Winnebago

Watershed Hydrology

The Winnebago watershed, located in eastern Iowa and southern Minnesota, covers an area of approximately 1,540 square miles. The main hydrologic feature of the watershed is the Winnebago River, which flows for 111 miles before discharging into the Shell Rock River. The watershed experiences a typical Midwestern climate, with cold winters and warm summers. Precipitation is relatively evenly distributed throughout the year, with an annual average of around 32 inches. The area does experience occasional floods, which can be exacerbated by snowmelt from the surrounding hills. The Winnebago watershed is also home to several small reservoirs, which are primarily used for recreational purposes. However, some of these reservoirs have been identified as having high levels of sediment and nutrient runoff, which can negatively impact water quality. In recent years, there has been a trend of increasing rainfall intensity and frequency, which has led to more frequent flooding events.


Surface Flows

Winnebago Watershed

Snowpack Depths

Winnebago Watershed

Dams & Reservoirs

Winnebago Watershed

Groundwater Levels

Winnebago Watershed

Winnebago Rivers

Rivers of the Watershed