The Rock River watershed covers 1,075,032 acres in Rock, Nobles, Pipestone and Murray counties in southwestern Minnesota. It is the largest of the four watersheds in Minnesota that are part of the Missouri River Basin, extending south into Iowa.
Land use in this watershed is primarily agriculture, with most land in row crop production. Pastureland is also prevalent throughout the watershed. There are no natural lakes in this watershed. Some of the larger communities in the watershed are Luverne, Adrian, Edgerton and Wilmont.
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
Missouri River Basin (Upper Big Sioux, Lower Big Sioux, Little Sioux, and Rock River Watersheds) monitoring and assessment report (wq-ws3-10170204b)- Missouri River Basin Watersheds monitoring and assessment report: Summary (wq-ws3-10170204c)
- Rock River Watershed biotic stressor identification report (wq-ws5-10170204a)
- Rock River Watershed biotic stressor identification: Summary (wq-ws5-10170204c)
- Missouri River Basin hydrology, connectivity, and geomorphology assessment (wq-b7-01)
Strategies for restoration and protection
- Missouri River Basin TMDL report (wq-iw7-44e) (EPA approval 2/15/2018)
- Appendices for Missouri River Basin TMDL report (wq-iw7-44h)
- Missouri River Basin TMDL: EPA approval letter (wq-iw7-44g)
- Missouri River Basin WRAPS Report (wq-ws4-40a) (MPCA approval 1/18/2018)
- Summary - Missouri River Basin Watersheds-Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (wq-ws4-40b)
- Rock River Watershed Fecal Coliform and Turbidity TMDL: Fact sheet (wq-iw7-11a)
- Rock River Watershed Fecal Coliform and Turbidity TMDL report (wq-iw7-11e) (EPA approval 4/23/2008)
- Rock River Watershed Fecal Coliform and Turbidity TMDL: EPA approval letter (wq-iw7-11g)
- Rock River Watershed Fecal Coliform and Turbidity TMDL implementation plan (wq-iw7-11c)
Water quality model supporting documents
More information
Contact
- Watershed project manager Paul Wymar, 507-476-4282
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.