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Like the rest of the state, watersheds in the Twin Cities metropolitan area are the focus of intensive monitoring and restoration and protection work. But urban watersheds are challenged by concentrated development and human activities that affect water quality.

Within the three major watersheds that cover the Twin Cities area, there are 33 smaller watersheds managed by their own watershed district or watershed management organization. Minnesota law requires local units of government in the Twin Cities area to prepare and implement comprehensive surface water management plans.

Clearly see the location of Twin Cities watersheds with a "zoomable" map:

Metro watershed organizations
Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission
Black Dog Watershed Management Organization
Browns Creek Watershed District
Capitol Region Watershed District
Carnelian-Marine-St. Croix Watershed District
Carver County Water Management Organization
Comfort Lake-Forest Lake Watershed District
Coon Creek Watershed District
Eagan-Inver Grove Heights Watershed Management Organization
Elm Creek Watershed Management Commission
Lower Minnesota River Watershed District
Lower Mississippi River Watershed Management Organization
Lower Rum River Watershed Management Organization
Middle St. Croix Watershed Management Organization
Minnehaha Creek Watershed District
Mississippi Watershed Management Organization
Nine Mile Creek Watershed District
North Cannon River Watershed Management Organization
Pioneer-Sarah Creek Watershed Management Commission
Prior Lake-Spring Lake Watershed District
Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District
Rice Creek Watershed District
Richfield-Bloomington Watershed Management Organization
Riley-Purgatory-Bluff Creek Watershed District
Scott County Watershed Management Organization
Shingle Creek Watershed Management Commission
South Washington Watershed District
Sunrise River Watershed Management Organization
Upper Rum River Watershed Management Organization
Vadnais Lake Area Watershed Management Organization
Valley Branch Watershed District
Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Organization
West Mississippi Watershed Management Commission