The Des Moines River - Headwaters watershed is located in southwestern Minnesota. It covers approximately 1,334 square miles including parts of Lyon, Pipestone, Murray, Cottonwood, Nobles, Jackson, and Martin counties. It has five subwatersheds: Lake Shetek, Beaver Creek, Heron Lake, Lime Creek, and the West Fork Des Moines River Main Stem. The river joins the East Fork Des Moines River in Iowa, and eventually enters the Mississippi River at Keokuk, Iowa.
The river is used for recreational activities such as fishing, tubing, snowmobiling, and canoeing. It is also a valuable fisheries resource, with northern pike, buffalo, carp, walleye, channel catfish, crappie, and bullhead prevalent throughout the watershed. Land use is primarily agricultural.
What's being done
What's being done
Watersheds: Tracking the actions taken
See actions taken in Minnesota’s watersheds to meet water-quality goals and milestones: WRAPS, TMDLs, best practices, wastewater, and money spent.
Water quality assessment data for government partners
Tribal, federal, state and local partners: View and download results of monitoring and assessment decisions for Minnesota waters based on designated uses and watersheds.
Monitoring and assessment
Des Moines River Basin Monitoring and Assessment Report (wq-ws3-07100001b)- Summary - Des Moines River Watershed Monitoring and Assessment Report (wq-ws3-07100001c)
Des Moines River Watershed characterization report (DNR)- Des Moines River Watershed Stressor Identification Report (wq-ws5-07100001a)
- Summary - Des Moines River Watershed Stressor Identification Report (wq-ws5-07100001b)
Strategies for restoration and protection
- Des Moines River - Headwaters Watershed River Eutrophication TMDL report (wq-iw7-56e) (EPA approval 6/14/2021)
- Des Moines River - Headwaters Watershed River Eutrophication TMDL: EPA approval letter and decision document (wq-iw7-56g)
- Des Moines River Basin Watersheds TMDL report (wq-iw7-54e) (EPA approval 4/1/2021)
- Des Moines River Basin Watersheds TMDL: EPA approval letter and decision document (wq-iw7-54g)
- Des Moines River Basin WRAPS report (wq-ws4-52a) (MPCA approval 2/25/2021)
- Summary of the Des Moines River Basin WRAPS report (wq-ws4-52b)
- Des Moines River Basin Watershed Approach Civic Engagement Project Summary (wq-tmdl2-08) (August 2018
West Fork Des Moines River multiple impairments TMDL
- West Fork Des Moines River, Heron Lake TMDL: Fact sheet (wq-iw7-13a)
- West Fork Des Moines River - multiple impairments TMDL report (wq-iw7-13e) (EPA approval 12/18/2008)
- Amendment to the West Fork Des Moines River Watershed Multiple Impairments TMDL (wq-iw7-13l)
- West Fork Des Moines River and Heron Lake TMDL Implementation Plan (wq-iw7-13c) (MPCA approval 9/22/2009)
- West Fork Des Moines River and Heron Lake TMDL implementation plan: MPCA approval letter (wq-iw7-13k)
Water quality model supporting documents
- Des Moines River watershed HSPF model development memo (wq-ws4-52f)
- Des Moines headwaters, Lower Des Moines, and East Fork Des Moines rivers watershed HSPF model development report (wq-ws4-52c)
- Des Moines River watersheds HSPF model report Appendices A-C (wq-ws4-52d)
- Des Moines River watersheds HSPF model report Appendix D (wq-ws4-52e)
More information
Contact
- Watershed project manager Katherine Pekarek-Scott, 507-476-4284
The MN Department of Agriculture maintains the Minnesota Water Research Digital Library, an inventory of water research relevant to the state with a particular focus on publications since 2000.