Upper Red River of the North Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy Report

The Upper Red River of the North Watershed (URRW) is located in northwestern Minnesota and covers approximately 581 square miles within Clay, Wilkin, and Otter Tail counties and a portion of North Dakota. It is located in the Red River of the North Basin (i.e., Red River Basin) and spans two ecoregions:
the Lake Agassiz Plain and the North Central Hardwood Forests. Land use within the URRW is predominantly agricultural, occurring in the west and central portions, with the eastern portion of the watershed being partially forested. Municipalities located within the URRW include Rothsay, Kent, Comstock, Wolverton, Dilworth, and Moorhead. In general, water quality conditions in the URRW are generally poor and reflect the intensely cultivated land use, altered watercourses, altered hydrology, intensive drainage, and a consistent lack of riparian
cover (buffers) around many of the wetlands and streams in the watershed. Total Suspended Solids (TSS) and E. coli levels are elevated in most of the watershed, with the Wolverton Creek and Whiskey Creek Subwatersheds assessed as impaired. The sources of sediment and turbidity, in addition to the
susceptibility of naturally occurring fine silts and clays, are overland runoff, field erosion, wind erosion, and stream bank scouring from hydrologic modifications in the watershed. Elevated bacteria levels were found in many of the monitored streams. Aquatic life and recreation use impairments were found
throughout the watershed.