The Minnesota River-Mankato watershed covers 861,886 acres across Cottonwood, Brown, Redwood, Renville, Sibley, Nicollet, Blue Earth, and Le Sueur counties in south-central Minnesota. Cities include Fairfax, New Ulm, Lake Crystal, St. Peter, North Mankato, and Mankato. It is located primarily in the Western Cornbelt Plains ecoregion of south-central Minnesota, with the far eastern reaches stretching into the North Central Hardwood Forest ecoregion. There are about 1,564 stream miles in the Minnesota River - Mankato watershed, and few large lakes, with only six exceeding 500 acres.
The watershed is diverse in landscape, with flat cropland in the west and bluffs and lakes in the east. While the vast majority is cropland, the city of Mankato is a regional urban center with several small cities along the main stem of the Minnesota River. Like its landscape, the goals and values of water quality vary across the watershed, making consensus a challenge.
The Minnesota River-Mankato watershed is composed of several small first and second order streams that drain directly into the Minnesota River. Land use in the Minnesota River-Mankato watershed is dominated by row crop agriculture, with corn and soybean production accounting for about 90% of cropped lands.
County Soil and Water Conservation Districts have identified the primary resource concerns to be sediment and erosion control, stormwater management, drinking water and source water protection, drainage management, waste management, nutrient management, surface water quality and wetland management.
What's being done
Healthier watersheds - embed
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.
Strategy development for restoration and protection
- Minnesota River bacteria TMDL and strategies report
Middle Minnesota River Watershed Approach Civic Engagement Project Summary (wq-ws4-53c)- Minnesota River - Mankato Watershed WRAPS Report (wq-ws4-63a) (MPCA approval 1/23/2020)
- Minnesota River - Mankato Watershed TMDL Report (wq-iw7-53e) (EPA approval 2/20/2020)
- Minnesota River - Mankato Watershed TMDL: EPA approval letter (wq-iw7-53g)
- Summary: Minnesota River - Mankato WRAPS report (wq-ws4-53b)
The TMDL report was open for public comment from July 22 to September 20, 2019. The MPCA thanks everyone who submitted comments. Each of the comment letters was fully considered and in many cases resulted in edits to the report. The MPCA’s responses to the comments have been posted on the Minnesota River Basin web page
Monitoring and assessment and stressor identification
Intensive water monitoring is completed, with the MPCA and local partners collecting data from more than 110 sites over two years.
- Minnesota River - Mankato watershed monitoring and assessment report (wq-ws3-07020007b)
- Summary - Middle Minnesota River-Mankato Watershed Monitoring and Assessment Report (wq-ws3-07020007d)
- Minnesota River - Mankato Watershed Stressor Identification Report (wq-ws5-07020007a)
- Summary - Minnesota River-Mankato Watershed Stressor Identification Report (wq-ws5-07020007b)
Water quality model supporting documents
- Model resegmentation and extension for Minnesota River watershed model applications
- Hydrology and water-quality calibration and validation of Minnesota River watershed model
- Middle Minnesota HSPF Summary (wq-ws3-07020007c)
- Minnesota River Basin HSPF Model Hydrology Recalibration (wq-iw7-47q)
- Minnesota River Basin Sediment Delivery Analysis (Final) (wq-iw7-47p)
- Minnesota River Basin HSPF Model Sediment Recalibration (wq-iw7-47o)
The MPCA worked with Fortin Consulting to develop a directory of stakeholders in the watershed. This directory offers a searchable list of groups with an interest in the Minnesota River. 
Middle Minnesota River Directory
New report available
Lake Pepin Watershed Full Cost Accounting ProjectThis new report attempts to answer the question, "What would it take to achieve the water quality goals for Lake Pepin?" (July 2012)
Retired farmer helping Minnesota River
Retired farmer among Minnesota River's many helpersJohn Hogan has an 800-acre farm between Redwood Falls and Morton along the Minnesota River. He has worked hard on his 1.5 miles of riverfront to protect and restore water quality. (Tri-State Neighbor)