Show All Lower Mississippi River Basin
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.
Lower Mississippi River Basin map
Publications
Whitewater River Watershed National Monitoring Program Project Final Report (wq-cwp8-12)- Lower Mississippi River Basin Sediment Evaluation Report (2004) (file size = 7 MB)
- Lower Mississippi River Basin Plan Scoping Document (file size=1.5 MB)
- December 2011 BALMM Currents
Related links
- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
- U.S. Forest Service
- The Rivers Council of Minnesota
- Minnesota Lakes Association
Contact us
For additional information about the Lower Mississippi River Basin, contact Basin Manager, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. at 507-206-2622.
