Watershed at a Glance
The Sauk River watershed covers 667,200 acres (1,043 square miles) and extends from the Mississippi River near St. Cloud to within 3 miles of Alexandria. The overall watershed is about 75 miles in length. The Sauk River itself meanders for 120 miles in a northwest to southeast direction.
| Hydrologic Unit Code: | 07010202 |
|---|---|
| Intensive monitoring start year: | 2008 |
| Major lakes | Major rivers and streams |
|---|---|
Lake Osakis, Sauk Lake, Big Fish Lake, Sauk River Chain of Lakes | Sauk |
Many water bodies — both lake and rivers — in the Sauk River watershed are impaired for excess nutrients and sediment.
What's being done
Clean Water Accountability Act reports
Monitoring and assessment
Intensive watershed monitoring first occurred in 2008 and 2009. It will begin again in the field season of 2018. Five TMDL studies have been approved by USEPA since 2011.
Sauk River Watershed Monitoring and Assessment Report- Sauk River Watershed Stressor Identification Report
- Sauk River Watershed Stressor Identification Report Summary
- Sauk River Watershed HSPF Model Scenario Report
Strategy development for restoration and protection
The initial Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) report was completed in 2015.
- Our Upper Mississippi River Large River and Basin Restoration and Protection Strategies (wq-ws4-38b)
- Sauk River Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategies Report (MPCA approval 4/8/2015)
- Sauk River Bacteria and Nutrients TMDL (wq-iw8-47e) (EPA approval 9/26/2017)
- Sauk River Bacteria and Nutrients TMDL: EPA approval letter (wq-iw8-47g)
Sauk River Watershed District
524 4th Street South
Sauk Centre, MN 56378
320-352-2231
www.srwdmn.org
Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District
110 Second Street South, Suite 128
Waite Park, MN 56387
320-251-7800
www.StearnsCountySWCD.net