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This study presents the data-scarce and hydro-geologically important surface and groundwater system of Colorado river delta, Mexico, with the aim of understanding dynamics of surface–groundwater interactions in the Delta aquifers applying hydrological conceptual model into integrated hydrological numerical model for Colorado river delta (MCRD) aqui...
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... The present study considered a mass balance approach to determine aquifer storage, recharge, and extractions; it provides an overall water budget for each of the aquifers analyzed. Future analysis should include the hydrodynamics of the surface and groundwater (Bushira et al. 2017). The lack of comprehensive hydrological data is a common limitation identified by modelers in Mexico, especially when characterizing aquifers and groundwater data due to the lack of financial resources and monitoring culture in the country (Carrera-Hernández et al. 2016;Medellín-Azuara et al. 2009;Molinos-Senante et al. 2014;Wurl et al. 2018). ...
The water management of the Colorado River is at a tipping point. This paper describes water management strategies in the Mexican portion of the Colorado River Basin considering water scarcity scenarios. A water allocation model was constructed representing current and future water demands and supply. The Colorado River system in Mexican territory is used as a case study, and all its water demands are characterized [Irrigation District Rio Colorado (DR-014), Mexicali, San Luis Rio Colorado, Tecate, Tijuana-Rosarito, and Ensenada]. Individual strategies were run by subsystem and then their impact was analyzed systemwide. Performance criteria and a performance-based sustainability index were evaluated to identify water stressors and management strategies to improve water supply for agricultural, urban, and environmental users. Analysis of results shows that the irrigation district (DR-014) is the most affected user due to water cuts because it has the lowest priority and, thus, any reduction in Colorado River allocations affects them directly. A range of water management strategies was investigated, including a no-action scenario. The current system depends on the long-term aquifer overdraft to supply water demand. The reduction of the cultivated area was the strategy that increased the sustainability index the most for DR-014. Agricultural to urban transfers, water use efficiency, wastewater reuse, and desalination are prime possibilities to improve the current water supply in the coastal zone (Tijuana, Rosarito, Ensenada). This research shows the spectrum of possible outcomes that could be expected, ranging from systemwide effects of inaction to the implementation of a portfolio of water management strategies.
... MODFLOW, a computer application, solves groundwater flow issues using numerical models (Wang et al. 2008;Tammal et al. 2014;Post et al. 2019). Many researchers have utilized MODFLOW, a groundwater flow simulation tool, to explore groundwater flow and behavior in various parts of the world (Idrysy and Smedt 2006; Khadri and Pande 2016; Bushira et al. 2017;Prasad and Rao 2018;Azeref and Bushira 2020;Gebere et al. 2020;Hassen et al. 2021;Jafarzadeh et al. 2021;Raazia and Dar 2021). ...
Ongoing socio-economic developments and climatic change have been pressurizing the groundwater resource availability in the Abaya–Chamo lakes basin, Ethiopian Rift valley. The primary goals of the present study are: (1) to simulate the groundwater gradient and flow direction, (2) to calculate the groundwater balances and flux of the sub-major river basins under the water budget code of the MODFLOW, and (3) to predict the future groundwater levels of the lake's basin under a projected changing climate. The numerical groundwater flow of the Abaya–Chamo lakes basin aquifer system is simulated using the USGS three-dimensional finite-difference groundwater flow model MODFLOW-2005 with Block centered flow packages (BCF). The following datasets, such as aquifer properties, geology, recharge, discharge, topography, etc., were used to simulate the present model. The calibrated steady-state groundwater flow modeling simulation of the Abaya–Chamo lakes basin also confirmed the through-flow system in terms of groundwater gradient and flow direction, on which groundwater flow happens from the plateau toward the floor into the lakes from both directions with a high gradient exist in the escarpment. The present study provides a sound foundation for modern scientific direction in water resource evaluation by establishing integrated surface and groundwater models that change climatic conditions for sustainable water resources management.
... Groundwater pumping reduces groundwater storage and base flow to surface water (Gleeson and Richter 2017). Many researchers have used MODFLOW, a simulation program for groundwater flow, to investigate groundwater flow and dynamics in various parts of the world (Namaghi et al. 2015;Khadri and Pande 2016;Lachaal and Gana 2016;Bushira et al. 2017;Prasad and Rao 2018;Azerf and Bushira 2020), the impact of intensive groundwater withdrawal on environmental flows (Winter et al. 1999;Gerten et al. 2013;Zhou et al. 2013;De Graaf et al. 2017;Wang et al. 2018), to predict future stresses on the groundwater system (Hao et al. 2014;Zekri et al. 2015;Sahoo et al. 2017), and to investigate groundwater-surface water interaction (Urbano et al. 2006;Yang et al. 2015Yang et al. , 2017. Several studies have combined the groundwater flow model with the management model to maximize the pumping rate under imposed constraints (Jonoski et al. 1997;Ayvaz and Karahan 2008;Ebrahim et al. 2016;. ...
In recent years, groundwater pumping has increased for domestic, industrial, and irrigation use in the Modjo River catchment. Understanding changes in groundwater levels is crucial for the sustainable use and management of aquifer. This study investigates the groundwater flow system and aquifer response to increased groundwater pumping and reduced recharge using the calibrated steady-state groundwater level and budget as a baseline. The groundwater flow corresponds to the direction of the Modjo River flow, following the topographic gradient. The simulated groundwater budget indicates that recharge from precipitation and surface water (crater lakes and river) are the main inflow to the aquifer, while the outflow from the aquifer is due to groundwater pumping, natural subsurface flow to downstream area, and base flow. Analysis of the different scenarios reveals that both an increase in well pumping and a decline in recharge resulted in a decrease of the base flow to Bishoftu crater lakes and Mojo River, and to the downstream subsurface flow. In conclusion, increasing human demand for groundwater and variability in recharge will affect groundwater contribution to surface water and ultimately will be a source of concern in the future for both environmental flows and groundwater management.
... Due to the difficulty in explicitly representing deltaic heterogeneity over large scales, parameters are often upscaled in regional models. For example, homogeneous and anisotropic hydraulic conductivity (K) were used to model the Colorado River Delta (Feirstein et al., 2008;Mohammed et al., 2017), the Bengal Delta (Michael & Voss, 2009), and the Mississippi Delta (Barlow & Clark, 2011). On smaller scales, heterogeneity and subsurface structure have been incorporated in groundwater flow and solute transport models. ...
Understanding subsurface structure and groundwater flow in deltaic aquifers is essential to evaluating the vulnerability of groundwater resources in delta systems. Deltaic aquifers contain coarse-grained paleo-channels that preserve a record of former surface river channels as well as fine-grained floodplain deposits. The distribution of these deposits and how they are interconnected control groundwater flow and contaminant transport. In this work, we link depositional environments of deltaic aquifers to stratigraphic (static) and flow and transport (dynamic) connectivity metrics. Numerical models of deltaic stratigraphy were generated using a reduced-complexity numerical model (DeltaRCM) with different input sand fractions (ISF) and rates of sea-level rise (SLR). The groundwater flow and advective transport behavior of these deltas were simulated using MODFLOW and MODPATH. By comparing the static and dynamic metrics calculated from these numerical models, we show that groundwater behavior can be predicted by particular aspects of the subsurface architecture, and that horizontal and vertical connectivity display different characteristics. We also evaluate relationships between connectivity metrics and two environmental controls on delta evolution: ISF and SLR rate. The results show that geologic setting strongly influences both static and dynamic connectivity in different directions. These results provide insights into quantitatively differentiated subsurface hydraulic behavior between deltas formed under different external forcing (ISF and SLR rate) and they are a potential link in using information from delta surface networks and depositional history to predict vulnerability to aquifer contamination.
... It is essential to obtain accurate estimates of hydraulics parameters to evaluate the groundwater resources for sustainable groundwater resource management (Ahmed 2009;Trabelsi et al. 2013;Khadri and Pande 2016;Zhuang et al. 2017;Pannecoucke et al. 2019). Knowledge of hydraulic parameters along with stratigraphy model is required for the development of physically based hydrogeological models such as groundwater flow models to assess how the flow system responds to various stresses such as pumping (Bailey et al. 2016;Bushira et al. 2017;Lekula et al. 2018;Hagagg 2019;Shishaye et al. 2019). These hydraulic parameters include transmissivity (T), storage coefficient (Ss) and hydraulic resistance (C). ...
The primary objective of the study is to characterize the hydrogeologic status and identify the trend in groundwater storage of aquifer system to provide an improved understanding of the groundwater flow system in the Kadva river basin, India. This is accomplished by the integrated use of stratigraphic modeling, pressure derivative approach, and pumping test analysis. The results of the stratigraphic modeling indicate that the unconfined aquifer thickness ranging from 8.2 to 34.2 m and generally occur to the depth of 2.2–36.5 m below ground level (bgl), whereas semi-confined aquifer thickness ranges from 6.1 to 58.3 m and generally occurs 30.6 m bgl over the study area with an interconnected semi-confining unit of thickness ranging from 1.6 to 22.3 m. The pumping test results of unconfined aquifer in the study area show that the transmissivity varies from 15.66 to 98.18 m2/day, and the specific yield ranging from 8.2 × 10–4 to 3.2 × 10–2. Pumping test data and derivative analysis show that the deep aquifers are semi-confined with transmissivity ranging from 14.4 to 111.2 m2/day, storage coefficient varies from 1.56 × 10–4 to 4.83 × 10–4, and hydraulic resistance ranges from 93 to 1270 days. The values of hydraulic parameters revealed a remarkable spatial variability, suggesting that the basaltic aquifer system has strong heterogeneity. The results of the present study are helpful in the formulation of efficient policies for sustainable groundwater management in basaltic aquifers system in India in particular and worldwide in general.
... Water 2020, 12, 2546 2 of 14 unsaturated soil flow [21,22]. The dynamic interface between the saturated zone and the unsaturated zone is weakened to avoid the vertical dispersion problem in the calculation of unsaturated soil water. ...
Water induced loess landslides are closely related to the rise of the groundwater level. Therefore, research on the response of the groundwater level to irrigation water holds promise for revealing the mechanism of water-induced loess landslide. Taking Heitai, Gansu Province, as the research area, a coupling model o unsaturated-saturated water movement is established using the HYDRUS-MODFLOW software. The parameters of the model are calibrated and verified by the Bayesian parameter inversion method combined with field observations of the groundwater level. Finally, the change in the groundwater level under different irrigation amounts is predicted using the optimized model. It is found that a reasonable reduction of the irrigation amount can effectively slow the rise of the groundwater level. This research provides a scientific reference for the development of reasonable irrigation measures.
... Faunt (2009) and Hanson et al. (2014aHanson et al. ( , 2015 applied the MODFLOW-based One-Water Hydrologic Flow Model (MODFLOW-OWHM) to assess groundwater availability in three different case studies in California. Bushira et al. (2017) used MODFLOW-OWHM to assess surface-water/groundwater interactions and dynamics in the Colorado River Delta aquifer in Mexico, while Hassan et al. (2014) used GSFLOW to assess surface watergroundwater interactions in a hard rock aquifer of the Sardon Catchment, western Spain. ...
This study attempted to conceptualize the hydrogeological setting of the Hout River Catchment, located in the Limpopo River Basin, using multiple methods that include groundwater flow patterns, structural analysis, stable (¹⁸O, ²H and ¹³C) and radiogenic (¹⁴C) isotopes of water and Water Table Fluctuation (WTF) methods. The hydrogeological system of the catchment is represented by fractured crystalline basement aquifer as the main host for groundwater and is overlain by weathered rocks that act as a vadose zone and shallow aquifer in various places. Groundwater from the fractured basement rocks is the main source of water for large-scale irrigation and domestic use. Potential aquifers in the area are evident within the Hout River granitic gneiss and the Goudplaats granitic gneiss besides the younger granites as a result of fracturing and weathering. Groundwater flow map shows a flow pattern from the southern part of the catchment towards the north-eastern part of the catchment dictated by dolerite dykes and tectonic lineaments that trend in the ENE and E direction (088° and 075°) with the dip angle of 50° to 55°. The deeper aquifer in the southern and central part of the catchment contain old groundwater with high salinity due to long residence time. The stable isotopes further confirmed the limited possibility of local recharge, with rather dominance of regional groundwater circulation into the catchment. The northern part of the catchment seems to be receiving recent recharge with the groundwater of high ¹⁴C activity from the mountains that border the catchment.
... An important issue in groundwater analysis is related to stream-aquifer interaction. Modflow was used successfully to tackle this issue [27][28][29][30]. Declining groundwater levels due to overexploitation are a major current issue, as groundwater abstraction is constantly increasing, sometimes dramatically. ...
The Borena basin is located in southern Ethiopia, in a semi-arid climate, on the eastern shoulder of the south Main Ethiopian Rift (MER). The study area covers 18,000 km2 and is characterized by a lack of perennial surface waters that can be used for domestic and agricultural purpose. As a result, groundwater, which occurs in complex volcanic settings, is the only source for water supply in the study area. This work is focused on the basaltic aquifers, which are intensely fractured, resulting in strong connectivity within the system. All available data (geology, hydraulic head, hydraulic parameters, well inventory and discharge, etc.) were compiled in a GIS database. The overall objective of this work is the assessment of groundwater potential, its spatial distribution and factors controlling its movement using numerical groundwater modeling to enhance groundwater management and use in the Borena basin. The modeling task was conducted at two scales: (i) regional scale; (ii) wellfields scale. The regional steady state model was calibrated using the Pilot points approach, highlighting a strongly heterogeneous system. A significant result of the regional model consisted of estimating the water balance of the whole system. The total inflow to the basin amounts to 542 × 106 m3/year, of which 367 × 106 m3/year are provided by superficial recharge. Groundwater resources are exploited with 7 wellfields. Exploitation of the wellfields was optimized based on the Sustainable Yield concept, which reserves a fraction of natural recharge for the benefit of the environment (surface waters, ecosystems). Each wellfield was extracted from the regional model, refined and used to simulate and optimize pumping scenarios, with the objective of maximizing discharge rates and avoiding over-exploitation of the groundwater. The optimized abstraction at all wellfields amounts to 121 × 106 m3/year, which represents 33% of the natural recharge and fully agrees with the sustainable yield concept.
... Different boundary conditions including specified flux, specified head difference, and head-dependent flux, are available in the software. Furthermore, output data (HDF files) can be visualized in 2D format using the ModelMuse graphical interface (Bushira et al., 2017). ...
Riffle-pool sequences in the thalweg paths of meandering streams are of pivotal importance to the hyporheic exchange pattern in a fluvial network, but the complex hydrodynamic, morphological, and sedimentary features of riverbed sediments increase the difficulties associated with vertical hyporheic exchange (VHE) quantification. This study applied depth-dependent radon (222Rn) and diel temperature variations to quantify VHE and residence time (tr). The study was conducted in four different hyporheic areas with riffle-pool sequences in the third-order Ghezel-Ozan River, located in north-west Iran. The mean values of temperature-derived VHE (VHET) and radon-derived VHE (VHERn) were 0.67±0.32 m/day and 0.63±0.36 m/day, respectively. Due to effects of sediment bed heterogeneity on temperature variation and 222Rn activity at downwelling and upwelling points, there were discrepancies between radon-derived (trRn) and temperature-derived residence time (trT), with mean values of 2.11±1.17 days and 1.87±1.26 days, respectively. The value of trT was well within uncertainty boundaries at a 95 percent confidence interval (p
... In this study, a three-dimensional, block-centered (cell-centered), steady-state, finite difference model, MODFLOW (McDonald and Harbaugh [12]) is employed to quantify groundwater in Birjand plain, South Khorasan, Iran. In recent years, GMS: MODFLOW model (Groundwater Modeling System) has been successfully developed and published in a large number of groundwater quantitative and qualitative studies because of its simple methods, modular program structure, and separate packages to resolve special hydrogeological problems [10,[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30]. This model, with a graphical user interface (GUI), can be integrated with geographic information system (GIS) to provide an appropriate visual environment for groundwater resources evaluation and management [15]. ...
Increasing water demands, especially in arid and semi-arid regions, continuously exacerbate groundwater resources as the only reliable water resources in these regions. Groundwater numerical modeling can be considered as an effective tool for sustainable management of limited available groundwater. This study aims to model the Birjand aquifer using GMS: MODFLOW groundwater flow modeling software to monitor the groundwater status in the Birjand region. Due to the lack of the reliable required data to run the model, the obtained data from the Regional Water Company of South Khorasan (RWCSK) are controlled using some published reports. To get practical results, the aquifer boundary conditions are improved in the established conceptual method by applying real/field conditions. To calibrate the model parameters, including the hydraulic conductivity, a semi-transient approach is applied by using the observed data of seven years. For model performance evaluation, mean error (ME), mean absolute error (MAE), and root mean square error (RMSE) are calculated. The results of the model are in good agreement with the observed data and therefore, the model can be used for studying the water level changes in the aquifer. In addition, the results can assist water authorities for more accurate and sustainable planning and management of groundwater resources in the Birjand region.
