Little Fork River Watershed Monitoring and Assessment Report

The Little Fork River Watershed, located in northeastern Minnesota, drains a 1,843 square mile area. The river travels approximately 160 miles before its confluence with the Rainy River 11 miles west of International Falls. The watershed is sparsely populated and is commonly referred to as a remote and wild. Prior to intensive logging beginning in the 1890's, the Little Fork River Watershed was densely covered with vast stands of mixed conifers and various hardwood species. During the time of logging, the river served as an important means of transporting the harvested timber downstream to the Rainy River. Today, the primary economic activities within the watershed are logging of second‐growth timber and tourism. Recreational activities are numerous throughout the watershed due to several state forests and the Superior National Forest, providing ample opportunities for hunting, fishing, and canoeing. The watershed's wealth of surface waters is a valuable resource for aquatic recreation and its health is essential to resident aquatic life.