Special Studies

Several special project investigations are necessary to provide guidance for the modeling effort. This page lists the special studies along with the questions they hope to answer.

Projects by the US Geological Survey:

Installation and operation of a stream-flow gaging station of the Minnesota River at Fort Snelling

What flows and loads are entering the Mississippi River from the Minnesota River?
What flows and loads are added to the Minnesota River in the Metro Area?

The station was installed in January 2004 and will be operated through March 2007.

Link to scope of work "USGS Gaging Station" PDF 86.5 kb

Determination of ground-water inflows

Are ground-water inputs significant to the lower Minnesota River?
Are additional studies needed to quantify these inputs?

Fieldwork was completed during low flows in September 2003.

Link to scope of work "USGS Seepage Proposal" PDF 156 kb

Rapid assessment of sediment in the river bed

How much of the river bed is composed of fine materials, such as silt and clay?
When and where do fine materials settle? Fine materials can signal the presence of organic matter and decomposition with the potential for oxygen demand and nutrient releases.

Fieldwork was completed during low flows in September 2003.

Link to scope of work "USGS Sediment Survey" PDF 92.1 kb

Study of mixing characteristics

How well mixed is the river at the five locations where we monitor water quality?
Do we need to adjust our sampling protocol at lower flows?

Fieldwork was completed on six dates in 2003 and 2004 under a variety of flows.

Link to scope of work "USGS Mixing Study" PDF 80.8 kb

Projects by the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center:

Analysis of biologically-available forms of nutrients

What forms of phosphorus and nitrogen are found in the river?
What portion of these nutrients may contribute to the growth of algae?

Research on phosphorus interactions with suspended solids

When does phosphorus attach to and detach from suspended solids?
How do phosphorus dynamics change with river conditions?

Study of sediment characteristics and nutrient fluxes from the sediment bed

What is the potential for nutrients to be released from the sediment bed?
Is the sediment bed a significant source of nutrients to the river?

Annual budgets of sediment and nutrients for 2004, 2005, and 2006

What are the sediment and nutrient loads entering and leaving the lower Minnesota River?
What are the major sources of sediment and nutrients within the Metro Area

Fieldwork to be completed in 2005 and 2006.

Link to scope of work for all four studies "USACE Nutrient Studies" PDF 141 kb

Lower Minnesota River Nutrient Dynamics: Final Report PDF 870 kb

Project by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency:

Short, intensive survey of water quality under critical conditions

How is the water quality under prolonged warm and dry weather conditions?
How does water quality vary over a 24-hour period under stressed conditions?

Fieldwork to be conducted in summer when river flows are low.

Link to survey plan PDF 120 kb

MPCA sonde survey PDF 5.22 Mb

Project by HydrO2, Inc.:

Assessment of oxygen dynamics

What are the rates of oxygen gains and losses to the river from the atmosphere, biological community, and sediment bed?
What are the major sources and sinks in the oxygen budget of the river?

Fieldwork to be conducted in summer when river flows are low

Link to scope of work "HydrO2 Oxygen Assessment" PDF 105 kb

Oxygen Dynamics Assessments Study Plan PDF 100 kb

Oxygen Dynamics Assessments Summary PDF 16 kb

Oxygen Dynamics Assessments Report PDF 569 kb

Oxygen Dynamics Assessments Appendix A PDF 320 kb

Oxygen Dynamics Assessments Appendix B PDF 79 kb

Oxygen Dynamics Assessments Appendix C PDF 983 kb

Oxygen Dynamics Assessments Appendix D PDF 457 kb

Oxygen Dynamics Assessments Appendix E PDF 29 kb

Oxygen Dynamics Assessments Appendix F PDF 1.3.Mb