Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID CT_2025_Wang

Modernizing baseflow prediction in headwater streams using USGS Next Generation Water Observing System data, process-based modeling and machine learning

Institute: Connecticut
USGS Grant Number:
Year Established: 2025 Start Date: 2026-08-01 End Date: 2029-07-31
Total Federal Funds: $303,836 Total Non-Federal Funds: $304,716

Principal Investigators: Lijing Wang

Project Summary: Streams often continue to flow during dry periods because they are fed by groundwater, a contribution called baseflow. Understanding how resilient baseflow is - meaning how well it can sustain streamflow during droughts or when rainfall and snowmelt are limited - is important for managing water supplies under extreme climate conditions. This project focuses on improving predictions of baseflow in the Delaware River Basin, a critical water source in the northeastern U.S. We will combine advanced computer models, field datasets, and machine learning to better understand how groundwater storage and release processes influence the contribution to streamflow. Our work will use rich datasets collected by the U.S. Geological Survey?s Next Generation Water Observing System, including stream discharge, temperature, and subsurface information. The project will produce improved models and a publicly available online tool, the Baseflow Resilience Explorer, to help communities and water managers prepare for future droughts and extreme weather events.