
The Snake River watershed is located north of the Twin Cities in the St. Croix River Basin and encompasses 1,006 square miles in five counties, including Aitkin, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Pine, and Isanti. The northern portion of the watershed is located in what is known as the Northern Lakes and Forest ecoregion dominated by forests and wetlands. The southern portion is located in the North Central Hardwood Forest ecoregion and is a mixture of forest, grassland, pasture/ hay and cropland. The river flows southeast to its confluence with the St. Croix River in Pine County.
This watershed supports a diverse range of aquatic species including fish and freshwater mussels, as well as a number of terrestrial threatened and endangered species. The watershed is also home to several outstanding resources such as the Mille Lacs Wildlife Management Area, the Solana State Forest, and the Rum River State Forest, which provide critical habitat for many species and support recreational activities such as hiking, fishing, camping, canoeing and wildlife viewing. Sections of the Snake River are part of the Snake River State Water Trail, one of the 35 Minnesota water trails used for paddling and camping.
What's being done
Monitoring and assessment
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Snake River Watershed Monitoring and Assessment Report (wq-ws3-07030004)
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Snake River Watershed – St. Croix River Basin: Water assessment and trends update (wq-ws3-07030004c)
Ann River TMDL Project: Stressor identification report (wq-iw6-07m)
Mud Creek (Snake River Watershed) Stressor Identification Report (wq-iw6-11n)
Snake River Watershed Stressor Identification update (wq-ws5-07030004)
Groundhouse River Stressor Identification Report (wq-iw6-02h)
Snake River Watershed Stressor Identification Report - Lakes (wq-ws5-07030004c)
Fish Lake Assessment, 1993 - MPCA
Strategies for restoration and protection
Snake River Watershed WRAPS report (wq-ws4-04) (MPCA approval 8/11/2014)
Summary of the Snake River Watershed WRAPS report (wq-ws4-04a)
Snake River Watershed TMDL report (wq-iw6-11e) (EPA approval 3/31/2014)
Snake River Watershed TMDL: EPA approval letter (wq-iw6-11g)
Aquatic ecosystem protection efforts in Minnesota’s Snake River Watershed: Summary and Recommendations (wq-iw6-11o)
Groundhouse River fecal coliform and sediment TMDL: Fact sheet (wq-iw6-02a)
Groundhouse River fecal coliform and Sediment TMDL report (wq-iw6-02e) (EPA approval 5/12/2009)
Groundhouse River fecal coliform and sediment TMDL: EPA approval letter (wq-iw6-02g)
Groundhouse River fecal coliform and sediment TMDL implementation plan (wq-iw6-02c) (MPCA approval 7/15/2009)
Ann River Watershed Bacteria, Nutrient and Biota TMDL report (wq-iw6-07e) (EPA approval 6/3/2013)
Ann River Watershed TMDL: EPA approval letter (wq-iw6-07g)
Ann River Watershed TMDL restoration plan (wq-iw6-07c) (MPCA approval 7/15/2013)
More information
- Snake River One Watershed One Plan
- Snake River Watershed Management Board
- Aitkin Soil and Water Conservation District
- Pine County Soil and Water Conservation District
- Snake River Watershed Landscape Stewardship Plan (Nature Conservancy)
Contact
- Watershed project manager Eric Alms, 651-757-2589
