Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota
Loading...
Date
1993-08
Authors
Stoner, Jeffrey D.
Lorenz, David L.
Wiche, Gregg J.
Goldstein, Robert M.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
American Water Resources Association
Abstract
The environmental setting of the Red River of the North basin within the United States is diverse in ways that could significantly control the areal distribution and flow of water and, therefore, the distribution and concentration of constituents that affect water quality. Continental glaciers shaped a landscape of very flat lake plains near the center of the basin, and gently rolling uplands, lakes, and wetlands along the basin margins. The fertile, black, fine‐grained soils and landscape are conducive to agriculture. Productive cropland covers 66 percent of the land area. The principal crops are wheat, barley, soybeans, sunflowers, corn, and hay. Pasture, forests, open water, and wetlands comprise most of the remaining land area. About one‐third of the 1990 population (511,000) lives in the cities of Fargo and Grand Forks, North Dakota and Moorhead, Minnesota. The climate of the Red River of the North basin is continental and ranges from dry subhumid in the western part of the basin to subhumid in the eastern part.
Description
Keywords
Red River, North Basin, Minnesota, Water, Environmental