What's New in Groundwater Studies?

Sampling a groundwater monitoring well.

During 2005-2006 the second high intensity phase began for cycle II in the Upper Mississippi River Basin (UMIS) NAWQA study unit. During the initial high intensity phase of cycle I (1995-1998), 50 existing domestic wells were sampled as part of two surveys of ground water in the Prairie du Chien-Jordan bedrock aquifer. In addition, # wells were sampled as part of land-use studies in agricultural, urban and forested areas. During 1999-2005, five wells in the urban land-use study area and two reference wells have been sampled. During 2002 and 2005, 17 wells were sampled as part of the biennial ground-water plan. These included five wells and one reference well in the urban land-use study, 5 wells and 1 reference well sampled from wells installed as part of the agricultural land-use study, and 5 wells from the unconfined portion of the study unit survey of the Prairie du Chien-Jordan aquifer in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.

Groundwater sampling during 2006 will include water-level measurements in the agricultural and urban land use study wells and in the unconfined bedrock aquifer.

What's New in Stream Studies?

Checking for bottom substrate and water clarity.

During 2005-2006 the second high intensity phase began for cycle II in the Upper Mississippi River Basin (UMIS) NAWQA study unit. During the initial high intensity phase of cycle I (1995-1998), there were thirteen surface water sampling sites in the study unit. Three of those sites were selected for long-term trend monitoring: the Mississippi River at Hastings, Shingle Creek at Minneapolis, and the Little Cobb River near Beauford. Shingle Creek is urban indicator site, the Little Cobb River is an agricultural indicator site, and the Mississippi River at Hastings site is large river site integrates multiple land uses. Monitoring at these sites includes monthly and event water quality samples, physical habitat characterization, and aquatic community (fish, invertebrate and algae) sampling. During 2005, the Mississippi River at Hastings, MN was dropped from the trend site network.

Collecting sticks for invertebrate samples.

During most of 2005 and all of 2006 sampling is restricted to two sites: Shingle Creek and Little Cobb River. Stream samples are collected once every other month during 2005 and more frequently during 2006. Samples are analyzed for suspended sediment, chloride, sulfate, nutrients, and pesticides. Physical habitat is characterized and biological sampling (fish, invertebrates, and periphyton) conducted once a year during the Fall. Fish collections will be made every other year following 2005.

What's New in Regional Studies?

Map of the Upper Midwest Regional Study Area.

Temporal trends in nutrient (dissolved ammonia, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, total nitrogen, dissolved nitrate plus nitrite, total phosphorus, and dissolved phosphorus) and suspended-sediment loads and concentrations are being determined for streams in the Upper Midwest. The objectives are to determine annual and seasonal trends in nutrient and suspended sediment loads and concentrations, and explain trends in terms inputs and put results in context of long-term historical records.