Rivers & streams

River & Stream Management

River and stream facts

• Natural rivers & streams: approximately 69,200 miles
• State and national Wild and Scenic Rivers: 589 miles
• Drainage ditches: about 21,200 miles.
• The Mississippi River is about 680 miles long (in Minnesota; the whole river is about 2,350 miles long). Lake Itasca in Itasca State Park is the source of the Mississippi River.
• The Minnesota River is about 370 miles long. It flows into the Mississippi at Fort Snelling State Park.
• Lengths of other major Minnesota rivers
• General water facts
• Near real-time and historical streamflow and water quality data

 

Frequent questions

• Where can I find information about river and stream flooding?
• Frequently Asked Questions About Rivers and Streams
• What permits do I need for riverfront property?
• What are some common hydrologic terms and definitions?
• What is the definition of ordinary high water level (OHWL) and why is it important?
• What is a wild and scenic river?
• What can I do to prevent erosion?
• How do I name a river or stream?
• What is the water quality of my river/stream? (Minnesota Pollution Control Agency)  

River and stream recreation

• Water Trails managed for canoeing, kayaking, boating and camping: 32 Water Trails totaling 4,397 miles.
• River Level Reports for canoeing, kayaking, and boating.

River and stream stewardship

• Understanding Our Streams and Rivers
  • Are Minnesota Streams Healthy?  (0.7 Mb)
  • Resource Sheet 1: Streambank Erosion and Restoration  (4.1 Mb)
  • Resource Sheet 2: The Value and Use of Vegetation  (5.5 Mb)
• Healthy Rivers: A Water Course instructional CD ROM
• The Shape of Healthy Streams - Characteristics of Natural Watercourses
  • information sheet with color background  (810 Kb)
  • information sheet with no background (better suited for black and white printing)  (0.3 Mb)
• Conserving Your Blufflands  (0.5 Mb)
• Adopt-A-River
• Wild and Scenic Rivers in Minnesota
• Mississippi River Critical Area Program
• Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA) (National Park Service)  
• Need a DNR Permit?
• Classification system for lakes and rivers
• Shoreland Management
• Guide for Buying and Managing Shoreland
• Shoreline Alteration Information Sheets

River studies

• Impacts from Recreational Boating on the Mississippi River