MODFLOW-NWT model used in Simulation of Groundwater Flow, and Analysis of Projected Water Use for the Washita River Alluvial Aquifer, Western Oklahoma
Dates
Release Date
2020-01-01
Start Date
1980-01-01
End Date
2015-12-31
Publication Date
2023-09-15
Citation
Ellis, J.H., 2020, MODFLOW-NWT model used in Simulation of Groundwater Flow, and Analysis of Projected Water Use for the Washita River Alluvial Aquifer, Western Oklahoma: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9PKMG6U.
Summary
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, constructed a finite-difference numerical groundwater-flow model of the Washita River alluvial aquifer using MODFLOW-2005 with the Newton formulation solver (MODFLOW-NWT). The 1973 Oklahoma Water Law (82 OK Stat § 82-1020.5) requires the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to conduct hydrologic investigations of the State's aquifers to support a determination of the maximum annual yield (MAY) for each groundwater basin. A permanent MAY and EPS have not been established for the Washita River alluvial aquifer; thus, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, conducted calibration and simulations of a numerical groundwater-flow [...]
Summary
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, constructed a finite-difference numerical groundwater-flow model of the Washita River alluvial aquifer using MODFLOW-2005 with the Newton formulation solver (MODFLOW-NWT). The 1973 Oklahoma Water Law (82 OK Stat § 82-1020.5) requires the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to conduct hydrologic investigations of the State's aquifers to support a determination of the maximum annual yield (MAY) for each groundwater basin. A permanent MAY and EPS have not been established for the Washita River alluvial aquifer; thus, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, conducted calibration and simulations of a numerical groundwater-flow model to evaluate the effects of potential groundwater withdrawals on groundwater flow and availability in the Washita River alluvial aquifer. Groundwater-availability scenarios were performed by using the calibrated numerical groundwater-flow model to (1) estimate the EPS pumping rate that guarantees a minimum 20-, 40-, and 50-year life of the aquifer, (2) quantify the potential effects of projected well withdrawals on groundwater storage over a 50-year period, and (3) simulate the potential effects of a hypothetical (10-year) drought on groundwater storage and lake storage. The results of these groundwater-availability scenarios can be used by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to reevaluate the maximum annual yield of groundwater from the Washita River alluvial aquifer in Oklahoma. This USGS data release contains all of the input and output files for the simulations described in the associated model documentation report (https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20205118).
This model was developed to evaluate the effects of potential groundwater withdrawals on groundwater flow and availability in the Washita River alluvial aquifer in western Oklahoma. The results of groundwater-availability scenarios run on the calibrated numerical groundwater-flow model could be used by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to evaluate the maximum annual yield of groundwater from the Washita River alluvial aquifer in Oklahoma. The development of the model input and output files included in this data release are documented in the U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2020-5118
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