Post Conference Workshop 1

Hands-On Groundwater Modeling with Python and MODFLOW 6

Presented by Dr. Christian Langevin, SSP&A & Dr. Joseph Hughes, INTERA

Wednesday, September 30

1.30 pm - 5.00 pm

Space is Limited, Register Today

Registration is separate from your WGC Conference Registration

Rate: $100

Groundwater modeling is rapidly advancing, with growing expectations for transparency, reproducibility, and data integration. The U.S. Geological Survey’s MODFLOW 6 platform continues to evolve to meet these needs.


This half-day, hands-on workshop introduces modern workflows using Python, FloPy, and MODFLOW 6. Participants will build, run, and analyze groundwater models programmatically, focusing on efficient and reproducible practices. Through guided notebooks, attendees will develop a model, assign properties and boundary conditions, run simulations, and visualize results, while learning how Python can automate modeling and support scenario analysis.


The session also highlights advanced MODFLOW 6 capabilities, including surface water–groundwater interactions, particle tracking, solute transport, and unstructured grids. Designed for beginners to Python or those transitioning from GUI-based tools, the workshop provides practical examples and a clear path to applying these methods in real-world projects.


Agenda  

  • Introduction and Setup
  • Build Your First MODFLOW 6 Model
  • Results and Visualization
  • Scenario Analysis with Python

What You’ll Learn

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

  • Understand the basic structure and workflow of groundwater models built with MODFLOW 6 and FloPy
  • Build and run a simple MODFLOW 6 groundwater flow model using Python
  • Assign hydraulic properties and boundary conditions programmatically
  • Access, visualize, and interpret model results (e.g., heads and flow patterns)
  • Use Python to modify model inputs and perform simple scenario analyses
  • Recognize the capabilities of advanced MODFLOW 6 features, including surface water–groundwater interactions, advective particle tracking, solute transport, and unstructured grids

Computer and Software Requirements

  • Participants must bring a laptop (Windows, macOS, or Linux) with the required software installed and fully configured prior to arrival. Installation instructions for Python, FloPy, and MODFLOW 6, along with all necessary dependencies, will be provided in advance.
  • Please note that there will not be time during the workshop to install or troubleshoot software. Participants are expected to complete installation and verify that their setup is working before attending.


Register Today

Registration is separate from your WGC Conference Registration

Rate: $100

Dr. Christian Langevin is a Principal Hydrologist with S.S. Papadopulos and Associates (SSP&A). 

He is an internationally recognized authority in the field of hydrologic modeling with over 30 of experience. He specializes in the development of advanced simulation software and the application of groundwater modeling techniques to water resource evaluations and contaminant transport analyses.

Prior to joining SSP&A, Dr. Langevin served as the primary caretaker of the U.S. Geological Survey MODFLOW program, the world’s most widely used groundwater simulator. In this role, he helped shape modern groundwater simulation tools. He has developed and codeveloped key hydrologic modeling software, including MODFLOW 6, MODFLOW-USG, MT3D-USGS, SEAWAT, and FloPy, and

authored or coauthored over one hundred peer-reviewed publications and technical reports on hydrologic modeling.

Dr. Joseph Hughes is a Principal Hydrologist at INTERA with 32 years of research and applied experience in hydrologic software development and modeling and analysis of hydrologic systems, including water availability, water budgets, flow, and transport. Dr. Hughes is a co-developer of MODFLOW 6 and FloPy. Dr. Hughes has developed software for simulating natural and managed surface-water flow, subsurface compaction and land subsidence, density-dependent groundwater flow and transport, and integrated surface water/groundwater flow

and transport. Dr. Hughes has worked on surface water, groundwater, and integrated surface water/groundwater projects throughout the United States and has taken a project management and/or technical lead role in many water resources modeling studies, including integrated surface water/groundwater interaction studies in support of groundwater permit applications and Everglades Restoration in Florida.