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Problem Statement:
Conjunctive management of surface water and ground water has
become increasingly important as water supply and water quality issues
intensify. However, water law
and environmental policies regulate surface water and ground water
separately. Water resource
managers are becoming more aware of the importance of the hydrologic
connection between surface water and ground water, especially in
stream/aquifer systems. Future
water and environmental professionals must possess the capabilities to
analyze interconnected hydrologic systems. Quantifying the degree of interaction
between streams and aquifers is important in arid locations for the
administration of surface water and ground water rights. Even in areas with excess
precipitation and surface water flow, excessive withdrawals of cleaner,
more potable ground water supplies are depleting aquifer storage and nearby
surface water reservoirs. The
fate of many rivers, lakes, and wetlands are at the mercy of future
economic development and ground water pumping. Water quality exchange between a
stream and aquifer is becoming even more important for developing
integrated watershed models capable of simulating all hydrologic pathways
of contamination, especially for the development of total maximum daily
loads (TMDLs).
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