Show All Little Sioux River Watershed
Overview
Watershed at-a-glance
The Little Sioux River watershed covers 1,812,406 acres in southwestern Minnesota. Its small prairie streams flow through the southern portions of Nobles and Jackson counties and into Iowa.
| Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) | 10230003 | [More Info] |
| Intensive monitoring start year | 2011 | [More Info] |
| Major lakes | Major rivers and streams |
|---|---|
|
Ocheda, Round, Okabena |
Little Sioux, Little Sioux West Fork, Okabena Creek |
Characteristics
Land use in this watershed is primarily agriculture, with most land in row crop production.
What's being done
Starting in 2011, the Little Sioux River watershed, along with three adjacent major watersheds located in the Missouri River Basin, will be starting the MPCA’s major watershed restoration and protection project process. Data collection, assessment, and implementation will occur over 10 years. Each project begins with intensive monitoring, where biological data is collected along with physical and chemical data of streams and lakes in selected watersheds. There are 138 proposed stream sites to be sampled for biological data, 23 stream sites for water quality, and one site for fish tissue.
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
Minnesota water stories
In communities throughout Minnesota, MPCA staff, along with other government agencies and citizen groups, are working to protect and restore the water quality of our rivers, lakes, and streams. Learn more about these efforts.
Preventing runoff
Find out how keep our lakes and rivers clean by capturing rainwater in your yard.
WaterFront Bulletin
WaterFront Bulletin: Find out about updates on impaired waters, watershed project funding, and water restoration and protection activities underway throughout the state.
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 |
|---|---|
| Jackson County Lakes WQ Assessment Project |
|
| Little Sioux River Headwaters/West Branch Monitor |
|
| Missouri River Basin Data Collection and Outreach |
|
| Nobles County Watershed Monitoring |
|
| Ocheda & Bella Lakes 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 |
|---|---|
| Mercury Pollutant Reduction Plan |
|
| Missouri River Basin WRAP Strategy |
|
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 |
|---|---|
| HLWD: CWP |
|
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
Kelli Nerem, MPCA project manager
507-476-4251
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Nobles Soil and Water Conservation District
507-376-9150
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.
