Rock River Watershed Targeting Tools

The Rock River Watershed encompasses runoff from the four counties of Rock, Pipestone, Murray and Nobles. The Rock River Watershed, along with the adjacent Elm Creek are listed as impaired by turbidity and fecal coliform. With limited funds available for restoration projects, targeting tools to pinpoint locations where projects stand to have the highest effectiveness are increasingly important.
This project utilizes LiDAR topographic data to determine areas of high importance for project implementation within the 570 square-mile watershed. Using sophisticated Geographic Information System analysis techniques on LiDAR data, along with available soils and land-use data, the project will assess the susceptibility of erosion and determine ideal locations to store runoff on the landscape. By assessing the ability to store water along with the erosive potential of the landscape, project implementation locations can be determined that have multiple benefits for both water quality and water quantity. This will be Phase I of a focused approach to address the areas of the watershed .