Coldwater Spring Water Flow




Date Springhouse GPM Wetland A GPM
January 2nd, 2013 41 19
January 7th, 2013 42 19
January 15th, 2013 41 19
January 23rd, 2013 41 18
January 29th, 2013 42 19
February 6th, 2013 41 18
February 12th, 2013 41 18
February 21st, 2013 38 15
February 26th, 2013 39 16
March 7th, 2013 38 17
March 12th, 2013 39 15
March 20th, 2013 40 15
March 26th, 2013 40 18
April 2nd, 2013 40 18
April 9th, 2013 36 19
April 16th, 2013 40 17
April 23rd, 2013 40 22
April 30th, 2013 40 18
May 7th, 2013 40 17
May 14th, 2013 40 17
May 20th, 2013 42 18
May 28th, 2013 42 18
June 6th, 2013 40 21
*GPM = gallons per minute

WHY

The NPS monitors the spring water flow at Coldwater Spring. This provides a baseline of the water flow rate and allows for observations of changes in it. The spring and reservoir are contributing elements to the Fort Snelling National Historic Landmark, and any changes to the flow of the spring represent potential impacts to this landmark.

HOW

The water is collected using the "Bucket Fill" method which uses a bucket and stopwatch. The bucket is placed into the water flow and the time it takes to completely fill the bucket is recorded. This process is repeated 3 times and the results are then averaged.

The NPS explored different water collection techniques, and this method provided the best results. See the analysis here.

WHERE

The water flow is collected at two locations. The first is from a pipe that exits the southwest corner of the springhouse. The second is off a limestone rock in which the wetland south of the springhouse and reservoir drains.



View Coldwater Spring - Flow Collection Locations in a larger map