Check dams are widely used for groundwater recharge, although very little is understood about their efficacy. The purpose of this research is twofold: first, to evaluate the impact of a check dam on the replenishment of groundwater in a temporary river; second, to evaluate the impact of a check dam on silt buildup in a check dam reservoir. Field research included measuring river flow, water depth, and check-dam topography in order to derive data on water volume, evaporation, outflow, recharge, and sediment buildup. Two areas, the reservoir region below the examination dam and an 11-kilometer length of river farther upstream, were studied using a water-balance technique to calculate the amount of groundwater recharge. The upstream section has successfully refilled the river at a rate of 1.5 million m3 per year. These findings demonstrate the usefulness of check dams in semi-arid areas for boosting groundwater supply.

Sedimentation, infiltration, and estimating errors in discharge measurements