The Role of Bedrock Circulation Depth and Porosity in Mountain Streamflow Response to Prolonged Drought

Carroll, Rosemary H.; Manning, Andrew H.; Williams, Kenneth H.

doi:10.1029/2024gl112927

The Role of Bedrock Circulation Depth and Porosity in Mountain Streamflow Response to Prolonged Drought

Journal Article · Sat Feb 22 00:00:00 EST 2025 · Geophysical Research Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/2024gl112927· OSTI ID:2530150

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Desert Research Institute (DRI), Reno, NV (United States)
US Geological Survey, Denver, CO (United States)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States); Rocky Mountain Biological Lab., Gothic, CO (United States)

Quantitative understanding is lacking on how the depth of active groundwater circulation in bedrock affects mountain streamflow response to a multi-year drought. We use an integrated hydrological model to explore the sensitivity of a variety of streamflow metrics to bedrock circulation depth and porosity under a plausible extreme drought scenario lasting up to 5 years. Endmember depth versus hydraulic conductivity relationships and porosity values for fractured crystalline rock are simulated. With drought, a deeper circulation system with higher drainable porosity more effectively buffers minimum flow and significantly limits perennial stream loss in comparison to a shallow circulation system. Streamflow buffering is accomplished through extensive groundwater storage loss. However, deeper circulation systems experience prolonged recovery from drought in comparison to storage-limited shallow systems. Research highlights the importance of characterizing the deeper bedrock hydrogeology in mountainous watersheds to better understand and predict drought impacts on stream ecosystem health and water resource sustainability.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-05CH11231

OSTI ID:: 2530150

Journal Information:: Geophysical Research Letters, Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 52; ISSN 0094-8276

Publisher:: American Geophysical Union (AGU)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
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The Role of Bedrock Circulation Depth and Porosity in Mountain Streamflow Response to Prolonged Drought

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