Minnesota Groundwater Tracing Database

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.

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.

LocationReport
Dakota County
Trout Brook2011, 2012a | 2011, 2012b
Dodge County
Salem Creek2004
Fillmore County
Bat River Cave2008
Canfield Creek2009
Canton-Frego1941 Ideal Creamery | 1993 | 2008 | 2009 | 2009, 2010, 2011 | 1943 AWWA
Crystal Creek2010 | 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016 a | 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016 b | 2018
Duschee Creek 
Lanesboro State Fish Hatchery		1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992 | 1994
Forestville North2008
Forestville State Park2013a | 2013b
Fountain1984 | 2012 | 2016
Freiheit Spring2009a | 2009b | 2010a | 2010b
Jeff Green 24K USGS QuadranglesCanton 
Cherry Grove
Fountain a | Fountain b
Greenleafton a | Greenleafton b
Harmony a | Harmony b
Ostrander a | Ostrander b
Wykoff
Goliath's Cave2007
Harmony2007, 2009, 2010 | Spring 2008 | Fall 2008 | 1943 AWWA | 2018
Holy Grail Cave2015 [cave map]
Ironwood Landfill, South Branch Root River Traces1981 | 1982
Meyer’s Basin and Forlorn River1996-1999
Mystery Cave1996 [cave map]
Odessa Spring1997
Ostrander1993
Ron Spong 24K USGS QuadranglesCanton 

Chatfield a | Chatfield b [redacted]
Cherry Grove
Fountain a | Fountain b
Greenleafton a | Greenleafton b
Harmony a | Harmony b
Spring Valley
Stewartville a | Stewartville b
Washington a | Washington b
Wykoff a | Wykoff b
Shady Creek2012
South Branch Root River1983 | 2006, 2007, 2008 | 2009 | 2009 GSA
South Fork Root River2007
Spring Valley Caverns2003 | 2006a | 2006b
Stone Barn2004
Tyson Spring2009
Wykoff2012
York Blind Valley2017
Hennepin County
Camp Coldwater (Ft. Snelling)2001 (p. 4–6) | 2001, 2015
Houston County
Bridge Creek2012, 2013
Daley Creek2009
Girl Scout Camp Creek2013
Indian Springs Creek2010
Sullivan Creek2009
Winnebago Creek2008
Hubbard County
Deep Portage1997
Mower County
Grand Meadow1998
Jeff Green 24K USGS QuadranglesLeroy
Ostrander a | Ostrander b
Olmsted County
Bear Spring2018
Devil's Den2018
International2016
Ironwood2021
Morehart Farm2007
Orion, Marion, Eyota2014, 2015, 2016 | 2015
Oronoco Landfill1989, 1990 (p. 417 - 429) | 1989, 1990
Rochester1942 | 1943 AWWA
Salem Creek2004
South Orion2021
Springdale2016 | 2017
Wiskow2014
Pine County
Askov2005a | 2005b
Wabasha County
Gilbert Creek2012
Gorman Creek2011
Winona County
Ahrensfeld Borson NE2007 | 2007, 2008, 2010
Cambell Valley Creek2012, 2013
Lewiston Interchange2008
Murphy (Winona County) Landfill1982a | 1982b
Stockton2014 | 2016
Whitewater River Valley1980a | 1980b | 1980, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012 | 2010
Yellow Medicine County
Sioux Nation1994

Journal publications

Conference proceedings

Miscellaneous

Related Information

Questions?

  • John Barry, Department of Natural Resources, 651-259-5660

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