Floods in McHenry Quadrangle, Northeastern Illinois
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The sand and gravel deposits of Quaternary age constitute the most important ground-water reservoir and are the source of nearly all the water pumped from wells in the area. An estimated 3.5 million acre-feet for good quality water is stored in these deposits and an additional 1.5 million acre-feet is stored in the underlying Dakota Sandstone. Even larger quantities are stored at greater depths in the Paleozoic dolomites and sandstones, but the water is of poorer quality. Pumpage for irrigation since 1956 is estimated to have ranged from about 2,500 acre-feet (1962) to about 6,000 acre-feet (1957). The town of Wahoo annually pumps about 460 acre-feet, and other towns pump an estimated total of 180 acre-feet. In 1963 the City of Lincoln pumped 27,000 acre-feet from its well field alongside the Platte River in the southeast corner of the area; since then pumpage has increased and probably is likely to continue to do so. Pumping at Lincoln city well field induces recharge from Platte River. The quantity of ground water pumped to date is very small compared to the amount of water stored in the rocks. Furthermore, most of the ground water withdrawn has been replaced by infiltrating precipitation and by influent seepage from the Platte River. The large quantity of ground water in storage in addition to the flow of the Platte River indicates that the water resources of the area, if managed properly, can be developed much more extensively without appreciably depleting the supply.
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The Lac qui Parle River watershed is underlain by thick water-bearing sections of glacial drift and Cretaceous rocks. Drainage is from the Coteau des Praries, a plateau in the southwest, to the Lac qui Parle reservoir, about 800 feet lower than the plateau. The term "watershed" as used in this report refers to that part of the drainage basin (767 square miles) within Minnesota. The total area of the drainage basin, including South Dakota, is 1110 square miles. Most waters from the watershed are of good quality.
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The Mustinka and Bois de Sioux Rivers watershed is mantled by till deposits with scattered sand deposits. The west-central and northwestern part of the watershed was covered by Glacial Lake Agassiz and the resulting land surface is a flat, lake-washed till plain. Patches and ridges of sand scattered throughout the lake plain were formed as beach ridges and offshore bars. Small, isolated areas of lake clay also occur within this area. The remainder of the watershed is glacial moraine characterized by rolling topography in all but the extreme eastern edge which has more local relief and more permanent lakes. Alluvial sand deposits are found in the eastern part of the morainal area. The drainage area of the watershed in Minnesota is 1,429 square miles. The area includes mors of Traverse County and parts of Big Stone, Stevens, Grant, Ottertail, and Wilkin Counties. Population within the watershed unit is about 20,000. The largest community, Wheaton, has a population of 2,102. The agricultural economy of the area is concentrated on grain farming, although some dairying is carried on. The principal grain crops are corn and oats. Flax, soybeans, and barley are also very commonly grown. The natural vegetation in the area was largely prairie. A hardwood deciduous forest grew only on the extreme eastern edge. Today, the area is almost entirely farm land containing numerous local woodlots. Outdoor recreation is concentrated on waterfowl and pheasant hunting. Fishing is done in Lake Traverse and in the larger lakes in the eastern part of the morainal area.
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