Examples of Groundwater, Surface Water, and Solute-Transport Models

• Regional groundwater-flow model of the Mimbres Basin in southwestern New Mexico to evaluate the sustainability of the water treatment system associated with Chino Mines closure.
• Regional groundwater-flow model of the Tyrone mine operations in southwestern New Mexico to estimate drawdown due to pumping of wells and pumping from open-pit mines in support of water-rights applications.
• Groundwater-flow model of a a well field for City of Alamogordo to evaluate the feasibility of utilizing aquifer storage and recovery for optimization of supply and prevention of saline encroachment.
• Regional groundwater-flow model in support of water-rights applications related to Cunningham Hill Mine Reclamation project, Santa Fe County, New Mexico. A transport model was also developed to simulate migration of dissolved constituents from the open-pit pool to the surrounding aquifer in support of environmental permitting.
• Groundwater-flow model of the Jornada Basin in support of water-rights applications by the City of Las Cruces.
• Contaminant-transport model of the Canutillo, Texas, area to predict contaminant exposure from a petroleum hydrocarbon plume.
• Groundwater-flow and solute transport model for Griggs and Walnut Superfund site in Las Cruces to characterize the contaminant plume, source areas, and evaluate remediation options.
• Groundwater-flow and solute transport model for White Sands Missile Range to evaluate future groundwater-development scenarios and changes in the fresh/brackish/saline groundwater interface.
• Groundwater-flow model of the Salt Basin in southeastern New Mexico and part of Texas to quantify groundwater resources for the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission.
• Groundwater-flow model of the Seven Rivers augmentation well field for the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission.
• Groundwater-flow model of the Carlin Trend basins near Carlin, Nevada, 1996-present. Ongoing model, periodically updated and used in support of dewatering and water management operations and of environmental effects assessments related to mining.
• Groundwater-flow model of the Ruby Hill Mine area, Eureka, Nevada, 2004-present. Ongoing model, periodically updated and used in support of dewatering operations and to assess environmental effects.
• Integrated surface-water-groundwater flow model of the Upper Rio de Las Taguas basin in San Juan Province, Argentina, in support of environmental impact statements for mining projects in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2007. Model also used to evaluate water supply under different climatic conditions, evaluate local and downstream effects of water supply development, evaluate flows in diversion ditches and underdrains related to tailings impoundment and waste rock facilities.
• Surface-water flow and geochemical model of the Rio Malo Basin of Coquimbo Region, Chile, in support of closure planning at El Indio Mine.
• Integrated surface-water-groundwater flow model of the Rio del Estrecho basin, III Region, Chile, in support of environmental impact statement for mining project, and to evaluate flows in diversion and underdrain structures related to waste rock facility, and changes in natural flows.
• Glacier water balance and basin water balance of the Rio El Toro Basin, III Region, Chile, to evaluate history of glacier ice loss and potential effects of moving parts of the ice bodies.
• Integrated surface-water-groundwater flow model of the basins near Nickel Plate Mine, Hedley, British Columbia, used in conjunction with multiple field campaigns to evaluate the water balance and patterns of groundwater flow near the tailings facility, in support of closure activities.
• Groundwater-flow models of two basins in western Balochistan, Pakistan, for aquifer test analysis, water supply evaluation and environmental assessment for a proposed copper mine.
• Development of groundwater-flow model of the Piedra Pomez basin in Atacama Region, Chile, for analysis of aquifer test data and interpretation of unusual volcanic system.
• Development of water balances for closed mine facilities near Lead, South Dakota, 2004-present.