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Water resources of Wisconsin — Upper Wisconsin River basin

Runoff is the water in a river or stream that results from precipitation falling on the drainage basin. It is the net discharge into the stream from surface-water and ground-water sources with losses occurring from evapotranspiration and other consumptive uses. Runoff can be expressed by a variety of numerical values, but average depth of water over the drainage basin, in inches per year, probably is the most widely used unit of measurement. The map of average annual runoff (fig. 1), in inches per year, shows the geographical distribution of runoff in tributary streams for the years 1951—80; it describes the magnitudes and variations of runoff nationwide. The map was prepared to reflect the runoff of tributary streams rather than in major rivers in order to represent more accurately the local or small scale variation in runoff with precipitation and other geographical characteristics. The 1951–80 period was selected to conform to the period chosen by the World Meteorological Organization for study of climatic variations. The map should not be used to estimate the streamflow for any specific site. More detailed information for a specific area can be obtained from streamflow data collected by the U.S. Geological Survey, other Federal agencies, and State agencies.

Wisconsin↗

Water resources of the Lake of the Woods watershed, north-central Minnesota

The Lake of the Woods watershed is an area of about 2,900 square miles (7,500 km), the northern limit of which is part of the boundary between the United States and Canada. Drainage is to Lake of the Woods, either directly or by the Rainy River. The watershed includes about 470 square miles (1,220 km2) of Lake of the Woods, one-third of the lake’s total area. The watershed, a part of the plain of glacial Lake Agassiz, is an area of low relief and slopes generally northward. Details of topography may be obtained from U.S. Geological Survey 7 1/2-minute quadrangle maps, as indexed. Surficial materials consist mainly of peat, lake-washed till, and beach deposits. Extensive wetlands typify much of the watershed. Bedrock is exposed in places near Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River. Except where cleared for cultivation, most of the watershed is covered by coniferous forests. Harvest of forest products, agriculture, and fishing are major economic activities. The 1970 population of the watershed was bout 6,600, concentrated chiefly along the Rainy River and the south shore of Lake of the Woods.

Minnesota↗

Water resources of the Little Fork River watershed, northeastern Minnesota

The Little Fork River watershed is one of 39 watershed units designated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for evaluation of the State 's water resources. Included is an appraisal of the occurrence, quantity, quality, and availability of ground and surface waters. Water resources are not intensively developed anywhere in the watershed. Essentially all water used is withdrawn from ground-water sources, mainly glacial drift, which ranges from 0 to over 200 feet (61 meters) in thickness. Buried sand and gravel in the drift is the most favorable source for development. Most ground water is of the calcium or calcium magnesium bicarbonate type. The degree of mineralization generally increases downgradient in the flow system. Ground water is commonly very hard and high in iron and manganese. Lakes and wetlands have a natural regulating effect on streamflow. Water in streams is of the calcium bicarbonate type. The amount of mineralization reflects surficial geology, being greatest in streams draining glacial-lake sediments and least in streams draining areas of sand lakes. Color and iron concentration in stream waters generally exceed recommended domestic consumption limits.

Minnesota↗

Water resources of the Rainy Lake watershed, northeastern Minnesota

The watershed includes 1,481 lakes that are 10 acres (4 square hectometers) or larger (Minnesota Division of Waters, Soils, and Minerals, 1968). The area of these lakes total about 435,000 acres (176,000 hm 2 ) or 15 percent of the watershed. Most of the lakes are smaller than 250 acres (101 hm 2 ) (graph); data pertaining to selected large lakes are given in the table below. More than 60 percent of the lakes larger than 10 acres (4 hm 2 ) are in the BWCA. The primitive character of the BWCA is maintained in accordance with the Wilderness Act of September 3, 1964. Most lakes not in the BWCA were assigned a Public Waters Classification by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, based upon the suitability of the lake for future shoreland development (unpublished data from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources). “Natural environment” is most restrictive and “general development” least restrictive with respect to development standards. About 80 percent of lakes classified in the watershed have been designated “natural environment.”

Minnesota↗

Water resources of northwestern Wyoming

This 3-sheet map report describes the hydrologic conditions in northwestern Wyoming. The increasing number of tourists and residents and the shifting of overnight accommodations for tourists from Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks to nearby areas may result in the need for development of additional water supplies in northwestern Wyoming. Hydrologic data have been collected from wells, springs, streams, and lakes in northwestern Wyoming and are given in maps, tables, and graphs. Using streamflow and water-table data, the transmissivity of a segment of an aquifer in alluvium and glacial outwash in Jackson Hole was estimated to be 30,000 feet squared per day (2,800 meters squared per day). Water in the study area is used for irrigation and for public, domestic, and commercial supplies. (Woodard-USGS)

Hydrologic Atlas↗

Water resources of the Lake Superior watershed, northeastern Minnesota

The Lake Superior watershed is mostly a highland, generally 1,200 feet (366 meters) to 2,000 feet (610 meters) above mean sea level. It extends from Duluth to the Canadian border. Both maximum and minimum altitudes for Minnesota occur in the watershed; 2.301 ft (701 ) at Eagle Mountain, about 12 mi (19 km) northwest of Grand Marais, and 602 ft (184 m), the normal level of Lake Superior. Total relief is nearly 1,700 ft (518 m). The North Shore area (Duluth to the Canadian border) has a southeastward slope that is especially precipitous adjacent to Lake Superior. Conforming to this topography, the drainage includes a series of 17 southeastward-flowing streams averaging 23 mi (36 km) in length, with an average gradient from headwaters to mouth of about 57 ft/mi (10.8 m/km). The streams are deeply entrenched and characterized by swift flows, many rapids and waterfalls, and especially steep gradients in the 3 to 5 mi (4.8 to 8.0 km) before entering Lake Superior. The Pigeon River drains the extreme northern part of the watershed and forms the international border between the United States and Canada. More than half of the 610 mi 2 (1580 km 2 ) drainage basin of the Pigeon River lies in Canada. The Nemadji River and tributaries drain the Nemadji Basin, the southern detached part of the watershed. Topographically, the Nemadji Basin is roughly spoon shaped with maximum total relief in Minnesota of about 800 ft (244 m). More than half of the approximately 55-mi (88-km) long river flows northeastward through Wisconsin before reaching Lake Superior.

Minnesota↗