USGS Water-Year Summary 2024

473425095052602 604B Bemidji Toxcis Research Site

Sand and gravel aquifers (glaciated regions)
Glacial Surficial Sand and/or Gravel

LOCATION - Lat 47°34'24.97", long 95°05'27.15" referenced to North American Datum of 1983, in NE 1/4 SE 1/4 SW 1/4 sec.02, T.147 N., R.35 W., Beltrami County, MN, Hydrologic Unit 07010101, 12 miles NW of Bemidji, Minnesota, 2.3 miles SE of Pinewood, Minnesota. The land surface at the site is 1419.76 ±0.01 feet above sea level, North American Vertical Datum of 1988.

REVISIONS HISTORY - Water temperature: On 20 May 2022, a shift was applied to previously published water-temperature data. This shift to the previously published data was applied to correct for an offset in the water temperature record on 25 September 2021 caused for unknown reasons. The data were revised by -0.2°C on 25 Sept. 2021 at 14:00 CDT and -0.3°C from 25 Sept. 2021 at 15:00 CDT at 15:00 CDT to 25 October 2021 at 15:00 CDT. The transducer appears to continue to function normally after the shift.

GROUNDWATER RECORDS

WELL CHARACTERISTICS - Depth 29.71 ft. Upper casing diameter 2.04 in; top of first opening 27.01 ft, bottom of last opening 27.51 ft. The hole for well 604B was drilled on 29 May 1987 with an 7.25-inch-diameter, hollow stem auger drill rig to an unknown depth. The well is constructed of a 0.50-feet-long, 2.04-inch-diameter, schedule-40 PVC, 0.010-inch slotted well screen, attached to length/s of 10.00 feet of 2.04-inch-diameter, schedule-40 PVC well casing. The well casing measuring point (stickup) was 2.05 feet (1414.86 ft. NAVD88, ±0.01 ft.) above land surface when measured on 29 May 1987. The open interval of the well is between 27.01 and 27.51 feet below land surface and the total well depth is 29.71 feet below land surface.

DATUM - Land-surface datum is 1,412.81 ft above North American Vertical Datum of 1988. Measuring point: MP assumed to be the top of casing, not protection post, 2.05 ft above land-surface datum, May. 29, 1987 to present. The measuring point is a black mark on the 2-inch PVC well casing, which is visible through the floor of the aluminum shelter that is mounted on top of well 604B, and was 2.05 feet above land surface on 29 May 1987. Elevation of the measuring point is 1414.86 ±0.01 feet above sea level, North American Vertical Datum of 1988, based on differential GPS Survey on 27 Oct. 2010.

PERIOD OF RECORD -

Water levels were recorded periodically from 29 May 1987 to the present. Water levels were recorded hourly 08 Dec. 1998 at 01:00 CST to the present, except during the following periods:

06 Sept. 2012 at 13:00 CDT - 09 Jan. 2013 at 14:00 CST: due to transducer failure.
31 Dec. 2013 at 19:00 CST: due to an unknown WL spike.
31 Dec. 2013 at 19:00 CST: due to an unknown WL spike.
28 Jul. 2014 - 01 Aug. 2014: due to a WL spikes during QW sampling.
18 Oct. 2022 at 22:00 CDT to 02 Nov. 2022 at 13:00 CDT: due to failed transducer.
30 May 2023 at 22:00 CDT to 24 Jul. 2023 at 16:00 CDT: due to failed transducer.
21 Sept. 2023 at 08:00 CDT to 03 Nov. 2023 at 10:00 CDT: due to failed transducer.

When possible, missing daily-average water levels (above) were accurately estimated based on the trend of the hydrograph during these periods until 30 September 2016.

GAGE -

Water level and water temperature were measured with a KSPI 500 submersible pressure transducer during 08 Dec. 1998 to 09 Jan. 2013 at 13:00 CST, accurate to 0.01 feet and 0.3°C respectively. Water level and water temperature were measured with a Design Analysis H-310 submersible pressure transducer during 09 Jan. 2013 at 15:30 CST to 18 Oct. 2022 at 21:00 CDT, accurate to 0.01 feet and 0.3°C respectively. Water level and water temperature were measured with a Campbell Scientific, Inc. CS451, 0-14.5 psi range, submersible pressure transducer during 02 Nov. 2022 at 13:50 CDT to 24 Jul. 2023 at 16:00 CDT, accurate to 0.01 feet and 0.1°C respectively. Water level and water temperature were measured with a Campbell Scientific, Inc. CS451, 0-29.5 psi range, submersible pressure transducer during 24 Jul. 2023 at 17:00 CDT to 03 Nov. 2023 at 09:30 CDT, accurate to 0.01 feet and 0.1°C respectively. Water level and water temperature are currently measured with a KPSI 500 submersible pressure transducer during 03 Nov. 2023 at 10:00 CDT to the present, accurate to 0.01 feet and 0.3°C respectively. Barometric Pressure is measured with a Setra 278 sensor during 04 May 2010 at 15:00 CDT the present, which measures barometric pressure hourly. Barometric pressure sensor records units of millibars. Barometric pressure sensor and data are uncalibrated. Unventilated shelter temperature and battery voltage are measured by a Campbell Scientific, Inc. CR10 datalogger, which also records all data hourly. A Campbell Scientific, Inc. SM192 storage module is connected to the CR10 datalogger. The datalogger is housed in a 2ft. X 2ft. aluminum shelter attached to the top of well casing. The gage is powered by direct 110v AC power and a 12v, 12Ah station battery, and is currently telemetered by a Sierra Wireless AirLink LX60 cellular modem.

Rain gage: A Texas Electronics Inc. TR-525-I-01-H, heated, tipping bucket, rain gage currently records total-hourly precipitation data at the site during 04 May 2024 at 18:00 CDT to the present. Rain gage was nominally accurate to 0.01 inches. A Met One Instruments, Inc. 385, heated, tipping bucket rain gage recorded total-hourly precipitation data at the site during 04 Jun. 2009 at 16:00 CDT - 04 May 2024 at 17:00 CDT. Rain gage was nominally accurate to 0.01 inches. It was suspected that the heating device on the Met One Instruments 385 heated rain gage was not working properly, so precipitation data during the freezing winter months (Dec-Apr) should be considered suspect.

COOPERATION - Well 604B is operated in cooperation with the U.S. Geological Survey's Toxic Substances Hydrology Program, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Enbridge Energy Inc., and Beltrami County. This well is located at the National Crude-Oil Spill Research Site near Bemidji, Minnesota.

REMARKS - NOTE: Continuous water level data during winter months commonly noisier and oscillating. This is likely due to influences from the frozen ground. There is typically some noise in the water level record during the summer months as well, but not as much as during winter months. This is common among the continuous water level GW sites at the Bemidji research site. Also, sharp rises and falls in water level unit values are real, when compared against nearby sites at the Bemidji research site.

NOTE: Continuous water level data is uncorrected and saved in various excel spreadsheets from 08 Dec. 1998 at 01:00 CST to 06 September 2012 12:00 CDT. These data are stored locally in the USGS Minnesota Water-Science Center archives. Beginning on 06 September 2012 13:00 CDT, continuous water level data begin to be stored in the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS) database and worked/approved through the standard USGS Continuous-Records-Processing system.

CLIMATOLOGICAL RECORDS

PERIOD OF RECORD -

Precipitation were recorded hourly 09 Jul. 2009 at 12:00 CD to the present, except during the following periods:

18 Oct. 2022 at 22:00 CDT to 27 Oct. 2022 at 12:00 CDT: due to dead station battery.
01 Nov. 2023 at 09:00 CDT to 02 Nov. 2023 at 16:00 CDT: due to dead station battery.

NOTE: Precipitation data is uncorrected and saved in various excel spreadsheets from 09 Jul. 2009 at 12:00 CDT to 06 September 2012 at 12:00 CDT. These data are stored locally in the USGS Minnesota Water-Science Center archives. Beginning on 06 September 2012 at 13:00 CDT, precipitation data began to be stored in the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS) database and worked/approved through the standard USGS Continuous-Records-Processing system.

INSTRUMENTATION -

A Texas Electronics Inc. TR-525-I-01-H, heated, tipping bucket, rain gage currently records total-hourly precipitation data at the site during 04 May 2024 at 18:00 CDT to the present. Rain gage was nominally accurate to 0.01 inches. This heated rain gage has a built-in thermostat which begins heating the rain gage at 45°F ambient temperature. Operating range of this heated rain gage is -65°F to 158°F. The screen is removed from the funnel during winter months prevent ice bridging over the collector.

A Met One Instruments, Inc. 385, heated, tipping bucket rain gage recorded total-hourly precipitation data at the site during 04 Jun. 2009 at 16:00 CDT - 04 May 2024 at 17:00 CDT. Rain gage was nominally accurate to 0.01 inches. It was suspected that the heating device on the Met One Instruments 385 heated rain gage was not working properly, so precipitation data during the freezing winter months (Dec-Apr) should be considered suspect. If this rain gage was not heating properly, then precipitation data during freezing periods resulted from melting snow and ice during warm periods and do NOT represent actual precipitation. 

WATER-QUALITY RECORDS

WELL CHARACTERISTICS - Depth 29.71 ft. Upper casing diameter 2.04 in; top of first opening 27.01 ft, bottom of last opening 27.51 ft. The hole for well 604B was drilled on 29 May 1987 with an 7.25-inch-diameter, hollow stem auger drill rig to an unknown depth. The well is constructed of a 0.50-feet-long, 2.04-inch-diameter, schedule-40 PVC, 0.010-inch slotted well screen, attached to length/s of 10.00 feet of 2.04-inch-diameter, schedule-40 PVC well casing. The well casing measuring point (stickup) was 2.05 feet (1414.86 ft. NAVD88, ±0.01 ft.) above land surface when measured on 29 May 1987. The open interval of the well is between 27.01 and 27.51 feet below land surface and the total well depth is 29.71 feet below land surface.

DATUM - Land-surface datum is 1,412.81 ft above North American Vertical Datum of 1988. Measuring point: MP assumed to be the top of casing, not protection post, 2.05 ft above land-surface datum, May. 29, 1987 to present. The measuring point is a black mark on the 2-inch PVC well casing, which is visible through the floor of the aluminum shelter that is mounted on top of well 604B, and was 2.05 feet above land surface on 29 May 1987. Elevation of the measuring point is 1414.86 ±0.01 feet above sea level, North American Vertical Datum of 1988, based on differential GPS Survey on 27 Oct. 2010.

PERIOD OF RECORD -

Water temperatures were recorded hourly 20 Dec. 2011 at 16:00 CST to the present, except during the following periods:

09 Jan. 2013: due to deploying a new transducer.
04 Apr. 2013: due to deploying calibrating thermistor in the well.
23 Jul. 2013: due to a WT spike during QW sampling.
29 Jul. 2014 - 01 Aug. 2014: due to a WT spike during QW sampling.
28 Apr. 2015: due to a WT spike during a site visit.
09 Aug. 2015 at 17:00 CDT: due to transducer being removed from well during WT measurement.
19 Aug. 2015: due to a WT spike and equilibration from QW sampling. 
02 Aug. 2016 at 10:00 13:00 CDT: due to removing transducer from the well.
02 Aug. 2016 at 17:00-23:00 CDT: due to a WT spike and equilibration from QW sampling. 
24 Jun. 2017 at 09:00-13:00 CDT: due to a WT spike and equilibration from QW sampling. 
21 Jun. 2019 at 15:00-20:00 CDT: due to a WT spike and equilibration from QW sampling. 
05 Aug. 2020 at 11:00-14:00 CDT: due to a WT spike and equilibration from QW sampling. 
13 Aug. 2021 at 17:00 CDT to 14 Aug. 2021 at 00:00 CDT: due to a WT spike and equilibration from QW sampling. 
18 Oct. 2022 at 22:00 CDT to 04 Nov. 2022 at 01:00 CDT: due to failed transducer thermistor.
17 Jun. 2023 at 09:00 CDT to 19 Jun. 2023 at 06:00 CDT: due to a WT spike and equilibration from QW sampling. 
24 Jul. 2023 at 17:00-22:00 CDT: due to a WT spike and equilibration from transducer thermistor replacement. 
22 Oct. 2023 at 12:00-16:00 CDT: due to a WT spike and equilibration from transducer troubleshooting & cleaning.
01 Nov. 2023 at 09:00 CDT to 03 Nov. 2023 at 10:00 CDT: due to station power failure & transducer thermistor replacement.

When possible, the missing daily-average water temperatures (above) were estimated based on the trend of the thermograph during these periods until 1 July 2016.

NOTE: Continuous water temperature data is uncorrected and saved in various excel spreadsheets from 20 Dec. 2011 at 16:00 CST to 06 September 2012 12:00 CDT. These data are stored locally in the USGS Minnesota Water-Science Center archives. Beginning on 06 September 2012 13:00 CDT, continuous water level data begin to be stored in the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS) database and worked/approved through the standard USGS Continuous-Records-Processing system.

COOPERATION - Well 604B is operated in cooperation with the U.S. Geological Survey's Toxic Substances Hydrology Program, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Enbridge Energy Inc., and Beltrami County. This well is located at the National Crude-Oil Spill Research Site near Bemidji, Minnesota.

INSTRUMENTATION -

Water temperatures was measured with a KPSI 500 submersible pressure transducer thermistor during 08 Dec. 1998 to 09 Jan. 2013 at 13:00 CST, accurate to ±0.3°C, WT record from KPSI 500 thermistor. Temperature differences were accurate to 0.3°C.

During 09 Jan. 2013 at 15:30 CST to 18 Oct. 2022 at 21:00 CDT, water temperatures were measured with a Design Analysis H-310 submersible pressure transducer thermistor, accurate to ±0.3°C. Temperature differences were accurate to 0.1°C. The Design Analysis H-310 transducer never had a 5-point temperature calibration check performed on it, prior to deployment. However, several 1-point field temperature calibrations have been performed on this transducer. These calibration checks indicate a temperature accuracy of ±0.3°C.

During 02 Nov. 2022 at 13:50 CDT to 24 Jul. 2023 at 16:00 CDT, water temperatures were measured with a Campbell Scientific, Inc. CS451, 0-14.5 psi range, submersible pressure transducer thermistor, accurate to ±0.1°C.

During 24 Jul. 2023 at 17:00 CDT to 03 Nov. 2023 at 10:00 CDT, water temperatures were measured with a Campbell Scientific, Inc. CS451, 0-29.5 psi range, submersible pressure transducer thermistor, accurate to ±0.1°C.

During 03 Nov. 2023 at 10:14 CDT to the present, water temperatures were measured with a KPSI 500, submersible pressure transducer thermistor, accurate to ±0.3°C due to noisiness of WT record from KPSI 500 thermistor. The transducer thermistor had a 5-pt. temperature calibration check on 10/30/23 prior to deployment, which showed an accuracy of ±0.1°C when WT noise is ignored.

REMARKS -

Water temperature data is being recorded in a well that is down-gradient of a crude oil spill (1979) and buried pipelines that transport crude oil. It is suspected that changes and/or trends in water temperature data may be most correlated to the 1.) Long-term effects of the crude oil spill, 2.) Temperature changes of the crude oil that is being transported through the buried pipelines, 3.) Changes in microbial activity from the crude oil spill, 4.) Changes in biodegradation rates from the crude oil spill.