The Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center performs computer simulations using MODFLOW to simulate groundwater/surface-water interaction, quantify groundwater resources, and evaluate the effects of withdrawals on future groundwater supplies for aquifers in Oklahoma and Texas.
OBJECTIVES
Groundwater models have become increasingly important in solving scientific problems related to groundwater flow and availability in aquifers around the United States. To this end, the Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center performs computer simulations using MODFLOW, USGS’s three-dimensional finite-difference numerical groundwater-modeling code. This open-source code is used to simulate groundwater/surface-water interaction, quantify groundwater resources, and evaluate the effects of withdrawals on future groundwater supplies and land subsidence for aquifers in Oklahoma and Texas.
To improve the fit between historical (observed) data and model-simulated data, automated model calibration is performed using the parameter estimation code PEST (Doherty, 2010), BeoPEST (Schreüder, 2009), a parallelized version of PEST, and PEST++ (Welter and others, 2015). The BeoPEST and PEST++ codes are run on an in-house high-performance-computing array that provides access to concentrated parallel computing resources to solve complex or computation-heavy problems. This parallel approach enables groundwater modeling and data analysis on a scale that is not otherwise possible using a single computer.
CAPABILITIES
- Simulation of coupled groundwater/surface-water interaction using open-source MODFLOW software.
- Estimation of spatially distributed recharge using the soil-water-balance code (Westenbroek and others, 2010) based on daily climatological data.
- Application of optimization techniques to find the best allocation of surface-water and groundwater resources.
- Dedicated high performance computing array capable of running over 200 simultaneous processes, such as numerical and climatological models, statistical methods, or uncertainty analysis.
CURRENT PROJECTS
Boone and Roubidoux Aquifers Study
Salt Fork Arkansas River Alluvial Aquifer Study
MODEL ARCHIVES
Model archives for projects published prior to October 1, 2017, are available upon request. Model archives published after October 1, 2017, are available via the USGS Water Resources NSDI Node or ScienceBase.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
MODFLOW and Related Programs
MODFLOW One-Water Hydrologic Flow Model—Conjunctive Use Simulation Software (MF-OWHM)
Soil-Water-Balance (SWB): A modified Thornthwaite-Mather model for estimating groundwater recharge
Boone and Roubidoux Aquifers Study
Investigation of Hydrogeology and Water Availability in the Osage Nation of Oklahoma
Rush Springs Aquifer Study
North Fork Red River Aquifer Study
Upper Washita River Alluvial Aquifer Study
Salt Fork Red River Alluvial Aquifer Study
Red River Water Availability and Use and Ecological Characteristics Focus Area Study
- Overview
The Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center performs computer simulations using MODFLOW to simulate groundwater/surface-water interaction, quantify groundwater resources, and evaluate the effects of withdrawals on future groundwater supplies for aquifers in Oklahoma and Texas.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.USGS Modeling Approach OBJECTIVES
Groundwater models have become increasingly important in solving scientific problems related to groundwater flow and availability in aquifers around the United States. To this end, the Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center performs computer simulations using MODFLOW, USGS’s three-dimensional finite-difference numerical groundwater-modeling code. This open-source code is used to simulate groundwater/surface-water interaction, quantify groundwater resources, and evaluate the effects of withdrawals on future groundwater supplies and land subsidence for aquifers in Oklahoma and Texas.
To improve the fit between historical (observed) data and model-simulated data, automated model calibration is performed using the parameter estimation code PEST (Doherty, 2010), BeoPEST (Schreüder, 2009), a parallelized version of PEST, and PEST++ (Welter and others, 2015). The BeoPEST and PEST++ codes are run on an in-house high-performance-computing array that provides access to concentrated parallel computing resources to solve complex or computation-heavy problems. This parallel approach enables groundwater modeling and data analysis on a scale that is not otherwise possible using a single computer.
CAPABILITIES
- Simulation of coupled groundwater/surface-water interaction using open-source MODFLOW software.
- Estimation of spatially distributed recharge using the soil-water-balance code (Westenbroek and others, 2010) based on daily climatological data.
- Application of optimization techniques to find the best allocation of surface-water and groundwater resources.
- Dedicated high performance computing array capable of running over 200 simultaneous processes, such as numerical and climatological models, statistical methods, or uncertainty analysis.
CURRENT PROJECTS
Boone and Roubidoux Aquifers Study
Salt Fork Arkansas River Alluvial Aquifer Study
MODEL ARCHIVES
Model archives for projects published prior to October 1, 2017, are available upon request. Model archives published after October 1, 2017, are available via the USGS Water Resources NSDI Node or ScienceBase.
- Science
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
MODFLOW and Related Programs
MODFLOW is the USGS's modular hydrologic model. MODFLOW is considered an international standard for simulating and predicting groundwater conditions and groundwater/surface-water interactions. MODFLOW 6 is presently the core MODFLOW version distributed by the USGS. The previous core version, MODFLOW-2005, is actively maintained and supported as well.MODFLOW One-Water Hydrologic Flow Model—Conjunctive Use Simulation Software (MF-OWHM)
The MODFLOW One-Water Hydrologic Flow Model (MF-OWHM) – Conjunctive Use Simulation Software (Boyce, 2022; Boyce and others, 2020; Hanson and others, 2014) builds upon the MODFLOW-2005 framework for the simulation and analyses of conjunctive-use, water-management, and climate-crop-water scenario problems.Soil-Water-Balance (SWB): A modified Thornthwaite-Mather model for estimating groundwater recharge
The Soil-Water-Balance (SWB) model has been developed to allow estimates of potential recharge to be made quickly and easily. The code calculates components of the water balance at a daily time-step by means of a modified version of the Thornthwaite-Mather soil-moisture-balance approach.Boone and Roubidoux Aquifers Study
The objective of the study is to conduct an investigation of the hydrogeology of the Boone and Roubidoux aquifers that will provide information to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board that will enable that agency to determine maximum annual yield of the aquifers based on different proposed management plans.Investigation of Hydrogeology and Water Availability in the Osage Nation of Oklahoma
The purpose of this project is to evaluate the spatial distribution and volume of the fresh and brackish (saline) groundwater resources on the Reservation of the Osage Nation in Oklahoma. This investigation will evaluate the sources of water and water use in the Reservation, through activities such as historical water use, characterization of water wells, and predicting the potential effects of...Rush Springs Aquifer Study
The objectives of this project are to quantify the groundwater resources of the Rush Springs aquifer by developing a numerical groundwater-flow model, evaluate the effects of estimated equal proportionate share (EPS) on aquifer storage and streamflow for time periods of 20, 40, and 50 years into the future by using numerical groundwater-flow models, and evaluate the effects of present-day...North Fork Red River Aquifer Study
In 2012 the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the OWRB, began an update of the hydrologic investigation and development of a groundwater-flow model for the North Fork Red River alluvial aquifer in Beckham, Greer, Jackson, and Kiowa Counties.Upper Washita River Alluvial Aquifer Study
This project is a detailed study of the groundwater and surface water, the hydrogeology, climate, and base flow to streams, and the effects of water use and changes in weather and climate on the hydrologic system. The study includes field collection of groundwater and streamflow data, mapping the water table, aquifer base, and water use.Salt Fork Red River Alluvial Aquifer Study
The objectives of this project are to describe the hydrogeology of the Salt Fork Red River alluvial aquifer and to produce numerical groundwater-flow models that can be used to simulate the transient groundwater-flow system. The Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) will use the outcomes from this project to determine the MAY and effects of future water extraction and drought. The geographic scope...Red River Water Availability and Use and Ecological Characteristics Focus Area Study
Staff members of the Oklahoma Water Science Center in Oklahoma City and of the Oklahoma Coop Unit at Stillwater are working with USGS staff members from Water Science Centers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, and New Jersey to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of water-resource availability, refine water-use estimates, and characterize aquatic ecology and streamflows needed to support selected... - Publications
- Partners