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GWM—A Ground–Water Management Process for the U.S. Geological Survey Modular Ground–Water Model (MODFLOW–2000)

By David P. Ahlfeld (University of Massachusetts), Paul M. Barlow, and Ann E. Mulligan (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

Ground–Water Resources Program

Open–File Report 2005–1072

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The citation for this report, in USGS format, is as follows:

Ahlfeld, D.P., Barlow, P.M., and Mulligan, A.E., 2005, GWM—A ground–water management process for the U.S. Geological Survey modular ground–water model (MODFLOW–2000): U.S. Geological Survey Open–File Report 2005–1072, 124 p.

Preface

This report describes a Ground–Water Management Process (GWM) for the U.S. Geological Survey modular three–dimensional ground–water model, MODFLOW–2000. The performance of the program has been tested in a variety of applications. Future applications, however, might reveal errors that were not detected in the test simulations. Users are requested to notify the U.S. Geological Survey of any errors found in this report or the computer program by using the address on the inside of the back cover of the report. Updates might occassionally be made to both the report and to the computer program. Users can check for updates on the Internet at URL http://water.usgs.gov/software/ground_water.html/.

Abstract

GWM is a Ground–Water Management Process for the U.S. Geological Survey modular three–dimensional ground–water model, MODFLOW–2000. GWM uses a response–matrix approach to solve several types of linear, nonlinear, and mixed–binary linear ground–water management formulations. Each management formulation consists of a set of decision variables, an objective function, and a set of constraints. Three types of decision variables are supported by GWM: flow–rate decision variables, which are withdrawal or injection rates at well sites; external decision variables, which are sources or sinks of water that are external to the flow model and do not directly affect the state variables of the simulated ground–water system (heads, streamflows, and so forth); and binary variables, which have values of 0 or 1 and are used to define the status of flow–rate or external decision variables. Flow–rate decision variables can represent wells that extend over one or more model cells and be active during one or more model stress periods; external variables also can be active during one or more stress periods. A single objective function is supported by GWM, which can be specified to either minimize or maximize the weighted sum of the three types of decision variables. Four types of constraints can be specified in a GWM formulation: upper and lower bounds on the flow–rate and external decision variables; linear summations of the three types of decision variables; hydraulic–head based constraints, including drawdowns, head differences, and head gradients; and streamflow and streamflow–depletion constraints.

The Response Matrix Solution (RMS) Package of GWM uses the Ground–Water Flow Process of MODFLOW to calculate the change in head at each constraint location that results from a perturbation of a flow–rate variable; these changes are used to calculate the response coefficients. For linear management formulations, the resulting matrix of response coefficients is then combined with other components of the linear management formulation to form a complete linear formulation; the formulation is then solved by use of the simplex algorithm, which is incorporated into the RMS Package. Nonlinear formulations arise for simulated conditions that include water–table (unconfined) aquifers or head–dependent boundary conditions (such as streams, drains, or evapotranspiration from the water table). Nonlinear formulations are solved by sequential linear programming; that is, repeated linearization of the nonlinear features of the management problem. In this approach, response coefficients are recalculated for each iteration of the solution process. Mixed–binary linear (or mildly nonlinear) formulations are solved by use of the branch and bound algorithm, which is also incorporated into the RMS Package.

Three sample problems are provided to demonstrate the use of GWM for typical ground–water flow management problems. These sample problems provide examples of how GWM input files are constructed to specify the decision variables, objective function, constraints, and solution process for a GWM run. The GWM Process runs with the MODFLOW–2000 Global and Ground–Water Flow Processes, but in its current form GWM cannot be used with the Observation, Sensitivity, Parameter–Estimation, or Ground–Water Transport Processes. The GWM Process is written with a modular structure so that new objective functions, constraint types, and solution algorithms can be added.

Contents

Abstract

Introduction

Numerical Modeling of Ground–Water Flow with MODFLOW

Formulation of Ground–Water Management Problems with GWM

Decision Variables

Flow–Rate Decision Variables

External Decision Variables

Binary Variables

Objective Function

Constraints

Decision–Variable Constraints

Linear–Summation Constraints

Hydraulic–Head Constraints

Streamflow Constraints

Complete Statement of Ground–Water Management Formulation Solved by GWM

Solution of Ground–Water Management Problems with GWM

Linear Formulations

Calculation of Response Coefficients

Accuracy and Precision of the Response Coefficients

Simplex Algorithm

Nonlinear Formulations

Mixed–Binary Linear Formulations

Input Instructions and Output Files

Name File

GWM Process Files

Description of Selected Conventions, Options, and Variables in GWM

GWM File

Decision variables (DECVAR) File

Objective Function (OBJFNC) File

Constraint Files

Decision–Variable Constraints (VARCON) File

Linear–Summation Constraints (SUMCON) File

Head Constraints (HEDCON) File

Streamflow Constraints (STRMCON) File

Solution and Output–Control Parameters (SOLN) File

Output Files

Sample Problems

Sample Problem 1: DEWATER

Linear Formulation

Mixed–Binary Linear Formulation

Selected Input and Output Files for Sample Problem

Sample Problem 2: SEAWATER

Nonlinear Formulation

Selected Input and Output Files for Sample Problem

Sample Problem 3: SUPPLY

Nonlinear Formulation

Selected Input and Output Files for Sample Problem

Acknowledgments

References Cited

Appendix 1. Examples of Decision Variables that can be Defined in GWM

Appendix 2. GWM Solution Algorithms

Appendix 3. Programmers’ Guide to GWM

Figures

1.Schematic graph showing seepage rate through a streambed as a function of ground–water head in a model cell

2–5.Schematic illustrations showing:

2.Types of hydraulic–head constraints supported by GWM

3.Model grid for DEWATER sample problem

4.Model grid for SEAWATER sample problem

5.Model grid for SUPPLY sample problem



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