Groundwater Availability and Flow Processes in the Williston and Powder River Basins, Upper Great Plains

Tuesday, September 22, 2015: 1:20 p.m.
Joanna Thamke , Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Helena, MT
Kyle Davis , South Dakota Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Rapid City, SD
Andrew Long , South Dakota Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Rapid City, SD
Timothy Bartos , Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Cheyenne, WY

The recent oil and gas development in the Williston Basin and the Powder River Basin in the Upper Great Plains provides an opportunity to examine the groundwater and energy nexus in this region. A substantial amount of water is needed for energy development in these basins, and the primary groundwater sources are glacial sand and gravel aquifers and the lower Tertiary and Upper Cretaceous bedrock aquifer systems.

The U.S. Geological Survey is preparing a groundwater availability study of these regional aquifer systems, which includes a numerical model of groundwater flow. The hydrogeologic framework and conceptual model have been published and include a three-dimensional framework, a lithostratigraphic correlation chart that spans the states and provinces, potentiometric surfaces, a description of groundwater flow processes, and quantification of recharge and discharge components. The published information is currently being used to develop inputs for the numerical model of groundwater flow for the Williston Basin, which include initial and boundary conditions, aquifer geometries, and calibration targets. A calibrated steady-state model will be used to estimate initial hydraulic properties and conditions for a transient simulation spanning 1960-2005. The transient simulation will be calibrated to hydraulic-head measurements and stream base flows for the same time period. The transient model will be used to simulate aquifer responses to increases in groundwater withdrawals and different climate scenarios.

This study will provide an assessment of how the groundwater resources have changed over time, an estimate of groundwater-flow directions and inter-aquifer connection, and an estimate of the possible effects of potential future environmental and anthropogenic stresses on groundwater in the Upper Great Plains.

Project web site: http://mt.water.usgs.gov/projects/WaPR/

Joanna Thamke, Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Helena, MT
Joanna Thamke is a hydrogeologist with the USGS Montana Water Science Center.


Kyle Davis, South Dakota Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Rapid City, SD
Kyle is a hydrogeologist with the U.S. Geological Survey in Rapid City, South Dakota.


Andrew Long, South Dakota Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Rapid City, SD
Andy Long is a Research Hydrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey in Rapid City, South Dakota.


Timothy Bartos, Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Cheyenne, WY
Tim Bartos is the Groundwater Specialist for the U.S. Geological Survey Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center.