Browsing by Subject "Surface water"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    OFR14-02, Geologic controls on groundwater and surface water flow in southeastern Minnesota and its impact on nitrate concentrations in streams
    (Minnesota Geological Survey, 2014) Runkel, Anthony C.; Steenberg, Julia R.; Tipping, Robert G.; Retzler, Andrew J.
    This report summarizes the results of a Minnesota Geological Survey (MGS) investigation conducted for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) designed to support watershed planning efforts in southeast Minnesota. Specifically it provides better understanding of the geologic controls on nitrate transport in the region, including nitrate in groundwater that is the source of baseflow to streams. Nitrate contamination of surface water and groundwater is a long- standing issue in southeastern Minnesota. We focused much of our investigation on an evaluation of nitrate (NO3 ion) transport in the Root River watershed because of the relatively advanced understanding of the karstic conditions in that area. However, the overall scope of the project includes the entire bedrock-dominated landscape of southeast Minnesota. Our results therefore support a broader MPCA watershed planning effort that directly pertains to the Root River, as well as to other watersheds within the Lower Mississippi River Basin in Minnesota.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    OFR14-03, Geologic Controls on Groundwater and Surface Water Flow in Southeastern Minnesota and its Impact on Nitrate Concentrations in Streams: Local Project Area Report
    (Minnesota Geological Survey, 2014) Steenberg, Julia R.; Tipping, Robert G.; Runkel, Anthony C.
    This report summarizes the results of part of a Minnesota Geological Survey (MGS) investigation conducted for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) designed to support watershed planning efforts in southeast Minnesota. The broader project provides better understanding of the geologic controls on nitrate transport in the region, including nitrate in groundwater that is the source of baseflow to streams. This report describes a local scale subproject focused on a relatively small part of the Root River watershed in Fillmore County. We conducted new mapping that provides a more detailed depiction of the geologic conditions in a three dimensional electronic format suitable for groundwater-surface water modeling. In addition, we used existing maps and reports along with new field data collected during the course of this project to improve the hydrostratigraphic characterization of the bedrock. This led to a more comprehensive understanding of the hydrostratigraphic attributes of bedrock that forms the Upper Carbonate Plateau, which dominates the landscape in the local project area. Cross sections within the local project area are used to illustrate how nitrate is transported in the ground and surface water system.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    St. Louis River Area of Concern (AOC) Data Visualization
    (University of Minnesota Duluth, 2016-11-30) Will, Norman; Axler, Richard P; Ruzycki, Elaine; Host, George E
    The project described here involved 1) compiling and integrating surface water quality date (i.e. manually collected grab samples) collected since the 1950s which have been quality assured as indicated by their inclusion in EPS's STORET data base or via more modern federal and/or state certification programs, into a common database to expand the current (thalwed, i.e. main channel) tool's time range through 2015; and 20 developing a new application that would allow on-lin users to view and animate synoptic data (i.e. data collected from multiple stations on the same date) via bubble plots.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Surface Water Quality Assessment of Apostle Island National Lakeshore - 2004
    (University of Minnesota Duluth, 2006-05) Axler, Richard P; Ruzycki, Elaine; Henneck, Jerald; Host, George E
    NRRI and Apostle Island National Lakeshore staff sampled five open water sites in Lake Superior and 3 island lagoon sites three times during summer and fall 2004. The NPS Co^re ^uite parameters (temperature, specific conductivity, dissolved oxygen, pH; NPS 2002) and water clarity were measured at all sites each sampling trip. Water and sediment samples were collected for additional chemical and biological analyses, along with zooplankton and benthic invertebrate sampling. The Core Suite of water quality parameters has been established by the NPS as part of a basic set of water quality measurements to be made for all monitored NPS aquatic resources along with lake level in lakes and some measure of flow in running waters (NPS 2002). NRRI also recommended to GLKN that a measure of water quality such as secchi depth for lakes, and transparency tube clarity for streams and lakes and wetlands too shallow for secchi depth measurement should always be considered as an additional Core Suite parameter (Axler et al. 2005a). A second set of water quality measurements is called the Advanced ^uite which includes parameters such as chlorophyll-a, nutrients (forms of nitrogen and phosphorus), major anions and cations, micronutrients, etc.