MODFLOW-2000 data sets used in two predictive scenarios of groundwater flow and pumping (1900-2050) near Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

The U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with Mount Pleasant Water Works updated an 
existing three-dimensional model (MODFLOW-2000) by Fine, Petkewich, and Campbell 
(2017) (https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20175128) to evaluate two water-management scenarios 
and predict the effects of increased pumpage on the groundwater flow and groundwater-level 
conditions in the Mount Pleasant, South Carolina area. This model was originally developed 
in 2007, by Petkewich and Campbell (https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/sir20075126), then 
updated and recalibrated to conditions from 1900 to 2015.  The updated model was used to 
simulate six scenario simulations (scenarios 1-6) for the Mount Pleasant Water Works which 
are published in a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Scientific Investigations Report 
(https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20175128). The associated model input and output files are available 
in a USGS data release (https://doi.org/10.5066/F7S181FC). 
		
In 2018, using the updated and recalibrated model from 2017, seven additional MODFLOW-2000 
scenarios (numbered 7-13), were developed to evaluate additional withdrawal strategies. 
The archived model input and output files for those scenarios are available in a USGS data 
release (https://doi.org/10.5066/P9GZEE4E). 
		
For these scenarios future groundwater withdrawals for Mount Pleasant Water Works were 
modified while maintaining 2015 pumping rates for all other pumping wells. The model simulates 
from 1900-2015 with the addition of 2016-2500 for the predictive scenarios. This data release 
present the model data sets for 2 additional scenarios. 
		
The 2017 model, by Fine and others, was slightly updated to simulate two predictive 
water-management scenarios that evaluate potential changes in groundwater flow and 
groundwater-level conditions from the increased withdrawals in the Mount Pleasant, South 
Carolina area. The model was updated to include 2016-2019 groundwater use data for the 
Charleston aquifer wells in the Charleston, SC area, along with several periodic tape-down 
measurements at two recording wells (CHN-14 and BRK-431). The model was not recalibrated 
for this study. 
		
Two scenario simulations were completed, and the results are included in this data release.  
		
In scenario 1, Mount Pleasant Waterworks demonstrated reasonable need of 2,409 million 
gallons per year. This scenario simulates 5 of the 6 Mount Pleasant wells each pumping 1.32 
million gallons per day from 2020 to 2050, for a total of 6.6 million gallons per day. No withdrawals 
from the sixth Mount Pleasant well are simulated during the 2020-2050 time period. 
		
In scenario 2, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control recommended 
withdrawal of 1,679 million gallons per year is simulated. This scenario simulates 5 of the 6 Mount 
Pleasant wells each pumping 0.92 million gallons per day from 2020 to 2050, for a total of 4.6 million 
gallons per day. No withdrawals from the sixth Mount Pleasant well are simulated during the 
2020-2050 time period.  
		
This USGS data release contains all the input and output files for the simulations described above 
and in the readme.txt file of this data release (https://doi.org/10.5066/P9FA07XD).

Tags: charleston-aquifer, charleston-county, environment, geoscientificinformation, groundwater, groundwater-model, inlandwaters, middendorf-aquifer, modflow-2000, mount-pleasant, south-carolina, usgs-a2cb1003-a9bf-4f67-873a-2bdb18f392ad, usgsgroundwatermodel
Organization: Department of the Interior