Minnesota scientists, geologists and groundwater experts have teamed up to help educate residents about groundwater flow in southeast Minnesota.

Using a combination of high-resolution drone camera imagery, 3D graphics and animation, they worked with a Farmington company to produce videos and infographics that illustrate southeast Minnesota’s geology, landscape and groundwater flow.

That region of the state is unique in that it encompasses three distinct geological features: till, karst and bluffland karst. The till landscape region covers the eastern edge of Mower County and the head of the Root River. To its east in Fillmore County, karst landscape is predominant, where eroded rock features sinkholes, caves, springs and disappearing streams. And east into Houston County, the region evolves into bluffland karst, where the Root River completes its 80-mile journey to the Mississippi River.

Kevin Kuehner, a hydrologist with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Clean Water Technical Unit based in Preston, says the MDA-led educational project is a spinoff from work done through the agency’s Root River Field to Stream Partnership that worked with area farmers. The partnership, started in 2009, looked at how agricultural practices and water quality are related. Of the 48 farmers who voluntarily participated, each one added at least one best management practice that impacts water quality.

SCIENTIST, EDUCATOR: Kevin Kuehner (right), a hydrologist with MDA, has worked with farmers in southeast Minnesota on water quality projects such as the Root River Field to Stream Partnership. The Farmer featured stories on this project: Small watersheds tell big story and Observations from the Root River Watershed.

As the partnership project to reduce sediment and nutrients in surface runoff concluded, Kuehner, his team and the participating farmers realized that the complexity of groundwater movement would benefit from a scientific educational effort shared in a simple, visual way.

So three years ago, MDA pitched the idea about developing educational videos and materials to the Minnesota Corn Growers Association, which provided a grant for the project. Money also came from the state’s Clean Water Fund. Filming started in spring 2019.

AIDING UNDERSTANDING: This is an example of a high-resolution graphic created for MDA’s new video to explain water movement in the karst landscape in Fillmore County. The video shows how rain and melting snow become groundwater and move to drinking-water wells, springs and streams. See similar graphics created for the tile-drained glacial till area in Mower County and bluffland karst area in Houston County below.

Explaining how groundwater moves in this region is very difficult to convey in words, Kuehner says. The videos help portray the complexity and try to simplify the system.

“We have typically relied on sketches, cartoonlike graphics or used very detailed geologic cross-sections to convey this information,” Kuehner says. “What’s different about these videos is that the movement of groundwater is brought to life using a unique approach that combines the latest science, realistic graphics, animation and high-resolution aerial footage.”

The rock images in the geologic cross-section in the videos, for example, are images of actual bedrock outcrops in the region, he says. A drone was fitted with a high-resolution camera to capture the footage.

“It was important to make sure that the graphics and animations were as true to real life as possible,” Kuehner adds. “The more realistic the image, the easier it is for viewers to make the connection to what they see in southeast Minnesota.”

TILL LANDSCAPE: MDA’s infographic on the glacial till landscape in southeast Minnesota illustrates how groundwater flows across this flat, agricultural area in eastern Mower County. For a closer look, click here.

Water quality is important in this part of Minnesota, where the karst region is well-known for its trout streams. However, the same geology that makes the area unique also makes it more susceptible to contamination. By understanding how groundwater moves through the soil and various layers of rock, people who view the videos will better understand how water-soluble contaminants such as nitrate-nitrogen can enter drinking-water wells, springs and streams, Kuehner says.

“There are misconceptions about groundwater,” he adds. “It’s not an underground lake [that gets tapped for well drilling]. Groundwater is stored in the rock itself. It’s water in the rock you are pulling from.”

KARST LANDSCAPE: MDA’s infographic on the karst landscape in southeast Minnesota shows how groundwater flows through fractures, sinkholes, caves, springs and disappearing streams. For a closer look, click here.

For farmers and their advisers, Kuehner says the videos could be used to help elevate the conversation about nitrogen best management practices and their importance.

“Farmers continue to make nitrogen management improvements, but renewed attention and effort will be needed to address the state’s clean water goals and standards,” he says.

BLUFFLAND KARST LANDSCAPE: MDA’s infographic on the bluffland karst landscape in southeast Minnesota shows where the Root River completes its 80-mile course to the Mississippi River. For a closer look, click here.

Kuehner would like to see the videos integrated into training programs offered to area crop consultants, agronomists and crop retailers. The educational materials also would be good for area science teachers and other groups interested in the region’s unique geology.

To watch the YouTube videos and view the three poster infographics shown in this story, visit MDA’s website. Each infographic also contains a quick response (QR) bar code in the bottom right-hard corner for easy access to a two-minute corresponding video. Posters have been distributed to various agencies, nonprofits and state parks in southeast Minnesota. Email Jen Schaust at [email protected] if you would like high-resolution copies.