thumbnail

Simulation of Regional Groundwater Flow and Groundwater/Lake Interactions in the Central Sands, Wisconsin

Scientific Investigations Report 2022-5046
Prepared in cooperation with Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
By: , , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20225046

Links

Abstract

A multiscale, multiprocess modeling approach was applied to the Wisconsin Central Sands region in central Wisconsin to quantify the connections between the groundwater system, land use, and lake levels in three seepage lakes in Waushara County, Wisconsin: Long and Plainfield (The Plainfield Tunnel Channel Lakes), and Pleasant Lakes. A regional groundwater-flow model, the Newton Raphson formulation of the U.S. Geological Survey modular finite-difference flow model groundwater-modeling package (MODFLOW-NWT), centered on the lakes, was used to extend regional surface-water boundaries to provide boundary conditions for two focused inset models, in the hydrologic simulation modeling package (MODFLOW 6), at higher resolution around the lakes. Land use and groundwater use were simulated at a regional scale using the Soil Water Balance model, which provided recharge and water-use boundary conditions for the MODFLOW models. Agricultural irrigation is the primary groundwater use in the area. Land and groundwater-use scenarios representing no irrigation, current (2018) irrigation, and potential future irrigation were simulated with the groundwater-flow model and the lake levels over a 38-year representative climate period.

Suggested Citation

Fienen, M.N., Haserodt, M.J., Leaf, A.T., and Westenbroek, S.M., 2022, Simulation of regional groundwater flow and groundwater/lake interactions in the Central Sands, Wisconsin: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2022–5046, 111 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20225046.

ISSN: 2328-0328 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Acknowledgments
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Purpose and Scope
  • Study Area Description and Hydrogeologic Setting
  • Conceptualization of Groundwater Flow in the Central Sands Region
  • Simulation of Groundwater Flow and Groundwater/Lake Interaction
  • Model Limitations
  • Summary
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Simulation of regional groundwater flow and groundwater/lake interactions in the Central Sands, Wisconsin
Series title Scientific Investigations Report
Series number 2022-5046
DOI 10.3133/sir20225046
Year Published 2022
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Upper Midwest Water Science Center
Description Report: xii, 111 p.; Data Release; Dataset
Country United States
State Wisconsin
Other Geospatial Central Sands
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details