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. This USGS data release contains all of the input and output files
for the simulations described in the associated model documentation report
(https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20215038).