MODFLOW-NWT groundwater flow model used to evaluate conditions in the Northern High Plains Aquifer in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming: U.S. Geological Survey data release

A three-dimensional groundwater flow model was developed to characterize groundwater resources and the interaction of groundwater with streams and other hydrologic features in the Northern High Plains aquifer. The Northern High Plains aquifer is generally unconfined; most of the water withdrawn from the aquifer is used for irrigation. A modified version of a previously published soil-water-balance (SWB) model estimates recharge using climatic, soils, land cover data, in addition to data for groundwater withdrawals for irrigation. The SWB output was adjusted in areas where surface water is used for irrigation. The groundwater flow model results were calibrated using parameter estimation to measured groundwater levels and estimated stream [...]