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John Ellis (Former Employee)

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North Fork Red River drawdown animation

Groundwater Modeling at the Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center

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.
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Water Resources Mission Area, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center
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Groundwater Modeling at the Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center

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.
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Rush Springs aquifer outcrop near Binger, Oklahoma, 2010. Photograph taken by Shana Mashburn.

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...
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Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center
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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...
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Salt Fork of the Red River off HWY 6

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...
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Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center
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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...
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MODFLOW-NWT model used to assess historical and future trends in groundwater availability in the Trinity River alluvium aquifer, Texas

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Trinity River Authority, the Tarrant Regional Water District, the City of Dallas, and the North Texas Municipal Water District, constructed a finite-difference numerical groundwater-flow model of the Trinity River alluvium aquifer using MODFLOW with the Newton formulation solver (MODFLOW-NWT). This model, along with a surface water model and an a
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Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center

MODFLOW 6 model and ensemble used in the simulation of groundwater flow and land subsidence in the northern part of the Gulf Coast aquifer, 1897-2018 (ver. 2.0, September 2023)

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District and Fort Bend Subsidence District, constructed a finite-difference numerical groundwater-flow model of the northern Gulf Coast aquifer region for 1897 through 2018 using MODFLOW 6 with the Newton formulation solver to simulate groundwater flow and land-surface subsidence. Model parameter estimation and
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Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center

MODFLOW-NWT model used in Simulation of Groundwater Flow, and Analysis of Projected Water Use for the Washita River Alluvial Aquifer, Western Oklahoma

In 2020 the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, published a calibrated numerical groundwater-flow model and associated model documentation report that evaluated 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
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Water Resources Mission Area, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center

MODFLOW-NWT model used in simulations of selected climate scenarios of groundwater availability in the North Fork Red River aquifer, southwestern Oklahoma

A previously developed model (https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20175098) was coupled with downscaled climate model data to determine the impact of climate variability on base flow and groundwater storage in the North Fork Red River aquifer, Oklahoma. The North Fork Red River aquifer is an alluvial aquifer that discharges groundwater to the North Fork Red River, which provides inflow to Lake Altus, an im
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Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center

Simulation of Groundwater Flow, and Analysis of Projected Water Use for the Rush Springs Aquifer, Western Oklahoma

In 2018 The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, published a calibrated numerical groundwater- flow model and associated model documentation report that evaluated the effects of potential groundwater withdrawals on groundwater flow and availability in the Rush Springs aquifer in western Oklahoma. The results of gr
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Water Resources Mission Area, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center

Hydrogeology, land-surface subsidence, and documentation of the Gulf Coast Land Subsidence and Groundwater-Flow (GULF) model, southeast Texas, 1897–2018

Executive SummaryAs a part of the Texas Water Development Board groundwater availability modeling program, the U.S. Geological Survey developed the Gulf Coast Land Subsidence and Groundwater-Flow model (hereinafter, the “GULF model”) and ensemble to simulate groundwater flow and land-surface subsidence in the northern part of the Gulf Coast aquifer system (the study area) in Texas from predevelopm
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John Ellis, Jacob E. Knight, Jeremy T. White, Michelle Sneed, Joseph D. Hughes, Jason K. Ramage, Christopher L. Braun, Andrew Teeple, Linzy K. Foster, Samuel H. Rendon, Justin T. Brandt
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Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center, Gulf of Mexico

Treatment of the Chicot and Evangeline aquifers as a single hydrogeologic unit and use of geostatistical interpolation methods to develop gridded surfaces of water-level altitudes and water-level changes in the Chicot and Evangeline aquifers (undifferenti

The greater Houston area of Texas includes approximately 11,000 square miles and encompasses all or part of 11 counties (Harris, Galveston, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Brazoria, Chambers, Grimes, Liberty, San Jacinto, Walker, and Waller). From the early 1900s until the mid-1970s, groundwater withdrawn from the three primary aquifers that compose the Gulf Coast aquifer system—the Chicot, Evangeline, and
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Jason K. Ramage, Christopher L. Braun, John H. Ellis
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Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center

Potential effects of out-of-basin groundwater transfers on spring discharge, base flow, and groundwater storage pertaining to the Rush Springs aquifer in and near the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma Tribal jurisdictional area, western Oklahoma

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma and Bureau of Indian Affairs, assessed four groundwater-withdrawal scenarios and their potential effects on the Rush Springs aquifer in and near the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma Tribal jurisdictional area in western Oklahoma. Increases in industrial and public water supply needs have led to increased development of wat
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Laura G. Labriola, Cory A. Russell, John H. Ellis
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Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center

Hydrogeology and model-simulated groundwater availability in the Salt Fork Red River aquifer, southwestern Oklahoma, 1980–2015

The 1973 Oklahoma Water Law (82 OK Stat § 82-1020.5) requires that the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) conduct hydrologic investigations of the State’s groundwater basins to support a determination of the maximum annual yield for each groundwater basin (hereinafter referred to as an “aquifer”). The maximum annual yield allocated per acre of land is known as the equal-proportionate-share (EPS
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S. Jerrod Smith, John H. Ellis, Nicole Paizis, Carol Becker, Derrick L. Wagner, Jessica S. Correll, R. Jacob Hernandez
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Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center

Hydrogeology, numerical simulation of groundwater flow, and effects of future water use and drought for reach 1 of the Washita River alluvial aquifer, Roger Mills and Custer Counties, western Oklahoma, 1980–2015

The Washita River alluvial aquifer is a valley-fill and terrace alluvial aquifer along the valley of the Washita River in western Oklahoma that provides a productive source of groundwater for agricultural irrigation and water supply. The Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) has designated the westernmost section of the aquifer in Roger Mills and Custer Counties, Okla., as reach 1 of the Washita R
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John H. Ellis, Derek W. Ryter, Leland T. Fuhrig, Kyle W. Spears, Shana L. Mashburn, Ian M.J. Rogers
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Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center

Evaluating the effects of downscaled climate projections on groundwater storage and simulated base-flow contribution to the North Fork Red River and Lake Altus, southwest Oklahoma (USA)

Potential effects of projected climate variability on base flow and groundwater storage in the North Fork Red River aquifer, Oklahoma (USA), were estimated using downscaled climate model data coupled with a numerical groundwater-flow model. The North Fork Red River aquifer discharges groundwater to the North Fork Red River, which provides inflow to Lake Altus. To approximate future conditions, Cou
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Laura G. Labriola, John Ellis, Subhrendu Gangopadhyay, Tom Pruitt, Pierre Kirstetter, Yang Hong
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Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center

Simulation of groundwater flow and analysis of projected water use for the Rush Springs aquifer, western Oklahoma

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Bureau of Reclamation and the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, (1) quantified the groundwater resources of the Rush Springs aquifer in western Oklahoma by developing a numerical groundwater-flow model, (2) evaluated the effects of estimated equal-proportionate-share (EPS) pumping rates on aquifer storage and streamflow for time periods of 20, 40,
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John Ellis
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Water Resources Mission Area, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center

Hydrogeology and simulated groundwater flow and availability in the North Fork Red River aquifer, southwest Oklahoma, 1980–2013

On September 8, 1981, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board established regulatory limits on the maximum annual yield of groundwater (343,042 acre-feet per year) and equal-proportionate-share (EPS) pumping rate (1.0 acre-foot per acre per year) for the North Fork Red River aquifer. The maximum annual yield and EPS were based on a hydrologic investigation that used a numerical groundwater-flow model t
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S. Jerrod Smith, John H. Ellis, Derrick L. Wagner, Steven M. Peterson
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Water Resources Mission Area, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center

Hydrogeology and simulation of groundwater flow and analysis of projected water use for the Canadian River alluvial aquifer, western and central Oklahoma

This report describes a study of the hydrogeology and simulation of groundwater flow for the Canadian River alluvial aquifer in western and central Oklahoma conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Oklahoma Water Resources Board. The report (1) quantifies the groundwater resources of the Canadian River alluvial aquifer by developing a conceptual model, (2) summarizes the gen
Authors
John H. Ellis, Shana L. Mashburn, Grant M. Graves, Steven M. Peterson, S. Jerrod Smith, Leland T. Fuhrig, Derrick L. Wagner, Jon E. Sanford
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Water Resources Mission Area, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center
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New USGS report provides insights into groundwater and subsidence in the Houston area

Water resource and subsidence district managers across the greater Houston area now have access to an improved U.S. Geological Survey groundwater-flow...

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