Sauk River Watershed
Overview
Watershed at-a-glance
The Sauk River watershed covers 667,200 acres (1,043 square miles) and extends from the Mississippi River near St. Cloud to within 3 miles of Alexandria. The overall watershed is about 75 miles in length. The Sauk River itself meanders for 120 miles in a northwest to southeast direction.
Report
Sauk River Watershed Monitoring and Assessment Report
Sauk River Watershed Stressor Identification Report
| Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) | 07010202 | [More Info] |
| Intensive monitoring start year | 2008 | [More Info] |
| Major lakes | Major rivers and streams |
|---|---|
|
Lake Osakis, Sauk Lake, Big Fish Lake, Sauk River Chain of Lakes |
Sauk |
Characteristics
Many water bodies are impaired, both lake and rivers, for excess nutrients and sediment.
What's being done
Intensive watershed monitoring is underway and 5 TMDL studies are either done or nearing completion.
- Several 319 and other federally funded projects are underway.
- Extensive monitoring is being carried out by the watershed district.
- EAO recently completed additional assessment work on watershed lakes as part of the IWM efforts.
- rial efforts on pollutant trading on a watershed scale.
- Pilot efforts on wastewater treatment permitting on a watershed scale.
- First part of the IWM work and other projects
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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New monitoring report available
In 2008, the MPCA began an intensive watershed monitoring effort of the Sauk River watershed's surface waters. For more information on the results of that effort, download the Sauk River Watershed Monitoring and Assessment 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 |
|---|---|
| Mississippi River St Cloud IWM: Phase II |
|
| Sauk River Watershed District NonGrant Related Prj |
|
| Stearns County Lake & Stream Monitoring Program |
|
| Surface Water Compliance at Closed Landfills |
|
| Todd County Surface Water Assessment Monitoring |
|
| Upper Mississippi R Information Access Initiative |
|
| Upper Sauk River Water Quality Assessment |
|
Reports
- Sauk River Watershed Monitoring and Assessment Report
- Sauk River Watershed Stressor Identification Report
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]
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 |
|---|---|
| Implementation/Compliance TMDL Eco-Sensitive Areas |
|
| Lower Sauk River Water Quality Protection Project |
|
| Lower Sauk-Metro Area WQ Protection |
|
| Middle Sauk River Rehabilitation - Continuation |
|
| Osakis Phase 3 Water Management |
|
| Sauk Lake Basin Restoration Continuation |
|
| Sauk River Chain of Lakes Lake Margaret Econ Study |
|
| Sauk River Chain of Lakes Public Mtgs Education |
|
| Sauk River Chain of Lakes Restoration |
|
| Sauk River WD-Wide Groundwater Protection Project |
|
| Sauk River Water Quality Protection Phase 3 |
|
| Stearns County Implement Sensitive Areas |
|
| Stearns County Manure Management Phase 2 |
|
| Upper Miss River BMP Impl in Impaired Areas |
|
| Upper Miss River Impl Compliance in Impaired Areas |
|
| Upper Miss River TMDL Compliance in Impaired Areas |
|
| 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
Greg VanEeckhout, MPCA project manager
218-316-3896
Greg.VanEeckhout@state.mn.us
Sauk River Watershed District
524 4th Street South
Sauk Centre, MN 56378
320-352-2231
www.srwdmn.org
Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District
110 Second Street South, Suite 128
Waite Park, MN 56387
320-251-7800
www.StearnsCountySWCD.net
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.
