SITTING AND DESIGN OF A BEDROCK INSTREAM MANAGED AQUIFER RECHARGE STRUCTURE

Due to groundwater depletion in many aquifers, minimally invasive recharge structures can assist with groundwater management. This study aims to analyze past recharge structure designs for cost, ease of installation and durability. Many common recharge structures require invasive installation techniques that aren't practical in the field area. The study area is densely wooded and located in a karstic aquifer system that has virtually no direct road access, making it difficult to bring in the heavy machinery required to install more conventional structures. At our field site, we will then monitor an intermittent stream along a fault in the Arbuckle Simpson aquifer to evaluate the existing recharge rate. Next, we will design and install a novel instream recharge structure and test its effectiveness. The proposed structure will combine the rigidity of a recharge gabion structure with a Beaver Dam Analog (BDA) approach. This design will catch biomass that will slow the movement of water over the fault and increase recharge by giving the water a better chance to infiltrate into the aquifer. The results will allow us to determine if the proposed recharge structure approach is suitable for rural karst areas and how widely it can be utilized.