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| USGS Water Science Center, Minnesota |
Ground-Water/Surface-Water Relations
MN180—Glacial ridge hydrology and water quality: This multi-year project, in partnership with the Red Lake Watershed District, US Fish and Wildlife and The Nature Conservancy, is investigating the flow and quality of ground water and surface water to document the hydrologic status of The Nature Conservancy’s Glacial Ridge Project area prior to restoration of wetlands and prairies. Fifty ground-water wells and six stream gages were sampled once to determine water quantity before restoration begins. Twelve ground-water wells and all stream sites and were sampled repeatedly for major ions, nutrients, and suspended sediment (surface water) to assess variability. Twelve wells and seven surface-water gages have real-time water level, temperature, and precipitation (wells only) telemetry. A report summarizing the study is planned in 2006. This multi-year project continues with long-term monitoring to document changes in hydrology at the site during and after prairie and wetland restorations. Continuously telemetered water level, temperature, and precipitation (wells only) data are collected at 8 wells and 5 surface-water gages. Nutrient and suspended sediment (surface-water gages only) concentrations continue to be measured quarterly at 6 wells and 2 surface-water gages.
MN129—Evaluating historic trends in nutrient concentrations from lake sediments, Grand Portage Reservation, Minnesota: Paleolimnological reconstruction methods are being applied with current water-quality data from shallow, acidic lakes on the Grand Portage Indian Reservation to infer historical nutrient conditions in the lakes. These paleolimnological methods include diatom analyses and age-dating of lake-sediment cores. The Grand Portage Band will use results from this study to establish ambient nutrient criteria for lakes on the Reservation. A report summarizing the results of the study is planned in 2008.
Surface-Water Top
MN001—USGS-cooperative stream gaging program: The USGS operates over 100 continuous streamflow, 7 river stage, 12 lake stage, and 83 crest-stage gaging stations in Minnesota through cooperative agreements with State, Federal, local agencies.
Mississippi River low-flow synoptic measurements (USGS, City of St. Cloud)—USGS plans to assess baseflow along selected reaches of the Mississippi River between Little Falls and Minneapolis to characterize gains and losses to ground water. This investigation is part of a source-water assessment of the Mississippi River. Streamflow in tributaries and mainstem reaches will be measured under baseflow conditions, which are logistically complex with the numerous flow controls on the river. A pilot reach may be tested before full implementation of the study. MN00106—Basin characteristics: (USGS, Minnesota Department of Transportation, Minnesota Department Natural Resources)–The objective of this project is to create a hydrologically enhanced Digital Elevation Model for use in an automated basin characteristics program (drainage area, area of lakes and wetlands, stream length and stream slope) that will generate 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 year estimated peak-flows on unregulated streams in Minnesota. All data for this project will be available on the USGS Interactive Watershed web page and will be in compliance with the National Watershed Boundary Dataset Standards. Characteristics of the data produced by this project include
watersheds are part of a nationally consistent digital data set, are nested subdivisions of established Cataloging Units, boundaries based on 1:24,000-scale topographic maps, and have attribute information to identify all upstream and downstream watershedsStream-slope research: (USGS, Minnesota Department of Transportation)—The objective is to analyze the differences between the observed method of determining stream slope and an automated method using hydro enhanced Digital Elevation Models (DEMs). Changes in processing and programming procedures will be evaluated for improvements in slope estimation and compatibility with the ArcHydro Data Model and StreamStats web based stream and watershed information.
Estimating peak flow on small streams in Minnesota: (USGS, Minnesota Department of Transportation) – Study objectives are to produce statistical equations that will be used to estimate the 2-, 5-, 10-, 25-, 50-, and 100-year recurrence interval peak flows on unregulated small streams in Minnesota. The Minnesota Department of Transportation will use this information for efficient and cost-effective design of bridges, culverts, and roadway embankments. The peak flow estimates are also used for environmental analysis of streams, and sediment transport equations. A report outlining the methods and peak-flow equations is planned for fall 2007. Information used in this report will allow the USGS Water Science Center of Minnesota to implement StreamStats a new web based tool used to estimate high and low flows on unmeasured streams.
MN239—Crow River time of travel: As part of an overall plan for protecting and managing drinking water derived from rivers, the USGS in partnership with the cities of St. Cloud, Minneapolis, and St. Paul, Minnesota, conducted a time of travel study on the Crow River, a tributary to the Mississippi River. Methods and results in the context of estimating travel times of accidental pollution spills will be published in a final report.
Ground-Water Top
MN211—Ground-water recharge in Minnesota: The USGS Ground Water Resources Program in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is quantifying recharge to unconfined aquifers in Minnesota using several methods at a variety of scales. Spatial variability of recharge throughout the state was estimated based on a regression of the following data: (1) recharge at the basin scale based on stream baseflow, (2) precipitation, (3) aquifer specific yield based on STATSGO data, and (4) evapotranspiration. Recharge was also estimated based on existing ground-water level data from several USGS research sites, plus data from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources observation well network. Soil-moisture and ground-water age data were also used to estimate recharge at selected sites. Journal articles and a fact sheet documenting results of this study are completed.
MN250--Synoptic Measurements of Ground-Water levels in major aquifers in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area: (USGS, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), and the Metropolitan Council) This project is part of a regional effort to measure water-levels in 3 major Twin Cities Metropolitan Area aquifers (Prairie du Chein-Jordan, Franconia-Ironton-Galesville and Mt. Simon-Hinckley) in the winter and summer of 2008. All water-levels measured in the winter and summer will be compared to water-levels from a previous measurement in the winter of 1989, and summer of 1990. The outcome of this project is an improved understanding of the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area aquifers response to increased water withdrawals. A report summarizing the results is planned for publication in 2008/09. MN241—Ground-water flow, Dakota County (new): In partnership with Dakota County, develop a better understanding of direction and amount of flow in water-supply aquifers as these might relate to protecting the water from surface contamination.
Water Quality and Stream Quality Top
Real-time water-quality monitoring: (USGS and Shingle Creek Watershed District, MN-DOT, BWSR, others)—The USGS displays and publishes real-time water-quality data according to cooperator and project needs for several parameters including specific conductance, water temperature, pH, DO, and turbidity. Data are available for Shingle Creek, Seguchie Creek, Little Cobb River and others sites here, and are published annually.
MN095—Bemidji crude oil fate and transport research site—A steering committee and site manager will be formed in August, 2007 comprised of USGS, MPCA, University of Minnesota and Enbridge Pipeline Co. to maintain the site for oil-attenuation research and education. MPCA has agreed to be the lead agency. Proposed research plans will be developed in coordination with all interested parties at the site. The USGS Coordinator for the Toxic Substances Hydrology Program is aware and supportive of this development.
MN141—Upper Mississippi NAWQA study unit—has returned to a high-intensity phase. Objectives include describing status and trends in the quality of water of the Upper Mississippi River Basin’s surface and ground-water resources as it relates to natural and human factors. The project currently focuses on (1) status and trends sampling for surface and ground water, (2) source-water assessments for ground water, (3) a study of methods for relating land use to monitoring-well samples, and (4) a detailed study to better understand nutrient-enrichment effects on stream biological quality. About 60 reports and abstracts have been published by staff involved in the UMIS project. Some of these studies are described as follows:
MN141—Upper Mississippi NAWQA study unit--Nutrient Synthesis in streams in the Mississippi, Ohio, Red, and Lake Superior Watersheds--The focus of this study is on temporal trends in nutrient and suspended-sediment loads and concentrations in streams. The objectives are to (1) estimate nutrient loads and trends in annual and seasonal loads, (2) determine annual and seasonal trends in nutrient and suspended sediment loads, and concentrations, (3) compile ancillary data on nutrient sources; evaluate and interpret various measures of nutrients sources during the period of record for this study and explain trends in terms of changes of inputs and specific sources, and (4) put results in context of long-term historical records.
MN141—Nutrient Enrichment Effects Topic (NEET): NAWQA is assessing the effects of nutrient enrichment (nitrogen and phosphorus) on streams in the Upper Mississippi River basin, as part of this national project to provide consistent data and analyses of nutrient conditions, including how these conditions vary as a result of natural and human-related factors, and how nutrient conditions affect biological communities and ecological processes in streams. The eight study areas encompass a diversity of agricultural practices. Information from the study will benefit many stakeholders involved in the development of nutrient criteria to protect the aquatic health of streams in different geographic regions.
MN226—Mercury bioaccumulation topical study—The objective of the NAWQA Mercury Bioaccumulation topical study is to determine dominant factors influencing delivery of total mercury and methylmercury to streams, and bioaccumulation of methylmercury in lotic ecosystems. Source strength and type, various biogeochemical transformations, and food-web interactions (food-web complexity) all interact to determine mercury levels in fish.
MN216—Landscape Indicators Project (LIP): In partnership with USEPA, evaluating relations between hydrologic landscapes in the upper Midwest, and pesticides, nutrients, toxic chemicals, and aquatic invertebrates in small streams during base-flow conditions. Sampling was conducted during 2004. Project activities were delayed in 2005 due to funding reductions and have now been suspended. Plans for analysis and reporting are indefinite because of funding uncertainties. (temporarily suspended)
MN183—Effects of Rain gardens on water quality: (USGS, Metropolitan Council) — Rain gardens are increasingly being used across the Nation and around the world as a storm-water management tool to temporarily store, filter, and encourage infiltration of runoff water while providing attractive landscaping. This project is designed to determine the potential benefits of selected rain gardens to remove contaminants from the runoff and thereby mitigate adverse effects on downstream waters. The effects of recharge on shallow ground-water quality also are being investigated. The first part of this study has been completed resulting in the scientific investigations report 2005-5189 'Effects of rain gardens on the quality of water in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area of Minnesota, 2002-04' (SIR 2005-5189). The major findings of that report is that rain gardens reduce the concentrations of many components of runoff and enhance infiltration of water, and generally improve the quality of ground water beneath them. It is important to site rain gardens in locations where the soils are well drained to encourage infiltration. Additional sampling will be conducted during 2005-2007 at three of the sites to determine longer-term effects of rain gardens on water quality.
MN222—Effects of Highway 169 expansion on the water-quality of tributaries to Mille Lacs Lake (USGS, MNDOT)—Water-quality and bed-sediments are being sampled in Seguchie Creek and wetland tributaries to Mille Lacs Lake. Sampling is planned to continue during the expansion of Highway 169 adjacent to Mille Lacs Lake. Analyses include nutrients, suspended and bed sediment, major ions and trace metals, (and semi-volatile organic compounds in wetland sediments). Real-time data include streamflow, water temperature and specific conductance at Seguchie Creek (05284305 and 05284310) here. Project may include ground water at later date.
MN00331—Amphibian research and monitoring initiative (ARMI) (U.S. Department of the Interior [DOI]) DOI agencies are working together with state and local agencies to (1) monitor long-term trends in amphibian populations, and (2) research causes of amphibian declines and malformations. Water-quality samples were collected at frog-monitoring sites in Voyageurs National Park, St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, and Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. Information collected in this effort will be used by state and local agencies to determine the implications of water quality on amphibians in their regions.
MN233—Data and analysis for nutrient criteria development: Assist MPCA to document relations among nutrients and selected biological response variables such as plankton, chlorophyll a , dissolved-oxygen, and aquatic-community structure in selected rivers. These relations are important to state water managers for the development of nutrient criteria. Assistance includes analysis of existing data (retrospective analysis) and field sampling at additional sites to fill information gaps. Sondes were deployed for two weeks at 12 sites during 2006 for collection of dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, pH, and temperature.
MN234--Effects of land set aside practices on stream quality: In partnership with the Board of Water and Soil Resources with funding support from LCCMR, evaluate effects of agricultural set-aside (land retirement) practices on water quality and aquatic biological conditions for three streams in the Minnesota River Basin. The streams are similar with respect to physical setting and hydrology, but differ with respect to degree of agricultural land-retirement and condition (density and landscape location). Study methods are (1) compare water quality and aquatic biological conditions across three basins; (2) describe seasonal variability of stream quality through measures of stream flow, water quality and aquatic biological information; and (3) compare spatial and temporal variability in water quality and aquatic biological conditions to the degree and location of agricultural land retirement. Beginning in 2007, an enhancement to the current project was approved that will include analysis of existing (MPCA) biological data from at about 100 randomly selected sites in the Minnesota River Basin. A GIS and statistical analysis would allow the results of this study to be extended to other sites in the Minnesota River Basin.
MN235—Red River retrospective of nutrients, sediment, and pesticides: in partnership with MPCA to summarize available data on nutrients, suspended sediment, and pesticides in the Red River of the North Basin from 1990-2003. Several state and local agencies monitor water-quality of streams, lakes, and wells for regulatory purposes or ambient monitoring and the Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) commonly collects water-quality samples through contracts with State or local agencies. This report updates NAWQA report Water-Resources Investigations Report 93-4231 by combining data from various sources.
MN240—Alkphenols in tributaries: This study in partnership with MPCA quantifies the occurrence and persistence of Alkphenols and other potential endocrine disruptors in water and streambed sediment downstream of discharges from waster water treatment plants. Following a multi-tiered approach that expands upon previous studies, we intend to (1) determine the fate (persistence and partitioning) of targeted compounds in three streams receiving wastewater treatment plant effluent discharge, and (2) determine temporal variability at selected streams. St. Cloud State University cooperates on this project by determining the occurrence of endocrine disruption in fish within selected streams This study will provide information to evaluate streams in Minnesota relative to the proposed EPA criteria.
MN242—Nutrient processes in river backwaters: The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway (SACN) and Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MISS) protect the corridors of two large river ecosystems in the Upper Midwest. Both suffer from declining water quality due to agricultural runoff, wastewater inputs, and stormwater drainage. Increases in nutrient and sediment loading have potential to cause changes in algal production and water clarity and protection from additional nutrient enrichment is a high priority. Current conditions in MISS provide an excellent contrast with the SACN, exemplifying the effects of eutrophication of large river systems. Both parks have been the subject of previous nutrient investigations, but additional information is needed to support current nutrient management initiatives. The proposed work will fill important gaps in understanding nutrient issues by 1) providing a characterization of nutrient conditions throughout each river corridor, 2) investigating biogeochemical processes affecting nutrient cycling, 3) quantifying biological effects of nutrient enrichment on key indicator taxa and ecological processes, and 4) comparing nutrient conditions and cycling in main channel versus backwater habitats. MN243—St. Croix River emerging contaminants: In partnership with the National Park Service, the goal of this study is to demonstrate an approach to assess effects of emerging contaminants from waste-water treatment plants on aquatic invertebrates in national parks. USGS staff will conduct controlled life-cycle toxicity studies with a representative aquatic invertebrate organism (daphnia) to estimate the chronic toxicity of selected emerging contaminants. USGS staff also will develop methodology to conduct chronic laboratory toxicity trials with juvenile mussels.
Spatial variation in fish-tissue mercury concentrations in the St. Croix River Basin. (USGS, National Park Service)—Elevated mercury concentrations measured in the fish in the St. Croix River Basin have resulted in fish consumption advisories. This study was conducted in an effort to determine the spatial variation of mercury in game and non-game fish collected at 14 sites in the basin. A descriptive model of mercury in fish was used to normalize fish mercury concentration to a standard species, tissues sampled, and length of fish allowing for a more consistent comparison across sites. This approach will allow the National Park Service to more reliably monitor fish-mercury concentration in the basin and better assess potential health effects of fish consumption to humans and wildlife.
MN244—Statewide stream sediment studies: The MPCA has established a standard for stream-water quality based on turbidity. Many streams in the State fail to meet this standard. Relating these standards to general stream water quality is problematic in that turbidity can be related to factors including suspended-sediment concentrations, algal concentrations, and water color which can be unique to a stream or can and vary regionally. Stream discharge is an important component in understanding sediment transport because stream discharge and sediment concentrations are needed to determine loads and yields. USGS scientists, using a network of stream-gaging stations, can provide a framework for routine monitoring to better understanding how various factors affect turbidity and sediment in streams throughout the State. The general goals are to (1) describe sediment concentrations and load and turbidity, as a function of stream flow and season, at selected stream sites, (2) describe relations between mean cross-sectional suspended sediment concentrations and point measurements of water transparency, and (3) provide training about sediment transport processes and sediment sampling techniques for MPCA staff.
MN245—Effects of biofuels production on water quality (new)--Cedar Creek area: Spreading liquid manure on agricultural fields is a routine way of disposing of animal feedlot wastes and providing a nutrient source for crops. This liquid manure is known to contain veterinary pharmaceutical compounds. Consequently, runoff from these fields, as well as from the animal feedlots, has been a concern for human and environmental health. The use of diverse prairie buffers along these types of agricultural fields may help to reduce contamination of ground and surface-water resources. Recent research also indicates that prairies offer an efficient feasible biofuel source. The ongoing USGS research on this study is directed toward evaluating the fate and transport of veterinary pharmaceutical compounds and nutrients applied to the selected plant communities of prairie grasses, corn, and hay in relation to ground-water quality. Researchers at the University of Minnesota will also be evaluating biofuel production and carbon sequestration abilities of corn, diverse prairie, and hay.
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