Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Jonesboro, Arkansas » Delta Water Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #423739
Research Project: Optimizing the Management of Irrigated Cropping Systems in the Lower Mississippi River Basin

Location: Delta Water Management Research

Title: Surface water storage and subsurface recharge in declining portions of the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer

Author
item IQBAL, WASIM - Arkansas State University
item Reba, Michele
item NOWLIN, JOHN - Arkansas State University
item Massey, Joseph
item DEBORAH, LESLIE - University Of Memphis
item Delhom, Christopher

Submitted to: WIREs Water
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/5/2026
Publication Date: 3/2/2026
Citation: Iqbal, W., Reba, M.L., Nowlin, J., Massey, J., Deborah, L., Delhom, C.D. 2026. Surface water storage and subsurface recharge in declining portions of the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer. WIREs Water. 13(2):e70059. https://doi.org/10.1002/wat2.70059.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/wat2.70059

Interpretive Summary: The Lower Mississippi River Basin (LMRB) is known for its intensive agricultural production that relies extensively on the alluvial aquifer to sustain its crop production needs. The extensive use of groundwater for irrigation, coupled with the region's geology, has led to significant groundwater decline. A systematic review was carried out to pinpoint challenges and address the strategies in response to this decline. The review focuses on case studies of Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) and increased use of surface water for irrigation through the development of on-farm reservoir-tailwater recovery systems (R-TWRS). Findings from this review demonstrate how conservation strategies such as MAR and R-TWRS are designed to mitigate the ongoing decline of the alluvial aquifer that is crucial for the economic and ecological sustainability of the LMRB.

Technical Abstract: The Lower Mississippi River Basin (LMRB) is a crucial, internationally-significant area known for its intensive agricultural production that is heavily dependent on the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer (MRVAA) for irrigation. This region's agriculture relies extensively on this underlying aquifer to sustain its crop production needs. The extensive use of groundwater for irrigation, coupled with the region's geology, has led to significant groundwater decline. The overdraft of the MRVAA has been so severe that it has resulted in the designation of Critical Groundwater Areas. Carefully developed search terms were used to identify relevant literature, which was then rigorously evaluated for relevance and reliability to pinpoint challenges and address the strategies in response to this decline. Experimental strategies being explored to potentially increase groundwater levels include case studies of Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) such as Infiltration Galleries (IGs), groundwater transfer and injection wells, and repurposed borrow pits, which enhance groundwater replenishment through techniques tailored to the region's hydrogeology. Strategies to transition from groundwater to surface water involve on-farm reservoir-tailwater recovery systems (R-TWRS), which store and recycle irrigation runoff, reducing groundwater dependence. Findings from this paper demonstrate how conservation strategies such as MAR and R-TWRS are designed to mitigate the ongoing decline of the alluvial aquifer that is crucial for the economic and ecological sustainability of the LMRB.