WetSpass is a steady state spatially distributed water balance
model for simulating yearly or seasonal averages of groundwater
recharge, evapotranspiration (soil evaporation and transpiration
also as separate outputs), runoff, and interception. The groundwater
recharge output from WetSpass is used as input for MODFLOW in
a steady state or seasonal varying groundwater model. The resulting
groundwater depth of the MODFLOW head output is then used as input
to WetSpass for refining the estimation of recharge. This process
continues until a desirable groundwater head is achieved. The
manual describes, the ArcView interface that links WetSpass with
MODFLOW. The user is assumed to be familiar with MODFLOW (more
specifically MODFLOW-2000 of the USGS). Currently, only head outputs
of one layered groundwater models, with one or two stress periods,
may be used in conjunction with WetSpass. In addition to coupling
the two models, the interface has a provision for producing some
of the MODFLOW input files such as drainage files, boundary (mask),
and all array files from given ArcView Grid files. Although the
two models can be run from the developed interface, the MODFLOW
model has to be set up outside of the interface. To demonstrate
how WetSpass works in conjunction with MODFLOW a tutorial is added
in the final chapter of the manual. All the data needed for the
tutorial together with the extension files is also included with
the manual. It is also to be noted that, WetSpass can be run without
running MODFLOW, thus it is not a must that it should be run in
conjunction with MODFLOW as long as one has a good estimate of
the groundwater depth input for WetSpass modeling. The model has
been applied satisfactorily in different areas in Belgium and
several other locations. Users are stimulated to discuss their
research and results, experiences, problems with Okke Batelaan,
batelaan@vub.ac.be.
For downloads of WetSpass follow this
link.
For publications of WetSpass follow this
link.