Recarga Model

This section of the Wisconsin DNR Runoff Management web site is intended for use by highly technical professionals.

Use the links below to download Recarga Model v. 2.3 and user's manual. This model is used for evaluating the performance of bioretention facilities, rain gardens, and infiltration basins. Individual facilities with surface ponding, up to 3 distinct soil layers, and optional underdrains can be modeled under user-specified precipitation and evaporation conditions. The model continuously simulates the movement of water throughout the facility (ponding zone, soil layers and underdrains), records the soil moisture and volume of water in each water budget term (infiltration, recharge, overflow, underdrain flow, evapotranspiration, etc.) at each time step and summarizes the results. The results of this model can be used to size facilities to meet specific performance objectives, such as reducing runoff volume or increasing recharge, and for analyzing the potential impacts of varying the design parameters.