Rainy River Basin
The Rainy River Basin sits on Minnesota's border with Canada and is home to some of the state's finest forest and water resources.
Voyageurs National Park and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness are located within the Rainy River Basin, as are several of Minnesota's most famous walleye fisheries and many top-notch trout streams. Other prominent uses of natural resources in the basin are forestry, mining and various forms of recreation.
The waters from the Rainy River Basin flow north, eventually arriving in Hudson Bay.
Rainy River Basin Information Document
The Rainy River Basin Information Document (BID) is a reference manual of water management information specific to the Rainy River Basin. The final version of the document is available below and was completed by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency in December 2001. The document is available as one large file or in individual sections below to reduce downloading time. The file size for each section is noted in parentheses following the title.
You may view the entire document:
Or view individual sections:
Forward (419 KB)- Section I: Minnesota Water Planning Framework (65 KB)
- Section II: Description of the Rainy River Basin (2.2 MB)
- Section III: Summary Water Management Data (800 KB)
- Section IV: Water Management Programs and Activities in the Rainy River Basin (100 KB)
- Appendices (74 KB)
Rainy River Basin Plan
The final product of the Rainy River Basin planning process is the Rainy River Basin Plan, also known as the Water Quality Plan. The Basin Plan documents the water management activities for the Rainy River Basin, for a five year period.
Photo: Minnesota Office of Tourism
The Basin Plan was built from local plans and is intended to enhance implementation of locally-identified goals, objectives and strategies.
Additionally, the Basin Plan can be used for obtaining resources. Local units of government can use the Plan to obtain technical assistance and grants; state and federal agencies may use the Basin Plan in allocating staffing and financial resources to the Rainy River Basin.
The Rainy River Basin Plan may be accessed below.
MPCA Contacts for the Rainy River Basin
- Hazardous Waste
Jenny Jensen
525 South Lake Avenue, Suite 400
Duluth, MN 55802
218-529-6259 or 1-800-657-3864
jennifer.jensen@state.mn.us - Solid Waste
Heidi Kroening
525 South Lake Avenue, Suite 400
Duluth, MN 55802
218-723-4795 or 1-800-657-3864
heidi.kroening@state.mn.us - Water and Basin Planning
Nolan Baratono
P.O. Box 61
International Falls, MN 56649
218-283-2240 or 1-800-657-3864
nolan.baratono@state.mn.us - Water Quality Monitoring
Jesse Anderson
525 South Lake Avenue, Suite 400
Duluth, MN 55802
218-529-6218 or 1-800-657-3864
jesse.anderson@state.mn.us
Related Links
- MPCA Environmental Data Access
- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
- Environment Canada
- Ontario Ministry of the Environment
- U.S. Forest Service
- Voyageurs National Park
- International Rainy Lake Board of Control
- International Lake of the Woods Board of Control
- Superior National Forest
- International Joint Commission (IJC)
- Red Lake Nation
- The Rivers Council of Minnesota
- Minnesota Lakes Association
- Army Corps of Engineers ( St. Paul District Water Control Center )
- Rainy River Community College
- Lake of the Woods Control Board (CANADA)
