groundwater modeling

5,000

4,500 Monthly Variation in Groundwater Discharges to Rivers

Monthly Groundwater Discharge Volume (acre-feet)

4,000
Basin Pumping Plan B
3,500 Basin Pumping Plan A

3,000

2,500

2,000

1,500

1,000

500

1920

1925

1930

1935

1940

1945

1950

1955

1960

1965

1970

1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000

2005

2010
Calendar Year

Eight-Decade Simulation of Various Pumping Plans in a Groundwater Basin

Facts About Groundwater Modeling
Understanding where groundwater is likely to be found and GSI personnel are experienced in developing models with a
how it moves can be critical information for many of our clients. variety of software packages, including the U.S. Geological
Groundwater modeling is a service that GSI applies to basin Survey’s suite of finite-difference models (MODFLOW,
resource management studies, wellfield management studies, MODPATH, MT3D), a Dutch finite-element model
environmental impact analyses, groundwater quality protection (MicroFEM), unsaturated zone models (MODFLOW-
studies, and the investigation and remediation of groundwater SURFACT, VLEACH), tools for inverse calibration and
contamination. Groundwater models can range from simple predictive uncertainty (PEST, Stochastic MODFLOW/
spreadsheets or analytical tools to highly detailed 3-dimensional MODPATH), and various analytical screening tools developed
numerical models, with the exact tool and modeling approach by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and private
tailored to the project’s needs and hydrogeologic characteristics. vendors. The table below presents select GSI groundwater
modeling projects.
Whether simple or complex, an appropriately designed model
can serve as a valuable scientifically based tool for gaining
insight into specific water resource management concerns, Clients Project Description
such as evaluating the effects of groundwater pumping and City of Beaverton, Oregon Wellfield design and operations
groundwater management activities on the sustainability of
City of Portland, Water
basin-scale aquifer resources, understanding the timing and Wellhead protection
Bureau, Oregon
magnitudes of groundwater/surface water exchanges, evaluating
the feasibility of expanding or altering wellfield operations (for Upper Basin Water Purveyors, Resource sustainability evaluation
aquifer storage and recovery wellfields or traditional pumping Santa Clarita, California and climate change
wellfields), and optimizing well placement and design. Wellfield design and planning
Korea Institute of Geosciences
for unsaturated zone injection of
Groundwater models are also valuable tools for delineating and Mineral Resources
diverted floodwaters
wellhead protection areas, for evaluating the effects of
aquiferrecharge or pumping operations on surface water Alcoa/Reynold’s Metals Groundwater remediation system
Company, Troutdale, Oregon operation
resources and other water supplies (such as wells belonging to
senior water rights holders), and for evaluating the potential
effects of climate change on groundwater resources.

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