Water Planning

Upper/Lower Red Lake Watershed Plan

BELTRAMI, CLEARWATER, KOOCHICHING, AND ITASCA COUNTIES ALONG WITH RED LAKE NATION AND THE RED LAKE WATERSHED DISTRICT

REQUEST COMMENTS ON THE PROPOSED UPPER/LOWER RED LAKE COMPREHENSIVE WATERSHED PLAN

The Beltrami Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and planning partners request public comment on the proposed Upper/Lower Red Lake Comprehensive Watershed Plan as part of a 60-day review period. Written comments will be accepted until Monday, September 30th, 2024, at 4:30 PM. Comments can be submitted to Beltrami SWCD for all Upper/Lower Red Lake Watershed Residents (see map). E-mail comments to Katelyn Bergstrom: Katelyn.bergstrom@co.beltrami.mn.us and cc Chad Severts: chad.severts@state.mn.us. You may also mail comments to 701 Minnesota Ave. Suite 113 Bemidji, MN 56601. Call Katelyn Bergstrom at 218-333-4157 with any questions.

After nearly two years of collaborative planning, the comprehensive watershed management plan is nearly complete. This watershed plan aligns water planning along watershed boundaries and enhances existing county water plans. It sets goals and actions for the next 10 years to help prioritize and fund projects with the purpose of maintaining and improving water quality in this area.

Facts about the Upper/Lower Red Lake Watershed:

The Upper/Lower Red Lake Watershed spans 1,940 square miles.
Upper and Lower Red Lake combined is the largest lake (288,800 acres) in Minnesota.
Primary communities include Red Lake Nation Reservation, Kelliher, Blackduck, and Funkley.
Includes parts of Beltrami, Koochiching, Itasca, and Clearwater Counties.

This voluntary program is administered through the Board of Water and Soil Resources. Red Lake Nation and Beltrami SWCD teamed up to develop this plan. A voluntary technical advisory committee helped develop the Plan. Partners will complete plan action items that are measurable and trackable to improve and protect soil and water in this area.

After completion of this review period, a summary of comments received will be provided to all who commented. The Upper/Lower Red Lake One Watershed One Plan Partnership will hold a public hearing(s) at the Seven Clans Casino Red Lake, 10200 Highway 89, Red Lake, MN 56671 starting at 9:00 AM on October 22, 2024.