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Traditionally, management of water resources has
focused on surface water or ground water as if they were
separate entities. As development of land and water resources
increases, it is apparent that development of either of
these resources affects the quantity and quality of the
other. Nearly all surface-water features (streams, lakes,
reservoirs, wetlands, and estuaries) interact with ground
water. These interactions take many forms. In many situations,
surface-water bodies gain water and solutes from ground-water
systems and in others the surface-water body is a source
of ground-water recharge and causes changes in ground-water
quality. As a result, withdrawal of water from streams can
deplete ground water or conversely, pumpage of ground water
can deplete water in streams, lakes, or wetlands. Pollution
of surface water can cause degradation of ground-water quality
and conversely pollution of ground water can degrade surface
water. Thus, effective land and water management requires
a clear understanding of the linkages between ground water
and surface water as it applies to any given hydrologic
setting.
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