Groundwater flow in the southwestern United States is affected by how recharge is distributed in basin-fill aquifers. This study compared different recharge distribution methods in groundwater simulations and found that the distribution of aquifer recharge can impact groundwater levels and storage changes. The study showed that the rate of drawdown at some well locations varied depending on the recharge distribution used. Overall, accurately simulating recharge distributions is crucial for understanding regional groundwater flow in basin-fill aquifers.