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  4. Watersheds

Lake Superior - North

The Lake Superior - North watershed covers 1,019,923 acres in the Northern Lakes and Forest ecoregion. Soils and subsurface geology are dominated by bedrock, glacial till complexes and unconsolidated glacial lake deposits of sand, gravels, clay and silt. Bedrock is complex in its evolution and contributes to the spectacular mountains and ridges that slope toward Lake Superior. Numerous streams flow through the bedrock cracks, forming waterfalls, cascades and rapids. Wetlands and lakes are found throughout the watershed. Developed areas include the communities of Finland, Schroeder, Tofte, Lutsen, Grand Marais, Hovland and Grand Portage. Significant development is also located along Lake Superior’s shoreline.

Land use in the Lake Superior North watershed is a mix of smaller towns and commercial, resort and rural residential. Significant development is also located along Lake Superior’s shoreline. Tourism and forest products are significant components of land use activity. Some commercial/industrial uses, such as marinas, shipping ports and taconite processing support, depend upon water resources.

Several state parks are within the watershed, including Temperance, Cascade and Judge CR Magney. A large section of the southernmost Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is also within the watershed.

The watershed is a source of exceptional water quality in many areas. Some streams do not meet water quality standards for beneficial uses such as aquatic recreation, drinking and swimming due to a turbidity impairment. In this watershed. Turbidity is associated with suspended sediment. It is likely that after further monitoring of streams and tributaries, some will not meet the current turbidity standard. 

Continued development pressures will add to the pollutant problems of some streams. The lower reaches of the Poplar River and Flute Reed River are two examples of stream areas experiencing recent and continued significant growth in the watershed area near the stream shoreline.

    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

    Strategies for restoration and protection

    Flute Reed and Poplar rivers TMDLs

    Water quality model supporting documents

    More information

    Contact

    Upstream of the Poplar River

    Success at last: Poplar River meets water quality goals

    For more than a decade, local and state partners have been tackling stormwater and erosion problems on the Poplar River and won: The river is now meeting water quality standards for sediment.

    Logo of Minnesota Digital Water Research LibraryThe 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.