Clean Water Legacy Program

Mission: To meet current needs while ensuring a future in which Minnesota's waterways and watersheds remain an abundant source of clean water, provide enjoyable recreation, and support healthy aquatic ecosystems.

Hydrology

A stream gage

The DNR Waters Stream Hydrology Program helps support a network of 100 stream gage stations operated by the U.S. Geological Survey, maintains a Flood Forecasting/Warning System network of 37 stream gage stations, and also maintains about 60 additional stream gages for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and local watershed organizations. The stream flow information collected from these gage stations is used by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and local watershed organizations to help assess whether or not a water resource is impaired. This information is also used during the development of a Total Maximum Daily Load study to determine how much of a given pollutant is being loaded into the water resource, and to help determine what pollutant reductions are needed to restore an impaired stream or lake to health. Stream flow information is accessible at the DNR/Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Cooperative Stream Gaging. The website also contains site photos, descriptions, water quality information and links to other water quality information gathered many of the gage sites.

Lake level and climatology information, collected and managed by DNR Division of Waters staff, is also needed for predicting stream flow under various weather conditions.