Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Division of Ecological and Water Resources Hydrologic Conditions Report October 2012 This is the seventh and final installment of the monthly Hydrologic Conditions Report for 2012. For comparative purposes please reference the previous reports at: http://mndnr.gov/current_conditions/hydro_conditions.html • The U. S. Drought Monitor, released on November 1, indicates that drought in Minnesota worsened in many locations during the month of October. The U.S. Drought Monitor places portions of northwestern, west central, central, southwestern, and south central Minnesota in the Extreme Drought category. Most of the rest of the state is depicted as undergoing Severe Drought or Moderate Drought. The drought situation in northwest Minnesota and in far southeast Minnesota is the result of an historically dry autumn in 2011, a snow-sparse winter, and a dry 2012 growing season. Extraordinarily dry conditions during the months of August, September, and October 2012 caused rapid drought development in areas of Minnesota previously outside of the most intense drought regions. Many Minnesota locales reported less than four inches of rainfall over the August-through-October period, a negative departure from average of five or more inches. For large portions of Minnesota, August-through-October 2012 rainfall totals rank at or below the lowest on record for this three-month period. • Drought conditions persisted and stream flows continued to drop in north-central and northeast Minnesota. October rain events led flows in the southeast part of Minnesota to undergo a slight recovery. Several surface water appropriation permits remain suspended in order to protect minimum flows. • Most lakes decreased steadily from the first of the month to the third week. Following rains during the week of October 21 st , lakes ticked upward in elevation from a few hundredths to a couple tenths of feet. Lakes in southern Chisago County are higher than the lowest Summer 2010 levels, but decreased even lower than September 2012 percentiles. On October 23, White Bear Lake reached its lowest reported lake level since 1924, before increasing 0.04 feet after some rainfall at the end of the month. It is expected that the lowest reported White Bear Lake level will be reached again or broken in future months. Besides White Bear Lake, lowest reported lake levels this month came in from a dozen lakes in Becker, Chisago, Douglas, Hubbard, Itasca, Otter Tail, Todd, and Waseca Counties. • Groundwater levels are generally lower than historical levels. Northern and southern Minnesota show a decrease in groundwater water levels based on historical levels. In northern Minnesota groundwater levels are lower compared to September levels while southern Minnesota groundwater levels continue to show declines first seen in the area in August. Levels in west central Minnesota are relatively unchanged from historical and September groundwater levels. In the metropolitan area, levels generally show a decline compared to historical levels, especially along the Minnesota River and northern Washington County. Levels in the metropolitan area are generally lower or similar to September values. 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: 651-296-4214, [email protected]
Transcript
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Division of Ecological and Water Resources
Hydrologic Conditions Report October 2012
This is the seventh and final installment of the monthly Hydrologic Conditions Report for 2012. For comparative purposes please reference the previous reports at: http://mndnr.gov/current_conditions/hydro_conditions.html
• The U. S. Drought Monitor, released on November 1, indicates that drought in Minnesota worsened in many
locations during the month of October. The U.S. Drought Monitor places portions of northwestern, west central, central, southwestern, and south central Minnesota in the Extreme Drought category. Most of the rest of the state is depicted as undergoing Severe Drought or Moderate Drought. The drought situation in northwest Minnesota and in far southeast Minnesota is the result of an historically dry autumn in 2011, a snow-sparse winter, and a dry 2012 growing season. Extraordinarily dry conditions during the months of August, September, and October 2012 caused rapid drought development in areas of Minnesota previously outside of the most intense drought regions. Many Minnesota locales reported less than four inches of rainfall over the August-through-October period, a negative departure from average of five or more inches. For large portions of Minnesota, August-through-October 2012 rainfall totals rank at or below the lowest on record for this three-month period.
• Drought conditions persisted and stream flows continued to drop in north-central and northeast Minnesota. October rain events led flows in the southeast part of Minnesota to undergo a slight recovery. Several surface water appropriation permits remain suspended in order to protect minimum flows.
• Most lakes decreased steadily from the first of the month to the third week. Following rains during the week
of October 21st, lakes ticked upward in elevation from a few hundredths to a couple tenths of feet. Lakes in southern Chisago County are higher than the lowest Summer 2010 levels, but decreased even lower than September 2012 percentiles. On October 23, White Bear Lake reached its lowest reported lake level since 1924, before increasing 0.04 feet after some rainfall at the end of the month. It is expected that the lowest reported White Bear Lake level will be reached again or broken in future months. Besides White Bear Lake, lowest reported lake levels this month came in from a dozen lakes in Becker, Chisago, Douglas, Hubbard, Itasca, Otter Tail, Todd, and Waseca Counties.
• Groundwater levels are generally lower than historical levels. Northern and southern Minnesota show a
decrease in groundwater water levels based on historical levels. In northern Minnesota groundwater levels are lower compared to September levels while southern Minnesota groundwater levels continue to show declines first seen in the area in August. Levels in west central Minnesota are relatively unchanged from historical and September groundwater levels. In the metropolitan area, levels generally show a decline compared to historical levels, especially along the Minnesota River and northern Washington County. Levels in the metropolitan area are generally lower or similar to September values.
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: 651-296-4214, [email protected]
1. Lake Superior - North2. Lake Superior - South3. St. Louis River4. Cloquet River5. Nemadji River6. (none)7. Mississippi River - Headwaters8. Leech Lake River9. Mississippi River - Grand Rapids
10. Mississippi River - Brainerd11. Pine River12. Crow Wing River13. Redeye River14. Long Prairie River15. Mississippi River - Sartell16. Sauk River17. Mississippi River - St. Cloud18. North Fork Crow River19. South Fork Crow River20. Mississippi River - Twin Cities21. Rum River22. Minnesota River - Headwaters23. Pomme de Terre River24. Lac Qui Parle River25. Minnesota - Yellow Medicine Rivers26. Chippewa River27. Redwood River28. Minnesota River - Mankato29. Cottonwood River30. Blue Earth River31. Watonwan River32. Le Sueur River33. Lower Minnesota River34. Upper St. Croix River35. Kettle River36. Snake River37. Lower St. Croix River38. Mississippi River - Lake Pepin39. Cannon River40. Mississippi River - Winona41. Zumbro River42. Mississippi River - La Crescent43. Root River44. Mississippi River - Reno45. (none)46. Upper Iowa River47. Upper Wapsipinicon River48. Cedar River49. Shell Rock River50. Winnebago River51. Des Moines River - Headwaters52. Lower Des Moines River53. East Fork Des Moines River54. Bois de Sioux River55. Mustinka River56. Otter Tail River57. Upper Red River of the North58. Buffalo River59. Red River of the North - Marsh River60. Wild Rice River61. Red River of the North - Sandhill River62. Upper/Lower Red Lake63. Red Lake River64. (none)65. Thief River66. Clearwater River67. Red River of the North - Grand Marais Creek68. Snake River69. Red River of the North - Tamarac River70. Two Rivers71. Roseau River72. Rainy River - Headwaters73. Vermilion River74. Rainy River - Rainy Lake75. Rainy River - Black River76. Little Fork River77. Big Fork River78. Rapid River79. Rainy River - Baudette80. Lake of the Woods81. Upper Big Sioux River82. Lower Big Sioux River83. Rock River84. Little Sioux River
Level 2 Hydrologic Unit (HUC4)Cedar RiverDes Moines RiverLower Mississippi RiverMinnesota RiverMississippi - Upper Iowa RiversMississippi River - Headwaters
Missouri - Big Sioux RiversMissouri - Little Sioux RiversRainy RiverRed River of the NorthSt. Croix RiverWestern Lake Superior
DNR Major Watershed -Level 4 Hydrologic Unit (HUC8)
Total Precipitation Historical Rank July 31, 2012 - October 28, 2012
Total Precipitation July 31, 2012 - October 28, 2012
U.S. Drought MonitorOctober 30, 2012
percentile *
99
708090
30405060
95
2010510
(preliminary) (preliminary)
6.0
8.0
MNDNR State Climatology Office
Notes:
10.0
2.0
4.0
1.0
The U. S. Drought Monitor, released on November 1, indicates that drought in Minnesota worsened in many locationsduring the month of October. The U.S. Drought Monitor places portions of northwestern, west central, central,southwestern, and south central Minnesota in the Extreme Drought category. Most of the rest of the state is depicted asundergoing Severe Drought or Moderate Drought. The drought situation in northwest Minnesota and in far southeastMinnesota is the result of an historically dry autumn in 2011, a snow-sparse winter, and a dry 2012 growing season.Extraordinarily dry conditions during the months of August, September, and October 2012 caused rapid droughtdevelopment in areas of Minnesota previously outside of the most intense drought regions. Many Minnesota localesreported less than four inches of rainfall over the August-through-October period, a negative departure from average of fiveor more inches. For large portions of Minnesota, August-through-October 2012 rainfall totals rank at or below the lowest onrecord for this three-month period.
3.0
* Percentile maps compare current-year seasonal rainfall totals with the long-term climate record. This percentile (ranking) statisticallows the season's rainfall totals to be described using historical context. A location ranked at zero means that the present-yearseasonal rainfall total is the lowest found in the historical record; a ranking of 100 indicates the highest on record. A ranking at the50th percentile (median) specifies that the present-year seasonal rainfall total is in the middle of the historical distribution.
inches
5.0
7.0
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38
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47 464652 5084 53 444948
43
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3083
31 325182 4041
2981 39
27 28
3833
1925
2018
3717
34
16
26
1534
23
3614
21
5
3510
13
1157
5812
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24
6059
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661
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73
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77 76
68 6574
78 75
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7170
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80
LAKE OF THE WOODS
KITTSONROSEAU
KOOCHICHING
MARSHALL
ST. LOUIS
BELTRAMI
POLK
PENNINGTON
COOK
LAKE
CLEARWATER
RED LAKE ITASCA
NORMAN MAHNOMEN
CASSHUBBARD
CLAYBECKER
AITKIN
WADENA CROW WING
CARLTON
OTTER TAILWILKIN
PINE
TODDMORRISON
MILLELACS
KANABECGRANT
DOUGLAS
TRAVERSEBENTON
STEVENS
STEARNS
POPE ISANTI
CHISAGO
BIG STONESHERBURNE
SWIFT KANDIYOHI
WRIGHT
ANOKA
MEEKERLAC QUI PARLE
WASH
INGT
ON
HENNEPIN
CHIPPEWARAMSEY
MCLEOD CARVERYELLOW MEDICINE DAKOTA
RENVILLE
SCOTTSIBLEY
REDWOOD GOODHUE
LINCOLNLYON
LE SUEUR
RICEBROWN
NICOLLET
WABASHA
BLUEEARTH
PIPESTONE MURRAY COTTONWOOD WINONAWASECA
STEELE DODGE
OLMSTEDWATONWAN
ROCK NOBLES
JACKSON
MARTIN HOUSTONFARIBAULT
FILLMORE
FREEBORN MOWER
Surface Water: Stream Flow
Previous Flow ConditionsSeptember 2012
This map is based on provisional stream gage datafrom the USGS National Water Information System
October 2012Stream Flow Conditions
* 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 100 indicates the highest in the period of record. A ranking at the 50th percentile (median) specifies that the present-month flow is in the middle of the historical distribution.
# Designated major watershed gage October Percentile *High Flows (>90th percentile)Above Normal Flows (75 - 90th percentile)Normal Flows (25 - 75th percentile)Below Normal Flows (10 - 25th percentile)Low Flows (<= 10th percentile)
Rating being developed or revisedStation monitored seasonallyData temporarily unavailable
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LAKE OF THE WOODS
KITTSONROSEAU
KOOCHICHING
MARSHALL
ST. LOUIS
BELTRAMI
POLK
PENNINGTON
COOK
LAKE
CLEARWATER
RED LAKE ITASCA
NORMAN MAHNOMEN
CASSHUBBARD
CLAYBECKER
AITKIN
WADENA CROW WING
CARLTON
OTTER TAILWILKIN
PINE
TODD MORRISON
MILLELACS
KANABECGRANT
DOUGLAS
TRAVERSEBENTON
STEVENS STEARNSPOPE
ISANTI
CHISAGO
BIG STONE SHERBURNE
SWIFT KANDIYOHI
WRIGHT
ANOKA
MEEKERLAC QUI PARLE WA
SHIN
GTON
HENNEPIN
CHIPPEWARAMSEY
MCLEOD CARVERYELLOW MEDICINE DAKOTA
RENVILLE
SCOTTSIBLEY
REDWOOD GOODHUE
LINCOLNLYON
LE SUEUR
RICEBROWN
NICOLLET
WABASHA
BLUEEARTH
PIPESTONE MURRAY COTTONWOOD WINONAWASECA
STEELE DODGE
OLMSTEDWATONWAN
ROCK NOBLES
JACKSON
MARTIN HOUSTONFARIBAULT
FILLMORE
FREEBORN MOWER
Upper Cormorant
Turtle River
Chub
North Center
Poplar
Edward
Marion
Minnetonka
Green
Lake of the Woods
West Jefferson
Mille Lacs
Upper PriorSwan
White Bear
Shetek
Indian
East Battle
Tamarack
Pokegama
Sarah
BurntsideVermilion
Minnewaska
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Source data from: MN DNR Waters Lake Level Minnesota Monitoring Program
October 2012Lake Level Status
Surface Water: Lake Levels
* 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 100 indicates the highest in the period of record. A ranking at the 50th percentile (median) specifies that the present- month reported lake level is in the middle of the historical distribution.
Previous Conditions September 2012
October Percentile *!( High Water Levels (>90th percentile)!( Above Normal Water Levels (75 - 90th percentile)!( Normal Water Levels (25 - 75th percentile)!( Below Normal Water Levels (10 - 25th percentile)!( Low Water Levels (<= 10th percentile)
Level 2 Hydrologic UnitDNR Major Watershed
!( No reading available
AquiferWater TableBuried ArtesianBedrock
Ground Water Level Historical RankingsOctober 2012
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Ground Water
* 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 100 indicates the highest in the period of record. A ranking at the 50th percentile (median) specifies that the present- month reported water level level is in the middle of the historical distribution.
Source data from: MN DNR Ground Water Level Monitoring Program
Water Level
Low Water Levels (< 10% percentile)
!(
Below Normal Water Levels (10% - 25% percentile)
Above Normal Water Levels (75% - 90% percentile)Normal Water Levels (25% - 75% percentile)
