Browsing by Subject "Springs"
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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 Canfield Creek Dye Trace: October, 1985(1985) Alexander Jr., E. CalvinItem Crystal Springs State Fish Hatchery and Kieffer Valley Dye Trace(2010) Ladd, Bethany S; Alexander Jr., E. CalvinItem 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 Traces in Forestville Mystery Cave State Park(2013-08-26) Phipps, Jacob D; LaQua, Alexa J; Alexander Jr., E. CalvinItem Forestville North Dye Trace: September 5, 2008 to November 12, 2008(2008) Green, Jeffrey A; Peters, Andrew J; Luhmann, Andrew J; Alexander Jr., E. Calvin; Alexander, Scott CA dye trace was conducted in an area near Forestville State Park in Minnesota from September 5, 2008 to November 12, 2008 (Figure 1). Numerous dye traces have been completed in this area in the past and this effort was made in order to better delineate the springsheds in this area due to the close proximity of numerous State of Minnesota designated trout streams. Achieving a better understanding of the connection of these sinkholes receiving surface water flow and their connectivity to springs that provide a cold water source for the designated trout streams in the area was the goal of this trace. However, the goal of this trace was two‐fold, one sinkhole that received dye, Minnesota Karst Feature Database number 23:D2474, had previously been studied and was shown to be connected to cold water sources for two trout streams. The previous dye trace was completed during wet, spring conditions and this trace was completed during a much drier time in the late fall. Completing the trace during these differing conditions may help to better understand the seasonal changes of the subsurface flow of groundwater.Item Frego Creek Dye Trace: March 11, 2008 to June 16, 2008(2008) Green, Jeffrey A; Peters, Andrew J; Luhmann, Andrew J; Alexander Jr., E. Calvin; Alexander, Scott CA dye trace was conducted in an area near the city of Canton, Minnesota from March 11, 2008 to June 16, 2008. Dye traces have been completed in this area in the past and this effort was made to further refine delineation the springsheds in this area due to the close proximity of Frego Creek, a Minnesota designated trout stream. Much of the city of Canton’s stormwater flows to sinkholes throughout the city limits and some just outside of city limits. Achieving a better understanding of the connection of these sinkholes receiving this stormwater flow and their connectivity to springs that provide a cold water source for Frego Creek was the goal of this trace.Item Groundwater Tracing in Orion, Marion and Eyota Townships of Olmsted County, Minnesota(2016) Larsen, Martin R; Green, Jeffrey A; Wheeler, Betty J; Kasahara, Sophie M; Alexander Jr., E. CalvinOrion, Marion, Eyota and Pleasant Grove Townships are located in Olmsted County southeast of Rochester, Minnesota and host a significant number of mapped karst features including the Orion Sinkhole Plain. The area is intensively farmed and is increasingly residential as part of Rochester’s exurbs. The area bedrock is composed of a relatively flat upland underlain by limestone, dolomite, and silty limestone of the Middle Ordovician Stewartville, Prosser and Cummingsville Formations. The carbonates are underlain by the Decorah Shale, which forms a partial aquitard; though the Decorah is truncated by incised stream valleys. Numerous karst springs emerge just above the Decorah and form tributaries which flow to the Zumbro and North Branch Root Rivers. These regional base level rivers are incised into the St. Peter Formation and Prairie du Chien Group. Thin, discontinuous glacial sediments and loess overlie the bedrock. Groundwater is the sole source of potable water in the area. Groundwater tracing research was initiated in the area due to environmental issues related to the presence of confined animal feedlots. Dye tracing has been successfully used to define connections between water running into sinkholes or losing streams and water emerging from springs, wells or along gaining reaches of streams in the karst of southeast Minnesota for 75 years. Dye traces have proven to be singularly effective tools in helping elevate discussions among communities, landowners and farmers about surface water-groundwater interactions. Information gained helps landowners implement strategies to minimize nutrient and bacteria losses into vulnerable karst aquifers. We initiated nine traces between 2014 and 2016. Eight of the traces were positive, in that at least one connection was confirmed between the sinkhole input of the dye and a monitored spring or creek. The positive results are drawn as springshed maps illustrating these connections, and are overlain on a base map of the previous dye tracing work. The base springsheds map will be updated as new traces are completed and the map is available on-line at: http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/waters/groundwater_section/mapping/springshed/springshed_map.pdfItem Harmony Fall 2008 Dye Trace(2009) Green, Jeffrey A; Peters, Andrew J; Luhmann, Andrew J; Alexander Jr., E. Calvin; Alexander, Scott CA dye trace was conducted in an area in the City of Harmony, Minnesota, and an area located just west of the City of Harmony, Minnesota from October 28, 2008 to May 4, 2009 (Figure 1). Numerous dye traces have been completed in this area in the past and this effort was made in order to better delineate the springsheds in this area due to the close proximity of numerous State of Minnesota designated trout streams. Achieving a better understanding of the connection of these sinkholes receiving surface water flow and their connectivity to springs that provide a cold water source for the designated trout streams in the area was the goal of this trace.Item Harmony Spring 2008 Dye Trace(2008) Green, Jeffrey A; Peters, Andrew J; Luhmann, Andrew J; Alexander Jr., e; Alexander, Scott CA dye trace was conducted in an area in the City of Harmony, Minnesota from May 6, 2008 to June 13, 2008 (Figure 1). Numerous dye traces have been completed in this area in the past and this effort was made in order to better delineate the Buggywhip, Hart, and the Big Spring springsheds in this area due to the close proximity of numerous State of Minnesota designated trout streams. Achieving a better understanding of the connection of these sinkholes receiving surface water flow and their connectivity to springs that provide a cold water source for the designated trout streams in the area was the goal of this trace.Item Integration of Water Tracing and Structural Geology for the Delineation of Springsheds(2012) Ustipak, Kelsi R; Green, Jeffrey A; Alexander Jr., E. CalvinFountain, Fillmore Co., Minnesota, a small town self-identifed as “The Sinkhole Capitol of the U.S.A.,” is located on a large sinkhole plain in the Upper Ordovician Galena Group. Recent mapping of the structural setting in the Fountain area provides new constraints for the interpretations of flow paths in springsheds defined by three decades of dye traces (Runkel, 2012, private communication). The strata of the Galena Group are deformed into a low-angle, assymetric syncline that is plunging northwest. The Fountain East dye traces, initiated in May 2012, were designed to further refine springshed boundaries on the northern edge of the sinkhole plain and to delineate source areas for cold-water springs that feed Minnesota designated trout streams in the area, particularly Rice Creek. Two major springsheds were previously mapped in the Fountain East area: the Fountain Springshed, which drains northwest and forms the headwaters for Rice Creek; and the Mahoney Springshed that drains southeast to form the headwaters for Mahoney Creek. The newest tracing efforts begin to document a new springshed to the northeast of Fountain feeding Klomp’s Spring and ultimately Rice Creek. The integration of dye trace data, structural contours, and ArcGIS imagery contextualizes the regional subsurface flow and further provides evidence for the delineation of the Fountain, Mahoney and Klomp Springsheds. Knowledge of the structural setting of the Fountain East trace area is a significant step in answering broader questions regarding the hydrogeologic behavior of the Galena Group karst system and its role in the productivity of designated trout streams.Item June 1997 Highway 44--Odessa Spring Traces(1997-07-23) Alexander, Scott C; Alexander Jr., E. CalvinOn June 6 1997, three dye traces were initiated from sinkholes D6741, D6742, and D6743 which are located on the north edge of Highway 44. The sinkholes are 2.23, 1.28, and 0.38 miles west of Highway 44's junction with Minn. Highway 139 on the south edge of Harmony Minn. Flow from sinkholes D6741 and D6742 resurged at Odessa Spring in four to six days. Odessa Spring is on the Upper Iowa River about 3.5 miles southwest of that segment of Highway 44. The third dye washed into sinkhole D6743 was not detected as any of the monitoring sites as of July 8, 1997. None of the dyes were detected in the upper or lower underground streams in Niagara Cave.Item Mapping Groundwater Flow in Kieffer Valley, Winona County, MN(2010) Ladd, Bethany S; Alexander Jr., E. CalvinGSA 2011 Abstract: https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2011AM/webprogram/Paper195906.htmlItem Mapping Karst Springsheds Using Dye Tracing Techniques in Fillmore County, Minnesota(2012) Garmon, William T; Peters, Joseph P; Alexander Jr., E. CalvinSpringshed mapping projects have been ongoing in Fillmore County since the 1970s. The purpose of this project is to compliment previous and ongoing dye traces surrounding the study area near Wykoff, MN. Study areas were purposefully chosen to add to the body of known flow paths. Dye tracing was done via the release of select fluorescent dyes into the Karst aquifer system, and the subsequent monitoring of springs and surface streams in the suspected potential paths of the system. Continued mapping of springsheds and their flow patterns within these Karst aquifer systems may lead to a revision of groundwater regulations, as well as industrial and agricultural practice revisions to limit aquifer contamination.Item A Quantitative Dye Trace in the Bat River System(2008-08) Flynn, Shannon; Alexander Jr., E. Calvin; Alexander, Scott CWhile in recent years a significant amount of work has been done to delineate the karst spring sheds of southeastern Minnesota. There has been little work done to document the characteristics of the spring sheds such as the resonance time of water with in the system. Bat River Cave and spring were the focal point for this trace, the spring being the sampling location. Four dyes were released, one in a drilled access shaft and three others into nearby sinkholes. All four dyes were detected in Bat River Spring within twenty-four hours of there releases. The velocity of the system was found to be 651 ft/hr relative to cave passage and 258 ft/hr compared to the surface distance. This goes to highlight the Galena group's vulnerabilities and the difficulty of contamination containment.Item Report of a Dye Trace Investigation, Osmundson Quarry at Grand Meadow, MN, Sept. 1998(2008-11-07) Green, Jeffrey AItem Report on Investigation of the Water Supply System Ideal Creamery, Canton, Minnesota(Minnesota Department of Health District No. 3, 1941-09) Kingston, S.P.