Pathways and Estimate of Aquifer Recharge in a Flood Basalt Terrain; A Review from the South Fork Palouse River Basin (Columbia River Plateau, USA)

Aquifer recharge is one of the most important hydrologic parameters for understanding available groundwater volumes and making sustainable use natural water by minimizing mining. In this framework, we reviewed evaluated efficacy multiple methods to determine in a flood basalt terrain that restrictive infiltration percolation. South Fork Columbia River Plateau, recent research involving tracers modeling has revealed snowmelt-dominated system. Here, occurring along intersection mountain-front alluvial systems extensive Miocene layers form fractured interbedded sediment aquifer The flow model basin was based on large physio-chemical dataset acquired laterally vertically distinctive locations refined margin alluvium spatially variable flows filled basin. Modelled effective 25 105 mm/year appears appropriate basin’s plain mountain front, respectively. These values refine previous efforts quantifying Darcy’s law, one-dimensional infiltration, zero-flux plane, chloride, storage, mass-balance methods. Overall, combination isotopic hydrochemical data three dimensions modelling were needed simultaneously dynamics, pathways, parameter primarily terrain. This holistic approach assisted conceptualizing resource managers have struggled understand dynamics withdrawals.