Estimation of travel times for seven tributaries of the Mississippi River, St. Cloud to Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2003

Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5192
Prepared in cooperation with the Metropolitan Council, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Minnesota Department of Health, and the cities of St. Cloud, Minneapolis, and St. Paul, Minnesota
By: , and 

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Abstract

Travel times for seven streams tributary to the Mississippi River from St. Cloud to Minneapolis, Minnesota, were estimated for three flow conditions; low, median, and high. Travel times were estimated for Sauk, Elk, Crow, and Rum Rivers, and Elm, Coon, and Rice Creeks. Regression equations based on watershed characteristics of drainage area, river slope, mean annual discharge, and instantaneous discharge at the time of measurement from more than 900 streams across the nation were used to estimate travel times. Travel times were estimated for the leading edge, peak concentration, and trailing edge of tracer-response curves. To test the validity of these equations, a time of travel study, using a luminescent dye, was conducted on the Sauk River, from Rockville, to the confluence with the Mississippi River on June 16, 2003, at a discharge of 457 ft3/s at Rockville. Dye was injected in the Sauk River at Rockville, and time and concentrations were measured at three sampling sections downstream; at County Road 121, Veterans Drive, and County Road 1 near the mouth. The estimated travel times for the leading edge, peak concentration, and trailing edge at County Road 1 were 10.6 hrs, 11.9 hrs, and 14.6 hrs, respectively. The measured travel times for the leading edge, peak concentration, and trailing edge were 13.4 hrs, 15.5 hrs, and 20.5 hrs, respectively for the 15.7 mile reach.

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Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Estimation of travel times for seven tributaries of the Mississippi River, St. Cloud to Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2003
Series title Scientific Investigations Report
Series number 2004-5192
DOI 10.3133/sir20045192
Year Published 2004
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Contributing office(s) Minnesota Water Science Center
Description iv, 17 p.
Country United States
State Minnesota
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
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