Grantee Research Project Results
Development of Innovative Monitoring and Analysis Strategies for Rural Enhanced Aquifer Recharge Structures
EPA Grant Number: R840618Title: Development of Innovative Monitoring and Analysis Strategies for Rural Enhanced Aquifer Recharge Structures
Investigators: Halihan, Todd , Agnew, Robert , Beckmann, Sabrina , Xu, Tingying , Mace, Robert , Zhang, Yipeng , Sewell, Guy
Institution: Oklahoma State University , Texas State University , East Central University
Current Institution: Oklahoma State University , East Central University , Texas State University
EPA Project Officer: Harper, Jacquelyn
Project Period: August 1, 2023 through May 2, 2025
Project Amount: $1,991,613
RFA: Enhanced Aquifer Recharge Performance and Potential Risk in Different Regional and Hydrogeologic Settings Request For Applications (RFA) (2023) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Endocrine Disruptors , Aquifer , Aquifer Recharge , Clean Water
Objective:
Our nation’s water management policies have resulted in increased evapotranspiration, storm flow and lower groundwater recharge. Rural application of enhanced aquifer recharge (EAR) allows for the greatest increase in water resource availability at a lower cost, while minimizing the risk to groundwater supplies. We will evaluate several methods of modification of rural basins to enhance recharge while monitoring the efficacy of each approach. Our hypothesis is that rural landscapes can be modified through low-cost approaches to enhance recharge such that the increased recharge can be quantified and easily implemented into a trading scheme to improve basin wide water management outcomes.
Approach:
A technical group has been assembled that is an extension of the Arbuckle-Simpson Technical Advisory Committee working the CAMARR Site. In partnership with the local stakeholders and the site owner (City of Ada, OK), we will employ microbiological, geochemical, sedimentological, groundwater gas monitoring, geophysical, and groundwater modeling tools to test the effectiveness and impacts of rural EAR structures to determine if these structures can be deployed as part of rural land management strategies to safely increase groundwater supplies in fractured and karstic aquifers.
Expected Results:
Our final product will be a Rural EAR technical guidance approach for safely developing rural EAR structures in fractured and karstic aquifers. The technical approach will be communicated locally through the Oka’ Institute at East Central University and nationally and internationally through peer reviewed journal articles and the National Ground Water Association University program.
Supplemental Keywords:
Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR), Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR), infiltration, groundwater recharge, interdisciplinary, credit program, trading scheme, water resources, watersheds, groundwater, land, soil, sediments, chemicals, ecosystem, aquatic, habitat, life-cycle analysis, sustainable development, renewable, public policy, public good, socioeconomic, conservation, environmental assets, environmental chemistry, engineering, hydrology, geology, modeling, monitoring, analytical, surveys, measurement methods, nationwide (EPA Regions 1 through 10), agriculture, electrical resistivity imaging (ERI), synchrotron, hydropneumograph, siphon, faults, caves, karst, springs, discharge curve.Progress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.