Umatilla Basin Critical
Groundwater Area Recharge Project

Oregon

GSI is providing hydrogeological support and senior review for this Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD)-funded project that focuses on determining whether artificial recharge and aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) can promote sustainable agricultural pumping in the region and provide benefits to fish in the Columbia and Umatilla Rivers. Working with a multi-disciplinary team, GSI is responsible for:

• Characterizing the deep basalt aquifers in the region.

• Developing a conceptual model for groundwater occurrence and movement.

• Evaluating the efficacy of alluvial aquifer recharge and recovery as a treatment method for meeting ASR water quality standards for deep basalt ASR.
• Conducting a deep basalt ASR demonstration project.

If the feasibility study results are favorable, the project will move forward into a pilot project and then to full-scale, basin-wide application.