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#           Using the Basin Characterization Model (BCM) to Estimate Natural Recharge in Indian Wells Valley, California      

  Completed

      By California Water Science Center      February 4, 2019    

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            -              Science           
            -              Multimedia           
            -              Software           
            -              Partners           

Located in the northern Mojave Desert, the Indian Wells Valley has an arid environment, receiving only 4-6 inches of precipitation annually. Like most desert areas, Indian Wells Valley communities rely mostly on groundwater for their available groundwater supply. Increases in urban and agricultural development have resulted in increased groundwater pumpage for public and agricultural use, causing large water-level declines throughout the valley. Understanding the rate and amounts of natural groundwater recharge in the Indian Wells Valley is important to developing resource-management plans for the groundwater basin and the communities that depend on it.

View Media Details

The Indian Wells Valley is located in the northern Mojave Desert and it has an arid environment, receiving only 4-6 inches of precipitation annually. Like most desert areas, Indian Wells Valley communities rely mostly on groundwater for their available groundwater supply. Increases in urban and agricultural development have resulted in increased groundwater pumpage for public and agricultural use, causing large water-level declines throughout the valley. The USGS California Basin Characterization Model (BCM) (Flint and others, 2013) was used in a revised form to understand the rate and amounts of natural groundwater recharge in the Indian Wells Valley and to refine historical estimates of groundwater recharge in the valley. Results from this study provide validation of recharge estimates from multiple sources representing parts of the water balance, including variables such as potential and actual evapotranspiration, and streamflow measurements, and are used to evaluate historical and future patterns of natural recharge in the valley.

 

 

 

 

 

 

View Media Details

###  

###  

### **Development of a Monthly Dataset of Historical (1981-2010) and 3 Projected Futures (2011-2099) for Climate and Hydrology for Indian Wells Valley, CA**

The Indian Wells Valley BCM was developed on a monthly time step at a spatial resolution of 270 square meters (m2) with a model domain that includes the 10 sub-watersheds that surround and drain into the Indian Wells Valley (fig. 1). The BCM used historical climate data from 1981-2010, and 3 future climate projections to develop hydrologic output for the study area such as recharge, runoff, and climatic water deficit. Model inputs include topography, soil properties, and geology datasets, which are static with time; monthly gridded precipitation and temperature datasets; and monthly gridded potential evapotranspiration (PET) (Flint and others, 2013).

The Indian Wells Valley BCM was calibrated to 10 watersheds (table 1) to provide recharge, runoff and climatic water deficit estimates for current and future climate conditions following methods in Flint and others (2013) and Flint and Flint (2012).

 

 

Table 2 shows previous estimates of recharge to the principal aquifer of the Indian Wells Valley. The table shows that local calibration results of the BCM model for the time period 1981-2010 correspond very well to previous recorded estimates, providing an independent approach that corroborates the general average annual estimate of approximately 8,700 acre-feet/year.

 

 

### **Future Climate Projections**

Three future climate projections were selected from among 20 models used for California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment for application to Indian Wells Valley. The 3 models chosen are all from the business-as-usual emissions scenario and represent a range in future projected climate conditions from wet to dry. Annual time series of precipitation and average air temperature for the three future climate models are shown in figure 2, illustrating a rise in air temperature for all models of 4-5 degrees C by end of century, and a range of changes in precipitation from +47% to -22%, depending on the model. Climate and hydrologic data for these three future projections are available via web-based download for all sub-watersheds contributing to the principal aquifer in the Indian Wells Valley.

### Contacts

#### Dina Saleh

##### Research Hydrologist

California Water Science Center

dsaleh@usgs.gov

916-278-3273

### Explore Search

                      - Aquifer Storage and Recovery
                      - Groundwater Supply
                      - Hydrologic Modeling
                      - Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA)
                      - Advanced Capabilities and Research
                      - Groundwater
                      - Hydrologic Modeling
                      - Measuring and Monitoring
                      - Basin Characterization Model BCM
                      - Groundwater Availability
                      - Groundwater Recharge
                      - Water Availability
                      - Water Banking
                      - Water
                      - Mojave Desert
                      - groundwater recharge
                      - kern county
                      - Water availability and forecasting
                      - groundwater storage reductions
                      - groundwater level declines
                      - climate model

View All **

Below are other science projects associated with this project.

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####                 Coping with Drought in the Russian River Watershed              

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January 30, 2019

####   Coping with Drought in the Russian River Watershed

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Below are multimedia items associated with this project.

Natural Recharge (1981 - 2010), Indian Wells Valley, CA

December 31, 2019

#### Natural Recharge (1981 - 2010), Indian Wells Valley, CA

link

*The USGS California Basin Characterization Model (BCM) was used to understand the rate and amounts of natural groundwater recharge in the Indian Wells Valley and to refine historical estimates of groundwater recharge in the valley.*

California, California Water Science Center

December 31, 2019

#### Natural Recharge (1981 - 2010), Indian Wells Valley, CA

link

#### Natural Recharge (1981 - 2010), Indian Wells Valley, CA

link

*The USGS California Basin Characterization Model (BCM) was used to understand the rate and amounts of natural groundwater recharge in the Indian Wells Valley and to refine historical estimates of groundwater recharge in the valley.*

California, California Water Science Center

Basin Characterization Model: Future Scenarios for Indian Wells Valley

July 1, 2018

#### Basin Characterization Model: Future Scenarios for Indian Wells Valley

link

Annual time series of precipitation and average air temperature for three future climate models for Indian Wells Valley, California as simulated by the Basin Characterization Model. Three future climate projections were selected from among 20 models used for California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment for application to Indian Wells Valley.

California Water Science Center

July 1, 2018

#### Basin Characterization Model: Future Scenarios for Indian Wells Valley

link

#### Basin Characterization Model: Future Scenarios for Indian Wells Valley

link

Annual time series of precipitation and average air temperature for three future climate models for Indian Wells Valley, California as simulated by the Basin Characterization Model. Three future climate projections were selected from among 20 models used for California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment for application to Indian Wells Valley.

California Water Science Center

Below are software products associated with this project.

April 26, 2019

####                 Basin Characterization Model (BCM)              

The Basin Characterization Model (BCM) models the interactions of climate with empirically measured landscape attributes including topography, soils, and underlying geology. It is a grid-based model that calculates the water balance for each 18-acre cell (270m resolution) in a given watershed in set time steps for the entire area. 

California Water Science Center

Below are partners associated with this project.

#### Kern County Water Agency

Located in the northern Mojave Desert, the Indian Wells Valley has an arid environment, receiving only 4-6 inches of precipitation annually. Like most desert areas, Indian Wells Valley communities rely mostly on groundwater for their available groundwater supply. Increases in urban and agricultural development have resulted in increased groundwater pumpage for public and agricultural use, causing large water-level declines throughout the valley. Understanding the rate and amounts of natural groundwater recharge in the Indian Wells Valley is important to developing resource-management plans for the groundwater basin and the communities that depend on it.

View Media Details

The Indian Wells Valley is located in the northern Mojave Desert and it has an arid environment, receiving only 4-6 inches of precipitation annually. Like most desert areas, Indian Wells Valley communities rely mostly on groundwater for their available groundwater supply. Increases in urban and agricultural development have resulted in increased groundwater pumpage for public and agricultural use, causing large water-level declines throughout the valley. The USGS California Basin Characterization Model (BCM) (Flint and others, 2013) was used in a revised form to understand the rate and amounts of natural groundwater recharge in the Indian Wells Valley and to refine historical estimates of groundwater recharge in the valley. Results from this study provide validation of recharge estimates from multiple sources representing parts of the water balance, including variables such as potential and actual evapotranspiration, and streamflow measurements, and are used to evaluate historical and future patterns of natural recharge in the valley.

 

 

 

 

 

 

View Media Details

###  

###  

### **Development of a Monthly Dataset of Historical (1981-2010) and 3 Projected Futures (2011-2099) for Climate and Hydrology for Indian Wells Valley, CA**

The Indian Wells Valley BCM was developed on a monthly time step at a spatial resolution of 270 square meters (m2) with a model domain that includes the 10 sub-watersheds that surround and drain into the Indian Wells Valley (fig. 1). The BCM used historical climate data from 1981-2010, and 3 future climate projections to develop hydrologic output for the study area such as recharge, runoff, and climatic water deficit. Model inputs include topography, soil properties, and geology datasets, which are static with time; monthly gridded precipitation and temperature datasets; and monthly gridded potential evapotranspiration (PET) (Flint and others, 2013).

The Indian Wells Valley BCM was calibrated to 10 watersheds (table 1) to provide recharge, runoff and climatic water deficit estimates for current and future climate conditions following methods in Flint and others (2013) and Flint and Flint (2012).

 

 

Table 2 shows previous estimates of recharge to the principal aquifer of the Indian Wells Valley. The table shows that local calibration results of the BCM model for the time period 1981-2010 correspond very well to previous recorded estimates, providing an independent approach that corroborates the general average annual estimate of approximately 8,700 acre-feet/year.

 

 

### **Future Climate Projections**

Three future climate projections were selected from among 20 models used for California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment for application to Indian Wells Valley. The 3 models chosen are all from the business-as-usual emissions scenario and represent a range in future projected climate conditions from wet to dry. Annual time series of precipitation and average air temperature for the three future climate models are shown in figure 2, illustrating a rise in air temperature for all models of 4-5 degrees C by end of century, and a range of changes in precipitation from +47% to -22%, depending on the model. Climate and hydrologic data for these three future projections are available via web-based download for all sub-watersheds contributing to the principal aquifer in the Indian Wells Valley.

### Contacts

#### Dina Saleh

##### Research Hydrologist

California Water Science Center

dsaleh@usgs.gov

916-278-3273

### Explore Search

                      - Aquifer Storage and Recovery
                      - Groundwater Supply
                      - Hydrologic Modeling
                      - Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA)
                      - Advanced Capabilities and Research
                      - Groundwater
                      - Hydrologic Modeling
                      - Measuring and Monitoring
                      - Basin Characterization Model BCM
                      - Groundwater Availability
                      - Groundwater Recharge
                      - Water Availability
                      - Water Banking
                      - Water
                      - Mojave Desert
                      - groundwater recharge
                      - kern county
                      - Water availability and forecasting
                      - groundwater storage reductions
                      - groundwater level declines
                      - climate model

View All **

Below are other science projects associated with this project.

link

November 8, 2018

####                 Basin Characterization Model (BCM)              

California Water Science Center

link

November 8, 2018

####   Basin Characterization Model (BCM)

Learn More

link

June 12, 2019

####                 Basin Characterization Model - Simulating Effects of Iowa Soil Management on Water Availability              

California Water Science Center

link

June 12, 2019

####   Basin Characterization Model - Simulating Effects of Iowa Soil Management on Water Availability

Learn More

link

January 31, 2019

####                 Climate and Natural Resources Analysis and Planning for California's Northern Coast              

California Water Science Center

link

January 31, 2019

####   Climate and Natural Resources Analysis and Planning for California's Northern Coast

Learn More

link

January 30, 2019

####                 Climate Ready Vulnerability Assessment              

California Water Science Center

link

January 30, 2019

####   Climate Ready Vulnerability Assessment

Learn More

link

January 30, 2019

####                 Coping with Drought in the Russian River Watershed              

California Water Science Center

link

January 30, 2019

####   Coping with Drought in the Russian River Watershed

Learn More

Below are multimedia items associated with this project.

Natural Recharge (1981 - 2010), Indian Wells Valley, CA

December 31, 2019

#### Natural Recharge (1981 - 2010), Indian Wells Valley, CA

link

*The USGS California Basin Characterization Model (BCM) was used to understand the rate and amounts of natural groundwater recharge in the Indian Wells Valley and to refine historical estimates of groundwater recharge in the valley.*

California, California Water Science Center

December 31, 2019

#### Natural Recharge (1981 - 2010), Indian Wells Valley, CA

link

#### Natural Recharge (1981 - 2010), Indian Wells Valley, CA

link

*The USGS California Basin Characterization Model (BCM) was used to understand the rate and amounts of natural groundwater recharge in the Indian Wells Valley and to refine historical estimates of groundwater recharge in the valley.*

California, California Water Science Center

Basin Characterization Model: Future Scenarios for Indian Wells Valley

July 1, 2018

#### Basin Characterization Model: Future Scenarios for Indian Wells Valley

link

Annual time series of precipitation and average air temperature for three future climate models for Indian Wells Valley, California as simulated by the Basin Characterization Model. Three future climate projections were selected from among 20 models used for California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment for application to Indian Wells Valley.

California Water Science Center

July 1, 2018

#### Basin Characterization Model: Future Scenarios for Indian Wells Valley

link

#### Basin Characterization Model: Future Scenarios for Indian Wells Valley

link

Annual time series of precipitation and average air temperature for three future climate models for Indian Wells Valley, California as simulated by the Basin Characterization Model. Three future climate projections were selected from among 20 models used for California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment for application to Indian Wells Valley.

California Water Science Center

Below are software products associated with this project.

April 26, 2019

####                 Basin Characterization Model (BCM)              

The Basin Characterization Model (BCM) models the interactions of climate with empirically measured landscape attributes including topography, soils, and underlying geology. It is a grid-based model that calculates the water balance for each 18-acre cell (270m resolution) in a given watershed in set time steps for the entire area. 

California Water Science Center

Below are partners associated with this project.

#### Kern County Water Agency