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| USGS Minnesota Water Science Center |
U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2007–5073
By Thomas A. Winterstein
This report is available below as a 37-page PDF for viewing and printing.
The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, is studying six alternatives for delivering water to the Red River of the North Valley in North Dakota and to the cities of Breckenridge, Moorhead, and East Grand Forks, Minnesota. In order to evaluate these alternatives the Bureau of Reclamation needs estimates of ground-water use for 2030 and 2050 for six counties in Minnesota: Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, and Wilkin Counties. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Bureau of Reclamation, conducted a study to estimate ground-water use in these counties for 2030 and 2050.
This report (1) describes the methods used to estimate ground-water use for the years 2030 and 2050 for six Minnesota counties: Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, and Wilkin Counties, (2) presents the estimated domestic, commercial, industrial, and irrigation ground-water use for the years 2030 and 2050 for these six counties, and (3) compares the estimated ground-water use with published estimates of recharge to three surficial aquifers: Buffalo, Otter Tail surficial, and Pelican River sand plain.
Between 74 and 82 percent of the reported ground-water use in the 6 years from 2000 to 2005 was used for irrigation of major crops. The next major use of ground-water was public water supply for domestic use, between 13 and 19 percent of the reported ground-water use. Together they account for 90 to 95 percent of the appropriated ground water in the 6-year period.
The total estimated 2030 ground-water use for the six counties ranges from 27,826–36,177 million gallons per year (Mgal/yr), and the total estimated 2050 ground-water use ranges from 31,313–41,746 Mgal/yr.
The estimated recharge to the Buffalo aquifer, Otter Tail surficial aquifer, and Pelican River sand-plain aquifer is 3,707, 51,000, and 4,900–8,900 Mgal/yr, respectively. The range of the estimated 2050 ground-water withdrawals from the Buffalo, Otter Tail surficial, and Pelican River sand-plain aquifers is 1,234–1,776 Mgal/yr from the Buffalo aquifer, 11,728–14,820 Mgal/yr from the Otter Tail surficial aquifer, and 3,385–4,298 Mgal/yr from the Pelican River sand-plain aquifer.
Introduction
Purpose and Scope
Previous Studies
Properties of Surficial Aquifers
Buffalo Aquifer
Otter Tail Surficial Aquifer
Pelican River Sand-Plain Aquifer
Estimating Ground-Water Use for 2030 and 2050
Water-Use Data
Methods for Estimating Domestic Water Use
Estimated Population for 2030 and 2050
Population Estimates Made by the Bureau of Reclamation
Population Estimates Made by the Minnesota State Demographic Center
Population Estimates Made in This Study
Domestic Water-Use Rate
Estimated Ground Water Used for Domestic Water Use for 2030 and 2050
Estimated Ground Water Used for Commercial Water Use for 2030 and 2050
Estimated Ground Water Used for Industrial Water Use for 2030 and 2050
Estimated Ground Water Used for Irrigation for 2030 and 2050
Comparison of Estimated Ground-Water Use With Estimated Recharge to Buffalo, Otter Tail Surficial, and Pelican River Sand-Plain Aquifers
Summary
References Cited
Appendix 1. Supplemental Water-Use Data
| 1. | Map of study area showing major surficial aquifers. | |
| 2. | Map showing wells in the water-appropriation permit data base from which water was withdrawn during 2000–2005. | |
| 3. | Graphs showing census and estimated populations for Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, and Wilkin Counties, Minnesota, 1900–2050. | |
| 4. | Graphs showing historic and estimated irrigation water use for Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, and Wilkin Counties, Minnesota, 1980–2050. | |
| 5. | Map showing average rate of ground-water usage per year for irrigation by well, 2000–2005, in Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, and Wilkin Counties, Minnesota. |
| 1. | Aquifer characteristics of the Buffalo aquifer, Otter Tail surficial aquifer, and Pelican River sand-plan aquifer, northwestern Minnesota. | |
| 2. | Water budgets for the Buffalo aquifer, Otter Tail surficial aquifer, and Pelican River sand-plain aquifer, northwestern Minnesota. | |
| 3. | Estimated populations and estimated annual domestic water use in Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, and Wilkin Counties, Minnesota, 2030 and 2050. | |
| 4. | Estimated commercial and industrial water use supplied by ground water in Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, and Wilkin Counties, Minnesota, 2030 and 2050. | |
| 5. | Acres of irrigated crop land in Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, and Wilkin Counties, Minnesota, 1987–2002. | |
| 6. | Estimated ground water used for irrigation for 2030 and 2050 in Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, and Wilkin Counties, Minnesota. | |
| 7. | Estimated ground water use in Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, and Wilkin Counties, Minnesota, 2030 and 2050. | |
| 8. | Total ground-water use by aquifer in Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, and Wilkin Counties, Minnesota, 2000–2005. | |
| 9. | Estimated withdrawals from the Buffalo aquifer, Otter Tail surficial aquifer, and Pelican sand-plain aquifer, 2030 and 2050. | |
| 1-1. | Average domestic water use for public suppliers in Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, and Wilkin Counties, Minnesota, 2000–2005. | |
| 1-2. | Average commercial, industrial, agricultural, and other water uses for public-water suppliers in Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, and Wilkin Counties, Minnesota, 2000–2005. | |
| 1-3. | Water use by category for major water users in Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, and Wilkin Counties, Minnesota, 2000–2005. |
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Printable front and back covers (45 kB) - 2 pages (8.5" by 11" paper)
REPORT (1.6 MB) - 37 pages (8.5" by 11" paper)
Suggested Citation:
Winterstein, T.A., 2007, Estimated ground-water use in Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, and Wilkin Counties, Minnesota, for 2030 and 2050: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2007–5073, 31 p.
For more information about the activities of the USGS Minnesota Water Science Center, see http://mn.water.usgs.gov/.
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| U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey Persistent URL: https://pubs.water.usgs.gov/sir20075073 Page Contact Information: USGS Publishing Network Last modified: Thursday, 01-Dec-2016 19:44:37 EST |
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