
The North Fork Crow River watershed covers 949,107 acres. The headwaters for the North Fork Crow River are located in Pope County at the outlet of Grove Lake. The river flows about 120 miles southeast from Grove Lake to the confluence with the South Fork Crow River in Rockford and on to the confluence with the Mississippi River near Dayton. The Middle Fork Crow River which joins the North Fork near Manannah is a major tributary to the North Fork Crow River. Parts of Pope, Kandiyohi, Stearns, Meeker and Wright counties are in this watershed. Major cities are Litchfield, St. Michael, Buffalo, Otsego, Dayton and Rockford.
Land use in the North Fork Crow River watershed is mostly agricultural with the exception of the eastern portion that is metro fringe urban and commercial.
Many of lakes and reaches of the North Fork Crow River do not meet water quality standards for beneficial uses such as aquatic recreation, drinking, and swimming. The main lake pollutant is phosphorus, causing algae blooms in summer months, and reaches of the North Fork Crow River are listed for biological, bacteria, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity impairments.
What's being done
Monitoring and assessment
North Fork Crow River Watershed - Water assessment and trends update (wq-ws3-07010204c)
Groundwater Report-North Fork Crow River Watershed (wq-ws1-08)
North Fork Crow River Watershed monitoring and assessment report (wq-ws3-07010204b)
Assessment of selected lakes within the North Fork Crow River Watershed (wq-ws3-07010204)
North Fork Crow River Watershed Stressor Identification report (wq-ws5-07010204d)
North Fork Crow River Watershed biotic stressor identification: Summary (wq-ws5-07010204b2)
North Fork Crow River Watershed Biotic Stressor Identification Report (wq-ws5-07010204b)
Grove Creek stressor identification report (wq-ws5-07010204a)
Elm Creek Watershed stressor identification report (wq-iw11-04w)
Deer Creek dissolved oxygen technical memos (wq-iw1-56a)
Pioneer Creek dissolved oxygen technical memos (wq-iw1-56b)
Unnamed Creek dissolved oxygen technical memos (wq-iw1-56c)
Strategies for restoration and protection
Our Upper Mississippi River Large River and Basin Restoration and Protection Strategies (wq-ws4-38b)
North Fork Crow River Watershed WRAPS report (wq-ws4-06a) (MPCA approved 1/5/2015)
North Fork Crow River Watershed WRAPS: Summary (wq-ws4-06b)
TMDL projects in the watershed
North Fork Crow River bacteria, nutrients and turbidity TMDL report (wq-iw8-42e) (EPA approval 4/8/2015)
North Fork Crow River bacteria, nutrients, and turbidity TMDL: EPA approval letter (wq-iw8-42g)
North Fork Crow and Lower Crow Bacteria, Turbidity, and Low Dissolved Oxygen TMDL (wq-iw8-37e) (EPA approved 8/20/2013)
North Fork Crow and Lower Crow Bacteria, Turbidity, and Low Dissolved Oxygen TMDL: EPA approval letter (wq-iw8-37g)
2019 Modification to North Fork Crow and Lower Crow Bacteria, Turbidity, and Low Dissolved Oxygen TMDL (wq-iw8-37o)
North Fork – Lower Crow River TMDL: Phase I report (wq-iw8-10o)
12 Mile Creek Dissolved Oxygen TMDL (wq-iw8-50e) (EPA approval 9/26/2016)
12 Mile Creek DO TMDL: EPA approval letter (wq-iw8-50g)
Diamond Lake excess nutrients TMDL: Fact sheet (wq-iw8-28a)
Diamond Lake excess nutrients TMDL report (wq-iw8-28e) (EPA approved 9/21/2011)
Diamond Lake excess nutrients TMDL: EPA approval letter (wq-iw8-28g)
Diamond Lake excess nutrients TMDL implementation plan (wq-iw8-28c) (MPCA approved 10/11/2011)
Rice Lake excess nutrients TMDL report (wq-iw8-35e) (EPA approved 5/7/2012)
Rice Lake excess nutrients TMDL: EPA approval letter (wq-iw8-35g)
Rice Lake excess nutrients TMDL implementation plan (wq-iw8-35c) (MPCA approved 6/4/2012)
Ann and Emma Lakes excess nutrients TMDL report (wq-iw8-34e) (EPA approved 5/22/2012)
Ann and Emma Lakes excess nutrients TMDL: EPA approval letter (wq-iw8-34g)
Ann and Emma Lakes excess nutrients TMDL implementation plan (wq-iw8-34c) (MPCA approved 6/19/2012)
Elm Creek Watershed WRAPS Report (wq-ws4-27a) (MPCA approval 12/16/2016)
Elm Creek Watershed TMDL report (wq-iw11-04e) (EPA approval 6/26/2017)
Elm Creek Watershed TMDL: EPA approval letter (wq-iw11-04g)
Pioneer-Sarah Creek Watershed TMDL (wq-iw8-55e) (EPA approval 9/29/2017)
Pioneer-Sarah Creek Watershed TMDL: EPA approval letter (wq-iw8-55g)
Pioneer-Sarah Creek Watershed WRAPS (wq-ws4-32a) (MPCA approval 7/26/2017)
More information
- North Fork Crow River Watershed District
- Crow River Organization of Water
- Pope Soil and Water Conservation District
- Middle Fork Crow River Watershed District
- Rice Lake Association
- Wright Soil and Water Conservation District
- Elm Creek Watershed Management Commission
- Pioneer-Sarah Creek Watershed Management Commission
Contact
- Watershed project manager Scott Lucas, 218-316-3915