Crow Wing River Watershed
Overview
Watershed at-a-glance
The Crow Wing River watershed is 1,245,214 acres in size. It is located in the north central portion of the Upper Mississippi River Basin and includes all or parts of Becker, Cass, Clearwater, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Morrison, Otter Tail, Todd, and Wadena counties. Major cities include Park Rapids, Staples, and Nisswa.
| Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) | 07010106 | [More Info] |
| Intensive monitoring start year | 2010 | [More Info] |
| Major lakes | Major rivers and streams |
|---|---|
|
North Long, Gull, Big Sand, Badoura Bog, Edward, Potato, Shell |
Crow Wing, Stoney Brook, Kettle River, Shell River, Swan Creek, Tower Creek |
Characteristics
The Crow Wing River watershed includes over 627 lakes 10 acres in size or greater as well as 1,653 stream and river miles. The Crow Wing River flows into the Mississippi River at Crow Wing State Park. Land use in the Crow Wing River watershed is mostly forested and agriculture.
A handful of lakes and a few tributaries do not meet water quality standards for beneficial uses such as aquatic recreation, drinking, and swimming. The main lake pollutant is phosphorus, causing algae blooms in summer months.
What's being done
Monitoring of many lakes and streams began in 2010 as part of the MPCA’s intensive watershed monitoring effort. Additional monitoring will be completed in 2011 to determine whether the waterbodies meet state water quality standards.
Following monitoring, a watershed restoration and protection study, and an implementation plan will be developed for the Crow Wing River watershed in the next few years. SWCDs and other local partners within the 8 counties are working together with the MPCA, as well as leading their own water quality projects in the watershed.
MPCA's watershed approach: Since 2007, the MPCA and its partners have begun implementing a 10-year rotation for watershed restoration plans to address Minnesota's waters at the major watershed level.
[+] See large map
Watershed News
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You are invited to a watershed gathering, Wednesday, June 13
Join local officials, community leaders, government partners, local residents, and farmers to explore and discuss the current health of the Crow Wing River watershed in the Staples and Motley area. Agenda includes update on watershed health, small group discussions, and light refreshements.
Gathering is Wednesday, June 13 from 1:30 to 4 pm at the Staples College Ag Center, 1830 Airport Rd, Staples
Update on work in watershed
Find out what has happened over the past year and what will be happening over the next six months.
Crow Wing River Watershed Project, 1-year Update Report
Restoration and protection
The restoration and protection process
The MPCA and partner organizations evaluate water conditions, establish improvement goals and priorities, and take actions designed to restore or protect water quality on a 10-year cycle.
Monitoring and assessment
Projects in this watershed to test water quality conditions and determine whether our lakes, rivers, and wetlands are meeting state water quality standards. [More info]
| Project Name | Status |
|---|---|
| Becker County Citizens Lake Monitoring |
|
| Cass County Citizens Lakes Monitoring |
|
| Clearwater County Citizen Lakes Monitoring |
|
| Clearwater County Local Water Monitoring (Lakes) |
|
| Crow Wing County Citizen Lake Monitoring Program |
|
| Crow Wing County Wide Citizens Lake Monitoring |
|
| Hubbard County Citizens Lake Monitoring |
|
| Minnesota Waters Citizen Monitoring |
|
| Morrison County Citizens Lake Monitoring |
|
| North Central Lakes Sediment Core Analysis |
|
| Northwestern Wadena Cnty Water Monitoring Data |
|
| Shell River Watershed Assessment Coop |
|
| Surface Water Compliance at Closed Landfills |
|
| Upper Mississippi R Information Access Initiative |
|
| Wadena Stream Assessment |
|
Data available for this watershed
Lakes and stream segments with condition and monitoring information
Lakes and streams are divided into "assessment units" for monitoring.
Impairments in this watershed listed by lake or stream segment
Generally, a waterbody has an impairment when it exceeds a particular pollutant standard.
Strategy development projects
Projects in this watershed that establish federal- or state-required plans for restoring water quality for impaired waters, or protecting high-quality waters. [More info]
| Project Name | Status |
|---|---|
| Crow Wing River Major Watershed WRAP Strategy |
|
| Lake Margaret Excessive Nutrient Impairment TMDL Phase III |
|
| Long Prairie River DO TMDL |
|
| Mercury Pollutant Reduction Plan |
|
Implementation activities
Projects in this watershed to put water restoration or protection measures in place, ranging from best management practices to reduce runoff from fields or streets, to fixes to wastewater treatment facilities, to education activities for citizens and landowners. Implementation projects are supported by local, state and federal government sources, including Minnesota's new Clean Water Fund.
Our partners in the watershed are continually involved in these kinds of activities. See Contacts tab.
| Project Name | Status |
|---|---|
| Upper Mississippi River Source Water Protection |
|
Water data tools
Search for your lake or stream's assessment data
See information about your local lake or stream.
DNR Lake Finder
Find information about 4500+ lakes, rivers, and streams
Search MPCA surface water data
Use this tool for accessing and comparing data in all surface waters.
Contacts
Bonnie Finnerty, MPCA project manager
218-316-3897
bonnie.finnerty@state.mn.us
Wadena Soil & Water Conservation District
4 Alfred Street NE
Wadena, MN 56482
218-631-3195
Becker Soil & Water Conservation District
Cass Environmental Services District
Clearwater SWCD
Crow Wing SWCD
Crow Wing County Planning & Zoning
Hubbard SWCD
Morrison SWCD
Otter Tail SWCD
Todd SWCD
Maps
Watershed Map
Many of Minnesota’s lakes and streams do not currently meet water-quality standards because of pollution such as excess sediment or nutrients, bacteria or mercury. These waters are considered “impaired.” For more information, visit the impaired waters page.
The toggles show impaired waters and monitoring stations. Click on a site for more information.
Impairments in this watershed, listed by lake or stream segment
Generally, a waterbody has an impairment when it exceeds a particular pollutant standard.
