# Karst Landscape Units of Houston and Winona Counties

This page last updated: 05/07/2021
Metadata created using Minnesota Geographic Metadata Guidelines

Go to Section:

1. Overview
2. Data Quality
3. Data Organization
4. Coordinate System
5. Attributes
6. Distribution - Get Data
7. Metadata Reference

## Section 1: Overview

Originator:Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Title: Karst Landscape Units of Houston and Winona Counties
Abstract: A landscape unit includes the land surface and its connections to underlying aquifers. The units are categorized into karst, pseudokarst, or nonkarst based on their hydrology, form, and geology. Each unit indicates potential surface and subsurface conditions.
In karst, there is a close relationship between the land surface and the underlying bedrock. Fractures and enlarged pathways allow for rapid transport of water, creating unpredictable groundwater travel times and flow directions. This makes groundwater vulnerable to activities on the surface and complicates remediation.
Purpose: Understanding surface and subsurface connections helps to direct land and water use planning and management.
Time Period of Content Date: 05/07/2021
Currentness Reference:
Progress: Complete
Maintenance and Update Frequency: None Planned
Spatial Extent of Data: Houston and Winona counties, Minnesota
Bounding Coordinates: -92.08
-91.218
44.195
43.494
Place Keywords: Houston County, Winona County, Minnesota
Theme Keywords: landscape unit, pseudokarst, karst, karst mesa, karst rolling upland, karst interfluve, karst and pseudokarst escarpment, lowland plain
Theme Keyword Thesaurus: None
Access Constraints: None
Use Constraints: Users may wish to verify critical information; sources include both the references here and information on file in the offices of the Minnesota Geological Survey and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Every effort has been made to ensure the interpretation shown conforms to sound geologic and cartographic principles. This map should not be used to establish legal title, boundaries, or locations of improvements.
Contact Person Information: Holly Johnson, GIS Specialist
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
500 Lafayette Rd
St. Paul, MN 55155-4025
Phone: 651-259-5693
Email: holly.je.johnson@state.mn.us
Browse Graphic: None available
Associated Data Sets: Geologic atlases of Houston and Winona counties, Part A, published by the Minnesota Geological Survey (MGS). More information and downloadable data for Part A available on the MGS site: http://www.mngs.umn.edu/county_atlas/countyatlas.htm
Minnesota Spring Inventory: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/waters/groundwater_section/springs/msi.html
Karst Feature Database: https://gisdata.mn.gov/dataset/geos-karst-feature-inventory-pts
Minnesota Groundwater Tracing Database: https://arcgis.dnr.state.mn.us/portal/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=529cd77b797149979e7a4fe3429b32d6
County Well Index: https://mnwellindex.web.health.state.mn.us/
SSURGO (USDA-NRCS): https://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/WebSoilSurvey.aspx

## Section 2: Data Quality

Attribute Accuracy: --
Logical Consistency: Data are topologically correct using ArcGIS 10.6
Completeness: Complete
Horizontal Positional Accuracy:
Lineage: Landscape units were identified using field observation, surface karst feature mapping, karst feature distribution and density, geologic properties, land-surface slope gradient, landscape form, hydrologic characteristics as determined by fluorescent dye tracing and spring monitoring, springshed mapping, hydrogeologic reports, and geochemistry. Data elements were combined and compared to the landscape during field verification. Landscape unit boundary modifications were made using varying buffer distances and geologic contact starting points. An aggregated range of slope gradients (representative slope) was acquired from the Soil Survey Geographic Database (SSURGO) to determine prominent changes in the land surface that are associated with the erodibility of the underlying bedrock.
The karst mesa consists of all areas unlain by the Cummingsville Formation, Decorah Shale, and Platteville Formation, plus adjacent areas underlain by the St. Peter Sandstone where the slope is equal to or greater than 8 percent.
The karst interfluve was created by identifying areas where the groundwater elevation of the Prairie du Chien is lower than the base of the Oneota.
The karst and pseudokarst escarpment was created by applying a 150-meter buffer upslope from the top of the Jordan Sandstone and a 15-meter buffer downslope from the base of the Lone Rock Formation. It includes all of the Jordan Sandstone, the St. Lawrence Formation, Lone Rock Formation, and small areas of the Wonewoc Sandstone at the foot of the escarpment.
The karst rolling upland was created by identifying areas of the Paleozoic plateau that are not karst mesa, karst interfluve, or karst and pseudokarst escarpment.
The nonkarst lowland plain was created by identifying areas where the Wonewoc Sandstone is adjacent to the karst and pseudokarst escarpment and includes all areas where the Eau Claire Formation or Mt. Simon Sandstone is first bedrock.

## Section 3: Spatial Data Organization (not used in this metadata)

## Section 4: Coordinate System

Horizontal Coordinate Scheme: Universal Transverse Mercator
UTM Zone Number: 15
Horizontal Datum: NAD83
Horizontal Units: meters
Vertical Datum:
Vertical Units:
Depth Datum:
Depth Units:

## Section 5: Attributes

Overview: The dataset shows the extent of the karst, pseudokarst, and nonkarst landscapes in Houston and Winona counties.
Detailed Citation:
Table Detail:

KLU_Houston_Winona
Field Name | Valid Values | Definition | Definition Source
--- | --- | --- | ---
UNIT | - | karst, pseudokarst, or nonkarst landscape unit |

## Section 6: Distribution

Publisher: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Ecological and Water Resources Division
Publication Date: 05/07/2021
Contact Person Information: Holly Johnson, GIS Specialist
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
500 Lafayette Rd
St. Paul, MN 55155-4025
Phone: 651-259-5693
Email: holly.je.johnson@state.mn.us
Distributor's Data Set Identifier:
Distribution Liability: These data were prepared from publicly available information only. Every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the data on which these files are based. However, the Department of Natural Resources does not warrant the accuracy, completeness, or any implied uses of these data. Users may wish to verify critical information; sources include both the references here and information on file in the offices of the Department of Natural Resources.
Ordering Instructions: Download zip file of metadata and feature class by clicking "I AGREE" below.
PDFs of the Karst Landscape Units of Houston and Winona Counties report and plates can be downloaded at: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/waters/groundwater_section/mapping/springs.html
Online Linkage: I AGREE to the notice in "Distribution Liability" above. Clicking to agree will either begin the download process, link to a service, or provide more instructions. See "Ordering Instructions" above for details.

## Section 7: Metadata Reference

Metadata Date: 05/07/2021
Contact Person Information: Holly Johnson, GIS Specialist
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
500 Lafayette Rd
St. Paul, MN 55155-4025
Phone: 651-259-5693
Email: holly.je.johnson@state.mn.us
Metadata Standard Name: Minnesota Geographic Metadata Guidelines
Metadata Standard Version: 1.2
Metadata Standard Online Linkage: http://www.mngeo.state.mn.us/committee/standards/mgmg/metadata.htm

This page last updated: 05/07/2021
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