OVERVIEW OF THE HYDROGEOLOGY AND WATER RESOURCES OF NORTHERN MENDOZA, ARGENTINA, AND IMPACTS OF A CHANGING CLIMATE

GOMEZ, LAURA; HOKE, GREGORY; D'AMBROSIO, D. SABINA; MOREIRAS, SM; CASTRO, A

HYDROGEOLOGY JOURNAL

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2021

1431-2174

In drylands of Northern Mendoza, the water supply depends onsnowmelt fed rivers and groundwater. Populations concentrated in ?irrigatedoases? place high pressure on groundwater in particular. Due the climate changeand the lacks in groundwater studies the aquifers are probably beingoverexploited and contaminated. The aim of this study is to analyze the currentstate of knowledge in the area and identify the scientific and policy needsmoving forward. Groundwater comprises fractured and clastic aquifers, both ofwhich influence surface water flow yet they are not considered in regionalinventories of hydrologic processes. Hydrogeological studies were concentratedin the irrigated oases during 1980s and 1990s in support of agriculturalactivities. The main hydrogeological aspects studied were aquifer geometry (groundwaterlevel, aquifer limits and thickness, groundwater flow directions) and hydrochemicalstudies with isolated contamination studies. Groundwater reserve estimates areless developed, as are constraints on recharge source, including hydraulicparameters. The knowledge gaps are in mountain areas and foothills.Groundwaterresource estimates, balance terms and monitoring of aquifer parameters areurgent data needs. The lack of basic information of aquifers has and willcontinue to create legal conflicts between water users, pollution problems andstrong pressure on a finite resource. Current groundwater knowledge conditionslimit the economic development and the enforcement of protections against watercontamination and overexploitation. Although the impacts of climate change ongroundwater resources are globally uncertain, it is critical to institute ascience-informed approach to water management that includes: professionalizingmanagement and incorporation of technological advances in hydrogeology.