MODFLOW-2000 model used to illustrate the differences in flow paths and travel times when three-dimensional kriging is used to estimate the hydraulic conductivity distribution as compared to manual determinations of hydraulic conductivity distribution

A three-dimensional (3D) groundwater flow model of the glaciated sediments around Elkhart, Indiana was constructed as part of the U.S. Geological Survey Groundwater Resources Program using lithologic records from water well logs. Texture-based hydraulic conductivities were assigned to vertical intervals along each lithology record. A three-dimensional kriging program read texture-based hydraulic conductivity values for each vertical interval and calculated a continuous 3D distribution of hydraulic conductivity for the entire model domain. The model was calibrated to hydrologic conditions in May and June of 1979. The model was used to simulate groundwater flow paths from points of recharge to points of discharge. These flow paths were [...]