Mission Statement
The mission of the Upper Minnesota River Watershed District is to serve the residents of the District by wisely and judiciously managing water, in a manner that sustains and enhances the social, economic and natural resources of the District.  
The District prefers the use of innovative water management methods, which recognize the unique agricultural, community, lake and stream, and natural resources within the District.  These innovative approaches as reflected by the policies of the District should be oriented toward ensuring the economic viability of the District’s agrarian community.

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

NOTICE OF HEARING

Please Take Notice: The Upper Minnesota River Watershed District Board of Managers will hold a hearing regarding damage payments for the Browns Valley Flood Diversion Project (Project) at 5:30 p.m. on August 24, 2026, at American Legion Post 58 located at 518 Broadway, Browns Valley, Minnesota.
At the hearing, the Board of Managers will consider damaged areas related to the Project and an award of damages to affected landowners.  At the hearing, the Board will accept public comment regarding the damage awards.
Any party having an interest in the proceedings may appear and provide comment. Written comments will be accepted at the hearing and by mail, through the date of the hearing, directed to the Watershed District’s Director, Amber Doschadis, at 211 2^nd Street SE, Ortonville, MN 56278 or [email protected].
Please reference Browns Valley Flood Diversion Project in your comments.
Damages Report can be downloaded from the link below:
https://securetransfer.bigstonecounty.gov/link/lxvuIxvCdPXVo9uvd7mp4K

Big Stone Lake Level and area River Gage Links

*Big Stone Lake levels will now be reported in NAVD88 Datum
There will be no changes to how lake levels are maintained (this is an update to our reporting datum with NOAA only)

With this update, you will be able to look at forecasted lake levels on the NOAA website (link asterisked above) and compare to your NAVD88 insurance elevation certificates in the same datum. Refer to the linked conversion chart above to correlate between previously reported project datum and NAVD88.