Groundwater Atlas of Winona CountyHydrogeologic Cross Sections

County Atlas Series C-34, Part BPlate 6 of 6

Minnesota Department of Natural ResourcesGroundwater Atlas Programmndnr.gov/groundwatermapping

To accompany atlas Report and Plate 5.

G’

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G

OpoOs

Opo

_j

Opo OpoOpo

_tc lower

Opo

OpoOpo

_m

OpgOs

_e

Ops

Opo

Opo

Opo

Opo

_w

OpoOps

Ops

Opg Ops

_tc

_j

_j

_j _j

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Ops

_sl_tc lower

_e

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_tc lower_tc lower

_e

_e

_sl_sl_sl

_sl_sl

9.12 5.52

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800750

650850

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CSAH

43

CR-1

13

UST

H 61

MN

TH 4

3

CSAH

33

Pine

Cre

ekHans

on V

alle

y Rd

Miss

issip

pi R

iver

Hem

min

gway

Cre

ek

Pine

Cre

ek

Rush

Cre

ek

Burn

s Val

ley

Cree

k

MN

TH 7

6

Mon

ey C

reek

Mon

ey C

reek

3.75 3.63

1.34

F’

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_slOpo

_w

Opg

_tc

Ops Opo Opo

_tc lower

_tc lower

OpoOps Opo

_j

Os

_j

_sl

Oc

Opo

Od

_sl

_tc

Opo

_e

_tc lower

_sl

_e_e

Ops

_m

_m

_w_w

_tc _tc

_j _j

_j_j

_j

_m

_j

Opg

10.7

13.6

8.96*

16.2

5.98

650

850900

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MN

TH 7

6

CSAH

17

CR-1

23

Rush

Cre

ek

Pine

Rid

ge D

r

MN

TH 4

3

Pine

Cre

ek

Mon

ey C

reek

CSAH

1

ISTH

90Tr

out R

un C

reek

CSAH

16

Miss

issip

pi R

iver

CR-1

11

Ahre

nsfe

ld C

reek

Sinkholes common

1.89

6.2212.5

1.92

3.53

1.38

E’

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et)

E

_e

_e

_e

_tc lower

_tc lower

_tc lower

Ops

Ops

Opo

Ops

_w

_w

_w

_jOpo

_sl_sl

_sl

_sl

_e

_tc lower

_sl

OdOd

Opo

Oc

Opo

_j_j

_j

_j

Ops

Opg

_tc

OsOpg

_m

_m

_m

_m

_tc_tc

_tc

_tc

_w

_j

_tc

Ops

Opo

Opo

_sl

Ops

_tc

OpsOs

Ops

Opo

_sl

_j

Miss

issip

pi R

iver

CSAH

25

Ceda

r Val

ley

Cree

kCS

AH 9

Rush

Cre

ek R

d

MN

TH 7

4

Rush

Cre

ek

CSAH

37

ISTH

90

Litt

le P

ickw

ick

Cree

k

UST

H 61

CSAH

29 CS

AH 1

5

Pick

wic

k Cr

eek

ISTH

90

CSAH

3

CSAH

19

Sinkholes common

16.718.6

12.0

23.8

60002000

5500

800

700

850

750

1000

650

1100

2.62

11.912

1.810.4

15.2

1.621.09

D’

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D

Opo

_tc lower

_j

_j_j_j

_j_j

_tc

_sl_tc lower

_tc lower_sl

_w

_w

_w _w

Opo

_tc lower

Ops

Os

_slOpo

Opo

_m

_m

_m

Opo

Ops

_tc_tc

_tc

_tc

_e

_e

_e

_sl

_sl

Os Opo

CSAH

25

UST

H 61CS

AH 2

3

CSAH

21

Litt

le P

ickw

ick

Cree

k

Rich

mon

d Cr

eek

CSAH

15

E Bu

rns V

alle

y Rd

MN

TH 7

4

MN

TH 4

3

CSAH

37

Burn

s Val

ley

Cree

k, E

ast

Miss

issip

pi R

iver

CSAH

33

Sinkholes common

8.59

Recent

33.330.3

5.51

20.9

467.82

13.2

7.96

96.0*

1050

650

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800

7001000

850

750

4.93

11.714.0

4.53

4.3

8.48.2

3.78

C’

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et)

C

_tc

_w

_w

_w

_tc lower

OpoOps

_sl

Ops

_m

_m

Os Ops

_tc

_tc

_j

_j

_j

_j_sl

OpoOpo

Ops

_tc lower

Opo

_e

_e

Opo

Miss

issip

pi R

iver

UST

H 61

MN

TH 7

4

Cem

eter

y Rd

Burn

s Val

ley

Cree

k, E

ast

CSAH

21

Garv

in B

rook

Whi

tew

ater

Riv

er,

Sout

h Br

anch

N B

road

way

St

Skyl

ine

Dr

Rolli

ngst

one

Cree

k

CSAH

25

Sinkholes common

15.520.4

16.1 11.6

13,000

2000 800900

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900

8503.64

5.111.3

4.64 6.41.75

B’

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B

Ops

_sl

_tc lower

Opo

_j

Ops

_tc

_m

_m

Ops

_sl

_j

_w

_tc

_sl_j

OpoOpo

Opo

_e

_e

CSAH

25

CR-1

14

Whi

tew

ater

Riv

er

CSAH

26

MN

TH 2

48

MN

TH 7

4

UST

H 61

Whi

tew

ater

Riv

er,

Nor

th B

ranc

h

Miss

issip

pi R

iver

Rolli

ngst

one

Cree

k

28.1

1000

9.7*

43.126.9

750

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750800

700

750

850

4.50

1.20

16.63.29

A’

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A

_e

_tc_tc_sl

_sl

Ops

Ce

Opo

_tc lower

_m

Opo

Opo

_j_j _j

_w

Ops

Fisc

her H

ill D

r

CSAH

28

CSAH

25

CSAH

31

Miss

issip

pi R

iver

UST

H 61

MN

TH 7

4W

hite

wat

er R

iver

5.58

8.98

6000

700

850

750850

2.16

4.73

43° 52' 30" N.

44° N.

91° 22' 30" W.

91° 37' 30" W

44° 07' 30" N.

91° 45' W.

91° 52' 30" W.92° W.

91° 30' W.

Dresbach

Dakota

UticaLewiston

St. Charles

Stockton

Goodview

Winona

MinnesotaCity

Elba

Altura

Witoka¦90

¤61

¤61

¤14

¤14

)74

)248

)43

)43

)76

¦90

E’

F’

G’

D’

C’

B’

A’

E

F

G

D

C

B

A

Symbols

Part B line of cross section

Water samples shown on cross section

A A’

N

1 0 1 2 3 4

SCALE 1:400 000

1 0 1 2 4 5 6 7 KILOMETERS3

5 MILES

Unconsolidated

Cummingsville

Decorah Shale*

Platteville and Glenwood formations*

St. Peter

Shakopee

Oneota Dolomite*

Jordan

St. Lawrence Formation*

Upper Lone Rock

Lower Lone Rock Formation*

Wonewoc

Eau Claire Formation*

Mt. Simon

Oc

Od

Opg

Os

Ops

Opo

_j

_sl

_tc

_w

_e

_m

_tc lower

Symbols and labels

General groundwater flow direction

Geologic contact

Approximate equipotential contour800

Tritium age

Darker color in small vertical rectangle (well screen symbol) indicates tritium age of water sampled in well. Lighter color indicates interpreted age of water in aquifer.

Mixed: water is a mixture of recent and vintage waters (greater than 1 TU to less than 8 TU).

Well not sampled for tritium.

Vintage: water entered the ground before 1953 (less than or equal to 1 TU).

Recent: water entered the ground since about 1953 (8 to 15 tritium units [TU]).

Spring (symbol color indicates tritium age of water sample)

Chloride: if shown, concentration is ≥5 ppm.(* naturally elevated)

26.9

Nitrate: if shown, concentration is ≥1 ppm.3.53

Arsenic: if shown, concentration is ≥1 ppb.1.62

Carbon-14 (14C): if shown, estimated groundwater residence time in years.

6000

Bedrock aquifers and aquitards

Cross Section Explanation

Interpreted tritium age is indicated by pattern color.See Figure 6 in the report for geologic unit correla�on.

*aquitard

Enhanced-permeability zone

Direction of fault movement, arrows indicate relative movement

1 0 1 2 3 4 5 MILES

1 0 1 2 4 5 6 7 83 9 KILOMETERS

SCALE 1:100 000VERTICAL EXAGGERATION X 20

Unconsolidated

Cummingsville

Decorah Shale*

Platteville and Glenwood formations*

St. Peter

Shakopee

Oneota Dolomite*

Jordan

St. Lawrence Formation*

Upper Lone Rock

Lower Lone Rock Formation*

Wonewoc

Eau Claire Formation*

Mt. Simon

Oc

Od

Opg

Os

Ops

Opo

_j

_sl

_tc

_w

_e

_m

_tc lower

Symbols and labels

General groundwater flow direction

Geologic contact

Approximate equipotential contour800

Tritium age

Darker color in small vertical rectangle (well screen symbol) indicates tritium age of water sampled in well. Lighter color indicates interpreted age of water in aquifer.

Mixed: water is a mixture of recent and vintage waters (greater than 1 TU to less than 8 TU).

Well not sampled for tritium.

Vintage: water entered the ground before 1953 (less than or equal to 1 TU).

Recent: water entered the ground since about 1953 (8 to 15 tritium units [TU]).

Spring (symbol color indicates tritium age of water sample)

Chloride: if shown, concentration is ≥5 ppm.(* naturally elevated)

26.9

Nitrate: if shown, concentration is ≥1 ppm.3.53

Arsenic: if shown, concentration is ≥1 ppb.1.62

Carbon-14 (14C): if shown, estimated groundwater residence time in years.

6000

Bedrock aquifers and aquitards

Cross Section Explanation

Interpreted tritium age is indicated by pattern color.See Figure 6 in the report for geologic unit correla�on.

*aquitard

Enhanced-permeability zone

Direction of fault movement, arrows indicate relative movement

For detailed descriptions of the units, see the report “Geology and physical hydrology” section and Figure 6 “Bedrock stratigraphy, hydrostratigraphy, and distribution of karst features.”

Northern cross sections: A–Aʹ and B–Bʹ The landscape is deeply dissected by the Whitewater River valley and smaller tributary valleys. The first bedrock units are primarily the Shakopee (Ops)and Oneota (Opo) formations of the Prairie du Chien Group and are prone to karst feature development. The Oneota is not as protective in this area of the county as it is elsewhere, as suggested by Jordan (_j) aquifer samples with mixed tritium and elevated chloride and nitrate. Where deeply buried, the St. Lawrence aquitard (_sl) limits mixing of recent water with older vintage water. Below the St. Lawrence the carbon-14 age of groundwater ranges from 6,000 years on the western side (near the Whitewater River) to 1,000 years in the east (near CSAH 25). Within valleys the St. Lawrence’s protective characteristics are diminished and springs show evidence of groundwater mixing. Local groundwater movement is vertically downward and toward streams and tributaries. Regional groundwater movement is east, where groundwater discharges to the Mississippi River.

Central cross sections: C–Cʹ, D–Dʹ, and E–EʹThe western county landscape is a relatively flat plateau. Deeply dissected valleys progressively increase from the central portions to the east. First bedrock units are primarily the Shakopee and Oneota formations of the Prairie du Chien Group, which are prone to karst feature development. Sinkholes are common in the western and central portions. In the western and central portions of cross sections C–Cʹ and D–Dʹ, the Oneota lacks the characteristics of an aquitard as indicated by mixed tritium and elevated chloride and nitrate in the Jordan aquifer. In the western portions of cross sections E–Eʹ, the Oneota is more deeply buried and has characteristics of an aquitard, indicated by the carbon-14 age of 2,000 years for a Jordan–St. Lawrence well (near ISTH 90). Where deeply buried, the St. Lawrence aquitard limits mixing of recent water with older vintage water. Below the St. Lawrence the carbon-14 age of groundwater ranges from 5,500 (E–Eʹ, near CSAH 19), to 13,000 (C–Cʹ, near Skyline Drive) years. Within valley settings, the St. Lawrence’s protective characteristics are diminished and springs show evidence of groundwater mixing. Local groundwater movement is vertically downward and toward streams and tributaries. Regional groundwater movement is east, where groundwater discharge occurs to the Mississippi River.

Southern cross sections: F–Fʹ and G–GʹThe western portions of cross sections F–Fʹ and G–Gʹ are relatively flat plateaus where the Oneota varies in its hydrologic properties. On cross section F–F’, a Jordan aquifer sample east of CR-111 shows mixed tritium with elevated chloride and nitrate, suggesting the Oneota lacks protective characteristics in the area. However, on cross section G–G’ the unit behaves as an aquitard as indicated by vintage tritium and a carbon-14 age of 2,500 years near Money Creek. The central and eastern portions of these cross sections are deeply dissected by tributaries to the Root River. First bedrock units are primarily the Shakopee and Oneota formations of the Prairie du Chien Group, which are prone to karst feature development. Where deeply buried, the St. Lawrence aquitard limits mixing of recent water with older vintage water. However, in the east its protective characteristics are diminished. Samples from the Lone Rock (_tc) and Wonewoc (_w) aquifers show mixed tritium and elevated chloride nitrate. Springs also show evidence of groundwater mixing. Local groundwater movement is vertically downward and toward streams and tributaries. Regional groundwater movement is east, where groundwater discharges to the Mississippi River. Groundwater from the Mt. Simon aquifer in extreme southeastern Winona County had a carbon-14 age of 20,000 years (G–Gʹ, near USTH 61).

LOCATION DIAGRAM

This map was compiled and generated in a geographic information system. Digital data products are available from the DNR Groundwater Atlas Program.

This map was prepared from publicly available information. Every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the data on which this map interpretation is based. However, the DNR does not warrant the accuracy, completeness, or any implied uses of these data. Users may wish to verify critical information; sources include both the references in the report and information on file in the offices of the Minnesota Geological Survey and the DNR. Every effort has been made to ensure the interpretation shown conforms to sound geologic and cartographic principles. This map should not be used to establish legal title, boundaries, or locations of improvements.

Base modified from Minnesota Geological Survey, Geologic Atlas of Winona County, 2014.

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, zone 15N, North American Datum of 1983. North American Vertical Datum of 1988.

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Prepared and published with the support of the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund and the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment

Hydrogeologic Cross Sections

By John D. Barry2021