Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID MI_2023_Nejadhashemi

Utilizing Machine Learning for Assessing the Effects of Climate Change and Human Actions on the Replenishment of Michigan's Groundwater

Institute: Michigan
Year Established: 2023 Start Date: 2023-09-01 End Date: 2024-08-31
Total Federal Funds: $49,996 Total Non-Federal Funds: $50,014

Principal Investigators: Amirpouyan Nejadhashemi

Project Summary: The primary goal of this study is to understand the impact of climate change andhuman activities on Michigan's groundwater (GW) resources for better urban and agriculturalplanning. To achieve our goal, we will examine the following objectives: 1) quantify the impactof climate change on GW recharge due to increased freezing-thaw cycles, snow-on-rain events,and evapotranspiration, and 2) quantify the impact of major urban and agricultural development,such as impervious areas and conservation tillage, on GW recharge. For this purpose, we willutilize a calibrated and physically-based hydrogeochemical model to simulate GW recharge in alarge and diverse watershed under different climates, land covers, and conservation practices. Wewill then employ machine learning (ML) techniques to extend our comprehension beyond thestudy region while validating the results against monitoring sites throughout the state. Next, wewill use the trained ML model to investigate the impact of climate change and human activitiesacross Michigan's major GW systems. The end product will be accessible through an onlineplatform and disseminated to practitioners through various methods, including publications andpresentations. This study's results could help urban and agricultural planners better understandtheir practices' impacts on GW resources, identify vulnerable areas needing protection, anddevelop more sustainable land use practices.