Oljato aquifer study

The Navajo Nation aproved a study to explore how aquifers recharge in Oljato.
An agreement with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and NNDWR was signed by President Buu Nygren and will increase funding for a $267,300 study of the area aquifers according to a release from the President's office.
The area depends on wells and springs that are depleting.
Through the testing of managed aquifer recharge (MAR), water from the San Juan River would restore the Oljato Alluvial Aquifer. A small-scale test will measure how water moves through the ground.
If successful, a model for a larger-scale recharge project would be the next step. The study aims to gather vital data for better water management and to understand and manage water resources.
Fieldwork will be completed in 2025, with further modeling and reporting to follow.
The study will estimate key aquifer measures, including infiltration rates, travel times, and hydraulic conductivities. Based on these results, a model will assess how much MAR can be applied to the aquifer.