Mustinka River Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy Report

The Mustinka River Watershed covers 909 square miles (562,112 acres) in west central Minnesota, including areas of Otter Tail, Grant, Stevens, Big Stone, and Traverse Counties. The Mustinka River discharges into Traverse Lake, the headwater of the Bois de Sioux River. Predominant land use is cultivated cropland (81%). Other minor land uses include emergent herbaceous wetlands (5%), developed open space (4%), open water (4%), and pasture/hay (3%). Cropland in the Mustinka River Watershed is dominated by soybeans and corn with some small areas of spring wheat. Cities and towns within the Mustinka River Watershed include: Clinton, Donnelly, Elbow Lake, Graceville, Herman, Morris, Norcross, Wendell, and Wheaton. The Mustinka River Watershed has two distinct regions, the headwater region in the northeast characterized by steeper topography and many small lakes and wetlands, and the downstream agricultural region characterized by flat topography and cultivated cropland.