Minnesota PROJECTS

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USGS IN YOUR STATE

USGS Water Science Centers are located in each state.

Ground-Water/Surface Water Relations

Current Projects

MN180--Hydrology Prior to Wetland and Prairie Restoration in and around the Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge, Northwestern Minnesota, 2002-5: This multi-year project, in partnership with the Red Lake Watershed District, US Fish and Wildlife and The Nature Conservancy, is investigating the flow and quality of ground water and surface water to document the hydrologic status of The Nature Conservancy’s Glacial Ridge Project area prior to restoration of wetlands and prairies. Fifty ground-water wells and six stream gages were sampled once to determine water quantity before restoration begins. Twelve ground-water wells and all stream sites and were sampled repeatedly for major ions, nutrients, and suspended sediment (surface water) to assess variability. Twelve wells and seven surface-water gages have real-time water level, temperature, and precipitation (wells only) telemetry. This multi-year project continues with long-term monitoring to document changes in hydrology at the site  during and after prairie and wetland restorations. Continuously telemetered water level, temperature, and precipitation (wells only) data are collected at 8 wells and 5 surface-water gages. Nutrient and suspended sediment (surface-water gages only) concentrations continue to be measured quarterly at 6 wells and 2 surface-water gages.
Abstract | Project Website

MN254--Assessment of Groundwater Flow and Groundwater and Surface-Water Interaction in the Rochester Area, MN

Completed Projects

MN129--Ground-water/surface-water interaction in nearshore areas of Three Lakes on the Grand Portage Reservation, northeastern Minnesota, 2003-04: Paleolimnological reconstruction methods are being applied with current water-quality data from shallow, acidic lakes on the Grand Portage Indian Reservation to infer historical nutrient conditions in the lakes. These paleolimnological methods include diatom analyses and age-dating of lake-sediment cores. The Grand Portage Band will use results from this study to establish ambient nutrient criteria for lakes on the Reservation.
Abstract | Full Article