Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Operationalizing Resilience In The Face Of Water Conflict: Linking Social And Ecological Systems, Stephen Andrew Mcguire

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the possibility of linked surface-groundwater governance through the application of a social-ecological systems lens to the Lake Beulah Conflict over a high capacity well in Walworth County, Wisconsin. Potential adverse impacts the loss of Ca2+ rich groundwater would have on Lake Beulah’s water quality was modeled through an ex-ante assessment method using the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lake and reservoir model BATHTUB, the U.S. Geological Survey geochemical model PHREEQC and a Ca2+ mass balance equation. The utility of this information in a management setting was also analyzed. Reduction of Ca2+ through groundwater withdrawal revealed a eutrophication …