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