TY - JOUR
T1 - Exploring conceptual models of infiltration and groundwater recharge on an intermittent river
T2 - The role of geologic controls
AU - Beetle-Moorcroft, Fern
AU - Shanafield, Margaret
AU - Singha, Kamini
PY - 2021/6
Y1 - 2021/6
N2 - Study region: This study is along an intermittent reach of the Alamosa River in the San Luis Valley of south-central Colorado, a river that is typical of the semi-arid southwestern United States with respect to climate, land use, and the impacts of upstream dam regulation. Study focus: We use conceptual steady-state models to identify geologic factors that may control water loss through infiltration. These conceptual models are parameterized according to a range of conditions observed from stream discharge, topographic data, geologic data, and drone magnetometer data. New hydrological insights: The introduction of a fault, variation in the alluvial aquifer hydraulic conductivity, and presence or absence of a confining unit in the numerical models were the primary geologic controls that affected infiltration across the study reach. Conversely, variation in the thickness of the streambed had little impact. This information may help determine future data collection within this and similar semi-arid regions where rivers are controlled by a combination of surface water availability (e.g. through dam regulation) and complex subsurface geology, which are often not well constrained.
AB - Study region: This study is along an intermittent reach of the Alamosa River in the San Luis Valley of south-central Colorado, a river that is typical of the semi-arid southwestern United States with respect to climate, land use, and the impacts of upstream dam regulation. Study focus: We use conceptual steady-state models to identify geologic factors that may control water loss through infiltration. These conceptual models are parameterized according to a range of conditions observed from stream discharge, topographic data, geologic data, and drone magnetometer data. New hydrological insights: The introduction of a fault, variation in the alluvial aquifer hydraulic conductivity, and presence or absence of a confining unit in the numerical models were the primary geologic controls that affected infiltration across the study reach. Conversely, variation in the thickness of the streambed had little impact. This information may help determine future data collection within this and similar semi-arid regions where rivers are controlled by a combination of surface water availability (e.g. through dam regulation) and complex subsurface geology, which are often not well constrained.
KW - Aquifer recharge
KW - Arid hydrology
KW - Geophysics
KW - Heterogeneity
KW - Non-perennial rivers
KW - Numerical modeling
KW - Streambed dynamics
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85107148985&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ejrh.2021.100814
DO - 10.1016/j.ejrh.2021.100814
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85107148985
SN - 2214-5818
VL - 35
JO - Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies
JF - Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies
M1 - 100814
ER -