Isogeochemical Characterization of Mountain System Recharge Processes in
the Sierra Nevada, California
Abstract
Mountain System Recharge (MRS) processes are the natural recharge
pathways in arid and semi-arid mountainous regions. However, MSR
processes are often poorly understood and characterized in hydrologic
models. Mountains are the primary source of water supply to valley
aquifers via multiple pathways including lateral groundwater flow from
the mountain block (Mountain-block Recharge, MBR) and focused recharge
from mountain streams contributing to mountain front recharge (MFR) at
the piedmont zone. Here, we present a multi-tool isogeochemical approach
to characterize mountain flow paths and MSR processes in the northern
Tulare basin, California. We used groundwater chemistry data to
delineate hydrochemical facies and explain the chemical evolution of
groundwater from the Sierra Nevada to the Central Valley aquifer.
Isotope tracers helped to validate MSR processes. Novel application of
End-Member Mixing Analysis (EMMA) using conservative chemical components
revealed three MSR end-members: (1) evaporated Ca-HCO3 water type
associated with MFR, (2) non-evaporated Ca-HCO3 and Na-HCO3 water types
with short residence times associated with shallow MBR, and (3) Na-HCO3
groundwater type with long residence time associated with deep MBR. We
quantified the contribution of each MSR process to the valley aquifer
using mixing ratio calculation (MIX). Our results show that deep MBR is
a significant component of recharge representing more than 50% of the
valley groundwater. Greater hydraulic connectivity between the Sierra
Nevada and Central Valley has significant implications for
parameterizing Central Valley groundwater flow models and improving
groundwater management. Our framework is useful for understanding MSR
processes in other snow-dominated mountain watersheds.