| This project presents the development of a water balance of the Patillas-Salinas coastal watersheds subject to intensive agricultural practices and served by two irrigation canals for the years 1980 through 2010 giving emphasis to net groundwater recharge. Three different water balances were integrated to estimate net groundwater recharge: soil moisture, vadose zone and aquifer. Results show the order of importance for groundwater recharge inputs as precipitation, streams, canals, irrigation and dams where the irrigation canals are the most continuous and safe input. The Salinas area experiences the most critical scenario in terms of groundwater net recharge to the aquifer. Two scenarios are presented as possible strategies for groundwater management in the Salinas area involving the irrigation canals with positive modeling results: 1) increase surface water imports from the canals to farms and, decrease or eliminate groundwater extractions for irrigation practices, 2) create infiltration ponds nourished from canal water. |
