Minnesota River Basin Data Center | Developing Basin Policy with Comprehensive Data

Minnesota River Basin Report

The Minnesota River Basin Report was created in response to growing problems within the Minnesota River Basin. These problems included erosion, pollution and flooding. It was determined that the study needed to: Identify the present and projected water and related land resources problems and needs. Quantify and qualify the data collected. Identify project opportunities for development based on urgency of need. To address these criteria the Minnesota Basin Report contained the following: Environmental setting and basin resources. Economic development and projections.

Aerial Photography Methodology MRAP Level IV-Land Use

Berg, D

Level IV of the MRAP land use study is the methodology developed to use aerial photographs to determine land use and nonpoint source pollution within minor watersheds. These data were then to be transformed onto GIS maps. The type of photography used was color infrared aerial photography (CIR). The CIR pictures allow more accurate interpretation of land use type through greater definition. Through this process land use types that both contributed to and abated pollution were identified and mapped.

Diatom Assemblage Structure as an Indicator of Stream habitat Condition in the Minnesota River Watershed

A Richards, C

Richards and Kutka's portion of MRAP was the study of diatoms. Their goal was to use them as an indicator of physical habitat quality. To accomplish this they selected 16 streams in southwestern Minnesota. Indirect gradient analyses of whole community variation demonstrated generally weak relationships with physical habitat. Abundance of several growth form guilds and other community descriptors did, however, have strong correlation's with some habitat parameters, particularly substrate characteristics and sediment recruitment factors.

Minnesota River Assessment Project Report: Volume III, Biological and Toxicologial Assessment

Volume III of the Minnesota River Assessment Project Report (MRAP) contains the biological and toxicological data that was collected during the study, It contains 6 chapters, they are as follows:

Ambient Toxicity Assessments in the Minnesota River Basin

C. Arthur, J.W.

The ambient toxicity of the Minnesota River is the subject of this section of MRAP Volume III. To gain an understanding of this researchers conducted five toxicity tests and a series of analyses on selected sites throughout the basin. The toxicity tests included sediment pore water with Ceriodaphnia dubia, Selenastrum capriconutum. Mitochondria were also tested on these subjects. Hyalella were used as test subjects in bulk sediment. Analyses included 20 cations, 6 anions, total ammonia-nitrogen, total phosphorus and total organic carbon. Ceriodaphnia was found at 5 of the 24 sample sites.

Characteristics of Sediments, Settleable Solids and Water Quality of Stormwater Runoff in the Minnesota River Watershed

Proctor, B

This section of MRAP Volume III contains data collected from 1989-1992. Sediment, settleable solids, various clam species and stormwater runoff were collected from sites in the Minnesota River Basin. Settleable solids were analyzed for selected heavy metals, grain size, nitrogen, phosphorus and PCBs. Clam tissues underwent PCB and heavy metal analysis. Stormwater runoff was analyzed for nitrogen, total suspended solids and chemical oxygen demand. Settleable solids were found to contain heavy metal levels expected due to the Minnesota River Basin's geology.

Assessment of Impact of Organic Pollutants on Fish in the Minnesota River Watershed by Hepatic Aminopyrine N-Demthylase Activity

Mercurio, S.D

Fish samples were taken from two mainstem and two tributary sites in the Minnesota River Basin. These samples were tested for liver microsomal aminopyrine N-demethylase activity and PCBs. The PCB levels were compared with both fish weight and aminopyrine N-demethylase activity. The results varied with each site and year. They were able to conclude that PCB contamination does not vary considerably by year. However, aminopyrine N-demethylase activity does indicate that impacts are greater in the mainstem Minnesota River during a low water year.

Water Quality Analysis of the Lower Minnesota River and Selected Tributaries: River (1976-1991) and Nonpoint Source (1989-1992) Monitoring Volume I

During the 1970's and 1980's the water quality standards for dissolved oxygen (DO) were not being consistently met in the Lower Minnesota River. This section of MRAP was designed to study this and other water quality parameters in the Lower Minnesota River. This study first determined the Metro Area tributaries provided more loading to the system than did the two Metropolitan Waste Commission waste water treatment plants.

Selected Water Quality and Flow Data From Minor Watersheds in the Blue Earth River Basin

D. Johnson, G.D.

As part of MRAP, selected minor watersheds were monitored in terms of water quality. This section of MRAP Volume II contains the results of this project. The study was conducted with one monitoring site used to evaluate total suspended solids, total phosphorus, and compare calculated storm event loadings, estimated storm events and loading, and watershed model predictions and loadings. Two additional sites were used to provide an evaluation of the loading and concentration changes that can take place within a storm event and over time.

Wetland Water Quality Functions: Literature Review and considerations for Wetland Restoration/Creation in the Minnesota River Basin

C. Cain, B.J.

This section of MRAP Volume II discusses the function of wetlands as they relate to water quality considerations. This goal was met through a literature review. Wetland literature was reviewed to evaluate the functions of run-off, recharge, mass transfer of ions and biochemical transformations which occur in the sediments and vegetation. These functions allow wetlands to give the ecosystem resilience during times of climatic instability. When wetlands are over-run by excess sediments and nutrients wetlands are no longer able to perform these functions.

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