Monitoring/Evaluation

Surface water sampling on the main stem of the Redwood River and two of its tributaries (Clear Creek and Three Mile Creek) continue each growing season (May through September). Monitoring at each of the sites will extend throughout the implementation phase of the Redwood River Clean Water Partnership Grant. Samples are collected during two year storm events on a four hour interval. Grab samples are taken from Lake Redwood at monthly intervals. Base flow samples are monthly throughout  the growing season.  Data collected at these stations is analyzed and reviewed to identify trends. Water quality data plays an important role in assessing watershed improvements.

Redwood River Sampling Stations        

Lake Redwood, LR1, 1990-2008

Lake Redwood in the city of Redwood Falls, MN, by Perks Park.
Location: N ½, NW ¼, of section 1, Redwood Falls Township, Redwood County.

Redwood River, RR1, 1990-2008

Redwood River approximately 3 miles above Lake Redwood, 3 miles southwest of Redwood Falls on county road 17 on west side of highway bridge. Location: SE ¼, NE ¼, section 9, Redwood Falls Township, Redwood County. Presently site of a United States Geological Survey (USGS) station.

Clear Creek, CC3, 1990-2008

Clear Creek in city of Seaforth, ¼ mile above mouth of Clear Creek on south side of township road 56. Location: NW ¼, SW ¼, section 29, Sheridan Township, Redwood County.

Three Mile Creek, TC4A, 1992-2008

Approximately 6 miles upstream of mouth on east side of county road 67, one mile north of Green Valley. Location: SW ¼, NW ¼, section 2, Fairview Township, Lyon County.

View a map of the 
Redwood River Watershed sampling sites.

    Monitoring Results

    1999

    2000

    2001

    2002

      2003 Field Data

      2003 Chemical Data

     2004 Field Data

     2004 Chemical Data

   2005 Field Data

     2005 Chemical Data

      2006 Field Data

     2006 Chemical Data

      2007 Field Data

      2007 Chemical Data

       
    Click here to download free Adobe Acrobat Reader. 
    

Other monitoring sites:

In response to flooding in the early 1990s, grant funds were obtained to expand the stream gaging network in the state. A number of organizations (Minnesota Division of Emergency Management, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, National Weather Service, and the United States Geological Service) are working together to make the stations operational. Gages were placed according to where more specific data were needed, and community support was evident. 

In 1999, there were thirty-eight new stream gages put in place around the state. One is still in place in the Cottonwood River Watershed,  this gage is located on the river near Springfield. Another was placed in the Redwood River Watershed, near Marshall.  Available for viewing on the web, a user can click to the station and view the current stage data for the previous seven days on a graph. 

Redwood River near Marshall

Redwood River

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Redwood-Cottonwood Rivers Control Area (RCRCA)
1241 East Bridge Street
Redwood Falls, MN 56283
Phone:  507-637-2142, ext. 4
Fax:  507-637-2134
E-mail:  rcrca2day@yahoo. com