U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

USGS Fact Sheet 035-99

April 1999

North Dakota

Prairie Wetlands

North Dakota prairies contain numerous wetlands. The complex functions

of these prairie wetlands have been of

interest for decades. The hydrology,

water chemistry, and biological

characteristics of these wetlands are

highly variable because of extreme

warm/cold and wet/dry conditions.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

has been conducting studies (fig. 1) to

gain insight into the functions of the

prairie wetlands. The USGS Northern

Prairie Wildlife Research Center in

Jamestown has maintained an active

wetland research program since the

mid-1960’s. Current work in North

Dakota began in 1978, and focuses on

the response of biological communities to climate-induced variations in

hydrology and chemistry, and on

evaluating the success of previously

drained wetlands restored under the

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

and on similar lands. The information

provided from this long-term study

has provided the bulk of our knowledge about prairie wetlands, and has

provided land managers with valuable

information to manage the Nation’s

prairie wetland resource.

Management of water resources also

requires knowledge of the type and

spatial distribution of wetlands, landuse, and runoff characteristics in a

drainage basin. A study of restored

prairie wetlands was designed to

provide land managers with unbiased

information about previously restored

wetlands to foster the improvement of

existing restoration technologies. The

study is both multidisciplinary and

multiagency; 24 collaborating organizations are involved in 23 separate

investigations that span various

topics. Another study was started to

research the relations between

wetlands and land use and the hydrology of the Red River of the North.

Small-scale basins sites will be

monitored, and hydrologic models

will be developed to simulate the

hydrology of the small-scale basins.

The USGS, in cooperation with the

North Dakota State Water Commission, is demonstrating the use of

high-resolution digital elevation data,

geographic information systems

(GIS), and surface-water runoff

modeling software to define streamflow networks, to calculate surfacewater storage capacity within lowrelief landscapes, and to simulate

precipitation runoff and storage.

Flooding of Devils Lake

The Devils Lake Basin is a 3,810-

square-mile drainage basin with no

outlet to the ocean. About 3,320

square miles of the drainage area is

tributary to Devils Lake. Lake levels

were recorded sporadically from 1867

to 1901, when the USGS established

a gaging station. The minimum

recorded lake level was 1,400.9 feet

above sea level in 1940. The maximum recorded lake level was 1,444.7

feet in July 1998. The previous

maximum recorded lake level was

1,438 feet in 1867. In response to the

rising water levels and extensive

flooding in the Devils Lake Basin

(fig. 2), Congress authorized the U.S.

Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)

to plan, engineer, and design an

emergency outlet from Devils Lake.

The proposed emergency outlet will

consist of a pumping station and

pipeline to remove water from West

Bay of Devils Lake and discharge

water into the Sheyenne River

upstream from Warwick. The USACE

needs to determine the potential

effects of the outlet on downstream

water quality, downstream reservoir

operation, and future lake levels and

water quality of Devils Lake. The

USGS, in cooperation with the

Figure 1. Scientists collecting data on

a restored prairie wetland.

Figure 2. Rebuilding North Dakota State Highway 57, which was flooded by

Devils Lake. (Photograph by the North Dakota Department of Transportation.)
science for a changing world

USACE, is studying the effects of a

proposed outlet. One study is to

simulate Devils Lake water levels and

sulfate concentrations, and Sheyenne

River discharges and sulfate concentrations just upstream and downstream from the proposed outlet.

Another model for Devils Lake

simulates future volumes and sulfate

concentrations in response to future

precipitation, evaporation, and inflow.

A probability model is used to

generate future values of precipitation, evaporation, and total inflow for

Devils Lake. Another study is to

evaluate the spatial and temporal

variability of water quality in Devils

Lake.

Landowners have expressed concern

that additional discharges of water

from the outlet to the Sheyenne River

would lead to higher ground-water

levels along the river that, in turn,

would lead to less agricultural use of

the land bordering the river. A study

is being conducted to evaluate the

interactions of the Sheyenne River

and the local ground-water system

adjacent to the Sheyenne River.

Coal Assessment

The USGS Energy Program’s National Coal Resource Assessment in

North Dakota includes potentially

minable Fort Union Formation coal in

the Williston Basin. The Program’s

objective is to assess the coal that will

be mined and used in the next few

decades. A digital database that will

consist of the geography, stratigraphy,

quality, and geochemistry of these

coal zones is planned. The database is

intended to be used to calculate the

amount of available coal resources,

evaluate the distribution, origin, and

quality of the coal, and generate

digital information. The Fort Union

coal that is being assessed includes

the Harmon-Hansen, Hagel, and

Beulah-Zap coal zones. These coal

deposits accounted for more than 3

percent of the total U.S. coal production in 1997. The coal from these coal

zones contains small quantities of ash

and sulfur and is a fuel used by many

electricity producing power plants.

The assessment is being done by the

USGS in cooperation with the North

Dakota Geological Survey, Bureau of

Land Management (BLM), and four

coal mines.

As U.S. coal resources continue to be

examined for potential development,

a critical need exists for the assessment of federally owned coal resources. The coal assessments are

intended to generate, store, and

manipulate ownership and resource

data in a digital format. A digital

format allows the data to be analyzed

efficiently using GIS, which combines data on coal quality, quantity,

and depth with data on land- and

mineral-management status. The

USGS, in cooperation with the BLM,

is collecting coal and other mineralownership data. The USGS has

examined coal deposits in the Williston Basin of western North Dakota

(fig. 3). High priority coal zones

within the Fort Union Formation are

being assessed, and resources are

being reported according to surface

and coal ownership and by such

geologic characteristics as depth of

overburden, coal thickness, and

degree of geologic assurance.

The program is working closely with,

and is providing information for, the

National Coal Resources Assessment.

The results of these projects are

intended to help Congress and landmanagement agencies respond to

complex questions regarding the

quantity, quality, availability, and

recoverability of federal coal.

Invasive Exotic Weeds

Prairies are one of the most endangered ecosystems, and invasions of

nonindigenous plants are a most

insidious threat to native biodiversity.

The same invasive species also

threaten agricultural land and crops

throughout North Dakota. The USGS

is addressing the ecological implications of such invasions, developing

tools that resource managers can use

to optimize and prioritize weedcontrol efforts, and providing information about herbicide residues to

State health authorities.

The USGS has found that leafy

spurge pollen inhibits seed germination and growth among native flowering plants at Theodore Roosevelt

National Park, and that native species

diversity is significantly reduced in

areas infested by dense weedy species

such as leafy spurge and smooth

brome. A new study has demonstrated

that fire can be used to help establish

flea beetles used for biological

control of leafy spurge, and that

established beetle colonies are not

adversely affected by prescribed

burns used to manage natural grasslands. A 5-year study initiated in

1998 is evaluating biological control

of leafy spurge and Canada thistle on

National Wildlife Refuges in North

Figure 3. Coal ownership in the

Williston Basin.
North Dakota

and South Dakota. A cooperative

project at Theodore Roosevelt

National Park seeks to develop a

computerized ranking system for

alien plant species infesting natural

areas. The system is intended to help

resource managers assess the threat of

each species, and, thus, balance

allocation of funds to control those

species that are the greatest threat and

have some likelihood of successfully

being controlled.

Breeding Bird Use of Conservation

Reserve Program Land

Since 1989, the USGS has been

investigating how birds use CRP

fields in North Dakota and neighboring States. Early work focused on

waterfowl, but, for the past 9 years,

the whole range of bird species has

been monitored. Landowners have

graciously allowed the USGS to visit

their land each year to record the

number of each species found in each

CRP field. Grassland habitats created

by the CRP have proved to be a

bonanza for many birds, including

several species whose populations

had declined in the past few decades.

Research has identified how birds

respond to different plantings, how

populations vary from year-to-year

and from one area to another, how

bird populations respond to haying,

and whether or not larger fields are

proportionately more valuable habitat

than smaller fields. Recent efforts are

exploring how nearby habitats may

influence the bird populations using

CRP fields. The USGS studies were

useful in designating much of North

Dakota as a priority area for the CRP

in the most recent farm bill, which

enhanced the opportunities for North

Dakota landowners who wished to

enroll or reenlist their land in the

program.

Water-Data Collection Network

and Post-1997-Flood Activities

The USGS, in cooperation with about

30 Federal, State, and local agencies,

operates an extensive hydrologic

data-collection program. During

1998, data were collected at 157

streamflow and lake-level stations,

159 ground-water observation wells,

155 water-quality stations, and 2

atmospheric-deposition stations.

Current-year data, which are published annually, are critical for the

daily administration and management

of water resources; for determination

of the extent and severity of droughts;

for characterization and prediction of

conditions during floods; and for

monitoring the effects of human

activities on streamflow, ground

water, and water quality. The data

also are essential to interpretive

studies that provide information about

water issues that potentially affect all

North Dakotans.

Realtime data for 71 streamflow

stations, 7 river-stage stations, and 3

lake-stage stations, including selected

stations in Canada and Minnesota, are

being presented on the USGS computer in Bismarck. Realtime data can

be accessed on the World Wide Web

at http://nd.water.usgs.gov/. Streamflow and stage information for the

last 7 days, current stage relative to

recorded peak stages, and streamflow

for the previous 18 months are

provided in graphic form (fig. 4),

along with information such as

station location and length of record.

Record floods during the spring of

1997 devastated many communities

along rivers in the Red River of the

North and Missouri River Basins. The

USGS works with other Federal,

State, and local agencies to ensure

that accurate and timely data are

available for making decisions

regarding the public’s welfare. Some

of the post-1997 flood activities that

the USGS is involved in are the

development of consistent floodfrequency projections for the main

stem of the Red River of the North

using historical information, floodhardening of many critical gages to

assure availability of data during

floods, upgrading of instrumentation

at gaging stations, and increasing the

number of sites capable of providing

realtime data. The USGS also is

participating in the International Joint

Commission Red River Basin Task

Force Study. Principal issues being

addressed include the adoption of a

Figure 4. Examples of realtime data available on a USGS World Wide Web page

at http://nd.water.usgs.gov/.

03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 10

100

1000

05059000 SHEYENNE RIVER NEAR KINDRED, ND

(SLC = 925.55)

November 1998

Streamflow, in Cubic-Feet/Sec

Median Streamflow

Based on 45 years of Data

Current Streamflow: 406 as of 1998.11.10 14:00:00

Provisional Data Subject to Revision

Current 1969 1975 1979 1996 1997 0

5

10

15

20

25

925.55

930.55

935.55

940.55

945.55

950.55

FLOOD

STAGE*

4.72

21.54

21.66

21.01

21.53

22.33

05059000 SHEYENNE RIVER NEAR KINDRED, ND

(SLC = 925.55)

Recorded Peak Stages

Stage, in Feet

Elevation, in Feet

Current Stage: 4.72 as of 1998.11.10 14:00:00

* Provided by the National Weather Service

03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

928.05

928.55

929.05

929.55

930.05

930.55

05059000 SHEYENNE RIVER NEAR KINDRED, ND

(SLC = 925.55) Provisional Data Subject to Revision

November 1998

Stage, in Feet

Elevation, in Feet

Current Stage: 4.72 as of 1998.11.10 14:00:00

MJ J A SOND J FMAMJ J A SON 10

100

1000

10000

05059000 SHEYENNE RIVER NEAR KINDRED, ND

(SLC = 925.55) Provisional Data Subject to Revision

May 1997 - November 1998

Streamflow, in Cubic-Feet/Sec

Measured Streamflow

Daily Median (on 15th)

Based on 45 years of Data

Daily Mean Streamflow: 207 as of 1998.11.04
Printed on recycled paper

USGS office locations USGS State Representative

821 E. Interstate Avenue

Bismark, ND 58501-1199

(701) 250-7401

FAX (701) 250-7492

USGS Home Page:

http://www.usgs.gov/

Reports and products:

1-888-ASK-USGS

consistent, common datum throughout the entire basin, including both

the United States and Canada, and the

development of accurate Digital

Elevation Models (DEM’s) for floodforecasting and planning models that

are being developed or already are

used by the National Weather Service

and the USACE.

Topographic Products and

Programs

Among the most popular and versatile products of the USGS are its

topographic maps at the scale of

1:24,000 (1 inch on the map represents 2,000 feet on the ground). North

Dakota is covered by 1,464 of these

maps, which have long been favorites

with the general public for outdoor

uses as well as technical applications

in engineering and planning. These

maps depict natural and cultural

features of the landscape, such as

lakes and streams, highways and

railroads, boundaries, and geographic

names.

The USGS has been working with

Federal and State agencies to coordinate and produce standard products

and digital cartographic data in North

Dakota to meet a variety of needs.

The availability of basic digital

cartographic data, such as elevation,

hydrologic, and transportation

datasets, will allow for improved

resource management and activities

associated with GIS technology.

Among the most popular digital

products produced by the USGS are

Digital Orthophoto Quadrangles

(DOQ’s). A DOQ is an aerial photograph that has been corrected for

distortions and is stored as digital

data. These digital images provide a

snapshot of the Earth’s surface that

has the accuracy of a topographic

map, and are suited for use as basemaps on which other information can

be overlaid.

Cooperation between Federal and

State agencies has resulted in increased DOQ coverage of North

Dakota. Numerous offices are using

the digital images for natural-resource

management and project planning.

Recent agreements with communities

such as Valley City, Dickinson, and

Washburn have resulted in the production of DOQ’s for local planning.

Larger programs with the Natural

Resources Conservation Service are

producing DOQ’s that can be used for

digital soil mapping of counties.

Another USGS data product of

growing interest in North Dakota is

the DEM, which is a set of elevation

values that cover the area of a

1:24,000-scale map. The DEM data

have been useful for illustrating the

Earth’s topography. The DEM’s can be

used to derive characteristics such as

slope from the elevation values.

Several cooperative agreements have

provided assistance in producing

highly accurate DEM’s for drainage

areas adjacent to Devils Lake.

The USGS is working with the North

Dakota Geological Survey to complete

statewide coverage of the Public Land

Survey System (PLSS) in digital format. The PLSS datalayer references the

rectangular township, range, and

section delineation generally used to

describe land parcels. These data will

provide a base layer of information that

can be combined with other features.

The USGS has 103

employees in North Dakota

Bismarck

Grand Forks

Jamestown

Woodworth

Figure 5. Fifth-grade students playing

the Water Jeopardy game. (“Jeopardy”

is a registered trademark of Jeopardy

Productions, Inc.)

Turtle Mountain Band of

Chippewa Indians Water Festival

Program

The USGS, the Turtle Mountain Band

of Chippewa Indians, and the 5thgrade teachers on the Turtle Mountain

Reservation cooperatively planned

and conducted a water-resources

program for the 5th-grade students.

By stimulating interest and encouraging students to participate in the

water-resources program, the USGS

and Tribal employees hope to create a

solid foundation for a lifetime of

awareness and knowledge of their

water resources that will benefit them

and their community in the future. A

water festival program was presented

in 1997 and 1998 to about 375 5thgrade students (fig. 5).