Streamflow Losses, Consequent Flow Through a Thick Unsaturated Zone, and Recharge to an Unconfined Aquifer

by J. R. Marie, US Geological Survey, Tucson, AZ, USA,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Development and Management Aspects of Irrigation and Drainage Systems

Abstract:

Two experiments were conducted in conjunction with a 23-day aquifer test made in south-central Arizona to determine (1) water loss from a natural channel and (2) flow through a 330-foot-thick unsaturated zone overlying an unconfined aquifer. The experiments provided control for the aquifer test plus results relative to arid land hydrology. The increases of soil moisture within the 330-foot-thick unsaturated zone and the consequent water-level rises show that recharge can occur quickly and that relatively large amounts of water can be recharged through thick sequences of unsaturated material.

Subject Headings: Water leakage and water loss | Soil water | Channel flow | Arid lands | Water level | Unsaturated soils | Streamflow | Arizona | United States

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