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Center for Earth and Environmental
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HYDROLOGY Principal hydrologic inputs to the project area are from surface water and ground water. The Indianapolis Water Company (IWC), which removes approximately half the discharge of the White River at the IWC Broad Ripple plant, largely controls the surface water supply; the IWC also removes approximately half of Fall Creek's discharge just south of the Fair Grounds. The result of these combined withdrawals is apparent during dry month's when there is practically no flow in the main channel (Figure ). Dams on White River and Fall Creek have also stopped the normal sediment supply for the river. While for most of its length the White River is a gravel bottomed stream, the campus reach of the river is covered with a thick layer of fine silt and mud because of interrupted sediment supply. Other effects of the dams are difficult to quantify. As the dams restrict the flow of sediments they also restrict the flow of nutrients and some biota, effectively altering the ecological balance of the stream (Ligon and others, 1995). Ground water supply to the floodplain will be studied with a series of monitoring wells located on the project site. The seasonal fluctuation of the water table will be an important constraint on vegetation. |
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