Lower Mississippi River Basin TMDL Projects

The Lower Mississippi River Basin, which includes the Cedar River Basin, is located in southeastern Minnesota. It includes all or part of 17 counties and has 12 major watersheds, covering about 7,266 square miles.

Land use in the basin is diverse. Forested hill slopes dominate the eastern landscapes and account for approximately 13 percent of the land area. Lands on the western side are primarily cultivated. About two-thirds of the land is under cultivation. Major crops include corn, soybeans and hay. Roughly 17 percent of the land is used for pasture. Animal production in the basin includes dairy and beef cattle, hogs and sheep.

Major population centers include Austin, Albert Lea, Faribault, Owatonna, Rochester, Red Wing and Winona in addition to the southern Twin Cities metropolitan area of Dakota County. These and other urban areas are experiencing rapid population growth and commercial development.

The TMDL projects located in the Lower Mississippi River Basin are listed in the left column of this page.

For information about TMDLs, go to the main TMDL webpage.