USGS - science for a changing world

USGS Groundwater Information

Groundwater Resources Program

*  Home *  Regional GW Studies *  GW & Environment * Methods & Modeling *  Publications *  Data & Information [an error occurred while processing this directive] *  Intranet
[Photo: Groundwater flowing out of well.]

New & Noteworthy

* Press Release: Study Explores Groundwater and Geothermal Energy in Drought-Stricken Eastern Oregon and Neighboring States

* Technical Announcement: USGS Issues Revised Framework for Hydrogeology of Floridan Aquifer

* Press Release: High Plains Aquifer Groundwater Levels Continue to Decline

* Regional Groundwater Availability Study Geospatial Data

* Press Release: USGS Assesses Current Groundwater-Quality Conditions in the Williston Basin Oil Production Area

Past listings...

USGS Groundwater Watch

USGS maintains a network of active wells to provide basic statistics about groundwater levels.

[Image: USGS active water level wells location map.]

Other Water Topics

*  Water Resources

*  Groundwater

*  Surface Water

*  Water Quality

*  Water Use

USGS in Your State

USGS Water Science Centers are located in each state.

[Map: There is a USGS Water Science Center office in each State.] Washington Oregon California Idaho Nevada Montana Wyoming Utah Colorado Arizona New Mexico North Dakota South Dakota Nebraska Kansas Oklahoma Texas Minnesota Iowa Missouri Arkansas Louisiana Wisconsin Illinois Mississippi Michigan Indiana Ohio Kentucky Tennessee Alabama Pennsylvania West Virginia Georgia Florida Caribbean Alaska Hawaii and Pacific Islands New York Vermont New Hampshire Maine Massachusetts South Carolina North Carolina Rhode Island Virginia Connecticut New Jersey Maryland-Delaware-D.C.

Comparison of Selected Methods for Estimating Groundwater Recharge In Humid Regions

Sorted by Data Needs



Select Methods to Compare METHOD CATEGORY SPATIAL SCALE TEMPORAL SCALE TYPICAL QUANTITY ESTIMATED EASE OF USE DATA NEEDS RELATIVE COST
Water-Table Fluctuations Groundwater Methods Local Day to Years Recharge Easy Low Low
Streamflow Gain/Loss Measurements Streamflow Methods Local Instantaneous Potential Recharge Easy Low Low
Seepage Meters Streamflow Methods Point Event to Months Potential Recharge Moderate Low Low
Stream Base-Flow Analysis Streamflow Methods Watershed Years Net Recharge Easy Low Low
Zero-Tension Lysimeters Unsaturated Zone Methods Point Day to Years Potential Recharge Difficult Low High
Recession-Curve Displacement Streamflow Methods Watershed Event to Years Net Recharge Moderate Low Low
Darcian Methods Unsaturated Zone Methods Point Long-Term Average Potential Recharge Moderate Low High
Tritium Tracer Methods Point Month to Years Recharge Moderate Moderate High
Chloride Tracer Methods Point Years Recharge Easy Moderate Moderate
Deep Percolation Model Water Budget Regional Day to Years Potential Recharge Moderate Moderate Moderate
Chlorofluorocarbons Tracer Methods Local Month to Years Recharge Difficult Moderate High
HELP3 Model Water Budget Point to Regional Day to Years Potential Recharge Easy Low to Moderate Moderate
Temperature Tracer Methods Point Days to Years Recharge Moderate Moderate High
Zero-Flux Plane Unsaturated Zone Methods Point Day to Years Potential Recharge Difficult High High
Groundwater Modeling Groundwater Methods Local / Regional Month to Years Recharge Moderate High High
Watershed Models Streamflow Methods Watershed /Regional Days to Years Recharge Moderate High High

Accessibility FOIA Privacy Policies and Notices

Take Pride in America logo USA.gov logo U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://water.usgs.gov/ogw/gwrp/methods/compare/data.html
Page Contact Information: Contact the Groundwater Resources Program
Page Last Modified: Tuesday, 03-Jan-2017 20:46:13 EST