![]() The amount of nitrate reaching surface waters from cropland varies tremendously, depending on the type of crops, tile drainage practices, cropland management, soils, climate, geology and other factors.How does nitrate move from cropland into our water? Source: Nitrogen in Minnesota Surface Waters (2013) Nitrate leaching into groundwater below cropped fields and moving underground until it reaches streams, contributes an estimated 30% of statewide nitrate to surface waters.Municipal wastewater contributes 9% of the statewide nitrate load.More than 70% of the nitrate is coming from cropland, the rest from sources such as wastewater treatment plants, septic and urban runoff, forest, and the atmosphere.Nitrate leaving Minnesota via the Mississippi River contributes to the oxygen-depleted dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico.Because nitrate moves primarily via groundwater and tile drainage waters (not surface runoff), it can pollute drinking water wells.Elevated nitrate levels harm fish and aquatic life.NRCS - Natural Resources Conservation Service MPCA - Minnesota Pollution Control Agency MDNR - Minnesota Department of Natural Resources MDA - Minnesota Department of Agriculture Watershed Assessment Tool Mapbook - Des Moines River- MDNRīWSR - Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources Watershed Health Assessment Framework Overview - MDNRĭes Moines River Watershed Health Assessment: Interactive Map - MDNR Source: MPCAĭes Moines River Watershed Rapid Watershed Assessment - NRCS The river joins the East Fork Des Moines River in Iowa, and eventually enters the Mississippi River at Keokuk, Iowa. It has five subwatersheds – Lake Shetek, Beaver Creek, Heron Lake, Lime Creek, and the West Fork Des Moines River Main Stem. It covers approximately 1,334 square miles including parts of Lyon, Pipestone, Murray, Cottonwood, Nobles, Jackson, and Martin counties. The Des Moines River - Headwaters watershed is located in southwestern Minnesota.
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