withdrawals and the potential ecological effects on stream habitat in the area, the focus on withdrawals has been shifted away from the surficial aquifer to the confined Atlantic City 800-foot sand until the effects of increased withdrawals from the surficial aquifer can be investigated. A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of seven proposed increases in ground-water withdrawals from the Atlantic City 800-foot sand and the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system on the Atlantic City 800-foot sand. Full-allocation conditions were simulated to determine conditions that would occur if all wells in the Atlantic City 800-foot sand were pumped at the permitted allocation rate. Output from the full-allocation simulation serves as a baseline for comparison with the output from the seven alternate withdrawal scenarios. The seven scenarios are described along with the incremental and cumulative effects of the increased withdrawals on the water levels in the Atlantic City 800-foot sand and on sources of water to wells. The report describes the models used to simulate the withdrawal scenarios and provides details on the proposed increases in withdrawals. Output from the simulations-water levels, drawdowns, flow budgets, and travel times of particles from saltwater areas to wells-are presented in figures and tables.Prepared in cooperation with New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Scientific Investigations Report 2006-5114.Purpose: To describes simulations in which increased withdrawals were made from the Atlantic City 800-foot sand and the unconfined Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system to determine the effects on the Atlantic City 800-foot sand