
The South Fork Crow River watershed covers 818,428 acres. It is located in south-central Minnesota and encompasses parts of Kandiyohi, Renville, Meeker, McLeod, Sibley, Wright, Carver, and Hennepin counties. The South Fork Crow River joins with the North Fork Crow at Rockford, and then joins the Mississippi River near Dayton. The majority of the watershed is within the Western Cornbelt Plains ecoregion, with a small portion extending into the North Central Hardwood Forest ecoregion. Major cities include Willmar, Hutchinson, Delano and Glencoe.
The South Fork Crow River watershed includes many lakes, streams, and wetlands. Buffalo Creek, a major tributary, flows into the South Fork Crow River downstream of Lester Prairie. Land use in the South Fork Crow River watershed is largely agricultural, with row crops and pasture/grass lands accounting for approximately 83% of the overall watershed acres.
Several lakes and parts of the South 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 portions of the South Fork Crow and its tributaries are listed for pollutants such as bacteria, turbidity and low dissolved oxygen.
What's being done
Monitoring and assessment
South Fork Crow River Watershed Monitoring and Assessment Report (wq-ws3-07010205b)
South Fork Crow River Watershed Stressor Identification Report (wq-ws5-07010205a)
Strategies for restoration and protection
Our Upper Mississippi River Large River and Basin Restoration and Protection Strategies (wq-ws4-38b)
Summary: South Fork Crow River WRAPS report (wq-ws4-47b)
South Fork Crow River Watershed WRAPS Report (wq-ws4-47a) (MPCA approval 10/4/2018)
South Fork Crow River Watershed TMDL (wq-iw8-52e) (EPA approval 5/8/2019)
South Fork Crow River Watershed TMDL: EPA Approval Letter (wq-iw8-52g)
Additional TMDL projects
South Fork Crow River lake nutrients TMDL: Fact sheet (wq-iw8-23a)
South Fork Crow River lake nutrients TMDL report (wq-iw8-23e) (EPA approval 9/28/2010)
South Fork Crow River lake nutrients TMDL: EPA approval letter (wq-iw8-23g)
South Fork Crow River lakes TMDL implementation plan (wq-iw8-23c) (MPCA approval 11/3/2010)
Buffalo Creek bacteria TMDL report (wq-iw8-33e) (EPA approval 12/3/2013)
Buffalo Creek bacteria TMDL: EPA approval letter (wq-iw8-33g)
Buffalo Creek bacteria TMDL: Findings of fact (wq-iw8-33n)
Lake Independence phosphorus TMDL: Fact sheet (wq-iw8-03a)
Lake Independence phosphorus TMDL report (wq-iw8-03e) (EPA approval 2/23/2007)
Lake Independence phosphorus TMDL: EPA approval letter (wq-iw8-03g)
Lake Independence phosphorus TMDL implementation plan (wq-iw8-03c)
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
- Crow River Organization of Water
- Buffalo Creek Watershed District
- Kandiyohi Soil and Water Conservation District
Contact
- Watershed project manager Scott Lucas, 218-316-3915