A Regional Water-Budget Analysis of the Kalamazoo County Area

In Kalamazoo County and the surrounding area, ground water is widely used as a source of water for drinking and industry. Additionally, lakes and streams are valued for their recreational use and beauty. Stresses on the ground-water system, both natural (changes in climate, for instance) and human-induced, raise concerns about the long-term availability of ground water for people to use and for replenishment of lakes and streams. This study will develop and use a ground water flow model to aid in estimating water availability and the effects of pumping water on the ground-water and surface-water system. The study is being conducted by USGS in cooperation with the City of Kalamazoo, City of Portage, Kalamazoo County, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, and a grant from Pharmacia-Upjohn Company (the largest industrial water user in the County).

Luukkonen, C.L., Blumer, S.P., Weaver, T.L., and Jean, J., Simulation of the Ground-Water-Flow System in the Kalamazoo County area, Michigan, Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5054

Sustainable Community Watershed Conference, June 12, 2001