When you think about the Nemadji Watershed, what comes to mind? Maybe it is hunting and fishing in the Nemadji State Forest or one of the watershed’s many trout streams. Maybe it is where you call home or where your food is grown. Or you might think of the red waters that flow to north to Lake Superior. The Nemadji Watershed is a diverse place, with many valuable resources for our local economy and abundant land for recreation.

Over the past year, a group of passionate people worked together to create a comprehensive watershed management plan for the Nemadji Watershed, helping to decide how to protect and restore its unique natural resources. The Nemadji Watershed encompasses the southeast portion of Carlton County and the northeast portion of Pine County, before crossing the border to Douglas County in Wisconsin. The river eventually empties into Lake Superior in Superior, Wisconsin. Known best for its steep slopes and red clay soils, the watershed is largely forested and rural. It includes several important trout streams including the Blackhoof River.

Partners for this plan include Carlton County, Carlton Soil and Water Conservation District, Pine County and Pine Soil and Water Conservation District. An advisory committee of watershed stakeholders helped develop the plan, representing interests from forestry, fishing, farming, groundwater, lakes and wetlands. In addition, relevant state agencies including the Board of Water and Soil Resources, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Minnesota Department of Health and Minnesota Department of Agriculture provided input and expertise.

To view the plan, please visit the planning website. There you can find a short video for an overview of what we hope to accomplish in the next 10 years: https://carltonswcd.org/nemadji-1w1p

A Public Hearing is scheduled for October 21st from 7:00PM to 8:00PM. This is your opportunity to provide input to the plan. Due to the pandemic, the meeting will be virtual, and details for both phone and computer access are available on the planning website. You can also contact Melanie Bomier at the Carlton SWCD for more information: [email protected].

Writer Melanie Bomier is the water resources technician for the Carlton Soil and Water Conservation District whose columns focus on environmental topics and stewardship.