Streamflow-Hydrograph Methods for Estimating
Ground-Water Recharge
Streamflow-Hydrograph Methods for Estimating
Ground-Water Recharge
Dennis RisserUSGS
New Cumberland, Pennsylvania
Dennis RisserUSGS
New Cumberland, Pennsylvania
GROUND-WATER RECHARGEGROUNDGROUND--WATER RECHARGEWATER RECHARGE
Recharge is the addition of water to the saturated zone.
It is difficultto measure directly.
POPULAR METHODS FOR ESTIMATING GW RECHARGE
POPULAR METHODS FOR POPULAR METHODS FOR ESTIMATING GW RECHARGEESTIMATING GW RECHARGE
Water-Table Rise Water Budget Stream-Hydrograph Recharge
WATER-TABLE RISEWATERWATER--TABLE RISETABLE RISE
Estimating ground-water recharge with wells.
WATERTABLERISE
WELL
Recharge = Rise x Sy
WATER BUDGET METHODWATER BUDGET METHODWATER BUDGET METHOD
EVAPOTRANSPORATION20 INCHES
PRECIPITATION41 INCHES
SURFACE RUNOFF 8 INCHES
STREAMFLOW21 INCHES
INFILTRATION13 INCHES
EVAPOTRANSPORATION20 INCHES
PRECIPITATION41 INCHES
SURFACE RUNOFF 8 INCHES
STREAMFLOW21 INCHES
INFILTRATION13 INCHES
EVAPOTRANSPIRATION20 IN
STREAMFLOW21 IN
PRECIPITATION41 IN
SURFACE RUNOFF 8 IN
GROUND-WATERRECHARGE
13 IN
STREAMFLOW-HYDROGRAPH METHODS
STREAMFLOWSTREAMFLOW--HYDROGRAPH HYDROGRAPH METHODSMETHODS
EVAPOTRANSPORATION20 INCHES
PRECIPITATION41 INCHES
SURFACE RUNOFF 8 INCHES
STREAMFLOW21 INCHES
INFILTRATION13 INCHES
EVAPOTRANSPORATION20 INCHES
PRECIPITATION41 INCHES
SURFACE RUNOFF 8 INCHES
STREAMFLOW21 INCHES
INFILTRATION13 INCHES
EVAPOTRANSPIRATION20 IN
STREAMFLOW21 IN
PRECIPITATION41 IN
SURFACE RUNOFF 8 IN
GROUND-WATERRECHARGE
13 IN
ET FROM GROUND WATERET FROM GROUND WATER
WELL LN2044
4.6
4.7
4.8
4.9 0 1 4 4 0 2 8 8 0 4 3 2 0 5 7 6 0 7 2 0 0 8 6 4 0 1 0 0 8 0
JUNE, 199924 25 27 28 29 3026D
EPTH
TO
WA
TER
IN F
EET
8AM
9PM
1,600 STREAMFLOW GAGES1,600 STREAMFLOW GAGES1,600 STREAMFLOW GAGES
STORM HYDROGRAPHSTORM HYDROGRAPHSTORM HYDROGRAPHD
ISC
HA
RG
E
TIME
No direct runoff.Hydrograph reflectsdischarge from ground water.
End of direct runoff?
Beginning of direct runoff
BASEFLOW SEPARATIONBASEFLOW SEPARATIONBASEFLOW SEPARATIOND
ISC
HA
RG
E
TIME
N= Area0.2
N days
End of Direct Runoff
COMPLEX HYDROGRAPHSCOMPLEX HYDROGRAPHSCOMPLEX HYDROGRAPHS
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
DAYS
DIS
CHAR
GE
(CFS
)
AUTOMATED BF SEPARATIONAUTOMATED BF SEPARATIONPART PROGRAMPART PROGRAM
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
YEAR 2000
DIS
CH
AR
GE,
(CFS
)
STREAMFLOWBASE FLOW
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN
FOUR AUTOMATED BASEFOUR AUTOMATED BASE--FLOW FLOW METHODS COMPARED AT ONE SITEMETHODS COMPARED AT ONE SITE
HYSEP PART HYSEP HYSEP LOCAL SLIDE FIXED
BASE
FLO
W O
R RE
CHA
RGE,
IN I
NCH
ES
WE-381968-2001
10.2
12.3 13.1 13.1
TWO AUTOMATED BASE-FLOW METHODS COMPARED AT 150 SITES
TWO AUTOMATED BASETWO AUTOMATED BASE--FLOW FLOW METHODS COMPARED AT 150 SITESMETHODS COMPARED AT 150 SITES
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
HYSEP LOCAL MIN METHOD (IN)
PAR
T M
ETH
OD
(IN
)
150 GAGES IN PA
PART = HYSEP
STREAMFLOWSTREAMFLOW--RECESSIONRECESSION--DISPLACEMENT METHODDISPLACEMENT METHOD
Ground-WaterDischarge
WATER-TABLE RISECAUSED BY RECHAGE
STREAMFLOWSTREAMFLOW--RECESSIONRECESSION--DISPLACEMENT METHODDISPLACEMENT METHOD
Instantaneous RechargeDiffuse Areal RechargeIdealized Aquifer Ground-Water Discharge to StreamNegligible Diversions or Regulation
10
100
1000
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
DAY
DIS
CH
AR
GE
(CFS
)
Tc = .21K Days
STREAM HYDROGRAPH
Q1
Q2
STREAMFLOWSTREAMFLOW--RECESSIONRECESSION--DISPLACEMENT METHODDISPLACEMENT METHOD
RECH = 2 (Q2-Q1) K2.306
K=43 Days
RECHARGE AND BASEFLOW ESTIMATES -- 150 STREAMSRECHARGE AND BASEFLOW RECHARGE AND BASEFLOW ESTIMATES ESTIMATES ---- 150 STREAMS150 STREAMS
y = 1.07x + 1.94R2 = 0.95
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
BASE FLOW FROM PART (IN)
REC
HA
RG
E, F
RO
M R
OR
A (I
N)
LINE OF EQUIVALENCE
COMPARISON OF METHODS COMPARISON OF METHODS AT ONE SITEAT ONE SITE
Stream Hydrograph MethodsHYSEPPARTRORA
LysimetersGround-Water LevelsWater Budget
COMPARISON OF BASE FLOW AND COMPARISON OF BASE FLOW AND RECHARGE METHODSRECHARGE METHODS
0
5
10
15
20
25
ANNUAL
BASE
FLOW
OR
RECH
ARG
E (I
N)
PART RORA
SLID
E
FIXE
DGW
LEV
ELS
WAT
ER BUD
GLY
SIME
TERS
LOCA
LBASEFLOWMETHODS
RECHARGEMETHODS
25
20
15
10
5
0
Estimates of Ground-Water Recharge in Pennsylvaniaby Streamflow-Hydrograph Methods
Estimates of Ground-Water Recharge in Pennsylvaniaby Streamflow-Hydrograph Methods
Select a station from the map below:For a description of the methods, click here
SELECT COUNTY OF INTERESTSELECT COUNTY OF INTERESTSELECT COUNTY OF INTEREST
SELECT LYCOMING COUNTYFROM MAP
LYCOMING CREEK WATERSHEDLYCOMING CREEK WATERSHEDLYCOMING CREEK WATERSHED
SELECT LYCOMING CREEKFROM MAP
LANDCOVER
RECHARGE AND BASEFLOW ESTIMATES FOR LYCOMING CR
RECHARGE AND BASEFLOW RECHARGE AND BASEFLOW ESTIMATES FOR LYCOMING CRESTIMATES FOR LYCOMING CR
Available Options
Graphs Data Tables
Detailed Station Information
Land Use Map
Geology Map
Back to county map
Back to state map
Main Page
Mean-Annual Recharge Estimates for Period of Record, in inches
From Recession Curve Displacement (RORA) Method 18.7
From Hydrograph Separation of Baseflow (PART) Method 14.7
Basin Characteristics Drainage Area (square miles) 173
Period of Record Used for Estimating Recharge 1914-2001
Land Cover (show map) (Forest/Agriculture/Developed/Other) as % of Area 85.2/13.9/0.5/0.5
Rock Types (show map) (Sandstone and Shale/Carbonate/Crystalline/Unconsolidated Sediments) as % of Area 100/0/0/0
TIME SERIES OF ANNUAL RECHARGE AND BASE FLOW
TIME SERIES OF ANNUAL TIME SERIES OF ANNUAL RECHARGE AND BASE FLOWRECHARGE AND BASE FLOW
MEAN-MONTHY RECHARGELYCOMING CREEK
MEANMEAN--MONTHY RECHARGEMONTHY RECHARGELYCOMING CREEKLYCOMING CREEK
MONTHLY RECHARGE FOR PAMONTHLY RECHARGE FOR PAMONTHLY RECHARGE FOR PA
0
1
2
3
4
5
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
INCH
ES
PRECIPITATION(1971-2000)
RECHARGE (RORA)
SPATIALSPATIALDISTRIBUTIONDISTRIBUTIONOF GROUNDOF GROUNDWATERWATERRECHARGE RECHARGE
MICHIGAN