The Minnesota River Basin: Hydrologic Overview and Assessment of Spring Resurges

The Minnesota River follows the path of the Glacial River Warren. The valley is a hydrologically dynamic system cut through glacial sediments deposited by the Des Moines Lobe of the Laurentide ice sheet. From west to east across the basin precipitation increases while total dissolved solids, sulfates and trace element boron decrease. Upland storage has been decreased during the past century through the use of tiling and ditches. This decrease is believed to result in lower numbers of wetland acres and accelerated movement of soil and dissolved minerals to the river and its tributaries. Land use changes such as these increasingly affect the overall river system. Due to the vertical relief provided by the deeply incised glacial river valley ground water is allowed to come to the surface in the form of springs and fens. The recharge sources of these springs are variable. Springs fed by streams with long residence times show little human impact. Those with short residence times were oxidizes and showed high levels of human impact.