Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Division of Ecological and Water Resources
Hydrologic Conditions Report May 2021
Previous reports at: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/current_conditions/hydro_conditions.html
• Precipitation for May was generally below normal across the state, with some notable exceptions. The driest area was generally in a wide swath from west central to north central Minnesota, over the same areas that saw above normal precipitation in April. Some of the wettest areas in May 2021, were in the southeast which had below normal precipitation in April. The highest preliminary monthly total found so far was 6.75 inches at a location 1.8 miles southeast of Owatonna in Steele County. One of the lowest precipitation totals found was .24 inches or 3.19 inches below normal at Ottertail in west central Minnesota. The statewide preliminary total was 2.51 inches or 1.34 inches below normal. The June 1U.S. Drought Monitor map shows Abnormally Dry conditions over 60% of the state. The driest locations are in southern and northwest MN with areas of Moderate drought. In far northwest Minnesota there is a sliver of Severe drought. The U.S. Drought Monitor index is a blend of science and subjectivity where drought categories (Moderate, Severe etc.) are based on several indicators.
• A majority of the stream gages throughout the state used in this report were ranked Normal (25-75th
percentile) for May of this year. Drier than normal conditions for the month caused an increase in the number of gages ranking Below Normal (10 – 25th percentile) compared to last month.
• Seven of the 22 lakes surveyed in the Lake Level Status map are now showing Low and Below Normal percentiles in May. The majority of 22 lakes presented in the report are in the Normal percentile, despite the decrease in lake levels. Only one of the 22 lakes surveyed remained at an Above Normal percentile. Fifty-nine percent of the surveyed lakes were still at a Normal percentile when comparing May 2021 lake levels to their entire historic record, with 23% at High or Above Normal percentiles and 18% at Low or Below Normal. From this group, 50% were above their average lake level for the entire historic record, while 33% were below their average.
• 7% of the 150 total groundwater observation well measurements available for May were ranked at High water level (>90th percentile). 10% of wells ranked Above Normal water level (75th to 90th percentile), 45%of wells ranked Normal water level (25th to 75th percentile), 15% of wells were ranked Below Normal (10th
– 25th percentile), and 22% of wells were ranked Low water level (≤10th percentile). A cluster of wells in Pipestone and Rock counties continue to be ranked Below Normal and Low water levels. This area is classified as a severe drought zone in the June 10 U.S. Drought Monitor index (mentioned above). A cluster of wells in Marshall and Pennington counties continue to be ranked Below Normal and Low water levels. This area is classified as a moderate drought zone in the June 10 U.S Drought Monitor index. Another cluster of wells in Stevens and Pope counties ranked Low water levels. This area is also classified as a moderate drought zone in the June 10 U.S. Drought Monitor index.
The information in this report is provided by DNR through long term programs committed to recording and tracking the long term status
of our water resources. The current conditions of precipitation, stream flows, lake levels, and groundwater levels in this report provide
valuable information for natural and economic resource management on a state, county, and watershed level. If you have questions on
the content of this report please contact DNR Climatology Office: [email protected]
38
24
22
55
54
47 464652 5084 53 444948
43
42
3083
31 325182 4041
2981 39
27 28
3833
1925
2018
3717
34
16
26
1534
23
3614
21
5
3510
13
1157
5812
56
8
24
6059
9
7
3
61
661
63
73
62
72
67
77 76
68 6574
78 75
79
7170
69
80
LAKE OF THE WOODS
KITTSON ROSEAU
KOOCHICHING
MARSHALL
ST. LOUIS
BELTRAMI
POLK
PENNINGTON
COOK
LAKE
CLEARWATER
RED LAKE ITASCA
NORMAN MAHNOMEN
CASSHUBBARD
CLAYBECKER
AITKIN
WADENA CROW WING
CARLTON
OTTER TAILWILKIN
PINE
TODD MORRISON
MILLELACS
KANABECGRANT
DOUGLAS
TRAVERSEBENTON
STEVENS
STEARNS
POPE ISANTI
CHISAGO
BIG STONE SHERBURNE
SWIFT KANDIYOHI
WRIGHT ANOKAMEEKER
LAC QUI PARLE
WASH
INGT
ON
HENNEPIN
CHIPPEWARAMSEY
MCLEOD CARVERYELLOW MEDICINE DAKOTA
RENVILLE
SCOTTSIBLEY
REDWOOD GOODHUE
LINCOLNLYON
LE SUEUR
RICEBROWN
NICOLLET
WABASHA
BLUEEARTH
PIPESTONE MURRAY COTTONWOOD WINONAWASECA
STEELE DODGE
OLMSTEDWATONWAN
ROCK NOBLES
JACKSON
MARTIN HOUSTONFARIBAULT
FILLMORE
FREEBORN MOWER
Minnesota Counties and Major Watershed Index
1. Lake Superior - North2. Lake Superior - South3. St. Louis River4. Cloquet River5. Nemadji River6. (none)7. Mississippi River - Headwaters8. Leech Lake River9. Mississippi River - Grand Rapids
10. Mississippi River - Brainerd11. Pine River12. Crow Wing River13. Redeye River14. Long Prairie River15. Mississippi River - Sartell16. Sauk River17. Mississippi River - St. Cloud18. North Fork Crow River19. South Fork Crow River20. Mississippi River - Twin Cities21. Rum River22. Minnesota River - Headwaters23. Pomme de Terre River24. Lac Qui Parle River25. Minnesota - Yellow Medicine Rivers26. Chippewa River27. Redwood River28. Minnesota River - Mankato29. Cottonwood River30. Blue Earth River31. Watonwan River32. Le Sueur River33. Lower Minnesota River34. Upper St. Croix River35. Kettle River36. Snake River37. Lower St. Croix River38. Mississippi River - Lake Pepin39. Cannon River40. Mississippi River - Winona41. Zumbro River42. Mississippi River - La Crescent43. Root River44. Mississippi River - Reno45. (none)46. Upper Iowa River47. Upper Wapsipinicon River48. Cedar River49. Shell Rock River50. Winnebago River51. Des Moines River - Headwaters52. Lower Des Moines River53. East Fork Des Moines River54. Bois de Sioux River55. Mustinka River56. Otter Tail River57. Upper Red River of the North58. Buffalo River59. Red River of the North - Marsh River60. Wild Rice River61. Red River of the North - Sandhill River62. Upper/Lower Red Lake63. Red Lake River64. (none)65. Thief River66. Clearwater River67. Red River of the North - Grand Marais Creek68. Snake River69. Red River of the North - Tamarac River70. Two Rivers71. Roseau River72. Rainy River - Headwaters73. Vermilion River74. Rainy River - Rainy Lake75. Rainy River - Black River76. Little Fork River77. Big Fork River78. Rapid River79. Rainy River - Baudette80. Lake of the Woods81. Upper Big Sioux River82. Lower Big Sioux River83. Rock River84. Little Sioux River
Level 2 Hydrologic Unit (HUC4)Cedar RiverDes Moines RiverLower Mississippi RiverMinnesota RiverMississippi - Upper Iowa RiversMississippi River - Headwaters
Missouri - Big Sioux RiversMissouri - Little Sioux RiversRainy RiverRed River of the NorthSt. Croix RiverWestern Lake Superior
DNR Major Watershed -Level 4 Hydrologic Unit (HUC8)
Climatology
May 4, 2021
DNR Major WatershedDrought Intensity
D0 Drought - Abnormally DryD1 Drought - ModerateD2 Drought - SevereD3 Drought - ExtremeD4 Drought - Exceptional
U.S. Drought MonitorJune 1, 2021
(preliminary) (preliminary)
Precipitation for May was generally below normal across the state, with some notable exceptions. The driest area wasgenerally in a wide swath from west central to north central Minnesota, over the same areas that saw above normalprecipitation in April. Some of the wettest areas in May 2021, were in the southeast which had below normal precipitation inApril. The highest preliminary monthly total found so far was 6.75 inches at a location 1.8 miles southeast of Owatonna inSteele County. One of the lowest precipitation totals found was .24 inches or 3.19 inches below normal at Ottertail in westcentral Minnesota. The statewide preliminary total was 2.51 inches or 1.34 inches below normal. The June 1 U. S. DroughtMonitor map shows Abnormally Dry conditions over 60% of the state. The driest locations are in southern and northwest MNwith areas of Moderate drought. In far northwest Minnesota there is a sliver of Severe drought. The U.S. Drought Monitorindex is a blend of science and subjectivity where drought categories (Moderate, Severe etc.) are based on several indicators.
Total PrecipitationMay 2021
Total PrecipitationDeparture from Normal:
May 2021
inchesinches
6.07.0
4.05.0
3.02.01.0
0.10.5
1
-4
-10
2
-2-3
3
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#
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#
#
#
#
#
47 464652 5084 53 4449 48 4342
3083
313251
82 40412981 39
27 28 3833
24 1925
2018
22 3717
3416
26
1555
5434
23
3614
21
535
1013
1157
58 1256
8 246059
9
7
3
6166
163 7362
72
67
7776
67
68 65 7478 75
797170
69
80
LAKE OFTHE WOODS
KITTSON ROSEAU
KOOCHICHING
MARSHALL
ST.LOUIS
BELTRAMI
POLK
PENNINGTON
COOK
LAKE
REDLAKE
ITASCA
NORMAN MAHNOMEN
CASS
HUBBARD
CLAYBECKER
AITKIN
WADENACROWWING
CARLTON
OTTERTAIL
WILKIN
PINETODD MORRISON
MILLELACS
KANABECGRANT DOUGLAS
TRAVERSEBENTON
STEVENS
STEARNSPOPE ISANTI
CHISAGO
BIGSTONE
SHERBURNE
SWIFT
KANDIYOHIWRIGHT
ANOKA
MEEKERLAC QUI PARLE
WASHINGTON
HENNEPINCHIPPEWA
RAMSEY
MCLEOD CARVERYELLOWMEDICINE
DAKOTA
RENVILLESCOTT
SIBLEYREDWOOD
GOODHUE
LINCOLN
LYONLESUEUR
RICE
BROWN
NICOLLET
WABASHA
BLUEEARTHPIPESTONE MURRAY COTTONWOOD WINONA
WASECA
STEELE DODGE OLMSTEDWATONWAN
ROCK NOBLES
JACKSON
MARTIN
HOUSTON
FARIBAULT FILLMORE
FREEBORN MOWER
Surface Water: Stream Flow
Previous Flow ConditionsApril 2021
This map is based on provisional stream gage datafrom the USGS National Water Information System
May 2021Stream Flow Conditions
* Percentile ranking based on mean daily flows for the current month averaged and ranked with all historical mean daily flows for that month. A watershed ranked at zero means that the present month flow is the lowest in the period of record; a ranking of 100 indicates the highest in the period of record. A ranking at the 50th percentile (median) specifies that the present-month flow is in the middle of the historical distribution.
# Designated major watershed gage High Flows (>90th percentile)Above Normal Flows (75 - 90th percentile)Normal Flows (25 - 75th percentile)Below Normal Flows (10 - 25th percentile)Low Flows (<= 10th percentile)Flow affected by iceFlow affected by backwaterRating being developed or revisedNo Data
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LAKE OF THE WOODS
KITTSONROSEAU
KOOCHICHING
MARSHALL
ST. LOUIS
BELTRAMI
POLK
PENNINGTON
COOK
LAKE
CLEARWATER
RED LAKE ITASCA
NORMAN MAHNOMEN
CASSHUBBARD
CLAYBECKER
AITKIN
WADENA CROW WING
CARLTON
OTTER TAILWILKIN
PINE
TODD MORRISON
MILLELACS
KANABECGRANT
DOUGLAS
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STEVENS STEARNSPOPE
ISANTI
CHISAGO
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SWIFT KANDIYOHI
WRIGHT
ANOKA
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SHIN
GTON
HENNEPIN
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RENVILLE
SCOTTSIBLEY
REDWOOD GOODHUE
LINCOLNLYON
LE SUEUR
RICEBROWN
NICOLLET
WABASHA
BLUEEARTH
PIPESTONE MURRAY COTTONWOOD WINONAWASECA
STEELE DODGE
OLMSTEDWATONWAN
ROCK NOBLES
JACKSON
MARTIN HOUSTONFARIBAULT
FILLMORE
FREEBORN MOWER
Upper Cormorant
Turtle River
Chub
North Center
Poplar
Edward
Marion
Minnetonka
Green
Lake of the Woods
West Jefferson
Mille Lacs
Upper PriorSwan
White Bear
Shetek
Indian
East Battle
Pokegama
SarahVermilion
Minnewaska !(
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Source data from: MN DNR Waters Lake Level Minnesota Monitoring Program
May 2021Lake Level Status
Surface Water: Lake Levels
* Percentile ranking based on last reported reading for the currentmonth compared to all historical reported levels for that month.A lake ranked at zero means that the present reported level
is the lowest in the period of record; a ranking of 100 indicates the highest in the period of record.A ranking at the 50th percentile (median) specifies that the present-
month reported lake level is in the middle of the historical distribution.
Previous ConditionsApril 2021
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Level 2 Hydrologic UnitDNR Major Watershed
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Groundwater Level Historical Rankings
* Percentile ranking based on last reported reading for the current monthcompared to all historical reported levels for that month. A water level ranked atzero means that the present reported level is the lowest in the period of record; aranking of 100 indicates the highest in the period of record. A ranking at the 50thpercentile (median) specifies that the present month reported water level is in themiddle of the historical distribution.Source data from: MN DNR Groundwater Level Monitoring Program
Groundwater
May 2021
Previous ConditionsApril 2021
Minnesota Groundwater Provinces 2021East-centralSouth-centralKarst
CentralWesternArrowhead-shallow bedrock
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High Water Levels (>90th percentile)Above Normal Water Levels (75 - 90th percentile)Normal Water Levels (25 - 75th percentile)Below Normal Water Levels (10 - 25th percentile)Low Water Levels (<= 10th percentile)No reading available
Percentile *
Aquifer TypeWater TableBedrockBuried Artesian
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