Effects of land-use change on groundwater recharge model parameters

Land development usually induces large changes in flood peak and infiltration properties, thus affecting the entire hydrological environment of the area. In order to evaluate such negative effects caused by land-use change, it is necessary to estimate the changes in surface runoff and groundwater recharge rate. The effects of land-use changes on the parameter values of a groundwater recharge model were studied and are presented. The response of groundwater level was examined at several observation wells for two different unconfined aquifers consisting of weathered granite. The spatially calibrated parameters of the groundwater recharge model were classified in order to evaluate the effects of land-use change. It was shown that the parameter values most affected by land-use change were the surface runoff coefficient, F(infinity), followed by the shape parameter, (r)(1/2). The field capacity parameter, R(0), was also greatly affected. By defining the land-use change for these three parameters the hydrological change can be predicted.