Our Study Reveals Surface Water–Groundwater Interactions in an Ethiopian Highland Watershed Using an Integrated Modeling Approach

In this study, an integrated modeling approach combining SWAT+ and MODFLOW was applied to the Chemoga watershed, a headwater system of the Upper Blue Nile Basin. The study quantified groundwater recharge, flow dynamics, and river-aquifer exchanges across the watershed. 

The results revealed substantial spatial variability in the hydrological processes. Groundwater recharge accounts for about 24% of annual rainfall, while groundwater flows from highlands to the deeply incised lowland gorges under strong topographic control. The Chemoga River acts as a gaining stream in the highlands and nick-point gorge sections but becomes a losing stream in the midland floodplains and lowlands, where river water recharges the aquifer.

These findings highlight the importance of integrated modeling for improving understanding of complex hydrological interactions and supporting sustainable groundwater management in the Ethiopian highlands and other regions with similar environmental settings. 

Full article available here: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/18/11/1328

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