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At least 1,297 records · Page 72Linked to original sources
USGS1975

Water resources of the Zumbro River watershed, southeastern Minnesota

The Zumbro River drains 1,428 square miles and falls from about 1,300 feet altitude in its headwaters to 665 feet at its mouth. The remaining 248 square miles included in the watershed is drained by small creeks flowing directly into the Mississippi River. Distribution of water use is about as follows: domestic, 50 percent; farm (for irrigation and livestock), 18 percent; and industrial, 32 percent. Total usage, in water-budget terms, is 0.24 inch over the entire watershed, or less than 1 percent of inflow (average annual precipitation). Total quantity of water, thus, is of lesser concern than local availability and quality of water. The dominant ions (calcium, magnesium, and bicarbonate) and dissolved solids are reduced by dilution during periods of high water discharge in the Zumbro River at Zumbro Falls. Similarly, in the South Fork Zumbro River near Rochester, dominant ions, dissolved solids, and those ions that are increased by waste disposal (sodium, chloride, and nitrates) are all reduced by dilution at high water discharge. For the Zumbro River the smallest monthly range and the most uniform daily mean discharge usually occurs in January, whereas the greatest range usually occurs in March. The lowest flows usually occur in the winter and the highest during the spring ice breakup. The lowest observed flow, 47 cfs, occurred on February 18, 1961 and the highest, 23,600 cfs, occurred on March 29, 1962. Seventeen of 22 municipalities obtain at least part of their water supply from the Prairie du Chien-Jordan aquifer. Although only one town uses the Galena aquifer, a large number of private domestic wells are completed in it in the western part of the watershed. (Woodard-USGS)

Minnesota↗
USGS1975

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↗
USGS1976

Water resources of the Big Fork River watershed, north-central Minnesota

The Big 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. Most development is in the southern half, as much of the northern half is peat-covered wetlands. Essentially all water used is withdrawn from ground-water sources, mainly glacial drift, which ranges from 0 to 250 feet in thickness. Most ground water is of the calcium or sodium bicarbonated type. The degree of mineralization increases down-gradient in the flow system. Groundwater is typically very hard and high in iron and manganese. Lakes and large areas of wetlands have a natural regulating effect on streamflow. Water in streams is of the calcium bicarbonate type. The amount of mineralization at a given time reflects surficial geology, being greatest in streams draining till areas and least in streams draining peatlands. Water drained from peatlands is commonly higher in color and iron and lower in pH than water from areas of mineral soil.

Minnesota↗
USGS1976

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↗
USGS1975

Water resources of the Cedar River watershed, southeastern Minnesota

The Cedar River Watershed Unit (as established by the states of Minnesota) consists of 1,204 square miles (3,118 square kilometres) of flat or gently undulating plain. The watershed is drained by the Cedar River and several smaller streams that flow south into Iowa and eventually into the Mississippi River. Its easternmost neck is part of a broad, flat, well-drained plain, covered by a thin sheet of glacial drift. Sinkholes have formed in the near surface carbonate bedrock, and a karst topography is developing. Farther north, along the east boundary, the drift is more than 200 feet (61 m) thick, and the land surface reaches altitudes of more than 1,450 feet (442 m) – the highest area in southeastern Minnesota. In the central part of the watershed in the southern flood plain of the Cedar River, the drift is less than 100 feet (30 m) thick, and the land surface altitude is less than 1,140 feet (347 m). The western part is dominated by a terminal moraine of the last Wisconsin glacier. Here the drift is more than 300 feet (91 m) thick, is poorly drained, and has numerous lakes. The watershed is mostly prairie and is well suited for farming, which is the dominant economic activity. Topographic quadrangle maps published by the U.S. Geological Survey are available for the entire watershed.

Minnesota↗
USGS1976

Water resources of the Des Moines River Watershed, southwestern Minnesota

The Des Moines River drains about 1,350 square miles (3,496 km 2 ) of the north, west, and central parts of the watershed, and the East Fork Des Moines River along with several small creeks drain about 200 square miles (518 km 2 ) in the east part. These tributaries join the Des Moines river in Iowa. The watershed is on the Coteau des Prairies, the most prominent upland in southern Minnesota. the Coteau rises to altitudes of more than 1,900 feet (579 m) within the watershed. The west boundary is along the crest of the Coteau and was formed by a terminal moraine during late Wisconsin Glaciation. This moraine forms part of the divide between the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. The north and east boundaries are also formed by morainic highs which represent recessions of the Des Moines lobe during late Wisconsin Glaciation. Surficial materials consist mostly of clayey drift with a few surficial outwash (sand and gravel) areas near the streams. Topographic quadrangle maps published by the U.S. Geological Survey are available for the entire watershed.

Minnesota↗
USGS1976

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↗
USGS1976

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↗