Hydrology and Climate

The following metadata records have an online linkage to the data set:

Common Stream and Watershed Numbering System (CSAW) Database - The Common Stream and Watershed Numbering System (CSAW) database was developed by the Department of Natural Resources Division of Waters as part of its 1979 Watershed Mapping Project. The CSAW file uniquely numbers all streams and river basins in Minnesota so that all major and minor watersheds delineated in the 1979 DNR Watershed Mapping Project can be referenced by hydrologic order. The CSAW number consists of two parts: the Stream Number and the Watershed Number. There is a unique CSAW number for each of the 5600+ minor watersheds in the state. The Stream Number is consistent for the length of a stream and is basically the Kittle Stream Number used by the DNR Section of Fisheries. The Watershed Number provides additional information which allows the system to correctly identify the hydrologic order of basins.

Conservation Needs Inventory (CNI) Watersheds of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service - 1993 Version - USDA-NRCS watersheds, based on the Conservation Needs Inventory, are smaller than the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) major watersheds and are usually aggregations of several DNR minor watersheds. Conservation Needs Inventory Watersheds were originally delineated by the United States Department of Agriculture in 1967 on the Minnesota Department of Transportation's County Highway Map Series. The current version of the Conservation Needs Inventory Watershed Boundary file, NRCSWS93, was derived from the 1:100,000-scale, 1993 vector version of the DNR Major/Minor Watershed file, WSHED23, and a translation table originally created by NRCS, which assigned each DNR minor watershed to an NRCS Conservation Needs Inventory watershed.

Conservation Needs Inventory (CNI) Watersheds of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service - 1995 Version - The current version of the Conservation Needs Inventory Watershed Boundary file, NRCSWS95, was derived from the 1:100,000-scale, 1995 vector version of the DNR Major/Minor Watershed file, WSHED95, and a translation table originally created by NRCS, which assigned each DNR minor watershed to an NRCS Conservation Needs Inventory watershed.

DNR Major Watershed file - 1993 Version (MAJOR23) - The file, MAJOR23, represents the 81 major watersheds delineated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for the 1979 Watershed Mapping Project. The 81 major watersheds are consistent with the United States Geological Survey's 8-digit Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) .

DNR Major Watershed file - 1995 Version (MAJOR95) - The file, MAJOR95, represents the 81 major watersheds delineated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for the 1979 Watershed Mapping Project. The 81 major watersheds are consistent with the United States Geological Survey's 8-digit Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC).

DNR Major/Minor Watershed file - 1993 Version (WSHED23) - The file, WSHED23, represents the 81 major watersheds and the approximately 5600 minor watersheds delineated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for the 1979 Watershed Mapping Project. It represents the 1993 scanned vector version of the DNR base maps. In addition to the coverage itself (WSHED23), two table files are associated with the coverage. MAJOR23.TXT is a table of DNR major watershed name, DNR major watershed number, and USGS code. WSHED23.TXT is the names table associated with the minor watersheds.

DNR Major/Minor Watershed file - 1995 Version (WSHED95) - The file, WSHED95, represents the 81 major watersheds and the approximately 5600 minor watersheds delineated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for the 1979 Watershed Mapping Project and scanned into a vector file in 1993. In addition, it incorporates 1995 updates to those delineations made by the United States Geological Survey and the Mankato State University Water Resources Center in the Minnesota River Basin and surrounding areas in South-Central Minnesota. Areas of drainage into the Minnesota River Basin from Iowa and South Dakota are also represented on this file.

DNR Waters Lakes List, extracted from database LAKES-DB - This data table lists the major attributes of lakes and wetlands, by DNR Waters lake number, as extracted from the DNR database, LAKES-DB. Information on the table includes DNR Waters lake number, lake name, lake alternate name, lake basin size (from Protected Waters Inventory, if available), Protected Waters status, lake location as reported in DNR Bulletin 25 (1968), wetland type (if applicable), and Shoreland Management Classification.

Level III Ecoregions of the Conterminous United States (LMIC/MPCA Version of USEPA Omernik Map for Minnesota - 'ECOREG') - Aquatic ecoregions were defined by Omernik and associates at the Corvallis Environmental Research Laboratory of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Omernik Ecoregions are based on land use, soils, land surface form and potential natural vegetation, and are used by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to categorize stream and lake characteristics. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency recompiled the ecoregions in terms of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources major and minor watershed boundaries. The Land Management Information Center created the ecoregion file using the MLMIS40 DNR watershed files and a translation table. This file represents the Level III Ecoregion. There are 7 Level III ecoregion categories in Minnesota.

Major River Centerline Traces in Minnesota, extracted from DNR River Kilometer Index (RKI) Files - The MNRIVERS file represents stream centerline traces for 52 major rivers in Minnesota. These river traces were extracted from the DNR River Kilometer Index (RKI) Stream Trace files. MNRIVERS represents a generalization of the state's river network.

USGS 2-digit Hydrologic Unit Boundaries (HUC2) derived from 1993 DNR Major/Minor Watershed File - The file, HUC2_93, represents the boundaries of the United States Geological Survey's 2-digit Hydrologic Units. There are four distinct 2-digit USGS HUC Units in Minnesota, representing the broad drainage basins in Minnesota -- the Great Lakes, the Upper Mississippi, the Souris-Red-Rainy, and the Missouri. The file was created by collapsing the 1993 DNR Major Watershed GIS file (MAJOR23), based on the first two digits of the USGS 8-digit hydrologic unit code. The DNR Major Watershed file represents the USGS delineation at the 8-digit level. The DNR Major watershed file in turn, represents the collapsing of the boundaries of the DNR Minor watershed file (WSHED23) - 1993 vintage.

USGS 2-digit Hydrologic Unit Boundaries (HUC2) derived from 1995 DNR Major/Minor Watershed File - The file, HUC2_95, represents the boundaries of the United States Geological Survey's 2-digit Hydrologic Units. There are four distinct 2-digit USGS HUC units in Minnesota, representing the broad drainage basins in Minnesota -- the Great Lakes, the Upper Mississippi, the Souris-Red-Rainy, and the Missouri. The file was created by collapsing the 1995 DNR Major Watershed GIS file (MAJOR95), based on the first two digits of the USGS 8-digit hydrologic unit code. The DNR Major Watershed file represents the USGS delineation at the 8-digit level. The DNR Major watershed file in turn represents the collapsing of the boundaries of the DNR Minor watershed file (WSHED95) - 1995 vintage.

USGS 4-digit Hydrologic Unit Boundaries (HUC4) derived from 1993 DNR Major/Minor Watershed File - The file, HUC4_93, represents the boundaries of the United States Geological Survey's 4-digit Hydrologic Units. There are 12 distinct 4-digit USGS HUC Units in Minnesota. The file was created by collapsing the 1993 DNR Major Watershed GIS file (MAJOR23), based on the first four digits of the USGS hydrologic unit code. The DNR Major Watershed file represents the USGS delineation at the 8-digit level. The DNR Major watershed file in turn, represents the collapsing of the boundaries of the DNR Minor watershed file (WSHED23) - 1993 vintage.

USGS 4-digit Hydrologic Unit Boundaries (HUC4) derived from 1995 DNR Major/Minor Watershed File - The file, HUC4_95, represents the boundaries of the United States Geological Survey's 4-digit Hydrologic Units. There are twelve distinct 2-digit USGS HUC units in Minnesota, representing the broad drainage basins in Minnesota. The file was created by collapsing the 1995 DNR Major Watershed GIS file (MAJOR95), based on the first four digits of the USGS 8-digit hydrologic unit code. The DNR Major Watershed file represents the USGS delineation at the 8-digit level. The DNR Major watershed file in turn represents the collapsing of the boundaries of the DNR Minor watershed file (WSHED95) - 1995 vintage.

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The following metadata records do not have an online linkage to the data set:

Statewide 100 Meter EPPL7/EPIC2000 Data Set - a statewide data set that consists of approximately 400 raster-formatted data layers. It is available on a single CD-ROM in either EPPL7 or ERDAS format. The data themes cover a wide range of physical and biological variables along with administrative, political, sociodemographic, and transportation data. The data collection unit for most of the variables is the 40-acre parcel. Files have been subdivided into 100-meter by 100-meter grid cells and spatially corrected to provide improved geographic reference. However, this processing step does not improve the original 40-acre resolution accuracy. The data set is designed for use in regional and statewide planning, not for site-specific decision making. This dataset is effectively the MLMIS100 county data set appended into a statewide coverage. There is also a Twin Cities Metropolitan Area 30-meter EPPL&/EPIC2000 Data Set.

The following are examples of hydrology and climate data layers included in the statewide data set:

Climate:
Average precipitation: annual, monthly and growing season (May-September)
Average temperature: annual, monthly and seasonal
Frost: first fall, last spring
Growing degree and heating degree days, growing season
National Weather Service data zones
U.S. Forest Service homoclimes, 1984
Water balance: evapotranspiration, runoff, Palmer Index (8/12/95), shortfall (1987-89)

Water:
Major and minor watersheds
Proximity to water
Rivers (U.S. Geological Survey, line data)

National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) Minnesota - NWI digital data files are records of wetlands location and classification as defined by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS). This data set is available in 7.5-minute by 7.5-minute blocks containing ground planimetric coordinates of wetlands point, line, and area features and wetlands attributes. When completed, the series will provide coverage for all of the contiguous United States, Hawaii, Alaska, and U.S. protectorates in the Pacific and Caribbean. The original digital data as well as the hardcopy maps that were used as the source for the digital data are produced and distributed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's (USFWS) National Wetlands Inventory project.

River Kilometer Index (RKI) Mile Point files - The River Kilometer Index (RKI) Stream Trace Files are a set of arc covers representing centerlines of stream traces for Minnesota rivers. Mile points were generated from the stream trace layers. Stream traces and mile points are stored in coverages by DNR major watershed (corresponding to USGS 8-digit HUC codes). A secondary set of files stores only the trace of the major river and its mile points in each major watershed.

River Kilometer Index (RKI) Stream Trace files - The River Kilometer Index (RKI) Stream Trace Files are a set of arc covers representing centerlines of stream traces for Minnesota rivers. Stream traces are stored in coverages by DNR major watershed (corresponding to USGS 8-digit HUC codes). A secondary coverage stores only the trace of the major river in each major watershed.

State of Minnesota BaseMap '98 - The State of Minnesota BaseMap '98 consists of a number of individual data layers or themes digitized from USGS 7.5-minute quadrangles. These data layers fall into the following broad categories: Transportation System, Civil and Political Boundaries, and Surface Water. A brief description of each BaseMap data layer is included in Section 5 of the metadata record - Entity and Attribute Overview. The following Surface Water data layers are included in BaseMap '98: Lakes, Perennial Streams, Intermittent Streams, and Drainage Ditches

Well Location Point Cover from the Minnesota Geological Survey's County Well Index (CWI) Database - 1992 Version - WELLS is a GIS Point cover created from the well listing in the Minnesota Geological Survey's County Well Index (CWI) data base. The current WELLS point cover was created from the full CWI file obtained from MGS in May, 1992. At that time the file contained 153,748 records. WELLS also contains information on well use, ownership, address, and geology from CWI.

Well Location Point Covers from the Minnesota Geological Survey's County Well Index (CWI) Database - 1997 Version - WELLS is a GIS Point cover created from the well listing in the Minnesota Geological Survey's County Well Index (CWI) data base. The current WELLS point cover was created from the full Minnesota Geological Survey CWI file dated March 1, 1997. At that time the file contained 230,988 records.

Well Location Points (Calculated) from the Minnesota Geological Survey's County Well Index (CWI) - 1998 - WWPTCALC is a GIS Point cover created from the well listing in the Minnesota Geological Survey's County Well Index (CWI) data base. Specifically, this coverage contains wells which have not been field-verified and for which a location was calculated, based on the Public Land Survey coordinates
reported by the driller on the water well driller log submitted to the Minnesota Department of Health.
The current WWPTCALC point cover was created from the CWI file obtained from MGS December
28.1998. At that time, approximately 167,000 records did not have field-verified locations; of these,
157,147 had viable locations (i.e., locations which represented valid combinations of township, range,
and section values for Minnesota.) The associated Index file contains information on well use, well
depth, ownership, address, and geology from County Well Index.

Well Location Points (Field-Verified and Digitized) from the Minnesota Geological Survey's County
Well Index (CWI) - 1998 - WWPT is a GIS Point cover created from wells listed in the Minnesota Geological Survey's County Well Index (CWI) data base. Specifically, this coverage contains wells for which the locations have been verified by the MGS, and a well location has been obtained either by digitizing the location from a USGS 7.5-minute quadrangle map, or by field survey or GPS location. The current WWPT point cover was created from digitized wells available from MGS - CWI as of December 28, 1998. ( 88,598 records at that time). The associated Index file contains information on well use, well depth, ownership, address, and geology from County Well Index.

Regional Hydrogeologic Assessment (Part A) - Red River Valley, Minnesota - A County Geologic Atlas is a systematic study of a county's geologic and ground water resources. Geologic studies include both near-surface deposits and bedrock. Ground water studies include flow systems, aquifer capacity, and ground water chemistry. In some areas sand and gravel deposits, sinkholes, or other features are studied. Interpretation of sensitivity to pollution is also part of an atlas. The information is organized, analyzed, and displayed using geographic information technology.

Regional Hydrogeologic Assessment - Anoka Sand Plain, Minnesota - A County Geologic Atlas is a systematic study of a county's geologic and ground water resources. Geologic studies include both near-surface deposits and bedrock. Ground water studies include flow systems, aquifer capacity, and ground water chemistry. In some areas sand and gravel deposits, sinkholes, or other features are studied. Interpretation of sensitivity to pollution is also part of an atlas. The information is organized, analyzed, and displayed using geographic information technology.

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The following data sets cover the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area only. These metadata records have an online linkage to the data set:

Mississippi National River and Recreation Area - This layer shows the boundary of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area within the Twin Cities metropolitan area. It includes lines for the boundaries of the MNRRA districts (e.g. rural open space, urban diversified, etc.). It is derived from a digital file received from the National Park Service and modified to more closely match existing public land survey and street centerline layers where the lines appeared to be coincident.

Sewer Interceptor System - This layer contains data for the sewer interceptor system in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Owned, operated and maintained by the Metropolitan Council Environmental Services division, the interceptor system provides the link from community sewer systems to the wastewater treatment facilities in the seven county metropolitan area.

Sewersheds - This layer contains the rough boundaries of the sewersheds for the Twin Cities metropolitan area. A sewer-shed is a defined area that is tributary to a single point along an MCES interceptor pipe (a community connection to an interceptor) or is tributary to a single lift station. Community boundaries are also used to define sewer-shed boundaries. The data are derived from community comprehensive sewer plans.

Waste Water Treatment Plants - This layer contains a point location for each of the waste water treatment plants in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

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Other Information Resources:

Digital Line Graphs (DLGs)
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Digital Line Graphs (DLGs) are digital representations of cartographic information. DLGs of map features are converted to digital form from maps and related sources. Intermediate-scale DLG data are derived from USGS 1:100,000-scale 30- by 60-minute quadrangle maps. Intermediate-scale DLGs are sold in five categories: (1) Public Land Survey System, (2) boundaries, (3) transportation, (4) hydrography, and (5) hypsography. Large-scale DLG data are derived from USGS 1:20,000-, 1:24,000-, and 1:25,000-scale topographic quadrangle maps. Large-scale DLGs are sold in nine categories: (1) hypsography, (2) hydrography, (3) vegetative surface cover, (4) non-vegetative features, (5) boundaries, (6) survey control and markers, (7) transportation; (8) manmade features, and (9) Public Land Survey System. All DLG data distributed by the USGS are DLG-Level 3 (DLG-3), which means the data contain a full range of attribute codes, have full topological structuring, and have passed certain quality-control checks. DLG data can be ordered by contacting the Rolla-Earth Science Information Center (ESIC), 573-308-3500 or 1-888-ASK-USGS. For more information about DLGs, refer to the DLG User Guide.

The Minnesota Land Management Information Center (LMIC) has converted the 1:100,000-scale DLG hydrography data to ARC/INFO format, edge-matched the original files stored by USGS 7.5-minute map sheet, attached flow directions to all river arcs, and corrected obvious coding errors. LMIC also attached Department of Natural Resources Common Stream and Watershed (CSAW) numbers to streams, and DNR Division of Waters lake basin numbers to lakes and wetlands. These enhancements enable users to present information, normally stored in tables, in a map format. Data may be ordered by contacting (LMIC), 651-296-1211. The file unit is 30 minutes latitude by 60 minutes longitude and the cost is $95 for the first unit; $15 for each additional unit.

Digital Raster Graphics (DRGs)
Digital Raster Graphics (DRGs) are scanned images of published U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 1:24,000-, 1:100,000-, and 1:250,000-scale maps. Each file consists of a full color 250 dpi raster file in GeoTIFF format and includes all legend information printed along the margins of the map. The USGS distributes DRGs on Compact Disc-Recordable (CD-R) and can be ordered by contacting the Rolla-Earth Science Information Center (ESIC), 573-308-3500 or 1-888-ASK-USGS. For more information about DRGs, refer to the following: Base Maps for the 1990s - DRGs, DRG Fact Sheet, and DRG User Guide - draft.

Hydrography - Rivers, Lakes and Ditches, Ditchsheds, Lakesheds and Watersheds
This 1:24,000-scale, ARC/INFO data set was developed by Mankato State University Water Resources Center. Files were created to produce surface hydrologic atlases for 13 counties in south-central Minnesota: Blue Earth, Brown, Cottonwood, Faribault, Freeborn, Jackson, Le Sueur, Martin, Nicollet, Sibley, Steele, Waseca, and Watonwan. Rivers and lakes were digitized from U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 1:24,000-scale quadrangles. Local ditch maps were transcribed and digitized. Lakesheds and ditchsheds, and land areas contributing directly to lakes and ditches, were delineated using watershed information. This data set can be ordered by contacting the Minnesota Land Management Information Center (LMIC), 651-296-1211. The file unit is major watersheds within the 13-county study area and the price is $95 for the first unit; $5 for each additional unit. Another version of this data set (file unit is county) is available from Mankato State University Water Resources Center, 507-389-5492.

The Minnesota Climatology Working Group - regularly updated climate data, long-term climate summaries, ski/snowmobile trail information, and agricultural weather information.

National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center (NOHRSC) - snow hydrology data and maps for the U.S. and downloadable ARC/INFO format GIS data sets.

National Weather Service, Chanhassen, MN - local weather forecasts, climate data, radar and satellite data, computer models, and hydrological data.

SAST Database: An Environmental Information System for the Upper Mississippi and Lower Missouri River Basins - This database was designed and built for the Scientific Assessment and Strategy Team (SAST) for a study of the great flood of 1993. The extent of the program includes up to 13 states: Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The SAST Data Set List shows the data themes available, and allows users to view sample graphics, download or view metadata, and get some of the data sets via FTP access in ARC export and/or SDTS formats.

TIGER/Line Files
The term TIGER (Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing) is the name for the system and digital database developed at the U.S. Census Bureau to support its mapping needs for the Decennial Census and other Bureau programs. A TIGER/Line file is a single layer that contains lines for all census data collection areas. Lines are assigned codes that indicate the type of boundary or boundaries they represent and the type of feature they portray (roads, railroads, rivers, lakes). For example, a single line could be coded as a county and census tract boundary, and also as a river. Using these line codes, GIS users can select features they want to analyze. The census distributes the TIGER/Line files and publishes on-line technical documentation that explains format and translates codes. Although line files can be complicated, they are sometimes the only source for geocode address information. Note: Many areas, particularly rural parts of the state, do not have complete address information. TIGER/Line files may be ordered via the TIGER Page, or by contacting the U.S. Census Bureau Customer Services Office, 301-457-4100.

The Minnesota Land Management Information Center (LMIC) distributes a version of the TIGER/Line data set in ARC/INFO format that includes 1992 file updates and corrections, primarily additional address range information. The U.S. Census Bureau has prepared more recent updates, but these have not been incorporated into LMIC files. This data set can be ordered by contacting LMIC, 651-296-1211. The file unit is by county and the price is $95 for the first unit; $15 for each additional unit.

USGS GIS Data for Water Resources - Water resources data sets may be browsed under the following headings: Hydrologic Unit Maps, National Hydrography Data Set (USEPA site), Thematic Data Sets for Water, Background Data Sets for Water, and List of Water GIS Data Sets.

USGS Water Resources Division - Water resources-related information may be browsed under the following headings: Water Data, Publications and Products, Technical Resources, and Programs.

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