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A.L. Kontis

Publications and source records attributed to A.L. Kontis.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS2001

Computer program for simulation of variable recharge with the U. S. Geological Survey modular finite-difference ground-water flow model (MODFLOW)

The Variable-Recharge Package is a computerized method designed for use with the U.S. Geological Survey three-dimensional finitedifference ground-water flow model (MODFLOW-88) to simulate areal recharge to an aquifer. It is suitable for simulations of aquifers in which the relation between ground-water levels and land surface can affect the amount and distribution of recharge. The method is based on the premise that recharge to an aquifer cannot occur where the water level is at or above land surface. Consequently, recharge will vary spatially in simulations in which the Variable- Recharge Package is applied, if the water levels are sufficiently high. The input data required by the program for each model cell that can potentially receive recharge includes the average land-surface elevation and a quantity termed ?water available for recharge,? which is equal to precipitation minus evapotranspiration. The Variable-Recharge Package also can be used to simulate recharge to a valley-fill aquifer in which the valley fill and the adjoining uplands are explicitly simulated. Valley-fill aquifers, which are the most common type of aquifer in the glaciated northeastern United States, receive much of their recharge from upland sources as channeled and(or) unchanneled surface runoff and as lateral ground-water flow. Surface runoff in the uplands is generated in the model when the applied water available for recharge is rejected because simulated water levels are at or above land surface. The surface runoff can be distributed to other parts of the model by (1) applying the amount of the surface runoff that flows to upland streams (channeled runoff) to explicitly simulated streams that flow onto the valley floor, and(or) (2) applying the amount that flows downslope toward the valley- fill aquifer (unchanneled runoff) to specified model cells, typically those near the valley wall. An example model of an idealized valley- fill aquifer is presented to demonstrate application of the method and the type of information that can be derived from its use. Documentation of the Variable-Recharge Package is provided in the appendixes and includes listings of model code and of program variables. Comment statements in the program listings provide a narrative of the code. Input-data instructions and printed model output for the package are included.

Open-File Report↗
USGS1995

Simulated ground-water flow and sources of water in the Killbuck Creek Valley near Wooster, Wayne County, Ohio

The stratified-drift aquifer in the 3,000-ft (feet)-wide and 100-ft-deep buried valley of Killbuck Creek near Wooster in northeastern Ohio was studied. The stratified drift with adjacent sandstone and shale bedrock produce a system of ground-water flow representative of the western part of the glaciated north-eastern United States. The stratified-drift aquifer is an excellent source of water for municipal and industrial wells. The aquifer is recharged locally by water from precipitation on the valley floor and uplands, by infiltration from streams, and by lateral flow to the valley from the uplands. As a result, the aquifer is vulnerable to surface or subsurface spills of contaminants in the valley or the adjacent uplands. Quality of water in the stratified drift is affected by influx of water from bedrock lateral to or beneath the valley. This influx is controlled, in part, by the pumping stress placed on the stratified-drift aquifer. Hydrogeologic and aqueous-geochemical data were analyzed to establish the framework necessary for stead-state and transient simulations of ground-water flow in stratified drift and bedrock with a three-layer ground-water-flow model. A new model routine, the Variable-Recharge procedure, was developed to simulate areal recharge and the contribution of the uplands to the drift system. This procedure allows for water applied to land surface to infiltrate or to be rejected. Rejected recharge and ground water discharged when the water table is at land surface form surface runoff-this excess upland water can be redirected as runoff to other parts of the model. Infiltration of streamwater, areal recharge to uplands and valley, and lateral subsurface flow from the uplands to the valley are sources of water to the stratufued0druft aquifer. Water is removed from the stratified-drift aquifer at Wooster primarily by production wells pumping at a rate of approximately 8.5 ft3/s (cubic feet per second). The ground-water budget resulting from two types of simulations of ground-water flow in this study indicates the primary sources of water to the wells are recharge at or near land surface and lateral subsurface flow from the shale and sandstone bedrock. Components of recharge at land surface include induced infiltration from streams, precipitation on the valley floor, and infiltration of unchanneled upland runoff that reaches the valley floor. The steady-state simulation was designed to represent conditions during the fall of 1984. The transient simulation was designed to represent an 11-day snowmelt event, 23 February to 5 March 1985, that caused water levels to rise significantly throughout the valley. Areal recharge to the valley and flow from the uplands to the valley were determined through the Variable-Recharge procedure. The total steady-state recharge to the valley was 12.5 ft3/s. Upland sources, areal valley recharge, and induced infiltration from Killnuck Creek accounted for 63, 23, and 8 percent, respectively, of the valley recharge. An analysis of the simulated vertical flow to the buried stratified drift through surficial slit, clay, and fine sand indicates that about 75 percent of the total recharge to the buried deposits is the sum of areally extensive, relatively small flows less than about 0.01 ft? /s per model node), whereas about 25 percent of the recharge results from a really restricted, relatively large flows (greater than about 0.01 ft? /s per model node). The large-magnitude flows are located primarily beneath Clear and Little Killbuck Creeks where seepage provides abundant recharge and the surficial sediments grade into coarser alluvial-fan deposits. Chemical and isotopic studies of ground water and streamwater combined with measurements of stream infiltration provide independent support for the conclusions derived from computer simulation of ground-water flow. In addition, the chemical and isotopic studies helped quantity the rate and pathways of infiltrating water from

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1992

Simulation of regional ground-water flow in the Cambrian-Ordovician aquifer system in the northern Midwest, United States: in Regional aquifer-system analysis

A six-State area in the northern Midwest of the United States has become increasingly dependent on ground water from the Cambrian-Ordovician aquifer system, which consists of a sequence of sandstones, carbonate rocks, and shales. Ground-water withdrawals from the aquifer system began in the late 1800's and increased to approximately 684 million gallons per day (1,058 cubic feet per second) by 1980. This withdrawal has caused more than 900 feet of decline in the potentiometric surface of the aquifer system in parts of the Chicago, Ill., area. Pumping in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn., Milwaukee, Wis., and central Iowa has produced a few hundreds of feet of water-level decline. A quasi-three-dimensional ground-water flow model was developed to improve understanding of the regional ground-water flow system by simulating the aquifer system under the conditions that existed before and during ground-water development. The Cambrian-Ordovician aquifer system and the overlying rocks were incorporated in the conceptual model as five aquifer layers with four intervening confining layers. The aquifer layers, from top to bottom, are as follows: Quaternary deposits and Cretaceous rocks (aquifer layer 5); basal Devonian carbonate rocks and underlying Silurian carbonate rocks (aquifer layer 4); Middle Ordovician St. Peter Sandstone, Lower Ordovician Prairie du Chien Group, and Upper Cambrian Jordan Sandstone (aquifer layer 3); Upper Cambrian Ironton and Galesville Sandstones (aquifer layer 2); and Upper Cambrian Mount Simon Sandstone and Precambrian Hinckley Sandstone (aquifer layer 1). The effects on the flow system of ground water having variable density and the individual aquifer layer contribution of flow to wells open to several aquifer layers were simulated by incorporating appropriate terms in the ground-water flow equation and corresponding modifications in the ground-water flow model. Results of steady-state simulations are shown as maps of freshwater head and as flow-rate vectors. A comparison was made of available predevelopment head data and simulated predevelopment heads for the Mount Simon, St. Peter-Prairie du Chien-Jordan, and Silurian-Devonian aquifers. The root mean square of the differences between observed and simulated heads for these aquifers was 53, 36, and 44 feet, respectively. Steady-state model simulation indicates that regional recharge areas are located in northwestern Iowa, southeastern Minnesota, much of Wisconsin, northern Illinois, and central Missouri. Regional discharge areas are located near the Mississippi River and its tributaries, the Missouri River, Lake Michigan, and the Illinois basin. Results of a transient simulation of the period 1861 to 1980 are shown as maps of freshwater head and freshwater-head decline. The root mean square of the differences between observed and simulated heads for the St. Peter-Prairie du Chien-Jordan aquifer was 63 feet. In addition, hydrographs of simulated hydraulic head were compared with hydrographs of observed head in wells open to various combinations of aquifers. The numerous head measurements within a model node display a wide range in magnitude; however, their historical trend generally follows the trend of the simulated heads. The simulated recharge from the glacial drift to the immediately underlying bedrock aquifers averages 0.03, 0.06, 0.24, and 0.02 inch per year, respectively, to the Mount Simon, Ironton-Galesville, St. Peter- Prairie du Chien-Jordan, and Silurian-Devonian aquifers for predevelopment conditions and 0.03, 0.07, 0.45, and 0.07 inch per year, respectively, to the same aquifers for 1976-80. These recharge rates are less than 1.5 percent of average annual precipitation of about 30 inches per year. Most of the recharge from precipitation discharges to streams as base flow through local and intermediate ground-water flow systems. Only a small fraction of the precipitation recharges the deeper, regional flow system. The simulated predevelopment recharge of 571 cubic feet per second is balanced by an equivalent discharge. For the period 1976-80, simulated recharge increased to 1,398 cubic feet per second. Total discharge, including pumpage from the four bedrock aquifers, increased to 1,619 cubic feet per second. The difference in recharge and discharge during this period is from aquifer storage. Results of variable-density simulations indicate that the rate of ground-water movement is small in areas where ground water is highly mineralized. The rates and directions are controlled by the intrinsic permeability of the rock, freshwater head gradients, and gravitational force.

Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Miss↗
USGS1986

Directions and rates of ground-water movement in the vicinity of Kesterson Reservoir, San Joaquin Valley, California

A three-dimensional groundwater flow model was used to simulate groundwater flow for a 124 sq mi area in the vicinity of Kesterson Reservoir in the San Joaquin Valley, California. Available data were used to calculate a probable range of groundwater flow rates, but calibration and sensitivity analysis were not done for this model. Flow directions, as inferred from measured groundwater levels and simulated hydraulic heads from all model simulations, indicate that regional groundwater flow is from the south to the north. Kesterson Reservoir acts as a recharge mound superimposed on the regional-flow system. Groundwater moves in the horizontal and vertical direction away from Kesterson Reservoir. Mud and Salt Sloughs act as groundwater discharge areas. Simulated groundwater flow from Kesterson Reservoir did not flow beyond these sloughs. Groundwater from west of Mud Slough seems to flow west toward Los Banos Creek and east toward Mud Slough. Groundwater that travels toward Salt Slough from Kesterson Reservoir probably is lost by evapotranspiration near the surface before reaching Salt Slough. Groundwater between Salt Slough and the San Joaquin River seems to flow north and toward Salt Slough and the San Joaquin River. The canals and duck ponds generally act as sources of groundwater recharge. A method was developed for determining flow directions and distance traveled in three dimensions for discrete time increments using simulated groundwater fluxes. Simulated average horizontal pore velocities away from Kesterson range less than 0.01 to 140 ft/year. The simulated average vertical pore velocities range from 0.01 to 14.7 ft/year. (Author 's abstract)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1984

Glacial aquifer systems in the northeastern United States; a plan for study

The U.S. Geological Survey project designed to study the availability and quality of water in glacial aquifers in the States of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Ohio is scheduled for completion in 1986. It will focus on general principles that define aquifer geometry, hydraulic properties of sediments, recharge, discharge, physical-chemical properties of water, rock and water-rock interactions, and mechanisms for mixing of water from multiple sources. Planned project activities include compilation and analysis of available data for a regionwide analysis of glacial-aquifer systems, studies of selected system components such as recharge and chemical processes, classification of aquifers with regard to water-supply potential, and construction of generalized ground-water models to predict responses of types of aquifer systems to pumping and climatic stress. This report describes the general characteristics of glacial aquifer systems in the Northeastern United States and of planned work elements of the study. (USGS)

Open-File Report↗
USGS1980

Data-base system for northern Midwest regional aquifer-system analysis

The U.S. Geological Survey is conducting a study of the Cambrian and Ordovician aquifer system of the northern Midwest as part of a national series of Regional Aquifer-Systems Analysis (RASA). An integral part of this study will be a simulation of the ground-water flow regime using the Geological Survey's three-dimensional finite-difference model. The first step in the modeling effort is the design and development of a systematic set of processes to facilitate the collection, evaluation, manipulation, and use of large quantities of information. A computerized data-base system to accomplish these goals has been completed for the northern Midwest RASA. The input to the data-base system consists of either point values or contour maps of the hydrogeologic data required by the model. Digital samples of contoured surfaces are obtained by machine digitization. Uniformly spaced model-node values are then computed from the discrete data by two-dimensional interpolation. The interpolator uses the regional (long wavelength) characteristics of the data to compute a surface with minimum total curvature. Local (short wavelength) data are merged with the regional surface to produce the model-node values at the desired spacing. Nonuniformly spaced nodal values may be obtained by fitting two-dimensional polynomials (bicubic splines) to surfaces formed by uniformly spaced points and solving for the surface values at the node locations. The uniformly or nonuniformly spaced node values constitute the output of the data-base system and in turn are the input arrays of data values for the ground-water flow model. Management of the data base is facilitated by forming a data file for each model input parameter and for other hydrogeologic data used in the study. The data files are subdivided into elements consisting of individual model-layer arrays. In this form the data base can be readily accessed and edited. In addition to the interpolation programs, software components of the system include programs: (1) to transform geographic coordinates on a Lambert conformal conic projection to cartesian coordinates and vice versa, (2) to machine contour gridded data, (3) to expedite manipulation and editing of data, and (4) to perform various interarray computations. The data-base system has the following attributes: (1) manual handling of data is minimized and machine handling of data is maximized, (2) given unequally spaced point data over the extent of a study area, model input arrays for any reasonable uniform node spacing can be rapidly computed, (3) accuracy of computed node values are generally compatible with accuracy and spatial distribution of point data, (4) a relatively large class of nonuniformly spaced node configurations can be computed, (5) data within data-base files can be easily accessed and readily edited, and (6) the occurrence of data processing errors at various stages of data-base generation is monitored by machine contouring the computed grids. Functioning of the data-base system is illustrated by the sequence of steps required to produce a model-input array of transmissivity, given raw geologic and hydraulic conductivity data.

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗