Retention of aquifer recharge and recovery water in a shallow unconfined aquifer

An aquifer recharge and recovery project (ARR) was implemented by the Forest River Hutterite Community near Fordville, North Dakota, from 1993 through 2009. Water was pumped each spring from the Forest River, and piped about a half mile to two infiltration basins (a total of 7 acres). Recharge was conducted from March through the middle of June, with the starting date depending on thaw conditions and river flows. Annual recharge varied from as little as 180 acre-feet, to as much as 1,069 acre-feet. Recharged water was then pumped from the aquifer for irrigation using wells constructed near the basin... A hydrologic model, using MODFLOW(TM) was used to evaluate potential natural losses and retention characteristics of recharged waters. --Executive summary.