Trail Development Volume I - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Watershed and Hydrologic Characteristics Introduction As part of this research examining the ecological background of Trott Brook, it is important to consider multiple aspects of the hydrology and watershed of the Brook. Hydrologic and watershed data are important to any planning and/or development process. Increasing the understanding of water-related dynamics provides a foundation for planning which values potential impacts on the soil and water resources, which considers the socio-economic impacts of the hydrology and watershed characteristics, and which more fully understands the bio-physical characteristics of the stream and surrounding lands. Watershed Data The topographical delineation of the watershed of Trott Brook is documented on Map 1. The headwaters of the Brook are located within Sherburne County at Eagle Lake (west of the City of Ramsey). The Brook meanders through Sherburne and Anoka counties before discharging into the Rum River in Anoka County. The total length of the Brook from Eagle Lake to the Rum River measures approximately 15.5 miles. The stream is fed by groundwater, as evidenced by the high specific conductance readings (429,450,400 micromhos/cm at each of3 sample sites; see Table 1) found during water quality testing during baseflow periods. Conductivity levels larger than 100 micromhos/cm indicate the presence of groundwater discharge into a stream (Brooks, 1996). Hydrologic Data There has been minimal hydrologic testing completed on Trott Brook (Straub, 1996). In 1979, the Flood Insurance Survey was issued by the u.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in conjunction with the City of Ramsey. Flow-frequency analysis was conducted for Trott Brook based on multiple regression techniques (USDHUD, 1979). The elevation of 10-,50-, 100-, and 500-year floods for Trott Brook are included in the Appendix. The profiles indicate that the 11