Managed Aquifer Recharge Planning and Guidance Study

The survey will inform the development of a screening tool and other resources for USACE Districts to identify optimal sites for Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR), which uses captured surface water to replenish groundwater. The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2016 (Title I of Pub. L. 114-322) provides authority for water supply conservation projects for drought resilience and water supply availability studies for water resources development (Sections 1116 and 1118, respectively). The WRDA of 2016 further requires USACE to consider natural and nature-based features, such as MAR, as potential solutions to address various challenges along with other measures. However, USACE has not developed a strategic framework for incorporating MAR into its operations. Furthermore, the Institute for Water Research (IWR) concluded that Districts only engage with aquifer recharge in an “ad hoc” manner and recommended that USACE “upgrade its internal capacity in MAR.” (IWR 2020). Section 8108 of the WRDA of 2022 (Title LXXXI of Pub. L. 117-263) instructs USACE to “conduct a study at Federal expense to determine the feasibility of carrying out managed aquifer recharge projects to address drought, water resiliency, and aquifer depletion.” Following these recommendations, the proposed work contributes to the development of guidance on MAR. This aligns with Civil Works strategies for flood risk management, restoration of aquatic ecosystems in floodplains, and developing environmentally sustainable technical services that enhance public safety and require collaborative partnerships.

The latest form for Managed Aquifer Recharge Planning and Guidance Study expires 2027-07-31 and can be found here.