Analysis of managed aquifer recharge for retiming streamflow in an alluvial river

Ronayne, Michael J.; Roudebush, Jason A.; Stednick, John D.

doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2016.11.054

Cited by 22 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Recent droughts have increased reliance on groundwater and renewed interest in MAR [e.g., Scanlon et al ., ; Ronayne et al ., ]. Previous studies acknowledge challenges in the implementation of MAR, including lacking supplemental water for MAR, impacts to senior water users due to MAR diversions, locating recharge facilities, and other regionally specific issues [ Bouwer , ; Kumar et al ., ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although increases in natural discharge may not be the goal of a particular MAR project and may be considered a nonbeneficial use [ Neuman , ], increases in discharge by natural vegetation implies enhanced ecosystem services within the basin [ Bolund and Hunhammar , ; Eamus and Froend , ; Dillon et al ., ; Fisher , ]. Clearly, these simulations indicate that Ag‐MAR substantially enhances long‐term aquifer storage in the basin, which is an important goal of water management in semiarid regions [ Ronayne et al ., ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This benefit was modest in the present study as the hydrographic setting promoted greater groundwater discharge by ET as compared to discharge to streams. However, other studies have shown MAR can benefit surface water supplies by groundwater discharge [ Zhang and Schilling , ; Ronayne et al ., ]. Another possible benefit of Ag‐MAR on surface water supplies is to enhance the use of groundwater instead of surface water for irrigation, due to increases in sustainable groundwater pumping.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Managed aquifer recharge through off‐season irrigation in agricultural regions

Niswonger

Morway

Triana

et al. 2017

Water Resources Research

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Options for increasing reservoir storage in developed regions are limited and prohibitively expensive. Projected increases in demand call for new long‐term water storage to help sustain agriculture, municipalities, industry, and ecological services. Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) is becoming an integral component of water resources around the world. However, MAR faces challenges, including infrastructure costs, difficulty in enhancing recharge, water quality issues, and lack of available water supplies. Here we examine, through simulation modeling of a hypothetical agricultural subbasin in the western U.S., the potential of agricultural managed aquifer recharge (Ag‐MAR) via canal seepage and off‐season field irrigation. Weather phenomenon in many regions around the world exhibit decadal and other multiyear cycles of extreme precipitation. An ongoing challenge is to develop approaches to store greater amounts of water during these events. Simulations presented herein incorporate Ag‐MAR programs and demonstrate that there is potential to enhance regional recharge by 7–13%, increase crop consumptive use by 9–12%, and increase natural vegetation consumption by 20–30%, where larger relative increases occur for lower aquifer hydraulic conductivity and higher specific yield values. Annual increases in groundwater levels were 7 m, and sustained levels following several years of drought were greater than 2 m. Results demonstrate that Ag‐MAR has great potential to enhance long‐term sustainability of water resources in agricultural basins.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Managed aquifer recharge through off‐season irrigation in agricultural regions

Niswonger

Morway

Triana

et al. 2017

Water Resources Research

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“…Similar groundwater storage gains were found by Niswonger et al () (e.g., 26–29% depending on aquifer hydraulic conductivity) for large‐scale Ag‐MAR simulations in the Carson Valley, NV and Ghasemizade et al () for the eastern San Joaquin Valley, CA. Other large‐scale MAR modeling studies have seen lower gains in groundwater storage (e.g., Ronayne et al, ; Scherberg et al, ); however, most studies observed similar clear benefits of recharge for groundwater‐dependent ecosystems and instream flows. Similar to findings of Kendy and Bredehoeft () and Ronayne et al () recharge effects on seasonal streamflows and particularly summer low flows were greatest when MAR programs were extended over longer recharge seasons that allowed capturing more surface water excess flows.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 89%

“…Other large‐scale MAR modeling studies have seen lower gains in groundwater storage (e.g., Ronayne et al, ; Scherberg et al, ); however, most studies observed similar clear benefits of recharge for groundwater‐dependent ecosystems and instream flows. Similar to findings of Kendy and Bredehoeft () and Ronayne et al () recharge effects on seasonal streamflows and particularly summer low flows were greatest when MAR programs were extended over longer recharge seasons that allowed capturing more surface water excess flows. The recharge caused widespread increases in groundwater levels within the OAWD study area of as much as 90 ft (27.4 m) for some of the recharge scenarios.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 89%

Increasing Groundwater Availability and Seasonal Base Flow Through Agricultural Managed Aquifer Recharge in an Irrigated Basin

Kourakos

Dahlke

Harter

2019

Water Resources Research

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Groundwater aquifers provide an important “insurance” against climate variability. Due to prolonged droughts and/or irrigation demands, groundwater exploitation results in significant groundwater storage depletion. Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) is a promising management practice that intentionally places or retains more water in groundwater aquifers than would otherwise naturally occur. In this study, we examine the possibility of using large irrigated agricultural areas as potential MAR locations (Ag‐MAR). Using the California Central Valley Groundwater‐Surface Water Simulation Model we tested four different agricultural recharge land distributions, two streamflow diversion locations, eight recharge target amounts, and five recharge timings. These scenarios allowed a systematic evaluation of Ag‐MAR on changes in regional, long‐term groundwater storage, streamflow, and groundwater levels. The results show that overall availability of stream water for recharge is critical for Ag‐MAR systems. If stream water availability is limited, longer recharge periods at lower diversion rates allow diverting larger volumes and more efficient recharge compared to shorter diversion periods with higher rates. The recharged stream water increases both groundwater storage and net groundwater contributions to streamflow. During the first decades of Ag‐MAR operation, the diverted water contributed mainly to groundwater storage. After 80 years of Ag‐MAR operation about 34% of the overall diverted water remained in groundwater storage while 66% discharged back to streams, enhancing base flow during months with no recharge diversions. Groundwater level rise is shown to vary with the spatial and temporal distribution of Ag‐MAR. Overall, Ag‐MAR is shown to provide long‐term benefits for water availability, in groundwater and in streams.

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