Minnesota River Basin Information Document

This document provides a broad overview of basin planning and management in the Minnesota River Basin. In addition to information on the basin management process and its potential role in improving water quality, extensive background is provided on: the river basin (e.g., physical characteristics, origins, tributaries, and wetlands), impacts of historical settlement (e.g., agriculture, drainage), current land use trends, major watersheds, ecoregions, water resources, monitoring, water pollution sources, and environmentally sensitive and culturally significant areas. Current basin programs are listed, and recommendations from past assessments and committees are summarized. Useful charts, graphs, and color maps illustrate the text.