The Root River Watershed One Watershed, One Plan is a coalition of Counties, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and the Crooked Creek Watershed District within southeast Minnesota. The formation of the coalition signifies an important step in local efforts to manage, restore, and protect water and natural resources in southeastern Minnesota. In order to be an effective entity for the management, restoration, and protection of resources within the Root River plan area, the Root River One Watershed, One Plan developed this pilot One Watershed, One Plan to focus on implementation strategies that are prioritized, targeted, and result in measurable resource improvements. The strategies to maintain, restore, and protect resources within the plan are aimed at achieving lasting conservation, while considering the needs, rights, and interests of the local community, residents and stakeholders.

The Root River plan area is part of the Lower Mississippi River Basin, and is located in the most southeastern corner of Minnesota. Six counties are located within the plan area boundaries. Those counties, and the proportion of each county making up the plan area, include Fillmore (41.8%), Houston (26.2%), Mower (14.5%), Winona (9.7%), Olmsted (7.5%), and Dodge (0.3%). The Root River plan area can generally be divided into broad regions defined as “planning regions.” The boundaries for the planning regions within the plan area generally correspond with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) 10-digit Hydrologic Unit Codes (HUCs) from the Watershed Boundary Dataset. Separate planning regions were established for those portions of the plan watershed draining directly to the Mississippi River and south into Iowa.

Three resource concern levels were developed. Resource concerns that are “A” level priorities include: Drinking Water Supplies (public and private); Streams and Rivers; Landowner and Producer Engagement in Watershed Management; and Livability.

Resource concerns that are “B” level priorities include: Surficial-Subsurface Hydrologic Connections; Flooding; Wetlands; Riparian Corridors; Public Knowledge of and Behavior Relative to Water Issues; Drainage System; and Water Retention Systems.

Resource concerns that are “C” level priorities include: Springsheds; Aquatic Habitat for Fish, Macroinvertebrates, and Aquatic Life; Trout Streams; Areas of Moderate and High Biodiversity; Karst Formations; Connecting Water and the Business Community; Technology, Tools and Existing Capabilities; Rural Environmental Health; Urban Environmental Health; Land Use; and Point Sources.

Further information about the resource concerns and implementation can be view in the plan policy.