Modelling the response of an alluvial aquifer to anthropogenic and recharge stresses in the United States Southern Great Plains

Abstract

This paper uses Visual MODFLOW to simulate potential impacts of anthropogenic pumping and recharge variability on an alluvial aquifer in semi-arid northwestern Oklahoma. Groundwater withdrawal from the aquifer is projected to increase by more than 50% (relative to 1990) by the year 2050. In contrast, climate projections indicate declining regional precipitation over the next several decades, creating a potential problem of demand and supply. The following scenarios were simulated: (1) projected groundwater withdrawal, (2) a severe drought, (3) a prolonged wet period, and (4) a human adjustment scenario, which assumes future improvements in water conservation measures. Results indicate that the combined impacts of anthropogenic pumping and droughts would create drawdown of greater than 12 m in the aquifer. Spatially, however, areas of severe drawdown will be localized around large-capacity well clusters. The worst impacts of both pumping and droughts will be on stream-aquifer interaction. For example, the projected aquifer pumpage would lead to a total streamflow loss of 40%, creating losing stream system regionally. Similarly, a severe drought would lead to a total streamflow loss of >80%. A post-audit of the model was also carried out to evaluate model performance. By simulating various stress scenarios on the alluvial aquifer, this study provides important information for evaluating management options for alluvial aquifers.

Reconstructing Phreatic Palaeogroundwater Levels in a Geoarchaeological Context: A Case Study in Flanders, Belgium

“…The groundwater heads were calculated using MODFLOW, the three‐dimensional USGS groundwater model code (Harbaugh & McDonald, ) and known as the worldwide standard groundwater flow model, as evidenced by its application in a wide variety of groundwater studies (e.g., Wilsnack et al, ; Zhang & Hiscock, ; Zume & Tarhule, ). For computational reasons, the study area with a spatial extent of 584 km 2 was divided into three subareas (Figure ), whose orientation and location was defined by the general direction of the groundwater streamlines and by large hydrological differences related to geomorphologic features in the landscape.…”

A Critical Review of Climate Change Impacts on Groundwater Resources: A Focus on the Current Status, Future Possibilities, and Role of Simulation Models

“…The phenomenon of groundwater recharge is complex and depends on a number of variables, including rainfall, land use, aquifer content, groundwater table depth, topography, soil properties, and hydraulic conductivity [91]. For instance, a study by Zume and Tarhule [92] ignored other significant components and evaluated recharging just as an estimate of rainfall (i.e., 10% of yearly direct rainfall), which could result in an overestimation or underestimation of groundwater recharge.…”

Groundwater resources management using hydrodynamic modelling in southeastern Moroccan oases: case of Ferkla Oasis

“…In arid and semi-arid regions, numerical modeling of groundwater has become a relevant tool for proper groundwater management (Al-Salamah et al 2011;Lachaal et al 2012;Singh 2013;Garcia-Rodriguez et al 2014;Yao et al 2015;Bouaamlat et al 2016); it is also an essential tool for estimating the impact of recharge and variation of groundwater for each period of the simulation (Chenini and Ben Mammou 2010;Tizro et al 2011;Zume and Tarhule 2011;Tian et al 2015).…”