diff --git a/autotest/test_cli_cmds.py b/autotest/test_cli_cmds.py
index b82aaf4..661bd72 100644
--- a/autotest/test_cli_cmds.py
+++ b/autotest/test_cli_cmds.py
@@ -53,6 +53,21 @@ def test_make_program(function_tmpdir, target: str) -> None:
     run_cli_cmd(cmd)
 
 
+@flaky(max_runs=RERUNS)
+@pytest.mark.dependency(name="make_program")
+@pytest.mark.base
+def test_make_program_double(function_tmpdir) -> None:
+    cmd = [
+        "make-program",
+        "mf2005",
+        "--double",
+        "--verbose",
+        "--appdir",
+        str(function_tmpdir),
+    ]
+    run_cli_cmd(cmd)
+
+
 @pytest.mark.dependency(name="make_program_all")
 @pytest.mark.schedule
 def test_make_program_all(module_tmpdir) -> None:
diff --git a/docs/build_apps.md b/docs/build_apps.md
index 12b15b9..62b89df 100644
--- a/docs/build_apps.md
+++ b/docs/build_apps.md
@@ -7,33 +7,31 @@ and options can be determined by executing:
 ```console
 $ make-program --help
 
-usage: make-program [-h] [--release_precision]
-                    [-fc {ifort,mpiifort,gfortran,none}]
-                    [-cc {gcc,clang,clang++,icc,icl,mpiicc,g++,cl,none}] [-dr]
-                    [-ff FFLAGS] [-cf CFLAGS] [-ad APPDIR] [-v] [--keep]
-                    [--zip ZIP] [--meson]
+usage: make-program [-h] [-fc {ifort,mpiifort,gfortran,none}]
+                    [-cc {gcc,clang,clang++,icc,icl,mpiicc,g++,cl,none}]
+                    [-dbl] [-dr] [-ff FFLAGS] [-cf CFLAGS] [-ad APPDIR] [-v]
+                    [--keep] [--zip ZIP] [--meson]
                     targets
 
 Download and build USGS MODFLOW and related programs.
 
 positional arguments:
-  targets               Program(s) to build. Options: crt, gridgen, libmf6,
-                        mf2000, mf2005, mf6, mflgr, mfnwt, mfusg, mfusg_gsi,
-                        mp6, mp7, mt3dms, mt3dusgs, sutra, swtv4, triangle,
-                        vs2dt, zbud6, zonbud3, zonbudusg, :. Specifying the
-                        target to be ':' will build all of the programs.
+  targets               Program(s) to build. Options: crt, gridgen, gsflow,
+                        libmf6, mf2000, mf2005, mf6, mflgr, mfnwt, mfusg,
+                        mfusg_gsi, mp6, mp7, mt3dms, mt3dusgs, sutra, swtv4,
+                        triangle, vs2dt, zbud6, zonbud3, zonbudusg, :.
+                        Specifying the target to be ':' will build all of the
+                        programs. Multiple targets can be specified by
+                        separating individual targets by a comma (i.e.,
+                        mf6,zbud6).
 
-optional arguments:
+options:
   -h, --help            show this help message and exit
-  --release_precision   If release_precision is False, then the release
-                        precision version will be compiled along with a double
-                        precision version of the program for programs where
-                        the standard_switch and double_switch in
-                        usgsprograms.txt is True. default is True.
   -fc {ifort,mpiifort,gfortran,none}
                         Fortran compiler to use. (default is gfortran)
   -cc {gcc,clang,clang++,icc,icl,mpiicc,g++,cl,none}
                         C/C++ compiler to use. (default is gcc)
+  -dbl, --double        Force double precision. (default is False)
   -dr, --dryrun         Do not actually compile. Files will be deleted, if
                         --makeclean is used. Does not work yet for ifort.
                         (default is False)
@@ -64,6 +62,9 @@ Examples:
   Download and compile triangle in the ./temp subdirectory:
     $ make-program triangle --appdir temp
 
+  Download and compile double precision versions of mf2005 and mfusg 
+    $ make-program mf2005,mfusg --double
+
   Download and compile all programs in the ./temp subdirectory:
     $ make-program : --appdir temp
 
diff --git a/pymake/cmds/build.py b/pymake/cmds/build.py
index 7d2a723..297674d 100755
--- a/pymake/cmds/build.py
+++ b/pymake/cmds/build.py
@@ -17,27 +17,33 @@
     "targets",
     "appdir",
     "verbose",
-    "release_precision",
     "fc",
     "cc",
     "fflags",
     "cflags",
+    "double",
     "verbose",
     "zip",
     "keep",
     "dryrun",
     "meson",
 )
+
+# command arguments (sys.argv) to pop from ARGS
 COM_ARG_KEYS = (
     "fc",
     "cc",
     "fflags",
     "cflags",
+    "double",
     "zip",
     "keep",
     "dryrun",
 )
 
+# ARGS to keep and pass to build_apps()
+KEEP_ARG_KEYS = ("double",)
+
 
 def main() -> None:
     """Command line interface
@@ -60,6 +66,9 @@ def main() -> None:
   Download and compile triangle in the ./temp subdirectory:
     $ {prog} triangle --appdir temp
 
+  Download and compile double precision versions of mf2005 and mfusg 
+    $ {prog} mf2005,mfusg --double
+
   Download and compile all programs in the ./temp subdirectory:
     $ {prog} : --appdir temp
     """
@@ -75,16 +84,8 @@ def main() -> None:
         "Program(s) to build. Options:\n  "
         + ", ".join(all_targets)
         + ". Specifying the target to be ':' will "
-        + "build all of the programs."
-    )
-
-    release_precision_help = (
-        "If release_precision is False, then the "
-        + "release precision version will be compiled "
-        + "along with a double precision version of "
-        + "the program for programs where the standard_"
-        + "switch and double_switch in "
-        + "usgsprograms.txt is True. default is True."
+        + "build all of the programs. Multiple targets can be specified "
+        + "by separating individual targets by a comma (i.e., mf6,zbud6)."
     )
 
     # command line arguments specific to make-program
@@ -96,13 +97,6 @@ def main() -> None:
             "choices": None,
             "action": None,
         },
-        "release_precision": {
-            "tag": ("--release_precision",),
-            "help": release_precision_help,
-            "default": False,
-            "choices": None,
-            "action": "store_true",
-        },
     }
 
     # add standard command line arguments to parser dictionary for make-program
@@ -138,7 +132,8 @@ def main() -> None:
 
     # delete arguments that are used by Pymake() class in build_apps
     for key in arg_key_pop:
-        del args[key]
+        if key not in KEEP_ARG_KEYS:
+            del args[key]
 
     # remove args from command line arguments
     for key in com_arg_pop:
diff --git a/pymake/pymake_build_apps.py b/pymake/pymake_build_apps.py
index a76e526..95e48ee 100644
--- a/pymake/pymake_build_apps.py
+++ b/pymake/pymake_build_apps.py
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ def build_apps(
     download_dir=None,
     appdir=None,
     verbose=None,
-    release_precision=True,
+    double=False,
     meson=False,
     mesondir=".",
     clean=True,
@@ -52,19 +52,15 @@ def build_apps(
     ----------
     targets : str or list of str
         targets to build. If targets is None, all current targets will
-        be build. Default is None
+        be built. Default is None
     pymake_object : Pymake()
         Pymake object created outside of build_apps
     download_dir : str
         download directory path
     appdir : str
         target path
-    release_precision : bool
-        boolean indicating if only the release precision version should be
-        build. If release_precision is False, then the release precision
-        version will be compiled along with a double precision version of
-        the program for programs where the standard_switch and double_switch
-        in usgsprograms.txt is True. default is True.
+    double : bool
+        force double precision. (default is False)
     meson : bool
         boolean indicating that the executable should be built using the
         meson build system. (default is False)
@@ -92,7 +88,7 @@ def build_apps(
         targets = usgs_program_data.get_keys(current=True)
     else:
         if isinstance(targets, str):
-            targets = [targets]
+            targets = targets.split(",")
 
     code_dict = {}
 
@@ -221,16 +217,19 @@ def build_apps(
         )
 
         # determine if single, double, or both should be built
-        precision = usgs_program_data.get_precision(target)
+        prog_precision = usgs_program_data.get_precision(target)
 
         # just build the first precision in precision list if
-        # standard_precision is True
-        if release_precision:
-            precision = precision[0:1]
+        # reset prog_precision if double
+        if double:
+            prog_precision = ["double"]
 
-        for double in precision:
+        for precision_str in prog_precision:
             # set double flag
-            pmobj.double = double
+            if precision_str == "double":
+                pmobj.double = True
+            else:
+                pmobj.double = False
 
             # determine if the target should be built
             build_target = pmobj.set_build_target_bool(
diff --git a/pymake/utils/usgsprograms.py b/pymake/utils/usgsprograms.py
index 23bfba6..792149c 100644
--- a/pymake/utils/usgsprograms.py
+++ b/pymake/utils/usgsprograms.py
@@ -248,9 +248,9 @@ def get_precision(key):
         target = usgs_program_data().get_target(key)
         precision = []
         if target.standard_switch:
-            precision.append(False)
+            precision.append("default")
         if target.double_switch:
-            precision.append(True)
+            precision.append("double")
         return precision
 
     @staticmethod