Full Metadata: National Wetlands Inventory Points

University of Minnesota, Department of Geology and Geophysics; Minnesota DNR - Division of Waters; Minnesota Geological Survey

Karst Feature Inventory Points

This page was last updated on: December 13, 2005
metadata created using Minnesota Geographic Metadata Guidelines .

Go to Section:
1. Identification Information
2. Data Quality Information
3. Spatial Data Organization Information
4. Spatial Reference Information
5. Entity and Attribute Information
6. Distribution Information
7. Metadata Reference Information
8. References

Section 1

Identification Information - - - - - - top

Originator

University of Minnesota, Department of Geology and Geophysics; Minnesota DNR - Division of Waters

Title

Karst Feature Inventory Points

System Name

krstindx

Abstract

Southeastern Minnesota is part of the Upper Mississippi Valley Karst (Hedges and Alexander, 1985) that includes southwestern Wisconsin and northeastern Iowa. Karst lands in Minnesota are developed in Paleozoic carbonate and sandstone bedrock. A significant sandstone karst has developed in Pine County (Shade and others, 2001). Most surficial karst features such as sinkholes are found only in those areas with less than fifty feet of sedimentary cover over bedrock surface (Gao and others, 2002).

Since the early 1980s, the Minnesota Geological Survey and Department of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Minnesota have been mapping karst features and publishing various versions of their results in the form of 1:100,000 scale County Geologic Atlases. In the mid 1990s, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources was assigned responsibility for the hydrogeology portions of the County Atlases and is now responsible for the karst mapping. Dalgleish and Alexander (1984), Alexander and Maki (1988), Witthuhn and Alexander (1995), Green and others (1997), Shade and others (2001), and Tipping and others (2001) published sinkhole distribution maps for Winona, Olmsted, Fillmore Counties, Leroy Township, Pine and Wabasha Counties respectively. Published Atlases of Washington, Dakota, and the counties of the Twin Cites Metro area contain limited information on sinkhole occurrences.

A karst feature database of Southeastern Minnesota has been developed that allows sinkhole and other karst feature distributions to be displayed and analyzed across existing county boundaries in a GIS environment. The central DBMS is a relational GIS-based system interacting with three modules: spatial operation, spatial analysis, and hydrogeological modules. Data tables are stored in a Microsoft ACCESS 2000 DBMS and linked to corresponding ArcView shape files. The current Karst Feature Database of Southeastern Minnesota was put on a Citrix Window 2000 server accessible to researchers and planners through networked interfaces.

The karst inventory points were point features such as sinkholes, springs, and stream sinks extracted from the karst feature database of Southeastern Minnesota. Both inventory points and karst feature database are updated on regular basis. This research was supported with funding from the Minnesota Department of Health.

Purpose

1) to look for large-scale patterns in the sinkhole distribution; 2) to conduct statistical tests of hypotheses about the formation of sinkholes; 3) to create web-accessible management tools for land-use managers and planners; and 4) to deliver geomorphic and hydrogeological criteria for making scientifically valid land-use policies and decisions in karst areas of southeastern Minnesota.

Time Period of Content Date

Unknown

Currentness Reference

The databases used in this research have been built over the past 20+ years with support from The Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and several counties.

Progress

in work

Maintenance and Update Frequency

Continually

Spatial Extent of Data

Statewide

Bounding Coordinates

E = -89
W = -97.5
N = 49.5
S = 43

Place Keywords

Minnesota

Theme Keywords

Karst Feature Database, Sinkhole, Spring, Stream Sink

Theme Keyword Thesaurus

None

Access Constraints

None

Use Constraints

None

Contact Person Information

E Calvin Alexander Jr.
Department of Geology and Geophysics
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Phone: (612) 624-3517
FAX: (612) 625-3819
E-mail: alexa001@umn.edu

Browse Graphic File Name

karstfeature, mnkarst, pinekarst

Browse Graphic File Description

karstfeature shows all the major karst features stored in the karst feature database of southeastern Minnesota.

mnkarst overlays the areas with < 50 feet, 50 to 100 feet, and > 100 feet of surficial cover over the areas underlain by carbonate bedrock. This map emphasizes the patchy nature of the thick sediment cover and the importance of site-specific information for land-use decisions.

pinekarst illustrates sinkhole distributions in the sandstone karst areas of Pine county.

Associated Data Sets

More Polygon and Line karst features such as outcrops, sub-drained areas, and water-tracing vectors are being developed and processed in selected areas of southeastern Minnesota. Depth to bedrock and bedrock geology information are available in the karst areas of southeastern Minnesota.

Section 2

Data Quality Information - - - - - - top

Attribute Accuracy

Statistically valid attribute accuracy information is not available for these data. Attribute accuracy was tested by comparison of the source with hard copy printouts and investigation using interfaces developed in ArcView and Microsoft Access platforms.

Logical Consistency

Data are topologically correct.

Completeness

The karst feature database is still an incomplete database. Only sinkholes, springs, and stream sinks are included in the inventory here because information of other karst features is either not available or not verified. Both inventory points and karst feature database are updated on regular basis. More karst features will be available after the database is significantly updated. Sinkhole data in Fillmore, Goodhue, Mower, Olmsted, Pine, Wabasha, and Winona counties are relatively more complete than the rest of the karst areas in southeastern Minnesota.

Horizontal Positional Accuracy

Varies depending on the source and method of generating geographic coordinates for the karst features.

Vertical Positional Accuracy

Varies depending on the source and method of generating elevations for the karst features.

Lineage

Karst feature data sources

source data	source data scale	source data date	contact person
karst zip files	1:24000	1995	Robert Tipping
Winona Co. sinkholes	1:24000	1995	Sue Magdalene
Mower Co. karst features	1:24000 or GPS	1997	Jeff Green
Goodhue Co. karst features	1:24000 or GPS	2000	Calvin Alexander
Wabasha Co. karst features	1:24000 or GPS	2001	Robert Tipping
Pine Co. karst features	1:24000 or GPS	2002	Bev Shade
Dodge Co. karst features	1:24000 or GPS	2002	Scott Alexander
Field notes and other sources	various	various	various

Processing steps to develop karst feature database and generate inventory points:

1>. Jan. 2000 - Mar. 2000, Investigate existing documentation concerning the application of the database and study the current operating environment and planned use of the information.

2>. Apr. 2000 - Sept. 2000, Assemble datasets and develop a karst feature database for Winona County.

3>. Oct. 2001 - Dec. 2001, Revise entities, attributes, domains, and keys, relationships, and referential integrities for the karst feature database.

4>. Jan. 2001 - June 2001, Load existing archived karst feature files into the karst feature database and build applications for the karst feature database.

5>. July 2001 - Dec. 2001, Verify database consistency and security and test applications.

6>. Jan. 2002 - June. 2002, Conduct user test to verify attributes and locations of karst features in the database by using applications built for the database. Modify some of the applications and table structures if necessary.

7>. July 2002 - present, Load and convert more data into the database and verify its overall consistency and security. Generate web-accessible karst feature inventory points.

Source Scale Denominator

24000 or 0 (GPS).

Section 3

Spatial Data Organization Information - - - - - - top

Native Data Set Environment

Microsoft Access 2000, ArcView GIS 3.2

Geographic Reference for Tabular Data

Not Applicable

Spatial Object Type

Vector

Vendor Specific Object Types

Point

Tiling Scheme

counties

Section 4

Spatial Reference Information - - - - - - top

Horizontal Coordinate Scheme

UTM

Ellipsoid

GRS1980

Horizontal Datum

NAD83

Horizontal Units

meters

Distance Resolution

meters

Altitude Datum

n/a

Altitude Units

n/a

Depth Datum

n/a

Depth Units

n/a

Cell Width

n/a

Cell Height

n/a

Latitude Resolution

n/a

Longitude Resolution

n/a

UTM Zone Number

SPCS Zone Identifier

n/a

County Coordinate Zone Identifier

n/a

Coordinate Offsets or Adjustments

n/a

Map Projection Name

n/a

Map Projection Parameters

n/a

Other Coordinate System's Definition

n/a

Section 5

Entity and Attribute Information - - - - - - top

Entity and Attribute Overview

Relate ID number, relateid; feature's label, feat_label; feature type, feature; method to generate geographic coordinates, gcm_code; sources of geographic coordinates generation, geoc_src; date on which geographic coordinates were generated, geoc_date; UTM easting coordinate, utme; UTM northing coordinate, utmn; UTM zone, utm_zone; datum of geographic coordinates, datum; MGS quadrangle code, mgsquad_c.

Entity and Attribute Detailed Citation

Entity and Attribute Table

Section 6

Distribution Information - - - - - - top

Publisher

Minnesota DNR - MIS Bureau

Publication Date

11/05/2002

Contact Person Information

Robert Maki, GIS Database Coordinator
Minnesota DNR
500 Lafayette Road, Box 11
St. Paul, MN 55155
Phone: (651) 297-2329
FAX: (651) 297-4946
E-mail: robert.maki@dnr.state.mn.us

Distributor's Data Set Identifier

krstindx

Distribution Liability

None stated

Transfer Format Name

ArcView shape files

Transfer Format Version Number

ArcView 3.2

Transfer Size

1.6 megabytes

Ordering Instructions

Contact above Person

Online Linkage

DNR Data Deli

Section 7

Metadata Reference Information - - - - - - top

Metadata Date

10/31/2002

Contact Person Information

E Calvin Alexander Jr.
Department of Geology and Geophysics
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Phone: (612) 624-3517
FAX: (612) 625-3819
E-mail: alexa001@umn.edu

Robert G. Tipping
Minnesota Geological Survey
2642 University Ave. W.
St. Paul, MN 55114-1057
Phone: (612) 624-4780 ext. 226
FAX: (612) 627-4778
E-mail: tippi001@umn.edu

Metadata Standard Name

Minnesota Geographic Metadata Guidelines

Metadata Standard Version

1.1

Metadata Standard Online Linkage

http://www.lmic.state.mn.us/gc/stds/metadata.htm

Section 8

References - - - - - - top

Alexander E.C., Jr., and Maki, G.L., 1988, Sinkholes and Sinkhole Probability: Geologic Atlas of Olmsted County, Minnesota, County Atlas Series C-3, Minnesota Geological Survey, St. Paul, Minnesota, Plate 7.

Dalgleish, J.D., and Alexander, E.C., Jr., 1984, Sinkholes and sinkhole probability: in Balaban, N. H., and Olsen, B. M., eds., Geologic Atlas of Winona County: County Atlas Series C-2, Minnesota Geological Survey, St. Paul, Minnesota, Plate 5.

Gao, Y., Alexander, E.C. Jr., and Tipping, R.G., 2002, The Development of a Karst Feature Database for Southeastern Minnesota, Journal of Cave and Karst Studies, v. 64, no. 1, p.51-57.

Green, J.A., Mossler, J.H., Alexander, S.C., and Alexander, E.C., Jr., 1997, Karst Hydrogeology of Le Roy Township, Mower County, Minnesota: Minnesota Geological Survey Open File Report 97-2, scale 1:24,000, St.Paul, MN, 2 plates.

Green, J.A., 2003, Karst Features: Geologic Atlas of Mower County, Minnesota, County Atlas Series C-11, Part B, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Paul.

Hedges, J., and Alexander, E.C., Jr., 1985, Karst-related features of the Upper Mississippi Valley Region: Studies in Speleology, v.6, p. 41-49.

Shade, B.L., Alexander, S.C., Alexander, E.C., Jr., and Martin, S., 2001, Sinkhole distribution, Depth to bedrock, and Bedrock topography: Geologic Atlas of Pine County, Minnesota, County Atlas Series C-13, Minnesota Geological Survey, St. Paul, Minnesota, Plate 6.

Tipping, R.G., Green, J.A., and Alexander, E.C., Jr., 2001, Karst Features: Geologic Atlas of Wabasha County, Minnesota, County Atlas Series C-14, Minnesota Geological Survey, St. Paul, Minnesota, Plate 5.

Witthuhn, M.K. and Alexander, E. C., Jr., 1995, Sinkholes and Sinkhole Probability: Geologic Atlas of Fillmore County, Minnesota, County Atlas Series C-8, Minnesota Geological Survey, St. Paul, Minnesota, Plate 8.