Date of Award

2-1-2017

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Environmental Sciences, MS

First Advisor

Michele Reba

Second Advisor

Jerry Farris

Committee Members

Calvin Shumway; James Palmer; Jerry Farris; Michele Reba

Call Number

LD 251 .A566t 2016 K42

Abstract

The Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer (MRVAA) has been the primary source for irrigation in the region since the early 1900s. Increased water withdrawals from the MRVAA have contributed to groundwater decline over the years with continued decline projected for the future. Sustainability of the aquifer is essential, as Arkansas' economy depends on agriculture. Artificial recharge (AR), the increase in groundwater by artificial means, has the potential to reduce groundwater decline of the MRVAA. The aim of the current study was to characterize water quality of on-farm storage reservoirs and their associated ditches for potential use as source water for artificial recharge and determine the optimized time frame for AR based on reduced nutrients and sediments. Findings suggest reservoirs are a promising water source for potential AR compared to ditches and December and January are the most effective months to attempt AR.

Rights Management

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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