Geology topics

Thomas A. Winterstein

Publications and source records attributed to Thomas A. Winterstein.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS2007

Methods used to compute low-flow frequency characteristics for continuous-record streamflow stations in Minnesota, 2006

The 1-, 7-, and 30-day low-flow series were determined for 120 continuous-record streamflow stations in Minnesota having at least 20 years of continuous record. The 2-, 5-, 10-, 50-, and 100-year statistics were determined for each series by fitting a log Pearson type III distribution to the data. The methods used to determine the low-flow statistics and to construct the plots of the low-flow frequency curves are described. The low-flow series and the low-flow statistics are presented in tables and graphs.

Minnesota↗

USGS2007

Estimated ground-water use in Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, and Wilkin Counties, Minnesota, for 2030 and 2050

The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, is studying six alternatives for delivering water to the Red River of the North Valley in North Dakota and to the cities of Breckenridge, Moorhead, and East Grand Forks, Minnesota. In order to evaluate these alternatives the Bureau of Reclamation needs estimates of ground-water use for 2030 and 2050 for six counties in Minnesota: Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, and Wilkin Counties. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Bureau of Reclamation, conducted a study to estimate ground-water use in these counties for 2030 and 2050. This report (1) describes the methods used to estimate ground-water use for the years 2030 and 2050 for six Minnesota counties: Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, and Wilkin Counties, (2) presents the estimated domestic, commercial, industrial, and irrigation ground-water use for the years 2030 and 2050 for these six counties, and (3) compares the estimated ground-water use with published estimates of recharge to three surficial aquifers: Buffalo, Otter Tail surficial, and Pelican River sand plain. Between 74 and 82 percent of the reported ground-water use in the 6 years from 2000 to 2005 was used for irrigation of major crops. The next major use of ground-water was public water supply for domestic use, between 13 and 19 percent of the reported ground-water use. Together they account for 90 to 95 percent of the appropriated ground water in the 6-year period. The total estimated 2030 ground-water use for the six counties ranges from 27,826–36,177 million gallons per year (Mgal/yr), and the total estimated 2050 ground-water use ranges from 31,313–41,746 Mgal/yr. The estimated recharge to the Buffalo aquifer, Otter Tail surficial aquifer, and Pelican River sand-plain aquifer is 3,707, 51,000, and 4,900–8,900 Mgal/yr, respectively. The range of the estimated 2050 ground-water withdrawals from the Buffalo, Otter Tail surficial, and Pelican River sand-plain aquifers is 1,234–1,776 Mgal/yr from the Buffalo aquifer, 11,728–14,820 Mgal/yr from the Otter Tail surficial aquifer, and 3,385–4,298 Mgal/yr from the Pelican River sand-plain aquifer.

Minnesota↗

USGS2007

Relation between precipitation and the 25th percentile of June and September flows in streams in the Great Lakes, Ohio, and Upper Mississippi River Basins

Regression models were developed for the 25th percentile of June and September flows (first quartile of flow) for 47 streamflow-gaging stations (gaging stations) in the Upper Mississippi, Ohio, and Great Lakes drainage basins. The gaging stations that were selected for this analysis are on unregulated rivers, have at least 40 years of record, and have a nearby weather station with at least 70 years of precipitation record. Regression models were developed for each gaging station relating annual 25th percentile of June and September flows to selected precipitation variables. The explanatory variables are monthly precipitation (April-June, July-September) for each year of record, precipitation for the previous year, and average precipitation for the preceding 5-, 10-, 15-, 20-, 25-, and 30-year periods. Short-term precipitation (April-June or July-September monthly precipitation) variables are the most common significant variables in the regression equations for the 25th percentile of June and September streamflows. May and June monthly precipitation are the most common significant variables among the regression models of the 25th percentile of June flows. August and September monthly precipitation are the most common significant variables in the regression models of the 25th percentile of September streamflow. July precipitation also is a significant explanatory variable in regression models of September streamflow. The 25th-percentile flows in this study also are related to intermediate- and long-term precipitation variables. The intermediate-term precipitation variable (previous-year's precipitation) has a more distinct spatial pattern than the long-term precipitation variable (multiyear running averages of annual precipitation) and is more likely to be significant in the western part than in the eastern part of the study area.

Scientific Investigations Report↗

USGS2005

Hydraulic properties of the Ironton and Galesville sandstones, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, southeastern Minnesota, 2004

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, conducted an aquifer test December 6–22, 2004, to improve definition of the hydraulic properties of the Ironton and Galesville Sandstones beneath the Shakopee Community in southeastern Minnesota. Three wells were used in the aquifer test—a production well and two observation wells, located 3,247 feet northwest of the production well and 3,049 feet southeast of the production well. The production well, completed in the Ironton and Galesville Sandstones, was pumped at about 600 gallons per minute from 10:30 a.m. on December 6, 2004, to 3:26 p.m. on December 9, 2004. Drawdown and recovery water levels were measured in all three wells. Four curve-fitting methods and two graphical methods were used to estimate the transmissivity and storage coefficient of the Ironton and Galesville Sandstones. The four curve-fitting methods were the Theis, Hantush, Hantush-Jacob, and Neumann-Witherspoon methods. These methods were applied to the drawdown and residual recovery curves of the observation wells. The two graphical methods were the Cooper-Jacob method and the Theis recovery method. The Cooper-Jacob method was applied to the drawdown curve of the production well and the drawdown curves of the two observation wells. The Theis recovery method was applied to the residual drawdown curves of the two observation wells. The transmissivity estimated using the six methods ranged from 450 to 650 feet squared per day. The average transmissivity for the six methods was 540 feet squared per day. The storage coefficient estimated using the six methods ranged from 4.2 to 5.7 x 10-5. The average storage coefficient for all six methods was 5.0 x 10-5. The hydraulic conductivity was estimated by dividing the estimated transmissivity by 45 feet. The average hydraulic conductivity for the six methods was 12.1 feet per day.

Minnesota↗

USGS2001

Selected data from field studies of pesticide runoff to surface waters

Citations from the scientific literature for studies that quantified selected pesticides in field runoff or streams were obtained from two computerized bibliographic databases: Chemical Abstracts and AGRICOLA. Selected data were extracted from studies in field environments that lasted longer than a day and are summarized here. The data extracted from each article, if available, include pesticide information, environmental setting, year of study, and the mass of the pesticide in runoff as a percent of the mass applied. Data from two national studies of pesticides in surface waters done by the U.S. Geological Survey (National Water-Quality Assessment Program, 1992?1995, and National Stream-Quality Accounting Network, 1996-1998) also are summarized.

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗

USGS2000

Water-quality data collected on Prairie Island near Welch, Minnesota, 1998-99

This report presents the water-quality data collected during 1998-99 from the land owned by the Prairie Island Indian Community at the northern end of Prairie Island, Minnesota. The data were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Prairie Island Indian Community. Seventeen monitoring wells were installed by the U.S. Geological Survey in 1998. Fifteen of the wells were installed with the screen at the water-table. The well screens for the other two wells were approximately 26 and 56 feet below the water table. Samples were collected from the wells in 1998. The water-quality properties and constituents determined for the 17 wells include temperature, pH, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, alkalinity, major ions, nutrients, and iron and manganese. Water samples collected from two of the wells were analyzed for common agricultural pesticides. In addition, semiquantitative immunoassay screens for presence of atrazine and related triazine herbicides were conducted on samples from all 17 wells. Water-surface altitudes were measured during 1999 in the 17 wells and at 8 surface-water sites.

Minnesota↗

USGS2000

Physical characteristics of stream subbasins in the Cannon River Basin, southeastern Minnesota

Data that describe the physical characteristics of stream subbasins upstream from selected sites on streams in the Cannon River Basin, located in southeastern Minnesota, are presented in this report. The physical characteristics are the drainage area of the subbasin, the percentage area of the subbasin covered only by lakes, the percentage area of the subbasin covered by both lakes and marsh, the main-channel length, and the main-channel slope. Stream sites include outlets of subbasins of at least 5 square miles, and locations of U.S. Geological Survey high-flow, and continuous-record gaging stations.

Minnesota↗

USGS2000

Characterization of rainfall-runoff response and estimation of the effect of wetland restoration on runoff, Heron Lake Basin, southwestern Minnesota, 1991-97

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Heron Lake Watershed District, conducted a study to characterize the rainfall-runoff response and to examine the effects of wetland restoration on the rainfall-runoff response within the Heron Lake Basin in southwestern Minnesota. About 93 percent of the land cover in the Heron Lake Basin consists of agricultural lands, consisting almost entirely of row crops, with less than one percent consisting of wetlands. The Hydrological Simulation Program – Fortran (HSPF), Version 10, was calibrated to continuous discharge data and used to characterize rainfall-runoff responses in the Heron Lake Basin between May 1991 and August 1997. Simulation of the Heron Lake Basin was done as a two-step process: (1) simulations of five small subbasins using data from August 1995 through August 1997, and (2) simulations of the two large basins, Jack and Okabena Creek Basins, using data from May 1991 through September 1996. Simulations of the five small subbasins was done to determine basin parameters for the land segments and assess rainfall-runoff response variability in the basin. Simulations of the two larger basins were done to verify the basin parameters and assess rainfall-runoff responses over a larger area and for a longer time period. Best-fit calibrations of the five subbasin simulations indicate that the rainfall-runoff response is uniform throughout the Heron Lake Basin, and 48 percent of the total rainfall for storms becomes direct (surface and interflow) runoff. Rainfall-runoff response variations result from variations in the distribution, intensity, timing, and duration of rainfall; soil moisture; evapotranspiration rates; and the presence of lakes in the basin. In the spring, the amount and distribution of rainfall tends to govern the runoff response. High evapotranspiration rates in the summer result in a depletion of moisture from the soils, substantially affecting the rainfall-runoff relation. Five wetland restoration simulations were run for each of five subbasins using data from August 1995 through August 1997, and for the two larger basins, Jack and Okabena Creek Basins, using data from May 1991 through September 1996. Results from linear regression analysis of total simulated direct runoff and total rainfall data for simulated storms in the wetland-restoration simulations indicate that the portion of total rainfall that becomes runoff will be reduced by 46 percent if 45 percent of current cropland is converted to wetland. The addition of wetlands reduced peak runoff in most of the simulations, but the reduction varied with antecedent soil moisture, the magnitude of the peak flow, and the presence of current wetlands and lakes. Reductions in the simulated total and peak runoff from the Jack Creek Basin for most of the simulated storms were greatest when additional wetlands were simulated in the North Branch Jack Creek or the Upper Jack Creek Subbasins. In the Okabena Creek Basin, reductions in simulated peak runoff for most of the storms were greatest when additional wetlands were simulated in the Lower Okabena Creek Subbasin.

Minnesota↗

USGS1999

Water-quality data from lakes and streams in the Grand Portage Reservation, Minnesota, 1997-98

The Grand Portage Reservation is located in northeastern Cook County, Minnesota (fig. 1). In 1997 and 1998 the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) conducted a study, in cooperation with the Grand Portage Band of Chippewa, to determine the quality of water in selected inland lakes and streams in the Reservation. The USGS collected and analyzed water from two streams, two wetlands, and four lakes (fig 1). Water samples were collected in the spring and fall of 1997 and 1998. In addition, samples of bottom sediments were collected from two of the four lakes in 1998. The purpose of this report is to present the data collected by the USGS from the study during 1997-98. Water-quality data include temperature, pH, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, alkalinity, and concentrations of major ions, nutrients, and trace metals. Lake sediment data include concentrations of trace metals and selected organic compounds.

Minnesota↗

USGS1994

Physical characteristics of stream subbasins in the Lac qui Parle River basin, southwestern Minnesota and eastern South Dakota

Data describing the physical characteristics of stream subbasins upstream from selected points on streams in the Lac qui Parle River basin, located in southwestern Minnesota and eastern South Dakota, are presented in this report. The physical charac- teristics are the drainage area of the subbasin, the percentage area of the subbasin covered only by lakes, the percentage area of the subbasin covered by both lakes and wetlands, the main-channel length. and the main-channel slope. The points on the stream include outlets of subbasins of at least 5 square miles, outfalls of sewage treatment plants, and locations of U.S. Geological Survey low-flow, high-flow, and continuous-record gaging stations.

Minnesota, South Dakota↗