Watershed Health Assessment Framework

Watershed Health is a landscape with natural systems that function well and enhance the quality of life for all inhabitants. This view of the Mississippi River is at Barn Bluff in Red Wing, Minnesota.

The Watershed Health Assessment Framework (WHAF) provides an organized approach for understanding natural resource conditions and challenges, and for identifying opportunities to improve the health and resilience of Minnesota’s watersheds. Read more about the WHAF.

Explore lake health with our new WHAF for Lakes! Learn about a particular lake or compare lake health to others nearby.

WHAF interactive map displaying Impervious Cover health score.

WHAF: Explorer

The online map delivers an organized exploration of watershed health and landscape conditions.

Open map » Open Applications Use Guides »

Lake Pepin landscape overlaid with heart monitor icon; symbolizing measures of ecological well-being.

Watershed health scores

Watershed health scores are calculated from a variety of data sources to help users compare patterns of health across the state.

View the health scores »

Key concepts for watershed health

Concepts of system science guide how the five component WHAF framework is applied, including the concepts of health, scale, complexity and resilience.

Learn more »