MODFLOW-NWT and MODPATH models, capture zones and uncertainty analysis for the Partridge River Basin, Minnesota

A MODFLOW-NWT model was used to simulate the groundwater/surface-water interactions in the Partridge River Basin, MN using the Streamflow Routing and Unsaturated Zone Flow packages. The base model represents 2011-2013 average mining conditions and was used to build five mining scenario models, as described in the report. The base model and mining scenarios were used to estimate the base flow at 6 stream locations, pit inflows rates for the new hypothetical pits, and the average depth to water in twelve wetlands. PEST utilities were used to estimate an uncertainty with each of these forecasts. Particle tracking was performed with the MODFLOW solution (using MODPATH 7) and Monte Carlo techniques to create probabilistic capture zones. [...]