The watershed is largely agricultural (row crops and pasture), accounting for more than 70% of the overall watershed acres. Development pressure is moderate to considerable in some areas. Intensive monitoring shows that E. coli and turbidity are the most prevalent factors for rivers and streams. Shallow lakes in the watershed have issues with water clarity, chlorophyll, and nutrients leading to eutrophication.
What's being done
The watershed began Cycle 2 intensive watershed monitoring in 2019. Monitoring will resume in 2020.
Monitoring and assessment
Buffalo River Watershed Monitoring and Assessment Report- Assessment Report of Selected Lakes within the Buffalo River Watershed Red River of the North Basin
- Buffalo River Watershed Biotic Stressor Identification Report
- Buffalo River Watershed Biotic Stressor Identification Report - Supplemental Data
Buffalo River Watershed Biotic Stressor Identification Report - Supplemental Data spreadsheet- Buffalo River Watershed SWAT Modeling
- Buffalo River Watershed Lake Classification Report
- Buffalo River Watershed Lake Conditions Report
- Buffalo River Watershed Lake Conditions Report Addendum
- Buffalo River Watershed HSPF Modeling Report
- Buffalo River Watershed Load Duration Memo
- Buffalo River Watershed Lake Water and Nutrient Budgets Report
- Buffalo River Watershed Lake Eutrophication Modeling
Strategy development for restoration and protection
- Buffalo River Watershed: Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy Report (MPCA approval 8/9/2016)
- Buffalo River Watershed: TMDL (wq-iw5-06e)
- Buffalo River Watershed: EPA approval letter (wq-iw5-06g)
Buffalo River WRAPS approved
MPCA has approved the watershed restoration and protection strategy report on the Buffalo River watershed in northwestern Minnesota.
