Kurt Zeiler

Education

2002—M.S., Geology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
2001—M.S., Water Resources Management, University of Wisconsin-Madison
1998—B.S., Earth Science, Geohydrology option, Montana State University

Biography & Research Interests

Kurt is a hydrogeologist with MBMG's Ground Water Investigation Program (GWIP). His research interests include quantitative hydrogeology, especially groundwater modeling, to address potential groundwater and surface-water quantity and quality impacts from municipal, industrial, and agricultural activities. He uses GIS and programming to facilitate processing model input and output data. Kurt was previously a consultant as well as a GIS Specialist for the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey early in his career.

Date	Citation
10/9/2025	Zeiler, K., Preliminary Predictive Simulation of Land Use Change Impacts on Groundwater Recharge West of Billings, Montana: Presented at the American Water Resources Association Montana Section Annual Meeting, Great Falls, Montana, October 9, 2024.
7/29/2025	Zeiler, K. , Meredith, E., Abdo, G., Sutherland, M., Myse, T., Breitmeyer, R., and Rose, J., Hydrogeologic Investigation and Groundwater Model of the Upper Gallatin Aquifer Upper Gallatin River Corridor, Big Sky, Montana: Presented at MT DEQ Gallatin River Project Open House, July 29, 2025 (poster)
5/21/2025	Zeiler, K., and Meredith, E., Groundwater Study of the Upper Gallatin River Corridor: Presentation to Big Sky County Water and Sewer District No. 363 Board, Big Sky, MT, May 21, 2025.
4/1/2025	Zeiler, K., and Meredith, E., MBMG GWIP Upper Gallatin Aquifer Publications: Presentation to Big Sky Water Collaborative Meeting (hosted by Gallatin River Task Force), Big Sky, MT, April 1, 2025.
2/11/2025	Zeiler, K., Oliver, B., and Meredith, E., GWIP West Billings Project--Groundwater Flow Model Update: Presentation to Yellowstone County Planning Board, Billings, MT, February 11, 2025.
1/29/2025	Zeiler, K., Oliver, B., and Meredith, E., GWIP West Billings Project--Groundwater Flow Model Update: Presentation to City of Billings City/County Planning Division of the Planning & Community Services Department, Billings, MT, January 29, 2025.
10/11/2024	Zeiler, K., Application of the USGS Soil-Water Balance (SWB) Model--Estimation of Groundwater Recharge in Eastern and Western Montana: Presented at the American Water Resources Association Montana Section Annual Meeting, Whitefish, Montana, October 11, 2024.
10/9/2024	Zeiler, K., Preliminary Predictive Simulation of Land Use Change Impacts on Groundwater Recharge West of Billings, Montana: Presented at the American Water Resources Association Montana Section Annual Meeting, Great Falls, Montana, October 9, 2024.
11/8/2023	Zeiler, K., and Abdo, G., Groundwater in Southern Broadwater County and Overview of the Ground Water Investigation Program (GWIP): Presented at the Community Technical Assistance Program (CTAP ) Meeting for Southern Broadwater County, November 8, 2023.
6/2/2019	M. Porter, K. Zeiler. June 2-5, 2019, Modeling Post-Mining Pit Lake Filling using a FloPy Framework: Presented at the MODFLOW and More 2019: Groundwater Modeling and Beyond Conference, Golden, CO.
5/21/2017	K. Zeiler, A. Moore, M. Halstead, Z. Wengrovius, J. Weaver, M. Lindburg, P. Dupre, May 21-24, 2017, Updates and Improvements to Colorado's South Platte Decision Support System Alluvial Groundwater Model: Presented at the MODFLOW and More 2017: Modeling for Sustainability and Adaptation Conference, Golden, CO.
5/21/2017	K. Zeiler, A. Moore, M. Halstead, Z. Wengrovius, J. Weaver, M. Lindburg, P. Dupre, May 21-24, 2017, Use of a Data-Centered Approach in Updating Colorado's South Platte Decision Support System Alluvial Groundwater Model: Presented at the MODFLOW and More 2017: Modeling for Sustainability and Adaptation Conference, Golden, CO.
5/21/2017	K. Zeiler, J. Weaver, A. Moore, M. Halstead, May 21-24, 2017, Application of the Partition Stress Boundary Capability with MODFLOW-NWT in a Large-Scale Regional Groundwater Flow Model: Presented at the MODFLOW and More 2017: Modeling for Sustainability and Adaptation Conference, Golden, CO.
1/27/2017	A. Moore, M. Halstead, K. Zeiler, Z. Wengrovius, January 27, 2017, Updates and Enhancements to the SPDSS Alluvial Groundwater Model: Presented at the Colorado Water Congress, Denver, CO.
4/25/2016	K.K. Zeiler, R. J. Bitner, M. Krausnick, J.D. Weaver, and N. Foged, April 25-27, 2016. Sub-Regional Groundwater Flow Modeling of the Upper Big Blue River Basin Using the MODFLOW-OWHM Farm Process: Presented at the National Groundwater Association 2016 Groundwater Summit, Denver, CO.
6/1/2015	K.K. Zeiler, R. J. Bitner, M. Krausnick, J.D. Weaver, and N. Foged, June 1-3, 2015, Sub-Regional Groundwater Flow Modeling of the Upper Big Blue Basin Using the MODFLOW-2005 Farm Process: Presented at the MODFLOW and More 2015: Modeling a Complex World Conference, Golden, CO.
5/6/2012	R. Suribhatla, J. Weaver, M. Bloes, K. Zeiler, May 6-10, 2012, Salt-Freshwater Dynamics in a Subterranean Estuary--Simulating the Impact of Tidal Fluctuations and Engineering controls on Contaminant Mass Flux: Presented at the National Ground Water Association Ground Water Summit, Garden Grove, CA.
6/5/2011	K. Zeiler, June 5-8, 2011, Advancements in a Transient 3-D Particle Tracking Tool for Finite-Element Flow Fields: Poster presented at the MODFLOW and More 2011: Integrated Hydrologic Modeling Conference, Golden, CO.
6/18/2007	K. Zeiler, June 18-22, 2007, Automated Groundwater Hydrograph Mapping to Locate Geologic Faults: Presented at the 2007 ESRI International Users Conference, San Diego, CA.
9/16/2003	D. Feinstein, D. Saad, D. Hart, and K. Zeiler, September 16-19, 2003, Reconciling Recharge and Discharge in a Regional Flow Model: Presented at the MODFLOW and More 2003: Understanding through Modeling Conference, Golden, CO.

Year	Citation
2025	Zeiler, K., Chandler, K., and Reiten, J., 2025, Groundwater model of the West Crane aquifer, Richland County, Montana: Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology Open-File Report 774, 33 p.
2025	Zeiler, K., Sutherland, M., and Breitmeyer, R., 2025, Groundwater model of the Upper Gallatin aquifer at Big Sky, Montana: Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology Open-File Report 771, 65 p.
2019	Aliyari, F., Bailey, R.T., Tasdighi, A., Dozier, A., Arabi, M., and Zeiler, K., 2019, Coupled SWAT-MODFLOW model for large-scale mixed agro-urban river basins: Environmental Modelling & Software, v. 115, p. 200-210.
2005	Gotkowitz, M.B., Zeiler, K.K., Dunning, C.P., Thomas, J., and Lin, Y.F., 2005, Hydrogeology and Simulation of Groundwater Flow in Sauk County, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey Bulletin 102, 43 p.
2002	Gotkowitz, M.B., and Zeiler, K.K., 2002, Depth to bedrock map, Sauk County, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey Miscellaneous Map 54, 1 plate.
2002	Gotkowitz, M.B., and Zeiler, K.K., 2002, Water-table elevation map, Sauk County, Wisconsin: Wisconsin: Geological and Natural History Survey Miscellaneous Map 55, 1 plate.
2002	Gotkowitz, M.B., Zeiler, K.K., Dunning, C.P., and Thomas, J., 2002, Delineation of zones of contribution for municipal wells in Sauk County, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey Open-File Report 2002-05, 74 p., 2 plates.
2002	Zeiler, K.K., 2002, Shaded Relief Map of Sauk County, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey Open-File Report 2002-04, 1 plate.