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Water-Surface Profile Maps for the Mississippi River near Prairie Island, Minnesota, 2019

Scientific Investigations Report 2021-5018
Prepared in cooperation with the Prairie Island Indian Community in the State of Minnesota
By:  and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20215018

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Abstract

Digital water-surface profile maps for a 14-mile reach of the Mississippi River near Prairie Island, Minnesota, from the confluence of the St. Croix River at Prescott, Wisconsin, to upstream from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Lock and Dam No. 3 (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Inventory of Dams number MN00595) in Welch, Minnesota, were created by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the Prairie Island Indian Community in the State of Minnesota. The water-surface profile maps depict estimates of the areal extent and depth of water inundation corresponding to selected water levels (stages) at the USGS streamgage Mississippi River at Prescott, Wisconsin (USGS station number 05344500). Current conditions for estimating near-real-time areas of inundation by use of USGS streamgage information may be obtained from the National Water Information System on the internet at https://doi.org/10.5066/F7P55KJN.

In this study, water-surface profiles were computed for the stream reach by means of a one-dimensional step-backwater model. The model was calibrated by using the most current stage-discharge relations at the USGS streamgage Mississippi River at Prescott, Wisconsin (USGS station number 05344500). The hydraulic model was then used to determine four water-surface profiles for stream stages at 37.00, 39.00, 40.00, and 41.00 feet (ft) referenced to the streamgage datum and ranging from bankfull to approximately 2 ft below the highest recorded stage at the streamgage, which is 43.11 ft. The simulated water-surface profiles were then combined with a geographic information system digital elevation model (derived from light detection and ranging data having a 0.35-ft vertical and 1.97-ft root mean square error horizontal resolution) in order to delineate the area inundated at each stage.

The combination of maps provided in this report and real-time stage data from the upstream USGS streamgage provide emergency management personnel and residents with information that is critical for flood response activities such as evacuations and road closures as well as for post flood recovery efforts.

Suggested Citation

Krall, A.L., and Prokopec, J.G., 2022, Water-surface profile maps for the Mississippi River near Prairie Island, Minnesota, 2019: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2021–5018, 11 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20215018.

ISSN: 2328-0328 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Acknowledgments
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Constructing Water-Surface Profiles
  • Water-Surface Profile Mapping
  • Summary
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Water-surface profile maps for the Mississippi River near Prairie Island, Minnesota, 2019
Series title Scientific Investigations Report
Series number 2021-5018
DOI 10.3133/sir20215018
Year Published 2022
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Michigan Water Science Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center
Description Report: vii, 11 p.; Data Release; Dataset
Country United States
State Minnesota
Other Geospatial Prairie Island, Mississippi River
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details