The Cannon River watershed represents a transition between the driftless terrain of the southeast Minnesota and the glaciated lands of south-central Minnesota. This watershed is located at the intersection of three different ecoregions: North Central Hardwoods, Western Cornbelt Plains, and the Driftless Area. It encompasses a diverse landscape that supports productive farms and growing urban centers. There are It includes 90 lakes and 107 wetlands of 10 acres or more in size, numerous rivers and streams, and groundwater that is sensitive to pollution. More than 70% of the land area is in cultivation.
The Cannon River watershed consists of two river systems: the Cannon River and the Straight River.
- From the south, the Straight River headwaters begin as a fan of smaller streams and ditches and connects with the Cannon River in Faribault.
- The Cannon River begins as the outflow of Shields Lake then flows east connecting with a number of other lakes, streams, and the Straight River, Continuing east, it flows through the Cannon Lake Reservoir and the Byllesby Reservoir. Once it reaches the Driftless Area, the river flows past scenic limestone bluffs until it finally empties into the Mississippi River north of Red Wing. Minnesota has designated the Cannon River, from Faribault to the Mississippi, as a Wild and Scenic River.
The MPCA conducted initial reviews of the Cannon River Watershed from 2011 to 2017. A second cycle is set to begin in 2023, with planning already underway with local partners.
What's being done
Monitoring and assessment
Cannon River Watershed Monitoring and Assessment Report- Summary of Cannon River Watershed water monitoring and assessment report 2011-2013
- 2015 Follow-up Stream Assessments for three reaches in the Cannon River Watershed
- Cannon River Watershed Stressor Identification Report
- Lake Byllesby Site Specific Standard
Strategy development for restoration and protection
- Cannon River Watershed WRAPS (wq-ws4-23a) (MPCA approval 10/20/2016)
- Cannon River Watershed: Summary of Developing Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategies (WRAPS)
Implementation plans
The MPCA has completed several Total Maximum Daily Load studies for water bodies in this watershed. TMDL studies identify the total amount, or load, of pollutants that water bodies can accept and still meet water quality standards.
- Cannon River Watershed TMDL (wq-iw9-19e) (EPA approval 2/16/2017)
- Cannon River Watershed TMDL: EPA approval letter
Water quality model supporting documents
- HSPF Model: Scenarios for Cannon River watershed restoration and protection (wq-ws4-23c)
- Cannon River Watershed HSPF Model Development Project (wq-ws4-23d)
- Building a picture of a watershed — modeling with a computer simulation program (more information about using the HSPF tool)
The MPCA and local partners have also completed:
- A special study of Rice Creek, a trout stream in Rice County. For details, visit the Cannon River Watershed Project webpage on the Rice Creek project.
- A study of the Straight River watershed, which included an examination of the stream and river channels in that watershed, and construction of a model for use in future implementation planning.
The Cannon River Watershed Partnership hosts an online library of studies and reports completed within the watershed and can be accessed at https://crwp.net/library/#Reports_Publications
