Dodge County Waters :
Programs and Trends
What is the quality of the ground water and
surface water in Dodge County ?
Is the quality improving or worsening?
Water monitoring efforts over the last 12 years
have provided some answers and raised
additional questions, as well. Changing
environmental conditions, and high public
interest, provide the impetus to continue to
gather and learn from accurate water quality
data.All activities & projects contained in this presentation are
in support of directives set forth in the Dodge County Comprehensive Water Management Plan.
Ground Water
The Dodge County Comprehensive Water Management Plan
clearly states that groundwater protection takes priority over surface water protection.
In Dodge County,
Ground Water is #1 !!!!
DODGE COUNTY WATER ISSUES
GROUND GROUND WATERWATER Nitrate
Bacteria
Lead
Arsenic
Pesticides
SURFACE SURFACE WATERWATER Nitrate
Sediment
Bacteria
Stream Flow
Phosphorous
M5 11 AM5 15 A
DODGE COUNTYUNDERLYING BEDROCK LAYERS
PRAIRIE DU CHIENAQUIFER
To better understand ground
water, it’s important to visualize the rock
layers, most of which serve as drinking water
aquifers, which exist under Dodge
County, moving from deepest to shallowest.
M5 11 AM5 15 A
DODGE COUNTYUNDERLYING BEDROCK LAYERS
ST.PETER AQUIFER
M5 11 AM5 15 A
DODGE COUNTYUNDERLYING BEDROCK LAYERS
DECORAH SHALECONFINING LAYER
M5 11 AM5 15 A
DODGE COUNTYUNDERLYING BEDROCK LAYERS
GALENAAQUIFER
M5 11 AM5 15 A
DODGE COUNTYUNDERLYING BEDROCK LAYERS
MAQUOKETA-DUBUQUEAQUIFER
M5 11 AM5 15 A
DODGE COUNTYUNDERLYING BEDROCK LAYERS
SPILLVILLEAQUIFER
M5 11 AM5 15 A
DODGE COUNTYUNDERLYING BEDROCK LAYERS
CEDAR VALLEYAQUIFER
RIPLEY
MILTON
VERNON
WASIOJA
ASHLAND
HAYFIELD
CONCORD
CANISTEO
ELLINGTON
WESTFIELD
CLAREMONT MANTORVILLE
Let’s cut through the rock layers and expose them from a side view.
Ellington
Concord
Milton
WEST EAST
900
1000
1100
1200
900
1000
1100
1200
13001300
SOIL, SAND & GRAVEL
GALENA LIMESTONE
DECORAH SHALE
ST. PETER SANDSTONE
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN DOLOMITE/SANDSTONE
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Miles
Generalized Geographic Formations Underlying
Ellington, Concord and Milton Townships
Subsurface Geologic Cross-Section
ElevationAbove SeaLevel (ft)
In general, the thicker soils in the western portion of the county provide
more protection from surface contaminants reaching the rock layers.
Generalized Geographic Formations Underlying
Ellington, Concord and Milton Townships
Subsurface Geologic Cross-Section
900
1000
1100
1200
900
1000
1100
1200
13001300
SOIL, SAND & GRAVEL
GALENA LIMESTONE
DECORAH SHALE
ST. PETER SANDSTONE
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN DOLOMITE/SANDSTONE
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Miles
ElevationAbove SeaLevel (ft)
Milton
Concord
Ellington
WEST EAST
~60% of all wells
~15% of all wells
~ 10% of all wells
Shallow Well, < 50 Ft. to Bedrock
Deep river valleys in the eastern portion of the county can erode the protective shale layer, exposing the layers below to contamination.
900
1000
1100
1200
1300
900
1000
1100
1200
1300
Claremont
Wasioja
Mantorville
EAST
SOIL, SAND & GRAVEL
GALENA LIMESTONE
DECORAH SHALE
ST. PETER SANDSTONE PRAIRIE DU CHIEN
DOLOMITE/SANDSTONE
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Miles
Subsurface Geologic Cross-Section
Generalized Geographic Formations Underlying
Ellington, Concord and Milton Townships
WEST
ElevationAbove SeaLevel (ft)
GALENA LIMESTONE
DECORAH SHALEST. PETER SANDSTONE
PDC
SOIL, SAND & GRAVEL
Subsurface Geologic Cross-Section
ElevationAbove SeaLevel (ft)
Generalized Geographic Formations Underlying
Ellington, Concord and Milton Townships
900
1000
1100
1200
1300
900
1000
1100
1200
1300
WEST Ripley Ashland
Canisteo
EAST
GALENA LIMESTONE
DECORAH SHALEST. PETER SANDSTONE
PDC
ElevationAbove SeaLevel (ft)
WEST Westfield
Hayfield
Vernon
EAST
CEDAR VALLEY-MAQUOKETA LIMESTONE
900
1000
1100
1200
1300
900
1000
1100
1200
1300
SOIL, SAND & GRAVEL
Generalized Geographic Formations Underlying
Ellington, Concord and Milton Townships
Subsurface Geologic Cross-Section
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Miles
Nitrogen
Fertilizer
Applied Run Off toSurface Water
Nitrate Utilized by Plant in Root
Zone
Nitrate Moves into Field
Tile,
Then to Surface Water
Nitrate Attaches to Water, Then Moves to Ground
Water
Nitrate’s Pathway to Surface and Ground Water
NITRATE CONTAMINATION
Sources: Barnyard or feedlot run-off, excessive fertilizer, septic systems.
Drinking water standard is 10 mg/L. Levels beyond cause health risks to expectant mothers and infants.
Projected County-wide (Private Wells): - 132 households over standard. - 330 households susceptible.
Nitrate Level in Well Samples 1995-2011 (2138 Samples)
79%
7%
14%0 - 1 mg/L
1 - 10 mg/L
10 + mg/L
BACTERIA CONTAMINATION Presence of coliform bacteria in well
water indicates surface contaminants and disease organisms may be present.
E.Coli is a more serious disease-causing type of coliform bacteria.
Disease symptoms commonly include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever.
Projected County-wide (Private Wells): - 550 households contaminated.
Bacteria in Well Samples 1995 - 2011 (2536 Tests)
E. Coli Present - 2%
Coliform Present
24% Coliform Not Present
74%
High nitrate wells occur most frequently in the Highly
Sensitive Groundwater Area, where depth-to-bedrock is less
than 50 ft, or where underground
sand lenses exist.
AQUIFER - NITRATE SUMMARY FORWELLS TESTED 1996 - 2011
NITRATELEVEL
AQUIFER 0-1 mg/l 1-10 mg/l 10+ mg/l
GALENA LIMESTONE
75 % 17 % 8 %
ST. PETER 89 % 11 % 0 %PRAIRIE du CHIEN
JORDAN 100 % 0 % 0 %
Nitrate levels > 1 mg/l in the St. Peter Sandstone are a reason for concern.
RIPLEY
MILTON
VERNON
WASIOJA
ASHLAND
HAYFIELD
CONCORD
CANISTEO
ELLINGTON
WESTFIELD
CLAREMONT MANTORVILLE
Areas of
Dodge County
where the St.
Peter
Sandstone is
shallow and
vulnerable to
surface
contamination
.
Dodge County Volunteer Nitrate Monitoring Network
• A grant-funded network operating across SE MN since 2007.
• Approximately 100 private well owners participate in Dodge County, sampling their wells every 6 months.
• The Dodge County network is sub-divided into one baseline, and three targeted, groups. The targeted groups are:
1) Wells monitoring areas near known high-nitrate wells.
2) Wells monitoring areas near existing sinkholes.
3) Wells monitoring the regionalong the Decorah Edge.
Ground Water Projects:
St. Peter Sandstone
Glenwood Shale
Platteville Limestone
Decorah Shale
Galena Limesto
neGround water with high nitrate conc.
Ground waters with lower
nitrate conc.
Plant Uptake
Aquifers are Recharged
Decorah Edge Diagram
Water
Well
Nitrates may enter
well water
Wells near the Decorah Edge can sometimes be
affected by nitrate as it wicks around the
shale and is drawn back toward the
well.
Volunteer Nitrate Monitoring Network Results
Nit
rate
Level
(mg
/l)
MN Dept. of Health
Drinking Water Limit
= 10 mg/l0 – 1 mg/l is considered
back-ground level
The recent upward trend
in nitrate level may be due ,
in part, to recent near-
drought conditions,
which tend to concentrate
nitrate in the drinking water
aquifers.
Future Ground Water Efforts: Continue to locate and map new wells
and those with known depth.
Make inexpensive well test kits
available for untested wells at risk of
high nitrate levels.
Maintain recent groundwater
information on the Dodge County
website.
Continue to develop nitrate trends
through the Volunteer Nitrate Monitoring
Network.
Surface Water
- Deal with pollution prevention
and corrective measures.
- Focus on: - Nutrients
- Sediment
- Stream
Flow
Middle Fo
rk Zumbro
River
Milliken Creek Ha
rkcom
Creek
S.Br.Middle Fork Zumbro River
Lower
Branch
Mid-Fk Zu
mbro
Salem Creek
South Fork Zumbro River
Cedar River
Masten Cree
k
N
EW
S
2010 Dodge County
Impaired Waters
Cities
Protected Waters
Impaired Waters
TRANSPARENCY TUBE
THE PRIMARY TOOL
USED IN THE
VOLUNTEER CITIZEN
STREAM MONITORING
PROGRAM
60 cm Tube(Used for the last 15 yrs)
100 cm Tube (Used Now)
Monitoring Year
Tu
be T
ran
sp
are
ncy (
cm
) &
An
nu
al
Rain
fall (
in)
Tube Transparency & Rainfall Trends
5000 Samples !!!
Gathering Stream Macroinvertebrates (BUGS!)
Trendline
Sample of the Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) results generated by examining and sorting the macroinvertebrates (bugs)
gathered from each stream site. Upward trend lines indicate an improving stream environment for living organisms.
Salem Creek
South Fork Zumbro
Cedar River
Dodge Cente
r Cre
ek
South Branch Middle Fork Zumbro
Masten Creek
Milliken Creek
Har
kcom
Cre
ek
Middle Fork ZumbroNorth Fork Zumbro
Cedar RiverGrade: B-
41
0
10
20
30
40
50
60Average Tube Reading (cm) - 2000-2006 & 2007-2011
2007-2011
Sub-Watershed
Report Cards*
* Based on transparency tube readings, insect populations, and
other factors.
•Factors include sub-watershed size,
land use, historical data, and soil characteristics.
Salem Creek
South Fork Zumbro
Cedar River
Dodge Cente
r Cre
ek
South Branch Middle Fork Zumbro
Masten Creek
Milliken CreekH
arkc
om C
reek
Middle Fork ZumbroNorth Fork Zumbro
South Fork Zumbro
Grade: C-
45
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Average Tube Reading (cm) - 2000-2006 & 2007-2011
2000-2006 2007-2011
Trendline
%U%U
%U
%U
%U
%U
%U
%U%U
%U %U
%U
%U%U%U%U
%U
%U
%U %U %U
%U
%U
%U
%U%U
%U
%U
%U
%U%U
%U
%U
%U
%U
%U%U
%U %U
%U
%U%U%U%U
%U
%U
%U %U %U
%U
%U
%U
%U
Ced a
r R ive r
South Fork Zumbro River
Salem Creek
Lower BranchMiddle Fork Zumbro
Milliken Creek
Cedar River
Middle Fork Zumbro River
Har
kcom
Cre
ek
S.Br.Middle Fork Zumbro River
Masten
Creek
North Fork ZumbroTrendline
4851
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Average Tube Reading (cm) - 2000-2006 & 2007-2011
2000-2006 2007-2011
Salem CreekGrade: B+
Salem Creek
South Fork Zumbro
Cedar River
Dodge Cente
r Cre
ek
South Branch Middle Fork Zumbro
Masten Creek
Milliken CreekH
arkc
om C
reek
Middle Fork ZumbroNorth Fork Zumbro
Dodge Center Creek
Grade: B
4446
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Average Tube Reading (cm) - 2000-2006 & 2007-2011
2000-2006 2007-2011
Salem Creek
South Fork Zumbro
Cedar River
Dodge Cente
r Cre
ek
South Branch Middle Fork Zumbro
Masten Creek
Milliken Creek
Har
kcom
Cre
ek
Middle Fork ZumbroNorth Fork Zumbro
Trendline
4750
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Average Tube Reading (cm) - 2000-2006 & 2007-2011
2000-2006 2007-2011
Masten CreekGrade: B+
Salem Creek
South Fork Zumbro
Cedar River
Dodge Cente
r Cre
ek
South Branch Middle Fork Zumbro
Masten Creek
Milliken CreekH
arkc
om C
reek
Middle Fork ZumbroNorth Fork Zumbro
South Branch Middle Fork
ZumbroGrade: C-
3236
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Average Tube Reading (cm) - 2000-2006 & 2007-2011
2000-2006 2007-2011
Salem Creek
South Fork Zumbro
Cedar River
Dodge Cente
r Cre
ek
South Branch Middle Fork Zumbro
Masten Creek
Milliken Creek
Har
kcom
Cre
ek
Middle Fork ZumbroNorth Fork Zumbro
Milliken Creek
Grade: C+
46 48
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Average Tube Reading (cm) - 2000-2006 & 2007-2011
2000-2006 2007-2011
Salem Creek
South Fork Zumbro
Cedar River
Dodge Cente
r Cre
ek
South Branch Middle Fork Zumbro
Masten Creek
Milliken Creek
Har
kcom
Cre
ek
Middle Fork ZumbroNorth Fork Zumbro
Harkcom Creek
Grade: D+
49
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Average Tube Reading (cm) - 2000-2006 & 2007-2011
2000-2006 2007-2011
Salem Creek
South Fork Zumbro
Cedar River
Dodge Cente
r Cre
ek
South Branch Middle Fork Zumbro
Masten Creek
Milliken Creek
Har
kcom
Cre
ek
Middle Fork ZumbroNorth Fork Zumbro
Middle Fork Zumbro
Grade: A-
4448
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Average Tube Reading (cm) - 2000-2006 & 2007-2011
2000-2006 2007-2011
Trendline
CONTINUOUS
STREAM MONITORING
STATION
Located on the South
Branch Middle Fork
Zumbro near Olmsted
County, this station
continuously monitors:
•Air Temperature
•Rainfall
•Water Temperature
•Water Depth
•Turbidity
Sampling sensors are an essential part of the monitoring station.
Ongoing & Future Surface Water Programs &
Projects:
Before
After
Dodge County 50-Foot Stream Buffer Program
Buffers provide a deterrent to the movement of soil and nutrients into the stream.
Increasing Row Crop Production Increases the Importance of Adequate
Stream Buffers to Protect Water Quality
In Dodge County, 276 failing or inadequate
septic systems have been repaired or replaced in the
last 5 years.
Both the septic Both the septic and feedlot and feedlot programs provide programs provide pollution pollution prevention prevention benefits to both benefits to both surface water and surface water and ground water.ground water.
13 problematic feedlots have been fixed in the last
3 years.
Date
Nit
rate
Level
(mg
/l)
Field tile drainage is diverted through the woodchips, where a high percentage of nitrate is removed.
Using Saturated Buffers for Nitrate Removal
Field tile water runs through a perforated tile parallel to
the buffered ditch or stream, allowing limited drainage
through the buffer, which reduces nitrate levels.
Edge-of-Field Monitoring Stations
Water samples are gathered and analyzed, providing accurate
information to producers on nutrients that leave their fields during snow-melt and runoff events.
Discovery Farms SiteMN Dept. of Ag. Grant Site
SLOW THE FLOW ! SLOW THE FLOW ! Reducing flood potential Reducing flood potential and sediment transfer by and sediment transfer by reducing the quantity and reducing the quantity and
speed at which rainfall speed at which rainfall reaches the stream. reaches the stream.
100 years ago, 10% of rainfall ran off to rivers and streams
due to extensive prairies, woodlands, wetlands.
We’ve now lost 95% of prairies, 90% of wetlands.
Prior to 1942 – one major flood – since then, 11 major floods.
Development of paved surfaces, more lawns, ag. drainage, etc. – all contributed to 41% flow increase between 1910 – 1980.
Stream bank erosion may account for 30+% of stream sediment.
Mantorville – South Branch Middle Fork Zumbro - September 2010
Mantorville - South Branch Middle Fork Zumbro - June 2004
Mantorville - South Branch Middle Fork Zumbro - June 2001
2007 photo – Bridge near Byron Sportsmen’s Club
2011 photo – Bridge near Byron Sportsmen’s Club
Soil loss from 2010 flood event
Urban: Rural:
Rain Gardens
Stormwater Holding Ponds
Rain Barrels
Pervious Paving
Lawn Management
Wetland Restoration
Conservation Drainage
Water & Soil Retention Structures
Perennial Vegetation
What Can We
Do ?
Future Surface Water Efforts
Continue to promote the Stream
Transparency Monitoring & Stream
Macroinvertebrate Programs.
Work with partners and cooperating
agencies to develop new projects and
programs which serve to reduce nutrients,
sediment, and stream flow.
Expand the number of instrument-
equipped sampling stations on Dodge
County streams.
Maintain recent surface water
information on the Dodge County website.
Be Good to Your Streams !
…. and Your Wells, as Well !