Digital-computer model of the sandstone aquifer in southeastern Wisconsin

Young, H. L.

doi:10.3133/ofr76684

Cited by 7 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…An early, widely cited study of the Maquoketa aquitard (Walton 1960) used a steady‐state analysis of flow between the overlying and underlying aquifer systems to estimate rates of leakage through the aquitard. Similarly, the selection of parameters assigned to the Maquoketa aquitard for recent regional simulation studies relies on an equilibrium assumption (Young 1976, 1992; Feinstein et al 2004). Although Hart et al (2006) recently used one of these regional models to investigate cross‐connecting well and fracture hypotheses about regional properties of the Maquoketa aquitard, our work suggests that significant deviations from steady‐state conditions occur within the aquitard at the tens of kilometers scale of our study.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fracture Control of Ground Water Flow and Water Chemistry in a Rock Aquitard

Eaton

Anderson

Bradbury³

2007

Groundwater

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There are few studies on the hydrogeology of sedimentary rock aquitards although they are important controls in regional ground water flow systems. We formulate and test a three-dimensional (3D) conceptual model of ground water flow and hydrochemistry in a fractured sedimentary rock aquitard to show that flow dynamics within the aquitard are more complex than previously believed. Similar conceptual models, based on regional observations and recently emerging principles of mechanical stratigraphy in heterogeneous sedimentary rocks, have previously been applied only to aquifers, but we show that they are potentially applicable to aquitards. The major elements of this conceptual model, which is based on detailed information from two sites in the Maquoketa Formation in southeastern Wisconsin, include orders of magnitude contrast between hydraulic diffusivity (K/S(s)) of fractured zones and relatively intact aquitard rock matrix, laterally extensive bedding-plane fracture zones extending over distances of over 10 km, very low vertical hydraulic conductivity of thick shale-rich intervals of the aquitard, and a vertical hydraulic head profile controlled by a lateral boundary at the aquitard subcrop, where numerous surface water bodies dominate the shallow aquifer system. Results from a 3D numerical flow model based on this conceptual model are consistent with field observations, which did not fit the typical conceptual model of strictly vertical flow through an aquitard. The 3D flow through an aquitard has implications for predicting ground water flow and for planning and protecting water supplies.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fracture Control of Ground Water Flow and Water Chemistry in a Rock Aquitard

Eaton

Anderson

Bradbury³

2007

Groundwater

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“…Regional investigations, which incorporated southeastern Wisconsin in a larger multistate framework, include works of the Illinois State Water Survey (Burch, 1991;Meyer and others 2009) and the U.S. Geological Survey (Young and others, 1989;Mandle and Kontis, 1992;Young, 1992;Feinstein and others, 2010). Studies limited to southeastern Wisconsin include efforts restricted to simulating flow in the Cambrian-Ordovician units constituting the region's deep sandstone aquifer (Young, 1976;Jansen and Rao, 1998).…”

Section: Previous Hydrogeologic Investigations and Modeling Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development and application of a groundwater/surface-water flow model using MODFLOW-NWT for the Upper Fox River Basin, southeastern Wisconsin

Feinstein¹,

Fienen²,

Kennedy³

et al. 2012

Scientific Investigations Report

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For more information on the USGS-the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment, visit http://www.usgs.gov or call 1-888-ASK-USGS.For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit http://www.usgs.gov/pubprodTo order this and other USGS information products, visit http://store.usgs.gov Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report. iii AcknowledgmentsThe development and application of the Upper Fox model depended on contributions from several groups of scientists.At the U.S. Geological Survey, Richard Niswonger provided indispensable assistance in facilitating the use of the recently released MODFLOW-NWT code. John Walker furnished base-flow estimates and statistical support. David M. Ely and David Pollock reviewed the report and it benefited greatly from their remarks. Bobbie Louthian provided a thorough editorial review supplemented by insightful comments from John Eggleston.The funding for the project originated in a grant from the Brico Fund (Milwaukee, Wisconsin). Peter McAvoy, now adjunct at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) School of Freshwater Science, helped coordinate the research and shape the research strategy. At UWM, Professors Douglas Cherkauer (emeritus) and Timothy Grundl were closely involved with every step of model development and application -their participation was essential. As part of her graduate work for Prof. Cherkauer, Bonnie Bills tirelessly compiled and interpreted well logs and surface-water data. The project also benefited from geophysical investigations conducted by Prof. William Kean (emeritus) and his graduate student, Michael Baierlipp.Several members of the Wisconsin groundwater community provided vital information for the project:• John Jansen (Cardno ENTRIX) and Ted Powell (Ruekert and Mielke, Inc.) located and forwarded pumping test and other records; John also offered good suggestions on modeling approaches;• Michael Hahn (Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission) and representatives of the Waukesha Water Utility provided important hydrogeologic and water-use data;• Researchers at the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey (Kenneth Bradbury, Madeline Gotkowitz, and David Hart) were, as always, helpful in talking through ideas. Target AbstractThe Fox River is a 199-mile-long tributary to the Illinois River within the Mississippi River Basin in the states of Wisconsin and Illinois. For the purposes of this study the Upper Fox River Basin is defined as the topographic basin that extends from the upstream boundary of the Fox River Basin to a large wetland complex in south-central Waukesha County called the Vernon Marsh. The objectives for the study are to (1) develop a baseli...

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“…2.0-1). The potentiometric head in the aquifer system has declined hundreds of feet in the Chicago-Milwaukee 4 area (Sasman and others, 1982;Young, 1976). Projections of future water needs indicate continuing or increasing demands in this area, and therefore, continuing water-level declines (Schicht and others, 1976;Visocky, 1982).…”

Section: Digital Computer Model-a Model Of Ground-watermentioning

confidence: 99%