A watershed is the area of land that drains to a common lake, wetland, stream or river. Watersheds come in different sizes and scales.

For example, someone who lives on Lake Minnetonka is part of the Lake Minnetonka watershed. Because Lake Minnetonka connects to the Minnehaha Creek, that property is also part of the Minnehaha Creek Watershed, which flows into the Mississippi River Watershed. As such, the property is also in the Gulf of Mexico Watershed. 

What's your Watershed Address?

What is the significance of this boundary?

When upstream neighbors use too much fertilizer, and sweep leaves and grass clippings down the storm drain they may not know that their actions affect their downstream neighbors. Downstream lakes grow thick algal blooms and may experience fish kills. The birds and other wildlife may not collect around it like they used to. That lake may soon be labeled as impaired. Organizing into a watershed district is a way to “rewrite” the boundaries along natural limits, watersheds. The watershed district now can
oversee water resources based on how the water flows.