Preliminary Evaluation of Water-Resource Development and Potential within the Pasco Basin

摘要

This report was prepared in conjunction with the Basalt Waste Isolation Project in partial fulfillment of requirements to assess the effects of a deep geologic repository for radioactive wastes upon adjacent water resources within the Pasco Basin. Because of the many unanswered questions with respect to repository siting, environmental characterization, engineering design, and other factors related to the proposed facility, it is somewhat premature to present an intensive evaluation of such effects. However, it is considered appropriate at this time to speculate, in a generic fashion, upon the nature of these effects as a basis for future scenario evaluations. Accordingly, this report provides the following: (1) general information and data on the nature of water resources present within the Pasco Basin; (2) a description of present and, to the extent possible, a prediction of future use and trends; (3) speculation with respect to possible interfaces between the repository and adjacent water resources. Background information describes the setting of the Pasco Basin with respect to the physical and socioeconomic resources present. Uses of the water resource, with particular regard to industrial, agricultural, municipal, recreational, and river barging and transportation are described, and a matrix serves to show the existing administrative structure. For the groundwater system, three scenarios were evaluated briefly: importation and application of surface water for irrigation, excessive discharge from wells, and subsidence related to dewatering. In conclusion, it was determined that intrusion into the deeper groundwater systems within the Wanapum Basalt for well development is a foremost consideration with respect to scenarios involving contaminant release to the biosphere. (ERA citation 07:058180)