Climate Change

The Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer has highly permeable soils, with groundwater recharge of 17-20 inches of water annually. As precipitation patterns change, with more intense storms over shorter durations much of this water can run over the surface flowing into streams and rivers rather than infiltrating into the ground. In addition, higher average temperatures in the summer can increase demand for groundwater for agriculture and lawns in these peak season months. Current water supply demands has already taxed the natural systems that depend on this water table aquifer, such as vernal pools, forested wetlands and smaller tributaries. Climate change will only stress these natural systems even more, and maybe to the brink of habitat loss.