english coulee watershed

The English Coulee is affected by the relict sand bars from the beaches of Glacial Lake Agassiz, the English Coulee Dam, and two diversion projects to name a few sources.  Water from naturally occurring springs from the relict sand bars contribute dissolved minerals and trace metals.  The English Coulee Dam and diversion project protects the City of Grand Forks from flooding, but do not allow enough spring melt water flow for the English Coulee to cleanse itself naturally.  The North Dakota Department of Health lists 5.53 miles of the English Coulee within the City of Grand Forks as unable to support wildlife and recreational uses due to sedimentation, dissolved solids, organic enrichment and fecal coliform pollution of the water.  Understanding the nature of contamination of the English Coulee is of particular interest to the City of Grand Forks because it flows through the heart of the city, past Sertoma Park, Altru Hospital, through the middle of the University of North Dakota Campus, eventually emptying into the Red River of the North.