DOCSLIB.ORG

River Bank Erosion in the Minnesota River Valley A

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

RIVER BANK EROSION IN THE MINNESOTA RIVER VALLEY A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA BY ANDREW C KESSLER IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIERMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DR. SATISH C GUPTA DECEMBER 2015 © ANDREW C. KESSLER, 2015 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I gratefully acknowledge the assistance that was provided over the years in completing this research by Blue Earth County Environmental Services Staff especially Scott Salisbury and Professor Susan Galatowitsch of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology for their insights about early survey data; Ryan Mattke and the staff at the University of Minnesota, John R. Borchert Map Library for their help with the historical aerial photographs; and Greg Spoden and Pete Boulay of the State Climatologist Office of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for sharing the long-term climatic data. In addition, I’d like to acknowledge help from Ashley Grundtner, Melinda Brown, David Thoma, and Kari Wolf with field work and manuscript reviews. The original 2009 Lidar scan was jointly funded by the Minnesota Corn and Soybean Research and Promotion Councils. Remaining research projects were partially supported with funds from the Minnesota Corn Research and Promotion Council. I’d also like to acknowledge the tireless work of my major adviser Dr. Satish Gupta whose guidance made this research possible. Finally, I would like to acknowledge my wife Andrea and our three daughters for supporting me through this endeavor. i ABSTRACT Sediments remain one of the major causes of water quality impairments in the United States. Although soil erosion from agricultural lands has been viewed as the major source of sediment to rivers and lakes, in many watersheds, river banks are also contributing a significant amount of sediments to surface waters. Currently, limited research has been reported on the methods to quantify and to understand the causes and mechanisms that control river bank erosion. The research reported in this dissertation utilized emerging technologies and novel procedures to investigate (1) historic and modern rates of river bank erosion in the Blue Earth River Basin, a major source of sediment to the Minnesota River and Lake Pepin; (2) methods to delineate seeps (a major mechanism of bank sloughing) on the face of river banks and their impact on bank erosion; and (3) water retention capacity of depressional areas across the prairie pot hole regions of the Greater Blue Earth River Basin. The results of this research indicate that river bank erosion is and has been a major source of sediment in the Greater Blue Earth River Basin even before European immigrants began to settle in Minnesota; the return intensity from light detection and ranging (Lidar) can be used to delineate seepage areas on river banks and this along with lidar generated digital elevation model provides an opportunity to quantify seepage impacts on bank erosion; and the historic storage capacity of a prairie pothole landscape such as the Greater Blue Earth River Basin is relatively small (152 mm) and concentrated only in large depressions. This suggests that restoration of depressional areas will unlikely have a major impact on river flows without additional modifications. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................................................................ i ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................................................................ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................................................... iii LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................................................................... vii LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................................................................................... x SYNOPS IS ....................................................................................................................................................................... 1 LIDAR QUANTIFICATION OF BANK EROSION IN BLUE EARTH COUNTY, MINNESOTA ................. 2 ASSESSMENT OF RIVER BANK EROSION IN SOUTHERN MINNESTOA RIVERS POST EUROPEAN SETTLEMENT............................................................................................................................................................. 3 QUANTIFYING SEEPAGE CAUSED RIVER BANK EROSION USING LIDAR ........................................... 4 DRAINAGE IMPACTS ON SURFICIAL WATER RETENTION CAPACITY OF A PRAIRIE POTHOLE WATERSHED .............................................................................................................................................................. 4 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................. 6 QUANTIFICATION OF BANK EROSION ............................................................................................................ 7 HISTORIC RATES OF BANK EROSION ............................................................................................................... 9 MECHANISMS OF BANK EROSION ...................................................................................................................10 QUANTIFYING DEPRESSIONAL STORAGE ....................................................................................................11 THESIS STRUCTURE OVERVIEW ......................................................................................................................12 REFERENCES ..........................................................................................................................................................13 CHAPTER 2: LIDAR QUANTIFICATION OF BANK EROSION IN BLUE EARTH COUNTY, MINNESOTA ...............................................................................................................................................................18 SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................................................18 INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................................................................19 MATERIALS AND METHODS...............................................................................................................................25 iii Study Area Description ....................................................................................................................................... 25 Lidar Data .............................................................................................................................................................. 29 Lidar Data Processing ......................................................................................................................................... 31 Lidar Data Accuracy............................................................................................................................................ 33 Fieldwork and Laboratory Analysis.................................................................................................................. 36 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ...............................................................................................................................38 Accuracy Assessment of Lidar .......................................................................................................................... 38 Volume Change in River Valleys...................................................................................................................... 39 Contributions from Tall vs. Short Banks ......................................................................................................... 41 LDmin Uncertainty Analysis................................................................................................................................ 42 Spatial Interpolation............................................................................................................................................. 44 Characteristics of Stream Bank Sediments ...................................................................................................... 46 Fine Sediment, Soluble P and Total P Losses ................................................................................................. 48 Sensitivity Analysis of Fine Sediment, Soluble P and Total P Losses ....................................................... 53 CONCLUSIONS ........................................................................................................................................................55 REFERNCES .............................................................................................................................................................56 CHAPTER 3: ASSESSMENT OF RIVER BANK EROSION IN SOUTHERN MINNESTOA RIVERS POS T EUROPEAN S ETTLEMENT ...................................................................................................61 SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................................................61
Recommended publications
  • Le Sueur River Watershed Monitoring and Assessment Report

    Le Sueur River Watershed Monitoring and Assessment Report

    z c LeSueur River Watershed Monitoring and Assessment Report March 2012 Acknowledgements MPCA Watershed Report Development Team: Bryan Spindler, Pat Baskfield, Kelly O’Hara, Dan Helwig, Louise Hotka, Stephen Thompson, Tony Dingmann, Kim Laing, Bruce Monson and Kris Parson Contributors: Citizen Lake Monitoring Program volunteers Citizen Stream Monitoring Program Volunteers Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Minnesota Department of Health Minnesota Department of Agriculture Minnesota State University, Mankato Water Resource Center Project dollars provided by the Clean Water Fund (from the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment). March 2012 Minnesota Pollution Control Agency 520 Lafayette Road North | Saint Paul, MN 55155-4194 | www.pca.State.mn.us | 651-296-6300 Toll free 800-657-3864 | TTY 651-282-5332 This report is available in alternative formats upon request, and online at www.pca.State.mn.us Document number: wq-ws3-07020011b Table of Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................................................. 1 I. Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................. 2 II. The Watershed Monitoring Approach ........................................................................................................................... 3 Load monitoring network ......................................................................................................................................................
  • Bridge 3130 MHPR No

    Bridge 3130 MHPR No

    MHPR No. Original or Addendum No. Historic District Name: Minnesota Historic Property Record Background Data Form 1. Name of Property Historic name: SHPO inventory no.: Current name: 2. Location Street & number, intersection of feature carried and feature crossed, or general property location description: City or township: County: State: Zip code: Legal description: UTM Reference: Zone Easting Northing NAD 3. Description Style/form/structure/landscape type 4. National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) status NRHP, individually listed or eligible : Date of designation: NRHP, in listed or eligible historic district: Date of designation: National Historic Landmark: Date of designation: 5. Previous Designation or Recordation Local designation program: Date of designation: Name of program: Name and location of repository: Other (e.g. HABS/HAER/HALS): Date of designation: Name of program: Name and location of repository: 6. Preparer’s Information Federal or State agency: Date MHPR prepared: Preparer’s name/title: Company/organization: Email address: Street & number: Telephone: City or township: State: Zip code: Page 1 of 2 MHPR No. Photographer’s name: Company/organization: Email address: Street & number: Telephone: City or township: State: Zip code: Page 2 of 2 Bridge 3130 MHPR No. FA-BET-003 I. Description A. Bridge’s Location and Setting Location Bridge 3130 carries Township Road 232 which runs north-south over Coon Creek in Blue Earth City Township. The bridge is located approximately one-half mile south of Blue Earth city limits in rural southwestern Faribault County. Township Road 232 is an extension of South Ramsey Street leading out of the city of Blue Earth and is also known as 385th Avenue outside the city limits.
  • 2. Location the County Limits of Faribault County, Minnesota Street & Number Not for Publication

    2. Location the County Limits of Faribault County, Minnesota Street & Number Not for Publication

    FHR-8-300 (11-78) United States Department of the Interior Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form See instructions in How to Complete National Register Forms Type all entries complete applicable sections /'*) 1. Name (S-^A^ JJLX... sf. Historic Resources of FarFaribault County historic (Partial Inventory - Historic Properties) and/or common 2. Location The County Limits of Faribault County, Minnesota street & number not for publication city, town vicinity of congressional district Second state Minnesota code 22 county Faribault code 043 3. Classification Multiple Resources Category Ownership Status Present Use district public occupied agriculture museum building(s) private unoccupied commercial park structure both work in progress educational private residence site Public Acquisition Accessible entertainment religious object in process yes: restricted government scientific being considered yes: unrestricted industrial transportation no military other: 4. Owner of Property name Multiple Ownership - see inventory forms street & number city, town vicinity of state 5. Location of Legal Description courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Recorders Office - Faribault County Courthouse street & number city, town Blue Earth state Minnesota 6. Representation in Existing Surveys title Statewide Survey of Historic has this property been determined elegible? yes no Resources date 1979 federal state county local depository for survey records Minnesota Historical Society - 240 Summit Ave.- Hill House Minnesota city, town St. Paul state APR 8198Q FARIBAULT COUNTY The basis of the survey is an inventory of structures which are indicative of various aspects of the county's history. Selection of structures for the inventory included both field reconnaissance or pre-identified sites and isolation of sites on a purely visual basis.
  • Channel Stabilization Publications Available in Corps of Engineers Offices

    Channel Stabilization Publications Available in Corps of Engineers Offices

    TECHNICAL REPORT NO. 4 CHANNEL STABILIZATION PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE IN CORPS OF ENGINEERS OFFICES i <SESS> ¡01 101 LfU U-U lOi 00¡DE November 1966 Committee on Channel Stabilization CORPS OF ENGINEERS, U. S. ARMY REPORTS OF COMMITTEE ON CHANNEL STABILIZATION ¿i BUREAU OF RECLAMATION DENVER Lll 92035635 VT ■ieD3Sb3S nsJjfe-» TECHNICAL REPORT 4 7 3 CHANNEL STABILIZATION PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE IN CORPS OF ENGINEERS OFFICES j f November 1966 f Committee on Channel Stabilization - i / y > CORPS OF ENGINEERS/ U. S. ARMY ARM Y-MRC VICKSBURG. MISS. PRESENT MEMBERSHIP OF COMMITTEE ON CHANNEL STABILIZATION J. H. Douma Office, Chief of Engineers Chairman E. B. Lipscomb Lower Mississippi Valley Division Recorder D. C. Bondurant Missouri River Division R. H. Haas Lower Mississippi Valley Division W. E. Isaacs Little Rock District C. P. Lindner South Atlantic Division E. B. Madden Southwestern Division H. A. Smith North Pacific Division J. B. Tiffany Waterways Experiment Station G. B. Fenwick Consultant FOREWORD Establishment of the Committee on Channel Stabilization in April 1962 was confirmed by Engineer Regulation 15-2-1, dated 1 November 1962. As stated in ER 15-2-1, the objectives of the Committee with respect to channel stabilization are: a. To review and evaluate pertinent information and disseminate the results thereof. b. To determine the need for and recommend a program of research; and to have advisory technical review responsibility for research assigned to the Committee. £. To determine basic principles and design criteria. d. To provide, at the request of field offices, advice on design and operational problems. In accordance with the desire of the Committee to inventory available data, reports, papers, etc., pertaining to channel stabilization, arrangements were made for the Research Center Library, U.
  • Final Mountain Loop Road Repair Environmental Assessment

    Final Mountain Loop Road Repair Environmental Assessment

    Figure 1-Vicinity Map, Location of Damage Forest-wide, 2003 Flood i Table of Content Chapter 1 –Need for Action ....................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 1 Mountain Loop History, Desired Road Condition ............................................................................................. 1 October 2003 Flood Event ................................................................................................................................. 3 Need for Action .................................................................................................................................... 6 Proposed Action................................................................................................................................... 7 Proposed Repair at Milepost 33.1 (T30N, R11E, Section 29) ........................................................................... 7 Proposed Repair at Milepost 33.6 (T30N, R11E, Section 29) ......................................................................... 11 Proposed Repair at Milepost 34.8 (T30N, R11E, Section 28) ......................................................................... 16 Proposed Repair at Milepost 35.6 (T30N, R11E, Section 21) ......................................................................... 18 Project Scope.....................................................................................................................................
  • By David L. Lorenz and Gregory A. Payne

    By David L. Lorenz and Gregory A. Payne

    SELECTED DATA FOR STREAM SUBBASINS IN THE LE SUEUR RIVER BASIN, SOUTH-CENTRAL MINNESOTA By David L. Lorenz and Gregory A. Payne ABSTRACT This report presents selected data that describe the characteristics of stream basins upstream from selected points on streams in the Le Sueur River basin. The points on the streams include outlets of subbasins of about five square miles, sewage treatment plant outlets, and U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging stations in the basin. INTRODUCTION The Le Sueur River upstream from its confluence with the Blue Earth River drains an area of 1,110 mi (square miles). It is located in the counties of Blue Earth, Faribault, Freeborn, Le Sueur, Steele, and Waseca in south-central Minnesota. This report is one of several gazateers providing basin characteristics of streams in Minnesota. It provides selected data for subbasins larger thai about 5 mi , sewage-treatment-plant outlets, and U.S. Geological Survey (USG! streamflow-gaging stations located in the Le Sueur River basin. Methods USGS 7-1/2 minute series topographic maps were used as base maps to obtain the data presented in this report. Data were compiled with a geograph­ ic information system (CIS) and were stored in an Albers equal-area projec­ tion. Data-base functions and other capabilities of the CIS were used to aggregate the data, determine drainage area of the subbasins, and determine stream channel lengths. Elevation data for the streams were recorded at the point were topographic-contour lines interescted the stream traces. Points on the stream channel 10 percent and 85 percent of the stream-channel length from the basin outlet to the drainage divide were located by the CIS, and the elevations of these points were interpolated from the data recorded in the CIS.
  • Introduction

    Introduction

    Introduction Description of the Study Area The Blue Earth River Watershed is one of twelve major watersheds located within the Minnesota River Basin. The Blue Earth River Watershed is located in south central Minnesota within Blue Earth, Cottonwood, Faribault, Freeborn, Jackson, Martin, and Watonwan counties and northern Iowa (Figure 1). The Blue Earth River Major Watershed area is a region of gently rolling ground moraine, with a total area of approximately 1,550 square miles or 992,034 acres. Of the 992,034 acres, 775,590 acres are located in Minnesota and 216,444 acres are located in Iowa. The Blue Earth River Watershed is located within the Western Corn Belt Plains Ecoregion, where agriculture is the predominate land use, including cultivation and feedlot operations. Urban land use areas include the cities of Blue Earth, Fairmont, Jackson, Mankato, Wells, and other smaller communities. The watershed is subdivided using topography and drainage features into 115 minor watersheds ranging in size from 2,197 acres to 30,584 acres with a mean size of approximately 8,626 acres. The Blue Earth River Major Watershed drainage network is defined by the Blue Earth River and its major tributaries: the East Branch of Blue Earth River, the West Branch of Blue Earth River, the Middle Branch of the Blue Earth River, Elm Creek, and Center Creek. Other smaller streams, public and private drainage systems, lakes, and wetlands complete the drainage network. The lakes and other wetlands within the Blue Earth River Watershed comprise about 3% of the watershed. The total length of the stream network is 1,178 miles of which 414 miles are intermittent streams and 764 miles are perennial streams.
  • Erosion Control and Slope Stabilization of Embankments Using Vetiver System

    Erosion Control and Slope Stabilization of Embankments Using Vetiver System

    EROSION CONTROL AND SLOPE STABILIZATION OF EMBANKMENTS USING VETIVER SYSTEM SHAMIMA NASRIN MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING (GEOTECHNICAL) Department of Civil Engineering BANGLADESH UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY September, 2013 EROSION CONTROL AND SLOPE STABILIZATION OF EMBANKMENTS USING VETIVER SYSTEM A Thesis Submitted by SHAMIMA NASRIN In partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING Department of Civil Engineering BANGLADESH UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY September, 2013 DEDICATED TO MY PARENTS The thesis titled “Erosion Control and Slope Stabilization of Embankments using Vetiver System”, submitted by Shamima Nasrin, Roll No. 0409042245F, Session April 2009 has been accepted as satisfactory in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science in Civil Engineering on 30th September, 2013. BOARD OF EXAMINERS Dr. Mohammad Shariful Islam Chairman Associate Professor (Supervisor) Department of Civil Engineering BUET, Dhaka-1000 Dr. A.M.M. Taufiqul Anwar Member Professor and Head (Ex-Officio) Department of Civil Engineering BUET, Dhaka-1000 Dr. Abdul Muqtadir Member Professor Department of Civil Engineering BUET, Dhaka-1000 Prof. Dr. Ainun Nishat Member Vice-Chancellor (External) BRAC University 66 Mohakhali, Dhaka-1212 i DECLARATION It is thereby declared that except for the contents where specific reference have been made to the work of others, the study contained in this thesis are the result of investigation carried out by the author under the supervision of Dr. Mohammad Shariful Islam, Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology. No part of this thesis has been submitted to any other university or other educational establishment for a degree, diploma or other qualification (except for publication).
  • Waseca County Water Plan Cover.Pub

    Waseca County Water Plan Cover.Pub

    WASECA COUNTY LOCALWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN AMENDMENT 2015 - 2018 (Photo credit: Kelly Hunt) Clear Lake, Waseca, Minnesota Prepared by Waseca County Planning and Zoning This page was intentionally left blank to allow for two-sided printing. WASECA COUNTY WATER PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS Abbreviations List………………………………………......................... Pg. iii Executive Summary..........................................................................................iv Water Plan Contents……………………………………………………………………………..…..iv Section One: Purpose of the Plan……………………………………………………………....v Section Two: Waseca County Priority Concerns....……………………………….....vi Waseca County Water Plan Task Force……………………………........................vii Section Three: Summary of Goals & Objectives………………………………………..x Section Four: Consistency with Other Plans & Recommended Changes………………………………………………………………………………….……xi Section Five: Nonpoint Priority Funding Plan……………………………………..……xv Chapter One: County Profile & Priority Concerns Assessment………………………………………………………….1 Section One: County Profile……………………………………………………………………..1 Section Two: Reducing Priority Pollutants Assessment………………………………………………………………………….6 Section Three: Drainage & Wetlands Assessment…………………………………………………………………………24 Section Four: Shorelands & Natural Corridors Assessment…………………………………………………………….36 Section Five: Public Education Assessment……………………………………………..39 Waseca County Water Plan Amendment (2015 – 2018) i Chapter Two: Goals, Objectives, and Implementation Steps .................................................................
  • Bank Stability Resulting from Rapid Flood Recession Along the Licking River, Kentucky

    Bank Stability Resulting from Rapid Flood Recession Along the Licking River, Kentucky

    UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI Date:___________________ I, _________________________________________________________, hereby submit this work as part of the requirements for the degree of: in: It is entitled: This work and its defense approved by: Chair: _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ BANK INSTABILITY RESULTING FROM RAPID FLOOD RECESSION ALONG THE LICKING RIVER, KENTUCKY A thesis submitted to the Division of Research and Advanced Studies of the University of Cincinnati in partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE In the Department of Geology Of the College of Arts and Sciences 2004 by Ana Cristina Londono G. B.S., Universidad Nacional de Colombia, 1995 Committee Chair: Dr. David B. Nash ABSTRACT River bank instability has been linked with changing land use, deforestation and channel meandering. Fluctuations in water level, either seasonal or more frequent, have also been related to instability. Increased pore water pressure has been correlated with flooding. When, the level of water decreases rapidly, the pore water pressure within the soil remains high, thereby decreasing the soil’s effective shear strength. This reduction in shear strength may result in bank failure. The banks of the Licking River near Wilder, Kentucky were selected as a study site because they exhibit instability features: tension cracks, circular and wedge failures, slumps and piping, some of which developed after a major flooding event in 1997. Tensiometers were installed at depth from 4 ft to 10 ft and a piezometer was installed at a depth of 12 ft. The bank material is clay with low plasticity (CL) with total cohesion and friction angle of 27 kPa and 13o respectively.
  • Blue Earth River Watershed

    Blue Earth River Watershed

    Minnesota River Basin 2010 Progress Report Blue Earth River Watershed BLUE EARTH RIVER WATERSHED Part of the Greater Blue Earth River Basin, which also includes the Le Sueur River and Watonwan River watersheds, the Blue Earth River Watershed is characterized by a terrain of gently rolling prairie and glacial moraine with river valleys and ravines cut into the landscape. The Blue Earth River Watershed drains approximately 1,550 square miles or 992,034 acres with a total of 775,590 acres located in Minnesota and the rest in Iowa. Located in the intensive row-crop agriculture areas of south central Minnesota, this watershed carries one of the highest nutrient loads in the Minnesota River Basin. Major tributaries are the East, Middle and West branches, Elm and Center creeks along with smaller streams, public and private drainage systems, lakes and wetlands. Fairmont is the largest city in the Blue Earth River Watershed with part of the City of Mankato Monitoring the Blue Earth River flowing into the river as it meets the Minnesota River. 16. 15. BERBI Conservation 18. Blue Earth River Comprehensive Marketplace 17. Greater Blue Landing 19. Mankato Sibley Nutrient of MN Earth River Basin Parkway 20. Greater Blue Management Plan Initiative Earth River Basin Alliance (GBERBA) 14. Blue Earth River Basin 21. Mankato Initiative Wastewater (BERBI) Treatment Plant 22. Simply 13. BERBI Homemade Intake Initiative 12. Rural 1. Faribault SWCD Advantage Conservation Practices 11. Dutch Creek Farms 2. Small Community Stormwater 10. Elm Creek Project Restoration Project 3. Faribault SWCD Rain Barrel Program 9. Center & Lily Creek watersheds 7.
  • Introduction

    Introduction

    Introduction Description of the Study Area The Le Sueur River Major Watershed is one of the twelve major watersheds of the Minnesota River Basin. It is located in south central Minnesota within Blue Earth, Faribault, Freeborn, Le Sueur, Steele, and Waseca counties (Figure 1). Predominate land use within the watershed is agriculture including cultivation and feedlot operations. Urban land use areas include the cities of Eagle Lake, Janesville, Mankato, Mapleton, New Richland, Waseca, Wells, Winnebago, and other smaller communities. The Le Sueur River Major Watershed area is a region of gently rolling ground moraine, with a total area of approximately 1,112 square miles or 711,838 acres. The watershed is subdivided using topography and drainage features into 86 minor watersheds ranging in size from 1,381 acres to 19,978 acres with a mean size of approximately 8,277 acres. The Le Sueur River Major Watershed drainage network is defined by the Le Sueur River and its major tributaries: the Maple River, and the Big Cobb River. Other smaller streams, public and private drainage systems, lakes, and wetlands complete the drainage network. The drainage pattern of the Le Sueur River Watershed is defined by the Le Sueur River which drains from the southeast along the edge of the moranic belt located in the east and north, the Maple River and the Big Cobb River which drain from the south to reach the river’s confluence with the Le Sueur River near the western edge of the watershed. The lakes and other wetlands within the Le Sueur comprise about 5% of the watershed.