Minnesota River-Mankato Watershed Monitoring and Assessment Report

The Minnesota River-Mankato Watershed (HUC 07020007) drains 1,347 square miles (861,882 acres) in South Central Minnesota and contains 1,564 miles of streams. The watershed encompasses the Minnesota River from approximately Redwood Falls to Saint Peter. Portions of nine counties make up the watershed, including: Nicollet, Brown, Renville, Blue Earth, Redwood, Le Sueur, Cottonwood, Sibley, and a very small portion of Watonwan. This report discusses monitoring and assessment results for the tributaries to the Minnesota River. The mainstem Minnesota River monitoring and assessment results will be discussed in a separate Large River monitoring and assessment report. In 2013, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) undertook an intensive watershed monitoring effort of the Minnesota River-Mankato Watershed's surface waters utilizing biological and water chemistry data to assess the condition of the waterbodies. Of 97 Assessment Unit Identification Determinations (AUID's), 86 were assessed, with 14 supporting Aquatic Life (AQL), and no AUID's supporting of Aquatic Recreation. Of the non-supporting waters, 54 AUID's did not support Aquatic Life and 27 AUID's did not support Aquatic Recreation.