Browsing by Subject "stream sink"

Now showing 1 - 20 of 29
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    19 June 2006 Dye Trace of the Cave Farm Blind Valley Stream Sink (MN23:B0058)
    (2006-08) Costello, Daniel E; Alexander Jr., E. Calvin
    A 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.
  • Thumbnail Image
    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 J
    Southeastern 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.
  • Thumbnail Image
    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. Calvin
    In 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.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Altura, MN Waste Treatment Lagoon Failures: A Hydrogeologic Study
    (1984-02) Book, Paul R; Alexander Jr., E. Calvin
    In 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.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    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. Calvin
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    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, Brad
    An 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.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Dye Tracing to Understand Karst Groundwater Flow Systems In Southeastern Minnesota
    (2009) Greene, Julie; Alexander Jr., E. Calvin
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Dye Tracing Within the St. Lawrence Confining Unit in Southeastern Minnesota
    (Proceedings of the 11th Multidisciplinary Conference on Sinkholes and the Engineering and Environmental Impacts of Karst. © 2008 American Society of Civil Engineers. Published online: June 20, 2012, 2008-09-26) Green, Jeffrey A; Luhmann, Andrew J; Peters, Andrew J; Runkel, Anthony C; Alexander Jr., E. Calvin; Alexander, Scott C
    Southeastern 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.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Gilbert Creek Dye Trace Report Wabasha County, Minnesota
    (2017-03) Green, Jeffrey A; Ustipak, Kelsi R; Wheeler, Betty J; Alexander Jr., E. Calvin
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Hydrology of Goliath’s Cave, Fillmore County, Minnesota
    (2007) Maas, Benjamin J; Green, Jeffrey A; Alexander Jr., E. Calvin
    https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2016AM/webprogram/Paper283919.html
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Indian Springs Creek Dye Trace Report Houston County, Minnesota
    (2017-03) Green, Jeffrey A; Luhmann, Andrew J; Alexander, Scott C; Wheeler, Betty J; Alexander Jr., E. Calvin
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Lewiston Interchange Dye Trace Report Winona County, Minnesota
    (2017-03) Green, Jeffrey A; Peters, Andrew J; Luhmann, Andrew J; Alexander, Scott C; Wheeler, Betty J; Alexander Jr., E. Calvin
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Quarrying Impacts on Groundwater Flow Paths
    (Proceedings of the Ninth Multidisciplinary Conference on Sinkholes and the Engineering and Environmental Impacts of Karst. © 2003 American Society of Civil Engineers. Published online: April 26, 2012, 2003-09-10) Green, Jeffrey A; Pavlish, Jeremy A; Leete, Jeanette H; Alexander Jr., E. Calvin; Merritt, RG
    Quarrying in limestone aquifers can interfere with groundwater flow paths. Quarries can pirate karst conduit flow by physically breaking into the conduits and changing the groundwater discharge points. Another mechanism of groundwater flow interference occurs as quarry dewatering lowers the water table changing groundwater flow directions. Dye tracing is an effective tool to evaluate and quantify these impacts. In Minnesota, tracing investigations have been conducted at two quarries. The Big Spring quarry near Harmony, Minnesota is in the Ordovician Galena Formation. The quarry is 500 meters from Big Spring, the headwater spring of Camp Creek, a Minnesota designated trout stream. Although the quarry is nominally above the water table, beginning about forty years ago, the quarry intercepted conduits carrying groundwater to the spring. Groundwater that formerly discharged from Big Spring now rises in the quarry then flows overland joining Camp Creek 100 meters downstream of Big Spring. About 90 percent of the mapped groundwater basin of Big Spring is now routed through the quarry. The Osmundson quarry is in the Devonian Lithograph City Formation at LeRoy, Minnesota. This sub-water table quarry requires seasonal dewatering at 1,000-3,000 liters/minute. When the quarry is being dewatered, Sweets Spring, approximately 300 meters to the southeast, stops flowing. Dye tracing has verified that the quarry pirates the flow to the spring. Both of these cases demonstrate the utility of using dye traces to determine the impact of limestone quarrying on groundwater flow paths. This information can be used to evaluate proposed quarry sites for their potential alterations of groundwater flow paths.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Salem Creek Dye Traces: Dodge/Olmstead (sic) Counties, Minnesota October 8, 2004
    (2005-11-10) Bunge, Eric; Alexander Jr., E. Calvin
    This dye trace study of the highly Karst Salem Creek Valley on the border of Dodge and Olmstead County in southeastern Minnesota was done to classify surface/near-surface connectivity along with a specific case study of a contaminated drinking well within the study area. The study deals with speeds and trends of subsurface flow, conduit flow, and how this flow can contaminate ground water aquifers on the order of hours if the water is given a flow path through the aquitard such as a failed well. Four fluorescent dye traces were conducted along a five mile section of the creek using sulforhodamine B, fluorescein/uranine, erythrosine, and eosin. The dyes were introduced through sinkholes, a stream sink, and around a well collar. Water samples were collected from Salem Creek using both direct water samples and activated charcoal detectors. The samples were measured for fluorescence using a spectrofluorophotometer and analyzed using a peak fitting program to characterize the resulting curves. Breakthrough curves (where applicable) showed that groundwater flow between sinkholes and the Salem Creek on the order of meters/hour. The private drinking well was also contaminated in less than two hours by dye introduced in a sinkhole approximately 100 meters away. The results show extremely fast subsurface conduit flow between the sinkholes and Salem creek. Nutrients and bacteria from the surrounding agriculture fields and feed lots can reach Salem Creek quickly and efficiently. The contamination of the private well also shows how surface recharge waters can penetrate down 400 ft or more through a failed well to contaminate otherwise clean drinking water.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Shady Creek 13 Nov 2012 Dye Trace Report Fillmore County, Minnesota
    (2017-04-20) Ustipak, Kelsi R; Green, Jeffrey A; Wheeler, Betty J; Alexander Jr., E. Calvin