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R.W. Maclay

Publications and source records attributed to R.W. Maclay.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Water resources of the Mustinka and Bois de Sioux Rivers watershed, west-central Minnesota

The Mustinka and Bois de Sioux Rivers watershed is mantled by till deposits with scattered sand deposits. The west-central and northwestern part of the watershed was covered by Glacial Lake Agassiz and the resulting land surface is a flat, lake-washed till plain. Patches and ridges of sand scattered throughout the lake plain were formed as beach ridges and offshore bars. Small, isolated areas of lake clay also occur within this area. The remainder of the watershed is glacial moraine characterized by rolling topography in all but the extreme eastern edge which has more local relief and more permanent lakes. Alluvial sand deposits are found in the eastern part of the morainal area. The drainage area of the watershed in Minnesota is 1,429 square miles. The area includes mors of Traverse County and parts of Big Stone, Stevens, Grant, Ottertail, and Wilkin Counties. Population within the watershed unit is about 20,000. The largest community, Wheaton, has a population of 2,102. The agricultural economy of the area is concentrated on grain farming, although some dairying is carried on. The principal grain crops are corn and oats. Flax, soybeans, and barley are also very commonly grown. The natural vegetation in the area was largely prairie. A hardwood deciduous forest grew only on the extreme eastern edge. Today, the area is almost entirely farm land containing numerous local woodlots. Outdoor recreation is concentrated on waterfowl and pheasant hunting. Fishing is done in Lake Traverse and in the larger lakes in the eastern part of the morainal area.

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Water resources of the Two Rivers Watershed, Northwestern Minnesota

The Two Rivers watershed includes two physiographic areas a lake plain and a till plain – within its 1,232 square miles. It lies in parts of Kittson and Roseau counties and includes the drainage basins of the Two Rivers and Joe River. The flat lake plain which extends 15 to 20 miles east of the Red River of the North is extensively cultivated for small grains and sugar beets. The gently undulating till plain is cultivated largely for small grains and hay. The areas not under cultivation support a forest of poplar with some maple and oak. Oak is the predominate tree on the sandy ridges. The large peat areas are covered with brush and marsh grasslands. Outdoor recreational facilities in the watershed consist principally of the Lake Bronson Park, water-fowl hunting in the extensive marshlands, and deer and small game hunting in the forested areas.

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Water resources of the Roseau River Watershed, Northwestern Minnesota

The drainage area of the Roseau River consists of 2,060 square miles above its confluence with the Red River of the North. About 1,150 square miles lie in the United States and 910 square miles in Canada. This report deals only with that portion within the United States, except for a detailed analysis of low flow characteristics of tributary streams. Most of the area is within Roseau County, but small portions are in Marshall, Beltrami, Lake of the Woods, and Kittson Counties. Most of the watershed has little relief, and lies entirely within the plain of former Glacial Lake Agassiz. However, the flat topography of this lake washed till plain is broken by beach ridges in its southwestern part and Beltrami Island, a topographic high underlain by sand, in tis southeastern part. Population within the watershed is about 8000. The town of Roseau, the largest community, has a population of 2146 (1960). The watershed has an agricultural economy. Spring wheat, oats, and bluegrass seed are the three most important crops in the area, but many other small grains, legumes, and grasses are also grown. Dairy farming and sheep raising are the most important types of livestock production and for many farms stock is the major sources of income. Large areas of the watershed are peat lands, covered with shrubs, marsh grasslands, and spruce, tamarack, and cedar trees. Forest vegetation in the remainder of the area is largely aspen, but oak is common on the beach ridges and jack pine is common on Beltrami Island. Outdoor recreation in the area is primarily hunting of deer, small game, and waterfowl. This report is a general appraisal of the water resources in the Roseau River watershed unit. Detailed studies of water movement through the ground-water reservoir are needed for more exact determination of the amount of water immediately available and the specific effects of water-management practices.

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