We Are Water MN deepens connections between the humanities and water through a network of partnerships, a traveling exhibit, and public events. We Are Water MN helps communities, organizations, and individuals make better, more collaborative, and more relevant choices about water.

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The traveling exhibit will be hosted by the Mississippi River - Sartell Watershed Partners (see logos below). The Mississippi River - Sartell watershed covers approximately 652,800 acres (1,020 sq. miles) in the central part of the Upper Mississippi River Basin.

The watershed includes parts of Benton (10%), Crow Wing (4%), Mille Lacs (<1%), Morrison (55%), Stearns (31%), and Todd (<1%) counties. Major communities apart of the watershed are Lastrup, Pierz, Buckman, Royalton, Upsala, Bowlus, Rice, Holdingford, Avon, St. Joseph, and Sartell. This watershed has 879 total river miles and 232 lakes that cover 13,319 acres.

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Located in the North Central Hardwood Forest ecoregion of Minnesota, the watershed is primarily agricultural, with approximately 96% of the land in this watershed under private ownership. The predominant land uses are grass/pasture/hay (35%), row crops (29%), forest (19%), and wetlands (9%). 

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The Mississippi River experiences one of its greatest drops in elevation within the Upper Mississippi River Basin within this watershed. From the community of Little Falls to Royalton, the river drops 6½ feet for every mile of river.

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The major threats to the watershed include:

• Loss of shoreline buffers and habitat due to development.

• Introduction of large amounts of phosphorus, sediment, and bacteria to surface waters.

• Increased nutrient, contaminant, and sedimentation loading from stormwater runoff from development and other non-point sources.

• Loss of biodiversity due to competition from invasive species.

• Relatively high percentage of agricultural and urban/residential land uses within the riparian or sensitive areas of the watershed.

• Protecting drinking water supplies from bacteria impairments.