Watershed : Cottonwood River
Watershed Characteristics Area (ac)* Percentage
       
Agroecoregions Dryer Blue Earth Till 373,622 44.5
  Coteau 325,339 38.7
  Wetter Blue Earth Till 105,980 12.6
  Alluvium and Outwash 23,665 2.8
  Steep Stream Banks 10,157 1.2
  Steep Valley Walls 808 0.1
  Stream Banks 603 0.1
       
Counties Cottonwood River 840,173 8.8
  Redwood 298,707 35.6
  Brown 171,902 20.5
  Cottonwood 156,267 18.6
  Lyon 149,247 17.8
  Murray 64,050 7.6
       
Slope Steepness 0-2 Percent 213,408 25.4
  2-6 Percent 605,921 72.1
  2-12 Percent 8,260 1.0
  6-12 Percent 12,308 1.5
       
Internal Drainage Poorly drained 165,717 19.7
  Poor/Improved by tiling 15,213 1.8
  Well drained 658,966 78.4
  Water 277 0.0
       
Proximity to Water Lake Shoreline 15,484 1.8
  Permanent River 64,163 7.6
  Intermittent River 164,183 19.5
  Drainage Ditches 55,348 6.6
  Landlocked 540,718 64.4
       
Geomorphology Blue Earth Till Plain (066) 484,532 57.7
  Ianhoe-Worthington Coteau (068) 317,854 37.8
  Minnesota Valley Outwash (032) 37,786 4.5
       
Water Erosion Moderate 98,121 11.7
  High 527,851 62.8
  Severe 149,418 17.8
  Extreme 64,783 7.7
       
Wind Erosion Group Severe 435,708 51.9
  Moderate 404,465 48.1
       
Crop Productivity Low productivity 23,309 2.8
  Medium productivity 789,894 94.0
  High productivity 26,970 3.2
       
Precipitation Between 24-26 inches 197,578 23.5
  Between 26-28 inches 595,675 70.9
  Between 28-30 inches 188,466 24.4
  Between 28-30 inches 46,920 5.6
  Between 30-32 inches 514,093 66.4
  Between 32-34 inches 71,242 9.2
       
Growing Degree Days 1750-2000 Degree Days 49,966 6.0
  2000-2250 Degree Days 119,311 14.2
  2250-2500 Degree Days 507,565 60.4
  2500-2750 Degree Days 163,331 19.4
       
* Expressed as acres or percent for major watershed area in the Minnesota River Basin


Last Updated on 3/5/00