Implementing a Data-Centered Modeling Process for the South Platte Decision Support System Ground Water Model

Colorado is developing water resources decision support systems for all of the major basins in the state. The goal of these decision support systems is to develop data, tools and models to support planning efforts for evaluating alternative management strategies for Colorado’s water resources. In order to maximize flexibility in these systems, Colorado has been implementing a data-centered approach for developing models to allow evolution of these tools as new data become available in the future. The South Platte Decision Support System (SPDSS) includes development of a groundwater model for the alluvial aquifer system associated with the South Platte and major tributaries. The initial stage of development of this groundwater model included an evaluation of available modeling related tools, such as commercial graphical user interfaces (GUI), data management packages and custom programs developed during earlier decision support systems.

The data centered approach implemented for the SPDSS focus on two main components, the aquifer framework and flows into and out of the aquifer system. The project requirements include the ability to update each of the data sets as new information becomes available, the ability to modify the underlying numerical grid extent and discretization and to automate to a reasonable degree the processes of moving from data to the numerical model. A series of specialized data management interfaces have been developed for the SPDSS to supplement the capabilities of commercial GUIs. Much of the functionality has been implemented within a GIS, with data management interface programs that assemble information from various sources and integrate this information in model package files. The use of custom data management interfaces is largely driven by the need for detailed tracking of water diversion, application and return flow analyses. The system design is flexible and allows updating of processes as more robust data management tools become available.