Resources
In this collection you will find resources, reports, plans, surveys and data about the Cannon River Watershed. While we are constantly updating these pages, we also provide historic information and documents to assist academic researchers and others interested in how things have changed. In case you cannot find what you are looking for, please contact us:
Phone: (507) 786-3913
Email: staff@crwp.net
What exactly is a “watershed?”
A watershed is the land area that drains water to a body of water such as a stream, river or lake. It is a land feature that can be identified by tracing a line along the highest elevations between two areas on a map, often a ridge. A watershed is like a funnel – collecting all the water within the drainage area and channeling it into a water body.
The two main rivers in the Cannon River watershed are the Cannon and Straight Rivers. The Cannon River (130 miles long) originates in Shields Lake and flows west before turning south. The river turns again east as it goes through Waterville, MN and continues on to Faribault, MN where the Straight River (65 miles long) drains into it. The Straight River begins in Oak Glen Lake south of Owatonna, MN. It flows directly north before it dumps into the Cannon River. From Faribault, the Cannon flows north through Northfield, MN and finally turns west. As it travels through the Byllesby Resevoir and Cannon Falls, MN, the Cannon finally drains to the Mississippi River just north of Red Wing, MN.
The Cannon River watershed covers 946,440 acres and includes parts of six counties – Dakota, Goodhue, Le Sueur, Rice, Steele, and Waseca.
More information on the Cannon River Watershed can be found on the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency website.
More Helpful Links
To help you explore the Cannon River watershed we’ve pulled together the following links to information regarding rivers, lakes, fishing, parks, and outfitters. Can’t find what you’re looking for? Give us a call at (507) 786-3913.
NOTE: The links below will take you off the CRWP website.
State Water Trails – Information about river levels, rapids, trip planning, recommended reading, outfitters and more!
Virtual Tour of the some parts of the Cannon River
Our two favorite State Water Trails
Canoe/Kayak Rental
- Welch Mill Canoeing & Tubing
- Cannon Falls Canoe and Bike Rental
- The Gear ReSource Outfitters (Dundas)
River Water Levels
- Straight River at Owatonna, W. Bridge St.
- Straight River at Faribault
- Morristown – Cannon River
- County 29 Below Faribault – Cannon River
- Northfield – Cannon River
- Welch – Cannon River
- Little Cannon River
- Maple Creek
Lake Information
State Parks
- Nerstrand Big Woods State Park
- Rice Lake State Park (just on the edge of our watershed)
- Sakatah Lake State Park
County Parks
Bike Trails
Clean Water Progress
In the news you hear a lot about all of the pollution problems we have in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, and those are real problems. But what you don’t hear about as much are the successes that nonprofits (like the Cannon River Watershed Partnership), cities (like Northfield and Faribault) and county and state agencies (like Soil and Water Conservation Districts and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency) are having as they work to clean up and protect the rivers, lakes, and drinking water that we depend on for swimming, fishing, boating, and drinking.
Overall, the Cannon River Watershed is a healthy watershed with some room for clean water improvement. Those improvements will make the area even better for the familes and businesses that live, work, and recreate in the region.
“With one of Minnesota’s seven Wild and Scenic Rivers, the Cannon River watershed (CRW) in southeast Minnesota drains 946,440 diverse acres before emptying into the Mississippi. Healthy aquatic dynamics, declining phosphorus and sediment loads and robust community support for clean water and a healthy watershed characterize the CRW today. Of the 125 DNR biological sites, 80% rate good with over 47 fish species while 61 sites show 1,344 live mussels representing 15 species. In the last fifteen years, three dams have been removed and today, 38,923 acres are permanently protected. Investments in waste water treatment, increases in perennial vegetative cover and watershed-wide community engagement secure the CRW’s health now and for the future.”
–A Statement on the Health of the Cannon River Watershed by CRWP Conservation Manager Alan Kraus, 2018

Below are two pdf reports that show signs of clean water progress.
Signs of Progress click here for a pdf of our 2011 review of how CRWP and other groups are succeeding in cleaning up our rivers, lakes, and drinking water in the Cannon River Watershed.
Water Quality Trends for Minnesota Rivers and Lakes click here for a pdf of a Minnesota Pollution Control Agency report on the long-term trends on the major rivers and lakes in Minnesota. In most cases, sedimentation and phosphorus pollution is decreasing in area rivers while nitrogen pollution is increasing.
The following are the Water Quality Concerns we focus on at CRWP.
Water Quality Concerns
Muddy Rivers and Streams

Elevated sediment (suspended soil particles) has many impacts. It makes rivers look muddy, greatly reducing their appeal for people who enjoy boating, fishing, or swimming. Sediment carries nutrients, pesticides, and other chemicals into the river that impact fish and wildlife species. Fine-grained sediments settle on stream beds over desirable rock and gravel that form essential habitats for invertebrates and fish. Turbidity refers to how clear the water is. The greater the amount of sediment in the water, the murkier it appears and the higher the measured turbidity.
Sediment Sources
Sediment is carried to the streams many ways such as over natural areas, farm fields, urban lots, and city streets. It also is scoured from the stream banks themselves during snow melt, rain events, and from flooding.

Green Lakes
Excessive amounts of nutrients, namely phosphorus, create a constant algae presence in the majority of area lakes. Phosphorus-enriched streams and lakes are commonplace in the Cannon River Watershed.
Phosphorus is an important nutrient for plant growth. But excessive algae growth, death, and decay can severely deplete the oxygen supply in the river, endangering fish and other forms of aquatic life. Large total phosphorus loads can have major impacts both locally and on lakes the Cannon and Straight flow into, such as Lake Byllesby and Lake Pepin on the Mississippi River.
Phosphorus Sources
Point-source phosphorus comes mainly from municipal and industrial discharges to surface waters. Nonpoint-source phosphorus comes from runoff from agricultural lands,urban areas, construction sites, manure transported in runoff, from feedlots and agricultural fields, and human waste from noncompliant septic systems.
Unsafe Swimming and Recreation
Escherichia coli (abbreviated as E. coli) are a large and diverse group of bacteria. E. coli is a type of fecal coliform bacteria which are associated with human or animal wastes. They are commonly found in the intestines of animals and humans.
The presence of indicator bacteria (E.coli and fecal coliform) indicate sewage or animal
waste contamination and potential presence of disease-causing organisms. E. coli and
Fecal Coliform bacteria are used as markers for water contamination. There are hundreds
of strains of the bacterium E. coli and most strains are harmless and live in the intestines
of healthy humans and animals. However, others can make you sick. Some kinds of E.
coli can cause diarrhea, while others cause urinary tract infections, respiratory illness and
pneumonia, and other illnesses.
Sources of E. coli
Fecal coliform and E. coli bacteria found in rivers and streams comes from human,
livestock, pet, and wildlife waste. Bacteria can be directly transferred to surface waters
from noncompliant septic systems, wastewater treatment plants and urban stormwater
systems. Other sources include spills or runoff from feedlots or manure storage facilities,
runoff from agricultural lands that receive manure applications, and direct deposition into
waterways by wildlife or grazing animals.
Urban Stormwater
What is urban stormwater?
Urban stormwater is the runoff from rain or snowmelt that isn’t absorbed by the natural ground cover. Instead, it runs off an urban property directly into a water body or into storm drains. Most storm sewers are directly connected to rivers and lakes – and all of that untreated water ends up in our water bodies. Urban areas have an increased amount of runoff due to the amount of impervious surfaces (like roads, parking lots, streets, and other forms of pavement).
Why is it a problem?
When water runs off an urban property and washes into the street, along the way it picks up a myriad of pollutants. These pollutants may be trash, motor oil, toxic chemicals, and dog feces, as well as grass clippings and leaves, which add phosphorus to the water. It then flows into the nearest storm drain and is dumped into a lake or river. This impairs water quality and causes excessive algae growth in the summer months.
Addressing Urban Stormwater in the Cannon River Watershed:
Many of the streams, rivers and lakes in the Cannon River Watershed are not meeting state standards for aquatic recreation (human use) and aquatic life (wildlife use). Because of these types of pollution, our water becomes less fishable, swimmable, and drinkable. This pollution also adds to the problems in Lake Pepin, the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico.
We want to educate urban residents in our watershed about runoff. Take action and be the solution to stormwater pollution! Together we can reach the goal of reducing these pollutants and having cleaner water.
Explore the links below to see what is going on in your area!
Helping Communities With Wastewater
Video highlighting King’s Park Sewer Project:
A four video series showcasing some of CRWP’s wastewater accomplishments:
Reports & Publications
Here you’ll find lots of data and reports on research relevant to the Cannon River Watershed. Have a look around and let us know what you think!
Cannon River Watershed Partnership Reports
2018 CRWP Annual Impact Report
2019 CRWP Annual Impact Report
Guide Star Financial Reporting Information (990 Tax Forms) (this link leaves CRWP website)
Watershed Strategy
In partnership with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and many local partners, CRWP has developed the Cannon River Watershed Management Strategy. The strategy brings together what we know about the watershed’s many lakes and rivers; and the existing plans and priorities of local government units and state agencies to create an overarching strategy for the entire watershed. The strategy was submitted to the MPCA on June 30, 2011.
As a more citizen friendly document CRWP with assistance from Minnesota State University Mankato Water Resources Center developed the Signs of Progress: The Status of the Cannon and Straight Rivers. This report highlights which streams and lakes are improving, which aren’t, and other signs of progress across the Cannon River watershed.
Cannon River Watershed Management Strategy (2011)
- Cover and Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Cannon River Watershed Overview
- Cannon River Statistical Executive Summary
- Pollutants of Concern and Stressors
- Management Strategies Overview
- Priority Management Zones
- Civic Engagement
- Upper Cannon Lobe Monitoring and Management Strategy
- Straight River Lobe Management and Monitoring Strategy
- Middle Cannon River Lobe Management and Monitoring Strategy
- Lower Cannon River Lobe Management and Monitoring Strategy
Download a copy of the full draft management strategy: Full Management Strategy.
Appendices
- Signs of Progress: The Status of the Cannon and Straight Rivers
- MPCA Watershed Approach to Condition Monitoring and Assessment
- Cannon River Watershed Statistical Water Quality Trend Analysis
- Water Monitoring Work in the Cannon River Watershed through 2010
- Summaries of Lake and Stream Monitoring Data in the Cannon River watershed
- Upper Cannon River Lobe List of Assets Summary Table
- Straight River Lobe List of Assets Summary Table
- Middle Cannon River Lobe List of Assets Summary Table
- Lower Cannon River Lobe List of Assets Summary Table
- Cannon River Watershed NPDES and SDS Permits
Watershed Data and Reports
A collection of information about the Cannon River Watershed including data, reports, assessments and surveys about water quality, aquatic vegetation, fish, and more. Monitoring is ongoing in the watershed, however, this collection of resources may become out-dated from time to time. For more recent water quality data collected in the Cannon River Watershed or for data from other watersheds in Minnesota, check out the State of Minnesota Key Water Information (KWI) Catalogue , which lists sites to find water quality data at each of the six state agencies that collect and report on water monitoring data.
Organized by Type and Year: Watershed-wide Reports | Water Quality Data | Lake Assessment Reports | Lake Vegetation Surveys | Fish Surveys in Lakes | Rivers and Streams
Watershed-Wide Reports
- CannonRiverWatershedTMDLs (pdf) – the EPA’s final review of the Cannon River Watershed TMDLs – approved in 2017.
- Signs of Progress: The State of the Cannon and Straight Rivers (2011) (pdf) – A publication by Cannon River Watershed Partnership that provides an overview of the water, land, and wildlife of the Cannon and Straight Rivers (2011).
- Geomorphology and Watershed Studies of the Cannon River and it’s Tributaries (savina etal) – A summary of studies by Carleton College students, authored by Savina, M., Gardner, T., and Bereket Haileab (2008) “Geomorphology and watershed studies of the Cannon River and its Tributaries: Wolf Creek, Rice Creek, and Heath Creek.”(2008)
- Lower Miss Regional Fecal TMDL Imp Plan – “Lower Mississippi Fecal Coliform Implementation Plan”, by MPCA (2007).
- Lower Miss Regional Fecal TMDL Fact Sheet – Fact Sheet for “Revised Regional TMDL Evaluation of Fecal Coliform Bacteria Impairments in the Lower Mississippi Basin”, MPCA. This region includes the Cannon River (2005).
- Lower Miss Regional Fecal TMDL – Final Report for “Revised Regional TMDL Evaluation of Fecal Coliform Bacteria Impairments in the Lower Mississippi Basin”, by MPCA. This region includes the Cannon River (2005).
- The Cannon River: An overview of the physical characteristics and management of the watershed – A report by St. Olaf College students including history, mussels and fish, dams, recreation, management, and public policies governing the watershed (2004).
- Freshwater Mussels of the Cannon River Drainage_Davis_1987 – Mussels in the Cannon River Watershed by Mike Davis of Minnesota DNR (1987).
- Cannon River Resource Analysis (1979) – Resource analysis of Cannon River to determine qualification as a wild and scenic river. Overview of many facets of the watershed including geology, landform and soils, water quality, vegetation, wildlife, and fish (1979).
Water Quality Data
2010-2012
Surface Water Assessment Grant Reports – The following reports summarize data collected during a three-year Surface Water Assessment Grant (SWAG). CRWP assisted the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) in assessment of lake and stream water quality in the Cannon River Watershed. For this type of assessment, a thorough suite of measurements were made including chemical and biological parameters which were then used to determine if a water body was meeting its designated use. Those that did not meet their designated uses were listed on the Impaired Waters list for the parameter which needed improvement. Many lakes, streams, and rivers in this watershed were impaired for nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen), sediment, and bacteria.
SWAG Executive Summary (pdf) – Executive summary of Surface Water Assessment results
Site Reports – A series of 1-2 page overviews of the findings at each site, organized alphabetically.
- Wolf Creek Site Report_S001_397 (pdf)
- Belle Creek Site Report_S002_532 (pdf)
- Cannon Falls Site Report_S003_818 (pdf)
- Cannon River at Red Wing Site Report_S001_766 (pdf)
- Cannon River at Sakatah Site Report_S000_545 (pdf)
- Chub Creek Site Report_S002_533 (pdf)
- Crane Creek Site Report_S003_009 (pdf)
- Heath Creek Site Report_S006_521 (pdf)
- Little CannonR Site report_S004_512 (pdf)
- Prairie Creek Site Report_S001_785 (pdf)
- Straight River at Faribault Site Report_S006_527 (pdf)
- Straight River at Owatonna Site Report_S001_343 (pdf)
- Turtle Creek Site Report_S003_628_ (pdf)
2007 – 2010
Upper Cannon Watershed Assessment Project Diagnostic Report 2010 – Assessment of Upper Cannon River for water quality, flow, and pollutants by Le Sueuer County.
2008
- 2008 North Cannon River Watershed Management Organization WQ Summary (pdf) – Summary of water quality monitoring results from 2008 study by North Cannon River Watershed Management Organization (Dakota County, 2008).
- 2008 Spring Brook Water Quality Assessment Project Report Final (pdf) – Written by CRWP Executive Director, this report assesses water quality in Rice Creek (Spring Brook) from a series of studies conducted in 2008. Includes water level and flow data, chemistry, water temperature, macroinvertebrate, and fish survey data (2008).
2004
2000
Geomorphology and Water Quality of Wolf Creek (pdf) – Studies of geomorphology and water quality in Wolf and Rice Creeks by a team of faculty from multiple colleges (2000).
1994-96
Water Quality Report – “Assessment of water quality in streams of the Cannon River Basin” – A study of water quality by a team of authors from St. Olaf College, Northfield Middle School, Environmental Protection Agency, and CRWP.
- CANNON RIVER WS PROLOGUE (pdf) – Includes title page, acknowledgements, table of contents, introduction, methods, data analysis, summary, resource needs, and references. (Booklet 1 of 6)
- CANNON RIVER WS HABITAT ASSESSMENT (pdf) – Includes habitat assessment, Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI) data (Booklet 2 of 6)
- CANNON RIVER WS MACROINVERTEBRATE ASSESSMENT (pdf) – Includes benthic macroinvertebrate assessment data (Booklet 3 of 6)
- CANNON RIVER WS CHEMISTRY ASSESSMENT (pdf) – Includes water chemistry assessment data, graphs, and discussion (Booklet 4 of 6)
- CANNON RIVER WS FLOW ASSESSMENT (pdf) – Includes surface water flow data, flow rate graphs, cross sections of streams with flow data (Booklet 5 of 6)
- CANNON RIVER WS APPENDIX (pdf) – Includes maps of streams in SE Minnesota, tables and lists that are referred to in the data summaries (Booklet 6 of 6)
1986
Water Quality Evaluation in Rice County 1986 (pdf) – Evaluation of surface water quality in Rice County between 1972 and 1986 commissioned by the Rice County Board of Commissioners. Includes 11 lakes, the Cannon River, and Straight River.
1987
Freshwater Mussels of the Cannon River Drainage_Davis_1987 – Mussels in the Cannon River Watershed by Mike Davis of Minnesota DNR (1987).
1972
Water Quality Evaluation in Rice County 1972 (pdf) – A study by National Biocentric, Inc. of lakes in Rice County (1972).
Lake Assessment Reports
MPCA Lake Assessments
- MPCA Assessment Report Chub Lake 2005 (pdf)
- MPCA Lake Assessment Tetonka and Sakatah 2003 (pdf)
- MPCA Status and Trends for Cannon, Wells, Kelly, Dudley, Circle, Cedar, Roberds (pdf)
- MPCA Lake Assessment Lake Frances and Tustin 1998 (pdf)
- MPCA Lake Assessment Roberds 1991(pdf)
- MPCA Lake Assessment German and Jefferson 1990 (pdf)
- MPCA Lake Assessment Volney 1986 (pdf)
Additional Lake Assessments
2014
- Upper Cannon Lakes: Excess Nutrients, TMDL Project (link) – Minnesota Pollution Control Agency web page and resources for a TMDL study of Upper Cannon Lakes (2014).
2008
- Cannon Lakes TMDL Summary (pdf) – A report by Joe Pallardy, Mankato State University, summarizing the results of TMDL studies of lakes in the Cannon River Watershed (2008).
- Upper Cannon Lakes Assessment 2007 (pdf) – Lake monitoring results from 8 lakes by Steve McComas, Blue Water Science. A report prepared for Le Sueur County (2008).
2001
- Impacts of Landuse Patterns on Rice County Lakes (pdf) – A report by Catherine Neu, University of Minnesota, analyzing impacts of land use on the development of lakes in Rice County (2001).
Lake Vegetation Surveys
2010
- RoberdsLake_Invasive Species Survey_2010
- SakatahBay_PIsurvey_July_2010
- Circle Lake Point Interception Survey 2010
2009
- Jefferson-German Chain of Lakes Vegetation Summary and Maps2009_ (pdf) – Survey of vegetation in Jefferson and German Lakes by MN DNR in May 2009.
- 2009_GermanLake_VegetationSurveyMaps
- 2009May_SwedesBay_VegetationSurveyMaps
- 2009 Lake Volney Vegetation Survey Maps and Summary
- EastJefferson_VegetationSurveyMaps (2009)
Fish Surveys in Lakes
2010
2009
2008
- 2008 Upper Sakatah Special Assessment Report
- 2008 Cannon Spec Assmt
- 2008 Cedar Standard Lake Assessment
- 2008 German Standard Lake Assessment
- 2008 West Jefferson Standard Lake Assessment
- 2008 East Jefferson Standard Lake Assessment
- 2008 Sabre Standard Lake Survey
- 2008 Upper Sakatah Standard Lake Report
- 2008 Roberds Standard Lake Re-Survey
2007
- 2007 Circle Lake DNR Standard Lake Assessment 2007 (pdf)
- 2007 Cedar Spec Assmt (pdf)
- 2007 Fox Lake DNR Standard Lake Survey Report 2007 (pdf)
- 2007 Upper Sakatah Special Assessment
- 2007 Tetonka Standard Lake Survey
- 2007 Tetonka Spec Assmt Report
- 2007 Lower Sakatah 07 Spec Assmt Report
- 2007 Gorman Spec Assmt
- 2007 Volney Spec Assmt
- 2007 Mazaska Lake DNR Standard Lake Survey Report 2007 (66-039)
- 2007 Shields Re-Survey
- 2007 Frances Standard Lake Re-Survey
Rivers and Streams
Assessments of water quality in rivers and streams within the watershed.
Cannon River
- Cannon River Resource Analysis (1979)
- DNR Cannon River Survey 2004
- 1994 Macroinvertabrate Assessment – UPPER CANNON AT MORRISTOWN1
- Lower Cannon at Randolph QHEI (1995)
- Lower Cannon at Faribault QHEI
- Lower Cannon at Dundas QHEI
- Upper Cannon Watershed Assessment Project Diagnostic Report 2010
- DNR Cannon River Survey 2004
- 1994 Macroinvertabrate Assessment Upper Cannon at Morristown
- Lower Cannon Turbidity TMDL
- Lower Cannon Turbidity TMDL Fact Sheet
- Lower Cannon Turbidity TMDL Imp Plan
- Lower Cannon River Stream Mgmg Plan 2006
- Lower Cannon River Stream Assessment 2008 Final
Rice Creek
- Rice Creek Diagnostic Report, July 2013
- Rice Creek Project Implementation Plan, July 2013
- Rice Creek Fact Sheet 4
- Spring Brook Water Quality Assessment Project Report Final 2008
Belle Creek
- Belle Creek 1997 (pdf)
- Belle Creek 2009 (pdf)
- Belle Creek Watershed District Plan (pdf)
- BelleCreekWD_Map (pdf)
Little Cannon
- Little Cannon River Watershed E.coli Assessment
- Little Cannon E.coli Final Newsletter and Map
- LittleCannon Ecoli Results 2008_2009
- Little Cannon R. Stream Population Assessment 2001
- Little Cannon Harvestable Buffer Program and Ecoli Report
- Little Cannon near sogn QHEI
- Little Cannon at Oxford Mills QHEI
- Little Cannon at Hwy 56 QHEI
Trout Brook
Chub Creek
Prairie Creek
- Prairie Creek near Cannon City QHEI
- Prairie Creek at Goodhue Ave QHEI
- Prairie Creek near Randolph QHEI
Pine Creek
Lakes
MPCA Lake Assessments:
- MPCA Lake Assessment Volney 1986
- MPCA Lake Assessment Tetonka and Sakatah 2003
- MPCA Lake Assessment Roberds 1991
- MPCA Lake Assessment Lake Frances and Tustin 1998
- MPCA Lake Assessment German and Jefferson 1990
- MPCA Status and Trends for Cannon, Wells, Kelly, Dudley, Circle, Cedar, Roberds
Lake Vegetation Surveys:
- Jefferson-German Chain of Lakes Vegetation Summary and Maps2009_
- EastJefferson_VegetationSurveyMaps
- 2009 Lake Volney Vegetation Survey Maps and Summary
- RoberdsLake_Invasive Species Survey_2010
- SakatahBay_PIsurvey_July_2010
- Circle Lake Point Interception Survey 2010
- 2009_GermanLake_VegetationSurveyMaps
- 2009May_SwedesBay_VegetationSurveyMaps
DNR Fish Surveys
- 2007 Upper Sakatah Special Assessment
- 2008 Upper Sakatah Special Assessment Report
- 2007 Tetonka Spec Assmt Report
- 2007 Lower Sakatah 07 Spec Assmt Report
- 2007 Gorman Spec Assmt
- 2008 Cannon Spec Assmt
- 2007 Cedar Spec Assmt
- 2007 Volney Spec Assmt
- 2007 Fox Lake DNR Standard Lake Survey Report 2007
- 2007 Circle Lake DNR Standard Lake Assessment 2007
- 2008 Cedar Standard Lake Assessment
- 2007 Mazaska Lake DNR Standard Lake Survey Report 2007 (66-039)
- 2008 German Standard Lake Assessment
- 2008 West Jefferson Standard Lake Assessment
- 2008 East Jefferson Standard Lake Assessment
- 2008 Sabre Standard Lake Survey
- 2007 Tetonka Standard Lake Survey
- 2010 Rice Standard Lake Survey
- 2008 Upper Sakatah Standard Lake Report
- 2009 Wells Lake Standard Lake Survey
- 2007 Shields Re-Survey
- 2008 Roberds Standard Lake Re-Survey
- 2007 Frances Standard Lake Re-Survey
Other Reports:
- Impacts of Landuse Patterns on Rice County Lakes
- Cannon Lakes Summary Report_JP
- Upper Cannon Lakes Assessment 2007
- Chub Lake Assessment Report 2005
- Minnesota’s Impaired Waters and TMDLs
Project: Upper Cannon Lakes — Excess Nutrients 2014
Rivers
Cannon River Reports:
- Cannon River Resource Analysis (1979)
- DNR Cannon River Survey 2004
- 1994 Macroinvertabrate Assessment – UPPER CANNON AT MORRISTOWN1
- Lower Cannon at Randolph QHEI (1995)
- Lower Cannon at Faribault QHEI
- Lower Cannon at Dundas QHEI
- Upper Cannon Watershed Assessment Project Diagnostic Report 2010
- DNR Cannon River Survey 2004
- 1994 Macroinvertabrate Assessment Upper Cannon at Morristown
- Lower Cannon Turbidity TMDL
- Lower Cannon Turbidity TMDL Fact Sheet
- Lower Cannon Turbidity TMDL Imp Plan
- Lower Cannon River Stream Mgmg Plan 2006
- Lower Cannon River Stream Assessment 2008 Final
Rice Creek Reports:
- Rice Creek Diagnostic Report, July 2013
- Rice Creek Project Implementation Plan, July 2013
- Rice Creek Fact Sheet 4
- Spring Brook Water Quality Assessment Project Report Final 2008
Belle Creek Reports
Little Cannon River
- Little Cannon River Watershed E.coli Assessment
- Little Cannon E.coli Final Newsletter and Map
- LittleCannon Ecoli Results 2008_2009
- Little Cannon R. Stream Population Assessment 2001
- Little Cannon Harvestable Buffer Program and Ecoli Report
- Little Cannon near sogn QHEI
- Little Cannon at Oxford Mills QHEI
- Little Cannon at Hwy 56 QHEI
Trout Brook
Other Tributaries
- Chub Creek Wtshd Assessment 2001
- Prairie Creek near Cannon City QHEI
- Prairie Creek at Goodhue Ave QHEI
- Prairie Creek near Randolph QHEI
- Pine Creek QHEI
- Pine Creek Stream Population Assessment 2000
Other Research and Reports
Recently released: Implementing Minnesota’s New Buffer Initiative
http://www.dnr.state.
A helpful handbook from our friends at the Freshwater Society:
Advice From the Field: Preparing for County-Level Buffer Work
Reports
- Signs of Progress: The State of the Cannon and Straight Rivers (2011)
- Geomorphology and Watershed Studies of the Cannon River and it’s Tributaries (savina etal)
- CannonRiverProject_StOlaf_2004
- Cannon River Resource Analysis (1979)
- Freshwater Mussels of the Cannon River Drainage_Davis_1987
- Lower Miss Regional Fecal TMDL Fact Sheet
- Lower Miss Regional Fecal TMDL
- Lower Miss Regional Fecal TMDL Imp Plan
- Upper Cannon Watershed Assessment Project Diagnostic Report 2010
WRAPS
Cannon River Watershed – Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategies (WRAPS)
The Cannon River Watershed WRAPS has been approved as of 10/20/16! Thanks to all our neighbors who participated, attended meetings and gave feedback.
https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/wq-ws4-23a.pdf
Fact Sheets
Fact Sheet_Cannon_MonitorAssessSummary
Web Sites
Cannon River Watershed Management Strategy (2011) (CRWP Website)
Cannon River Watershed Page (MPCA Website)
Watershed Approach (MPCA Website)
Cannon River Watershed Stressor Identification Report – October 2015 (MPCA Website)
Nutrient BMP Tool (University of Minnesota Website)