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A Simple Method for Simulating Groundwater Interactions with Fens to Forecast Development Effects
Daniel T Feinstein1, David J Hart, Sarah Gatzke2
1U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Lapham Hall, Room 338, 3209 North Maryland Avenue, Milwaukee, WI, 53211 Survey.
Ground Water
|August 1, 2019
Summary
Protecting fens requires understanding groundwater. New MODFLOW models with the unsaturated zone flow (UZF) package simplify fen simulation and vulnerability assessment, aiding conservation efforts.
Area of Science:
- Hydrogeology
- Wetland Science
- Environmental Modeling
Background:
- Fens, wetlands reliant on groundwater discharge, require detailed characterization of water sources and stresses for effective protection.
- Current methods for fen assessment, including instrumentation and numerical modeling, are often labor-intensive and complex.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and demonstrate an accessible method for simulating fen distribution and assessing their vulnerability to anthropogenic stresses.
- To integrate unsaturated zone flow processes into existing groundwater models for improved fen characterization.
Main Methods:
- Utilized steady-state MODFLOW models incorporating the unsaturated zone flow (UZF) package.
- Simulated vertical seepage to land surface in cells with near-surface water tables using a head difference and scaled conductance approach.
- Leveraged readily available topographic data, minimizing user input and model complexity.
Main Results:
- Successfully simulated fen distribution in a southeastern Wisconsin basin.
- Demonstrated the model's capability to forecast potential drawdown and reduced seepage at fens due to groundwater pumping.
- The UZF package approach allows emergent distribution of seepage areas, unlike predetermined drain methods.
Conclusions:
- The MODFLOW UZF package offers a simplified yet robust method for simulating fen areas and their response to groundwater changes.
- This approach serves as a valuable decision-support tool for wetland conservation and land-use planning.
- The method accounts for intracell land surface variations, providing a more nuanced quantification of surficial water flows.
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