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Water resources of the Lake of the Woods watershed, north-central Minnesota

Hydrologic Atlas 544
Prepared in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Waters, Soils, and Minerals
By: , and 

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Abstract

The Lake of the Woods watershed is an area of about 2,900 square miles (7,500 km), the northern limit of which is part of the boundary between the United States and Canada. Drainage is to Lake of the Woods, either directly or by the Rainy River. The watershed includes about 470 square miles (1,220 km2) of Lake of the Woods, one-third of the lake’s total area.

The watershed, a part of the plain of glacial Lake Agassiz, is an area of low relief and slopes generally northward. Details of topography may be obtained from U.S. Geological Survey 7 1/2-minute quadrangle maps, as indexed.

Surficial materials consist mainly of peat, lake-washed till, and beach deposits. Extensive wetlands typify much of the watershed. Bedrock is exposed in places near Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River.

Except where cleared for cultivation, most of the watershed is covered by coniferous forests. Harvest of forest products, agriculture, and fishing are major economic activities.

The 1970 population of the watershed was bout 6,600, concentrated chiefly along the Rainy River and the south shore of Lake of the Woods.

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Water resources of the Lake of the Woods watershed, north-central Minnesota
Series title Hydrologic Atlas
Series number 544
DOI 10.3133/ha544
Year Published 1975
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Minnesota Water Science Center
Description 2 Plates: 39.5 x 58.0 inches and 35.5 x 40.0 inches
Country United States
State Minnesota
Other Geospatial Lake of the Woods watershed
Scale 500000
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details