|
Minnesota Association of Watershed Districts
<br />Hosted by Clearwater River Watershed District
<br />
<br />The Clearwater River Watershed District, established
<br />in 1975, encompasses the entire drainage area of the
<br />Clearwater River -about 159 square miles. It in-
<br />cludes portions of Meeker, Stearns, and Wright
<br />Counties in Central Minnesota, and the municipali-
<br />ties of Watkins, Kimball, and Annandale, as well as
<br />all or parts of various townships.
<br />The lakes through which the Clearwater River flows
<br />are divided into an Upper and Lower Chain by the
<br />Fair Haven dam. The Upper Chain includes Lakes
<br />Betsy, Union, Scott, Louisa, Marie, and Mill Pond.
<br />The Lower Chain includes Lakes Caroline, Augusta,
<br />Clearwater, Grass, and Wiegand. Other major lakes
<br />in the District are: Clear Lake, Willow Lake, School
<br />Section Lake, Pleasant Lake, Cedar Lake, Bass Lake,
<br />Swart Watts Lake, Albion Lake, and Otter Lake.
<br />The Clearwater River begins southwest of Watkins
<br />and is joined by a tributary known as County Ditch
<br />20 as it meanders south, then east, where it enters the
<br />Upper Chain of Lakes. It flows north and under State
<br />Highway 55 between Kimball and South Haven, then
<br />the general direction of flow through the chain is
<br />east, then northeast out of Clearwater Lake, through
<br />Grass and Wiegand Lakes, and on into the mighty
<br />Mississippi at the City of Clearwater.
<br />Plans Rules, anal Regulations
<br />Two important documents underlie the conduct of
<br />CRWD business:
<br />{1) the Overall Plan is a comprehensive statement of
<br />management philosophy, policies, and programs for
<br />the watershed pursuant to objectives stated in the
<br />enabling legislation. The Minnesota Water Resources
<br />Board formally adopted this plan in 1976. It is
<br />updated every five years, and a copy is on file in the
<br />CRWD office, as well as in the public libraries or city
<br />halls of Annandale, Kimball, and Watkins.
<br />FZ1/V C~
<br />3~
<br />(2) Watershed Rules and Regulations delineate
<br />specific requirements and administrative procedures
<br />for implementing the Overall Plan and for achieving
<br />the purposes of the District on a continuing basis.
<br />The area encompassed by the Clearwater River
<br />Watershed District (CRWD) is rich in soil and water
<br />resources. The presence of those abundances has
<br />encouraged the growth of two economic mainstays in
<br />this Central Minnesota temtory -farming and
<br />tourism. Around these basics have grown the commu-
<br />nities that support their needs. As population and
<br />industry grow, those priceless resources, which we
<br />often take for granted, may deteriorate.
<br />The CRWD has short term and long term goals.
<br />Short term goals include working with soil and water
<br />conservation districts, townships, counties, state and
<br />federal agencies and residents in four areas: individual
<br />sewage treatment systems, erosion, feedlots and
<br />wetlands. Projects are underway to sewer two lakes.
<br />Financial incentive is being provided by CRWD to
<br />property owners to buffer surface water and wet-
<br />lands, two wetland treatment systems underway, and
<br />working with feedlot owners and operators as they
<br />comply with local ordinances.
<br />These efforts we feel, will help us attain our long-
<br />term goal of reducing the amount of phosphorus that
<br />enters surface water in the watershed district.
<br />6
<br />
|