Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Division of Ecological and Water Resources Hydrologic Conditions Report This is the first installment of the monthly Hydrologic Conditions Report for 2011. For comparative purposes please reference the previous reports at: http://mndnr.gov/current_conditions/hydro_conditions.html Generally hydrologic conditions shown on the following maps indicate higher than normal conditions over much of the state with slightly lower than normal conditions remaining in the northeast. The U. S. Drought Monitor depicts most of Cook County and much of Lake County as Abnormally Dry. This reflects the lingering impact of precipitation deficits accrued during the 20 growing season and spotty rainfall thus far this spring. Elsewhere in Minnesota, the landscape is exceedingly wet due to a sequence of events: September 20 was Minnesota's wettest September of the modern record, winter snowfall totals topped 80 inches in numerous locations across Minnesota, and rainfall totals thus far this spring in most counties rank above the 70th percentile when compared with the long-term climate record. Stream flows remain above normal or at high flows for much of Minnesota after a snowy winter and wet spring. Northeast Minnesota stream flows reached normal ranges during spring melt after being low last fall. Lakes in the southern half of Minnesota and the Northwest are at above normal to high water levels, reflecting the 2011 precipitation events. Lakes ranging from Beltrami to Otter Tail to Wright Counties experienced their highest-yet reported lake level in Spring 2011. Lakes in the Arrowhead and in Chisago County stayed at low to below normal water levels, continuing a trend of drought impacts from 20. Following a new lowest reported lake level in November 20 compared to all previously reported levels since 1924, White Bear Lake remains low, but had recovered by the end of May back to levels not seen since July 2009. Ground water conditions are generally normal through the central and western portions of the state, but remain below normal in south central and northwestern Minnesota and continue to decline in the metropolitan area. The information in this report is provided by DNR through long term programs committed to recording and tracking the long term status of our water resources. The current conditions of precipitation, stream flows, lake levels and ground water levels in this report provide valuable information for natural and economic resource management on a state, county and watershed level. If you have questions on the content of this report please contact Greg Spoden: 61-296-4214, gregory.spoden@state.mn.us
Minnesota Counties and Major Watershed Index 70 71 80 KITTSON 69 ROSEAU 79 68 6 LAKE OF THE WOODS BELTRAMI 78 7 74 MARSHALL 67 73 PENNINGTON 63 RED LAKE 66 CLEARWATER 62 KOOCHICHING ITASCA 77 76 72 1 NORMAN 7 POLK 9 WILKIN 4 TRAVERSE BIG STONE 22 8 CLAY 61 GRANT 24 23 STEVENS LAC QUI PARLE LINCOLN 60 BECKER OTTER TAIL 6 YELLOW MEDICINE LYON MAHNOMEN POPE 2 26 13 DOUGLAS 14 12 HUBBARD WADENA TODD STEARNS 27 28 81 29 39 16 7 18 19 8 11 1 MORRISON CASS CROW WING 33 BENTON SHERBURNE 17 82 STEELE DODGE 41 1 40 31 32 PIPESTONE WATONWAN BLUE EARTH WASECA OLMSTED WINONA 42 MURRAY COTTONWOOD JACKSON FILLMORE 83 30 48 43 ROCK NOBLES 84 2 3 49 0 46 MARTIN FARIBAULT FREEBORN MOWER 47 46 HOUSTON Cedar River SWIFT CHIPPEWA RENVILLE REDWOOD KANDIYOHI BROWN MEEKER MCLEOD WRIGHT SIBLEY NICOLLET Level 2 Hydrologic Unit (HUC4) Des Moines River Lower Mississippi River Minnesota River Mississippi - Upper Iowa Rivers Mississippi River - Headwaters AITKIN MILLE LACS CARVER LE SUEUR 20 21 9 36 KANABEC ISANTI HENNEPIN SCOTT RICE ANOKA RAMSEY Missouri - Big Sioux Rivers CARLTON PINE Missouri - Little Sioux Rivers Rainy River Red River of the North St. Croix River Western Lake Superior 3 37 CHISAGO WASHINGTON DAKOTA GOODHUE 3 ST. LOUIS WABASHA 4 LAKE 2 DNR Waters COOK DNR Major Watershed - Level 4 Hydrologic Unit (HUC8) 1. Lake Superior - North 2. Lake Superior - South 3. St. Louis River 4. Cloquet River. Nemadji River 6. (none) 7. Mississippi River - Headwaters 8. Leech Lake River 9. Mississippi River - Grand Rapids. Mississippi River - Brainerd 11. Pine River 12. Crow Wing River 13. Redeye River 14. Long Prairie River 1. Mississippi River - Sartell 16. Sauk River 17. Mississippi River - St. Cloud 18. North Fork Crow River 19. South Fork Crow River 20. Mississippi River - Twin Cities 21. Rum River 22. Minnesota River - Headwaters 23. Pomme de Terre River 24. Lac Qui Parle River 2. Minnesota - Yellow Medicine Rivers 26. Chippewa River 27. Redwood River 28. Minnesota River - Mankato 29. Cottonwood River 30. Blue Earth River 31. Watonwan River 32. Le Sueur River 33. Lower Minnesota River. Upper St. Croix River 3. Kettle River 36. Snake River 37. Lower St. Croix River. Mississippi River - Lake Pepin 39. Cannon River 40. Mississippi River - Winona 41. Zumbro River 42. Mississippi River - La Crescent 43. Root River 44. Mississippi River - Reno 4. (none) 46. Upper Iowa River 47. Upper Wapsipinicon River 48. Cedar River 49. Shell Rock River 0. Winnebago River 1. Des Moines River - Headwaters 2. Lower Des Moines River 3. East Fork Des Moines River 4. Bois de Sioux River. Mustinka River 6. Otter Tail River 7. Upper Red River of the North 8. Buffalo River 9. Red River of the North - Marsh River 60. Wild Rice River 61. Red River of the North - Sandhill River 62. Upper/Lower Red Lake 63. Red Lake River 64. (none) 6. Thief River 66. Clearwater River 67. Red River of the North - Grand Marais Creek 68. Snake River 69. Red River of the North - Tamarac River 70. Two Rivers 71. Roseau River 72. Rainy River - Headwaters 73. Vermilion River 74. Rainy River - Rainy Lake 7. Rainy River - Black River 76. Little Fork River 77. Big Fork River 78. Rapid River 79. Rainy River - Baudette 80. Lake of the Woods 81. Upper Big Sioux River 82. Lower Big Sioux River 83. Rock River 84. Little Sioux River
Climatology U.S. Drought Monitor May 31, 2011 Total Precipitation September 1 - September 30, 20 (preliminary) Precipitation Ranking * April 1 - May 31, 2011 (preliminary) DNR Major Watershed Drought Intensity D0 Drought - Abnormally Dry D1 Drought - Moderate D2 Drought - Severe D3 Drought - Extreme D4 Drought - Exceptional 13 12 11 9 8 7 6 4 3 inches 99 9 90 80 70 60 0 40 30 20 1 0 percentile April 26, 2011 Notes: The U. S. Drought Monitor depicts most of Cook County and much of Lake County as Abnormally Dry. This reflects the lingering impact of precipitation deficits accrued during the 20 growing season and spotty rainfall thus far this spring. Elsewhere in Minnesota, the landscape is exceedingly wet due to a sequence of events: September 20 was Minnesota's wettest September of the modern record, winter snowfall totals topped 80 inches in numerous locations across Minnesota, and rainfall totals thus far this spring in most counties rank above the 70th percentile when compared with the long-term climate record. * Percentile maps compare current-year seasonal rainfall totals with the long-term climate record. This percentile (ranking) statistic allows the season's rainfall totals to be described using historical context. A location ranked at zero means that the present-year seasonal rainfall total is the lowest found in the historical record; a ranking of 0 indicates the highest on record. A ranking at the 0th percentile (median) specifies that the present-year seasonal rainfall total is in the middle of the historical distribution. MNDNR State Climatology Office
Surface Water: Stream Flow 71 70 69 KITTSON ROSEAU 80 79 Stream Flow Conditions 67 7 68 63 POLK NORMAN 9 4 22 8 61 PENNINGTON CLAY WILKIN TRAVERSE BIG STONE GRANT 23 STEVENS RED LAKE 60 MAHNOMEN BECKER OTTER TAIL 6 6 MARSHALL 66 POPE 26 CLEA RWATER 13 12 DOUGLAS 14 SWIFT LAKE OF THE WOODS HUBBARD WADENA TODD STEARNS 16 KANDIYOHI 62 7 78 7 BELTRAMI 8 1 KOOCHICHING CASS CROW WING 11 MORRISON BENTON SHERBURNE 17 ITASCA 77 76 AITKIN MILLE LACS 21 9 36 KANABEC ISANTI 74 CARLTON PINE 18 ANOKA CHIPPEWA RAM SEY 20 WRIGHT 24 HENNEPIN MEEKER LAC QUI PARLE RENVILLE 19 2 MCLEOD CARVER YELLOW MEDICINE DAKOTA LYON 33 SCOTT LINCOLN 27 28 SIBLEY LE SUEUR NICOLLET 81 29 39 This map is based on provisional stream gage data from the USGS National Water Information System REDWOOD BROWN RICE GOODHUE WABASHA STEELE DODGE 41 82 40 1 31 32 PIPESTONE BLUE MURRAY COTTONWOOD WATONWAN EARTH WASECA OLMSTED WINONA 42 JACKSON FILLMORE 43 83 30 48 84 2 3 49 ROCK NOBLES 0 46 44 MARTIN FARIBAULT FREEBORN MOWER 47 46 HOUSTON Designated major watershed gage * Percentile ranking based on mean daily flows for the current month averaged and ranked with all historical mean daily flows for that month. A watershed ranked at zero means that the present month flow is the lowest in the period of record; a ranking of 0 indicates the highest in the period of record. A ranking at the 0th percentile (median) specifies that the present-month flow is in the middle of the historical distribution. Data are current through /31/2011. 3 37 CHISAGO WAS HI NG TO N 73 3 ST. LOUIS 4 LAKE May Percentile * 72 2 COOK High Flows (>90th percentile) Above Normal Flows (7-90th percentile) Normal Flows (2-7th percentile) Below Normal Flows ( - 2th percentile) Low Flows (<= th percentile) Rating being developed or revised 1 Previous Flow Conditions April 2011
Surface Water: Lake Levels Lake of the Woods Lake Level Status KITTSON ROSEAU LAKE OF THE WOODS BELTRAMI MARSHALL POLK PENNINGTON RED LAKE Sarah CL EARWATER Turtle River KOOCHICHING ITASCA Vermilion Burntside COOK Poplar NORMAN MAHNOMEN Upper Cormorant CLAY WILKIN TRAVERSE BIG STONE BECKER OTTER TAIL East Battle Edward Chub MORRISON TODD KANABEC POPE STEARNS Pokegama BENTON Minnewaska SHERBURNE North Center ISANTI SWIFT KANDIYOHI CHISAGO Green CHIPPEWA ANOKA White Bear RAMSEY WRIGHT HENNEPIN MEEKER RENVILLE Minnetonka GRANT STEVENS LAC QUI PARLE LINCOLN YELLOW MEDICINE LYON REDWOOD DOUGLAS Shetek HUBBARD WADENA Swan BROWN CASS CROW WING West Jefferson AITKIN MILLE LACS Mille Lacs CARLTON PINE CARVER DAKOTA Upper Prior SCOTT Marion MCLEOD SIBLEY NICOLLET LE SUEUR RICE STEELE WAS HINGTON GOODHUE DODGE ST. LOUIS Tamarack WABASHA LAKE Previous Conditions April 2011 PIPESTONE MURRAYCOTTONWOOD JACKSON WATONWAN BLUE EARTH WASECA OLMSTED WINONA FILLMORE ROCK NOBLES Indian MARTIN FARIBAULT * Percentile ranking based on last reported reading for the current month compared to all historical reported levels for that month. A lake ranked at zero means that the present reported level is the lowest in the period of record; a ranking of 0 indicates the highest in the period of record. A ranking at the 0th percentile (median) specifies that the presentmonth reported lake level is in the middle of the historical distribution. FREEBORN MOWER Data are current through /31/2011. Source data from: MN DNR Waters Lake Level Minnesota Monitoring Program HOUSTON May Percentile * High Water Levels (>90th percentile) Above Normal Water Levels (7-90th percentile) Normal Water Levels (2-7th percentile) Below Normal Water Levels ( - 2th percentile) Low Water Levels (<= th percentile) No data reported yet for 2011 Level 2 Hydrologic Unit DNR Major Watershed
Ground Water Ground Water Level Historical Rankings October 20 Indicator Wells Aquifer Water Level Water Table Buried Artesian Bedrock * Percentile ranking based on last reported reading for the current month compared to all historical reported levels for that month. A water level ranked at zero means that the present reported level is the lowest in the period of record; a ranking of 0 indicates the highest in the period of record. A ranking at the 0th percentile (median) specifies that the presentmonth reported water level level is in the middle of the historical distribution. Source data from: MN DNR Ground Water Level Monitoring Program High Water Levels (> 90% percentile) Above Normal Water Levels (7% - 90% percentile) Normal Water Levels (2% - 7% percentile) Below Normal Water Levels (% - 2% percentile) Low Water Levels (< % percentile)