Nemadji Watershed

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The Nemadji River Watershed is located south of Duluth, Minnesota,  draining approximately 277,400 acres (433 square miles) of land in  Carlton and Pine Counties, Minnesota and Douglas County, Wisconsin.  The  Nemadji River begins in northern Pine County near Maheu Lake and ends  in Superior, Wisconsin at Superior Bay on the western end of Lake  Superior.

The river and many of its tributaries are known to run a deep muddy  brown color that has been the center of a rich history of study.  The  color is attributed to many unique features of the land and soil, and  relate to the biological health of the fish and wildlife of the river.   Additionally, our understanding of the watershed and its sensitivities  to land use drives the conservation practices we chose.

There is a powerful link between land use and water quality.  The  lessons learned from historical land use practices on  the predominantly sensitive clay soils of the Nemadji River Watershed  have heightened awareness of soil erosion and its effects on water  quality. The Carlton SWCD works with private land owners to help improve water quality in the Nemadji.