Mississippi River-Grand Rapids Watershed Stressor Identification Report

This report documents the efforts that were taken to identify the causes, and to some degree the source(s) of impairments to aquatic biological communities in the Mississippi River - Grand Rapids Watershed (MRGRW). The MRGRW (Figure 1) is situated within a mixed-landcover region of north central Minnesota, consisting of forests, large bog-type wetlands, and agricultural fields and pastures. The watershed also contains the western portion of the Mesabi Iron Range, where open pit mining has occurred for many decades. Agricultural land usage is not concentrated in any one part of the MRGRW, though the greatest density occurs along the Mississippi River, and around the towns of Remer and Palisade. Much of the agriculture is related to animal rearing, with many of the fields being used for hay, rather than for row crops. The MRGRW contains numerous public/protected lands; parts of the Chippewa National Forest in two locations along the western edge of the MRGRW, parts of eight state forests, two state parks, two large and several small state wildlife management areas, and one small Scientific and Natural Area (Figure 1).