DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY GEORGE OTIS SMITH, DIRKCTOB WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 285 SURFACE WATER SUPPLY OF THE UNITED STATES 1910 - PAET V. HUDSON BAY AND UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER PREPARED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF M. 0. LEIGHTON BY ROBERT FOLLANSBEE, A. H. BORTON AND G. C. STEVENS WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1912 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY GEORGE OTIS SMITH, DIRECTOR WATER- SUPPLY PAPER 285 SURFACE WATER SUPPLY OF THE UNITED STATES 1910 PART V. HUDSON BAY AND UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER PREPARED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF M. 0. LEIGHTON BY ROBERT FOLLANSBEE, A. H. HORTON AND G. C. STEVENS WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1912 CONTENTS. Page. Introduction.............................................................. 7 Authority for investigations................................. c........... 7 Scope of investigations.................................................. 8 Publications................................................."......... 9 Definition of terms..................................................... 12 Convenient equivalents................................................ 12 Explanation of data.................................................... 13 Accuracy and reliability of field data and comparative results............. 15 Cooperative data...................................................... 17 Cooperation and acknowledgements...................................... 18 Division of work...................................................... 19 Gaging stations maintained in Hudson Bay and upper Mississippi River drain­ age basins.............................................................. 19 Hudson Bay drainage area in the United States.............................. 22 Principal streams........................................................ 22 St. Mary River........................................................ 22 General features of area drained.................................... 22 St. Mary River near Babb, Mont.................................... 23 St. Mary River below Swiftcurrent Creek, at Babb, Mont............ 25 St. Mary River near Cardston, Alberta.............................. 27 Swiftcurrent Creek near Babb, Mont................................ 29 Red River. ....^...................................................... 31 General features of area drained.................................... 31 Ottertail River near Fergus Falls, Minn ............................. 35 Red River near Fergus Falls, Minn................................. 38 Red River at Fargo, N. Dak....................................... 39 Red River at Grand Forks, N. Dak. ....]..........................; 41 Pelican River near Fergus Falls, Minn............................... 44 Wild Rice River................................................... 47 General features of area drained............................... 47 Wild Rice River at Twin Valley, Minn.......................... 50 Devils Lake near Devils Lake, N. Dak............................... 52 Red Lake River.................................................... 53 General features of area drained............................... 53 Red Lake River at Thief River Falls, Minn...................... 57 Red Lake River at Crookston, Minn.v.......................... 59 Thief River near Thief River Falls, Minn........................ 62 Clearwater River at Red Lake Falls, Minn...................... 65 Pembina River.................................................... 67 Pembina River at Neche, N. Dak................................. 67 Mouse River....................................................... 70 General features of area drained............................... 70 Mouse River at Minot, N. Dak.................................. ^ 71 Evaporation at University, N. Dak.................................. 73 3 4 CONTENTS. Hudson Bay drainage in the United States Continued. Page. Rainy River........................................................... 75 General features of area drained.................................... 75 Rainy River at International Falls, Minn........................... 80 Rainy Lake near Ranier, Minn...................................... 81 Little Fork River................... , ............................. 82 General features of area drained................................ 82 Little Fork River at Little Fork, Minn ......................... 83 Big Fork River.................................................... 86 General features of area drained................................ 86 Big Fork River at Big Falls, Minn.............................. 87 Upper Mississippi River drainage basin..................................... 90 General features....................................................... 90 Mississippi River above Sandy River, Minn............................. 95 Mississippi River near Fort Ripley, Minn............................... 106 Mississippi River at Anoka, Minn....................................... 107 Mississippi River at St. Paul, Minn...................................... Ill Sandy River.......................................................... 135 Sandy River below Sandy Lake reservoir, Minn...................... 135 Pine River............................................................ 148 Pine River below Pine River reservoir, Minn........................ 148 Crow Wing River....................................................... 160 General features of area drained.................................... 160 Crow Wing River at Nimrod, Minn................................. 162 Crow Wing River at Pillager, Minn.................................. 163 Long Prairie River near Motley, Minn.............................. 166 Sauk River........................................................... 169 General features of area drained.................................... 169 Sauk River near St. Cloud, Minn.................................... 171 Crow River........................................................... 174 General features of area drained.................................... 174 North Fork of Crow River near Rockford, Minn...................... 175 Crow River at Rockford, Minn...................................... 176 South Fork of Crow River near Rockford, Minn...................... 178 Bum River........................................................... 180 General features of area drained.................................... 180 Rum River at Onamia, Minn........................................ 183 Rum River at Cambridge, Minn..................................... 186 Minnesota River...................................................... 189 General features of area drained.................................... 189^ Minnesota River near Odessa, Minn................................. 194 Minnesota River near Montevideo, Minn............................ 197 Minnesota River near Mankato, Minn................................ 199 Whetstone River near Big Stone, S. Dak............................. 210 Lac Qui Parle River at Lac Qui Parle, Minn........................'. 211 Chippewa River near Watson, Minn................................. 212 Redwood River near Redwood Falls, Minn.......................... 214 Cottonwood River near New Ulm, Minn ............................ 217 Blue Earth River at Rapidan Mills, Minn........................... 219 St. Croix River........................................................ 223 General features of area drained................................... 223 Kettle River....................................................... 224 General features of area drained................................ 224 Kettle River near Sandstone, Minn.............................. 226 CONTENTS. 5 Upper Mississippi River drainage basin Continued. Page. St. Croix River Continued. Snake River........................................................ 228 General features of area drained................................ 228 Snake River at Mora, Minn..................................... 230 Cannon River.......................................................... 232 General features of area drained..................'.....,............ 232 Cannon River at Welch, Minn....................................... 234 Chippewa River........................................................ 237 General features of area drained.................................... 237 Chippewa River at Chippewa Falls, Wis............................. 240 Red Cedar River at Cedar Falls, Wis................................ 241 Zumbro River......................................................... 242 General features of area drained.................................... 242 Zumbro River at Zumbro Falls, Minn................................ 243 Boot River........................................................... 246 General features of area drained.................................... 246 Root River near Houston, Minn..................................... 249 North Branch of Root River near Lanesboro, Minn................... 252 Wisconsin River....................................................... 253 General features of area drained.................................... 253 Wisconsin River near Rhinelander, Wis............................. 256 Wisconsin River at Merrill, Wis..................................... 257 Wisconsin River near Necedah, Wis................................. 259 Wapsipinicon River................................................... 260 General features of area drained.................................... 260 Wapsipinicon River