USGS Water-Year Summary 2025

474126096165301 WLN06 149N44W27CDBB 01 G12-R 0000620672

Sand and gravel aquifers (glaciated regions)
Glacial Surficial Sand and/or Gravel

LOCATION - Lat 47°41'25.37", long 96°16'52.64" referenced to North American Datum of 1983, in NW 1/4 SE 1/4 SW 1/4 sec.27, T.149 N., R.44 W., Polk County, MN, Hydrologic Unit 09020303, 14.5 miles east and 4.8 miles south of Crookston, Minnesota; 6.2 miles west and 0.8 miles south of Mentor, Minnesota.

REVISIONS HISTORY -

All water temperature (13.1 ft. BLS) data during Oct. 23, 2002 to Oct. 18, 2016 at 12:00 CDT were adjusted by +0.3 degrees Celsius on Jun. 11, 2025. A more accurate field calibration check was measured on Apr. 23, 2025, which adjusted previously approved data during this period by +0.3 degrees Celsius. 

All water temperature (12.7 ft. BLS) data during Oct. 18, 2016 at 01:00 CDT to Oct. 15, 2024 at 14:08 CDT were adjusted by +0.4 degrees Celsius on Jun. 11, 2025. A more accurate field calibration check was measured on Apr. 23, 2025, which adjusted previously approved data during this period by +0.4 degrees Celsius. 

GROUNDWATER RECORDS

WELL CHARACTERISTICS - Depth 14.94 ft. Upper casing diameter 2.04 in; top of first opening 8.76 ft, bottom of last opening 13.06 ft. The hole for well G12 was drilled with a 8.25-inch diameter, hydraulic rotary drill rig, on 21 August 2002 to a depth of 16.7 feet. The well is constructed of a 4.30-foot-long, 2.04-inch-diameter, flush-threaded schedule-40 PVC, 0.010-inch slotted screen attached to 8.76 feet of 2.04-inch-diameter, schedule-40 PVC casing. The casing stickup was 1.61 feet above land surface on 21 August 2002. The open interval of the well is 8.76 - 13.06 feet below land surface and the total well depth is 14.94 feet.

DATUM - Land-surface datum is 1,126.42 ft above North American Vertical Datum of 1988. Measuring point: MP is mark on top of casing, NOT protection post, 1.61 ft above land-surface datum, Aug. 21, 2002 to present. The measuring point is a black mark on the top of the 2-inch diameter PVC well casing, which was 1.61 feet above land surface on June 04, 2003. Elevation of the measuring point is 1128.03 plus-or-minus 0.07 feet above sea level, North American Vertical Datum of 1988, based on differential GPS Survey on Aug. 27, 2004.

PERIOD OF RECORD -

Daily water levels were recorded during 24 October 2002 to 13 May 2003. Hourly water levels are recorded from 13 May 2003 at 13:00 CDT to the present, except during the following periods:

28 Nov. 2005 at 05:00 CST - 20 Dec. 2005 at 11:00 CST: due to station failure.
11 Apr. 2011 at 14:00 CDT - 14 Apr. 2011 at 11:00 CDT: due to station failure.
18 Oct. 2016 at 12:00-14:00 CDT: due to removing transducer during well re-development.
05 Jul. 2025 at 19:00 CDT - 23 Jul. 2025 at 15:00 CDT: due to transducer failure.

When possible, the missing daily-average water levels (above) were estimated based on the trend of the hydrograph during these periods until 1 July 2016.

GAGE -

Water level and water temperature are measured with a Design Analysis H-310 submersible pressure transducer nominally accurate to 0.01 feet and 0.1°C, respectively. A Vitel, Inc VGR-TB-1, unheated, tipping-bucket rain gage measures precipitation and is nominally accurate to 0.01 inches. Water level, water temperature, precipitation, shelter temperature, and battery voltage are all recorded by a Campbell Scientific, Inc. CR300 datalogger, which records all data hourly (except quarter-hourly precipitation). The datalogger is housed in a 14-inch X 16-inch grey fiberglass shelter attached to the solar panel/antenna mast. The gage is powered by a 20W solar panel and 12v, 18Ah station battery and is telemetered by GOES satellite telemetry.

COOPERATION -

This site is currently operated (2016-present) by the U.S. Geological Survey's Climate-Response Network (CRN) program.

During 2002-2015, this site was operated as part of a study to understand hydrologic changes resulting from wetland and prairie restoration and climate change. The station was funded in cooperation with the Red Lake Watershed District, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Nature Conservancy, and the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. This site was included in the following USGS Scientific Investigations Reports:

“The Hydrologic Benefits of Wetland and Prairie Restoration in Western Minnesota—Lessons Learned at the Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge, 2002–15”. USGS SIR 2019-5041.

“Hydrology Prior to Wetland and Prairie Restoration in and around the Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge, Northwestern Minnesota, 2002-5”. USGS SIR 2007-5200.

REMARKS - Measured groundwater levels are precise to two decimal places, not the 3 decimal places reported. Differences between subsequent groundwater levels are precise to 3 decimal places, however. Three-decimal place precision is useful at this site for hydrologic analyses such as estimation of groundwater recharge and evapotranspiration.

EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF RECORD -

Highest instantaneous water level: 2.97 ft. below land-surface datum on 09 May 2022.
Lowest instantaneous water level: 8.72 ft below land-surface datum on 04 March 2007.

Highest manual (discrete) water level: 4.17 ft. below land-surface datum on 25 April 2022.
Lowest manual (discrete) water level: 8.71 ft below land-surface datum on 08 March 2007.

CLIMATOLOGICAL RECORDS

PERIOD OF RECORD -

Precipitation were recorded hourly during 28 Apr. 2003 at 14:00 CDT - 19 Apr. 2016 at 19:00 CDT. Precipitation were recorded hourly during 19 Apr. 2016 at 19:15 CDT to the present, except during the following periods:

11 Apr. 2005 at 00:00 CST - 15 Jun 2005 at 03:00 CST: rain gage funnel partially plugged.
28 Nov. 2005 at 05:00 CDT - 15 May 2006 at 14:00 CDT: due to station failure.
08 Dec. 2009 at 00:00 CST - 11 Apr. 2011 at 08:00 CDT: due to a damaged data wire.
11 Apr. 2011 at 14:00 CDT - 14 Apr. 2011 at 11:00 CDT: due to station failure.
05 Jul. 2015 at 03:00 CDT - 22 Jul. 2015 at 10:00 CDT: due to partially plugged funnel.
30 May 2016 at 22:15 CDT - 18 Oct. 2016 at 14:30 CDT: due to partially plugged funnel.
13 Jun. 2017 at 09:15 CDT - 16 Oct. 2017 at 16:00 CDT: due to partially plugged funnel.
28 Jun. 2018 at 14:15 CDT - 19 Sept. 2018 at 13:15 CDT: due to partially plugged funnel.
09 Jun. 2020 at 03:30 CDT - 28 Oct. 2020 at 13:00 CDT: due to partially plugged funnel.
19 Sept. 2022 at 12:00 CDT - 26 Oct. 2022 at 11:15 CDT: due to partially plugged funnel.
19 Jul. 2023 at 14:15 CDT - 22 Oct. 2023 at 15:45 CDT: due to partially plugged funnel.

When possible, missing precipitation daily-sums (above) were accurately estimated based on precipitation records from the nearby Glacial Ridge Project rain gages until 1 July 2016.

INSTRUMENTATION - Precipitation is currently measured with a Texas Electronics TRP-525I tipping-bucket rain gage, which is accurate to 0.01 inches. This rain gage was installed at this site on 13 July 2012. The rain gage is unheated and uncovered during the winter. Thus precipitation data during freezing periods (about December through early April) result from melting of snow during warm periods and do NOT represent actual precipitation. During 28 August 2003 to 13 July 2012, precipitation was measured with a Vitel, Inc VGR-TB-1 tipping-bucket rain gage accurate to 0.01 inch. The rain gage is unheated and uncovered during the winter. Thus precipitation data during freezing periods (about December through early April) result from melting of snow during warm periods and do NOT represent actual precipitation.

REMARKS - Beginning on 19 Apr. 2016 at 19:15 CDT, 15-min precipitation data began to be saved in data descriptor 5 (DD5), which historically was only hourly precipitation data. This update was in anticipation of this site becoming part of the growing national Climate-Response Network in the near future. All precipitation data after 19 Apr. 2016 at 19:00 CDT are '15-min' data and no longer 'hourly' data.

WATER-QUALITY RECORDS

WELL CHARACTERISTICS - Depth 14.94 ft. Upper casing diameter 2.04 in; top of first opening 8.76 ft, bottom of last opening 13.06 ft. The hole for well G12 was drilled with a 8.25-inch diameter, hydraulic rotary drill rig, on 21 August 2002 to a depth of 16.7 feet. The well is constructed of a 4.30-foot-long, 2.04-inch-diameter, flush-threaded schedule-40 PVC, 0.010-inch slotted screen attached to 8.76 feet of 2.04-inch-diameter, schedule-40 PVC casing. The casing stickup was 1.61 feet above land surface on 21 August 2002. The open interval of the well is 8.76 - 13.06 feet below land surface and the total well depth is 14.94 feet.

DATUM - Land-surface datum is 1,126.42 ft above North American Vertical Datum of 1988. Measuring point: MP is mark on top of casing, NOT protection post, 1.61 ft above land-surface datum, Aug. 21, 2002 to present. The measuring point is a black mark on the top of the 2-inch diameter PVC well casing, which was 1.61 feet above land surface on June 04, 2003. Elevation of the measuring point is 1128.03 plus-or-minus 0.07 feet above sea level, North American Vertical Datum of 1988, based on differential GPS Survey on Aug. 27, 2004.

PERIOD OF RECORD - Daily water temperatures were recorded from 24 October 2002 to 13 May 2003. Hourly water temperatures are recorded during 13 May 2003 at 13:00 CDT to the present, except during the following periods:

28 Nov. 2005 at 05:00 CST - 20 Dec. 2005 at 11:00 CST: due to station failure.
11 Apr. 2011 at 14:00 CDT - 14 Apr. 2011 at 11:00 CDT: due to station failure.
18 Oct. 2016 at 13:00-18:00 CDT: due to removing transducer during well re-development.

When possible, the missing daily-average water temperatures (above) were estimated based on the trend of the thermograph during these periods until 1 July 2016.

NOTE: On 18 Oct. 2016, the transducer containing the thermistor that measures water temperature was raised approximately 0.4 ft. in the well, due installing a weight on the bottom the transducer, so the transducer was hanging in the well and no longer sitting on the bottom of the well. This change slightly affected the thermograph; increasing its amplitude toward the thermograph mean. To reflect this change, water temperature data are now stored in a different data set (Temperature, water, 12.7 ft.) than before the transducer was lowered (data set: Temperature, water 13.1 ft.) and sensor depth was added to the data set.

COOPERATION -

This site is currently operated (2016-present) by the U.S. Geological Survey's Climate-Response Network (CRN) program.

During 2002-2015, this site was operated as part of a study to understand hydrologic changes resulting from wetland and prairie restoration and climate change. The station was funded in cooperation with the Red Lake Watershed District, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Nature Conservancy, and the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. This site was included in the following USGS Scientific Investigations Reports:

“The Hydrologic Benefits of Wetland and Prairie Restoration in Western Minnesota—Lessons Learned at the Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge, 2002–15”. USGS SIR 2019-5041.

“Hydrology Prior to Wetland and Prairie Restoration in and around the Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge, Northwestern Minnesota, 2002-5”. USGS SIR 2007-5200.

INSTRUMENTATION - Water temperature is measured with a Design Analysis H-310 submersible pressure transducer accurate to ±1.0°C. Temperature differences are accurate to 0.1°C.