A simple approach for determining mountain system recharge in arid and semi-arid mountainous watersheds: A quasi steady state groundwater model with sensitivity analysis

Mountain system recharge is the dominant source of recharge to alluvial aquifer system in arid and semiarid mountainous regions. Based on the field and historical data, a quasi steady state numerical groundwater model with sensitivity analysis was developed with FEFLOW to assess mountain system recharge to a multi-layer aquifer system in North Okanagan located in the semi-arid southern interior of British Columbia, Canada. The sensitivity analysis indicates that mountain system recharge varies from 5.0% to 6.6% of precipitation on the mountains. This results in modeled mountain block recharge to the valley bottom moderated and deep aquifers of about 3.6 % to 4.8% of precipitation on the mountains.