Regional ground-water flow in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan

Conference · Fri Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States)

OSTI ID:6974553

Grannemann, N G; Huffman, G C ^[1]

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1. Geological Survey, Lansing, MI (United States)

A steady-state, numerical model is being developed to simulate groundwater flow in four regional aquifers in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. The uppermost layer in the model simulates flow in the glaciofluvial aquifer and the second layer simulates flow in the Saginaw aquifer, both of which contain freshwater. The lower two modeled units simulate flow in the Parma-Bayport and Marshall aquifers, both of which contain saline water or brine, except at or near their subcrop, where they contain freshwater. The US Geological Survey's Modular Model (MODFLOW) was modified to simulate variable-density groundwater flow in the lower two aquifers by assuming that groundwater density and viscosity differ from place to place but do not change over time. The model simulates groundwater conditions prior to large-scale withdrawals from the aquifer. Boundaries for the model include constant-head boundaries at the shorelines of Lakes Michigan, Huron, St. Clair, and Erie, as well as the St. Clair and Detroit Rivers. The southern boundary is simulated as a no-flow condition along several major stream divides in Michigan and Indiana. Recharge to the glaciofluvial aquifer is estimated to range from 0.2 to 22 inches per year and averages 8.4 inches per year. Regional groundwater flow occurs in areas where the bedrock aquifers are confined and in parts of the glaciofluvial aquifer, such as in the north-central part of the Lower Peninsula. Regional discharge primarily occurs to Saginaw Bay and to streams in the Saginaw and Michigan Lowlands. Parts of the Grand and Maple rivers may also receive discharge on a regional scale. Local flow systems control the direction and rate of groundwater flow in areas where aquifers are unconfined or hydraulically connected to overlying glacial deposits.

• OSTI ID: 6974553
• Report Number(s): CONF-9404217--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States) Journal Volume: 26:5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540250 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (1990-)
58 GEOSCIENCES
580000* -- Geosciences
AQUIFERS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
FLOW MODELS
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROLOGY
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MICHIGAN
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RECHARGE
USA
WATER