Bulletins, 1965-1995

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Analysis of Residential Water Demand and Water Rates in Minnesota
(Water Resources Research Center, University of Minnesota, 1977-09) Gardner, Richard L.
Price elasticity of demand for residential water in Minnesota is examined, along with policy implications. Common rate forms for pricing municipal water are described and analyzed. Recommendations for improving rate structures in Minnesota are made in light of theoretical and empirical considerations.
Application of Project Analysis to Natural Resource Decisions
(Water Resources Research Center, University of Minnesota, 1980-06) Easter, K. William; Waelti, John J.
This publication is intended to serve as a guide for the application of water project planning and analysis. Included are a perspective from which to review economic decisions; a brief history of evaluation procedures for U.S. water projects; a description of the Water Resources Council's procedures; the basic economics of project evaluation; problems in cost allocation; and individual applications to irrigation, flood control, navigation and related transportation, and recreation and environmental resources. Emphasis is placed on social benefits measured in terms of additions to real product and savings in terms of real resources.
An Approach to Groundwater Monitoring Well Network Design Relying on Numerical Techniques and Public-Domain Information
(Water Resources Research Center, University of Minnesota, 1994-05) Mooers, Howard D.; Pfannkuch, Hans-Olaf; Quinn, John J.
Uncertainties in the hydrogeology of a study area and in the transport properties of potential contaminants challenge the designers of groundwater monitoring well networks- Numerical flow modeling is a useful tool for guiding the placement of wells, but it requires justified boundary conditions and sufficient knowledge of aquifer parameters. In a graciated terrain, additional problems arise because of complex spatial arrangements of aquifers and aquitards. The transport of conservation contaminant tracers is normally calculated as a simple function of average values of hydraulic conductivity, hydraulic gradient, and effective porosity. But are the results of this straightforward method always valid? In order to address these topics, this investigation focused on a landfill on the Anoka sandplain of east-central Minnesota. The purpose of this study was to determine the proper placement of an initial group of monitoring wells at the landfill using only offsite public-domain data. The results may then be applied to the siting of other wells. Finite-difference flow modeling was supported by an abundance of inexpensive public-domain information and by the construction of a detailed, sub-regional glacial geologic map. A two-dimensional kriging analysis refined the model by determining the cell-by-cell best estimates of the basal elevation of the surficial aquifer. Particle tracking results indicated the expected pathway of landfill leachate. Based on the results, one well upgradient of the landfill and several downgradient wells were selected from the database of actual monitoring wells, and the head data from these shallow wells were used to calibrate the model. The calibrated hydraulic conductivity of the sandplain aquifer agrees closely with values obtained through grain-size analyses and pump tests. Numerical analyses of boundary conditions support the validity of the flow model. Other case studies of unconfined outwash aquifers suggest that predicted plumes of conservative tracers are often greater than the actual extents. Compared to the chloride data for monitoring wells at the Anoka site, particle tracking results have an accurate orientation but a length at least two times too long. Uncertainties, such as the effect of longitudinal dispersion and the transient nature of the leachate's initial concentration and source area, suggest an even greater difference' This conceptual understanding of plume migration provides guidance for the placement of additional downgradient wells. The described application of models and inexpensive offsite data to monitoring well network design is a methodology that may be effective for the monitoring of solutes from existing or proposed potential contamination sources.
Aquatic Plants from Minnesota Part 1 - Chemical Survey
(Water Resources Research Center, University of Minnesota, 1972-02) Staba, E. John; Su, K. Lee
The aquatic plants in Minnesota have not been surveyed medicinally for useful chemical compounds. A study was conducted with a reasonable anticipation of finding compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, steroids and lipids which might be useful in medicine. Examination of chemical constituents was accomplished on the following plants collected from various lakes in Minnesota: Anacharis canadensis, Call Polustris, Carex lacustris, Ceratophyllum demersum, Chara vulgaris, Eleocharis smallii, Lemna minor, Myriophyllum exalbescens, Nuphar variegatum, Nymphaea tuberosa, Potamogeton amplifolius, P. natans, P. pectinatus, P. richardsonu, P. zosteriformis, Sagittaria cuneata, S. latifolia, Sparganium eurycarpum, S. fluctuans, Typha angustifolia, Vallisneria americana, and Zizania aquetica.
Aquatic Plants from Minnesota Part 2 - Toxicity, Anti-Neoplastic, and Coagulant Effects
(Water Resources Research Center, University of Minnesota, 1972-02) Staba, E. John; Su, K. Lee
In this study, toxicity, antineoplastic, coagulant and anticoagulant effects of the following 22 Minnesotan aquatic plants were evaluated in terms of pharmacological properties: Anachris canadensis, Calla Polustris, Carex lacustris, Ceratophyllum demersum, Chara vulgaris, Eleocharis smallii, Lemna minor, Myriophyllum exalbescens, Nuphar variegatum, Nymphaea tuberosa, Potamogeton amplifolius, P. natans, P. pectinatus, P. richardsonu, P. sosteriformis, Sagittaria cuneata, S. latifolis, Sparganium eurycarpum, S. fluctuans, Typha angustifolia, Vallisneria americana, and Zizania aquetica. Toxicity of skellysolve F, chloroform, 80% ethanol and water extracts of these aquatic plants were evaluated in a number of animal experiments in Swiss Webster mice. Antineoplastic experiments involved amelanoma tumor cells. In vivo prothrombin time (PT) and partial thromboplastin time (PTT) were assayed in anti-coagulation experiments. The toxicity of the aquatic plants in general was found to be relatively low. The LD50 for the most toxic one, i.e. N. tuerosa (stem), in mice was 3 gm of dry plant material/kg (ca. 25.4 gm of wet plant material/kg). Only Nuphar variegatum indicated an anticancer possibility, the remaining aquatic plants had no significant inhibition activity at the doses selected. Normal partial thromboplastin time for mice was 51 seconds and only the prolongation of PTT (longer than 61 seconds) was observed in 50% of the aquatic plants tested. Among these plants, the most significant increase of PTT (more than 20 minutes) was observed in Carex lacustris, Myriophyllum exalbescens, Nuphar variegatum adn Nymphaea tuberosa.
Aquatic Plants from Minnesota Part 3 - Antimicrobial Effects
(Water Resources Research Center, University of Minnesota, 1972-02) Abul-Hajj, Yusuf J.; Staba, E. John; Su, K. Lee
In this study the antimicrobial activity of the following 22 Minnesotan aquatic plants was investigated: Anacharis Canadensis, Calla Polustris, Carex lacstris, Ceratophyllum demersum, Chara vulgaris, Elecharis smallii, Lemna minor, Myriophyllum exalbescens, Nuphar variegatum, Nymphaea turberosa, Potamogeton amplifolius, P. natans, P. pectinatus, P. richardsonu, P. zosteriformis, Sagittaria cuneata, S. latifolia, Sparganium eurycarpum, S. fluctuans, Typha angustifolia, Vallisneria amiercana, and Zizania aquetica, Furthermore, the chemical constituents responsible for the significant antimicrobial effect were isolated and identified. The skellysolve F. chloroform, 80% ethanol and fresh water extracts of plant species were treated for antimicrobial activity employing the qualitative filter paper disc diffusion method and reference antibiotic discs. Ethanol (80%) extracts of Myriophyllum exalbescens (activity ratio of .34 as compared to the 30 mcg chloramphenicol discs) Nymphaea tuberose (leaf: .40, stem: .45) were moderately active against S. aureus. Ethanol (80%) extracts of Carex lacustris (activity ratio of .34 as compared to the 10 mcg streptomycin discs), Nymphaea tuberose (leaf: 1.01, stem: 1.10) and Nuphar variegatum collected in Lake Minnetonka (leaf: .73, stem: .58) were active against M. smegmatis. All extracts were relatively inactive against E. coli except the water extract of Potamogeton natans where a low activity ration of .10 as compare to the 30 mcg chloramphenicol discs was indicated. Skellysolve F stem extracts of Nuphar variegatum collected in the Pine Lake and Sparganium fluctuans showed a rather distinct action against C. albicans, the activity ratio as compared to the 100 units mycostatin discs were 2.06 and 1.08, respectively. Regarding antifungal activity, ethanol (80%) extracts of Carex lacustris (activity ratio of 1.08 as compared to 5% aq. Phenol standard), Nymphaea tuberosa (stem: .72) and skellysolve F extract of Potamogeton zosteriformis (.60) were active against Alternaria sp., 80% ethanol stem extracts of Nymphaea tuberosa and Nuphar variegatum were active against F. roseum with the activity ratios of .41 and .48 respectively, as compared to the 5% aqueous phenol standard. In general, the plant pathogenic fungi are more resistant than animal pathogenic organisms toward the actions of aquatic plant extract.
Aquatic Plants from Minnesota Part 4 - Nutrient Composition
(Water Resources Research Center, University of Minnesota, 1973-04) Goodrich, R.D.; Linn, J.G.; Meiske, J.C.; Staba, E. John
Samples of 22 freshwater aquatic plants were analyzed to determine their potential feeding value for ruminants. Proximate analyses (mean +/- SD), on a dry matter basis were: crude protein, 12.7+/-4. 4%; either extract, 1.46+/-.98%; crude fiber, 19.2+/-6.4%; ash, 2.05+/-1.24%; and NFE 64.6+/-6.5%. NDF, ADF, and ADL contents averaged 41.6+/-13.4%; 32.0+/-9.6% and 6.35+/-2.76%, respectively. Mineral contents (mean +/-SD) of the 22 aquatic plants were: P,o.25+/-0.19%; Ca, 1.83+/-1.68%; K, 1.54+/-.92%; Na, 0.30+/-.25%; mg, 0.31+/-.16%; Fe 924=?-730 ppm; Zn, 80.6+/-96.6 ppm; Cu, 13.8+/- 34.0 ppm; Mo, 19.7+/-9.7 ppm and Mn, 269+/-152 ppm. Van Soest's estimated apparent digestibility averaged 63.0+/-8.3%.
Aquatic Plants from Minnesota Part 5 - Digestibility and Fermentation of Aquatic Plants
(Water Resources Research Center, University of Minnesota, 1974-08) Goodrich, R.D.; Linn, J.G.; Staba, E. John
The research was conducted to characterize the fermentation of aquatic plants ensiled with and without additives and to determine the digestibility of dried and ensiled aquatic plants by lambs. Aquatic plants ensiled with the addition of organic acids, corn or haylage produced silages of undesirable quality. Additions of haylage to sterilized aquatic plants before ensiling resulted in a silage of more desirable quality. Dry matter and crude protein digestibilities for sheep fed diets that contained either Myriophyllum exalbescens or Potamogeton pectinatus were lower than for lambs fed dehydrated alfalfa. However, energy digestibility was highest for lambs fed Myriophyllum exalbescens. Mydiophyllum exalbescens appeared to be more palatable than Potamogeton pectinatus, but both were inferior to dehydrated alfalfa. Dry matter intakes of lambs fed ensiled aquatic plants, aquatic plants plus corn or aquatic plants plus haylage were lower than lambs fed either haylage or haylage plus corn diets. Additions of corn and haylage significantly increased aquatic plant organic matter digestibility. Energy and nitrogen digestibilities were lower for lambs fed diets that contained aquatic plants than for lambs fed haylage diets. The palatability of aquatic plants is a limiting factor in their use as a forage. Drying or ensiling do not appear to be satisfactory procedures for improving palatability.
Area Financing of Water Resource Development in West Minnesota
(Water Resources Research Center, University of Minnesota, 1974-01) Maki, Wilbur R.
A 14-county environmental planning area in West Minnesota was identified for the purpose of studying financing alternatives in water resource development. Nine of the 14 counties belong to a newly established Regional Development Commission. This Commission has responsibility for planning, research and review of local government activities in the nine-county area. The remaining five counties are included with other newly organized Minnesota planning regions. Altogether, 719 units of government (exclusive of the newly established planning commissions) were included in the study area in 1967 , which is the base year for the study. Economic and organizational structures in the 14-county area are described and analyzed in this study. A computable model of the area economy is presented. Estimates of the degree of internal interdependence of the area economy are derived as basis for assessing the current status of the area economy and its public financing potentials. The base-year data are used subsequently in the preparation of a projected 1980 inter-industry transactions table. An expanded system of area product and income accounts is presented, also, for both the base year and the target year. These accounts are used in assessing the public economy as part of a total area economy. Water resource development potentials and financing requirements and alternatives are identified in the context of all public expenditures and outlays in a multi-county area. The data and methodology developed in the study provide a basis for comprehensive resource planning and programming on a multi-county scale. Use of the technical capability for these purposes in illustrated for the 14-county study area. Further study is underway to facilitate use of the data and models in multi-county resource development and planning.
Aspects of Water Resources Law in Minnesota
(Water Resources Research Center, University of Minnesota, 1969-06) Haik, Raymond A.; Hills, David L.; Walton, William C.
Codified and Uncodified State Laws and Agency Rules and Regulations Bearing on Water and Related Land Resources in Minnesota Volume 1
(Water Resources Research Center, University of Minnesota, 1978-06) LaChapelle, Arthur W.
This publication is a source reference for lawmakers at all levels, administrators, planners, lawyers, engineers, and other interested in water resource use, development, and management. It contains a compilation of all pertinent (1) codified state laws as of fiscal year 1977. The codified laws are contained entirely in Volume 1 of this bulletin along with an Analytical Table of Chapters of included statutory material while Volume 2 will contain the uncodified enactments and agency rules and regulations. And finally the entire work is intended to be self-contained. All textual material of Minnesota statutes. regulations or documents referred to in the text is incorporated into the bulletin as appropriate unless notated otherwise. Textual material of foreign or federal statutes, regulations, treaties or documents is not included in the bulletin as it is beyond the scope of this work.
Codified and Uncodified State Laws and Agency Rules and Regulations Bearing on Water and Related Land Resources in Minnesota, Volume 2
(Water Resources Research Center, University of Minnesota, 1978-06) LaChapelle, Arthur W.
This publication is a source reference for lawmakers at all levels, administrators, planners, lawyers, and others interested in water resource use, development, and management. It contains a compilation of all pertinent uncodified enactments and agency rules and regulations. The codified laws are contained entirely in Volume 1 of the this bulletin along with an Analytical Table of Contents of included statutory material. And finally the entire work is intended to be self-contained. All textual material of Minnesota statutes, regulations or documents referred to in the text is incorporated into the bulletin as appropriate unless notated otherwise. Textual material of foreign or federal statutes, regulations, treaties or documents is not included in the bulletin as it is beyond the scope of this work.
Codified and Uncodified State Laws and Municipal Ordinances Bearing on Water and Related Land Resources in Minnesota
(Water Resources Research Center, University of Minnesota, 1968-12) Hills, David L.; Walton, William C.
Commercial Navigation on the Upper Mississippi River: An Economic Review of its Development and Public Policy Issues Affecting Minnesota
(Water Resources Research Center, University of Minnesota, 1974-10) Christianson, Rodney W.
Development of the Upper Mississippi River and its major tributaries have been of great importance for the economic and social well-being of Minnesota. Water development projects such as the nine-foot navigation channel have provided a cheap transportation route in which important commodities such as coal and petroleum can be shipped into Minnesota, white the abundant harvest of grain in Minnesota and surrounding states can be moved out to domestic and foreign markets at low freight costs. In addition, development of the Upper Mississippi River has increased recreational opportunities, and has provided a more productive and usable habitat for fish and wildlife. However, the Upper Mississippi has been developed primarily as a transportation artery, and important considerations such as ecological processes and environmental values of America's largest and most unique river system often have been neglected and even destroyed in a few areas. Opposition to further development is strong. Inland water transport is a significant carrier of domestic cargo, accounting for about 14% of the total traffic. During the past decade the inland waterways increased their cargo carried by 46% (62% when the Great Lakes are excluded). By increasing the absolute amount of freight carried greater than the average (42%), the inland waterway's relative share of total freight traffic has also grown over the past decade. Also development of the Upper Mississippi River into a major inland waterway has been even more significant for Minnesota and the Midwest than for much of the rest of the nation. Past and present development of the Upper Mississippi River and its tributaries, both by the public and private sectors, has been extensive,. Public funds (mostly federal) have not only provided the nine-foot navigation channel, but also numerous harbors and fleeting areas along the Upper Mississippi and its tributaries. Private investment in terminals, towing vessels, and barges has been and continues to be substantial. In spite of these huge costs, the real cost of inland waterway shipment is still lower on most waterways per ton-mile than the least cost alternative. A transportation model, based on competitive assumptions and employing a derived demand analysis, is presented. The model predicts that there will be an increase in demand for transportation services in general, and barge services in particular. However, derivation of the elasticity of demand for barge services revealed that the demand for barge services will become more elastic in the future. Planning and feasibility studies of commercial navigation projects on the Upper Mississippi River (and on the waterways) have emphasized economic developmental values and expansion of waterway capacity while giving little attention or even ignoring environmental values and ecological processes. Planning has been undertaken at three government levels--national, regional, and state. The national study recommended better evaluation procedures, more equitable cost-sharing policies (user charges), and coordination of all modes of transportation to achieve a more efficient national transportation system. However, regional and state plans are often formulated to meet conditions and needs that existed in the past. These studies have tended to emphasize continued subsidization and expansion of water development projects to aid commercial navigation. The current issues in commercial navigation which affect Minnesota basically involve a resolution of the conflict between developmental and environmental values. Such is the issue of dredging to maintain the 9-foot navigation channel on the Upper Mississippi River. Without maintenance dredging barge traffic would come to a halt on the Upper Mississippi causing irreparable economic harm. But environmentalists contend that the Corps' present method of dredging and depositing of dredge spoil causes irreparable environmental damage by blocking the flow of backwater sloughs. The dredging issue reduces to one of what cost is the public willing to bear to preserve environmental values being destroyed by present methods of dredging and placement of dredge spoil. However, instead of the general public bearing the cost, users of the 9-foot navigation channel could be required to pay the full costs of environmentally sound dredge spoil disposal. With a system of user charges in effect, environmental values would be better accounted for and barge transportation would be assigned to its most efficient position in the national transportation system. There needs to be a better balance between developmental and environmental values in present and future commercial navigation projects. Administrative-legal procedures and institutions, which include environmental impact statements, inter-agency cooperation and agreement, and lawsuits, will help insure that environmental interests (both government agencies and citizen groups) effectively communicate their values into the decision-making process. However, the market, or pricing system, is also an effective communications device. Establishing a pricing system through the imposition of user charges which requires that users of inland waterways pay the full costs (economic and environmental) of providing navigation facilities would insure that developmental and environmental values are better balanced in future commercial navigation projects.
Computer Program for Statistical Analysis of Annual Flood Data by the Log-Pearson Type III Methods
(Water Resources Research Center, University of Minnesota, 1971-07) Bowers, C. Edward; Larson, Steven P.; Pabst, Arthur
The Federal Water Resources Council has recommended the adoption of the Log-Pearson Type III method of establishing flood flow frequencies. The computer program developed in this study was written in Fortran IV language to facilitate Log-Pearson Type III method computations. Annual floods are sorted in decreasing magnitude and then logarithms, mean, standard deviation and skewness of the logarithms are computed. The magnitude of the 100, 50, etc., year flood are determined with the aid of tables. The initial computer printout consists of sorted values of the floods, empirical values of recurrence interval and probability, and the logarithms of the floods. Application of the method to selected streams in the United States indicates that difficulties may be encountered when a given set of data contains one or more very low floods or outliers. The Log-Person Type III distribution appears to have a substantial advantage over the Gumble and log-normal distributions that have been used for flood frequency analysis because it can be used for data having either a plus or a minus skewness. Also, it reduces to the log-normal distribution for zero skewness where the data fit this distribution. However, it will require a data screening procedure and sufficient use to indicate desirable restrictions on skewness values for short records and perhaps for various regions.
Computer Programs in Hydrology
(Water Resources Research Center, University of Minnesota, 1972-01) Bowers, C. Edward; Larson, Steven P.; Pabst, Arthur
Many computer programs in the field of hydrology are developed each year and are playing an increasingly important part in both research and design activities in hydrology. Many of these programs are available for use by other agencies, organizations, and individuals. The study of which this report is a part was undertaken to review available programs in hydrology and to provide information on representative programs. Information ranging from the title only of the program to listings, source decks, and documentation was reviewed for about 200 programs. Of these, 25 were selected for operation on a CDC 6600 computer and/or preparation of an abstract. The report discusses problems associated with adapting programs to a given computer and with understanding the technical procedure on which the program was based.
Computer Programs in Water Resources
(Water Resources Research Center, University of Minnesota, 1977-11) Chu, Chung Sang; Bowers, C. Edward
Conference on Impact of Future Electric Power Requirements in the State of Minnesota: An Issue Analysis
(Water Resources Research Center, University of Minnesota, 1971-02) Water Resources Research Center
Continuous Plankton Recorder A Review of the Literature
(Water Resources Research Center, University of Minnesota, 1966-06) Odlaug, Theron O.; Olson, Theodore A.; Swain, Wayland R.
The Contribution of a Water Information System for Environmental Planning in Minnesota
(Water Resources Research Center, University of Minnesota, 1976-03) Higgins, Bryan R.
Modern American thought has treated the environment either as a mechanical, scientific abstraction or a mythical, humanist ideal. Considering the performance of water within the environment will avoid this dichotomy and allow a synthesis of both viewpoints. The central focus becomes the lived in world of water and not either just the concepts or the subjective feelings water evokes. Investigation of the manner in which academia treats environmental planning information will show the subjective nature of science which is seldom acknowledged within our objective curricula. The manner in which state government treats water adds another perspective to modern fragmented environmental thought. Throughout this conversation attention will remain on the engaged or dynamic nature of water within the environment. Finally the structure of human behavior provides a meaningful center with which to construct a state water information system. It is this shift in perception which is crucial to integrate the fragmented discipline views of the environment in terms of human experience.

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