The Minnesota Groundwater Tracing Database (MGTD) contains information from over 400 groundwater traces in Minnesota. The groundwater traces were primarily conducted using fluorescent dyes. This information includes tracer input locations, inferred groundwater flow vectors, surface and subsurface springshed delineations, a comprehensive list of sampling locations that indicates whether or not the tracer was detected, and links to reports and associated documentation.
Minnesota Groundwater Tracing Database
The web map includes links to the Minnesota Spring Inventory, the Karst Feature Inventory, and the County Well Index. View inferred groundwater flow direction, springsheds, and dye input locations with the following link.
- Minnesota Groundwater Tracing Database
- GIS files are available on request.
Groundwater Trace Reports
Trace reports, where available, can be opened by clicking the dye input points in the Minnesota Groundwater Tracing Database web map or the links in the table below.
Reports were developed in a collaborative effort with the DNR and the University of Minnesota, with support from soil and water conservation districts, Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, and the local caving community. Groundwater tracing investigations may cross county boundaries. Reports are organized by county according to the tracer input point.
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Location |
Report |
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Dakota County |
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Trout Brook |
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Dodge County |
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Salem Creek |
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Fillmore County |
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Bat River Cave |
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Canfield Creek |
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Canton-Frego |
1941 Ideal Creamery | 1993 | 2008 | 2009 | 2009, 2010, 2011 | 1943 AWWA |
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Crystal Creek |
2010 | 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016 a | 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016 b | 2018 |
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Duschee Creek
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Forestville North |
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Forestville State Park |
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Fountain |
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Freiheit Spring |
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Jeff Green 24K USGS Quadrangles |
Canton
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Goliath's Cave |
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Harmony |
2007, 2009, 2010 | Spring 2008 | Fall 2008 | 1943 AWWA | 2018 |
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Holy Grail Cave |
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Ironwood Landfill, South Branch Root River Traces |
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Meyer’s Basin and Forlorn River |
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Mystery Cave |
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Odessa Spring |
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Ostrander |
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Ron Spong 24K USGS Quadrangles |
Chatfield a | Chatfield b [redacted]
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Shady Creek |
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South Branch Root River |
1983 | 2006, 2007, 2008 | 2009 | 2009 GSA |
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South Fork Root River |
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Spring Valley Caverns |
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Stone Barn |
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Tyson Spring |
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Wykoff |
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York Blind Valley |
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Hennepin County |
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Camp Coldwater (Ft. Snelling) |
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Houston County |
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Bridge Creek |
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Daley Creek |
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Girl Scout Camp Creek |
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Indian Springs Creek |
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Sullivan Creek |
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Winnebago Creek |
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Hubbard County |
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Deep Portage |
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Mower County |
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Grand Meadow |
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Jeff Green 24K USGS Quadrangles |
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Olmsted County |
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Bear Spring |
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Devil's Den |
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International |
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Ironwood |
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Morehart Farm |
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Orion, Marion, Eyota |
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Oronoco Landfill |
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Rochester |
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Salem Creek |
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South Orion |
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Springdale |
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Wiskow |
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Pine County |
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Askov |
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Wabasha County |
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Gilbert Creek |
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Gorman Creek |
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Winona County |
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Ahrensfeld Borson NE |
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Cambell Valley Creek |
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Lewiston Interchange |
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Murphy (Winona County) Landfill |
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Stockton |
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Whitewater River Valley |
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Yellow Medicine County |
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Sioux Nation |
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Journal publications
- Hydrogeology Journal – Published 15 March 2023
- Carbonates and Evaporites - Volume 27, Issue 2, June 2012
- Sedimentary Geology - Volume 184, Issues 3-4, February 2006
- International Journal of Speleology - Volume 5, Issues 3-4, December 1973
Conference proceedings
- 2023: 17th Multidisciplinary Conference on Sinkholes and the Engineering and Environmental Impacts of Karst
- 2020: 16th Multidisciplinary Conference on Sinkholes and the Engineering and Environmental Impacts of Karst
- 2018: 15th Multidisciplinary Conference on Sinkholes and the Engineering and Environmental Impacts of Karst
- 2015: 14th Multidisciplinary Conference on Sinkholes and the Engineering and Environmental Impacts of Karst
- Goliath's Cave, Minnesota: Epigenic Modification and Extension of Preexisting Hypogenic Conduits
- Case Studies of Animal Feedlots on Karst in Olmsted County, Minnesota
- Conduit Flow in the Cambrian Lone Rock Formation, Southeastern Minnesota
- Creation of a Map of Paleozoic Bedrock Springsheds in Southeastern Minnesota
- Ordovician Karst of Southeast Minnesota Field Trip Guidebook
- 2013: 13th Multidisciplinary Conference on Sinkholes and the Engineering and Environmental Impacts of Karst
- 2008: 11th Multidisciplinary Conference on Sinkholes and the Engineering and Environmental Impacts of Karst
- 2005: 10th Multidisciplinary Conference on Sinkholes and the Engineering and Environmental Impacts of Karst
- 2003: 9th Multidisciplinary Conference on Sinkholes and the Engineering and Environmental Impacts of Karst
- 1995: 5th Multidisciplinary Conference on Sinkholes and the Engineering and Environmental Impacts of Karst
- 1995: Proceeding of the International Association of Hydrogeologists XXVI International Congress
- 1991: 3rd Conference on Hydrogeology, Ecology, Monitoring and Management of Ground Water in Karst Terranes
- 1986: Environmental Problems in Karst Terranes and Their Solutions Conference
- 1986: 5th International Symposium on Underground Water Tracing
- 1984: 1st Multidisciplinary Conference on Sinkholes
Miscellaneous
- 2020 (May–June): Minnesota Conservation Volunteer
- 2016: Minnesota Conservation Volunteer
- 2005: Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources Report
- 1994: Mystery Cave Resource Evaluation (Groundwater) - Interpretive Report
- 1983: National Speleological Society Bulletin
- 1983: Journal of Freshwater
Related Information
- Springshed Assessment Methods for Paleozoic Bedrock Springs of Southeastern Minnesota
Questions?
- John Barry, Department of Natural Resources, 651-259-5660