Clearwater River Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy Report

The Clearwater River (United States Geological Survey (USGS) Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) 09020305) is a tributary of the Red Lake River in northwest Minnesota in the Red River of the North Basin. It is a diverse watershed that spans portions of four ecoregions (Lake Agassiz Plain, Northern Minnesota Wetlands, North Central Hardwood Forests, and Northern Lakes and Forests). The watershed has been divided into seven HUC-10 subwatersheds: Upper Clearwater River, Middle Clearwater River, Lower Clearwater River, Lost River, Hill River, Poplar River, and Lower Badger Creek subwatersheds. The 2018 List of Impaired Waters included waters that were found to be impaired during the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s (MPCA) 2016 water quality assessment of the Clearwater River Watershed. The Clearwater River Watershed Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) report addressed 44 impairments of aquatic life and/or recreation found within 27 stream reaches and 3 lakes within the watershed. Five total suspended solids (TSS) impairments were found along the Clearwater River and Nassett Creek.