Grand Forks County Soil Conservation District
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Grand Forks County Soil Conservation District
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Turtle River Watershed Project Turtle River Watershed Assessment
Background The Turtle River watershed consists of nearly 700 square miles, or nearly one-half million acres, located primarily within Grand Forks County. This watershed flows into the Red River of the North, which flows north into Canada. The land in the Turtle River watershed is used primarily for agricultural and rural homeowners. Farmers in the area plant a variety of crops including wheat, sugar beets, and corn. The topography of the area is known for being extremely flat and many areas are subject to flooding, especially in the spring when there is run-off from snowmelt. What is a watershed? Why is it important? Everyone lives in a watershed. It is simply an area where all surface water will flow toward the same common destination. A watershed can vary greatly in size. It can be as small as a neighborhood, where all the surface runoff flows into a local pond. A watershed can also be very large in size, such as the Mississippi River watershed (or basin), where all the streams and rivers within the watershed’s boundaries all flow into the Mississippi River, which ultimately drains into the Gulf of Mexico. It is worth noting that local (smaller) watersheds can be found within much larger watersheds. For example, in this study we are monitoring the Turtle River watershed, which is located within the Red River watershed. This means that the local streams, rivers and water run-off all flow into the Turtle River, which will then flow into the Red River of the North. This is important for people to keep in mind when they pollute a stream or river. They need to understand that they are polluting the water for everyone who lives downstream. More Information: Turtle River Implementation Project |
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