Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources

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Geology and Coal Resources of the Minot Region North Dakota
(United States Government Printing Office, 1939) Andrews, David A.
The Minot region includes about 2,800 square miles in north-central' North Dakota, extending from the Souris River on the north to the Missouri River on the south and from the western border of Ward County on the west to Anamoosej. Sheridan County, on the east. The divide between the Souris and Missouri Rivers, which is also the divide between drainage to Hudson Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, follows a belt of hummocky topography which is about 20 miles wide and trends northwestward across the central part of the Minot region. The surface of the region southwest of the divide is a plateau trenched to a depth of 200 feet or more by the valleys of the Missouri River and its tributaries. The northeastern part of the region is a plain - sloping gently to the northeast and bordered on the north by the valleys, 100 to 200 feet deep, of the Souris River and the Riviere des Lacs. About 250 feet of soft buff to gray sandstones and shales of the lower part of the- Fort Union formation, of Eocene (Tertiary) age, are exposed along the Missouri River and probably 150 feet or more of these sedimentary rocks are exposed at places in the higher parts of the area. -The Fort Union is also exposed in places along the Souris River, the Riviere des Lacs, and some of their deeper tributaries. Pleistocene glacial deposits, 1 to 200 feet thick, form a widespread surface cover in the high central part of the region and consist of sand, gravel, boulders, and clay. Similar deposits of the same age with a somewhat smaller thickness, 10 to 50 feet, cover most of the northern part of the region. The hummocky divide in the centralpart of the region is formed by the Altamont moraine, of late Wisconsin (Pleistocene) age. The interstream divides of the country southwest of the Altamont moraine are covered with a thin veneer of drift of earlier than late Wisconsin age and late Wisconsin outwash. The present course of the Missouri River in this portion of the Minot region was established! and incised in the Missouri Plateau in Pleistocene time. The sloping plain on the northeast side of the Altamont moraine marks the site of the southwest margin of the glacial Lake Souris. The history of this lake as recorded in the northeast corner of the Minot region is revealed by beaches at levels of 2,100 down to 1,600 feet above sea level, by deltas, and by intricate abandoned channels that drained the lake. During the higher stages of Lake Souris the beaches followed the front of the Altamont moraine and probably extended from the vicinity of Dogden Butte northwestward beyond the northern border of North Dakota, but at the low stages the lake was confined to the lower levels of Souris Valley and extended northward: from the vicinity of Drake and Minot to the junction of the Souris and Assiniboine- Rivers, in Manitoba. Coal of lignite rank is found at several horizons in the Fort Union formation. Although several of these coal beds were found and measured, only six are of sufficient thickness and persistence to trace consistently along the outcrop and to trace by means of records of the deep wells that have been drilled in the region. These six coal beds average more than 4 feet in thickness; the Coteau bed, in the northeastern part of the region, is 13 feet thick for considerable distances; the Burlington bed, in the northwestern part of the region, and the Garrison Creek bed, in the southwestern part, attain thicknesses of 10 feet in some places. Several localities are indicated where stripping of the Coteau bed, the Garrison Creek bed, and the Minter bed (in the southwestern part of the region) may be commercially feasible. The estimated reserves of coal in the Minot region are 18,094,592,000 tons. A test well drilled for oil near Des Lacs and another well just outside the southeast corner of the region were reported to have obtained showings of oil and gas but failed to obtain commercial production. The rocks in the region are practically flat-lying, and no indication of structural features favorable for oil accumulation was found.
Open Access
Geology of the Souris River Area North Dakota
(United States Government Printing Office, Washington, 1960) Lemke, Richard W.
The Souris River area comprises about 5,500 square miles in north-central North Dakota. It is bounded roughly by the east loop of the Souris River on the east, by the Max moraine on the southwest, and by the International Boundary on the north. Much of the total area is a ground-moraine plain. The Souris River and its tributary, the Des Lacs River, are the main streams. Most of the area, however, is without integrated drainage. The highest point is on the Max moraine at an altitude of about 2,500 feet. The lowest point is in the Souris River valley at the International Boundary at an altitude of 1,410 feet. The northeast-facing escarpment of the Max moraine forms the boundary between the Great Plains physiographic province and the Central Lowlands province. The part of the Great Plains province that is within the mapped area includes the Max moraine and is known as the Coteau du Missouri.A large part of the proposed Missouri-Sour is irrigation project in North Dakota is within the mapped area. Extensive exploration for oil within and adjacent to the area has resulted from discovery of large oil reserves elsewhere in the Williston basin. Farming, however, remains the chief industry, Minot, with a population of 22,032 in 1950, is the largest city. Most of the area is mantled with surficial deposits, chiefly of Pleistocene age. Rocks of Late Cretaceous and Tertiary age underlie the surficial deposits and crop out locally. Data on subsurface formations are based on logs of several wells drilled for oil. One well in the northeast part of the area penetrated Precambrian rocks at a depth of 8,262 feet. In addition to Tertiary and Cretaceous sediments, Jurassic, Triassic, Mississippian, Devonian, Silurian, and Ordovician rocks have been recognized in the drill holes. The Pierre shale, Fox Hills sandstone, and possibly the Hell Creek formation of Late Cretaceous age directly underlie surficial deposits along the east and northeast margins of the mapped area. Elsewhere, Tertiary rocks underlie the surficial deposits. The Pierre shale is nowhere exposed in the area, but well data and exposures nearby show that it consists largely of grayish blue, poorly indurated shale, which has pronounced rectangular partings. Several species of Foraminifera from the formation have been identified. There is only one exposure of possible Fox Hills sandstone. It consists chiefly of poorly consolidated medium-grained orange-yellow sandstone that contains concretions. Although the Hell Creek formation under- lies Tertiary rocks in the western part of the area, it is believed to be nowhere exposed and may not persist far enough east to come in direct contact with the surficial deposits.The Tertiary rocks consist of the Cannonball and Tongue River members of the Fort Union formation of Paleocene age. The marine Cannonball member is the uppermost bedrock unit in most of the eastern and southeastern parts of the area; a few exposures along the Souris River valley and to the south-east indicate a maximum thickness of about 40 feet. The member consists chiefly of thinly bedded fossiliferous brown sand and sandy shale. It contains numerous species of Foraminifera, some newly described. The continental Tongue River member overlies the Cannonball member and is the uppermost bedrock unit of most of the area. Under the Max moraine, it may have a thickness greater than 900 feet. The Tongue River member consists of poorly consolidated sandstone, sand, silt-stone, shaly clay, and lignite. A few vertebrate and invertebrate fossils have been found. The lignite beds, some of which are 10-15 feet thick, are the chief aquifers of the area. Other beds range widely in permeability. Slope stability also varies markedly. The Pleistocene deposits are Wisconsin in age, and, except for a few deposits along the valley of the Des Lacs River, all are believed to be of the Mankato substage of glaciation. The deposits have been mapped as the following geologic units: Max moraine, ground moraine, overridden ice-contact deposits, linear-ridge deposits, diversion-channel deposits, river-terrace deposits, kames and eskers, end moraines in the Souris loop area, ice-marginal outwash-channel deposits, glaciofluvial deposits undifferentiated, and deposits of glacial Lake Souris. The Max moraine covers the southwest part of the area. Its surface is characterized by innumerable knobs, ridges, and kettles and other undrained depressions. The moraine consists mostly of stony clay till, generally 100-200 feet thick; locally, where it fills preglacial valleys, it may be much thicker. The Max moraine forms the surface of the Coteau du Missouri and owes much of its prominence to a buried bedrock platform. When dry, the till of the Max moraine stands in nearly vertical slopes, but when wet, it tends to slump; it is nearly impermeable. Ground moraine is the most widespread map unit. It forms a relatively fiat plain which slopes gently northeastward from the Max moraine to the area covered by deposits of glacial Lake Souris. In most places, its thickness is 50-200 feet. It consists essentially of stony clayey till. Pebbles and larger size stones are mostly carbonate rocks, followed by granitic and gneissic rocks. The till of the ground moraine, like that of the Max moraine, is very stable when dry and is nearly impermeable.The overridden ice-contact deposits are exposed locally along the Souris River from Minot downstream for several miles. They are both overlain and underlain by till and consist mostly of fine sand to coarse gravel a few inches to about 30 feet thick. In the large-size fraction, carbonate rocks predominate; granitic and gneissic rocks are next most abundant. Many of the beds are characterized by small, moderate- to high-angle faults, which suggests collapse and slump. In the southeast part of the area, many straight parallel ridges trend southeast. These ridges are interpreted to be a special type of drumlinoidal feature, but, because definite proof is lacking as to their origin, they have been mapped as "linear ridge deposits." Shallow parallel grooves in the intervening ground moraine and arcuate transverse ridges of till, interpreted to be recessional moraines are associated with the ridges. The linear ridges are generally 1-3 miles long, 5-15 feet high, and have even crestlines. The largest ridge, however, is 13 1/2 miles long and 15-30 feet high. Larger ridges consist mostly of stratified sand and incorporated bodies of till. Ridges less than 5 feet high consist almost entirely of till. Glacial inelt water that was diverted from the Souris River valley by ice has cut several large diversion channels. The main diversions were about 25 miles downstream from Minot, where shallow channels, mostly 1/2 - 2 miles wide, were cut in ground moraine. Laid down in these channels were deposits of gravel, sand, and silt, generally 5-15 feet thick. Terrace remnants, possibly kame terraces, are fairly numerous along the valley walls of the Souris and Des Lacs Rivers. Most are less than half a mile long and a few hundred feet wide. The terrace deposits range in thickness from a few inches to more than 50 feet; they range in composition from silt to boulders, but sand and gravel predominate. Carbonate rocks are most abundant; granite and gneissic rocks are next most abundant. Sorting is poor to moderate. Permeability and porosity are high. Most of the coarser fraction is satisfactory for construction purposes. The abundant kames and eskers are characterized by variations in size, shape, lithology, and structure. They have the common features of (a) consisting predominately of poorly sorted gravel, sand, and silt, and of minor amounts of till, (b) possessing collapsed bedding, and (c) having specific dimensions and landforms different from other glaciofluVial deposits. Five huinmocky areas surrounded by ground moraine have been mapped as end moraines in the Souris loop area. They are not typical of other end moraines in the region because they contain large amounts of stratified ice-contact deposits incorporated in the otherwise stony clay till. During melting of the last glacier ice covering the region, glacial melt water cut a conspicuous and unusual pattern of long outwash channels in the ground moraine. These channels are believed to have formed mostly along successive positions marginal to the southwest side of the last ice lobe to cover the area. Outwash that consists of gravel, sand, silt, and clay underlies the bottom and, in a few places, the walls of the channels. This ranges in thickness from a thin skin to 20 feet or more. Permeability of the sand and gravel is high, and special problems of leakage will probably arise if canals or dams are built in this material. Many stratified glacial deposits, of uncertain origin, are scattered throughout the mapped area; they are described under the heading Glaciofluvial deposits, undifferentiated as to origin." Deposits of glacial Lake Souris cover most of the eastern part of the area. Their surface is conspicuously fiat. The deposits range from a known thickness of 73 feet to a feather- edge. They consist mostly of sand and silt and in most places are underlain by till. Recent deposits are landslides, dune sand, and alluvium. However, all three probably began to form while the last ice sheet was melting from the area and hence are partly con- temporaneous with some of the latest Pleistocene deposits. Large and impressive landslides are abundant along the val- ley walls and tributaries of the Des Lacs River and along the valley walls of the upper reaches of the Souris River. In the Des Lacs River area, long parallel blocks of Fort Union strata, overlain by a thick section of till, have broken away from steep valley-wall slopes and have rotated, producing a series of suc- cessively lower ridges parallel to the valley wall. Little mate- rial is sliding at present. In the Souris River valley area, only till and stratified glacial deposits appear to have slid. The type of slide in the Souris River valley forms crescent-shaped areas of low, arcuate, parallel ridges and undrained depressions on the upslope side. There is no evidence of recent sliding and most of the material probably moved soon after the glacial ice melted from the valley. Dune sand is confined mostly to the glacial Lake Souris area. The dunes consist of parallel to subparallel ridges, as much as 50 feet high, whose long axes generally trend northwest. Dune groups formed by several closely spaced individual dunes also trend northwest. Most dunes are partly stabilized by shrubs and small trees but some are active. Permeability is high. Alluvium consists of clay, silt, sand, and fine gravel deposited chiefly along the valley floors of the Souris and Des Lacs Rivers, and their main tributaries. It is probably less than 30 feet thick under the valley floors of the two main valleys and is underlain by glacial outwash of similar composition. Permeability is generally less than in other stratified surficial deposits and subsurface drainage is generally poor. Slope stability generally is low to moderate. Most of the area is believed to lie within a broad, shallow syncline that trends northwest into Canada. A zone of folds and faults may extend many miles parallel to the escarpment of the Coteau du Missouri along a bedrock bench just west of the mapped area. The escarpment itself may be a fault scarp. If so, the Coteau du Missouri may be high structurally as well as topographically.The preglacial drainage pattern differed from the present pattern. The ancestrial Knife River crossed the Coteau du Missouri and may have flowed northward through the eastern part of the mapped area. Parts of the valleys of the Souris and Des Lacs River probably were cut in Pleistocene time, prior to the last glaciation. North Dakota was glaciated at least three times. Tills of the lowan, Tazewell, and Mankato substages of the Wisconsin stage have been recognized south of the mapped area. However, except for a few exposures along the valley of the Des Lacs River that might be of Tazewell or lowan substage, only deposits of Mankato substage have been recognized in the Souris River area. During the later part of the Mankato substage, a long, narrow lobe of ice advanced southeastward across the area between the escarpment of the Coteau du Missouri and the Turtle Mountains. This lobe, here named the Souris River lobe, extended a short distance southeast of the mapped area. At approximately the same time that the Souris River lobe covered much of the Souris River area, a second lobe of ice advanced around the east flank of the Turtle Mountains and covered the area east of the Souris River area. This lobe is named the Leeds lobe. During deglaciation, the sides and the terminus of the Souris River lobe melted simultaneously, and southeast-trending ice-marginal channels formed along the southwest side of the lobe. The southern part of glacial Lake Souris came into existence as the Souris River lobe melted back from low ground southeast of the mapped area; further melting expanded the lake to the northwest. The lake first overflowed southeastward through spillways; finally, when the Souris River valley became free of ice, the lake drained northward into Canada. Mineral resources include lignite, petroleum, gas, construction materials, sodium sulfate (Glauber salt), and clay. The last two have little or no present economic significance. North Dakota produced about 3,260,973 tons of lignite in 1950, of which 577,515 came from the Souris River area. The Souris River area lies mostly in the eastern part of the North Dakota lignite fields, although its eastern boundary is beyond the lignite-'bearing strata. Natural exposures of lignite are scarce and present-day mining is confined almost exclusively to a few strip mines south of Velva. Reserves in the Souris River area are estimated at 9,762.5 million short tons. Oil was first discovered in the State in 1951, about 75 miles west of Minot. By 1952, twelve dry holes had been drilled in the Souris River area. In 1953 oil reportedly was found in the northeast part of the area. Some kinds of construction materials are abundant in the Souris River area but others are scarce. Sand and gravel are plentiful and nearly all the deposits are suitable for road metal. Most deposits can also be used for concrete aggregate and other purposes. On the other hand, quarry rock suitable for building purposes is almost totally lacking. Surface geology and agricultural development are directly related. Some characteristics of the geologic units favor agricultural development; others are detrimental. Poor surface drainage and low permeability of the ground moraine severely limit irrigability of much of the area. On the other hand, the ground moraine is well suited for dry farming. Poor surface drainage prevents rapid runoff and the nearly impermeable till holds moisture in the upper part of the soil profile. The till decomposes rather quickly into a fertile soil. A direct relation also exists between geology and construction. At present, the major construction is road building. Sand and gravel are plentiful for bituminous mix, as well as for road metal. Till is the most common subgrade material, forming a stable roadbed. It compacts well, is little susceptible to frost heaving, and is fairly stable in road cuts. Roads built across stratified glacial deposits are generally stable. Several types of problems, however, develop in building roads across deposits of glacial Lake Souris. Roads built in sand are subject to wind erosion of grade, filling of ditches, gullying, and lateral displacement of grade, owing to low cohesion of the sand grains. Roads built in silt deposits are susceptible to frost heaving. Drainage is a problem in building roads across valley alluvium. Lignite beds should be avoided in constructing roads because they are poor fill material and are the chief aquifers. Landslides should be avoided because of the danger of reactivating the slides. Leakage is probable in canals constructed in some outwash deposits.
Open Access
Distribution and Thickness of Devonian Rocks in Williston Basin and in Central Montana and North-Central Wyoming
(UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON, 1961) Sandberg, Charles A.
The report area includes approximately 200,000 square miles in the southern part of the Williston basin of North Dakota, South Dakota, and eastern Mon- tana and in central Montana and north-central Wyoming. Devonian rocks underlie all but the south-central part of this large area, and they crop out on the flanks of the Bighorn, Pryor, Beartooth, Big Snowy, and Little Rocky Mountains and the Absaroka Range. The Devonian rocks consist predominantly of marine carbonate, evaporite, and shale beds, which have a maximum thickness of 2,000 feet in northwestern North Dakota. Lower Devonian rocks assigned to the Beartooth Butte formation, an estuarine channel-fill deposit as thick as 150 feet, crop out at many isolated localities, generally less than half a mile in length, in the Bighorn, Pryor, and Beartooth Mountains and in the Absaroka Range. Middle Devonian rocks underlie the central Williston basin but do not crop out in Montana or Wyoming. They reach a maximum thickness of about 870 feet in north-central North Dakota. The Middle Devonian series is divided into the Elk Point group and the overlying Dawson Bay formation. The Elk Point group consists of the Winnipegosis and Prairie formations. The Winnipegosis and Dawson Bay formations are composed mainly of limestone and dolomite, but the Prairie is largely halite and anhydrite with a little sylvite. Upper Devonian rocks underlie most of the area studied and attain a maximum thickness: of about 1,250 feet in northern Montana. The Upper Devonian series is divided in ascending order into the Souris River formation, the Jefferson group, consisting of the Duperow and Birdbear formations, and the Three Forks formation, overlain by the Bakken formation of Late Devonian ( ?) and Early Mississippian age. The Souris River,Duperow, and Birdbear formations were deposited in similar sedimentary cycles and their lithologies consist of various quantities of limestone, dolomite, dolomitic limestone, silty and argillaceous dolomite and limestone, and anhydrite with thin interbeds of shale, siltstone, and sandy argillaceous dolomite. The Three Forks formation contains calcareous and dolomitic shale with interbeds of limestone, dolomite, anhydrite, and siltstone. The lower half of the formation is commonly anhydritic, and sandstone is present locally at the top. The Bakken formation consists of two black carbonaceous shale beds separated by gray sandstone, siltstone, and dolomite. Tectonic activity occurred along several major anticlines and one large re- verse fault during Middle and Late Devonian and earliest Mississippian time. These structural features were eroded in Early Mississippian time and buried beneath thick Mississippian deposits; they are ancestral to but have slightly divergent trends from similar Laramide features. The ancestral structural features greatly influenced Devonian sedimentation and may have trapped large amounts of oil and gas in Devonian and older strata. Minor oil production has already been established from the Winnipegosis, Dawson Bay, Souris River,Duperow, and Three Forks formations, and many near-commercial oil shows have been found in the Birdbear formation.
Open Access
Hydrology of Melt-Water Channels in Southwestern Minnesota
(United States Government Printing Office, Washington, 1965) Thompson, Gerald L.
Melt-water channel deposits are among the most important aquifers in south-western Minnesota, but permeable zones within the deposits are difficult to locate, interpretation of the depositional history of proglacial channel deposits from aerial photographs and test-hole samples indicates the position of the permeable zones. Generally, the coarse-grained deposits are in headwater areas, near the confluence of two channels, in bends, or at the junction of sluiceways. Locally, these deposits yield as much as 1,000 gallons per minute to wells.
Open Access
GEOHYDROLOGY OF THE SOURIS RIVER VALLEY IN THE VICINITY OF MINOT, NORTH DAKOTA
(United States Government Printing Office, 1967) Pettyjohn, Wayne A.
The Minot area is in the north-central part of North Dakota and includes part of the Souris River valley. The region is covered by glacial drift of late Wisconsin age except in small areas where the Fort Union Formation of Tertiary age crops out. Thickness of the drift is controlled by the topography of the bedrock. In places the drift is more than 450 feet thick, but it averages about 100 feet thick. Water from the Fort Union Formation is soft and is of sodium bicarbonate type that is undesirable for many uses. Wells in the formation produce only a few gallons per minute. Six glacial aquifers were studied in the report area, but detailed work was limited to the Minot aquifer. The Sundre buried-channel and the lower Souris aquifers contain large quantities of bard water of good chemical quality, but little is known of their hydraulic characteristics owing to lack of development. The North Hill and South Hill aquifers generally provide small quantities of hard water that may be high in iron and sodium. The northwest buried-channel aquifer has a high content of iron and chloride. Locally as much as 1,000 gallons per minute may be pumped from it.The Minot aquifer is a thick deposit of sand and gravel confined to the Souris River valley. The water level has declined more than 70 feet since the first municipal well began pumping in 1916. In .some places the water level in the aquifer declined more than 20 feet during 1961-1963. The rapid decline in water level indicates that a serious water shortage may arise in the near future unless counter measures are taken to prevent it. The Minot aquifer is under both artesian and water-table conditions. In places the transmissibility exceeds 250,000 gallons per day per foot. In 1963, 13 municipal wells pump'ed an average of nearly 4 million gallons per day from the aquifer. Some wells produce as much as 1,000 gallons per minute. The Minot aquifer receives most of its recharge from the buried glaciofluvial deposits and from the Souris River. Natural recharge probably average about 3 million gallons per day. About 56,000 acre-feet of water available to wells was in storage in 1963. Artificial recharge could be used to counteract the rapid decline in water levels. Several feasible artificial recharge sites are in the western part of Minot, where highly permeable sand and gravel crop out.
Open Access
Seiches and Set-up on Lake Winnipeg
(Limnology and Oceanography, 1968) Einarsson, E.; Lowe, B.
Recorder charts of water level for the ice-free season are examined for six stations on Lake Winnipeg for the years 1961-1964. Transverse and longitudinal seiches are identified for the north and south basins. An interference pattern is noted for seiches over two different fetches at Victoria Bench. Typical weather situations producing transverse and longitudinal seiches are identified. Moderate to large set-up is examined for 37 cases and geostrophic winds scaled off from weather charts covering an 18-hr period preceding the peak set-up. Using corrections for curvature, motion of the pressurc system, deviation from the main axis of the lake, and air stability, an assumned over-water component is computed for each case. The correlation between set-up and over-water wind square is found to be 0.81. Standard deviation of actual set-up from that predicted by the regression equation is 0.076 m.
Open Access
A limnological investigation in the lower Saskatchewan River drainage basin prior to operation of a forestry complex at The Pas, Manitoba
(Manitoba Department of Mines and Natural Resources, 1968-12) Cober, Jo-Anne M. E.
In July, 1967, the first of a series of pre-pollutional surveys on the Saskatchewan River and adjoining areas was initiated. The need for such surveys was stimulated by the proposal to construct and operate a pulp and paper mill at The Pas, Manitoba. Standards of water quality, quantity and quality of benthos and nature of bottom sediments will be established under present environmental conditions. Necessary baseline data will be provided in this manner to determine and assess changes in these factors if such occur after operations have begun.
Open Access
University of Manitoba Field Station. Delta Marsh. Annual Report. Number Four. 1969
(University of Manitoba, 1969) Delta Marsh Field Station
The University Field Station had another successful season and fifteen research projects were undertaken during the summer. They included:--popu1ation and productivity studies in algae and emergent marsh species; nitrification processes in marsh soils; the relationship between evapotranspiration in Phragmites and water table fluctuations; ecological studies on benthic fauna; factors determining mollusc distribution; population dynamics of Brook Sticklebacks; comparative ecology of two species of Shiner; internal helminths of two amphibian species; reproductive biology of Forster's Tern; territory in the Yellow Warbler, seasonal energy balance in the muskrat; geomorphic, sedimentological and stratigraphic investigations of the area between Portage la Prairie and Lake Manitoba and groundwater studies in the Delta area. We had the pleasure of visits from a number of distinguished scientists from various parts of the world. The Department of Anthropology held a field course for one month and groups from Botany and Zoology stayed at the Station for shorter periods of time. The following staff, students and technicians spent all or part of the summer at the Field Station: FACULTY J. M. Walker G. G. C. Robinson J. Wright C. T. Shay R. M. Green GRADUATE STUDENTS T.O. Acere (Zoology) H. Bauer (Psychology) D. Bernard (Zoology) D. Brown (Botany) L. H1ynka (Zoology) M. Fenton (Earth Science) D. Lutchman (Earth Sdence) M. McNicholl (Zoology) F. Phillips (Botany) SUMMER ASSISTANTS W. Dentry L. Hendzel T. Hochbaum J. Leberdensky P. Lemon K. Machniak R. Moyshenko T. Sulymko G. Vascatto J. Yarysz C.K. Yeung The first project started in early April, and from then until mid-September the accommodation was used for 265 resident-weeks with 4,269 meals being served! There are two projects continuing throughout the winter. Seminars A weekly programme of seminars and films was held in June July and August , and we were privileged to hear lectures from Dr . L. Rudescu (Roumania), Dr . R. Nero (Manitoba Museum of Man and Nature), Dr . R. Miller (Yale University) , Mr . L. Gray (Water Control and Conservation , Department of Mines and Natural Resources), Dr . J. M. Walker (Botany, University of Manitoba), Dr . E. S. Burch (Anthropology, University of Manitoba), Dr. G. G. C. Robinson (Botany, University of Manitoba), Dr . D. Schindler (Fisheries Research Board, Winnipeg), and Dr . G. Brunskill (Fisheries Research Board, Winnipeg). We welcomed the participation of members of the Delta Waterfowl Research Station at these seminars and appreciated their invitation to attend the two-day Seminar on "Spacing Mechanisms in Waterfowl" and their July and August seminar series. At the 3rd November Seminar fifteen research summaries were presented, including reports from Mr . F. Austin and Mr. P. Ould, graduate students in the Department of Zoology who carried out their work at the Delta Waterfowl Research Station. The seminar attracted about 80 people, promoted discussion and is now well established as an important part of the Field Station programme . Brief summaries of most of these projects form the major part of this Annual Report. Courses Anthropology 76.662 A small Archaeological Field School led by Prof. C. T. Shay of the Department of Anthropology was held during the month of July. The class surveyed for archaeological sites in the area and spent two weeks excavating a small campsite on the Bell Estate. The campsite, located on a small beachridge, yielded stone artifacts and pottery dating between 1300-1600 A. D. We would like to extend to Mr. P. Ward our appreciation for permission to excavate this site and for helpful assistance throughout the course. Comparative Chordate Zoology 22.220 and Plant Kingdom 1.220 Dr . G. Ross and Dr. B. Young respectively spent useful days at the Field Station with their students. Introductory Ecology (Botany 1.336 and Zoology 22 . 334) Three sections each of 3 1/2 days duration were organized by Drs. J. Gee, J. M. Stewart. J. M. Walker and J. F. Wright, assisted by Mr. D. Bernard. Two sections were held in Registration Week and one the following weekend. During the course, the students were introduced to a variety of habitats, sampling techniques and methods of assessing environmental parameters, which give an insight into the structure and functioning of ecosystems . 2 Plant Ecology 1.452 Drs. J. M. Stewart and J. M. Walker organized a weekend course in Plant Ecology with emphasis upon ordination and sampling techniques as an aid to plant community description. Advanced Taxonomy 1.442 Dr. R. Longton conducted a weekend course during which intensive collecting of critical groups from a range of habitats was undertaken. The collections were for analysis later in the term. Marsh Ecology 1.721 The Marsh Ecology course spent a weekend at the Station with Drs. J. M. Stewart and J. M. Walker, and examined the plant communities =rom the lakeshore to the forested ridge and from the wet meadow to the marsh. Materials were collected for plant and soil analysis, calorific determinations, etc. Visitors We had the pleasure of visits from members of a number of other Universities and institutions: Dr. T. Pritchard (Nature Conservancy, U.K.), Dr. D. Bellamy (Durham), Dr. L. Rudescu (Bucharest, Rumania), Dr. K. Patalas (Freshwater Institute), Dr. Bilden (Macdonald College), Dr. D. Pimlott (Toronto), Dr. G. Ross (Southern), the members of the Board of Trustees of the North American Wildlife Foundation, Dr. B. Kendrick (Waterloo), Miss V. Humphreys (National Museum, Ottawa) Miss M. Dwyer (National Parks, Ottawa), Mr. E. Carp (International Wildlife Research Bureau), Dr. A. Johnson (Hendrix College), the members of the 11th Delta Waterfowl Research Station Seminar, Dr. G. MacLachlan (McGill), Dr. J. Burnett (Glasgow), Dr. H. Dale (Guelph). Special Events There were three events worthy of special mention. On August 14th, Dr. H. H. Saunderson officially opened the new laboratories at the Station, when we were happy to be joined by friends from the University, Provincial Government and others. A tour of the facilities and displays by graduate students helped to make the day a memorable one. The Biology Division Picnic in July was the occasion for a gathering of more than eighty for a beach celebration which became the merrier when driven indoors by rain. Perhaps the marathon social event was a barbeque supper for the 128 participants at the International Coregonid Conference on August 27th, accompanied by suitable musical revelry. 3 Buildings During the winter and spring two cottages were built east of Mallard Lodge and Murrays Cottage was renovated . The transformation of the latter was completed with the assistance of graduate students armed with paint brushes and permitted the building to be used for the Archaeology Field Course. The Bell House was converted into a laboratory by Dr. Robinson and Dennis Brown. However, despite this increase in facilities, the basement of the lodge was in constant use as a laboratory. A site plan and survey was prepared during September to enable future expansion to take place on an orderly basis. I would like to express appreciation for the efforts the Provincial Government made to acquire for the Field Station two housing units from the Macdonald Airfield. These will be brought to Delta during the winter and will provide the laboratory and living accommodation which is essential if an expanding programme of research and teaching is to be carried out at the Field Station. General We are grateful for the opportunities afforded to us to use the Bell Estate for various projects and for the friendly co-operation extended to us by the members of the Delta Waterfowl Research Station. Thanks are also due to the Portage Country Club for allowing us to use their property for study' purposes. To all departments of the Provincial Government upon whose jurisdiction we impinge, warm thanks are extended for their many kindnesses. I would like to thank all the staff for their help during the season and look forward to an even more successful year in 1970.
Open Access
The University of Manitoba Field Station Delta Marsh 1971 Annual Report Number 6
(University of Manitoba (DELTA MARSH), 1971) Shay, J.M.
This year saw a wide range of research and teaching at the Station and consequently heavy demands on the facilities. Eight projects were undertaken, four continued froin the previous year and four new studies were initiated. The first group included investigations of habitat and food use by white-tailed deer; the relationship between evapotranspiration in PhJr..a..gmUe6 and water table fluctuations; the ecology of the hardand soft-stem bulrush (Sc£npU6 aQutuh and S. validU6) and the effect of the Assiniboine Diversion on the southern end of Lake Manitoba. New research projects covered an equally wide range of topics, namely: life cycle studies of two nematodes (Rhabdi~ sp.) in frogs and toads; a survey of soil and water fungi in the marsh; the effect of fire on P~agmUe6 and the mapping of lakeshore vegetation. It is a pleasure to acknowledge the continued financial support from the Department of ' Mines, Resources and Environmental Management, the National Research Council, Ducks Unlimited, Canadian Industries Limited and the University of Manitoba. In addition, this year two of our summer assistants were supported by the Opportunity for Youth program. We were pleased to welcome two other researchers: Mrs. C. H. Nelson, who spent three days continuing her work on downy ducklings, and Dr. B. J. Richardson, who collected blood samples from redbacked voles and deer mice for enzyme studies. Four projects were concluded in 1971. T. O. Acere was awarded an M.Sc. for his stickleback population study, while D. Bernard and D. Brown should complete their M.Sc. theses in the spring of 1972. Dr. J. Wright's ecological study of benthic fauna has yielded a wealth of information, particularly with respect to the effects of freezing on invertebrates. His publication should be in press in the near future. The importance of winter research is also emerging from the white-tailed deer studies of Dr. E. Kucera. Our long-term objective is to obtain an understanding of the dynamics of the marsh ecosystem, and each project brings it a little nearer. The Station was used for 334 resident-weeks. The following staff, graduate students and techni ci ans were present for a 11 or part of the summer: Faculty Dr. J. Gee (Zoology) Dr. E. Kucera (University Field Station) Dr. J. M. Shay (Director) ' Graduate Students A. J. Macaulay (Botany) E. E. Mowbray (Botany) J. Pearn (Botany) F. Phillips (Botany) M. Quaye (Zoology) Station Staff Mr. N. Mulder Mrs . G. Mulder Mrs . I. Garnham Miss P. Wickstrom Summer Assistants T. Cantlon G. Connor R. Gray R. A. Janusz L. Landreth D. Paton R. Scarth Informal seminars were given by the staff and graduate students, and we were glad that members of the Delta Waterfowl Research Station joined us and also reciprocated the invitation .
Open Access
Glacier surveys by the Water Survey of Canada
(Water Survey of Canada, 1972) Reid, I. A.
Glaciers act as natural regulators, storing water in winter and releasing it in summer. To gain some understanding of this phenomenon and the contribution which glaciers make to streamflow, the predecessors of the Water Survey of Canada began glacier surveys in 1945. The earlier surveys offered some clue to the role of the glacier but the data collected were not sufficient to provide the overall picture. Following adoption of photogrammetric survey techniques, however, the glacier surveys have evolved to the extent that it is now feasible to produce a series of maps from which the linear, areal, directional and volumetric changes can be determined. This paper traces the glacier survey work from its inception in 1945. In addition, the results of two methods for determining the average contribution of a glacier to streamflow are summarized. The surveys have revealed that the glaciers, in general, are becoming smaller in size; hence, the regulation effect is diminishing.
Open Access
Species composition and seasonal distribution of phytoplankton in the Experimental Lakes Area, northwestern Ontario
(Fisheries Research Board of Canada, 1972) Kling, H.J.; Holmgren, S.K.
This report summarizes the phytoplankton communities of 35 Canadian Shield lakes located within the Experimental Lakes Area (ELA) near Kenora, Ontario. The lakes are representative of the area and the phytoplankton communities are probably comparable to those in other Canadian Shield lakes. On the basis of size the lakes were grouped into three classes. Four lakes representing the three classes were chosen for detailed analysis of seasonal variations in phytoplankton biomass and species composition.
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Delta Marsh Field Station Annual Report Number 7,1972
(University of Manitoba, 1972) Gee, Dr J.H
During the past year the University Field Station was used actively for research and teaching. To meet increased demands in both these areas, facilities were improved for greater accommodation. Mr. Barry Wallis joined the staff in summer as Executive Assistant to the Director and his presence has increased the efficiency of the operation of the Station. Research The long-term objective of our research program is to provide a better understanding of the dynamics of the marsh ecosystem. Ten research projects were carried out; of these six were continued from last year and four new studies were initiated. Dr. Emil Kucera completed his study on the population ecology of white-tailed deer and a report has been prepared providing much-needed information necessary for the management of deer in a marshland environment. Don Bernard and Marty Quaye were awarded M.Sc. degrees for their respective studies on shiners in Lake Manitoba and nematode parasites in frogs and toads. Both Sandy Macaulay and Floyd Phillips, working on Ph.D. programs, have finished their field studies at the Station and expect to complete their projects in 1973. Research projects received support from the Department of Mines, Resources and Environmental Management (Research Branch), National Research Council of Canada, Ducks Unlimited, Canadian Industries Limited and the University of Manitoba. Staff and Utilization of Facilities The Station was used for 409 resident weeks and 3,747 meals were served. The following staff, students and summer assistants were present for all or part of the year: Faculty Dr. J. M. Shay, Director (to July) Dr. J. H. Gee, Acting Director (from July) Dr. K. W. Stewart, Department of Zoology Dr. E. Kucera, University Field Station (January-May) Facul ty (continued) Dr . L. Mottus , University Field St ation (June -October) Graduate Students S. Bates , Department of Zoology A. J . Macaulay, Department of Botany E. E. Mowbray , Department of Botany E. Pip , Department of Botany F. Phillips, Departmen t of Botany M. Quaye, Department of Zoology J . Pearn , Depa rtment of Botany Research and Summer Assistants J . Evans , Research Assistant L. Bond , Research Assistant T. Jichuk, Research Assistant B. Foley, Summer Assistant G. Connor, Summer Assistant Permanent Staff B. Wallis , Executive Assistant B. A. Huyghe , Secretary N. Mulder , Manager G. Mulder , Housekeeper I. Garnham , Cook Informal seminars were given by staff and graduate students throughout the summer. The Field Station is now available for year-round use and I feel it has a great potential for research and teaching in winter. In January and February 1973 Dr . E. E. Moodie from the University of Winnipeg brought out his ecology class for a two-day field course and I took the third year ecology class out over a three-day period. In addition, there was an Extension Division course on Human Survival given over three days . During these two months alone , the Station was used for 57 resident weeks . There is a strong demand for education in winter ecology and much-needed research at this time of year can be carried out from the Field Station . Its use in these areas should be actively promoted .
Open Access
Quality of Surface Waters of the United States, 1968. Parts 4 and 5. St. Lawrence River Basin, and Hudson Bay and Upper Mississippi River Basins
(United States Government Printing Office, Washington, 1973) United States Geological Survey
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The University of Manitoba Field Station Delta Marsh 1973 Annual Report Number 8
(University of Manitoba, 1973) Shay, J.M.
Introduction The University Field Station has taken on a dual role by maintaining both an active research program and providing educational services to University students, high schools and the general public. If natural resources like the Delta Marsh are to be maintained and managed to yield their maximum benefits, basic ecological information must be gathered and its significance disseminated as widely as possible. By combining research and education, the Station endeavors to meet these objectives. During 1973 the Station increased its already active program in research and teaching. For example, it was used for 454 resident weeks, an increase of 11% over 1972. The participants included: Staff Dr. J. Gee (Acting Director) Dr. J. M. Shay (Director) J. Evans (Botany) Dr. ' G. Robinson (Botany) Dr. C. Tudorancea (Zoology) Assistants M. Danielson M. Knight W. Lysack L. Nostedt M. Rayner P. Simonson H. Smart T. Wallis Graduate Students S. Bates (Zoology) G. Girman (Botany) N. Hooper (Botany) R. McArthur (Zoology) E. E. Mowbray (Botany) G. Mutch (Zoology) E. Pip (Botany) Support Staff B. Wallis (Administrator) N. Mulder (Manager) G. Mulder (Housekeeper) I. Garnham (Cook) Our facilities were used for short periods by Dr. M. Aleksiuk (Zoology), Dr. T. Booth (Biology Teaching Unit), Dr. R. Green, R. Pauls and T. Stewart (Zoology) in relation to their research. We were pleased to welcome Dr. C. Tudorancea (Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest) who joined the staff as a Post-doctoral Fellow in April to study benthic fauna in Lake Manitoba. His investigations will continue until September 1974.
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Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat in the Winnipeg Region
(Resources Planning, Manitoba Department of Mines, Resources and Environmental Management, 1974-05) Bossenmaier, E.F; Vogel, C.G
This report is meant for anyone who may have an interest in the wildlife and wildlife habitat of the Winnipeg region. This interest may spring from concern for environmental quality, from a desire to conserve, preserve or manage wildlife, or from a wish to use wildlife for hunting, viewing, trapping, educational or scientific purposes. Land developers in the Winnipeg region will learn in a broad way the potential impact of their schemes on wildlife and its habitat.
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The University of Manitoba Field Station Delta Marsh 1975 Annual Report Number 10
(University of Manitoba, 1975) Shay, J.M.
Introduction Over the years there has been a steady increase in use of the Station. In 1969, for example, we reported 265 resident weeks of occupation; in 1975 this had risen to 555 with a daily average of 15 from April until midSeptember, while use continued throughout the year for short courses and ongoing research. Participants included faculty,graduate students, those taking regular University and Summer Session courses, Continuing Education programs and High School ecology field trips. One of the advantages of the Field Station is that it brings together people with a diversity of backgrounds and interests. Staff Dr. J. M. Shay (Director) Dr. M. Aleksiuk (Zoology) Dr. T. Booth (B.T.U.) Dr. J. Gee (Zoology) Dr. R. E. Longton (Botany) Dr. D. Punter (Botany) Dr. S. Sealy (Zoology) Dr. J. M. Stewart (Botany) Dr. H. E. Welch (Zoology) Summer Assistants C. Day (Zoology) L. Girling (Botany) M. Jungbauer (Zoology) J. Pearson (Zoology) R. Scarth (S.T.E.P.) D. Soprovich (Zoology) R. Wade (Botany) W. Wade (Botany) Graduate Students D. Busby (Zoology) P. Goossen (Zoology) D. Hood (Zoology) N. Hooper (Botany) R. MacArthur (Zoology) R. MacCharles (Zoology) G. Mutch (Zoology) E. Pip (Botany) M. Rayner (Botany) Support Staff B. Wallis (Administrator) I. Garnham (Cook, April ,May June, Sept.) R. Hooper (Domestic Asst.) S. Kennedy (Domestic Asst.) D. Klippenstein (Domestic Asst.) E. Longstreet (Cook July) G. Mulder (Cook Aug., Sept.) N. Mulder (Manager) N. Rodd (Maintenance Asst.) Research Fourteen research projects were in progress during 1975. In their second or final year were the studies of muskrat thermodynamics; striped skunk winter ecology; post-breeding dispersal of ring-billed gulls; epiphytes on aquatic macrophytes :; Chen.opoc.Uum ecology and grazer-aquatic plant interrelationships. New projects included studies of the breeding biology, and feeding ecology of yellow warblers; interaction of the endocrine system and parasite fauna of the red-winged blackbird; copepod parasites of saugers and walleyes; the ecology of the bullhead, and temporal succession in beach fungi. Two long term studies: ecology and productivity in Phnagmiteb and protozoan and he l minth parasites of frogs and toads were continued, these are outlined in the University Field Station Annual Report No.9, 1974. Summaries and progress .reports for the projects, except those on fungi and Phnagmiteb, are included l ater in this Report . Our warm congratulations to three graduate students who have successfu l ly completed their studies. The Ph . D. thesis of Floyd S. Phillips is entitled liThe Rel ationship between Evapotranspiration by Phnagmiteb c.ommu.tU.-6 Trin.and Water Table Fluctuations in Delta Marsh, Manitoba". Glen Girman was awarded an M.Sc., his thesis being on liThe Effects of a Number of Herbicides upon Photosynthesis and Heterotrophy of Naturally occurring Algal and Bacteral Communities in Delta Marsh,Manitoba" and Susan Eddy received an M.Sc. for her thesis on "Population of the Leopard Frog Ran.a p.<.p.<.en..6 p.<.p.<.en..6 Schreber at Delta Marsh, Manitoba.
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Phytoplankton successions and species distribution in prairie ponds of the Erickson-Elphinstone district, southwestern Manitoba
(Winnipeg, Man. : Freshwater Institute, 1975) Kling, H.
The phytoplankton of approximately 50 small prairie lakes in the Erickson-Elphinstone district of Southwestern Manitoba have been surveyed since 1972. During 1973 seasonal succession studies were conducted on 5 of the lakes (Nos. 885, 154, 882, 255,103). These are described in detail in this report. The species list for the areea includes species from a total of 46 lakes which were sampled during the years 1972-1974.
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Seasonal successions of phytoplankton in seven lake basins in the Experimental Lakes Area northwestern Ontario following artificial eutrophication
(Winnipeg, Man. : Freshwater Institute, 1975, 1975) Findlay, D.L.; Kling, H.J.
This report summarizes the changes in the phytoplankton communities of seven lake basins following artificial enrichment with nitrate, phosphate and carbon. Data presented comes from the studies of Lakes 227, 304, 226 (southeast and northwest basins), 261, and 302 (north and south basins) carried out from 1969 to 1973. A total of 280 taxa were identified and a table indicates where they were found and at what season of the year.
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Experimental cropping of lakes. 3. Phytoplankton and zooplankton
(1975) Healey, M.C.; Kling, H.J.
Samples of phytoplankton were collected by a van Dorn sampler in 1972 and samples of zooplankton by a Wisconsin style net in 1971 and 1972 from Alexie, Baptiste, Chitty and Drygeese lakes near Yellowknife,Northwest Territories. Seventy-nine major taxa of phytoplankton were identified, Chitty Lake having the most taxa (56) and Alexie Lake the fewest (28). Chrysophyceae dominated the phytoplankton in all four lakes while Cyanophyceae or Cryptophyceae were second in importance. Seasonal changes in numbers and biomass were not consistent among the lakes. Most differences in plankton populations observed among the lakes reflected the fact that they are located on two separate sub drainages of the Yellowknife River system.
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Summary Report - Lake Winnipeg, Churchill and Nelson Rivers Study Board
(Government of Manitoba, Government of Canada, 1975-04) Lake Winnipeg, Churchill and Nelson Rivers Study Board
The people and industries of Manitoba as in all areas of North America are demanding more and more electrical energy every year. The demand in Manitoba has more than doubled in the last decade (Figure 1) and there is reason to believe that it will double again in the next 10 years. In parallel with the accelerating demand for electrical energy, there is an ever increasing awareness of the need to preserve Manitoba's natural environment and to allocate its natural resources with a view to benefiting Manitobans now and in the future. Satisfying the demands of Manitobans for electrical energy and for environmental quality requires advance planning and compromise. The Government of Manitoba decided in 1966 to proceed with developments to harness the potential energy of the Nelson River and to add to that potential by diverting a major part of the Churchill River flow into the Nelson River. The hydroelectric development program included a generating station at Kettle Rapids, a high voltage transmission line from the Nelson River to Winnipeg, regulation of the outflow from Lake Winnipeg and diversion of substantia l flow from the Churchill River into the Nelson River. The Kettle generating station and the transmission line have been completed. The Lake Winnipeg regulation and Churchill River diversion projects are under construction. The governments of Canada and Manitoba, recognizing the overall interest and conflict over the use of the water and related resources, initiated the Lake Winnipeg, Churchill and Nelson Introduction Rivers study. The study was intended to determine the effects which the regulation and diversion projects are likely to have on other water and related resource uses, to indicate ways in which the projects may prove beneficial to such other uses, to recommend modifications in the design and operation of the works, and to recommend remedial measures where considered necessary to lessen undesirable effects. The study took over three years to complete at a cost of $2,000,000. It involved many experts from federal and provincial agencies, universities and consulting firms representing a variety of disciplines. The salient aspects of the study, including the social, economic and environmental conditions in regions affected by the regulation and diversion projects, are summarized in this report along with the antiCipated implications to the people and the environment. Opportunities for increasing overall benefits and lessening harmful effects are also outlined. Further details of the study are to be published separately in the Technical Report. The study was authorized under a joint Canada-Manitoba agreement entered into on August 24, 1971. A sixmember federal-provincial board, established under the agreement, directed the study. A study office was set up in Winnipeg and a four-member technical advisory committee was appointed. The complete study agreement and the study organizational chart are included at the end of this report The study agreement esta blished the objective, terms of reference and administrative framework for the conduct of the study. Funding for the study was shared equally between Manitoba and Canada. The Board was required to report to the Minister of Environment Canada, to the Minister of the Manitoba Department of Mines, Resources and Environmental Management, and to Manitoba Hydro. The objective for the Lake Winnipeg, Churchill and Nelson Rivers study was defined in the agreement as follows : .. . to determine the effects that regulation of Lake Winnipeg, diversion from the Churchill Riuer and deuelopment of hydro-electric potential of the Churchill Riuer diversion route are likely to have on other water and related resource uses and to make recommendations for enhancing the overall benefits with due consideration for the protection of the environment.