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Bemidji.

Bemidji Crude-Oil Project

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Background Information

Fact sheet describing results from the Bemidji Toxics project.

Table of Contents:

Introduction

Ground-water contamination by toxic organic, petroleum-based liquids is a widespread problem. These liquids may enter the subsurface as a consequence of spills on the land surface, leakage from underground storage and disposal containers, and other discharges. The volume of the subsurface contaminated may be larger than the original volume of the organic liquid source because of dissolution and transport by ground water, and vapor phase movement through the unsaturated zone. Most organic liquids are subject to some attenuation by chemical and biological transformations; some are degraded completely by microbial processes and others can persist in the environment indefinitely. A better understanding of the behavior of organic liquids in the subsurface is needed to design effective remedial action at contaminated sites.

On August 20, 1979 approximately 16 kilometers northwest of Bemidji, Minnesota, the land surface and shallow subsurface were contaminated when a crude-oil pipeline burst, spilling 1,700,000 L (liters) of crude oil onto a glacial outwash aquifer (fig. 1). After cleanup efforts were completed 400,000 L of crude oil remained. The site was selected for study by the Office of Hazardous Waste Hydrology of the U.S. Geological Survey in 1982. Research began at the site in 1983. Characteristics of the site that make it suitable for long-term, interdisciplinary study include the following: (1) the introduction of a source of uniform composition at a known place and time, (2) the absence of other sources of contaminants, (3) a simple hydrogeologic setting that is susceptible to ground-water contamination and is representative of many other toxic waste sites, (4) the presence of three fluid phases (oil, water, and air), (5) the low potential for harmful effects to humans owing to the remoteness of the area and the sparse population, (6) the absence of human- induced hydraulic stresses such as pumping wells and irrigation, and (7) the low toxicity of crude oil compared to other hazardous wastes.

Purpose and Scope

Research is conducted by a coordinated effort of researchers from the National Research Program (NRP), Districts of the Water Resources Division (WRD), and Geologic Division (GD) of the USGS, and several academic institutions. The scope of the project was to obtain a more detailed understanding of the mobilization, transport, and fate of petroleum in both the saturated and unsaturated zones, to better understand the physical, chemical, and biological processes that control contaminant behavior, and to use this understanding to estimate the future behavior of the contaminants. This understanding will benefit efforts to design remediation at other sites with similar problems.

Description of the Site

The oil spill occurred in the recharge area of a local flow system that discharges to a small lake 400 m (meters) downgradient from the pipeline. The land surface is formed by pitted and dissected glacial outwash that is 5 to 10 m thick and underlain by other stratified glacial deposits that differ considerably in texture and origin. At a depth of about 25 m, a regionally persistent and uniform till occurs. The water table ranges from near land surface to about 11 m below the land surface (Smith and Hult, 1993). Two hundred and forty-six wells and test holes have been installed at the Bemidji Research site. Crude oil, water, soil, and vapor samples have been collected and analyzed.

History of Investigations

Field work by the U.S. Geological Survey began in May, 1983, approximately four years after the spill occurred. Information about the spill was obtained from the Pipeline Company and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Data collected immediately after the spill (August through September, 1979) were compiled and interpreted by Pfannkuch (1979) and summarized by Hult (1984b).

Some of the crude oil infiltrated the ground and percolated to the water table. Some petroleum compounds and degradation products have been dissolved by ground water and transported downgradient. Volatile constituents have diffused through the unsaturated zone. By 1992, liquid petroleum had moved as a separate fluid phase about 30 m in the direction of ground-water flow, constituents dissolved in the ground water had moved at least 200 m, and vapors in the unsaturated zone had moved horizontally about 100 m (Hult, 1991).

Spatial differences in the physical properties and composition of the oil have developed owing to alteration of the originally uniform source. The oil is selectively losing soluble and volatile compounds through dissolution and vaporization. Annual oil-mass loss rates of the crude oil source at different locations range from 0 to 1.25 percent and total accumulated losses from the original oil mass are as much as 11 percent (Landon and Hult, 1991). Most of the petroleum derivatives moving as solutes and vapors are being degraded by biologically mediated processes to carbon dioxide, water, and methane (Baedecker and Cozzarelli, 1991). The aquifer is being altered through dissolution and redeposition of silicate materials (Bennett, 1989).

The U.S. Geological Survey Toxic Substances Hydrology Program has held five technical meetings since 1984 with plenary sessions at which the status of research at the site was summarized. Results of the project have been published in proceedings of these technical meetings (Hult, 1984a; Franks, 1987; Ragone, 1988; Mallard and Ragone, 1989; Mallard and Aronson, 1991; Morganwalp and Aronson, in press), in proceedings of other conferences, and in scientific journals. Smith and Hult (1993) present location and altitude data for selected features at the research site, water and oil level records from selected observation wells, and geologic information from 45 test holes collected from 1983 through 1991.

Composition of the Oil

Elemental and stable isotope composition. Two oil samples from wells 301 and 315 were examined for elemental composition. In general, the major element compositions (C, H, S, O, N) of these two samples were quite similar. The concentration of S (0.56%) is typical of low-S crude oils which characteristically contain <1% of this element by weight (Tissot and Welte, 1984). Nitrogen content is ~0.28%, indicating that the Bemidji oil is near the boundary between oils classified as N-poor and N-rich (~0.25%: Tissot and Welte, 1984). Vanadium and Ni Concentrations were in the microgram per gram range and the V/(Ni + V) ratio was 0.45. These properties are typical of low-S crude oils (Lewan, 1984; Tissot and Welte, 1984). The reduced abundance of metals in these oils is consistent with the fact that resins and asphaltenes, fractions in which inorganic species tend to concentrate are relatively minor components (see below). The stable C isotope ratios of the two oil samples differ by only 0.015% (well 301: -2.840%; well 315: -2.855%) and fall within the range observed for crude oils (-2.5 to -3.2%: Fuex, 1977; Sofer, 1984).

Molecular composition. In 1987 oil was collected from the approximate center of the oil body (wells, 421 and 301) and at its leading (well 534) and trailing (well 604) edges. Despite the fact that the four oils were obtained from different areas of the oil body at locations spanning its complete length along one axis, their molecular compositions were essentially identical. Moreover, the detailed composition of an oil sample obtained from the pipeline company after the spill was indistinguishable from that of the four oil samples taken from the oil body. The crude oil is dominated by saturated hydrocarbons (58-61%), with aromatics representing most of the remainder (33-36% of total oil). Resins, which include N-, S- and O-containing (i.e. NSO) species, comprise ~4-6% of the total, whereas asphaltenes are only a minor component (1-2%). These distributions are typical of normal crude oils, and according to the classification scheme outlined by Tissot and Welte (1984), the Bemidji oil would be designated as either a paraffinic or paraffinic-napthenic crude oil.

The dominant hydrocarbons are normal alkanes (C6-32). These compounds occur as an homologous series with the higher molecular weight species (i.e. >C10) maximizing at either n-C14 or n-C15 and exhibiting little or no odd-even chain length predominance (Baedecker et al., 1984). The second most abundant class of hydrocarbons is the regular acyclic isoprenoids (i.e. C10, C11, C13-16, C18-21). The C19 isoprenoid, pristane (2,6,10,14-tetramethylpentadecane), is the most prominent member. Most of the alicyclic hydrocarbons are chromatographically unresolved using the conditions described here. However, cyclohexane and a series of n-alkyl substituted cyclohexanes occur in minor amounts (C2-20-cyclohexanes). Tetracyclic steranes, tricyclic diterpanes and pentacyclic triterpanes (commonly found in crude oils and ancient sediments), if present, were not detected under the analytical conditions used.

The majority of the aromatic hydrocarbons are observed on gas chromatograms as an unresolved complex mixture (Baedecker et al., 1984). However, benzene + C1-5 alkylated benzenes are important constituents of the crude oil, and naphthalene + C1-6 alkylated homologs and phenanthrene + C1-5 alkylated homologs are the most abundant resolved polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. In the latter two series, the monomethyl species dominate the alkyl homolog distributions, a patter typically observed for crude oils (Youngblood and Blumer, 1975) No sulfur heterocyclic compounds (.e. benzothiophene, dibenzothiophene + alkylated homologs) were found in the Bemidji oil samples despite the fact that alkylated thiophenes were identified in contaminated groundwater near the oil body using purge-and-trap HRGC/MS. The high aqueous solubilities of these heteroatomic molecules (Price, 1976) may account for this apparent discrepancy.

Thorn and Aiken (1989) and Thorn (1987 pers. commun.) have shown that crude oil samples collected in 1987 from wells 301, 421, 534, and 604 exhibit quantitative liquid phase 13C-NMR spectra that are identical. The oils show strong absorption peaks in the 0-60 ppm (aliphatic) region and lesser peaks at 100-160 ppm (aromatic). The integrated peak area corresponding to aliphatic carbons represents 83% of the total with aromatic carbons being 17%. Distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer NMR spectra for the Bemidji crude oil demonstrates that methylene carbons exceed in abundance either the methine (indicative of branching) or methylcarbons. This is to be expected given the high abundance of normal and isoprenoid hydrocarbons revealed by HRGC/MS.

Processes affecting the fate of monoaromatic hydrocarbons

Crude oil spilled from a subsurface pipeline in north central Minnesota has dissolved in the groundwater, resulting in the formation of a plume of aliphateic, aromatic, and alicyclic hydrocarbons. Comparison of paired oil and groundwater samples collected along the central axis of the residual oil body shows that the trailing edge of the oil is depleted in the more soluble aromatic hydrocarbons (e.g., benzene, toluene, etc.) when compared with the leading edge. At the same time, concentrations of monoaromatic hydrocarbons in groundwater beneath the oil increase as the water moves toward the leading edge of the oil. Immediately downgradient from the leading edge of the oil body, certain aromatic hydrocarbons (e.g., benzene) are found at concentrations near those expected of a system at equilibrium, and the concentrations exhibit little variation over time (approximately 8-20%). The former are persistent within the anoxic zone downgradient from the oil, whereas concentrations of the latter decrease rapidly. Together, these observations suggest that the volatile hydrocarbon composition of the anoxic groundwater near the oil body is controlled by a balance between dissolution and removal rates with only the most persistent compounds reaching saturation. Examination of the distributions of homologous series and isomeric assemblages of alkylbenzenes reveals that microbial degradation is the dominant process controlling the fate of these compounds once groundwater moves away from the oil. For all but the most persistent compounds, the distal boundary of the plume at the water table extends no more than 10-15 m downgradient from the oxic/anoxic transition zone. Thus, transport of the monaromatic hydrocarbons is limited by redox conditions that are tightly coupled to biological degradations processes.

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05311000: Flow=985cfs,Stage=5.29ft,Floodstage=14ft,2024-02-26 17:00,>90,MINNESOTA RIVER AT MONTEVIDEO, MN 05301000: Flow=997cfs,Stage=24.10ft,2024-02-26 17:00,>90,MINNESOTA RIVER NEAR LAC QUI PARLE, MN 05292000: Flow=202cfs,Stage=2.64ft,Floodstage=10ft,2024-02-26 17:30,>90,MINNESOTA RIVER AT ORTONVILLE, MN 05129290: Flow=79.6cfs,Stage=14.40ft,Floodstage=20.5ft,2024-02-26 17:30,>90,GOLD PORTAGE OUTLET FROM KABETOGAMA LK NR RAY,MN 05344500: Flow=12800cfs,2024-02-26 16:55,Stage=25.36ft,2024-02-26 17:15:00,76-90,MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT PRESCOTT, WI 05340500: Flow=2800cfs,Stage=3.27ft,2024-02-26 17:00,76-90,ST. CROIX RIVER AT ST. CROIX FALLS, WI 05315000: Flow=50.7cfs,Stage=7.39ft,Floodstage=14ft,2024-02-26 17:00,76-90,REDWOOD RIVER NEAR MARSHALL, MN 05288500: Flow=6750cfs,Stage=3.37ft,Floodstage=12ft,2024-02-26 17:00,76-90,MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT HWY 610 IN BROOKLYN PARK, MN 05270500: Flow=199cfs,Stage=0.97ft,Floodstage=6ft,2024-02-26 17:15,76-90,SAUK RIVER NEAR ST. CLOUD, MN 05267000: Flow=4100cfs,Stage=9.50ft,2024-02-26 17:15,76-90,MISSISSIPPI RIVER NEAR ROYALTON, MN 05457000: Flow=64.2cfs,Stage=2.76ft,Floodstage=10ft,2024-02-26 17:00,25-75,CEDAR RIVER NEAR AUSTIN, MN 05385500: Flow=132cfs,Stage=1.96ft,2024-02-26 17:30,25-75,SOUTH FORK ROOT RIVER NEAR HOUSTON, MN 05385000: Flow=472cfs,Stage=3.16ft,Floodstage=15ft,2024-02-26 17:45,25-75,ROOT RIVER NEAR HOUSTON, MN 05345000: Flow=38.1cfs,Stage=2.32ft,2024-02-26 17:15,25-75,VERMILLION RIVER NEAR EMPIRE, MN 05333500: Flow=1050cfs,Stage=1.07ft,Floodstage=7ft,2024-02-26 17:00,25-75,ST. CROIX RIVER NEAR DANBURY, WI 05247500: Flow=858cfs,Stage=3.76ft,2024-02-26 17:45,25-75,CROW WING RIVER NEAR PILLAGER, MN 05245100: Flow=102cfs,Stage=1.87ft,Floodstage=7ft,2024-02-26 17:15,25-75,LONG PRAIRIE RIVER AT LONG PRAIRIE, MN 05129115: Flow=260cfs,Stage=5.62ft,Floodstage=14ft,2024-02-26 17:30,25-75,VERMILION RIVER NR CRANE LAKE, MN 05127500: Flow=595cfs,Stage=2.97ft,Floodstage=7.5ft,2024-02-26 17:30,25-75,BASSWOOD RIVER NEAR WINTON, MN 05125000: Flow=128cfs,Stage=2.19ft,Floodstage=6.5ft,2024-02-26 17:30,25-75,SOUTH KAWISHIWI RIVER NEAR ELY, MN 05124480: Flow=71.0cfs,Stage=3.13ft,2024-02-26 17:00,25-75,KAWISHIWI RIVER NEAR ELY, MN 05046000: Flow=339cfs,Stage=2.83ft,2024-02-26 17:30,25-75,OTTER TAIL RIVER BL ORWELL D NR FERGUS FALLS, MN 06604000: Stage=13.22ft,Floodstage=16ft,2024-02-26 17:15,Not ranked,Spirit Lake near Orleans, IA 06483290: Stage=7.20ft,2024-02-26 17:15:00,Floodstage=13ft,Not ranked,Ice affected,Rock River below Tom Creek at Rock Rapids, IA 06482610: Stage=1.89ft,2024-02-26 16:45:00,Floodstage=8.5ft,Not ranked,Ice affected,SPLIT ROCK CREEK AT CORSON,SD 05476000: Stage=7.67ft,2024-02-26 17:30:00,Floodstage=12ft,Not ranked,Ice affected,DES MOINES RIVER AT JACKSON, MN 05475350: Stage=10.68ft,Floodstage=19ft,2024-02-26 17:15,Not ranked,Ice,DES MOINES RIVER ABOVE WINDOM, MN 05388250: Stage=6.58ft,2024-02-26 17:00:00,Floodstage=14ft,Not ranked,Ice affected,Upper Iowa River near Dorchester, IA 05387030: Stage=6.61ft,2024-02-26 17:30,Not ranked,CROOKED CREEK AT FREEBURG MN 05386400: Stage=30.94ft,2024-02-26 17:45,Not ranked,MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT BROWNSVILLE, MN 05384350: Stage=8.25ft,Floodstage=21ft,2024-02-26 17:00,Not ranked,ROOT RIVER ABOVE RUSHFORD, MN 05383950: Stage=7.67ft,2024-02-26 17:00:00,Floodstage=19ft,Not ranked,Ice affected,ROOT RIVER NEAR PILOT MOUND, MN 05383075: Flow=318cfs,Stage=2.50ft,Floodstage=7.5ft,2024-02-26 17:00,Not ranked,LA CROSSE RIVER NEAR LA CROSSE, WI 05378500: Stage=5.71ft,2024-02-26 17:45:00,Floodstage=13ft,Not ranked,Ice affected,MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT WINONA, MN 05378490: Stage=5.97ft,Floodstage=655ft,2024-02-26 17:15,Not ranked,MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT LOCK AND DAM 5A NR WINONA, MN 05374000: Stage=5.23ft,Floodstage=18ft,2024-02-26 17:30,Not ranked,ZUMBRO RIVER AT ZUMBRO FALLS, MN 05372995: Stage=2.38ft,2024-02-26 17:15:00,Floodstage=14ft,Not ranked,Ice affected,SOUTH FORK ZUMBRO RIVER AT ROCHESTER, MN 05355250: Stage=2.93ft,2024-02-26 17:15:00,Floodstage=14ft,Not ranked,Seasonal site,MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT RED WING, MN 05355200: Stage=3.39ft,2024-02-26 17:00:00,Not ranked,Ice affected,CANNON RIVER AT WELCH, MN 05355092: Flow=167cfs,Stage=7.33ft,2024-02-26 17:50,Not ranked,CANNON RIVER AT 9TH ST. BRIDGE IN CANNON FALLS, MN 05355080: Stage=11.92ft,2024-02-26 17:15,Not ranked,PRAIRIE CREEK NEAR CANNON FALLS, MN 05355038: Stage=5.25ft,2024-02-26 17:30,Not ranked,CHUB CREEK AT CO. HWY. 47 ABOVE RANDOLPH, MN 05355024: Flow=128cfs,Stage=889.76ft,Floodstage=897ft,2024-02-26 17:30,Not ranked,CANNON RIVER AT NORTHFIELD MN 05354500: Stage=8.94ft,2024-02-26 17:15:00,Not ranked,Seasonal site,CANNON RIVER AT CO. HWY. 29 BELOW FARIBAULT, MN 05353800: Stage=3.77ft,2024-02-26 17:15:00,Not ranked,Ice affected,STRAIGHT RIVER NEAR FARIBAULT, MN 05344490: Flow=3650cfs,Stage=25.36ft,2024-02-26 17:15,Not ranked,ST. CROIX RIVER AT PRESCOTT, WI 05342000: Flow=91.8cfs,Stage=8.18ft,2024-02-26 17:30,Not ranked,KINNICKINNIC RIVER NEAR RIVER FALLS, WI 05341550: Stage=675.67ft,2024-02-26 17:15:00,Floodstage=687.00ft,Not ranked,Ice affected,ST. CROIX RIVER AT STILLWATER, MN 05338500: Stage=3.19ft,2024-02-26 17:15:00,Floodstage=9ft,Not ranked,Ice affected,SNAKE RIVER NEAR PINE CITY, MN 05336700: Stage=4.23ft,2024-02-26 17:00:00,Not ranked,Ice affected,KETTLE RIVER BELOW SANDSTONE, MN 05331580: Flow=9020cfs,Stage=7.18ft,2024-02-26 16:55,Not ranked,MISSISSIPPI RIVER BELOW L&D 2 AT HASTINGS, MN 05331000: Stage=3.36ft,2024-02-26 17:00:00,Floodstage=14ft,Not ranked,Ice affected,MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT ST. PAUL, MN 05330000: Stage=6.49ft,2024-02-26 17:45:00,Floodstage=25ft,Not ranked,Ice affected,MINNESOTA RIVER NEAR JORDAN, MN 05327000: Stage=3.36ft,2024-02-26 17:00:00,Not ranked,Seasonal site,HIGH ISLAND CREEK NEAR HENDERSON, MN 05325000: Stage=4.38ft,2024-02-26 17:30:00,Floodstage=22ft,Not ranked,Ice affected,MINNESOTA RIVER AT MANKATO, MN 05320500: Stage=1.77ft,2024-02-26 17:00:00,Not ranked,Ice affected,LE SUEUR RIVER NEAR RAPIDAN, MN 05320000: Stage=1.87ft,2024-02-26 16:45:00,Not ranked,Ice affected,BLUE EARTH RIVER NEAR RAPIDAN, MN 05319500: Stage=1.25ft,2024-02-26 17:30:00,Not ranked,Ice affected,WATONWAN RIVER NEAR GARDEN CITY, MN 05317200: Stage=2.31ft,2024-02-26 17:15:00,Not ranked,Ice affected,LITTLE COTTONWOOD RIVER NEAR COURTLAND, MN 05317000: Stage=4.30ft,2024-02-26 17:00:00,Floodstage=11ft,Not ranked,Ice affected,COTTONWOOD RIVER NEAR NEW ULM, MN 05316770: Stage=787.64ft,2024-02-26 17:45:00,Floodstage=800ft,Not ranked,Ice affected,MINNESOTA RIVER AT NEW ULM, MN 05316580: Flow=1470cfs,Stage=10.86ft,Floodstage=21ft,2024-02-26 17:00,Not ranked,MINNESOTA RIVER AT MORTON, MN 05316500: Stage=2.35ft,2024-02-26 17:00:00,Floodstage=6ft,Not ranked,Ice affected,REDWOOD RIVER NEAR REDWOOD FALLS, MN 05313500: Stage=3.39ft,2024-02-26 17:45:00,Not ranked,Ice affected,YELLOW MEDICINE RIVER NEAR GRANITE FALLS, MN 05311150: Flow=634cfs,2023-11-15 05:45,Stage=881.02ft,2024-02-26 17:15:00,Floodstage=885ft,Not ranked,MINNESOTA RIVER AT HWY 212 IN GRANITE FALLS, MN 05305000: Stage=36.11ft,2024-02-26 17:00:00,Not ranked,Ice affected,CHIPPEWA RIVER (TW) NEAR WATSON, MN 05304995: Stage=39.57ft,2024-02-26 17:00,Not ranked,CHIPPEWA R. (HW) ABOVE COUNTY RD 13 NR WATSON, MN 05304500: Stage=1.64ft,2024-02-26 17:45:00,Not ranked,Ice affected,CHIPPEWA RIVER NEAR MILAN, MN 05300000: Stage=7.06ft,2024-02-26 17:45:00,Not ranked,Ice affected,LAC QUI PARLE RIVER NEAR LAC QUI PARLE, MN 05294000: Stage=5.18ft,2024-02-26 17:00:00,Not ranked,Ice affected,POMME DE TERRE RIVER AT APPLETON, MN 05293000: Stage=2.98ft,2024-02-26 17:15:00,Not ranked,Ice affected,YELLOW BANK RIVER NEAR ODESSA, MN 05291000: Stage=1.84ft,2024-02-26 17:45:00,Floodstage=12ft,Not ranked,Ice affected,WHETSTONE RIVER NEAR BIG STONE CITY, SD 05290000: Stage=10.92ft,2024-02-26 17:00:00,Floodstage=17ft,Not ranked,Ice affected,LITTLE MINNESOTA RIVER NEAR PEEVER, SD 05289800: Stage=12.03ft,2024-02-26 17:00:00,Not ranked,Ice affected,MINNEHAHA CREEK AT HIAWATHA AVE. IN MINNEAPOLIS,MN 05289100: Stage=925.22ft,2024-02-26 17:00,Not ranked,MINNEHAHA CREEK BLW GRAYS BAY DAM IN MINNETONKA MN 05289000: Stage=928.73ft,2024-02-26 17:00,Not ranked,LAKE MINNETONKA ABV GRAYS BAY OTLT IN MINNETONKA 05288705: Stage=9.16ft,2024-02-26 17:00:00,Not ranked,Ice affected,SHINGLE CREEK AT QUEEN AVE IN MINNEAPOLIS, MN 05288670: Stage=89.44ft,Floodstage=16ft,2024-02-26 17:30,Not ranked,MISSISSIPPI RIVER ABV 37TH AVE. NE IN FRIDLEY, MN 05288580: Stage=6.29ft,2024-02-26 17:00:00,Not ranked,Ice affected,RICE CREEK BLW OLD HWY. 8 IN MOUNDS VIEW, MN 05287890: Stage=3.95ft,2024-02-26 17:00:00,Not ranked,Ice affected,ELM CREEK NR CHAMPLIN, MN 05286000: Stage=2.83ft,2024-02-26 17:00:00,Floodstage=8ft,Not ranked,Ice affected,RUM RIVER NEAR ST. FRANCIS, MN 05284000: Stage=10.75ft,2024-02-26 17:15,Not ranked,MILLE LACS LAKE AT COVE BAY NEAR ONAMIA, MN 05283500: Stage=4.55ft,2024-02-26 17:30:00,Floodstage=12ft,Not ranked,Ice affected,MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT US HWY 169 AT CHAMPLIN, MN 05280000: Stage=3.25ft,2024-02-26 17:00:00,Floodstage=10ft,Not ranked,Ice affected,CROW RIVER AT ROCKFORD, MN 05275000: Stage=1.01ft,2024-02-26 17:15:00,Not ranked,Ice affected,ELK RIVER NEAR BIG LAKE, MN 05270700: Stage=4.80ft,2024-02-26 16:45:00,Floodstage=9ft,Not ranked,Ice affected,MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT ST. CLOUD, MN 05244000: Stage=2.69ft,2024-02-26 17:00:00,Not ranked,Ice affected,CROW WING RIVER AT NIMROD, MN 05243725: Stage=1.16ft,2024-02-26 17:30:00,Not ranked,Ice affected,STRAIGHT RIVER NEAR PARK RAPIDS, MN 05242300: Stage=5.97ft,2024-02-26 17:30:00,Floodstage=16ft,Not ranked,Back Water,MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT BRAINERD, MN 05227530: Not ranked,Equipment malfunction,MISSISSIPPI RIVER DIVERSION NEAR AITKIN, MN 05227500: Stage=6.44ft,2024-02-26 17:30:00,Floodstage=13ft,Not ranked,Back Water,MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT AITKIN, MN 05212700: Stage=2.57ft,2024-02-26 17:45:00,Floodstage=10ft,Not ranked,Ice affected,PRAIRIE RIVER NEAR TACONITE, MN 05211000: Stage=2.76ft,2024-02-26 17:15:00,Not ranked,Ice affected,MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT GRAND RAPIDS, MN 05210000: Stage=72.44ft,2024-02-26 17:30,Not ranked,MISSISSIPPI R. AT DAYS HIGH LANDING NR DEER RIVER 05207600: Stage=5.48ft,2024-02-26 17:15:00,Not ranked,Ice affected,MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT WILLOW BEACH AT BALL CLUB, MN 05205900: Stage=94.47ft,2024-02-26 17:30,Not ranked,LEECH LAKE AT SUGAR POINT NEAR FEDERAL DAM, MN 05200510: Not ranked,Seasonal site,MISSISSIPPI RIVER NEAR BEMIDJI, MN 05140521: Stage=58.25ft,2024-02-26 17:00,Not ranked,LK OF THE WOODS @ SPRINGSTEEL IS NR. WARROAD, MN 05140520: Stage=58.27ft,2024-02-26 17:30,Not ranked,LAKE OF THE WOODS AT WARROAD, MN 05137500: Stage=4.00ft,2024-02-26 17:00,Not ranked,RAINY RIVER NEAR BOAT LANDING AT WHEELERS POINT,MN 05134200: Not ranked,Equipment malfunction,RAPID RIVER NEAR BAUDETTE, MN 05133500: Stage=3.39ft,2024-02-26 17:30:00,Not ranked,Ice affected,RAINY RIVER AT MANITOU RAPIDS, MN 05132000: Stage=3.76ft,2024-02-26 17:30:00,Floodstage=16ft,Not ranked,Ice affected,BIG FORK RIVER AT BIG FALLS, MN 05131500: Stage=2.89ft,2024-02-26 17:30:00,Floodstage=22ft,Not ranked,Ice affected,LITTLE FORK RIVER AT LITTLEFORK, MN 05129515: Stage=15.12ft,2024-02-26 17:30:00,Not ranked,Ice affected,RAINY R AT BOAT LANDING BLW INTERNATIONAL FALLS,MN 05126210: Flow=259cfs,Stage=3.95ft,2024-02-26 17:30,Not ranked,SOUTH KAWISHIWI R ABV WHITE IRON LAKE NR ELY, MN 05112000: Stage=2.35ft,2024-02-26 17:30:00,Not ranked,Ice affected,ROSEAU RIVER BELOW STATE DITCH 51 NR CARIBOU, MN 05107500: Stage=2.32ft,2024-02-26 17:30:00,Not ranked,Ice affected,ROSEAU RIVER AT ROSS, MN 05106000: Not ranked,Equipment malfunction,SPRAGUE CREEK NEAR SPRAGUE, MANITOBA, CANADA 05104500: Stage=3.96ft,2024-02-26 17:00:00,Not ranked,Ice affected,ROSEAU RIVER BELOW SOUTH FORK NEAR MALUNG, MN 05102490: Stage=14.44ft,Floodstage=39ft,2024-02-26 17:30,Not ranked,RED RIVER OF THE NORTH AT PEMBINA, ND 05094000: Stage=3.40ft,2024-02-26 17:15:00,Not ranked,Ice affected,SOUTH BRANCH TWO RIVERS AT LAKE BRONSON, MN 05092000: Stage=12.91ft,2024-02-26 17:45:00,Floodstage=32ft,Not ranked,Ice affected,RED RIVER OF THE NORTH AT DRAYTON, ND 05087500: Stage=3.91ft,2024-02-26 14:00:00,Not ranked,Ice affected,MIDDLE RIVER AT ARGYLE, MN 05085450: Stage=61.87ft,2024-02-26 16:45:00,Floodstage=67ft,Not ranked,Ice affected,SNAKE RIVER ABOVE WARREN, MN 05083500: Stage=10.09ft,Floodstage=26ft,2024-02-26 17:15,Not ranked,RED RIVER OF THE NORTH AT OSLO, MN 05082500: Stage=16.58ft,2024-02-26 17:45:00,Floodstage=28ft,Not ranked,Ice affected,RED RIVER OF THE NORTH AT GRAND FORKS, ND 05080000: Stage=12.48ft,2024-02-26 17:30:00,Not ranked,Ice affected,RED LAKE RIVER AT FISHER, MN 05079000: Stage=5.02ft,2024-02-26 16:15:00,Floodstage=15ft,Not ranked,Ice affected,RED LAKE RIVER AT CROOKSTON, MN 05078500: Not ranked,Equipment malfunction,CLEARWATER RIVER AT RED LAKE FALLS, MN 05078230: Stage=3.78ft,2024-02-26 17:30:00,Not ranked,Ice affected,LOST RIVER AT OKLEE, MN 05078000: Stage=3.42ft,2024-02-26 17:15:00,Not ranked,Ice affected,CLEARWATER RIVER AT PLUMMER, MN 05076000: Stage=4.69ft,2024-02-26 17:15:00,Not ranked,Ice affected,THIEF RIVER NEAR THIEF RIVER FALLS, MN 05075000: Stage=5.30ft,2024-02-26 17:00:00,Floodstage=12ft,Not ranked,Seasonal site,RED LAKE RIVER AT HIGH LANDING NR GOODRIDGE, MN 05074500: Stage=69.65ft,2024-02-26 17:30:00,Not ranked,Ice affected,RED LAKE RIVER NEAR RED LAKE, MN 05074000: Stage=74.19ft,2024-02-26 17:30,Not ranked,LOWER RED LAKE NR RED LAKE, MN 05073500: Stage=74.07ft,2024-02-26 17:30,Not ranked,UPPER RED LAKE AT WASKISH, MN 05070000: Stage=19.32ft,2024-02-26 17:15:00,Not ranked,Ice affected,RED RIVER OF THE NORTH NEAR THOMPSON, ND 05069000: Stage=5.19ft,2024-02-26 17:45:00,Floodstage=20ft,Not ranked,Ice affected,SAND HILL RIVER AT CLIMAX, MN 05067500: Flow=0.09cfs,2023-11-30 19:45,Not ranked,MARSH RIVER NEAR SHELLY, MN 05064500: Stage=8.32ft,2024-02-26 17:30:00,Floodstage=26ft,Not ranked,Ice affected,RED RIVER OF THE NORTH AT HALSTAD, MN 05064000: Stage=5.71ft,2024-02-26 17:30:00,Floodstage=20ft,Not ranked,Ice affected,WILD RICE RIVER AT HENDRUM, MN 05063398: Stage=5.75ft,2024-02-26 17:00:00,Not ranked,Back Water,S. BR. WILD RICE RIVER AT CO. RD. 27 NR FELTON, MN 05062500: Stage=2.60ft,2024-02-26 16:45:00,Floodstage=10ft,Not ranked,Ice affected,WILD RICE RIVER AT TWIN VALLEY, MN 05062000: Not ranked,Equipment malfunction,BUFFALO RIVER NEAR DILWORTH, MN 05061500: Stage=7.00ft,2024-02-26 17:45:00,Floodstage=13ft,Not ranked,Back Water,SOUTH BRANCH BUFFALO RIVER AT SABIN, MN 05061000: Stage=3.30ft,2024-02-26 16:45:00,Floodstage=8ft,Not ranked,Ice affected,BUFFALO RIVER NEAR HAWLEY, MN 05060400: Stage=69.50ft,2024-02-26 17:15:00,Floodstage=84ft,Not ranked,Ice affected,SHEYENNE RIVER AT HARWOOD, ND 05054000: Stage=15.05ft,2024-02-26 17:15:00,Floodstage=18ft,Not ranked,Ice affected,RED RIVER OF THE NORTH AT FARGO, ND 05053000: Stage=11.08ft,2024-02-26 14:00:00,Floodstage=20ft,Not ranked,Ice affected,WILD RICE RIVER NR ABERCROMBIE, ND 05052500: Stage=24.01ft,2023-10-01 00:45:00,Not ranked,Zero flow,ANTELOPE CREEK AT DWIGHT, ND 05051522: Stage=11.68ft,2024-02-26 16:45:00,Floodstage=30ft,Not ranked,Ice affected,RED RIVER OF THE NORTH AT HICKSON, ND 05051500: Stage=5.16ft,2024-02-26 17:30:00,Floodstage=11ft,Not ranked,Ice affected,RED RIVER OF THE NORTH AT WAHPETON, ND 05051300: Stage=7.95ft,2024-02-26 17:00:00,Not ranked,Ice affected,BOIS DE SIOUX RIVER NEAR DORAN, MN 05050000: Stage=5.17ft,2024-02-26 17:30:00,Floodstage=14ft,Not ranked,Ice affected,BOIS DE SIOUX RIVER NEAR WHITE ROCK, SD 05049995: Stage=72.42ft,2024-02-26 17:30,Not ranked,MUD LAKE ABOVE WHITE ROCK DAM NEAR WHITE ROCK, SD 05049710: Stage=72.65ft,2024-02-26 17:00,Not ranked,LAKE TRAVERSE OTLT AT RESERVATION DAM NR WHEATON 05049700: Stage=77.03ft,2024-02-26 17:00,Not ranked,LAKE TRAVERSE AT RESERVATION DAM NEAR WHEATON, MN 05049000: Stage=77.05ft,2024-02-26 17:30:00,Not ranked,Seasonal site,MUSTINKA RIVER ABOVE WHEATON, MN 05046475: Stage=15.06ft,2024-01-07 00:45:00,Not ranked,Ice affected,OTTER TAIL RIVER DIVERSION AT BRECKENRIDGE, MN 05030500: Flow=334cfs,Stage=5.66ft,2024-02-26 17:00,Not ranked,OTTER TAIL RIVER NEAR ELIZABETH, MN 04024430: Stage=4.89ft,2024-02-26 17:00:00,Floodstage=24ft,Not ranked,Back Water,NEMADJI RIVER NEAR SOUTH SUPERIOR, WI 04024000: Stage=3.81ft,2024-02-26 17:30:00,Floodstage=10.5ft,Not ranked,Ice affected,ST. LOUIS RIVER AT SCANLON, MN 04021520: Stage=3.94ft,2024-02-26 17:00:00,Not ranked,Back Water,STONEY BROOK AT PINE DRIVE NEAR BROOKSTON, MN 04015438: Stage=17.60ft,2024-02-26 16:45:00,Not ranked,Ice affected,ST. LOUIS RIVER NEAR SKIBO, MN 04015330: Not ranked,Equipment malfunction,KNIFE RIVER NEAR TWO HARBORS, MN 04010500: Not ranked,Equipment malfunction,PIGEON RIVER AT MIDDLE FALLS NR GRAND PORTAGE MN Go to WaterWatch (offsite) for a larger map with additional options