Mapping Favorable Groundwater Potential Recharge Areas Using a GIS-Based Analytical Hierarchical Process: A Case Study of Ferkla Oasis, Morocco

In the Ferkla Oasis, much like in numerous other oases across the southeastern region of Morocco, a range of socio-economic and environmental challenges are intricately linked to the inadequate management of water resources. One proposed remedy to address these concerns is the implementation of artificial aquifer recharge, which stands as an alternative strategy to safeguard the crucial oasis ecosystems. Thus, to evaluate the viability of this method in promoting sustainable water resource usage, it becomes imperative to delineate Groundwater Recharge Potential Zones (GRPZs). This study seeks to accomplish this objective by mapping GRPZs within the Ferkla Oasis, employing a fusion of the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), geospatial information derived from Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies. In pursuit of this goal, an array of geological, topographical, pedological, hydrological, and climatic criteria have been meticulously selected, classified, and assigned weights in accordance with their relevance to water infiltration suitability. This comprehensive approach culminates in the generation of seven thematic maps: slope, lineament density, lithology, soil type, drainage density, land use/land cover, and rainfall distribution. Through the integration of these aforementioned maps, a tripartite classification of potential GRPZs emerges, comprising low, medium, and high categories. The findings underscore the distribution as follows: 30% of the total study area exhibits a low potential for GRPZs, 50% of the total land area is characterized as having medium potential GRPZs, while the remaining 20% is designated as high potential GRPZs. These outcomes have been substantiated through validation against piezometric levels, which have been ascertained through recent field surveys. Consequently, these results stand as a testament to the efficacy of the presented approach as a robust decision-making tool. The approach effectively facilitates the establishment of conditions conducive to viable artificial recharge, thereby offering a means to safeguard the groundwater reservoirs that sustain the fragile oasis environments.