The Mustinka River begins its course southwest of Fergus Falls in southwestern Otter Tail County and flows towards the south into Grant County, where it continues through Stony Brook Lake and Lightning Lake. In southern Grant County the river turns to the west, flows past Norcross into Traverse County, then turns southwest past Wheaton, flowing to the northern end of Lake Traverse. Over time the Mustinka River has been extensively channelized, straightened and dammed.
The Mustinka River watershed drains an area of 562,112 acres in the Glacial Lake Agassiz Plain, North Central Hardwoods, Northern Lakes and Forests, and Northern glaciated plains Level II ecoregions. The Mustinka River begins its course southwest of Fergus Falls in southwestern Otter Tail County and flows towards the south into Grant County, where it continues through Stony Brook Lake and Lightning Lake. In southern Grant County the river turns to the west, flows past Norcross into Traverse County, then turns southwest past Wheaton, flowing to the northern end of Lake Traverse. Over time the Mustinka River has been extensively channelized, straightened and dammed.
Predominate land uses/land covers are row crops (84%), residential/commercial development (5%), wetlands (4.5%), open water (3.4%), and grass/pasture/hay (2%). Agricultural land use in the watershed accounts for approximately 86% of the overall watershed acres. Development pressure is moderate in most areas, with occasional farms, timberland, and lakeshore being parceled out for recreation or lake/country homes.
The main resource concerns in the watershed are wind/water soil erosion, wetland management, surface water quality, flood damage reduction, and wildlife habitat. Many of the resource concerns relate directly to agricultural activities in the region that have resulted in fragmentation and increased sediment and pollutant loadings to surface waters. The watershed experiences periodic seasonal flooding due to above-normal amounts of precipitation or snow melt.
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
Mustinka River Watershed WRAPS report (wq-ws4-20a) (MPCA approval 9/26/2016)- Mustinka River Watershed TMDL report (wq-iw5-08e) (EPA approval 3/15/2017)
- Mustinka River Watershed TMDL: EPA approval letter (wq-iw5-08g)
Mustinka River turbidity TMDL
- Fact sheet on the Mustinka River Turbidity TMDL (wq-iw5-04a)
- Mustinka River Turbidity TMDL report (wq-iw5-04e) (EPA approval 6/8/2010)
- Mustinka River Turbidity TMDL: EPA approval letter (wq-iw5-04g)
- Mustinka River Turbidity TMDL Implementation Plan (wq-iw5-04c)
More information
- Bois de Sioux Watershed District
- Bois de Sioux-Mustinka Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan
- Otter Tail County Land and Resource Management
- Traverse Soil and Water Conservation District
- Grant County Soil and Water Conservation District
Contact
- Watershed project manager Cary Hernandez, 218-846-8124
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.