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Sauk Watershed

Updated 04/11/2005

News Releases

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Adobe Acrobat DocumentCSP Informational Meetings Planned in the Sauk Watershed (1/5/2005) (110 KB)

Meeting Schedule

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 Adobe Acrobat DocumentMeetings at Freeport Community Center March 30th and April 5th (121 KB)
      Adobe Acrobat DocumentMore Information for Stearns County (226 KB)
      Adobe Acrobat DocumentMore Information for Douglas County (122 KB)
      Adobe Acrobat DocumentMore Information for Meeker County (138 KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentMeetings at City Hall April 4th and 11th (106 KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentSauk Watershed Meeting Schedule (51 KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentSauk Watershed Meeting Schedule (Stearns County) (447 KB)

 

Description of Watershed

The total estimated area in the watershed is 717,500 acres. This watershed is located in Douglas, Meeker, Pope, Stearns, and Todd Counties in Central Minnesota.

The land uses in the watershed are primarily cropland, pastureland and forest. The watershed area is a combination of Thin Loess and Till, and Sandy Outwash resource areas. The topography is irregular, varying from nearly level outwash plains and lacustrine basins to gently rolling with hills and ridges. There are many lakes and basins. Soils are moderately deep to deep, and medium to coarse textured. Coarse textured soils are on the outwash plains. Drainage is well to moderately well drained, with poorly drained organic soils in the deeper depressions

In the cropland areas of the watershed, there are about 2,100 farms. Cropland covers 404,000 acres. Corn, hay and small grains are the primary crops. Other crops include soybeans and vegetables.

Pastureland in the watershed comprises about 102,000 acres.  Some of the pastureland in this watershed is located in wet or stony areas. Most of these pastures are overgrazed. The primary forage species are Kentucky bluegrass and white clover on uplands and reed canarygrass in wet sites. When upland sites are managed with prescribed grazing other species such as timothy, smooth bromegrass, and quackgrass express themselves.

There are a number of producers who have improved their pastures or converted cropland to pastures for dairy and stocker operations. These pastures are often improved cool season grasses along with legumes such as alfalfa or various clover species.
 

Land Cover/Use
Land Use Total Acres
Cropland 404,000
Pasture 102,000
Forest 67,000
Developed 31,900
Water 28,900
Other 83,700
Total 717,500

Sauk Watershed Map


Maps

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Adobe Acrobat DocumentSauk Watershed Map (755 KB)

Detailed County Maps,  including section and township reference boundaries
Adobe Acrobat DocumentDouglas County (202 KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentMeeker County (188 KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentPope County (215 KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentStearns County (685 KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentTodd County (350 KB)
 

Fact Sheets

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Adobe Acrobat DocumentSauk Watershed Fact Sheet (257 KB)

Cost Lists

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Adobe Acrobat DocumentSauk New Practices (81 KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentSauk Existing Payments (64 KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentSauk Stewardship Payments (48 KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentSauk Enhancements  (115 KB)

Posters

These posters are designed to be printed at 11" x 17".

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Adobe Acrobat DocumentDouglas County (540 KB) 
Adobe Acrobat DocumentMeeker County (540 KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentPope County (540 KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentStearns County (540 KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentTodd County (540 KB)

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