Browsing by Author "Alexander Jr., E. Calvin"
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Item 19 June 2006 Dye Trace of the Cave Farm Blind Valley Stream Sink (MN23:B0058)(2006-08) Costello, Daniel E; Alexander Jr., E. CalvinA qualitative fluorescent dye trace has established that water sinking in the Cave Farm Blind Valley resurges at Bly’s Spring on Bear Creek in Fillmore County, Minnesota. This trace establishes the resurgence point for the Cave Farm Blind Valley and a lower limit of > 1 kilometer per day on the groundwater flow velocity. This trace documents the potential impact of a break in the British Petroleum pipeline, which is directly below the blind valley, could have on the Spring Valley karst. The Spring Valley karst also may act as an underground flow path that pirates water from Deer Creek to Bear Creek.Item 1980 to 2012 Dye Tracing in the South Branch Whitewater River Valley, Elba/Altura, Minnesota Area(2016) Ustipak, Kelsi R; Green, Jeffrey A; Wheeler, Betty J; Alexander Jr., E. CalvinItem 2 July 2007 Morehart Farm Dye Trace(2007-08) Eagle, Sarah D; Alexander Jr., E. CalvinOur research is designed to delineate springsheds feeding trout streams in Olmsted County, Minnesota. Trout streams are highly dependent on springs discharging large volumes of cool, clear spring water in order to sustain trout populations. Olmsted County is an area of Southeastern Minnesota with mature karst, and as such, the surficial bedrock aquifer is highly vulnerable to pollution and contamination. In particular, highly turbid ground water from storm events can reach springs and thereby adversely affecting trout populations. Fluorescent dye tracing was utilized to delineate springshed areas and conduit connections of springs feeding the east side of Kinney Creek in Pleasant Grove and Orion Townships. In late June 2007, background monitoring was started at selected locations and on 2 July 2007 a double dye trace was initiated by introducing the fluorescent dyes eosin (CAS 17372-87-1) and sulforhodamine B (CAS 3520-42-1) to sinkholes MN55:D0133 and MN55:D0162, respectively. Direct water . samples and activated carbon detectors were analyzed by scanning spectrofluorometric methods revealing both introduction points to be in the springshed McConnell's Spring (MN55:A0006). Travel times were faster than three days per kilometer.Item Ahrensfeld Creek and Borson Northeast Dye Trace Report 2007-2010 Winona County, MN(2017) Green, Jeffrey A; Alexander Jr., E. Calvin; Alexander, Scott C; Luhmann, Andrew J; Runkel, Anthony C; Peters, Andrew JSoutheastern Minnesota’s karst lands support numerous trout streams. These trout streams are formed by springs discharging from Paleozoic bedrock. Dye tracing has been the tool of choice for mapping the springsheds (karst groundwater basins) that feed these springs. Previous work was focused on the Galena limestone karst. In order to accelerate springshed mapping, a two-year study was funded by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR). Across southeastern Minnesota, numerous springs discharge from the Cambrian St. Lawrence formation. The St. Lawrence is considered to be a confining unit under the Minnesota well code. A dye trace was initiated when a stream sink was discovered in the upper St. Lawrence Formation. The sampling points included springs, stream crossings, and a municipal well that may be at risk for surface contamination. Dye was recovered at one spring in less than two weeks and at two other springs in less than three weeks. This translates into travel times of 200-300 meters/day. The springs all discharge from the lower St. Lawrence Formation. The St. Lawrence contains beds of dolostone; the dye trace demonstrates that there is a karst conduit flow component in this formation. This is evidence that these springs are significantly more susceptible to degradation than previously thought.Item Altura Minnesota lagoon collapses(Proceedings of the First Multidisciplinary Conference on Sinkholes. Orlando, Florida 15-17 October 1984. "Sinkholes: Their Geology, Engineering and Environmental Impact. Edited by Barry F. Beck of the Florida Sinkhole Research Institute, University of Central Florida, Orlando. Page 311 - 318. Taylor & Francis, London, UK. Offprint, 1984-10-17) Book, Paul R; Alexander Jr., E. CalvinIn April 1976, a series of karst sinkholes opened in the holding lagoon of the Altura, Minnesota Waste Treatment Facility. This major failure was preceded by minor sinkhole formation during the construction of the facility in 1974. Subsequent detailed field mapping of the region around the community revealed at least 23 sinkholes not shown on existing maps. The distribution of the sinkholes as well as post-failure investigations of the lagoon indicate that catastrophic collapse is related to the presence of a thin, poorly indurated, jointed sandstone overlying a thick carbonate unit. The sandstone served to collect solutionally aggressive vadose water and to concentrate that water onto specific areas of the underlying carbonate. The resulting differential solution produced voids into which the overlying materials collapsed.Item Altura, MN Waste Treatment Lagoon Failures: A Hydrogeologic Study(1984-02) Book, Paul R; Alexander Jr., E. CalvinIn April 1976, a series of karat sinkholes opened in the holding lagoon of the Altura MN Waste Treatment Facility. Subsequent detailed field mapping of the region around the community revealed at least 22 sinkholes not shown on existing maps. The distribution of the sinkholes as well as post-failure investigations of the lagoon indicate that catastrophic collapse is related to the presence of a thin, poorly indurated, jointed sandstone overlying a thick carbonate unit. The sandstone served to collect solutionally aggressive vadose water and to concentrate that water onto specific areas of the underlying carbonate. The resulting differential solution produced voids into which the overlying materials collapsed. The disabled facility has been diverting partially treated effluent into a nearby dry run since the lagoon collapsed. A dye trace documented that the effluent after sinking underground reemerges from three local springs and then flows into a river which is a regional trout fishery. However, a second dye trace from the sinkhole in the lagoon failed to establish a connection to any local well or spring.Item Canfield Creek Dye Trace: October, 1985(1985) Alexander Jr., E. CalvinItem Crystal Creek Dye Trace Report Fillmore County, Minnesota(2017-05) Kuehner, Kevin J; Green, Jeffrey A; Barry, John D; Rutelonis, J. Wes; Wheeler, Betty J; Kasahara, Sophie M; Luhmann, Andrew J; Alexander Jr., E. CalvinItem Crystal Creek, Fillmore County Dye Tracing 2010(2010) Green, Jeffrey A; Kuehner, Kevin; Luhmann, Andrew J; Alexander Jr., E. CalvinDye tracing was conducted at sinkholes in and around the Crystal Creek watershed in Bristol & Carimona Townships in Fillmore County. These traces were done as part of a cooperative effort between DNR, MDA and Fillmore County. The county and the MDA are working with landowners in the Crystal Creek watershed to study land management impacts on water resources. This area is underlain by Ordovician Galena limestone and is characterized by surface karst features. The predominant karst features are sinkholes and springs. The traces were done to begin to delineate the ground water basins (springsheds)that feed the springs that are the water sources for Crystal Creek. In karst areas like the Crystal Creek watershed, it is common for the ground water watershed to have different boundaries than the surface water watershed.Item Crystal Springs State Fish Hatchery and Kieffer Valley Dye Trace(2010) Ladd, Bethany S; Alexander Jr., E. CalvinItem Daley Creek Dye Trace Report 2009 Houston County, Minnesota(2009-12) Green, Jeffrey A; Peters, Andrew J; Luhmann, Andrew J; Alexander Jr., E. CalvinA dye trace was conducted from a stream sink on Daley Creek in Houston County. Daley Creek is a state designated trout stream west of the City of Houston (Figure 1). This trace was run to begin to delineate springsheds in this area.Item Dye Trace Report Gorman Creek Trace: March 2011 Wabasha County, Minnesota(2017-02) Green, Jeffrey A; Luhmann, Andrew; Alexander, Scott C; Wheeler, Betty J; Alexander Jr., E. CalvinThe karst lands of southeast Minnesota contain more than one hundred trout streams that receive perennial discharge from Paleozoic bedrock springs. Several of the Paleozoic bedrock aquifers that provide discharge to these streams are dominated by conduit-flow. Field investigations into the flow characteristics of these aquifers have been conducted using fluorescent dyes to map groundwater springsheds and characterize groundwater flow velocities for use in water resource protection. Gorman Creek is one of these designated trout streams. The creek is located roughly 14 kilometers (8.5 mi.) northeast of Plainview, Minnesota in Wabasha County (Figure 1). This trace was completed to add to delineated springsheds of the region as part of the Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF) Springshed Mapping project.Item Dye Trace Report Harmony, Minnesota Area Traces: October 2007, June 2009, and November 2010 Fillmore County, Minnesota(2016-06) Green, Jeffrey A; Peters, Andrew J; Luhmann, Andrew J; Alexander, Scott C; Wheeler, Betty J; Alexander Jr., E. CalvinDye traces were conducted in the area of Harmony, MN in southern Fillmore County as part of the Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF) Springshed Mapping project. The traces described in this report were conducted to improve the delineation of the springsheds in the Harmony area. This report covers traces completed in October 2007, June 2009, and November 2010. Tracing had been completed in the vicinity previously for the ENRTF-Springshed project in the spring of 2008 (Green et al., 2008) and fall of 2008 (Green et al., 2009); as part of the ENRTF-Hydraulic Impacts of Quarries and Pits project from 2002-2004 (Green et al, 2003); in 1997 (Alexander et al, 1997); during the Fillmore County Geologic Atlas Project in 1993 and 1994 (Alexander et al, 1995); and for earlier work summarized in Alexander and others (1995) and by Kingston (1943).Item Dye Trace Report on Campbell Valley Creek Houston and Winona Counties, Minnesota 2012-2013(2016-12-13) Barry, John D; Green, Jeffrey A; Ustipak, Kelsi R; Wheeler, Betty J; Alexander Jr., E. CalvinThe karst lands of southeast Minnesota contain more than one hundred trout streams that receive perennial discharge from Paleozoic bedrock springs. Several of the Paleozoic bedrock units that provide discharge are karst aquifers. Field investigations into the flow characteristics of these formations have been conducted using fluorescent dyes to map groundwater springsheds and characterize groundwater flow velocities for use in water resource protection. Campbell Valley Creek is one of these designated trout streams. The creek is located roughly 64 kilometers (40 mi.) southeast of Rochester, Minnesota in southern Winona and northern Houston counties (Figure 1). Two dye traces were conducted to add to delineated springsheds of the region as part of the Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF) Springshed Mapping project.Item Dye Trace Report on the Groundwater Springsheds of Roaring Spring and Frego Creek near Canton, Minnesota; Traces: September 2009, March 2010, and February 2011; Fillmore County, Minnesota(2016-02) Green, Jeffrey A; Luhmann, Andrew; Alexander, Scott C; Wheeler, Betty J; Alexander Jr., E. CalvinDye traces were conducted in and around the area of Canton, MN in southern Fillmore County as part of the Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF) funded Springshed Mapping project. This report covers traces done in September 2009, March 2010, and February 2011. Tracing had been done in the area previously in the spring of 2008 (Green et al., 2008) and 2009 (Green et al., 2009) under the auspices of the ENRTF-Springshed Project, spring of 2007 for the South Fork Root River watershed project (Green, 2007), in 1993 and 1994 during the Fillmore County Geologic Atlas Project and earlier work summarized in Alexander et al. (1995) and by Kingston and Janssen (1941).Item Dye Traces in Forestville Mystery Cave State Park(2013-08-26) Phipps, Jacob D; LaQua, Alexa J; Alexander Jr., E. CalvinItem Dye Tracing Sewage Lagoon Discharge in a Sandstone Karst, Askov, Minnesota(Proceedings of the 10th Multidisciplinary Conference on Sinkholes and the Engineering and Environmental Impacts of Karst. © 2005 American Society of Civil Engineers. Published online: April 26, 2012, 2005-09-28) Alexander Jr., E. Calvin; Alexander, Scott C; Piegat, James J; Barr, Kelton D; Nordberg, BradAn investigation of the sandstone karst at Askov, Pine County, Minnesota was conducted utilizing fluorescent dye tracing techniques. Connections were documented between the effluent from WWTF lagoons discharged into a sinking stream and local residential water supply wells southwest of the stream sink, over kilometer-scale distances. The apparent velocity of dye from the steam sink to the residential well was 57 m/day, much faster than would be expected for porous-media flow in a sandstone but slower than expected for well-developed conduit karst in carbonate rock. The traces also document stage-dependent, divergent flow to the northeast and west from recharge to a sinkhole adjacent to the lagoons. A well-developed conduit system extends a few hundred meters under the northern portion of the lagoons with flow velocities greater than 128 m/day to the northeast. A slower flow system extends for at least a kilometer to the west and northwest with a range of apparent flow velocities that average about 9 m/day. The slower flow system reached a broad “fan” of residential wells to the west but was not detected in other wells in the same direction.Item Dye Tracing Studies of the Fountain, Minnesota Sewage System(Proceedings of the Environmental Problems in Karst Terranes and Their Solutions Conference, 1986. © Published by, "National Water Well Association" and Produced by, "Water Well Journal Publishing Company"., 1986-10-30) Alexander Jr., E. Calvin; Milske, Jodi AFountain, a small community in southeastern Minnesota, is located on a sinkhole plain developed in the Ordovician Galena Formation. Many of the approximately 100 houses in the town have sewer systems that empty directly into sinkholes. Qualitative dye traces using Fluorescein and a quantitative dye trace using Rhodamine WT indicate that effluent from the community's individual disposal systems resurges at a group of springs about a mile northwest of the community. These springs are located in the Galena aquifer which comprises the upper karst above the Decorah Shale aquitard. The travel time of the underground flow here is about one day. The citizens of Fountain are considering the construction of a community drainfield to alleviate the sewage disposal problem. The effluent from individual septic tanks would be collected and piped to a drainfield about two miles south of town. The proposed drainfield site is stratigraphically below the Decorah Shale in a valley underlain by limestones and dolomites of the Praire du Chien Group. Watson Creek, which flows through the valley, is a karst stream which loses water into the ground in the vicinity of the proposed site. The quantitative dye trace from the proposed site indicates that the water beneath it is moving southeast at a velocity of about 1.3 miles/year. Water in the lower karst aquifer (in the Prairie du Chien) is moving two to three orders of magnitude more slowly than in the upper karst aquifer (in the Galena). [Carbon-14] analyses of the water in the Prairie du Chien aquifer are consistent with the dye trace results and indicate residence times of less than 25 years. Flow in the upper karst aquifer is about 300 times faster than in the lower aquifer, and in the opposite direction.Item Dye Tracing Through Thick Unsaturated Zones(Proceedings of the 5th International Symposium on Underground Water Tracing. The Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration, Athens, Greece, 1986. Edited by A. Morfis, P. Paraskevopoulou. Reprinted from Proceedings p.p. 181-188, 1986) Alexander Jr., E. Calvin; Davis, Marsha A; Dalgleish, Janet BUsing the fluorescent dye Rhodamine WT, a field fluorometer, and direct samples of water collected from springs, wells, cave drips, and pools we have conducted two successful dye traces through thick unsaturated zones in karst regions. The first dye trace was of a proposed expansion site for a landfill in Winona County, southeastern Minnesota. The site sits on top of a narrow ridge about 150 meters above the adjacent valleys. The second trace was at Jewel Cave National Monument in the southern Black Hills of South Dakota. This trace was initiated to evaluate the impact of tourist facilities on the underlying cave. A visitor center was constructed on the surface, 50 to 100 meters directly above the cave. In both traces, small, irregular pulses of dye began to appear (in springs and wells at the Winona Landfill site and in cave drips and pools at Jewel Cave) within days of the dye injection, and the pulses continued to emerge for months. The pulses were typically a day or less in duration and a very small (10s to 100s of parts per trillion, 10- 12 g/g). The pulses are more frequent after major precipitation/runoff events but appear to be moving through both unsaturated zones in a very irregular, stochastic fashion. The very low levels of dye detected in many of the pulses required so.me type of confirmation analysis. We have successfully used the large negative temperature coefficient of Rhodamine WT's fluorescence to discriminate between low levels of Rhodamine WT and fluorescence due to background materials.Item Dye Tracing to Camp Coldwater Spring, Minneapolis, MN(Minnesota Ground Water Association Newsletter Volume 20 Number 4: December 2001 Page 4 - 6. Additional results from Sophie Kasahara's Senior Thesis "A Hydrological Study of Coldwater Spring, Minneapolis, MN." - UM Geoengineering Department, 2016., 2017-06) Alexander Jr., E. Calvin; Alexander, Scott C; Barr, Kelton D; Kasahara, Sophie M; Wheeler, Betty JCamp Coldwater Spring is a ~6.3 liter/sec spring that emerges from a Platteville Limestone ledge at the top of the west side of the Mississippi River gorge. It was the original water supply for Ft. Snelling in the early-mid 1800’s and is a registered Minnesota State Landmark. Potential impacts from nearby highway construction led to two successful dye traces to help define the groundwater basin feeding the spring. These traces are the first traces through the Platteville in the Twin Cities. Dye input trenches were dug with a backhoe to the top of the water table. Input B reached the top of the Platteville and the water table was a few inches above the bedrock surface. Eosin dye input into the trench reached Camp Coldwater Spring, 125 meters away in less than 1.5 hours. The minimum flow velocity in the fractured Platteville Limestone was 83 m/hr. Input C reached the water table while still in glaciofluvial sediments and was 305 meters from the spring. Fluorescein dye from Input C reached the spring in 16 days. The slower flow velocity is a combination of flow through the glaciofluvial sediments and through the fractured Platteville Limestone. These two positive traces demonstrate that Inputs B and C are inside the ground-watershed that supplies the Spring and support concerns about the potential impact of dewatering and construction activities on the Spring. The trace is ongoing.